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.

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.

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.

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.

🎥Biden's executive order to strengthen gun background checks

United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that 
Dallas Sherman <a>Rhinehart</a>,
 53, of Norfolk was sentenced March 10, 2023, in federal 
court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his participation in a methamphetamine 
drug conspiracy.
 Chief United States District Judge 
Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced 
Rhinehart to 130 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison,
Rhinehart will begin a five-year term of supervised release.

In
 May of 2020, Rhinehart was identified as someone distributing 
methamphetamine in the Norfolk area. On July 6, 2020, and July 22, 
2020, law enforcement conducted
 controlled buys of methamphetamine from Rhinehart.&nbsp; The total amount of
 methamphetamine purchased included 52 grams of pure methamphetamine and
 30 grams of a mixture of methamphetamine.

Rhinehart’s
 co-conspirators include Katherine Marie Tacheira, who has pleaded 
guilty and is pending sentencing, and Lindsey Ann Rokahr, who has 
pleaded not
 guilty and is pending trial.&nbsp; 

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol. 


U.S. Attorney's OfficeUnited States Attorney Steven Russell announced that 
Dallas Sherman <a>Rhinehart</a>,
 53, of Norfolk was sentenced March 10, 2023, in federal 
court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his participation in a methamphetamine 
drug conspiracy.
 Chief United States District Judge 
Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced 
Rhinehart to 130 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison,
Rhinehart will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
In
 May of 2020, Rhinehart was identified as someone distributing 
methamphetamine in the Norfolk area. On July 6, 2020, and July 22, 
2020, law enforcement conducted
 controlled buys of methamphetamine from Rhinehart.&nbsp; The total amount of
 methamphetamine purchased included 52 grams of pure methamphetamine and
 30 grams of a mixture of methamphetamine.Rhinehart’s
 co-conspirators include Katherine Marie Tacheira, who has pleaded 
guilty and is pending sentencing, and Lindsey Ann Rokahr, who has 
pleaded not
 guilty and is pending trial.&nbsp; This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.

Norfolk man sentenced for meth trafficking conspiracy

By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/history-nebraska-announces-2023-awardees-from-across-the-state/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — History Nebraska has announced its 2023 awardees from across the 
state to Nebraskans in Beatrice, Hastings, Lincoln, Peru and Omaha.

This year, History Nebraska will 
present five awards at an April 26 event at the Nebraska History Museum 
in Lincoln. The awards recognize people who provide “significant 
contributions to the preservation and interpretation of Nebraska 
history,” according to the organization.

• Champion of History Awards:&nbsp;Richard “Dick” Witt of Hastings; Debora Heard and Claire Du Laney, both of Omaha. • History Nebraska Excellence in Teaching Award:&nbsp;Sara Crook of Peru. • Nebraska State Historic Preservation Award: Main Street Beatrice in Beatrice. • James L. Sellers Award:&nbsp;Gail Blankenau of Lincoln.

The champion award recognizes those who help preserve or interpret Nebraska history.

Witt is honored for being a “driving 
force” in preserving the written history of Adams County, including 
editing the Adams County Historical Society’s “Historical News” 
publication.

Heard is the project coordinator for 
the “Charting Our Path DEAI Strategic Investment Project” at the 
University of Nebraska at Omaha while Du Laney is the UNO Outreach 
Archivist. The project celebrates, promotes and documents the 50th 
anniversary of the UNO Department of Black Studies.

History Nebraska Excellence in Teaching&nbsp;

This teaching award recognizes a teacher who excels in teaching Nebraska history in creative and imaginative ways.

Crook, who has spent 38 years 
teaching history at Peru State College, has “demonstrated a passion for 
getting students to appreciate the state of Nebraska.” A component of 
her course includes the Nebraska Historical Marker program, which led to
 several markers being selected and erected across the state. Crook also
 led various trips nationwide.

Nebraska State Historic Preservation&nbsp;

The historic preservation award recognizes significant achievements in historic preservation by an individual or organization.

Main Street Beatrice has worked 
closely with the State Historical Preservation Office to promote tax 
credit programs, educate the community and create events to engage with 
the public and local politicians. The group’s work has also helped in 
preserving and opening up second stories of downtown buildings.

The memorial award, created in 1967, 
is given annually to the “best article” published in a volume of 
“Nebraska History Magazine.” The author also receives $1,000 from the 
foundation through the support of Catherine Sellers Angle.

The faculty of Nebraska Wesleyan 
University’s History Department judged and selected Blankenau as the 
winner. According to the organization, the judges “were impressed at how
 the article challenged the common assumption that slavery was not a 
part of Nebraska history through a detailed case-study that showed how 
the national debate over slavery played out in the territory.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678830951564.png" alt="History Nebraska, formerly known as the Nebraska State Historical Society, is located just off the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus at 1500 R St. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>History Nebraska, formerly known as the Nebraska State Historical Society, is located just off the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus at 1500 R St. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/history-nebraska-announces-2023-awardees-from-across-the-state/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — History Nebraska has announced its 2023 awardees from across the 
state to Nebraskans in Beatrice, Hastings, Lincoln, Peru and Omaha.This year, History Nebraska will 
present five awards at an April 26 event at the Nebraska History Museum 
in Lincoln. The awards recognize people who provide “significant 
contributions to the preservation and interpretation of Nebraska 
history,” according to the organization.<h2>2023 honorees</h2>• Champion of History Awards:&nbsp;Richard “Dick” Witt of Hastings; Debora Heard and Claire Du Laney, both of Omaha. • History Nebraska Excellence in Teaching Award:&nbsp;Sara Crook of Peru. • Nebraska State Historic Preservation Award: Main Street Beatrice in Beatrice. • James L. Sellers Award:&nbsp;Gail Blankenau of Lincoln.<h2>Champion of History&nbsp;</h2>The champion award recognizes those who help preserve or interpret Nebraska history.Witt is honored for being a “driving 
force” in preserving the written history of Adams County, including 
editing the Adams County Historical Society’s “Historical News” 
publication.Heard is the project coordinator for 
the “Charting Our Path DEAI Strategic Investment Project” at the 
University of Nebraska at Omaha while Du Laney is the UNO Outreach 
Archivist. The project celebrates, promotes and documents the 50th 
anniversary of the UNO Department of Black Studies.<h2>History Nebraska Excellence in Teaching&nbsp;</h2>This teaching award recognizes a teacher who excels in teaching Nebraska history in creative and imaginative ways.Crook, who has spent 38 years 
teaching history at Peru State College, has “demonstrated a passion for 
getting students to appreciate the state of Nebraska.” A component of 
her course includes the Nebraska Historical Marker program, which led to
 several markers being selected and erected across the state. Crook also
 led various trips nationwide.<h2>Nebraska State Historic Preservation&nbsp;</h2>The historic preservation award recognizes significant achievements in historic preservation by an individual or organization.Main Street Beatrice has worked 
closely with the State Historical Preservation Office to promote tax 
credit programs, educate the community and create events to engage with 
the public and local politicians. The group’s work has also helped in 
preserving and opening up second stories of downtown buildings.<h2>James L. Sellers Memorial&nbsp;</h2>The memorial award, created in 1967, 
is given annually to the “best article” published in a volume of 
“Nebraska History Magazine.” The author also receives $1,000 from the 
foundation through the support of Catherine Sellers Angle.The faculty of Nebraska Wesleyan 
University’s History Department judged and selected Blankenau as the 
winner. According to the organization, the judges “were impressed at how
 the article challenged the common assumption that slavery was not a 
part of Nebraska history through a detailed case-study that showed how 
the national debate over slavery played out in the territory.”

History Nebraska announces 2023 awardees from across the state

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-confirms-it-has-applied-for-federal-funding-for-state-climate-plan/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN &nbsp;— A state official confirmed Monday that Nebraska has 
applied for $3 million from the federal Inflation Reduction Act to 
finance a state climate plan.

It remained unclear whether the state will apply for more of the $91 
million set aside for Nebraska via the $700 billion IRA, a proposal of 
President Joe Biden passed on a bipartisan vote of Congress.

There had been some <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-should-seek-its-91-million-share-of-federal-energy-conservation-funds-committee-is-told/">uncertainty about whether Nebraska would seek</a> any portion of the federal funds.

State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue had introduced a bill to require 
the state to seek the “all funds” made available under the act, which 
includes money for weatherization projects in homes and businesses, 
electric vehicle infrastructure and agricultural practices that are 
drought resistant and use less water.

Blood said it didn’t make good “business” sense to allow taxpayer 
dollars provided by Nebraska to go to another state, as happened last 
year when then-Gov. Pete Ricketts declined $120 million in federal 
rental and utility aid.

Jim Macy, director of the Nebraska Department of Environment and 
Energy, told members of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee on 
Monday that the state applied March 10 for $3 million in federal 
funding.

Lincoln Sen. Anna Wishart asked Macy if the state would apply for 
additional funds, and the director responded that applications for other
 portions of the IRA have not yet opened.

After the hearing, Wishart said the weatherization funds offered via 
the IRA could be used to help reduce energy bills on older homes.

Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne presented a bill Monday that would add $1 
million a year in funding to NDEE’s Weatherization Assistance Program.

Officials with the Omaha Public Power District, Habitat for Humanity,
 the Nebraska Housing Developers Association and Community Action of 
Nebraska all testified in favor of Wayne’s LB 237.

Weatherization, such as additional insulation and new furnaces, can 
cut energy costs by up to 25%, which is a big boost for low-income 
families struggling to pay other bills, the committee was told.

Tracie McPherson of Habitat for Humanity of Omaha said its 
weatherization program has helped people who don’t even have a furnace 
and have been relying on wood stoves for heat.

Macy, who testified Monday for the NDEE’s budget proposals, also told
 the Appropriations Committee that the agency will seek a third party to
 conduct a $1 million, statewide study of where nitrate pollution in 
groundwater is most problematic.

Macy said that such a study, which was part of Gov. Jim Pillen’s 
budget proposals, would help determine where nitrate levels may be 
rising or falling and where remediation work is most needed.

Last year, the Legislature allocated $150,000 from its American 
Rescue Plan Act funds for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to update a
 climate change assessment done in 2014.

David Corbin of the Sierra Club of Nebraska said Tuesday that he’s 
encouraged that the state will do more and is seeking the federal 
funding.

The state’s decision comes after the Omaha City Council, last week, 
hired a consultant to develop a Climate Action and Resilience Plan for 
the city.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678821370448.png" alt="Jim Macy, director of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, testifies Monday before the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Jim Macy, director of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, testifies Monday before the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-confirms-it-has-applied-for-federal-funding-for-state-climate-plan/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN &nbsp;— A state official confirmed Monday that Nebraska has 
applied for $3 million from the federal Inflation Reduction Act to 
finance a state climate plan.It remained unclear whether the state will apply for more of the $91 
million set aside for Nebraska via the $700 billion IRA, a proposal of 
President Joe Biden passed on a bipartisan vote of Congress.There had been some <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-should-seek-its-91-million-share-of-federal-energy-conservation-funds-committee-is-told/">uncertainty about whether Nebraska would seek</a> any portion of the federal funds.State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue had introduced a bill to require 
the state to seek the “all funds” made available under the act, which 
includes money for weatherization projects in homes and businesses, 
electric vehicle infrastructure and agricultural practices that are 
drought resistant and use less water.Blood said it didn’t make good “business” sense to allow taxpayer 
dollars provided by Nebraska to go to another state, as happened last 
year when then-Gov. Pete Ricketts declined $120 million in federal 
rental and utility aid.Jim Macy, director of the Nebraska Department of Environment and 
Energy, told members of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee on 
Monday that the state applied March 10 for $3 million in federal 
funding.<h2>Will state seek more IRA funds?</h2>Lincoln Sen. Anna Wishart asked Macy if the state would apply for 
additional funds, and the director responded that applications for other
 portions of the IRA have not yet opened.After the hearing, Wishart said the weatherization funds offered via 
the IRA could be used to help reduce energy bills on older homes.Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne presented a bill Monday that would add $1 
million a year in funding to NDEE’s Weatherization Assistance Program.Officials with the Omaha Public Power District, Habitat for Humanity,
 the Nebraska Housing Developers Association and Community Action of 
Nebraska all testified in favor of Wayne’s LB 237.<h2>IRA could help weatherization</h2>Weatherization, such as additional insulation and new furnaces, can 
cut energy costs by up to 25%, which is a big boost for low-income 
families struggling to pay other bills, the committee was told.Tracie McPherson of Habitat for Humanity of Omaha said its 
weatherization program has helped people who don’t even have a furnace 
and have been relying on wood stoves for heat.Macy, who testified Monday for the NDEE’s budget proposals, also told
 the Appropriations Committee that the agency will seek a third party to
 conduct a $1 million, statewide study of where nitrate pollution in 
groundwater is most problematic.Macy said that such a study, which was part of Gov. Jim Pillen’s 
budget proposals, would help determine where nitrate levels may be 
rising or falling and where remediation work is most needed.Last year, the Legislature allocated $150,000 from its American 
Rescue Plan Act funds for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to update a
 climate change assessment done in 2014.David Corbin of the Sierra Club of Nebraska said Tuesday that he’s 
encouraged that the state will do more and is seeking the federal 
funding.The state’s decision comes after the Omaha City Council, last week, 
hired a consultant to develop a Climate Action and Resilience Plan for 
the city.

State confirms it has applied for federal funding for state climate plan

United States Attorney 
Steven Russell announced that Jeremy D. Sanders, 32, and Lakeda R. 
Sanders, 27, husband and wife, both of Newnan, Georgia, were sentenced 
on March 10 in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska,
 by Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr.&nbsp; Jeremy 
Sanders was sentenced to four years of probation, including three months
 of home confinement, and was ordered to pay restitution of $21,304.88.&nbsp;
 Lakeda Sanders was sentenced to four years
 of probation, including six months of home confinement, and was ordered
 to pay restitution of $27,793.79.&nbsp; Both pled guilty in December 2022 to
 Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;


During 2020 and 2021, 
both Jeremy Sanders and Lakeda Sanders submitted or caused to be 
submitted applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans.&nbsp; 
The PPP loan program was created by the Coronavirus
 Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which was designed to
 provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans 
suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;


Both Jeremy and Lakeda 
Sanders worked with others to prepare and submit loan applications that 
misrepresented payroll for their purported businesses and sole 
proprietorship.&nbsp; The businesses in fact had no employees,
 and the PPP applications were supported by false tax documents.&nbsp; Jeremy
 Sanders and an Omaha-based co-conspirator submitted fraudulent 
applications for loans totaling approximately $41,290, and he obtained 
$20,690.&nbsp; Lakeda Sanders and a co-conspirator submitted
 fraudulent applications for loans totaling approximately $220,000, and 
she obtained $24,166.&nbsp;


On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established 
the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of 
the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government
 to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related
 fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the
 most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists 
agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, 
among other methods, augmenting and incorporating
 existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques 
to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and 
harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement 
efforts. For more information on the Department’s response
 to the pandemic, please visit <a href="https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus" target="_blank">https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus</a>.

Anyone with information about allegations of 
attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the 
Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at:
<a href="https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form" target="_blank">https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form</a>.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

U.S. Attorney's OfficeUnited States Attorney 
Steven Russell announced that Jeremy D. Sanders, 32, and Lakeda R. 
Sanders, 27, husband and wife, both of Newnan, Georgia, were sentenced 
on March 10 in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska,
 by Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr.&nbsp; Jeremy 
Sanders was sentenced to four years of probation, including three months
 of home confinement, and was ordered to pay restitution of $21,304.88.&nbsp;
 Lakeda Sanders was sentenced to four years
 of probation, including six months of home confinement, and was ordered
 to pay restitution of $27,793.79.&nbsp; Both pled guilty in December 2022 to
 Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
During 2020 and 2021, 
both Jeremy Sanders and Lakeda Sanders submitted or caused to be 
submitted applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans.&nbsp; 
The PPP loan program was created by the Coronavirus
 Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which was designed to
 provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans 
suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;
Both Jeremy and Lakeda 
Sanders worked with others to prepare and submit loan applications that 
misrepresented payroll for their purported businesses and sole 
proprietorship.&nbsp; The businesses in fact had no employees,
 and the PPP applications were supported by false tax documents.&nbsp; Jeremy
 Sanders and an Omaha-based co-conspirator submitted fraudulent 
applications for loans totaling approximately $41,290, and he obtained 
$20,690.&nbsp; Lakeda Sanders and a co-conspirator submitted
 fraudulent applications for loans totaling approximately $220,000, and 
she obtained $24,166.&nbsp;
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established 
the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of 
the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government
 to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related
 fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the
 most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists 
agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, 
among other methods, augmenting and incorporating
 existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques 
to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and 
harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement 
efforts. For more information on the Department’s response
 to the pandemic, please visit <a href="https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus" target="_blank">https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus</a>.
Anyone with information about allegations of 
attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the 
Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at:
<a href="https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form" target="_blank">https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form</a>.This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Georgia couple sentenced for Paycheck Protection Program fraud

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian fighter jet struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday in a “brazen violation of international law,” causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle, the U.S. said.

The incident, which raised tensions over Moscow's war in Ukraine, appeared to mark the first time since the height of the Cold War that a U.S. aircraft was brought down after being hit by a Russian warplane.

U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to White House National Security spokesman John Kirby. He added that U.S. State Department officials would be speaking directly with their Russian counterparts and “expressing our concerns over this unsafe and unprofessional intercept.”

State Department spokesman Ned Price called it a “brazen violation of international law.” He said the U.S. summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a protest and the U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, has made similar representations in Moscow.

The U.S. European Command said in a statement that two Russian Su-27 fighter jets “conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept” of a U.S. MQ-9 drone that was operating within international airspace over the Black Sea.

It said one of the Russian fighters “struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.” Prior to that, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 several times before the collision in “a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner,” the U.S. European Command said in a statement from Stuttgart, Germany.

“This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional,” it added.

U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said the MQ-9 aircraft was "conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9.” He added that “in fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.”

There was no immediate reaction from Moscow, which has repeatedly voiced concern about U.S. intelligence flights close to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The Kremlin has charged that by providing weapons to Ukraine and sharing intelligence information with Kyiv, the U.S. and its allies have effectively become engaged in the conflict.

Kirby emphasized that the incident wouldn’t deter the U.S. from continuing their missions in the area.

“if the message is that they want to deter or dissuade us from flying, and operating in international airspace, over the Black Sea, then that message will fail,” Kirby said, adding “that is not going to happen.”

“We’re going to continue to fly and operate in international airspace over international waters,” he said. “The Black Sea belongs to no one nation.”

The U.S. European Command said the incident followed a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting with U.S. and Allied aircraft over international airspace, including over the Black Sea.

“These aggressive actions by Russian aircrew are dangerous and could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation,” it warned.

Gen. David Berger, commandant of the Marine Corps, said that this type of collision is his greatest concern, both in that area of Europe as well as in the Pacific.

“Probably my biggest worry both there and in the Pacific is an aggressive Russia or China pilot or vessel captain, or something gets too close, doesn’t realize where they are, and causes a collision,” Berger said, in response to a question at a National Press Club event on Tuesday.

He said that whether an incident is intentional or not, it forces nation’s leaders to try and sort it out quickly from afar.

Amid the continuing fighting in Ukraine, a Russian missile on Tuesday struck an apartment building in the center of Kramatorsk, killing at least one person and wounding nine others in one of Ukraine’s major city strongholds in its eastern Donetsk region.

The victims were among at least seven civilians killed and 30 wounded in 24 hours, Ukraine authorities said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video showing gaping holes in the façade of the low-rise building that bore the brunt of the strike. The impact damaged nine apartment blocks, a kindergarten, a local bank branch and two cars, said regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko.

“Russian troops are striking residential buildings, schools and hospitals, leaving cities on fire and in ruins,” Kyrylenko said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking Tuesday during a meeting with workers at a helicopter factory in southern Siberia, once again cast the conflict in Ukraine as an existential one for Russia, charging that unlike the West — which, he said, is seeking to advance its geopolitical clout — it’s fighting for its existence as a state.

“For us, it’s not a geopolitical task," Putin said, "it’s the task of survival of Russian statehood and the creation of conditions for the future development of our country.”

Russia had welcomed a Chinese peace proposal to end the fighting, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Kyiv’s refusal to have talks leaves Moscow with only military options.

“We must achieve our goals,” Peskov told reporters. “Given the current stance of the Kyiv regime, now it’s only possible by military means.”

The Russian onslaught has focused on the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut where Kyiv's troops have been fending off Russian attacks for seven months and which has become a symbol of Ukraine's resistance, as well as a focal point of the war.

Zelenskyy discussed the situation in Bakhmut with the top military brass and they were unanimous in their determination to face down the Russian onslaught, according to the presidential office.

“The defensive operation in (Bakhmut) is of paramount strategic importance to deterring the enemy. It is key for the stability of the defense of the entire frontline,” Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian fighter jet on Tuesday struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea, causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle in international waters, the U.S. military said, an incident that highlighted soaring U.S.-Russian tensions over Moscow's war in Ukraine.

White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

It said one of the Russian fighters “struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.” Prior to that, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 several times before the collision in “a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner,” the U.S. European Command said in a statement from Stuttgart, Germany

There was no immediate reaction from Moscow, which has repeatedly voiced concern about U.S. intelligence flights close to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Amid the continuing fighting in Ukraine, A Russian missile struck an apartment building in the center of Kramatorsk on Tuesday, killing at least one person and wounding nine others in one of Ukraine’s major city strongholds in its eastern Donetsk region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video showing gaping holes in the façade of the low-rise building that bore the brunt of the strike.

The Ukrainian general prosecutor’s office and regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko also reported on the attack, posting photos of the building with mounds of rubble in front of it. The impact damaged nine apartment blocks, a kindergarten, a local bank branch and two cars, Kyrylenko said.

The war, which erupted after Russia’s launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, has brought&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-health-doctors-without-borders-government-and-politics-b87823403f6dc148a8d728e73ad2cbae">heavy civilian casualties</a>. Tuesday’s victims were among at least seven civilians killed and 30 wounded in 24 hours, Ukraine authorities said.

They included a 55-year-old woman killed when a Russian shell hit her car Tuesday in a border town in northeastern Ukraine.

“Russian troops are striking residential buildings, schools and hospitals, leaving cities on fire and in ruins,” Kyrylenko, the regional governor, said on Ukrainian television. “The Russians mark each meter (yard) of their advance in the region not only with their own blood, but also with the (lost) lives of civilians.”

Kramatorsk houses the local Ukrainian army headquarters. Ukrainian authorities say it has been regularly targeted by Russian shelling and other attacks in the past.

A missile strike on the city’s train station last April, which Kyiv and much of the international community blamed on Moscow, killed dozens of people and wounded more than 100.

Ukrainian forces have also dug in, especially in the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut where Kyiv's troops have been fending off Russian attacks for seven months and which has become a symbol of Ukraine's resistance, as well as a focal point of the war.

Putin emphasized that his country’s industries have survived the blow of Western sanctions. But he acknowledged those sanctions could bring longer-term problems for the Russian economy.

Russia had welcomed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peace-talks-russia-ukraine-china-b6ce7e237f6f9037ad317a69d2f1373a">Chinese peace proposal</a>&nbsp;to end the fighting, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Kyiv's refusal to have talks leaves Moscow with only military options.

Beijing has said it has a “no limits friendship” with Russia and has refused to criticize Moscow’s invasion, or even refer to it as an invasion.

However, Moscow’s pursuit of its goals in Ukraine has been slowed by poor war management and short resources after being beaten back at the end of last year in a Ukrainian counteroffensive, military analysts say.

The U.K. Ministry of Defense said Tuesday that Russia’s artillery ammunition shortages “have likely worsened to the extent that extremely punitive shell-rationing is in force on many parts of the front.”

That shortcoming, it said, has “almost certainly been a key reason why no Russian formation has recently been able to generate operationally significant offensive action.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678817249159.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian fighter jet struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday in a “brazen violation of international law,” causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle, the U.S. said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PentagonPresSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PentagonPresSec</a> confirms two Russian aircraft conducted &quot;unsafe and unprofessional intercept&quot; with an unmanned <a href="https://twitter.com/usairforce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@usairforce</a> aircraft in international airspace: &quot;This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Iox1T1DDFs">pic.twitter.com/Iox1T1DDFs</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1635718468807819296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The incident, which raised tensions over Moscow's war in Ukraine, appeared to mark the first time since the height of the Cold War that a U.S. aircraft was brought down after being hit by a Russian warplane.U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to White House National Security spokesman John Kirby. He added that U.S. State Department officials would be speaking directly with their Russian counterparts and “expressing our concerns over this unsafe and unprofessional intercept.”State Department spokesman Ned Price called it a “brazen violation of international law.” He said the U.S. summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a protest and the U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, has made similar representations in Moscow.The U.S. European Command said in a statement that two Russian Su-27 fighter jets “conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept” of a U.S. MQ-9 drone that was operating within international airspace over the Black Sea.It said one of the Russian fighters “struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.” Prior to that, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 several times before the collision in “a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner,” the U.S. European Command said in a statement from Stuttgart, Germany.“This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional,” it added.U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said the MQ-9 aircraft was "conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9.” He added that “in fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.”There was no immediate reaction from Moscow, which has repeatedly voiced concern about U.S. intelligence flights close to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The Kremlin has charged that by providing weapons to Ukraine and sharing intelligence information with Kyiv, the U.S. and its allies have effectively become engaged in the conflict.Kirby emphasized that the incident wouldn’t deter the U.S. from continuing their missions in the area.“if the message is that they want to deter or dissuade us from flying, and operating in international airspace, over the Black Sea, then that message will fail,” Kirby said, adding “that is not going to happen.”“We’re going to continue to fly and operate in international airspace over international waters,” he said. “The Black Sea belongs to no one nation.”The U.S. European Command said the incident followed a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting with U.S. and Allied aircraft over international airspace, including over the Black Sea.“These aggressive actions by Russian aircrew are dangerous and could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation,” it warned.Gen. David Berger, commandant of the Marine Corps, said that this type of collision is his greatest concern, both in that area of Europe as well as in the Pacific.“Probably my biggest worry both there and in the Pacific is an aggressive Russia or China pilot or vessel captain, or something gets too close, doesn’t realize where they are, and causes a collision,” Berger said, in response to a question at a National Press Club event on Tuesday.He said that whether an incident is intentional or not, it forces nation’s leaders to try and sort it out quickly from afar.Amid the continuing fighting in Ukraine, a Russian missile on Tuesday struck an apartment building in the center of Kramatorsk, killing at least one person and wounding nine others in one of Ukraine’s major city strongholds in its eastern Donetsk region.The victims were among at least seven civilians killed and 30 wounded in 24 hours, Ukraine authorities said.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video showing gaping holes in the façade of the low-rise building that bore the brunt of the strike. The impact damaged nine apartment blocks, a kindergarten, a local bank branch and two cars, said regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko.“Russian troops are striking residential buildings, schools and hospitals, leaving cities on fire and in ruins,” Kyrylenko said.Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking Tuesday during a meeting with workers at a helicopter factory in southern Siberia, once again cast the conflict in Ukraine as an existential one for Russia, charging that unlike the West — which, he said, is seeking to advance its geopolitical clout — it’s fighting for its existence as a state.“For us, it’s not a geopolitical task," Putin said, "it’s the task of survival of Russian statehood and the creation of conditions for the future development of our country.”Russia had welcomed a Chinese peace proposal to end the fighting, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Kyiv’s refusal to have talks leaves Moscow with only military options.“We must achieve our goals,” Peskov told reporters. “Given the current stance of the Kyiv regime, now it’s only possible by military means.”The Russian onslaught has focused on the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut where Kyiv's troops have been fending off Russian attacks for seven months and which has become a symbol of Ukraine's resistance, as well as a focal point of the war.Zelenskyy discussed the situation in Bakhmut with the top military brass and they were unanimous in their determination to face down the Russian onslaught, according to the presidential office.“The defensive operation in (Bakhmut) is of paramount strategic importance to deterring the enemy. It is key for the stability of the defense of the entire frontline,” Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said.-------------------KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russian fighter jet on Tuesday struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea, causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle in international waters, the U.S. military said, an incident that highlighted soaring U.S.-Russian tensions over Moscow's war in Ukraine.White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan.The U.S. European Command said in a statement that two Russian Su-27 fighter jets “conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept” of a U.S. MQ-9 drone that was operating within international airspace over the Black Sea.It said one of the Russian fighters “struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters.” Prior to that, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 several times before the collision in “a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner,” the U.S. European Command said in a statement from Stuttgart, Germany“This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional,” it added.There was no immediate reaction from Moscow, which has repeatedly voiced concern about U.S. intelligence flights close to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.Amid the continuing fighting in Ukraine, A Russian missile struck an apartment building in the center of Kramatorsk on Tuesday, killing at least one person and wounding nine others in one of Ukraine’s major city strongholds in its eastern Donetsk region.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video showing gaping holes in the façade of the low-rise building that bore the brunt of the strike.The Ukrainian general prosecutor’s office and regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko also reported on the attack, posting photos of the building with mounds of rubble in front of it. The impact damaged nine apartment blocks, a kindergarten, a local bank branch and two cars, Kyrylenko said.The war, which erupted after Russia’s launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, has brought&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-health-doctors-without-borders-government-and-politics-b87823403f6dc148a8d728e73ad2cbae">heavy civilian casualties</a>. Tuesday’s victims were among at least seven civilians killed and 30 wounded in 24 hours, Ukraine authorities said.They included a 55-year-old woman killed when a Russian shell hit her car Tuesday in a border town in northeastern Ukraine.“Russian troops are striking residential buildings, schools and hospitals, leaving cities on fire and in ruins,” Kyrylenko, the regional governor, said on Ukrainian television. “The Russians mark each meter (yard) of their advance in the region not only with their own blood, but also with the (lost) lives of civilians.”Kramatorsk houses the local Ukrainian army headquarters. Ukrainian authorities say it has been regularly targeted by Russian shelling and other attacks in the past.A missile strike on the city’s train station last April, which Kyiv and much of the international community blamed on Moscow, killed dozens of people and wounded more than 100.Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking Tuesday during a meeting with workers at a helicopter factory in southern Siberia, once again cast the conflict in Ukraine as an existential one for Russia, charging that unlike the West — which, he said, is seeking to advance its geopolitical clout — it’s fighting for its existence as a state.“For us, it’s not a geopolitical task," Putin said, "it’s the task of survival of Russian statehood and the creation of conditions for the future development of our country.”Ukrainian forces have also dug in, especially in the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut where Kyiv's troops have been fending off Russian attacks for seven months and which has become a symbol of Ukraine's resistance, as well as a focal point of the war.Zelenskyy discussed the situation in Bakhmut with the top military brass and they were unanimous in their determination to face down the Russian onslaught, according to the presidential office.“The defensive operation in (Bakhmut) is of paramount strategic importance to deterring the enemy. It is key for the stability of the defense of the entire frontline,” Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said.Putin emphasized that his country’s industries have survived the blow of Western sanctions. But he acknowledged those sanctions could bring longer-term problems for the Russian economy.Russia had welcomed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peace-talks-russia-ukraine-china-b6ce7e237f6f9037ad317a69d2f1373a">Chinese peace proposal</a>&nbsp;to end the fighting, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Kyiv's refusal to have talks leaves Moscow with only military options.Beijing has said it has a “no limits friendship” with Russia and has refused to criticize Moscow’s invasion, or even refer to it as an invasion.“We must achieve our goals,” Peskov told reporters. “Given the current stance of the Kyiv regime, now it’s only possible by military means.”However, Moscow’s pursuit of its goals in Ukraine has been slowed by poor war management and short resources after being beaten back at the end of last year in a Ukrainian counteroffensive, military analysts say.The U.K. Ministry of Defense said Tuesday that Russia’s artillery ammunition shortages “have likely worsened to the extent that extremely punitive shell-rationing is in force on many parts of the front.”That shortcoming, it said, has “almost certainly been a key reason why no Russian formation has recently been able to generate operationally significant offensive action.”

🎥Russian fighter jet downs U.S. surveillance drone over Black Sea

United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that 
Neri Mendoza-Rodriguez, 31, was
 sentenced on March 10 in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for 
his participation in a methamphetamine and fentanyl drug conspiracy. 
Chief United States District Judge
Robert F. Rossiter Jr. 
sentenced Mendoza-Rodriguez to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison,
Mendoza-Rodriguez
 will begin a five-year term of supervised release. Mendoza-Rodriguez is
 subject to deportation to Mexico by U.S. immigration authorities when 
he completes his sentence of imprisonment.

In March 2021, a confidential source contacted
<a>Mendoza-Rodriguez </a>to 
arrange the purchase of methamphetamine. On April 5, 2021, the CS met 
with Mendoza-Rodriguez and Mendoza-Rodriguez’s cousin, Rigoberto 
Madrid-Morga, and successfully purchased 399.78 grams of pure 
methamphetamine.&nbsp;

 During this controlled delivery, the CS discussed purchasing M-30 
fentanyl pills from Mendoza-Rodriguez. Mendoza-Rodriguez confirmed he 
had fentanyl pills available, and on April 29, 2021, Madrid-Morga 
delivered 106.79 grams of fentanyl to the CS in Omaha.&nbsp;


This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.


U.S. Attorney's OfficeUnited States Attorney Steven Russell announced that 
Neri Mendoza-Rodriguez, 31, was
 sentenced on March 10 in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for 
his participation in a methamphetamine and fentanyl drug conspiracy. 
Chief United States District Judge
Robert F. Rossiter Jr. 
sentenced Mendoza-Rodriguez to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison,
Mendoza-Rodriguez
 will begin a five-year term of supervised release. Mendoza-Rodriguez is
 subject to deportation to Mexico by U.S. immigration authorities when 
he completes his sentence of imprisonment.In March 2021, a confidential source contacted
<a>Mendoza-Rodriguez </a>to 
arrange the purchase of methamphetamine. On April 5, 2021, the CS met 
with Mendoza-Rodriguez and Mendoza-Rodriguez’s cousin, Rigoberto 
Madrid-Morga, and successfully purchased 399.78 grams of pure 
methamphetamine.&nbsp;
 During this controlled delivery, the CS discussed purchasing M-30 
fentanyl pills from Mendoza-Rodriguez. Mendoza-Rodriguez confirmed he 
had fentanyl pills available, and on April 29, 2021, Madrid-Morga 
delivered 106.79 grams of fentanyl to the CS in Omaha.&nbsp;
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Mexican citizen sentenced for meth trafficking conspiracy

SYRIA—Authorities are investigating an attack U.S. Forces in Syria. Just before 8:30p.m. Monday, two rockets landed near coalition forces at Mission Support site Green Village in Northeast Syria, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

No U.S. or Coalition troops were killed or injured. There was no damage to coalition infrastructure or equipment.

U.S. Forces found rocket debris at the point of impact. There were no claims of responsibility late Monday, according to the U.S. Central Command.&nbsp; &nbsp;The U.S. reported similar attacks in October, November and February.

SYRIA—Authorities are investigating an attack U.S. Forces in Syria. Just before 8:30p.m. Monday, two rockets landed near coalition forces at Mission Support site Green Village in Northeast Syria, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.No U.S. or Coalition troops were killed or injured. There was no damage to coalition infrastructure or equipment.U.S. Forces found rocket debris at the point of impact. There were no claims of responsibility late Monday, according to the U.S. Central Command.&nbsp; &nbsp;The U.S. reported similar attacks in October, November and February.

Another rocket attack targets US base in Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two large banks that cater to the tech industry have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/silicon-valley-bank-uk-bailout-hsbc-sale-4d2da0e9c6f39c0fd8faf321a2b295cf">collapsed after a bank run</a>, government agencies are taking emergency measures to backstop the financial system, and President Joe Biden is reassuring Americans that the money they have in banks is safe.

It's all eerily reminiscent of the financial meltdown that began with the bursting of the housing bubble 15 years ago. Yet the initial pace this time around seems even faster.

Over the last three days, the U.S. seized the two financial institutions after a bank run on Silicon Valley Bank, based in Santa Clara, California. It was the largest bank failure since Washington Mutual went under in 2008.

How did we get here? And will the steps the government unveiled over the weekend be enough?

Here are some questions and answers about what has happened and why it matters:

Silicon Valley Bank had already been hit hard by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-snap-inc-amazoncom-business-5012d95678b50f699498cb11b5f3913d">rough patch for technology companies</a>&nbsp;in recent months and the Federal Reserve’s aggressive plan to increase interest rates to combat inflation compounded its problems.

The bank held billions of dollars worth of Treasuries and other bonds, which is typical for most banks as they are considered safe investments. However, the value of previously issued bonds has begun to fall because they pay lower interest rates than comparable bonds issued in today’s higher interest rate environment.

That's usually not an issue either because bonds are considered long term investments and banks are not required to book declining values until they are sold. Such bonds are not sold for a loss unless there is an emergency and the bank needs cash.

Silicon Valley, the bank that collapsed Friday, had an emergency. Its customers were largely startups and other tech-centric companies that needed more cash over the past year, so they began withdrawing their deposits. That forced the bank to sell a chunk of its bonds at a steep loss, and the pace of those withdrawals accelerated as word spread, effectively&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/svb-fed-bonds-rates-banks-inflation-a24b28b3caeede91c76cd120aa9b7966">rendering Silicon Valley Bank insolvent</a>.

The Federal Reserve, the U.S. Treasury Department, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/silicon-valley-bank-bailout-yellen-deposits-failure-94f2185742981daf337c4691bbb9ec1e">guarantee all deposits</a>&nbsp;at Silicon Valley Bank, as well as at New York's Signature Bank, which was seized on Sunday. Critically, they agreed to guarantee all deposits, above and beyond the limit on insured deposits of $250,000.

Many of Silicon Valley's startup tech customers and venture capitalists had far more than $250,000 at the bank. As a result, as much as 90% of Silicon Valley's deposits were uninsured. Without the government's decision to backstop them all, many companies would have lost funds needed to meet payroll, pay bills, and keep the lights on.

The goal of the expanded guarantees is to avert bank runs — where customers rush to remove their money — by establishing the Fed’s commitment to protecting the deposits of businesses and individuals and calming nerves after a harrowing few days.

Also late Sunday, the Federal Reserve initiated a broad emergency lending program intended to shore up confidence in the nation’s financial system.

Banks will be allowed to borrow money straight from the Fed in order to cover any potential rush of customer withdrawals without being forced into the type of money-losing bond sales that would threaten their financial stability. Such fire sales are what caused Silicon Valley Bank's collapse.

If all works as planned, the emergency lending program may not actually have to lend much money. Rather, it will reassure the public that the Fed will cover their deposits and that it is willing to lend big to do so. There is no cap on the amount that banks can borrow, other than their ability to provide collateral.

Unlike its more byzantine efforts to rescue the banking system during the financial crisis of 2007-08, the Fed's approach this time is relatively straightforward. It has set up a new lending facility with the bureaucratic moniker, “Bank Term Funding Program.”

The program will provide loans to banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions for up to a year. The banks are being asked to post Treasuries and other government-backed bonds as collateral.

The Fed is being generous in its terms: It will charge a relatively low interest rate — just 0.1 percentage points higher than market rates — and it will lend against the face value of the bonds, rather than the market value. Lending against the face value of bonds is a key provision that will allow banks to borrow more money because the value of those bonds, at least on paper, has fallen as interest rates have moved higher.

As of the end of last year U.S. banks held Treasuries and other securities with about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/silicon-valley-bank-uk-bailout-hsbc-sale-4d2da0e9c6f39c0fd8faf321a2b295cf">$620 billion of unrealized losses</a>, according to the FDIC. That means they would take huge losses if forced to sell those securities to cover a rush of withdrawals.

HOW DID THE BANKS END UP WITH SUCH BIG LOSSES?

Ironically, a big chunk of that $620 billion in unrealized losses can be tied to the Federal Reserve's own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-inflation-rates-economy-debt-89c49a1032527f2d2f1d6d674bafe187">interest-rate policies over the past year</a>.

In its fight to cool the economy and bring down inflation, the Fed has rapidly pushed up its benchmark interest rate from nearly zero to about 4.6%. That has indirectly lifted the yield, or interest paid, on a range of government bonds, particularly two-year Treasuries, which topped 5% until the end of last week.

When new bonds arrive with higher interest rates, it makes existing bonds with lower yields much less valuable if they must be sold. Banks are not forced to recognize such losses on their books until they sell those assets, which Silicon Valley was forced to do.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES?

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678567122405.png" alt="Silicon Vally Bank branch in Santa Clara, California -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Silicon Vally Bank branch in Santa Clara, California -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Two large banks that cater to the tech industry have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/silicon-valley-bank-uk-bailout-hsbc-sale-4d2da0e9c6f39c0fd8faf321a2b295cf">collapsed after a bank run</a>, government agencies are taking emergency measures to backstop the financial system, and President Joe Biden is reassuring Americans that the money they have in banks is safe.It's all eerily reminiscent of the financial meltdown that began with the bursting of the housing bubble 15 years ago. Yet the initial pace this time around seems even faster.Over the last three days, the U.S. seized the two financial institutions after a bank run on Silicon Valley Bank, based in Santa Clara, California. It was the largest bank failure since Washington Mutual went under in 2008.How did we get here? And will the steps the government unveiled over the weekend be enough?Here are some questions and answers about what has happened and why it matters:WHY DID SILICON VALLEY BANK FAIL?Silicon Valley Bank had already been hit hard by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-snap-inc-amazoncom-business-5012d95678b50f699498cb11b5f3913d">rough patch for technology companies</a>&nbsp;in recent months and the Federal Reserve’s aggressive plan to increase interest rates to combat inflation compounded its problems.The bank held billions of dollars worth of Treasuries and other bonds, which is typical for most banks as they are considered safe investments. However, the value of previously issued bonds has begun to fall because they pay lower interest rates than comparable bonds issued in today’s higher interest rate environment.That's usually not an issue either because bonds are considered long term investments and banks are not required to book declining values until they are sold. Such bonds are not sold for a loss unless there is an emergency and the bank needs cash.Silicon Valley, the bank that collapsed Friday, had an emergency. Its customers were largely startups and other tech-centric companies that needed more cash over the past year, so they began withdrawing their deposits. That forced the bank to sell a chunk of its bonds at a steep loss, and the pace of those withdrawals accelerated as word spread, effectively&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/svb-fed-bonds-rates-banks-inflation-a24b28b3caeede91c76cd120aa9b7966">rendering Silicon Valley Bank insolvent</a>.WHAT DID THE GOVERNMENT DO SUNDAY?The Federal Reserve, the U.S. Treasury Department, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/silicon-valley-bank-bailout-yellen-deposits-failure-94f2185742981daf337c4691bbb9ec1e">guarantee all deposits</a>&nbsp;at Silicon Valley Bank, as well as at New York's Signature Bank, which was seized on Sunday. Critically, they agreed to guarantee all deposits, above and beyond the limit on insured deposits of $250,000.Many of Silicon Valley's startup tech customers and venture capitalists had far more than $250,000 at the bank. As a result, as much as 90% of Silicon Valley's deposits were uninsured. Without the government's decision to backstop them all, many companies would have lost funds needed to meet payroll, pay bills, and keep the lights on.The goal of the expanded guarantees is to avert bank runs — where customers rush to remove their money — by establishing the Fed’s commitment to protecting the deposits of businesses and individuals and calming nerves after a harrowing few days.Also late Sunday, the Federal Reserve initiated a broad emergency lending program intended to shore up confidence in the nation’s financial system.Banks will be allowed to borrow money straight from the Fed in order to cover any potential rush of customer withdrawals without being forced into the type of money-losing bond sales that would threaten their financial stability. Such fire sales are what caused Silicon Valley Bank's collapse.If all works as planned, the emergency lending program may not actually have to lend much money. Rather, it will reassure the public that the Fed will cover their deposits and that it is willing to lend big to do so. There is no cap on the amount that banks can borrow, other than their ability to provide collateral.HOW IS THE PROGRAM INTENDED TO WORK?Unlike its more byzantine efforts to rescue the banking system during the financial crisis of 2007-08, the Fed's approach this time is relatively straightforward. It has set up a new lending facility with the bureaucratic moniker, “Bank Term Funding Program.”The program will provide loans to banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions for up to a year. The banks are being asked to post Treasuries and other government-backed bonds as collateral.The Fed is being generous in its terms: It will charge a relatively low interest rate — just 0.1 percentage points higher than market rates — and it will lend against the face value of the bonds, rather than the market value. Lending against the face value of bonds is a key provision that will allow banks to borrow more money because the value of those bonds, at least on paper, has fallen as interest rates have moved higher.As of the end of last year U.S. banks held Treasuries and other securities with about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/silicon-valley-bank-uk-bailout-hsbc-sale-4d2da0e9c6f39c0fd8faf321a2b295cf">$620 billion of unrealized losses</a>, according to the FDIC. That means they would take huge losses if forced to sell those securities to cover a rush of withdrawals.HOW DID THE BANKS END UP WITH SUCH BIG LOSSES?Ironically, a big chunk of that $620 billion in unrealized losses can be tied to the Federal Reserve's own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-inflation-rates-economy-debt-89c49a1032527f2d2f1d6d674bafe187">interest-rate policies over the past year</a>.In its fight to cool the economy and bring down inflation, the Fed has rapidly pushed up its benchmark interest rate from nearly zero to about 4.6%. That has indirectly lifted the yield, or interest paid, on a range of government bonds, particularly two-year Treasuries, which topped 5% until the end of last week.When new bonds arrive with higher interest rates, it makes existing bonds with lower yields much less valuable if they must be sold. Banks are not forced to recognize such losses on their books until they sell those assets, which Silicon Valley was forced to do.HOW IMPORTANT ARE THE GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES?They're very important. Legally, the FDIC is required to pursue the cheapest route when winding down a bank. In the case of Silicon Valley or Signature, that would have meant sticking to rules on the books, meaning that only the first $250,000 in depositors' accounts would be covered.Going beyond the $250,000 cap required a decision that the failure of the two banks posed a “systemic risk." The Fed's six-member board unanimously reached that conclusion. The FDIC and the Treasury Secretary went along with the decision as well.WILL THESE PROGRAMS SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS?The U.S. says that guaranteeing the deposits won't require any taxpayer funds. Instead, any losses from the FDIC's insurance fund would be replenished by a levying an additional fee on banks.Yet Krishna Guha, an analyst with the investment bank Evercore ISI, said that political opponents will argue that the higher FDIC fees will “ultimately fall on small banks and Main Street business.” That, in theory, could cost consumers and businesses in the long run.WILL IT ALL WORK?Guha and other analysts say that the government's response is expansive and should stabilize the banking system, though share prices for medium-sized banks, similar to Silicon Valley and Signature, plunged Monday.“We think the double-barreled bazooka should be enough to quell potential runs at other regional banks and restore relative stability in the days ahead,” Guha wrote in a note to clients.Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital Economics, said the Fed's lending program means banks should be able to "ride out the storm.”“These are strong moves,” he said.Yet Ashworth also added a note of caution: “Rationally, this should be enough to stop any contagion from spreading and taking down more banks ... but contagion has always been more about irrational fear, so we would stress that there is no guarantee this will work.”