WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) – ranking member and chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – announced their bipartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/734257CE-3EA1-4288-B18A-0516B756AA1D" target="_blank">Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2023</a>&nbsp;passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law, according to a media release from Moran's office.

This legislation will increase compensation benefits for veterans with service-connected disabilities and military survivors under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“We have a responsibility to take care of our veterans and their families, many of whom rely on the VA for financial support,”&nbsp;said Ranking Member Moran. “Ensuring their benefits keep pace with rising costs and inflation will help provide disabled veterans and certain surviving spouses and children with some peace of mind and provide them the stability they deserve. I appreciate my colleagues working to pass this legislation, and I look forward to it being signed into law.” “We’re at the finish line when it comes to delivering a cost of living increase for the 30,000 disabled veterans and survivors in my home state of Montana, giving these folks—and millions more across the country—a little peace of mind as they struggle to keep pace with rising costs,”&nbsp;said Chairman Tester.&nbsp;“Our veterans put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms, and they deserve certainty when it comes to providing for their families. On behalf of these brave men and women, I urge the President to sign our bipartisan bill into law without delay.”

The senators’&nbsp;Veterans’ COLA Act&nbsp;would increase certain VA benefits including disability compensation, clothing allowances and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and children to reflect increases in the cost of living. It will directly benefit millions of disabled veterans and military survivors nationwide. The cost-of-living adjustment will be determined by the annual COLA adjustment to social security benefits, as determined by the Social Security Administration, and would go into effect December 1, 2023. The Social Security Administration bases their annual COLA adjustment on the Consumer Price Index, as determined each December by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The&nbsp;Veterans’ COLA Act&nbsp;is supported by the nation’s leading veterans and survivor groups, including The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Gold Star Wives, TAPS, Wounded Warrior Project, Military Officers Association of America and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661736234251.png" alt="Senator Moran with troops at Fort Riley in August-file phoeo" />
 <figcaption>Senator Moran with troops at Fort Riley in August-file phoeo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) – ranking member and chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – announced their bipartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/734257CE-3EA1-4288-B18A-0516B756AA1D" target="_blank">Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2023</a>&nbsp;passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law, according to a media release from Moran's office.This legislation will increase compensation benefits for veterans with service-connected disabilities and military survivors under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).“We have a responsibility to take care of our veterans and their families, many of whom rely on the VA for financial support,”&nbsp;said Ranking Member Moran. “Ensuring their benefits keep pace with rising costs and inflation will help provide disabled veterans and certain surviving spouses and children with some peace of mind and provide them the stability they deserve. I appreciate my colleagues working to pass this legislation, and I look forward to it being signed into law.” “We’re at the finish line when it comes to delivering a cost of living increase for the 30,000 disabled veterans and survivors in my home state of Montana, giving these folks—and millions more across the country—a little peace of mind as they struggle to keep pace with rising costs,”&nbsp;said Chairman Tester.&nbsp;“Our veterans put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms, and they deserve certainty when it comes to providing for their families. On behalf of these brave men and women, I urge the President to sign our bipartisan bill into law without delay.” The senators’&nbsp;Veterans’ COLA Act&nbsp;would increase certain VA benefits including disability compensation, clothing allowances and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and children to reflect increases in the cost of living. It will directly benefit millions of disabled veterans and military survivors nationwide. The cost-of-living adjustment will be determined by the annual COLA adjustment to social security benefits, as determined by the Social Security Administration, and would go into effect December 1, 2023. The Social Security Administration bases their annual COLA adjustment on the Consumer Price Index, as determined each December by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The&nbsp;Veterans’ COLA Act&nbsp;is supported by the nation’s leading veterans and survivor groups, including The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Gold Star Wives, TAPS, Wounded Warrior Project, Military Officers Association of America and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Moran's bill on cost-of-living increase for vets heads to President’s desk

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are pushing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-ceiling-biden-mccarthy-default-negotiations-cb0646c6301f1df97211896897df3723">debt ceiling talks</a>&nbsp;to the brink, displaying risky political bravado as they prepare to leave town Thursday for the holiday weekend just days before the U.S. could face an unprecedented default that could hurl the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-congress-world-economy-recession-biden-52df635e9b89f4b1677176fc8d59eff0">global economy into chaos</a>.

A defiant House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the debt ceiling standoff was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-congress-mccarthy-biden-budget-850273c73ed40f4ad002fa24e50f9b40">“not my fault”</a>&nbsp;as Republican negotiators and the White House failed to finish out talks. He warned they need more time to try to reach a budget-slashing deal with President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>.

But it's clear the Republican speaker — who leads a Trump-aligned party whose hard-right flank lifted him to power — is now staring down a potential crisis.

Lawmakers are tentatively not expected back at work until Tuesday, just two days from June 1, when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the U.S. could start running out of cash to pay its bills and face a potentially catastrophic default.

Fitch Ratings agency placed the United States’ AAA credit on “ratings watch negative,” warning of a possible downgrade because of what it called the brinkmanship and political partisanship surrounding the debate over lifting the debt ceiling.

"This is a battle between extremism and common sense,” said Democratic Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the minority whip.

The Republicans, she said, "want the American people to make an impossible choice: devastating cuts or devastating debt default.”

Weeks of negotiations between Republicans and the White House have failed to produce a deal — in part because the Biden administration never expected to be having to negotiate with McCarthy over the debt limit, arguing it should not be used as leverage to extract other partisan priorities.

McCarthy is holding out for steep spending cuts that Republicans are demanding in exchange for their vote to raise the nation's borrowing limit. The White House has offered to freeze next year's 2024 spending at current levels, but the Republican leader says that's not enough.

“We have to spend less than we spent last year. That is the starting point," said McCarthy, R-Calif.

Failure to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, now at $31 trillion, would risk a potentially chaotic federal default, almost certain to inflict economic turmoil at home and abroad. Anxious retirees and social service groups are among those already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/default-yellen-biden-debt-ceiling-republicans-416a2fad74db0cb4535655ef26c9f845">making default contingency</a>&nbsp;plans.

Even if negotiators strike a deal in coming days, McCarthy has promised lawmakers he will abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting — now likely Tuesday or even Wednesday. The Senate, where Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has vowed to move quickly, would also have to pass the package before it could go to Biden’s desk to be signed into law, right before next Thursday's possible deadline.

The contours of a deal have been within reach for days, but Republicans are unsatisfied as they press the White House team for more.

In one potential development, Republicans may be easing their demand to boost defense spending, instead offering to keep it at levels the Biden administration proposed, according to one person familiar with the talks and granted anonymity to discuss them.

The Republicans may achieve their goal of of rolling back bolstered funding for the Internal Revenue Service if they agree to instead allow the White House to push that money into other domestic accounts, the person said.

At the White House, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre blamed Republicans for risking a devastating default that would hit “every single part of the country” as they demand “extreme" spending cuts that would hurt millions of Americans.

She decried what the administration called a “manufactured crisis” set in motion by the GOP.

The White House has continued to argue that deficits can be reduced by ending tax breaks for wealthier households and some corporations, but McCarthy said he told the president as early as their February meeting that raising revenue from tax hikes was off the table.

Donald Trump, the former president who is again running for office, has encouraged Republicans to “do a default” if they don’t get the deal they want from the White House.

Time is short to strike a deal. Yellen said Wednesday that “it seems almost certain” that without a deal the United States would not make it past early June without defaulting. “We are seeing some stress already in Treasury markets,” she said at a Wall Street Journal event.

While Biden has ruled out, for now,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/14th-amendment-biden-debt-ceiling-explained-92ebc0db703d49eab2c91d4d4a354cdf">invoking the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;to raise the debt limit on his own, Democrats in the House announced they have all signed on to a legislative “discharge” process that would force a debt ceiling vote. But they need five Republicans to break with their party and tip the majority to set the plan forward.

“Sign the bill!” Democrats yelled on the House floor after Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana announced the holiday recess schedule.

Agreement on a topline spending level is vital. It would enable McCarthy to deliver spending restraints for conservatives while not being so severe that it would chase off the Democratic votes that would be needed in the divided Congress to pass any bill.

But what, if anything, Democrats would get if they agreed to deeper spending cuts than Biden's team has proposed is uncertain.

McCarthy and his Republican negotiators said what the Democrats get is a debt ceiling increase — typically something both parties take responsibility for doing.

“The problem is not the White House. The problem is Kevin McCarthy and the extreme Republicans,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., the chair of the progressive caucus. “They are the ones holding this economy hostage, that are putting all these cuts on the American people.”

The negotiators are now also debating the duration of a 1% cap on annual spending growth going forward, with Republicans dropping their demand for a 10-year cap to six years, but the White House offering only one year, for 2025.

Republicans want to beef up work requirements for government aid to recipients of food stamps, cash assistance and the Medicaid health care program that the Biden administration says would impact millions of people who depend on assistance.

All sides have been eyeing the potential for the package to include a framework to ease federal regulations and speed energy project developments. They are all but certain to claw back some $30 billion in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-coronavirus-relief-funds-9c60de5ad51a922bae1c2cf2fa284be3">unspent COVID-19 funds</a>&nbsp;now that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-covid19-coronavirus-national-emergency-e3a52722b57a6b4f24187426c27b3b39">pandemic emergency has officially been lifted</a>.

The White House has countered by proposing to keep defense and nondefense spending flat next year, which would save $90 billion in the 2024 budget year and $1 trillion over 10 years.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are pushing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-ceiling-biden-mccarthy-default-negotiations-cb0646c6301f1df97211896897df3723">debt ceiling talks</a>&nbsp;to the brink, displaying risky political bravado as they prepare to leave town Thursday for the holiday weekend just days before the U.S. could face an unprecedented default that could hurl the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-congress-world-economy-recession-biden-52df635e9b89f4b1677176fc8d59eff0">global economy into chaos</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Washington is collecting more money than ever. But it&#39;s also spending the most. So it’s not a revenue problem—it’s a spending problem. 60% of Americans believe that spending limits should accompany any debt limit increase. That&#39;s exactly what Republicans are fighting for. <a href="https://t.co/SDyUs0JBf3">pic.twitter.com/SDyUs0JBf3</a>&mdash; Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy/status/1661474450435629056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A defiant House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the debt ceiling standoff was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-congress-mccarthy-biden-budget-850273c73ed40f4ad002fa24e50f9b40">“not my fault”</a>&nbsp;as Republican negotiators and the White House failed to finish out talks. He warned they need more time to try to reach a budget-slashing deal with President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>.But it's clear the Republican speaker — who leads a Trump-aligned party whose hard-right flank lifted him to power — is now staring down a potential crisis.Lawmakers are tentatively not expected back at work until Tuesday, just two days from June 1, when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the U.S. could start running out of cash to pay its bills and face a potentially catastrophic default.Fitch Ratings agency placed the United States’ AAA credit on “ratings watch negative,” warning of a possible downgrade because of what it called the brinkmanship and political partisanship surrounding the debate over lifting the debt ceiling."This is a battle between extremism and common sense,” said Democratic Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the minority whip.The Republicans, she said, "want the American people to make an impossible choice: devastating cuts or devastating debt default.”Weeks of negotiations between Republicans and the White House have failed to produce a deal — in part because the Biden administration never expected to be having to negotiate with McCarthy over the debt limit, arguing it should not be used as leverage to extract other partisan priorities.McCarthy is holding out for steep spending cuts that Republicans are demanding in exchange for their vote to raise the nation's borrowing limit. The White House has offered to freeze next year's 2024 spending at current levels, but the Republican leader says that's not enough.“We have to spend less than we spent last year. That is the starting point," said McCarthy, R-Calif.Failure to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, now at $31 trillion, would risk a potentially chaotic federal default, almost certain to inflict economic turmoil at home and abroad. Anxious retirees and social service groups are among those already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/default-yellen-biden-debt-ceiling-republicans-416a2fad74db0cb4535655ef26c9f845">making default contingency</a>&nbsp;plans.Even if negotiators strike a deal in coming days, McCarthy has promised lawmakers he will abide by the rule to post any bill for 72 hours before voting — now likely Tuesday or even Wednesday. The Senate, where Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has vowed to move quickly, would also have to pass the package before it could go to Biden’s desk to be signed into law, right before next Thursday's possible deadline.The contours of a deal have been within reach for days, but Republicans are unsatisfied as they press the White House team for more.In one potential development, Republicans may be easing their demand to boost defense spending, instead offering to keep it at levels the Biden administration proposed, according to one person familiar with the talks and granted anonymity to discuss them.The Republicans may achieve their goal of of rolling back bolstered funding for the Internal Revenue Service if they agree to instead allow the White House to push that money into other domestic accounts, the person said.At the White House, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre blamed Republicans for risking a devastating default that would hit “every single part of the country” as they demand “extreme" spending cuts that would hurt millions of Americans.She decried what the administration called a “manufactured crisis” set in motion by the GOP.The White House has continued to argue that deficits can be reduced by ending tax breaks for wealthier households and some corporations, but McCarthy said he told the president as early as their February meeting that raising revenue from tax hikes was off the table.Donald Trump, the former president who is again running for office, has encouraged Republicans to “do a default” if they don’t get the deal they want from the White House.Time is short to strike a deal. Yellen said Wednesday that “it seems almost certain” that without a deal the United States would not make it past early June without defaulting. “We are seeing some stress already in Treasury markets,” she said at a Wall Street Journal event.While Biden has ruled out, for now,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/14th-amendment-biden-debt-ceiling-explained-92ebc0db703d49eab2c91d4d4a354cdf">invoking the 14th Amendment</a>&nbsp;to raise the debt limit on his own, Democrats in the House announced they have all signed on to a legislative “discharge” process that would force a debt ceiling vote. But they need five Republicans to break with their party and tip the majority to set the plan forward.“Sign the bill!” Democrats yelled on the House floor after Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana announced the holiday recess schedule.Agreement on a topline spending level is vital. It would enable McCarthy to deliver spending restraints for conservatives while not being so severe that it would chase off the Democratic votes that would be needed in the divided Congress to pass any bill.But what, if anything, Democrats would get if they agreed to deeper spending cuts than Biden's team has proposed is uncertain.McCarthy and his Republican negotiators said what the Democrats get is a debt ceiling increase — typically something both parties take responsibility for doing.“The problem is not the White House. The problem is Kevin McCarthy and the extreme Republicans,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., the chair of the progressive caucus. “They are the ones holding this economy hostage, that are putting all these cuts on the American people.”The negotiators are now also debating the duration of a 1% cap on annual spending growth going forward, with Republicans dropping their demand for a 10-year cap to six years, but the White House offering only one year, for 2025.Republicans want to beef up work requirements for government aid to recipients of food stamps, cash assistance and the Medicaid health care program that the Biden administration says would impact millions of people who depend on assistance.All sides have been eyeing the potential for the package to include a framework to ease federal regulations and speed energy project developments. They are all but certain to claw back some $30 billion in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-coronavirus-relief-funds-9c60de5ad51a922bae1c2cf2fa284be3">unspent COVID-19 funds</a>&nbsp;now that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-covid19-coronavirus-national-emergency-e3a52722b57a6b4f24187426c27b3b39">pandemic emergency has officially been lifted</a>.The White House has countered by proposing to keep defense and nondefense spending flat next year, which would save $90 billion in the 2024 budget year and $1 trillion over 10 years.

Debt ceiling talks on the brink as lawmakers leave for weekend

Hundreds of people of the Catholic faith are flooding to the small town to Gower, Missouri, to witness what many are calling a miracle.&nbsp; &nbsp;

After Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary in Gower, passed away in May of 2019 she was buried on the grounds of the chapel. Four years later the sisters decided to dig up her remains to place them under an altar in the chapel.&nbsp; &nbsp;

When unburied, her tomb was found with a crack down the middle, and her body intact and appearing to be incorrupt. &nbsp;

Sister Lancaster's body is on display until Monday, May 29th, and people of the Catholic faith have been flooding to Gower to witness it, touch, and pray with the body. &nbsp;

Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph released the following statement regarding Sr. Wilhemina:&nbsp;

“The condition of the remains of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster has understandably generated widespread interest and raised important questions. At the same time, it is important to protect the integrity of the mortal remains of Sister Wilhelmina to allow for a thorough investigation.&nbsp;

I invite all the Faithful to continue praying during this time of investigation for God’s will in the lives of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles; for all women religious; and all the baptized in our common vocation to holiness, with hope and trust in the Lord.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635337146615.jpeg" alt="Fence posts (left) go up as part of the wall construction at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Abbey near Gower. Photo by Matt Pike." />
 <figcaption>Fence posts (left) go up as part of the wall construction at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Abbey near Gower. Photo by Matt Pike.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostHundreds of people of the Catholic faith are flooding to the small town to Gower, Missouri, to witness what many are calling a miracle.&nbsp; &nbsp;After Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary in Gower, passed away in May of 2019 she was buried on the grounds of the chapel. Four years later the sisters decided to dig up her remains to place them under an altar in the chapel.&nbsp; &nbsp;When unburied, her tomb was found with a crack down the middle, and her body intact and appearing to be incorrupt. &nbsp;Sister Lancaster's body is on display until Monday, May 29th, and people of the Catholic faith have been flooding to Gower to witness it, touch, and pray with the body. &nbsp;Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph released the following statement regarding Sr. Wilhemina:&nbsp;“The condition of the remains of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster has understandably generated widespread interest and raised important questions. At the same time, it is important to protect the integrity of the mortal remains of Sister Wilhelmina to allow for a thorough investigation.&nbsp;I invite all the Faithful to continue praying during this time of investigation for God’s will in the lives of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles; for all women religious; and all the baptized in our common vocation to holiness, with hope and trust in the Lord.”&nbsp;

'Miracle in Missouri' Hundreds travel to see nun’s exhumed, ‘incorrupt’ body

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans passed a resolution on Wednesday that would overturn President Joe Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/student-loans">student loan</a>&nbsp;cancellation plan, but the White House has vowed to veto it and the plan remains on hold as the Supreme Court considers its fate.

It adds to the GOP’s ongoing attack on Biden’s one-time student loan cancellation, which was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-texas-education-donald-trump-student-loans-f2e944d85e95792089fa1e2fb9858287">halted in November</a>&nbsp;in response to lawsuits from conservative opponents. The Supreme Court is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-case-explained-8c62622e87c4ebff995f971263d932fc">now weighing the plan</a>&nbsp;after hearing arguments in February. A decision is expected in the coming weeks.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">Biden’s plan</a>&nbsp;would cancel up to $20,000 in federal student loans for 43 million Americans. About 26 million had applied for the relief before courts intervened.

The latest Republican challenge employs the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to undo recently enacted executive branch regulations. Passing a resolution requires a simple majority in both chambers, but overriding a presidential veto requires two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate.

The vote was 218-203, with two Democrats, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington state, supporting it.

Republican Rep. Bob Good of Virginia introduced the resolution in the House in March. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., introduced it in the Senate, which has not taken up the measure.

On Monday, the White House promised to veto the resolution if Congress approves it. The debt cancellation is based on “decades-old authority granted by Congress” to protect borrowers from the impact of national emergencies, according to a statement from the Office of Management and Budget.

The GOP resolution is “an unprecedented attempt to undercut our historic economic recovery,” the White House said.

If enacted, the measure would revoke Biden’s cancellation plan and curtail the Education Department’s ability to cancel student loans in the future. It would also rescind Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-government-and-politics-f524c55faae26c2066b6795a9d29bc8d">latest extension of a payment pause</a>&nbsp;that began early in the pandemic.

The measure would retroactively add several months of student loan interest that was waived by Biden’s extension, according to a letter from more than 260 organizations urging Congress to reject it.

Passing it “would immediately force tens of millions of borrowers into abrupt and unplanned repayment with devastating effects,” the coalition said. The action would also end Public Service Loan Forgiveness, a student loan cancellation program for teachers, firefighters and other public workers, the letter said.

About 43% of U.S. adults approve of how Biden is handling student debt, according to a recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That’s similar to his overall approval rating, 40%, but better than his ratings on the economy, gun policy and immigration. Biden gets credit for the issue among young adults in particular, with 53% under age 30 approving his handling of student loans.

Republicans say Biden overstepped his authority and illegally sidestepped Congress in pursuit of loan cancellation, which was a key campaign promise. Opponents say it’s too expensive and unfairly benefits college graduates at the expense of taxpayers who didn’t go to college.

Democrats say Biden’s plan gives needed relief to Americans hit hardest by the pandemic. They argue that federal law gives the Education Department wide authority to cancel student loans.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that Biden’s one-time cancellation would cost about $315 billion.

Republicans have escalated their war on Biden’s student loan agenda in recent weeks. Last month, the House passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-congress-republicans-18a1bdde96b3a72c0398c995fed94ac5">U.S. debt legislation</a>&nbsp;that would have reversed Biden’s cancellation, ended the repayment pause and barred the Education Department from future debt forgiveness.

The bill, which was seen as dead-on-arrival in the Senate, also aimed to eliminate a new, more generous student loan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-miguel-cardona-business-73dcbf54ddb3b53c9c3c5468cfdec3b9">repayment plan</a>&nbsp;being pushed by Biden.

With neither party wielding a forceful majority in Congress, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-hearing-2128da75fc27ff3bcc0c3804ebd98aa7">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;could end up with the final say on the debate. The justices have been examining Biden’s plan in response to a challenge by six Republican-led states, along with a separate lawsuit brought by two students.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673377040107.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans passed a resolution on Wednesday that would overturn President Joe Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/student-loans">student loan</a>&nbsp;cancellation plan, but the White House has vowed to veto it and the plan remains on hold as the Supreme Court considers its fate.It adds to the GOP’s ongoing attack on Biden’s one-time student loan cancellation, which was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-texas-education-donald-trump-student-loans-f2e944d85e95792089fa1e2fb9858287">halted in November</a>&nbsp;in response to lawsuits from conservative opponents. The Supreme Court is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-case-explained-8c62622e87c4ebff995f971263d932fc">now weighing the plan</a>&nbsp;after hearing arguments in February. A decision is expected in the coming weeks.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-biden-plan-d9c8e18774a744187c9af634bf4eb728">Biden’s plan</a>&nbsp;would cancel up to $20,000 in federal student loans for 43 million Americans. About 26 million had applied for the relief before courts intervened.The latest Republican challenge employs the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to undo recently enacted executive branch regulations. Passing a resolution requires a simple majority in both chambers, but overriding a presidential veto requires two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate.The vote was 218-203, with two Democrats, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington state, supporting it.Republican Rep. Bob Good of Virginia introduced the resolution in the House in March. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., introduced it in the Senate, which has not taken up the measure.On Monday, the White House promised to veto the resolution if Congress approves it. The debt cancellation is based on “decades-old authority granted by Congress” to protect borrowers from the impact of national emergencies, according to a statement from the Office of Management and Budget.The GOP resolution is “an unprecedented attempt to undercut our historic economic recovery,” the White House said.If enacted, the measure would revoke Biden’s cancellation plan and curtail the Education Department’s ability to cancel student loans in the future. It would also rescind Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-government-and-politics-f524c55faae26c2066b6795a9d29bc8d">latest extension of a payment pause</a>&nbsp;that began early in the pandemic.The measure would retroactively add several months of student loan interest that was waived by Biden’s extension, according to a letter from more than 260 organizations urging Congress to reject it.Passing it “would immediately force tens of millions of borrowers into abrupt and unplanned repayment with devastating effects,” the coalition said. The action would also end Public Service Loan Forgiveness, a student loan cancellation program for teachers, firefighters and other public workers, the letter said.About 43% of U.S. adults approve of how Biden is handling student debt, according to a recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That’s similar to his overall approval rating, 40%, but better than his ratings on the economy, gun policy and immigration. Biden gets credit for the issue among young adults in particular, with 53% under age 30 approving his handling of student loans.Republicans say Biden overstepped his authority and illegally sidestepped Congress in pursuit of loan cancellation, which was a key campaign promise. Opponents say it’s too expensive and unfairly benefits college graduates at the expense of taxpayers who didn’t go to college.Democrats say Biden’s plan gives needed relief to Americans hit hardest by the pandemic. They argue that federal law gives the Education Department wide authority to cancel student loans.The Congressional Budget Office estimates that Biden’s one-time cancellation would cost about $315 billion.Republicans have escalated their war on Biden’s student loan agenda in recent weeks. Last month, the House passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-congress-republicans-18a1bdde96b3a72c0398c995fed94ac5">U.S. debt legislation</a>&nbsp;that would have reversed Biden’s cancellation, ended the repayment pause and barred the Education Department from future debt forgiveness.The bill, which was seen as dead-on-arrival in the Senate, also aimed to eliminate a new, more generous student loan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-miguel-cardona-business-73dcbf54ddb3b53c9c3c5468cfdec3b9">repayment plan</a>&nbsp;being pushed by Biden.With neither party wielding a forceful majority in Congress, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-hearing-2128da75fc27ff3bcc0c3804ebd98aa7">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;could end up with the final say on the debate. The justices have been examining Biden’s plan in response to a challenge by six Republican-led states, along with a separate lawsuit brought by two students.___

House votes to prevent $400 billion student loan debt relief

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Yellowstone National Park officials killed a newborn bison because its herd wouldn’t take the animal back after a man picked it up.

The calf became separated from its mother when the herd crossed the Lamar River in northeastern Yellowstone on Saturday. The unidentified man pushed the struggling calf up from the river and onto a roadway, park officials said in a statement Tuesday.

Park rangers tried repeatedly to reunite the calf with the herd but were unsuccessful. Visitors saw the calf walking up to and following cars and people, creating a hazard, so park staff killed the animal, according to the statement.

It's the latest example of Yellowstone visitors getting in trouble or hurt after approaching bison. Park officials euthanized a newborn bison after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/69afa4054d7d49e3aea394481d910de6">similar incident</a>&nbsp;in 2016, when a Canadian man and his son put the calf in their SUV, thinking they could rescue it.

The man pleaded guilty. He was fined $235 and ordered to pay $500 to the Yellowstone Park Foundation Wildlife Protection Fund.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-pennsylvania-wyoming-parks-national-2698e8b6d2bb539b51a960f9dad937e3">Bison have gored</a>&nbsp;several people in Yellowstone in recent years, often after they got too close to the animals.

Many of Yellowstone’s larger animals — including bison, which can run up to 35 mph (55 kilometers per hour) and weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) — are deceptively dangerous, even when they’re just grazing or resting.

Park rules require visitors to keep at least 25 yards (23 meters) away from wildlife including bison, elk and deer, and at least 100 yards (91 meters) away from bears and wolves.

Park officials are investigating the bison calf incident. The suspect was a white male in his 40s or 50s who was wearing a blue shirt and black pants, the statement said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684950698713.png" alt="It's the latest example of Yellowstone visitors getting in trouble or hurt after approaching bison. photo by Helen Jack courtesy National Park Service" />
 <figcaption>It's the latest example of Yellowstone visitors getting in trouble or hurt after approaching bison. photo by Helen Jack courtesy National Park Service</figcaption>
 </figure>YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Yellowstone National Park officials killed a newborn bison because its herd wouldn’t take the animal back after a man picked it up.The calf became separated from its mother when the herd crossed the Lamar River in northeastern Yellowstone on Saturday. The unidentified man pushed the struggling calf up from the river and onto a roadway, park officials said in a statement Tuesday.Park rangers tried repeatedly to reunite the calf with the herd but were unsuccessful. Visitors saw the calf walking up to and following cars and people, creating a hazard, so park staff killed the animal, according to the statement.It's the latest example of Yellowstone visitors getting in trouble or hurt after approaching bison. Park officials euthanized a newborn bison after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/69afa4054d7d49e3aea394481d910de6">similar incident</a>&nbsp;in 2016, when a Canadian man and his son put the calf in their SUV, thinking they could rescue it.The man pleaded guilty. He was fined $235 and ordered to pay $500 to the Yellowstone Park Foundation Wildlife Protection Fund.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-pennsylvania-wyoming-parks-national-2698e8b6d2bb539b51a960f9dad937e3">Bison have gored</a>&nbsp;several people in Yellowstone in recent years, often after they got too close to the animals.Many of Yellowstone’s larger animals — including bison, which can run up to 35 mph (55 kilometers per hour) and weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) — are deceptively dangerous, even when they’re just grazing or resting.Park rules require visitors to keep at least 25 yards (23 meters) away from wildlife including bison, elk and deer, and at least 100 yards (91 meters) away from bears and wolves.Park officials are investigating the bison calf incident. The suspect was a white male in his 40s or 50s who was wearing a blue shirt and black pants, the statement said.

Baby bison put to death after visitor picks it up, leading herd to reject it

MIAMI (AP) — Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-ron-desantis-eda0e666c92e071645c6f43add3fbf59">Ron DeSantis</a>&nbsp;launched his 2024 presidential campaign on Wednesday with a Twitter announcement plagued by technical glitches, stepping into a crowded Republican primary contest that will test his strength against former President Donald Trump and criticism that he's not ready for the national stage.

The 44-year-old Republican, an outspoken cultural conservative, initially announced his decision in a video posted on social media, but planned to discuss it further in a first-of-its-kind conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Twitter Spaces. But the audio stream crashed repeatedly, making it virtually impossible for most users to hear the high-profile announcement in real time.

“We need the courage to lead and the strength to win,” DeSantis said in a minute-long video posted on social media before the conversation with Musk. “I’m Ron DeSantis, and I’m running for president to lead our great American comeback.”

Despite the rocky start, DeSantis' announcement marks a new chapter in his extraordinary rise from little-known congressman to two-term governor to a leading figure in the nation’s bitter fights over race, gender, abortion and other divisive issues.

DeSantis is considered to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-ron-desantis-donald-trump-c8a3a7e58d35061f8662ead819861005">Trump’s strongest Republican rival</a>&nbsp;even as the governor faces questions about his far-right policies, his campaign-trail personality and his lack of relationships across the Republican ecosystem. Still, he has generated significant interest among GOP primary voters by casting himself as a younger and more electable version of the 76-year-old former president.

The ultimate Republican nominee is expected to face Democratic President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on the general election ballot in November 2024.

DeSantis joins a field that also includes former U.N. Ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-running-for-president-f28052019e8ac3846cd125b3d9614d4f">Nikki Haley</a>, Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-scott-2024-presidential-race-4a73e00db2295afbc4b07d1c6bb64811">Tim Scott</a>&nbsp;of South Carolina, former Arkansas Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asa-hutchinson-president-2024-election-3a55855b1914d6e61338d1c8576a817f">Asa Hutchinson</a>&nbsp;and biotech entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-and-politics-united-states-government-2022-midterm-elections-ohio-e1c1cbe47763bd979b6b47557aee043d">Vivek Ramaswamy</a>. Former Vice President Mike Pence is also considered a likely presidential candidate but has not yet announced a bid.

DeSantis tried to discus his presidential candidacy for the first time in a conversation on Twitter Space with Musk, one of the world's richest men who is increasingly considered a conservative cult hero. The meeting was moderated by Republican donor David Sacks, a tech entrepreneur who is close to Musk.

The event started off with technical glitches the Twitter owner said were due to “straining” servers because so many people were trying to listen to the audio-only event.

Musk a day earlier dubbed the event a historic first for Twitter, saying it will be “the first time something like this is happening on social media.” The event was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. EDT, but 20 minutes passed with users getting kicked off, hearing microphone feedback and other technical problems.

"This is a disaster. Not surprising,” tweeted senior Trump adviser Chris LaCivita.

Meanwhile, DeSantis and Trump have much in common.

DeSantis, who likely would not have become the Florida governor without Trump’s endorsement, has adopted the former president’s fiery personality, his populist policies and even some of his rhetoric and mannerisms.

Yet DeSantis has one thing his rival does not: a credible claim that he may be more electable than Trump, who faces multiple legal threats, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-criminal-case-manhattan-cc2dbf565678eeaf8246a96b0fd1f461">criminal charges</a>&nbsp;in New York, and who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-00c770068d8b82f165a9f4871eee983b">presided over Republican losses</a>&nbsp;in three consecutive national elections.

DeSantis, just six months ago,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-governor-race-2022-midterm-elections-4b2fe3a05668ed67119511838339110e">won his reelection</a>&nbsp;in Florida by a stunning 19 percentage points — even as Republicans in many other states struggled. He also scored several major policy victories during the Republican-controlled Legislature’s spring session.

Aware of DeSantis’ draw, Trump has been almost singularly focused on undermining his political appeal for months. Trump and his team believe that DeSantis may be Trump’s only legitimate threat for the nomination.

Hours before the announcement, Trump argued in a social media post that “Ron DeSanctus” cannot win the general election or the GOP primary because of his previous votes in Congress on Social Security and Medicare.

“He desperately needs a personality transplant and, to the best of my knowledge, they are not medically available yet," Trump added. "A disloyal person!”

Trump allies dispatched a truck outside DeSantis' planned donor meeting running an attack ad describing him as “a swamp creature." The Democratic National Committee sent another truck warning of DeSantis’ “extreme MAGA agenda.”

The kitchen-sink attacks and nicknames won’t be DeSantis’ only hurdle.

He is a political heavyweight in Florida and a regular on Fox News, but allies acknowledge that most primary voters in other states don’t know him well.

A Florida native with family roots in the Midwest, DeSantis studied at Yale University, where he played baseball. He would go on to Harvard Law School and become a Navy judge advocate general officer, a position that took him to Iraq and the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

He ran for Congress in 2012 and won an Orlando-area district, becoming a founding member of the far-right Freedom Caucus on Capitol Hill.

Despite his lengthy resume, friends and foes alike note that DeSantis struggles to display the campaign-trail charisma and quick-on-your-feet thinking that often defines successful candidates at the national level. He has gone to great lengths to avoid unscripted public appearances and media scrutiny while governor, which is difficult, if not impossible, as a presidential contender.

In an example of his level of media avoidance, his official Twitter account for governor posted a photo shortly after the FEC filing — a bill signing surrounded by dozens of bikers for legislation to help reduce motorcycle accidents in Florida. The media was not notified of the event ahead of time.

Late Wednesday, DeSantis’ office announced that he signed a broad election law bill that contains a provision&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-president-resign-run-florida-elections-be012bb10da7b89b433bfbce4e5cfa1a">allowing him to run for president without resigning</a>&nbsp;his post as governor, exempting himself from a state rule known as “resign to run.”

Would-be supporters also worry that DeSantis has refused to invest in relationships with party leaders or fellow elected officials, raising questions about his ability to build the coalition he would ultimately need to beat Trump. By contrast, Trump has scooped up an army of endorsements in key states, including Florida.

Beyond the primary, DeSantis’ greatest longer-term challenge may rest with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-laws-2024-president-election-abortion-florida-668ae3101e3d7d7f61dd9925b419ee6e">far-right policies he enacted</a>&nbsp;as governor as an unapologetic leader in what he calls his "war on woke.”

The Florida governor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-immigration-ron-desantis-charlie-baker-4fe96d293de4b189299a372b85c95add">sent dozens of immigrants</a>&nbsp;from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard off the Massachusetts coast to draw attention to the influx of Latin American immigrants trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. He signed and then expanded the Parental Rights in Education bill — known by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, which bans instruction or classroom discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in Florida public schools for all grades.

More recently, he signed a law banning abortions at six weeks, which is before most women realize they’re pregnant. And he removed an elected prosecutor who vowed not to charge people under Florida’s new abortion restrictions or doctors who provide gender-affirming care.

DeSantis also signed a law this year allowing Florida residents to carry concealed firearms without a permit. He pushed new measures that critics warn would weaken press freedoms. He also took control of a liberal arts college that he believed was indoctrinating students with leftist ideology.

The governor’s highest-profile political fight has come against the Florida entertainment giant Disney, which publicly opposed his “Don’t Say Gay” law. In retaliation, DeSantis seized control of Disney World’s governing body and installed loyalists who are threatening to take over park planning, among other extraordinary measures.

DeSantis has threatened to build a state prison adjacent to park property.

The dispute has drawn condemnation from business leaders and his Republican rivals, who said the moves are at odds with small-government conservatism.

DeSantis delayed his campaign announcement until Florida’s legislative session was over. But for much of the year, he has been courting primary voters in key states and using an allied super political action committee to build a large political organization that is essentially a campaign in waiting and already claims at least $30 million in the bank.

Super PAC adviser David Polyansky said Trump has made “significant strategic mistakes” on policy — especially abortion — that DeSantis' team is prepared to exploit.

And More than any of his opponents, perhaps even Trump, DeSantis is positioned to hit the ground running thanks to the super PAC’s monthslong efforts to install campaign infrastructure across Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, which will host the first four contests on the GOP’s primary calendar early next year.

In fact, the super PAC is already building out DeSantis' political operation in states that host primaries in March, signaling a very long road ahead to the Republican presidential nomination.

MIAMI (AP) — Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-ron-desantis-eda0e666c92e071645c6f43add3fbf59">Ron DeSantis</a>&nbsp;entered the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday, stepping into a crowded Republican primary contest that will test both his national appeal as an outspoken&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-laws-2024-president-election-abortion-florida-668ae3101e3d7d7f61dd9925b419ee6e">cultural conservative</a>&nbsp;and the GOP’s willingness to move on from former President Donald Trump.

The 44-year-old Republican revealed his decision in a Federal Election Commission filing before an online conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk.

It marks a new chapter in his extraordinary rise from little-known congressman to two-term governor to a leading figure in the nation’s bitter fights over race, gender, abortion and other divisive issues.

DeSantis’ audio-only announcement was to be streamed on Twitter Spaces beginning at 6 p.m. EDT, followed by appearances on conservative programs, including Fox News and Mark Levin's radio show. He also was holding a donor event at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Miami on Wednesday.

The Republican nominee is expected to face Democratic President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on the general election ballot in November 2024.

The governor’s highest-profile political fight has come against the Florida-based entertainment giant Disney, which publicly opposed his “Don’t Say Gay” law. In retaliation, DeSantis seized control of Disney World’s governing body and installed loyalists who are threatening to take over park planning, among other extraordinary measures.

DeSantis has threatened to build a state prison on park property.

More than any of his opponents, except perhaps Trump, DeSantis is positioned to hit the ground running thanks to the super PAC’s monthslong efforts to install campaign infrastructure across Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, which will host the first four contests on the GOP’s primary calendar early next year.

DeSantis gave no hint as to his plans during a meeting of the state clemency board Wednesday morning in Tallahassee, where he granted several pardons to former prisoners charged mostly with drug-related crimes decades ago.

“You are what the country needs,” one man said after getting his pardon.

A smiling DeSantis chuckled and thanked him.

🎥 DeSantis launches presidential campaign despite glitches on Twitter 

By Paul Hamel <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/08/state-approved-use-of-pesticide-coated-seed-corn-for-ethanol-plant-a-decade-ago/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska would join 48 other states in offering “school choice” under a bill given final approval Wednesday.

Proponents of the “Opportunity Scholarships Act” said it will allow low-income families the opportunity to send their kids to private and parochial schools via the generous tax breaks offered to those donating funds for private school scholarships.

“This is about choice … it’s about time we got this done,” said State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who has worked seven years to get a school choice bill passed.

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/13/opportunity-scholarship-bill-advances-to-provide-tax-credits-for-private-school-scholarships/">Legislative Bill 753,</a>&nbsp;which passed on a 33-11 vote, now heads to Gov. Jim Pillen, who has pledged to sign it into law.

It marked another victory for conservative forces in the Nebraska Legislature which, in past years, has declined to pass laws that direct public funds to private and parochial schools.

Critics called it a “dark new era” for education in Nebraska, condemning the bill as an overly generous tax break for mostly wealthy Nebraskans and corporations that could violate the constitutional separation of church and state.

The powerful state teachers union has&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/09/state-teachers-union-organizes-to-hold-referendum-vote-on-opportunity-scholarship-bill/">already organized an effort</a>&nbsp;to put the school choice bill on the ballot in 2024, in hopes that voters will overturn it.

“The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hollandinstitute.org/nvo-feb-2023/?fbclid=IwAR1Ov4c72GmFeGTY9fr_pQnapp0aer6oxxCh5hbvav1xEQIXRIu5JwHOpkk">majority of Nebraskans oppose giving public tax dollars to private schools</a>&nbsp;and have rejected such attempts at the ballot box three times previously,” said Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association.

Benson said other states that have adopted “tax voucher schemes” ended up damaging public schools and communities.

“This is not the future we want for our young people in Nebraska nor our communities,” she said.

Linehan and others pushed back on criticism that LB 753 would take away funds from public schools.

The bill initially would set aside $25 million a year in tax credits for those who donate to a “scholarship granting organization” that distributes scholarships to parochial and private schools. That allocation could eventually rise to $100 million a year, depending on the demand for tax credits.

Albion Sen. Tom Briese said the $25 million pales in comparison to the more than $2 billion a year the state grants for public education and tax credits focused on property taxes paid for schools.

Sen. Justin Wayne, who represents sections of north Omaha, said the bill would be “transformational” for his low-income district by providing an option to parents that they previously couldn’t afford.

Wayne, a former member of the Omaha School Board, said private schools are already making a difference for some kids in his area. Other proponents said states such as Florida have seen rises in academic achievement in part due to school choice.

“Get out of the political talk and look at the fundamental change we’re making in the community,” Wayne said.

But Omaha Sen. Wendy DeBoer said the dollar-for-dollar tax credit was more lucrative than what is given to any other charitable cause.

Lincoln Sen. George Dungan said in Arizona, two large scholarship granting organizations misused their donations and that after school choice was adopted there, private schools raised their tuition, thus pricing out some middle-income families from choosing private schools. The number of students of color in private Arizona schools didn’t rise, he added.

“What we have seen in other states and other circumstances is that they do not help the kids they’ve intended to help,”&nbsp;Dungan said.

Under LB 753, taxpayers could donate half of their state income tax liability of up to $100,000 to private school scholarships. Thus, it allows a taxpayer to divert those funds from use for other state services, including higher education and K-12 public schools.

It’s estimated that the bill will allow an additional 5,000 students to switch to private schools in Nebraska.

Gering Sen. Brian Hardin said LB 753 would “level the playing field,” allowing all families who are concerned about bullying or other issues in a public school a choice of private or religious schooling.

“They’re also very concerned, in some&nbsp; cases, about social experiments with their child serving as the petri dish,” Hardin said.

“They’re not excited about what that does to a child’s psyche,&nbsp;development, faith and moral well-being,” he said. “They would like another option.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684963456499.png" alt=" Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at a “school choice” rally in the Rotunda at the Nebraska Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 24. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at a “school choice” rally in the Rotunda at the Nebraska Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 24. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Paul Hamel <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/08/state-approved-use-of-pesticide-coated-seed-corn-for-ethanol-plant-a-decade-ago/">Nebraska Examiner</a> LINCOLN — Nebraska would join 48 other states in offering “school choice” under a bill given final approval Wednesday.Proponents of the “Opportunity Scholarships Act” said it will allow low-income families the opportunity to send their kids to private and parochial schools via the generous tax breaks offered to those donating funds for private school scholarships.“This is about choice … it’s about time we got this done,” said State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who has worked seven years to get a school choice bill passed.<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/13/opportunity-scholarship-bill-advances-to-provide-tax-credits-for-private-school-scholarships/">Legislative Bill 753,</a>&nbsp;which passed on a 33-11 vote, now heads to Gov. Jim Pillen, who has pledged to sign it into law.It marked another victory for conservative forces in the Nebraska Legislature which, in past years, has declined to pass laws that direct public funds to private and parochial schools.Critics called it a “dark new era” for education in Nebraska, condemning the bill as an overly generous tax break for mostly wealthy Nebraskans and corporations that could violate the constitutional separation of church and state.The powerful state teachers union has&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/09/state-teachers-union-organizes-to-hold-referendum-vote-on-opportunity-scholarship-bill/">already organized an effort</a>&nbsp;to put the school choice bill on the ballot in 2024, in hopes that voters will overturn it.“The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hollandinstitute.org/nvo-feb-2023/?fbclid=IwAR1Ov4c72GmFeGTY9fr_pQnapp0aer6oxxCh5hbvav1xEQIXRIu5JwHOpkk">majority of Nebraskans oppose giving public tax dollars to private schools</a>&nbsp;and have rejected such attempts at the ballot box three times previously,” said Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association.Benson said other states that have adopted “tax voucher schemes” ended up damaging public schools and communities.“This is not the future we want for our young people in Nebraska nor our communities,” she said.Linehan and others pushed back on criticism that LB 753 would take away funds from public schools.The bill initially would set aside $25 million a year in tax credits for those who donate to a “scholarship granting organization” that distributes scholarships to parochial and private schools. That allocation could eventually rise to $100 million a year, depending on the demand for tax credits.<h2>$25 million pales in comparison</h2>Albion Sen. Tom Briese said the $25 million pales in comparison to the more than $2 billion a year the state grants for public education and tax credits focused on property taxes paid for schools.Sen. Justin Wayne, who represents sections of north Omaha, said the bill would be “transformational” for his low-income district by providing an option to parents that they previously couldn’t afford.Wayne, a former member of the Omaha School Board, said private schools are already making a difference for some kids in his area. Other proponents said states such as Florida have seen rises in academic achievement in part due to school choice.“Get out of the political talk and look at the fundamental change we’re making in the community,” Wayne said.But Omaha Sen. Wendy DeBoer said the dollar-for-dollar tax credit was more lucrative than what is given to any other charitable cause.Lincoln Sen. George Dungan said in Arizona, two large scholarship granting organizations misused their donations and that after school choice was adopted there, private schools raised their tuition, thus pricing out some middle-income families from choosing private schools. The number of students of color in private Arizona schools didn’t rise, he added.“What we have seen in other states and other circumstances is that they do not help the kids they’ve intended to help,”&nbsp;Dungan said.Under LB 753, taxpayers could donate half of their state income tax liability of up to $100,000 to private school scholarships. Thus, it allows a taxpayer to divert those funds from use for other state services, including higher education and K-12 public schools.<h2>Schools conduct ‘social experiments’</h2>It’s estimated that the bill will allow an additional 5,000 students to switch to private schools in Nebraska.Gering Sen. Brian Hardin said LB 753 would “level the playing field,” allowing all families who are concerned about bullying or other issues in a public school a choice of private or religious schooling.“They’re also very concerned, in some&nbsp; cases, about social experiments with their child serving as the petri dish,” Hardin said.“They’re not excited about what that does to a child’s psyche,&nbsp;development, faith and moral well-being,” he said. “They would like another option.

Opportunity Scholarship’ bill, given final OK, will make Nebraska a ‘school choice’ state

NEW YORK (AP) — Tina Turner, the unstoppable singer and stage performer who teamed with husband Ike Turner for a dynamic run of hit records and live shows in the 1960s and ‘70s and survived her horrifying marriage to triumph in middle age with the chart-topping "What's Love Got to Do With It," has died at 83.

Turner died Tuesday, after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, according to her manager. She became a Swiss citizen a decade ago.

Few stars traveled so far — she was born Anna Mae Bullock in a segregated Tennessee hospital and spent her latter years on a 260,000 square foot estate on Lake Zurich — and overcame so much. Physically battered, emotionally devastated and financially ruined by her 20-year relationship with Ike Turner, she became a superstar on her own in her 40s, at a time when most of her peers were on their way down, and remained a top concert draw for years after.

With admirers ranging from Beyoncé to Mick Jagger, Turner was one of the world's most successful entertainers, known for a core of pop, rock and rhythm and blues favorites: "Proud Mary," "Nutbush City Limits," "River Deep, Mountain High," and the hits she had in the '80s, among them "What's Love Got to Do with It," "We Don't Need Another Hero" and a cover of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together."

Her trademarks were her growling contralto, her bold smile and strong cheekbones, her palette of wigs and the muscular, quick-stepping legs she did not shy from showing off. She sold more than 150 million records worldwide, won 12 Grammys, was voted along with Ike into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 (and on her own in 2021) and was honored at the Kennedy Center in 2005, with Beyoncé and Oprah Winfrey among those praising her. Her life became the basis for a film, a Broadway musical and an HBO documentary in 2021 that she called her public farewell.

Until she left her husband and revealed their back story, she was known as the voracious on-stage foil of the steady-going Ike, the leading lady of the “Ike and Tina Turner Revue.” Ike was billed first and ran the show, choosing the material, the arrangements, the backing singers. They toured constantly for years, in part because Ike was often short on money and unwilling to miss a concert. Tina Turner was forced to go on with bronchitis, with pneumonia, with a collapsed right lung.

Other times, the cause of her misfortunes was Ike himself.

As she recounted in her memoir, “I, Tina,” Ike began hitting her not long after they met, in the mid-1950s, and only grew more vicious. Provoked by anything and anyone, he would throw hot coffee in her face, choke her, or beat her until her eyes were swollen shut, then rape her. Before one show, he broke her jaw and she went on stage with her mouth full of blood.

Terrified both of being with Ike and of being without him, she credited her emerging Buddhist faith in the mid-1970s with giving her a sense of strength and self-worth and she finally left in early July, 1976. The Ike and Tina Turner Revue was scheduled to open a tour marking the country’s bicentennial when Tina snuck out of their Dallas hotel room, with just a Mobil credit card and 36 cents, while Ike slept. She hurried across a nearby highway, narrowly avoiding a speeding truck, and found another hotel to stay.

“I looked at him (Ike) and thought, ‘You just beat me for the last time, you sucker,’” she recalled in her memoir.

Turner was among the first celebrities to speak candidly about domestic abuse, becoming a heroine to battered women and a symbol of resilience to all. Ike Turner did not deny mistreating her, although he tried to blame Tina for their troubles. When he died, in 2007, a representative for his ex-wife said simply: “Tina is aware that Ike passed away.”

Little of this was apparent to the many Ike and Tina fans. The Turners were a hot act for much of the 1960s and into the ’70s, evolving from bluesy ballads such as “A Fool in Love” and “It’s Going to Work Out Fine” to flashy covers of “Proud Mary” and “Come Together” and other rock songs that brought them crossover success.

They opened for the Rolling Stones in 1966 and 1969, and were seen performing a lustful version of Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” in the 1970 Stones documentary “Gimme Shelter.” Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett gave Oscar-nominated performances as Ike and Tina in the 1993 movie “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” based on “I, Tina,” but she would say that reliving her years with Ike was so painful she couldn’t bring herself to watch the movie).

Ike and Tina’s reworking of “Proud Mary,” originally a tight, mid-tempo hit for Creedence Clearwater Revival, helped define their assertive, sexual image. Against a background of funky guitar and Ike’s crooning baritone, Tina began with a few spoken words about how some people wanted to hear songs that were “nice and easy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684954528952.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Tina Turner, the unstoppable singer and stage performer who teamed with husband Ike Turner for a dynamic run of hit records and live shows in the 1960s and ‘70s and survived her horrifying marriage to triumph in middle age with the chart-topping "What's Love Got to Do With It," has died at 83.Turner died Tuesday, after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, according to her manager. She became a Swiss citizen a decade ago.Few stars traveled so far — she was born Anna Mae Bullock in a segregated Tennessee hospital and spent her latter years on a 260,000 square foot estate on Lake Zurich — and overcame so much. Physically battered, emotionally devastated and financially ruined by her 20-year relationship with Ike Turner, she became a superstar on her own in her 40s, at a time when most of her peers were on their way down, and remained a top concert draw for years after.With admirers ranging from Beyoncé to Mick Jagger, Turner was one of the world's most successful entertainers, known for a core of pop, rock and rhythm and blues favorites: "Proud Mary," "Nutbush City Limits," "River Deep, Mountain High," and the hits she had in the '80s, among them "What's Love Got to Do with It," "We Don't Need Another Hero" and a cover of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together."Her trademarks were her growling contralto, her bold smile and strong cheekbones, her palette of wigs and the muscular, quick-stepping legs she did not shy from showing off. She sold more than 150 million records worldwide, won 12 Grammys, was voted along with Ike into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 (and on her own in 2021) and was honored at the Kennedy Center in 2005, with Beyoncé and Oprah Winfrey among those praising her. Her life became the basis for a film, a Broadway musical and an HBO documentary in 2021 that she called her public farewell.Until she left her husband and revealed their back story, she was known as the voracious on-stage foil of the steady-going Ike, the leading lady of the “Ike and Tina Turner Revue.” Ike was billed first and ran the show, choosing the material, the arrangements, the backing singers. They toured constantly for years, in part because Ike was often short on money and unwilling to miss a concert. Tina Turner was forced to go on with bronchitis, with pneumonia, with a collapsed right lung.Other times, the cause of her misfortunes was Ike himself.As she recounted in her memoir, “I, Tina,” Ike began hitting her not long after they met, in the mid-1950s, and only grew more vicious. Provoked by anything and anyone, he would throw hot coffee in her face, choke her, or beat her until her eyes were swollen shut, then rape her. Before one show, he broke her jaw and she went on stage with her mouth full of blood.Terrified both of being with Ike and of being without him, she credited her emerging Buddhist faith in the mid-1970s with giving her a sense of strength and self-worth and she finally left in early July, 1976. The Ike and Tina Turner Revue was scheduled to open a tour marking the country’s bicentennial when Tina snuck out of their Dallas hotel room, with just a Mobil credit card and 36 cents, while Ike slept. She hurried across a nearby highway, narrowly avoiding a speeding truck, and found another hotel to stay.“I looked at him (Ike) and thought, ‘You just beat me for the last time, you sucker,’” she recalled in her memoir.Turner was among the first celebrities to speak candidly about domestic abuse, becoming a heroine to battered women and a symbol of resilience to all. Ike Turner did not deny mistreating her, although he tried to blame Tina for their troubles. When he died, in 2007, a representative for his ex-wife said simply: “Tina is aware that Ike passed away.”Little of this was apparent to the many Ike and Tina fans. The Turners were a hot act for much of the 1960s and into the ’70s, evolving from bluesy ballads such as “A Fool in Love” and “It’s Going to Work Out Fine” to flashy covers of “Proud Mary” and “Come Together” and other rock songs that brought them crossover success.They opened for the Rolling Stones in 1966 and 1969, and were seen performing a lustful version of Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” in the 1970 Stones documentary “Gimme Shelter.” Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett gave Oscar-nominated performances as Ike and Tina in the 1993 movie “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” based on “I, Tina,” but she would say that reliving her years with Ike was so painful she couldn’t bring herself to watch the movie).Ike and Tina’s reworking of “Proud Mary,” originally a tight, mid-tempo hit for Creedence Clearwater Revival, helped define their assertive, sexual image. Against a background of funky guitar and Ike’s crooning baritone, Tina began with a few spoken words about how some people wanted to hear songs that were “nice and easy.”___

Tina Turner, rock superstar, dead at 83

Manhattan–&nbsp;Officials with the&nbsp;U.S. Department of Agriculture&nbsp;(USDA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)&nbsp;Science and Technology Directorate&nbsp;(S&amp;T) celebrated the dedication and ribbon-cutting of the&nbsp;National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility&nbsp;(NBAF) on Wednesday morning.

(click below to watch the ribbon cutting)

This is the first U.S. laboratory with biosafety level-4 containment capable of housing large livestock.&nbsp;

DHS S&amp;T and USDA have collaborated on the requirements for this next-generation science facility since 2006. DHS S&amp;T led NBAF’s design and construction, and USDA will own and operate the facility to protect the U.S. against transboundary and emerging animal diseases as well as zoonotic diseases capable of transferring from livestock to people.&nbsp;

The ceremony included remarks from many community, state and national leaders, including Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. &nbsp;

“This new, innovative facility will give USDA scientists access to cutting-edge, safe and secure technology so they can continue to lead the world in animal health research, training and diagnostics to protect our food supply, agricultural economy and public health,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “America’s farmers, ranchers and consumers count on our researchers and diagnosticians to understand, monitor for and develop solutions to combat a variety of high-consequence animal pathogens, and a facility of this magnitude positions us to respond.”&nbsp;

NBAF will replace DHS’ Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), which is a biosafety level-3 facility in New York that is more than 68 years old. Manhattan, Kansas was selected as NBAF’s site in 2009. With more than 400 employees, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will share NBAF’s operational responsibilities. These two agencies currently conduct research, training and diagnostic programs alongside DHS scientists at PIADC. &nbsp;

As part of the dedication program, Dr. Simon Liu, USDA Agricultural Research Service Administrator, led a moderated conversation with Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary; Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics; and Julie Brewer, DHS S&amp;T Executive Director of Innovation &amp; Collaboration.&nbsp;

“NBAF is a strategic national asset that will help USDA stay proactive in leading efforts to protect public health and address new and emerging diseases,” said Jacobs-Young. “This new, modernized facility is a critical down payment in ensuring our country has the tools we need to keep the American people and our agricultural animals safe.”&nbsp;

The ceremony highlighted the state and local community's support. City of Manhattan Mayor Mark Hatesohl, Kansas State University President Dr. Richard Linton, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, and former U.S. Senator Pat Roberts gave remarks during the ceremony. &nbsp;

“NBAF’s Midwest location offers researchers and diagnosticians closer proximity to develop key partnerships with the animal health industry and several academic institutions,” said NBAF Director Dr. Alfonso Clavijo. “NBAF will create opportunities between scientists and animal health companies to enhance and expedite the transition of new veterinary countermeasures from research to market to protect the nation’s agriculture if needed.”&nbsp;

Adjacent to Kansas State University and on the Western edge of the largest concentration of animal health companies in the nation, the 48-acre NBAF campus includes more than 700,000 square feet of total building space. The main building, at 500,000 square feet, includes containment laboratories, animal holding facilities, office spaces, facility support areas and required safety systems — such as redundant HEPA air filtration and waste decontamination systems. &nbsp;

At NBAF, ARS will primarily focus on research to understand high-consequence and emerging animal diseases and develop countermeasures, such as vaccines and antivirals. APHIS will focus on prevention, surveillance, diagnosis and response to these diseases, including the expertise to manage two vaccine banks and train state and federal veterinarians to recognize livestock diseases.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684944398162.png" alt="The ceremony included remarks from many community, state and national leaders, including Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.-photo by Becky Goff&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The ceremony included remarks from many community, state and national leaders, including Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.-photo by Becky Goff&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Manhattan–&nbsp;Officials with the&nbsp;U.S. Department of Agriculture&nbsp;(USDA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)&nbsp;Science and Technology Directorate&nbsp;(S&amp;T) celebrated the dedication and ribbon-cutting of the&nbsp;National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility&nbsp;(NBAF) on Wednesday morning.(click below to watch the ribbon cutting)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Noz_CYtSvgI?start=197" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>This is the first U.S. laboratory with biosafety level-4 containment capable of housing large livestock.&nbsp;DHS S&amp;T and USDA have collaborated on the requirements for this next-generation science facility since 2006. DHS S&amp;T led NBAF’s design and construction, and USDA will own and operate the facility to protect the U.S. against transboundary and emerging animal diseases as well as zoonotic diseases capable of transferring from livestock to people.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Honored to see Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/PatRoberts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PatRoberts</a> &amp; former <a href="https://twitter.com/KState?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KState</a> Pres Wefald&#39;s vision come to life w/ the grand opening of the state-of-the-art NBAF facility in Manhattan, KS. Food security is national security. NBAF will lead the way in animal health &amp; protect the U.S. from food supply threats <a href="https://t.co/EjenyF2KSd">pic.twitter.com/EjenyF2KSd</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1661429000466513926?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is a big day for Kansas: we cut the ribbon on the new National Bio and Agro-Defense facility <a href="https://twitter.com/KState?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KState</a>! This one-of-a-kind lab represents a giant step forward for our Ag industry and will put us on the frontlines of making the entire country safer and healthier. <a href="https://t.co/K4drL9KdCx">pic.twitter.com/K4drL9KdCx</a>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1661429695798292480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The ceremony included remarks from many community, state and national leaders, including Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. &nbsp;“This new, innovative facility will give USDA scientists access to cutting-edge, safe and secure technology so they can continue to lead the world in animal health research, training and diagnostics to protect our food supply, agricultural economy and public health,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “America’s farmers, ranchers and consumers count on our researchers and diagnosticians to understand, monitor for and develop solutions to combat a variety of high-consequence animal pathogens, and a facility of this magnitude positions us to respond.”&nbsp;NBAF will replace DHS’ Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), which is a biosafety level-3 facility in New York that is more than 68 years old. Manhattan, Kansas was selected as NBAF’s site in 2009. With more than 400 employees, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will share NBAF’s operational responsibilities. These two agencies currently conduct research, training and diagnostic programs alongside DHS scientists at PIADC. &nbsp;As part of the dedication program, Dr. Simon Liu, USDA Agricultural Research Service Administrator, led a moderated conversation with Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary; Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics; and Julie Brewer, DHS S&amp;T Executive Director of Innovation &amp; Collaboration.&nbsp;“NBAF is a strategic national asset that will help USDA stay proactive in leading efforts to protect public health and address new and emerging diseases,” said Jacobs-Young. “This new, modernized facility is a critical down payment in ensuring our country has the tools we need to keep the American people and our agricultural animals safe.”&nbsp;The ceremony highlighted the state and local community's support. City of Manhattan Mayor Mark Hatesohl, Kansas State University President Dr. Richard Linton, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, and former U.S. Senator Pat Roberts gave remarks during the ceremony. &nbsp;“NBAF’s Midwest location offers researchers and diagnosticians closer proximity to develop key partnerships with the animal health industry and several academic institutions,” said NBAF Director Dr. Alfonso Clavijo. “NBAF will create opportunities between scientists and animal health companies to enhance and expedite the transition of new veterinary countermeasures from research to market to protect the nation’s agriculture if needed.”&nbsp;Adjacent to Kansas State University and on the Western edge of the largest concentration of animal health companies in the nation, the 48-acre NBAF campus includes more than 700,000 square feet of total building space. The main building, at 500,000 square feet, includes containment laboratories, animal holding facilities, office spaces, facility support areas and required safety systems — such as redundant HEPA air filtration and waste decontamination systems. &nbsp;At NBAF, ARS will primarily focus on research to understand high-consequence and emerging animal diseases and develop countermeasures, such as vaccines and antivirals. APHIS will focus on prevention, surveillance, diagnosis and response to these diseases, including the expertise to manage two vaccine banks and train state and federal veterinarians to recognize livestock diseases.

🎥 Ribbon cutting celebrates National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility

By&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/zachwendling/">ZACH WENDLING</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/19/nebraska-gives-final-passage-to-concealed-carry-of-handguns-without-permit-or-training/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;The University of Nebraska Board of Regents next week will consider a proposed bylaw change that could shift the direction and oversight of Husker Athletics to the NU president.

Regents Tim Clare of Lincoln and Rob Schafer of Beatrice have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/unca/docs/board-of-regents/agendas-and-minutes/2023/may-board-meeting/agenda-5-21-23-with-materials.pdf">proposed</a>&nbsp;shifting authority of Husker Athletics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln chancellor to NU President Ted Carter. Clare and Schafer are the respective chair and vice chair of the board.

The change would be put forward “for information only” at the May 31 meeting and brought for a vote at a June 22 meeting. If passed, the change would be effective July 1.

“Especially at the Power 5 level, today’s college athletics programs are large and highly complex entities, with enormous financial, legal and reputational implications for their entire institutions,” the regents said in a statement. “We’re in the midst of the most intense period of change in our lifetimes for college athletics. Nebraska needs to stay on the leading edge of this new normal.”

Currently, the NU president hires the UNL chancellor, who is then charged with making hiring decisions within the athletic department. That individual also serves on the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors, overseeing Big Ten policies, budget and operations.

The council also is charged with hiring the Big Ten commissioner.

Clare told the Examiner on Tuesday that intercollegiate athletics is “changing daily,” including in the NCAA and the transfer portal. So, shifting authority to Carter seemed a “natural” fit.

“I think intercollegiate athletics is in search of a leader who can help them navigate these issues,” Clare said.

The proposed bylaw change would not affect NU’s athletic departments at its Omaha or Kearney campuses. It comes as UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green plans to&nbsp; retire at the end of June.

Clare and Schafer noted that “Husker Athletics is the single most iconic brand to the state of Nebraska.”

“It makes sense for the president of the university system, with a direct line to the Board of Regents, to have oversight of the program that serves as the front door to the university for so many Nebraskans,” the regents said.

On Monday, Carter announced&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/priority-candidate-for-unl-chancellor-is-30-year-veteran-of-higher-ed-and-would-be-first-person-of-color-in-the-role/">Rodney Bennett</a>&nbsp;as the priority candidate to succeed Green as chancellor at NU’s largest campus. Bennett’s candidacy would also be subject to approval at the board’s June 22 meeting. Bennett is a&nbsp;30-year veteran of higher education and former president of the University of Southern Mississippi.

Clare said Bennett will be able to hit the ground running with budgetary, enrollment, research and legislative priorities as Carter steps up as a national leader.

Next week’s special meeting will also feature an update on NU’s current fiscal status, budget planning strategies and future outlooks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684926127456.png" alt=" University of Nebraska President Ted Carter speaks at a news conference in March 2022 in the Nebraska State Capitol. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska News Service)" />
 <figcaption> University of Nebraska President Ted Carter speaks at a news conference in March 2022 in the Nebraska State Capitol. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska News Service)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/zachwendling/">ZACH WENDLING</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/19/nebraska-gives-final-passage-to-concealed-carry-of-handguns-without-permit-or-training/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;The University of Nebraska Board of Regents next week will consider a proposed bylaw change that could shift the direction and oversight of Husker Athletics to the NU president.Regents Tim Clare of Lincoln and Rob Schafer of Beatrice have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/unca/docs/board-of-regents/agendas-and-minutes/2023/may-board-meeting/agenda-5-21-23-with-materials.pdf">proposed</a>&nbsp;shifting authority of Husker Athletics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln chancellor to NU President Ted Carter. Clare and Schafer are the respective chair and vice chair of the board.The change would be put forward “for information only” at the May 31 meeting and brought for a vote at a June 22 meeting. If passed, the change would be effective July 1.“Especially at the Power 5 level, today’s college athletics programs are large and highly complex entities, with enormous financial, legal and reputational implications for their entire institutions,” the regents said in a statement. “We’re in the midst of the most intense period of change in our lifetimes for college athletics. Nebraska needs to stay on the leading edge of this new normal.”Currently, the NU president hires the UNL chancellor, who is then charged with making hiring decisions within the athletic department. That individual also serves on the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors, overseeing Big Ten policies, budget and operations.The council also is charged with hiring the Big Ten commissioner.Clare told the Examiner on Tuesday that intercollegiate athletics is “changing daily,” including in the NCAA and the transfer portal. So, shifting authority to Carter seemed a “natural” fit.“I think intercollegiate athletics is in search of a leader who can help them navigate these issues,” Clare said.The proposed bylaw change would not affect NU’s athletic departments at its Omaha or Kearney campuses. It comes as UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green plans to&nbsp; retire at the end of June.Clare and Schafer noted that “Husker Athletics is the single most iconic brand to the state of Nebraska.”“It makes sense for the president of the university system, with a direct line to the Board of Regents, to have oversight of the program that serves as the front door to the university for so many Nebraskans,” the regents said.On Monday, Carter announced&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/priority-candidate-for-unl-chancellor-is-30-year-veteran-of-higher-ed-and-would-be-first-person-of-color-in-the-role/">Rodney Bennett</a>&nbsp;as the priority candidate to succeed Green as chancellor at NU’s largest campus. Bennett’s candidacy would also be subject to approval at the board’s June 22 meeting. Bennett is a&nbsp;30-year veteran of higher education and former president of the University of Southern Mississippi.Clare said Bennett will be able to hit the ground running with budgetary, enrollment, research and legislative priorities as Carter steps up as a national leader.Next week’s special meeting will also feature an update on NU’s current fiscal status, budget planning strategies and future outlooks.Clare said in a statement that Carter has, for the past few months, “accurately [described] the fiscal challenges facing all of higher education.”“We want to make sure — and we want all Nebraskans to understand through our transparency — that as a university, we not only recognize the fiscal realities before us, but that we are proactively planning to get ahead of them,” Clare said. “We can’t wait until next year’s operating budget is before us to have a full, frank public discussion about the opportunities and challenges ahead.”The May 31 meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege St. in Lincoln, and will be livestreamed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.nebraska.edu/">here</a>.