&nbsp;By&nbsp;<a href="http://www.defense.gov/News/Author/135693/joseph-clark/">Joseph Clark</a>&nbsp;, DOD&nbsp;

The U.S. will lead a newly formed coalition focused on developing Ukraine's air force in a bid to bolster that country's long-term capability to defend itself against Russian aggression, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said on Wednesday.

The announcement, unveiled by Austin following the 16th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels, marks the formation of several distinct coalitions focused on building Ukraine's future force capabilities. Those coalitions are comprised of the more than 50 countries that make up the UDCG.

"By leading this capability coalition, the United States will coordinate closely with Ukraine and other partners with the focus on developing Ukraine's F-16 fighter aircraft capabilities," Austin said.

Austin said Denmark and the Netherlands will join the U.S. in leading the effort to ensure Ukrainian forces can defend their skies.

The two European countries previously announced that they would supply Ukraine with F-16s. Norway has also joined the effort to outfit Ukrainian pilots with the U.S.-made jets.

The U.S. has joined the countries in training Ukrainian pilots and aircrews on how to employ and maintain the advanced fighters.

Austin also announced Estonia and Luxembourg will lead a group of countries focused on supporting Ukraine's information technology infrastructure.

Lithuania will lead a separate coalition focused on neutralizing mines in Ukrainian territory.

"I'm also proud to announce that the United States will be joining several more of these coalitions as they form in the coming months, including those focused on Ukraine's air defense, armor and artillery," he said. "That shows how much we can do when we come together.

"It also shows American leadership matters," he continued. "And as Ukraine's troops face this key moment on the battlefield, we must ensure that America's indispensable assistance to Ukraine continues to flow without disruption."

Austin said the United States' support for Ukrainian forces remains unwavering as evidenced by the more than $43.9 billion in U.S. aid that has flowed to Ukraine since Russia's unprovoked invasion.

That figure includes the latest security assistance package valued at $200 million, which was announced by U.S. officials as the UCDG gathered for today's meeting.

The latest package includes a series of air defense systems, as well as additional artillery and rocket ammunition, precision aerial munitions, antitank weapons, and equipment to counter Russian drones.

Austin said the U.S. is "in great company" as dozens of countries step up to aid to Ukraine.

"Some 50 other members of this contact group have committed more than $33 billion in direct security assistance to Ukraine," he said. "In fact, the three biggest European donors to Ukraine — Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland — have all committed more than the United States as a percentage of gross domestic product. So have many other European countries, including Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and all three of the Baltic states."

Several of those countries announced additional rounds of assistance as the contact group gathered in Brussels.

The display of unwavering unity comes at a critical time for global stability as Israel battles Hamas terrorists responsible for a series of deadly attacks over the weekend.

Following the attacks, the U.S. enhanced its military force posture in the region to strengthen its deterrence against further attacks.

That enhanced posture includes the positioning of the USS Gerald R. Ford Strike Group in the Eastern Mediterranean and bolstered Air Force fighter presence in the region.

The U.S. has also begun to flow military aid to Israel and will soon provide additional rounds to replenish Israel's Iron Dome air defense system.

Austin reaffirmed U.S. support to Israel as he kicked off his remarks in Brussels.

"Like any other country, Israel has the right to defend itself," he said. "As [President Joe Biden] says, Israel has a duty to defend itself."

"And make no mistake, the United States will remain able to project power and to direct resources to tackle crises in multiple theaters," Austin said. "So, we will stand firmly with Israel as we continue to support Ukraine."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697074393182.png" alt="Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Oct. 11, 2023.&nbsp;Photo By:Chad J. McNeeley,&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Oct. 11, 2023.&nbsp;Photo By:Chad J. McNeeley,&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By&nbsp;<a href="http://www.defense.gov/News/Author/135693/joseph-clark/">Joseph Clark</a>&nbsp;, DOD&nbsp;The U.S. will lead a newly formed coalition focused on developing Ukraine's air force in a bid to bolster that country's long-term capability to defend itself against Russian aggression, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said on Wednesday.The announcement, unveiled by Austin following the 16th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels, marks the formation of several distinct coalitions focused on building Ukraine's future force capabilities. Those coalitions are comprised of the more than 50 countries that make up the UDCG."By leading this capability coalition, the United States will coordinate closely with Ukraine and other partners with the focus on developing Ukraine's F-16 fighter aircraft capabilities," Austin said.Austin said Denmark and the Netherlands will join the U.S. in leading the effort to ensure Ukrainian forces can defend their skies.The two European countries previously announced that they would supply Ukraine with F-16s. Norway has also joined the effort to outfit Ukrainian pilots with the U.S.-made jets.The U.S. has joined the countries in training Ukrainian pilots and aircrews on how to employ and maintain the advanced fighters.Austin also announced Estonia and Luxembourg will lead a group of countries focused on supporting Ukraine's information technology infrastructure.Lithuania will lead a separate coalition focused on neutralizing mines in Ukrainian territory."I'm also proud to announce that the United States will be joining several more of these coalitions as they form in the coming months, including those focused on Ukraine's air defense, armor and artillery," he said. "That shows how much we can do when we come together."It also shows American leadership matters," he continued. "And as Ukraine's troops face this key moment on the battlefield, we must ensure that America's indispensable assistance to Ukraine continues to flow without disruption."Austin said the United States' support for Ukrainian forces remains unwavering as evidenced by the more than $43.9 billion in U.S. aid that has flowed to Ukraine since Russia's unprovoked invasion.That figure includes the latest security assistance package valued at $200 million, which was announced by U.S. officials as the UCDG gathered for today's meeting.The latest package includes a series of air defense systems, as well as additional artillery and rocket ammunition, precision aerial munitions, antitank weapons, and equipment to counter Russian drones.Austin said the U.S. is "in great company" as dozens of countries step up to aid to Ukraine."Some 50 other members of this contact group have committed more than $33 billion in direct security assistance to Ukraine," he said. "In fact, the three biggest European donors to Ukraine — Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland — have all committed more than the United States as a percentage of gross domestic product. So have many other European countries, including Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and all three of the Baltic states."Several of those countries announced additional rounds of assistance as the contact group gathered in Brussels.The display of unwavering unity comes at a critical time for global stability as Israel battles Hamas terrorists responsible for a series of deadly attacks over the weekend.Following the attacks, the U.S. enhanced its military force posture in the region to strengthen its deterrence against further attacks.That enhanced posture includes the positioning of the USS Gerald R. Ford Strike Group in the Eastern Mediterranean and bolstered Air Force fighter presence in the region.The U.S. has also begun to flow military aid to Israel and will soon provide additional rounds to replenish Israel's Iron Dome air defense system.Austin reaffirmed U.S. support to Israel as he kicked off his remarks in Brussels."Like any other country, Israel has the right to defend itself," he said. "As [President Joe Biden] says, Israel has a duty to defend itself.""And make no mistake, the United States will remain able to project power and to direct resources to tackle crises in multiple theaters," Austin said. "So, we will stand firmly with Israel as we continue to support Ukraine."

$43.9 Billion: U.S. sending another $200M in military aid to Ukraine

&nbsp;DES MOINES (AP) — A player in California won a $1.73 billion Powerball jackpot Wednesday night, ending a long stretch without a winner of the top prize.

The winning numbers were: 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball 10. The winning ticket was sold at Midway Market &amp; Liquor in Frazier Park, according to the California Lottery.

Phone calls Wednesday night to Midway Market &amp; Liquor went unanswered.

“The phone’s been ringing off the hook, people saying congratulations. Pretty crazy,” the store’s night worker, identified only as Duke, told KCAL-TV.

“Somebody owes me a truck,” he said with a smile. “A lot of customers come in, you know they come in every day to get their tickets, religiously. And a lot of them ... said: ‘Oh, if I win I’m gonna get you a new truck.’ So where’s my truck? I’ll be waiting.”

He expected the winner will be a local resident.

Before someone won the giant prize, there had been 35 consecutive drawings without a big winner, stretching back to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-california-9f0e98a47c96c2b3087a68b33195dd50">July 19</a>&nbsp;when a player in California matched all six numbers and won $1.08 billion.

The jackpot is the world’s second-largest lottery prize after rolling over for 36 consecutive drawings, since the last time someone won the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-california-9f0e98a47c96c2b3087a68b33195dd50">top prize on July 19</a>. That streak trails the record of 41 draws set in 2021 and 2022.

The only top prize that was ever bigger was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-jackpot-mega-millions-powerball-b77dd9c7de3f0ab09545a01113b1f111">$2.04 billion Powerball</a>&nbsp;won by a player in California last November.

Powerball’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">terrible odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly roll over when no one wins. And wins in recent months have been few and far between.

That didn’t bother those eager to plunk down their money on Wednesday for a long-shot chance at instant wealth.

Robert Salvato Jr., a 60-year-old electrician, bought 40 Powerball tickets at a hardware store in Billerica, Massachusetts.

“I would take care of family and give my cat that extra leg that she needs and make her a good kitty,” said Salvato, who got married on Saturday.

“I could give her a ring on every finger, I guess,” Salvato said of his new wife.

Nevada is among the five states without Powerball, so friends Tamara Carter and Denise Davis drove from Las Vegas across the state line into California to buy tickets. But the line was so long at their first stop that they gave up and went in search of another store.

“The line was about three hours long,” Carter estimated. “I was waiting for maybe a half hour, and it didn’t move.”

The jackpot has grown enormous due to a long dry spell. The previous winning Powerball ticket was sold on July 19, and it was worth $1.08 billion after 39 drawings without a jackpot win.

At the same hardware store as Salvato, Kevin Button seemed to understand the long odds as he bought a ticket.

“I only buy them usually when the jackpot’s high,” Button said. “Seems to have been pretty high quite often lately. So I’ve tried quite a few times and haven’t even won a free ticket. But maybe tonight’s the night.”

In most states, a Powerball ticket costs $2 and players can select their own numbers or leave that task to a computer.

The $1.73 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who opts for payment&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>, doled out over 30 years. Winners almost always take the cash option, which for Wednesday night’s drawing is estimated at $756.6 million.

Winnings would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings.

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

&nbsp;DES MOINES (AP) — A player in California won a $1.73 billion Powerball jackpot Wednesday night, ending a long stretch without a winner of the top prize.The winning numbers were: 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball 10. The winning ticket was sold at Midway Market &amp; Liquor in Frazier Park, according to the California Lottery.Phone calls Wednesday night to Midway Market &amp; Liquor went unanswered.“The phone’s been ringing off the hook, people saying congratulations. Pretty crazy,” the store’s night worker, identified only as Duke, told KCAL-TV.“Somebody owes me a truck,” he said with a smile. “A lot of customers come in, you know they come in every day to get their tickets, religiously. And a lot of them ... said: ‘Oh, if I win I’m gonna get you a new truck.’ So where’s my truck? I’ll be waiting.”He expected the winner will be a local resident.Before someone won the giant prize, there had been 35 consecutive drawings without a big winner, stretching back to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-california-9f0e98a47c96c2b3087a68b33195dd50">July 19</a>&nbsp;when a player in California matched all six numbers and won $1.08 billion.The jackpot is the world’s second-largest lottery prize after rolling over for 36 consecutive drawings, since the last time someone won the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-california-9f0e98a47c96c2b3087a68b33195dd50">top prize on July 19</a>. That streak trails the record of 41 draws set in 2021 and 2022.The only top prize that was ever bigger was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-jackpot-mega-millions-powerball-b77dd9c7de3f0ab09545a01113b1f111">$2.04 billion Powerball</a>&nbsp;won by a player in California last November.Powerball’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">terrible odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly roll over when no one wins. And wins in recent months have been few and far between.That didn’t bother those eager to plunk down their money on Wednesday for a long-shot chance at instant wealth.Robert Salvato Jr., a 60-year-old electrician, bought 40 Powerball tickets at a hardware store in Billerica, Massachusetts.“I would take care of family and give my cat that extra leg that she needs and make her a good kitty,” said Salvato, who got married on Saturday.“I could give her a ring on every finger, I guess,” Salvato said of his new wife.Nevada is among the five states without Powerball, so friends Tamara Carter and Denise Davis drove from Las Vegas across the state line into California to buy tickets. But the line was so long at their first stop that they gave up and went in search of another store.“The line was about three hours long,” Carter estimated. “I was waiting for maybe a half hour, and it didn’t move.”The jackpot has grown enormous due to a long dry spell. The previous winning Powerball ticket was sold on July 19, and it was worth $1.08 billion after 39 drawings without a jackpot win.At the same hardware store as Salvato, Kevin Button seemed to understand the long odds as he bought a ticket.“I only buy them usually when the jackpot’s high,” Button said. “Seems to have been pretty high quite often lately. So I’ve tried quite a few times and haven’t even won a free ticket. But maybe tonight’s the night.”In most states, a Powerball ticket costs $2 and players can select their own numbers or leave that task to a computer.The $1.73 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who opts for payment&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">through an annuity</a>, doled out over 30 years. Winners almost always take the cash option, which for Wednesday night’s drawing is estimated at $756.6 million.Winnings would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings.Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 Powerball player wins lottery’s $1.73 billion jackpot 

By Nebraska Game &amp; Parks&nbsp;Commission

This is the time of year when deer are more active. Crops are being harvested and deer breeding season is in full swing. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has tips to help drivers avoid deer-vehicle accidents and lessen the risk of injury or vehicle damage.

By Nebraska Game &amp; Parks&nbsp;CommissionThis is the time of year when deer are more active. Crops are being harvested and deer breeding season is in full swing. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has tips to help drivers avoid deer-vehicle accidents and lessen the risk of injury or vehicle damage.<ul>
 <li>During the breeding season, bucks become more active searching for does. Bucks are bolder, less wary and more susceptible to collisions with vehicles. Deer movement peaks near dawn and dusk.</li><li>Anticipate the possibility of a deer on the road and plan how to avoid a collision. Prepare to stop suddenly but know braking too sharply or swerving may cause you to lose control and roll your vehicle.</li><li>Wear your seat belt.</li><li>When driving near shelterbelts, woodlots or creeks, especially during evening or early morning, slow down and watch for deer. Keep your headlights on bright if there is no approaching traffic.</li><li>When you spot a deer, assume there will be others in the same area.</li><li>Deer often seem to be disoriented or confused by headlights. Some react by freezing in the light, some dart into the path of the vehicle and others bolt away. Honk your horn and flash your headlights to frighten deer away. If there is other traffic on the road, activate your emergency flashers and tap your brakes to alert other drivers to the potential danger.</li><li>Many places where deer-vehicle collisions occur are posted with deer crossing signs.</li><li>If a deer is struck, the driver may take possession of the deer, then must&nbsp;contact the Game and Parks within 24 hours and have 48 hours to receive a salvage tag from a conservative officer or designee. To see a list of conservative&nbsp;officers, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMxMDExLjgzOTE5MTcxIn0.kyQGWLfanO6CNI0ro0Z35FLfGE7piqCGe9B6uEyOmy4/s/497221906/br/227782706582-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;and search “Officers.”</li>
 </ul>

Motorists urged to use caution to deer collisions 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans nominated Rep. Steve Scalise on Wednesday to be the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Speaker%20Kevin,its%20Republican%20leadership%20into%20chaos.">next House speaker</a>&nbsp;but now must try to unite their deeply divided majority to elect the conservative in a floor vote after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-ousted-mccarthy-3fccfca11fe61c36fe399880f2679f12">ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;from the job.

In private balloting at the Capitol, House Republicans narrowly pushed aside Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chairman, in favor of Scalise, the current majority leader, lawmakers said. The Louisiana congressman, who is battling blood cancer, is seen as a hero to some after surviving a mass shooting on lawmakers at a congressional baseball game practice in 2017.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Scalise said afterward.

A floor vote of the whole House could come as soon as Wednesday afternoon.

Republicans have been stalemated after McCarthy’s historic removal last week and it's unclear whether Jordan, the hardliner backed by the party's presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, will throw his support to Scalise in what is certain to be a close vote of the full House. Democrats are set to oppose the Republican nominee.

“I don’t know how the hell you get to 218," said Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, referring to the majority vote typically needed in the 435-member House to become speaker. “It could be a long week.”

It's an extraordinary moment of political chaos that has brought the House to a standstill at a time of uncertainty at home and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates">crisis abroad</a>, just 10 months after Republicans swept to power. Aspiring to operate as a team and run government more like a business, the GOP majority has drifted far from that goal with the unprecedented ouster of a speaker.

Americans are watching. One-quarter of Republicans say they approve of the decision by a small group of Republicans to remove McCarthy as speaker. Three in 10 Republicans believe it was a mistake,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-speaker-kevin-mccarthy-removal-motion-vacate-72ec3c28d2987e90b3fe032a6ff97d87">according to a poll</a>&nbsp;from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-republican-lawmakers-house-opponents-33c7d984964916f29d548b5b1dfe508b">hard-right coalition of lawmakers</a>&nbsp;that ousted McCarthy, R-Calif., has shown what an oversize role a few lawmakers can have in choosing his successor.

“I am not thrilled with either choice right now,” said Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., who voted to oust McCarthy.

It's unclear whether Scalise can amass the votes that would be needed from almost all Republicans to overcome the Democratic opposition. Usually, the majority needed would be 218 votes, but there are currently two vacant seats, dropping the threshold to 217.

Many Republicans want to prevent the spectacle of a messy House floor fight like the grueling January brawl when McCarthy became speaker.

“People are not comfortable going to the floor with a simple majority and then having C-SPAN and the rest of the world watch as we have this fight,” said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla. “We want to have this family fight behind closed doors."

Behind closed doors, the Republicans voted to set aside a proposed a rules change that would have tried to ensure a majority vote before the nominee was presented for a full floor vote.

Without the rules change, the Republican lawmakers would be expected to agree to a majority-wins process.

Neither Scalise nor Jordan was seen as the heir apparent to McCarthy, who was removed in a push by the far-right flank after the speaker led Congress to approve legislation that averted a government shutdown.

All three men have been here before. In 2018, they were similarly vying for leadership, with McCarthy and Scalise extending the rivalry to this day.

Scalise was in line for the job, but faced a challenge from Jordan, a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, who was viewed as a more hard-edged option, after McCarthy's ouster.

Jordan is known for his close&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speaker-mccarthy-capitol-hill-432f89f6826b2b4f51990ae4b4d293fb">alliance with Trump</a>, particularly when the then-president was working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Trump backed Jordan's bid for the gavel.

Several lawmakers, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who engineered McCarthy's ouster, said they would be willing to support either Scalise or Jordan.

“Long live Speaker Scalise,” Gaetz said after the vote.

For now, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who was named as the speaker pro-tempore, is effectively in charge. He has shown little interest in expanding his power beyond the role he was assigned — an interim leader tasked with ensuring the election of the next speaker.

The role was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to ensure the continuity of government. McHenry's name was at the top of a list submitted by McCarthy when he became speaker in January.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697046038480.png" alt="House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisana., speaks to reporters as he arrives for a meeting of House Republicans to vote on candidates for Speaker of the House on Capitol Hill, Wednesday,-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisana., speaks to reporters as he arrives for a meeting of House Republicans to vote on candidates for Speaker of the House on Capitol Hill, Wednesday,-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans nominated Rep. Steve Scalise on Wednesday to be the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Speaker%20Kevin,its%20Republican%20leadership%20into%20chaos.">next House speaker</a>&nbsp;but now must try to unite their deeply divided majority to elect the conservative in a floor vote after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-ousted-mccarthy-3fccfca11fe61c36fe399880f2679f12">ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;from the job.In private balloting at the Capitol, House Republicans narrowly pushed aside Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chairman, in favor of Scalise, the current majority leader, lawmakers said. The Louisiana congressman, who is battling blood cancer, is seen as a hero to some after surviving a mass shooting on lawmakers at a congressional baseball game practice in 2017.“We have a lot of work to do,” Scalise said afterward.A floor vote of the whole House could come as soon as Wednesday afternoon.Republicans have been stalemated after McCarthy’s historic removal last week and it's unclear whether Jordan, the hardliner backed by the party's presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, will throw his support to Scalise in what is certain to be a close vote of the full House. Democrats are set to oppose the Republican nominee.“I don’t know how the hell you get to 218," said Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, referring to the majority vote typically needed in the 435-member House to become speaker. “It could be a long week.”It's an extraordinary moment of political chaos that has brought the House to a standstill at a time of uncertainty at home and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates">crisis abroad</a>, just 10 months after Republicans swept to power. Aspiring to operate as a team and run government more like a business, the GOP majority has drifted far from that goal with the unprecedented ouster of a speaker.Americans are watching. One-quarter of Republicans say they approve of the decision by a small group of Republicans to remove McCarthy as speaker. Three in 10 Republicans believe it was a mistake,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-speaker-kevin-mccarthy-removal-motion-vacate-72ec3c28d2987e90b3fe032a6ff97d87">according to a poll</a>&nbsp;from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-republican-lawmakers-house-opponents-33c7d984964916f29d548b5b1dfe508b">hard-right coalition of lawmakers</a>&nbsp;that ousted McCarthy, R-Calif., has shown what an oversize role a few lawmakers can have in choosing his successor.“I am not thrilled with either choice right now,” said Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., who voted to oust McCarthy.It's unclear whether Scalise can amass the votes that would be needed from almost all Republicans to overcome the Democratic opposition. Usually, the majority needed would be 218 votes, but there are currently two vacant seats, dropping the threshold to 217.Many Republicans want to prevent the spectacle of a messy House floor fight like the grueling January brawl when McCarthy became speaker.“People are not comfortable going to the floor with a simple majority and then having C-SPAN and the rest of the world watch as we have this fight,” said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla. “We want to have this family fight behind closed doors."Behind closed doors, the Republicans voted to set aside a proposed a rules change that would have tried to ensure a majority vote before the nominee was presented for a full floor vote.Without the rules change, the Republican lawmakers would be expected to agree to a majority-wins process.Neither Scalise nor Jordan was seen as the heir apparent to McCarthy, who was removed in a push by the far-right flank after the speaker led Congress to approve legislation that averted a government shutdown.All three men have been here before. In 2018, they were similarly vying for leadership, with McCarthy and Scalise extending the rivalry to this day.Scalise was in line for the job, but faced a challenge from Jordan, a founding member of the Freedom Caucus, who was viewed as a more hard-edged option, after McCarthy's ouster.Jordan is known for his close&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speaker-mccarthy-capitol-hill-432f89f6826b2b4f51990ae4b4d293fb">alliance with Trump</a>, particularly when the then-president was working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Trump backed Jordan's bid for the gavel.Several lawmakers, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who engineered McCarthy's ouster, said they would be willing to support either Scalise or Jordan.“Long live Speaker Scalise,” Gaetz said after the vote.For now, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who was named as the speaker pro-tempore, is effectively in charge. He has shown little interest in expanding his power beyond the role he was assigned — an interim leader tasked with ensuring the election of the next speaker.The role was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to ensure the continuity of government. McHenry's name was at the top of a list submitted by McCarthy when he became speaker in January.

Republicans nominate Steve Scalise to be House speaker

By&nbsp;Jim Garamone, U.S. Department of Defense

We stand with Israel," the president said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/10/10/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-terrorist-attacks-in-israel-2/">during an announcement at the White House</a>.&nbsp;

The Hamas attack has been exceptionally brutal with hundreds of Israeli civilians killed and thousands wounded in the surprise attack out of Gaza that began Saturday.

(click below to watch the President's comments)

"There's still so many families desperately waiting to hear the fate of their loved ones, not knowing if they are alive or dead or hostages," the president said.

Hamas gunmen also kidnapped civilians and now leaders of the group have threatened to execute them.&nbsp; The State Department on Wednesday said the number of U.S. citizens confirmed to have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war has risen to 22. That’s an increase from the 14 who’d been confirmed dead on Tuesday.

"The brutality of Hamas, its bloodthirstiness, brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS," Biden said. "This is terrorism."&nbsp;

"We will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack," he continued. &nbsp;

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today and Biden assured him that the U.S. response to the events will be swift, decisive and overwhelming.

"My team has been in near constant communication with our Israeli partners and partners all across the region and the world from the moment this crisis began," the president said. "We're surging additional military assistance, including ammunition, and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome. We are going to make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens."

Biden said that he will ask Congress "to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners. This is not about party or politics; this is about the security of our world, security of the United States of America."&nbsp;

The United States has also enhanced its military force posture in the region to strengthen deterrence. DOD has moved the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean and bolstered fighter aircraft presence in the region.

These moves are not to deter Hamas, but any country or group that may think of taking advantage of the instability and confusion to pursue their own ends. "To any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: Don't," Biden said. "Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear."

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said there are U.S. citizens among the hostages Hamas has taken. "We are working with the Israeli government and with our regional partners on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the U.S. government to advise the Israeli government and coordinate with them on hostage recovery efforts," he said during a White House news conference. "As the President … said, there is no higher priority than the safety and well-being of American citizens being held hostage overseas."&nbsp;

Sullivan said military supplies are already flowing into Israel with interceptors for the Iron Dome missile defense shield leading the way. "We will be flowing in additional Iron Dome interceptors so that [the Israelis] have the capabilities they need to sustain their Iron Dome defense systems," he said. "We're also looking at other ways that we can help augment their air defense capabilities."&nbsp;

Sullivan said that Iran "is complicit in this attack, in a broad sense," meaning Iran has long funded and trained and supplied the terror group.&nbsp;

Iranian leaders "have provided capabilities, they have provided support, and they have had engagement in contact with Hamas over years and years," he said. "All of that has played a role in contributing to what we have seen now. As to the question of whether Iran knew about this attack in advance, or helped plan or direct this attack? We do not, as of the moment … have confirmation."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697042067511.png" alt="President Joe Biden speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone at the White House, Oct. 10, 2023. -White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone at the White House, Oct. 10, 2023. -White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;Jim Garamone, U.S. Department of DefenseWe stand with Israel," the president said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/10/10/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-terrorist-attacks-in-israel-2/">during an announcement at the White House</a>.&nbsp;The Hamas attack has been exceptionally brutal with hundreds of Israeli civilians killed and thousands wounded in the surprise attack out of Gaza that began Saturday.(click below to watch the President's comments)<div>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7v40bJGqfEo?si=wCspaDDhv7t2n9B0&amp;start=5840" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>"There's still so many families desperately waiting to hear the fate of their loved ones, not knowing if they are alive or dead or hostages," the president said.Hamas gunmen also kidnapped civilians and now leaders of the group have threatened to execute them.&nbsp; The State Department on Wednesday said the number of U.S. citizens confirmed to have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war has risen to 22. That’s an increase from the 14 who’d been confirmed dead on Tuesday."The brutality of Hamas, its bloodthirstiness, brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS," Biden said. "This is terrorism."&nbsp;"We will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack," he continued. &nbsp;Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today and Biden assured him that the U.S. response to the events will be swift, decisive and overwhelming."My team has been in near constant communication with our Israeli partners and partners all across the region and the world from the moment this crisis began," the president said. "We're surging additional military assistance, including ammunition, and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome. We are going to make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens."Biden said that he will ask Congress "to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners. This is not about party or politics; this is about the security of our world, security of the United States of America."&nbsp;The United States has also enhanced its military force posture in the region to strengthen deterrence. DOD has moved the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean and bolstered fighter aircraft presence in the region.These moves are not to deter Hamas, but any country or group that may think of taking advantage of the instability and confusion to pursue their own ends. "To any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: Don't," Biden said. "Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear."National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said there are U.S. citizens among the hostages Hamas has taken. "We are working with the Israeli government and with our regional partners on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the U.S. government to advise the Israeli government and coordinate with them on hostage recovery efforts," he said during a White House news conference. "As the President … said, there is no higher priority than the safety and well-being of American citizens being held hostage overseas."&nbsp;Sullivan said military supplies are already flowing into Israel with interceptors for the Iron Dome missile defense shield leading the way. "We will be flowing in additional Iron Dome interceptors so that [the Israelis] have the capabilities they need to sustain their Iron Dome defense systems," he said. "We're also looking at other ways that we can help augment their air defense capabilities."&nbsp;Sullivan said that Iran "is complicit in this attack, in a broad sense," meaning Iran has long funded and trained and supplied the terror group.&nbsp;Iranian leaders "have provided capabilities, they have provided support, and they have had engagement in contact with Hamas over years and years," he said. "All of that has played a role in contributing to what we have seen now. As to the question of whether Iran knew about this attack in advance, or helped plan or direct this attack? We do not, as of the moment … have confirmation."

🎥 Number of US citizens killed in Israel continues to climb

JERUSALEM-&nbsp;The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in order to deter any&nbsp;actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen the war, according to a media release from U.S. Central Command.

The forces in the area include the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), with its 8 squadrons of attack and support aircraft, and the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), as well as the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80).

Efforts to increase U.S. posture continue, including the rapid movement into theater of U.S. Air Force F-15s, F-16s and A-10s to augment existing fighter squadrons in the region.

"The arrival of these highly capable forces to the region&nbsp;is a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to take advantage of this situation," said General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696972133403.png" alt="USS Gerald R. Ford -photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>USS Gerald R. Ford -photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM-&nbsp;The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in order to deter any&nbsp;actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen the war, according to a media release from U.S. Central Command.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Watch: An Israeli cargo plane lands, delivering an initial shipment of advanced weaponry from the United States to Israel. <a href="https://t.co/TEv2g9gXyW">pic.twitter.com/TEv2g9gXyW</a>&mdash; Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) <a href="https://twitter.com/Israel_MOD/status/1711974859520041121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The forces in the area include the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), with its 8 squadrons of attack and support aircraft, and the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), as well as the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80).Efforts to increase U.S. posture continue, including the rapid movement into theater of U.S. Air Force F-15s, F-16s and A-10s to augment existing fighter squadrons in the region."The arrival of these highly capable forces to the region&nbsp;is a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to take advantage of this situation," said General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command.

US warships, weapons arrive in Mediterranean to support Israel

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Republican majority is stuck, one week after the ouster of Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555">Kevin McCarthy</a>, with lawmakers unable to coalesce around a new leader in a stalemate that threatens to keep Congress partly shuttered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-mccarthy-vacancy-scalise-jordan-israel-58c7df019c59e144b2a526c657cf6087">indefinitely</a>.

On Tuesday evening, two leading contenders for the gavel, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, outlined their visions behind closed doors at a lengthy candidate forum. But they appeared to be splitting the vote among their Republican colleagues.

McCarthy, meanwhile, who had openly positioned himself to reclaim the gavel he just lost, told his colleagues during the private meeting not to nominate him this time. Instead, he read a poem from Mother Teresa and delivered a prayer.

“I don’t know how the hell you get to 218," Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, said afterward, referring to the majority vote typically needed to seize the gavel. “It could be a long week.”

House Republicans took the majority aspiring to operate as a team, and run government more like a business, but have drifted far from that goal. Just 10 months in power, the historic ouster of their House speaker — a first in the U.S. — and the prolonged infighting it has unleashed are undercutting the Republicans' ability to govern at a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates">crisis at home and abroad</a>.

Now, as House Republicans push ahead toward snap elections Wednesday aimed at finding a new nominee for speaker, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-republican-lawmakers-house-opponents-33c7d984964916f29d548b5b1dfe508b">hard-right coalition of lawmakers</a>&nbsp;that ousted McCarthy has shown what an oversized role a few lawmakers can have in choosing the successor.

“This is a hard conference to lead,” said Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark. “A lot of free agents.”

Both Scalise and Jordan are working furiously to shore up support. Both are easily winning over dozens of supporters and could win the majority of Republicans, about 110 votes.

But it's unclear if either Scalise or Jordan can amass the 217 votes that would be needed in a floor vote to overcome opposition from Democrats. There are currently two vacancies in the 435-seat House.

“We’re in a similar situation that we were back in January,” said Doug Heye, a former Republican leadership aide, adding the political optics of the feud look “terrible” to American voters.

Some have proposed a rules change that Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., the interim speaker pro tempore, is considering to ensure a majority vote during closed balloting Wednesday before the nominee is presented for a full floor vote.

McCarthy himself appeared to agree with a consensus approach. “They shouldn’t come out of there until they decide that they have enough votes for whoever they bring to the floor,” McCarthy said.

But short of a rules change, Republican lawmakers would be expected to agree to a majority-wins process — whichever candidate wins the internal private vote would be given the full backing of the Republicans on the House floor.

It’s no guarantee — with trust low among House Republicans and tensions high, those normal protocols could be challenged. Both Scalise and Jordan indicated they would support the eventual nominee, lawmakers said. But many lawmakers remained undecided.

“I am not thrilled with either choice right now,” said Rep. Ken Buck, a Colorado Republican who voted to oust McCarthy.

While both are conservatives from the right flank, neither Scalise nor Jordan is the heir apparent to McCarthy.

Scalise as the second-ranking Republican would be next in line for the gavel and is seen as a hero among colleagues for having survived severe injuries from a mass shooting during a congressional baseball practice in 2017. Now battling blood cancer, the Louisianan is not a clear lock.

“We’re going to go get this done tomorrow, and the House is going to get back to work,” Scalise said as he exited the meeting.

Jordan is a high-profile political firebrand known for his close&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speaker-mccarthy-capitol-hill-432f89f6826b2b4f51990ae4b4d293fb">alliance with Donald Trump</a>, particularly when the then-president was working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Trump has backed Jordan's bid for the gavel.

Scalise and Jordan presented similar views at the forum about cutting spending and securing the southern border with Mexico, top Republican priorities.

Several lawmakers, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who engineered McCarthy's ouster said they would be willing to support either Scalise or Jordan.

“I think it’s a competitive race for speaker because we’ve got two greats,” said Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky.

Barr said he was working to help secure votes for Scalise, but would be comfortable with either candidate.

Others though, particularly more centrist conservative Republicans from districts that are narrowly split between the parties, are holding out for another choice.

“Personally, I’m still with McCarthy," said Rep. David Valadao, a Republican who represents a California district not far from the former speaker's district.

“We’ll see how that plays out, but I do know a large percentage of the membership wants to be there with him as well.”

McCarthy headed into the evening forum insisting he was not, at the moment, a candidate for speaker.

But the California Republican gave a nod to his own short track record as speaker — being ousted by the far-right flank after he led Congress to approve a stopgap spending bill to prevent a disruptive federal government shutdown.

“I think it’s important whoever takes that job is willing to risk the job for doing what’s right for the American public,” McCarthy said.

For now, McHenry is effectively in charge. He has shown little interest in expanding his power beyond the role he was assigned — an interim leader tasked with ensuring the election of the next speaker.

While some Republicans, and Democrats, are open to empowering McHenry the longer he holds the temporary position, that seems unlikely as the speaker's fight drags on.

McHenry told reporters it's “my goal” to keep to the schedule to have hold a House speaker election on Wednesday. He quickly gaveled the House in and out of a brief session Tuesday, with no business conducted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696366148194.png" alt="A view of the House during the vote count to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>A view of the House during the vote count to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Republican majority is stuck, one week after the ouster of Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555">Kevin McCarthy</a>, with lawmakers unable to coalesce around a new leader in a stalemate that threatens to keep Congress partly shuttered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-mccarthy-vacancy-scalise-jordan-israel-58c7df019c59e144b2a526c657cf6087">indefinitely</a>.On Tuesday evening, two leading contenders for the gavel, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, outlined their visions behind closed doors at a lengthy candidate forum. But they appeared to be splitting the vote among their Republican colleagues.McCarthy, meanwhile, who had openly positioned himself to reclaim the gavel he just lost, told his colleagues during the private meeting not to nominate him this time. Instead, he read a poem from Mother Teresa and delivered a prayer.“I don’t know how the hell you get to 218," Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, said afterward, referring to the majority vote typically needed to seize the gavel. “It could be a long week.”House Republicans took the majority aspiring to operate as a team, and run government more like a business, but have drifted far from that goal. Just 10 months in power, the historic ouster of their House speaker — a first in the U.S. — and the prolonged infighting it has unleashed are undercutting the Republicans' ability to govern at a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-war-live-updates">crisis at home and abroad</a>.Now, as House Republicans push ahead toward snap elections Wednesday aimed at finding a new nominee for speaker, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-republican-lawmakers-house-opponents-33c7d984964916f29d548b5b1dfe508b">hard-right coalition of lawmakers</a>&nbsp;that ousted McCarthy has shown what an oversized role a few lawmakers can have in choosing the successor.“This is a hard conference to lead,” said Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark. “A lot of free agents.”Both Scalise and Jordan are working furiously to shore up support. Both are easily winning over dozens of supporters and could win the majority of Republicans, about 110 votes.But it's unclear if either Scalise or Jordan can amass the 217 votes that would be needed in a floor vote to overcome opposition from Democrats. There are currently two vacancies in the 435-seat House.Many Republicans want to prevent the spectacle of a messy House floor fight like the grueling January brawl when McCarthy became speaker.“We’re in a similar situation that we were back in January,” said Doug Heye, a former Republican leadership aide, adding the political optics of the feud look “terrible” to American voters.Some have proposed a rules change that Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., the interim speaker pro tempore, is considering to ensure a majority vote during closed balloting Wednesday before the nominee is presented for a full floor vote.McCarthy himself appeared to agree with a consensus approach. “They shouldn’t come out of there until they decide that they have enough votes for whoever they bring to the floor,” McCarthy said.But short of a rules change, Republican lawmakers would be expected to agree to a majority-wins process — whichever candidate wins the internal private vote would be given the full backing of the Republicans on the House floor.It’s no guarantee — with trust low among House Republicans and tensions high, those normal protocols could be challenged. Both Scalise and Jordan indicated they would support the eventual nominee, lawmakers said. But many lawmakers remained undecided.“I am not thrilled with either choice right now,” said Rep. Ken Buck, a Colorado Republican who voted to oust McCarthy.While both are conservatives from the right flank, neither Scalise nor Jordan is the heir apparent to McCarthy.Scalise as the second-ranking Republican would be next in line for the gavel and is seen as a hero among colleagues for having survived severe injuries from a mass shooting during a congressional baseball practice in 2017. Now battling blood cancer, the Louisianan is not a clear lock.“We’re going to go get this done tomorrow, and the House is going to get back to work,” Scalise said as he exited the meeting.Jordan is a high-profile political firebrand known for his close&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speaker-mccarthy-capitol-hill-432f89f6826b2b4f51990ae4b4d293fb">alliance with Donald Trump</a>, particularly when the then-president was working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Trump has backed Jordan's bid for the gavel.Scalise and Jordan presented similar views at the forum about cutting spending and securing the southern border with Mexico, top Republican priorities.Several lawmakers, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who engineered McCarthy's ouster said they would be willing to support either Scalise or Jordan.“I think it’s a competitive race for speaker because we’ve got two greats,” said Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky.Barr said he was working to help secure votes for Scalise, but would be comfortable with either candidate.Others though, particularly more centrist conservative Republicans from districts that are narrowly split between the parties, are holding out for another choice.“Personally, I’m still with McCarthy," said Rep. David Valadao, a Republican who represents a California district not far from the former speaker's district.“We’ll see how that plays out, but I do know a large percentage of the membership wants to be there with him as well.”McCarthy headed into the evening forum insisting he was not, at the moment, a candidate for speaker.But the California Republican gave a nod to his own short track record as speaker — being ousted by the far-right flank after he led Congress to approve a stopgap spending bill to prevent a disruptive federal government shutdown.“I think it’s important whoever takes that job is willing to risk the job for doing what’s right for the American public,” McCarthy said.For now, McHenry is effectively in charge. He has shown little interest in expanding his power beyond the role he was assigned — an interim leader tasked with ensuring the election of the next speaker.The role was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to ensure the continuity of government. McHenry's name was at the top of a list submitted by McCarthy when he became speaker in January.While some Republicans, and Democrats, are open to empowering McHenry the longer he holds the temporary position, that seems unlikely as the speaker's fight drags on.McHenry told reporters it's “my goal” to keep to the schedule to have hold a House speaker election on Wednesday. He quickly gaveled the House in and out of a brief session Tuesday, with no business conducted.

A week without a House speaker, GOP no closer to choosing a new leader

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday confirmed that U.S. citizens are among the hostages captured by Hamas in this weekend’s attack on Israel and he condemned the militant group for “sheer evil” for its shocking multipronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 14 American citizens.

(Click below to watch a replay of the President's comments)

Biden and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;spoke by phone earlier on Tuesday with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/benjamin-netanyahu">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;to discuss the situation on the ground. Biden outlined the actions he and other allies have taken to support Israel in the aftermath of the attack and expressed his horror about “sickening” reports of torture inflicted by militants on innocent civilians.

“Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear,” said Biden, who compared Hamas action to the terrorist group ISIS. He added, “Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israel’s back. We’ll make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow as we always have.”

Biden, in his public remarks and statements since Hamas launched its attacks, has repeatedly emphasized his shock over the breadth and brutality of the Hamas assault — a blitz by land, sea and air that surprised Israeli and U.S. intelligence and that has killed hundreds Israelis and left even more wounded.

Retaliatory strikes by Israel on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gaza-strip">Gaza Strip</a>&nbsp;have also left hundreds of dead and wounded Palestinians in the blockaded 141-square mile area, one the poorest places in the world. The death toll was expected to grow as Israel pummeled Gaza with airstrikes and sent tens of thousands of Palestinians fleeing into U.N. shelters.

Biden said he has directed his team to share intelligence and military experts to consult and advise Israelis. He also confirmed that the U.S. believes that Americans are among dozens of hostages taken by Hamas.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. does not know the precise number of American hostages that were taken. Sullivan said that the U.S., at the moment, has no plans of putting U.S. troops on the ground.

“As president I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world,” Biden said.

The White House on Monday confirmed that it has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-state-department-39b9e7f15334ff756f022704f9516867">already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment</a>&nbsp;to Israel, and the Pentagon was reviewing its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the war against Hamas.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-american-carrier-strike-force-mediterranean-db05d535a9ebb931f684f758c9b6f628">Ford carrier strike group</a>&nbsp;has arrived in the far Eastern Mediterranean, within range to provide a host of air support or long-range strike options for Israel if requested, but also to surge U.S. military presence there to prevent the war from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict, officials said.

The Pentagon has said that the U.S. warplanes, destroyers and cruisers that sailed with the Ford will conduct maritime and air operations which could include intelligence collection, interdictions and long-range strikes.

Along with the Ford, the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt, and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

“Let me say again to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation,” Biden said. “I have one word: Don’t."

Biden is dispatching his top diplomat to Israel on an urgent mission to show U.S. support after the attacks, the State Department said Tuesday.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would travel in the coming days to deliver a message of solidarity and support. He said Blinken will also “talk about what additional resources we can give them.”

Blinken will leave Wednesday and is expected to arrive Thursday.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters traveling with him Tuesday to a Ukraine contact group meeting in Brussels that a small group of U.S. special operations forces is also working with the Israelis to help with planning and intelligence.

Biden on Monday in a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak underscored the “legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people” and their decades-long push for sovereignty. But the leaders also sought to separate the Palestinians’ aspirations from the “appalling acts of terrorism” by Hamas.

Americans have had a gloomy outlook on Biden’s performance on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Six in 10 Americans (61%)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-israel-united-states-biden-netanyahu-41ba5cb189185f3e4956f4465c00999f">disapproved of how Biden was handling the conflict</a>&nbsp;between the Israelis and Palestinians, according to an August poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About one-third (35%) of U.S. adults approved, which was slightly lower than Biden’s overall approval rating of 42% in the same poll.

Four in 10 Americans (44%) said the U.S. gives about the right amount of support to Israel in the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to say the U.S. should offer more support to Israel. Four in 10 Americans (42%) said the correct amount of support is given to the Palestinians. Democrats and Independents were more likely than Republicans to say the Palestinians should receive more support.

The current crisis seems certain to further test public sentiment about Biden’s Mideast foreign policy approach.

The Biden White House has pointed to its handling of the last conflict between Israel and Gaza in 2021 as playing a crucial part in limiting the length and loss of life in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-was-the-outcome-of-israel-gaza-war-4f94e80a9d6f53ecd5353db83ed27526">a war that stretched over 11 days</a>&nbsp;and killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-was-the-outcome-of-israel-gaza-war-4f94e80a9d6f53ecd5353db83ed27526">During the 2021 conflict,</a>&nbsp;Biden limited his public commentary while pressing Netanyahu in private to end the conflict. His behind-the-scenes effort played out even as some of the president’s fellow Democrats pressured him to speak out against the Israelis as the death toll climbed in Gaza and as tens of thousands of Palestinians were displaced by the aerial bombardment,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-middle-east-business-israel-palestinian-conflict-health-d2781b6e5aea8602547c5c0b4112e977">White House officials said at the time.</a>

But this conflict is unlikely to end so quickly. Domestic and international pressure could quickly mount on Biden to pressure Netanyahu to wind down operations to prevent the suffering of innocent Gazans.

Netanyahu said on Saturday that civilians in Gaza should leave areas near where Hamas is operating as the Israeli military planned to take defining action against the the militant group.

Sullivan said U.S. government officials have discussed details with Israel and Egyptian officials about where people in Gaza should go.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696938143887.png" alt="The White House lit up blue and white Monday night as a symbol of the United States’ enduring support and solidarity with the people of Israel in the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks committed by Hamas.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The White House lit up blue and white Monday night as a symbol of the United States’ enduring support and solidarity with the people of Israel in the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks committed by Hamas.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday confirmed that U.S. citizens are among the hostages captured by Hamas in this weekend’s attack on Israel and he condemned the militant group for “sheer evil” for its shocking multipronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 14 American citizens.(Click below to watch a replay of the President's comments)<div>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7v40bJGqfEo?si=wCspaDDhv7t2n9B0&amp;start=5840" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Biden and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;spoke by phone earlier on Tuesday with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/benjamin-netanyahu">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;to discuss the situation on the ground. Biden outlined the actions he and other allies have taken to support Israel in the aftermath of the attack and expressed his horror about “sickening” reports of torture inflicted by militants on innocent civilians.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden on Hamas attacks against Israel: &quot;This was an act of sheer evil.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/JlfEvefe4f">pic.twitter.com/JlfEvefe4f</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1711824332270248058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear,” said Biden, who compared Hamas action to the terrorist group ISIS. He added, “Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israel’s back. We’ll make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow as we always have.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696961319712.png" alt="President Biden on Tuesday sat down with our teams to receive a situation update on the terrorist attack in Israel and to direct next steps.&nbsp;We connected with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss coordination to support Israel, deter hostile actors, and protect innocent people." />
 <figcaption>President Biden on Tuesday sat down with our teams to receive a situation update on the terrorist attack in Israel and to direct next steps.&nbsp;We connected with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss coordination to support Israel, deter hostile actors, and protect innocent people.</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden, in his public remarks and statements since Hamas launched its attacks, has repeatedly emphasized his shock over the breadth and brutality of the Hamas assault — a blitz by land, sea and air that surprised Israeli and U.S. intelligence and that has killed hundreds Israelis and left even more wounded.Retaliatory strikes by Israel on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gaza-strip">Gaza Strip</a>&nbsp;have also left hundreds of dead and wounded Palestinians in the blockaded 141-square mile area, one the poorest places in the world. The death toll was expected to grow as Israel pummeled Gaza with airstrikes and sent tens of thousands of Palestinians fleeing into U.N. shelters.Biden said he has directed his team to share intelligence and military experts to consult and advise Israelis. He also confirmed that the U.S. believes that Americans are among dozens of hostages taken by Hamas.White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. does not know the precise number of American hostages that were taken. Sullivan said that the U.S., at the moment, has no plans of putting U.S. troops on the ground.“As president I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world,” Biden said.The White House on Monday confirmed that it has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-state-department-39b9e7f15334ff756f022704f9516867">already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment</a>&nbsp;to Israel, and the Pentagon was reviewing its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the war against Hamas.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-american-carrier-strike-force-mediterranean-db05d535a9ebb931f684f758c9b6f628">Ford carrier strike group</a>&nbsp;has arrived in the far Eastern Mediterranean, within range to provide a host of air support or long-range strike options for Israel if requested, but also to surge U.S. military presence there to prevent the war from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict, officials said.The Pentagon has said that the U.S. warplanes, destroyers and cruisers that sailed with the Ford will conduct maritime and air operations which could include intelligence collection, interdictions and long-range strikes.Along with the Ford, the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt, and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.“Let me say again to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation,” Biden said. “I have one word: Don’t."Biden is dispatching his top diplomat to Israel on an urgent mission to show U.S. support after the attacks, the State Department said Tuesday.State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would travel in the coming days to deliver a message of solidarity and support. He said Blinken will also “talk about what additional resources we can give them.”Blinken will leave Wednesday and is expected to arrive Thursday.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters traveling with him Tuesday to a Ukraine contact group meeting in Brussels that a small group of U.S. special operations forces is also working with the Israelis to help with planning and intelligence.Biden on Monday in a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak underscored the “legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people” and their decades-long push for sovereignty. But the leaders also sought to separate the Palestinians’ aspirations from the “appalling acts of terrorism” by Hamas.Americans have had a gloomy outlook on Biden’s performance on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Six in 10 Americans (61%)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-israel-united-states-biden-netanyahu-41ba5cb189185f3e4956f4465c00999f">disapproved of how Biden was handling the conflict</a>&nbsp;between the Israelis and Palestinians, according to an August poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About one-third (35%) of U.S. adults approved, which was slightly lower than Biden’s overall approval rating of 42% in the same poll.Four in 10 Americans (44%) said the U.S. gives about the right amount of support to Israel in the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to say the U.S. should offer more support to Israel. Four in 10 Americans (42%) said the correct amount of support is given to the Palestinians. Democrats and Independents were more likely than Republicans to say the Palestinians should receive more support.The current crisis seems certain to further test public sentiment about Biden’s Mideast foreign policy approach.The Biden White House has pointed to its handling of the last conflict between Israel and Gaza in 2021 as playing a crucial part in limiting the length and loss of life in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-was-the-outcome-of-israel-gaza-war-4f94e80a9d6f53ecd5353db83ed27526">a war that stretched over 11 days</a>&nbsp;and killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-was-the-outcome-of-israel-gaza-war-4f94e80a9d6f53ecd5353db83ed27526">During the 2021 conflict,</a>&nbsp;Biden limited his public commentary while pressing Netanyahu in private to end the conflict. His behind-the-scenes effort played out even as some of the president’s fellow Democrats pressured him to speak out against the Israelis as the death toll climbed in Gaza and as tens of thousands of Palestinians were displaced by the aerial bombardment,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/africa-middle-east-business-israel-palestinian-conflict-health-d2781b6e5aea8602547c5c0b4112e977">White House officials said at the time.</a>But this conflict is unlikely to end so quickly. Domestic and international pressure could quickly mount on Biden to pressure Netanyahu to wind down operations to prevent the suffering of innocent Gazans.Netanyahu said on Saturday that civilians in Gaza should leave areas near where Hamas is operating as the Israeli military planned to take defining action against the the militant group.Sullivan said U.S. government officials have discussed details with Israel and Egyptian officials about where people in Gaza should go.

🎥Biden confirms Americans among hostages captured in Israel

 Nebraska Senator Ricketts Discusses Terror Attacks on Israel

Maddie Peterson&nbsp;| Athletic Communications Intern

LINCOLN, Nebr - Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule met with members of the media on Tuesday of the bye week. Rhule discussed the identity of the team.

"We did a bye week plan to win with the guys with all the things we need to improve upon," he said. "The one thing we are doing well is we are first in the Big Ten in rushing offense. We are first in 10 plus yards rushing. I think we're third in yards per carry with 5.1 We are second in rush defense, maybe first or second in defensive yards per carry and first in 10 plus runs so we are defending the run well. Third down we need to get about seven percent better on offense and seven percent better on defense. I think we're middle of the pack, I can't remember the numbers but we're 40 percent on defense. We need to be in the low 30s. We're 37 percent on offense, we need to be in the mid-40s. There's a lot of things that are close. The one thing that's giving us a chance is running the football. Through six games, we're minus seven in the turnover battle. We're 129th out of 133 teams. That could have been a 30 to 7 game, 35 to 7, 40 to 7 game so there's a lot of things but our identity of running the football and stopping the run, that can't change, that's just the bedrock of who we want to be. We couldn't get it done against Michigan but as we move forward we have to continue to do that. These young receivers, I think we started making some plays in the passing game this game that allowed us to score some touchdowns by Ty (Hahn) and some third-down conversions so we have to continue to augment that as we move forward."

Rhule talked on the importance of accomplishing more offensive explosive pass plays.

"Who's winning in college football that's not running the football and playing good defense? We have to be more explosive on offense," Rhule said. "We're not going to be able to win long-term if you can't make explosive plays in the passing game. We're one of the top teams in terms of explosive run plays but we're going to need explosive pass plays. On the flip side on defense we have given up way too many explosive 20 yard passes, so that component will continue to come. Part of that is getting comfortable and part of that is playmakers as they develop, as you recruit them. There's a lot of teams on Saturday that catch a slant and take it 80. We have guys that can do that, we just have to continue to get them confident and I see them becoming a more confident team day by day."

Rhule was asked what he hopes to see from the team during the second half of the season.

"For the second half of the season we should try to win every game," he said. "We'll have a chance in every game and also there's not a team that can't beat us. There's not a team we can't beat and there's not a team that can't beat us so we will probably just prepare at a high level and I hope the one thing we learned from last week was what seemed like really hard like we're in full pads on a Sunday the day after we played Michigan probably will end up being one of the better memories from the year and probably led to one of their best weeks of football and that gave them the right to have that swagger...I told them if you practice that way, then you earn the right to play that way so I think they understand that they have to prepare, they have to have edge, they have to play a certain way and they have to play as a team."

Following the bye week, the Huskers will take on Northwestern on Oct. 21 at 2:30 p.m. (CT) at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. The game is set to be televised on the Big Ten Network, with radio coverage by the Huskers Radio Network.

Maddie Peterson&nbsp;| Athletic Communications InternLINCOLN, Nebr - Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule met with members of the media on Tuesday of the bye week. Rhule discussed the identity of the team.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696962370990.png" alt="Matt Rhule discussing practice on October 10th, 2023 with media" />
 <figcaption>Matt Rhule discussing practice on October 10th, 2023 with media</figcaption>
 </figure>"We did a bye week plan to win with the guys with all the things we need to improve upon," he said. "The one thing we are doing well is we are first in the Big Ten in rushing offense. We are first in 10 plus yards rushing. I think we're third in yards per carry with 5.1 We are second in rush defense, maybe first or second in defensive yards per carry and first in 10 plus runs so we are defending the run well. Third down we need to get about seven percent better on offense and seven percent better on defense. I think we're middle of the pack, I can't remember the numbers but we're 40 percent on defense. We need to be in the low 30s. We're 37 percent on offense, we need to be in the mid-40s. There's a lot of things that are close. The one thing that's giving us a chance is running the football. Through six games, we're minus seven in the turnover battle. We're 129th out of 133 teams. That could have been a 30 to 7 game, 35 to 7, 40 to 7 game so there's a lot of things but our identity of running the football and stopping the run, that can't change, that's just the bedrock of who we want to be. We couldn't get it done against Michigan but as we move forward we have to continue to do that. These young receivers, I think we started making some plays in the passing game this game that allowed us to score some touchdowns by Ty (Hahn) and some third-down conversions so we have to continue to augment that as we move forward."Rhule talked on the importance of accomplishing more offensive explosive pass plays."Who's winning in college football that's not running the football and playing good defense? We have to be more explosive on offense," Rhule said. "We're not going to be able to win long-term if you can't make explosive plays in the passing game. We're one of the top teams in terms of explosive run plays but we're going to need explosive pass plays. On the flip side on defense we have given up way too many explosive 20 yard passes, so that component will continue to come. Part of that is getting comfortable and part of that is playmakers as they develop, as you recruit them. There's a lot of teams on Saturday that catch a slant and take it 80. We have guys that can do that, we just have to continue to get them confident and I see them becoming a more confident team day by day."Rhule was asked what he hopes to see from the team during the second half of the season."For the second half of the season we should try to win every game," he said. "We'll have a chance in every game and also there's not a team that can't beat us. There's not a team we can't beat and there's not a team that can't beat us so we will probably just prepare at a high level and I hope the one thing we learned from last week was what seemed like really hard like we're in full pads on a Sunday the day after we played Michigan probably will end up being one of the better memories from the year and probably led to one of their best weeks of football and that gave them the right to have that swagger...I told them if you practice that way, then you earn the right to play that way so I think they understand that they have to prepare, they have to have edge, they have to play a certain way and they have to play as a team."Following the bye week, the Huskers will take on Northwestern on Oct. 21 at 2:30 p.m. (CT) at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. The game is set to be televised on the Big Ten Network, with radio coverage by the Huskers Radio Network.

Nebraska Football - Tuesday practice report from Matt Rhule

By Debrorah Van Fleet&nbsp; Nebraska News Connection

&nbsp; The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Agencies/Inspector_General_of_the_Nebraska_Correctional_System/600_20230915-185212.pdf" target="_blank">latest report</a>&nbsp;on the Nebraska Correctional System shows a decrease in the use of restrictive housing. The Office of Inspector General of Correctional Services has tracked the data and other prison practices since it was created in 2015 to oversee the state's correctional system.

The use of restricting a prisoner's contact with others peaked at 423 in 2018 and has dropped most years since then, to 216 people in August. Scout Richters, policy director for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclunebraska.org/" target="_blank">ACLU of Nebraska</a>, said although the progress "deserves recognition," it is not enough, especially when the isolation is for long periods of time.

"Across the globe, there's a consensus that prolonged solitary confinement is torture, that it's inhumane, that it greatly exacerbates mental health issues and self-harm attempts," Richters outlined.

The Inspector General's report showed the number of people in restrictive arrangements for over six months declined from 185 five years ago, to 42 this year.

In August, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers&nbsp;<a href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/opinions/constitutionality-inspector-general-acts" target="_blank">blocked</a>&nbsp;the Inspector General from accessing prison records, stating the way the Legislature created the office violates the state constitution. As a result, Richters pointed out, information including the frequency and duration of restrictive housing and circumstances surrounding deaths has been unavailable for oversight since mid-August.

"This is really a major concern," Richters contended. "It should be a major concern for all Nebraskans, as the Inspector General really provides critical, neutral insight into what is actually happening within the prisons." Sen. Tony Vargas, D-Omaha, has introduced&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49927" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 557</a>&nbsp;to be considered next year. It would cap the use of restrictive housing at 15 days. Richters noted polls show the majority of Nebraskans support this and other types of prison reform.

"Really ensuring that those with substance abuse issues, mental health disorders, get the treatment they need rather than prison sentences," Richters emphasized. "Including the use of restrictive housing and solitary confinement that really don't solve the underlying issue."

The report showed two men scheduled to be released from Nebraska prisons in December have been in restrictive housing for extensive time periods, one for nearly four years and the other for more than five-and-a-half years.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Debrorah Van Fleet&nbsp; Nebraska News Connection&nbsp; The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Agencies/Inspector_General_of_the_Nebraska_Correctional_System/600_20230915-185212.pdf" target="_blank">latest report</a>&nbsp;on the Nebraska Correctional System shows a decrease in the use of restrictive housing. The Office of Inspector General of Correctional Services has tracked the data and other prison practices since it was created in 2015 to oversee the state's correctional system. The use of restricting a prisoner's contact with others peaked at 423 in 2018 and has dropped most years since then, to 216 people in August. Scout Richters, policy director for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclunebraska.org/" target="_blank">ACLU of Nebraska</a>, said although the progress "deserves recognition," it is not enough, especially when the isolation is for long periods of time. "Across the globe, there's a consensus that prolonged solitary confinement is torture, that it's inhumane, that it greatly exacerbates mental health issues and self-harm attempts," Richters outlined.The Inspector General's report showed the number of people in restrictive arrangements for over six months declined from 185 five years ago, to 42 this year. In August, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers&nbsp;<a href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/opinions/constitutionality-inspector-general-acts" target="_blank">blocked</a>&nbsp;the Inspector General from accessing prison records, stating the way the Legislature created the office violates the state constitution. As a result, Richters pointed out, information including the frequency and duration of restrictive housing and circumstances surrounding deaths has been unavailable for oversight since mid-August."This is really a major concern," Richters contended. "It should be a major concern for all Nebraskans, as the Inspector General really provides critical, neutral insight into what is actually happening within the prisons." Sen. Tony Vargas, D-Omaha, has introduced&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49927" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 557</a>&nbsp;to be considered next year. It would cap the use of restrictive housing at 15 days. Richters noted polls show the majority of Nebraskans support this and other types of prison reform."Really ensuring that those with substance abuse issues, mental health disorders, get the treatment they need rather than prison sentences," Richters emphasized. "Including the use of restrictive housing and solitary confinement that really don't solve the underlying issue."The report showed two men scheduled to be released from Nebraska prisons in December have been in restrictive housing for extensive time periods, one for nearly four years and the other for more than five-and-a-half years.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ACLU: NE prison progress on 'restrictive housing' not enough

By ASHLEY MURRAY,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — As Congress faces another pressing deadline to fund the government and the U.S. House grinds to a halt without a speaker, the reauthorization of the nation’s agriculture and hunger programs has taken a back seat.

But lawmakers tasked with shepherding the new version maintain their progress is “in good shape.”

The previous farm bill&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/08/17/farm-bill-timeline-in-flux-as-a-messy-september-for-congress-nears/">expired</a>&nbsp;Sept. 30 and its renewal, a process that occurs every five years, remains “in the drafting stage,” said Sen. John Boozman, the Arkansas GOP lawmaker and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

“I know myself and Sen. Stabenow, our teams are working together to try and get ideas in the text. And so we’re moving forward,” Boozman told reporters Wednesday.

Stabenow of Michigan chairs the committee.

“It’s been difficult because the appropriations process has kind of sucked all the wind out. But we’re in good shape. We don’t need an extension until the first of the year. If we do need an extension, I think we’ll be looking in the November time frame as we do the CR.”

The CR, or continuing resolution, is the funding&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/congress-clears-bill-avert-shutdown-vote-promised-later-ukraine-aid-3">compromise</a>&nbsp;Congress struck last weekend just hours before a partial government shutdown. The temporary spending measure expires Nov. 17.

The farm bill and long-term government funding are completely different processes, but GOP House majority infighting over appropriations has stalled other priorities.

And, with the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2023/10/03/u-s-house-votes-to-remove-kevin-mccarthy-as-speaker/">ouster</a>&nbsp;of former House Speaker and California Republican Kevin McCarthy by a handful of far-right party members and all House Democrats, the lower chamber is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2023/10/04/how-does-a-frozen-u-s-house-function-without-a-speaker-everyones-got-an-opinion/">frozen</a>.

“As with every Farm Bill, there are forces and circumstances out of our control. What is always a complicated process has become a little more complicated, but our work continues to produce an effective Farm Bill,” said Pennsylvania GOP Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, who chairs the House Committee on Agriculture, in an emailed statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696870697157.jpeg" alt=" Rows of soybean plants grow in the fields at Seidenstricker Farms, owned by Robert and Cathy Seidenstricker, in De Valls Bluff, Arkansas, on June 25, 2019. (USDA photo by Lance Cheung)" />
 <figcaption> Rows of soybean plants grow in the fields at Seidenstricker Farms, owned by Robert and Cathy Seidenstricker, in De Valls Bluff, Arkansas, on June 25, 2019. (USDA photo by Lance Cheung)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ASHLEY MURRAY,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — As Congress faces another pressing deadline to fund the government and the U.S. House grinds to a halt without a speaker, the reauthorization of the nation’s agriculture and hunger programs has taken a back seat.But lawmakers tasked with shepherding the new version maintain their progress is “in good shape.”The previous farm bill&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/08/17/farm-bill-timeline-in-flux-as-a-messy-september-for-congress-nears/">expired</a>&nbsp;Sept. 30 and its renewal, a process that occurs every five years, remains “in the drafting stage,” said Sen. John Boozman, the Arkansas GOP lawmaker and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.“I know myself and Sen. Stabenow, our teams are working together to try and get ideas in the text. And so we’re moving forward,” Boozman told reporters Wednesday.Stabenow of Michigan chairs the committee.“It’s been difficult because the appropriations process has kind of sucked all the wind out. But we’re in good shape. We don’t need an extension until the first of the year. If we do need an extension, I think we’ll be looking in the November time frame as we do the CR.”The CR, or continuing resolution, is the funding&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/congress-clears-bill-avert-shutdown-vote-promised-later-ukraine-aid-3">compromise</a>&nbsp;Congress struck last weekend just hours before a partial government shutdown. The temporary spending measure expires Nov. 17.The farm bill and long-term government funding are completely different processes, but GOP House majority infighting over appropriations has stalled other priorities.And, with the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2023/10/03/u-s-house-votes-to-remove-kevin-mccarthy-as-speaker/">ouster</a>&nbsp;of former House Speaker and California Republican Kevin McCarthy by a handful of far-right party members and all House Democrats, the lower chamber is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2023/10/04/how-does-a-frozen-u-s-house-function-without-a-speaker-everyones-got-an-opinion/">frozen</a>.“As with every Farm Bill, there are forces and circumstances out of our control. What is always a complicated process has become a little more complicated, but our work continues to produce an effective Farm Bill,” said Pennsylvania GOP Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, who chairs the House Committee on Agriculture, in an emailed statement.<h2>Worries over lack of progress&nbsp;</h2>Thompson and fellow lawmakers have spent thousands of hours over the past two years collecting feedback from constituents on what they want to see in the multi-year bill, which is forecast to cost $1.5 trillion.But some constituents say despite reassurance that the farm bill is progressing, they remain concerned about its delay, as well as funding for several of its programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.As a mandatory program, SNAP will&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2023/09/26/the-farm-bill-is-on-the-verge-of-expiring-congress-is-months-away-from-a-new-version/">continue</a>&nbsp;as long as Congress approves either temporary or long-term government funding.“The delay in considering important legislation, such as agriculture appropriations and the farm bill, creates a great deal of uncertainty for farmers and ranchers. The 2018 farm bill already expired,” Sam Kieffer, the American Farm Bureau Federation’s vice president of public policy, said in a statement.“All families, including those in rural America, face rising interest rates, high inflation and turbulence in the marketplace,” he continued. “The farm bill provides certainty to those who grow this nation’s food, fuel and fiber and is crucial to ensuring a safe and affordable food supply. Congress has always come through on a farm bill, and they must do it again. Every family in America is counting on it.”The 2018 farm bill was not signed into law&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47313">until</a>&nbsp;Dec. 20 of that year.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12047">expansive</a>&nbsp;agricultural and food policy bill covers farmer safety net programs, conservation and sustainability incentives, international trade, rural area development, and food and nutrition programs for low-income earners — the last of which accounts for the largest portion of the bill. The legislation is one of Congress’ omnibus packages, meaning it’s made up of numerous provisions from many lawmakers.