SEN. JOHN MCCOLLISTER AMONG REPUBLICANS CALLING FOR TRUMP-FREE PARTY, THREATENING TO CREATE A NEW PARTY

LINCOLN — State Sen. John McCollister of Omaha is one of more than 100 Republicans, including former governors and members of Congress, who say they will consider forming a new party if the GOP does not break free from former President Donald Trump.

Stand Up Republic announced its goal Thursday.

McCollister is serving his second term in the officially nonpartisan Legislature and is the son of former Republican Rep. John Y. McCollister, who served in the House from 1971 to 1977. McCollister has been sharply critical of Trump and endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

"Principled Republicans are jumping ship," he said at the time. McCollister has often made the case for the party to return to its traditional values and said in an interview in October that "it will be interesting to see how the Republican Party reconstitutes itself after Trump gets beaten." Stand Up Republic's call for reform was expressed in a letter titled "A call for American renewal."

The letter says Republicans must "either reimagine a party dedicated to our founding ideals or else hasten the creation of such an alternative."

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NEBRASKA ATTORNEY GENERAL REACHES $200,000 SETTLEMENT WITH OMAHA MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office has reached an out-of-court settlement with an Omaha mental health care provider accused of submitting false claims for Medicaid reimbursement. Kathleen Wiley, who provided counseling services, agreed to a $200,000 settlement with the state and its Medicaid contractor in exchange for dropping a civil lawsuit filed in Lancaster County District Court.

As part of the settlement, Wiley admitted no wrongdoing.

The state, in its lawsuit, had accused Wiley of submitting 1,201 claims totaling $109,274 to Nebraska Medicaid or its contractor between September 2013 and December 2018 without proper documentation showing that services had been provided. The state’s False Medicaid Claims Act allows the state to recover triple the amount that was paid to a provider like Wiley, who settled the dispute by paying $200,000. 

The matter was initially investigated by Magellan Health, a Nebraska Medicaid contractor, and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. It was then referred to the Attorney General’s Office for further investigation and legal action.

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THREE NATIONAL PROFILE GOLF COURSES SET TO DEBUT IN NEBRASKA

OMAHA- After Sand Hills Golf Club put Nebraska on the nation's course map, the state is generating a second wave of intrigue for what's coming in the next year. Three national-profile courses are set debut over the next year, including CapRock Ranch, southwest of Valentine, Landmand on the bluffs of Homer and Lost Rail in suburban southwest Omaha. CapRock and Lost Rial will be membership-only courses and Landmand will have memberships but will open to the public. 

CapRock Ranch has eight holes along the rim of Snake River and the rest on coop hills. Landmand, once wooded hills was long ago cleared for farming and will play like many of the courses in the Sand Hills region. Lost Rail reminds many of Omaha Country Club's land during construction a century ago. Both were part farmland part wooded hills and streams. It is the most natural site for a championship course since OCC, next being Platteview Country Club. 

The first to open, CapRock, will be ready for member play on June 21. Landmand has already sold out its 100 available memberships. 

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NANCY HOCH, 1984 US SENATE NOMINEE AND FORMER NU REGENT DIES AT 84

OMAHA- Nancy Hoch, a barrier-breaking Nebraska woman and Republican nominee for U.S. Senator in 1984, died Wednesday at age 84. Her death followed that of her husband in January. Hoch was raised in Nebraska City, known for leaving her mark in political circles. She was the first woman to join a rotary club in the state. She went on to earn the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Nebraska City Chamber of Commerce in 1983. Shortly after, she became the first woman elected to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents in which she represented District 4 on the board for 12 years.

In 1984, she became the state's Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, challenging the incumbent Sen. J.J. Exon. In 1986, she ran for governor but lost to then State Treasurer Kay Orr. Orr went on to become the state's first female governor and the nation's first female Republican governor. In 2015, she was recognized with the Henry Fonda Award, the Nebraska Tourism Commission's highest female honor. 

Later in their lives, Nancy and her husband, Richard moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She kept in touch with her Nebraska roots by watching Husker football every weekend. 

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COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT GROUP DIRECTOR SEEKS TO REPLACE SENATOR PANSING-BROOKS (DIST 28) WHEN SHE IS TERM LIMITED

LINCOLN- The director of a community improvement organization in Lincoln announced her candidacy for the District 28 seat in the Legislature on Tuesday. Nancy Petitto will seek the seat held by Sen. Patty Pansing-Brooks, who will leave the Legislature after being term-limited.

Petitto is the director for Collective Impact Lincoln, a partnership among Civic Nebraska, Nebraska Appleseed and the South of Downtown Community Development Organization. A two-time graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Petitto said civic engagement, political advocacy and "an active commitment to justice" led her to run for office.

A map of district 28 can be found by clicking HERE

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55th WING PUTS TROUBLE PRONE OPEN SKIES JET OUT TO PASTURE

OMAHA- Offutt Air Force Base said goodbye to one of its most trouble-prone jets, an OC-135B that logged 36,064 flight hours and 6,135 takeoffs and landings in 60 years of use. The plane was most notably used for aerial photography missions, mostly over Russia, in carrying out the international Open Skies Treaty, but had not been used since President Trump pulled out of the agreement last November. However a hardline Republican faction has advocated for scrapping the treaty citing Russian violations. President Joe Biden has not yet made an announcement on if he will rejoin the treaty. 

This is Offutt's second retirement on a plane in six months as new technology has become imperative for certain missions in the military. The OC-135B jet has also seen the most maintenance requirements in recent years. 

“It’s become kind of a family. You get to go out, you get to be part of a team, away from anyone else — on your own, unafraid, in a place that not many Americans go to,” said Lt. Col. Chris Reteneller, a veteran of the squadron.

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10,000 HOGS KILLED, BUILDING DESTROYED IN FIRE AT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE’S PILLEN FAMILY FARMS

ALBION- A large fire near Albion has claimed the lives of approximately 10,000 hogs, according to the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department. The fire occurred on the business’ property located approximately 17 miles west of Petersburg, according to Petersburg Fire Chief Neil Baumgartner. The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department received the first call at 3:14 a.m. on Wednesday, Baumgartner said.

“When I arrived on scene, it (the fire) had already (come) through the roof. So it was … a very long, very, very large building long and probably 70-feet wide, I suppose,” Baumgartner said. “(It was) very hard to control being the building is tin – tin on the inside (and) tin on the outside … and it ran through the attic, and we could not stop it.”

The incident remains under investigation, according to Baumgartner. Jim Pillen, owner of Pillen Family Farms and University of Nebraska Regent has announced his candidacy for governor in 2022

The cause is still under investigation, but Baumgartner said there had been construction on-site previously.

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COMPROMISE ON COMMITTEE MAKEUP ALLOWS SCHOOL FINANCE SUTDY TO MOVE FORWARD

Senator Wendy DeBoer COMPROMISE ON COMMITTEE MAKEUP ALLOWS SCHOOL FINANCE SUTDY TO MOVE FORWARD

LINCOLN- With the promise of a compromise in hand, state lawmakers advanced a bill on Thursday to create a committee that will study public school finance in Nebraska. To help move the bill (LB132) forward, Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington agreed to scrap her proposal creating an independent commission of senators, education officials and tax experts to study the state aid formula known as TEEOSA (Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act) and recommend changes to the Legislature.

DeBoer, who said she was open to changing her bill in order to push the issue forward, heeded a suggestion made by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn to make the Legislature the one to do the review. When the bill returns for the next round of consideration by lawmakers, it will likely call for a committee of 11 legislators representing various geographic and political interests of the state.

After the vote, Linehan reiterated that she believes the responsibility to study and recommend any changes to TEEOSA rests with the Legislature.

"We can't outsource our work," she said. "Nobody else is going to solve this."

Multiple reports may emerge from the study, including a majority report as well as a minority report for lawmakers to consider. Linehan said if nothing else, the study would help state senators broaden their knowledge base of the state aid formula.

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NO UNITY IN TESTIMONY ON RESOLUTION ALLEGING FEDERAL OVERREACH

LINCOLN — A legislative firebrand on Thursday called for Nebraska lawmakers to “maintain and defend” the U.S. and state Constitutions against federal “abuse of power.” State Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte urged the Executive Board to send Legislative Resolution 107 to the full Legislature. He introduced the nonbinding resolution, which was co-signed by 30 other senators and details alleged abuses in several areas, including gun rights and religious liberty.

But there was little unity among those who testified at the Thursday hearing. Supporters included Kathleen Kaugh of Omaha, who described the resolution as a statement of where Nebraska stands on the “insidious erosion” of constitutional rights. She pointed particularly to people’s right to make their own health care decisions on vaccinations and masks. Among other supporters was Ryan Hamilton, executive director of the Nebraska Republican Party. He said there are “clear preparations” in Washington to deprive Americans of their rights, ranging from Second Amendment rights to state control of election laws.

Earlier in the day, Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha introduced another resolution in response to LR 107 that called for lawmakers to “maintain and defend” the right of Nebraskans to “an urgent, robust, and professional response” to the pandemic. On Wednesday, she introduced a resolution to condemn the “treasonous” attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, which the resolution said was “spurred” by former President Donald Trump and some members of Congress. Hunt has promised to filibuster the Groene resolution should it be advanced by the Executive Board to the full body for consideration.

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UNMC'S MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT NExT REACHES 'KEY MILESTONE'

OMAHA- Omaha has been selected as one of the five sites to test a pilot program that will develop a federal program to bolster the nation's disaster response capacity. The move marks a key step for local plans to develop a multibillion-dollar, all-hazards response facility.

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon announced the decision after receiving a letter from the acting undersecretary of defense notifying him of Omaha's selection. The other four sites selected are Washington, D.C., San Antonio, Sacramento and Denver. The goal of the program is to improve the National Disaster Medical System. Bacon said this helped Omaha reach an important milestone for the proposed project by UNMC and Nebraska Medicine that would combine a state-of-the-art teaching hospital and federally funded wings designed to enhance the nation's response to natural disasters, environmental accidents and highly contagious diseases.

Project NExT already has pledges of funding from the city and state with the state's contribution contingent on securing federal and private dollars. The project also has potential to create 8,700 high-paying permanent jobs with an estimated $1.3 billion total annual economic impact. The Nebraska Legislature has pledged $300 million in state funds toward the project if the federal government and private donors contribute $1.3 billion. The City of Omaha also pledged $93 million over the next decade in support. The proposed facility will be located on a 7.5 acre plot north of the Buffett Cancer Center that currently houses the Munroe-Meyer Institute.

UNMC and Nebraska Medicine helped care for citizens returning from Wuhan, China and a virus-stricken cruise ship after also having cared for Americans returning from West Africa during the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

Dr. James Linder, CEO of Nebraska Medicine said, “This is really a key steppingstone to realizing that goal, the fact that we were chosen as one of these five sites really positions us well to execute on the programs we’ve discussed over the last year with the federal government.”

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LAWMAKERS ADVANCE BILL TO BOOST SHOVEL-READY ARTS, MUSEUM, SPORTS PROJECTS

LINCOLN- The pandemic quickly shut down all arts, museums and sports projects, leaving many without any money to continue. The Blue River Arts Council said a bill introduced by Sen. Mike McDonnell would provide the boost they need to get back on track. Many other groups are looking at the measure as well, including Joslyn Art Museum and the Henry Doorly Zoo.

Lawmakers gave first round approval for McDonnell's bill, LB566 on Tuesday. The bill would set aside $25 million of state dollars and $75 million of federal state aid to help nonprofits complete capital construction projects that were interrupted by the pandemic. Grants would be available for those involved with arts, culture and humanities. McDonnell is also getting approval for an amendment to add nonprofit sports complexes to the mix.

There would be four tiers of support based on the size. Groups will be able to apply in July and would have to complete fundraising by the end of the year. This bill would help organizations that employ more than 90,000 people that pay more than $4 billion in wages.

“Right now, many of these organizations are being forced to look through their budget, meet with their donors and decide between their capital plans, rehiring staff or cutting their programming,” Sen. McDonnell said.

Opponents of the bill argue that the $25 million should go to other priorities and that these groups should turn to private donors.

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CONSUMPTION TAX PROPOSAL BLOCKED BY NEBRASKA SENATORS

LINCOLN- LR11CA, a tax reform proposal sponsored by Senator Steve Erdman, fell two votes short of clearing first round advancement in the Legislature. The bill would have created a constitutional amendment to replace the state's income, corporate, sales and property tax system with a new consumption tax, a previously known concept known as a 'flat tax', of 10.64%.

Erdman said his proposal would provide "the real solution (to) a broken tax system" and he warned his colleagues that "voters will be taking things into their own hands" if the Legislature does not act now. The proposal created a new revenue system that would center taxation on the purchase of services and new goods he said, "you can never, never be overtaxed because you decide how much tax you pay."

An argument established by opposition senators was that the new system would be regressive and had too many unanswered questions, 16 of the 23 'yes' votes came from rural senators with many noting that approving the proposal would only mean further conversation. Sen. Steve Lathrop said the proposal was very risky that raised many new questions such as how to fund schools in the system. Sen. Matt Williams said the measure would destroy the insurance industry.

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CENSUS FIGURES TO ARRIVE EARLIER, AVERTING 'MAJOR PROBLEMS' WITH NEBRASKA'S 2022 ELECTION

LINCOLN- Nebraska dodged 'major problems' in preparing for the 2022 election after getting word that the census figures needed for redistricting will arrive mid-August, according to state election officials. Census figures, due to the pandemic, had been expected to arrive as late as Sept. 30, six months later than normal. Receiving figures that late could have caused major problems in preparing for elections, said Secretary of State Bob Evnen.

Aug. 16 is the new expected date of receiving census numbers which will allow the legislature to hold a session and get needed population information by the end of September. Senators are expected to meet in Special Session on redistricting in September, following the release of the data.

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BILL REQUIRING COVID PROTECTIONS FOR MEATPACKING PLANT WORKERS ADVANCES IN NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- Sen. Tony Vargas of South Omaha won initial approval for LB241, a bill that would provide COVID-19 protections to meatpacking plant workers over the next year. Sen. Vargas' district includes many meatpacking workers who he says deserve safeguards for working in close quarters through the pandemic despite high rates of infections and deaths. Nebraska counties with meat processing plants were hit the hardest by the pandemic, with data showing that 7,382 packing plant workers were infected, 256 hospitalized and 28 deaths.

"And these are just the numbers that were reported ... they don't represent the community spread," said Vargas, whose own father, a former food processing worker from New York, died due to the coronavirus.

A group of senators opposed the bill saying that this is an 'empty' bill and if this could actually drop the number of people getting infected. Other senators said their district's meatpacking plants have seen little to no COVID-19 activity recently. "His heart is in the right place," said Blair Sen. Ben Hansen. "(But) sometimes you have to trust the people and err on the side of liberty."

Proponents of the bill say that the pandemic is not over and many people are still unvaccinated and go to work in fear everyday. The measures passed with a 27-16 vote.

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NEW COVID CASES IN NEBRASKA LOWEST SINCE JULY; DOUGLAS COUNTY HITS VACCINE MILESTONE

OMAHA- Nebraska's COVID-19 cases were down last week to a level seen last summer. Douglas County recorded 572 cases last week, down 21% from the week prior. That figure is a number last seen in August. This is just another step in the right direction after another week of the lowest death rates due to COVID-10 since July. The state was down 29% in cases from the week before. 

Now, the state is turning to staying ahead of variants through continuing vaccinations. The Douglas County Health Department has administered over half a million doses of the vaccine. 46% of residents 16 and older are vaccinated and 58% have received their first dose. 

In Omaha, the areas with the highest percentage of residents vaccinated are Elkhorn and Bennington with the lowest being in North and South Omaha. Adi Pour said she is happy to see urban Nebraskans being so eager to get vaccinated while rural Nebraskans seem to be more hesitant. 

The state is able and ready for the 12 to 15 age range to start to be vaccinated as soon as possible. At around the same time, Omaha's mask mandate will be lifted. Pour said although the city could have gone an extra month with a mandate, she is comfortable in saying that with the vaccination trends being as high as they are, personal responsibility to wear a mask will be enough. She went on to say, if needed, the City Council can adopt an emergency mask mandate.

Nebraska has administered 1,450,275 doses of the vaccine as of Monday, May 3rd. 

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SARPY COUNTY BREAKS GROUND ON NEW JAIL, WHICH WILL OFFER MORE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

PAPILLION- Officials broke ground Monday at the site of the new jail in Sarpy County. The jail plans to have ample room to house inmates and offer more services to help treat those inmates suffering with mental health. The building will open in late 2022 or early 2023 and will increase the number of beds for inmates and include a behavioral health unit that helps with drug and alcohol dependency rehabilitation. 

“Not only will it be a state-of-the-art, modern facility, but it’s going to allow us to provide services and programs to people that we’ve never been able to provide before,” said Don Kelly, chairman of the County Board.

The county has been working on a plan to address overcrowding in their area. The jail in Sarpy, built in 1989 was only build to house 150 inmates but currently houses around 200. County officials partnered with UNMC to establish the state's first forensic psychiatry fellowship. Around 25% of inmates will benefit from services given by a psychiatrist that will assess and treat inmates with mental illnesses. The behavioral health unit will have 20 beds for men and eight for women and will be separate from the rest of the inmate population. 

Bonds will cover about $45.1 million while the American Rescue Plan Act, coming from President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package will cover $18.1 million, and $16.7 million will come from the county's inheritance tax funds. 

“We want the county to be very proud of this facility,” Chris Pesek said.

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS NIX PROPOSAL TO GIVE MORE STATE AID TO RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS

LINCOLN- A proposal that would have funneled millions in additional state funds to rural schools was shot down Tuesday by the Legislature. The bill fell two votes short of what is needed to advance. Sen. Curt Friesen, the introducer of the bill, said the measure would provide extra state aid that would escalate to $130 million after three years to dozens of rural school districts that currently receive little to no "equalization" aid. 

Under current statute, school districts receive "equalization" aid from the state when financial needs exceed resources in a district. Prices for farm and ranch property have risen sharply, which forces school districts to no longer qualify for equalization aid because their resources (land) are sufficient via property taxes. Friesen said the current formula only allows for 84 out of the 244 districts to receive any aid-- most of which are urban. 

LB454 would adopt the School Property Tax Stabilization Act and change the valuation of agricultural land, or "unequalized" school districts that do not receive aid would split $65 million in year one, $95 million in year two, and $130 million in year three. This would also give rural taxpayers a property tax decrease due to increased funding. 

Senators questioned how the state would afford this, saying its distribution of state funds would be challenged in court. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, Revenue Committee chairwoman said that all areas of the state deserve property tax relief and that the answer to the issue is more complicated than increasing funding for rural schools. 

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SOUTH CAROLINA BILL TO ALLOW FIRING SQUAD AS MEANS OF EXECUTION IS POISED TO BECOME LAW

COLUMBIA, S.C.- Frustrated by the lack of drugs available to carry out lethal injections in their state, South Carolina lawmakers are on the cusp of a controversial solution: forcing death row inmates to face the electric chair or firing squad when lethal injection is not possible.

A bill proposing that change, approved by the State House this week, appears almost certain to become law in the next few days, and is being lauded by Republicans, including Gov. Henry McMaster, who have been vexed by pharmaceutical companies’ refusal to sell states the drugs needed to carry out lethal injections. The lack of drugs, they say, is a key reason South Carolina has not executed anyone in 10 years.

Opponents are appalled by the bill, which would make South Carolina the fourth state — along with Mississippi, Oklahoma and Utah — in which death by firing squad is an option for the condemned. South Carolina is among 24 states where the death penalty remains law. In the past 16 years, 11 states have rescinded capital punishment, including Virginia, which in March became the first Southern state to do so. Governors have also imposed death penalty moratoriums in California, Oregon and Pennsylvania. 

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OPPD PROPOSES RECOGNIZING 'SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS' OF HUMANS' ROLE IN CLIMATE CHANGE

OMAHA- In a position that stands in contrast to the Nebraska Legislature, the Omaha Public Power District board is proposing to acknowledge humans' role in climate change. 

The board is considering the following proposed strategic directive: “The OPPD Board of Directors recognizes the scientific consensus that climate change is occurring and that greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, from human activity contribute to climate change impacts.”

In the previous legislative session, the Legislature rejected a state climate plan with many opponents calling climate change a hoax. Eric Williams, who leads the board committee that drafted the proposal said he hopes other power entities follow suit. 

Mike Cavanaugh, the board's longest serving member said he will vote against the statement in its current form. Williams said the proposal is simply a statement to show people why OPPD is moving to decarbonize its footprint. OPPD set a zero carbon emissions goal for 2050 a few years ago. Lincoln Electric System has committed to a 100% net reduction in carbon emissions by 2040. 

The electric power sector is responsible for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions globally. Recent issues caused by severe weather for OPPD have been the February freeze of this year and the flooding from the past few years.

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GOV. RICKETTS DEFENDS NEW MEDIA CREDENTIALING PROCESS AS 'NEUTRAL'

LINCOLN- Gov. Ricketts pushed back in a press meeting Wednesday as his new media credentialing policy continues to be called unconstitutional and a potential pretext to exclude media outlets that don't share his same views. Many different media groups have called on the governor to revise the policy. Ricketts said the application for approval included only 'neutral' questions. 

“Folks, at the end of the day it’s only a dozen questions. It probably takes less than 10 minutes to fill out. It’s not that big of a deal,” the governor said.

This state has never had a credentialing process in place before a North Omaha community news website had been denied access to media briefings. The reasoning behind this decision was that the website is an 'advocacy' group that was founded by 'liberal donors'. The application includes questions about how the organization is financed, if there is a clear distinction between editorials and news and if there is immense pressure from interest groups. According to critics, these questions are not neutral and would not hold up in court. 

Media Nebraska and Ricketts are in talks about a new credentialing process. 

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