LINCOLN COUNCILMAN INVITES GOVERNOR TO TOWN HALL TO DISCUSS NEW PRISON SITE

LINCOLN- Following the announcement of the location of Nebraska's new prison by Gov. Pillen and Director of Corrections Rob Jeffreys, a handful of Lincoln residents, especially those near the chosen location, began frantically looking for ways to register their opposition. City officials, too, were scrambling to figure out what the decision would mean for the city of Lincoln, after previously rejecting a proposal to build the new prison on city land.

City Councilman James Michael Bowers has written an open letter to Gov. Jim Pillen inviting him and other state and local officials to come to a town hall meeting to answer questions about the plan. All City Council members except Tom Beckius and Tom Duden have signed onto the letter, as have Lincoln state senators Danielle Conrad, Jane Raybould and George Dungan and county commissioners Christa Yoakum, Roma Amundson and Rick Vest as well as Cathy Martinez, a community leader in northeast Lincoln.

After several months of silence from the state, city officials only heard about the newly-purchased site on Thursday. The chosen site resides in an area of Lincoln that was previously set aside for future "urban residential development." Although Gov. Pillen's announcement surprised several Lincoln officials, some conceded that the state very well might have authority to the use the location without the city's approval. The state has already signed a $17 million purchasing agreement for the site, with construction of the prison set to begin in 2024.

For the full article click HERE

OFFICIALS SAY STATE LAW LIKELY PROTECTS NEBRASKA GROUNDWATER FROM RAIDS BY PARCHED WESTERN STATES

KEARNEY- At a recent agriculture and economic summit in Kearney, state officials argued that Nebraska law governing the transfer of groundwater between states likely blocks such transfers to water-challenged states like Arizona and Colorado. Should a parched state attempt to apply for groundwater shipments, they would have to hurdle what was described as a "gauntlet" of seven conditions set out in state law, including whether it's in the public interest of Nebraska, to win approval.

On top of that, applications for groundwater transfers would have to be ultimately decided upon by Tom Riley, the state's director of natural resources. "It would be pretty hard to say it's in the public interest to tap into the Ogallala Aquifer and move it out of the state," said Riley. While other state's water supplies have dwindled, Nebraska's reserves, like the Ogallala Aquifer, have remained stalwart, making Nebraska the envy of the nation according to Riley.

A bill, LB241, was introduced this past year in the Nebraska Legislature by Sen. Tom Briese to completely block such water transfers, unless applicants were within 10 miles of the state's border or if the transfer satisfies a previously-made water compact. Briese said his bill was designed to block western states with "ill intent." He went on to defend the bill, saying, "Nebraska's water ought to be used by Nebraskans." LB241 did not advance out of the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee after concerns were raised about the strict nature of the bill. Regardless, many supporters, including farmers and representatives from Nebraska Cattlemen and the Nebraska Farm Bureau, argued that the state's water deserved ample protection.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA GOP STOPS SHORT OF CURBING POWER OF GROUPS OF WOMEN, YOUNG PEOPLE

NORFOLK- On Saturday, the Nebraska Republican Party stopped short of eliminating the voting power of four groups representing Republican women and young party members at one of the state's top leadership committee meetings. A proposal put before the committee would have cut the voting slots on the State GOP's Executive Committee that are held by the Federation of Republican Women, Young Republicans, College Republicans, and High School Republicans.

In the end, the proponents of the proposal pulled it from consideration after critics within the party slammed them for potentially sidelining groups made up of key voting constituencies, which might be pivotal in the 2024 state and federal elections. If the proposal had gone through, the four groups would have been downgraded to advisory members of the Nebraska GOP, allowing the party chair to exclude them from certain meetings.

Third Congressional District GOP volunteer Chris Vail said she introduced the proposal to rebalance power within the party after concerns arose that Eastern Nebraska Republicans held too much sway. Vail, as well as Morissa Benson, another representative, said they believe Republican women and youth groups cater too much toward Omaha and Lincoln. However, both said they still want "women and the young involved in [their] party."

For the full article click HERE

KELLYANNE CONWAY, IN NORFOLK, PREACHES GOP UNITY AT STATE PARTY GATHERING

NORFOLK- At a recent booster club meeting held by the Nebraska GOP, Kellyanne Conway, a pollster and long-time adviser to former President Donald Trump, told attendees that they should stop fighting one another amid recent party shake-ups. Conway went on to add that party unity is the only way to grow the party, and that members need not squabble over the twenty or so percent of policies they disagree on.

Conway also emphasized "winning over whining," and encouraged Republican attendees to stop ceding early voting advantages to Democrats. "Unity never means you giving up your principles and ideas," she proclaimed, "Unity means that we have growing pains as a party. We talk about differences. We decide what we can live with. And we march forward together."

Conway's speech was given on the same night that the Nebraska GOP's Executive Committee removed longtime Sarpy County GOP Chair Nora Sandine, further exacerbating the state divide. Charles Herbster, who ran against Gov. Pillen last November, also spoke at the event, saying that the Nebraska GOP needs to leave the past behind "if [they] want to win." Herbster, before introducing Conway to the crowd, said that the party needs to look to the future instead.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA COMMISSION ADVANCES FIRST STEP FOR OGALLALA RACETRACK, APPROVES FIRST-EVER TABLE GAMES; SPORTSBOOK OPENS IN GRAND ISLAND

LINCOLN- On Friday, the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission approved the first step in a process that could allow a Hastings-based company to transfer its racetrack license to western Nebraska. Commissioners voted to approve a 12-week, $48,000 market study with Innovation Group, which, if successful, could set up final approval for a racetrack in Ogallala after Hastings Exposition & Racing Inc. announced plans to transfer its racing license.

State law allows Hastings a one-time move of its license since the community was one of six original racetrack locations in the state. The law requires, however, that a license be moved to a Nebraska county that does not already have a racetrack. In this case, from Adams County to Keith County. For several years, Hastings Exposition and Racing have attempted to set a race track and casino in Hastings, and even spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for a location that would have been around 17 miles from the racetrack in Grand Island.

The plan has changed, however, and Hastings Exposition now plans to build 200 miles away on a 174-acre site that would reside on the southwest corner of I-80 and Highway 26, the main intersection in Ogallala. Elite Casino Resorts, which owns the Grand Island Casino Resort, plans to partner with Hastings Exposition to complete the project, should it be approved. "We think this is the definition of a win-win," said Brian Jorde, a representative of Hastings Exposition.

At the Grand Island Casino Resort, it was also announced that the Elite Sportsbook would open starting Wednesday, giving Nebraskans a second legal sports betting operation. Nebraska law requires, however, that all sports bets be placed in person and on the premises, and doesn't allow Nebraskans to bet on local college steams when they're playing games within the state's borders. "We are excited to offer sports betting to our guests," said Dan Kehl, CEO of Elite Casino Resorts, "This is another big step on our path to bring a permanent, full-service casino resort to Grand Island."

For the full article click HERE

PLANNED PARENTHOOD, ACLU FILE NOTICE TO APPEAL RULING ON NEW ABORTION LAW

LINCOLN- On Friday, the ACLU of Nebraska and Planned Parenthood notified Nebraska's highest court that they will be appealing the recent court ruling that upheld Sen. Kauth's LB574, which prohibits transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care and further restricts abortion in the state. 

As of right now, the actual appeal has not yet been filed, but Ruth Richardson, CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said that "every person deserves the freedom to control their body, health, and future--and that right shouldn't be determined by your zip code." The notice of the appeal, which was given to the Nebraska Supreme Court, follows the formation of a new political action committee aiming to put the abortion issue on the 2024 general election ballot, should the appeal fail to be successful. 

Sandy Danek, a representative of Nebraska Right to Life, said Friday that she remains confident the judge's previous ruling will be upheld. Agreeing with the judge's original ruling, Danek said, "These are two issues that deal with public health and welfare of children." Danek added that most Nebraskans are comfortable with the new 12-week abortion ban, but that opponents of abortion, like Nebraska Right to Life, will continue fighting until "abortion is unthinkable in our state." 

For the full article click HERE

OFFICIALS STILL UNSURE ON CHANGING DRUG-USE STANDARDS FOR POLICE RECRUITS

LINCOLN- As of this week, a law enforcement panel is still considering whether or not to adjust its drug-use standards for new recruits, despite objections from Gov. Jim Pillen. Statistics recently requested by the governor, which were meant to elucidate just how many potential recruits over the years have been rejected for drug use, don't exist in Nebraska, according to Bryan Tuma, head of the Nebraska Crime Commission, and Brian Jackson, an assistant Lincoln police chief.

Jackson compared such numbers to trying to determine how many crimes police prevent on any given day. Despite this, and despite the Governor's rejections, Tuma said he believes Nebraska should still consider the changes. One option he thinks will work is keeping the current standards for hiring in place, but considering "extenuating circumstances" in the case of a solid recruit of otherwise good character that might have violated the drug-use standards.

At its August 16th meeting, the Nebraska Police Standards Advisory Committee discussed Gov. Pillen's rejection, and indicated that such strict standards might dissuade recruits from applying. Nationwide, law enforcement positions have seen a smaller pool of applicants each year, an occurrence Tuma believes can be accredited to strict drug-use standards.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA VOLUNTEERS TO BE HONORED IN OCTOBER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

LINCOLN- Nearly a dozen community volunteers from across Nebraska, as well as one state lawmaker, are set to be honored for their work in October by Gov. Jim Pillen, who recently announced a list of awardees for the 2023 Step Forward Award. The event will be held in Lincoln on October 6th at 11:00am.

"Volunteers are a vital part of keeping Nebraska communities strong," said Pillen in a statement, "I'm proud to be Governor of a state where community service is central to our culture." The awardees were selected, in conjunction with Gov. Pillen, by ServeNebraska and the Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission, two organizations that help coordinate volunteer funding each year and choose winners for the Step Forward Award.

Among those receiving awards are Marah Shai of Gering, who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for a "life full of public service," State Sen. Mike McDonnell for "introducing legislation to safeguard Nebraska's commitment to service," Dennis Hynes for leading numerous student tours at the Durham Museum, and Roger Peek for his thirty years as a volunteer firefighter and membership with the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services Team.

For the full article click HERE

LINCOLN COMPANY PAYING $7.125M TO PUT NAME ON EVENT CENTER

LINCOLN- Come December, the Lancaster County Event Center will have a new name thanks to a lucrative naming rights deal. Sandhills Global, the Lincoln-based information technology and publishing company, will pay over $7 million to put its name on the building for fifteen years. Beginning December 1st, the facility will be known as the Sandhills Global Event Center.

"Sandhills' brands align well with the types of events and visitors at the future Sandhills Global Event Center and stand to benefit both organizations and the community at large," said Shawn Peed, executive officer for Sandhills Global, "We are proud to support this valuable, hometown facility that serves and engages all element of our great ag community."

The expensive deal will also allow Sandhills to place its name on individual pavilions used at the event center. A public ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for later this year to unveil the new exterior and interior signage. This is the second major naming rights deal for Sandhills Global this year. In March, the company announced that it would be donating $4 million to put its name on a new youth baseball and softball complex, which is currently under construction just southeast of First Street and Cornhusker Highway in Lincoln.

For the full article click HERE

KOCH JOHNS WON'T SEEK ANOTHER TERM ON STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, ENDORSES CANDIDATE

LINCOLN- Patsy Koch Johns, on Thursday, announced that she would not seek reelection to her long-held District 1 State Board of Education Seat. A Democrat, Koch Johns ran unopposed in 2020 for the officially nonpartisan seat, where she represents Lincoln and a portion of northwest Lancaster County.

"I wouldn't trade my experience for anything in the world. It has been a wonderful experience," said Koch Johns, a former Lincoln High School teacher who was once Nebraska Teacher of the Year, "Now I'm not saying it's always been easy, and that I always succeeded in what I felt was important for kids and to provide for them, but I am saying that it was definitely worth my years."

Kristin Christensen, a Lincoln-based Democrat, recently announced her candidacy for the seat, and is now being endorsed by Koch Johns, as well as Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, Board of Education members Lisa Fricke and Deb Neary, and several state lawmakers. "She's just like me," Koch Johns said of Christensen, "she has the desire to serve even deeper."

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA STATE TREASURER TO EXIT ELECTED ROLE TO HEAD STATE RETIREMENT AGENCY

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems (NPERS) Board announced current Treasurer John Murante as its next director. Murante must step down from the State Treasurer’s Office to lead NPERS after being nearly unanimously voted to lead the agency. When the transition is made, Gov. Jim Pillen will need to select a successor who will serve the remainder of Murante’s term through 2026.

“I look forward to the opportunity to keep serving the people of Nebraska in some form or fashion,” Murante told the NPERS board. Murante is a familiar face in Nebraska as a former state senator and just recently won reelection in the Treasurer role. Murante will still need to be confirmed by both Gov. Pillen and the legislature.

Murante said that through his roles in the Legislature and the Treasurer’s Office that he has worked with all public boards and commissions in the state and has worked closely with NPERS as the custodian of the agency’s funds. Murante will most likely double his previous salary of $85,000 to $185,000 in the new role. Other candidates for the job included Jason Hayes and Tyler Cummings. Retiring director Randy Gerke is expected to leave the role on September 10th.

For the full article click HERE

GOV. JIM PILLEN NAMES FORMER BANKER AS NEBRASKA'S NEW STATE TAX COMMISSIONER

LINCOLN- Gov. Jim Pillen has named Jim Kamm, a University of Nebraska at Omaha administrator and former banker, as Nebraska’s new state tax commissioner. Kamm currently is the assistant vice chancellor for UNO’s Business and Finance Division. He will be paid $190,000 in his new position and start Sept. 5.

The position, the top job in the Nebraska Department of Revenue, has been filled by an interim director since December. Pillen said he chose Kamm because of his decades of experience in banking and financial services, along with his interest in public service. Before working at UNO, Kamm held leadership roles at First Westroads Bank, TierOne and First National Bank of Omaha.

He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in finance and a master’s degree in business administration from UNO. While at UNO, Kamm worked for a previous state tax commissioner, Doug Ewaldt. Scott Moore, a Union Pacific Railroad executive and former Nebraska secretary of state and state senator, praised the choice.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA GOVERNOR'S USE OF 'EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE' TO WITHHOLD RECORDS TROUBLES TRANSPARENCY ADVOCATES

LINCOLN- While on the gubernatorial campaign trail, Gov. Jim Pillen occasionally joked about phone conversations being exempt from public disclosure. Now, at least in recent months, his office seems to have taken small, unprecedented steps to shield his communications. Recently, a Nebraska-based transparency advocate organization requested access to four emails that the Governor had sent, but were met with denials from his office for reasons relating to "executive privilege." 

When asked, around six other current officials and transparency advocates couldn't recall any instances in the past when a Nebraska Governor invoked executive privilege to deny access to records. One press freedom advocate in Nebraska described its novel use in Nebraska as "disturbing." Former Gov. Dave Heineman, who served in Nebraska between 2005 and 2015, said he was unfamiliar with the concept of executive privilege relative to governors' emails. 

"When you're the governor, you're a publicly elected official and your records are subject to freedom of information requests, and we routinely complied with those," said Heineman, "I think that's important, because the public has the right to know what a governor is doing and the kinds of emails that we get." Echoing this sentiment, Jack Gould, a board member with the government watchdog group Common Cause Nebraska, said this is the first time he had heard of a Nebraska Governor invoking executive privilege to deny access to records. 

For the full article click HERE

OPS KINDERGARTEN TEACHER BEGINS 41ST YEAR IN THE SAME NORTH OMAHA CLASSROOM

OMAHA- For the past four decades, Omaha Public Schools teacher Kaye Kiepert-Hensley has welcomed numerous students into her classroom at Franklin Elementary School, with this year, her 41st, being no different. "Every day, every year, is a new day and a new year. Every group is different," said Kiepert-Hensley, "They're fun. They're excited to be here. I'm excited to see them."

Besides some recently installed blue carpet, Kiepert-Hensley has remained in and maintained essentially the exact same classroom over the past 41 years, with very little changing from year to year. The veteran teacher graduated from what was once known as Technical High School before its closure in 1984. Today, her old stomping grounds exist as the Teacher Administration Center.

Her reason for staying at Franklin Elementary: "I love to see the families, because it's the same families that I had many years ago, when they were students in here. Now I have their babies again. So, they know it's a safe and a loving place in our room." Franklin, along with the rest of the elementary schools within OPS, began the fall semester on Wednesday, with Kiepert-Hensley set to instruct around 14 kids; a number she says will grow as more students move into the neighborhood throughout the fall.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA REMOVES WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE WEBPAGE USED TO TRACK COVID-19

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services removed a tool from its website that was pivotal in tracking the spread of Covid-19. The wastewater surveillance page on the Department's website, which was removed, provided weekly updates on the concentration of Covid-19 in wastewater from more than a dozen sites across the state. With reductions in Covid-19 reporting over the past year, wastewater surveillance was considered one of the most effective ways public health officials were able to monitor disease levels.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services said the state's wastewater data was taken down in response to the Biden administration's ending of the national emergency and public health emergency declarations for Covid-19 in May. "Data continues to be tracked for that program and is available upon request," said the spokesman in an email. He also confirmed that the agency will be consolidating information on its website relative to the rates of Covid-19 reporting.

Laura Strimple, a spokeswoman for Gov. Jim Pillen, wrote in an email that the wastewater surveillance page was removed in consultation with the governor's office, and also cited the end of the health emergencies as a reason for its removal. Strimple also stated that the program is being wound down so that more resources can be devoted to the monitoring of other illnesses, like influenza and RSV.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA RANKS 37TH FOR RATE OF LABOR FORCE WORKING FROM HOME

LINCOLN- According to a recently-released report by the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the Cornhusker State ranks 37th among all others for the share of workers conducting their jobs from home. The study found that around 12.3% of Nebraska's workers are currently working remotely.

The study's primary researcher, Josie Schafer, believes this data debunks the notion that the Covid-19 pandemic steered many individuals away from crowded states and into the less-congested Nebraska, while still working remotely at their original place of employment. "The idea of, 'I'll live in Nebraska for the quality of life but work for a Silicon Valley tech company'-- I don't see it in the data," said Schafer.

Rather, Schafer believes that the data suggests that most people who live in Nebraska but work for an out-of-state business are commuting across state lines, rather than working remotely. Nationally, the rate of individuals working from home has increased as a result of the pandemic. Nebraska's 37th ranking, according to Schafer, "has everything to do with our workforce mix." Indeed, a large majority of Nebraska workers, around 584,242, work in low-wage jobs, which often require in-person work. That's compared to Nebraska's 433,166 high-paying jobs, which sometimes offer the opportunity for remote work.

For the full article click HERE

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION CASTS DOUBT ON POWERS OF LEGISLATURE'S INSPECTORS GENERAL

LINCOLN- In a 38-page legal opinion issued Wednesday, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers argued that investigative powers conferred on the state's inspectors general, especially in the realms of child welfare and the state's prison system, violate the separation of powers clause of the Nebraska Consitution and "significantly impairs" the powers of the executive branch and state judiciary to govern their operations.

More specifically, Hilgers claimed that the Inspector General's power to obtain "immediate access to the Department's and Division's document, information, and facilities violates the rights bestowed upon by the state's executive and judiciary branches by the constitution. "The traditional tools of legislative investigations--voluntary requests for information and subpoenas for documents and testimony--allow each branch to protect its interests." stated the opinion drafted by the Attorney General.

Speaker of the Legislature John Arch responded to the argument almost immediately, and said that further review of the opinion must be undertaken before the Legislature develops a strategy to continue oversight of two agencies that carry "a high level of risk for the population served." The two offices being questioned by Hilgers, namely the office of the Inspector General for Child Welfare and the office of the Inspector General for Corrections, were established by the Legislature in 2012 and 2015 respectively, with the aim of providing more accountability in these two contentious areas.

For the full article click HERE

PILLEN APPOINTS JUDGE TO DISTRICT COURT VACANCY IN DOUGLAS COUNTY

OMAHA- On Tuesday, Gov. Jim Pillen announced that Derek Vaughn, who currently serves as a Douglas County Court Judge, will move to the County's District Court bench. Vaughn's appointment to the role comes just a short time after Judge Michael Coffey, who has held the position since his appointment in 1998, announced his retirement from the District Court.

Seven applicants applied for the role, and the Judicial Nominating Commission selected the top four candidates for Pillen to choose from.

Vaughn, before being appointed to the Douglas County Cout bench in 2013, graduated from the University College of Law. Prior to his judgeship, he served as a deputy county attorney in Douglas County for 14 years.

In County Court, where Vaughn served for the past ten years, judges have jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal and traffic infraction cases, as well as small claims, probate, adoption, and other civil matters. District Court judges are general jurisdiction trial courts that oversee proceedings in all felony cases and civil cases concerning more than $57,000.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA CONGRESSMAN SAYS FBI TOLD HIM CHINESE HACKED HIS EMAILS

WASHINGTON, D.C.- According to Rep. Don Bacon, Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District representative, FBI cyber-analysts told him that his campaign and personal emails had been hacked by Chinese spies earlier this summer. "They were in my emails for 31 days," said Bacon in an interview. According to the FBI, such instances of hacking are part of a larger campaign by foreign actors to target U.S. State Department and Commerce Department accounts.

Microsoft, in response to the hacking campaign, confirmed that a July 11 attack by a "Chinese-based threat actor" had indeed been undertaken as a result of a vulnerability in their software. The company also confirmed that the email accounts of individuals from 25 different organizations, including government agencies, had been hacked. Bacon said that he hadn't learned of the breach until Monday, when the FBI informed him, but did recall receiving a notification from Microsoft encouraging him to change his password.

Besides that, however, nothing felt wrong to the Congressman. "I didn't have any indication," he said, "Nothing stuck out." Bacon said in an interview that he believes he was specifically targeted because of his criticism of the Chinese government, adding that the nation may see him as an "adversary." Bacon also confirmed that he is unaware if any other member of Congress was targeted by the hack.

For the full article click HERE

NEW LEADER OF NEBRASKA HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAS CONTROVERSY IN HIS PAST

LINCOLN- Dr. Steve Corsi, acting CEO of the Central Wyoming Counseling Center, was picked on Tuesday by Gov. Jim Pillen to lead the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Pillen, in an announcement, said Corsi will assume the role on September 11th, bringing a "wealth of experience and leadership" from his past work in director roles in Wyoming, Missouri, and California. 

In the past, Corsi faced controversy in Missouri for collecting paychecks from two state agencies, an agreement made with then-Gov. Eric Greitens of Missouri that allowed Corsi to be paid $128,000 for leading the Missouri Department of Social Services, in addition to $14,000 from another agency he worked closely with. Several Missouri Democrats took issue with this agreement. A separate controversy surrounding Corsi took place in 2016, when the Wyoming Boys' School purchased a restraint chair, containing shoulder lap, wrist, and ankle straps, similar to those used at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp. 

Following the announcement that Corsi would assume the leadership role at the Department of Health and Human Services, several state lawmakers highlighted posts that Corsi had 'liked' on Twitter, including several that challenged the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine and others that disparaged transgender individuals. In response to these, Sen. Megan Hunt noted that Corsi will need to be confirmed by the Nebraska Legislature next year, but claimed that the body will "reject him in 2024." 

For the full article click HERE