BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on Friday elected Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson as their speaker for the 119th Congress, following weeks of speculation about whether the GOP would begin another protracted, public dispute over leadership.

The drama-filled vote ensures that Johnson, who was first elected speaker in October 2023, will hold the gavel as Republicans embark on an ambitious legislative agenda that includes overhauling the country’s immigration system and the tax code.

Johnson won the votes of 218 Republicans, while 215 Democrats voted for New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman and Texas Rep. Keith Self all originally voted for other members for speaker. But after several conversations, on and off the floor, Norman and Self switched their votes to Johnson.

The November elections handed the GOP&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/republicans-clinch-218-seats-us-house-scoring-trifecta-control-washington" target="_blank">unified control</a>&nbsp;of government, which will formally begin on Jan. 20 when President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office. Trump endorsed Johnson’s bid for speaker.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735934939377.png" alt="Speaker Mike Johnson with the gavel after the vote-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Speaker Mike Johnson with the gavel after the vote-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on Friday elected Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson as their speaker for the 119th Congress, following weeks of speculation about whether the GOP would begin another protracted, public dispute over leadership.The drama-filled vote ensures that Johnson, who was first elected speaker in October 2023, will hold the gavel as Republicans embark on an ambitious legislative agenda that includes overhauling the country’s immigration system and the tax code.Johnson won the votes of 218 Republicans, while 215 Democrats voted for New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman and Texas Rep. Keith Self all originally voted for other members for speaker. But after several conversations, on and off the floor, Norman and Self switched their votes to Johnson.The November elections handed the GOP&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/republicans-clinch-218-seats-us-house-scoring-trifecta-control-washington" target="_blank">unified control</a>&nbsp;of government, which will formally begin on Jan. 20 when President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office. Trump endorsed Johnson’s bid for speaker.

Louisiana’s Mike Johnson elected U.S. House speaker by GOP in cliff-hanger vote

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of the Honorable Jason M. Bergevin of Columbus as an associate justice to the Nebraska Supreme Court representing the Fifth Judicial District.

“Judge Bergevin is a dedicated jurist with extensive experience as an attorney and most recently as a district judge representing the Fifth Judicial District,” said Gov. Pillen. “I have great confidence in Judge Bergevin’s abilities, and I know he has deep respect and integrity when it comes to matters of the court. I am pleased to elevate him to this role on Nebraska’s Supreme Court.”

"I am honored to be chosen as the next judge of the Nebraska Supreme Court from the Fifth Judicial District,” said Justice Bergevin. “Three highly qualified applicants stepped forward for this position. I appreciate Governor Pillen's confidence in me. I will work hard to continue serving the Nebraska Judicial Branch and the people of our state."

In addition to his recent role as district judge (2022), Bergevin also oversaw the opening of one of the state’s newest problem-solving courts in Platte County this summer. He was an assistant attorney general in the Nebraska Attorney General’s office for seven years where he worked with county attorneys in the prosecution of complex cases, was legal advisor to multiple state agencies and reviewed agency regulations. Bergevin also held multiple positions in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps up until 2022 and has prior experience in both the Lancaster County Attorney’s office and the Weld County District Attorney’s office in Greeley Colorado.

Bergevin holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) and earned his juris doctor from Western New England University School of Law in Massachusetts.

The Fifth Judicial District for the Nebraska Supreme Court consists of Butler, Cass, Clay, Colfax, Fillmore, Gage, Hall, Hamilton, Jefferson, Johnson, Merrick, Nance, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Platte, Polk, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, Webster, and York counties.

The vacancy was due to Judge Jeffrey Funke’s appointment as chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of the Honorable Jason M. Bergevin of Columbus as an associate justice to the Nebraska Supreme Court representing the Fifth Judicial District.“Judge Bergevin is a dedicated jurist with extensive experience as an attorney and most recently as a district judge representing the Fifth Judicial District,” said Gov. Pillen. “I have great confidence in Judge Bergevin’s abilities, and I know he has deep respect and integrity when it comes to matters of the court. I am pleased to elevate him to this role on Nebraska’s Supreme Court.”"I am honored to be chosen as the next judge of the Nebraska Supreme Court from the Fifth Judicial District,” said Justice Bergevin. “Three highly qualified applicants stepped forward for this position. I appreciate Governor Pillen's confidence in me. I will work hard to continue serving the Nebraska Judicial Branch and the people of our state."In addition to his recent role as district judge (2022), Bergevin also oversaw the opening of one of the state’s newest problem-solving courts in Platte County this summer. He was an assistant attorney general in the Nebraska Attorney General’s office for seven years where he worked with county attorneys in the prosecution of complex cases, was legal advisor to multiple state agencies and reviewed agency regulations. Bergevin also held multiple positions in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps up until 2022 and has prior experience in both the Lancaster County Attorney’s office and the Weld County District Attorney’s office in Greeley Colorado.Bergevin holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) and earned his juris doctor from Western New England University School of Law in Massachusetts.The Fifth Judicial District for the Nebraska Supreme Court consists of Butler, Cass, Clay, Colfax, Fillmore, Gage, Hall, Hamilton, Jefferson, Johnson, Merrick, Nance, Nemaha, Nuckolls, Otoe, Pawnee, Platte, Polk, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, Webster, and York counties.The vacancy was due to Judge Jeffrey Funke’s appointment as chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Gov. Pillen Appoints Jason Bergevin as Associate Justice to the Nebraska Supreme Court

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of Katie Thurber as the interim commissioner for the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL). Thurber’s interim appointment begins immediately. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Commissioner John Albin, who left earlier this month.&nbsp;

Thurber joined NDOL in 2012 as an administrative hearing officer and was soon named legal counsel. She has been the general counsel since 2017 and in 2023, also became deputy commissioner of operations. Prior to joining the agency, Thurber was an attorney with the firm of Simmons Olsen in Scottsbluff.&nbsp;

Thurber has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Birmingham-Southern College. She earned her juris doctor at the University of Nebraska College of Law.

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of Katie Thurber as the interim commissioner for the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL). Thurber’s interim appointment begins immediately. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Commissioner John Albin, who left earlier this month.&nbsp;Thurber joined NDOL in 2012 as an administrative hearing officer and was soon named legal counsel. She has been the general counsel since 2017 and in 2023, also became deputy commissioner of operations. Prior to joining the agency, Thurber was an attorney with the firm of Simmons Olsen in Scottsbluff.&nbsp;Thurber has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Birmingham-Southern College. She earned her juris doctor at the University of Nebraska College of Law.

Governor Jim Pillen Appoints Interim Commissioner of NDOL

January 2, 2025 (Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested 95 impaired drivers during the end of the year&nbsp;Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over&nbsp;campaign.

The&nbsp;Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over&nbsp;campaign ran from December 11 through January 1. Troopers and dispatchers across Nebraska worked overtime during the final three weeks of the year to keep roadways safe during the holiday season.

In addition to the 95 arrests for driving under the influence, troopers also issued citations for speeding (1,663), including 83 citations for over 100 MPH, driving under suspension (115), open alcohol container (67), minor in possession of alcohol (36), no seat belt (48), and improper child restraint (18). Troopers also assisted 658 motorists in need of help.

“Driving safely is important during the holidays and every other time of the year,” said Colonel Bolduc. “As we continue through winter, we urge all drivers to be prepared for inclement weather and follow traffic safety laws to help keep Nebraska roadways safe.”

This effort was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

Cody ThomasNebraska State PatrolJanuary 2, 2025 (Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested 95 impaired drivers during the end of the year&nbsp;Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over&nbsp;campaign.The&nbsp;Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over&nbsp;campaign ran from December 11 through January 1. Troopers and dispatchers across Nebraska worked overtime during the final three weeks of the year to keep roadways safe during the holiday season.In addition to the 95 arrests for driving under the influence, troopers also issued citations for speeding (1,663), including 83 citations for over 100 MPH, driving under suspension (115), open alcohol container (67), minor in possession of alcohol (36), no seat belt (48), and improper child restraint (18). Troopers also assisted 658 motorists in need of help.“Driving safely is important during the holidays and every other time of the year,” said Colonel Bolduc. “As we continue through winter, we urge all drivers to be prepared for inclement weather and follow traffic safety laws to help keep Nebraska roadways safe.”This effort was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

Troopers Arrest 95 for DUI During Holiday Safe-Driving Campaign

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/02/insurance-must-now-cover-all-parts-of-nebraskans-colorectal-cancer-screenings/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — In the summer of 2002, Margaret Stamp returned home to&nbsp;Sarpy County&nbsp;from college four weeks after her 74-year-old grandmother, Phyllis Behm, had died from a short battle with colorectal cancer.&nbsp;

Stamp found her dad, Mark Behm, a former northeast Nebraska county attorney and private practice lawyer, wincing in pain on the living room floor. Stamp described him as in shape and thin. She said he looked healthy and didn’t drink or smoke.

But that weekend, Stamp’s father was doubled over, and he told his daughter, “Call your mom.”

“I’d never seen him like that,” Stamp recalled. “Never even remember him getting the flu or sick. Next thing we know, he’s in emergency surgery — it’s stage IV [colorectal] cancer, and there’s nothing they can do.”

Behm&nbsp;grew up in Olde Towne Bellevue and&nbsp;graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1976. He served as the Cedar County attorney from 1977 through 1993 and had a private practice in Wausa for many years, later a private practice with other attorneys in Randolph.&nbsp;Behm was also a 1980 delegate to the Republican National Convention for Ronald Reagan and was president of Out Front Properties, a local property management company where his daughter is now vice president.

Stamp said her father’s doctors did what they could to prolong his life and make conditions less painful, and he&nbsp;continued practicing law until about a week&nbsp;before he died in April 2004, at the age of 52.

Twenty years later, Stamp and others have successfully pushed for new state laws that&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/16/health-care-proposals-will-top-nebraska-lawmakers-spending-in-2024/">expand insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screenings</a>&nbsp;and associated procedures. The latest law took effect this week.

Stamp recalled losing her father as different from cancer deaths she had seen in some movies, where someone closes their eyes and goes to sleep. She said it was awful and that her father said over and over he couldn’t breathe, had muscle spasms and felt his body shutting down.

“To me, anything you can do to stop that is worth every penny,” Stamp said. “It’s worth going in, getting your colonoscopy, even though I know it can be literally a pain in the butt for some people, but you don’t want that message, ‘It’s too late,’ because then there’s nothing to do but plan the funeral.”

<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=54878" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 829</a>&nbsp;from State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue took effect Jan. 1. It requires insurance companies to cover each “integral part” of performing a colorectal cancer screening, including:

Its adoption followed passage of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49882" target="_blank">LB 92</a>&nbsp;in 2023, which included a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50293" target="_blank">provision</a>&nbsp;from State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln that required insurance plans to cover screening colonoscopies, as well as an annual stool-based preventative screening test designed for patients with&nbsp;minimal to average risk of colorectal cancer.

Nebraska is ranked in the&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Colon-Screening.aspx" target="_blank">lower half</a>&nbsp;of states for colorectal cancer screening rates, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Blood told the Nebraska Examiner she came up with the idea for her LB 829 when she was getting a colonoscopy and was handed a release before her procedure saying most insurance companies wouldn’t cover part of a colonoscopy should they find something, like a polyp, which can grow into cancer over time.

“Why would you want somebody to be put under anesthesia and look for something and just leave it there?” Blood said. “It made no sense whatsoever.”

Blood said her colonoscopy found something that her insurance didn’t cover, which left her on the hook for a procedure that cost $800 to $900.

Congress has closed this “loophole” for people on Medicare and Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act, Blood said, while others with private insurance were told they “could just go pound sand.”

“I thought, well, we can save lives with this one tweak,” Blood said of her Nebraska law, which&nbsp;<a href="http://v/" target="_blank">passed 41-5</a>&nbsp;in the spring.

Jungyoon Kim, Ph.D., who does colon cancer screening research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health, said colorectal cancer develops in the large intestine areas like the colon or rectum that are part of the digestive system.

Most colorectal cancers start with a polyp, Kim said, most of which are benign. However, some polyps can change into cancer over time, mostly over many years, like 10-15 years.

Symptoms can include blood in the stool or toilet after a bowel movement, constipation over a long period, abdominal pain or cramping, changes in the shape or size of stool and sudden or unexplained weight loss. If observed, Kim said a doctor should be consulted immediately.

One of the most common misconceptions, though, is that people think they must wait to see symptoms before getting screened, Kim said, which gives polyps time to grow.&nbsp;

“Sometimes, if you see the symptoms and go to the doctor, it might be too late,” Kim said. “That’s why the United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends to get screening when people&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Nebraska-Colon-Cancer-Screening-Program.aspx#:~:text=%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8BColorectal,who%20are%20under%20or%20uninsured" target="_blank">become 45</a>, even if they do not have any symptoms.”

People with a family history or who have previously had cancer should be screened earlier, Kim said, such as in their 20s or 30s.

Kim said that when a doctor can find and remove polyps, it stops the growth in its tracks and is “like you’re preventing cancer before it even becomes cancer cells.”&nbsp;

If colorectal cancer is detected early, Kim said, the chance of the cancer being cured is about 92%.

Some cancers can be prevented by regular screening, which includes breast cancer through mammograms at the age of 40 or other screenings for cervical or lung cancer.

According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services,&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/March-is-Colorectal-Cancer-Awareness-Month-03092023.aspx" target="_blank">early-age colorectal cancer diagnoses</a>&nbsp;are on the rise. By 2030, the cancer is predicted to be the leading cause of death in people younger than 50, according to DHHS.

It is already the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women combined.

Kim said disparities exist among racial minorities, people living in&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4620062/#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20nonmetropolitan%20residents%20are,to%20a%20confluence%20of%20factors." target="_blank">rural areas</a>, people who are low-income or people with limited access to insurance or certain doctors, who can’t access screenings.

Blood noted those disparities as a reason for the bill, as every medical procedure comes with a certain amount of risk, but that for some patients, they had to “play Russian roulette with what’s in their body” and decide whether they could pay or come back later, if needed.

“That just seems wrong, especially when you look at how much higher colon cancer rates are in our rural areas,” Blood said.

Kim and Stamp said the new law made sense. Stamp added it will help avoid costlier cancer treatments and help save lives.

Stamp said her father had found some blood in his stool about two years prior to discovering he had cancer. His doctor had said it was probably hemorrhoids but gave him an at-home testing kit just in case, as at the time he didn’t have a family history of the disease.

The day after Stamp’s father found out he had cancer, Stamp said her mother found the at-home test in her father’s drawer at home. Stamp noted that around 2000, colon cancer wasn’t talked about as much as it is today. She said some people are still embarrassed to talk about it.

Stamp, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln alum who is now 44 and lives in Omaha with her husband and two teenage daughters, got her first colonoscopy at the age of 24.&nbsp;

She has had three more colonoscopies since, with a fifth planned in 2026, and encouraged others to get the procedure, which she described as a “walk in the park.”&nbsp;

“You are taken such good care of, and it is nothing compared to getting cancer and having to have surgery or chemotherapy or one of those colostomy bags,” Stamp said.

Stamp said her father missed her getting married about six months after his death and her two daughters being born, all for not realizing he had cancer.

“It was two quick deaths in the family that got me starting to try to advocate for colon cancer and having colonoscopies,” Stamp said. “… Anything people can do for prevention, it is so worth it, because it’s one of those things you don’t see coming.”

Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/02/insurance-must-now-cover-all-parts-of-nebraskans-colorectal-cancer-screenings/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — In the summer of 2002, Margaret Stamp returned home to&nbsp;Sarpy County&nbsp;from college four weeks after her 74-year-old grandmother, Phyllis Behm, had died from a short battle with colorectal cancer.&nbsp;Stamp found her dad, Mark Behm, a former northeast Nebraska county attorney and private practice lawyer, wincing in pain on the living room floor. Stamp described him as in shape and thin. She said he looked healthy and didn’t drink or smoke.But that weekend, Stamp’s father was doubled over, and he told his daughter, “Call your mom.”“I’d never seen him like that,” Stamp recalled. “Never even remember him getting the flu or sick. Next thing we know, he’s in emergency surgery — it’s stage IV [colorectal] cancer, and there’s nothing they can do.”Behm&nbsp;grew up in Olde Towne Bellevue and&nbsp;graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1976. He served as the Cedar County attorney from 1977 through 1993 and had a private practice in Wausa for many years, later a private practice with other attorneys in Randolph.&nbsp;Behm was also a 1980 delegate to the Republican National Convention for Ronald Reagan and was president of Out Front Properties, a local property management company where his daughter is now vice president.Stamp said her father’s doctors did what they could to prolong his life and make conditions less painful, and he&nbsp;continued practicing law until about a week&nbsp;before he died in April 2004, at the age of 52.Twenty years later, Stamp and others have successfully pushed for new state laws that&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/16/health-care-proposals-will-top-nebraska-lawmakers-spending-in-2024/">expand insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screenings</a>&nbsp;and associated procedures. The latest law took effect this week.Stamp recalled losing her father as different from cancer deaths she had seen in some movies, where someone closes their eyes and goes to sleep. She said it was awful and that her father said over and over he couldn’t breathe, had muscle spasms and felt his body shutting down.“To me, anything you can do to stop that is worth every penny,” Stamp said. “It’s worth going in, getting your colonoscopy, even though I know it can be literally a pain in the butt for some people, but you don’t want that message, ‘It’s too late,’ because then there’s nothing to do but plan the funeral.”<h2>‘We can save lives’</h2><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=54878" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 829</a>&nbsp;from State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue took effect Jan. 1. It requires insurance companies to cover each “integral part” of performing a colorectal cancer screening, including:<ul>
 <li>Removing polyps (abnormal cell growths in the underlining of the colon or rectum) found as part of a colonoscopy.</li><li>Any pathology examination of a polyp biopsy.</li><li>Required specialist consultation prior to the screening.</li><li>Bowel preparation medications prescribed for the screening.</li><li>Anesthesia services performed in connection with the preventive colonoscopy.</li>
 </ul>Its adoption followed passage of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49882" target="_blank">LB 92</a>&nbsp;in 2023, which included a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50293" target="_blank">provision</a>&nbsp;from State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln that required insurance plans to cover screening colonoscopies, as well as an annual stool-based preventative screening test designed for patients with&nbsp;minimal to average risk of colorectal cancer.Nebraska is ranked in the&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Colon-Screening.aspx" target="_blank">lower half</a>&nbsp;of states for colorectal cancer screening rates, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.Blood told the Nebraska Examiner she came up with the idea for her LB 829 when she was getting a colonoscopy and was handed a release before her procedure saying most insurance companies wouldn’t cover part of a colonoscopy should they find something, like a polyp, which can grow into cancer over time.“Why would you want somebody to be put under anesthesia and look for something and just leave it there?” Blood said. “It made no sense whatsoever.”Blood said her colonoscopy found something that her insurance didn’t cover, which left her on the hook for a procedure that cost $800 to $900.Congress has closed this “loophole” for people on Medicare and Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act, Blood said, while others with private insurance were told they “could just go pound sand.”“I thought, well, we can save lives with this one tweak,” Blood said of her Nebraska law, which&nbsp;<a href="http://v/" target="_blank">passed 41-5</a>&nbsp;in the spring.<h2>What is colorectal cancer?</h2>Jungyoon Kim, Ph.D., who does colon cancer screening research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health, said colorectal cancer develops in the large intestine areas like the colon or rectum that are part of the digestive system.Most colorectal cancers start with a polyp, Kim said, most of which are benign. However, some polyps can change into cancer over time, mostly over many years, like 10-15 years.Symptoms can include blood in the stool or toilet after a bowel movement, constipation over a long period, abdominal pain or cramping, changes in the shape or size of stool and sudden or unexplained weight loss. If observed, Kim said a doctor should be consulted immediately.One of the most common misconceptions, though, is that people think they must wait to see symptoms before getting screened, Kim said, which gives polyps time to grow.&nbsp;“Sometimes, if you see the symptoms and go to the doctor, it might be too late,” Kim said. “That’s why the United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends to get screening when people&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Nebraska-Colon-Cancer-Screening-Program.aspx#:~:text=%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8BColorectal,who%20are%20under%20or%20uninsured" target="_blank">become 45</a>, even if they do not have any symptoms.”People with a family history or who have previously had cancer should be screened earlier, Kim said, such as in their 20s or 30s.Kim said that when a doctor can find and remove polyps, it stops the growth in its tracks and is “like you’re preventing cancer before it even becomes cancer cells.”&nbsp;If colorectal cancer is detected early, Kim said, the chance of the cancer being cured is about 92%.Some cancers can be prevented by regular screening, which includes breast cancer through mammograms at the age of 40 or other screenings for cervical or lung cancer.<h2>Disparities include rural Nebraska</h2>According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services,&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/March-is-Colorectal-Cancer-Awareness-Month-03092023.aspx" target="_blank">early-age colorectal cancer diagnoses</a>&nbsp;are on the rise. By 2030, the cancer is predicted to be the leading cause of death in people younger than 50, according to DHHS.It is already the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women combined.Kim said disparities exist among racial minorities, people living in&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4620062/#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20nonmetropolitan%20residents%20are,to%20a%20confluence%20of%20factors." target="_blank">rural areas</a>, people who are low-income or people with limited access to insurance or certain doctors, who can’t access screenings.Blood noted those disparities as a reason for the bill, as every medical procedure comes with a certain amount of risk, but that for some patients, they had to “play Russian roulette with what’s in their body” and decide whether they could pay or come back later, if needed.“That just seems wrong, especially when you look at how much higher colon cancer rates are in our rural areas,” Blood said.Kim and Stamp said the new law made sense. Stamp added it will help avoid costlier cancer treatments and help save lives.<h2>Importance of prevention</h2>Stamp said her father had found some blood in his stool about two years prior to discovering he had cancer. His doctor had said it was probably hemorrhoids but gave him an at-home testing kit just in case, as at the time he didn’t have a family history of the disease.The day after Stamp’s father found out he had cancer, Stamp said her mother found the at-home test in her father’s drawer at home. Stamp noted that around 2000, colon cancer wasn’t talked about as much as it is today. She said some people are still embarrassed to talk about it.Stamp, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln alum who is now 44 and lives in Omaha with her husband and two teenage daughters, got her first colonoscopy at the age of 24.&nbsp;She has had three more colonoscopies since, with a fifth planned in 2026, and encouraged others to get the procedure, which she described as a “walk in the park.”&nbsp;“You are taken such good care of, and it is nothing compared to getting cancer and having to have surgery or chemotherapy or one of those colostomy bags,” Stamp said.Stamp said her father missed her getting married about six months after his death and her two daughters being born, all for not realizing he had cancer.“It was two quick deaths in the family that got me starting to try to advocate for colon cancer and having colonoscopies,” Stamp said. “… Anything people can do for prevention, it is so worth it, because it’s one of those things you don’t see coming.”

Insurance Must Now Cover All Parts of Nebraskans’ Colorectal Cancer Screenings

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/greglarose/">GREG LAROSE</a>

NEW ORLEANS — Authorities have identified the man who sped down Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens more.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, of Texas was killed after a shootout with police once his pickup truck collided with a lift vehicle at the intersection of Bourbon and Conti streets, the FBI has confirmed. He reportedly drove around a police barricade at Canal Street, intentionally striking pedestrians.

After Jabbar struck a lift vehicle, the FBI said he shot at law enforcement on the scene and was killed by return fire. Two police officers were wounded in the shootout and taken to University Medical Center, where New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said they were in stable condition.

Another 35 people struck by the truck were also injured and taken to local hospitals, with some reported in critical condition.

The FBI is leading the investigation into what the agency said is calling a terrorist attack. They reported a potential improvised explosive device (IED) was also discovered at the scene. A flag for the jihadist Islamic State group was found in the truck, along with other firearms.

“Weapons and a potential IED were located in the subject’s vehicle,” the FBI said in a news release. “Other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter. The FBI’s Special Agent Bomb Technicians are working with our law enforcement partners to determine if any of these devices are viable and they will work to render those devices safe.”

At around 3:15 a.m., the driver of the truck steered around a police barricade at Canal Street meant to keep vehicles off of Bourbon Street and sped into a crowd, Kirkpatrick said. It appears the truck was able to travel three blocks before colliding with a lift vehicle near Conti Street.

“He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” the police chief said.

Steel bollards that rise from the street were installed along and near Bourbon Street in 2017 to protect pedestrians, but they are&nbsp;<a href="https://nola.gov/next/public-works/projects/bourbon-street-bollard-assessment-replacement-project/" target="_blank">in the process of being replaced</a>&nbsp;according to the city’s Department of Public Works website.

Bomb squad personnel were seen entering the French Quarter, which the FBI said is being scoured for additional explosive devices. Several small booms have been heard blocks away, which City Council members said were controlled detonations to clear possible IEDs.

An eight-block stretch of Bourbon Street remains closed to traffic and pedestrians, and some hotels in the French Quarter were evacuated as a precautionary measure. The public is being asked to avoid a large portion of the historic neighborhood, which typically sees crowds larger than typical weekends for New Year’s Eve.

New Orleans is hosting fans of the University of Georgia and Notre Dame for the Sugar Bowl, scheduled for Wednesday night at the Superdome. The game was postponed for 24 hours after representatives with the event have said they were speaking with local, state and federal authorities to keep apprised of developments.

Hospitality and service industry employees reporting for work Wednesday morning were being turned away from cordoned-off areas.

The city will also host Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.

This article was initially published by&nbsp;<a href="https://lailluminator.com/" target="_blank">Louisiana Illuminator</a>, a part of States Newsroom.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735738471176.png" alt="First responders on the scene early Wednesday- Photo courtesy WDSU TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene early Wednesday- Photo courtesy WDSU TV</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/greglarose/">GREG LAROSE</a>NEW ORLEANS — Authorities have identified the man who sped down Bourbon Street early Wednesday morning, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens more.Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, of Texas was killed after a shootout with police once his pickup truck collided with a lift vehicle at the intersection of Bourbon and Conti streets, the FBI has confirmed. He reportedly drove around a police barricade at Canal Street, intentionally striking pedestrians.After Jabbar struck a lift vehicle, the FBI said he shot at law enforcement on the scene and was killed by return fire. Two police officers were wounded in the shootout and taken to University Medical Center, where New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said they were in stable condition.Another 35 people struck by the truck were also injured and taken to local hospitals, with some reported in critical condition.The FBI is leading the investigation into what the agency said is calling a terrorist attack. They reported a potential improvised explosive device (IED) was also discovered at the scene. A flag for the jihadist Islamic State group was found in the truck, along with other firearms.“Weapons and a potential IED were located in the subject’s vehicle,” the FBI said in a news release. “Other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter. The FBI’s Special Agent Bomb Technicians are working with our law enforcement partners to determine if any of these devices are viable and they will work to render those devices safe.”At around 3:15 a.m., the driver of the truck steered around a police barricade at Canal Street meant to keep vehicles off of Bourbon Street and sped into a crowd, Kirkpatrick said. It appears the truck was able to travel three blocks before colliding with a lift vehicle near Conti Street.“He was hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” the police chief said.Steel bollards that rise from the street were installed along and near Bourbon Street in 2017 to protect pedestrians, but they are&nbsp;<a href="https://nola.gov/next/public-works/projects/bourbon-street-bollard-assessment-replacement-project/" target="_blank">in the process of being replaced</a>&nbsp;according to the city’s Department of Public Works website.Bomb squad personnel were seen entering the French Quarter, which the FBI said is being scoured for additional explosive devices. Several small booms have been heard blocks away, which City Council members said were controlled detonations to clear possible IEDs.An eight-block stretch of Bourbon Street remains closed to traffic and pedestrians, and some hotels in the French Quarter were evacuated as a precautionary measure. The public is being asked to avoid a large portion of the historic neighborhood, which typically sees crowds larger than typical weekends for New Year’s Eve.New Orleans is hosting fans of the University of Georgia and Notre Dame for the Sugar Bowl, scheduled for Wednesday night at the Superdome. The game was postponed for 24 hours after representatives with the event have said they were speaking with local, state and federal authorities to keep apprised of developments.Hospitality and service industry employees reporting for work Wednesday morning were being turned away from cordoned-off areas.The city will also host Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.This article was initially published by&nbsp;<a href="https://lailluminator.com/" target="_blank">Louisiana Illuminator</a>, a part of States Newsroom.

Suspect in Bourbon Street Mass Fatality had ISIS flag in Truck: FBI

U.S. forces conducted multiple precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Sana’a and coastal locations within Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen on Monday and again on New Year's Eve, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

&nbsp;U.S. Navy ships and aircraft targeted a Houthi command and control facility and advanced conventional weapon (ACW) production and storage facilities that included missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV). These facilities were used in Houthi operations, such as attacks against U.S. Navy warships and merchant vessels in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. In addition, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force aircraft destroyed a Houthi coastal radar site and seven cruise missiles and one-way attack UAVs over the Red Sea.

There were no injuries or damage to U.S. personnel or equipment in either incident.

The strikes are a part of CENTCOM's effort to degrade Iran-backed Houthi efforts to threaten regional partners and military and merchant vessels in the region.

U.S. forces conducted multiple precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Sana’a and coastal locations within Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen on Monday and again on New Year's Eve, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">CENTCOM Forces Strike Multiple Houthi Targets in Yemen U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted multiple precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Sana’a and coastal locations within Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, Dec. 30 and 31. On Dec. 30 and 31,… <a href="https://t.co/XUKtsZM1U7">pic.twitter.com/XUKtsZM1U7</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1874089194030567561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>&nbsp;U.S. Navy ships and aircraft targeted a Houthi command and control facility and advanced conventional weapon (ACW) production and storage facilities that included missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV). These facilities were used in Houthi operations, such as attacks against U.S. Navy warships and merchant vessels in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. In addition, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force aircraft destroyed a Houthi coastal radar site and seven cruise missiles and one-way attack UAVs over the Red Sea.There were no injuries or damage to U.S. personnel or equipment in either incident.The strikes are a part of CENTCOM's effort to degrade Iran-backed Houthi efforts to threaten regional partners and military and merchant vessels in the region.

🎥U.S. Forces strike multiple terrorist targets in Yemen

WASHINGTON —On Monday, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance support to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs as part of the surge of security assistance the President directed to put Ukraine in the best possible position. This includes the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package, which has an estimated value of $1.25 billion, to provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs, including: missiles for air defense; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; and anti-tank weapons.

In addition, DoD announced an approximately $1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package to provide Ukraine with additional air defense, air-to-ground, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and other capabilities to fight Russian aggression.

The capabilities in this announcement include:

Munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); HAWK air defense munitions; Stinger missiles; Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) munitions;&nbsp; Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition;&nbsp; Air-to-ground munitions; High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs); Unmanned Aerials Systems (UAS);&nbsp; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; Tube-launched, Optically guided, Wire-tracked (TOW) missiles; Small arms and ammunition and grenades; Demolitions equipment and munitions; Secure communications equipment; Commercial satellite imagery services; Medical equipment; Clothing and individual equipment; and Spare parts, maintenance and sustainment support, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation.

This is the Biden Administration's twenty-third USAI package and seventy-third tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.The United States continues to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated Capability Coalitions to provide the support Ukraine needs to prevail in its fight against Russian aggression.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717851301558.png" alt="File photo White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —On Monday, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance support to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs as part of the surge of security assistance the President directed to put Ukraine in the best possible position. This includes the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package, which has an estimated value of $1.25 billion, to provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs, including: missiles for air defense; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; and anti-tank weapons.In addition, DoD announced an approximately $1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package to provide Ukraine with additional air defense, air-to-ground, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and other capabilities to fight Russian aggression.The capabilities in this announcement include:Munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); HAWK air defense munitions; Stinger missiles; Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) munitions;&nbsp; Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition;&nbsp; Air-to-ground munitions; High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs); Unmanned Aerials Systems (UAS);&nbsp; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; Tube-launched, Optically guided, Wire-tracked (TOW) missiles; Small arms and ammunition and grenades; Demolitions equipment and munitions; Secure communications equipment; Commercial satellite imagery services; Medical equipment; Clothing and individual equipment; and Spare parts, maintenance and sustainment support, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation.This is the Biden Administration's twenty-third USAI package and seventy-third tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.The United States continues to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated Capability Coalitions to provide the support Ukraine needs to prevail in its fight against Russian aggression.

 Read list of $2.5 billion in new weapons U.S. sending to Ukraine

President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9.

Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the U.S. Carter, the longest-lived former president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100.

Biden also ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday.

Text of the official White House Executive Order is below.

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.&nbsp; All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed on January 9, 2025, as a mark of respect for James Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States.&nbsp;

Sec. 2.&nbsp; The heads of executive departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on January 9, 2025, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.

Sec. 3.&nbsp; January 9, 2025, shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the&nbsp;United States.&nbsp;

Sec. 4. &nbsp;The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement this order.

Sec. 5. &nbsp;General Provisions. &nbsp;(a) &nbsp;Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)&nbsp; &nbsp;the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) &nbsp;the functions of the Director of the Office of&nbsp;Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (b) &nbsp;This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (c) &nbsp;This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667594213472.png" alt="Former President Jimmy Carter photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Former President Jimmy Carter photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: President Biden complete remarks on death of former President Jimmy Carter. <a href="https://t.co/Sea2QtgMPW">pic.twitter.com/Sea2QtgMPW</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1873534289557545352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the U.S. Carter, the longest-lived former president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Carter was an extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian. He will be greatly missed. <a href="https://t.co/OamGQ13u9U">pic.twitter.com/OamGQ13u9U</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1873745890105561445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden also ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday.Text of the official White House Executive Order is below.By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1.&nbsp; All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed on January 9, 2025, as a mark of respect for James Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States.&nbsp;Sec. 2.&nbsp; The heads of executive departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on January 9, 2025, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.Sec. 3.&nbsp; January 9, 2025, shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the&nbsp;United States.&nbsp;Sec. 4. &nbsp;The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement this order.Sec. 5. &nbsp;General Provisions. &nbsp;(a) &nbsp;Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:(i)&nbsp; &nbsp;the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii) &nbsp;the functions of the Director of the Office of&nbsp;Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (b) &nbsp;This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (c) &nbsp;This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

Most federal employees will have Jan. 9 off in observance of Jimmy Carter

Lincoln, Neb. – Joint law enforcement effort leads to arrest of a murder suspect Saturday near Goehner, Nebraska.&nbsp;

The Nebraska State Patrol arrested Alberto Perez-Millian on December 28, 2024, after receiving credible information from the U.S. Marshal Service’s Metro Fugitive Task Force that the suspect&nbsp; was traveling through Nebraska on Interstate 80.&nbsp;

Perez-Millian is wanted by the Arlington Police Department in Texas in connection with a&nbsp; murder investigation.&nbsp;

The Metro Fugitive Task Force coordinated efforts with the Nebraska State Patrol in locating and&nbsp; apprehending Perez-Millian. Perez-Millian was taken into custody without incident.&nbsp;

The U.S. Marshals Service extends its gratitude to the Nebraska State Patrol for their immediate&nbsp; response and assistance with this arrest.&nbsp;

Perez-Millian remains in custody in the Seward County Jail in Seward, Nebraska pending further legal proceedings.&nbsp;

Additional information can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.&nbsp;

U.S. MarshalsLincoln, Neb. – Joint law enforcement effort leads to arrest of a murder suspect Saturday near Goehner, Nebraska.&nbsp;The Nebraska State Patrol arrested Alberto Perez-Millian on December 28, 2024, after receiving credible information from the U.S. Marshal Service’s Metro Fugitive Task Force that the suspect&nbsp; was traveling through Nebraska on Interstate 80.&nbsp;Perez-Millian is wanted by the Arlington Police Department in Texas in connection with a&nbsp; murder investigation.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735655661063.png" alt="Alberto Perez-Millan (courtesy of Seward County Inmate Roster)" />
 <figcaption>Alberto Perez-Millan (courtesy of Seward County Inmate Roster)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Metro Fugitive Task Force coordinated efforts with the Nebraska State Patrol in locating and&nbsp; apprehending Perez-Millian. Perez-Millian was taken into custody without incident.&nbsp;The U.S. Marshals Service extends its gratitude to the Nebraska State Patrol for their immediate&nbsp; response and assistance with this arrest.&nbsp;Perez-Millian remains in custody in the Seward County Jail in Seward, Nebraska pending further legal proceedings.&nbsp;Additional information can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.&nbsp;

Nebraska State Patrol and U.S. Marshal Service Apprehend Murder Suspect in Nebraska 

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraskans-ranked-behind-one-other-state-in-online-christmas-shopping-study-shows/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska was No. 2 among states with the biggest thirst for online Christmas shopping, according to a study by an online coupon platform.

Coupon Mister used a range of key search terms like “Online Christmas sales” and “Christmas shopping online” to determine interest and then ranked states by search intensity (the average number of searches per 10,000 residents).

Nebraska and No. 1 West Virginia were the only states to score above 70 for search intensity. For the study, Coupon Mister analyzed Google Trends data across the U.S., covering search trends from late 2022 to early December this year.

Researchers said that while urban hubs such as Omaha and Lincoln offer a range of options for shoppers, Nebraskans in rural areas benefit significantly from online shopping as it saves them long trips to stores and retail centers.

As for popular online search terms among Nebraskans, “Best Christmas deals” was tops.

“Trends tell you what’s working in real time, and companies that pay attention can pivot quickly to deliver what customers want,” says Fred Harrington, CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://couponmister.com/" target="_blank">Coupon Mister</a>, which provides access to discount codes and deals.

He said that shoppers today expect brands to anticipate their needs, especially when time is tight, like around the busy holiday season.&nbsp;

“By studying these trends, businesses can fine-tune their holiday campaigns. That might mean launching promotions earlier to capture those who plan way in advance or optimizing mobile experiences for last-minute buyers,” he said.

Following West Virginia and Nebraska for states that shop from the comfort of their couches were New Hampshire, Delaware, Alabama, Maine, Kentucky, Montana, Arkansas and Missouri.<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/subscribe"></a>

Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraskans-ranked-behind-one-other-state-in-online-christmas-shopping-study-shows/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska was No. 2 among states with the biggest thirst for online Christmas shopping, according to a study by an online coupon platform.Coupon Mister used a range of key search terms like “Online Christmas sales” and “Christmas shopping online” to determine interest and then ranked states by search intensity (the average number of searches per 10,000 residents).Nebraska and No. 1 West Virginia were the only states to score above 70 for search intensity. For the study, Coupon Mister analyzed Google Trends data across the U.S., covering search trends from late 2022 to early December this year.Researchers said that while urban hubs such as Omaha and Lincoln offer a range of options for shoppers, Nebraskans in rural areas benefit significantly from online shopping as it saves them long trips to stores and retail centers.As for popular online search terms among Nebraskans, “Best Christmas deals” was tops.“Trends tell you what’s working in real time, and companies that pay attention can pivot quickly to deliver what customers want,” says Fred Harrington, CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://couponmister.com/" target="_blank">Coupon Mister</a>, which provides access to discount codes and deals.He said that shoppers today expect brands to anticipate their needs, especially when time is tight, like around the busy holiday season.&nbsp;“By studying these trends, businesses can fine-tune their holiday campaigns. That might mean launching promotions earlier to capture those who plan way in advance or optimizing mobile experiences for last-minute buyers,” he said.Following West Virginia and Nebraska for states that shop from the comfort of their couches were New Hampshire, Delaware, Alabama, Maine, Kentucky, Montana, Arkansas and Missouri.<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/subscribe"></a>

Nebraskans Ranks Behind Only One State in Online Christmas Shopping, Study Shows

2024 was a productive year for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research, including advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and risk management. Here are five significant discoveries from this year:

U.S. FDA approves third new drug that slows the course of Alzheimer’s disease

In July 2024, people living with early Alzheimer’s and organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association celebrated FDA approval of Kisunla, the third approval since 2021 of a treatment that slows progression and changes the underlying course of the disease.

Alzheimer’s Association president and CEO, Dr. Joanne Pike said, “This is real progress. [This FDA] approval allows people more options and greater opportunity to have more time. Having multiple treatment options is the kind of advancement we’ve all been waiting for.”

In this new era of treatment, there is an urgent need to better understand how new and future Alzheimer’s therapies work in real-world settings. That way, we can better understand their long-term health and safety outcomes in everyday settings. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alz-net.org/about-alz-net" target="_blank">Alzheimer’s Network for Treatment and Diagnostics</a>&nbsp;(ALZ-NET) is a first-of-its-kind Alzheimer’s network dedicated to tracking real-world diagnostic and treatment outcomes. ALZ-NET also provides ongoing education and resources for clinicians, patients and families, helping them stay informed about the latest developments in Alzheimer's research and care.

Blood tests for Alzheimer’s could improve accuracy of diagnosis and speed access to treatment

Highly accurate blood tests for Alzheimer’s are moving closer to broader use in physician’s offices. Research reported this year suggests they may highly improve the accuracy of diagnosis and provide a quicker path to research participation and treatment.

Dementia is often underdiagnosed — and if it is diagnosed by a clinician, many people are unaware or uninformed of their diagnosis. Blood tests for Alzheimer’s are demonstrating in research that they could significantly improve a clinician’s accuracy and confidence, provide greater accessibility and a reason for more communication.

Blood tests that accurately and reliably detect Alzheimer’s-related brain changes signal a shift to simpler, more accurate and earlier detection and diagnosis, potentially superseding current methods that are expensive, invasive and not always accessible.

In one study reported this year, a specific blood test was around 90% accurate in identifying Alzheimer’s in patients with cognitive symptoms seen in primary care and at specialized memory care clinics. Other research suggests that blood tests, once they are validated, could enhance recruitment for Alzheimer’s clinical trials and slash wait times for Alzheimer’s disease assessment. This research was funded in part by the Alzheimer’s Association.

Individuals and caregivers want more support after a dementia diagnosis

Following a dementia diagnosis, individuals and their care partners want and need help navigating the complex health care system. A<a href="https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures-special-report.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures-special-report.pdf" target="_blank">2024 Alzheimer’s Association survey</a>&nbsp;revealed that 97% of dementia caregivers say they would find these services helpful. The survey found that a majority of dementia caregivers (70%) report that coordination of care is stressful.

In July, the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services launched an eight-year pilot program in dementia care management. The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model works with health systems and providers to deliver supportive services to people living with dementia. The primary aims of GUIDE are to (1) improve quality of life for people living with dementia, (2) reduce strain on their unpaid caregivers and (3) enable people living with dementia to remain in their homes and communities.

The Alzheimer’s Association is participating in GUIDE. The new&nbsp;<a href="https://ripplcare.com/alz/" target="_blank">Dementia Care Navigation Service</a>, powered by Rippl and the Alzheimer’s Association, is currently available in Illinois, Missouri, Texas and Washington. The service will roll out in more states in 2025 and beyond.

Wildfire smoke raises risk of dementia more than other air pollution

Research has found that exposure to air pollution is associated with increased risk of dementia. But a new study reported at&nbsp;<a href="https://aaic.alz.org/releases-2024/exposure-wildfire-smoke-raises-dementia-risk.asp" target="_blank">AAIC 2024</a>&nbsp;suggests that breathing in wildfire smoke increases the risk of being diagnosed with dementia more than other types of air pollution. These results come from a decade-long study of more than 1.2 million people in southern California.

The study says air pollution produced by wildfires now accounts for more than 70% of total particulate exposure on poor air quality days in California and calls it “a real problem.” The findings were most pronounced among individuals from minoritized groups and in high poverty areas.

Air pollution produced by wildfires might be more hazardous to health because: it is produced at higher temperatures, contains a greater concentration of toxic chemicals and, on average, is smaller in diameter than other sources. More research needs to be done to determine the exact mechanisms.

Scientists define Alzheimer’s by the physical changes in the brain

A group of scientists and clinicians convened by the Alzheimer’s Association published&nbsp;<a href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.13859" target="_blank">updated criteria for diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer’s</a>&nbsp;based on the physical changes that happen in the brain due to the disease — not solely the well-known outward symptoms, such as memory loss.

Defining diseases by biology has long been standard in many areas of medicine — including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The new publication defines Alzheimer’s as a biological process that begins with brain changes before people exhibit memory and thinking problems. The authors state that progression and expansion of these changes lead to the later appearance of symptoms, such as memory loss, disorientation, trouble with planning or organizing, and mental confusion.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research advances, plus available care, information and support resources, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://alz.org/Nebraska" target="_blank">alz.org/Nebraska</a>&nbsp;or call our 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900).

Jenna Hynek&nbsp;Alzheimer's Association&nbsp;2024 was a productive year for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research, including advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and risk management. Here are five significant discoveries from this year:U.S. FDA approves third new drug that slows the course of Alzheimer’s diseaseIn July 2024, people living with early Alzheimer’s and organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association celebrated FDA approval of Kisunla, the third approval since 2021 of a treatment that slows progression and changes the underlying course of the disease.Alzheimer’s Association president and CEO, Dr. Joanne Pike said, “This is real progress. [This FDA] approval allows people more options and greater opportunity to have more time. Having multiple treatment options is the kind of advancement we’ve all been waiting for.”In this new era of treatment, there is an urgent need to better understand how new and future Alzheimer’s therapies work in real-world settings. That way, we can better understand their long-term health and safety outcomes in everyday settings. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alz-net.org/about-alz-net" target="_blank">Alzheimer’s Network for Treatment and Diagnostics</a>&nbsp;(ALZ-NET) is a first-of-its-kind Alzheimer’s network dedicated to tracking real-world diagnostic and treatment outcomes. ALZ-NET also provides ongoing education and resources for clinicians, patients and families, helping them stay informed about the latest developments in Alzheimer's research and care.Blood tests for Alzheimer’s could improve accuracy of diagnosis and speed access to treatmentHighly accurate blood tests for Alzheimer’s are moving closer to broader use in physician’s offices. Research reported this year suggests they may highly improve the accuracy of diagnosis and provide a quicker path to research participation and treatment.Dementia is often underdiagnosed — and if it is diagnosed by a clinician, many people are unaware or uninformed of their diagnosis. Blood tests for Alzheimer’s are demonstrating in research that they could significantly improve a clinician’s accuracy and confidence, provide greater accessibility and a reason for more communication.Blood tests that accurately and reliably detect Alzheimer’s-related brain changes signal a shift to simpler, more accurate and earlier detection and diagnosis, potentially superseding current methods that are expensive, invasive and not always accessible.In one study reported this year, a specific blood test was around 90% accurate in identifying Alzheimer’s in patients with cognitive symptoms seen in primary care and at specialized memory care clinics. Other research suggests that blood tests, once they are validated, could enhance recruitment for Alzheimer’s clinical trials and slash wait times for Alzheimer’s disease assessment. This research was funded in part by the Alzheimer’s Association.Individuals and caregivers want more support after a dementia diagnosisFollowing a dementia diagnosis, individuals and their care partners want and need help navigating the complex health care system. A<a href="https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures-special-report.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures-special-report.pdf" target="_blank">2024 Alzheimer’s Association survey</a>&nbsp;revealed that 97% of dementia caregivers say they would find these services helpful. The survey found that a majority of dementia caregivers (70%) report that coordination of care is stressful.In July, the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services launched an eight-year pilot program in dementia care management. The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model works with health systems and providers to deliver supportive services to people living with dementia. The primary aims of GUIDE are to (1) improve quality of life for people living with dementia, (2) reduce strain on their unpaid caregivers and (3) enable people living with dementia to remain in their homes and communities.The Alzheimer’s Association is participating in GUIDE. The new&nbsp;<a href="https://ripplcare.com/alz/" target="_blank">Dementia Care Navigation Service</a>, powered by Rippl and the Alzheimer’s Association, is currently available in Illinois, Missouri, Texas and Washington. The service will roll out in more states in 2025 and beyond.Wildfire smoke raises risk of dementia more than other air pollutionResearch has found that exposure to air pollution is associated with increased risk of dementia. But a new study reported at&nbsp;<a href="https://aaic.alz.org/releases-2024/exposure-wildfire-smoke-raises-dementia-risk.asp" target="_blank">AAIC 2024</a>&nbsp;suggests that breathing in wildfire smoke increases the risk of being diagnosed with dementia more than other types of air pollution. These results come from a decade-long study of more than 1.2 million people in southern California.The study says air pollution produced by wildfires now accounts for more than 70% of total particulate exposure on poor air quality days in California and calls it “a real problem.” The findings were most pronounced among individuals from minoritized groups and in high poverty areas.Air pollution produced by wildfires might be more hazardous to health because: it is produced at higher temperatures, contains a greater concentration of toxic chemicals and, on average, is smaller in diameter than other sources. More research needs to be done to determine the exact mechanisms.Scientists define Alzheimer’s by the physical changes in the brainA group of scientists and clinicians convened by the Alzheimer’s Association published&nbsp;<a href="https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.13859" target="_blank">updated criteria for diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer’s</a>&nbsp;based on the physical changes that happen in the brain due to the disease — not solely the well-known outward symptoms, such as memory loss.Defining diseases by biology has long been standard in many areas of medicine — including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The new publication defines Alzheimer’s as a biological process that begins with brain changes before people exhibit memory and thinking problems. The authors state that progression and expansion of these changes lead to the later appearance of symptoms, such as memory loss, disorientation, trouble with planning or organizing, and mental confusion.To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research advances, plus available care, information and support resources, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://alz.org/Nebraska" target="_blank">alz.org/Nebraska</a>&nbsp;or call our 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900).

Five Things We Learned About Alzheimer's in 2024

&nbsp;(Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person after locating firearms and explosive devices during an investigation in Saunders County.

Thursday, December 26, investigators served a search warrant at a residence in Valparaiso. During the search, investigators located a shotgun and a rifle. The shotgun was confirmed to be stolen. They also located nine explosive devices and a small amount of controlled substances.

The resident, Booker Holloway, 39, was arrested for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of explosive devices. He was lodged in Saunders County Jail.

Cody ThomasNebraska State Patrol&nbsp;(Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person after locating firearms and explosive devices during an investigation in Saunders County.Thursday, December 26, investigators served a search warrant at a residence in Valparaiso. During the search, investigators located a shotgun and a rifle. The shotgun was confirmed to be stolen. They also located nine explosive devices and a small amount of controlled substances.The resident, Booker Holloway, 39, was arrested for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of explosive devices. He was lodged in Saunders County Jail.

Saunders County Search Reveals Firearms, Explosives

ATLANTA&nbsp; — Jimmy Carter, 39th&nbsp;president of the United States and winner of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, died peacefully Sunday, Dec. 29, at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. He was 100, the longest-lived president in U.S. history, according to a statement from the Carter Center.

President Carter is survived by his children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rosalynn, and one grandchild.

“My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” said Chip Carter, the former president’s son. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs.&nbsp;The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”

There will be public observances in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., followed by a private interment in Plains, Georgia.&nbsp;The final arrangements for President Carter’s state funeral, including all public events and motorcade routes, are still pending.&nbsp;The schedule will be released by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region at&nbsp;

<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usstatefuneral.mdw.army.mil%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cnina.pardo%40cartercenter.org%7C91568bb26a924c33adea08dd284e71ad%7C16decddb28ac4bea8fc95844aadea669%7C0%7C0%7C638711039552440092%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=u%2Fooghv5DQB83sHXyE%2FmcCnAz1Gx3ADasqNA3FmcCzI%3D&amp;reserved=0">www.usstatefuneral.mdw.army.mil</a>.

Members of the public are encouraged to visit the official tribute website to the life of President Carter at&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jimmycartertribute.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cnina.pardo%40cartercenter.org%7C91568bb26a924c33adea08dd284e71ad%7C16decddb28ac4bea8fc95844aadea669%7C0%7C0%7C638711039552458792%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2BL7wuK9%2BVXZ9gaA9dPs1umaY5zYLqBBGytTSjnf%2FE3M%3D&amp;reserved=0">www.jimmycartertribute.org</a>. This site includes the official online condolence book as well as print and visual biographical materials commemorating his life.

The Carter family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Carter Center, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667594213472.png" alt="Jimmy Carter photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Jimmy Carter photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA&nbsp; — Jimmy Carter, 39th&nbsp;president of the United States and winner of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, died peacefully Sunday, Dec. 29, at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. He was 100, the longest-lived president in U.S. history, according to a statement from the Carter Center.President Carter is survived by his children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rosalynn, and one grandchild.“My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” said Chip Carter, the former president’s son. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs.&nbsp;The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”There will be public observances in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., followed by a private interment in Plains, Georgia.&nbsp;The final arrangements for President Carter’s state funeral, including all public events and motorcade routes, are still pending.&nbsp;The schedule will be released by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region at&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usstatefuneral.mdw.army.mil%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cnina.pardo%40cartercenter.org%7C91568bb26a924c33adea08dd284e71ad%7C16decddb28ac4bea8fc95844aadea669%7C0%7C0%7C638711039552440092%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=u%2Fooghv5DQB83sHXyE%2FmcCnAz1Gx3ADasqNA3FmcCzI%3D&amp;reserved=0">www.usstatefuneral.mdw.army.mil</a>.Members of the public are encouraged to visit the official tribute website to the life of President Carter at&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jimmycartertribute.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cnina.pardo%40cartercenter.org%7C91568bb26a924c33adea08dd284e71ad%7C16decddb28ac4bea8fc95844aadea669%7C0%7C0%7C638711039552458792%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2BL7wuK9%2BVXZ9gaA9dPs1umaY5zYLqBBGytTSjnf%2FE3M%3D&amp;reserved=0">www.jimmycartertribute.org</a>. This site includes the official online condolence book as well as print and visual biographical materials commemorating his life.The Carter family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Carter Center, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307.

Jimmy Carter, 39th US President, Dead at 100

In the middle of the holiday season, a Mega Millions® ticket-holder in California has a lot to celebrate! A single ticket sold in the state matched all six numbers drawn on December 27 – the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49 and 55, plus the gold Mega Ball 6. 

The jackpot is worth an estimated $1.22 billion ($549.7 million cash); it’s the fifth-largest Mega Millions jackpot in history, and the seventh Mega Millions jackpot greater than $1 billion. The winning ticket was sold in Cottonwood, Calif. “Congratulations to our $1.22 billion jackpot winner from California,” said Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium. “What an amazing present this holiday season!

 At an incredibly special time of year, this is both an incredibly special moment for our winner, and for all the great organizations and causes that benefit from lottery ticket sales around the country. 

Thank you to everyone who plays. Because of you, we have winners all around the country taking home cash prizes both big and small, and we have educational causes, parks and many other great organizations benefiting as well. Thank you and congratulations to all our winners.

”There were more than 31.4 million winning tickets across all prize tiers during this 31-drawing run, which began after the last jackpot was won in Texas on September 10. 

These include 65 second-tier prizes of $1 million or more, won in 26 different jurisdictions from coast to coast: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The December 27 drawing alone produced 5,691,299 winning tickets across all prize tiers, in addition to the jackpot-winning ticket. Five tickets matched the five white balls to win the game’s second-tier prize; two were sold in California, and one each in Arizona, Missouri and Texas. Across the country, 157 tickets matched four white balls plus the Mega Ball to win the game’s third-tier prize. 

Twenty-eight are worth $30,000 each because they included the optional Megaplier (available in most states with an extra $1 purchase), which was 3X Friday night. 

The other 129 third-tier winning tickets take home the standard $10,000 each. Note: Non-jackpot prize amounts in California will vary, as they are calculated on a pari-mutuel basis. It’s only the fourth Mega Millions jackpot won in 2024, and with only one more drawing this year, odds are that the year will end with the fewest jackpots won in any year since the game began in 2002. 

In addition to the $810 million Texas win on September 10, a $552 million windfall went to an Illinois online player on June 4 (the largest lottery prize ever won with an online ticket purchase), and a huge $1.128 billion prize was won in New Jersey on March 26.<a href="https://www.megamillions.com/About/Jackpot-History.aspx">See the complete Mega Millions jackpot history.</a>&nbsp;The jackpot for the next drawing on Tuesday, December 31, resets to its current starting value of $20 million ($9.0 million cash).

There has never been a Mega Millions jackpot win on New Year’s Eve. Mega Millions is the only lottery game that has produced seven jackpot wins exceeding $1 billion each – all in different states. South Carolina was the first in 2018, followed by Michigan in 2021, Illinois in 2022, Maine and Florida in 2023, New Jersey last March and now California. The Florida prize on August 8, 2023, is the game’s current record jackpot at $1.602 billion. Tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are $2 each; in most jurisdictions, players can add the Megaplier for an additional $1 to multiply their non-jackpot prizes. 

Half of the proceeds from the sale of each Mega Millions ticket remains in the state where the ticket was sold, where the money supports designated good causes and retailer commissions.

Drawings are conducted at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays and Fridays in Atlanta, Georgia. The overall odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24; the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.

Mega MillionsIn the middle of the holiday season, a Mega Millions® ticket-holder in California has a lot to celebrate! A single ticket sold in the state matched all six numbers drawn on December 27 – the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49 and 55, plus the gold Mega Ball 6. The jackpot is worth an estimated $1.22 billion ($549.7 million cash); it’s the fifth-largest Mega Millions jackpot in history, and the seventh Mega Millions jackpot greater than $1 billion. The winning ticket was sold in Cottonwood, Calif. “Congratulations to our $1.22 billion jackpot winner from California,” said Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium. “What an amazing present this holiday season! At an incredibly special time of year, this is both an incredibly special moment for our winner, and for all the great organizations and causes that benefit from lottery ticket sales around the country. Thank you to everyone who plays. Because of you, we have winners all around the country taking home cash prizes both big and small, and we have educational causes, parks and many other great organizations benefiting as well. Thank you and congratulations to all our winners.”There were more than 31.4 million winning tickets across all prize tiers during this 31-drawing run, which began after the last jackpot was won in Texas on September 10. These include 65 second-tier prizes of $1 million or more, won in 26 different jurisdictions from coast to coast: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.The December 27 drawing alone produced 5,691,299 winning tickets across all prize tiers, in addition to the jackpot-winning ticket. Five tickets matched the five white balls to win the game’s second-tier prize; two were sold in California, and one each in Arizona, Missouri and Texas. Across the country, 157 tickets matched four white balls plus the Mega Ball to win the game’s third-tier prize. Twenty-eight are worth $30,000 each because they included the optional Megaplier (available in most states with an extra $1 purchase), which was 3X Friday night. The other 129 third-tier winning tickets take home the standard $10,000 each. Note: Non-jackpot prize amounts in California will vary, as they are calculated on a pari-mutuel basis. It’s only the fourth Mega Millions jackpot won in 2024, and with only one more drawing this year, odds are that the year will end with the fewest jackpots won in any year since the game began in 2002. In addition to the $810 million Texas win on September 10, a $552 million windfall went to an Illinois online player on June 4 (the largest lottery prize ever won with an online ticket purchase), and a huge $1.128 billion prize was won in New Jersey on March 26.<a href="https://www.megamillions.com/About/Jackpot-History.aspx">See the complete Mega Millions jackpot history.</a>&nbsp;The jackpot for the next drawing on Tuesday, December 31, resets to its current starting value of $20 million ($9.0 million cash). There has never been a Mega Millions jackpot win on New Year’s Eve. Mega Millions is the only lottery game that has produced seven jackpot wins exceeding $1 billion each – all in different states. South Carolina was the first in 2018, followed by Michigan in 2021, Illinois in 2022, Maine and Florida in 2023, New Jersey last March and now California. The Florida prize on August 8, 2023, is the game’s current record jackpot at $1.602 billion. Tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are $2 each; in most jurisdictions, players can add the Megaplier for an additional $1 to multiply their non-jackpot prizes. Half of the proceeds from the sale of each Mega Millions ticket remains in the state where the ticket was sold, where the money supports designated good causes and retailer commissions.Drawings are conducted at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays and Fridays in Atlanta, Georgia. The overall odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 24; the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.

Mega Millions: Winning ticket for $1.22 billion lottery jackpot sold

The former Missouri Congressman and auctioneer advertises his credential as a certified tax and business advisor

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jeremy-kohler/">JEREMY KOHLER</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/alexmierjeski/">ALEX MIERJESKI</a>&nbsp;

ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.propublica.org/newsletters/the-big-story?source=reprint&amp;placement=top-note" target="_blank">The Big Story newsletter</a>&nbsp;to receive stories like this one in your inbox.

Former U.S. Rep. Billy Long of Missouri, whom President-elect Donald Trump has named his nominee to head the IRS, touts his expertise in tax matters.

He advertises his credential as a certified tax and business advisor, and he adds CTBA to his name on his X profile. That profile encourages people to message him to “save 40% on your taxes.”

But tax experts told ProPublica that they have never heard of CTBA as a credential in the tax profession. The designation is offered by a small Florida firm, Excel Empire, which was established just two years ago and only requires attendance at a three-day seminar. That is in stark contrast to the 150 credit hours and the rigorous exams required to become a certified public accountant, a standard certification for tax accountants.

In most tax cases, only lawyers, CPAs and enrolled agents — federally authorized tax practitioners — can represent taxpayers at the IRS.

“The cost of relying on tax advice from somebody that is solely focused on minimizing the tax liabilities that you have — as opposed to somebody that’s focused on both minimizing the tax liabilities and complying with the tax law — can be extraordinarily high if you are found to be in violation of the standards,” said Nathan Goldman, an associate professor of accounting at North Carolina State University.

Excel Empire’s three-day certification course has been advertised for as much as $30,000;&nbsp;<a href="https://ctba.excelempire.com/live-sales" target="_blank">its upcoming session is advertised at $4,997</a>. Matthew Pearson, one of its founders,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUy-3pcse8I" target="_blank">said this summer in a podcast</a>&nbsp;that about 135 people have earned the CTBA designation, which the firm designed to help people without tax backgrounds to become advisors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734986359615.png" alt=" Billy Long speaks during a press conference before filing for election during the Missouri Senate primary on Feb. 22, 2022, in Jefferson City (Madeline Carter/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Billy Long speaks during a press conference before filing for election during the Missouri Senate primary on Feb. 22, 2022, in Jefferson City (Madeline Carter/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The former Missouri Congressman and auctioneer advertises his credential as a certified tax and business advisor</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jeremy-kohler/">JEREMY KOHLER</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/alexmierjeski/">ALEX MIERJESKI</a>&nbsp;ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.propublica.org/newsletters/the-big-story?source=reprint&amp;placement=top-note" target="_blank">The Big Story newsletter</a>&nbsp;to receive stories like this one in your inbox.Former U.S. Rep. Billy Long of Missouri, whom President-elect Donald Trump has named his nominee to head the IRS, touts his expertise in tax matters.He advertises his credential as a certified tax and business advisor, and he adds CTBA to his name on his X profile. That profile encourages people to message him to “save 40% on your taxes.”But tax experts told ProPublica that they have never heard of CTBA as a credential in the tax profession. The designation is offered by a small Florida firm, Excel Empire, which was established just two years ago and only requires attendance at a three-day seminar. That is in stark contrast to the 150 credit hours and the rigorous exams required to become a certified public accountant, a standard certification for tax accountants.In most tax cases, only lawyers, CPAs and enrolled agents — federally authorized tax practitioners — can represent taxpayers at the IRS.“The cost of relying on tax advice from somebody that is solely focused on minimizing the tax liabilities that you have — as opposed to somebody that’s focused on both minimizing the tax liabilities and complying with the tax law — can be extraordinarily high if you are found to be in violation of the standards,” said Nathan Goldman, an associate professor of accounting at North Carolina State University.Excel Empire’s three-day certification course has been advertised for as much as $30,000;&nbsp;<a href="https://ctba.excelempire.com/live-sales" target="_blank">its upcoming session is advertised at $4,997</a>. Matthew Pearson, one of its founders,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUy-3pcse8I" target="_blank">said this summer in a podcast</a>&nbsp;that about 135 people have earned the CTBA designation, which the firm designed to help people without tax backgrounds to become advisors.Nina Olson, a prominent taxpayer advocate, said that the modern tax industry has seen “a proliferation of different groups and entities that are providing tax advice” and that consumers have no way of knowing who is competent.“It could just be that you’ve taken a very short course, and paid a large fee for that course, and that gives you the ability to put some initials after your name,” said Olson, who served as the IRS’ national taxpayer advocate from 2001 to 2019. She is now executive director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, a Washington-based nonprofit that promotes fairness and access to justice in tax systems.Tax experts said that Long’s years of experience as a real estate agent and as an auctioneer — before spending a dozen years in Congress — pales next to the deep experience in tax policy or management of the people who have held the job. For instance, the current IRS commissioner, Danny Werfel, previously served as acting IRS commissioner and held leadership roles at the Office of Management and Budget. He also worked in the private sector as a managing director at Boston Consulting Group.Long’s experience in the tax world has been more narrowly focused. In the two years since he left Congress, he worked to bring in customers for at least two firms that marketed the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/employee-retention-credit" target="_blank">employee retention credit</a>&nbsp;— a pandemic-era benefit designed to support businesses that kept workers despite revenue losses or disruptions caused by COVID-19.The credit also attracted fraud, eventually landing on the IRS’ “<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen" target="_blank">worst of the worst</a>” list for tax scams. Two Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday announced an investigation into the firms, noting Long had neither a “background in tax preparation nor any credential as a licensed accountant, attorney or enrolled agent.”<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/ERC-COVID-Snapshot-5.7.21_full-text.pdf" target="_blank">Worth up to $28,000 per employee</a>, the credit was available for the 2020 and 2021 tax years and has been widely used by both for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations across the country. However, the IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen-beware-of-aggressive-promoters-who-dupe-taxpayers-into-making-questionable-employee-retention-credit-claims-risks-continue-for-small-businesses-special-withdrawal-program-remains-available" target="_blank">raised significant concerns</a>&nbsp;about aggressive promoters pushing ineligible businesses to file questionable claims. Red flags included inflated payroll numbers, claims for all quarters without proper eligibility or citing minor government orders that did not directly impact business operations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734986435081.png" alt=" A photo hanging up in U.S. Rep. Billy Long’s former office in Washington, D.C., shows him departing Air Force One with former President Donald Trump (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption> A photo hanging up in U.S. Rep. Billy Long’s former office in Washington, D.C., shows him departing Air Force One with former President Donald Trump (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>The IRS says it has recovered over $1 billion from businesses that voluntarily reported improper claims. And it has launched hundreds of criminal investigations to try to recoup what it says could be billions of dollars more.In a prepared statement in November, Werfel said businesses should review their claims and see if they were misled by firms marketing the tax credit.“They should listen to trusted tax professionals, not promoters,” he said.In a 2023 podcast discussing his work for the two firms, Long joked that he had a hat bearing the name of the credit glued to his head. He said his work marketing the tax credit had caused some clients to question their CPAs’ advice.“Hey, this auctioneer, real estate broker, former congressman told me I’m going to get $1.2 million back,” he said. “Uh, you’re my CPA. Why didn’t you tell me that?” And he said the response of CPAs would be: “That’s a joke. That’s a fake deal. That’s not true. You’re going to have to pay all that money back. You’ll get audited.”But he said the firms he worked for had never seen the IRS turn down one of their claims.There is no evidence that either Excel Empire, Long or the firms that he worked for — Lifetime Advisors of Hudson, Wisconsin, and Commerce Terrace Consulting of Springfield, Missouri — engaged in wrongdoing. In the same 2023 podcast, Long emphasized he and his colleagues had helped only taxpayers who were entitled to the benefit.Neither Long, Lifetime Advisors nor Commerce Terrace Consulting responded to requests for comment.If Long is confirmed and succeeds Werfel, he’ll have the power to influence how Americans pay their taxes and how the federal government collects revenue. Trump has promised to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-trumps-plan-to-end-irs-overstepping-could-mean-for-audits-of-rich-people-and-call-hold-times-for-everyone-else-67e4231e?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">end IRS “overstepping,”</a>&nbsp;while Republicans have said that they would slash billions of dollars in funding passed under the Biden administration to modernize the IRS and enhance tax enforcement.The IRS and the Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment.During his time representing Southwest Missouri in Congress, Long pursued legislation to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-159/issue-78/house-section/article/H3106-4?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22%5C%22billy+long%5C%22+%5C%22fair+tax%5C%22%22%7D&amp;s=3&amp;r=3" target="_blank">abolish the IRS</a>&nbsp;and establish a national sales tax. Billionaire Elon Musk, a Trump advisor, recently asked on X&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-its-funding-deleted-poll-1992953" target="_blank">if the agency’s budget should be “deleted.”</a>Like Long, members of Excel Empire suggest that accountants don’t feel it is their role to save their clients money because they prioritize compliance over planning and are too busy during tax season to discuss strategies. The company’s website claims the firm has saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.Edward Lyon, who is listed on Excel Empire’s website as chief tax planner and tax attorney, writes on his personal website that the seven most expensive words in the English language are “<a href="https://edwardalyon.com/about" target="_blank">My CPA takes care of my taxes</a>.”Lyon elaborated on a podcast last year, noting that accountants “generally are rule followers,” but when it comes to lawyers, “we are trained to understand the rules but we’re trained to stretch the rules and bend the rules and poke at the rules and do an end run around the rules. It’s a much more proactive focus.” Still, he has consistently emphasized that his company acts “legally, ethically and morally.”The company’s co-founder, Pearson, once described Lyon on a podcast as the “preeminent proactive tax attorney in the country.” Lyon and Pearson declined to comment.The Ohio Supreme Court suspended Lyon’s law license in 2005 for failing to meet registration and fee requirements on time, and he hasn’t regained it. He also does not appear to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment advisor.Despite this, Lyon says he has trained tens of thousands of tax and finance professionals. As the author of several books and a column, he claims to be one of the country’s most widely read tax strategists and commands speaking fees of $15,000 and first-class travel arrangements.Lyon has also developed several tax certification programs. On the Excel Empire website, some officers, including Pearson, use a title created by Lyon: tax master.Appearing on another podcast, Lyon discussed how small businesses can be used as tax shelters. As an example, he asked the host,&nbsp;<a href="https://excelempire.com/our-leadership-team-2/" target="_blank">Heather Wagenhals</a>&nbsp;— who also carries the CTBA title — if she had a swimming pool at her home, where she records her show.“I do,” Wagenhals said. “That’s why I picked this one.”Lyon responded: “All right, so I’m gonna rock your world in five words, ready? On-premises employee athletic facility.”“Oh my God!” Wagenhals said.Lyon added: “It’s really there in the tax code, and nobody’s told you that.”In another podcast, Pearson brags about firing an accountant who balked at his request for advice about how to use a new Corvette “to keep from paying taxes.”Olson said that attitude was disturbing and that simplistic answers can create problems for taxpayers in IRS audits and in the courts. “A swimming pool in someone’s home, even if employees are working in the home and using it, still would require the court to look at the percentage of employee use versus personal use — and they would look really closely at that,” she said.