BEN SASSE FACES 'HUGE HILL TO CLIMB' AS UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA PRESIDENT

GAINESVILLE- In a discussion with students and staff, Ben Sasse further learned how large the battle is going forward as the University of Florida's president. 

“The University of Florida has a long history of not being welcoming to people like myself,” said Oscar Santiago Perez. 

Santiago Perez, a member of the student senate and the university’s LGBTQ advisory committee, reminded Sasse of the infamous Johns Committee, the Florida legislative panel that tried to purge gay people from UF and other campuses in the 1950s and ‘60s. He referred to Sasse’s well-publicized stand against same-sex marriage, and the senator’s efforts to dismiss the resulting criticism as part of the culture wars.

“If Dr. Sasse is confirmed,” he said, “I hope he understands he will have a huge hill to climb — a hill of trust.”

Sasse has said he would meet with the university’s LGBTQ presidential advisory committee, and its members said they are ready to work with him.

Despite this, Faith Corbett, a student government member and leader in UF’s minority party, predicted distrust of Sasse will remain.

Sasse said later that he appreciated the counsel and acknowledged the task before him. He said he embraced and respected all people and pledged to divorce himself from partisan politics as UF’s 13th president.

But following weeks of high emotions over his selection for that job, many are waiting to see exactly how well he’ll address the deep rifts created by his candidacy. If the state’s Board of Governors confirms his selection as expected this week, he’ll begin his presidency in early 2023.

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS QUESTION $131 MILLION FUND BUILT WITH UNUSED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE MONEY

LINCOLN- Despite claims by state officials that there is a plan behind the fund meant to help impoverished Nebraska families, it has topped over $131 million this year.

Stephanie Beasley, director of Children and Family Services for the Department of Health and Human Services, said the money represents the accumulation of unused portions of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families federal block grants. The block grants provide public assistance to families and help pay for a number of programs. 

The dollar amount was mentioned in a legislative hearing on October 1st. This angered Omaha area lawmakers Machaela Cavanaugh and John Arch.

“We have people who are hurting in our communities across the state and we’re sitting on $130 million and that does not sit OK with me,” said State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha. “We are in a crisis.” 

“We just see an opportunity here,” Arch said. “We want to see those dollars well used and within the federal guidance. We have some opportunity to improve services and create some innovative services.”

Beasley said that thus far they have identified family support coaching, emergency housing stability and kinship child care assistance as priorities. 

The eligibility levels cannot be decided by DHHS, the levels must be determined by the legislature.

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TINY NEBRASKA TOWNS GET A BOOST

EMERSON- Small Nebraska cities such as Emerson have been receiving funding in efforts to improve the cities and benefit their residents.

Emerson was awarded $33,000 which is planned to help revamp the downtown area. 

“It will basically bring new life into our downtown,” said Village Clerk Beth Bonderson. “We’ll have a full main street, with cars and business.” 

Emerson is among five more small Nebraska communities set to receive a federal community development block grant funding administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The latest batch of towns will receive a total of $182,500. 

The CDBG funds are a program of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development intended to help communities enhance public health and safety, economic well-being and quality of life. The projects are expected to benefit people of low and moderate incomes.

The awards also benefit:

• Arthur in Arthur County, $43,500 to develop an environmental study that leads to flood plain amendments.

• Bellwood in Butler County, $25,500 for a planning project that addresses property deterioration.

• Clearwater in Antelope County, $53,000 for a downtown study aimed at creating a vibrant commercial district.

• Newcastle in Dixon County, $27,500 to prepare a guiding document officials can use when deciding on public and private land developments.

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

LINCOLN- Governor Rickett's time in office has come to end, but his influence on the state will still be felt for many years to come.

In the last 11 months alone, Ricketts has spent over $3.8 million on campaign donations. His 2022 contributions have included over a dozen six-figure donations to various campaigns and political groups both in and out of state, according to state and federal disclosure filings.

Ricketts’ largest contribution this year came just before the May primary election: a $775,000 donation to the political action committee Conservative Nebraska. In total, Ricketts gave nearly $1.28 million to the PAC.

Ricketts, who is barred by term limits from seeking reelection, also donated $100,000 directly to Pillen’s campaign in January. Ricketts has not donated any money directly to Pillen’s campaign since his victory in the primary.

Along with many other contributions made to local groups, Ricketts also recently shelled out thousands to several groups outside Nebraska, including $250,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and over $255,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Another non-Nebraskan contribution was $250,000 to Show Me Values, a conservative PAC based in Missouri.

Although Ricketts has not contributed directly to the state GOP, he did donate $20,000 to the Douglas County Republican Party in October.

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NEBRASKA WILL RECEIVE $139,000 OUT OF $16 MILLION IN DATA BREACH SETTLEMENTS

LINCOLN- The State of Nebraska and a collection of other states have gotten three settlements worth more than $16 million over data breaches that compromised millions of Americans’ personal information.

Attorney General Doug Peterson said the official number for Nebraska is $139,279. Nebraska was one of forty states involved in the settlement process.

In September of 2015, credit reporting firm Experian reported it had experienced a data breach when an unauthorized person gained access to part of its network storing personal information on behalf of cellphone company T-Mobile. More than 15 million people, including 4,790 Nebraskans, who submitted credit applications with T-Mobile were affected.

Experian settled with the states for a total of $12.67 million, while T-Mobile settled for $2.43 million. Both companies also agreed to several measures to increase their oversight and security measures.

Experian will also be offering free credit monitoring services to those affected, as well as providing two free copies of their annual credit reports.

Experian will also pay $1 million to resolve the multistate lawsuit pertaining to a 2012 breach. T-Mobile currently has an ongoing investigation into a 2021 data breach that is also expected to bring a payout to Nebraska.

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NEBRASKA COVID CASES ARE UP FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT WEEK

LINCOLN- The number of Covid cases in Nebraska ticks up for the third week in a row. Many have begun to point to the low levels of boosters received in the state.

Only 9.9% of people 18 and over in the United States have received the latest booster, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nebraska’s figure is 9.6% 

“That’s a very discouraging and disappointing statistic,” said Dr. Mark Rupp, chief of the infectious diseases division at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “I would hope that the population would take advantage of this newest bivalent booster to try to do everything they can to keep themselves healthy and protected as we go into the respiratory virus season.” 

When it comes to the latest COVID booster, Nebraska’s vaccination rate among adults ranks 32nd highest among the states. 

Nebraska posted 1,783 new virus cases last week, up from 1,383 the previous week and the third straight weekly rise.
Nebraska added 12 new COVID deaths last week, bringing the toll for the pandemic to 4,562 confirmed or probable deaths. The state has seen 535,000 positive COVID tests. 

Nebraska hospitalizations due to COVID were relatively flat last week, with a daily average of 137 hospital beds occupied by COVID patients. A combination of COVID, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) nationally have recently strained pediatric hospital bed capacity.

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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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