By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraskas-largest-cattle-feedlot-gets-ok-from-dundy-county-board/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A proposal for the largest cattle feedlot in the state — a 
project estimated to cost $200 million — got the green light from a 
southwest Nebraska county on Thursday.

The Dundy County Board voted 3-0 to approve plans by Blackshirt 
Feeders to build a 150,000-head feedlot north of Haigler, near the 
Colorado-Nebraska state line.

The project will feature a digester to turn manure into methane, and 
will have a rolled concrete surface that Blackshirt officials say will 
cut down on dust and be easier to clean.

“This is going to be beyond a state 
of the art facility,” said Steve Mossman, a Lincoln attorney who 
represents Blackshirt Feeders.

The site north of Haigler was chosen 
after controversy arose about another proposed location in Dundy County,
 23 miles north of Benkelman.

The new location has fewer neighbors,
 better water and fewer road issues, according to Mossman, and all the 
property tax benefits will go to Dundy County schools.

Richard Bartholomew of Benkelman, the
 vice chairman of the Dundy County Board, said there were few negative 
comments about the new site.

“It’s kind of hard to predict the 
future, but we’re certainly hopeful that this will be a positive 
influence on our county, on our area,” Bartholomew said.

The facility, which will be built in 
three phases of 50,000-head capacity each, is projected to provide 65 
full-time jobs in Dundy County. The rural county of just under 2,000 
people is west of McCook, in the extreme southwest corner of Nebraska.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The facility is being developed by three Canadian veterinarians with 
experience in feedlots, including Dr. Eric Behlke, a native of 
Benkelman.

The approval came with nine conditions concerning groundwater 
testing, controlling flies and dust and proper disposal of dead 
livestock.

The facility still needs to gain permission from the local natural 
resources district and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
 before it moves ahead.

Mossman said that 13 center-pivot irrigation systems in the vicinity 
of the proposed feedlot will be retired to transfer enough water for the
 project.

Among the concerns raised locally and elsewhere was the increasing 
size of such feeding operations, and whether it might push smaller 
livestock feedlots out of business. Mossman said a bigger issue is too 
much concentration in the meatpacking industry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660313917702.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraskas-largest-cattle-feedlot-gets-ok-from-dundy-county-board/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A proposal for the largest cattle feedlot in the state — a 
project estimated to cost $200 million — got the green light from a 
southwest Nebraska county on Thursday.The Dundy County Board voted 3-0 to approve plans by Blackshirt 
Feeders to build a 150,000-head feedlot north of Haigler, near the 
Colorado-Nebraska state line.The project will feature a digester to turn manure into methane, and 
will have a rolled concrete surface that Blackshirt officials say will 
cut down on dust and be easier to clean.<h2>‘Beyond state of the art’</h2>“This is going to be beyond a state 
of the art facility,” said Steve Mossman, a Lincoln attorney who 
represents Blackshirt Feeders.The site north of Haigler was chosen 
after controversy arose about another proposed location in Dundy County,
 23 miles north of Benkelman.The new location has fewer neighbors,
 better water and fewer road issues, according to Mossman, and all the 
property tax benefits will go to Dundy County schools.Richard Bartholomew of Benkelman, the
 vice chairman of the Dundy County Board, said there were few negative 
comments about the new site.<h2>Built in phases</h2>“It’s kind of hard to predict the 
future, but we’re certainly hopeful that this will be a positive 
influence on our county, on our area,” Bartholomew said.The facility, which will be built in 
three phases of 50,000-head capacity each, is projected to provide 65 
full-time jobs in Dundy County. The rural county of just under 2,000 
people is west of McCook, in the extreme southwest corner of Nebraska.&nbsp;&nbsp;The facility is being developed by three Canadian veterinarians with 
experience in feedlots, including Dr. Eric Behlke, a native of 
Benkelman.The approval came with nine conditions concerning groundwater 
testing, controlling flies and dust and proper disposal of dead 
livestock.<h2>Concern about smaller operations</h2>The facility still needs to gain permission from the local natural 
resources district and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
 before it moves ahead.Mossman said that 13 center-pivot irrigation systems in the vicinity 
of the proposed feedlot will be retired to transfer enough water for the
 project.Among the concerns raised locally and elsewhere was the increasing 
size of such feeding operations, and whether it might push smaller 
livestock feedlots out of business. Mossman said a bigger issue is too 
much concentration in the meatpacking industry.

Nebraska’s largest cattle feedlot gets the green light

The Federal Trade Commission is sending 
payments totaling more than $9.7 million to 61,990 consumers who were 
charged hidden fees by LendingClub Corporation.

These payments are the result of a claims process conducted by the FTC in February 2022. It is the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/01/ftc-returns-more-10-million-consumers-who-paid-hidden-fees-lendingclub">second distribution of funds</a> in this matter and brings the total amount refunded to consumers to more than $17.6 million.

Consumers who chose to 
receive a PayPal payment will have 30 days to accept it. Consumers who 
chose to receive a check will have 90 days to cash it. Recipients who
 have questions about their refund should call the refund administrator,
 Rust Consulting, Inc., at 833-630-1417. The Commission never requires 
people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.

The FTC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/04/ftc-charges-lending-club-deceiving-consumers-0">sued LendingClub in April 2018</a>,
 charging that the company falsely promised loan applicants that they 
would receive a specific loan amount with “no hidden fees,” when in 
reality the company deducted hundreds or even thousands of dollars in 
hidden up-front fees from the loans. The FTC also alleged that 
LendingClub told consumers they were approved for loans when they were 
not—which delayed applicants from seeking loans elsewhere—and took money
 from consumers’ bank accounts without authorization. <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2021/07/lendingclub-agrees-pay-18-million-settle-ftc-charges">LendingClub agreed to a settlement in July 2021</a>
 that bars them from making misrepresentations to loan applicants and 
requires that the company clearly and conspicuously disclose the amount 
of any fees and the total amount of funds that borrowers will receive.

<a>The Commission’s&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2Fprofile%2Ffederal.trade.commission%23!%2Fvizhome%2FRefunds_15797958402020%2FRefundsbyCase&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fnews-events%2Fnews%2Fpress-releases%2F2022%2F08%2Ffederal-trade-commission-returns-more-97-million-consumers-harmed-lendingclubs-deceptive-hidden-fees">interactive dashboards for refund data</a>

&nbsp;provide
 a state-by-state breakdown of Commission refunds. In 2021, Commission 
actions led to more than $472 million in refunds to consumers across the
 country, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the Commission 
lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal 
court going forward. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a>&nbsp;to restore the Commission’s ability to get money back for consumers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe Federal Trade Commission is sending 
payments totaling more than $9.7 million to 61,990 consumers who were 
charged hidden fees by LendingClub Corporation.These payments are the result of a claims process conducted by the FTC in February 2022. It is the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/01/ftc-returns-more-10-million-consumers-who-paid-hidden-fees-lendingclub">second distribution of funds</a> in this matter and brings the total amount refunded to consumers to more than $17.6 million. Consumers who chose to 
receive a PayPal payment will have 30 days to accept it. Consumers who 
chose to receive a check will have 90 days to cash it. Recipients who
 have questions about their refund should call the refund administrator,
 Rust Consulting, Inc., at 833-630-1417. The Commission never requires 
people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.The FTC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/04/ftc-charges-lending-club-deceiving-consumers-0">sued LendingClub in April 2018</a>,
 charging that the company falsely promised loan applicants that they 
would receive a specific loan amount with “no hidden fees,” when in 
reality the company deducted hundreds or even thousands of dollars in 
hidden up-front fees from the loans. The FTC also alleged that 
LendingClub told consumers they were approved for loans when they were 
not—which delayed applicants from seeking loans elsewhere—and took money
 from consumers’ bank accounts without authorization. <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2021/07/lendingclub-agrees-pay-18-million-settle-ftc-charges">LendingClub agreed to a settlement in July 2021</a>
 that bars them from making misrepresentations to loan applicants and 
requires that the company clearly and conspicuously disclose the amount 
of any fees and the total amount of funds that borrowers will receive.<a>The Commission’s&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2Fprofile%2Ffederal.trade.commission%23!%2Fvizhome%2FRefunds_15797958402020%2FRefundsbyCase&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fnews-events%2Fnews%2Fpress-releases%2F2022%2F08%2Ffederal-trade-commission-returns-more-97-million-consumers-harmed-lendingclubs-deceptive-hidden-fees">interactive dashboards for refund data</a>&nbsp;provide
 a state-by-state breakdown of Commission refunds. In 2021, Commission 
actions led to more than $472 million in refunds to consumers across the
 country, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that the Commission 
lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal 
court going forward. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a>&nbsp;to restore the Commission’s ability to get money back for consumers.

FTC: Consumers will get $9.7M in 'hidden fees' returned

NEW YORK (AP) — The nation's top public health agency relaxed its COVID-19 guidelines Thursday, dropping the recommendation that Americans quarantine themselves if they come into close contact with an infected person.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said people no longer need to stay at least 6 feet away from others.

The changes, which come more than 2 1/2 years after the start of the pandemic, are driven by a recognition that an estimated 95% of Americans 16 and older have acquired some level of immunity, either from being vaccinated or infected, agency officials said.

“The current conditions of this pandemic are very different from those of the last two years,” said the CDC's Greta Massetti, an author of the guidelines.

Many places around the country long ago abandoned social distancing and other once-common precautions, but some of the changes could be particularly important for schools, which resume classes this month in many parts of the country.

Perhaps the biggest education-related change is the end of the recommendation that schools do routine daily testing, although that practice can be reinstated in certain situations during a surge in infections, officials said.

The CDC also dropped a “test-to-stay” recommendation, which said students exposed to COVID-19 could regularly test — instead of quarantining at home — to keep attending school. With no quarantine recommendation anymore, the testing option disappeared too.

Masks continue to be recommended only in areas where community transmission is deemed high, or if a person is considered at high risk of severe illness.

School districts across the U.S. have scaled back their COVID-19 precautions in recent weeks even before the latest guidance was issued. Some have promised a return to pre-pandemic schooling.

Masks will be optional in most districts when classes resume this fall, and some of the nation’s largest districts have dialed back or eliminated COVID-19 testing requirements.

Public schools in Los Angeles are ending weekly COVID-19 tests, instead making at-home tests available to families, the district announced last week. Schools in North Carolina's Wake County also dropped weekly testing.

Some others have moved away from test-to-stay programs that became unmanageable during surges of the omicron variant last school year.

The American Federation of Teachers, one of the nation's largest teachers unions, said it welcomes the guidance.

“Every educator and every parent starts every school year with great hope, and this year even more so,” President Randi Weingarten said. “After two years of uncertainty and disruption, we need as normal a year as possible so we can focus like a laser on what kids need.”

The new recommendations prioritize keeping children in school as much as possible, said Joseph Allen, director of Harvard University’s healthy building program. Previous isolation policies forced millions of students to stay home from school, he said, even though the virus poses a relatively low risk to young people.

“Entire classrooms of kids had to miss school if they were deemed a close contact,” he said. “The closed schools and learning disruption have been devastating.”

Others say the CDC is going too far in relaxing its guidelines.

Allowing students to return to school five days after infection, without proof of a negative COVID-19 test, could lead to outbreaks in schools, said Anne Sosin, a public health researcher at Dartmouth College. That could force entire schools to close temporarily if teachers get sick in large numbers, a dilemma that some schools faced last year.

“All of us want a stable school year, but wishful thinking is not the strategy for getting there,” she said. “If we want a return to normal in our schools, we have to invest in the conditions for that, not just drop everything haphazardly like we’re seeing across the country.”

The average numbers of reported COVID-19 cases and deaths have been relatively flat this summer, at around 100,000 cases a day and 300 to 400 deaths.

The CDC previously said that if people who are not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations come into close contact with a person who tests positive, they should stay home for at least five days. Now the agency says quarantining at home is not necessary, but it urges those people to wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested after five.

The agency continues to say that people who test positive should isolate from others for at least five days, regardless of whether they were vaccinated. CDC officials advise that people can end isolation if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication and they are without symptoms or the symptoms are improving.

Also on Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-0edbe09ddb0c4a2dc84d10689002e372">updated its recommendations</a>&nbsp;for how many times people exposed to COVID-19 should test.

Previously, the FDA had advised taking two rapid antigen tests over two or three days to rule out infection. Now the agency recommends three tests.

FDA officials said the change was based on new studies that suggest the old protocol can miss too many infections and result in people spreading the coronavirus, especially if they don’t develop symptoms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628446595302.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The nation's top public health agency relaxed its COVID-19 guidelines Thursday, dropping the recommendation that Americans quarantine themselves if they come into close contact with an infected person.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said people no longer need to stay at least 6 feet away from others.The changes, which come more than 2 1/2 years after the start of the pandemic, are driven by a recognition that an estimated 95% of Americans 16 and older have acquired some level of immunity, either from being vaccinated or infected, agency officials said.“The current conditions of this pandemic are very different from those of the last two years,” said the CDC's Greta Massetti, an author of the guidelines.Many places around the country long ago abandoned social distancing and other once-common precautions, but some of the changes could be particularly important for schools, which resume classes this month in many parts of the country.Perhaps the biggest education-related change is the end of the recommendation that schools do routine daily testing, although that practice can be reinstated in certain situations during a surge in infections, officials said.The CDC also dropped a “test-to-stay” recommendation, which said students exposed to COVID-19 could regularly test — instead of quarantining at home — to keep attending school. With no quarantine recommendation anymore, the testing option disappeared too.Masks continue to be recommended only in areas where community transmission is deemed high, or if a person is considered at high risk of severe illness.School districts across the U.S. have scaled back their COVID-19 precautions in recent weeks even before the latest guidance was issued. Some have promised a return to pre-pandemic schooling.Masks will be optional in most districts when classes resume this fall, and some of the nation’s largest districts have dialed back or eliminated COVID-19 testing requirements.Public schools in Los Angeles are ending weekly COVID-19 tests, instead making at-home tests available to families, the district announced last week. Schools in North Carolina's Wake County also dropped weekly testing.Some others have moved away from test-to-stay programs that became unmanageable during surges of the omicron variant last school year.The American Federation of Teachers, one of the nation's largest teachers unions, said it welcomes the guidance.“Every educator and every parent starts every school year with great hope, and this year even more so,” President Randi Weingarten said. “After two years of uncertainty and disruption, we need as normal a year as possible so we can focus like a laser on what kids need.”The new recommendations prioritize keeping children in school as much as possible, said Joseph Allen, director of Harvard University’s healthy building program. Previous isolation policies forced millions of students to stay home from school, he said, even though the virus poses a relatively low risk to young people.“Entire classrooms of kids had to miss school if they were deemed a close contact,” he said. “The closed schools and learning disruption have been devastating.”Others say the CDC is going too far in relaxing its guidelines.Allowing students to return to school five days after infection, without proof of a negative COVID-19 test, could lead to outbreaks in schools, said Anne Sosin, a public health researcher at Dartmouth College. That could force entire schools to close temporarily if teachers get sick in large numbers, a dilemma that some schools faced last year.“All of us want a stable school year, but wishful thinking is not the strategy for getting there,” she said. “If we want a return to normal in our schools, we have to invest in the conditions for that, not just drop everything haphazardly like we’re seeing across the country.”The average numbers of reported COVID-19 cases and deaths have been relatively flat this summer, at around 100,000 cases a day and 300 to 400 deaths.The CDC previously said that if people who are not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations come into close contact with a person who tests positive, they should stay home for at least five days. Now the agency says quarantining at home is not necessary, but it urges those people to wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested after five.The agency continues to say that people who test positive should isolate from others for at least five days, regardless of whether they were vaccinated. CDC officials advise that people can end isolation if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication and they are without symptoms or the symptoms are improving.Also on Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-0edbe09ddb0c4a2dc84d10689002e372">updated its recommendations</a>&nbsp;for how many times people exposed to COVID-19 should test.Previously, the FDA had advised taking two rapid antigen tests over two or three days to rule out infection. Now the agency recommends three tests.FDA officials said the change was based on new studies that suggest the old protocol can miss too many infections and result in people spreading the coronavirus, especially if they don’t develop symptoms.

As students return to school, CDC eases COVID guidelines

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;called late Thursday for the “immediate” release of the federal warrant the FBI used to search his Florida estate, hours after the Justice Department had asked a court to unseal the warrant, with Attorney General Merrick Garland citing the “substantial public interest in this matter.”

In messages posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “Not only will I not oppose the release of documents ... I am going a step further by ENCOURAGING the immediate release of those documents.” He continued to assail the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago as “unAmerican, unwarranted and unnecessary.”

“Release the documents now!” he wrote.

The Justice Department request earlier Thursday is striking because such documents traditionally remain sealed during a pending investigation. But the department appeared to recognize that its silence since the search had created a vacuum for bitter verbal attacks by Trump and his allies, and that the public was entitled to the FBI's side about what prompted Monday's action at the former president's home.

“The public’s clear and powerful interest in understanding what occurred under these circumstances weighs heavily in favor of unsealing,” said a motion filed in federal court in Florida on Thursday.

Should the warrant be released — the request is now with the judge — it could disclose unflattering information about the former president and about FBI scrutiny of his handling of sensitive government documents right as he prepares for another run for the White House. During his successful 2016 campaign, he pointed frequently to an FBI investigation into his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b1f8075d21964477b9deae6134f8d022">over whether she mishandled classified information</a>.

It's unclear at this point how much information would be included in the documents, if made public, or if they would encompass an FBI affidavit that would presumably lay out a detailed factual basis for the search. The department specifically requested the unsealing of the warrant as well as a property receipt listing the items that were seized, along with two unspecified attachments.

To obtain a search warrant, federal authorities must prove to a judge that probable cause exists to believe that a crime was committed. Garland said he personally approved the warrant, a decision he said the department did not take lightly given that standard practice where possible is to select less intrusive tactics than a search of one's home.

In this case, according to a person familiar with the matter, there was substantial engagement with Trump and his representatives prior to the search warrant, including a subpoena for records and a visit to Mar-a-Lago a couple of months ago by FBI and Justice Department officials to assess how the documents were stored. The person was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Neither Trump nor the FBI has said anything about what documents the FBI might have recovered, or what precisely agents were looking for. But the former president complained anew Thursday about the search.

Trump, who for years has lambasted the FBI and sought to sow distrust among his supporters in its decisions, said the warrant was served and the search conducted despite his cooperation with the Justice Department over the search.

In a post to his Truth Social platform, Trump said that his “attorneys and representatives were cooperating fully” prior to the search, and that government officials “could have had whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted, if we had it."

The Justice Department has until Friday afternoon to alert the judge about whether Trump will object to the release.

FBI and Justice Department policy cautions against discussing ongoing investigations, both to protect the integrity of probes and to avoid unfairly maligning someone who is being scrutinized but winds up ultimately not being charged. That’s especially true in the case of search warrants, where supporting court papers are routinely kept secret as the investigation proceeds.

In this case, though, Garland cited the fact that Trump himself had provided the first public confirmation of the FBI search, “as is his right." The Justice Department, in its new filing, also said that disclosing information about it now would not harm the court's functions.

Even so, Garland, in a hastily scheduled public statement delivered from the Justice Department podium, appeared to acknowledge the unusual nature of the department's request as he declined to take questions or provide any substantive details about the FBI's investigation.

“Much of our work is by necessity conducted out of the public eye. We do that to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans and to protect the integrity of our investigations," he said. "Federal law, longstanding department rules and our ethical obligations prevent me from providing further details as to the basis of the search at this time.”

The Justice Department under Garland has been leery of public statements about politically charged investigations, or of confirming to what extent it might be investigating Trump as part of a broader probe into the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The department has tried to avoid being seen as injecting itself into presidential politics, as happened in 2016 when then-FBI Director James Comey made an unusual public statement announcing that the FBI would not be recommending criminal charges against Clinton regarding her handling of email — and when he spoke up again just over a week before the election to notify Congress that the probe was being effectively reopened because of the discovery of new emails.

The Mar-a-Lago search warrant served Monday was part of an ongoing Justice Department investigation into the discovery of classified White House records recovered from Trump's home in Palm Beach, Florida, earlier this year. The National Archives had asked the department to investigate after saying 15 boxes of records it retrieved from the estate included classified records. Multiple federal laws govern the handling of classified information.

The attorney general also condemned verbal attacks on FBI and Justice Department personnel over the search. Some Republican allies of Trump have called for the FBI to be defunded. Large numbers of Trump supporters have called for the warrant to be released hoping they it will show that Trump was unfairly targeted.

“I will not stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked,” Garland said of federal law enforcement agents, calling them “dedicated, patriotic public servants.”

Earlier Thursday, an armed man wearing body armor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-cincinnati-armed-man-b4701596a0eb9770e3b29e95328f5704">tried to breach a security screening area</a>&nbsp;at an FBI field office in Ohio, then fled and was later killed after a standoff with law enforcement. A law enforcement official briefed on the matter identified the man as Ricky Shiffer and said he is believed to have been in Washington in the days leading up to the attack on the Capitol and may have been there on the day it took place.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;called late Thursday for the “immediate” release of the federal warrant the FBI used to search his Florida estate, hours after the Justice Department had asked a court to unseal the warrant, with Attorney General Merrick Garland citing the “substantial public interest in this matter.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660299491275.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In messages posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “Not only will I not oppose the release of documents ... I am going a step further by ENCOURAGING the immediate release of those documents.” He continued to assail the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago as “unAmerican, unwarranted and unnecessary.”“Release the documents now!” he wrote.The Justice Department request earlier Thursday is striking because such documents traditionally remain sealed during a pending investigation. But the department appeared to recognize that its silence since the search had created a vacuum for bitter verbal attacks by Trump and his allies, and that the public was entitled to the FBI's side about what prompted Monday's action at the former president's home.“The public’s clear and powerful interest in understanding what occurred under these circumstances weighs heavily in favor of unsealing,” said a motion filed in federal court in Florida on Thursday.Should the warrant be released — the request is now with the judge — it could disclose unflattering information about the former president and about FBI scrutiny of his handling of sensitive government documents right as he prepares for another run for the White House. During his successful 2016 campaign, he pointed frequently to an FBI investigation into his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b1f8075d21964477b9deae6134f8d022">over whether she mishandled classified information</a>.It's unclear at this point how much information would be included in the documents, if made public, or if they would encompass an FBI affidavit that would presumably lay out a detailed factual basis for the search. The department specifically requested the unsealing of the warrant as well as a property receipt listing the items that were seized, along with two unspecified attachments.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I2w26ecbq-Q?start=3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>To obtain a search warrant, federal authorities must prove to a judge that probable cause exists to believe that a crime was committed. Garland said he personally approved the warrant, a decision he said the department did not take lightly given that standard practice where possible is to select less intrusive tactics than a search of one's home.In this case, according to a person familiar with the matter, there was substantial engagement with Trump and his representatives prior to the search warrant, including a subpoena for records and a visit to Mar-a-Lago a couple of months ago by FBI and Justice Department officials to assess how the documents were stored. The person was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.Neither Trump nor the FBI has said anything about what documents the FBI might have recovered, or what precisely agents were looking for. But the former president complained anew Thursday about the search.Trump, who for years has lambasted the FBI and sought to sow distrust among his supporters in its decisions, said the warrant was served and the search conducted despite his cooperation with the Justice Department over the search.In a post to his Truth Social platform, Trump said that his “attorneys and representatives were cooperating fully” prior to the search, and that government officials “could have had whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted, if we had it."The Justice Department has until Friday afternoon to alert the judge about whether Trump will object to the release.FBI and Justice Department policy cautions against discussing ongoing investigations, both to protect the integrity of probes and to avoid unfairly maligning someone who is being scrutinized but winds up ultimately not being charged. That’s especially true in the case of search warrants, where supporting court papers are routinely kept secret as the investigation proceeds.In this case, though, Garland cited the fact that Trump himself had provided the first public confirmation of the FBI search, “as is his right." The Justice Department, in its new filing, also said that disclosing information about it now would not harm the court's functions.Even so, Garland, in a hastily scheduled public statement delivered from the Justice Department podium, appeared to acknowledge the unusual nature of the department's request as he declined to take questions or provide any substantive details about the FBI's investigation.“Much of our work is by necessity conducted out of the public eye. We do that to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans and to protect the integrity of our investigations," he said. "Federal law, longstanding department rules and our ethical obligations prevent me from providing further details as to the basis of the search at this time.”The Justice Department under Garland has been leery of public statements about politically charged investigations, or of confirming to what extent it might be investigating Trump as part of a broader probe into the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.The department has tried to avoid being seen as injecting itself into presidential politics, as happened in 2016 when then-FBI Director James Comey made an unusual public statement announcing that the FBI would not be recommending criminal charges against Clinton regarding her handling of email — and when he spoke up again just over a week before the election to notify Congress that the probe was being effectively reopened because of the discovery of new emails.The Mar-a-Lago search warrant served Monday was part of an ongoing Justice Department investigation into the discovery of classified White House records recovered from Trump's home in Palm Beach, Florida, earlier this year. The National Archives had asked the department to investigate after saying 15 boxes of records it retrieved from the estate included classified records. Multiple federal laws govern the handling of classified information.The attorney general also condemned verbal attacks on FBI and Justice Department personnel over the search. Some Republican allies of Trump have called for the FBI to be defunded. Large numbers of Trump supporters have called for the warrant to be released hoping they it will show that Trump was unfairly targeted.“I will not stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked,” Garland said of federal law enforcement agents, calling them “dedicated, patriotic public servants.”Earlier Thursday, an armed man wearing body armor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-cincinnati-armed-man-b4701596a0eb9770e3b29e95328f5704">tried to breach a security screening area</a>&nbsp;at an FBI field office in Ohio, then fled and was later killed after a standoff with law enforcement. A law enforcement official briefed on the matter identified the man as Ricky Shiffer and said he is believed to have been in Washington in the days leading up to the attack on the Capitol and may have been there on the day it took place.

🎥 Trump calls for 'immediate' release of Mar-a-Lago warrant

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission this week announced it is rejecting the long-form applications of LTD Broadband and Starlink to receive support through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund program.  The Commission determined that these applications failed to demonstrate that the providers could deliver the promised service.  Funding these vast proposed networks would not be the best use of limited Universal Service Fund dollars to bring broadband to unserved areas across the United States, the Commission concluded.

“After careful legal, technical, and policy review, we are rejecting these applications.  Consumers deserve reliable and affordable high-speed broadband,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel.  “We must put scarce universal service dollars to their best possible use as we move into a digital future that demands ever more powerful and faster networks.  We cannot afford to subsidize ventures that are not delivering the promised speeds or are not likely to meet program requirements.”

“Starlink’s technology has real promise,” continued Rosenworcel.  “But the question before us was whether to publicly subsidize its still developing technology for consumer broadband—which requires that users purchase a $600 dish—with nearly $900 million in universal service funds until 2032.” 

In the initial auction results announced December 7, 2020, LTD Broadband won $1,320,920,718.60, and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (Starlink) won $885,509,638.40.

Although LTD was a relatively small fixed wireless provider before the auction, it was the largest winning bidder in the auction, submitting winning bids in 15 states.  Subsequently, it failed to timely receive eligible telecommunications carrier status in seven states, rendering it ineligible in those states for support.  Ultimately, the FCC review concluded that LTD was not reasonably capable of deploying a network of the scope, scale, and size required by LTD’s extensive winning bids.

The Commission separately announced that is ready to authorize $21,112,263 in broadband funding to three companies to deploy gigabit service to almost 15,000 locations in four states Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.  

To date, the RDOF program has authorized more than $5 billion in funding to bring primarily fiber gigabit broadband service to over 3,000,000 locations in 47 states.  With support from this program, hundreds of carriers have already begun deploying these future-proof networks to connect unserved areas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660328523310.png" alt="A batch of 60 Starlink test satellites stacked atop a Falcon 9 rocket, close to be put in orbit. SpaceX photo / public domain" />
 <figcaption>A batch of 60 Starlink test satellites stacked atop a Falcon 9 rocket, close to be put in orbit. SpaceX photo / public domain</figcaption>
 </figure>FCCWASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission this week announced it is rejecting the long-form applications of LTD Broadband and Starlink to receive support through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund program. The Commission determined that these applications failed to demonstrate that the providers could deliver the promised service. Funding these vast proposed networks would not be the best use of limited Universal Service Fund dollars to bring broadband to unserved areas across the United States, the Commission concluded.“After careful legal, technical, and policy review, we are rejecting these applications. Consumers deserve reliable and affordable high-speed broadband,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “We must put scarce universal service dollars to their best possible use as we move into a digital future that demands ever more powerful and faster networks. We cannot afford to subsidize ventures that are not delivering the promised speeds or are not likely to meet program requirements.”“Starlink’s technology has real promise,” continued Rosenworcel. “But the question before us was whether to publicly subsidize its still developing technology for consumer broadband—which requires that users purchase a $600 dish—with nearly $900 million in universal service funds until 2032.” In the initial auction results announced December 7, 2020, LTD Broadband won $1,320,920,718.60, and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (Starlink) won $885,509,638.40.Although LTD was a relatively small fixed wireless provider before the auction, it was the largest winning bidder in the auction, submitting winning bids in 15 states. Subsequently, it failed to timely receive eligible telecommunications carrier status in seven states, rendering it ineligible in those states for support. Ultimately, the FCC review concluded that LTD was not reasonably capable of deploying a network of the scope, scale, and size required by LTD’s extensive winning bids.The Commission separately announced that is ready to authorize $21,112,263 in broadband funding to three companies to deploy gigabit service to almost 15,000 locations in four states Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. To date, the RDOF program has authorized more than $5 billion in funding to bring primarily fiber gigabit broadband service to over 3,000,000 locations in 47 states. With support from this program, hundreds of carriers have already begun deploying these future-proof networks to connect unserved areas.

FCC rejects rural broadband funds for Musk's Starlink

Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Ezekiel Fernandez, II, 32, of Highlands, Texas, was sentenced today in federal&nbsp;court in Lincoln, Nebraska.&nbsp; United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Fernandez to 57 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl.&nbsp; After serving his sentence, Fernandez will be placed on supervised release for 2 years.&nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.&nbsp;

On May 27, 2021, a Lancaster County Sheriff’s deputy pulled a vehicle over for a traffic violation along Interstate 80 in Lancaster County, Nebraska.&nbsp; Fernandez was identified as the driver.&nbsp; After the traffic stop, a K9 was called and deployed around the vehicle.&nbsp; The K9 alerted and indicated to the presence of narcotics odor in the vehicle.&nbsp; Law enforcement searched the vehicle and found a duffle bag in the back seat with around $30,000 in US currency.&nbsp; Fernandez later agreed to forfeiting that currency.&nbsp; Officers also found a bag with a large number of blue pills in the front seat.&nbsp; The blue pills were sent to a lab for testing, and the lab confirmed that the pills contained fentanyl and weighed about 1.07 kilograms.

This case was investigated by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1559657144941.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By UNITED STATES ATTORNEY-OMAHAActing United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Ezekiel Fernandez, II, 32, of Highlands, Texas, was sentenced today in federal&nbsp;court in Lincoln, Nebraska.&nbsp; United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Fernandez to 57 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl.&nbsp; After serving his sentence, Fernandez will be placed on supervised release for 2 years.&nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.&nbsp;On May 27, 2021, a Lancaster County Sheriff’s deputy pulled a vehicle over for a traffic violation along Interstate 80 in Lancaster County, Nebraska.&nbsp; Fernandez was identified as the driver.&nbsp; After the traffic stop, a K9 was called and deployed around the vehicle.&nbsp; The K9 alerted and indicated to the presence of narcotics odor in the vehicle.&nbsp; Law enforcement searched the vehicle and found a duffle bag in the back seat with around $30,000 in US currency.&nbsp; Fernandez later agreed to forfeiting that currency.&nbsp; Officers also found a bag with a large number of blue pills in the front seat.&nbsp; The blue pills were sent to a lab for testing, and the lab confirmed that the pills contained fentanyl and weighed about 1.07 kilograms.This case was investigated by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/B5P5OVZ4HHlnLA2kmxepqLNdOX64rzUBtyj_JRSdwoSK4SzQCGdCsy1LpgpEV0XIog_pe8K7m7LRi5-APIkVx_Re71AXJ0WxdMw9zxv6TZ7ERsBDH4gurriCIaNQj99mTmKRn-v5lnbfrgMdFWj9ug" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Texas man sentenced for distributing fentanyl in Nebraska

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is asking a federal court to unseal the warrant the FBI used to search the Mar-a-Lago estate of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">former President Donald Trump</a>, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday, acknowledging extraordinary public interest in the case about classified records.

The request is striking because such documents traditionally remain sealed during a pending investigation. But the Justice Department appeared to recognize that its silence since the search had created a vacuum for bitter verbal attacks by Trump and his allies and Garland wanted to provide the FBI's side for what led to the action.

“The public’s clear and powerful interest in understanding what occurred under these circumstances weighs heavily in favor of unsealing,” said a motion filed in federal court in Florida on Thursday seeking the unsealing.

Should the warrant be released — the request is now with the judge, and Trump can object — it could disclose potentially unflattering information about the former president and his handling of sensitive government documents right as he prepares for another run for the White House. During his successful 2016 campaign, he pointed frequently to an FBI investigation into his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, over whether she mishandled classified information.

It's unclear at this point how much information would be included in the documents, if made public, or if they would encompass an FBI affidavit that would presumably lay out a detailed factual basis for the search. To obtain a search warrant, federal authorities must prove to a judge that probable cause exists to believe that a crime was committed.

Neither Trump nor the FBI has said anything about what documents the FBI might have recovered. But the former president complained anew on Thursday about the search.

Trump, who for years has lambasted the FBI and sought to sow distrust among his supporters in its decisions, said the warrant was served and the search conducted despite his cooperation with the Justice Department.

In this case, though, Garland cited the fact that Trump himself had provided the first public confirmation of the FBI search, “as his right." The Justice Department, in its new filing, also said that disclosing information about it now would not harm the court's functions.

He said he personally approved the search warrant, a step he said was part of an ongoing Justice Department investigation into the discovery of classified White House records recovered from Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, earlier this year. The National Archives had asked the department to investigate after saying that classified records were found in 15 boxes of records that it retrieved from the estate.

The attorney general condemned verbal attacks on FBI and Justice Department personnel over the search. Some Republican allies of Trump have called for the FBI to be defunded.

Earlier Thursday, an armed man wearing body armor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-cincinnati-armed-man-b4701596a0eb9770e3b29e95328f5704">tried to breach a security screening area</a>&nbsp;at an FBI field office in Ohio, then fled and was injured in an exchange of gunfire in a standoff with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660245518847.png" alt="Garland cited the “substantial public interest in this matter” in announcing the request at a hastily scheduled Justice Department news conference-photo U.S. Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Garland cited the “substantial public interest in this matter” in announcing the request at a hastily scheduled Justice Department news conference-photo U.S. Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is asking a federal court to unseal the warrant the FBI used to search the Mar-a-Lago estate of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">former President Donald Trump</a>, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday, acknowledging extraordinary public interest in the case about classified records.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I2w26ecbq-Q?start=3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The request is striking because such documents traditionally remain sealed during a pending investigation. But the Justice Department appeared to recognize that its silence since the search had created a vacuum for bitter verbal attacks by Trump and his allies and Garland wanted to provide the FBI's side for what led to the action.“The public’s clear and powerful interest in understanding what occurred under these circumstances weighs heavily in favor of unsealing,” said a motion filed in federal court in Florida on Thursday seeking the unsealing.Should the warrant be released — the request is now with the judge, and Trump can object — it could disclose potentially unflattering information about the former president and his handling of sensitive government documents right as he prepares for another run for the White House. During his successful 2016 campaign, he pointed frequently to an FBI investigation into his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, over whether she mishandled classified information.It's unclear at this point how much information would be included in the documents, if made public, or if they would encompass an FBI affidavit that would presumably lay out a detailed factual basis for the search. To obtain a search warrant, federal authorities must prove to a judge that probable cause exists to believe that a crime was committed.Neither Trump nor the FBI has said anything about what documents the FBI might have recovered. But the former president complained anew on Thursday about the search.Trump, who for years has lambasted the FBI and sought to sow distrust among his supporters in its decisions, said the warrant was served and the search conducted despite his cooperation with the Justice Department.In a post to his Truth Social platform, Trump said that his “attorneys and representatives were cooperating fully” prior to the search, and that government officials “could have had whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted, if we had it."FBI and Justice Department policy cautions against discussing ongoing investigations, both to protect the integrity of probes and to avoid unfairly maligning someone who is being scrutinized but winds up ultimately not being charged. That’s especially true in the case of search warrants, where supporting court papers are routinely kept secret as the investigation proceeds.In this case, though, Garland cited the fact that Trump himself had provided the first public confirmation of the FBI search, “as his right." The Justice Department, in its new filing, also said that disclosing information about it now would not harm the court's functions.Even so, Garland, in a hastily scheduled public statement delivered from the Justice Department podium, appeared to acknowledge the unusual nature of the department's request as he declined to take questions or provide any substantive details about the FBI's investigation.“Much of our work is by necessity conducted out of the public eye. We do that to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans and to protect the integrity of our investigations," he said. "Federal law, longstanding department rules and our ethical obligations prevent me from providing further details as to the basis of the search at this time.”He said he personally approved the search warrant, a step he said was part of an ongoing Justice Department investigation into the discovery of classified White House records recovered from Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, earlier this year. The National Archives had asked the department to investigate after saying that classified records were found in 15 boxes of records that it retrieved from the estate.The attorney general condemned verbal attacks on FBI and Justice Department personnel over the search. Some Republican allies of Trump have called for the FBI to be defunded.Earlier Thursday, an armed man wearing body armor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-cincinnati-armed-man-b4701596a0eb9770e3b29e95328f5704">tried to breach a security screening area</a>&nbsp;at an FBI field office in Ohio, then fled and was injured in an exchange of gunfire in a standoff with law enforcement.“I will not stand by silently when their integrity is unfairly attacked,” Garland said of federal law enforcement agents, calling them “dedicated, patriotic public servants.”

🎥 Justice Dept. seeks to unseal search warrant of Trump home

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/85-million-rural-medical-school-at-university-of-nebraska-at-kearney-projected-to-open-in-2025/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Construction of an $85 million rural 
medical school at the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus is 
expected to begin in the fall of 2023 and open two years later.

Thursday, the University of Nebraska 
Board of Regents approved details such as the construction budget and 
program statement for that second phase of the UNK-University of 
Nebraska Medical Center health science education complex.

The project timeline follows previous
 approval from the Nebraska Legislature of $50 million in federal 
American Rescue Plan Act funding for capital construction, plus $10 
million for iEXCEL technology startup costs.

The Legislature also committed 
operational funds to support faculty and staff. The university has 
committed $35 million in private funding for construction, according to a
 UNMC statement.

The Omaha-based UNMC has had a 
facility at UNK since 2015 that offers nursing and a variety of health 
profession training programs. The second phase will allow expansion of 
those and also launch new programs to train physicians, pharmacists and 
public health professionals.

A Regents statement said the new 
building advances the UNMC mission, as Nebraska’s only public academic 
health science center, to train and build the state’s health care 
workforce.

“Adding a second health science 
focused building at UNK creates opportunities for students who want to 
both pursue, and practice, their health careers closer to home, which 
help us build a stronger rural workforce, increase access to rural care 
and help communities thrive,” said Jeffrey Gold, chancellor of the UNMC.
 “It will transform lives for generations.”

Gold presented an overview of the 
healthcare workforce across Nebraska’s 93 counties and future need 
projections. He said ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and other factors shows
 an increasing gap, <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/despite-some-gains-health-professionals-still-lacking-in-rural-areas-of-nebraska/">especially in rural communities.</a>

University leaders say the goal is to address urgent needs in rural 
Nebraska’s health care workforce. They say 14 counties in the state, for
 example, do not have a primary care physician.

Chancellor Doug Kristensen said the 
construction project was “fundamental” to rural Nebraska and the 
survival of many communities. “Only the university can solve this 
problem,” he said. “We’re on the verge of doing something that nobody 
else in the United States is doing, and that’s educating healthcare 
workers and professionals in rural areas.”

The new facility is to include 
extensive simulation and clinical skills laboratories for preclinical 
education and complex clinical scenarios. A Master of Health 
Administration degree is to be added to UNK’s undergraduate program. 
Discussion is underway for the UNMC college of Pharmacy to offer a joint
 degree program with UNK.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660249285588.png" alt="Rendering of the UNK-UNMC rural medical school (on the right) to be built on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. (Courtesy of University of Nebraska Medical Center, UNK)" />
 <figcaption>Rendering of the UNK-UNMC rural medical school (on the right) to be built on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. (Courtesy of University of Nebraska Medical Center, UNK)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/85-million-rural-medical-school-at-university-of-nebraska-at-kearney-projected-to-open-in-2025/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Construction of an $85 million rural 
medical school at the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus is 
expected to begin in the fall of 2023 and open two years later.Thursday, the University of Nebraska 
Board of Regents approved details such as the construction budget and 
program statement for that second phase of the UNK-University of 
Nebraska Medical Center health science education complex.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660249366797.jpeg" alt=" Artist’s rendering of the $85 million medical school proposed at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. (Courtesy of University of Nebraska Medical Center, UNK)" />
 <figcaption> Artist’s rendering of the $85 million medical school proposed at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. (Courtesy of University of Nebraska Medical Center, UNK)</figcaption>
 </figure>The project timeline follows previous
 approval from the Nebraska Legislature of $50 million in federal 
American Rescue Plan Act funding for capital construction, plus $10 
million for iEXCEL technology startup costs.The Legislature also committed 
operational funds to support faculty and staff. The university has 
committed $35 million in private funding for construction, according to a
 UNMC statement.The Omaha-based UNMC has had a 
facility at UNK since 2015 that offers nursing and a variety of health 
profession training programs. The second phase will allow expansion of 
those and also launch new programs to train physicians, pharmacists and 
public health professionals.A Regents statement said the new 
building advances the UNMC mission, as Nebraska’s only public academic 
health science center, to train and build the state’s health care 
workforce.“Adding a second health science 
focused building at UNK creates opportunities for students who want to 
both pursue, and practice, their health careers closer to home, which 
help us build a stronger rural workforce, increase access to rural care 
and help communities thrive,” said Jeffrey Gold, chancellor of the UNMC.
 “It will transform lives for generations.”Gold presented an overview of the 
healthcare workforce across Nebraska’s 93 counties and future need 
projections. He said ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and other factors shows
 an increasing gap, <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/despite-some-gains-health-professionals-still-lacking-in-rural-areas-of-nebraska/">especially in rural communities.</a>University leaders say the goal is to address urgent needs in rural 
Nebraska’s health care workforce. They say 14 counties in the state, for
 example, do not have a primary care physician.Chancellor Doug Kristensen said the 
construction project was “fundamental” to rural Nebraska and the 
survival of many communities. “Only the university can solve this 
problem,” he said. “We’re on the verge of doing something that nobody 
else in the United States is doing, and that’s educating healthcare 
workers and professionals in rural areas.”The new facility is to include 
extensive simulation and clinical skills laboratories for preclinical 
education and complex clinical scenarios. A Master of Health 
Administration degree is to be added to UNK’s undergraduate program. 
Discussion is underway for the UNMC college of Pharmacy to offer a joint
 degree program with UNK.

$85M medical school at U of Nebraska at Kearney to open in '25

Indian Cave State Park’s iconic cave, home to prehistoric Native American petroglyphs, is accessible to the public again now that construction of a new boardwalk and viewing deck is complete.

The old boardwalk was unusable after a historic bomb cyclone in March 2019 saturated the area and caused a landslide.

While the southeast Nebraska park’s old boardwalk was a series of steps and platforms, the new one has a ramp compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and an 8-foot-wide viewing deck. In addition to the ramp, a 5-foot-wide staircase accesses the boardwalk. The total length of the boardwalk is 420 feet, but from the top of the staircase, the boardwalk extends 160 feet into the canyon.

Visitors will find the new design includes a seating area and informational signs midway to the viewing platform that is just below the cave. The Missouri River also can be seen from the boardwalk. Interpretive panels are in the works to inform visitors of the cultural aspects of the area and tell the story of the petroglyphs.

The $800,000 project was paid for by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Capital Maintenance Funds.

"I am so excited to see this project come to completion and for everyone to get to use this remarkable structure,” said Kevin Holliday, Game and Parks’ southeast regional park superintendent. “Game and Parks has put in a lot of thought toward this project to enhance the experience for its visitors. These enhancements include an ADA-accessible ramp so all visitors have the opportunity to take in spectacular views and experience the natural and cultural resources Indian Cave has to offer."

Learn more about the park at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA4MTAuNjIwNDcyNjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9JbmRpYW5DYXZlLyJ9.5yv4xNMtJVp_h2pOCSutWNEb2hw0ILQoXqTfmqh9CaM/s/1372948182/br/142357547766-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.org/IndianCave</a>. A vehicle entry permit is required at Indian Cave SP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660239628658.jpeg" alt="Indian Cave State Park guests enjoy the cave from the viewing platform at the end of the new boardwalk, which is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Nebraskaland Magazine/NGPC)" />
 <figcaption>Indian Cave State Park guests enjoy the cave from the viewing platform at the end of the new boardwalk, which is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Nebraskaland Magazine/NGPC)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKSIndian Cave State Park’s iconic cave, home to prehistoric Native American petroglyphs, is accessible to the public again now that construction of a new boardwalk and viewing deck is complete.The old boardwalk was unusable after a historic bomb cyclone in March 2019 saturated the area and caused a landslide.While the southeast Nebraska park’s old boardwalk was a series of steps and platforms, the new one has a ramp compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and an 8-foot-wide viewing deck. In addition to the ramp, a 5-foot-wide staircase accesses the boardwalk. The total length of the boardwalk is 420 feet, but from the top of the staircase, the boardwalk extends 160 feet into the canyon.Visitors will find the new design includes a seating area and informational signs midway to the viewing platform that is just below the cave. The Missouri River also can be seen from the boardwalk. Interpretive panels are in the works to inform visitors of the cultural aspects of the area and tell the story of the petroglyphs.The $800,000 project was paid for by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Capital Maintenance Funds."I am so excited to see this project come to completion and for everyone to get to use this remarkable structure,” said Kevin Holliday, Game and Parks’ southeast regional park superintendent. “Game and Parks has put in a lot of thought toward this project to enhance the experience for its visitors. These enhancements include an ADA-accessible ramp so all visitors have the opportunity to take in spectacular views and experience the natural and cultural resources Indian Cave has to offer."Learn more about the park at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA4MTAuNjIwNDcyNjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9JbmRpYW5DYXZlLyJ9.5yv4xNMtJVp_h2pOCSutWNEb2hw0ILQoXqTfmqh9CaM/s/1372948182/br/142357547766-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.org/IndianCave</a>. A vehicle entry permit is required at Indian Cave SP.

Rebuilt boardwalk at Indian Cave State Park now open

Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested two people after locating more than 100 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop on Interstate 80.

At approximately 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, a trooper observed a Nissan Maxima fail to signal on I-80 near Giltner. During the traffic stop, an NSP K-9 detected the presence of a controlled substance inside the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle revealed 100 pounds of marijuana. The driver, Chao Lee, 27, and a passenger, Kou Yang, 30, both of Madison, Wisconsin, were arrested for possession of marijuana – more than a pound, delivery of a controlled substance, and no drug tax stamp. They were lodged in the Hamilton County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660233970224.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By NEBRASKA STATE PATROL&nbsp;Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested two people after locating more than 100 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop on Interstate 80.At approximately 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, a trooper observed a Nissan Maxima fail to signal on I-80 near Giltner. During the traffic stop, an NSP K-9 detected the presence of a controlled substance inside the vehicle.A search of the vehicle revealed 100 pounds of marijuana. The driver, Chao Lee, 27, and a passenger, Kou Yang, 30, both of Madison, Wisconsin, were arrested for possession of marijuana – more than a pound, delivery of a controlled substance, and no drug tax stamp. They were lodged in the Hamilton County Jail.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/B5P5OVZ4HHlnLA2kmxepqLNdOX64rzUBtyj_JRSdwoSK4SzQCGdCsy1LpgpEV0XIog_pe8K7m7LRi5-APIkVx_Re71AXJ0WxdMw9zxv6TZ7ERsBDH4gurriCIaNQj99mTmKRn-v5lnbfrgMdFWj9ug" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Troopers seize 100 pounds of marijuana in stop near Giltner

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pansing-brooks-challenges-flood-to-two-debates-while-her-campaign-suggests-hes-stalling/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The first salvo over political debates during 
the 2022 general election in Nebraska was fired Wednesday as State Sen. 
Patty Pansing Brooks challenged her Republican opponent in the 1st 
Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, to two televised debates.

Pansing Brooks, a Lincoln lawyer, said she had accepted 
debate invitations “weeks, even months, ago” from two television 
stations, KETV in Omaha and KLKN in Lincoln, and “now it’s time for Mike
 Flood to do the same.”

Chris Triebsch, the manager of Pansing Brooks’ campaign, suggested that Flood, a former state senator from Norfolk, was “stalling.”

A spokesman for the Flood campaign fired back, saying that the congressman intends to debate, and that “try as she might, Patty Pansing Brooks does not get to unilaterally dictate debates.”

“We are assessing all invitations, and 
will make decisions that best fit with Congressman Flood’s schedule,” 
said campaign spokesman Matthew Trail.

No dates have been selected for either debate proposed by KETV and KLKN.

Debates became an issue in this spring’s 
GOP gubernatorial primary after University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen
 attended fewer joint appearances as the May primary approached. That 
drew criticism from his main rival, Falls City businessman Charles 
Herbster.

&nbsp;No
 debates have been scheduled so far between Pillen and his opponent from
 the Democratic Party, State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue.

And, no debates are slated for the Nebraska State Fair, which has traditionally hosted political debates in gubernatorial races.

Fair Executive Director Bill Ogg said he didn’t even get 
an inquiry about a State Fair debate this year, which he considered 
surprising.

The Pansing Brooks and Flood campaigns differed
 on how many debates had been held between the two candidates prior to 
the June, special election. The special election was held to determine 
who filled out the remaining months of the term of U.S. Rep. Jeff 
Fortenberry, who resigned after a jury found him guilty of lying to 
federal investigators.

&nbsp;Triebsch said it was one debate on KETV and one joint appearance 
before the Lincoln Independent Business Association (LIBA). Trail said 
that both were debates, and are just as many debates as Fortenberry had 
in 2020 with his opponent, then State Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln.

Trail said that the appearance before LIBA had “essentially” the same format as the debate on KETV.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660228166373.png" alt="State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, left, is running against U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb.this fall in the 1st Congressional District. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, left, is running against U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb.this fall in the 1st Congressional District. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pansing-brooks-challenges-flood-to-two-debates-while-her-campaign-suggests-hes-stalling/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The first salvo over political debates during 
the 2022 general election in Nebraska was fired Wednesday as State Sen. 
Patty Pansing Brooks challenged her Republican opponent in the 1st 
Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, to two televised debates.Pansing Brooks, a Lincoln lawyer, said she had accepted 
debate invitations “weeks, even months, ago” from two television 
stations, KETV in Omaha and KLKN in Lincoln, and “now it’s time for Mike
 Flood to do the same.”<h2>‘Stalling?”</h2>Chris Triebsch, the manager of Pansing Brooks’ campaign, suggested that Flood, a former state senator from Norfolk, was “stalling.”A spokesman for the Flood campaign fired back, saying that the congressman intends to debate, and that “try as she might, Patty Pansing Brooks does not get to unilaterally dictate debates.”“We are assessing all invitations, and 
will make decisions that best fit with Congressman Flood’s schedule,” 
said campaign spokesman Matthew Trail.No dates have been selected for either debate proposed by KETV and KLKN.<h2>Debates an issue in primary</h2>Debates became an issue in this spring’s 
GOP gubernatorial primary after University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen
 attended fewer joint appearances as the May primary approached. That 
drew criticism from his main rival, Falls City businessman Charles 
Herbster.&nbsp;No
 debates have been scheduled so far between Pillen and his opponent from
 the Democratic Party, State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue.And, no debates are slated for the Nebraska State Fair, which has traditionally hosted political debates in gubernatorial races.<h2>No State Fair debates</h2>Fair Executive Director Bill Ogg said he didn’t even get 
an inquiry about a State Fair debate this year, which he considered 
surprising.The Pansing Brooks and Flood campaigns differed
 on how many debates had been held between the two candidates prior to 
the June, special election. The special election was held to determine 
who filled out the remaining months of the term of U.S. Rep. Jeff 
Fortenberry, who resigned after a jury found him guilty of lying to 
federal investigators.&nbsp;Triebsch said it was one debate on KETV and one joint appearance 
before the Lincoln Independent Business Association (LIBA). Trail said 
that both were debates, and are just as many debates as Fortenberry had 
in 2020 with his opponent, then State Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln.Trail said that the appearance before LIBA had “essentially” the same format as the debate on KETV.

Pansing Brooks challenges Flood to two debates

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/08/11/nebraska-native-returns-home-to-shoot-film-about-youthful-days-in-nebraska-city/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A Nebraska native has 
returned home to film a Nebraska story, in large part because of a new 
state grant program for filmmaking.

Adam Rehmeier, now a Michigan-based 
screenwriter and director, has been shooting his coming-of-age comedy, 
“Snack Shack,” in his hometown of Nebraska City for the past two weeks 
as part of a six-week shooting schedule.

&nbsp;The
 film is based on Rehmeier’s youthful experience running the concession 
stand at age 14 at the Steinhart Park Pool in the Missouri River 
community.

Up to 65 actors and crew members a 
day have been working on the film. The crew has shot scenes at the 
Nebraska City pool, its movie theater, the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha and
 Horseman’s Park in Omaha.

“It’s a real win for Nebraska City. It’s
 good for the local economy, it’s&nbsp; good for the local people,” said 
Rehmeier’s father, retired District Judge Randall Rehmeier.

“I’m glad Adam decided to do it here,” the judge added.

The decision to shoot the film, which has a $4.5 million budget, in Nebraska was aided by a new state filmmaking incentive.

Last year, state lawmakers set aside $1 million in state grants for 
films and TV productions that feature Nebraska-based stories and 
locales, employ the services of Nebraska film crew members and have 
budgets of at least $1 million.

Snack Shack received a $200,000 grant. A project from Omaha-based producer/director Dana
 Altman, “Going For Two,” got $400,000. And the planned film “I Am a 
Man” — about the trial of Ponca Chief Standing Bear that gave legal 
recognition of Native Americans as “people” — received $400,000.

State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, who proposed the film incentive 
legislation, said she is excited to see the funding “put to good use” — 
supporting the Nebraska film industry and telling Nebraska stories “to 
the world.”

“This is exactly what I had in mind,” she said.

Production of “I Am a Man” got an additional $5 million allocation of
 federal funds through an economic recovery bill sponsored by Omaha Sen.
 Justin Wayne. Filming of that movie is expected to begin this fall.

Jordan Foley, the Los Angeles-based producer of “Snack Shack,” said 
the movie would have likely been shot elsewhere if not for the state 
grant, along with $50,000 in funding from the City of Nebraska City.

Rehmeier told the city council last month that film incentives may be
 better in states like Georgia and Ohio, but Nebraska City is where the 
film “needs to be to make it special,” according to News Channel Nebraska.&nbsp;

“These three films will definitely be engaging and entertaining,” said Laurie Richards, director of the Nebraska Film Office.&nbsp;

Several Nebraska City residents have been enlisted as extras or for 
bit parts. For instance, the city administrator, Lou Leone, was cast as 
the city park director, and two Peru State College students got roles as
 “party girls.”

Leone said his teenage daughter also got some career advice from cast members about working as an art director for a film.

“The town itself has been quite upbeat about it,” he said.

In addition, the filming will result 
in increased sales and lodging tax revenue, Leone said, and is good 
publicity for Nebraska City, a river town known for its museums, apple 
orchards and annual AppleJack Festival.&nbsp;

Some adjustments have been made in Nebraska City to turn the clock 
back to 1991, when the Snack Shack was run by the filmmaker and his 
friend. Clothing and vehicles had to match that period, and some signs 
in town have been altered to make it seem like it was 30 years ago. A 
new snack shack was built. And few cell phones existed in 1991.

The elder Rehmeier said he had to “sign off” on the proposal to the 
city by his then 14-year-old son and a buddy to run the concession stand
 at the Steinhart Park Pool.

“To be honest with you, we thought to some extent it was a joke. But they wanted to make some money,” Rehmeier said. 

“Adam has always been kind of a right-brain kind of person — thinking outside the box. He’s creative and artsy,” his father said. “He figured, ‘Why can’t we do this?’ “

He said that he and his wife and 
other parents assisted in running the concession stand, and the two boys
 made more money than they could at other jobs, especially in the first 
of two years.

The retired judge, who also served on the Nebraska Board of Parole 
and now does mediation work, said he hasn’t read the script of the 
movie, thinking his son wants to keep that as a surprise.

The producers of the film are also not talking about who plays the 
lead characters. That, Foley said, will be released later as part of a 
publicity campaign.

Adam Rehmeier, who was a prolific writer as a youth, has done well in
 the movie business. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for 
two years before transferring to Columbia College in Chicago, which 
specializes in fine arts and cinematography.

He worked on low-budget, independent films for several years and 
served as a documentarian for the jam band Phish. He composed the music 
for a 2011 movie, “The Bunny Game,” and was the cinematographer for 
“Jonas” in 2013.

He was the writer, editor and director of the 2020 film “Dinner in 
America,”&nbsp; which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won several
 awards at other international film competitions.

Rehmeier is working 12- to- 14-hour days shooting the movie, and his 
crew was filming Friday in a house next door, according to his father.

But his son was able to visit some on Friday, which was his 46th birthday.

Foley, a Minnesota native, said the film crew has received a lot of “Nebraska nice” while shooting here.

He said that if all goes well, the movie should be ready by next 
summer, when it will be shown at film festivals in hopes of being picked
 up, as “Dinner in America” was, for wider distribution.

“We have to wait and see what will happen,” Foley said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660223922765.png" alt="Filming of the independent movie, “Snack Shack” — complete with clothes and vehicles from the ’90s — continues in Nebraska City in part thanks to a new state film incentive program. (Courtesy of Lou Leone) " />
 <figcaption>Filming of the independent movie, “Snack Shack” — complete with clothes and vehicles from the ’90s — continues in Nebraska City in part thanks to a new state film incentive program. (Courtesy of Lou Leone) </figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/08/11/nebraska-native-returns-home-to-shoot-film-about-youthful-days-in-nebraska-city/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A Nebraska native has 
returned home to film a Nebraska story, in large part because of a new 
state grant program for filmmaking.Adam Rehmeier, now a Michigan-based 
screenwriter and director, has been shooting his coming-of-age comedy, 
“Snack Shack,” in his hometown of Nebraska City for the past two weeks 
as part of a six-week shooting schedule.&nbsp;The
 film is based on Rehmeier’s youthful experience running the concession 
stand at age 14 at the Steinhart Park Pool in the Missouri River 
community.<h2>‘A real win’</h2>Up to 65 actors and crew members a 
day have been working on the film. The crew has shot scenes at the 
Nebraska City pool, its movie theater, the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha and
 Horseman’s Park in Omaha.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660223973267.jpeg" alt="Writer/director Adam Rehmeier (Courtesy of Randall Rehmeier)" />
 <figcaption>Writer/director Adam Rehmeier (Courtesy of Randall Rehmeier)</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s a real win for Nebraska City. It’s
 good for the local economy, it’s&nbsp; good for the local people,” said 
Rehmeier’s father, retired District Judge Randall Rehmeier.“I’m glad Adam decided to do it here,” the judge added.The decision to shoot the film, which has a $4.5 million budget, in Nebraska was aided by a new state filmmaking incentive.Last year, state lawmakers set aside $1 million in state grants for 
films and TV productions that feature Nebraska-based stories and 
locales, employ the services of Nebraska film crew members and have 
budgets of at least $1 million.<h2>Three films got grants</h2>Snack Shack received a $200,000 grant. A project from Omaha-based producer/director Dana
 Altman, “Going For Two,” got $400,000. And the planned film “I Am a 
Man” — about the trial of Ponca Chief Standing Bear that gave legal 
recognition of Native Americans as “people” — received $400,000.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660224007414.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, who proposed the film incentive 
legislation, said she is excited to see the funding “put to good use” — 
supporting the Nebraska film industry and telling Nebraska stories “to 
the world.”“This is exactly what I had in mind,” she said.Production of “I Am a Man” got an additional $5 million allocation of
 federal funds through an economic recovery bill sponsored by Omaha Sen.
 Justin Wayne. Filming of that movie is expected to begin this fall.Jordan Foley, the Los Angeles-based producer of “Snack Shack,” said 
the movie would have likely been shot elsewhere if not for the state 
grant, along with $50,000 in funding from the City of Nebraska City.Rehmeier told the city council last month that film incentives may be
 better in states like Georgia and Ohio, but Nebraska City is where the 
film “needs to be to make it special,” according to News Channel Nebraska.&nbsp;“These three films will definitely be engaging and entertaining,” said Laurie Richards, director of the Nebraska Film Office.&nbsp;<h2>Locals cast in parts</h2>Several Nebraska City residents have been enlisted as extras or for 
bit parts. For instance, the city administrator, Lou Leone, was cast as 
the city park director, and two Peru State College students got roles as
 “party girls.”Leone said his teenage daughter also got some career advice from cast members about working as an art director for a film.“The town itself has been quite upbeat about it,” he said.In addition, the filming will result 
in increased sales and lodging tax revenue, Leone said, and is good 
publicity for Nebraska City, a river town known for its museums, apple 
orchards and annual AppleJack Festival.&nbsp;Some adjustments have been made in Nebraska City to turn the clock 
back to 1991, when the Snack Shack was run by the filmmaker and his 
friend. Clothing and vehicles had to match that period, and some signs 
in town have been altered to make it seem like it was 30 years ago. A 
new snack shack was built. And few cell phones existed in 1991.<h2>Father had to sign off</h2>The elder Rehmeier said he had to “sign off” on the proposal to the 
city by his then 14-year-old son and a buddy to run the concession stand
 at the Steinhart Park Pool.“To be honest with you, we thought to some extent it was a joke. But they wanted to make some money,” Rehmeier said. “Adam has always been kind of a right-brain kind of person — thinking outside the box. He’s creative and artsy,” his father said. “He figured, ‘Why can’t we do this?’ “He said that he and his wife and 
other parents assisted in running the concession stand, and the two boys
 made more money than they could at other jobs, especially in the first 
of two years.<h2>A prolific writer</h2>The retired judge, who also served on the Nebraska Board of Parole 
and now does mediation work, said he hasn’t read the script of the 
movie, thinking his son wants to keep that as a surprise.The producers of the film are also not talking about who plays the 
lead characters. That, Foley said, will be released later as part of a 
publicity campaign.Adam Rehmeier, who was a prolific writer as a youth, has done well in
 the movie business. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for 
two years before transferring to Columbia College in Chicago, which 
specializes in fine arts and cinematography.He worked on low-budget, independent films for several years and 
served as a documentarian for the jam band Phish. He composed the music 
for a 2011 movie, “The Bunny Game,” and was the cinematographer for 
“Jonas” in 2013.He was the writer, editor and director of the 2020 film “Dinner in 
America,”&nbsp; which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won several
 awards at other international film competitions.“He’s the real deal,” Foley said.<h2>Long hours</h2>Rehmeier is working 12- to- 14-hour days shooting the movie, and his 
crew was filming Friday in a house next door, according to his father.But his son was able to visit some on Friday, which was his 46th birthday.Foley, a Minnesota native, said the film crew has received a lot of “Nebraska nice” while shooting here.He said that if all goes well, the movie should be ready by next 
summer, when it will be shown at film festivals in hopes of being picked
 up, as “Dinner in America” was, for wider distribution.“We have to wait and see what will happen,” Foley said.

State grant allows Neb. native returns home to shoot film 

Concerts are back! Bands are touring again, and <a href="https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/eservices/event-tickets/worldwide#revenue" target="_blank">ticket spending</a> is back to pre-COVID-19 levels. This fact hasn’t gone unnoticed by scammers, though. Recent reports to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a> indicate that con artists are preying on concertgoers by pretending to represent popular ticket seller <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/beverly-hills/profile/event-ticket-sales/ticketmaster-corp-1216-31068" target="_blank">Ticketmaster</a>.

You are looking to buy tickets to an upcoming concert or need to 
transfer tickets for a show that was postponed due to COVID-19. You do 
an internet search for your question, which brings up results for 
Ticketmaster. You click through to the website, and everything looks 
normal.

The website prompts you to enter your personal information and a 
credit card number. However, as soon as you complete a transaction, you 
notice some suspicious activity. You might receive tickets with someone 
else’s name on them, or you may never receive your tickets at all. In 
other cases, you get the tickets, but the site charges you a much higher
 rate than advertised.

Upon closer inspection, you realize you were not on the Ticketmaster 
site at all! It was a lookalike site with a similar name, such as 
“TicketSmarter” or “TicketFaster.” When you call the customer service 
number, they are either unreachable, unhelpful, or downright aggressive.

One ticket buyer reported this experience: “They sent me two tickets 
with someone else's name on them, and they also charged me three times 
the amount [of] the ticket price. I have no way to get a refund and no 
customer service to contact (except by email) because they do not answer
 their phone.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660338316654.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>BBBConcerts are back! Bands are touring again, and <a href="https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/eservices/event-tickets/worldwide#revenue" target="_blank">ticket spending</a> is back to pre-COVID-19 levels. This fact hasn’t gone unnoticed by scammers, though. Recent reports to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a> indicate that con artists are preying on concertgoers by pretending to represent popular ticket seller <a href="https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/beverly-hills/profile/event-ticket-sales/ticketmaster-corp-1216-31068" target="_blank">Ticketmaster</a>.<h2>How the scam works</h2>You are looking to buy tickets to an upcoming concert or need to 
transfer tickets for a show that was postponed due to COVID-19. You do 
an internet search for your question, which brings up results for 
Ticketmaster. You click through to the website, and everything looks 
normal.The website prompts you to enter your personal information and a 
credit card number. However, as soon as you complete a transaction, you 
notice some suspicious activity. You might receive tickets with someone 
else’s name on them, or you may never receive your tickets at all. In 
other cases, you get the tickets, but the site charges you a much higher
 rate than advertised.Upon closer inspection, you realize you were not on the Ticketmaster 
site at all! It was a lookalike site with a similar name, such as 
“TicketSmarter” or “TicketFaster.” When you call the customer service 
number, they are either unreachable, unhelpful, or downright aggressive.One ticket buyer reported this experience: “They sent me two tickets 
with someone else's name on them, and they also charged me three times 
the amount [of] the ticket price. I have no way to get a refund and no 
customer service to contact (except by email) because they do not answer
 their phone.”<h2>&nbsp;How to avoid event ticket scams</h2><ul>
 <li>Purchase from the venue. The safest way to purchase
 event tickets is to go directly through the venue, either in person or 
through their official website. The venue’s website may point you to 
Ticketmaster or another provider to complete your purchase, but you can 
be sure of having the correct website URL. </li><li>Check out the seller. If you purchase from a third-party company, make sure they are a reputable ticket vendor or <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/26662-bbb-tip-what-to-know-about-buying-tickets-from-an-online-reseller" target="_blank">reseller</a>, not a ticket scalper. Check reviews on <a href="http://www.BBB.org" target="_blank">BBB.org.</a> </li><li>Watch out for <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/how-to-identify-a-fake-website" target="_blank">fake websites</a>. Take
 a close look at the website’s URL to ensure there are no slight 
misspellings. Impostors like to make lookalike websites with domain 
names that are similar to well-known business names. This makes them 
hard to spot. </li><li>Use a safe payment method. Always make online 
purchases with your credit card. You can dispute fraudulent charges and 
have a better chance of getting your money back. </li>
 </ul>

BBB warns consumers about Ticketmaster lookalike schemes

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Iranian operative has been charged in a plot to murder former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/john-bolton">U.S. national security adviser John Bolton</a>&nbsp;in presumed retaliation for a U.S. airstrike that killed the country’s most powerful general, offering $300,000 to “eliminate” the Trump administration official, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

Shahram Poursafi, identified by U.S. officials as a member of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, is currently wanted by the FBI on charges related to the murder-for-hire plot.

Prosecutors say the scheme unfolded more than a year after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/qassim-soleimani">Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force</a>&nbsp;and an architect of Tehran’s proxy wars in the Middle East, was killed in a targeted airstrike as he traveled from Baghdad’s international airport in January 2020. After the strike, Bolton, who by then had left his White House post, tweeted, “Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran.”

The FBI believes that Poursafi was acting on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard when he sought to have Bolton killed, according to an affidavit unsealed Wednesday. Law enforcement officials located photographs of Poursafi in fatigues and with posters of Iran and Soleimani in the background to back up their allegation that he is a uniformed Revolutionary Guard member.

The Justice Department traces the plot to the fall of 2021, when Poursafi, 45, an Iranian citizen who officials say has never visited the United States, asked an unidentified person he met through social media and who was living in the U.S. to take photographs of Bolton for a book he said he was writing.

The person introduced Poursafi to an associate that could take the requested photos and videos. After the two connected, Poursafi encouraged that person, who was actually a confidential source working with the FBI, to hire someone to kill Bolton and offered to pay $300,000 for the job. Poursafi told the person that he wanted “the guy” to be purged or eliminated.

Poursafi provided the person with Bolton’s office address, including the name and contact information for someone who worked in the office, the FBI affidavit says.

“This was not an idle threat,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the Justice Department’s top national security official, said in a statement released by the department. “And this is not the first time we’ve uncovered brazen acts by Iran to exact revenge against individuals in the U.S.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647123002389.png" alt="In May, the State Department reported they are paying more than $2 million per month to provide 24-hour security to former Kansas congressman and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a former top aide, both of whom face “serious and credible” threats from Iran-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>In May, the State Department reported they are paying more than $2 million per month to provide 24-hour security to former Kansas congressman and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a former top aide, both of whom face “serious and credible” threats from Iran-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — An Iranian operative has been charged in a plot to murder former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/john-bolton">U.S. national security adviser John Bolton</a>&nbsp;in presumed retaliation for a U.S. airstrike that killed the country’s most powerful general, offering $300,000 to “eliminate” the Trump administration official, the Justice Department said Wednesday.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WhS_Oex6Vl0?start=8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Shahram Poursafi, identified by U.S. officials as a member of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, is currently wanted by the FBI on charges related to the murder-for-hire plot.Prosecutors say the scheme unfolded more than a year after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/qassim-soleimani">Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force</a>&nbsp;and an architect of Tehran’s proxy wars in the Middle East, was killed in a targeted airstrike as he traveled from Baghdad’s international airport in January 2020. After the strike, Bolton, who by then had left his White House post, tweeted, “Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran.”The FBI believes that Poursafi was acting on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard when he sought to have Bolton killed, according to an affidavit unsealed Wednesday. Law enforcement officials located photographs of Poursafi in fatigues and with posters of Iran and Soleimani in the background to back up their allegation that he is a uniformed Revolutionary Guard member.The Justice Department traces the plot to the fall of 2021, when Poursafi, 45, an Iranian citizen who officials say has never visited the United States, asked an unidentified person he met through social media and who was living in the U.S. to take photographs of Bolton for a book he said he was writing.The person introduced Poursafi to an associate that could take the requested photos and videos. After the two connected, Poursafi encouraged that person, who was actually a confidential source working with the FBI, to hire someone to kill Bolton and offered to pay $300,000 for the job. Poursafi told the person that he wanted “the guy” to be purged or eliminated.Poursafi provided the person with Bolton’s office address, including the name and contact information for someone who worked in the office, the FBI affidavit says.“This was not an idle threat,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the Justice Department’s top national security official, said in a statement released by the department. “And this is not the first time we’ve uncovered brazen acts by Iran to exact revenge against individuals in the U.S.”In 2011, for instance, the FBI and Justice Department revealed an Iranian government plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. while the ambassador was in the U.S.A spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, Nasser Kanaani, called the latest accusations baseless and politically motivated, state-run media reported.He said Iran “reserves the right to take any action within the framework of international law to defend the rights of the government and citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”In his own statement, Bolton thanked the FBI and Justice Department for their work in developing the case and the Secret Service for providing protection.“While much cannot be said publicly right now, one point is indisputable: Iran’s rulers are liars, terrorists, and enemies of the United States,” he said.The unsealing of the complaint comes two days after negotiators seeking to revive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-dubai-nuclear-middle-east-45ce172ef6fbcf367c77b11ea8c045f5">the Iran nuclear accord</a>&nbsp;in Vienna closed on a “final text” of an agreement, with parties now consulting in their capitals on whether to agree to it it.The 2015 deal granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for tight curbs on its atomic program. Since the U.S. withdrew from the agreement under President Donald Trump, Iran has sped up its nuclear enrichment program. Bolton has been among the most hawkish critics of the deal and efforts by the Biden administration to rejoin it.In his statement, Bolton said “Iran’s nuclear-weapons and terrorist activities are two sides of the same coin” and asserted that America re-entering the 2015 deal would be an “unparalleled self-inflicted wound, to ourselves and our closest Middle East allies.”The Justice Department described Poursafi as at-large abroad but did not elaborate on where he might be located. It is not clear when or if he will be taken into custody. He faces charges of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and attempting to provide transnational support to a murder plot.The Revolutionary Guard is a paramilitary organization formed in the wake of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution to defend its clerically overseen government. The Quds Force is the Guard’s expeditionary unit, responsible for operations abroad.Soleimani was the head of that force, and the Defense Department said at the time of the January 2020 strike that it killed him because he “was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.”