Imagine for a moment what it would be like to constantly defend your livelihood against criminals who cut fences near your cattle or damaged water lines directly tied to your crop production? Would dealing with these challenges affect your role as an ag producer and steward of our land? Now, imagine learning that one of your children had been exposed to crime and human trafficking after being recruited to smuggle drugs into our country. Would this affect your role as a parent and protector of our next generation?&nbsp;

Drug cartels and criminals are causing these dangerous scenarios on the southern border. They are also indirectly taking a toll closer to home. Over the past year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration linked 26 criminal investigations in communities across Nebraska, the Dakotas, Iowa, and Minnesota to Mexican cartels. Inside South Dakota’s tribal reservations, cartels are preying on residents to buy and sell drugs, where state law has no jurisdiction. The Texas Department of Public Safety has linked Mexican drug trafficking routes to Des Moines, where methamphetamine and fentanyl drug seizures increased by 1,000 percent in just one year.

A few weeks ago, I joined Governors Kim Reynolds (IA), Kevin Stitt (OK) and Kristi Noem (SD) at the border in Eagle Pass, TX, to support Gov. Greg Abbott (TX) in his mission to stop illegal immigration. Prior to the security briefing, I had the opportunity to spend time with 61 Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers who, as Commander in Chief, I sent to the border just a few weeks earlier. Their efforts were significant. During their time in Texas, they recorded 5,778 interactions with migrants. Of those, more than 3,000 people were turned back swiftly, but 2,708 were either apprehended or surrendered after crossing into U.S. territory. They performed their mission spectacularly and under budget.

Families crossing into the U.S. illegally reached an all-time high in August. &nbsp;While they may be seeking asylum from a bad situation in their own homeland, the fact is, many are bringing trouble with them. Since its inception, border agents have detained more 420,800 illegal immigrants and made more than 33,600 criminal arrests. Enough doses of fentanyl have been seized at the border that could in reality, kill every man, woman, and child in the U.S.

Crossings are also becoming increasingly dangerous. That section of the U.S.-Mexico border has been deemed the deadliest in the world by the International Organization for Migration, a UN affiliated group.&nbsp; In 2022, more than 853 migrants died while attempting to cross. Some who make it into America also suffer deadly consequences. Last summer, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed our country’s deadliest human smuggling event in history following the deaths of 53 abandoned migrants.&nbsp;

Nebraska is one of 14 states that have deployed state troopers or troops to the border since the inception of Operation Lone Star two years ago. We have sent both. I am committed to sending reinforcements in the future, as necessary.

President Biden has failed to assume federal control of a situation that is now left to the states to manage. For all the reasons above, and for those consequences that remain unknown, it is essential that we act to protect our own border – the one surrounding the state of Nebraska. Failure to do so only puts our own citizenry and our kids at risk. Turning a blind eye or anticipating that the situation will self-improve is not effective and will only lead to more serious repercussions. It’s now time for all states to step up and protect our country from the illegal activities facilitated by the border crisis.

I am confident if Nebraskans were provided with the data I received and if Nebraskans had the chance to see what I did in Texas, there would be 100% support for these decisions.

If you have questions about Nebraska’s role in securing our nation’s southern border, please call my office at 402-471-2244 or email me at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jim.pillen@nebraska.gov">jim.pillen@nebraska.gov</a>.

Jim PillenImagine for a moment what it would be like to constantly defend your livelihood against criminals who cut fences near your cattle or damaged water lines directly tied to your crop production? Would dealing with these challenges affect your role as an ag producer and steward of our land? Now, imagine learning that one of your children had been exposed to crime and human trafficking after being recruited to smuggle drugs into our country. Would this affect your role as a parent and protector of our next generation?&nbsp;Drug cartels and criminals are causing these dangerous scenarios on the southern border. They are also indirectly taking a toll closer to home. Over the past year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration linked 26 criminal investigations in communities across Nebraska, the Dakotas, Iowa, and Minnesota to Mexican cartels. Inside South Dakota’s tribal reservations, cartels are preying on residents to buy and sell drugs, where state law has no jurisdiction. The Texas Department of Public Safety has linked Mexican drug trafficking routes to Des Moines, where methamphetamine and fentanyl drug seizures increased by 1,000 percent in just one year.A few weeks ago, I joined Governors Kim Reynolds (IA), Kevin Stitt (OK) and Kristi Noem (SD) at the border in Eagle Pass, TX, to support Gov. Greg Abbott (TX) in his mission to stop illegal immigration. Prior to the security briefing, I had the opportunity to spend time with 61 Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers who, as Commander in Chief, I sent to the border just a few weeks earlier. Their efforts were significant. During their time in Texas, they recorded 5,778 interactions with migrants. Of those, more than 3,000 people were turned back swiftly, but 2,708 were either apprehended or surrendered after crossing into U.S. territory. They performed their mission spectacularly and under budget.Families crossing into the U.S. illegally reached an all-time high in August. &nbsp;While they may be seeking asylum from a bad situation in their own homeland, the fact is, many are bringing trouble with them. Since its inception, border agents have detained more 420,800 illegal immigrants and made more than 33,600 criminal arrests. Enough doses of fentanyl have been seized at the border that could in reality, kill every man, woman, and child in the U.S.Crossings are also becoming increasingly dangerous. That section of the U.S.-Mexico border has been deemed the deadliest in the world by the International Organization for Migration, a UN affiliated group.&nbsp; In 2022, more than 853 migrants died while attempting to cross. Some who make it into America also suffer deadly consequences. Last summer, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed our country’s deadliest human smuggling event in history following the deaths of 53 abandoned migrants.&nbsp;Nebraska is one of 14 states that have deployed state troopers or troops to the border since the inception of Operation Lone Star two years ago. We have sent both. I am committed to sending reinforcements in the future, as necessary.President Biden has failed to assume federal control of a situation that is now left to the states to manage. For all the reasons above, and for those consequences that remain unknown, it is essential that we act to protect our own border – the one surrounding the state of Nebraska. Failure to do so only puts our own citizenry and our kids at risk. Turning a blind eye or anticipating that the situation will self-improve is not effective and will only lead to more serious repercussions. It’s now time for all states to step up and protect our country from the illegal activities facilitated by the border crisis.I am confident if Nebraskans were provided with the data I received and if Nebraskans had the chance to see what I did in Texas, there would be 100% support for these decisions.If you have questions about Nebraska’s role in securing our nation’s southern border, please call my office at 402-471-2244 or email me at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jim.pillen@nebraska.gov">jim.pillen@nebraska.gov</a>.

Every State is a Border State

LONDON (AP) — European regulators slapped TikTok with a $368 million fine on Friday for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-europe-digital-services-act-6b0b901a7900b713d74aa5850d8e824d">failing to protect children's privacy</a>, the first time that the popular short video-sharing app has been punished for breaching Europe's strict data privacy rules.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission, the lead privacy regulator for Big Tech companies whose European headquarters are largely in Dublin, said it was fining TikTok 345 million euros and reprimanding the platform for the violations dating to the second half of 2020.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-health-mental-health-1925956c0f4baa672aa75bd490d24e3a">The investigation</a>&nbsp;found that the sign-up process for teen users resulted in settings that made their accounts public by default, allowing anyone to view and comment on their videos. Those default settings also posed a risk to children under 13 who gained access to the platform even though they're not allowed.

Also, a “family pairing" feature designed for parents to manage settings wasn't strict enough, allowing adults to turn on direct messaging for users aged 16 and 17 without their consent. And it nudged teen users into more “privacy intrusive” options when signing up and posting videos, the watchdog said.

TikTok said in a statement that it disagrees with the decision, “particularly the level of the fine imposed.”

The company pointed out that the regulator's criticisms focused on features and settings dating back three years. TikTok said it had made changes well before the investigation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-europe-data-privacy-ireland-a01b6717a95ce2d36021bda80994f151">began in September 2021</a>, including making all accounts for teens under 16 private by default and disabling direct messaging for 13- to 15-year-olds.

“Most of the decision’s criticisms are no longer relevant as a result of measures we introduced at the start of 2021 — several months before the investigation began,” TikTok's head of privacy for Europe, Elaine Fox, wrote in a blog post.

The Irish regulator has been criticized for not moving fast enough in its investigations into Big Tech companies since EU privacy laws took effect in 2018. For TikTok, German and Italian regulators disagreed with parts of a draft decision issued a year ago, delaying it further.

To avoid new bottlenecks, the Brussels headquarters of the 27-nation bloc has been given the job of enforcing new regulations to foster&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-google-amazon-microsoft-tiktok-meta-44850c92a3d9480cc067474490140d88">digital competition</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/digital-services-act-social-media-regulation-europe-26d76cc4785df1153669258766cc6387">clean up social media content</a>&nbsp;— rules aimed at maintaining its position as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-europe-rules-906fc89d2561b200fa6eb40a06b946a5">global leader in tech regulation</a>.

In response to initial German objections, Europe’s top panel of data regulators said TikTok nudged teen users with pop-up notices that failed to lay out their choices in a neutral and objective way.

“Social media companies have a responsibility to avoid presenting choices to users, especially children, in an unfair manner — particularly if that presentation can nudge people into making decisions that violate their privacy interests," said Anu Talus, chair of the European Data Protection Board.

The Irish watchdog, meanwhile, also had examined TikTok’s measures to verify whether users are at least 13 but found they didn’t break any rules.

The regulator is still carrying out a second investigation into whether TikTok complied with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation when it transferred users’ personal information to China, where its owner, ByteDance, is based.

TikTok has faced accusations it poses a security risk over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-security-risk-cc36f36801d84fc0652112fa461ef140">fears that users' sensitive information could end up in China</a>. It has embarked on a project to localize European user data to address those concerns:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-data-privacy-china-europe-4d0dd2f7eb39bfdcbb5e7a85cc26e8da">opening a data center in Dublin</a>&nbsp;this month, which will be the first of three on the continent.

Data privacy regulators in Britain, which left the EU in January 2020, fined TikTok 12.7 million pounds ($15.7 million) in April for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-data-privacy-britain-fine-china-2a94fcb6b74619ea7d04fdfc2ffe4e33">misusing children’s data</a>&nbsp;and violating other protections for young users’ personal information.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-social-media-ireland-c2bc634f7df239b53d496f1f682711ab">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-european-union-ireland-dublin-3e81b563498cf4365738ca606634ef4b">WhatsApp</a>&nbsp;and their owner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-data-privacy-fine-europe-9aa912200226c3d53aa293dca8968f84">Meta</a>&nbsp;are among other tech giants that have been hit with big fines by the Irish regulator over the past year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679065552021.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — European regulators slapped TikTok with a $368 million fine on Friday for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-europe-digital-services-act-6b0b901a7900b713d74aa5850d8e824d">failing to protect children's privacy</a>, the first time that the popular short video-sharing app has been punished for breaching Europe's strict data privacy rules.Ireland's Data Protection Commission, the lead privacy regulator for Big Tech companies whose European headquarters are largely in Dublin, said it was fining TikTok 345 million euros and reprimanding the platform for the violations dating to the second half of 2020.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-health-mental-health-1925956c0f4baa672aa75bd490d24e3a">The investigation</a>&nbsp;found that the sign-up process for teen users resulted in settings that made their accounts public by default, allowing anyone to view and comment on their videos. Those default settings also posed a risk to children under 13 who gained access to the platform even though they're not allowed.Also, a “family pairing" feature designed for parents to manage settings wasn't strict enough, allowing adults to turn on direct messaging for users aged 16 and 17 without their consent. And it nudged teen users into more “privacy intrusive” options when signing up and posting videos, the watchdog said.TikTok said in a statement that it disagrees with the decision, “particularly the level of the fine imposed.”The company pointed out that the regulator's criticisms focused on features and settings dating back three years. TikTok said it had made changes well before the investigation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-europe-data-privacy-ireland-a01b6717a95ce2d36021bda80994f151">began in September 2021</a>, including making all accounts for teens under 16 private by default and disabling direct messaging for 13- to 15-year-olds.“Most of the decision’s criticisms are no longer relevant as a result of measures we introduced at the start of 2021 — several months before the investigation began,” TikTok's head of privacy for Europe, Elaine Fox, wrote in a blog post.The Irish regulator has been criticized for not moving fast enough in its investigations into Big Tech companies since EU privacy laws took effect in 2018. For TikTok, German and Italian regulators disagreed with parts of a draft decision issued a year ago, delaying it further.To avoid new bottlenecks, the Brussels headquarters of the 27-nation bloc has been given the job of enforcing new regulations to foster&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-google-amazon-microsoft-tiktok-meta-44850c92a3d9480cc067474490140d88">digital competition</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/digital-services-act-social-media-regulation-europe-26d76cc4785df1153669258766cc6387">clean up social media content</a>&nbsp;— rules aimed at maintaining its position as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-europe-rules-906fc89d2561b200fa6eb40a06b946a5">global leader in tech regulation</a>.In response to initial German objections, Europe’s top panel of data regulators said TikTok nudged teen users with pop-up notices that failed to lay out their choices in a neutral and objective way.“Social media companies have a responsibility to avoid presenting choices to users, especially children, in an unfair manner — particularly if that presentation can nudge people into making decisions that violate their privacy interests," said Anu Talus, chair of the European Data Protection Board.The Irish watchdog, meanwhile, also had examined TikTok’s measures to verify whether users are at least 13 but found they didn’t break any rules.The regulator is still carrying out a second investigation into whether TikTok complied with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation when it transferred users’ personal information to China, where its owner, ByteDance, is based.TikTok has faced accusations it poses a security risk over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-security-risk-cc36f36801d84fc0652112fa461ef140">fears that users' sensitive information could end up in China</a>. It has embarked on a project to localize European user data to address those concerns:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-data-privacy-china-europe-4d0dd2f7eb39bfdcbb5e7a85cc26e8da">opening a data center in Dublin</a>&nbsp;this month, which will be the first of three on the continent.Data privacy regulators in Britain, which left the EU in January 2020, fined TikTok 12.7 million pounds ($15.7 million) in April for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-data-privacy-britain-fine-china-2a94fcb6b74619ea7d04fdfc2ffe4e33">misusing children’s data</a>&nbsp;and violating other protections for young users’ personal information.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-social-media-ireland-c2bc634f7df239b53d496f1f682711ab">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-european-union-ireland-dublin-3e81b563498cf4365738ca606634ef4b">WhatsApp</a>&nbsp;and their owner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-data-privacy-fine-europe-9aa912200226c3d53aa293dca8968f84">Meta</a>&nbsp;are among other tech giants that have been hit with big fines by the Irish regulator over the past year.

TikTok hit with $368 million fine for violating children's privacy

City of Kearney &amp; Kearney Police Department

On Friday, September 15, at approximately 3:30 a.m., a credible tip was received that 24 - year-old Jacob Ellingson, wanted for two separate counts of Felony Child Abuse, was inside a&nbsp; residence in the area of 115th and Grove Road, Buffalo County, NE. Members of KPD and&nbsp; BCSO Uniform Patrol responded to the address with KPD/BCSO Emergency Service Unit&nbsp; (SWAT). Officers were able to contact Ellingson via cell phone and negotiated with him for&nbsp; several minutes. Ellingson voluntarily exited the residence and was taken into custody without&nbsp; incident. Ellingson has been booked into the Buffalo County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The tireless efforts from our Investigators, Police Officers, Deputies, allied law enforcement partners, and support staff, to locate and apprehend this fugitive has been exceptional. I&nbsp; appreciate the patience from our community and more importantly, the willingness to report&nbsp; information, as officers followed up on countless leads with professionalism and commitment. I am incredibly thankful and relieved this fugitive is in custody. Our Investigators will continue to work this case and anyone found to have aided or knowingly harbored this fugitive will be&nbsp; held accountable.” – Chief Bryan D. Waugh&nbsp;

We continue to work closely with the family, doctors, Health and Human Services, and KPD&nbsp; Victim/Witness Services. We share the concern of a caring community and offer our sincere&nbsp; thoughts and support for the children and family. The one-year old child remains hospitalized&nbsp; at Children’s Hospital in Omaha. Details on the medical condition of the child will not be&nbsp; released at this time.&nbsp;

This remains an ongoing investigation; the Kearney Police Department will provide updates as&nbsp; new information becomes available. We greatly appreciate the assistance and teamwork from the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office with this case and arrest.&nbsp;

The Kearney Police Department continues to work in partnership with the Buffalo County&nbsp; Attorney’s Office in this ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Kearney Police Department (308) 237-2104, Buffalo County&nbsp; Crimestoppers (308) 237-3424, or through the See It Say It Send It App.&nbsp;

City of Kearney &amp; Kearney Police DepartmentOn Friday, September 15, at approximately 3:30 a.m., a credible tip was received that 24 - year-old Jacob Ellingson, wanted for two separate counts of Felony Child Abuse, was inside a&nbsp; residence in the area of 115th and Grove Road, Buffalo County, NE. Members of KPD and&nbsp; BCSO Uniform Patrol responded to the address with KPD/BCSO Emergency Service Unit&nbsp; (SWAT). Officers were able to contact Ellingson via cell phone and negotiated with him for&nbsp; several minutes. Ellingson voluntarily exited the residence and was taken into custody without&nbsp; incident. Ellingson has been booked into the Buffalo County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The tireless efforts from our Investigators, Police Officers, Deputies, allied law enforcement partners, and support staff, to locate and apprehend this fugitive has been exceptional. I&nbsp; appreciate the patience from our community and more importantly, the willingness to report&nbsp; information, as officers followed up on countless leads with professionalism and commitment. I am incredibly thankful and relieved this fugitive is in custody. Our Investigators will continue to work this case and anyone found to have aided or knowingly harbored this fugitive will be&nbsp; held accountable.” – Chief Bryan D. Waugh&nbsp;We continue to work closely with the family, doctors, Health and Human Services, and KPD&nbsp; Victim/Witness Services. We share the concern of a caring community and offer our sincere&nbsp; thoughts and support for the children and family. The one-year old child remains hospitalized&nbsp; at Children’s Hospital in Omaha. Details on the medical condition of the child will not be&nbsp; released at this time.&nbsp;This remains an ongoing investigation; the Kearney Police Department will provide updates as&nbsp; new information becomes available. We greatly appreciate the assistance and teamwork from the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office with this case and arrest.&nbsp;The Kearney Police Department continues to work in partnership with the Buffalo County&nbsp; Attorney’s Office in this ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Kearney Police Department (308) 237-2104, Buffalo County&nbsp; Crimestoppers (308) 237-3424, or through the See It Say It Send It App.&nbsp;

 Felony Child Abuse Suspect Arrested 

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest step in a long-running investigation into the president's son that puts the case on track toward a possible high-stakes trial as the 2024 election looms.&nbsp; &nbsp;During a campaign stop Thursday, President Biden dodged questions about the indictment.

(click below to watch President Biden during his campaign event in Maryland)

<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82797/gov.uscourts.ded.82797.40.0.pdf">CLICK here</a>&nbsp;to read the indictment of Hunter Biden.

Hunter Biden is accused of lying about his drug use when he bought a firearm in October 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction to crack cocaine, according to the indictment filed in federal court in Delaware by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-investigation-justice-garland-ad1034e274570d65032f8e4f47c0c8f6">a special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing the case.

<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23977714-hunter-biden-indictment">The indictment</a>&nbsp;comes weeks after the collapse of a plea deal that would have averted a criminal trial and distracting headlines for President Joe Biden.

The court fight doesn't seem likely to end soon. Hunter Biden's defense attorney argues he didn't violate the law and remains protected by an immunity provision that was part of the plea deal. The charges, meanwhile, are rarely filed as stand-alone counts and a federal appeals court recently found the measure he was charged under unconstitutional.

He's also been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-doj-2024-election-39a0268a3e2d4a0df1bed285d769b74a">under investigation for his business dealings</a>, and the special counsel has indicated that tax charges could be filed at some point in Washington or in California, where he lives.

The legal arguing comes as a political fight also plays out. The House has formally opened&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">an impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;into the Democratic president, seeking to tie the elder Biden to his son’s businesses and divert attention away from former President Donald Trump’s own legal woes. Trump's include federal indictments over the handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.

Republicans have unearthed no significant evidence so far of wrongdoing by the elder Biden, who as vice president spoke often to his son and stopped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-devon-archer-4b706443a04e0c40a80c65e24d7d69dc">by a business dinner</a>&nbsp;with his son’s associates. The White House maintains Joe Biden was not involved in his son’s business affairs.

Republicans had slammed the plea agreement that spared Hunter Biden jail time as a “sweetheart deal.” Rep. James Comer, the lead Republican pursing the impeachment inquiry, called the gun charges “a very small start” and pushed for investigation of whether the president was involved in his son’s business dealings. Trump also pointed to the lack of connection to Joe Biden in the gun charge plea agreement.

Federal prosecutors investigating Hunter Biden have not indicated Joe Biden is connected over the course of their yearslong probe. The lead prosecutor, Trump-appointed Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, was elevated to special counsel last month, giving him broad authority to investigate and report out his findings.

The three-count indictment he filed Thursday alleges Hunter Biden lied on a form required for every gun purchase when he bought a .38-caliber Colt Cobra Special at a Wilmington, Delaware, gun shop.

He's charged with two counts of making false statements, first for checking a box falsely saying he was not addicted to drugs and second for giving it to the shop for their federally required records. A third count alleges he possessed the gun for about 11 days despite knowing he was a drug user.

The counts are punishable by up to 25 years in prison if convicted, though “actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum sentence,” a Justice Department statement from Weiss said.

A felony gun charge against Hunter Biden, 53, had previously been part of the plea deal that also included guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges of failing to pay taxes on about $4 million of income in 2017 and 2018.

Under the terms, he would not have pleaded guilty to the gun charge, and prosecutors would have agreed to dismiss it if he stayed out of trouble for two years. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-plea-deal-congress-republicans-investigation-ad80b195c8c0f48241740881cf9b9bce">the agreement imploded</a>&nbsp;during a court hearing in July when a judge raised questions about it.

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell argued that part of the deal, which includes immunity provisions against other potential charges, remains in place. He said in a statement that Hunter Biden “possessing an unloaded gun for 11 days” presented no threat to public safety and slammed “'MAGA Republicans’ improper and partisan interference in this process,” a reference to Trump's “Make America Great Again” slogan.

Lowell took over after Hunter Biden's previous lawyer in the case, Christopher Clark, withdrew, saying he might be called to testify about the immunity provisions.

Prosecutors maintain the agreement never took effect and is now invalid.

Charges related to gun possession by drug users are rare, especially when not in connection with other crimes. Of all the people sentenced for illegal gun possession in 2021, about 5% were charged due to drug use, according to U.S. Sentencing Commission data.

Most such cases are brought against people accused of some other crime as well, said Adam Winkler, a constitutional law professor and expert in gun policy at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. “It’s relatively rare to prosecute someone for being a substance abuser in possession of firearms, absent other criminal activity, or unusual circumstances,” he said.

A federal appeals court recently found the longstanding purchase ban didn’t stand up to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-decision-58d01ef8bd48e816d5f8761ffa84e3e8">new standards for gun laws</a>&nbsp;set by the Supreme Court. The Fifth Circuit found the nation's “history and traditions” don't support “disarming a sober citizen based exclusively on his past drug use.”

Congressional Republicans, meanwhile, have continued their own investigations into nearly every aspect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-9d4595ba4f3140c6bb6a3473a91f4a4c">Hunter Biden’s business dealings</a>&nbsp;as well as the Justice Department’s handling of the case.

Two FBI agents who worked on the Hunter Biden case testified separately behind closed doors this week to lawmakers about allegations of political interference in the case. Thomas Sobocinski, the special agent in charge of the Baltimore Field Office of the FBI and an unidentified agent who served as his No. 2, told Congress that Weiss had full authority of the yearslong investigation, rebutting IRS whistleblower testimony that the Justice Department slow-walked the probe.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest step in a long-running investigation into the president's son that puts the case on track toward a possible high-stakes trial as the 2024 election looms.&nbsp; &nbsp;During a campaign stop Thursday, President Biden dodged questions about the indictment.(click below to watch President Biden during his campaign event in Maryland)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F6921164927902658%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1889" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82797/gov.uscourts.ded.82797.40.0.pdf">CLICK here</a>&nbsp;to read the indictment of Hunter Biden.Hunter Biden is accused of lying about his drug use when he bought a firearm in October 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction to crack cocaine, according to the indictment filed in federal court in Delaware by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-investigation-justice-garland-ad1034e274570d65032f8e4f47c0c8f6">a special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing the case.<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23977714-hunter-biden-indictment">The indictment</a>&nbsp;comes weeks after the collapse of a plea deal that would have averted a criminal trial and distracting headlines for President Joe Biden.The court fight doesn't seem likely to end soon. Hunter Biden's defense attorney argues he didn't violate the law and remains protected by an immunity provision that was part of the plea deal. The charges, meanwhile, are rarely filed as stand-alone counts and a federal appeals court recently found the measure he was charged under unconstitutional.He's also been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-doj-2024-election-39a0268a3e2d4a0df1bed285d769b74a">under investigation for his business dealings</a>, and the special counsel has indicated that tax charges could be filed at some point in Washington or in California, where he lives.The legal arguing comes as a political fight also plays out. The House has formally opened&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">an impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;into the Democratic president, seeking to tie the elder Biden to his son’s businesses and divert attention away from former President Donald Trump’s own legal woes. Trump's include federal indictments over the handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.Republicans have unearthed no significant evidence so far of wrongdoing by the elder Biden, who as vice president spoke often to his son and stopped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-devon-archer-4b706443a04e0c40a80c65e24d7d69dc">by a business dinner</a>&nbsp;with his son’s associates. The White House maintains Joe Biden was not involved in his son’s business affairs.Republicans had slammed the plea agreement that spared Hunter Biden jail time as a “sweetheart deal.” Rep. James Comer, the lead Republican pursing the impeachment inquiry, called the gun charges “a very small start” and pushed for investigation of whether the president was involved in his son’s business dealings. Trump also pointed to the lack of connection to Joe Biden in the gun charge plea agreement.Federal prosecutors investigating Hunter Biden have not indicated Joe Biden is connected over the course of their yearslong probe. The lead prosecutor, Trump-appointed Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, was elevated to special counsel last month, giving him broad authority to investigate and report out his findings.The three-count indictment he filed Thursday alleges Hunter Biden lied on a form required for every gun purchase when he bought a .38-caliber Colt Cobra Special at a Wilmington, Delaware, gun shop.He's charged with two counts of making false statements, first for checking a box falsely saying he was not addicted to drugs and second for giving it to the shop for their federally required records. A third count alleges he possessed the gun for about 11 days despite knowing he was a drug user.The counts are punishable by up to 25 years in prison if convicted, though “actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum sentence,” a Justice Department statement from Weiss said.A felony gun charge against Hunter Biden, 53, had previously been part of the plea deal that also included guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges of failing to pay taxes on about $4 million of income in 2017 and 2018.Under the terms, he would not have pleaded guilty to the gun charge, and prosecutors would have agreed to dismiss it if he stayed out of trouble for two years. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-plea-deal-congress-republicans-investigation-ad80b195c8c0f48241740881cf9b9bce">the agreement imploded</a>&nbsp;during a court hearing in July when a judge raised questions about it.Defense attorney Abbe Lowell argued that part of the deal, which includes immunity provisions against other potential charges, remains in place. He said in a statement that Hunter Biden “possessing an unloaded gun for 11 days” presented no threat to public safety and slammed “'MAGA Republicans’ improper and partisan interference in this process,” a reference to Trump's “Make America Great Again” slogan.Lowell took over after Hunter Biden's previous lawyer in the case, Christopher Clark, withdrew, saying he might be called to testify about the immunity provisions.Prosecutors maintain the agreement never took effect and is now invalid.Charges related to gun possession by drug users are rare, especially when not in connection with other crimes. Of all the people sentenced for illegal gun possession in 2021, about 5% were charged due to drug use, according to U.S. Sentencing Commission data.Most such cases are brought against people accused of some other crime as well, said Adam Winkler, a constitutional law professor and expert in gun policy at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. “It’s relatively rare to prosecute someone for being a substance abuser in possession of firearms, absent other criminal activity, or unusual circumstances,” he said.A federal appeals court recently found the longstanding purchase ban didn’t stand up to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-decision-58d01ef8bd48e816d5f8761ffa84e3e8">new standards for gun laws</a>&nbsp;set by the Supreme Court. The Fifth Circuit found the nation's “history and traditions” don't support “disarming a sober citizen based exclusively on his past drug use.”Congressional Republicans, meanwhile, have continued their own investigations into nearly every aspect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-9d4595ba4f3140c6bb6a3473a91f4a4c">Hunter Biden’s business dealings</a>&nbsp;as well as the Justice Department’s handling of the case.Two FBI agents who worked on the Hunter Biden case testified separately behind closed doors this week to lawmakers about allegations of political interference in the case. Thomas Sobocinski, the special agent in charge of the Baltimore Field Office of the FBI and an unidentified agent who served as his No. 2, told Congress that Weiss had full authority of the yearslong investigation, rebutting IRS whistleblower testimony that the Justice Department slow-walked the probe.

🎥 Biden dodges questions on son's indictment: 'I'll get in trouble'

DETROIT (AP) — About 13,000 U.S. auto workers stopped making vehicles and went on strike Friday after their leaders couldn’t bridge a giant gap between union demands in contract talks and what Detroit’s three automakers are willing to pay.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-strike-ford-gm-stellantis-78ff5706878c1308cb45d63c8db7e99b">Members of the United Auto Workers</a>&nbsp;union began picketing at a General Motors assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri; a Ford factory in Wayne, Michigan, near Detroit; and a Stellantis Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio.&nbsp; &nbsp;The GM plant in Kansas City, Kansas and the Ford Plant in Claycomo are not included in the initial UAW strike.

It was the first time in the union’s 88-year history that it walked out on all three companies simultaneously as four-year contracts expired at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.

The strikes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/automakers-cars-strike-pay-uaw-union-detroit-349a6e7281f1b07710cfcad511dcaa05">will likely chart the future of the union and of America’s homegrown auto industry</a>&nbsp;at a time when U.S. labor is flexing its might and the companies face a historic transition from building internal combustion automobiles to making electric vehicles.

If they last a long time, dealers could run short of vehicles and prices could rise, impacting a U.S. economy already under strain from elevated inflation. The walkout could even be a factor in next year’s presidential election by testing Joe Biden’s proud claim to be the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-uaw-strike-unions-trump-2024-826a9a74a73497a62943d26c31d455c3">most union-friendly president in American history.</a>

“Workers all over the world are watching this,” said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, a federation of 60 unions with 12.5 million members.

The strike is far different from those during previous UAW negotiations. Instead of going after one company, the union, led by its pugnacious new president, Shawn Fain, is striking at all three. But not all of the 146,000 UAW members at company plants are walking picket lines, at least not yet.

Instead, the UAW&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-auto-workers-strike-plan-general-motors-stellantis-ford-14ff9c7ababe5d3d13265b59bfbd8760">targeted a handful of factories</a>&nbsp;to prod company negotiators to raise their offers, which were far lower than union demands of 36% wage increases over four years. GM and Ford offered 20% and Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, offered 17.5%.

Outside the Ford plant in suburban Detroit, Britney Johnson, 35, who has worked for the company about 3 1/2 years and has yet to reach top union wages, said she’d like higher pay, the return of pensions, and cost of living increases. “I like the job. It’s just that we deserve more,” she said.

She joined about 400 workers on the picket line outside the plant.

At the Toledo Jeep plant, assembly line worker Candace Bowles, 52, said it felt “strange” to walk off the job. “I didn’t want to have to do it, but got to do it,” said Bowles.

As the deadline approached, she cleaned up her workstation and walked out when the midnight bell rang. “I’m really happy that everyone stood together,” she said.

The limited strikes will help to preserve the union’s $825 million strike fund, which would run dry in about 11 weeks if all workers walked out. But Fain said more plants could be added if the companies don't make better offers.

Even Fain has called the union’s demands audacious, but he maintains the automakers are raking in billions and can afford them. He scoffed at company statements that costly settlements would force them to raise vehicle prices, saying labor accounts for only 4% to 5% of vehicle costs.

“They could double our raises and not raise car prices and still make millions of dollars in profits,” Fain said. “We’re not the problem. Corporate greed is the problem.”

The strikes capped a day of both sides griping that the other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-auto-workers-strike-plan-general-motors-stellantis-ford-14ff9c7ababe5d3d13265b59bfbd8760">had not budged enough from their initial positions</a>.

In addition to general wage increases, the union is seeking restoration of cost-of-living pay raises, an end to varying tiers of wages for factory jobs, a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, the restoration of traditional defined-benefit pensions for new hires who now receive only 401(k)-style retirement plans, pension increases for retirees and other items.

Starting in 2007, workers gave up cost-of-living raises and defined benefit pensions for new hires. Wage tiers were created as the UAW tried to help the companies avoid financial trouble ahead of and during the Great Recession. Even so, only Ford avoided government-funded bankruptcy protection.

Many say it’s time to get the concessions back because the companies are making huge profits and CEOs are raking in millions. They also want to make sure the union represents workers at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-battery-plant-ohio-pay-raises-12504b243c13a097a38879b2861a51ae">joint-venture electric vehicle battery factories</a>&nbsp;that the companies are building so workers have jobs making vehicles of the future.

Top-scale assembly plant workers make about $32 per hour, plus large annual profit-sharing checks. Ford said average annual pay including overtime and bonuses was $78,000 last year.

The Ford plant that's on strike employs about 3,300 workers, and it makes Bronco SUVs and Ranger midsize pickup trucks. The Toledo Jeep complex has about 5,800 workers and manufactures the Jeep Wrangler SUV and Gladiator pickup. GM’s Wentzville plant has about 3,600 workers and makes the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickups, as well as the GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express full-size vans.

The union didn’t go after the companies’ big cash cows, which are full-size pickup trucks and big SUVs, and went more for plants that make vehicles with lower profit margins, said Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit.

“They want to give the companies some space without putting them up against the wall,” Masters said. “They’re not putting them right into the corner. You put an animal in the corner and it’s dangerous.”

Automakers say they’re facing unprecedented demands as they develop and build new electric vehicles while at the same time making gas-powered cars, SUVs and trucks to pay the bills. They’re worried labor costs will rise so much that they’ll have to price their cars above those sold by foreign automakers with U.S. factories.

GM CEO Mary Barra told workers in a letter Thursday that the company is offering historic wage increases and new vehicle commitments at U.S. factories. GM’s offer, she wrote, “addresses what you’ve told us is most important to you, in spite of the heated rhetoric from UAW leadership.”

On CNBC Thursday, Ford CEO Jim Farley said if Ford had agreed to the union’s demands, it would have lost $15 billion during the last decade and gone bankrupt.

Under the UAW strategy, workers who go on strike would live on $500 per week in strike pay from the union, while others would stay on the job at full pay. It’s unlikely the companies would lock the remaining workers out of their factories because they want to keep building vehicles.

It’s tough to say just how long it will take for the strikes to cut inventories at dealers and start hurting the companies’ bottom lines.

Jeff Schuster, head of automotive for the Global Data research firm, said Stellantis has the most inventory and could hold out longer. The company has enough vehicles at or en route to dealers to last for 75 days. Ford has a 62-day supply and GM has 51.

Still, Schuster predicted the strikes could last longer than previous work stoppages such as a 40-day strike against GM in 2019.

“This one feels like there’s a lot more at risk here on both sides,” he said.

DETROIT (AP) — About 13,000 U.S. auto workers stopped making vehicles and went on strike Friday after their leaders couldn’t bridge a giant gap between union demands in contract talks and what Detroit’s three automakers are willing to pay.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fuaw.union%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0sG3BhA2uyPCANjMeAvqntMKFz9PVcjwZSszqCaCsDs86sp8owAWBKeBn73SiKShdl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="997" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/auto-workers-strike-ford-gm-stellantis-78ff5706878c1308cb45d63c8db7e99b">Members of the United Auto Workers</a>&nbsp;union began picketing at a General Motors assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri; a Ford factory in Wayne, Michigan, near Detroit; and a Stellantis Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio.&nbsp; &nbsp;The GM plant in Kansas City, Kansas and the Ford Plant in Claycomo are not included in the initial UAW strike.It was the first time in the union’s 88-year history that it walked out on all three companies simultaneously as four-year contracts expired at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">UAW President Shawn Fain Livestream Update 9/14/23 <a href="https://t.co/woPPh2bVSQ">https://t.co/woPPh2bVSQ</a>&mdash; UAW (@UAW) <a href="https://twitter.com/UAW/status/1702502512325214604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The strikes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/automakers-cars-strike-pay-uaw-union-detroit-349a6e7281f1b07710cfcad511dcaa05">will likely chart the future of the union and of America’s homegrown auto industry</a>&nbsp;at a time when U.S. labor is flexing its might and the companies face a historic transition from building internal combustion automobiles to making electric vehicles.If they last a long time, dealers could run short of vehicles and prices could rise, impacting a U.S. economy already under strain from elevated inflation. The walkout could even be a factor in next year’s presidential election by testing Joe Biden’s proud claim to be the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-uaw-strike-unions-trump-2024-826a9a74a73497a62943d26c31d455c3">most union-friendly president in American history.</a>“Workers all over the world are watching this,” said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, a federation of 60 unions with 12.5 million members.The strike is far different from those during previous UAW negotiations. Instead of going after one company, the union, led by its pugnacious new president, Shawn Fain, is striking at all three. But not all of the 146,000 UAW members at company plants are walking picket lines, at least not yet.Instead, the UAW&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-auto-workers-strike-plan-general-motors-stellantis-ford-14ff9c7ababe5d3d13265b59bfbd8760">targeted a handful of factories</a>&nbsp;to prod company negotiators to raise their offers, which were far lower than union demands of 36% wage increases over four years. GM and Ford offered 20% and Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, offered 17.5%.Outside the Ford plant in suburban Detroit, Britney Johnson, 35, who has worked for the company about 3 1/2 years and has yet to reach top union wages, said she’d like higher pay, the return of pensions, and cost of living increases. “I like the job. It’s just that we deserve more,” she said.She joined about 400 workers on the picket line outside the plant.At the Toledo Jeep plant, assembly line worker Candace Bowles, 52, said it felt “strange” to walk off the job. “I didn’t want to have to do it, but got to do it,” said Bowles.As the deadline approached, she cleaned up her workstation and walked out when the midnight bell rang. “I’m really happy that everyone stood together,” she said.The limited strikes will help to preserve the union’s $825 million strike fund, which would run dry in about 11 weeks if all workers walked out. But Fain said more plants could be added if the companies don't make better offers.Even Fain has called the union’s demands audacious, but he maintains the automakers are raking in billions and can afford them. He scoffed at company statements that costly settlements would force them to raise vehicle prices, saying labor accounts for only 4% to 5% of vehicle costs.“They could double our raises and not raise car prices and still make millions of dollars in profits,” Fain said. “We’re not the problem. Corporate greed is the problem.”The strikes capped a day of both sides griping that the other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-auto-workers-strike-plan-general-motors-stellantis-ford-14ff9c7ababe5d3d13265b59bfbd8760">had not budged enough from their initial positions</a>.In addition to general wage increases, the union is seeking restoration of cost-of-living pay raises, an end to varying tiers of wages for factory jobs, a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, the restoration of traditional defined-benefit pensions for new hires who now receive only 401(k)-style retirement plans, pension increases for retirees and other items.Starting in 2007, workers gave up cost-of-living raises and defined benefit pensions for new hires. Wage tiers were created as the UAW tried to help the companies avoid financial trouble ahead of and during the Great Recession. Even so, only Ford avoided government-funded bankruptcy protection.Many say it’s time to get the concessions back because the companies are making huge profits and CEOs are raking in millions. They also want to make sure the union represents workers at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-battery-plant-ohio-pay-raises-12504b243c13a097a38879b2861a51ae">joint-venture electric vehicle battery factories</a>&nbsp;that the companies are building so workers have jobs making vehicles of the future.Top-scale assembly plant workers make about $32 per hour, plus large annual profit-sharing checks. Ford said average annual pay including overtime and bonuses was $78,000 last year.The Ford plant that's on strike employs about 3,300 workers, and it makes Bronco SUVs and Ranger midsize pickup trucks. The Toledo Jeep complex has about 5,800 workers and manufactures the Jeep Wrangler SUV and Gladiator pickup. GM’s Wentzville plant has about 3,600 workers and makes the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickups, as well as the GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express full-size vans.The union didn’t go after the companies’ big cash cows, which are full-size pickup trucks and big SUVs, and went more for plants that make vehicles with lower profit margins, said Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit.“They want to give the companies some space without putting them up against the wall,” Masters said. “They’re not putting them right into the corner. You put an animal in the corner and it’s dangerous.”Automakers say they’re facing unprecedented demands as they develop and build new electric vehicles while at the same time making gas-powered cars, SUVs and trucks to pay the bills. They’re worried labor costs will rise so much that they’ll have to price their cars above those sold by foreign automakers with U.S. factories.GM CEO Mary Barra told workers in a letter Thursday that the company is offering historic wage increases and new vehicle commitments at U.S. factories. GM’s offer, she wrote, “addresses what you’ve told us is most important to you, in spite of the heated rhetoric from UAW leadership.”On CNBC Thursday, Ford CEO Jim Farley said if Ford had agreed to the union’s demands, it would have lost $15 billion during the last decade and gone bankrupt.Under the UAW strategy, workers who go on strike would live on $500 per week in strike pay from the union, while others would stay on the job at full pay. It’s unlikely the companies would lock the remaining workers out of their factories because they want to keep building vehicles.It’s tough to say just how long it will take for the strikes to cut inventories at dealers and start hurting the companies’ bottom lines.Jeff Schuster, head of automotive for the Global Data research firm, said Stellantis has the most inventory and could hold out longer. The company has enough vehicles at or en route to dealers to last for 75 days. Ford has a 62-day supply and GM has 51.Still, Schuster predicted the strikes could last longer than previous work stoppages such as a 40-day strike against GM in 2019.“This one feels like there’s a lot more at risk here on both sides,” he said.

🎥Autoworkers on strike; KC plants not yet included in walkout

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA said Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7AL5Fv156Y">that the study of UFOs</a>&nbsp;will require new scientific techniques, including advanced satellites as well as a shift in how unidentified flying objects are perceived.

The space agency released the findings after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-08815650f0415dd205333faafaf206df">yearlong study into UFOs.</a>

<a href="https://science.nasa.gov/science-pink/s3fs-public/atoms/files/UAP%20Independent%20Study%20Team%20-%20Final%20Report_0.pdf">CLICK here to</a> read the report

In its 33-page report,&nbsp;an independent team commissioned by NASA&nbsp;cautioned that the negative perception surrounding UFOs poses an obstacle to collecting data. But officials said NASA’s involvement should help reduce the stigma around what it calls UAPs, or unidentified anomalous phenomena.

“We want to shift the conversation about UAPs from sensationalism to science," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. He promised an open and transparent approach.

Officials stressed the panel found no evidence that UAPs had extraterrestrial origin. But Nelson acknowledged with billions of stars in billions of galaxies out there, another Earth could exist.

“If you ask me, do I believe there’s life in a universe that is so vast that it’s hard for me to comprehend how big it is, my personal answer is yes,” Nelson said at a news conference. His own scientists put the likelihood of life on another Earth-like planet at “at least a trillion.”

When pressed by reporters on whether the U.S. or other governments are hiding aliens or otherworldly spaceships, Nelson said: “Show me the evidence.”

NASA has said it doesn't actively search for unexplained sightings. But it operates a fleet of Earth-circling spacecraft that can help determine, for example, whether weather is behind a strange event.

The 16-member panel noted that artificial intelligence and machine learning are essential for identifying rare occurrences, including UFOs.

NASA recently appointed a director of UAP research, but refused to divulge his identity at Thursday morning's news conference in hopes of avoiding the threats and harassment faced by panel members during the study.

Eight hours later, however, NASA said it's Mark McInerney, who previously served as a liaison on the subject of UAPs between the space agency and the Defense Department. He's also worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Hurricane Center.

No top-secret files were accessed by the panel's scientists, aviation and artificial intelligence experts, and retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, the first American to spend nearly a year in space. Instead, the group relied on unclassified data in an attempt to better understand unexplained sightings in the sky.

Officials said there are so few high-quality observations that no scientific conclusions can be drawn. Most events can be attributed to planes, drones, balloons or weather conditions, said panel chairman David Spergel, president of the Simons Foundation, a scientific research group.

The government refers to unexplained sightings as UAPs versus UFOs. NASA defines them as observations in the sky or elsewhere that cannot be readily identified or scientifically explained.

The study was launched a year ago and cost under $100,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694706681876.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA said Thursday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7AL5Fv156Y">that the study of UFOs</a>&nbsp;will require new scientific techniques, including advanced satellites as well as a shift in how unidentified flying objects are perceived.The space agency released the findings after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-08815650f0415dd205333faafaf206df">yearlong study into UFOs.</a><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/science-pink/s3fs-public/atoms/files/UAP%20Independent%20Study%20Team%20-%20Final%20Report_0.pdf">CLICK here to</a> read the reportIn its 33-page report,&nbsp;an independent team commissioned by NASA&nbsp;cautioned that the negative perception surrounding UFOs poses an obstacle to collecting data. But officials said NASA’s involvement should help reduce the stigma around what it calls UAPs, or unidentified anomalous phenomena.“We want to shift the conversation about UAPs from sensationalism to science," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. He promised an open and transparent approach.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1622822273014.png" alt="UFO image courtesy U.S. Department of Defense Naval Air System Command" />
 <figcaption>UFO image courtesy U.S. Department of Defense Naval Air System Command</figcaption>
 </figure>Officials stressed the panel found no evidence that UAPs had extraterrestrial origin. But Nelson acknowledged with billions of stars in billions of galaxies out there, another Earth could exist.“If you ask me, do I believe there’s life in a universe that is so vast that it’s hard for me to comprehend how big it is, my personal answer is yes,” Nelson said at a news conference. His own scientists put the likelihood of life on another Earth-like planet at “at least a trillion.”When pressed by reporters on whether the U.S. or other governments are hiding aliens or otherworldly spaceships, Nelson said: “Show me the evidence.”NASA has said it doesn't actively search for unexplained sightings. But it operates a fleet of Earth-circling spacecraft that can help determine, for example, whether weather is behind a strange event.The 16-member panel noted that artificial intelligence and machine learning are essential for identifying rare occurrences, including UFOs.NASA recently appointed a director of UAP research, but refused to divulge his identity at Thursday morning's news conference in hopes of avoiding the threats and harassment faced by panel members during the study.Eight hours later, however, NASA said it's Mark McInerney, who previously served as a liaison on the subject of UAPs between the space agency and the Defense Department. He's also worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Hurricane Center.No top-secret files were accessed by the panel's scientists, aviation and artificial intelligence experts, and retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, the first American to spend nearly a year in space. Instead, the group relied on unclassified data in an attempt to better understand unexplained sightings in the sky.Officials said there are so few high-quality observations that no scientific conclusions can be drawn. Most events can be attributed to planes, drones, balloons or weather conditions, said panel chairman David Spergel, president of the Simons Foundation, a scientific research group.The government refers to unexplained sightings as UAPs versus UFOs. NASA defines them as observations in the sky or elsewhere that cannot be readily identified or scientifically explained.The study was launched a year ago and cost under $100,000.

Read the new NASA report on UFOs

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are creeping higher and raising concerns about the impact on inflation’s cooling trajectory, consumers’ wallets and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy.

U.S. crude oil prices started rising in early summer after slipping or holding relatively steady for most of the year. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. measure, is up 8% for the year and approaching $90 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard is up 5% for the year and has already breached the $90 mark.

Higher oil prices trickle down to everything from gasoline prices to transportation and production costs for consumer goods. The unwelcome pressure on inflation comes as prices have been generally cooling throughout 2023.

Investors, economists and consumers are all hoping for the cooling trend to continue so the Federal Reserve can consider a longer pause after more than a year of aggressive interest rate hikes.

Gasoline prices are among consumers’ biggest concerns, as it remains a necessary purchase for most people. Average prices at the pump have held relatively steady at $3.83 per gallon according to AAA, only a slight increase from a year ago.

“Pump prices appear to be defying the odds at the moment, despite a boost in the cost of oil,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in a statement. “This uneasy balancing act may last until we get beyond hurricane season.”

Saudi Arabia and Russia recently agreed to extend their voluntary oil production cuts through the end of this year, trimming 1.3 million barrels of crude out of the global market and boosting energy prices.

The impact on the Fed and the broader economy is a key concern for investors. The Fed is getting closer to its goal of lowering inflation to 2%, and it held rates steady at its last meeting. Wall Street expects a similar move at the central bank’s next meeting and is hoping the pause continues into next year.

The central bank has so far been able to slow economic growth through rate increases without pushing the broader economy into a recession. But recent economic indicators have shown that consumer spending remains strong, along with prices being paid for goods and services.

The same pieces of the resilient economy that have proved to be a bulwark to a recession could also prompt the Fed to continue raising rates, and actually push the economy closer to a recession. Stocks will likely remain under pressure because of that data, along with higher oil prices and rising bond yields.

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are creeping higher and raising concerns about the impact on inflation’s cooling trajectory, consumers’ wallets and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy.U.S. crude oil prices started rising in early summer after slipping or holding relatively steady for most of the year. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. measure, is up 8% for the year and approaching $90 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard is up 5% for the year and has already breached the $90 mark.Higher oil prices trickle down to everything from gasoline prices to transportation and production costs for consumer goods. The unwelcome pressure on inflation comes as prices have been generally cooling throughout 2023.Investors, economists and consumers are all hoping for the cooling trend to continue so the Federal Reserve can consider a longer pause after more than a year of aggressive interest rate hikes.Gasoline prices are among consumers’ biggest concerns, as it remains a necessary purchase for most people. Average prices at the pump have held relatively steady at $3.83 per gallon according to AAA, only a slight increase from a year ago.“Pump prices appear to be defying the odds at the moment, despite a boost in the cost of oil,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, in a statement. “This uneasy balancing act may last until we get beyond hurricane season.”Saudi Arabia and Russia recently agreed to extend their voluntary oil production cuts through the end of this year, trimming 1.3 million barrels of crude out of the global market and boosting energy prices.The impact on the Fed and the broader economy is a key concern for investors. The Fed is getting closer to its goal of lowering inflation to 2%, and it held rates steady at its last meeting. Wall Street expects a similar move at the central bank’s next meeting and is hoping the pause continues into next year.The central bank has so far been able to slow economic growth through rate increases without pushing the broader economy into a recession. But recent economic indicators have shown that consumer spending remains strong, along with prices being paid for goods and services.The same pieces of the resilient economy that have proved to be a bulwark to a recession could also prompt the Fed to continue raising rates, and actually push the economy closer to a recession. Stocks will likely remain under pressure because of that data, along with higher oil prices and rising bond yields.

Oil price hits 2023 high; raises inflation concerns

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Today, Governor Pillen announced his appointment of Senator Tom Briese as state treasurer. Briese will assume the duties of the office on Nov. 1. He will complete the remaining term of John Murante, who will become director of the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems (NPERS).

“Sen. Briese has the respect of his peers and has been a great representative for District 41 in the Legislature,” said Gov. Pillen. “He’s a proven leader on tax policy reform, which will serve him well in his new role as treasurer.”&nbsp;

Briese was raised in Albion, NE and is a fourth-generation family farmer. He was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. Briese has a degree in agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a juris doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law.

“I am honored to be selected by Gov. Pillen to serve Nebraskans as treasurer,” said Sen. Briese. “I have truly enjoyed my time in the Legislature and am proud of the accomplishments achieved during my tenure, as well as the relationships that were forged. I look forward to this new opportunity and continuing to serve the people of our great state.”&nbsp;

Murante will complete his tenure as treasurer on Sept. 18. Pursuant to statute, the powers of the State Treasurer’s Office will transfer to Gov. Pillen until Nov. 1, when Briese takes office. During the transition, Assistant State Treasurer Rachel Biar will manage the day-to-day operations of the office.

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Today, Governor Pillen announced his appointment of Senator Tom Briese as state treasurer. Briese will assume the duties of the office on Nov. 1. He will complete the remaining term of John Murante, who will become director of the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems (NPERS).“Sen. Briese has the respect of his peers and has been a great representative for District 41 in the Legislature,” said Gov. Pillen. “He’s a proven leader on tax policy reform, which will serve him well in his new role as treasurer.”&nbsp;Briese was raised in Albion, NE and is a fourth-generation family farmer. He was elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. Briese has a degree in agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a juris doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law.“I am honored to be selected by Gov. Pillen to serve Nebraskans as treasurer,” said Sen. Briese. “I have truly enjoyed my time in the Legislature and am proud of the accomplishments achieved during my tenure, as well as the relationships that were forged. I look forward to this new opportunity and continuing to serve the people of our great state.”&nbsp;Murante will complete his tenure as treasurer on Sept. 18. Pursuant to statute, the powers of the State Treasurer’s Office will transfer to Gov. Pillen until Nov. 1, when Briese takes office. During the transition, Assistant State Treasurer Rachel Biar will manage the day-to-day operations of the office.

Governor Appoints Briese as State Treasurer

NEW YORK (AP) — As Americans fend off a late summer COVID-19 spike and prepare for a fresh vaccine rollout, Republicans are raising familiar fears that government-issued lockdowns and mask mandates are next.

It's been a favorite topic among some of the GOP's top presidential contenders. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters that people are "lurching toward" COVID-19 restrictions and "there needs to be pushback." South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott posted online that the "radical Left" seeks to bring back school closures and mandates. And former President Donald Trump urged congressional Republicans to stop the Biden administration from bringing back COVID-19 "mandates, lockdowns or restrictions of any kind."

"The radical Democrats are trying hard to restart COVID hysteria," Trump told supporters in Rapid City, South Dakota, during a recent campaign stop. "I wonder why. Is there an election coming up by any chance?"

While some individual schools and colleges have implemented temporary mask requirements, there is no sign that anyone in federal or state leadership is considering widespread COVID-19 restrictions, requirements or mask mandates. The administrations of several Democratic governors denied that any such moves are even under discussion. The overriding sentiment is to leave the decisions to individuals.

"No COVID-19 public health restrictions or mask requirements are being considered by the Murphy administration," said Christi Peace, spokesperson for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

"There are no impending mass lockdowns or mask mandates for New Mexico," said Jodi McGinnis Porter, spokeswoman for the New Mexico Department of Public Health.

It was largely the same message from Democratic governors' offices in several other states that responded to an inquiry about whether any COVID-19 mandates were under consideration. That included Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan and Oregon.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, made clear his opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns as well as mask and vaccine mandates when he was campaigning for office last year: "This is an area where I think folks got it wrong," he said of school and business shutdowns. His office echoed the same sentiment in its response to the AP this week, saying, "The administration's view is that there is no need to impose restrictions."

In the two most populous Democratic-led states, California and New York, the state health departments recommend getting the updated vaccine, but have no requirements for the shot or mask wearing. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was asked during a news conference Wednesday about whether she would consider mask or vaccine mandates: "We are in a place where we're seeing low numbers; not requiring such actions today," she said.

Elisabeth Shephard, spokesperson for Oregon's Democratic governor, Tina Kotek, noted that the federal public health emergency for the virus outbreak ended in May.

"Currently, COVID-19 lockdowns and mask mandates are not being discussed and the governor has no plans to institute these measures," she said.

Still, the misleading narrative has proven a convenient scare tactic for Republicans in their efforts to woo voters who see Democrats as oppressive leaders targeting their freedoms.

The GOP presidential hopefuls hammering this message in the last week join a chorus of conservative lawmakers and far-right pundits who have spent the last month warning that tyrannical COVID-19 measures are looming.

In August, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones claimed an anonymous "high-level manager in the TSA" and an unnamed "Border Patrol-connected" source told him that Transportation Security Administration workers would soon need to wear masks and that COVID-19 lockdowns would return in December.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the claims were "utterly false," but they still were amplified by influential Republicans, including Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who posted on X that she wrote to the TSA demanding answers.

Later last month, when a Black liberal arts college in Atlanta announced it had reinstated a temporary mask mandate in response to student infections, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, posted on X that "Americans have had enough COVID hysteria. WE WILL NOT COMPLY!"

The school, Morris Brown College, has since lifted the requirement but is keeping in place other policies, including contact tracing and temperature checks on campus.

Some of the outcry from conservatives has been in response to President Joe Biden's comments last month on COVID-19's recent uptick, which has led to an increase in hospitalizations and deaths nationwide — though a fraction of what the country saw in past surges.

"As a matter of fact, I signed off this morning on a proposal we have to present to the Congress a request for additional funding for a new vaccine that is necessary — that works," Biden told reporters during a visit to South Lake Tahoe. "And tentatively — not decided finally yet — tentatively, it is recommended that, it will likely be recommended that everybody get it no matter whether they've gotten it before or not."

The CDC on Tuesday endorsed those new shots for everyone 6 months and older, and the vaccines will be available at pharmacies, health centers and some doctor offices as soon as this week.

Still, the Biden administration does not plan to implement any new vaccine or mask mandates, according to a White House official who requested anonymity to discuss the administration's thinking.

Reinstated mask requirements across the country have so far been limited to a handful of local schools and businesses. One example is a Maryland elementary school that required students who were exposed in a classroom's outbreak to wear masks at school for 10 days.

But these isolated measures have sparked outrage from conservatives who have used them to energize their supporters.

Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio last week unveiled the "Freedom to Breathe Act," a bill that would block the federal government from imposing mask mandates for domestic flights, public transit and schools. His call for unanimous passage of the bill failed, with Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts calling it a "red herring" meant to deflect from the GOP's prioritization of "gimmicks over people."

Greene, the Republican from Georgia, introduced a companion bill in the House. She has said she won't vote to avoid a government shutdown unless the government ends coronavirus mandates, which have already largely been reversed.

Misinformation experts say there's a strategy to Republicans' foreboding claims about impending mandates: They remind voters of the negative feelings they had early in the pandemic — and associate those with Democrats.

"Wearing a mask doesn't have to be connected to anxiety, fear, anger and other strong emotions, but for many people it is," said Lisa Fazio, a Vanderbilt University psychology professor who studies the spread of false claims. "No one wants to go back to those feelings, so Republicans are trying to tie those negative feelings and memories to their political opponents."

Meanwhile, some of the Republican-led states where state leaders are railing against COVID-19 measures have been the hardest hit by the recent surge. Data shows Mississippi had the highest COVID-19 death rate per 10,000 people in the last week of August.

Early that week, the state's Republican governor, Tate Reeves, pledged to block any widespread restrictions, posting online that the state would "live in self-determination, not top-down fear."

Associated Press data journalist Nicky Forster and writers Joey Cappelletti, Mike Catalini, Jill Colvin, John Hanna, Susan Haigh, Maysoon Khan, Seung Min Kim, Steve LeBlanc, Morgan Lee, Marc Levy, Lisa Mascaro and Andrew Selsky contributed to this report.

The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP's democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

NEW YORK (AP) — As Americans fend off a late summer COVID-19 spike and prepare for a fresh vaccine rollout, Republicans are raising familiar fears that government-issued lockdowns and mask mandates are next.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Now seems like a good time to remind you Democrats pushed inconsistent mask mandates and school closures that have caused irreparable damage to our children.&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1701582161168494680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It's been a favorite topic among some of the GOP's top presidential contenders. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters that people are "lurching toward" COVID-19 restrictions and "there needs to be pushback." South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott posted online that the "radical Left" seeks to bring back school closures and mandates. And former President Donald Trump urged congressional Republicans to stop the Biden administration from bringing back COVID-19 "mandates, lockdowns or restrictions of any kind.""The radical Democrats are trying hard to restart COVID hysteria," Trump told supporters in Rapid City, South Dakota, during a recent campaign stop. "I wonder why. Is there an election coming up by any chance?"While some individual schools and colleges have implemented temporary mask requirements, there is no sign that anyone in federal or state leadership is considering widespread COVID-19 restrictions, requirements or mask mandates. The administrations of several Democratic governors denied that any such moves are even under discussion. The overriding sentiment is to leave the decisions to individuals."No COVID-19 public health restrictions or mask requirements are being considered by the Murphy administration," said Christi Peace, spokesperson for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy."There are no impending mass lockdowns or mask mandates for New Mexico," said Jodi McGinnis Porter, spokeswoman for the New Mexico Department of Public Health.It was largely the same message from Democratic governors' offices in several other states that responded to an inquiry about whether any COVID-19 mandates were under consideration. That included Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan and Oregon.Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, made clear his opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns as well as mask and vaccine mandates when he was campaigning for office last year: "This is an area where I think folks got it wrong," he said of school and business shutdowns. His office echoed the same sentiment in its response to the AP this week, saying, "The administration's view is that there is no need to impose restrictions."In the two most populous Democratic-led states, California and New York, the state health departments recommend getting the updated vaccine, but have no requirements for the shot or mask wearing. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was asked during a news conference Wednesday about whether she would consider mask or vaccine mandates: "We are in a place where we're seeing low numbers; not requiring such actions today," she said.Elisabeth Shephard, spokesperson for Oregon's Democratic governor, Tina Kotek, noted that the federal public health emergency for the virus outbreak ended in May."Currently, COVID-19 lockdowns and mask mandates are not being discussed and the governor has no plans to institute these measures," she said.Still, the misleading narrative has proven a convenient scare tactic for Republicans in their efforts to woo voters who see Democrats as oppressive leaders targeting their freedoms.The GOP presidential hopefuls hammering this message in the last week join a chorus of conservative lawmakers and far-right pundits who have spent the last month warning that tyrannical COVID-19 measures are looming.In August, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones claimed an anonymous "high-level manager in the TSA" and an unnamed "Border Patrol-connected" source told him that Transportation Security Administration workers would soon need to wear masks and that COVID-19 lockdowns would return in December.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the claims were "utterly false," but they still were amplified by influential Republicans, including Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who posted on X that she wrote to the TSA demanding answers.Later last month, when a Black liberal arts college in Atlanta announced it had reinstated a temporary mask mandate in response to student infections, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, posted on X that "Americans have had enough COVID hysteria. WE WILL NOT COMPLY!"The school, Morris Brown College, has since lifted the requirement but is keeping in place other policies, including contact tracing and temperature checks on campus.Some of the outcry from conservatives has been in response to President Joe Biden's comments last month on COVID-19's recent uptick, which has led to an increase in hospitalizations and deaths nationwide — though a fraction of what the country saw in past surges."As a matter of fact, I signed off this morning on a proposal we have to present to the Congress a request for additional funding for a new vaccine that is necessary — that works," Biden told reporters during a visit to South Lake Tahoe. "And tentatively — not decided finally yet — tentatively, it is recommended that, it will likely be recommended that everybody get it no matter whether they've gotten it before or not."The CDC on Tuesday endorsed those new shots for everyone 6 months and older, and the vaccines will be available at pharmacies, health centers and some doctor offices as soon as this week.Still, the Biden administration does not plan to implement any new vaccine or mask mandates, according to a White House official who requested anonymity to discuss the administration's thinking.Reinstated mask requirements across the country have so far been limited to a handful of local schools and businesses. One example is a Maryland elementary school that required students who were exposed in a classroom's outbreak to wear masks at school for 10 days.But these isolated measures have sparked outrage from conservatives who have used them to energize their supporters.Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio last week unveiled the "Freedom to Breathe Act," a bill that would block the federal government from imposing mask mandates for domestic flights, public transit and schools. His call for unanimous passage of the bill failed, with Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts calling it a "red herring" meant to deflect from the GOP's prioritization of "gimmicks over people."Greene, the Republican from Georgia, introduced a companion bill in the House. She has said she won't vote to avoid a government shutdown unless the government ends coronavirus mandates, which have already largely been reversed.Misinformation experts say there's a strategy to Republicans' foreboding claims about impending mandates: They remind voters of the negative feelings they had early in the pandemic — and associate those with Democrats."Wearing a mask doesn't have to be connected to anxiety, fear, anger and other strong emotions, but for many people it is," said Lisa Fazio, a Vanderbilt University psychology professor who studies the spread of false claims. "No one wants to go back to those feelings, so Republicans are trying to tie those negative feelings and memories to their political opponents."Meanwhile, some of the Republican-led states where state leaders are railing against COVID-19 measures have been the hardest hit by the recent surge. Data shows Mississippi had the highest COVID-19 death rate per 10,000 people in the last week of August.Early that week, the state's Republican governor, Tate Reeves, pledged to block any widespread restrictions, posting online that the state would "live in self-determination, not top-down fear."___Associated Press data journalist Nicky Forster and writers Joey Cappelletti, Mike Catalini, Jill Colvin, John Hanna, Susan Haigh, Maysoon Khan, Seung Min Kim, Steve LeBlanc, Morgan Lee, Marc Levy, Lisa Mascaro and Andrew Selsky contributed to this report.___The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP's democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Republicans raise specter of widespread COVID mandates, despite no sign of their return

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 (LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— As the Huskers gear up for the first home football game of the season, Nebraska State Troopers and many public safety partners will be working to help keep fans safe.

The Nebraska State Patrol works closely with partner agencies on several aspects of gameday operations. Troopers partner with the Lincoln Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, UNL Police Department, and the Nebraska Department of Transportation to keep fans safe as they travel to and from the game, as well as in and around Memorial Stadium.

Troopers in the NSP AirWing will provide an eye in the sky to relay information to troopers on the ground to assist with traffic flow coming into Lincoln. Fans can also hear live radio traffic reports from Trooper Dave before and after the game on the Huskers Radio Network.

Inside the stadium, troopers, deputies, and officers, team-up to keep the gameday experience safe. Any fan in need of assistance during the game can contact any member of law enforcement or event staff. Fans can also text 402-472-0800 to get assistance inside the stadium.

“We’re excited to have the Huskers back at home for the first time this season,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Our troopers are proud to be part of the gameday team to make Saturdays a safe experience for fans. We encourage fans to plan your gameday route ahead of time, be patient with the large crowds, and drive safely on your way home after the game.”

The City of Lincoln and University of Nebraska have also issued several reminders for travel, parking, and the gameday experience in Lincoln. Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/News/2023/9/12a" target="_blank">City of Lincoln website</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/husker-football-game-day-information-announced-for-2023/#:~:text=Fans%20are%20reminded%20to%20arrive%20early%20and%20plan,empty%20water%20bottle%2C%20but%20it%20may%20be%20inspected." target="_blank">Huskers.com/Gameday</a>&nbsp;to view those reminders prior to Saturday.&nbsp;

Anyone who observes a reckless driver or anyone in need of non-emergency roadside assistance can call *55 to reach the Nebraska State Patrol Highway Helpline. NSP’s portion of this effort is made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694712600467.jpeg" alt="Photo provided by Nebraska State Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Photo provided by Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>Cody ThomasSEPTEMBER 14, 2023 (LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— As the Huskers gear up for the first home football game of the season, Nebraska State Troopers and many public safety partners will be working to help keep fans safe.The Nebraska State Patrol works closely with partner agencies on several aspects of gameday operations. Troopers partner with the Lincoln Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, UNL Police Department, and the Nebraska Department of Transportation to keep fans safe as they travel to and from the game, as well as in and around Memorial Stadium.Troopers in the NSP AirWing will provide an eye in the sky to relay information to troopers on the ground to assist with traffic flow coming into Lincoln. Fans can also hear live radio traffic reports from Trooper Dave before and after the game on the Huskers Radio Network.Inside the stadium, troopers, deputies, and officers, team-up to keep the gameday experience safe. Any fan in need of assistance during the game can contact any member of law enforcement or event staff. Fans can also text 402-472-0800 to get assistance inside the stadium.“We’re excited to have the Huskers back at home for the first time this season,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Our troopers are proud to be part of the gameday team to make Saturdays a safe experience for fans. We encourage fans to plan your gameday route ahead of time, be patient with the large crowds, and drive safely on your way home after the game.”The City of Lincoln and University of Nebraska have also issued several reminders for travel, parking, and the gameday experience in Lincoln. Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/News/2023/9/12a" target="_blank">City of Lincoln website</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/husker-football-game-day-information-announced-for-2023/#:~:text=Fans%20are%20reminded%20to%20arrive%20early%20and%20plan,empty%20water%20bottle%2C%20but%20it%20may%20be%20inspected." target="_blank">Huskers.com/Gameday</a>&nbsp;to view those reminders prior to Saturday.&nbsp;Anyone who observes a reckless driver or anyone in need of non-emergency roadside assistance can call *55 to reach the Nebraska State Patrol Highway Helpline. NSP’s portion of this effort is made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

Troopers Patrol Roads, Stadium, and Sky on Husker Gameday

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest and weightiest step yet in a long-running investigation into the president’s son.

<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82797/gov.uscourts.ded.82797.40.0.pdf">CLICK here</a> to read the indictment

Biden is accused of lying about his drug use when he bought a firearm in October 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction to crack cocaine, according to the indictment filed in federal court in Delaware.

President Joe Biden's son has also been under investigation for his business dealings.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-investigation-justice-garland-ad1034e274570d65032f8e4f47c0c8f6">The special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing the case has indicated that charges of failure to pay taxes on time could be filed in Washington or in California, where he lives.

<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23977714-hunter-biden-indictment">The indictment</a>&nbsp;comes as congressional Republicans pursue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">an impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;into the Democratic president, in large part over Hunter Biden’s business dealings. Republicans have obtained testimony about how Hunter Biden used the “Biden brand” to drum up work overseas, but they have not produced hard evidence of wrongdoing by the president.

The indictment says Hunter Biden lied on a form required for every gun purchase when he bought a Colt Cobra Special at a Wilmington, Delaware, gun shop in October 2018. He’s accused of checking a box falsely saying he was not a user of or addicted to drugs and of illegally possessing the gun as a drug user.

A felony gun charge against Hunter Biden, 53, had previously been part of a plea deal that also included guilty pleas to misdemeanor tax charges, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-plea-deal-congress-republicans-investigation-ad80b195c8c0f48241740881cf9b9bce">the agreement imploded</a>&nbsp;during a court hearing in July when a judge raised questions about its unusual provisions.

Defense attorneys have argued that a part of the deal sparing Hunter Biden prosecution on the gun count if he stays out of trouble remains in place. It includes immunity provisions against other potential charges. Attorneys indicated they would fight additional charges filed against him, but did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Prosecutors, though, maintain the agreement never took effect and is now invalid. They telegraphed charges were coming earlier this month.

Republicans had denounced the plea agreement as a “sweetheart deal.” It would have allowed Hunter Biden to serve probation rather than jail time after pleading guilty to failing to pay taxes in both 2017 and 2018.

His personal income during those two years totaled roughly $4 million, including business and consulting fees from a company he formed with the CEO of a Chinese business conglomerate and the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, prosecutors have said.

Congressional Republicans have continued their own investigations into the Justice Department's handling of the case as well as nearly every aspect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-9d4595ba4f3140c6bb6a3473a91f4a4c">Hunter Biden’s business dealings</a>, seeking to connect his financial affairs directly to his father. They have failed to produce evidence that the president directly participated in his son’s work, though he sometimes had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-devon-archer-4b706443a04e0c40a80c65e24d7d69dc">dinner with his son's clients</a>&nbsp;or said hello to them on calls.

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 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest and weightiest step yet in a long-running investigation into the president’s son.<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ded.82797/gov.uscourts.ded.82797.40.0.pdf">CLICK here</a> to read the indictmentBiden is accused of lying about his drug use when he bought a firearm in October 2018, a period when he has acknowledged struggling with addiction to crack cocaine, according to the indictment filed in federal court in Delaware.President Joe Biden's son has also been under investigation for his business dealings.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-investigation-justice-garland-ad1034e274570d65032f8e4f47c0c8f6">The special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing the case has indicated that charges of failure to pay taxes on time could be filed in Washington or in California, where he lives.<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23977714-hunter-biden-indictment">The indictment</a>&nbsp;comes as congressional Republicans pursue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">an impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;into the Democratic president, in large part over Hunter Biden’s business dealings. Republicans have obtained testimony about how Hunter Biden used the “Biden brand” to drum up work overseas, but they have not produced hard evidence of wrongdoing by the president.The indictment says Hunter Biden lied on a form required for every gun purchase when he bought a Colt Cobra Special at a Wilmington, Delaware, gun shop in October 2018. He’s accused of checking a box falsely saying he was not a user of or addicted to drugs and of illegally possessing the gun as a drug user.A felony gun charge against Hunter Biden, 53, had previously been part of a plea deal that also included guilty pleas to misdemeanor tax charges, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-plea-deal-congress-republicans-investigation-ad80b195c8c0f48241740881cf9b9bce">the agreement imploded</a>&nbsp;during a court hearing in July when a judge raised questions about its unusual provisions.Defense attorneys have argued that a part of the deal sparing Hunter Biden prosecution on the gun count if he stays out of trouble remains in place. It includes immunity provisions against other potential charges. Attorneys indicated they would fight additional charges filed against him, but did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.Prosecutors, though, maintain the agreement never took effect and is now invalid. They telegraphed charges were coming earlier this month.Republicans had denounced the plea agreement as a “sweetheart deal.” It would have allowed Hunter Biden to serve probation rather than jail time after pleading guilty to failing to pay taxes in both 2017 and 2018.His personal income during those two years totaled roughly $4 million, including business and consulting fees from a company he formed with the CEO of a Chinese business conglomerate and the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, prosecutors have said.Congressional Republicans have continued their own investigations into the Justice Department's handling of the case as well as nearly every aspect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-9d4595ba4f3140c6bb6a3473a91f4a4c">Hunter Biden’s business dealings</a>, seeking to connect his financial affairs directly to his father. They have failed to produce evidence that the president directly participated in his son’s work, though he sometimes had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-devon-archer-4b706443a04e0c40a80c65e24d7d69dc">dinner with his son's clients</a>&nbsp;or said hello to them on calls.

Read: Hunter Biden indictment on federal firearms charges

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;late Wednesday brushed off the House Republicans'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">impeachment inquiry</a>, saying the way he sees it, they launched the investigation against him because they want to shut down the federal government.

(click below to listen to White House statement on impeachment)

Biden, speaking at a Democratic fundraiser in Virginia, said that instead of being concerned about the probe, “I’m focused on the things the American people want me focused on.”

The president's remarks were the first since Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;announced the launch of a Biden impeachment inquiry while the Republican House leader is also struggling to shore up votes to fund the government and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-impeachment-congress-funding-048dee639bb0dcb6604f05ba2f0782a8">prevent a federal shutdown</a>.

“The best I can tell is they want to impeach me because they want to shut down the government,” Biden said.

He also made a reference to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a top ally of his chief rival heading into the 2024 election,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump.</a>&nbsp;“The first day she was elected, the first thing she wanted to do was impeach Biden,” he said.

“Look, I’ve got a job," Biden told his audience. "I’ve got to deal with the issues that affect the American people every single, solitary day.”

McCarthy's sudden decision to direct an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-impeachment-57c5b1b40d19ede4ecf7fde08c027cee">impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;into Biden over the business dealings of his son, Hunter, and the family finances has won over even the most reluctant Republicans, with some GOP lawmakers pushing for swift action while others expect it to drag into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-2024-poll-old-corrupt-12b806876e2072790f9a67793761c688">2024 election year</a>.

McCarthy opened and closed a private meeting Wednesday of House Republicans justifying his reasoning for the inquiry sought by former President Trump.

The moment is a politically pivotal one for the embattled McCarthy, whose job is being targeted by Trump’s right-flank allies. He has already signaled potential charges of abuse of power, corruption and obstruction for possible articles of impeachment.

“There’s a lot of accusations out there you just want the answers to,” McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol.

The White House mobilized to fight what it called the “unprecedented, unfounded claims” against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">the president</a>&nbsp;regarding his son, Hunter, and family finances.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;late Wednesday brushed off the House Republicans'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-shutdown-house-republicans-b187202be8814f7acbdd6e2e937e23d4">impeachment inquiry</a>, saying the way he sees it, they launched the investigation against him because they want to shut down the federal government.(click below to listen to White House statement on impeachment)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1027568138602560%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=3423" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Biden, speaking at a Democratic fundraiser in Virginia, said that instead of being concerned about the probe, “I’m focused on the things the American people want me focused on.”The president's remarks were the first since Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;announced the launch of a Biden impeachment inquiry while the Republican House leader is also struggling to shore up votes to fund the government and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-impeachment-congress-funding-048dee639bb0dcb6604f05ba2f0782a8">prevent a federal shutdown</a>.“The best I can tell is they want to impeach me because they want to shut down the government,” Biden said.He also made a reference to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a top ally of his chief rival heading into the 2024 election,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump.</a>&nbsp;“The first day she was elected, the first thing she wanted to do was impeach Biden,” he said.“Look, I’ve got a job," Biden told his audience. "I’ve got to deal with the issues that affect the American people every single, solitary day.”McCarthy's sudden decision to direct an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-congress-oversight-republicans-impeachment-57c5b1b40d19ede4ecf7fde08c027cee">impeachment inquiry</a>&nbsp;into Biden over the business dealings of his son, Hunter, and the family finances has won over even the most reluctant Republicans, with some GOP lawmakers pushing for swift action while others expect it to drag into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-2024-poll-old-corrupt-12b806876e2072790f9a67793761c688">2024 election year</a>.McCarthy opened and closed a private meeting Wednesday of House Republicans justifying his reasoning for the inquiry sought by former President Trump.The moment is a politically pivotal one for the embattled McCarthy, whose job is being targeted by Trump’s right-flank allies. He has already signaled potential charges of abuse of power, corruption and obstruction for possible articles of impeachment.“There’s a lot of accusations out there you just want the answers to,” McCarthy told reporters at the Capitol.The White House mobilized to fight what it called the “unprecedented, unfounded claims” against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">the president</a>&nbsp;regarding his son, Hunter, and family finances.In the inquiry, House Republicans are trying to link Biden to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">business dealings of his son</a>&nbsp;and deflect attention away from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-investigations-other-charges-b8b064a00caad4306fb54d2f6a320468">Trump's own legal peril</a>.The White House has said that Joe Biden was not involved in his son's business affairs. And so far, Republicans have unearthed no significant evidence of wrongdoing by the elder Biden, who spoke often to his son as vice president and did stop by a business dinner with his son's associates.In a 14-page memo to news media leaders, the White House urged them to hold Republicans “accountable for the fact that they are lurching toward impeachment over allegations that are not only unfounded but, in virtually all cases, have been actively disproven.”Biden did not respond early in the day to shouted questions about impeachment during a White House event on cancer research.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called it “a political stunt.”The Republican front-runner for the White House in 2024, Trump is the only president to be twice impeached — acquitted both times — and he is the first to face criminal charges in four separate indictments, including for trying to overturn the 2020 election he lost to Biden.The sooner the better to go after Biden, some GOP lawmakers feel.“I hope we can get it through as quickly as possible," said Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the chairman of the Oversight Committee leading the impeachment inquiry.Comer and the other House chairmen involved in the impeachment inquiry headed across the Capitol later Wednesday and spent nearly an hour walking Senate Republicans through the evidence they said they had gathered in the past eight months.Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has warned the House off impeachment. And GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/politics/massachusetts-utah-general-news-e80ae66f9572ddcdcc63a666913be886">announcing he would not seek reelection in 2024</a>, told reporters Wednesday afternoon, “I haven’t heard any allegation of something that would rise to the level of a high crime and misdemeanor.”But John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said the briefing by House members left him feeling “there’s enough smoke there that there are legitimate questions.”Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and other senators said they urged the House chairmen to solidify the process by holding a House vote to move forward with the inquiry.“I think they’d be better off having a vote. It does give it more legitimacy,” Graham of South Carolina said.With no vote to launch the inquiry, the impeachment probe is being done without formal House-passed ground rules. That allows Republicans to conduct the investigation in ways the Democrats say are not always transparent, releasing only partial information to the public.On another front, McCarthy's decision to launch the impeachment inquiry appears to have done little to appease conservative lawmakers he needs to win over for his more immediate task: persuading the GOP majority to pass the federal spending bills needed to avoid a government shutdown in just over two weeks.Hard-right Republicans still want McCarthy to slash federal spending below the levels he and Biden agreed to as part of a budget deal earlier this year. And that stand risks a federal shutdown if they don't fund the government by Sept. 30, when current money runs out.Democrats are expected to oppose those Republican efforts as well as fight Biden's impeachment.Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who led the first impeachment of Trump, said McCarthy's failure to bring the inquiry before the full House for a vote was “an acknowledgement that he lacks the support in his conference to move forward.”“He is beholden to the more extreme elements,” Schiff said as lawmakers returned to Washington late Tuesday. "It is yet another indication of the weakness in the speakership and the degree by which he is manipulated by Donald Trump.”Yet moderate Republicans representing districts that Biden won in 2020 over Trump and who are most at risk in next year's election generally were supportive of McCarthy’s decision to launch the impeachment probe.“I would have voted for it,” Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., said about the impeachment inquiry.Garcia said, “There’s smoke there so we have a requirement to go investigate that and see if there’s fire there.”Rep. Nick LaLota of New York, another one of the Republicans from districts Biden won, said he wasn’t worried about any backlash back home. "I think my constituents deserve some answers,” he said.The freshmen lawmaker and other potential holdouts like Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., were offered private briefings from leadership this week in order to assuage any concerns.On the government-funding issue, McCarthy does not appear to have a viable plan to keep the government open, several lawmakers said.The chamber came to a standstill Wednesday. A massive House Republican bill to fund the Defense Department and related military affairs was scheduled for a vote, but it was shelved amid the clash over spending levels.Conservative Republicans are demanding that McCarthy commit to a total spending amount for the coming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, a request he is not likely to be able to fulfill.__