AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A federal judge in Texas raised questions Wednesday about a Christian group's effort to overturn federal regulators' decades-old approval of a leading abortion drug, in a case that could threaten the country's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-science-health-2d52ebf9efc6ef06f03e788fecd13013">most common method</a>&nbsp;for ending pregnancies.

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk heard more than four hours of debate over the Alliance Defending Freedom's request to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-food-and-drug-administration-donald-trump-texas-medication-bdd99c39613c71f62d10dfc2f2d1bf07">revoke or suspend the Food and Drug Administration’s approval</a>&nbsp;of mifepristone. Such a step would be an unprecedented challenge to the FDA and its authority in deciding which drugs to permit on the market.

Kacsmaryk said he would rule “as soon as possible,” without giving any clear indication of how he might decide and leaving open the question of whether access to the standard regimen for medication abortions might soon be curtailed throughout the country.

Mifepristone, when combined with a second pill, was approved in 2000 and is used to end pregnancies until their 10th week. It has been increasingly prescribed since last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturning Roe v. Wade.</a>

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-lawsuits-71b8e54b97b016bf2cc0d9380d478991">Texas lawsuit</a>&nbsp;has become the latest high-stakes legal battle over access to abortion since the question of its legality was returned to the states.

Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by former president Donald Trump, saved some of his most pointed questions for attorneys representing the alliance, which filed the case in Amarillo in anticipation of getting a favorable ruling.

“Explain to me why this court has that sweeping authority?” Kacsmaryk asked, in reference to the group's request to pull mifepristone from the market.

The judge also questioned whether the group had the legal standing to obtain a pretrial ruling, grilling both sides on U.S. Supreme Court cases that set out when such extraordinary relief is allowed.

Still, the judge also posed questions suggesting he was considering how he might draft a preliminary injunction in the plaintiffs' favor, at one point asking the alliance's lawyers if the issue of standing had been clearly addressed by appellate courts. At another point, he told them that their outline for the order of their arguments “tracks the elements for an injunction nicely.”

Lawyers representing the FDA argued that pulling mifepristone would disrupt reproductive care for women across the U.S.

“An injunction here would interfere with the interests of every state in the country” said Julie Harris of the U.S. Justice Department, which represented the FDA.

Harris and her colleagues also questioned whether the alliance — which filed its case on behalf of several anti-abortion doctors — had standing to bring the lawsuit, given that none of the plaintiffs could show the type of harm typically needed for such a legal action.

One of the chief arguments leveled against the FDA in the lawsuit is that the agency misused its authority when it originally approved the abortion pill.

The FDA reviewed the drug under its so-called accelerated approval program, which was created in the early 1990s to speed access to the first HIV drugs. Since then, it has been used to expedite drugs for cancer and other “serious or life-threatening diseases."

“The plain text is clear it applies to illnesses,” argued Erik Baptist, the alliance's lead attorney. “Mifepristone is used to end pregnancies, and pregnancy isn’t an illness.”

The FDA rejected the group’s argument on multiple accounts. First, attorneys said FDA regulations make clear that pregnancy is considered a “medical condition” that can be serious and life-threatening in some cases.

Second, government attorneys said the terms of mifepristone’s use were replaced more than a decade ago by subsequent FDA programs passed by Congress, rendering the argument irrelevant.

Finally, while the FDA reviewed the drug under its accelerated approval regime, it didn’t expedite the drug’s review. In fact, approval only came after four years of deliberation. Instead, the FDA used regulatory powers under the accelerated program to add extra safety restrictions to mifepristone.

Legal experts have long been deeply skeptical of many of the arguments made by the alliance. And there is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling an FDA drug approval decision.

At one point, Kacsmaryk asked the alliance's attorneys about the possibility of suspending mifepristone's approval, without withdrawing it completely.

“Any relief you grant must be complete” and apply nationwide, Baptist said. “The harms of these abortion drugs know no bounds.”

Kacsmaryk gave each side two hours to make their arguments — with time for rebuttal — in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-food-and-drug-administration-donald-trump-texas-medication-bdd99c39613c71f62d10dfc2f2d1bf07">high-stakes case</a>. Mifepristone’s manufacturer, Danco Laboratories, joined the FDA in arguing to keep the pill available.

A ruling could come any time. A decision against the drug would be swiftly appealed by the Justice Department, which would also likely seek an emergency stay to stop it from taking effect while the case proceeds.

Members of the Women’s March advocacy group rallied outside the courthouse, including one dressed as a kangaroo to decry the proceedings as a “kangaroo court.”

Ultimately, courthouse officials allowed 20 members of the media and 20 members of the general public to attend the hearing.

If Kacsmaryk rules against the FDA, it’s unclear how quickly access to mifepristone could be curtailed or how the process would work. The FDA has its own procedures for revoking drug approvals that involve public hearings and scientific deliberations, which can take months or years.

If mifepristone is sidelined, clinics and doctors that prescribe the combination say they would switch to using only misoprostol, the other drug&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-medication-abortion-works-f913375ec6f8ebcb1f1055e57a3aef63">used in the two-drug combination</a>. That single-drug approach has a slightly lower rate of effectiveness in ending pregnancies but is widely used in countries where mifepristone is illegal or unavailable.

In addition to challenging mifepristone's approval process, the lawsuit takes aim at several later FDA decisions that loosened restrictions on the pill, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-medication-a6634601a37fb048aecdd9f030e0863a">eliminating a requirement</a>&nbsp;that women pick it up in person.

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-texas-judge-christian-kacsmaryk-3cfb483f1b9266df2e0cc31cc892d605">conservative federal judge in Texas</a>&nbsp;heard arguments Wednesday from a Christian group seeking to overturn the Food and Drug Administration’s more than 2-decade-old approval of an abortion medication, in a case that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medical-abortion-pill-challenge-d7ef9bb29b8720e51b0b103f59c862d2">could threaten</a>&nbsp;the most common form of abortion in the U.S.

Lawyers for the group Alliance Defending Freedom asked Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk during the hearing in Amarillo, Texas, to issue an immediate order that would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-lawsuits-71b8e54b97b016bf2cc0d9380d478991">revoke or suspend the drug mifepristone's approval</a>. Such a step would be an unprecedented challenge to the FDA, which approved mifepristone in combination with a second pill as a safe and effective method for ending pregnancy in 2000.

During a 90-minute presentation to the court, alliance attorney Erik Baptist told the judge that removing mifepristone from the market “would restore proper policing power to the states” — a reference to last summer's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and left it to states to decide on the legality of abortion.

Mifepristone, when combined with a second pill, has become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-science-health-2d52ebf9efc6ef06f03e788fecd13013">the most common method of abortion</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. and has been increasingly prescribed since Roe was overturned.

Acknowledging the significance of the case, Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump, asked Baptist if he could cite a prior example of a court removing an FDA-approved drug after many years on the market.

Baptist acknowledged that there are no prior examples, but he blamed the drug's longevity on the FDA's “stonewalling” of his group's prior requests to remove the drug. The group petitioned the FDA in 2002 and in 2019 seeking to curb access to the pill.

Lawyers for the FDA are expected to argue that pulling mifepristone would upend reproductive care for U.S. women and undermine the government’s scientific oversight of prescription drugs.

Kacsmaryk gave each side two hours to make their arguments — with time for rebuttal — in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-food-and-drug-administration-donald-trump-texas-medication-bdd99c39613c71f62d10dfc2f2d1bf07">high-stakes case</a>. Mifepristone’s manufacturer, Danco Laboratories, will join the FDA in arguing to keep the pill available.

A ruling could come any time after arguments conclude. A decision against the drug would be swiftly appealed by U.S. Department of Justice attorneys representing the FDA, who would also likely seek an emergency stay to stop it from taking effect while the case proceeds.

One of the alliance’s chief arguments against the FDA is that it misused its authorities when it originally approved the pill.

The FDA reviewed the drug under its so-called accelerated approval program, which was created in the early 1990s to speed access to the first HIV drugs. Since then, it’s been used to expedite drugs for cancer and other “serious or life-threatening diseases.”

The alliance, which was also involved in the lawsuit that led the Supreme Court to overturn Roe, argues that pregnancy is not a disease and therefore mifepristone should not have been considered for accelerated approval.

“The contrast between these illnesses and the FDA jamming pregnancy into ... the FDA regulations could not be more stark,” Baptist told Kacsmaryk.

But the FDA says the group’s argument is flawed on multiple counts. First, FDA regulations make clear that pregnancy is considered a “medical condition” that can be serious and life-threatening in some cases.

Second, while the FDA reviewed the drug under its accelerated approval regime, it didn’t expedite the drug’s review. In fact, approval only came after four years of deliberation. Instead, the FDA used regulatory powers under the accelerated program to add extra safety restrictions to mifepristone, including requiring physicians to be certified before prescribing it.

The hearing is the first in the case and is being closely watched by groups on both sides of the abortion issue in light of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">reversal of Roe.</a>. Removing mifepristone from the market would curb access to abortion even in states where it’s legal.

Lawyers for the FDA have pointed out that serious side effects with mifepristone are rare, and the agency has repeatedly affirmed the drug’s safety by reviewing subsequent studies and data. Pulling the drug more than 20 years after approval would be “extraordinary and unprecedented,” the government stated in its legal response.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678911159638.png" alt="Lindsay London holds protest sign in front of federal court building in support of access to abortion medication outside the Federal Courthouse on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Amarillo, Texas. A conservative federal judge heard arguments Wednesday from a Christian group seeking to overturn the Food and Drug Administration’s more than 2-decade-old approval of an abortion medication, in a case that could threaten the most common form of abortion in the U.S. (AP Photo/David Erickson)" />
 <figcaption>Lindsay London holds protest sign in front of federal court building in support of access to abortion medication outside the Federal Courthouse on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Amarillo, Texas. A conservative federal judge heard arguments Wednesday from a Christian group seeking to overturn the Food and Drug Administration’s more than 2-decade-old approval of an abortion medication, in a case that could threaten the most common form of abortion in the U.S. (AP Photo/David Erickson)</figcaption>
 </figure>AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A federal judge in Texas raised questions Wednesday about a Christian group's effort to overturn federal regulators' decades-old approval of a leading abortion drug, in a case that could threaten the country's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-science-health-2d52ebf9efc6ef06f03e788fecd13013">most common method</a>&nbsp;for ending pregnancies.Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk heard more than four hours of debate over the Alliance Defending Freedom's request to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-food-and-drug-administration-donald-trump-texas-medication-bdd99c39613c71f62d10dfc2f2d1bf07">revoke or suspend the Food and Drug Administration’s approval</a>&nbsp;of mifepristone. Such a step would be an unprecedented challenge to the FDA and its authority in deciding which drugs to permit on the market.Kacsmaryk said he would rule “as soon as possible,” without giving any clear indication of how he might decide and leaving open the question of whether access to the standard regimen for medication abortions might soon be curtailed throughout the country.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581004285984.jpeg" alt=" About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. Credit Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. Credit Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Mifepristone, when combined with a second pill, was approved in 2000 and is used to end pregnancies until their 10th week. It has been increasingly prescribed since last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturning Roe v. Wade.</a>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-lawsuits-71b8e54b97b016bf2cc0d9380d478991">Texas lawsuit</a>&nbsp;has become the latest high-stakes legal battle over access to abortion since the question of its legality was returned to the states.Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by former president Donald Trump, saved some of his most pointed questions for attorneys representing the alliance, which filed the case in Amarillo in anticipation of getting a favorable ruling.“Explain to me why this court has that sweeping authority?” Kacsmaryk asked, in reference to the group's request to pull mifepristone from the market.The judge also questioned whether the group had the legal standing to obtain a pretrial ruling, grilling both sides on U.S. Supreme Court cases that set out when such extraordinary relief is allowed.Still, the judge also posed questions suggesting he was considering how he might draft a preliminary injunction in the plaintiffs' favor, at one point asking the alliance's lawyers if the issue of standing had been clearly addressed by appellate courts. At another point, he told them that their outline for the order of their arguments “tracks the elements for an injunction nicely.”Lawyers representing the FDA argued that pulling mifepristone would disrupt reproductive care for women across the U.S.“An injunction here would interfere with the interests of every state in the country” said Julie Harris of the U.S. Justice Department, which represented the FDA.Harris and her colleagues also questioned whether the alliance — which filed its case on behalf of several anti-abortion doctors — had standing to bring the lawsuit, given that none of the plaintiffs could show the type of harm typically needed for such a legal action.One of the chief arguments leveled against the FDA in the lawsuit is that the agency misused its authority when it originally approved the abortion pill.The FDA reviewed the drug under its so-called accelerated approval program, which was created in the early 1990s to speed access to the first HIV drugs. Since then, it has been used to expedite drugs for cancer and other “serious or life-threatening diseases."“The plain text is clear it applies to illnesses,” argued Erik Baptist, the alliance's lead attorney. “Mifepristone is used to end pregnancies, and pregnancy isn’t an illness.”The FDA rejected the group’s argument on multiple accounts. First, attorneys said FDA regulations make clear that pregnancy is considered a “medical condition” that can be serious and life-threatening in some cases.Second, government attorneys said the terms of mifepristone’s use were replaced more than a decade ago by subsequent FDA programs passed by Congress, rendering the argument irrelevant.Finally, while the FDA reviewed the drug under its accelerated approval regime, it didn’t expedite the drug’s review. In fact, approval only came after four years of deliberation. Instead, the FDA used regulatory powers under the accelerated program to add extra safety restrictions to mifepristone.Legal experts have long been deeply skeptical of many of the arguments made by the alliance. And there is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling an FDA drug approval decision.At one point, Kacsmaryk asked the alliance's attorneys about the possibility of suspending mifepristone's approval, without withdrawing it completely.“Any relief you grant must be complete” and apply nationwide, Baptist said. “The harms of these abortion drugs know no bounds.”Kacsmaryk gave each side two hours to make their arguments — with time for rebuttal — in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-food-and-drug-administration-donald-trump-texas-medication-bdd99c39613c71f62d10dfc2f2d1bf07">high-stakes case</a>. Mifepristone’s manufacturer, Danco Laboratories, joined the FDA in arguing to keep the pill available.A ruling could come any time. A decision against the drug would be swiftly appealed by the Justice Department, which would also likely seek an emergency stay to stop it from taking effect while the case proceeds.Members of the Women’s March advocacy group rallied outside the courthouse, including one dressed as a kangaroo to decry the proceedings as a “kangaroo court.”Ultimately, courthouse officials allowed 20 members of the media and 20 members of the general public to attend the hearing.If Kacsmaryk rules against the FDA, it’s unclear how quickly access to mifepristone could be curtailed or how the process would work. The FDA has its own procedures for revoking drug approvals that involve public hearings and scientific deliberations, which can take months or years.If mifepristone is sidelined, clinics and doctors that prescribe the combination say they would switch to using only misoprostol, the other drug&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-medication-abortion-works-f913375ec6f8ebcb1f1055e57a3aef63">used in the two-drug combination</a>. That single-drug approach has a slightly lower rate of effectiveness in ending pregnancies but is widely used in countries where mifepristone is illegal or unavailable.In addition to challenging mifepristone's approval process, the lawsuit takes aim at several later FDA decisions that loosened restrictions on the pill, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-medication-a6634601a37fb048aecdd9f030e0863a">eliminating a requirement</a>&nbsp;that women pick it up in person.___AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-texas-judge-christian-kacsmaryk-3cfb483f1b9266df2e0cc31cc892d605">conservative federal judge in Texas</a>&nbsp;heard arguments Wednesday from a Christian group seeking to overturn the Food and Drug Administration’s more than 2-decade-old approval of an abortion medication, in a case that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medical-abortion-pill-challenge-d7ef9bb29b8720e51b0b103f59c862d2">could threaten</a>&nbsp;the most common form of abortion in the U.S.Lawyers for the group Alliance Defending Freedom asked Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk during the hearing in Amarillo, Texas, to issue an immediate order that would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-lawsuits-71b8e54b97b016bf2cc0d9380d478991">revoke or suspend the drug mifepristone's approval</a>. Such a step would be an unprecedented challenge to the FDA, which approved mifepristone in combination with a second pill as a safe and effective method for ending pregnancy in 2000.During a 90-minute presentation to the court, alliance attorney Erik Baptist told the judge that removing mifepristone from the market “would restore proper policing power to the states” — a reference to last summer's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and left it to states to decide on the legality of abortion.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582813176978.jpeg" alt=" Mifepristone, commonly called the abortion pill, is the most common form of abortion in Kansas.&nbsp; photo by Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Mifepristone, commonly called the abortion pill, is the most common form of abortion in Kansas.&nbsp; photo by Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Mifepristone, when combined with a second pill, has become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-science-health-2d52ebf9efc6ef06f03e788fecd13013">the most common method of abortion</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. and has been increasingly prescribed since Roe was overturned.Acknowledging the significance of the case, Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by then-President Donald Trump, asked Baptist if he could cite a prior example of a court removing an FDA-approved drug after many years on the market.Baptist acknowledged that there are no prior examples, but he blamed the drug's longevity on the FDA's “stonewalling” of his group's prior requests to remove the drug. The group petitioned the FDA in 2002 and in 2019 seeking to curb access to the pill.Lawyers for the FDA are expected to argue that pulling mifepristone would upend reproductive care for U.S. women and undermine the government’s scientific oversight of prescription drugs.Kacsmaryk gave each side two hours to make their arguments — with time for rebuttal — in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-food-and-drug-administration-donald-trump-texas-medication-bdd99c39613c71f62d10dfc2f2d1bf07">high-stakes case</a>. Mifepristone’s manufacturer, Danco Laboratories, will join the FDA in arguing to keep the pill available.A ruling could come any time after arguments conclude. A decision against the drug would be swiftly appealed by U.S. Department of Justice attorneys representing the FDA, who would also likely seek an emergency stay to stop it from taking effect while the case proceeds.One of the alliance’s chief arguments against the FDA is that it misused its authorities when it originally approved the pill.The FDA reviewed the drug under its so-called accelerated approval program, which was created in the early 1990s to speed access to the first HIV drugs. Since then, it’s been used to expedite drugs for cancer and other “serious or life-threatening diseases.”The alliance, which was also involved in the lawsuit that led the Supreme Court to overturn Roe, argues that pregnancy is not a disease and therefore mifepristone should not have been considered for accelerated approval.“The contrast between these illnesses and the FDA jamming pregnancy into ... the FDA regulations could not be more stark,” Baptist told Kacsmaryk.But the FDA says the group’s argument is flawed on multiple counts. First, FDA regulations make clear that pregnancy is considered a “medical condition” that can be serious and life-threatening in some cases.Second, while the FDA reviewed the drug under its accelerated approval regime, it didn’t expedite the drug’s review. In fact, approval only came after four years of deliberation. Instead, the FDA used regulatory powers under the accelerated program to add extra safety restrictions to mifepristone, including requiring physicians to be certified before prescribing it.The hearing is the first in the case and is being closely watched by groups on both sides of the abortion issue in light of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">reversal of Roe.</a>. Removing mifepristone from the market would curb access to abortion even in states where it’s legal.Members of the Women’s March advocacy group rallied outside the courthouse, including one dressed as a kangaroo to decry the proceedings as a “kangaroo court.”If Kacsmaryk rules against the FDA, it’s unclear how quickly access to mifepristone could be curtailed or how the process would work. The FDA has its own procedures for revoking drug approvals that involve public hearings and scientific deliberations, which can take months or years.If mifepristone is sidelined, clinics and doctors that prescribe the combination say they would switch to using only misoprostol, the other drug&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-medication-abortion-works-f913375ec6f8ebcb1f1055e57a3aef63">used in the two-drug combination</a>. That single-drug approach has a slightly lower rate of effectiveness in ending pregnancies but is widely used in countries where mifepristone is illegal or unavailable.In addition to challenging mifepristone's approval process, the lawsuit takes aim at several later FDA decisions that loosened restrictions on the pill, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-medication-a6634601a37fb048aecdd9f030e0863a">eliminating a requirement</a>&nbsp;that women pick it up in person.Lawyers for the FDA have pointed out that serious side effects with mifepristone are rare, and the agency has repeatedly affirmed the drug’s safety by reviewing subsequent studies and data. Pulling the drug more than 20 years after approval would be “extraordinary and unprecedented,” the government stated in its legal response.

Judge open to blocking medication abortion pills nationwide

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia wants to recover the fragments of a U.S. surveillance drone that American forces brought down in the Black Sea after an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-kramatorsk-peace-plan-fde09a8ea4d9b692637ad8f76cd05f3a">encounter with a Russian fighter jet</a>, a Russian security official said Wednesday.&nbsp;

Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, claimed in televised remarks that Tuesday's incident was “another confirmation” of direct U.S. involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. He said Russia planned to search for the drone's debris.

“I don’t know if we can recover them or not, but we will certainly have to do that, and we will deal with it,” Patrushev said. “I certainly hope for success.”&nbsp;The downed $32 million U.S. drone, which contains sensitive technology, has not been recovered. However, U.S. officials said Russia has already sent ships to the area and attempted to recover pieces of the drone.

&nbsp;Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he spoke to his Russian counterpart on Wednesday about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-drone-pentagon-9f4b3e8fdd719c0fa91a0683228b9e51">destruction of a U.S. drone</a>&nbsp;over the Black Sea, which had brought the two countries closest to direct conflict since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine a year ago. It was the first call between Austin and Defense Secretary Sergei Shoigu since October.

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the drone was flying in international airspace and over international waters when a Russian fighter jet struck the propeller of the MQ-Reaper drone.&nbsp;Each Reaper costs about $32 million.

U.S. officials accused Russia of attempting to intercept the unmanned aerial vehicle, although its presence over the Black Sea was not an uncommon occurrence.

“It is also not uncommon for the Russians to try to intercept them,” Kirby said, adding that such an encounter “does increase the risk of miscalculations, misunderstandings.”

Kirby said the drone had not yet been recovered and it was unclear whether it would be, but the U.S. “took steps to protect the information and to protect, to minimize any effort by anybody else to exploit that drone for useful content.”

Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, said Russia has the technological capability to recover the drone’s fragments from deep in the Black Sea.

Earlier Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated the Russian Defense Ministry’s statement that Russian jets didn’t use their weapons or impact the U.S. drone.

Peskov described U.S.-Russia relations as being at their lowest point but added that “Russia has never rejected a constructive dialogue, and it’s not rejecting it now.”

At the Pentagon, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the intercept by the Russian jet was part of a “pattern of aggressive, risky and unsafe actions by Russian pilots in international airspace.” He said Russia must operate its aircraft in a safe manner.

“Make no mistake, the United States will continue to fly and to operate wherever international law allows,” Austin said in opening remarks before a virtual meeting of a U.S.-led effort to coordinate Western military support for Ukraine.

While encounters between Russian and NATO aircraft are not unusual — before the invasion of Ukraine, NATO planes were involved in an annual average of 400 intercepts with Russian planes — the war has heightened the significance and potential hazards of such incidents.

“The last thing that we want, certainly the last thing that anybody should want, is for this war in Ukraine to escalate to become something between the United States and Russia, to have this actually ... expand beyond that,” Kirby said, speaking Wednesday on CNN.

The secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, tweeted Wednesday that the drone incident was "a signal from (Russian President Vladimir) Putin that he is ready to expand the conflict zone, with drawing other parties in.”

Separately, the U.K. defense ministry said British and German air force fighter jets were scrambled Tuesday to intercept a Russian aircraft flying close to Estonian airspace. The U.K. and Germany are conducting joint air policing missions in Estonia as part of NATO’s bolstering of its eastern flank.

The defense ministry said the Typhoon jets responded after a Russian air-to-air refueling aircraft failed to communicate with Estonian air traffic control. The Russian plane did not enter the airspace of Estonia, a NATO member.

On the ground in Ukraine, the fighting ground on. At least three civilians were killed and another 23 wounded in the country by Russian strikes over the previous 24 hours, Ukraine's presidential office said Wednesday morning.

In eastern Ukraine's partially occupied Donetsk province, where much of the heaviest fighting has been concentrated, Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said a total of 14 cities and villages were shelled. That included Kramatorsk, a city where some of Ukraine's military forces are based.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-advance-stalls-ukraine-war-bakhmut-4fc52f849e404265a74509e7e14795f8">In embattled Bakhmut</a>, where Russian forces have pressed a months-long assault to capture the city, Ukrainian forces have successfully fought for northern parts of the city, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said.

“There are certain and significant successes of the armed forces of Ukraine who were able to achieve something in the north of the city,” Maliar told Ukrainian television. “Bakhmut is the epicenter (of fighting in the Donestk region), the Russian occupiers are tryng to encircle and seize the city.”

In the northeastern Kharkiv region, one person was killed and another was wounded in Vovchansk, a city near the border with Russia that is regularly shelled. Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said Russian forces also hit a civilian area of Kharkiv itself, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

“There is no military or infrastructure facility in the vicinity of the place of the strike,” Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. “Only residential buildings and urban infrastructure.”

Speaking on Ukrainian television, Terekhov said a boarding school, where only employees were present, had been damaged, as well as an apartment building. No casualties were immediately reported.

In the south, Russian forces shelled the city of Kherson seven times in the last 24 hours, hitting an infrastructure facility and residential buildings and wounding four people. In Dnipropetrovsk province, Russian forces shelled Nikopol and Marhanets, towns located across a river from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678906088937.png" alt="During a news conference Wednesday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley said the U.S. knows where the drone landed in the Black Sea" />
 <figcaption>During a news conference Wednesday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley said the U.S. knows where the drone landed in the Black Sea</figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia wants to recover the fragments of a U.S. surveillance drone that American forces brought down in the Black Sea after an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-kramatorsk-peace-plan-fde09a8ea4d9b692637ad8f76cd05f3a">encounter with a Russian fighter jet</a>, a Russian security official said Wednesday.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> Austin: &quot;I just got off the phone with my Russian counterpart, Minister Shoigu. As I&#39;ve said repeatedly, it&#39;s important that great powers be models of transparency and communication.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/LPqwdCiPnP">pic.twitter.com/LPqwdCiPnP</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1636073165540544512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, claimed in televised remarks that Tuesday's incident was “another confirmation” of direct U.S. involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. He said Russia planned to search for the drone's debris.“I don’t know if we can recover them or not, but we will certainly have to do that, and we will deal with it,” Patrushev said. “I certainly hope for success.”&nbsp;The downed $32 million U.S. drone, which contains sensitive technology, has not been recovered. However, U.S. officials said Russia has already sent ships to the area and attempted to recover pieces of the drone.&nbsp;Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he spoke to his Russian counterpart on Wednesday about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-drone-pentagon-9f4b3e8fdd719c0fa91a0683228b9e51">destruction of a U.S. drone</a>&nbsp;over the Black Sea, which had brought the two countries closest to direct conflict since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine a year ago. It was the first call between Austin and Defense Secretary Sergei Shoigu since October.U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the drone was flying in international airspace and over international waters when a Russian fighter jet struck the propeller of the MQ-Reaper drone.&nbsp;Each Reaper costs about $32 million.U.S. officials accused Russia of attempting to intercept the unmanned aerial vehicle, although its presence over the Black Sea was not an uncommon occurrence.“It is also not uncommon for the Russians to try to intercept them,” Kirby said, adding that such an encounter “does increase the risk of miscalculations, misunderstandings.”Kirby said the drone had not yet been recovered and it was unclear whether it would be, but the U.S. “took steps to protect the information and to protect, to minimize any effort by anybody else to exploit that drone for useful content.”Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, said Russia has the technological capability to recover the drone’s fragments from deep in the Black Sea.Earlier Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated the Russian Defense Ministry’s statement that Russian jets didn’t use their weapons or impact the U.S. drone.Peskov described U.S.-Russia relations as being at their lowest point but added that “Russia has never rejected a constructive dialogue, and it’s not rejecting it now.”At the Pentagon, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the intercept by the Russian jet was part of a “pattern of aggressive, risky and unsafe actions by Russian pilots in international airspace.” He said Russia must operate its aircraft in a safe manner.“Make no mistake, the United States will continue to fly and to operate wherever international law allows,” Austin said in opening remarks before a virtual meeting of a U.S.-led effort to coordinate Western military support for Ukraine.While encounters between Russian and NATO aircraft are not unusual — before the invasion of Ukraine, NATO planes were involved in an annual average of 400 intercepts with Russian planes — the war has heightened the significance and potential hazards of such incidents.“The last thing that we want, certainly the last thing that anybody should want, is for this war in Ukraine to escalate to become something between the United States and Russia, to have this actually ... expand beyond that,” Kirby said, speaking Wednesday on CNN.The secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, tweeted Wednesday that the drone incident was "a signal from (Russian President Vladimir) Putin that he is ready to expand the conflict zone, with drawing other parties in.”Separately, the U.K. defense ministry said British and German air force fighter jets were scrambled Tuesday to intercept a Russian aircraft flying close to Estonian airspace. The U.K. and Germany are conducting joint air policing missions in Estonia as part of NATO’s bolstering of its eastern flank.The defense ministry said the Typhoon jets responded after a Russian air-to-air refueling aircraft failed to communicate with Estonian air traffic control. The Russian plane did not enter the airspace of Estonia, a NATO member.On the ground in Ukraine, the fighting ground on. At least three civilians were killed and another 23 wounded in the country by Russian strikes over the previous 24 hours, Ukraine's presidential office said Wednesday morning.In eastern Ukraine's partially occupied Donetsk province, where much of the heaviest fighting has been concentrated, Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said a total of 14 cities and villages were shelled. That included Kramatorsk, a city where some of Ukraine's military forces are based.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-advance-stalls-ukraine-war-bakhmut-4fc52f849e404265a74509e7e14795f8">In embattled Bakhmut</a>, where Russian forces have pressed a months-long assault to capture the city, Ukrainian forces have successfully fought for northern parts of the city, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said.“There are certain and significant successes of the armed forces of Ukraine who were able to achieve something in the north of the city,” Maliar told Ukrainian television. “Bakhmut is the epicenter (of fighting in the Donestk region), the Russian occupiers are tryng to encircle and seize the city.”In the northeastern Kharkiv region, one person was killed and another was wounded in Vovchansk, a city near the border with Russia that is regularly shelled. Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said Russian forces also hit a civilian area of Kharkiv itself, Ukraine’s second-largest city.“There is no military or infrastructure facility in the vicinity of the place of the strike,” Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. “Only residential buildings and urban infrastructure.”Speaking on Ukrainian television, Terekhov said a boarding school, where only employees were present, had been damaged, as well as an apartment building. No casualties were immediately reported.In the south, Russian forces shelled the city of Kherson seven times in the last 24 hours, hitting an infrastructure facility and residential buildings and wounding four people. In Dnipropetrovsk province, Russian forces shelled Nikopol and Marhanets, towns located across a river from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

🎥Russia wants debris from $32M U.S. drone it forced down

NEW YORK (AP) — The recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which catered mostly to the tech industry, may have you worried about your money. They were the second- and third-biggest bank failures in U.S. history.

It all started last week when too many depositors tried to withdraw their money from Silicon Valley Bank in Santa Clara, California. That's known as a bank run.

The bank had to sell treasury bonds and other securities at a steep loss and more people kept trying to withdraw money as word of the situation spread, causing the bank to fail. Regulators took control of New York-based Signature Bank soon after, saying it was necessary to protect depositors after too many people withdrew money.

In response, regulators guaranteed all deposits at the two banks and created a program to help shield other banks to shield them from a run on deposits.

Yes, if your money is in a bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and you have less than $250,000 there. If the bank fails, you'll get your money back.

Nearly all banks are FDIC insured. You can look for the FDIC logo at bank teller windows or on the entrance to your bank branch.

Credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

If you have over $250,000 in an individual account, which most people don't, the amount over $250,000 is considered uninsured and experts recommend that you move the remainder of your money to a different financial institution, said Caleb Silver, editor in chief of Investopedia, a financial media website. Joint accounts are insured up to $500,000.

Federal officials have been taking steps to make sure other banks aren't impacted.

"You shouldn't be too concerned about your money if it's in one of the bigger banks, and even in some of the regional banks and the credit unions," Silver said.

If you are worried about your bank closing in the near future, there are some things you can watch out for, according to Silver:

— Keep an eye on the quarterly and annual reports from your bank.

— Start a Google alert for your bank in case there are news stories about it.

You want to make sure you pay close attention to the way your bank is behaving, Silver said.

"If they're trying to raise money through a share offering or if they're trying to sell more stock, they might have trouble on their balance sheet," said Silver.

If you have more than $250,000 in your bank, there are a few things you can do:

You can protect up to $500,000 by opening a joint account with someone else, such as your spouse, said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, a financial services company.

"A married couple can easily protect a million dollars at the same bank by each having an individual account and together having a joint account," McBride said.

— Move to another financial institution

Moving your money to other financial institutions and having up to $250,000 in each account will ensure that your money is insured by the FDIC, McBride said.

Despite the recent uncertainty, experts don't recommend withdrawing cash from your account. Keeping your money in financial institutions rather than in your home is safer, especially when the amount is insured.

"It's not a time to pull your money out of the bank," Silver said.

Even people with uninsured deposits usually get nearly all of their money back.

"It takes time, but generally all depositors — both insured and uninsured — get their money back," said Todd Phillips, a consultant and former attorney at the FDIC. "Uninsured depositors may have to wait some time, and may have to take haircut where they lose 10 to 15% of their savings, but it's never zero."

Associated Press Writer Ken Sweet contributed to this report.

The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678803044223.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>By ADRIANA MORGA Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) — The recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which catered mostly to the tech industry, may have you worried about your money. They were the second- and third-biggest bank failures in U.S. history.It all started last week when too many depositors tried to withdraw their money from Silicon Valley Bank in Santa Clara, California. That's known as a bank run.The bank had to sell treasury bonds and other securities at a steep loss and more people kept trying to withdraw money as word of the situation spread, causing the bank to fail. Regulators took control of New York-based Signature Bank soon after, saying it was necessary to protect depositors after too many people withdrew money.In response, regulators guaranteed all deposits at the two banks and created a program to help shield other banks to shield them from a run on deposits.Here's what you need to know:IS MY MONEY SAFE?Yes, if your money is in a bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and you have less than $250,000 there. If the bank fails, you'll get your money back.Nearly all banks are FDIC insured. You can look for the FDIC logo at bank teller windows or on the entrance to your bank branch.Credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration.If you have over $250,000 in an individual account, which most people don't, the amount over $250,000 is considered uninsured and experts recommend that you move the remainder of your money to a different financial institution, said Caleb Silver, editor in chief of Investopedia, a financial media website. Joint accounts are insured up to $500,000.Federal officials have been taking steps to make sure other banks aren't impacted."You shouldn't be too concerned about your money if it's in one of the bigger banks, and even in some of the regional banks and the credit unions," Silver said.CAN I TELL IF MY BANK WILL FAIL?If you are worried about your bank closing in the near future, there are some things you can watch out for, according to Silver:— Watch the stock price of your bank.— Keep an eye on the quarterly and annual reports from your bank.— Start a Google alert for your bank in case there are news stories about it.You want to make sure you pay close attention to the way your bank is behaving, Silver said."If they're trying to raise money through a share offering or if they're trying to sell more stock, they might have trouble on their balance sheet," said Silver.SHOULD I LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES?If you have more than $250,000 in your bank, there are a few things you can do:— Open a joint accountYou can protect up to $500,000 by opening a joint account with someone else, such as your spouse, said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, a financial services company."A married couple can easily protect a million dollars at the same bank by each having an individual account and together having a joint account," McBride said.— Move to another financial institutionMoving your money to other financial institutions and having up to $250,000 in each account will ensure that your money is insured by the FDIC, McBride said.— Do not withdraw cashDespite the recent uncertainty, experts don't recommend withdrawing cash from your account. Keeping your money in financial institutions rather than in your home is safer, especially when the amount is insured."It's not a time to pull your money out of the bank," Silver said.Even people with uninsured deposits usually get nearly all of their money back."It takes time, but generally all depositors — both insured and uninsured — get their money back," said Todd Phillips, a consultant and former attorney at the FDIC. "Uninsured depositors may have to wait some time, and may have to take haircut where they lose 10 to 15% of their savings, but it's never zero."___Associated Press Writer Ken Sweet contributed to this report.___The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

Is my money safe? What you need to know about bank failures

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/have-jobs-need-people-is-the-message-at-nebraska-workforce-week-event/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — With an unemployment rate of 2.5%, Nebraska remains among the five states with the lowest unemployment rates, according to data released this week from the U.S. Labor Department.

Even though Nebraska reported adding 
about 5,000 workers in the past year, and about 1,000 in a recent month,
 the statewide business chamber president says that up to 80,000 jobs 
remain unfilled.

Basically, anyone who wants to work 
already is doing so, says the chamber, noting that Nebraska workforce 
participation has recovered to the high points of 2020.

With that as a backdrop, several 
business, education and government representatives held a news 
conference Tuesday marking “workforce week” in Nebraska. Flanked also by
 several students, most speakers noted an urgency to build programs that
 can retain young people and recruit outsiders.

“Here we are in Nebraska with a lot 
of jobs, many jobs to offer, not enough people to fill those jobs, and a
 very low unemployment rate,” said Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly. “No matter how 
you slice those numbers, we all come back to that same situation: 
Nebraska needs workers.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Flood and University 
of Nebraska spokesman Heath Mello spoke of the need to inspire Nebraska 
students to stay by&nbsp; increasing opportunities, including more affordable
 higher education.

“We have jobs. We need people,” Flood said during the event in the State Capitol Rotunda.&nbsp;

Bryan Slone, president of the 
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said he is often asked which 
type of jobs are short employees. His reply is that the demand is across
 the board in all occupations.

Slone advocated for&nbsp; legislative bills that he said could help improve the workforce outlook.

Among those was Legislative Bill 610,
 which would direct $10 million from the state’s general fund for career
 and technical education (CTE) programs in Nebraska schools.&nbsp;

Currently, Nebraska is the only state
 that does not match federal Perkins CTE funding, said&nbsp; State Sen. Loren
 Lippincott of Central City, who introduced the bill.

A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Wednesday before the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.

LB 610 also would allocate $400,000 
to seven career education student organizations such as DECA, SkillsUSA 
and FFA. The funds are to be used for such things as scholarships and 
travel expenses to conferences and competitions.

State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha 
was invited to speak on behalf of Legislative Bill 416, which would ease
 the tax burden for people who work for Nebraska companies but don’t 
live in the state.&nbsp;

“We want to make it easier for good 
employees to stay with Nebraska companies even if they relocate,” she 
said, adding that the pandemic underscored that remote working is 
preferred by many.

A fiscal analysis showed the bill would reduce state revenues by nearly $6 million a year.

Slone said the chamber is pushing 
other priorities to address the workforce shortage. Those include 
boosting college and university enrollment by 10% within five years and 
advocating for <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/07/30/nascent-nebraska-coalition-looks-to-immigration-related-solutions-to-help-remedy-labor-shortage/">immigration and refugee l</a>egal reforms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678898646026.png" alt="Bryan Slone, president of Nebraska Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry speaks at “workforce week” event. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Bryan Slone, president of Nebraska Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry speaks at “workforce week” event. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/have-jobs-need-people-is-the-message-at-nebraska-workforce-week-event/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — With an unemployment rate of 2.5%, Nebraska remains among the five states with the lowest unemployment rates, according to data released this week from the U.S. Labor Department.Even though Nebraska reported adding 
about 5,000 workers in the past year, and about 1,000 in a recent month,
 the statewide business chamber president says that up to 80,000 jobs 
remain unfilled.Basically, anyone who wants to work 
already is doing so, says the chamber, noting that Nebraska workforce 
participation has recovered to the high points of 2020.<h2>No matter how you slice it</h2>With that as a backdrop, several 
business, education and government representatives held a news 
conference Tuesday marking “workforce week” in Nebraska. Flanked also by
 several students, most speakers noted an urgency to build programs that
 can retain young people and recruit outsiders.“Here we are in Nebraska with a lot 
of jobs, many jobs to offer, not enough people to fill those jobs, and a
 very low unemployment rate,” said Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly. “No matter how 
you slice those numbers, we all come back to that same situation: 
Nebraska needs workers.”U.S. Rep. Mike Flood and University 
of Nebraska spokesman Heath Mello spoke of the need to inspire Nebraska 
students to stay by&nbsp; increasing opportunities, including more affordable
 higher education.“We have jobs. We need people,” Flood said during the event in the State Capitol Rotunda.&nbsp;<h2>Nebraska stands alone </h2>Bryan Slone, president of the 
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said he is often asked which 
type of jobs are short employees. His reply is that the demand is across
 the board in all occupations.Slone advocated for&nbsp; legislative bills that he said could help improve the workforce outlook.Among those was Legislative Bill 610,
 which would direct $10 million from the state’s general fund for career
 and technical education (CTE) programs in Nebraska schools.&nbsp;Currently, Nebraska is the only state
 that does not match federal Perkins CTE funding, said&nbsp; State Sen. Loren
 Lippincott of Central City, who introduced the bill.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678898725175.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Wednesday before the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee.LB 610 also would allocate $400,000 
to seven career education student organizations such as DECA, SkillsUSA 
and FFA. The funds are to be used for such things as scholarships and 
travel expenses to conferences and competitions.<h2>Nod to remote working</h2>State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha 
was invited to speak on behalf of Legislative Bill 416, which would ease
 the tax burden for people who work for Nebraska companies but don’t 
live in the state.&nbsp;“We want to make it easier for good 
employees to stay with Nebraska companies even if they relocate,” she 
said, adding that the pandemic underscored that remote working is 
preferred by many.A fiscal analysis showed the bill would reduce state revenues by nearly $6 million a year.Slone said the chamber is pushing 
other priorities to address the workforce shortage. Those include 
boosting college and university enrollment by 10% within five years and 
advocating for <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/07/30/nascent-nebraska-coalition-looks-to-immigration-related-solutions-to-help-remedy-labor-shortage/">immigration and refugee l</a>egal reforms.

Nebraska workforce week event: ‘Have jobs, need people’

By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/14/four-finalists-named-to-be-next-nebraska-education-commissioner/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Four finalists have been named to be Nebraska’s next commissioner of Education.

A search committee of the Nebraska 
State Board of Education announced the four finalists Friday. The 
committee seeks to interview each in public meetings March 30. 
Candidates will also meet with various groups throughout that day.

The board plans to hold a public meeting March 31 to select the next commissioner.

“The Board received a strong slate 
[of] applicants and while choosing finalists was not an easy task, we 
feel very confident in our selections,” Board President Patti Gubbels 
said in a statement. “Each finalist brings a unique perspective and 
extensive experience that will benefit our state.”

The State Board of Education 
conducted the search in partnership with McPherson and Jacobson, a 
professional recruiting firm. Community feedback and sessions among 
board members also helped in selecting finalists.

Three of the four finalists have ties to Nebraska.

Matt Blomstedt <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraskas-education-commissioner-announces-his-resignation/">resigned</a> Jan. 3 after nine years as commissioner, with a <a target="_blank" href="https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/education/state-education-commissioner-blomstedt-stepping-down-in-january/article_0b5d0b9e-5362-5ef1-a19b-c9018b2668d5.html">salary</a>
 of $242,019. In the 2021-22 school year, the Nebraska Education 
Department oversaw more than 327,000 students and nearly 24,000 
teachers.

Coons has led the Tennessee 
Department of Education since June 2019, leading all birth to grade 12 
academic programming, according to her resume.&nbsp;

She graduated with a degree in 
secondary education in June 1998 from Wright State University and earned
 her master’s degree in educational technology five years later.

Coons’ salary is $168,948 based on a <a target="_blank" href="https://salary.app.tn.gov/public/searchsalary">monthly compensation rate</a> of $14,079.

The Tennessee Education Department serves more than <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tn.gov/education/news/2022/11/14/tdoe-releases-2020-2022-accelerating-tennessee-report-.html#:~:text=Across%20the%20state%2C%20the%20department,schools%20located%20in%20147%20districts.">950,000 students and 70,000 educators</a> across over 1,800 schools in 147 districts.

Maher has led the South Dakota Board 
of Regents since July 2020; the governor-appointed regents unanimously 
voted to appoint him to oversee six public universities and two schools 
for the blind and visually impaired and the deaf and hard of hearing.

He graduated from Midland Lutheran 
College (now Midland University) with a degree in mathematics education.
 He later earned a master’s degree in educational administration from 
the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Ph.D. in educational 
administration from the University of Nebraska.&nbsp;

Maher has taught or been a school 
administrator in Clarks Public Schools, Elkhorn Public Schools, 
Johnson-Brock Public Schools, Waverly Public Schools, Centennial Public 
Schools and Kearney Public Schools.

In February, Maher announced he would <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sdbor.edu/news/Pages/Maher-Announces-Resignation-from-South-Dakota-Board-of-Regents.aspx">resign</a> in June at the end of his current contract. Maher’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.keloland.com/news/capitol-news-bureau/south-dakota-paid-337000-in-severance-to-past-two-board-of-regents-executive-directors/">salary</a> was $329,280 in 2021.&nbsp;

The South Dakota regents oversee nearly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sdbor.edu/news/Pages/The-South-Dakota-Board-of-Regents-Reports-Optimistic-Enrollment-Numbers.aspx">34,000 students</a> and over 4,000 employees across six public universities.

Poloncic has led the DC West 
Community Schools since July 2014. She states in her resume that she 
fostered positive relationships and “inspired a commitment to students 
in every decision.”&nbsp;

She graduated with a degree in 
elementary and early childhood education from the University of Nebraska
 at Kearney in 1991 and earned a master’s degree in educational 
administration a decade later. She received a Ph.D. in educational 
administration from NU in 2016.

Poloncic has taught in Nebraska at 
Doane University, Kearney Public Schools and Sutherland Public Schools. 
She was also an elementary principal in Millard Public Schools from 
August 2007 until her new role.

Poloncic’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dcwest.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/53cd6c3488c75/Poloncic%20Contract%2020.21.pdf">salary</a> is $185,648.

DC West Community Schools has more than 1,000 students and 160 staff members, according to Poloncic’s resume.

Stephens has led the Churchill County
 School District in Fallon, Nevada, since 2018, where she develops 
personalized learning practices and manages a $32 million budget.

She graduated summa cum laude with a 
degree in English language arts with a grades 7-12 certification from 
Doane College in 1999. She earned a master’s degree in educational 
leadership three years later. She earned a doctorate in educational 
administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2010.

Stephens taught at Bellevue Public 
Schools and Norris Public Schools and was a professional development 
consultant for Educational Service Unit #2 in Fremont. She also served 
as a district administrator for Beatrice Public Schools.

In January, Stephens informed the Churchill County district’s board of trustees in January she would <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2023/jan/11/ccsds-summer-stephens-offers-resignation/">resign</a>
 effective June 30, most likely to move back to her home state of 
Nebraska to “pursue new opportunities.” The Nebraska Examiner could not 
confirm Stephens’ salary with the district, but according to Transparent
 Nevada, Stephens’ <a target="_blank" href="https://transparentnevada.com/salaries/churchill-county-school-district/">salary</a> was $152,000 in 2021.

The Churchill County School District serves more than <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/nevada/districts/churchill-county-school-district-106457">3,000 students</a> across seven schools. According to U.S. News &amp; World Report, 70% of the district’s students are economically disadvantaged.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678898420738.png" alt="Aaron Sanderford / Nebraska Examiner" />
 <figcaption>Aaron Sanderford / Nebraska Examiner</figcaption>
 </figure>By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/14/four-finalists-named-to-be-next-nebraska-education-commissioner/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Four finalists have been named to be Nebraska’s next commissioner of Education.A search committee of the Nebraska 
State Board of Education announced the four finalists Friday. The 
committee seeks to interview each in public meetings March 30. 
Candidates will also meet with various groups throughout that day.The board plans to hold a public meeting March 31 to select the next commissioner.The finalists are:<ul>
 <li>Lisa Coons, chief academic officer for the Tennessee Department of Education, in Nashville, Tennessee.</li><li>Brian Maher, CEO and executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents in Pierre, South Dakota.</li><li>Melissa Poloncic, superintendent of Douglas County West Community Schools in Valley, Nebraska.</li><li>Summer
 Stephens, superintendent of schools and career and technical education 
administrator for Churchill County School District in Fallon, Nevada.</li>
 </ul>“The Board received a strong slate 
[of] applicants and while choosing finalists was not an easy task, we 
feel very confident in our selections,” Board President Patti Gubbels 
said in a statement. “Each finalist brings a unique perspective and 
extensive experience that will benefit our state.”The State Board of Education 
conducted the search in partnership with McPherson and Jacobson, a 
professional recruiting firm. Community feedback and sessions among 
board members also helped in selecting finalists.Three of the four finalists have ties to Nebraska.Matt Blomstedt <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraskas-education-commissioner-announces-his-resignation/">resigned</a> Jan. 3 after nine years as commissioner, with a <a target="_blank" href="https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/education/state-education-commissioner-blomstedt-stepping-down-in-january/article_0b5d0b9e-5362-5ef1-a19b-c9018b2668d5.html">salary</a>
 of $242,019. In the 2021-22 school year, the Nebraska Education 
Department oversaw more than 327,000 students and nearly 24,000 
teachers.<h2>Lisa Coons</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678898494624.jpeg" alt=" Lisa Coons, chief academic officer for the Tennessee Department of Education. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Education)" />
 <figcaption> Lisa Coons, chief academic officer for the Tennessee Department of Education. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Education)</figcaption>
 </figure>Coons has led the Tennessee 
Department of Education since June 2019, leading all birth to grade 12 
academic programming, according to her resume.&nbsp;She graduated with a degree in 
secondary education in June 1998 from Wright State University and earned
 her master’s degree in educational technology five years later.Coons’ salary is $168,948 based on a <a target="_blank" href="https://salary.app.tn.gov/public/searchsalary">monthly compensation rate</a> of $14,079.The Tennessee Education Department serves more than <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tn.gov/education/news/2022/11/14/tdoe-releases-2020-2022-accelerating-tennessee-report-.html#:~:text=Across%20the%20state%2C%20the%20department,schools%20located%20in%20147%20districts.">950,000 students and 70,000 educators</a> across over 1,800 schools in 147 districts.<h2>Brian Maher</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678898522443.jpeg" alt="Brian Maher, CEO and executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Education)" />
 <figcaption>Brian Maher, CEO and executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Education)</figcaption>
 </figure>Maher has led the South Dakota Board 
of Regents since July 2020; the governor-appointed regents unanimously 
voted to appoint him to oversee six public universities and two schools 
for the blind and visually impaired and the deaf and hard of hearing.He graduated from Midland Lutheran 
College (now Midland University) with a degree in mathematics education.
 He later earned a master’s degree in educational administration from 
the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Ph.D. in educational 
administration from the University of Nebraska.&nbsp;Maher has taught or been a school 
administrator in Clarks Public Schools, Elkhorn Public Schools, 
Johnson-Brock Public Schools, Waverly Public Schools, Centennial Public 
Schools and Kearney Public Schools.In February, Maher announced he would <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sdbor.edu/news/Pages/Maher-Announces-Resignation-from-South-Dakota-Board-of-Regents.aspx">resign</a> in June at the end of his current contract. Maher’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.keloland.com/news/capitol-news-bureau/south-dakota-paid-337000-in-severance-to-past-two-board-of-regents-executive-directors/">salary</a> was $329,280 in 2021.&nbsp;The South Dakota regents oversee nearly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sdbor.edu/news/Pages/The-South-Dakota-Board-of-Regents-Reports-Optimistic-Enrollment-Numbers.aspx">34,000 students</a> and over 4,000 employees across six public universities.<h2>Melissa Poloncic</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678898555341.jpeg" alt=" Melissa Poloncic, superintendent of Douglas County West Community Schools. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Education)" />
 <figcaption> Melissa Poloncic, superintendent of Douglas County West Community Schools. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Education)</figcaption>
 </figure>Poloncic has led the DC West 
Community Schools since July 2014. She states in her resume that she 
fostered positive relationships and “inspired a commitment to students 
in every decision.”&nbsp;She graduated with a degree in 
elementary and early childhood education from the University of Nebraska
 at Kearney in 1991 and earned a master’s degree in educational 
administration a decade later. She received a Ph.D. in educational 
administration from NU in 2016.Poloncic has taught in Nebraska at 
Doane University, Kearney Public Schools and Sutherland Public Schools. 
She was also an elementary principal in Millard Public Schools from 
August 2007 until her new role.Poloncic’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dcwest.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/53cd6c3488c75/Poloncic%20Contract%2020.21.pdf">salary</a> is $185,648.DC West Community Schools has more than 1,000 students and 160 staff members, according to Poloncic’s resume.<h2>Summer Stephens</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678898578553.jpeg" alt="Summer Stephens, superintendent of schools and career and technical education administrator for Churchill County School District. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Education)" />
 <figcaption>Summer Stephens, superintendent of schools and career and technical education administrator for Churchill County School District. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Education)</figcaption>
 </figure>Stephens has led the Churchill County
 School District in Fallon, Nevada, since 2018, where she develops 
personalized learning practices and manages a $32 million budget.She graduated summa cum laude with a 
degree in English language arts with a grades 7-12 certification from 
Doane College in 1999. She earned a master’s degree in educational 
leadership three years later. She earned a doctorate in educational 
administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2010.Stephens taught at Bellevue Public 
Schools and Norris Public Schools and was a professional development 
consultant for Educational Service Unit #2 in Fremont. She also served 
as a district administrator for Beatrice Public Schools.In January, Stephens informed the Churchill County district’s board of trustees in January she would <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2023/jan/11/ccsds-summer-stephens-offers-resignation/">resign</a>
 effective June 30, most likely to move back to her home state of 
Nebraska to “pursue new opportunities.” The Nebraska Examiner could not 
confirm Stephens’ salary with the district, but according to Transparent
 Nevada, Stephens’ <a target="_blank" href="https://transparentnevada.com/salaries/churchill-county-school-district/">salary</a> was $152,000 in 2021.The Churchill County School District serves more than <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/nevada/districts/churchill-county-school-district-106457">3,000 students</a> across seven schools. According to U.S. News &amp; World Report, 70% of the district’s students are economically disadvantaged.

Four finalists named to be next Nebraska education chief

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) —The way has been cleared for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/global-trade-north-america-mexico-kansas-city-missouri-tigers-mens-basketball-9ea03d9637e15ee9dd91848db14c7467">first major railroad merger</a>&nbsp;in more than two decades after federal regulators approved Canadian Pacific’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-kansas-city-southern-keith-creel-99ffe1480c69d0aa58ff066155e7ccae">$31 billion acquisition</a>&nbsp;of Kansas City Southern.

The two railroads are the nation’s two smallest, but the approval Wednesday by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board comes after a lengthy and arduous review because their coupling will create the only railroad linking Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The Transportation Board said that the new direct service "new direct will facilitate the flow of grain from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast and Mexico, the movement of intermodal goods between Dallas and Chicago and the trade in automotive parts, finished vehicles, and other containerized mixed goods between the United States and Mexico."

The board said the transaction, which will have little to no track redundancies or overlapping routes, is also expected to add more than 800 new union jobs in the U.S.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678886941988.png" alt="Kansas City Southern" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Southern</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) —The way has been cleared for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/global-trade-north-america-mexico-kansas-city-missouri-tigers-mens-basketball-9ea03d9637e15ee9dd91848db14c7467">first major railroad merger</a>&nbsp;in more than two decades after federal regulators approved Canadian Pacific’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-kansas-city-southern-keith-creel-99ffe1480c69d0aa58ff066155e7ccae">$31 billion acquisition</a>&nbsp;of Kansas City Southern.The two railroads are the nation’s two smallest, but the approval Wednesday by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board comes after a lengthy and arduous review because their coupling will create the only railroad linking Canada, Mexico and the United States.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678887002304.png" alt="photo courtesy Kansas City Southern" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Kansas City Southern</figcaption>
 </figure>The Transportation Board said that the new direct service "new direct will facilitate the flow of grain from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast and Mexico, the movement of intermodal goods between Dallas and Chicago and the trade in automotive parts, finished vehicles, and other containerized mixed goods between the United States and Mexico."The board said the transaction, which will have little to no track redundancies or overlapping routes, is also expected to add more than 800 new union jobs in the U.S.

First major US railroad merger in 2 decades includes KC Southern

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A federal judge will hear arguments Wednesday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-food-and-drug-administration-donald-trump-texas-medication-bdd99c39613c71f62d10dfc2f2d1bf07">high-stakes court case</a>&nbsp;that could threaten access to medication abortion and blunt the authority of U.S. drug regulators.

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of Texas is weighing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-lawsuits-71b8e54b97b016bf2cc0d9380d478991">lawsuit from Christian conservatives</a>&nbsp;aimed at overturning the Food and Drug Administration’s more than 2-decade-old approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. The drug, when used with a second pill, has become the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-science-health-2d52ebf9efc6ef06f03e788fecd13013">most common method</a>&nbsp;of abortion in the U.S.

There is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling the scientific decisions of the FDA. And legal experts have warned of far-reaching consequences if judges begin second-guessing FDA decisions on drug safety and effectiveness.

Wednesday's hearing is the first in the case, which is being intensely tracked by groups on both sides of the abortion issue after last year's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">reversal of Roe v. Wade</a>. However, there was little advance notice of the high-profile session, which only appeared on the public online docket late Monday after news reports raised concerns about a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-hearing-96a2466ea67dd12f0fdb7347f51a7f2f">lack of transparency in the proceedings</a>.

Kacsmaryk told attorneys in the case Friday that he would delay the filing to minimize threats and possible protests, a development first reported by The Washington Post. He also asked the lawyers not to disclose the date of the hearing,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-transparency-fda-roe-wade-48c389dd3c892aa9bbc553e0b3de5360">according to a transcript of the meeting</a>&nbsp;released Tuesday.

Such actions by a judge are highly unusual because court proceedings are almost always open to the public and transparency is an underlying assumption of the American judicial system.

Kacsmaryk, appointed by President Donald Trump, formerly worked as an attorney for a Christian legal group and has written critically of laws allowing abortion. Supporters of abortion rights say conservatives are steering cases to his courtroom because they believe he will rule in their favor.

On Wednesday, Kacsmaryk will hear arguments in Amarillo from the Alliance for Defending Freedom — which filed its lawsuit on behalf of several anti-abortion groups and physicians — as well as federal attorneys representing the FDA. The drug's manufacturer, Danco Laboratories, is also a party in the case and set to argue for keeping its pill available.

The Alliance is seeking an injunction that would force the FDA to revoke its approval of mifepristone. But it's unclear how quickly that could happen or what the process would entail. The FDA has its own procedures for revoking drug approvals that involve public hearings and scientific deliberations, which can take months or years.

If Kacsmaryk rules against the FDA, federal attorneys are expected to swiftly appeal the decision and seek an emergency stay to stop it from taking effect while the case proceeds.

Mifepristone is part of a two-drug regimen that has been the standard for medication abortion in the U.S since 2000. If mifepristone is sidelined, clinics and doctors that prescribe the combination say they plan to switch to using only the second drug, misoprostol. That single-drug approach is slightly less effective at ending pregnancies, although it is widely used in countries where mifepristone is illegal or unavailable.

The Texas lawsuit alleges that the FDA's approval of mifepristone in 2000 was flawed for several reasons, including an inadequate review of the pill's safety risks. The suit also challenges several later FDA decisions that loosened restrictions on the pill, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-medication-a6634601a37fb048aecdd9f030e0863a">eliminating a requirement</a>&nbsp;that women pick it up in person.

Lawyers for the FDA have pointed out that serious side effects with mifepristone are rare and the agency has repeatedly affirmed the drug's safety by reviewing subsequent studies and data. Pulling the drug more than 20 years after approval would be “extraordinary and unprecedented,” the government stated in its legal response.

Typically, the FDA’s authority to regulate prescription drugs has gone unchallenged. But more than a dozen states now have laws restricting abortion broadly — and the pills specifically — following last year’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Lawsuits challenging state restrictions, including those in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-phil-berger-north-carolina-raleigh-health-56a1aa8617b46a9cb197cb395829c387">North Carolina</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-west-virginia-state-government-jim-justice-health-61085d84b9d2f937f238a32c73bf32ad">West Virginia</a>, are progressing separately and are expected to continue for years.

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — A federal judge will hear arguments Wednesday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-food-and-drug-administration-donald-trump-texas-medication-bdd99c39613c71f62d10dfc2f2d1bf07">high-stakes court case</a>&nbsp;that could threaten access to medication abortion and blunt the authority of U.S. drug regulators.Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of Texas is weighing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-texas-lawsuits-71b8e54b97b016bf2cc0d9380d478991">lawsuit from Christian conservatives</a>&nbsp;aimed at overturning the Food and Drug Administration’s more than 2-decade-old approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. The drug, when used with a second pill, has become the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-covid-science-health-2d52ebf9efc6ef06f03e788fecd13013">most common method</a>&nbsp;of abortion in the U.S.There is essentially no precedent for a lone judge overruling the scientific decisions of the FDA. And legal experts have warned of far-reaching consequences if judges begin second-guessing FDA decisions on drug safety and effectiveness.Wednesday's hearing is the first in the case, which is being intensely tracked by groups on both sides of the abortion issue after last year's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">reversal of Roe v. Wade</a>. However, there was little advance notice of the high-profile session, which only appeared on the public online docket late Monday after news reports raised concerns about a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-lawsuit-hearing-96a2466ea67dd12f0fdb7347f51a7f2f">lack of transparency in the proceedings</a>.Kacsmaryk told attorneys in the case Friday that he would delay the filing to minimize threats and possible protests, a development first reported by The Washington Post. He also asked the lawyers not to disclose the date of the hearing,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifepristone-transparency-fda-roe-wade-48c389dd3c892aa9bbc553e0b3de5360">according to a transcript of the meeting</a>&nbsp;released Tuesday.Such actions by a judge are highly unusual because court proceedings are almost always open to the public and transparency is an underlying assumption of the American judicial system.Kacsmaryk, appointed by President Donald Trump, formerly worked as an attorney for a Christian legal group and has written critically of laws allowing abortion. Supporters of abortion rights say conservatives are steering cases to his courtroom because they believe he will rule in their favor.On Wednesday, Kacsmaryk will hear arguments in Amarillo from the Alliance for Defending Freedom — which filed its lawsuit on behalf of several anti-abortion groups and physicians — as well as federal attorneys representing the FDA. The drug's manufacturer, Danco Laboratories, is also a party in the case and set to argue for keeping its pill available.The Alliance is seeking an injunction that would force the FDA to revoke its approval of mifepristone. But it's unclear how quickly that could happen or what the process would entail. The FDA has its own procedures for revoking drug approvals that involve public hearings and scientific deliberations, which can take months or years.If Kacsmaryk rules against the FDA, federal attorneys are expected to swiftly appeal the decision and seek an emergency stay to stop it from taking effect while the case proceeds.Mifepristone is part of a two-drug regimen that has been the standard for medication abortion in the U.S since 2000. If mifepristone is sidelined, clinics and doctors that prescribe the combination say they plan to switch to using only the second drug, misoprostol. That single-drug approach is slightly less effective at ending pregnancies, although it is widely used in countries where mifepristone is illegal or unavailable.The Texas lawsuit alleges that the FDA's approval of mifepristone in 2000 was flawed for several reasons, including an inadequate review of the pill's safety risks. The suit also challenges several later FDA decisions that loosened restrictions on the pill, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-abortion-health-medication-a6634601a37fb048aecdd9f030e0863a">eliminating a requirement</a>&nbsp;that women pick it up in person.Lawyers for the FDA have pointed out that serious side effects with mifepristone are rare and the agency has repeatedly affirmed the drug's safety by reviewing subsequent studies and data. Pulling the drug more than 20 years after approval would be “extraordinary and unprecedented,” the government stated in its legal response.Typically, the FDA’s authority to regulate prescription drugs has gone unchallenged. But more than a dozen states now have laws restricting abortion broadly — and the pills specifically — following last year’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.Lawsuits challenging state restrictions, including those in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-phil-berger-north-carolina-raleigh-health-56a1aa8617b46a9cb197cb395829c387">North Carolina</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-west-virginia-state-government-jim-justice-health-61085d84b9d2f937f238a32c73bf32ad">West Virginia</a>, are progressing separately and are expected to continue for years.___

Judge to consider whether to order abortion pill off the market

DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling a half-million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because the front seat belts may not latch properly.

The recall covers some of the the automaker's top-selling models including the 2017 through 2020 CR-V, the 2018 and 2019 Accord, the 2018 through 2020 Odyssey and the 2019 Insight. Also included is the Acura RDX from the 2019 and 2020 model years.

Honda says in documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators that the surface coating on the channel for the buckle can deteriorate over time. The release button can shrink against the channel at lower temperatures, increasing friction and stopping the buckle from latching.

If the buckle doesn't latch, a driver or passenger may not be restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Honda says it has no reports of injuries caused by the problem.

Dealers will replace the front seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies if needed. Owners will be notified by letter starting April 17.

DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling a half-million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because the front seat belts may not latch properly.The recall covers some of the the automaker's top-selling models including the 2017 through 2020 CR-V, the 2018 and 2019 Accord, the 2018 through 2020 Odyssey and the 2019 Insight. Also included is the Acura RDX from the 2019 and 2020 model years.Honda says in documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators that the surface coating on the channel for the buckle can deteriorate over time. The release button can shrink against the channel at lower temperatures, increasing friction and stopping the buckle from latching.If the buckle doesn't latch, a driver or passenger may not be restrained in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.Honda says it has no reports of injuries caused by the problem.Dealers will replace the front seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies if needed. Owners will be notified by letter starting April 17.

Honda recalling 500,000 vehicles to fix seat belt problem

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) — The grief is still suffocating, the anger still visceral, President Joe Biden said Tuesday, in this suburban Los Angeles community where a gunman stormed a dance hall and killed 11 in January. He announced fresh federal measures to curb gun violence but emotionally declared there must be more.

“Do something. Do something big,” he implored.

“I’m determined to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” Biden told the families of some of the victims who were in the audience for his remarks, along with the 26-year-old who wrestled the semiautomatic pistol away from the gunman.

Biden’s rhetoric has grown ever stronger about guns — he routinely calls for banning assault weapons — in pushing a gun-control platform even tougher than during the Obama administration when he was vice president. He has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gun-violence-colorado-shootings-f85b4b9a59e3852868950d797f79a351">emboldened by the midterm elections</a>&nbsp;when his regular talk of gun control didn't result in massive Democratic losses, and he's expected to continue to argue for strong changes as he moves toward a 2024 reelection run, his aides say.

“We remember and mourn today,” Biden said in Monterey Park. “But I’m here with you today to act.”

The president told the crowd he’d signed an executive order aimed at stiffening background checks to buy guns, promoting more secure firearms storage and ensuring law enforcement agencies get more out of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-gun-violence-bill-c21249287f976c2c164d8753205c2e6d">bipartisan gun control law</a>&nbsp;enacted last summer.

But Biden has only limited power to go beyond that legislation that was passed after the killings of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-crime-shootings-race-and-ethnicity-4a4dcf6e12c598d1f0a372227760b93f">10 shoppers</a>&nbsp;at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-may-24-584466945120">19 students and two teachers</a>&nbsp;at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school.

His action on Tuesday does not change government policy. Rather, it directs federal agencies to ensure compliance with existing laws and procedures — a typical feature of executive orders issued by presidents when they confront the limits of their own power to act without cooperation from Congress.

“Let’s be clear, none of this absolves Congress from the responsibility of acting to pass universal background checks, to eliminate gun manufacturers immunity to liability," Biden said.

Using emotion to press Congress to act, he detailied the lives of Monterey Park victims: A dancehall manager who walked patrons to their cars after lessons. An adventurer ready for the next trip abroad. A devoted grandparent.

Biden, whose own familiarity with grief is well known — his small daughter and wife were killed in a car crash in the 1970s and later his adult son died of cancer — touched on the everyday things he said hurt so much after the initial shock is gone; the way a closet still smells like a loved one, the sound of a laugh, the bend of a smile.

The victims in Monterey Park, where 20 were shot after Lunar New Year celebrations, were older Asian Americans, mostly in their 60s and 70s. Biden said they represented a powerful vision of America: “Our diversity is the strength of this nation.”

His order on Tuesday directs the Cabinet to complete a plan to better structure the government to support communities suffering from gun violence. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency can respond to natural disasters to provide on-the-ground support, the government should be able to do the same for a mass shooting, he said. More mental health support for grief and trauma, financial aid for victims and for businesses forced to close during a lengthy police investigations.

He is directing Attorney General Merrick Garland to shore up rules for federally licensed gun dealers so they know they are required to do background checks as part of their licenses.

He is also mandating better reporting of ballistics data from federal law enforcement for a clearinghouse that allows federal, state and local law enforcement to match shell casings to guns. But local and state law enforcement agencies are not required to report ballistics data, and many do not, making the clearinghouse less effective.

And the president is asking the Federal Trade Commission to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market to minors and use military images to market to the general public.

“President Biden’s executive order today is a home run for public safety,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This is the latest example of President Biden’s leadership on gun safety, and we’re proud to stand with him as he takes robust action to help close the gun-seller loophole — which will significantly expand background checks on gun sales, keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people and save lives.”

The bill passed last year, known as the Safer Communities Act, is viewed by gun control advocates as a good start but one that doesn't go far enough. After the law was signed, there were 11 other mass shootings, according to a database of mass killings since 2006 maintained by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. Those killings don't include shootings in which fewer than four people were killed — and gun violence is also rising nationwide.

MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) — The grief is still suffocating, the anger still visceral, President Joe Biden said Tuesday, in this suburban Los Angeles community where a gunman stormed a dance hall and killed 11 in January. He announced fresh federal measures to curb gun violence but emotionally declared there must be more.“Do something. Do something big,” he implored.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F8868817809859929%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=12" 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>“I’m determined to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” Biden told the families of some of the victims who were in the audience for his remarks, along with the 26-year-old who wrestled the semiautomatic pistol away from the gunman.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It&#39;s time for Congress to ban assault weapons.&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1635792929427013636?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden’s rhetoric has grown ever stronger about guns — he routinely calls for banning assault weapons — in pushing a gun-control platform even tougher than during the Obama administration when he was vice president. He has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gun-violence-colorado-shootings-f85b4b9a59e3852868950d797f79a351">emboldened by the midterm elections</a>&nbsp;when his regular talk of gun control didn't result in massive Democratic losses, and he's expected to continue to argue for strong changes as he moves toward a 2024 reelection run, his aides say.“We remember and mourn today,” Biden said in Monterey Park. “But I’m here with you today to act.”The president told the crowd he’d signed an executive order aimed at stiffening background checks to buy guns, promoting more secure firearms storage and ensuring law enforcement agencies get more out of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-gun-violence-bill-c21249287f976c2c164d8753205c2e6d">bipartisan gun control law</a>&nbsp;enacted last summer.But Biden has only limited power to go beyond that legislation that was passed after the killings of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-crime-shootings-race-and-ethnicity-4a4dcf6e12c598d1f0a372227760b93f">10 shoppers</a>&nbsp;at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-may-24-584466945120">19 students and two teachers</a>&nbsp;at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school.His action on Tuesday does not change government policy. Rather, it directs federal agencies to ensure compliance with existing laws and procedures — a typical feature of executive orders issued by presidents when they confront the limits of their own power to act without cooperation from Congress.“Let’s be clear, none of this absolves Congress from the responsibility of acting to pass universal background checks, to eliminate gun manufacturers immunity to liability," Biden said.Using emotion to press Congress to act, he detailied the lives of Monterey Park victims: A dancehall manager who walked patrons to their cars after lessons. An adventurer ready for the next trip abroad. A devoted grandparent.Biden, whose own familiarity with grief is well known — his small daughter and wife were killed in a car crash in the 1970s and later his adult son died of cancer — touched on the everyday things he said hurt so much after the initial shock is gone; the way a closet still smells like a loved one, the sound of a laugh, the bend of a smile.The victims in Monterey Park, where 20 were shot after Lunar New Year celebrations, were older Asian Americans, mostly in their 60s and 70s. Biden said they represented a powerful vision of America: “Our diversity is the strength of this nation.”His order on Tuesday directs the Cabinet to complete a plan to better structure the government to support communities suffering from gun violence. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency can respond to natural disasters to provide on-the-ground support, the government should be able to do the same for a mass shooting, he said. More mental health support for grief and trauma, financial aid for victims and for businesses forced to close during a lengthy police investigations.He is directing Attorney General Merrick Garland to shore up rules for federally licensed gun dealers so they know they are required to do background checks as part of their licenses.He is also mandating better reporting of ballistics data from federal law enforcement for a clearinghouse that allows federal, state and local law enforcement to match shell casings to guns. But local and state law enforcement agencies are not required to report ballistics data, and many do not, making the clearinghouse less effective.And the president is asking the Federal Trade Commission to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market to minors and use military images to market to the general public.“President Biden’s executive order today is a home run for public safety,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This is the latest example of President Biden’s leadership on gun safety, and we’re proud to stand with him as he takes robust action to help close the gun-seller loophole — which will significantly expand background checks on gun sales, keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people and save lives.”The bill passed last year, known as the Safer Communities Act, is viewed by gun control advocates as a good start but one that doesn't go far enough. After the law was signed, there were 11 other mass shootings, according to a database of mass killings since 2006 maintained by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. Those killings don't include shootings in which fewer than four people were killed — and gun violence is also rising nationwide.Pro-gun groups said the order would do little to stop growing gun violence.“The reality is that nothing in the president’s executive order today would have done anything to prevent the recent mass shootings in California, Michigan or elsewhere,” said Katie Pointer Baney who is the Managing Director of Government Affairs for the U.S. Concealed Carry Association. “It’s time for the president and political leaders across the country to have an honest conversation with the American people and acknowledge there is no legislative fix that will permanently solve the issue of gun violence.”Biden said he'd direct his Cabinet to make sure law enforcement agencies and citizens, too, understand the benefits of red-flag laws, which are intended to temporarily remove guns from people with potentially violent behavior and prevent them from hurting themselves or others.“So more parents, teachers and counselors know how to flag for the court that someone is exhibiting violent tendencies, or experiencing suicidal thoughts that make them a danger to themselves and others," he said.Last month, the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-funds-red-flag-laws-ef06146b4db58a404471bb6ebde90aaa">sent out more than $200 million</a>&nbsp;to help states and the District of Columbia administer red-flag laws and other crisis-intervention programs.---------------MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Tuesday aiming at increasing background checks to buy guns, promoting more secure firearms storage and ensuring U.S. law enforcement agencies get more out of a bipartisan gun control law enacted last summer.The Democratic president was to address his latest efforts to curb gun violence in a speech in this suburban Los Angeles community, where a gunman stormed a dance hall and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-law-enforcement-crime-california-los-angeles-efc390080be5cdb5f7aecb652ed0fb5d">shot 20 people</a>, killing 11, following a Lunar New Year celebration in January. He was also meeting with families of victims and with first responders from that day.Biden’s rhetoric has grown ever stronger about guns — he routinely calls for banning assault weapons — in pushing a vocal gun-control platform even tougher than during the Obama administration when he was vice president. He has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gun-violence-colorado-shootings-f85b4b9a59e3852868950d797f79a351">emboldened by the midterm electiions</a>&nbsp;when his regular talk of gun control didn't result in massive losses, and he's expected to continue to argue for strong changes as he inches toward a 2024 reelection run, his aides say.Biden was greeted at the Los Angeles airport Tuesday by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-the-union-biden-guests-cc0d350feb6264e3ce9305355720c508">Brandon Tsay</a>, the 26-year-old who wrestled the semiautomatic pistol away from the gunman in Monterey Park. The two shook hands; Biden had invited Tsay to his State of the Union address in January where he praised the young man's heroism.But the president has only limited power on guns to go beyond bipartisan legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-gun-violence-bill-c21249287f976c2c164d8753205c2e6d">passed by Congress last summer</a>&nbsp;after the killings last year of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-supermarket-shooting-crime-shootings-race-and-ethnicity-4a4dcf6e12c598d1f0a372227760b93f">10 shoppers</a>&nbsp;at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-may-24-584466945120">19 students and two teachers</a>&nbsp;at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school.Tuesday's action does not change U.S. government policy. Rather, it directs federal agencies to ensure compliance with existing laws and procedures — a typical feature of executive orders issued by presidents when they confront the limits of their own power to act without cooperation from Congress.Biden, in the order, acknowledged Congress' opposition, but said, “In the meantime, my administration will continue to do all that we can, within existing authority, to make our communities safer.”The order directs the Cabinet to work on a plan to better structure the government to support communities suffering from gun violence. The plan calls on Attorney General Merrick Garland to shore up the rules for federally licensed gun dealers so they know they are required to do background checks as part of the license.Biden is also mandating better reporting of ballistics data from federal law enforcement for a clearinghouse that allows federal, state and local law enforcement to match shell casings to guns. But local and state law enforcement agencies are not required to report ballistics data, and many do not, making the clearinghouse less effective.And the president is asking the Federal Trade Commission to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market to minors and use military images to market to the general public.“President Biden’s executive order today is a home run for public safety,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This is the latest example of President Biden’s leadership on gun safety, and we’re proud to stand with him as he takes robust action to help close the gun-seller loophole — which will significantly expand background checks on gun sales, keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people and save lives.”The bill passed last year, known as the Safer Communities Act, is viewed by gun control advocates as a good start but one that doesn't go far enough. After the law was signed, there were 11 other mass shootings, according to a database of mass killings since 2006 maintained by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. Those killings don't include shootings in which fewer than four people were killed — and gun violence is also rising nationwide.Pro-gun groups said the order would do little to stop growing gun violence.“The reality is that nothing in the president’s executive order today would have done anything to prevent the recent mass shootings in California, Michigan or elsewhere,” said Katie Pointer Baney who is the Managing Director of Government Affairs for the U.S. Concealed Carry Association. “It’s time for the president and political leaders across the country to have an honest conversation with the American people and acknowledge there is no legislative fix that will permanently solve the issue of gun violence.”Biden will also direct his Cabinet to make sure law enforcement agencies understand the benefits of the new law, particularly around red-flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders, which are intended to temporarily remove guns from people with potentially violent behavior and prevent them from hurting themselves or others.Last month, the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-funds-red-flag-laws-ef06146b4db58a404471bb6ebde90aaa">sent out more than $200 million</a>&nbsp;to help states and the District of Columbia administer red-flag laws and other crisis-intervention programs.