By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2023-03-21/abortion-pilots-planes-fly-state-bans-elevated-access">Kansas News Service</a>

The pilot, clad in a blue windbreaker, pulls his single-engine, four-seater prop plane onto the tarmac.

The
 small municipal airport sits in a state where abortion is now banned in
 virtually all cases. But a short flight away in Kansas, it remains 
legal. That’s launched a wave of travel from across the South and 
Midwest in pursuit of pills and procedures no longer legal in many 
places.

Michael — who asked to only use his first name — is part 
of a growing group of hobby pilots who have begun ferrying people across
 state lines to get abortions and gender-affirming medical care, 
flouting local restrictions and bans. They’re volunteers with Elevated 
Access, an Illinois-based group that operates with degrees of secrecy 
because its work falls into gray legal territory.

The flights 
spare people seeking stigmatized medical care from the costs, delays, 
and security checkpoints that go along with traditional travel.

“There are tons of little airports like this dotted all over,” 
Michael says. “I try to avoid the big airports. Usually, we fly into one
 that’s closer to where they live.”

Pilots donate their time and 
the use of their planes. Most also cover the cost of fuel, because 
private pilots can’t legally be compensated for flying. (The group is 
trying to get an exemption that would allow it to reimburse fuel costs.)

Recently, Michael took a woman back home to the Deep South after an appointment <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-08-22/abortion-kansas-vote-legal-but-clinics-cant-keep-up" target="_blank">at a Kansas clinic</a>.
 He loves to fly — he also does volunteer flights for an animal rescue 
group and he jumps at the chance to take family and friends up in the 
sky. But he said the Elevated Access flight felt different.

“It’s 
maybe not the best time in a particular person’s life, or they’re going 
through a sensitive thing,” he said. “So I treat that with a lot of 
reverence.”

Only a handful of people in Michael’s life know he’s 
part of the budding network of people helping women get abortions that 
have become illegal in their home states. He says some members of his 
family and some of his pilot friends oppose abortion. That’s not 
surprising — pilots tend to be older, whiter and more conservative than 
Americans generally. <a href="https://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation_data_statistics/civil_airmen_statistics" target="_blank">Fewer than 10%</a> are women.

Soon after Roe v. Wade was overturned last summer and Elevated Access
 was launched, Michael posted a link to the organization in an online 
pilot forum. The blowback came immediately.

“It was obviously a 
polarizing thing to have shared,” he said. “I’m glad I made quite a few 
pilots aware of it, even if it raised some ire. But I don’t talk about 
it a lot since then.”

For pilots like Michael, most of whom have 
day jobs, the flights offer a chance to keep their flying skills sharp 
while supporting a cause they believe in.

But for people trying to
 get to an abortion appointment several states away — maybe with just a 
few days’ notice — private flights can be game-changing.

They can 
turn a multi-day drive into just a couple of hours, and they can take 
off much closer to a passenger’s home than a commercial airport. 
Elevated Access makes the flights free to passengers, who won’t have to 
purchase an expensive, last-minute plane ticket.

And they’re 
virtually anonymous. Pilots only know a passengers’ first name and 
weight (to avoid exceeding small aircraft weight limits).

“We 
don’t check ID because that’s not part of private aviation. There’s no 
ticketing or TSA or anything like that,” said Mike (not to be confused 
with Michael), the founder of Elevated Access. “If somebody feels like 
they need to use a fake first name, they can definitely do that.”

Pilots are instructed not to ask passengers why they’re traveling. 
That relieves passengers of any pressure to explain or justify the 
services they’re seeking. But it’s also intended to give pilots 
plausible deniability in the face of potential legal threats. Some 
states are considering prosecuting those who help people get abortions, 
and Texas has already made them liable to lawsuits.

No existing 
laws specifically target interstate travel, although Idaho could soon 
make it a crime to help a minor travel out of state for an abortion 
without parental consent. But legal experts say flying for Elevated 
Access still might involve some legal risk.

“You could see an 
aggressive prosecutor trying to say, under the current laws, that, ‘We 
are going to charge this pilot with being an accessory to murder or an 
accessory to abortion,’” said David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel 
University. “We haven’t seen prosecutors try that yet. But there’s good 
reason to believe that’s on the horizon.”

Rachel Rebouché, dean of
 the Temple University Beasley School of Law, said there’s also a 
possibility that federal officials could place restrictions on 
abortion-related travel in U.S. air space.

“This current 
administration would not try to use federal aviation powers to penalize 
people who are flying rather than driving,” she said. “But in years to 
come, depending on who’s elected, an anti-abortion administration could 
try to do that.”

Elevated Access has completed “dozens and dozens” of flights and is 
growing rapidly, Mike said. More than 200 pilots have been vetted and 
more than 1,000 have expressed interest.

“We don’t share our full 
numbers because we don’t want to become a target,” the group’s founder 
said. “We want to seem small for as long as possible.”

The flights
 represent a minuscule fraction of the flood of abortion-related travel 
between states since many began enforcing bans last summer. But it’s a 
window into the increasingly scrappy tactics of the underground groups 
working to keep abortion accessible to people across the country.

Rebouché said it reflects efforts by abortion rights organizations to be nimble in the face of legal uncertainty.

“The
 threat of passing a law can itself chill behavior — or incite people to
 organize in different ways,” she said. “It’s an interesting dynamic, 
how this push-pull of potential policy is shaping both care, but also 
advocacy strategies.”

Elevated Access works with partner groups 
like abortion funds to coordinate flights, usually after other options 
are exhausted — if a patient isn’t old enough to rent a car, or if their
 commercial flight was canceled.

The idea for Elevated Access arose out of Mike’s experience 
volunteering with one of those organizations, Midwest Access Coalition, 
which helps people coordinate and pay for abortion-related travel.

“I wanted to learn about abortion access because I thought pilots might be able to help,” he said.

In
 the last year, Alison Dreith, the group’s director of strategic 
partnerships, has connected several clients with Elevated Access. Most 
have low incomes and some have never flown before.

The organization’s first official passenger flew from Oklahoma to get an abortion in Kansas City, Kansas last summer.

“She
 was a bit nervous about flying,” said Dreith. “But the pilot was able 
to walk out into the parking lot and walk her directly onto the 
airfield. It really feels like a V.I.P. experience.”

Dreith said the flights prove particularly useful for people who 
don’t have the documents needed to fly commercially. That could include 
undocumented immigrants — or one of her recent clients, who contacted 
Midwest Access Coalition in December for help getting an abortion.

“She was in a domestic violence situation where her abusive partner had destroyed her ID and birth certificate,” she said.

Dreith
 traveled to North Carolina to get the woman away from the house where 
she was living. The woman thought she was around 16 weeks pregnant — and
 still legally eligible for an abortion, under the state’s 20-week limit
 — but wasn’t certain because her partner hadn’t allowed her to get an 
ultrasound or any prenatal care.

When she got to a local clinic, 
the woman learned she was just past the state's limit. So Dreith 
contacted Elevated Access, which organized a flight back to the St. 
Louis area where the woman was from.

After getting an abortion 
over the state line in Illinois, Dreith said the woman got help from a 
domestic violence group and is now living on her own.

“She had 
been suicidal because she thought she was never going to get out of her 
situation,” Dreith said. “I don’t even have the superlatives to describe
 how thankful she was.”

Rose Conlon reports on health for KMUW 
and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter at 
@rosebconlon or email her at conlon@kmuw.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679416090638.png" alt="Michael, a volunteer pilot with Elevated Access, recently flew a woman back home to the Deep South after an appointment at a Kansas clinic. Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Michael, a volunteer pilot with Elevated Access, recently flew a woman back home to the Deep South after an appointment at a Kansas clinic. Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2023-03-21/abortion-pilots-planes-fly-state-bans-elevated-access">Kansas News Service</a>The pilot, clad in a blue windbreaker, pulls his single-engine, four-seater prop plane onto the tarmac.The
 small municipal airport sits in a state where abortion is now banned in
 virtually all cases. But a short flight away in Kansas, it remains 
legal. That’s launched a wave of travel from across the South and 
Midwest in pursuit of pills and procedures no longer legal in many 
places.Michael — who asked to only use his first name — is part 
of a growing group of hobby pilots who have begun ferrying people across
 state lines to get abortions and gender-affirming medical care, 
flouting local restrictions and bans. They’re volunteers with Elevated 
Access, an Illinois-based group that operates with degrees of secrecy 
because its work falls into gray legal territory.The flights 
spare people seeking stigmatized medical care from the costs, delays, 
and security checkpoints that go along with traditional travel.“There are tons of little airports like this dotted all over,” 
Michael says. “I try to avoid the big airports. Usually, we fly into one
 that’s closer to where they live.”Pilots donate their time and 
the use of their planes. Most also cover the cost of fuel, because 
private pilots can’t legally be compensated for flying. (The group is 
trying to get an exemption that would allow it to reimburse fuel costs.)Recently, Michael took a woman back home to the Deep South after an appointment <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-08-22/abortion-kansas-vote-legal-but-clinics-cant-keep-up" target="_blank">at a Kansas clinic</a>.
 He loves to fly — he also does volunteer flights for an animal rescue 
group and he jumps at the chance to take family and friends up in the 
sky. But he said the Elevated Access flight felt different.“It’s 
maybe not the best time in a particular person’s life, or they’re going 
through a sensitive thing,” he said. “So I treat that with a lot of 
reverence.”Only a handful of people in Michael’s life know he’s 
part of the budding network of people helping women get abortions that 
have become illegal in their home states. He says some members of his 
family and some of his pilot friends oppose abortion. That’s not 
surprising — pilots tend to be older, whiter and more conservative than 
Americans generally. <a href="https://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation_data_statistics/civil_airmen_statistics" target="_blank">Fewer than 10%</a> are women.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679416164286.png" alt="Private flights spare people seeking stigmatized medical care from the costs, delays, and security checkpoints that go along with traditional travel. Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Private flights spare people seeking stigmatized medical care from the costs, delays, and security checkpoints that go along with traditional travel. Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Soon after Roe v. Wade was overturned last summer and Elevated Access
 was launched, Michael posted a link to the organization in an online 
pilot forum. The blowback came immediately.“It was obviously a 
polarizing thing to have shared,” he said. “I’m glad I made quite a few 
pilots aware of it, even if it raised some ire. But I don’t talk about 
it a lot since then.”For pilots like Michael, most of whom have 
day jobs, the flights offer a chance to keep their flying skills sharp 
while supporting a cause they believe in.But for people trying to
 get to an abortion appointment several states away — maybe with just a 
few days’ notice — private flights can be game-changing.They can 
turn a multi-day drive into just a couple of hours, and they can take 
off much closer to a passenger’s home than a commercial airport. 
Elevated Access makes the flights free to passengers, who won’t have to 
purchase an expensive, last-minute plane ticket.And they’re 
virtually anonymous. Pilots only know a passengers’ first name and 
weight (to avoid exceeding small aircraft weight limits).“We 
don’t check ID because that’s not part of private aviation. There’s no 
ticketing or TSA or anything like that,” said Mike (not to be confused 
with Michael), the founder of Elevated Access. “If somebody feels like 
they need to use a fake first name, they can definitely do that.”Pilots are instructed not to ask passengers why they’re traveling. 
That relieves passengers of any pressure to explain or justify the 
services they’re seeking. But it’s also intended to give pilots 
plausible deniability in the face of potential legal threats. Some 
states are considering prosecuting those who help people get abortions, 
and Texas has already made them liable to lawsuits.No existing 
laws specifically target interstate travel, although Idaho could soon 
make it a crime to help a minor travel out of state for an abortion 
without parental consent. But legal experts say flying for Elevated 
Access still might involve some legal risk.“You could see an 
aggressive prosecutor trying to say, under the current laws, that, ‘We 
are going to charge this pilot with being an accessory to murder or an 
accessory to abortion,’” said David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel 
University. “We haven’t seen prosecutors try that yet. But there’s good 
reason to believe that’s on the horizon.”Rachel Rebouché, dean of
 the Temple University Beasley School of Law, said there’s also a 
possibility that federal officials could place restrictions on 
abortion-related travel in U.S. air space.“This current 
administration would not try to use federal aviation powers to penalize 
people who are flying rather than driving,” she said. “But in years to 
come, depending on who’s elected, an anti-abortion administration could 
try to do that.”Elevated Access has completed “dozens and dozens” of flights and is 
growing rapidly, Mike said. More than 200 pilots have been vetted and 
more than 1,000 have expressed interest.“We don’t share our full 
numbers because we don’t want to become a target,” the group’s founder 
said. “We want to seem small for as long as possible.”The flights
 represent a minuscule fraction of the flood of abortion-related travel 
between states since many began enforcing bans last summer. But it’s a 
window into the increasingly scrappy tactics of the underground groups 
working to keep abortion accessible to people across the country.Rebouché said it reflects efforts by abortion rights organizations to be nimble in the face of legal uncertainty.“The
 threat of passing a law can itself chill behavior — or incite people to
 organize in different ways,” she said. “It’s an interesting dynamic, 
how this push-pull of potential policy is shaping both care, but also 
advocacy strategies.”Elevated Access works with partner groups 
like abortion funds to coordinate flights, usually after other options 
are exhausted — if a patient isn’t old enough to rent a car, or if their
 commercial flight was canceled.The idea for Elevated Access arose out of Mike’s experience 
volunteering with one of those organizations, Midwest Access Coalition, 
which helps people coordinate and pay for abortion-related travel.“I wanted to learn about abortion access because I thought pilots might be able to help,” he said.In
 the last year, Alison Dreith, the group’s director of strategic 
partnerships, has connected several clients with Elevated Access. Most 
have low incomes and some have never flown before.The organization’s first official passenger flew from Oklahoma to get an abortion in Kansas City, Kansas last summer.“She
 was a bit nervous about flying,” said Dreith. “But the pilot was able 
to walk out into the parking lot and walk her directly onto the 
airfield. It really feels like a V.I.P. experience.”Dreith said the flights prove particularly useful for people who 
don’t have the documents needed to fly commercially. That could include 
undocumented immigrants — or one of her recent clients, who contacted 
Midwest Access Coalition in December for help getting an abortion.“She was in a domestic violence situation where her abusive partner had destroyed her ID and birth certificate,” she said.Dreith
 traveled to North Carolina to get the woman away from the house where 
she was living. The woman thought she was around 16 weeks pregnant — and
 still legally eligible for an abortion, under the state’s 20-week limit
 — but wasn’t certain because her partner hadn’t allowed her to get an 
ultrasound or any prenatal care.When she got to a local clinic, 
the woman learned she was just past the state's limit. So Dreith 
contacted Elevated Access, which organized a flight back to the St. 
Louis area where the woman was from.After getting an abortion 
over the state line in Illinois, Dreith said the woman got help from a 
domestic violence group and is now living on her own.“She had 
been suicidal because she thought she was never going to get out of her 
situation,” Dreith said. “I don’t even have the superlatives to describe
 how thankful she was.”Rose Conlon reports on health for KMUW 
and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter at 
@rosebconlon or email her at conlon@kmuw.org.

Small planes, secrecy: Pilots fly people to Kansas for abortions

Grand Island leaders see future payoff in hefty public incentive package

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/21/250-million-redo-of-tired-regional-mall-signals-further-change-in-nebraskas-fourth-largest-city/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

GRAND
 ISLAND — A dying 1970s-era shopping mall is about to get a $250 million
 makeover that local&nbsp; leaders hope will help return a retail sparkle and
 regional tourism draw to Nebraska’s fourth largest city.

In its next iteration, the 50-acre 
Conestoga Mall site is to feature apartments and a hotel around a 
modern, downsized shopping complex that will offer a Target and a 
national tenant lineup yet to be identified.

Working with Omaha-based developer 
Woodsonia Real Estate, city officials have agreed to a package of public
 subsidies and incentives covering about a third of the project cost.

Included in the assist is $26 million
 in city-approved tax-increment financing and an occupation tax on 
on-site transactions that over time is expected to generate nearly $37 
million to pay off financing bonds.

The city over multiple years is to contribute about $10 million from its general fund.

“This will re-energize shopping in 
Grand Island,” said Hall County regional planning director Chad Nabity. 
“And we desperately need the housing — it’s just a quick walk to go to 
restaurants, the movies, Target. All of those things play into making a 
better place.”

The future Conestoga Marketplace is 
viewed as a key commercial revival for this central Nebraska city of 
about 44,000 people that, overall, is seeing a burst of housing and 
economic development energy.

The regional Grand Island Medical 
Center opened in the summer of 2020, near the start of the pandemic. And
 the Prairie Commons health care campus, where the hospital is planted, 
continues to grow.

This month, for example, Tabitha 
Senior Living Community, with about 160 units, celebrated the grand 
opening of its roughly $50 million investment, which is expected to add 
some 70 new professional jobs when fully staffed.

Nearby, 90 luxury apartments just 
opened as the first phase of a new and developing 200-acre Prairie 
District, which upon completion in a decade or so is to be a village of 
hundreds of residential dwellings, a hotel and commercial structures 
around a trail system and three new lakes.

Soon to start transforming into 
housing and more is the historic Veterans Home, a roughly 50-acre campus
 a brief drive from the Conestoga mall.

Cindy Johnson, president of the local
 Chamber of Commerce, said the Conestoga property was key to keeping 
intact Grand Island’s heritage as a shopping “destination.” In its 
better days, she said, the mall lured 250,000 people a year from the 
surrounding 90 miles who sought dining and other services in the city. 
Grand Island is just off Interstate 80 and accessible to traffic from 
U.S. Highways 281, 30 and 34.

“The reason that site is so important
 to us is we have the reputation of being the retail hub of central 
Nebraska,” Johnson said. “To have it go from being such a gem of the 
community to a less-tended-to property, in a bit of disarray, was really
 hard for Grand Island.”

Originally opened in 1974, the 
enclosed Conestoga Mall (not including the smaller retail structures 
around it) spanned some 550,000 square feet, Woodsonia said. Over the 
decades, it hosted anchors including J.L. Brandeis &amp; Sons, JCPenney,
 Sears, Younkers and Dillard’s.

None of those department stores 
remain, however, and in the last few years maintenance of the mall and 
remaining stores had been spiraling downward under out-of-state 
ownership, Nabity said.

Local officials were concerned, he 
said, that the property might meet the fate of other condemned malls, 
including one the landlord had owned in Hastings.

While city leaders were cognizant of 
online shopping trends and a changing retail market, Johnson said they 
still hoped to retain the shopping legacy at the mall site in some 
fashion.

The idea of having a more invested and local ownership was appealing.

And, said Johnson, she and others 
believe that the public investment in the Woodsonia-led project is worth
 anticipated future payoff in increased sales tax revenue, tourism and 
economic development spinoff.

With the occupation tax, bonds used 
to help finance the project will be paid back from a 1.5% tax on 
transactions within the city designated “enhanced employment area.”&nbsp;

Under TIF, developers take out a loan
 to help cover eligible redevelopment expenses, and the loan is paid 
back, generally over 15 or 20 years, by using the increased property 
taxes generated on the new development.

Normally, property tax payments go to
 support schools and other local tax-reliant bodies. During the TIF 
period, the property owner continues to pay a portion of property taxes 
to local governments based on the valuation before any improvements.

According to Mitch Hohlen of 
Woodsonia, the main shopping center will be reconfigured and completely 
renovated with new infrastructure and landscaping.

Target has purchased land for a 
150,000-square-foot store to be built next to 150,000 square feet of 
shopping space that will include the other stores, he said. Woodsonia is
 not ready to announce newcomer stores but Hohlen said the lineup is 
nearly complete and leased.

Of the existing stores, about seven 
will remain as part of the future redevelopment, Hohlen said. He 
declined to say which will stay after current leases expire.

While some dismay has risen due to the changes ahead, Johnson said she looks at it this way:

“You have to break a few eggs before you get the souffle.”

This past Sunday, Conestoga patrons 
interviewed by a Nebraska Examiner reporter said they missed the mall 
action of earlier years and hoped to see a reinvigorated shopping scene.

Three 14-year-old girls sitting on a mall bench, near several closed store bays, said they’d like more options.&nbsp;

“We walk around and try things on for fun,” said Britton Shack, who was with her twin sister, Alexa, and friend Madelyn Kral.

“I heard we’re getting a Target, we’re excited about that,” said Madelyn.

Dustin Harris of Hershey, Nebraska, 
who was in Grand Island with his family for a wrestling tournament, said
 he was shocked when he entered the mall. Now 42, he said he used to 
come as a teen-ager to a much different scene.

“You’d walk through that door and there were people as far as you could see,” he said. “Now, this is really kind of lame.”&nbsp;

Still, he and wife Lena found a 
sweets shop called The Incredible Bulk and a child’s play area that 
entertained their little ones: twins Brayden and Brianna, 6, and 
Baileigh, 4.

Managing the candy store was Candy 
Brooks, a seasoned employee of nearly 23 years who has served customers 
from across Nebraska and the world, including a recent sweet-toothed 
visitor from Chile.

As far as she knows, she said, The Incredible Bulk will remain and continue what so far has been a 38-year run at the mall.

The future is exciting, yet confusing, because, she said, details seem to be shifting.

Also, she said, she thinks there should be more stores — and not another hotel.

“It needs to be updated,” Brooks said
 of the mall. “But I don’t believe in the hotel and all of that because 
we need more stores.”

In a departure from the older-style 
mall where customers walked through an enclosed common area and into 
stores via interior-facing entrances, Hohlen said that each store of the
 future Conestoga Marketplace will have separate exterior entrances.

Around the perimeter of the main 
shopping complex will be&nbsp; nine out lots for a total of about 50,000 
square feet of building space for standalone restaurants and other 
businesses.

In addition, the apartment component 
at the northeast corner of the site is to feature nearly 300 units, 
parking and amenities such as a clubhouse.&nbsp;

The hotel to the west of the apartments will rise five stories.

“It’s really transforming a dying mall into a vibrant mixed-use development,” said Hohlen.&nbsp;

The Woodsonia team, which has developed Omaha housing and commercial projects, also repurposed the Mall of the Bluffs site.

Nabity, the regional planning 
director, expects development at the Conestoga site to take about three 
years. Asbestos removal begins soon. Stores will shift position in the 
mall as demolition occurs.

“It’s long overdue,” said Johnson, 
who said the property has been a focus of economic development leaders 
since before the pandemic.

“Instead of a tired, 50-year-old mall, we’ll have a contemporary shopping experience that says progress,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679414045758.png" alt="Conestoga Mall was pretty slow Sunday, especially compared to the heyday of the enclosed regional shopping center that opened in 1974 and pulled visitors from surrounding Nebraska towns seeking retail, dining and other services. Teens Britton and Alexa Shack and Madelyn Kral sit on a bench waiting for their ride to come. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Conestoga Mall was pretty slow Sunday, especially compared to the heyday of the enclosed regional shopping center that opened in 1974 and pulled visitors from surrounding Nebraska towns seeking retail, dining and other services. Teens Britton and Alexa Shack and Madelyn Kral sit on a bench waiting for their ride to come. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Grand Island leaders see future payoff in hefty public incentive package</h2>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/21/250-million-redo-of-tired-regional-mall-signals-further-change-in-nebraskas-fourth-largest-city/">Nebraska Examiner</a>GRAND
 ISLAND — A dying 1970s-era shopping mall is about to get a $250 million
 makeover that local&nbsp; leaders hope will help return a retail sparkle and
 regional tourism draw to Nebraska’s fourth largest city.In its next iteration, the 50-acre 
Conestoga Mall site is to feature apartments and a hotel around a 
modern, downsized shopping complex that will offer a Target and a 
national tenant lineup yet to be identified.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679414102608.jpeg" alt="The outside of Grand Island’s Conestoga Mall on March 19, 2023. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The outside of Grand Island’s Conestoga Mall on March 19, 2023. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Incentives, public subsidies</h2>Working with Omaha-based developer 
Woodsonia Real Estate, city officials have agreed to a package of public
 subsidies and incentives covering about a third of the project cost.Included in the assist is $26 million
 in city-approved tax-increment financing and an occupation tax on 
on-site transactions that over time is expected to generate nearly $37 
million to pay off financing bonds.The city over multiple years is to contribute about $10 million from its general fund.“This will re-energize shopping in 
Grand Island,” said Hall County regional planning director Chad Nabity. 
“And we desperately need the housing — it’s just a quick walk to go to 
restaurants, the movies, Target. All of those things play into making a 
better place.”The future Conestoga Marketplace is 
viewed as a key commercial revival for this central Nebraska city of 
about 44,000 people that, overall, is seeing a burst of housing and 
economic development energy.<h2>Growth in Grand Island</h2>Among that other activity:The regional Grand Island Medical 
Center opened in the summer of 2020, near the start of the pandemic. And
 the Prairie Commons health care campus, where the hospital is planted, 
continues to grow.This month, for example, Tabitha 
Senior Living Community, with about 160 units, celebrated the grand 
opening of its roughly $50 million investment, which is expected to add 
some 70 new professional jobs when fully staffed.Nearby, 90 luxury apartments just 
opened as the first phase of a new and developing 200-acre Prairie 
District, which upon completion in a decade or so is to be a village of 
hundreds of residential dwellings, a hotel and commercial structures 
around a trail system and three new lakes.Soon to start transforming into 
housing and more is the historic Veterans Home, a roughly 50-acre campus
 a brief drive from the Conestoga mall.<h2>A tourist pull </h2>Cindy Johnson, president of the local
 Chamber of Commerce, said the Conestoga property was key to keeping 
intact Grand Island’s heritage as a shopping “destination.” In its 
better days, she said, the mall lured 250,000 people a year from the 
surrounding 90 miles who sought dining and other services in the city. 
Grand Island is just off Interstate 80 and accessible to traffic from 
U.S. Highways 281, 30 and 34.“The reason that site is so important
 to us is we have the reputation of being the retail hub of central 
Nebraska,” Johnson said. “To have it go from being such a gem of the 
community to a less-tended-to property, in a bit of disarray, was really
 hard for Grand Island.”Originally opened in 1974, the 
enclosed Conestoga Mall (not including the smaller retail structures 
around it) spanned some 550,000 square feet, Woodsonia said. Over the 
decades, it hosted anchors including J.L. Brandeis &amp; Sons, JCPenney,
 Sears, Younkers and Dillard’s.None of those department stores 
remain, however, and in the last few years maintenance of the mall and 
remaining stores had been spiraling downward under out-of-state 
ownership, Nabity said.Local officials were concerned, he 
said, that the property might meet the fate of other condemned malls, 
including one the landlord had owned in Hastings.<h2>Local ownership appeal</h2>While city leaders were cognizant of 
online shopping trends and a changing retail market, Johnson said they 
still hoped to retain the shopping legacy at the mall site in some 
fashion.The idea of having a more invested and local ownership was appealing.And, said Johnson, she and others 
believe that the public investment in the Woodsonia-led project is worth
 anticipated future payoff in increased sales tax revenue, tourism and 
economic development spinoff.With the occupation tax, bonds used 
to help finance the project will be paid back from a 1.5% tax on 
transactions within the city designated “enhanced employment area.”&nbsp;Under TIF, developers take out a loan
 to help cover eligible redevelopment expenses, and the loan is paid 
back, generally over 15 or 20 years, by using the increased property 
taxes generated on the new development.Normally, property tax payments go to
 support schools and other local tax-reliant bodies. During the TIF 
period, the property owner continues to pay a portion of property taxes 
to local governments based on the valuation before any improvements.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679414199840.png" alt="Future Conestoga Marketplace layout, with new Target and other stores in the big center structure and other standalone retail box buildings around the perimeter. An apartment component and a five-story hotel, shown at the top of this rendering, are part of what developers said is a $250 million redevelopment project. (Courtesy of developer Woodsonia Real Estate)" />
 <figcaption>Future Conestoga Marketplace layout, with new Target and other stores in the big center structure and other standalone retail box buildings around the perimeter. An apartment component and a five-story hotel, shown at the top of this rendering, are part of what developers said is a $250 million redevelopment project. (Courtesy of developer Woodsonia Real Estate)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Target is among newcomer stores </h2>According to Mitch Hohlen of 
Woodsonia, the main shopping center will be reconfigured and completely 
renovated with new infrastructure and landscaping.Target has purchased land for a 
150,000-square-foot store to be built next to 150,000 square feet of 
shopping space that will include the other stores, he said. Woodsonia is
 not ready to announce newcomer stores but Hohlen said the lineup is 
nearly complete and leased.Of the existing stores, about seven 
will remain as part of the future redevelopment, Hohlen said. He 
declined to say which will stay after current leases expire.While some dismay has risen due to the changes ahead, Johnson said she looks at it this way:“You have to break a few eggs before you get the souffle.”<h2>‘Kind of lame’ </h2>This past Sunday, Conestoga patrons 
interviewed by a Nebraska Examiner reporter said they missed the mall 
action of earlier years and hoped to see a reinvigorated shopping scene.Three 14-year-old girls sitting on a mall bench, near several closed store bays, said they’d like more options.&nbsp;“We walk around and try things on for fun,” said Britton Shack, who was with her twin sister, Alexa, and friend Madelyn Kral.“I heard we’re getting a Target, we’re excited about that,” said Madelyn.Dustin Harris of Hershey, Nebraska, 
who was in Grand Island with his family for a wrestling tournament, said
 he was shocked when he entered the mall. Now 42, he said he used to 
come as a teen-ager to a much different scene.“You’d walk through that door and there were people as far as you could see,” he said. “Now, this is really kind of lame.”&nbsp;Still, he and wife Lena found a 
sweets shop called The Incredible Bulk and a child’s play area that 
entertained their little ones: twins Brayden and Brianna, 6, and 
Baileigh, 4.<h2>Hotel overload? </h2>Managing the candy store was Candy 
Brooks, a seasoned employee of nearly 23 years who has served customers 
from across Nebraska and the world, including a recent sweet-toothed 
visitor from Chile.As far as she knows, she said, The Incredible Bulk will remain and continue what so far has been a 38-year run at the mall.The future is exciting, yet confusing, because, she said, details seem to be shifting.Also, she said, she thinks there should be more stores — and not another hotel.“It needs to be updated,” Brooks said
 of the mall. “But I don’t believe in the hotel and all of that because 
we need more stores.”In a departure from the older-style 
mall where customers walked through an enclosed common area and into 
stores via interior-facing entrances, Hohlen said that each store of the
 future Conestoga Marketplace will have separate exterior entrances.<h2>Housing a feature of future site</h2>Around the perimeter of the main 
shopping complex will be&nbsp; nine out lots for a total of about 50,000 
square feet of building space for standalone restaurants and other 
businesses.In addition, the apartment component 
at the northeast corner of the site is to feature nearly 300 units, 
parking and amenities such as a clubhouse.&nbsp;The hotel to the west of the apartments will rise five stories.“It’s really transforming a dying mall into a vibrant mixed-use development,” said Hohlen.&nbsp;The Woodsonia team, which has developed Omaha housing and commercial projects, also repurposed the Mall of the Bluffs site.<h2>‘Long overdue’ </h2>Nabity, the regional planning 
director, expects development at the Conestoga site to take about three 
years. Asbestos removal begins soon. Stores will shift position in the 
mall as demolition occurs.“It’s long overdue,” said Johnson, 
who said the property has been a focus of economic development leaders 
since before the pandemic.“Instead of a tired, 50-year-old mall, we’ll have a contemporary shopping experience that says progress,” she said.

Grand $250M mall rehab set in Neb.'s fourth largest city

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden issued the first veto of his presidency Monday in an early sign of shifting White House relations with the new Congress since Republicans took control of the House in January — a move that serves as a prelude to bigger battles with GOP lawmakers on government spending and the nation's debt limit.

Biden sought to kill a Republican-authored measure that would ban the government from considering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-cultures-climate-and-environment-government-politics-37bd9e4894541275982a7ff99089cc7e">environmental impacts</a>&nbsp;or potential lawsuits when making investment decisions for people's retirement plans. In a video released by the White House, Biden said he vetoed the measure because it “put at risk the retirement savings of individuals across the country.”

His first veto represents a more confrontational approach at the midway of Biden's term in office, as he faces a GOP-controlled House that is eager to undo parts of his policy legacy and investigate his administration and his family. Complicating matters for Biden, several Democratic senators are up for re-election next year in conservative states, giving them political incentive to put some distance between them and the White House.

The measure vetoed by Biden would have effectively reinstated a Trump-era ban on federal managers of retirement plans considering factors such as climate change, social impacts or pending lawsuits when making investment choices.

The veto could also help calm some anger from environmentalists who have been upset with the Biden administration for its recent decision to greenlight the Willow oil project, a massive and contentious drilling project in Alaska.

“The president vetoed the bill because it jeopardizes the hard-earned life savings of cops, firefighters, teachers, and other workers," White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said.

But critics say so-called environmental, social and governance investments allocate money based on political agendas, such as a drive against climate change, rather than on earning the best returns for savers. Republicans in Congress who pushed the measure said environmental or social considerations in investments by the government are just another example of being “woke.”

“In his first veto, Biden just sided with woke Wall Street over workers," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted on Monday. “Tells you exactly where his priorities lie.” He said "it’s clear Biden wants Wall Street to use your retirement savings to fund his far-left political causes.”

Biden's veto is likely to prevail. Just three Democrats in Congress — one in the House, and two in the Senate — supported Republicans in the matter, making it unlikely a two-thirds majority in both chambers could be assembled to overcome Biden's veto.

Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, was the sole Democrat to back the resolution in the House, while Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., supported it in the Senate. Golden is a perennial target of Republicans seeking to oust him from his conservative district, while Tester and Manchin are both up for re-election next year.

“This administration continues to prioritize their radical policy agenda over the economic, energy and national security needs of our country, and it is absolutely infuriating," Manchin said in a statement.

Though Biden swiftly vetoed the investment resolution, other measures coming from Capitol Hill in the weeks and months ahead could be a tougher call for the White House.

The administration initially signaled that Biden would reject a Republican-authored measure that would override a crime measure passed by the District of Columbia Council, but the president later said he would sign it and did so Monday. He also signed a bill directing the federal government to declassify intelligence related to the origins of COVID-19.

Biden's immediate predecessor, Donald Trump, vetoed 10 bills during his term in office, while Barack Obama vetoed 12, according to the the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Both had one of their vetoes overridden by Congress.

The president with the most vetoes was Franklin Delano Roosevelt — who was elected to four terms before a constitutional amendment limited all presidents to two — with 635 vetoes. Six U.S. presidents never vetoed any legislation in office.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden issued the first veto of his presidency Monday in an early sign of shifting White House relations with the new Congress since Republicans took control of the House in January — a move that serves as a prelude to bigger battles with GOP lawmakers on government spending and the nation's debt limit.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I just vetoed my first bill. This bill would risk your retirement savings by making it illegal to consider risk factors MAGA House Republicans don&#39;t like. Your plan manager should be able to protect your hard-earned savings — whether Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene likes it or not. <a href="https://t.co/PxuoJBdEee">pic.twitter.com/PxuoJBdEee</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1637860509432045591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden sought to kill a Republican-authored measure that would ban the government from considering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-cultures-climate-and-environment-government-politics-37bd9e4894541275982a7ff99089cc7e">environmental impacts</a>&nbsp;or potential lawsuits when making investment decisions for people's retirement plans. In a video released by the White House, Biden said he vetoed the measure because it “put at risk the retirement savings of individuals across the country.”His first veto represents a more confrontational approach at the midway of Biden's term in office, as he faces a GOP-controlled House that is eager to undo parts of his policy legacy and investigate his administration and his family. Complicating matters for Biden, several Democratic senators are up for re-election next year in conservative states, giving them political incentive to put some distance between them and the White House.The measure vetoed by Biden would have effectively reinstated a Trump-era ban on federal managers of retirement plans considering factors such as climate change, social impacts or pending lawsuits when making investment choices.The veto could also help calm some anger from environmentalists who have been upset with the Biden administration for its recent decision to greenlight the Willow oil project, a massive and contentious drilling project in Alaska.“The president vetoed the bill because it jeopardizes the hard-earned life savings of cops, firefighters, teachers, and other workers," White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said.But critics say so-called environmental, social and governance investments allocate money based on political agendas, such as a drive against climate change, rather than on earning the best returns for savers. Republicans in Congress who pushed the measure said environmental or social considerations in investments by the government are just another example of being “woke.”“In his first veto, Biden just sided with woke Wall Street over workers," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted on Monday. “Tells you exactly where his priorities lie.” He said "it’s clear Biden wants Wall Street to use your retirement savings to fund his far-left political causes.”Biden's veto is likely to prevail. Just three Democrats in Congress — one in the House, and two in the Senate — supported Republicans in the matter, making it unlikely a two-thirds majority in both chambers could be assembled to overcome Biden's veto.Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, was the sole Democrat to back the resolution in the House, while Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., supported it in the Senate. Golden is a perennial target of Republicans seeking to oust him from his conservative district, while Tester and Manchin are both up for re-election next year.“This administration continues to prioritize their radical policy agenda over the economic, energy and national security needs of our country, and it is absolutely infuriating," Manchin said in a statement.Though Biden swiftly vetoed the investment resolution, other measures coming from Capitol Hill in the weeks and months ahead could be a tougher call for the White House.The administration initially signaled that Biden would reject a Republican-authored measure that would override a crime measure passed by the District of Columbia Council, but the president later said he would sign it and did so Monday. He also signed a bill directing the federal government to declassify intelligence related to the origins of COVID-19.Biden's immediate predecessor, Donald Trump, vetoed 10 bills during his term in office, while Barack Obama vetoed 12, according to the the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Both had one of their vetoes overridden by Congress.The president with the most vetoes was Franklin Delano Roosevelt — who was elected to four terms before a constitutional amendment limited all presidents to two — with 635 vetoes. Six U.S. presidents never vetoed any legislation in office.

🎥 Biden issues first veto, taking on new Republican House

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso used a White House visit Monday to encourage people, even in politically divided Washington, to make it a point to check in often with friends, family and co-workers to "ask how they're doing, and listen, sincerely,”

(click below to listen watch Sudeikis at the press conference.)

Comedian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-sudeikis">Jason Sudeikis</a>, who plays the title character — an American coaching a soccer team in London — and other cast members were meeting with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden to talk about how mental health contributes to overall well-being.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mental-health">Mental health</a>&nbsp;and looking after one another is a theme of the show, Sudeikis told reporters from behind the lectern as he helped press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre open her daily White House briefing. The Emmy-winning, feel-good show on Apple TV+ just opened its third season.

“While it’s easier said than done, we also have to know that we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help ourselves," said Sudeikis. "That does take a lot, especially when it’s something that has such a negative stigma to it, such as mental health and it doesn’t need to be that way.

“And if you can ask for that help from a professional, fantastic,” he continued. "If it needs to be a loved one, equally as good, in a lot of ways.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-xavier-becerra-roy-blunt-mental-debbie-stabenow-c0ceb3cfae563cec8e18452970b49236">Mental health is part of Biden's bipartisan “unity agenda.”</a>&nbsp;He also has called on lawmakers to direct more resources toward fighting what some say is a crisis. The administration also has surged funding to bolster a new 988 suicide and crisis line, and to put more mental-health professionals in schools.

Sudeikis said there should be no stigma attached to reaching out for help because everyone knows someone who has needed someone to lean on, or has been that person themselves.

“No matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter who you voted for, we all probably, I assume, we all know someone who has, or have been that someone ourselves actually, that’s struggled, that’s felt isolated, that’s felt anxious, that has felt alone," he said.

“It’s actually one of the many things, believe it or not, that we all have in common as human beings," Sudeikis continued. “That means it's something that we can all, you know, and should, talk about with one another when we’re feeling that way or when we recognize that in someone feeling that way.”

He issued a special appeal for folks in the nation's capital.

“I know in this town a lot of folks don’t always agree, right, and don’t always feel heard, seen, listened to," Sudeikis said. "But I truly believe we should all do our best to help take care of each other. That’s my own personal belief. I think that’s something that everyone up here on stage believes in.”

The Bidens have seen some of “Ted Lasso” and are familiar with its messages of hope and kindness, according to the White House.

Joining Sudeikis at the daily briefing were cast members Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Toheeb Jimoh.

Sudeikis and his cast members were the latest entertainers to visit the White House and associate themselves with issues the Democratic president and first lady are raising awareness about.

Singer Olivia Rodrigo visited during the pandemic to help encourage young people like herself to get vaccinated against COVID-19. BTS, the popular Korean boy band, helped promote Asian inclusion and combat bias against Asian Americans.

Actor Matthew McConaughey delivered a passionate appeal for tighter gun laws last year after the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 children and two teachers.

Singer/actors Mary J. Blige and Selena Gomez participated in separate events with Jill Biden focused on cancer awareness and youth mental health, respectively.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679344368794.png" alt="Actor&nbsp;Jason Sudeikis&nbsp;and the cast of “Ted Lasso” participated in the White House press briefing on Monday ahead of a meeting with President&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;to discuss efforts to address mental health." />
 <figcaption>Actor&nbsp;Jason Sudeikis&nbsp;and the cast of “Ted Lasso” participated in the White House press briefing on Monday ahead of a meeting with President&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;to discuss efforts to address mental health.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso used a White House visit Monday to encourage people, even in politically divided Washington, to make it a point to check in often with friends, family and co-workers to "ask how they're doing, and listen, sincerely,”(click below to listen watch Sudeikis at the press conference.)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F205886922057028%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=167" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Comedian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-sudeikis">Jason Sudeikis</a>, who plays the title character — an American coaching a soccer team in London — and other cast members were meeting with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden to talk about how mental health contributes to overall well-being.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mental-health">Mental health</a>&nbsp;and looking after one another is a theme of the show, Sudeikis told reporters from behind the lectern as he helped press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre open her daily White House briefing. The Emmy-winning, feel-good show on Apple TV+ just opened its third season.“While it’s easier said than done, we also have to know that we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help ourselves," said Sudeikis. "That does take a lot, especially when it’s something that has such a negative stigma to it, such as mental health and it doesn’t need to be that way.“And if you can ask for that help from a professional, fantastic,” he continued. "If it needs to be a loved one, equally as good, in a lot of ways.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Tomorrow. <a href="https://t.co/XPNAfqnzEj">pic.twitter.com/XPNAfqnzEj</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1637574673494933506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-xavier-becerra-roy-blunt-mental-debbie-stabenow-c0ceb3cfae563cec8e18452970b49236">Mental health is part of Biden's bipartisan “unity agenda.”</a>&nbsp;He also has called on lawmakers to direct more resources toward fighting what some say is a crisis. The administration also has surged funding to bolster a new 988 suicide and crisis line, and to put more mental-health professionals in schools.Sudeikis said there should be no stigma attached to reaching out for help because everyone knows someone who has needed someone to lean on, or has been that person themselves.“No matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter who you voted for, we all probably, I assume, we all know someone who has, or have been that someone ourselves actually, that’s struggled, that’s felt isolated, that’s felt anxious, that has felt alone," he said.“It’s actually one of the many things, believe it or not, that we all have in common as human beings," Sudeikis continued. “That means it's something that we can all, you know, and should, talk about with one another when we’re feeling that way or when we recognize that in someone feeling that way.”He issued a special appeal for folks in the nation's capital.“I know in this town a lot of folks don’t always agree, right, and don’t always feel heard, seen, listened to," Sudeikis said. "But I truly believe we should all do our best to help take care of each other. That’s my own personal belief. I think that’s something that everyone up here on stage believes in.”The Bidens have seen some of “Ted Lasso” and are familiar with its messages of hope and kindness, according to the White House.Joining Sudeikis at the daily briefing were cast members Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Toheeb Jimoh.Sudeikis and his cast members were the latest entertainers to visit the White House and associate themselves with issues the Democratic president and first lady are raising awareness about.Singer Olivia Rodrigo visited during the pandemic to help encourage young people like herself to get vaccinated against COVID-19. BTS, the popular Korean boy band, helped promote Asian inclusion and combat bias against Asian Americans.Actor Matthew McConaughey delivered a passionate appeal for tighter gun laws last year after the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 children and two teachers.Singer/actors Mary J. Blige and Selena Gomez participated in separate events with Jill Biden focused on cancer awareness and youth mental health, respectively.

🎥 Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso cast at White House to promote mental health

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon plans to eliminate 9,000 more jobs in the next few weeks, CEO Andy Jassy said in a memo to staff on Monday.

The job cuts would mark the second largest round of layoffs in the company's history, adding to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-san-francisco-marc-benioff-bbb2f3a09eafdfc7cda54a3b87e538ad">18,000 employees</a>&nbsp;the tech giant said it would lay off in January. The company's workforce doubled during the pandemic, however, in the midst of a hiring surge across almost the entire tech sector.

Tech companies have announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-amazoncom-inc-business-d36a2afa35ff7f8e53a8b3164a581a30">tens of thousands of job cuts</a>&nbsp;this year.

In the memo, Jassy said the second phase of the company's annual planning process completed this month led to the additional job cuts. He said Amazon will still hire in some strategic areas.

“Some may ask why we didn’t announce these role reductions with the ones we announced a couple months ago. The short answer is that not all of the teams were done with their analyses in the late fall; and rather than rush through these assessments without the appropriate diligence, we chose to share these decisions as we’ve made them so people had the information as soon as possible,” Jassy said.

The job cuts announced Monday will hit profitable areas for the company including its cloud computing unit AWS and its burgeoning advertising business. Twitch, the gaming platform Amazon owns, will also see some layoffs as well as Amazon's PXT organizations, which handle human resources and other functions.

Prior layoffs had also hit PXT, the company's stores division, which encompasses its e-commerce business as well as company’s brick-and-mortar stores such as Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go, and other departments such as the one that runs the virtual assistant Alexa.

Earlier this month, the company said it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-hq-headquarters-pause-virginia-91395dd669f011b547196575db7d5c18">pause construction on its headquarters</a>&nbsp;building in northern Virginia, though the first phase of that project will open this June with 8,000 employees.

Like other tech companies, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sports?utm_source=apnewsnav&amp;utm_medium=navigation">Facebook parent Meta</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-sundar-pichai-covid-pandemics-c85c45231712709582b1d3fe46be5ffe">Google parent Alphabet</a>, Amazon ramped up hiring during the pandemic to meet the demand from homebound Americans that were increasingly buying stuff online to keep themselves safe from the virus.

Amazon's workforce, in warehouses and offices, doubled to more than 1.6 million people in about two years. But demand slowed as the worst of the pandemic eased. The company began pausing or cancelling its warehouse expansion plans last year.

Amid growing anxiety over the potential for a recession, Amazon in the past few months shut down a subsidiary that’s been selling fabrics for nearly 30 years and shuttered its hybrid virtual, in-home care service Amazon Care among other cost-cutting moves.

Jassy said Monday given the uncertain economy and the “uncertainty that exists in the near future," the company has chosen to be more streamlined.

He said the teams that will be impacted by the latest round of layoffs are not done making final decisions on which roles will be eliminated. The company plans to finalize those decisions by mid to late April and notify those who will be laid off.

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon plans to eliminate 9,000 more jobs in the next few weeks, CEO Andy Jassy said in a memo to staff on Monday.The job cuts would mark the second largest round of layoffs in the company's history, adding to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-san-francisco-marc-benioff-bbb2f3a09eafdfc7cda54a3b87e538ad">18,000 employees</a>&nbsp;the tech giant said it would lay off in January. The company's workforce doubled during the pandemic, however, in the midst of a hiring surge across almost the entire tech sector.Tech companies have announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-amazoncom-inc-business-d36a2afa35ff7f8e53a8b3164a581a30">tens of thousands of job cuts</a>&nbsp;this year.In the memo, Jassy said the second phase of the company's annual planning process completed this month led to the additional job cuts. He said Amazon will still hire in some strategic areas.“Some may ask why we didn’t announce these role reductions with the ones we announced a couple months ago. The short answer is that not all of the teams were done with their analyses in the late fall; and rather than rush through these assessments without the appropriate diligence, we chose to share these decisions as we’ve made them so people had the information as soon as possible,” Jassy said.The job cuts announced Monday will hit profitable areas for the company including its cloud computing unit AWS and its burgeoning advertising business. Twitch, the gaming platform Amazon owns, will also see some layoffs as well as Amazon's PXT organizations, which handle human resources and other functions.Prior layoffs had also hit PXT, the company's stores division, which encompasses its e-commerce business as well as company’s brick-and-mortar stores such as Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go, and other departments such as the one that runs the virtual assistant Alexa.Earlier this month, the company said it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-hq-headquarters-pause-virginia-91395dd669f011b547196575db7d5c18">pause construction on its headquarters</a>&nbsp;building in northern Virginia, though the first phase of that project will open this June with 8,000 employees.Like other tech companies, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sports?utm_source=apnewsnav&amp;utm_medium=navigation">Facebook parent Meta</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-sundar-pichai-covid-pandemics-c85c45231712709582b1d3fe46be5ffe">Google parent Alphabet</a>, Amazon ramped up hiring during the pandemic to meet the demand from homebound Americans that were increasingly buying stuff online to keep themselves safe from the virus.Amazon's workforce, in warehouses and offices, doubled to more than 1.6 million people in about two years. But demand slowed as the worst of the pandemic eased. The company began pausing or cancelling its warehouse expansion plans last year.Amid growing anxiety over the potential for a recession, Amazon in the past few months shut down a subsidiary that’s been selling fabrics for nearly 30 years and shuttered its hybrid virtual, in-home care service Amazon Care among other cost-cutting moves.Jassy said Monday given the uncertain economy and the “uncertainty that exists in the near future," the company has chosen to be more streamlined.He said the teams that will be impacted by the latest round of layoffs are not done making final decisions on which roles will be eliminated. The company plans to finalize those decisions by mid to late April and notify those who will be laid off.

Amazon to lay off more employees on top of 18,000 in January

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/18/unused-gallery-on-fifth-floor-of-nebraska-capitol-eyed-as-aa-visitors-center-and-museum/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — High inside the Rotunda of the Nebraska State Capitol is an
 unused gallery where you can get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful 
artwork in the dome and mural-lined hallways of the building.

Current and former state senators joined Thursday in touting a <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/FN/LB812_20230315-113332.pdf">$3.9 million project</a>
 to turn the currently vacant, fifth-floor space into a visitors center,
 complete with displays about state government and the historic Capitol.

“This could 
become one of the most popular viewing locations in the building, and a 
place of learning,” said former State Sen. Dave Pankonin of Louisville.

He joined with current Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood in urging 
passage of Legislative Bill 812, proposed by Clements, which would 
devote $3.9 million of the state’s abundant cash reserves to renovate 
the space as part of the current renovations underway in the <a target="_blank" href="https://capitol.nebraska.gov/building/history/">91-year-old Capitol</a>.

The fifth-floor space was originally intended to be a place for 
public visitors by the Capitol’s architect, Bertram Goodhue, but has 
been unused in nearly four decades.

Clements, who chairs the Legislature’s committee that crafts the 
state budget, the Appropriations Committee, said an organization of 
former state legislators, which included Pankonin, had approached him 
with the idea of renovating the unused gallery.

In his original plans for the Capitol, Goodhue envisioned the 
fifth-floor gallery as a place where the public could get a better view 
of the artwork in the building — artwork that explains the history of 
the state and democratic government.

Clements, who is a history buff, said there’s no place in the State 
Capitol that explains the background of the unique skyscraper design of 
the building — which is a designated National Historic Landmark — or the
 three branches of state government: legislative, executive and 
judiciary.

“It’s something that we all talk to our fourth graders 
about,” the senator said, referring to the thousands of school children 
who visit the Capitol each year.

“There’s ample space,” Clements added, on the fifth floor.

The area was used periodically in the past as state offices, but not since at least 1986.

It has been off-limits to the public because of safety concerns — 
there is no railing between the marble columns that ring the Rotunda. 
Non-reflective glass partitions would be placed between the columns as 
part of a renovation plan.

Dan Worth and Mark Bacon of BVH Architecture told members of the 
Appropriations Committee that the space needs a lot of work. The wall 
paint is cracking and peeling, &nbsp;lead paint must be removed, windows 
require repair and the floor is uneven. A gently sloping floor would be 
required to make it handicapped accessible.

Under a plan provided by the firm, fire suppression and security 
systems also would be installed, as well as modern heating and air 
conditioning systems, which are currently the focus of a long-running 
renovation project at the State Capitol.

Sara Kay of the Nebraska chapter of the American Institute of 
Architects said the U.S. Capitol has a similar visitors center as part 
of its Rotunda.

“We would be absolutely thrilled to see this gallery plan happen,” Kay said.

Clements said money could be saved by having the fifth floor 
renovated as part of the Capitol restoration and heating/air 
conditioning update project now underway.

The Appropriations Committee took no action on LB 812 after the 
public hearing Thursday, but the committee is a week away from starting 
to craft a state budget for the next two fiscal years.

Clements said he hopes to include some funding for the fifth floor 
work, in hopes that private funds might be raised to contribute to the 
project. Funds would not be needed until 2025, he said.

Coincidently on Thursday, the Appropriations Committee heard a 
proposal, inspired by the Nebraska Association of Former State 
Legislators, to create a trust fund for “preservation, restoration, and 
enhancement of the courtyards of the Capitol.”

The retired lawmakers raised $1.4 million toward the landscaping of 
the four courtyards at the State Capitol after decorative fountains were
 installed.

Former State Sen. Curt Broom said that about $900,000 of those funds 
remain and that parking them in a state investment fund would reduce 
fees and ensure that the maximum amount of the donations would be used 
to help the State Capitol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679321154973.png" alt="The now-unused fifth floor of the Nebraska State Capitol would become a gallery of education about state government, as well as a scenic lookout, under a bill proposed in the State Legislature. (Courtesy of State Sen. Robert Clements)" />
 <figcaption>The now-unused fifth floor of the Nebraska State Capitol would become a gallery of education about state government, as well as a scenic lookout, under a bill proposed in the State Legislature. (Courtesy of State Sen. Robert Clements)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/18/unused-gallery-on-fifth-floor-of-nebraska-capitol-eyed-as-aa-visitors-center-and-museum/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — High inside the Rotunda of the Nebraska State Capitol is an
 unused gallery where you can get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful 
artwork in the dome and mural-lined hallways of the building.Current and former state senators joined Thursday in touting a <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/FN/LB812_20230315-113332.pdf">$3.9 million project</a>
 to turn the currently vacant, fifth-floor space into a visitors center,
 complete with displays about state government and the historic Capitol.<h2>Popular spot</h2>“This could 
become one of the most popular viewing locations in the building, and a 
place of learning,” said former State Sen. Dave Pankonin of Louisville.He joined with current Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood in urging 
passage of Legislative Bill 812, proposed by Clements, which would 
devote $3.9 million of the state’s abundant cash reserves to renovate 
the space as part of the current renovations underway in the <a target="_blank" href="https://capitol.nebraska.gov/building/history/">91-year-old Capitol</a>.<h2>In original plans</h2>The fifth-floor space was originally intended to be a place for 
public visitors by the Capitol’s architect, Bertram Goodhue, but has 
been unused in nearly four decades.Clements, who chairs the Legislature’s committee that crafts the 
state budget, the Appropriations Committee, said an organization of 
former state legislators, which included Pankonin, had approached him 
with the idea of renovating the unused gallery.In his original plans for the Capitol, Goodhue envisioned the 
fifth-floor gallery as a place where the public could get a better view 
of the artwork in the building — artwork that explains the history of 
the state and democratic government.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679321236859.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Clements, who is a history buff, said there’s no place in the State 
Capitol that explains the background of the unique skyscraper design of 
the building — which is a designated National Historic Landmark — or the
 three branches of state government: legislative, executive and 
judiciary.<h2>‘Ample space’</h2>“It’s something that we all talk to our fourth graders 
about,” the senator said, referring to the thousands of school children 
who visit the Capitol each year.“There’s ample space,” Clements added, on the fifth floor.The area was used periodically in the past as state offices, but not since at least 1986.<h2>Off-limits to the public now</h2>It has been off-limits to the public because of safety concerns — 
there is no railing between the marble columns that ring the Rotunda. 
Non-reflective glass partitions would be placed between the columns as 
part of a renovation plan.Dan Worth and Mark Bacon of BVH Architecture told members of the 
Appropriations Committee that the space needs a lot of work. The wall 
paint is cracking and peeling, &nbsp;lead paint must be removed, windows 
require repair and the floor is uneven. A gently sloping floor would be 
required to make it handicapped accessible.Under a plan provided by the firm, fire suppression and security 
systems also would be installed, as well as modern heating and air 
conditioning systems, which are currently the focus of a long-running 
renovation project at the State Capitol.Sara Kay of the Nebraska chapter of the American Institute of 
Architects said the U.S. Capitol has a similar visitors center as part 
of its Rotunda.“We would be absolutely thrilled to see this gallery plan happen,” Kay said.<h2>Done as part of current restoration work</h2>Clements said money could be saved by having the fifth floor 
renovated as part of the Capitol restoration and heating/air 
conditioning update project now underway.The Appropriations Committee took no action on LB 812 after the 
public hearing Thursday, but the committee is a week away from starting 
to craft a state budget for the next two fiscal years.Clements said he hopes to include some funding for the fifth floor 
work, in hopes that private funds might be raised to contribute to the 
project. Funds would not be needed until 2025, he said.<h2>Trust fund for State Capitol</h2>Coincidently on Thursday, the Appropriations Committee heard a 
proposal, inspired by the Nebraska Association of Former State 
Legislators, to create a trust fund for “preservation, restoration, and 
enhancement of the courtyards of the Capitol.”The retired lawmakers raised $1.4 million toward the landscaping of 
the four courtyards at the State Capitol after decorative fountains were
 installed.Former State Sen. Curt Broom said that about $900,000 of those funds 
remain and that parking them in a state investment fund would reduce 
fees and ensure that the maximum amount of the donations would be used 
to help the State Capitol.

Unused floor at Neb. Capitol eyed as a visitors center, museum

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/five-nebraskans-honored-by-civic-nebraska-for-helping-to-build-a-robust-democracy/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Civic Nebraska, a nonprofit 
dedicated to voting rights and strengthening youth and civic leadership,
 is set to recognize five people who have helped build a “more modern 
and robust democracy.”

The Strengthening Democracy Awards 
program April 13 also will feature a talk from national voting rights 
activist and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize nominee Desmond
 Meade. Meade, recognized by Time as one of the 100 Most Influential 
People in the World in 2019, led a grassroots initiative that restored 
voting rights to over 1.4 million Floridians with past felony 
convictions.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.civicnebraska.org/sda-2023/">The event </a>is to be held at the Livestock Exchange Ballroom in Omaha.

The five Nebraskans to be honored demonstrate exceptional civic leadership and embody the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.civicnebraska.org/about/">Civic Nebraska</a> vision of a collaborative and innovative society, said Adam Morfeld, executive director.

“Democracy is built from the ground up, which means many everyday 
acts can go unnoticed,” Morfeld said. “That’s why Civic Nebraska lifts 
up these civic advocates: to celebrate their vigilance and persistence.”

The honorees, and descriptions of their efforts, according to Civic Nebraska:&nbsp;

 Eric Garcia-Mendez of Grand Island led the creation of the Elevate program. “When he saw how his community’s leadership
 didn’t always reflect the area’s diversity, Garcia-Mendez found 
solutions to better equip new American leaders for local leadership 
roles,” said a statement. He also initiated Young Professionals of Color
 and the Welcoming Initiative.

Rick Galusha of Omaha has brought 
diverse opinions together. Ten years ago, Galusha helped create the Free
 Speech Society, which has grown into 530 members. The group meets 
monthly to have respectful, insightful discussions,often led by 
community leaders. A professor, Galusha also leads Bellevue University’s
 American Vision and Values series.

Cheyenne Hartshorn of Lincoln is 
active in promoting student-driven service learning and civic 
leadership. As an instructor at Lincoln Northeast High School, Hartshorn
 helped develop Capitol Experience Day, a Civic Nebraska flagship 
program that immerses students in the workings of state government. She 
has helped build other student programs and clubs.

Kendall Bartling of the University of
 Nebraska-Lincoln inspires young people to participate in our democracy.
 During high school, Bartling was on the Grand Island Public Schools 
board and became a deputy registrar so he could register young voters. 
He continued those efforts at UNL as chair of the Husker Vote Coalition,
 helping to register more than 1,000 first-time voters.

Jan Gradwohl Memorial Defender of Democracy:

Joseline Reyna of Grand Island is an 
organizer, reformer, and advocate for ballot access. As a “Dreamer,” she
 cannot vote because of her immigration status, but she has fought 
against restrictive voter ID laws and for expanding pathways to 
citizenship. In her YWCA role, she’s knocked on hundreds of doors and 
called thousands to encourage them to weigh in on a collective future.

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/five-nebraskans-honored-by-civic-nebraska-for-helping-to-build-a-robust-democracy/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Civic Nebraska, a nonprofit 
dedicated to voting rights and strengthening youth and civic leadership,
 is set to recognize five people who have helped build a “more modern 
and robust democracy.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679321079370.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Strengthening Democracy Awards 
program April 13 also will feature a talk from national voting rights 
activist and 2023 Nobel Peace Prize nominee Desmond
 Meade. Meade, recognized by Time as one of the 100 Most Influential 
People in the World in 2019, led a grassroots initiative that restored 
voting rights to over 1.4 million Floridians with past felony 
convictions.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.civicnebraska.org/sda-2023/">The event </a>is to be held at the Livestock Exchange Ballroom in Omaha.The five Nebraskans to be honored demonstrate exceptional civic leadership and embody the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.civicnebraska.org/about/">Civic Nebraska</a> vision of a collaborative and innovative society, said Adam Morfeld, executive director.“Democracy is built from the ground up, which means many everyday 
acts can go unnoticed,” Morfeld said. “That’s why Civic Nebraska lifts 
up these civic advocates: to celebrate their vigilance and persistence.”The honorees, and descriptions of their efforts, according to Civic Nebraska:&nbsp;<h2>Community Builder:</h2> Eric Garcia-Mendez of Grand Island led the creation of the Elevate program. “When he saw how his community’s leadership
 didn’t always reflect the area’s diversity, Garcia-Mendez found 
solutions to better equip new American leaders for local leadership 
roles,” said a statement. He also initiated Young Professionals of Color
 and the Welcoming Initiative.<h2>Civic Catalyst: </h2>Rick Galusha of Omaha has brought 
diverse opinions together. Ten years ago, Galusha helped create the Free
 Speech Society, which has grown into 530 members. The group meets 
monthly to have respectful, insightful discussions,often led by 
community leaders. A professor, Galusha also leads Bellevue University’s
 American Vision and Values series.<h2>Champion of Learning: </h2>Cheyenne Hartshorn of Lincoln is 
active in promoting student-driven service learning and civic 
leadership. As an instructor at Lincoln Northeast High School, Hartshorn
 helped develop Capitol Experience Day, a Civic Nebraska flagship 
program that immerses students in the workings of state government. She 
has helped build other student programs and clubs.<h2>Young Civic Leader: </h2>Kendall Bartling of the University of
 Nebraska-Lincoln inspires young people to participate in our democracy.
 During high school, Bartling was on the Grand Island Public Schools 
board and became a deputy registrar so he could register young voters. 
He continued those efforts at UNL as chair of the Husker Vote Coalition,
 helping to register more than 1,000 first-time voters.<h2>Jan Gradwohl Memorial Defender of Democracy:</h2>Joseline Reyna of Grand Island is an 
organizer, reformer, and advocate for ballot access. As a “Dreamer,” she
 cannot vote because of her immigration status, but she has fought 
against restrictive voter ID laws and for expanding pathways to 
citizenship. In her YWCA role, she’s knocked on hundreds of doors and 
called thousands to encourage them to weigh in on a collective future.

Five Nebraskans honored by Civic Nebraska

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bills were filed, hearings were planned and blame was cast as Congress reacted this past week to the abrupt failure of two banks. A look at what lawmakers are saying and planning as the fallout continues from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.

While President Joe Biden called Monday on Congress to strengthen the rules for banks to prevent future failures, lawmakers are divided on whether any legislation is needed.

Some congressional leaders are skeptical that a closely divided Congress will act at all.

"There's people who are going to choose bills, but I cannot imagine that, with the hold banks have on Republican members of Congress, that we can pass anything significant," said Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

Republicans say the laws already in place were sufficient to prevent the bank failures, if only regulators had done their job by spotting obvious problems and directing the banks to take steps that would reduce their risk.

"If there are ideas out there that people have, you know, at some point, we would be willing to entertain those, but I think it would be premature to start talking about solutions before we fully define the problem and ultimately get answers from the regulators about why they were asleep at the job," said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranking Republican.

SO WHAT'S NEXT? The House Financial Services Committee has announced its first hearing for March 29, featuring at least two witnesses: Martin Gruenberg, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s board of directors, and Michael Barr, vice chair for supervision with the Federal Reserve's board of governors. "We will conduct this hearing without fear or favor to get the answers the American people deserve," lawmakers said.

On the Senate side, Brown said his committee will also hold a hearing soon to help lawmakers assess what went wrong. He said the first hearing is likely to focus on bringing in witnesses responsible for regulating the failed banks. The Fed board was the primary regulator for Silicon Valley Bank in California, while the FDIC was the primary federal regulator for Signature Bank in New York.

Brown spelled out some of the questions lawmakers probably will have for the regulators in a letter Thursday asking them to undertake a comprehensive review of what went wrong. What role did social media-led coordination among customers play? What role did the large percentage of uninsured deposits at Silicon Valley Bank play? Were there regulatory gaps with respect to capital, liquidity and stress testing that played a role in the failures?

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said he wants to know why regulators did not act on detailed reports of a liquidity risk at Silicon Valley Bank and why the FDIC failed to auction off the bank's remaining parts last weekend.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., said she wants to know if regulators intend to use the failure of Signature Bank to further crack down on cryptocurrency. She has been a vocal advocate for cryptocurrency development and is an investor in bitcoin. Signature was the first FDIC-insured bank to offer a blockchain-based digital payment platform in 2019 and had been a go-to bank for the crypto industry.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said he wanted to know how private stock analysts had warned about Silicon Valley's investments but regulators did not seem to know about potential problems.

CONGRESSIONAL ACTION Democrats in both chambers have rallied around two legislative proposals. The first, from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., would repeal the 2018 rollback of certain aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act enacted after the financial crisis a decade earlier.

The Dodd-Frank Act subjected all banks with $50 billion or more in assets to enhanced regulation, such as annual stress testing and the submission of resolution plans or "living wills" in the event of bankruptcy.

But after years of complaints from community and regional banks about the cost of compliance, Congress lifted the threshold for meeting all the Dodd-Frank Act requirements to $250 billion.

By KEVIN FREKING&nbsp;WASHINGTON (AP) — Bills were filed, hearings were planned and blame was cast as Congress reacted this past week to the abrupt failure of two banks. A look at what lawmakers are saying and planning as the fallout continues from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.QUICK LEGISLATIVE FIXES UNLIKELYWhile President Joe Biden called Monday on Congress to strengthen the rules for banks to prevent future failures, lawmakers are divided on whether any legislation is needed.Some congressional leaders are skeptical that a closely divided Congress will act at all."There's people who are going to choose bills, but I cannot imagine that, with the hold banks have on Republican members of Congress, that we can pass anything significant," said Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.Republicans say the laws already in place were sufficient to prevent the bank failures, if only regulators had done their job by spotting obvious problems and directing the banks to take steps that would reduce their risk."If there are ideas out there that people have, you know, at some point, we would be willing to entertain those, but I think it would be premature to start talking about solutions before we fully define the problem and ultimately get answers from the regulators about why they were asleep at the job," said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranking Republican.___SO WHAT'S NEXT? The House Financial Services Committee has announced its first hearing for March 29, featuring at least two witnesses: Martin Gruenberg, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s board of directors, and Michael Barr, vice chair for supervision with the Federal Reserve's board of governors. "We will conduct this hearing without fear or favor to get the answers the American people deserve," lawmakers said.On the Senate side, Brown said his committee will also hold a hearing soon to help lawmakers assess what went wrong. He said the first hearing is likely to focus on bringing in witnesses responsible for regulating the failed banks. The Fed board was the primary regulator for Silicon Valley Bank in California, while the FDIC was the primary federal regulator for Signature Bank in New York.Brown spelled out some of the questions lawmakers probably will have for the regulators in a letter Thursday asking them to undertake a comprehensive review of what went wrong. What role did social media-led coordination among customers play? What role did the large percentage of uninsured deposits at Silicon Valley Bank play? Were there regulatory gaps with respect to capital, liquidity and stress testing that played a role in the failures?Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said he wants to know why regulators did not act on detailed reports of a liquidity risk at Silicon Valley Bank and why the FDIC failed to auction off the bank's remaining parts last weekend.Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., said she wants to know if regulators intend to use the failure of Signature Bank to further crack down on cryptocurrency. She has been a vocal advocate for cryptocurrency development and is an investor in bitcoin. Signature was the first FDIC-insured bank to offer a blockchain-based digital payment platform in 2019 and had been a go-to bank for the crypto industry.Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said he wanted to know how private stock analysts had warned about Silicon Valley's investments but regulators did not seem to know about potential problems.___CONGRESSIONAL ACTION Democrats in both chambers have rallied around two legislative proposals. The first, from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., would repeal the 2018 rollback of certain aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act enacted after the financial crisis a decade earlier.The Dodd-Frank Act subjected all banks with $50 billion or more in assets to enhanced regulation, such as annual stress testing and the submission of resolution plans or "living wills" in the event of bankruptcy.But after years of complaints from community and regional banks about the cost of compliance, Congress lifted the threshold for meeting all the Dodd-Frank Act requirements to $250 billion.Banks with assets valued at less than $100 billion were automatically exempted from the enhanced regulation. The Fed was given the discretion to apply on a case-by-case basis the enhanced oversight for banks between the $100 billion and $250 billion level. Both Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank fell in that category."President Trump's rollback paved the way for the SVB collapse," Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said on the Senate floor Thursday.But Republicans have countered that the tiered oversight they established in 2018 with the support of several Democrats in both chambers gave federal regulators all the tools they needed to catch the problems at Silicon Valley and Signature before they became fatal."I think the issue here is liquidity and there are liquidity stress tests that regulators have established for the banks," said Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and the author of the 2018 changes to Dodd-Frank. "If they need to tighten those up, they have the authority to do it."With that philosophical divide, it's unlikely the Warren and Porter bill will advance in Congress.A second bill might have a better shot. The bill from Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Mike Levin of California would recoup any bonuses and profits that bank executives receive from stock sales make in the 60 days before a bank failure.Republicans also directed considerable ire at the executives of the failed banks this week."I think all of that ought to be clawed back," Kennedy said of bonuses. "And this time, I hope somebody goes to jail."On Friday, Biden called on Congress to grant the FDIC the power to force the return of compensation paid to executives at a broader range of banks should they fail, and to lower the threshold for the regulator to impose fines and bar executives from working at another bank.___POINTING FINGERS AT THE OTHER PARTYThe recent bank failures create an opportunity to shape the political narrative for next year's election.While Republicans are saying that regulators were "asleep at the switch," they are also trying to tie Biden and Democrats to the turmoil by blaming them for higher inflation, which is leading to the higher interest rates and reduced the value of Silicon Valley Banks investments."A failure of the bank, a failure with regulators, and without any question, a failure at the top," said Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., in reference to Biden.Democrats are pinning the failures on the changes Republicans led in scaling back Dodd-Frank requirements for certain banks, saying it's an example of how Washington caters to powerful interest groups rather than average voters."The 2018 rollbacks permitted the banks to take on more risk in order to boost their profits," Warren said. "So what did they do? They took on more risks, boosted their profits, gave their executives big bonuses and salaries, and then blew the banks up."