NEW NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE SEES NO MAJOR CHANGES IN DEMOGRAPHICS

LINCOLN- Nebraskan voters did not make any dramatic changes in the makeup of state lawmakers this election cycle. Republicans now hold a strong majority (32) over Democrats (17), although the Legislature is officially nonpartisan. 

This session the lawmakers will be tasked with redistricting the Legislature's 49 districts. The Legislature previously approved a redistricting reform bill in 2016 before it was vetoed by the governor, which would it have been passed would have allowed an independent commission to draw the legislative districts. With that bill failing to become law, members appointed to the redistricting committee will has out boundary lines before their proposal eventually is voted on by the full body.

Progress in diversity of gender and ethnicity in the body however seems to be one step forward two steps back for the legislature. The 2021 session will have one less woman legislator following last session’s historicly high number of 14. Senator-Elect Jen Day, who beat incumbent Senator Andrew La Grone of Gretna said "I've always wanted to see better representation in the Nebraska Legislature for women, something that was somewhat more proportional to the population in Nebraska." 

While the proportion of women decreased, ethnic diversity increased by adding Raymond Aguilar and Rita Sanders, both people of color. They have brought the number of nonwhite lawmakers to 12%. In 2015, that rate was at just 4%. Age wise, following the departure of Senator Ernie Chambers there are no members in their 80s, and now 17 members are under 40.Professions are very diverse, with about a dozen legislators having law degrees, 14% are farmers, many small business owners and a few bankers, retired educators and health administrators.  

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OMAHA POLICE UNTION PRESIDENT HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19: ‘IT FELT LIKE I GOT HIT BY A TRUCK’

OMAHA- Tony Conner, president of the Omaha Police Officers Association, is in the hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, he said Tuesday.Conner said in an interview that he is slowly recovering and expects to be released from an Omaha hospital sometime in the next four or five days. But he said he has dealt with exhaustion, difficulty breathing, a fever, headache and chills.

"It felt like I got hit by a truck," Conner, 42, said.

Conner first experienced symptoms five days after socializing at a bar.  He said he began to feel exhausted. He received a positive test result Nov. 1 and was hospitalized last Wednesday.

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COVID-19 SURVIVORS FACE INCREASED RISK OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND DEMENTIA, STUDY SUGGESTS

WASHINGTON- A new study out this week is the latest to suggest that the effects of covid-19 can extend beyond the initial acute illness. Researchers found that about one in every five people diagnosed with covid-19 went on to be diagnosed with an episode of mental illness and/or insomnia in the three months following—a rate higher than in people who became sick but were not diagnosed with covid-19 during that same time period.

The new research, published in the Lancet Psychiatry on Monday, analyzed anonymized medical records from a database of 69.8 million patients in the U.S. Of these, over 62,000 patients were diagnosed with covid-19 between January 20 and August 1, 2020, and 44,000 had no previous history of mental illness. The researchers compared the mental health outcomes of these patients to patients diagnosed with one of six other medical conditions, including influenza or other respiratory infections, a broken bone, a skin infection, and kidney stones. These other patients were used as a sort of control, since many acute health problems are known to affect a person’s mental health, at least temporarily.

All told, across nearly every marker of mental or neurological health the researchers looked at, people with confirmed covid-19 appeared to be worse off. Read the full study HERE

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LEGISLATIVE RETREAT POSTPONED DUE TO COVID EXPOSURES

LINCOLN- Senator Mike Hilgers sent his colleagues notice today that the legislative retreat for senators, as required by statute, has been postponed due to exposures in the Capitol building. Hilgers noted that his staff will need to quarantine following exposure to a positive case, which comes on the heels of the announcement that Governor Ricketts will quarantine as well as a positive case by Senator Mike Groene. 

Hilgers noted that he will release plans as they are developed with rescheduling the event, but no details are available the time of the release of this newsletter. 

Senators had planned to gather for the yearly at Dismal River Golf Course outside Mullen this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Some members had already stated they would not be attending due to current COVID-19 conditions throughout Nebraska. 

EXPERTS SAY NO NEED TO CANCEL THANKSGIVING, BUT PLAY IT SAFE.

ATLANTA- On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its holiday guidance, noting the virus crisis is worsening and that small household gatherings are “an important contributor." The CDC said older adults and others at heightened risk of severe illness should avoid gathering with people outside their households.

A safe Thanksgiving during a pandemic is possible, but health experts know their advice is as tough to swallow as dry turkey: Stay home. Don’t travel. If you must gather, do it outdoors.

Canada, which celebrated Thanksgiving on October 12th traced clusters of cases to family gatherings over the holiday. 

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PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN ANNOUNCES 13 MEMBER VIRUS TASK FORCE AS CASES SOAR

WILMINGTON, DE- President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Monday made an urgent plea for Americans to wear masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus, declaring that “a mask is not a political statement” as he vowed to make defeating the pandemic his number one priority when he takes office in January.

In his effort to do this, Biden announced a 13-member task force which will be co-chaired by three members: Dr. Vivek Murthy, a surgeon enteral under President Obama; David Kessler, former commissioner of the FDA under Presidents H.W. Bush and Clinton; and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, a professor of public health and Yale University. 

Other members will include: Dr. Zeke Emanuel, the chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania and the brother of Rahm Emanuel, an Obama administration adviser; Dr. Luciana Borio, a vice president at In-Q-Tel; Dr. Atul Gawande, a professor of surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Dr. Celine Gounder, a clinical assistant professor at the N.Y.U. Grossman School of Medicine; Dr. Julie Morita, the executive vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Dr. Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota; Loyce Pace, the executive director and president of Global Health Council; and Dr. Robert Rodriguez and Dr. Eric Goosby, both professors at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine.

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GOVERNOR’S SPOKESPERSON ACCUSES NEBRASKA DOCTORS OF ‘TARGETING’ HIS BOSS OVER COVID-19 PLEA

LINCOLN- Following several doctors of Nebraska Medicine and UNMC tweeting to Governor Pete Ricketts, the governor‘s spokesperson lashed out saying his boss was being ‘targeted’, and posted the doctors political leanings as the reason for it. 

The doctors tweets featured a clear message: “The time to act is now”, and pointed to hospitals being overwhelmed and in need of help. The governor's spokesperson, Taylor Gage, saw the tweets and then called out three doctors, writing: "Many of the folks leading the social media campaign targeting Governor Ricketts also seem to share similar political views."Gage attached screenshots of the doctors’ timelines, which include celebratory tweets about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

The doctors replied and said: “This is not about the Governor. It’s about the virus.“It's been frustrating for many of us, in the medical and public health profession, that the pandemic has become political. And clearly it should not be,” Dr. James Lawler of UNMC said. “What we’re seeing is that the numbers double every couple weeks. And it's also clear that if we don't act immediately, we are going to see our hospitals completely overwhelmed.” 

Read the full article HERE

LANCASTER COUNTY AMENDS MANDATE TO REQUIRE MASKS IN ALL INDOOR PLACES EXCEPT HOMES

LINCOLN- Masks are now being mandated in all indoor places as the COVID-19 risk dial is now notched to the 'severe' category, according to the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. Two consecutive weeks of record cases in the county triggered this decision. Being in the red signal will not warrant a citywide shutdown, the mandate is simply in place to slow transmission. 

Pat Lopez, the Health Director, says churches should go virtual, employers should continue with teleworking and everyone should avoid large public or family gatherings. The county saw 90 new cases on Friday, but there were no new deaths. It was also a local record for hospitalizations with 118 people total in the city's hospital systems, with nine people being on ventilators. 

Contact tracers are finding that spread among small groups from different households with prolonged contact and no masks are becoming a huge issue in the state. Co-workers who are distanced but are not wearing masks are also spreading the virus. Chancellor Ronnie Green of UNL says the university's daily numbers have remained relatively stable over the past month. He continued on to say that virtual learning and work opportunities need to remain an option. Lincoln churches have also started to notify members that because of current state of cases, and many will return to virtual services. 

Gaylor Baird said, "As the community prepares to observe Veterans Day, Lincoln residents should look to the sacrifices made during World War II for perspective on the restrictions and guidance now aimed at keeping an invisible virus at bay."

Read the full article HERE

SCHOOLS MADE IT THROUGH A QUARTER, BUT CAN THEY STAY OPEN AS MORE TEACHERS GET SICK?

OMAHA- Keeping schools open through the surge of cases the state is experiencing is presenting more and more challenges for school districts around Nebraska. Officials are pleading with parents to avoid holding events for students where the possibility of transmission is high. 

Matt Blomstedt, the Commissioner of Education warned people to practice the same protocols outside of school that they do in school. He spoke about how hard schools have worked to get schools to the point they are at now and he does not want that to be ruined because of things that happen in homes. 

Papillion La Vista Community Schools says they are short-staffed because of teachers and other school personnel needing to quarantine or are not able to come to the school while waiting for test results. The worry is that classrooms or buildings will need to close, but it is unlikely that any school would go back to full remote learning. 

Schools were already experiencing staffing shortages, especially with substitute teachers, but that has only worsened within the previous months. Millard Public Schools was reporting 124 active cases and 707 people were quarantining. Jim Sutfin, Superintendent of MPS says it would be great to have mandatory testing for staff, but the tests are extremely expensive and the district does not have the money to do so.

Read the full article HERE

'I FINALLY GOT MY WISH', STATE SENATOR CONTRACTS COVID-19

LINCOLN- Sen. Mike Groene made waves on Monday when he publically disclosed his positive COVID-19 diagnosis in an email to his fellow senators. The waves however came not from the diagnosis, but instead of his remarks and actions following it. 

In the email he wrote, "As you know, I finally got my wish and cont(r)acted the COVID-19 virus, as I suspected it would happen." He previously mentioned he wanted to 'get it over with' so the country could move closer to herd immunity. Once the U.S. hits 200 million infected or immunized citizens, the chain of infection will be broken. There are currently just over 10 million cases nationally. 

Sen. Groene refuses to wear a mask and was not when he believes he contracted the virus. He was recently chairing a hearing of the Education Committee, and attended a joint hearing of the Revenue and Appropriations Committees where it was noted by fellow senators including Adam Morfeld of Lincoln that Groene was clearly coughing while sitting with his fellow members, and refusing to wear a mask. Morfeld stated in a tweet that “this kind of selfish and dangerous nonsense is inexcusable” 

Groene stated his symptoms were similar to a minor flu, and did little but allow him catch up on sleep. He stated in his message to senators that the time allowed him to become invigorated for the upcoming session and he plans to donate his plasma for interferon plasma therapy.

Read the full article HERE

PFIZER'S EARLY DATA SHOWS VACCINE IS MORE THAN 90% EFFECTIVE

NEW YORK- An early analysis of the coronavirus vaccine trial suggested that Pfizer and their partner, BioNTech's, vaccine is highly effective. The details of the vaccine are sparse and the clinical trial was done by an outside panel of experts. Only few vaccines have ever had a 90% rate of effectiveness and puts it on par with the vaccines for childhood diseases such as measles. 

Pfizer said there have been no serious safety concerns. Later this month, the company plans to ask the Food and Drug Administration for immediate authorization. The vaccine in its current form is two doses, and Pfizer said that 15 to 20 million doses are expected to be manufactured by the end of this year. 

“This was a devastating situation, a pandemic, and we have embarked on a path and a goal that nobody ever has achieved — to come up with a vaccine within a year," said Dr. Kathrin Jansen, VP and Head of Vaccine Research at Pfizer. 

Pfizer has secured $1.95 billion to deliver 100 million doses through Operation Warp Speed and will be given to Americans free of charge. The company is the only one of the front runners that did not take any money from the federal government for research and development. Dr. Jansen says they are only a part of Operation Warp Speed as a supplier. The company also highlighted that the vaccine announcement had nothing to do with the culmination of the election. 

The efficacy rate could go down as the trial goes on. It is also important to note that the news was broken in a news release, not a peer-reviewed medical journal. Scientists have cautioned against the first vaccine as long-term safety and efficacy data has yet to be possible. However, Pfizer is still the first company to announce results like this. Four out of eleven vaccines that are in late stage trials come from the U.S., with Moderna's vaccine being very similar to Pfizer's. 

The vaccine is made with mRNA, which means the vaccines will need to be kept at ultra cold temperatures. This will present the next set of challenges for the world once the vaccines are ready to be injected in the general public. 

Read the full article HERE

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. 

Read the full article HERE

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. 

Read the full articles HERE and HERE

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.

Read the full articles HERE and HERE

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.

Read the full article HERE