BIDEN, HARRIS SPOUSES VISIT PAPILLION IN FIRST IN-PERSON OMAHA-AREA CAMPAIGN STOP; VP PENCE IN CARTER LAKE

OMAHA- The spouses of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris made their way to Sarpy County on Saturday, which was a very strategic plan for the Democratic campaign. The neighborhood Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff visited sits right between Nebraska's 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts. This location is significant because Nebraska gives out one vote to the winner of the popular vote in each of the three congressional districts. 

The State Democratic Party Chair, Jane Kleeb, believes Biden could win in both districts. A recent poll showed Biden leading by a large margin in the 2nd District. This summer, a poll showed Biden would just edge out president Trump in the 1st District, but polling has been sparse there as the campaigns move into the home stretch. 

Many questions at the event concerned military health care, housing, and working while a military spouse was deployed during the pandemic. Trump has also sent surrogates to the 2nd congressional district area, including Karen Pence, Lara Trump, Donald Trump Jr, and on Thursday Vice President Mike Pence.

Pence had a message for a crowd of about 275 people in a Carter Lake warehouse: “The road to victory runs straight through Iowa.” He said Iowans will help reelect Trump and Pence in 2020, just as they did in 2016.“Men and women of Iowa, we’ve got to decide right here and right now that Joe Biden will never be president of the United States of America,” Pence said. He said Nebraskans “need to go to work, too.”

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COVID-19 TESTS THAT GIVES RESULTS IN MINUTES TO BE ROLLED OUT ACROSS WORLD

WASHINGTON- A global initiative has allowed for rapid tests that gives results in just 15-20 minutes to be rolled out internationally, possibly saving lives and slowing the pandemic in rich and poor countries. Richer countries will be able to get their hands on this type of test after the original stock is given to the lower income countries. One version of the test already has approval from the World Health Organization and the other will receive approval soon. 

These tests allow for mass screening for health workers in low income countries who are dying at disproportionate rates. The Gate Foundation are making 20% of the tests guaranteed for low-income countries and 80% will be given to the rest of the world. Germany, France and Switzerland have already ordered upwards of 20 million tests. 

CEO of Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Catharina Boehme said they put in bulk orders of the test so that low income countries would not be turned away for these rapid tests as they did when CR tests came out. 

Antigen tests are 97% accurate in optimal conditions. FIND says the accuracy is closer to 80%-90% in real world conditions. 

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YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AT RISK OF SEVERE COVID-19 ILLNESS

BOSTON- Stephanie Moir, a healthy 33-year-old, ran everyday and is now having trouble just getting out of bed. Now, she has been dealing with the COVID-19 virus for months, having undergone eight emergency room trips and a wide array of health problems. Young people, even after hospitalization, are being discharged to health care facilities to continue recovery. 

In a study done by Dr. Scott Solomon and other Harvard Medical professors showed that 5% of patients admitted to 419 hospitals were young adults. 58% of patients were men and 57% were Black or Hispanic. One third of the patients were obese, 18% had diabetes and 16% had hypertension. Young adults with underlying health conditions are at the same risk as middle-aged people without those conditions. This data is worrisome because COVID-19 cases are now surging among 20-29 year olds. The cases in this age range make up for 20% of all confirmed cases in the United States. 

The study's death rate was at 2.7% for young adults, double the deaths of young adults who have had died from heart attacks. 

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COVID-19 HAS HAMMERED NEBRASKA'S AG SECTOR, REPORT FINDS

LINCOLN- Heading into the year Nebraska's agricultural economy was already stumbling, then the pandemic nearly uprooted it. The sector has experienced two main blows. The first being in March when schools, hotels and restaurants shut down. The demand for food was cut in half almost overnight. The supply chains were completely disrupted with a diminished market. 

The second blow was in April when reports showed surges in meatpacking plants across the nation. Meat production was down by almost 40% at one point, with some farmers even having to euthanize their livestock. Farmers could see an almost $3.7 billion loss for 2020. Some of these losses will be made up for by federal aid. 

An original $19 billion aid was offered, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture just announced another $14 billion in aid for farmers. 

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MODERNA AND PFIZER REVEAL SECRET BLUEPRINTS FOR CORONAVIRUS VACCINE TRIALS

CAMBRIDGE- Two drug companies that are leading the race to develop coronavirus vaccines bowed to public pressure on Thursday, abandoning their traditional secrecy and releasing comprehensive road maps of how they are evaluating their vaccines.

The companies, Moderna and Pfizer, revealed details about how participants are being selected and monitored, the conditions under which the trials could be stopped early if there were problems, and the evidence researchers will use to determine whether people who got the vaccines were protected from Covid-19. Moderna’s study will involve 30,000 participants, and Pfizer’s 44,000.

The disclosures while the trials are still underway, a rare move, are aimed at addressing growing suspicion among Americans that President Trump’s drive to produce a vaccine before the election on Nov. 3 could result in a product that was unsafe. The plan released by Moderna on Thursday morning included a likely timetable that could reach into next year for determining whether its vaccine works. It does not jibe with the president’s optimistic predictions of a vaccine widely available to the public in October.

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STATE OFFICIALS DEFEND DECISION TO CONTRACT WITH TEST NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- State officials told lawmakers Monday that labs were running "critically short" on testing supplies in April shortly after the first COVID-19 case was identified in Nebraska. Collection tubes and the transport media were difficult to obtain by states and countries across the globe. 

Nebraska looked at their usual vendors to supply testing supplies, but every time state officials were told to look elsewhere. Eventually, Nomi Health partnered with other tech firms to set up a testing program in Utah and had the resources to also set something up here. That is when Nebraska announced the $27 million no-bid contract with Nomi Health to provide up to 540,000 tests in Nebraska for a six month period. 

This decision garnered attention from lawmakers across the state. Senator Machaela Cavanaugh introduced a resolution to study how the contract was made and what changes can be made before renewal. She says the state did not reach out to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Nebraska Public Health Lab or local health departments before the contract was drafted. 

Testing sites have also moved to a model which allows for walk-up assessments. Testing in Nebraska started with a figure of 150 tests per day and now has the capacity for 6,000 tests everyday. 

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HOSPITALIZATIONS IN NEBRASKA PEAKING AGAIN AS CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAKS SPREAD

OMAHA- Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 is approaching its highest point. The majority of the increase is coming from Omaha and Lincoln after students returned to the state's universities for the semester. Nebraska also loosened public health restrictions around Labor Day Weekend, which is a factor. 

This past week 231 Nebraskans were hospitalized, this is just one less case than the peak of hospitalizations on May 27. 26 of those hospitalized last week died, the total number of deaths is now at 468. 80% of the patients are 55 and older and three patients are 19 or younger. Metropolitan Omaha's daily hospitalization count has grown by 28 people per day since early September, Lancaster County's daily total is up by 31. 

Dr. Mark Rupp, chief of infectious diseases at UNMC says this peak comes at a bad time and many ICU's do not have capacity to handle another surge. As hospitals have returned to allowing elective procedures, there is just not enough staff or room to house this many COVID hospitalizations. Nebraskan hospitals have enough ventilators, but not enough beds. 

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MOLSON COORS FORMS JOINT VENTURE TO BREW AND SELL YUENGLING BEERS

Molson Coors Beverage Co. and D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. have created a partnership to make Yuengling beer available beyond the East Coast. Yuengling is the sixth-largest brewery in the U.S. with their beers being available in 22 states. This partnership will allow Molson to cover the expansion that is expected to launch in the second half of next year. 

Molson Coors' research shows that Yuengling is in demand across the entire nation. Both companies believe it is a great opportunity for growth for both parties. Yuengling will remain in control of its existing business, with U.S. sales being around $1.6 billion in 2019.  Last year, Molson moved away from mainstream lagers to appeal to younger adult drinkers with low-carb beers, hard seltzers, wine and spirits. The pandemic has allowed U.S. retail store sales to increase mostly with big brands such as Miller Lite and Coors Light. 

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SCATTER JOY ACRES GETS SEIZED ANIMALS BACK, AND NO CHARGES WILL BE FILED

OMAHA- All citations against Scatter Joy Acres have been dropped and the animals seized by the Nebraska Humane Society have been returned to the premises. Matt Kuhse, Omaha City Prosecutor said Scatter Joy is a zoo and thus meets the exception in the city ordinance that allows them to house their animals. 

Scatter Joy has all necessary permits through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. 

The animals taken on Aug. 24 are a porcupine, seven Patagonian cavies (which look like jackrabbits and are native to Argentina) and a coatimundi (a mammal that looks like a cross between a cat and a raccoon and is native to the Americas). Kuhse said any disputes that remain would be considered regulatory and would be handled through the permits that Scatter Joy has received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

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OPPD ANNOUNCES SITES FOR TWO BACKUP NATURAL GAS PLANTS

OMAHA-  OPPD announces the locations of two natural gas peaking plants will be built in the Omaha area. These plants are backup for the solar facilities and will only be used when needed. This is part of OPPD's plan to be carbon neutral by 2050. One plant will be in Papillion on 168th Street and Fairview Road and the other will be in Omaha at 120th street and Military Road. 

No location has been disclosed for the solar farm planned with the Power with Purpose protect. The project is one of the largest energy investments in the Midwest. 

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OPS LEADERS WANT STATE TO RUN PENSION SYSTEM; TRUSTEES, RETIREES GROUP OPPOSED

OMAHA- Omaha Public School's Superintendent Cheryl Logan has decided to stop running a pension system. A proposal that would transfer administration of the OPS' pension fund to the state has been backed by the board as well as Logan. This would not relieve the system's $848 million shortfall that remains a financial obligation of OPS and taxpayers. 

Nebraska officials already took over management of investments of the Omaha School Employees Retirement System. Logan believes having the state take over the pension is the next logical step. The opposition to this appeal comes from the organization representing retired teachers in the district as well as the pension's current board of trustees which would ultimately be dissolved. Opponents wonder if the change would actually create any savings.  The OPS board voted 7-0 to endorse the proposal, but the OSERS trustees voted 4-3 to oppose it. 

Senator Kolterman has been working with OPS to improve this situation. He sought a study to find whether there would be economies of scale to have the retirement system to take over administration of OPS pensions. The study revealed there would be savings of around $250,000 a year to have NPERS take over for OSERS. Logan believes the transition costs would be worth the savings down the road. 

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FORMER STATE SENATOR VRTISKA LEAVES A LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE

LINCOLN- Floyd Vrtiska passed away Tuesday at age 92. He served as a state senator for District 1 for 12 years and as a Pawnee County commissioner. He was the mayor of his hometown of Table Rock. Vrtiska worked to improve Peru State College by creating a grant program for economic and community development in rural Nebraska and helped get the Tecumseh State Correction Institution running. He was also a longtime chief of Table Rock's fire department and was a lifetime farmer. 

His daughter, Terri, said he loved his legislative district and attended every event in Table Rock whether it was a dinner or a funeral. He was always volunteering to help anyone.  The Nebraska State Historical Society appointed him to their board in 2005 and was given a distinguished service award by Peru State in 2018. 

Floyd Vrtiska was born during the Great Depression and grew up as a farmer in Southeast Nebraska. He had three children and five grandchildren. 

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SUPREME COURT REVERSES LINCOLN JUDGE'S DECISION ON HORSE RACE FUNDS LAWSUITS

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Supreme Court handed down a decision reversing a Lincoln judge's ruling that the state's Racing Commission exceeded its authority in 2018 by ordering tracks in Lincoln and Omaha to turn over funds they collect to the Nebraska Thoroughbred Breeders Association. 

Justice Jeffrey Funke said the district court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case because there was not a notice given within 30 days of the lawsuit. 

A state statute requires licensed horse tracks to deduct a certain amount from wagers to promote horse breeding then distribute the funds as breeder and stallion awards at races. Nebraska's law is flawed as it does not spell out who should manage the funds. The dispute arose in 2017 when HBPA suspended distribution of funds because Fonner Park did not contribute its share. In the vote, the Racing Commission concluded that the breeders association was the entity that should hold the funds because it matches the goal of collecting the breeding funds. This decision was revered in 2018 because there was no authority to require another entity to be custodian of the funds. 

Justice Jonathan Papik offered a concurring a opinion that the court lacked jurisdiction. 

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FISCHER INDICATES SHE SUPPORTS QUICKLY FILLING GINSBURG'S SUPREME COURT SEAT

WASHINGTON- Sen. Deb Fischer supports President Trump quickly filling the vacant Supreme Court seat. In 2016, Fischer supported the blocking of President Obama's nominee because it was an election year. President Trump plans to announce his nominee by Saturday before Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's burial at Arlington National Cemetery next week. Senate Republicans plan to move quickly to get the nominee confirmed before the Nov. 3 election. 

“Since 1796 during election years of unified government between the Senate and the president, there have been 17 successful Supreme Court confirmations,” Fischer said in a statement. “Accordingly, voting on President Trump’s nominee is what the people who elected him in 2016, along with an enhanced Senate majority in both 2016 and 2018, expect us to do. It is also what Democrat leaders have said they would do if they were in our position.”

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair issued a statement calling Sen. Ben Sasse and Fischer President Trump's 'puppets'. Fischer said, "For politicians to say one thing at one time and change it another-- not going to work."

During the 2016 debate, Fischer wrote to a constituent outlining why she supported blocking the Garland nomination. “It has not been the practice of the Senate to fill a Supreme Court vacancy that arises during an election year.

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SEN. SASSE BLASTS CRITICISM OF JUDGE THOUGHT TO BE SCOTUS FRONT-RUNNER

WASHINGTON- Judge Amy Coney Barrett is at the top of President Trump's list for nominees for the Supreme Court of the United States following the death of the Hon. Ruth Bader-Ginsburg. The rumored sport on the short list does not come without speculation and a great deal of criticism for Judge Barrett, who  has garnered criticism for her involvement in a Catholic group called People of Praise.

“These ugly smears against Judge Barrett are a combination of anti-Catholic bigotry and QAnon-level stupidity," said Sen. Sasse in a statement on Tuesday. "People of Praise is basically a Bible study — and just like billions of Christians around the world, Judge Barrett reads the Bible, prays, and tries to serve her community. Senators should condemn this wacky McCarthyism.”

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HHS MOVES YOUTH TREATMENT PROGRAM FROM HASTINGS; LAWMAKER SAYS THAT VIOLATES 'INTENT OF THE LAW'

LINCOLN- State officials are proceeding with plans to move the Hastings Juvenile Chemical Dependency Program out of Hastings. The program will move to a state facility in Lincoln and will continue to treat male juvenile offenders for substance use disorder. This move is the first step in a multi-pronged plan to improve state juvenile offender programs. 

State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings says the decision ignores the Legislature's concerns. He is very concerned about the near 100 workers the Hastings facility employs. The employees have the option to move to the Lincoln facility or move into other jobs within the department.

There are eight teenagers in the program and they will be housed in northeast Lincoln on the Whitehall campus.  The plan calls for putting the state's female juvenile offenders in Hastings once the boys moved out. New buildings have been constructed for the program, but have not yet been put to use. They would be moving from the YRTCs in Kearney so that the Kearney campus will return to being an all-male center. the YRTC in Geneva will be shutdown. 

The new YRTC Special Oversight Committee, Chaired by Senator John Arch of Papillion expects that lawmakers will talk with DHHS about the plans for the Hastings program.  

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STATE REVIEW CITES HIGH CASELOADS, TURNOVER FOR OMAHA-AREA CHILD WELFARE MANAGER

LINCOLN- Omaha-area child welfare cases continue to burden case managers with the private contractor that oversees these cases. A state review found that this burden has caused St. Francis Ministries to fall short on key performance measures. State child welfare officials are now requiring the nonprofit to submit an action plan on how they will meet state standards within 90 days. 

The agency is working to address the areas of concern but has also met many of the measures for child well-being according to Jodie Austin, regional Vice President for St. Francis. The organizations holds an almost $200 million, five-year contract with the state to manage cases of child abuse in Douglas and Sarpy counties. 

Caseloads remain higher than what is allowed by state law with the majority of caseworkers having loads above the legal limit. Worker turnover was at 42% in May. The agency has not met the goal of placing 58.5% of children with relatives. St. Francis did successfully establish triage foster homes to take children on short notice for overnight stays. 

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SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE DESCRIBED AS 'GINSBURG OF THE NEBRASKA LEGAL COMMUNITY' DIES UNEXPECTEDLY

LINCOLN- longtime federal court judge, described as a pioneer and advocate of women's rights and the "Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the Nebraska legal community," died unexpectedly and peacefully at her home overnight, Nebraska's chief district judge said. 

"The entire federal court family is devastated by the sudden and unexpected loss of Senior Judge Laurie Smith Camp," Judge John M. Gerrard said Thursday.

In 2001, she was appointed to the District Court by then-President George W. Bush and confirmed by a unanimous vote of the Senate. She was the first woman appointed as a U.S. district judge in Nebraska. Smith Camp transitioned to senior status in December 2018, but continued to carry an active caseload.

"Her legacy is profound, and her historical mark on Nebraska's federal court is permanent," Gerrard said.

Smith Camp was 66.

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'LEGAL MARIJUANA NOW' PARTY TURNS IN SIGNATURES FOR OFFICIAL RECOGNITION IN NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- Mark Elworth Jr. has been working on forming a party in Nebraska to support marijuana legalization for a long time — six years, to be exact. Now, he thinks he's gathered enough signatures to make the Legal Marijuana Now Party official. This week Elworth turned in 15,000 signatures, more than the needed 6,800, that he and other volunteers collected over a number of years. Since the party can't have ballot access this year, his focus in turning in the signatures now is to keep young people from leaving the state, he said. He sees all over social media, he said, that they are disgusted with Nebraska politics and are talking about leaving the state because of those politics. 

When asked if the Legal Marijuana Now party is about just one issue, Elworth said: "We're marijuana smokers. You can imagine what we're about. We're really about the lifestyle. Not just marijuana. We're a whole culture that is not represented, really, by anybody." 

The party started in Minnesota more than 30 years ago to oppose drug prohibition as an offshoot of the Grassroots Party. 

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DON WALTON: JUDGESHIP TESTS WHETHER THERE IS HONOR IN D.C.

WASHINGTON- Should the Senate confirm a new U.S. Supreme Court justice to succeed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this late in the presidential election year? President Barack Obama was denied a nomination of a Supreme Court justice following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia nine months before the election. Sen. Mitch McConnel did not allow a hearing, let alone a vote four years ago. Now, he is steamrolling ahead to try to get a nomination for President Trump. 

Walton says this would have been a moment best suited for John McCain. Both sides are looking out for their very partisan political interests, especially this far into an election year. 

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