NEBRASKA SANDHILLS NAMED LARGEST INTACT TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS ON PLANET

LINCOLN- Work by UNL researchers Dirac Twidwell and Rheinhardt Scholtz has concluded that the Sandhills are Earth’s largest remaining intact, temperate grassland.

That’s probably a surprise to some because the Sandhills aren’t well-known outside the state, Twidwell said.

“While the Sandhills are recognized here, they haven’t gained the recognition internationally of other grasslands,” he said.

The duo’s research found that the Sandhills are among seven large-scale grasslands of any type that remain mostly intact. Another is in the Wyoming Basin, two others in Asia, and one each in Africa, South America, and Australia.

Of these, the Sandhills are the only region that doesn’t have an internationally focused conservation strategy, he said. That may be because the region lies wholly within one state and one country and doesn’t straddle borders requiring international cooperation.

The Sandhills, located in the northwest and north-central Nebraska, cover about a quarter of the state, and more than 90% of the land is privately owned.

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SENATORS DECRY THE LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT OPTIONS IN THE STATE

LINCOLN — A person with mental illness goes off prescribed medications, gets unruly, and law enforcement is called. Maybe the person takes a swing at the responding cop, resulting in a trip to jail and maybe a conviction that leads to prison.

Due to the state's lack of resources and facilities to treat patients with mental illness, State Sen. Steve Lathrop said he's watched the above scenario unfold over and over. County jails and Nebraska prisons have instead become de facto mental health institutions; both of which are ill-equipped to treat them, Lathrop said.

“This is the moral issue of the day,” the veteran senator told his colleagues Tuesday.

Lathrop advocated for the increased capacity at the Lincoln Regional Center, especially for those who have been deemed incompetent to stand trial and are awaiting treatment. The average wait time for somebody to move from the county jail to the regional center is 128 days. One person in the Lancaster County Jail has been on the waitlist for 365 days.

“(Families) are begging the jail to send their loved ones to the Regional Center for treatment,” Lancaster County Commissioner Deb Schorr testified at a public hearing last week.

Schorr was one of many witnesses testifying in favor of Legislative Bill 1223 that would require the state to pay $100 a day if someone deemed incompetent had to wait more than 30 days. Sen. Matt Hansen introduced the bill which would also require that state hospitals have at least 200 beds for such individuals.

“It’s not right,” Lathrop said of the lack of beds and waitlists. “Mental health is probably the No. 1 issue for this body.”

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NEBRASKA BUDGET PLAN ADVANCED TO FULL LEGISLATURE WITHOUT SEX ED LANGUAGE

LINCOLN- The Appropriations Committee signed off on a budget plan Tuesday that would boost pay to providers caring for the most vulnerable Nebraskans and fund nearly $500 million worth of building and infrastructure projects.

But two sentences left out of the three-bill package could prove to be its most controversial feature.

The sentences would have barred the State Department of Education from using any of its appropriation to “research, adopt or implement state sex education standards for Nebraska schools.”

Gov. Pete Ricketts had included that language in his budget recommendations to the Legislature, specifying that the prohibition was to apply whether the sex education standards were mandatory or voluntary for schools.

The Appropriations Committee plan makes changes to the two-year budget passed last year. Under the plan, state spending would hit $9.8 billion during the two years ending June 30, 2023.

But, based on new, more optimistic projections of state revenue, it would leave $453.6 million of state general funds available for tax cuts or other spending priorities.

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MEASURE TO PROVIDE VIDEO ARCHIVE OF LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS AND FLOOR DEBATE ADVANCES

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Legislature would maintain a video archive of legislative debate and hearings under a bill advanced Thursday to debate.

Legislative Bill 777 was introduced with the goal of increasing transparency and following the procedure of 46 other states that already keep a library of legislative proceedings. Making legislative proceedings more accessible to the public has gained the support of Sen. Julie Slama and Sen. Suzanne Geist, who said that many entities already record the proceedings.

Under an amendment to LB777, AM2131, the recordings "shall not be used for political or commercial purposes" and are intended for "educational and informational purposes."

Senators not yet in support of LB777 have concerns that the recordings will be used for political purposes, to "gotcha" a senator. There are other concerns that the recordings will be used for interest groups to urge people to call out senators about a particular vote.In response to Sen. Lathrop's question, "Is that political?", the Legislature's Executive Board proposed putting a "watermark" on the video that states the recording cannot be used politically.

LB777 advanced from the Executive Board on a 6-1 vote with Lathrop being the singular "no" vote. Sen. Pansing Brooks and Sen. Vargas were present and not voting. The bill, introduced by Sen. Brewer, was declared a speaker priority bill. Of the groups advocating for the bill, the Platte Institute, an Omaha-based think tank, says it is a way to keep the public more informed.

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FACT CHECK: HERBSTER, PILLEN CRT SQUABBLE SHORT ON SUBSTANCE

LINCOLN- Charles W. Herbster has used Jim Pillen’s record on critical race theory as ammunition in attacks against his chief rival in the Republican primary for Nebraska governor. But the critiques of Pillen, a University of Nebraska regent since 2013, aren’t backed by much substance.

Herbster, a Falls City businessman, launched an ad last month asserting “Pillen approved a whole new department focused on CRT” — an apparent reference to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion was created in 2018, Herbster campaign spokesperson Emily Novotny said in an email, with the chancellor position created that December. Regents voted 7-0 on Dec. 4, with Hal Daub abstaining, to approve the chancellor’s recommendation to hire Marco Barker as vice-chancellor of diversity and inclusion and as an associate professor, according to meeting minutes.

The Herbster ad also asserts that Pillen chose a leader for that office who “praised violent race riots on university letterhead.” It uses the name and photo of Barker, who is Black. Barker declined The World-Herald’s request for an interview.Barker wrote about the calls for change and offered resources on campus for those seeking out conversations, counseling or information. He did not reference “violent race riots.”

The ad also claims that Pillen tripled the office’s budget. But regents don’t vote on department-level spending. According to spokesperson Melissa Lee, they approve an overall operating budget for the university system and every chancellor has authority over their campus budget.

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BILL REQUIRING GOV. TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL RENTAL AID ADVANCES; RICKETTS SEES NO JUSTIFICATION TO APPLY

LINCOLN- Despite his resistance, Gov. Pete Ricketts could be required to apply for $120 million of federal rent and utility assistance money under a bill that advanced in the Legislature Wednesday.Legislative Bill 1073 would call on the governor to apply for all federal funds available to Nebraska for emergency rental assistance under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The bill advanced to the second of three rounds of debate following a 29-7 vote Wednesday.

The bill was amended to include the requirement after Ricketts announced he would not seek the $120 million. The state has until March 30 to apply before the funding is earmarked to go to other states, according to State Sen. Matt Hansen of Lincoln. Nebraska is one of only two states to ignore the funding opportunity, he said.

Lawmakers have repeatedly requested Ricketts seek out aid. Last week, all nine members of the Appropriations Committee signed a letter asking the governor to reconsider his decision.

Despite this, Ricketts doubled down on his stance that Nebraska did not need the money in a column published Tuesday. In the column, Ricketts argued that the COVID-19 pandemic was over, and compared the assistance to “applying for emergency disaster aid without a flood or tornado.”

“Nebraska is not a welfare state,” Ricketts said in the column. “It’s not who we are. But if we take these funds, it will be.”

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BIG LAKE, WITH $500M-$1B PRICETAG GETS LOTS OF LOVE FROM LAWMAKERS

LINCOLN — The proposal for a 4,000-acre sandpit lake between Omaha and Lincoln got a lot of love Wednesday from state legislators but also plenty of questions about how much public access would be allowed.

State Sens. John Cavanagh and Steve Lathrop, both of Omaha, led the questioning.Cavanaugh told the Nebraska Examiner he was concerned that the public could be barred from a portion of the big lake.

“If we’re going to make this a state asset, we need to enshrine that we guarantee public access,” he said.

Lincoln Sen. Mike Hilgers, a main proponent of the lake, said an amendment is being drafted to ensure that “public access” to the lake.

He said the lake would probably have marinas and hotels that are privately owned, but that public access to them would be assured.

“I would never come in for a dime of public money if it was closed off to public access,” said Hilgers, who is Speaker of the Legislature.

On Wednesday, after a morning debate, state legislators advanced the bill containing the big lake proposal on a 29-4 vote.

Cavanaugh was among seven senators who were present but not voting on Legislative Bill 1023. He said he was reserving judgment until he saw the amendment ensuring public access, which will be debated during second-round consideration of the bill.

The bill would devote $20 million in state funds to study the feasibility of building the lake, which is roughly estimated to cost $500 million to $1 billion to dredge to a depth of 30 feet. Another $26 million, as proposed in the bill, would be set aside for the construction costs.

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CASINO BILL ADVANCES WITH ON NEW 'RACINOS'

LINCOLN- Nebraska gambling enthusiasts would have to make do with only six casinos at existing horse racing tracks, at least initially, under a bill advanced Tuesday to debate by the full Legislature.

Legislative Bill 876 was advanced by the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee on a 7-0 vote, with one member not voting, after weeks of wrangling over several issues, including how many casinos to allow, given voter approval of expanded gambling in November.

Proponents of locating new racinos in Bellevue, Norfolk, North Platte, Gering and Ogallala would be required to do an extensive study to answer several questions, including whether new locations would help or hurt the existing casinos and whether they would help or hurt the horse racing industry.

Briese said it would be up to the State Racing Commission to decide whether new racinos should be added. Under LB 876, the commission would have to conduct a “statewide market analysis” on horse racing and complete its work “as soon as practicable” but not later than Jan. 1, 2025.

Briese called that a “de facto moratorium” on new racinos because it would take some time — he wouldn’t predict how long — before the commission and an applicant for a new racino could complete the required studies.

The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce had called for no limit on the number of racinos allowed. State horse racing officials, meanwhile, had recommended that casinos be allowed only existing racetracks in Omaha, Lincoln, Columbus, Grand Island, South Sioux City and Hastings.

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PERKINS COUNTY CANAL PROJECT MOVES FORWARD AMID QUESTIONS ABOUT FINAL COST

LINCOLN — After an afternoon-long debate, state lawmakers advanced a controversial proposal to begin designing a $500-million canal to divert water from the South Platte River. Legislative Bill 1015, introduced on behalf of Gov. Pete Ricketts, advanced from the first round of debate on a 36-3 vote.The canal, which was originally proposed in the 1920s, has drawn questions from state senators regarding the sudden urgency of the project.

"This thing's one hundred years old. All of a sudden, we have this urgency," said State Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha.

Ricketts and the supporters of the canal project argue that unless it is built, Colorado will suck up the flows of the South Platte River that were granted to Nebraska in the water compact made in 1923. Supporters claim the canal is the only way to capture the off-season flows that Colorado will instead use for development projects on the Front Range.

The Appropriations Committee, which writes the state budget, has instead recommended about $53 million to do design work on the canal project. The chairman of the committee, State Sen. John Stinner, said it would be fiscally irresponsible to allocate $500 million to the canal without more study.

Lathrop questioned whether $500 million would even be enough to complete the project. Regardless of whether it is or not, he is also concerned about the possibility of the Legislature abandoning other state priorities in favor of the canal. Defendants of the bill, such as Sen. Mike Flood, argue the canal would signal to Colorado "how serious we are about water."

State Sen. Dan Hughes said, "If we don't build this canal, that water will go away. It will be lost to use forever." He also claimed that the Front Range is projected to double in population in the next 30 years.

The bill still has two rounds of debate to endure and will likely be brought up when the Legislature debates the state budget.

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RICKETTS TOUTS PROGRESS IN REDUCING STAFF SHORTAGES IN NEBRASKA PRISONS

LINCOLN- Hefty pay increases for state corrections workers have already reduced staff vacancies by half and should soon cut into forced overtime for prison guards and required weekend lockdowns for many prisoners, state officials said Monday.

Overall, the raises of up to 40% announced in November have helped the state attract more than 1,000 new applicants and make 267 new hires, said Nebraska Department of Correctional Services Director Scott Frakes. The new pay is so attractive, he said, that 50 of the new hires are staffers who previously left and are now returning to the agency, and 118 are coming from out of state.

“We are very pleased with that agreement and the impact it has had on our staffing,” said Gov. Pete Ricketts, who joined Frakes at a press conference Monday.

The State Corrections Department has been dogged by chronic staffing shortages for years. Late last year, about a third of the agency’s "protective services" positions — corrections corporals, sergeants, and caseworkers — were vacant.

The sparse staffing has spurred myriad problems, including record overtime costs, limits on inmates' activities and safety issues.

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GOV. CANDIDATE THIBODEAU: KEEP NEBRASKA BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTED, ACCOUNTABLE

OMAHA — Former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau of Omaha, a Republican running for governor, said last week that she wants Nebraska to keep its elected state Board of Education.

A recent proposal to amend the state's constitution in order to eliminate the state Board of Education and transfer the state Department of Education under the governor's jurisdiction drew criticism from the gubernatorial candidate. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, the introducer of Legislative Resolution 278CA, said she introduced the resolution to benefit conservative parents who are frustrated by the education board's proposal to change health education standards.

Thibodeau, however, said Linehan's resolution would actually make it more difficult to hold state board members accountable. She said Nebraskans can currently campaign and vote against those education board members that they disagree with. Under LR278CA, Nebraskans would have to pressure governors to create any change in this regard.

LR278CA would put the authority to hire and fire the state's education commissioner in the governor's hands instead of the eight-member Board of Education.

“I’m angry about the heavy-handed way the State Board of Education tried to force inappropriate sex education standards on our children,” Thibodeau said in a press release. “The solution, however, is at the ballot box.”

Another proposal that Thibodeau does not agree with is the motion by voter initiative to eliminate the state Department of Education and education commissioner's post. An "Office of Education" would instead be created under the governor. Thibodeau said this proposal would still strengthen the educational bureaucracy. She wants an elected board that is accountable to the people.

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PILLEN SAYS NO TO GOP PRIMARY DEBATES WITH REPORTERS

LINCOLN - Nebraska Republicans might not see all their top governor candidates on the same debate stage before the May 10 primary election. University of Nebraska Regent Jim Pillen has continued to turn down debates, including one this week on NTV News.

His campaign told the Axtell, Nebraska-based TV station that he would not be a participant, according to an email from the station's leadership to the other candidates. Pillen's campaign manager Kenny Zoeller described debates as "often just political theater."

“We are going to continue to manage our outreach in a way that serves the interests of Republican voters, not the ratings of media outlets,” he said.

Zoeller went on to say that the media uses debates to pit GOP candidates against one another and hijack Republican voters' agenda.

Pillen also rejected an invitation to a debate hosted by online news outlet Nebraska Sunrise News, citing Theresa Thibodeau and Breland Ridenour's absence as the reason for not attending. The Pillen campaign said Charles Herbster, a competing candidate, had worked to exclude them. Sunrise News publisher Fletcher Reel called the claim made by Pillen's campaign "complete nonsense." Reel said his organization chose who to include in the debates based on "viability," including the amount of money each candidate had raised.

GOP governor candidates Herbster, Thibodeau, and State Sen. Brett Lindstrom have agreed to participate in the first debate of the race, scheduled for March 24 in Lincoln. That event will be hosted by Nebraska Public Media. Pillen declined to participate.

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MORE THAN $130,000 IN DARK MONEY TARGETS FLOOD IN GOP RACE WITH FORTENBERRY

LINCOLN — Dark money is filling in the TV advertising gap between indicted U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry and his top primary election opponent, State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk.

Flood’s campaign had spent nearly $240,000 on TV ads by late February, based on purchase agreements with TV stations. The Fortenberry campaign, over the same span, spent nearly $180,000 on TV ads. American Future Fund, an outside group, has deployed $130,000 worth of anti-Flood TV ads and mailers.

Fortenberry's campaign had seen a recent decrease in campaign funds after he was charged with lying to federal investigators, which is a felony. The Fortenberry campaign had raised roughly $100,000 in each of the three quarters of 2021. Fortenberry was indicted in October, leading to just $70,000 from donors in the final quarter of 2021.

American Future Fund is a pass-through organization based in Iowa and Virginia that has been the medium for anonymous donors to funnel money to the Fortenberry campaign. Nebraska's GOP governor primary election was the last time that the group spent this much money when they contributed more than $600,000 to help Beau McCoy and hurt Jon Bruning.

State Sen. Flood's campaign spokesperson criticized Fortenberry's embrace of the dark money, saying "With Fortenberry’s criminal trial looming, a donor hiding their identity is using this rent-a-PAC front group to try to help Fortenberry hold on to his title at the cost of what’s best for Nebraska."

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NU TO HERBSTER, LINDSTROM, AND PILLEN: STOP, NOW

LINCOLN- The GOP race for governor has a new player and this one isn’t looking for votes but is telling the top three campaigns to, in effect, pull some key commercials.

The player is the University of Nebraska which has sent 2-page, legal-letters to the Herbster, Lindstrom and Pillen forces “respectfully” asking them to keep their hands off NU’s logos and other “marks” arguing that all have used the copyrighted materials in an “unauthorized” manner.

At least one of the three, Charles Herbster’s campaign, is fighting back trying to keep its recent TV attack against Pillen, an NU Regent, alive. The ad accuses Pillen of supporting critical race theory—charges Pillen denies.

According to the NU letter: “The University has recently become aware of advertisements on behalf of your campaign that includes the use of University Marks. There is also a recent ad challenging Jim Pillen’s stance on critical race theory, which specifically mentions the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and has been released on television. In addition to the requirement that the University remain neutral in the matter of politics, the University also has a right and obligation to prohibit unauthorized uses of its marks.”

Herbster’s campaign complains NU is trying to protect one of its own, telling NCN, “The University does not want to be exposed in its support of Critical Race Theory and all the other terrible liberal policies that Jim Pillen has supported.”

At the same time though a Pillen ad is being challenged by NU as well.

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SEN. HUNT WANTS GROENE INVESTIGATED AND BETTER HANDLING OF HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS

LINCOLN- Former State Senator Mike Groene's choice of photographing a female staffer may spur a criminal investigation. Senators Megan Hunt and Machaela Cavanaugh called for a criminal investigation into Mike Groene.

Sen. Hunt wrote to the Attorney General’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol.

“The morality and ethics of this is one question,” Hunt told the Nebraska Examiner on Saturday. “The legality is another. My real question is, did anything illegal happen?”

The focus of her letter fell upon concerns of misuse of state property in relation to the computer. The second concern is the sharing of the photos without consent.

“I don’t know that Groene needs to be made an example of or anything,” Hunt said. “Sometimes there’s a straw that breaks the camel’s back. I think a lot of people are done with this pattern of harassment within the institution.”

Hunt and Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said Saturday that Groene’s actions show the need for the Legislature to improve how it handles human resources complaints from employees.

State Sen. Dan Hughes, chairman of the Legislature’s Executive Board, confirmed Friday that a formal complaint had been lodged against Groene. He said it was being taken “very seriously.” Speaker Mike Hilgers, who is running for Nebraska attorney general, referred questions to Friday’s statement from Hughes.

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FORMER NEBRASKA CONGRESSMAN BRAD ASHFORD OPTIMISTIC AFTER BRAIN CANCER DIAGNOSIS

OMAHA- Former Congressman Brad Ashford confirmed that he has been diagnosed with brain cancer, but said he feels confident he can overcome it. Ashford, 72, underwent a biopsy at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha on Friday, and his wife, Ann, said they are waiting for the results to determine the specific type of cancer and treatment plan going forward. In a phone interview on Saturday, Ashford said he was feeling good and would be returning home as soon as possible.

“It’s brain cancer, but I’ve got a lot of work to do so I’m gonna get out of here and keep doing what I do,” he said.

Ashford, who first disclosed the diagnosis in a Facebook post Friday, said he felt grateful to be in the care of Nebraska Medicine.

“The health care here at Nebraska Medicine is beyond anything one could imagine, it’s so incredible,” he said. “I’ve been proud to work on many projects here, including the cancer center, interestingly. There’s nobody better.”

Ashford said he would like to see State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha win the Republican primary for governor, and Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue represent the Democrats. In an interview Friday, he said he was impressed with Lindstrom when he got to know him about eight years ago. Ashford said he’s been pleased with Lindstrom approach in the Legislature.

“He is a doer, someone who has not been particularly political, a worker,” Ashford said.

Blood, he said, has done a strong job in the Legislature and as a Democrat running for governor trying to “carve out a lane for centrist solutions” in our polarized politics.

“I think they are both doers,” Ashford said. “They both would be good governors because they’re problem solvers.”

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NEBRASKA VIRUS CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE FALLING

LINCOLN- Following a long January of Covid, cases, and hospitalizations continue to decline in February.

The state said 387 people were hospitalized with the virus Feb. 20th, that number has been falling since its peak at 767 on Jan. 28.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska fell over the past two weeks from 1,490.71 new cases per day on Feb. 5 to 277.14 new cases per day on Feb. 19th. From mid-January until Jan. 26, that number was regularly above 4,000 during the peak of the surge of the omicron variant of the virus.

The number of virus cases the state reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also fell again last week. The state reported 1,940 cases, down from 4,868 cases the previous week and 10,435 the week before that. The number of cases has been falling since the state set a record of 29,141 cases in the week that began Jan. 16.

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RESIDENTS AT SITE OF PROPOSED BIG LAKE NEAR GRETNA HAVE PLENTY OF QUESTIONS

GRETNA - Nestled amid the cottonwoods and cedar trees along the Platte River, Riverside Acres offers a secluded refuge for a cluster of 25 homes and cabins midway between Omaha and Lincoln.

There are lakes for fishing, trails for walkers and four-wheelers, and scenic views of the river that settlers described as a mile wide and an inch deep. It’s only a short walk to prime deer-hunting spots and blinds for goose hunting. What was once paradise has recently been stricken with turbulence.

State legislators are contemplating the expansion of the Platte River floodplain, just across the road from Riverside Acres, for a massive sandpit lake. The proposed lake would be 4,000 acres and 7 miles long and is projected to attract $1 billion in private investment. At these proposed figures, it would be the same size as Lake Okoboji in Iowa. This size would allow for boating, marinas, and condos. Boosters claim it might be impressive enough to keep young people from moving away to places with more exciting landscapes. Despite increased momentum in the State Legislature, the residents of the area have a much different opinion.

“I think it’s a joke,” said Don Brudny Jr., from his home in Riverside Acres. “It’s a way for real estate developers and people with money to try and make some more money." Brudny's family farm would be mostly inundated by the proposed lake site. “I have serious doubts that they can legitimately make it work,” Bundy said. “(But) how can you be for or against anything if you don’t know anything?”

Legislative Bill 1023, the Lake Development Act, and the Water Recreation Enhancement Act, LB1023 propses a total of $200 million in recreation enhancements. Within the bill, $20 million would be spent on a study of the lake idea and $26 million would be added to a fund for the costs of the lake.

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LAWMAKERS DECRY HANDLING OF GROENE CASE AS STATE PATROL OPENS INVESTIGATION

LINCOLN - Voices rose and painful stories were recounted Tuesday, February 22 as senators debated whether the allegations of inappropriate conduct by now-former State Sen. Mike Groene were handled appropriately in the State Legislature.

The Nebraska State Patrol also announced that it was opening an investigation into whether any laws were broken when Groene, 66, of North Platte, took photographs of a former aide, who described them as “objectifying and demeaning.”

State Sen. Dan Hughes, chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board which handles such complaints, said he followed the guidelines in first seeking an "informal resolution" of the complaints made by Groene's legislative staffer. He also said he was required to keep the issue confidential.

Kristina Konecko, the aide, made the decision that the informal resolution was insufficient on Friday. She instead asked for an investigation.

Three state senators, Tom Briese, John Arch, and Anna Wishart, have been appointed to a special committee to handle the probe. If evidence of a criminal act is found, Hughes said the committee will hand it over to the Patrol and the Nebraska Attorney General's Office.

Groene announced his decision to resign Friday afternoon soon after the allegations were reported that he took inappropriate photos of Konecko.

He has denied that the photos were sexual in nature but has apologized for taking them without Konecko's permission. She had worked as a legislative aide to Groene on and off for six years.

Several female senators took to the microphone Tuesday to question the handling of the case.

Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh said the only recourse women have when confronting superiors is to go to the press.

She went on to take aim at Hughes and Speaker Mike Hilgers for their handling of the matter, saying "You tow men, men in the body, have failed."

Sen. Megan Hunt said "We need to have a conversation. But above all, we need action."

"We know this stuff has been going on for a long time," Sen. Carol Blood said, but complaints about sexual harassment are still chalked up to "boys will be boys" or "that's how he is."

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LINCOLN GROUP WANTS TO FORCE BALLOT VOTE ON CITY'S GENDER IDENTITY ORDINANCE

LINCOLN - A Lincoln organization has started a campaign to try to force a ballot vote on a newly adopted Lincoln City Council ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The council’s “fairness ordinance,” which passed last week on a 5-0 vote, also broadens the city’s municipal code to add military personnel and veterans as a protected class, and it updates several other definitions.

Lincoln's Nebraska Family Alliance takes issue with the "sexual orientation and gender identity" provisions within the ordinance.

Following the council action, they are now seeking signatures for their "Let Us Vote" petition in hopes of collecting 4,137 names in just a 15-day window.

The figure is equivalent to 4% of the last gubernatorial election. If they succeed in obtaining the amount, the fairness ordinance would be rendered unenforceable and must be either rescinded or placed on the ballot for a vote.

A similar ordinance was approved in 2012 by the Lincoln City Council as well as the Omaha City Council. It would have prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. However, more than 10,000 Lincoln citizens signed a petition in opposition and the ordinance stalled.

In a recent news release, the Alliance said that its "volunteers believe every person should be treated with dignity and respect, and are energized and motivated to halt this dangerous ordinance that would allow biological men in women’s showers, locker rooms, and restrooms.”

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