OPA ANNOUNCES NEW $103 MILLION VENUE NEXT TO HOLLAND CENTER

OMAHA - Omaha Performing Arts is adding a new venue downtown. A $103 million Center for Arts Engagement will be built on the east side of the Holland Performing Arts Center. 

The green lawn space between Dodge and Douglas streets will be the home of the new facility. Omaha Performing Arts said it will fill the need for additional rehearsal, workroom, and classroom space.

OPA President Joan Squires said that performing arts education and engagement programs that serve the community are a key part of its mission.

“These activities already reach over 100,000 students and participants annually from across Nebraska and beyond," she said. "With our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we want to broaden these programs and launch new ones, and we simply do not have adequate space." 

The new venue will hopefully help spur other investments downtown Omaha, including a newly renovated Gene Leahy Mall. Fundraising is underway to cover the $103 million facility cost. 

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UNL GETS $1M TO HELP DEVELOP EARLY WARNING SYSTEM OF DROUGHT-FUELED POLITICAL INSTABILITY

LINCOLN - The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will play a significant role in helping the U.S. military develop an early warning system for global political instability fueled by drought. 

UNL's School of Natural Resources is home to the National Drought Mitigation Center which received $1 million from the U.S. Defense Department to develop a method for forecasting drought hotspots.

Ross Miller, a UNL associate professor of political science, said that drought is often a contributor to violent conflicts globally. Miller pointed to research that indicates drought worsened the civil wars in two African countries: the Darfur region of Sudan and in Burundi.

Research has also found that severe droughts, fueled by climate change, contributed to the Arab Spring protests and uprisings in the Middle East in the early 2010s.

The drought tool is one part of a larger Defense Department effort to get ahead of brewing trouble spots.

Climate change is expected to increase the severity of drought, which affects more people worldwide than any other natural hazard, according to the United Nations. The percentage of the world affected by drought has more than doubled in the last 40 years, according to the U.N. The risk of instability is greater in those countries where there’s little to no social safety net and families depend upon farming and gardening for their food.

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NEBRASKA'S SUICIDE PREVENTION 'LIFELINE' IS SWITCHING TO EASIER-TO-REMEMBER 9-8-8 NUMBER

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s suicide prevention “lifeline” is moving to a new, simpler, three-digit number — 9-8-8 — as of Saturday, July 16, as part of a nationwide effort to make help easier to access during a mental health crisis.

The current suicide crisis line, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), will eventually be replaced by a simpler three-digit number. 

Gov. Pete Ricketts and other officials said Wednesday that the easier-to-remember number will also allow a connection to all of the crisis intervention teams that are deployed statewide.

Ricketts and others urged Nebraskans to be proactive and listen to their relatives, friends, and neighbors for signs of depression, isolation, or contemplation of suicide. 

“We know that it can be hard to start conversations about mental health, but they are very important conversations and could save a life,” said Sheri Dawson, director of the Division of Behavioral Health at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. 

According to national vital statistics from 2020, 53% of all suicides were committed with a firearm. Ricketts, however, said he would not support changes in gun laws to help prevent suicides.

“I don’t see a need to change gun laws,” he said. “We need to focus on behavioral health and mental health.” 

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PROPOSAL FOR STATE'S LARGEST FEEDLOT GETTING BIGGER, SEEKING NEW SITE IN SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA

LINCOLN — A group of veterinarians seeking to build the state’s largest feedlot for cattle is now proposing an even larger facility in a new location in Dundy County.

Eric Behlke, the head of Blackshirt Feeders, is now eyeing a location north of Haigler, Nebraska near the Colorado border.

Eventually, the proposed feedlot would feed 150,000 head of cattle at a time, which is 50,000 head larger than the planned feedlot site 23 miles north of Benkelman which was approved by the county for Blackshirt Feeders in June. That location had drawn complaints about being too close to a residence and possibly threatening groundwater quality and quantity.  

One member of the Dundy County Board, Richard Bartholomew of Benkelman, said Wednesday, July 13 that the new location is much more palatable to him because it impacts fewer neighbors.

Bartholomew added that all of the property tax benefits will go to Dundy County schools via the new location.

Blackshirt’s application for a conditional use permit for the feedlot notes that the new location is farther away from nearby residences and cemeteries and requires only about 1/4 of a mile of county road, which Blackshirt Feeders will pay to pave.

The feedlot will also invest an additional $125 million, the application stated, to build a methane digester, to turn the manure produced by the cattle into fuel.

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OMAHA, FREMONT TO SHARE IN $10 MILLION IN HOUSING GRANTS FOR 'BOMB CYCLONE' FLOOD RECOVERY

LINCOLN- Five low-income housing projects in Omaha and Fremont will share $10 million in federal funding, part of $109 million the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sent to Nebraska to recover from flooding in 2019.

HUD set aside about $26 million of that relief money for affordable housing in communities impacted by the “bomb cyclone” floods in March of 2019. 

Douglas, Sarpy and Dodge Counties were deemed the “most impacted” counties by the flooding by HUD, according to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, which announced the grant awards Monday.

A total of 231 housing units are planned using the $10 million.

Recipients, which will receive $2 million each, are:

• Kennedy Square East/Brinshore Development LLC, 2912 Spencer St., Omaha, 63 new rental units.  

• Drexel/Foundations Development LLC: 18011 Drexel St., Omaha, 50 new rental units.

• Sahler/Foundations Development, 4150 N. 132nd St., Omaha, 50 new rental units.

• Fremont Northside Townhomes II/Mesner Development, near 29th and North Yager Road, Fremont, 27 new rental units.

• Highlander Phase V/Brinshore Development, 2198 N. 31st St., Omaha, 41 new rental units.

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NEBRASKA SEN. MEGAN HUNT OF OMAHA AMONG 48 CHOSEN FOR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP

OMAHA- State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha is among 48 state leaders in 32 states selected to participate in the prestigious Council of State Government Henry Toll Fellowship program.

The fellowship is a leadership development program for state government officials, said a statement from the CSG based in Lexington, Kentucky. Hunt is the only Nebraskan chosen for this year’s class.

She called it an honor to be recognized among “visionary changemakers” across the country.

“We need fighters in all levels of government and policymaking who are hearing and really responding to the needs and concerns of everyday people,” Hunt said. “I ran for office because I know that we can do more collectively rather than individually.”

Each year, the fellowship brings up to 48 applicants from all three branches of state government to the Council of State Governments’ national headquarters for an extensive, five-day leadership boot camp. This year’s camp is in August.

The program’s sessions are designed to stimulate personal assessment and growth while providing networking opportunities. 

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RICKETTS SAYS HE'LL KEEP FIGHTING VACCINATION MANDATE FOR NATIONAL GUARD BUT IS LOSING BATTLE

LINCOLN- Gov. Pete Ricketts said he’s continuing to battle the federal government over the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Nebraska National Guard members but has been losing that battle.

During the governor’s monthly radio call-in show, he was asked twice to continue fighting the mandate. One Guard member said she was now being barred from participating in weekend drills and gaining points toward retirement because she had not been vaccinated.

The vaccine mandate for members of the Army National Guard went into effect on June 30 according to Maj. Scott Ingalsbe, a spokesman for the Nebraska National Guard.

The Army National Guard has about 3,300 members, Ingalsbe said. Effective June 30, those who are unvaccinated or do not have a pending or approved exception for medical or religious reasons can no longer participate, or be paid, for weekend drills, he said, though they remain in the Guard. Such drills are funded federally.

Ricketts, who signed onto a letter in December with four other Republican governors protesting the military vaccine mandate, said that he continues to oppose the mandate. But he said he has been unsuccessful in arguing that Guard service within a state should be governed by the governor of that state.

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DEA'S FENTANYL CAMPAIGN TAKES 32,000 PILLS OFF OMAHA STREETS OVER 2 DAYS

OMAHA - Investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration seized 32,000 fake pills in over two days last week, including many laced with lethal doses of fentanyl. 

Up to this point in 2022, DEA investigators have seized 151,500 pills in Nebraska which marks an 83% increase over the 82,775 pills seized in all of 2021.

“Fake pills, designed to look like legitimate prescription medications, are readily available on the streets of Nebraska,” said Justin C. King, the special agent in charge of the Omaha Division. “No city or town, be it rural or urban, big or small, is immune to this substance. We want people to be aware of the dangers of taking these pills and other substances of unknown origin.” 

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, equivalent in size to 10 to 20 grains of salt, is considered a potentially lethal dose. 

Four out of every 10 of these pills, designed to look like several prescription opioids, have been found to contain a deadly amount of fentanyl.

“Cartels are producing fake pills in mass quantity and social media continues to play a significant role in the upward trend of these potentially lethal drugs,” King said. "They’re easy to purchase and easy to conceal. We need everyone to understand that taking just one fake pill can have deadly consequences.” 

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PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW OMAHA MAYOR TO REMAIN IN POWER WHEN OUT OF TOWN

OMAHA - A proposed change to Omaha’s City Charter would allow the city’s mayors to remain in charge when traveling outside city limits. 

Debates on the capabilities and limits of new technology, as well as whether Omaha needs a clear line of mayoral responsibility in times of emergency, have come from the proposal. 

Under the current city charter, the City Council president is required to serve as acting mayor whenever the mayor leaves Omaha. Typically, it is a caretaker position. In an emergency situation, however, like a major fire, police shooting, or significant weather event, the fill-in mayor could be required to take on a more active role. 

Supporters of the Mayor's proposal say the current wording is an outdated policy and point to modern technology that allows for near-constant communication between an out-of-town mayor and other city officials. 

“In 2022, there is now the ability for the mayor — as there is any type of government official — to conduct business away from the city of Omaha,” said City Attorney Matt Kuhse when he introduced the proposal earlier this year. The city also is considering a new document signing system that would allow the mayor to sign time-critical documents while traveling outside the city. 

Through a records request, it was determined that Stothert was out of town 39 days in the first six months of 2022, equating to 21% of the first six months being spent outside the city.

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NEW NEBRASKA GOP LEADERS AND RICKETTS LOOK TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER SHAKE-UP

HASTINGS, Nebraska — New leadership has taken possession of the Nebraska Republican Party’s Lincoln headquarters.

New state GOP Chairman Eric Underwood said he is focused on ensuring the continuity of the state party’s operations. He told KFAB’s Ian Swanson he wants to heal divisions and help “conservative Republicans” win.

“If there is an ultimate … vision of electing Republicans that believe in our values, then why would you want to do it any other way?” he told KFAB. “Move forward.” 

Underwood, the former chairman of the Lancaster County Republican Party, said he and his group pressed for change this past weekend because they didn't want to wait for the regular elections for the state GOP chair in December.

A majority of state GOP convention delegates at Saturday's state party convention ousted former Chairman Dan Welche and chose Underwood to replace him. Additionally, several said they wanted to loosen Gov. Pete Ricketts' grip on the Nebraska GOP.

People who voted for change Saturday gave a variety of reasons. Some said they wanted state party leaders to pay more attention to county parties in rural parts of the state. 

Others said they wanted the GOP to fully embrace former President Donald Trump’s unproven allegations about the 2020 presidential election that he lost to President Joe Biden. 

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'THE FUND JUST KEEPS GETTING BIGGER': NEBRASKANS DENIED HELP AS STATE STOCKPILES $108M IN FEDERAL FUNDS

OMAHA - In 2010, Melinda Jacobs was a 20-year-old single mom struggling to make ends meet as a certified nursing assistant. Working night shifts to boost her wages wasn’t enough to support her family, said Jacobs, so she applied for Aid to Dependent Children (ADC), a public benefit program providing cash assistance to low-income families with kids. 

Jacobs was denied because her income, $741 per month, or $8,892 per year, was above the state cutoff level for a family of two. 

Despite inflation, that amount has increased by a total of $74 over the past six years. More than a decade later, Jacobs learned she had been permanently disqualified from ADC because she'd been to prison on drug offenses.

According to state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, it is not uncommon for public benefit denials to perpetuate poverty and crime as people turn to crime to support their, and their children's, basic needs.

Stories of this nature are common in Nebraska, where being denied ADC is the norm for families that apply. Around 90% of families that applied for ADC in 2020 were denied. This denial rate surpasses that of all but three states in the nation. 

The high denial rate is not due, however, to Nebraska's lack of ADC cash to distribute. ADC money comes from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), an annual federal block grant given to each state to support low-income families. The state can use the cash for direct cash assistance via ADC — or the state can decide to allocate the money to a rainy day fund. 

Nebraska's rainy day fund was more than $108 million as of September 2021. As of 2020, Nebraska is one of just 11 states with a TANF rainy day fund that contains more money than its annual TANF grant amount, which is roughly $57 million. 

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NEBRASKA DEMOCRATS MIFFED THAT PLUM POLITCAL POSITIONS HAVE NOT BEEN FILLED

LINCOLN- Prominent Nebraska Democrats are expressing dismay that the Biden administration hasn’t taken steps — 18 months after taking office — to appoint Democrats to two, plum political jobs: U.S. attorney and U.S. marshal.

Former U.S. Sen. and Gov. Bob Kerrey said he has heard nothing but “radio silence” from the administration after he and others pushed the candidacy of former State Sen. Burke Harr for the U.S. attorney’s post shortly after Biden’s election in November 2020.

Kerrey had also advocated for the appointment of Greg Gonzalez, a former deputy Omaha police chief, to the U.S. marshal’s post. But Gonzalez, after hearing nothing about his application for the job, opted instead to run for Douglas County sheriff.

Kerrey called the lack of appointments “a failure.”

A check of a website of U.S. attorneys shows that at least 41 U.S. attorney posts, out of 94 judicial districts across the country, have not been permanently filled. That includes the Nebraska and northern Iowa districts with “acting” U.S. attorneys. 

“It’s very important if you want to build a political party that you don’t ignore these positions,” said Vince Powers, a former state chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party.

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NEBRASKA MEDICINE EXPANDS NUMBER OF NURSES TRAINED IN SEXUAL ASSAULT CARE

OMAHA- Nebraska Medicine is expanding its corps of nurses specially trained to care for sexual assault victims and collect evidence — if patients consent — for potential prosecution. 

The program used to have 11 employed examiners, that number recently increased to 18 with a goal of 30 in the near future. 

Dr. Cynthia Hernandez, the program’s medical director said, “It’s been in the works for a while, but now we have a lot of momentum, so it’s exciting.”

These special nurses are trained to be able to provide both care and emotional support, as well as provide insight into their reporting options. 

If patients consent, the nurses also collect evidence for potential prosecutions, including taking photographs and conducting an interview. If the person who was assaulted chooses that option, the information must be collected in a standardized way in order to be admitted in court. 

Since the program began, more and more people have approached Nebraska Medicine for the service, sparking growth.

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BARBARA DERIESE PASSES AWAY AT THE AGE OF 75

LINCOLN - Barbara Jean DeRiese, 75, passed away July 5, 2022. 

DeRiese was born July 17, 1946, in Minden, NE to Herman F. and Lucille Hadan. 

She attended St. Mark's United Methodist Church, was a member of Order of Eastern Star, P.E.O., Nebraska Realtor's Association, and held an office with the Phelps County Board of Realtors.

Barbara served as a Legislative Aide for District #38 at the State Capitol.

The memorial service was held Tuesday, July 12 at Roper and Sons South Lincoln Chapel.

Memorials can be made out to the Capital Humane Society or Cause for Paws.

Condolences can be sent at https://www.roperandsons.com/

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OLD-GUARD CONSERVATIVES AND TRUMP POPULISTS TAKE NEBRASKA GOP FROM RICKETTS

KEARNEY- A motivated group of old-guard conservatives and Trump-era populists took over the Nebraska Republican Party on this past weekend, ousting and replacing state GOP Chairman Dan Welch. The move sparked at least a dozen resignations from GOP leaders.

The state’s dominant political party lost its chairman, executive director, two of three district chairs, national committeewoman, three assistant state party chairs, secretary, treasurer and lawyer, among others.

Some Republicans have complained for years that the governor and state GOP had taken sides in open races with Republicans running against Republicans.

Nebraska’s troubles with Republican Party conflicts are not unique. GOP activists also took over the Arizona Republican Party in 2019, and the Nevada Democratic Party lost its leadership to a similar revolt by progressives in 2021.

Delegates chose Lancaster County Republican Party Chairman Eric Underwood as the GOP’s next chairman. Underwood said he wants to bring the party together to support Republican candidates, including GOP gubernatorial nominee Jim Pillen and GOP House candidates.

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PANSING BROOKS TELLS VICE PRESIDENT SHE'LL FIGHT TO PROTECT ABORTION RIGHTS

WASHINGTON D.C.- Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, the Democratic nominee in November's rematch with Republican Congressman-elect Mike Flood of Norfolk, told Vice President Kamala Harris that she and other supporters of women's abortion rights will continue to "fight with passion and determination" to protect them. 

Harris met with legislators from Indiana, Florida, South Dakota, Nebraska and Montana in a session live-streamed online.

Harris described the court's decision as "unthinkable" and said it "took a constitutional right away from the women of America." 

Although it is still uncertain, the Nebraska Legislature may be called into special session by Gov. Pete Ricketts later this year to consider legislation to ban abortion in the state as a result of the court decision.

Pansing Brooks, who will be term-limited out of office at the end of the year, would be a participant in the special session.

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PETITION TO GIVE NEBRASKA GOVERNOR MORE AUTHORITY OVER EDUCATION FAILS

LINCOLN- A petition drive that sought to give the Nebraska governor substantial oversight of K-12 education failed last week.

Michael Connely of York, one of the sponsors, said the effort fell short of the signatures needed to put the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot. 

The organizers had sought to replace the Nebraska State Board of Education, education commissioner and Nebraska Department of Education with a new Office of Education accountable to the governor. 

Under the proposal, the governor would have had authority to appoint the director of the office, subject to confirmation by a majority of state senators.

The petition sponsors had argued the change would make the department more accountable and return some of the department’s responsibilities back to local districts.

Critics, however, said the petition would have had the opposite effect, eliminating an elected board and concentrating power in the Governor’s Office.

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VIRGINIA GOVERNOR TELLS NEBRASKA GOP THAT A 'RED WAVE' WILL PUT PARTY IN CHARGE

KEARNEY, Neb. — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin told Nebraska Republicans Saturday that his victory last year in what he described as a “dark blue” state was the beginning of a “red wave” that he suspects will sweep across the U.S. and will land in “Nancy Pelosi’s California.”

Youngkin defeated his Democratic opponent, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, in a state where Republicans had won only one of the past five elections for governor.

His recent success has spurred rumors that he might run for president in 2024. Saturday, Youngkin was the keynote speaker at the Nebraska Republican Party's state convention - a gathering that later turned contentious with the ouster of the party chairman. 

Youngkin believes the political tide began to shift during the COVID-19 pandemic because Democratic leaders had shut down local small businesses and schools.

On Saturday, he raised those issues again, claiming that Virginia public schools were teaching “politics” and telling students to judge others based on the color of their skin. 

Youngkin said a big reason why he won his election is that he drew support from Democrats and independents who had never voted Republican before, including members of the Black and Latino communities. 

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FLOOD SWORN IN AS NEBRASKA'S NEWEST U.S. CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

LINCOLN- Now former State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk was sworn on July 12th as the 24th representative of Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District in Washington, D.C.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi administered the oath of office at the U.S. Capitol in a brief ceremony with Flood and his family members.

“Our team is already hitting the ground running,” he said. “In everything we do, we will be tireless advocates for the interests and conservative values of the district.”

Shortly after being sworn in, Flood gave his first-floor speech, noting that July 12th would have been the 79th birthday of his mother, Ann, who died in January.

“And although she’s a Democrat, I know she is smiling from Heaven as I took my oath tonight,” the congressman said.

Gov. Pete Ricketts already has asked for applications from people interested in the legislature seat, but has not announced his choice yet.

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NEW GOP LEADERS DECLARE SUPPORT FOR PILLEN, OTHER NOMINEES

LINCOLN- Newly elected Nebraska Republican State Chairman Eric Underwood of Lincoln and his leadership team said they are committed to securing the election in November of GOP primary election nominees, specifically Jim Pillen.

"Make no mistake, the NEGOP remains committed to our Republican primary winners," the new party leaders stated in a news release.

In an interview on KFAB-AM, Underwood specifically declared "100% support for Jim Pillen as our next governor."

In the news release, the new party leaders declared that "the top-down approach which has been successful is not as nimble or representative of all conservative Nebraskans from Omaha to Scottsbluff" as the new leadership model intends to be.

The party's new leadership "is here to elect conservative Republicans in November at all levels and well into the future and fight the radical left agenda growing in our state and in our nation," a news statement declared.

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