OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett gave Berkshire Hathaway investors a few details Saturday about how he spent more than $50 billion earlier this year and again reassured them that the company he built will endure long after the 91-year-old billionaire is gone.

Tens of thousands of investors packed an Omaha arena Saturday to listen to Buffett and Berkshire’s vice chairmen answer questions at Berkshire’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-omaha-warren-buffett-charlie-munger-f4d89cfe6adf0c87f7fd5e2024a2f201">annual meeting</a>&nbsp;that was back in person for the first time since the pandemic began, but the turnout was likely smaller than when it used to regularly attract more than 40,000.

Berkshire revealed in its earnings report Saturday morning that its mountain of cash shrank to $106 billion in the first quarter from $147 billion at the beginning of the year as Buffett invested $51 billion in stocks and repurchased $3.2 billion of its own shares.

Buffett told shareholders that right after he told them in his annual letter on Feb. 26 that he was having trouble finding anything to buy at attractive prices, Berkshire spent more than $40 billion on stocks over the next three weeks.

Buffett didn’t reveal everything he bought but did mention several highlights, including boosting Berkshire’s stake in oil giant Chevron to $26 billion, up from $4.5 billion at the beginning of the year to make it one of the conglomerate’s four biggest investments. Berkshire also spent billions buying up 14% of Occidental Petroleum’s shares in the first half of March, and added to its already massive investment in Apple stock.

Edward Jones analyst Jim Shanahan said that with the Chevron and Occidental investments combined Berkshire now has more than $40 billion invested in the oil sector.

Even before Saturday, it was clear Buffett was on the hunt because he agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-warren-buffett-alleghany-corp-64fb02ee0fba01213cf2f2e67fef9bb8">buy the Alleghany</a>&nbsp;insurance conglomerate for $11.6 billion and made another multibillion-dollar&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-berkshire-hathaway-inc-warren-buffett-omaha-a1d9d34f6a69a9a9860161b01b1d42e1">investment in HP Inc.</a>&nbsp;Buffett said Saturday that he also bought three German stocks but didn’t name them.

Buffett said Berkshire was able to take advantage of the fact that Wall Street is largely run like a “gambling parlor” with many people speculating wildly on stocks.

“Occasionally, Berkshire gets a chance to do something, and it’s not because we’re smart. It’s because we’re sane.” Buffett said.

Buffett revealed Saturday that he has made a big bet on Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard. He said a couple months after one of Berkshire’s other investment managers bought roughly 15 million Activision shares, he increased that stake to roughly 9.5% of the company — or about 74 million shares — after Microsoft announced the deal in January because Activision stock was selling for less than the $95 per share deal price.

Both Buffett and his investing partner, Charlie Munger, reiterated their past criticisms of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin because they don’t produce anything. Munger said cryptocurrencies are “stupid because they’re likely to go to zero” and “evil because they undermine the Federal Reserve.” Plus he said they make American leaders seem foolish for not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-declares-cryptocurrency-bitcoin-transactions-illegal-c6e869b63af6de3d1d699ee105d602e6">banning them like China did</a>.

Even though Berkshire is led by Buffett and the 98-year-old Munger, investors didn’t ask much about succession planning perhaps because Buffett said a year ago that Vice Chairman Greg Abel, who oversees all of the company’s non-insurance businesses now, will eventually replace him as CEO. Berkshire also has two other investment managers who will take over the company’s portfolio.

Buffett said he thinks Berkshire’s decentralized culture that relies heavily on trusting people to do the right thing and avoiding huge risks will help the company thrive well into the future and many of the companies it owns like BNSF railroad and its major utilities will remain stalwarts of the economy.

“Berkshire is built to forever. There is no finish point,” Buffett said. “The new management — and the management after them and after them — are just custodians of a culture that’s embedded.”

Investor Harris Kupperman, who leads the Praetorian Capital hedge fund, said he’s not especially worried about the Berkshire’s future because the eclectic conglomerate has a solid foundation.

“He built it as well as he could build it. Nobody is ever going to be him. That’s obvious,” Kupperman said.

He said perhaps Buffett’s eventual successor will be able to reevaluate some long-term Berkshire investments that Buffett has held for decades and decide whether it still makes sense to hang onto things like the company’s huge Coca-Cola stake.

But Buffett’s and Munger’s ages are always in the back of Berkshire investors’ minds because there may not be too many more meetings with both of them. Munger sat in a wheelchair during Saturday’s meeting.

“Actuarially, I don’t know how much longer they’ll be able to do this,” said Josu Elejabarrieta, 43, of Miami, who was attending his first meeting.

In response to concerns about the current high inflation, Buffett told investors that the best thing they could do is invest in themselves so that someone will always want to pay them for their services regardless of how much a dollar is worth. He said all of Berkshire’s companies are paying extraordinarily higher prices for raw materials and products, but inflation should have been expected after all the money the government sent out during the pandemic.

Buffett said he thinks the country has become more polarized than it has been at any time since the 1930s when public opinion split sharply about President Franklin Roosevelt.

“I don’t think it’s a good development for society generally when people get tribal,” he said.

After the question-and answer-period, Berkshire shareholders rejected several proposals backed by large pension funds, including one that would have required Buffett to give up his chairman role and ones that would have required the company to issue reports on the financial risks it faces related to climate change and on its diversity efforts. Berkshire and Buffett, who controls 32% of the vote, opposed all the proposals partly because the company is so decentralized that it requires few centralized reports.

Earlier Saturday, Berkshire said its first quarter earnings fell more than 53% on a large swing in the paper value of its investments. Berkshire said it earned $5.46 billion, or $3.702 per Class A share, during the quarter. That’s down from $11.7 billion, or $7.638 per Class A share, a year ago.

Buffett says that Berkshire’s operating earnings are a better measure of the company’s performance because they exclude investment gains and losses. By that measure, Berkshire’s earnings remained steady at $7.04 billion, or $4,773.84 per Class A share, up from $7.018 billion, or $4,577.10 per Class A share, a year ago.

The four analysts surveyed by FactSet expected Berkshire to report operating earnings of $4,277.66 per Class A share.

In addition to investments, Berkshire Hathaway owns more than 90 business outright, including BNSF railroad, several major utilities, Geico insurance and an assortment of manufacturing and retail companies.

Janet Dalton of Overland Park, Kansas, said she has been attending the meetings for decades. Her family has an even longer association with the company because her dad bought stock in the Berkshire Hathaway textile company even before Buffett took it over in 1965 and began to convert it into the conglomerate it is today. They never sold the shares, which now sell for nearly $500,000 apiece.

Dalton said she misses the more detailed business answers that Buffett used to give at the earlier meetings she attended.

“When I first came to the meetings, it was like getting a mini-MBA. Now it has become more general,” Dalton said. But part of what keeps her coming back year after year is the chance to reconnect with friends and fellow investors she’s met at past meetings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651406944878.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett gave Berkshire Hathaway investors a few details Saturday about how he spent more than $50 billion earlier this year and again reassured them that the company he built will endure long after the 91-year-old billionaire is gone.Tens of thousands of investors packed an Omaha arena Saturday to listen to Buffett and Berkshire’s vice chairmen answer questions at Berkshire’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-omaha-warren-buffett-charlie-munger-f4d89cfe6adf0c87f7fd5e2024a2f201">annual meeting</a>&nbsp;that was back in person for the first time since the pandemic began, but the turnout was likely smaller than when it used to regularly attract more than 40,000.Berkshire revealed in its earnings report Saturday morning that its mountain of cash shrank to $106 billion in the first quarter from $147 billion at the beginning of the year as Buffett invested $51 billion in stocks and repurchased $3.2 billion of its own shares.Buffett told shareholders that right after he told them in his annual letter on Feb. 26 that he was having trouble finding anything to buy at attractive prices, Berkshire spent more than $40 billion on stocks over the next three weeks.Buffett didn’t reveal everything he bought but did mention several highlights, including boosting Berkshire’s stake in oil giant Chevron to $26 billion, up from $4.5 billion at the beginning of the year to make it one of the conglomerate’s four biggest investments. Berkshire also spent billions buying up 14% of Occidental Petroleum’s shares in the first half of March, and added to its already massive investment in Apple stock.Edward Jones analyst Jim Shanahan said that with the Chevron and Occidental investments combined Berkshire now has more than $40 billion invested in the oil sector.Even before Saturday, it was clear Buffett was on the hunt because he agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-warren-buffett-alleghany-corp-64fb02ee0fba01213cf2f2e67fef9bb8">buy the Alleghany</a>&nbsp;insurance conglomerate for $11.6 billion and made another multibillion-dollar&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-berkshire-hathaway-inc-warren-buffett-omaha-a1d9d34f6a69a9a9860161b01b1d42e1">investment in HP Inc.</a>&nbsp;Buffett said Saturday that he also bought three German stocks but didn’t name them.Buffett said Berkshire was able to take advantage of the fact that Wall Street is largely run like a “gambling parlor” with many people speculating wildly on stocks.“Occasionally, Berkshire gets a chance to do something, and it’s not because we’re smart. It’s because we’re sane.” Buffett said.Buffett revealed Saturday that he has made a big bet on Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard. He said a couple months after one of Berkshire’s other investment managers bought roughly 15 million Activision shares, he increased that stake to roughly 9.5% of the company — or about 74 million shares — after Microsoft announced the deal in January because Activision stock was selling for less than the $95 per share deal price.Both Buffett and his investing partner, Charlie Munger, reiterated their past criticisms of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin because they don’t produce anything. Munger said cryptocurrencies are “stupid because they’re likely to go to zero” and “evil because they undermine the Federal Reserve.” Plus he said they make American leaders seem foolish for not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-declares-cryptocurrency-bitcoin-transactions-illegal-c6e869b63af6de3d1d699ee105d602e6">banning them like China did</a>.Even though Berkshire is led by Buffett and the 98-year-old Munger, investors didn’t ask much about succession planning perhaps because Buffett said a year ago that Vice Chairman Greg Abel, who oversees all of the company’s non-insurance businesses now, will eventually replace him as CEO. Berkshire also has two other investment managers who will take over the company’s portfolio.Buffett said he thinks Berkshire’s decentralized culture that relies heavily on trusting people to do the right thing and avoiding huge risks will help the company thrive well into the future and many of the companies it owns like BNSF railroad and its major utilities will remain stalwarts of the economy.“Berkshire is built to forever. There is no finish point,” Buffett said. “The new management — and the management after them and after them — are just custodians of a culture that’s embedded.”Investor Harris Kupperman, who leads the Praetorian Capital hedge fund, said he’s not especially worried about the Berkshire’s future because the eclectic conglomerate has a solid foundation.“He built it as well as he could build it. Nobody is ever going to be him. That’s obvious,” Kupperman said.He said perhaps Buffett’s eventual successor will be able to reevaluate some long-term Berkshire investments that Buffett has held for decades and decide whether it still makes sense to hang onto things like the company’s huge Coca-Cola stake.But Buffett’s and Munger’s ages are always in the back of Berkshire investors’ minds because there may not be too many more meetings with both of them. Munger sat in a wheelchair during Saturday’s meeting.“Actuarially, I don’t know how much longer they’ll be able to do this,” said Josu Elejabarrieta, 43, of Miami, who was attending his first meeting.In response to concerns about the current high inflation, Buffett told investors that the best thing they could do is invest in themselves so that someone will always want to pay them for their services regardless of how much a dollar is worth. He said all of Berkshire’s companies are paying extraordinarily higher prices for raw materials and products, but inflation should have been expected after all the money the government sent out during the pandemic.Buffett said he thinks the country has become more polarized than it has been at any time since the 1930s when public opinion split sharply about President Franklin Roosevelt.“I don’t think it’s a good development for society generally when people get tribal,” he said.After the question-and answer-period, Berkshire shareholders rejected several proposals backed by large pension funds, including one that would have required Buffett to give up his chairman role and ones that would have required the company to issue reports on the financial risks it faces related to climate change and on its diversity efforts. Berkshire and Buffett, who controls 32% of the vote, opposed all the proposals partly because the company is so decentralized that it requires few centralized reports.Earlier Saturday, Berkshire said its first quarter earnings fell more than 53% on a large swing in the paper value of its investments. Berkshire said it earned $5.46 billion, or $3.702 per Class A share, during the quarter. That’s down from $11.7 billion, or $7.638 per Class A share, a year ago.Buffett says that Berkshire’s operating earnings are a better measure of the company’s performance because they exclude investment gains and losses. By that measure, Berkshire’s earnings remained steady at $7.04 billion, or $4,773.84 per Class A share, up from $7.018 billion, or $4,577.10 per Class A share, a year ago.The four analysts surveyed by FactSet expected Berkshire to report operating earnings of $4,277.66 per Class A share.In addition to investments, Berkshire Hathaway owns more than 90 business outright, including BNSF railroad, several major utilities, Geico insurance and an assortment of manufacturing and retail companies.Janet Dalton of Overland Park, Kansas, said she has been attending the meetings for decades. Her family has an even longer association with the company because her dad bought stock in the Berkshire Hathaway textile company even before Buffett took it over in 1965 and began to convert it into the conglomerate it is today. They never sold the shares, which now sell for nearly $500,000 apiece.Dalton said she misses the more detailed business answers that Buffett used to give at the earlier meetings she attended.“When I first came to the meetings, it was like getting a mini-MBA. Now it has become more general,” Dalton said. But part of what keeps her coming back year after year is the chance to reconnect with friends and fellow investors she’s met at past meetings.

Warren Buffett tells shareholders about spending $51 billion

ANDOVER&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly today traveled to Andover to survey the damage left in the path of a tornado that tore through the town on Friday. The National Weather Service preliminary damage estimate of F tornado indicates the tornado an EF-3 with winds near 160 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm was on the ground from 8:10 to 8:31p.m. and moved from northeast from eastern Sedgwick County into Andover and then toward Benton.

 Governor Kelly met with first responders, local government officials, and Kansas families affected to assess the community’s needs.

“As I surveyed the damage of Friday night’s tornado, one thing is clear – Kansans are resilient and we will get through this together,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“My administration will work with local leaders to help Kansans impacted by this storm get back on their feet.”

“I am deeply appreciative of all who are helping our community of Andover as we assess the devastating impact of the tornado,”&nbsp;Senate President Ty Masterson, District 16, said.&nbsp;“The extent of the damage is stunning and heartbreaking, and we are so thankful no lives were lost. As Andover recovers and rebuilds, we stand ready to assist those in need. Prayers continue.”

“To my friends and neighbors in Andover, we’ve suffered a sudden and devastating loss. My family and I offer our heartfelt prayers to those most directly affected by last night’s storm. We are with you and we will stand and work beside you. Our gratitude goes out to the agencies and individuals who work tirelessly to keep us safe and support our community,”&nbsp;Representative Susan Humphries, District 99, said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651369467010.png" alt="“As I surveyed the damage of Friday night’s tornado, one thing is clear – Kansans are resilient and we will get through this together,” Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>“As I surveyed the damage of Friday night’s tornado, one thing is clear – Kansans are resilient and we will get through this together,” Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>ANDOVER&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly today traveled to Andover to survey the damage left in the path of a tornado that tore through the town on Friday. The National Weather Service preliminary damage estimate of F tornado indicates the tornado an EF-3 with winds near 160 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.The storm was on the ground from 8:10 to 8:31p.m. and moved from northeast from eastern Sedgwick County into Andover and then toward Benton. Governor Kelly met with first responders, local government officials, and Kansas families affected to assess the community’s needs.“As I surveyed the damage of Friday night’s tornado, one thing is clear – Kansans are resilient and we will get through this together,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“My administration will work with local leaders to help Kansans impacted by this storm get back on their feet.”“I am deeply appreciative of all who are helping our community of Andover as we assess the devastating impact of the tornado,”&nbsp;Senate President Ty Masterson, District 16, said.&nbsp;“The extent of the damage is stunning and heartbreaking, and we are so thankful no lives were lost. As Andover recovers and rebuilds, we stand ready to assist those in need. Prayers continue.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651369443627.png" alt="photo courtesy office of Governor" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy office of Governor</figcaption>
 </figure>“To my friends and neighbors in Andover, we’ve suffered a sudden and devastating loss. My family and I offer our heartfelt prayers to those most directly affected by last night’s storm. We are with you and we will stand and work beside you. Our gratitude goes out to the agencies and individuals who work tirelessly to keep us safe and support our community,”&nbsp;Representative Susan Humphries, District 99, said.

Governor surveys damage from EF-3 tornado in Andover 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) —Three University of Oklahoma meteorology students traveling back from storm chasing in Kansas were also killed in a crash Friday evening. 

Nicholas Nair, 20, of Denton, Texas; Gavin Short, 19, of Grayslake, Illinois; and Drake Brooks, 22, of Evansville, Indiana, died in the crash shortly before 11:30 p.m. Friday, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report.

The three were in a vehicle being driven by Nair southbound on Interstate 35 when the vehicle hydroplaned and was struck by a tractor-trailer rig in Tonkawa, about 85 miles north of Oklahoma City, the report said.

A statement released by OU said: “The university is devastated to learn of the tragic passing of three students. Each were valued and loved members of our community.”

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) —Three University of Oklahoma meteorology students traveling back from storm chasing in Kansas were also killed in a crash Friday evening. Nicholas Nair, 20, of Denton, Texas; Gavin Short, 19, of Grayslake, Illinois; and Drake Brooks, 22, of Evansville, Indiana, died in the crash shortly before 11:30 p.m. Friday, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report.The three were in a vehicle being driven by Nair southbound on Interstate 35 when the vehicle hydroplaned and was struck by a tractor-trailer rig in Tonkawa, about 85 miles north of Oklahoma City, the report said.A statement released by OU said: “The university is devastated to learn of the tragic passing of three students. Each were valued and loved members of our community.”

3 students killed returning from storm chasing in Kansas

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Keeneland says an exercise rider has died after being thrown from a horse at its training track.

 A Keeneland spokeswoman confirmed 20-year-old Callie Witt died Friday morning after being thrown from a 2-year-old horse. 

On-site medical personnel immediately tended to Witt for life-threatening injuries, according to a statement by Keeneland. 

The Lexington Fire and Emergency arrived quickly and took her to the University of Kentucky Hospital Emergency Department. 

Witt was later pronounced dead from blunt force injuries. 

A native of Nebraska, she had worked for trainer Joe Sharp.

By Associated PressLEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Keeneland says an exercise rider has died after being thrown from a horse at its training track. A Keeneland spokeswoman confirmed 20-year-old Callie Witt died Friday morning after being thrown from a 2-year-old horse. On-site medical personnel immediately tended to Witt for life-threatening injuries, according to a statement by Keeneland. The Lexington Fire and Emergency arrived quickly and took her to the University of Kentucky Hospital Emergency Department. Witt was later pronounced dead from blunt force injuries. A native of Nebraska, she had worked for trainer Joe Sharp.

Exercise rider at Keeneland dies after training accident

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born singer of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died. She was 76.

The daughters announced her death on Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

“Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness,” the statement said. “We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory.” The statement did not elaborate further.

The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.

The mother-daughter performers scored 14 No. 1 songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades. After rising to the top of country music, they called it quits in 1991 after doctors diagnosed Naomi Judd with hepatitis.

The Judds’ hits included “Love Can Build a Bridge” in 1990,“Mama He’s Crazy” in 1984, “Why Not Me” in 1984,“Turn It Loose” in 1988, “Girls Night Out” in 1985, “Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain” in 1986 and “Grandpa” in 1986.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651348297370.png" alt="The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday." />
 <figcaption>The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.</figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born singer of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, has died. She was 76.The daughters announced her death on Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press.“Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness,” the statement said. “We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory.” The statement did not elaborate further.The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.The mother-daughter performers scored 14 No. 1 songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades. After rising to the top of country music, they called it quits in 1991 after doctors diagnosed Naomi Judd with hepatitis.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651348227459.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Judds’ hits included “Love Can Build a Bridge” in 1990,“Mama He’s Crazy” in 1984, “Why Not Me” in 1984,“Turn It Loose” in 1988, “Girls Night Out” in 1985, “Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain” in 1986 and “Grandpa” in 1986.

Naomi Judd, of Grammy-winning duo The Judds, has died

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is scrapping old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs, speeding an ongoing trend toward more efficient lighting that officials say will save households, schools and businesses billions of dollars a year.

Rules finalized by the Energy Department will require manufacturers to sell energy-efficient light bulbs, accelerating a longtime industry practice to use compact fluorescent and LED bulbs that last 25 to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs. The Trump administration had slowed an earlier phaseout of incandescents, saying it was targeting rules that burden businesses.

Once the new rules are fully in place next year, consumers should save nearly $3 billion per year on their utility bills, the Energy Department said. The rules are projected to cut planet-warming carbon emissions by 222 million metric tons over the next 30 years, an amount equivalent to emissions generated by 28 million homes in one year, officials said.

“By raising energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs, we’re putting $3 billion back in the pockets of American consumers every year and substantially reducing domestic carbon emissions,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement Tuesday. “The lighting industry is already embracing more energy efficient products, and this measure will accelerate progress to deliver the best products to American consumers and build a better and brighter future.”

The new rules expand energy-efficiency requirements to more types of light bulbs and ban sale of bulbs that produce less than 45 lumens per watt — a measure of how much light is emitted for each unit of electricity.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-business-politics-30f1a41f331c43509e02f3fea4d20e95">Trump administration in 2019 had slowed a years-long push</a>&nbsp;by Congress and past administrations to switch Americans to LED bulbs and other lighting that uses less electricity. Former President Donald Trump said in September 2019 that the Energy Department canceled a pending phaseout of incandescent bulbs because “what’s saved is not worth it.”

Advocates hailed the latest rule change, saying it would ensure that commonly used light bulbs meet an easily achieved efficiency standard.

“This is a victory for consumers and for the climate — one that’s been a long time coming,” said Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce energy waste and combat climate change.

LED bulbs “have become so inexpensive that there’s no good reason for manufacturers to keep selling 19th-century technology that just isn’t very good at turning electrical energy into light,″ Nadel said. The new standards “will finally phase out energy-wasting bulbs across the country.”

Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, said that while retailers will be able to sell inefficient bulbs until July 2023, “responsible chains ought to get them off their shelves as soon as possible and certainly by the end of this year.″

In 2020, about 30% of light bulbs sold in the United States were incandescent or halogen incandescent bulbs, according to industry groups. The new rule bars manufacture or importation of incandescent bulbs as of Jan. 1.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association said in statement that LED lighting, “spurred by research scientists and lighting manufacturers,” has been fully embraced by consumers and is “an unqualified success.″

The manufacturers group “appreciates the administration’s recognition of the challenges industry faces in complying” with the new rule and its “adoption of a more manageable compliance timeframe” than earlier proposals, said spokesman Spencer Pederson.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is scrapping old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs, speeding an ongoing trend toward more efficient lighting that officials say will save households, schools and businesses billions of dollars a year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Here&#39;s some news to light up your day.💡 Our new energy-efficiency standards for light bulbs will: 💵 Save consumers $3B a year on utility bills 📉 Cut 222M metric tons of carbon emissions over three decades 📚 <a href="https://t.co/GNjtzvh3DF">https://t.co/GNjtzvh3DF</a> <a href="https://t.co/Phl6qHquK6">pic.twitter.com/Phl6qHquK6</a>&mdash; U.S. Department of Energy (@ENERGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/ENERGY/status/1518986019630206976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Rules finalized by the Energy Department will require manufacturers to sell energy-efficient light bulbs, accelerating a longtime industry practice to use compact fluorescent and LED bulbs that last 25 to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs. The Trump administration had slowed an earlier phaseout of incandescents, saying it was targeting rules that burden businesses.Once the new rules are fully in place next year, consumers should save nearly $3 billion per year on their utility bills, the Energy Department said. The rules are projected to cut planet-warming carbon emissions by 222 million metric tons over the next 30 years, an amount equivalent to emissions generated by 28 million homes in one year, officials said.“By raising energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs, we’re putting $3 billion back in the pockets of American consumers every year and substantially reducing domestic carbon emissions,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement Tuesday. “The lighting industry is already embracing more energy efficient products, and this measure will accelerate progress to deliver the best products to American consumers and build a better and brighter future.”The new rules expand energy-efficiency requirements to more types of light bulbs and ban sale of bulbs that produce less than 45 lumens per watt — a measure of how much light is emitted for each unit of electricity.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-business-politics-30f1a41f331c43509e02f3fea4d20e95">Trump administration in 2019 had slowed a years-long push</a>&nbsp;by Congress and past administrations to switch Americans to LED bulbs and other lighting that uses less electricity. Former President Donald Trump said in September 2019 that the Energy Department canceled a pending phaseout of incandescent bulbs because “what’s saved is not worth it.”Advocates hailed the latest rule change, saying it would ensure that commonly used light bulbs meet an easily achieved efficiency standard.“This is a victory for consumers and for the climate — one that’s been a long time coming,” said Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce energy waste and combat climate change.LED bulbs “have become so inexpensive that there’s no good reason for manufacturers to keep selling 19th-century technology that just isn’t very good at turning electrical energy into light,″ Nadel said. The new standards “will finally phase out energy-wasting bulbs across the country.”Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, said that while retailers will be able to sell inefficient bulbs until July 2023, “responsible chains ought to get them off their shelves as soon as possible and certainly by the end of this year.″In 2020, about 30% of light bulbs sold in the United States were incandescent or halogen incandescent bulbs, according to industry groups. The new rule bars manufacture or importation of incandescent bulbs as of Jan. 1.The National Electrical Manufacturers Association said in statement that LED lighting, “spurred by research scientists and lighting manufacturers,” has been fully embraced by consumers and is “an unqualified success.″The manufacturers group “appreciates the administration’s recognition of the challenges industry faces in complying” with the new rule and its “adoption of a more manageable compliance timeframe” than earlier proposals, said spokesman Spencer Pederson.

Biden admin. scrapping old-fashioned light bulbs

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha woman accused of sexually assaulting much younger members of her dance team has pleaded no contest to four felony counts, including sexual assault and child abuse, in a deal with prosecutors. 

Court records show that 24-year-old Brittianee Bates pleaded no contest Thursday, not admitting guilt, but acknowledging that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict her. 

In exchange for her pleas, four other felony counts were dropped. 

Police say Bates sexually assaulted three girls who were on the same drill team as Bates and a fourth girl who went to a day care where Bates worked. 

Prosecutors say the abuse dates back to 2015 and that all of victims were younger than 13.

By Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha woman accused of sexually assaulting much younger members of her dance team has pleaded no contest to four felony counts, including sexual assault and child abuse, in a deal with prosecutors. Court records show that 24-year-old Brittianee Bates pleaded no contest Thursday, not admitting guilt, but acknowledging that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict her. In exchange for her pleas, four other felony counts were dropped. Police say Bates sexually assaulted three girls who were on the same drill team as Bates and a fourth girl who went to a day care where Bates worked. Prosecutors say the abuse dates back to 2015 and that all of victims were younger than 13.

Omaha woman accused of molesting young drill team members

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that he’s “taking a hard look” at canceling additional federal student loan debt and will reach a decision within a month.

“I am considering dealing with some debt reduction,” Biden told reporters in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.

The comments came days after Biden had a private meeting with Democratic lawmakers who pressed him on the issue. One of the lawmakers, Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., said afterwards that Biden disclosed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-race-and-ethnicity-hispanics-b27b4325aba74e63cc7d3cfcb962daa5">he was exploring the possibility.</a>

However, Biden signaled in his Thursday remarks that he wouldn’t go as far as some activists want, saying $50,000 in debt forgiveness was not under consideration. He did not give a number for what he was considering.

“I’m in the process of taking a hard look at whether or not there will be additional debt forgiveness,” he said. “And I’ll have an answer on that in the next couple of weeks.”

During his campaign, Biden said he wanted to “immediately cancel” at least $10,000 in student debt per person. So far he’s repeatedly extended a pause on requiring borrowers to repay their loans, a moratorium that was put in place under then-President Donald Trump near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although activists have been encouraged by their increasing traction on this issue, some said they were concerned that Biden wouldn’t go far enough.

“President Biden, we agree that we shouldn’t cancel $50,000 in student loan debt. We should cancel all of it,” said Wisdom Cole, national director of the NAACP Youth &amp; College Division. “$50,000 was just the bottom line.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signaled he might forgive some student loan debt and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-miguel-cardona-lifestyle-education-2fad4da6c3fee980b5dacc65561ffa81">further extend the federal moratorium on repayments</a>, a lawmaker who discussed the issue with him said Wednesday.

The White House was notably more measured about Biden’s stance, but such moves would be a boon to many of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-education-6ce97ddc9db7f777e8e6fb2d7a8fb2cd">43 million Americans carrying student loans&nbsp;</a>worth $1.6 trillion, according to federal figures. It would also be a win for Democratic and progressive leaders who have long pressed Biden to carry through on a 2020 campaign promise that as president he would “immediately” cancel up to $10,000 in debt per student.

Biden’s remarks came during a wide-ranging Monday meeting at the White House with seven members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, according to Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., who was among them. He said in an interview Wednesday that he asked Biden to extend the moratorium on debt payments through this year, instead of letting it expire Aug. 31.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that he’s “taking a hard look” at canceling additional federal student loan debt and will reach a decision within a month.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F298694382441190%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1140" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“I am considering dealing with some debt reduction,” Biden told reporters in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.The comments came days after Biden had a private meeting with Democratic lawmakers who pressed him on the issue. One of the lawmakers, Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., said afterwards that Biden disclosed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-education-race-and-ethnicity-hispanics-b27b4325aba74e63cc7d3cfcb962daa5">he was exploring the possibility.</a>However, Biden signaled in his Thursday remarks that he wouldn’t go as far as some activists want, saying $50,000 in debt forgiveness was not under consideration. He did not give a number for what he was considering.“I’m in the process of taking a hard look at whether or not there will be additional debt forgiveness,” he said. “And I’ll have an answer on that in the next couple of weeks.”During his campaign, Biden said he wanted to “immediately cancel” at least $10,000 in student debt per person. So far he’s repeatedly extended a pause on requiring borrowers to repay their loans, a moratorium that was put in place under then-President Donald Trump near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.Although activists have been encouraged by their increasing traction on this issue, some said they were concerned that Biden wouldn’t go far enough.“President Biden, we agree that we shouldn’t cancel $50,000 in student loan debt. We should cancel all of it,” said Wisdom Cole, national director of the NAACP Youth &amp; College Division. “$50,000 was just the bottom line.”---------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signaled he might forgive some student loan debt and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-congress-miguel-cardona-lifestyle-education-2fad4da6c3fee980b5dacc65561ffa81">further extend the federal moratorium on repayments</a>, a lawmaker who discussed the issue with him said Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651153391885.png" alt="Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., accompanied by Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., speaks to members of the media following a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday-photo courtesy Congressional Hispanic Caucus" />
 <figcaption>Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., accompanied by Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M., speaks to members of the media following a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday-photo courtesy Congressional Hispanic Caucus</figcaption>
 </figure>The White House was notably more measured about Biden’s stance, but such moves would be a boon to many of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-education-6ce97ddc9db7f777e8e6fb2d7a8fb2cd">43 million Americans carrying student loans&nbsp;</a>worth $1.6 trillion, according to federal figures. It would also be a win for Democratic and progressive leaders who have long pressed Biden to carry through on a 2020 campaign promise that as president he would “immediately” cancel up to $10,000 in debt per student.Biden’s remarks came during a wide-ranging Monday meeting at the White House with seven members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, according to Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., who was among them. He said in an interview Wednesday that he asked Biden to extend the moratorium on debt payments through this year, instead of letting it expire Aug. 31.

🎥Biden talks about canceling federal student loan debts

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement officers with the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants on multiple retail businesses throughout Topeka and Shawnee County on Thursday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 Task Force officers seized illegal products that were being offered for sale and distributed to the general public.

These unlawful products, in various forms and packaging, were identified as Delta-8 THC, Delta9 THC and Delta-10 THC products that have been determined to be unlawful schedule I drugs under Kansas law. 

Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force reports that no retail businesses were shut down during the operation and no arrests have been made at this time.

Each retail business was served with a cease and desist notice calling for an immediate stop to the sale of all Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC and Delta-10 THC products. 

Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force will continue to address this issue with other retail businesses that may be engaged in the unlawful sale of these products.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement officers with the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants on multiple retail businesses throughout Topeka and Shawnee County on Thursday, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. Task Force officers seized illegal products that were being offered for sale and distributed to the general public.These unlawful products, in various forms and packaging, were identified as Delta-8 THC, Delta9 THC and Delta-10 THC products that have been determined to be unlawful schedule I drugs under Kansas law. Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force reports that no retail businesses were shut down during the operation and no arrests have been made at this time.Each retail business was served with a cease and desist notice calling for an immediate stop to the sale of all Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC and Delta-10 THC products. Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force will continue to address this issue with other retail businesses that may be engaged in the unlawful sale of these products.

Kan. deputies seize Delta-8 THC products at multiple businesses 

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a woman and one of her dogs were found dead inside a Bellevue home where a fire had burned.

 The Omaha World-Herald reports that 73-year-old Kathleen Janus was found dead around 10 a.m. Thursday. 

Police say parts of the inside of the house showed signs of a recent fire.

 Fire crews also found a dead dog in the home. 

A second dog belonging to Janus was found alive.

 Police say a neighbor found Janus' body after using a key to enter the home after being unable to reach Janus by phone or by knocking on the door. 

Police and fire officials are investigating.

By Associated PressBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a woman and one of her dogs were found dead inside a Bellevue home where a fire had burned. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 73-year-old Kathleen Janus was found dead around 10 a.m. Thursday. Police say parts of the inside of the house showed signs of a recent fire. Fire crews also found a dead dog in the home. A second dog belonging to Janus was found alive. Police say a neighbor found Janus' body after using a key to enter the home after being unable to reach Janus by phone or by knocking on the door. Police and fire officials are investigating.

Woman, dog found dead inside burned home south of Omaha

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than a quarter-million Explorer SUVs in the U.S. because they can roll away unexpectedly while shifted into park.

The recall covers certain 2020 through 2022 Explorers with 2.3-liter engines, as well as 3-liter and 3.3-liter hybrids and the 3-liter ST. Also included are 2020 and 2021 Explorer Police hybrids and those with 3.3-liter gas engines.

Documents posted Friday by U.S. safety regulators say that a rear axle mounting bolt can fracture and cause the drive shaft to disconnect. If that happens, the SUVs can roll away even if they are placed in park gear, without the parking brake on.

The documents say Ford has 235 warranty claims due to the problem. The company says it knows of no crashes or injuries.

Depending on the model, dealers will replace a bushing and the axle cover, or they will update electronic parking brake software. Owners will be notified by mail starting June 6.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651238741541.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSDETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than a quarter-million Explorer SUVs in the U.S. because they can roll away unexpectedly while shifted into park.The recall covers certain 2020 through 2022 Explorers with 2.3-liter engines, as well as 3-liter and 3.3-liter hybrids and the 3-liter ST. Also included are 2020 and 2021 Explorer Police hybrids and those with 3.3-liter gas engines.Documents posted Friday by U.S. safety regulators say that a rear axle mounting bolt can fracture and cause the drive shaft to disconnect. If that happens, the SUVs can roll away even if they are placed in park gear, without the parking brake on.The documents say Ford has 235 warranty claims due to the problem. The company says it knows of no crashes or injuries.Depending on the model, dealers will replace a bushing and the axle cover, or they will update electronic parking brake software. Owners will be notified by mail starting June 6.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/um8wLMKcZ-uyyPGpagxZ4_a_Au8Ytk3tFkiBOThyXiSzj8HTu83huas2FwCUEzK4LE44Nx16Fv1qkbYzdAhpdaFVcfj8DvUE8lv-3y0ISkoNVPNNUz_g7BHHJQddnsr1vRJeoI43c9Cez37xyw" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Ford recalls Explorer SUVs that can roll away while in park

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, the cleaning crew arrived at Capital City Nissan to find the front door to the business was broken and it appeared that one of the vehicles inside the showroom was driven through one of the garage doors, according to police Lt. Manuel Munoz.

Later in the early morning hours, Shawnee County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a suspicious vehicle in the area of the 6800 block of SE Evans.

Deputies found the vehicle to be the one taken from Capital City Nissan and was still occupied.

As a result of the investigation,&nbsp; police arrested 27-year-old Rider J. Leppin of Colorado and transported him to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Felony Criminal Damage and Felony Warrant out of the State of Colorado, according to Munoz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651158694314.png" alt="Leppin-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Leppin-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just before 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, the cleaning crew arrived at Capital City Nissan to find the front door to the business was broken and it appeared that one of the vehicles inside the showroom was driven through one of the garage doors, according to police Lt. Manuel Munoz.Later in the early morning hours, Shawnee County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a suspicious vehicle in the area of the 6800 block of SE Evans.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651228893558.png" alt="Photo of the garage door damage courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo of the garage door damage courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies found the vehicle to be the one taken from Capital City Nissan and was still occupied.As a result of the investigation,&nbsp; police arrested 27-year-old Rider J. Leppin of Colorado and transported him to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Felony Criminal Damage and Felony Warrant out of the State of Colorado, according to Munoz.

Suspect crashed vehicle through doors of Kan. car dealership 

Union official calls it ‘the worst and most egregious’ plan ever

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/28/railroaders-to-protest-new-work-scheduling-system-outside-berkshire-hathaway-meeting/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA
 — Some angry railroaders, upset with a new work scheduling system at 
the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, will be protesting outside Berkshire 
Hathaway’s annual meeting Saturday at&nbsp;the CHI Health Center arena.

Locomotive
 engineers say the new attendance policy, called “Hi Viz,” requires them
 to be on call 90% of the time and has led to a workforce that is 
understaffed, overworked and fatigued. They say the policy has forced 
some to quit.

Dennis
 Pierce, the national president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive 
Engineers and Trainmen, called Hi Viz “the worst and most egregious 
attendance policy ever adopted by any rail carrier” in a recent article 
in Vice, a Canadian-American magazine known for provocative stories.

Hi Viz is similar to an attendance policy recently implemented by Omaha-based Union Pacific.

BNSF
 Railway is one of the prized companies in the Berkshire Hathaway 
portfolio and reported record earnings of $6 billion in 2021.

A spokesman for the BNSF said the goal of Hi
 Viz, which was&nbsp;implemented in February, is to “improve the consistency 
of crews being available for their shifts to run trains” which 
translates into more consistent service.

It also gives crews more “predictability and transparency” when they are called in for work, said spokesman Ben Wilemon.

“We
 understand that change is hard, but as with every other railroad and 
service business, delivering for our customers requires employees to be 
available to work their assigned shifts,” Wilemon said.

The dispute comes as rail shippers are 
experiencing increased delays and railroads are operating with 20% fewer
 workers than before the COVID-19 pandemic, federal officials have said.

The
 33,000-member railroad union says it is taking its message “to the 
streets” after being unable to bargain for better wages and working 
conditions.

&nbsp;The union recently launched a series of digital and print advertisements, including some in the Omaha World-Herald, saying&nbsp;that
 BNSF Railway is “Off the Rails” and that some of the record profits 
should be invested in crews that staff increasingly long trains and 
trains that carry hazardous materials.

The
 ads attack Hi-Viz as prohibiting engineers and other rail workers from 
scheduling days off without penalty, even at times “for surgery or jury 
duty.”

Wilemon,
 the BNSF Railway spokesman, said there has been no change in how much 
time off an employee receives and that, on average, more than 50% of 
train crew employees work less than 40 hours a week. 

He
 added that personal leave days were increased by 25% this year and 
maintained that the BNSF has more train crews than a year ago and that 
it has 300 workers in training.

A recent Washington Post story reported the union was “preparing
 to petition President Biden to intervene” by appointing officials to 
mediate a settlement with the railroad or rescinding the prohibition on 
strikes by train workers.

The
 U.S. Surface Transportation Board took testimony earlier this week from
 the nation’s largest railroads, as well as U.S. Secretary of 
Transportation Pete Pete Buttigieg and other federal officials, on 
“inconsistent and unreliable” service by the rail freight industry, 
particularly concerning agricultural and energy&nbsp; goods.

Buttigieg,
 the first Transportation Secretary to address the Surface 
Transportation Board in over 20 years, said the railroad workforce is 
20% less than it was prior to the pandemic and turnover is “far above” 
normal levels, yet railroaders showed up “every day” during the 
pandemic.

Congestion and delays in rail shipments have increased, hurting farmers, Buttigieg said.

He
 said the DOT has already launched a pilot project to improve data 
sharing to reduce wasted time in goods moving from ports to trains and 
to consumers. He said Biden’s infrastructure law includes incentives to 
bolster the workforce.

&nbsp;The
 Surface Transportation Board, he said, should require railroads to 
include impacts on workers in the “improvement plans” that rail 
companies will submit.

“When
 we overburden rail workers, it only furthers turnover, worsens service 
and presents serious safety issues,” Buttigieg said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651179893285.png" alt="The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway yard in Lincoln. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway yard in Lincoln. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Union official calls it ‘the worst and most egregious’ plan ever</h2>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/28/railroaders-to-protest-new-work-scheduling-system-outside-berkshire-hathaway-meeting/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA
 — Some angry railroaders, upset with a new work scheduling system at 
the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, will be protesting outside Berkshire 
Hathaway’s annual meeting Saturday at&nbsp;the CHI Health Center arena.Locomotive
 engineers say the new attendance policy, called “Hi Viz,” requires them
 to be on call 90% of the time and has led to a workforce that is 
understaffed, overworked and fatigued. They say the policy has forced 
some to quit.Dennis
 Pierce, the national president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive 
Engineers and Trainmen, called Hi Viz “the worst and most egregious 
attendance policy ever adopted by any rail carrier” in a recent article 
in Vice, a Canadian-American magazine known for provocative stories.<h2>Union Pacific has similar system</h2>Hi Viz is similar to an attendance policy recently implemented by Omaha-based Union Pacific.BNSF
 Railway is one of the prized companies in the Berkshire Hathaway 
portfolio and reported record earnings of $6 billion in 2021.A spokesman for the BNSF said the goal of Hi
 Viz, which was&nbsp;implemented in February, is to “improve the consistency 
of crews being available for their shifts to run trains” which 
translates into more consistent service.It also gives crews more “predictability and transparency” when they are called in for work, said spokesman Ben Wilemon.“We
 understand that change is hard, but as with every other railroad and 
service business, delivering for our customers requires employees to be 
available to work their assigned shifts,” Wilemon said.The dispute comes as rail shippers are 
experiencing increased delays and railroads are operating with 20% fewer
 workers than before the COVID-19 pandemic, federal officials have said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651179973531.jpeg" alt="One of the billboards sponsored by a union representing workers at BNSF Railways. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>One of the billboards sponsored by a union representing workers at BNSF Railways. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>The
 33,000-member railroad union says it is taking its message “to the 
streets” after being unable to bargain for better wages and working 
conditions.&nbsp;The union recently launched a series of digital and print advertisements, including some in the Omaha World-Herald, saying&nbsp;that
 BNSF Railway is “Off the Rails” and that some of the record profits 
should be invested in crews that staff increasingly long trains and 
trains that carry hazardous materials.<h2>‘Off the rails’</h2>The
 ads attack Hi-Viz as prohibiting engineers and other rail workers from 
scheduling days off without penalty, even at times “for surgery or jury 
duty.”Wilemon,
 the BNSF Railway spokesman, said there has been no change in how much 
time off an employee receives and that, on average, more than 50% of 
train crew employees work less than 40 hours a week. He
 added that personal leave days were increased by 25% this year and 
maintained that the BNSF has more train crews than a year ago and that 
it has 300 workers in training.A recent Washington Post story reported the union was “preparing
 to petition President Biden to intervene” by appointing officials to 
mediate a settlement with the railroad or rescinding the prohibition on 
strikes by train workers.The
 U.S. Surface Transportation Board took testimony earlier this week from
 the nation’s largest railroads, as well as U.S. Secretary of 
Transportation Pete Pete Buttigieg and other federal officials, on 
“inconsistent and unreliable” service by the rail freight industry, 
particularly concerning agricultural and energy&nbsp; goods.Buttigieg,
 the first Transportation Secretary to address the Surface 
Transportation Board in over 20 years, said the railroad workforce is 
20% less than it was prior to the pandemic and turnover is “far above” 
normal levels, yet railroaders showed up “every day” during the 
pandemic.<h2>Pilot project on reducing wasted time</h2>Congestion and delays in rail shipments have increased, hurting farmers, Buttigieg said.He
 said the DOT has already launched a pilot project to improve data 
sharing to reduce wasted time in goods moving from ports to trains and 
to consumers. He said Biden’s infrastructure law includes incentives to 
bolster the workforce.&nbsp;The
 Surface Transportation Board, he said, should require railroads to 
include impacts on workers in the “improvement plans” that rail 
companies will submit.“When
 we overburden rail workers, it only furthers turnover, worsens service 
and presents serious safety issues,” Buttigieg said.&nbsp;

Railroaders to protest BNSF work scheduling system in Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A jury has acquitted a man charged with first-degree murder in the 2020 death of a man who was on a motorized dirt bike when he was chased down by a car and fatally shot.

Daquandre Perry, 22, was found not guilty Wednesday in the death of 20-year-old John Parks Jr.,&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/omaha-man-acquitted-in-brazen-july-2020-shooting-death/article_a24d3404-c650-11ec-9e69-7f3b5575f829.html" target="_blank">the Omaha World-Herald reported</a>.

Police have said Parks and a friend were riding their dirt bikes on a city street on July 26, 2020, when a black sedan began chasing them and at one point crashed into Parks’ bike. Parks ditched the bike and began running, but a person in the sedan fired several shots, hitting Parks in the neck, police said. Parks managed to scale a fence, but died in a back yard.

Prosecutors argued that several videos showed Perry and another man get out the sedan at an apartment complex about 20 minutes after the shooting, and police found the car had front-end damage consistent with a crash with the dirt bike. Prosecutors also argued that DNA found in the car’s driver’s seat was Perry’s.

But Perry’s attorneys countered that police also found the DNA of three other people in the car and that police had found no murder weapon and or witnesses who could definitively identify the car or the people in it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651173221462.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A jury has acquitted a man charged with first-degree murder in the 2020 death of a man who was on a motorized dirt bike when he was chased down by a car and fatally shot.Daquandre Perry, 22, was found not guilty Wednesday in the death of 20-year-old John Parks Jr.,&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/omaha-man-acquitted-in-brazen-july-2020-shooting-death/article_a24d3404-c650-11ec-9e69-7f3b5575f829.html" target="_blank">the Omaha World-Herald reported</a>.Police have said Parks and a friend were riding their dirt bikes on a city street on July 26, 2020, when a black sedan began chasing them and at one point crashed into Parks’ bike. Parks ditched the bike and began running, but a person in the sedan fired several shots, hitting Parks in the neck, police said. Parks managed to scale a fence, but died in a back yard.Prosecutors argued that several videos showed Perry and another man get out the sedan at an apartment complex about 20 minutes after the shooting, and police found the car had front-end damage consistent with a crash with the dirt bike. Prosecutors also argued that DNA found in the car’s driver’s seat was Perry’s.But Perry’s attorneys countered that police also found the DNA of three other people in the car and that police had found no murder weapon and or witnesses who could definitively identify the car or the people in it.

Jury acquits man of murder in 2020 Omaha shooting death

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN and MARGERY A. BECK The Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Firefighters have been making significant progress Wednesday on the biggest wildfires burning unusually hot and fast for this time of year in the western United States.

But forecasters from the Southwest to the southern High Plains warned of the return the next two days of the same gusty winds and critical fire conditions that sent wildland blazes racing across the landscape last week.

Some of the nearly 1,000 firefighters battling the biggest fire in drought-stricken New Mexico cut away brush and burned out any extra fuel Wednesday ahead of increased danger forecast Thursday into the weekend.

That allowed crews to dig fire lines around about a third of what has become the largest wildfire burning in the U.S. — now 94 square miles — and keep flames from reaching mostly rural homes and ranches that are still in its path northeast of Santa Fe.

“Another great day on the fire line,” federal fire incident commander Carl Schwope said Wednesday night.

“Fire personnel are making great progress,” he told residents at a community meeting in Las Vegas, New Mexico, where numerous rural communities in the nearby mountains remain under evacuation orders.

But he quickly emphasized the success could be short-lived because hotter, drier, windier weather should return Thursday and Friday.

“This fire still has tremendous potential to move and still has a lot of danger,” he said. “We have a couple of critical fire days still ahead.”

The most critical fire danger remains the next two days across practically the entire state of New Mexico, according to the National Weather Service. The elevated-risk area stretches all the way from Arizona’s border with California and Nevada into the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, the service said late Wednesday.

Some light precipitation added moisture to bone dry fuels in the Southwest early this week. But stiffening winds Wednesday likely dried out most of the fine fuels, which are “are expected to be borderline critically dry” on Thursday, the service said.

“It doesn’t mean it will happen but it could happen, just like we saw when this fire blew up,” he said. “The danger is present and it’s very real.”

Authorities said Wednesday they continue to work on damage assessments but haven’t been able to access some areas that are still hot and it’s not yet safe to let some evacuees return to their homes.

“We have containment around the fire’s edge, but there’s still stuff that’s burning inside and we still have a wind event we are waiting for Friday and Saturday,” Lopez said.

“We have to make sure that everything is good enough that I can make decision and know you’ll be safe if we let you back in there,” he said..

The Southwest has been bearing the brunt of large fires, with five incident management teams assigned, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

One complex incident management team was overseeing a large fire in southwest Nebraska. More than 200 firefighters in that state were battling a prairie fire that has been burning since last week.

About 65 square miles of mostly grasses and farmland have been blackened near the Kansas line, several homes have been destroyed and at least one person was killed. The fire was about three-quarters contained Wednesday.

In Arizona, crews on Wednesday worked to contain two major wildfires, with firefighters gaining ground on containment of a blaze in the Prescott National Forest after winds on Tuesday pushed the fire outward. Near Flagstaff, crews patrolled burned areas of a different large fire and looked for hot spots amid milder weather.

Nationally, large fires have burned more than 1,688 square miles this year, putting the U.S. on track to far outpace the 10-year average.

The pressure on firefighters is not likely to let up anytime soon.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf" target="_blank">Climate outlooks</a>&nbsp;indicate likely below normal precipitation from Texas through the southern Rockies and Great Basin, with above normal temperatures likely across much of the U.S into summer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651167381159.jpeg" alt="Road 702 Fire, Nebraska Photo: Nebraska State Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Road 702 Fire, Nebraska Photo: Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN and MARGERY A. BECK The Associated PressALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Firefighters have been making significant progress Wednesday on the biggest wildfires burning unusually hot and fast for this time of year in the western United States.But forecasters from the Southwest to the southern High Plains warned of the return the next two days of the same gusty winds and critical fire conditions that sent wildland blazes racing across the landscape last week.Some of the nearly 1,000 firefighters battling the biggest fire in drought-stricken New Mexico cut away brush and burned out any extra fuel Wednesday ahead of increased danger forecast Thursday into the weekend.That allowed crews to dig fire lines around about a third of what has become the largest wildfire burning in the U.S. — now 94 square miles — and keep flames from reaching mostly rural homes and ranches that are still in its path northeast of Santa Fe.“Another great day on the fire line,” federal fire incident commander Carl Schwope said Wednesday night.“Fire personnel are making great progress,” he told residents at a community meeting in Las Vegas, New Mexico, where numerous rural communities in the nearby mountains remain under evacuation orders.But he quickly emphasized the success could be short-lived because hotter, drier, windier weather should return Thursday and Friday.“This fire still has tremendous potential to move and still has a lot of danger,” he said. “We have a couple of critical fire days still ahead.”The most critical fire danger remains the next two days across practically the entire state of New Mexico, according to the National Weather Service. The elevated-risk area stretches all the way from Arizona’s border with California and Nevada into the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, the service said late Wednesday.Some light precipitation added moisture to bone dry fuels in the Southwest early this week. But stiffening winds Wednesday likely dried out most of the fine fuels, which are “are expected to be borderline critically dry” on Thursday, the service said.“It doesn’t mean it will happen but it could happen, just like we saw when this fire blew up,” he said. “The danger is present and it’s very real.”Authorities said Wednesday they continue to work on damage assessments but haven’t been able to access some areas that are still hot and it’s not yet safe to let some evacuees return to their homes.“We have containment around the fire’s edge, but there’s still stuff that’s burning inside and we still have a wind event we are waiting for Friday and Saturday,” Lopez said.“We have to make sure that everything is good enough that I can make decision and know you’ll be safe if we let you back in there,” he said..The Southwest has been bearing the brunt of large fires, with five incident management teams assigned, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.One complex incident management team was overseeing a large fire in southwest Nebraska. More than 200 firefighters in that state were battling a prairie fire that has been burning since last week.About 65 square miles of mostly grasses and farmland have been blackened near the Kansas line, several homes have been destroyed and at least one person was killed. The fire was about three-quarters contained Wednesday.In Arizona, crews on Wednesday worked to contain two major wildfires, with firefighters gaining ground on containment of a blaze in the Prescott National Forest after winds on Tuesday pushed the fire outward. Near Flagstaff, crews patrolled burned areas of a different large fire and looked for hot spots amid milder weather.Nationally, large fires have burned more than 1,688 square miles this year, putting the U.S. on track to far outpace the 10-year average.The pressure on firefighters is not likely to let up anytime soon.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf" target="_blank">Climate outlooks</a>&nbsp;indicate likely below normal precipitation from Texas through the southern Rockies and Great Basin, with above normal temperatures likely across much of the U.S into summer.

Gusty winds, dryness could fan spring US wildfires again

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden asked Congress on Thursday for an additional $33 billion to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s invasion, a signal that the U.S. is prepared to mount a robust, long-term campaign to bolster Kyiv and weaken Moscow as the bloody war enters its third month with no sign of abating.

Biden’s latest proposal — which the White House said was expected to support Ukraine’s needs for five months — has more than $20 billion in military assistance for Kyiv and for shoring up defenses in nearby countries. There is also $8.5 billion in economic aid to help keep Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government functioning and $3 billion for food and humanitarian programs to help civilians, including the more than five million refugees created by the war.

The assistance package, which now heads to Congress for consideration, would be more than twice as large as an initial $13.6 billion of defense and economic aid for Ukraine and Western allies that Congress enacted last month and is now almost exhausted. It was meant to signify that the U.S. is not tiring of helping to stave off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempt to expand his nation’s control of its neighbor, and perhaps beyond.

“The cost of this fight is not cheap, but caving to aggression is going to be more costly,” Biden said. “It’s critical this funding gets approved and as quickly as possible.”

The request comes with the fighting, now in its ninth week, sharpening in eastern and southern parts of the country and international tensions growing as Russia cuts off gas supplies to two NATO allies, Poland and Bulgaria.

There is wide, bipartisan support in Congress for giving Ukraine all the assistance it needs to fight the Russians, and its eventual approval seems certain. But Biden and congressional Democrats also want lawmakers to approve billions more to battle the pandemic, and that along with a Republican push to entangle the measure with an extension of some Trump-era immigration restrictions leaves the proposal’s pathway to enactment unclear.

In an accompanying letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Biden also asked lawmakers to include an additional $22.5 billion for vaccines, treatments, testing and aid to other countries in continuing efforts to contain COVID-19.

But that figure, which Biden also requested last month, seems aspirational at best. In a compromise with Republicans, Senate Democrats have already agreed to pare that figure to $10 billion, and reviving the higher amount would be at best an uphill fight.

As if acknowledging the political problems the pandemic response is encountering, Biden’s letter to Pelosi said, “I urge the Congress to include this much needed” pandemic spending in the Ukraine package. That wording seemed to suggest that separating the two initiatives, if needed to speed the Ukraine money, might be palatable to the White House.

Biden was also asking Congress on Thursday for new powers to seize and repurpose the assets of Russian oligarchs.

He wants lawmakers to make it a criminal offense for a person to “knowingly or intentionally possess proceeds directly obtained from corrupt dealings with the Russian government,” double the statute of limitations for foreign money laundering offenses to 10 years, and expand the definition of “racketeering” under U.S. law to include efforts to evade sanctions.

Biden will also ask Congress to allow the federal government use the proceeds from selling the seized assets of sanctioned Russian oligarchs to help the people of Ukraine.

In a virtual address to International Monetary Fund and World Bank leaders last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the proceeds of sanctioned property and Central Bank reserves to be used to compensate Ukraine for its losses.

He said that frozen Russian assets “have to be used to rebuild Ukraine after the war as well as to pay for the losses caused to other nations.”

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said at the time that congressional action would be needed to authorize such actions.

The war has already caused more than $60 billion in damage to buildings and infrastructure, World Bank President David Malpass said last week. And the IMF in its latest world economic outlook forecast that Ukraine’s economy will shrink by 35% this year and next.

In recent weeks, the U.S. and global allies have sanctioned dozens of oligarchs and their family members, along with hundreds of Russian officials involved in or deemed to be supporting its invasion of Ukraine. The White House says the new tools will toughen the impact of the sanctions on Russia’s economy and its ruling class by making sanctions more difficult to evade.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden asked Congress on Thursday for an additional $33 billion to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s invasion, a signal that the U.S. is prepared to mount a robust, long-term campaign to bolster Kyiv and weaken Moscow as the bloody war enters its third month with no sign of abating.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F298694382441190%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=4" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Biden’s latest proposal — which the White House said was expected to support Ukraine’s needs for five months — has more than $20 billion in military assistance for Kyiv and for shoring up defenses in nearby countries. There is also $8.5 billion in economic aid to help keep Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government functioning and $3 billion for food and humanitarian programs to help civilians, including the more than five million refugees created by the war.The assistance package, which now heads to Congress for consideration, would be more than twice as large as an initial $13.6 billion of defense and economic aid for Ukraine and Western allies that Congress enacted last month and is now almost exhausted. It was meant to signify that the U.S. is not tiring of helping to stave off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempt to expand his nation’s control of its neighbor, and perhaps beyond.“The cost of this fight is not cheap, but caving to aggression is going to be more costly,” Biden said. “It’s critical this funding gets approved and as quickly as possible.”The request comes with the fighting, now in its ninth week, sharpening in eastern and southern parts of the country and international tensions growing as Russia cuts off gas supplies to two NATO allies, Poland and Bulgaria.There is wide, bipartisan support in Congress for giving Ukraine all the assistance it needs to fight the Russians, and its eventual approval seems certain. But Biden and congressional Democrats also want lawmakers to approve billions more to battle the pandemic, and that along with a Republican push to entangle the measure with an extension of some Trump-era immigration restrictions leaves the proposal’s pathway to enactment unclear.In an accompanying letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Biden also asked lawmakers to include an additional $22.5 billion for vaccines, treatments, testing and aid to other countries in continuing efforts to contain COVID-19.But that figure, which Biden also requested last month, seems aspirational at best. In a compromise with Republicans, Senate Democrats have already agreed to pare that figure to $10 billion, and reviving the higher amount would be at best an uphill fight.As if acknowledging the political problems the pandemic response is encountering, Biden’s letter to Pelosi said, “I urge the Congress to include this much needed” pandemic spending in the Ukraine package. That wording seemed to suggest that separating the two initiatives, if needed to speed the Ukraine money, might be palatable to the White House.Biden was also asking Congress on Thursday for new powers to seize and repurpose the assets of Russian oligarchs.He wants lawmakers to make it a criminal offense for a person to “knowingly or intentionally possess proceeds directly obtained from corrupt dealings with the Russian government,” double the statute of limitations for foreign money laundering offenses to 10 years, and expand the definition of “racketeering” under U.S. law to include efforts to evade sanctions.Biden will also ask Congress to allow the federal government use the proceeds from selling the seized assets of sanctioned Russian oligarchs to help the people of Ukraine.In a virtual address to International Monetary Fund and World Bank leaders last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the proceeds of sanctioned property and Central Bank reserves to be used to compensate Ukraine for its losses.He said that frozen Russian assets “have to be used to rebuild Ukraine after the war as well as to pay for the losses caused to other nations.”Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said at the time that congressional action would be needed to authorize such actions.The war has already caused more than $60 billion in damage to buildings and infrastructure, World Bank President David Malpass said last week. And the IMF in its latest world economic outlook forecast that Ukraine’s economy will shrink by 35% this year and next.In recent weeks, the U.S. and global allies have sanctioned dozens of oligarchs and their family members, along with hundreds of Russian officials involved in or deemed to be supporting its invasion of Ukraine. The White House says the new tools will toughen the impact of the sanctions on Russia’s economy and its ruling class by making sanctions more difficult to evade.Biden last week warned that $6.5 billion earmarked for security assistance for Ukraine could soon be “exhausted” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-biden-announces-new-military-aid-e78a7db76215a84f86586bb56122cd04">that Congress would need to approve supplemental funding</a>. More than half of the approved money for weapons and equipment for Ukraine’s military has already been drawn down.