UNCERTAINTIES AHEAD FOR ABORTION ISSUE IN NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN — Forces on both sides of the abortion issue are girding for a likely special session of the Nebraska Legislature later this summer if, as expected, the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Roe v. Wade.

Many uncertainties lie ahead, however, including whether a special session will even be called if the high court removes the legal right to abortion. If a special session is called, it’s expected to happen in late August or early September.

A few key questions remain: Will Roe v. Wade be struck down? Are there enough votes in the Legislature to pass a ban on abortion? What kind of bill will be introduced?

The leaked draft of the Supreme Court opinion would remove the legal right to abortion. Commentators have noted that such drafts can change and it is possible the eventual Supreme Court ruling won't be as sweeping as the draft appeared to be.

If Roe v. Wade is struck down, the Legislature will likely filibuster an abortion ban in the state which requires 33 votes from the 49 members.

Sandy Danek, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, said a bill is being planned that would not include certain exceptions for cases of rape or incest.

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NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF A MEATPACKING WORKER FIRED DURING THE PANDEMIC

LINCOLN - The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday, May 20 reversed a lower court’s opinion denying several weeks of unemployment benefits to a packinghouse worker who said he refused to take on additional duties of a colleague absent with COVID-19.

The ruling centered on whether Saied Badawi’s actions leading up to his termination from JBS Swift Beef amounted to misconduct, which could disqualify him from 14 weeks of unemployment payments.

"Competent evidence" to support the finding that Badawi had committed misconduct was not provided by the employer, according to the high court's 18-page decision.

“At best, this record shows only that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer employees were able to work at JBS. … Badawi refused the order to perform both jobs because he thought he was not physically capable of doing so. And the record shows that both before and after Badawi’s discharge, the two jobs were performed by two individuals rather than one.”

Director of the Nebraska Labor Department, John Albin, was listed as the defendant in the lawsuit because the department handles unemployment benefits.

Albin said the Labor Department was pleased with the high court's decision as it affirmed procedural matters the department favors; specifically that the burden of proof for misconduct lies with the employer in such cases of denied benefits.

“We really didn’t have a big stake in the determination of whether or not the individual was entitled to benefits,” Albin said.

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ARMENDARIZ EDGES JACKSON IN CLOSE PRIMARY RACE TO ADVANCE IN OMAHA'S DISTRICT 18

LINCOLN — After counting all remaining ballots, the Douglas County Election Office said Friday, May 20 that Christy Armendariz has unofficially won the right to face off with Michael Young in the November election in northwest Omaha’s 18th legislative district.

Armendariz beat Clarice Jackson by 21 votes after provisional ballots were counted Friday, according to Election Commissioner Brian Kruse.

Young led with 2,498 votes. Armendariz received 2,397 votes, besting Jackson's 2,358.

“It appears that we’re headed for a recount,” Kruse said.

If the difference between candidates is less than 1% of the total votes for the top vote-getter, state law requires a recount. In this case, 1% is equivalent to 25 votes. Kruse added that a candidate can always refuse a recount.

The current representative in District 18, State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, endorsed Armendariz. Additionally, Kirk Penner of Aurora, a member of the State Board of Education, endorsed Armendariz. Jackson was endorsed by Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, and State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan.

Young, who runs an art gallery and tech company, was endorsed by the state teacher’s union, State Sen. John McCollister and the Omaha Federation of Labor.

Kruse said the vote totals are not official until the county and state canvassing boards certify them on June 6.

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PILLEN SAYS HIS CAMPAIGN FOR NEBRASKA GOVERNOR IS 'INVIGORATED'

LINCOLN - Jim Pillen, the hog producer and University of Nebraska regent who won a bitterly contested GOP primary for Nebraska governor, has been striking a different chord in ads lately — but he says the campaign’s strategy remains the same.

“We are very, very invigorated, and very humbled by the support of the Nebraskans across the state,” he said, adding that the campaign will be ramping up again soon and will work hard to “bring Nebraskans together.”

During the primary, much of the campaign's ads emphasized national, hot-button issues. He sounds noticeably different in his most recent ad: "I’m Jim Pillen, and I love Nebraska. I love Nebraska steaks and Dorothy Lynch dressing. I love football Saturdays, where we always sell out. Nebraskans don’t care about what you look like, we care about each other.”

His increased focus on a "we are Nebraska" attitude was on display during an interview Friday, May 20, as well.

“We need every single one of us, all together, so that we can grow Nebraska and that we can meet the challenges,” he said. “This is the best place in the world to live, I want to make sure it’s that way for our grandbabies and future generations.”

He said they will try to be more "measured" now in comparison to their campaign pace, but the grassroots strategy will remain.

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DON BACON, TONY VARGAS TURN ATTENTION TO FALL SHOWDOWN FOR NEBRASKA'S 2ND DISTRICT

OMAHA — Two men who have each won multiple elections in Nebraska will face off this fall in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District.

Republican Rep. Don Bacon is seeking his fourth term in Congress. His opponent, state Sen. Tony Vargas, has served on the Omaha Public Schools board and has been elected to the Nebraska Legislature twice.

Both candidates are touting their ability to reach across the aisle to pass legislation. The two lawmakers have long voting records for voters and each other to dissect and analyze in the coming months.

The May 10 primary election results have pitted the two against each other with both taking aim at one another in recent statements.

Bacon said Vargas would be "a rubber stamp for Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi and President (Joe) Biden."

Vargas said Congress isn't working for Nebraska families and votes from Bacon are making it harder for families to get by.

A Creighton University political science professor, Richard Witmer, said the 2nd District will likely be the most competitive race on Nebraska's general election ballot.

Many races in the 2nd District have been competitive despite Republicans having held the 2nd District for 34 of the past 42 years, giving Bacon an advantage.

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POLITICAL PARTIES' RULES CREATE CONFUSION OVER BALLOT OPTIONS FOR NEBRASKA NONPARTISANS

LINCOLN- A Nebraska state law with the intent of keeping poll workers from inappropriately steering nonpartisan voters has actually kept some voters from understanding their ballot options during elections.

In Nebraska, the Republican Party allows only party members to vote in its primary elections for state offices. The Democratic Party and third parties, by contrast, do allow nonpartisans to vote in their primary elections for state-level offices. But nonpartisans must request the party ballot they want.

If nonpartisans don’t request a specific ballot when they sign in to vote, they are handed a ballot that includes no competitive, partisan primary races.

It is up to the individual to select which ballot they will receive, this is mentioned in a notice with all the options. The notice explains that nonpartisan voters can request a ballot for the Democratic, Libertarian, or Legal Marijuana Now Parties, which include candidates for state and federal office. The nonpartisan Republican ballot includes only candidates for federal office.

State law bars poll workers from suggesting which ballot nonpartisans should request, for fear they might influence election outcomes.

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FIRST HEARING IN SLAMA-HERBSTER LEGAL FIGHT WILL WAIT UNTIL JUNE 14

OMAHA- The first court hearing in the legal action between State Sen. Julie Slama and businessman Charles Herbster is now scheduled for 2 p.m. on June 14.

The hearing, originally set for June 3, also has been moved from Tecumseh to Beatrice, home base of Johnson County District Court Judge Ricky Schreiner.

Lawyers for Slama and Herbster agreed to the date and location changes, based on a document filed late last week in Johnson County District Court.

This hearing will address a series of motions Herbster’s lawyers filed contesting parts of Slama’s counter-lawsuit, as well as Slama’s push to depose Herbster with little delay.

It will also address the Slama legal team’s objections to Herbster’s motions.

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NEBRASKA GOP STATE CONVENTION RETURNING TO KEARNEY

KEARNEY- The Nebraska Republican Party is set to host its state convention in Kearney.

The NEGOP announced on Tuesday that it is hosting the convention at the Younes Conference Center South on July 8th and 9th. The convention happens in even-numbered years and serves as a chance for party leaders to discuss policy positions and pass resolutions. The event is attended by delegates and alternates who are elected by county parties. Republicans who are not delegates may apply to attend.

The list of featured speakers includes Gov. Pete Ricketts, gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen, and Dist. 1 Representative Candidate Mike Flood.

The contention is returning to Kearney as the city also hosted the convention in 2020, prior to the pandemic.

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TURNOUT IN COUNTIES WITH ALL-MAIL ELECTIONS FAR EXCEEDS STATEWIDE AVERAGE

LINCOLN- Voter turnout in Nebraska counties that conduct elections exclusively by mail reached 55% during the May 10 primary, exceeding the overall voter participation rate of 33.3%, an analysis of the results shows.

Eleven of the ninety-three counties decide to go all mail ballots this year, in 2018 only four counties participated in this form.

For the 2022 primary, some 57.5% of voters in Knox County returned a ballot, a turnout 13% higher on average than its surrounding counties.

Other counties that deployed the vote-by-mail model this year also saw greater success, on average, than surrounding counties where voters still went to the polls.

Boone County (61.7% turnout) reported a turnout 21.6% higher, on average than the six counties that surround it, while Morrill County (54.7% turnout) in the Panhandle saw a turnout 20.4% higher than its surrounding counties.

Sarah Robinson, the county clerk and election commissioner in Boone County said the county gradually transitioned to mail-in elections beginning in 2008 when several precincts lost country schools and churches as polling places.

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NEBRASKA SETS ALL-TIME RECORD FOR GAS PRICES

LINCOLN- Nebraska is witnessing the highest gas prices the state has ever seen. 

According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas hit $4.11 on May 17th, breaking the previous record set in July 2008. Gas in the state is 30 cents more expensive than it was a month ago and $1.22 higher than it was a year ago.

Both the state and local prices for diesel fuel had already set records earlier this month.

Experts say the high gas prices are largely due to the price of oil, which is hovering around $110 a barrel.

“The high cost of oil, the key ingredient in gasoline, is driving these high pump prices for consumers,” Andrew Gross, an AAA spokesperson, said in a Monday news release.

Gross said that the price is likely to continue increasing,  thanks to the switchover to summer fuel blends and the coming summer travel season. 

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RICKETTS SAYS HE WOULD SUPPORT ABORTION BAN, INCLUDING IN CASES OF RAPE OR INCEST

LINCOLN- Gov. Pete Ricketts voiced support for an abortion ban in Nebraska, including in cases of rape and incest, and repeated his intent to call a special legislative session to take up the matter if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. 

Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday morning, Ricketts said Nebraska would take “further steps to protect those preborn babies” if the court strikes down Roe, which the governor called “a horrible constitutional decision,” according to a transcript of the interview.

Host Dana Bash then asked the Nebraska governor if that would apply to cases of rape or incest.

“They’re still babies, too,” Ricketts said. “Yes, they’re still babies.”

Ricketts reaffirmed his commitment to work with Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers to call a special session on abortion if Roe is overturned.

“Nebraska is a pro-life state. I believe life begins at conception. And those are babies, too,” Ricketts said Sunday.

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'THE BIGGER PANDEMIC'- NEBRASKA IS IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, BUT MANY ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND CARE

LINCOLN- Many Nebraskans are struggling to reach mental health care due to a lack of providers and never before seen demand for the services. 

Nearly 1 in 5 Nebraskans has a diagnosable mental health or substance use disorder, a number some experts say may grow in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the illness, isolation, grief, and trauma it brought with it. Neurological problems linked to the coronavirus and "long COVID" have also raised concerns.

At Bryan Health, online behavioral health screenings were up 17% in 2021 compared to three years ago. Meanwhile, CenterPointe, which offers outpatient and inpatient addiction and mental health treatment programs in Lincoln and Omaha, served nearly 4,270 people in the 2020-21 fiscal year, a 26% increase from 2019-20. 

"It is the bigger pandemic," CenterPointe CEO Topher Hansen said. "It's a little quieter, but it's huge out there, and it's not necessarily resolving in the same way. You can't get a vaccine for that."

While the number of behavioral health providers has increased in the past decade, Nebraska's supply of workers is struggling to meet demand, especially in rural areas. 

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AWARDING $115 MILLION TO 'SHOVEL-READY PROJECTS' MAY TAKE SOME TIME

LINCOLN — The shovels are ready for more than $300 million worth of construction projects disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the state funding authorized for these so-called “shovel-ready” projects may take a while.

Some applicants are now wondering if recent changes in the program might mean they won't be getting funds. Final decisions about who gets ARPA grants will be made by DED Director Tony Goins.

As part of its allocation of $1 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the Nebraska Legislature set aside $100 million for qualified nonprofit groups whose planned museums, sports complexes, and other projects linked to arts, recreation, and the humanities were interrupted by the pandemic. 

The $100 million was in addition to $15 million in state funds approved a year earlier in Legislative Bill 566, the Shovel-Ready Capital Recovery and Investment Act.

But the main sponsor of the shovel-ready legislation, State Sen. Mike McDonnell, urged patience to those concerned applicants. In a recent interview, McDonnell said the Nebraska Department of Economic Development is still working through hiring staff and adopting rules.

“It’s not going to happen as quickly as some people expected,” McDonnell said, noting that the legislative session ended only a month ago. “We’re asking for patience.”

One thing is for sure — there won’t be enough money to meet all the requests.

Last summer, 125 applicants submitted proposals seeking a total of nearly $335 million in grants — well over the $15 million then available and nearly three times the $115 million now available through the shovel-ready program.

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GOLFING LEGEND JOINS UNMC OFFICIALS IN DECLARING 'WAR' ON PANCREATIC CANCER

OMAHA — Golf legend Gary Player joined officials of the University of Nebraska Medical Center on Tuesday, May 17 in “declaring war” on pancreatic cancer.

We’ve got to have perseverance. We can’t say ‘can’t.’ We have to believe we can do something,” said Player, who lost his mother to cancer at age 9 and lost his wife to pancreatic cancer.

Jeffrey Gold, UNMC Chancellor, said many diseases have been conquered but pancreatic cancer has eluded effective ways to detect it early and treat it effectively.

“We are officially declaring a state of open warfare today," Gold said. 

Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and is among the most lethal and aggressive forms of cancer. Roughly 62,000 new cases are projected in 2022 with a five-year survival rate of 5.1%. The survival rate is 1.8% for patients whose cancer has spread to other organs.

Gold said UNMC will continue to focus on early detection, more effective treatments, and preventative measures for pancreatic cancer. These increased efforts include an additional $15 million in research funds for UNMC's pancreatic cancer program, an amount expected to be met by private donations. 

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NEBRASKANS LAG COUNTRY IN USE OF SEAT BELTS, EVEN AS FATAL WRECKS INCREASE

LINCOLN — Nebraskans are lagging the nation in using seat belts while driving, which officials said Thursday has contributed to a 30% increase in highway fatalities.

Only 81% of Nebraskans buckle up, making the state 47th in the country in the use of safety belts. The national average is 90%.

“It’s a two-second action that can significantly increase your safety,” Col. John Bolduc, the superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, said about putting on a seat belt.

The Patrol announced a stepped-up enforcement effort, "Click It or Ticket," to increase seat belt usage on Thursday, May 19.

Due to the number of fatal accidents, Bolduc said the summer driving season is oftentimes referred to as "the 100 deadliest days."

According to John Selmer, director of the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska had fewer deaths in 2021 from highway crashes than in 2020, contrary to a national trend.  

But in 2022, fatalities are up more than 30%, Selmer said, mirroring the national trends. Through April, 84 people have died on Nebraska highways, compared with 61 traffic fatalities in the same period a year ago. 

Seat belt usage reduces the chances of dying in an accident by 45%, officials said.

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FINAL CONSIDERATION OF STATE'S LARGEST CATTLE FEEDLOT IN DUNDY COUNTY DELAYED AGAIN

LINCOLN — Consideration of what may become the state’s largest cattle feedlot has been postponed until June 6.

The final approval of the Blackshirt Feeders' 100,000-head feedlot was postponed by the Dundy County Board after discovering a public notice of the meeting hadn't been published in time to allow consideration during the board's meeting on Monday.

Blackshirt Feeders' proposal has been controversial due to its large size and potential impact on groundwater quantity and quality in Dundy County, located in the furthest southwest corner of Nebraska.

Eric Behlke, one developer of the feedlot, has assured local officials that the feedlot will meet all local environmental and water regulations. 

The $65 million Blackshirt project would employ 85 workers and require up to 10 million bushels of corn a year. 

Six nearby irrigation wells would have to be retired to obtain enough water for the feedlot. 

In February, the Dundy County Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the Blackshirt project- contingent on 13 conditions, including obtaining approval of water rights from the local natural resources district, devising a dust and fly mitigation plan and giving nearby residents 24-hour notice if manure is to be land applied. 

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CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS TOUT NEW PRISON ADDITION AS SAFER, MORE EFFICIENT

LINCOLN- State corrections officials showed off the newest addition to the state prison system, pitching it as safer for both inmates and staff and better able to rehabilitate prisoners and retain security staff. 

The $125 million addition to the Lincoln Correctional Center and Diagnostic and Evaluation Center includes two 32-bed units for inmates with acute mental illnesses and those needing medical care, as well as a 384-bed are to house the state’s most dangerous prisoners. 

“The bottom line is you’re going to see a great prison,” said State Corrections Director Scott Frakes.

The Nebraska Legislature declined this spring to give the final go-ahead for a $270 million prison, opting to wait for a new master plan for the state prison system expected before the end of the year. But state lawmakers did set aside $175 million for the ultimate construction of the massive facility if approved in the 2023 legislative session and by a new, incoming governor.

Frakes did say that some of the 10 state senators who toured the facility remarked that they had a clearer picture of what the larger, proposed prison would look like.

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WILDFIRE BURNING NERBASKA NATIONAL FOREST NEAR HALSEY

HALSEY- Multiple agencies and fire crews are battling a wildfire at the Nebraska National Forest.

District Ranger Julie Bain said five fires were started in the forest by lightning strikes earlier in the week. Crews were able to put out the fires. However, two of the fires re-ignited a day later. One is now under control, while the other is still in progress. 

So far, the fires have destroyed between 15 to 50 acres. The Whitetail Campground and the ATV trails are closed and it is believed that structures or private property are not currently at risk.

Bain said although the area recently received 3 inches of rain, it hasn’t been enough to recover from the ongoing dry conditions.

Forest officials say the smell of smoke could make its way into the surrounding areas pending the containment process. 

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TREVOR JONES, HEAD OF HISTORY NEBRASKA FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, TO RESIGN JULY 1

LINCOLN — Trevor Jones, the executive director/CEO of History Nebraska, submitted his resignation Wednesday, effective July 1.

Jones, who served in the position for the past six years, was unsure about his future plans in a message shared with the staff at the state historical society.

After talking with his wife about what is "truly important," he said he decided to "leave my position while still doing my best work."

“I don’t know what will come next, but I look forward to finding out,” he wrote. “It has been my honor to serve the organization charged with preserving and interpreting Nebraska’s history. …  I have enjoyed the work immensely.” 

Jones, who previously managed the Historical Resources division of the Kentucky Historical Society, had made a number of changes at History Nebraska. He pushed hard for the digitization of the agency's historical archives and even won approval to change the name of the organization from the Nebraska State Historical Society to History Nebraska.

In his note, Jones said that he was proud of what History Nebraska has accomplished.

“We’ve digitized millions of records and seen the use of our collections increase exponentially. We have launched innovative new programs, increased our budget, staff size, attendance, and earned income dramatically,” Jones wrote.

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NEBRASKA'S LONE ASTRONAUT RETURNS HOME TO HEAD SAC MUSEUM

ASHLAND - For 167 days of his life, Clayton Anderson floated far above the Earth. But it’s his hometown of Ashland that Nebraska’s only astronaut has always gravitated toward.

Anderson spent 30 years with NASA and the latter 15 years as an astronaut. Anderson’s 15 years as an astronaut include flying on two space shuttle missions and six spacewalks that totaled 38 hours and 28 minutes. Anderson describes being able to spacewalk as “the ultimate” milestone. 

After a decade of retirement, he landed the position of president and CEO of the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum. The museum is located near his hometown along Interstate 80 between Omaha and Lincoln.

“I’m just very excited,” he said in an interview. “There are special people here. There are dedicated, hardworking and amazing people that helped raise me … and made me the man I’ve become. It’s time for me to come home and give back.” 

Since his retirement from NASA, Anderson had been teaching intro to aerospace engineering to first-year students at Iowa State University. 

Anderson hopes to continue the SAC Museum's mission of educating, entertaining, and inspiring those who come through its doors. 

He envisions he and the 30 employees of the museum will implement more interactivity that "can bring the museum even to bigger life."

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