By JENNIFER SHUTT&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is gearing up for a fall vaccination campaign that not only includes updated COVID-19 boosters, but the annual flu shot and the newly approved RSV vaccine.

“We’re going to be encouraging Americans to get their COVID-19 vaccine in addition to their annual flu shot, as well as the immunizations for RSV for people who are over the age of 60 as well as for infants,” one official said. Respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms but can also be serious, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

During a roughly 24-minute call, four officials from the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration spoke to reporters on background to discuss the plans for the fall’s vaccine campaign.

The officials declined to say how many Americans the Biden administration is targeting for updated COVID-19 shots heading into cold and flu season.

“We can’t speculate or predict where it will ultimately land. But our goal is for that number of uptake to be as high as possible,” the same official said.

The Biden administration, the official said, hopes to provide access for uninsured and underinsured people to get the booster once the updated COVID-19 vaccine is approved.

A second official said an updated COVID-19 vaccine from one pharmaceutical company shows some promise against the EG.5 variant that makes up an increasing number of new cases, though the official said there needs to be more data about the updated vaccines’ impact on the BA.2.86 variant.

“One of the manufacturers has already made it clear that when testing their vaccine against the EG.5 variant that it looks like the neutralization is robust,” the second official said. “So I think that’s a good harbinger.”

On the BA.2.86 variant, the second official said that “it’s too early to know for sure about BA.2.86 in terms of the exact data.”

“But I think we feel comfortable in saying that it’s likely that the vaccine will help protect against the severe outcomes that would occur,” the second official said. “So we’ll obviously have more data that will come in in the next few weeks. But for right now, I think we believe that the booster will be helpful against the severe outcomes that might occur.”

Once the FDA approves one or several updated COVID-19 vaccines this fall, the first official said the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices plans to meet quickly to make its recommendations for clinicians.

“Our intention, certainly as we look into mid-September, is to have the ACIP meeting and as close as possible succession to FDA action,” the first official said, adding that CDC and FDA are “joined at the hip on this.”

The first official noted that ACIP recommendations help to “guide clinicians as to … who would best benefit from COVID-19 vaccines.”

Getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine into nursing homes and long-term-care facilities will be a priority for the Biden administration, according to the first official.

“We are focused on getting older individuals their vaccines, partly because they have been a higher proportion of hospitalizations throughout the pandemic,” the first official said.

“CDC has been working very closely with the associations and the provider groups that provide vaccinations in facilities like long-term care and assisted living,” the first official said. “We’re also focusing a lot of our outreach on both the individuals who live there, the owners and operators, and the providers who work in those facilities to make sure they know when the vaccines are coming out, how to access them, how to administer them, etc.”

Once approved, the updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for people aged 12 and older will be fully licensed this fall, though the vaccines for people 11 and younger will still be under the emergency use authorization, according to the second official.

The protein-based COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax will also remain under the emergency use authorization framework, according to the second official.

So some of the updated vaccines may come with a cost, unlike during the pandemic when all the COVID-19 vaccines were free.

Moderna, for example, announced earlier this year that it would increase the price of its COVID-19 vaccine from $30 to $130,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/moderna-plan-hike-covid-vaccine-price-130-dose-rebuked-us-senate-hearing">leading to a bipartisan condemnation of the decision at a U.S. Senate hearing.&nbsp;</a>

Testing and treatments will also remain available during the upcoming cold and flu season, the first official said.

“What we know about treatments is that they can reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death,” the first official said. “CDCs goal is to protect against respiratory diseases this fall and winter.”

COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths have begun to increase, according to CDC&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home">data</a>.

Between Aug. 6 and Aug. 12 the number of hospital admissions increased by nearly 22% bringing the total weekly admissions to 12,600. That’s the highest it’s been since mid-April, according to CDC&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklyhospitaladmissions_select_00">data</a>.

The number of deaths increased by slightly more than 8% during the same time frame to about 251 a week, though that still remains much lower than during the pandemic, according to CDC&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklydeaths_select_00">data</a>.

By JENNIFER SHUTT&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is gearing up for a fall vaccination campaign that not only includes updated COVID-19 boosters, but the annual flu shot and the newly approved RSV vaccine.“We’re going to be encouraging Americans to get their COVID-19 vaccine in addition to their annual flu shot, as well as the immunizations for RSV for people who are over the age of 60 as well as for infants,” one official said. Respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms but can also be serious, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.During a roughly 24-minute call, four officials from the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration spoke to reporters on background to discuss the plans for the fall’s vaccine campaign.The officials declined to say how many Americans the Biden administration is targeting for updated COVID-19 shots heading into cold and flu season.“We can’t speculate or predict where it will ultimately land. But our goal is for that number of uptake to be as high as possible,” the same official said.The Biden administration, the official said, hopes to provide access for uninsured and underinsured people to get the booster once the updated COVID-19 vaccine is approved.A second official said an updated COVID-19 vaccine from one pharmaceutical company shows some promise against the EG.5 variant that makes up an increasing number of new cases, though the official said there needs to be more data about the updated vaccines’ impact on the BA.2.86 variant.“One of the manufacturers has already made it clear that when testing their vaccine against the EG.5 variant that it looks like the neutralization is robust,” the second official said. “So I think that’s a good harbinger.”On the BA.2.86 variant, the second official said that “it’s too early to know for sure about BA.2.86 in terms of the exact data.”“But I think we feel comfortable in saying that it’s likely that the vaccine will help protect against the severe outcomes that would occur,” the second official said. “So we’ll obviously have more data that will come in in the next few weeks. But for right now, I think we believe that the booster will be helpful against the severe outcomes that might occur.”Once the FDA approves one or several updated COVID-19 vaccines this fall, the first official said the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices plans to meet quickly to make its recommendations for clinicians.“Our intention, certainly as we look into mid-September, is to have the ACIP meeting and as close as possible succession to FDA action,” the first official said, adding that CDC and FDA are “joined at the hip on this.”The first official noted that ACIP recommendations help to “guide clinicians as to … who would best benefit from COVID-19 vaccines.”Getting the updated COVID-19 vaccine into nursing homes and long-term-care facilities will be a priority for the Biden administration, according to the first official.“We are focused on getting older individuals their vaccines, partly because they have been a higher proportion of hospitalizations throughout the pandemic,” the first official said.“CDC has been working very closely with the associations and the provider groups that provide vaccinations in facilities like long-term care and assisted living,” the first official said. “We’re also focusing a lot of our outreach on both the individuals who live there, the owners and operators, and the providers who work in those facilities to make sure they know when the vaccines are coming out, how to access them, how to administer them, etc.”Once approved, the updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for people aged 12 and older will be fully licensed this fall, though the vaccines for people 11 and younger will still be under the emergency use authorization, according to the second official.The protein-based COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax will also remain under the emergency use authorization framework, according to the second official.So some of the updated vaccines may come with a cost, unlike during the pandemic when all the COVID-19 vaccines were free.Moderna, for example, announced earlier this year that it would increase the price of its COVID-19 vaccine from $30 to $130,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/moderna-plan-hike-covid-vaccine-price-130-dose-rebuked-us-senate-hearing">leading to a bipartisan condemnation of the decision at a U.S. Senate hearing.&nbsp;</a>Testing and treatments will also remain available during the upcoming cold and flu season, the first official said.“What we know about treatments is that they can reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death,” the first official said. “CDCs goal is to protect against respiratory diseases this fall and winter.”COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths have begun to increase, according to CDC&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home">data</a>.Between Aug. 6 and Aug. 12 the number of hospital admissions increased by nearly 22% bringing the total weekly admissions to 12,600. That’s the highest it’s been since mid-April, according to CDC&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklyhospitaladmissions_select_00">data</a>.The number of deaths increased by slightly more than 8% during the same time frame to about 251 a week, though that still remains much lower than during the pandemic, according to CDC&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklydeaths_select_00">data</a>.

Updated COVID-19 vaccines expected to be available this month

&nbsp;(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The summer travel season is coming to a close and the Nebraska State Patrol is encouraging safe travel this Labor Day Weekend.

“Whether you’re staying close to home or taking a road trip this weekend, keep safe driving at the top of your priority list,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Our troopers will be on patrol across the state to help keep roadways safe during this final weekend of the summer travel season.”

In the month of August, troopers made 119 arrests for impaired driving and issued citations for 112 drivers speeding at or above 100 miles per hour. Troopers also performed over 1,100 motorist assists during August.

NSP also advises Nebraskans to be aware of the hot temperatures expected across the state this weekend. Temps could reach triple digits again this weekend in many areas of Nebraska. NSP advises all motorists to take extra water on road trips and make sure cell phones are charged to call for help if necessary. The NSP Highway Helpline is always available at *55 or 800-525-5555 to speak directly with an NSP dispatcher.

Labor Day Weekend also closes out the&nbsp;Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over&nbsp;campaign, which began on August 16. The campaign includes NSP and many other Nebraska law enforcement agencies thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

Cody Thomas Nebraska State Patrol&nbsp;(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The summer travel season is coming to a close and the Nebraska State Patrol is encouraging safe travel this Labor Day Weekend.“Whether you’re staying close to home or taking a road trip this weekend, keep safe driving at the top of your priority list,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Our troopers will be on patrol across the state to help keep roadways safe during this final weekend of the summer travel season.”In the month of August, troopers made 119 arrests for impaired driving and issued citations for 112 drivers speeding at or above 100 miles per hour. Troopers also performed over 1,100 motorist assists during August.NSP also advises Nebraskans to be aware of the hot temperatures expected across the state this weekend. Temps could reach triple digits again this weekend in many areas of Nebraska. NSP advises all motorists to take extra water on road trips and make sure cell phones are charged to call for help if necessary. The NSP Highway Helpline is always available at *55 or 800-525-5555 to speak directly with an NSP dispatcher.Labor Day Weekend also closes out the&nbsp;Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over&nbsp;campaign, which began on August 16. The campaign includes NSP and many other Nebraska law enforcement agencies thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

Close Out Summer with Safe Travel for Labor Day Weekend

NEW YORK (AP) — Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, who popularized beach bum soft rock with the escapist Caribbean-flavored song “Margaritaville” and turned that celebration of loafing into an empire of restaurants, resorts and frozen concoctions, has died. He was 76.

“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” a statement posted to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jimmybuffett.com/">Buffett's official website</a>&nbsp;and social media pages said late Friday. “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”

The statement did not say where Buffett died or give a cause of death. Illness had forced him to reschedule concerts in May and Buffett acknowledged in social media posts that he had been hospitalized, but provided no specifics.

“Margaritaville,” released on Feb. 14, 1977, quickly took on a life of its own, becoming a state of mind for those ”wastin’ away,” an excuse for a life of low-key fun and escapism for those “growing older, but not up.”

The song is the unhurried portrait of a loafer on his front porch, watching tourists sunbathe while a pot of shrimp is beginning to boil. The singer has a new tattoo, a likely hangover and regrets over a lost love. Somewhere there is a misplaced salt shaker.

“What seems like a simple ditty about getting blotto and mending a broken heart turns out to be a profound meditation on the often painful inertia of beach dwelling,” Spin magazine wrote in 2021. “The tourists come and go, one group indistinguishable from the other. Waves crest and break whether somebody is there to witness it or not. Everything that means anything has already happened and you’re not even sure when.”

The song — from the album “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes” — spent 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at No. 8. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016 for its cultural and historic significance, became a karaoke standard and helped brand Key West, Florida, as a distinct sound of music and a destination known the world over.

“There was no such place as Margaritaville," Buffett told the Arizona Republic in 2021. “It was a made-up place in my mind, basically made up about my experiences in Key West and having to leave Key West and go on the road to work and then come back and spend time by the beach.”

The song soon inspired restaurants and resorts, turning&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-buffett-dies-obituary-parrotheads-aab4f7edb4044ef5af874d4ea63e8e9c">Buffett’s alleged desire for the simplicity of island life into a multimillion brand</a>. He landed at No. 18 in Forbes’ list of the Richest Celebrities of All Time with a net worth of $1 billion.

Music critics were never very kind to Buffett or his catalogue, including the sandy beach-side snack bar songs like “Fins,” “Come Monday” and “Cheeseburgers in Paradise.” But his legions of fans, called “Parrotheads,” regularly turned up for his concerts wearing toy parrots, cheeseburgers, sharks and flamingos on their heads, leis around their necks and loud Hawaiian shirts.

“It’s pure escapism is all it is,” he told the Republic. “I’m not the first one to do it, nor shall I probably be the last. But I think it’s really a part of the human condition that you’ve got to have some fun. You’ve got to get away from whatever you do to make a living or other parts of life that stress you out. I try to make it at least 50/50 fun to work and so far it’s worked out.”

His special Gulf Coast mix of country, pop, folk and rock added instruments and tonalities more commonly found in the Caribbean, like steel drums. It was a stew of steelpans, trombones and pedal steel guitar. Buffett’s incredible ear for hooks and light grooves were often overshadowed by his lyrics about fish tacos and sunsets.

Rolling Stone, in a review of Buffett’s 2020 album “Life on the Flip Side,” gave grudging props. “He continues mapping out his surfy, sandy corner of pop music utopia with the chill, friendly warmth of a multi-millionaire you wouldn’t mind sharing a tropically-themed 3 p.m. IPA with, especially if his gold card was on the bar when the last round came.”

Tributes on Saturday came from all walks of life, from Hollywood star Miles Teller posting photos of himself with Buffett to former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama, who wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Buffett “lived life to the fullest and the world will miss him.” Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys wrote: “Love and Mercy, Jimmy Buffett.”

Buffett’s evolving brand began in 1985 with the opening of a string of Margaritaville-themed stores and restaurants in Key West, followed in 1987 with the first Margaritaville Café nearby. Over the course of the next two decades, several more of each opened throughout Florida, New Orleans and California.

The brand has since expanded to dozens of categories, including resorts, apparel and footwear for men and women, a radio station, a beer brand, ice tea, tequila and rum, home décor, food items like salad dressing, Margaritaville Crunchy Pimento Cheese &amp; Shrimp Bites and Margaritaville Cantina Style Medium Chunky Salsa, the Margaritaville at Sea cruise line and restaurants, including Margaritaville Restaurant, JWB Prime Steak and Seafood, 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar &amp; Grill and LandShark Bar &amp; Grill.

There also was a Broadway-bound jukebox musical, “Escape to Margaritaville,” a romantic comedy in which a singer-bartender called Sully falls for the far more career-minded Rachel, who is vacationing with friends and hanging out at Margaritaville, the hotel bar where Sully works.

James William Buffett was born on Christmas day 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and raised in the port town of Mobile, Alabama. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and went from busking the streets of New Orleans to playing six nights a week at Bourbon Street clubs.

He released his first record, “Down To Earth,” in 1970 and issued seven more on a regular yearly clip, with his 1974 song “Come Monday” from his fourth studio album “Living and Dying in ¾ Time,” peaking at No. 30. Then came “Margaritaville.”

He performed on more than 50 studio and live albums, often accompanied by his Coral Reefer Band, and was constantly on tour. He earned two Grammy Award nominations, two Academy of Country Music Awards and a Country Music Association Award.

Buffett was actually in Austin, Texas, when the inspiration struck for “Margaritaville.” He and a friend had stopped for lunch at a Mexican restaurant before she dropped him at the airport for a flight home to Key West, so they got to drinking margaritas.

“And I kind of came up with that idea of this is just like Margarita-ville,” Buffett told the Republic. “She kind of laughed at that and put me on the plane. And I started working on it.”

He wrote some on the plane and finished it while driving down the Keys. “There was a wreck on the bridge,” he said. "And we got stopped for about an hour so I finished the song on the Seven Mile Bridge, which I thought was apropos.”

Buffett also was the author of numerous books including “Where Is Joe Merchant?” and “A Pirate Looks At Fifty” and added movies to his resume as co-producer and co-star of an adaptation of Carl Hiaasen’s novel “Hoot.”

Buffett is survived by his wife, Jane; daughters, Savannah and Sarah; and son, Cameron.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693656213190.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, who popularized beach bum soft rock with the escapist Caribbean-flavored song “Margaritaville” and turned that celebration of loafing into an empire of restaurants, resorts and frozen concoctions, has died. He was 76.“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” a statement posted to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jimmybuffett.com/">Buffett's official website</a>&nbsp;and social media pages said late Friday. “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”The statement did not say where Buffett died or give a cause of death. Illness had forced him to reschedule concerts in May and Buffett acknowledged in social media posts that he had been hospitalized, but provided no specifics.“Margaritaville,” released on Feb. 14, 1977, quickly took on a life of its own, becoming a state of mind for those ”wastin’ away,” an excuse for a life of low-key fun and escapism for those “growing older, but not up.”The song is the unhurried portrait of a loafer on his front porch, watching tourists sunbathe while a pot of shrimp is beginning to boil. The singer has a new tattoo, a likely hangover and regrets over a lost love. Somewhere there is a misplaced salt shaker.“What seems like a simple ditty about getting blotto and mending a broken heart turns out to be a profound meditation on the often painful inertia of beach dwelling,” Spin magazine wrote in 2021. “The tourists come and go, one group indistinguishable from the other. Waves crest and break whether somebody is there to witness it or not. Everything that means anything has already happened and you’re not even sure when.”The song — from the album “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes” — spent 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at No. 8. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016 for its cultural and historic significance, became a karaoke standard and helped brand Key West, Florida, as a distinct sound of music and a destination known the world over.“There was no such place as Margaritaville," Buffett told the Arizona Republic in 2021. “It was a made-up place in my mind, basically made up about my experiences in Key West and having to leave Key West and go on the road to work and then come back and spend time by the beach.”The song soon inspired restaurants and resorts, turning&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-buffett-dies-obituary-parrotheads-aab4f7edb4044ef5af874d4ea63e8e9c">Buffett’s alleged desire for the simplicity of island life into a multimillion brand</a>. He landed at No. 18 in Forbes’ list of the Richest Celebrities of All Time with a net worth of $1 billion.Music critics were never very kind to Buffett or his catalogue, including the sandy beach-side snack bar songs like “Fins,” “Come Monday” and “Cheeseburgers in Paradise.” But his legions of fans, called “Parrotheads,” regularly turned up for his concerts wearing toy parrots, cheeseburgers, sharks and flamingos on their heads, leis around their necks and loud Hawaiian shirts.“It’s pure escapism is all it is,” he told the Republic. “I’m not the first one to do it, nor shall I probably be the last. But I think it’s really a part of the human condition that you’ve got to have some fun. You’ve got to get away from whatever you do to make a living or other parts of life that stress you out. I try to make it at least 50/50 fun to work and so far it’s worked out.”His special Gulf Coast mix of country, pop, folk and rock added instruments and tonalities more commonly found in the Caribbean, like steel drums. It was a stew of steelpans, trombones and pedal steel guitar. Buffett’s incredible ear for hooks and light grooves were often overshadowed by his lyrics about fish tacos and sunsets.Rolling Stone, in a review of Buffett’s 2020 album “Life on the Flip Side,” gave grudging props. “He continues mapping out his surfy, sandy corner of pop music utopia with the chill, friendly warmth of a multi-millionaire you wouldn’t mind sharing a tropically-themed 3 p.m. IPA with, especially if his gold card was on the bar when the last round came.”Tributes on Saturday came from all walks of life, from Hollywood star Miles Teller posting photos of himself with Buffett to former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama, who wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Buffett “lived life to the fullest and the world will miss him.” Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys wrote: “Love and Mercy, Jimmy Buffett.”Buffett’s evolving brand began in 1985 with the opening of a string of Margaritaville-themed stores and restaurants in Key West, followed in 1987 with the first Margaritaville Café nearby. Over the course of the next two decades, several more of each opened throughout Florida, New Orleans and California.The brand has since expanded to dozens of categories, including resorts, apparel and footwear for men and women, a radio station, a beer brand, ice tea, tequila and rum, home décor, food items like salad dressing, Margaritaville Crunchy Pimento Cheese &amp; Shrimp Bites and Margaritaville Cantina Style Medium Chunky Salsa, the Margaritaville at Sea cruise line and restaurants, including Margaritaville Restaurant, JWB Prime Steak and Seafood, 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar &amp; Grill and LandShark Bar &amp; Grill.There also was a Broadway-bound jukebox musical, “Escape to Margaritaville,” a romantic comedy in which a singer-bartender called Sully falls for the far more career-minded Rachel, who is vacationing with friends and hanging out at Margaritaville, the hotel bar where Sully works.James William Buffett was born on Christmas day 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and raised in the port town of Mobile, Alabama. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and went from busking the streets of New Orleans to playing six nights a week at Bourbon Street clubs.He released his first record, “Down To Earth,” in 1970 and issued seven more on a regular yearly clip, with his 1974 song “Come Monday” from his fourth studio album “Living and Dying in ¾ Time,” peaking at No. 30. Then came “Margaritaville.”He performed on more than 50 studio and live albums, often accompanied by his Coral Reefer Band, and was constantly on tour. He earned two Grammy Award nominations, two Academy of Country Music Awards and a Country Music Association Award.Buffett was actually in Austin, Texas, when the inspiration struck for “Margaritaville.” He and a friend had stopped for lunch at a Mexican restaurant before she dropped him at the airport for a flight home to Key West, so they got to drinking margaritas.“And I kind of came up with that idea of this is just like Margarita-ville,” Buffett told the Republic. “She kind of laughed at that and put me on the plane. And I started working on it.”He wrote some on the plane and finished it while driving down the Keys. “There was a wreck on the bridge,” he said. "And we got stopped for about an hour so I finished the song on the Seven Mile Bridge, which I thought was apropos.”Buffett also was the author of numerous books including “Where Is Joe Merchant?” and “A Pirate Looks At Fifty” and added movies to his resume as co-producer and co-star of an adaptation of Carl Hiaasen’s novel “Hoot.”Buffett is survived by his wife, Jane; daughters, Savannah and Sarah; and son, Cameron.

Jimmy Buffett, legendary 'Margaritaville' singer, dies at 76

WASHINGTON —This week, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This announcement is the Biden Administration's forty-fifth tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. 

It includes additional air defense and artillery munitions, mine clearing equipment, medical vehicles, and other equipment to help Ukraine counter Russia's ongoing war of aggression on the battlefield and protect its people.

The capabilities in this package, valued at up to $250 million, include:

This security assistance package will utilize assistance previously authorized under Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for Ukraine that remained after the PDA revaluation process concluded in June.

With the presidential drawdown authority package announced today, the U.S. has committed more than $43 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's invasion in February 2022.

The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693427437872.png" alt="U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Cannon Ritzler, a munitions systems specialist with the Ohio National Guard, inspects an Air Intercept Missile, also known as an AIM-9M Sidewinder missile-Photo By:Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker, Air National Guard" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Cannon Ritzler, a munitions systems specialist with the Ohio National Guard, inspects an Air Intercept Missile, also known as an AIM-9M Sidewinder missile-Photo By:Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker, Air National Guard</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —This week, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This announcement is the Biden Administration's forty-fifth tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. It includes additional air defense and artillery munitions, mine clearing equipment, medical vehicles, and other equipment to help Ukraine counter Russia's ongoing war of aggression on the battlefield and protect its people.The capabilities in this package, valued at up to $250 million, include:<ul>
 <li>AIM-9M missiles for air defense;</li><li>Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);</li><li>155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;</li><li>Mine clearing equipment;</li><li>Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;</li><li>Javelin and other anti-armor systems and rockets;</li><li>Hydra-70 Rockets;</li><li>Over 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition;</li><li>Armored medical treatment vehicles and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) ambulances;</li><li>Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing; and</li><li>Spare parts, maintenance, and other field equipment.</li>
 </ul>This security assistance package will utilize assistance previously authorized under Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for Ukraine that remained after the PDA revaluation process concluded in June.With the presidential drawdown authority package announced today, the U.S. has committed more than $43 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's invasion in February 2022.The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements.

U.S. sending Ukraine $250M more in military assistance

LINCOLN — A state lawmaker’s multi-year effort to allow the concealed carry of handguns without a permit or training takes effect Saturday, with Nebraska’s largest cities issuing guidance just before the law is enacted.

State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon advocated for years for a proposal such as Legislative Bill 77, which supporters describe as a “constitutional carry” measure after the Second Amendment. Under the law, persons over 21 can carry concealed firearms without a state permit or state-mandated gun safety training, joining&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/terminology/types-of-concealed-carry-licensurepermitting-policies/unrestricted/">26 other states</a>&nbsp;in doing so.

During the bill’s April 25&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/25/gov-jim-pillen-signs-bill-for-concealed-carry-of-handguns-without-permit-or-training/">signing ceremony</a>, Brewer thanked his colleagues for having his back during his seven years in office.

“They knew what right was and they knew that we had to get the Constitution back to where it should be and give the rights back that should have never been taken away in the first place,” Brewer said.

Beginning Saturday, firearm dealers will also be required to distribute information on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=69-2426">suicide prevention</a>, including evidence-based best practices in prevention and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or other similar resources. The change comes through a bill by State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha that was amended into LB 50.

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert signed an executive order Wednesday prohibiting firearms at all City of Omaha owned or leased and managed buildings, facilities, parks and public spaces. This includes community and recreation centers, pools, libraries, parks, fire stations and Public Works and Parks Department maintenance yards.

The city will post a sign at each location prohibiting possession of firearms beginning Saturday, following a provision in LB 77 allowing Omaha to ban firearms.

“Our citizens and employees should feel safe when at work, visiting a city facility for business or enjoying our parks,” Stothert said in a statement. “We will be in compliance with state law.”

The Omaha order does not apply to federal, state, county or city law enforcement; trained security personnel with a government agency; the Harry A. Koch Trap &amp; Skeet facility in Seymour Smith Park; or anyone with prior approval from the Omaha chief of police.

A spokesperson for the City of Lincoln said officials will issue guidance for LB 77 on Friday.

LB 77 is one of a dozen laws taking effect this weekend. Laws passed by the Legislature that do not have an effective date automatically become law three calendar months and one day after the Legislature adjourns or, in this case, Sept. 2.

Several laws taking effect Saturday were included in legislative “packages” or “Christmas tree” bundles of multiple stand-alone bills. They include:

A handful of laws won’t take effect until later this year or sometime in 2024. A couple will not be enacted until 2025.

Three major laws or provisions still to come include&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49961">LB 574</a>, introduced by State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, related to gender-affirming care for minors;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49977">LB 138</a>, with a provision by State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair related to the state’s helmet law; and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50326">LB 753</a>, the Opportunity Scholarships Act led by Linehan.

LB 574&nbsp;—&nbsp;The gender care provisions take effect Oct. 1, initially banning transition surgeries for minors. The law authorizes the state chief medical officer, Dr. Timothy Tesmer, to regulate puberty blockers and hormones, but if there are no rules in place by that time medications will be banned for new patients until new rules are approved. Because the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/regulations/overview-regulation-process#:~:text=Commonly%20referred%20to%20as%20%22rules,the%20hearing%20and%20adoption%20process.">process</a>&nbsp;requires a 30-day notice for a public hearing, the time has already passed to allow rules to be finalized by Oct. 1.

Planned Parenthood filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/30/nebraska-lawsuit-targets-combo-bill-on-abortion-gender-affirming-care/">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;against the law primarily regarding the state’s single subject requirement after lawmakers adopted an amendment to also restrict abortion access. A district court judge&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/12/judge-dismisses-lb-574-lawsuit-says-abortion-and-gender-care-are-health-care/">sided with the state</a>; opponents are&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/18/planned-parenthood-aclu-file-notice-to-appeal-ruling-on-new-abortion-law/">appealing</a>&nbsp;the decision.

LB 138&nbsp;—&nbsp;Beginning Jan. 1, Nebraska motorcyclists older than 21 who have completed the basic motorcycle safety course offered by the state can ride without a helmet on highways. Non-Nebraskans must complete an equivalent or substantially similar course and be able to show proof to law enforcement upon request. The Department of Motor Vehicles is authorized to modify its system to show course completion on a person’s record by Jan. 1.

LB 753&nbsp;—&nbsp;Scholarship tax credits will begin to be available for students on or after Jan. 1, initially capped annually at $25 million. Scholarship-granting organizations certified by the Nebraska Department of Revenue are authorized to assist eligible students attend a qualified nonpublic school.

Opponents appear to have&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/30/support-our-schools-says-it-has-enough-signatures-to-reach-2024-nebraska-ballot/">qualified</a>&nbsp;for the November 2024 ballot in efforts to repeal the measure.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693584033276.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signs State Sen. Tom Brewer’s proposal to allow concealed carry of handguns without a permit or training on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Brewer, at left, and nearly half of Nebraska’s state senators joined the signing. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signs State Sen. Tom Brewer’s proposal to allow concealed carry of handguns without a permit or training on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Brewer, at left, and nearly half of Nebraska’s state senators joined the signing. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach WendlingNebraska ExaminerLINCOLN — A state lawmaker’s multi-year effort to allow the concealed carry of handguns without a permit or training takes effect Saturday, with Nebraska’s largest cities issuing guidance just before the law is enacted.State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon advocated for years for a proposal such as Legislative Bill 77, which supporters describe as a “constitutional carry” measure after the Second Amendment. Under the law, persons over 21 can carry concealed firearms without a state permit or state-mandated gun safety training, joining&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/terminology/types-of-concealed-carry-licensurepermitting-policies/unrestricted/">26 other states</a>&nbsp;in doing so.During the bill’s April 25&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/25/gov-jim-pillen-signs-bill-for-concealed-carry-of-handguns-without-permit-or-training/">signing ceremony</a>, Brewer thanked his colleagues for having his back during his seven years in office.“They knew what right was and they knew that we had to get the Constitution back to where it should be and give the rights back that should have never been taken away in the first place,” Brewer said.Beginning Saturday, firearm dealers will also be required to distribute information on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=69-2426">suicide prevention</a>, including evidence-based best practices in prevention and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or other similar resources. The change comes through a bill by State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha that was amended into LB 50.<h2>Omaha to post public notices</h2>Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert signed an executive order Wednesday prohibiting firearms at all City of Omaha owned or leased and managed buildings, facilities, parks and public spaces. This includes community and recreation centers, pools, libraries, parks, fire stations and Public Works and Parks Department maintenance yards.The city will post a sign at each location prohibiting possession of firearms beginning Saturday, following a provision in LB 77 allowing Omaha to ban firearms.“Our citizens and employees should feel safe when at work, visiting a city facility for business or enjoying our parks,” Stothert said in a statement. “We will be in compliance with state law.”The Omaha order does not apply to federal, state, county or city law enforcement; trained security personnel with a government agency; the Harry A. Koch Trap &amp; Skeet facility in Seymour Smith Park; or anyone with prior approval from the Omaha chief of police.A spokesperson for the City of Lincoln said officials will issue guidance for LB 77 on Friday.<h2>Other laws take effect Saturday</h2>LB 77 is one of a dozen laws taking effect this weekend. Laws passed by the Legislature that do not have an effective date automatically become law three calendar months and one day after the Legislature adjourns or, in this case, Sept. 2.Several laws taking effect Saturday were included in legislative “packages” or “Christmas tree” bundles of multiple stand-alone bills. They include:<ul>
 <li>Criminal justice reform&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50391">LB 50</a>, a series of reforms led by Omaha State Sen. Justin Wayne, the Judiciary Committee chair, includes provisions aimed at reducing the number of inmates who “jam out” of prison without some rehabilitation programming.&nbsp;One provision, offered by Brewer, requires the state to provide each correctional officer a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=83-919">protective vest</a>&nbsp;to protect against edged weapons and stabbings.</li><li>Domestic abuse protection orders&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50383">LB 157</a>, through a provision by State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, explicitly includes&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=42-924">household pets</a>&nbsp;in domestic abuse protection orders.</li><li>Dyslexia reporting&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50239">LB 298</a>, introduced by State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, mandates the reporting of information relating to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=79-11,157.01">dyslexia</a>. School districts must report certain information to the State Department of Education annually before July 1, and a department report will be sent to the Legislature on or before Sept. 1 each year.</li><li>Killing of wildlife predators&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50683">LB 565</a>, introduced by State Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, includes a provision allowing some landowners to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=37-559">kill damage-causing predators</a>&nbsp;without a permit&nbsp;in select circumstances. Included are badgers, bobcats, coyotes, red or gray foxes, long-tailed weasels, minks, opossums, raccoons and skunks. The law also extends to landowners or tenants who encounter a mountain lion in the process of stalking, killing or consuming livestock, but additional requirements apply, such as notifying Game and Parks to arrange a transfer of the animal.</li><li>Prohibiting the suspension of students in pre-K through second grade&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50370">LB 705</a>, through a provision from State Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, prohibits&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=79-265.01">suspensions</a>&nbsp;for children in these grades unless the student brings a weapon to school.</li>
 </ul><h2>More laws take effect later</h2>A handful of laws won’t take effect until later this year or sometime in 2024. A couple will not be enacted until 2025.Three major laws or provisions still to come include&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49961">LB 574</a>, introduced by State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, related to gender-affirming care for minors;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49977">LB 138</a>, with a provision by State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair related to the state’s helmet law; and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50326">LB 753</a>, the Opportunity Scholarships Act led by Linehan.LB 574&nbsp;—&nbsp;The gender care provisions take effect Oct. 1, initially banning transition surgeries for minors. The law authorizes the state chief medical officer, Dr. Timothy Tesmer, to regulate puberty blockers and hormones, but if there are no rules in place by that time medications will be banned for new patients until new rules are approved. Because the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/regulations/overview-regulation-process#:~:text=Commonly%20referred%20to%20as%20%22rules,the%20hearing%20and%20adoption%20process.">process</a>&nbsp;requires a 30-day notice for a public hearing, the time has already passed to allow rules to be finalized by Oct. 1.Planned Parenthood filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/30/nebraska-lawsuit-targets-combo-bill-on-abortion-gender-affirming-care/">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;against the law primarily regarding the state’s single subject requirement after lawmakers adopted an amendment to also restrict abortion access. A district court judge&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/12/judge-dismisses-lb-574-lawsuit-says-abortion-and-gender-care-are-health-care/">sided with the state</a>; opponents are&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/18/planned-parenthood-aclu-file-notice-to-appeal-ruling-on-new-abortion-law/">appealing</a>&nbsp;the decision.LB 138&nbsp;—&nbsp;Beginning Jan. 1, Nebraska motorcyclists older than 21 who have completed the basic motorcycle safety course offered by the state can ride without a helmet on highways. Non-Nebraskans must complete an equivalent or substantially similar course and be able to show proof to law enforcement upon request. The Department of Motor Vehicles is authorized to modify its system to show course completion on a person’s record by Jan. 1.LB 753&nbsp;—&nbsp;Scholarship tax credits will begin to be available for students on or after Jan. 1, initially capped annually at $25 million. Scholarship-granting organizations certified by the Nebraska Department of Revenue are authorized to assist eligible students attend a qualified nonpublic school.Opponents appear to have&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/30/support-our-schools-says-it-has-enough-signatures-to-reach-2024-nebraska-ballot/">qualified</a>&nbsp;for the November 2024 ballot in efforts to repeal the measure.

Several Nebraska laws take effect Saturday, including permitless concealed carry

(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— An unforgettable experience combined with safe roadways made the perfect combination for Volleyball Day in Nebraska. Troopers partnered with local agencies to help keep the record-breaking crowd safe as they traveled to and from Memorial Stadium Wednesday.

“Nebraskans showed up in record-breaking numbers yesterday and put on a show for the whole world to see,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Thanks to safe driving by the vast majority of fans, Volleyball Day in Nebraska will be remembered for the incredible experience inside the stadium and not for a tragedy on the road.”

Troopers performed high-visibility patrols on roadways in and around Lincoln as part of this operation, which was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office. Troopers also patrolled from the air in the NSP helicopter to assist with traffic flow.

Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, troopers made four arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol in the Lincoln area. NSP reminds everyone to always have a sober driver.

Cody Thomas Nebraska State Patrol(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— An unforgettable experience combined with safe roadways made the perfect combination for Volleyball Day in Nebraska. Troopers partnered with local agencies to help keep the record-breaking crowd safe as they traveled to and from Memorial Stadium Wednesday.“Nebraskans showed up in record-breaking numbers yesterday and put on a show for the whole world to see,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Thanks to safe driving by the vast majority of fans, Volleyball Day in Nebraska will be remembered for the incredible experience inside the stadium and not for a tragedy on the road.”Troopers performed high-visibility patrols on roadways in and around Lincoln as part of this operation, which was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office. Troopers also patrolled from the air in the NSP helicopter to assist with traffic flow.Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, troopers made four arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol in the Lincoln area. NSP reminds everyone to always have a sober driver.

Safe Driving Keeps Memories Focused on an Unforgettable Event

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-b7c8b3e967efba728b31bf7b6fa1f429">Trump-era rule</a>&nbsp;allowing railroads to haul highly flammable liquefied natural gas will now be formally put on hold to allow more time to study the safety concerns related to transporting that fuel and other substances like hydrogen that must be kept at extremely low temperatures when they are shipped, regulators announced Thursday.

Right after it was announced in the summer of 2020, the rule was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4437223e3ef350ef884523aa1027c59b">challenged in court</a>&nbsp;by a number of environmental groups and 14 states. The uncertainty about the rule on transporting the fuel known as LNG kept railroads from shipping it. The Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration says no one has ever even ordered one of the specially fortified rail cars that would have been required to ship LNG, and several hundred of those cars that would each take at least 18 months to build would likely be needed to make the idea viable.

“We need to do more safety investigative work,” said Tristan Brown, the deputy administrator who is leading the agency. “Until we do that work, we don't want someone to, you know, make investments and deploy something where we haven't fully done the process we normally do need to do.”

Brown acknowledged that the rule was rushed under a directive from former President Donald Trump, so it needs to be refined.

This latest action ensures the rule that was backed by the freight rail and natural gas industries will remain on hold at least until regulators finalize changes to the rule the Biden administration wants to make or the end of June 2025 — whichever comes first.

One of the big railroads that said it may have been interested in hauling the fuel, CSX, abandoned any plans to build the infrastructure needed to load and unload LNG from railcars after the agency first announced this proposal to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-environment-4dcd036f9745bf627553cba1fd1c1df9">suspend the rule</a>&nbsp;in 2021.

Current federal rules do allow trucks to haul LNG but not rail. But Brown said there's only a tiny amount of natural gas that isn't delivered by pipelines, so there was never much demand for rail shipments of LNG. After pipelines deliver gas to ports, ships haul the LNG that is exported.

The rail industry maintains that it is the safest option to transport hazardous materials across land. The Association of American Railroads trade group touts railroads' record of delivering more than 99% of all toxic shipments without incident.

But rail safety has been in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailments-tank-car-ohio-minnesota-c60f33b64e9c7dc05768a78ae20f3ce5">spotlight</a>&nbsp;this year ever since a Norfolk Southern train&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">derailed</a>&nbsp;in eastern Ohio in February and spilled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">several chemicals</a>&nbsp;that caught fire. That railroad is still cleaning the mess that prompted calls for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/east-palestine-train-derailment-safety-regulations-railroad-4db52c68daf68da05425b5b70363fb0a">reforms</a>&nbsp;and fears of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-contamination-fears-brockovich-fc68b402096a4f5f8598a657f7e399f8">possible health problems</a>&nbsp;for people who live in and around East Palestine.

Brown said he thinks the East Palestine derailment highlighted the importance of some of his agency's previous rules because the tougher tank cars recommended in 2015 performed better in the wreck. But that derailment highlights the need for railroad regulations.

“I think that has that has underscored the need to address rail safety — generally hazmat transportation by rail,” Brown said.

U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-climate-politics-lake-charles-043352f951b3c8fec787c51c6836a4ae">natural gas production</a>&nbsp;has continued to surge in recent years amid strong global demand for the fuel. Natural gas exports have grown steadily over the past two decades, and the U.S. has become the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine only added to global demand. That's particularly the case in Europe, where many nations were accustomed to relying on Russian energy before the war prompted them to sever those ties.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693577504701.jpeg" alt="A CSX freight train passes through Homestead, Pa., Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. A Trump-era rule allowing railroads to haul highly flammable liquefied natural gas will now be formally put on hold to allow more time to study the safety concerns related to transporting that fuel and other substances like hydrogen that must be kept at extremely low temperatures when they are shipped, regulators announced Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)" />
 <figcaption>A CSX freight train passes through Homestead, Pa., Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. A Trump-era rule allowing railroads to haul highly flammable liquefied natural gas will now be formally put on hold to allow more time to study the safety concerns related to transporting that fuel and other substances like hydrogen that must be kept at extremely low temperatures when they are shipped, regulators announced Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-b7c8b3e967efba728b31bf7b6fa1f429">Trump-era rule</a>&nbsp;allowing railroads to haul highly flammable liquefied natural gas will now be formally put on hold to allow more time to study the safety concerns related to transporting that fuel and other substances like hydrogen that must be kept at extremely low temperatures when they are shipped, regulators announced Thursday.Right after it was announced in the summer of 2020, the rule was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4437223e3ef350ef884523aa1027c59b">challenged in court</a>&nbsp;by a number of environmental groups and 14 states. The uncertainty about the rule on transporting the fuel known as LNG kept railroads from shipping it. The Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration says no one has ever even ordered one of the specially fortified rail cars that would have been required to ship LNG, and several hundred of those cars that would each take at least 18 months to build would likely be needed to make the idea viable.“We need to do more safety investigative work,” said Tristan Brown, the deputy administrator who is leading the agency. “Until we do that work, we don't want someone to, you know, make investments and deploy something where we haven't fully done the process we normally do need to do.”Brown acknowledged that the rule was rushed under a directive from former President Donald Trump, so it needs to be refined.This latest action ensures the rule that was backed by the freight rail and natural gas industries will remain on hold at least until regulators finalize changes to the rule the Biden administration wants to make or the end of June 2025 — whichever comes first.One of the big railroads that said it may have been interested in hauling the fuel, CSX, abandoned any plans to build the infrastructure needed to load and unload LNG from railcars after the agency first announced this proposal to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-environment-4dcd036f9745bf627553cba1fd1c1df9">suspend the rule</a>&nbsp;in 2021.Current federal rules do allow trucks to haul LNG but not rail. But Brown said there's only a tiny amount of natural gas that isn't delivered by pipelines, so there was never much demand for rail shipments of LNG. After pipelines deliver gas to ports, ships haul the LNG that is exported.The rail industry maintains that it is the safest option to transport hazardous materials across land. The Association of American Railroads trade group touts railroads' record of delivering more than 99% of all toxic shipments without incident.But rail safety has been in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailments-tank-car-ohio-minnesota-c60f33b64e9c7dc05768a78ae20f3ce5">spotlight</a>&nbsp;this year ever since a Norfolk Southern train&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">derailed</a>&nbsp;in eastern Ohio in February and spilled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">several chemicals</a>&nbsp;that caught fire. That railroad is still cleaning the mess that prompted calls for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/east-palestine-train-derailment-safety-regulations-railroad-4db52c68daf68da05425b5b70363fb0a">reforms</a>&nbsp;and fears of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-contamination-fears-brockovich-fc68b402096a4f5f8598a657f7e399f8">possible health problems</a>&nbsp;for people who live in and around East Palestine.Brown said he thinks the East Palestine derailment highlighted the importance of some of his agency's previous rules because the tougher tank cars recommended in 2015 performed better in the wreck. But that derailment highlights the need for railroad regulations.“I think that has that has underscored the need to address rail safety — generally hazmat transportation by rail,” Brown said.U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-climate-politics-lake-charles-043352f951b3c8fec787c51c6836a4ae">natural gas production</a>&nbsp;has continued to surge in recent years amid strong global demand for the fuel. Natural gas exports have grown steadily over the past two decades, and the U.S. has become the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas.Russia's invasion of Ukraine only added to global demand. That's particularly the case in Europe, where many nations were accustomed to relying on Russian energy before the war prompted them to sever those ties.

Rule allowing rail shipments of LNG will be put on hold to allow more study of safety concerns

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A NASA spacecraft around the moon has found the likely crash site of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-moon-luna25-spacecraft-mission-33c9884c907998f06bf9562be6d47445">Russia’s lost lunar lander</a>.

The Luna 25 lander&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-space-roscosmos-crash-658f5118c34cfa0f1501cc7522074323">slammed into the moon</a>&nbsp;last month, a harsh end to Russia’s first moon mission in almost half a century. Based on observations by its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA said Thursday that it appears the impact created a crater 33 feet (10 meters) across.

This fresh crater is about 250 miles (400 kilometers) short of the spacecraft’s intended landing site at the lunar south pole, and farther north. NASA's spacecraft found no evidence of a crater in this spot in pictures taken during a flyover last year.

It's located on the steep inner rim of an ancient and considerably larger crater.

Since the newfound crater is close to where scientists believe Russia's lunar lander crashed, "it is likely to be from that mission, rather than a natural impactor,” NASA said in a statement.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-spacecraft-chandrayaan-moon-landing-b31109bb08197f33b829e7a6e4edfc6d">India’s rover is exploring</a>&nbsp;the moon’s south polar region after successfully touching down a few days after Russia’s failure. India became only the fourth country to pull off a lunar landing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693577253327.jpeg" alt="This image provided by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University shows an LROC NAC image enlarged four times centered on the likely Luna 25 crater. A NASA spacecraft around the moon has found the likely crash site of Russia's lost lunar lander, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. The Luna 25 lander slammed into the moon last month, a harsh end to Russia's first moon mission in almost half a century. (NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This image provided by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University shows an LROC NAC image enlarged four times centered on the likely Luna 25 crater. A NASA spacecraft around the moon has found the likely crash site of Russia's lost lunar lander, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. The Luna 25 lander slammed into the moon last month, a harsh end to Russia's first moon mission in almost half a century. (NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A NASA spacecraft around the moon has found the likely crash site of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-moon-luna25-spacecraft-mission-33c9884c907998f06bf9562be6d47445">Russia’s lost lunar lander</a>.The Luna 25 lander&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-space-roscosmos-crash-658f5118c34cfa0f1501cc7522074323">slammed into the moon</a>&nbsp;last month, a harsh end to Russia’s first moon mission in almost half a century. Based on observations by its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA said Thursday that it appears the impact created a crater 33 feet (10 meters) across.This fresh crater is about 250 miles (400 kilometers) short of the spacecraft’s intended landing site at the lunar south pole, and farther north. NASA's spacecraft found no evidence of a crater in this spot in pictures taken during a flyover last year.It's located on the steep inner rim of an ancient and considerably larger crater.Since the newfound crater is close to where scientists believe Russia's lunar lander crashed, "it is likely to be from that mission, rather than a natural impactor,” NASA said in a statement.Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-spacecraft-chandrayaan-moon-landing-b31109bb08197f33b829e7a6e4edfc6d">India’s rover is exploring</a>&nbsp;the moon’s south polar region after successfully touching down a few days after Russia’s failure. India became only the fourth country to pull off a lunar landing.

NASA spacecraft around moon spots likely crash site of Russia's lost lunar lander

&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>

Support for unions is growing amid shifting working conditions and labor disputes around the country, according to Liz Shuler, the president of the largest labor group in the country.

In Shuler’s comments Tuesday at the AFL-CIO’s first State of the Unions event in Washington, she cited polling that showed support for unions cut across party lines. The AFL-CIO commissioned<a target="_blank" href="https://aflcio.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/GBAO%20AFL-CIO%20Labor%20Day%20Poll%20Memo.pdf">&nbsp;a poll</a>&nbsp;by GBAO, a Democratic polling and research firm, that found 91% of Democratic respondents and 52% of Republicans approved of unions, with even higher numbers supporting the right to strike.

United Auto Workers at Detroit’s “Big Three” car companies<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/blog/get-strike-ready-uaw-votes-to-authorize-strike-against-detroit-automakers/">&nbsp;voted overwhelmingly</a>&nbsp;Aug. 25 to authorize a strike if a deal with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis is not reached before their contract expires Sept. 14.

Shuler characterized that vote as part of a trend in stronger union activity in the face of “a systematic attack” on labor, including many state laws that make union organizing more difficult and the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed workers in unionized workplaces to opt out of paying union dues.

“What’s different about this Labor Day is the awakening happening all across this country,” Shuler said. “It’s up in Detroit, where just a few days ago, 97% of our UAW members said they were ready to walk off the job and push back against the Big Three.”

More than 200 strikes comprising 320,000 workers have happened so far this year, she said, noting that was 10 times the number of striking workers than just two years ago.

“It’s been a long time since this country has seen workers united like this,” she said. “A long time.”

Support for unions reflects an uncertain future for many Americans, Shuler said.

The shift toward a gig economy has left workers unsure about their long-term financial security, she said.

Technological advances in artificial intelligence can help workers do their jobs better, she said, but also threaten workers. She urged companies adopting artificial intelligence to listen to labor concerns about the technology.

Concerns felt more broadly across the country also impacted union members, Shuler said, referencing issues that may have appealed more to labor’s traditional Democratic supporters than the bipartisan support shown in polling.

Workers are concerned about climate change and democratic issues such as voting rights, abortion rights and censorship in schools, she said. Unions will work to elect politicians who reflect those values, she said.

“We will not be silent while extremist politicians attack our rights: Our right to vote and have our votes counted, our right to read the books we want to read, our right to think and speak freely on or off the job,” she said. “We will show up and organize and vote.”

Unions would support President Joe Biden in his reelection campaign next year, Shuler said, praising the president’s work to deliver federal infrastructure spending.

Biden campaigned on infrastructure improvements and supported the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-signs-historic-infrastructure-bill">&nbsp;Congress passed in 2021</a>.

The law supports millions of jobs, she said, not only in construction and transportation but in the service industry as well. Every job created by the federal spending should be a union position, Shuler said.

Biden<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/08/16/ahead-of-potential-auto-worker-strike-biden-calls-for-cooperation-in-union-negotiations/">&nbsp;has called for</a>&nbsp;autoworkers and manufacturers to work together to come to an agreement before their contract expires.

Biden said the day of the UAW vote he’d “been talking to” the union and was “concerned” about the prospect of a strike, according to a White House pool report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693566762046.png" alt="UAW members rally for a new contract at the labor organization’s Region 1 headquarters on Aug. 20, 2023 (UAW photo)." />
 <figcaption>UAW members rally for a new contract at the labor organization’s Region 1 headquarters on Aug. 20, 2023 (UAW photo).</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACOB FISCHLER&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>Support for unions is growing amid shifting working conditions and labor disputes around the country, according to Liz Shuler, the president of the largest labor group in the country.In Shuler’s comments Tuesday at the AFL-CIO’s first State of the Unions event in Washington, she cited polling that showed support for unions cut across party lines. The AFL-CIO commissioned<a target="_blank" href="https://aflcio.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/GBAO%20AFL-CIO%20Labor%20Day%20Poll%20Memo.pdf">&nbsp;a poll</a>&nbsp;by GBAO, a Democratic polling and research firm, that found 91% of Democratic respondents and 52% of Republicans approved of unions, with even higher numbers supporting the right to strike.United Auto Workers at Detroit’s “Big Three” car companies<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/blog/get-strike-ready-uaw-votes-to-authorize-strike-against-detroit-automakers/">&nbsp;voted overwhelmingly</a>&nbsp;Aug. 25 to authorize a strike if a deal with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis is not reached before their contract expires Sept. 14.Shuler characterized that vote as part of a trend in stronger union activity in the face of “a systematic attack” on labor, including many state laws that make union organizing more difficult and the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed workers in unionized workplaces to opt out of paying union dues.“What’s different about this Labor Day is the awakening happening all across this country,” Shuler said. “It’s up in Detroit, where just a few days ago, 97% of our UAW members said they were ready to walk off the job and push back against the Big Three.”More than 200 strikes comprising 320,000 workers have happened so far this year, she said, noting that was 10 times the number of striking workers than just two years ago.“It’s been a long time since this country has seen workers united like this,” she said. “A long time.”Support for unions reflects an uncertain future for many Americans, Shuler said.The shift toward a gig economy has left workers unsure about their long-term financial security, she said.Technological advances in artificial intelligence can help workers do their jobs better, she said, but also threaten workers. She urged companies adopting artificial intelligence to listen to labor concerns about the technology.Concerns felt more broadly across the country also impacted union members, Shuler said, referencing issues that may have appealed more to labor’s traditional Democratic supporters than the bipartisan support shown in polling.Workers are concerned about climate change and democratic issues such as voting rights, abortion rights and censorship in schools, she said. Unions will work to elect politicians who reflect those values, she said.“We will not be silent while extremist politicians attack our rights: Our right to vote and have our votes counted, our right to read the books we want to read, our right to think and speak freely on or off the job,” she said. “We will show up and organize and vote.”Unions would support President Joe Biden in his reelection campaign next year, Shuler said, praising the president’s work to deliver federal infrastructure spending.Biden campaigned on infrastructure improvements and supported the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-signs-historic-infrastructure-bill">&nbsp;Congress passed in 2021</a>.The law supports millions of jobs, she said, not only in construction and transportation but in the service industry as well. Every job created by the federal spending should be a union position, Shuler said.Biden<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/08/16/ahead-of-potential-auto-worker-strike-biden-calls-for-cooperation-in-union-negotiations/">&nbsp;has called for</a>&nbsp;autoworkers and manufacturers to work together to come to an agreement before their contract expires.Biden said the day of the UAW vote he’d “been talking to” the union and was “concerned” about the prospect of a strike, according to a White House pool report.

Labor leader touts union support as possible auto strikes loom

Nebraska Public Service Commission

Lincoln, September 1, 2023- Service has been restored following an outage that affected multiple911 centers across the state.&nbsp;

Lumen reported the outage caused by a fiber cut to its network in the Omaha area, began at 7:05p.m., Thursday, August 31, and affected multiple 911 centers across the state. Service wasrestored at 5:30 a.m., Friday, September 1. Lumen is working to determine the cause of the fiber cut.

“We want to thank the 911 centers affected by the outage, for their quick work in getting the word outon the outage and for utilizing alternative means for the public to contact emergencyservices,” said Director David Sankey, PSC State 911 Department.

The PSC determined, that 39 of the 68 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) or 911 centersacross the state were affected by the outage in various ways. The PSC is working with Lumen todetermine the cause of the fiber cut. ###

Nebraska Public Service CommissionLincoln, September 1, 2023- Service has been restored following an outage that affected multiple911 centers across the state.&nbsp;Lumen reported the outage caused by a fiber cut to its network in the Omaha area, began at 7:05p.m., Thursday, August 31, and affected multiple 911 centers across the state. Service wasrestored at 5:30 a.m., Friday, September 1. Lumen is working to determine the cause of the fiber cut.“We want to thank the 911 centers affected by the outage, for their quick work in getting the word outon the outage and for utilizing alternative means for the public to contact emergencyservices,” said Director David Sankey, PSC State 911 Department.The PSC determined, that 39 of the 68 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) or 911 centersacross the state were affected by the outage in various ways. The PSC is working with Lumen todetermine the cause of the fiber cut. ###

911 SERVICE RESTORED

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has delivered a recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marijuana-legalization" target="_blank">marijuana policy</a>, and Senate leaders hailed it this week as a first step toward easing federal restrictions on the drug.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said Wednesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that the agency has responded to President Joe Biden's request “to provide a scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA.”

“We’ve worked to ensure that a scientific evaluation be completed and shared expeditiously,” he added.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that HHS had recommended that marijuana be moved from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance.

“HHS has done the right thing,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said. “DEA should now follow through on this important step to greatly reduce the harm caused by draconian marijuana laws.”

Rescheduling the drug would reduce or potentially eliminate criminal penalties for possession. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD.

According to the DEA, Schedule I drugs "have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse."

Schedule III drugs “have a potential for abuse less than substances in Schedules I or II and abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.” They currently include ketamine and some anabolic steroids.

Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-marijuana-government-and-politics-2d5e3d9e2cfbbbe3ee114536738894a8" target="_blank">requested the review in October 2022</a>&nbsp;as he pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued a statement calling for marijuana to be completely descheduled. “However, the recommendation of HHS to reschedule cannabis as a Schedule III drug is not inconsequential," he added. “If HHS’s recommendation is ultimately implemented, it will be a historic step for a nation whose cannabis policies have been out of touch with reality.”

Bloomberg News first reported on the HHS recommendation.

In reaction to the Bloomberg report, the nonprofit U.S. Cannabis Council said: “We enthusiastically welcome today’s news. ... Rescheduling will have a broad range of benefits, including signaling to the criminal justice system that cannabis is a lower priority and providing a crucial economic lifeline to the cannabis industry.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has delivered a recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marijuana-legalization" target="_blank">marijuana policy</a>, and Senate leaders hailed it this week as a first step toward easing federal restrictions on the drug.HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said Wednesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that the agency has responded to President Joe Biden's request “to provide a scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I can now share that, following the data and science, <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSGov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HHSGov</a> has responded to <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>’ directive to me for the Department to provide a scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA. We’ve worked to ensure that a scientific evaluation be completed and shared expeditiously. <a href="https://t.co/p84x8p07sP">pic.twitter.com/p84x8p07sP</a>&mdash; Secretary Xavier Becerra (@SecBecerra) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecBecerra/status/1696981120280084617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We’ve worked to ensure that a scientific evaluation be completed and shared expeditiously,” he added.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that HHS had recommended that marijuana be moved from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance.“HHS has done the right thing,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said. “DEA should now follow through on this important step to greatly reduce the harm caused by draconian marijuana laws.”Rescheduling the drug would reduce or potentially eliminate criminal penalties for possession. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD.According to the DEA, Schedule I drugs "have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse."Schedule III drugs “have a potential for abuse less than substances in Schedules I or II and abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.” They currently include ketamine and some anabolic steroids.Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-marijuana-government-and-politics-2d5e3d9e2cfbbbe3ee114536738894a8" target="_blank">requested the review in October 2022</a>&nbsp;as he pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law.Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued a statement calling for marijuana to be completely descheduled. “However, the recommendation of HHS to reschedule cannabis as a Schedule III drug is not inconsequential," he added. “If HHS’s recommendation is ultimately implemented, it will be a historic step for a nation whose cannabis policies have been out of touch with reality.”Bloomberg News first reported on the HHS recommendation.In reaction to the Bloomberg report, the nonprofit U.S. Cannabis Council said: “We enthusiastically welcome today’s news. ... Rescheduling will have a broad range of benefits, including signaling to the criminal justice system that cannabis is a lower priority and providing a crucial economic lifeline to the cannabis industry.”

Biden Admin. moves to classify marijuana as a lower-risk drug

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/30/new-federal-water-pollution-rule-draws-mixed-reaction/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

A federal rule limiting agencies’ power to regulate water pollution will severely restrict protections for waters and wetlands throughout the country, but could also be subject to challenges from conservative groups that maintain the new rule exerts more federal jurisdiction than the U.S. Supreme Court intended in a May decision.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-08/Pre-publication%20Version%20of%20the%20Final%20Rule%20-%20Amendments%20to%20the%20Revised%20Definition%20of%20Waters%20of%20the%20United%20States.pdf">rule</a>&nbsp;published Tuesday to redefine which “waters of the United States,” or WOTUS, are covered under the Clean Water Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers aimed to bring the federal definition in line with the Supreme Court’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-supreme-court-narrows-scope-clean-water-act">ruling this year</a>&nbsp;narrowing the scope of federal power.

In a 5-4 decision, the court held the federal government can only regulate waters with “a continuous surface connection” to the types of navigable waters indisputably covered by the Clean Water Act.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/wotus/amendments-2023-rule">revised rule</a>, which will take effect when it is published in the Federal Register in the coming days, removes the “significant nexus” standard that the court invalidated in the Sackett v. EPA case in May.

It also removes federal jurisdiction from wetlands that cross state lines and revised the definition of “adjacent” to mean “having a continuous surface connection,” which is consistent with Justice Samuel Alito’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-454_4g15.pdf">majority opinion</a>.

The new definition is broader than some expected, said Ashley Peck, an attorney with Holland and Hart LLP’s water practice, because the Sackett case was only about wetlands, but the agencies removed the significant nexus test for all waters. The EPA likely determined it would reduce future court battles by applying the ruling beyond wetlands, she added.

“EPA is reading the tea leaves to some extent based on the court’s broader holding,” she said. “I think this probably was a good middle ground…. You’re never going to please everybody. But I think this is an effort by EPA to head off more litigation.”

Environmental groups and Democrats in Congress described the updated rule as a faithful execution of the court ruling – even as they said the policy would remove protections from millions of acres across the country.

But key congressional Republicans and conservative legal groups said Tuesday and Wednesday the update resulted from a rushed process and overlooks major criteria the court outlined.

The new definition could impact millions of stream-miles and undermine the main goal of the Clean Water Act, Tannis Fox, a senior attorney with the legal group Western Environmental Law Center, said in a Wednesday interview.

“That purpose has been undermined by the Sackett decision because the federal government is no longer able to protect the biological, physical integrity of these waters,” she said.

Rick Larsen, a Washington Democrat who is the ranking minority member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said in a Tuesday statement he applauded the agencies’ work but disagreed with the court’s decision.

“Ultimately Congress needs to step in and correct the egregious misreading of the Clean Water Act by the Supreme Court to ensure communities continue to have access to clean and safe water,” he said.

Meanwhile, conservative legal activists and leading Republicans on key congressional committees called the rule an attempt to do the bare minimum required under the Sackett decision.

In a Tuesday statement, House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves, a Missouri Republican, and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Dave Rouzer, a North Carolina Republican, said the revised rule “barely pays lip service” to the court’s decision. They implied the agencies should have started from scratch with a new rule, rather than merely adjusting a definition.

“The Administration is now trying to make Sackett fit with a rule that never should have been issued in the first place,” they said. “This revised rule ignores fundamental concerns laid out in Sackett and is a missed opportunity to finally end longstanding confusion over what constitutes a WOTUS.”

The agencies said they skipped a more thorough rulemaking process because they were only doing as the court instructed.

“Because the sole purpose of this rule is to amend these specific provisions of the 2023 Rule to conform with Sackett, and such conforming amendments do not involve the exercise of the agencies’ discretion, providing advance public notice and seeking comment is unnecessary,” the rule’s preamble reads.

The expedited process was appropriate, Peck said, because the court decision that invalidated existing agency regulations put “jurisdictional determinations at a standstill,” she said. Developers and others who need federal approvals are still waiting, she said.

The agencies “felt compelled to get this rule out so that decisional determinations for industry could continue,” Fox, the environmental attorney, said.

The agencies “tried to hue closely to the decision,” she added.

But Damien Schiff, who successfully led the challenge to the WOTUS rule in the Sackett case as a senior attorney at the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation, said the revised definition missed basic parts of the court decision. Holding a normal public comment period would have prevented the agencies from advancing a flawed rule, he said.

Conservatives take issue with rule’s scope, process&nbsp;

Schiff said the agencies correctly disregarded the significant nexus test.

“That’s the end of where I would say the agencies did a good job,” he said.

The EPA and Army Corps “failed to accurately articulate” new criteria to replace the discarded significant nexus test, Schiff said.

The thrust of the majority opinion in the Sackett case was that only natural water features that could be reasonably described as streams, creeks or rivers could be considered waters of the United States, but the new definition doesn’t fully exclude things like human made ditches, he said.

And despite the rule’s preamble specifically noting that Sackett requires a surface connection between a wetland and a covered water for the wetland itself to be covered, the court actually went beyond that, Schiff said. Alito’s opinion would have required wetlands to be indistinguishable from covered waters, he said.

Such flaws could have been fixed in a normal rulemaking process, he added.

“I guarantee you that if they had offered a comment period that we and many, many other groups would have pulled this out and said, ‘Hey, you’re ignoring half the test,’” Schiff said.

While congressional Republicans and others have for years criticized WOTUS rules, which have changed with considerable frequency in the past decade with changing presidential administrations and court decisions. The changes leave interested parties unsure of how to plan for building projects that can take years.

The rule does not provide the regulatory certainty Republicans sought, they said.

“The administration continues to take an unserious approach to issuing a durable rule that provides stability to millions of Americans,” Senate Environment and Public Works ranking Republican Shelley Moore Capito, of West Virginia, said in a statement.

Peck disagreed, saying though the updated rule will require more agency guidance, it appears to be a step toward a firmer regulatory landscape.

“You’re never going to get exact certainty and an exact bright line with this issue,” Peck said. “And if you’re looking for that, it’s an impossible dream.”

The new standard will likely be challenged in court, Schiff said, if not in new cases, then in existing lawsuits against the larger Biden administration WOTUS rule.

More uncertainty will come from a lack of federal jurisdiction over more than half of the nation’s water features, Peck and Fox said.

The Sackett decision and regulatory update puts&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/alaska-has-more-half-americas-wetlands-new-ruling-could-change-how-theyre-managed">more</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/whats-river-supreme-court-wotus-ruling-will-be-costly-new-mexico-experts-warn">pressure</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/how-idaho-couples-fight-build-home-near-lake-might-affect-louisianas-wetlands">states</a>&nbsp;that want to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/virginia-offers-wetland-permit-guidance-following-supreme-courts-sackett-ruling">maintain</a>&nbsp;strong protections for waters and wetlands no longer covered by federal agencies. Other states may seek to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/indiana-lawmakers-could-further-dilute-state-wetlands-protections-following-scotus-decision">dilute protections</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1693512765045.jpeg" alt=" Federal officials have released new rules for applying the Clean Water Act to wetlands after a Supreme Court decision limited its scope in May 2023.(Courtesy of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources)" />
 <figcaption> Federal officials have released new rules for applying the Clean Water Act to wetlands after a Supreme Court decision limited its scope in May 2023.(Courtesy of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources)</figcaption>
 </figure>Jacob Fischler<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/30/new-federal-water-pollution-rule-draws-mixed-reaction/">Nebraska Examiner</a>A federal rule limiting agencies’ power to regulate water pollution will severely restrict protections for waters and wetlands throughout the country, but could also be subject to challenges from conservative groups that maintain the new rule exerts more federal jurisdiction than the U.S. Supreme Court intended in a May decision.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-08/Pre-publication%20Version%20of%20the%20Final%20Rule%20-%20Amendments%20to%20the%20Revised%20Definition%20of%20Waters%20of%20the%20United%20States.pdf">rule</a>&nbsp;published Tuesday to redefine which “waters of the United States,” or WOTUS, are covered under the Clean Water Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers aimed to bring the federal definition in line with the Supreme Court’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-supreme-court-narrows-scope-clean-water-act">ruling this year</a>&nbsp;narrowing the scope of federal power.In a 5-4 decision, the court held the federal government can only regulate waters with “a continuous surface connection” to the types of navigable waters indisputably covered by the Clean Water Act.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/wotus/amendments-2023-rule">revised rule</a>, which will take effect when it is published in the Federal Register in the coming days, removes the “significant nexus” standard that the court invalidated in the Sackett v. EPA case in May.It also removes federal jurisdiction from wetlands that cross state lines and revised the definition of “adjacent” to mean “having a continuous surface connection,” which is consistent with Justice Samuel Alito’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-454_4g15.pdf">majority opinion</a>.The new definition is broader than some expected, said Ashley Peck, an attorney with Holland and Hart LLP’s water practice, because the Sackett case was only about wetlands, but the agencies removed the significant nexus test for all waters. The EPA likely determined it would reduce future court battles by applying the ruling beyond wetlands, she added.“EPA is reading the tea leaves to some extent based on the court’s broader holding,” she said. “I think this probably was a good middle ground…. You’re never going to please everybody. But I think this is an effort by EPA to head off more litigation.”<h2>Split reaction</h2>Environmental groups and Democrats in Congress described the updated rule as a faithful execution of the court ruling – even as they said the policy would remove protections from millions of acres across the country.But key congressional Republicans and conservative legal groups said Tuesday and Wednesday the update resulted from a rushed process and overlooks major criteria the court outlined.The new definition could impact millions of stream-miles and undermine the main goal of the Clean Water Act, Tannis Fox, a senior attorney with the legal group Western Environmental Law Center, said in a Wednesday interview.“That purpose has been undermined by the Sackett decision because the federal government is no longer able to protect the biological, physical integrity of these waters,” she said.Rick Larsen, a Washington Democrat who is the ranking minority member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said in a Tuesday statement he applauded the agencies’ work but disagreed with the court’s decision.“Ultimately Congress needs to step in and correct the egregious misreading of the Clean Water Act by the Supreme Court to ensure communities continue to have access to clean and safe water,” he said.Meanwhile, conservative legal activists and leading Republicans on key congressional committees called the rule an attempt to do the bare minimum required under the Sackett decision.In a Tuesday statement, House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves, a Missouri Republican, and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Dave Rouzer, a North Carolina Republican, said the revised rule “barely pays lip service” to the court’s decision. They implied the agencies should have started from scratch with a new rule, rather than merely adjusting a definition.“The Administration is now trying to make Sackett fit with a rule that never should have been issued in the first place,” they said. “This revised rule ignores fundamental concerns laid out in Sackett and is a missed opportunity to finally end longstanding confusion over what constitutes a WOTUS.”<h2>Rule eschews public comment</h2>The agencies said they skipped a more thorough rulemaking process because they were only doing as the court instructed.“Because the sole purpose of this rule is to amend these specific provisions of the 2023 Rule to conform with Sackett, and such conforming amendments do not involve the exercise of the agencies’ discretion, providing advance public notice and seeking comment is unnecessary,” the rule’s preamble reads.The expedited process was appropriate, Peck said, because the court decision that invalidated existing agency regulations put “jurisdictional determinations at a standstill,” she said. Developers and others who need federal approvals are still waiting, she said.The agencies “felt compelled to get this rule out so that decisional determinations for industry could continue,” Fox, the environmental attorney, said.The agencies “tried to hue closely to the decision,” she added.But Damien Schiff, who successfully led the challenge to the WOTUS rule in the Sackett case as a senior attorney at the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation, said the revised definition missed basic parts of the court decision. Holding a normal public comment period would have prevented the agencies from advancing a flawed rule, he said.<h2>Conservatives take issue with rule’s scope, process&nbsp;</h2>Schiff said the agencies correctly disregarded the significant nexus test.“That’s the end of where I would say the agencies did a good job,” he said.The EPA and Army Corps “failed to accurately articulate” new criteria to replace the discarded significant nexus test, Schiff said.The thrust of the majority opinion in the Sackett case was that only natural water features that could be reasonably described as streams, creeks or rivers could be considered waters of the United States, but the new definition doesn’t fully exclude things like human made ditches, he said.And despite the rule’s preamble specifically noting that Sackett requires a surface connection between a wetland and a covered water for the wetland itself to be covered, the court actually went beyond that, Schiff said. Alito’s opinion would have required wetlands to be indistinguishable from covered waters, he said.Such flaws could have been fixed in a normal rulemaking process, he added.“I guarantee you that if they had offered a comment period that we and many, many other groups would have pulled this out and said, ‘Hey, you’re ignoring half the test,’” Schiff said.<h2>Uncertainty remains</h2>While congressional Republicans and others have for years criticized WOTUS rules, which have changed with considerable frequency in the past decade with changing presidential administrations and court decisions. The changes leave interested parties unsure of how to plan for building projects that can take years.The rule does not provide the regulatory certainty Republicans sought, they said.“The administration continues to take an unserious approach to issuing a durable rule that provides stability to millions of Americans,” Senate Environment and Public Works ranking Republican Shelley Moore Capito, of West Virginia, said in a statement.Peck disagreed, saying though the updated rule will require more agency guidance, it appears to be a step toward a firmer regulatory landscape.“You’re never going to get exact certainty and an exact bright line with this issue,” Peck said. “And if you’re looking for that, it’s an impossible dream.”The new standard will likely be challenged in court, Schiff said, if not in new cases, then in existing lawsuits against the larger Biden administration WOTUS rule.More uncertainty will come from a lack of federal jurisdiction over more than half of the nation’s water features, Peck and Fox said.The Sackett decision and regulatory update puts&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/alaska-has-more-half-americas-wetlands-new-ruling-could-change-how-theyre-managed">more</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/whats-river-supreme-court-wotus-ruling-will-be-costly-new-mexico-experts-warn">pressure</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/how-idaho-couples-fight-build-home-near-lake-might-affect-louisianas-wetlands">states</a>&nbsp;that want to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/virginia-offers-wetland-permit-guidance-following-supreme-courts-sackett-ruling">maintain</a>&nbsp;strong protections for waters and wetlands no longer covered by federal agencies. Other states may seek to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/indiana-lawmakers-could-further-dilute-state-wetlands-protections-following-scotus-decision">dilute protections</a>.That will mean that the rules will differ state by state, creating more confusion, Peck said.“It’s up to the states to fill in the gap,” Fox said. “And that’s going to look like a patchwork throughout the nation, depending on the politics in a particular state.”