PILLEN NAMES COMMITTEE TO ADVISE HIM ON POTENTIAL STATE SCHOOL AID REVAMP

LINCOLN — Gov.-elect Jim Pillen on Thursday announced the creation of a school finance reform committee to advise him about how to update and change the state’s school aid formula.

In a press release, he said the new committee is the start of fulfilling his campaign promise to distribute state school aid on a per-student basis. He is asking the group to recommend how to “create a system that invests in every Nebraska student,” which he said the state does not do now.

Nebraska provides the bulk of its school aid through an equalization formula, which directs aid to districts that cannot raise enough money through property taxes to meet the needs of students. In the current year, $886 million of the $1.07 billion in state school support is going out as equalization aid.

The number of districts getting equalization aid has dropped over the years as property valuations, particularly agricultural land valuations, have grown. The higher valuations mean that more school districts can provide for student needs through property taxes without exceeding the state’s levy limit. But farm- and ranch-land owners have objected to the increased reliance on agricultural property taxes to support schools.

Members of his policy team; State Sens. Rita Sanders of Bellevue and Tom Briese of Albion; members of STANCE, a group representing midsized school districts, including Lakeview Superintendent Aaron Plas and Seward Superintendent Josh Fields; members of Omaha Public Schools, including Superintendent Cheryl Logan; members of Lincoln Public Schools, including Superintendent Paul Gausman; retired school superintendent and CEO of Avenue Scholars Ken Bird; Nebraska Association of School Boards; Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association; Nebraska Farm Bureau; Nebraska Cattlemen; and Americans for Prosperity-Nebraska.

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FISCHER'S YEAR-ROUND 15%-PLUS ETHANOL BILL HAS OIL BACKING

LINCOLN — The U.S. Senate, with volatile gasoline prices top of mind, is inching toward a bipartisan solution to a years-long push for year-round sales of ethanol blends of 15% or more.

Bills to codify the change have shared support from agricultural organizations and biofuels boosters, including the congressional delegations from ag states like Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas.

But the 2022 version of the Consumer and Retail Choice Act from U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., has something new: support from the oil lobby. The American Petroleum Institute’s public embrace of Fischer’s four-page amendment to the Clean Air Act makes the bill much more likely to pass, political observers explained.

What got “Big Oil” on board? Backers said the bill would create a more predictable national framework for handling E15 blends, instead of relying on a “patchwork” of state regulations.

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PILLEN ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF INAUGURAL BALL

OMAHA- January 7th has been set as the date for Governor-Elect Jim Pillen's inaugural ball. The ball will be in Omaha at the CHI Health Center.

“Time for us to celebrate all the incredible things the state has done and what together we can do in the future years," Pillen said. The theme is "Nebraska: Day by day, better and better," which Pillen said he picked up from his playing days under then-coach Tom Osborne. “That comes from the Husker Football prayer of 'Day by day, we get better and better. We can't be beat,'" he said. 

Pillen’s wife, Suzanne, talked about why they decided to hold it in Omaha instead of in Lincoln. “We wanted a space large enough that all our guests can dine together in one room and on one floor," she said. "We think that's really important because we want to celebrate with everyone." The Pillens said they don’t want anyone to think the occasion is just for the movers and shakers, and that it’s welcome to anyone.

“Some people might think that an inaugural ball just isn't for them," Suzanne said. "There is a perception it's only for business and political leaders. That couldn't be farther from the truth."

The event will include dinner and dancing along to music from a live band. Who will the performer be? The Pillens said that’s a surprise.

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OMAHA SCHOOL PENSION FUND SHOWS PROGRESS BUT SUPERINTENDENT FORSEES HEADWINDS

LINCOLN- The troubled pension fund for Omaha teachers has shown improvement over the past five years, rising from 53% fully funded to around 63%

Since 2014, the Nebraska Legislature has required local government pension systems that are less than 80% funded to report to the Retirement Committee on how the organization plans to fix it and increase funding. 

This requirement came after the Omaha fire and police pension system was on the verge of collapse ten years ago, and has worked quite well in allowing organizations to create strategic plans to increase funding.

In yesterday's report to the Retirement Committee, it was revealed that only six defined-benefit programs run by local governments were less than 80% funded, and some have slipped even further to the point where certain organizations are unable to contribute the recommended amount to pension systems.

Sen. Mark Kolterman, who heads the Retirement Committee, was not happy to hear the news. "It's almost like anything we've asked here has fallen on deaf ears," he said, "It's blatant disrespect for the employees and the citizens of Omaha."

Despite the falling behind of certain expected contributions, Kolterman said several of the reforms created since 2014, including the decreasing of some benefits, have worked rather well, and are allowing some pension systems to be fully funded earlier than expected.

Despite this, Logan said she is worried that if the district receives a decrease in state aid, OPS won't be able to allocate excess funding toward the schoolteacher pension fund. 

Reforming the state's school aid program was a key talking point in Governor-elect Jim Pillen's campaign. His proposed changes, if passed, are expected to cost school districts about $270 million a year. This would greatly affect the amount school districts would be able to put towards pensions.

Logan said she is unsure if these changes will be approved by the Nebraska Legislature, but stated that it would be wise to be prepared for them.

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BOLDUC RETAINED AS SUPERINTENDENT OF NEBRASKA STATE PATROL; GOINS STAYING, AND VINTON TAKING OVER AG DEPARTMENT

LINCOLN- Col. John Bolduc will be retained as superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, Governor-elect Jim Pillen has announced.

“Col. Bolduc has the temperament, experience and knowledge to continue leading the Nebraska State Patrol,” Pillen and Joe Kelly, his lieutenant governor running mate, said in a joint statement.

Pillen had a long list of praises for Bolduc. He continued to emphasize that Bolduc “embodies the tradition of excellence the Nebraska State Patrol has established for its members since its founding 85 years ago,” they said.

The Office of the Superintendent oversees the Agency's goals and objectives, policies and procedures and organizational structure and will remain under the supervision of Colonel John A. Bolduc, Superintendent of Law Enforcement and Public Safety. Colonel Bolduc directly oversees the Divisions of Field Services, Investigative Services and Administrative Services.

Bolduc, the 18th superintendent of the Patrol, was sworn into the leadership role in 2017. He has been a law enforcement officer since 1986, with service in three states.

Tony Goins, director of Gov. Ricketts' Department of Economic Development, will also retain his position under Governor-elect Pillen.

"Tony has a proven track record of executive experience that has created value and a business mindset for the state of Nebraska," said Pillen in a press release, "I look forward to working with Tony to grow Nebraska and continue to make our state the best in the country to work and live."

Pillen also announced that Sherry Vinton will be taking over as head of the state's Department of Agriculture. Vinton currently serves as the first vice president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau.

"Sherry will be a key partner in helping implement my vision of growing Nebraska agriculture," Pillen said in the same release, "As a lifelong Nebraskan and livestock producer, she is a leader in Nebraska agriculture who knows the importance of the industry for the future of our state."

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LAWMAKERS EYE 61 ACRES FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK IN OMAHA RECOVERY EFFORT

OMAHA- State lawmakers are eyeballing an industrial park that would be located in Omaha, take up nearly 61 acres, and create over 450 jobs at the site. 

State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha gave an update to his fellow lawmakers on a $335 million recovery effort dedicated to underserved areas of Nebraska, primarily in North and South Omaha. Wayne has been focused on efforts in Omaha, while the State Department of Economic Development is leading the charge for other areas, he said. Wayne is part of a larger committee that has been working to find a way to distribute the funds.

The industrial park was one of several projects or initiatives specifically earmarked for funding in the legislation, which lawmakers passed earlier this year. The development of affordable housing was another initiative designated for funding. Senator Wayne said that if this plan is completed successfully, it provides a functioning model to be replicated in other areas of the state.

Wayne said state officials are working to purchase about 61 acres of vacant land just off North 16th Street directly west of Carter Lake. He said six businesses have already expressed interest in developing on the land. Despite the land and industrial park being prepared, the committee still has over $250 million to spend.

Wayne said lawmakers must distribute the remaining money before 2026, as the bulk of the $250 million comes via the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which expires in 2026. 

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RICKETTS STICKS TO HIS SCRIPT, SAYS WAIT AND SEE ABOUT U.S. SENATE VACANCY

LINCOLN- Governor Pete Ricketts stuck to his script of not showing interest or disinterest in the Senate seat vacancy caused by Senator Sasse becoming the next president of the University of Florida.

The only true hint the Governor would offer was a response to a caller on his monthly radio show. In the call, a constituent asked what he wants to do moving forward. Ricketts's response was, "I would love to remain involved in policy and politics." Although this hint is not much, it does identify Ricketts's intentions moving forward.

Ricketts has said he would not fill the vacancy himself had the resignation come while he was still in office, but was deferring the pick to Pillen, whom Ricketts financially backed for $1.4 million and endorsed.

It is assumed that Governor Ricketts is the point man for the job if he were to accept. Ricketts has faced direct senate-related questions and has been continuously noncommittal. “Gov.-elect Pillen is going to have a process,” Ricketts said. “We’ll wait and see what happens.” 

When asked if he might decline to seek a seat in the U.S. Senate, as his predecessor, Gov. Dave Heineman, did because he preferred to be an executive rather than one of many legislators, Ricketts said that the executive and legislative branches are two separate wings of government that have “different roles.”

“There’s lots of ways to contribute. We’ll what Gov.-elect Pillen does in regard to this process, and we’ll see what happens from there,” Ricketts said.

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LINCOLN MAYOR GAYLOR BAIRD ANNOUNCES SHE WILL RUN FOR RE-ELECTION

LINCOLN- Lincoln mayor Gaylor Baird has announced her re-election bid by embracing her record as mayor, highlighting the city's responses to Covid-19 in the onset of the pandemic.

Baird said she was proud of the fact that Lincoln and Lancaster County retained mortality rates at the lowest levels not only in Nebraska but in the nation. Nebraska's highest-profile Democrat said she will use the pandemic in her campaign. 

“We kept people alive, working together,” said Baird. “We continue to monitor the data and get out information. But look where we are now. Life is so much better.”

Baird is not only pointing to various accomplishments pertaining to Covid-19, she is also pointing to the money the city received because of it. She pointed to nearly $10 million in rent and utility stabilization grants that the city awarded to local small businesses from federal coronavirus relief funds and $12 million in federal funds for worker training programs. 

Baird said she knows she will be the top target next spring of a well-funded Republican political machine known for big advertising buys and political attacks. Top GOP donors are lining up behind Republican State Sen. Suzanne Geist, who announced her bid for mayor in mid-September. Christian broadcaster Stan Parker, another Republican, threw his hat into the ring.

Gaylor Baird, a former management consultant, said she is confident she will raise the money she needs to compete. 

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HOME BUILDERS GROUP EAGER FOR NEBRASKA TO DIG 4,000-ACRE RECREATION LAKE

OMAHA- Home building companies in Nebraska are eager to begin working around a possible 4,000-acre manmade lake set to be built between Omaha and Lincoln. 

After state Senator Mike McDonnell introduced a progress report on the potential lake, members of the Metro Omaha Builders Association stated that they stand ready to do their part and get the project started.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for private development and not necessarily only along the shoreline," said former MOBA president Greg Frazell, "Nebraska needs something--and we'll never have mountains."

Frazell was among around 150 MOBA members who heard Sen. McDonnell present highlights of the lake proposal, which came about after a special legislative study last year.

The committee charged with planning the new lake is led by state Sen. Mike Hilgers, and is meant to explore avenues for Nebraska to reinvigorate its recreation, economic development, tourism, and population.

Sen. McDonnell revealed the potential location of the lake, adjacent to the Lower Platte River at Highway 6, and estimated revenue to be around $1 billion, most of that coming from private investments.

If the lake materializes, Brett Clarke of Frontier Builders and current president of MOBA sees "year and years" of ongoing development on the shore.

"I think you'll see demand through the roof for those lakefront properties," he said, claiming also that there is a local appetite for luxury homes in the price point of $1 million and above.

Although several attempts have been made since 1896 to create a large reservoir in Nebraska, McDonnell claims that this project will not require damming the Platte River, something that many have thought may be an expensive undertaking.

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NEBRASKA GOVERNOR-ELECT PILLEN BEGINS FORMATION OF CONSERVATIVE STATE BUDGET PROPOSAL

LINCOLN- Governor-elect Jim Pillen is gearing up to be Nebraska's next governor, and after making some key staffing decisions, he seems to be eyeing the state's budget. 

During an interview at the State Capitol, Pillen stated that he "will listen to [his] partner, Joe Kelly" when making the decision whether to build Gov. Rickett's proposed $270 million prison to replace the aging State Penitentiary.

Besides that, Pillen is also seeking to develop a budget targeting property tax reduction and school funding reform, wrapped inside a fiscally conservative two-year budget proposal.

Kelly, who was elected as Lieutenant Governor on the same ticket as Pillen, was Lancaster County Attorney for seven years before becoming a U.S. Attorney for three.

Pillen also stated that he's comfortable with opening up discussion for immigration reform in Nebraska, which may allow the state to accept more refugees, a possible solution for Nebraska's workforce shortage.

"We need to make sure there's a pathway," said Pillen, Nebraska is a melting pot for people from all over the world, people of different colors speaking different languages. Refugees have a great home here." However, Pillen is also focused on "keeping our kids here." 

Pillen stated that he also plans to stay in Columbus for most of his tenure and does not plan on moving into the Governor's residence in Lincoln. "I expect to spend the majority of time in Columbus, being with family and neighbors. Four grandchildren live next door," said the Governor-elect.

Pillen has been speaking with senators as well in preparation for next year's legislative session, and believes "it's important to build relationships. There are a lot of new senators. We're all newbies."

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NEBRASKA'S VOTER TURNOUT WAS LOWER THAN 2018, BUT STILL HIGHER THAN NORMAL

LINCOLN- Nebraska's voter turnout in this year's midterm elections was 54.8%, a small dip from 2018's 58%. However, although turnout was lower than the last midterm's, it was still higher than the norm.

Before 2018, midterm voter turnout usually sat between 45% and 53.6%. These newer, higher numbers mirror national trends. According to the U.S. Elections Project, the 2022 and 2018 midterms had higher nationwide turnouts than previous years. 

Many speculate that the reason for the higher numbers seen this year was issues like abortion and inflation, which both parties are heavily interested in.

The Washington Post noted that voter turnout in battleground states was particularly high, with Pennsylvania and Michigan surpassing their 2018 results. Other states that surpassed their 2018 results are Arkansas, Arizona, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, and South Dakota.

Some also believe that voter turnout was so high in 2018 and 2022 because the governorship was on the ballot as well as several contentious ballot measures, like Medicaid in 2018 and voter ID in 2022.

The heated congressional races in Nebraska may also have increased turnout this year, and some of the races, like Tony Vargas and Don Bacon's, were much closer than expected.

Perre Nielan, a political consultant, and John Hibbing, a political science professor at the Unversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, believe the Vargas-Bacon race was the reason for such high turnout this year. Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse confirmed that his county saw a 53.8% turnout, a few points shy of 2018's 57.7%.

Kruse said that he thought the lower turnout in Douglas County may have been because people are tired of politics. "I think people just--they want a break," he said. 

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FLATWATER FORUM EXPLORES PROBLEMS WITH NEBRASKA'S PRISONS

LINCOLN- Last week, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln hosted the Flatwater Free Press in a forum titled "Nebraska's Prisons at a Crossroads," with the intention of discussing the future of prisons in Nebraska amid the highest overcrowding the state has seen.

The panel included Mark Foxall, former Douglas County Department of Corrections director, Doug Koebernick, Inspector General of the Nebraska Correctional System, Carla Walker, a formerly incarcerated veteran, and Jasmine Harris, Director of Policy at RISE, a nonprofit focused on helping the incarcerated prepare for societal reentry.

The forum discussed a wide range of topics, including the lack of resources available to inmates, the immense overcrowding, and the rampant understaffing in Nebraska prisons.

Walker, who served a 20-year sentence at Lincoln's Work Release Center, was recommended an anger management program prior to being put inside. However, as she served her sentence and got closer to release, the program was never offered to her.

"I'm a military veteran who committed a violent crime," said Walker, "You really want to send me back out there, and I haven't had help? I've been asking for help."

According to Harris, 95% of incarcerated individuals eventually integrate back into society, but have trouble finding work or housing. She went on to state that around 80% of the individuals who are rearrested do not have a job at the time of the arrest. 

"That's where the rubber hits the road, where we need to be helping folks when we have the opportunity," said Harris, "If we don't, then what are we doing? We're rendering them to where they can't meet their basic needs. So then, what do people do? They return to those criminogenic behaviors because they have to survive."

Nebraska currently has a 31% recidivism rate, with many formerly incarcerated individuals finding their way back into the system within three years of release. 

Foxall believes the issue can only be fixed with a large overhaul of the prison system, and believes a lack of housing, proper education, and job opportunities are the main culprits. 

Mental health issues, said Foxall, are also a problem. "Trauma will begin before you arrive in jail, before you arrive in prison. It's very difficult to treat trauma in a place of confinement," he said.

Koebernick described during the panel an experience from his first day in the corrections system. When visiting the Omaha Corrections Center, Koebernick saw a single room housing eight men, all lying on top of eachother. This particular facility is meant to hold around 390 inmates, but currently houses 800.

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STATE LAWMAKERS CRAFTING A 'CODE OF CONDUCT,' MULLING HIRING AN ATTORNEY FOR WORKPLACE ISSUES

LINCOLN- A special Legislative committee has been created to build Nebraska's first lawmaker 'code of conduct' amid complaints about the Legislature's handling of workplace harassment. The resignation of former Senator Mike Groene prompted the committee's creation.

Besides the 'code of conduct,' the Nebraska Legislature is also considering hiring an attorney with expertise in workplace issues to assist in dealing with harassment cases at the Capitol.

The committee, which was created by the Legislature's Executive Board amid Groene's resignation, is called the Select Interim Ethics Committee and is tasked with reviewing the body's workplace policies. State Sens. Mike Hilgers and Wendy DeBoer will sit on the committee, along with four other state senators.

Former Sen. Mike Groene was investigated last summer after it was revealed that he had taken, and saved, pictures of a female staffer that she described as "objectifying and demeaning." Groene maintained that the complaints against him were "trumped up," but the Legislature concluded that the pictures were "boorish, brainless and bizarre, especially for the workplace."

After Groene's exit from the Legislature, State Sens. Megan Hunt and Machaela Cavanaugh said his case called for a thorough review of the Legislature's harassment policies. They also wanted to see improvements in how complaints are handled, especially since the Nebraska Attorney General's Office declined to prosecute.

Hilgers, in a statement, said the Nebraska Legislature currently has no code of conduct for its members, and that outlining and defining one would allow the body to establish what is and isn't appropriate in the workplace. Hilgers also claimed that a social media policy is being outlined, and believes this will also help.

DeBoer, another committee member, believes proper training of legislators and staff will help make clear the new rules. On a briefing Friday to fellow senators, however, DeBoer and Hilgers confirmed that the six-member committee has yet to vote on either the hiring of a workplace attorney or a code of conduct.

Sen. Dan Hughes, who leads the Executive Board, questioned whether or not a full-time attorney would be necessary. The Groene case, he said, was the only significant case of workplace harrassment to appear in the Legislature in a long time. 

DeBoer then said that the attorney would be hired on part-time, and Hilgers said the attorney could handle other issues in the Legislature besides harrassment.

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SPEAKER HILGERS PLANS TO RESIGN FROM LEGISLATURE ON JANUARY 3RD TO BECOME STATES NEW AG

LINCOLN- Speaker Mike Hilgers said he’ll stay in the Legislature as long as he can before moving into the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office early next year.

Hilgers submitted a letter of resignation to Gov. Pete Ricketts on Tuesday outlining his plan to formally resign from the Legislature at midnight on Jan. 3, 2023. The 108th Legislature will meet hours later on the morning of Jan. 4 — the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January, in accordance with the state constitution. Hilgers will be sworn in that morning as the state's new Attorney General.

But by detailing his plan nearly 6 weeks ahead of time, Hilgers said he believes Ricketts — potentially in consultation with Gov.-elect Jim Pillen — will have plenty of time to find the man or woman who will finish out his second term in the Legislature.

Hilgers, a Republican, won election to the District 21 seat representing northwest Lincoln and northern Lancaster County in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020 before winning an uncontested race to become attorney general this year.

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ADAM MORFELD CONCEDES IN CONTESTED LANCASTER COUNTY RACE

LINCOLN- A tight general election race for Lancaster County attorney General been decided between Pat Condon and Adam Morfeld. Out of over 110,000 votes cast, the race was decided by a difference of 781.

On Tuesday evening votes trimmed Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon’s lead over his challenger, Sen. Adam Morfeld, by about 120 votes. Condon has 55,880 votes to Morfeld’s 54,839.

According to the Election Commission, about 220 resolution ballots cast on Election Day, as well as 1,850 provisional ballots, are left to count later in the week.

Morfeld needed to receive about 75% of the remaining votes to flip the race, and it would have taken a solid majority just to get the race within the margin needed under state law to trigger an automatic recount. State statute says an automatic recall takes place if any race is separated by a margin of “1% or less of the votes received by the candidate who received the highest number of votes for the office” in a race where more than 500 votes are cast.

Morfeld thanked supporters saying, "I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your steadfast support over the last two years and beyond. Whether you voted for me, volunteered, donated, or just cheered us on from afar, your support meant a great deal and sustained me!"

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NEBRASKA SENATORS NOT AMONG THOSE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF BILL PROTECTING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

WASHINGTON D.C.- The U.S. Senate cleared a major procedural hurdle to enshrine protections for same-sex and interracial marriages, though it did so without the support of Nebraska’s two senators.

Sen. Deb Fischer, citing concerns over religious liberties, joined 36 of her Republican colleagues in voting against advancing the legislation, while Sen. Ben Sasse missed the vote to stay in Nebraska, where his wife, Melissa, was recovering from a seizure.

The vote certainly would have laid eyes on Senator Sasse since same-sex marriages are one of the biggest items that have been used to attack him in his new role as the president of the University of Florida. It is not clear what the Senator's vote on the subject would have been.

Sasse’s selection to lead Florida’s flagship university drew opposition from students and staff, who expressed concern over the senator’s stance on same-sex marriage. During his first visit to campus, he faced a large student protest that prompted a temporary ban on protests inside campus buildings. 

The legislation would repeal the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act and require states to recognize all marriages that were legal where they were performed. The new law would also protect interracial marriages by requiring states to recognize legal marriages regardless of “sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.”

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NEBRASKA GETS ANOTHER $5.6 MILLION FOR BROADBAND EXPANSION

LINCOLN- Gov. Pete Ricketts announced that the state had received around $5.6 million through two grants awarded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The funds, according to Gov. Ricketts, will be used to develop plans to expand Nebraska's broadband services, especially in the state's western region.

Connect Nebraska, a group developed by Gov. Ricketts, applied for and won the grants. One of the grants will be used to generate a state broadband map, set up outreach activities, and enable the Nebraska Public Service Commission to hire more staff. The other grant will be used to secure internet connections statewide and promote telehealth technologies. 

Patrick Redmond, Nebraska's broadband coordinator, stated, "Now that we have received funding for both the Digital Equity Program and the BEAD program, we can begin the next phase in our plan to connect every Nebraskan."

Previously, the state had received around $90 million from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to expand broadband to cover around 21,000 historically underserved houses and businesses. 

State officials still expect around $100 million more in federal funds to support broadband, but it's unclear if and when this will occur. 

Thus far, all of the funding received by Nebraska has come from President Biden's infrastructure bill, which received mixed support from Nebraska lawmakers in Washington, D.C.

Expanding Broadband in Nebraska has been a top priority since 2018, when Gov. Ricketts created the Rural Broadband Task Force. Since then, Ricketts has signed several pieces of legislation allocating around $150 million to develop broadband infrastructure.

"In today's digital world, broadband connectivity is basic infrastructure," said Ricketts in a press release, "No matter the distance Nebraskans live from a city, they should have access to the online tools they need to live, learn, and do business."

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HHS AWARDS MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN FUNDS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, awarded over $100 million to states and territories for mental health emergency preparedness, crisis response, and to expand suicide and crisis lifeline services.

The funds, which come from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, will be appropriated to all 54 states and territories, and awards will range from $458,000 to $2 million. 

Previously, DHHS has awarded around $60 million to states and territories through the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, and another $50 million in supplemental grant funding. 

States will have the opportunity to leverage the new funds to develop and expand mental health services, including mental health emergency and response plans. 

Some states are being encouraged to develop mobile crisis teams as well, that can be deployed rapidly throughout the state to address mental health emergencies. 

Agencies and providers of mental health services can also receive training for mental health emergencies through the grant, are are being encouraged to create relationships with Suicide & Crisis Lifeline call centers, child welfare organizations, and schools.

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BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TOUTS $1.2 BILLION SENT TO NEBRASKA VIA INFRASTRUCTURE LAW

LINCOLN- Thanks to a large grant from President Biden's administration, Nebraska has received around $1.2 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, allowing York Public Schools to replace their again buses, levees to be repaired in Western Nebraska, and bridges to be replaced. 

Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, was excited to see Nebraska be rewarded so much from the $1 trillion program. "Trump and the Republicans talked about infrastructure but never did anything," said Kleeb, "President Biden and Democrats delivered."

In Congress, support for the bill from Nebraska lawmakers was split. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, whose father acted as Director of the Nebraska Department of Roads, voted in favor of the bill. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon did the same.

"I voted for the infrastructure bill because it's an investment in the future of our state," said Fischer. Fischer pointed out that Nebraska saw a 21% increase in funding for roads and bridges over the past year than it had the year before that.

U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse and U.S. Reps. Adrian Smith and Jeff Fortenberry voted against the aid package, with Smith stating that the bill didn't focus on traditional infrastructure needs and was "more about electric vehicles and charging stations."

"These bills spend too much, tax too much and put an extreme left-wing agenda over getting Americans back to work and solving our supply chain crisis," said Smith.

The Brookings Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think-tank, stated that Biden's new infrastructure and budget reconciliation bills allowed for the largest building spree in our country since the New Deal.

Six rural Nebraskan schools were picked to receive electric buses to replace their aging ones. These districts include McCool, Hay Springs, Hershey, Raymond Central, Southern, and Summerland. However, McCool superintendent Dade McDonald said the school board is still deciding whether or not they want to accept the new buses. "There's some things we're obviously curious about," he said, "We're still getting some questions answered."

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ABORTION BAN FAILS IN SMALL NEBRASKA TOWN; OTHER PASS, SOME NARROWLY

CURTIS- Curtis is the biggest town in Frontier County, a county that pledged more than 85% of its vote to Donald Trump in 2020. On the 2022 midterm ballot, Curtis voters seemed to contradict their allegiance to Trump and conservative policies. 

They voted down an ordinance that would have banned abortion within the city limits. They did so by a giant, 41-point margin. “I don’t think that the vote was necessarily a referendum on abortion,” said Brad Welch, mayor of the town of 806 people. “I think it’s just that it went too far. The ordinance that was presented … became too political.” 

A total of six Nebraska towns had the abortion ban decision on their ballots. All of these bans ended up passing besides the ban proposed in Curtis. 

Officials pointed to the combination of Curtis having the most complex and restrictive ban out of all six cities, and having the highest population out of the cities that had voted on such a ban. It included restrictions on businesses that entered into contracts with the city, stating they could not cover abortions in employee health insurance, cover travel costs if an employee needed to get to an abortion, or donate to abortion-related funds.

The towns that decided to ban abortion- Paxton, Hershey, Brady, Arnold and Wallace — the margins show that rural voters aren’t a monolith when it comes to abortion access. In Paxton and Brady, the vote difference deciding the measure was less than 19 votes.

The ban not passing did come as a surprise to both the Curtis mayor and multiple residents. 

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