STATE OF NEBRASKA, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA WON'T TAKE PART IN TEMPORARY PAYROLL TAX CUT

LINCOLN- Both state and University of Nebraska employees will not be participating in President Trump's offer to defer payroll taxes for the remainder of the year. This option came from an executive order signed by the President that allows employers to choose to defer paying Social Security taxes for the rest of the year as a way to provide economic relief from the pandemic. State employees pay 6.2% of their wages into Social Security and is then matched by the state.

 Taking part in this program would mean employees would be taking substantially lower pay in early 2021. Employees will also not have the ability to opt into the program. The University is following the state's lead. Other states led by GOP governors have also opted out of this program. 

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UNMC LEADERS UPDATE LEGISLATORS ON COVID-19

OMAHA- UNMC leaders held a zoom briefing on COVID-19 Wednesday morning, discussing both national and statewide statistics. 

James Lawler, MD, executive director of international programs and innovation at the Global Center for Health Security and, Angela Vasa, director of quarantine and isolation services and Chris Kratochvil, MD, associate vice chancellor for clinical research conducted the briefing. 

Key points presented by Dr. Lawler included that while nebraska has done well limiting deaths related to COVID-19, they are increasing compared to other states; children are likely seeing COVID-19 rates equal or higher than adults; While Nebraska saw a decline of cases through August, cases are increasing following school reopenings; and experts are working diligently towards a vaccine hopefully int he late spring of 2021, which may require two doses per person. Kratochvil spoke about UNMC leadership in research on a COVID-19 vaccine. 

"We are pleased that legislators continue to see UNMC as a trusted resource on developments pertaining to the pandemic," said Bob Bartee, vice chancellor for external relations. "We see this as a valuable role for UNMC to perform during these challenging times."

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FORMER STATE SEN. RAY AGUILAR CHALLENGES SEN. DAN QUICK FOR OLD SEAT IN GRAND ISLAND

GRAND ISLAND-  The Grand Island area’s legislative race will give voters a choice between two widely known local names: Democratic incumbent State Sen. Dan Quick and Republican Ray Aguilar, a former state senator. 

Quick was elected in 2016 over Republican Gregg Neuhaus by a margin of fewer than 100 votes to represent District 35, which includes the city of Grand Island. Aguilar, 73, served in the Legislature from 1999 to 2008. He is the latest lawmaker trying to return after being term-limited.

Quick, a 63-year-old retired welder for the Platte Generating Station and former president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers chapter 1597, said he got into politics through his union background because he saw it as a way to improve the lives of those in his community. While in the Legislature, he said, he has worked to improve education and juvenile detention programs in Nebraska. 

Quick has a fundraising advantage over Aguilar. According to the most recent campaign finance filings from mid-June, Quick had spent almost $100,000 and had about $64,000 in cash on hand. Aguilar had spent almost $50,000, with $4,700 remaining.

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NEBRASKA NOW HAS LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN U.S.

LINCOLN- Nebraska's unemployment rate dropped to 4% in August, giving the state the lowest rate in the nation. According to the Nebraska Department of Labor, the rate is down from a revised rate of 4.9% in July but up from a rate of 3.1% in August 2019. Nebraska's rate was slightly lower than Utah's (4.1%) and Idaho's (4.2%) The state with the next-lowest rate was South Dakota at 4.8%.Nebraska’s employment-to-population rate of 66.8% in August also was top in the U.S.

“The last time Nebraska’s rate was at this level was in March of this year, which was the start of the pandemic,” Commissioner of Labor John H. Albin said in a news release. “The drop in the unemployment rate correlates with a decline in continued unemployment claims, so it appears that Nebraska is still on a path to economic recovery.”

While continuing claims in the state have declined significantly, down about 60% in the past two months, they are still well above pre-pandemic levels.

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BIDEN TARGETS NEBRASKA LATINOS WITH CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER HUERTA; TRUMP COURTS THEM, TOO

OMAHA- One of Obama's key speakers in defining the 'blue dot' in Omaha in 2008 was Dolores Huerta. Huerta is a civil rights leader that is credited with the catchphrase 'Yes we can,' which became a huge line in the Obama administration. Now, she is working with Senator Tony Vargas to reach Latino voters for Biden. Her visit came just a day after Donald Trump Jr. visited western Iowa and Omaha. The Trump campaign has been polling better in 2020 than in 2016 and the credit seems to be going to his focus on prosperous jobs. 

The 2nd Congressional District in Omaha has become a huge focus of both presidential campaigns. Vargas and Huerta believe the Latino community would be better off if Biden becomes the president.

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IT'S ABOUT JUSTICE': WHITE BAR OWNDER IS CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER IN JAMES SCURLOCK SHOOTING

OMAHA- After a summer of turmoil in Omaha, a white bar owner was indicted by a grand jury for the shooting death of James Scurlock, a 22-year-old black man during protests on May 30. The grand jury rejected the decision of Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine that said Gardner was acting in self-defense. Now, Gardner faces 95 years in prison for manslaughter, first-degree assault, making terroristic threats and weapon use. 

It is unknown whether this indictment will restore a sense or order or create a more chaotic city. Special Prosecutor Fred Franklin said his view of the case was completely changed after the grand jury hearing. He has originally come to the same conclusion as Kleine. 

Senator Justin Wayne has been acting as the Scurlock family's attorney and will continue to fight for the family throughout the entire process. 

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CHILD WELFARE CASELOADS STILL TOO HIGH, YRTC SYSTEM TOO UNSTABLE IN NEBRASKA, REPORT FINDS

LINCOLN- This year's annual report on child welfare shows some improvement along with a number of issues for children and families in Nebraska. The Inspector General for Child Welfare Jennifer Carter said the Department of Health and Human Services has not met the caseload requirement for the caseworkers that are responsible for keeping mistreated children safe. This statue was passed in 2012 in hopes to help worker burnout and turnover that relate to poorer outcomes for Nebraskan children. 

Another huge issue within the state is the suicide attempt rate for youth involved in the system. This issue trickles into home placements and more. Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers are also receiving a lot of attention for the the crises they have experienced in the past year. In the fiscal year of July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 the inspector general's office received 403 total intakes, 198 critical incident reports, 179 complaints, 19 requests for information and seven grievances from the findings of DHHS. Of the almost 200 critical incident reports, almost 50 of those were sexual abuse claims and 25 suicide attempts. 

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LINCOLN LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT SEES HIGH-SPENDING, HARD-FOUGHT ELECTION BATTLE

LINCOLN- The outcome of the election in south-central Lincoln's legislative district could determine whether Republicans add a numerical edge to the Legislature in a key swing district. District 29 is almost perfectly split between Republicans and Democrats with a sizable number of independents. The seat has been held by Senator Kate Bolz for eight years. Bolz who has reached her term limit is now running for U.S. Congress against Representative Jeff Fortenberry. 

Jacob Campbell garnered 32% of the vote in a six-way race in the primary election. Campbell has previously worked for the Nebraska child welfare system, UNL and most recently as a legislative aide to Senator Ben Hansen of Blair. His opponent, Eliot Boster collected 27% of the vote and now holds the fundraising edge. Bostar was a special advisor to the New York Governor's Office and recently revived Conservation Nebraska, a non-profit working to help the environment. Campbell's largest donor is the Republican State Leadership Committee at $20,000. Bostar's most notable donor is Nebraskans for Common Ground at $80,000. 

Bostar's top priorities are education, jobs, the environment, health care and taxes. Campbell says he will be focusing on healthcare, education and economic recovery. On hot-button issues, the two candidates could not be more opposite. 

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SALES TAX REVENUES DRIVE NEBRASKA'S TAX COLLECTIONS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED FOR AUGUST

LINCOLN- Nebraska collected $68 million more in net tax revenue than original projections for the month of August. These revenues reflect the state's economic growth despite the pandemic. The biggest leap came from sales taxes, with receipts totaling almost $40 million. Individual income tax collections also came in at 10.1% above the forecast. However, corporate income tax revenues were 57.1% below expectations. 

"It's indicating that Nebraska is weathering the pandemic well," said Lydia Brasch, spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Revenue.

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NEBRASKA'S PROPERTY TAX CREDIT DROPS SLIGHTLY DUE TO INCREASE IN VALUATIONS

LINCOLN- Lowering local property taxes was a top priority for the governor and state lawmakers this year. The Nebraska Department of Revenue announced the property tax credit for 2020 will be lower than this previous year. The credit will amount to $102.21 for each $100,000 of valuation on a home or business. The credit for agricultural land will be $122.64 for each $100,000 in valuation. This is about a $2 decrease of each figure from the property taxes paid in 2020. 

The state has a new state income tax credit that will further defray the property tax bills of Nebraskans, however this will not come to fruition for three to five years if the economy continues to grow. It will provide $125 million in income tax credits or less than half of the current devotion to property tax credits. 

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PELOSI: HOUSE WILL 'STAY HERE UNTIL WE HAVE A BILL' FOR MORE VIRUS AID

WASHINGTON-  Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said on Tuesday that the House would not leave for the November elections without acting on an additional round of stimulus to prop up the virus-ravaged economy, responding to growing concern among rank-and-file lawmakers over the prospect of returning home to face voters without doing so.

“We have to stay here until we have a bill,” Ms. Pelosi privately told lawmakers on a conference call on Tuesday morning, according to two people familiar with the remarks who disclosed them on condition of anonymity.

Her vow came just before a bipartisan group of 50 centrist lawmakers was planning to present a $1.5 trillion stimulus plan, making a last-ditch effort to revive stalled talks between top Democrats and the White House. However, members of the caucus have noted privately that the measure has little chance of moving forward. 

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ISRAEL TO ENTER LOCKDOWN AGAIN AS SECOND WAVE OF COVID-19 SURGES

TEL AVIV-  Israel will be locked down for at least three weeks, starting on Friday and continuing over the Jewish high holy days, the first significant country to re-enter closure, after failing to curb a second wave of the coronavirus. 

Nearly all Israelis will be restricted to within less than half-a-mile of their homes, and all non-essential businesses will be closed said Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, as new infections per capita hovered near the worst levels globally. Some organizations that do not deal with customers will be allowed to stay open. 

Cases have surged past 4,000 a day over the last week, and nearly one in ten of all tests show evidence of infection. The cases are a dramatic increase from the 20 a day in April when the nation emerged from their 45-day lockdown. 

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WITH CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS EASING ACROSS STATE, RICKETTS SAYS IT'S TIME TO RETURN TO A MORE NORMAL LIFE

LINCOLN- Lincoln and Lancaster County stood alone Monday in their control restrictions while the rest of the state moved into a more relaxed phase. The governor does not believe the county still needs to be in Phase 3 but recognizes the county has the ability to use special action and remain independent. He urges Nebraskans to continue to social distance and wear masks in public. The next step is Phase 4 which would only limit crowds to 75% capacity. Lancaster County has reported higher numbers of coronavirus than any other county in the state over the past 2 weeks. 

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MORE TEST SITES, NO AGE OR HIGH-RISK REQUIREMENTS MEAN MORE PEOPLE CAN GET TESTED FOR COVID-19 THROUGH TEST NEBRASKA

KEARNEY- It is now easier than ever to get tested for the virus in Kearney. Prior age or high-risk requirements to get tested are now gone, and anyone who needs a test can get one. This allows people to get tested without having to travel to nearby city's to get a test. Although positive case numbers are down, but hospitalizations are on the rise in Two Rivers. 

Prior to these Test Nebraska sites going up, people in Two Rivers were only able to get tested at private medical offices, who barely had enough tests to matter. With the increase in testing, there was a sharp rise in cases, but the cases are beginning to decrease. 

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UNL RESEARCHERS PITCHED A RAPID COVID-19 TEST AS UNIVERSITY SIGNED ON WITH Test Nebraska

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Athletic Department announced Thursday that they have received 1,200 rapid antigen tests, making it possible to tell athletes if they have the virus within an hour. The rest of the university relies on the $27 million coronavirus testing program to provide free tests to students. 

Over the summer, UNL officials heard about a saliva-based rapid test that only requires students to spit in a plastic tube which makes the process much less invasive. This test can be processed by equipment that is commonly found in all university testing labs. The University of Colorado-Boulder said they could administer these tests for less than $5. 

If UNL could harness all equipment necessary for these tests, they could yield 1,000 tests per day, which is five times the capacity for Test Nebraska. UNL has not received the 'go-ahead' from experts, UNMC and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department do not recommend this type of testing. 

UNL students account for half of the new cases in Lancaster County since classes resumed in August.

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SURGE IN CASES PROMPTS LPS TO REQUIRE COLLEGES' STUDENT TEACHERS TO GET TESTED REGULARLY

LINCOLN- With the recent surge in cases at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, LPS will be pulling student teachers and college students doing practicums from the classroom until there is a negative test reported. LPS has 188 student teachers from local colleges with another 498 college students doing practicums in classrooms. Student teachers are upperclassmen who must spend an entire semester teaching before they can graduate. Practicums are taught by students who come to the classroom just a few times a week. 

LPS has transitioned the practicum students to online instruction. Student teachers are still coming to the classroom everyday. As of Thursday, UNL reported 545 positive cases. 

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OFFICIALS CREDIT MASK MANDATE FOR DROP IN DOUGLAS COUNTY'S POSITIVE CORONAVIRUS TEST RATE

OMAHA- Local health officials have made a connection between the city's mask mandate and the recent drop in cases. The Douglas County Health Department reported last week's test positivity rate was 7.4%, compared to 10.5% on the week ending August 15. August 15th was the day the mask mandate passed in Omaha. 

7,153 people were tested this past week, with 529 of those were positive. 10,809 people in Douglas County have recovered from COVID-19, with 178 deaths.

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WHY CORONAVIRUS HASN'T SEVERELY DAMAGED ENROLLMENT IN THE NU SYSTEM AS SOME FEARED

OMAHA- In an otherwise excellent report, the University of Nebraska system saw a decrease in the number of international students enrolled in the universities. UNK and UNL saw decreases in overall enrollment because of this, but UNO and NU Medical Center did well, with increases in enrollment by over 4% each. 

The decreasing number of international students in Nebraska is similar to the nationwide plummet in students coming to the United States for their studies. China has historically been the biggest provider of international students to American universities. These numbers amidst the pandemic could be attributed to the Nebraska Promise, which guaranteed free tuition for in-state families making less than $60,000. The Nebraska system also froze tuition through the 2023 school semester, which could be helping numbers as well. 

Administrators feared students would be taking 'gap years' due to the uncertainty the pandemic has brought, however because of their commitment to help students financially, that concern has dwindled. If not for the decrease in international students, all schools in the University of Nebraska system would have seen an increase in enrollment this fall. UNO's enrollment is the highest it has been since 1992. The NU system saw an overall increase in enrollment of 1%. 

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HAGEL SAYS DEEP DIVISIONS THREATEN U.S. LEADERSHIP

OMAHA- Former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel said Thursday that today's deep divisions in the United States and the polarization of its politics threaten its unity and future role as world leader.

"This country is going to have to come together," the former U.S. secretary of defense said during a virtual speaking appearance before members of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"It's up to us," Hagel said. "We're so much better than what we're showing today."

Hagel said "we're in for a rough few months and probably beyond" as the nation gears up for a presidential election showdown between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

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PRESTON LOVE JR. ANNOUNCES WRITE-IN CANDIDACY AGAINST SEN. Ben Sasse

OMAHA- The North Omaha activist Preston Love Jr. made history with his campaign bid. He is the first black Senate candidate backed by a major political party in state history.

The Nebraska Democratic Party announced its full support of his write-in candidacy. Preston Love Jr. is a Black Studies professor at UNO and was a campaign manager for Jessie Jackson's presidential campaign in 1984. He has always been a public activist for social justice in his Omaha community. 

Love as well as the Democratic Party wanted Alisha Shelton to be on the November ballot, however Chris Janicek defeated her in the primary so she is unable to be a write-in candidate according to state law. Janicek ignored repeated calls by the Nebraskan Democrats to drop out of the race after lewd texts came to light about his campaign's finance director. Love wants voters to know that his candidacy is about more than his race. He and the Democratic Party are aware that his candidacy gives even more favor to Sasse because of the huge difference in registered voters. 

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