NEBRASKA ONE OF MANY STATES SIGNING OPIOID AGREEMENT WITH CVS, WALGREENS

LINCOLN- On Monday, Nebraska AG Doug Peterson announced that the state, alongside several others, has finalized an agreement with CVS and Walgreens over the pharmaceutical industry's role in the opioid crisis. Under the agreement, Walgreens will pay $5.7 billion to states around the country and CVS will pay $5 billion.

Nebraska's share of the funds, Peterson announced, will be around $41 million. In addition to the financial settlement, Walgreens and CVS, similarly to Walmart earlier this year, will be required to monitor, report, and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions. In a statement, Peterson announced that these court-ordered injunctions will help ensure a crisis like this one never happens again.

The terms of the agreement will head to states soon for review, and must be signed before the end of the year, after which they will be reviewed by local governments. According to Peterson, Nebraska plans to sign the agreement, and by doing so will be required to use the settlement funds to remediate the opioid crisis by focusing on prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services.

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NATIONAL SEARCHES PLANNED FOR NEW PRISON DIRECTOR, HEADS OF DHHS DIVISIONS

LINCOLN- As we move towards the inauguration of the Gov.-elect, Jim Pillen is beginning to widen his search for DHHS and Corrections heads to a nationwide level. However, a spokesman for Pillen said that, despite hiring Ford Webb Associates to help fill the position, Pillen will still consider current interim Director Diane Sabatka-Rine for the post. 

Thus far, Gov.-elect Pillen has reappointed many Ricketts-era officials to his cabinet, meaning that this nationwide search is of great importance to him. The new director, whether Sabatka-Rine is retained or someone new is selected, will have to wrestle with Nebraska's prison overcrowding and staff shortages.

"This search firm has a long track record of finding the best candidates for agency directors nationally and in Nebraska," said Pillen of Ford Webb Associates. On Monday, the state's Chief Medical Officer and Director of Public Health, Dr. Gary Anthone, announced his departure, prompting Pillen to begin the new search for a DHHS director.

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NEBRASKA HOSPITAL LEADERS CALL FOR HELP IN BATTLING 'TRIPLE THREAT' TO PATIENT CARE

LINCOLN- Following a recent surge in Covid-19, RSV, and influenza cases, what Nebraska doctors are calling a 'triple threat,' four medical professionals said in a news conference that, although the state's hospitals will remain open, the additional stress and ongoing labor shortages could hurt patient care.

"Our hospitals are entering a very challenging time, and quite frankly, we need Nebraskans to help us with it," said Jeremy Nordquist, President of the Nebraska Hospital Association, "It's pretty stark when you look at the numbers." Nordquist went on to highlight that, according to reports from the DHHS, the number of Covid-related emergency room visits is close to what it was during this time last year, when the Omicron variant was sweeping the nation.

Similarly, Nordquist stated that "probably about three times the rate of influenza cases are coming into our emergency rooms." The Hospital Association has been in discussion with experts and elected officials on how to solve the workforce shortage crisis, saying that they can't solve it on their own.

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FORMER NEBRASKA STATE SENATOR PATRICK ENGEL DIES AT 90

SOUTH SIOUX CITY- Former State Senator Leo Patrick Engel, who served in the unicameral for 16 years, died last Tuesday at age 90. Engel was appointed to the Nebraska Legislature in 1993, where he served until 2009. 

While in office, Engel served as the Chair of the Executive Board, was a member of the Appropriations Committee, and acted as a national board member for the American Legislative Exchange Council. Before being elected to the Legislature, Engel served as a member of the St. Michael's and South Sioux City School Board, and also as a Dakota County Commissioner. 

Engel was a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and served as an intelligence officer in the Air Force. "Pat lived a remarkable life, was a lifelong learner, and impacted so many," wrote Engel's family in his obituary, "He was a man of great faith and knew who he was and what he stood for. We thank him for the memories, for the fun, and for the love and the for the lessons learned."

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NEW SUPPORT CLAIMED FOR ENDING NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE'S SECRET LEADERSHIP VOTES

LINCOLN- Proponents of an effort to end secret ballot voting for Nebraska Legislative leadership positions say they now have enough votes to pass a rule change in the upcoming session. Secret ballots have been used to select Legislative leadership since the creation of Nebraska's unicameral Legislature, and backers of the system claim that the secret voting process prevents these selections from being decided upon partisan lines. 

The issue has been debated upon for years now, and supporters of the secret ballot process have been able to protect it from any rule changes. However, that may change when the Legislature reconvenes next month. Rod Edwards, a spokesman for the Nebraska First PAC, claims that 25 lawmakers have already pledged to support a rule change that would make votes public, just enough support to pass such a measure.

State Sen. Tom Briese, one of the lawmakers who signed the pledge to make public the vote, said leadership elections are among the most important votes lawmakers cast in some sessions. "It shouldn't be hidden behind a veil of secrecy, in my opinion," said Briese. 

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$1.2 BILLION FROM FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE LAW HEADED TO NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- Almost a year after the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure and Jobs Act was signed into law, $1.2 billion is finally headed to Nebraska. Around $904 million of the funds has already been allocated to repair and maintain Nebraska's roads, bridges, and other related projects. 

The new law will also give Nebraska $75 million to provide and treat clean water across the state, as well as $28.4 million to replace lead pipelines. $37.1 million will also go towards improving public transportation options, and around $35.4 million towards clean energy and power.

Nebraska was also awarded an extra $90 million for the purpose of improving infrastructure resilience against extreme weather events, climate change, and other hazards. $68 million of those funds will come through the Army Corps of Engineers for flood mitigation. The White House identified nearly 110 separate projects in the state, and has helped work to allocate the awarded funds to best suit the needs of Nebraska.

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NEBRASKA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AWARDS OVER $20 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR BROADBAND EXPANSION

LINCOLN- Over $20 million will be distributed in 37 grants from the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Program, the Nebraska Public Service Commission announced this week. "As expected, the second-year of the NBBP grant program has surpassed the initial funding year," said Dan Watermeier, NSC Chair, "We have a good process in place and are eager to provide funding to continue broadband buildout to unserved and underserved Nebraskans."

The Public Service Commission received 115 grant applications, but narrowed the pool to just 103, since funding all projects would have exceeded the available funding. To account for this, the Commission implemented a scoring system based on the project's details and scope, as well as the applicant's financial, legal, and technical capability to build a broadband network.

Besides this, the Commission also ranked the applicants by priority in bringing broadband to entirely underserved and unserved areas of Nebraska first. Under the parameters of the grants, applicants who are awarded funds must complete their projects by June 6, 2024.

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DEMOCRAT ANN ASHFORD IS AMONG APPLICANTS TO FILL VACANCY IN U.S. SENATE

LINCOLN- Ann Ashford, an attorney who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020, will be among the applicants for Sen. Ben Sasse's soon-to-be vacant Senate seat. Ashford, widow of former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford, said she would put her "constituents over party every time" if appointed by Gov.-elect Jim Pillen.

Last Friday, Ashford said she had hopes that Gov.-elect Pillen would be "broad-minded enough to consider my qualifications over my party affiliation." Gov. Ricketts, who also applied, is a political ally and supporter of Pillen, and is widely seen as the foremost frontrunner in the selection process.

A spokesperson for Gov.-elect Jim Pillen said that he was not planning to reveal how many applicants have been received or who applied for the position. Pillen, who assumes the governorship on January 5th, said he plans to fill the position very quickly, and set a December 23rd deadline for applications to fill the seat.

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UNION FOR STATE EMPLOYEES CALLS FOR BETTER WAGES, BENEFITS TO LURE 'NEW GENERATION' OF PUBLIC SERVANTS

LINCOLN- Yesterday, the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, a union that represents a coalition of public servants, called for higher wages and better benefits at a press conference. Justin Hubly, executive director of the organization, said increases in wages and benefits are vital to address the vacancies seen all around the state. 

"We're just seeing a lot less people choosing to become public servants," said Hubly. At the press conference, nearly 50 members of the union crowded into the Capitol rotunda. State Sen. Carol Blood spoke at the conference, saying, "There's going to be roads that aren't plowed, there's going to be public benefits that are delayed, if things aren't improved."

Blood and Hubly emphasized that the recent blizzard that slammed the Nebraska panhandle could've been much more widespread, causing even further strain to the already-overworked snow-plow drivers. John Selmer, Director of the Nebraska Department of Transportation, stated that his agency is about 250 snow-plow drivers short, and many other Nebraska agencies are seeing similar numbers.

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COURT REJECTS BARGER'S REQUEST FOR HAND RECOUNT IN LINCOLN LEGISLATIVE RACE

LINCOLN- On Thursday, a Lancaster County District Court Judge dismissed a legal challenge put forth by Legislative candidate Russ Barger that sought to force the state to hand-recount the votes in his race against Democrat George Dungan. Judge Kevin McManaman ruled against Barger's lawsuit on the grounds that his court lacked the jurisdiction to consider it and also that Barger's original filing lacked a notarized signature.

Jennifer Huxoll, a representative of the Nebraska Attorney General's Office, agreed that, because of the missing electronic notarization, Judge McManaman did not have the authority to consider Barger's complaint. Judge McManaman later wrote that the "law of Nebraska is clear that the filing of a motion and affidavit for a verified petition is a jurisdictional requirement."

Under state law, an automatic recount is used if the votes separating two candidates is less than 1%. However, Secretary of State Bob Evnen found that Dungan had acquired 223 more votes than Barger, a number that falls above the 1% vote recount threshold.

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NEBRASKA, NATION LIKELY HEADED FOR RECESSION IN 2023, ECONOMISTS SAY

LINCOLN- A team of state economists has labeled 2023 year as the likely time for a state and nationwide recession. Multiple interest rate increases failed to slow inflation, experts find it unlikely that these will increases will make a true change in the upcoming future, said Eric Thompson, an economist who directs the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Bureau of Business Research.

The elevated interest rates during 2023 will likely mean less consumer spending, home-buying and business investment, leading to job losses and a recession. “The most likely event is a recession, although it is possible we will have a soft landing” and narrowly avoid an economic decline, Thompson said.

Thompson thinks it could be avoided based on how many jobs employers hoard, and the direction of rent prices in the future. Personal income for Nebraskans is forecast to grow by 4.2% during 2023, slightly below the expected 4.5% rate of inflation.  If a recession does occur, it is not expected to be severe or long-lived, with employment growth expected to return in 2024 and 2025. 

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KERREY ASKS NAME BE REMOVED FROM NEBRASKA DEMOCRATIC EVENT AFTER DISPUTE WITH KLEEB

OMAHA- Following a dispute over the state of the Democratic party in Nebraska, former Sen. Bob Kerrey has asked that his name is removed from the party's upcoming major fundraising event. "We will honor his request," said Democratic State Chairwoman Jane Kleeb, and change the name of what is now known as the Kerrey-Nelson Dinner, named to honor Kerrey and former Sen. Ben Nelson, both of whom also served as governor.

Last month, Kerrey described the state of the Nebraska Democratic Party as "pathetic," suggesting that its candidates need to be more "middle of the road." "I simply do not want to be associated with a state party that is led by someone who views criticism as a mortal sin," Kerrey wrote Kleeb. 

Kleeb said she preferred not to respond directly to Kerrey's remarks while suggesting that she has been successful in "bringing significant resources" to support Nebraska's Democratic candidates who face challenging contests in "the political atmosphere" that currently dominates the state.  

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AMID LAWSUIT OVER RECOUNT, NEBRASKA SECRETARY OF STATE TO DISCUSS ACCURACY OF VOTE COUNT

LINCOLN- Following a legal challenge over a recount with a tight legislative race, Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen announced he will be holding a press conference to discuss the 2022 general election and the results of an audit of the accuracy of the ballot count. A spokeswoman for Bob Evnen said a was held after the 2020 general election due to general concerns about election security. 

A legal challenge has been brought by Lincoln legislative candidate Russ Barger, who lost the District 26 race by 224 votes by George Dungan during the November general election. Barger had asked for a hand recount which was denied by Evnen as he cited that the recount is to be done in the same matter as it was for the general election.

Barger has raising $25,000 to cover the cost of a hand recount and his legal fees. “I didn’t expect it to cost as much,” Barger said Wednesday. “This is kind of fast and expensive litigation.” If the outcome of the race is changed by the recount, the state will reimburse Barger for any amount spent on the recount.

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STATE INVESTIGATING WHAT COULD BE NEBRASKA'S LARGEST BANKING FRAUD

LINCOLN- Nebraska's largest case of bank fraud related to loans obtained by a recently deceased Lincoln developer are under state investigation. Claims by banks and other lenders against the estate of Aaron Marshbanks already total more than $30 million and may eclipse $50 million by the time all of the claims are filed. More than 20 banks and savings and loans — from Omaha and Lincoln to Curtis and North Platte — are involved, as well as some credit unions. 

Richard Baier, president and CEO of the Nebraska Bankers Association, said his members suspect this may be a case of “pretty sophisticated fraud” involving the use of several limited liability companies to obtain loans that court documents show were used as operating capital for his companies. 

Kelly Lammers, the director of the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance, said his agency was investigating but offered no further information. Both Lammers and Baier said that Nebraska banks remain financially strong. Baier said they should be able to weather any potential financial losses. 

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NEBRASKA GOVERNOR'S MANSION WILL REMAIN UNOCCUPIED FOR ANOTHER 4 YEARS

LINCOLN- For the third term in a row, the Nebraska Governor's mansion will lack full-time residents. Governor-elect Jim Pillen recently announced that Columbus will remain his primary residence during his first term, citing family as the main reason for staying. However, Pillen still plans to travel to Lincoln regularly for work, stating, "Working for Nebraskans, I'll be in Lincoln, I'll be in the Capitol, I'll be all over the state."

Former Gov. Dave Heineman, who left office in 2015, was the last governor to occupy the mansion, since Gov. Ricketts decided to live in Omaha and commute to Lincoln for work.However, Alex Reuss, a spokeswoman for Gov. Ricketts, stated that he occasionally spends nights in the mansion depending on his schedule.

Pillen and his wife said they plan to do the same, and also plan to hold several events there during his first term. "We recognize how important it is to share the residence with Nebraskans," he said. The mansion, which usually is not completely vacant, hold tours and events, and is sometimes occupied by the governor for meetings. 

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GROUP LED BY STATE SEN. ADAM MORFELD LAUNCHES EFFORT TO FIGHT POLITICAL "EXTREMISM AND MISINFORMATION"

LINCOLN- On Monday, a coalition of lawyers, educators, and advocates launched a campaign to battle what it sees as "extremism and misinformation" against educators, public officials, and members of the LGBTQ community. The group, called the Nebraska Legal Action Fund, is being spearheaded by state Sen. Adam Morfeld, and aims to use "all the legal tools at our disposal to protect Nebraskans and expose extremists, their tactics and misinformation."

Morfeld described the tactics utilized by extremists as "dangerous to our democracy, influence the outcomes of elections, and create a toxic political environment." Morfeld, who recently lost his bid for Lancaster County Attorney, said several teachers coming to him about their stories of misinformation and defamation prompted him to build the coalition.

So far, the group will focus on three key areas: Legal advocacy and financial assistance, combatting misinformation in education, and investigations into groups they view as extremists. 

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COVID AND FLU PATIENTS PUTTING STRAIN ON NEBRASKA HOSPITALS

LINCOLN- Covid 19 and Flu hospitalizations are on the rise once again in Nebraska. For the week ending Dec. 3, an average of 214 Nebraskans were hospitalized with COVID, up from 181 the week before. Those numbers, however, are far below recent winter peaks. In addition, 323 Nebraskans were hospitalized with influenza-like illness, up by 175 from the week before. 

Dr. Jason Kruger, chief medical officer with Lincoln’s St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, said in a call with reporters that his hospital is nearly full, as are most community hospitals across the state. The emergency department has been calling in extra staff to handle the number of patients. The increased volume in the hospital includes more children.

The walk-in or priority care clinics in the Omaha metro area historically have seen about 280 patients a day at this time of year. Now they’re averaging 480 patients a day, most with respiratory symptoms. The rising COVID-19 hospitalizations in Nebraska come despite the fact that overall cases reported in the state are flat. The state recorded 1,997 COVID cases last week, virtually unchanged from both the prior week and the week before that, according to CDC figures. 

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BEN SASSE MAKES IT OFFICIAL, WILL RESIGN FROM U.S. SENATE ON JANUARY 8TH

LINCOLN- U.S. Senator Ben Sasse has officially submitted his letter of resignation indicating his final day will be on January 8th. January 8th will be just three days after governor-elect Jim Pillen takes office, replacing Governor Pete Ricketts. Speculations about who will fill the seat point to Governor Pete Ricketts.

A deadline of December 23rd has been announced for applications for the position. Current Governor Pete Ricketts has announced his intent to seek and apply for the appointment as the state's next U.S. senator. “This decision is the result of many hours of prayer and family discussions,” said Governor Ricketts. 

Even before the ink dried on Sasse’s resignation letter, one candidate threw his hat into the ring — retired Lt. Col. John Weaver of Omaha, an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Congress this year, wrote to Pillen that he would represent conservative values if selected. Applications are also being sought to fill the Nebraska Legislature seat being vacated by State Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln. Hilgers, who represents District 21 on the north side of Lincoln, was elected Nebraska Attorney General.

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BLACK, NATIVE CHILDREN OVER-REPRESENTED IN NEBRASKA CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS

LINCOLN- Last Friday, Senator Terrell McKinney held a legislative study to determine the causes of the outsized number of Black and Native American children in Nebraska's child welfare system. McKinney stated that he believes their disproportionately high involvement in the system contributes to broader problems facing Black and Native American communities. 

"The disproportionality is a driver in low educational outcomes, low health outcomes, involvement in the juvenile justice system," said McKinney during the study, "The child welfare system in Nebraska is horrible." McKinney's study is among recent national efforts to rethink long-standing disparities in child welfare. 

Both Black and Native communities have long and traumatic histories of families being torn apart, and the disparities in child welfare nationally have been present for decades.The study found that, in Nebraska, black children are 3.4 times more likely to be investigated for child abuse or neglect than white ones, and the disparities seen in the state are the third largest in the country.

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RECORD NUMBER OF WOMEN IN THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE AND IN OTHER STATES

LINCOLN- Earlier last month, Nebraska voters elected a record number of women to the Nebraska Legislature, with women holding more than a third of the state's 49 seats. Around 37% of the Legislature is now composed of women, with nine Republicans and nine Democrats serving in the body. 

Three women were added to the Legislature this year, including Republicans Christy Armendariz, Jana Hughes, and Teresa Ibach, and Democrats Jane Raybould and Danielle Conrad. State Sen. Julie Slama said she was very pleased to see "conservative Republican women" running for office and being elected to the Legislature.

Jane Raybould was happy with the change too, stating, "It's incredibly exciting to be serving with all these strong, amazing, smart, savvy women. It's a little bit different perspective that we bring." This new record follows national trends, with around 32% of all state lawmakers being women. 

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