NEBRASKA EDUCATION COMMISSIONER BLOMSTEDT TO LEAVE POST AFTER 9 YEARS

LINCOLN- This afternoon, Nebraska Commissioner of Education Matt Blomstedt announced his intention to retire on Jan. 3rd after nine years leading the Department of Education. 

Blomstedt, who is now 50, will take a job at a consulting firm next year. "I'm excited for the opportunity," said Blomstedt, "and a little sad to be leaving what I'm doing, too."

Blomstedt has led the Department through unprecedented times, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and compromising with concerned parents over what's taught in school. "I can't deny it's been rough the last couple of years," he said. 

Blomstedt, in a letter to the Board of Education, wrote that he will continue to work fervently in his last few months, and that he is very proud of his service to the state of Nebraska. 

State Board President Patricia Koch-Johns praised Blomstedt's work, saying, "Commissioner Blomstedt has been a champion for all students and families, and a great leader of the Department of Education. During his tenure, our state has become a national leader in education..."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Blomstedt worked diligently with Gov. Ricketts to brief the public on the state's response to the virus. 

One of Blomstedt's greatest personal accomplishments is the creation of a school-accountability system as the country transitioned from the federal 'No Child Left Behind' law to the 'Every Student Succeeds Act.'

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FIRST NEBRASKA CASINO GETS THE GREENLIGHT, WILL OPEN SATURDAY IN LINCOLN

LINCOLN- Nebraska's first state-licensed casino will open tomorrow, after clearing its final hurdle this afternoon. The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission voted to grant a permanent gaming license to WarrHorse Lincoln, which will open its temporary casino at the Lincoln Race Course tomorrow.

The unanimous approval comes almost two years after Nebraska voted overwhelmingly to support a ballot initiative to allow casino gambling in the state. 

WarHorse worked closely with the Racing and Gaming Commission to clear up a "sensitive security measure" at the meeting this morning, allowing it to finally open. 

The Commission was set to vote on the license last week during a Zoom meeting, but the meeting was canceled out of concern for several commissioners worried about making such an important decision in a virtual setting. Commission Chairman Dennis Lee stated that "it was an easy concern to address. We just moved it 10 days."

The temporary casino will be open tomorrow, Sept. 24th, at 10am, and is located on the Lincoln Race Course near U.S. 77 and West Denton Road.

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STATE PICKS TWO CURRENT, ONE NEW HEALTH PLAN FOR MEDICAID MANAGED CARE CONTRACTS

LINCOLN- This afternoon, Nebraska officials announced the selection of three new health plans to manage the state's $1.8 billion Medicaid Program. 

The three health plans include Molina Healthcare of Nebraska, Nebraska Total Care, and UnitedHealth Care of the Midlands. Nebraska Total Care and UnitedHealth Care have current contracts with the state, but will now take on Medicaid. Molina HealthCare is newer to Nebraska, but has worked with Medicaid, Medicare, and Affordable Care Act plans in several states.

Dannette Smith, CEO of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services was happy to share the news. "We're excited to work with these three health plans to ensure Medicaid members in Nebraska continue to receive the health care that they need," said Smith.

The three companies will sign contracts with the DHHS, allowing them to manage physical and behavioral health care, pharmacy services, and dental benefits for almost all Medicaid patients in the state. Altogether, the three companies will serve around 347,000 Nebraskans.

The winning bidders were selected from five applicants, and the two companies that lost the bid were Community Care Plan of Nebraska and Medica Community Health Plan. The losers of the bid have the ability to appeal the state's decision, but we've yet to see any such action taken. 

Kevin Bagley, State Medicaid Director, was "extremely pleased" with all five bidders, but the decision came down to a few factors, including dental services within health plans, voluntary care and case management, and the standardization of certain requirements for providers.

The new contracts are set to begin on Jan. 1, 2024, which is six months later than previously planned. Bagley stated that between now and then, the DHHS will work very closely with the three chosen companies to make the transition as smooth as possible.

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'A REALLY HARD TIME KEEPING BEDS OPEN': GOV. RICKETTS EXTENDS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO HELP HEALTHCARE STAFFING

LINCOLN- The American Health Care Association reports that Nebraska's long-term health care industry is still years away from reaching pre-pandemic workforce levels.

This report coincided with Gov. Ricketts' extension of an executive order to help sustain the healthcare industry while it rebuilds.

Jalene Carpenter, president of the Nebraska Health Care Association, said, "The staff shortage has been incredibly exacerbated by the pandemic. We are still continuing to have a really big crisis when it comes to your workforce."

Carpenter went on to state just how important Gov. Ricketts' extension was, and believes it will act as a catalyst for the rebuilding of the healthcare workforce.

The executive order, which allows recently retired healthcare workers to get credentialed and defers some continuing education requirements, was also praised by Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association. "These individuals are well qualified, many of them have spent their career in healthcare," said Nordquist.

Long-term care facilities are feeling the worst sting from this workforce shortage. Because of a lack of staffed beds, hospitals are unable to discharge patients to these facilities, straining the hospital workforce even more.

"When you think about it from a workforce challenge perspective, it really comes down to the number of people we can serve," said Carpenter.

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GOV. RICKETTS SELECTS INTERIM NEBRASKA PRISONS DIRECTOR

LINCOLN- Gov. Ricketts announced the selection of a new Director of Corrections, who will replace the current Director Scott Frakes, who will be leaving the position next month.

Diane Sabatka-Rine will replace Frakes as Director of Corrections. Sabatka-Rine has served in the department for nearly 40 years, and has held warden positions at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, Lincoln Correctional Center, and the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center.

Sabatka-Rine currently serves as the chief of operations at the Nebraska Department of Corrections, where she oversees deputy directors who run Nebraska prisons, certain programs, and administrative services and industries.

Sabatka-Rine is slated to take the position on October 8th, the day Frakes will be stepping down.

Ricketts also chose a replacement for Chris Cantrell, the current State Fire Marshall, who announced his resignation alongside Frakes. Doug Hohbein will take over as interim State Fire Marshall on October 15th.

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NUMBER OF NEBRASKA COVID CASES HITS LOWEST LEVEL SINCE MAY

LINCOLN- The number of COVID-19 cases dropped again in Nebraska last week, hitting the lowest level since late May.

The state recorded 1,772 new cases last week, down from 2,121 the previous week and 2,936 the week before, according to state data reported to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nebraska’s current case rate is the 15th lowest among the states.

In general, cases in both Nebraska and the United States have been falling since mid-July. Case levels in the state also are at half the rate they have averaged for the pandemic and less than 10% of the peak level hit in January.

An average of 171 Nebraskans were hospitalized with the virus last week, down 1.9% from the week before.

The state added two new COVID deaths last week, bringing the total number of confirmed or probable deaths to 4,490. The state has recorded 535,000 confirmed cases of COVID.

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NEBRASKANS FAILING TO CLAIM $200 MILLION IN STATE INCOME TAX CREDITS, OFFICIALS SAY

LINCOLN- Major tax breaks passed by the State Legislature two years ago are not being claimed by Nebraska residents, and there is almost $200 million left in the pot.

Around 40% of Nebraskans have failed to claim the property tax refund on their state income tax forms. Gov. Ricketts joined a variety of state leaders to urge citizens to claim their money. "It's major money," the Governor announced.

Owners of $250,000 homes in Lincoln can claim up to $1,137 in refunds this year, but many are unaware of this. "That's a house payment. That's a big deal," stated Gov. Ricketts during the press conference.

The Governor also claimed that Nebraskans may see a 30% reduction in their property tax bill if they take advantage of the income tax refund.

These refunds and credits come from two programs, the automatically applied Real Property Tax Credit, and the Nebraska Property Tax Incentive Act, which must be manually claimed.

State Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton stated that, because the program is now new, it will take time for a majority of the population to become aware of it. "It takes time for it to sink in," said Fulton.

Some in the crowd asked the Governor why, like the Real Property Tax Credit, the new tax reductions aren't automatically applied. Gov. Ricketts stated that the way it's done now is "the best way to do it."

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GROUND BY GRETNA OUTLETS MALL TO TURN INTO SPRAWLING INDUSTRIAL PARK

GRETNA- Around 170 acres of farmland by the Nebraska Crossing Outlet Mall will turn into Omaha's largest contiguous industrial park. NewStreet Properties, the company developing the new industrial park, believes the new project will lure investments of up to $190 million.

The new site will be called Gretna Logistics Park, and the construction of a 400,000-square-foot warehouse will be the first project undertaken by the developer. Tenants for the warehouse have yet to be secured.

However, NewStreet Properties also plans on building a 300,000-square-foot office building, which they believe will employ up to 200 workers. The tenant of this building has been decided by NewStreet, but the construction company has yet to release the name of the new employer since the sale is still being finalized.

Peter Frei, vice president of investments for NewStreet, believes that the new land could fit almost 2 million square feet of industrial and warehouse building space. He also stated that this new project in Gretna will help quell the strong demand for industrial projects.

Despite this, Frei also voiced his concerns about an industrial project of this size and the disastrous effects of Covid-19 on construction projects. "We think the tailwinds that the industrial market has been experiencing, and that have been exacerbated by COVID, will continue," Frei stated.

The first warehouse is slated to be finished by the end of 2023, and Frei believes that once they actually start building, they'll begin receiving applications from potential tenants.

Frei wanted the project to be built close enough to Omaha because he claims the city lacks any sizable industrial projects. Many of the current projects are happening in Papillion, so Frei chose the location to better suit the city of Omaha.

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REMOTE SANDHILLS RESERVOIR DECLARED AN 'INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY PARK'

VALENTINE- Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area, southwest of Valentine and located in Nebraska's sandhills, has been officially certified as an 'international dark sky park.'

The reservoir has hosted annual 'Nebraska Star Parties' for 29 years, usually during moonless nights in July. Because of its remote location, the reservoir has almost no light pollution, allowing for stunning views of the Milky Way.

The site draws hundreds of professional and amateur astronomers each year, who set up their telescopes on the state campgrounds.

Tim McCoy, director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, was overjoyed to hear the news, saying, "We're thrilled and honored to have Merritt Reservoir be given this prestigious distinction. It's another great reason to visit this well-known park."

Merritt Reservoir is the first Nebraska park to be given the dark-sky distinction by the International Dark-Sky Association, a recognized authority on light pollution. Other parts of the countries have been given similar distinctions, including dark-sky reserves, dark-sky sanctuaries, and urban night sky places.

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TOPSOIL PROTECTION SHOULD BE STRESSED IN THE NEXT FARM BILL, U.S. HOUSE AG PANEL TOLD

WASHINGTON- Farmers and academics came together in Washington to implore the U.S. House Agriculture Committee to support regenerative farming practices, and they want them placed in the next farm bill.

Committee Chair David Scott, a Georgia Democrat, stated that investment in soil health will curb climate change and prevent future food shortages. Scott held the hearings to gain insight into the best sustainable farming practices.

Regenerative agriculture is the practice of rebuilding organic matter in topsoil, restoring degraded soil biodiversity, and improving the water cycle; all after farming.

Jeff Moyer, chief executive officer of the Rodale Institute, stated, "Conventional agriculture models are degrading American soil." Moyer has worked in the past on sustainable farming methods, and believes they are of utmost importance.

President Biden has allocated around $300 billion to projects which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon output. These will include sustainable farming measures.

Several Republicans on the Committee stated that, if these regenerative farm measures pass, they should not be mandatory for each state. Glenn Thomspon, of Pennsylvania, stated that "tying food policy to climate policy is harmful."

Thompson argued that smaller farms can't take the risks that large, commercial farms can in regards to sustainable farming. He went on to state that many of the farms in Pennsylvania had already begun using sustainable farming methods, and that inflation was the key issue affecting farmers.

Rick Clark, a farmer from Indiana, suggested to the committee that they should begin educating and assisting smaller farmers who want to move towards regenerative farming. Clark has used regenerative farming methods on his own 7,000-acre farm for the past decade, all so he could rebuild soil health.

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JUSTICE SOUGHT FOR NEBRASKA WARD WHOSE LEGS WERE AMPUTATED AFTER BEING JAILED

COUNCIL BLUFFS- In 2018, Kevin Pittillo was arrested for 'disturbing the peace.' He was delirious, wandering around in his underwear claiming that he was a KGB agent, when he was picked up and brought to Pottawattamie County Jail.

Some days later, Pittilo was found nude and unresponsive in his cell. He was brought to an Omaha hospital where both of his legs were amputated. The doctor who did the operation claimed that Pittilo was suffering from 'profound ischemia,' disallowing blood from flowing to his legs. One of the surgeons testified that at least one of his legs appeared to be dead.

A Nebraska public guardian assigned to take care of the 66-year-old Pittilo heard about what happened, and filed a lawsuit claiming that his legs had to be amputated because of negligence and lack of medical attention in the jail.

Last November, Pottawattamie County reached a $4.5 million settlement on behalf of the county jail staff. The jail's physician, Dr. Jon Thomas, also agreed to an out-of-court settlement of an undisclosed amount.

Recently, the Court also found that the jail's psychiatrist in charge at the time was also not liable for damages.

Pittilo's attorney claimed that the damages to Pittilo could reach upwards of $30 million, since he lost both legs and now requires 24-hour care.

Lawyers for the psychiatrist, Dr. Ivan Delgado, argued that he should not be held liable, since his job was to ensure the patient's mental well-being, not his physical health.

Michelle Chaffee, director of the Nebraska Office of Public Guardian, though the case was another example of how people with mental illnesses don't get the consideration and treatment they deserve. "It's heartbreaking," said Chaffee, "All of these [mental health care] systems are so broken."

Pittilo now lives in an independent living facility in Omaha, with staff there at all times for assistance.

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DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO REQUEST ARPA FUNDING FOR NEW WELLNESS, TRAINING SPACE

OMAHA- The Douglas County Sheriff's Department is hoping to use federal COVID relief funds to renovate one of their buildings into a mental health and wellness facility.

The building is currently owned by the Douglas County Treasurer, and is located off of 156th and Maple Streets. The building has had several renovations done over the years, but currently stands empty.

Heather Rohwer, a crime scene investigator in Douglas County, said the department would benefit greatly from a health and wellness center. "There are days that you're going call to call to call to call. Things that, you know, stick with you that you will never forget for as long as you're here," said Rohwer.

If the funds are allocated, the department plans on hiring several counselors to work in the building. Law enforcement and employees of the Sheriff's office would be able to go there and seek counseling whenever they feel like it, which many in the department believe would take away the stigma surrounding therapy.

The Department doesn't currently plan on using any taxpayer funds to renovate the space, and is instead relying entirely on the ARPA funds and drug forfeiture money. Chief Deputy Wayne Hudson stated, "We're going to take that money that we captured from drug dealers that were poisoning in our neighborhood and put it back to something good, which is training for our employees."

The proposed training space will be held in large classrooms, and the Department also plans on building a gym and mock crime scene spaces for CSI training.

The sheriff's office stated that its responsibilities have been growing alongside the expansion of the new juvenile justice center, so they want to make sure everyone has the "best training and support."

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OMAHA POLICE STRUGGLE TO MEET FBI'S NEW DATA-REPORTING STANDARDS

OMAHA- In July, the Nebraska Crime Commission released its 2021 Crime in Nebraska Report, but Omaha was completely missing. The Omaha Police Department has failed to comply with the FBI's new National Incident-Based Reporting System, which has become the standard for reporting crime data.

Because of this, OPD is unable to submit data to official state and national reports. Prior to the new standard being put in place, crime data reporting consisted of a simple tally of each crime. Now, all departments are required to report the date of the incident, demographic details, location data, drug types and quantities, and whether the crime was gang-related.

Besides Omaha, 18 smaller agencies in Nebraska were unable to submit data for the report, and were considered noncompliant with the new FBI standards. Omaha's lack of reporting accounts for about 60% of Nebraska's crime, so state and federal reports may be inaccurate.

David Van Dyke, OPD's deputy director for technology and reporting services, believes Omaha will be able to comply with the new standards by January. "The challenges that large agencies like the Omaha Police Department face is we've gone from a simplified version of what we have to report to a far more complex version," stated Van Dyke.

Van Dyke also stated that large agencies around the country have had to invest a lot of money to become compliant with the new standards, but he wants to be very careful with how he spends taxpayer money.

Only around 62% of the United States' law enforcement agencies have submitted compliant data, and 39 out of the country's 90 largest police departments have also failed to report sufficient data.

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NEBRASKA EDUCATION CHIEF TAKES PANDEMIC-RELATED MESSAGE TO CAPITOL HILL

WASHINGTON- Matthew Blomstedt told a congressional panel that Nebraska's newest school year started with "much more reason for optimism" than in past years.

"I am hearing that schools believe student negative behaviors that were markedly up in '21-'22 seem, at least for now, to have waned," Blomstedt told the panel.

Blomstedt stated that he believes these behavioral changes have come because of Nebraska's larger focus on the social and emotional needs of students, especially after Covid-19. He also believes that federal pandemic aid was key in allowing these programs to flourish.

"Anecdotally, the numbers and access to licensed mental health providers in schools for communities has been a focus that has assisted both classroom teachers and students and families," Blomstedt said.

Throughout the panel, Blomstedt walked Congress through Nebraska's journey since March 2020, and focused specifically on the impact the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund had on the state

Blomstedt believed that these funds helped provide a safe return to classrooms, and although absenteeism is still a problem in Nebraska schools, test scores have been improving.

The education chief plans to use the rest of the funds before the deadline. "Regardless of accounting timelines," Blomstedt stated, "Nebraska endeavors to invest and target funds where they are most needed."

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DROUGHT, HARSH WEATHER, HURTING NEBRASKA FARMERS AND RANCHERS

LINCOLN- Exceptional drought has reached farms in northeast Nebraska, making it and southwest Nebraska some of the hardest-hit ground in the country in terms of drought.

Drought, which has fried crops and pastures and fueled wildfires, is part of a rough year for Nebraska agriculture.

While not everyone has suffered equally, weather-related disasters across the state have proved challenging for farmers and ranchers.

Spring wildfires. A June frost/freeze. Successive hailstorms. Hurricane-strength winds. Unrelenting heat. Weeks and weeks with virtually no rain. All have conspired to set back or decimate crops. Storms have caused extensive damage to irrigation equipment.

“There is always some of that across Nebraska — it just seems like this year has been more widespread,” said Steve Wellman, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. “In some areas, the drought conditions are as bad as people can remember.”

Southeast Nebraska farmer Vern Jantzen says this year shows how climate change is injecting greater uncertainty into farming, a life famously known for a roll of the dice each spring.

“It’s impacting the weather, and when the weather changes, we have to figure out what to do,” he said. “It’s getting harder and harder each year because of the unpredictability.”

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RISE IN SERIOUS INJURIES A CONCERN FOR NEBRASKA CHILD WELFARE, WATCHDOG SAYS

LINCOLN- A state watchdog has raised concerns about an increase in serious injuries among children involved in Nebraska's child welfare system during the past year.

But Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare Jennifer Carter said, in her latest annual report that was recently released, that the state has made improvements in dealing with two previous crises.

Those were the formerly troubled state institutions for juvenile offenders, called the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers, and the now-terminated contract with Saint Francis Ministries.

"In general, after two years of major system-level challenges ... the child welfare and YRTC systems appear to be more stable than they have been in over two years," Carter said. "However, the absence of crises does not equate to an absence of significant issues."

Carter said it was the highest number of serious injury and death cases since 2015 that her office is required by state law to investigate. All involved possible abuse or neglect. Her office is not required to look into deaths and injuries that occurred by chance.

Her office is still investigating the cases, she said, but pointed to the disruptions and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential factor behind the increase.

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CHINESE WIRELESS TECH COULD PUT OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE AND NEBRASKA MISSILE SILOS AT RISK

BELLEVUE- Over 10,000 military and civilian workers at Offutt Air Force Base could be at risk of having cell phone calls, texts, and data seen by the Chinese government since Huawei, a Chinese-based company, installed equipment on nearby cell towers.

The U.S. Commerce Department is investigating the potential data collection and transmission capabilities of this new equipment, which was placed near military bases and missile silos all over the country, including Nebraska.

This week, Rep. Mike Flood sent a letter to the Commerce Department requesting an update on the investigation and a confirmation on whether or not the technology was placed on towers within twenty miles of Offutt Air Force Base.

The Huawei equipment was supposedly found to be within that radius near Offutt and several nuclear missile silos in Cheyenne County. "I think it's a slap in the face to every airman that goes to work," said Flood, "I want to know where this is in Nebraska, what companies are using it, and why it hasn't been removed."

Huawei denied the idea that its equipment is used for intelligence gathering, but tech experts have argued that the Chinese government has the ability to seize any information or data from Chinese-based companies.

Crystal Rhoades, a Commissioner on Nebraska's Public Service Commission, claimed that every Viaero Wireless tower in Nebraska has Huawei technology attached to it. Viaero Wireless has petitioned for $330 million in federal funds to remove the Chinese technology and replace it with technology approved by the U.S. Department of Defense. "This is a big deal, it needs to get fixed," said Rhoades.

Rep. Flood claimed that, because the United Kingdom banned Huawei technology on all of its cell towers, so should the United States. "China is a real threat. We can't trust Chinese technology when it comes to protecting our national security. My hope is this should not be drawn out," stated Flood.

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WHITE HOUSE ESTIMATES 232,100 NEBRASKANS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STUDENT DEBT RELIEF

LINCOLN- The federal government has released the number of borrowers in Nebraska who will be eligible for student debt relief.

In a press release, the White House estimated that about 232,100 borrowers, including 136,000 Pell Grant recipients, will be eligible for the one-time debt relief plan announced by President Joe Biden last month. Eligible borrowers can apply for debt relief when an online application becomes available by early October.

Under Biden’s plan, borrowers who earn less than $125,000 per year, or families earning less than $250,000, would be eligible for up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness. Pell Grant recipients would be eligible for loan forgiveness amounts of up to $20,000.

Biden’s plan has drawn strong opposition from Republicans, including Nebraska’s congressional delegation and Gov. Pete Ricketts, and the threat of legal challenges. Among other arguments, critics said Biden’s plan shifts the cost burden onto Americans with more limited financial means.

In a press release, the White House said nearly 90% of relief dollars will go to those earning less than $75,000 per year. The White House added that no relief will go to any individual or household in the top 5% of incomes in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Education is expected to release more details about the student debt relief plan in the coming weeks.

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GROUP FILES ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST NEBRASKA ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR HIS SUPPORT OF LAWSUIT CHALLENGING 2020 VOTE

LINCOLN- A legal accountability group is charging that Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson used his elective office “to propagate lies and misinformation that imperil American democracy” and discredit the 2020 election results.

The group leading the project is called The 65 Project. Their complaints were based on the GOP officials’ support of an unsuccessful lawsuit, led by the Texas attorney general, that challenged the vote counting in four battleground states.

The Texas lawsuit contained “numerous false allegations,” the 65 Project stated in its complaint, and Peterson violated an ethical requirement that attorneys not pursue legal actions they “reasonably” know were frivolous or false.

“These lawyers tried to help Trump cling to power by spreading falsehoods and lies in court filings. They must be held accountable,” said Michael Teter, managing director of The 65 Project.

A spokeswoman for Peterson said that a similar claim had already been filed and rejected against the attorney general concerning the Texas lawsuit.

That complaint, filed by former State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha in December 2020, resulted in a “thorough report exonerating the AG of any wrongdoing,” according to spokeswoman Suzanne Gage.

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HOSPITALS, OTHER PROVIDERS QUESTION STATE OF NEBRASKA'S FAILURE TO PAY HEALTH DATA PROVIDER

LINCOLN- CyncHealth, Nebraska's leading provider of healthcare data and prescription drug purchases, stated that its services are being threatened because the state failed to pay its $15 million annual contract to the company.

This failure prompted the CyncHealth board of directors to "implore" the state to pay the contract. They say that the state holding back payment will affect its data-sharing network.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services signed the contract with CyncHealth with the goal of improving health outcomes for patients. The contract requires CyncHealth to provide a Health Information Exchange (HIE) report to the DHHS, which documents each patient's past treatments and health records. They're also expected to operate a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP), which tracks the use of medications all around the state.

The letter sent by CyncHealth directors claimed that the lack of payment is an example of "unnecessary bureaucracy that is avoidable," and that it shows poor planning by the state. They went on to state that "providers will be hampered in providing optimal care to their patients if they are not able to access the HIE or PDMP, putting the health of Nebraskans at risk."

Jeff Powell, a spokesman for the DHHS, stated that federal Medicaid programs were being used to pay for around 90% of the contract with CyncHealth, but that many of those federal programs have been diminished or entirely removed, leaving the DHHS with almost no funds to pay the contract with. Powell estimates that the DHHS is around $11 million short of the contract's price. 

Powell also stated that the DHHS pledges to seek a deficit appropriation from the State Legislature to fulfill the rest of the contract obligation. 

Jaime Bland, CEO and president of CyncHealth, claimed that the company has been forced to borrow money to keep paying its 75 employees. This, according to Bland, has affected the company's credit rating, which may threaten whether CyncHealth can continue to provide data to health providers.

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