'YEAR OF WATER'- SENATORS SAY WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE FRONT-AND-CENTER IN 2023 SESSION

LINCOLN- In the 2022 legislative session lawmakers appropriated $700 million for water infrastructure projects. Many believe water will be one of the leading issues once again, but this time for a new legislature to weigh in on. “Coming out of the drought we experienced in the state this year, I think 2023 is going to be the year of water and water infrastructure,” said Sen. Anna Wishart.

One of the larger water-related topics will be a second source of water for Lincoln. Senator Bostar led an effort last year to secure a new source, and he has announced he will lead the charge again. “The future of Lincoln’s water isn’t just a city issue, but a state issue,” Bostar said.

Other water infrastructure projects that are expected to come before the Legislature include further development of the Perkins County Canal, which will connect Nebraska to the South Platte River in Colorado. This concept was first sparked in the 2022 legislature and had support from many including Governor Ricketts.

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THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE RETURNED WITHOUT ATTEMPT AT ENDING SECRET BALLOT VOTING ON THE FIRST DAY

LINCOLN- Despite a heated push to change the process that elects leadership within the body, the 108th Nebraska Legislature operated under the same rules as used in the past. Lawmakers were sworn in and elected a new Speaker in Senator John Arch. 

Lawmakers also quickly adopted the usual temporary rules, which will remain in effect until permanent rules are adopted on or before Jan. 20, according to a motion made by Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood. There was no attempt to amend the rules, as some suspected there might be. The body still has an opportunity to change the process, but it would not be enacted until 2025.

The suspicion stems from an ongoing effort to end secret ballot voting to elect legislative leadership, which has for a long time been something some lawmakers have pushed for. The effort gained some momentum earlier last year through the Nebraska First PAC, which was founded by former GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster and set its sights on making the rules change a reality.  

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NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE BREAKING RECORDS FOR DIVERSITY BUT KEY ISSUES ARE NOTHING NEW

LINCOLN- In the past, the Nebraska Legislature had a reputation of being dominated by white males, but that seems to be changing. This year, the new 49-member group will include a record 18 women, two Black, two Latino, and one Asian American, as well as two openly LGBTQ senators, making it the most diverse Legislature in the history of the state. 

State Sen. John Fredrickson, who is joining the Legislature for the first time, called the group's diversity "fantastic." "I think when government represents the diversity of Nebraskans, it serves our state really well," said Fredrickson, "I think this is a huge strength for the Legislature. We have to understand we're all Nebraskans."

However, despite the diversity present this Session, the newness of the legislative makeup contrasts greatly with the long-standing issues that senators are expected to confront this year. Tax cuts, inflation, and state school aid will likely be front and center this year, as they normally are, as well as abortion and concealed carry.

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CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD END UNICAMERAL EXPERIMENT IN NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- Each year, and according to a 1981 state law, January 5th is designated each year as George W. Norris Day in Nebraska. The unique state holiday is set aside "in recognition of the many great benefits bestowed upon the people of the State of Nebraska and the United States as a whole" by Norris. The first of these benefits is the establishment of Nebraska's nonpartisan unicameral legislative body, but a new constitutional amendment, introduced by Sen. Steve Erdman, may end that.

The measure seeks to revert Nebraska to a bicameral legislative body, which according to Erdman, will result in better representation for rural parts of the state. With at least half of the state's population concentrated in Lincoln, Omaha, and surrounding areas, rural areas are often underrepresented in state government.

The plan to end the unicameral body is supported by the Nebraska GOP, which in 2022 indicated that it was seeking to "return to a bicameral legislature whereby the upper house has fewer members but larger territorial areas to include a more diverse set of interests in the legislative process."

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NEBRASKA'S COVID CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS DROP

LINCOLN- Last week, Covid-19 cases dropped after running high through December. The state recorded around 1,738 cases during the week of December 28th, a significant drop from the 3,982 cases identified the week before. This is the first time cases had been below 1,800 since early November.

Cases have been generally trending upward since late October, but weekly counts have been up and down in recent weeks. Despite the drop, Covid-19 cases are widely considered to be underreported in Nebraska and around the country since many people are not testing or using at-home tests. 

Nationally, cases have also been trending downwards last week, with Nebraska standing at the top of the lower third of states in terms of case rates. A new variant of Covid-19, XBB.1.5, has been identified by the CDC, but has had little effect in the four-state region of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri.

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NEBRASKA'S BEN SASSE LOOKING FORWARD TO SHAPING 'FUTURE OF WORK' AT FLORIDA

LINCOLN- Sen. Ben Sasse, when running for office in 2013, told voters that he did not plan on becoming a 'Senate lifer,' but also did not expect to leave so soon. According to Sasse, the job he was offered at the University of Florida will allow him to steer the institution and its young students through the major disruptions to jobs coming from artificial intelligence and other related technologies. 

Besides the great offer he received, Sasse also seeks to spend more time with his family and be closer to home, especially after his wife suffered a severe brain aneurysm 16 years ago. "When these seizures happen now, it critically creates a few days of real turmoil to navigate," said the outgoing Senator, "Being able to consolidate--that the family will mostly be around the same dinner table most nights--it's an important variable that we considered as well."

With Sen. Sasse leaving in just a few days, Governor Pillen is expected to select a replacement almost immediately. Sasse stated that he hopes his successor will be able to "look past the Washington, D.C., show," and not get caught up in how their actions "look on cable." "I think the people doing this job well are the people who are trying to think 10 and 15 years in the future about what the country needs," said Sasse, "It turns out, Nebraskans seem pretty satisfied with taking a longer-term perspective, and they don't really want to respond to short term."

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UNMC SCHOLARSHIP INTENDED TO DRAW NURSING STUDENTS FROM SURRONDING STATES

OMAHA- In an effort to draw in students from surrounding states, UNMC has announced a scholarship program that will feed its Scottsbluff, Kearney, and Norfolk campuses. The "Nebraska Neighbors: UNMC Nursing Rural Advantage Scholarship" is available to students pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing degree in UNMC's traditional or accelerated program. 

The scholarship targets the surrounding states of Nebraska. The states are split up into categories that feed into a specific branch. Students from Wyoming, Colorado and South Dakota can apply for the scholarship at the Scottsbluff campus; those from South Dakota and Kansas can apply for it at the Norfolk campus; and Kansas and Colorado students can seek it at the Kearney campus. 

The states mentioned have historically shown interest in the program, and the locations mentioned have availability to take in students. The scholarships are designed to make it easier for students from those neighboring states to study at one of the rural campuses, said Juliann Sebastian, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing. They will reduce the net cost of out-of-state tuition to at or near resident tuition rates. 

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NEBRASKA'S FLOOD SAYS MESSY FIGHT OVER SPEAKER IN CONGRESS HAS PRODUCED SOME GOOD

WASHINGTON, D.C.- As the messy and convoluted fight for a Speaker of the House continues, Rep. Mike Flood says that Republicans need to keep fighting until Rep. Kevin McCarthy wins. "I think it's time for us to pick a Speaker, and that should be Kevin McCarthy, said Flood, "It's time to govern." Flood went on to state that it's frustrating to see Congress held up by just a select few. 

Flood also stated that the GOP caucus has little choice but to keep pushing for McCarthy's election, since giving in would "set a bad precedent" and make it more difficult for the House Republican majority to function over the next two years. "This isn't about tonight or tomorrow," he said, "This is about the next two years. If 90% of the caucus has to give in to 10%, it's going to be like this for the next two years. You have to draw the line."

All three Nebraska Congressmen have voted each time for McCarthy, but Rep. Don Bacon expressed interest in working with moderate Democrats to elect a more moderate GOP speaker, if the handful of Republican "cowboys," or those Republicans holding up the Speaker vote, refuse to give in. Flood disagreed with this sentiment, saying, "I don't think we should share power with Democrats. The people of this country made a choice in November..."

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PILLEN NAMES INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

LINCOLN- Gov.Jim Pillen, who assumed the governorship this Thursday, has named an interim director for the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Moe Jamshidi, who has served in the Transportation Department as deputy director, will replace John Selmer, who plans to retire next Wednesday. 

John Selmer has held the directorship since 2021, and previously served as director of the strategic performance division of the Iowa Department of Transportation for 31 years.

Jamshidi has worked for Nebraska's Department of Transportation for nearly 40 years, and even served as interim director in 2015.

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NEBRASKA GOVERNOR RICKETTS LEAVING 'BEST JOB IN THE WORLD' WITH RECORD OF TAX CUTS, SPENDING RESTRAINT

LINCOLN- Former Gov. Pete Ricketts closed out his governorship this Thursday, calling his old job the "honor and privilege of a lifetime" and the "best job in the world." Ricketts is exiting his position with his eye on another, the soon-to-be-vacated Senate seat left by Ben Sasse, which the former Governor applied for in December.

"I want to continue to look for ways to be able to serve the people of Nebraska," said the former Governor, "and I believe that my experience as governor for the last eight years makes me the best candidate to be the next U.S. Senator." Ricketts went on to list several of his greatest accomplishments, including improving how Nebraska's government is run, updating tax relief, and leading us through the pandemic and widespread flooding. 

"I believe that is a strong case for why I should be the next U.S. Senator," he finished. Sen. Ben Sasse's resignation will take effect on January 8th, and many expect Governor Pillen to appoint Ricketts. State Sen. Tom Briese, in a goodbye statement to outgoing-Governor Ricketts, said, "His legacy is one he can be proud of in the arena of fiscal restraint and tax reform."

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BREAKING: LEGISLATURE ELECTS NEW SPEAKER, CHAIRS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

LINCOLN- Today, new and returning Nebraska senators voted to elect the leaders of the 14 standing committees of the 108th 1st session Legislature. Listed below are the committee names, as well as those senators elected to serve as the chair for the biennium.

Speaker of the Legislature

Speaker John Arch

Agriculture

Senator Steve Halloran

Appropriations

Senator Rob Clements

Banking, Commerce and Insurance

Senator Julie Slama

Business and Labor

Senator Merv Riepe

Committee on Committees

Senator Joni Albrecht

Education

Senator Dave Murman

Executive Board

Senator Tom Briese

General Affairs

Senator John Lowe

Government, Military and Veterans Affairs

Senator Tom Brewer

Health and Human Services

Senator Ben Hansen

Judiciary

Senator Justin Wayne

Natural Resources

Senator Bruce Bostelman

Nebraska Retirement Systems

Senator Mike McDonnell

Revenue

Senator Lou Ann Linehan

Transportation and Telecommunications

Senator Suzanne Geist

Urban Affairs

Senator Terrell McKinney

*Members of each of the above committees will be decided by the Committee on Committees. We will send another breaking news when those assignments are available.

LAWMAKERS SEE CHANCE TO REVIVE FAILED EFFORTS AT REFORMING CRIMINAL JUSTICE, PRISONS

LINCOLN - A year after a data-driven effort to relieve Nebraska’s prison overcrowding crashed and burned, some lawmakers are hopeful of resurrecting criminal justice reform in the 2023 Nebraska Legislature.

State Sen. Justin Wayne, an Omaha attorney who appears in line to become the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which deals with criminal justice issues, has already had some initial talks with senators on both sides of last spring’s debate in hopes of finding the common ground that eluded them then.

And the problem certainly hasn’t gone away. With some 44% more prisoners than it’s designed to hold, Nebraska’s prison system has not only been the most overcrowded in the country, but also the nation’s fastest-growing.

Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln, who led opposition in the Legislature to criminal penalty changes during the 2022 session, has said she still believes the two sides can reach some kind of agreement going forward.She said one of the flaws of the 2022 bill was that the programs intended to create alternatives to prison were not well-developed.

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DOUG PETERSON RELFECTS ON TWO-TERM TENURE AS NEBRASKA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL

LINCOLN- Doug Peterson, Nebraska's 63-year-old Attorney General, has had an eventful eight years serving the state, and has brought in nearly $200 million in settlements, convicted high-profile murders, and worked to stop human traffickers. Peterson stated that he will leave the office just as he came: as an attorney and just an attorney.

"Prior AGs had often run for political office or said they were running for other political offices. I wanted to bring back the Bob Spire model of being a lawyer first," said Peterson. Peterson worked for Bob Spire, who was Nebraska's AG from 1985-1991. "So when I had to evaluate whether we made decisions or not," continued Peterson, "it wasn't even a matter oh would this play out politically."

Peterson went on to outline some of the most important issues he was able to tackle while Nebraska's AG, including the trafficking of children, clergy sexual abuse in the state, and consumer lawsuits that netted the state $200 million over the past eight years. 

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FULTON TO RETURN TO PRIVATE SECTOR AFTER SEVEN YEARS AS STATE TAX COMMISSIONER

LINCOLN- After seven years in the state tax commissioner role, Tony Fulton has announced his return to the private sector. Fulton announced his last day will be December 30th. Fulton is a former state senator from Lincoln before taking the up the role of state tax commissioner in 2016.

Governor Ricketts, also in his final days in office,  thanked Fulton for being a “wonderful teammate” and delivering “excellent” service as the state as tax commissioner and head of the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Ricketts added. "I am grateful for his service to the state and wish him well as he returns to the private sector." 

Fulton previously ran a small Nebraska-based business before entering the political realm. With Fulton exiting, Deputy Tax Commissioner Glen White will presume the role of the interim tax commissioner. Glen White has been in the deputy role since 2017 and has worked closely with Fulton over the past 6 years.

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GOVERNOR-ELECT JIM PILLEN: TAXES, SCHOOL, FINANCE TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY LIST

LINCOLN- Gov.-elect Jim Pillen has highlighted his top priorities for his first legislative session that begins a day before the takes office on January 4th. Gov.-elect Pillen has listed a number of priorities that he looks to check of the list over the coming months. 

Pillen first noted that school funding reform is a main priority and talks have already been underway. He noted that the second piece of that equation is property tax reform. Pillen said, "We can focus on the high value to make sure we provide the value of the services in a better way to Nebraska." In the big picture, Pillen said he wants to focus on making sure the state provides equalization aid to every student. 

On the topic of taxes and spending, Pillen said, "The key for us to cut property tax and cut income tax is to make sure we don’t spend more money." Pillen believes there are ways to improve Nebraska and its services without forcing people to sell their farm. Pillen did note that spending will need to occur in areas like mental health and caregiving as they are developing issues.

On the topic of prisons, Pillen said he is going to be aggressive in the legislature. He said that the body must appropriate money for a new prison, and doing so is key in the search for the new Director of Correctional Services. For the location of the prison, Pillen said it needs to be near people and near areas that can properly staff it.

On the topic of abortion, Pillen said the thinking process is still underway, but the plan needs to save as many lives as possible. Pillen said he is pro-life and that has not changed since day one. He said he will work very hard to find the 33 votes needed in the legislature. 

Pillen spoke on a number of additional topics such as higher education, the environment, immigration, and affordable housing. 

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NEBRASKA'S GOVERNOR MANSION MAY BE USED AFTER ALL

LINCOLN- Gov.-elect Pillen announced that he is going to use the governor's mansion more than he originally said. Pillen clarified his previous comments about his living arrangements, saying he plans to spend much of the work week at the mansion when the Legislature is in session. He said he will spend weekends at home but will be in Lincoln overnight regularly. 

There will be exceptions, he said. He may spend some weeknights at home when he finishes a travel day closer to Columbus, for example, or when his family gets together. During his first legislative session, which starts Jan. 4, Pillen expects to spend weeknights at the mansion alone while his wife, Suzanne, stays in Columbus with their youngest child, Izic, a high school senior.

After Izic graduates, First Lady Suzanne Pillen will spend more time in Lincoln, Pillen said. “Next year, you know, she’ll be with me three, four nights a week during session,” he said. “We’re … going to be there. But we’re still keeping home, too.” Governor Ricketts faced backlash for his lack of use of the mansion that has not been occupied since Governor Heineman. 

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NEBRASKA WORKERS LOOKING FORWARD TO MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE STARTING JANUARY 1

LINCOLN- On Jan. 1, the state’s minimum wage will rise from $9 per hour to $10.50 per hour. It’s the first increase in a series of gradual raises that will take the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026 in line with a ballot initiative that passed in November. Initiative 443 passed in November with 58.6% approval.

The state’s minimum wage will shift to $12 an hour in 2024, then $13.50 an hour in 2025 before reaching $15 an hour in 2026. A report from the National Employment Law Project said more than 147,000 Nebraska workers make under $15 an hour. For employees who regularly work 40 hours a week, the $1.50 difference will add more than $3,000 to their annual income every year.

Opponents of Initiative 433 largely argued that raising the minimum wage would hurt small businesses, and lead to rising costs amid record-breaking inflation. Though supporters, including several small-business owners, have argued that raising wages is key to offsetting the effects of inflation.

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NEBRASKA COVID CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS TICK UP

LINCOLN- After dipping last week, Nebraska Covid cases are on the rise as the numbers continue to fluctuate from week to week. The state recorded 3,892 cases for the week ending Dec. 21, up 42% from the 2,739 reported the previous week, according to data from the federal CDC. 

Case counts are widely considered to be underreported, with many people either not testing or using at-home tests that aren’t reported to health departments. Experts are awaiting the numbers from holiday gatherings and travel that will likely add to those case counts. Dr. James Lawler, a co-executive director with the UNMC Global Center for Health Security, noted last week that test positivity rates nationwide had increased 60% and hospitalizations 55% since mid-October.

 In Nebraska, an average of 261 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 last week, up from 255 the week before. That’s the highest level since March, when the state was coming down from last winter’s omicron peak. Cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, still were high but continued to slowly trend downward last week after hitting a peak in early November. 

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GRAND ISLAND TEMPORARY CASINO OPEN FOR BUSINESS

GRAND ISLAND- The temporary casino in Grand Island is open and alive in Fonner Park. Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak said he was most excited about how the casino could affect the Grand Island area and thoroughbred horse racing at Fonner Park. Kotulak said he thinks the casino will elevate all parts of the community, and employ many in and outside the county lines. 

The temporary casino, which includes 300 slot machines, already has more than 100 employees. Table games are anticipated to be added in June, said Vince Fiala, general manager of the casino resort. Dealers are currently being trained. 

Construction of the permanent casino is slated to begin Fall 2023. It is touted to feature a 24-hour Vegas-inspired casino experience, which will include sports wagering. A 116-room hotel, first-class spa and multiple dining options will also be part of the completed facility. Grand Island Casino and Resort is under the umbrellas of Iowa-based Elite Casino Resorts. 

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RICKETTS LOOKS BACK AT LAST YEARS, EXPRESSES OPTIMISM ABOUT BRIDGING POLITICAL DIVIDE, SAYS HE RAN GOVERNMENT LIKE A BUSINESS

LINCOLN- As he approaches his final days as Nebraska's governor, Pete Ricketts expressed optimism that the United States will begin to bridge its political divide. "This is not the first time in history where we've had political contention--think about the 1960s," said the Governor, "We just have to hold on."

When asked about his fitness for the U.S. Senate, Ricketts said, "If you look at our record here over the last eight years, we've done some fantastic things. And I would put that record up against anyone else who wants to be the next U.S. Senator." Gov. Ricketts sidestepped a question about whether he'd be worried that some people might not see his potential appointment as legitimate after he gave $1.4 million to Pillen's campaign.

Ricketts instead responded by saying, "I supported Jim Pillen because he was the best candidate to be the next governor of Nebraska. He's a business man, he's created over 1,000 jobs and I believe he's going to take what we've done to the next level." Gov. Ricketts went on to state that "supporting candidates is a matter of free speech. Can you have too much free speech?"

Ricketts, who will be leaving the Nebraska governorship after serving for eight years, has faced several new and pressing challenges that were yet unseen in the state, including a deadly pandemic and record flooding. Ricketts also helped enact historic and major tax cuts, and said that he is most proud of his efforts to improve state government services to Nebraskans. 

Prior to being elected Governor, Ricketts worked as the Chief Operating Officer at Ameritrade, the financial giant built by his father, Joe Ricketts, where he learned to "run government like a business." The tax cuts Gov. Ricketts helped enact will be felt for years to come, and by 2027, will amount to around $12.7 billion in reductions. 

Gov. Ricketts was also proud of the fact that his office "kept spending low," resulting in a 2.8% state budget growth that will help fund additional tax relief next year. However, despite his successes, Gov. Ricketts acknowledged that there are still problems to be fixed, saying, "There's work yet to be done on the Perkins Canal and replacement of the Nebraska Penitentiary. I was against building a new penitentiary at the beginning, but you learn on the job." 

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