WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's puppy Commander will make his TV debut on Super Bowl Sunday.

The German shepherd will appear with Biden's wife, Jill, in a video message about pet love during Sunday's broadcast of “Puppy Bowl XVIII” on Animal Planet. The first lady's office tweeted the video Thursday.

Both contests will be held on the day before Valentine's Day, which is Monday.

“Hi there. I'm Jill Biden, here at the White House with our new puppy Commander,” the first lady says. “You know, Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays because it's all about love.”

The first lady, wearing a gray turtleneck sweater with “AMOUR” in pink letters across the front, is seated in the White House movie theater with Commander by her side.

“What's so wonderful about having pets is they bring us unconditional love, joy and comfort every day,” she adds. “All of us are wishing you a very happy Valentine's Day.”

Other footage shows the two playing in a White House hallway.

Last year, Jill Biden filmed a public service announcement focused on mask-wearing in a pandemic to air during Puppy Bowl XVII. She was surrounded in that ad by the family's German shepherds, Champ and Major.

Champ died last year; Major now lives in Delaware after behaving aggressively at the White House.

The Bidens recently welcomed a cat named Willow to the White House.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644616712398.png" alt="Commander -photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Commander -photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's puppy Commander will make his TV debut on Super Bowl Sunday.The German shepherd will appear with Biden's wife, Jill, in a video message about pet love during Sunday's broadcast of “Puppy Bowl XVIII” on Animal Planet. The first lady's office tweeted the video Thursday.Both contests will be held on the day before Valentine's Day, which is Monday.“Hi there. I'm Jill Biden, here at the White House with our new puppy Commander,” the first lady says. “You know, Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays because it's all about love.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644616777097.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The first lady, wearing a gray turtleneck sweater with “AMOUR” in pink letters across the front, is seated in the White House movie theater with Commander by her side.“What's so wonderful about having pets is they bring us unconditional love, joy and comfort every day,” she adds. “All of us are wishing you a very happy Valentine's Day.”Other footage shows the two playing in a White House hallway.Last year, Jill Biden filmed a public service announcement focused on mask-wearing in a pandemic to air during Puppy Bowl XVII. She was surrounded in that ad by the family's German shepherds, Champ and Major.Champ died last year; Major now lives in Delaware after behaving aggressively at the White House.The Bidens recently welcomed a cat named Willow to the White House.

Biden's dog to make TV debut during 'Puppy Bowl'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but “equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House said Saturday. It offered no suggestion that the hourlong call diminished the threat of an imminent war in Europe.

Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.

The two presidents spoke a day after Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end on Feb. 20.

Russia denies it intends to invade but has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, encircling Ukraine on three sides. U.S. officials say Russia’s buildup of firepower has reached the point where it could invade on short notice.

The conversation came at a critical moment for what has become the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. U.S. officials believe they have mere days to prevent an invasion and enormous bloodshed in Ukraine. And while the U.S. and its NATO allies have no plans to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia, an invasion and resulting punishing sanctions could reverberate far beyond the former Soviet republic, affecting energy supplies, global markets and the power balance in Europe.

“President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House statement said.

The call was “professional and substantive” but produced “no fundamental change in the dynamic that has been unfolding now for several weeks,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters following the call on condition of anonymity.

The official added that it remains unclear whether Putin has made a final decision to move forward with military action.

Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, said that while tensions have been escalating for months, in recent days “the situation has simply been brought to the point of absurdity.”

He said Biden mentioned the possible sanctions that could be imposed on Russia, but “this issue was not the focus during a fairly long conversation with the Russian leader.”

Before talking to Biden, Putin had a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with him in Moscow earlier in the week to try to resolve the crisis. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested that little progress was made toward cooling down the tensions.

Putin complained in the call that the United States and NATO have not responded satisfactorily to Russian demands that Ukraine be prohibited from joining the military alliance and that NATO pull back forces from Eastern Europe.

In a sign that American officials are getting ready for a worst-case scenario, the United States announced plans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-states-europe-russia-kyiv-ff41abf90650aa5f456cbb6aafa4c5b3">to evacuate most of its staff from the embassy</a>&nbsp;in the Ukrainian capital, and Britain joined other European nations in urging its citizens to leave Ukraine.

The timing of any possible Russian military action remained a key question.

The U.S. picked up intelligence that Russia is looking at Wednesday as a target date, according to a U.S. official familiar with the findings. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and did so only on condition of anonymity, would not say how definitive the intelligence was.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he told his Russian counterpart Saturday that “further Russian aggression would be met with a resolute, massive and united trans-Atlantic response.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tried to project calm as he observed military exercises Saturday near Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014.

“We are not afraid, we’re without panic, all is under control,” he said.

Ukrainian armed forces chief commander Lt. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov issued a more defiant joint statement.

“We are ready to meet the enemy, and not with flowers, but with Stingers, Javelins and NLAWs” — anti-tank and -aircraft weapons, they said. “Welcome to hell!”

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, also held telephone discussions on Saturday.

Further U.S.-Russia tensions arose on Saturday when the Defense Ministry summoned the U.S. embassy’s military attache after it said the navy detected an American submarine in Russian waters near the Kuril Islands in the Pacific. The submarine declined orders to leave, but departed after the navy used unspecified “appropriate means,” the ministry said.

Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies.

The U.S. has urged all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, and Sullivan said those who remain should not expect the U.S. military to rescue them in the event that air and rail transportation is severed after a Russian invasion.

The Biden administration has been warning for weeks that Russia could invade Ukraine soon, but U.S. officials had previously said the Kremlin would likely wait until after the Winter Games ended so as not to antagonize China.

Sullivan told reporters on Friday that U.S. intelligence shows that Russia could take invade during the Olympics. He said military action could start with missile and air attacks, followed by a ground offensive.

“Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action,” Sullivan said, adding that “Russia could choose, in very short order, to commence a major military action against Ukraine.” He said the scale of such an invasion could range from a limited incursion to a strike on Kyiv, the capital.

Russia scoffed at the U.S. talk of urgency.

“The hysteria of the White House is more indicative than ever,” said Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. “The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving their own problems.”

Zakharova said her country had “optimized” staffing at its own embassy in Kyiv in response to concerns about possible military actions from the Ukrainian side.

In addition to the more than 100,000 ground troops that U.S. officials say Russia has assembled along Ukraine’s eastern and southern borders, the Russians have deployed missile, air, naval and special operations forces, as well as supplies to sustain a war. This week, Russia moved six amphibious assault ships into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on the coast.

Biden has bolstered the U.S. military presence in Europe as reassurance to allies on NATO’s eastern flank. The 3,000 additional soldiers ordered to Poland come on top of 1,700 who are on their way there. The U.S. Army also is shifting 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania, which like Poland shares a border with Ukraine.

Russia is demanding that the West keep former Soviet countries out of NATO. It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons near its border and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe — demands flatly rejected by the West.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly leader was driven from office by a popular uprising. Moscow responded by annexing the Crimean Peninsula and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.

A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped halt large-scale battles, but regular skirmishes have continued, and efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644692713491.png" alt="Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden told Russia’s Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause “widespread human suffering” and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but “equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House said Saturday. It offered no suggestion that the hourlong call diminished the threat of an imminent war in Europe.Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond “decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House.The two presidents spoke a day after Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end on Feb. 20.Russia denies it intends to invade but has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, encircling Ukraine on three sides. U.S. officials say Russia’s buildup of firepower has reached the point where it could invade on short notice.The conversation came at a critical moment for what has become the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. U.S. officials believe they have mere days to prevent an invasion and enormous bloodshed in Ukraine. And while the U.S. and its NATO allies have no plans to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia, an invasion and resulting punishing sanctions could reverberate far beyond the former Soviet republic, affecting energy supplies, global markets and the power balance in Europe.“President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios,” the White House statement said.The call was “professional and substantive” but produced “no fundamental change in the dynamic that has been unfolding now for several weeks,” according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters following the call on condition of anonymity.The official added that it remains unclear whether Putin has made a final decision to move forward with military action.Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, said that while tensions have been escalating for months, in recent days “the situation has simply been brought to the point of absurdity.”He said Biden mentioned the possible sanctions that could be imposed on Russia, but “this issue was not the focus during a fairly long conversation with the Russian leader.”Before talking to Biden, Putin had a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with him in Moscow earlier in the week to try to resolve the crisis. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested that little progress was made toward cooling down the tensions.Putin complained in the call that the United States and NATO have not responded satisfactorily to Russian demands that Ukraine be prohibited from joining the military alliance and that NATO pull back forces from Eastern Europe.In a sign that American officials are getting ready for a worst-case scenario, the United States announced plans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-states-europe-russia-kyiv-ff41abf90650aa5f456cbb6aafa4c5b3">to evacuate most of its staff from the embassy</a>&nbsp;in the Ukrainian capital, and Britain joined other European nations in urging its citizens to leave Ukraine.The timing of any possible Russian military action remained a key question.The U.S. picked up intelligence that Russia is looking at Wednesday as a target date, according to a U.S. official familiar with the findings. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and did so only on condition of anonymity, would not say how definitive the intelligence was.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he told his Russian counterpart Saturday that “further Russian aggression would be met with a resolute, massive and united trans-Atlantic response.”Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tried to project calm as he observed military exercises Saturday near Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014.“We are not afraid, we’re without panic, all is under control,” he said.Ukrainian armed forces chief commander Lt. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov issued a more defiant joint statement.“We are ready to meet the enemy, and not with flowers, but with Stingers, Javelins and NLAWs” — anti-tank and -aircraft weapons, they said. “Welcome to hell!”U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, also held telephone discussions on Saturday.Further U.S.-Russia tensions arose on Saturday when the Defense Ministry summoned the U.S. embassy’s military attache after it said the navy detected an American submarine in Russian waters near the Kuril Islands in the Pacific. The submarine declined orders to leave, but departed after the navy used unspecified “appropriate means,” the ministry said.Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies.The U.S. has urged all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, and Sullivan said those who remain should not expect the U.S. military to rescue them in the event that air and rail transportation is severed after a Russian invasion.The Biden administration has been warning for weeks that Russia could invade Ukraine soon, but U.S. officials had previously said the Kremlin would likely wait until after the Winter Games ended so as not to antagonize China.Sullivan told reporters on Friday that U.S. intelligence shows that Russia could take invade during the Olympics. He said military action could start with missile and air attacks, followed by a ground offensive.“Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action,” Sullivan said, adding that “Russia could choose, in very short order, to commence a major military action against Ukraine.” He said the scale of such an invasion could range from a limited incursion to a strike on Kyiv, the capital.Russia scoffed at the U.S. talk of urgency.“The hysteria of the White House is more indicative than ever,” said Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. “The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving their own problems.”Zakharova said her country had “optimized” staffing at its own embassy in Kyiv in response to concerns about possible military actions from the Ukrainian side.In addition to the more than 100,000 ground troops that U.S. officials say Russia has assembled along Ukraine’s eastern and southern borders, the Russians have deployed missile, air, naval and special operations forces, as well as supplies to sustain a war. This week, Russia moved six amphibious assault ships into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land marines on the coast.Biden has bolstered the U.S. military presence in Europe as reassurance to allies on NATO’s eastern flank. The 3,000 additional soldiers ordered to Poland come on top of 1,700 who are on their way there. The U.S. Army also is shifting 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania, which like Poland shares a border with Ukraine.Russia is demanding that the West keep former Soviet countries out of NATO. It also wants NATO to refrain from deploying weapons near its border and to roll back alliance forces from Eastern Europe — demands flatly rejected by the West.Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly leader was driven from office by a popular uprising. Moscow responded by annexing the Crimean Peninsula and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people.A 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany helped halt large-scale battles, but regular skirmishes have continued, and efforts to reach a political settlement have stalled.___

Phone call: Biden warns Putin again on Ukraine invasion

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is set to evacuate its embassy in Kyiv as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent.

U.S. officials said the State Department plans to announce early Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be required to leave ahead of a feared Russian invasion.

A small number of officials may remain in Kyiv but the vast majority of the almost 200 Americans at the embassy will be sent out or relocated to Ukraine’s far west, near the Polish border, so the U.S. can retain a diplomatic presence in the country.

The department had earlier ordered families of U.S. embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave. But it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart. The new move comes as Washington has ratcheted up its warnings about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said a small number of U.S. diplomats may be relocated to Ukraine’s far west, near the border with Poland, a NATO ally, so the U.S. could retain a diplomatic presence in the country.

The Pentagon announced Friday it is sending another 3,000 combat troops to Poland to join 1,700 who already are assembling there in a demonstration of American commitment to NATO allies worried at the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine.

The additional soldiers will depart their post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over the next couple days and should be in Poland by early next week, according to a defense official, who provided the information under ground rules set by the Pentagon. They are the remaining elements of an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division.

Their mission will be to train and provide deterrence but not to engage in combat in Ukraine.

That announcement came shortly after Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, issued a public warning for all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible. Sullivan said Russian President Vladimir Putin could give the order to launch an invasion of Ukraine any day now.

In addition to the U.S. troops deploying to Poland, about 1,000 U.S. soldiers based in Germany are shifting to Romania in a similar mission of reassurance to a NATO ally. Also, 300 soldiers of an 18th Airborne Corps headquarters unit have arrived in Germany, commanded by Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla.

The American troops are to train with host-nation forces but not enter Ukraine for any purpose.

The U.S. already has about 80,000 troops throughout Europe at permanent stations and on rotational deployments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644673881346.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is set to evacuate its embassy in Kyiv as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent.U.S. officials said the State Department plans to announce early Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be required to leave ahead of a feared Russian invasion.A small number of officials may remain in Kyiv but the vast majority of the almost 200 Americans at the embassy will be sent out or relocated to Ukraine’s far west, near the Polish border, so the U.S. can retain a diplomatic presence in the country.The State Department would not comment.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, the <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StateDept</a> ordered non-emergency U.S. employees at the Embassy to depart due to continued reports of a Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine, indicating potential for significant military action. <a href="https://t.co/6IgLvE4PJS">https://t.co/6IgLvE4PJS</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassyKyiv/status/1492442539072233481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The department had earlier ordered families of U.S. embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave. But it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart. The new move comes as Washington has ratcheted up its warnings about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said a small number of U.S. diplomats may be relocated to Ukraine’s far west, near the border with Poland, a NATO ally, so the U.S. could retain a diplomatic presence in the country.The Pentagon announced Friday it is sending another 3,000 combat troops to Poland to join 1,700 who already are assembling there in a demonstration of American commitment to NATO allies worried at the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine.The additional soldiers will depart their post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over the next couple days and should be in Poland by early next week, according to a defense official, who provided the information under ground rules set by the Pentagon. They are the remaining elements of an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division.Their mission will be to train and provide deterrence but not to engage in combat in Ukraine.That announcement came shortly after Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, issued a public warning for all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible. Sullivan said Russian President Vladimir Putin could give the order to launch an invasion of Ukraine any day now.In addition to the U.S. troops deploying to Poland, about 1,000 U.S. soldiers based in Germany are shifting to Romania in a similar mission of reassurance to a NATO ally. Also, 300 soldiers of an 18th Airborne Corps headquarters unit have arrived in Germany, commanded by Lt. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla.The American troops are to train with host-nation forces but not enter Ukraine for any purpose.The U.S. already has about 80,000 troops throughout Europe at permanent stations and on rotational deployments.___

US to evacuate Ukraine embassy amid Russian invasion fears

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/10/big-sandpit-lake-proposal-hits-choppy-waters-one-landowner-says-hes-not-selling/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — A proposal to build a 4,000-acre sandpit lake between Omaha and 
Lincoln ran into some choppy waters Thursday, with one owner of land on 
the preferred site saying his property wasn’t for sale.

Dan
 Bundy, whose family has farmed west of Gretna for more than a century, 
also wondered whether the state would be utilizing eminent domain to 
take his farm ground for the sandpit lake, saying he’s had land 
condemned for less than it’s worth in the past.

“There
 is little doubt that this lake would be a huge windfall for the State 
of Nebraska … but what about those of us, like myself and my family, who
 would be under the lake?” Bundy asked.

The
 massive sandpit lake was one of several recommendations that grew out 
of a special legislative study last year on how to enhance recreation in
 the state and thus encourage economic development and keep more young 
people in the state.

The
 $200 million worth of suggestions include improvements at Lake 
McConaughy, Niobrara State Park and Lewis &amp; Clark Lake. But the idea
 that has drawn the most conversation is building a 7-mile-long sandpit 
lake, comparable to the size of Iowa’s Lake Okoboji, between the state’s
 two largest cities.&nbsp;

“It’s
 hard to state in economic terms what these projects will generate,” 
said State Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln. “This is an opportunity to do a
 big swing for the State of Nebraska.”

While similar proposals in the past have 
failed because they involved damming the Platte, drawing opposition from
 citizens of Ashland and others, this one seems to have legs since it 
doesn’t involve a dam and because the state is flush with excess funds 
and federal stimulus money.

Hilgers led the legislative study, dubbed the STAR WARS committee, or the Statewide
 Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability, 
which recommended the big lake and the other recreation projects as 
“transformation” steps to grow population and economic activity.&nbsp;

He
 said backers are seeking to form a public-private partnership, with the
 private partner financing 90% of the estimated $1 billion cost of the 
lake. 

All the Star Wars proposals combined could generate $150 million in annual economic benefits, Hilgers said.&nbsp;

At
 a legislative hearing on the proposals Thursday, it was revealed that 
the preferred site for the huge Nebraska lake is on the east side of the
 Platte River, north and south of the Linoma Beach area, in Sarpy 
County. U.S. Highway 6 runs through the proposed lake site, and 
presumably it would be raised to allow boats to access waters on either 
side.

Representatives
 of the Ogallala and Niobrara areas praised the improvements planned in 
their areas, and economic development officials lauded the plan as a 
much needed catalyst for growth in population and commerce.

But
 several questions were raised by groups including the Sierra Club, 
Audubon Society and Nebraska Farmers Union about building a brand-new 
lake. They questioned whether it might be wiser to spend the $46 million
 earmarked for initial steps for the big lake on smaller projects and 
improvements at existing parks and trails.

Others
 said the big lake would have no significant flood-control benefits and,
 because it would be built in a floodplain, it might silt in or sweep 
away “McMansions” planned on its banks.

State
 Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha questioned how much public access there 
would be to the lake and whether it would be managed by the state or 
some private interest.

“Are we just building this lake for millionaires to build homes around?” Wayne asked, outside the public hearing.

Hilgers, who is also Speaker of the Legislature, rejected that suggestion. 

The
 senator, who is running for Nebraska attorney general, said that “a 
significant portion” of the lake would be set aside for public access 
and that the state would own the lake. He added, however, that private 
homes would also built along the shores of the lake, which would be just
 upstream of the Platte River bridge on Interstate 80.

Bundy,
 as well as Phil Young, a representative of the 29-lot Beacon View cabin
 development just north of Linoma Beach, questioned how building such a 
huge lake would impact their properties and possibly increase flood 
dangers.

Officials
 with the Lincoln Water System and Metropolitan Utilities District — 
which both have well fields near the proposed lake site to draw drinking
 water — also expressed concerns. They called for studies on the 
potential impact of the quality and quantity of groundwater that 
supplies more than half of the state’s population.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We need to take a deep dive into what consequences this reservoir could have,” said Rick Kubat of MUD.

Hilgers sought to assuage concerns. He said a planned $20 million study would address the issues raised by the water systems.

He
 also said the Sarpy County site hasn’t been “fully settled” as the 
location. Hilgers said sites on the west side of the Platte, presumably 
in Saunders County, had also been explored.

He said it is hoped that the lake site could be purchased from willing sellers.&nbsp;

When
 asked if eminent domain — which involves getting a court order to take 
land for a public purpose — could be used for a project that’s mostly 
about recreation, Hilgers, who is a lawyer, said he’s hoping eminent 
domain would not have to be considered.

Eminent
 domain is mostly used for projects such as road construction, but its 
threatened use helped increase opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline. 
Bundy said he had a bad experience when a portion of his land was taken 
for the Nebraska National Guard camp near Ashland.

Hilgers
 said the big lake and other STAR WARS projects would proceed on two 
tracks. One is getting the $200 million appropriated for the projects. 
The other is ensuring that the project is feasible and that a private 
developer can be found to finance the bulk of the project.

The
 Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee took no action on the STAR 
WARS proposals, contained in Legislative Bill 1023, following a 
three-hour hearing.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644590042966.png" alt="Backers of a 4,000-acre lake proposed between Omaha and Lincoln are eyeing a location in Sarpy County, north and south of Linoma Beach. (Courtesy of PlanPreservePlayNE.com)" />
 <figcaption>Backers of a 4,000-acre lake proposed between Omaha and Lincoln are eyeing a location in Sarpy County, north and south of Linoma Beach. (Courtesy of PlanPreservePlayNE.com)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/10/big-sandpit-lake-proposal-hits-choppy-waters-one-landowner-says-hes-not-selling/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — A proposal to build a 4,000-acre sandpit lake between Omaha and 
Lincoln ran into some choppy waters Thursday, with one owner of land on 
the preferred site saying his property wasn’t for sale.Dan
 Bundy, whose family has farmed west of Gretna for more than a century, 
also wondered whether the state would be utilizing eminent domain to 
take his farm ground for the sandpit lake, saying he’s had land 
condemned for less than it’s worth in the past.“There
 is little doubt that this lake would be a huge windfall for the State 
of Nebraska … but what about those of us, like myself and my family, who
 would be under the lake?” Bundy asked.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644590103570.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln presents proposals Thursday to enhance state recreation and economic development. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln presents proposals Thursday to enhance state recreation and economic development. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>The
 massive sandpit lake was one of several recommendations that grew out 
of a special legislative study last year on how to enhance recreation in
 the state and thus encourage economic development and keep more young 
people in the state.<h2>Size similar to Lake Okoboji</h2>The
 $200 million worth of suggestions include improvements at Lake 
McConaughy, Niobrara State Park and Lewis &amp; Clark Lake. But the idea
 that has drawn the most conversation is building a 7-mile-long sandpit 
lake, comparable to the size of Iowa’s Lake Okoboji, between the state’s
 two largest cities.&nbsp;“It’s
 hard to state in economic terms what these projects will generate,” 
said State Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln. “This is an opportunity to do a
 big swing for the State of Nebraska.”While similar proposals in the past have 
failed because they involved damming the Platte, drawing opposition from
 citizens of Ashland and others, this one seems to have legs since it 
doesn’t involve a dam and because the state is flush with excess funds 
and federal stimulus money.Hilgers led the legislative study, dubbed the STAR WARS committee, or the Statewide
 Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability, 
which recommended the big lake and the other recreation projects as 
“transformation” steps to grow population and economic activity.&nbsp;He
 said backers are seeking to form a public-private partnership, with the
 private partner financing 90% of the estimated $1 billion cost of the 
lake. All the Star Wars proposals combined could generate $150 million in annual economic benefits, Hilgers said.&nbsp;At
 a legislative hearing on the proposals Thursday, it was revealed that 
the preferred site for the huge Nebraska lake is on the east side of the
 Platte River, north and south of the Linoma Beach area, in Sarpy 
County. U.S. Highway 6 runs through the proposed lake site, and 
presumably it would be raised to allow boats to access waters on either 
side.Representatives
 of the Ogallala and Niobrara areas praised the improvements planned in 
their areas, and economic development officials lauded the plan as a 
much needed catalyst for growth in population and commerce.<h2>Wiser investments?</h2>But
 several questions were raised by groups including the Sierra Club, 
Audubon Society and Nebraska Farmers Union about building a brand-new 
lake. They questioned whether it might be wiser to spend the $46 million
 earmarked for initial steps for the big lake on smaller projects and 
improvements at existing parks and trails.Others
 said the big lake would have no significant flood-control benefits and,
 because it would be built in a floodplain, it might silt in or sweep 
away “McMansions” planned on its banks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644590137898.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>State
 Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha questioned how much public access there 
would be to the lake and whether it would be managed by the state or 
some private interest.“Are we just building this lake for millionaires to build homes around?” Wayne asked, outside the public hearing.Hilgers, who is also Speaker of the Legislature, rejected that suggestion. The
 senator, who is running for Nebraska attorney general, said that “a 
significant portion” of the lake would be set aside for public access 
and that the state would own the lake. He added, however, that private 
homes would also built along the shores of the lake, which would be just
 upstream of the Platte River bridge on Interstate 80.Bundy,
 as well as Phil Young, a representative of the 29-lot Beacon View cabin
 development just north of Linoma Beach, questioned how building such a 
huge lake would impact their properties and possibly increase flood 
dangers.Officials
 with the Lincoln Water System and Metropolitan Utilities District — 
which both have well fields near the proposed lake site to draw drinking
 water — also expressed concerns. They called for studies on the 
potential impact of the quality and quantity of groundwater that 
supplies more than half of the state’s population.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We need to take a deep dive into what consequences this reservoir could have,” said Rick Kubat of MUD.Hilgers sought to assuage concerns. He said a planned $20 million study would address the issues raised by the water systems.He
 also said the Sarpy County site hasn’t been “fully settled” as the 
location. Hilgers said sites on the west side of the Platte, presumably 
in Saunders County, had also been explored.<h2>Willing sellers preferred</h2>He said it is hoped that the lake site could be purchased from willing sellers.&nbsp;When
 asked if eminent domain — which involves getting a court order to take 
land for a public purpose — could be used for a project that’s mostly 
about recreation, Hilgers, who is a lawyer, said he’s hoping eminent 
domain would not have to be considered.Eminent
 domain is mostly used for projects such as road construction, but its 
threatened use helped increase opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline. 
Bundy said he had a bad experience when a portion of his land was taken 
for the Nebraska National Guard camp near Ashland.Hilgers
 said the big lake and other STAR WARS projects would proceed on two 
tracks. One is getting the $200 million appropriated for the projects. 
The other is ensuring that the project is feasible and that a private 
developer can be found to finance the bulk of the project.The
 Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee took no action on the STAR 
WARS proposals, contained in Legislative Bill 1023, following a 
three-hour hearing.&nbsp;

Big lake proposal hits choppy waters; landowner says he’s not selling

LINCOLN (AP)-An 81-year-old Lincoln man accused of killing his wife, who had advanced Alzheimer's disease, has died at a hospital. 

John Kotopka had pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and was being held at the Lancaster County Department of Corrections awaiting trial. A release from the jail said Kotopka died Thursday. 

The news release said the cause of death has not been determined but Kotopka had a chronic medical condition.

 Police said Kotopka shot 78-year-old Janet Kotopka at their home on June 20. Janet Kotopka required constant monitoring because of health problems.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644672579899.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From the Associated PressLINCOLN (AP)-An 81-year-old Lincoln man accused of killing his wife, who had advanced Alzheimer's disease, has died at a hospital. John Kotopka had pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and was being held at the Lancaster County Department of Corrections awaiting trial. A release from the jail said Kotopka died Thursday. The news release said the cause of death has not been determined but Kotopka had a chronic medical condition. Police said Kotopka shot 78-year-old Janet Kotopka at their home on June 20. Janet Kotopka required constant monitoring because of health problems.

Lincoln man accused of killing wife with Alzheimer's dies

WASHINGTON (AP) — COVID-19 vaccinations for children under 5 hit another monthslong delay Friday as U.S. regulators abruptly put the brakes on their efforts to speed review of the shots that Pfizer is testing for youngsters.

The Food and Drug Administration, worried about the omicron variant’s toll on kids, had taken the extraordinary step of urging Pfizer to apply for OK of the extra-low dose vaccine before it’s clear if tots will need two shots or three. The agency’s plan could have allowed vaccinations to begin within weeks.

But Friday, the FDA reversed course and said it had become clear the agency needed to wait for data on how well a third shot works for the youngest age group. Pfizer said in a statement that it expected the data by early April.

FDA’s vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said he hoped parents would understand that the agency’s decision was part of its careful scientific review of the evidence Pfizer has submitted so far.

That information “made us realize that we needed to see data from a third dose from the ongoing trial in order to make a determination,” Marks told reporters. “We take our responsibility for reviewing these vaccines very seriously because we’re parents as well.”

The nation’s 18 million children under 5 make up the only age group not yet eligible for vaccination.

Vaccine experts had been concerned with the sudden race to evaluate Pfizer’s vaccine -- and now wonder what parents will make of the back-and-forth.

“I think they made the right decision to be careful and wait for the third-dose data,” said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief.

“It was great to hear that there might be some promising data from two doses but it came out as ‘Hey everybody, you can expect a vaccine in a few weeks,’” he added. “I think this messaging gets very confusing for people.”

It’s not the first delay. Pfizer originally had expected to know by late December if the extra-low doses worked for kids under 5 — only to face a disappointing setback. Preliminary study results showed two shots were safe and strong enough to give good protection to babies as young as 6 months. But once tots reached the preschool age — the 2- to 4-year-olds — two doses weren’t protective enough, prompting the addition of a third to the study.

So it was a surprise when a few weeks ago, FDA urged Pfizer and its partner BioNTech to go ahead and apply. Next week, the agency’s independent scientific advisers were set to publicly debate if it was OK to start giving tots two shots before there was proof that a third would give them the extra needed protection — a highly unusual move.

Friday, the FDA abruptly canceled that meeting, promising to hold it once Pfizer submits the third-dose evidence. Even if Pfizer completes its submission by early April, it will take the FDA and other health authorities several weeks to review and publicly vet the data.

Earlier this week, FDA’s Marks had promised the agency wouldn’t cut corners but also noted how rapidly the pandemic was changing. Before Thanksgiving, no one had heard of omicron, by last month pediatric COVID-19 infections had hit an all-time high — and now cases are dropping fast as the latest mutant burns out.

How long to wait for new vaccine data -- and how much to require -- is a difficult balancing act for the FDA. It is caught between pressure to be more proactive against a rapidly changing virus and the risk that acting too quickly may deter families already on the fence about vaccinating their children.

Pfizer aims to give children as young as 6 months shots that contain one-tenth of the dose given to adults -- two shots three weeks apart followed by a third at least two months later.

That’s a smaller dose than youngsters ages 5 to 11 receive, a third of the adult dose.

Vaccination rates have been lower among children than in other age groups. As of last week, just 22% of kids ages 5 to 11 and just over half of 12- to 17-year-olds were fully vaccinated, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Nearly three-quarters of adults are fully vaccinated.

A Kaiser Family Foundation poll taken last month found just 3 in 10 parents of children under 5 would get their youngster vaccinated as soon as shots were authorized, while about a quarter said they definitely would not.

Dr. Moira Szilagyi, the pediatricians group’s president, recognized parental frustration but said in a statement that doctors were committed to “a careful, robust and transparent process to evaluate the evidence.”

Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician in Overland Park, Kansas, said, “We’re just gutted. We need this protection for our kids.”

She said some families likely feel relieved “because they didn’t want to make that decision without good efficacy data. Other groups of parents are just crying out, ‘Give us a choice. Show us what you’ve got and let us make a choice. Let us have access to it.”’

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635537216378.png" alt="Photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — COVID-19 vaccinations for children under 5 hit another monthslong delay Friday as U.S. regulators abruptly put the brakes on their efforts to speed review of the shots that Pfizer is testing for youngsters.The Food and Drug Administration, worried about the omicron variant’s toll on kids, had taken the extraordinary step of urging Pfizer to apply for OK of the extra-low dose vaccine before it’s clear if tots will need two shots or three. The agency’s plan could have allowed vaccinations to begin within weeks.But Friday, the FDA reversed course and said it had become clear the agency needed to wait for data on how well a third shot works for the youngest age group. Pfizer said in a statement that it expected the data by early April.FDA’s vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said he hoped parents would understand that the agency’s decision was part of its careful scientific review of the evidence Pfizer has submitted so far.That information “made us realize that we needed to see data from a third dose from the ongoing trial in order to make a determination,” Marks told reporters. “We take our responsibility for reviewing these vaccines very seriously because we’re parents as well.”The nation’s 18 million children under 5 make up the only age group not yet eligible for vaccination.Vaccine experts had been concerned with the sudden race to evaluate Pfizer’s vaccine -- and now wonder what parents will make of the back-and-forth.“I think they made the right decision to be careful and wait for the third-dose data,” said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief.“It was great to hear that there might be some promising data from two doses but it came out as ‘Hey everybody, you can expect a vaccine in a few weeks,’” he added. “I think this messaging gets very confusing for people.”It’s not the first delay. Pfizer originally had expected to know by late December if the extra-low doses worked for kids under 5 — only to face a disappointing setback. Preliminary study results showed two shots were safe and strong enough to give good protection to babies as young as 6 months. But once tots reached the preschool age — the 2- to 4-year-olds — two doses weren’t protective enough, prompting the addition of a third to the study.So it was a surprise when a few weeks ago, FDA urged Pfizer and its partner BioNTech to go ahead and apply. Next week, the agency’s independent scientific advisers were set to publicly debate if it was OK to start giving tots two shots before there was proof that a third would give them the extra needed protection — a highly unusual move.Friday, the FDA abruptly canceled that meeting, promising to hold it once Pfizer submits the third-dose evidence. Even if Pfizer completes its submission by early April, it will take the FDA and other health authorities several weeks to review and publicly vet the data.ADVERTISEMENTEarlier this week, FDA’s Marks had promised the agency wouldn’t cut corners but also noted how rapidly the pandemic was changing. Before Thanksgiving, no one had heard of omicron, by last month pediatric COVID-19 infections had hit an all-time high — and now cases are dropping fast as the latest mutant burns out.How long to wait for new vaccine data -- and how much to require -- is a difficult balancing act for the FDA. It is caught between pressure to be more proactive against a rapidly changing virus and the risk that acting too quickly may deter families already on the fence about vaccinating their children.Pfizer aims to give children as young as 6 months shots that contain one-tenth of the dose given to adults -- two shots three weeks apart followed by a third at least two months later.That’s a smaller dose than youngsters ages 5 to 11 receive, a third of the adult dose.Vaccination rates have been lower among children than in other age groups. As of last week, just 22% of kids ages 5 to 11 and just over half of 12- to 17-year-olds were fully vaccinated, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Nearly three-quarters of adults are fully vaccinated.A Kaiser Family Foundation poll taken last month found just 3 in 10 parents of children under 5 would get their youngster vaccinated as soon as shots were authorized, while about a quarter said they definitely would not.Dr. Moira Szilagyi, the pediatricians group’s president, recognized parental frustration but said in a statement that doctors were committed to “a careful, robust and transparent process to evaluate the evidence.”Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician in Overland Park, Kansas, said, “We’re just gutted. We need this protection for our kids.”She said some families likely feel relieved “because they didn’t want to make that decision without good efficacy data. Other groups of parents are just crying out, ‘Give us a choice. Show us what you’ve got and let us make a choice. Let us have access to it.”’

FDA delays approval of COVID shots for kids under 5

PALM COAST, Fla. (AP) — A school bus driver is accused of being intoxicated when he drove dozens of students home from their Florida middle school. 

Flagler County Sheriff's officials say a co-worker smelled alcohol on the 60-year-old bus driver when he arrived his afternoon shift Wednesday. 

He reported it to a supervisor, but the driver had already taken a bus to the middle school. He picked up 40 students and began driving them home.

 He didn't respond to transportation officials via radio, so the supervisor went looking for him. He was taken to a hospital, and later attempted to run from deputies. 

PALM COAST, Fla. (AP) — A school bus driver is accused of being intoxicated when he drove dozens of students home from their Florida middle school. Flagler County Sheriff's officials say a co-worker smelled alcohol on the 60-year-old bus driver when he arrived his afternoon shift Wednesday. He reported it to a supervisor, but the driver had already taken a bus to the middle school. He picked up 40 students and began driving them home. He didn't respond to transportation officials via radio, so the supervisor went looking for him. He was taken to a hospital, and later attempted to run from deputies. No students were injured.

Sheriff: Drunk bus driver drove Florida students home

By ROBERT BURNS, AP National Security Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is sending another 3,000 combat troops to Poland to join 1,700 who already are assembling there in a demonstration of American commitment to NATO allies worried at the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine, a senior defense official said Friday.

The official, who provided the information on condition of anonymity before an official announcement, said the additional soldiers will depart their post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over the next couple of days and should be in Poland by early next week. They are the remaining elements of an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division.

The announcement came shortly after Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser, issued a public warning for all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible. Sullivan said Russian President Vladimir Putin could give the order to launch an invasion of Ukraine any day now.

In addition to the U.S. troops deploying to Poland, about 1,000 U.S. soldiers based in Germany are shifting to Romania in a similar mission of reassurance to a NATO ally.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644202040531.png" alt="A few dozen elite U.S troops and equipment were seen landing Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine-photo courtesy U.S. Department of Defense" />
 <figcaption>A few dozen elite U.S troops and equipment were seen landing Sunday in southeastern Poland near the border with Ukraine-photo courtesy U.S. Department of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROBERT BURNS, AP National Security WriterWASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is sending another 3,000 combat troops to Poland to join 1,700 who already are assembling there in a demonstration of American commitment to NATO allies worried at the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine, a senior defense official said Friday.The official, who provided the information on condition of anonymity before an official announcement, said the additional soldiers will depart their post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over the next couple of days and should be in Poland by early next week. They are the remaining elements of an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division.The announcement came shortly after Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser, issued a public warning for all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country as soon as possible. Sullivan said Russian President Vladimir Putin could give the order to launch an invasion of Ukraine any day now.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644151735079.png" alt="Photo US Dept. of Defense Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo US Dept. of Defense Department</figcaption>
 </figure>In addition to the U.S. troops deploying to Poland, about 1,000 U.S. soldiers based in Germany are shifting to Romania in a similar mission of reassurance to a NATO ally.

US sending more troops to Europe amid Russia standoff

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska football fans a step closer to being able to buy booze from vendors at Memorial Stadium. 

University of Nebraska regents have cleared the way for campus leaders to decide whether to sell alcohol at their sports venues. 

University president Ted Carter says he doesn't know when or if alcohol sales will begin inside Memorial Stadium. 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska football fans a step closer to being able to buy booze from vendors at Memorial Stadium. University of Nebraska regents have cleared the way for campus leaders to decide whether to sell alcohol at their sports venues. University president Ted Carter says he doesn't know when or if alcohol sales will begin inside Memorial Stadium. He says it will not begin this fall.

Nebraska clears way for decision on sports alcohol sales

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nu-regents-agree-to-end-dry-spell-at-university-athletic-events-with-caveats/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

The
 University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted Friday to end a longtime 
ban on booze sales and consumption at Husker sporting events — but there
 are caveats.

President
 Ted Carter told the board that any change related to alcohol at a 
particular NU campus first would need to be approved by the respective 
chancellor and then returned to the regents.

He
 called the vote to rescind a 1999 prohibition policy a “first step” and
 said it would bring consistency across the university system.

“We’ve followed a piecemeal approach,” he said, noting that beer is sold at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Baxter Arena.

Carter said not to expect immediate shifts, or for beer to start flowing at Memorial Stadium this fall.

“As
 long as I’m president of the university system, we will never bring 
alcohol to an athletic event before first bringing it to this body,” 
Carter said.

But
 all regents present at Friday’s meeting voted in favor of the 
prohibition lift, some noting that Carter’s pledge helped nudge their 
vote.

Regent Rob Schafer said he was a “strong believer in treating adults as adults.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644608517304.png" alt="Fans cheer on the Huskers at Memorial Stadium. Beer sales at NU athletic events will be allowed after OK Friday by Board of Regents, although maybe not by next fall. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Fans cheer on the Huskers at Memorial Stadium. Beer sales at NU athletic events will be allowed after OK Friday by Board of Regents, although maybe not by next fall. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nu-regents-agree-to-end-dry-spell-at-university-athletic-events-with-caveats/">Nebraska Examiner</a>The
 University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted Friday to end a longtime 
ban on booze sales and consumption at Husker sporting events — but there
 are caveats.President
 Ted Carter told the board that any change related to alcohol at a 
particular NU campus first would need to be approved by the respective 
chancellor and then returned to the regents.He
 called the vote to rescind a 1999 prohibition policy a “first step” and
 said it would bring consistency across the university system.“We’ve followed a piecemeal approach,” he said, noting that beer is sold at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Baxter Arena.Carter said not to expect immediate shifts, or for beer to start flowing at Memorial Stadium this fall.“As
 long as I’m president of the university system, we will never bring 
alcohol to an athletic event before first bringing it to this body,” 
Carter said.But
 all regents present at Friday’s meeting voted in favor of the 
prohibition lift, some noting that Carter’s pledge helped nudge their 
vote.Regent Rob Schafer said he was a “strong believer in treating adults as adults.”&nbsp;“It’s time we do this,” he said.

Nebraska Regents agree to end dry spell at university athletic events

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court has declined, for now, to allow the Biden administration to require COVID-19 vaccinations for federal employees.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled 2-1 Wednesday to maintain a block on the mandate that a Texas-based federal judge had issued on Jan. 21. The administration had asked the New Orleans court for an injunction allowing the federal worker mandate to move forward pending appeal.

President Joe Biden announced in September that more than 3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no option to get regularly tested instead, unless they secured approved medical or religious exemptions. The requirement kicked in this past November. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last month that 98% of federal workers are vaccinated.

Judge Jeffrey Brown, who was appointed to the District Court for the Southern District of Texas by then-President Donald Trump, issued an injunction against the requirement last month, saying the Biden administration exceeded its authority.

The 5th Circuit panel’s order didn’t address the merits of the case. It was a brief order by judges Jerry Smith and Don Willett putting off a decision on whether to lift the injunction pending further proceedings, and ordering the expedited filing of briefs.

Judge Stephen Higginson issued a 10-page dissent noting that a dozen other district judges had declined to block the rule. Higginson said many private businesses had adopted vaccine mandates, adding “the public interest is not served by a single ... district judge, lacking public health expertise and made unaccountable through life tenure, telling the President of the United States, in his capacity as CEO of the federal workforce, that he cannot take the same lifesaving workplace safety measures as these private sector CEOs.”

Smith was nominated to the 5th Circuit by President Ronald Reagan; Willett, by Trump; and Higginson, by President Barack Obama.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641245951468.png" alt="President Joe Biden announced in September that more than 3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no option to get regularly tested instead-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Joe Biden announced in September that more than 3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no option to get regularly tested instead-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court has declined, for now, to allow the Biden administration to require COVID-19 vaccinations for federal employees.The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled 2-1 Wednesday to maintain a block on the mandate that a Texas-based federal judge had issued on Jan. 21. The administration had asked the New Orleans court for an injunction allowing the federal worker mandate to move forward pending appeal.President Joe Biden announced in September that more than 3.5 million federal workers were required to undergo vaccination, with no option to get regularly tested instead, unless they secured approved medical or religious exemptions. The requirement kicked in this past November. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said last month that 98% of federal workers are vaccinated.Judge Jeffrey Brown, who was appointed to the District Court for the Southern District of Texas by then-President Donald Trump, issued an injunction against the requirement last month, saying the Biden administration exceeded its authority.The 5th Circuit panel’s order didn’t address the merits of the case. It was a brief order by judges Jerry Smith and Don Willett putting off a decision on whether to lift the injunction pending further proceedings, and ordering the expedited filing of briefs.Judge Stephen Higginson issued a 10-page dissent noting that a dozen other district judges had declined to block the rule. Higginson said many private businesses had adopted vaccine mandates, adding “the public interest is not served by a single ... district judge, lacking public health expertise and made unaccountable through life tenure, telling the President of the United States, in his capacity as CEO of the federal workforce, that he cannot take the same lifesaving workplace safety measures as these private sector CEOs.”Smith was nominated to the 5th Circuit by President Ronald Reagan; Willett, by Trump; and Higginson, by President Barack Obama.

2nd federal court blocks vaccine mandate for federal workers 

PIERCE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a northeastern Nebraska woman was killed earlier this week when a car she was in collided with a semitrailer.

 The Omaha World-Herald reports that the crash happened Tuesday night on U.S. Highway 81 near Pierce. 

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office says 36-year-old Cassandra Lacost, of Pierce, was a passenger in a car driven by a 51-year-old Pierce man that crashed into the rear of a semitrailer that had pulled out onto the highway from a convenience store. 

Investigators say the car then went off the road and rolled. 

Lacost was taken to a Norfolk hospital, where she died. 

Neither the car's driver nor the truck driver were reported injured in the crash.

By Associated PressPIERCE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a northeastern Nebraska woman was killed earlier this week when a car she was in collided with a semitrailer. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the crash happened Tuesday night on U.S. Highway 81 near Pierce. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office says 36-year-old Cassandra Lacost, of Pierce, was a passenger in a car driven by a 51-year-old Pierce man that crashed into the rear of a semitrailer that had pulled out onto the highway from a convenience store. Investigators say the car then went off the road and rolled. Lacost was taken to a Norfolk hospital, where she died. Neither the car's driver nor the truck driver were reported injured in the crash.

Northeast Nebraska woman killed in collision with semi

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a small plane has made an emergency landing in a harvested cornfield in Nebraska after its engine went out. 

Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Waverly Fire and Southeast crews responded to the crash at about 8 p.m. Thursday east of Lincoln.

 KLKN-TV reported that the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said there were two male passengers on the plane and both had minor injuries.

 Scanner reports say the plane had to deploy its parachute. 

The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to investigate.

By Associated PressLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a small plane has made an emergency landing in a harvested cornfield in Nebraska after its engine went out. Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Waverly Fire and Southeast crews responded to the crash at about 8 p.m. Thursday east of Lincoln. KLKN-TV reported that the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said there were two male passengers on the plane and both had minor injuries. Scanner reports say the plane had to deploy its parachute. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to investigate.

Small plane makes emergency landing in Nebraska cornfield

CULPEPER, Virginia (AP) — Unable to tame inflation that has worsened sharply under his watch, President Joe Biden stressed Thursday that his administration’s policies would cut prescription drug prices and make life more affordable for families.

He traveled to Culpeper, Virginia, on the heels of a dire inflation report on Thursday morning. Consumer prices jumped 7.5% over the year ending in January, as the sources of inflation have broadened on a monthly basis with increases in the costs of rent, electricity, clothes and household furnishings. The pandemic disrupted supply chains and government aid boosted consumer demand, causing prices for gasoline, food and other goods such as autos to rise earlier this year.

Inflation poses a triple threat for Biden. Prices at a 40-year peak have dimmed his public support and endangered his policy agenda, while efforts by the Federal Reserve to curb inflation could meaningfully slow the strong economic growth that had been a highlight of his first year.

“Inflation is up. It’s up.” Biden said. “But the fact is that if we’re able to do the things I’m talking about, it will bring down the cost for average families.”

The president said he will “work like the devil” to bring down gas prices and that “everyone has less money in their pockets today because of high drug costs,” as he pledged that his policies would give family budgets some breathing room. He said pharmaceutical companies should be able to make a profit, though they cannot price drugs at levels that hurt people’s financial wellbeing.

“The idea that you can charge whatever you want is just not going to happen.” the president said.

Biden’s trip to Virginia also served as an opportunity for him to start promoting his party’s candidates in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/midterm-elections">November’s midterm elections</a>. He appeared alongside Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who is in danger of losing her seat representing a central Virginia district.

Spanberger said she welcomes any effort to lower prescription drug prices and told reporters that the effort was about a broader attempt to reduce inflation.

“That’s part and parcel of what we’re here talking about, right?” she said. “So when you’re worried about the gas pump or you’re worried about the cost of chicken in the grocery store, and your child is diabetic — all those things become impactful.”

Spanberger is one of several Democrats who have raised alarms about slipping support from voters. She suggested in a November interview with The New York Times that Biden had overreached with his plans for new government programs that recalled the Depression-era agenda of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

“Nobody elected him to be FDR; they elected him to be normal and stop the chaos,” she said.

<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/03/us/politics/democrat-losses-2022.html" target="_blank">After the article was published</a>, Spanberger said, she got a call from Biden, who said “this is President Roosevelt calling.” Biden was “belly laughing,” she said.

Prescription drugs remain a politically safe focal point for Biden’s visit, and Spanberger said the president was right to push forward on it.

“One of the most unsettling things for people is the inability to afford their prescription drugs,” she said.

The tougher question is how to blunt Republican criticism on inflation and convince skittish lawmakers such as West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin to back Biden’s pared down economic agenda. Manchin, the decisive Democratic vote, has said the priority should be on stopping inflation rather than on more government spending. Meanwhile, Republicans seized on Thursday’s inflation report to blast Biden for his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package for fueling the spike in prices.

“Rampant inflation and soaring prices are crushing, crushing the American people,” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday in remarks on the Senate floor. “If you haven’t personally gotten a pay raise of 8% or more in the last year, then Democrats’ policies have given you a pay cut.”

A December poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found inflation and personal financial issues rising as priorities for Americans. In an open-ended question, 14% named inflation among their top priorities for the government to be working on this year, compared with almost nobody naming it a year before.

In an AP-NORC poll conducted in January, just 37% said they approved of Biden’s handling of the economy, down from 60% in March of 2021 and slightly lower than his overall approval rating, which stood at 43%.

Efforts to lower prescription drug costs have long been popular with voters, but bipartisan consensus has proved elusive. It’s unclear if there’s a political path forward for Biden’s plans in Congress.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-lifestyle-health-business-congress-2c8b47fc0d99bca7190d84894e00ea32">His proposals</a>&nbsp;include capping out-of-pocket medication costs for Medicare recipients at $2,000 per year and insulin at $35 per month. In addition, Medicare would be allowed to negotiate prices for a limited number of prescription drugs and drugmakers would be required to pay rebates if they raise costs faster than inflation.

“It’s safe to say that all of us can agree that prescription drugs are outrageously expensive in this country,” Biden said Dec. 6.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644525308229.png" alt="“Inflation is up. It’s up.” Biden said. “But the fact is that if we’re able to do the things I’m talking about, it will bring down the cost for average families.”-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>“Inflation is up. It’s up.” Biden said. “But the fact is that if we’re able to do the things I’m talking about, it will bring down the cost for average families.”-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>CULPEPER, Virginia (AP) — Unable to tame inflation that has worsened sharply under his watch, President Joe Biden stressed Thursday that his administration’s policies would cut prescription drug prices and make life more affordable for families.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1135986570495032%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=984" 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>He traveled to Culpeper, Virginia, on the heels of a dire inflation report on Thursday morning. Consumer prices jumped 7.5% over the year ending in January, as the sources of inflation have broadened on a monthly basis with increases in the costs of rent, electricity, clothes and household furnishings. The pandemic disrupted supply chains and government aid boosted consumer demand, causing prices for gasoline, food and other goods such as autos to rise earlier this year.Inflation poses a triple threat for Biden. Prices at a 40-year peak have dimmed his public support and endangered his policy agenda, while efforts by the Federal Reserve to curb inflation could meaningfully slow the strong economic growth that had been a highlight of his first year.“Inflation is up. It’s up.” Biden said. “But the fact is that if we’re able to do the things I’m talking about, it will bring down the cost for average families.”The president said he will “work like the devil” to bring down gas prices and that “everyone has less money in their pockets today because of high drug costs,” as he pledged that his policies would give family budgets some breathing room. He said pharmaceutical companies should be able to make a profit, though they cannot price drugs at levels that hurt people’s financial wellbeing.“The idea that you can charge whatever you want is just not going to happen.” the president said.Biden’s trip to Virginia also served as an opportunity for him to start promoting his party’s candidates in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/midterm-elections">November’s midterm elections</a>. He appeared alongside Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who is in danger of losing her seat representing a central Virginia district.Spanberger said she welcomes any effort to lower prescription drug prices and told reporters that the effort was about a broader attempt to reduce inflation.“That’s part and parcel of what we’re here talking about, right?” she said. “So when you’re worried about the gas pump or you’re worried about the cost of chicken in the grocery store, and your child is diabetic — all those things become impactful.”Spanberger is one of several Democrats who have raised alarms about slipping support from voters. She suggested in a November interview with The New York Times that Biden had overreached with his plans for new government programs that recalled the Depression-era agenda of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.“Nobody elected him to be FDR; they elected him to be normal and stop the chaos,” she said.<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/03/us/politics/democrat-losses-2022.html" target="_blank">After the article was published</a>, Spanberger said, she got a call from Biden, who said “this is President Roosevelt calling.” Biden was “belly laughing,” she said.Prescription drugs remain a politically safe focal point for Biden’s visit, and Spanberger said the president was right to push forward on it.“One of the most unsettling things for people is the inability to afford their prescription drugs,” she said.The tougher question is how to blunt Republican criticism on inflation and convince skittish lawmakers such as West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin to back Biden’s pared down economic agenda. Manchin, the decisive Democratic vote, has said the priority should be on stopping inflation rather than on more government spending. Meanwhile, Republicans seized on Thursday’s inflation report to blast Biden for his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package for fueling the spike in prices.“Rampant inflation and soaring prices are crushing, crushing the American people,” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday in remarks on the Senate floor. “If you haven’t personally gotten a pay raise of 8% or more in the last year, then Democrats’ policies have given you a pay cut.”A December poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found inflation and personal financial issues rising as priorities for Americans. In an open-ended question, 14% named inflation among their top priorities for the government to be working on this year, compared with almost nobody naming it a year before.In an AP-NORC poll conducted in January, just 37% said they approved of Biden’s handling of the economy, down from 60% in March of 2021 and slightly lower than his overall approval rating, which stood at 43%.Efforts to lower prescription drug costs have long been popular with voters, but bipartisan consensus has proved elusive. It’s unclear if there’s a political path forward for Biden’s plans in Congress.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-lifestyle-health-business-congress-2c8b47fc0d99bca7190d84894e00ea32">His proposals</a>&nbsp;include capping out-of-pocket medication costs for Medicare recipients at $2,000 per year and insulin at $35 per month. In addition, Medicare would be allowed to negotiate prices for a limited number of prescription drugs and drugmakers would be required to pay rebates if they raise costs faster than inflation.“It’s safe to say that all of us can agree that prescription drugs are outrageously expensive in this country,” Biden said Dec. 6.

🎥Unable to tame inflation Biden attacks cost of prescription drugs

New
 data from the Federal Trade Commission show that more consumers than 
ever report falling prey to romance scammers. Consumers reported losing 
$547 million in 2021 alone.

A newly released <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/data-spotlight/2022/02/reports-romance-scams-hit-record-highs-2021">data spotlight</a>&nbsp;shows
 that in 2021 reported losses to romance scammers were up nearly 80 
percent compared to 2020, and the total reported lost over the past five
 years has now reached $1.3 billion. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCNew
 data from the Federal Trade Commission show that more consumers than 
ever report falling prey to romance scammers. Consumers reported losing 
$547 million in 2021 alone.A newly released <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/data-spotlight/2022/02/reports-romance-scams-hit-record-highs-2021">data spotlight</a>&nbsp;shows
 that in 2021 reported losses to romance scammers were up nearly 80 
percent compared to 2020, and the total reported lost over the past five
 years has now reached $1.3 billion. &nbsp;Romance scammers draw 
people in using pictures stolen from around the internet, building false
 personas that seem just real enough to be true, but always having a 
reason never to meet in person. Eventually, the supposed suitor will ask
 for money from the unwitting consumer. The impact can be major, with a 
median loss of $2,400 reported to the FTC.While many people 
report the romance scam started on a dating site or app, reports of 
romance scams originating from contact through social media were also 
common.Another trend in 2021 was an increase in reports of 
romance scammers luring consumers into phony cryptocurrency investment 
schemes. According to the spotlight, consumers who paid romance scammers
 with cryptocurrency reported losing $139 million in total in 2021, more
 than any other payment amount. The median loss for consumers who 
reported paying a romance scammer with cryptocurrency was nearly 
$10,000. Nevertheless, consumers most often report sending money to 
romance scammers by using gift cards, with about a quarter of 2021 
reports citing gift cards as a payment method.The FTC provides tips for consumers on how to spot romance scams and protect themselves at ftc.gov/romancescams.