SMALL-TOWN CHIEF SAID HE WAS BUYING AMMO, BUT AUDIT FINDS HE USED $15,000 FOR PERSONAL ITEMS

LINCOLN — The police chief in Oakland told officials there he was using gift cards to buy ammunition.

However, an audit by the Nebraska State Auditor's Office revealed Oakland Police Chief Terry Poland almost used $15,000 in funds from the northeast Nebraska farm town to purchase a list of personal items.

The items ranged from ice-fishing equipment to a $400 wake surfboard and a $950 glass basketball backboard.

Additionally, the audit, released Monday, June 7, indicated that Poland and two other officers double-billed hours to both Oakland and nearby Lyons for time patrolling the streets.

Oakland Mayor Ted Beckner said that Poland is still on the job, pending a completed investigation by the FBI.

“I can’t tell you much until an investigation is done,” which may take two to three months, Beckner said.

Poland had previously told city officials that using Scheels gift cards to buy ammo was convenient and allowed officers to buy bullets when they were in Omaha.

However, the audit revealed the chief had used Oakland's charge account at Scheels to purchase $14,070 worth of gift cards which were then used to buy dozens of personal items, including “a Yeti cooler, jewelry, clothing, food/snacks, fishing equipment, and other goods that serve no apparent public or municipal purpose,” according to the audit.

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OPS TEACHERS EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT STIPENDS FOR STAFF RETENTION

OMAHA- Omaha Public Schools staff have concerns about stipends that were recently created to improve district staff retention.

Full-time staff would get $4,500 a year, while part-time staff would receive $2,250 for the next two school years. District officials said they anticipate the money would be distributed on Sept. 1, Dec. 1 and May 15.

While the stipends were approved, dozens of teachers expressed concerns to the board at the meeting.

“The announcement of stipends last week makes it appear there were strings attached to it,” said Robert Miller, president of the Omaha Education Association.

Miller said members are wondering if accepting the stipend money will result in an expectation of working longer hours, tolerating larger class sizes or covering more classes.

Teachers also said they don’t want the stipends to affect future compensation negotiations.

Some teachers said the changes are positive steps, but the district still isn’t improving working conditions.

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DOLBERG WILL BE HISTORY NEBRASKA'S INTERIM DIRECTOR WHEN JONES LEAVES

LINCOLN- History Nebraska will have an interim executive director this summer who has worked 22 years with the group.

Jill Dolberg, the director of historical resources and deputy state historic preservation officer, will take on the role after the resignation of Trevor Jones, effective July 1.

Dolberg will take over an organization that Jones pressed to digitize more of the state’s traditional historical archives and records and worked to boost its presence online.

Dolberg, who earned her master’s degree in public history from Colorado State University, helped lead the digitization of more than 15 million records since 2020, the group said.

Trevor Jones was a change agent for over six years. He ruffled feelings among some longtime employees by requiring them to chart what they were doing while at work. He has not said what he will do next.

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NEBRASKA'S COVID CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS UP FOR EIGHT STRAIGHT WEEK

LINCOLN- Nebraska’s COVID-19 case count is continuing its two-month climb and now is growing faster than such infections nationally.

The state recorded 2,354 new COVID cases during the week ending June 3rd, up from 1,671 the previous week, according to figures compiled by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nebraska cases are now growing faster than the nation as a whole, as the country has seen case numbers dip since late May. Cases were down last week in 29 states.

Hospitalizations due to COVID were up 20% in Nebraska last week, hitting a daily average of 106. The 130 Nebraskans hospitalized as of June 3rd was the highest figure since late March.

That increase also supports the notion that more cases are occurring than are being officially recorded, as health officials have noted. More people are using at-home tests, the results of which aren’t publicly reported.

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VIOLENCE THREAT HAS GOTTEN WORSE, NEBRASKA HEALTH CARE WORKERS SAY

LINCOLN - The shooting earlier this week that killed four people at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has brought into sharp focus the threat of violence that health care workers face.

On Wednesday, June 1, a man who was unhappy with the results of his back surgery shot and killed his surgeon, another doctor, a patient, and a receptionist at Tulsa's St. Francis Hospital before turning the gun on himself.

Nothing as extreme has taken place in a Nebraska medical facility, but officials say staff face abuse and violence daily from patients and their families, something that has seen a sharp increase since the coronavirus pandemic started.

Lisa Vail, vice president of patient care services and system chief nursing officer at Bryan Health, said this kind of behavior used to be confined to patients frustrated over their care and recovery.

"Now the people walk through the front door and they're angry," Vail said.

The source of the anger is typically masking requirements and rules that have limited visitors, she said.

She said nearly 60% of incidents at Bryan in 2021 that resulted in staff injuries bad enough to require reporting to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were caused by patients or visitors.

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MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY FOR INMATES, GENERAL PUBLIC COULD COST DOUGLAS COUNTY ABOUT $50 MILLION OR MORE

DOUGLAS COUNTY- A study released by a consultant this week finds that new mental health facilities for Douglas County should include space for inpatient treatment of 76 people who are in jail plus 20 more beds for other people from the community.

The price tag for the mental health facilities could cost upwards of $50 million to construct according to the study.

The study found that Douglas County has two options to address the needs. One option is a combined mental health facility, with a secure area for jail inmates and an unsecured portion for people from the general public. The other option is two separate, stand-alone facilities: one for the Community Mental Health Center, and one for the Corrections Department.

Potential homes for these facilities were not mentioned but Douglas County Board members have discussed spaces in the past. It is possible that the building will take place near the county jail in downtown Omaha, or near the Douglas County Health Center near 42nd Street and Woolworth Avenue.

It is estimated that if one combined building is built, the price tag is between $44-$48 million. If separate buildings are built, the project could cost a total of $53-$59 million.

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NEBRASKA ISSUES PROVISIONAL GAMING LICENSES TO WARHORSE GAMING

WINNEBAGO- Nebraska's first provisional gaming license was awarded to WarHorse Gaming for their planned sites in Omaha and Lincoln.

These new licenses allow the company to initiate vendor contracts, financing efforts, and employee recruitment.

Both casinos will have phased openings — Omaha's scheduled for the first half of 2023, with more than 800 slot machines, and Lincoln's scheduled for later this year, hosting more than 400 slot machines.

WarHorse Lincoln's official opening will provide more than 1,300 gaming stations, live and simulcast horse racing, multiple restaurants, an event space, a 196-room hotel and amenities yet to be announced.

WarHorse Omaha's official opening promises almost 1,600 gaming positions, live and simulcast horseracing and a three-restaurant food court.

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STATE'S LARGEST FEEDLOT GETS COUNTY'S OK DESPITE WORRIES ABOUT WHETHER 'BIGGER IS BETTER'

LINCOLN- The state’s largest feedlot project is moving forward following a lengthy public meeting in southwest Nebraska’s Dundy County.

The 100,000-head Blackshirt Feeders feedlot project will have to comply with at least 10 conditions, tied to concerns about odor, dust and runoff of manure, under the conditional use permit given 3-0 approval by the Dundy County Board.

“Myself and the team are pretty excited,” said Eric Behlke, a native of Benkelman and one of three Canadian veterinarians who specialize in feedlots behind the project.

Not everyone is enthused about the project. Concerns have been raised about nitrate contamination of local aquifers, whether there’s adequate groundwater to support such a huge feedlot and whether such a big operation will force out smaller, family-run feedlots in the area.

“It is very controversial,” said Richard Bartholomew of Benkelman, vice chairman of the county board. “It pitted neighbors against neighbors and family members against family members.”

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RECOUNT FAILS TO CHANGE OUTCOME OF OMAHA-AREA LEGISLATIVE RACE

LINCOLN — A recount Wednesday did not alter the outcome of the primary race for an Omaha-area legislative district, while a second recount for a different district was called off before it started.

Recounts in both districts were between the second- and third-place finishers with the second-place finisher advancing to the primary election in November. 

No changes came from the recount in the results of the race for Legislative District 18, encompassing Bennington and portions of northwest Omaha, according to the Douglas County Election Commission Wednesday, June 8. Christy Armendariz still held a 20-vote lead over Clarice Jackson, the third-place finisher. 

Armendariz, a Republican, will face Democrat Michael Young, the first-place finisher in the general election. After nearly a month-long wait, Armendariz said she was happy to be moving on to the general election.

“(I’m) just glad that it’s finally over,” Armendariz said. 

The recount in Legislative District 22, which encompasses Platte County and the western third of Stanton County, was never completed. An official with the Nebraska Secretary of State's Office said the third-place candidate, Mike Goos, waved the recount Tuesday night. 

Second-place finisher, Roy Zach, held a 56-vote lead over Goos and will now face off against incumbent Sen. Mike Moser in November. Moser came in first in the primary after receiving just over 76% of the vote. 

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SLAMA TEAM AIMS SUBPEONA FIGHT WITH HERBSTER STAFF FOR JUNE 14 HEARING

LINCOLN- The legal team representing State Senator Julie Slama filed a motion last week seeking resolution June 14, during a hearing in the lawsuit and counter-lawsuit between her and Herbster, who lost a bid for governor.

The Slama filing seeks to move forward with subpoenas for three former Trump campaign staffers, all of whom maintain ties to the former president.

The list includes former Trump spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway, Herbster’s national campaign manager. She has called allegations against Herbster politically motivated.

It names Corey Lewandowski, a Trump campaign manager and Herbster consultant.

The motion also targets David Bossie of Citizens United, who helped run Trump’s 2016 campaign and consulted for Herbster.

Slama’s newest motion also seeks to push ahead with subpoenas for Herbster’s former campaign manager, Ellen Keast, and his spokeswoman, Emily Novotny.

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PILLEN SAYS NO TO NEW GUN RESTRICTIONS

LINCOLN- Jim Pillen, the Republican nominee for Nebraska governor, said he opposes new restrictions on gun owners as an answer to mass shootings like those in Oklahoma, Texas, New York and Nebraska.

Pillen said he would fight the adoption of a so-called “red-flag” law, under which a judge can order the temporary confiscation of weapons from someone suffering a mental-health crisis. He also opposes raising the minimum age of gun ownership — 18 years old — in a country that sends 18-year-olds to war.

If Nebraska changed the law to restrict gun purchases to people 21 and older, Pillen said it would never be enough. The next shooting would bring calls to increase the age threshold to 24, he said.

“My point is, age doesn’t matter,” he said.

Pillen told reporters he needed more information to answer whether the state should consider expanding background checks to include sales at gun shows and other private sales, including sales arranged online.

State Sen. Carol Blood, the Democrat running against Pillen, said Pillen shouldn’t need to study what schools need. She said he should ask Ricketts what his 2018 study found schools needed.

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MEDIATOR, BUSINESSWOMAN KATHLEEN KAUTH NAMED TO MILLARD-AREA LEGISLATIVE SEAT

LINCOLN- Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed Kathleen Kauth, a Republican, to represent District 31. The seat became vacant when State Sen. Rich Pahls died on April 27, not quite halfway through his term in office.

Kauth is a businesswoman who ran for Omaha City Council last year, a race in which she came in third. Kauth's appointment will last only until early January, she will have to run for the office and be elected to finish the full length of Pahls' term.

Kauth could have a chance to be part of a special session on abortion, if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

She is the president of K.T. Beck Enterprises, a mediation and conflict coaching firm. She has a bachelor's degree in criminology and sociology, a master's degree in public policy, and a master's certification in gerontology.

Ricketts said he chose Kauth because she has been active in the community, has a background in gerontology and public policy and is familiar with business.

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NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN ENDORSE JIM PILLEN FOR GOVERNOR

LINCOLN - The Nebraska Cattlemen are the latest group to add to the list of endorsements for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen.

Brenda Masek, president of the nonprofit, announced the endorsement at a recent news conference. Though Pillen is a hog producer, he understands the "grit and resilience" of Nebraska's agricultural community and will fight to protect it, she said.

"Jim has walked in our shoes," Masek said. "He knows our struggles."

A long list of notable endorsements has been accrued by Pillen, a University of Nebraska regent. Current Gov. Pete Ricketts has been among Pillen's most prominent and vocal backers.

After finishing third in the Republican primary for governor, State Sen. Brett Lindstrom has since endorsed Pillen. Charles Herbster, the other top primary opponent, has yet to endorse Pillen.

Masek said she expects Pillen to continue Ricketts' work to support Nebraska agriculture as the state's "No. 1 industry." In Nebraska's ag sector, beef exports are at the top. Ricketts said Nebraska had over $1.8 billion in beef exports in 2021, beating the previous record set in 2018 by about 25%.

Pillen vowed to "defend" Nebraska agriculture by working to preserve water and fighting back against synthetic meat if elected.

One of the lead supporters of synthetic meat is Bill Gates, whom Pillen specifically called out for his push to use lab-grown meat as a sustainable alternative to traditional meat production.

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FLOOD HOSTS KEVIN MCCARTHY; PANSING BROOKS CITES LOCAL ENDORSEMENTS

LINCOLN - Republican congressional nominee Mike Flood pledged to pursue a conservative agenda that will bring inflation and illegal immigration under control while harnessing the growth of the federal government and protecting the lives of the unborn.

"Under the failed one-party rule of Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, it is clear that our nation is on the wrong track," Flood said.

"People are struggling to pay record-high prices at the gas pump and in the grocery store," he said.

The Norfolk state senator touted his conservative voting record of supporting tax relief, law enforcement officers, preservation of the death penalty, and approval of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline to secure the nation's energy future.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California was the featured speaker at the Country Club of Lincoln, an event that brought in a litany of Republican heavyweights.

Flood will be matched against Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, the Democratic nominee, in a June 28 special election showdown to serve the remaining six months of former Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry's ninth term representing eastern Nebraska's 1st District in the House.

Pansing Brooks hosted a news conference at her downtown Lincoln campaign headquarters to announce her endorsement by 57 current and former elected officials in Nebraska, including a number of Republicans.

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NEBRASKA COUNTIES INCONSISTENT IN WHO IS SENT EARLY BALLOT REQUEST CARDS

LINCOLN- Individual decisions by a dozen county election officials about mail notifications could affect which voters turn out for the June 28 special election in Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District. ​​​​

Counties are going their own way in sending postcards to voters to request early ballots for the upcoming special election between Mike Flood and Patty Pansing Brooks.

Five 1st District counties sent cards to voters who had signed up for long-term vote-by-mail lists: Lancaster, Madison, Platte, Dodge and Cuming.

Four counties — Butler, Colfax, Seward, and Sarpy — never send out such cards. None of them operates an indefinite vote-by-mail list, though Butler is considering creating one.

Stanton County mails a ballot to every voter before every election, including this one. Stanton is one of 11 rural Nebraska counties that vote entirely by mail.

Polk and Cass Counties typically send ballot-request cards to people who voted early in the last election but opted to go another route this time around.

Polk spent $850 to send ballot request cards to every active registered voter in the county. Cass considered doing the same but was too late. Instead, it sent cards to people who voted early in the May primary.

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GOVERNOR APPOINTS KATHLEEN KAUTH TO SEAT LEFT BY SEN. RICH PAHLS PASSING

LINCOLN -  Gov. Pete Ricketts on Tuesday, June 7 announced Kathleen Kauth of Omaha as his appointee for Legislative District 31. 

Five people applied to fill the vacant seat and four were interviewed, according to Ricketts. He said he made his decision to choose Kauth for her business experience. Kauth owns K.T. Beck Enterprises, and previously ran for Omaha City Council last year. The governor said the new state senator’s family moved to Nebraska in 2012. A graduate of Northern Iowa University, she obtained her degree in criminology and sociology, her master’s degree in public policy, and also holds a certificate from UNO in gerontology.

When asked if Kauth's pro-life stance was a factor in her being appointed, Ricketts said "I always look to appoint pro-life candidates because this is a pro-life state.” Many are watching the legislature for a possible special session following any action by the United States Supreme Court on abortion this summer. 

Additionally, Kauth stated she supports Constitutional carry. 

“I think there’s a happy medium somewhere” between input from law enforcement and what the public wants, “but if it’s in the Constitution, that is the highest law of the land.” 

Legislative District 31 includes part of Douglas County in southwest Omaha, as well as most of the Millard neighborhood, and was left vacant after the passing of State Sen. Rich Pahls of Omaha on April 27. Following her being sworn into office, Kauth announced she is planning to run for election to the seat in November should be successfully gather the 2,000 signatures required to appear on the ballot. Due to the timing of the vacancy, the seat goes up for election on the November ballot, and as it is after the primary candidates must petition on. Those successfully gathering the required signatures will all appear at that time for consideration. If successful she would serve the remainder of the term until January 2025.

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OFFICIALS SET LICENSING FEES, RULES TO OPERATE CASINOS IN NEBRASKA

OMAHA - Today is a big moment for the gaming industry in Nebraska. The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission set licensing fees to operate casinos in the state.

Applications can now be submitted, along with an initial $1 million. The total fees are $5 million, which will be paid over the course of five years.

As soon as the gambling dollars begin to roll in, the money will start to go towards property tax relief to the joy of Nebraska homeowners.

It has been a long road to get to this point after Nebraska voters approved casino gambling in the state in November 2020.

Lynne McNally is the CEO of the Nebraska Horsemen’s Association. Lynne says the casinos will keep gambling dollars in the state and also help homeowners to keep some dollars in their pockets.

“20 cents of every dollar generated is going directly to the property tax relief fund that money belongs to the people of the state of Nebraska and we have a responsibility to send that money back as soon as possible.”

As much as $120 million a year could go to property tax relief in the state, according to official estimates.

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OMAHA HITS NEW STRIDES IN CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY

OMAHA — The signs are plentiful: newly framed houses around town, freshly bulldozed land, tower cranes dotting the skyline.

Such signs point to new construction activity records in Omaha which were found in a recently released report.

The City of Omaha's latest annual "Building and Development Summary" estimated the total value of building permits issued by the Planning Department last year climbed to roughly $1.15 billion — the highest yearly tally on record for the city and second-highest when accounting for inflation.

That figure accounts for construction ranging from houses and apartments to converted structures to new, altered, or expanded properties containing office, retail, educational and other operations.

The analysts who conducted the report noted that Omaha's housing market was strong, despite the total estimated value of residences issued building permits in 2021 dipped compared to the year before (from $461 million to nearly $431 million).

“Obviously people are investing in the community,” said City Planning Director Dave Fanslau. “It was a busy year, a historic year, just a lot of activity for the development and construction industries.”

2022 is expected to finish with as much or more permit activity, especially if the skyling-changing $600 million Mutual of Omaha downtown office tower gets out of the ground this year.

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TEXAS SHOOTING PROMPTS NEBRASKA SCHOOL LEADERS TO REVIEW SCHOOL SAFETY

OMAHA — Nebraska state education leaders plan to create a task force to review school safety in light of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, chairwoman of the Legislature's Education Committee, said the task force would review current "school safety, security, and preparedness practices."

After consulting with education leaders in the past few days, Walz is asking Nebraska Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt to create the comprehensive School Safety Task Force. Every issue and idea is on the table, Walz said.

The shooting at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday, May 24 left 19 students and two teachers dead. The 18-year-old shooter was eventually killed by police.

Blomstedt said "Folks don't want to just sit there and wring their hands. They want to talk about what we have in place and what we need to have in place."

He went on to say that he would work with Walz to put a group together that includes not just educators but representatives of the broader community, possibly including parents and students.

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PROTECTIVE CUSTODY UNIT FOR INTOXICATED PEOPLE WILL NO LONGER CONTRACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT

LINCOLN - After offering a safe place for police to take intoxicated people to sober up for nearly 40 years, a nonprofit agency known as The Bridge will no longer contract with local law enforcement agencies for the service.

The decision to not renew the contracts with Lincoln police for "civil protective custody" — once known as detox — was largely due to staffing issues caused by the nursing shortage, a situation that came to a head last fall.

City and county officials, now worried about the impact on county corrections, are searching for an alternative placement for intoxicated people who police believe are a danger to themselves or others, but don't need to be in jail.

The Bridge will maintain its other services, including a voluntary detox program, a respite program, and a 24-bed men's residential treatment program.

A lack of nurses also played a part in the agency's decision to temporarily close the protective custody unit last fall until it could deal with the staffing problems.

Stevenson said it was never The Bridge’s intent to close permanently last fall — and the agency spent $500,000 on promotion, incentives, wage increases, and hiring bonuses in an attempt to address staffing issues.

In the months since that happened, it has had to turn more than 400 people away from the voluntary detox program, she said.

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