GOV. RICKETTS, FIRST LADY TO QUARANTINE AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO COVID-19 AT DINNER

LINCOLN- Following a dinner on Sunday evening with three others on Sunday evening in which one person later tested positive for COVID-19, Governor Ricketts and First Lady Susanne Shore will quarantine. 

Ricketts has scheduled press conferences at 2PM on both Tuesday and Thursday this week which will transition to virtual events. Both press conferences can be viewed online by clicking HERE

Taylor Gage, the governor’s director of strategic communications stated that neither the governor nor First Lady are showing any symptoms, and are planning to get tested. The governor was also scheduled to host senators-elect during their orientation at a breakfast on Monday morning, though no imfornation was available at this time regarding if those individuals were in close contact wits the governor, or if they will need to quarantine. The legislature is planning to host its bi-annual retreat for sentors at Dismal River Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. Some members have expressed concern over attending the event due to the number of cases in the state, while other members have stated they refuse to attend due to their opposition to mask requirements. 

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UNMC EXPERT FEARS DRAMATIC INCREASE IN COVID DEATHS; NEBRASKA HOSPITALS WORKING TO FREE UP BEDS FOR COVID PATIENTS

OMAHA- Dr. James Lawler, a UNMC pandemic expect is forecasting dark months ahead without more stringent public health measures or better compliance with what is already in place. 

As he was looking at the outbreaks in New York, Belgium and Italy, he saw fatality rates at 1,000 per 1 million people. Based on that figure, Nebraska could see 1,900 deaths by the end of January. The warning came as the state set a new record of 1,605 cases on Thursday. On Friday, 528 Nebraskans were hospitalized with COVID-19, doubling the spring record of 232. While critical care teams have adapted to caring for COVID-19 patients the outcomes will worsen if hospital staff becomes overwhelmed with patients. Lawler says the number of critical care nurses to patients needs to be at a ratio of 1 to 3 at least. 

Additionally officials from the state's largest hospital systems have altered operations to deal with the skyrocketing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. CHI Health, Methodist Health and Nebraska Medicine are in the process of reducing elective surgeries to free up bed space for COVID patients. This comes after Lincoln's Bryan Health said it was cutting back on 10% of elective surgeries that require overnight stays. 

Nebraska has had the same amount of cases in the past seven days that it had in the entire month of August. At the beginning of the week, there were about 615 people hospitalized in the state. That is a 170% increase since the start of October. With the state's 637 deaths through the end of October, the mortality rate is at .93%. The flu, being the state's No. 8 cause of death, has a mortality rate of .1%. Lawler continued on by saying he is not asking for a complete lockdown, but if people in the state follow the rules that health officials are giving, the spreading will slow down. 

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HISTORY INTEREST: HOW PRESIDENT FORD'S OMAHA BIRTH HOME WAS UNKNOWINGLY DESTROYED

OMAHA- A March 1971 fire damaged an apartment house to the point of needing to be demolished, just across the street from Hanscom Park in Omaha. Just three years later, it would be known to be the birthplace of a president of the United States, Gerald Ford.

Ford's political career began in 1948 in a run to represent Michigan in the House of Representatives. He won and served in the House for 25 years. President Richard M. Nixon appointed Ford to be the House Minority Leader in 1973. Less than a year later, Ford became the 38th president of the United States. In his bid for reelection he was defeated by Jimmy Carter.

Today, thanks to the late James Paxson of Omaha, the public can visit the Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens, which opened in 1976. There, you can see displays of Ford biographical notes and memorabilia, as well as the Betty Ford Rose Garden, which was dedicated when the Fords visited Omaha on July 12, 1980.

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EXPANDED E15 SALES HAVE HELPED, BUT ETHANOL BACKERS SAY ROADBLOCKS STILL REMAIN

WASHINGTON- Corn growers and ethanol producers praised President Trump for lifting a restriction on the sale of E15 during the summer months. They say this shows he is keeping his promise to fight for American farmers according Iowans at an event at Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy. 

Roger Berry, administrator on the Nebraska Ethanol Board says drivers are finally realizing the value of the 15% ethanol blend. Expanded E15 sales provided a cushion when nearly half of Nebraska's ethanol plants decreased production by 45% statewide. 

Backers of ethanol say the Trump Administration hasn't fully won support because there are still roadblocks in place. Geoff Cooper, CEO of Renewable Fuels Association says there are environmental protections that prevent retailers from storing the 15% ethanol blend underground without ensuring the tanks are compatible with the new fuel source. The process to test compatibility is not something many are willing to do. 

'"Subject only to State approval, our important Ethanol Industry will be allowed to use the 10% Pumps for the 15% Blend. Thank you!" Trump tweeted Sept. 12 at several Midwest lawmakers, including Sen. Deb Fischer and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.'

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INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO ALLEGED MISMANAGEMENT OF OMAHA-AREA CHILD WELFARE CONTRACTOR

LINCOLN- The organization that oversees the child abuse and neglect cases in Omaha is a Kansas-based contractor. St. Francis Ministries launched an investigation after a whistleblower came forward with allegations of mismanagement. The board authorized the investigation which is being completed by an independent consultant. St. Francis Ministries officials say there have been no allegations of failures involving any children or families, but the investigation stems from a whistleblower complaint. 

The former president and CEO, Rev. Robert Smith is no longer with the organization and an interim CEO, Bill Clark has taken over. The organization declined to comment on the switch. 

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says they will cooperate with the investigation and help in any way. St. Francis holds a close to $200 million contract with the state to manage the care of children in Douglas and Sarpy County systems. They also provide limited child welfare services other parts of the state. 

Details on the complaint have yet to be detailed.

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SARPY COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSIONER AND STAFF TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19; FORMER OMAHA MAYOR HAL DAUB, POSTIVE, SAYS HE’S ‘DRAINED..I’M EXHAUSTED’

OMAHA- After several staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, the Sarpy County Election Commissioner's Office has closed to the public in and effort to stop the spread. The Commissioner herself, Michelle Andahl, was among those who tested positive.

“I’d like to offer a very big thank you to everyone in Sarpy County who worked together to make this election a success, from the poll workers and Election Commission employees to the volunteers and every Sarpy County voter,” Andahl said in a press release.

The county counted nearly all of the ballots cast by late on election night, however over 1,000 provisional ballots are still being processed by the county, with expect updates to election totals coming sometime Friday. 

On Tuesday following the casting of his ballot in the general election, former Mayor Hal Daub said he was feeling ‘lousy’ and stopped on his way home to be tested, which ultimately came back positive for COVID-19. He says he has a slight cough, no taste, and has been sapped of his strength. 

Nebraska’s numbers have been rising with a sixth straight record week of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state.

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HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ADJOURNS WITHOUT DECIDING WHETHER TO ISSUE PERMIT FOR KEYSTONE XL

OMAHA- The Holt County Board of Adjustment adjourned without issuing a construction permit for the Keystone XL pipeline in the county. The planning board along with the county board both declined to issue the permit until the developer satisfied two conditions. 

The first condition being a completion of legal proceedings for landowners who refused to sign right of way agreements. The second being to discern the location of the drainage tiles in the pipeline's path.  The developer, TC Energy, disclosed that the legal proceedings were completed but landowners are still refusing to disclose the location of the drainage tiles on their land. Opponents to the project would like to see the board reject the permit entirely. 

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HO-CHUNK IS PREPARED TO SPEND $300 MILLION TO BUILD CASINOS IN SOUTH SIOUX, OMAHA, LINCOLN

SOUTH Sioux City- Ho-Chunk Inc. is prepared to spend $300 million to expand tracks to include casinos in South Sioux City, Omaha and Lincoln after 65% of Nebraska voters approved Las-Vegas style gambling on Election Day. 

Proponents of the initiative say almost $500 million in revenue per year is going to Iowa and other neighboring states. Opponents believe the approved measures will ultimately result in bankruptcies and social problems will be heightened through gambling addiction. 

Ho-Chunk and Nebraska Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association worked together to collect the signatures to get the measures on the ballot. These two organizations will manage the new casinos at the existing race tracks. Construction is expected to begin in the spring with the Lincoln and Omaha tracks being able to offer casino gambling about six months later. Lance Morgan, CEO of Ho-Chunk says it will be a huge boom for the industry and rural Nebraska. 

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HOW NEBRASKA’S 2ND DISTRICT VOTE COULD END UP MATTERING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE

WASHINGTON- If Joe Biden ends up in the White House, there’s at least a chance it will be thanks to that lone Electoral College vote the former vice president secured by finishing first in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.

Both campaigns paid attention to the district. Trump paid a late visit to Omaha for a rally while Biden invested in resources in the area. Wednesday morning, enough battleground states had been called to eliminate most of the scenarios where Omaha-area voters represent the linchpin to the whole election. But it remained at least a theoretical possibility.

For example, if Biden would finish up 270-268 if he won Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin, while Trump took Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina and Maine’s 2nd District. A 270-268 Biden victory also would be the result if he won Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Maine’s 2nd District, while Trump won Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia and North Carolina.

The final tally would be the same if Biden won Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina and Maine’s 2nd District and Trump won Wisconsin, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

The district went blue for the first time in decades when Barack Obama successfully campaigned in the area during his 2008 election.

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CRYSTAL RHOADES RETAINS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION POST

OMAHA- Incumbent Crystal Rhoades will again serve eastern Douglas County on the Nebraska Public Service Commission after successfully defeating a republican challenger during Tuesdays general election. She will be sworn into her second 4-year term on the commission in January. Rhoades is the former chair of the Douglas County Democrats. 

The commission will remain unchanged in 2021, being comprised of: Rhoades, Dan Watermeier, Mary Ridder, Rod Johnson and Tim Schram.

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ELIOT BOSTAR BESTS CHALLENGER IN EXPENSIVE DISTRICT 29 RACE, OTHER RACES SEE SAFE INCUMBENTS

LINCOLN- The vacated Legislative seat of Lincoln's District 29 has been a slugfest over the past few months. Eliot Bostar and Jacob Campbell spent over $600,000 this election cycle according to the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. This is the most expensive legislative race in recent history. Although the legislature is considered nonpartisan, the seat was an important one to hold for democrats as it formerly was known to be safely conservative. 

In other races, Sen. Mike Hilgers did not have an easy election night with challenger Brodey Weber hanging on for the majority of the night. Hilgers said he knew the in-person votes would swing in his favor because of the partisan makeup of the early vote. Hilgers also believes the high spending in this election cycle will only continue to increase in future races. It is expected that Weber may seek the seat in 4 years when Hilgers faces term limits.

Two incumbent's were unseated, Sen. Andrew LaGrone and Sen. Dan Quick were beaten by their challengers. In District 27, Sen. Anna Wishart easily rolled past Brenda Bickford. Sen. Suzanne Geist also led comfortably throughout the evening. In District 11 Ernie Chambers endorsed candidate Terrell McKinney, who had a substantial lead Tuesday night. 

The legislature will also see three more former members return to the body as Mike Flood, Ray Aguilar, and Rich Pahls all won their respective races. Floor, the former speaker was unopposed, while Aguilar defeated Senator Dan Quick, and Pahls won over teacher Tim Royers.

Read the full articles HERE and HERE

MEASURE CAPPING PAYDAY LENDING RATES IN NEBRASKA SWEEPS TO VICTORY

LINCOLN- The outcome of Initiative 428 passed with an overwhelming amount of support. This measure will cap payday loans at 36%. The coalition of groups called Nebraskans for Responsible Lending collected over 120,000 petition signature to get the measure on the ballot. 

These loans are a type of short-term, high-cost borrowing that allows a person to get immediate cash. Fees charged by payday lenders in Nebraska equaled 387% in annual interest. Advocates say that current rates prey on poor people. Opponents of the initiative challenged the measure multiple times, but all attempts failed. 

Nebraskan voters also voted to approve Amendment 1 of the state constitution which previously allowed slavery or involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. Tax-increment financing will now enhance tax benefits for developments in 'extremely blighted' areas. This will allow for municipalities to offer up to 20 years in tax-increment financing. 

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NEBRASKA VOTERS SADDLE UP A WINNER IN ALLOWING CASINO GAMES AT RACETRACKS

LINCOLN- Voters approved three ballot initiatives that will allow casino gambling at six licensed horse racetracks. These measures were aimed at devoting some proceeds to property tax relief. The campaign to get the initiatives on the ballot generated over $7 million in spending. 

Opponents were led by prominent Nebraskans, Tom Osborne and Gov. Ricketts. The opposition believes gambling is a "greed-driven business" that would not actually provide many funds for property tax relief. They also claimed that Indian casinos" would spring up everywhere, which advocates for gambling say has racist overtones. Those in favor also say gambling will continue whether it is allowed in Nebraska or not, so it is important to keep the money here rather than neighboring states. 

The largest margin of victory came from the initiative that will direct $45.5 million a year from casino revenue to state property tax credits for Nebraskans. 

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NATE SILVER: "WHAT TRUMP NEEDS TO WIN: A POLLING ERROR MUCH BIGGER THAN 2016’S"

NEW YORK - If the polls are right, Joe Biden could post the most decisive victory in a presidential election in three and a half decades, surpassing Bill Clinton’s win in 1996. That’s a big “if.”

The indelible memory of 2016’s polling misfire, when Donald J. Trump trailed in virtually every pre-election poll and yet swept the battleground states and won the Electoral College, has hovered over the 2020 campaign. Mr. Biden’s unusually persistent lead has done little to dispel questions about whether the polls could be off again.

President Trump needs a very large polling error to have a hope of winning the White House. Joe Biden would win even if polls were off by as much as they were in 2016. Of course, it’s possible the polls could be off by even more than they were four years ago. But to win, that’s exactly what Mr. Trump needs. He would need polls to be even worse than they were in the Northern battleground states four years ago. Crucially, he would also need polls to be off to a far greater extent at the national level as well as in the Sun Belt — and those polls have been relatively accurate in recent contests.

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EASTMAN CAMNPAIGN WARNED AGAINST PICKING UP BALLOTS FOR VOTERS; GROUP SAID IT DID NOTHING WRONG

LINCOLN — Secretary of State Bob Evnen warned the Kara Eastman campaign Friday against having campaign workers pick up early ballots from the election office for voters.

In a letter to the campaign manager, Evnen said he had been “given to believe” that two field organizers for Eastman’s congressional campaign told other campaign workers that they could offer to serve as voters’ agents and get ballots for them. Evnen, a Republican, advised that such a practice is illegal under Nebraska law and called for the campaign to “immediately cease and desist”, and also stated he had sent the matter to the Attorney Generals office for possible investigation.

Dave Pantos, the Eastman campaign manager, said the Secretary of State’s Office never contacted the campaign to check on the accuracy of the report before releasing the letter to the public.

“Don Bacon and the Nebraska Republican Party are working together to create a fake controversy about our campaign because that is what they do,”

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HOW THE FEDS, THE STATES AND COMPANIES LIKE OMAHA-BASED ES&S ARE PROTECTING THE ELECTION

OMAHA- Cyberhackers have launched attacks by the thousands towards the systems that undergird the nation’s election process in an effort to seek out any vulnerability to exploit, says Chris Wlaschin, Vice President of Systems Security for Omaha based Election Systems & Software. 

“The (attacks) are not slowing down or shrinking, but are increasing in their number and their sophistication,” he said

Nonetheless, thanks to new and unprecedented levels of cooperation between the nation’s intelligence community, public election officials and private-sector vendors like ES&S, Wlaschin has confidence that the nation will see a safe and secure election this week. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, the state’s top election official, likewise believes Nebraskans can have faith that the votes they cast will count.He bases his confidence in new protocols and technology that have been put in place in the last four years, as well as something much less high-tech: paper.

Paper ballots across Nebraska will be counted through ES&S machines, which are not connected to the internet, and have multiple records of ballot counts.

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RICKETTS FAMILY SPENDS NEARLY $1 MILLION THIS ELECTION CYCLE

LINCOLN- Governor Pete Ricketts and his family members have spent nearly $1 million dollars on this election cycle in an effort to elect more conservative lawmakers, and to defeat the trio of gambling initiatives that will appear before voters on Tuesday.

The Republican governor had donated more than $138,000 directly to state legislative candidates through Oct. 19, according to state campaign reports, and has contributed $240,000 over the past two years to the Nebraska Republican Party, which has spent heavily in legislative races. Ricketts recently provided $350,000 toward defeating a trio of measures on the November ballot to allow casino games at state thoroughbred racetracks. The governor’s parents also donated $200,000 this year to the Nebraska GOP.

Gov. Ricketts and his family have been major contributors to political campaigns and causes for many years, nationally and in Nebraska. Joe and Marlene Ricketts contributed $1,706,882 to state campaigns between June 10, 1999, and May 2, 2018, according to an Omaha World-Herald database, and the governor spent $1,824,520 between Oct. 31, 2001, and May 2, 2018.

A Ricketts political spokeswoman said the governor is exercising his right to free speech and to support conservatives.

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OMAHA POLICE AND NEBRASKA VOTING OFFICIALS DON'T EXPECT INTIMIDATION AT THE POLLS

OMAHA- Despite nationwide concern about the potential for voter intimidation at the polls Tuesday, Nebraska’s secretary of state, Omaha police and a voting rights expert don’t anticipate problems locally that cross the line into criminal activity. Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said Wednesday that officers are prepared for whatever might happen on Election Day but don’t expect issues.

“We’ve been a part of numerous, numerous intelligence conference calls associated with the election,” he said. “I can tell you we don’t have any actionable intelligence right now that causes me concern for the election night. But in the interest of preparedness, we’ll be prepared.”

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, in a statement, advised voters to leave firearms at home “to avoid problems of perceived intimidation.” Cindi Allen, the assistant secretary of state and spokeswoman, said county clerks, election commissioners and poll workers are equipped to handle any disturbances, but they don’t expect any, because no issues have arisen with early in-person voting or the May primary.

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REPUBLICANS EYE FILIBUSTER-PROOF LEGISLATIVE MAJORITY

LINCOLN- State GOP eyes are on the magic number 33 leading up to the 2020 legislative races across Nebraska. That's the figure that would allow a Republican majority in the nonpartisan Legislature to break the back of the filibuster and take command of the legislative agenda for the next two years.

The results of legislative races in Nebraska do not historically adhere to party affiliation, reflecting the nonpartisan feature of this state's unique one-house legislature and the independent nature of the voter, especially in local races. While 18 Democrats sit in the Legislature today, Democrats hold a voter registration edge in only 10 legislative districts, although two others are almost even

Insiders who spoke off the record point to three districts as major turning points on Tuesday: District 29 which is represented by outgoing Senator Kate Bolz. Jacob Campbell and Eliot Bostar vie for the seat in one of the most expensive races in history; District 31 held by outgoing Senator Rick Kolowski, who will be replaced either by former Senator Rich Pahls, or Tim Royers; District 45 held by Senator Sue Crawford where former Mayor Rita Sanders and Susan Hester push to replace her; and District 49 where Senator Andrew La Grone faces a tough reelection campaign after coming in second in the primary to newcomer Jen Day.

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CORRECTIONS DIRECTOR FRAKES SAYS MORE NEBRASKA INMATES ARE COMPLETING REHABILITATION PROGRAMS

LINCOLN- The state is progressing in the right direction by expanding rehabilitation programs that prepare inmates to return to society says Scott Frakes, the Nebraska Corrections Director during a hearing of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. These improvements are still happening amidst the virus infecting close to 400 people in the Nebraska corrections systems. 

Nebraska has struggled with prison overcrowding for over a decade, with the department holding 5,333 inmates when the capacity is only 3,535. This caused a federal civil rights lawsuit in which the state was ordered to declare a prison overcrowding emergency. The main issue with the overcrowding is that inmates have not been able to participate in programs that make them eligible for parole, which would drastically reduce the amount of people in the facilities. Frakes says rehabilitation programs had 275 graduates in the previous fiscal year in comparison to 38 in 2015. However, the number of people leaving prison with a GED has decreased. 

Sen. Pansing Brooks criticized corrections for not doing enough, and continued to say that she would like to see more improvement with the amount of people completing programs in the hearing last Thursday. 

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