Nebraska cities issue emergency declarations

Seventy-four cities, 65 counties and four tribal areas have issued emergency declarations in Nebraska. Flood records have been shattered in 17 places across the state and rivers will likely break more cresting records this week. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts called the flooding the “most widespread disaster we have had in our state's history.” As a result, he and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) issued the emergencies throughout the state on Monday. The Red Cross is so far operating nine shelters because twenty-nine counties had mandatory or voluntary evacuations. Meanwhile, Nebraska has already seen a $205 million impact on its public sector from the floods and the state's private sector has seen a $60 million impact. Ricketts said Monday the state has been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal officials "to get a federal emergency disaster declaration, and tap into those federal resources for public assistance and individual assistance.” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Mike Pence will visit Nebraska at President Donald Trump's request, to "survey the damage from the terrible flooding that's impacted much of the Midwest." Cities across the Midwest are expected to see more rising water this week. Rivers began rising last week following a "bomb cyclone" that stormed over the central US with hurricane-like winds and blizzard conditions. That snow and melting ice ended up in rivers and streams, causing flooding and damage after the storm was over.

In Other News Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will sit for formal bilateral talks with Trump on Tuesday, followed by a joint news conference, that will illustrate what White House officials hope is a budding partnership between the Western hemisphere's two largest economies. Apple on Monday quietly announced new versions of the iPad Air and iPad mini, the company's first refresh for those products in years. Haloti Ngata, a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro in 13 NFL seasons, announced his retirement from football Monday from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Ngata wrote in an Instagram post: "Just a man standing on top of the world with a heart full of gratitude. Thank you Lord for letting me play the game I love for 13 unforgettable years. I'm retiring on top. I might be finished playing football, but I'm holding tight to the friendships, memories and wisdom I've gained along the way. 'Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.”