WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-justice">The Justice Department</a>&nbsp;filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment on Thursday, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America — squelching competition and driving up prices for fans.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, was being brought with 30 state and district attorneys general and seeks to break up the monopoly they say is squeezing out smaller promoters and hurting artists.

"We allege that Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/merrick-garland">Attorney General Merrick Garland</a>&nbsp;said in a statement. “The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”

The Justice Department accuses Live Nation of a slew of practices that allow it to maintain a stronghold over the live music scene, including using long-term contracts to keep venues from choosing rival ticketers, blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers and threatening venues that they could lose money and fans if they don't choose Ticketmaster. The Justice Department says Live Nation also threatened to retaliate against one firm if it didn't stop a subsidiary from competing for artist promotion contracts.

Live Nation said in prepared remarks Thursday that the Justice Department's lawsuit “won’t solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees, and access to in-demand shows.”

Live Nation added that “calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment" — stating that most service fees go to venues. The company said it would defend itself “against these baseless allegations" and push for other reforms.

Live Nation has for years denied that it is violating antitrust laws and also said Thursday that competition had “steadily eroded Ticketmaster’s market share and profit margin.”

But competitor ticket sellers have long complained that Live Nation makes it difficult for them to disrupt the market with practices such as withholding acts if those venues don’t agree to use Ticketmaster’s service.

The lawsuit is the latest example of the Biden administration’s aggressive antitrust enforcement approach targeting companies accused of engaging in illegal monopolies that box out competitors and drive up prices. In March, the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3">filed a lawsuit against Apple</a>&nbsp;alleging that the tech giant has monopoly power in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/smartphones">the smartphone market</a>. The Democratic administration has also taken on Google, Amazon and other tech giants.

“Today’s action is a step forward in making this era of live music more accessible for the fans, the artists, and the industry that supports them,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement.

Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world’s largest ticket seller. During its annual report last month, the company said that Ticketmaster distributed more than 620 million tickets through its systems in 2023.

Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster, according to data in a federal lawsuit filed by consumers in 2022. The company owns or controls more than 265 of North America's concert venues and dozens of top amphitheaters, according to the Justice Department.

The ticket seller sparked outrage in November 2022 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">its site crashed during a presale event for a Taylor Swift stadium tour</a>. The company said its site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites. The debacle prompted congressional hearings and bills in state legislatures aimed at better protecting consumers.

The Justice Department allowed Live Nation and Ticketmaster to merge as long as Live Nation agreed not to retaliate against concert venues for using other ticket companies for 10 years. In 2019, the department investigated and found that Live Nation had “repeatedly” violated that agreement and extended the prohibition on retaliating against concert venues to 2025.

AP Reporters Michelle Chapman and Maria Sherman contri

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668687399028.jpeg" alt="-Ticketmaster tickets and gift cards are shown at a box office in San Jose, Calif., May 11, 2009. The Justice Department has filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, accusing the companies of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America and squelching competition. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)" />
 <figcaption>-Ticketmaster tickets and gift cards are shown at a box office in San Jose, Calif., May 11, 2009. The Justice Department has filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, accusing the companies of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America and squelching competition. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-justice">The Justice Department</a>&nbsp;filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment on Thursday, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America — squelching competition and driving up prices for fans.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Attorney General Merrick Garland: &quot;We allege that Live Nation has illegally monopolized markets across the live concert industry in the United States for far too long. It is time to break it up.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/F2zoOnBZMq">pic.twitter.com/F2zoOnBZMq</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1793663670523686986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, was being brought with 30 state and district attorneys general and seeks to break up the monopoly they say is squeezing out smaller promoters and hurting artists."We allege that Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/merrick-garland">Attorney General Merrick Garland</a>&nbsp;said in a statement. “The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”The Justice Department accuses Live Nation of a slew of practices that allow it to maintain a stronghold over the live music scene, including using long-term contracts to keep venues from choosing rival ticketers, blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers and threatening venues that they could lose money and fans if they don't choose Ticketmaster. The Justice Department says Live Nation also threatened to retaliate against one firm if it didn't stop a subsidiary from competing for artist promotion contracts.Live Nation said in prepared remarks Thursday that the Justice Department's lawsuit “won’t solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees, and access to in-demand shows.”Live Nation added that “calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment" — stating that most service fees go to venues. The company said it would defend itself “against these baseless allegations" and push for other reforms.Live Nation has for years denied that it is violating antitrust laws and also said Thursday that competition had “steadily eroded Ticketmaster’s market share and profit margin.”But competitor ticket sellers have long complained that Live Nation makes it difficult for them to disrupt the market with practices such as withholding acts if those venues don’t agree to use Ticketmaster’s service.The lawsuit is the latest example of the Biden administration’s aggressive antitrust enforcement approach targeting companies accused of engaging in illegal monopolies that box out competitors and drive up prices. In March, the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3">filed a lawsuit against Apple</a>&nbsp;alleging that the tech giant has monopoly power in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/smartphones">the smartphone market</a>. The Democratic administration has also taken on Google, Amazon and other tech giants.“Today’s action is a step forward in making this era of live music more accessible for the fans, the artists, and the industry that supports them,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement.Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world’s largest ticket seller. During its annual report last month, the company said that Ticketmaster distributed more than 620 million tickets through its systems in 2023.Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster, according to data in a federal lawsuit filed by consumers in 2022. The company owns or controls more than 265 of North America's concert venues and dozens of top amphitheaters, according to the Justice Department.The ticket seller sparked outrage in November 2022 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">its site crashed during a presale event for a Taylor Swift stadium tour</a>. The company said its site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites. The debacle prompted congressional hearings and bills in state legislatures aimed at better protecting consumers.The Justice Department allowed Live Nation and Ticketmaster to merge as long as Live Nation agreed not to retaliate against concert venues for using other ticket companies for 10 years. In 2019, the department investigated and found that Live Nation had “repeatedly” violated that agreement and extended the prohibition on retaliating against concert venues to 2025.__________AP Reporters Michelle Chapman and Maria Sherman contri

🎥Justice Dept.: Illegal monopoly by Ticketmaster drives up prices for fans

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/22/omaha-born-malcolm-x-takes-a-place-in-nebraska-hall-of-fame-amid-cheering-sculpted-bust-unveiled/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — While Malcolm X left Nebraska before he turned 2 years old, it is here that the roots of the human rights hero were planted, his daughter told more than 200 people gathered Wednesday for his induction into Nebraska’s Hall of Fame.

Ilyasah Shabazz said she was honored by Nebraska’s embrace. She told the audience that she sees her father’s entry as the state’s 27th hall-of-famer, and the hall’s first African American, as significant in urging others to push boundaries and reflect on how to make an impact.

“He challenged us to be better human beings as he introduced a human rights agenda into the Civil Rights Movement,” said Shabazz, of New York. “Let Malcolm’s dedication to truth and justice inspire us all, ensuring that future generations understand the full story of my father’s life and transformation as it relates to their journeys.”

Wednesday’s official induction ceremony, held in the Nebraska Capitol’s Warner Chamber with overflow seating in other areas, capped a journey of its own — one that included the rejection of at least two previous nominations.&nbsp;

Some along the way thought Malcolm X — who would have turned 99 years old this past weekend — was too controversial for the hall created by the Nebraska Legislature in 1961. It was designed to officially recognize Nebraskans who have made significant contributions to the state and the nation.

A new member can be added every five years. They must be deceased at least 35 years.

Hall of Fame Commission members vote on nominees, and Ron Hull, then-chair of the committee and a longtime public television broadcaster, cast the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/09/12/malcolm-x-edges-nu-educator-louise-pound-for-induction-into-the-nebraska-hall-of-fame/">deciding vote in 2022 on Malcolm X’s nomination.</a>&nbsp;Hull has since died but on Wednesday the commission’s Sara Crook recounted his words:

“Malcolm used the lessons he learned early in life and his intellectual power, dedication and perseverance in the fight for freedom and equality for all.… His work and his legacy continue to impact the citizens of the world.”

Kicking off the event was a Muslim prayer given by Bilal Nosilla and Rebeen Kareem, both of Nebraska, in recognition of Malcolm X’s religious and spiritual contributions.

Also speaking at the event was Gov. Jim Pillen, who proclaimed Wednesday Malcolm X Day in Nebraska.

A climactic moment came with the unveiling of a bust of Malcolm X,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/lincoln-sculptor-chosen-to-produce-bust-of-malcolm-x-for-nebraska-hall-of-fame/">sculpted by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray</a>. The piece is to be displayed in the Capitol Rotunda initially. It will eventually be placed in a State Capitol hallway amid other Hall of Fame member busts.

Former State Sen. Ernie Chambers also spoke, offering a sense of what, to some, seemed an improbable feat.

At age 86 — and after having served 46 years in the Legislature, the longest-serving of any state lawmaker — Chambers said he thought he’d never live to see the day.

“I never thought in my wildest dream that I would live long enough … to see a white conservative Republican governor in a white ultraconservative state like&nbsp; Nebraska participate in the induction of Malcolm X” into the Hall of Fame.

JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, who heads the Omaha-based Malcolm X Foundation, said later that the moment serves as an opportunity to “correct” the historical context — including Malcolm X’s short time in Nebraska.

She said it was “no accident” Malcolm X was born in Omaha, where his parents had intended to stay.&nbsp;

“He only left at a young age because his family was chased out of Nebraska because of their world view on the philosophy that Black people should be equal and self-sufficient in this country,&nbsp;” LeFlore-Ejike said.

LeFlore-Ejike said the journey to the Hall of Fame can serve as a tool for educators, historians and emerging leaders to use in reinforcing the importance of “collaboration and perseverance” for “something of this magnitude to take place.”

Shabazz, one of six daughters born to Malcolm X and his wife, Betty, said she was humbled at the cheering and reception by Nebraskans.

&nbsp;“I think we’ve come a long way,” she said, of the route to get to the Hall of Fame. “We still have far to go, but we’ve come a long way.”

She and LeFlore-Ejike said Malcolm X’s evolution and message is especially important to young generations.

“Malcolm has a journey that a lot of people can relate to,” said LeFlore-Ejike. “They can learn how to push through adversity and be resilient.”

Shabazz said she looks forward to returning to Nebraska to see the growing Omaha campus that honors the legacy of her father. Under the wings of the Malcolm X foundation, the memorial site was developed around Malcolm X’s first home near 35th and Pinkney Streets in Omaha.&nbsp;

With a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/25/malcolm-x-museum-to-rise-in-north-omaha-with-boost-from-20-million-state-grant/">boost from a $20 million federal grant</a>&nbsp;allocated by the Legislature, it is poised for further expansion including a museum.&nbsp;

Born Malcolm Little at University Hospital in Omaha on May 19, 1925, Malcolm X was the son of Earl and Louise Little.&nbsp;

The family moved to another state after Earl Little — who helped organize the Omaha chapter of the Universal Negro Improvement Association — faced threats by white supremacist night riders.

Earl Little was killed, and shortly afterward, his wife was diagnosed with a mental illness, pushing the state to split up Malcolm and his seven siblings into foster care.

Eventually, Malcolm was sent to Boston to live with his older sister Ella Collins-Little and relocated to New York, where he was convicted of burglary and served a prison sentence of about 6.5 years. During that time, he became self-educated, started attracting attention for his oratory skills, and converted to Islam prior to his release, according to History Nebraska.

After leaving prison, Malcolm took the name Malcolm X and studied under Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam during his 12-year membership. Malcolm was known for being outspoken about the mistreatment of Blacks and advocated nationwide for their human rights in America. He was documented speaking at numerous institutions across the country and over a dozen nations overseas.

During his pilgrimage to Mecca, he converted to Orthodox Islam, abandoning concepts of racial antagonism; counseling others about the need for human brotherhood and international cooperation.&nbsp;

As a result of his travels, Malcolm X, also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, formed the Organization of Afro-American Unity and Moslem Mosque Inc. His autobiography was published in 1964, just a few months before his death. Malcolm X was assassinated on Feb. 21, 1965, in New York City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716470368517.jpeg" alt="A line of Nebraskans formed Wednesday to take photos with the newly unveiled bust sculpture of Malcolm X, which was designed by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray, who is shown here with Malcolm X’s daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz (right of the bust) and JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, executive director of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation. The bust is to be displayed in the State Capitol Rotunda before placed permanently in a Capitol hallway with other Hall of Fame busts. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>A line of Nebraskans formed Wednesday to take photos with the newly unveiled bust sculpture of Malcolm X, which was designed by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray, who is shown here with Malcolm X’s daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz (right of the bust) and JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, executive director of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation. The bust is to be displayed in the State Capitol Rotunda before placed permanently in a Capitol hallway with other Hall of Fame busts. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/22/omaha-born-malcolm-x-takes-a-place-in-nebraska-hall-of-fame-amid-cheering-sculpted-bust-unveiled/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — While Malcolm X left Nebraska before he turned 2 years old, it is here that the roots of the human rights hero were planted, his daughter told more than 200 people gathered Wednesday for his induction into Nebraska’s Hall of Fame.Ilyasah Shabazz said she was honored by Nebraska’s embrace. She told the audience that she sees her father’s entry as the state’s 27th hall-of-famer, and the hall’s first African American, as significant in urging others to push boundaries and reflect on how to make an impact.“He challenged us to be better human beings as he introduced a human rights agenda into the Civil Rights Movement,” said Shabazz, of New York. “Let Malcolm’s dedication to truth and justice inspire us all, ensuring that future generations understand the full story of my father’s life and transformation as it relates to their journeys.”<h2>Never thought he’d see the day</h2>Wednesday’s official induction ceremony, held in the Nebraska Capitol’s Warner Chamber with overflow seating in other areas, capped a journey of its own — one that included the rejection of at least two previous nominations.&nbsp;Some along the way thought Malcolm X — who would have turned 99 years old this past weekend — was too controversial for the hall created by the Nebraska Legislature in 1961. It was designed to officially recognize Nebraskans who have made significant contributions to the state and the nation.A new member can be added every five years. They must be deceased at least 35 years.Hall of Fame Commission members vote on nominees, and Ron Hull, then-chair of the committee and a longtime public television broadcaster, cast the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/09/12/malcolm-x-edges-nu-educator-louise-pound-for-induction-into-the-nebraska-hall-of-fame/">deciding vote in 2022 on Malcolm X’s nomination.</a>&nbsp;Hull has since died but on Wednesday the commission’s Sara Crook recounted his words:“Malcolm used the lessons he learned early in life and his intellectual power, dedication and perseverance in the fight for freedom and equality for all.… His work and his legacy continue to impact the citizens of the world.”Kicking off the event was a Muslim prayer given by Bilal Nosilla and Rebeen Kareem, both of Nebraska, in recognition of Malcolm X’s religious and spiritual contributions.Also speaking at the event was Gov. Jim Pillen, who proclaimed Wednesday Malcolm X Day in Nebraska.A climactic moment came with the unveiling of a bust of Malcolm X,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/lincoln-sculptor-chosen-to-produce-bust-of-malcolm-x-for-nebraska-hall-of-fame/">sculpted by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray</a>. The piece is to be displayed in the Capitol Rotunda initially. It will eventually be placed in a State Capitol hallway amid other Hall of Fame member busts.Former State Sen. Ernie Chambers also spoke, offering a sense of what, to some, seemed an improbable feat.At age 86 — and after having served 46 years in the Legislature, the longest-serving of any state lawmaker — Chambers said he thought he’d never live to see the day.“I never thought in my wildest dream that I would live long enough … to see a white conservative Republican governor in a white ultraconservative state like&nbsp; Nebraska participate in the induction of Malcolm X” into the Hall of Fame.<h2>‘No accident’</h2>JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, who heads the Omaha-based Malcolm X Foundation, said later that the moment serves as an opportunity to “correct” the historical context — including Malcolm X’s short time in Nebraska.She said it was “no accident” Malcolm X was born in Omaha, where his parents had intended to stay.&nbsp;“He only left at a young age because his family was chased out of Nebraska because of their world view on the philosophy that Black people should be equal and self-sufficient in this country,&nbsp;” LeFlore-Ejike said.LeFlore-Ejike said the journey to the Hall of Fame can serve as a tool for educators, historians and emerging leaders to use in reinforcing the importance of “collaboration and perseverance” for “something of this magnitude to take place.”Shabazz, one of six daughters born to Malcolm X and his wife, Betty, said she was humbled at the cheering and reception by Nebraskans.&nbsp;“I think we’ve come a long way,” she said, of the route to get to the Hall of Fame. “We still have far to go, but we’ve come a long way.”She and LeFlore-Ejike said Malcolm X’s evolution and message is especially important to young generations.“Malcolm has a journey that a lot of people can relate to,” said LeFlore-Ejike. “They can learn how to push through adversity and be resilient.”Shabazz said she looks forward to returning to Nebraska to see the growing Omaha campus that honors the legacy of her father. Under the wings of the Malcolm X foundation, the memorial site was developed around Malcolm X’s first home near 35th and Pinkney Streets in Omaha.&nbsp;With a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/25/malcolm-x-museum-to-rise-in-north-omaha-with-boost-from-20-million-state-grant/">boost from a $20 million federal grant</a>&nbsp;allocated by the Legislature, it is poised for further expansion including a museum.&nbsp;<h2>Born Malcolm Little in 1925</h2>Born Malcolm Little at University Hospital in Omaha on May 19, 1925, Malcolm X was the son of Earl and Louise Little.&nbsp;The family moved to another state after Earl Little — who helped organize the Omaha chapter of the Universal Negro Improvement Association — faced threats by white supremacist night riders.Earl Little was killed, and shortly afterward, his wife was diagnosed with a mental illness, pushing the state to split up Malcolm and his seven siblings into foster care.Eventually, Malcolm was sent to Boston to live with his older sister Ella Collins-Little and relocated to New York, where he was convicted of burglary and served a prison sentence of about 6.5 years. During that time, he became self-educated, started attracting attention for his oratory skills, and converted to Islam prior to his release, according to History Nebraska.After leaving prison, Malcolm took the name Malcolm X and studied under Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam during his 12-year membership. Malcolm was known for being outspoken about the mistreatment of Blacks and advocated nationwide for their human rights in America. He was documented speaking at numerous institutions across the country and over a dozen nations overseas.During his pilgrimage to Mecca, he converted to Orthodox Islam, abandoning concepts of racial antagonism; counseling others about the need for human brotherhood and international cooperation.&nbsp;As a result of his travels, Malcolm X, also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, formed the Organization of Afro-American Unity and Moslem Mosque Inc. His autobiography was published in 1964, just a few months before his death. Malcolm X was assassinated on Feb. 21, 1965, in New York City.

Omaha-born Malcolm X takes a place in Nebraska Hall of Fame amid cheering, sculpted bust unveiled

GREENFIELD, Iowa (AP) — A deadly tornado that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/severe-weather-midwest-iowa-tornadoes-26c73e14ab481ef77a1b0606a2b10adc">wreaked havoc in the small city of Greenfield, Iowa</a>, left four people dead and nearly three dozen injured, officials said, while a fifth person was killed elsewhere.

The twister that tore through the city&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/storms-flooding-winds-nebraska-omaha-iowa-07e423f20b8e81f40cc648090b8a2409">on Tuesday</a>&nbsp;was rated at least an EF-3 by the National Weather Service and was so destructive that it took authorities more than a day to account for the area's residents.

It’s believed that the number of people injured is likely higher, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said.

The fifth person was killed about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Greenfield when her car was blown off the road in a tornado, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Monica Zamarron, 46, died in the crash Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Officials haven't yet released the names of the other victims.

The severe weather turned south Wednesday. In Texas, officials issued an emergency declaration in Temple, a city of more than 90,000 people north of Austin, after powerful storms ripped through the area. Thousands of residents lost power, schools canceled Thursday's classes and nearby Fort Cavazos reported significant debris blocking traffic at the Army installation.

In Iowa, the Greenfield tornado obliterated homes, splintered trees and crumpled cars in the town of 2,000 about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines. The twister also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornado-iowa-wind-farm-turbines-feb9913c3d53915ffa420e277af4bb6d">crumpled massive power-producing wind turbines</a>&nbsp;outside the city.

Greenfield resident Kimberly Ergish and her husband dug through the debris field Wednesday that used to be their home, looking for family photos and other salvageable items. There wasn’t much left, she acknowledged. The reality of having her house destroyed in seconds hadn’t really set in.

“If it weren’t for all the bumps and bruises and the achy bones, I would think that it didn’t happen,” Ergish said.

This is a historically busy tornado season in the U.S., in an era when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment">climate change</a>&nbsp;is heightening the severity of storms around the world. April had the country's&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSPC/status/1786147051090428273">second-highest number of tornadoes</a>&nbsp;on record.

Through Tuesday, 859 tornadoes had been confirmed this year, 27% more than the U.S. sees on average, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Iowa has so far recorded the most, with 81 confirmed twisters.

On Tuesday alone, the National Weather Service said it received 23 tornado reports, with 21 in Iowa.

Tuesday's storms also pummeled parts of Illinois and Wisconsin, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers.

The Greenfield tornado was at least an EF-3, according to initial surveys, and more damage assessments could lead to a more powerful ranking, the National Weather Service said.

The tornado appeared to have been on the ground for more than 40 miles (64 kilometers), AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. A satellite photo taken by a BlackSky Technology shows where the twister gouged a nearly straight path of destruction through the town, just south of Greenfield’s center square.

“Debris was lifted thousands of feet in the air and ended up falling to the ground several counties away from Greenfield. That’s evidence of just how intense and deadly this tornado was," Porter said.

People as far as 100 miles (160 kilometers) away from Greenfield posted photos on Facebook of ripped family photos, yearbook pages and other items that were lifted into the sky by the tornado.

About 90 miles (145 kilometers) away, in Ames, Iowa, Nicole Banner found a yellowed page declaring “This Book is the Property of the Greenfield Community School District” stuck to her garage door like a Post-It note after the storm passed.

“We just couldn’t believe it had traveled that far,” she said.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said FEMA’s administrator would be in Iowa Thursday and that the White House was in touch with state and local officials. She said they were “praying for those who tragically lost their lives” and wished those injured a “speedy recovery.”

Greenfield's 25-bed hospital was among the buildings damaged, so at least a dozen injured people had to be taken elsewhere. Hospital officials said in a Facebook post Wednesday that they'll remain closed and full repairs could take months. Meanwhile, an urgent care clinic was set up at the elementary school, with primary care services to start there Thursday, the post said.

Residential streets that on Monday were lined with old-growth trees and neatly-appointed ranch-style homes were a chaotic jumble of splintered and smashed remnants by Wednesday. Many basements where people took shelter were exposed, and front yards were littered with furniture and toys and Christmas decorations.

Roseann Freeland waited until the last minute to rush with her husband to a concrete room in their basement. Seconds after the twister passed, her husband opened the door "and you could just see daylight,” Freeland said. “I just lost it. I just totally lost it.”

Beck reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writers Steve Karnowski and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; and Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716371806181.png" alt="Tornado damage in Greenfield, Iowa -photo courtesy KCCI" />
 <figcaption>Tornado damage in Greenfield, Iowa -photo courtesy KCCI</figcaption>
 </figure>GREENFIELD, Iowa (AP) — A deadly tornado that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/severe-weather-midwest-iowa-tornadoes-26c73e14ab481ef77a1b0606a2b10adc">wreaked havoc in the small city of Greenfield, Iowa</a>, left four people dead and nearly three dozen injured, officials said, while a fifth person was killed elsewhere.The twister that tore through the city&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/storms-flooding-winds-nebraska-omaha-iowa-07e423f20b8e81f40cc648090b8a2409">on Tuesday</a>&nbsp;was rated at least an EF-3 by the National Weather Service and was so destructive that it took authorities more than a day to account for the area's residents.It’s believed that the number of people injured is likely higher, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said.The fifth person was killed about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Greenfield when her car was blown off the road in a tornado, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Monica Zamarron, 46, died in the crash Tuesday afternoon, officials said.Officials haven't yet released the names of the other victims.The severe weather turned south Wednesday. In Texas, officials issued an emergency declaration in Temple, a city of more than 90,000 people north of Austin, after powerful storms ripped through the area. Thousands of residents lost power, schools canceled Thursday's classes and nearby Fort Cavazos reported significant debris blocking traffic at the Army installation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716372219187.png" alt="Tornado damage in Greenfield, Iowa -photo courtesy KCCI" />
 <figcaption>Tornado damage in Greenfield, Iowa -photo courtesy KCCI</figcaption>
 </figure>In Iowa, the Greenfield tornado obliterated homes, splintered trees and crumpled cars in the town of 2,000 about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines. The twister also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornado-iowa-wind-farm-turbines-feb9913c3d53915ffa420e277af4bb6d">crumpled massive power-producing wind turbines</a>&nbsp;outside the city.Greenfield resident Kimberly Ergish and her husband dug through the debris field Wednesday that used to be their home, looking for family photos and other salvageable items. There wasn’t much left, she acknowledged. The reality of having her house destroyed in seconds hadn’t really set in.“If it weren’t for all the bumps and bruises and the achy bones, I would think that it didn’t happen,” Ergish said.This is a historically busy tornado season in the U.S., in an era when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment">climate change</a>&nbsp;is heightening the severity of storms around the world. April had the country's&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSPC/status/1786147051090428273">second-highest number of tornadoes</a>&nbsp;on record.Through Tuesday, 859 tornadoes had been confirmed this year, 27% more than the U.S. sees on average, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Iowa has so far recorded the most, with 81 confirmed twisters.On Tuesday alone, the National Weather Service said it received 23 tornado reports, with 21 in Iowa.Tuesday's storms also pummeled parts of Illinois and Wisconsin, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers.The Greenfield tornado was at least an EF-3, according to initial surveys, and more damage assessments could lead to a more powerful ranking, the National Weather Service said.The tornado appeared to have been on the ground for more than 40 miles (64 kilometers), AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. A satellite photo taken by a BlackSky Technology shows where the twister gouged a nearly straight path of destruction through the town, just south of Greenfield’s center square.“Debris was lifted thousands of feet in the air and ended up falling to the ground several counties away from Greenfield. That’s evidence of just how intense and deadly this tornado was," Porter said.People as far as 100 miles (160 kilometers) away from Greenfield posted photos on Facebook of ripped family photos, yearbook pages and other items that were lifted into the sky by the tornado.About 90 miles (145 kilometers) away, in Ames, Iowa, Nicole Banner found a yellowed page declaring “This Book is the Property of the Greenfield Community School District” stuck to her garage door like a Post-It note after the storm passed.“We just couldn’t believe it had traveled that far,” she said.White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said FEMA’s administrator would be in Iowa Thursday and that the White House was in touch with state and local officials. She said they were “praying for those who tragically lost their lives” and wished those injured a “speedy recovery.”Greenfield's 25-bed hospital was among the buildings damaged, so at least a dozen injured people had to be taken elsewhere. Hospital officials said in a Facebook post Wednesday that they'll remain closed and full repairs could take months. Meanwhile, an urgent care clinic was set up at the elementary school, with primary care services to start there Thursday, the post said.Residential streets that on Monday were lined with old-growth trees and neatly-appointed ranch-style homes were a chaotic jumble of splintered and smashed remnants by Wednesday. Many basements where people took shelter were exposed, and front yards were littered with furniture and toys and Christmas decorations.Roseann Freeland waited until the last minute to rush with her husband to a concrete room in their basement. Seconds after the twister passed, her husband opened the door "and you could just see daylight,” Freeland said. “I just lost it. I just totally lost it.”___Beck reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writers Steve Karnowski and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; and Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, contributed.

Tornadoes killed 5, injured dozens in Iowa. Here’s what they found after the storm

NEW YORK (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that she will be voting for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;in the general election, a notable show of support given their intense and often personal rivalry during the Republican primary calendar.

But Haley also made it clear that she feels Trump has work to do to win over voters who supported her during the course of the primary campaign and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-presidential-primary-election-indiana-8b73a23568e054ce33163e2ca23b8fb3">continue to cast votes for her in ongoing primary contests</a>.

“I will be voting for Trump,” Haley, Trump’s former U.N. ambassador, said during an event at the Hudson Institute in Washington.

“Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech,” Haley added. "Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that they’re just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that.”

The comments in her first public speech since leaving the race are another signal of the GOP’s virtually complete consolidation of support behind Trump, even from those who have labeled him a threat in the past.

Haley shuttered her own bid for the GOP nomination two months ago but did not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-republicans-trump-biden-donors-endorsement-ec63bee49d27a75145baba557acbd9cb">immediately endorse</a>&nbsp;Trump, having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/haley-trump-2024-republican-south-carolina-e5cf13a535b2746c757c63e34f611dfa">accused him</a>&nbsp;of causing chaos and disregarding the importance of U.S. alliances abroad as well as questioning whether Trump, 77, was too old to be president again.

Trump, in turn, repeatedly mocked her with the nickname “Birdbrain," though he curtailed those attacks after securing enough delegates in March to become the presumptive Republican nominee.

Trump's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Haley's announcement.

President Joe Biden's campaign, meanwhile, has been working to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-donald-trump-pennsylvania-joe-biden-c8ab4e675cfd2fa64d6b749b881c6fbd">win over her supporters</a>, whom they view as true swing voters. Biden’s team is quietly organizing a Republicans for Biden group, which will eventually include dedicated staff and focus on the hundreds of thousands of Haley voters in each battleground state, according to people familiar with the plans but not authorized to discuss them publicly.

But Haley made several criticisms of Biden's foreign policy and handling of the U.S.-Mexico border in her speech Wednesday at the Hudson Institute, a conservative Washington think tank she recently joined as she reemerges in the political realm.

Earlier this month, Haley huddled in South Carolina with some of her donors, an event characterized as a “thank you” to her top supporters and not a discussion about Haley’s future political plans or intended to push her backers toward any other candidate.

If she runs for president again, Haley will likely need to win over former Trump supporters in a Republican primary. But her support for him now risks offending moderates and anti-Trump conservatives.

NEW YORK (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that she will be voting for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;in the general election, a notable show of support given their intense and often personal rivalry during the Republican primary calendar.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will be voting for Trump.&quot; -- <a href="https://twitter.com/NikkiHaley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NikkiHaley</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/HudsonInstitute?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HudsonInstitute</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y3HPFHMmGR">pic.twitter.com/Y3HPFHMmGR</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1793405487263764977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But Haley also made it clear that she feels Trump has work to do to win over voters who supported her during the course of the primary campaign and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-presidential-primary-election-indiana-8b73a23568e054ce33163e2ca23b8fb3">continue to cast votes for her in ongoing primary contests</a>.“I will be voting for Trump,” Haley, Trump’s former U.N. ambassador, said during an event at the Hudson Institute in Washington.“Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech,” Haley added. "Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that they’re just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that.”The comments in her first public speech since leaving the race are another signal of the GOP’s virtually complete consolidation of support behind Trump, even from those who have labeled him a threat in the past.Haley shuttered her own bid for the GOP nomination two months ago but did not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-republicans-trump-biden-donors-endorsement-ec63bee49d27a75145baba557acbd9cb">immediately endorse</a>&nbsp;Trump, having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/haley-trump-2024-republican-south-carolina-e5cf13a535b2746c757c63e34f611dfa">accused him</a>&nbsp;of causing chaos and disregarding the importance of U.S. alliances abroad as well as questioning whether Trump, 77, was too old to be president again.Trump, in turn, repeatedly mocked her with the nickname “Birdbrain," though he curtailed those attacks after securing enough delegates in March to become the presumptive Republican nominee.Trump's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Haley's announcement.President Joe Biden's campaign, meanwhile, has been working to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-donald-trump-pennsylvania-joe-biden-c8ab4e675cfd2fa64d6b749b881c6fbd">win over her supporters</a>, whom they view as true swing voters. Biden’s team is quietly organizing a Republicans for Biden group, which will eventually include dedicated staff and focus on the hundreds of thousands of Haley voters in each battleground state, according to people familiar with the plans but not authorized to discuss them publicly.But Haley made several criticisms of Biden's foreign policy and handling of the U.S.-Mexico border in her speech Wednesday at the Hudson Institute, a conservative Washington think tank she recently joined as she reemerges in the political realm.Earlier this month, Haley huddled in South Carolina with some of her donors, an event characterized as a “thank you” to her top supporters and not a discussion about Haley’s future political plans or intended to push her backers toward any other candidate.If she runs for president again, Haley will likely need to win over former Trump supporters in a Republican primary. But her support for him now risks offending moderates and anti-Trump conservatives.

🎥Nikki Haley explains why she will now vote for Donald Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) —A Michigan dairy worker has been diagnosed with bird flu — the second human case associated with an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows.

The worker had been in contact with cows presumed to be infected, experienced mild eye symptoms and has recovered, U.S. and Michigan health officials said in announcing the case Wednesday. A nasal swab from the person tested negative for the virus, but an eye swab tested positive, “indicating an eye infection," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.

The risk to the public remains low, but farmworkers exposed to infected animals are at higher risk, health officials said. They said those workers should be offered protective equipment, especially for their eyes.

The first case happened in late March, when a farmworker in Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-texas-cows-355f1e288e72df8b81b0e2efd8b3ae2f">was diagnosed</a>&nbsp;in what officials called the first known instance globally of a person catching this version of bird flu from a mammal. That patient also reported only eye inflammation and recovered.

Since 2020, a bird flu virus has been spreading among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/disease-outbreaks-hong-kong-health-bird-flu-animals-75e5d058e0fda23b5359f66cafb74cdf">more animal species</a>&nbsp;— including dogs, cats, skunks, bears and even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seals-bird-flu-deaths-oceans-80184a8793fbcc21fab01b1c90b0d71b">seals</a>&nbsp;and porpoises — in scores of countries. The detection&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-dairy-cattle-usda-kansas-texas-c3040bb31a9a8293717d47362f006902">in U.S. livestock</a>&nbsp;earlier this year was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-dairy-farmers-barb-petersen-07bd5accb01441bc5d279464271d2371">unexpected twist</a>&nbsp;that sparked questions about food safety and whether it would start spreading among humans.

That hasn't happened, although there's been a steady increase of reported infections in cows. As of Wednesday, the virus&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock">had been confirmed</a>&nbsp;in 51 dairy herds in nine states, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Fifteen of the herds were in Michigan.

Health officials in Michigan have declined to say how many people exposed to infected cattle have been tested or monitored. U.S. officials said they had tested 40 people since the first cow cases were discovered in late March.

The CDC's Dr. Nirav Shah praised Michigan officials for actively monitoring farmworkers. He said health officials there have been sending daily text messages to workers exposed to infected cows asking about possible symptoms, and that the effort helped officials catch this infection. He said no other workers had reported symptoms.

USDA is expanding financial incentives to dairy farmers whose herds have not yet been infected with the virus, Eric Deeble. a federal agriculture official, said Wednesday.

The virus has been found in high levels in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-h5n1-6398d2eda26eb41797ee2700cf9d036b">raw milk</a>&nbsp;of infected cows, but government officials say pasteurized products sold in grocery stores are safe because heat treatment has been confirmed to kill the virus.

The new case marks the third time a person in the United States has been diagnosed with what’s known as Type A H5N1 virus. In 2022, a prison inmate in a work program&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-colorado-b98906e0a1899bb1f92da30a7b1dbe28">picked it up</a>&nbsp;while killing infected birds at a poultry farm in Montrose County, Colorado. His only symptom was fatigue, and he recovered. That predated the virus’s appearance in cows.

WASHINGTON (AP) —A Michigan dairy worker has been diagnosed with bird flu — the second human case associated with an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows.The worker had been in contact with cows presumed to be infected, experienced mild eye symptoms and has recovered, U.S. and Michigan health officials said in announcing the case Wednesday. A nasal swab from the person tested negative for the virus, but an eye swab tested positive, “indicating an eye infection," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.The risk to the public remains low, but farmworkers exposed to infected animals are at higher risk, health officials said. They said those workers should be offered protective equipment, especially for their eyes.The first case happened in late March, when a farmworker in Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-texas-cows-355f1e288e72df8b81b0e2efd8b3ae2f">was diagnosed</a>&nbsp;in what officials called the first known instance globally of a person catching this version of bird flu from a mammal. That patient also reported only eye inflammation and recovered.Since 2020, a bird flu virus has been spreading among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/disease-outbreaks-hong-kong-health-bird-flu-animals-75e5d058e0fda23b5359f66cafb74cdf">more animal species</a>&nbsp;— including dogs, cats, skunks, bears and even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seals-bird-flu-deaths-oceans-80184a8793fbcc21fab01b1c90b0d71b">seals</a>&nbsp;and porpoises — in scores of countries. The detection&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-dairy-cattle-usda-kansas-texas-c3040bb31a9a8293717d47362f006902">in U.S. livestock</a>&nbsp;earlier this year was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-dairy-farmers-barb-petersen-07bd5accb01441bc5d279464271d2371">unexpected twist</a>&nbsp;that sparked questions about food safety and whether it would start spreading among humans.That hasn't happened, although there's been a steady increase of reported infections in cows. As of Wednesday, the virus&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock">had been confirmed</a>&nbsp;in 51 dairy herds in nine states, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Fifteen of the herds were in Michigan.Health officials in Michigan have declined to say how many people exposed to infected cattle have been tested or monitored. U.S. officials said they had tested 40 people since the first cow cases were discovered in late March.The CDC's Dr. Nirav Shah praised Michigan officials for actively monitoring farmworkers. He said health officials there have been sending daily text messages to workers exposed to infected cows asking about possible symptoms, and that the effort helped officials catch this infection. He said no other workers had reported symptoms.USDA is expanding financial incentives to dairy farmers whose herds have not yet been infected with the virus, Eric Deeble. a federal agriculture official, said Wednesday.The virus has been found in high levels in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-h5n1-6398d2eda26eb41797ee2700cf9d036b">raw milk</a>&nbsp;of infected cows, but government officials say pasteurized products sold in grocery stores are safe because heat treatment has been confirmed to kill the virus.The new case marks the third time a person in the United States has been diagnosed with what’s known as Type A H5N1 virus. In 2022, a prison inmate in a work program&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-colorado-b98906e0a1899bb1f92da30a7b1dbe28">picked it up</a>&nbsp;while killing infected birds at a poultry farm in Montrose County, Colorado. His only symptom was fatigue, and he recovered. That predated the virus’s appearance in cows.

Another farmworker diagnosed with bird flu tied to dairy cows

Nebraska Department of Transportation

May 22, 2024 (Valentine, Neb.) — Weather permitting, roadway paint striping will begin May 28 in the Merriman and Valentine areas, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Sir Lines-a-Lot of Edina, Minn. is the contractor for this project. Work includes repainting the yellow and white stripes on the roadways. This is a slow speed mobile operation. Be aware of wet paint when approaching the striping equipment. After striping is completed in the Valentine area, work will progress into the Ainsworth, Springview and Bassett areas. Anticipated completion is July 2024.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.

Nebraska Department of TransportationMay 22, 2024 (Valentine, Neb.) — Weather permitting, roadway paint striping will begin May 28 in the Merriman and Valentine areas, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.Sir Lines-a-Lot of Edina, Minn. is the contractor for this project. Work includes repainting the yellow and white stripes on the roadways. This is a slow speed mobile operation. Be aware of wet paint when approaching the striping equipment. After striping is completed in the Valentine area, work will progress into the Ainsworth, Springview and Bassett areas. Anticipated completion is July 2024.Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.

Roadway striping will begin in District 8

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice sued Oklahoma on Tuesday over a state law that seeks to impose criminal penalties on those living in the state illegally.

The lawsuit in federal court in Oklahoma City challenges an Oklahoma law that makes it a state crime — punishable by up to two years in prison — to live in the state without legal immigration status. Similar laws passed in Texas and Iowa already are facing challenges from the Justice Department. Oklahoma is among several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-illegal-immigration-02b08ee45bc4cf23ba9bf0fb0a28c67f">GOP states jockeying</a>&nbsp;to push deeper into immigration enforcement as both Republicans and Democrats seize on the issue. Other bills targeting migrants have been passed this year in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

The Justice Department says the Oklahoma law violates the U.S. Constitution and is asking the court to declare it invalid and bar the state from enforcing it.

“Oklahoma cannot disregard the U.S. Constitution and settled Supreme Court precedent,” U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, said in a statement. “We have brought this action to ensure that Oklahoma adheres to the Constitution and the framework adopted by Congress for regulation of immigration.” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said the bill was necessary because the Biden administration is failing to secure the nation’s borders.

“Not only that, but they stand in the way of states trying to protect their citizens,” Stitt said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317716965.png" alt="Migrants crossing the border -Photo Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>Migrants crossing the border -Photo Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice sued Oklahoma on Tuesday over a state law that seeks to impose criminal penalties on those living in the state illegally.The lawsuit in federal court in Oklahoma City challenges an Oklahoma law that makes it a state crime — punishable by up to two years in prison — to live in the state without legal immigration status. Similar laws passed in Texas and Iowa already are facing challenges from the Justice Department. Oklahoma is among several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-illegal-immigration-02b08ee45bc4cf23ba9bf0fb0a28c67f">GOP states jockeying</a>&nbsp;to push deeper into immigration enforcement as both Republicans and Democrats seize on the issue. Other bills targeting migrants have been passed this year in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.The Justice Department says the Oklahoma law violates the U.S. Constitution and is asking the court to declare it invalid and bar the state from enforcing it.“Oklahoma cannot disregard the U.S. Constitution and settled Supreme Court precedent,” U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, said in a statement. “We have brought this action to ensure that Oklahoma adheres to the Constitution and the framework adopted by Congress for regulation of immigration.” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said the bill was necessary because the Biden administration is failing to secure the nation’s borders.“Not only that, but they stand in the way of states trying to protect their citizens,” Stitt said in a statement.

DOJ sues over new law on state penalties for those living in the US illegally

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/21/epic-tax-backers-say-petition-effort-cleared-38-county-hurdle/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Supporters of an effort to replace Nebraska’s income, property and corporate taxes with a broader sales or consumption tax say they have cleared a key hurdle in seeking to place the issue on the fall ballot.

State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said Tuesday that advocates of the EPIC consumption tax have gathered signatures from 5% of registered voters in 38 of the state’s counties.&nbsp;

Erdman and other EPIC tax backers still need to gather a total of 123,000 signatures from registered voters by July 3, equal to 10% of registered voters. He wouldn’t say how many signatures they had already gathered.

“Every signature counts,” Erdman said. “We’ve got to figure out a way to fix this broken tax system, and I haven’t come up with another idea that makes any sense. There’s not another one that gives you the freedom of liberty.”

Erdman and Steve Jessen, president of the EPIC Option Consumption Tax initiative, said they have seen greater public interest in changing Nebraska’s tax system after the Legislature failed this session to pass major property tax relief.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has pledged to call state lawmakers back for a special session later this year to move toward his goal of substantive and structural changes that balance out what he calls the state’s over-reliance on property taxes.

Pillen set a goal of reducing the property tax burden by 40%. His plan ran into trouble with senators who could not agree on how hard the caps on local spending on local government and schools should be and how to pay for property tax offsets.&nbsp;

Pillen had originally proposed capping local government spending growth and earmarking up to a 2-cent increase in the state sales tax to pay for property tax relief. Lawmakers struggled to find support last session for that proposal or for a 1-cent sales tax increase.&nbsp;

Pillen, joined by business leaders and representatives of local governments and school boards, opposes the EPIC tax. He and others criticize the potential loss of local control that could result, the risk of harming retail sales and the uncertainty of how high the tax rate would be.

“The EPIC tax is not a workable solution,” he said Tuesday&nbsp;in a statement. “It is not the solution that will save our ever-escalating property tax issue. We need to commit to broadening and balancing the base across property, income and sales tax.”

Former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, an Omaha financial adviser and spokesman for the anti-EPIC tax group No New Taxes Nebraska, said voters aren’t ready to increase sales taxes on every item. He said it would “create new taxes” on health care, dental care, prescriptions, veterinary care and legal bills.

“Voters know you can’t raise taxes to lower taxes, and they resoundingly oppose eliminating local control to give all funding power for local priorities to just a few people in Lincoln,” he said.

Erdman argued that something has to be done. He compared Nebraska’s current tax system to communism, saying people who defend communism often argue it just hasn’t been refined enough or implemented correctly. He said wholesale changes are needed in the state’s tax system.

He said he would introduce an EPIC tax proposal during any special session the governor might call because he wants to have public discussions before people vote this fall about whether the tax should be collected and distributed.

He and others who have discussed ways the tax might be implemented have said spending needs could be met with a 7.5% consumption tax. Some of the proposal’s critics disagree and say it could require as much as three times that rate to make it workable.

Jessen said he had spoken about the proposal at more than 50 meetings across the state. Organizers said they had heard from wheat farmers, ranchers and senior citizens in lifelong homes who say they risk being forced to move because of high property taxes.

EPIC, which would also eliminate the inheritance tax, has some organizational backing from the Nebraska Republican Party. The state GOP has sent supportive tweets, and the EPIC group helped sponsor the party’s annual convention.

The Nebraska Democratic Party, in a statement from party chair Jane Kleeb, said the EPIC tax would “leave all Nebraskans paying more sales tax.” She said it is not a solution to high property taxes but a sign of continued division among Republicans.

Erdman said about 250 volunteer petition circulators had focused the past several weeks on getting signatures in counties with the lowest population. He said the group would soon be moving into more populous counties, as well.&nbsp;

“The EPIC option is the only solution,” Erdman said. “It’s the only one that puts the taxpayer in first place. Our current system puts the tax collector … in first place.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716402967368.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard leads a news conference at the Nebraska State Capitol on his EPIC Option tax proposals at the Nebraska State Capitol. May 21, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard leads a news conference at the Nebraska State Capitol on his EPIC Option tax proposals at the Nebraska State Capitol. May 21, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Aaron Sanderford <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/21/epic-tax-backers-say-petition-effort-cleared-38-county-hurdle/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Supporters of an effort to replace Nebraska’s income, property and corporate taxes with a broader sales or consumption tax say they have cleared a key hurdle in seeking to place the issue on the fall ballot.State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said Tuesday that advocates of the EPIC consumption tax have gathered signatures from 5% of registered voters in 38 of the state’s counties.&nbsp;Erdman and other EPIC tax backers still need to gather a total of 123,000 signatures from registered voters by July 3, equal to 10% of registered voters. He wouldn’t say how many signatures they had already gathered.“Every signature counts,” Erdman said. “We’ve got to figure out a way to fix this broken tax system, and I haven’t come up with another idea that makes any sense. There’s not another one that gives you the freedom of liberty.”Erdman and Steve Jessen, president of the EPIC Option Consumption Tax initiative, said they have seen greater public interest in changing Nebraska’s tax system after the Legislature failed this session to pass major property tax relief.<h2>Pillen, others oppose EPIC tax</h2>Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has pledged to call state lawmakers back for a special session later this year to move toward his goal of substantive and structural changes that balance out what he calls the state’s over-reliance on property taxes.Pillen set a goal of reducing the property tax burden by 40%. His plan ran into trouble with senators who could not agree on how hard the caps on local spending on local government and schools should be and how to pay for property tax offsets.&nbsp;Pillen had originally proposed capping local government spending growth and earmarking up to a 2-cent increase in the state sales tax to pay for property tax relief. Lawmakers struggled to find support last session for that proposal or for a 1-cent sales tax increase.&nbsp;Pillen, joined by business leaders and representatives of local governments and school boards, opposes the EPIC tax. He and others criticize the potential loss of local control that could result, the risk of harming retail sales and the uncertainty of how high the tax rate would be.“The EPIC tax is not a workable solution,” he said Tuesday&nbsp;in a statement. “It is not the solution that will save our ever-escalating property tax issue. We need to commit to broadening and balancing the base across property, income and sales tax.”Former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, an Omaha financial adviser and spokesman for the anti-EPIC tax group No New Taxes Nebraska, said voters aren’t ready to increase sales taxes on every item. He said it would “create new taxes” on health care, dental care, prescriptions, veterinary care and legal bills.“Voters know you can’t raise taxes to lower taxes, and they resoundingly oppose eliminating local control to give all funding power for local priorities to just a few people in Lincoln,” he said.<h2>Supporters say drastic changes needed</h2>Erdman argued that something has to be done. He compared Nebraska’s current tax system to communism, saying people who defend communism often argue it just hasn’t been refined enough or implemented correctly. He said wholesale changes are needed in the state’s tax system.He said he would introduce an EPIC tax proposal during any special session the governor might call because he wants to have public discussions before people vote this fall about whether the tax should be collected and distributed.He and others who have discussed ways the tax might be implemented have said spending needs could be met with a 7.5% consumption tax. Some of the proposal’s critics disagree and say it could require as much as three times that rate to make it workable.Jessen said he had spoken about the proposal at more than 50 meetings across the state. Organizers said they had heard from wheat farmers, ranchers and senior citizens in lifelong homes who say they risk being forced to move because of high property taxes.EPIC, which would also eliminate the inheritance tax, has some organizational backing from the Nebraska Republican Party. The state GOP has sent supportive tweets, and the EPIC group helped sponsor the party’s annual convention.The Nebraska Democratic Party, in a statement from party chair Jane Kleeb, said the EPIC tax would “leave all Nebraskans paying more sales tax.” She said it is not a solution to high property taxes but a sign of continued division among Republicans.Erdman said about 250 volunteer petition circulators had focused the past several weeks on getting signatures in counties with the lowest population. He said the group would soon be moving into more populous counties, as well.&nbsp;“The EPIC option is the only solution,” Erdman said. “It’s the only one that puts the taxpayer in first place. Our current system puts the tax collector … in first place.”

EPIC tax backers say petition effort cleared 38-county hurdle

WASHINGTON (AP) —In an isolated part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters known as the 12th-floor “bubble,” chief Anne Milgram made an unusual request of top deputies summoned in March for what she called the “Marijuana Meeting”: Nobody could take notes.

Over the next half hour, she broke the news that the Biden administration would soon be issuing a long-awaited order&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-rescheduling-drug-policy-biden-15b43441670757b0c2bfa36731e47d07">reclassifying pot as a less-dangerous drug</a>, a major hurdle toward federal legalization that DEA has long resisted. And Milgram went on to reveal another twist, according to two people familiar with the private meeting who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, that the process normally steered by the DEA had been taken over by the U.S. Justice Department and the action would not be signed by her but by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Milgram didn't give aides a reason for the unprecedented omission and neither she nor the DEA has explained since. But it unfolded this past week exactly as laid out in that meeting two months ago, with the most significant drug policy change in 50 years launched without the support of the nation’s premier narcotics agency.

“DEA has not yet made a determination as to its views of the appropriate schedule for marijuana,” reads a sentence tucked 13 pages into Garland’s 92-page order last Thursday outlining the Biden administration proposal to shift pot from its current Schedule I alongside heroin and LSD to the less tightly regulated Schedule III with such drugs as ketamine and some anabolic steroids.

Internal records accompanying the order indicate the DEA sent a memo to the Justice Department in late January seeking additional scientific input to determine whether marijuana has an accepted medical use, a key requirement for reclassification. But those concerns were overruled by Justice Department attorneys, who deemed the DEA’s criteria “impermissibly narrow.”

Several current and former DEA officials told the AP they believe politics may be at play, contending the Justice Department is moving forward with the marijuana reclassification because President Joe Biden wants to use the issue to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-young-voters-marijuana-reclassification-dea-193e97fc2dd7b32b7d7ad50b4ea80aa0">woo voters in his re-election</a>&nbsp;campaign and wasn’t willing to give the DEA time for more studies that likely would have dragged beyond Election Day.

Those officials also noted that while the Controlled Substances Act grants the attorney general responsibility for regulating the sale of dangerous drugs, federal law still delegates the authority to classify drugs to the DEA administrator.

“It’s crystal clear to me that the Justice Department hijacked the rescheduling process, placing politics above public safety,” said Derek Maltz, a retired agent who once headed the DEA’s Special Operations Division. “If there’s scientific evidence to support this decision, then so be it. But you’ve got to let the scientists evaluate it.”

Former DEA Administrator Tim Shea said the striking absence of Milgram’s sign-off suggests she was backing “the DEA professionals.”

“If she had supported it she would have signed it and sent it in,” said Shea, who served in the Trump administration. “DEA was opposed to this and the politics entered and overruled them. It’s demoralizing. Everybody from the agents in the streets to the leadership in DEA knows the dangers this brings.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment but Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre previously said Biden was committed to fulfilling a 2020 campaign promise. “He said no person, no American who possesses marijuana should go to jail. It is affecting communities across the country, including communities of color.”

Justice Department attorneys defended Garland’s decision to proceed without Milgram’s backing, saying in a separate memo that the action was prompted by “sharply different views” between DEA and the Department of Health and Human Services. The HHS last year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/2016-17954-HHS.pdf">recommended</a>&nbsp;reclassifying marijuana, deeming it less risky to public health than cocaine, heroin and oxycodone, and effective in treating anorexia, pain and other ailments.

HHS concluded in part that “although abuse of marijuana produces clear evidence of a risk to public health, that risk is relatively lower than” that posed by other drugs.

The DEA balked at those findings and Garland’s order cites at least 10 times when the drug agency requested additional information before blessing HHS’ medical findings. It did not respond to AP questions seeking further comment.

The Justice Department didn't comment on internal differences but in a statement said that the proposal was “consistent with the scientific and medical determinations of HHS."

The dissonance within the federal government underscores the continuing debate over the risks posed by cannabis, even as 38 states have legalized medical marijuana and 24 have legalized its recreational use. All the while, more voters — 70% of adults, according to a Gallup poll last fall — support legalization, the highest level yet recorded by the polling firm.

“The argument that marijuana is as dangerous as fentanyl, cocaine and meth is laughable,” said Matthew C. Zorn, a Houston-based attorney who writes a newsletter on cannabis regulation. “The DEA isn’t where most Americans are. They’re standing on the wrong side of history.”

But even HHS’ National Institute on Drug Abuse has come out with statements in apparent conflict with HHS’ recommendation to reclassify pot, saying the potency of marijuana has been steadily increasing over the years, resulting in higher numbers of emergency room visits to treat a wide range of physical and mental effects, from breathing problems and mental impairment to hallucinations and paranoia.

“Whether smoking or otherwise consuming marijuana has therapeutic benefits that outweigh its health risks is still an open question that science has not resolved,” Nora Volkow, a neuroscientist who leads NIDA, is currently quoted as saying on the institute’s website. A NIDA spokesperson said rescheduling would facilitate research more into the drug.

The NIDA last performed a medical evaluation of marijuana in 2015 — a year before the Obama administration's DEA rejected a similar request to reschedule the drug.

This time, after Biden ordered a review of the drug’s status in 2022, HHS adopted new criteria to reach its rescheduling conclusion, taking into account the states that have already legalized medical marijuana.

The rescheduling move,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-biden-dea-criminal-justice-pot-f833a8dae6ceb31a8658a5d65832a3b8">first reported</a>&nbsp;by the AP last month, faces a potentially lengthy process. The DEA, which is not bound by HHS' medical determinations at this point, will take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-rescheduling-drug-policy-biden-15b43441670757b0c2bfa36731e47d07">public comment</a>&nbsp;on the rescheduling plan before a review by an administrative judge and the publishing of a final rule. Federal prosecutions involving marijuana are already exceedingly rare but a Schedule III classification would still make pot a controlled substance subject to rules and regulations

For her part, Milgram has said little about her stance on marijuana and was not asked about it during her confirmation. When she took the helm of the agency in 2021, she privately told colleagues she considered the legalization debate a distraction from the far more serious fentanyl crisis, according to one of the people who spoke to the AP.

Milgram is known for a progressive, data-driven approach to law enforcement dating to her days as the Democratic attorney general of New Jersey. When the state’s governor, a close ally, signed a bill in 2010 making the state the 14th to make marijuana legal for medical purposes, she said only that the legislation was “workable.”

This past week, she was similarly opaque in a three-sentence announcement to DEA employees obtained by the AP.

“As required,” she wrote, “the DEA will post this notice and all attachments on our website.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691592576687.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —In an isolated part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters known as the 12th-floor “bubble,” chief Anne Milgram made an unusual request of top deputies summoned in March for what she called the “Marijuana Meeting”: Nobody could take notes.Over the next half hour, she broke the news that the Biden administration would soon be issuing a long-awaited order&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-rescheduling-drug-policy-biden-15b43441670757b0c2bfa36731e47d07">reclassifying pot as a less-dangerous drug</a>, a major hurdle toward federal legalization that DEA has long resisted. And Milgram went on to reveal another twist, according to two people familiar with the private meeting who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, that the process normally steered by the DEA had been taken over by the U.S. Justice Department and the action would not be signed by her but by Attorney General Merrick Garland.Milgram didn't give aides a reason for the unprecedented omission and neither she nor the DEA has explained since. But it unfolded this past week exactly as laid out in that meeting two months ago, with the most significant drug policy change in 50 years launched without the support of the nation’s premier narcotics agency.“DEA has not yet made a determination as to its views of the appropriate schedule for marijuana,” reads a sentence tucked 13 pages into Garland’s 92-page order last Thursday outlining the Biden administration proposal to shift pot from its current Schedule I alongside heroin and LSD to the less tightly regulated Schedule III with such drugs as ketamine and some anabolic steroids.Internal records accompanying the order indicate the DEA sent a memo to the Justice Department in late January seeking additional scientific input to determine whether marijuana has an accepted medical use, a key requirement for reclassification. But those concerns were overruled by Justice Department attorneys, who deemed the DEA’s criteria “impermissibly narrow.”Several current and former DEA officials told the AP they believe politics may be at play, contending the Justice Department is moving forward with the marijuana reclassification because President Joe Biden wants to use the issue to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-young-voters-marijuana-reclassification-dea-193e97fc2dd7b32b7d7ad50b4ea80aa0">woo voters in his re-election</a>&nbsp;campaign and wasn’t willing to give the DEA time for more studies that likely would have dragged beyond Election Day.Those officials also noted that while the Controlled Substances Act grants the attorney general responsibility for regulating the sale of dangerous drugs, federal law still delegates the authority to classify drugs to the DEA administrator.“It’s crystal clear to me that the Justice Department hijacked the rescheduling process, placing politics above public safety,” said Derek Maltz, a retired agent who once headed the DEA’s Special Operations Division. “If there’s scientific evidence to support this decision, then so be it. But you’ve got to let the scientists evaluate it.”Former DEA Administrator Tim Shea said the striking absence of Milgram’s sign-off suggests she was backing “the DEA professionals.”“If she had supported it she would have signed it and sent it in,” said Shea, who served in the Trump administration. “DEA was opposed to this and the politics entered and overruled them. It’s demoralizing. Everybody from the agents in the streets to the leadership in DEA knows the dangers this brings.”The White House did not respond to a request for comment but Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre previously said Biden was committed to fulfilling a 2020 campaign promise. “He said no person, no American who possesses marijuana should go to jail. It is affecting communities across the country, including communities of color.”Justice Department attorneys defended Garland’s decision to proceed without Milgram’s backing, saying in a separate memo that the action was prompted by “sharply different views” between DEA and the Department of Health and Human Services. The HHS last year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/2016-17954-HHS.pdf">recommended</a>&nbsp;reclassifying marijuana, deeming it less risky to public health than cocaine, heroin and oxycodone, and effective in treating anorexia, pain and other ailments.HHS concluded in part that “although abuse of marijuana produces clear evidence of a risk to public health, that risk is relatively lower than” that posed by other drugs.The DEA balked at those findings and Garland’s order cites at least 10 times when the drug agency requested additional information before blessing HHS’ medical findings. It did not respond to AP questions seeking further comment.The Justice Department didn't comment on internal differences but in a statement said that the proposal was “consistent with the scientific and medical determinations of HHS."The dissonance within the federal government underscores the continuing debate over the risks posed by cannabis, even as 38 states have legalized medical marijuana and 24 have legalized its recreational use. All the while, more voters — 70% of adults, according to a Gallup poll last fall — support legalization, the highest level yet recorded by the polling firm.“The argument that marijuana is as dangerous as fentanyl, cocaine and meth is laughable,” said Matthew C. Zorn, a Houston-based attorney who writes a newsletter on cannabis regulation. “The DEA isn’t where most Americans are. They’re standing on the wrong side of history.”But even HHS’ National Institute on Drug Abuse has come out with statements in apparent conflict with HHS’ recommendation to reclassify pot, saying the potency of marijuana has been steadily increasing over the years, resulting in higher numbers of emergency room visits to treat a wide range of physical and mental effects, from breathing problems and mental impairment to hallucinations and paranoia.“Whether smoking or otherwise consuming marijuana has therapeutic benefits that outweigh its health risks is still an open question that science has not resolved,” Nora Volkow, a neuroscientist who leads NIDA, is currently quoted as saying on the institute’s website. A NIDA spokesperson said rescheduling would facilitate research more into the drug.The NIDA last performed a medical evaluation of marijuana in 2015 — a year before the Obama administration's DEA rejected a similar request to reschedule the drug.This time, after Biden ordered a review of the drug’s status in 2022, HHS adopted new criteria to reach its rescheduling conclusion, taking into account the states that have already legalized medical marijuana.The rescheduling move,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-biden-dea-criminal-justice-pot-f833a8dae6ceb31a8658a5d65832a3b8">first reported</a>&nbsp;by the AP last month, faces a potentially lengthy process. The DEA, which is not bound by HHS' medical determinations at this point, will take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-rescheduling-drug-policy-biden-15b43441670757b0c2bfa36731e47d07">public comment</a>&nbsp;on the rescheduling plan before a review by an administrative judge and the publishing of a final rule. Federal prosecutions involving marijuana are already exceedingly rare but a Schedule III classification would still make pot a controlled substance subject to rules and regulationsFor her part, Milgram has said little about her stance on marijuana and was not asked about it during her confirmation. When she took the helm of the agency in 2021, she privately told colleagues she considered the legalization debate a distraction from the far more serious fentanyl crisis, according to one of the people who spoke to the AP.Milgram is known for a progressive, data-driven approach to law enforcement dating to her days as the Democratic attorney general of New Jersey. When the state’s governor, a close ally, signed a bill in 2010 making the state the 14th to make marijuana legal for medical purposes, she said only that the legislation was “workable.”This past week, she was similarly opaque in a three-sentence announcement to DEA employees obtained by the AP.“As required,” she wrote, “the DEA will post this notice and all attachments on our website.”_____

Top U.S. drug agency a holdout in Biden's push to loosen  marijuana restrictions

Lincoln, NE – Today, Attorney General Mike Hilgers filed a landmark lawsuit against TikTok in Nebraska State Court, alleging&nbsp;violations of&nbsp;Nebraska’s consumer protection laws.&nbsp;

The lawsuit claims TikTok engaged in deceptive and unfair trade practices by intentionally designing and operating a platform that is addictive and harmful to teens and children while holding itself out as “family-friendly” and “safe” for young users. The lawsuit also demonstrates how, contrary to TikTok’s repeated public representations, TikTok’s features fail to protect kids and regularly expose underage users to age-inappropriate and otherwise harmful content.&nbsp;

“TikTok tells parents its platform is safe for kids, but our investigation reveals that nothing could be further from the truth. Within minutes of signing up, the TikTok algorithm has shown kids inappropriate content, ranging from videos that encourage suicidal ideation and fuel depression, drive body image issues, and encourage eating disorders to those that encourage drug use and sexual content wildly inappropriate for young kids. Parents deserve to be fully and truthfully informed&nbsp;so they can&nbsp;help their kids make positive, healthy choices,” said Attorney General Hilgers. “Our office will not stand by while social media platforms mislead parents while dosing digital poison to our children.”

The Attorney General’s lawsuit aims to hold TikTok accountable for its deception, which has fueled a youth mental health crisis in Nebraska. In its advertising, app store ratings, dealings with PTAs, and other public statements, TikTok has held itself out as a leader and advocate for youth and online safety. However, TikTok’s&nbsp;own&nbsp;internal documents and the experience of thousands of users across Nebraska tell a strikingly different story. TikTok knows that its platform is addictive, that compulsive use is rampant, and that its purported safety features, such as age verification and parental controls, are grossly ineffective.

“TikTok is fueling a youth mental health crisis in Nebraska, exploiting children and teens,” explains Attorney General Mike Hilgers. “Not only does social media use interfere with sleep, school, and family activities, but it also leads to social isolation, fosters unrealistic social comparison, and exposes young users to age-inappropriate content. TikTok has shown no regard for the wreckage its exploitative algorithm is leaving behind. We will hold them accountable for the costs and damage they&nbsp;are inflicting&nbsp;on Nebraska families and children.”

The lawsuit follows a State investigation into TikTok’s business practices, which the lawsuit claims TikTok intentionally delayed, evaded, and failed&nbsp;to adequately comply with. This lawsuit is the latest move in Attorney General Hilgers’ ongoing campaign to protect Nebraska’s youth, especially&nbsp;when it comes to&nbsp;their mental health and well-being. Earlier this year, Attorney General Hilgers joined a national coalition of state attorneys&nbsp;general&nbsp;in suing Meta for broadly similar conduct.

Our office is accepting submissions related to underage users on TikTok. If your child has been affected or you have other relevant information,&nbsp;please contact the Consumer Affairs Response Team&nbsp;at 402-471-2682.

Attorney General Mike HilgersLincoln, NE – Today, Attorney General Mike Hilgers filed a landmark lawsuit against TikTok in Nebraska State Court, alleging&nbsp;violations of&nbsp;Nebraska’s consumer protection laws.&nbsp;The lawsuit claims TikTok engaged in deceptive and unfair trade practices by intentionally designing and operating a platform that is addictive and harmful to teens and children while holding itself out as “family-friendly” and “safe” for young users. The lawsuit also demonstrates how, contrary to TikTok’s repeated public representations, TikTok’s features fail to protect kids and regularly expose underage users to age-inappropriate and otherwise harmful content.&nbsp;“TikTok tells parents its platform is safe for kids, but our investigation reveals that nothing could be further from the truth. Within minutes of signing up, the TikTok algorithm has shown kids inappropriate content, ranging from videos that encourage suicidal ideation and fuel depression, drive body image issues, and encourage eating disorders to those that encourage drug use and sexual content wildly inappropriate for young kids. Parents deserve to be fully and truthfully informed&nbsp;so they can&nbsp;help their kids make positive, healthy choices,” said Attorney General Hilgers. “Our office will not stand by while social media platforms mislead parents while dosing digital poison to our children.”The Attorney General’s lawsuit aims to hold TikTok accountable for its deception, which has fueled a youth mental health crisis in Nebraska. In its advertising, app store ratings, dealings with PTAs, and other public statements, TikTok has held itself out as a leader and advocate for youth and online safety. However, TikTok’s&nbsp;own&nbsp;internal documents and the experience of thousands of users across Nebraska tell a strikingly different story. TikTok knows that its platform is addictive, that compulsive use is rampant, and that its purported safety features, such as age verification and parental controls, are grossly ineffective.“TikTok is fueling a youth mental health crisis in Nebraska, exploiting children and teens,” explains Attorney General Mike Hilgers. “Not only does social media use interfere with sleep, school, and family activities, but it also leads to social isolation, fosters unrealistic social comparison, and exposes young users to age-inappropriate content. TikTok has shown no regard for the wreckage its exploitative algorithm is leaving behind. We will hold them accountable for the costs and damage they&nbsp;are inflicting&nbsp;on Nebraska families and children.”The lawsuit follows a State investigation into TikTok’s business practices, which the lawsuit claims TikTok intentionally delayed, evaded, and failed&nbsp;to adequately comply with. This lawsuit is the latest move in Attorney General Hilgers’ ongoing campaign to protect Nebraska’s youth, especially&nbsp;when it comes to&nbsp;their mental health and well-being. Earlier this year, Attorney General Hilgers joined a national coalition of state attorneys&nbsp;general&nbsp;in suing Meta for broadly similar conduct.Our office is accepting submissions related to underage users on TikTok. If your child has been affected or you have other relevant information,&nbsp;please contact the Consumer Affairs Response Team&nbsp;at 402-471-2682.

Attorney General Hilgers Files Landmark Lawsuit against TikTok in Nebraska State Court

OMAHA, NE&nbsp;(May 22, 2024) —&nbsp;As AAA prepares to rescue more than 378,000 drivers nationwide with car trouble during the Memorial Day weekend, it will also work to keep impaired drivers off the road.&nbsp;The Auto Club Group is activating its&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.b00YhNV2Nr0-2BaZn7eVNAddyRkUINOOu85WlgpeOlm4TJh2Tz10WNXWxWNmSGBXk0rw1e_zEOLHw6mHPpUboszb4lxzn-2FWfgiGZZljUWwyilPPfcrXXfmVBzHnavjtNkTOYjqEu9ForkbU2BMNTBWH3XP7OdT44Bbe46bKr8Wrm-2FRs-2FzyNpAOGWBtNKBasrXMt86ANFQuv8B0LXggXkHq6-2Fi0Jcva-2B63jg3042FUxn-2BVaPMFPyZ4gDUpsc9CSwQjnus8WKben16DnH2a8F7stUBavrSh6zXDOKBO6QaSPAzZ8astJpw5ZlKPCD5zOSEuKx-2FAUuGmJaPBx8ZZA1cLNEypogdwWoGAsiSqT5jndAJzIHxOov2mVt0G-2BUU1-2F0L8vuobAd0mIdvDviVRnb3S4K7PrHgY7KBtTdHQBTdley-2FBfAOK8-3D" target="_blank">Tow to Go</a>&nbsp;program in Nebraska, Iowa and other select states (see below), offering a confidential safe ride for would-be impaired drivers and their vehicles.

The Auto Club Group has provided the&nbsp;Tow to Go&nbsp;program for more than 25 years, removing nearly 30,000 impaired drivers from U.S. roadways. When someone calls Tow to Go, a tow truck is dispatched to transport the vehicle and its owner to a safe location within a 10-mile radius. This service is free, regardless of whether the caller is a AAA member.

“By providing this program, AAA gives drivers no excuse for driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol or impairing medications,” said Brian Ortner, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, we remind people to treat Tow to Go as a last resort. Instead, make advanced plans for a safe ride home, because you do not want to be remembered on Memorial Day as the person who made the fatal mistake of driving impaired.”

FL,&nbsp;GA,&nbsp;IA, MI, ND,&nbsp;NE, TN, WI, CO (Denver), NC (Charlotte), and&nbsp;IN (Fort Wayne/South Bend)

OMAHA, NE&nbsp;(May 22, 2024) —&nbsp;As AAA prepares to rescue more than 378,000 drivers nationwide with car trouble during the Memorial Day weekend, it will also work to keep impaired drivers off the road.&nbsp;The Auto Club Group is activating its&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.b00YhNV2Nr0-2BaZn7eVNAddyRkUINOOu85WlgpeOlm4TJh2Tz10WNXWxWNmSGBXk0rw1e_zEOLHw6mHPpUboszb4lxzn-2FWfgiGZZljUWwyilPPfcrXXfmVBzHnavjtNkTOYjqEu9ForkbU2BMNTBWH3XP7OdT44Bbe46bKr8Wrm-2FRs-2FzyNpAOGWBtNKBasrXMt86ANFQuv8B0LXggXkHq6-2Fi0Jcva-2B63jg3042FUxn-2BVaPMFPyZ4gDUpsc9CSwQjnus8WKben16DnH2a8F7stUBavrSh6zXDOKBO6QaSPAzZ8astJpw5ZlKPCD5zOSEuKx-2FAUuGmJaPBx8ZZA1cLNEypogdwWoGAsiSqT5jndAJzIHxOov2mVt0G-2BUU1-2F0L8vuobAd0mIdvDviVRnb3S4K7PrHgY7KBtTdHQBTdley-2FBfAOK8-3D" target="_blank">Tow to Go</a>&nbsp;program in Nebraska, Iowa and other select states (see below), offering a confidential safe ride for would-be impaired drivers and their vehicles.The Auto Club Group has provided the&nbsp;Tow to Go&nbsp;program for more than 25 years, removing nearly 30,000 impaired drivers from U.S. roadways. When someone calls Tow to Go, a tow truck is dispatched to transport the vehicle and its owner to a safe location within a 10-mile radius. This service is free, regardless of whether the caller is a AAA member.<ul>
 <li>Tow to Go is active from&nbsp;6 p.m. Friday, May 24th&nbsp;to 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 28th.</li><li>Free confidential rides are provided for AAA members and non-members.</li>
 </ul>“By providing this program, AAA gives drivers no excuse for driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol or impairing medications,” said Brian Ortner, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “However, we remind people to treat Tow to Go as a last resort. Instead, make advanced plans for a safe ride home, because you do not want to be remembered on Memorial Day as the person who made the fatal mistake of driving impaired.”TOW TO GOService AreasFL,&nbsp;GA,&nbsp;IA, MI, ND,&nbsp;NE, TN, WI, CO (Denver), NC (Charlotte), and&nbsp;IN (Fort Wayne/South Bend)Phone Number(855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246TOW TO GO GUIDELINES<ul>
 <li>Provided&nbsp;from 6 p.m.&nbsp;Friday, May 24 to 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 28th.</li><li>Free and available to AAA members and non-members.</li><li>Confidential local ride for one person and their vehicle to a safe location&nbsp;within a 10-mile radius.</li><li>Appointments&nbsp;cannot&nbsp;be scheduled in advance to use Tow to Go. It is designed as a safety net for those that did not plan ahead. Always choose a designated driver before celebrating.</li><li>In some situations,&nbsp;AAA&nbsp;may need to make other arrangements to get an impaired individual a safe ride home.</li><li>Tow to Go may not be available in rural areas or during severe weather conditions.</li>
 </ul>&nbsp;About AAA - The Auto Club Group

AAA Activates 'Tow to Go' in Nebraska and Iowa for Memorial Day Weekend

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — New federal certification rules finalized Monday for train dispatchers and signal repairmen will set minimum standards to counteract the investor pressure on railroads to continually cut costs while making sure those employees have the skills they need to operate all the high-tech systems on today’s trains.

The new Federal Railroad Administration rules are the latest steps in the agency’s broad efforts to improve rail safety since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">disastrous East Palestine derailment</a>&nbsp;in Ohio last year although these rules were in the works years before that train crash.

FRA Administrator Amit Bose said in an interview with The Associated Press that both these crafts of workers are responsible for some of the advanced technology railroads rely on like the assortment of trackside detectors that help spot mechanical problems before they can cause derailments, so it made sense to set certification standards for them.

“Here’s the bottom line for me, we want to make sure that qualified workers are doing the jobs that they are specialists in to do,” Bose said. And even though technology can help railroads improve safety, he said the FRA wants to make sure that it supplements but doesn't replace existing efforts like visual inspections.

Bose said dispatchers play a key role in operating the automatic braking system known as Positive Train Control that Congress required the railroads to install. Plus, modern dispatching centers are filled with banks of massive monitors at each desk that dispatchers use to keep track of the trains moving across their territories.

Bose said the railroads are concerned about safety, but too often they only do the minimum required as they try to control costs to boost profits.

“The industry has, learned a lot, since East Palestine and has implemented and redoubled, its efforts on safety,” Bose said. “We have to remain vigilant on safety 24 hours, seven days a week. I’m encouraged by some of the efforts, from the railroad companies, but again, there’s always more, to do.”

But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials-74d7aec638500c52d1eb9fda0acf9f26">changes</a>&nbsp;railroads announced after that Ohio derailment focused attention nationwide on railroad safety haven't made a major difference in safety statistics. And larger reforms have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/east-palestine-train-derailment-safety-regulations-railroad-4db52c68daf68da05425b5b70363fb0a">stalled in Congress</a>&nbsp;because Republicans want to wait until after the National Transportation Safety Board issues its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-railroad-derailment-east-palestine-cause-bfff4663965d4c94b71482726bd0045a">final report</a>&nbsp;on the derailment next month before considering changes.

The Association of American Railroads trade group said in a statement that the new dispatcher and signalmen rules aren't likely to make a significant improvement in safety because the railroads already train their employees.

“Ensuring all employees are well-trained and qualified to safely execute their duties is essential," AAR spokeswoman Jessica Kahanek said. "This is why railroads invest heavily to ensure our people have the necessary skills and knowledge to maintain safe operations and successfully perform their work."

But the American Train Dispatchers Association union praised the new rule because it should prevent the common practices of forcing dispatchers to work assignments they aren't adequately trained for and keep managers from working in a dispatcher role if they're not properly certified. And both the union and federal regulators will get a chance to review railroads' certification plans before they take effect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716384169698.jpeg" alt="Railroads rely on trackside detectors like this one along a Union Pacific line in western Iowa, seen Dec. 15, 2023, to help spot mechanical problems on trains before they can cause derailments. The Federal Railroad Administration finalized new rules Monday, May 20, 2024, that will establish training and certification standards for the workers who install and maintain these detectors and other signals along the railroads. (AP Photo/Josh Funk)" />
 <figcaption>Railroads rely on trackside detectors like this one along a Union Pacific line in western Iowa, seen Dec. 15, 2023, to help spot mechanical problems on trains before they can cause derailments. The Federal Railroad Administration finalized new rules Monday, May 20, 2024, that will establish training and certification standards for the workers who install and maintain these detectors and other signals along the railroads. (AP Photo/Josh Funk)</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — New federal certification rules finalized Monday for train dispatchers and signal repairmen will set minimum standards to counteract the investor pressure on railroads to continually cut costs while making sure those employees have the skills they need to operate all the high-tech systems on today’s trains.The new Federal Railroad Administration rules are the latest steps in the agency’s broad efforts to improve rail safety since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">disastrous East Palestine derailment</a>&nbsp;in Ohio last year although these rules were in the works years before that train crash.FRA Administrator Amit Bose said in an interview with The Associated Press that both these crafts of workers are responsible for some of the advanced technology railroads rely on like the assortment of trackside detectors that help spot mechanical problems before they can cause derailments, so it made sense to set certification standards for them.“Here’s the bottom line for me, we want to make sure that qualified workers are doing the jobs that they are specialists in to do,” Bose said. And even though technology can help railroads improve safety, he said the FRA wants to make sure that it supplements but doesn't replace existing efforts like visual inspections.Bose said dispatchers play a key role in operating the automatic braking system known as Positive Train Control that Congress required the railroads to install. Plus, modern dispatching centers are filled with banks of massive monitors at each desk that dispatchers use to keep track of the trains moving across their territories.Bose said the railroads are concerned about safety, but too often they only do the minimum required as they try to control costs to boost profits.“The industry has, learned a lot, since East Palestine and has implemented and redoubled, its efforts on safety,” Bose said. “We have to remain vigilant on safety 24 hours, seven days a week. I’m encouraged by some of the efforts, from the railroad companies, but again, there’s always more, to do.”But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials-74d7aec638500c52d1eb9fda0acf9f26">changes</a>&nbsp;railroads announced after that Ohio derailment focused attention nationwide on railroad safety haven't made a major difference in safety statistics. And larger reforms have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/east-palestine-train-derailment-safety-regulations-railroad-4db52c68daf68da05425b5b70363fb0a">stalled in Congress</a>&nbsp;because Republicans want to wait until after the National Transportation Safety Board issues its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-railroad-derailment-east-palestine-cause-bfff4663965d4c94b71482726bd0045a">final report</a>&nbsp;on the derailment next month before considering changes.The Association of American Railroads trade group said in a statement that the new dispatcher and signalmen rules aren't likely to make a significant improvement in safety because the railroads already train their employees.“Ensuring all employees are well-trained and qualified to safely execute their duties is essential," AAR spokeswoman Jessica Kahanek said. "This is why railroads invest heavily to ensure our people have the necessary skills and knowledge to maintain safe operations and successfully perform their work."But the American Train Dispatchers Association union praised the new rule because it should prevent the common practices of forcing dispatchers to work assignments they aren't adequately trained for and keep managers from working in a dispatcher role if they're not properly certified. And both the union and federal regulators will get a chance to review railroads' certification plans before they take effect.

New safety rules set training standards for train dispatchers and signal repairmen

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is canceling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/student-loans">student loans</a>&nbsp;for another 160,000 borrowers through a combination of existing programs.

The Education Department announced the latest round of cancellation on Wednesday, saying it will erase $7.7 billion in federal student loans. With the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-student-loan-education-forgiveness-069d64e7e6fc4edd967adf6bc5f7e699">latest action</a>, the administration said it has canceled $167 billion in student debt for nearly 5 million Americans through several programs.

“From day one of my administration, I promised to fight to ensure higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity,” President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;said in a statement. “I will never stop working to cancel student debt — no matter how many times Republican-elected officials try to stop us.”

The latest relief will go to borrowers in three categories who hit certain milestones that make them eligible for cancellation. It will go to 54,000 borrowers who are enrolled in Biden's new income-driven repayment plan, along with 39,000 enrolled in earlier income-driven plans, and about 67,000 who are eligible through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Biden's new payment plan, known as the SAVE Plan, offers a faster path to forgiveness than earlier versions. More people are now becoming eligible for loan cancellation as they hit 10 years of payments, a new finish line that's a decade sooner than what borrowers faced in the past.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is canceling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/student-loans">student loans</a>&nbsp;for another 160,000 borrowers through a combination of existing programs.The Education Department announced the latest round of cancellation on Wednesday, saying it will erase $7.7 billion in federal student loans. With the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-student-loan-education-forgiveness-069d64e7e6fc4edd967adf6bc5f7e699">latest action</a>, the administration said it has canceled $167 billion in student debt for nearly 5 million Americans through several programs.“From day one of my administration, I promised to fight to ensure higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity,” President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;said in a statement. “I will never stop working to cancel student debt — no matter how many times Republican-elected officials try to stop us.”The latest relief will go to borrowers in three categories who hit certain milestones that make them eligible for cancellation. It will go to 54,000 borrowers who are enrolled in Biden's new income-driven repayment plan, along with 39,000 enrolled in earlier income-driven plans, and about 67,000 who are eligible through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.Biden's new payment plan, known as the SAVE Plan, offers a faster path to forgiveness than earlier versions. More people are now becoming eligible for loan cancellation as they hit 10 years of payments, a new finish line that's a decade sooner than what borrowers faced in the past.The cancellation is moving forward even as Biden's SAVE Plan faces legal challenges from Republican-led states. A group of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-cancellation-debt-lawsuit-republicans-biden-b60d13539b2f2aef2869d56e63f33a3b">11 states led by Kansas</a>&nbsp;sued to block the plan in March, followed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-debt-cancellation-college-forgiveness-f94b9706bd395b32e44d4d1b3f6ff051">seven more led by Missouri</a>&nbsp;in April. In two federal lawsuits, the states say Biden needed to go through Congress for his overhaul of federal repayment plans.A separate action by the Biden administration aimed to correct previous mistakes that delayed cancellation for some borrowers enrolled in other repayment plans and through Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which forgives loans for people who make 10 years of payments while working in public service jobs.The Biden administration has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-cancellation-debt-forgiveness-college-fb020cb7f66d99db6c393c2be696bcf0">announcing new batches</a>&nbsp;of forgiveness each month as more people qualify under those three categories.According to the Education Department, 1 in 10 federal student loan borrowers has now been approved for some form of loan relief.“One out of every 10 federal student loan borrowers approved for debt relief means one out of every 10 borrowers now has financial breathing room and a burden lifted,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement.The Biden administration has continued canceling loans through existing avenues while it also pushes for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-cancellation-debt-college-forgiveness-c3ec59d4c1d89e77bc1afc6c8ded1615">new, one-time cancellation</a>&nbsp;that would provide relief to more than 30 million borrowers in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-cancellation-debt-college-forgiveness-c3ec59d4c1d89e77bc1afc6c8ded1615">five categories</a>.Biden's new plan aims to help borrowers with large sums of unpaid interest, those with older loans, those who attended low-value college programs, and those who face other hardships preventing them from repaying student loans. It would also cancel loans for people who are eligible through other programs but haven't applied.The proposal is going through a lengthy rulemaking process, but the administration said it will accelerate certain provisions, with plans to start waiving unpaid interest for millions of borrowers starting this fall.Conservative opponents have threatened to challenge that plan too, calling it an unfair bonus for wealthy college graduates at the expense of taxpayers who didn't attend college or already repaid their loans.The Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa">rejected Biden's earlier attempt</a>&nbsp;at one-time cancellation, saying it overstepped the president's authority. The new plan is being made with a different legal justification.