CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth could produce northern lights in the U.S. this weekend and potentially disrupt power and communications.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon, hours sooner than anticipated. The effects were due to last through the weekend and possibly into next week.

NOAA alerted operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit to take precautions, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“For most people here on planet Earth, they won’t have to do anything,” said Rob Steenburgh, a scientist with NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

The storm could produce northern lights as far south in the U.S. as Alabama and Northern California, according to NOAA. But it was hard to predict and experts stressed it would not be the dramatic curtains of color normally associated with the northern lights, but more like splashes of greenish hues.

“That’s really the gift from space weather — the aurora,” said Steenburgh. He and his colleagues said the best aurora views may come from phone cameras, which are better at capturing light than the naked eye.

Snap a picture of the sky and “there might be actually a nice little treat there for you,” said Mike Bettwy, operations chief for the prediction center.

The most intense solar storm in recorded history, in 1859, prompted auroras in central America and possibly even Hawaii. “We are not anticipating that” but it could come close, said NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl.

This storm — ranked 4 on a scale of 1 to 5 — poses a risk for high-voltage transmission lines for power grids, not the electrical lines ordinarily found in people's homes, Dahl told reporters. Satellites also could be affected, which in turn could disrupt navigation and communication services here on Earth.

An extreme geomagnetic storm in 2003, for example, took out power in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa.

Even when the storm is over, signals between GPS satellites and ground receivers could be scrambled or lost, according to NOAA. But there are so many navigation satellites that any outages should not last long, Steenburgh noted.

The sun has produced strong solar flares since Wednesday, resulting in at least seven outbursts of plasma. Each eruption — known as a coronal mass ejection — can contain billions of tons of plasma and magnetic field from the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona.

The flares seem to be associated with a sunspot that’s 16 times the diameter of Earth, according to NOAA. It's all part of the solar activity that's ramping up as the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year cycle.

NASA said the storm posed no serious threat to the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The biggest concern is the increased radiation levels, and the crew could move to a better shielded part of the station if necessary, according to Steenburgh.

Increased radiation also could threaten some of NASA's science satellites. Extremely sensitive instruments will be turned off, if necessary, to avoid damage, said Antti Pulkkinen, director of the space agency's heliophysics science division.

Several sun-focused spacecraft are monitoring all the action.

"This is exactly the kinds of things we want to observe,” Pulkkinen said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715344219111.png" alt="NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite captured the eruption from the sun that occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024. Credit: NOAA" />
 <figcaption>NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite captured the eruption from the sun that occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024. Credit: NOAA</figcaption>
 </figure>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth could produce northern lights in the U.S. this weekend and potentially disrupt power and communications.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Large sunspot groups and strong solar flares led to the issuance of SWPC&#39;s first G4 Watch since 2005... <a href="https://t.co/oi55cTPXhP">pic.twitter.com/oi55cTPXhP</a>&mdash; NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSWPC/status/1788671368629772306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon, hours sooner than anticipated. The effects were due to last through the weekend and possibly into next week.NOAA alerted operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit to take precautions, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.“For most people here on planet Earth, they won’t have to do anything,” said Rob Steenburgh, a scientist with NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.The storm could produce northern lights as far south in the U.S. as Alabama and Northern California, according to NOAA. But it was hard to predict and experts stressed it would not be the dramatic curtains of color normally associated with the northern lights, but more like splashes of greenish hues.“That’s really the gift from space weather — the aurora,” said Steenburgh. He and his colleagues said the best aurora views may come from phone cameras, which are better at capturing light than the naked eye.Snap a picture of the sky and “there might be actually a nice little treat there for you,” said Mike Bettwy, operations chief for the prediction center.The most intense solar storm in recorded history, in 1859, prompted auroras in central America and possibly even Hawaii. “We are not anticipating that” but it could come close, said NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl.This storm — ranked 4 on a scale of 1 to 5 — poses a risk for high-voltage transmission lines for power grids, not the electrical lines ordinarily found in people's homes, Dahl told reporters. Satellites also could be affected, which in turn could disrupt navigation and communication services here on Earth.An extreme geomagnetic storm in 2003, for example, took out power in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa.Even when the storm is over, signals between GPS satellites and ground receivers could be scrambled or lost, according to NOAA. But there are so many navigation satellites that any outages should not last long, Steenburgh noted.The sun has produced strong solar flares since Wednesday, resulting in at least seven outbursts of plasma. Each eruption — known as a coronal mass ejection — can contain billions of tons of plasma and magnetic field from the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona.The flares seem to be associated with a sunspot that’s 16 times the diameter of Earth, according to NOAA. It's all part of the solar activity that's ramping up as the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year cycle.NASA said the storm posed no serious threat to the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The biggest concern is the increased radiation levels, and the crew could move to a better shielded part of the station if necessary, according to Steenburgh.Increased radiation also could threaten some of NASA's science satellites. Extremely sensitive instruments will be turned off, if necessary, to avoid damage, said Antti Pulkkinen, director of the space agency's heliophysics science division.Several sun-focused spacecraft are monitoring all the action."This is exactly the kinds of things we want to observe,” Pulkkinen said.--------------

Strong solar storm hits Earth, could disrupt communications 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nebraskans will cast presidential primary ballots Tuesday in a reliably Republican state that could nonetheless be a decisive one in the race for the White House. Voters will also decide several contested state primaries, including the U.S. Senate, where both Republican incumbents are on the ballot.

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump should easily win their primaries, as they already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-primary-georgia-washington-mississippi-hawaii-15bb0084ad656903ffef14cfae822abd">unofficially secured their parties’ nominations</a>&nbsp;on March 12. But Nebraska presents the latest opportunities for voters to cast protest votes against both presumptive nominees.

On the Republican side, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-donald-trump-pennsylvania-joe-biden-c8ab4e675cfd2fa64d6b749b881c6fbd">continues to receive a sizable share of the vote</a>&nbsp;despite ending her campaign in early March. Biden and Trump have won almost every contest this year by overwhelming margins, but the persistent protest votes with just a few weeks left in the primary season have raised questions about voter dissatisfaction with both candidates.

Biden has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uncommitted-biden-trump-war-15f96be36b4d5ac167c7ceda72fe65d1">organized campaigns in several states</a>&nbsp;to vote for “uncommitted” in protest of the war in Gaza. In Nebraska, though, the only options for those casting protest votes on the Democratic side are to vote for Rep. Dean Phillips or to write in a candidate, and the state only counts write-in ballots for candidates who have filed an affidavit and paid a filing fee before the election. None have done so.

Nebraska votes reliably Republican in presidential elections, but the state awards electoral college votes based on the vote in individual congressional districts. Biden won one of Nebraska’s five electoral votes in 2020 because he got the most votes in the state’s 2nd Congressional District.

Elsewhere on the ballot, Republican U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts both face nominal opposition in their primaries, one of the rare occasions when both senators in a state are on the ballot at the same time. Fischer is seeking a third term, while Ricketts is running to complete the remaining two years of former Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse’s term. Sasse resigned in 2023 to become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-florida-nebraska-ben-sasse-university-of-b300bd9615e2f4309c30cd3c8be85baa">president of the University of Florida</a>. Ricketts, who had just completed two terms as governor, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-florida-ben-sasse-pete-ricketts-nebraska-32bf762f700788faa122a701bf86405a">appointed by the new Republican Gov. Jim Pillen</a>&nbsp;to fill Sasse’s vacancy, and he now faces a required special election to serve out the term.

In Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon faces a challenge from his right flank from Dan Frei, who previously ran for the seat in 2014. Bacon is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-primary-biden-16-house-fitzpatrick-houck-c5b7c0a05a7dbe9e61b3607767b5f629">one of 16 Republican members of Congress</a>&nbsp;representing a district that Biden carried in 2020. The 2nd District, anchored in Omaha,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-lincoln-omaha-93fdcb5a05fc62878b4fe70c2f7f6e5a">delivered Biden one electoral vote</a>&nbsp;under the state’s unique rules where each congressional district awards one electoral vote. That outcome prompted some Nebraska Republicans as well as national pro-Trump activists to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winner-take-all-electoral-votes-nebraska-trump-d5fb580a7f2ee1d4bb88bc3ae7d09d93">call for changing state law</a>&nbsp;to award all the state’s electoral votes to the statewide winner. Without the change, the 2nd District is expected to be hotly contested in the presidential race, in addition to race for the U.S. House seat.

Contested primaries will also be held in the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts, as well as for several seats in the state’s non-partisan, single-chamber legislature.

Here’s a look at what to expect on Tuesday:

Nebraska’s presidential and state primaries will be held Tuesday. Polls close at 9 p.m. ET statewide.

The Associated Press will provide vote results for the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries, as well as contested primaries for both U.S. Senate seats, four U.S. House primaries and 15 state legislative primaries. Appearing on the Democratic presidential ballot are Biden, Dean Phillips and a write-in option. The Republican ballot features Trump, Nikki Haley and Perry Johnson, as well as the write-in option.

Nebraska Republicans have a closed primary system, which means that only registered Republicans may participate in a Republican primary. Registered Democrats and independent or unaffiliated voters may participate in the Democratic primary.

Nebraska’s 29 pledged Democratic delegates are allocated according to the national party’s standard rules. Six at-large delegates are allocated in proportion to the statewide vote, as are three PLEO delegates, or “party leaders and elected officials.” The state’s three congressional districts have a combined 20 delegates at stake, which are allocated in proportion to the vote results in each district. Candidates must receive at least 15% of the statewide vote to qualify for any statewide delegates, and 15% of the vote in a congressional district to qualify for delegates in that district.

In the Republican presidential primary, all 36 delegates at stake will be awarded to the winner of the statewide vote.

In the presidential race, Biden and Trump are the favorites in their primaries as neither candidate faces credible challenges. The first indications that they are winning statewide on a level consistent with the overwhelming margins seen in most other contests held this year may be sufficient to determine the statewide winners. If organized protest votes materialize in either the Democratic or Republican primaries, it will probably be strongest in the Omaha area. Haley’s best performances in the campaign this year have come from states' Democratic areas.

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

Recounts are automatic in Nebraska if the vote margin is 1% of the total vote or less in races where more than 500 votes are cast. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is eligible for a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

WHAT DO TURNOUT AND ADVANCE VOTE LOOK LIKE?

As of April 1, there were about 1.2 million registered voters in Nebraska. Of those, 49% were Republicans and 27% were Democrats.

In the 2022 primaries, turnout was about 22% of more than 1.2 million registered voters in the Republican primary and about 8% in the Democratic primary. That year, about 39% of voters in the Republican primary and 65% in the Democratic primary cast their ballots before Election Day.

As of Thursday, a total of 116,343 ballots had been cast before primary day, about 54% in the Republican primary and 40% in the Democratic primary.

HOW LONG DOES VOTE-COUNTING USUALLY TAKE?

In the 2022 primaries, the AP first reported results at 9:03 p.m. ET, or three minutes after polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 2:02 a.m. ET with about 95 % of total votes counted.

As of Tuesday, there will be 62 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, 97 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and 175 days until the November general election.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715352789980.jpeg" alt="A polling place, Wellspring Lutheran Church in Papillion, Neb., on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. Nebraskans will cast presidential primary ballots Tuesday in a reliably Republican state that could nonetheless be a decisive one in the race for the White House. (Anna Reed/Omaha World-Herald via AP, FILE)" />
 <figcaption>A polling place, Wellspring Lutheran Church in Papillion, Neb., on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. Nebraskans will cast presidential primary ballots Tuesday in a reliably Republican state that could nonetheless be a decisive one in the race for the White House. (Anna Reed/Omaha World-Herald via AP, FILE)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Nebraskans will cast presidential primary ballots Tuesday in a reliably Republican state that could nonetheless be a decisive one in the race for the White House. Voters will also decide several contested state primaries, including the U.S. Senate, where both Republican incumbents are on the ballot.President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump should easily win their primaries, as they already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-primary-georgia-washington-mississippi-hawaii-15bb0084ad656903ffef14cfae822abd">unofficially secured their parties’ nominations</a>&nbsp;on March 12. But Nebraska presents the latest opportunities for voters to cast protest votes against both presumptive nominees.On the Republican side, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-donald-trump-pennsylvania-joe-biden-c8ab4e675cfd2fa64d6b749b881c6fbd">continues to receive a sizable share of the vote</a>&nbsp;despite ending her campaign in early March. Biden and Trump have won almost every contest this year by overwhelming margins, but the persistent protest votes with just a few weeks left in the primary season have raised questions about voter dissatisfaction with both candidates.Biden has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uncommitted-biden-trump-war-15f96be36b4d5ac167c7ceda72fe65d1">organized campaigns in several states</a>&nbsp;to vote for “uncommitted” in protest of the war in Gaza. In Nebraska, though, the only options for those casting protest votes on the Democratic side are to vote for Rep. Dean Phillips or to write in a candidate, and the state only counts write-in ballots for candidates who have filed an affidavit and paid a filing fee before the election. None have done so.Nebraska votes reliably Republican in presidential elections, but the state awards electoral college votes based on the vote in individual congressional districts. Biden won one of Nebraska’s five electoral votes in 2020 because he got the most votes in the state’s 2nd Congressional District.Elsewhere on the ballot, Republican U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts both face nominal opposition in their primaries, one of the rare occasions when both senators in a state are on the ballot at the same time. Fischer is seeking a third term, while Ricketts is running to complete the remaining two years of former Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse’s term. Sasse resigned in 2023 to become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-florida-nebraska-ben-sasse-university-of-b300bd9615e2f4309c30cd3c8be85baa">president of the University of Florida</a>. Ricketts, who had just completed two terms as governor, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-florida-ben-sasse-pete-ricketts-nebraska-32bf762f700788faa122a701bf86405a">appointed by the new Republican Gov. Jim Pillen</a>&nbsp;to fill Sasse’s vacancy, and he now faces a required special election to serve out the term.In Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon faces a challenge from his right flank from Dan Frei, who previously ran for the seat in 2014. Bacon is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-primary-biden-16-house-fitzpatrick-houck-c5b7c0a05a7dbe9e61b3607767b5f629">one of 16 Republican members of Congress</a>&nbsp;representing a district that Biden carried in 2020. The 2nd District, anchored in Omaha,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-lincoln-omaha-93fdcb5a05fc62878b4fe70c2f7f6e5a">delivered Biden one electoral vote</a>&nbsp;under the state’s unique rules where each congressional district awards one electoral vote. That outcome prompted some Nebraska Republicans as well as national pro-Trump activists to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winner-take-all-electoral-votes-nebraska-trump-d5fb580a7f2ee1d4bb88bc3ae7d09d93">call for changing state law</a>&nbsp;to award all the state’s electoral votes to the statewide winner. Without the change, the 2nd District is expected to be hotly contested in the presidential race, in addition to race for the U.S. House seat.Contested primaries will also be held in the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts, as well as for several seats in the state’s non-partisan, single-chamber legislature.Here’s a look at what to expect on Tuesday:PRIMARY DAYNebraska’s presidential and state primaries will be held Tuesday. Polls close at 9 p.m. ET statewide.WHAT’S ON THE BALLOTThe Associated Press will provide vote results for the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries, as well as contested primaries for both U.S. Senate seats, four U.S. House primaries and 15 state legislative primaries. Appearing on the Democratic presidential ballot are Biden, Dean Phillips and a write-in option. The Republican ballot features Trump, Nikki Haley and Perry Johnson, as well as the write-in option.WHO GETS TO VOTENebraska Republicans have a closed primary system, which means that only registered Republicans may participate in a Republican primary. Registered Democrats and independent or unaffiliated voters may participate in the Democratic primary.DELEGATE ALLOCATION RULESNebraska’s 29 pledged Democratic delegates are allocated according to the national party’s standard rules. Six at-large delegates are allocated in proportion to the statewide vote, as are three PLEO delegates, or “party leaders and elected officials.” The state’s three congressional districts have a combined 20 delegates at stake, which are allocated in proportion to the vote results in each district. Candidates must receive at least 15% of the statewide vote to qualify for any statewide delegates, and 15% of the vote in a congressional district to qualify for delegates in that district.In the Republican presidential primary, all 36 delegates at stake will be awarded to the winner of the statewide vote.DECISION NOTESIn the presidential race, Biden and Trump are the favorites in their primaries as neither candidate faces credible challenges. The first indications that they are winning statewide on a level consistent with the overwhelming margins seen in most other contests held this year may be sufficient to determine the statewide winners. If organized protest votes materialize in either the Democratic or Republican primaries, it will probably be strongest in the Omaha area. Haley’s best performances in the campaign this year have come from states' Democratic areas.The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.Recounts are automatic in Nebraska if the vote margin is 1% of the total vote or less in races where more than 500 votes are cast. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is eligible for a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.WHAT DO TURNOUT AND ADVANCE VOTE LOOK LIKE?As of April 1, there were about 1.2 million registered voters in Nebraska. Of those, 49% were Republicans and 27% were Democrats.In the 2022 primaries, turnout was about 22% of more than 1.2 million registered voters in the Republican primary and about 8% in the Democratic primary. That year, about 39% of voters in the Republican primary and 65% in the Democratic primary cast their ballots before Election Day.As of Thursday, a total of 116,343 ballots had been cast before primary day, about 54% in the Republican primary and 40% in the Democratic primary.HOW LONG DOES VOTE-COUNTING USUALLY TAKE?In the 2022 primaries, the AP first reported results at 9:03 p.m. ET, or three minutes after polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 2:02 a.m. ET with about 95 % of total votes counted.ARE WE THERE YET?As of Tuesday, there will be 62 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, 97 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and 175 days until the November general election.

AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Nebraska's presidential and state primaries

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/09/fortenberry-charged-again-for-lying-after-2016-fundraiser-collected-foreign-funds/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry faces refiled charges from a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., for allegedly lying to FBI agents about illegal foreign money raised for his 2016 congressional campaign.

The grand jury charged Fortenberry with two felonies: falsifying and concealing material facts and making false statements to federal investigators.&nbsp;

A federal appeals court had&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/26/appeals-court-reverses-fortenberrys-federal-conviction-based-on-trial-location/">overturned his convictions</a>&nbsp;for three felonies from March 2023 because prosecutors pursued the case in California, where the questionable fundraiser took place and not where the congressman allegedly lied. The court left open the possibility of prosecutors filing the charges again in either Nebraska or Washington.

Fortenberry’s conversations with federal investigators took place in 2019 at his Lincoln home and at his lawyer’s office in D.C. The charges allege Fortenberry did not spur his campaign to correct campaign finance forms with accurate information.&nbsp;

Based on the new charges and recordings and testimony from his trial in California, Fortenberry denied any knowledge of illegal contributions from the California fundraiser. He did the same during the follow-up interview at his lawyer’s office in D.C.

At trial, prosecutors played a recording of Fortenberry from 2018 speaking by phone with the organizer of the California fundraiser and being told that the $30,000 raised was likely illegal and had been delivered in a paper sack.

Part of why Fortenberry was charged with lying, the charges allege, is that he denied being told by the organizer what the recording revealed he had been told. He also denied being aware of the “illicit contribution” during the fundraiser.

Fortenberry argued at trial that he had a bad connection and may have misheard the call.

FBI agents began looking into potential foreign contributions to federal campaigns in 2015 from Lebanese billionaire Gilbert Chagoury, who lives in France. Federal law prohibits raising foreign money for federal races.

The charges say that Fortenberry “had become aware” that Chagoury was the source of the money and that the organizer had been distributing money from a foreign national and kept asking to host another fundraiser.

Fortenberry had long supported the mission of Chagoury’s organization, In Defense of Christians, which works to protect Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East. Prosecutors had no immediate comment.

Fortenberry’s spokesman, Chad Kolton, described the charges as political and “overzealous.” He said prosecutors were “dragging Jeff Fortenberry around the country to face one trial after another until it can secure a conviction that … holds up.”

He said that the case should never have been prosecuted the first time and that it should have been dropped after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the California convictions. He blamed the Biden administration and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

“Federal prosecutors should have better things to do than force a distinguished former public servant to incur massive additional legal costs despite already having resigned his office and performed his sentence from a conviction that was ultimately overturned,” Kolton said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715351344313.jpeg" alt="U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, with his wife, Celeste, at his side, talks to reporters just after a federal jury found him guilty. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, with his wife, Celeste, at his side, talks to reporters just after a federal jury found him guilty. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/09/fortenberry-charged-again-for-lying-after-2016-fundraiser-collected-foreign-funds/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry faces refiled charges from a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., for allegedly lying to FBI agents about illegal foreign money raised for his 2016 congressional campaign.The grand jury charged Fortenberry with two felonies: falsifying and concealing material facts and making false statements to federal investigators.&nbsp;A federal appeals court had&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/26/appeals-court-reverses-fortenberrys-federal-conviction-based-on-trial-location/">overturned his convictions</a>&nbsp;for three felonies from March 2023 because prosecutors pursued the case in California, where the questionable fundraiser took place and not where the congressman allegedly lied. The court left open the possibility of prosecutors filing the charges again in either Nebraska or Washington.Fortenberry’s conversations with federal investigators took place in 2019 at his Lincoln home and at his lawyer’s office in D.C. The charges allege Fortenberry did not spur his campaign to correct campaign finance forms with accurate information.&nbsp;Based on the new charges and recordings and testimony from his trial in California, Fortenberry denied any knowledge of illegal contributions from the California fundraiser. He did the same during the follow-up interview at his lawyer’s office in D.C.<h2>Recording could be key</h2>At trial, prosecutors played a recording of Fortenberry from 2018 speaking by phone with the organizer of the California fundraiser and being told that the $30,000 raised was likely illegal and had been delivered in a paper sack.Part of why Fortenberry was charged with lying, the charges allege, is that he denied being told by the organizer what the recording revealed he had been told. He also denied being aware of the “illicit contribution” during the fundraiser.Fortenberry argued at trial that he had a bad connection and may have misheard the call.FBI agents began looking into potential foreign contributions to federal campaigns in 2015 from Lebanese billionaire Gilbert Chagoury, who lives in France. Federal law prohibits raising foreign money for federal races.The charges say that Fortenberry “had become aware” that Chagoury was the source of the money and that the organizer had been distributing money from a foreign national and kept asking to host another fundraiser.Fortenberry had long supported the mission of Chagoury’s organization, In Defense of Christians, which works to protect Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East. Prosecutors had no immediate comment.<h2>Charges called &nbsp;‘overzealous’</h2>Fortenberry’s spokesman, Chad Kolton, described the charges as political and “overzealous.” He said prosecutors were “dragging Jeff Fortenberry around the country to face one trial after another until it can secure a conviction that … holds up.”He said that the case should never have been prosecuted the first time and that it should have been dropped after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the California convictions. He blamed the Biden administration and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.“Federal prosecutors should have better things to do than force a distinguished former public servant to incur massive additional legal costs despite already having resigned his office and performed his sentence from a conviction that was ultimately overturned,” Kolton said.

Fortenberry charged again for lying after 2016 fundraiser collected foreign funds

&nbsp; Lincoln, Neb. May 10, 2024 — In its 120 years, the Switzer Ranch has undergone changes in operations but not ownership. Fourth-generation rancher Sarah Sortum said her family hopes to keep it that way.

"Our goal is for our family to live and work on the ranch for as long as our family wants to basically," Sortum said. "What that means is we have to be economically, environmentally, and socially sound."

She and her parents, Bruce and Sue Ann Switzer, and brother, Adam Switzer, co-own and run the ranch in Loup County, Nebraska, as four LLCs. Like their ancestors, they still keep their own herd and sell cattle from that, but they also offer custom grazing to others in the summer, custom backgrounding in the winter and tourism throughout the year. Their tourism business, Calamus Outfitters, offers a taste of rural living with Jeep tours, lodging, an event space and river trips.

Sortum’s husband and her brother’s wife work as teachers, providing health insurance and retirement funds. This helps the ranch stay financially sound, Sortum said, because the old retirement model of the younger generation buying the place from the older generation is no longer affordable with taxes and other costs.

While ranchers used to be able to buy land and pay for it by grazing cows on it, she said they can’t anymore.

"That's just the finances of it," she said. "In fact, if you buy grazing land, especially here, because our land values are affected a lot by recreation, you can't even pay for the interest on your loan through grazing. So, unless you have another outside revenue stream to pay for the land, it's so, so hard for young people to get into agriculture unless they already have a standing family operation."

Between her and her brother’s families, they have five children to inherit their ranch.

What the ranch means to her and what she wants to pass on to her children is much more than a physical location, she said.

"It's the intergenerational relationships that are there," she said. "Also, having them learn about nature itself and how things work and learn about animals. It's all of that tied up and, hopefully, instilling in them a really strong stewardship ethic that, even if they didn't end up in agriculture, that would carry over in just taking care of things, taking care of your environment wherever you are, taking care of your relationships wherever you are."

Having seen other families get torn apart working together, Sortum said her family focuses on keeping their relationships healthy and staying resilient socially.

"Family comes first as far as the land," she said. "As much as we love it and everything in the lifestyle, that does not get in the way of our family relationships."

They work hard but try to laugh and have fun every day. The adults give the children a lot of ownership so they feel part of the operation. Family members contribute to the rural community.

This social side of ranch life is probably where they have changed the least, Sortum said. Environmentally, she said they pay more attention to species depending on grasslands than what they did when she was a child. They try to support wildlife on their grazing lands and leave the grassland untilled to carry on beneficial natural activities like filtering water, storing carbon and preventing erosion.

They especially love grassland birds and try to prioritize them in managing the ranch, she said. Since insects are food for birds, the family puts up with some buzzing and bites.

Sortum said she used to have strong opinions about the best ranching and grazing practices but has realized that having a mix of styles is good.

"Looking at it from a literal bird's eye view, we want everything to be just a little bit different, because that's what the wildlife needs," she said. "Some birds like bare ground, short, short, short grass. Some birds like tall grass, and everywhere in between."

She sees the spread of redcedars into grassland as a different ecological matter, though. She listed the trees as probably the biggest threat to ranching and said ranchers need to stay on top of their spread. She and her family have been working with neighbors to burn or mechanically remove the trees.

"We are really at war with the invasive cedar tree because it's trying to make our grassland a forest," she said. "When our ecosystem changes, everything will have to change, and we want it to remain a grassland."

In general, she said she believes a lot of farmers and ranchers manage in such a way that they're always thinking toward the future. She said she is trying to make a living off the land while keeping the land, water, air, and wildlife healthy and resilient for future generations.

"This is what I live and breathe for," she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715347257076.jpeg" alt=" Sarah Sortum and her sons herd cattle in much the same way as their ancestors did more than 100 years ago. Photo credit: Baxter Productions." />
 <figcaption> Sarah Sortum and her sons herd cattle in much the same way as their ancestors did more than 100 years ago. Photo credit: Baxter Productions.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp; Lincoln, Neb. May 10, 2024 — In its 120 years, the Switzer Ranch has undergone changes in operations but not ownership. Fourth-generation rancher Sarah Sortum said her family hopes to keep it that way."Our goal is for our family to live and work on the ranch for as long as our family wants to basically," Sortum said. "What that means is we have to be economically, environmentally, and socially sound."She and her parents, Bruce and Sue Ann Switzer, and brother, Adam Switzer, co-own and run the ranch in Loup County, Nebraska, as four LLCs. Like their ancestors, they still keep their own herd and sell cattle from that, but they also offer custom grazing to others in the summer, custom backgrounding in the winter and tourism throughout the year. Their tourism business, Calamus Outfitters, offers a taste of rural living with Jeep tours, lodging, an event space and river trips.Sortum’s husband and her brother’s wife work as teachers, providing health insurance and retirement funds. This helps the ranch stay financially sound, Sortum said, because the old retirement model of the younger generation buying the place from the older generation is no longer affordable with taxes and other costs.While ranchers used to be able to buy land and pay for it by grazing cows on it, she said they can’t anymore."That's just the finances of it," she said. "In fact, if you buy grazing land, especially here, because our land values are affected a lot by recreation, you can't even pay for the interest on your loan through grazing. So, unless you have another outside revenue stream to pay for the land, it's so, so hard for young people to get into agriculture unless they already have a standing family operation."Between her and her brother’s families, they have five children to inherit their ranch.What the ranch means to her and what she wants to pass on to her children is much more than a physical location, she said."It's the intergenerational relationships that are there," she said. "Also, having them learn about nature itself and how things work and learn about animals. It's all of that tied up and, hopefully, instilling in them a really strong stewardship ethic that, even if they didn't end up in agriculture, that would carry over in just taking care of things, taking care of your environment wherever you are, taking care of your relationships wherever you are."Having seen other families get torn apart working together, Sortum said her family focuses on keeping their relationships healthy and staying resilient socially."Family comes first as far as the land," she said. "As much as we love it and everything in the lifestyle, that does not get in the way of our family relationships."They work hard but try to laugh and have fun every day. The adults give the children a lot of ownership so they feel part of the operation. Family members contribute to the rural community.This social side of ranch life is probably where they have changed the least, Sortum said. Environmentally, she said they pay more attention to species depending on grasslands than what they did when she was a child. They try to support wildlife on their grazing lands and leave the grassland untilled to carry on beneficial natural activities like filtering water, storing carbon and preventing erosion.They especially love grassland birds and try to prioritize them in managing the ranch, she said. Since insects are food for birds, the family puts up with some buzzing and bites.Sortum said she used to have strong opinions about the best ranching and grazing practices but has realized that having a mix of styles is good."Looking at it from a literal bird's eye view, we want everything to be just a little bit different, because that's what the wildlife needs," she said. "Some birds like bare ground, short, short, short grass. Some birds like tall grass, and everywhere in between."She sees the spread of redcedars into grassland as a different ecological matter, though. She listed the trees as probably the biggest threat to ranching and said ranchers need to stay on top of their spread. She and her family have been working with neighbors to burn or mechanically remove the trees."We are really at war with the invasive cedar tree because it's trying to make our grassland a forest," she said. "When our ecosystem changes, everything will have to change, and we want it to remain a grassland."In general, she said she believes a lot of farmers and ranchers manage in such a way that they're always thinking toward the future. She said she is trying to make a living off the land while keeping the land, water, air, and wildlife healthy and resilient for future generations."This is what I live and breathe for," she said.

Switzer Ranch staying resilient with long-term outlook

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An unusually strong solar storm headed toward Earth could produce northern lights in the U.S. this weekend and potentially disrupt power and communications.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare geomagnetic storm watch — the first in nearly 20 years. That was expected to become a warning Friday night, when the effects of the solar outburst were due to reach Earth.

NOAA already has alerted operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit to take precautions.

“As far as the worst situation expected here at Earth, that’s tough to say and I wouldn’t want to speculate on that,” said NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl. “However, severe level is pretty extraordinary, It’s a very rare event to happen.”

NOAA said the sun produced strong solar flares beginning Wednesday, resulting in five outbursts of plasma capable of disrupting satellites in orbit and power grids here on Earth. Each eruption — known as a coronal mass ejection — can contain billions of tons of plasma and magnetic field from the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona.

The flares seem to be associated with a sunspot that’s 16 times the diameter of Earth, according to NOAA. An extreme geomagnetic storm in 2003 took out power in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa.

The latest storm could produce northern lights as far south in the U.S. as Alabama and Northern California, according to NOAA.

The most intense solar storm in recorded history, in 1859, prompted auroras in central America and possibly even Hawaii. “That's an extreme-level event," Dahl said. “We are not anticipating that” but it could come close.

WASHINGTON —NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) — a division of the National Weather Service — is monitoring the sun following a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that began on May 8. Space weather forecasters have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g4-watch-effect-may-11">issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch</a>&nbsp;for the evening of Friday, May 10, according to a statement from the space weather prediction center. Additional solar eruptions could cause geomagnetic storm conditions to persist through the weekend.

A large sunspot cluster has produced several moderate to strong solar flares since Wednesday at 5:00 am ET. At least five flares were associated with CMEs that appear to be Earth-directed. SWPC forecasters will monitor NOAA and NASA’s space assets for the onset of a geomagnetic storm.

CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. They cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed at Earth. Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting phone communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations. 

SWPC has notified the operators of these systems so they can take protective action. Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora on Earth. A severe geomagnetic storm includes the potential for aurora to be seen as far south as Alabama and Northern California.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715344219111.png" alt="NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite captured the eruption from the sun that occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024. Credit: NOAA" />
 <figcaption>NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite captured the eruption from the sun that occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024. Credit: NOAA</figcaption>
 </figure>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An unusually strong solar storm headed toward Earth could produce northern lights in the U.S. this weekend and potentially disrupt power and communications.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Large sunspot groups and strong solar flares led to the issuance of SWPC&#39;s first G4 Watch since 2005... <a href="https://t.co/oi55cTPXhP">pic.twitter.com/oi55cTPXhP</a>&mdash; NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSWPC/status/1788671368629772306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare geomagnetic storm watch — the first in nearly 20 years. That was expected to become a warning Friday night, when the effects of the solar outburst were due to reach Earth.NOAA already has alerted operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit to take precautions.“As far as the worst situation expected here at Earth, that’s tough to say and I wouldn’t want to speculate on that,” said NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl. “However, severe level is pretty extraordinary, It’s a very rare event to happen.”NOAA said the sun produced strong solar flares beginning Wednesday, resulting in five outbursts of plasma capable of disrupting satellites in orbit and power grids here on Earth. Each eruption — known as a coronal mass ejection — can contain billions of tons of plasma and magnetic field from the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona.The flares seem to be associated with a sunspot that’s 16 times the diameter of Earth, according to NOAA. An extreme geomagnetic storm in 2003 took out power in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa.The latest storm could produce northern lights as far south in the U.S. as Alabama and Northern California, according to NOAA.The most intense solar storm in recorded history, in 1859, prompted auroras in central America and possibly even Hawaii. “That's an extreme-level event," Dahl said. “We are not anticipating that” but it could come close.---------------WASHINGTON —NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) — a division of the National Weather Service — is monitoring the sun following a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that began on May 8. Space weather forecasters have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g4-watch-effect-may-11">issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch</a>&nbsp;for the evening of Friday, May 10, according to a statement from the space weather prediction center. Additional solar eruptions could cause geomagnetic storm conditions to persist through the weekend.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Large sunspot groups and strong solar flares led to the issuance of SWPC&#39;s first G4 Watch since 2005... <a href="https://t.co/oi55cTPXhP">pic.twitter.com/oi55cTPXhP</a>&mdash; NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSWPC/status/1788671368629772306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A large sunspot cluster has produced several moderate to strong solar flares since Wednesday at 5:00 am ET. At least five flares were associated with CMEs that appear to be Earth-directed. SWPC forecasters will monitor NOAA and NASA’s space assets for the onset of a geomagnetic storm.CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. They cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed at Earth. Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting phone communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations. SWPC has notified the operators of these systems so they can take protective action. Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora on Earth. A severe geomagnetic storm includes the potential for aurora to be seen as far south as Alabama and Northern California.&nbsp;

NOAA issues first 'severe geomagnetic storm' watch in 20 years 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry has been charged with lying to federal authorities about a foreign billionaire's illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign, reviving a case that was derailed by an appellate court.

A federal jury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-los-angeles-campaigns-nebraska-congress-66c320661e21eef5d3083254e8a686f7">convicted the Nebraska Republican</a>&nbsp;in 2022, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed Fortenberry's conviction last year, ruling that the case should not have been tried in Los Angeles.

A grand jury in the nation's capital&nbsp;<a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:eb94499c-a39f-451d-81f5-410e1bbbb457">indicted Fortenberry</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday on two counts: falsifying and concealing material facts and making false statements.

Chad Kolton, a spokesman for Fortenberry, said the case should not have been brought in the first place and should not be pursued again after the 9th Circuit ruled in his favor.

“This case has defined overzealous prosecution from the earliest days of the investigation, and retrying it in D.C. just highlights the prosecutors’ vindictive obsession with destroying a good man’s life,” Kolton said in a statement.

After his conviction, Fortenberry&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campaigns-kevin-mccarthy-legislature-nebraska-nancy-pelosi-7f2bf99b536c5ad93071a544f661e252">announced his resignation</a>&nbsp;from the office that he had held since 2005. He had been under pressure from congressional leaders and Nebraska’s Republican governor.

The case stems an FBI investigation of illegal campaign contributions made by Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire who lived in Paris at the time. Chagoury made the $30,000 contribution to Fortenberry through middlemen at a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles, his indictment says.

Chagoury later agreed to pay a $1.8 million fine. Foreign nationals are prohibited from directly contributing money to candidates for federal offices in the United States.

Fortenberry was charged after denying to the FBI that he was aware he had received illicit funds from Chagoury. A person who cooperated with the FBI investigation repeatedly told Fortenberry about the illegal contributions, his indictment says.

The 9th Circuit ruled that Fortenberry was improperly tried in Los Angeles because he was charged in connection with statements that he made to federal agents at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska, and at his lawyer’s office in Washington.

Fortenberry's trial was the first for a sitting member of Congress since Rep. Jim Traficant, D-Ohio, who was convicted of bribery and other felony charges in 2002.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715278395797.jpeg" alt=" U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., arrives at the federal courthouse in Los Angeles, March 16, 2022. Former Rep. Fortenberry has been charged with lying to federal authorities about a foreign billionaire's illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign. The Nebraska Republican's indictment on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, revives a case that was derailed by an appellate court. The grand jury in Washington, D.C. indicted Fortenberry on two counts: falsifying and concealing material facts and making false statements. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)" />
 <figcaption> U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., arrives at the federal courthouse in Los Angeles, March 16, 2022. Former Rep. Fortenberry has been charged with lying to federal authorities about a foreign billionaire's illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign. The Nebraska Republican's indictment on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, revives a case that was derailed by an appellate court. The grand jury in Washington, D.C. indicted Fortenberry on two counts: falsifying and concealing material facts and making false statements. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry has been charged with lying to federal authorities about a foreign billionaire's illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign, reviving a case that was derailed by an appellate court.A federal jury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-los-angeles-campaigns-nebraska-congress-66c320661e21eef5d3083254e8a686f7">convicted the Nebraska Republican</a>&nbsp;in 2022, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed Fortenberry's conviction last year, ruling that the case should not have been tried in Los Angeles.A grand jury in the nation's capital&nbsp;<a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:eb94499c-a39f-451d-81f5-410e1bbbb457">indicted Fortenberry</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday on two counts: falsifying and concealing material facts and making false statements.Chad Kolton, a spokesman for Fortenberry, said the case should not have been brought in the first place and should not be pursued again after the 9th Circuit ruled in his favor.“This case has defined overzealous prosecution from the earliest days of the investigation, and retrying it in D.C. just highlights the prosecutors’ vindictive obsession with destroying a good man’s life,” Kolton said in a statement.After his conviction, Fortenberry&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campaigns-kevin-mccarthy-legislature-nebraska-nancy-pelosi-7f2bf99b536c5ad93071a544f661e252">announced his resignation</a>&nbsp;from the office that he had held since 2005. He had been under pressure from congressional leaders and Nebraska’s Republican governor.The case stems an FBI investigation of illegal campaign contributions made by Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire who lived in Paris at the time. Chagoury made the $30,000 contribution to Fortenberry through middlemen at a 2016 fundraiser in Los Angeles, his indictment says.Chagoury later agreed to pay a $1.8 million fine. Foreign nationals are prohibited from directly contributing money to candidates for federal offices in the United States.Fortenberry was charged after denying to the FBI that he was aware he had received illicit funds from Chagoury. A person who cooperated with the FBI investigation repeatedly told Fortenberry about the illegal contributions, his indictment says.The 9th Circuit ruled that Fortenberry was improperly tried in Los Angeles because he was charged in connection with statements that he made to federal agents at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska, and at his lawyer’s office in Washington.Fortenberry's trial was the first for a sitting member of Congress since Rep. Jim Traficant, D-Ohio, who was convicted of bribery and other felony charges in 2002.

In a revived case, a former congressman is charged with lying about an illegal campaign contribution

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr" target="_blank">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;has challenged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to a head-to-head debate for when both address a Libertarian convention later this month, a move that comes as the presumptive GOP nominee has ramped up both criticism of Kennedy's independent bid and demands that President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;meet him on a debate stage.

Arguing that he is “drawing a lot of voters from your former supporters,” Kennedy said to Trump in an open letter posted Tuesday to X that the Libertarian convention provides “perfect neutral territory for you and me to have a debate where you can defend your record for your wavering supporters.”

Trump has been bullish in calling on Biden to debate him ahead of the November general election but has shied away from other rivals’ previous debate entreaties. Trump skipped the 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-republican-primary-debate-9b6c7e74c7ce908cd082df3bb192535f" target="_blank">GOP primary debates</a>, saying it was unnecessary because voters know him and his record.

Kennedy, who last year challenged Biden for the Democratic nomination before launching an independent bid, has argued that his relatively strong showing in a few national polls gives his candidacy heft. Polls during the 2016 presidential campaign regularly put libertarian Gary Johnson’s support in the high single or low double digits, but he ultimately received only about 3% of the vote nationwide.

In the open letter to Trump, Kennedy said their debate could “show the American public that at least two of the major candidates aren’t afraid to debate each other." Kennedy wrote that convention organizers "are game for us to use our time there to bring the American people the debate they deserve!”

Spokespeople for the Trump campaign and the Libertarian Party did not immediately return messages seeking comment on Kennedy's debate challenge.

Kennedy and Trump are scheduled to appear on separate days before attendees at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-libertarian-rfk-jr-voters-gop-biden-659e6f19dec85344bfe1f93e0ea1c0a1" target="_blank">Libertarian National Convention</a>&nbsp;in Washington, D.C. later this month. Both candidates have been courting support from libertarian-leaning voters, although Kennedy — who is working to appear on all 50 ballots, a state-by-state petition process — has ruled out officially running as a Libertarian candidate.

In recent weeks, Trump's campaign has ramped up its attacks against Kennedy, who has appealed to disaffected Democrats and Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-presidential-campaign-independent-2024-30d940109c4956de9c81f332ec418463" target="_blank">looking for an alternative</a>&nbsp;to the pending rematch of the 2020 election.

Last month, Trump wrote on Truth Social that “RFK Jr. is a Democrat ‘Plant,’ a Radical Left Liberal who’s been put in place in order to help Crooked Joe Biden." MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump's candidacy, has also issued its own critical posts and created an anti-Kennedy website.

Leaving court one day last week after his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-stormy-daniels-cohen-9be06e3d33c25af7060552a44001cc1a" target="_blank">hush money trial</a>, Trump told reporters asking about Kennedy’s campaign that he didn’t feel threatened by it, pointing to polling.

“He might hurt me, I don’t know. But he has very low numbers, certainly not numbers that he can debate with, and he’s got to get his numbers up a lot higher before he’s credible,” Trump said. “The numbers that he’s taking away, they say will be against Biden. I don’t know, it could be a little bit against me, but I don’t see him as a factor.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711482471368.png" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr" target="_blank">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;has challenged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to a head-to-head debate for when both address a Libertarian convention later this month, a move that comes as the presumptive GOP nominee has ramped up both criticism of Kennedy's independent bid and demands that President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;meet him on a debate stage.Arguing that he is “drawing a lot of voters from your former supporters,” Kennedy said to Trump in an open letter posted Tuesday to X that the Libertarian convention provides “perfect neutral territory for you and me to have a debate where you can defend your record for your wavering supporters.”Trump has been bullish in calling on Biden to debate him ahead of the November general election but has shied away from other rivals’ previous debate entreaties. Trump skipped the 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-republican-primary-debate-9b6c7e74c7ce908cd082df3bb192535f" target="_blank">GOP primary debates</a>, saying it was unnecessary because voters know him and his record.Kennedy, who last year challenged Biden for the Democratic nomination before launching an independent bid, has argued that his relatively strong showing in a few national polls gives his candidacy heft. Polls during the 2016 presidential campaign regularly put libertarian Gary Johnson’s support in the high single or low double digits, but he ultimately received only about 3% of the vote nationwide.In the open letter to Trump, Kennedy said their debate could “show the American public that at least two of the major candidates aren’t afraid to debate each other." Kennedy wrote that convention organizers "are game for us to use our time there to bring the American people the debate they deserve!”Spokespeople for the Trump campaign and the Libertarian Party did not immediately return messages seeking comment on Kennedy's debate challenge.Kennedy and Trump are scheduled to appear on separate days before attendees at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-libertarian-rfk-jr-voters-gop-biden-659e6f19dec85344bfe1f93e0ea1c0a1" target="_blank">Libertarian National Convention</a>&nbsp;in Washington, D.C. later this month. Both candidates have been courting support from libertarian-leaning voters, although Kennedy — who is working to appear on all 50 ballots, a state-by-state petition process — has ruled out officially running as a Libertarian candidate.In recent weeks, Trump's campaign has ramped up its attacks against Kennedy, who has appealed to disaffected Democrats and Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-presidential-campaign-independent-2024-30d940109c4956de9c81f332ec418463" target="_blank">looking for an alternative</a>&nbsp;to the pending rematch of the 2020 election.Last month, Trump wrote on Truth Social that “RFK Jr. is a Democrat ‘Plant,’ a Radical Left Liberal who’s been put in place in order to help Crooked Joe Biden." MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump's candidacy, has also issued its own critical posts and created an anti-Kennedy website.Leaving court one day last week after his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-stormy-daniels-cohen-9be06e3d33c25af7060552a44001cc1a" target="_blank">hush money trial</a>, Trump told reporters asking about Kennedy’s campaign that he didn’t feel threatened by it, pointing to polling.“He might hurt me, I don’t know. But he has very low numbers, certainly not numbers that he can debate with, and he’s got to get his numbers up a lot higher before he’s credible,” Trump said. “The numbers that he’s taking away, they say will be against Biden. I don’t know, it could be a little bit against me, but I don’t see him as a factor.”___

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenges Donald Trump to debate

OMAHA, Neb. — The Internal Revenue Service announced today tax relief for individuals and businesses in Nebraska that were affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began on April 25, 2024. These taxpayers now have until Sept. 3, 2024, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.

Following the disaster declaration issued by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fema.gov/" target="_blank">Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA</a>),&nbsp;individuals and households that reside or have a business in&nbsp;Douglas and Washington counties qualify for tax relief.

The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. For instance, certain deadlines falling on or after April 25, 2024, and&nbsp;before&nbsp;Sept. 3, 2024,&nbsp;are&nbsp;granted&nbsp;additional&nbsp;time to&nbsp;file through Sept. 3, 2024.&nbsp;As a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until Sept. 3, 2024, to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during this period.

The Sept. 3, 2024, deadline also applies to any payment normally due during this period, including the quarterly estimated tax payment due on June 17, 2024, and the quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on May 1 and July 31, 2024.&nbsp; In addition, penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after April 25, 2024, and before May 10, 2024, will be abated as long as the tax deposits are made by May 10, 2024.

If an affected taxpayer receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original filing, payment or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty.

The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area should call the IRS disaster hotline at&nbsp;<a href="tel:866-562-5227" target="_blank">866-562-5227</a>&nbsp;to request this tax relief.&nbsp;Disaster area tax preparers with clients located outside the disaster area can choose to use the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/bulk-requests-from-practitioners-for-disaster-relief" target="_blank">Bulk Requests from Practitioners for Disaster Relief</a>&nbsp;option, described on IRS.gov.

The localities listed above constitutes a covered disaster area for purposes of Treas. Reg. §301.7508A-1(d)(2) and are entitled to the relief detailed below.

Taxpayers considered to be affected taxpayers eligible for the postponement of time to file returns, pay taxes and perform other time-sensitive acts are those taxpayers listed in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(d)(1), and include individuals who live, and businesses (including tax-exempt organizations) whose principal place of business is located, in the covered disaster area. Taxpayers not in the covered disaster area, but whose records necessary to meet a deadline listed in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(c) are in the covered disaster area, are also entitled to relief. In addition, all relief workers affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization assisting in the relief activities in the covered disaster area and any individual visiting the covered disaster area who was killed or injured as a result of the disaster are entitled to relief.

Under section 7508A, the IRS gives affected taxpayers until Sept, 3, 2024, to file most tax returns (including individual, corporate, and estate and trust income tax returns; partnership returns, S corporation returns, and trust returns; estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax returns; annual information returns of tax-exempt organizations; and employment and certain excise tax returns), that have either an original or extended due date occurring on or after&nbsp;April 25, 2024, and&nbsp;before&nbsp;Sept. 3,&nbsp;2024,&nbsp;are&nbsp;granted&nbsp;additional&nbsp;time to&nbsp;file&nbsp;through&nbsp;Sept. 3, 2024.

Affected taxpayers that have an estimated income tax payment originally due on or after April 25, 2024, are postponed through Sept. 3, 2024, will not be subject to penalties for failure to pay estimated tax installments as long as such payments are paid on or before Sept. 3, 2024.

The IRS also gives affected taxpayers until Sept. 3, 2024, to perform other time-sensitive actions described in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(c)(1) and Rev. Proc. 2018-58, 2018-50 IRB 990 (December 10, 2018), that are due to be performed on or after&nbsp;May 3,&nbsp;2024, and&nbsp;before&nbsp;Sept. 3, 2024,&nbsp;are&nbsp;granted&nbsp;additional&nbsp;time to&nbsp;file&nbsp;through&nbsp;Sept. 3, 2024.

This relief also includes the filing of Form 5500 series returns that were required to be filed on or after&nbsp;April 25,&nbsp;2024, and&nbsp;before&nbsp;Sept. 3, 2024,&nbsp;are&nbsp;postponed through Sept. 3, 2024, in the manner described in section 8 of Rev. Proc. 2018-58. The relief described in section 17 of Rev. Proc. 2018-58, pertaining to like-kind exchanges of property, also applies to certain taxpayers who are not otherwise affected taxpayers and may include acts required to be performed before or after the period above.

Unless an act is specifically listed in Rev. Proc. 2018-58, the postponement of time to file and pay does not apply to information returns in the W-2, 1094, 1095, 1097, 1098 or 1099 series; to Forms 1042-S, 3921, 3922 or 8027; or to employment and excise tax deposits. However, penalties on deposits due on or after&nbsp;April 25, 2024, and before May 10, 2024, will be abated as long as the tax deposits were made by May 10, 2024.

Affected taxpayers in a federally declared disaster area have the option of claiming disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for either the year in which the event occurred, or the prior year. Taxpayers choosing to claim their losses on their 2022 return have extra time, until Oct. 15, 2024, to make this election. See&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-547" target="_blank">Publication 547</a>&nbsp;for details. Individuals may deduct personal property losses that are not covered by insurance or other reimbursements. For details, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4684.pdf" target="_blank">Form 4684, Casualties and Thefts</a>&nbsp;and its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i4684.pdf" target="_blank">instructions</a>. Affected taxpayers claiming the disaster loss on their return should put FEMA disaster declaration number,&nbsp;4778-DR&nbsp;on any return. See&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-547" target="_blank">Publication 547</a>&nbsp;for details.

The IRS will waive the usual fees and requests for copies of previously filed tax returns for affected taxpayers. Taxpayers should put the assigned FEMA declaration number&nbsp;(4778-DR), in bold letters at the top of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf" target="_blank">Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return</a>, or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506t.pdf" target="_blank">Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, as appropriate</a>,&nbsp;and submit it to the IRS.

Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. This means that affected taxpayers can exclude from their gross income amounts received from a government agency for reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses, as well as for the repair or rehabilitation of their home, or for the repair or replacement of its contents. See&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-525" target="_blank">Publication 525</a>&nbsp;for details.

<a>Additional relief may be available to affected taxpayers who participate in a retirement plan or individual retirement arrangement (IRA). For example, a taxpayer may be eligible to take a special disaster distribution that would not be subject to the additional 10% early distribution tax and allows the taxpayer to spread the income over three years. Taxpayers may also be eligible to make a hardship withdrawal. Each plan or IRA has specific rules and guidance for their participants to follow.</a>

The IRS may provide additional disaster relief in the future.

Affected taxpayers who are contacted by the IRS on a collection or examination matter should explain how the disaster impacts them so that the IRS can provide appropriate consideration to their case. Taxpayers may&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions" target="_blank">download forms and publications</a>&nbsp;from the official IRS website, IRS.gov.

Reminder about tax return preparation options

Another Free File option is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms" target="_blank">Free File Fillable Forms</a>. These are electronic federal tax forms, equivalent to a paper 1040 and are designed for taxpayers who are comfortable filling out IRS tax forms. Anyone, regardless of income, can use this option.

IRSOMAHA, Neb. — The Internal Revenue Service announced today tax relief for individuals and businesses in Nebraska that were affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that began on April 25, 2024. These taxpayers now have until Sept. 3, 2024, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.Following the disaster declaration issued by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fema.gov/" target="_blank">Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA</a>),&nbsp;individuals and households that reside or have a business in&nbsp;Douglas and Washington counties qualify for tax relief.The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. For instance, certain deadlines falling on or after April 25, 2024, and&nbsp;before&nbsp;Sept. 3, 2024,&nbsp;are&nbsp;granted&nbsp;additional&nbsp;time to&nbsp;file through Sept. 3, 2024.&nbsp;As a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until Sept. 3, 2024, to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during this period.The Sept. 3, 2024, deadline also applies to any payment normally due during this period, including the quarterly estimated tax payment due on June 17, 2024, and the quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on May 1 and July 31, 2024.&nbsp; In addition, penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after April 25, 2024, and before May 10, 2024, will be abated as long as the tax deposits are made by May 10, 2024.If an affected taxpayer receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original filing, payment or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty.The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area should call the IRS disaster hotline at&nbsp;<a href="tel:866-562-5227" target="_blank">866-562-5227</a>&nbsp;to request this tax relief.&nbsp;Disaster area tax preparers with clients located outside the disaster area can choose to use the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/bulk-requests-from-practitioners-for-disaster-relief" target="_blank">Bulk Requests from Practitioners for Disaster Relief</a>&nbsp;option, described on IRS.gov.<h2>Covered disaster area</h2>The localities listed above constitutes a covered disaster area for purposes of Treas. Reg. §301.7508A-1(d)(2) and are entitled to the relief detailed below.<h2>Affected taxpayers</h2>Taxpayers considered to be affected taxpayers eligible for the postponement of time to file returns, pay taxes and perform other time-sensitive acts are those taxpayers listed in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(d)(1), and include individuals who live, and businesses (including tax-exempt organizations) whose principal place of business is located, in the covered disaster area. Taxpayers not in the covered disaster area, but whose records necessary to meet a deadline listed in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(c) are in the covered disaster area, are also entitled to relief. In addition, all relief workers affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization assisting in the relief activities in the covered disaster area and any individual visiting the covered disaster area who was killed or injured as a result of the disaster are entitled to relief.Under section 7508A, the IRS gives affected taxpayers until Sept, 3, 2024, to file most tax returns (including individual, corporate, and estate and trust income tax returns; partnership returns, S corporation returns, and trust returns; estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax returns; annual information returns of tax-exempt organizations; and employment and certain excise tax returns), that have either an original or extended due date occurring on or after&nbsp;April 25, 2024, and&nbsp;before&nbsp;Sept. 3,&nbsp;2024,&nbsp;are&nbsp;granted&nbsp;additional&nbsp;time to&nbsp;file&nbsp;through&nbsp;Sept. 3, 2024.Affected taxpayers that have an estimated income tax payment originally due on or after April 25, 2024, are postponed through Sept. 3, 2024, will not be subject to penalties for failure to pay estimated tax installments as long as such payments are paid on or before Sept. 3, 2024.The IRS also gives affected taxpayers until Sept. 3, 2024, to perform other time-sensitive actions described in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(c)(1) and Rev. Proc. 2018-58, 2018-50 IRB 990 (December 10, 2018), that are due to be performed on or after&nbsp;May 3,&nbsp;2024, and&nbsp;before&nbsp;Sept. 3, 2024,&nbsp;are&nbsp;granted&nbsp;additional&nbsp;time to&nbsp;file&nbsp;through&nbsp;Sept. 3, 2024.This relief also includes the filing of Form 5500 series returns that were required to be filed on or after&nbsp;April 25,&nbsp;2024, and&nbsp;before&nbsp;Sept. 3, 2024,&nbsp;are&nbsp;postponed through Sept. 3, 2024, in the manner described in section 8 of Rev. Proc. 2018-58. The relief described in section 17 of Rev. Proc. 2018-58, pertaining to like-kind exchanges of property, also applies to certain taxpayers who are not otherwise affected taxpayers and may include acts required to be performed before or after the period above.Unless an act is specifically listed in Rev. Proc. 2018-58, the postponement of time to file and pay does not apply to information returns in the W-2, 1094, 1095, 1097, 1098 or 1099 series; to Forms 1042-S, 3921, 3922 or 8027; or to employment and excise tax deposits. However, penalties on deposits due on or after&nbsp;April 25, 2024, and before May 10, 2024, will be abated as long as the tax deposits were made by May 10, 2024.<h2>Casualty Losses</h2>Affected taxpayers in a federally declared disaster area have the option of claiming disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for either the year in which the event occurred, or the prior year. Taxpayers choosing to claim their losses on their 2022 return have extra time, until Oct. 15, 2024, to make this election. See&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-547" target="_blank">Publication 547</a>&nbsp;for details. Individuals may deduct personal property losses that are not covered by insurance or other reimbursements. For details, see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4684.pdf" target="_blank">Form 4684, Casualties and Thefts</a>&nbsp;and its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i4684.pdf" target="_blank">instructions</a>. Affected taxpayers claiming the disaster loss on their return should put FEMA disaster declaration number,&nbsp;4778-DR&nbsp;on any return. See&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-547" target="_blank">Publication 547</a>&nbsp;for details.<h2>Other relief</h2>The IRS will waive the usual fees and requests for copies of previously filed tax returns for affected taxpayers. Taxpayers should put the assigned FEMA declaration number&nbsp;(4778-DR), in bold letters at the top of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf" target="_blank">Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return</a>, or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506t.pdf" target="_blank">Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, as appropriate</a>,&nbsp;and submit it to the IRS.Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income. This means that affected taxpayers can exclude from their gross income amounts received from a government agency for reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses, as well as for the repair or rehabilitation of their home, or for the repair or replacement of its contents. See&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-525" target="_blank">Publication 525</a>&nbsp;for details.<a>Additional relief may be available to affected taxpayers who participate in a retirement plan or individual retirement arrangement (IRA). For example, a taxpayer may be eligible to take a special disaster distribution that would not be subject to the additional 10% early distribution tax and allows the taxpayer to spread the income over three years. Taxpayers may also be eligible to make a hardship withdrawal. Each plan or IRA has specific rules and guidance for their participants to follow.</a>The IRS may provide additional disaster relief in the future.Affected taxpayers who are contacted by the IRS on a collection or examination matter should explain how the disaster impacts them so that the IRS can provide appropriate consideration to their case. Taxpayers may&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions" target="_blank">download forms and publications</a>&nbsp;from the official IRS website, IRS.gov.Reminder about tax return preparation options<ul>
 <li>Eligible individuals or families can get free help preparing their tax return at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers" target="_blank">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)</a>&nbsp;sites. To find the closest free tax help site, use the&nbsp;<a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/" target="_blank">VITA Locator Tool</a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;<a href="tel:800-906-9887" target="_blank">800-906-9887</a>.&nbsp; Note that normally, VITA sites cannot help claim disaster losses.</li><li>To find an AARP Tax-Aide site, use the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/locations.html" target="_blank">AARP Site Locator Tool</a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;<a href="tel:888-227-7669" target="_blank">888-227-7669</a>.</li><li>Any individual or family whose adjusted gross income (AGI) was $79,000 or less in 2023 can use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free" target="_blank">IRS Free File’s Guided Tax Software</a>&nbsp;at no cost. There are products in English and Spanish.</li>
 </ul>Another Free File option is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms" target="_blank">Free File Fillable Forms</a>. These are electronic federal tax forms, equivalent to a paper 1040 and are designed for taxpayers who are comfortable filling out IRS tax forms. Anyone, regardless of income, can use this option.<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/free-online-tax-help-for-military-members-and-their-families" target="_blank">MilTax</a>, a Department of Defense program, offers free return preparation software and electronic filing for federal tax returns and up to three state income tax returns. It’s available for all military members and some veterans, with no income limit.</li>
 </ul>

IRS announces tax relief for taxpayers impacted by severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes in Nebraska

Office of Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers

Lincoln—Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has filed a lawsuit against Everlight Solar for unlawful door-to-door sales tactics and misleading consumers while selling solar panel systems.

Everlight’s salespeople make deceptive representations about the potential cost savings associated with solar panels. For example, Everlight has misled customers into believing falsely that purchasing panels would lead to the total elimination of their electric bills or that customers would generate enough power to receive a reimbursement check. Everlight also uses misleading savings models that omit relevant information and accurate data that could result in projections that show consumers spending more on panels than they would save.

Everlight’s salespeople also engage in prohibited solicitation tactics that are aggressive and intrusive. For example, they ignore “no solicitation” signs, knock on doors outside of permitted solicitation hours, including as late as 9:00 p.m., and refuse to leave until they’ve secured a sale. As evidenced in numerous online reviews, Everlight is unapologetic and defends its salespeople’s unlawful behavior.

“Despite many complaints, Everlight continues to use unlawful sales tactics that disturb Nebraskans in their homes and violate solicitation codes. Consumers have also complained that Everlight misled them to believe the panels would save them money and perform in manners they do not,” said Attorney General Mike Hilgers. “Our office is stepping in to put a stop to these unlawful tactics and misrepresentations that seek to take advantage of Nebraskans in a tough economy.”

The lawsuit was filed in the District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska. The complaint alleges Everlight Solar violated the Consumer Protection Act and the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

The Attorney General is asking the court to order Everlight to stop its unfair and deceptive sales tactics and pay penalties, among other relief.

For more information or to file a complaint related to this case, consumers can contact the Nebraska Attorney General’s office at ProtectTheGoodLife.Nebraska.gov.

Office of Nebraska Attorney General Mike HilgersLincoln—Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has filed a lawsuit against Everlight Solar for unlawful door-to-door sales tactics and misleading consumers while selling solar panel systems.Everlight’s salespeople make deceptive representations about the potential cost savings associated with solar panels. For example, Everlight has misled customers into believing falsely that purchasing panels would lead to the total elimination of their electric bills or that customers would generate enough power to receive a reimbursement check. Everlight also uses misleading savings models that omit relevant information and accurate data that could result in projections that show consumers spending more on panels than they would save.Everlight’s salespeople also engage in prohibited solicitation tactics that are aggressive and intrusive. For example, they ignore “no solicitation” signs, knock on doors outside of permitted solicitation hours, including as late as 9:00 p.m., and refuse to leave until they’ve secured a sale. As evidenced in numerous online reviews, Everlight is unapologetic and defends its salespeople’s unlawful behavior.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715262504620.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Despite many complaints, Everlight continues to use unlawful sales tactics that disturb Nebraskans in their homes and violate solicitation codes. Consumers have also complained that Everlight misled them to believe the panels would save them money and perform in manners they do not,” said Attorney General Mike Hilgers. “Our office is stepping in to put a stop to these unlawful tactics and misrepresentations that seek to take advantage of Nebraskans in a tough economy.”The lawsuit focuses on:<ul>
 <li>Unlawful Sales Tactics:&nbsp;Everlight’s salespeople unlawfully harass consumers in the sanctity of their homes by ignoring “no solicitation” signs, refusing to leave after consumers decline services or ask them to leave, and visiting homes outside of permitted solicitation hours.</li><li>Deceptive Representations Regarding Potential Cost Savings:&nbsp;Everlight uses misleading cost estimates, causing consumers to purchase costly solar systems that may cost more than they save, and misleads consumers to believe that they will no longer incur an electric bill or that they will receive reimbursement checks when neither is the case.</li><li>Deceptive Representations Regarding Partnerships:&nbsp;Everlight’s salespeople take advantage of the goodwill of Nebraska institutions, such as OPPD and local athletic programs, by misrepresenting their relationship and causing consumers to believe that these institutions tacitly endorse Everlight’s sales tactics, services, and products.</li>
 </ul>The lawsuit was filed in the District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska. The complaint alleges Everlight Solar violated the Consumer Protection Act and the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act.The Attorney General is asking the court to order Everlight to stop its unfair and deceptive sales tactics and pay penalties, among other relief.For more information or to file a complaint related to this case, consumers can contact the Nebraska Attorney General’s office at ProtectTheGoodLife.Nebraska.gov.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers Files Lawsuit against Everlight Solar for Unlawful Door-to-Door Sales Tactics & Misleading Consumers

The University of Nebraska Medical Center will be supporting the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health in leading a novel approach to nationwide planning for disasters and other types of large-scale health crises.

UNMC, Nebraska Medicine and the med center’s Global Center for Health Security – with funding through the NCDMPH – will convene federal agencies and others across academia and industry to strategically develop worst-case scenario-based and operationally driven plans for meeting medical and public health requirements during national emergencies.

Such plans would reduce the need to “build on the fly,” an approach used during the COVID-19 pandemic when public health and medical communities were forced to quickly adapt to growing needs and develop hospital capacity on an ad hoc basis.

“As a nation, we must develop the ability to ‘build on the fly&nbsp;by design,’” said UNMC’s Lauren Sauer, associate director of research in the Global Center for Health Security. “As history has shown, when catastrophic events occur, the rules may not apply. A national plan that reflects this reality will enable us to identify and adopt opportunities for how we can more effectively respond in moments of crisis when minutes count.”

Sauer said development of a more dynamic plan for health crises is part of ongoing efforts to fortify the National Disaster Medical System, which Congress established to provide care for U.S. military casualties during the height of the Cold War. In 2020, recognizing the limits of the National Disaster Medical System to meet the requirements of a large-scale, potentially catastrophic event, Congress directed the Department of Defense to conduct a five-year NDMS Pilot Program to assess and improve the capacity and interoperability of the National Disaster Medical System. Led by the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, the NDMS Pilot Program has been assessing gaps, developing and validating solutions and making recommendations to Congress on policy changes and additional investments.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, additional lessons were learned, Sauer said. “We did a lot of things on the fly and now recognize the need for a proactive plan for when things are outside the norm,” she said. “Developing a business model for preparedness will help us address emergencies more quickly and effectively and create ‘build on the fly by design’ opportunities.”

A “build on the fly design” approach could include discussions ranging from state-based health professions licensing to rapid scale development and deployment of therapeutics to solutions for quickly hiring, training and retaining more clinical staff, especially when the types of licensed professionals needed are simply unavailable.

“In the most severe of health crises, the standard approach to response will not succeed. We have to be ready to operate in an environment where the rules may not apply and the mission is paramount,” said Jeffrey Freeman, PhD, National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health director.

Any proactive national plan, Sauer said, must be dynamic and imagine worst-case scenarios for large-scale events, identify unconstrainted solutions and define courses of action. Planning participants will span government, academia and industry with diversity of experience as critical as expertise.

“UNMC is honored to partner with NCDMPH on this critically important collaboration, which fits squarely with the broader work of the Global Center for Health Security, the priorities of UNMC and our commitment to national preparedness,” said Chris Kratochvil, MD, vice chancellor for external relations at UNMC.

The National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health is a federal organization and component of the Uniformed Services University, with a mission to advance the nation’s medical and public health readiness for disasters. The center is governed by the federal interagency as a collaboration between the Departments of Defense, State, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Transportation and Veterans Affairs.

“We’re fortunate to have a partner like UNMC supporting this critical effort,” Dr. Freeman said. “From Ebola to COVID-19, UNMC has effectively delivered the cutting-edge science and technology to the leading edge of some of our nation’s greatest challenges, and we are confident they’ll do the same in this national effort.”

Photo caption:&nbsp;Chris Kratochvil, MD, vice chancellor for external relations at UNMC, and Lauren Sauer, associate director of research in the Global Center for Health Security

UNMCThe University of Nebraska Medical Center will be supporting the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health in leading a novel approach to nationwide planning for disasters and other types of large-scale health crises.UNMC, Nebraska Medicine and the med center’s Global Center for Health Security – with funding through the NCDMPH – will convene federal agencies and others across academia and industry to strategically develop worst-case scenario-based and operationally driven plans for meeting medical and public health requirements during national emergencies.Such plans would reduce the need to “build on the fly,” an approach used during the COVID-19 pandemic when public health and medical communities were forced to quickly adapt to growing needs and develop hospital capacity on an ad hoc basis.“As a nation, we must develop the ability to ‘build on the fly&nbsp;by design,’” said UNMC’s Lauren Sauer, associate director of research in the Global Center for Health Security. “As history has shown, when catastrophic events occur, the rules may not apply. A national plan that reflects this reality will enable us to identify and adopt opportunities for how we can more effectively respond in moments of crisis when minutes count.”Sauer said development of a more dynamic plan for health crises is part of ongoing efforts to fortify the National Disaster Medical System, which Congress established to provide care for U.S. military casualties during the height of the Cold War. In 2020, recognizing the limits of the National Disaster Medical System to meet the requirements of a large-scale, potentially catastrophic event, Congress directed the Department of Defense to conduct a five-year NDMS Pilot Program to assess and improve the capacity and interoperability of the National Disaster Medical System. Led by the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, the NDMS Pilot Program has been assessing gaps, developing and validating solutions and making recommendations to Congress on policy changes and additional investments.With the COVID-19 pandemic, additional lessons were learned, Sauer said. “We did a lot of things on the fly and now recognize the need for a proactive plan for when things are outside the norm,” she said. “Developing a business model for preparedness will help us address emergencies more quickly and effectively and create ‘build on the fly by design’ opportunities.”A “build on the fly design” approach could include discussions ranging from state-based health professions licensing to rapid scale development and deployment of therapeutics to solutions for quickly hiring, training and retaining more clinical staff, especially when the types of licensed professionals needed are simply unavailable.“In the most severe of health crises, the standard approach to response will not succeed. We have to be ready to operate in an environment where the rules may not apply and the mission is paramount,” said Jeffrey Freeman, PhD, National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health director.Any proactive national plan, Sauer said, must be dynamic and imagine worst-case scenarios for large-scale events, identify unconstrainted solutions and define courses of action. Planning participants will span government, academia and industry with diversity of experience as critical as expertise.“UNMC is honored to partner with NCDMPH on this critically important collaboration, which fits squarely with the broader work of the Global Center for Health Security, the priorities of UNMC and our commitment to national preparedness,” said Chris Kratochvil, MD, vice chancellor for external relations at UNMC.The National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health is a federal organization and component of the Uniformed Services University, with a mission to advance the nation’s medical and public health readiness for disasters. The center is governed by the federal interagency as a collaboration between the Departments of Defense, State, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Transportation and Veterans Affairs.“We’re fortunate to have a partner like UNMC supporting this critical effort,” Dr. Freeman said. “From Ebola to COVID-19, UNMC has effectively delivered the cutting-edge science and technology to the leading edge of some of our nation’s greatest challenges, and we are confident they’ll do the same in this national effort.”Photo caption:&nbsp;Chris Kratochvil, MD, vice chancellor for external relations at UNMC, and Lauren Sauer, associate director of research in the Global Center for Health Security

Med center to spearhead novel approach to disaster planning

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/signatures-being-gathered-seeking-to-stop-nebraskas-revamped-school-choice-law/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The union representing Nebraska’s K-12 public school teachers and its supporters can now gather signatures seeking to stop a new state law that helps some students pay for private schooling.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Bob Evnen&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/Petitions/2024/Private%20Education%20Scholarship%20Partial%20Referendum.pdf">released the language</a>&nbsp;that petition gatherers are using to target much of Legislative Bill 1402, the latest version of a scholarship or voucher program for students attending private K-12 schools.&nbsp;

The petition seeks to “repeal section 1 of LB 1402 … which directs $10 million dollars annually for financial grants-in-aid for eligible students to attend a qualifying privately operated elementary or secondary school in Nebraska.”&nbsp;

Support Our Schools had no immediate comment about approval of the petition language. The group has until mid-July to gather about 61,000 signatures from about 5% of registered voters statewide, plus 5% from voters in at least 38 counties.

Its leaders have argued that people who want to spend public dollars on private education revamped the first version of the scholarship program, passed last year, in order to derail Support Our Schools’ first effort to let voters decide on the issue.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha and other scholarship program supporters also had no immediate comment on the language, other than Linehan saying that the state Department of Education approves which schools are eligible.

The scholarship program started as a privately funded effort backed by a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $25 million a year for donors. The program shifted under LB 1402 into a direct appropriation of $10 million to the State Treasurer’s Office to distribute.

Some have questioned the constitutionality of the appropriation and whether there’s enough of a step between state money and private schools. Others have questioned whether a ballot measure can repeal a legislative appropriation.

Program advocates, including Linehan and State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, have said families with kids in public schools that don’t work well for them need options and can’t afford to wait years for school systems to change.&nbsp;

Critics of the school choice push say many other states that have started with small scholarship programs like this one later expanded into costly voucher programs that pull tax dollars out away from other priorities, including public schools.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715262152345.jpeg" alt="Tim Royers of the NSEA answers questions from reporters on Aug. 30, 2023, about the petition drive for Support Our Schools. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Tim Royers of the NSEA answers questions from reporters on Aug. 30, 2023, about the petition drive for Support Our Schools. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/signatures-being-gathered-seeking-to-stop-nebraskas-revamped-school-choice-law/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The union representing Nebraska’s K-12 public school teachers and its supporters can now gather signatures seeking to stop a new state law that helps some students pay for private schooling.On Wednesday, Secretary of State Bob Evnen&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/Petitions/2024/Private%20Education%20Scholarship%20Partial%20Referendum.pdf">released the language</a>&nbsp;that petition gatherers are using to target much of Legislative Bill 1402, the latest version of a scholarship or voucher program for students attending private K-12 schools.&nbsp;The petition seeks to “repeal section 1 of LB 1402 … which directs $10 million dollars annually for financial grants-in-aid for eligible students to attend a qualifying privately operated elementary or secondary school in Nebraska.”&nbsp;Support Our Schools had no immediate comment about approval of the petition language. The group has until mid-July to gather about 61,000 signatures from about 5% of registered voters statewide, plus 5% from voters in at least 38 counties.Its leaders have argued that people who want to spend public dollars on private education revamped the first version of the scholarship program, passed last year, in order to derail Support Our Schools’ first effort to let voters decide on the issue.<h2>Direct appropriation of $10 million</h2>State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha and other scholarship program supporters also had no immediate comment on the language, other than Linehan saying that the state Department of Education approves which schools are eligible.The scholarship program started as a privately funded effort backed by a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $25 million a year for donors. The program shifted under LB 1402 into a direct appropriation of $10 million to the State Treasurer’s Office to distribute.Some have questioned the constitutionality of the appropriation and whether there’s enough of a step between state money and private schools. Others have questioned whether a ballot measure can repeal a legislative appropriation.Program advocates, including Linehan and State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, have said families with kids in public schools that don’t work well for them need options and can’t afford to wait years for school systems to change.&nbsp;Critics of the school choice push say many other states that have started with small scholarship programs like this one later expanded into costly voucher programs that pull tax dollars out away from other priorities, including public schools.

Signatures being gathered seeking to stop Nebraska’s revamped school choice law

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">all-out assault on Rafah</a>&nbsp;— the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza — over concern for the well-being of the more than 1 million civilians sheltering there.

Biden, in an interview with CNN, said the U.S. was still committed to Israel's defense and would supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors and other defensive arms, but that if Israel goes into Rafah, “we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used.”

&nbsp;On social media, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall wrote, " catering to his pro-terrorist, pro-Hamas faction of his party, Joe Biden is blocking aid to Israel. We are demanding answers.

The U.S. has historically provided enormous amounts of military aid to Israel. That has only accelerated in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that killed some 1,200 in Israel and led to about 250 being taken captive by militants. Biden's comments and his decision last week to pause a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel are the most striking manifestations of the growing daylight between his administration and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Biden has said that Israel needs to do far more to protect the lives of civilians in Gaza.

The shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (225-kilogram) bombs, according to a senior U.S. administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. The focus of U.S. concern was the larger explosives and how they could be used in a dense urban area.

“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers," Biden told CNN. “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah — they haven’t gone in Rafah yet — if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, that deal with that problem.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier Wednesday confirmed the weapons delay, telling the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defense that the U.S. paused “one shipment of high payload munitions.”

“We’re going to continue to do what’s necessary to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself,” Austin said. “But that said, we are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of unfolding events in Rafah.”

It also comes as the Biden administration is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-leahy-biden-nsm-military-aid-812864bc424b93c886226e33f5c3f0e5">due to deliver a first-of-its-kind formal verdict</a>&nbsp;this week on whether the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">airstrikes on Gaza and restrictions on delivery of aid</a>&nbsp;have violated international and U.S. laws designed to spare civilians from the worst horrors of war. A decision against Israel would further add to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-commencement-protests-gaza-9bb8051253c45947509feb32ced78f8c">pressure on Biden</a>&nbsp;to curb the flow of weapons and money to Israel’s military.

Biden signed off on the pause in an order conveyed last week to the Pentagon, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment on the matter. The White House National Security Council sought to keep the decision out of the public eye for several days until it had a better understanding of the scope of Israel’s intensified military operations in Rafah and until Biden could deliver a long-planned speech on Tuesday to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Biden’s administration in April began reviewing future transfers of military assistance as Netanyahu’s government appeared to move closer toward an invasion of Rafah, despite months of opposition from the White House. The official said the decision to pause the shipment was made last week and no final decision had been made yet on whether to proceed with the shipment at a later date.

U.S. officials had declined for days to comment on the halted transfer, word of which came as Biden on Tuesday described U.S. support for Israel as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gaza-israel-jewish-congress-f2f84c9e7c52345c35e5cb4c2d00a417">“ironclad, even when we disagree.”</a>

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, in an interview with Israeli Channel 12 TV news, said the decision to pause the shipment was “a very disappointing decision, even frustrating." He suggested the move stemmed from political pressure on Biden from Congress, the U.S. campus protests and the upcoming election.

The decision also drew a sharp rebuke from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who said they only learned about the military aid holdup from press reports, despite assurances from the Biden administration that no such pauses were in the works. The Republicans called on Biden in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.speaker.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SMJ-MM-5.8.24-Letter.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;to swiftly end the blockage, saying it “risks emboldening Israel's enemies,” and to brief lawmakers on the nature of the policy reviews.

Biden has faced pressure from some on the left — and condemnation from the critics on the right who say Biden has moderated his support for an essential Mideast ally.

“If we stop weapons necessary to destroy the enemies of the state of Israel at a time of great peril, we will pay a price,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., his voice rising in anger during an exchange with Austin. “This is obscene. It is absurd. Give Israel what they need to fight the war they can’t afford to lose.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697623511291.png" alt="File -President Biden greets Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last fall- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>File -President Biden greets Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last fall- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">all-out assault on Rafah</a>&nbsp;— the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza — over concern for the well-being of the more than 1 million civilians sheltering there.Biden, in an interview with CNN, said the U.S. was still committed to Israel's defense and would supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors and other defensive arms, but that if Israel goes into Rafah, “we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used.”&nbsp;On social media, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall wrote, " catering to his pro-terrorist, pro-Hamas faction of his party, Joe Biden is blocking aid to Israel. We are demanding answers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715134220290.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;If we stop weapons necessary to destroy the enemies of state of Israel at a time of great peril, we will pay a price. This is obscene. It is absurd. Give Israel what they need to fight the war they can&#39;t afford to lose. This is Hiroshima &amp; Nagasaki on steroids&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LindseyGrahamSC</a> <a href="https://t.co/YU8w3346Cd">pic.twitter.com/YU8w3346Cd</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1788240461922009549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The U.S. has historically provided enormous amounts of military aid to Israel. That has only accelerated in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that killed some 1,200 in Israel and led to about 250 being taken captive by militants. Biden's comments and his decision last week to pause a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel are the most striking manifestations of the growing daylight between his administration and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Biden has said that Israel needs to do far more to protect the lives of civilians in Gaza.The shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (225-kilogram) bombs, according to a senior U.S. administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. The focus of U.S. concern was the larger explosives and how they could be used in a dense urban area.“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers," Biden told CNN. “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah — they haven’t gone in Rafah yet — if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, that deal with that problem.”Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier Wednesday confirmed the weapons delay, telling the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defense that the U.S. paused “one shipment of high payload munitions.”“We’re going to continue to do what’s necessary to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself,” Austin said. “But that said, we are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of unfolding events in Rafah.”It also comes as the Biden administration is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-leahy-biden-nsm-military-aid-812864bc424b93c886226e33f5c3f0e5">due to deliver a first-of-its-kind formal verdict</a>&nbsp;this week on whether the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">airstrikes on Gaza and restrictions on delivery of aid</a>&nbsp;have violated international and U.S. laws designed to spare civilians from the worst horrors of war. A decision against Israel would further add to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-commencement-protests-gaza-9bb8051253c45947509feb32ced78f8c">pressure on Biden</a>&nbsp;to curb the flow of weapons and money to Israel’s military.Biden signed off on the pause in an order conveyed last week to the Pentagon, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment on the matter. The White House National Security Council sought to keep the decision out of the public eye for several days until it had a better understanding of the scope of Israel’s intensified military operations in Rafah and until Biden could deliver a long-planned speech on Tuesday to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day.Biden’s administration in April began reviewing future transfers of military assistance as Netanyahu’s government appeared to move closer toward an invasion of Rafah, despite months of opposition from the White House. The official said the decision to pause the shipment was made last week and no final decision had been made yet on whether to proceed with the shipment at a later date.U.S. officials had declined for days to comment on the halted transfer, word of which came as Biden on Tuesday described U.S. support for Israel as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gaza-israel-jewish-congress-f2f84c9e7c52345c35e5cb4c2d00a417">“ironclad, even when we disagree.”</a>Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, in an interview with Israeli Channel 12 TV news, said the decision to pause the shipment was “a very disappointing decision, even frustrating." He suggested the move stemmed from political pressure on Biden from Congress, the U.S. campus protests and the upcoming election.The decision also drew a sharp rebuke from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who said they only learned about the military aid holdup from press reports, despite assurances from the Biden administration that no such pauses were in the works. The Republicans called on Biden in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.speaker.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SMJ-MM-5.8.24-Letter.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;to swiftly end the blockage, saying it “risks emboldening Israel's enemies,” and to brief lawmakers on the nature of the policy reviews.Biden has faced pressure from some on the left — and condemnation from the critics on the right who say Biden has moderated his support for an essential Mideast ally.“If we stop weapons necessary to destroy the enemies of the state of Israel at a time of great peril, we will pay a price,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., his voice rising in anger during an exchange with Austin. “This is obscene. It is absurd. Give Israel what they need to fight the war they can’t afford to lose.”Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a Biden ally, said in a statement the pause on big bombs must be a “first step.”“Our leverage is clear,” Sanders said. “Over the years, the United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Israel. We can no longer be complicit in Netanyahu’s horrific war against the Palestinian people.”Austin, meanwhile, told lawmakers that "it’s about having the right kinds of weapons for the task at hand.”"A small diameter bomb, which is a precision weapon, that’s very useful in a dense, built-up environment,” he said, “but maybe not so much a 2,000-pound bomb that could create a lot of collateral damage.” He said the U.S. wants to see Israel do “more precise” operations.Israeli troops on Tuesday seized control of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-offensive-israel-netanyahu-hamas-palestinians-014b2d850bbe28897b624bc5e5378320">Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing</a>&nbsp;in what the White House described as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">limited operation</a>&nbsp;that stopped short of the full-on Israeli invasion of the city that Biden has repeatedly warned against on humanitarian grounds, most recently in a Monday call with Netanyahu.Israel has ordered the evacuation of 100,000 Palestinians from the city. Israeli forces have also carried out what it describes as “targeted strikes” on the eastern part of Rafah and captured the Rafah crossing, a critical conduit for the flow of humanitarian aid along the Gaza-Egypt border.Privately, concern has mounted inside the White House about what’s unfolding in Rafah, but publicly administration officials have stressed that they did not think the operations had defied Biden’s warnings against a widescale operation in the city.The State Department is separately considering whether to approve the continued transfer of Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, which place precision guidance systems onto bombs, to Israel, but the review didn’t pertain to imminent shipments.Itamar Yaar, former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council said the U.S. move is largely symbolic, but a sign of trouble and could become more of a problem if it is sustained.“It’s not some kind of American embargo on American munitions support, but I think its some kind of diplomatic message to Mr. Netanyahu that he needs to take into consideration American interests more than he has over the last few months," he said. "At least for now it will not impact Israeli capability but it’s some kind of a signal, a ‘be careful.’”The U.S. dropped the 2,000-pound bomb sparingly in its long war against the Islamic State militant group. Israel, by contrast, has used the bomb frequently in the seven-month Gaza war. Experts say the use of the weapon, in part, has helped drive the enormous Palestinian casualty count that the Hamas-run health ministry puts at more than 34,000 dead, though it doesn’t distinguish between militants and civilians.The U.S.-Israel relationship has been close through both Democratic and Republican administrations. But there have been other moments of deep tension since Israel's founding in which U.S. leaders have threatened to hold up aid in attempt to sway Israeli leadership.President Dwight Eisenhower pressured Israel with the threat of sanctions into withdrawing from the Sinai in 1957 in the midst of the Suez Crisis. Ronald Reagan delayed the delivery of F16 fighter jets to Israel at a time of escalating violence in the Middle East. President George H.W. Bush held up $10 billion in loan guarantees to force the cessation of Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories.----------------WASHINGTON (AP) — As it targets Hamas’ underground tunnels in Gaza, Israel has relied on powerful 2,000-pound bombs provided by the United States. But now those deliveries are on hold.The U.S. is pausing a shipment of 1,800 of the bombs, as well as 1,700 500-pound bombs, U.S. officials said. The decision comes as Israel is planning an assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah in an attempt to root out the final elements of Hamas.With more than 1 million refugees sheltering in Rafah, U.S. officials are concerned the bombs could inflict massive casualties. Human rights groups have long said that Israel’s use of powerful bombs has caused the indiscriminate killings of civilians.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-weapons-shipment-us-eed365ebef0477ba74bf9848cacae4f4">told a Senate panel Wednesday</a>&nbsp;that smaller, more precise weapons are needed for a densely populated area like Rafah.Still, he made clear the decision wasn’t final.“We’re going to continue to do what’s necessary to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself,” Austin said. “But that said, we are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf">unfolding events in Rafah</a>.”A look at the 2,000-pound bomb and why there’s so much concern about its use in Rafah.2,000-POUND BOMBSWhile the U.S. has dropped 2,000-pound bombs off its aircraft since World War II, current versions date back to the Vietnam War. It's an air-dropped munition, one that can carry a higher payload because it doesn't have an engine. It's one of the larger munitions in the U.S. inventory, said Ryan Brobst, a senior research analyst at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies' Center on Military and Political Power.The 2,000-pound bomb has multiple variants — some are designed to penetrate deep, underground targets while others detonate above ground and cause widespread damage. Depending on the variant, and whether the munition is dropped in an open or urban area, its blast radius can be as far as a quarter mile away or a much more confined area.The bombs are “dumb” or unguided bombs but can be turned into more precise weapons with the addition of Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, or JDAM kits which add a tail fin and navigation.That added kit enables troops to guide the munition to a target, rather than simply dropping it from a fighter jet onto the ground. The kits make the weapons more precise, but in a densely populated urban environment, a JDAM kit is not going to make much of a difference — a precise hit will still have the reach to kill unintended bystanders.U.S. fighter jets, bombers and drones can all fire the JDAMs, and the U.S. began providing the munitions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-biden-e48cceaba41f1ec55e35f9dec099fe44">to Ukraine in 2022,</a>&nbsp;a slightly modified version that could be launched from Ukrainian aircraft. After the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, the U.S. provided 2,000-pound munitions to Israel to assist in its defense.And unlike other types of munitions in the U.S. inventory, the military has an ample supply of them, so providing them doesn’t involve the same type of stockpile pressures the U.S. has with other more limited munitions like the 155mm artillery rounds.USE IN GAZAThe Israeli military has said little about what kinds of bombs and artillery it is using in Gaza. But from blast fragments found on-site and analyses of strike footage, experts are confident that the vast majority of bombs dropped on the besieged enclave are U.S.-made. They say the 2,000-pound bombs have killed hundreds in densely populated areas.Brobst said the 2,000-pound bombs are still needed to assist Israel in striking Hamas' tunnel network in Rafah.Wes Bryant, a weapons expert and retired American Air Force master sergeant who served on an independent task force for the State and Defense Departments on Israel's use of weapons in Gaza, said that the pause would be a “huge hit” to the Israeli arsenal.The 2,000- and 500-pound bombs are some of the main munitions used by Israel in its seven-month war campaign, Bryant said.“They have been burning right through them,” said Bryant. He said the munitions are made by major American weapons manufacturers like Raytheon, Northrop, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and General Atomics.THE PERIL FOR RAFAHA report compiled by the independent task force for the State and Defense Departments last month said U.S. sources informed one of its members that 300,000 munitions had been dropped on or fired in Gaza during the first six months of the war.It cited “credible” media investigations that in the first month of the Israeli campaign alone, there were at least 500 craters in Gaza consistent with the use of 2,000-pound bombs.The potential use of 2,000-pound bombs in Rafah, where more than 1 million people have sheltered because they have nowhere else to go, has drawn significant administration concern.At the hearing, Austin questioned whether the 2,000-pound bomb was the right tool for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-hamas-latest-05-08-2024-385416e25c74f57c4286fbc2eb93ebc1">Rafah operation.</a>“It’s about having the right kinds of weapons for the task at hand. And a small diameter bomb, which is a precision weapon, that’s very useful in a dense, built-up environment,” said Austin, “but maybe not so much a 2,000-pound bomb that could create a lot of collateral damage.” He said the U.S. wants to see Israel do “more precise” operations.Israel reacted strongly to the U.S. decision. Its U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan called the pause “a very disappointing decision, even frustrating,” in an interview with Israeli Channel 12 TV news. He suggested that the move stemmed from political pressure on Biden from Congress, campus protests and the upcoming election.