FORUM SPARKS QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO TAP INTO MILLIONS THE LEGISLATURE EARMARKED FOR NORTH AND SOUTH OMAHA

OMAHA- During a Saturday forum, State Sens. Terrell McKinney and Justin Wayne were bombarded with questions aiming to help clarify the new road map for the disbursement of roughly $225 million in state grants to help rejuvenate North and South Omaha. "It's not ideal, but it's the process we have to work through," said McKinney of the disbursement selection process, which will now be headed by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

Many of those in the crowd said they were confused by the eight possible grant categories created by the Department, as well as how their businesses or projects might fit into one or the other. Others weren't sure who or what qualified for the grants. As specified under the new law that allowed for the grant, only around 365 private, public, and nonprofit organizations in North and South Omaha, that received similar funding last year, will be eligible to re-apply. Last year's requests were compiled by Olsson Consulting Firm, and the data was used this year by DED officials to recommend 35 frontrunner projects to serve as a "base" for their scoring of other businesses.

Community activist Vickey Parks, who spoke alongside McKinney and Wayne, wanted to know why DED officials weren't at the meeting to "explain this foolishness." Ultimately, however, the questions asked at the forum will be presented to the DED, who will then produce an official response better laying out the steps of the awarding process. Questions arose regarding the absence of Sens. Vargas and McDonnell, who both represent parts of South Omaha, at the forum.

For the full article click HERE

POPULISTS WIN SARPY GOP LEADERSHIP RACE AFTER OUSTING 50-PLUS MEMBERS FROM VOTING

OMAHA- Last Thursday, the Sarpy County GOP was shaken up after elections were held that changed a large portion of party leadership. The election occurred during the County GOP's most recent central committee meeting, and saw former Papillion City Council candidate Micahel Tiedman beat Sarpy County Vice Chair Michael Cook for the position of Party Chairman. Tiedman won on a 50-23 vote.

Many of those backing Tiedman said the win validated their documented complaints against former Sarpy GOP Chair Nora Sandine, who they claim mismanaged the party and broke county rules. Big names were also removed from the county party, including U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, Papillion Mayor David Black, Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov, and State Sen. Rita Sanders. Many of those removed had previously supported Sandine.

Representatives of the new party leadership said the removals were due to a failure to meet the party's requirement for meeting attendance or county residency. Rep. Bacon said he was sad to see the purge in leadership, but also that he had missed many meetings while serving in Washington, D.C. "I really appreciate Nora and the Sarpy County folks for allowing myself and other elected officials to still be a member of the central committee because we are elected," said Bacon.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA LAUNCHES MEDICAID REGISTRATION PROGRAM FOR INMATES NEARING RELEASE

LINCOLN- More than a year after the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill meant to help incarcerated Nebraskans access health care coverage upon their release, two state agencies have partnered up and announced their plans to implement the program. The law, sponsored by former Sen. Steve Lathrop, requires the state to provide in-person, over-the-phone, or video conference assistance to inmates attempting to apply for Medicaid benefits at least 60 days before their release.

It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to process each inmate's medical assistance program application at a pace that ensures the inmate's coverage is effective no later than the day of their release. DHHS has partnered with the Nebraska Department of Corrections to implement the program. "Access to medical and mental healthcare services is key to establishing a stable and healthy life after incarceration," said Rob Jeffreys, Nebraska's Director of Corrections, adding that the program is "essential to a system where we as Nebraska prioritize our citizens and their needs."

Under the law, inmates can elect not to apply for coverage, and the two state departments operating the program are not required to provide assistance when inmates are already enrolled in a medical assistance program with suspended coverage. The law also does not guarantee inmates coverage. They must first demonstrate their need for Medicaid, which is usually done by providing the state with details relating to income, age, and disabilities.

For the full article click HERE

WARHORSE LINCOLN SEES SURGE OF BETTING AFTER FOOTBALL STARTS

LINCOLN- According to Lynne McNally, CEO of the Nebraska Horsemen and partner at Ho-Chunk Inc., who operate WarHorse Casino in Lincoln, betting is really ramping up in Nebraska as the country eases into football season. "People are buying into the hype," she said, "Maybe there's something to it." Indeed, bets on the college football national championship are already rolling in, with 130-1 Nebraskans believing the Colorado Buffaloes have a shot at it, according to Jason Johnston, WarHorse's sportsbook manager.

"My guess is that the bets we took were even at longer odds prior to last week," he said. Although the Buffaloes have been doing well thus far, it seems that Nebraska's loss to them prompted the surge in betting. However, McNally is skeptical. "I think they're going to crash and burn eventually, but maybe not. I don't know for sure, but it's going to be interesting to see," she said. Either way, betting is on the rise in Nebraska, especially after the opening week of the NFL last week.

"Football is the most wagered-on sport in the country," said Johnston, "It's clear that Nebraskans enjoyed the opportunity to do so in their home state." However, local will be unable to wager on Nebraska's upcoming game against Northern Illinois, since they're playing in the state. Despite this, Johnston is confident. "We don't anticipate much of a drop-off," he said, "There are still plenty of other games outside the state that have people interested. Although August's gambling tax numbers, released by the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, only showed modest gains over July, September's tax receipts are expected to jump significantly.

For the full article click HERE

GOV. PILLEN APPOINTS SEN. TOM BRIESE AS NEW STATE TREASURER

LINCOLN- On Thursday, following several weeks of reviewing applications, Gov. Jim Pillen announced that state Sen. Tom Briese will assume the role of Nebraska State Treasurer, replacing former Treasurer John Murante, who resigned from the position to head the state's Retirement Agency. Currently, Briese serves as the chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board, but applied for the $85,000 a year treasurer's job because he hopes to continue serving the public in office.

"I have truly enjoyed my time in the Legislature and am proud of the accomplishments achieved during my tenure, as well as the relationships that were forged," said Briese following the announcement, "I look forward to this new opportunity." Pillen, despite hearing from a slew of other qualified applicants for the role, said he selected Briese because he "has the respect of his peers and has been a great representative for District 41," adding that Briese has been, during his time in the Legislature, "a proven leader on tax policy reform."

Outgoing Treasurer John Murante is set to leave his post on September 18th, and Briese will assume the role on November 1st. In the meantime, Gov. Pillen announced that he will act in the formal role of treasurer, with Assistant State Treasurer Rachel Biar handling the office's day-to-day duties. Briese will first face voters as treasurer in 2026, the end of Murante's current term. Gov. Pillen will have to select a new state senator to replace Briese in District 41, which encompasses Ord, Albion, Dannebrog, and Wood River.

For the full article click HERE

GROUP SEEKS TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE TO STATE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM

LINCOLN- A new local taskforce is seeking to come up with ideas to transform Nebraska's child welfare system, which they say is flawed. A state law passed in 2022 by the Nebraska Legislature allowed for the creation of the group, which will utilize input from all three branches of state government, as well as several key stakeholders.

The group's overarching mission is to "reimagine child and family well-being. "Reimagining the way child welfare practice and financing is handled here in the state," said John Stephen, the managing partner at the Stephen Group, a national organization hired by the state workgroup to hold listening sessions with stakeholders across the state.

One of these stakeholders is Monika Gross, who directs the Foster Care Review Office. "It's a good time, I think, to kind of revisit how we do child welfare and child and family well-being in the state of Nebraska," Gross said. Her reasoning for this revisitation is because of the state's rehandling of child welfare cases previously managed by St. Francis Ministries, as well as the fact that the state has a new governor and Department of Health and Human Services director.

For the full article click HERE

THE FAILED RED WAY EXPERIMENT WON'T STOP LINCOLN AIRPORT'S QUEST TO LAND MORE FLIGHTS

LINCOLN- Although the Lincoln Airport is pretty much back to where it was three months ago, before it had hired the now-failed Red Way Airlines, the Lincoln Airport Authority Board is optimistic that it will be able to lure in air services and expand even further. Some argue that, had it been given more funding, Red Way would've been able to continue offering flights, but several Board members are still disappointed in the company's performance.

"We either need more time in the beginning or more money," said Dave Haring, Lincoln Airport's executive director, "If this had been $5 million, as opposed to $3 million, and again, hindsight being what it is, could you have gotten to October and made the decisions necessary to tweak the program?" To that, Haring says maybe. While Haring, like the Airport Authority Board members, was disappointed in the results of the Red Way experiment, he recognized that these are dicey and uncertain times in the air industry.

More risks, like Red Way, are expected to be taken in the future by the Lincoln Airport, especially if the facility is to grow. However, those attached to the Airport are optimistic. "While Lincoln may have encountered a setback, they should not lose sight of the determination and partnership it took to attempt new solutions that could enhance connectivity and accessibility for Nebraska residents," said Martin Lenss, chairman of the Air Services Committee for the American Association of Airport Executives.

For the full article click HERE

SLAMA, SPELLERBERG, ROYAL AMONG STATE TREASURER APPLICANTS

LINCOLN- Following the announcement that State Treasurer John Murante would be leaving his post to serve as the state's Retirement Director, an application pool was opened by Gov. Pillen's office to find potential candidates for the role. Last week, a handful of Nebraskans from a slew of different backgrounds showed interest in applying.

However, the top three potential candidates, as it stands right now, seem to be Sen. Julie Slama, Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg, and former treasurer candidate Taylor Royal, who are all confirmed to have applied for the post. Slama, a lawyer, was appointed to the Legislature by former Gov. Pete Ricketts in 2019, and currently chairs the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee. Spellerberg, whose family owns Moostash Joe Tours, is considered by many in Nebraska to be a rising Republican, and is well known for his work in economic development.

Royal, a financial adviser, ran for treasurer in 2018 and for Mayor of Omaha in 2017. Two other candidates indicated that they considered applying, but are unconfirmed as of right now. These include Sen. Ben Hansen and former Sen. Theresa Thibodeau, but both confirmed that they're leaning towards passing on the opportunity. Local political observers expect Gov. Pillen to schedule interviews and make a decision promptly, as the Treasurer oversees programs like child support payments. This appointment will be Pillen's third as an elected official.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES INCLUDE FORMER WESTSIDE TEACHER CHALLENGING SEN. KAUTH

LINCOLN- As Nebraska inches closer to the 2024 general election, a large handful of Nebraskans have already announced their candidacy in what is expected to be an exciting legislative race, including a former instructor at Westside who is planning on challenging Sen. Kathleen Kauth for the District 31 seat.

Mary Ann Folchert, the former educator and current Democrat, is one of the most recent candidates to announce their candidacy. Ben Ungerman also announced recently, and will be running for the District 3 seat, which encompasses western Bellevue and parts of Papillion. Other candidates include former Sen. Dan Quick, as well as sitting Sen. Ray Aguilar, who will compete over Grand Island's District 35 seat for the second time.

Larissa Schultz, a native of Yutan, will be running for the District 23 seat, while Kearney Mayor Stan Clouse will run for District 37 alongside Lana Peister. Sen. Kauth, who Folchert is set to challenge, said she plans on campaigning on issues such as tax cuts, rising property valuations, and transgender student-athletes. Folchert, during her campaign announcement, said Nebraska needs state senators who place the needs of the state's citizens above political games. Public safety, education, healthcare, and workforce issues are among her listed priorities.

For the full article click HERE

GRAND ISLAND CASINO RESORT TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AT FONNER PARK

GRAND ISLAND- Next month, work on the $100 million Grand Island Casino Resort at Fonner Park is expected to begin, according to several project officials. Almost immediately following the passage of a 2020 referendum seeking to authorize the use and sale of slot machines, table games, and sports betting, Fonner Park sought to obtain authorization for and begin construction of a new Nebraska-based casino.

Fonner Park, which is owned by the Hall County Livestock Improvement Association, partnered with Elite Casino Resorts to plan the facility and overhaul the land on which it is to be built. Based in Iowa, Elite operates three casinos in Nebraska's neighbor state. A temporary casino was opened last December in Fonner Park by Elite, and currently includes 300 slot machines and table games, generating a gross gaming revenue of $16.9 million between January and July of 2023.

Elite Casino Resorts named Vince Fiala, a former assistant manager of the company's Grand Falls Casino in Iowa, as the forthcoming general manager of its planned, and soon to be constructed, Grand Island Casino Resort. Fiala said that the Fonner Park casino space will eventually measure around 37,000 square feet, and will feature 650 slot machines, 20 live dealer table games, and a sportsbook. Along with the casino, a 116-room hotel overlooking the Fonner Park racetrack will also be built.

For the full article click HERE

NEARLY $17 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM CDC AIMS TO REDUCE DRUG OVERDOSES IN NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- Two Nebraska governmental entities have been awarded a combined total of nearly $17 million in federal funding to bolster their battle against drug overdoses. The Douglas County Health Department and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services are among 40 local health departments in the United States to receive the funding, which comes from the CDC's Overdose Date to Action Program.

Douglas County announced on Thursday that its funding, which comes out to around $4.45 million, will be disbursed over a five-year period. The Department of Health and Human Services will receive funding over the same timeframe, but in the amount of $12.4 million. The program's funding is meant to help state's collect more comprehensive and timely data on overdoses, which can be utilized to improve prevention tactics, which should, in turn, reduce deaths and harm.

"This grant will make a lasting impact and provide hope to those affected by substance use disorders," said Lindsay Huse, Douglas County Health Director. This award of funding is actually the second for the state's Department of Health for the same reason, and allowed DHHS to provide coroners with free toxicology testing and provide different amounts of funding to 18 local health departments.

For the full article click HERE

NEW NEBRASKA LAW REQUIRES SAFETY UPGRADE FOR CORRECTIONS STAFF

LINCOLN- Several new laws took effect in Nebraska over the weekend, including one that protects Nebraska corrections workers. The state must now provide all of them with protective vests, a move that unfortunately comes too late for some staffers in Lincoln. On May 31, inmates stabbed five staff members with makeshift weapons inside the Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln.

"Where they were all stabbed would have been prevented by these vests," said Michael Chipman. Now, thanks to LB50, it is a requirement. "These vets are really important because they help give you protection against edge weapons. So knives, we call them shanks. They make them out of barbed wire. They can make them out of a pencil. I mean, they make them out of a bunch of fun, different things," Chipman said.

He hopes this increased level of protection for corrections staff will help retain and even bring in some new employees.

"I think it will hopefully help the staff feel like, you know, it won't be as easy for them to get killed and or seriously injured," Chipman said. And they all hope that something like this never happens again.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA'S THIRD RURAL BHECN SITE OPENS IN WAYNE, AIMS TO GROW BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE

OMAHA- To help grow the state’s mental and behavioral health workforce, the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska has opened its third rural site — this one in northeast Nebraska. The center at the Wayne State College campus joins a sister site at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, which launched in 2015, and another that started in 2019 at Chadron State College. 

The latest addition means the state-funded BHECN is halfway to meeting one of its goals: to develop six behavioral health regional sites. Recognizing a mental health professional shortage even back in 2009, the Nebraska Legislature created the BHECN to recruit, retain and increase the competency of the state’s behavioral health workforce. 

Dr. Marley Doyle, who heads the BHECN, said that establishing the rural sites in places like northeast, central Nebraska and the Panhandle is an attempt to tailor training, recruitment and retention to the needs of particular regions. “Nebraska is a geographically and demographically diverse state, and that means providers, students and trainees face different challenges” based on the part of the state in which they work, said Doyle. 

For the full article click HERE

SHOVELS SIGNAL CONSTRUCTION START FOR $95M MEDICAL SCHOOL IN KEARNEY

OMAHA- Ceremonial shovels broke ground this week for the $95 million Rural Health Education Building in Kearney, where a three-story, 110,000-square-foot medical school is soon to rise and then open in early 2026. Leaders of the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Omaha-based University of Nebraska Medical Center led the event signaling the construction start of the facility aimed at growing the state’s rural healthcare workforce.

“Our goal is to harness UNMC’s world-class skills to transform rural Nebraska through a unique endeavor not seen elsewhere in the United States: educating health care workers and professionals in rural areas,” said UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen. He called the project a “game-changer” in helping to fill shortages in all medical professions across the state.

The center will launch new programs to train physicians, pharmacists and public health professionals in Kearney, while also expanding the presence of other existing health and nursing programs. It will also contain state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories for pre-clinical education and complex clinical scenarios and primary care practice spaces.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA AWARDED $10.8 MILLION TO MODERNIZE POWER GRID, FIGHT CLIMATE CRISIS

LINCOLN- Nebraska has been awarded nearly $11 million of federal funding in efforts to modernize the nation’s electric grid and fight the climate crisis. The U.S. Department of Energy announced that Nebraska will be sent $10.8 million through the Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants program. Nebraska is among the seventh cohort of recipients, which includes eight other states and five tribes for a combined grant total of $125 million.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will distribute the funds in a competitive grant process through a soon-to-be-created Grid Resiliency Grant Program. The state is expected to receive $27 million total over five years. The funding is available through the bipartisan infrastructure law of 2021, which U.S. Rep. Don Bacon and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer supported.

Funding will help the state’s electricity industry and its ability to withstand weather-related incidents — such as storms or heat waves — but also physical attacks and cyberattacks. A department news release states it is imperative to modernize the state’s power grid to be more reliable and resilient as energy use transitions from fossil fuels to electricity.

For the full article click HERE

ACTIVISTS PREPARE FOR YEARLONG BATTLE OVER NEBRASKA PRIVATE SCHOOL FUNDING LAW

LINCOLN- Despite the fact that Support Our Schools Nebraska, an anti-school choice tax credit organization, was able to garner enough signatures to place an initiative that could repeal Nebraska's new scholarship tax credit law on the 2024 general election ballot, some proponents of the tax credits are calling the signature drive a victory of sorts.

This is because Support Our Schools failed to obtain the 122,000 signatures necessary to stop the bill from taking effect on January 1st, 2024. "When the bill takes effect, we look forward to the first round of scholarships reaching children in need for the 2024-2025 school year," said Tom Venzor, director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, an organization in support of the new law.

Keep Kids First, a group formed in opposition to Support Our Schools, also celebrated the semi-victory. "Our goal has always been to help as many kids as possible as quickly as possible, and we can do that now," Keep Kids First said in a statement following the deadline of the petition drive. Opponents of the tax credit answered these celebrations with a shrug, noting that the new law could be repealed before 2025, when contributors can begin claiming tax credits.

For the full article click HERE

OMAHA CITY COUNCIL WILL INTERVIEW FIVE APPLICANTS FOR SOUTH OMAHA VACANCY

OMAHA- The Omaha City Council, following the departure of Vinny Palermo, is set to interview five applicants to fill the vacant District 4 seat, which encompasses South Omaha. On Wednesday, the Council President and Vice President announced that they had chosen the five individuals among 12 applications. Whoever is chosen for the seat will serve the final two years of Palermo's term, which ends in 2025.

The five South Omahans selected include Garry Gernandt, who previously represented the district for 16 years; Metro Community College Board Member Ron Hug; neighborhood organization leader Rebecca Barrientos-Patlan; former aide to Mayor Stothert Terri Blackburn; and Erik O. Servellon, a former member of the Douglas-Sarpy Learning Community Coordinating Council.

"Council members worked together to identify the candidates they were most interested in advancing to the public interviews," said Pete Festersen, the Council's President, "We look forward to engaging them in-depth." Three of the five selected applicants are Democrats, with the remaining two being Republicans. However, the Council is elected on a nonpartisan basis.

For the full article click HERE

KEARNEY, NORFOLK SCHOOL OFFICIALS EXPLAIN TRANS STUDENT-ATHLETE POLICIES

LINCOLN- Just as the Nebraska Legislature is set to take up a proposal next year relating to transgender student-athletes, several local school boards in the state are moving ahead. Recently, Kearney Public Schools and Norfolk Public Schools passed more restrictive policies relating to transgender athletes than the standards outlined by the Nebraska State Activities Association. Each of the district's policies will require students in grades 6-12 to participate in sports according to their sex at birth.

Kearney Superintendent Jason Mundork said policy conversations surrounding this issue began last fall after several transgender students within the district expressed interest in competing. "If we didn't, I felt like this poor kid and the family was going to become a talking point," said Mundorf, "And that's pretty unfair to the kid." Norfolk Superintendent Jami Jo Thompson said in a statement following the enactment of the policy that she does not anticipate any students being turned away, and that, if any are, the district would work to help them find a new activity.

Sen. Kathleen Kauth has made clear that LB575 will be a priority for her in the upcoming 2024 Legislative session. The bill would define K-12 bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports teams as male or female, according to students' sex at birth. Last month, Kauth said she was pleased with the action taken by Kearney and Norfolk. "We want to make sure that we give them [Kearney and Norfolk] the support from the state so that they have the infrastructure that they need," Kauth said, indicating that she will push hard for the passage of LB575.

For the full article click HERE

GOV. PILLEN AND DELEGATION PRESS TRADE IN JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA

LINCOLN- Over the past week, Gov. Pillen, alongside a local delegation, traveled to South Korea and Japan in an attempt to increase trade with the East Asian nations. Gov. Pillen described the nations as "tremendous consumers" of Nebraska's agricultural products, and said he wishes to grow exchange opportunities.

"This visit will strengthen our already well-established partnerships," Pillen said before leaving for the trade missions. The weeklong tour, which will stretch until Friday, will also include Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton, other state government representatives, and local business leaders.

The Nebraska-based group is set to tour several hydrogen facilities in the nation, a handful of engineering corporations, and hold meetings with South Korean and Japanese officials. Japan is one of Nebraska's longest-running foreign investors, having invested nearly $4.5 billion into the state since 2010. South Korea doesn't fall too far behind that, and held the spot as Nebraska's fourth largest foreign export partner in 2022.

For the full article click HERE

PILLEN URGES SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS TO PASS ALONG NEW STATE FUNDS AS TAX RELIEF

LINCOLN- A tug of war between local school officials and Gov. Jim Pillen is currently underway over how the $300 million a year in extra funds allocated this year for K-12 schools should be used. Earlier this month, Gov. Pillen attended a Zoom call with Nebraska's school superintendents, and urged them to utilize 97% of the recent increase in state aid as property tax relief. Pillen reminded officials that the intent of the $300 million was to reduce property tax bills, and not to increase spending.

Lee Will, Pillen's budget advisor, claimed there have been some "misunderstandings" surrounding the allocations, which increased state aid but also imposed a new spending lid on districts. State Sen. Tom Briese, who sponsored the law that provides these allocations, said the new 3% cap was intended to ensure that property taxpayers got relief. While some of the school officials on the call with Gov. Pillen called it a "reminder," others argued that it was more like a "scolding."

Some officials, including Dave Welsch, a school board member from Milford, argued that Nebraska's schools don't "spend money willy-nilly," but have to be realistic when it comes to inflation. "But last year wasn't a normal inflation time, and if you don't pay your staff adequately, you're going to lose them," said Welsch. Lee Will, however, didn't see it that way, and said that districts exceeding the cap are "abusing the intent" of the new funding.

For the full article click HERE