THE NEXT PANDEMIC-RESPONSE BILL IS LIKELY TO BE THE HARDEST-FOUGHT POLITICALLY

WASHINGTON – Congress has passed measures containing approximately $2.4 trillion since the emergence of coronavirus. This legislation has been largely bipartisan. However, this may now end as struggling families, hurting small businesses, and state and local governments need more cash.

States face an aggregate $300 billion budget shortfall over the next 27 months. Democrats hope to use federal funds to support the states. On the other hand, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell insists on liability relief for reopening businesses.

The next pandemic-response bill is likely to be the last one before the election, and not coincidentally, the hardest-fought politically.

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STATE AG’S ASK CONGRESS TO HOLD HEARING INVESTIGATING CHINA’S ‘DECEIT’ IN CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

WASHINGTON – A total of 18 state Attorneys general have signed a letter intended for bipartisan leaders in the House and Senate to open hearings into China’s role in spreading the coronavirus. South Carolina’s Attorney General, Alan Wilson, stated "we can't rely solely on media to do the investigation. We have got to have truly, we have got to have congressional oversight. We have got to go deep into an investigation using the reaches of the federal government."

The letter states that China new how deadly the virus was in the very early stages, but the CCP decided to conceal the information. The letter states, “Recent reports suggest that the communist Chinese government willfully and knowingly concealed information about the severity of the virus while simultaneously stockpiling personal protective equipment.”

The 18 attorneys general that signed the letter are all Republicans, including Nebraska’s Doug Peterson. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry suggested Democrats are not taking a similar approach out of disdain for President Trump.

‘I’M SCARED TO RETURN’: NEBRASKA MEATPACKING WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SPEAK OUT

GRAND ISLAND – Life at a meatpacking plant isn’t often easy, and the pandemic has made it much harder. As of last Thursday, roughly 15% of Nebraska’s confirmed coronavirus cases and at least three deaths can be traced to meatpacking plants — 1,005 of the state’s 6,771 cases.

In the state, outbreaks have hit Grand Island, Omaha, Crete, Lexington, Madison, Dakota City, and Schuyler, at chicken, beef and pork plants run by meat titans such as Tyson Foods, Smithfield, Cargill, and JBS USA. At least three deaths have been tied to Tyson’s Dakota City beef plant. Approximately 330 people have tested positive at a Crete plant.

Many of the workers are speaking out that they do not blame their employer for the dangerous working conditions, but that the conditions are nonetheless dangerous. Many companies have implemented new safety measures.

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IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TURNED DOWN AN OFFER TO MANUFACTURE MILLIONS OF N95 MASKS IN AMERICA

WASHINGTON – Prestige Ameritech could have ramped up production to make an additional 1.7 million N95 masks per week at the beginning of the pandemic. The owner, Michael Bowen, told the Department of Health and Human Services that the company had four like-new N95 manufacturing lines. Bowen stated that reactivating the lines would be difficult and expensive but that it was possible in the given circumstances.

However, communication with officials such as Robert Kadlec, the assistant secretary for preparedness and emergency response, indicated that there was little interest in Bowen’s offer. Production lines such as Bowen’s are continuing to sit dormant today. Within weeks, there was a shortage of masks and the Trump administration has been scrambling to buy more.

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DISTRICT 35 CANDIDATES GETTING MESSAGE OUT WITH MAILINGS, SIGNS

GRAND ISLAND – Incumbent Senator Dan Quick and challenger and former senator Ray Aguilar are both campaigning via telephone calls, mailings, and signs due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both candidates have stated that those are the only methods that can be used to campaign. Senator Quick began campaigning in June of 2019 by knocking on doors and talking to constituents face to face. In early March, Quick made the decision to forgo knocking more doors.

Through the means of communication available to him, Aguilar is articulating that his experience is an asset in the Legislature. Having served ten years, Aguilar believes that he can get many things done. Among his accomplishments, Aguilar helped bring the Nebraska State Fair to Grand Island and focused on juvenile justice issues.

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MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR DISTRICT 1, WHERE PROPERTY TAXES ARE AT THE FOREFRONT

PALMYRA- Two challengers and a write-in candidate have stepped up to try and oust a state senator appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts in a race for the District 1 seat in the Legislature.

Sen. Julie Slama of Peru, who worked on Ricketts’ reelection campaign in 2018, was appointed that year to fill the vacancy left by Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse — who was elected to the Nebraska Public Service Commission — for the legislative district.Seeking to oust Slama are Janet Palmtag, a long-time real estate agent from Nebraska City; Dennis Schaardt, owner of a small meat processing business in Table Rock; and write-in candidate Mike Powers of Palmyra. 

The race pits former Governor Dave Heineman, who endorsed Janet Palmtag, against sitting Governor Pete Ricketts who supports Senator Slama. Voters in the distrct have seen a cascade of mailings and advertisements, some negative, from the candidates, making the race the dirtiest- and likely the most expensive- of the primary. 

At the forefront of the race is the debate over how best to deal with property taxes in Nebraska. Schaardt said the 'band-aide' approach being currently taken is not working, while Palmtag calls on reducing state spending, including int he Department of Corrections. Slama however favors the plan proposed by Senator Linehan focusing on state aid to education, which is stalled on the floor of the legislature. 

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KEY LEGISLATIVE RACES COULD ALTER THE BALANCE OF POWER

LINCOLN- Though most incumbents are almost certain to make it through today's primary election, some could face an uphill battle leading to November's general election, the results of which could alter the lever of power in the Legislature.

Incumbents such as Julie Slama of Peru and Mike Hilgers of Lincoln have challengers with serious campaign operations in place, and more than 1 opponent in today's primary. Though they are likely to advance to the general, the race ahead could prove a true 'race'. Additionally Senator Tom Brewer will face off against fellow republican Tanya Storer and her backing from former Governor Kay Orr. 

The general election will also bring serious competition to incumbents Carol Blood, Dan Quick, and Lynne Walz, all likely targets of the state Republican Party.

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EDITORIAL: A STRONG ELECTION TURNOUT WILL PREVENT CORONAVIRUS FROM SHORT-CIRCUITING OUR DEMOCRACY

OMAHA WORLD HERALD EDITORIAL: Americans have never let national emergencies stop us from holding elections. Wars, pandemics, economic collapses — as terrible as those challenges were, balloting still proceeded so that American democracy might live. So it will be this week as Nebraskans express their political will in the 2020 primary. The latest national emergency is, of course, COVID-19. It’s brought upheaval and trepidation to our country. But we can take comfort that it will not shatter our nation’s commitment to rule by the people through expression at the ballot box.

The historical example of the Civil War is directly relevant to our current situation. In 1864, our country faced its greatest obstacle to holding a national election. Could a legitimate presidential election be held that year, people wondered, when the conflict had drawn such enormous numbers of Northern men into military service?

The answer was yes, for two main reasons. First, because President Abraham Lincoln insisted that the election proceed, even though his re-election chances were weak until quite late in the election season. Second, because the nation adopted a system of large-scale absentee voting for the first time, to enable Northern servicemen to participate.

“The Civil War soldier vote set a precedent for what we now take for granted: that anyone who is away from home can vote,” says scholar Jonathan W. White. “You still retain that right of citizenship even if you’re not able to be at the ballot box on a given day.” 

And so it is now in Nebraska 

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POLL WORKERS PREPARED FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF ELECTION

OMAHA – Nebraska officials are taking all precautions possible for Tuesday’s primary election. Michelle Andahl, Sarpy County election commissioner, stated that “All of our poll workers have been supplied with N95 masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, Clorox wipes and polling places will be cleaned regularly as voters come through.” Tape will also be placed on the ground to ensure social distancing. 

Brian Kruse, the election commissioner in Douglas County, stated that they will be taking similar precautions. 

Also defining this historically different primary will be the number of citizens voting via absentee ballot. Usually Sarpy County receives approximately 5,000 requests to vote by mail. This year, the county has received 40,000. That number is over 1/3 of the registered voters in the county. In Douglass County, 139,000 mail-in-ballots have been requested. Kruse stated that it is recommended that the ballot be dropped off at one of the nine drop off locations by 8 p.m. Tuesday, but it is important to note that  ballots cannot be dropped off at polling locations.

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TC ENERGY: KEYSTONE COULD BE DELAYED BY YEAR:

WASHINGTON - Canadian pipeline developer TC Energy said last Friday the Keystone XL pipeline would face significant new delays because of a Montana district court ruling last month that invalidated a critical nationwide water permit for its construction. Bevin Wirzba, TC Energy’s senior Vice President of liquids pipelines said, “The long-term potential delay with any of these very omnibus-type filings or motions to vacate a permit that broad could have up to a year delay on the ultimate project.” TC Energy maintains that the pipeline will be operational in 2023 and plans to “secure the necessary authorizations to continue with planned Keystone XL construction.”

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SASSE CHALLENGED BY FORMER GOP COUNTY CHAIRMAN MATT INNIS

LINCOLN- Sen. Ben Sasse faces a Republican primary challenge from former Lancaster County GOP Chairman Matt Innis of Crete, who has based his campaign largely on his contention that Sasse has not been sufficiently supportive of President Donald Trump or Nebraska agriculture.

Sasse, however, comes to the contest armed with the endorsement of Trump, and the senator points to his efforts to expand trade that benefits Nebraska agriculture as a member of the Senate Finance Committee while he's also fighting for regulatory relief for farmers. Innis has hammered Sasse for leaving the Senate Agriculture Committee to accept "more glamorous" committee assignments, which now includes the Senate Intelligence Committee along with Judiciary and Finance, which oversees trade policy. 

Democrats have been unable to successfully compete statewide since Sen. Ben Nelson won reelection to a second term in 2006, and most GOP victories in Senate and governor contests since then have come in the form of landslides.

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NEBRASKA TRUCKER WHO LOST FINGERS FROM FIREWORK BLAST SOUGH WORKERS’ COMP PAYOUT

OMAHA – A truck driver’s claim to receive workers comp was summarily rejected by the Nebraska Court of Appeals after he blew off his fingers attempting to entertain a warehouse manager. 

The judge stated that it was Gregory Webber’s fault to setting off the fireworks and that it was not related to his job duties. Judge Riko Bishop wrote for the unanimous decision and stated, “Lighting a firework at a warehouse where he was scheduled to pick up a trailer load … was not within the scope of Webber’s job.” Webber suffered burns to his stomach and lower legs and both hands, resulting in partial amputations of several fingers. He also suffered severe, permanent hearing loss.

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‘A REALLY BIG DEAL’ – LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES, CENTERPOINTE RECEIVES $8 MILLION TO HELP THOUSANDS

LINCOLN - Nearly 6,000 people seek support from CenterPointe and Lutheran Family Services because of mental illness, physical health, and substance abuse. Topher Hansen, CenterPointe’s president and CEO, has said that it is important to address all of their problems together. He stated, “When you bring all the things together and meet all their needs at the same time in an integrated way, you’re going to have a higher degree of likelihood to get them better sooner for longer.” 

CenterPointe and Lutheran Family Services have recently received nearly $8 million in federal funding to open Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. Each will receive about $2 million for two years from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. They will broaden the scope of their Lincoln locations with those funds. Lutheran Family Services anticipates dedicating 16 staff members to the grant-funded programs.

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SIX CANDIDATES VIE FOR BOLZ’S OPEN DISTRICT 29 LEGISLATIVE SEAT

LINCOLN – The seat in Nebraska’s Legislature that has been vacated by Sen. Bolz has six candidates. Eliot Bostar is far and away the biggest spender of the election. So far, Bostar has spent $133,000 according to campaign filings. He is the executive director of Conservation Nebraska and Nebraska Conservation Voters. Many of his major donors come from the New York area.

Jennifer Carter, another candidate, has devoted her career to healthcare access. She is legal counsel for the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee and a Democrat. She said she supports a vibrant university system, state parks, arts, culture, paid sick leave, and affordable child care. So far, she has spent about $52,000. She has received donations from Lincoln Mayor Gaylor Baird, and Lincoln City Council members Jane Raybould and Sändra Washington.

Jacob Campbell is a Republican, military veteran, owner of a property management business, and legislative aide for Sen. Ben Hansen. He has spent $68,000. A major amount of funding comes from the Republican State Leadership Committee. Major or notable contributors are former Gov. Kay Orr, the Gov. Dave Heineman Committee, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, former Nebraska State Treasurer Lorelee Byrd, former NU regent Hal Daub, and the Nebraska Bankers State PAC.

Lisa Lee is the lead programmer for the Lincoln Council for International Visitors and has a degree in business administration from the University of Iowa. Lee is a Republican and has said that she would work to pass responsible property tax reform, address the state’s workforce shortage and strengthen and support quality education.

Neal Clayburn is a Democrat, retired educator, and Navy veteran who recently retired from the Nebraska State Education Association. He supports policies that recognize and use the lessons of science to protect clean water, clean air, support the development of renewable energy sources and preserve the land, he said. He has spent approximately $22,000.

Mike Connely an educational adviser for service-disabled military veterans and a Republican. He said he supports reducing regulations on business. Expanding prison beds is "just a bandage for a gaping wound.” He has said that he will not accept donations for his campaign.

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EARLY VOTING 'UNPRECEDENTED,' NEBRASKA ELECTION OFFICIALS SAY

LINCOLN- This year's early ballot returns have exceeded total statewide votes cast in the 2016 presidential primary, reaching unprecedented levels, Secretary of State Bob Evnen said Thursday. Evnen said counties are continuing to receive a record number of early ballots, adding daily to the count of votes cast in Nebraska’s primary election. Nebraska has about 1.2 million registered voters, and 441,466 of them have requested early ballots.

That number does not include the 52,132 ballots mailed to voters in Nebraska’s 11 mail-in-only counties, Evnen said. To date 296,968 ballots from early voters and 24,560 ballots from all-mail-in counties have been returned, for a total of 321,528 ballots already cast in the 2020 primary election. "This surpasses 313,000 total statewide votes cast in the 2016 primary election," he said.

As of Thursday, 67% of early ballots have been returned, and 47% of ballots from mail-in-only counties have been returned.

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SENATOR GROENE OPINION: THIS IS NO TIME FOR 'PIE IN THE SKY' PROPOSALS

NORTH PLATTE- Senator Mike Groene in an opinion piece submitted tot he North Platte Telegram takes on issues facing the legislature he views as 'pie in the sky'. These include the state's economic incentive law and its proposed replacement, the ImagiNE Act, as well as LB1084 which focuses on the University of Nebraska Medical Center project, Medicaid expansion, and a proposal to lease a new correctional facility.

Instead, Senator Groene says the focus should be on property tax proposals such as LB1106. "The property tax proposal was expected to add approximately $100 million per year to state aid to public schools, thus lowering local property taxes by a like amount, reaching a total of $300 million by the third and final year (2022-23 school year) of LB 1106’s implementation. Meanwhile, by its third year of existence, the new ImagiNE Act is estimated to add an additional $50 million to the Revenue Department’s forecast $180 million revenue loss that year from the existing Advantage Act agreements"

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SEVEN CANDIDATES SEEK TO REPLACE STATE SEN. CHAMBERS, WHO ENDORSES CREIGHTON LAW STUDENT

OMAHA – A total of seven candidates, including a former Omaha City Council member and a representative on the board of the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties, have decided to run for the seat held by Senator Ernie Chambers. Sen. Chambers is prevented by term-limits from seeking re-election.Sen. Chambers has thrown his support behind Terrell McKinney, a law student at Creighton University. 

The rest of the field includes, “former Omaha City Council member Fred Conley; Cornelius Williams, who is completing a term on the Learning Community Board; Teela Mickles, the founder of a program that helps prison inmates reenter society; Gwen Easter, a longtime North Omaha child care provider; John Sciara, a military veteran who was defeated by Chambers four years ago; and Dennis Womack, a former federal worker who has run several times for City Council and other positions.”

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EDITORIAL, 4/22: JOURNAL STAR EDITORIAL BOARD OFFERS ENDORSEMENTS

LINCOLN – Incumbent Senator Ben Sasse deserves to win the Republican Party’s primary for U.S. Senate over challenger Matt Innis. Sasse has proven himself to be adept at drawing attention to the issues that he champions. He has done what he has set out to do for his constituents. Democrats will have a difficult time ousting Sasse, but Janicek offers them their best chance. With an organized campaign, Janicek has the capacity to further the issues of climate change and health care for all.

As for House District 1, State Senator Kate Bolz has proven to be an effective lawmaker in the Unicameral. Her experience on the Appropriations Committee has earned her the opportunity to face Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, who is running in the primary unopposed, in November.

Regarding Nebraska Legislative District 21, Senator Mike Hilgers and Brodey Weber get the endorsement of the Journal Star. Hilgers has proven capable of working with individuals of both parties. Weber brings a background of community service and activism.

Concerning Nebraska Legislative District 29, Eliot Bostar, Jacob Campbell, and Jennifer Carter are seen as neck and neck in the eyes of the editorial board. Each candidate has perspective that would be invaluable to his or her constituents.

As for city charter amendments, voters should approve both of the amendments. Both amendments simply serve to update the charter and do not change anything drastically. One of the amendments fixes a typo and alters language to be gender-neutral. The other raises the threshold for requiring competitive bids on city purchases from $25,000 to $50,000.

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NEBRASKA CASES AND DEATHS

LINCOLN- As of Friday morning Nebraska has at least 7,190 confirmed cases, up from 6,125 cases on Tuesday. Additionally, the state reported 92 deaths, up from and 79 during the same time frame.

 Leading counties with cases include Hall with 1,306 cases and 31 deaths, up from 1,281 cases and 28 deaths, Douglas county with 1,235 cases and 17 deaths, up from 977 cases and 16 deaths, and Dakota County with 1,046 cases, up from 1,005 cases and 3 additional deaths bringing their total to 5.  The New York Times continuously tracks county, state, and national data regarding confirmed cases and deaths, and provided this data.

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STATE HAS SPENT LESS THAN A THIRD OF CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY FUNDS

LINCOLN – The Unicameral passed emergency funding for the coronavirus outbreak in the amount of $83.6 million in March. So far, the state has spent less than a third of the appropriated funds: $24.7 million. The intention of the appropriation was to go to the Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Nebraska Medical Center for such things as medical and laboratory equipment, personal protective equipment, UV lightboxes, staffing, and testing. Approximately $25 million has been spent on personal protective equipment since the outbreak began. 

About $58,000 has been spent on ventilators. Governor Ricketts has stated that these purchases have gone to good use and that, "We've had plenty of capacity, just about every place you go.”

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