COVID-19 IN NEBRASKA: TRACKING OMICRON, NEW 'STEALTH' VARIANT, TESTING, AND HOSPITALIZATIONS

OMAHA- As of July 5th, the Douglas County Health Department reported 819 new, known cases of COVID-19 since the previous report. That brings the county's total of positive cases to 158,395 since the pandemic reporting began.

The death toll stands at 1,134 since the pandemic began.

According to the July 4th report, 119 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 including four children. 15 adults were in the ICU, with two people on a ventilator. Adult ICU beds were 89% occupied with 33 staffed beds available. Medical and surgical beds were 79% occupied with 292 staffed beds available.

Each individual health district has different opportunities for acquiring the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, most pharmacies and grocery stores offer the vaccine and information.

For the full article including vaccine distribution locations and health district information, click HERE

NORTH PLATTE-AREA RAIL PARK PROJECT PROGRESSING

NORTH PLATTE- Officials in the North Platte area are moving ahead with plans for a railroad industrial park they say could ultimately create more than a thousand jobs.

The proposed railroad industrial park would be located next to the village of Hershey It received a significant boost last week when the state of Nebraska announced it would contribute up to $30 million to the project, contingent on local contributions of $7.5 million.

The project site contains almost 300 acres, and officials hope to attract agricultural processing, manufacturing, and warehousing operations. 

Gary Person, president and CEO of the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation, says an economic impact study shows there could be up to 1,000 jobs created directly, and other indirect economic impacts as well.

The state also announced another grant of up to $30 million for a logistics hub in Fremont. 

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NEW REPORT SHOWS NEBRASKA CONTINUES DOWNWARD ABORTION TREND

LINCOLN- 2,360 abortions were reported in Nebraska last year, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

The number is similar to the year prior, and suggests that the number of women seeking abortive care was moderating despite the pandemic. Still, the numbers follow a national trend of increasing abortions during the pandemic. 

Women in their early 20s who say birth control or contraceptives either failed or weren't used are the main group seeking abortions according to the report.

While many other Republican-led states have already taken action to restrict abortions in their states, Nebraska is in a minority that has taken a slower approach. Abortions are still available in Iowa and Kansas as well, but both states are making moves to further restrict the procedure.

Andi Curry Grubb, Planned Parenthood’s Nebraska Executive Director said, “There is no paid family leave in Nebraska. There is very limited access to Medicaid. People who are pregnant can get Medicaid for 60 days, and that's nothing when you're in the wake of having a child – particularly if you've had a C section or if you've had any complications.”

The Nebraska Family Alliance disagreed. Nate Grasz, the Alliance’s policy director, said the state is already in a good position to accept more births and more new parents, if the legislature eventually bans abortions.

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IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE AND NO, THAT'S NOT A NEW BIKE TRAIL IN THE MIDDLE OF I-80

LINCOLN- The unusual-looking, 22-mile-long strip of fresh asphalt in the middle of the Interstate 80 median west of Lincoln is not a new bicycle trail. 

Jeni Campana of the Nebraska Department of Transportation said that the asphalt trail is the “base” for a new cable guard rail that will be installed soon between the two I-80 exits.

The installation of the cable guard rail is part of a $9.5 million project in that stretch of I-80, which includes improvements to culverts, dirt work and some paving. Garcia/Chicoine Enterprises, of Milford is doing the work, which is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

Campana said the state has utilized cable guard rails in the Omaha area, on the Kennedy Freeway/U.S. 75 in South Omaha and Sarpy County for about a decade, to prevent vehicles from crossing over the median and causing head-on collisions.

Campana said the cable guard rails were considered for I-80 from the west edge of Lincoln to Pleasant Dale, but that stretch is scheduled to be widened to six lanes, with work expected to begin in 2024. 

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FORTENBERRY FILES NOTICE OF APPEAL AND CLAIMS FALSE STATEMENTS STATUTES TOO EASILY ABUSED

LINCOLN- Shortly after being sentenced to probation last week for lying to federal agents, former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry did as he said he would and appealed his conviction.

His legal representatives said they expect to file a complaint with the Inspector General of the Department of Justice, alleging that FBI agents used “deceptive tactics” in getting Fortenberry to talk to them.

Attorney Glen Summers, who also represented Fortenberry during the trial, said in a statement that federal false statements statutes are “far too susceptible to abuse” and that the 61-year-old Republican should not have been prosecuted for comments he gave to FBI agents.

Fortenberry’s six-page “notice of appeal” was filed with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in California.

“We look forward to presenting these issues on appeal and hopefully helping to rein in the weaponization of Section 1001 by federal law enforcement agencies,” Summers said.

Section 1001 of the federal code makes it illegal to make false statements to a federal investigation. The congressman and Flynn were prosecuted under that section.

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PROGRESSIVE GROUP RUNNING $1 MILLION IN DARK MONEY ADS AGAINST DON BACON

OMAHA- A national group targeting swing-district Republicans in Congress said it is running $1 million in TV, digital and mail ads this summer against U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.

The group, Unrig Our Economy Nebraska, is the local offshoot of a national effort by progressive donors to push back against GOP messaging about the economy, including inflation.

The first Omaha-area ads painted Bacon as a corporate shill who protects profits over people. Unrig’s local director, Kevin Cass, said Bacon blames Democrats for price hikes as businesses post record profits.

Bacon has said the dark money group is deflecting from economic mistakes made by President Joe Biden and Democrats. He said 2nd Congressional District voters won’t be fooled by the ads.

Bacon is seeking a fourth term in November against State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, a former teacher and nonprofit executive who served previously on the Omaha Public Schools board.

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FLOOD'S CLOSE WIN OVER PANSING BROOKS SHOWS DEMOCRATS MOTIVATED, REPUBLICANS COMPLACENT

LINCOLN- Rural voters carried Republican State Sen. Mike Flood to a seat in Congress in the special election. But State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks’ better-than-expected results in urban and suburban counties could spice up the pair’s rematch this fall.

Flood and his team said after the win that he needs to perform better this November in Lincoln, where he served as Speaker of the Legislature. He said he did well in northeast Nebraska because people know him there from his work in Legislature and while running News Channel Nebraska.

Fewer voters in the 1st District’s GOP-leaning counties voted in the special election than participated a month earlier in the May 10 primary election.

Voting in each of those counties was down by at least 18%, based on a post-election analysis done for Flood’s campaign. Additionally, 3% more voters showed up for the special election in Democratic-leaning Lancaster County than voted during the primary.

“I think you really had to be motivated, and the Democrats were more so,” UNL Political Scientist John Hibbing said.

Hibbing also noted how important the factor of abortion was in the special election. One Republican consultant said the GOP’s problem on the issue is that its voters are feeling happy and hopeful after the Supreme Court’s decision. Democrats, by contrast, are feeling angry and scared. Anger and fear are better motivators, the observer said.

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PETITION DRIVE TO PUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT HAS ENOUGH 'RAW' SIGNATURES

LINCOLN- Although signatures must be reviewed and verified, supporters of legalizing medical marijuana in Nebraska say they have enough "raw" signatures on their two petitions to qualify for the November ballot.

In the last six weeks, State Sen. Anna Wishart said the drive has gone from 40,000 to the 87,000 signatures needed to get the issue on the November ballot.

Campaign manager Crista Eggers is still urging people to find and sign a petition by July 7th to help solidify the spot on the ballot.

“We have 30 hours to get this done. From now until noon tomorrow, Thursday, July 7, we need everyone to go and find a petition to sign,” said Crista Eggers.

The group has multiple petitions circulating at the moment. One petition protects the possession, distribution, and delivery of marijuana for medical purposes. The other petition ensures that patients and caregivers are not arrested for using medical cannabis.

For the full article click HERE

MINIMUM WAGE PETITION SAYS IT HAS SIGNATURES NEEDED TO APPEAR ON NOVEMBER BALLOT

LINCOLN- Organizers of a petition drive seeking to raise Nebraska's minimum wage to $15 per hour say they have gathered the signatures needed to put the issue on the November ballot.

Campaign manager Kate Wolfe said the petition will continue to circulate up until next week's deadline.

"We're not done collecting signatures," Wolfe said. "I think it's important for as many citizens who want to weigh in get a chance to sign the petition, so we're still going to be out there."

The campaign, which would gradually raise Nebraska's minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026, kicked off its effort in November 2021.

If approved for the ballot and passed by voters, Nebraska's minimum wage would increase from $9 per hour to $10.50 per hour on Jan. 1 2023.

The minimum wage would then increase to $12 per hour in 2024, $13.50 per hour in 2025, and $15 per hour in 2026, "to be adjusted annually thereafter to account for increases in the cost of living."

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CAROL BLOOD SAYS STATE NEEDS NEW DIRECTION FROM GOVERNOR AFTER RICKETTS

BELLEVUE- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Carol Blood highlighted her pillars for the state and ideal direction following the term of Governor Pete Ricketts over the 4th of July holiday.

Blood’s first priority is helping Nebraskans “be well and feel safe.” She wants to make sure local law enforcement agencies and rescue squads get what they need from the state.

Blood’s second priority is bringing to light unfunded and underfunded state mandates on local governments and schools, so lawmakers can address the costs on property taxpayers.

Infrastructure is her third priority, with particular emphasis on the need for state investments to improve roads, bridges and broadband deployment across Nebraska.

Blood’s final priority is education, where she said the state fails to meet its own lawmaker-designed K-12 funding formulas and tweaks them to match how much the state wants to spend.

“We need accountability,” she said. “We don’t have accountability.”

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PILLEN OFFERS HIS PRESCRIPTION FOR NEBRASKA, STARTING WITH KIDS

OMAHA- GOP Primary winner Jim Pillen discussed what his campaign calls "The Pillen Playbook" as he heads into a governor's race that he is heavily favored in.

He aims to leverage private dollars to offset the costs of post-high school education and training for Nebraska kids. He wants kids to sign on to stay in Nebraska and work a set number of years after graduation in exchange for a paid-for education.

His thought: Farmers, ranchers and businesses could sponsor kids at the local community college and have them work while there.

His next topic in the playbook is housing. Pillen said he would work with developers, mayors and county commissioners in all 93 counties to address housing shortages.

Nebraska, he said, should worry about luring new companies until it can produce and house the workers its own businesses need.

On K-12 education, Pillen said Nebraska needs to stop resisting school choice and introduce more competition into the system. He did not specify a preference for tax credits, vouchers or charter schools.

On the agriculture side, Pillen said he would prioritize protecting Nebraska’s water supplies in its dispute with Colorado over the Perkins County Canal and flows in the South Platte River.

The remainder of "The Pillen Playbook" touches on abortion, prison reform, gun rights, and infrastructure.

For the full article click HERE

BRIEFS IN HERBSTER-SLAMA LAWSUITS ARGUE OVER STATEMENTS, MUZZLING LAWYER

OMAHA- Attorneys for Charles Herbster filed a brief arguing why he should be able to add to his original defamation lawsuit against State Sen. Julie Slama.

They argued that other statements by Slama and her lawyer should be included because they defamed Herbster. They want a judge to keep Slama’s lawyer from discussing the case publicly.

“The case should be tried in the courtroom, not via dueling press statements or interviews with media members,” Herbster’s lawyers Theodore Boecker Jr. and David Warrington wrote.

Attorneys for Slama, who counter-sued Herbster for sexual battery and defamation, argued in a new filing that Herbster’s proposed changes to his lawsuit argue nothing new.

Slama’s team also wrote that court rules governing pre-trial publicity left them no choice but to speak because Herbster and his supporters publicly attacked her credibility and allegation.

For the full article click HERE

ANTI-ABORTION NEBRASKANS RALLY IN LINCOLN FOR ROE V. WADE DECISION, NEXT STEPS

LINCOLN — Longtime leaders in Nebraska’s anti-abortion movement gathered to celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court decision that several described as the end of the beginning of their efforts to make abortion illegal in Nebraska.

Roughly 100 people were joined by former Gov. Kay Orr and Lt. Gov. Mike Foley at a rally held at the Nebraska Republican Party headquarters. 50 people attended a Students for Life rally on the State Capitol steps two hours later to support the reversal of Roe v. Wade.

“I’ve been involved in the pro-life movement for over 40 years, and over all those years, I always knew that we would get to this day,” Foley said. “I didn’t know that I would live to see the day, but we did. God works in mysterious ways.”

Attendees pushed back against local groups that claim a majority of Nebraskans support keeping abortion legal and safe, based on polling shared publicly by the Nebraska Democratic Party and Democratic-leaning organizations.

The GOP rally also sought to draw more attention toward this week's special election that occurred in the Lincoln-centered 1st Congressional District.

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS, GOVERNOR WEIGH SPECIAL SESSION ON ABORTION

LINCOLN — Nebraska could be headed toward a special session now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, although it’s unclear what new abortion restrictions, if any, could survive a promised filibuster.

A "trigger bill," which would have banned abortion in the state once the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, fell two votes short in the Legislature this year.

Legislative Bill 933 was stopped by a filibuster and legislative leaders say little has changed since then. The late State Sen. Rich Pahls was ill with cancer during the spring debate. He has since been replaced by Republican Kathleen Kauth of Omaha. But that gubernatorial appointment alone is not enough to flip the legislative math toward passage of a total ban, political observers said.

Several senators, and Gov. Pete Ricketts, say they plan to push for a special session in August to readdress the topic.

State Sen. Suzanne Geist, who helped lead efforts to pass a ban, said she thinks the session will take place and that anti-abortion senators will have the numbers to increase restrictions.

The leader of the opposition to the abortion ban, State Sen. Megan Hunt, vowed to keep up the fight. “We have already defeated an abortion ban in Nebraska and we will do it again,” she tweeted. “We will defeat any other attempt to ban abortion in this state because the majority of Nebraskans understand that banning abortion is as extreme as it is unnecessary.”

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GROUND BROKEN ON SPORTS COMPLEX THAT COULD EVENTUALLY DRAW 1 MILLION VISITORS

LINCOLN — A youth sports organization based in Elkhorn broke ground earlier this week on a multimillion-dollar, multi-sports complex that officials project will eventually draw more than 1 million visitors a year.

“We’ll be the second-largest visitor attraction in the State of Nebraska when it’s fully operational,” said Bruce O’Neel, the executive director of the Elkhorn Athletic Association. That, he said, would rank it right behind Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo.

The association broke ground on the MD West ONE Sports Complex at 264th and Ida Streets near Valley. Eight artificial turf baseball/softball fields, six synthetic turf soccer/football fields, and a barrier-free field for kids with adaptive needs will all be included in the first phase of construction. The $52 million project will later add more fields.

The project is seeking to capitalize on the lucrative market for regional and national, youth sports tournaments — tournaments that are being held in places like Des Moines and Kansas City now, according to officials.

“A lot of organizers want to put tournaments in Omaha, but we don’t have the right facilities,” said Mark Rath, director of sports for Visit Omaha.

The Omaha area is currently hosting 625 youth baseball teams that are playing in a 13-day, annual Triple Crown Sports tournament that coincides with the College World Series. Youth sports are estimated to be a $19.2 billion industry nationwide.

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ABORTION RIGHTS RALLY DRAWS CROWD THAT LINES BUSY DODGE CORRIDOR NEAR OMAHA'S MEMORIAL PARK

OMAHA — Waving signs and chanting to motorists, abortion-rights protesters packed the pedestrian bridge straddling Omaha’s Dodge Street near Memorial Park on the evening of Friday the 24th.

Both sides of the city's primary corridor were lined by protestors for multiple blocks. They were of various colors and ages, with dogs, children, and a range of emotions.

A police commander estimated that up to 1,500 participated in the rally near 60th and Dodge Streets. Organizers called the turnout evidence that Nebraska was ready to mobilize and organize to stop the state from losing ground in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.

Andi Grubb, state executive director of Planned Parenthood North Central States, reminded the crowd time and again that abortion remained legal in Nebraska (up to 20 weeks after fertilization). She credited those in the crowd for showing up at the Unicameral to oppose measures to ban abortion.

“Shout from the rooftops we are going to do everything in our power to keep abortion safe and legal in Nebraska,” said Grubb.

After several organizers spoke to the crowd near the top of the knoll, the group marched down the hill to the Dodge Street corridor, where they raised an assortment of signs. Among the slogans: “Our arms are tired of holding this sign since the 1960s” and “We won’t go back.”

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKANS REACT TO THE ROE V. WADE RULING

LINCOLN - Reaction from Nebraska officials has come in swiftly to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. Here’s a sampling: 

• Jim Pillen, Republican candidate for governor: “Nebraska is a pro-life state because our citizens understand that life is the most precious gift of God’s grace. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed what we have long known to be true: Our Constitution contains no right to murder an unborn child. I will do all I can to ensure that no more unborn babies are killed.”

• State Sen. Carol Blood, Democratic candidate for governor: “Reproductive justice is on the minds of many women here in Nebraska today. The trigger bill that will ultimately follow will cause Nebraskans to live in a police state. We will become a police state where doctors will live in fear when they need to provide necessary patient care. It will endanger the jobs of medical specialists who may be trying to protect a woman’s health, disallow women from making decisions on IVF with their doctors never allowing them to experience parenthood, mandate what types of birth control a woman may use instead of allowing the woman and her doctor to make that decision. … It’s terrifying that we are choosing to not protect the victims of sexual assault, especially our children.”

• Gov. Pete Ricketts: “Roe v. Wade took away the states’ right to regulate abortion and cost millions of babies their lives. Today’s Supreme Court decision restores the rights of the people, and as a result our future generations will have a chance at life. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe is an answer to millions of prayers on behalf of the unborn and a victory for human life. I will be working with our legislative leaders to determine what more we can do to protect our preborn babies.”

• Nebraska Legislative Speaker Mike Hilgers: “After nearly 50 years, the Supreme Court has rightfully overturned Roe and Casey and returned the question of abortion to the elected representatives of the states. I anticipate that Nebraskans’ elected representatives in the Legislature will be in special session this summer to pass legislation to protect pre-born babies. I will work with Governor Ricketts on the timing of a special session. And, after reviewing the Supreme Court’s opinion in detail, I will work closely with the Governor and my legislative colleagues on the scope of such protections.”

For the full article click HERE

LINCOLN AIRPORT APPROVES BUDGET THAT IS LIKELY LARGEST IN HISTORY

LINCOLN - The Lincoln Airport Authority adopted what is likely the largest budget in the airport's history.

2023's fiscal year budget, which begins July 1, is $78.3 million, up from $63 million last year.

Renovating terminals and the expansion project are the main contributors to the increased budget, with $45.6 million in bond proceeds for the project included in the coming year's budget.

The 2022 fiscal year budget had included $33.6 million in bond proceeds for the roughly $55 million project, which will add about 35,000 square feet to the 58,000 square-foot building, consolidate its two security checkpoints into one and add airline gates. Much of that spending was delayed and shifted into the new budget, officials said.

For the second year in a row, the airport will collect revenue from a property tax it levied last year to help pay for the terminal project. The projected revenue is about $3.4 million.

An additional projected $17 million in operating revenue is expected to be brought in during 2023, which is a significant increase from the $15.6 million budgeted amount for 2022, although it is only slightly higher than the $16.8 million the airport projects it will bring in once the fiscal year has ended on June 30.

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CYBERATTACK DOWNS SYSTEM NEBRASKANS USE TO FILE FOR JOBLESS BENEFITS

LINCOLN- The NEworks website — used by Nebraskans to file for unemployment benefits — has been shut down as a result of a cyberattack.

The Nebraska Department of Labor issued a statement saying the website is unavailable due to a national outage involving the department’s web vendor, Geographic Solutions Inc. GSI reportedly discovered a cyberattack that required its state labor exchange and unemployment claims systems to be taken offline.

GSI has not provided a projection for when the problem will be resolved but indicated the site will be down for at least two more days, Labor Department spokeswoman Grace Johnson said in the statement.

She said that once access to the site has been restored, the state will issue instructions to ensure that all eligible users have an opportunity to file their unemployment claims.

The vendor has indicated that the attack affected only access to GSI online systems and that there was no evidence of user data being compromised.

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FIRST NEBRASKA CASE OF MONKEYPOX IDENTIFIED IN DOUGLAS COUNTY

OMAHA- Nebraska has identified its first case of monkeypox, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Douglas County Health Department reported.

The agencies said the state public health laboratory identified a positive orthopoxvirus test taken by a state resident, a male in his 30s with recent international travel.

DHHS is working with the county and the CDC to investigate potential exposures and is to notify those individuals if any exposures are identified.

Symptoms include a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the genitals, anus, face, inside of the mouth and on other parts of the body like hands, feet or chest. The rash goes through different stages before healing, the release said. Other symptoms include fever, headache, backache, muscle aches, chills and, exhaustion.

Nebraska Medicine calls monkeypox a very rare disease that’s normally linked to travel in West and Central Africa. It’s called monkeypox because it was first discovered in 1958 when colonies of monkeys kept for research developed a pox- like disease.

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