<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/winnebago-tribe-to-get-back-1600-acres-of-land-once-taken-for-proposed-recreation-area-along-missouri-river/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska stands to receive 1,600 acres of land that was taken a half century ago for a recreation area that never materialized.

The land, on the Iowa side of the Missouri River, would be returned under a bill introduced recently in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and her fellow Iowa and Nebraska senators — Pete Ricketts, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst.

The chairman of the Winnebago Tribe, Victoria Kitcheyan, said the return will be a “historic and beautiful moment” for her tribe, whose reservation is located north of Omaha.

“We have been waiting for this wrong to be made right,” Kitcheyan said in a press release that expressed thanks to the Nebraska and Iowa senators.

The land was taken via eminent domain in 1970s as part of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers effort to stabilize the banks of the Missouri River and to establish a recreation area.

A portion of the property on the Nebraska side of the river was eventually returned to the Winnebago Tribe, but two tracts of land on the Iowa side of the river remain under Corps control.

Fischer said it was wrong for the Corps to seize the land back in 1970 and “it’s time to make this right.”

The land is managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources as wildlife areas. In a recent management renewal agreement with the Army Corps, it was anticipated that the property would be returned to the tribe.

Messages left with the Winnebago Tribe to inquire about future plans for the land were not immediately returned Thursday.

A press release from Fischer’s office says the Bureau of Indian Affairs will hold the land in trust for the tribe.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699560876522.jpeg" alt=" Missouri River in Cass County. (Courtesy of the Nebraska State Patrol)" />
 <figcaption> Missouri River in Cass County. (Courtesy of the Nebraska State Patrol)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/winnebago-tribe-to-get-back-1600-acres-of-land-once-taken-for-proposed-recreation-area-along-missouri-river/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska stands to receive 1,600 acres of land that was taken a half century ago for a recreation area that never materialized.The land, on the Iowa side of the Missouri River, would be returned under a bill introduced recently in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and her fellow Iowa and Nebraska senators — Pete Ricketts, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst.The chairman of the Winnebago Tribe, Victoria Kitcheyan, said the return will be a “historic and beautiful moment” for her tribe, whose reservation is located north of Omaha.“We have been waiting for this wrong to be made right,” Kitcheyan said in a press release that expressed thanks to the Nebraska and Iowa senators.The land was taken via eminent domain in 1970s as part of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers effort to stabilize the banks of the Missouri River and to establish a recreation area.A portion of the property on the Nebraska side of the river was eventually returned to the Winnebago Tribe, but two tracts of land on the Iowa side of the river remain under Corps control.Fischer said it was wrong for the Corps to seize the land back in 1970 and “it’s time to make this right.”The land is managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources as wildlife areas. In a recent management renewal agreement with the Army Corps, it was anticipated that the property would be returned to the tribe.Messages left with the Winnebago Tribe to inquire about future plans for the land were not immediately returned Thursday.A press release from Fischer’s office says the Bureau of Indian Affairs will hold the land in trust for the tribe.

Winnebago Tribe to get back 1,600 acres of land once taken for proposed recreation area along Missouri River

WASHINGTON —Before his Thursday trip to&nbsp;Belvidere, Illinois, to celebrate a labor deal with autoworkers, President Biden spoke to the media on Israel and another looming government shutdown.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?531777-1/president-biden-comments-reporters-joint-base-andrews">Click here to watch</a> the exchange or read the text released from the White House.

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. President, why the delay in getting hostages out?

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; We’re hopeful.&nbsp; Things are moving along.

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Did you ask for a three-day pause to Netanyahu?

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; You know I’ve been asking for a pause for — for a lot more than three days (inaudible).

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Did you ask him to pause for three days to get the hostages out for that length of time?

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp; I’ve ask- — asked for even a longer pause for some of them.

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. President, we’re eight days from a shutdown — the shutdown — government shutdown.&nbsp; Just eight days.&nbsp; Can you give us an update on what you’re thinking on how to — to move past that?

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; I wish the — the House would just get to work.&nbsp; I’m not being facetious.&nbsp; I mean, this is not a political statement.&nbsp; The idea we’re playing games with a shutdown at this moment is just bizarre.&nbsp; And I think that we ought to be able to combine Ukraine and Israel.&nbsp; We ought to be able — and I’m open to discussions on the border, and I’ve already made some proposals.&nbsp; But there’s just no need for any of this.

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Will you be bringing up the issue of an endorsement, Mr. President, with Shawn Fein?

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Will you be bringing up the issue of an endorsement with Shawn Fein when you meet him?

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Will I bring up the endorsement?

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The issue of an endorsement.&nbsp; He has a — the UAW hasn’t endorsed you yet.

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Oh, no.&nbsp; They’re going to be fine.

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. President, were you frustrated with Prime Minister Netanyahu that he has not listened more to some of the things you have asked him to do?

THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; It’s taking a little longer than I hoped.

Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They’re taking a little bit longer?Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you support the UAW’s efforts to unionize Tesla and Toyota, Mr. President?&nbsp;THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Absolutely.&nbsp;Thank you.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699563758150.png" alt="Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Before his Thursday trip to&nbsp;Belvidere, Illinois, to celebrate a labor deal with autoworkers, President Biden spoke to the media on Israel and another looming government shutdown.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?531777-1/president-biden-comments-reporters-joint-base-andrews">Click here to watch</a> the exchange or read the text released from the White House.Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. President, why the delay in getting hostages out?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; We’re hopeful.&nbsp; Things are moving along.Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Did you ask for a three-day pause to Netanyahu?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; You know I’ve been asking for a pause for — for a lot more than three days (inaudible).Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Did you ask him to pause for three days to get the hostages out for that length of time?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp; I’ve ask- — asked for even a longer pause for some of them.Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. President, we’re eight days from a shutdown — the shutdown — government shutdown.&nbsp; Just eight days.&nbsp; Can you give us an update on what you’re thinking on how to — to move past that?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; I wish the — the House would just get to work.&nbsp; I’m not being facetious.&nbsp; I mean, this is not a political statement.&nbsp; The idea we’re playing games with a shutdown at this moment is just bizarre.&nbsp; And I think that we ought to be able to combine Ukraine and Israel.&nbsp; We ought to be able — and I’m open to discussions on the border, and I’ve already made some proposals.&nbsp; But there’s just no need for any of this.Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Will you be bringing up the issue of an endorsement, Mr. President, with Shawn Fein?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Pardon me?Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Will you be bringing up the issue of an endorsement with Shawn Fein when you meet him?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Will I bring up the endorsement?Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The issue of an endorsement.&nbsp; He has a — the UAW hasn’t endorsed you yet.THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Oh, no.&nbsp; They’re going to be fine.Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. President, were you frustrated with Prime Minister Netanyahu that he has not listened more to some of the things you have asked him to do?THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; It’s taking a little longer than I hoped.Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They’re taking a little bit longer?Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you support the UAW’s efforts to unionize Tesla and Toyota, Mr. President?&nbsp;THE PRESIDENT:&nbsp; Absolutely.&nbsp;Thank you.

🎥 Biden talks Israel and another looming government shutdown

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/08/nebraska-civil-rights-panel-examines-covid-19-impacts-on-youth-mental-health/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;A Nebraska panel on civil rights continued diving into the effects of COVID-19 on K-12 education Wednesday with a focus on youth mental health.

This was the third public meeting of the Nebraska Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which is tasked with determining civil rights implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and possible recommendations to the national group. The advisory committee hosted two forums this summer, including a look into&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-civil-rights-panel-considers-constellation-of-outcomes-of-covid-19-on-k-12-education/">e-learning and Nebraska’s digital divide</a>.

Jen Pollock of the Nebraska School Psychologists Association said there is a dramatic national workforce shortage, particularly in education. Still, teachers cannot be expected to be mental health experts.

“They are experts in the content,&nbsp;and that’s what we need them to be,” Pollock said.&nbsp;

Schools could have a tiered system of support, however, which Pollock said includes building safe classroom environments for and positive relationships with students, reinforcing clear and high expectations and adopting rigorous course instruction.

Liesel Hogan, a licensed mental health practitioner who works in Educational Service Unit #3 with Pollock, said the impacts of shortages have direct student impacts. ESU #3 is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.esu3.org/Admin/about">Nebraska’s largest ESU</a>, serving 18 school districts.

Schools require relationships, and trust and rapport among students and teachers are vital, Hogan added. If relationships don’t exist, students are less successful, and teachers can instead come to feel like “glorified babysitters,” according to Hogan.

“I always say that there’s never too many adults who can love a student in order to get them back to where they need to be from a functioning standpoint,” Hogan said.

The pandemic also led to more anxiety, more school absences and a fear of the unknown, with fewer students wanting to learn to drive or leave home for social interactions. Many students feel a lack of motivation, she said, because many activities were halted during the pandemic.

“An object in motion stays in motion,” Hogan said.

Corey Lieneman, assistant professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry, said that since COVID-19, there has been a 25% increase globally in anxiety and depression.

Nationwide, about 20% of youths ages 3-17 have at least one mental or behavioral health disorder, and suicide is the second leading cause of death in children ages 10-14, Lieneman said. The rate of suicide among children ages 12-17 more than doubled from 2008 to 2020.

Brenda Bassingthwaite, associate professor at UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, said each year has become progressively harder to consult in school settings.

This is because as students’ needs go unaddressed, new skills are harder for them to develop, Bassingthwaite said, and students instead adopt maladaptive behaviors such as destroying items or climbing on tables to gain attention or access to other opportunities.

“When we do not meet the needs of students early, the needs often grow and become more challenging to address,” she added.

Workforce shortages can lead to closing classrooms. Omaha Public Schools transferred children with special education needs to different schools this year because of a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/08/our-kids-are-in-their-hands-legislature-dissects-omaha-schools-special-education-staff-vacancies/">shortage of special education teachers</a>&nbsp;at three buildings. While there may be no other options, Bassingthwaite said, there will still be an impact on students.

There’s also information overload for adolescents, Lieneman said, whose brains are not yet developed to the point where they can absorb all the information presented to them.

For example, students could not fully understand the technological implications during the pandemic or understand the virus itself, said Lestina Saul-Merdassi, behavioral health counselor, youth program director and certified advocate at the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition.

The increase in technological use, fast-tracked by COVID-19, can also be concerning, Lieneman said. She noted that her child in middle school will have nearly 20 courses in the calendar year and most, if not all, have an online component with numerous links per class.

Lieneman offered some solutions to simplify education, such as:

Despite the challenges, Lieneman said, all panelists spoke on similar topics, suggesting a unified goal to improve student and teacher outcomes.

“It’s reassuring to know that we’re all kind of seeing the same things, and that helps me feel like we’re on a team,” Lieneman told the group, “and we’re going to be able to accomplish something together as a state.”

Members of the public can provide written comments to the Nebraska Advisory Committee before members forward a report to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Comments can be sent to Victoria Moreno at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="mailto:vmoreno@usccr.gov">vmoreno@usccr.gov</a>&nbsp;no later than Dec. 8.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699541256753.jpeg" alt=" Members of the Nebraska Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights meet via Zoom on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, for a panel discussion regarding COVID-19’s impacts on youth mental health in K-12 education. (Screenshot by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Members of the Nebraska Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights meet via Zoom on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, for a panel discussion regarding COVID-19’s impacts on youth mental health in K-12 education. (Screenshot by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/08/nebraska-civil-rights-panel-examines-covid-19-impacts-on-youth-mental-health/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;A Nebraska panel on civil rights continued diving into the effects of COVID-19 on K-12 education Wednesday with a focus on youth mental health.This was the third public meeting of the Nebraska Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which is tasked with determining civil rights implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and possible recommendations to the national group. The advisory committee hosted two forums this summer, including a look into&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-civil-rights-panel-considers-constellation-of-outcomes-of-covid-19-on-k-12-education/">e-learning and Nebraska’s digital divide</a>.Jen Pollock of the Nebraska School Psychologists Association said there is a dramatic national workforce shortage, particularly in education. Still, teachers cannot be expected to be mental health experts.“They are experts in the content,&nbsp;and that’s what we need them to be,” Pollock said.&nbsp;Schools could have a tiered system of support, however, which Pollock said includes building safe classroom environments for and positive relationships with students, reinforcing clear and high expectations and adopting rigorous course instruction.<h2>‘There’s never too many adults’</h2>Liesel Hogan, a licensed mental health practitioner who works in Educational Service Unit #3 with Pollock, said the impacts of shortages have direct student impacts. ESU #3 is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.esu3.org/Admin/about">Nebraska’s largest ESU</a>, serving 18 school districts.Schools require relationships, and trust and rapport among students and teachers are vital, Hogan added. If relationships don’t exist, students are less successful, and teachers can instead come to feel like “glorified babysitters,” according to Hogan.“I always say that there’s never too many adults who can love a student in order to get them back to where they need to be from a functioning standpoint,” Hogan said.The pandemic also led to more anxiety, more school absences and a fear of the unknown, with fewer students wanting to learn to drive or leave home for social interactions. Many students feel a lack of motivation, she said, because many activities were halted during the pandemic.“An object in motion stays in motion,” Hogan said.<h2>Increase in mental, behavioral concerns</h2>Corey Lieneman, assistant professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry, said that since COVID-19, there has been a 25% increase globally in anxiety and depression.Nationwide, about 20% of youths ages 3-17 have at least one mental or behavioral health disorder, and suicide is the second leading cause of death in children ages 10-14, Lieneman said. The rate of suicide among children ages 12-17 more than doubled from 2008 to 2020.Brenda Bassingthwaite, associate professor at UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, said each year has become progressively harder to consult in school settings.This is because as students’ needs go unaddressed, new skills are harder for them to develop, Bassingthwaite said, and students instead adopt maladaptive behaviors such as destroying items or climbing on tables to gain attention or access to other opportunities.“When we do not meet the needs of students early, the needs often grow and become more challenging to address,” she added.Workforce shortages can lead to closing classrooms. Omaha Public Schools transferred children with special education needs to different schools this year because of a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/08/our-kids-are-in-their-hands-legislature-dissects-omaha-schools-special-education-staff-vacancies/">shortage of special education teachers</a>&nbsp;at three buildings. While there may be no other options, Bassingthwaite said, there will still be an impact on students.<h2>Information overload</h2>There’s also information overload for adolescents, Lieneman said, whose brains are not yet developed to the point where they can absorb all the information presented to them.For example, students could not fully understand the technological implications during the pandemic or understand the virus itself, said Lestina Saul-Merdassi, behavioral health counselor, youth program director and certified advocate at the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition.The increase in technological use, fast-tracked by COVID-19, can also be concerning, Lieneman said. She noted that her child in middle school will have nearly 20 courses in the calendar year and most, if not all, have an online component with numerous links per class.Lieneman offered some solutions to simplify education, such as:<ul>
 <li>Eliminating or reducing some homework.</li><li>Starting school later in the day.</li><li>Increasing recreational and social opportunities.</li><li>Reducing technology use.</li><li>Setting developmentally appropriate expectations.</li><li>Prioritizing sleep, healthy eating and physical activity.</li>
 </ul>Despite the challenges, Lieneman said, all panelists spoke on similar topics, suggesting a unified goal to improve student and teacher outcomes.“It’s reassuring to know that we’re all kind of seeing the same things, and that helps me feel like we’re on a team,” Lieneman told the group, “and we’re going to be able to accomplish something together as a state.”Members of the public can provide written comments to the Nebraska Advisory Committee before members forward a report to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Comments can be sent to Victoria Moreno at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="mailto:vmoreno@usccr.gov">vmoreno@usccr.gov</a>&nbsp;no later than Dec. 8.

Nebraska civil rights panel examines COVID-19 impacts on youth mental health

NEW YORK (AP) — A new version of the popular diabetes treatment Mounjaro can be sold as a weight-loss drug, U.S. regulators announced Wednesday.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly's drug, named Zepbound. The drug, also known as tirzepatide, helped dieters lose as much as 40 to 60 pounds in testing.

Zepbound is the latest diabetes drug approved for chronic weight management, joining Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, a high-dose version of its diabetes treatment Ozempic. Both are weekly injections.

<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-medication-chronic-weight-management">The FDA approved Lilly's drug</a>&nbsp;for people who are considered obese, with a body mass index of 30 or higher, or those who are overweight with a related health condition, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. The drug should be paired with a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise, the FDA said.

In the U.S., at least 100 million adults and about 15 million children are considered obese.

The drugs tirzepatide in Zepbound and Mounjaro and semaglutide in Wegovy and Ozempic work by mimicking hormones that kick in after people eat to regulate appetite and the feeling of fullness. Both imitate a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, known as GLP-1. Tirzepatide targets a second hormone, called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, or GIP.

FDA’s approval was based on two large studies: More than 2,500 participants got different strengths of Zepbound and nearly 1,000 people got dummy shots over 16 months. Participants without diabetes who received the highest dose lost about 18% of their weight, or about 41 pounds (19 kilograms), compared to placebo. Those with diabetes, who have a harder time losing weight, cut about 12%, or nearly 27 pounds (12 kilograms), the FDA said.

In another recent study, the drug helped people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mounjaro-obesity-weight-loss-tirzepatide-ac4151fdfcd6ac17f502d1a14af4fff5">lose up to a quarter of their weight</a>, or 60 pounds (27 kilograms), when combined with intensive diet and exercise.

Overall, Zepbound appears to spur greater weight loss than Wegovy. Approved for weight loss in 2021, Wegovy helped people lose about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-obesity-lifestyle-business-health-c6f992d717c6461ef20f40e6d4ee9d25">15% of their weight</a>&nbsp;or 34 pounds (15 kilograms), according to study results.

“This would be the most highly efficacious drug ever approved for the treatment of obesity," said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine expert at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Touted by celebrities and on social media, semaglutide and tirzepatide drugs have already been in such demand that their manufacturers have struggled to keep up. Both have been listed on the FDA’s drug shortage site for months. All strengths of tirzepatide are currently listed as available, but a company spokesperson said that could vary by location and demand.

Side effects of the new weight-loss drug include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and other gastrointestinal problems. In the most recent published trial, about 10% of people taking tirzepatide dropped out of the study because of such problems, compared to about 2% of people taking dummy shots.

While experts lauded approval of Zepbound, they worried that it wouldn't necessarily mean greater access to the drug, which has been prescribed “off-label” to help people pare pounds.

“Most patients won't be able to afford Zepbound without insurance coverage and many health plans exclude obesity care,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at New York's Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of company focused on obesity treatment.

Eli Lilly and Co. said the list price will be about $1,000 a month, the same as Mounjaro. The drug is expected to be available in the U.S. by the end of the year, the company said. Dosing strengths are the same for Zepbound and Mounjaro.

Kelly Burns, 50, of St. Petersburg, Florida, lost nearly 100 pounds (45 kilograms) using tirzepatide after joining a study of the drug to treat obesity in 2021. When testing ended and she no longer had access to the medication, she struggled, but eventually lost another 50 pounds (23 kilograms).

“My whole life is completely different,” she said. Her health measurements improved and her confidence soared. Now that is is approved for weight loss, Burns plans to ask her insurance company about coverage.

“It would be ridiculous not to," she said, adding: “I want to stay this way as long as I possibly can."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699529461783.png" alt="Zepbound photo Eli Lilly" />
 <figcaption>Zepbound photo Eli Lilly</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A new version of the popular diabetes treatment Mounjaro can be sold as a weight-loss drug, U.S. regulators announced Wednesday.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly's drug, named Zepbound. The drug, also known as tirzepatide, helped dieters lose as much as 40 to 60 pounds in testing.Zepbound is the latest diabetes drug approved for chronic weight management, joining Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, a high-dose version of its diabetes treatment Ozempic. Both are weekly injections.<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-medication-chronic-weight-management">The FDA approved Lilly's drug</a>&nbsp;for people who are considered obese, with a body mass index of 30 or higher, or those who are overweight with a related health condition, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. The drug should be paired with a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise, the FDA said.In the U.S., at least 100 million adults and about 15 million children are considered obese.The drugs tirzepatide in Zepbound and Mounjaro and semaglutide in Wegovy and Ozempic work by mimicking hormones that kick in after people eat to regulate appetite and the feeling of fullness. Both imitate a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, known as GLP-1. Tirzepatide targets a second hormone, called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, or GIP.FDA’s approval was based on two large studies: More than 2,500 participants got different strengths of Zepbound and nearly 1,000 people got dummy shots over 16 months. Participants without diabetes who received the highest dose lost about 18% of their weight, or about 41 pounds (19 kilograms), compared to placebo. Those with diabetes, who have a harder time losing weight, cut about 12%, or nearly 27 pounds (12 kilograms), the FDA said.In another recent study, the drug helped people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mounjaro-obesity-weight-loss-tirzepatide-ac4151fdfcd6ac17f502d1a14af4fff5">lose up to a quarter of their weight</a>, or 60 pounds (27 kilograms), when combined with intensive diet and exercise.Overall, Zepbound appears to spur greater weight loss than Wegovy. Approved for weight loss in 2021, Wegovy helped people lose about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-obesity-lifestyle-business-health-c6f992d717c6461ef20f40e6d4ee9d25">15% of their weight</a>&nbsp;or 34 pounds (15 kilograms), according to study results.“This would be the most highly efficacious drug ever approved for the treatment of obesity," said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine expert at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.Touted by celebrities and on social media, semaglutide and tirzepatide drugs have already been in such demand that their manufacturers have struggled to keep up. Both have been listed on the FDA’s drug shortage site for months. All strengths of tirzepatide are currently listed as available, but a company spokesperson said that could vary by location and demand.Side effects of the new weight-loss drug include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and other gastrointestinal problems. In the most recent published trial, about 10% of people taking tirzepatide dropped out of the study because of such problems, compared to about 2% of people taking dummy shots.While experts lauded approval of Zepbound, they worried that it wouldn't necessarily mean greater access to the drug, which has been prescribed “off-label” to help people pare pounds.“Most patients won't be able to afford Zepbound without insurance coverage and many health plans exclude obesity care,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at New York's Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of company focused on obesity treatment.Eli Lilly and Co. said the list price will be about $1,000 a month, the same as Mounjaro. The drug is expected to be available in the U.S. by the end of the year, the company said. Dosing strengths are the same for Zepbound and Mounjaro.Kelly Burns, 50, of St. Petersburg, Florida, lost nearly 100 pounds (45 kilograms) using tirzepatide after joining a study of the drug to treat obesity in 2021. When testing ended and she no longer had access to the medication, she struggled, but eventually lost another 50 pounds (23 kilograms).“My whole life is completely different,” she said. Her health measurements improved and her confidence soared. Now that is is approved for weight loss, Burns plans to ask her insurance company about coverage.“It would be ridiculous not to," she said, adding: “I want to stay this way as long as I possibly can."

FDA OKs powerful new tool for weight loss

LINCOLN, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau has selected Ellen Hellerich as the 2023 recipient of its highest honor, the Silver Eagle Award. Hellerich has spent a lifetime breaking down the complexities of agriculture for students and teachers in classrooms across the state of Nebraska. Hellerich served as the statewide program coordinator for the Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) program from 1984 to 2011.

“For 27 years, Ellen developed AITC resources tied to state education standards to support teachers in connecting their students to their source of food, fiber, and fuel – agriculture. She conducted workshops and agricultural tours for teachers, worked with education majors at colleges and universities, and led student activities at festivals and expos, to increase awareness of the importance of agriculture. She created the Ag Pen Pal Program, which, over time, has connected more than 100,000 students with a Nebraska farmer or rancher,” said Mark McHargue, Nebraska Farm Bureau president.

Being the statewide AITC Program Coordinator was more than just a job for Hellerich. She had a natural talent for bringing agriculture and education together in a classroom for teachers and students. Her strong passion for agriculture kept her involved in AITC after her retirement.

“Ellen served as a consultant for the American Farm Bureau Foundation. In that position, Ellen developed curriculum materials for teachers to use with the Agriculture Book of the Year, which she helped to select. She also contributed to the National AITC Conference for several years. Ellen contributed to the first agricultural exhibits at the Lincoln and Hastings Children’s Museums. She provided exhibit consulting and programming at the Omaha Children’s Museum,” McHargue said.

During Ellen’s tenure with the AITC program, she worked to publish the children’s book “Why the Brown Bean was Blue” by Susan M. Pankey. She created “Putting the Pieces Together: Nebraska Agriculture Production Map” and helped design crop cards that correlate with the map. This eventually became the Nebraska Interactive Map Project, which is used by many classrooms today. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation would not be the successful organization it is today without the strong start provided by Ellen Hellerich.

“Ellen was at the forefront of integrated learning or bringing several classroom subject areas together into a single activity or unit. She was also a champion for including hands-on learning opportunities for students. She has demonstrated outstanding leadership, provided exemplary service to Nebraska agriculture, and has left her mark on thousands of students and teachers in Nebraska. We are proud to recognize Ellen Hellerich as the 2023 Silver Eagle Award recipient,” McHargue said. The Silver Eagle Award will be presented during the Nebraska Farm Bureau Annual banquet Tuesday, Dec. 5 in Kearney.

Ellen and her husband Gary farm near Valparaiso and are longtime Lancaster County Farm Bureau members as well as donors to the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation and the NEFB- PAC. They grow corn and soybeans in rotation and raise Black Angus cattle.

Ellen and Gary raised children who stayed connected to agriculture. They have three grown children: Terri, Koren, and Vaden. Their children and spouses and grandchildren have pursued education and careers in veterinary medicine, food science and technology, meat distribution, livestock environmental compliance, and farm financial services. The Hellerich’s have six grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 55,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

NEFBLINCOLN, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau has selected Ellen Hellerich as the 2023 recipient of its highest honor, the Silver Eagle Award. Hellerich has spent a lifetime breaking down the complexities of agriculture for students and teachers in classrooms across the state of Nebraska. Hellerich served as the statewide program coordinator for the Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) program from 1984 to 2011.“For 27 years, Ellen developed AITC resources tied to state education standards to support teachers in connecting their students to their source of food, fiber, and fuel – agriculture. She conducted workshops and agricultural tours for teachers, worked with education majors at colleges and universities, and led student activities at festivals and expos, to increase awareness of the importance of agriculture. She created the Ag Pen Pal Program, which, over time, has connected more than 100,000 students with a Nebraska farmer or rancher,” said Mark McHargue, Nebraska Farm Bureau president.Being the statewide AITC Program Coordinator was more than just a job for Hellerich. She had a natural talent for bringing agriculture and education together in a classroom for teachers and students. Her strong passion for agriculture kept her involved in AITC after her retirement.“Ellen served as a consultant for the American Farm Bureau Foundation. In that position, Ellen developed curriculum materials for teachers to use with the Agriculture Book of the Year, which she helped to select. She also contributed to the National AITC Conference for several years. Ellen contributed to the first agricultural exhibits at the Lincoln and Hastings Children’s Museums. She provided exhibit consulting and programming at the Omaha Children’s Museum,” McHargue said.During Ellen’s tenure with the AITC program, she worked to publish the children’s book “Why the Brown Bean was Blue” by Susan M. Pankey. She created “Putting the Pieces Together: Nebraska Agriculture Production Map” and helped design crop cards that correlate with the map. This eventually became the Nebraska Interactive Map Project, which is used by many classrooms today. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation would not be the successful organization it is today without the strong start provided by Ellen Hellerich.“Ellen was at the forefront of integrated learning or bringing several classroom subject areas together into a single activity or unit. She was also a champion for including hands-on learning opportunities for students. She has demonstrated outstanding leadership, provided exemplary service to Nebraska agriculture, and has left her mark on thousands of students and teachers in Nebraska. We are proud to recognize Ellen Hellerich as the 2023 Silver Eagle Award recipient,” McHargue said. The Silver Eagle Award will be presented during the Nebraska Farm Bureau Annual banquet Tuesday, Dec. 5 in Kearney.Ellen and her husband Gary farm near Valparaiso and are longtime Lancaster County Farm Bureau members as well as donors to the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation and the NEFB- PAC. They grow corn and soybeans in rotation and raise Black Angus cattle.Ellen and Gary raised children who stayed connected to agriculture. They have three grown children: Terri, Koren, and Vaden. Their children and spouses and grandchildren have pursued education and careers in veterinary medicine, food science and technology, meat distribution, livestock environmental compliance, and farm financial services. The Hellerich’s have six grandchildren and one great grandchild.The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 55,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

2023 Nebraska Farm Bureau Silver Eagle Award Honors  Nebraska’s first AITC Statewide Coordinator

WASHINGTON (AP) — As they face an increasingly urgent task to emerge as a clear alternative to former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, five Republican presidential candidates gathered Wednesday for the party's latest debate.

Trump, the overwhelming front-runner in the race,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rally-republican-debate-florida-cubans-hispanics-4bf3422ae0803cbe13f97238270cb510">skipped the event</a>, as he has the first two, citing his polling advantage. There was no shortage of noteworthy confrontations on stage, as the participants debated the Israel-Hamas war, the future of abortion rights and Trump himself.

But with the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses approaching, it seemed unlikely that the debate fundamentally changed the presidential nomination fight.

Wednesday marked the first time the presidential candidates gathered on a debate stage since war broke out between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel and Hamas</a>, resulting in a sharper foreign policy conversation compared to previous forums.

The contenders were unified in offering robust support for Israel and bemoaned antisemitism, especially on liberal college campuses. But they said virtually nothing about protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

The GOP's familiar foreign policy split, however, resurfaced when the exchanges veered into the war in Ukraine, the possibility of China confronting Taiwan and how to handle Venezuela's oil market.

Former United Nations Ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>, South Carolina Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-scott">Tim Scott</a>&nbsp;and former New Jersey Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/chris-christie">Chris Christie</a>&nbsp;all sounded traditional GOP notes, backing military aid to Ukraine, calling for vastly increased investment in the military and linking all the global conflicts.

Biotech entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vivek-ramaswamy">Vivek Ramaswamy</a>&nbsp;tried to set himself apart, claiming the rest of the stage was part of a bipartisan foreign policy establishment that blundered into repeated disasters in foreign wars. A longtime critic of aid to Ukraine, he followed up his condemnation of antisemitism by calling that country’s Jewish president “a Nazi.”

Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a>&nbsp;seemed like he was straddling the divide. At one point, he dodged a question about Ukraine and China by talking about boosting security on the southern border and suggesting he’d deport immigrants from the Middle East.

The candidates all talked tough. But the party divide over the Ukraine war ran subtly through the night and it’s not clear they’d each act the same should they actually make it to the Oval Office.

All of the candidates are trying to overtake Trump, who is the dominant front-runner in the primary. But for the most part, they've spent the primary campaign avoiding any opportunity to take on the former president.

That became harder during the first debate hosted by a network that wasn't affiliated with the Trump-friendly Fox News. Moderators from NBC News opened by pressing the contenders to articulate why they — and not Trump — should become the Republican nominee.

There was hardly a robust takedown of Trump, who remains popular among the GOP base and hosted a rival event Wednesday. But DeSantis was the most forceful.

“Donald Trump’s a lot different guy than he was in 2016,” he said, declaring that Trump owed it to Republican primary voters to show up and explain his record.

But even DeSantis’ strong words spanned less than 30 seconds. And he stopped short of questioning Trump’s “balls” for skipping the debate, as he had in recent days.

The other candidates were less aggressive.

Asked why he’s a better nominee than Trump, Ramaswamy went so far as to blame Republican National Committee Chair&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ronna-romney-mcdaniel">Ronna McDaniel</a>&nbsp;— not Trump — for the GOP’s repeated losses in national elections since Trump won the presidency in 2016.

When she was asked about Trump, Haley made a passing reference of the national debt that piled up under his watch. Scott said the GOP needs to win over independent voters. Christie devoted one sentence to highlighting Trump’s legal troubles.

The lack of pointed attacks against Trump may underscore the difficulty of attacking someone who’s not onstage. But his rivals didn’t try hard either. Wednesday’s debate is the latest example for why Trump may have been smart to skip the debates altogether.

There were five candidates on the debate stage, but the vendetta between two of them stood out — Haley and Ramaswamy.

The two children of Indian immigrants have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/haley-ramaswamy-indian-americans-republicans-2024-election-916a01928d35d083ec6c10bc11b41a5f">collided during previous debates</a>. But the tension intensified Wednesday night with Ramaswamy gleefully playing the role of aggressor. He took several initial digs at Haley — at one point he called her and DeSantis “Cheney in 3-inch heels,” a reference to controversial former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz, a congresswoman excommunicated from the GOP for her criticism of Trump.

But it was halfway through the debate, after Haley said she’d respond to Ramaswamy’s digs rather than answer a question about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vivek-ramaswamy-tiktok-republicans-china-2024-d2534384ff5b303d391fadba8e5b8824">banning Tik-Tok</a>, that Ramaswamy made his most shocking attack.

Noting Haley hadn’t answered the question, Ramaswamy said, “Her own daughter was using the app for a long time, so you might want to take care of your daughter first.”

Haley responded by forcefully telling Ramaswamy to “leave my daughter out of your voice.” She later said, “You're just scum.”

Ramaswamy has dominated all three of the debates with his pugnacious style. It hasn’t necessarily helped him politically — his biting attacks seem to turn off voters — but it drowns out all the other candidates. He’s also clearly gotten under the skin of his rivals, who spend precious time going after him.

Ramaswamy has even less of a path to victory than the rest of the very distant field, and each debate he dominates is another lost opportunity for anyone to change the trajectory of the GOP primary.

Republicans have had no answers on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;ever since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In election after election, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2024-elections-republicans-ohio-virginia-90255a62d83ad9f1d86b407c9455bb0a">several this week</a>, Democrats have used the issue to their advantage.

On Wednesday night, Haley, the only woman onstage, tried to give her party a path forward for navigating the delicate political issue.

Haley’s approach was decidedly softer and more personal than what the men onstage offered.

“I don’t judge anyone for being pro-choice, and I don’t want them to judge me for being pro-life,” she said, suggesting that she respected the decisions of states to protect abortion rights even if she didn’t agree with them.

And she made clear that the next Republican president would not be in position to institute a national ban on abortion without 60 votes in the Senate, which isn’t anywhere close to the horizon. Instead, she suggested Republicans in Washington work for what could be achievable: a ban on late-term abortions, policies that encourage adoption and increased accessibility of contraception.

“Let’s focus on how to save as many babies as we can and support as many moms as we can and stop the judgment. We don’t need to divide America over this issue anymore,” Haley said, drawing applause from the crowd.

Meanwhile, the men onstage offered more of the same message that failed to resonate with voters across Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania earlier in the week.

DeSantis attacked Democrats for supporting abortions without any time restrictions. Echoing the criticism, Scott said it was “unethical and immoral” to allow abortions up to the day of birth.

Haley’s message might be popular among some suburban women, a group the GOP has struggled with during recent elections, but it’s decidedly out of step with many activists that make up the Republican base. Still, her answer Wednesday night is a reminder why some Democratic officials fear her as a possible Biden opponent more than any of the other candidates.

After two more hours of likely also-rans arguing over mostly small differences, it seems clear that the Republican presidential contest is mainly a race to finish a distant second.

No one is even close to Trump and no one is trying to catch him. Instead, the candidates seem to be fighting over who can be the best alternative to him in the event the unthinkable happens to sideline the four-times-indicted, constitutionally challenged, 77-year-old front-runner.

Even Christie, whose entire campaign was predicated on him being the only Republican brave enough to attack the former president, stayed quiet on Trump unless asked about him by the moderators.

By now it’s clear that no one sees a path to actual victory in the primary. Instead, everyone is acting like their best bet is that the alternative universe of the debates, where Trump is not even on the stage, somehow becomes reality for Republican voters.

That’s the only way these debates likely matter anymore. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned in the Trump era, it’s that you can never tell what will happen next.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699496384832.png" alt="Photo courtesy&nbsp; Haley campaign for President" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy&nbsp; Haley campaign for President</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — As they face an increasingly urgent task to emerge as a clear alternative to former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, five Republican presidential candidates gathered Wednesday for the party's latest debate.Trump, the overwhelming front-runner in the race,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rally-republican-debate-florida-cubans-hispanics-4bf3422ae0803cbe13f97238270cb510">skipped the event</a>, as he has the first two, citing his polling advantage. There was no shortage of noteworthy confrontations on stage, as the participants debated the Israel-Hamas war, the future of abortion rights and Trump himself.But with the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses approaching, it seemed unlikely that the debate fundamentally changed the presidential nomination fight.Here are some debate takeaways:The foreign policy debateWednesday marked the first time the presidential candidates gathered on a debate stage since war broke out between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel and Hamas</a>, resulting in a sharper foreign policy conversation compared to previous forums.The contenders were unified in offering robust support for Israel and bemoaned antisemitism, especially on liberal college campuses. But they said virtually nothing about protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza.The GOP's familiar foreign policy split, however, resurfaced when the exchanges veered into the war in Ukraine, the possibility of China confronting Taiwan and how to handle Venezuela's oil market.Former United Nations Ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>, South Carolina Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-scott">Tim Scott</a>&nbsp;and former New Jersey Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/chris-christie">Chris Christie</a>&nbsp;all sounded traditional GOP notes, backing military aid to Ukraine, calling for vastly increased investment in the military and linking all the global conflicts.Biotech entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vivek-ramaswamy">Vivek Ramaswamy</a>&nbsp;tried to set himself apart, claiming the rest of the stage was part of a bipartisan foreign policy establishment that blundered into repeated disasters in foreign wars. A longtime critic of aid to Ukraine, he followed up his condemnation of antisemitism by calling that country’s Jewish president “a Nazi.”Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a>&nbsp;seemed like he was straddling the divide. At one point, he dodged a question about Ukraine and China by talking about boosting security on the southern border and suggesting he’d deport immigrants from the Middle East.The candidates all talked tough. But the party divide over the Ukraine war ran subtly through the night and it’s not clear they’d each act the same should they actually make it to the Oval Office.Taking on TrumpAll of the candidates are trying to overtake Trump, who is the dominant front-runner in the primary. But for the most part, they've spent the primary campaign avoiding any opportunity to take on the former president.That became harder during the first debate hosted by a network that wasn't affiliated with the Trump-friendly Fox News. Moderators from NBC News opened by pressing the contenders to articulate why they — and not Trump — should become the Republican nominee.There was hardly a robust takedown of Trump, who remains popular among the GOP base and hosted a rival event Wednesday. But DeSantis was the most forceful.“Donald Trump’s a lot different guy than he was in 2016,” he said, declaring that Trump owed it to Republican primary voters to show up and explain his record.But even DeSantis’ strong words spanned less than 30 seconds. And he stopped short of questioning Trump’s “balls” for skipping the debate, as he had in recent days.The other candidates were less aggressive.Asked why he’s a better nominee than Trump, Ramaswamy went so far as to blame Republican National Committee Chair&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ronna-romney-mcdaniel">Ronna McDaniel</a>&nbsp;— not Trump — for the GOP’s repeated losses in national elections since Trump won the presidency in 2016.When she was asked about Trump, Haley made a passing reference of the national debt that piled up under his watch. Scott said the GOP needs to win over independent voters. Christie devoted one sentence to highlighting Trump’s legal troubles.The lack of pointed attacks against Trump may underscore the difficulty of attacking someone who’s not onstage. But his rivals didn’t try hard either. Wednesday’s debate is the latest example for why Trump may have been smart to skip the debates altogether.The Ramaswamy and Haley feudThere were five candidates on the debate stage, but the vendetta between two of them stood out — Haley and Ramaswamy.The two children of Indian immigrants have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/haley-ramaswamy-indian-americans-republicans-2024-election-916a01928d35d083ec6c10bc11b41a5f">collided during previous debates</a>. But the tension intensified Wednesday night with Ramaswamy gleefully playing the role of aggressor. He took several initial digs at Haley — at one point he called her and DeSantis “Cheney in 3-inch heels,” a reference to controversial former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz, a congresswoman excommunicated from the GOP for her criticism of Trump.But it was halfway through the debate, after Haley said she’d respond to Ramaswamy’s digs rather than answer a question about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vivek-ramaswamy-tiktok-republicans-china-2024-d2534384ff5b303d391fadba8e5b8824">banning Tik-Tok</a>, that Ramaswamy made his most shocking attack.Noting Haley hadn’t answered the question, Ramaswamy said, “Her own daughter was using the app for a long time, so you might want to take care of your daughter first.”Haley responded by forcefully telling Ramaswamy to “leave my daughter out of your voice.” She later said, “You're just scum.”Ramaswamy has dominated all three of the debates with his pugnacious style. It hasn’t necessarily helped him politically — his biting attacks seem to turn off voters — but it drowns out all the other candidates. He’s also clearly gotten under the skin of his rivals, who spend precious time going after him.Ramaswamy has even less of a path to victory than the rest of the very distant field, and each debate he dominates is another lost opportunity for anyone to change the trajectory of the GOP primary.A path forward on abortionRepublicans have had no answers on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;ever since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In election after election, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2024-elections-republicans-ohio-virginia-90255a62d83ad9f1d86b407c9455bb0a">several this week</a>, Democrats have used the issue to their advantage.On Wednesday night, Haley, the only woman onstage, tried to give her party a path forward for navigating the delicate political issue.Haley’s approach was decidedly softer and more personal than what the men onstage offered.“I don’t judge anyone for being pro-choice, and I don’t want them to judge me for being pro-life,” she said, suggesting that she respected the decisions of states to protect abortion rights even if she didn’t agree with them.And she made clear that the next Republican president would not be in position to institute a national ban on abortion without 60 votes in the Senate, which isn’t anywhere close to the horizon. Instead, she suggested Republicans in Washington work for what could be achievable: a ban on late-term abortions, policies that encourage adoption and increased accessibility of contraception.“Let’s focus on how to save as many babies as we can and support as many moms as we can and stop the judgment. We don’t need to divide America over this issue anymore,” Haley said, drawing applause from the crowd.Meanwhile, the men onstage offered more of the same message that failed to resonate with voters across Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania earlier in the week.DeSantis attacked Democrats for supporting abortions without any time restrictions. Echoing the criticism, Scott said it was “unethical and immoral” to allow abortions up to the day of birth.Haley’s message might be popular among some suburban women, a group the GOP has struggled with during recent elections, but it’s decidedly out of step with many activists that make up the Republican base. Still, her answer Wednesday night is a reminder why some Democratic officials fear her as a possible Biden opponent more than any of the other candidates.The race for secondAfter two more hours of likely also-rans arguing over mostly small differences, it seems clear that the Republican presidential contest is mainly a race to finish a distant second.No one is even close to Trump and no one is trying to catch him. Instead, the candidates seem to be fighting over who can be the best alternative to him in the event the unthinkable happens to sideline the four-times-indicted, constitutionally challenged, 77-year-old front-runner.Even Christie, whose entire campaign was predicated on him being the only Republican brave enough to attack the former president, stayed quiet on Trump unless asked about him by the moderators.By now it’s clear that no one sees a path to actual victory in the primary. Instead, everyone is acting like their best bet is that the alternative universe of the debates, where Trump is not even on the stage, somehow becomes reality for Republican voters.That’s the only way these debates likely matter anymore. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned in the Trump era, it’s that you can never tell what will happen next.

GOP candidates hit Trump and back Israel: Highlights from the debate

LOS ANGELES (AP) — On Thursday, for the first time in more than six months, neither Hollywood's actors nor its writers will be on strike.

The long-awaited clearing in the industry's stormiest season in decades comes as a deal was reached late Wednesday to end what was, at nearly four months, the longest strike ever for film and television actors.

The three-year contract must be approved by the board of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and its members in the coming days. But union leadership declared that the strike will end at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, putting all of the parts of production back into action for the first time since spring.

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's executive director and chief negotiator, said the gains made in the deal justified the struggle.

“It’s an agreement that our members can be proud of. I’m certainly very proud of it," Crabtree-Ireland told The Associated Press in an interview. "We said we would only accept a fair, equitable and respectful deal, and that’s precisely what this deal is. So I think our members, as we are able to release more of the details of it, will look at them and say, now this is something that was worth being on strike for.”

More than 60,000 SAG-AFTRA members&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-actors-strike-ca3e3eddc910f1e52d618e5e3c394554">went on strike</a>&nbsp;July 14, joining screenwriters who had walked off the job more than two months earlier. It was the first time the two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-poll-public-opinion-actors-writers-5727ed3078c4f69851c18c560670f480">unions had been on strike</a>&nbsp;together since 1960. The studios and writers reached a deal that brought their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-deal-hollywood-vote-actors-d3119d670a4fd3449773bf8f4026fb2b">strike to an end</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 26.

The union valued the deal at over a billion dollars. Crabtree-Ireland said the deal includes boosts to minimum payments to actors, a greater share of streaming revenue going to performers, a bolstering of benefit plans and protections against the unfettered use of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-ai-strike-wga-artificial-intelligence-39ab72582c3a15f77510c9c30a45ffc8">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;in recreating performances. Details of the terms will not be released until after a meeting on Friday where board members review the contract.

The AI protections were a sticking point in the negotiations that had moved methodically, with both long breaks for both sides to huddle, since they restarted on Oct. 24.

“It is something that has evolved even while we’ve been in this negotiation process,” Crabtree-Ireland said. “The capabilities of generative AI tools have expanded dramatically. So we have really been focused on making sure that the guardrails that we negotiated for were future-proof or at least future-resistant.”

The other side in the negotiations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-lombardini-drescher-stutzman-iger-zaslav-00c17264129cebb17d10b80b9c51aa3e">Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers</a>&nbsp;said in a statement that the “agreement represents a new paradigm. It gives SAG-AFTRA the biggest contract-on-contract gains in the history of the union.” The AMPTP said it "looks forward to the industry resuming the work of telling great stories.”

Executives from top entertainment companies including Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and Universal had a direct hand in negotiations.

The Writers Guild of America applauded Wednesday's deal. “We’re thrilled to see SAG-AFTRA members win a contract that creates new protections for performers and gives them a greater share of the immense value they create,” the union said in a statement. "When workers are united, they win!”

Although the writers strike had immediate, visible effects for viewers, including the months-long suspension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-late-night-shows-return-negotiations-1ddcaa8c4684375f8e56d2cd2abd62ea">late-night talk shows</a>&nbsp;and “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saturday-night-live-returns-a3c0feb411b8f673797fb1d4fdc2546b">Saturday Night Live</a>,” the impact of the actors’ absence was not as immediately apparent. But its ripple effects — delayed release dates and waits for new show seasons — could be felt for months or even years.

Actors should quickly return to movie sets where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-delayed-shows-movies-writers-42b99032bb638930df097f675b363898">productions were paused</a>, including “Deadpool 3,” “Gladiator 2” and “Wicked.” Other movies and shows will restart shooting once returning writers finish scripts.

And beyond scripted productions, the end of the strike allows actors to return to red carpets, talk shows and podcasts, as Hollywood’s awards season approaches.

“The SAG strike is over!! I can finally say it: watch my documentary Saturday night at 8 on HBO/MAX!” actor-director&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBrooks">Albert Brooks said on social media</a>&nbsp;moments after the strike ended. “Couldn’t say a word until now!!”

The only major awards show directly effected by the strike was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards">Emmys</a>, which was moved from September to January. Now, the usual fall&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oscars">Oscar</a>&nbsp;campaigns will mobilize.

But any feeling of industry normalcy could prove temporary. The circumstances that brought on the strikes — the shift from traditional theatrical and broadcast media to streaming, and emerging tech like AI — have not been slowed. And the gains made by the strikes may embolden other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strike-averted-deal-reached-iatse-fec4d17fae1115e9fe17149d9e8cdbc4">Hollywood unions</a>, or these same guilds in negotiations that will come up again in three years.

Union leaders treated the strike like a watershed moment from the start, coming as it did amid wider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uaw-mack-union-ford-gm-stellantis-volvo-e55c1b1efc5b0d0a6e01b4f57d7da08a">labor fights</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kaiser-health-care-workers-strike-b8b40ce8c082c0b8c4f1c0fb7ec38741">other industries</a>.

“I think it’s a conversation now about the culture of big business, and how it treats everybody up and down the ladder in the name of profit,” SAG-AFTRA President and “The Nanny” star&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fran-drescher-actors-strike-sagaftra-nanny-ec62ce74813caa12ec11f72a0b48bc17">Fran Drescher told AP</a>&nbsp;in August.

The agreement also means a return to sets for thousands of film crew members who were left with nothing to work on during the strikes. SAG-AFTRA sought to offset their hardship by allowing sometimes controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-strike-waiver-explained-b2e192a3bbbcce7237c11d557e933477">interim agreements</a>&nbsp;for some smaller productions to proceed, and by making their strike relief fund available to all workers in the industry.

“The idea that I get to discover if I still remember how to act is very exciting,” said actor Ely Henry, who has spent the past months leading pickets outside Paramount Pictures as a strike captain. “I’m just grateful for the fact that so many people are going to get back to work.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood’s actors union reached a tentative deal with studios Wednesday to end its strike, bringing a close to months of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/">labor strife</a>&nbsp;that ground the entertainment industry to a historic halt.

The three-year contract agreement must be approved by votes from the union’s board and its members in the coming days, but the leadership declared that the strike will end at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.

More than 60,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Performers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-actors-strike-ca3e3eddc910f1e52d618e5e3c394554">went on strike</a>&nbsp;July 14, joining screenwriters who had walked off the job more than two months earlier. It was the first time the two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-poll-public-opinion-actors-writers-5727ed3078c4f69851c18c560670f480">unions had been on strike</a>&nbsp;together since 1960. Studios chose to negotiate with the writers first, striking a deal that their leadership marked as a major win and bringing their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-deal-hollywood-vote-actors-d3119d670a4fd3449773bf8f4026fb2b">strike to an end</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 26.

The terms of the agreement were not immediately released. SAG-AFTRA said details would be made public after a meeting on Friday where board members review the contract.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-writers-strike-explained-05a2e9439eee5146474b1b538ff9ada6">Issues on the table</a>&nbsp;included both short-term compensation and future royalty payments for film and TV performances, along with control over actors’ images and likenesses regenerated with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-ai-strike-wga-artificial-intelligence-39ab72582c3a15f77510c9c30a45ffc8">artificial intelligence</a>.

Executives from top entertainment companies including Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and Universal had a direct hand in negotiations, which like all Hollywood union talks were led by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-lombardini-drescher-stutzman-iger-zaslav-00c17264129cebb17d10b80b9c51aa3e">Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers</a>.

But any feeling of industry normalcy could prove temporary. The circumstances that brought on the strikes — the shift from traditional theatrical and broadcast media to streaming, and emerging tech like AI — have not been slowed. And the gains made by the strikes may embolden other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strike-averted-deal-reached-iatse-fec4d17fae1115e9fe17149d9e8cdbc4">Hollywood unions</a>, or these same guilds in negotiations that will come up again in just a few years.

“I think it’s a conversation now about the culture of big business, and how it treats everybody up and down the ladder in the name of profit,” SAG-AFTRA President and “The Nanny” star&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fran-drescher-actors-strike-sagaftra-nanny-ec62ce74813caa12ec11f72a0b48bc17">Fran Drescher told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;in an August interview.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-lombardini-drescher-stutzman-iger-zaslav-00c17264129cebb17d10b80b9c51aa3e">Duncan Crabtree-Ireland</a>, the executive director and chief negotiator who led the team that struck the deal for the guild, told the AP in August that he was “honored to be part of making sure that our members get a fair contract that’s going to protect them going into the future and make sure that the 14-year-olds I talked to on the Disney picket line still have the ability to be an actor when they turn 18.”

The agreement also means a return to sets for thousands of film crew members who have left with nothing to work on during the strikes. SAG-AFTRA sought to offset their hardship by allowing sometimes controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-strike-waiver-explained-b2e192a3bbbcce7237c11d557e933477">interim agreements</a>&nbsp;for some smaller productions to proceed, and by making their strike relief fund available to all workers in the industry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699493412106.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — On Thursday, for the first time in more than six months, neither Hollywood's actors nor its writers will be on strike.The long-awaited clearing in the industry's stormiest season in decades comes as a deal was reached late Wednesday to end what was, at nearly four months, the longest strike ever for film and television actors.The three-year contract must be approved by the board of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and its members in the coming days. But union leadership declared that the strike will end at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, putting all of the parts of production back into action for the first time since spring.Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's executive director and chief negotiator, said the gains made in the deal justified the struggle.“It’s an agreement that our members can be proud of. I’m certainly very proud of it," Crabtree-Ireland told The Associated Press in an interview. "We said we would only accept a fair, equitable and respectful deal, and that’s precisely what this deal is. So I think our members, as we are able to release more of the details of it, will look at them and say, now this is something that was worth being on strike for.”More than 60,000 SAG-AFTRA members&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-actors-strike-ca3e3eddc910f1e52d618e5e3c394554">went on strike</a>&nbsp;July 14, joining screenwriters who had walked off the job more than two months earlier. It was the first time the two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-poll-public-opinion-actors-writers-5727ed3078c4f69851c18c560670f480">unions had been on strike</a>&nbsp;together since 1960. The studios and writers reached a deal that brought their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-deal-hollywood-vote-actors-d3119d670a4fd3449773bf8f4026fb2b">strike to an end</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 26.The union valued the deal at over a billion dollars. Crabtree-Ireland said the deal includes boosts to minimum payments to actors, a greater share of streaming revenue going to performers, a bolstering of benefit plans and protections against the unfettered use of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-ai-strike-wga-artificial-intelligence-39ab72582c3a15f77510c9c30a45ffc8">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;in recreating performances. Details of the terms will not be released until after a meeting on Friday where board members review the contract.The AI protections were a sticking point in the negotiations that had moved methodically, with both long breaks for both sides to huddle, since they restarted on Oct. 24.“It is something that has evolved even while we’ve been in this negotiation process,” Crabtree-Ireland said. “The capabilities of generative AI tools have expanded dramatically. So we have really been focused on making sure that the guardrails that we negotiated for were future-proof or at least future-resistant.”The other side in the negotiations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-lombardini-drescher-stutzman-iger-zaslav-00c17264129cebb17d10b80b9c51aa3e">Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers</a>&nbsp;said in a statement that the “agreement represents a new paradigm. It gives SAG-AFTRA the biggest contract-on-contract gains in the history of the union.” The AMPTP said it "looks forward to the industry resuming the work of telling great stories.”Executives from top entertainment companies including Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and Universal had a direct hand in negotiations.The Writers Guild of America applauded Wednesday's deal. “We’re thrilled to see SAG-AFTRA members win a contract that creates new protections for performers and gives them a greater share of the immense value they create,” the union said in a statement. "When workers are united, they win!”Although the writers strike had immediate, visible effects for viewers, including the months-long suspension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-late-night-shows-return-negotiations-1ddcaa8c4684375f8e56d2cd2abd62ea">late-night talk shows</a>&nbsp;and “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saturday-night-live-returns-a3c0feb411b8f673797fb1d4fdc2546b">Saturday Night Live</a>,” the impact of the actors’ absence was not as immediately apparent. But its ripple effects — delayed release dates and waits for new show seasons — could be felt for months or even years.Actors should quickly return to movie sets where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-delayed-shows-movies-writers-42b99032bb638930df097f675b363898">productions were paused</a>, including “Deadpool 3,” “Gladiator 2” and “Wicked.” Other movies and shows will restart shooting once returning writers finish scripts.And beyond scripted productions, the end of the strike allows actors to return to red carpets, talk shows and podcasts, as Hollywood’s awards season approaches.“The SAG strike is over!! I can finally say it: watch my documentary Saturday night at 8 on HBO/MAX!” actor-director&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBrooks">Albert Brooks said on social media</a>&nbsp;moments after the strike ended. “Couldn’t say a word until now!!”The only major awards show directly effected by the strike was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards">Emmys</a>, which was moved from September to January. Now, the usual fall&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oscars">Oscar</a>&nbsp;campaigns will mobilize.But any feeling of industry normalcy could prove temporary. The circumstances that brought on the strikes — the shift from traditional theatrical and broadcast media to streaming, and emerging tech like AI — have not been slowed. And the gains made by the strikes may embolden other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strike-averted-deal-reached-iatse-fec4d17fae1115e9fe17149d9e8cdbc4">Hollywood unions</a>, or these same guilds in negotiations that will come up again in three years.Union leaders treated the strike like a watershed moment from the start, coming as it did amid wider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uaw-mack-union-ford-gm-stellantis-volvo-e55c1b1efc5b0d0a6e01b4f57d7da08a">labor fights</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kaiser-health-care-workers-strike-b8b40ce8c082c0b8c4f1c0fb7ec38741">other industries</a>.“I think it’s a conversation now about the culture of big business, and how it treats everybody up and down the ladder in the name of profit,” SAG-AFTRA President and “The Nanny” star&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fran-drescher-actors-strike-sagaftra-nanny-ec62ce74813caa12ec11f72a0b48bc17">Fran Drescher told AP</a>&nbsp;in August.The agreement also means a return to sets for thousands of film crew members who were left with nothing to work on during the strikes. SAG-AFTRA sought to offset their hardship by allowing sometimes controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-strike-waiver-explained-b2e192a3bbbcce7237c11d557e933477">interim agreements</a>&nbsp;for some smaller productions to proceed, and by making their strike relief fund available to all workers in the industry.“The idea that I get to discover if I still remember how to act is very exciting,” said actor Ely Henry, who has spent the past months leading pickets outside Paramount Pictures as a strike captain. “I’m just grateful for the fact that so many people are going to get back to work.”-------------------LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood’s actors union reached a tentative deal with studios Wednesday to end its strike, bringing a close to months of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/">labor strife</a>&nbsp;that ground the entertainment industry to a historic halt.The three-year contract agreement must be approved by votes from the union’s board and its members in the coming days, but the leadership declared that the strike will end at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.More than 60,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Performers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-actors-strike-ca3e3eddc910f1e52d618e5e3c394554">went on strike</a>&nbsp;July 14, joining screenwriters who had walked off the job more than two months earlier. It was the first time the two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-poll-public-opinion-actors-writers-5727ed3078c4f69851c18c560670f480">unions had been on strike</a>&nbsp;together since 1960. Studios chose to negotiate with the writers first, striking a deal that their leadership marked as a major win and bringing their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-deal-hollywood-vote-actors-d3119d670a4fd3449773bf8f4026fb2b">strike to an end</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 26.The terms of the agreement were not immediately released. SAG-AFTRA said details would be made public after a meeting on Friday where board members review the contract.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-writers-strike-explained-05a2e9439eee5146474b1b538ff9ada6">Issues on the table</a>&nbsp;included both short-term compensation and future royalty payments for film and TV performances, along with control over actors’ images and likenesses regenerated with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-ai-strike-wga-artificial-intelligence-39ab72582c3a15f77510c9c30a45ffc8">artificial intelligence</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699493495908.png" alt="Photo courtesy SAG-AFTRA" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy SAG-AFTRA</figcaption>
 </figure>Executives from top entertainment companies including Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and Universal had a direct hand in negotiations, which like all Hollywood union talks were led by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-lombardini-drescher-stutzman-iger-zaslav-00c17264129cebb17d10b80b9c51aa3e">Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers</a>.Although the writers strike had immediate, visible effects for viewers, including the months-long suspension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-late-night-shows-return-negotiations-1ddcaa8c4684375f8e56d2cd2abd62ea">late-night talk shows</a>&nbsp;and “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saturday-night-live-returns-a3c0feb411b8f673797fb1d4fdc2546b">Saturday Night Live</a>,” the impact of the actors’ absence was not as immediately apparent. But its ripple effects — delayed release dates and waits for new show seasons — could be felt for months or even years.Actors should quickly return to movie sets where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-delayed-shows-movies-writers-42b99032bb638930df097f675b363898">productions were paused</a>, including “Deadpool 3,” “Gladiator 2” and “Wicked.” Other movies and shows will restart shooting once returning writers finish scripts.And beyond scripted productions, the end of the strike allows actors to return to red carpets, talk shows and podcasts, as Hollywood’s awards season approaches.“The SAG strike is over!! I can finally say it: watch my documentary Saturday night at 8 on HBO/MAX!” actor-director&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBrooks">Albert Brooks said on social media</a>&nbsp;moments after the strike ended. “Couldn’t say a word until now!!”The only major awards show directly effected by the strike was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards">Emmys</a>, which was moved from September to January. Now, the usual fall&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/oscars">Oscar</a>&nbsp;campaigns will mobilize.But any feeling of industry normalcy could prove temporary. The circumstances that brought on the strikes — the shift from traditional theatrical and broadcast media to streaming, and emerging tech like AI — have not been slowed. And the gains made by the strikes may embolden other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strike-averted-deal-reached-iatse-fec4d17fae1115e9fe17149d9e8cdbc4">Hollywood unions</a>, or these same guilds in negotiations that will come up again in just a few years.Union leaders treated the strike like a watershed moment from the start, coming as it did amid wider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uaw-mack-union-ford-gm-stellantis-volvo-e55c1b1efc5b0d0a6e01b4f57d7da08a">labor fights</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kaiser-health-care-workers-strike-b8b40ce8c082c0b8c4f1c0fb7ec38741">other industries</a>.“I think it’s a conversation now about the culture of big business, and how it treats everybody up and down the ladder in the name of profit,” SAG-AFTRA President and “The Nanny” star&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fran-drescher-actors-strike-sagaftra-nanny-ec62ce74813caa12ec11f72a0b48bc17">Fran Drescher told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;in an August interview.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-strikes-lombardini-drescher-stutzman-iger-zaslav-00c17264129cebb17d10b80b9c51aa3e">Duncan Crabtree-Ireland</a>, the executive director and chief negotiator who led the team that struck the deal for the guild, told the AP in August that he was “honored to be part of making sure that our members get a fair contract that’s going to protect them going into the future and make sure that the 14-year-olds I talked to on the Disney picket line still have the ability to be an actor when they turn 18.”The agreement also means a return to sets for thousands of film crew members who have left with nothing to work on during the strikes. SAG-AFTRA sought to offset their hardship by allowing sometimes controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/actors-strike-strike-waiver-explained-b2e192a3bbbcce7237c11d557e933477">interim agreements</a>&nbsp;for some smaller productions to proceed, and by making their strike relief fund available to all workers in the industry.

After 118 days Hollywood actors strike is over; union reaches tentative deal 

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/07/state-must-update-its-drought-mitigation-and-response-plan-officials-say/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Even though drought conditions have eased in Nebraska in recent months, the state needs to update its 23-year-old drought response plan, members of a state climate committee said Tuesday.

Mark Svoboda, the director of the National Drought Mitigation Center, based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said several states have updated their drought response plans in recent years, including Iowa and South Dakota.

But Nebraska, Svoboda said, still relies on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://carc.nebraska.gov/docs/NebraskaDrought.pdf">a plan from 2000</a>, one that doesn’t have the rich store of data now available and one that doesn’t provide great guidance on how to avoid or respond to a drought.

“I fear that we’re missing out on being ahead of the curve,” he told fellow members of the State Climate Assessment Response Committee (CARC). “You want to be proactive, and not reactive.”

The committee, composed of climatologists, geologists and others who monitor climate for UNL and a variety of agriculture and natural resources agencies, meets twice a year to look at data and advise the governor and state agencies about drought and other severe weather.

Tuesday was the CARC’s second meeting of 2023, and compared to July, it was mostly upbeat. A year ago, 100% of the state was in some stage of drought, and dry weather was persisting into July, when timely rains served to reduce the drought area to just under 25% of the state. (See drought maps below.)

“The saving grace was the month of July,” said Brad Fuchs, a climatologist with the national center.

Portions of the Panhandle and north-central Nebraska received heavy rains throughout the summer, pushing them out of the drought category, Fuchs said, though the southeast quarter of the state is still significantly short of precipitation.

Nick Streff, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s statistics service, told the CARC that due to the midsummer rains, corn yields in Nebraska are expected to be up 5.5% over last year. Yields, he said, are expected to average 174 bushels per acre this year compared to 165 bushels in 2022.

July was a “godsend,” said Eric Hunt, of the State Climate Office.

Svoboda, though, said he worries that if the state gets plentiful precipitation this winter and spring, momentum for updating a state plan will dissipate, despite two years of drought.

Hilary Maricle, who chairs the CARC and is the deputy director of the Nebraska Department of

Agriculture, said she has already had preliminary discussions with the state Departments of Environment and Energy and Natural Resources. She said she has asked them what should be included in an updated drought mitigation and response plans and what plans they have developed already.

The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency also has a role to play during a drought, Maricle said.

“We’ve got some more work to do about who’s doing what,” she said, to avoid duplication.

Maricle urged members of the CARC to provide their ideas on what should be addressed in such an update.

She said the committee, when it meets again in the spring, hopes to finalize what needs to be in the drought mitigation plan.

Maricle said she had no timeline on when an updated plan could be completed.

Svoboda said Nebraska could learn some lessons from other states, citing Iowa as one example.

Iowa’s plan, updated this year, includes “triggers” related to precipitation, stream flow and drought designations that would call for a drought “warning” or “emergency.”

While Nebraska’s natural resources districts already monitor groundwater use and issue directives if water is short, Svoboda said that a state drought plan would encompass a wider scope than just irrigation.

Steps to update the state’s drought management plan comes as Nebraska is developing a Climate Pollution Reduction Plan, utilizing a $3 million grant as part of President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

In 2022, the Nebraska Legislature also allocated $150,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to update a 2014 state plan that assesses the impact of climate change on the state.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699473634942.jpeg" alt="Drought conditions in 2022 dried up the flows in the South Platte River east of Ogallala, near Roscoe. Portions of the Platte River near Columbus ran dry this summer for a time. (Courtesy of the Nebraska Governor’s Office)" />
 <figcaption>Drought conditions in 2022 dried up the flows in the South Platte River east of Ogallala, near Roscoe. Portions of the Platte River near Columbus ran dry this summer for a time. (Courtesy of the Nebraska Governor’s Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/07/state-must-update-its-drought-mitigation-and-response-plan-officials-say/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Even though drought conditions have eased in Nebraska in recent months, the state needs to update its 23-year-old drought response plan, members of a state climate committee said Tuesday.Mark Svoboda, the director of the National Drought Mitigation Center, based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said several states have updated their drought response plans in recent years, including Iowa and South Dakota.But Nebraska, Svoboda said, still relies on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://carc.nebraska.gov/docs/NebraskaDrought.pdf">a plan from 2000</a>, one that doesn’t have the rich store of data now available and one that doesn’t provide great guidance on how to avoid or respond to a drought.<h2>‘We’re missing out’</h2>“I fear that we’re missing out on being ahead of the curve,” he told fellow members of the State Climate Assessment Response Committee (CARC). “You want to be proactive, and not reactive.”The committee, composed of climatologists, geologists and others who monitor climate for UNL and a variety of agriculture and natural resources agencies, meets twice a year to look at data and advise the governor and state agencies about drought and other severe weather.Tuesday was the CARC’s second meeting of 2023, and compared to July, it was mostly upbeat. A year ago, 100% of the state was in some stage of drought, and dry weather was persisting into July, when timely rains served to reduce the drought area to just under 25% of the state. (See drought maps below.)“The saving grace was the month of July,” said Brad Fuchs, a climatologist with the national center.Portions of the Panhandle and north-central Nebraska received heavy rains throughout the summer, pushing them out of the drought category, Fuchs said, though the southeast quarter of the state is still significantly short of precipitation.Nick Streff, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s statistics service, told the CARC that due to the midsummer rains, corn yields in Nebraska are expected to be up 5.5% over last year. Yields, he said, are expected to average 174 bushels per acre this year compared to 165 bushels in 2022.<h2>July was a ‘godsend’</h2>July was a “godsend,” said Eric Hunt, of the State Climate Office.Svoboda, though, said he worries that if the state gets plentiful precipitation this winter and spring, momentum for updating a state plan will dissipate, despite two years of drought.Hilary Maricle, who chairs the CARC and is the deputy director of the Nebraska Department ofAgriculture, said she has already had preliminary discussions with the state Departments of Environment and Energy and Natural Resources. She said she has asked them what should be included in an updated drought mitigation and response plans and what plans they have developed already.The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency also has a role to play during a drought, Maricle said.<h2>‘Work to do’</h2>“We’ve got some more work to do about who’s doing what,” she said, to avoid duplication.Maricle urged members of the CARC to provide their ideas on what should be addressed in such an update.She said the committee, when it meets again in the spring, hopes to finalize what needs to be in the drought mitigation plan.Maricle said she had no timeline on when an updated plan could be completed.Svoboda said Nebraska could learn some lessons from other states, citing Iowa as one example.Iowa’s plan, updated this year, includes “triggers” related to precipitation, stream flow and drought designations that would call for a drought “warning” or “emergency.”While Nebraska’s natural resources districts already monitor groundwater use and issue directives if water is short, Svoboda said that a state drought plan would encompass a wider scope than just irrigation.Steps to update the state’s drought management plan comes as Nebraska is developing a Climate Pollution Reduction Plan, utilizing a $3 million grant as part of President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.In 2022, the Nebraska Legislature also allocated $150,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to update a 2014 state plan that assesses the impact of climate change on the state.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699473572897.png" alt="Nebraska’s latest drought map, as of Oct. 31, shows only a portion of southeast Nebraska (in red and deep red) as experiencing extreme or exception drought. Orange and tan areas indicate less intense drought. (courtesy National Drought Mitigation Center)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska’s latest drought map, as of Oct. 31, shows only a portion of southeast Nebraska (in red and deep red) as experiencing extreme or exception drought. Orange and tan areas indicate less intense drought. (courtesy National Drought Mitigation Center)</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699473591780.png" alt="The state drought map in August was much more dire, with a wide swatch of the state in extreme or exceptional drought. (courtesy National Drought Mitigation Center)" />
 <figcaption>The state drought map in August was much more dire, with a wide swatch of the state in extreme or exceptional drought. (courtesy National Drought Mitigation Center)</figcaption>
 </figure>

State must update its drought mitigation and response plan, officials say

WASHINGTON (AP) — The day that panda lovers have been dreading has finally come.

The National Zoo's three giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji. on Wednesday began their long trip to China, leaving behind an empty panda exhibit with no certainty that pandas ever would again take up residence there.

“It is a moment with some heartbreak in it,” said National Zoo Director Brandie Smith. “But it is also a moment of joy because we are celebrating the success of the world’s longest running conservation program for a single species.”

The pandas had been loaded into large white crates away from the public view. Forklifts took them to waiting trucks — along with several bushels of bamboo for road snacks. Their faces were occasionally visible through a small window at the side of the crates. Zoo personnel walked alongside them.

They were taken to Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia, where a specially outfitted Boeing 777F dubbed the FedEx Panda Express was waiting. The 19-hour flight to Chengdu, China will include a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska.

Smith noted that during the 50 years of panda exchanges between China and the National Zoo, giant pandas have been removed from the list of endangered species.

She said she hopes to be back at the airport “sometime soon again as we celebrate the return of giant pandas to Smithsonian’s National Zoo.”

But there's no guarantee that pandas will return to the zoo. The zoo's exchange agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association expires in early December and negotiations to renew or extend the deal have not produced results.

Veteran China-watchers have speculated that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giant-pandas-china-diplomacy-national-zoo-1f0eee3fc0114296bcfe5472c43a373e">Beijing is gradually withdrawing</a>&nbsp;its giant pandas from zoos in America and Europe amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-china-blinken-xi-biden-ce8bf13e5a02977a5291c001761ae0b3">diplomatic tensions</a>&nbsp;with a number of Western governments.

The San Diego Zoo returned its pandas in 2019, and the last bear at the Memphis, Tennessee, zoo went home earlier this year. The departure of the National Zoo’s bears means that the only giant pandas left in America are at the Atlanta Zoo — and that loan agreement expires late next year.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The day that panda lovers have been dreading has finally come.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Custom travel crates, about 800 lbs. each, were made for giant pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji for their journey from the Zoo to Chengdu via the <a href="https://twitter.com/FedEx?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FedEx</a> Panda Express. Also, onboard is our expert panda care team. Stay tuned for departure! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PandaStory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PandaStory</a> 🐼🐼🐼🛫 <a href="https://t.co/K9mBJpXJyy">pic.twitter.com/K9mBJpXJyy</a>&mdash; National Zoo (@NationalZoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationalZoo/status/1722303072175525936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The National Zoo's three giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji. on Wednesday began their long trip to China, leaving behind an empty panda exhibit with no certainty that pandas ever would again take up residence there.“It is a moment with some heartbreak in it,” said National Zoo Director Brandie Smith. “But it is also a moment of joy because we are celebrating the success of the world’s longest running conservation program for a single species.”The pandas had been loaded into large white crates away from the public view. Forklifts took them to waiting trucks — along with several bushels of bamboo for road snacks. Their faces were occasionally visible through a small window at the side of the crates. Zoo personnel walked alongside them.They were taken to Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia, where a specially outfitted Boeing 777F dubbed the FedEx Panda Express was waiting. The 19-hour flight to Chengdu, China will include a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska.Smith noted that during the 50 years of panda exchanges between China and the National Zoo, giant pandas have been removed from the list of endangered species.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">❤️🐼 Whether he was somersaulting down a snow-covered hill, splashing in a tub filled with suds or snacking on bamboo shoots, giant panda Tian Tian captured the hearts of millions with his chill and goofy personality. We wish him safe travels to China. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PandaStory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PandaStory</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/smithsonian?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@smithsonian</a> <a href="https://t.co/tDxRyQ7DsI">pic.twitter.com/tDxRyQ7DsI</a>&mdash; National Zoo (@NationalZoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationalZoo/status/1722291594018054331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>She said she hopes to be back at the airport “sometime soon again as we celebrate the return of giant pandas to Smithsonian’s National Zoo.”But there's no guarantee that pandas will return to the zoo. The zoo's exchange agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association expires in early December and negotiations to renew or extend the deal have not produced results.Veteran China-watchers have speculated that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giant-pandas-china-diplomacy-national-zoo-1f0eee3fc0114296bcfe5472c43a373e">Beijing is gradually withdrawing</a>&nbsp;its giant pandas from zoos in America and Europe amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-china-blinken-xi-biden-ce8bf13e5a02977a5291c001761ae0b3">diplomatic tensions</a>&nbsp;with a number of Western governments.The San Diego Zoo returned its pandas in 2019, and the last bear at the Memphis, Tennessee, zoo went home earlier this year. The departure of the National Zoo’s bears means that the only giant pandas left in America are at the Atlanta Zoo — and that loan agreement expires late next year.Chinese Embassy representative Xu Xueyuan praised the benefits of the China's multiple panda exchange agreements with zoos around the world. But she offered no hints on whether the program with American zoos will continue in the short term.“Such collaboration has contributed strongly to the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and American peoples,” she said. “China will continue to work closely with cooperation partners, including the United States, on the conservation and research of endangered species and biodiversity protection.”The zoo's incredibly popular&nbsp;<a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/panda-cam">livestream panda-cam</a>&nbsp;is now showing greatest hits panda videos.