NEBRASKA ON PACE FOR SECOND-WORST WILDFIRE YEAR EVER, 2023 OUTLOOK IS DIM

LINCOLN- A combination of worsening drought and consistently strong winds, have lined up 2022 as the second-worst wildfire year to date in Nebraska.

The State Fire Authority predicts that 2023 will follow the pattern unless precipitation greatly increases over the remainder of fall and into the winter. 

“It’s weird. We’re not in a normal pattern. And it doesn’t seem like we’re going to break that pattern any time soon,” said Matt Holte, fire program leader for the Nebraska Forest Service. 

So far this year, about 200,000 acres of grasslands, cropland and forests have burned in the state, Holte said. That compares with about 502,000 acres blackened in 2012, the previous record holder.

The fires of 2012 — another drought period — scorched an area larger than Douglas and Sarpy Counties combined, blackening large swatches of forest south of Chadron in the Pine Ridge and north of Ainsworth along the Niobrara River.

This year will be remembered for its large and fast-moving fires led by two, the Road 702 and Road 739 fires in April. Pushed by high winds, the fires quickly spread, outracing fire lines and fire crews. One fire burned 22 miles across pastures and crop fields. 

The 2022 fire year has inspired a greater awareness about the dangers associated with wildfires — three firefighters died this year — and the need to train and coordinate fire-fighting attacks has only been heightened.

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REPORT ON STATE TAX INCENTIVES SHOWS COSTS OUTWEIGH BENEFITS

LINCOLN- The projected tax breaks provided by the Nebraska Advantage Act far outstripped the tax revenue benefits of the program, a new report from the Revenue Department states.

In the report, the Department stated that the estimated tax credits to be provided by the Nebraska Advantage Act in fiscal year 2022-2023 were $93.4 million more than the generated tax revenue.

During a hearing at the Nebraska Capitol, the report was detailed to the Legislature, and state Sen. Tom Briese was disheartened by the news. "I'm not convinced it's a winning proposition for the average Nebraska taxpayers," he said, "To me, it's a subsidy."

Sen. Briese went on to state that the program appears to benefit a small number of companies and a small number of Nebraskans, not the whole state.

Rebecca Firestone, of the Open Sky Policy Insitute, shared a similar sentiment. Firestone sees programs like the Nebraska Advantage Act as economic incentive devices that fail to pay for themselves, and instead act as a "drain" on revenue to support schools, health care, and other state-run programs.

Firestone pointed out that the Nebraska Department of Revenue estimated that, in 10 years, the Advantage Act would have a cumulative revenue loss of $1.4 billion. However, a Revenue official told the Legislature that the report doesn't capture the secondary impacts of creating more jobs and economic investments in the state.

On the other hand, Jen Creager of the Great Omaha Chamber of Commerce, a group that supports 'performance-based' tax credits for businesses that create jobs, said the Advantage Act and similar programs help "level the playing field" with other states.

"Thirty-plus years of these programs have increased the economic diversity and viability of Nebraska through new jobs and a broader tax base," said Creager, "Look at Nebraska's economy in the 1980s and look at Nebraska's economy today."

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan stated that she'd always been skeptical of tax incentive programs, but understands that are necessary because of the state's high income and property taxes.

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'AWKWARD' PROCESS BEGINS TO HIRE A NEW CLERK OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- The retirement of long-time Clerk of the Legislature Patrick O'Donnell has opened up the chance for some interesting changes to the administrative office, and also some new, unforeseen challenges.

Thus far, three candidates have already applied for the post, and a finalist will be selected by the Legislature's Executive Board. However, five of the nine voting members on the Executive Committee won't be around anymore to cast their vote come January 4th, the start of the new Legislative session.

Because of this, State Sen. Dan Hughes described the situation as "awkward", and stated that "it's up to the next Legislature to approve a new Clerk."

State Sen. John McCollister, a current member of the Executive Board, recommended that the Legislature hire a new Clerk prior to the beginning of the next session to ensure that a "functioning" Clerk is in place.

Sen. McCollister went on to say that hiring a new Clerk soon, rather than later, would help avoid some potential "political wrangling" that may come about since the new Legislature is expected to be "a different kind of body."

Fourteen new senators will be seated on January 4th, with many expecting a conservative shift in light of this week's election results.

McCollister, an independent Republican who has criticized former President Donald Trump in the past, has gotten the cold shoulder on several occasions from his party members, leading him to believe that he may not have the clout to hire a new clerk before January 4th.

However, McCollister argued that the Executive Board has the authority to operate "on its own" when the Legislature is not in session, so he may be able to rush the selection of a new Clerk.

Sen. Hughes, on the other hand, stated that his goal "for the good of the institution" is to have a clerk finalist who can be unanimously selected by the nine-member Executive Board.

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AGING STATE PENITENTIARY IN LINCOLN SPRINGS ANOTHER LEAK, FORCING RELOCATION OF INMATES

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, a water leak in the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln prompted the relocation of around 140 inmates.

Just thirteen months ago, another leak shut down water service entirely in the prison, leaving 1,300 inmates without running water.

Nebraska Department of Corrections officials said Wednesday that most of the 140 relocated inmates were housed in the prison gymnasium overnight, but more permanent housing for them is still being sought. Repairs are underway, said the Department

The leak, discovered Tuesday afternoon, flooded a lower-level mechanical room and covered the floor of the affected housing unit. The Penitentiary was placed on a modified lockdown because of the impact on utilities and will remain so until the leak and flooding are repaired.

Visits to inmates have been called indefinitely, and portable toilets and bottled water were hauled in and have been distributed.

State Prison officials, alongside Gov. Pete Ricketts, have used the aging Penitentiary as a means to argue for the construction of a newer, larger prison in Nebraska. The Nebraska Legislature is expected to debate the proposal as part of the next state budget.

The State Penitentiary was originally opened in 1869, and has been remodeled and repaired countless times since then. Still, in 2021, officials estimated that a further $12.5 million was needed to entirely repair every issue.

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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RACES COULD DECIDE FUTURE ROLE OF BOARD, NEXT EDUCATION COMMISSIONER

LINCOLN- Four historically quiet races for the Nebraska State Board of Education have been spiced up this year by fears about sex education and social studies.

Currently, Conservatives believe that the current Board is stacked against them 7-1 or 6-2. Several candidates have stated that their goal is to get that ratio closer to 4-4. "I don't see it as pushing to the right," said Matt Innis, a conservative activist, "I see it as bringing common sense."

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb described Republican attempts to gain more control of the Board as "extreme," and said the races this year are unlike anything the state has ever seen.

In all four Board races, educational issues have been a large topic of debate. From critical race theory to the threat of fascism and health standards, almost every nationwide talking point from both sides of the aisle have come up in Nebraska's Education races.

Marni Hodgen, a State Board candidate from Omaha, thinks the state has adopted a "very complacent role in our society" when it comes to education. 

Deb Neary, another candidate from Omaha and current Board member, believes the state has done a great job of encouraging education and improving test scores. "Nebraska's public schools are in the top 10 in the country, no matter what," said Neary, "You look at them in the ACT's, and you do the comparables, or in the national report card."

Helen Raikes, a Board candidate from Ashland, is trying to spread a message of nonpartisanship. "I want Nebraskans to remember who they are area," said Raikes, "Nebraskans are no these angry, hate their schools, tear them down people. We are nonpartisan, respectful, and independent. We do things our own way."

The four Republican candidates for the Board have been criticized for their comments about teachers, critical race theory, and sex education standards. 

Hodgen, who began homeschooling her children to avoid mandatory masking at the beginning of the pandemic, stated that she "didn't understand why there was this need to have kids not only talk about puberty in third grade, but to have to be able to define what sexual orientation means."

Former Nebraska Education Commissioner Roger Breed fired back at the candidates for "demonizing" teachers during a nationwide teacher shortage.

Breed stated that he hopes Nebraska voters can see the organized Republican efforts "for what it is, a narrow, high-money-backed agenda that is not necessarily for the best in public education in Nebraska."

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NEBRASKANS FACING DELUGE OF POLITICAL MAIL: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

LINCOLN- With the election less than 24 hours away, a gargantuan number of political mailers have been clogging Nebraska mailboxes. 

Matching the record year of spending on state and local races, candidates have stated that they've had more resources to send out increased numbers of direct mail postcards and flyers. 

Well-funded campaigns for the State Board of Education have fueled a deluge of bizarre campaign literature, which may stretch the truth a bit.

One of the most surprising mailers received by Nebraskans this year was from The Nebraska Federation for Children, who sent a postcard depicting a shirtless, long-haired man they believed to be Legislative candidate George Dungan. However, the picture depicted one of Dungan's friends, not the candidate.

Preserve the Good Life, another large PAC in Nebraska, sent several mailers targeting Republican Legislative candidates. In one of these, Preserve the Good Life claimed that Christian Mirch, opponent of Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, was the Douglas County Chairman of former President Trump's campaign. Problem is, he was not. 

Mirch's campaign sent out mailers this year claiming that "Cavanaughs support Mirch." However, the Cavanaughs portrayed in the mailer, OPPD board member Mike Cavanaugh and MUD board member Tim Cavanaugh, are not related to Senator Machaela Cavanaugh.

According to Randall Adkins, a political scientist at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, using hyperbole helps mailers grab attention. It's also very easy to target specific demographics in the state, so some candidates have found it useful to have different mailers for different demographics, ages, and genders.

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NEBRASKA HOUSE CANDIDATES STILL FIGHT VOTER CONFUSION AFTER REDISTRICTING

PAPILLION- For years, Sarpy County has acted as a large counterweight to Democrat's edge in Douglas County, with some calling it the "red firewall."

Historically, both Districts have been part of Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, but the Legislature's once-a-decade redistricting has shifted Papillion and La Vista into the 1st Congressional District.

The move has generated a great deal of confusion for voters in the area, and it's the second time in two decades that a slice of Sarpy County has moved districts. 

Around 70,000 voters from these towns were shifted into the 1st District, and more than 75,000 Nebraskans were transferred out of it and placed into the largely rural 3rd District.

These changes prompted U.S. Rep. Flood and his Democratic opponent Sen. Pansing Brooks to scramble to let voters know that they'd be the candidates for Congress in that area prior to the special election last summer.

Flood won the special election, replacing U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry until his term ends in January. Voter turnout was very low, 16% lower than a typical primary election, perhaps because of the new redistricting.

Since the special election. Flood and Pansing Brooks have been doing all they can to let voters in the area know they're running in the 1st District. "I need you to go to your neighbors," Flood told voters last Wednesday, "I need you to grab a yard sign. I need you to go to the people in the 1st District and say, 'Hey, by the way, we're in the 1st District.'"

Pansing Brooks and her campaign manager, Chris Triebsch, stated that they believe the redistricting may help her win tomorrow's election, especially if suburban women in the area are motivated by the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe V. Wade.

Flood fired back at these claims, stating that Nebraskans care more about food and fuel costs than abortion. Flood also stated that he and Don Bacon, if reelected, will act as "fiscal checks" on President Biden's administration.

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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.

For the full article click HERE