SOUTH OMAHA LEADERS TELL LAWMAKERS THEY'RE FED UP WITH BEING LEFT OUT

OMAHA - Dozens of South Omaha advocates converged Monday, February 14 at the Nebraska State Capitol to ask the government to stop sidestepping their community and invest now in jobs, housing, and education programs that can lift it from pandemic “horrors.”

Data was laid out by Armando Salgado of the Latino Economic Development Council showing the overrepresentation of Latinos hospitalized in local COVID wards.

Cristian Dona-Reveco of the University of Nebraska at Omaha talked of the higher proportion of Latino students dropping out of college due to family pandemic-related demands.

“I call for equity. I call for inclusion,” said Diana Rogel, diversity outreach and engagement coordinator at Live On Nebraska: “Ignored is simply not just.”

These comments are representative of the 25 testifiers in support of Legislative Bill 1238, which would direct $50 million of Nebraska's COVID-related emergency relief dollars to a fund intended to fuel economic development in South Omaha.

The idea of a South Omaha Recovery Grant Program was pushed by the new Latino Economic Development Council and put forward in the bill introduced by State Sens. Tony Vargas and Mike McDonnell of Omaha. The bill is also co-sponsored by Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt.

Despite the outpouring of testifiers, the Appropriations Committee took no action Monday on the bill.

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKER RENEWS EFFORT TO LET CITIES PROVIDE BROADBAND SERVICE

LINCOLN- State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha brought his latest effort before the Legislature's Transportation and Telecommunications Committee on Tuesday.

Legislative Bill 916 would create a process allowing first- and second-class cities, as well as villages, to provide municipal broadband services if the city or village is in an underserved or unserved area.

Last year, Wayne attempted to add a similar proposal into a larger package that provided $40 million over two years to expand high-speed internet services. Wayne's proposal, which did not make it into the final package approved by the Legislature, would have allowed cities and towns to enter the broadband services market. That effort came after a bill Wayne introduced — which would have struck language in a state law barring municipalities from providing broadband — failed to gain necessary support and was indefinitely postponed.

At the time, Wayne said that broadband should be considered a critical infrastructure need and that private telecommunications companies have not stepped up to serve the whole state.

In Tuesday's hearing, Wayne said this is a bill he will continue to bring back every year. The broadband network, he said, is nowhere close to being completed.

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NEBRASKA SENATORS ADVANCE COVID VACCINE EXEMPTION BILL TO FINAL ROUND OF CONSIDERATION

LINCOLN- Nebraska lawmakers gave second-round approval Wednesday to a bill that would allow employees to claim medical and religious exemptions from workplace COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Legislative Bill 906 advanced to the final stage of consideration on a 36-2 vote, despite complaints from some senators that it had become “more symbolic than functional.” The bill, introduced by State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, spells out how employees can be exempted from workplace requirements to get the COVID vaccine. The proposal advanced based on a carefully crafted compromise that removed opposition from business and health care groups.

Under the compromise, employees can claim an exemption by filling out a state-produced form and declaring that the vaccine conflicts with their “sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance.” The forms could be used to claim a medical exemption, as well, as long as the claims were accompanied by a written statement from a doctor or other health care provider.

The bill makes clear that employers could require unvaccinated workers to be tested regularly and to wear masks or other protective equipment.

It also states that federal requirements would take precedence for federal contractors and for hospitals and other entities covered by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services standards.

The debate about the bill frequently veered into arguments about the value of COVID-19 vaccines and masking, as well as discussion about the role of government and comparisons with other employee protection measures.

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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER WON'T SEEK REELECTION

LINCOLN- Maureen Nickels said Tuesday she won’t seek reelection to the Nebraska State Board of Education.

Nickels, a Chapman, Nebraska, resident who was first elected in 2014 in District 6, said she always planned to leave the board after two terms. She said the controversy over the proposed health education standards for Nebraska schools didn’t influence her decision. She said it’s time for “fresh blood” on the board.

“If you had talked to anybody four years ago, after I went my second round, I always said, ‘Two terms and I’m done.’ I always wanted two terms, and I’ve stuck with it.”

Nickels, as board president last year, presided over the meetings that drew large and passionate crowds for hours of testimony about draft standards proposed by the Nebraska Department of Education. Facing overwhelming public opposition to the drafts, the board voted last September to postpone their development indefinitely.

“I hope that the health standards will come back,” she said. “I hope that they do. I don’t want to see them thrown out.”

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FAUCI, CRT, IMMIGRATION- NATIONAL ISSUES COMMAND SOME ADS IN NEBRASKA GOVERNOR'S RACE

LINCOLN- You’ve probably seen the ad by now: A shotgun-wielding, hunting vest-wearing Jim Pillen addresses the camera with a series of lines, including “Biden is as lost as last year’s Easter egg. And Fauci? Don’t get me started,” over a twangy country-style instrumental.

Then the gubernatorial candidate introduces himself, pumps the shotgun, and pledges to keep Nebraska safe as governor. In another recent ad, the University of Nebraska regent and livestock producer says “the radical left and liberal media have lost their minds” and touts his opposition to critical race theory.

The other perceived front-runner in the May 10 Republican primary, Charles W. Herbster, has also aired ads that lean heavily into national hot-button political issues. One features Herbster’s visit to the U.S.-Mexico border. It also shows footage of people apparently rushing the border, and he states what he claims is the number of undocumented immigrants living in Nebraska and how much illegal immigration costs the state per year.

“If Joe Biden refuses to do his job, then it’s up to governors to do theirs,” he says.

“The Trump/Herbster team believes in fighting for our borders, elections, guns, the unborn, and our Nebraska way of life,” another of his ads says.

Former Gov. Dave Heineman, who explored jumping into the primary himself, said the two, who are perceived as front-runners because of endorsements and flush campaign coffers, need to focus on the issues that actually impact Nebraskans’ lives.

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OMAHA'S MASK MANDATE IS LIFTED BY HEALTH DIRECTOR HUSE

OMAHA- Masks are no longer mandated in Omaha.

Dr. Lindsay Huse, health director for the City of Omaha and for the Douglas County Health Department, lifted the mask mandate Wednesday for certain indoor spaces in Omaha.

Huse, in her role as city health director, announced the change by a press release from the county health department, shortly after people at City Hall were notified that the change was coming.

Mayor Jean Stothert is home this week after being diagnosed with COVID-19, but her staff said she was asymptomatic.

There was no immediate word on how or whether the elimination of the mandate might impact the State of Nebraska’s lawsuit against Huse and the city regarding the mask mandate. Huse enacted the mask requirement on Jan. 12.

Huse encouraged people to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and said it offers the best protection from serious illness and death from the disease. She declined to be interviewed, citing the state’s lawsuit. The City of Lincoln’s indoor mask mandate remains in place through Feb. 25.

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REFUGEES SEEN AS PARTIAL SOLUTION TO WORKFORCE SHORTAGE IF HOUSING AVAILABLE

LINCOLN - An Afghan refugee who is living a version of the American dream urged Nebraska state lawmakers Tuesday, February 15, to help others fleeing violence and wars to find a “landing place” in the United States.

Shafiq Jahish, a former interpreter for the U.S. military, said that when refugees arrive, they often can’t find immediate housing, in part because they don’t have any money, a job, or a rental history needed to lease an apartment.

One cannot obtain a driver's license or enroll kids in school with a permanent address, Jahish said.

Jahish was testifying in favor of a bill that would designate $10 million of the state's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to discounted housing for low-income individuals, including refugees.

Jahish has been able to overcome the obstacles that he laid out and has worked his way from a truck driver up to a supervisor before earning a college degree, and now works as an IT professional for an Omaha bank. The 34-year-old now has his own home to raise his family of seven.

The committee is currently considering a multitude of ideas on how to spend the state's $1.04 billion in ARPA funds. Tuesday they solicited testimony regarding a few proposals to use some of the funds to provide low-income and "workforce" housing in the state.

The lack of decent housing has been identified as a major impediment in filling the state’s estimated 60,000 unfilled jobs, the committee was told.

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CONCERNS RAISED OVER BILL TO ALLOW COUNTIES TO SET HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE

LINCOLN - A representative of Nebraska’s counties told a legislative committee Monday that more study is needed before granting the power to set a minimum wage county by county.

“We typically don’t get involved in these main street business decisions,” said Jon Cannon, executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials. “This isn’t a power we’ve asked for.”

Legislative Bill 935, proposed by State Sen. Eliot Bostar, would allow a county board to set their own minimum wage which could be higher than the $9 an hour state minimum.

Bostar remarked that it makes little sense for the minimum wage to be the same "in the middle of Omaha and in the middle of Alliance."

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) representatives and Center for Rural Affairs representatives spoke positively of the bill. They mentioned that county officials were best situated to determine the local minimum wage. They also said that raising wages helps families escape poverty.

The Nebraska state minimum wage hasn't been raised since 2014 and the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour was last raised in 2009.

Susan Martin of the AFL-CIO said the federal minimum wage took account of inflation up until 1968. If it continued, she said, it would be at $21.36 an hour now.

Cannon said he was only aware of two other counties in the nation, Montgomery County, Maryland, and Sonoma County, California that have established higher minimum wages than their respective states.

Representatives of business groups, including the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, came out against the bill due to the negative impact it has on small businesses.

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GOV. RICKETTS URGES FEWER RESTRICTIONS AS COVID CASES FALL

LINCOLN - Gov. Pete Ricketts said Nebraskans should be allowed to “return to normal” as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to fall in the state.

“Our case counts and hospitalization rates are dropping with each passing day," Ricketts said in a statement Thursday, February 17. "It’s a promising sign that we are moving to the endemic stage of COVID. It’s important that we pursue policies that let Nebraskans return to normal while continuing to live with the virus.”

Ricketts' comments followed the elimination of a temporary mask mandate in Omaha that was put in place last month in the midst of increased COVID-19 cases.

The seven-day rolling average of daily cases in Nebraska continued to fall sharply over the last two weeks. As of February 15, the number was 364.43. From mid-January until January 26, that figure was consistently above 4,000.

In addition, the number of statewide hospitalizations due to coronavirus fell this week to numbers not seen since early November.

Peak hospitalization numbers came on January 28 with 767. As of Tuesday, February 15 that number was 436.

While hospital officials are pleased with the falling number of cases, they remain extremely busy with non-COVID patients due to ongoing staff shortages.

Surgeries that were not deemed "necessary" were backlogged during the early and peak stages of the pandemic. Understaffed hospitals are now beginning to pick these back up as well.

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BILL ADVANCED TO PROVIDE 'ECONOMIC RECOVERY' GRANTS IN NORTH, SOUTH OMAHA

LINCOLN - A legislative committee advanced an amended bill Thursday, February 17 aimed at providing “economic recovery” grants to areas of Omaha disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and generations of poverty.

Legislative Bill 1024 drew support from a long line of leaders from North Omaha earlier in the 2022 session. They described it as providing a “steroid shot” in spurring development.The bill was amended to include parts of South Omaha as well. A hearing on Monday, February 14 garnered interest and testimony from leaders in the area.

LB1024 seeks to prioritize grants in North and South Omaha for housing projects, job training programs, and business envelopment. The bill would create a new "Economic Recovery Division" within the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to award the grants as well.In addition, an advisory committee would be created to review the requests for funding.

“This is our canal project,” said State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, who is the main sponsor of LB 1024. The "canal project" referenced by Sen. Wayne is Gov. Pete Rickett's proposal to allocate $500 million for the construction of Perkins county Canal to draw water from the South Platte River. “If we are going to recover and save North and South Omaha, we need a project like this,” the senator said.

LB1024 advanced from the Legislature's Urban Affairs Committee on a 6-1 vote. Sen. Wayne is the chair of this committee.

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SENATOR MIKE GROENE, ACCUSED OF TAKING LEWD PHOTOS OF STAFF MEMBER, RESIGNS FROM LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN — AS REPORTED BY THE NEBRASKA EXAMINER: “State Sen. Mike Groene submitted his resignation Friday afternoon, just a couple of hours after denying accusations that he took sexually inappropriate photographs of a female legislative aide.

Groene confirmed that he had submitted his resignation to Gov. Pete Ricketts and that the governor had accepted it. Groene, an often outspoken lawmaker, was completing his second term in the Nebraska Legislature.

“I am not going to drag my wife, family and friends through the fight it would take to defend myself,” the senator said in a text. “I am resigning and dropping out of politics completely. Life is too short.”

That means, Groene said, that he is dropping out of the race for University of Nebraska Board of Regents, a campaign he announced only two days ago.

The resignation comes after the Nebraska Sunrise News reported that Kristina Konecko, who had worked on and off for Groene for six years, had lodged a complaint over photos of herself that she had discovered on Groene’s laptop computer. Konecko, according to the website, considered the photos inappropriate.  

“The pictures appeared to have been taken by Groene and then emailed from him to other parties with email captions of a sexual nature,” the website reported. Konecko described the photos as “objectifying and demeaning.” The Sunrise News story said some were “zoom-close-ups of provocative body parts with explicit subject lines.”

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CORPS SEEK FUNDING OF CONTENTIOUS $144 MILLION FLOOD PLAN FOR OMAHA AREA

OMAHA- The Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday said it will recommend that Congress approve $144 million in projects to reduce flood damage along creeks in the Omaha metro area.

Included are two dams, construction of a levee/floodwall along the Little Papillion Creek in central Omaha, elevating or flood-proofing some homes and businesses, and erecting floodgates at several creek crossings.

The corps’ decision is the latest chapter in battles over flood control in the metro area dating to the 1970s.

The plan has been promoted by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, local governments including the Omaha City Council, and some businesses whose property is at risk along creeks, notably the Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Those opposed include the Washington County Board and landowners who would lose homes and see their property values drop because of one of the dams.

John Winkler, general manager of the NRD, said there is an urgent need for better flood protection in the area.

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SENATORS QUESTION GOV. RICKETT'S DECISION TO TURN DOWN $120 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISSTANCE

LINCOLN- Gov. Pete Ricketts' decision to reject $120 million from the federal government for rent and utilities assistance prompted criticism Friday from some Omaha-area senators.

State budget director Lee Will fielded questions from legislators and explained Ricketts' rationale in rejecting the American Rescue Plan Act money during a hearing before the Appropriations Committee. Will noted that Nebraska hasn't spent its first installment of emergency rental assistance and said there are concerns about potential fraud.

That contrasted with the message from advocates, who said there is a dire need for help. They would like the governor to reconsider his decision — which, according to Will, puts Nebraska alongside Arkansas as the only two states to leave the money on the table.

That fact did not sit well with some on Friday.

Through the state's current program, struggling renters have been able to get up to a year's worth of back-rent, plus three additional months. Money is sent directly to landlords and utility providers on renters' behalf. The state, Omaha, Lincoln, Douglas County and Lancaster County were all allotted money through the program.

Nebraska received $200 million from the U.S. Treasury for the first round, according to Will: $22.2 million to the City of Omaha, $13.5 million to the City of Lincoln, $4.3 million to Douglas County, $1.4 million to Lancaster County and $158.6 million to the state for aid in the rest of Nebraska.

The state used marketing efforts and other outreach measures to promote the program, Will said. With $44 million still available to Nebraskans outside those four other jurisdictions, the state opted not to take the additional $120 million.

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NEBRASKA EYES LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM FOR TEACHER SHORTAGE

LINCOLN- Nebraska education leaders asked state lawmakers Tuesday to create a student-loan forgiveness program to help nudge more people into the profession, which has suffered major losses during the pandemic.

Members of the Legislature's Education Committee reviewed multiple bills that would forgive up to $30,000 in student loans for teachers who agree to work in a Nebraska school. Like many states, Nebraska saw many experienced teachers retire early during the pandemic amid the stress of remote learning and possible in-class exposure to the coronavirus.

“This has been a problem before the pandemic, but the pandemic exacerbated it,” said Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington, who sponsored a measure that would forgive up to $6,000 a year, with a $30,000, five-year maximum.

DeBoer said the measure would encourage education students to stay in Nebraska after finishing college and help offset low starting salaries for new teachers. She said the proposal was intended to help both public and private school teachers. She noted that Nebraska already has a similar forgiveness program for rural doctors.

Education officials said the shortage in Nebraska is especially severe in rural schools and argued that the low pay makes it more difficult for new teachers.

“You're really entering a field that, starting out, doesn't pay very well," said Kyle McGowan, the superintendent of Crete Public Schools and a spokesman for Nebraska school administrators and teachers.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said a loan forgiveness program would take the state “a step in the right direction” to address the chronic shortage.

“It's only going to become worse if we don't do something,” Linehan said.

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AG DOUG PETERSON ENDORSES SEN. MIKE HILGERS AS HIS SUCCESSOR

LINCOLN- Attorney General Doug Peterson on Tuesday announced his support for Sen. Mike Hilgers' candidacy to succeed him.

Hilgers, a Lincoln senator and speaker of the Legislature, is seeking the Republican nomination for attorney general.

Peterson earlier announced his decision not to be a candidate for reelection to a third term.

"Mike has the temperament, skills, and principles to be an outstanding attorney general," Peterson said. "I am proud to endorse him and he has my full support."

Peterson's endorsement follows on the heels of earlier endorsements from Gov. Pete Ricketts, Lt. Gov. Mike Foley, Sen. Deb Fischer, Rep. Don Bacon, Rep. Adrian Smith, and former Govs. Dave Heineman and Kay Orr.

Hilgers was reelected to a four-year term in Lancaster County's District 21 in 2020; if elected attorney general, his successor in the Legislature presumably would be chosen by Ricketts before he leaves office next January.

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FARM BUREAU ENDORSES PILLEN IN GOP GUBERNATORIAL RACE

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Farm Bureau on Tuesday endorsed Jim Pillen in the hotly contested Republican gubernatorial primary election, handing the Columbus hog producer a rich prize in his contest with agribusinessman Charles Herbster of Falls City and a field of other GOP candidates.

The Farm Bureau counts 55,000 member families and is a major voice in Republican politics, with its endorsement playing an outsized role in statewide GOP primary races that often are dominated by rural voters.

Results from polling all its members "resoundingly said Jim Pillen's the guy," Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue of Central City said during a news conference in the Capitol Rotunda.

"Wow!" Pillen responded. "This is a big deal for our campaign."

Herbster will be able to counter with his earlier endorsement from former President Donald Trump, with whom he worked as an agricultural adviser, relying on the popularity of Trump in rural Nebraska to help deliver votes in the May 10 primary.

McHargue said he also sat down with Pillen for "a couple of hours over supper" prior to the decision and engaged in "quite a conversation about rural communities."

McHargue said Pillen "understands we have a broken tax system and that there is overreliance on property taxes (and) he understands that if agriculture does well, our state does well."

Pillen, who already has campaigned in all 93 counties, said it's important "not just that we survive, but that we thrive."

"It's important that the next governor defend agriculture," McHargue responded.

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PROPOSAL WOULD POUR $450 MILLION INTO NORTH OMAHA TO HELP WITH PANDEMIC RECOVERY

NORTH OMAHA- A proposal to spend $450 million in federal COVID-19 relief in North Omaha could change the trajectory of a community that has been historically neglected, according to testimony supporting the proposal Tuesday.

Dozens of people joined several state senators in backing the proposal during a hearing before the Legislature’s Urban Affairs Committee.

State Sens. Justin Wayne and Terrell McKinney of Omaha introduced the proposal, Legislative Bill 1024, which calls for using $450 million to help North Omaha recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. With the state receiving more than $1 billion through the American Rescue Plan Act, Wayne said now is the time for “big and bold ideas.”

The bill would address housing and homelessness, community and small-business recovery, community well-being, and community assistance and programming.

For generations, North Omaha has been neglected by state and local government officials, Wayne said. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the gaps in services that are needed in the community.

Some projects in the plan calls for matching funds from the city, county, or private sources. Wayne said the plan would enhance what the city is doing, not compete with existing programming.

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SOUTH DAKOTA GOV. KRISTI NOEM ENDORSES HERBSTER IN NEBRASKA GOVERNOR'S RACE

LINCOLN- In the Republican primary race to succeed Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, candidate Charles W. Herbster announced that he has received an endorsement from South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

The development positions two prominent Republican governors, Ricketts and Noem, on opposite sides of the primary race. Ricketts in January endorsed Jim Pillen, a livestock producer and University of Nebraska regent.

"I am proud to endorse Charles W. Herbster to be the next governor of Nebraska. Charles is a strong conservative, and with decades of experience as a farmer, rancher, and successful businessman," Noem said in the Herbster campaign release.

Herbster said it was an honor to receive the endorsement.

“I look forward to working alongside her as a powerful ally in the fight against federal government overreach," he said in the release. "As governors of neighboring states, Kristi Noem and I will collaborate to bring additional jobs and resources to our states, and advance opportunity and prosperity for all."

Noem has become an increasingly recognized figure in national Republican politics. Though she has dismissed such speculation, some view her as a potential Republican presidential contender in 2024 — speculation largely tied to her efforts aimed at building a national profile, particularly by condemning restrictions meant to curb the spread of COVID-19. She has registered a political action committee and engaged in a nationwide speaking circuit.

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HERBSTER, PILLEN CRITICIZED FOR SKIPPING NEBRASKA GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE

OMAHA- Jim Pillen and Charles W. Herbster, frontrunners in the Republican primary race for Nebraska governor, are facing criticism for failing to commit to an upcoming debate hosted by two local news outlets.

Editors at KMTV and The World-Herald have been planning a debate among the top four Republican candidates, aiming to broadcast the debate live before early voting starts for the May 10 primary. KMTV took the lead on coordinating and communicating with the campaigns.

Geoff Roth, news director at KMTV, reached out to the campaigns for Pillen, Herbster, State Sen. Brett Lindstrom and former Sen. Theresa Thibodeau on Dec. 28 to schedule the event for March 21.

Roth said he received the Lindstrom campaign’s acceptance within a week and Thibodeau’s a few days later. But he never heard back from Herbster or Pillen after that email or a follow-up.

Last week, Roth said he called both campaigns. Pillen’s never followed up, he said, and Herbster’s said the date wouldn’t work. When Roth asked for alternative dates that would work, the staffer cited a busy schedule and also never followed up, he said.

At that point, Roth said organizers made the assumption that neither wanted to participate. So, he emailed the Lindstrom and Thibodeau campaigns Monday to tell them the event was on hold.

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS CONSIDER EXPANDING PARTS OF HIGHWAY 81 AND HIGHWAY 20

LINCOLN- Nebraska lawmakers are weighing a bill that would widen stretches of U.S. Highway 81 and Nebraska Highway 20 through the state.

The Legislature’s Transportation and Telecommunications Committee took up Legislative Bill 1274, a proposal from Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, during a hearing Monday.

The bill requires the Nebraska Department of Transportation to plan, design, and purchase rights of way for portions of the two highways.

Flood, whose district includes Madison County and southern Pierce County, proposed widening the portion of Highway 81 that runs from York to Columbus, as well as the stretch from Norfolk to Yankton, South Dakota.

The proposal would expand Highway 81, which runs north and south through the state, from two lanes to four along those stretches.

The bill, Flood said, has the support of senators along the corridor.

It would also expand Nebraska Highway 20, which runs east and west through the state, between Highway 81 and the Iowa border to a four-lane divided highway.

Expanding Highway 81 is in the best interest of the state, Flood said. It would help relieve a congested stretch for tourists heading to Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area on the Nebraska-South Dakota border, as well as for truckers hauling livestock or grain.

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