OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;cast himself Saturday as the only Republican candidate who can build on his White House legacy but shied away from directly critiquing his potential rivals, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Trump, giving the headlining address at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, told a cheering crowd that he was engaged in his “final battle” as he tries to return to the White House.

“We are going to finish what we started,” he said. “We’re going to complete the mission. We’re going to see this battle through to ultimate victory.”

Though DeSantis, seen as Trump's biggest potential rival, is frequently a subject of name-calling and other attacks in Trump's social media posts and in interviews, he wasn't mentioned directly in Trump's address before conservative activists, who earlier in the day applauded when an old video clip of the Florida governor was shown in a montage.

While CPAC was once a must-stop for candidates mulling Republican presidential runs, DeSantis and other major likely contenders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bolsonaro-pence-cpac-desantis-youngkin-e237764ad60fbe07e0fe512f48c3c616">skipped this year's gathering</a>&nbsp;amid scandal and as the group has increasingly become aligned with Trump.

The former president's enduring popularity with this segment of voters was on display throughout the conference this week. Some attendees wore Trump-themed outfits, with “MAGA” hats and sequined jackets.

Members of his family and his presidential administration were swarmed like celebrities in the hallways and dominated the list of speakers. The handful of other potential and declared candidates not named Trump who spoke received only tepid applause.

And the annual CPAC straw poll, an unscientific survey of attendees, found Trump the top choice to be the party's nominee, with 62% support, trailed by DeSantis at 20% and businessman Perry Johnson,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-johnson-2024-presidential-campaign-b734b469aa0b56a94e19ef0125cf5997">who announced his long shot bid at the conference</a>, with 5%.

Nearly all — 95% of respondents — said they approved of Trump's performance as president.

Ahead of his speech, Trump told reporters that he would continue his third presidential campaign even if indicted. He is under investigation by prosecutors probing his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-new-york-city-only-on-ap-donald-trump-georgia-266e28c4e47e54731b233e0f770f6729">in Georgia and by the U.S. Justice Department,</a>&nbsp;as well as his handling of classified documents, among other issues.

He condemned all the probes as politically motivated and vowed that criminal charges wouldn’t deter him.

“Oh, absolutely, I won’t even think about leaving,” he told reporters, adding that “probably, it’ll enhance my numbers, but it’s a very bad thing for America. It’s very bad for the country.”

“This is an audience that supports President Trump,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., the No. 3 House Republican, who endorsed Trump days before he officially launched his 2024 campaign.

The only member of House leadership to attend the conference, Stefanik told The Associated Press that Trump continued to be the party’s leader.

“President Trump is in a very strong position and I think he will be the Republican nominee,” she said.

While Trump did not launch broadsides against his potential challengers for the White House, many of whom were pitching themselves to conservative donors near his Florida home this week, he did repeatedly criticize the old guard of the Republican Party, which is eager to move past him.

“We had a Republican Party that was ruled by freaks, neo-cons, globalists, open borders zealots and fools. But we are never going back to the party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove and Jeb Bush,” he said.

He took only a veiled jab at DeSantis, calling out those who have proposed raising the age for Social Security or privatizing Medicare — positions DeSantis has expressed support for in the past, but has since abandoned. “We’re not going to mess with Social Security as Republicans,” DeSantis recently said.

Trump told the crowd, “If that’s their original thought, that’s what they always come back to.”

Trump threaded his speech with grievances related to his term in office and outlined his agenda for a second, including restrictions on gender-affirming care and transgender athletes, which drew some of the strongest applause from the room and was a recurrent theme in speeches at the four-day conference.

While many top Republicans steered clear of the conference, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a potential candidate, and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who declared her candidacy last month, both spoke Friday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cpac-trump-pompeo-haley-2024-election-d12b8dba671169aebcb479c303cf3627">made shrouded critiques of Trump</a>. Their refusal to call him out by name underscored the risks faced by challengers looking to offer an alternative in a party in which Trump remains the dominant force.

“There is no one in that field I want as my president other than Donald J. Trump,” said Waverly Woods, a Republican activist and marketer from Virginia Beach, Virginia, who said she likes DeSantis but that Trump has first claim on the hearts of many at the conference.

That includes Woods’ sometimes partner in local GOP races, Kim Shourds, whose car bears a “TRUMP WON” license plate.

DeSantis? She likes him, she said, but not enough. She wants the governor to sit down “and let my man come in and run this country,” Shourds said.

E. Payne Kilbourn, a retired Navy submarine captain from Neavitt, Maryland, who now writes and advocates for carbon dioxide, said he was “very, very” happy with Trump’s presidency, but now thinks it’s time for the party to move on.

“I think Donald Trump’s just too toxic for most of the country,” said Kilbourn, 69, an independent who votes for Republicans in general elections and wishes Trump would “bow out and just be the guy behind the scenes.”

Strategically, he sees DeSantis as better positioned to eventually win the White House.

“I think he would have a better chance of getting elected,” he said.

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;cast himself Saturday as the only Republican candidate who can build on his White House legacy but shied away from directly critiquing his potential rivals, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>: &quot;They know that we can defeat them. They know that we will defeat them. But they&#39;re not coming after me. They&#39;re coming after you. And I&#39;m just standing in their way. <a href="https://t.co/2zGkokajh4">pic.twitter.com/2zGkokajh4</a>&mdash; CPAC (@CPAC) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPAC/status/1632155040000475139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump, giving the headlining address at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, told a cheering crowd that he was engaged in his “final battle” as he tries to return to the White House.“We are going to finish what we started,” he said. “We’re going to complete the mission. We’re going to see this battle through to ultimate victory.”Though DeSantis, seen as Trump's biggest potential rival, is frequently a subject of name-calling and other attacks in Trump's social media posts and in interviews, he wasn't mentioned directly in Trump's address before conservative activists, who earlier in the day applauded when an old video clip of the Florida governor was shown in a montage.While CPAC was once a must-stop for candidates mulling Republican presidential runs, DeSantis and other major likely contenders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bolsonaro-pence-cpac-desantis-youngkin-e237764ad60fbe07e0fe512f48c3c616">skipped this year's gathering</a>&nbsp;amid scandal and as the group has increasingly become aligned with Trump.The former president's enduring popularity with this segment of voters was on display throughout the conference this week. Some attendees wore Trump-themed outfits, with “MAGA” hats and sequined jackets.Members of his family and his presidential administration were swarmed like celebrities in the hallways and dominated the list of speakers. The handful of other potential and declared candidates not named Trump who spoke received only tepid applause.And the annual CPAC straw poll, an unscientific survey of attendees, found Trump the top choice to be the party's nominee, with 62% support, trailed by DeSantis at 20% and businessman Perry Johnson,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-johnson-2024-presidential-campaign-b734b469aa0b56a94e19ef0125cf5997">who announced his long shot bid at the conference</a>, with 5%.Nearly all — 95% of respondents — said they approved of Trump's performance as president.Ahead of his speech, Trump told reporters that he would continue his third presidential campaign even if indicted. He is under investigation by prosecutors probing his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-new-york-city-only-on-ap-donald-trump-georgia-266e28c4e47e54731b233e0f770f6729">in Georgia and by the U.S. Justice Department,</a>&nbsp;as well as his handling of classified documents, among other issues.He condemned all the probes as politically motivated and vowed that criminal charges wouldn’t deter him.“Oh, absolutely, I won’t even think about leaving,” he told reporters, adding that “probably, it’ll enhance my numbers, but it’s a very bad thing for America. It’s very bad for the country.”“This is an audience that supports President Trump,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., the No. 3 House Republican, who endorsed Trump days before he officially launched his 2024 campaign.The only member of House leadership to attend the conference, Stefanik told The Associated Press that Trump continued to be the party’s leader.“President Trump is in a very strong position and I think he will be the Republican nominee,” she said.While Trump did not launch broadsides against his potential challengers for the White House, many of whom were pitching themselves to conservative donors near his Florida home this week, he did repeatedly criticize the old guard of the Republican Party, which is eager to move past him.“We had a Republican Party that was ruled by freaks, neo-cons, globalists, open borders zealots and fools. But we are never going back to the party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove and Jeb Bush,” he said.He took only a veiled jab at DeSantis, calling out those who have proposed raising the age for Social Security or privatizing Medicare — positions DeSantis has expressed support for in the past, but has since abandoned. “We’re not going to mess with Social Security as Republicans,” DeSantis recently said.Trump told the crowd, “If that’s their original thought, that’s what they always come back to.”Trump threaded his speech with grievances related to his term in office and outlined his agenda for a second, including restrictions on gender-affirming care and transgender athletes, which drew some of the strongest applause from the room and was a recurrent theme in speeches at the four-day conference.While many top Republicans steered clear of the conference, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a potential candidate, and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who declared her candidacy last month, both spoke Friday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cpac-trump-pompeo-haley-2024-election-d12b8dba671169aebcb479c303cf3627">made shrouded critiques of Trump</a>. Their refusal to call him out by name underscored the risks faced by challengers looking to offer an alternative in a party in which Trump remains the dominant force.“There is no one in that field I want as my president other than Donald J. Trump,” said Waverly Woods, a Republican activist and marketer from Virginia Beach, Virginia, who said she likes DeSantis but that Trump has first claim on the hearts of many at the conference.That includes Woods’ sometimes partner in local GOP races, Kim Shourds, whose car bears a “TRUMP WON” license plate.DeSantis? She likes him, she said, but not enough. She wants the governor to sit down “and let my man come in and run this country,” Shourds said.But not everyone at CPAC was on board.E. Payne Kilbourn, a retired Navy submarine captain from Neavitt, Maryland, who now writes and advocates for carbon dioxide, said he was “very, very” happy with Trump’s presidency, but now thinks it’s time for the party to move on.“I think Donald Trump’s just too toxic for most of the country,” said Kilbourn, 69, an independent who votes for Republicans in general elections and wishes Trump would “bow out and just be the guy behind the scenes.”Strategically, he sees DeSantis as better positioned to eventually win the White House.“I think he would have a better chance of getting elected,” he said.

Trump pitches a sequel, but shies away from attacking rivals

NEW YORK (AP) — The patients' eyes were painfully inflamed. They could sense light but could see almost nothing else. A doctor called one case the worst eye infection he’d ever seen.

It was the beginning of a national outbreak caused by an extremely worrisome bacteria — one that some say heralds an era in which antibiotics no longer work and seemingly routine infections get horribly out of hand.

At last count, 58 Americans in 13 states have been infected, including at least one who died and at least five who suffered permanent vision loss. All have been linked to tainted eyedrops, leading to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-business-health-4572be6da44f4fab4e0f691f5e37e3ed">recall</a>.

Experts marvel at how disease detectives pieced together the case: Patients were scattered across the country. The illnesses occurred over the span of months. The infections were found in different parts of the body — in the blood of some patients, in the lungs of others.

But scientists also shudder, because they have long worried common bacteria will evolve so that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-infectious-diseases-antibiotics-fungi-2c661fd0c6ed899bedc51238d390603a">antibiotics no longer work against them</a>.

"This really shows us that it's not something theoretical and in the future. It's here,” said Dr. Luis Ostrosky, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

This account is drawn from phone and email interviews with U.S. disease investigators, health officials in three states and regulators in the U.S. and India.

The investigation started in May in Los Angeles County, California. A patient who'd recently been to an ophthalmologist came in with a bad eye infection. A month later, local health officials got a second report. Another bad eye infection, same eye doctor.

Two more cases were reported in the county before the summer was over. The patients’ eyes were inflamed with heavy yellow pus that obscured most of the pupil. Among the four, two had complete vision loss in the affected eye.

The hospital that reported the first infection determined it was caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The institution, which was equipped to do advanced genetic testing, quickly realized the bacteria had a rare gene that protected it from the effects of commonly used antibiotics.

It was an early break for investigators, said Kelsey OYong, of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

OYong and her colleagues knew they were dealing with a scary germ, and they notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pseudomonas infections are not new. Drug-resistant strains of the bacteria cause more than 30,000 infections annually among hospitalized patients in the U.S. and more than 2,500 deaths, the CDC said. It can spread through contaminated hands or medical equipment, and is particularly dangerous to fragile patients who have catheters or are on breathing machines.

But the California infections were in patients' eyes, not more common spots like the blood and lungs. Also, the lab analysis determined the infections were caused by a Pseudomonas germ that could resist just about every antibiotic.

The only thing that worked was a newer antibiotic called cefiderocol, administered by IV.

Over the summer, Pseudomonas outbreaks were seen at long-term care facilities in two other states.

In Connecticut, the first case was in June. Eventually, the bacteria was found in 25 patients from five nursing homes in different parts of the state, said Christopher Boyle, a spokesperson for Connecticut’s health department.

In Davis County, Utah, north of Salt Lake City, the first of six cases was reported to the CDC in August. While the patients had the bacteria, none actually got sick, said Sarah Willardson of the Davis County Health Department.

L.A. County health investigators thought the cases there might be due to some kind of equipment contamination at the eye doctor’s office.

But that suspicion faded in early October, when genetic testing showed the clusters in California, Connecticut and Utah were all caused by the same bacteria strain — a version of the germ that hadn’t been seen anywhere before.

“That made us start thinking that this was some kind of a product,” said Maroya Walters, the CDC official supervising the investigation.

As the year went on, other reports of drug-resistant Pseudomonas came in, including a Washington man who died with a bloodstream infection.

Given the initial cluster at the California ophthalmologist’s office, investigators suspected an eye care product was the culprit, though that hypothesis was complicated by the fact that the infections at the long-term care facilities were mainly found in the lungs.

But it wasn’t impossible. Tear ducts drain into the nasal cavity, which leads to the lungs and could provide a path to deep inside the body.

In early November, investigators determined most of the infected Connecticut patients had been given artificial tears, though it wasn't clear who had been given which brand.

Then, on Nov. 9, a Florida hospital contacted the CDC to report bad eye infections connected to an outpatient clinic. A check of artificial tears brands used in Connecticut, Florida and Utah pointed to one common product: EzriCare Artificial Tears, an over-the-counter product marketed in the U.S. by New Jersey-based EzriCare LLC and made in India by Global Pharma Healthcare.

The Pseudomonas bacteria is “pretty much everywhere” in India and the drug-resistant germ is common in many hospitals, said Dr. Gagandeep Kang, who studies microbes in the Christian Medical College in the same state as Global Pharma's factory.

In January, genetic sequencing confirmed the Florida cases were caused by the same bacteria strain as the clusters in California, Connecticut and Utah. On Jan. 20, the CDC urged doctors to avoid recommending the EzriCare product.

There was no recall or widespread public notice, however. Investigators had strong circumstantial evidence pointing toward the EzriCare drops, but didn’t get more conclusive proof until more than a week later after testing found the bacteria in seven open bottles of EzriCare Artificial Tears in Connecticut and New Jersey.

In early February, CDC officials issued a public health alert and the FDA recalled the EzriCare eyedrops and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, another product made by Global Pharma. Last week, the recall was expanded to include Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Eye Ointment.

Global Pharma didn't respond to emailed requests for comment.

A month before the first recall, the FDA blocked imports of Global Pharma products.

FDA spokesperson Audra Harrison said the U.S. import ban was “unrelated to the outbreak," and was instead based on the company’s “inadequate response” to a records request and problems with its manufacturing procedures. She wouldn't say what those problems were.

The subsequent recall, she said, was recommended due to lack of microbial testing and issues with the product’s formulation and packaging.

The FDA, tasked with assuring the safety of drug products shipped to the U.S., has long struggled to inspect facilities in China and India that account for the vast majority of raw materials used in American medicines. A search of FDA’s online inspection database shows no records of agency staff visiting the plant.

Indian drug inspectors visited the plant and the country's drug controller asked Global Pharma to stop making all products related to treating eye disorders until they finish their investigation, said P.V. Vijayalakshmi, the drug controller for southern Tamil Nadu state.

Ostrosky, the University of Texas expert, called the U.S. investigation “a public health victory” saying it shows that fighting drug-resistant bacteria requires international collaboration and investment. But he also said the case is disheartening.

An infection that's usually easy to treat with common antibiotic eyedrops "has become an infection that can be deadly and has pretty much no treatment except one IV antibiotic,” he said.

Pseudomonas now joins a growing list of bugs — including bacteria that cause urinary tract infections — that are getting increasingly difficult to treat, Ostrosky added.

“It's like a wave coming for us," he said.

AP writers Matthew Perrone in Washington and Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi contributed.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675357768410.png" alt="photo Ezri care" />
 <figcaption>photo Ezri care</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical WriterNEW YORK (AP) — The patients' eyes were painfully inflamed. They could sense light but could see almost nothing else. A doctor called one case the worst eye infection he’d ever seen.It was the beginning of a national outbreak caused by an extremely worrisome bacteria — one that some say heralds an era in which antibiotics no longer work and seemingly routine infections get horribly out of hand.At last count, 58 Americans in 13 states have been infected, including at least one who died and at least five who suffered permanent vision loss. All have been linked to tainted eyedrops, leading to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-business-health-4572be6da44f4fab4e0f691f5e37e3ed">recall</a>.Experts marvel at how disease detectives pieced together the case: Patients were scattered across the country. The illnesses occurred over the span of months. The infections were found in different parts of the body — in the blood of some patients, in the lungs of others.But scientists also shudder, because they have long worried common bacteria will evolve so that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-infectious-diseases-antibiotics-fungi-2c661fd0c6ed899bedc51238d390603a">antibiotics no longer work against them</a>."This really shows us that it's not something theoretical and in the future. It's here,” said Dr. Luis Ostrosky, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.This account is drawn from phone and email interviews with U.S. disease investigators, health officials in three states and regulators in the U.S. and India.___The investigation started in May in Los Angeles County, California. A patient who'd recently been to an ophthalmologist came in with a bad eye infection. A month later, local health officials got a second report. Another bad eye infection, same eye doctor.Two more cases were reported in the county before the summer was over. The patients’ eyes were inflamed with heavy yellow pus that obscured most of the pupil. Among the four, two had complete vision loss in the affected eye.The hospital that reported the first infection determined it was caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The institution, which was equipped to do advanced genetic testing, quickly realized the bacteria had a rare gene that protected it from the effects of commonly used antibiotics.It was an early break for investigators, said Kelsey OYong, of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.OYong and her colleagues knew they were dealing with a scary germ, and they notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pseudomonas infections are not new. Drug-resistant strains of the bacteria cause more than 30,000 infections annually among hospitalized patients in the U.S. and more than 2,500 deaths, the CDC said. It can spread through contaminated hands or medical equipment, and is particularly dangerous to fragile patients who have catheters or are on breathing machines.But the California infections were in patients' eyes, not more common spots like the blood and lungs. Also, the lab analysis determined the infections were caused by a Pseudomonas germ that could resist just about every antibiotic.The only thing that worked was a newer antibiotic called cefiderocol, administered by IV.___Over the summer, Pseudomonas outbreaks were seen at long-term care facilities in two other states.In Connecticut, the first case was in June. Eventually, the bacteria was found in 25 patients from five nursing homes in different parts of the state, said Christopher Boyle, a spokesperson for Connecticut’s health department.In Davis County, Utah, north of Salt Lake City, the first of six cases was reported to the CDC in August. While the patients had the bacteria, none actually got sick, said Sarah Willardson of the Davis County Health Department.L.A. County health investigators thought the cases there might be due to some kind of equipment contamination at the eye doctor’s office.But that suspicion faded in early October, when genetic testing showed the clusters in California, Connecticut and Utah were all caused by the same bacteria strain — a version of the germ that hadn’t been seen anywhere before.“That made us start thinking that this was some kind of a product,” said Maroya Walters, the CDC official supervising the investigation.___As the year went on, other reports of drug-resistant Pseudomonas came in, including a Washington man who died with a bloodstream infection.Given the initial cluster at the California ophthalmologist’s office, investigators suspected an eye care product was the culprit, though that hypothesis was complicated by the fact that the infections at the long-term care facilities were mainly found in the lungs.But it wasn’t impossible. Tear ducts drain into the nasal cavity, which leads to the lungs and could provide a path to deep inside the body.In early November, investigators determined most of the infected Connecticut patients had been given artificial tears, though it wasn't clear who had been given which brand.Then, on Nov. 9, a Florida hospital contacted the CDC to report bad eye infections connected to an outpatient clinic. A check of artificial tears brands used in Connecticut, Florida and Utah pointed to one common product: EzriCare Artificial Tears, an over-the-counter product marketed in the U.S. by New Jersey-based EzriCare LLC and made in India by Global Pharma Healthcare.___The Pseudomonas bacteria is “pretty much everywhere” in India and the drug-resistant germ is common in many hospitals, said Dr. Gagandeep Kang, who studies microbes in the Christian Medical College in the same state as Global Pharma's factory.In January, genetic sequencing confirmed the Florida cases were caused by the same bacteria strain as the clusters in California, Connecticut and Utah. On Jan. 20, the CDC urged doctors to avoid recommending the EzriCare product.There was no recall or widespread public notice, however. Investigators had strong circumstantial evidence pointing toward the EzriCare drops, but didn’t get more conclusive proof until more than a week later after testing found the bacteria in seven open bottles of EzriCare Artificial Tears in Connecticut and New Jersey.In early February, CDC officials issued a public health alert and the FDA recalled the EzriCare eyedrops and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, another product made by Global Pharma. Last week, the recall was expanded to include Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Eye Ointment.Global Pharma didn't respond to emailed requests for comment.___A month before the first recall, the FDA blocked imports of Global Pharma products.FDA spokesperson Audra Harrison said the U.S. import ban was “unrelated to the outbreak," and was instead based on the company’s “inadequate response” to a records request and problems with its manufacturing procedures. She wouldn't say what those problems were.The subsequent recall, she said, was recommended due to lack of microbial testing and issues with the product’s formulation and packaging.The FDA, tasked with assuring the safety of drug products shipped to the U.S., has long struggled to inspect facilities in China and India that account for the vast majority of raw materials used in American medicines. A search of FDA’s online inspection database shows no records of agency staff visiting the plant.Indian drug inspectors visited the plant and the country's drug controller asked Global Pharma to stop making all products related to treating eye disorders until they finish their investigation, said P.V. Vijayalakshmi, the drug controller for southern Tamil Nadu state.___Ostrosky, the University of Texas expert, called the U.S. investigation “a public health victory” saying it shows that fighting drug-resistant bacteria requires international collaboration and investment. But he also said the case is disheartening.An infection that's usually easy to treat with common antibiotic eyedrops "has become an infection that can be deadly and has pretty much no treatment except one IV antibiotic,” he said.Pseudomonas now joins a growing list of bugs — including bacteria that cause urinary tract infections — that are getting increasingly difficult to treat, Ostrosky added.“It's like a wave coming for us," he said.___AP writers Matthew Perrone in Washington and Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi contributed.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

How officials cracked case of eyedrops that blinded people

DEARBORN,
 Mich. — Ford will increase production of six models this year, 
half of them electric, as the company and the auto industry start to 
rebound from <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-auto-industry-953b0c38b86b82dce205161ae05dcd44">sluggish U.S. sales in 2022</a>.

The
 automaker announced Friday that it plans to build more of the Mustang 
Mach-E, the Bronco Sport SUV and Maverick small pickup, the F-150 
Lightning electric pickup, and the Transit and E-Transit gas and 
electric full-size vans.

To help increase production, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-missouri-detroit-ford-motor-co-2f21c99f576e7ab9c5be2221e1d557cf">Ford last year said</a>
 it would add a third shift and 1,100 jobs at its full-size van plant in
 Claycomo, Missouri, near Kansas City, and another 3,200 jobs related to
 building the F-150 Lightning which is made in Dearborn, Michigan.

Ford
 will also hire an unspecified number of new workers this year at plants
 in Cuautitlan and Hermosillo, Mexico, where the Mach-E, Maverick and 
Bronco Sport are made, according to spokesman Said Deep. Production line
 speeds will increase shortly to raise output, with more workers coming 
later, he said.

For more than two years, U.S. auto sales have been
 depressed largely due to a shortage of computer chips during the 
coronavirus pandemic. But the chip shortage is easing and automakers 
like Ford are starting to increase production and build supplies on 
dealer lots.

Overall in the U.S., auto sales fell almost 8% last 
year to just under 14 million, with Ford's dropping just over 2%, 
according to Autodata Corp. But in February, overall industry sales rose
 9.5% over the same month a year ago, according to LMC Automotive, which
 sees sales increasing to 15 million this year. Ford sales were up 
almost 22% in February.

“The industry is on its track back,” said Jeff Schuster, executive vice president of automotive for LMC and Global Data.

Shares of Ford closed Friday up 4.2%, getting a boost after the production announcement was made.

At
 crosstown rival General Motors, full-size pickup truck inventory 
rebounded enough that it will shut down a factory in Ft. Wayne, Indiana,
 for two weeks starting March 27 to control it.

Ford suspended 
production of the F-150 Lightning in February after a battery caught 
fire during a pre-delivery quality check. Deep said the battery issue 
has been resolved and production will resume March 13 to an annual rate 
of 150,000.

Mach-E production will rise to an annual rate of 
210,000 by year's end, while the company plans to boost Bronco Sport and
 Maverick production by 80,000 vehicles this year. Transit and E-Transit
 production will rise by 38,000 this year.

Sales are up so far this year for all the models that will see production increases.

The
 production jumps are good news for consumers, who have had long wait 
times for some more popular models and have been forced to pay high 
prices due to strong demand and short supplies.

J.D. Power reported that the average U.S. new vehicle sold for $46,229 last month, a record for the month of February.

But
 as the chip shortage eases and automakers can produce more this year, 
Schuster said there should be some easing of prices even on hot-selling 
models.

“I would expect some relief on the pricing front," he 
said, adding that sticker prices could come down or automakers could 
offer discounts.

But he said prices will remain high and aren't expected to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Associated Press\DEARBORN,
 Mich. — Ford will increase production of six models this year, 
half of them electric, as the company and the auto industry start to 
rebound from <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-auto-industry-953b0c38b86b82dce205161ae05dcd44">sluggish U.S. sales in 2022</a>.The
 automaker announced Friday that it plans to build more of the Mustang 
Mach-E, the Bronco Sport SUV and Maverick small pickup, the F-150 
Lightning electric pickup, and the Transit and E-Transit gas and 
electric full-size vans.To help increase production, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-missouri-detroit-ford-motor-co-2f21c99f576e7ab9c5be2221e1d557cf">Ford last year said</a>
 it would add a third shift and 1,100 jobs at its full-size van plant in
 Claycomo, Missouri, near Kansas City, and another 3,200 jobs related to
 building the F-150 Lightning which is made in Dearborn, Michigan.Ford
 will also hire an unspecified number of new workers this year at plants
 in Cuautitlan and Hermosillo, Mexico, where the Mach-E, Maverick and 
Bronco Sport are made, according to spokesman Said Deep. Production line
 speeds will increase shortly to raise output, with more workers coming 
later, he said.For more than two years, U.S. auto sales have been
 depressed largely due to a shortage of computer chips during the 
coronavirus pandemic. But the chip shortage is easing and automakers 
like Ford are starting to increase production and build supplies on 
dealer lots.Overall in the U.S., auto sales fell almost 8% last 
year to just under 14 million, with Ford's dropping just over 2%, 
according to Autodata Corp. But in February, overall industry sales rose
 9.5% over the same month a year ago, according to LMC Automotive, which
 sees sales increasing to 15 million this year. Ford sales were up 
almost 22% in February.“The industry is on its track back,” said Jeff Schuster, executive vice president of automotive for LMC and Global Data.Shares of Ford closed Friday up 4.2%, getting a boost after the production announcement was made.At
 crosstown rival General Motors, full-size pickup truck inventory 
rebounded enough that it will shut down a factory in Ft. Wayne, Indiana,
 for two weeks starting March 27 to control it.Ford suspended 
production of the F-150 Lightning in February after a battery caught 
fire during a pre-delivery quality check. Deep said the battery issue 
has been resolved and production will resume March 13 to an annual rate 
of 150,000.Mach-E production will rise to an annual rate of 
210,000 by year's end, while the company plans to boost Bronco Sport and
 Maverick production by 80,000 vehicles this year. Transit and E-Transit
 production will rise by 38,000 this year.Sales are up so far this year for all the models that will see production increases.The
 production jumps are good news for consumers, who have had long wait 
times for some more popular models and have been forced to pay high 
prices due to strong demand and short supplies.J.D. Power reported that the average U.S. new vehicle sold for $46,229 last month, a record for the month of February.But
 as the chip shortage eases and automakers can produce more this year, 
Schuster said there should be some easing of prices even on hot-selling 
models.“I would expect some relief on the pricing front," he 
said, adding that sticker prices could come down or automakers could 
offer discounts.But he said prices will remain high and aren't expected to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Ford to raise production as US auto sales start to recover

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/03/nu-asks-for-more-funding-to-avoid-deeper-cuts-higher-tuition/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — The University of Nebraska and business interests that say the state 
benefits from a well-prepared workforce made the argument Friday that 
the university should receive 1 percentage point more in state funding 
than currently proposed in order to avoid increased tuition and deeper 
spending cuts.

NU President Ted Carter, a retired Navy admiral, put the challenges facing the university system into naval terms.

Carter 
called them “headwinds.” He discussed the demographic challenges of 
declining enrollment at a time when significant inflation is hitting the
 university’s fixed costs for heating, cooling and insurance, plus the 
need to increase faculty pay.

Carter told the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee during 
Friday’s budget hearing that NU needs 1 percentage point more in state 
taxpayer funding than the 2% budget increase that Gov. Jim Pillen 
included in his budget proposal for 2023-25.

Without it, he and others testified, the university might need to 
increase tuition. He shared with the committee that he and his team have
 already proposed budget cuts to make the 3% increase they requested 
work. One reason: Faculty are getting a 3% raise and need it, Carter 
said, if NU is to stay competitive for talent at a time when costs are 
increasing faster than pay.

NU requested a 3% annual increase, starting with $679.7 million from 
state general funds in 2023-24. Pillen had proposed a 2% annual 
increase, starting with $664.7 million.

Among 
others testifying in support of additional funding were Tim Clare, 
chairman of the NU Board of Regents, and a pair of student regents.

Carter and 
Clare highlighted the budget proposal’s investments in the University of
 Nebraska at Kearney and the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s 
rural health facility in Kearney, which both said would fill a gap in 
greater Nebraska’s workforce.

Carter praised proposed funding for scholarship programs that will keep the university accessible to more students.

But het 
said the university is combating rising expenses and limited revenues. 
He told the committee that he doesn’t expect the state to make up for 
dipping enrollment and that he is not asking for more money than the 
university needs.&nbsp;

“I want you to know it’s because I have studied the numbers carefully
 and believe it’s exactly what we need and not a penny more,” Carter 
said, adding that he is trimming his own office’s staff by 20%.

NU has 
frozen tuition increases over the past two years. Carter said the NU 
Board of Regents is still deciding whether the current tuition rates can
 be sustained. He said the decisions the Legislature makes about the NU 
budget will impact that decision.

He stressed that, NU has no desire to “balance our budget on the 
backs of our students.” So more spending cuts would be sought before NU 
turns to students and families.

NU Student Regent Emily Saadi relayed the stresses students on her 
UNK&nbsp; campus told her they face, trying to make sure they can afford to 
attend the university. She encouraged lawmakers to continue state 
support to contain costs.

“Financial burdens affect students’ mental health,” she said. “The affordability of the NU system was one of its biggest draws.”

Clare 
testified that after 14 years as a regent, he is more convinced than 
ever that NU is the state’s “No. 1 partner” when it comes to workforce 
development and economic growth.

Bryan Slone, president of the&nbsp; Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and 
Industry, said the top challenges facing Nebraska businesses are 
recruiting, training and retaining 18- to- 34-year-old workers.

Slone supported the additional investment in the university, saying the state’s businesses need the infusion of local talent.

“The cliff 
is coming,” he said of people retiring and have fewer young people of 
college age. “Our postsecondary institutions are the front door of that 
process.”

State Sen. 
Christy Armendariz of Omaha questioned Carter about whether the decline 
in enrollment might be tied to questions about the political climate on 
campus. Carter said no, pointing to national declines in enrollment 
higher than NU has faced.

Enrollment nationally from 2012-22 is down 10%. During the pandemic, 
it dropped 5%. NU enrollment fell 2.2% last year but went up slightly 
during the pandemic, he said. However, he said, a demographic dropoff is
 coming in the mid-2020s that will see enrollments drop by double digits
 in some places.

“Compared to the national averages, our enrollment drop is significantly better than the national average,” he said.

Mark 
McHargue, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, emphasized the work the
 university is doing to provide rural health care workers closer to the 
communities they serve. He credited the university for its contributions
 to Nebraska agriculture.

Nicole 
Kent, a student regent from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, 
testified about the benefits of her NU education. She said targeted 
investments in rural medical education are part of how she’ll become a 
primary care doctor.

She looks 
forward to living and practicing in a rural community, and she said she 
knows she’ll see teachers, business leaders, ag leaders and more when 
she gets there who got their start at NU.

“Sometimes 
we hear stories like mine, and we think they are rare or unique — 
especially for a kid from small-town Nebraska — but I do not believe 
that is the case,” Kent said.&nbsp;

In a long 
legislative session like this one, the Appropriations Committee must 
issue its recommendations for the 2023-25 state budget by early May.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677953455784.png" alt="University of Nebraska President Ted Carter speaks to the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee during discussions about the NU budget. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>University of Nebraska President Ted Carter speaks to the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee during discussions about the NU budget. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/03/nu-asks-for-more-funding-to-avoid-deeper-cuts-higher-tuition/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — The University of Nebraska and business interests that say the state 
benefits from a well-prepared workforce made the argument Friday that 
the university should receive 1 percentage point more in state funding 
than currently proposed in order to avoid increased tuition and deeper 
spending cuts.NU President Ted Carter, a retired Navy admiral, put the challenges facing the university system into naval terms.Carter 
called them “headwinds.” He discussed the demographic challenges of 
declining enrollment at a time when significant inflation is hitting the
 university’s fixed costs for heating, cooling and insurance, plus the 
need to increase faculty pay.Carter told the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee during 
Friday’s budget hearing that NU needs 1 percentage point more in state 
taxpayer funding than the 2% budget increase that Gov. Jim Pillen 
included in his budget proposal for 2023-25.Without it, he and others testified, the university might need to 
increase tuition. He shared with the committee that he and his team have
 already proposed budget cuts to make the 3% increase they requested 
work. One reason: Faculty are getting a 3% raise and need it, Carter 
said, if NU is to stay competitive for talent at a time when costs are 
increasing faster than pay.NU requested a 3% annual increase, starting with $679.7 million from 
state general funds in 2023-24. Pillen had proposed a 2% annual 
increase, starting with $664.7 million.Among 
others testifying in support of additional funding were Tim Clare, 
chairman of the NU Board of Regents, and a pair of student regents.Carter and 
Clare highlighted the budget proposal’s investments in the University of
 Nebraska at Kearney and the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s 
rural health facility in Kearney, which both said would fill a gap in 
greater Nebraska’s workforce.Carter praised proposed funding for scholarship programs that will keep the university accessible to more students.But het 
said the university is combating rising expenses and limited revenues. 
He told the committee that he doesn’t expect the state to make up for 
dipping enrollment and that he is not asking for more money than the 
university needs.&nbsp;“I want you to know it’s because I have studied the numbers carefully
 and believe it’s exactly what we need and not a penny more,” Carter 
said, adding that he is trimming his own office’s staff by 20%.NU has 
frozen tuition increases over the past two years. Carter said the NU 
Board of Regents is still deciding whether the current tuition rates can
 be sustained. He said the decisions the Legislature makes about the NU 
budget will impact that decision.He stressed that, NU has no desire to “balance our budget on the 
backs of our students.” So more spending cuts would be sought before NU 
turns to students and families.NU Student Regent Emily Saadi relayed the stresses students on her 
UNK&nbsp; campus told her they face, trying to make sure they can afford to 
attend the university. She encouraged lawmakers to continue state 
support to contain costs.“Financial burdens affect students’ mental health,” she said. “The affordability of the NU system was one of its biggest draws.”Clare 
testified that after 14 years as a regent, he is more convinced than 
ever that NU is the state’s “No. 1 partner” when it comes to workforce 
development and economic growth.Bryan Slone, president of the&nbsp; Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and 
Industry, said the top challenges facing Nebraska businesses are 
recruiting, training and retaining 18- to- 34-year-old workers.Slone supported the additional investment in the university, saying the state’s businesses need the infusion of local talent.“The cliff 
is coming,” he said of people retiring and have fewer young people of 
college age. “Our postsecondary institutions are the front door of that 
process.”State Sen. 
Christy Armendariz of Omaha questioned Carter about whether the decline 
in enrollment might be tied to questions about the political climate on 
campus. Carter said no, pointing to national declines in enrollment 
higher than NU has faced.Enrollment nationally from 2012-22 is down 10%. During the pandemic, 
it dropped 5%. NU enrollment fell 2.2% last year but went up slightly 
during the pandemic, he said. However, he said, a demographic dropoff is
 coming in the mid-2020s that will see enrollments drop by double digits
 in some places.“Compared to the national averages, our enrollment drop is significantly better than the national average,” he said.Mark 
McHargue, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, emphasized the work the
 university is doing to provide rural health care workers closer to the 
communities they serve. He credited the university for its contributions
 to Nebraska agriculture.Nicole 
Kent, a student regent from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, 
testified about the benefits of her NU education. She said targeted 
investments in rural medical education are part of how she’ll become a 
primary care doctor.She looks 
forward to living and practicing in a rural community, and she said she 
knows she’ll see teachers, business leaders, ag leaders and more when 
she gets there who got their start at NU.“Sometimes 
we hear stories like mine, and we think they are rare or unique — 
especially for a kid from small-town Nebraska — but I do not believe 
that is the case,” Kent said.&nbsp;In a long 
legislative session like this one, the Appropriations Committee must 
issue its recommendations for the 2023-25 state budget by early May.&nbsp;

NU asks for more funding to avoid deeper cuts, higher tuition

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/three-more-law-enforcement-officials-fined-for-appearing-in-campaign-ads-in-uniform/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Three more Nebraska law
 enforcement officials have agreed to pay fines in connection with 
appearing in a political campaign advertisement while in uniform.

State law prohibits public officials from using public resources for campaign purposes.

Seward County Sheriff Michael Vance, Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome 
Kramer and York County Sheriff’s Capt. Joshua Gillespie agreed to pay 
civil penalties of $1,000 each.

The settlements were announced Friday by the Nebraska Accountability 
and Disclosure Commission, which enforces state campaign laws.

In January, York County Sheriff Paul Vrbka agreed to pay a $1,000 
fine for appearing a television ad touting the candidacy of Falls City 
businessman Charles Herbster, who was running for the Republican 
nomination for governor.

The three law enforcement officials who agreed to fines Friday appeared in the same advertisement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677953362603.png" alt="Law enforcement officers, and other public officials, are barred from using public resources, like an official uniform, in a campaign advertisement. (Courtesy of the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office)" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement officers, and other public officials, are barred from using public resources, like an official uniform, in a campaign advertisement. (Courtesy of the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/three-more-law-enforcement-officials-fined-for-appearing-in-campaign-ads-in-uniform/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Three more Nebraska law
 enforcement officials have agreed to pay fines in connection with 
appearing in a political campaign advertisement while in uniform.State law prohibits public officials from using public resources for campaign purposes.Seward County Sheriff Michael Vance, Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome 
Kramer and York County Sheriff’s Capt. Joshua Gillespie agreed to pay 
civil penalties of $1,000 each.The settlements were announced Friday by the Nebraska Accountability 
and Disclosure Commission, which enforces state campaign laws.In January, York County Sheriff Paul Vrbka agreed to pay a $1,000 
fine for appearing a television ad touting the candidacy of Falls City 
businessman Charles Herbster, who was running for the Republican 
nomination for governor.The three law enforcement officials who agreed to fines Friday appeared in the same advertisement.

Three more officers fined for appearing in campaign ads in uniform

United
 States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Derrick Lloyd, 29, of 
Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for 
possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or
 more of fentanyl analogue.&nbsp; United States District Judge Brian C. 
Buescher sentenced Lloyd to 84 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole 
in the federal system.&nbsp; After his release from prison, he will begin a 
4-year term of supervised release.

On July 20, 2021, Omaha
 Police conducted a traffic stop for going through a red light at 42nd 
Street and Fontenelle Boulevard.&nbsp; Officers made contact with the driver,
 who was Lloyd, who indicated he had personal
 use marijuana in the vehicle.&nbsp; Officers searched the vehicle, and 
underneath the center console armrest, located a plastic bag with 821 
fentanyl pills.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.

U.S. Attorney's OfficeUnited
 States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Derrick Lloyd, 29, of 
Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for 
possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or
 more of fentanyl analogue.&nbsp; United States District Judge Brian C. 
Buescher sentenced Lloyd to 84 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole 
in the federal system.&nbsp; After his release from prison, he will begin a 
4-year term of supervised release.On July 20, 2021, Omaha
 Police conducted a traffic stop for going through a red light at 42nd 
Street and Fontenelle Boulevard.&nbsp; Officers made contact with the driver,
 who was Lloyd, who indicated he had personal
 use marijuana in the vehicle.&nbsp; Officers searched the vehicle, and 
underneath the center console armrest, located a plastic bag with 821 
fentanyl pills.This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.

Neb. man sentenced on federal fentanyl charges

WASHINGTON —The United States will transfer military equipment worth up to $400 million to Ukraine to aid its defense against the Russian invasion, according to a statement from the the Defense Department on Friday.&nbsp;Including this latest package, the U.S. has now provided more than $32 billion in military aid to Ukraine. 

This security assistance package features ammunition and support equipment to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the United States has sent more than $30 billion worth of gear to Ukraine. This is the 33rd time the Biden administration has invoked the drawdown authority for Ukraine.

In this package, the United States will provide additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, additional 105 mm and 155 mm artillery rounds, and additional 25 mm ammunition.

The package also includes armored vehicle-launched bridges. These vehicles are designed to accompany armored columns and give them the ability to cross rivers, streams, ditches and trenches. The bridges are carried on the chassis of armored vehicles and launched at river or stream banks. Once the crossing is finished, the vehicle can pick up the bridge on the far bank and carry on.

The package will also include demolition munitions and equipment for obstacle clearing. To help the Ukrainians sustain their forces in combat, the package also includes testing and diagnostic equipment to support vehicle maintenance and repair, as well as spare parts and other field equipment.

Since the Russian invasion, the aid the United States has proffered has changed as the battle changed. In the beginning of the conflict, the Ukrainians needed anti-armor and air defense capabilities. The U.S. rushed Javelins anti-armor systems and Stinger air defense weapons to the country.

After Ukraine's military turned back the Russian thrust on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, artillery became more important, and the U.S. responded with howitzers and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and ammunition. Air defense remained a priority, and the U.S. sent National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems to the country and has pledged a Patriot air defense battery. The battle is changing again, and the United States will send 31 M1A2 main battle tanks to the country.

But the United States is just one nation supporting Ukraine's right to sovereignty. According to DOD figures, more than 54 countries from around the world have pledged more than 1,000 tanks and other armored vehicles. They've delivered or pledged more than 800 artillery systems, and they've delivered more than 2 million rounds of artillery ammunition and more than 50 advanced Multiple Rocket Launch Systems.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. announced a new $400 million military aid package for Ukraine on Friday that for the first time includes armored vehicles that can launch bridges — allowing troops to cross rivers or other gaps as Russian and Ukrainian forces remain entrenched on opposite sides of the Dnieper River.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine?utm_source=apnewsnav&amp;utm_medium=hub">The war</a>&nbsp;had largely slowed to a grinding stalemate during the winter months, with Russia and Ukraine firing at each other from across the river. Both sides are expected to launch offensives as temperatures warm.

This round of aid will be drawn from existing U.S. weapons stockpiles so it can arrive in Ukraine faster. The U.S. and allies are trying to rush additional support to Kyiv to best position it for intensified spring fighting.

The Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge is a portable, 60-foot (18-meter) folding metal bridge that is carried on top of a tank body. Providing that system now could make it easier for Ukrainian troops to cross rivers to get to Russian forces.

Because Ukraine also continues to face shortages of ammunition in the intense firefight, this aid package, like previous ones, includes thousands of replacement rounds, such as rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and 155mm Howitzer rounds. This package also includes demolition munitions and equipment for clearing obstacles to help Ukraine break through dug-in lines.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, the U.S. has sent in more than $32 billion in weapons and equipment.

The U.S. is also roughly tripling the number of Ukrainian forces it is training on advanced battle tactics at a base in Germany, to help them punch through entrenched Russian lines. At the Grafenwoehr training area, Ukrainian forces run through a five-week course that prepares them to conduct advanced combined arms maneuvers with Bradley fighting vehicles, M109 Paladins and Stryker armored personnel carriers. The first 600 Ukrainian troops completed the course last month and 1,600 more are in training.

The aid will also include spare parts and equipment for vehicle maintenance and repair.

The announcement comes on the heels of a brief meeting Thursday between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a gathering of top diplomats from the Group of 20 nations in New Delhi. It was the highest-level in-person talk between the two countries since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But there was no indication of any movement toward easing the intense tensions between the two nations.

Blinken said he told Lavrov the U.S. would continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Lavrov, who did not mention speaking with Blinken when he held a news conference after the meeting, told reporters Moscow would continue to press its action in Ukraine.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is expected to announce a new package of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">military aid for Ukraine</a>&nbsp;Friday, including —for the first time — eight armored vehicles that can launch bridges and allow troops to cross rivers or other gaps, U.S. officials said Thursday.

The officials said the total cost of the package will be about $400 million and will also include large amounts of ammunition, such as rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. It comes just a week after the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and as Ukrainian forces are preparing for a spring offensive.

Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the aid package has not yet been publicly announced.

The so-called Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge is a portable, 60-foot folding metal bridge that is carried on top of a tank body. Providing that system now could help Ukrainian troops as they launch the expected offensive, and make it easier for troops to cross rivers to get to Russian forces.

Including this latest package, the U.S. has now provided more than $32 billion in military aid to Ukraine. The vehicle bridges and ammunition in the package will be taken from Pentagon stocks through the presidential drawdown authority, so they will be able to be delivered quickly to the warfront.

The aid will also include an undisclosed amount of rounds for howitzers, other ammunition, demolition munitions and other equipment to clear obstacles, spare parts and equipment for vehicle maintenance and repair.

The announcement comes on the heels of a brief meeting Thursday between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-russia-ukraine-g20-blinken-lavrov-1af60a2c2918e9c0777b33b3e71bd54b">U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov</a>&nbsp;at a meeting of top diplomats from the Group of 20 nations in New Delhi. It was the highest-level in-person talk between the two countries since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But there was no indication of any movement toward easing the intense tensions between the two nations.

The war had largely slowed to a grinding stalemate during the winter months, but both sides are expected to be preparing to launch offensives in the spring.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677883597374.png" alt="Army combat engineers train on the operation of the M60 Armored Vehicle-Launched Bridge system Feb. 28, 2020. The M60 AVLB is based on the M60 Patton main battle tank hull and is used for the launching and retrieval of a 60-foot, scissor-type bridge.-photo Defense Department" />
 <figcaption>Army combat engineers train on the operation of the M60 Armored Vehicle-Launched Bridge system Feb. 28, 2020. The M60 AVLB is based on the M60 Patton main battle tank hull and is used for the launching and retrieval of a 60-foot, scissor-type bridge.-photo Defense Department</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —The United States will transfer military equipment worth up to $400 million to Ukraine to aid its defense against the Russian invasion, according to a statement from the the Defense Department on Friday.&nbsp;Including this latest package, the U.S. has now provided more than $32 billion in military aid to Ukraine. This security assistance package features ammunition and support equipment to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs.Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the United States has sent more than $30 billion worth of gear to Ukraine. This is the 33rd time the Biden administration has invoked the drawdown authority for Ukraine.In this package, the United States will provide additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, additional 105 mm and 155 mm artillery rounds, and additional 25 mm ammunition.The package also includes armored vehicle-launched bridges. These vehicles are designed to accompany armored columns and give them the ability to cross rivers, streams, ditches and trenches. The bridges are carried on the chassis of armored vehicles and launched at river or stream banks. Once the crossing is finished, the vehicle can pick up the bridge on the far bank and carry on.The package will also include demolition munitions and equipment for obstacle clearing. To help the Ukrainians sustain their forces in combat, the package also includes testing and diagnostic equipment to support vehicle maintenance and repair, as well as spare parts and other field equipment.Since the Russian invasion, the aid the United States has proffered has changed as the battle changed. In the beginning of the conflict, the Ukrainians needed anti-armor and air defense capabilities. The U.S. rushed Javelins anti-armor systems and Stinger air defense weapons to the country.After Ukraine's military turned back the Russian thrust on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, artillery became more important, and the U.S. responded with howitzers and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and ammunition. Air defense remained a priority, and the U.S. sent National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems to the country and has pledged a Patriot air defense battery. The battle is changing again, and the United States will send 31 M1A2 main battle tanks to the country.But the United States is just one nation supporting Ukraine's right to sovereignty. According to DOD figures, more than 54 countries from around the world have pledged more than 1,000 tanks and other armored vehicles. They've delivered or pledged more than 800 artillery systems, and they've delivered more than 2 million rounds of artillery ammunition and more than 50 advanced Multiple Rocket Launch Systems.-------------WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. announced a new $400 million military aid package for Ukraine on Friday that for the first time includes armored vehicles that can launch bridges — allowing troops to cross rivers or other gaps as Russian and Ukrainian forces remain entrenched on opposite sides of the Dnieper River.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine?utm_source=apnewsnav&amp;utm_medium=hub">The war</a>&nbsp;had largely slowed to a grinding stalemate during the winter months, with Russia and Ukraine firing at each other from across the river. Both sides are expected to launch offensives as temperatures warm.This round of aid will be drawn from existing U.S. weapons stockpiles so it can arrive in Ukraine faster. The U.S. and allies are trying to rush additional support to Kyiv to best position it for intensified spring fighting.The Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge is a portable, 60-foot (18-meter) folding metal bridge that is carried on top of a tank body. Providing that system now could make it easier for Ukrainian troops to cross rivers to get to Russian forces.Because Ukraine also continues to face shortages of ammunition in the intense firefight, this aid package, like previous ones, includes thousands of replacement rounds, such as rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and 155mm Howitzer rounds. This package also includes demolition munitions and equipment for clearing obstacles to help Ukraine break through dug-in lines.Since Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, the U.S. has sent in more than $32 billion in weapons and equipment.The U.S. is also roughly tripling the number of Ukrainian forces it is training on advanced battle tactics at a base in Germany, to help them punch through entrenched Russian lines. At the Grafenwoehr training area, Ukrainian forces run through a five-week course that prepares them to conduct advanced combined arms maneuvers with Bradley fighting vehicles, M109 Paladins and Stryker armored personnel carriers. The first 600 Ukrainian troops completed the course last month and 1,600 more are in training.The aid will also include spare parts and equipment for vehicle maintenance and repair.The announcement comes on the heels of a brief meeting Thursday between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a gathering of top diplomats from the Group of 20 nations in New Delhi. It was the highest-level in-person talk between the two countries since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But there was no indication of any movement toward easing the intense tensions between the two nations.Blinken said he told Lavrov the U.S. would continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.Lavrov, who did not mention speaking with Blinken when he held a news conference after the meeting, told reporters Moscow would continue to press its action in Ukraine.--------------WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is expected to announce a new package of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">military aid for Ukraine</a>&nbsp;Friday, including —for the first time — eight armored vehicles that can launch bridges and allow troops to cross rivers or other gaps, U.S. officials said Thursday.The officials said the total cost of the package will be about $400 million and will also include large amounts of ammunition, such as rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. It comes just a week after the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and as Ukrainian forces are preparing for a spring offensive.Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the aid package has not yet been publicly announced.The so-called Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge is a portable, 60-foot folding metal bridge that is carried on top of a tank body. Providing that system now could help Ukrainian troops as they launch the expected offensive, and make it easier for troops to cross rivers to get to Russian forces.Including this latest package, the U.S. has now provided more than $32 billion in military aid to Ukraine. The vehicle bridges and ammunition in the package will be taken from Pentagon stocks through the presidential drawdown authority, so they will be able to be delivered quickly to the warfront.The aid will also include an undisclosed amount of rounds for howitzers, other ammunition, demolition munitions and other equipment to clear obstacles, spare parts and equipment for vehicle maintenance and repair.The announcement comes on the heels of a brief meeting Thursday between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-russia-ukraine-g20-blinken-lavrov-1af60a2c2918e9c0777b33b3e71bd54b">U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov</a>&nbsp;at a meeting of top diplomats from the Group of 20 nations in New Delhi. It was the highest-level in-person talk between the two countries since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But there was no indication of any movement toward easing the intense tensions between the two nations.Blinken said he told Lavrov the U.S. would continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.Lavrov, who did not mention speaking with Blinken when he held a news conference after the meeting, told reporters Moscow would continue to press its action in Ukraine.The war had largely slowed to a grinding stalemate during the winter months, but both sides are expected to be preparing to launch offensives in the spring.

US sends another $400M in aid to Ukraine; total now $32 billion

United
 States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jonathan R. Stidham, 38, 
of Eugene, Ore., was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute
 and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids, 
methamphetamine, N-Ethylhexedrone, and Alprazolam, and conspiracy to 
launder money. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced Stidham to imprisonment for a term of 156 months.
 There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from 
prison, Stidham will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.


<a>Stidham was a leader of a
</a>drug trafficking 
organization (DTO) that produced and distributed anabolic steroids and 
other controlled substances to customers throughout the country using a 
private Facebook
 group as an online storefront and the United States Postal Service to 
ship the drugs to locations throughout the country. In addition to 
anabolic steroids, the DTO marketed and sold pharmaceutical drugs 
described as Xanax and Adderall. Legitimately prescribed
 pharmaceutical Adderall is a Schedule II controlled substance 
containing amphetamine salts. However, laboratory testing revealed that 
the pills marketed as “Adderall” by the DTO were counterfeit and 
contained methamphetamine, also a Schedule II controlled
 substance. The “Xanax” distributed by the DTO contained 
N-Ethylhexedrone, a Scheduled I controlled substance. “Xanax” is a brand
 name for Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance. Alprazolam was
 also confirmed by laboratory testing to be present in substances
 recovered by investigators.

Customers
 purchasing controlled substances from the DTO were required to use 
cryptocurrency and cash to pay. The DTO used peer-to-peer digital
 payments platforms to accept payments for controlled substances from 
customers and to transfer funds among and between themselves. In 
addition to the use of digital payments platforms, the DTO used various 
other methods designed to protect the membership’s
 anonymity and to provide security for the criminal organization from 
law enforcement and other criminal organizations.


Stidham
 operated a clandestine laboratory from an apartment he maintained in 
Eugene, Oregon, specifically for the purpose of producing finished
 anabolic steroids. Stidham laundered proceeds he received from the sale
 of steroids and the other controlled substances via a PayPal account 
through personal business and checking accounts and through a sham 
corporation incorporated in Oregon in 2017.

This
 effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the 
highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States
 using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. 
Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at
<a href="https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF" target="_blank">https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF</a>.

This case was investigated by the Omaha offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue
 Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

U.S. Attorney's OfficeUnited
 States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jonathan R. Stidham, 38, 
of Eugene, Ore., was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute
 and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids, 
methamphetamine, N-Ethylhexedrone, and Alprazolam, and conspiracy to 
launder money. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced Stidham to imprisonment for a term of 156 months.
 There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from 
prison, Stidham will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.
<a>Stidham was a leader of a
</a>drug trafficking 
organization (DTO) that produced and distributed anabolic steroids and 
other controlled substances to customers throughout the country using a 
private Facebook
 group as an online storefront and the United States Postal Service to 
ship the drugs to locations throughout the country. In addition to 
anabolic steroids, the DTO marketed and sold pharmaceutical drugs 
described as Xanax and Adderall. Legitimately prescribed
 pharmaceutical Adderall is a Schedule II controlled substance 
containing amphetamine salts. However, laboratory testing revealed that 
the pills marketed as “Adderall” by the DTO were counterfeit and 
contained methamphetamine, also a Schedule II controlled
 substance. The “Xanax” distributed by the DTO contained 
N-Ethylhexedrone, a Scheduled I controlled substance. “Xanax” is a brand
 name for Alprazolam, a Schedule IV controlled substance. Alprazolam was
 also confirmed by laboratory testing to be present in substances
 recovered by investigators.Customers
 purchasing controlled substances from the DTO were required to use 
cryptocurrency and cash to pay. The DTO used peer-to-peer digital
 payments platforms to accept payments for controlled substances from 
customers and to transfer funds among and between themselves. In 
addition to the use of digital payments platforms, the DTO used various 
other methods designed to protect the membership’s
 anonymity and to provide security for the criminal organization from 
law enforcement and other criminal organizations.
Stidham
 operated a clandestine laboratory from an apartment he maintained in 
Eugene, Oregon, specifically for the purpose of producing finished
 anabolic steroids. Stidham laundered proceeds he received from the sale
 of steroids and the other controlled substances via a PayPal account 
through personal business and checking accounts and through a sham 
corporation incorporated in Oregon in 2017.This
 effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the 
highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States
 using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. 
Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at
<a href="https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF" target="_blank">https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF</a>. This case was investigated by the Omaha offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue
 Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Man sentenced in Neb. for steroid distribution conspiracy

WASHINGTON (AP) — A skin lesion removed from President Joe Biden's chest last month was a basal cell carcinoma — a common form of skin cancer — his doctor said Friday, adding that no further treatment was required.

Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the White House doctor who has served as Biden's longtime physician, said “all cancerous tissue was successfully removed” during the president's routine physical on Feb. 16. Biden, 80, was deemed by O'Connor to be “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-health-bdce6c15df6186e06710f2d903a3513e">healthy, vigorous” and “fit</a>&nbsp;” to handle his White House responsibilities during that physical exam, which comes as he is weeks away from launching an expected bid for reelection in 2024.

O'Connor said the site of the removal on Biden's chest has “healed nicely” and the president will continue regular skin screenings as part of his routine health plan.

Basal cells are among the most common and easily treated forms of cancer — especially when caught early. O'Connor said they don't tend to spread like other cancers, but could grow in size, which is why they are removed.

Biden had “several localized non-melanoma skin cancers" removed from his body before he started his presidency, O'Connor said in his Feb. 16 summary of the president's health, noting it was well established that Biden spent a lot of time in the sun during his youth.

First lady Jill Biden in January had two basal cell lesions removed from her right eye and chest.

She said in an Associated Press interview last week that she's now “extra careful” about sunscreen, especially when she’s at the beach.

Basal cell carcinoma is a slow-growing cancer that usually is confined to the surface of skin — doctors almost always can remove it all with a shallow incision — and seldom causes serious complications or becomes life-threatening.

The Bidens have long been advocates for fighting cancer. Their adult son Beau died in 2015 from brain cancer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677875788057.png" alt="Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the White House doctor who has served as Biden's longtime physician, said “all cancerous tissue was successfully removed” during the president's routine physical on Feb. 16-White House p hoto" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the White House doctor who has served as Biden's longtime physician, said “all cancerous tissue was successfully removed” during the president's routine physical on Feb. 16-White House p hoto</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A skin lesion removed from President Joe Biden's chest last month was a basal cell carcinoma — a common form of skin cancer — his doctor said Friday, adding that no further treatment was required.Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the White House doctor who has served as Biden's longtime physician, said “all cancerous tissue was successfully removed” during the president's routine physical on Feb. 16. Biden, 80, was deemed by O'Connor to be “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-health-bdce6c15df6186e06710f2d903a3513e">healthy, vigorous” and “fit</a>&nbsp;” to handle his White House responsibilities during that physical exam, which comes as he is weeks away from launching an expected bid for reelection in 2024.O'Connor said the site of the removal on Biden's chest has “healed nicely” and the president will continue regular skin screenings as part of his routine health plan.Basal cells are among the most common and easily treated forms of cancer — especially when caught early. O'Connor said they don't tend to spread like other cancers, but could grow in size, which is why they are removed.Biden had “several localized non-melanoma skin cancers" removed from his body before he started his presidency, O'Connor said in his Feb. 16 summary of the president's health, noting it was well established that Biden spent a lot of time in the sun during his youth.First lady Jill Biden in January had two basal cell lesions removed from her right eye and chest.She said in an Associated Press interview last week that she's now “extra careful” about sunscreen, especially when she’s at the beach.Basal cell carcinoma is a slow-growing cancer that usually is confined to the surface of skin — doctors almost always can remove it all with a shallow incision — and seldom causes serious complications or becomes life-threatening.The Bidens have long been advocates for fighting cancer. Their adult son Beau died in 2015 from brain cancer.

Doctor: Lesion removed from Biden's chest was cancerous

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/03/gun-rights-advocates-flex-muscles-advance-constitutional-carry-bill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Gun rights advocates flexed 
their legislative muscle Friday as a “permitless” concealed carry bill, 
which has failed to pass in previous years, was given first-round 
approval.

Legislative bill 77, which would allow 
people to carry a concealed weapon without a state permit or passage of a
 gun safety course, overcame a filibuster and was advanced on a 36-12 
vote.

The bill overcame opposition from leaders
 of the state’s two largest cities, Omaha and Lincoln, and illustrated 
the conservative shift this year in the 49-seat Unicameral.

It was unclear whether or not Friday’s 
vote provides momentum for passage of a wide array of conservative 
proposals this year, ranging from further restrictions on abortions, a 
ban on minors attending drag shows and a move to block investments based
 on environmental considerations.&nbsp;

The Nebraska Legislature shifted to the 
right this year with the exit, due to term limits, of a group of 
moderate leaders. A raft of “culture war” style bills were introduced, 
addressing trans rights, classroom education about race and new optimism
 for long-defeated ideas, such as providing public funds for private 
schools and the so-called “constitutional carry” gun bill.

The main sponsor of LB 77, State Sen. Tom
 Brewer of Gordon, a decorated veteran, competitive shooter and 
long-time gun rights advocate, said gun rights is probably a different 
issue from the others.&nbsp;

But, he added, a new wave of conservative senators this year 
definitely has helped the prospects for the measure, which has failed 
repeatedly in recent years.

During debate over three days, Brewer&nbsp;argued that 
law-abiding Nebraskans should not have to pay — $100 for a state 
concealed carry permit and $100-$200 for a training course — to exercise
 their constitutional right to bear arms.

And, he pointed out, it’s already legal 
to carry a firearm openly in Nebraska, except in businesses and other 
places where it is prohibited. At least one advocate called LB 77 a 
“slight” change in state law.

“Please, just stop, take a deep breath, 
and recognize that you can openly carry,” Brewer said. “You put on a 
coat, and you become a criminal, or you drive through a different town.”

“We just want to clean up the laws so you can protect yourself, your family and your business,” the senator said.

But opponents insisted that LB 77 would “normalize” the proliferation of guns and gun violence.

Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould said the bill 
would make guns more accessible for people who want to do harm to others
 or to harm themselves.

“The states with the most guns … they 
report the most suicides,” said Raybould, and states with stricter gun 
laws report less gun violence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677875863150.png" alt="The Nebraska State Capitol Building on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Lincoln. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The Nebraska State Capitol Building on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Lincoln. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/03/gun-rights-advocates-flex-muscles-advance-constitutional-carry-bill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Gun rights advocates flexed 
their legislative muscle Friday as a “permitless” concealed carry bill, 
which has failed to pass in previous years, was given first-round 
approval.Legislative bill 77, which would allow 
people to carry a concealed weapon without a state permit or passage of a
 gun safety course, overcame a filibuster and was advanced on a 36-12 
vote.The bill overcame opposition from leaders
 of the state’s two largest cities, Omaha and Lincoln, and illustrated 
the conservative shift this year in the 49-seat Unicameral.It was unclear whether or not Friday’s 
vote provides momentum for passage of a wide array of conservative 
proposals this year, ranging from further restrictions on abortions, a 
ban on minors attending drag shows and a move to block investments based
 on environmental considerations.&nbsp;The Nebraska Legislature shifted to the 
right this year with the exit, due to term limits, of a group of 
moderate leaders. A raft of “culture war” style bills were introduced, 
addressing trans rights, classroom education about race and new optimism
 for long-defeated ideas, such as providing public funds for private 
schools and the so-called “constitutional carry” gun bill.The main sponsor of LB 77, State Sen. Tom
 Brewer of Gordon, a decorated veteran, competitive shooter and 
long-time gun rights advocate, said gun rights is probably a different 
issue from the others.&nbsp;But, he added, a new wave of conservative senators this year 
definitely has helped the prospects for the measure, which has failed 
repeatedly in recent years.During debate over three days, Brewer&nbsp;argued that 
law-abiding Nebraskans should not have to pay — $100 for a state 
concealed carry permit and $100-$200 for a training course — to exercise
 their constitutional right to bear arms.And, he pointed out, it’s already legal 
to carry a firearm openly in Nebraska, except in businesses and other 
places where it is prohibited. At least one advocate called LB 77 a 
“slight” change in state law.“Please, just stop, take a deep breath, 
and recognize that you can openly carry,” Brewer said. “You put on a 
coat, and you become a criminal, or you drive through a different town.”“We just want to clean up the laws so you can protect yourself, your family and your business,” the senator said.But opponents insisted that LB 77 would “normalize” the proliferation of guns and gun violence.Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould said the bill 
would make guns more accessible for people who want to do harm to others
 or to harm themselves.“The states with the most guns … they 
report the most suicides,” said Raybould, and states with stricter gun 
laws report less gun violence.Nebraska has the 10th lowest rate of gun-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control, behind states such as
 California, New York and New Jersey. The states with the highest rates 
of gun deaths include Mississippi, Louisiana and Missouri.Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, who voted against advancing LB 77, said that 
given the “scourge” of mass shootings in recent months, it wasn’t the 
time to expand gun rights.Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, who also 
voted no, said people are enraged after every new mass shooting in the 
country and they wonder why policies don’t change.&nbsp;“There’s a generation of people asking us to do something,” Dungan said.Brewer and other advocates, though, 
maintained that LB 77 had nothing to do with the proliferation of guns 
and gun violence in the U.S. They said that Nebraskans who want to 
purchase a handgun will still have to obtain a state permit and submit 
to a criminal background check.If LB 77 clears two more rounds of debate and is signed into law, 
Nebraska will become the 26th state in the nation to allow so-called 
“constitutional carry.”&nbsp;“We’re not the first,” Brewer said, adding that in states that have passed similar laws, “life goes on.”