BIDEN VACCINE RULE FOR HEALTH WORKERS BLOCKED IN NEBRASKA AND NINE OTHER STATES

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - A federal judge blocked President Joe Biden’s administration from enforcing a coronavirus vaccine mandate on thousands of health care workers in Nebraska and nine other states that had brought the first legal challenge against the requirement.

No clear authority from Congress was established when federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid enacted the vaccine mandate for providers participating in the two government health care programs for the elderly, disabled, and poor.

The court order applies just to the 10 state coalition of Nebraska, Iowa, Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Similar lawsuits are also pending in other states.

Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson emphasized the significance for Nebraska health care workers and particularly those who work in rural hospitals.

"Today’s ruling immediately prevents enforcement of the mandate. While we do anticipate the federal government will seek immediate review by the Eighth Circuit, we are confident that the analysis by the trial court will be confirmed,” Peterson said.

The federal rule requires COVID-19 vaccinations for more than 17 million workers nationwide in about 76,000 health care facilities and home health care providers that get funding from the government health programs. Workers are to receive their first dose by Dec. 6 and their second shot by Jan. 4

The Biden administration argues that federal rules take precedence over state policies prohibiting vaccine mandates, and that vaccine mandates are essential to slowing the pandemic.

“CMS seeks to overtake an area of traditional state authority by imposing an unprecedented demand to federally dictate the private medical decisions of millions of Americans. Such action challenges traditional notions of federalism," U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp wrote in his order.

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NEW NEBRASKA LAW TAKES ACTION AGAINST CRYPTO-MINING COMPANY

NEBRASKA - State banking officials have issued a cease-and-desist order against a crypto-mining investment company after it took $725,000 from a Nebraska investor and her mother.

Satitech Mining and Machinery, an online company, would be barred from offering or selling securities in Nebraska until the securities are registered with the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Company officials will also need to be registered as broker-dealers or broker-dealer agents under state law according to the order that took effect on November 10th.

Cryptocurrencies are a form of unregulated digital money that can be used to buy goods and services. They use encryption technology to make them secure. The currencies have been compared to arcade tokens or casino chips because people exchange real money for cryptocurrency.

One way to attain these cryptocurrencies other than purchasing them from a crypto wallet is by mining them. This method rewards people with cryptocurrency for solving extremely difficult mathematical problems which verify the peer-to-peer payment process. Mining is most often done by computer programs. Mining corporations, such as Satitech Mining and Machinery, have employed large pools of computers to do more work and receive more cryptocurrency as a result.

A new state law aimed at protecting elderly Nebraskans from financial exploitation alerted department officials to the situation.

Claire McHenry, deputy director of the department's securities bureau, said this case was the first that has led to a cease-and-desist order.

“I am very pleased that financial firms are already using the tools provided by the Nebraska Protection of Vulnerable Adults from Financial Exploitation Act,” she said. “This case is an example of how the financial industry and regulators are working together to protect investors.”

State banking officials cautioned investors about doing business online with financial companies with whom they are unfamiliar. In many cases, the investor is told to wire money or send a prepaid card, often to a location outside the United States.

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TWO NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS CALL FOR RESIGNATION OF UNL CHANCELLOR RONNIE GREEN

LINCOLN - Two Nebraska senators called for the resignation of University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green, following the release of the university's diversity plan.

Five major themes are focused on in the Journey for Anti-Racism and Racial Equity plan:

Advancing diversity, positioning learning through diversity, promoting an inclusive community, building an anti-racist infrastructure, and acknowledging the impact of COVID-19 on minorities.

Senators Stever Erdman and Steve Halloran are in agreement that Nebraska's state colleges and universities are "devolving at an alarming rate" and "despite University President Ted Carter insisting critical race theory is not being taught on campus, they believe it's become normalized and standardized throughout the NU system."

Governor Pete Ricketts made similar remarks in the weeks prior while claiming that he felt misled by Green's plans. Despite Rickett's disappointment with the proposal, he did not call for Green to step down.

"This really makes it obvious why the administration was opposing Regent Jim Pillen's resolution to ban critical race theory on the campus of University of Nebraska because they were planning on doing it, which is really kind of shocking to me about this or one of the shocking things," Ricketts said.

Board of Regents Chair Paul Kenney shared the Governor's concern in a phone interview where he said he feels he wasn't informed of all aspects of the plan.

"I know some of the lawmakers are not happy and the governor is not happy, but I probably would fall into that category," Kenney said. "I was one of the last ones to know about the journey."

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RICKETTS URGES NEBRASKANS TO CONTACT REGENTS ABOUT UNL DIVERSITY PLAN

LINCOLN- Gov. Pete Ricketts early this week took another swipe at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's plan to address racial disparities and discrimination during his monthly call-in radio show and urged Nebraskans to contact members of the Board of Regents with their own concerns.

The regents, he noted, are scheduled to meet on December 3rd.

The plan designed to promote diversity and inclusion on campus is written in a way that is "anti-American," the governor said, by focusing on race rather than individual strengths. And that, he said, "undermines and betrays the whole civil rights movement."

"The university is not institutionally racist," Ricketts said. "I don't believe that."

What is needed, he said, is assurance that minority students have the same opportunities as other students, he said.

Ricketts had earlier said that the university plan released earlier this month would "pit people against each other by conditioning everyone to see others through the lens of race rather than as individuals with unique strengths."

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NEBRASKA LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL COULD ALLOW LEGAL ACTION AGAINST ABUSIVE PRIESTS, CHURCHES

NEBRASKA - His bill has yet to be written, but State Sen. Rich Pahls knows why he wants to change the statutes of limitation for sexual assault of children. He said he just needed to read the full report from Nebraska's Attorney General.

“I mean, you just cringe," Pahls said. "The number of people who they knew that we're doing wrong, and they allowed it; they allowed it.”

Attorney General Doug Peterson said the state would not bring any criminal charges towards the 258 reports of sexual abuse in Nebraska Catholic Churches due to statutes of limitations. He was doubtful that any civil lawsuits would come, either. Those statutes would need to change for any charges to be brought and that is exactly what he intends to do.

Despite knowing the difficulty of changing the statute of limitation laws, Pahls, a retired school administrator and former Omaha city councilman, said it is too important not to try.

“We must discuss this on the floor to make sure everybody understands because we have to look towards the future," he said. "Even though the Church has made changes, history has a tendency of repeating itself.”

Plenty of other states including California, Minnesota, Delaware, and Hawaii have changed their civil statutes to allow more time for civil suits. In Minnesota, for example, the Minneapolis archdiocese declared bankruptcy after the laws changed and lawsuits were settled.

Other states like Vermont have removed civil limitations completely – just like Pahls wants to do. For organizations like the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, the Vermont law is the gold standard.

If Pahls and supporters are successful, the priests could be prosecuted for the alleged crimes that took place decades ago.

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OMAHA AND LINCOLN NAACP CHAPTERS SUPPORT UNL'S RACIAL EQUITY PLAN

NEBRASKA- The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s plan to address racism and racial inequity, which has been the subject of intense criticism from conservative politicians, received a ringing endorsement from the Omaha and Lincoln chapters of the NAACP.

At a press conference in North Omaha, Omaha NAACP President the Rev. T. Michael Williams and Vice President Preston Love Jr. commended the university and Chancellor Ronnie Green for releasing the plan to, as the university wrote in a campus-wide email, foster “an environment where we better recruit, retain, and support the success of students, faculty and staff who identify as Black, Indigenous and persons of color.” (Preston Love Jr. is a regular community columnist for The World-Herald.)

“This is not political correctness. It is the right thing to do,” Williams said.

M. Dewayne Mays, president of the Lincoln NAACP chapter, also praised UNL’s plan and offered the chapter’s support. Local NAACP leaders said they were not involved in the creation of the plan, dubbed a “Commitment to Action,” but pledged to work with the university and Green now that it has been released.

“We want to do everything that we can to support it and to hopefully push it forward,” Mays told The World-Herald. “We feel like it would be good for the community as well as the state.”

The press conference came two days before the University of Nebraska Board of Regents is scheduled to meet for the first time since UNL released its plan on Nov. 17.

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FORMER STAFF MEMBER WILL RETURN TO LINCOLN TO LEAD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LINCOLN- A familiar face will be returning to lead the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber announced that Jason Ball, who worked for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development for five years, will succeed Wendy Birdsall as chamber president in January.

Birdsall, who has led the chamber for the past 16 years and was its first female president, announced in June that she would be retiring at the end of the year.

Ball, who's 44, worked as director of business development at the partnership, which is an arm of the chamber, from early 2008 to the end of 2012, when he left to become head of the chamber of commerce in Hutchinson, Kansas, a city of 40,000 an hour north of Wichita.

He later was president and CEO of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce in South Dakota and for the past two years has led the chamber in Round Rock, Texas, a fast-growing suburb of Austin that is home to computer maker Dell.

"I could not be more thrilled to return to Lincoln. It is a community that has afforded me so much opportunity -- first as a student, then my career, which began at the Lincoln Chamber,” Ball said in a statement. “It is truly humbling to return there to do the work I love in the city we still consider home.”

Ball grew up in Sidney, graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University and got a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is a certified economic developer and also is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organizational Management and the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.

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TRUMP CALLS FOR GOP CHALLENGER TO TAKE ON NEBRASKA REP. DON BACON

NEBRASKA- Former President Donald Trump is calling for a "good and SMART America First Republican Patriot" to challenge Rep. Don Bacon in next year's primary election.

The former president issued the call in November, then highlighted coverage of the statement by promising to back like-minded GOP candidates who would take on any of the congressional Republicans he named.

The list included Bacon, along with 12 other representatives and one senator. All had either voted for the recently passed $1.2 billion infrastructure bill or voted for articles of impeachment against Trump in January.

Bacon, who represents the Omaha-area 2nd District, was one of 13 House Republicans who voted for the infrastructure bill.

"Saving America starts by saving the GOP from RINOs, sellouts, and known losers!" Trump said, using an acronym for “Republicans In Name Only.”

Bacon's campaign pushed back, saying the congressman "has a strong record of delivering results for the people of Nebraska's Second Congressional District. Through his work on the Armed Services and Agriculture Committees, Congressman Bacon was rated in the top 20% ineffectiveness for all members of Congress.

"While the former President is entitled to his views, our team will continue to meet with constituents and leaders from across the district and make our case for re-election. We look forward to helping Republicans take back the House and secure a majority in 2022," the campaign said.

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WHY IS 'EQUITY' RADIOACTIVE? NEBRASKA EDUCATORS PUSHING FOR IT, BUT CRITICS PUSHING BACK

NEBRASKA - Patsy Koch Johns didn’t know equity could be construed as a bad word until this year.

During Nebraska’s raging debate over proposed health education standards, critics charged that the Nebraska State Board of Education was trying to infuse the standards with equity.

“When I say ‘equity,’ I’ve even had people correct me and say ‘equality,’” said Koch Johns, the board’s vice president.

Equity has been a goal of educators for decades in the form of trying to close test score gaps by addressing challenges that impoverished students face.

But as race became the focus in a lot of American minds after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer, many educators across the county and in Nebraska reaffirmed their commitment to racial equity.

Critics of this focus on race in education see it both as divisive and as a kind of Trojan horse that could be used to usher in bad, even un-American, ideas.

The topic has become a source of controversy with the latest example coming last week as Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts criticized an equity plan launched by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Ricketts cited the focus on racial equity would promote critical race theory on campus, despite the University's president's denial of the claim.

The state's K-12 educators have been increasing their focus on equity as Members of the Nebraska State Board of Education adopted an “equity lens,” Nebraska Commissioner of Education Matt Blomstedt hired an equity officer in his department, Grand Island Public Schools outlined a commitment to equity and to "disrupting" individual and districtwide biases, and Lincoln Public Schools created a student-led Equity Cadre that advises district leaders on how to overcome biases and barriers.

Advocates say equity is about giving kids what they need, when they need it, to ensure their success, regardless of a child’s personal circumstances, background or challenges. That can mean supporting some kids with extra resources.

Critics are concerned that this will be done in the form of dumbing down grading policies and eliminating gifted programs.

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AG PETERSON ANNOUNCES CONSUMER PROTECTION TEAM

LINCOLN — Nebraska consumers needing help dealing with scams, fraud or other unfair and deceptive business practices can turn to a team created within the Attorney General’s Office. Attorney General Doug Peterson’s office created the Consumer Affairs Response Team earlier this year and announced its formal launch on Thursday.

According to a statement from his office, the team was created to improve the dispute resolution process between consumers and businesses. The team provides people with one-on-one support in dealing with a broad range of consumer issues, including scams, fraud, identity theft and dispute resolution.

It also provides consumer protection kits, with education about common frauds and scams, ways to reduce unwanted calls and information about how consumers can protect themselves. Previously, calls from consumers were handled within the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. The division has been restructured, with attorneys now focusing on larger-scale consumer issues, such as the multistate tobacco settlement.

People can contact the team at: ProtectTheGoodLife.Nebraska.gov or by calling 402-471-2682 (toll-free: 800-727-6432). Complaint forms are also available by mail.

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RACETRACK, CASINO IN NORTH PLATTE COULD MEAN $115M IN TAX REVENUE, ORGANIZERS SAY

NORTH PLATTE - A proposed horse racetrack and casino in North Platte could mean about $115 million in tax revenues for the city, county and state over a decade, a representative for the organization behind the project says. Those were the findings of a regional market analysis that Sean Boyd, the president of Global Gaming Nebraska, shared Thursday.

Global Gaming Nebraska is a subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation’s Global Gaming Solutions, a commercial business that oversees more than 26 casinos in Oklahoma and Texas.Brian Becker and his daughter, Breanne, who operate a one-day-a-year quarter horse racing operation in Hastings, have partnered with Global Gaming for the racetrack/casino proposals in North Platte and Gering.

The proposed five-eighths-mile oval dirt horse track and roughly 40,000-square-foot casino with more than 600 electronic games would be constructed on a 73.58-acre tract of land in North Platte

Boyd said the marketing study showed that the project could draw from a population of roughly 260,000 within a 125-mile radius that includes out-of-area visitors from Wyoming, Kansas and Colorado. He said the economic impacts over the decade would be:

» $84 million to the Nebraska Property Tax Credit cash fund.

» $15 million to the city of North Platte.

» $15 million to Lincoln County.

» $6 million to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission and general fund.

More than 180 jobs would be created with about a $5.5 million annual payroll, according to the analysis. He said the benefits would be similar for a casino in Gering, which is about 175 miles from North Platte.

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NEBRASKA ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST HIRES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KARL ELMSHAEUSER

LINCOLN - The troubled Nebraska Environmental Trust turned Thursday night to someone with extensive experience in economic development and grants to bring calm to an agency that awards $20 million in grants a year for environmental and conservation projects.

The trust board voted 12-0 to hire Karl Elmshaeuser, the former head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program in Nebraska, as the new executive director. He will be paid $111,900 a year and was selected from a field of 61 applicants. Elmshaeuser, 60, is a former Ogallala City Council member who ran unsuccessfully for the Nebraska Legislature in 2016. His current job is legislative liaison with the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.

Two performance audits this fall detailed several recommendations to improve the agency, and he said he has experience in "process improvement."

The trust, which awards grants using state lottery proceeds, has been in turmoil since February 2020, when the board voted to defund a handful of conservation, habitat and wetland projects and instead award more than $1 million to install ethanol blender pumps at service stations. The move spawned a lawsuit against the trust board, as well as the formation of a watchdog group, the Friends of the Environmental Trust, who felt that the trust was straying from its original mission.

"The team at Kissel Kohout ES Associates is very excited about the appointment of Mr. Elmshaeuser! We worked closely with him during his tenure at the West Central Economic Development District and supported his campaign for the Nebraska Legislature. He will be a great asset to the Environmental Trust!" - Joe Kohout

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NEBRASKA GETS MILLIONS IN EPA WATER IMPROVEMENT FUNDS

LINCOLN - Nebraska is getting $63.4 million from the federal government to upgrade water systems and improve water quality, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday.

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan informed states of $7.4 billion in new funding, saying the allocation for next year is the first of five years of payments totaling nearly $44 billion. The EPA funding comes through a $1 trillion infrastructure bill approved by Congress and signed into law last month by President Joe Biden.

Some of the funding would be focused on removing lead and PFAS compounds, widely known as “forever chemicals” linked to health problems including cancer, liver damage and decreased fertility. Some of the funding would be focused on removing lead and PFAS compounds, widely known as “forever chemicals” linked to health problems including cancer, liver damage and decreased fertilit

Iowa is set to receive $110.7 million In funding.

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NEBRASKA ECONOMY IS EXPECTED TO KEEP GROWING

LINCOLN - Despite a number of risks and some general uncertainty, Nebraska's economy should continue to grow over the next three years. That's the conclusion of the latest three-year forecast from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Bureau of Business Research and the Nebraska Business Forecast Council

Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research at UNL's College of Business, said the state faces two main threats to its economy over the next few years: The potential that the Federal Reserve Bank may need to increase interest rates rapidly in order to reduce the rate of inflation, and the possibility that the COVID-19 pandemic could worsen significantly next year.

Employment is expected to rise with 1.4% job growth in 2022 as the state economy continues to recover jobs lost in the 2020 recession. Employment growth should then “normalize” to a 0.9% rate in 2023 and a 0.8% rate in 2024, according to the forecast.

Job growth will be stronger in 2022 as the leisure and hospitality sector and local government employment bounce back toward pre-pandemic levels. Job growth will then return to the long-term pattern of rising employment in services, finance, construction and non-durable goods manufacturing, and falling employment in retail and wholesale trade and durable goods manufacturing.

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NEBRASKA GOVERNMENTS PAY MORE THAN $10 MILLION FOR HELP ALLOCATING FEDERAL COVID RELIEF

NEBRASKA - Tasked with spending an unprecedented windfall of federal COVID-19 relief, some of Nebraska’s largest political jurisdictions, primarily the state, are on track to spend more than a combined $10 million of the federal dollars on consultants to help them allocate the money.

Nebraska is not unique in using coronavirus relief for guidance and oversight on spending. The expenditures are necessary for ensuring that local officials' jurisdictions do not run afoul of guidelines that dictate how the money must be used.

The City of Omaha is one of the most recent entities to contract with Deloitte after approval by the City Council in late October. The global consulting firm will provide services related to the development, review, and reporting of the city's American Rescue Plan funds.

The $1.9 trillion act was passed by Congress in March with the aim of thwarting economic damage caused by COVID-19. Eligible state, local, territorial, and tribal governments could receive up to $350 billion.

Jurisdictions that are eligible and accept the money have until 2026 to spend it and are required to regularly report how they have spent it to the Treasury Department. Any money spent outside of the guidelines must be returned to the federal government.

Roughly $56 million was allocated to the City of Omaha in May with another $56 million expected in early spring of 2022. Payment to Deloitte of $250,000 will come out of these allocated funds.

The City of Lincoln went a different way as they are looking to resources from the Biden administration and national organizations for guidance.

“The City of Lincoln has dedicated appropriate policy, legal, and financial staff members to ensuring appropriate compliance with the American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds as well as drawing on technical assistance provided from the administration and national organizations,” Kate Bolz, a mayoral aide for economic development, told The World-Herald. “(The city) will develop additional resources if and when necessary.”

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KEARNEY CANCER CLINIC TO JOIN NEBRASKA MEDICINE NEXT MONTH

NEBRASKA - Cancer patients in the center of Nebraska have historically had to travel long distances for access to specialized cancer care. Those trips can be especially hard not only on patients but on family members as well.

Patients in Kearney, Hastings, and Grand Island will now have access to the Nebraska Medicine cancer care closer to home. Heartland Hematology and Oncology in Kearney will join the Nebraska Medicine Health Network on Thursday, Dec. 16.

Cynthia Lewis, MD, and Nick Hartl, MD, lead Heartland Hematology and Oncology which is known as a place of hope, healing, and comfort. These characteristics will not change and they will continue to provide the best care possible for their patients and families.

Support from the entire Nebraska Medicine Health Network, including its team of disease-specific cancer specialists, will better allow them to provide care to existing patients and a wider range of potential patients.

Included in this expansion of care from the Nebraska Medicine Health Network are access to peer-reviewed tumor boards, opportunities for virtual care, and connections to the most advanced treatments available.

Signs reflecting the name change to "Nebraska Medicine Heartland Hematology and Oncology" will be going up in the coming weeks.

"We wanted a way to provide specialized cancer care to our patients in central Nebraska without having to send them three hours to Omaha. We believe our patients do best when they receive care close to home, family, and friends," said Dr. Lewis, hematologist/oncologist with the Kearney facility.

The facility will be the westernmost member of the Nebraska Medicine Health Network.

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FORTENBERRY SPOKESMAN BLASTS FEDERAL PROSECUTORS FOR THEIR HANDLING OF CRIMINAL CASE

LINCOLN - A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry blasted federal prosecutors, saying they had "crossed a line" by not revealing "the whole truth" about why the congressman had not returned illegal campaign contributions that originated from a Nigerian billionaire.

Earlier this month, federal prosecutors posited that Fortenberry failed to turn over the contributions despite being told they were illegal in a 2018 phone call. Instead, he asked the organizer of the 2016 fundraiser to host another fundraiser in 2018 during his re-election year.

During this 2018 call, Fortenberry was unaware that the fundraiser organizer had been working with the FBI and the call was recording. Fortenberry did not express concern or surprise upon hearing that the funds came from illegal foreign cash; he proceeded to request another fundraiser despite the information.

However, Fortenberry's spokesman Chad Kolton said that federal authorities told them not to return the funds due to possibly interfering with their investigation.

"Rep. Fortenberry agreed to help prosecutors and the FBI, as he did at every stage of this investigation, by following their directions" which "crossed a line when they intentionally distorted key facts to present a misleading narrative to the judge," said Kolton.

The initial federal investigation of Chagoury began in 2015 due to his potential influence over American elected officials as a result of the foreign national's donations.

Chagoury, it ultimately was discovered, contributed $180,000 in conduit contributions to four elected officials, including Fortenberry and former U.S. Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., and provided a $50,000 loan to the then-U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Chagoury, who lives in Paris, agreed to cooperate with FBI investigators and pay a $1.8 million fine in connection with the gifts. Two of his associates also were fined.

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OMAHA METRO AREA WILL DRAFT CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

OMAHA - From flash flooding to rolling blackouts, from potholes to smoky skies, Omahans have had a bitter taste this past year of the effects that extreme weather has on their lives.

The City of Omaha will join several hundred other U.S. cities with strategies for confronting climate change as other metro entities, such as the Omaha Public Power District, are ramping up efforts to address climate change as well.

Despite these efforts, the Nebraska Legislature has rejected calls for a statewide plan.

In regard to the timing of the plan, Mayor Jean Stothert said, “Omaha has been implementing sustainability measures for some time now without the need for a formal plan. The current timeline gives us the opportunity to maximize the results of more coordination for climate-related practices.”

The course of action has received both praise and frustration from those who had been working towards this goal for years.

David Corbin, chairman of the Missouri Valley Sierra Club's energy committee, disagreed with Stothert's claims that the metro area had no need for such a plan until now.

“I hope the city doesn’t approach other public responsibilities with the same laissez-faire attitude,” he said. “Not having a plan is a type of inaction.”

Most projects of this nature entail the identification of a community's most vulnerable areas to severe weather, the contribution to global warming, and what needs to be done to stop it.

Some of the impetus for the plan comes from Omaha’s desire to remain competitive in drawing new employers and talented workers, said Kevin Andersen, Stothert’s deputy chief of staff for economic development.

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NEBRASKA'S COVID CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS HIT HIGHEST LEVELS SINCE JANUARY

NEBRASKA- Nebraska’s tally of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths last week hit their highest levels since January.

In light of that, public health directors in the state urged residents to get vaccinated against COVID — and if vaccinated, boosted — to help combat the region’s ongoing delta variant surge.

The state posted 6,461 new cases for the week ending Friday, November 19th, up from 6,137 the previous week. That marked the fourth straight weekly increase for the state, according to a World-Herald analysis of federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

Hospitalizations were up sharply, with a daily average of 448 COVID patients occupying beds. That’s up from 417 from the week before.

An average of 64 patients a day were admitted to the state’s hospitals with COVID, up from 48 the week before. On Saturday, 493 Nebraskans were hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the state’s hospital capacity dashboard. That also was the highest figure since early January.

Nebraska also reported 60 more deaths, up from 47 the previous week. Last week’s total was the largest weekly tally since mid-January when the nation’s vaccination campaign was just getting off the ground.

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PETITION DRIVE AIMS TO ELIMINATE NEBRASKA BOARD OF EDUCATION, GIVE GOVERNOR K-12 OVERSIGHT

NEBRASKA- A petition drive is underway that would give the governor substantial oversight of K-12 schools in Nebraska.

The sponsors aim to replace the Nebraska State Board of Education, education commissioner and Nebraska Department of Education with a new Office of Education accountable to the governor.

The governor would appoint the director of the office, subject to confirmation by a majority of state senators.

Kelli Brady, a sponsor of the petition, said the intent is to move “major functions” of the department to the new office and return some of the department’s responsibilities to local school boards.

“Give the power back to the people that are dealing directly with the children,” she said.

Critics, however, say that petition would have the opposite effect, eliminating an elected board and concentrating power in the Governor’s Office. A rift grew this year between the board and the governor.

Board members this year faced a firestorm of opposition when they proposed new health education standards for Nebraska schools that incorporated teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation.

Nebraska Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts was vocal in his opposition to the sex ed topics in the standards. He also called for removing the 1619 Project and another curriculum resource, the Zinn Education Project, from a list of educational resources posted on the Nebraska Department of Education’s website.

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