WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House voted Tuesday to impeach Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-impeachment-mayorkas-border-congress-homeland-security-33c952f97b12ceffacb20ceaaa531adf">Alejandro Mayorkas</a>, with the Republican majority determined to punish the Biden administration over its handling of the U.S-Mexico border after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-republicans-impeach-homeland-security-secretary-mayorkas-8209736501ed4fe12e4b164443d6a8a9">failing last week</a>&nbsp;in a politically embarrassing setback.

The evening roll call proved tight, with Speaker Mike Johnson’s threadbare GOP majority unable to handle many defectors or absences in the face of staunch Democratic opposition to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mayorkas-border-impeachment-immigration-d5f6a7d91ea725768e27b9b2bc5391a4">impeaching Mayorkas</a>, the first Cabinet secretary facing charges in nearly 150 years.

In a historic rebuke, the House impeached Mayorkas 214-213. With the return of Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/steve-scalise">Steve Scalise</a>&nbsp;to bolster the GOP's numbers after being away from Washington for cancer care and a Northeastern storm impacting some others, Republicans recouped — despite dissent from their own ranks.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;called it a "blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games.”

The charges against Mayorkas next go to the Senate for a trial, but neither Democratic nor Republican senators have shown interest in the matter and it may be indefinitely shelved to a committee.

In a frantic scene of vote-tallying on the House floor, the GOP effort to impeach Mayorkas over his handling of the southern border took on an air of political desperation as Republicans struggle to make good on their priorities.

Mayorkas faced two articles of impeachment filed by the Homeland Security Committee arguing that he “willfully and systematically” refused to enforce existing immigration laws and that he breached the public trust by lying to Congress and saying the border was secure.

But critics of the impeachment effort said the charges against Mayorkas amount to a policy dispute over Biden's border policy, hardly rising to the Constitution's bar of high crimes and misdemeanors.

The House had initially launched an impeachment inquiry into Biden over his son’s business dealings, but instead turned its attention to Mayorkas after Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, an ally of former President Donald Trump, pushed the debate forward following the panel’s months-long investigation.

Greene, who will serve as an impeachment manager in a potential Senate trial, hugged Scalise afterward and posed for photos with other lawmakers. She said senators “better pay attention to the American people and how they feel and then they need to read our articles of impeachment.”

Border security has shot to the top of campaign issues, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump, the Republican front-runner</a>&nbsp;for the presidential nomination, insisting he will launch “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history” if he retakes the White House.

Various House Republicans have prepared legislation to begin deporting migrants who were temporarily allowed into the U.S. under the Biden administration’s policies, many as they await adjudication of asylum claims.

“We have no choice,” Trump said in stark language at a weekend rally in South Carolina.

At the same time, Johnson rejected a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-aid-border-security-386dcc54b29a5491f8bd87b727a284f8">bipartisan Senate border security package</a>&nbsp;but has been unable to advance Republicans’ own proposal, which is a nonstarter in the Senate.

Three Republican representatives broke who ranks last week over the Mayorkas impeachment — Ken Buck of Colorado, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Tom McClintock of California — all did so again Tuesday. With a 219-212 majority, Johnson had few votes to spare.

Several leading conservative scholars along with former Homeland Secretary secretaries from both Republican and Democratic administrations have dismissed the Mayorkas impeachment as unwarranted or a waste of time.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said what the Republicans “have succeeded in doing is degrading and tarnishing the constitutional meaning of impeachment.”

Mayorkas is not the only Biden administration official the House Republicans want to impeach. They have filed legislation to impeach a long list including Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Never before has a sitting Cabinet secretary been impeached, and it was nearly 150 years ago that the House voted to impeach President Ulysses S. Grant’s secretary of war, William Belknap, over a kickback scheme in government contracts. He resigned before the vote.

Mayorkas, who did not appear to testify before the impeachment proceedings, put the border crisis squarely on Congress for failing to update immigration laws during a time of global migration.

“There is no question that we have a challenge, a crisis at the border,” Mayorkas said over the weekend on NBC. “And there is no question that Congress needs to fix it.”

Johnson and the Republicans have pushed back, arguing that the Biden administration could take executive actions, as Trump did, to stop the number of crossings — though the courts have questioned and turned back some of those efforts.

“We always explore what options are available to us that are permissible under the law,” Mayorkas said.

Last week's failed vote to impeach Mayorkas — a surprise outcome rarely seen on such a high-profile issue — was a stunning display in the chamber that has been churning through months of GOP chaos since the ouster of the previous House speaker.

At the time, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who had been hospitalized for emergency abdominal surgery, made a surprise arrival, wheeled into the chamber in scrubs and socks to vote against it — leaving the vote tied and leading to its failure.

“Obviously, you feel good when you can make a difference,” said Green, describing his painstaking route from hospital bed to the House floor. “All I did was what I was elected to do, and that was to cast my vote on the issues of our time, using the best judgment available to me.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707870653545.png" alt="House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the final vote count 214-213-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the final vote count 214-213-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House voted Tuesday to impeach Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-impeachment-mayorkas-border-congress-homeland-security-33c952f97b12ceffacb20ceaaa531adf">Alejandro Mayorkas</a>, with the Republican majority determined to punish the Biden administration over its handling of the U.S-Mexico border after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-republicans-impeach-homeland-security-secretary-mayorkas-8209736501ed4fe12e4b164443d6a8a9">failing last week</a>&nbsp;in a politically embarrassing setback.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My statement on the House voting to impeach Secretary Mayorkas: <a href="https://t.co/CwNdm4XQkU">pic.twitter.com/CwNdm4XQkU</a>&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1757561249183735969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are living in unprecedented times; our sovereignty is at stake, and our security is compromised by the Biden Admin&#39;s historic border crisis. The House has taken the appropriate steps to hold DHS accountable for their failure to do their most basic job: secure our homeland. By…&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1757561474552152482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The evening roll call proved tight, with Speaker Mike Johnson’s threadbare GOP majority unable to handle many defectors or absences in the face of staunch Democratic opposition to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mayorkas-border-impeachment-immigration-d5f6a7d91ea725768e27b9b2bc5391a4">impeaching Mayorkas</a>, the first Cabinet secretary facing charges in nearly 150 years.In a historic rebuke, the House impeached Mayorkas 214-213. With the return of Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/steve-scalise">Steve Scalise</a>&nbsp;to bolster the GOP's numbers after being away from Washington for cancer care and a Northeastern storm impacting some others, Republicans recouped — despite dissent from their own ranks.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;called it a "blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games.”The charges against Mayorkas next go to the Senate for a trial, but neither Democratic nor Republican senators have shown interest in the matter and it may be indefinitely shelved to a committee.In a frantic scene of vote-tallying on the House floor, the GOP effort to impeach Mayorkas over his handling of the southern border took on an air of political desperation as Republicans struggle to make good on their priorities.Mayorkas faced two articles of impeachment filed by the Homeland Security Committee arguing that he “willfully and systematically” refused to enforce existing immigration laws and that he breached the public trust by lying to Congress and saying the border was secure.But critics of the impeachment effort said the charges against Mayorkas amount to a policy dispute over Biden's border policy, hardly rising to the Constitution's bar of high crimes and misdemeanors.The House had initially launched an impeachment inquiry into Biden over his son’s business dealings, but instead turned its attention to Mayorkas after Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, an ally of former President Donald Trump, pushed the debate forward following the panel’s months-long investigation.Greene, who will serve as an impeachment manager in a potential Senate trial, hugged Scalise afterward and posed for photos with other lawmakers. She said senators “better pay attention to the American people and how they feel and then they need to read our articles of impeachment.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690419772316.png" alt="File Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Judiciary Committee.&nbsp; He becomes the first cabinet secretary impeached since 1876-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Judiciary Committee.&nbsp; He becomes the first cabinet secretary impeached since 1876-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Border security has shot to the top of campaign issues, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump, the Republican front-runner</a>&nbsp;for the presidential nomination, insisting he will launch “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history” if he retakes the White House.Various House Republicans have prepared legislation to begin deporting migrants who were temporarily allowed into the U.S. under the Biden administration’s policies, many as they await adjudication of asylum claims.“We have no choice,” Trump said in stark language at a weekend rally in South Carolina.At the same time, Johnson rejected a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-aid-border-security-386dcc54b29a5491f8bd87b727a284f8">bipartisan Senate border security package</a>&nbsp;but has been unable to advance Republicans’ own proposal, which is a nonstarter in the Senate.Three Republican representatives broke who ranks last week over the Mayorkas impeachment — Ken Buck of Colorado, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Tom McClintock of California — all did so again Tuesday. With a 219-212 majority, Johnson had few votes to spare.Several leading conservative scholars along with former Homeland Secretary secretaries from both Republican and Democratic administrations have dismissed the Mayorkas impeachment as unwarranted or a waste of time.Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said what the Republicans “have succeeded in doing is degrading and tarnishing the constitutional meaning of impeachment.”Mayorkas is not the only Biden administration official the House Republicans want to impeach. They have filed legislation to impeach a long list including Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.Never before has a sitting Cabinet secretary been impeached, and it was nearly 150 years ago that the House voted to impeach President Ulysses S. Grant’s secretary of war, William Belknap, over a kickback scheme in government contracts. He resigned before the vote.Mayorkas, who did not appear to testify before the impeachment proceedings, put the border crisis squarely on Congress for failing to update immigration laws during a time of global migration.“There is no question that we have a challenge, a crisis at the border,” Mayorkas said over the weekend on NBC. “And there is no question that Congress needs to fix it.”Johnson and the Republicans have pushed back, arguing that the Biden administration could take executive actions, as Trump did, to stop the number of crossings — though the courts have questioned and turned back some of those efforts.“We always explore what options are available to us that are permissible under the law,” Mayorkas said.Last week's failed vote to impeach Mayorkas — a surprise outcome rarely seen on such a high-profile issue — was a stunning display in the chamber that has been churning through months of GOP chaos since the ouster of the previous House speaker.At the time, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who had been hospitalized for emergency abdominal surgery, made a surprise arrival, wheeled into the chamber in scrubs and socks to vote against it — leaving the vote tied and leading to its failure.“Obviously, you feel good when you can make a difference,” said Green, describing his painstaking route from hospital bed to the House floor. “All I did was what I was elected to do, and that was to cast my vote on the issues of our time, using the best judgment available to me.”

Historic rebuke: House impeaches DHS Secretary by a single vote

FEBRUARY 13, 2024 (GRAND ISLAND, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested a Lincoln man after locating multiple controlled substances during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Wood River.

At approximately 5:55 p.m. Monday, a trooper observed an eastbound GMC Terrain speeding on I-80 near mile marker 301. During the traffic stop, the trooper saw a THC product in plain view.

A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 11 pounds of marijuana, approximately 3 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, and nearly 300 grams of THC products. The mushrooms and marijuana were concealed in a suitcase in the rear of the vehicle.

The driver, Avery Wayman, 28, of Lincoln, was arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound and possession of a controlled substance. He was lodged in Hall County Jail.

By Cody ThomasNebraska State PatrolFEBRUARY 13, 2024 (GRAND ISLAND, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested a Lincoln man after locating multiple controlled substances during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Wood River.At approximately 5:55 p.m. Monday, a trooper observed an eastbound GMC Terrain speeding on I-80 near mile marker 301. During the traffic stop, the trooper saw a THC product in plain view.A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 11 pounds of marijuana, approximately 3 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, and nearly 300 grams of THC products. The mushrooms and marijuana were concealed in a suitcase in the rear of the vehicle.The driver, Avery Wayman, 28, of Lincoln, was arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound and possession of a controlled substance. He was lodged in Hall County Jail.

14 LBs of Marijuana, Mushrooms Found in I-80 Traffic Stop 

By Deborah Van Fleet Nebraska News Connection

&nbsp; Nebraska saw nine long-term care facility closures in 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/post-acute/128-nursing-homes-closed-in-2022-numbers-by-states.html" target="_blank">second</a>&nbsp;only to 13 in Texas. In the past three years, Nebraska has lost a combined 29 assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Inadequate funding for Medicaid patients, workforce issues and the rising costs of goods and services have all contributed to these closures.

Two bills to be heard in the Unicameral's Appropriations Committee Tuesday would mean substantial increases in state and federal funding for both types of facilities. Jalene Carpenter, Nebraska Health Care Association CEO, says additional funding is crucial to stem the state's long-term care crisis."

In Nebraska, 15 counties do not have a nursing home or an assisted-living [facility], and we are really starting to see a 'care desert' be created. And that causes significant issues for Nebraska seniors, " Carpenter expressed.<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=55291" target="_blank">LB-941</a>&nbsp;would increase the daily reimbursement rate for assisted living residents on the Medicaid Waiver program. The new daily rate of just under $79 is based on a Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services study.&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Intro/LB942.pdf" target="_blank">LB-942</a>&nbsp;would increase the nursing home Medicaid reimbursement rate by about 5% over the next year. Both bills were introduced by state Sen. Myron Dorn, R-Adams.

Carpenter says the COVID-impacted long-term care workforce is improving in the state, but she stresses Medicaid reimbursement rates play a large part."A large portion of the Medicaid rate -- when you look at what it covers -- it's primarily going towards labor and benefits. Nursing-facility and assisted-living care is very hands-on, and we need adequate rates to be able to attract and retain team members," she added.

Carpenter said the state, educational institutions and organizations, including the Nebraska Health Care Association, are also focused on building the long-term care workforce -- including introducing young people to careers in health care and strengthening Certified Nursing Assistant programs." We're trying not only to increase the rates so that our facilities can attract and retain (employees), but then also, as an association, to look at other ways to drive people into the workforce for this profession, " she said. In 2023, Gov. Jim Pillen approved a one-year, 3% increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rate, but&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/governor.nebraska.gov/files/doc/press/VetoMessage.pdf" target="_blank">vetoed</a>&nbsp;the Legislature's 2% increase for the second year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Deborah Van Fleet Nebraska News Connection&nbsp; Nebraska saw nine long-term care facility closures in 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/post-acute/128-nursing-homes-closed-in-2022-numbers-by-states.html" target="_blank">second</a>&nbsp;only to 13 in Texas. In the past three years, Nebraska has lost a combined 29 assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Inadequate funding for Medicaid patients, workforce issues and the rising costs of goods and services have all contributed to these closures.Two bills to be heard in the Unicameral's Appropriations Committee Tuesday would mean substantial increases in state and federal funding for both types of facilities. Jalene Carpenter, Nebraska Health Care Association CEO, says additional funding is crucial to stem the state's long-term care crisis."In Nebraska, 15 counties do not have a nursing home or an assisted-living [facility], and we are really starting to see a 'care desert' be created. And that causes significant issues for Nebraska seniors, " Carpenter expressed.<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=55291" target="_blank">LB-941</a>&nbsp;would increase the daily reimbursement rate for assisted living residents on the Medicaid Waiver program. The new daily rate of just under $79 is based on a Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services study.&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Intro/LB942.pdf" target="_blank">LB-942</a>&nbsp;would increase the nursing home Medicaid reimbursement rate by about 5% over the next year. Both bills were introduced by state Sen. Myron Dorn, R-Adams.Carpenter says the COVID-impacted long-term care workforce is improving in the state, but she stresses Medicaid reimbursement rates play a large part."A large portion of the Medicaid rate -- when you look at what it covers -- it's primarily going towards labor and benefits. Nursing-facility and assisted-living care is very hands-on, and we need adequate rates to be able to attract and retain team members," she added.Carpenter said the state, educational institutions and organizations, including the Nebraska Health Care Association, are also focused on building the long-term care workforce -- including introducing young people to careers in health care and strengthening Certified Nursing Assistant programs." We're trying not only to increase the rates so that our facilities can attract and retain (employees), but then also, as an association, to look at other ways to drive people into the workforce for this profession, " she said. In 2023, Gov. Jim Pillen approved a one-year, 3% increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rate, but&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/governor.nebraska.gov/files/doc/press/VetoMessage.pdf" target="_blank">vetoed</a>&nbsp;the Legislature's 2% increase for the second year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

NE Legislature to hear bills that bolster struggling long-term care industry

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/12/nebraska-lawmaker-proposes-grant-for-artificial-intelligence-tools-to-combat-dyslexia/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;When Millard North High School junior Janae Harris was in second grade, she read to a kindergarten class but kept getting stuck on words.

The teacher continually corrected her, Janae said, and told her she “needed to learn how to read” before she read to another class.

“I was embarrassed, and to this day it is terrifying to read out loud, and I continuously struggle to overcome it,” Janae told the Legislature’s Education Committee on Monday. “This moment will replay in my head forever.”

Janae, who is in Millard’s STEM Academy and is captain of her school’s girl’s lacrosse team, among other involvements, has dyslexia. She testified in support of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=55506">Legislative Bill 1253</a>&nbsp;to create a Dyslexia Research Grant Program for new technologies.

“I want to do everything in my power to minimize the struggles of dyslexic students,” Janae said.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who introduced the bill, also has dyslexia and has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=31661">fought for years</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/31/nebraska-passes-bill-requiring-dyslexia-reports-school-dress-codes-teacher-compact/">support students with dyslexia</a>. The proposed research program would set aside $1 million for Nebraska businesses researching artificial-intelligence-based writing assistance for individuals with dyslexia.

Linehan told the Nebraska Examiner that some educators have long discredited the lifelong disorder or cast it off as having to do with a student’s IQ or intelligence. She herself has struggled with the disorder, recalling how “horrified” she felt before her 1995 interview to work for then-U.S. Senate candidate Chuck Hagel.&nbsp;

She said she worried about whether she could communicate and whether Hagel would understand.

“I finally just told him, and he said, ‘Well, that’s easy. We’ll just get somebody to proof all your stuff,’ which is what we did,” Linehan said. “Then I got to the point where I was proofing things because somebody showed me how to have a tool so that I could become proficient.”

Linehan later served as Hagel’s campaign manager and his chief of staff in the U.S. Senate and said the impact of such research could be “huge.”

“This program could take a student who was afraid to write, afraid to communicate, struggling through college, and turn them into a proficient, capable communicator,” Linehan said.

It’s estimated that as many as 15%-20% of the world’s population has dyslexia, according to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dyslexiaida.org/dyslexia-basics-2/">International Dyslexia Association</a>.

In the past year, a group of University of Nebraska-Lincoln college students working in this field approached Linehan to discuss their fledgling business, Dyslexico, which they started about two years ago&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://raikes.unl.edu/design-studio/">UNL Raikes School</a>, based on&nbsp;the experiences of one of its co-founders, Grace Clausen.&nbsp;

Clausen, who has dyslexia, grew up in a school system that didn’t always work for her, according to fellow Dyslexico co-founder Bridget Peterkin of Omaha.

Peterkin said corrective writing tools —&nbsp;from Word or Google Docs to Grammarly —&nbsp;do not always work, and other AI-based models, such as ChatGPT, may add words a writer didn’t intend.

In one example Peterkin showed to the Examiner, a student wrote “wondering” when they meant “wandering.” In another, the student wrote “I say a figure” instead of “saw.”

“It was never going to catch that because it was spelled correctly,” Peterkin, a senior computer science major at UNL, said of other spelling or grammar programs.

Unlike other programs, the Dyslexico software is powered through AI but finds a middle ground in not rewriting sentences, as ChatGPT did to grow with users over time and provide analysis that Peterkin and her team said might be able to help educators.

“We want to have a solution for the schools that helps students have the support to get their spelling and grammar correct while they can maintain their original voice and be able to fully partake in the learning process,” Peterkin said.

Another Nebraska-born startup that got its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://raikes.unl.edu/stories/hudl/">start in the Raikes School</a>&nbsp;has grown to international success:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hudl.com/about#:~:text=Our%20team%20features%20more%20than,of%20sports%20video%20and%20data.">Hudl</a>, which has&nbsp; a goal of “building the future of sports” with video and data entry.

Tristan Curd of Omaha, Dyslexico project manager and a senior computer science major at UNL, said Dyslexico has gotten into the hands of students and successfully launched with a public beta version last year. Dyslexico is also&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dyslexi.co/">available online</a>.

In the last year, Dyslexico entered agreements with two schools for test runs, providing developers with some feedback from The Pittsburgh New Church School for Children with Dyslexia and Millard Public Schools, including with Janae Harris.

“There’s always going to be that distinction between us developing it and the actual users using it,” Curd said. “To get that info, it’s big.”

The company is also in talks to partner with Services for Students with Disabilities at UNL. Pablo Rangel, a disability specialist with SSD, testified before the Education Committee Monday in support in his individual capacity.

Rangel, who has dyslexia, said he could have benefited from such a program. He said Dyslexico could better prepare all K-12 students for college.

“The Dyslexico software does for individuals with dyslexia what prosthetics do for people who are missing a part of their body,” Rangel said. “It supports independence and autonomy for a person to move forward where typically they might retreat and give up.”

Colby Coash, on behalf of the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Commission, also testified in support of LB 1253.

Nick Lauver of Papillion, a business development associate for Dyslexico and a senior actuarial science and finance double major at UNL, said the company has already heard about some successes from educators, which have been “some of the brightest points” in the software’s development.

Megan Pitrat, a 10-year special education teacher in Syracuse, testified in opposition to LB 1253 on behalf of the Nebraska State Education Association. She said that while dyslexia is a problematic disorder, there are already systems in place to help students.

“I believe that allocating funds to research something that is already being serviced within the functioning system is redundant, unnecessary and a waste of precious funds that could instead be used to support teachers and systems that, as always, do the best with what we are given,” Pitrat testified.

State Sens. Lynne Walz of Fremont and Justin Wayne of Omaha tried to draw a distinction between NSEA’s testimony and LB 1253’s intent, which they said is to research and create but not demand the use of such technology. Pitrat said she would probably not use such technology and did not anticipate it being helpful.

“With all due respect, it’s not about you, it’s about the student,” Wayne said.

“OK, but as a practitioner, I’m determining, based on my experiences and my practice, how to deliver special education services to my students,” Pitrat responded.

After the hearing, the NSEA referred questions to Tim Royers, president of the Millard Education Association, who clarified that the NSEA’s opposition comes in wanting to raise cautions and warn against framing such technologies as a “panacea.”

“We have concerns about digital, especially AI tools, being put in the driver’s seat to try and work on something that is as challenging to work on as dyslexia,” Royers told the Examiner.

He said the amount of time he’s lost by getting trained on tools that ended up being shelved after “two months tops” was a net loss for his time working with students.

Curd said Dyslexico wants to work with the Nebraska Department of Education on a large-scale research study in schools next year and aims to help 295,000 Nebraska students with dyslexia.

“If we can get it in the hands of the youngest people possible and make an impact that lasts throughout their lives, that’d be huge,” Curd said.

Janae Harris said she was part of the Millard district’s trial and described the software as “game changing.” Royers said he was unfamiliar with Dyslexico’s use at Millard.

Janae said her “fervent hope” is that LB 1253 helps get Dyslexico into the hands of more students.

“Without the ability to read and write, Nebraska youth cannot be productive citizens and reach success,” Janae said. “Who knows what others could achieve with the help of this grant.”

The committee took no immediate action on LB 1253.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707840956891.jpeg" alt="Members of the Dyslexico team at the Unviersity of Nebraska-Lincoln that is working to combat dyslexia with AI-based tools. From left: Tristan Curd, Bridget Peterkin and Nick Lauver on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Members of the Dyslexico team at the Unviersity of Nebraska-Lincoln that is working to combat dyslexia with AI-based tools. From left: Tristan Curd, Bridget Peterkin and Nick Lauver on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/12/nebraska-lawmaker-proposes-grant-for-artificial-intelligence-tools-to-combat-dyslexia/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;When Millard North High School junior Janae Harris was in second grade, she read to a kindergarten class but kept getting stuck on words.The teacher continually corrected her, Janae said, and told her she “needed to learn how to read” before she read to another class.“I was embarrassed, and to this day it is terrifying to read out loud, and I continuously struggle to overcome it,” Janae told the Legislature’s Education Committee on Monday. “This moment will replay in my head forever.”Janae, who is in Millard’s STEM Academy and is captain of her school’s girl’s lacrosse team, among other involvements, has dyslexia. She testified in support of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=55506">Legislative Bill 1253</a>&nbsp;to create a Dyslexia Research Grant Program for new technologies.“I want to do everything in my power to minimize the struggles of dyslexic students,” Janae said.<h2>‘Proficient, capable communicator’</h2>State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who introduced the bill, also has dyslexia and has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=31661">fought for years</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/31/nebraska-passes-bill-requiring-dyslexia-reports-school-dress-codes-teacher-compact/">support students with dyslexia</a>. The proposed research program would set aside $1 million for Nebraska businesses researching artificial-intelligence-based writing assistance for individuals with dyslexia.Linehan told the Nebraska Examiner that some educators have long discredited the lifelong disorder or cast it off as having to do with a student’s IQ or intelligence. She herself has struggled with the disorder, recalling how “horrified” she felt before her 1995 interview to work for then-U.S. Senate candidate Chuck Hagel.&nbsp;She said she worried about whether she could communicate and whether Hagel would understand.“I finally just told him, and he said, ‘Well, that’s easy. We’ll just get somebody to proof all your stuff,’ which is what we did,” Linehan said. “Then I got to the point where I was proofing things because somebody showed me how to have a tool so that I could become proficient.”Linehan later served as Hagel’s campaign manager and his chief of staff in the U.S. Senate and said the impact of such research could be “huge.”“This program could take a student who was afraid to write, afraid to communicate, struggling through college, and turn them into a proficient, capable communicator,” Linehan said.It’s estimated that as many as 15%-20% of the world’s population has dyslexia, according to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dyslexiaida.org/dyslexia-basics-2/">International Dyslexia Association</a>.<h2>‘Fully partake’ in learning</h2>In the past year, a group of University of Nebraska-Lincoln college students working in this field approached Linehan to discuss their fledgling business, Dyslexico, which they started about two years ago&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://raikes.unl.edu/design-studio/">UNL Raikes School</a>, based on&nbsp;the experiences of one of its co-founders, Grace Clausen.&nbsp;Clausen, who has dyslexia, grew up in a school system that didn’t always work for her, according to fellow Dyslexico co-founder Bridget Peterkin of Omaha.Peterkin said corrective writing tools —&nbsp;from Word or Google Docs to Grammarly —&nbsp;do not always work, and other AI-based models, such as ChatGPT, may add words a writer didn’t intend.In one example Peterkin showed to the Examiner, a student wrote “wondering” when they meant “wandering.” In another, the student wrote “I say a figure” instead of “saw.”“It was never going to catch that because it was spelled correctly,” Peterkin, a senior computer science major at UNL, said of other spelling or grammar programs.Unlike other programs, the Dyslexico software is powered through AI but finds a middle ground in not rewriting sentences, as ChatGPT did to grow with users over time and provide analysis that Peterkin and her team said might be able to help educators.“We want to have a solution for the schools that helps students have the support to get their spelling and grammar correct while they can maintain their original voice and be able to fully partake in the learning process,” Peterkin said.Another Nebraska-born startup that got its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://raikes.unl.edu/stories/hudl/">start in the Raikes School</a>&nbsp;has grown to international success:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hudl.com/about#:~:text=Our%20team%20features%20more%20than,of%20sports%20video%20and%20data.">Hudl</a>, which has&nbsp; a goal of “building the future of sports” with video and data entry.<h2>Getting into students’ hands</h2>Tristan Curd of Omaha, Dyslexico project manager and a senior computer science major at UNL, said Dyslexico has gotten into the hands of students and successfully launched with a public beta version last year. Dyslexico is also&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dyslexi.co/">available online</a>.In the last year, Dyslexico entered agreements with two schools for test runs, providing developers with some feedback from The Pittsburgh New Church School for Children with Dyslexia and Millard Public Schools, including with Janae Harris.“There’s always going to be that distinction between us developing it and the actual users using it,” Curd said. “To get that info, it’s big.”The company is also in talks to partner with Services for Students with Disabilities at UNL. Pablo Rangel, a disability specialist with SSD, testified before the Education Committee Monday in support in his individual capacity.<h2>‘Independence and autonomy’</h2>Rangel, who has dyslexia, said he could have benefited from such a program. He said Dyslexico could better prepare all K-12 students for college.“The Dyslexico software does for individuals with dyslexia what prosthetics do for people who are missing a part of their body,” Rangel said. “It supports independence and autonomy for a person to move forward where typically they might retreat and give up.”Colby Coash, on behalf of the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Commission, also testified in support of LB 1253.Nick Lauver of Papillion, a business development associate for Dyslexico and a senior actuarial science and finance double major at UNL, said the company has already heard about some successes from educators, which have been “some of the brightest points” in the software’s development.<h2>‘Redundant and unnecessary’</h2>Megan Pitrat, a 10-year special education teacher in Syracuse, testified in opposition to LB 1253 on behalf of the Nebraska State Education Association. She said that while dyslexia is a problematic disorder, there are already systems in place to help students.“I believe that allocating funds to research something that is already being serviced within the functioning system is redundant, unnecessary and a waste of precious funds that could instead be used to support teachers and systems that, as always, do the best with what we are given,” Pitrat testified.State Sens. Lynne Walz of Fremont and Justin Wayne of Omaha tried to draw a distinction between NSEA’s testimony and LB 1253’s intent, which they said is to research and create but not demand the use of such technology. Pitrat said she would probably not use such technology and did not anticipate it being helpful.“With all due respect, it’s not about you, it’s about the student,” Wayne said.“OK, but as a practitioner, I’m determining, based on my experiences and my practice, how to deliver special education services to my students,” Pitrat responded.<h2>‘Panacea’ or ‘game changing’</h2>After the hearing, the NSEA referred questions to Tim Royers, president of the Millard Education Association, who clarified that the NSEA’s opposition comes in wanting to raise cautions and warn against framing such technologies as a “panacea.”“We have concerns about digital, especially AI tools, being put in the driver’s seat to try and work on something that is as challenging to work on as dyslexia,” Royers told the Examiner.He said the amount of time he’s lost by getting trained on tools that ended up being shelved after “two months tops” was a net loss for his time working with students.Curd said Dyslexico wants to work with the Nebraska Department of Education on a large-scale research study in schools next year and aims to help 295,000 Nebraska students with dyslexia.“If we can get it in the hands of the youngest people possible and make an impact that lasts throughout their lives, that’d be huge,” Curd said.Janae Harris said she was part of the Millard district’s trial and described the software as “game changing.” Royers said he was unfamiliar with Dyslexico’s use at Millard.Janae said her “fervent hope” is that LB 1253 helps get Dyslexico into the hands of more students.“Without the ability to read and write, Nebraska youth cannot be productive citizens and reach success,” Janae said. “Who knows what others could achieve with the help of this grant.”The committee took no immediate action on LB 1253.

Nebraska lawmaker proposes grant for artificial intelligence tools to combat dyslexia

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen reversed course on Monday and announced that the state will accept roughly $18 million in federal funding to help feed hungry children over the summer break.

Pillen announced in December that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-summer-ebt-food-program-children-789f2d04bd195086d2e41d0d43b8111c">state would reject the funding</a>, defending his position by stating, “I don’t believe in welfare.” But he came under intense pressure, including from some members of his party, to accept the money.

At a news conference Monday, Pillen said he decided to accept money allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture after meeting with a group of high school students from around Nebraska who visited the state Capitol this month.

“They talked about being hungry, and they talked about the summer USDA program and, depending upon access, when they'd get a sack of food,” Pillen said. “And from my seat, what I saw there, we have to do better in Nebraska.”

The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children — or Summer EBT — program was widely employed as part of federal assistance made available during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then made permanent in 2022. It provides pre-loaded EBT cards to low-income families, those whose children are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches at school, and those who are already on food assistance, Medicaid and other assistance programs. Those families would receive $40 per eligible child for each of three summer months. The cards can be used to buy groceries, similar to how SNAP benefits are used.

Pressure from lawmakers, particular those from rural areas, also played a part in Pillen's about-face. The governor previously argued that Nebraska would continue to help food-insecure children through the Summer Food Service Program, a separate program that provides meals and snacks at various sites when school is not in session. But critics countered that not all families have access to the on-site programs, particularly in Nebraska’s vast rural stretches, where the sites can be far from struggling families.

A bill from state Sen. Jen Day of Omaha, a Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, would have forced the state to accept the federal funding. The bipartisan support for the program became clear when Republican state Sen. Ray Aguilar, of Grand Island, made Day's bill his priority for the session, giving it a good chance to be debated by the full Legislature.

Aguilar was among two dozen Republican lawmakers who appeared with Pillen at Monday's news conference.

Nebraska was one of 15 states — all with Republican governors — that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebt-usda-children-food-assistance-6ca5110019a53293ebbf5e0e090485d7">opted out</a>&nbsp;of receiving the funding this year. Those states include neighboring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-summer-ebt-food-assistance-0e878c5c0fc9dd0dd55622cb22a82561">Iowa</a>, where Gov. Kim Reynolds criticized the federal food program as doing “nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic."

Reynolds' office declined to answer questions Monday about whether she is holding to her rejection of the funding.

State Sen. Megan Hunt, of Omaha, thanked Pillen for deciding to accept the funding.

“This goes to show that all voices make a positive difference, and that hard work and building support across the state and across the political spectrum on common ground issues to help Nebraskans and bring our tax dollars home is a win for everyone,” Hunt tweeted.

The deadline for states to declare that they are participating this summer had been Jan. 1, but the USDA extended it to Thursday.

Pillen said Monday that Nebraska officials had already reached out to the USDA to confirm that the state would participate this year.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen reversed course on Monday and announced that the state will accept roughly $18 million in federal funding to help feed hungry children over the summer break.Pillen announced in December that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-summer-ebt-food-program-children-789f2d04bd195086d2e41d0d43b8111c">state would reject the funding</a>, defending his position by stating, “I don’t believe in welfare.” But he came under intense pressure, including from some members of his party, to accept the money.At a news conference Monday, Pillen said he decided to accept money allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture after meeting with a group of high school students from around Nebraska who visited the state Capitol this month.“They talked about being hungry, and they talked about the summer USDA program and, depending upon access, when they'd get a sack of food,” Pillen said. “And from my seat, what I saw there, we have to do better in Nebraska.”The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children — or Summer EBT — program was widely employed as part of federal assistance made available during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then made permanent in 2022. It provides pre-loaded EBT cards to low-income families, those whose children are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches at school, and those who are already on food assistance, Medicaid and other assistance programs. Those families would receive $40 per eligible child for each of three summer months. The cards can be used to buy groceries, similar to how SNAP benefits are used.Pressure from lawmakers, particular those from rural areas, also played a part in Pillen's about-face. The governor previously argued that Nebraska would continue to help food-insecure children through the Summer Food Service Program, a separate program that provides meals and snacks at various sites when school is not in session. But critics countered that not all families have access to the on-site programs, particularly in Nebraska’s vast rural stretches, where the sites can be far from struggling families.A bill from state Sen. Jen Day of Omaha, a Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, would have forced the state to accept the federal funding. The bipartisan support for the program became clear when Republican state Sen. Ray Aguilar, of Grand Island, made Day's bill his priority for the session, giving it a good chance to be debated by the full Legislature.Aguilar was among two dozen Republican lawmakers who appeared with Pillen at Monday's news conference.Nebraska was one of 15 states — all with Republican governors — that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebt-usda-children-food-assistance-6ca5110019a53293ebbf5e0e090485d7">opted out</a>&nbsp;of receiving the funding this year. Those states include neighboring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-summer-ebt-food-assistance-0e878c5c0fc9dd0dd55622cb22a82561">Iowa</a>, where Gov. Kim Reynolds criticized the federal food program as doing “nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic."Reynolds' office declined to answer questions Monday about whether she is holding to her rejection of the funding.State Sen. Megan Hunt, of Omaha, thanked Pillen for deciding to accept the funding.“This goes to show that all voices make a positive difference, and that hard work and building support across the state and across the political spectrum on common ground issues to help Nebraskans and bring our tax dollars home is a win for everyone,” Hunt tweeted.The deadline for states to declare that they are participating this summer had been Jan. 1, but the USDA extended it to Thursday.Pillen said Monday that Nebraska officials had already reached out to the USDA to confirm that the state would participate this year.

Nebraska governor reverses course and says state will take federal funding to feed children

On Feb. 9, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the establishment of the Doctor of Nutrition and Dietetics (DND) program, to be housed within and administered by the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Allied Health Professions.

The clinical doctorate degree is designed to offer practicing registered dietician nutritionists (RDN) “an advanced practice course of study including advanced clinical nutrition and nutrition science, leadership, advocacy, education in higher learning institutions, and scholarly activity,” according to the proposal presented to the regents. UNMC will seek accreditation of the program through the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and approval from the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education.

The program plans to enroll up to eight students in fall 2024, with an incremental annual increase of up to four students per year until maximum enrollment of 20 students per year is achieved.

“As the field of nutrition and dietetics continues to advance nationally, UNMC’s will be one of the first accredited advanced-practice doctorate degrees offered in the U.S.,” said Kendra Schmid, PhD, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs. “We expect the program to be highly marketable in Nebraska and nationwide.”

This continues UNMC’s commitment to offer both entry-level allied health profession education programs as well as emerging degrees that advance allied health professionals and their respective professions. To put it another way, to produce the highest quality allied health workforce to practice at the highest scope of their respective professions.

“To fulfill this mission, the CAHP programs are, and must continue to be, at the ‘cutting edge’ of both health professions education pedagogy and the evolution of the allied health professions,” said Kyle Meyer, PhD, dean of the College of Allied Health Professions.

Corrine Hanson, PhD, director of medical nutrition, agreed: “The advent of nutrition diagnosing, order writing, evidence-based practice, and outcomes research —&nbsp;along with the increasingly recognized role of nutrition and diet in the management of complex medical and surgical conditions —&nbsp;&nbsp;has&nbsp;created a demand for advanced practice dietitians who can assume these expanding roles and responsibilities.”

Effective Jan. 1 of this year, the minimum degree requirement for practicing RDNs is now a master’s degree or higher. But there are currently few choices for doctoral-level training in the field, beyond the traditional PhD path.

“There was clearly a need for a professional practice doctoral degree pathway to fill this gap,” said Tammy Webster, PhD, CAHP’s assistant dean for academic affairs.

UNMC met the opportunity to step up, said Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD: “We are proud that once again our College of Allied Health Professions has taken a position of national leadership that also benefits the health of Nebraskans —&nbsp;&nbsp;both&nbsp;as highly sought after professionals, and as patients who will benefit from their expertise. We cannot wait to see the myriad ways this new program will lead to new collaborations with our colleagues on the University of Nebraska campuses and across the nation.”

Interest for a doctoral-level degree in the field is high among both practitioners and employers, according to national and UNMC surveys. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a nearly 12% increase in demand for registered dieticians in Nebraska from 2020-2030, and a more than 11% increase nationwide over that span.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which offers a PhD in nutrition and dietetics, sent a letter to the regents in support of the new program. UNMC’s DND degree complements UNL’s efforts, the letter said, and opportunities for synergy and partnership already are being brainstormed.

UNMC’s new DND program will accept credentialed RDNs with master’s degrees and three-plus years of post-credential experience, or those without master’s degrees but five-plus years of post-credential experience. The DND program will consist of didactic courses, a scholarly project and residency, for 48 total credit hours. The program will be offered fully online to meet the needs of practicing RDNs in Nebraska and across the U.S.

UNMC’s Office of Academic Affairs championed the proposal for the new degree, offering indispensable support, Dr. Webster said.

Tuition revenue generated by the DND program will be sufficient to cover projected expenses at inception due to existing resources. No state or other public funding is projected to be required.

As Nebraska’s only public academic health science center, the University of Nebraska Medical Center enrolls more than 4,500 students across six colleges, two institutes and a graduate studies program. Its mission is to create a healthier future for Nebraskans through premier education, research&nbsp;and clinical care, but its impact -- rooted in a culture of collaboration,&nbsp;big ideas&nbsp;and public-private partnerships – goes far beyond, in areas that include infectious diseases, rural health, cancer research and treatments, global health security, and&nbsp;simulation and experiential learning technologies.&nbsp;

<a href="https://twitter.com/unmc" target="_blank">Twitter</a>  |  <a href="https://www.facebook.com/unmcedu" target="_blank">Facebook</a>  |  <a href="https://instagram.com/iamunmc" target="_blank">Instagram</a>  |  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/UNMCEDU" target="_blank">YouTube</a>  |  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/unmc/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>&nbsp;

UNMCOn Feb. 9, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the establishment of the Doctor of Nutrition and Dietetics (DND) program, to be housed within and administered by the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Allied Health Professions.The clinical doctorate degree is designed to offer practicing registered dietician nutritionists (RDN) “an advanced practice course of study including advanced clinical nutrition and nutrition science, leadership, advocacy, education in higher learning institutions, and scholarly activity,” according to the proposal presented to the regents. UNMC will seek accreditation of the program through the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and approval from the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education.The program plans to enroll up to eight students in fall 2024, with an incremental annual increase of up to four students per year until maximum enrollment of 20 students per year is achieved.“As the field of nutrition and dietetics continues to advance nationally, UNMC’s will be one of the first accredited advanced-practice doctorate degrees offered in the U.S.,” said Kendra Schmid, PhD, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs. “We expect the program to be highly marketable in Nebraska and nationwide.”This continues UNMC’s commitment to offer both entry-level allied health profession education programs as well as emerging degrees that advance allied health professionals and their respective professions. To put it another way, to produce the highest quality allied health workforce to practice at the highest scope of their respective professions.“To fulfill this mission, the CAHP programs are, and must continue to be, at the ‘cutting edge’ of both health professions education pedagogy and the evolution of the allied health professions,” said Kyle Meyer, PhD, dean of the College of Allied Health Professions.Corrine Hanson, PhD, director of medical nutrition, agreed: “The advent of nutrition diagnosing, order writing, evidence-based practice, and outcomes research —&nbsp;along with the increasingly recognized role of nutrition and diet in the management of complex medical and surgical conditions —&nbsp;&nbsp;has&nbsp;created a demand for advanced practice dietitians who can assume these expanding roles and responsibilities.”Effective Jan. 1 of this year, the minimum degree requirement for practicing RDNs is now a master’s degree or higher. But there are currently few choices for doctoral-level training in the field, beyond the traditional PhD path.“There was clearly a need for a professional practice doctoral degree pathway to fill this gap,” said Tammy Webster, PhD, CAHP’s assistant dean for academic affairs.UNMC met the opportunity to step up, said Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD: “We are proud that once again our College of Allied Health Professions has taken a position of national leadership that also benefits the health of Nebraskans —&nbsp;&nbsp;both&nbsp;as highly sought after professionals, and as patients who will benefit from their expertise. We cannot wait to see the myriad ways this new program will lead to new collaborations with our colleagues on the University of Nebraska campuses and across the nation.”Interest for a doctoral-level degree in the field is high among both practitioners and employers, according to national and UNMC surveys. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a nearly 12% increase in demand for registered dieticians in Nebraska from 2020-2030, and a more than 11% increase nationwide over that span.The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which offers a PhD in nutrition and dietetics, sent a letter to the regents in support of the new program. UNMC’s DND degree complements UNL’s efforts, the letter said, and opportunities for synergy and partnership already are being brainstormed.UNMC’s new DND program will accept credentialed RDNs with master’s degrees and three-plus years of post-credential experience, or those without master’s degrees but five-plus years of post-credential experience. The DND program will consist of didactic courses, a scholarly project and residency, for 48 total credit hours. The program will be offered fully online to meet the needs of practicing RDNs in Nebraska and across the U.S.UNMC’s Office of Academic Affairs championed the proposal for the new degree, offering indispensable support, Dr. Webster said.Tuition revenue generated by the DND program will be sufficient to cover projected expenses at inception due to existing resources. No state or other public funding is projected to be required.About UNMC&nbsp;As Nebraska’s only public academic health science center, the University of Nebraska Medical Center enrolls more than 4,500 students across six colleges, two institutes and a graduate studies program. Its mission is to create a healthier future for Nebraskans through premier education, research&nbsp;and clinical care, but its impact -- rooted in a culture of collaboration,&nbsp;big ideas&nbsp;and public-private partnerships – goes far beyond, in areas that include infectious diseases, rural health, cancer research and treatments, global health security, and&nbsp;simulation and experiential learning technologies.&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/unmc" target="_blank">Twitter</a>  |  <a href="https://www.facebook.com/unmcedu" target="_blank">Facebook</a>  |  <a href="https://instagram.com/iamunmc" target="_blank">Instagram</a>  |  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/UNMCEDU" target="_blank">YouTube</a>  |  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/unmc/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>&nbsp;

 UNMC to offer Doctor of Nutrition and Dietetics program

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-military-aid-ukraine-israel-gaza-0b9c866308cc4c8c13c3f54494371f0b">aid package</a>&nbsp;for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad.

The vote came after a small group of Republicans opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night, using the final hours of debate to argue that the U.S. should focus on its own problems before sending more money overseas. But more than a dozen Republicans voted with almost all Democrats to pass the package 70-29, with supporters arguing that abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-ukraine-israel-trump-aid-biden-13d5461154e2755510d7149a5af9b97a">threaten national security across the globe</a>.

“It’s been years, perhaps decades, since the Senate has passed a bill that so greatly impacts not just our national security, not just the security of our allies, but also the security of western democracy,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who worked closely with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on the legislation.

The bill’s passage through the Senate was a welcome sign for Ukraine amid critical&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-money-congress-weapons-dd5076b30bf8fab5c914a1222186e7f0">shortages on the battlefield</a>. The final vote gained 22 Republicans including Kansas Senator Jerry Moran supporting its passage, while two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, voted against it. Progressive lawmakers have objected to sending offensive weaponry to Israel. Nebraska Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts voted against the measure.

The other Republicans voting for the bill included Senators Boozman Capito, Cassidy, Collins, Cornyn, Cramer, Crapo, Ernst, Grassley, Hoeven, Kennedy, McConnell, Murkowski, Risch, Romney, Rounds, Sullivan, Thune, Tillis, Wicker, and Young.&nbsp;

Yet the package faces a deeply uncertain future in the House, where hardline Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump — the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, and a critic of support for Ukraine — oppose the legislation.

Speaker Mike Johnson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-congress-6970b539025d2de5ade9e3aff165c54f">cast new doubt</a>&nbsp;on the package in a statement Monday evening, making clear that it could be weeks or months before Congress sends the legislation to President Joe Biden's desk — if at all.

Still, the vote was a win for both Senate leaders. Schumer noted the strong bipartisan support and projected that if the House speaker brings it forward it would have the same strong support in that chamber. McConnell has made Ukraine his top priority in recent months, and was resolute in the face of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcconnell-ukraine-republicans-senate-c5217d686c85837d2b9708aa197843f9">considerable pushback</a>&nbsp;from his own GOP conference.

Speaking directly to his detractors in a floor speech on Sunday, McConnell said that “the eyes of the world” were on the U.S. Senate.

“Will we give those who wish us harm more reason to question our resolve, or will we recommit to exercising American strength?” McConnell asked.

Dollars provided by the legislation would purchase U.S.-made defense equipment, including munitions and air defense systems that authorities say are desperately needed as Russia batters the country. It also includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance.

In addition, the legislation would provide $14 billion for Israel’s war with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.2 billion in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-gaza-evacuation-palestinians-attack-israel-hamas-90bf78cfca6550dc229e7192f6724dfc">humanitarian assistance for Gaza</a>.

The bill’s passage followed almost five months of torturous negotiations over an expansive bill that would have paired the foreign aid with an overhaul of border and asylum policies. Republicans demanded the trade-off, saying the surge of migration into the United States had to be addressed alongside the security of allies.

But a bipartisan deal on border security struck by Republican Sen. James Lankford fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. Republicans declared the bill insufficient and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-aid-border-security-386dcc54b29a5491f8bd87b727a284f8">blocked it</a>&nbsp;on the Senate floor.

After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone — as Democrats had originally intended.

While the slimmed-down foreign aid bill eventually won enough Republican support to pass, several GOP senators who had previously expressed support for Ukraine voted against it. The episode further exposed divisions in the party, made more public as Trump dug in and a handful of lawmakers openly called for McConnell to step down.

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., became emotional as he talked about the drudgery of the Senate and spending time away from his family to get little done. “But every so often there are issues that come before us that seem to be the ones that explain why we are here,” he said, his voice cracking.

Moran conceded that the cost of the package was heavy for him, but pointed out that if Putin were to attack a NATO member in Europe, the U.S. would be bound by treaty to become directly involved in the conflict — a commitment that Trump has called into question as he seeks another term in the White House.

Sen. J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican, argued that the U.S. should step back from the conflict and help broker an end to it with Russia's Putin. He questioned the wisdom of continuing to fuel Ukraine’s defense when Putin appears committed to fighting for years.

“I think it deals with the reality that we’re living in, which is they’re a more powerful country, and it’s their region of the world,” he said.

Vance, along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and other opponents, spent several hours on the floor railing against the aid and complaining about Senate process. They dug in their heels to delay a final vote, speaking on the floor until daybreak.

Supporters of the aid pushed back, warning that bowing to Russia would be a historic mistake with devastating consequences. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis angrily rebutted some of their arguments, noting that the money would only help Ukraine for less than a year and that much of it would go to replenishing U.S. military stocks.

“Why am I so focused on this vote?” Tillis said. “Because I don’t want to be on the pages of history that we will regret if we walk away. You will see the alliance that is supporting Ukraine crumble. You will ultimately see China become emboldened. And I am not going to be on that page of history.”

At a rally Saturday, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nato-foreign-aid-russia-2b8054a9fe185eec34c2c541cece655d">said that he had once told</a>&nbsp;a NATO ally he would encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to members that are “delinquent” in their financial and military commitments to the alliance. The former president has&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/pronto/20e902788e8701999ce0424f73d478cc">led his party away</a>&nbsp;from the foreign policy doctrines of aggressive American involvement overseas and toward an “America First” isolationism.

Evoking the slogan, Moran said, “I believe in America first, but unfortunately America first means we have to engage in the world.”

While the vast majority of House Republicans have opposed the aid and are unlikely to cross Trump, a handful of GOP lawmakers have signaled they will push to get it passed.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, traveled to Ukraine last week with a bipartisan delegation and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that “I reiterated America’s commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.”

But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position. A majority of his conference opposes the aid, and he is trying to lead the narrowest of majorities and avoid the fate of his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted in October.

Johnson, R-La., said in a statement Monday that because the foreign aid package lacks border security provisions, it is “silent on the most pressing issue facing our country.” It was the latest — and potentially most consequential — sign of opposition to the Ukraine aid from House GOP leadership, who had rejected the bipartisan border plan as a “non-starter,” contributing to its rapid demise.

“Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters,” Johnson said. “America deserves better than the Senate’s status quo.”

Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat, traveled to Kyiv last week with Turner and other House members. She said the trip underscored to her how Ukraine is still in a fight for its very existence.

As the group traveled through Kyiv in armored vehicles, she said, they witnessed signs of an active war, from sandbagged shelters to burned-out cars and memorials to those killed. During the meeting with Zelenskyy, she said the U.S. lawmakers tried to offer assurances that the American people still stand with his country.

“He was clear that our continued support is critical to their ability to win the war,” Spanberger said. “It’s critical to their own freedom. And importantly, it’s critical to U.S. national security interests.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707796196671.png" alt="Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas became emotional as he talked about the drudgery of the Senate and spending time away from his family to get little done. “But every so often there are issues that come before us that seem to be the ones that explain why we are here,” he said, his voice cracking. Moran conceded that the cost of the package was heavy for him, but pointed out that if Putin were to attack a NATO member in Europe, the U.S. would be bound by treaty to become directly involved in the conflict." />
 <figcaption>Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas became emotional as he talked about the drudgery of the Senate and spending time away from his family to get little done. “But every so often there are issues that come before us that seem to be the ones that explain why we are here,” he said, his voice cracking. Moran conceded that the cost of the package was heavy for him, but pointed out that if Putin were to attack a NATO member in Europe, the U.S. would be bound by treaty to become directly involved in the conflict.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-military-aid-ukraine-israel-gaza-0b9c866308cc4c8c13c3f54494371f0b">aid package</a>&nbsp;for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad.The vote came after a small group of Republicans opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night, using the final hours of debate to argue that the U.S. should focus on its own problems before sending more money overseas. But more than a dozen Republicans voted with almost all Democrats to pass the package 70-29, with supporters arguing that abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-ukraine-israel-trump-aid-biden-13d5461154e2755510d7149a5af9b97a">threaten national security across the globe</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;I believe in America First, but unfortunately America First means we have to engage in the world.&quot;-Senator Moran (R-KS) from the Senate floor in support of the $95B foreign aid to Israel, Ukraine &amp; Taiwan bill. <a href="https://t.co/ID6c1qL7MP">pic.twitter.com/ID6c1qL7MP</a>&mdash; Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1757175089731170755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“It’s been years, perhaps decades, since the Senate has passed a bill that so greatly impacts not just our national security, not just the security of our allies, but also the security of western democracy,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who worked closely with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on the legislation.The bill’s passage through the Senate was a welcome sign for Ukraine amid critical&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-money-congress-weapons-dd5076b30bf8fab5c914a1222186e7f0">shortages on the battlefield</a>. The final vote gained 22 Republicans including Kansas Senator Jerry Moran supporting its passage, while two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, voted against it. Progressive lawmakers have objected to sending offensive weaponry to Israel. Nebraska Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts voted against the measure.The other Republicans voting for the bill included Senators Boozman Capito, Cassidy, Collins, Cornyn, Cramer, Crapo, Ernst, Grassley, Hoeven, Kennedy, McConnell, Murkowski, Risch, Romney, Rounds, Sullivan, Thune, Tillis, Wicker, and Young.&nbsp;Yet the package faces a deeply uncertain future in the House, where hardline Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump — the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, and a critic of support for Ukraine — oppose the legislation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My statement on Senate’s failure to address the most critical aspect of national security supplemental legislation: <a href="https://t.co/ENjJ0WzKsK">pic.twitter.com/ENjJ0WzKsK</a>&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1757210505570087039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Speaker Mike Johnson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-congress-6970b539025d2de5ade9e3aff165c54f">cast new doubt</a>&nbsp;on the package in a statement Monday evening, making clear that it could be weeks or months before Congress sends the legislation to President Joe Biden's desk — if at all.Still, the vote was a win for both Senate leaders. Schumer noted the strong bipartisan support and projected that if the House speaker brings it forward it would have the same strong support in that chamber. McConnell has made Ukraine his top priority in recent months, and was resolute in the face of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcconnell-ukraine-republicans-senate-c5217d686c85837d2b9708aa197843f9">considerable pushback</a>&nbsp;from his own GOP conference.Speaking directly to his detractors in a floor speech on Sunday, McConnell said that “the eyes of the world” were on the U.S. Senate.“Will we give those who wish us harm more reason to question our resolve, or will we recommit to exercising American strength?” McConnell asked.Dollars provided by the legislation would purchase U.S.-made defense equipment, including munitions and air defense systems that authorities say are desperately needed as Russia batters the country. It also includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance.In addition, the legislation would provide $14 billion for Israel’s war with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.2 billion in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-gaza-evacuation-palestinians-attack-israel-hamas-90bf78cfca6550dc229e7192f6724dfc">humanitarian assistance for Gaza</a>.The bill’s passage followed almost five months of torturous negotiations over an expansive bill that would have paired the foreign aid with an overhaul of border and asylum policies. Republicans demanded the trade-off, saying the surge of migration into the United States had to be addressed alongside the security of allies.But a bipartisan deal on border security struck by Republican Sen. James Lankford fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. Republicans declared the bill insufficient and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-aid-border-security-386dcc54b29a5491f8bd87b727a284f8">blocked it</a>&nbsp;on the Senate floor.After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone — as Democrats had originally intended.While the slimmed-down foreign aid bill eventually won enough Republican support to pass, several GOP senators who had previously expressed support for Ukraine voted against it. The episode further exposed divisions in the party, made more public as Trump dug in and a handful of lawmakers openly called for McConnell to step down.Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., became emotional as he talked about the drudgery of the Senate and spending time away from his family to get little done. “But every so often there are issues that come before us that seem to be the ones that explain why we are here,” he said, his voice cracking.Moran conceded that the cost of the package was heavy for him, but pointed out that if Putin were to attack a NATO member in Europe, the U.S. would be bound by treaty to become directly involved in the conflict — a commitment that Trump has called into question as he seeks another term in the White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Democrats&#39; border ‘efforts’ were only ever a charade to find an avenue for more Ukraine funding. It&#39;s never been about helping Israel or addressing the historic border crisis- it&#39;s always been about finding a vessel for more Ukraine funding. <a href="https://t.co/21PH5Qerdf">pic.twitter.com/21PH5Qerdf</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1757190709445042555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Sen. J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican, argued that the U.S. should step back from the conflict and help broker an end to it with Russia's Putin. He questioned the wisdom of continuing to fuel Ukraine’s defense when Putin appears committed to fighting for years.“I think it deals with the reality that we’re living in, which is they’re a more powerful country, and it’s their region of the world,” he said.Vance, along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and other opponents, spent several hours on the floor railing against the aid and complaining about Senate process. They dug in their heels to delay a final vote, speaking on the floor until daybreak.Supporters of the aid pushed back, warning that bowing to Russia would be a historic mistake with devastating consequences. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor.North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis angrily rebutted some of their arguments, noting that the money would only help Ukraine for less than a year and that much of it would go to replenishing U.S. military stocks.“Why am I so focused on this vote?” Tillis said. “Because I don’t want to be on the pages of history that we will regret if we walk away. You will see the alliance that is supporting Ukraine crumble. You will ultimately see China become emboldened. And I am not going to be on that page of history.”At a rally Saturday, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nato-foreign-aid-russia-2b8054a9fe185eec34c2c541cece655d">said that he had once told</a>&nbsp;a NATO ally he would encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to members that are “delinquent” in their financial and military commitments to the alliance. The former president has&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/pronto/20e902788e8701999ce0424f73d478cc">led his party away</a>&nbsp;from the foreign policy doctrines of aggressive American involvement overseas and toward an “America First” isolationism.Evoking the slogan, Moran said, “I believe in America first, but unfortunately America first means we have to engage in the world.”While the vast majority of House Republicans have opposed the aid and are unlikely to cross Trump, a handful of GOP lawmakers have signaled they will push to get it passed.House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, traveled to Ukraine last week with a bipartisan delegation and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that “I reiterated America’s commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.”But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position. A majority of his conference opposes the aid, and he is trying to lead the narrowest of majorities and avoid the fate of his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted in October.Johnson, R-La., said in a statement Monday that because the foreign aid package lacks border security provisions, it is “silent on the most pressing issue facing our country.” It was the latest — and potentially most consequential — sign of opposition to the Ukraine aid from House GOP leadership, who had rejected the bipartisan border plan as a “non-starter,” contributing to its rapid demise.“Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters,” Johnson said. “America deserves better than the Senate’s status quo.”Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat, traveled to Kyiv last week with Turner and other House members. She said the trip underscored to her how Ukraine is still in a fight for its very existence.As the group traveled through Kyiv in armored vehicles, she said, they witnessed signs of an active war, from sandbagged shelters to burned-out cars and memorials to those killed. During the meeting with Zelenskyy, she said the U.S. lawmakers tried to offer assurances that the American people still stand with his country.“He was clear that our continued support is critical to their ability to win the war,” Spanberger said. “It’s critical to their own freedom. And importantly, it’s critical to U.S. national security interests.”

Nebraska Senators vote no: Senate OKs $95B aid package for Ukraine, Israel

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;fired two missiles at a ship carrying corn bound for a port in Iran on Monday, causing minor damage but no injuries to its crew, authorities said.

The attack on the Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier Star Iris shows just how widely the Houthis now target ships traveling through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the two waterways.

The Star Iris had been heading from Brazil to Bandar Khomeini in Iran, the main backer and armer of the Houthis in Yemen's yearslong war.

“The group owner and operator regularly trade bulk cargo with Iran, so this was assessed to be the likely destination,” said Ambrey, a private security firm. Ambrey added that the Star Iris sustained damage to its starboard side in the attack.

The Houthis sought to describe the Star Iris as an “American” vessel, and said they targeted the ship with multiple missiles. The Star Iris' ultimate owner, Star Bulk Carriers Corp. of Athens, Greece, is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York. It did not respond to a request for comment.

Days earlier, another ship owned by Star Bulk, the Star Nasia,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attack-iran-us-e1c74b063a59fa4417d47feb5ab369cc">came under attack from the Houthis</a>.

The Houthis' military “will not hesitate to carry out more operations in retaliation to the Zionist crimes against our brothers in the Gaza Strip, as well as in response to the ongoing American-British aggression against our dear country,” Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a statement after the attack.

Iran did not acknowledge the Star Iris' destination, though the U.S. military's Central Command did in a statement early Tuesday. Central Command identified its cargo as Brazilian corn bound for Iran. Corn is a major Brazilian export to Iran, likely used in animal feed.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, which oversees Mideast waters, reported the attack, saying it happened while the Star Iris was traveling south through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that separates East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.

The ship's captain “reports his vessel was attacked by two missiles and reports minor damage,” the UKMTO said. “Vessel and crew are safe. Vessel proceeding to next port of call.”

The attack on the Star Iris follows days in which no Houthi attacks on ships were reported. It's unclear what caused the pause, though the U.S. and British militaries have conducted multiple rounds of airstrikes targeting the Houthis' missile arsenals and launch sites in territory they hold.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;fired two missiles at a ship carrying corn bound for a port in Iran on Monday, causing minor damage but no injuries to its crew, authorities said.The attack on the Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier Star Iris shows just how widely the Houthis now target ships traveling through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the two waterways.The Star Iris had been heading from Brazil to Bandar Khomeini in Iran, the main backer and armer of the Houthis in Yemen's yearslong war.“The group owner and operator regularly trade bulk cargo with Iran, so this was assessed to be the likely destination,” said Ambrey, a private security firm. Ambrey added that the Star Iris sustained damage to its starboard side in the attack.The Houthis sought to describe the Star Iris as an “American” vessel, and said they targeted the ship with multiple missiles. The Star Iris' ultimate owner, Star Bulk Carriers Corp. of Athens, Greece, is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York. It did not respond to a request for comment.Days earlier, another ship owned by Star Bulk, the Star Nasia,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attack-iran-us-e1c74b063a59fa4417d47feb5ab369cc">came under attack from the Houthis</a>.The Houthis' military “will not hesitate to carry out more operations in retaliation to the Zionist crimes against our brothers in the Gaza Strip, as well as in response to the ongoing American-British aggression against our dear country,” Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a statement after the attack.Iran did not acknowledge the Star Iris' destination, though the U.S. military's Central Command did in a statement early Tuesday. Central Command identified its cargo as Brazilian corn bound for Iran. Corn is a major Brazilian export to Iran, likely used in animal feed.The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, which oversees Mideast waters, reported the attack, saying it happened while the Star Iris was traveling south through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that separates East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.The ship's captain “reports his vessel was attacked by two missiles and reports minor damage,” the UKMTO said. “Vessel and crew are safe. Vessel proceeding to next port of call.”The attack on the Star Iris follows days in which no Houthi attacks on ships were reported. It's unclear what caused the pause, though the U.S. and British militaries have conducted multiple rounds of airstrikes targeting the Houthis' missile arsenals and launch sites in territory they hold.

Rebels fire missiles at ship bound for Iran, their main supporter

By Office of Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Surrounded by more than 20 state senators in the Warner Chamber at the State Capitol, Governor Jim Pillen touted a “Nebraska solution” that will allow the state to take advantage of the federally-funded Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (SEBT) program, while ensuring that additional needs of children and their families are met. Gov. Pillen was joined in his announcement today by Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) CEO Steve Corsi, Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Commissioner Brian Maher and Senator Ray Aguilar (District 35).

“My team has been in touch with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which has expressed interest and support for this plan,” said Gov. Pillen. “We simply must do better in Nebraska to enhance the quality of life and the quality of interaction with kids and their families during the summer months. This program will make sure that happens.”

DHHS, through the Office of Economic Assistance, will act as the coordinating agency for the implementation of the SEBT program. NDE will partner with DHHS to provide necessary student information to DHHS, so that eligible children are identified, and families are aware of the benefits and additional resources available to them.

In addition to vendor issued EBT cards, the program will have touchpoints incorporated to ensure that kids are safe. Supplemental features of the program include:

“We are very excited about this program because we are going to implement it the Nebraska way,” said DHHS CEO Steve Corsi. “We won’t just be transferring additional money. We are setting up the program to ensure kids are safe in the summer. Through our partnership with NDE, we are confident DHHS will be able to implement this in a timely manner, built upon the foundation already established with NDE to carry out the Pandemic-EBT program”

Nebraska will also continue to participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also funded through the USDA. Like SEBT, it also provides no-cost food to children, usually in centralized locations where kids get access to nutritious meals and snacks. There are 280 such sites around the state operating in schools or non-profits. One of the benefits of the program is that children have an opportunity to interact with adults who can spot signs of abuse, malnutrition, mental health and other issues that require immediate attention.

“During the pandemic, when schools were shut down and kids were at home, calls to Children and Family Services (CFS) dropped significantly,” said Gov. Pillen. “We don’t want that to happen again. Enabling DHHS to follow up with families enrolled in SEBT will ensure those kids are not falling through the cracks.”

“This plan is a great way to meet the needs of kids who experience food insecurity as well as provide a means for ensuring they are cared for properly during the summer months,” said NDE Commissioner Maher. “This will provide another opportunity to check in with our students.&nbsp; We welcome the chance to have caring adults touching base with kids and families during the summer months.”

Sen. Aguilar, who prioritized LB 952, added his support to the Governor’s plan. That bill called on DHHS to submit for SEBT funding, but it left out the supplemental supports that have now been added through Gov. Pillen’s initiative.

“The issue of food insecurity is critical, and I know this is a very important issue for the Governor. He is a strong advocate for meeting the needs of kids in communities across our state,” said Sen. Aguilar. “I am pleased we have been able to come up with a solution that will allow us to pursue SEBT funding for this year, and that the program will meet other critical needs for Nebraska families.”

Next steps include working with the USDA for inclusion in this year’s SEBT program as well as submitting the required Plan for Operations and Management (POM). That document will be drafted by DHHS and submitted by the Feb. 15 deadline.

DHHS estimates that 150,000 students or 80,000 households will be eligible to receive SEBT benefits.

By Office of Nebraska Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Surrounded by more than 20 state senators in the Warner Chamber at the State Capitol, Governor Jim Pillen touted a “Nebraska solution” that will allow the state to take advantage of the federally-funded Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (SEBT) program, while ensuring that additional needs of children and their families are met. Gov. Pillen was joined in his announcement today by Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) CEO Steve Corsi, Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Commissioner Brian Maher and Senator Ray Aguilar (District 35).“My team has been in touch with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which has expressed interest and support for this plan,” said Gov. Pillen. “We simply must do better in Nebraska to enhance the quality of life and the quality of interaction with kids and their families during the summer months. This program will make sure that happens.”DHHS, through the Office of Economic Assistance, will act as the coordinating agency for the implementation of the SEBT program. NDE will partner with DHHS to provide necessary student information to DHHS, so that eligible children are identified, and families are aware of the benefits and additional resources available to them.In addition to vendor issued EBT cards, the program will have touchpoints incorporated to ensure that kids are safe. Supplemental features of the program include:<ul>
 <li>Educational outreach that informs families about the types of nutritious foods that parents can purchase for their kids with SEBT cards</li><li>A website with information about the SEBT program that also provides connections to other summer programs with additional support and resources</li><li>When the SEBT card is mailed to families, trained staff with DHHS will follow up personally to assess any other needs and determine what resources would be of benefit</li><li>DHHS will send text messages to enrolled families, so they can easily apply for SEBT. This also provides another connection to trained DHHS staff who can help families identify and navigate access to additional resources in their communities</li>
 </ul>“We are very excited about this program because we are going to implement it the Nebraska way,” said DHHS CEO Steve Corsi. “We won’t just be transferring additional money. We are setting up the program to ensure kids are safe in the summer. Through our partnership with NDE, we are confident DHHS will be able to implement this in a timely manner, built upon the foundation already established with NDE to carry out the Pandemic-EBT program”Nebraska will also continue to participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also funded through the USDA. Like SEBT, it also provides no-cost food to children, usually in centralized locations where kids get access to nutritious meals and snacks. There are 280 such sites around the state operating in schools or non-profits. One of the benefits of the program is that children have an opportunity to interact with adults who can spot signs of abuse, malnutrition, mental health and other issues that require immediate attention.“During the pandemic, when schools were shut down and kids were at home, calls to Children and Family Services (CFS) dropped significantly,” said Gov. Pillen. “We don’t want that to happen again. Enabling DHHS to follow up with families enrolled in SEBT will ensure those kids are not falling through the cracks.”“This plan is a great way to meet the needs of kids who experience food insecurity as well as provide a means for ensuring they are cared for properly during the summer months,” said NDE Commissioner Maher. “This will provide another opportunity to check in with our students.&nbsp; We welcome the chance to have caring adults touching base with kids and families during the summer months.”Sen. Aguilar, who prioritized LB 952, added his support to the Governor’s plan. That bill called on DHHS to submit for SEBT funding, but it left out the supplemental supports that have now been added through Gov. Pillen’s initiative.“The issue of food insecurity is critical, and I know this is a very important issue for the Governor. He is a strong advocate for meeting the needs of kids in communities across our state,” said Sen. Aguilar. “I am pleased we have been able to come up with a solution that will allow us to pursue SEBT funding for this year, and that the program will meet other critical needs for Nebraska families.”Next steps include working with the USDA for inclusion in this year’s SEBT program as well as submitting the required Plan for Operations and Management (POM). That document will be drafted by DHHS and submitted by the Feb. 15 deadline.DHHS estimates that 150,000 students or 80,000 households will be eligible to receive SEBT benefits.

 Gov. Pillen Announces SEBT “Nebraska Solution”

NEW YORK (AP)—Robert Kennedy Jr.’s presidential ambitions resulted in public family drama after a political action committee aired a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;ad invoking the Democratic family’s legacy to implicitly compare the independent candidate to his assassinated uncle, President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-kennedy-assassination-60-years-public-service-7a17f5baefe83fc1eddb1025e2e298d5">John F. Kennedy</a>.

The 30-second spot, financed by the American Values 2024 Super PAC that is backing Kennedy, featured a shortened version of a campaign song that the 35th president used in his 1960 campaign. The spot also mimicked cartoon and newsreel effects using black-and-white pictures of Robert Kennedy Jr. similar to JFK. But in a notable departure from the Kennedy's bygone Democratic Party dynasty, the ad urged Americans to “Vote Independent.”

After the game, Kennedy responded to online criticism, including from one of his cousins, emphasizing that his campaign did not produce the spot, which cost an estimated $7 million.

“I’m so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain,” Kennedy wrote late Sunday night on X, formerly Twitter. “The ad was created and aired by the American Values Super PAC without any involvement or approval from my campaign. ... I love you all. God bless you.”

Still, as of Monday morning, Kennedy had the ad pinned to the top of his X profile. “Our momentum is growing,” he wrote. “It’s time for an Independent President to heal the divide in our country.”

Bobby Shriver, whose mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded the Special Olympics, hammered his cousin over the spot and his opposition to vaccines for COVID-19 and other diseases.

“My cousin’s Super Bowl ad used our uncle’s faces- and my Mother’s,” Shriver wrote. “She would be appalled by his deadly health care views. Respect for science, vaccines, &amp; health care equity were in her DNA.”

Shriver, whose father, Sargent Shriver, founded the Peace Corps, also alluded to his own work in expanding health care access in the developing world.

Robert Kennedy Jr. responded separately to his cousin: “Bobby. I’m so sorry if that advertisement caused you pain. ... I send you and your family my sincerest apologies. God bless you.”

Kennedy is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/politics/election-2024-0000018ca126d7a5a79da57ef5030000">running for president</a>&nbsp;as an independent despite his family’s status as Democratic Party nobility. It’s not yet clear whether he can gain ballot access in enough states to mount a true national campaign. But his effort comes in a year when many voters are not enthusiastic about the likelihood of a rematch between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>, a Democrat, and former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>, a Republican. Any independent or third-party efforts in battleground states could shape the outcome in unpredictable ways.

“It is fitting that the first national ad promoting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s candidacy was bought and paid for by Donald Trump's largest donor this cycle,” said Democratic National Committee spokesman Alex Floyd. He was referring to Tim Mellon, a major donor to Trump who also gave American Values $15 million last year, according to federal filings.

The DNC already had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dnc-fec-complaint-kenedy-trump-biden-09d42502ca757cd4656b4829c4b4c00d">filed a federal complaint</a>&nbsp;alleging that Kennedy's campaign is illegally coordinating with American Values to siphon support from Biden, an accusation the PAC denies.

A Biden campaign spokesman sidestepped the flap, instead highlighting the president's Super Bowl Sunday debut on the social media platform TikTok.

An email newsletter from American Values framed the ad as an unqualified success, noting a spike in online searches for Kennedy and a statement from his campaign spokeswoman saying the campaign was “pleasantly surprised and grateful” for the ad, a different tone than Kennedy's statements to his family.

At one time, Kennedy was a leading environmental activist, and he was among the younger Kennedy family members who would speak at Democratic Party conventions and events. He has in recent years delved into conspiracy theories and become a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-rfk-jr-built-anti-vaccine-juggernaut-amid-covid-4997be1bcf591fe8b7f1f90d16c9321e">face of the anti-vaccine movement</a>.

NEW YORK (AP)—Robert Kennedy Jr.’s presidential ambitions resulted in public family drama after a political action committee aired a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;ad invoking the Democratic family’s legacy to implicitly compare the independent candidate to his assassinated uncle, President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-kennedy-assassination-60-years-public-service-7a17f5baefe83fc1eddb1025e2e298d5">John F. Kennedy</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I&#39;m so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain. The ad was created and aired by the American Values Super PAC without any involvement or approval from my campaign. FEC rules prohibit Super PACs from consulting with me or my staff. I love you all. God…&mdash; Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1756900265368723562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The 30-second spot, financed by the American Values 2024 Super PAC that is backing Kennedy, featured a shortened version of a campaign song that the 35th president used in his 1960 campaign. The spot also mimicked cartoon and newsreel effects using black-and-white pictures of Robert Kennedy Jr. similar to JFK. But in a notable departure from the Kennedy's bygone Democratic Party dynasty, the ad urged Americans to “Vote Independent.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our momentum is growing. It’s time for an Independent President to heal the divide in our country. 🇺🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kennedy24?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kennedy24</a> <a href="https://t.co/6rwXW3AwAp">pic.twitter.com/6rwXW3AwAp</a>&mdash; Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1756852942379045085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>After the game, Kennedy responded to online criticism, including from one of his cousins, emphasizing that his campaign did not produce the spot, which cost an estimated $7 million.“I’m so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain,” Kennedy wrote late Sunday night on X, formerly Twitter. “The ad was created and aired by the American Values Super PAC without any involvement or approval from my campaign. ... I love you all. God bless you.”Still, as of Monday morning, Kennedy had the ad pinned to the top of his X profile. “Our momentum is growing,” he wrote. “It’s time for an Independent President to heal the divide in our country.”Bobby Shriver, whose mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded the Special Olympics, hammered his cousin over the spot and his opposition to vaccines for COVID-19 and other diseases.“My cousin’s Super Bowl ad used our uncle’s faces- and my Mother’s,” Shriver wrote. “She would be appalled by his deadly health care views. Respect for science, vaccines, &amp; health care equity were in her DNA.”Shriver, whose father, Sargent Shriver, founded the Peace Corps, also alluded to his own work in expanding health care access in the developing world.Robert Kennedy Jr. responded separately to his cousin: “Bobby. I’m so sorry if that advertisement caused you pain. ... I send you and your family my sincerest apologies. God bless you.”Kennedy is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/politics/election-2024-0000018ca126d7a5a79da57ef5030000">running for president</a>&nbsp;as an independent despite his family’s status as Democratic Party nobility. It’s not yet clear whether he can gain ballot access in enough states to mount a true national campaign. But his effort comes in a year when many voters are not enthusiastic about the likelihood of a rematch between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>, a Democrat, and former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>, a Republican. Any independent or third-party efforts in battleground states could shape the outcome in unpredictable ways.“It is fitting that the first national ad promoting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s candidacy was bought and paid for by Donald Trump's largest donor this cycle,” said Democratic National Committee spokesman Alex Floyd. He was referring to Tim Mellon, a major donor to Trump who also gave American Values $15 million last year, according to federal filings.The DNC already had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dnc-fec-complaint-kenedy-trump-biden-09d42502ca757cd4656b4829c4b4c00d">filed a federal complaint</a>&nbsp;alleging that Kennedy's campaign is illegally coordinating with American Values to siphon support from Biden, an accusation the PAC denies.A Biden campaign spokesman sidestepped the flap, instead highlighting the president's Super Bowl Sunday debut on the social media platform TikTok.An email newsletter from American Values framed the ad as an unqualified success, noting a spike in online searches for Kennedy and a statement from his campaign spokeswoman saying the campaign was “pleasantly surprised and grateful” for the ad, a different tone than Kennedy's statements to his family.At one time, Kennedy was a leading environmental activist, and he was among the younger Kennedy family members who would speak at Democratic Party conventions and events. He has in recent years delved into conspiracy theories and become a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-rfk-jr-built-anti-vaccine-juggernaut-amid-covid-4997be1bcf591fe8b7f1f90d16c9321e">face of the anti-vaccine movement</a>.Besides his presidential uncle, who was assassinated in 1963, Kennedy’s political lineage includes his father, who was U.S. attorney general, a senator from New York and leading presidential candidate at the time of his 1968 assassination. His father’s longest-lived brother was Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts. Sargent Shriver, Bobby Shriver’s father, ran for president in 1976 as a Democrat.