By JOSH FUNK Associated Press

OMAHA — U.S. railroads were warned to take certain cars out of 
service Thursday after Norfolk Southern discovered loose wheels on a car
 involved in last weekend's <a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-springfield-train-derailment-1b08c84e0788082dd24a4f4ca447f459">derailment in Ohio</a>.

It's
 not clear that the loose wheels caused the derailment near Springfield 
last Saturday because the National Transportation Safety Board has just 
begun investigating that crash — the latest in a string of high-profile <a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-train-derailment-norfolk-southern-ohio-49e36d8b7f89a8e23ed8cd4e9cf96c55">derailments</a> that have been <a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials-74d7aec638500c52d1eb9fda0acf9f26">grabbing headlines</a>. But the railroad said the loose wheels on the car could cause a derailment.

Norfolk
 Southern said in a statement that after the railroad discovered 
“additional cases of unusual wheel movement,” it acted quickly to notify
 accident investigators and the rest of the industry. The Association of
 American Railroads trade group responded Thursday by issuing an 
advisory about the suspect cars.

The trade group said the problem 
was linked to new wheel sets that were installed on specialized steel 
coil cars beginning in August. The association said all of the cars with
 those wheels should be inspected and have their wheels replaced 
immediately.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many railcars might 
be affected or their location, Association of American Railroads 
spokeswoman Jessica Kahanek said.

Railroad safety has been in the spotlight since a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">fiery Norfolk Southern derailment</a>
 in Ohio last month. Roughly half of the town of East Palestine had to 
be evacuated after several hazardous materials cars caught fire. The 
railroad's CEO was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-ceo-norfolk-southern-railroad-e709db3c9945a35c8b92b99e2ba82b2e">answering questions</a> about that wreck at a Congressional hearing on Thursday.

Besides the Springfield derailment, two <a href="https://apnews.com/article/train-derailment-west-virginia-new-river-666564e6d74d66bf2550da4e1348ccd4">others</a> have been reported across the country in the past week, although none of those involved hazardous materials.

By JOSH FUNK Associated PressOMAHA — U.S. railroads were warned to take certain cars out of 
service Thursday after Norfolk Southern discovered loose wheels on a car
 involved in last weekend's <a href="https://apnews.com/article/norfolk-southern-springfield-train-derailment-1b08c84e0788082dd24a4f4ca447f459">derailment in Ohio</a>.It's
 not clear that the loose wheels caused the derailment near Springfield 
last Saturday because the National Transportation Safety Board has just 
begun investigating that crash — the latest in a string of high-profile <a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-train-derailment-norfolk-southern-ohio-49e36d8b7f89a8e23ed8cd4e9cf96c55">derailments</a> that have been <a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials-74d7aec638500c52d1eb9fda0acf9f26">grabbing headlines</a>. But the railroad said the loose wheels on the car could cause a derailment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678459913884.jpeg" alt="A view of the scene Feb. 24 as the cleanup continues at the site of of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, file)" />
 <figcaption>A view of the scene Feb. 24 as the cleanup continues at the site of of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, file)</figcaption>
 </figure>Norfolk
 Southern said in a statement that after the railroad discovered 
“additional cases of unusual wheel movement,” it acted quickly to notify
 accident investigators and the rest of the industry. The Association of
 American Railroads trade group responded Thursday by issuing an 
advisory about the suspect cars.The trade group said the problem 
was linked to new wheel sets that were installed on specialized steel 
coil cars beginning in August. The association said all of the cars with
 those wheels should be inspected and have their wheels replaced 
immediately.It wasn’t immediately clear how many railcars might 
be affected or their location, Association of American Railroads 
spokeswoman Jessica Kahanek said.Railroad safety has been in the spotlight since a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">fiery Norfolk Southern derailment</a>
 in Ohio last month. Roughly half of the town of East Palestine had to 
be evacuated after several hazardous materials cars caught fire. The 
railroad's CEO was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-ceo-norfolk-southern-railroad-e709db3c9945a35c8b92b99e2ba82b2e">answering questions</a> about that wreck at a Congressional hearing on Thursday.Besides the Springfield derailment, two <a href="https://apnews.com/article/train-derailment-west-virginia-new-river-666564e6d74d66bf2550da4e1348ccd4">others</a> have been reported across the country in the past week, although none of those involved hazardous materials.

Railroad group warns that car flaw could cause derailments

By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/09/nebraskans-voice-concerns-skepticism-of-reverting-to-a-bicameral-legislature/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — A hearing Thursday on a proposal to end Nebraska’s one-house 
legislative system drew all but one opponent, disputing claims it could 
benefit representation.

<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50002">Legislative Resolution 2CA</a>,
 proposed by State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, would return Nebraska to
 a bicameral Legislature, with 63 representatives elected by the people 
and 31 senators, each representing three contiguous counties. He did 
express interest in maintaining 49 representatives based on current 
legislative districts.

Erdman introduced an <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/AM/AM745.pdf">amendment</a>
 to his resolution Thursday clarifying that senators would be selected 
by senator appointment committees. County boards in each of the senate 
districts would select one board member for the committee.

LR 2CA would also provide that voters
 select legislators in partisan elections and that legislators 
internally select committee chairs and officers via open ballot, a 
long-fought rules change sought by conservatives.

However, much of Thursday’s testimony focused on the bicameral proposal.

“I think a people cannot be long free
 or, nor ever happy, whose government is in one Assembly,” said John 
Adams in 1776, who Erdman quoted to the Executive Board.

“A single Assembly is liable to all 
the vices, follies and frailties of an individual,” Adams continued in 
his “Thoughts on Government” writing. “Subject to fits of humour, starts
 of passion, flights of enthusiasm, partialities of prejudice and 
consequently productive of hasty results and absurd judgments.”

George W. Norris is viewed as the 
father of the Unicameral for encouraging Nebraskans to adopt the 
one-house change in 1934. Nebraska’s Legislature became a Unicameral in 
1937. Norris also supported the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,
 which provided for the direct election of U.S. senators.

Jeanne Greisen was the only person to testify in favor of Erdman’s proposal, although 42 letters were submitted in support.

Greisen said Nebraska has been 
meeting the definition of insanity, repeating a process and expecting 
different results year after year.

“When the government doesn’t work for
 the people, then the people need to do something to take back their 
government,” Greisen said. “And maybe that’ll happen in a different way,
 but, in the meantime, this is a great bill to change things because 
clearly, this is not working.”

Some have criticized Erdman’s 
proposal as unconstitutional, as it would violate one person, one vote. 
The U.S. Supreme Court recognized in a 1964 case that state senate 
districts must have roughly equal populations.

But Erdman is confident his proposal 
would provide voters an opportunity to review the system, adding that 
something is not “generally” unconstitutional until the courts rule that
 way.

Randy Stramel, a representative with 
the Norris Institute in McCook, said the institute approved a resolution
 against Erdman’s proposal.

Stramel said that, contrary to 
Erdman’s contention, the bill would not increase rural representation. 
Instead, he said, the change would increase only the number of 
politicians.&nbsp;

He added that a bicameral body could 
complicate rules, decrease the resources and time available to 
legislators and centralize power in political parties.

Stramel was one of 13 people testifying against the proposal. In addition, 38 letters were submitted opposing the measure.

Bruce McDowell of McCook said Norris 
would likely be “twisting in his grave” at Erdman’s proposal, which is 
not the first attempt to change the one-house structure.

Erdman said only five senators live 
west of Kearney — Brian Hardin, Erdman, Mike Jacobson, Teresa Ibach and 
Tom Brewer — and their districts are composed of 37 counties. Erdman’s 
proposal could add at least 12 legislators west of Kearney.

Adding 31 senators, at an annual 
salary of $12,000, would carry a price tag of $372,000.&nbsp; There would be 
additional costs for legislative staff wages and other administrative 
costs.

More senators could also lead to more legislation for residents to track, McDowell said.

Wes Dodge, president of Represent Us,
 an anti-corruption organization with an Omaha chapter, said the 
discourse in the current session with State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of 
Omaha threatening to filibuster any bill that reaches the floor would be
 duplicated in a two-house Legislature.

Dodge said the “special” system in Nebraska has been effective and reduces redundancy.

“We’re Nebraska nice. I don’t think 
we should be Nebraska compliant and do what other people want us to do,”
 Dodge said. “Let’s do what we can to keep us unique, independent and 
practical.”

Chloe Fowler, associate executive 
director of Nonpartisan Nebraska, said she was a page for the Executive 
Board in the previous session. There, and on the floor of the 
Legislature, she said, she watched unlikely senators work together.

Natalie Hahn, whose family has farms 
in Polk and Merrick Counties, said senators need to remember that 
Nebraska’s system is a “gem” and a “treasure” to the rest of the world. 
She said that when she’d bring international visitors to Nebraska as 
part of her work with the United Nations, they’d be most in awe of the 
Unicameral.

Hahn also called for senators to 
remember the words at the south entrance of the Capitol: “The salvation 
of the state is watchfulness in the citizen.”

“Let us ensure the watchfulness is 
based on local needs, particularly independence and brilliance for all 
Nebraskans,” Hahn said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661523699684.png" alt="The Nebraska State Capitol Building. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The Nebraska State Capitol Building. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/09/nebraskans-voice-concerns-skepticism-of-reverting-to-a-bicameral-legislature/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — A hearing Thursday on a proposal to end Nebraska’s one-house 
legislative system drew all but one opponent, disputing claims it could 
benefit representation.<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50002">Legislative Resolution 2CA</a>,
 proposed by State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, would return Nebraska to
 a bicameral Legislature, with 63 representatives elected by the people 
and 31 senators, each representing three contiguous counties. He did 
express interest in maintaining 49 representatives based on current 
legislative districts.Erdman introduced an <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/AM/AM745.pdf">amendment</a>
 to his resolution Thursday clarifying that senators would be selected 
by senator appointment committees. County boards in each of the senate 
districts would select one board member for the committee.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673544940801.jpeg" alt="tate Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>tate Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>LR 2CA would also provide that voters
 select legislators in partisan elections and that legislators 
internally select committee chairs and officers via open ballot, a 
long-fought rules change sought by conservatives.However, much of Thursday’s testimony focused on the bicameral proposal.“I think a people cannot be long free
 or, nor ever happy, whose government is in one Assembly,” said John 
Adams in 1776, who Erdman quoted to the Executive Board.“A single Assembly is liable to all 
the vices, follies and frailties of an individual,” Adams continued in 
his “Thoughts on Government” writing. “Subject to fits of humour, starts
 of passion, flights of enthusiasm, partialities of prejudice and 
consequently productive of hasty results and absurd judgments.”George W. Norris is viewed as the 
father of the Unicameral for encouraging Nebraskans to adopt the 
one-house change in 1934. Nebraska’s Legislature became a Unicameral in 
1937. Norris also supported the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,
 which provided for the direct election of U.S. senators.<h2>The constitutionality</h2>Jeanne Greisen was the only person to testify in favor of Erdman’s proposal, although 42 letters were submitted in support.Greisen said Nebraska has been 
meeting the definition of insanity, repeating a process and expecting 
different results year after year.“When the government doesn’t work for
 the people, then the people need to do something to take back their 
government,” Greisen said. “And maybe that’ll happen in a different way,
 but, in the meantime, this is a great bill to change things because 
clearly, this is not working.”Some have criticized Erdman’s 
proposal as unconstitutional, as it would violate one person, one vote. 
The U.S. Supreme Court recognized in a 1964 case that state senate 
districts must have roughly equal populations.But Erdman is confident his proposal 
would provide voters an opportunity to review the system, adding that 
something is not “generally” unconstitutional until the courts rule that
 way.<h2>The legacy of George Norris</h2>Randy Stramel, a representative with 
the Norris Institute in McCook, said the institute approved a resolution
 against Erdman’s proposal.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678459008249.jpeg" alt="Senator George Norris is honored with a statue outside the Norris House in McCook, Nebraska. (Nathan Leach/Nonpartisan Nebraska)" />
 <figcaption>Senator George Norris is honored with a statue outside the Norris House in McCook, Nebraska. (Nathan Leach/Nonpartisan Nebraska)</figcaption>
 </figure>Stramel said that, contrary to 
Erdman’s contention, the bill would not increase rural representation. 
Instead, he said, the change would increase only the number of 
politicians.&nbsp;He added that a bicameral body could 
complicate rules, decrease the resources and time available to 
legislators and centralize power in political parties.Stramel was one of 13 people testifying against the proposal. In addition, 38 letters were submitted opposing the measure.Bruce McDowell of McCook said Norris 
would likely be “twisting in his grave” at Erdman’s proposal, which is 
not the first attempt to change the one-house structure.Erdman said only five senators live 
west of Kearney — Brian Hardin, Erdman, Mike Jacobson, Teresa Ibach and 
Tom Brewer — and their districts are composed of 37 counties. Erdman’s 
proposal could add at least 12 legislators west of Kearney.Adding 31 senators, at an annual 
salary of $12,000, would carry a price tag of $372,000.&nbsp; There would be 
additional costs for legislative staff wages and other administrative 
costs.More senators could also lead to more legislation for residents to track, McDowell said.<h2>‘Unique, independent and practical’</h2>Wes Dodge, president of Represent Us,
 an anti-corruption organization with an Omaha chapter, said the 
discourse in the current session with State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of 
Omaha threatening to filibuster any bill that reaches the floor would be
 duplicated in a two-house Legislature.Dodge said the “special” system in Nebraska has been effective and reduces redundancy.“We’re Nebraska nice. I don’t think 
we should be Nebraska compliant and do what other people want us to do,”
 Dodge said. “Let’s do what we can to keep us unique, independent and 
practical.”Chloe Fowler, associate executive 
director of Nonpartisan Nebraska, said she was a page for the Executive 
Board in the previous session. There, and on the floor of the 
Legislature, she said, she watched unlikely senators work together.Natalie Hahn, whose family has farms 
in Polk and Merrick Counties, said senators need to remember that 
Nebraska’s system is a “gem” and a “treasure” to the rest of the world. 
She said that when she’d bring international visitors to Nebraska as 
part of her work with the United Nations, they’d be most in awe of the 
Unicameral.Hahn also called for senators to 
remember the words at the south entrance of the Capitol: “The salvation 
of the state is watchfulness in the citizen.”“Let us ensure the watchfulness is 
based on local needs, particularly independence and brilliance for all 
Nebraskans,” Hahn said.

Nebraskans voice concerns on reverting to bicameral Legislature

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-tourism-slogan-not-for-everyone-as-senator-seeks-more-coordinated-messaging/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska got a lot of 
publicity after it unveiled an edgy state tourism slogan in 2018: 
“Honestly, it’s not for everyone.”

But a state senator proposed Thursday that more unified messaging 
might be accomplished if the state’s economic development director and 
the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce were more involved.

After all, the pitch made by the Nebraska Department of Economic 
Development to recruit workers to the state — “The Good Life is Calling”
 — is a tad different.

State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha originally proposed in his <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Intro/LB624.pdf">Legislative Bill 624</a>
 that the State Tourism Commission would end its run as an independent 
entity and return to being a division of DED, as it was prior to 2013.

But, McDonnell joked, his initial proposal “was not for everyone.”

Under a <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/AM/AM688.pdf">compromise amendment</a>
 he offered Thursday, the commission would remain independent, but its 
board of directors would be revamped, with the state DED director 
joining the 12-member board, as well as a representative of the state 
chamber.

That, McDonnell said, would lead to more unified messaging in future campaigns to draw tourists and new residents.

“Singing from the same sheet of music,” is how Gordon Sen. Tom Brewer described it during a hearing on the bill.

Representatives of the state’s lodging and travel associations testified in favor of the amended proposal.

They were the groups that had sought an independent tourism 
commission a decade ago, arguing that tourism promotion would become a 
higher priority for the state if it wasn’t a part of a larger state 
agency.

During a legislative hearing Tuesday on DED’s budget request, 
senators on the Appropriations Committee quizzed DED Director Tony Goins
 about the alignment of the “Good Life is Calling” campaign with the 
“It’s not for everyone” tourism slogan.

“It’s not good when we have two different messages out there,” said Omaha Sen. Tony Vargas.

“As an agency, we don’t feel we should be made a mockery of,” he 
said, noting that the slogan was coined by an advertising firm out of 
Colorado.

The Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
 took no action on the bill after a public hearing Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678458783029.png" alt="The state tourism slogan used self-deprecating humor in an attempt to make Nebraska more desirable for tourists (Courtesy of Nebraska Tourism Commission)" />
 <figcaption>The state tourism slogan used self-deprecating humor in an attempt to make Nebraska more desirable for tourists (Courtesy of Nebraska Tourism Commission)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-tourism-slogan-not-for-everyone-as-senator-seeks-more-coordinated-messaging/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska got a lot of 
publicity after it unveiled an edgy state tourism slogan in 2018: 
“Honestly, it’s not for everyone.”But a state senator proposed Thursday that more unified messaging 
might be accomplished if the state’s economic development director and 
the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce were more involved.After all, the pitch made by the Nebraska Department of Economic 
Development to recruit workers to the state — “The Good Life is Calling”
 — is a tad different.State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha originally proposed in his <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Intro/LB624.pdf">Legislative Bill 624</a>
 that the State Tourism Commission would end its run as an independent 
entity and return to being a division of DED, as it was prior to 2013.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674233093146.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Original proposal ‘not for everyone’</h2>But, McDonnell joked, his initial proposal “was not for everyone.”Under a <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/AM/AM688.pdf">compromise amendment</a>
 he offered Thursday, the commission would remain independent, but its 
board of directors would be revamped, with the state DED director 
joining the 12-member board, as well as a representative of the state 
chamber.That, McDonnell said, would lead to more unified messaging in future campaigns to draw tourists and new residents.“Singing from the same sheet of music,” is how Gordon Sen. Tom Brewer described it during a hearing on the bill.Representatives of the state’s lodging and travel associations testified in favor of the amended proposal.They were the groups that had sought an independent tourism 
commission a decade ago, arguing that tourism promotion would become a 
higher priority for the state if it wasn’t a part of a larger state 
agency.<h2>Slogan makes a ‘mockery’ of state</h2>During a legislative hearing Tuesday on DED’s budget request, 
senators on the Appropriations Committee quizzed DED Director Tony Goins
 about the alignment of the “Good Life is Calling” campaign with the 
“It’s not for everyone” tourism slogan.“It’s not good when we have two different messages out there,” said Omaha Sen. Tony Vargas.Goins said he didn’t disagree.“As an agency, we don’t feel we should be made a mockery of,” he 
said, noting that the slogan was coined by an advertising firm out of 
Colorado.The Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
 took no action on the bill after a public hearing Thursday.

Nebraska senator: Tourism slogan 'not for everyone'

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/09/millions-sought-for-museums-devoted-to-standing-bear-and-history-of-fort-robinson/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A Nebraska museum honoring Ponca Chief Standing Bear.

A more complete telling of the history of Fort Robinson in the state’s Pine Ridge.

And saving the Mayhew Cabin, the last remaining structure on the underground railroad through southeast Nebraska.

Those are three projects State Sens. Justin Wayne of Omaha and Tom 
Brewer of Gordon are aiming to accomplish via a legislative bill seeking
 $35 million in state funds.

<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Intro/LB474.pdf">Legislative Bill 474</a>
 got a wave of support during a hearing Thursday before the 
Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, as 
well as a pledge by its sponsors to get it passed this year.

Wayne, who described his bill as “preserve the third” (as in the 3rd 
Congressional District), said that Nebraska, Standing Bear’s home,&nbsp; 
deserves to have an appropriate center dedicated to the Native American 
who won a court ruling in 1879 declaring that he was legally “a person.”

Fort Robinson’s vast history as a military fort, POW camp and site of
 the killing of Crazy Horse, could be better developed and told, the 
senator said, enhancing tourism to a site that is now a scenic state 
park.

And the Mayhew Cabin, <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/30/historic-cabin-popular-tourist-stop-remains-closed-maybe-for-good/">closed since 2019 because of a damaging flood</a>, needs to be restored and reopened before its history of serving on the underground railroad from 1855-59 is forgotten.

“We need to start preserving some of our culture and history before we lose it,” Wayne said.

The state is awash in surplus funds, and Wayne, along with Brewer, 
are hoping to replicate what the North Omaha senator has done for his 
district and South Omaha. Wayne led efforts to obtain $335 million in 
redevelopment funds last year for those Omaha neighborhoods and is 
seeking <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/07/north-and-south-omaha-representatives-converge-in-the-legislature-to-push-for-435-million-for-their-communities/">an additional $100 million this year</a>.

He and Brewer admitted Thursday that the exact needs of the three 
history projects have yet to be worked out but said those details are in
 the process of being determined.

During the hearing, Wayne estimated that purchasing and renovating 
the Mayhew Cabin would cost less than $1 million, with his bill 
providing a dollar-for-dollar match of the cost of upgrading historic 
sites at Fort Robinson and establishing a Standing Bear &amp; Ponca 
Cultural Center in Niobrara. He estimated those projects at $27 million 
and $50 million, respectively.

But, he said, “if it’s only $5 million this year, then it’s only $5 million this year.”

Much will depend, Wayne said, on how much money state lawmakers have 
available to spend after the state budget is passed later during the 
2023 session.

Officials from Nebraska City, the Nebraska Commission on Indian 
Affairs and the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska testified in favor of the bill. A
 representative of History Nebraska — which would take ownership of the 
Mayhew Cabin and Fort Robinson enhancements under the bill — took a 
neutral stance and asked for more information on what exact 
responsibilities the historical society would be expected to assume.

Ponca officials said Thursday that they have many artifacts connected
 with Standing Bear and are pursuing the construction of a cultural 
center to display them on tribal land near Niobrara, the chief’s home 
land.

Judi gaiashkibos, executive director of the Indian Affairs 
Commission, said that the story of Standing Bear will soon get a higher 
profile with the production of up to two movies about the famed civil 
rights leader.

Last year, the Legislature appropriated <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/chief-standing-bear-film-receives-green-light-to-begin-production/">$5 million toward the production of a film,</a>
 and gaiashkibos said a second movie director — an award-winning Irish 
director — is now also interested in telling the story in film.

She said that talks are underway to determine whether the two directors will work together on one film, or produce two movies.

The Government Committee took no action on LB 474 after the public 
hearing. Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould said that options are being 
discussed to get the bill prioritized so it will come up for debate this
 year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678458605077.png" alt="A bust of Chief Standing Bear was unveiled last summer in front of a state office building renamed for the famed Ponca chief. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>A bust of Chief Standing Bear was unveiled last summer in front of a state office building renamed for the famed Ponca chief. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/09/millions-sought-for-museums-devoted-to-standing-bear-and-history-of-fort-robinson/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A Nebraska museum honoring Ponca Chief Standing Bear.A more complete telling of the history of Fort Robinson in the state’s Pine Ridge.And saving the Mayhew Cabin, the last remaining structure on the underground railroad through southeast Nebraska.Those are three projects State Sens. Justin Wayne of Omaha and Tom 
Brewer of Gordon are aiming to accomplish via a legislative bill seeking
 $35 million in state funds.<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Intro/LB474.pdf">Legislative Bill 474</a>
 got a wave of support during a hearing Thursday before the 
Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, as 
well as a pledge by its sponsors to get it passed this year.Wayne, who described his bill as “preserve the third” (as in the 3rd 
Congressional District), said that Nebraska, Standing Bear’s home,&nbsp; 
deserves to have an appropriate center dedicated to the Native American 
who won a court ruling in 1879 declaring that he was legally “a person.”Fort Robinson’s vast history as a military fort, POW camp and site of
 the killing of Crazy Horse, could be better developed and told, the 
senator said, enhancing tourism to a site that is now a scenic state 
park.And the Mayhew Cabin, <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/30/historic-cabin-popular-tourist-stop-remains-closed-maybe-for-good/">closed since 2019 because of a damaging flood</a>, needs to be restored and reopened before its history of serving on the underground railroad from 1855-59 is forgotten.“We need to start preserving some of our culture and history before we lose it,” Wayne said.The state is awash in surplus funds, and Wayne, along with Brewer, 
are hoping to replicate what the North Omaha senator has done for his 
district and South Omaha. Wayne led efforts to obtain $335 million in 
redevelopment funds last year for those Omaha neighborhoods and is 
seeking <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/07/north-and-south-omaha-representatives-converge-in-the-legislature-to-push-for-435-million-for-their-communities/">an additional $100 million this year</a>.He and Brewer admitted Thursday that the exact needs of the three 
history projects have yet to be worked out but said those details are in
 the process of being determined.During the hearing, Wayne estimated that purchasing and renovating 
the Mayhew Cabin would cost less than $1 million, with his bill 
providing a dollar-for-dollar match of the cost of upgrading historic 
sites at Fort Robinson and establishing a Standing Bear &amp; Ponca 
Cultural Center in Niobrara. He estimated those projects at $27 million 
and $50 million, respectively.But, he said, “if it’s only $5 million this year, then it’s only $5 million this year.”Much will depend, Wayne said, on how much money state lawmakers have 
available to spend after the state budget is passed later during the 
2023 session.Officials from Nebraska City, the Nebraska Commission on Indian 
Affairs and the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska testified in favor of the bill. A
 representative of History Nebraska — which would take ownership of the 
Mayhew Cabin and Fort Robinson enhancements under the bill — took a 
neutral stance and asked for more information on what exact 
responsibilities the historical society would be expected to assume.Ponca officials said Thursday that they have many artifacts connected
 with Standing Bear and are pursuing the construction of a cultural 
center to display them on tribal land near Niobrara, the chief’s home 
land.Judi gaiashkibos, executive director of the Indian Affairs 
Commission, said that the story of Standing Bear will soon get a higher 
profile with the production of up to two movies about the famed civil 
rights leader.Last year, the Legislature appropriated <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/chief-standing-bear-film-receives-green-light-to-begin-production/">$5 million toward the production of a film,</a>
 and gaiashkibos said a second movie director — an award-winning Irish 
director — is now also interested in telling the story in film.She said that talks are underway to determine whether the two directors will work together on one film, or produce two movies.The Government Committee took no action on LB 474 after the public 
hearing. Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould said that options are being 
discussed to get the bill prioritized so it will come up for debate this
 year.

Millions sought for museums devoted to Standing Bear, Fort Robinson

WASHINGTON (AP) — House leaders say the impact of a hack of a health insurance marketplace used by members of Congress “could be extraordinary,” exposing sensitive personal data of lawmakers, their employees and families. In all, thousands of people could be affected.

DC Health Link, which runs the exchange, said an unspecified number of customers were impacted and it was notifying them and working with law enforcement to quantify the damage. It said it was offering identity theft service to those affected and extending credit monitoring to all customers.

Some 11,000 of the exchange’s more than 100,000 participants work in the House and Senate — in the nation's capital and district offices across the nation — or are relatives.

<a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBednar/status/1633800558539669504?s=20">In a letter to the exchange's director posted on Twitter,</a>&nbsp;House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said the breach “significantly increase the risk that Members, staff and their families will experience identity theft, financial crimes, and physical threats.” The stolen data includes Social Security numbers, phones, addresses, emails and employer names.

The FBI said in a brief statement Wednesday evening it was aware of the incident and was assisting.

In the letter, McCarthy and Jeffries said the FBI had not yet determined the extent of the breach but that thousands of House members, employees and their families have enrolled in health insurance through DC Health Link since 2014. “The size and scope of impacted House customers could be extraordinary.”

They said the FBI told them it was able to purchase the stolen data on the dark web, where it was offered for sale for an unspecified amount Monday on a hacker forum popular with cybercriminals.

It was not clear, though, whether and how the FBI could guarantee that copies of the stolen data were not circulating in the cybercrime underworld. Indeed, on Thursday, a new user on the forum claimed a hacker known as “thekilob” had stolen more than 55,000 records and exclaimed “Glory to Russia” in Cyrillic. Some of the most active cybercriminals are Russian speakers and operate with little interference from the Kremlin.

The user posted 200 records from the hack online and The Associated Press confirmed the sample's authenticity with two of the victims listed.

"This is big. This isn't just like regular folks. This is everyone," said one victim who works in Washington, D.C. In all, 24 people in her office had their records in the dump. The AP is not naming victims or their workplaces to avoid further potential harm.

Sample data posted to the hacker forum by a different account — and removed overnight Thursday — listed data for a dozen DC Link participants. The AP reached one by phone.

“Oh my God,” the man said, when informed the information was public. All 12 people listed work for the same company or are family members.

In an email to all Senate email account holders on Wednesday, the sergeant at arms recommended that anyone registered on the health insurance exchange freeze their credit to prevent identity theft.

An email sent out by the office of the Chief Administrative Office of the House on behalf of McCarthy and Jeffries called the breach “egregious” and urged members to use credit and identity theft monitoring resources.

In an emailed statement on Wednesday, Rep. Joe Morelle of New York said House leadership was informed by Capitol Police that DC Health Link “suffered an extraordinarily large data breach of enrollee information" that posed a “great risk” to members, employees and their family members. He said the FBI was still determining the “cause, size, and scope of the data breach.”

The hack follows several recent breaches affecting U.S. agencies. Hackers broke into a U.S. Marshals Service computer system and activated ransomware on Feb. 17 after stealing personally identifiable data about agency employees and targets of investigations.

An FBI computer system was recently breached at the bureau's New York field office, CNN reported in mid-February. Asked about that intrusion, the FBI issued a statement calling it "an isolated incident that has been contained.” It declined further comment, including when it occurred and whether ransomware was involved.

There was no indication the DC Health breach was ransomware-related.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House leaders say the impact of a hack of a health insurance marketplace used by members of Congress “could be extraordinary,” exposing sensitive personal data of lawmakers, their employees and families. In all, thousands of people could be affected.DC Health Link, which runs the exchange, said an unspecified number of customers were impacted and it was notifying them and working with law enforcement to quantify the damage. It said it was offering identity theft service to those affected and extending credit monitoring to all customers.Some 11,000 of the exchange’s more than 100,000 participants work in the House and Senate — in the nation's capital and district offices across the nation — or are relatives.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerMcCarthy</a> &amp; Minority Leader Jeffries&#39; letter regarding the DC Health Link data breach: <a href="https://t.co/v6H3VtdGX4">pic.twitter.com/v6H3VtdGX4</a>&mdash; Mark Bednar (@MarkBednar) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBednar/status/1633800558539669504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBednar/status/1633800558539669504?s=20">In a letter to the exchange's director posted on Twitter,</a>&nbsp;House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said the breach “significantly increase the risk that Members, staff and their families will experience identity theft, financial crimes, and physical threats.” The stolen data includes Social Security numbers, phones, addresses, emails and employer names.The FBI said in a brief statement Wednesday evening it was aware of the incident and was assisting.In the letter, McCarthy and Jeffries said the FBI had not yet determined the extent of the breach but that thousands of House members, employees and their families have enrolled in health insurance through DC Health Link since 2014. “The size and scope of impacted House customers could be extraordinary.”They said the FBI told them it was able to purchase the stolen data on the dark web, where it was offered for sale for an unspecified amount Monday on a hacker forum popular with cybercriminals.It was not clear, though, whether and how the FBI could guarantee that copies of the stolen data were not circulating in the cybercrime underworld. Indeed, on Thursday, a new user on the forum claimed a hacker known as “thekilob” had stolen more than 55,000 records and exclaimed “Glory to Russia” in Cyrillic. Some of the most active cybercriminals are Russian speakers and operate with little interference from the Kremlin.The user posted 200 records from the hack online and The Associated Press confirmed the sample's authenticity with two of the victims listed."This is big. This isn't just like regular folks. This is everyone," said one victim who works in Washington, D.C. In all, 24 people in her office had their records in the dump. The AP is not naming victims or their workplaces to avoid further potential harm.Sample data posted to the hacker forum by a different account — and removed overnight Thursday — listed data for a dozen DC Link participants. The AP reached one by phone.“Oh my God,” the man said, when informed the information was public. All 12 people listed work for the same company or are family members.In an email to all Senate email account holders on Wednesday, the sergeant at arms recommended that anyone registered on the health insurance exchange freeze their credit to prevent identity theft.An email sent out by the office of the Chief Administrative Office of the House on behalf of McCarthy and Jeffries called the breach “egregious” and urged members to use credit and identity theft monitoring resources.In an emailed statement on Wednesday, Rep. Joe Morelle of New York said House leadership was informed by Capitol Police that DC Health Link “suffered an extraordinarily large data breach of enrollee information" that posed a “great risk” to members, employees and their family members. He said the FBI was still determining the “cause, size, and scope of the data breach.”The hack follows several recent breaches affecting U.S. agencies. Hackers broke into a U.S. Marshals Service computer system and activated ransomware on Feb. 17 after stealing personally identifiable data about agency employees and targets of investigations.An FBI computer system was recently breached at the bureau's New York field office, CNN reported in mid-February. Asked about that intrusion, the FBI issued a statement calling it "an isolated incident that has been contained.” It declined further comment, including when it occurred and whether ransomware was involved.There was no indication the DC Health breach was ransomware-related.

Health data breach hitting Congress 'could be extraordinary'

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — As political gridlock puts the government at risk of defaulting, President Joe Biden on Thursday made an opening bid with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-budget-deficit-trillion-republicans-economy-810ff80dcd8812f2138eef571f2444f3">budget plan</a>&nbsp;that would cut deficits by $2.9 trillion over the next decade — a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-budget-highlights-taxes-deficits-medicare-3f0d64293eb6bf84d114d937627119b8">proposal that Republicans already intend to reject</a>. (Click below to watch the President's comments)

It's part of a broader attempt by the president to call out House Republicans who are demanding severe cuts to spending in return for lifting the government's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-department-of-the-treasury-united-states-government-janet-yellen-business-6fe9b54dcdfea58bead0f4c5f9f89a64">legal borrowing limit</a>. But the GOP has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-republican-party-kevin-mccarthy-895d66dcb52739ea06a505859ac9fff3">no counteroffer</a>&nbsp;so far, other than a flat “no” to a Biden blueprint with tax increases on the wealthy that could form the policy backbone of Biden's yet-to-be-declared campaign for reelection in 2024.

Striding around a stage at a union training center in Philadelphia, Biden seemed to be in full campaign mode as he spoke about his plan for the government's finances and how his values contrasted with Republican priorities.

“I just laid out the bulk of my budget,” Biden said. “Republicans in Congress should do the same thing. Then we can sit down and see where we disagree.”

Yet the president doubted that GOP lawmakers could make their numbers match their calls for a balanced budget and he suggested that any efforts to do so could come at the expense of middle-class families.

“How are they going to make the math work?" Biden said. "What are they going to cut?”

Biden’s package of tax and spending priorities is unlikely to pass the GOP-run House or the Senate, where Democrats hold a slim edge, as proposed.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said the president's proposed deficit reduction was inadequate. “It just seems like it’s going to create the biggest government in history. I don’t think that’s what we need at this time,” he said.

In addition to deficit reduction, Biden's 10-year budget largely revolves around the idea of taxing the wealthy to help fund programs for the middle class, older adults and families. It would raise $4.7 trillion from higher taxes, with an additional $800 billion in savings from changes to programs.

The tax increases include a reversal of the 2017 tax cuts made by President Donald Trump on people earning more than $400,000 a year.

Biden has floated a new 25% minimum tax on households worth $100 million or more. Also, the tax that companies pay on stock buybacks would rise fourfold and those earning more than $400,000 would pay an additional Medicare tax that would help to keep the program solvent beyond the year 2050. Medicare could negotiate on the prices of more prescription drugs, helping to save the government money.

Accompanying that would be $2.6 trillion worth of new spending, including the restoration of the expanded child tax credit that would give families as much as $3,600 per child, compared with the current level of $2,000. That credit would be “fully refundable,” which means households could receive all of that sum even if they don’t owe any taxes. The budget proposal would impose a $35-a-month cap on insulin prices, matching a change that Biden already put in place for Medicare recipients.

At a time of increased tensions with Russia and China, the budget shows a decline in military spending as a share of the U.S. economy over the next decade. But federal spending would be equal to roughly one-quarter of economic output as the spending on Social Security and Medicare climbs, essentially keeping the government the same size as it is currently.

The budget would seek to close the “carried interest” loophole that allows wealthy hedge fund managers and others to pay their taxes at a lower rate, and prevent billionaires from being able to set aside large amounts of their holdings in tax-favored retirement accounts. The plan also projects saving $24 billion over 10 years by removing a tax subsidy for cryptocurrency transactions.

McCarthy has called for putting the U.S. government on a path toward a balanced budget. But by refusing to raise taxes or cut Social Security and Medicare spending, GOP lawmakers face some harsh math that makes it hard to reduce deficits without risking a voter backlash before a presidential election. He has said his plan's release was pushed back because Biden's proposal was only now coming out.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., expressed skepticism that McCarthy has any coherent plan that House Republicans can coalesce around. “Enough with the dodging, enough with the excuses," Schumer said. "Show us your plan. And then show us how it’s going to get 218 votes on your side of the aisle.”

Biden's deficit reduction goal is significantly higher than the $2 trillion that he had promised in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-the-union-biden-2023-b9bebd876a42a9510f068a04a3f2a348">State of the Union</a>&nbsp;address last month.

With the economy already in a fragile state because of high inflation, if Biden and Congress cannot agree to raise the statutory debt cap of $31.4 trillion by this summer, the government could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-department-of-the-treasury-united-states-government-district-columbia-china-0f7f0d85ed38353940a18cd262de8b09">default on payments</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-department-of-the-treasury-united-states-government-janet-yellen-business-6fe9b54dcdfea58bead0f4c5f9f89a64">perhaps shove the country into a recession.</a>

The budget also shows the shadow of Trump's legacy, as provisions in his 2017 tax cuts will expire after 2025. Biden wants to eliminate elements of that overhaul, arguing that lower taxes failed to produce the growth that Trump promised. But Biden's budget does not address tax cuts that benefited households making less than $400,000: Their expiration could amount to a tax increase that would violate a pledge by Biden to only raise taxes on the wealthy.

Based off the data, the cost of extending the tax breaks for people making less than $400,000 would be $1.5 trillion, according to Kyle Pomerleau, a senior fellow at the center-right American Enterprise Institute. That would halve the deficit savings being promoted by Biden, but Pomerleau cautioned that his estimates might be high because the president's plan includes the cost of the expanded child tax credit.

Biden’s proposal would increase the top marginal tax rate to 39.6% on income above $400,000. For households with $1 million in income, earnings from capital gains, such as stocks or property sales, would no longer enjoy a discounted tax rate compared with wages. The president would increase the corporate tax rate to 28% and increase the tax rate on U.S. multinationals’ foreign earnings from 10.5% to 21%.

In February, the nonpartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2023-02/58848-Outlook.pdf">Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimated that the national debt held by the public will grow by more than $20 trillion over the next decade. The publicly held debt, which reflects the cumulative impact of yearly deficits, would be equal to 118% of U.S. gross domestic product, compared with 98% this year. Biden's budget would reduce the debt, though it would still be high relative to historical levels.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — As political gridlock puts the government at risk of defaulting, President Joe Biden on Thursday made an opening bid with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-budget-deficit-trillion-republicans-economy-810ff80dcd8812f2138eef571f2444f3">budget plan</a>&nbsp;that would cut deficits by $2.9 trillion over the next decade — a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-budget-highlights-taxes-deficits-medicare-3f0d64293eb6bf84d114d937627119b8">proposal that Republicans already intend to reject</a>. (Click below to watch the President's comments)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qpJnCELX3Ag?start=814" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>It's part of a broader attempt by the president to call out House Republicans who are demanding severe cuts to spending in return for lifting the government's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-department-of-the-treasury-united-states-government-janet-yellen-business-6fe9b54dcdfea58bead0f4c5f9f89a64">legal borrowing limit</a>. But the GOP has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-republican-party-kevin-mccarthy-895d66dcb52739ea06a505859ac9fff3">no counteroffer</a>&nbsp;so far, other than a flat “no” to a Biden blueprint with tax increases on the wealthy that could form the policy backbone of Biden's yet-to-be-declared campaign for reelection in 2024.Striding around a stage at a union training center in Philadelphia, Biden seemed to be in full campaign mode as he spoke about his plan for the government's finances and how his values contrasted with Republican priorities.“I just laid out the bulk of my budget,” Biden said. “Republicans in Congress should do the same thing. Then we can sit down and see where we disagree.”Yet the president doubted that GOP lawmakers could make their numbers match their calls for a balanced budget and he suggested that any efforts to do so could come at the expense of middle-class families.“How are they going to make the math work?" Biden said. "What are they going to cut?”Biden’s package of tax and spending priorities is unlikely to pass the GOP-run House or the Senate, where Democrats hold a slim edge, as proposed.House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said the president's proposed deficit reduction was inadequate. “It just seems like it’s going to create the biggest government in history. I don’t think that’s what we need at this time,” he said.In addition to deficit reduction, Biden's 10-year budget largely revolves around the idea of taxing the wealthy to help fund programs for the middle class, older adults and families. It would raise $4.7 trillion from higher taxes, with an additional $800 billion in savings from changes to programs.The tax increases include a reversal of the 2017 tax cuts made by President Donald Trump on people earning more than $400,000 a year.Biden has floated a new 25% minimum tax on households worth $100 million or more. Also, the tax that companies pay on stock buybacks would rise fourfold and those earning more than $400,000 would pay an additional Medicare tax that would help to keep the program solvent beyond the year 2050. Medicare could negotiate on the prices of more prescription drugs, helping to save the government money.Accompanying that would be $2.6 trillion worth of new spending, including the restoration of the expanded child tax credit that would give families as much as $3,600 per child, compared with the current level of $2,000. That credit would be “fully refundable,” which means households could receive all of that sum even if they don’t owe any taxes. The budget proposal would impose a $35-a-month cap on insulin prices, matching a change that Biden already put in place for Medicare recipients.At a time of increased tensions with Russia and China, the budget shows a decline in military spending as a share of the U.S. economy over the next decade. But federal spending would be equal to roughly one-quarter of economic output as the spending on Social Security and Medicare climbs, essentially keeping the government the same size as it is currently.The budget would seek to close the “carried interest” loophole that allows wealthy hedge fund managers and others to pay their taxes at a lower rate, and prevent billionaires from being able to set aside large amounts of their holdings in tax-favored retirement accounts. The plan also projects saving $24 billion over 10 years by removing a tax subsidy for cryptocurrency transactions.McCarthy has called for putting the U.S. government on a path toward a balanced budget. But by refusing to raise taxes or cut Social Security and Medicare spending, GOP lawmakers face some harsh math that makes it hard to reduce deficits without risking a voter backlash before a presidential election. He has said his plan's release was pushed back because Biden's proposal was only now coming out.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., expressed skepticism that McCarthy has any coherent plan that House Republicans can coalesce around. “Enough with the dodging, enough with the excuses," Schumer said. "Show us your plan. And then show us how it’s going to get 218 votes on your side of the aisle.”Biden's deficit reduction goal is significantly higher than the $2 trillion that he had promised in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-the-union-biden-2023-b9bebd876a42a9510f068a04a3f2a348">State of the Union</a>&nbsp;address last month.With the economy already in a fragile state because of high inflation, if Biden and Congress cannot agree to raise the statutory debt cap of $31.4 trillion by this summer, the government could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-department-of-the-treasury-united-states-government-district-columbia-china-0f7f0d85ed38353940a18cd262de8b09">default on payments</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-department-of-the-treasury-united-states-government-janet-yellen-business-6fe9b54dcdfea58bead0f4c5f9f89a64">perhaps shove the country into a recession.</a>The budget also shows the shadow of Trump's legacy, as provisions in his 2017 tax cuts will expire after 2025. Biden wants to eliminate elements of that overhaul, arguing that lower taxes failed to produce the growth that Trump promised. But Biden's budget does not address tax cuts that benefited households making less than $400,000: Their expiration could amount to a tax increase that would violate a pledge by Biden to only raise taxes on the wealthy.Based off the data, the cost of extending the tax breaks for people making less than $400,000 would be $1.5 trillion, according to Kyle Pomerleau, a senior fellow at the center-right American Enterprise Institute. That would halve the deficit savings being promoted by Biden, but Pomerleau cautioned that his estimates might be high because the president's plan includes the cost of the expanded child tax credit.Biden’s proposal would increase the top marginal tax rate to 39.6% on income above $400,000. For households with $1 million in income, earnings from capital gains, such as stocks or property sales, would no longer enjoy a discounted tax rate compared with wages. The president would increase the corporate tax rate to 28% and increase the tax rate on U.S. multinationals’ foreign earnings from 10.5% to 21%.In February, the nonpartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2023-02/58848-Outlook.pdf">Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimated that the national debt held by the public will grow by more than $20 trillion over the next decade. The publicly held debt, which reflects the cumulative impact of yearly deficits, would be equal to 118% of U.S. gross domestic product, compared with 98% this year. Biden's budget would reduce the debt, though it would still be high relative to historical levels.___

🎥Biden rolls out $6.8T budget plan, challenges GOP to follow suit

By STEPHEN GROVES and JOSH FUNK Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern's CEO earnestly apologized before Congress on Thursday for last month's fiery <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">hazardous materials train derailment</a>
 on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and pledged millions of dollars to help
 the local town recover. But he stopped short of fully endorsing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">tougher safety regulations</a> or specific commitments to pay for long-term health and economic harm.

In
 a packed Senate hearing, CEO Alan Shaw said his railroad firmly 
supports the goal of improving rail safety, but he also defended his 
company's record. He was questioned closely by both Democrats and 
Republicans about the decision making that led to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">release and burn of toxic vinyl chloride</a> from five tanker cars — as well as the company's commitment to safety and helping the people of East Palestine, Ohio.

“I’m
 terribly sorry for the impact this derailment has had on the folks of 
that community,” Shaw said. “We’re going to be there for as long as it 
takes to help East Palestine thrive and recover.”

But the 
condolences and commitment of $20 million in aid so far hardly satisfied
 lawmakers or several East Palestine residents who traveled to 
Washington for the hearing.

“How do we trust that man with our 
health and the health of our children, when he won’t even answer the 
questions that we need answered,” said Jami Cozza, adding that her 
family continues to suffer from illnesses over a month after the 
derailment.

The company has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-norfolk-southern-railroad-171b7d3f8e0dbced1336efafb098badf">announced</a>
 several voluntary safety upgrades. Senators, however, are looking to 
act themselves as they investigate the derailment, the Biden 
administration's response and the company's safety practices after the 
toppling of 38 railcars, including 11 carrying hazardous materials.

Norfolk
 Southern is also under pressure from federal regulators. The National 
Transportation Safety Board and Federal Railroad Administration both <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-norfolk-southern-safety-investigation-2c819f2c469102332d4b1abf4c6e8923">announced investigations this week</a> of the East Palestine derailment and other accidents, including the death of a train conductor Tuesday.

Just Thursday, a Norfolk Southern <a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-train-derailment-norfolk-southern-ohio-49e36d8b7f89a8e23ed8cd4e9cf96c55">train derailed in Alabama</a>. Company and local officials said there was no threat to the public.

In
 the East Palestine crash, no one was injured but half of the roughly 
5,000 local residents were evacuated. Scenes of billowing smoke above 
the town, alongside complaints <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-norfolk-southern-east-palestine-1e676947c663fefff3bb5ef70b12a642">from residents</a>
 that they are still suffering from illnesses, have turned national 
attention to railroad safety and the ways dangerous materials are 
transported.

It's all sparked a show of bipartisanship in the 
Senate. The committee on Thursday also heard from Ohio and Pennsylvania 
senators — Republican JD Vance and Democrats Sherrod Brown and Bob Casey
 — who are proposing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">new safety regulations</a> under a Railway Safety Act of 2023.

Train derailments have been getting less common, but there were still more than 1,000 last year, according to data the <a href="https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/officeofsafety/publicsite/summary.aspx">Federal Railroad Administration</a>. And as East Palestine shows, even a single train derailment involving hazardous materials can be disastrous.

Hazardous
 materials shipments account for 7% to 8% of the roughly 30 million 
shipments railroads deliver across the U.S. each year. But railroads 
often mix shipments and might have one or two cars of hazardous 
materials on almost any train. The Association of American Railroads 
trade group says 99.9% of hazardous materials shipments reach their 
destinations safely.

Norfolk Southern's Shaw is backing proposals 
to tighten standards for tank cars that the railroads don’t own, expand 
hazardous materials training for first responders and establish 
standards for the trackside detectors railroads use to spot problems. 
The company has also said it is adding “approximately 200 hot bearing 
detectors” to its network. The NTSB has said <a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">a detector warned the crew operating</a>
 the train that derailed Feb. 3 outside East Palestine, but they 
couldn’t stop the train before more than three dozen cars came off the 
tracks and caught fire.

Some lawmakers want to push beyond 
voluntary safety upgrades. The Railway Safety Act of 2023, which has 
gained support from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., would 
require more hot bearing detectors to be installed, set limits on train 
length and make sure railroads notify states about the hazardous 
materials they are transporting.

Some Republicans have hesitated to support the proposal, resisting efforts to impose new regulations.

Vance,
 an Ohio senator who first won election last November, slammed those in 
his party who have dismissed his bill, saying they are ignoring a shift 
in the GOP to appeal to blue-collar voters.

“We have a choice: Are we for big business and big government, or are we for the people of East Palestine?” he said.

Republicans, at the same time, are more eager to delve into the emergency response to the East Palestine derailment.

Thursday’s
 hearing also featured environmental protection officials from the 
federal, state and local levels. They acknowledged communication 
problems in the days immediately after the derailment including around 
the decision to release and burn the vinyl chloride.

Republicans 
have criticized President Joe Biden for not visiting the community in 
the aftermath of the derailment. The Democratic president has said he 
will visit at some point, and the White House notes that Transportation 
Secretary Pete Buttigieg went to East Palestine and has pressed for 
increased safety protocols for trains.

The Senate bill also 
touches on a disagreement between railroad worker unions and operators 
by requiring train crews to continue to have two people. Unions argue 
that railroads are riskier because of job cuts in the industry over the 
past six years. Nearly one-third of all rail jobs were eliminated and 
train crews, they say, deal with fatigue because they are on call night 
and day.

Shaw said Norfolk Southern has gone on a “hiring spree” 
in the past year, but he didn't back a requirement to maintain 
two-person crews on freight railroads.

He pointed to over $1 
billion the company spent on safety last year, but he acknowledged that 
Norfolk Southern also spent more than $3 billion buying back its own 
stock and recorded a $3.3 billion profit in 2022.

"I am committed to making Norfolk Southern’s safety culture the best in the industry,” he told the Senate panel.

Democratic
 Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts rejected Shaw’s talk of safety after a 
recent string of incidents including another derailment last Saturday 
near Springfield, Ohio, and the death of a conductor this week at a 
steel plant in Cleveland.

"It seems like every week there’s 
another accident that Norfolk Southern is a part of in our country. So 
you might think that you’ve put in enough but the facts are saying just 
the opposite,” Markey said.

The senator also pressed Shaw to make 
specific commitments including paying for the loss of home values in 
East Palestine. Shaw repeated this refrain: “I am committed to do what's
 right.”

Markey retorted, “What’s right for the community will 
then be balanced — which is what we can see from the stock buybacks — 
with what’s right from Norfolk Southern, and that’s going to be to sue, 
to fight, to resist full compensation for these communities.”

Misti
 Allison, an East Palestine resident, said she also was frustrated by 
the lack of specifics from Shaw. She prepared to fly back to her home 
where a chemical odor still lingers as authorities remove contaminated 
soil.

“It’s heartbreaking because people have real valid concerns 
right now. People are sick," Allison said. "That contaminated soil that 
they were talking about — it's still there. They’re driving it down our 
roads.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678397746865.jpeg" alt="Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw testifies before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing to examine protecting public health and the environment in the wake of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)" />
 <figcaption>Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw testifies before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing to examine protecting public health and the environment in the wake of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEPHEN GROVES and JOSH FUNK Associated PressWASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern's CEO earnestly apologized before Congress on Thursday for last month's fiery <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">hazardous materials train derailment</a>
 on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and pledged millions of dollars to help
 the local town recover. But he stopped short of fully endorsing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">tougher safety regulations</a> or specific commitments to pay for long-term health and economic harm.In
 a packed Senate hearing, CEO Alan Shaw said his railroad firmly 
supports the goal of improving rail safety, but he also defended his 
company's record. He was questioned closely by both Democrats and 
Republicans about the decision making that led to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">release and burn of toxic vinyl chloride</a> from five tanker cars — as well as the company's commitment to safety and helping the people of East Palestine, Ohio.“I’m
 terribly sorry for the impact this derailment has had on the folks of 
that community,” Shaw said. “We’re going to be there for as long as it 
takes to help East Palestine thrive and recover.”But the 
condolences and commitment of $20 million in aid so far hardly satisfied
 lawmakers or several East Palestine residents who traveled to 
Washington for the hearing.“How do we trust that man with our 
health and the health of our children, when he won’t even answer the 
questions that we need answered,” said Jami Cozza, adding that her 
family continues to suffer from illnesses over a month after the 
derailment.The company has <a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-norfolk-southern-railroad-171b7d3f8e0dbced1336efafb098badf">announced</a>
 several voluntary safety upgrades. Senators, however, are looking to 
act themselves as they investigate the derailment, the Biden 
administration's response and the company's safety practices after the 
toppling of 38 railcars, including 11 carrying hazardous materials.Norfolk
 Southern is also under pressure from federal regulators. The National 
Transportation Safety Board and Federal Railroad Administration both <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-norfolk-southern-safety-investigation-2c819f2c469102332d4b1abf4c6e8923">announced investigations this week</a> of the East Palestine derailment and other accidents, including the death of a train conductor Tuesday.Just Thursday, a Norfolk Southern <a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-train-derailment-norfolk-southern-ohio-49e36d8b7f89a8e23ed8cd4e9cf96c55">train derailed in Alabama</a>. Company and local officials said there was no threat to the public.In
 the East Palestine crash, no one was injured but half of the roughly 
5,000 local residents were evacuated. Scenes of billowing smoke above 
the town, alongside complaints <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-norfolk-southern-east-palestine-1e676947c663fefff3bb5ef70b12a642">from residents</a>
 that they are still suffering from illnesses, have turned national 
attention to railroad safety and the ways dangerous materials are 
transported.It's all sparked a show of bipartisanship in the 
Senate. The committee on Thursday also heard from Ohio and Pennsylvania 
senators — Republican JD Vance and Democrats Sherrod Brown and Bob Casey
 — who are proposing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">new safety regulations</a> under a Railway Safety Act of 2023.Train derailments have been getting less common, but there were still more than 1,000 last year, according to data the <a href="https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/officeofsafety/publicsite/summary.aspx">Federal Railroad Administration</a>. And as East Palestine shows, even a single train derailment involving hazardous materials can be disastrous.Hazardous
 materials shipments account for 7% to 8% of the roughly 30 million 
shipments railroads deliver across the U.S. each year. But railroads 
often mix shipments and might have one or two cars of hazardous 
materials on almost any train. The Association of American Railroads 
trade group says 99.9% of hazardous materials shipments reach their 
destinations safely.Norfolk Southern's Shaw is backing proposals 
to tighten standards for tank cars that the railroads don’t own, expand 
hazardous materials training for first responders and establish 
standards for the trackside detectors railroads use to spot problems. 
The company has also said it is adding “approximately 200 hot bearing 
detectors” to its network. The NTSB has said <a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">a detector warned the crew operating</a>
 the train that derailed Feb. 3 outside East Palestine, but they 
couldn’t stop the train before more than three dozen cars came off the 
tracks and caught fire.Some lawmakers want to push beyond 
voluntary safety upgrades. The Railway Safety Act of 2023, which has 
gained support from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., would 
require more hot bearing detectors to be installed, set limits on train 
length and make sure railroads notify states about the hazardous 
materials they are transporting.Some Republicans have hesitated to support the proposal, resisting efforts to impose new regulations.Vance,
 an Ohio senator who first won election last November, slammed those in 
his party who have dismissed his bill, saying they are ignoring a shift 
in the GOP to appeal to blue-collar voters.“We have a choice: Are we for big business and big government, or are we for the people of East Palestine?” he said.Republicans, at the same time, are more eager to delve into the emergency response to the East Palestine derailment.Thursday’s
 hearing also featured environmental protection officials from the 
federal, state and local levels. They acknowledged communication 
problems in the days immediately after the derailment including around 
the decision to release and burn the vinyl chloride.Republicans 
have criticized President Joe Biden for not visiting the community in 
the aftermath of the derailment. The Democratic president has said he 
will visit at some point, and the White House notes that Transportation 
Secretary Pete Buttigieg went to East Palestine and has pressed for 
increased safety protocols for trains.The Senate bill also 
touches on a disagreement between railroad worker unions and operators 
by requiring train crews to continue to have two people. Unions argue 
that railroads are riskier because of job cuts in the industry over the 
past six years. Nearly one-third of all rail jobs were eliminated and 
train crews, they say, deal with fatigue because they are on call night 
and day.Shaw said Norfolk Southern has gone on a “hiring spree” 
in the past year, but he didn't back a requirement to maintain 
two-person crews on freight railroads.He pointed to over $1 
billion the company spent on safety last year, but he acknowledged that 
Norfolk Southern also spent more than $3 billion buying back its own 
stock and recorded a $3.3 billion profit in 2022."I am committed to making Norfolk Southern’s safety culture the best in the industry,” he told the Senate panel.Democratic
 Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts rejected Shaw’s talk of safety after a 
recent string of incidents including another derailment last Saturday 
near Springfield, Ohio, and the death of a conductor this week at a 
steel plant in Cleveland."It seems like every week there’s 
another accident that Norfolk Southern is a part of in our country. So 
you might think that you’ve put in enough but the facts are saying just 
the opposite,” Markey said.The senator also pressed Shaw to make 
specific commitments including paying for the loss of home values in 
East Palestine. Shaw repeated this refrain: “I am committed to do what's
 right.”Markey retorted, “What’s right for the community will 
then be balanced — which is what we can see from the stock buybacks — 
with what’s right from Norfolk Southern, and that’s going to be to sue, 
to fight, to resist full compensation for these communities.”Misti
 Allison, an East Palestine resident, said she also was frustrated by 
the lack of specifics from Shaw. She prepared to fly back to her home 
where a chemical odor still lingers as authorities remove contaminated 
soil.“It’s heartbreaking because people have real valid concerns 
right now. People are sick," Allison said. "That contaminated soil that 
they were talking about — it's still there. They’re driving it down our 
roads.”

Railroad CEO 'sorry,' but avoids specifics at Senate hearing

OMAHA, NE (AP) — The major freight railroads announced a number of steps Wednesday that they are taking to improve safety in the wake of last month’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">fiery Ohio derailment</a>, but it’s not clear if their actions will be enough to satisfy regulators and members of Congress who are pushing for changes.

Many of the proposals from the Association of American Railroads trade group focus on strengthening the network of trackside detectors that railroads use to spot problems before they can cause derailments. The railroads plan to do this by installing 1,000 more of the detectors nationwide and tweaking the way railroads use the data from them.

Norfolk Southern, the railroad responsible for the Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-norfolk-southern-railroad-171b7d3f8e0dbced1336efafb098badf">proposed similar changes</a>&nbsp;earlier this week, but the Federal Railroad Administration responded saying the company wasn't doing nearly enough.

And several members of Congress — led by Ohio's two senators — have proposed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">sweeping package of rail reforms</a>&nbsp;that go well beyond what the industry is proposing. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ohio-pennsylvania-f1cd9d79cdd66b1f45d1dcdf1e53ff58">urged the railroads</a>&nbsp;to make immediate changes.

Federal regulators didn't immediately respond Wednesday to questions about the industry's proposals. Congress plans to scrutinize Norfolk Southern's safety record and its response to the Ohio derailment at a Senate hearing Thursday morning that will also examine the reforms Ohio's senators proposed. Two federal agencies also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-norfolk-southern-safety-investigation-2c819f2c469102332d4b1abf4c6e8923">announced broad investigations</a>&nbsp;into Norfolk Southern's safety record Tuesday.

Overall, railroads are proud of their safety record, which reflects a decline in derailments over the past several years, and they like to tout the statistic that 99.9% of all hazardous materials shipments railroads handle reach their destinations safely. Still, there were 1,049 derailments nationwide last year — and the East Palestine one showed how even a single mishap involving hazardous materials can be disastrous.

“Rail is indisputably the safest way to move dangerous commodities,” AAR President Ian Jefferies said. “Yet we fully appreciate that these data do not comfort the residents of East Palestine and that public trust must be restored through action."

The major freight railroads — which include Norfolk Southern, CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF, Canadian Pacific, Kansas City Southern and Canadian National — said they will tighten up the spacing between the hot-bearing detectors to ensure they average no more than 15 miles (24 kilometers) apart along the main routes they use to transport hazardous chemicals. Currently, there are no federal rules on those detectors, which can be spaced up to 40 miles (64 kilometers) apart in places, though most of them are much closer together.

Rail safety expert Allan Zarembski said the existing network of detectors was already quite effective and allowed only a handful of derailments every year related to overheating bearings. But these changes will undoubtedly catch even more of these problems, said the University of Delaware professor who leads the railroad engineering and safety program there.

Zarembski said he believes these changes are likely to be “pretty effective.”

The railroads said they will also commit to stopping and inspecting any train that has a bearing that registers more than 170 degrees above the outside temperature. That’s in line with the standards Norfolk Southern already uses.

The National Transportation Safety Board&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Documents/RRD23MR005%20East%20Palestine%20OH%20Prelim.pdf">has said</a>&nbsp;the Norfolk Southern crew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">received a warning</a>&nbsp;about an overheating bearing just before the derailment but wasn’t able to stop the train before 38 cars, including 11 carrying hazardous materials, jumped off the tracks and caught fire. About half the town of East Palestine — about 2,500 residents — had to evacuate a couple days later because officials were worried that five of the cars carrying vinyl chloride might explode. They then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">released the chemical and burned</a>&nbsp;it off.

In addition to stopping trains anytime a bearing exceeds 170 degrees, the railroads also analyze the data from sensors all across their networks to identify problems even before a bearing hits that threshold. The trade group said all the major railroads plan to discuss ways to improve that analysis by the end of March.

The railroads said they also plan to train about 20,000 first responders nationwide this year to deal with hazardous materials incidents. As part of that, Norfolk Southern announced plans Wednesday to build a new regional training center in Ohio. Gov. Mike DeWine praised the effort.

“The derailment in East Palestine made clear that ensuring first responders are prepared for disasters involving hazardous materials is vitally important to the safety of communities,” DeWine said. “Often, first responders are volunteers, and their need to have the most up-to-date training and equipment is vitally important."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678141665059.png" alt="&nbsp;Union&nbsp; Pacific train derailment on March 4 in Sumner County Kansas -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Union&nbsp; Pacific train derailment on March 4 in Sumner County Kansas -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, NE (AP) — The major freight railroads announced a number of steps Wednesday that they are taking to improve safety in the wake of last month’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">fiery Ohio derailment</a>, but it’s not clear if their actions will be enough to satisfy regulators and members of Congress who are pushing for changes.Many of the proposals from the Association of American Railroads trade group focus on strengthening the network of trackside detectors that railroads use to spot problems before they can cause derailments. The railroads plan to do this by installing 1,000 more of the detectors nationwide and tweaking the way railroads use the data from them.Norfolk Southern, the railroad responsible for the Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-norfolk-southern-railroad-171b7d3f8e0dbced1336efafb098badf">proposed similar changes</a>&nbsp;earlier this week, but the Federal Railroad Administration responded saying the company wasn't doing nearly enough.And several members of Congress — led by Ohio's two senators — have proposed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">sweeping package of rail reforms</a>&nbsp;that go well beyond what the industry is proposing. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ohio-pennsylvania-f1cd9d79cdd66b1f45d1dcdf1e53ff58">urged the railroads</a>&nbsp;to make immediate changes.Federal regulators didn't immediately respond Wednesday to questions about the industry's proposals. Congress plans to scrutinize Norfolk Southern's safety record and its response to the Ohio derailment at a Senate hearing Thursday morning that will also examine the reforms Ohio's senators proposed. Two federal agencies also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-norfolk-southern-safety-investigation-2c819f2c469102332d4b1abf4c6e8923">announced broad investigations</a>&nbsp;into Norfolk Southern's safety record Tuesday.Overall, railroads are proud of their safety record, which reflects a decline in derailments over the past several years, and they like to tout the statistic that 99.9% of all hazardous materials shipments railroads handle reach their destinations safely. Still, there were 1,049 derailments nationwide last year — and the East Palestine one showed how even a single mishap involving hazardous materials can be disastrous.“Rail is indisputably the safest way to move dangerous commodities,” AAR President Ian Jefferies said. “Yet we fully appreciate that these data do not comfort the residents of East Palestine and that public trust must be restored through action."The major freight railroads — which include Norfolk Southern, CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF, Canadian Pacific, Kansas City Southern and Canadian National — said they will tighten up the spacing between the hot-bearing detectors to ensure they average no more than 15 miles (24 kilometers) apart along the main routes they use to transport hazardous chemicals. Currently, there are no federal rules on those detectors, which can be spaced up to 40 miles (64 kilometers) apart in places, though most of them are much closer together.Rail safety expert Allan Zarembski said the existing network of detectors was already quite effective and allowed only a handful of derailments every year related to overheating bearings. But these changes will undoubtedly catch even more of these problems, said the University of Delaware professor who leads the railroad engineering and safety program there.Zarembski said he believes these changes are likely to be “pretty effective.”The railroads said they will also commit to stopping and inspecting any train that has a bearing that registers more than 170 degrees above the outside temperature. That’s in line with the standards Norfolk Southern already uses.The National Transportation Safety Board&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Documents/RRD23MR005%20East%20Palestine%20OH%20Prelim.pdf">has said</a>&nbsp;the Norfolk Southern crew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-pete-buttigieg-evacuations-ohio-explosions-64908a6416662b5866809387f210aee5">received a warning</a>&nbsp;about an overheating bearing just before the derailment but wasn’t able to stop the train before 38 cars, including 11 carrying hazardous materials, jumped off the tracks and caught fire. About half the town of East Palestine — about 2,500 residents — had to evacuate a couple days later because officials were worried that five of the cars carrying vinyl chloride might explode. They then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">released the chemical and burned</a>&nbsp;it off.In addition to stopping trains anytime a bearing exceeds 170 degrees, the railroads also analyze the data from sensors all across their networks to identify problems even before a bearing hits that threshold. The trade group said all the major railroads plan to discuss ways to improve that analysis by the end of March.The railroads said they also plan to train about 20,000 first responders nationwide this year to deal with hazardous materials incidents. As part of that, Norfolk Southern announced plans Wednesday to build a new regional training center in Ohio. Gov. Mike DeWine praised the effort.“The derailment in East Palestine made clear that ensuring first responders are prepared for disasters involving hazardous materials is vitally important to the safety of communities,” DeWine said. “Often, first responders are volunteers, and their need to have the most up-to-date training and equipment is vitally important."

Railroads propose safety reforms after fiery Ohio derailment

DETROIT
 (AP) — General Motors is offering buyouts to most of its U.S. salaried 
workforce and some global executives in an effort to trim costs as it 
makes the transition to electric vehicles.

The Detroit automaker 
wouldn't say how many workers it is targeting, but confirmed that the 
move is aimed at accelerating attrition to meet a previously announced 
goal of $2 billion in cost cuts by the end of next year. GM has about 
58,000 salaried workers in the U.S.

The company says the offers also are designed to avoid any possible firings at a later date.

Offers
 will go to white-collar workers with at least five years of service, 
and global executives who have been with the company at least two years.

The
 decision to offer buyouts comes at an uncertain time for the auto 
industry, which is in the midst of a transition from internal combustion
 to electric vehicles. GM has a goal of selling only electric passenger 
vehicles by 2035.

The switch is requiring more research and 
development spending on both types of vehicles, as well as huge capital 
outlays for battery factories and updating assembly plants, as well as 
spending to get scarce metals needed for EVs.

The cuts also are 
being made to prepare for any potential economic downturn or recession, 
Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson told an analyst conference in 
February.

Although GM's auto sales remain strong, the company is 
seeing prices for its vehicles starting to ease, he said. “We want to be
 cautious because we don’t want to ignore the macro signs that are out 
there, because I don’t want to be up here a year from now saying, ah, we
 missed it,” Jacobson told the Wolfe Research conference.

The cost
 cuts were announced when GM released fourth-quarter earnings in 
January, when Jacobson said they would be accomplished in part by 
filling only strategically important jobs vacated due to attrition.

The
 company said Thursday that it also will cut costs by reducing the 
complexity of its vehicles and more sharing of components between both 
internal combustion and electric models. GM plans to cut discretionary 
spending companywide and focus on growth initiatives to make benefits 
come faster.

Guidehouse Research e-Mobility analyst Sam Abuelsamid
 said the cost cuts may be needed because there's significant risk of a 
slowdown in auto sales, just as automakers are starting to increase 
production that was hobbled by a global shortage of computer chips.

“Up
 to this point the auto markets have been pretty lucky because there has
 been so much pent-up demand over the last couple of years,” he said. 
“Over the course of this year, it’s going to get to the point where that
 supply and demand even out.”

GM and other automakers also are 
offering few lower-cost models these days, so they're looking at a 
smaller number of buyers who can afford their vehicles, Abuelsamid said.

GM
 will probably shed some engineers who work on internal combustion 
engines with the offers, he said, adding that the company already has 
gone through staff cuts to reduce expenses.

Automakers like GM 
face huge outlays to convert factories from making combustion vehicles 
to electric, Abuelsamid said. GM's “Factory Zero” in Detroit went 
through the conversion, but just about everything inside the walls was 
changed, he said.

Employees who want to take the buyouts have to 
sign up by March 24, and those who are approved for the packages have to
 leave the company by June 30.

U.S. salaried workers are being 
offered one month of pay for every year of service, up to 12 months. 
They’ll also be offered COBRA health care and part of the bonuses they 
would receive this year.

DETROIT
 (AP) — General Motors is offering buyouts to most of its U.S. salaried 
workforce and some global executives in an effort to trim costs as it 
makes the transition to electric vehicles.The Detroit automaker 
wouldn't say how many workers it is targeting, but confirmed that the 
move is aimed at accelerating attrition to meet a previously announced 
goal of $2 billion in cost cuts by the end of next year. GM has about 
58,000 salaried workers in the U.S.The company says the offers also are designed to avoid any possible firings at a later date.Offers
 will go to white-collar workers with at least five years of service, 
and global executives who have been with the company at least two years.The
 decision to offer buyouts comes at an uncertain time for the auto 
industry, which is in the midst of a transition from internal combustion
 to electric vehicles. GM has a goal of selling only electric passenger 
vehicles by 2035.The switch is requiring more research and 
development spending on both types of vehicles, as well as huge capital 
outlays for battery factories and updating assembly plants, as well as 
spending to get scarce metals needed for EVs.The cuts also are 
being made to prepare for any potential economic downturn or recession, 
Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson told an analyst conference in 
February.Although GM's auto sales remain strong, the company is 
seeing prices for its vehicles starting to ease, he said. “We want to be
 cautious because we don’t want to ignore the macro signs that are out 
there, because I don’t want to be up here a year from now saying, ah, we
 missed it,” Jacobson told the Wolfe Research conference.The cost
 cuts were announced when GM released fourth-quarter earnings in 
January, when Jacobson said they would be accomplished in part by 
filling only strategically important jobs vacated due to attrition.The
 company said Thursday that it also will cut costs by reducing the 
complexity of its vehicles and more sharing of components between both 
internal combustion and electric models. GM plans to cut discretionary 
spending companywide and focus on growth initiatives to make benefits 
come faster.Guidehouse Research e-Mobility analyst Sam Abuelsamid
 said the cost cuts may be needed because there's significant risk of a 
slowdown in auto sales, just as automakers are starting to increase 
production that was hobbled by a global shortage of computer chips.“Up
 to this point the auto markets have been pretty lucky because there has
 been so much pent-up demand over the last couple of years,” he said. 
“Over the course of this year, it’s going to get to the point where that
 supply and demand even out.”GM and other automakers also are 
offering few lower-cost models these days, so they're looking at a 
smaller number of buyers who can afford their vehicles, Abuelsamid said.GM
 will probably shed some engineers who work on internal combustion 
engines with the offers, he said, adding that the company already has 
gone through staff cuts to reduce expenses.Automakers like GM 
face huge outlays to convert factories from making combustion vehicles 
to electric, Abuelsamid said. GM's “Factory Zero” in Detroit went 
through the conversion, but just about everything inside the walls was 
changed, he said.Employees who want to take the buyouts have to 
sign up by March 24, and those who are approved for the packages have to
 leave the company by June 30.U.S. salaried workers are being 
offered one month of pay for every year of service, up to 12 months. 
They’ll also be offered COBRA health care and part of the bonuses they 
would receive this year.

GM offers buyouts to most US salaried workers to trim costs

WASHINGTON (AP) — After three nasty years, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-weather-climate-and-environment-storms-europe-819908345ed948e078d72e7de9fcd4bb">La Nina weather phenomenon</a>
 that increases Atlantic hurricane activity and worsens western drought 
is gone, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said 
Thursday.

That’s usually <a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-el-nino-storms-droughts-fires-8e547d1f6c20e5f529b6d80d4ec84462">good news</a> for the United States and other parts of the world, including drought-stricken northeast Africa, scientists said.

The
 globe is now in what’s considered a “neutral” condition and probably 
trending to an El Nino in late summer or fall, said climate scientist 
Michelle L’Heureux, head of NOAA’s El Nino/La Nina forecast office.

“It’s
 over,” said research scientist Azhar Ehsan, who heads Columbia 
University’s El Nino/La Nina forecasting. “Mother Nature thought to get 
rid of this one because it’s enough.”

La Nina is a natural and temporary cooling of parts of the Pacific Ocean <a href="https://apnews.com/article/floods-australia-victoria-new-south-wales-tasmania-c690a27e6a4fb9be3f27dd07bc95748a">that changes weather worldwide.</a>
 In the United States, because La Nina is connected to more Atlantic 
storms and deeper droughts and wildfires in the West, La Ninas often are
 more damaging and expensive than their more famous flip side, El Nino, 
experts said and studies show.

Generally, American agriculture is 
more damaged by La Nina than El Nino. If the globe jumps into El Nino it
 means more rain for the Midwestern corn belt and grains in general and 
could be beneficial, said Michael Ferrari, chief scientific officer of 
Climate Alpha, a firm that advises investors on financial decisions 
based on climate.

When there’s a La Nina, there are more storms in
 the Atlantic during hurricane season because it removes conditions that
 suppress storm formation. Neutral or El Nino conditions make it harder 
for storms to get going, but not impossible, scientists said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649436331517.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — After three nasty years, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-weather-climate-and-environment-storms-europe-819908345ed948e078d72e7de9fcd4bb">La Nina weather phenomenon</a>
 that increases Atlantic hurricane activity and worsens western drought 
is gone, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said 
Thursday.That’s usually <a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-el-nino-storms-droughts-fires-8e547d1f6c20e5f529b6d80d4ec84462">good news</a> for the United States and other parts of the world, including drought-stricken northeast Africa, scientists said.The
 globe is now in what’s considered a “neutral” condition and probably 
trending to an El Nino in late summer or fall, said climate scientist 
Michelle L’Heureux, head of NOAA’s El Nino/La Nina forecast office.“It’s
 over,” said research scientist Azhar Ehsan, who heads Columbia 
University’s El Nino/La Nina forecasting. “Mother Nature thought to get 
rid of this one because it’s enough.”La Nina is a natural and temporary cooling of parts of the Pacific Ocean <a href="https://apnews.com/article/floods-australia-victoria-new-south-wales-tasmania-c690a27e6a4fb9be3f27dd07bc95748a">that changes weather worldwide.</a>
 In the United States, because La Nina is connected to more Atlantic 
storms and deeper droughts and wildfires in the West, La Ninas often are
 more damaging and expensive than their more famous flip side, El Nino, 
experts said and studies show.Generally, American agriculture is 
more damaged by La Nina than El Nino. If the globe jumps into El Nino it
 means more rain for the Midwestern corn belt and grains in general and 
could be beneficial, said Michael Ferrari, chief scientific officer of 
Climate Alpha, a firm that advises investors on financial decisions 
based on climate.When there’s a La Nina, there are more storms in
 the Atlantic during hurricane season because it removes conditions that
 suppress storm formation. Neutral or El Nino conditions make it harder 
for storms to get going, but not impossible, scientists said.Over
 the last three years, the U.S. has been hit by 14 hurricanes and 
tropical storms that caused a billion dollars or more in damage, 
totaling $252 billion in costs, according to NOAA economist and 
meteorologist Adam Smith said. La Nina and people building in harm's way
 were factors, he said.Climate change is a major factor in 
worsening extreme weather, alongside La Nina, scientists said and 
numerous studies and reports show. Human-caused warming is like an 
escalator going up: It makes temperatures increase and extremes worse, 
while La Nina and El Nino are like jumping up and down on the escalator,
 according to Northern Illinois University atmospheric sciences 
professor Victor Gensini.La Nina has also slightly dampened 
global average temperatures, keeping warming from breaking annual 
temperature records, while El Nino slightly turbocharges those 
temperatures often setting records, scientists said.La Nina tends
 to make Western Africa wet, but Eastern Africa, around Somalia, dry. 
The opposite happens in El Nino with drought-struck Somalia likely to 
get steady “short rains,” Ehsan said. La Nina has wetter conditions for 
Indonesia, parts of Australia and the Amazon, but those areas are drier 
in El Nino, according to NOAA.El Nino means more heat waves for India and Pakistan and other parts of South Asia and weaker monsoons there, Ehsan said.This
 particular La Nina, which started in September 2020 but is considered 
three years old because it affected three different winters, was unusual
 and one of the longest on record. It took a brief break in 2021 but 
came roaring back with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-la-nina-drought-wildfires-hurricanes-619a4a1a928fdb80d301c7dca0c45dcf">record intensity.</a>“I’m sick of this La Nina,” Ehsan said. L’Heureux agreed, saying she’s ready to talk about something else.The
 few other times that there’s been a triple-dip La Nina have come after 
strong El Ninos and there’s clear physics on why that happens. But 
that’s not what happened with this La Nina, L’Heureux said. This one 
didn’t have a strong El Nino before it.Even though this La Nina 
has confounded scientists in the past, they say the signs of it leaving 
are clear: Water in the key part of the central Pacific warmed to a bit 
more than the threshold for a La Nina in February, the atmosphere showed
 some changes and along the eastern Pacific near Peru, there’s already 
El Nino-like warming brewing on the coast, L’Heureux said.Think 
of a La Nina or El Nino as something that pushes the weather system from
 the Pacific with ripple effects worldwide, L’Heureux said. When there 
are neutral conditions like now, there’s less push from the Pacific. 
That means other climatic factors, including the long-term warming 
trend, have more influence in day-to-day weather, she said.Without
 an El Nino or La Nina, forecasters have a harder time predicting 
seasonal weather trends for summer or fall because the Pacific Ocean has
 such a big footprint in weeks-long forecasts.El Nino forecasts 
made in the spring are generally less reliable than ones made other 
times of year, so scientists are less sure about what will happen next, 
L’Heureux said. But NOAA’s forecast said there’s a 60% chance that El 
Nino will take charge come fall.There’s also a 5% chance that La 
Nina will return for an unprecedented fourth dip. L’Heureux said she 
really doesn’t want that but the scientist in her would find that 
interesting.