PILLEN TWEET ON NEBRASKA'S TOP ACT SCORERS REIGNITES BRAIN DRAIN DEBATE, DRAWS CRITICISM

LINCOLN- In a Twitter post meant to highlight the 31 Nebraska high schoolers who achieved a perfect score on the ACT test this year, Gov. Jim Pillen reignited a debate surrounding the flight of Nebraska's top students, as well as prompted criticism for acknowledging that Nebraska's "best and brightest" students are headed elsewhere for higher education. In the post, Pillen also implored the students "to return and utilize your talents here" after college.

Pillen's office also drew heat after it turned off the ability for the public to reply to the post, limiting debate on the "brain drain" issue that was reignited by the post and that has plagued Nebraska for over a decade. Some, utilizing the "quote tweet" function to reply to the post, argued that a political figure such as Pillen turning off direct replies on a post was censorship and infringed upon citizens' First Amendment rights. Despite this, Rose Godinez, legal director of the ACLU of Nebraska, said such a move sits in a "legal gray area."

"It doesn't promote transparency or accessibility to the top public official in the state," said Godinez, "They should be allowing comments and they should be welcoming the chance to hear from Nebraskans in this digital public square, essentially." According to Laura Strimple, a spokeswoman for the governor, a recent staffing change and a level of miscommunication prompted the replies to be shut off. After being questioned by several sources, the ability to reply to the post was restored, and the renewed attention to the issue of brain drain in Nebraska persisted.

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STATE OFFICIALS REACT TO U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING ON STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS

LINCOLN- On Friday, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to wipe out President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan, calling it "a great day for our country" and claiming that the decision helped keep the nation's balance of power in check. "Today, the Supreme Court stopped a very significant attempted, really breathtaking power grab from the Biden administration and its attempt to cancel without Congressional authorization, almost $500 million of student loans," said Hilgers.

Hilgers, who introduced Biden v. Nebraska, the case that decided the fate of student loan forgiveness, was pivotal in the endeavor to stop President Biden from exercising presidential authority to cancel the debt. In a 6-3 decision, the Court ruled in Biden v. Nebraska that the Biden administration had overstepped its authority in seeking almost $400 million in student loans. Hilgers went on to state that believed this was the right call, claiming that Americans without college degrees and student loans would have to foot the bill.

Nebraska was one of six states involved in the case. Nebraska Solicitor General James Campbell testified in front of Court in February, claiming that the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, a state-created company that services student loans, would lose around 40% of its revenue if the Biden plan went into effect. Hilgers, in March, also gave testimony to the Court.

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NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CEO RESIGNS

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, Gov. Jim Pillen announced the resignation of Department of Health and Human Services CEO Dannette Smith. Appointed previously to the position by former Gov. Pete Ricketts, Smith plans on pursuing a career in a national, privately-owned firm that offers support to health and human services agencies across the U.S.

Smith's final day as CEO of DHHS is set for August 4th. In a press release, Gov. Pillen praised Smith for the work she's done thus far, saying, "CEO Smith has provided leadership to DHHS throughout the start of my administration. I am grateful for her public service and dedication to improving the lives of Nebraskans."

Smith has over 25 years of executive leadership experience, oversaw a staff of over 5,000 employees, and managed an average budget of $6.3 billion annually. while at DHHS. "I look forward to taking the energy and the spirit of my fellow Nebraskans with me as I take on the new challenges in my next chapter," said Smith. According to Gov. Pillen's press release, a new interim director of DHHS will be announced soon, with a national search for a new CEO already underway.

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PETITION TO REPEAL NEBRASKA TAX CREDITS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS RAISES OVER $1.1 MILLION

LINCOLN- Having already received an enormous $800,000 contribution from a national donor, organizers behind a petition to repeal the recently-passed Opportunity Scholarships Act, which provides tax credits for donations to private or parochial school scholarship funds, announced that they have raised over $1.1 million total over the past month. Support Our Schools Nebraska, the organization leading the endeavor to repeal the new law, must gather 60,000 authorized signatures from around the state within 90 days of the end of this year's legislative session.

According to the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, only around $400,000 has been spent by the organization. The large donation of $800,000 came from the National Education Association, the largest labor union in the U.S., which represents public school employees. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who introduced the Opportunity Scholarships Act, criticized the substantial contribution, stating that national groups shouldn't be concerned with local issues like scholarship tax credits, and adding that the National Education Association supported school closures amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Linehan-backed oppositional campaign, Keep Kids First, is urging Nebraskans to refuse to sign the petition to place the issue on the ballot. According to the Accountability and Disclosure Commission, Keep Kids First is almost entirely backed by the American Federation for Children, a national group, which contributed $494,000 of Keep Kids First's $504,000 spending fund. Thus far, 250 signing events have been organized and held all over the state by Support Our Schools Nebraska. According to Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, Support Our Schools Nebraska has made "great progress" towards its goal of 90,000 signatures, 30,000 more than is required by the Secretary of State's Office.

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GOTHENBURG'S CAN-DO ATTITUDE HELPS IT LAND $750M FERTILIZER PLANT, OFFICIAL SAYS

GOTHENBURG- Every bag of Frito-Lay corn chips sold west of the Mississippi River is made with corn grown in the Gothenburg area and processed at the town’s Frito-Lay plant. This is due to farmers learning how to grow food grade corn more than 20 years ago. Nate Wyatt, president of his community’s economic development organization, Gothenburg Improvement Co., recalled the Frito-Lay story last week to illustrate the collaborative, visionary risk-taking attitude that underpins Gothenburg’s capacity to attract big business.

Wyatt, a financial adviser at Flatwater Bank, said Gothenburg was in the groove last week when JWC Gburg LLC announced plans to build a $750 million plant to produce liquid fertilizer in Gothenburg. Wyatt said it’s tough to put a number like $750 million into perspective, but the investment by JWC Gburg LLC is just below the $900 million tax base of the Gothenburg Public Schools.

The liquid fertilizer plant will boost Gothenburg’s rank to the top three electrical consumers among Nebraska Public Power District’s heavyweight industrial customers. Delivering all that energy will require infrastructure improvements of nearly $100 million, NPPD President and CEO Tom Kent told a standing-room-only crowd at last week’s announcement. The plant is projected to be done within two years and will serve markets from Kansas to Colorado.

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CREIGHTON ECONOMIC INDEX: NEBRASKA BUSINESS GROWTH FORECAST TURNS NEGATIVE

OMAHA- After five consecutive months of showing growth, Nebraska’s business conditions index has taken a turn for the worse, according to Creighton University’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index. Meanwhile, the June index for the broader nine-state area that includes Nebraska shows the regional economy as growing, albeit at a slower pace. Besides Nebraska, participating states include Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Arkansas.

Since 1994, the group has conducted a monthly survey of manufacturing and supply managers to gauge economic conditions and headwinds. For each state and also for the overall region, the survey looks at components such as employment, prices, confidence level, inventory and trade — and produces a score. Anything above a reading of 50 signals growth.

Nebraska’s collective reading for June declined to 46, compared to 51 a month earlier. Only one individual component — delivery lead time — reached an above-growth score. Nebraska’s score for employment was 40. Goss said that Nebraska’s downturn likely is attributable to factors including recent drought conditions and food processing exports.

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TWO NEBRASKA GOLF COURSES HAVE HIGH NATIONAL RANKINGS

LINCOLN- Nebraska has recently added two new golf courses, both of which have high marks nationally. Which course is better changes depending on different ratings systems and critics. Landmand, the public-access course north of Homer that opened last August, debuts at No. 26 on GolfWeek’s list of the best 200 courses built since 1960. It enters at No. 14 on the magazine’s best courses open to the public. It’s also Golf Digest’s Best New Public Course for 2022.

CapRock Ranch, the private-club course southwest of Valentine, was Golf Digest’s Best New Course for 2021 and ranks No. 2 in the state behind Sand Hills Golf Club on best-in-state rankings by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine. Landmand is behind CapRock Ranch in the Golf Digest and Golf Magazine lists — but is on the GolfWeek Modern list and CapRock Ranch is not.

On Golf Digest’s America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses list, Nebraska has two courses, Sand Hills and Dismal River Red. Sand Hills rose from 10th to eighth from the previous compilation. Dismal River Red dropped from 154th to 185th. Ballyneal was 36th. Landmand has been fully booked for the season for public play since April. It will begin taking tee times for 2024 this winter.

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CONSERVATIVE PAC MOVES TO DISMISS DEFAMATION LAWSUIT FILED BY STATE SEN. MEGAN HUNT

LINCOLN- On Thursday, the Nebraska Freedom Coalition, a large Republican political action committee recently accused of defaming Sen. Megan Hunt, announced that it had filed a motion seeking to dismiss what it called a "frivolous lawsuit." The lawsuit was filed last month by the Nebraska Legal Action Fund on behalf of Hunt, and asserted that the Coalition had defamed Hunt by publicly accusing her of sexually grooming and abusing her own child. 

In its seven-page motion to dismiss the lawsuit, the Nebraska Freedom Coalition said that Hunt was a public figure "and the context was one of legislative debate," adding that the senator's statements are "a matter of public concern which pertain to a political matter." In a press release published shortly after the dismissal was filed, the Coalition claimed that Hunt's lawsuit was "an attempt to intimidate conservatives who refuse to accept the misinformation of liberal progressives and Cultural Marxism."

The statement finished by reminding the public of the looming debate on LB575, which would define K-12 school bathrooms, sporting teams, and locker rooms as either male or female according to a student's sex assigned at birth. The comments from the Coalition that sparked Hunt's initial lawsuit came shortly after Hunt gave a personal testimony during legislative debate on a measure that would ban gender-affirming care for minors, saying that it would directly impact her family. Hunt claimed that, after the "groomer" comments were made, the PAC "leaned into its lies after a retraction demand, reiterated its lies, and then expressly stated that the coalition intended to accuse Hunt of a serious crime." 

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AFTER 10 EVENTFUL YEARS, BOHAC TO TURN OVER REINS OF NEBRASKA NATIONAL GUARD

LINCOLN- Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, who has spent the last 10 years as adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard, and the past 45 years as a military man, is set to hand over the reins of leadership this Saturday in a traditional change-of-command ceremony at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Over the years, Bohac has experienced his share of intense moments, but nothing tops the 2019 floods in western Nebraska, which were managed by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, an offshoot of the Nebraska National Guard that was also led by Bohac.

"To know the water's coming...there's nothing you can do to stop it," said Bohac, reflecting on the intense flooding, "Every night, for about five nights, I was worried we didn't get to somebody we could have saved." On Saturday, Bohac will turn over command to Brig. Gen. Craig Strong, a 35-year career soldier who served two tours in Iraq and led National Guard relief efforts in the Virgin Islands after they were hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

The change-of-command ceremony will include a flag-furling ceremony for Bohac, a promotion ceremony for Strong to the rank of major general, and the first-ever presentation of Gov. Pillen's newly-created Nebraska National Guard Heroism Medal, which will be awarded to one of Nebraska's Army National Guard Sergeants for "exceptional heroism while responding to a major accident and rendering roadside aid."

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NEBRASKA AG LAND VALUES AT RECORD HIGH, INCREASING 14% DURING THE PAST YEAR

LINCOLN- For the fourth consecutive year in a row, Nebraska farmland prices grew according to a University of Nebraska Report, with this year's average growth hovering around 14%. The report, formally titled the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Highlights Report, indicated that the average price for one acre of land, as of February 1st of this year, was $3,835, up from last year's $3,360.

High crop prices, farm expansion and improvement, and non-farmer investment interests were cited as major factors for the significant price increase, according to the Center for Agriculture Profitability at NU. High interest rates are also believed to have pushed farmers and investors to purchase land as a hedge against high inflation, believes Jim Jansen, one of the report's co-authors. "Land acts as a hedge against inflation by increasing in price as the impact of rising prices takes hold across the economy," said Jansen in the report.

Although the average price-per-acre came out to around $3,800, the highest-priced farmland in Nebraska averaged around $8,000 per acre, usually for land that contained gravity- and center-pivoted irrigation systems. Austin Harthoorn, an economist with the Nebraska Farm Bureau, said that higher farmland prices typically mean higher property tax bills for farmers. "However, the economy has been so strong the last few years, farmers are in a very good place to handle that," continued Harthoorn, "It's a very profitable time to be in agriculture."

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SEN. VARGAS RECAPS THIS YEAR'S HIGHS AND LOWS, LOOKS AHEAD TO 'LAST HURRAH' IN LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- During a town hall this week, State Sen. Tony Vargas voices his disappointment on the amount of time during the 2023 legislative session spent on "fighting on defense." The South Omaha lawmaker said that measures aimed at transgender youths and abortion restrictions, for example, consumed time and also led to a kind of division among colleagues that he hadn’t witnessed before.

With all the bad still came good said Vargas. Among them was passage of legislation he pushed to help new mothers, food truck entrepreneurs and future economic development projects in South and North Omaha. And despite gubernatorial vetoes on such efforts as the Vargas-backed middle-income housing funds, he said he expects redemption next year — in his eighth and last session before he’s term-limited out of the Legislature.

Vargas said he hopes fellow lawmakers will take more time to recognize the consequences of passing certain laws. When asked whether he plans another run for Congress, Vargas said he had no comment. Most certainly, Vargas said, he will continue in the next legislative session to push for funding that helps create housing that’s financially accessible to the state’s workforce.

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CLUSTER OF TECH COMPANIES EYE NEBRASKA SITES FOR POTENTIAL SEMICONDUCTOR PROJECT

LINCOLN- A new industry that would bring thousands of jobs to Nebraska is possible as multiple high-tech manufacturers are eying the state for a potential project. With billions in federal aid up for grabs, the semiconductor industry has renewed resources to expand in the United States. And with recently passed state legislation, Nebraska is beckoning manufacturers to the Cornhusker State.

A group of semiconductor companies is considering sites in Fremont and the Omaha area for a project called Silicon Heartland, which would develop a “technology cluster” of manufacturers that project leaders say would benefit from working with one another. Semiconductors, sometimes referred to as microchips, are important pieces of tech that serve as a foundation for computers and other electronic devices.

Congress last year passed a $280 billion package to boost the semiconductor industry and scientific research in a bid to create more high-tech jobs in the United States and help it better compete with international rivals, namely China. An estimated 1,500-3,000 jobs could be brought to the state if the companies come to the state.

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PILLEN CREATES NEW HEROISM MEDAL FOR MILITARY, NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS

LINCOLN- Through an executive order on Monday, Gov. Jim Pillen created a new awardable medal that recognizes acts of heroism by Nebraskans serving in the military or National Guard. The medal, formally titled the Nebraska National Guard Heroism Medal, can be awarded to anyone "serving with or supporting the Nebraska Military Department who has distinguished himself or herself by heroism in saving the life, limb, or eyesight of a fellow citizen," according to Monday's press release.

"Many acts of heroism are recognized by our military during periods of active service, for instance, times of war or military engagement where the recipient's own life was at risk," wrote Pillen in the press release, "This award also acknowledges extraordinary acts; those that occur in everyday life and are equally deserving of recognition."

The press release did not specify when the first medals will be awarded, or what they will look like. Similar medals were given out over the course of former Governor Pete Ricketts' service, including one awarded to an Omaha man last year who saved the lives of a woman and her daughter after a fiery, three-car collision.

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NEBRASKA MEDICINE, UNK CELEBRATE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW KEARNEY CANCER CENTER

KEARNEY- The next addition to the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus will bring expanded cancer care services to the central Nebraska region. Officials from UNK and Nebraska Medicine were joined by other local leaders Tuesday during a reception celebrating construction of the Nebraska Medicine Kearney Cancer Center. The cancer center is the sixth project at University Village, with those investments totaling nearly $130 million.

Expected to open next year at UNK’s University Village development, the new center is an expansion of the partnership between Nebraska Medicine and Heartland Hematology and Oncology that began in December 2021. The $33 million facility will offer a range of cancer services, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, infusion, laboratory and pharmacy services, survivorship programs, genetics counseling and a healing garden.

“This new state-of-the-art facility brings the nationally recognized cancer care Nebraska Medicine is known for to Kearney,” said Dr. Michael Ash, executive vice president-chief operating officer for Nebraska Medicine. “Patients in central Nebraska will now have added convenience and seamless access to that extraordinary care, right in their own community.”

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GOV. JIM PILLEN TOUTS 'SUSTAINABLE' FERTILIZER FACTORY HEADED TO GOTHENBURG

GOTHENBURG- On Wednesday, Gov. Jim Pillen, speaking to a crowd of around 300 people, celebrated the recent announcement of "Project Meadowlark," a planned $750 million factory set to be built in Gothenburg that would use electricity instead of natural gas to make "eco-friendlier" fertilizer. Local economic leaders in Gothenburg also spoke at the event, calling the factory one of the largest investments ever seen in central Nebraska.

"It's a big deal, and it's going to help a wide swath of Nebraska producers," Pillen told the crowd, "Everything we can do to decrease our costs and reduce the use of a gallon of diesel fuel or fossil fuels is good for the planet, and good for business." The new factory is set to be built by JWC Gburg LLC, and will, according to Gothenburg Mayor Will Rahjes, bring immense workforce growth to the town and allow the community to build more workforce housing.

Workforce housing, especially in rural areas, was a key part of this year's budget, with Sen. Teresa Ibach's LB249 being adopted into the mainline budget bill. LB249 would have provided funding for rural workforce housing initiatives, but Gov. Pillen line-item vetoed around $40 million set to be allocated towards these projects. Despite this, Ibach, who lives near Gothenburg in Sumner, stated that she plans to introduce a similar bill to LB249 next year, saying she understands why Pillen had to remove her portion from this year's budget bill.

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LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST NEBRASKA FREEDOM COALITION FOR DEFAMATION OF SEN. MEGAN HUNT

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, the Nebraska Legal Action Fund, a group of volunteer attorneys led by former state Sen. Adam Morfeld, announced that it would be filing, on behalf of Sen. Megan Hunt, a defamation lawsuit against the Nebraska Freedom Coalition, a local political action committee. The lawsuit names Patrick Peterson, Robert Anthony, and Malia Shirley, all members of the organization, specifically, as well as the PAC itself.

The lawsuit alleges that the Nebraska Freedom Coalition defamed Sen. Hunt when they accused her of abusing and grooming her child during the most recent, tumultuous legislative session. According to the Legal Action Fund, these allegations resulted in Hunt receiving death threats, a kidnapping threat, and hundreds of derogatory tweets, phone calls, and emails targeting her and her family. In a statement released Wednesday, the Legal Action Fund stated that it "will use all the legal tools at [their] disposal to protect Nebraskans and expose extremists, their tactics, their supporters, and misinformation."

The claims that Hunt had sexually groomed her child came just hours after a long and contentious debate on LB574, a now-passed bill that banned gender-affirming care for minors in Nebraska. In her own statement, Sen. Hunt said that she is, through this lawsuit, "taking a stand against those who wish to defame, intimidate, and harass parents, educators, healthcare professionals, and advocates who stand up for our children and Nebraskans in the fight for equality across the state."

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U.S. SEN. DEB FISCHER, TOUTING SENATORIAL RECORD, ANNOUNCES 2024 REELECTION BID

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, at a campaign event held at the Nebraska State Capitol, announced her intention to run for a third term in the Senate. Surrounded by Gov. Jim Pillen, former Govs. Kay Orr and Dave Heineman, and U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, Fischer highlighted her career in the Senate, focusing specifically on her work in attaining funding for a new runway at Offutt Air Force Base, as well as new levees to protect the base from flood waters.

Fischer also pointed to her past work in helping public and private partners build a VA health clinic in Omaha. The senator then stated that she believed she knows Nebraskans, "who we are and what we stand for," and touted her voting record, which, according to Glen Beck, a popular right-wing broadcaster, was more conservative than Missouri Senator Josh Hawley's.

"I'm proud of my record," said Fischer, "There's no question I'm a conservative. But I also get the job done for Nebraska and take care of our people." Fischer was first elected to serve in the Senate in 2012, and was re-elected again in 2018. Thus far, no challengers have stepped up to challenge the incumbent senator, but the Nebraska Democratic Party has said it's attempting to actively recruit one.

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PILLEN NAMES NEBRASKA'S FIRST BROADBAND DIRECTOR

LINCOLN- Patrick Haggerty was announced by Gov. Pillen as the state's first director of the Nebraska Broadband Office. Pillen called for the office in an executive order during his first days as governor and was solidified through the passage of LB683 this year. Haggerty will assume the role of director on July 17, and will join Pillen’s Cabinet. The new state office is devoted to expanding broadband services across Nebraska.

“Patrick’s many years of executive level experience in the telecommunications and government relations fields uniquely positions him to lead our efforts to bring reliable and affordable high-speed internet to all Nebraskans,” Pillen said in a press release. Haggerty most recently served as the regional senior director for state government affairs over Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota for telecommunications company Charter Communications.

The Broadband Office is tasked with overseeing millions of federal dollars for the purposes of expanding broadband services, including $405.3 million from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program that federal officials recently announced was coming to Nebraska. The state had received nearly $100 million prior to the announcement.

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NEBRASKA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION APPROVES $61 MILLION IN BROADBAND GRANTS

LINCOLN- This week, the Nebraska Public Service Commission approved more than $61 million for 65 grants for broadband internet projects. The money comes from the 2023 Capital Projects Fund Grant Program, which had received 130 applications for broadband buildout funding. All projects that receive grant awards are required to be completed by December 27, 2024, unless the PSC grants an extension.

“The Capital Projects Fund is another opportunity for qualified applicants to bring broadband to Nebraskans most in need of these services,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier in the news release. The grants are awarded by the PSC in the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts. In each district, at least $40 million in grant funding was available for eligible broadband projects.

In the 1st District, 27 grants were awarded, totaling $40.3 million. The 3rd District had 38 grants with a total of $21.03 million. Funding is still available for Third District projects, and the commission plans to open an additional window for applications. Projects that were not approved initially may be resubmitted for consideration. “We want to distribute the entire amount of grant funding available,” Watermeier said.

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U.S. ATTORNEY FOR NEBRASKA TO RETIRE AFTER NEARLY 38 YEARS IN OFFICE, ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY ANNOUNCED

LINCOLN- Longtime Nebraska prosecutor Steven Russell has announced he will retire as U.S. Attorney at the end of the month. Russell was named the acting U.S. Attorney a year ago, following the retirement of interim U.S. Attorney Jan Sharp. A 1982 graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Law, Russell has been with the U.S. Attorney’s Office since 1985.

In the role, he has handled a wide variety of cases, both civil and criminal, and prior to that had served at various times as branch manager for the Lincoln U.S Attorney’s Office, Senior Litigation Counsel, Appellate Coordinator and First Assistant United States Attorney. On June 1, 2022, Russell was appointed as Acting U.S. Attorney and later appointed by the U.S. District Court to serve as Interim U.S. Attorney, a position he has held since.

On Thursday, the United States District Court appointed Susan Lehr as Russell’s acting successor. Lehr, who previously served as a prosecutor for the Douglas County Attorney's Office, will take over as interim U.S. Attorney following the end of Russell's service until a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney is named. "There can be no greater source of professional pride than saying to the court or a jury that 'my name is Steve Russell, and I am an attorney representing the United States of America,' said Russel.

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