The historic tornadoes which pummeled the eastern and central portion of our state last week were devastating, and supporting the ongoing recovery efforts for Nebraskans remains top of mind. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported damage to homes, farm equipment and buildings, power lines, other infrastructure, vehicles, and trees across many counties in the Third District. Fortunately, despite the destruction of hundreds of homes, no Nebraskans lost their lives. We owe such great thanks to the hard work of meteorologists, broadcasters, emergency responders, and countless volunteers who have donated time and resources to those affected.

Less than 24 hours after the tornadoes went through, Kearney-based Hot Meals USA—founded by in 2019 by Dick Cochran—mobilized to serve thousands of meals to emergency workers, volunteers, and storm victims in Elkhorn, Bennington, Blair and elsewhere. Nebraskans are keenly aware we are in this together and consider it a hallowed opportunity to lend a hand.

Yet the recovery efforts will continue for months to come, so we must continue providing necessary support and coordination. I’m grateful Governor Pillen’s dedication of state resources has been prompt. Throughout damage assessments, my team has been in touch with the governor’s team, and I have been working with our full congressional delegation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to facilitate federal response and claims for disaster relief.

My offices in Nebraska City, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff stand ready to assist individuals, families, and businesses who need help navigating government agencies or other relief resources. In addition, I am pleased to offer support to Nebraska’s county and local officials.

To ensure damage estimates reflect the needs in the Third District, it is necessary to get an accurate valuation of the cost. Nebraskans who suffered damage are urged to report it to their county emergency management agencies and utilize available federal assistance through Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development programs.

Nebraskans have substantial experience with severe weather, and our geography indicates we will continue to deal with the associated risks. While we cannot control when storms come, what matters is our preparedness and response. I encourage Third District Nebraskans to remain prepared and maintain access to emergency alerts. Taking appropriate precautions can help us be prepared for the event of extreme weather.

Thanks to modern communication tools, there are many ways to remain informed about approaching severe weather today such as television, radio, online alerts, weather radios, and early warning systems. Additionally, it’s wise to maintain an emergency kit, including essentials such as water, a flashlight with extra batteries, a battery-operated radio, non-perishable food, and a first aid kit. It is also important to make sure you store copies of important documents, such as property deeds and personal medical records in a secure, waterproof location. The disaster preparedness checklists and information at&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskabroadcastersassociation.growthzoneapp.com/ap/r/fbad07a1c14d4b0985599cbb4d96305c" target="_blank">www.Ready.gov</a>&nbsp;are helpful resources assembled by the Department of Homeland Security.

While Arbor Day 2024 was marked by the violent storms which hit communities in Nebraska and other states, it has been wonderfully encouraging to witness the fast-acting kindness of Americans to care for one another. By coming together, we demonstrate the Nebraska value of looking out for our neighbors and gain the strength to overcome whatever comes our way.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680539471542.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Adrian SmithThe historic tornadoes which pummeled the eastern and central portion of our state last week were devastating, and supporting the ongoing recovery efforts for Nebraskans remains top of mind. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported damage to homes, farm equipment and buildings, power lines, other infrastructure, vehicles, and trees across many counties in the Third District. Fortunately, despite the destruction of hundreds of homes, no Nebraskans lost their lives. We owe such great thanks to the hard work of meteorologists, broadcasters, emergency responders, and countless volunteers who have donated time and resources to those affected.Less than 24 hours after the tornadoes went through, Kearney-based Hot Meals USA—founded by in 2019 by Dick Cochran—mobilized to serve thousands of meals to emergency workers, volunteers, and storm victims in Elkhorn, Bennington, Blair and elsewhere. Nebraskans are keenly aware we are in this together and consider it a hallowed opportunity to lend a hand.Yet the recovery efforts will continue for months to come, so we must continue providing necessary support and coordination. I’m grateful Governor Pillen’s dedication of state resources has been prompt. Throughout damage assessments, my team has been in touch with the governor’s team, and I have been working with our full congressional delegation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to facilitate federal response and claims for disaster relief.My offices in Nebraska City, Grand Island, and Scottsbluff stand ready to assist individuals, families, and businesses who need help navigating government agencies or other relief resources. In addition, I am pleased to offer support to Nebraska’s county and local officials.To ensure damage estimates reflect the needs in the Third District, it is necessary to get an accurate valuation of the cost. Nebraskans who suffered damage are urged to report it to their county emergency management agencies and utilize available federal assistance through Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development programs.Nebraskans have substantial experience with severe weather, and our geography indicates we will continue to deal with the associated risks. While we cannot control when storms come, what matters is our preparedness and response. I encourage Third District Nebraskans to remain prepared and maintain access to emergency alerts. Taking appropriate precautions can help us be prepared for the event of extreme weather.Thanks to modern communication tools, there are many ways to remain informed about approaching severe weather today such as television, radio, online alerts, weather radios, and early warning systems. Additionally, it’s wise to maintain an emergency kit, including essentials such as water, a flashlight with extra batteries, a battery-operated radio, non-perishable food, and a first aid kit. It is also important to make sure you store copies of important documents, such as property deeds and personal medical records in a secure, waterproof location. The disaster preparedness checklists and information at&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskabroadcastersassociation.growthzoneapp.com/ap/r/fbad07a1c14d4b0985599cbb4d96305c" target="_blank">www.Ready.gov</a>&nbsp;are helpful resources assembled by the Department of Homeland Security.While Arbor Day 2024 was marked by the violent storms which hit communities in Nebraska and other states, it has been wonderfully encouraging to witness the fast-acting kindness of Americans to care for one another. By coming together, we demonstrate the Nebraska value of looking out for our neighbors and gain the strength to overcome whatever comes our way.

Overcoming Disaster

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nearly-80-more-nebraska-national-guard-members-deploying-to-assist-with-storm-recovery/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN&nbsp;— The Nebraska National Guard is stepping up to fulfill more requests Thursday to assist Douglas County in the wake of last week’s tornado outbreak — up to about additional 80 Guard members.

At the request of Douglas County officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Guard announced Thursday that Guard soldiers and airmen are preparing to deploy across Douglas County neighborhoods impacted by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?issuedby=OAX&amp;product=PNS&amp;site=oax">last Friday’s severe weather</a>. They will work in shifts managing traffic and conducting roving patrols to maintain safety and well-being.

Most of the Guard members are set to receive initial briefs and instruction Thursday, one day after Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly and officials from FEMA and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency flew over damaged areas in one of the Guard’s UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.

“The Nebraska National Guard remains always ready with a robust team of professionals who are fully trained and equipped to accomplish all missions — including supporting local, state, and national partners whenever requested to aid our fellow citizens in need,” Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, Nebraska adjutant general and NEMA director, said in a statement.

Gov. Jim Pillen, who described the affected areas as a “war zone,” deployed about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-deploys-nebraska-national-guard-to-assist-with-storm-recovery-security/">two dozen Guard members to Elkhorn</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday to assist with security at the request of Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer.

The governor also signed an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/gov-pillen-issues-post-storm-declaration-that-allows-use-of-state-emergency-fund/">emergency proclamation</a>&nbsp;Sunday that will allow communities in Lancaster, Douglas and Washington Counties to access emergency state recovery funds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714744459043.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly (right), along with both Federal Emergency Management Agency and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency officials, flew on a Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, May 1, 2024, to conduct damage surveillance and assessment over areas affected by April 24, 2024 storms and tornadoes. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa Crawford)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly (right), along with both Federal Emergency Management Agency and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency officials, flew on a Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, May 1, 2024, to conduct damage surveillance and assessment over areas affected by April 24, 2024 storms and tornadoes. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lisa Crawford)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nearly-80-more-nebraska-national-guard-members-deploying-to-assist-with-storm-recovery/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN&nbsp;— The Nebraska National Guard is stepping up to fulfill more requests Thursday to assist Douglas County in the wake of last week’s tornado outbreak — up to about additional 80 Guard members.At the request of Douglas County officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Guard announced Thursday that Guard soldiers and airmen are preparing to deploy across Douglas County neighborhoods impacted by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?issuedby=OAX&amp;product=PNS&amp;site=oax">last Friday’s severe weather</a>. They will work in shifts managing traffic and conducting roving patrols to maintain safety and well-being.Most of the Guard members are set to receive initial briefs and instruction Thursday, one day after Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly and officials from FEMA and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency flew over damaged areas in one of the Guard’s UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.“The Nebraska National Guard remains always ready with a robust team of professionals who are fully trained and equipped to accomplish all missions — including supporting local, state, and national partners whenever requested to aid our fellow citizens in need,” Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, Nebraska adjutant general and NEMA director, said in a statement.Gov. Jim Pillen, who described the affected areas as a “war zone,” deployed about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-deploys-nebraska-national-guard-to-assist-with-storm-recovery-security/">two dozen Guard members to Elkhorn</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday to assist with security at the request of Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer.The governor also signed an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/gov-pillen-issues-post-storm-declaration-that-allows-use-of-state-emergency-fund/">emergency proclamation</a>&nbsp;Sunday that will allow communities in Lancaster, Douglas and Washington Counties to access emergency state recovery funds.

Nearly 80 more Nebraska National Guard members deploying to assist with storm recovery

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/gov-pillen-requests-federal-disaster-declaration-with-storm-damage-to-public-infrastructure-estimated-at-11-5-million/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen has officially submitted a request to President Joe Biden for a federal disaster declaration, estimating $11.5 million for public infrastructure damage.

The Thursday request comes nearly one week after last week’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?issuedby=OAX&amp;product=PNS&amp;site=oax">destructive Friday storms</a>&nbsp;in eastern Nebraska. This includes Lancaster, Douglas and Washington Counties, for which Pillen has already issued an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/gov-pillen-issues-post-storm-declaration-that-allows-use-of-state-emergency-fund/">emergency proclamation</a>, unlocking emergency state funds.

Relief costs include debris removal, emergency protective measures and individual assistance.

“This is not normal for Nebraskans to ask for help,” Pillen said at a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/29/gov-pillen-outlines-nebraskas-local-federal-next-steps-following-war-zone-tornadoes/">Monday news conference</a>. “If you don’t ask for help, we actually harm our neighbor because we need everybody to get to the level so that we can get the federal assistance.”

The federal request comes in coordination between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Nebraska’s state counterpart, which have conducted multiple damage assessments, including flyovers of damaged areas.

Preliminary public infrastructure damage assessments total $11.5 million, of which more than $8 million is for damage in Douglas and Washington Counties.&nbsp;

The request states the cost will increase as damage assessments continue.

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert on Thursday night announced a call to the Omaha City Council to approve $100,000 to assist families affected by the Arbor Day tornadoes.

Stothert requested that the council forgo the annual Neighborhood Grants program awards and instead reallocate the funds to organizations providing direct and immediate aid to families.

“Omaha is a community of caring and we all want to help,” Stothert said in a statement. “That has been very apparent in the last week.”&nbsp;

Under two nearly identical proposed resolutions, the relief funds would be divided between&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityclerk.cityofomaha.org/wp-content/uploads/images/RES-2024-0580">Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityclerk.cityofomaha.org/wp-content/uploads/images/RES-2024-0581">Relevant Community Church</a>, which Stothert said have helped to alleviate suffering and help the community heal from the storms.

“While those who have applied for the neighborhood grants have worthy causes and projects, I cannot overlook the generosity and comfort [of the organizations assisting with storm recovery],” Stothert wrote to the council.

The resolution will be considered at the May 7 City Council meeting.

FEMA has validated that nearly 400 homes were impacted in Douglas and Washington Counties, including almost 160 homes that were destroyed.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nearly-80-more-nebraska-national-guard-members-deploying-to-assist-with-storm-recovery/">Nebraska National Guard members</a>&nbsp;are assisting with security and recovery efforts in Douglas County at Pillen’s deployment.

Pillen has said it could take “every single weekend” and opportunity “between now the snow flying” to get communities able to start rebuilding. Full recovery, he added, will take years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714742750151.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (center) joins State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn in her district, visiting people in Douglas County who had homes damaged by the tornadoes that hit the area April 26, 2024. (Courtesy of the Governor’s Office)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (center) joins State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn in her district, visiting people in Douglas County who had homes damaged by the tornadoes that hit the area April 26, 2024. (Courtesy of the Governor’s Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/gov-pillen-requests-federal-disaster-declaration-with-storm-damage-to-public-infrastructure-estimated-at-11-5-million/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen has officially submitted a request to President Joe Biden for a federal disaster declaration, estimating $11.5 million for public infrastructure damage.The Thursday request comes nearly one week after last week’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?issuedby=OAX&amp;product=PNS&amp;site=oax">destructive Friday storms</a>&nbsp;in eastern Nebraska. This includes Lancaster, Douglas and Washington Counties, for which Pillen has already issued an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/gov-pillen-issues-post-storm-declaration-that-allows-use-of-state-emergency-fund/">emergency proclamation</a>, unlocking emergency state funds.Relief costs include debris removal, emergency protective measures and individual assistance.“This is not normal for Nebraskans to ask for help,” Pillen said at a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/29/gov-pillen-outlines-nebraskas-local-federal-next-steps-following-war-zone-tornadoes/">Monday news conference</a>. “If you don’t ask for help, we actually harm our neighbor because we need everybody to get to the level so that we can get the federal assistance.”The federal request comes in coordination between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Nebraska’s state counterpart, which have conducted multiple damage assessments, including flyovers of damaged areas.Preliminary public infrastructure damage assessments total $11.5 million, of which more than $8 million is for damage in Douglas and Washington Counties.&nbsp;The request states the cost will increase as damage assessments continue.Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert on Thursday night announced a call to the Omaha City Council to approve $100,000 to assist families affected by the Arbor Day tornadoes.Stothert requested that the council forgo the annual Neighborhood Grants program awards and instead reallocate the funds to organizations providing direct and immediate aid to families.“Omaha is a community of caring and we all want to help,” Stothert said in a statement. “That has been very apparent in the last week.”&nbsp;Under two nearly identical proposed resolutions, the relief funds would be divided between&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityclerk.cityofomaha.org/wp-content/uploads/images/RES-2024-0580">Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityclerk.cityofomaha.org/wp-content/uploads/images/RES-2024-0581">Relevant Community Church</a>, which Stothert said have helped to alleviate suffering and help the community heal from the storms.“While those who have applied for the neighborhood grants have worthy causes and projects, I cannot overlook the generosity and comfort [of the organizations assisting with storm recovery],” Stothert wrote to the council.The resolution will be considered at the May 7 City Council meeting.FEMA has validated that nearly 400 homes were impacted in Douglas and Washington Counties, including almost 160 homes that were destroyed.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nearly-80-more-nebraska-national-guard-members-deploying-to-assist-with-storm-recovery/">Nebraska National Guard members</a>&nbsp;are assisting with security and recovery efforts in Douglas County at Pillen’s deployment.Pillen has said it could take “every single weekend” and opportunity “between now the snow flying” to get communities able to start rebuilding. Full recovery, he added, will take years.

Gov. Pillen requests federal disaster declaration, with estimated $11.5 million in storm damage

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — United Methodist delegates on Thursday removed a 52-year-old declaration from their official social teachings that deemed “the practice of homosexuality ... incompatible with Christian teaching” — part of a wider series of historic reversals of the denomination’s longstanding disapproval of LGBTQ activity.

The historic vote came as delegates also approved a new definition of marriage as a covenant between “two people of faith” while recognizing the couple may or may not involve a man and a woman. That replaces an exclusively heterosexual definition of marriage and followed a debate that exposed tensions between some U.S. and international delegates.

The 523-161 vote to approve a section of the church's Revised Social Principles took place at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in the penultimate day of their 11-day legislative gathering in Charlotte.

It came a day after the General Conference&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodist-lgbtq-clergy-general-conference-acabe18fe22b6838e3005ad8895534fa">removed its longstanding ban</a>&nbsp;on "self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being ordained or appointed as ministers. Step by step, delegates have been removing anti-LGBTQ language throughout their official documents.

But the marriage definition was approved only after debate and a compromise amendment — one of the few instances of open debate during this otherwise overwhelmingly progressive conference.

“God designed marriage to be between a man and a woman,” said Nimia Peralta from the Northwest Philippines. While the conference earlier approved a regionalization plan enabling different parts of the global church to adapt rules to their local contexts, “God’s Word can never be regionalized,” she said.

But the Rev. James Howell of Western North Carolina applauded the new language.

“Cynics and young adults will not listen to us talk about Jesus if we say we do not condone people they love and care about,” Howell said. “Friends, it’s time.”

The Rev. Kalaba Chali, based in Kansas, said the principles are general enough without forcing people in different cultural contexts “to do things the same way.”

The approval came only after an amendment offered by lay delegate Molly Mwayera of East Zimbabwe, who noted that many African countries do not allow for same-sex marriage. After extended wordsmithing, the assembly settled on an amendment with a parenthetical clause that affirmed marriage as a sacred covenant bringing “two people of faith (adult man and woman of consenting age or two adult persons of consenting age) into union."

It’s the UMC’s first legislative gathering since 2019, one that features its most progressive slate of delegates in memory due to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congregations-leaving-united-methodist-church-lgbtq-bans-70b8c89ea49174597f4548c249bab24f">departure of many conservatives</a>&nbsp;from the denomination. More than 7,600 mostly conservative congregations in the United States — one quarter of the denomination's American total — disaffiliated because the UMC essentially stopped enforcing its bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination.

A temporary window enabled American churches to leave with their properties, normally held by the denomination, under more favorable than normal terms. While the conference voted against extending that window to international churches, the conference votes could still prompt departures of some international churches through different means — particularly in Africa, where conservative sexual values prevail and where same-sex activity is criminalized in some countries.

After the vote, contrasting gatherings were held nearby outside the Charlotte Convention Center — a celebratory gathering of LGBTQ people and their allies at one end of a long courtyard, a defiant gathering of prayer and song by dozens of African delegates who opposed the changes.

“We are deeply devastated now to be part of a denomination that will contradict the Bible ’s teaching on marriage and sexual morality,” said the Rev. Jerry Kulah, of the conservative advocacy group Africa Initiative. He said African conferences will have to decide their future, but he contended the denomination was “willing to lose Africans and Africa to fulfill this progressive agenda.”

Some African delegates have spoken in support of the regionalization proposal, which can allow church regions to maintain their bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination even as American churches go without them.

The progressive momentum of the General Conference was evident from the vote Thursday. They voted on the last of a series of approvals of a wholesale rewrite of the denomination’s Social Principles — a non-binding but influential compendium of the denomination’s social stances on everything from war and peace to the environment and family relations.

The new version no longer includes the clause: “The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching." It had also urged members not to condemn gays and lesbians.

The old version said sexual relations are "affirmed only with the covenant of monogamous, heterosexual marriage."

The new version omits this phrase and describes “human sexuality as a sacred gift” and a “healthy and natural part of life that is expressed in wonderfully diverse ways.” It doesn't say anything about restricting sexual activity to marriage. It does say people have the right to consent to sex and condemns sexual harassment and exploitation and opposes pornography as “destructive.”

The new version calls for human rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and other racial, ethnic and gender categories.

Thursday’s change is particularly significant because the “incompatible” clause dates back to the beginning of the 52-year-old debate on LGBTQ issues within one of the nation’s largest Protestant denominations. The phrasing was adopted on the floor of the 1972 General Conference via an amendment proposed by a delegate, added to the original draft statement that had said “persons of homosexual orientation are persons of sacred worth.”

The denomination had been revising and adding to the Social Principles for decades; this amounts to the first wholesale rewrite in many years. Other revisions were approved earlier this week.

The drafters chose general language because the denomination spans countries and cultures, said John Hill, interim general secretary at the Board of Church and Society, at a news conference earlier this week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714692325534.png" alt="Kaleigh Corbett and Thomas Lank of the Greater New Jersey Conference embrace after General Conference delegates voted on May 2 to eliminate the longtime assertion in the denomination’s Social Principles that “the practice of homosexuality… is incompatible with Christian teaching.” The legislative assembly is meeting in Charlotte, N.C., through May 3. Photo by Larry McCormack, courtesy UM News." />
 <figcaption>Kaleigh Corbett and Thomas Lank of the Greater New Jersey Conference embrace after General Conference delegates voted on May 2 to eliminate the longtime assertion in the denomination’s Social Principles that “the practice of homosexuality… is incompatible with Christian teaching.” The legislative assembly is meeting in Charlotte, N.C., through May 3. Photo by Larry McCormack, courtesy UM News.</figcaption>
 </figure>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — United Methodist delegates on Thursday removed a 52-year-old declaration from their official social teachings that deemed “the practice of homosexuality ... incompatible with Christian teaching” — part of a wider series of historic reversals of the denomination’s longstanding disapproval of LGBTQ activity.The historic vote came as delegates also approved a new definition of marriage as a covenant between “two people of faith” while recognizing the couple may or may not involve a man and a woman. That replaces an exclusively heterosexual definition of marriage and followed a debate that exposed tensions between some U.S. and international delegates.The 523-161 vote to approve a section of the church's Revised Social Principles took place at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in the penultimate day of their 11-day legislative gathering in Charlotte.It came a day after the General Conference&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodist-lgbtq-clergy-general-conference-acabe18fe22b6838e3005ad8895534fa">removed its longstanding ban</a>&nbsp;on "self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being ordained or appointed as ministers. Step by step, delegates have been removing anti-LGBTQ language throughout their official documents.But the marriage definition was approved only after debate and a compromise amendment — one of the few instances of open debate during this otherwise overwhelmingly progressive conference.“God designed marriage to be between a man and a woman,” said Nimia Peralta from the Northwest Philippines. While the conference earlier approved a regionalization plan enabling different parts of the global church to adapt rules to their local contexts, “God’s Word can never be regionalized,” she said.But the Rev. James Howell of Western North Carolina applauded the new language.“Cynics and young adults will not listen to us talk about Jesus if we say we do not condone people they love and care about,” Howell said. “Friends, it’s time.”The Rev. Kalaba Chali, based in Kansas, said the principles are general enough without forcing people in different cultural contexts “to do things the same way.”The approval came only after an amendment offered by lay delegate Molly Mwayera of East Zimbabwe, who noted that many African countries do not allow for same-sex marriage. After extended wordsmithing, the assembly settled on an amendment with a parenthetical clause that affirmed marriage as a sacred covenant bringing “two people of faith (adult man and woman of consenting age or two adult persons of consenting age) into union."It’s the UMC’s first legislative gathering since 2019, one that features its most progressive slate of delegates in memory due to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congregations-leaving-united-methodist-church-lgbtq-bans-70b8c89ea49174597f4548c249bab24f">departure of many conservatives</a>&nbsp;from the denomination. More than 7,600 mostly conservative congregations in the United States — one quarter of the denomination's American total — disaffiliated because the UMC essentially stopped enforcing its bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination.A temporary window enabled American churches to leave with their properties, normally held by the denomination, under more favorable than normal terms. While the conference voted against extending that window to international churches, the conference votes could still prompt departures of some international churches through different means — particularly in Africa, where conservative sexual values prevail and where same-sex activity is criminalized in some countries.After the vote, contrasting gatherings were held nearby outside the Charlotte Convention Center — a celebratory gathering of LGBTQ people and their allies at one end of a long courtyard, a defiant gathering of prayer and song by dozens of African delegates who opposed the changes.“We are deeply devastated now to be part of a denomination that will contradict the Bible ’s teaching on marriage and sexual morality,” said the Rev. Jerry Kulah, of the conservative advocacy group Africa Initiative. He said African conferences will have to decide their future, but he contended the denomination was “willing to lose Africans and Africa to fulfill this progressive agenda.”Some African delegates have spoken in support of the regionalization proposal, which can allow church regions to maintain their bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination even as American churches go without them.The progressive momentum of the General Conference was evident from the vote Thursday. They voted on the last of a series of approvals of a wholesale rewrite of the denomination’s Social Principles — a non-binding but influential compendium of the denomination’s social stances on everything from war and peace to the environment and family relations.The new version no longer includes the clause: “The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching." It had also urged members not to condemn gays and lesbians.The old version said sexual relations are "affirmed only with the covenant of monogamous, heterosexual marriage."The new version omits this phrase and describes “human sexuality as a sacred gift” and a “healthy and natural part of life that is expressed in wonderfully diverse ways.” It doesn't say anything about restricting sexual activity to marriage. It does say people have the right to consent to sex and condemns sexual harassment and exploitation and opposes pornography as “destructive.”The new version calls for human rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and other racial, ethnic and gender categories.Thursday’s change is particularly significant because the “incompatible” clause dates back to the beginning of the 52-year-old debate on LGBTQ issues within one of the nation’s largest Protestant denominations. The phrasing was adopted on the floor of the 1972 General Conference via an amendment proposed by a delegate, added to the original draft statement that had said “persons of homosexual orientation are persons of sacred worth.”The denomination had been revising and adding to the Social Principles for decades; this amounts to the first wholesale rewrite in many years. Other revisions were approved earlier this week.The drafters chose general language because the denomination spans countries and cultures, said John Hill, interim general secretary at the Board of Church and Society, at a news conference earlier this week.

United Methodists remove anti-gay language from their official teachings on societal issues

JERUSALEM (AP) —Dror Or, a 49-year-old held captive in Gaza, has died, the Hostages Families Forum said Friday. Or marks the 38th hostage killed, the forum said.

He was one of about 250 people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-displaced-hamas-dead-sea-beeri-hotel-94d57fc34dd18a73e38eea8437d15801">abducted when Hamas attacked</a>&nbsp;southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel says militants&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hostage-families-ceasefire-ramadan-d1b0da2f7bd2e9882f79ebae874561be">still hold around 100 hostages</a>&nbsp;and the remains of more than 30 others.

Dozens of people demonstrated Thursday night outside Israel’s military headquarters in Tel Aviv, demanding a deal to release the hostages. Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-gaza-palestinian-authority-israel-war-ed7018dbaae09b81513daf3bda38109a">Hamas</a>&nbsp;said it would send a delegation to Cairo as soon as possible to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-05-02-2024-0699ef663cba7318c375c0ee5bbf20ae">keep working on cease-fire talks</a>. A leaked truce proposal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-ceasefire-negotiations-7cec005ccd59dbd817ef9614a8611ca4">hints at compromises by both sides</a>&nbsp;after months of talks languishing in a stalemate.

Across the United States, tent encampments and demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/college-protests-Palestine-updates">spread across university campuses</a>. More than 2,000 protesters have been arrested over the past two weeks as students rally against the war’s death toll and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-protest-gaza-war-arrest-amnesty-ae235703d6a9b99114078fca13a530a0">call for universities to separate themselves</a>&nbsp;from any companies that are advancing Israel’s military efforts in Gaza.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;has driven around 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million from their homes, caused vast destruction in several towns and cities, and pushed northern Gaza&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">to the brink of famine</a>. The death toll in Gaza has soared to more than 34,500 people,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">according to local health officials</a>, and the territory's entire population has been driven into a humanitarian catastrophe.

Meanwhile, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, while at a news conference Thursday in Hawaii, was asked by a reporter what consequences Israel would face from the U.S. if Israel conducted an offensive operation in Rafah without “appropriately taking into account” civilians in the area.

Austin said it would be up to President Joe Biden and he wouldn’t speculate on that, but that currently, "conditions are not favorable to any kind of operation."

“What we’ve highlighted for the Israelis is that it’s really important to make sure that the civilians that are in that battle space move out of that battle space before any activity is conducted. And that if and when they return to any kind of operation that it be conducted in a more much more precise fashion,” Austin said.

He noted there were about 275,000 people living in and around Rafah before the conflict started but there are now about 1.4 million.

“That’s a lot of people in a very small space. There’s a good chance that without taking the right measures that we’ll see a lot more civilian casualties going forward. So before anything happens, we certainly want to see them address that threat to the civilians,” Austin said.

“Right now, the conditions are not favorable to any kind of operation. And we’ve been clear about that. It is necessary to take care of the civilian population that’s in that area before anything else happens,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714731047165.png" alt="Dror Or- photo Hostage and Missing Families" />
 <figcaption>Dror Or- photo Hostage and Missing Families</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) —Dror Or, a 49-year-old held captive in Gaza, has died, the Hostages Families Forum said Friday. Or marks the 38th hostage killed, the forum said.He was one of about 250 people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-displaced-hamas-dead-sea-beeri-hotel-94d57fc34dd18a73e38eea8437d15801">abducted when Hamas attacked</a>&nbsp;southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel says militants&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hostage-families-ceasefire-ramadan-d1b0da2f7bd2e9882f79ebae874561be">still hold around 100 hostages</a>&nbsp;and the remains of more than 30 others.Dozens of people demonstrated Thursday night outside Israel’s military headquarters in Tel Aviv, demanding a deal to release the hostages. Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-gaza-palestinian-authority-israel-war-ed7018dbaae09b81513daf3bda38109a">Hamas</a>&nbsp;said it would send a delegation to Cairo as soon as possible to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-05-02-2024-0699ef663cba7318c375c0ee5bbf20ae">keep working on cease-fire talks</a>. A leaked truce proposal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-ceasefire-negotiations-7cec005ccd59dbd817ef9614a8611ca4">hints at compromises by both sides</a>&nbsp;after months of talks languishing in a stalemate.Across the United States, tent encampments and demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/college-protests-Palestine-updates">spread across university campuses</a>. More than 2,000 protesters have been arrested over the past two weeks as students rally against the war’s death toll and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-protest-gaza-war-arrest-amnesty-ae235703d6a9b99114078fca13a530a0">call for universities to separate themselves</a>&nbsp;from any companies that are advancing Israel’s military efforts in Gaza.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;has driven around 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million from their homes, caused vast destruction in several towns and cities, and pushed northern Gaza&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-18-2024-eefc526aec97821fe5f1e845801a6640">to the brink of famine</a>. The death toll in Gaza has soared to more than 34,500 people,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">according to local health officials</a>, and the territory's entire population has been driven into a humanitarian catastrophe.Meanwhile, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, while at a news conference Thursday in Hawaii, was asked by a reporter what consequences Israel would face from the U.S. if Israel conducted an offensive operation in Rafah without “appropriately taking into account” civilians in the area.Austin said it would be up to President Joe Biden and he wouldn’t speculate on that, but that currently, "conditions are not favorable to any kind of operation."“What we’ve highlighted for the Israelis is that it’s really important to make sure that the civilians that are in that battle space move out of that battle space before any activity is conducted. And that if and when they return to any kind of operation that it be conducted in a more much more precise fashion,” Austin said.He noted there were about 275,000 people living in and around Rafah before the conflict started but there are now about 1.4 million.“That’s a lot of people in a very small space. There’s a good chance that without taking the right measures that we’ll see a lot more civilian casualties going forward. So before anything happens, we certainly want to see them address that threat to the civilians,” Austin said.“Right now, the conditions are not favorable to any kind of operation. And we’ve been clear about that. It is necessary to take care of the civilian population that’s in that area before anything else happens,” he said.

U.S. confirms another hostage held in Gaza has died 

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/gov-pillens-office-outlines-973-state-positions-slated-for-elimination-this-summer/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen’s office released a detailed list Wednesday of nearly 1,000 state employment positions slated for elimination June 1 because they have been vacant for more than 90 days.

Pillen signed an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/docs/pilot/pubs/eofiles/24-03.pdf">executive order</a>&nbsp;Tuesday that calls for any state position that remains unfilled for 90 days to be removed following a periodic review, also every 90 days. According to the list, this includes&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Vacancy-2024-05-01-Dates.pdf">973 positions</a>, with 37% coming from the state’s largest agency: the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

The executive order will call for eliminating positions across 38 departments, offices, boards and commissions and is estimated to save nearly $40 million, according to the governor.

The order does not apply to certain “critical” positions, such as public safety or law enforcement, as well as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=81-1316">exempt positions</a>, which include employees of the University of Nebraska.

“I promised to run state government like a business and this order delivers on that promise,” Pillen said in a statement. “We have proven we can work without them, so we will eliminate them and return the money to the taxpayers.”

Any saved funds are meant to be redistributed, according to the state budget administrator, particularly for property tax relief. Any redistributions must be authorized by the Legislature if the budget administrator seeks to transfer funds outside agencies or certain programs.

State Sens. Robert Clements of Elmwood and Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the respective chairs of the Legislature’s Revenue and Appropriations Committees,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/30/gov-jim-pillen-announces-plans-to-slash-nearly-1000-vacant-state-positions/">endorsed Pillen’s order</a>.

“I don’t have a problem with eliminating vacancies as long as the level of service is maintained, which they’re telling me they’re making sure that’s the case,” Clements said.

The breakdown of 820 slated eliminations for state departments:

The slated 153 position eliminations for boards, commissions or offices:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714683083685.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen. April 18, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen. April 18, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/gov-pillens-office-outlines-973-state-positions-slated-for-elimination-this-summer/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen’s office released a detailed list Wednesday of nearly 1,000 state employment positions slated for elimination June 1 because they have been vacant for more than 90 days.Pillen signed an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://govdocs.nebraska.gov/docs/pilot/pubs/eofiles/24-03.pdf">executive order</a>&nbsp;Tuesday that calls for any state position that remains unfilled for 90 days to be removed following a periodic review, also every 90 days. According to the list, this includes&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Vacancy-2024-05-01-Dates.pdf">973 positions</a>, with 37% coming from the state’s largest agency: the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.The executive order will call for eliminating positions across 38 departments, offices, boards and commissions and is estimated to save nearly $40 million, according to the governor.The order does not apply to certain “critical” positions, such as public safety or law enforcement, as well as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=81-1316">exempt positions</a>, which include employees of the University of Nebraska.“I promised to run state government like a business and this order delivers on that promise,” Pillen said in a statement. “We have proven we can work without them, so we will eliminate them and return the money to the taxpayers.”Any saved funds are meant to be redistributed, according to the state budget administrator, particularly for property tax relief. Any redistributions must be authorized by the Legislature if the budget administrator seeks to transfer funds outside agencies or certain programs.State Sens. Robert Clements of Elmwood and Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the respective chairs of the Legislature’s Revenue and Appropriations Committees,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/30/gov-jim-pillen-announces-plans-to-slash-nearly-1000-vacant-state-positions/">endorsed Pillen’s order</a>.“I don’t have a problem with eliminating vacancies as long as the level of service is maintained, which they’re telling me they’re making sure that’s the case,” Clements said.The breakdown of 820 slated eliminations for state departments:<ul>
 <li>Department of Administrative Services —&nbsp;74</li><li>Department of Agriculture —&nbsp;7</li><li>Department of Banking and Finance —&nbsp;1</li><li>Department of Correctional Services —&nbsp;48</li><li>Department of Economic Development —&nbsp;25</li><li>Department of Environment and Energy —&nbsp;25</li><li>Department of Health and Human Services —&nbsp;362</li><li>Department of Insurance —&nbsp;5</li><li>Department of Labor — 98</li><li>Department of Military —&nbsp;37</li><li>Department of Motor Vehicles —&nbsp;17</li><li>Department of Natural Resources —&nbsp;6</li><li>Department of Revenue —&nbsp;36</li><li>Department of Transportation&nbsp;—&nbsp;74</li><li>Department of Veterans Affairs —&nbsp;5</li>
 </ul>The slated 153 position eliminations for boards, commissions or offices:<ul>
 <li>Accountability and Disclosure Commission —&nbsp;1</li><li>Blind and Visually Impaired Commission&nbsp;—&nbsp;5</li><li>Crime Commission — 12</li><li>Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission —&nbsp;2</li><li>Educational Telecommunications Commission —&nbsp;9</li><li>Office of the Fire Marshal —&nbsp;6</li><li>Foster Care Review Office —&nbsp;1</li><li>Game and Parks Commission —&nbsp;46</li><li>Grain Sorghum Board —&nbsp;1</li><li>History Nebraska —&nbsp;13</li><li>Indian Affairs Commission —&nbsp;1</li><li>Nebraska Investment Council —&nbsp;1</li><li>Library Commission —&nbsp;4</li><li>Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board —&nbsp;1</li><li>Oil and Gas Conservation Commission —&nbsp;1</li><li>Racing and Gaming Commission —&nbsp;19</li><li>Real Estate Commission —&nbsp;1</li><li>Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems —&nbsp;3</li><li>Nebraska State Patrol —&nbsp;15</li><li>Tourism Commission —&nbsp;1</li><li>Wheat Board — 2</li><li>Workers Compensation Court —&nbsp;8</li>
 </ul>

Gov. Pillen’s office outlines 973 state positions slated for elimination this summer

By U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Iran’s leaders regularly espouse the goal of eradicating the state of Israel. Earlier this month, Iran acted on that goal, launching for the first time an attack on Israel from its own soil. Iranian leaders have threatened future responses from Iranian territory.

A line has been crossed. This attack and any future escalation pose a threat to Israel and regional stability, as well as to U.S. troops stationed in the region.

Just as concerning: Iran is increasing its defense cooperation with Russia and China, participating in military exercises with both countries, and pursuing advanced military equipment from and to Moscow.

Meanwhile, the Iranian regime continues to provide support to terrorist groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Gaza, where Israel continues its battle against those responsible for the Oct. 7 attack. Iran also has the technical capability to develop a nuclear weapon if the Supreme Leader orders it.

But Iran’s nefarious plans require funding, and the regime’s economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which represent up to 70% of its government revenues. By cutting off Iran’s lucrative oil market, we can drain their terrorist slush funds and weaken Iran’s ability to promote further violence.

Since 2010, Congress has passed numerous bipartisan laws to restrict Iran’s oil exports. In the last six months alone, there have been more than 100 bills introduced in Congress aimed at diminishing Iranian oil sales.

Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of the president to enforce these sanctions, and the Biden administration has failed to do so in any meaningful way.

After the Trump administration withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and began its “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that Iran’s crude oil fell from 2.5 million barrels per day in 2017 to a mere 400,000 in 2020.

The Biden administration recently announced plans to impose new sanctions on Iran, stating, “These new sanctions and other measures will continue a steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and degrade Iran’s military capacity and effectiveness.”

Yet this administration has steadily reduced pressure on Iran and failed to enforce bipartisan sanctions already in place — allowing Iran to return to exporting 1.6 to 1.8 million barrels of oil a day.

I have no confidence in the White House to enforce these new sanctions. Posturing and using one-word phrases mean nothing to Iran.

Six months have passed since the greatest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust, and Iranian oil prices and production have reached a multi-year high. Since then, an Iran-backed group killed three American servicemembers, and another has effectively closed the Red Sea to commercial shipping. Iranian intelligence continues to plot to assassinate U.S. officials. Whatever goodwill the president hoped to earn from Tehran by looking the other way on sanctions, his policy has only reaped chaos.

The greatest beneficiary of Biden’s policy, besides Iran, is China, which is the primary customer of Iran’s oil — buying up to 90% of it at a substantial discount. This, in turn, supports China’s economy and its rapid military modernization that is a threat to the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. officials “have privately acknowledged a gradual relaxation of enforcement on Iranian oil sales.” Any relaxation of congressionally-mandated sanctions against Iran while our trusted allies in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific endure threats to their security and stability is wholly unacceptable.

To be sure, sanctions alone are not a panacea to the Iran challenge. They are one tool to be coupled with military and diplomatic pressure to achieve the outcomes we seek. But they are a tool to be wielded. It is far past time for Biden to do so.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698779613018.jpeg" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, member of the Senate Select Committee on IntelligenceIran’s leaders regularly espouse the goal of eradicating the state of Israel. Earlier this month, Iran acted on that goal, launching for the first time an attack on Israel from its own soil. Iranian leaders have threatened future responses from Iranian territory.A line has been crossed. This attack and any future escalation pose a threat to Israel and regional stability, as well as to U.S. troops stationed in the region.Just as concerning: Iran is increasing its defense cooperation with Russia and China, participating in military exercises with both countries, and pursuing advanced military equipment from and to Moscow.Meanwhile, the Iranian regime continues to provide support to terrorist groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Gaza, where Israel continues its battle against those responsible for the Oct. 7 attack. Iran also has the technical capability to develop a nuclear weapon if the Supreme Leader orders it.But Iran’s nefarious plans require funding, and the regime’s economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which represent up to 70% of its government revenues. By cutting off Iran’s lucrative oil market, we can drain their terrorist slush funds and weaken Iran’s ability to promote further violence.Since 2010, Congress has passed numerous bipartisan laws to restrict Iran’s oil exports. In the last six months alone, there have been more than 100 bills introduced in Congress aimed at diminishing Iranian oil sales.Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of the president to enforce these sanctions, and the Biden administration has failed to do so in any meaningful way.After the Trump administration withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and began its “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that Iran’s crude oil fell from 2.5 million barrels per day in 2017 to a mere 400,000 in 2020.The Biden administration recently announced plans to impose new sanctions on Iran, stating, “These new sanctions and other measures will continue a steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and degrade Iran’s military capacity and effectiveness.”Yet this administration has steadily reduced pressure on Iran and failed to enforce bipartisan sanctions already in place — allowing Iran to return to exporting 1.6 to 1.8 million barrels of oil a day.I have no confidence in the White House to enforce these new sanctions. Posturing and using one-word phrases mean nothing to Iran.Six months have passed since the greatest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust, and Iranian oil prices and production have reached a multi-year high. Since then, an Iran-backed group killed three American servicemembers, and another has effectively closed the Red Sea to commercial shipping. Iranian intelligence continues to plot to assassinate U.S. officials. Whatever goodwill the president hoped to earn from Tehran by looking the other way on sanctions, his policy has only reaped chaos.The greatest beneficiary of Biden’s policy, besides Iran, is China, which is the primary customer of Iran’s oil — buying up to 90% of it at a substantial discount. This, in turn, supports China’s economy and its rapid military modernization that is a threat to the Indo-Pacific region.U.S. officials “have privately acknowledged a gradual relaxation of enforcement on Iranian oil sales.” Any relaxation of congressionally-mandated sanctions against Iran while our trusted allies in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific endure threats to their security and stability is wholly unacceptable.To be sure, sanctions alone are not a panacea to the Iran challenge. They are one tool to be coupled with military and diplomatic pressure to achieve the outcomes we seek. But they are a tool to be wielded. It is far past time for Biden to do so.

Moran:  Biden’s failure to enforce sanctions fuels Iranian aggression

Office of Attorney General Mike Hilgers

Lincoln – Attorney General Mike Hilgers joined a coalition of 21 states in a lawsuit opposing an ATF rule that would prevent law-abiding Americans from privately selling firearms.&nbsp;

The rule seeks to require a federal firearms dealer license for every individual who sells a firearm for anything the ATF sees as a profit, including currency, exchange of another firearm, or a service. It could make a felon of a gun hobbyist who sells a firearm to another family member or a hunter who trades a firearm with another hunting buddy.

“Until now, those who repetitively purchased and sold firearms as a regular course of business had to become a licensee… This rule would put innocent firearm sales between law-abiding friends and family members within reach of federal regulation,” the court filing reads. “Such innocent sales between friends and family would constitute a felony if the seller did not in fact obtain a federal firearms license and perform a background check.”&nbsp;

In the suit filed in Arkansas, the attorneys general argue that the rule is unconstitutional because it is vague, violates the Second Amendment, and circumvents Congress.

Nebraska joined the lawsuit alongside attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.&nbsp;

Office of Attorney General Mike HilgersLincoln – Attorney General Mike Hilgers joined a coalition of 21 states in a lawsuit opposing an ATF rule that would prevent law-abiding Americans from privately selling firearms.&nbsp;The rule seeks to require a federal firearms dealer license for every individual who sells a firearm for anything the ATF sees as a profit, including currency, exchange of another firearm, or a service. It could make a felon of a gun hobbyist who sells a firearm to another family member or a hunter who trades a firearm with another hunting buddy.“Until now, those who repetitively purchased and sold firearms as a regular course of business had to become a licensee… This rule would put innocent firearm sales between law-abiding friends and family members within reach of federal regulation,” the court filing reads. “Such innocent sales between friends and family would constitute a felony if the seller did not in fact obtain a federal firearms license and perform a background check.”&nbsp;In the suit filed in Arkansas, the attorneys general argue that the rule is unconstitutional because it is vague, violates the Second Amendment, and circumvents Congress.Nebraska joined the lawsuit alongside attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.&nbsp;

 Nebraska Joins 21-State Coalition in Lawsuit against Unconstitutional ATF Rule

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday defended the right to protest but insisted that “order must prevail” as college campuses across the country face unrest over the war in Gaza.

“Dissent is essential for democracy," he said at the White House. "But dissent must never lead to disorder.”

Tensions have been building for days as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-nyu-israel-gaza-protests-2c1f043478570f9206a2ea8470457cf7">demonstrators refuse to remove campus encampments</a>&nbsp;and administrators turn to police&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">to clear them by force</a>, leading to clashes that have seized attention from politicians and the media.

Biden said he did not support calls to send in the National Guard. He also said that the protests have not prompted him to reconsider his approach to the war. The Democratic president has occasionally criticized Israel's conduct but continued to supply it with weapons.

His remarks, occurring shortly before he left the White House for a trip to North Carolina, came after days of silence about the protests. Republicans have tried to turn the scenes of unrest into a campaign cudgel, and Biden said he rejected efforts to use the situation to “score political points.”

“This isn’t a moment for politics," he said. "It’s a moment for clarity.”

Biden's last previous public comment on the protests came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-college-protests-politics-election-2337121fb3620d2a4a6b2e22aaaf59bc">more than a week ago</a>, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”

The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, had gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behavior.

(Click below to watch Jean-Pierre's comments from Wednesday)

“Forcibly taking over a building," such as what happened at Columbia University in New York, "is not peaceful," she said. "It’s just not.”

Biden has never been much for protesting. His career in elected office began as a county official when he was only 28 years old, and he’s always espoused the political importance of compromise over zealousness.

As college campuses convulsed with anger over the Vietnam War in 1968, Biden was in law school at Syracuse University.

“I’m not big on flak jackets and tie-dyed shirts,” he said years later. “You know, that’s not me.″

Despite the White House's criticism and Biden's refusal to heed protesters' demands to cut off U.S. support for Israel, Republicans blame Democrats for the disorder and have used it as a backdrop for press conferences.

“We need the president of the United States to speak to the issue and say this is wrong," House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said on Tuesday. "What’s happening on college campuses right now is wrong.”

Johnson visited Columbia with other members of his caucus last week. House Republicans sparred with protesters while speaking to the media at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

Former President Donald Trump, his party's presumptive nominee, also criticized Biden in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.

“Biden has to do something,” he said. “Biden is supposed to be the voice of our country, and it’s certainly not much of a voice. It’s a voice that nobody’s heard.”

He repeated his criticisms on Wednesday during a campaign event in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

“The radical extremists and far-left agitators are terrorizing college campuses, as you possibly noticed," Trump said. “And Biden’s nowhere to be found. He hasn’t said anything."

Kate Berner, who served as deputy communications director for Biden’s campaign in 2020, said Republicans already tried the same tactic four years ago during protests over George Floyd’s murder by a police officer.

“People rejected that,” she said. “They saw that it was just fearmongering. They saw that it wasn’t based in reality.”

Apart from condemning antisemitism, the White House has been reluctant to directly engage on the issue.

Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected questions during a briefing on Monday.

Asked whether protesters should be disciplined by their schools, she said “universities and colleges make their own decisions” and "we’re not going to weigh in from here.”

Pressed on whether police should be called in, she said “that's up to the colleges and universities.”

When quizzed about administrators rescheduling graduation ceremonies, she said “that is a decision that they have to decide" and “that is on them.”

Biden will make his own visit to a college campus on May 19 when he's scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Morehouse University in Atlanta.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is staying mum about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-university-student-protests-mideast-media-israel-hamas-war-b761cdbe7b912a491bfcfe7d59c63c26">student protests and police crackdowns</a>&nbsp;as Republicans try to turn campus unrest over the war in Gaza into a campaign cudgel against Democrats.

Tension at colleges and universities has been building for days as some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-nyu-israel-gaza-protests-2c1f043478570f9206a2ea8470457cf7">demonstrators refuse to remove encampments</a>&nbsp;and administrators turn to law enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">to clear them by force</a>, leading to clashes that have seized attention from politicians and the media.

But Biden's last public comment came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-college-protests-politics-election-2337121fb3620d2a4a6b2e22aaaf59bc">more than a week ago</a>, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”

The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, has gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behavior.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714585191259.png" alt="Protests Wednesday at the University of Kansas -Photo by JuYeon Kim courtesy KSHB TV" />
 <figcaption>Protests Wednesday at the University of Kansas -Photo by JuYeon Kim courtesy KSHB TV</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday defended the right to protest but insisted that “order must prevail” as college campuses across the country face unrest over the war in Gaza.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden on college campus protests: &quot;There&#39;s the right to protest, but not the right to chaos.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/wtmvjOrLWH">pic.twitter.com/wtmvjOrLWH</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1786053574687859056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Dissent is essential for democracy," he said at the White House. "But dissent must never lead to disorder.”Tensions have been building for days as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-nyu-israel-gaza-protests-2c1f043478570f9206a2ea8470457cf7">demonstrators refuse to remove campus encampments</a>&nbsp;and administrators turn to police&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">to clear them by force</a>, leading to clashes that have seized attention from politicians and the media.Biden said he did not support calls to send in the National Guard. He also said that the protests have not prompted him to reconsider his approach to the war. The Democratic president has occasionally criticized Israel's conduct but continued to supply it with weapons.His remarks, occurring shortly before he left the White House for a trip to North Carolina, came after days of silence about the protests. Republicans have tried to turn the scenes of unrest into a campaign cudgel, and Biden said he rejected efforts to use the situation to “score political points.”“This isn’t a moment for politics," he said. "It’s a moment for clarity.”Biden's last previous public comment on the protests came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-college-protests-politics-election-2337121fb3620d2a4a6b2e22aaaf59bc">more than a week ago</a>, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, had gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behavior.(Click below to watch Jean-Pierre's comments from Wednesday)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1525716921659036%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=390" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“Forcibly taking over a building," such as what happened at Columbia University in New York, "is not peaceful," she said. "It’s just not.”Biden has never been much for protesting. His career in elected office began as a county official when he was only 28 years old, and he’s always espoused the political importance of compromise over zealousness.As college campuses convulsed with anger over the Vietnam War in 1968, Biden was in law school at Syracuse University.“I’m not big on flak jackets and tie-dyed shirts,” he said years later. “You know, that’s not me.″<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714585098880.png" alt="Protesters letter to KU Chancellor" />
 <figcaption>Protesters letter to KU Chancellor</figcaption>
 </figure>Despite the White House's criticism and Biden's refusal to heed protesters' demands to cut off U.S. support for Israel, Republicans blame Democrats for the disorder and have used it as a backdrop for press conferences.“We need the president of the United States to speak to the issue and say this is wrong," House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said on Tuesday. "What’s happening on college campuses right now is wrong.”Johnson visited Columbia with other members of his caucus last week. House Republicans sparred with protesters while speaking to the media at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.Former President Donald Trump, his party's presumptive nominee, also criticized Biden in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.“Biden has to do something,” he said. “Biden is supposed to be the voice of our country, and it’s certainly not much of a voice. It’s a voice that nobody’s heard.”He repeated his criticisms on Wednesday during a campaign event in Waukesha, Wisconsin.“The radical extremists and far-left agitators are terrorizing college campuses, as you possibly noticed," Trump said. “And Biden’s nowhere to be found. He hasn’t said anything."Kate Berner, who served as deputy communications director for Biden’s campaign in 2020, said Republicans already tried the same tactic four years ago during protests over George Floyd’s murder by a police officer.“People rejected that,” she said. “They saw that it was just fearmongering. They saw that it wasn’t based in reality.”Apart from condemning antisemitism, the White House has been reluctant to directly engage on the issue.Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected questions during a briefing on Monday.Asked whether protesters should be disciplined by their schools, she said “universities and colleges make their own decisions” and "we’re not going to weigh in from here.”Pressed on whether police should be called in, she said “that's up to the colleges and universities.”When quizzed about administrators rescheduling graduation ceremonies, she said “that is a decision that they have to decide" and “that is on them.”Biden will make his own visit to a college campus on May 19 when he's scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Morehouse University in Atlanta.-------------------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is staying mum about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-university-student-protests-mideast-media-israel-hamas-war-b761cdbe7b912a491bfcfe7d59c63c26">student protests and police crackdowns</a>&nbsp;as Republicans try to turn campus unrest over the war in Gaza into a campaign cudgel against Democrats.Tension at colleges and universities has been building for days as some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-nyu-israel-gaza-protests-2c1f043478570f9206a2ea8470457cf7">demonstrators refuse to remove encampments</a>&nbsp;and administrators turn to law enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-8b0d3a0cedb17f5e892c6ca43bbdf628">to clear them by force</a>, leading to clashes that have seized attention from politicians and the media.But Biden's last public comment came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-college-protests-politics-election-2337121fb3620d2a4a6b2e22aaaf59bc">more than a week ago</a>, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, has gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behavior.“Forcibly taking over a building," such as what happened at Columbia University in New York, "is not peaceful," she said. "It’s just not.”Biden has never been much for protesting. His career in elected office began as a county official when he was only 28 years old, and he’s always espoused the political importance of compromise over zealousness.As college campuses convulsed with anger over the Vietnam War in 1968, Biden was in law school at Syracuse University.“I’m not big on flak jackets and tie-dyed shirts,” he said years later. “You know, that’s not me.″Despite the White House's criticism and Biden's refusal to heed protesters' demands to cut off U.S. support for Israel, Republicans blame Democrats for the disorder and have used it as a backdrop for press conferences.“We need the president of the United States to speak to the issue and say this is wrong," House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said on Tuesday. "What’s happening on college campuses right now is wrong.”Johnson visited Columbia with other members of his caucus last week. House Republicans sparred with protesters while speaking to the media at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.Former President Donald Trump, his party's presumptive nominee, also criticized Biden in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.“Biden has to do something,” he said. “Biden is supposed to be the voice of our country, and it’s certainly not much of a voice. It’s a voice that nobody’s heard.”He repeated his criticisms on Wednesday during a campaign event in Waukesha, Wisconsin.“The radical extremists and far-left agitators are terrorizing college campuses, as you possibly noticed," Trump said. “And Biden’s nowhere to be found. He hasn’t said anything."Kate Berner, who served as deputy communications director for Biden’s campaign in 2020, said Republicans already tried the same tactic four years ago during protests over George Floyd’s murder by a police officer.“People rejected that,” she said. “They saw that it was just fearmongering. They saw that it wasn’t based in reality.”Apart from condemning antisemitism, the White House has been reluctant to directly engage on the issue.Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected questions during a briefing on Monday.Asked whether protesters should be disciplined by their schools, she said “universities and colleges make their own decisions” and "we’re not going to weigh in from here.”Pressed on whether police should be called in, she said “that's up to the colleges and universities.”When quizzed about administrators rescheduling graduation ceremonies, she said “that is a decision that they have to decide" and “that is on them.”Biden will make his own visit to a college campus on May 19 when he's scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Morehouse University in Atlanta.___

🎥Biden breaks silence on campus protests over the war in Gaza

OMAHA – Considering the recent devastating tornadoes that struck Nebraska communities, we at the League are deeply saddened by the loss and destruction experienced by our families, neighbors, and friends. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy, and we are committed to providing support and assistance during this difficult time.&nbsp;

To aid in the recovery efforts, the League is pleased to announce that the Credit Union Foundation of Nebraska (CUFN) has made a $10,000 donation, on behalf of Nebraska credit unions, to the&nbsp; United Way of the Midlands to assist tornado victims in rebuilding their lives.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“As not-for-profit cooperatives credit unions were founded on the principle of ‘people helping people’ and in times of disaster, credit unions don’t just weather the storm; they become beacons of hope, uniting their strengths to weave a safety net of support for their communities,” said League President and CEO Scott Sullivan.&nbsp;

Nebraska Credit Union LeagueOMAHA – Considering the recent devastating tornadoes that struck Nebraska communities, we at the League are deeply saddened by the loss and destruction experienced by our families, neighbors, and friends. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy, and we are committed to providing support and assistance during this difficult time.&nbsp;To aid in the recovery efforts, the League is pleased to announce that the Credit Union Foundation of Nebraska (CUFN) has made a $10,000 donation, on behalf of Nebraska credit unions, to the&nbsp; United Way of the Midlands to assist tornado victims in rebuilding their lives.&nbsp;&nbsp;“As not-for-profit cooperatives credit unions were founded on the principle of ‘people helping people’ and in times of disaster, credit unions don’t just weather the storm; they become beacons of hope, uniting their strengths to weave a safety net of support for their communities,” said League President and CEO Scott Sullivan.&nbsp;

Credit Union League Foundation to Aid Tornado Victims 

UNL&nbsp;Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

&nbsp; Lincoln, Neb. May 2, 2024 —&nbsp;Over the past year, a group of Sandhills ranchers facing invasive redcedars have heard a welcome word from the university: “Timber!” The University of Nebraska—Lincoln has helped 11 ranchers within 30 miles of the university’s Barta Brothers Ranch near Rose, Nebraska, remove redcedars from their land.

The project, funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust and operated through the university, supported ranchers with up to $10,000 in funds to either mechanically remove or burn redcedars and allow the university to track results.

Kyle Martens, a program coordinator with the Center for Resilience in Agricultural Working Landscapes, has overseen the project. Results are still coming in, but he said one thing is clear.

“When you remove big cedar trees that have been there in the 10- to 20-year range, it's night-and-day difference,” he said. “You wouldn't even recognize the pasture.”

Each large tree can produce tens of thousands of seeds, he said, so even when the tree is gone, seeds remain in the soil. Redcedars have already proven they can grow in Sandhills soil where other trees can’t. Their ability to survive in sandy soils is why governmental agencies promoted them as windbreaks and shelter belts after the Dust Bowl, Martens said.

“Now, all these years later, because we were operating on the fact that you couldn't get trees to grow out there, it somewhat flipped that paradigm on its head where trees like cedar can and will grow and, if not controlled, will go out of control,” he said.

The redcedars outcompete grass and, unchecked, diminish grazing lands, wildlife habitat and aquifer waters and lead to a slew of other problems.

Ranchers spied the encroachment problem decades ago, but it’s newer to the university and research circles, Martens said. "Early on in the nineties, landowners and land managers were sounding the alarm in South Texas and Oklahoma that these trees were moving out into grazing lands, uninterrupted,” he said. “I would say only now, through remote sensing and some of [Nebraska professor] Daniel Uden's work, have we really been able to zoom out and see the big picture, the forest for the trees, if you will.”

Ranchers have tried to kick stray cedar survivors off their land for years and have found it a struggle. Sarah Sortum, a fourth-generation rancher who participated in the cedar project with her brother, Adam Switzer, and their parents, Bruce and Sue Ann Switzer, said the family has tried to manage encroachment with prescribed burns for 12 years and mechanical removal for 15 years but the trees keep coming.

“Every year the intensity ramps up, a seemingly out-of-control cycle of more seed equals more trees that are outpacing management measures,” she said. 

The trees have become one of the main economic and environmental challenges for their ranch, she said. "When I see volunteer cedars in our range pastures, I view them as standing debt,” she said.

Sortum and her family were the only project participants to use fire to remove the cedars.

Martens met with all project participants three times and discussed mechanical removal and prescribed burns and contractors and equipment for both options. He relayed the university’s latest research findings from the collaborative adaptive management project at Barta Brothers Ranch, which uses prescribed burns and rotational grazing.

Although findings are preliminary, Barta researchers have not seen increased erosion or loss of overall plant biomass resulting from patch-burn grazing, Martens said, but they have seen higher weight gains in cattle grazing land in the system.

“The fact that you can do a spring burn, you can turn your animals out pretty quickly, you can have them gain heavily in that first part of the season, it doesn't affect the overall production of plant biomass on the landscape, it's just anecdotal things like that that I share that are pretty interesting,” he said.

In turn, ranchers have told him what they have seen on the land with grazing strategies and managing the land through problems like wind, drought, rain swells and redcedar spread.

“Hearing some of the stories of how they accomplish that, it's intense,” he said. “It's impressive, and I don't know how they have done that for, often, generations, but you get a newfound respect for what these folks do.”Sortum said it costs a lot to remove redcedars mechanically and, although prescribed burns may cost less, ranchers can face financial hardships if they need to defer cattle grazing in an area before or after a burn.

“This is where the cost share really helped us out, taking the financial risk and stress out of the equation so we could focus on getting this area cleared of cedar,” she said.

For future research, she said she was curious whether redcedars could be used as a resource for other products such as essential oils. Historically, some tribes used various parts of the trees, like their berries or bark, for medicines or foods like tea.

Martens said the Nebraska Forest Service tried to figure out a way to make sustainable products from the trees but most of the trees grew too shrubby. Some ranchers have salvaged straight sections of the trees to make quarter posts and fence posts.

Going forward, funding for the cedar project will end in June 2024, and then the 5,300 acres enrolled will be monitored with remote sensing and on-the-ground research.

Daniel Uden, a professor in agronomy and natural resources, received a McIntire-Stennis grant to support follow-up research on redcedar management at Barta Brothers Ranch over the next five years.Martens said he hopes monitoring will give them a good look at what’s happening on the land over time and help determine the cost-effectiveness of treatments.

“We want to keep grass in grass, but we can't spend hundreds of millions of dollars trying to do that,” he said. “We have to find the most cost-effective manner.”

He said he hopes the project will reestablish Barta Brothers Ranch as a “pivotal point” for the Eastern Sandhills to test landowner concerns and different management methods.

“Hopefully, we can continue to partner with our neighbors for years to come and actually put research on the ground that benefits the producers, their families, and the Sandhills at large.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714657118036.jpeg" alt="Kyle Martens (on right) has overseen a project helping 11 landowners near the university’s Barta Brothers Ranch clear eastern redcedars from their land this past year." />
 <figcaption>Kyle Martens (on right) has overseen a project helping 11 landowners near the university’s Barta Brothers Ranch clear eastern redcedars from their land this past year.</figcaption>
 </figure>Ronica StrombergUNL&nbsp;Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources&nbsp; Lincoln, Neb. May 2, 2024 —&nbsp;Over the past year, a group of Sandhills ranchers facing invasive redcedars have heard a welcome word from the university: “Timber!” The University of Nebraska—Lincoln has helped 11 ranchers within 30 miles of the university’s Barta Brothers Ranch near Rose, Nebraska, remove redcedars from their land.The project, funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust and operated through the university, supported ranchers with up to $10,000 in funds to either mechanically remove or burn redcedars and allow the university to track results.Kyle Martens, a program coordinator with the Center for Resilience in Agricultural Working Landscapes, has overseen the project. Results are still coming in, but he said one thing is clear.“When you remove big cedar trees that have been there in the 10- to 20-year range, it's night-and-day difference,” he said. “You wouldn't even recognize the pasture.”Each large tree can produce tens of thousands of seeds, he said, so even when the tree is gone, seeds remain in the soil. Redcedars have already proven they can grow in Sandhills soil where other trees can’t. Their ability to survive in sandy soils is why governmental agencies promoted them as windbreaks and shelter belts after the Dust Bowl, Martens said.“Now, all these years later, because we were operating on the fact that you couldn't get trees to grow out there, it somewhat flipped that paradigm on its head where trees like cedar can and will grow and, if not controlled, will go out of control,” he said.The redcedars outcompete grass and, unchecked, diminish grazing lands, wildlife habitat and aquifer waters and lead to a slew of other problems.Ranchers spied the encroachment problem decades ago, but it’s newer to the university and research circles, Martens said. "Early on in the nineties, landowners and land managers were sounding the alarm in South Texas and Oklahoma that these trees were moving out into grazing lands, uninterrupted,” he said. “I would say only now, through remote sensing and some of [Nebraska professor] Daniel Uden's work, have we really been able to zoom out and see the big picture, the forest for the trees, if you will.”Ranchers have tried to kick stray cedar survivors off their land for years and have found it a struggle. Sarah Sortum, a fourth-generation rancher who participated in the cedar project with her brother, Adam Switzer, and their parents, Bruce and Sue Ann Switzer, said the family has tried to manage encroachment with prescribed burns for 12 years and mechanical removal for 15 years but the trees keep coming.“Every year the intensity ramps up, a seemingly out-of-control cycle of more seed equals more trees that are outpacing management measures,” she said. The trees have become one of the main economic and environmental challenges for their ranch, she said. "When I see volunteer cedars in our range pastures, I view them as standing debt,” she said.Sortum and her family were the only project participants to use fire to remove the cedars.Martens met with all project participants three times and discussed mechanical removal and prescribed burns and contractors and equipment for both options. He relayed the university’s latest research findings from the collaborative adaptive management project at Barta Brothers Ranch, which uses prescribed burns and rotational grazing.Although findings are preliminary, Barta researchers have not seen increased erosion or loss of overall plant biomass resulting from patch-burn grazing, Martens said, but they have seen higher weight gains in cattle grazing land in the system.“The fact that you can do a spring burn, you can turn your animals out pretty quickly, you can have them gain heavily in that first part of the season, it doesn't affect the overall production of plant biomass on the landscape, it's just anecdotal things like that that I share that are pretty interesting,” he said.In turn, ranchers have told him what they have seen on the land with grazing strategies and managing the land through problems like wind, drought, rain swells and redcedar spread.“Hearing some of the stories of how they accomplish that, it's intense,” he said. “It's impressive, and I don't know how they have done that for, often, generations, but you get a newfound respect for what these folks do.”Sortum said it costs a lot to remove redcedars mechanically and, although prescribed burns may cost less, ranchers can face financial hardships if they need to defer cattle grazing in an area before or after a burn.“This is where the cost share really helped us out, taking the financial risk and stress out of the equation so we could focus on getting this area cleared of cedar,” she said.For future research, she said she was curious whether redcedars could be used as a resource for other products such as essential oils. Historically, some tribes used various parts of the trees, like their berries or bark, for medicines or foods like tea.Martens said the Nebraska Forest Service tried to figure out a way to make sustainable products from the trees but most of the trees grew too shrubby. Some ranchers have salvaged straight sections of the trees to make quarter posts and fence posts.Going forward, funding for the cedar project will end in June 2024, and then the 5,300 acres enrolled will be monitored with remote sensing and on-the-ground research.Daniel Uden, a professor in agronomy and natural resources, received a McIntire-Stennis grant to support follow-up research on redcedar management at Barta Brothers Ranch over the next five years.Martens said he hopes monitoring will give them a good look at what’s happening on the land over time and help determine the cost-effectiveness of treatments.“We want to keep grass in grass, but we can't spend hundreds of millions of dollars trying to do that,” he said. “We have to find the most cost-effective manner.”He said he hopes the project will reestablish Barta Brothers Ranch as a “pivotal point” for the Eastern Sandhills to test landowner concerns and different management methods.“Hopefully, we can continue to partner with our neighbors for years to come and actually put research on the ground that benefits the producers, their families, and the Sandhills at large.”

University helps neighboring ranchers oust redcedars

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that David Sikes, 69, of Alma, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 1, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for providing a false statement. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Sikes to 36 months’ probation. There is no parole in the federal system.&nbsp; Sikes was additionally ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

In January of 2018, Jeffrey Sikes, son of David Sikes, was set to be sentenced in the United States District Court for wire fraud crimes. Jeffrey failed to appear at his sentencing and arrest warrants were issued. Following his failure to appear, David Sikes was contacted by federal law enforcement on multiple occasions in attempts to determine Jeffrey’s whereabouts. David indicated to officers he did not know where Jeffrey was located.&nbsp; However, David knew where Jeffrey was living as a fugitive with his family. David even visited Jeffrey where he was hiding in Alabama on at least one occasion before Jeffrey was arrested for further federal crimes. The investigation also revealed that David supported Jeffrey financially while he was living as a fugitive in Alabama.&nbsp;

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States AttorneyUnited States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that David Sikes, 69, of Alma, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 1, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for providing a false statement. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Sikes to 36 months’ probation. There is no parole in the federal system.&nbsp; Sikes was additionally ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.In January of 2018, Jeffrey Sikes, son of David Sikes, was set to be sentenced in the United States District Court for wire fraud crimes. Jeffrey failed to appear at his sentencing and arrest warrants were issued. Following his failure to appear, David Sikes was contacted by federal law enforcement on multiple occasions in attempts to determine Jeffrey’s whereabouts. David indicated to officers he did not know where Jeffrey was located.&nbsp; However, David knew where Jeffrey was living as a fugitive with his family. David even visited Jeffrey where he was hiding in Alabama on at least one occasion before Jeffrey was arrested for further federal crimes. The investigation also revealed that David supported Jeffrey financially while he was living as a fugitive in Alabama.&nbsp;This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

South Central Nebraska Man Convicted for Providing False Statement to Federal Authorities

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/01/university-of-nebraska-joins-wave-of-campus-protests-in-support-of-palestine-gaza/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — More than 100 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students and community members gathered on campus in support of Palestine on Wednesday, joining a host of universities nationwide.

UNL’s 10-hour “Liberated Zone for Palestine,” organized as a&nbsp;one-day event&nbsp;by Lincoln and UNL local chapters in support of Palestinians, set a different tone than other campus protests, which have featured&nbsp;multiple days&nbsp;of encampments and students barricading themselves inside school buildings. Many protests faced arrests or condemnation from local, state and federal leaders.

Instead, the Lincoln event focused on short teach-ins, dances, chants and four demands made throughout the peaceful, daylong protest:

“We’re here because there are students, professors, administration and staff in Gaza who are experiencing a genocide,” Anna Synya, a UNL senior, told the Nebraska Examiner.

Synya, outreach coordinator for Lincoln for Palestine and a member of UNL’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, said the event was important because of the education it offered. She said that everyone got to leave safely, which hasn’t been true at other campuses.

“I couldn’t really have asked for a better day when it comes to how things ran,” Synya said.

She also emphasized that while protesters are concerned about students at other campuses, the reason UNL students came out was for Gaza, where every university has been bombed.

“People seem to think we’re doing it in solidarity with Columbia (University) or something —&nbsp;I mean, I guess, we’re for freedom of speech, and it’s concerning when certain things happen —&nbsp;but really, we’re here for people in Gaza,” Synya said.

As of May 1, at least&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/34568-palestinians-killed-gaza-since-oct-7-gaza-health-ministry-says-2024-05-01/#:~:text=DUBAI%2C%20May%201%20(Reuters),in%20a%20statement%20on%20Wednesday.">34,568 Palestinians</a>&nbsp;had been killed and another 77,765 wounded since Israel’s retaliation began after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, according to the Gaza health ministry.

A small group of counter-protesters, one wearing an Israeli flag, briefly showed up at the protest but quickly left. The UNL Police Department maintained a minimal presence all day.

UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett, in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.unl.edu/chancellor/a-message-from-the-chancellor-may-1">campuswide email</a>&nbsp;just before the 9 a.m. gathering, said the leaders of the event met with campus administrators and were told they could not jeopardize public safety, disrupt academic activities and campus operations or destroy property. He said UNL would also not allow tents or the formation of an encampment.

“It has been my determination, and that of other university leaders, that this is the kind of ‘careful, deliberate and nuanced balance of interests’ called for by our university policy,” Bennett said.&nbsp;

“My commitment to you is that both today, and in the days and weeks to come, we will work diligently to protect the freedom of expression, which we hold so dear, while ensuring that we continue to advance our mission of teaching, research and service,” Bennett continued. “Doing so is central to our identity and vital to our future.”

University officials declined to comment on the protesters’ specific demands because they had not been presented to administrators and officials didn’t want to discuss how UNL would respond before that time, although the demands were&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.klkntv.com/pro-palestine-students-release-list-of-demands-ahead-of-protest-at-unl/">publicly available before Wednesday morning</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714657637145.jpeg" alt="Protesters gathered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in solidarity with Palestinians, joining a host of other campus protests nationwide, demanding dislcosure and divestment of university investments into Israel. May 1, 2024.(Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Protesters gathered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in solidarity with Palestinians, joining a host of other campus protests nationwide, demanding dislcosure and divestment of university investments into Israel. May 1, 2024.(Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/01/university-of-nebraska-joins-wave-of-campus-protests-in-support-of-palestine-gaza/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — More than 100 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students and community members gathered on campus in support of Palestine on Wednesday, joining a host of universities nationwide.UNL’s 10-hour “Liberated Zone for Palestine,” organized as a&nbsp;one-day event&nbsp;by Lincoln and UNL local chapters in support of Palestinians, set a different tone than other campus protests, which have featured&nbsp;multiple days&nbsp;of encampments and students barricading themselves inside school buildings. Many protests faced arrests or condemnation from local, state and federal leaders.Instead, the Lincoln event focused on short teach-ins, dances, chants and four demands made throughout the peaceful, daylong protest:<ul>
 <li>Disclose any university investments into Israel.</li><li>Divest from those commitments.</li><li>End a UNL-sponsored study abroad program in Jerusalem.</li><li>Prohibit future acceptance of grants or funds from Israel.</li>
 </ul>“We’re here because there are students, professors, administration and staff in Gaza who are experiencing a genocide,” Anna Synya, a UNL senior, told the Nebraska Examiner.<h2>‘We’re here for people in Gaza’</h2>Synya, outreach coordinator for Lincoln for Palestine and a member of UNL’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, said the event was important because of the education it offered. She said that everyone got to leave safely, which hasn’t been true at other campuses.“I couldn’t really have asked for a better day when it comes to how things ran,” Synya said.She also emphasized that while protesters are concerned about students at other campuses, the reason UNL students came out was for Gaza, where every university has been bombed.“People seem to think we’re doing it in solidarity with Columbia (University) or something —&nbsp;I mean, I guess, we’re for freedom of speech, and it’s concerning when certain things happen —&nbsp;but really, we’re here for people in Gaza,” Synya said.As of May 1, at least&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/34568-palestinians-killed-gaza-since-oct-7-gaza-health-ministry-says-2024-05-01/#:~:text=DUBAI%2C%20May%201%20(Reuters),in%20a%20statement%20on%20Wednesday.">34,568 Palestinians</a>&nbsp;had been killed and another 77,765 wounded since Israel’s retaliation began after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, according to the Gaza health ministry.A small group of counter-protesters, one wearing an Israeli flag, briefly showed up at the protest but quickly left. The UNL Police Department maintained a minimal presence all day.<h2>Balancing expression and UNL’s mission</h2>UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett, in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.unl.edu/chancellor/a-message-from-the-chancellor-may-1">campuswide email</a>&nbsp;just before the 9 a.m. gathering, said the leaders of the event met with campus administrators and were told they could not jeopardize public safety, disrupt academic activities and campus operations or destroy property. He said UNL would also not allow tents or the formation of an encampment.“It has been my determination, and that of other university leaders, that this is the kind of ‘careful, deliberate and nuanced balance of interests’ called for by our university policy,” Bennett said.&nbsp;“My commitment to you is that both today, and in the days and weeks to come, we will work diligently to protect the freedom of expression, which we hold so dear, while ensuring that we continue to advance our mission of teaching, research and service,” Bennett continued. “Doing so is central to our identity and vital to our future.”University officials declined to comment on the protesters’ specific demands because they had not been presented to administrators and officials didn’t want to discuss how UNL would respond before that time, although the demands were&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.klkntv.com/pro-palestine-students-release-list-of-demands-ahead-of-protest-at-unl/">publicly available before Wednesday morning</a>.Synya said the demands were shared in person with campus leaders&nbsp;so she doesn’t know if they were “maybe just misremembering.”“As students we’re stakeholders in this community — we’re the customer here —&nbsp;so we’d like a response,” Synya said.<h2>Disclosures and investments</h2>Melissa Lee, a spokesperson for NU’s central administration, pointed to the university’s endowment holdings posted online and said anyone could review those reports.&nbsp;The “Fund N” reports —&nbsp;the portion of investments that NU has direct control over and includes donations and gifts made directly to the university — started in December 2020 in response to calls that year for NU to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dailynebraskan.com/news/nu-board-of-regents-commit-to-sustainability-set-construction-date-for-155-million-football-facility/article_24165bf0-3683-11eb-a763-63ba8cfdae5f.html">divest from fossil fuel industries</a>. Other investments are managed by the NU Foundation.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/unca/docs/transparency/investment/fund-n-holding-report-12-31-23.pdf">most recent Fund N report</a>&nbsp;was issued Dec. 31, 2023.“The endowment exists to support all students and the broad mission of the university,” Lee said. “It is not an advocacy tool.”The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nebraska-israel-cooperation">Jewish Virtual Library</a>&nbsp;details some of the State of Nebraska’s partnerships with the Middle East nation. It also outlines grants and research UNL faculty have collaborated on with researchers overseas, which came under fire from at least one protester.That protester’s demands mirrored the information listed through the library, including for UNL to end ties with the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation. They also called for UNL to fire certain faculty and end partnerships with various companies and departments, saying they are “working with war criminals.”In one case, a grant from the Israel National Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Water Commissioner’s Office, Israel Ministry of Science and the binational foundation supported research on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://calmit.unl.edu/detecting-toxic-blue-green-algal-blooms-nebraska-lakes">toxic algal blooms</a>&nbsp;in Nebraska lakes.In total, the virtual library states, Nebraska has received nearly $1.8 million in binational foundation grants, and exports from the Cornhusker State to Israel in 2022 totaled $53.8 million.<h2>Study abroad to Jerusalem</h2>Ari Kohen, a political science professor and director of the Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies, which hosts the one-month study abroad at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, said the program was designed by multiple Harris Center faculty over many years before its debut in 2019. Students went again in 2022.“It is a study abroad experience that you can’t really get anywhere else,” Kohen said. “We have curated this education for UNL students, and I’m really proud of it.”Kohen said that while he teaches about the Arab-Israeli conflict in Lincoln, the program means students “have a window” into the conflict, people, cultures, religions, traditions and more and can form opinions for themselves. He said this is better than the Lincoln course.&nbsp;He encouraged those interested in Arab-Israeli relationships to sign up and learn firsthand.However, Synya said, the program is not equitable for all students. She said Palestinians, for example, might not be able to go to Israel or, if they did, they might not be as safe.“The university can’t ethically provide any sort of academic opportunity that’s not equally accessible to students,” Synya said.Kohen said he postponed the 2024 trip because he didn’t want to compromise on its goals. Travel in the region is significantly hindered, and many people remain displaced in the north and south.“As a result, it wouldn’t be the same trip,” he said.When there’s so much attention and interest, Kohen said, it would be a shame to limit education to one day of protest and cancel the trip, which he hopes “a ton of people” will want to enroll in.<h2>Congressman speaks out against antisemitism</h2>U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., whose district includes UNL, said in a statement Wednesday that “antisemitism has no place in America” and that “the message of the national protests” arrived at UNL on Wednesday.“University leadership must be decisive and clear that Nebraska will not tolerate the violent and dangerous rhetoric that has shown up on college campuses across the country,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/USRepMikeFlood/status/1785689553354830079">Flood said on X, formerly Twitter</a>.Flood, in a followup statement to the Nebraska Examiner, said the national message he referred to is antisemitic rhetoric and policies, which he said includes the chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”&nbsp;Congress last month voted 377-44, with all Nebraska representatives in favor, to condemn that phrase as antisemitic.The phrase was featured at the protest in chants and artwork, along with other chants aimed at Nebraska’s congressional delegation and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by name, saying, “you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.”Protesters also encouraged Nebraska voters to write in “ceasefire” against President Joe Biden during Nebraska’s May 14 primary election.Synya said her response to Flood or others with concerns is to “come on down and see for yourself” and have conversations because such accusations are taken seriously.“We denounce all forms of antisemitism,” she said. “That’s not what we’re about at all.”<h2>‘Existence of the human being’</h2>Multiple Jewish students and community members were also part of the protest, including Jewish Voices for Peace and a woman who said she was a descendant of Holocaust survivors.Other speakers included a pediatric surgeon who worked in Gaza, professors who spoke about the Arab Spring, artists, the local NAACP chapter and Indigenous brothers and sisters.Steve Laravie Jr., a descendant of Standing Bear, was one of three Indigenous members who encouraged Nebraskans to pray for Gaza and Palestinians. He said everyone must think of moving forward as human beings because the division is not about race, creed or religion.“This is about the existence of the human being,” Laravie said.“You are the majority, remember that,” he told Wednesday’s crowd. “You determine the reality, the life that you want.”