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

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

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.

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

Neb. man sentenced on federal fentanyl charges

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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

Man sentenced in Neb. for steroid distribution conspiracy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Doctor: Lesion removed from Biden's chest was cancerous

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nebraska has the 10th lowest rate of gun-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control, behind states such as
 California, New York and New Jersey. The states with the highest rates 
of gun deaths include Mississippi, Louisiana and Missouri.

Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, who voted against advancing LB 77, said that 
given the “scourge” of mass shootings in recent months, it wasn’t the 
time to expand gun rights.

Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, who also 
voted no, said people are enraged after every new mass shooting in the 
country and they wonder why policies don’t change.&nbsp;

“There’s a generation of people asking us to do something,” Dungan said.

Brewer and other advocates, though, 
maintained that LB 77 had nothing to do with the proliferation of guns 
and gun violence in the U.S. 

They said that Nebraskans who want to 
purchase a handgun will still have to obtain a state permit and submit 
to a criminal background check.

If LB 77 clears two more rounds of debate and is signed into law, 
Nebraska will become the 26th state in the nation to allow so-called 
“constitutional carry.”

&nbsp;“We’re not the first,” Brewer said, adding that in states that have passed similar laws, “life goes on.”

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

Gun rights advocates flex muscles, advance constitutional carry bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 60 years after he was first recommended for the nation’s highest military award for his bravery during the Vietnam War, retired Col. Paris Davis, one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat, received the Medal of Honor on Friday.

The belated recognition for the 83-year-old Virginia resident came after the recommendation for the medal was lost, resubmitted — and then lost again.

It wasn’t until 2016 — half a century after Davis risked his life to save some of his men under fire — that advocates painstakingly recreated and resubmitted the paperwork.

President Joe Biden on Friday described Davis as a “true hero,” describing his efforts to haul injured soldiers to safety under heavy enemy fire. When one of his superiors told him to get to safety, Davis said, according to Biden: “Sir, I”m just not going to leave. I still have an American out there,” and he went back into the firefight to carry out an injured medic.

“You are everything this medal means,” Biden said to Davis. “You’re everything our nation is at our best. Brave and big hearted, determined and devoted, selfless and steadfast.”

Biden said Davis should have received the honor years ago, describing remaining segregation when he returned home and questioning why the honor took so long.

“Somehow the paperwork was never processed,” Biden said. “Not just once. But twice.”

Davis doesn’t dwell on it. He says he doesn’t know why it has taken decades.

“Right now I’m overwhelmed,” he told The Associated Press in an interview the day before he attended the White House ceremony where Biden placed the blue ribbon holding the Medal of Honor around his neck.

“When you’re fighting, you’re not thinking about this moment,” Davis said. “You’re just trying to get through that moment.”

“That moment” stretched over nearly 19 hours and two days in mid-June 1965.

Davis, then a captain and commander with the 5th Special Forces Group, engaged in nearly continuous combat during a pre-dawn raid on a North Vietnamese army camp in the village of Bong Son in Binh Dinh province.

He engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the North Vietnamese, called for precision artillery fire and thwarted the capture of three American soldiers — all while suffering wounds from gunshots and grenade fragments. He used his pinkie finger to fire his rifle after his hand was shattered by an enemy grenade, according to reports.

Davis repeatedly sprinted into an open rice paddy to rescue members of his team, according to the ArmyTimes. His entire team survived.

“That word ‘gallantry’ is not much used these days,” Biden said. “But I can think of no better word to describe Paris.”

Davis, from Cleveland, retired in 1985 at the rank of lieutenant colonel and now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington. Biden called him several weeks ago to deliver the news.

He says the wait in no way lessens the honor.

“It heightens the thing, if you’ve got to wait that long,” he said. “It’s like someone promised you an ice cream cone. You know what it looks like, what it smells like. You just haven’t licked it.”

Davis’ commanding officer recommended him for the military’s top honor, but the paperwork disappeared. He eventually was awarded a Silver Star, the military’s third-highest combat medal, but members of Davis’ team have argued that his skin color was a factor in the disappearance of his Medal of Honor recommendation.

“I believe that someone purposely lost the paperwork,” Ron Deis, a junior member of Davis’ team in Bong Son, told the AP in a separate interview.

Deis, now 79, helped compile the recommendation that was submitted in 2016. He said he knew Davis had been recommended for the Medal of Honor shortly after the battle in 1965, and he spent years wondering why Davis hadn’t been awarded the medal. Nine years ago he learned that a second nomination had been submitted “and that also was somehow, quote, lost.”

“But I don’t believe they were lost,” Deis said. “I believe they were intentionally discarded. They were discarded because he was Black, and that’s the only conclusion that I can come to.”

Army officials say there is no evidence of racism in Davis’ case.

“We’re here to celebrate the fact that he got the award, long time coming,” Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, told the AP. “We, the Army, you know, we haven’t been able to see anything that would say, ‘Hey, this is racism.’”

“We can’t know that,” Roberson said.

In early 2021, Christopher Miller, then the acting defense secretary, ordered an expedited review of Davis’ case. He argued in an opinion column later that year that awarding Davis the Medal of Honor would address an injustice.

“Some issues in our nation rise above partisanship,” Miller wrote. “The Davis case meets that standard.”

Davis’ daughter, Regan Davis Hopper, a mom of two teenage sons, told the AP that she only learned of her dad’s heroism in 2019. Like him, she said she tries not to dwell on her disappointment in how the situation was handled.

“I try not to think about that. I try not to let that weigh me down and make me lose the thrill and excitement of the moment,” Hopper said. “I think that’s most important, to just look ahead and think about how exciting it is for America to meet my dad for the first time. I’m just proud of him.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677863054511.png" alt="President Joe Biden on Friday described Davis as a “true hero."&nbsp; White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden on Friday described Davis as a “true hero."&nbsp; White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 60 years after he was first recommended for the nation’s highest military award for his bravery during the Vietnam War, retired Col. Paris Davis, one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat, received the Medal of Honor on Friday.(Click below to watch the ceremony)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3lH3FoQxQEw?start=62" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The belated recognition for the 83-year-old Virginia resident came after the recommendation for the medal was lost, resubmitted — and then lost again.It wasn’t until 2016 — half a century after Davis risked his life to save some of his men under fire — that advocates painstakingly recreated and resubmitted the paperwork.President Joe Biden on Friday described Davis as a “true hero,” describing his efforts to haul injured soldiers to safety under heavy enemy fire. When one of his superiors told him to get to safety, Davis said, according to Biden: “Sir, I”m just not going to leave. I still have an American out there,” and he went back into the firefight to carry out an injured medic.“You are everything this medal means,” Biden said to Davis. “You’re everything our nation is at our best. Brave and big hearted, determined and devoted, selfless and steadfast.”Biden said Davis should have received the honor years ago, describing remaining segregation when he returned home and questioning why the honor took so long.“Somehow the paperwork was never processed,” Biden said. “Not just once. But twice.”Davis doesn’t dwell on it. He says he doesn’t know why it has taken decades.“Right now I’m overwhelmed,” he told The Associated Press in an interview the day before he attended the White House ceremony where Biden placed the blue ribbon holding the Medal of Honor around his neck.“When you’re fighting, you’re not thinking about this moment,” Davis said. “You’re just trying to get through that moment.”“That moment” stretched over nearly 19 hours and two days in mid-June 1965.Davis, then a captain and commander with the 5th Special Forces Group, engaged in nearly continuous combat during a pre-dawn raid on a North Vietnamese army camp in the village of Bong Son in Binh Dinh province.He engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the North Vietnamese, called for precision artillery fire and thwarted the capture of three American soldiers — all while suffering wounds from gunshots and grenade fragments. He used his pinkie finger to fire his rifle after his hand was shattered by an enemy grenade, according to reports.Davis repeatedly sprinted into an open rice paddy to rescue members of his team, according to the ArmyTimes. His entire team survived.“That word ‘gallantry’ is not much used these days,” Biden said. “But I can think of no better word to describe Paris.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677863081325.png" alt="White House photo" />
 <figcaption>White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Davis, from Cleveland, retired in 1985 at the rank of lieutenant colonel and now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington. Biden called him several weeks ago to deliver the news.He says the wait in no way lessens the honor.“It heightens the thing, if you’ve got to wait that long,” he said. “It’s like someone promised you an ice cream cone. You know what it looks like, what it smells like. You just haven’t licked it.”Davis’ commanding officer recommended him for the military’s top honor, but the paperwork disappeared. He eventually was awarded a Silver Star, the military’s third-highest combat medal, but members of Davis’ team have argued that his skin color was a factor in the disappearance of his Medal of Honor recommendation.“I believe that someone purposely lost the paperwork,” Ron Deis, a junior member of Davis’ team in Bong Son, told the AP in a separate interview.Deis, now 79, helped compile the recommendation that was submitted in 2016. He said he knew Davis had been recommended for the Medal of Honor shortly after the battle in 1965, and he spent years wondering why Davis hadn’t been awarded the medal. Nine years ago he learned that a second nomination had been submitted “and that also was somehow, quote, lost.”“But I don’t believe they were lost,” Deis said. “I believe they were intentionally discarded. They were discarded because he was Black, and that’s the only conclusion that I can come to.”Army officials say there is no evidence of racism in Davis’ case.“We’re here to celebrate the fact that he got the award, long time coming,” Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, told the AP. “We, the Army, you know, we haven’t been able to see anything that would say, ‘Hey, this is racism.’”“We can’t know that,” Roberson said.In early 2021, Christopher Miller, then the acting defense secretary, ordered an expedited review of Davis’ case. He argued in an opinion column later that year that awarding Davis the Medal of Honor would address an injustice.“Some issues in our nation rise above partisanship,” Miller wrote. “The Davis case meets that standard.”Davis’ daughter, Regan Davis Hopper, a mom of two teenage sons, told the AP that she only learned of her dad’s heroism in 2019. Like him, she said she tries not to dwell on her disappointment in how the situation was handled.“I try not to think about that. I try not to let that weigh me down and make me lose the thrill and excitement of the moment,” Hopper said. “I think that’s most important, to just look ahead and think about how exciting it is for America to meet my dad for the first time. I’m just proud of him.”

🎥Black Vietnam vet finally honored with Medal of Honor

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/02/proponents-of-gun-rights-push-back-on-criticism-of-concealed-carry-bill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Day Two of the extended
 debate over a so-called “constitutional carry” handgun bill saw 
proponents of gun rights on Thursday pushing back on claims that the 
bill would increase gun-related deaths.

State Sens. Justin Wayne of Omaha and Mike Jacobson of North Platte 
were among those maintaining that Legislative Bill 77 wouldn’t impact 
the purchase of guns or the proliferation of firearms in the U.S., but 
would allow law-abiding citizens to exercise their constitutional 
rights.

“This law does not change public safety,” Wayne said, adding that if it did, law enforcement agencies wouldn’t be OK with it.

Jacobson said the answer to stopping school shootings is to “harden 
the target” so that armed “cowards” can’t force their way in.

“More laws won’t result in less crime,” said Omaha Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn. “Unfortunately.”

LB 77 would allow adults to carry a concealed weapon without a state 
permit or safety training. Such “permitless” concealed carry is already 
allowed in 25 other states, including every state bordering Nebraska 
except Colorado.

While statewide sheriffs’ and peace officers’ groups support the 
bill, it is opposed by police chiefs in the state’s two largest cities, 
Omaha and Lincoln, because it would nullify current gun control 
ordinances there. Police unions in those two cities have said they would
 be “neutral” on LB 77 if it is amended.

Opponents of the bill dominated Day One of the debate over LB 77 on 
Wednesday, arguing that expanding gun rights would lead to more guns and
 an increase in violent crime and suicides. But Day Two found more 
supporters speaking on the floor during first-round debate. Lawmakers 
adjourned, amid a filibuster, before getting to a vote on the bill 
Thursday. That vote is expected to happen Friday morning.

Gretna Sen. Jen Day said Thursday that the United States has a 
“unique” problem with guns and said LB 77 tends to “normalize” the 
proliferation of firearms. She lamented that elementary schools now have
 to conduct “active shooter” drills.

“I don’t want my kids to die at school,” Day said. “They’re there to learn.”

Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould said firearm suicides have risen by 66% in
 the past decade among youth, in part because guns are so accessible and
 aren’t securely stored.

Firearms are the leading cause of death for children up to age 19, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control.

Raybould is attempting to attach a bill she introduced to LB 77, a 
so-called “red flag” law that allows guns to be confiscated, via a 
judge’s order, if someone is deemed to be a danger to themselves or 
others.

She said police chiefs in Omaha and Lincoln oppose the bill because it weakens their ability to combat gun violence.

“Is now the time to allow people to have more guns in more places?” Raybould said.

She and other opponents of LB 77 maintained that states that have adopted constitutional carry gun laws have <a target="_blank" href="https://hub.jhu.edu/2022/09/21/increase-firearm-assaults-with-relaxed-conceal-carry/">higher rates of violent crime</a>.

But one advocate for the bill, Scottsbluff Sen. Brian Hardin, pointed out a study by the <a target="_blank" href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/18319/chapter/3#15">National Academies</a>, which concluded that armed victims of crime suffered fewer injuries than unarmed victims.

Wayne, who is biracial, said he supports a portion of LB 77 that 
would nullify an Omaha ordinance that he said is used by police to 
disproportionately stop African-American and Latino youths and “bump up”
 penalties against them.

“They’re not talking about bumping up kids in Bennington or western 
Nebraska, they’re talking about bumping up kids in North Omaha,” Wayne 
said.

Jacobson pointed out that it’s already legal to openly carry a 
handgun in Nebraska, but if you tuck it inside your coat, it becomes a 
crime.

“That’s all we’re trying to fix with this bill,” Jacobson said.

Other supporters of LB 77 said that it would not change the 
requirement that Nebraskans obtain a state handgun buyer’s permit, and 
undergo a criminal background check, before being able to buy a handgun.
 Thus, they said, the bill would not impact the purchase of guns, only 
how they can be carried.

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/02/proponents-of-gun-rights-push-back-on-criticism-of-concealed-carry-bill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Day Two of the extended
 debate over a so-called “constitutional carry” handgun bill saw 
proponents of gun rights on Thursday pushing back on claims that the 
bill would increase gun-related deaths.State Sens. Justin Wayne of Omaha and Mike Jacobson of North Platte 
were among those maintaining that Legislative Bill 77 wouldn’t impact 
the purchase of guns or the proliferation of firearms in the U.S., but 
would allow law-abiding citizens to exercise their constitutional 
rights.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674250368592.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Justin Wayne (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner)." />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Justin Wayne (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner).</figcaption>
 </figure>“This law does not change public safety,” Wayne said, adding that if it did, law enforcement agencies wouldn’t be OK with it.Jacobson said the answer to stopping school shootings is to “harden 
the target” so that armed “cowards” can’t force their way in.“More laws won’t result in less crime,” said Omaha Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn. “Unfortunately.”LB 77 would allow adults to carry a concealed weapon without a state 
permit or safety training. Such “permitless” concealed carry is already 
allowed in 25 other states, including every state bordering Nebraska 
except Colorado.While statewide sheriffs’ and peace officers’ groups support the 
bill, it is opposed by police chiefs in the state’s two largest cities, 
Omaha and Lincoln, because it would nullify current gun control 
ordinances there. Police unions in those two cities have said they would
 be “neutral” on LB 77 if it is amended.<h2>Vote expected Friday</h2>Opponents of the bill dominated Day One of the debate over LB 77 on 
Wednesday, arguing that expanding gun rights would lead to more guns and
 an increase in violent crime and suicides. But Day Two found more 
supporters speaking on the floor during first-round debate. Lawmakers 
adjourned, amid a filibuster, before getting to a vote on the bill 
Thursday. That vote is expected to happen Friday morning.Gretna Sen. Jen Day said Thursday that the United States has a 
“unique” problem with guns and said LB 77 tends to “normalize” the 
proliferation of firearms. She lamented that elementary schools now have
 to conduct “active shooter” drills.“I don’t want my kids to die at school,” Day said. “They’re there to learn.”Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould said firearm suicides have risen by 66% in
 the past decade among youth, in part because guns are so accessible and
 aren’t securely stored.Firearms are the leading cause of death for children up to age 19, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control.Raybould is attempting to attach a bill she introduced to LB 77, a 
so-called “red flag” law that allows guns to be confiscated, via a 
judge’s order, if someone is deemed to be a danger to themselves or 
others.<h2>‘More guns in more places’</h2>She said police chiefs in Omaha and Lincoln oppose the bill because it weakens their ability to combat gun violence.“Is now the time to allow people to have more guns in more places?” Raybould said.She and other opponents of LB 77 maintained that states that have adopted constitutional carry gun laws have <a target="_blank" href="https://hub.jhu.edu/2022/09/21/increase-firearm-assaults-with-relaxed-conceal-carry/">higher rates of violent crime</a>.But one advocate for the bill, Scottsbluff Sen. Brian Hardin, pointed out a study by the <a target="_blank" href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/18319/chapter/3#15">National Academies</a>, which concluded that armed victims of crime suffered fewer injuries than unarmed victims.Wayne, who is biracial, said he supports a portion of LB 77 that 
would nullify an Omaha ordinance that he said is used by police to 
disproportionately stop African-American and Latino youths and “bump up”
 penalties against them.“They’re not talking about bumping up kids in Bennington or western 
Nebraska, they’re talking about bumping up kids in North Omaha,” Wayne 
said.Jacobson pointed out that it’s already legal to openly carry a 
handgun in Nebraska, but if you tuck it inside your coat, it becomes a 
crime.“That’s all we’re trying to fix with this bill,” Jacobson said.Other supporters of LB 77 said that it would not change the 
requirement that Nebraskans obtain a state handgun buyer’s permit, and 
undergo a criminal background check, before being able to buy a handgun.
 Thus, they said, the bill would not impact the purchase of guns, only 
how they can be carried.

Proponents of gun rights push back on criticism of concealed carry bill

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/business-conditions-survey-shows-growing-optimism-in-nebraska-and-the-region/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — The latest business 
conditions survey led by Creighton University signals growing economic 
optimism among Nebraska manufacturing managers. 

February results for the Husker business climate come from a broader nine-state Mid-America Business <a target="_blank" href="https://www.creighton.edu/economicoutlook/midamericaneconomy">Conditions Index,</a>
 which is a barometer of economic health based on monthly surveys of 
manufacturing supply managers analyzed by Creighton University’s 
Economic Forecasting Group.

For Nebraska specifically, the state index reading climbed above 
neutral growth for a second month in a row. That turn follows four 
consecutive months of readings below the neutral-growth threshold.

Using a range of zero to 100, a reading of 50 represents neutral growth.

Similar to Nebraska, the regional 
index also reflected a more positive outlook, relative to previous 
months. The overall business index that gauges economic health from 
Minnesota to Arkansas rebounded in February to its highest level since 
July of last year.

Creighton economist Ernie Goss, who heads the forecasting group, said
 he was “shocked” about the regional reading, expecting a downturn.

“While it’s too early to tell if this is an end to the downward 
trend, it was certainly promising on the growth front,” Goss said. 
“However the soaring inflation reading serves as a very negative signal 
for financial markets and the Federal Reserve.”

Goss said four of 10 supply managers surveyed still expect a national recession in 2023.

“We asked about entry level wages,” 
he said, “about half of the supply managers have had to increase 
entry-level wages above the rate of inflation to get workers to come in 
and interview, so that’s a challenge for those businesses out there.”

In Nebraska, the overall business 
conditions index reading — which reflects employment, prices, sales and a
 few other components —&nbsp; grew in February to 56.7 from the previous 
month’s 55.7.

Goss said his analysis of the survey findings point to a “sideways movement” in the regional economy. 

“Even with the significant bounce for
 the month of February, we’re still talking about slow-to-no-growth in 
the regional economy,” he said. “Residential housing is in a recession 
right now.”&nbsp;

The Creighton group has conducted the monthly survey since 1994. 
Besides Nebraska, states included in the survey are Arkansas, Iowa, 
Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677856432724.png" alt="The Mid-America Business Conditions Index, which is a barometer of economic health, shown in blue line. Red trend line is U.S. (Courtesy of Creighton University)" />
 <figcaption>The Mid-America Business Conditions Index, which is a barometer of economic health, shown in blue line. Red trend line is U.S. (Courtesy of Creighton University)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/business-conditions-survey-shows-growing-optimism-in-nebraska-and-the-region/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — The latest business 
conditions survey led by Creighton University signals growing economic 
optimism among Nebraska manufacturing managers. February results for the Husker business climate come from a broader nine-state Mid-America Business <a target="_blank" href="https://www.creighton.edu/economicoutlook/midamericaneconomy">Conditions Index,</a>
 which is a barometer of economic health based on monthly surveys of 
manufacturing supply managers analyzed by Creighton University’s 
Economic Forecasting Group.For Nebraska specifically, the state index reading climbed above 
neutral growth for a second month in a row. That turn follows four 
consecutive months of readings below the neutral-growth threshold.Using a range of zero to 100, a reading of 50 represents neutral growth.<h2>Recent rebound </h2>Similar to Nebraska, the regional 
index also reflected a more positive outlook, relative to previous 
months. The overall business index that gauges economic health from 
Minnesota to Arkansas rebounded in February to its highest level since 
July of last year.Creighton economist Ernie Goss, who heads the forecasting group, said
 he was “shocked” about the regional reading, expecting a downturn.“While it’s too early to tell if this is an end to the downward 
trend, it was certainly promising on the growth front,” Goss said. 
“However the soaring inflation reading serves as a very negative signal 
for financial markets and the Federal Reserve.”Goss said four of 10 supply managers surveyed still expect a national recession in 2023.“We asked about entry level wages,” 
he said, “about half of the supply managers have had to increase 
entry-level wages above the rate of inflation to get workers to come in 
and interview, so that’s a challenge for those businesses out there.” 
<h2>‘Sideways movement’ </h2>In Nebraska, the overall business 
conditions index reading — which reflects employment, prices, sales and a
 few other components —&nbsp; grew in February to 56.7 from the previous 
month’s 55.7.Goss said his analysis of the survey findings point to a “sideways movement” in the regional economy. “Even with the significant bounce for
 the month of February, we’re still talking about slow-to-no-growth in 
the regional economy,” he said. “Residential housing is in a recession 
right now.”&nbsp;The Creighton group has conducted the monthly survey since 1994. 
Besides Nebraska, states included in the survey are Arkansas, Iowa, 
Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Business survey shows growing optimism in Nebraska, the region

NEW DELHI (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov talked briefly Thursday in the highest-level in-person talks between the two countries since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia's invasion of Ukraine</a>. But there was no indication of any movement toward easing the intense tensions between their two nations.

The short encounter came as relations between Washington and Moscow have plummeted over Russia’s war with Ukraine and tensions have soared amid a myriad of disagreements, complaints and recriminations on other matters ranging from arms control to embassy staffing and prisoners.

U.S. officials said Blinken and Lavrov chatted for roughly 10 minutes on the sidelines of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/g20-india-us-china-russia-ukraine-965c803aa2a8bfa857a00f7fc2d945d0">the G-20 conference</a>&nbsp;of foreign ministers in New Delhi. But there was no sign of any progress and the conference itself ended with the grouping unable to reach consensus on the Ukraine war.

Still, with relations at perhaps their lowest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis during the Cold War, the mere fact that the two men met showed that, at least for the moment, lines of high-level communication between Washington and Moscow remains open.

At a news conference, Blinken said he told Lavrov that the U.S. would continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes and would push for the war to end through diplomatic terms that Kyiv agrees to.

“End this war of aggression, engage in meaningful diplomacy that can produce a just and durable peace,” Blinken said he had told Lavrov. But, he noted that “President Putin has demonstrated zero interest in engaging, saying there’s nothing to even talk about unless and until Ukraine accepts and I quote ‘the new territorial reality’.”"

Blinken said he also urged Russia to reverse “its irresponsible decision and return to” participation in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-politics-moscow-business-34f8d662548cc7da55fe7320e902a656">the New START nuclear treaty</a>.

“Mutual compliance is in the interest of both our countries,” Blinken said he told Lavrov. He added ”that no matter what else is happening in the world, in our relationship, the United States is always ready to engage and act on strategic arms control, just as the United States and the Soviet Union did even at the height of the Cold War."

Blinken said he also urged Moscow to release&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/paul-whelan">detained American Paul Whelan</a>&nbsp;and that “the United States has put forward a serious proposal. Russia should take it.”

Earlier, Blinken had told the G-20 meeting that Russia’s war with Ukraine could not go unchallenged.

“We must continue to call on Russia to end its war of aggression and withdraw from Ukraine for the sake of international peace and economic stability,” Blinken said. He noted that 141 countries had voted to condemn Russia at the United Nations on the one-year anniversary of the invasion.

Yet, several members of the G-20, including host India, China and South Africa, chose to abstain in that vote and despite appeals from top Indian officials to look beyond their differences over Ukraine and forge consensus on other issues, the foreign ministers were unable to do so or agree on a final communique.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said there were “divergences” on the issue of the war in Ukraine “which we could not reconcile as various parties held differing views.” “If we had a perfect meeting of minds on all issues, it would have been a collective statement,” Jaishankar said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier appealed for all members of the fractured G-20 to reach consensus on issues of particular concern to poorer countries even if the broader East-West split over Ukraine could not overcome.

“We all have our positions and our perspectives on how these tensions should be resolved,” Modi said. “We should not allow issues that we cannot resolve together to come in the way of those we can.”

China and Russia objected to two paragraphs taken from the previous G-20 declaration in Bali last year, according to a summary of Thursday’s meeting released by India. And Blinken lamented that “Russia and China were the only two countries that made clear that they would not sign off on the text.”

The paragraphs stated that the war in Ukraine was causing immense human suffering while exacerbating fragilities in the global economy, the need to uphold international law, and that “the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.”

Despite the failure to achieve full consensus, Blinken said it was positive that 18 of the 20 nations had agreed on a statement calling for an end to the war and immediate steps to improve energy and food security that have been badly affected by the conflict.

Lavrov, who did not mention speaking with Blinken when he held a news conference after the G-20 session, told reporters that Moscow would continue to press its action in Ukraine. He shrugged off Western claims of Russia’s isolation, saying “we aren’t feeling isolated. It’s the West that has isolated itself, and it will eventually come to realize it.”

He said Russia remains open to talks on ending the conflict in Ukraine, but he accused the West of effectively blocking such talks.

“They are calling on us to have talks, but I don’t remember any Western colleagues calling on Ukraine to have talks,” he said. “They are encouraging Ukraine to continue the war.”

Lavrov also mocked U.S. threats against China, which has presented a peace plan for Ukraine that has been applauded by Moscow but dismissed by Washington and its Western allies.

“Our Western colleagues have lost self-control, forgotten their manners and put diplomacy aside, switching exclusively to blackmail and threats.” he said.

Russia had no immediate comment on the substance of the conversation, but Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Blinken had asked to speak to Lavrov.

It was their first contact since last summer, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-moscow-antony-blinken-sergey-lavrov-paul-whelan-54d694915c7c6c7222d2bb8893f93b04">Blinken talked to Lavrov by phone</a>&nbsp;about a U.S. proposal for Russia to release Whelan and formerly detained WNBA star Brittney Griner. Griner was later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-freed-viktor-bout-swap-us-russia-ee51f5c14f35dc4d4cf21224a8e44eaa">released in a swap</a>&nbsp;for imprisoned Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, but Whelan remains detained in Russia.

Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive, has been held for four years on espionage charges that his family and the United States government have said are baseless.

His brother David said the family is grateful that Blinken “took this high profile, rare opportunity to include Paul’s freedom in his discussions with Kremlin representatives.” But he noted that Paul Whelan turns 53 on Sunday, his fifth birthday in custody. He's held in a prison in the Mordovia region in “sub-zero Celsius temperatures” with heat turned off, David Whelan said in an email.

"Paul continues to suffer...So for all the statecraft and stonewalling, our brother languishes for another birthday and however many more milestones as a Russian hostage," he said.

The last time Blinken and Lavrov met in person was in Geneva, Switzerland, in January 2022 on the eve of Russia's invasion. At that meeting, Blinken warned Lavrov about consequences if Russia went ahead with its planned military operation but also sought to address some complaints that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made about the U.S. and NATO.

Those talks proved to be inconclusive — Russia moved ahead with its plans to invade and Blinken then canceled a scheduled follow-up meeting with Lavrov that was set for just two days before Moscow eventually&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-moscow-kyiv-626a8c5ec22217bacb24ece60fac4fe1">invaded on Feb. 24, 2022</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677841147347.png" alt="U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke briefly in New Delhi at a meeting of top diplomats from the Group of 20 nations.-photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of State" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke briefly in New Delhi at a meeting of top diplomats from the Group of 20 nations.-photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of State</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW DELHI (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov talked briefly Thursday in the highest-level in-person talks between the two countries since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia's invasion of Ukraine</a>. But there was no indication of any movement toward easing the intense tensions between their two nations.The short encounter came as relations between Washington and Moscow have plummeted over Russia’s war with Ukraine and tensions have soared amid a myriad of disagreements, complaints and recriminations on other matters ranging from arms control to embassy staffing and prisoners.U.S. officials said Blinken and Lavrov chatted for roughly 10 minutes on the sidelines of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/g20-india-us-china-russia-ukraine-965c803aa2a8bfa857a00f7fc2d945d0">the G-20 conference</a>&nbsp;of foreign ministers in New Delhi. But there was no sign of any progress and the conference itself ended with the grouping unable to reach consensus on the Ukraine war.Still, with relations at perhaps their lowest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis during the Cold War, the mere fact that the two men met showed that, at least for the moment, lines of high-level communication between Washington and Moscow remains open.At a news conference, Blinken said he told Lavrov that the U.S. would continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes and would push for the war to end through diplomatic terms that Kyiv agrees to.“End this war of aggression, engage in meaningful diplomacy that can produce a just and durable peace,” Blinken said he had told Lavrov. But, he noted that “President Putin has demonstrated zero interest in engaging, saying there’s nothing to even talk about unless and until Ukraine accepts and I quote ‘the new territorial reality’.”"Blinken said he also urged Russia to reverse “its irresponsible decision and return to” participation in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-politics-moscow-business-34f8d662548cc7da55fe7320e902a656">the New START nuclear treaty</a>.“Mutual compliance is in the interest of both our countries,” Blinken said he told Lavrov. He added ”that no matter what else is happening in the world, in our relationship, the United States is always ready to engage and act on strategic arms control, just as the United States and the Soviet Union did even at the height of the Cold War."Blinken said he also urged Moscow to release&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/paul-whelan">detained American Paul Whelan</a>&nbsp;and that “the United States has put forward a serious proposal. Russia should take it.”Earlier, Blinken had told the G-20 meeting that Russia’s war with Ukraine could not go unchallenged.“We must continue to call on Russia to end its war of aggression and withdraw from Ukraine for the sake of international peace and economic stability,” Blinken said. He noted that 141 countries had voted to condemn Russia at the United Nations on the one-year anniversary of the invasion.Yet, several members of the G-20, including host India, China and South Africa, chose to abstain in that vote and despite appeals from top Indian officials to look beyond their differences over Ukraine and forge consensus on other issues, the foreign ministers were unable to do so or agree on a final communique.Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said there were “divergences” on the issue of the war in Ukraine “which we could not reconcile as various parties held differing views.” “If we had a perfect meeting of minds on all issues, it would have been a collective statement,” Jaishankar said.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier appealed for all members of the fractured G-20 to reach consensus on issues of particular concern to poorer countries even if the broader East-West split over Ukraine could not overcome.“We all have our positions and our perspectives on how these tensions should be resolved,” Modi said. “We should not allow issues that we cannot resolve together to come in the way of those we can.”China and Russia objected to two paragraphs taken from the previous G-20 declaration in Bali last year, according to a summary of Thursday’s meeting released by India. And Blinken lamented that “Russia and China were the only two countries that made clear that they would not sign off on the text.”The paragraphs stated that the war in Ukraine was causing immense human suffering while exacerbating fragilities in the global economy, the need to uphold international law, and that “the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.”Despite the failure to achieve full consensus, Blinken said it was positive that 18 of the 20 nations had agreed on a statement calling for an end to the war and immediate steps to improve energy and food security that have been badly affected by the conflict.Lavrov, who did not mention speaking with Blinken when he held a news conference after the G-20 session, told reporters that Moscow would continue to press its action in Ukraine. He shrugged off Western claims of Russia’s isolation, saying “we aren’t feeling isolated. It’s the West that has isolated itself, and it will eventually come to realize it.”He said Russia remains open to talks on ending the conflict in Ukraine, but he accused the West of effectively blocking such talks.“They are calling on us to have talks, but I don’t remember any Western colleagues calling on Ukraine to have talks,” he said. “They are encouraging Ukraine to continue the war.”Lavrov also mocked U.S. threats against China, which has presented a peace plan for Ukraine that has been applauded by Moscow but dismissed by Washington and its Western allies.“Our Western colleagues have lost self-control, forgotten their manners and put diplomacy aside, switching exclusively to blackmail and threats.” he said.Russia had no immediate comment on the substance of the conversation, but Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Blinken had asked to speak to Lavrov.It was their first contact since last summer, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-moscow-antony-blinken-sergey-lavrov-paul-whelan-54d694915c7c6c7222d2bb8893f93b04">Blinken talked to Lavrov by phone</a>&nbsp;about a U.S. proposal for Russia to release Whelan and formerly detained WNBA star Brittney Griner. Griner was later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-freed-viktor-bout-swap-us-russia-ee51f5c14f35dc4d4cf21224a8e44eaa">released in a swap</a>&nbsp;for imprisoned Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, but Whelan remains detained in Russia.Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive, has been held for four years on espionage charges that his family and the United States government have said are baseless.His brother David said the family is grateful that Blinken “took this high profile, rare opportunity to include Paul’s freedom in his discussions with Kremlin representatives.” But he noted that Paul Whelan turns 53 on Sunday, his fifth birthday in custody. He's held in a prison in the Mordovia region in “sub-zero Celsius temperatures” with heat turned off, David Whelan said in an email."Paul continues to suffer...So for all the statecraft and stonewalling, our brother languishes for another birthday and however many more milestones as a Russian hostage," he said.The last time Blinken and Lavrov met in person was in Geneva, Switzerland, in January 2022 on the eve of Russia's invasion. At that meeting, Blinken warned Lavrov about consequences if Russia went ahead with its planned military operation but also sought to address some complaints that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made about the U.S. and NATO.Those talks proved to be inconclusive — Russia moved ahead with its plans to invade and Blinken then canceled a scheduled follow-up meeting with Lavrov that was set for just two days before Moscow eventually&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-russia-moscow-kyiv-626a8c5ec22217bacb24ece60fac4fe1">invaded on Feb. 24, 2022</a>.

US, Russia hold highest-level talks since Ukraine invasion

WALTERBORO, S.C. (AP) — A judge sentenced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh to life without parole Friday, a day after he was convicted of murder in the shooting deaths of his wife and son.

The Colleton County jury deliberated for less than three hours Thursday before finding Murdaugh guilty of killing his 22-year-old son, Paul, with a shotgun and his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, with a rifle on June 7, 2021.

Murdaugh soon will be taken to a state prison where he will be held in the highest security.

WALTERBORO, S.C. (AP) — Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder Thursday in the shooting deaths of his wife and son in a case that chronicled the unraveling of a powerful Southern family with tales of privilege, greed and addiction.

The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Murdaugh guilty of two counts of murder at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alex-murdaugh-trial-begins-dda1feeaf0a1af302da87d8ba0bb5520">end of a six-week trial</a>&nbsp;that pulled back the curtain on the once-prominent lawyer’s fall from grace.

The judge said sentencing would take place at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Murdaugh, 54, faces 30 years to life in prison without parole for each murder charge.

Through more than 75 witnesses and nearly 800 pieces of evidence, jurors heard about betrayed friends and clients, Murdaugh’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-south-carolina-insurance-fraud-assisted-suicide-44624b2b2d58d13042daf2cfec88185a">failed attempt to stage his own death</a>&nbsp;in an insurance fraud scheme, a fatal boat crash in which his son was implicated, the housekeeper who died in a fall in the Murdaugh home, the grisly scene of the killings and Bubba, the chicken-snatching dog.

In the end, Murdaugh’s fate appeared sealed by cellphone video taken by his son, who he called “Little Detective” for his knack for finding bottles of painkillers in his father’s belongings after the lawyer had sworn off the pills.

Testimony culminated in Murdaugh’s appearance on the witness stand, when he admitted stealing millions from clients and lying to investigators about being at the dog kennels where the shootings took place but steadfastly maintained his innocence in the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.

“I did not kill Maggie, and I did not kill Paul. I would never hurt Maggie, and I would never hurt Paul — ever — under any circumstances,” Murdaugh said.

Murdaugh’s 52-year-old wife was shot four or five times with a rifle and their 22-year-old son was shot twice with a shotgun at the kennels near at their rural Colleton County home on June 7, 2021.

Prosecutors didn’t have the weapons used to kill the Murdaughs or other direct evidence like confessions or blood spatter. But they had a mountain of circumstantial evidence, led by a video locked on Paul Murdaugh’s cellphone for more than a year — video shot minutes before the killings that witnesses testified captured the voices of all three Murdaughs.

Alex Murdaugh, 54, had told police repeatedly after the killings that he was not at the kennels and was instead napping before he went to visit his ailing mother that night.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-7f93dfc192114685af06c432254a366a">Murdaugh called 911</a>&nbsp;and said he discovered the bodies when he returned home.

But in his testimony, Murdaugh admitted joining Maggie and Paul at the kennels, where he said he took a chicken away from a rowdy yellow Labrador named Bubba — whose name Murdaugh can be heard saying on the video — before heading back to the house shortly ahead of the fatal shootings.

Murdaugh lied about being at the kennels for 20 months before taking the stand on the 23rd day of his trial. He blamed his decadeslong addiction to opioids for making him paranoid, creating a distrust of police. He said that once he went down that path, he felt trapped in the lie.

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave. Once I told a lie — I told my family — I had to keep lying,” he testified.

Prosecutor Creighton Waters grilled Murdaugh about what he repeatedly called the lawyer’s “new story” of what happened at the kennels, walking him moment by moment through the timeline and assailing his “fuzzy” memory of certain details, like his last words to his wife and son.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677802489063.png" alt="Alex Murdaugh cries as prosecutor Creighton Waters describes the murder of Murdaugh's wife and son during closing arguments in Murdaugh's double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., Wednesday, March 1, 2023.&nbsp; (Joshua Boucher/The State via AP, Pool)" />
 <figcaption>Alex Murdaugh cries as prosecutor Creighton Waters describes the murder of Murdaugh's wife and son during closing arguments in Murdaugh's double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., Wednesday, March 1, 2023.&nbsp; (Joshua Boucher/The State via AP, Pool)</figcaption>
 </figure>WALTERBORO, S.C. (AP) — A judge sentenced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh to life without parole Friday, a day after he was convicted of murder in the shooting deaths of his wife and son.The Colleton County jury deliberated for less than three hours Thursday before finding Murdaugh guilty of killing his 22-year-old son, Paul, with a shotgun and his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, with a rifle on June 7, 2021.Murdaugh soon will be taken to a state prison where he will be held in the highest security.---------WALTERBORO, S.C. (AP) — Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder Thursday in the shooting deaths of his wife and son in a case that chronicled the unraveling of a powerful Southern family with tales of privilege, greed and addiction.The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Murdaugh guilty of two counts of murder at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alex-murdaugh-trial-begins-dda1feeaf0a1af302da87d8ba0bb5520">end of a six-week trial</a>&nbsp;that pulled back the curtain on the once-prominent lawyer’s fall from grace.The judge said sentencing would take place at 9:30 a.m. Friday.Murdaugh, 54, faces 30 years to life in prison without parole for each murder charge.Through more than 75 witnesses and nearly 800 pieces of evidence, jurors heard about betrayed friends and clients, Murdaugh’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-shootings-south-carolina-insurance-fraud-assisted-suicide-44624b2b2d58d13042daf2cfec88185a">failed attempt to stage his own death</a>&nbsp;in an insurance fraud scheme, a fatal boat crash in which his son was implicated, the housekeeper who died in a fall in the Murdaugh home, the grisly scene of the killings and Bubba, the chicken-snatching dog.In the end, Murdaugh’s fate appeared sealed by cellphone video taken by his son, who he called “Little Detective” for his knack for finding bottles of painkillers in his father’s belongings after the lawyer had sworn off the pills.Testimony culminated in Murdaugh’s appearance on the witness stand, when he admitted stealing millions from clients and lying to investigators about being at the dog kennels where the shootings took place but steadfastly maintained his innocence in the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.“I did not kill Maggie, and I did not kill Paul. I would never hurt Maggie, and I would never hurt Paul — ever — under any circumstances,” Murdaugh said.Murdaugh’s 52-year-old wife was shot four or five times with a rifle and their 22-year-old son was shot twice with a shotgun at the kennels near at their rural Colleton County home on June 7, 2021.Prosecutors didn’t have the weapons used to kill the Murdaughs or other direct evidence like confessions or blood spatter. But they had a mountain of circumstantial evidence, led by a video locked on Paul Murdaugh’s cellphone for more than a year — video shot minutes before the killings that witnesses testified captured the voices of all three Murdaughs.Alex Murdaugh, 54, had told police repeatedly after the killings that he was not at the kennels and was instead napping before he went to visit his ailing mother that night.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shootings-7f93dfc192114685af06c432254a366a">Murdaugh called 911</a>&nbsp;and said he discovered the bodies when he returned home.But in his testimony, Murdaugh admitted joining Maggie and Paul at the kennels, where he said he took a chicken away from a rowdy yellow Labrador named Bubba — whose name Murdaugh can be heard saying on the video — before heading back to the house shortly ahead of the fatal shootings.Murdaugh lied about being at the kennels for 20 months before taking the stand on the 23rd day of his trial. He blamed his decadeslong addiction to opioids for making him paranoid, creating a distrust of police. He said that once he went down that path, he felt trapped in the lie.“Oh, what a tangled web we weave. Once I told a lie — I told my family — I had to keep lying,” he testified.Prosecutor Creighton Waters grilled Murdaugh about what he repeatedly called the lawyer’s “new story” of what happened at the kennels, walking him moment by moment through the timeline and assailing his “fuzzy” memory of certain details, like his last words to his wife and son.A state agent also testified that markings on spent cartridges found around Maggie Murdaugh’s body matched markings on fired cartridges at a shooting range elsewhere on the property, though the defense said that kind of matching is an inexact science.Murdaugh comes from a family that dominated the local legal scene for decades. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather were the area’s elected prosecutors for more than 80 years and his family law firm grew to dozens of lawyers by suing railroads, corporations and other big businesses.The now-disbarred attorney&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-south-carolina-money-laundering-indictments-7cb0c6e33cd9ad421dafd5e82df52795">admitted stealing millions of dollars</a>&nbsp;from the family firm and clients, saying he needed the money to fund his drug habit. Before he was charged with murder, Murdaugh was in jail awaiting trial on about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-crime-south-carolina-indictments-tax-evasion-319f9b53eaf4ef8eb2fc0d5256e84549">100 other charges</a>&nbsp;ranging from insurance fraud to tax evasion.Prosecutors told jurors that Murdaugh was afraid all of his misdeeds were about to be discovered, so he killed his wife and son to gain sympathy to buy time to cover his tracks.Murdaugh’s lawyers will almost certainly appeal the conviction based on the judge allowing evidence of the financial crimes, which they contend were unrelated to the killings and were used by prosecutors to smear Murdaugh’s reputation.--------------WALTERBORO, S.C. (AP) — A defense lawyer for Alex Murdaugh said Thursday that state agents were so determined to get the disgraced South Carolina attorney&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alex-murdaugh-murder-trial-what-to-know-fcd1fb52138f95c4d55de9690aab60ee">convicted of murder</a>&nbsp;in the killings of his wife and son that they lied about or misrepresented evidence.When closing arguments wrapped up, the judge turned Murdaugh's fate over to jurors after giving them his final instructions, and they headed to their jury room to begin deliberations.Attorney Jim Griffin gave the defense's closing, emphasizing Murdaugh's main point — that investigators focused solely on him and conducted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legal-proceedings-south-carolina-crime-homicide-13a31ec73cf6da2f65848ac6e016b6be">the investigation</a>&nbsp;so poorly that any evidence pointing to someone else, like fingerprints or possible DNA on Maggie or Paul Murdaugh's clothing, was never gathered.“How could he have butchered Maggie and Paul without leaving a trace of evidence within a matter of minutes?” Griffin said.Murdaugh, 54, faces 30 years to life in prison if&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alex-murdaugh-trial-begins-dda1feeaf0a1af302da87d8ba0bb5520">convicted.</a>&nbsp;Investigators said his 22-year-old son, Paul, was shot twice with a shotgun and his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, was shot four or five times with a rifle outside dog kennels on their rural Colleton County property on June 7, 2021.Prosecutors got the last word with a rebuttal argument after Griffin spoke.“You can’t answer every question, and the law doesn't require it," prosecutor John Meadors said.Investigators think Murdaugh had no more than about 17 minutes from the time his wife and son stopped using their cellphones to when he left the property to visit his ailing mother.Experts from both sides agreed there had to be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legal-proceedings-homicide-south-carolina-covid-1e487566c01edfacf4ab45ec54ffb3c0">massive amount of blood</a>, tissue and other material from the killings, but the prosecution did not present any evidence of blood spatter on clothes. The weapons in the case also have never been found.“He had 17 minutes. He would have to be a magician to make all that evidence disappear,” Griffin said.No one tried to look for DNA on the clothes of the victims, which a killer could have left. No one tried to see if fingerprints or shoe prints could be lifted from the blood around Paul Murdaugh and matched to a possible killer, Griffin said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alex-murdaugh-murder-trial-5612574c166b6f8b4e71ff6395e38f9c">Prosecutors think</a>&nbsp;Alex Murdaugh killed his wife and son because he feared his years of stealing millions of dollars from his law firm and clients would be exposed and his lofty standing in the community toppled. They said he hoped their deaths would make him a sympathetic figure and draw attention away from the missing money.Motive is not a necessary element to prove the crime. But Rachel Fiset, a Los Angeles-based trial attorney, said prosecutors painstakingly laid out motive to address the question she figures must have weighed on juror’s minds.“I don’t think there could possibly be any conviction without answering that lingering question of why Alex Murdaugh would kill his family,” Fiset said.A key piece of evidence for prosecutors is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homicide-legal-proceedings-crime-ae1c73cc2739dec105d265b9b1e7c4b8">a video</a>&nbsp;that includes the voices of Murdaugh, his wife and son at the kennels just minutes before investigators said they were killed. The video wasn’t discovered for a year because agents couldn’t initially hack into his son’s iPhoneFor 20 months, Alex Mudaugh told everyone that he wasn't at the kennels but while testifying in his own defense, he finally admitted he was there."He lied because that’s what addicts do. He lied because he has a closet full of skeletons," Griffin said.Prosecutors said all Murdaugh did was lie — to the people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-homicide-9dffc67a8d00f40aa7867b1cfd3101fc">he was stealing</a>&nbsp;from, to police about a key fact in their investigation, to his family about his drug use and even about the order in which he checked his wife and son for signs of life, switching who he checked first in different police interviews.Griffin said that showed how badly the state wants to convict Murdaugh at all costs, referring to prosecutors' closing argument where they said the evidence showed Maggie Murdaugh died while running to see her son.“Alex was running to his baby. Can you imagine what he saw?" Griffin said. "And is it evidence of guilt that he doesn’t remember what the sequencing was at that moment?”Griffin said his time as a prosecutor left him pained to say the State Law Enforcement Division either fabricated or lied about evidence.The lead agent on the case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-homicide-4eb76da4acb636416e19b905689e87e7">said on the stand</a>&nbsp;that he told the grand jury that indicted Murdaugh 13 months after the deaths that the T-shirt Murdaugh was wearing when police arrived had high velocity blood spatter from his son that happens when someone is shot at close range.But other agents in the case had already reported further testing on the shirt showed no blood on it and the shirt was never mentioned by prosecutors at the trial.Meadors said law enforcement is not on trial, Murdaugh is.The prosecutor said he was offended that Murdaugh's defense is claiming that law enforcement "didn’t do their job while he is withholding and obstructing justice by not saying, 'I was down at the kennels.’”And there was the matter of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-homicide-crime-04f5df7d8b2236ff1a35e9885141bcee">blue rain jacket</a>&nbsp;that state agents said was covered in gunshot residue when it was found at Murdaugh's mother's house. Investigators theorized Murdaugh wrapped guns in it to hide on his parents' property, but Murdaugh's family didn't recognize it and it wasn't his size.Griffin ended his closing argument with a plea to the jury.“On behalf of Alex, on behalf of Buster, on behalf of Maggie and on behalf of my friend Paul, I respectfully ask you do not compound a family tragedy with another,” Griffin said, his voice breaking.Earlier Thursday, Judge Clifton Newman removed a juror because she discussed the case with other people. Five jurors have had to be replaced during the six-week trial, leaving the jury with just one alternate during deliberations, which began at 3:50 p.m. (EST) on Thursday.Newman's exchange with the juror Thursday was pleasant. He asked her if she needed the bailiff to get any of her things from the jury room. She said she had her purse and a dozen eggs that a fellow juror brought for each juror from his farm.Fiset said the lone alternate juror marks an alarming development given the risk of illness posed by COVID-19. In a case with less direct evidence, she expects a longer deliberation — and a longer period for members to remain healthy.“They are one person away from this jury being a mistrial,” Fiset said.