OMAHA CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T PASS BUDGET AMENDMENT TO REDIRECT $2 MILLION FROM POLICE

OMAHA- A summer of constant protesting and calls to rethink the Omaha police budget did not sway elected officials enough to make a change. The City Council did not amend the 2021 budget as many people thought they would. The Omaha Police Department will receive the full $161.3 million next year which accounts for 36.7% of all government city spending. 

The council agreed to take slightly less money, around $2 million, from the cash reserves. However, Mayor Jean Stothert plans to veto the measure saying the city should not be taking money out of reserves during a pandemic. 

Councilman Pete Festersen believes they should be doing more to address poverty, racial disparities and mental health in Omaha. Other council members believe the police department is just getting a "bad rap" from some in Omaha. Police Chief Schmaderer said a $2 million cut would result in the loss of 20 officers which he believes can't happen in the current divisive atmosphere. 

All members of the council, including more conservative members say they are in support of bolstering the city's mental health initiatives as well. 

Activist groups in Omaha say the decision to not redirect some funding was a 'slap in the face' to the work that they are doing. 

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RICKETTS NAMES NEW DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

LINCOLN- Governor Ricketts recently appointed Thomas Riley, an engineering firm executive as the Director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Riley is the president of the Flatwater Group with offices in Lincoln and Imperial. The firm focuses on water resources engineering, restoration design and environmental engineering. He attended the University of Nebraska- Lincoln for undergraduate studies and also received his masters from UNL. He is replacing Jeff Fassett. 

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KAREN PENCE RALLIES WOMEN TO SUPPORT DON BACON DURING OMAHA VISIT

OMAHA- Just one day after the Democratic Party announced the first woman of color as a major party nominee for Vice President, second lady Karen Pence visited Omaha. She wanted to ensure Nebraskan women that President Trump and Vice President Pence care about women, too. 

The Trump administration sent Pence to Nebraska to help campaign for Representative Don Bacon. The second lady's appearance was an obvious reaction to the Trump administrations dwindling approval numbers among suburban and urban women. She began the day with a 'Women for Bacon' rally. She mostly spoke about protecting capitalism and the American way of life. Mayor Jean Stothert of Omaha was also campaigning for Representative Bacon with Pence. Bacon believes Omaha has only benefitted from the conservative leadership of both himself and the Mayor. 

Pence and Bacon spent the day together touring Boys Town and UNMC. At Boys Town, the second lady heard all about the enormous contributions it has made to the Omaha community. Bacon spoke about how proud all Nebraskan's are of the work Boys Town does for children. 

At UNMC, they toured the Davis Global Center which is home to the quarantine unit and biocontainment unit which is used for coronavirus research and was most notably used during the Ebola outbreak. They also spoke about the amazing research UNMC does on brain injuries and PTSD, which left Pence with a great impression. 

District 2, Bacon's district, is one of the most competitive races in the country. Omaha is also a huge campaigning site for presidential nominees as the Omaha area's electoral vote holds a high importance in the race. 

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A HARD DAYS' FIGHT: A LOOK BACK AT A SESSION MARKED BY RANCOR, ANGST

LINCOLN- The previous Legislative session of 2020 will not be forgotten by the senator's or constituents alike. It was marked by many contentious bills and debates, but also the pandemic. The virus halted progress in the legislature for months. Once the senators reconvened in late July, there had been many changes both socially and financially. However, through all of the hardships of the pandemic, over 280 bills passed into law before adjournment last Thursday. 

What will certainly be remembered through history is that two sessions of the Nebraska Legislature took place in 2020.One happened in what some call the "Beforetime," beginning in January with fairly normal half-day debates, hearings and committee sessions.Then the world changed, literally. On March 16, Speaker Jim Scheer announced the Legislature was taking a break because of the COVID-19 pandemic, triggered by one confirmed case in Lincoln determined to be community-spread. Senators weren't coming back, he said, until further notice, eventually stretching for 4 months.

The Legislature adjourned at the end of the 17-day session extension Thursday afternoon, the last session for 46-year veteran Ernie Chambers, and five others: Sens. Kate Bolz of Lincoln, Sara Howard of Omaha, Sue Crawford of Bellevue, Rick Kolowski of Omaha and Scheer of Norfolk. 

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STATE AGENCY APPLIES U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING ON LGBT JOB RIGHTS TO HOUSING CASES

OMAHA- The U.S. Supreme Court passed down a decision that bans workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, giving LGBT Nebraskans another civil rights win. This will also include protections while selling and renting housing. It not only protects a person's biological sex but also their gender identity. The Court has yet to affirm the protections in housing cases federally, however the definition of sex discrimination should not be different in housing and a person's workplace. 

Nebraska is the first state since the Court's decision to extend the same legal rights to housing, but experts say it should create a snowball effect. Before the Court's groundbreaking decision, Nebraska was one of only 25 states that had not enacted protections for LGBT people in the workplace. So, to see how fast acting the state was in reacting to the Supreme Court's decision is a great step forward. The Legislature voted 28-8 in favor of the anti-discrimination law. 

A few months ago, a Supreme Court decision held up Title VII which bars workplace discrimination. The court ruled that discrimination against LGBT individuals was already prohibited. However, it showed that housing rights were not protected within that scope. Housing is covered in Title VIII, but uses very similar language to Title VII. Nebraska's laws mirror both of these federal protections. 

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson filed a brief that encouraged state justices to show that sex discrimination does not extend to gender identity. He declined to comment on this position. 

The issue becomes even more blurred when it comes to all public accommodations, but Nebraska's law covers that issue better than federal law does. Experts believe Nebraska is in solid ground with its legal interpretations. 

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GOVERNOR RICKETTS SIGNS COMPROMISE TAX BILL, BUSINESS INCENTIVES, AND UNMC NExT PROJECT: SAYS IT'S A 'GIANT STEP' FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

LINCOLN- This Thursday, Governor Ricketts signed into a law a package of bills that will greatly reduce the state's property taxes. Once LB1107 is fully funded, it will show a 17% decrease in property tax for the owner of a $200,000 home in Lincoln. LB1107 also includes the current property tax credit program, which allocates $275 million per year in reductions. The credit begins at $125 million. However, if the state's tax receipts rise to 3.5% that year, the fund will increase to $375 million. 

The package of bills also includes an update for businesses that retain the ImagiNE Act, the state also pledged $300 million for the NExT Project at UNMC if that project becomes a reality. The $300 million will not be doled out unless the federal government and private donors create $1.3 billion in funding and create a $2.6 billion center to respond to pandemics, bioterrorism and natural disasters. 

There is a worry that the state is being too ambitious as tax receipts have been depressed due to the pandemic. The fiscal note projects a $700 million budget gap in the next two-year budget cycle. Ricketts says he believes Nebraska will adjust its spending if needed. 

People against the package of bills want the state to be doing more for those who are struggling to pay bills, even facing eviction due to the pandemic. They also want better paid sick leave for meat-packing workers that have been hit hardest by the pandemic.

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RICKETTS HANDS DOWN VETOES ON FIVE MORE BILLS

LINCOLN- Governor Ricketts handed down more vetoes this past Monday post-adjournment of the Legislature last week. Six bills received pocket vetoes, however they were signed 'sine die' so that the Governor was unable to actually veto them. 

Two of the vetoed bills were prison-related, the first being changes to the parole system. This would allow for inmates to be eligible for parole 2 years before their original discharge date. Ricketts vetoed this bill because he believes it was over broad and could lead to unintended consequences. The second was put forth to ensure more transparency in witnessing inmate executions. The Governor vetoed this bill in order to protect the executioners identity and their families. He also said allowing more witnesses for executions would make a mockery of the execution and would be disrespectful to the inmate and their families. 

Another veto included a student discipline bill that would require classwork and exams to be accepted while a student is suspended and for class credits before expulsion to be taken at other schools. Veto number 4 was a bill to require public school students to fill out FAFSA, the government assisted scholarship program, prior to graduation. Ricketts said this bill would create an unnecessary hurdle for students and their families. Both bills were introduced by Senator Tony Vargas. 

LB607 was introduced by Senator Mark Kolterman and later was vetoed. This bill aimed to more properly define different cosmetic and tattooing procedures. The Governor believes the burden is unwarranted. 

Lastly, Governor Ricketts vetoed a bill that would add to the definition of racial discrimination in the workplace that focuses on hair. Ricketts vetoed this bill because the bill focuses on mutable characteristics that cannot be attributed to one race. 

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'THAT'S A BIG LOSS': SOUTH OMAHA'S MAIN CORONAVIRUS TESTING SITE WILL CLOSE THURSDAY

OMAHA- A Covid-19 testing site in one of Omaha's largest hot spots is scheduled to close this week. Many local healthcare providers are rushing to figure out how to now provide testing for the population. Different public health organizations are working on creating more testing sites in the area. 

In just one zip code in South Omaha, over 1,900 people have tested positive for the virus. This number is a large portion of Douglas County's 12,200 total cases. People are able to receive a free test at any TestNebraska drive-thru site, however these sites are a long jaunt from South Omaha. 

The site that is shutting down was only supposed to be run for 6 weeks, but the staff there did what they could to continue testing for an extended period. Losing this site means not testing between 200-300 people daily. OneWorld proposed a joint solution with TestNebraska in which low-income people would be able to sign up for testing through OneWorld and TestNebraska would supply the actual supplies. The goal is to get as many people tested as possible. 

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COVID-19 CASES REPORTED IN MILLARD, GRETNA, RALSTON SCHOOL DISTRICTS

OMAHA- Two Millard elementary schools became the first to announce positive Coronavirus cases this school year. The children tested positive after going to school for a few days. In Gretna, a staff member tested positive. The teachers who came in contact with the staff member are in quarantine and have been replaced by substitutes. So far, no children at the Gretna school have tested positive for the virus. At Ralston, one child has been diagnosed. 

School officials from these districts have maintained that all people who were in contact with those who tested positive have been notified and the schools have been sanitized. 

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FIRST DAY AT OPS: SMOOTH SAILING FOR SOME, TECHNICAL ISSUES FOR OTHERS

OMAHA- OPS stands alone in the metro with their plan to teach and learn, they started the year completely remote. The teachers give their lessons in their classrooms on camera, but are missing the students as the children watch from computer screens at home. This remote learning comes after OPS spent $40 million on iPads for children that do not have access to Wi-Fi at home. 

Some students say they were surprised at how smooth the first day of class went. There were very few technological issues for some, which is a promising start to the semester. However, they wish they could be there in person.

Other students were not prepared to spend all day behind a screen. Elementary school children were very hard to keep engaged and some parents were not able to help because of language barriers or not being fluent in today's technology. Most of the days wrapped up with a virtual tour of the classroom, giving students hope that they will be back at school soon. 

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YOUNG PEOPLE ARE INCREASINGLY SPREADING CORONAVIRUS, WHO SAYS

WASHINGTON- Young people are now the reason behind the growing number of Covid-19 cases in the United States. The majority of the spread comes from those who show no symptoms and are not aware that they have the virus. According to a study, there are close to 30 million confirmed cases across the world, which is only growing. WHO's regional director states that now people between 20 and 40 years old are contracting the virus most. 

Scientists believe that there is a new phase of the pandemic. WHO's regional director states that now people between 20 and 40 years old are contracting the virus most. With the second-wave of the pandemic beginning after the opening of bars, clubs and schools, young people will continue to spread the virus to each other and more vulnerable groups of people. Some European countries have began to shut the bars and restaurants down again in order to stop young people from convening in public places. This came just days before American schools went back to on-campus instruction and living at a majority of institutions. 

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POOLED TESTING, ONCE PROMISING, IS FAILING IN THE U.S.

NEW YORK- Pooled testing is a decades-old way of testing that allows for surveillance of communities. Professionals believed the United States could have this set up before the country sent their students back to school in August, however that is not the case. Pooled testing in school communities was thought to be the best way to slow the spread in those condensed spaces. But this approach simply will not work in the U.S.. Why? Because there are too many cases that are spreading too quickly. 

How it works. The testing is only accurate when the majority of tests are negative. If the percentage of positive tests are too high, each person would need to get tested again, which wastes materials that the country is in need of already. 

Nebraska's public health laboratory was a trailblazer in pooled testing, however this practice was deemed inaccurate once the positivity rate got too high in late April. A doctor with the lab said that if the state, and country would have mandated masks and taken social distancing more seriously earlier, this form of testing would be incredibly useful for Nebraskans. 

However, in New York City where cases have been decreasing, pooled testing has come back to hospitals and other testing sites across the city. 

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MILLARD BOARD MEMBERS PRAISE TEACHERS FOR ANTI-VIRUS EFFORTS, TELL RESIDENTS TO 'DO YOUR PART'

MILLARD- Board Members for Millard Public Schools praised their teachers for allowing the kids to return to school and adapting to the changes that were enacted to keep everyone safe quickly. The school personnel is doing everything in their power to ensure no student gets the virus in their classroom. However, outside of the classroom is where it gets tricky. 

Over the weekend many Millard students took part in athletic competitions at multiple different locations. At these games, no one was social distancing or wearing masks. The President of the Board, Linda Poole, was shocked. These are the same people who pushed for their kids to be back at school in-person. Poole says that in order to keep kids at school, everyone needs to be doing their part in their everyday life to protect each other. 

Superintendent Jim Sutfin said throughout all of the uncertainty, he is proud of MPS for trying. 

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PARENTS SEEK SOLUTIONS FOR CHILD CARE ISSUES, AND THAT'S CRUCIAL FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMY

OMAHA- 70% of Nebraskan households have both parents working full-time. With the transition to mostly remote learning for the majority of school-aged children, it has left many parents stuck. Since the pandemic began, about a fourth of households have seen their income drop by over 50%. DHHS announced that childcare providers will now receive subsidies for the low-income children as long as remote-learning is happening. 

The collaborative effort of many government departments created a child care referral network in which providers are able to put all information in one place and have parents come to the site to find care providers. The service even allows for parents to require a certain language, higher care for a child with disabilities and more. 

The network is a huge relief for families rushing to find solutions for their families in this chaotic time. 

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COLLEGE RESIDENCE HALLS ARE MAKING CHANGES TO ADDRESS CORONAVIRUS, MANAGE STUDENTS WHO GET SICK

OMAHA- Colleges across Nebraska all have similar practices in place to protect their students from Covid-19. However, there are still different approaches being taken to fit each university's specific plans. 

At Creighton University, students living on campus should expect their temperature to be taken daily. UNL students are being limited to 1 to 2 people living in a dorm at a time. Creighton, UNL and Doane all have designated buildings for students to self-isolate in if they have tested positive for the virus. This includes meals and bathrooms as well. The way students are served meals will also look much different this fall. Dining halls will become ghost towns as students will really only have grab-and-go options available. These isolated rooms are also equipped with nurses that are prepared to help the students with more severe symptoms. 

Administrators from all of the state's schools are nervous but hopeful that their communities will be able to continue on-campus learning and living. 

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MASKLESS TESTIFIERS OPPOSE HEALTH DIRECTOR'S APPOINTMENT, BUT COUNCIL APPROVES HER ANYWAY

LINCOLN- Anti-mask protesters fled in to the Lincoln City Council meeting on Monday. The protesters were there to voice their disapproval of the rushed appointment of Pat Lopez to be the permanent Director of the County Health Department. Much of the disapproval of Lopez comes from disapproval of her action to mandate masks in Lincoln. The protesters believe the mandate was 'tyrannical'. 

The Lancaster County Attorney prompted the vote when he told the county commissioners that Lopez should be removed from the position as she was placed there illegally. Lopez has been holding this position as Interim Director since the summer of 2019. Council member's believe the mayor had the authority to hastily appoint Lopez especially because she was the only one being put up for the position. 

A notable testimony came from Benjamin Madsen, co-owner of Madsen's Bowling & Billiards. Madsen's had been shut down by Lopez over violations of the mask mandate earlier in the month. He believes the decision to appoint Lopez was rushed. 

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NAVY CHIEF PETTY OFFICER WHO WORKED AT STRATCOM CHARGED WITH LEAKING SECRETS TO RUSSIAN CONTACT

BELLEVUE- A Navy chief petty officer who formerly worked at U.S. Strategic Command faces court-martial in Virginia on charges that he leaked classified information to a Russian national, Navy officials disclosed Thursday.

Chief Petty Officer Charles T. Briggs served as an information systems technician at Offutt Air Force Base from April 2018 to July 2019, according to Navy documents. He has been held since August 2019 at a Navy brig in Virginia near his last duty station at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.

Briggs is accused of sending an email containing classified information to a Russian national “with reason to believe the information could be used to injure the United States or benefit a foreign nation” while working at Offutt in January 2019, according to a charge sheet.

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NEBRASKA LEGISALTURE CLOSES UNPRECEDENTED SESSION WITH EMOTIONAL DEBATE AND BIG VOTES

LINCOLN — State legislators closed out a unique, coronavirus-interrupted session Thursday by passing a modest property tax relief bill and barely mustering the votes to adopt a ban on an abortion method.

Unlike most past sessions, there wasn’t a “soft landing” on the final day. Senators, including one fighting back tears, launched into an emotional debate that pitted personal liberties against the science of wearing face masks to fend off COVID-19.

It was somehow fitting — the final 17 days of the session were marked by angry exchanges and lectures to behave, at a tenor and volume not usually seen at the State Capitol. The session shut down in mid-March because of the coronavirus outbreak and resumed in late July with new safety practices and precautions.

But Gov. Pete Ricketts still made the traditional end-of-session appearance to thank senators for their work. This year, he highlighted the property tax bill, money for flood relief, a veterans tax cut, creation of a new career scholarship program and passage of the abortion method ban.

Thursday marked the final day on the legislative floor for State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, whose fiery speeches about racism and legendary procedural blockades of bills he hated often fomented frustration, discomfort and grumbling. Chambers, who is term-limited for a second time, has spent 46 years in the legislature.

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NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE TAKES ANTI-ABORTION BILL OVER FINISH LINE

LINCOLN- A bill that would stop D&E abortion procedures on a living fetus passed the last legislative hurtle Thursday. It will go to Gov. Pete Ricketts, who is expected to sign it into law. 

The bill (LB814) was stuck in committee after its hearing in February, and Lincoln Sen. Suzanne Geist, who introduced it, successfully moved to pull it from committee so it could be debated. Because of that, it came to the floor with no committee work or amendments, and so was passed as it was originally introduced. 

Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, who led filibusters against the bill on all three levels of debate, continued to say the bill was given special treatment by Speaker Jim Scheer in scheduling. And she said Lt. Gov. Mike Foley, who presides over the Legislature and is an outspoken supporter of the bill, was allowed to run legislative strategy on it from the president's chair. 

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PEOPLE CELEBRATE TENURE OF SENATOR ERNIE CHAMBERS ON CAPITOL STEPS

LINCOLN- It was a surprise party that had to wait a few hours because the man to be celebrated was busy taking the last of his term-limited time to draw out voting on bills Thursday afternoon.

"Because I wasn't informed of this happening," Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers told the group gathered on the north steps of the Capitol, "I was on the floor of the Legislature doing what it was my job to do."

Educating, slowing things down, offering up words of wisdom or criticism. On this his last day, his goal was to determine how things were going to go and say the things he wanted to say. Or to be like the death angel at Passover, and let a bill proceed without a visit from the spirit of extended debate. But when he finally showed up, they cheered, and shouted their love for the 46-year veteran of the Legislature. And held up thank-you signs and Fight for Justice signs. One man even had what appeared to be an old reelection sign that read: "Friends of North Omaha Support Ernie Chambers State Legislature."

Thank you, Senator Chambers,Senator Pansing Brooks said, for being true to you.

"You have been irascible, aggravating, impossible and mind-boggling. You have followed the mission of Finley Peter Dunne, a 1898 writer who suggested the need to 'comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.' You have also been powerful, gentle, inspiring, compassionate, kind and, yes, loving. "In short, you have been exactly what Nebraska has needed for 46 years."

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