Wildlife TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham has resigned as president of the RSPCA after an investigation made allegations of animal cruelty at some of the charity’s approved abattoirs. Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas has also resigned as vice-president of the animal welfare organisation, with both of them expressing their “sadness” over leaving the roles. It comes after an Animal Rising investigation made claims of cruelty at “RSPCA Assured” slaughterhouses in England and Scotland, with the campaign group sharing footage of alleged mistreatment. RSPCA Assured is a scheme whereby approved farms must comply with the organisation’s “stringent higher welfare standards”, according to its website. Mr Packham shared the news of his resignation on social media, saying: “It is with enormous sadness that I have resigned from my role as president of the RSPCA. “I would like to register my respect and admiration for all the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to protect animals from cruelty.” Ms Lucas said she and Mr Packham failed to get the charity’s leadership to act. She posted on X, formerly Twitter: “With huge sadness I’m resigning as VP of the RSPCA, a role I’ve held with pride for over 15 years. “But their Assured Schemes risk misleading the public & legitimising cruelty. “I tried with @ChrisGPackham to persuade the leadership to act but sadly failed.” In June, the RSPCA commissioned an independent review of 200 farms on its assurance scheme which concluded the scheme was “operating effectively” to assure animal welfare on member farms. Following Animal Rising’s release of footage last week, the charity said it was “appalled” by what was shown, adding that it launched an immediate investigation and suspended three slaughterhouses from the scheme. In the wake of Mr Packham and Ms Lucas’ resignations, an RSPCA spokesperson said it is “simply not true” that the organisation has failed to take urgent action. They said: “We agree with Chris and Caroline on so many issues and have achieved so much together for animals, but we differ on how best to address the incredibly complex and difficult issue of farmed animal welfare. “We have discussed our work to drive up farmed animal welfare standards openly at length with them on many occasions and it is simply not true that we have not taken urgent action. “We took allegations of poor welfare incredibly seriously, launching an independent review of 200 farms which concluded that it was ‘operating effectively’ to improve animal welfare. “We are taking strong steps to improve oversight of welfare, implementing the recommendations in full including significantly increasing unannounced visits, and exploring technology such as body-worn cameras and CCTV, supported by £2 million of investment.” The charity insisted that while 94% of people continue to choose to eat meat, fish, eggs and dairy, it is the “right thing to do” to work with farmers to improve the lives of animals. “RSPCA Assured visit all farms on the scheme every year, but last year just 3% of farms were assessed for animal welfare by state bodies,” the spokesperson continued. “No-one else is doing this work. We are the only organisation setting and regularly monitoring animal welfare standards on farms. “We have pioneered change through RSPCA Assured, which has led to improvements throughout the industry including CCTV in slaughterhouses, banning barren battery cages for hens and sow stalls for pigs, giving salmon more space to swim and developing slower growing chicken breeds who have better quality of life.” We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal inducted as INAE fellowAuburn coach Bruce Pearl is cautioning his team not to overlook visiting Monmouth when they clash on Monday night, in what will be the Tigers' final nonconference game of the regular season. The No. 2 Tigers (11-1) have won four in a row following their lone setback against host Duke on Dec. 4. They open Southeastern Conference play on Jan. 4 against visiting Missouri. But Pearl is wary of the Hawks (2-10), who have won two of their past four games, including a victory at Seton Hall on Nov. 30. Monmouth is led by Abdi Bashir Jr., who ranks among the top 10 in the nation in scoring at 21.6 points per game. The Hawks are coming off an 88-74 win over Fairfield on Dec. 21 in what was their first home game of the season. "(Monmouth coach) King Rice's team has played a really tough schedule and played only one home game," Pearl said. "I think it says a lot and they have a great, great player in (Bashir). He's long and he can shoot it. They play an attractive style, and their record goes out the door." Auburn likely will be fine should forward Johni Broome continue his magnificent play of late. Broome, who leads the Tigers in scoring (18.5 points per game), rebounds (11.5), assists (3.3) and blocks (2.6), bounced back from a right shoulder injury scare and led his team to an 87-69 victory against then-No. 16 Purdue on Dec. 21. Broome scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Auburn to its fourth win this season over a ranked opponent. With more than a week to rest, Broome figures to be good to go against Monmouth and fit to begin the tough stretch that follows. In addition to Broome, Auburn has seen stellar guard play from Chad Baker-Mazara (12.8 points per game) as well as Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones, who each are averaging 11.3 points per game. Bashir, who is shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range and 42.0 percent overall from the field, has showcased his skills as one of the most explosive scorers in the country against a solid schedule. Monmouth has faced Michigan State, Rutgers and Temple in addition to its 63-51 triumph over Seton Hall on the road. In addition to Bashir Jr., Madison Durr has provided offense with 10.3 points per game and the Hawks have been solid on the boards thanks to Jaret Valencia (6.0 rebounds per game) and Jack Collins (5.3). Valencia and Collins also have been effective scorers, helping take some of the defensive pressure off Bashir at times. But Rice would like to see more consistency from his team, especially on the defensive end. The victory over Seton Hall was the only time Monmouth has held a team below 70 points this season. "We have kids who can score the ball," Rice told reporters following a loss to Lehigh Dec 4. "Abdi can score, Jaret can score, Jack can score, everybody can score. But right now our defense is one of the worst in the country because we're not committed to guarding for each other." --Field Level Media
eGain extends stock repurchase program to 2025
Trump taps Rollins as agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretariesAP News in Brief at 6:04 p.m. ESTCebu Pacific achieves milestone with record-breaking aircraft orderTwo students wounded and gunman dead after shooting at Northern California elementary school
Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers DeSantis WASHINGTON (AP) — A defiant Pete Hegseth fought to save his nomination to be Donald Trump's defense secretary Wednesday as the president-elect considered possible replacements in the face of growing questions about the former Fox News host's personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation. Hegseth met with legislators on Capitol Hill, conducted a radio interview and released an opinion article denying allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. He insisted he was “not backing down one bit," that Trump was still supporting him and he planned to return Thursday for more meetings with lawmakers. But the president-elect's team was looking at alternatives including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump himself remained quiet about Hegseth while issuing a flurry of statements on social media Wednesday about other nominees and his news coverage. Hegeth, asked if he'd meet with Trump on Thursday, said he'd meet with him “anytime he'd like." Hegseth is the latest nominee-designate to be imperiled by personal baggage after the recent withdrawal of Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose vulnerabilities were well-documented. But Hegseth’s past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies, was not widely known. Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on medical treatments for transgender minors WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people, showcasing the uneasy intersection between law, politics and individual rights. The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors. In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism of arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban. Peter Navarro served prison time related to Jan. 6. Now Trump is bringing him back as an adviser WASHINGTON (AP) — Former White House adviser Peter Navarro, who served prison time related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, will return to serve in Donald Trump’s second administration, the president-elect announced Wednesday. Navarro, a trade adviser during Trump’s first term, will be a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, Trump said on Truth Social. The position, Trump wrote, “leverages Peter’s broad range of White House experience, while harnessing his extensive Policy analytic and Media skills.” The appointment was only the first in a flurry of announcements that Trump made on Wednesday as his presidential transition faced controversy over Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief. Hegseth faces allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement, and Trump has considered replacing him with another potential nominee. As he works to fill out his team, Trump said he wanted Paul Atkins, a financial industry veteran and an advocate for cryptocurrency, to serve as the next chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He wrote on Truth Social that Atkins “recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.” Trump also said he was changing course on his choice for White House counsel. He said his original pick, William McGinley, will work with the Department of Government Efficiency, which will be run by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy with the goal of cutting federal spending. Now David Warrington, who has worked as Trump’s personal lawyer and a lawyer for his campaign, will serve as White House counsel. Israeli strikes on a Gaza tent camp kill at least 21 people, hospital says KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes tore through a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sparking fires and killing at least 21 people, according to the head of a nearby hospital, in the latest assault on a sprawling tent city that Israel designated a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly targeted. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area, without providing additional details, and said it took precautions to minimize harm to civilians. The strike on the Muwasi tent camp was one of several deadly assaults across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. An Israeli attack in central Gaza killed at least 10 more people, including four children, according to Palestinian medics. Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, shows no signs of ending after nearly 14 months. Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced and is reliant on international food aid to survive. Israel is also pressing a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say Palestinians might be experiencing famine. The Biden administration has pledged to make a new push for a Gaza ceasefire now that there's a truce in Lebanon between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, ending more than a year of cross-border fighting. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump demanded this week the release of hostages held by Hamas before he is sworn into office in January. South Korean President Yoon's martial law declaration raises questions over his political future SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning martial law declaration lasted just hours, but experts say it raised serious questions about his ability to govern for the remaining 2 1/2 years of his term and whether he will abide by democratic principles. The opposition-controlled parliament overturned the edict, and his rivals on Wednesday took steps to impeach him. One analyst called his action “political suicide.” Yoon’s political fate may depend on whether a large number of people in coming days take to the streets to push for his ouster. Here's a look at the political firestorm caused by the martial law declaration, the first of its kind in more than 40 years. Yoon's declaration of emergency martial law on Tuesday night was accompanied by a pledge to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces at a single stroke.” He vowed to protect the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” Yoon, a conservative, cited repeated attempts by his liberal rivals in control of parliament to impeach his top officials and curtail key parts of his budget bill for next year. French lawmakers vote to oust prime minister in the first successful no-confidence vote since 1962 PARIS (AP) — France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined together Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet members to resign, a first since 1962. The National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027. However, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after July’s legislative elections led to a deeply divided parliament. Macron will address the French on Thursday evening, his office said, without providing details. Barnier is expected to formally resign by then. A conservative appointed in September, Barnier becomes the shortest-serving prime minister in France’s modern Republic. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. The U.S. believes that the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. Harris found success with women who have cats, but Trump got the dog owner vote: AP VoteCast WASHINGTON (AP) — The lead-up to the 2024 election was all about cat owners. But in the end, the dogs had their day. President-elect Donald Trump won slightly more than half of voters who own either cats or dogs, with a big assist from dog owners, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. Dog owners were much more likely to support the Republican over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Cat owners were split between the two candidates. About two-thirds of voters said they own a dog or cat, but pet owners don't usually get much attention from politicians. This year, however, past comments by Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, about “childless cat ladies” briefly became a campaign issue — and Taylor Swift signed her Instagram endorsement of Harris in September as “Taylor Swift Childless Cat Lady.” Harris did end up decisively winning support from women who owned a cat but not a dog. Still, those voters were a relatively small slice of the electorate, and pet owners as a whole did not seem to hold Vance's remarks against the GOP ticket. Childless or not, women who only owned a cat were more likely to support Harris than were dog owners, or voters who had a cat and a dog. About 6 in 10 women who owned a cat but not a dog supported Harris, according to AP VoteCast. She did similarly well among women who did not own either kind of pet.UP: 40-year-old madrasa bulldozed after BJP leader’s complaintDuring an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “The Ingraham Angle,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) warned against efforts to bring Ukraine into NATO. According to the Missouri Republican, such a move would risk a “from now until forever” conflict with Russia. Partial transcript as follows: INGRAHAM: Well, the deal that Biden and company scotched at the beginning of this war, before the war started. That would have avoided the war. It looks like what they’re going to end up with is worse than they would have gotten had they not done this at all. That’s what it looks like at least. It could change. But now, Senator, Zelenskyy has a magic solution to end the war. Watch. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT, UKRAINE (VIA TRANSLATOR): If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take on the NATO umbrella, the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. (END VIDEO CLIP) INGRAHAM: Your reaction, Senator. HAWLEY: No, absolutely not. They should not put any part of Ukraine in NATO. And listen, this administration is already risking World War III by greenlighting the use of American weapons into Russian territory. What will happen if Moscow responds by sending a weapon, a missile, you name it, into the territory of a NATO country, we’ll all be at war. The idea that now we would expand NATO to include Ukraine is extremely dangerous. It is a recipe for constant conflict, including American soldiers boots on the ground in Europe from now until forever. It is a disastrous idea. It’s exactly the wrong thing to do. And listen, here’s another point about the need to settle this conflict. What the Biden administration has been telling senators behind closed doors for literally two years now, Laura, is that there will have to be a negotiated peace. The Secretary of State was saying that two years ago. So out in public, they’re saying, war forever. Behind closed doors, they’re saying, well, we’re going to have to negotiate. INGRAHAM: Yes. HAWLEY: They just don’t want to make the hard choices to do it. And here we are. Follow Jeff Poor on Twitter @jeff_poor
Electronics, IT can play a crucial role in building India’s toy industry ecosystem
Beneficiaries of the incoming administration’s looser regulation and business-friendly stance put forth strong showings this week. Stocks gained while Bitcoin crushed doubters and the dollar extended gains into an eighth week, the currency’s longest run of the year. Blue chips and small caps led Friday’s equities advance as this year’s big tech winners struggled to gain ground. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% while an equal-weighted version of the gauge — where Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has the same influence as Nvidia Corp. — climbed 0.8%, on track for an all-time closing high. Listen and follow The Big Take daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1% while an index of bank stocks climbed to the highest in more than two years, the Russell 2000 jumped 1.8%. The small-cap index jumped 4.5% for the week while the biggest technology stocks, like Nvidia, Alphabet Inc. and Facebook-parent company Meta Platforms Inc., lagged. Fundstrat’s Thomas Lee sees room for more gains in small-caps and cyclicals given President-elect’s plans for deregulation and general “animal spirits.” He also sees a “Trump put” keeping the broader market buoyant. That faith that the head of the US government won’t let the economy falter is helping bolster stocks, at least for the moment. “When sentiment reaches a ‘bullish extreme’ is when we see equities priced to ‘perfection,’” according to Lee. “By several measures, we are not there at that point yet.” To Bank of America Corp. strategists the Nasdaq 100, which has rallied more than 4% this month, is approaching a level versus the S&P 500 that could trigger the unwinding of the trade favoring US equities. The tech-heavy gauge ended Friday up 0.2% with a 1.9% weekly gain. Meanwhile, data on Friday showed S&P Global flash November composite output index for service providers and manufacturers advanced to 55.3 — the highest level since April 2022. The yield on the 10-year Treasury dropped around one basis point to 4.42%. “The US flash PMIs for November were bullish in aggregate thanks to strength in services,” according to Vital Knowledge’s Adam Crisafulli, who said the details suggested a goldilocks scenario, “with favorable growth developments and cooling price pressures.” The dollar registered its longest streak of weekly wins since September 2023. A Bloomberg gauge of the currency’s strength has risen around 2.6% so far this month, adding to October’s gains of nearly 3%. “The US dollar’s run can continue,” said Peter McLean, head of multi-asset portfolio solutions at Stonehage Fleming. “We also have those geopolitical tensions, which are escalating at the moment. It’s natural for investors to seek refuge in the dollar.” Bouts of volatility, driven by escalations in the war in Ukraine earlier in the week, eased Friday. The ongoing conflict helped to push WTI crude above $71 a barrel while gold traded at over $2,700 an ounce, and had its best week since March 2023. The rally in Bitcoin set a fresh high Friday as the world’s biggest cryptocurrency races toward $100,000. The latest developments included Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler’s decision to step down in January. His tenure was marked by a flurry of crypto enforcement actions, which the industry expects will peter out under Trump. In Europe, S&P Global’s composite Purchasing Managers’ Index for the euro area dipped back beneath a level that indicates contraction in November. The region’s sovereign bonds rallied while the euro dropped to a two-year low. Asian equities are on pace for their first back-to-back monthly losses this year amid dollar strength and lingering concerns over the Chinese economy. Still, the region’s more favorable valuations versus the US market are aiding recovery in some assets. Elsewhere in Asia, Adani Group companies advanced after a $27 billion rout on Thursday following a US indictment against Gautam Adani over allegations of bribery. The company denied the allegations. Corporate Highlights: Some of the main moves in markets: Stocks Currencies Cryptocurrencies Bonds Commodities This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation. With assistance from Margaryta Kirakosian, Andre Janse van Vuuren and Sujata Rao. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Nebraska's auditor on Wednesday questioned the creation of a private foundation that has helped fund the secretary of state's overseas trade missions for two years but is "beholden to no one." Established in 2022, the Nebraska Secretary of State Foundation has raised and spent relatively modest amounts in support of Secretary of State Bob Evnen's official trips to faraway nations and domestic dinners where Evnen hosted foreign diplomats. Still, Auditor Mike Foley questioned the foundation's apparent mixing of private and public resources and wasteful use of taxpayer dollars in an audit released Wednesday that raises broader questions about the foundation's role in state government. "No one has access to their books. No one knows when they meet. And they're helping to fund a core function in state government," Foley told the Journal Star. "And I'm nervous about that. I really want the Legislature to take a look at this. Even though it's a fairly new foundation and the monies are small right now, this could develop into something more serious." In a statement, Evnen, a Republican who was first elected secretary of state in 2018 and reelected in 2022, said his office appreciates "the professionalism of the auditor’s office in conducting this review of our international trade mission work." "We have clarified for the auditor’s office some of the questions that were raised, and we will give serious consideration to their other suggestions," Evnen said. Nebraska's secretary of state serves myriad roles in state government, but Wednesday's probe focuses on the Secretary of State Foundation's involvement in Evnen's role as the state's chief diplomat responsible for promoting commercial, educational and cultural exchanges between the state and foreign countries. In that role, Evnen has traveled abroad five times since February 2022, including a February trip to Kenya that is the subject of the bulk of Foley's office's audit. Ahead of the trip, a deputy secretary of state in Evnen's office sent an email to the director of Nebraska's Corn Board asking the state-funded board to sponsor a reception Evnen's office planned to host at a hotel in Nairobi. The board's director agreed to give $500 to pay for food costs at the reception but specifically said the money should not be used to purchase alcohol. Evnen's office sent the Corn Board a $500 invoice on state letterhead Feb. 5 directing the board to make checks payable to the private Secretary of State Foundation. But it was ultimately the state that paid for the food at the reception, not the foundation, which instead paid $1,514.52 for alcohol and other beverages at the reception, including wine, whisky, gin, vodka, lager, sodas, water and juices, according to Wednesday's audit. In a response to Foley's office's findings included in the published audit, Evnen's office said it "does not have control over the Secretary of State Foundation" but said the foundation had confirmed that it did not use the funds provided by the Corn Board for alcohol. The auditor's office, in response, questions "the notion that the Secretary of State’s office lacks any control over the foundation," noting that state employees in Evnen's office were "clearly directing what invoices were to be paid by the foundation — including negotiating specific payment terms." In fact, the audit suggests Evnen and his staff appear to have played "an active role in both creating the foundation and managing its ongoing financial affairs." At least once, the foundation issued a check to Evnen himself, paying Nebraska's top election official $3,855.16 in December 2022, apparently reimbursing Evnen for a dinner at an Omaha steakhouse where Evnen's office hosted the Kuwaiti ambassador. That payment came early in the Secretary of State Foundation's existence. Among the first deposits into the foundation was $9,335.73 from the NebraskaLand Foundation, a separate private nonprofit that had received $12,200 from state agencies the year before it poured money into the Secretary of State Foundation, suggesting the initial deposit included at least some taxpayer dollars. Foley's office's audit also raises questions over inconsistent registration fees that Evnen's office has charged varying state entities to attend trade missions and the purchase of expensive business class plane tickets for the trip to Kenya that cost nearly three times as much as coach tickets. The audit also questioned why Evnen's office paid for five hotel rooms for two nights in Nairobi while the delegates who had occupied the rooms spent those nights on a personal safari in Maasai Mara. Those costs were ultimately reimbursed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — but were nonetheless a frustration for Foley, who said state actors sometimes tend to think of federal dollars as "monopoly money." "Well, I file a federal tax return, too," the auditor said. 2024 Nebraska high school football state championship matchups Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com . On Twitter @andrewwegley Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Norway Is A Ukraine War Profiteer