NEBRASKA EDUCATION COMMISSIONER EXPRESSES FRUSTRATION OVER BOARD'S HANDLING OF HIS CONTRACT

LINCOLN - Nebraska Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt publicly expressed frustration over the way the Nebraska State Board of Education was handling the renewal of his employment contract, telling board members that he felt he was excluded from the process.

“It’s uncomfortable for me to sit here while you talk about me without me,” Blomstedt said. “I will say, and I do feel, as if I’ve not been in the process at this point in time. So, you all are agreeing to an offer that I have yet to consider.”

Blomstedt, typically a self-deprecating consensus-builder with a steady demeanor, seemed out of character while making the comments.

Little more than an "atta-boy" or a "job well done" has been said during his contract renewals since taking the job in 2014, marking the most recent meeting as the most eventful.

Board members offered motions and countermotions over the proposed new contract that would have given him a pay raise and set performance goals. The consideration was postponed until later in the meeting due to their inability to reach an agreement when it was first brought up.

Eventually, a motion to adopt the contract changes failed, 3-5. His salary for the current fiscal year is $237,273, set to increase to $242,019 for the year starting July 1.

The proposed change would have raised it even more to $246,764. Money, however, did not appear to be the issue.

The disagreement stemmed more from the set of performance goals and a concern that the proposed contract terms were reached by a committee without input from other board members.

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FISCHER SAYS IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH KEY TO ADDRESSING MASS SHOOTINGS

HASTINGS — Is there a way to keep guns out of the hands of those who could do harm? Recent acts of violence have some lawmakers asking if there are ways to accomplish this, but Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer says it's not the issue.

“I think we need to invest more in mental health,” she told NTV. “When I talk to law enforcement, when I talk to families, that's their big concern is mental health, and we have to look at hardening schools. Nebraska has done a good job at that. When I hear about other states I'm shocked by it.”

Of Nebraska's 93 counties, 88 have been identified as mental health shortage areas with many counties having no mental health practitioners.

“It's hard to find those providers. There's a shortage in Omaha for behavioral health services, so you look at Hastings, Grand Island, look at smaller communities like Ainsworth, Bassett, what's available. I think something we can look at is telehealth to have services in communities where they live by medical providers who may be in Omaha,” she said.

Many are pushing for red flag laws to keep guns out of the hands of those who pose a threat in the wake of gun violence throughout America. Fischer, however, says she's concerned that would undermine fundamental rights.

“I believe in due process, and that's across the board. It would be very difficult to be able to find what you could do to commit someone without due process,” she said, calling the Second Amendment a fundamental right.

She said her concern is upholding the Second Amendment and then investing in mental health.

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FEDERAL AUDITORS SAY AIR FORCE'S SPACECOM BASING DECISION DIDN'T FOLLOW 'BEST PRACTICES'

HUNTSVILLE, AL - The Air Force used a makeshift process that did not fully follow its own “best practices” when it selected Huntsville, Alabama, for the new U.S. Space Command headquarters over Offutt Air Force Base and four other sites in January 2021, according to a new report released by the Government Accountability Office.

Auditors of the Government Accountability Office found the Air Force had "fully or substantially" met only 7 of 21 best-practice standards for selecting the sites of strategic bases like the SpaceCom headquarters.

The Air Force only “minimally” met standards for making its selection credible and it only “partially” met standards for appearing unbiased because it failed to document the reasons it weighted various selection factors for the bids it analyzed. Key costs were also left out in the cost analysis.

GAO's report did say, however, that Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal seems to be the correct choice under the process used, even if that process was flawed.

SpaceCom is in charge of all of the military’s space operations. It is separate from the Space Force, which was created by President Donald Trump as a sixth branch of the armed forces in 2019.

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WORK BEGINS ON NEBRASKA MULTISPORT COMPLEX IN LA VISTA

LA VISTA - The Nebraska MultiSport Complex, a project in La Vista long in the planning stage, is close to hosting its first competitions.

In its first phase, the complex will have a dozen artificial turf fields with lighting that can be used for soccer, baseball, fast-pitch softball, lacrosse, rugby, and flag football. Many will be ready by fall, and all 12 will be available for use by spring 2023 for local, regional, and national competitions.

“Phase I is currently focused on the development of field sports (and) to create a championship complex,” Craig Scriven, executive director and vice president for the Nebraska MultiSport Complex, said at a press conference. “The Nebraska MultiSport board of directors listened intensely to the community and their needs. And their needs were for a regional sports facility.”

La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig, a longtime proponent of the complex, said area residents would take advantage of the state-of-the-art athletic amenities, noting its easy access.

$9.9 million are expected to be pulled in annually by the project, generating $401,000 in sales and lodging taxes. The estimation assumes over 32,000 overnight visitors and another 39,200 local visitors annually. It will also create jobs during and after construction.

“The out-of-town visitors will come in (and) not only will they stay in our hotels and eat in our restaurants, they’ll visit the SAC museum, they’ll go down to the Old Market,” Kindig said. “They’ll go down and catch a lot of the other amenities that we have in this area and that’s why it’s so exciting to us.”

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'PRO-CHOICE' IDENTIFICATION RISES TO NEAR RECORD HIGH IN U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Gallup poll conducted mostly after the draft of a Supreme Court decision addressing abortion rights was leaked finds a marked shift in public attitudes over the past year.

After a decade in which Americans' identification as "pro-choice" varied narrowly between 45% and 50%, the percentage has jumped six points to 55% in the latest poll, compared with the prior measure a year ago.

The pro-choice sentiment is now the highest it has been since 1995 when it was 56% while the 39% identifying as "pro-life" is the lowest since 1996.

A majority of Americans (52%) now also consider abortion morally acceptable, while a record-low 38% call it morally wrong.

The latest survey was conducted by telephone May 2-22 with a nationally representative sample of 1,007 U.S. adults. The poll came after a leaked draft of the Supreme Court's opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization was reported, sparking debate about abortion throughout the country.

The opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito provides the court's reasoning behind its preliminary decision to uphold a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. In this first draft, Alito argues that the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that affirmed a constitutional right to seek abortion was wrongly decided and must be overturned.

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NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN'S BALL HOPES TO BRING IN $2 MILLION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

WEEPING WATER — Dr. Scott Lubben was a proud Otoe County farm boy growing up, imprinting on him as he now works as a veterinarian in the Weeping Water area.

But his background in agriculture wasn’t the only reason Lubben decided to sign up to be one of two host families for this year’s Cattlemen’s Ball — an annual event that raises money for cancer research at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha.

Lubben is now the same age as his father was when he passed away from stomach cancer. He also lost his mother-in-law to colon cancer. His wife has struggled with skin cancer in the past.

“It’s something that means a lot to us, to be able to help advance the treatments and find out more about it,” he said.

The Cattlemen’s Ball is staged in a different part of the state each year and is usually hosted on a private ranch. But organizers saw an opportunity to hold this year’s event at the fairgrounds situated almost perfectly between Lincoln and Omaha.

This year's Cattlemen's Ball consisted of concerts, art shows, golf, a 5K run, a silent auction, and, of course, events featuring beef.

Final numbers won’t be available until later, but Mark Rathe said organizers were hopeful of surpassing the $2 million mark and setting a fundraising record for the event.

They sold about 4,000 tickets, the most in several years, Rathe said.

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OLDER GENERATIONS OF WOMEN LIVED UNDER ABORTION BAN IN NEBRASKA

LINCOLN — Three generations of women have grown up with abortion being legal and available, even though restricted, in Nebraska.

Older women, however, lived during a time when Nebraska law, like most states, banned abortion except when necessary to preserve a woman's life or when advised by two physicians.

After a leaked decision that could overturn Roe v. Wade, the memories of the older generation could offer insight into what life could be like for women if the landmark ruling is overturned.

The high court is expected to rule by the end of June. Gov. Pete Ricketts has said he will work with Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers to call a special legislative session on abortion if Roe is overturned.

Both Ricketts and Hilgers supported a bill that would have banned all abortions with no exceptions. Affirmative defense for a doctor performing an abortion to save a woman's life would be provided if that bill were to pass, however. A filibuster-ending motion fell two votes short, killing the bill.

Marcia Kushner, 93, says she was careful to avoid any risk of pregnancy herself before getting married in 1949. That meant avoiding sex, even with her fiancé, because condoms were the only birth control available to unmarried couples at the time.

She said her mother didn’t talk about her own abortion until she reached her 90s. It happened in the early 1930s, during the depths of the Great Depression.

“It was not a real savory experience,” Kushner said. “They really put their lives on the line.”

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AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRIKE CHIEF TABBED TO BE NEXT STRATCOM LEADER

LINCOLN - A 36-year Air Force missile and space officer has been nominated as the next commander of Offutt-based U.S. Strategic Command, the Pentagon announced this week.

Gen. Anthony J. Cotton has served as head of Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, since August of 2021.

Cotton, the North Carolina native, was commissioned in 1986 after graduating from North Carolina State University with a degree in political science.

On his first assignment, Cotton commanded a missile combat crew and has since commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels. Additionally, he led the 341st Missile Wing in Montana and the 45th Space Wing in Florida.

Cotton also served two years as deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office in Virginia, and as commander and president of the Air University in Alabama.

StratCom is most well known for its role as the keeper of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Its additional duties include global strike, joint electronic warfare, missile defense, and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance.).

Cotton would likely take over command from Adm. Charles Richard later this year. Richard began the role in November 2019.

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RICKETTS TALKS POLITICS AND FAMILY ON AXELROD PODCAST

LINCOLN - Pete Ricketts and David Axelrod engaged in a revealing and wide-ranging discussion while the governor was in Chicago a week ago for an appearance at the University of Chicago and you can listen in on their conversation on the latest Axe Files podcast online.

Axelrod, a guiding figure in President Barack Obama's historic 2008 election, his successful reelection bid in 2012, and as senior adviser to the Democratic president for eight years, and Ricketts, Nebraska's two-term conservative Republican governor.

A range of topics were discussed on the podcast, from the Ricketts family, the family-owned Chicago Cubs, the governor's unsuccessful bid for a 2006 Senate seat, his sister's same-sex marriage, and his pro-life views opposing abortion.

The two spoke in depth about the governor's support of the death penalty as a Catholic, despite Pope Francis' encyclical calling upon all Catholics to advocate for the abolition of capital punishment.

Additionally, they talked about Ricketts' Second Amendment defense of gun rights in the wake of the latest massacre of 19 elementary school students and two teachers in Texas.

Tough and sometimes uncomfortable questions were raised by Alexrod during their conversation.

"You can't buy a bazooka or a cannon," Axelrod said. "Why semi-automatic guns?"

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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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