DEMOCRAT PAUL THEOBALD DECIDES NOT TO CHALLENGE SEN. PETE RICKETTS, REPUBLICAN HERBSTER STILL MULLING HIS OPTIONS

LINCOLN- Paul Theobald, a Nebraska Democrat and former dean of Education at Wayne State College who considered a 2024 bid for the Senate seat held by former-Gov. Pete Ricketts, announced on Friday that he had decided not to run, despite filing paperwork in June that signaled his intent to build his campaign. Asked why, Theobald said, "It's nothing in particular...just kind of a confluence of forces. It just felt like it's too big of a job."

Thus far, Ricketts faces only one challenger for the seat, Republican John Glen Weaver, who lost a primary election challenge last year against Rep. Mike Flood for the 1st Congressional District Seat. Despite dropping out, Theobald wished Nebraska Democrats luck in finding a solid candidate, adding that he believes Ricketts is vulnerable. "Obviously, we're talking about a guy who tried to buy his own Legislature," said Theobald, "so I don't think he should be able to buy his own Senate seat."

Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster said he is still considering whether or not to challenge Ricketts for the seat, saying that Ricketts was the reason for his loss to Gov. Jim Pillen last year. A Herbster staffer confirmed that the former gubernatorial candidate is still mulling his options, and is particularly focused on helping former President Donald Trump's 2024 bid. Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said her party is still looking for solid candidates to challenge Sens. Ricketts and Fischer.

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FUNDRAISING RAMPS UP FOR NEBRASKA'S 2024 U.S. SENATE, HOUSE RACES

OMAHA- Despite the fact that we are over one year away from the next general election, all five of Nebraska's congressional incumbents and at least one challenger are already raising substantial amounts of funding. Thus far, around $2.5 million has been raised amongst the five candidates in the second quarter of 2023 alone. The funding raised this year and next year could matter greatly as Nebraska heads into its next general election, especially since it is not only a presidential election year, but also an unusual, dual Senate seat election.

This quarter, Rep. Don Bacon led the five candidates in fundraising, garnering nearly $717,000. This is unsurprising, as Nebraska's 2nd Congressional seat is thought to be the state's most competitive. Bacon is expected to face Sen. Tony Vargas, who, last year, lost to Bacon by a mere 4 percentage points. Like most of Nebraska's congressional incumbents, a large portion of Bacon's funding came from nationwide political action committees, while around $287,000 came from individual citizens.

Sen. Deb Fischer reported an unusual haul at the end of the second quarter, having raised around $612,000 with no opponent announced thus far. A large portion of Fischer's contributions came from the American Israeli Political Action Committee. Sen. Ricketts didn't lag far behind either, raising around $317,000 from individuals and $487,000 from political action committees. Rep. Mike Flood seems to have rebounded after two costly elections last year, having raised around $309,000 from April 1st to June 30th.

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NEBRASKA STATE TAX RECEIPTS HIT THE MARK PROJECTED BY FORECASTING BOARD

LINCOLN- On Friday, it was announced that, despite worries, Nebraska's tax revenues, following a light revenue month, have slightly surpassed the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board's projections, adding nearly $3 million to the state's rainy day fund. General fund receipts for the 2022-23 fiscal year came out to a whopping $6.37 billion, which sits just within 0.05% of the projections released earlier this year.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, chair of the Legislature's Revenue Committee, said getting a projection that close is "like getting a 37 on the ACT." Regarding the forecasters, Linehan continued, "To be that close is amazing. They had to kind of swim against the waves because they were kind of told and guided in a different direction." The final tally of receipts was a rebound from recent economic trends in the state that moved downwards toward the end of the 2023 legislative session. The positive change was seemingly caused by receipts collected in June, which jumped 9% from the previous month.

Gov. Jim Pillen also celebrated the news, saying that the state would "continue to work with state agencies to constrain spending" in order to make room for the tax relief passed this year in the Legislature. However, reactions to the news weren't all cheery. Rebecca Firestone, executive director of OpenSky Policy Institute, acknowledged that Nebraska's excellent tax revenues will provide a cushion for a time, but warned against cutting income tax and state spending, believing it could put the state's economy in a pinch. "Lawmakers removed some of the cushion available for a potential economic downturn," said Firestone of the recently-passed income tax cuts.

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HASTNGS BUSINESS OWNER ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE

HASTINGS- Business owner and former Hastings City Councilman Paul Hamelink announced that would enter the running for the Legislative District 33 seat, which is soon to be vacated by the term-limited Sen. Steve Halloran. "As a man of faith, I truly believe we are called to do everything in our power to help our community thrive and prosper," said Hamelink upon announcing his candidacy.

Hamelink went on to state that his experience as a small business owner and City Councilman will help him greatly in the Legislature, and indicated that he would support and espouse "conservative values" if elected. In the past, Hamelink also served on the Hastings Planning Commission, Hastings Chamber of Commerce, and Hastings Noon Rotary.

Hamelink and his wife, Sandra, own Paul's Cigar Lounge, which has locations in Hastings and Norfolk. The top issues Hamelink seeks to tackle are taxes, government overreach, and regulations related to local farming.

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JUDGE TAKES UNDER ADVISEMENT A REQUEST TO BLOCK ENFORCEMENT OF NEW NEBRASKA ABORTION BAN

LINCOLN- Nebraska’s new law that bans abortion at 12 weeks gestational age remains in effect after a judge on Wednesday said she would take under advisement a request to block its enforcement. Lancaster County District Judge Lori Maret said she would issue a written ruling later on a request by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland to place a preliminary injunction on LB574 due to its detrimental impact on abortion providers and medical care.

Arguments occurred for around an hour. Attorneys representing Planned Parenthood and Dr. Sarah Traxler, the medical director for the organization, argued Wednesday that LB 574 violates the Nebraska Constitution’s restriction that legislation contain only a single subject. In opposing the temporary injunction request, the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office has maintained that LB 574 “firmly withstands” questions about its constitutionality because the two matters both deal with public health and welfare. 

“This is probably one of the gravest violations of the single subject rule that the court has seen in a very long time,” argued Matthew Segal, a Boston-based attorney with the ACLU. It was done, he added, to make sure both measures passed, raising concerns about “log rolling” — the amending of subjects into a bill to increase support for it. The Attorney Generals' office questioned whether Planned Parenthood and doctors who provide abortions had the right to bring a lawsuit, arguing that physicians have “no vested right” to practice medicine as they please.

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NEBRASKA STUDENT DEBT RELIEF COULD REACH $268 MILLION UNDER NEW PLAN

LINCOLN- Nearly 6,000 Nebraskans qualify for more than $268 million in student debt relief offered under a new Biden administration policy, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The Department of Education and the White House announced last week that more than 800,000 federal student loan borrowers will have their remaining debt eliminated. State-by-state numbers were released this week.

The $39 billion in debt relief will come through fixes to mismanagement of the agency’s income-driven repayment plans, officials have said. Many long-time borrowers, including those who had been making payments for 20 years or more, were denied relief they were eligible for under the repayment plans. Qualified payments that were made were not accounted for.

Starting Friday, the Department of Education will begin to notify those 804,000 borrowers of their forgiveness, and within 30 days their debts will be wiped out. The plan includes borrowers with Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loans held by the department (including Parent PLUS loans of either type) who have reached a forgiveness threshold specified by the department.

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NEBRASKA 988 MENTAL HEALTH LINE DOUBLED CALLS IN FIRST YEAR

LINCOLN- The state's 988 suicide prevention and mental health crisis line marked its first anniversary Sunday having handled double the number of calls answered by its predecessor. Michelle Nunemaker, 988 Nebraska state administrator with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, said the national nature of the lifeline has brought attention to it. The hotline is a national effort that is organized at the state level.

But the main reason the Nebraska line has received so many more calls is because 988 is more than just a suicide prevention lifeline, Nunemaker said. It handles mental health and substance use crises, which expands the pool of callers. Tony Green, interim director of the agency's behavioral health division, said the free service is a vital resource in Nebraska and across the nation. "It is important to remember that no matter your situation, you are not alone, and that help is available and effective," said Green.

Boys Town National Hotline in Omaha serves as the call center for the 988 line, Nunemaker said. Before 988 launched in July 2022, Boys Town was the call center for the Suicide Prevention Hotline. During 2021, that line received 8,777 calls. Between July 16, 2022 and June 30, the 988 Nebraska line received 18,300 calls, more than twice the number the suicide line received the year before.

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SECRETARY OF STATE BOB EVNEN ANNOUNCES TRADE AND INVESTMENT MISSION TO ISRAEL AND JORDAN

LINCOLN- Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen is inviting Nebraska businesses and organizations to join a Trade and Investment Mission to Israel and Jordan this fall. As part of the trade mission, the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office is organizing business-to-business meetings in the two countries, as well as meetings with government officials. The trip is set to take place October 13-27.

During the trade mission, the delegation will visit the Agritech Israel Conference and partake in cultural site visits in Israel and Jordan. “I take great pride in showing the world the growing economic opportunities we have in Nebraska,” Secretary Evnen said. “I’m looking forward to connecting our hometown businesses with leaders and emerging markets across the globe.”

The 2023 Trade and Investment Mission to Israel and Jordan will be Secretary Evnen’s sixth international trade mission since taking office in 2019. As part of the Secretary of State’s statutory responsibility to promote international exchanges of commerce and culture, Secretary Evnen has led prior trade missions with Nebraska businesses to Kenya, Bulgaria, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

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ACCUSATIONS FLY IN PETITION FIGHT OVER TAX CREDIT FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS

OMAHA- Heated allegations were lodged this week by advocates for and against a petition drive seeking to overturn Nebraska’s new tax credit for donations funding private school scholarships. the groups accused one another of telling half-truths or lies or turning off potential voters in Omaha, Lincoln and other communities. Petition circulators and blockers shared specific allegations and said voters are paying the price.

Public school advocates are crisscrossing the state seeking signatures for a petition that would let voters decide the fate of the K-12 scholarship law. They are often confronted by signature blockers for Keep Kids First, a local school choice group with national backing. The blockers try to persuade people not to sign petitions for Support Our Schools, a group backed by local, state and national teachers unions.

LB753, signed into law May 30, provides dollar-for-dollar income tax credits of up to $100,000 for people and corporations funding scholarships. Circulators have until Aug. 30 to submit roughly 61,000 valid signatures of registered voters. Petition drive organizers often gather tens of thousands more than they need for a safety net.

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NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS GO UNCLAIMED, WHILE OBSERVERS SAY PROGRAM IS MISDIRECTED

LINCOLN- Nursing students have claimed up only $1.1 million of a $5 million scholarship program, and some are wondering if the program needs to be changed to help more students. A year ago, the Nebraska Legislature allocated $5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for the scholarships in hopes of addressing a chronic shortage of nurses that is expected to grow to 5,400 by 2025.

But the program was aimed at helping students in short-term training, and it has helped only about 400 nursing students. If the $5 million isn’t fully allocated by the end of next year, the remainder must be returned to the feds. The concerns have advocates for nurses wondering if the state should amend the program so the funds are used as intended.

State Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams, who introduced the scholarship measure as part of LB1014 in 2022, said he, too, was surprised that more of the scholarship funds hadn’t been awarded. Some employers pointed to the program not being available to traditional nursing program students. Sen. Dorn said it is probably something that will need to be addressed in the 2024 session.

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GOVERNOR PILLEN FILLS DHHS ROLES WITH INTERIM APPOINTMENTS

LINCOLN- Governor Jim Pillen has announced two interim leadership appointments at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The appointments were made in response to the resignation of current CEO Dannette Smith. She will leave DHHS on August 4th to assume a role with a national firm that supports health and human services agencies across the United States.

Bo Botelho will assume the role of interim DHHS chief executive officer (CEO). Botelho is currently general counsel for the agency. He has prior experience in the interim CEO position, having been appointed by then-Governor Pete Ricketts from October 2018 to February 2019. Botelho will officially assume the position on August. 5th following Dannette Smiths' August 4th departure.

Tony Green will serve as Interim Director for the Division of Children and Family Services. Green is already interim director for the Division of Behavioral Health and oversees the Division of Developmental Disabilities. He has overseen the Division of Developmental Disabilities since August 2020. Governor Pillen indicated the appointment is effective immediately.

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GOV. PILLEN ACCEPTS FEDERAL EMERGENCY RENT AID FOR NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- Breaking off from the stance of his predecessor, Gov. Jim Pillen has accepted around $48 million in federal rent aid that had been set aside for Nebraska's 91 smaller, more rural counties. Previously, Gov. Ricketts had turned down the pandemic-related funding, which eventually prompted the federal government to shift the original allocation of $120 million elsewhere around the country. State officials are now set to work on building a disbursement program for the reduced funding, which is expected to begin vetting applicants by September.

"Gov. Pillen recognized that housing stability and affordability issues still exist across rural Nebraska, outside of its cities," said Laura Strimple, a Pillen spokeswoman, in a press release, "Applying for these funds will address those issues." Proponents of the rent aid were relieved and grateful following the news of Pillen's acceptance. "I'm very, very happy that we've seen the light and accepted the money," said Erin Feichtinger, policy director of the Women's Fund of Omaha, "There is a real need for housing assistance in those 91 counties."

In 2022, the funds were denied by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts, who claimed that the pandemic was over and that Nebraska should guard against becoming a "welfare state." State senators who disagreed with Ricketts' sentiment sought intervention from the full Legislature, but fell one vote short of overriding the gubernatorial veto. The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority is set to handle the distribution process of the newly-accepted funding.

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NEBRASKA TO UNDERTAKE $689 MILLION IN ROADS PROJECTS THIS YEAR

LINCOLN- State officials have announced one of the largest and most historic infrastructure investments in Nebraska, with plans to begin projects to construct and repair the state's highway system with around $689 million. The biggest of these projects will expand a 7.6-mile stretch of Interstate 80 to six lanes, from Northwest 56th Street in Lincoln all the way to Pleasant Dale. This project, projected to cost around $122.2 million, is part of a long-term plan to make I-80 six lanes from Lincoln to Grand Island.

Another major road project being planned is the rebuilding of the interchange at U.S. Highway 6 at the intersection of West Dodge Road and 192nd Street in Omaha. The interchange is expected to cost the state around $14.2 million, and will have a diverging diamond configuration, eliminating left turns to improve safety and relieve congestion. These, as well as many other, smaller projects, were detailed in a recent report by the Nebraska Department of Transportation, the Surface Transportation Program Book.

Transportation Director Vicki Kramer said she believes these projects will help "address statewide asset preservation, modernization, capacity, equity, and safety improvements to provide the best possible transportation system for the movement of people and goods." Additionally, according to Kramer, projects should be accelerated under the recently-passed bonding authority system passed in LB727 this year, which departs from Nebraska's previous pay-as-you-go policy.

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NEBRASKA GOP DONATIONS YET TO BOUNCE BACK A YEAR AFTER TUMULTUOUS CONVENTION

LINCOLN- A little over a year after a turbulent convention resulted in a massive turnover of party leadership, local donations to the Nebraska Republican Party have yet to return to previous levels. Since the convention, local donations to the Nebraska GOP added up to just under $122,000, according to the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. In the year leading up to the contentious convention, the party raised nearly $1 million.

Meanwhile, the Nebraska Democratic Party has outraised the Nebraska GOP, bringing in roughly $2.1 million on the state and local level. According to former Nebraska GOP Chairman Dan Welch, this is an exceedingly rare occurrence. Even Nebraska Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb was surprised, acknowledging that, while some local congressional candidates have outraised Republican opponents in individual races, it's abnormal for the state Democratic Party to outraise its Republican counterpart by this much.

The GOP convention in Nebraska last year culminated in delegates voting to change the party's constitution to remove former Chairman Welch, eventually going on to replace him with current Chairman Eric Underwood. Welch's removal prompted the resignation of several party leaders, including the executive director, the national committeewoman, and the first and second district chair. Whether the events of this tumultuous convention were the reason for the decrease in funding is unclear, but observers tend to agree that it played, at the very least, a small role.

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GOV. JIM PILLEN EMBARKS ON FIRST TRADE MISSION TO VIETNAM

LINCOLN- In a trip aimed at growing Nebraska's trade opportunities abroad, Gov. Jim Pillen will lead a delegation to Vietnam, beginning Sunday and stretching throughout the week, that includes the Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton and University of Nebraska at Omaha Chancellor Joanne Li.

The delegation is set to make stops in several cities throughout the country, meeting with Vietnamese trade officials, watching product demonstrations, and visiting the Vietnam University of Agriculture. "Vietnam is an important and growing export market for Nebraska processed feed like corn gluten, soybean meal, and distillers grains," Pillen said in a press release announcing the trade mission.

Nebraska's exports to Vietnam in 2021 totaled around $946 million, according to the press release. Vietnam, it went on to say, consumes substantial amounts of dairy products, eggs, beans, and beef from Nebraska. Pillen's delegation will also include other ag-related business, academic, and government representatives, some of whom previously visited the nation in January to discuss business and educational opportunities.

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CENTRAL NEBRASKA UTILITIES SAY MERGER WOULD BE HELPFUL TO MASSIVE NEW FERTILIZER PLANT, BUT WATER USERS DIFFER

GOTHENBURG- On Friday, officials from Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and Dawson Public Power announced plans to merge the two organizations, claiming that it will be more economically beneficial and help greatly in the construction and logistical planning of a new $750 million liquid fertilizer plant. The fertilizer plant, titled "Project Meadowlark," is expected to consume massive amounts of electricity, more than is required for the entire City of Kearney.

A merged public power district, according to officials from both organizations, would be able to generate and distribute clean, renewable energy more efficiently, as well as provide the electricity needed to operate the fertilizer plant. Central Public Power General Manager Devin Brundage, in a press release, claimed that the merger will help the plant find the best "carbon-free energy" alternative required to operate the Meadowlark Project.

The proposed merger was originally introduced in 2020, and is still pending after state approval was rejected by the Nebraska Power Review Board. Local boards in Dawson and Central have both approved the merger, but state approval is required for its completion. Another opponent of the merger, a small group of local irrigators, also filed a lawsuit against the two power districts, claiming that it will dilute the power of water users to continue to irrigate their crops. To get around these roadblocks, Central's Board of Directors is set to authorize the filing of a petition to amend its charter, and therefore allow the merger to be completed without state approval.

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ARMING SCHOOL STAFF AND A 'STAND YOUR GROUND' LAW BEING CONSIDERED IN NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- State Sen. Tom Brewer, who previously introduced LB77, a controversial bill that allows for the permitless concealed carry of handguns, stated in a weekly update that he plans on introducing a new 'stand your ground' bill in the Nebraska Legislature, as well as one aiming to arm teachers.

Before the next legislative session starts, Brewer says he seeks to hold interim studies on the issues, where educators, law enforcement, and security personnel will be able to testify. Sen. Brewer said Nebraska needs to consider "letting public and private schools decide at the local level whether to use off-duty police officers, private security guards, or even key specially trained staff and faculty as armed responders in case of a deadly threat."

Currently, Nebraska law prohibits anyone other than law enforcement from carrying a firearm at a local school. In the update, Brewer indicated that he had asked Sen. Dave Murman, the chair of the Legislature's Education Committee, to consider prioritizing the interim study. Brewer also brought up a potential 'stand your ground' bill, insisting that such legislation, despite what critics say, does not encourage more violence.

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NEBRASKA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ESTABLISHES PRIORITIES FOR NEW COMMISSIONER

LINCOLN- With just over a week on the job, Brian Maher has a list of priorities to tackle as Nebraska's new education commissioner. On Friday, the State Board of Education took several hours to create a general outline of performance objectives and expectations for Maher, who assumed on the role on July 1st. Maher was selected for the role after former Commissioner Matt Blomstedt announced his resignation earlier this year.

The list drafted for Maher will act as a starting point for his work in the state, and will be reevaluated in eight months. Steve Joel, who managed the search for the new commissioner with the Omaha firm McPherson and Jacobson, presented several challenges that Maher will face during his tenure as commissioner at the meeting and helped to draft the list of objectives. One of the main issues, according to Joel, will be academic recovery in Nebraska schools following the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw test scores drop considerably.

"That topic really going to be looming large on minds of school boards, communities, and parents," said Joel. Other challenges drafted on the list include budget challenges, enrollment declines, retirement for educators, and staffing shortages. The list has still not been formally adopted by the Board. Maher's knowledge of internal operations within the school system will also be challenged, and Maher will be expected to gather data about teacher certification, among other things. In response to the proposed list, Maher said he was looking forward to tackling the issues contained therein. "I think there are some really important points here," he said.

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AFTER MOST RECENT VISIT SEN. BREWER SAYS UKRAINE CAN WIN THE WAR, BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME

LINCOLN- State Sen. Tom Brewer, upon returning from his third trip to the war-torn country of Ukraine, said he believes the embattled nation can win, but "it's going to take them a whole." The decorated army veteran, who was wounded twice while serving in Afghanistan, spoke of his time visiting with Ukrainian military leaders, calling the battlefield on which the war is being waged "medieval."

Brewer said that his first two trips to the country were mostly for religious and humanitarian reasons, while his latest trip was more focused on seeing the front lines firsthand and offering counsel to soldiers and military leaders. He also wanted to see if the billions of dollars of American aid and equipment were being used correctly. "A lot of the time forward," he said, "it's just understanding what's going on. How is the American taxpayer dollar being used?"

Brewer traveled to Ukraine alongside a friend of his, Noah Philson, as well as a Lincoln-based television reporter. According to the senator, there were several times on the frontline when the situation became quite perilous. "I think we walked that tightrope probably as close as you want," he said, "There were days that were pretty hairy." Brewer also said that he believes the Ukrainian counter-offensive has not played out as efficiently or expeditiously as was previously planned, despite billions in American aid.

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$12 MILLION LAND PURCHASE SOUGHT BY CITY OF OMAHA TIED TO PLANNED NORTH OMAHA BUSINESS PARK

OMAHA- Nebraska's largest and most populous city is in the final steps of purchasing a $12 million tract of land that would fulfill the long-awaited effort to create an industrial business park in northeast Omaha. The proposed purchase, which would encompass 67 acres near 14th and Locust Streets, is on this week's Omaha City Council agenda. Sen. Justin Wayne, a North Omaha resident and long proponent of the business park, said he believes the move, while costly, will bring hundreds of jobs to one of the most historically disadvantaged areas of the city.

"This is a first step toward developing the business park in North Omaha," said Wayne. Over the past two years, the Nebraska Legislature has allocated nearly $90 million to develop one, and perhaps even two, business parks in the North Omaha area. Broader legislation over the years has also set aside around $400 million, which is set to be invested into distressed areas of North and South Omaha.

When asked about the potential $12 million purchase, an aide from Mayor Jean Stothert's office said that the city intends to partner with a still-to-be-announced developer who will be awarded the funds to develop the business park. Additionally, according to Spokeswoman Carrie Murphy, the city intends to build a new truck route that will run from North Omaha toward downtown, with an access road connected to the planned business park.

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