Tag Archives: administration

National Alert Warning System To Start Soon at Cooper, County Commissioners Informed

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**Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Implementation at Cooper Nuclear Station Nears**

Dakota Schulenberg presented the Cooper Nuclear Station’s fourth quarter report to the Nemaha County Commissioners on Tuesday morning, December 30. He shared that the implementation of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) at the facility is forthcoming. However, Schulenberg noted that the responsibility for putting IPAWS into practice lies with other officials, with hopes to begin the process in the spring.

IPAWS is the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) national system for local alerting, designed to provide authenticated emergency and life-saving information to the public.

Schulenberg also reported that Cooper Nuclear Station is currently operating at 100 percent power, with the next scheduled refueling outage planned for next fall.

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### Action Items

The following action items were unanimously approved by the commissioners in a 3-0 vote:

– A $150 bid from John Thomas was approved to remove snow from the Multiplex grounds.

– Kip Reeves was appointed to the Nemaha County Planning Commission.

– The single January fuel proposal submitted by Sapp Bros. was accepted. The proposal includes:
– $3.00 per gallon for No. 1 clear diesel,
– $2.51 per gallon for No. 2 clear diesel,
– $2.0390 per gallon for regular gasoline with ethanol.

– Approval of Link2Pump as a fuel monitoring system for the county road department. The system requires an initial fee of $18,400 and an annual service charge of $5,400. The selection of this system was requested by the Auditor’s office.

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### Board of Equalization

Assessor Mallory Lempka presented tax list corrections, which were approved by the board. The adjustments include:

– Kenneth and Joan Kracke: A 20 percent Homestead exemption to be applied, resulting in a $237.28 tax loss to be recouped by Homestead credit from the state.

– Scott and Debra Brakhahn: A $192.18 tax deduction to be applied for now, with the amount to be charged after a 30-day notice of value.

– Jay Fischer: Deduction of $12.48 for tenancy in common, which was corrected last year but not deleted from the computer-assisted mass appraisal system.

The Treasurer’s staff also presented tax list corrections for Jeffrey and Becky Whisler to reflect ownership change to Rachel Snyder and Mark Brown; these corrections were approved.

Two board notices were accepted concerning property value adjustments:

– Teresa Oestmann building: The structure will be moved to a different parcel. The current value is $589,301, with a new value of $619,298.

– Jamie Lee and Christopher Beaner: Purchased a house from the City of Auburn before the levy date. The current assessed value is zero, with a new value set at $283,103.

In both cases, a 30-day waiting period is required before tax list corrections can be made.

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### Other Updates

The commissioners were informed that a $21,248 grant agreement has been signed with the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy & Environment for tire recycling. A date for the recycling event or program will be set at a later time.

Vicky McNealy, Executive Director of the Southeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership, inquired about the agency’s use of the county building located at 1908 O Street over potential safety concerns. District 3 Commissioner Michael Weiss responded that the building is safe to occupy, having been inspected by professionals.

Commissioners acknowledged that while repairs are needed, the roof has been repaired, leaks have been resolved, and there is no ongoing mold growth. There have been no recommendations from state officials to vacate the building or concerns declaring it a health hazard.

McNealy noted that the Richardson County outreach office is located in the courthouse in Falls City and that no office is currently open at the Nemaha County Courthouse. She also discussed potential expansion of services, should the need arise.

Currently, the Auburn office is open Thursdays and Fridays. Additionally, the Johnson County office operates two days each week, and the Pawnee County office is open one day weekly.
https://www.anewspaper.net/article/1651,national-alert-warning-system-to-start-soon-at-cooper-county-commissioners-informed

Pyrite President Targets Programs In Dem States

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The Trump administration plans to freeze $10 billion in funding for child care subsidies, social services, and cash support for low-income families in five states controlled by Democrats. This move comes amid claims of widespread fraud throughout those states, though no evidence has been cited to support these claims beyond a major welfare fraud scheme uncovered in one of them.

The affected states—Minnesota, New York, California, Illinois, and Colorado—will lose access to approximately $7 billion in funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. TANF provides cash assistance to households with children, according to two people familiar with the matter.

In addition to the TANF cuts, the five states will also forfeit nearly $2.4 billion allocated for the Child Care Development Fund, which supports child care for working parents. They will also lose around $870 million in social services grants, which mostly benefit children at risk, the sources said.

This funding pause could jeopardize programs serving hundreds of thousands of low-income households in the affected states.

The planned freeze appears to build on the administration’s recent suspension of $185 million in annual aid to Minnesota day care centers. This action followed investigators’ findings that more than a dozen welfare fraud schemes in Minnesota had resulted in billions of dollars in taxpayer losses.

While no evidence has emerged to suggest that the other four Democratic states experienced similar widespread welfare fraud, Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—the agency responsible for disbursing the funds—implied that the Minnesota fraud cases triggered the broader freeze.

“Democrat-led states and governors have been complicit in allowing massive amounts of fraud to occur under their watch,” Nixon said in a statement. “Under the Trump administration, we are ensuring that federal taxpayer dollars are being used for legitimate purposes.”

The funding freeze, initially reported by The New York Post, continues the Trump administration’s pattern of interrupting federal dollars to Democratic-run cities and states. This approach appears to leverage the disbursement of congressionally approved funding to punish perceived enemies and political opponents.
https://crooksandliars.com/2026/01/pyrite-president-targets-programs-five

LifeFlight says increase in number of drones poses risk to pilots and patients

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LifeFlight of Maine has reported multiple encounters with drones near major hospitals in Bangor, Lewiston, and Portland. These incidents occur as pilots approach and depart from these locations, posing serious risks to pilots, patients, and crew members.

According to LifeFlight pilot Bonenfant, these drone encounters are not only dangerous but also violate FAA regulations, which prohibit drone activity within five nautical miles of an airport. “You’re traveling 165 mph and our windscreens are not that thick; a drone could come right through the windscreen, or hit the rotor system or tail rotor system, causing catastrophic damage,” Bonenfant explains.

LifeFlight emphasizes that it is the responsibility of drone operators to remain aware of aircraft in their vicinity and keep their drones at a safe distance. “We want to make people aware that just a small $60 drone can bring down a $7 million helicopter with many lives on board,” Bonenfant warns.

All drone encounters are reported to local law enforcement and the FAA. To promote safe drone operation, the FAA also offers training resources for drone users.
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/01/07/state/state-health/lifeflight-says-increase-in-number-of-drones-poses-risk-to-pilots-and-patients/

After missing deadline, DOJ says it may need a ‘few more weeks’ to finish releasing Epstein files

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WASHINGTON — The administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act have raised serious concerns.

In a statement, senators emphasized that a neutral assessment of the administration’s compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential.

They stressed that full transparency “is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes.”

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Sisak reported from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
https://whdh.com/news/after-missing-deadline-doj-says-it-may-need-a-few-more-weeks-to-finish-releasing-epstein-files/

Multiple documents in Epstein files disappear as release continues

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The apparent deletion was met with criticism from Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, who are already exploring “all legal options” after the Trump administration did not release all of the files on Friday.

On Saturday, the Oversight Democrats’ X account reposted one of the removed photos and accused the administration of a “cover-up.”

**Justice Department Releases First Round of Epstein Files Required Under New Law**

While the Trump administration ultimately did not meet the Friday deadline for a full release of the files, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has continued to release them over the weekend.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/4135274/multiple-documents-epstein-files-disappear/

Ex-NASA scientist poached by France urges European flexibility on appointments

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As Europe considers how best to attract US-based scientists impacted by funding cuts and political hostility from the administration of Donald Trump, one space scientist heading for Marseille has a message for funders: allow Americans to retain some of their old ties.

Kartik Sheth, who lost his position as associate chief scientist at NASA in April due to a mass layoff affecting thousands of employees, is preparing to start a new chapter in France. Sheth will soon join Aix-Marseille University as part of its Safe Place for Science programme, an initiative designed to offer a haven for US-based academics affected by recent cuts in the United States.

“The French have been extremely wonderful and generous in offering a pretty sizable start-up package,” said Sheth, who earlier this year met French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the scheme.

As European institutions work to welcome displaced talent, the Safe Place for Science programme stands as an example of how global cooperation can support researchers during challenging times.
https://sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-funding/aerospace/ex-nasa-scientist-poached-france-urges-european-flexibility-appointments

Noem calls for ‘full travel ban’ on countries ‘flooding’ US with immigrants after DC attack

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday that, following a meeting with President Donald Trump, she is recommending a sweeping travel ban on every country she claims is sending dangerous immigrants to the United States.

Noem made the announcement in a fiery post on X, denouncing certain immigrants as “killers” and “leeches.” She stated, “I just met with the President. I am recommending a full travel ban on every country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.”

She slammed certain immigrants as threats to public safety and accused them of draining resources meant for Americans.

“Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat, and the unyielding love of freedom—not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars, or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS,” she said. “WE DON’T WANT THEM. NOT ONE.”

The announcement came after law enforcement officials reported that an Afghan immigrant allegedly attacked two National Guard members last Wednesday in Washington, D.C., just blocks from the White House.

This incident has heightened concerns about immigration policies. According to Noem, the Afghan suspect involved was “radicalized” after arriving in the U.S.

RELATED: Alleged D.C. Shooter Entered US Under Afghan Resettlement Push Mayorkas Vowed Would Be Done ‘Swiftly and Safely’

[Click here to download the full report.]
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/noem-calls-full-travel-ban-countries-flooding-us-immigrants-dc-attack

Trump issues White House invitation to families of the two National Guard members who were shot

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President Donald Trump on Sunday said he has invited the family of a National Guard member fatally shot last week to the White House. He mentioned that he spoke to her parents, who were “devastated” by the tragedy.

U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom died following a shooting incident on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Her colleague, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was seriously injured in the same event, remained in critical condition. The president said he has discussed a White House visit for the parents of both members of the West Virginia National Guard.

“I said, ‘When you’re ready, because that’s a tough thing, come to the White House. We’re going to honor Sarah,” Trump told reporters. “And likewise with Andrew, recover or not.”

In recent days, local vigils in West Virginia have honored the soldiers, including one held Saturday evening at Webster County High School, where Beckstrom attended classes.

“Sarah was the kind of student that teachers hoped for. She carried herself with quiet strength, a contagious smile, and a positive energy that lifted people around her,” said Gabriel Markle, the school’s principal. “She was sweet, caring and always willing to help others.”

Beckstrom, 20, and Wolfe, 24, were deployed with the West Virginia National Guard as part of Trump’s aggressive crime-fighting plan that federalized the D.C. police force.

A 29-year-old Afghan national faces one count of first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed in connection with the shooting. This incident prompted the Trump administration to halt all asylum decisions and pause issuing visas for people traveling on Afghan passports.

Funeral arrangements had not been finalized for Beckstrom, according to Cathy Pettry, owner of Dodd & Reed Funeral Home in Webster Springs. Pettry stated on Saturday that her funeral home has been in contact with Beckstrom’s family about the services.

At the vigil, the hometown crowd, seated in bleachers and folding chairs, lit candles while listening to speeches from clergy and West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, who said he visited Wolfe’s family earlier in the day.

Wolfe, of Martinsburg, entered service in February 2019. He graduated from Musselman High School in 2019, according to Berkeley County Schools. He remained hospitalized and “fighting for his life,” Morrisey said during an interview the following day on Fox News Channel’s “The Sunday Briefing.”

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also told “Fox News Sunday” that she planned to meet with Wolfe’s family.

Morrisey called it a challenging time for the state. Referring to Beckstrom as a “favorite daughter of Webster County,” he shared that he quickly learned about her reputation as someone with a big heart who loved to serve others.

Beckstrom, from Summersville, graduated in June 2023 and enlisted in the National Guard that same month. She served with distinction as a military police officer, according to the West Virginia National Guard.

“She had a lot of kindness and she certainly had courage,” Morrisey told the crowd during Saturday’s vigil. “Though her life lasted far too short, she has left a mark that’s going to last forever.”

AP writer Josh Boak contributed to this report from West Palm Beach, Florida.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/30/trump-white-house-invitation-national-guard-members/

Trump Calls for ‘All Necessary Measures’ After National Guard Shooting

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President Donald Trump said everyone who arrived in the U. S. from Afghanistan under the Biden administration must be “reexamined” in light of the Wednesday shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members who were deployed to Washington, D. C. Why It Matters Thousands of Afghans arrived in the United States after the Islamist Taliban recaptured the country in 2021, as U. S. forces were withdrawing after two decades of the “war against terrorism” launched after the 9/11 attack on the United States. Many of the new arrivals had worked with U. S. troops during their two-decade presence in Afghanistan, as interpreters, fixers and in other support capacities, and as a result, faced persecution from the Taliban after they defeated a U. S.-backed Afghan government and seized control of the country. What To Know The suspect in the shooting of the two National Guard members near the White House on Wednesday has been identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, multiple law enforcement sources told the media. Lakanwal, who they say entered the U. S. in 2021, was shot, wounded and arrested. Trump, in a video address on Wednesday night, referred to Afghanistan as “a hellhole on earth” and said “nobody knew who was coming in” to the United States after the Taliban victory in 2021. “This attack underscores the single greatest national security threat facing our nation,” Trump said, referring to the Wednesday shooting. “We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden and we must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from the country who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country. If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them,” the president added. Trump said the shooting suspect’s “status was extended under legislation signed by President Biden,” who Trump said let in 20 million “unknown and unfettered” foreigners. In May 2022, months after the fall of Kabul, then Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas had designated Afghans eligible for temporary protected status (TPS), granting those in the U. S. without legal status protections from deportation and offering work authorization so they could earn a living. Some 8, 200 Afghans have benefited from TPS, per National Immigration Forum estimates. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced on May 12, 2025, that TPS would be terminated for Afghans, saying that Homeland Security had reviewed conditions in Afghanistan with the help of interagency partners, and determined conditions had improved enough to revoke the temporary protections. The United Nations and multiple humanitarian organizations still report that Afghanistan is volatile, and that Afghans who fled could likely be targeted upon their return. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans remain scattered in other countries, where they are also seeking asylum. What People Are Saying Trump, in his address: “We’re not going to put up with these kinds of assaults on law and order by people who shouldn’t even be in our country.” Nasirullah Safi, who worked as an interpreter for the U. S. military for a decade before migrating to the U. S. in 2016 under a Special Immigrant Visa program, to Newsweek in May: “The war has never been ended for these incredible men and women who supported Americans there. It continues, and if they get deported, and if you send them back to the country that’s run by a bunch of lunatics, by the Taliban, no doubt that those people would get killed.” What Happens Next Trump gave no details about how or when the reexamination of Afghan immigrants would be carried out. Investigators have not determined a motive for the Wednesday shooting in Washington.
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-calls-for-all-necessary-measures-after-national-guard-shooting-11118211

President Trump EXPLODES On Nasty New York Times ‘Reporter’ After Catching Her Spreading Crazy Health Rumors About Him

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President Trump has shown remarkable energy for years despite his age, but that is not stopping fake news hacks from spreading loony health rumors about him after ignoring an actual vegetable for four years. New York Times ‘reporter’ Katie Rogers published a piece Tuesday evening alleging that Trump’s age is catching up with him, claiming “Americans see him a lot less than they used to.” “He starts around noon, his days are shorter, and he’s traveling less than he did in his 1st term,” Rogers claimed. Rogers also alleged that Trump had been ‘dozing off’ during recent public events and being secretive about medical procedures he’s had. At the same time, she also reminded readers that Trump mocked Biden’s actual lack of energy and propensity to sleep on the job while his handlers ran the country. She even implied that Trump may be on Ozempic, noting that the President had lost weight despite supposedly not exercising and eating a lot of fast food. He does not get regular exercise, in part because he has a long-held theory that people are born with a finite amount of energy and that vigorous activity can deplete that reserve, like a battery. He enjoys red meat and is known to eat McDonald’s by the sackful. According to his physician, however, he has lost weight. In 2020, Mr. Trump tipped the scales at 244 pounds, a weight formally deemed obese for his 6-foot-3 frame. This year, Mr. Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean P. Barbabella, said in a summary of the president’s health that he weighed 224 pounds. Mr. Trump frequently muses about the effectiveness of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic he refers to them as the “fat drug” and talks about people he knows who have taken the medications, but his physician has not said if he takes one of the drugs himself. The purpose of the hit piece was to portray Trump as a washed-up old man and a dishonest hypocrite. Of course, we all know how the corporate media covered up the truth about Joe Biden’s health during his four years in power. Trump did not take these ridiculous rumors lying down and absolutely went off on Truth Social. “The Creeps at the Failing New York Times are at it again,” Trump wrote. “I won the 2024 Presidential Election in a Landslide, winning all Seven Swing States, the Popular Vote, and the Electoral College by a lot. I won our Nation’s Districts by 2750 to 550, a complete wipeout.” “I settled 8 Wars, have 48 New Stock Market Highs, our Economy is Great, and our Country is RESPECTED AGAIN all over the World, respected like never before. The last Administration had the Highest Inflation in history I have already brought that down to normal, and prices, including groceries, are coming down,” he added. “To do this requires a lot of Work and Energy, and I have never worked so hard in my life. Yet despite all of this the Radical Left Lunatics in the soon to fold New York Times did a hit piece on me that I am perhaps losing my Energy, despite facts that show the exact opposite.” “They know this is wrong, as is almost everything that they write about me, including election results, ALL PURPOSELY NEGATIVE. This cheap “RAG” is truly an “ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE.” Trump then blasted Rogers on a personal level, calling her ‘ugly’ inside and out. “The writer of the story, Katie Rogers, who is assigned to write only bad things about me, is a third-rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out,” Trump said. “Despite all of this, I have my highest Poll Numbers, ever, and with record setting investment being made in America, they should only go up. ” “There will be a day when I run low on Energy, it happens to everyone, but with a PERFECT PHYSICAL EXAM AND A COMPREHENSIVE COGNITIVE TEST (“That was aced”) JUST RECENTLY TAKEN, it certainly is not now!” “GOD BLESS AMERICA & MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/11/president-trump-explodes-nasty-new-york-times-reporter/