<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/25/we-were-so-close-nebraska-mother-responds-to-veto-of-child-sexual-assault-and-abuse-bill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A Nebraska mother whose daughter was sexually assaulted while in the care of Lincoln Public Schools said Thursday a veto of legislation meant for more accountability came as “a gut punch.”

For five years, Loree Woods has advocated on behalf of her daughter Taylor, who is now 27, after she was sexually assaulted on Oct. 10, 2016, by another student in LPS’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.lps.org/post/detail.cfm?id=13394">Vocational Opportunity in Community Experience program</a>. VOICE is designed to prepare students with disabilities, primarily those ages 18 to 21, gain skills for a positive transition into adulthood.

Woods said Thursday that as a parent of a child with special needs —&nbsp;severe speech impairment and mild to moderate intellectual disability — she knows to plan for years ahead, but she couldn’t prepare for when Taylor Woods’ future would be “completely shattered.”

That day in 2016, the LPS program was down one para educator who was taking vacation time, Loree Woods explained, leaving one of three groups of students without supervision.

Four students went up to the 13th floor of Abel Hall on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, including Taylor and a male student who Loree Woods said had a history of inappropriate touching.

She said that the LPS program was supposed to bring her daughter independence but that Taylor’s life is now defined by trauma and fear since the assault.

“If you could live in her head for one day, you would not want to be a part of that,” Loree Woods said.

Gov. Jim Pillen on Wednesday&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/24/pillen-vetoes-nebraska-child-sexual-assault-and-abuse-proposal/">vetoed</a><a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50137">&nbsp;Legislative Bill 25</a>, brought by State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. The legislation was originally sponsored by State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings last year in the form of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49731">LB 341</a>. The law would have allowed families, such as Loree and Taylor Woods, to sue political subdivisions, such as school districts, if employees failed to protect children in their care.

The sexual assault or abuse would have needed to be a “proximate result” of the subdivision’s failure or an employee’s failure to exercise “reasonable care” for a child in its custody. Such lawsuits are already allowed for private businesses and schools, and remedies against public entities would have been capped at up to $1 million under LB 25.

Former State Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha introduced the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=43993">first form of such legislation</a>&nbsp;in 2021 with the Woods family, following the Nebraska Supreme Court’s decision in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://law.justia.com/cases/nebraska/supreme-court/2020/s-19-726.html">Moser v. State of Nebraska</a>&nbsp;that limited certain lawsuits in cases of alleged negligence.

The Woods family was scheduled for a court date just weeks after that court decision came.

“We were so close,” Loree Woods said, noting her daughter would not have benefited from LB 25 due to her age.

Pillen in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-LB-25-Veto-Letter-1.pdf">Wednesday letter</a>&nbsp;said that LB 25 was “overly broad” because it applied to various subdivisions and that it would pass off costs to taxpayers.

“We must hold perpetrators accountable and protect children from abuse by enforcing the criminal laws that exist and by targeting the wrongdoer,” Pillen said. “Taxpayers should not bear this burden.”

Laura Strimple, a spokesperson for Pillen, said Thursday that the governor is dedicated to holding perpetrators against children accountable to the greatest extent possible. She said that several criminal and civil remedies are available and that Pillen will fight “soft-on-crime efforts to water down those protections.”

“The bill does nothing to protect kids and instead opens the floodgates to trial lawyers and potentially frivolous lawsuits,” Strimple said in an email.

Wayne and Conrad, both lawyers, have said attorneys have an ethical duty against “frivolous lawsuits” and that lawsuit rewards would support therapy or other survivors’ needs.

State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, who hosted an informal news conference in her office Thursday with Loree Woods and reporters, said LB 25 sought to strike a new balance in favor of families and children who have faced government harm yet they continued to face an “uphill battle.”

She said Pillen and other opponents should open their hearts and minds and realize the legislation isn’t political but common sense for Nebraskans such as the Woods family.

“They’re doing everything right,” Conrad said. “They’re playing by the rules. They’re raising their families. They’re working hard. All of a sudden something terrible happens to their family and because there was a government entity involved, they can’t get access to justice.”

Wayne similarly said Pillen chose “the shadow of bureaucracy over justice for children.”

Strimple said Pillen has received an outpouring of support and gratitude since his veto for protecting taxpayers, such as from local officials, business leaders and conservative senators.&nbsp;

She did not answer whether Pillen would be willing to meet with survivors or other advocates behind LB 25 and similar legislation, including the Woods family.

The Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys, which includes attorneys statewide who have represented children and families in such cases, said in a statement that it is often too easy for school administrators to “ignore red flags.”

Instead, the association continued, the proposal “would have protected children on the front end, by incentivizing school administrators to avoid liability on the back end.”

“As long as the government has no accountability for Nebraska children in its care, we, as Nebraskans, will fail to live up to our own proclaimed values,” the association said. “Governor Pillen’s veto of LB 25 makes Nebraska less safe for our children.”

Loree Woods said it hurts her heart to hear Pillen’s argument about taxes, saying that viewpoint values taxation over a person’s life. In the ideal world, she added, the lawsuits would also never come because there wouldn’t be negligence, she added.

When the veto was announced, Loree Woods said she and her husband were in disbelief.

“This can’t continue to happen, and our kids deserve a voice,” she said.

LB 25 passed 28-17 on the final legislative day of the session, April 18. Because lawmakers have adjourned, they have no chance to override Pillen’s veto.

Conrad said that adds “salt to the wound” but said one thing is clear: The fight isn’t over.

“The governor’s exercise with his veto pen will not be the last word on this topic,” Conrad said.

Loree Woods said she and Taylor thought they could stop fighting and heal, and while they found the veto timing “soul crushing,” she said the family will return in 2025.

“We’ll just continue to have the sleepless nights and we’ll work through our problems until we have an opportunity to meet the governor, which I know she would be all in for as well,” Loree Woods said of Taylor. “We can talk about what it’s really like to be a victim and how we need to do better.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714137026329.jpeg" alt="Loree Woods (center left, in blue) embraces her daughter, Taylor, following the final vote in favor of LB 25, which would have expanded certain lawsuits in cases of child sexual assault and abuse within political subdivisions. April 18, 2024. (Courtesy of Loree Woods)" />
 <figcaption>Loree Woods (center left, in blue) embraces her daughter, Taylor, following the final vote in favor of LB 25, which would have expanded certain lawsuits in cases of child sexual assault and abuse within political subdivisions. April 18, 2024. (Courtesy of Loree Woods)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/25/we-were-so-close-nebraska-mother-responds-to-veto-of-child-sexual-assault-and-abuse-bill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A Nebraska mother whose daughter was sexually assaulted while in the care of Lincoln Public Schools said Thursday a veto of legislation meant for more accountability came as “a gut punch.”For five years, Loree Woods has advocated on behalf of her daughter Taylor, who is now 27, after she was sexually assaulted on Oct. 10, 2016, by another student in LPS’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.lps.org/post/detail.cfm?id=13394">Vocational Opportunity in Community Experience program</a>. VOICE is designed to prepare students with disabilities, primarily those ages 18 to 21, gain skills for a positive transition into adulthood.Woods said Thursday that as a parent of a child with special needs —&nbsp;severe speech impairment and mild to moderate intellectual disability — she knows to plan for years ahead, but she couldn’t prepare for when Taylor Woods’ future would be “completely shattered.”That day in 2016, the LPS program was down one para educator who was taking vacation time, Loree Woods explained, leaving one of three groups of students without supervision.Four students went up to the 13th floor of Abel Hall on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, including Taylor and a male student who Loree Woods said had a history of inappropriate touching.She said that the LPS program was supposed to bring her daughter independence but that Taylor’s life is now defined by trauma and fear since the assault.“If you could live in her head for one day, you would not want to be a part of that,” Loree Woods said.<h2>‘We were so close’</h2>Gov. Jim Pillen on Wednesday&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/24/pillen-vetoes-nebraska-child-sexual-assault-and-abuse-proposal/">vetoed</a><a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50137">&nbsp;Legislative Bill 25</a>, brought by State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. The legislation was originally sponsored by State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings last year in the form of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49731">LB 341</a>. The law would have allowed families, such as Loree and Taylor Woods, to sue political subdivisions, such as school districts, if employees failed to protect children in their care.The sexual assault or abuse would have needed to be a “proximate result” of the subdivision’s failure or an employee’s failure to exercise “reasonable care” for a child in its custody. Such lawsuits are already allowed for private businesses and schools, and remedies against public entities would have been capped at up to $1 million under LB 25.Former State Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha introduced the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=43993">first form of such legislation</a>&nbsp;in 2021 with the Woods family, following the Nebraska Supreme Court’s decision in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://law.justia.com/cases/nebraska/supreme-court/2020/s-19-726.html">Moser v. State of Nebraska</a>&nbsp;that limited certain lawsuits in cases of alleged negligence.The Woods family was scheduled for a court date just weeks after that court decision came.“We were so close,” Loree Woods said, noting her daughter would not have benefited from LB 25 due to her age.<h2>A cost to taxpayers</h2>Pillen in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-LB-25-Veto-Letter-1.pdf">Wednesday letter</a>&nbsp;said that LB 25 was “overly broad” because it applied to various subdivisions and that it would pass off costs to taxpayers.“We must hold perpetrators accountable and protect children from abuse by enforcing the criminal laws that exist and by targeting the wrongdoer,” Pillen said. “Taxpayers should not bear this burden.”Laura Strimple, a spokesperson for Pillen, said Thursday that the governor is dedicated to holding perpetrators against children accountable to the greatest extent possible. She said that several criminal and civil remedies are available and that Pillen will fight “soft-on-crime efforts to water down those protections.”“The bill does nothing to protect kids and instead opens the floodgates to trial lawyers and potentially frivolous lawsuits,” Strimple said in an email.Wayne and Conrad, both lawyers, have said attorneys have an ethical duty against “frivolous lawsuits” and that lawsuit rewards would support therapy or other survivors’ needs.State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, who hosted an informal news conference in her office Thursday with Loree Woods and reporters, said LB 25 sought to strike a new balance in favor of families and children who have faced government harm yet they continued to face an “uphill battle.”She said Pillen and other opponents should open their hearts and minds and realize the legislation isn’t political but common sense for Nebraskans such as the Woods family.“They’re doing everything right,” Conrad said. “They’re playing by the rules. They’re raising their families. They’re working hard. All of a sudden something terrible happens to their family and because there was a government entity involved, they can’t get access to justice.”Wayne similarly said Pillen chose “the shadow of bureaucracy over justice for children.”Strimple said Pillen has received an outpouring of support and gratitude since his veto for protecting taxpayers, such as from local officials, business leaders and conservative senators.&nbsp;She did not answer whether Pillen would be willing to meet with survivors or other advocates behind LB 25 and similar legislation, including the Woods family.<h2>Responsibility of ‘red flags’</h2>The Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys, which includes attorneys statewide who have represented children and families in such cases, said in a statement that it is often too easy for school administrators to “ignore red flags.”Instead, the association continued, the proposal “would have protected children on the front end, by incentivizing school administrators to avoid liability on the back end.”“As long as the government has no accountability for Nebraska children in its care, we, as Nebraskans, will fail to live up to our own proclaimed values,” the association said. “Governor Pillen’s veto of LB 25 makes Nebraska less safe for our children.”Loree Woods said it hurts her heart to hear Pillen’s argument about taxes, saying that viewpoint values taxation over a person’s life. In the ideal world, she added, the lawsuits would also never come because there wouldn’t be negligence, she added.When the veto was announced, Loree Woods said she and her husband were in disbelief.“This can’t continue to happen, and our kids deserve a voice,” she said.<h2>Veto ‘will not be the last word’</h2>LB 25 passed 28-17 on the final legislative day of the session, April 18. Because lawmakers have adjourned, they have no chance to override Pillen’s veto.Conrad said that adds “salt to the wound” but said one thing is clear: The fight isn’t over.“The governor’s exercise with his veto pen will not be the last word on this topic,” Conrad said.Loree Woods said she and Taylor thought they could stop fighting and heal, and while they found the veto timing “soul crushing,” she said the family will return in 2025.“We’ll just continue to have the sleepless nights and we’ll work through our problems until we have an opportunity to meet the governor, which I know she would be all in for as well,” Loree Woods said of Taylor. “We can talk about what it’s really like to be a victim and how we need to do better.”

‘We were so close’: Nebraska mother responds to veto of child sexual assault and abuse bill

KANSAS CITY (AP) —United Methodist delegates have overwhelmingly endorsed a constitutional amendment seen by advocates as a way of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congregations-leaving-united-methodist-church-lgbtq-bans-70b8c89ea49174597f4548c249bab24f">defusing debates</a>&nbsp;over the role of LGBTQ people in the church by giving rule-making autonomy to each region of the international church.

Delegates voted 586-164 on Thursday for the “regionalization” proposal on the third day of their 11-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-8b428597c86901b2d5886afeca5069c8">General Conference</a>, the legislative body of the United Methodist Church, meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The plan would create multiple regional conferences — one for the United States and others covering areas ranging from the Philippines to Europe to Africa.

Existing regions outside the United States — known as central conferences — already have the flexibility to adapt church rules to their local contexts, but the jurisdictions in the United States do not. This constitutional change would give the U.S. church that flexibility, while defining autonomy more closely for all of the regions.

The vote total easily passed the two-thirds majority required for an amendment to the United Methodist Church’s constitution. To become official, however, it will require approval by two-thirds of total votes cast in its annual conferences, or local governing bodies.

If ratified, one effect of the change is that it could allow for the American church — where support has been growing for the ordination of LGBTQ people and for same-sex marriage — to authorize such rites, even as international churches with more conservative positions on sexuality would not.

"The big change this petition brings is really for our brothers and sisters here in the United States, where you would finally be given the right to decide things which only concern you among yourselves, the same right that we have enjoyed for a long time," said Christine Schneider-Oesch of Switzerland, a member of the committee proposing the changes.

The measure comes during the first General Conference since one-quarter of U.S. congregations left the denomination over the past four years — most of them conservative churches reacting to the denomination's failure to enforce rules against same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination.

Advocates hailed the proposal as a way of decolonizing a church some say is too focused on U.S. issues, though one opponent, a Zimbabwean pastor, said the details of the plan are reminiscent of colonial-era divide-and-conquer strategies.

LGBTQ issues weren't central to the debate on Thursday, but they are expected to arise in the coming days at the General Conference. Some proposals would lift the current bans on ordaining LGBTQ people and on same-sex marriage.

“I believe that the values upon which worldwide regionalization is rooted will give renewed strength, life and vitality to the church,” said the Rev. Jonathan Ulanday of the Philippines. He said it gives autonomy while maintaining connection to the worldwide denomination, which he noted has been helpful in areas ranging from disaster relief to aiding Filipinos working abroad.

But the Rev. Forbes Matonga of Zimbabwe said the plan actually perpetuates colonial structures by creating multiple regional conferences in Africa along national lines, compared with a single one in the United States. He noted that many African national borders were created arbitrarily by European colonial mapmakers.

“It is this divide and rule,” Matonga said. “Create a region for Africans. Creates a platform for Africans so that we speak as a continent and not as small colonies.”

The Rev. Ande Emmanuel of Nigeria said he has been to multiple General Conferences and that many of the discussions are “U.S.-centric,” not relevant to African delegates. Regionalization would let each area of the church manage such issues, he said. “We are not here to control the Americans,” he said. “Neither are our brothers from America here to control us. We are trying to build a platform that is mutual. We’re trying to build an understanding that would move our church together.”

But in a small yet notable sign of fragmentation in the denomination, the General Conference also approved the departure of churches in several former Soviet countries which owed their growth in part to post-Cold War missionary work.

The conference approved the request of local conferences in parts of its Eurasia Episcopal Area — including Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan — to become independent. The departing conferences have 66 churches and 1,123 members, according to UM News.

While the reasons weren't spelled out explicitly at the General Conference, the Russian-area churches are more conservative on matters such as LGBTQ issues.

Bishop Eduard Khegay, who leads the Eurasia area, alluded to both theological controversies and “geopolitical struggles between superpowers" in an address Thursday to the General Conference. He also thanked United Methodists for their years of help to the churches in the region and for enabling them to become independent in an orderly way.

“Sisters and brothers, I stand in gratitude for your decision,” Khegay said.

By PETER SMITH&nbsp;KANSAS CITY (AP) —United Methodist delegates have overwhelmingly endorsed a constitutional amendment seen by advocates as a way of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congregations-leaving-united-methodist-church-lgbtq-bans-70b8c89ea49174597f4548c249bab24f">defusing debates</a>&nbsp;over the role of LGBTQ people in the church by giving rule-making autonomy to each region of the international church.Delegates voted 586-164 on Thursday for the “regionalization” proposal on the third day of their 11-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-8b428597c86901b2d5886afeca5069c8">General Conference</a>, the legislative body of the United Methodist Church, meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.The plan would create multiple regional conferences — one for the United States and others covering areas ranging from the Philippines to Europe to Africa.Existing regions outside the United States — known as central conferences — already have the flexibility to adapt church rules to their local contexts, but the jurisdictions in the United States do not. This constitutional change would give the U.S. church that flexibility, while defining autonomy more closely for all of the regions.The vote total easily passed the two-thirds majority required for an amendment to the United Methodist Church’s constitution. To become official, however, it will require approval by two-thirds of total votes cast in its annual conferences, or local governing bodies.If ratified, one effect of the change is that it could allow for the American church — where support has been growing for the ordination of LGBTQ people and for same-sex marriage — to authorize such rites, even as international churches with more conservative positions on sexuality would not."The big change this petition brings is really for our brothers and sisters here in the United States, where you would finally be given the right to decide things which only concern you among yourselves, the same right that we have enjoyed for a long time," said Christine Schneider-Oesch of Switzerland, a member of the committee proposing the changes.The measure comes during the first General Conference since one-quarter of U.S. congregations left the denomination over the past four years — most of them conservative churches reacting to the denomination's failure to enforce rules against same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination.Advocates hailed the proposal as a way of decolonizing a church some say is too focused on U.S. issues, though one opponent, a Zimbabwean pastor, said the details of the plan are reminiscent of colonial-era divide-and-conquer strategies.LGBTQ issues weren't central to the debate on Thursday, but they are expected to arise in the coming days at the General Conference. Some proposals would lift the current bans on ordaining LGBTQ people and on same-sex marriage.“I believe that the values upon which worldwide regionalization is rooted will give renewed strength, life and vitality to the church,” said the Rev. Jonathan Ulanday of the Philippines. He said it gives autonomy while maintaining connection to the worldwide denomination, which he noted has been helpful in areas ranging from disaster relief to aiding Filipinos working abroad.But the Rev. Forbes Matonga of Zimbabwe said the plan actually perpetuates colonial structures by creating multiple regional conferences in Africa along national lines, compared with a single one in the United States. He noted that many African national borders were created arbitrarily by European colonial mapmakers.“It is this divide and rule,” Matonga said. “Create a region for Africans. Creates a platform for Africans so that we speak as a continent and not as small colonies.”The Rev. Ande Emmanuel of Nigeria said he has been to multiple General Conferences and that many of the discussions are “U.S.-centric,” not relevant to African delegates. Regionalization would let each area of the church manage such issues, he said. “We are not here to control the Americans,” he said. “Neither are our brothers from America here to control us. We are trying to build a platform that is mutual. We’re trying to build an understanding that would move our church together.”But in a small yet notable sign of fragmentation in the denomination, the General Conference also approved the departure of churches in several former Soviet countries which owed their growth in part to post-Cold War missionary work.The conference approved the request of local conferences in parts of its Eurasia Episcopal Area — including Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan — to become independent. The departing conferences have 66 churches and 1,123 members, according to UM News.While the reasons weren't spelled out explicitly at the General Conference, the Russian-area churches are more conservative on matters such as LGBTQ issues.Bishop Eduard Khegay, who leads the Eurasia area, alluded to both theological controversies and “geopolitical struggles between superpowers" in an address Thursday to the General Conference. He also thanked United Methodists for their years of help to the churches in the region and for enabling them to become independent in an orderly way.“Sisters and brothers, I stand in gratitude for your decision,” Khegay said.___

General Conference: United Methodists endorse change to diffuse  LGBTQ and other issues

JERUSALEM (AP) — A ship traveling in the Gulf of Aden came under attack Thursday, officials said, the latest assault carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels over Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The attack comes after the U.S. military said early Thursday an allied warship shot down a Houthi missile targeting a vessel the day before near the same area. The Houthis claimed that Wednesday assault, which comes after a period of relatively few rebel attacks on shipping in the region over Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

In Thursday’s attack, a ship was targeted just over 25 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Aden, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said.

The captain “reports a loud bang heard and a splash and smoke seen coming from the sea,” the UKMTO said. “Vessel and all crew are safe.”

The attack was also reported by the private security firm Ambrey.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attack late Thursday, identifying the ship the rebels tried to target as the MSC Darwin.

European Union forces separately shot down a drone launched from Houthi territory on Thursday, Gen. Robert Brieger said. Separately on Wednesday, the British warship HMS Diamond began the first in the Royal Navy to shoot down a missile since 1991 when it destroyed a Houthi missile targeting merchant ships.

The Houthis have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebel-attack-israel-hamas-war-bf077f026a9f177ec87f4131d695cafc">launched more than 50 attacks</a>&nbsp;on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen and shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat. American officials have speculated that the rebels may be running out of weapons as a result of the U.S.-led campaign against them and firing off drones and missiles steadily in the last months.

However, Wednesday’s attack was the first one by rebels in some time. An explosion struck some 130 kilometers (80 miles) southeast of Djibouti in the Gulf of Aden, the UKMTO said.

Early Thursday, the U.S. military’s Central Command said the explosion came from a coalition warship shooting down the missile likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged, owned and operated vessel with 18 U.S. and four Greek crew members.

“There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition or commercial ships,” Central Command said.

Saree claimed that attack but insisted without evidence that the missile hit the Yorktown. Saree also claimed the Houthis targeted another ship in the Indian Ocean, without providing proof. The Houthis have made repeated claims that turned out to not be true during their yearslong war in Yemen.

The Houthis have said they will continue their attacks until Israel ends its war in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.

Most of the ships targeted by the Houthis have had little or no direct connection to Israel, the U.S. or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703990687604.png" alt="File Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>File Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — A ship traveling in the Gulf of Aden came under attack Thursday, officials said, the latest assault carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels over Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.The attack comes after the U.S. military said early Thursday an allied warship shot down a Houthi missile targeting a vessel the day before near the same area. The Houthis claimed that Wednesday assault, which comes after a period of relatively few rebel attacks on shipping in the region over Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.In Thursday’s attack, a ship was targeted just over 25 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Aden, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said.The captain “reports a loud bang heard and a splash and smoke seen coming from the sea,” the UKMTO said. “Vessel and all crew are safe.”The attack was also reported by the private security firm Ambrey.Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attack late Thursday, identifying the ship the rebels tried to target as the MSC Darwin.European Union forces separately shot down a drone launched from Houthi territory on Thursday, Gen. Robert Brieger said. Separately on Wednesday, the British warship HMS Diamond began the first in the Royal Navy to shoot down a missile since 1991 when it destroyed a Houthi missile targeting merchant ships.The Houthis have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebel-attack-israel-hamas-war-bf077f026a9f177ec87f4131d695cafc">launched more than 50 attacks</a>&nbsp;on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen and shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat. American officials have speculated that the rebels may be running out of weapons as a result of the U.S.-led campaign against them and firing off drones and missiles steadily in the last months.However, Wednesday’s attack was the first one by rebels in some time. An explosion struck some 130 kilometers (80 miles) southeast of Djibouti in the Gulf of Aden, the UKMTO said.Early Thursday, the U.S. military’s Central Command said the explosion came from a coalition warship shooting down the missile likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged, owned and operated vessel with 18 U.S. and four Greek crew members.“There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition or commercial ships,” Central Command said.Saree claimed that attack but insisted without evidence that the missile hit the Yorktown. Saree also claimed the Houthis targeted another ship in the Indian Ocean, without providing proof. The Houthis have made repeated claims that turned out to not be true during their yearslong war in Yemen.The Houthis have said they will continue their attacks until Israel ends its war in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.Most of the ships targeted by the Houthis have had little or no direct connection to Israel, the U.S. or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.

Another ship under attack as terrorist campaign gains new speed

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday appeared likely to reject former President Donald Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from prosecution over election interference, but several justices signaled reservations about the charges that could cause a lengthy delay, possibly beyond November’s election.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/23-939_l5gm.pdf">Click here to read a</a> transcript of the oral argument

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-939">Click here to listen to a replay </a>of the oral argument&nbsp;

A majority of the justices did not appear to embrace the claim of absolute immunity that would stop special counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of Trump on charges he conspired to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. But in arguments lasting more than 2 1/2 hours in the court’s first consideration of criminal charges against a former president, several conservative justices indicated they could limit when former presidents might be prosecuted, suggesting that the case might have to be sent back to lower courts before any trial could begin.

Justice Samuel Alito said that “whatever we decide is going to apply to all future presidents.”

The timing of the Supreme Court’s decision could be as important as the outcome. Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, has been pushing to delay the trial until after the election, and the later the justices issue their decision, the more likely he is to succeed. If Trump regains the presidency, he could order the Justice Department to dismiss the case, or possibly, as two justices suggested, pardon himself if convicted.

Since conservatives on the court gained a supermajority with the confirmation of three Trump appointees, they have cast aside decades-old long precedent on abortion and affirmation action. Now Trump is asking them to rule that one of the fundamental tenets of the American system of government — that no person is above the law -- should be rejected as well, at least as it applies to him.

The active questioning of all nine justices left the strong impression that the court was not headed for the sort of speedy, consensus decision that would allow a trial to begin quickly.

Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, two of Trump’s three high court appointees, and Alito said their concern was not the case against Trump, but rather the effect of their ruling on future presidencies.

Each time Justice Department lawyer Michael Dreeben sought to focus on Trump’s actions, these justices jumped in. “This case has huge implications for the presidency, for the future of the presidency, for the future of the country,” Kavanaugh said. The court is writing a decision “for the ages,” Gorsuch said.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the other Trump appointee, seemed less open to arguments advanced by Trump lawyer D. John Sauer, searching for a way a trial could take place.

Smith’s team is asking for a speedy resolution. The court typically issues its last opinions by the end of June, about four months before the election. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who would preside over the trial, said pre-trial issues could take up to three months.

The court has moved very quickly in prior cases involving presidential power, deciding the Watergate tapes case against President Richard Nixon just 16 days after arguments. Earlier this year, it took the justices less than a month to rule unanimously that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-insurrection-election-colorado-51e79c0f03013034c8a042cb278b6446">states couldn't kick Trump off the ballot</a>.

Trump, the first former president charged with crimes, had said he wanted to be at the Supreme Court on Thursday. Instead, he was in a courtroom in New York, where he is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-national-enquirer-1dd3c3111febf219bdf1d8627504a3c5">standing trial</a>&nbsp;on charges that he falsified business records to keep damaging information from voters when he directed hush money payments to a former porn star to keep quiet her claims that they had a sexual encounter.

Sauer argued that former presidents are entitled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-immunity-prosecution-capitol-riot-9fd5dc5947dab82bbd18d3efcb4267d8">absolute immunity</a>&nbsp;for their official acts. Otherwise, he said, politically motivated prosecutions of former occupants of the Oval Office would become routine and presidents couldn't function as the commander in chief if they had to worry about criminal charges.

Lower courts have rejected those arguments, including a unanimous three-judge panel on an appeals court in Washington, D.C.

Several justices drilled down on trying to come up with a definition of what constituted an official act, and whether charges based on one should be thrown out.

Justice Elena Kagan at one pointed wondered whether a former president could escape prosecution even if he ordered a coup or sold nuclear secrets. Sauer said prosecutions might not be allowed it those were determined to be official acts.

“That sure sounds bad, doesn't it?” Kagan asked.

Chief Justice John Roberts conjured up a president being indicted for receiving a bribe in exchange for an ambassadorial appointment. How could the indictment go forward if prosecutors had to remove the official act, the appointment. “That's like a one-legged stool, right?” Roberts asked.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictments-election-january-6-classified-documents-5cb04868bb1cdf91c19eafdb882af8c0">election interference conspiracy case</a>&nbsp;brought by Smith in Washington is just one of four criminal cases confronting Trump. Smith was in the courtroom Thursday, seated at the table for lawyers taking part in the case.

Smith’s team says the men who wrote Constitution never intended for presidents to be above the law and that, in any event, the acts Trump is charged with — including participating in a scheme to enlist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jan-6-investigation-fake-electors-608932d4771f6e2e3c5efb3fdcd8fcce">fake electors in battleground states</a>&nbsp;won by Biden — aren’t in any way part of a president’s official duties. Dreeben said that even if some of the acts are considered part of the president's powers, like talking to Justice Department officials, they still should be kept in the indictment.

Trump's conversations with then-Vice President Mike Pence, urging him to reject some electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021, might also fall under official acts.

Barrett asked Dreeben whether Smith's team could “just proceed based on the private conduct and drop the official conduct.” Dreeben said that might be possible, especially if prosecutors could, for example, use the conversations with Justice Department officials and Pence to make their case.

Nearly four years ago, all nine justices rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from a district attorney’s subpoena for his financial records. That case played out during Trump’s presidency and involved a criminal investigation, but no charges.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who would have prevented the enforcement of the subpoena because of Trump’s responsibilities as president, still rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity and pointed to the text of the Constitution and how it was understood by the people who ratified it.

“The text of the Constitution … does not afford the President absolute immunity,” Thomas wrote in 2020.

Commentators had speculated about why the court took up the case in the first place.

Phillip Bobbitt, a constitutional scholar at Columbia University’s law school, said he worries about the delay, but sees value in a decision that amounts to “a definitive expression by the Supreme Court that we are a government of laws and not of men.”

The court also may be more concerned with how its decision could affect future presidencies, Harvard law school professor Jack Goldsmith wrote on the Lawfare blog.

But Kermit Roosevelt, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said the court never should have taken the case because an ideologically diverse panel of the federal appeals court in Washington adequately addressed the issues.

“If it was going to take the case, it should have proceeded faster, because now, it will most likely prevent the trial from being completed before the election,” Roosevelt said. “Even Richard Nixon said that the American people deserve to know whether their president is a crook. The Supreme Court seems to disagree.”

The court has several options for deciding the case, though something between a complete win for Trump or prosecutors seemed most likely.

The court might spell out when former presidents are shielded from prosecution. It could then either declare that Trump's alleged conduct easily crossed the line or return the case to Chutkan so she can decide whether Trump should have to stand trial.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714052563813.png" alt="Trump addressed the media on Thursday morning -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Trump addressed the media on Thursday morning -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday appeared likely to reject former President Donald Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from prosecution over election interference, but several justices signaled reservations about the charges that could cause a lengthy delay, possibly beyond November’s election.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/23-939_l5gm.pdf">Click here to read a</a> transcript of the oral argument<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-939">Click here to listen to a replay </a>of the oral argument&nbsp;A majority of the justices did not appear to embrace the claim of absolute immunity that would stop special counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of Trump on charges he conspired to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. But in arguments lasting more than 2 1/2 hours in the court’s first consideration of criminal charges against a former president, several conservative justices indicated they could limit when former presidents might be prosecuted, suggesting that the case might have to be sent back to lower courts before any trial could begin.Justice Samuel Alito said that “whatever we decide is going to apply to all future presidents.”The timing of the Supreme Court’s decision could be as important as the outcome. Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, has been pushing to delay the trial until after the election, and the later the justices issue their decision, the more likely he is to succeed. If Trump regains the presidency, he could order the Justice Department to dismiss the case, or possibly, as two justices suggested, pardon himself if convicted.Since conservatives on the court gained a supermajority with the confirmation of three Trump appointees, they have cast aside decades-old long precedent on abortion and affirmation action. Now Trump is asking them to rule that one of the fundamental tenets of the American system of government — that no person is above the law -- should be rejected as well, at least as it applies to him.The active questioning of all nine justices left the strong impression that the court was not headed for the sort of speedy, consensus decision that would allow a trial to begin quickly.Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, two of Trump’s three high court appointees, and Alito said their concern was not the case against Trump, but rather the effect of their ruling on future presidencies.Each time Justice Department lawyer Michael Dreeben sought to focus on Trump’s actions, these justices jumped in. “This case has huge implications for the presidency, for the future of the presidency, for the future of the country,” Kavanaugh said. The court is writing a decision “for the ages,” Gorsuch said.Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the other Trump appointee, seemed less open to arguments advanced by Trump lawyer D. John Sauer, searching for a way a trial could take place.Smith’s team is asking for a speedy resolution. The court typically issues its last opinions by the end of June, about four months before the election. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who would preside over the trial, said pre-trial issues could take up to three months.The court has moved very quickly in prior cases involving presidential power, deciding the Watergate tapes case against President Richard Nixon just 16 days after arguments. Earlier this year, it took the justices less than a month to rule unanimously that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-insurrection-election-colorado-51e79c0f03013034c8a042cb278b6446">states couldn't kick Trump off the ballot</a>.Trump, the first former president charged with crimes, had said he wanted to be at the Supreme Court on Thursday. Instead, he was in a courtroom in New York, where he is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-national-enquirer-1dd3c3111febf219bdf1d8627504a3c5">standing trial</a>&nbsp;on charges that he falsified business records to keep damaging information from voters when he directed hush money payments to a former porn star to keep quiet her claims that they had a sexual encounter.Sauer argued that former presidents are entitled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-immunity-prosecution-capitol-riot-9fd5dc5947dab82bbd18d3efcb4267d8">absolute immunity</a>&nbsp;for their official acts. Otherwise, he said, politically motivated prosecutions of former occupants of the Oval Office would become routine and presidents couldn't function as the commander in chief if they had to worry about criminal charges.Lower courts have rejected those arguments, including a unanimous three-judge panel on an appeals court in Washington, D.C.Several justices drilled down on trying to come up with a definition of what constituted an official act, and whether charges based on one should be thrown out.Justice Elena Kagan at one pointed wondered whether a former president could escape prosecution even if he ordered a coup or sold nuclear secrets. Sauer said prosecutions might not be allowed it those were determined to be official acts.“That sure sounds bad, doesn't it?” Kagan asked.Chief Justice John Roberts conjured up a president being indicted for receiving a bribe in exchange for an ambassadorial appointment. How could the indictment go forward if prosecutors had to remove the official act, the appointment. “That's like a one-legged stool, right?” Roberts asked.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictments-election-january-6-classified-documents-5cb04868bb1cdf91c19eafdb882af8c0">election interference conspiracy case</a>&nbsp;brought by Smith in Washington is just one of four criminal cases confronting Trump. Smith was in the courtroom Thursday, seated at the table for lawyers taking part in the case.Smith’s team says the men who wrote Constitution never intended for presidents to be above the law and that, in any event, the acts Trump is charged with — including participating in a scheme to enlist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jan-6-investigation-fake-electors-608932d4771f6e2e3c5efb3fdcd8fcce">fake electors in battleground states</a>&nbsp;won by Biden — aren’t in any way part of a president’s official duties. Dreeben said that even if some of the acts are considered part of the president's powers, like talking to Justice Department officials, they still should be kept in the indictment.Trump's conversations with then-Vice President Mike Pence, urging him to reject some electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021, might also fall under official acts.Barrett asked Dreeben whether Smith's team could “just proceed based on the private conduct and drop the official conduct.” Dreeben said that might be possible, especially if prosecutors could, for example, use the conversations with Justice Department officials and Pence to make their case.Nearly four years ago, all nine justices rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from a district attorney’s subpoena for his financial records. That case played out during Trump’s presidency and involved a criminal investigation, but no charges.Justice Clarence Thomas, who would have prevented the enforcement of the subpoena because of Trump’s responsibilities as president, still rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity and pointed to the text of the Constitution and how it was understood by the people who ratified it.“The text of the Constitution … does not afford the President absolute immunity,” Thomas wrote in 2020.Commentators had speculated about why the court took up the case in the first place.Phillip Bobbitt, a constitutional scholar at Columbia University’s law school, said he worries about the delay, but sees value in a decision that amounts to “a definitive expression by the Supreme Court that we are a government of laws and not of men.”The court also may be more concerned with how its decision could affect future presidencies, Harvard law school professor Jack Goldsmith wrote on the Lawfare blog.But Kermit Roosevelt, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said the court never should have taken the case because an ideologically diverse panel of the federal appeals court in Washington adequately addressed the issues.“If it was going to take the case, it should have proceeded faster, because now, it will most likely prevent the trial from being completed before the election,” Roosevelt said. “Even Richard Nixon said that the American people deserve to know whether their president is a crook. The Supreme Court seems to disagree.”The court has several options for deciding the case, though something between a complete win for Trump or prosecutors seemed most likely.The court might spell out when former presidents are shielded from prosecution. It could then either declare that Trump's alleged conduct easily crossed the line or return the case to Chutkan so she can decide whether Trump should have to stand trial.___

🎧Supreme Court history: Debate over Trump's claim of absolute immunity

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/25/regents-to-vote-friday-on-next-nu-president-and-to-approve-key-contract-terms/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is set Friday to vote on confirmation of Dr. Jeffrey Gold as NU’s ninth president, effective July 1.

Under an updated agenda item with “key contractual terms,” Gold would enter an initial five-year contract at a base salary of $1,062,573 — a boost of about $31,000 of Gold’s current salary. Gold would also be eligible for up to 15% of his base salary (nearly $160,000) and include other benefits such as vacation, disability leave, retirement contribution and health insurance.

Former NU President Ted Carter’s base salary when he started Jan. 1, 2020, was $962,000.

Regent Rob Schafer of Beatrice, board chair, is sponsoring the Friday vote to appoint Gold and said Thursday he’s confident Gold will be NU’s next president.

“Just looking forward to getting Chancellor Gold confirmed as our next president and moving onward and upward,” Schafer told the Nebraska Examiner.

At least five of the eight elected regents will need to vote in favor of Gold; one month ago, they unanimously selected Gold as NU’s priority candidate for president.

The proposed contract terms, which would be finalized at a future board meeting, also include:

Regent Elizabeth O’Connor of Omaha voted against Carter’s appointment in 2019 because of his salary. Last month she said she firmly believes that Gold, as an experienced leader in education, “is poised to help us take advantage of these opportunities and to build a university of Nebraska’s future.”

O’Connor was not immediately available for a request for comment

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714072950435.jpeg" alt="Dr. Jeffrey Gold, priority candidate for president of the University of Nebraska, meets with members of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln community. April 15, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Jeffrey Gold, priority candidate for president of the University of Nebraska, meets with members of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln community. April 15, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/25/regents-to-vote-friday-on-next-nu-president-and-to-approve-key-contract-terms/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is set Friday to vote on confirmation of Dr. Jeffrey Gold as NU’s ninth president, effective July 1.Under an updated agenda item with “key contractual terms,” Gold would enter an initial five-year contract at a base salary of $1,062,573 — a boost of about $31,000 of Gold’s current salary. Gold would also be eligible for up to 15% of his base salary (nearly $160,000) and include other benefits such as vacation, disability leave, retirement contribution and health insurance.Former NU President Ted Carter’s base salary when he started Jan. 1, 2020, was $962,000.Regent Rob Schafer of Beatrice, board chair, is sponsoring the Friday vote to appoint Gold and said Thursday he’s confident Gold will be NU’s next president.“Just looking forward to getting Chancellor Gold confirmed as our next president and moving onward and upward,” Schafer told the Nebraska Examiner.At least five of the eight elected regents will need to vote in favor of Gold; one month ago, they unanimously selected Gold as NU’s priority candidate for president.The proposed contract terms, which would be finalized at a future board meeting, also include:<ul>
 <li>A deferred compensation package for Gold at 11.5% of his base salary (just over $122,196).&nbsp;</li><li>An official residence paid for with support from the NU Foundation.</li><li>Up to $20,000 in moving or transition expenses.</li><li>Membership at a country club of Gold’s choosing as approved and paid by the NU Foundation.</li><li>Reasonable travel expenses for Gold’s wife, Robin, to participate in selected NU events, also paid by the NU Foundation or other non-state funds.</li>
 </ul>Regent Elizabeth O’Connor of Omaha voted against Carter’s appointment in 2019 because of his salary. Last month she said she firmly believes that Gold, as an experienced leader in education, “is poised to help us take advantage of these opportunities and to build a university of Nebraska’s future.”O’Connor was not immediately available for a request for comment

Regents to vote Friday on next NU president and to approve key contract terms

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen has announced the appointment of Brynne Holsten Puhl of Lincoln to Nebraska’s Workers’ Compensation Court. The primary location of the vacancy is Lincoln, Lancaster County. Judges appointed to the court have statewide jurisdiction.

Since 2015, Puhl has been an attorney with Atwood Law, focusing on the litigation and appeals of worker compensation cases in both Nebraska and Iowa. Prior to that, she was an associate attorney at Engles, Ketcham, Olson and Keith Law, where she also managed cases brought to the Workers’ Compensation Court.

Puhl graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She earned her juris doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law.

The vacancy is due to the retirement of Judge James R. Coe.

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen has announced the appointment of Brynne Holsten Puhl of Lincoln to Nebraska’s Workers’ Compensation Court. The primary location of the vacancy is Lincoln, Lancaster County. Judges appointed to the court have statewide jurisdiction.Since 2015, Puhl has been an attorney with Atwood Law, focusing on the litigation and appeals of worker compensation cases in both Nebraska and Iowa. Prior to that, she was an associate attorney at Engles, Ketcham, Olson and Keith Law, where she also managed cases brought to the Workers’ Compensation Court.Puhl graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She earned her juris doctor from the University of Nebraska College of Law.The vacancy is due to the retirement of Judge James R. Coe.

 Gov. Pillen Appoints Puhl to Workers’ Compensation Court

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level since late November, another setback for home shoppers in what's traditionally the housing market's busiest time of the year.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose to 7.17% from 7.1% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.43%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week, lifting the average rate to 6.44% from 6.39% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.71%, Freddie Mac said.

When mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-90b8696c11288d8f5567c75d89bb782b">the U.S. housing market remains constrained by relatively few homes for sale and rising home prices.</a>

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage has now increased four weeks in a row. The latest uptick brings it to its highest level since November 30, when it was 7.22%.

After climbing to a 23-year high of 7.79% in October, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage had remained below 7% since early December amid expectations that inflation would ease enough this year for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting its short-term interest rate.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Fed’s interest rate policy and the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

Home loan rates have been mostly drifting higher after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-federal-reserve-biden-f02b969d1b44a7ccb0385be03f766de0">string</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-4ac316b6a435ef44c370ce7686da67c0">reports</a>&nbsp;this year showing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-539b662f32a3cea4a514407ae4389174">inflation</a>&nbsp;remaining hotter than forecast, which has stoked doubts over how soon the Fed might decide to start lowering its benchmark interest rate. The uncertainty has pushed up bond yields.

Top Fed officials themselves have said recently they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-interest-rates-federal-reserve-powell-cuts-c60436c5e719ce95fc487fdb98395d09">could hold interest rates high</a>&nbsp;for a while before getting full confidence inflation is heading down toward their target of 2%.

The rise in mortgage rates in recent weeks is an unwelcome trend for home shoppers this spring homebuying season.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-90b8696c11288d8f5567c75d89bb782b">Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last month</a>&nbsp;as homebuyers contended with elevated mortgage rates and rising prices.

While easing mortgage rates helped push home sales higher in January and February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage remains well above 5.1%, where was just two years ago.

That large gap between rates now and then has helped limit the number of previously occupied homes on the market because many homeowners who bought or refinanced more than two years ago are reluctant to sell and give up their fixed-rate mortgages below 3% or 4% — a trend real estate experts refer to as the “lock-in” effect.

“The jump in mortgage rates has taken the wind out of the sails of the mortgage market," said Bob Broeksmit, CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. "Along with weaker affordability conditions, the lock-in effect continues to suppress existing inventory levels as many homeowners remain unwilling to sell their home to buy a new one at a higher price and mortgage rate.”

Homebuilders have been able to mitigate the impact of elevated home loan borrowing costs this year by offering incentives, such as covering the cost to lower the mortgage rate homebuyers take on. That's helped spur sales of newly built single-family homes, which jumped 8.8% in March from a year earlier, according to the Commerce Department.

“With rates staying higher for longer, many homebuyers are adjusting, as evidenced by this week’s report that sales of newly built homes saw the biggest increase since December 2022,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659001075252.jpeg" alt="File photo AP" />
 <figcaption>File photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level since late November, another setback for home shoppers in what's traditionally the housing market's busiest time of the year.The average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose to 7.17% from 7.1% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.43%.Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week, lifting the average rate to 6.44% from 6.39% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.71%, Freddie Mac said.When mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-90b8696c11288d8f5567c75d89bb782b">the U.S. housing market remains constrained by relatively few homes for sale and rising home prices.</a>The average rate on a 30-year mortgage has now increased four weeks in a row. The latest uptick brings it to its highest level since November 30, when it was 7.22%.After climbing to a 23-year high of 7.79% in October, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage had remained below 7% since early December amid expectations that inflation would ease enough this year for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting its short-term interest rate.Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Fed’s interest rate policy and the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.Home loan rates have been mostly drifting higher after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-federal-reserve-biden-f02b969d1b44a7ccb0385be03f766de0">string</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-4ac316b6a435ef44c370ce7686da67c0">reports</a>&nbsp;this year showing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-539b662f32a3cea4a514407ae4389174">inflation</a>&nbsp;remaining hotter than forecast, which has stoked doubts over how soon the Fed might decide to start lowering its benchmark interest rate. The uncertainty has pushed up bond yields.Top Fed officials themselves have said recently they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-interest-rates-federal-reserve-powell-cuts-c60436c5e719ce95fc487fdb98395d09">could hold interest rates high</a>&nbsp;for a while before getting full confidence inflation is heading down toward their target of 2%.The rise in mortgage rates in recent weeks is an unwelcome trend for home shoppers this spring homebuying season.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-90b8696c11288d8f5567c75d89bb782b">Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last month</a>&nbsp;as homebuyers contended with elevated mortgage rates and rising prices.While easing mortgage rates helped push home sales higher in January and February, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage remains well above 5.1%, where was just two years ago.That large gap between rates now and then has helped limit the number of previously occupied homes on the market because many homeowners who bought or refinanced more than two years ago are reluctant to sell and give up their fixed-rate mortgages below 3% or 4% — a trend real estate experts refer to as the “lock-in” effect.“The jump in mortgage rates has taken the wind out of the sails of the mortgage market," said Bob Broeksmit, CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. "Along with weaker affordability conditions, the lock-in effect continues to suppress existing inventory levels as many homeowners remain unwilling to sell their home to buy a new one at a higher price and mortgage rate.”Homebuilders have been able to mitigate the impact of elevated home loan borrowing costs this year by offering incentives, such as covering the cost to lower the mortgage rate homebuyers take on. That's helped spur sales of newly built single-family homes, which jumped 8.8% in March from a year earlier, according to the Commerce Department.“With rates staying higher for longer, many homebuyers are adjusting, as evidenced by this week’s report that sales of newly built homes saw the biggest increase since December 2022,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

Average long-term US mortgage rate climbs for fourth straight week

APRIL 25, 2024 (LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team arrested a Milford man following a standoff overnight.

At approximately 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, NSP was notified by the Milford Police Department of a situation involving an armed subject who had barricaded himself inside his home. The situation began after the subject reportedly pointed a firearm at officers while they conducted a welfare check at the 700 block of 5th&nbsp;Street in Milford. NSP Crisis Negotiators responded and the NSP SWAT Team was activated.

A warrant was issued for the subject, identified as Ethan Foster, 22. Following repeated attempts to communicate with the Foster, troopers utilized an interior drone to determine his location inside the home. They were also able to determine that Foster was still in possession of a firearm.

At approximately 2:30 a.m. Thursday, SWAT troopers made entry and took Foster into custody. While being placed under arrest, Foster was combative and repeatedly resisted by kicking and attempting to strike troopers. Foster was lodged in Seward County Jail.

The Milford Police Department and Seward County Sheriff’s Office assisted in this arrest. Milford PD is the investigating agency.

Cody ThomasNebraska State PatrolAPRIL 25, 2024 (LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team arrested a Milford man following a standoff overnight.At approximately 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, NSP was notified by the Milford Police Department of a situation involving an armed subject who had barricaded himself inside his home. The situation began after the subject reportedly pointed a firearm at officers while they conducted a welfare check at the 700 block of 5th&nbsp;Street in Milford. NSP Crisis Negotiators responded and the NSP SWAT Team was activated.A warrant was issued for the subject, identified as Ethan Foster, 22. Following repeated attempts to communicate with the Foster, troopers utilized an interior drone to determine his location inside the home. They were also able to determine that Foster was still in possession of a firearm.At approximately 2:30 a.m. Thursday, SWAT troopers made entry and took Foster into custody. While being placed under arrest, Foster was combative and repeatedly resisted by kicking and attempting to strike troopers. Foster was lodged in Seward County Jail.The Milford Police Department and Seward County Sheriff’s Office assisted in this arrest. Milford PD is the investigating agency.

Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Makes Arrest After Standoff in Milford

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The FCC on Thursday restored “net neutrality” rules that prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and AT&amp;T from favoring some sites and apps over others.

The move effectively reinstates a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-6e1a7d433381466bbd700df770ceb323">net neutrality order</a>&nbsp;the commission first issued in 2015 during the Obama administration; under then-President Donald Trump, the FCC subsequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e1eabbdf1525477dbaacf1a482b57ed4">repealed those rules in 2017</a>.

Net neutrality is the principle that providers of internet service should treat all traffic equally. The rules, for instance, ban practices that throttle or block certain sites or apps, or that offer higher speeds to customers willing to pay extra.

“In our post-pandemic world, we know that broadband is a necessity, not a luxury,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement ahead of the vote.

The telecommunications industry opposed the reintroduction of the rules, as it has before, declaring it an example of unnecessary government interference in business decisions.

The measure passed on a 3-2 vote split by party lines, with Democratic commissioners in favor and Republicans opposed.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The FCC on Thursday restored “net neutrality” rules that prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and AT&amp;T from favoring some sites and apps over others.The move effectively reinstates a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-6e1a7d433381466bbd700df770ceb323">net neutrality order</a>&nbsp;the commission first issued in 2015 during the Obama administration; under then-President Donald Trump, the FCC subsequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e1eabbdf1525477dbaacf1a482b57ed4">repealed those rules in 2017</a>.Net neutrality is the principle that providers of internet service should treat all traffic equally. The rules, for instance, ban practices that throttle or block certain sites or apps, or that offer higher speeds to customers willing to pay extra.“In our post-pandemic world, we know that broadband is a necessity, not a luxury,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement ahead of the vote.The telecommunications industry opposed the reintroduction of the rules, as it has before, declaring it an example of unnecessary government interference in business decisions.The measure passed on a 3-2 vote split by party lines, with Democratic commissioners in favor and Republicans opposed.

Net neutrality is back as FCC votes to regulate internet providers

Nebraska Department of Transportation

&nbsp;(Lincoln, Neb.) — With the excitement of warming temperatures, blooming spring flowers and a spring football game on the horizon, the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) reminds everyone to prepare for gameday traffic on Saturday, April 27. 

When traveling to Lincoln for the annual Nebraska spring football game, plan for heavier traffic and road construction along the way. NDOT reminds travelers that construction is beginning for the I-80 six-lane expansion from the Pleasant Dale interchange to NW 48th Street in Lincoln. The speed limit is posted at 65 miles per hour in this construction zone. 

As fans make their way to and from getting their first look at the Huskers on Saturday, drivers need to be alert for slower traffic, obey the speed limit and pay attention when behind the wheel – especially in construction zones.

NDOT encourages people to always buckle up, put the phone down and designate a sober driver if they plan to drink. Following these simple steps will help get the football season off on the right foot. 

For more information about construction projects and lane closures, check 511 and the Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) website, Facebook or X. For gameday information, visit the Husker’s website. 

• Drivers arriving in Lincoln on I-80 from the west should take Exit 397 (south U.S. Highway 77 (US-77)) to

• Rosa Parks Way into downtown Lincoln. 

• Drivers arriving in Lincoln on I-80 from the east should take Exit 401 to south Interstate 180 (I-180) into downtown Lincoln.

When leaving the game, drivers should avoid Exit 409 between Lincoln and Waverly as it may be closed due to safety concerns as heavy interstate traffic builds. This may significantly increase traffic on US-6 and cause slowdowns. Leaving downtown Lincoln immediately after the game can put you in heavy traffic. Spending some extra time in town may allow traffic to ease up and provide a smoother ride home.

Nebraska Department of Transportation&nbsp;(Lincoln, Neb.) — With the excitement of warming temperatures, blooming spring flowers and a spring football game on the horizon, the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) reminds everyone to prepare for gameday traffic on Saturday, April 27. When traveling to Lincoln for the annual Nebraska spring football game, plan for heavier traffic and road construction along the way. NDOT reminds travelers that construction is beginning for the I-80 six-lane expansion from the Pleasant Dale interchange to NW 48th Street in Lincoln. The speed limit is posted at 65 miles per hour in this construction zone. As fans make their way to and from getting their first look at the Huskers on Saturday, drivers need to be alert for slower traffic, obey the speed limit and pay attention when behind the wheel – especially in construction zones.NDOT encourages people to always buckle up, put the phone down and designate a sober driver if they plan to drink. Following these simple steps will help get the football season off on the right foot. For more information about construction projects and lane closures, check 511 and the Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) website, Facebook or X. For gameday information, visit the Husker’s website. When coming to the game:• Drivers arriving in Lincoln on I-80 from the west should take Exit 397 (south U.S. Highway 77 (US-77)) to• Rosa Parks Way into downtown Lincoln. • Drivers arriving in Lincoln on I-80 from the east should take Exit 401 to south Interstate 180 (I-180) into downtown Lincoln.When leaving the game, drivers should avoid Exit 409 between Lincoln and Waverly as it may be closed due to safety concerns as heavy interstate traffic builds. This may significantly increase traffic on US-6 and cause slowdowns. Leaving downtown Lincoln immediately after the game can put you in heavy traffic. Spending some extra time in town may allow traffic to ease up and provide a smoother ride home.

Gameday Traffic Springs Back to Lincoln

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-russia-congress-aid-a28f463da6df2f144e3bbdbf47254ece">provided secretly by the United States</a>, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.

Long sought by Ukrainian leaders, the new missiles give Ukraine nearly double the striking distance — up to 300 kilometers (190 miles) — that it had with the mid-range version of the weapon that it received from the U.S. last October.

"We’ve already sent some, we will send more now that we have additional authority and money,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said. The additional ATACMS were included in a new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mike-johnson-ukraine-israel-b72aed9b195818735d24363f2bc34ea4">military aid package signed by President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday.

Biden approved delivery of the long-range Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, in February, and then in March the U.S. included a “significant” number of them in a $300 million aid package announced, officials said.

U.S. officials would not provide the exact number of missiles given last month or in the latest aid package, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/54045b0755b1711d0e22beaedf137cab">totals about $1 billion</a>.

Ukraine has been forced to ration its weapons and is facing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">increasing Russian attacks.</a>&nbsp;Ukraine had been begging for the long-range system because the missiles provide a critical ability to strike Russian targets that are farther away, allowing Ukrainian forces to stay safely out of range.

Information about the delivery was kept so quiet that lawmakers and others in recent days have been demanding that the U.S. send the weapons — not knowing they were already in Ukraine.

For months, the U.S. resisted sending Ukraine the long-range missiles out of concern that Kyiv could use them to hit deep into Russian territory, enraging Moscow and escalating the conflict. That was a key reason the administration sent the mid-range version, with a range of about 160 kilometers (roughly 100 miles), in October instead.

Adm. Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Wednesday that the White House and military planners looked carefully at the risks of providing long-range fires to Ukraine and determined that the time was right to provide them now.

He told The Associated Press in an interview that long-range weapons will help Ukraine take out Russian logistics nodes and troop concentrations that are not on the front lines. Grady declined to identify what specific weapons were being provided but said they will be “very disruptive if used properly, and I’m confident they will be.”

Like many of the other sophisticated weapons systems provided to Ukraine, the administration weighed whether their use would risk further escalating the conflict. The administration is continuing to make clear that the weapons cannot be used to hit targets inside Russia. At the State Department, spokesman Vedant Patel said Wednesday that Biden directed his national security team to send the ATACMS specifying that they be used inside Ukrainian sovereign territory.

“I think the time is right, and the boss (Biden) made the decision the time is right to provide these based on where the fight is right now,” Grady said Wednesday. “I think it was a very well considered decision, and we really wrung it out — but again, any time you introduce a new system, any change — into a battlefield, you have to think through the escalatory nature of it.”

Ukrainian officials haven’t publicly acknowledged the receipt or use of long-range ATACMS. But in thanking Congress for passing the new aid bill Tuesday, Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-aid-package-kharkiv-drones-cadd79c8abd56ad58d07c93253e04ef1">Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted</a>&nbsp;on the social platform X that “Ukraine’s long-range capabilities, artillery and air defense are extremely important tools for the quick restoration of a just peace.”

One U.S. official said the Biden administration warned Russia last year that if Moscow acquired and used long-range ballistic missiles in Ukraine, Washington would provide the same capability to Kyiv. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to talk about internal discussions.

Russia got some of those weapons from North Korea and has used them on the battlefield in Ukraine, said the official, prompting the Biden administration to greenlight the new long-range missiles.

The U.S. had refused to confirm that the long-range missiles were given to Ukraine until they were actually used on the battlefield and Kyiv leaders approved the public release. One official said the weapons were used early last week to strike the airfield in Dzhankoi, a city in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/crimea">Crimea</a>, a peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. They were used again overnight east of the occupied city of Berdyansk.

Videos on social media last week showed the explosions at the military airfield, but officials at the time would not confirm it was the ATACMS.

"These strikes proved -– once again -– that Ukraine can notch battlefield victories when given the right tools,” said Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee who has long pressed the administration to send the long-range weapons.

Ukraine’s first use of the weapon came as political gridlock in Congress had delayed approval of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-ukraine-house-speaker-42a2f281a5437beaa8af4c3345987637">$95 billion foreign aid package</a>&nbsp;for months, including funding for Ukraine, Israel and other allies. Facing acute shortages of artillery and air defense systems, Ukraine has been rationing its munitions as U.S. funding was delayed.

With the war now in its third year, Russia used the delay in U.S. weapons deliveries and its own edge in firepower and personnel to step up attacks across eastern Ukraine. It has increasingly used satellite-guided gliding bombs — dropped from planes from a safe distance — to pummel Ukrainian forces beset by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-parliament-recruit-army-russia-war-5b7d9f58bb398b4ad1296311b8130b92">shortage of troops</a>&nbsp;and ammunition.

The mid-range missiles provided last year, and some of the long-range ones sent more recently, carry cluster munitions that open in the air when fired, releasing hundreds of bomblets rather than a single warhead. Others sent recently have a single warhead.

One critical factor in the February decision to send the weapons was the U.S. Army’s ability to begin replacing the older ATACMS. The Army is now buying the Precision Strike Missile, so is more comfortable taking ATACMS off the shelves to provide to Ukraine, the official said.

At the White House, Sullivan said the administration “has worked relentlessly to address those concerns" and stocks are now coming off the production line and the ATACMS can be sent without hurting U.S. military readiness.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;signed into law into law Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-israel-gaza-taiwan-c0645ad3f47f9d919c8988a98593e887">a $95 billion war aid measure</a>&nbsp;that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that also includes a provision that would force social media site TikTok to be sold or be banned in U.S.

The announcement marks an end to long, painful battle with Republicans in Congress over urgently needed assistance for Ukraine.

“We rose to the moment. we came together. and we got it done," Biden said at White House event to announce the signing. "Now we need to move fast, and we are,”

But significant damage has been done to the Biden administration’s effort to help Ukraine repel Russia’s brutal invasion during the funding impasse that dates back to August, when the Democratic president made his first emergency spending request for Ukraine aid. Even with a burst of new weapons and ammunition, it is unlikely Ukraine will immediately recover after months of setbacks.

Biden said the transfer of an initial aid package of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-pentagon-weapons-congress-54045b0755b1711d0e22beaedf137cab">military assistance</a>&nbsp;will begin in a matter of hours — the first tranche from about $61 billion allocated for Ukraine, according to U.S. officials. It is expected to include air defense capabilities, artillery rounds, armored vehicles and other weapons to shore up Ukrainian forces who have seen morale sink as Russian President Vladimir Putin has racked up win after win.