SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME TAX EXEMPTION BILL APPROVED FOR NEBRASKA TAXES

NORFOLK- The Legislature gave 41-0 final approval Thursday to a bill that will incrementally reduce the state income tax on Social Security income with a goal of total exemption by 2030. The bill (LB64), sponsored by Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, would achieve a 50% tax reduction by 2025 with an expressed intention to achieve 100% reduction by 2030, subject to review by a future legislative session. The built-in "guardrail" that allows a future Legislature to decide whether to continue with the annual 10% increased tax reduction after 2025 was attached to the bill by Sen. John Stinner of Gering, chairman of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee. Reduction in annual state revenue is estimated to grow to $73.8 million in the fifth year and then incrementally climb to $168 million in the 10th year with full exemption.

The built-in "guardrail" that allows a future Legislature to decide whether to continue with the annual 10% increased tax reduction after 2025 was attached to the bill by Sen. John Stinner of Gering, chairman of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee. Reduction in annual state revenue is estimated to grow to $73.8 million in the fifth year and then incrementally climb to $168 million in the 10th year with full exemption.

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CALLAWAY RANCHER, FORMER US SENATE CANDIDATE JIM JENKINS WILL SEEK DISTRICT 36 LEGISLATIVE SEAT

CUSTER COUNTY- Custer County rancher, entrepreneur and restaurant owner Jim Jenkins of Callaway announced that he will be a candidate for the District 36 legislative seat in 2022. Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg will be term-limited out of the nonpartisan Legislature at the end of next year after serving two terms.Jenkins, who was an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014, currently manages his family ranching and cattle feeding business near Callaway and is one of the owners of the Skeeter Barnes restaurant in Kearney. "Since agriculture is literally the foundation on which our state economy is built, urban and rural senators must work together for the benefit of all Nebraskans," Jenkins said. Jenkins recently was nominated to chair the Blueprint Nebraska entrepreneurship council and is a member of the board of directors of the Platte Institute. He is past chairman of the Nebraska Ethanol Board. 

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LEGISLATURE SOFTENS POLICE REFORM BILL TO SATISFY RURAL SENATORS CONCERNS

LINCOLN- After hearing many rural senators concerns over LB51, the Nebraska Legislature adopted a pair of compromise amendments Monday evening. Last summer, following the murder of George Floyd, 200 Nebraskans testified about their interactions with police over two days of Judiciary hearings. Following those stories, Sen. Steve Lathrop introduced LB51, which is a bill to increase annual training for officers, psychological examinations for new recruits, mandates that departments adopt policies on an officer's duty to intervene when excessive force is being used and bans the use of chokeholds and other restraints except when using deadly force is authorized. 

Rural senators discussed how burdensome these new requirements would be on rural law enforcement departments. Sen. Tom Brewer then introduced amendments that would address those concerns, which were both approved. The bill will be considered for final reading in late May.

“You have to understand that if we increase the requirements for training, it does directly impact them,” Brewer said. “Both the cost and for the county to be without their law enforcement officer, or half of their law enforcement, for a time.”

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ATTORNEY GENERAL QUESTIONS BILL TO ALLOW PERMITLESS CONCEALED CARRY IN MOST NEBRASKA COUNTIES

LINCOLN- A bill to make permitless carry of concealed weapons possible across most of Nebraska raises "significant constitutional concerns," according to an opinion issued by Attorney General Doug Peterson's office Monday.

Peterson's opinion said LB236 would improperly delegate state authority to the counties without adequate standards which appears to violate the state constitution. The measure was expected to be up for debate this week. Sen. Tom Brewer who introduced the bill proceeded with the bill and replaced the current contents of the bill with portions of three less-controversial measures relating to concealed carry. As introduced, LB236 would have given counties the power to authorize carrying of concealed firearms without a permit or training requirements. Currently, gun owners must obtain a state permit and pass a firearm course before they can legally carry a concealed gun. The bill was emended by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee to bar Douglas and Lancaster from going permit less. 

"We think that a court would likely conclude that the regulation of concealed handguns under the Concealed Handgun Permit Act's shall-issue statutory scheme is a matter of statewide concern," Peterson said. The amendment also stated the county sheriff would need to advise and council the county on how to proceed with this. There are also exemptions to the law for those with criminal offenses included. 

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LEGISLATURE'S REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE ESTABLISHES GROUND RULES

LINCOLN- The Legislature's nonpartisan redistricting committee embarked on the challenging, often partisan and bitter, journey. The nine-member special committee met to lay the groundwork and split the vote on a couple of decisions that will help guide the group. Sen. Adam Morfeld attempted to reduce the recommended maximum population deviation factors applied to forming new districts, but was rejected on a 6-3 vote. 

Maximum population variances that will be considered are 10% for legislative districts and 1% for congressional districts. The committee will hold a public hearing on its proposed framework next Tuesday. Final census figures are expected August 16. Much of the focus will be on the new boundary lines for metropolitan Omaha's competitive 2nd District, which handed President Joe Biden one of Nebraska's five electoral votes while also reelecting Republican Rep. Don Bacon. 

Legislative redistricting will also center on decisions that will determine whether rural Nebraska loses one or two seats in the 49-member Legislature.

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SENATORS MOVE TO SHEILD BUSINESSES FROM COVID LAWSUITS

LINCOLN- A bill that would shield Nebraska businesses and local governments from coronavirus-related lawsuits won first round approval from state lawmakers on Tuesday. The measure would protect businesses so long as they were following federal public health guidelines. About 30 other states have enacted laws addressing the same issue. 

“We need to do everything we can to help our state recover from the impact of the pandemic, and that's what this bill's intended to do,” said Briese, the measure's sponsor.

The proposal has backing from businesses, hospitals, schools, counties and cities, however organizations representing Nebraska trial attorneys and public school teachers opposed it. Sen. Matt Hansen of Lincoln said the state is taking “a serious misstep with liability protection for businesses, not directly for the people of Nebraska.

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FILIBUSTER STOPS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL; SEN. WISHART SAYS PETIITION DRIVE WILL PROCEED

LINCOLN- Sen. Anna Wishart offered the Legislature one more chance to legalize medical marijuana and enact strict regulations over who could access cannabis and how it could be used.

If lawmakers decided not to advance her measure (LB474), she said, voters will almost certainly be granted the opportunity to consider a ballot initiative next year asking them to enshrine “the right to cannabis for medical purposes” into the state constitution. Her warning went unheeded, however. Opponents used procedural motions to mount a successful filibuster, and shortly after 6 p.m., only 31 senators voted to invoke cloture, falling two short of the tally needed, effectively pushing LB474 off the agenda for the year.

“Make no mistake,” Wishart said on Wednesday morning, “we will get the signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot. We’ve done it before in a global pandemic, and it will pass with overwhelming support in this state.”

Wishart said she won’t bring another bill forward next year — she’s sponsored legislation to legalize medical cannabis in each of her five years in the Legislature — and instead will shift her focus to gathering signatures from voters across the state.

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CASINO BILL CHANGES PROTECT KENO PARLOS, LIMIT HUSKER BETTING

LINCOLN- The Legislature on Thursday amended its casino gambling implementation legislation to level the playing field for community keno parlors and ban casino sports betting on games involving Nebraska sports teams when they are competing within the state. Those changes were designed to meet the objections of a number of senators in an effort to ensure that the bill, LB561, can command the supermajority vote of at least 33 of the 49 senators that ultimately will be required to implement the legislation on final enactment.

Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, sponsor of the bill, questioned some of the changes but accepted what he described as "a reasonable compromise" that appeared to be required in order to be certain that the Legislature ultimately will be able to "respect the will of the voters."

The amendment, brought by Senator Steve Lathrop, does not allow keno gambling with an electronic device at Nebraska casinos, requiring casinos to "live by the same rules" as keno parlors. The sports betting change also included in the amendment was added to attract the votes of a few senators who had strenuously argued against allowing sports betting on the Huskers when they are playing games in Lincoln.

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NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE NARROWLY ADVANCES BILL TO PROVIDE DIVERSION PROGRAMS FOR TRUANT KIDS

LINCOLN- LB568, introduced by Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, would focus on counseling, rather than court, for kids who skip school. The bill would remove truancy as a status offense that requires a trip to juvenile court and instead mandate diversion programs that concentrate on the root issues of absenteeism. Pansing Brooks stated that the current program only contributes to the 'school-to-prison' pipeline. 70% of kids who end up in juvenile court later enter the adult court system. 

The measure would create a new position at the State Crime Commission, director of absenteeism prevention and intervention programs that would help develop practices for preventing truancy. Conservative senators questioned if the bill was necessary as juvenile court judges and probation officers have been working on turning around kids' truancy problems.

The bill advanced on a 25-19 vote, the lowest amount of votes needed to pass through first round debate.

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STATE CONTINUES TO EVALUATE ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT AS IOWA MOVES TO END BENEFITS EARLY

LINCOLN- Gov. Pete Ricketts is keeping an eye on the state's unemployment rates as a handful of other Republican-led states are ending federal pandemic unemployment benefits early. That includes Iowa, as Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that she would end three programs effective June 12. She blamed those programs for discouraging people from returning to work. 

U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse called for converting the additional pandemic benefits into a two-month bonus for anyone who gets a job. “Cut the spin, convert unemployment into a signing bonus, and get America and Americans up and running,” he said. 

In Nebraska, Ricketts reinstated work search requirements in July. The requirements apply to workers receiving regular unemployment and the additional $300 in federal pandemic unemployment benefits.

Labor experts point to other factors that are keeping people from looking for jobs. Many women aren't searching for jobs because of the lack of child care or because of children being home taking online classes for at least part of the week. Other workers are also afraid of taking jobs in service industries that require contact with people for the fear of contracting COVID-19.

All federal programs are set to expire in September. 

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HEARING ON PROPOSED HEALTH STANDARDS TEACHING GENDER IDENTITY HEARS DEBATE FOR NEARLY 4 HOURS

LINCOLN- Members of the Nebraska State Board of Education got an earful form opponents of draft health standards that would teach students as young as first grade about gender identity and gender stereotypes. The board also heard from advocates of the LGBTQ community and parents of gender-nonconforming children who support the standards. The hearing in Kearney lasted about 4 hours and 70 people testified. 

Many opponents were appearing on behalf of Protect Nebraska Children coalition, which claims to have 11,000 members. The testimony mostly focused whether it's appropriate to teach elementary school children about these topics. Opponents said introducing young children to sexual topics would sexualize them, encourage promiscuity, confuse them and leave them vulnerable to sexual predators. Supporters of the bill said the opposite, that teaching children about these topics would arm them with tools to fend off sexual predators. 

 Proponents of the measure said these standards could help all Nebraska children feel heard and seen by their teachers and peers. The curriculum would begin in kindergarten with more being added every year through eighth grade. Twenty-eight out of 49 state senators backed opponents and Gov. Ricketts in asking the Board of Education to remove all sex-education and other 'ideologically motivated content' from the standards.

The standards, if approved, would be recommended for use by school districts, not required. The final draft will be approved in the fall.

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RICKETTS, 19 OTHER GOVERNORS RAMP UP PRESSURE ON BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO ACT ON SOUTHERN BORDER

LINCOLN- Twenty governors signed onto a letter asking President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to take action to close the U.S. border with Mexico. The letter comes after unauthorized crossings at the southern border increased throughout February and March, reaching a 20-year high. Border control took more than 172,000 people into custody in March alone.

The governors wrote in the letter that 'irresponsible rhetoric' was at fault, including the reversal of several Trump-era policies. Further, because of these changes more drugs and weapons are being smuggled into the country and that trafficking has increased. The letter addresses the requests housing for migrants, including unaccompanied minors from the U.S. DHHS to states in April-- which Ricketts denied. The letter states that their individual state cannot be used to circumvent the federal government's problems at the border.

They asked Biden to abandon policies they say made a “self-created crisis that exploits families, undermines public safety, and threatens our national security.”

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OMAHA VOTERS GIVE MAYOR STOTHERT A HISTORIC THIRD TERM

OMAHA- Omaha voters chose experience over change Tuesday as they delivered Mayor Jean Stothert with a decisive reelection victory over challenger RJ Neary. In 2013, Stothert became the first woman to serve as Omaha's mayor who now has 4 more years to oversee projects she began including fixing city streets, and completion of riverfront parks and redevelopments. She is the only mayor to be elected to three terms in modern Omaha history.

During her victory speech, she said her overwhelming victory validated the work she had done over her previous two years. 

Stothert thanked Neary and his family for the work they’ve done to make Omaha a better place, saying his “experience, his passion, and his ideas made him a very worthy candidate.”

She also has clear goals for her next term, saying guiding Omaha through the pandemic and handling the health, economic and social effects that have come with it. She also wants to improve the OPD after hearing concerns following the summer of social justice and racial equity protests in 2020.

Gov. Pete Ricketts and his predecessor Dave Heineman both attended Stothert's victory party and offered their praises of the incumbent. Ricketts said she is the best mayor in the country followed by Heineman saying she is well-respected and puts all people of Omaha first.

Said Stothert: “Ours will be an even more inclusive city, one that welcomes everyone and where everyone feels at home.”

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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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