EDITORIAL: MEDICAID EXPANSION HAS ARRIVED; NEBRASKA MUST NOW MAKE IT A SUCCESS

OMAHA WORLD HERALD EDITORIAL: A daily concern has long hung over the heads of tens of thousands of low-income Nebraskans. These men and women have incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but they still lack adequate health insurance coverage.

Prenatal treatment, dental work, prescription needs, a heart attack — the prospect of these and many other major health needs and their expenses has weighed greatly on these Nebraskans. Now, at last, the state is offering help. Nebraska this month joined the 38 states plus the District of Columbia that have adopted expanded Medicaid coverage. Nebraskans approved this step, which this newspaper editorially supported, in a 2018 state ballot initiative under procedures from the Nebraska Constitution.

The arrival of this expanded coverage also can help in the wake of the COVID crisis, which has pushed many Nebraskans out of their jobs. More than half of those Nebraskans will be eligible for Medicaid expansion, according to the advocacy group Nebraska Appleseed. This expansion of coverage is by no means an urban-only endeavor. A considerable portion of Nebraska’s rural residents also will be eligible. The benefits from this historic step will be statewide.

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REGENTS HEAR RENEWED PLEA TO DIVEST NU FUNDS FROM FOSSIL FUELS

LINCOLN- Late last year, students in Divest NU first raised the issue of the University of Nebraska system pulling almost $92 million in investments from fossil fuel companies to the Board of Regents. 

Wildfires have left hundreds of thousands of acres in the West completely devastated, almost all of Nebraska is in a drought and tropical storms are having a record-breaking year, leading Divest NU students to increasingly concerned about climate change and environment. The group is circulating a petition seeking to urge the university to fully divest from the fossil fuel industry. 

"The demands listed in the petition include: Immediately freeze any new investment in fossil fuel companies, commit to full divestment from the fossil fuel industry by 2025, make its actions taken to divest from fossil fuels more transparent."

Over 100 students have already signed the petition. Student leaders from the Big Ten Conference, which represents over 500,000 students, passed a resolution calling on the member schools to begin divesting from fossil fuels. No action has been taken by the university, but leaders from the university foundation and student leaders have been meeting regularly. 

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GOV. RICKETTS ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF RURAL BROADBAND GRANTS

LINCOLN- Governor Pete Ricketts announced more than $29.5 million in funding will go to the Remote Access Rural Broadband Grant program and will be administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The grant was made possible by federal CARES Act funding, including $1.8 million allocated to Nebraska. 

This is one of four grants the DED created to support the state's economic recovery as the pandemic continues. More than 17,600 households in rural Nebraska will gain the ability to subscribe to broadband services. 

Find the full list of the Remote Access Rural Broadband Recipients by clicking HERE

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FEDERAL LAWSUIT BY ACLU ALLEGES OMAHA POLICE USED EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST PROTESTERS

OMAHA- A suit brought by the ACLU of Nebraska on behalf of protesters in Omaha challenges law enforcement officials’ use of two city ordinances as reasons to conduct the mass arrests, actions the ACLU says stifled protesters’ free speech and were retaliatory toward their cause. The suit names the City of Omaha and Omaha police officials.

“... (T)he excessive force and tactics utilized by Omaha police officers has accomplished its intended goal of restricting, frustrating and deterring Black Lives Matter protesters from exercising their rights under the First Amendment to peacefully assemble, petition for redress of grievances and exercise freedom of speech,” the lawsuit alleges.

The suit seeks an injunction from the U.S. District Court of Nebraska to stop police from using chemical agents on peaceful protesters except when there is an imminent threat of violence or against an uncompliant person under arrest with ample, clear warning. The ACLU is also asking the court to prohibit law enforcement from using two city ordinances — against obstructing public roadways and refusing a lawful request to move — to declare a march or protest unlawful.

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RESOLUTION BLASTING DON KLEINE EXPOSES RIFT WITHIN THE NEBRASKA DEMOCRATIC PARTY; KLEINE REGISTERS AS A REPUBLICAN, GOP WELCOMES HIM

OMAHA- Critics of the recent resolution passed by the Nebraska Democratic Party say it has caused an unnecessary distraction from local races — especially competitive House races in the 1st and 2nd Districts — and may damage financial contributions to Democrats and the party as a whole. But most concerningly, to some members of the party, is that the resolution “basically slandered” one of its own — Kleine was a longtime Democrat who has held his elected office since 2007.  On Wednesday of this week, Kleine re-registered as a Republican and was welcomed by party leadership. 

“It’s causing serious damage to the party,” said Paul Landow, a longtime Democratic activist and former executive director of the state party who now is a political science professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. “It will diminish, it will erode long-term support for the party structure and makes it much more difficult to have any chance at all in electing Democrats in Nebraska.” 

The Nebraska Republican Party already is using the issue to sow discord among Democrats and try to sway voters to GOP candidates. In a recent email, Republicans challenged Kara Eastman, the Democratic congressional candidate in the 2nd District, to say whether she supports the resolution. Angie Philips, who ran in this year’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and lost to Chris Janicek, fully supports Fox’s resolution. For the Democratic Party to ensure that all feel included, she said, strong stances on issues like race are needed. 

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RICKETTS, OSBORNE LAUNCH CAMPAIGN AGAINST NEBRASKA GAMBLING INITIATIVES

LINCOLN- Former congressman and Husker football coach Tom Osborne, Gov. Pete Ricketts, former Gov. Kay Orr and some state lawmakers are launching an opposition campaign to the recent successful ballot initiative that will be in front of voters this November to legalize casino gambling at horse tracks. Most are veterans of past battles against expanded gambling proposals. They played a key role in defeating proposals in 2004 and 2006. This time, their effort has been endorsed by former Govs. Bob Kerrey and Dave Heineman. Former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub also showed up at the Monday event. 

As before, Osborne said, the opponents are outmatched financially. They are turning to networks of religious, business and other groups to get out their message.

“The only thing we can rely on is the intelligence and perspective of individual Nebraskans to educate themselves,” Osborne said.

He said the promised property tax relief would amount to a relatively small amount of money, which would be outweighed by increased social costs .Based on current property tax valuations, casino taxes would boost tax credits for residential and commercial property by $16.91 on every $100,000 worth of valuation. For agricultural land, the taxes would boost credits by $20.29 on every $100,000 of valuation

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PUBLIC SPEAKS OUT AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC HEARING ON KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE

OMAHA- About 75 people spoke against the pipeline during the four-hour hearing, while two spoke in its favor. It was the third and final hearing of the week on whether the proposal complies with the Clean Water Act. The two other hearings drew comments from a total of 112 people, according to the Corps.

Speakers invoked property rights and the potential for economic and environmental losses from spills that would pollute water and land. Several cast their eyes on the accelerating threat of climate change, saying it’s not in the nation’s interest to contribute to increased fossil fuel use. Bold Nebraska, a state group organized in opposition to the pipeline, will submit comments in opposition from 7,000 people, said Mark Hefflinger, a spokesman. 

Marty Jorgenson, one of two people to speak in favor of the Keystone XL project, said that pipelines are the safest way to transport oil and that oil will remain necessary as the economy transitions to renewables. Gary Salsman with TC Energy said prior to public comment that studies have shown that the pipeline can be built “safely and responsibly.” Construction will employ more than 10,000 union workers and inject $1.9 billion in wages into the economy, he said, with state and local governments struggling in the face of COVID-19 taking in millions in additional taxes.

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NEBRASKA OFFICIALS CELEBRATE PROGRESS ON LINCOLN SOUTH BELTWAY

LINCOLN- Nebraska officials are celebrating the ongoing construction of Lincoln’s South Beltway, a project that, when completed, is expected to improve interstate travel through Nebraska and reduce conflicts between local and through traffic. At a celebration event Thursday, Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird joined Governor Pete Ricketts, Senator Deb Fischer, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry and other officials in applauding the decades of work that brought the project to where it is now.

“This project spans the terms of ten Nebraska governors, eleven Lincoln mayors and thirteen DOT directors, so we know we walk on the shoulders of giants here,” said Baird. 

The $352 million project is one of the largest and most complex the Nebraska Department of Transportation has undertaken. COO of Hawkins Construction, Chris Hawkins, recalled the many late nights it took to get the project moving.  The Beltway, after being in various stages of development for decades, is slated to be complete by 2023.

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STATE SEN. LINEHAN SAYS NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS NEED TO PURSUE MAJOR TAX OVERHAUL

LINCOLN — A leader in crafting this year’s property tax relief package said Thursday that the measure falls far short of what Nebraska needs.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the Revenue Committee chairwoman, gave lawmakers an “A” for passing the tax package in the waning days of the session. It includes a new state income tax credit to offset a portion of property taxes paid for schools, as well as new business tax incentives. But Linehan said she doesn’t think the package is “anywhere near enough” and said lawmakers need to pursue a major revamp of the state’s tax structure.

“We need a whole tax overhaul,” she said. “Our structure is old, it’s complicated, it’s burdensome. I think we need to act, and we need to act in a big way.” 

Linehan commented during a virtual legislative summit put on by the Platte Institute, an Omaha-based think tank. She was joined by Jim Smith, executive director of Blueprint Nebraska, an effort led by business and community leaders to shape the state’s future.  Blueprint Nebraska plans to launch a discussion next week about modernizing Nebraska’s state and local taxes. He said the effort requires the creation of an ideal tax plan first, then developing a strategy to reach that goal.

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NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF COVID-19 PATIENTS IN STUDY HAD ALTERED MENTAL STATE

CHICAGO- Nearly a third of hospitalized Covid-19 patients experienced some type of altered mental function — ranging from confusion to delirium to unresponsiveness — in the largest study to date of neurological symptoms among coronavirus patients in an American hospital system.

And patients with altered mental function had significantly worse medical outcomes, according to the study, published on Monday in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. The study looked at the records of the first 509 coronavirus patients hospitalized, from March 5 to April 6, at 10 hospitals in the Northwestern Medicine health system in the Chicago area.

After they were discharged, only 32 percent of the patients with altered mental function were able to handle routine daily activities like cooking and paying bills, said Dr. Igor Koralnik, the senior author of the study and chief of neuro-infectious disease and global neurology at Northwestern Medicine. In contrast, 89 percent of patients without altered mental function were able to manage such activities without assistance. 

The researchers did not identify a cause for the encephalopathy, which can occur with other diseases, especially in older patients, and can be triggered by several different factors including inflammation and effects on blood circulation, said Dr. Koralnik, who also oversees the Neuro Covid-19 Clinic at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. There is very little evidence so far that the virus directly attacks brain cells, and most experts say neurological effects are probably triggered by inflammatory and immune system responses that often affect other organs, as well as the brain. 

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TRUMP'S COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS IS A 'CAUTIONARY TALE FOR EVERYONE,' UNMC DOCTOR SAYS

OMAHA- Nebraska doctors reemphasized the importance of following directed health measures after even the most powerful person in America announced he had been infected. 

The President's illness was described as mild in the announcement, but by Friday afternoon he was at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Dr. Mark Rupp, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at UNMC, said the president was a prominent example of not following the rules experts have been pushing since the beginning of the pandemic. Some people will now be more likely to wear masks and take better preventative measures because of the infection of White House personnel. On the other hand, if the president continues to have little to no symptoms, it could reinforce the idea that the virus is no big deal to some Americans.

Democratic Nominee Joe Biden and Vice President Mike Pence have tested negative. First Lady Melania Trump, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, Aide Hope Hicks, Former Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway and more people close to the president have tested positive for the virus.

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'WE MISSED YOU': OPS ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS RETURN TO IN-PERSON LESSONS

OMAHA- With the culmination of the first quarter of the school year, OPS students are returning to in-person classes for the first time in over 200 days. Other school districts in the metro have been open for in-person instruction since August. Younger students returned Monday while high school students will return October 19th. Students are able to opt out of in-person instruction and continue with remote learning. An OPS spokeswoman said 21% of students have chosen to continue with all remote learning. 

Schools have been preparing for this since the summer, so school officials are confident they are prepared to teach students safely. 

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COVID TESTS COSTLIER UNDER UTAH CONTRACT WITH STARTUP, AUDIT FINDS

SALT LAKE CITY-  A multimillion-dollar coronavirus-testing contract the state of Utah signed with a startup company ended up costing significantly more per test because fewer people than expected took the tests, according to an audit released Wednesday. The agreement with Nomi Health, which also has similar contracts in Iowa and Nebraska, was for a flat fee and didn’t have a way to scale back if the number of tests was lower than planned, the audit found.

The $7.6 million contract was for up to 3,000 tests per day, which would have made them cost less than other providers, according to the Utah State Auditor. But instead there were only about 540 tests processed per day at TestUtah sites, so each one ended up costing $235 — significantly higher than the $125-per-test average of other testing companies, according to the review.

The state said it was reviewing the audit. Nomi didn’t immediately comment on the findings, which were part of a wide-ranging review of state spending in its response to the pandemic. The sometimes-critical audit comes as Republican Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox weathers criticism about the state's response to the crisis while he runs for governor. The report raised concerns about whether contracts like TestUtah were steered to tech companies that are affiliated with Silicon Slopes, a nonprofit group of tech companies that Cox and Utah Gov. Gary Herbert have “relatively close” relationships with, the audit stated.

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109 NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES REPORTED IN LANCASTER COUNTY; UNMC CHANCELLOR SAYS STATE CAN 'EXPECT AN UPTICK'

LINCOLN- For the second day in a row, Lancaster County reported triple-digit coronavirus cases Thursday as hospitalizations and the community's infection rate remain high. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department confirmed 109 new COVID-19 cases for a pandemic total of 6,641, but it has not reported any new deaths.

Lincoln hospitals cared for 67 COVID-19 patients Thursday including 41 county residents, and 10 of the 67 patients needed ventilators, according to the Health Department.The rate of positive cases for the week remained over 14%, a level Scott Holmes of the Health Department called concerning last week.

Statewide, there have been 46,185 cases and 493 deaths linked to the disease as of Thursday evening, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Gold said Nebraska probably can "expect an uptick" in COVID-19 cases as the state moves into the fall season with increased time and activities indoors.

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COVID-19 TEST RESULTS DELAYED BY CYBERATTACK WILL SOON REACH NEBRASKA'S DASHBOARD

OMAHA- The coronavirus numbers displayed on Nebraska’s online data dashboard are expected to change significantly over the next few days as the state adds testing data that was delayed because of the cyberattack on Nebraska Medicine’s computer systems.

The Nebraska Medicine Clinical Lab and the Nebraska Public Health Lab process coronavirus tests and are housed on the Nebraska Medicine/University of Nebraska Medical Center campus. Many of Nebraska Medicine’s computer systems weren’t working after a Sept. 20 cyberattack. During the shutdown, results from tests run through those labs weren’t always being sent to the state’s COVID-19 data reporting system. The state’s COVID-19 dashboard displays key data about the coronavirus around the state, including hospitalizations, how many people are tested per week and how many tested positive. 

A spokeswoman for HHS said several thousand new results will be added, affecting the totals for tests by date, total tests, total positives and positives by date.

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NEBRASKA HEALTH EXPERTS TO WARN OF STRAINED HOSPITAL CAPACITY, AND EMPHASIZE SAFETY MEASURES

OMAHA- Rising case counts and dwindling hospital capacity have moved Nebraska into "a dangerous period" of the coronavirus pandemic, scientists and physicians from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine said Monday.

In a joint statement, the medical professionals said the decision by state and local leaders to relax restrictions first put into place in March to control the spread of COVID-19 has allowed more people to contract the virus. And now, as flu season approaches, UNMC and Nebraska Medicine professionals warned that hospitals could be overrun if Nebraskans don't take action to slow the spread by wearing masks, avoiding indoor gatherings or large groups, and observing hygiene recommendations.

"The thought of having a flu season and a COVID-19 pandemic on top of it at the same time makes us extremely uneasy," said Dr. Daniel Johnson, the division chief of critical care at Nebraska Medicine.

As the virus began an earlier surge this year, UNMC was at 50% capacity. Now, with case counts "rapidly rising" and a second surge on the horizon, capacity is already at 85%, according to Johnson. Statewide, 35% of hospital beds remain available, according to the COVID-19 dashboard, including 33% of ICU beds and 78% of ventilators.

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RISING TEMPERATURE PUT HEAT ON NEBRASKA'S $7 BILLION CORN INDUSTRY

LINCOLN- Corn farming supports around 23,000 Nebraska farmers and provides $7 billion to the state every year. But scientists are now saying climate change could be taking over the corn business. This threatens Nebraska's economic engine and an important food source for a very hungry world. Tom Hoegemeyer, a former UNL agronomy professor says if it is too hot too early in the day, corn production does not happen. Corn production is projected to drop by at least 20% when climate change really starts to pinch mid-century. 

Every negative climate consequence you could think of lends to the deterioration of corn production that could ensue. If Nebraska does not adapt soon, the economic hit will be severe. 1 in 4 jobs in the state are related to agriculture. According to a report by the WRI, food demand will increase by 50% by the same time that climate change will begin to really take hold of Nebraska's farms. 

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NEBRASKA'S WILDLIFE ALREADY FEELING THE HEAT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE

OMAHA- Hotter weather from climate change increases water evaporation, which turns streams into shallow ponds, causing fish and other aquatic animals to overheat or not be able to breathe. UNL professor of fish physiology recognized that issue while in undergraduate studies in California. Now, in Nebraska, she is noticing the same issue begin. 

Shifts in climate are easy to recognize in places like California, which has been suffering from drought for years now. The droughts have been accompanied by wildfires and mudslides. The impacts of climate change in Nebraska are not as easy to see. As these ecosystems begin to deteriorate so will economic opportunities for the state such as fewer hunting, fishing and tourism experiences. One of the most popular tourism spots within the state is the migration of the sandhill cranes, which will start to drastically change or stop soon. 

According to UNL's climate study, 2012 was the hottest and driest year Nebraska had experienced since 1895. Now, these temperatures will become the normal by 2041 at the earliest. In 2012 alone 6,000 deer died from diseases that only happen during droughts. This forced the deer harvest to drop by 25%-30%.  In 2016 wildlife viewing brought in $722 million to Nebraska while hunting and fishing brought in over $1 billion. 

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LINCOLN-BASED NELNET SELLS CONTROLLING STAKE IN ALLO TO PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM

LINCOLN- Nelnet on Friday said it sold a controlling stake in Allo Communications to a New York-based private equity firm.

The Lincoln-based financial company said in a news release that it sold a 48% stake in Allo to SDC Capital Partners, a firm that specializes in investing in companies that own fiber networks, data centers and related businesses, for $197 million. That puts Allo's value at around $400 million, which is about eight times what it was valued at in 2015 when Nelnet paid $46.5 million for a 92.5% stake.

The sale will give SDC a controlling stake in the company. After the close of the deal, which is expected by the end of this month, Nelnet will own 45% of Allo, and the company's managers will own 7%, according to a securities filing.

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NEW GENERATION OF ICBMs MEANS NEBRASKA WILL CONTINUE TO BE 'NUCLEAR SPONGE,' WARN NUKE SKEPTICS

OMAHA- If the world's nuclear powers ever decide to put those weapons to use, Nebraska would become the first place to soak up the first strikes. Missile silos containing 400 nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and wester Nebraska are sitting ducks for any adversary. They are essentially nuclear sponges, their only purpose is to be a target. 

The cost to modernize America's nuclear arsenal exceeds $300 billion and has support from both sides of the aisle. The Pentagon gave defense contractor Northrop Grumman $13.3 billion to start work on the "ground-based strategic deterrent" (GBSD). Between the US Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base on the east side of the state and the silos on the western side, Nebraska has an outsize stake in the nuclear enterprise. 

Some say the ICBMs are no longer useful and the United States would be safer if they did not exist. In an attack, the president would only have a few minutes to decide before they are destroyed, so the odds of an error are extremely high. The point of deterrence essentially says if you attack us, you will be completely destroyed, which invites the nightmare of a full-blown nuclear war. Others believe the exact opposite. 

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