DOUGLAS COUNTY MAN HASN'T MISSED WORKING AN ELECTION IN 62 YEARS AT THE POLLS

OMAHA- George Reed was 21 years old when he took a day's vacation from his MUD job in 1960 to work at the Douglas County elections office. 

Reed liked what he was doing there so much that he hasn't missed working an election since. "We came in at two in the afternoon, we counted the ballots at the election place," said Reed, "and the ballots were all extra sizes, shapes, lengths. Cheap paper, toilet paper probably would have been better, but we worked with it."

Reed, now 84 years old, has worked during every election since 1960, and has counted ballots through 15 presidential elections.

"When I was in the service, I would come back and I would always plan election week for my leave time," said Reed, "The election commissioner had no problem with that, they just wanted me here."

George Reed stated that one of the greatest improvements he's seen over the years is voting access for the disabled. He said he's happy that the state has ensured that every person's vote is counted. "When I first started there was nothing there for people who were challenged. They had to go up steps, if they were in wheelchairs they just didn't make it. I'm glad that's something they've reconciled," stated Reed.

Despite the immense changes Nebraska elections have made over the years, George Reed said they've always strived to make sure every ballot counts.

"I would say Douglas County appreciates the election system they have. It is run good, it is run straight, and it's probably the most honest way of doing things that I know of," said Reed.

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RENEWAL OF GRAND ISLAND'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ON BALLOT

GRAND ISLAND- Local economic leaders in Grand Island have been urging voters to approve a renewal of the Economic Development Program, which acts as an incentive program for the city to recruit and expand new businesses.

According to the Grand Island Area Economic Development President Dave Taylor, the program has been a positive tool. Taylor says the city has invested around $6.7 million in small businesses, generated over 1,000 jobs, and paid over $36 million in wages since the conception of the program.

The renewal effort, which is appearing on the ballot tomorrow, is asking Grand Islanders to approve $950,000 annually for 10 years. The renewed program will run from October 1st, 2023 to September 30th, 2033. 

"Getting out and voting for the LB840 program would be really the next step for us," said Taylor, "understanding that it's not putting us on a different level, it's really leveling the playing field with all the communities and other states that we compete against for expansion of business."

According to the Economic Development Office, voting for the renewal will not increase taxes. Funding the program comes directly through the city's General Fund. 

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TEAM BACON'S ANTI-PELOSI ADS STILL RUNNING

LINCOLN- Just days after Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked with a hammer in their home, U.S. Rep. Don Bacon is still running attacks ads targeting the Speaker and his opponent State Sen. Tony Vargas.

As of today, the ad was reportedly still running. The advertisement was paid for by the Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican PAC supporting Congressman Don Bacon.

The ad begins by stating, "Nancy Pelosi has big plans for America but first she needs allies like liberal Tony Vargas." After some time, the ad ends, stating, "Liberal Tony Vargas: if we wins, so does Pelosi."

Following the attack on the Speaker's husband, Bacon tweeted, "We pray for a speedy recovery for Mr. Pelosi, and want the violent criminal held accountable and put behind bars."

News Channel Nebraska questioned Bacon's team on their ads targetting Pelosi, to which a spokesperson responded, saying, "We are only running positive ads. Will Vargas pull his negative attacks ads?"

David DePape, the 42-year-old who attacked Paul Pelosi, was charged in federal court with assault and attempted kidnapping. 

Sen. Ben Sasse, following the attack, tweeted, "Every single American needs to be lowering the temperature. This is increasingly obvious: Disturbed individuals easily succumb to conspiracy theories and rage--the consequences are bloody and un-American."

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MORFELD DEMANDS RETRACTION FOR 'COMPLETE LIES' IN ALLEGATIONS SHARED BY GOP OPERATIVES

LINCOLN- Sen. Adam Morfeld released a demand for a retraction against a Lincoln radio station for posting an article claiming, with evidence, that he was being investigated for sexual assault.

In a letter sent by Daniel Gutman, an attorney representing Morfeld and his campaign for Lancaster County Attorney, requests that KLIN, the radio station spouting the unsubstantiated claims, and one of its hosts Jack Riggins preserve the documents and communications leading up to the Friday afternoon show in which the allegations appeared. 

Morfeld, a two-term state senator from Lincoln, said the allegations made by an unidentified woman were categorically false. "These are complete lies," said Morfeld just a day after the allegations were put forward, "As somebody who experienced sexual assault as a child, they are particularly painful."

Pat Condon, incumbent County Attorney and Morfeld's opponent, did not make any comments regarding the allegations.

The allegations put forth against Morfeld seem to have originated from a Facebook post by Matt Innis, a former chair of the Lancaster County GOP. In the post, Innis claimed to have heard about an investigation focusing on Morfeld from two sources inside LPD.

The Nebraska Freedom Coalition, a Republican PAC, called Morfeld to address the allegations in a news release.

An LPD spokesperson told the Lincoln Journal Star last Wednesday that "The Lincoln Police Department is not investigating a sexual assault allegation against Adam Morfeld."

Jack Riggins,a KLIN host, interviewed a woman who used the alias "Ruth" and claimed that Morfeld cornered, raped, and choked her in a bathroom. She went on to state that Morfeld threatened her if she told anyone.

"Ruth" did not specify the location at which the alleged assault took place, nor when, only telling Riggins that it took place "some time ago." She also claimed that the rumors of an investigation into Morfeld, started by Innis, had no relation to hers, but that she'd soon file a police report. 

In response to this, Morfeld stated that "Allegations deserve to be investigated, but I will not stand by while baseless, undocumented, anonymous allegations are crerated by well-known political operatived an oponents." He went to say that his allegations were "[art of a broader false and defamatory narrative."

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RICKETTS SHELLS OUT $3.8 MILLION ON POLITICS IN HIS FINAL YEAR AS NEBRASKA GOVERNOR

LINCOLN- In the last 11 months, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts spent over $3.8 million on political ads, candidates, and donations, with some speculating that his generosity may influence state leadership for years to come. 

In 2022, Ricketts contributed around a dozen six-figure donations to various campaigns and political groups both in and out of the state. 

Ricketts' largest donation this year came just days before May's primary election, and equated to around $775,000 to the Conservative Nebraska PAC. Over the past year, Ricketts has given around $1.28 million to the group.

Conservative Nebraska ran many attack ads against gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster and State Sen. Brett Lindstrom before the primary. Both men were chief opponents of primary-winner Jim Pillen. 

In January, Ricketts donated a whopping $100,000 to Pillen's campaign, but has not donated any money directly to Pillen's campaign since then.

Ricketts' most recent major contribution of $514,00 went directly to a newly founded PAC, the Nebraska Future Action Fund, which has issued attack ads against Sen. Matt William's campaign for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, Greg Gonzalez's campaign for Douglas County sheriff, and another against Sen. Wendy DeBoer's reelection campaign.

One of the most common recipients of Ricketts' funds was the Nebraska GOP, but almost all contributions towards this group from the Ricketts family stopped after the controversial GOP convention in July, which prompted a mass exodus of party leadership that many saw as an act of resistance against Ricketts.

However, Ricketts still donated $20,000 to the Douglas County Republican Party last month.

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PANSING BROOKS SAYS SHE WOULD BE A BIPARTISAN HOUSE MEMBER

LINCOLN- On Friday, state Sen. and congressional candidate Patty Pansing Brooks claimed that she would work in a bipartisan manner if elected to "fight for Nebraskans" rather than "walk lockstep with party bosses," which she believes to be something Republican Mike Flood was wont to do.

Tomorrow, voters will choose between Flood and Pansing Brooks in a race slated to be extremely contentious, and potentially very close. 

When Flood and Pansing Brooks met last Summer during the special election to determine who would serve former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry's remaining six months, Flood won by around 6,300 votes, winning all 12 counties other than Lancaster.

Responding to the comments made by Pansing Brooks, Floods campaign manager, Hudson Buell, claimed that Pansing Brooks is "one of the most partisan, liberal members of the Nebraska Legislature."

Buell continued, "Her long record of support for higher taxes, shorter sentences for violent criminals, amnesty for illegal immigrants and inflationary spending is proof she'd be a rubber stamp for the Biden-Pelosi agenda in Congress."

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VOTER ID ON THE BALLOT, BUT NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE WOULD DETERMINE DETAILS OF THE LAW

LINCOLN- Tomorrow, Nebraskans will decide whether or not they want to change the state constitution to require voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot in all future elections.

However, what will constitute a valid form of ID and how voters will be required to present it will be up to the Nebraska Legislature to decide once the 108th Legislative session begins in January.

State Sen. Julie Slama, a sponsor of the petition drive for voter ID that gathered over 172,000 signatures, said backers did not want to commit to a specific voter ID proposal "before we know who the senators will be."

Slama and other proponents of voter ID laws have argued that the change is a "commonsense" security measure that will increase voters' confidence in the election process.

Opponents of the change argue that Initiative 432, which contains language stating that voters "shall present valid photographic identification," could potentially allow lawmakers to create one of the most restrictive voter ID laws in the country, making it harder for tens of thousands of Nebraskans to vote.

Steve Smith, director of communications for Civic Nebraska, stated that Initiative 432 is "such a vaguely written constitutional amendment that it leaves a lot of discretion for the Legislature."

Previously, Slama introduced LR3CA in 2021, which would have required poll workers to review "a photograph or digital image of each voter" prior to allowing them to cast a ballot. The bill failed to advance out of committee.

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NEBRASKA ELECTION OFFICIALS SAY POLL WATCHER NUMBERS ARE NORMAL AMID RISING NATIONAL CONCERNS

LINCOLN- While several states are bracing for potential conflicts with hostile poll watchers tomorrow, election officials in Nebraska don't share the same concern.

Election Commissioners from Douglas and Lancaster Counties both stated that the number of volunteer poll watchers that will be monitoring the general election tomorrow is slightly lower compared to 2020.

In other states around the country, there are growing concerns that poll workers will face disruption and hostility from a wave of aggressive new poll watchers, many of whom are largely fueled by false theories that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and stolen.

Gavin Geis, executive director of Common Cause Nebraska, said they've yet to witness any signs of open hostility among the volunteers they've recruited alongside Civic Nebraska.

Steve Smith, a spokesperson for Civic Nebraska, said they'd signed up 65 volunteers, which is down from the 100 volunteers recruited in 2018 and 2020. "It seems like people are pretty burnt out on election work," said Geis.

In Nebraska, state law requires that groups hiring poll watchers must provide written notice to the county election official or Nebraska Secretary of State.

Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse said he doesn't anticipate any issues with the volunteer poll watchers, but has preemptively trained poll workers to de-escalate fiery situations. 

Many of the states experiencing concerns over hostile poll watchers are those that either President Biden won in 2020, or those that President Trump won by a very slim margin.

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SIZABLE DISTRICT 42 FUNDRAISING EDGE TO JACOBSON AS ELECTION DAY NEARS

LINCOLN- State Sen. Mike Jacobson widened his fundraising lead substantially over his candidate Lincoln County Board Chairman Chris Bruns in the District 42 race.

In his most recent campaign filings, Jacobson has raised around $337,283 between his February appointment and the October 24th cutoff date. Bruns raised a not insignificant amount, around $138,655 since announcing his candidacy in 2021, but still trails Jacobson by quite a margin.

However, in the lead-up to the election, Bruns actually had more cash on hand than Jacobson--$40,496 to Jacobson's $21,780.

Thirty PACs in total have given to Jacobson's campaign, including the Nebraska Bankers Association, which gave around $12,000 combined. Besides PACs, over 60 businesses have donated to Jacobson as well.

Jacobson's latest individual donors include Rev Development LLC partners Mike Works and Justin Hernandez. Each gave $5,000 to Jacobson, likely because the Senator's bank, NebraskaLand Bank, helped Rev Development purchase the land needed to build a new mall in North Platte.

Bruns, on the other hand, received donations from nine PACs and the Nebraska Republican Party. His largest donation, which came from the Kennedy Ranch of North Platte, gave a whopping $9,000.

Robert Lundeen, a North Platte resident, has given Bruns the most of any individual contributor, totalling out to $10,000. 

Outgoing Gov. Ricketts, despite contributing millions to other candidates and organizations, has not donated to either District 42 candidate.

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UNMC TO PARTICIPATE IN TRIAL OF MONKEYPOX TREATMENT

OMAHA- A trial testing the safety and effectiveness of a drug for the treatment of monkeypox will be explored by 60 sites nationally, UNMC is one of them.

The drug, called tecovirimat or TPOXX, already is being given to patients with monkeypox, said Dr. Sara Bares, an associate professor in UNMC’s infectious diseases division. 

The drug can be obtained only through the CDC, under the agency’s expanded access investigational new drug protocol. The drug is approved for use with smallpox, which is in the same family as monkeypox.

The purpose fo the study is to determine whether the drug is in fact effective in treating monkeypox and, if so, who would benefit most, Bares said. They also want to see how much resistance the virus poses to the drug. 

The researchers hope to enroll about 500 people. The phase 3 trial is being led by the AIDS Clinical Trials Group, a national network. It’s sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. UNMC is the only study site listed in Nebraska. 

One challenge will be to enroll enough participants. Reports of new cases in the U.S. have slowed considerably since peaking in August. Nebraska has had 31 confirmed cases out of 28,302 nationwide.

For information about participating at UNMC, contact Maureen Kubat at mo.kubat@unmc.edu or 402-559-4408; or Jennifer O’Neill at jloneill@unmc.edu or 402-559-4312.

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UNL STUDY CONFIRMS IRRIGATION'S IMPACT ON HUMIDITY, YIELDS POSSIBLE LINK TO RAIN

LINCOLN- Intense irrigation in Nebraska is having a complex effect on the weather, researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln say. 

UNL School of Natural Resources professor, Rezaul Mahmood said, "Irrigation impacts our weather, climate and well-being in many different ways.” 

Scientists have been studying the impact of irrigation on weather for years because of irrigation’s importance to global food security and the need to understand how its increasing use might change the weather. Irrigated fields produce about 40% of the world’s food, and its use is growing.

The most noticeable, localized effect that irrigation has on the weather is to make an area more humid, Mahmood said. People sense that through muggier and more uncomfortable weather. That humidity also suppresses temperatures, so it’s harder for hot weather to generate records. 

This type of research has led scientists to conclude that irrigation is changing wind patterns locally and affecting rainfall patterns over a large area. 

Mahmood said irrigation weakens a type of afternoon wind that is important to cloud formation. It’s not clear, he said, how much impact the change has on clouds and storms.

“The bottom line is that when you change land use, that impacts the weather and climate of an area,” Mahmood said. “Planning and adaption, those are things we need to work on.”

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HIGH NUMBER OF RSV CASES IN DOUGLAS COUNTY ISN'T TYPICAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR OFFICIALS SAY

OMAHA- The Douglas County Health Department said it had received 852 positive tests for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, during October, with 65% of those cases among children under 5. Forty percent of the cases were among children between 0 and 24 months.

RSV spreads most often during the winter, health officials said. Children commonly have an RSV infection during their first two years, but people of any age can catch it. A person can have RSV more than once, but usually not in the same season, officials said. 

RSV symptoms generally are like those of the common cold, but it can cause more severe infections, including inflammation of the small airways in the lungs and pneumonia. 

Treatment generally involves reducing pain and fever with over-the-counter medicines, health officials said. One key is for people with RSV to avoid dehydration by drinking enough fluids. 

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha told department officials that during the past seven days, it has treated 245 patients who had tested positive for RSV, including 85 children who were admitted and 160 who were seen in the emergency room and released in less than 24 hours. 

The Douglas County Health Department says although RSV is typical in the winter, this time of the year is not common to see the number of cases that have occurred. Officials are still looking into this surge and its likely causes.

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2022 NEBRASKA TEACHER OF THE YEAR RECEIVES NATIONAL EDUCATION AWARD

OMAHA- Lee Perez, an English as a second language teacher (ESL), not only received the award for top Nebraska educator, but has now received the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence.

The NEA Foundation announced that Perez is one of five teachers who received the distinguished award across the country. 

The award has been given out annually for the past 20 years to educators who have exceptional skill in the classroom, pay attention to equity and diversity, engage families and more, according to the NEA Foundation. Each year, one of the five honorees is chosen as the NEA Foundation Member Benefits awardee. 

The award comes with a feature in a mini-documentary put together by the NEA Foundation, along with $10,000.

“It has been an honor to teach English language learners in my classroom from all over the world,” Perez said. “To help educate them to be the future democratic builders of this nation has been my privilege. Learning about different languages, cultures, values and traditions from my students has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.” 

The other four recipients of the Horace Mann award are educators from South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Kansas and New Jersey.

“These talented educators have connected powerfully with students, supporting them in the moment and empowering them for the future,” said Sara Sneed, NEA Foundation CEO.

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NEBRASKA COVID CASES INCREASE FOR SECOND WEEK IN A ROW

LINCOLN- Covid-19 cases in Nebraska jumped 25% last week, possibly signaling another winter surge is ready to make way.

Nebraska recorded 1,405 new cases — up from 1,127 the prior week — marking the second straight weekly increase, according to data from the CDC.

The percentage increase in cases for the week was the 10th highest in the country, though Nebraska’s overall virus levels are about the same as the U.S. average.

Case numbers were up 24% in Douglas County and 48% in Sarpy County. Six counties in Nebraska are recording high levels of virus transmission, five of them in the state’s Panhandle.

The last two winters have been accompanied by a surge in cases, many officials believe the trend may be returning for its third straight winter.

An average of 138 Nebraskans were hospitalized with the virus last week, up slightly from the prior week. 

Nebraska added four COVID deaths last week, increasing the toll of confirmed or probable deaths in the pandemic to 4,550. 

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AT $27,400 AN ACRE, RICHARDSON COUNTY FARM SALE COULD BE A NEBRASKA RECORD

FALLS CITY- Nine original bidders have driven an initial price of $1000 an acre for a Falls City farmland to prices no one expected.

The UNL 2022 Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report’s average of $6,070 per acre for all farmland in the southeast region. 

The months-long auction has continued to grow, and Auctioneer Jason Smith of DreamDirt didn’t know what to think. 

“It’s close to Falls City. It’s on a hard-surface road. But other than that, it’s fairly unremarkable. A lot of people call me and joke and say there must be gold buried out there.” 

Once the bidding had surpassed $17,000, only two bidders remained of the original nine. Those two bidders drove the price all the way to $27,400, which could be a record sale for Nebraska farmland. The previous high price was $17,800, which has been seen only once.

Jim Jansen, an agriculture economist extension educator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who helps compile the farmland real estate report, knew of farmland that sold for higher, but it was bought by developers for uses that didn’t include farming. 

Gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster even had his eye on the land saying, "It’s right on the highway, it’s a very good farm. It’s a beautiful farm that lays totally flat."

He was one of the final two bidders but stopped at $27,000 leaving the last bidder with a $3.2 million dollar bill.

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SEN. SASSE APPROVED AS PRESIDENT OF UNV. OF FLORIDA; RICKETTS EXPRESSES INTEREST IN SENATE SEAT

GAINESVILLE- After the University of Florida's board of trustees voted unanimously to recommend U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse for the role of president, the decision will now go to the University's board of governors.

In the meantime, Sasse sat down for several interviews to address the concerns surrounding his appointment. Two trustees told the Senator that he would have to "climb a hill of trust" after both students and staff voiced concerns about his stances on sexual orientation. However, the University's board of trustees said they believe Sasse to be a transformative leader who can lead the school through the "disruptions of technology and politics."

Sasse told the trustees that he would pledge to take a period of "political celibacy," stating that he will not remain active in partisan politics. "I would have no activity in partisan politics in any way as I arrive to the University of Florida," said Sasse, "I wouldn't speak at political events, I wouldn't make political contributions, partisan political contributions. I wouldn't surrogate or assist any candidates."

Sasse also stated that he looks forward to meeting the LGBTQ, Chinese, and Chinese-American students at staff at the University.The board of trustees also unanimously agreed that Sasse should make no more than $1.6 million per year.

Following Sasse's approval, for the first time publicly, Gov. Pete Ricketts expressed interest in being appointed by the next governor to the soon-to-be-vacated Senate seat held by Ben Sasse. Ricketts told Politico reporter Jordain Carney that the Senate is "still very relevant and important," and acknowledged that a move from the Governor's office to the U.S. Capitol would require a "mind frame shift."

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan likes the idea of a Ricketts Senate appointment. "I don't know who else would be more qualified," she said, "I'd support him.

Linehan went on to state that governors have almost all of the experience necessary for a successful Senate career. However, as reported earlier, Ricketts reaffirmed that he would not appoint himself to the Senate. Instead, he said he'd let the next governor make that decision.

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RICKETTS WAIVES DRIVER HOUR REGULATIONS ON FUEL TRANSPORATION

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Gov. Pete Ricketts issued an executive order in the hopes of helping ease Nebraska's fuel shortages. 

The order, which temporarily allows truck drivers to work extended hours hauling gasoline, diesel, fuel, oil, ethanol, and propane, took effect immediately and will remain in effect through the end of November.

The Governor noted that, in order for Nebraska to obtain fuel products, commercial motor vehicles are having to transport fuel longer distances and wait longer times at terminals. The order, he said, aims to make fuel more readily available to consumers by facilitating fuel transportation. 

According to an Energy Information Administration released last month, the nation's supply of diesel fuel was at its lowest point since 2008.

The chief cause of this shortage is the cutoff of Russian oil imports. Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. was importing nearly 700,000 barrels per day of petroleum products.

On top of this, normal seasonal demands, which increase as farmers harvest crops and citizens by fuel oil for winter, is exacerbating the problem.

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USDA GIVES $73 MILLION TO CREATE, EXPAND SMALLER LIVESTOCK PROCESSORS

WASHINGTON- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Wednesday that it would be rewarding its first grants, totaling around $73 million, to increase the processing capacity of smaller, independent meatpackers in 16 states.

$20 million of those funds are being given to a small meat processor in Omaha, and is expected to help increase capacity by around 29%.

The funds are coming from the Department's $375 million Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, which seeks to reduce the market share of a small number of livestock processors. The program was announced this summer, and 21 grants have been awarded thus far.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack believes the grants will help the country's food supply chain become more resilient. "It will give the consumer the ability and potentiality to be able to purchase locally," said Vilsack, "They may be able to know that the ribeye or the hamburger or the pork chop of the chicken breast that they're purchasing was actually raised and processed locally."

The Greater Omaha Packing Company, which received the $20 million grant, processes around 2,400 cattle per day. The grant money will help that facility expand to boost processing to 3,100 cattle per day and add an expected 275 jobs.

"We'll be returning hundreds of jobs to a small rural community," said Vilsack.

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NEBRASKA STATE SENATOR RETURNS TO UKRAINE TO DELIVER BIBLES, STOVE, FOOD--AND MESSAGE OF SUPPORT

UKRAINE- State Sen. Tom Brewer, a decorated military veteran, returned to Ukraine this week to deliver Bibles and portable cookstoves, while narrowly missing a missile strike.

On Monday, two Russian missiles hit just 300 yards from Sen. Brewer's position as he and his party were leaving Zaporizhzhia in southeast Ukraine.

Luckily, one of the missiles that hit closest to Brewer's truck was a dud. "It would have taken the entire road out," said Brewer, "You would have seen pieces of the road. It would have been a bad day."

This is the second trip Brewer has taken to Ukraine since the war with Russia started just months ago. Brewer was deployed six times in Afghanistan, receiving serious wounds in one of these.

The 64-year-old Senator, who is battling leukemia, said his mission is to provide a hands-on look at what's happening at the front of the war and give a detailed explanation to Congress about whether or not American aid is helping, as he did after his last mission there.

Brewer believes he arrived in Ukraine at a pivotal moment in the war, and he described the battle to retake Kherson, a south Ukrainian region capital, as "a Stalingrad-type battle."

Brewer is also pushing for more American aid to the embattled country. "If we don't provide long-range rockets, then we guarantee them a cold, dark winter," said the Senator, "They will eventually lose their ability to generate electricity and pump water. Without water, things degrade pretty quickly."

Brewer stated that he's in regular contact with Nebraska's U.S. House members and plans to travel to Washington, D.C. to tell his story. "We have a chance to help them, by just giving them the tools, to defeat the top army in the world. Without filling one American body bag," said Brewer.

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STATE PAYS OVERDUE $11 MILLION IN BILLS TO PROVIDER OF HEALTH CARE DATA

LINCOLN- The State of Nebraska has now paid $11 million in delinquent bills to a state contractor who provides critical health care data to doctors and hospitals.

CyncHealth, a LaVista-based statewide Health Information Exchange operator, hadn't been paid since early this year for its $14 million-a-year contract. 

The lack of payment from the State prompted a group of hospitals and healthcare administrators who use the critical data to implore the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to fulfill its contract and avoid threatening the flow of essential data.

Nebraska Methodist, CHI Health, Nebraska Medicine, and Children's Hospital were among the institutions imploring the Department.

However, last week both the state and CyncHealth officials confirmed that the past-due bills were paid.

"We're not going to have to lay off any people," said Jamie Bland CyncHealth's president and CEO, "We can continually deliver the data to the providers."

The firm, which employs around 78 workers, had to borrow money and was unable to pay some subcontractors because of the lack of payment from the state.

State officials blamed the lack of payment on a change in federal Medicaid programs that funded 90%-100% of the costs of the Health Information Exchange and a prescription drug monitoring programs run by CyncHealth.

Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Jeff Powell said the agency is using leftover funds appropriated to the department's administrative budget to pay the contract.

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