WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced Monday that 20 internet companies have agreed to provide discounted service to people with low incomes, a program that could effectively make tens of millions of households eligible for free service through an already existing federal subsidy.

(Click below to watch the President's comments)

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/09/fact-sheet-president-biden-and-vice-president-harris-reduce-high-speed-internet-costs-for-millions-of-americans/">Click here&nbsp;</a>to read details on the program from the White House

“High speed internet is not a luxury any longer. It’s a necessity,” Biden said at a sun-drenched rose garden event with representatives from participating companies, as well as members of Congress.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144">The $1 trillion infrastructure package</a>&nbsp;passed by Congress last year included $14.2 billion funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides $30 monthly subsidies ($75 in tribal areas) on internet service for millions of lower-income households.

With the new commitment from the internet providers, some 48 million households will be eligible for $30 monthly plans for 100 megabits per second, or higher speed, service — making internet service fully paid for with government assistance if they sign up with one of the providers participating in the program.

Biden noted that families of four earning about $55,000 annually — or those including someone eligible for Medicaid — will get a $30 monthly credit, meaning about 40 percent of Americans will qualify.

“This is a case where big business stepped up. We’re trying to get others to do the same thing,” Biden told the crowd to sustained applause. “It’s going to change peoples’ lives.”

“It might be a game-changer,” said Marty Newell, coordinator for Rural Broadband Policy at the Center for Rural Strategies in Whitesburg, Kentucky, where he said slow internet has plagued residents and businesses alike.

Newell said he wanted to see more about what the program will mean going forward, but that his main question is — given that increased broadband access has generally been a bipartisan issue in Congress -- “What took them so long?”

Biden, during his White House run and the push for the infrastructure bill, made expanding high-speed internet access in rural and low-income areas a priority. He has repeatedly spoken out about low-income families that struggled finding reliable Wi-Fi, so their children could take part in remote schooling and complete homework assignments early in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic,</a>&nbsp;including, he said Monday, families driving to McDonald’s parking lots to access wireless internet inside the restaurant.

The 20 internet companies that have agreed to lower their rates for eligible consumers provide service in areas where 80% of the U.S. population, including 50% of the rural population, live, the president said. Participating companies that offer service on tribal lands are providing $75 rates in those areas, the equivalent of the federal government subsidy in those areas.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also met Monday with telecom executives, members of Congress and others to spotlight the effort to improve access to high-speed internet for low-income households. The president said a top priority going forward will be increasing competition among internet providers in many parts of the country, noting that millions of Americans live in areas with just one provider and currently pay higher prices because of it.

The participating providers are Allo Communications, AltaFiber (and Hawaiian Telecom), Altice USA (Optimum and Suddenlink), Astound, AT&amp;T, Breezeline, Comcast, Comporium, Frontier, IdeaTek, Cox Communications, Jackson Energy Authority, MediaCom, MLGC, Spectrum (Charter Communications), Starry, Verizon (Fios only), Vermont Telephone Co., Vexus Fiber and Wow! Internet, Cable, and TV.

American households are eligible for subsidies through the Affordable Connectivity Program if their income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or if a member of their family participates in one of several programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) and Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit.

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The Biden administration announced on Monday that 20 internet companies have agreed to provide discounted service to low-income Americans, a program that could effectively make tens of millions of households eligible for free service through an already existing federal subsidy.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/09/fact-sheet-president-biden-and-vice-president-harris-reduce-high-speed-internet-costs-for-millions-of-americans/">Click here </a>to read details from the White House

With the new commitment from the internet providers, some 48 million households will be eligible for $30 monthly plans for 100 megabits per second, or higher speed, service — making internet service fully paid for with the government subsidy if they sign up with one of the providers participating in the program.

Biden, during his White House run and the push for the infrastructure bill, made expanding high-speed internet access in rural and low-income areas a priority. He has repeatedly spoken out about low-income families that struggled finding reliable wi-fi, so their children could take part in remote schooling and complete homework assignments early in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.

“If we didn’t know it before, we know now: High-speed internet is essential,” the Democratic president said during a White House event last month honoring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-jill-kurt-russell-ba1b6ecc47fc3046b17f3b564bbe45ef">the National Teacher of the Year</a>.

The 20 internet companies that have agreed to lower their rates for eligible consumers provide service in areas where 80% of the U.S. population, including 50% of the rural population, live, according to the White House. Participating companies that offer service on tribal lands are providing $75 rates in those areas, the equivalent of the federal government subsidy in those areas.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday were set to meet with telecom executives, members of Congress and others to spotlight the effort to improve access to high-speed internet for low-income households.

The providers are Allo Communications , AltaFiber (and Hawaiian Telecom), Altice USA (Optimum and Suddenlink), Astound, AT&amp;T, Breezeline, Comcast, Comporium, Frontier, IdeaTek, Cox Communications, Jackson Energy Authority, MediaCom, MLGC, Spectrum (Charter Communications), Starry, Verizon (Fios only), Vermont Telephone Co., Vexus Fiber and Wow! Internet, Cable, and TV.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced Monday that 20 internet companies have agreed to provide discounted service to people with low incomes, a program that could effectively make tens of millions of households eligible for free service through an already existing federal subsidy.(Click below to watch the President's comments)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F725527678805286%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=610" 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><a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/09/fact-sheet-president-biden-and-vice-president-harris-reduce-high-speed-internet-costs-for-millions-of-americans/">Click here&nbsp;</a>to read details on the program from the White House“High speed internet is not a luxury any longer. It’s a necessity,” Biden said at a sun-drenched rose garden event with representatives from participating companies, as well as members of Congress.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144">The $1 trillion infrastructure package</a>&nbsp;passed by Congress last year included $14.2 billion funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides $30 monthly subsidies ($75 in tribal areas) on internet service for millions of lower-income households.With the new commitment from the internet providers, some 48 million households will be eligible for $30 monthly plans for 100 megabits per second, or higher speed, service — making internet service fully paid for with government assistance if they sign up with one of the providers participating in the program.Biden noted that families of four earning about $55,000 annually — or those including someone eligible for Medicaid — will get a $30 monthly credit, meaning about 40 percent of Americans will qualify.“This is a case where big business stepped up. We’re trying to get others to do the same thing,” Biden told the crowd to sustained applause. “It’s going to change peoples’ lives.”Advocates were cautiously optimistic.“It might be a game-changer,” said Marty Newell, coordinator for Rural Broadband Policy at the Center for Rural Strategies in Whitesburg, Kentucky, where he said slow internet has plagued residents and businesses alike.Newell said he wanted to see more about what the program will mean going forward, but that his main question is — given that increased broadband access has generally been a bipartisan issue in Congress -- “What took them so long?”Biden, during his White House run and the push for the infrastructure bill, made expanding high-speed internet access in rural and low-income areas a priority. He has repeatedly spoken out about low-income families that struggled finding reliable Wi-Fi, so their children could take part in remote schooling and complete homework assignments early in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic,</a>&nbsp;including, he said Monday, families driving to McDonald’s parking lots to access wireless internet inside the restaurant.The 20 internet companies that have agreed to lower their rates for eligible consumers provide service in areas where 80% of the U.S. population, including 50% of the rural population, live, the president said. Participating companies that offer service on tribal lands are providing $75 rates in those areas, the equivalent of the federal government subsidy in those areas.Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also met Monday with telecom executives, members of Congress and others to spotlight the effort to improve access to high-speed internet for low-income households. The president said a top priority going forward will be increasing competition among internet providers in many parts of the country, noting that millions of Americans live in areas with just one provider and currently pay higher prices because of it.The participating providers are Allo Communications, AltaFiber (and Hawaiian Telecom), Altice USA (Optimum and Suddenlink), Astound, AT&amp;T, Breezeline, Comcast, Comporium, Frontier, IdeaTek, Cox Communications, Jackson Energy Authority, MediaCom, MLGC, Spectrum (Charter Communications), Starry, Verizon (Fios only), Vermont Telephone Co., Vexus Fiber and Wow! Internet, Cable, and TV.American households are eligible for subsidies through the Affordable Connectivity Program if their income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or if a member of their family participates in one of several programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) and Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit.-------WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The Biden administration announced on Monday that 20 internet companies have agreed to provide discounted service to low-income Americans, a program that could effectively make tens of millions of households eligible for free service through an already existing federal subsidy.<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/09/fact-sheet-president-biden-and-vice-president-harris-reduce-high-speed-internet-costs-for-millions-of-americans/">Click here </a>to read details from the White House<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144">The $1 trillion infrastructure package</a>&nbsp;passed by Congress last year included $14.2 billion funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides $30 monthly subsidies ($75 in tribal areas) on internet service for millions of lower-income households.With the new commitment from the internet providers, some 48 million households will be eligible for $30 monthly plans for 100 megabits per second, or higher speed, service — making internet service fully paid for with the government subsidy if they sign up with one of the providers participating in the program.Biden, during his White House run and the push for the infrastructure bill, made expanding high-speed internet access in rural and low-income areas a priority. He has repeatedly spoken out about low-income families that struggled finding reliable wi-fi, so their children could take part in remote schooling and complete homework assignments early in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>.“If we didn’t know it before, we know now: High-speed internet is essential,” the Democratic president said during a White House event last month honoring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-education-jill-kurt-russell-ba1b6ecc47fc3046b17f3b564bbe45ef">the National Teacher of the Year</a>.The 20 internet companies that have agreed to lower their rates for eligible consumers provide service in areas where 80% of the U.S. population, including 50% of the rural population, live, according to the White House. Participating companies that offer service on tribal lands are providing $75 rates in those areas, the equivalent of the federal government subsidy in those areas.Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday were set to meet with telecom executives, members of Congress and others to spotlight the effort to improve access to high-speed internet for low-income households.The providers are Allo Communications , AltaFiber (and Hawaiian Telecom), Altice USA (Optimum and Suddenlink), Astound, AT&amp;T, Breezeline, Comcast, Comporium, Frontier, IdeaTek, Cox Communications, Jackson Energy Authority, MediaCom, MLGC, Spectrum (Charter Communications), Starry, Verizon (Fios only), Vermont Telephone Co., Vexus Fiber and Wow! Internet, Cable, and TV.American households are eligible for subsidies through the Affordable Connectivity Program if their income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or if a member of their family participates in one of several programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) and Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit.

🎥 New program offers discounted internet service for millions

By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had wide-ranging impacts on
the world as a whole and now threatens global food security.

Missouri U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt says the full impact of the war
on food supply is just now beginning to emerge.

“There’s a growing awareness of how much impact this could
have, not just in Ukraine or in Europe, but in Africa,” Bond says in an
interview with KFEQ. “Ukraine and Russia combined produce about 25% of all the
wheat exports in the world.”

Ukraine produces a large portion of the food stuffs for Europe
and Africa. In addition to wheat, Ukraine produces more than 20% of the world’s
corn. It produces nearly all the sunflower oil. Blunt says Europe and Africa
are facing possible food shortages due to the war in Ukraine. Blunt says Africa
relies on the raw grain coming out of Ukraine to produce its food.

Russia’s war on Ukraine has kept Ukrainian farmers out of the
field and has blocked the export of crops in the grain bins. Also, farm
supplies on which the United States relies have been held up by the war.

“So much of the fertilizer that comes out of Russia, and some
of it comes out of Ukraine, and we’re not seeing that as well,” Blunt says. “Even
before this happened, nitrogen was up by 175%. Now it’s 200% higher than it was
a year ago.”

Blunt says that has had a real impact here, driving up
agricultural input costs, such as diesel prices.

“You take fuel prices and add to that fertilizer prices and then
have parts of the world that have been served by somebody else suddenly desperately
needing food and we’re truly trying it figure out what to do both in the United
States as we think about that and what to do right now in Ukraine to figure out
how to get the food out of there that’s currently there.”

KFEQ Agriculture Director Dionne Bertling contributed to this article. Cover image courtesy Pixabay.

By BRENT MARTIN <a href="https://stjosephpost.com">St. Joseph Post</a>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had wide-ranging impacts on
the world as a whole and now threatens global food security.Missouri U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt says the full impact of the war
on food supply is just now beginning to emerge.“There’s a growing awareness of how much impact this could
have, not just in Ukraine or in Europe, but in Africa,” Bond says in an
interview with KFEQ. “Ukraine and Russia combined produce about 25% of all the
wheat exports in the world.”Ukraine produces a large portion of the food stuffs for Europe
and Africa. In addition to wheat, Ukraine produces more than 20% of the world’s
corn. It produces nearly all the sunflower oil. Blunt says Europe and Africa
are facing possible food shortages due to the war in Ukraine. Blunt says Africa
relies on the raw grain coming out of Ukraine to produce its food.Russia’s war on Ukraine has kept Ukrainian farmers out of the
field and has blocked the export of crops in the grain bins. Also, farm
supplies on which the United States relies have been held up by the war.“So much of the fertilizer that comes out of Russia, and some
of it comes out of Ukraine, and we’re not seeing that as well,” Blunt says. “Even
before this happened, nitrogen was up by 175%. Now it’s 200% higher than it was
a year ago.”Blunt says that has had a real impact here, driving up
agricultural input costs, such as diesel prices.“You take fuel prices and add to that fertilizer prices and then
have parts of the world that have been served by somebody else suddenly desperately
needing food and we’re truly trying it figure out what to do both in the United
States as we think about that and what to do right now in Ukraine to figure out
how to get the food out of there that’s currently there.”KFEQ Agriculture Director Dionne Bertling contributed to this article. Cover image courtesy Pixabay.

Russia's war on Ukraine could cause global food shortage

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Democratic lawmakers in more than a dozen states are following California’s lead in seeking to offer legal refuge to displaced transgender youth and their families.

The coordinated effort being announced Tuesday by the LGBTQ Victory Institute and other advocates comes in response to recent actions taken in conservative states. In Texas, for example, Gov. Gregg Abbott has directed state agencies to consider placing transgender children in foster care, though a judge has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-greg-abbott-texas-child-abuse-bad82efbb182e59030eaf9c4ca7cd3f8">temporarily blocked</a>&nbsp;such investigations. And multiple states have approved measures prohibiting gender-affirming health care treatments for transgender youth.

To combat such moves, lawmakers in both Minnesota and New York recently filed refuge state legislation modeled after the bill proposed in March by state Sen. Scott Wiener in California. Democrats in 16 other states plan to follow suit, though about half of their legislatures are out of session or not currently accepting new bills.

Wiener said he immediately began hearing from other states after coming forward with his bill, which would reject any out-of-state court judgments removing children from their parents’ custody because they allowed gender-affirming health care. It also would make arrest warrants based on alleged violation of another state’s law against receiving such care the lowest priority for California law enforcement.

“We’re sick of just playing defense against what these red states are doing,” Wiener said in an interview Monday. “We’re going on offense, we’re going to protect LGBQT kids and their families and we’re going to build a rainbow wall to protect our community.”

Also joining the effort are LGBTQ lawmakers in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.

Annise Parker, president and CEO of the Victory Institute, acknowledged that the legislation likely will fail in some states but said it was time to stand against the onslaught of bills targeting the LGBTQ community.

“This is our opportunity to drive the conversation and the debate, and to call on our allies proactively to step up instead of allowing ourselves to be targeted,” said Parker, who was the first openly LGBTQ mayor of a major American city when she led Houston for six years.

“We would love to see these bills in states where there are more progressive legislatures,” she said. “But we also think it’s important that trans kids and their families out there see and hear legislators from our community standing up and defending them.”

Wiener said it is despicable that any family would have to consider moving to a new state to protect a child, but if that happens, he hopes as many states as possible will welcome them.

“When your kid is being threatened with removal from your home, families are going to consider a lot of different options, and we just want to be clear that if you decide that’s the option for you, we’re going to do everything we can do to welcome you and protect you,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596824087253.png" alt="Rep. Stephanie Byers, a Wichita Democrat and the first transgender state lawmaker elected in Kansas-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Stephanie Byers, a Wichita Democrat and the first transgender state lawmaker elected in Kansas-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Democratic lawmakers in more than a dozen states are following California’s lead in seeking to offer legal refuge to displaced transgender youth and their families.The coordinated effort being announced Tuesday by the LGBTQ Victory Institute and other advocates comes in response to recent actions taken in conservative states. In Texas, for example, Gov. Gregg Abbott has directed state agencies to consider placing transgender children in foster care, though a judge has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-greg-abbott-texas-child-abuse-bad82efbb182e59030eaf9c4ca7cd3f8">temporarily blocked</a>&nbsp;such investigations. And multiple states have approved measures prohibiting gender-affirming health care treatments for transgender youth.To combat such moves, lawmakers in both Minnesota and New York recently filed refuge state legislation modeled after the bill proposed in March by state Sen. Scott Wiener in California. Democrats in 16 other states plan to follow suit, though about half of their legislatures are out of session or not currently accepting new bills.Wiener said he immediately began hearing from other states after coming forward with his bill, which would reject any out-of-state court judgments removing children from their parents’ custody because they allowed gender-affirming health care. It also would make arrest warrants based on alleged violation of another state’s law against receiving such care the lowest priority for California law enforcement.“We’re sick of just playing defense against what these red states are doing,” Wiener said in an interview Monday. “We’re going on offense, we’re going to protect LGBQT kids and their families and we’re going to build a rainbow wall to protect our community.”Also joining the effort are LGBTQ lawmakers in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.Annise Parker, president and CEO of the Victory Institute, acknowledged that the legislation likely will fail in some states but said it was time to stand against the onslaught of bills targeting the LGBTQ community.“This is our opportunity to drive the conversation and the debate, and to call on our allies proactively to step up instead of allowing ourselves to be targeted,” said Parker, who was the first openly LGBTQ mayor of a major American city when she led Houston for six years.“We would love to see these bills in states where there are more progressive legislatures,” she said. “But we also think it’s important that trans kids and their families out there see and hear legislators from our community standing up and defending them.”Wiener said it is despicable that any family would have to consider moving to a new state to protect a child, but if that happens, he hopes as many states as possible will welcome them.“When your kid is being threatened with removal from your home, families are going to consider a lot of different options, and we just want to be clear that if you decide that’s the option for you, we’re going to do everything we can do to welcome you and protect you,” he said.

Lawmakers in Kan., 18 other states want legal refuge for trans youth

NELIGH, Neb. (AP) — State officials are investigating a police shooting in northeastern Nebraska that police said occurred as an officer was being dragged by a car he had pulled over. 

The Nebraska State Patrol says in a news release that the shooting happened Sunday afternoon following reports of a disturbance in a Neligh convenience store parking lot. 

The patrol says a Neligh officer was making contact with a woman involved in the disturbance when she drove off, dragging the officer. 

The officer then fired his gun, hitting the woman before he fell from the vehicle.

 The patrol said a witness was able to force the woman's vehicle off the road.

 Both the officer and woman were taken to hospitals and are expected to survive.

By Associated PressNELIGH, Neb. (AP) — State officials are investigating a police shooting in northeastern Nebraska that police said occurred as an officer was being dragged by a car he had pulled over. The Nebraska State Patrol says in a news release that the shooting happened Sunday afternoon following reports of a disturbance in a Neligh convenience store parking lot. The patrol says a Neligh officer was making contact with a woman involved in the disturbance when she drove off, dragging the officer. The officer then fired his gun, hitting the woman before he fell from the vehicle. The patrol said a witness was able to force the woman's vehicle off the road. Both the officer and woman were taken to hospitals and are expected to survive.

Nebraska State Patrol: Officer dragged by car shoots driver

LINCOLN, NEB.&nbsp; — One person is in custody following an incident Sunday afternoon at the I-80 Speedway, near Greenwood.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Sunday, NSP was notified that a pickup had driven through a fence adjacent to I-80 near mile marker 417. Troopers responded to the area and learned that subject had since traveled to the Cubby’s gas station at the Greenwood I-80 interchange, at mile marker 420. The subject was reportedly armed with a hammer and had threatened to carjack a motorist.

Pilots in the NSP helicopter then observed a subject attempting to gain access to several vehicles around I-80 Speedway, across Highway 63 from the gas station. The pilots directed troopers and Cass County deputies to the area where a trooper was able to locate the subject. The subject then ran across the track and into the grandstand area on the west side of the facility.

A trooper caught up to the subject and began speaking with the subject. During that time the trooper observed the subject attempting to harm himself with a shard of glass. The man ignored the trooper’s commands to drop the glass, so the trooper deployed a taser. The man was then taken into custody without further incident.

The subject has been placed in emergency protective custody at the Lancaster County Mental Health Crisis Center. Once released from protective care, the subject will be lodged in Cass County Jail for attempted robbery, flight to avoid arrest, and vandalism.

By Nebraska State PatrolLINCOLN, NEB.&nbsp; — One person is in custody following an incident Sunday afternoon at the I-80 Speedway, near Greenwood.At approximately 1:30 p.m. Sunday, NSP was notified that a pickup had driven through a fence adjacent to I-80 near mile marker 417. Troopers responded to the area and learned that subject had since traveled to the Cubby’s gas station at the Greenwood I-80 interchange, at mile marker 420. The subject was reportedly armed with a hammer and had threatened to carjack a motorist.Pilots in the NSP helicopter then observed a subject attempting to gain access to several vehicles around I-80 Speedway, across Highway 63 from the gas station. The pilots directed troopers and Cass County deputies to the area where a trooper was able to locate the subject. The subject then ran across the track and into the grandstand area on the west side of the facility.A trooper caught up to the subject and began speaking with the subject. During that time the trooper observed the subject attempting to harm himself with a shard of glass. The man ignored the trooper’s commands to drop the glass, so the trooper deployed a taser. The man was then taken into custody without further incident.The subject has been placed in emergency protective custody at the Lancaster County Mental Health Crisis Center. Once released from protective care, the subject will be lodged in Cass County Jail for attempted robbery, flight to avoid arrest, and vandalism.

Subject in custody following incident at I-80 Speedway

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/09/herbster-pillen-in-dead-heat-in-gop-governors-race-analyst-says/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

WAHOO,
 Nebraska — Most of the hay is in the barn by this point in Nebraska’s 
Republican gubernatorial primary, after months of campaign stops, ads, 
endorsements and noise.

Polling shows a race that could go any of three ways, said Logan Phillips, the national political analyst whose <a target="_blank" href="https://www.racetothewh.com">RacetotheWH.com</a> correctly predicted the GOP’s U.S. Senate primary in Ohio.

His model <a target="_blank" href="https://www.racetothewh.com/governor/nebraska">shows a dead heat</a> at the top between Conklin Co.
 CEO Charles Herbster and University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen. It 
gives State Sen. Brett Lindstrom a solid chance to win, too.

“My
 model has this race as what might be the most competitive race I have 
information on,” Phillips said. “Trump’s influence has been less than I 
expected.”

RacetotheWH.com
 gives Herbster a 44% chance of winning, Pillen a 42% chance of winning,
 and Lindstrom a 14% chance. Phillips projects that all three candidates
 will secure between 20% and 30% of the vote.

Phillips
 bases his projections on who wins most often out of 10,000 simulations.
 He factors in polling, fundraising, endorsements, election experience 
and Google searches in the race’s last week.

Most
 polling shows only those three within range of winning the primary 
among nine GOP candidates in the race. The next closest to the top three
 is former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau, whom Phillips’ model gives a 
0.2% chance to win. The winner of Tuesday’s primary will likely face 
State Sen. Carol Blood, who faces only a nominal primary challenge. 

Each of the primary race’s three contenders spent the race’s final days hammering home themes from their campaigns.

Herbster
 has spent the last few days hosting rallies in person or by phone where
 he speaks about national issues like immigration and re-litigating the 
2020 election for former President Donald Trump, who endorsed him and <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/01/trump-rallies-for-herbster-defends-fortenberry-and-attacks-bacon-sasse/?msclkid=852f67cacf1c11eca22062ee7ba4e11b">held a rally</a>.&nbsp;

When
 he speaks about Nebraska issues, he speaks about the need for tax 
reform in Nebraska, though he offers few specifics on what he’d like to 
change.

“The
 fact that we brag about the fact that we’re the only state in the 
United States that has a one-house Legislature, and we’re proud of 
that,” Herbster said at a Wahoo stop last week. “That’s like bragging about the 1967 tax law and how it’s great today.”

He
 has run as a political outsider, but spent much of his campaign touting
 ties to national GOP insiders and has been joined at rallies in the 
final weeks by Trump, Trump economist Stephen Moore and embattled U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida.

Herbster calls the <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/02/herbsters-assistant-and-two-women-alleging-groping-disagree-about-2019-dinner/?msclkid=4f15429fcf1d11ec8e811c0dca0440c7">groping allegations of eight women</a> against him “fake news,” and has said he would ban sex education in K-12 schools. He says some textbooks should be burned.&nbsp;

The
 race’s best-known candidate, University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen, 
may have fumbled an early name ID advantage from his Husker playing days
 by not matching Herbster’s first TV ad purchases.

Pillen campaigned in <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/13/pillens-personal-touch-vs-herbsters-show-with-trump-jr/?msclkid=b25e3315cf1c11eca860a60c2138be90">small groups across the state</a>, holding more than 400 meetings with voters in Nebraska’s 93 counties, including 30 with the Nebraska Farm Bureau.

The
 hog producer avoided traditional debates, preferring candidate forums. 
Pillen has proposed capping school spending growth so state property tax
 relief funds make a bigger dent.

The
 education part of Pillen’s playbook emphasizes the need to steer more 
K-12 students toward internships, apprenticeships and training in the 
trades beyond the college path.&nbsp;

He
 has spent the race’s final days calling voters and preparing for a 
final campaign swing with key supporters Gov. Pete Ricketts, former Gov.
 Kay Orr and his coach at Nebraska, Tom Osborne.

“I’m
 running for governor to keep our kids here with great opportunities, 
cut taxes, defend agriculture, strengthen our rural communities, end 
abortion and critical race theory, and preserve our conservative 
values,” Pillen said in a statement Sunday.&nbsp;

The
 race’s upstart contender, State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, has taken a 
beating in the race’s final stretch from outside ads after gaining 
momentum for running a positive campaign.

At
 last count, outside groups tied to Ricketts and others had run more 
than $1.6 million in negative ads against Lindstrom. Lindstrom raised a 
total of $2.52 million for his bid.

Some conservatives <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/25/brett-lindstrom-has-a-shot-in-governors-race-but-is-he-conservative-enough-for-nebraska-gop-voters/?msclkid=cd5439afcf1c11eca42b77d313def5c4">have questioned Lindstrom’s 2015 vote</a>
 to repeal the death penalty, which voters restored by initiative 
petition and he now says he would enforce as governor, and to boost 
roads funding with an increase in the gas tax.

Lindstrom,
 a financial adviser, spent much of the spring in session. Senators 
passed Nebraska’s largest tax cut, including accelerating his income tax
 cut on Social Security payments.

“The
 momentum is real,” Lindstrom said during an Omaha fundraiser with a key
 supporter, Mayor Jean Stothert. “They’ve been doubling down, tripling 
down, quadrupling down, which is a positive sign. So we’re going to 
continue to stay positive.”

The race’s biggest wildcard could be what more than <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/03/party-registration-switch-ahead-of-primary-accelerates-as-gop-picks-up-8400/?msclkid=e8dd7c09cf1c11ecae7cde1beea4faa8">8,000 party switchers do</a>. The Nebraska Democratic Party lost 5,625 voters over the same span. And nonpartisans lost 2,631.

Two
 nonpartisans who spoke to the Nebraska Examiner at Herbster’s Trump 
rally said they might vote for Herbster. Voters had until May 2 to 
change their registration for the primary. Others said they switched to 
vote for Lindstrom or Pillen.

“I
 certainly think that’s a major wildcard,” said Paul Landow, a political
 science professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha with 
experience in campaigns.”It’s unusual, and it’s unclear how it will 
affect the race.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652110207302.png" alt="Nebraska Republican gubernatorial candidates, from left, Charles Herbster, Brett Lindstrom and Jim Pillen, at a candidate forum in Lincoln. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) " />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Republican gubernatorial candidates, from left, Charles Herbster, Brett Lindstrom and Jim Pillen, at a candidate forum in Lincoln. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner) </figcaption>
 </figure>By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/09/herbster-pillen-in-dead-heat-in-gop-governors-race-analyst-says/">Nebraska Examiner</a>WAHOO,
 Nebraska — Most of the hay is in the barn by this point in Nebraska’s 
Republican gubernatorial primary, after months of campaign stops, ads, 
endorsements and noise.Polling shows a race that could go any of three ways, said Logan Phillips, the national political analyst whose <a target="_blank" href="https://www.racetothewh.com">RacetotheWH.com</a> correctly predicted the GOP’s U.S. Senate primary in Ohio.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652110271729.png" alt="RacetotheWH.com projected what share of the vote each candidate will receive in Tuesday’s GOP primary election in Nebraska. (RacetotheWH.com)" />
 <figcaption>RacetotheWH.com projected what share of the vote each candidate will receive in Tuesday’s GOP primary election in Nebraska. (RacetotheWH.com)</figcaption>
 </figure>His model <a target="_blank" href="https://www.racetothewh.com/governor/nebraska">shows a dead heat</a> at the top between Conklin Co.
 CEO Charles Herbster and University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen. It 
gives State Sen. Brett Lindstrom a solid chance to win, too.“My
 model has this race as what might be the most competitive race I have 
information on,” Phillips said. “Trump’s influence has been less than I 
expected.”RacetotheWH.com
 gives Herbster a 44% chance of winning, Pillen a 42% chance of winning,
 and Lindstrom a 14% chance. Phillips projects that all three candidates
 will secure between 20% and 30% of the vote.Phillips
 bases his projections on who wins most often out of 10,000 simulations.
 He factors in polling, fundraising, endorsements, election experience 
and Google searches in the race’s last week.Most
 polling shows only those three within range of winning the primary 
among nine GOP candidates in the race. The next closest to the top three
 is former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau, whom Phillips’ model gives a 
0.2% chance to win. The winner of Tuesday’s primary will likely face 
State Sen. Carol Blood, who faces only a nominal primary challenge. Each of the primary race’s three contenders spent the race’s final days hammering home themes from their campaigns.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652110297134.jpeg" alt="GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster speaks during a meet and greet last week in Wahoo, Neb. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster speaks during a meet and greet last week in Wahoo, Neb. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Herbster
 has spent the last few days hosting rallies in person or by phone where
 he speaks about national issues like immigration and re-litigating the 
2020 election for former President Donald Trump, who endorsed him and <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/01/trump-rallies-for-herbster-defends-fortenberry-and-attacks-bacon-sasse/?msclkid=852f67cacf1c11eca22062ee7ba4e11b">held a rally</a>.&nbsp;When
 he speaks about Nebraska issues, he speaks about the need for tax 
reform in Nebraska, though he offers few specifics on what he’d like to 
change.“The
 fact that we brag about the fact that we’re the only state in the 
United States that has a one-house Legislature, and we’re proud of 
that,” Herbster said at a Wahoo stop last week. “That’s like bragging about the 1967 tax law and how it’s great today.”He
 has run as a political outsider, but spent much of his campaign touting
 ties to national GOP insiders and has been joined at rallies in the 
final weeks by Trump, Trump economist Stephen Moore and embattled U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida.Herbster calls the <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/02/herbsters-assistant-and-two-women-alleging-groping-disagree-about-2019-dinner/?msclkid=4f15429fcf1d11ec8e811c0dca0440c7">groping allegations of eight women</a> against him “fake news,” and has said he would ban sex education in K-12 schools. He says some textbooks should be burned.&nbsp;The
 race’s best-known candidate, University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen, 
may have fumbled an early name ID advantage from his Husker playing days
 by not matching Herbster’s first TV ad purchases.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652110326188.jpeg" alt="Jim Pillen picks Nebraska prosecutor Joe Kelly (right) as his lieutenant governor running mate. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Jim Pillen picks Nebraska prosecutor Joe Kelly (right) as his lieutenant governor running mate. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Pillen campaigned in <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/13/pillens-personal-touch-vs-herbsters-show-with-trump-jr/?msclkid=b25e3315cf1c11eca860a60c2138be90">small groups across the state</a>, holding more than 400 meetings with voters in Nebraska’s 93 counties, including 30 with the Nebraska Farm Bureau.The
 hog producer avoided traditional debates, preferring candidate forums. 
Pillen has proposed capping school spending growth so state property tax
 relief funds make a bigger dent.The
 education part of Pillen’s playbook emphasizes the need to steer more 
K-12 students toward internships, apprenticeships and training in the 
trades beyond the college path.&nbsp;He
 has spent the race’s final days calling voters and preparing for a 
final campaign swing with key supporters Gov. Pete Ricketts, former Gov.
 Kay Orr and his coach at Nebraska, Tom Osborne.“I’m
 running for governor to keep our kids here with great opportunities, 
cut taxes, defend agriculture, strengthen our rural communities, end 
abortion and critical race theory, and preserve our conservative 
values,” Pillen said in a statement Sunday.&nbsp;The
 race’s upstart contender, State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, has taken a 
beating in the race’s final stretch from outside ads after gaining 
momentum for running a positive campaign.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652110349585.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Brett Lindstrom speaks with a potential donor during a fundraiser in Omaha last week. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Brett Lindstrom speaks with a potential donor during a fundraiser in Omaha last week. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>At
 last count, outside groups tied to Ricketts and others had run more 
than $1.6 million in negative ads against Lindstrom. Lindstrom raised a 
total of $2.52 million for his bid.Some conservatives <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/25/brett-lindstrom-has-a-shot-in-governors-race-but-is-he-conservative-enough-for-nebraska-gop-voters/?msclkid=cd5439afcf1c11eca42b77d313def5c4">have questioned Lindstrom’s 2015 vote</a>
 to repeal the death penalty, which voters restored by initiative 
petition and he now says he would enforce as governor, and to boost 
roads funding with an increase in the gas tax.Lindstrom,
 a financial adviser, spent much of the spring in session. Senators 
passed Nebraska’s largest tax cut, including accelerating his income tax
 cut on Social Security payments.“The
 momentum is real,” Lindstrom said during an Omaha fundraiser with a key
 supporter, Mayor Jean Stothert. “They’ve been doubling down, tripling 
down, quadrupling down, which is a positive sign. So we’re going to 
continue to stay positive.”The race’s biggest wildcard could be what more than <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/03/party-registration-switch-ahead-of-primary-accelerates-as-gop-picks-up-8400/?msclkid=e8dd7c09cf1c11ecae7cde1beea4faa8">8,000 party switchers do</a>. The Nebraska Democratic Party lost 5,625 voters over the same span. And nonpartisans lost 2,631.Two
 nonpartisans who spoke to the Nebraska Examiner at Herbster’s Trump 
rally said they might vote for Herbster. Voters had until May 2 to 
change their registration for the primary. Others said they switched to 
vote for Lindstrom or Pillen.“I
 certainly think that’s a major wildcard,” said Paul Landow, a political
 science professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha with 
experience in campaigns.”It’s unusual, and it’s unclear how it will 
affect the race.&nbsp;“But it almost certainly will.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652110377529.png" alt="Logan Phillips, a political analyst who got the Ohio U.S. Senate race right, has been keeping tabs on Nebraska’s governor’s race, too. Here’s how much of a chance his model says candidates have to win. (RacetotheWH.com)" />
 <figcaption>Logan Phillips, a political analyst who got the Ohio U.S. Senate race right, has been keeping tabs on Nebraska’s governor’s race, too. Here’s how much of a chance his model says candidates have to win. (RacetotheWH.com)</figcaption>
 </figure>

Herbster, Pillen in dead heat in Neb. GOP governor’s race

Maybe you saw those words on a
 company’s website or in a commercial promoting a product or treatment. 
Some marketers may say their products are “FDA approved.” But how can 
you know for sure what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has 
approved?

The FDA is responsible for protecting public health by 
regulating human drugs and biological products, animal drugs, medical 
devices, tobacco products, food (including animal food), cosmetics, and 
electronic products that emit radiation.

But not all those 
products undergo premarket approval — that is, a review of safety, 
quality, and effectiveness by FDA experts and agency approval before a 
product can be sold to consumers. In some cases, the FDA’s enforcement 
efforts focus on products after they are already for sale. That is 
determined by Congress in establishing the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-basics/what-does-fda-regulate">FDA’s authorities</a>.
 Even when FDA approval is not required before a product is sold, the 
agency has legal regulatory authority to act when safety issues arise.

Here is a guide to how the FDA regulates products for people — and what the agency does (and doesn’t) approve.

The
 FDA does not “approve” health care providers, including physician 
offices, or laboratories. The FDA does have authority to inspect 
regulated facilities to verify that they comply with current good 
manufacturing practices.

Although manufacturing facilities and 
contract manufacturers are often inspected as part of a product 
application for certain products that require premarket approval, the 
agency does not approve manufacturing facilities independently. The FDA 
does have authority to inspect regulated facilities to verify that they 
comply with applicable current good manufacturing practices and other 
requirements, including an adequately designed and controlled production
 process.

Unless an exemption applies, owners and operators of 
domestic or foreign food, drug, and most device facilities must register
 with the FDA before exporting products to the U.S. Owners and operators
 of establishments that manufacture blood products or cells, tissues, 
and cellular and tissue-based products must also register with the 
agency.

Mammography facilities must be FDA-certified and must 
display their FDA certificates where patients can see them. The 
certificate indicates that the facilities have met stringent standards 
for providing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfMQSA/mqsa.cfm">quality mammography</a>.

The
 FDA does not have regulations specific to good manufacturing practices 
for cosmetics. Cosmetic companies are not required to register their 
products or facilities with the FDA but may do so voluntarily.

The FDA approves new human drugs and biological products.

New
 drugs and biological products for people must be FDA approved before 
they are marketed in interstate commerce. This means that a company must
 demonstrate that its drug or biological product is safe and effective 
for the intended use, and that it can manufacture the product to federal
 quality standards. If the FDA grants an approval, it means the agency 
has determined that the benefits of the product outweigh the risks for 
the intended use.

Some examples of biological products that 
require approval are therapeutic proteins, vaccines, allergenic 
products, cellular and gene therapies, and products manufactured from 
plasma. Manufacturers must also prove that they are able to make the 
drug or biological product according to federal quality standards.

The
 FDA does not develop products before approving them. Instead, FDA 
experts conduct a careful evaluation of the results of laboratory, 
animal, and human clinical testing done by manufacturers. The FDA does 
perform lot release testing of many biological products, which provides 
the agency with a real-time system to continuously monitor product 
quality, through review and testing.

The FDA doesn’t approve compounded drugs.

Compounding
 is generally a practice in which a pharmacist or a doctor combines 
ingredients to create medications that meet the needs of individual 
patients, including those who are allergic to ingredients in 
FDA-approved medicines or who cannot swallow an FDA-approved pill.

Be aware that compounded drugs are not FDA approved.

This
 means that the FDA does not conduct premarket review for compounded 
drugs to evaluate their safety, effectiveness, or quality.

The FDA uses a risk-based, tiered approach for regulating medical devices for people.

The
 FDA classifies devices according to risk and the level of regulatory 
controls needed to provide a reasonable assurance of the safety and 
effectiveness of the devices. The highest-risk devices (Class III), such
 as mechanical heart valves and implantable infusion pumps, generally 
require FDA approval of a premarket approval application before 
marketing. To receive FDA approval for these devices, manufacturers must
 demonstrate with sufficient, valid scientific evidence that there is a 
reasonable assurance that the devices are safe and effective for their 
intended uses.

Generally, the FDA “clears” moderate-risk medical 
devices (Class II) (for example dialysis equipment and many types of 
catheters) for marketing once it has been demonstrated that the device 
is substantially equivalent to a legally marketed predicate device that 
does not require premarket approval. Class II devices are generally 
subject to special controls, which may include specific testing or 
labeling requirements for that device.

Devices that are low risk 
of harm to the user (Class I) (for example non-powered breast pumps, 
elastic bandages, tongue depressors, and exam gloves) are subject to 
general controls only, and most are exempt from premarket notification 
requirements.

The FDA uses a risk-based approach for human cells and tissues.

All
 human cells and tissues intended for use in people — collectively 
referred to as human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based 
products (HCT/Ps) — are regulated to prevent the transmission of 
infectious disease. Examples of HCT/Ps include bone, skin, corneas, 
ligaments, tendons, dura mater, heart valves, and reproductive tissue.

Those HCT/Ps that pose an additional risk because of their processing or use also require FDA approval before marketing.

The
 FDA does not regulate the transplantation of vascularized human organ 
transplants such as kidney, liver, heart, lung, or pancreas. The Health 
Resources Services Administration (HRSA) oversees the transplantation of
 vascularized human organs.

The FDA doesn’t approve tobacco products.

There’s
 no such thing as a safe tobacco product, so the FDA’s safe and 
effective standard for evaluating medical products does not apply to 
tobacco products. Instead, the FDA regulates tobacco products based on a
 public health standard that considers the product’s risks to the 
population, including users and nonusers of tobacco products.

To 
legally sell or distribute a new tobacco product in the U.S., 
manufacturers must receive authorization from the FDA. There are three 
pathways available to bring a new tobacco product to market:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/market-and-distribute-tobacco-product/premarket-tobacco-product-applications">premarket tobacco product applications</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/market-and-distribute-tobacco-product/substantial-equivalence">substantial equivalence applications</a>, or exemption from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/market-and-distribute-tobacco-product/exemption-substantial-equivalence">substantial equivalence requests</a>.

A
 marketing authorization does not indicate that the tobacco product is 
either safe or “approved.” It means that the manufacturer has complied 
with the requirements under the law to bring its product to market.

The FDA approves food additives in food for people.

Although
 the FDA does not have premarket approval of food products, it has the 
authority to approve certain ingredients before they are used in food or
 intended to contact food. Those include food additives (substances 
added intentionally to food, as well as substances that migrate to food 
from food contact products such as food packaging), and color additives.

Companies
 that want to add new food additives to food are responsible for 
providing the FDA with information demonstrating that the additives are 
safe. FDA experts review the results of appropriate tests done by 
companies to ensure that the food additive is safe for its intended use.
 An approved food additive must be used in compliance with its approved 
uses, specifications, and restrictions.

Certain food ingredients, 
such as those that are considered “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) 
for their intended conditions of use by scientific experts, do not 
require premarket approval by the FDA. The FDA has a voluntary 
notification process under which a manufacturer may submit a conclusion 
that the use of an ingredient is GRAS.

The FDA approves color additives used in FDA-regulated products.

This
 includes those used in food (including animal food), dietary 
supplements, drugs, cosmetics, and some medical devices. These color 
additives (except coal-tar hair dyes) are subject by law to approval by 
the agency before market entry, and each must be used only in compliance
 with its approved uses, specifications, and restrictions.

In the approval process, the FDA evaluates safety data to ensure that a color additive is safe for its intended purposes.

Examples
 of cosmetics are perfumes, makeup, moisturizers, shampoos, hair dyes, 
face and body cleansers, and shaving preparations. Cosmetic products and
 ingredients, and their labeling, do not require FDA approval.

There’s
 one exception: color additives (other than coal-tar hair dyes). 
Cosmetics must be safe for their intended use and properly labeled.

A
 medical food is formulated to be consumed or administered enterally and
 intended for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition 
for which distinctive nutritional requirements, based on recognized 
scientific principles, are established by medical evaluation. An example
 of a disease or condition that a medical food could be used to manage 
is phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder. Someone with this disorder may 
need medical foods that are formulated to be free of the amino acid 
phenylalanine.

A medical food is intended for use under the 
supervision of a physician. It doesn’t include products such as meal 
replacements or diet shakes, or products for the management of diseases,
 such as diabetes, that can be managed through modification of the 
normal diet alone.

Medical foods do not undergo premarket approval
 by the FDA. Still, medical food companies must comply with other 
requirements, such as current good manufacturing practices and 
registration of food facilities. Medical foods do not have to include a 
Nutrition Facts label on their labels; however, any statements on their 
label or in other labeling must be truthful and not misleading.

The FDA doesn’t approve infant formula.

The
 FDA does not approve infant formulas before they can be marketed. But 
manufacturers of infant formula are subject to the FDA’s regulatory 
oversight.

Manufacturers must ensure that their infant formula 
complies with federal nutrient requirements and other regulations. 
Manufacturers must register with the FDA and provide the agency with an 
infant formula submission before marketing a new formula.

The FDA 
conducts yearly inspections of all facilities that manufacture infant 
formula and collects and analyzes product samples. The FDA also inspects
 new facilities. If the FDA determines that an adulterated or misbranded
 infant formula presents a risk to human health, the manufacturer of the
 formula must conduct a recall.

The FDA doesn’t approve dietary supplements.

The
 FDA is not authorized to approve dietary supplements for safety and 
effectiveness.&nbsp;In fact, many dietary supplements can be marketed without
 even notifying the FDA.

But companies are required to submit a 
premarket safety notification to the FDA at least 75 days before 
marketing dietary supplements containing certain “new dietary 
ingredients” (that were not marketed in the U.S. before Oct. 15, 1994).

Dietary
 supplement companies must ensure their products are safe before 
marketing and comply with other labeling and quality requirements, such 
as good manufacturing practices.

The FDA inspects facilities for 
compliance and monitors adverse event reports. When public health 
concerns arise about the safety of a dietary supplement or an 
ingredient, the FDA has the authority to take action to protect the 
public.

The FDA doesn’t approve the food label, including the Nutrition Facts label.

The
 FDA does not approve individual food labels before food products can be
 marketed. But FDA regulations require specific labeling elements, 
including nutrition information, to appear on most foods, including 
dietary supplements. Also, any statements on food products must be 
truthful and not misleading – and must comply with any regulatory 
requirements for the type of statement, as applicable.

Manufacturers
 must provide the serving size of the food and specified information 
about the nutrient content of each serving on the “Nutrition Facts” 
label (or on the “Supplement Facts” label for dietary supplements).

The FDA doesn’t approve structure-function claims on dietary supplements and other foods.

Structure-function
 claims describe the role of a food or food component (such as a 
nutrient) that is intended to affect the structure or function of the 
human body. One example is “calcium builds strong bones.”

Dietary 
supplement companies that make structure-function claims on labels or in
 other labeling must submit a notification to the FDA. 
Structure-function claims on dietary supplements carry a disclaimer 
stating that the claim has not been evaluated by the FDA, and that the 
product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any 
disease.

The FDA does not require conventional food manufacturers 
to notify the FDA about their structure-function claims or to carry a 
disclaimer. &nbsp;By law, all such claims must be truthful and not 
misleading.

Misuse of the FDA’s logo may violate federal law.

The
 FDA’s logo is for official government use only. The FDA’s logo should 
not be used to misrepresent the agency or to suggest that the FDA 
endorses any private organization, product, or service.

These are just some of the many ways the FDA is responsible for protecting the public health.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600893091335.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FDA“FDA approved!”Maybe you saw those words on a
 company’s website or in a commercial promoting a product or treatment. 
Some marketers may say their products are “FDA approved.” But how can 
you know for sure what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has 
approved?The FDA is responsible for protecting public health by 
regulating human drugs and biological products, animal drugs, medical 
devices, tobacco products, food (including animal food), cosmetics, and 
electronic products that emit radiation.But not all those 
products undergo premarket approval — that is, a review of safety, 
quality, and effectiveness by FDA experts and agency approval before a 
product can be sold to consumers. In some cases, the FDA’s enforcement 
efforts focus on products after they are already for sale. That is 
determined by Congress in establishing the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-basics/what-does-fda-regulate">FDA’s authorities</a>.
 Even when FDA approval is not required before a product is sold, the 
agency has legal regulatory authority to act when safety issues arise.Here is a guide to how the FDA regulates products for people — and what the agency does (and doesn’t) approve.<h2>The FDA doesn’t approve facilities.</h2>The
 FDA does not “approve” health care providers, including physician 
offices, or laboratories. The FDA does have authority to inspect 
regulated facilities to verify that they comply with current good 
manufacturing practices.Although manufacturing facilities and 
contract manufacturers are often inspected as part of a product 
application for certain products that require premarket approval, the 
agency does not approve manufacturing facilities independently. The FDA 
does have authority to inspect regulated facilities to verify that they 
comply with applicable current good manufacturing practices and other 
requirements, including an adequately designed and controlled production
 process.Unless an exemption applies, owners and operators of 
domestic or foreign food, drug, and most device facilities must register
 with the FDA before exporting products to the U.S. Owners and operators
 of establishments that manufacture blood products or cells, tissues, 
and cellular and tissue-based products must also register with the 
agency.Mammography facilities must be FDA-certified and must 
display their FDA certificates where patients can see them. The 
certificate indicates that the facilities have met stringent standards 
for providing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfMQSA/mqsa.cfm">quality mammography</a>.The
 FDA does not have regulations specific to good manufacturing practices 
for cosmetics. Cosmetic companies are not required to register their 
products or facilities with the FDA but may do so voluntarily.<h2>The FDA approves new human drugs and biological products.</h2>New
 drugs and biological products for people must be FDA approved before 
they are marketed in interstate commerce. This means that a company must
 demonstrate that its drug or biological product is safe and effective 
for the intended use, and that it can manufacture the product to federal
 quality standards. If the FDA grants an approval, it means the agency 
has determined that the benefits of the product outweigh the risks for 
the intended use.Some examples of biological products that 
require approval are therapeutic proteins, vaccines, allergenic 
products, cellular and gene therapies, and products manufactured from 
plasma. Manufacturers must also prove that they are able to make the 
drug or biological product according to federal quality standards.The
 FDA does not develop products before approving them. Instead, FDA 
experts conduct a careful evaluation of the results of laboratory, 
animal, and human clinical testing done by manufacturers. The FDA does 
perform lot release testing of many biological products, which provides 
the agency with a real-time system to continuously monitor product 
quality, through review and testing.For more information, see:<ol>
 <li>A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-approvals-and-databases/national-drug-code-directory">directory</a>&nbsp;of approved and unapproved finished drugs on the market.</li><li>A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/complete-list-licensed-products-and-establishments">complete</a>&nbsp;list of licensed biological products.</li>
 </ol><h2>The FDA doesn’t approve compounded drugs.</h2>Compounding
 is generally a practice in which a pharmacist or a doctor combines 
ingredients to create medications that meet the needs of individual 
patients, including those who are allergic to ingredients in 
FDA-approved medicines or who cannot swallow an FDA-approved pill.Be aware that compounded drugs are not FDA approved.This
 means that the FDA does not conduct premarket review for compounded 
drugs to evaluate their safety, effectiveness, or quality.<h2>The FDA uses a risk-based, tiered approach for regulating medical devices for people.</h2>The
 FDA classifies devices according to risk and the level of regulatory 
controls needed to provide a reasonable assurance of the safety and 
effectiveness of the devices. The highest-risk devices (Class III), such
 as mechanical heart valves and implantable infusion pumps, generally 
require FDA approval of a premarket approval application before 
marketing. To receive FDA approval for these devices, manufacturers must
 demonstrate with sufficient, valid scientific evidence that there is a 
reasonable assurance that the devices are safe and effective for their 
intended uses.Generally, the FDA “clears” moderate-risk medical 
devices (Class II) (for example dialysis equipment and many types of 
catheters) for marketing once it has been demonstrated that the device 
is substantially equivalent to a legally marketed predicate device that 
does not require premarket approval. Class II devices are generally 
subject to special controls, which may include specific testing or 
labeling requirements for that device.Devices that are low risk 
of harm to the user (Class I) (for example non-powered breast pumps, 
elastic bandages, tongue depressors, and exam gloves) are subject to 
general controls only, and most are exempt from premarket notification 
requirements.<h2>The FDA uses a risk-based approach for human cells and tissues.</h2>All
 human cells and tissues intended for use in people — collectively 
referred to as human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based 
products (HCT/Ps) — are regulated to prevent the transmission of 
infectious disease. Examples of HCT/Ps include bone, skin, corneas, 
ligaments, tendons, dura mater, heart valves, and reproductive tissue.Those HCT/Ps that pose an additional risk because of their processing or use also require FDA approval before marketing.The
 FDA does not regulate the transplantation of vascularized human organ 
transplants such as kidney, liver, heart, lung, or pancreas. The Health 
Resources Services Administration (HRSA) oversees the transplantation of
 vascularized human organs.<h2>The FDA doesn’t approve tobacco products.</h2>There’s
 no such thing as a safe tobacco product, so the FDA’s safe and 
effective standard for evaluating medical products does not apply to 
tobacco products. Instead, the FDA regulates tobacco products based on a
 public health standard that considers the product’s risks to the 
population, including users and nonusers of tobacco products.To 
legally sell or distribute a new tobacco product in the U.S., 
manufacturers must receive authorization from the FDA. There are three 
pathways available to bring a new tobacco product to market:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/market-and-distribute-tobacco-product/premarket-tobacco-product-applications">premarket tobacco product applications</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/market-and-distribute-tobacco-product/substantial-equivalence">substantial equivalence applications</a>, or exemption from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/market-and-distribute-tobacco-product/exemption-substantial-equivalence">substantial equivalence requests</a>.A
 marketing authorization does not indicate that the tobacco product is 
either safe or “approved.” It means that the manufacturer has complied 
with the requirements under the law to bring its product to market.<h2>The FDA approves food additives in food for people.</h2>Although
 the FDA does not have premarket approval of food products, it has the 
authority to approve certain ingredients before they are used in food or
 intended to contact food. Those include food additives (substances 
added intentionally to food, as well as substances that migrate to food 
from food contact products such as food packaging), and color additives.Companies
 that want to add new food additives to food are responsible for 
providing the FDA with information demonstrating that the additives are 
safe. FDA experts review the results of appropriate tests done by 
companies to ensure that the food additive is safe for its intended use.
 An approved food additive must be used in compliance with its approved 
uses, specifications, and restrictions.Certain food ingredients, 
such as those that are considered “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) 
for their intended conditions of use by scientific experts, do not 
require premarket approval by the FDA. The FDA has a voluntary 
notification process under which a manufacturer may submit a conclusion 
that the use of an ingredient is GRAS.<h2>The FDA approves color additives used in FDA-regulated products.</h2>This
 includes those used in food (including animal food), dietary 
supplements, drugs, cosmetics, and some medical devices. These color 
additives (except coal-tar hair dyes) are subject by law to approval by 
the agency before market entry, and each must be used only in compliance
 with its approved uses, specifications, and restrictions.In the approval process, the FDA evaluates safety data to ensure that a color additive is safe for its intended purposes.<h2>The FDA does not approve cosmetics.</h2>Examples
 of cosmetics are perfumes, makeup, moisturizers, shampoos, hair dyes, 
face and body cleansers, and shaving preparations. Cosmetic products and
 ingredients, and their labeling, do not require FDA approval.There’s
 one exception: color additives (other than coal-tar hair dyes). 
Cosmetics must be safe for their intended use and properly labeled.<h2>The FDA doesn’t approve medical foods.</h2>A
 medical food is formulated to be consumed or administered enterally and
 intended for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition 
for which distinctive nutritional requirements, based on recognized 
scientific principles, are established by medical evaluation. An example
 of a disease or condition that a medical food could be used to manage 
is phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder. Someone with this disorder may 
need medical foods that are formulated to be free of the amino acid 
phenylalanine.A medical food is intended for use under the 
supervision of a physician. It doesn’t include products such as meal 
replacements or diet shakes, or products for the management of diseases,
 such as diabetes, that can be managed through modification of the 
normal diet alone.Medical foods do not undergo premarket approval
 by the FDA. Still, medical food companies must comply with other 
requirements, such as current good manufacturing practices and 
registration of food facilities. Medical foods do not have to include a 
Nutrition Facts label on their labels; however, any statements on their 
label or in other labeling must be truthful and not misleading.<h2>The FDA doesn’t approve infant formula.</h2>The
 FDA does not approve infant formulas before they can be marketed. But 
manufacturers of infant formula are subject to the FDA’s regulatory 
oversight.Manufacturers must ensure that their infant formula 
complies with federal nutrient requirements and other regulations. 
Manufacturers must register with the FDA and provide the agency with an 
infant formula submission before marketing a new formula.The FDA 
conducts yearly inspections of all facilities that manufacture infant 
formula and collects and analyzes product samples. The FDA also inspects
 new facilities. If the FDA determines that an adulterated or misbranded
 infant formula presents a risk to human health, the manufacturer of the
 formula must conduct a recall.<h2>The FDA doesn’t approve dietary supplements.</h2>The
 FDA is not authorized to approve dietary supplements for safety and 
effectiveness.&nbsp;In fact, many dietary supplements can be marketed without
 even notifying the FDA.But companies are required to submit a 
premarket safety notification to the FDA at least 75 days before 
marketing dietary supplements containing certain “new dietary 
ingredients” (that were not marketed in the U.S. before Oct. 15, 1994).Dietary
 supplement companies must ensure their products are safe before 
marketing and comply with other labeling and quality requirements, such 
as good manufacturing practices.The FDA inspects facilities for 
compliance and monitors adverse event reports. When public health 
concerns arise about the safety of a dietary supplement or an 
ingredient, the FDA has the authority to take action to protect the 
public.<h2>The FDA doesn’t approve the food label, including the Nutrition Facts label.</h2>The
 FDA does not approve individual food labels before food products can be
 marketed. But FDA regulations require specific labeling elements, 
including nutrition information, to appear on most foods, including 
dietary supplements. Also, any statements on food products must be 
truthful and not misleading – and must comply with any regulatory 
requirements for the type of statement, as applicable.Manufacturers
 must provide the serving size of the food and specified information 
about the nutrient content of each serving on the “Nutrition Facts” 
label (or on the “Supplement Facts” label for dietary supplements).<h2>The FDA doesn’t approve structure-function claims on dietary supplements and other foods.</h2>Structure-function
 claims describe the role of a food or food component (such as a 
nutrient) that is intended to affect the structure or function of the 
human body. One example is “calcium builds strong bones.”Dietary 
supplement companies that make structure-function claims on labels or in
 other labeling must submit a notification to the FDA. 
Structure-function claims on dietary supplements carry a disclaimer 
stating that the claim has not been evaluated by the FDA, and that the 
product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any 
disease.The FDA does not require conventional food manufacturers 
to notify the FDA about their structure-function claims or to carry a 
disclaimer. &nbsp;By law, all such claims must be truthful and not 
misleading.<h2>Misuse of the FDA’s logo may violate federal law.</h2>The
 FDA’s logo is for official government use only. The FDA’s logo should 
not be used to misrepresent the agency or to suggest that the FDA 
endorses any private organization, product, or service.These are just some of the many ways the FDA is responsible for protecting the public health.

Get the facts: Is it really 'FDA Approved'?

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Abortion rights protesters rallied in cities around the United States on over the weekend vowing to fight to ensure that abortion remains a legal option for women nationwide.

Hundreds gathered in Kansas City, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and other cities days after a draft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-religion-public-opinion-congress-b4df45938f55a5ae6e8aacbe5e36059f">U.S. Supreme Court opinion was leaked to the public</a>&nbsp;suggesting the court is poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide. The draft opinion, which comes amid nearly 50 years of federal abortion protections, could change before the ruling is finalized in coming weeks.

On Aug. 2, Kansans will vote on an amendment that would say there is no right to abortion in the state constitution.

&nbsp;If Roe is overturned, Missouri, along with 12 other states, has a trigger law that bans all abortions except in medical emergencies.

“To think that, after all this time, people still want to control what women can do and our rights to make our personal healthcare decisions is just really outrageous,” Carole Levin, chair of Courts Matter Illinois, told WMAQ-TV during the rally in Chicago.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker attended the rally and vowed to protect reproductive rights in Illinois.

“I’m proud Illinois is an island for reproductive freedom in the Midwest,” he said. “Our shores remain open for any person left marooned by these extremist politicians.”

In the nation’s capital, abortion rights protesters stood outside the Supreme Court, holding signs that said abortion is a human right, or “Abort the Court.” Protesters who oppose abortion demonstrated across the street.

In Atlanta, demonstrators carried signs in favor of abortion rights as they marched through that city’s downtown and chanted, “Not the church and not the state, women must decide our fate.”

In Houston, thousands attended a reproductive rights rally headlined by Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who is running for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2022-midterm-elections-us-supreme-court-politics-d01b0bbc93c485625236154ac39c023a">Texas governor</a>. Texas is one of several states that would automatically ban abortion,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-idaho-1020bba25a4103a1526a0db0f325d1bd">leaving no exceptions for rape or incest</a>, if the high court overturns the nationwide right to abortion.

An investigation is underway to determine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-crime-john-roberts-278946fa3a44e20aee99337a4fe69dc1">who leaked the Supreme Court draft opinion</a>&nbsp;to Politico.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652092402070.png" alt="Protesters during a rally Saturday at Mill Creek Park in Kansas City -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Protesters during a rally Saturday at Mill Creek Park in Kansas City -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Abortion rights protesters rallied in cities around the United States on over the weekend vowing to fight to ensure that abortion remains a legal option for women nationwide.Hundreds gathered in Kansas City, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and other cities days after a draft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-religion-public-opinion-congress-b4df45938f55a5ae6e8aacbe5e36059f">U.S. Supreme Court opinion was leaked to the public</a>&nbsp;suggesting the court is poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide. The draft opinion, which comes amid nearly 50 years of federal abortion protections, could change before the ruling is finalized in coming weeks.On Aug. 2, Kansans will vote on an amendment that would say there is no right to abortion in the state constitution.&nbsp;If Roe is overturned, Missouri, along with 12 other states, has a trigger law that bans all abortions except in medical emergencies.“To think that, after all this time, people still want to control what women can do and our rights to make our personal healthcare decisions is just really outrageous,” Carole Levin, chair of Courts Matter Illinois, told WMAQ-TV during the rally in Chicago.Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker attended the rally and vowed to protect reproductive rights in Illinois.“I’m proud Illinois is an island for reproductive freedom in the Midwest,” he said. “Our shores remain open for any person left marooned by these extremist politicians.”In the nation’s capital, abortion rights protesters stood outside the Supreme Court, holding signs that said abortion is a human right, or “Abort the Court.” Protesters who oppose abortion demonstrated across the street.In Atlanta, demonstrators carried signs in favor of abortion rights as they marched through that city’s downtown and chanted, “Not the church and not the state, women must decide our fate.”In Houston, thousands attended a reproductive rights rally headlined by Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who is running for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2022-midterm-elections-us-supreme-court-politics-d01b0bbc93c485625236154ac39c023a">Texas governor</a>. Texas is one of several states that would automatically ban abortion,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-idaho-1020bba25a4103a1526a0db0f325d1bd">leaving no exceptions for rape or incest</a>, if the high court overturns the nationwide right to abortion.An investigation is underway to determine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-crime-john-roberts-278946fa3a44e20aee99337a4fe69dc1">who leaked the Supreme Court draft opinion</a>&nbsp;to Politico.

Abortion rights protesters rally in cities across the United States

By BARRY BUTTERFIELD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/09/can-a-once-thriving-industry-all-but-given-up-for-dead-come-back-to-life-in-nebraska/">Courtesy Nebraska Examiner</a>

Reviving uranium mining has 
long been in the works, but production plans have been held up by 
funding hurdles and problems with federal regulations. Now, as a result 
of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, that may change.

Nearly 50% of the uranium used at U.S. 
nuclear power plants, in nuclear medicine and for distant space missions
 is imported from Russia and two of its closest allies, Kazakhstan and 
Uzbekistan, both former Soviet states. Yet despite Russia’s atrocities 
in Ukraine, the United States continues to pay Russia $100 million a 
month for uranium. This is absurd.

Congress is considering legislation to ban 
imports of Russian uranium, but the Biden administration — which has 
imposed sanctions against Russian sales of oil and natural gas — wants 
the uranium shipments to continue.

Let’s be clear: Sanctions have been only 
partly successful in putting pressure on Russia’s economy and slowing 
its war machine. But combined with arms shipments, sanctions have been 
critical in checking Vladimir Putin’s goals. We clearly need a vigorous 
commitment to both.

For nuclear power plants, nothing is as 
important as a reliable supply of uranium. Years ago, there were more 
than 300 uranium mines in the United States. Today, there is one 
operating mine, in Utah. Virtually all the uranium we need for our 
energy needs is imported from other countries. It is one example of the 
atrophy of minerals mining in the United States, something our enemies 
use to exploit our energy security.

This isn’t a time to pretend that Putin 
would not dare cut off uranium shipments to the United States. A Russian
 embargo would severely disrupt the production of electricity at nuclear
 plants that provide nearly 20% of U.S. power and 55% of the nation’s 
emission-free electricity.

Halting the use of uranium from Russia and 
its satellites would be a major step in the right direction. Given the 
risk of a uranium shortage, we must make a major push to create new 
uranium mines and reopen old mines that have been closed, such as Crow 
Butte.

Situated in northwest Nebraska near 
Crawford, Crow Butte was the first uranium mine developed in Nebraska. A
 roll-front uranium mine, it began production in 1991, using an in-situ 
method for recovery. However, the import of cheap uranium led to 
weakening of the uranium market, and production stopped in 2018. Cameco 
Resources, owner of the mine, says the mine is under care and 
maintenance pending an improvement in uranium prices.

Reopening Crow Butte and other mines would 
help deter Putin from engaging in uranium blackmail against the United 
States. Also, the federal government should consider establishing a 
uranium strategic reserve, similar to the petroleum strategic reserve, 
and switch to friendly countries such as Canada and Australia for 
uranium supplies.

Were Putin to cut off uranium shipments, we 
can’t say we weren’t warned. Putin is a brutal dictator whose military 
has crushed cities and murdered thousands of people. Not to think he 
might pull the plug on U.S. nuclear plants would be naive.

Barry Butterfield is a civil engineer who worked in the public and private sector for over 40 years. He has done energy-related projects in Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa and Connecticut. He also worked on two of Nebraska’s more controversial projects, including the Central Interstate Compact Low-Level Radioactive Waste facility near Butte, Nebraska, and the Keystone XL pipeline.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652110475031.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By BARRY BUTTERFIELD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/09/can-a-once-thriving-industry-all-but-given-up-for-dead-come-back-to-life-in-nebraska/">Courtesy Nebraska Examiner</a>Reviving uranium mining has 
long been in the works, but production plans have been held up by 
funding hurdles and problems with federal regulations. Now, as a result 
of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, that may change.Nearly 50% of the uranium used at U.S. 
nuclear power plants, in nuclear medicine and for distant space missions
 is imported from Russia and two of its closest allies, Kazakhstan and 
Uzbekistan, both former Soviet states. Yet despite Russia’s atrocities 
in Ukraine, the United States continues to pay Russia $100 million a 
month for uranium. This is absurd.Congress is considering legislation to ban 
imports of Russian uranium, but the Biden administration — which has 
imposed sanctions against Russian sales of oil and natural gas — wants 
the uranium shipments to continue.Let’s be clear: Sanctions have been only 
partly successful in putting pressure on Russia’s economy and slowing 
its war machine. But combined with arms shipments, sanctions have been 
critical in checking Vladimir Putin’s goals. We clearly need a vigorous 
commitment to both.For nuclear power plants, nothing is as 
important as a reliable supply of uranium. Years ago, there were more 
than 300 uranium mines in the United States. Today, there is one 
operating mine, in Utah. Virtually all the uranium we need for our 
energy needs is imported from other countries. It is one example of the 
atrophy of minerals mining in the United States, something our enemies 
use to exploit our energy security.This isn’t a time to pretend that Putin 
would not dare cut off uranium shipments to the United States. A Russian
 embargo would severely disrupt the production of electricity at nuclear
 plants that provide nearly 20% of U.S. power and 55% of the nation’s 
emission-free electricity.Halting the use of uranium from Russia and 
its satellites would be a major step in the right direction. Given the 
risk of a uranium shortage, we must make a major push to create new 
uranium mines and reopen old mines that have been closed, such as Crow 
Butte.Situated in northwest Nebraska near 
Crawford, Crow Butte was the first uranium mine developed in Nebraska. A
 roll-front uranium mine, it began production in 1991, using an in-situ 
method for recovery. However, the import of cheap uranium led to 
weakening of the uranium market, and production stopped in 2018. Cameco 
Resources, owner of the mine, says the mine is under care and 
maintenance pending an improvement in uranium prices.Reopening Crow Butte and other mines would 
help deter Putin from engaging in uranium blackmail against the United 
States. Also, the federal government should consider establishing a 
uranium strategic reserve, similar to the petroleum strategic reserve, 
and switch to friendly countries such as Canada and Australia for 
uranium supplies.Were Putin to cut off uranium shipments, we 
can’t say we weren’t warned. Putin is a brutal dictator whose military 
has crushed cities and murdered thousands of people. Not to think he 
might pull the plug on U.S. nuclear plants would be naive.Barry Butterfield is a civil engineer who worked in the public and private sector for over 40 years. He has done energy-related projects in Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa and Connecticut. He also worked on two of Nebraska’s more controversial projects, including the Central Interstate Compact Low-Level Radioactive Waste facility near Butte, Nebraska, and the Keystone XL pipeline.&nbsp;

ANALYSIS: Can once-thriving uranium industry come back to life in Nebraska?

NORFOLK, NEB.&nbsp; — The Nebraska State Patrol Special Investigations Team is investigating an incident Sunday that led to an officer-involved shooting involving the Neligh Police Department.

At approximately 12:35 p.m. Sunday, Antelope County dispatch received a report of a road rage incident occurring on Highway 275. The vehicles involved then stopped at a convenience store in Neligh. A store employee also called 911 to report a disturbance in the parking lot.

A Neligh police officer responded and located one of the involved vehicles. The officer performed a traffic stop at the entrance of a business on Highway 275 near V Street in Neligh.

Preliminary reports indicate that while the officer contacted the driver, the driver attempted to drive away, causing the vehicle to drag the officer. The officer then discharged a duty weapon, striking the driver. The officer eventually fell from the vehicle and the suspect continued to drive westbound. A citizen who witnessed the incident was able to force the suspect vehicle off the road, where it came to rest.

Neligh Rescue responded and transported the officer and the female suspect to Antelope Memorial Hospital with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. The officer remains at the hospital in Neligh. The suspect has since been transported to UNMC in Omaha for additional treatment.

At the request of the Antelope County Attorney, Antelope County Sheriff, and Neligh Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol Special Investigations Team has been activated to investigate the incident. NSP has been assisted on scene by the Antelope County Sheriff’s Office and Neligh Police Department.

By Nebraska State PatrolNORFOLK, NEB.&nbsp; — The Nebraska State Patrol Special Investigations Team is investigating an incident Sunday that led to an officer-involved shooting involving the Neligh Police Department.At approximately 12:35 p.m. Sunday, Antelope County dispatch received a report of a road rage incident occurring on Highway 275. The vehicles involved then stopped at a convenience store in Neligh. A store employee also called 911 to report a disturbance in the parking lot.A Neligh police officer responded and located one of the involved vehicles. The officer performed a traffic stop at the entrance of a business on Highway 275 near V Street in Neligh.Preliminary reports indicate that while the officer contacted the driver, the driver attempted to drive away, causing the vehicle to drag the officer. The officer then discharged a duty weapon, striking the driver. The officer eventually fell from the vehicle and the suspect continued to drive westbound. A citizen who witnessed the incident was able to force the suspect vehicle off the road, where it came to rest.Neligh Rescue responded and transported the officer and the female suspect to Antelope Memorial Hospital with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. The officer remains at the hospital in Neligh. The suspect has since been transported to UNMC in Omaha for additional treatment.At the request of the Antelope County Attorney, Antelope County Sheriff, and Neligh Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol Special Investigations Team has been activated to investigate the incident. NSP has been assisted on scene by the Antelope County Sheriff’s Office and Neligh Police Department.

NSP investigating Neligh PD officer-involved shooting

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A candidate for sheriff in eastern Nebraska was ticketed for speeding after an officer spotted him driving 107 mph along Interstate 80 while on his way to campaign at a Cinco de Mayo parade in Omaha. 

A police report says George Merithew was wearing a Merithew for Douglas County sheriff shirt when he was ticketed.

 Merithew's campaign acknowledged that he was speeding, but said he complied with the officer before he received a $300 ticket. The campaign said in a statement that Merithew "will now exercise the same rights every other citizen has to deal with the citation. 

He faces Omaha Police Sgt. Aaron Hanson in Tuesday's Republican primary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652058563721.png" alt="Merithew" />
 <figcaption>Merithew</figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A candidate for sheriff in eastern Nebraska was ticketed for speeding after an officer spotted him driving 107 mph along Interstate 80 while on his way to campaign at a Cinco de Mayo parade in Omaha. A police report says George Merithew was wearing a Merithew for Douglas County sheriff shirt when he was ticketed. Merithew's campaign acknowledged that he was speeding, but said he complied with the officer before he received a $300 ticket. The campaign said in a statement that Merithew "will now exercise the same rights every other citizen has to deal with the citation. He faces Omaha Police Sgt. Aaron Hanson in Tuesday's Republican primary.

Nebraska Sheriff's candidate ticketed going 107 mph on way to parade

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man following an incident near an elementary school.

Just after 10 a.m. Friday, police responded to the 3600 block of Cole Circle in Garden City for a report of a suspicious person, according to a media release. Officers were notified that a man had been walking through yards in the neighborhood.

Upon arrival, Officers located 43-year-old Louis William Gomez III&nbsp; who stated he was picking up trash in the neighborhood as a good deed. Officers warned Gomez to stay off other people’s property without permission and left.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651926018319.png" alt="Gomez-photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Gomez-photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man following an incident near an elementary school.Just after 10 a.m. Friday, police responded to the 3600 block of Cole Circle in Garden City for a report of a suspicious person, according to a media release. Officers were notified that a man had been walking through yards in the neighborhood.Upon arrival, Officers located 43-year-old Louis William Gomez III&nbsp; who stated he was picking up trash in the neighborhood as a good deed. Officers warned Gomez to stay off other people’s property without permission and left.At around 11:00 A.M., Officers were dispatched to Victor Ornelas Elementary School,&nbsp;3401 E. Spruce Street, for a disturbance. The reporting party notified Officers that a man matching Gomez’s description was hitting vehicles in the school parking lot with children outside. Officers located Gomez in the area and arrested him. Victor Ornelas Elementary School, as well as Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center, were placed on lockdown as a precaution until Gomez was located by law enforcement. The schools were in lockdown for approximately 30 minutes.Through further investigation, it was revealed that Gomez had been looking through windows of residences in the 600 block of Warrior Street, prior to the incident at Victor Ornelas Elementary School. Witnesses told Officers that Gomez attempted to access one of the residences through the back door. Gomez was being held on requested charges of Disorderly Conduct and Window Peeping. He is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.