NU REVIEWING BUDGET TO LOOK FOR EFFICIENCIES, INVEST IN PRIORITIES

LINCOLN- In a letter to students, faculty, and staff released on Thursday, NU President Ted Carter said the university system would begin using a zero-based budgeting approach "to ensure we are making the most effective, efficient, and impactful use of every dollar." This includes taking stock of employees, programs, and effectiveness of several non-academic offices as part of a budget review announced earlier this year.

The process was actually announced by Carter as part of the university system's five-point strategy to address a $58 million budget gap by June of 2025, the end of the current two-year budget cycle. The process is meant to help the university system locate areas deemed important by system and campus leaders. Doing so is expected to help NU rejoin the Association of American Universities, which the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was kicked out of around 12 years ago.

"Our goal is to align resources with priorities," wrote Carter, "Taking advantage of our scale where possible so we can maximize our investments in enhancing our competitiveness, academic quality, and reputation." The zero-based budgeting approach was utilized by NU to imagine "how we would build the University of Nebraska if we were starting from zero." According to Robert Kelchen, a professor of higher education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, such exercises can help universities ensure that their priorities are being adequately funded.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA LAWMAKER CONSIDERS LEGISLATION FOR ADVANCED FIRE ALARMS MEANT TO SAVE LIVES

LINCOLN- State Sen. Mike McDonnell introduced LR239 to examine the feasibility and benefits of requiring wireless interconnected fire alarms in residential dwellings, similar to a Norfolk, Nebraska, ordinance. The study is meant to inform possible legislation that would be among McDonnell’s final bills before he’s term-limited in 2024.

Norfolk officials, the state fire marshal and McDonnell testified before the Urban Affairs Committee. McDonnell, a former Omaha fire chief, said advanced safety measures could set a precedent for other cities or states to follow. “It is our duty to lead by example and ensure that we are doing everything in our power to protect our communities from the devastating effects of fire,” McDonnell told the committee.

In Norfolk, smoke alarms are required in new dwellings in every bedroom as well as one outside the bedrooms within 20 feet of the room. One alarm must be on each floor. The Norfolk ordinance requires homeowners or landlords to replace battery-operated alarms with interconnected ones at the change of ownership or occupancy. All testifiers stressed the importance of early detection of fires.

For the full article click HERE

SENATORS RENEW PLEA FOR 'STREAMLINED' PROCESS FOR PARDONING NONVIOLENT MARIJUANA CONVICTIONS

LINCOLN- A trio of state senators renewed their call Tuesday for the State Board of Pardons to adopt a “streamlined” process for people to be forgiven for minor marijuana convictions that do not involve violence. In a letter, State Sens. Danielle Conrad, Terrell McKinney and Justin Wayne said that a “second chance” should be afforded to minor drug offenders by removing barriers to better jobs, education and professional licenses.

“Making sure Nebraskans can move on from past mistakes and are fully able to find good jobs is one of the most effective anti-recidivism tools, and is critical for our shared public safety goals,” stated the letter, which follows a similar request in June. Gov. Jim Pillen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Secretary of State Bob Evnen all said that they oppose any process to provide a “blanket” pardon for dozens of people at once.

“Each case brought before the board is considered on its own merits, and involves weighing individual circumstances, including whether the person has demonstrated a record of law-abiding conduct, before a pardon is granted,” said Pillen spokeswoman Laura Strimple. “We should at least be able to come together and start a conversation about folks who made a mistake in the past,” Conrad said. “We really need to have the Pardons Board step up and do more.”

For the full article click HERE

GROWING PESSIMISM FOUND IN LATEST ANNUAL POLL OF RURAL NEBRASKANS

LINCOLN- According to the latest Rural Poll conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, there's increased pessimism about the present and future of rural Nebraska. The poll, now in its 28th year, found that 27% of respondents indicated that they are worse off today than five years ago, a significant jump from 21% last year and 11% in 2021.

This number makers the highest the poll has seen since 2009, when 28% said they believed they were worse off. L.J. McElravy, an associate professor of agriculture at UNL, said he expected to see more optimistic responses given that disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic have largely passed. "However," said McElravy, "I still see signs of hope, as we continue to see higher levels of optimism in relation to pessimism."

This was illustrated by the poll, which found that 45% of respondents said they were better off now than they were five years ago. Researchers at UNL attributed the trend toward pessimism to perceptions about the economy, despite the fact that only about a quarter of respondents said they expect significant increases in prices, inflation, and interest rates this year. The data was collected from 1,100 households from 86 of Nebraska's 93 counties.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA GENDER CARE RESTRICTIONS TAKE EFFECT SUNDAY WITH LITTLE GUIDANCE, NO REGULATIONS

LINCOLN- As outlined in LB574, Sen. Kathleen Kauth's bill that restricts gender-affirming care for minors and prohibits abortions past 12 weeks, Nebraska's new health care regulations will take effect this Sunday, October 1st. However, the restrictions regarding gender-affirming care, which were meant to be drafted by the state's chief medical officer, have not yet been published, so the changes will come with little guidance.

As of Friday, no timeline has been announced for when these regulations will be completed. Genital or non-genital transition surgeries for minors, however, will be prohibited on Sunday, but the regulations surrounding non-surgical treatments like therapy and hormone blockers are not yet created, meaning such treatments will continue to be available to transgender minors in Nebraska.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that the regulations were being worked on utilizing internal medical, psychological, and behavioral health specialists to do so. The identities of those crafting the regulations were not released to the public, and will not be for the time being "to ensure that the process is not impeded," according to a DHHS spokesperson.

For the full article click HERE

ONE STATE PROPERTY TAX CREDIT RISES SLIGHTLY IN 2023, WHILE ANOTHER STILL ISN'T BEING FULLY CLAIMED

LINCOLN- One state property tax credit will rise slightly in 2023, but all Nebraskans still aren’t claiming a more lucrative tax refund available via their income tax return. The Nebraska Department of Revenue announced that the real property tax credit for tax year 2023 will amount to $220.76 for the owner of a $200,000 home, and $264.90 for the owner of $200,000 worth of farmland.

But all property owners still aren’t claiming a 3-year-old income tax credit that partially refunds property tax payments for K-12 schools and community colleges. A year ago, 40% of state taxpayers had failed to take the credit on their state income tax returns as of September, leaving $200 million unclaimed.

Those numbers have improved somewhat in 2023, with about $128 million unclaimed as of mid-September, or about 23% of the $548 million available. A Revenue Department spokeswoman, Lydia Brasch, said Wednesday that more taxpayers are expected to claim the credit in October, when those who asked for an extension in filing their income tax returns will file. She added that the department plans to send out postcards to property owners in hopes of increasing the use of the refund, which is intended to soften the impact from the state’s traditionally high property taxes.

For the full article click HERE

OMAHA STEAMFITTER/UNION LEADER DAN OSBORN TO CHALLENGE INCUMBENT U.S. SEN. DEB FISCHER

LINCOLN- Incumbent U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer has an opponent. Omaha steamfitter and labor leader Dan Osborn announced that he will challenge Fischer in the 2024 election as an independent. Osborn, a veteran of the U.S. Navy and Nebraska Army National Guard, said his ability to “find solutions and move forward” was demonstrated in 2021 when he led the labor strike at Kellogg’s plant in Omaha as president of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G.

“I will bring together workers, farmers, ranchers, and small business owners across Nebraska around bread-and-butter issues that appeal across party lines,” he said in a press release. “I believe Nebraska can show the rest of America a better way forward,” Osborn added. A 48-year-old, married father of three children, Osborn, is a graduate of Omaha Roncalli Catholic High School.

In order to qualify for the 2024 ballot as a nonpartisan, Osborn must collect 4,000 signatures from registered Nebraska voters by Sept. 1, 2024. Among those lending support for Osborn’s run in his announcement press release was Dan’s father, Gary Osborn, a former Dodge County commissioner and registered Republican.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA'S MONTHLY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STAYS THE SAME AS THE NATION'S RISES

LINCOLN- During the month of August, and while the nationwide unemployment rate inched upwards, Nebraska's remained steady, according to preliminary data from state and federal labor officials. Compared to the U.S. average of 3.8% last month, Nebraska's unemployment rate rested at 2% during the month of August.

Nebraska's 2% rate puts the state at number six among states with the lowest rates, and also represents a fairly significant drop from the state's 2.6% unemployment rate last August. The specific unemployment rate by Nebraska county ranges from 1.2% in Grant County, and up to 2.2% in Blaine County.

To match the steadiness, Nebraska's labor force of 1.06 million people, which includes employed workers and those actively looking for jobs, remained just about the same, according to Labor Commissioner John Albin. "While the size of the labor force is steady over the year, the number of employed workers is up 6,191 over last August, and the number of unemployed workers is down 5,898," said Albin.

For the full article click HERE

FORMER TRUMP ADVISER CONWAY ENDORSES NEBRASKA'S DEB FISCHER

LINCOLN- Nebraska’s senior U.S. senator, Deb Fischer, announced that she has been endorsed by Kellyanne Conway, a Fox News commentator and senior adviser to former President Donald Trump. The endorsement adds to Fischer’s strength among Trump-leaning Republicans. The former state senator is seeking a third term in the U.S. Senate in the 2024 election.

In a statement, Conway said: “I’ve known Deb Fischer for many years. She’s a no-nonsense, straight shooter who keeps her word. She stands tall for our shared conservative values and has a remarkable record of success for the people of Nebraska. We need to keep Deb fighting for us in the U.S. Senate.”

Fischer has already been endorsed by a number of state leaders, including current Gov. Jim Pillen, former Govs. Dave Heineman and Kay Orr. She also has support from the state’s federal delegation, including fellow U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts. Conway was Trump’s campaign manager in 2016, when he won the presidency. She became a senior counselor in the Trump administration, serving until August 2020.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA CASINO REVENUE BOOSTS PROPERTY TAX CREDITS BY SMALL AMOUNT NOW, MORE EXPECTED LATER

LINCOLN- The first three months of casino gambling didn't translate into much property tax relief for property owners in Nebraska. But taxes collected on gambling revenue made a slight increase in the amount of property tax credits that the state will provide this year and are expected to provide much bigger boosts in the future.

State revenue officials reported that gambling added nearly $1.37 million to the $360 million allocated by state lawmakers for credits this year. That represents the state share of tax revenue from WarHorse Casino Lincoln, the first casino to open after voters approved expanded gambling at horse race tracks. Through the first eight months of this year, casino gambling has put nearly $8.5 million into the Property Tax Credit Fund.

The Department of Revenue announced that the Property Tax Credit Fund will provide credits worth $110.35 per $100,000 of valuation for homes and businesses. That means the owner of a $200,000 house will get $220.70 subtracted from his or her tax bill, with gambling taxes accounting for just 84 cents of the total.

For the full article click HERE

SCC WILL NOT HOST NEGOP FUNDRAISER AMID PUSH FOR TRANS BATHROOM, SPORTS RESTRICTIONS

LINCOLN- A NEGOP fundraiser and roundtable discussion originally scheduled at Southeast Community College was instead hosted at the NEGOP headquarters. A spokesperson for SCC confirmed the event would not be held at any SCC location but has “no further comment,” such as the circumstances that led to the location change. The ticketed event was originally scheduled for SCC’s James J. Huck Continuing Education building in Lincoln. The fundraiser includes sponsorships at $500, $1,000 and $1,500.

The event was being sponsored by State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha and billed as continuing discussions around Kauth’s Legislative Bill 575, the Sports and Spaces Act. LB 575 would define K-12 bathrooms, locker rooms and sporting teams as male or female based on students’ sex at birth. Kauth has indicated that the bill will be her priority bill in the 2024 Legislative session.

In a campaign email to volunteers and supporters, Kauth blamed the location change on “the ultra-radical leftist website Seeing Red [Nebraska].” Kauth said Seeing Red “attacked them [SCC] for having an anti-trans hate speech fundraiser at a public institution.” “Anti-trans is the biased, derogatory term used to describe this subject and these bills,” Kauth said in a text, describing LB 575 as protecting children.

For the full article click HERE

LANCASTER COUNTY GOP AFFIRMS ITS SHIFT RIGHTWARD, RETURNING POPULIST AND TRUMP SUPPORTER TO TOP JOB

HICKMAN- In a reaffirmation of its shift to the right, the Lancaster County Republican Party voted Tuesday night to return a populist and fervent supporter of Donald Trump, Matt Innis, to the post of chairman. Party delegates also passed resolutions condemning the indictments faced by Trump and supporting the impeachment of President Joe Biden — reportedly the first passage of such statements by a county GOP party in Nebraska.

Innis, who served as the county’s chairman from 2011-15, claimed 163 votes from the 246 delegates who voted during the county’s fall convention at the Hickman Community Center. He far outdistanced Kris Beckenbach, who had support from the more establishment wing of the state GOP represented by former Gov. and now U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, and Amber Parker, a party activist who promised unity within the party and an insistence on opposition to abortion rights.

Innis, in his campaign speech, said he was able to “flip” the Lincoln City Council from blue to red during his previous term as GOP chairman in the state’s second-largest county. “We put together a plan and we put together good candidates,” said Innis, an outspoken supporter of Trump. “We need candidates who are not abrasive, but are resolute.”

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA TRANS RIGHTS ACTIVISTS TO RALLY IN LINCOLN NEXT MONTH

LINCOLN- In just over one week, Nebraska's restrictions on gender-affirming care minors for individuals under the age of 19 will officially take effect. In response to this, transgender rights advocates are planning to protest the changes at the state's Capitol on October 1st, when the new law, created by Sen. Kauth's LB574, takes effect.

The join protest is being organized by the ACLU of Nebraska, Nebraska Appleseed, and OutNebraska, three organizations that previously opposed the law. "We have not forgotten how lawmakers voted against the rights of trans Nebraskans," a description of the event reads. The rally, which will take place on the Capitol's steps, is set to feature trans youths, parents, and medical professionals.

The new law is currently being challenged by lawyers from the ACLU, who argue, because it contains restrictions on both abortion and gender-affirming care, that it violates Nebraska's single-subject rule, which requires bills in the Legislature to apply to only one subject. As of right now, regulations surrounding the gender-affirming ban are being drafted by Nebraska Chief Medical Officer Timothy Tesmer, alongside his department, who were given the authority to do so by LB574.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA MIGHT PUSH TO CLARIFY 1889 STATE LAW ON FOREIGN LAND OWNERSHIP

LINCOLN- Since 1889, Nebraska has had a law on the books that limits foreign ownership and leases of land. However, state lawmakers have never clarified how they wanted to enforce the law, which agency would enforce it, or what penalty would be levied for violating it. "The biggest hole as I read it in Nebraska law," said Micah Brown, an expert on agricultural land law at the National Agricultural Law Center, "It's one of these traditional foreign ownership laws that would restrict anybody. But there's no enforcement or penalty provisions."

At a recent legislative study hearing during which Brown spoke to the state's Agriculture Committee, Chairman and state Sen. Steve Halloran said he might look into changing the law to fix those flaws. "Too often we write legislation on various issues after a problem has gotten too big to do much about it," said Halloran at the hearing, "I would rather write legislation that carefully prevents a problem from getting out of hand."

Halloran went on to say that he's heard concerns from constituents about Chinese interest in U.S. farmland, especially since Chinese investors purchased Smithfield Co., a Nebraska-based pork producer, and Syngenta, a seed processor. As of right now, foreign individuals or entities purchasing land do so through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To Halloran, it would make more sense to consider requiring new owners to fill out forms with the county where the land is located, and have the state collect and archive the information.

For the full article click HERE

LARGEST NATIONAL HISPANIC ORGANIZATION BLASTS OMAHA CITY COUNCIL FOR 'BETRAYAL OF TRUST'

OMAHA- The League of United Latin American Citizens, a volunteer-driven coalition based in Washington, D.C., announced the launch of a new program aimed at mobilizing Omaha's Latino community to demand representation on the City Council. The call for protest came shortly after the City Council voted unanimously to appoint Ron Hug to the City Council to replace Vinny Palermo.

District 4, the area of Omaha that Hug will now represent, includes a majority of the city's Latino community, with nearly one in to voting-age residents being Latino. Elsa Ramon Aranda, council president of LULAC Nebraska and an Omaha-based Latino community advocate, described the selection process as a "farce" and claimed the Council overlooked three Latino candidates "of a new generation our community knows and respects."

Despite this, Hug said that the objections from his new constituents just mean that they don't know him very well yet, and said several members of his family are Latino. The new Councilman continued by saying he'll work to remind his constituents of his South Omaha roots and serve them as he's done on the Metro Community College Board since 1998. LULAC said they intend for their new campaign to be a "rallying cry" ahead of the 2024 and 2025 elections, and are encouraging Latonis to reach out to Omaha-based corporations for support.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA HEALTH ASSOCIATIONS, FEDERAL LAWMAKERS CRITICIZE NURSING HOME STAFFING PROPOSAL

LINCOLN- On September 1st, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed a new rule to ensure that long-term care residents receive a minimum number of daily nursing hours and require a registered nurse to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said that the rule is an "important first step" to hold nursing homes accountable and ensure residents receive high-quality care.

However, some nurses in Nebraska, as well as the state's congressional delegation, don't see the rule the same way. According to Jalene Carpenter, president and CEO of the Nebraska Nursing Facility Association, the proposal "blatantly disregards" the pressing workforce crisis plaguing Nebraska, especially in nursing homes and assisted living communities. Carpenter went on to say that around 53% of Nebraska's nursing facilities would not be able to meet the proposed requirements, and that only 67% of the facilities could currently meet both requirements.

"The proposed rule is completely out of touch with Nebraska's reality," said Carpenter, "This proposed rule isn't a path to quality. It is a path to closure." In a letter to Brooks-LaSure, all five of Nebraska's congressional representatives asked for clarification, adding that they are concerned about "unique compliance challenges" in rural states such as Nebraska. The letter also notes concern over the proposal's definition of "urban" areas as towns with more than 5,000 people. The lawmakers said they believe this definition would block many rural areas from an extended implementation timeline meant to benefit rural long-term care facilities.

For the full article click HERE

DESPITE SALARY HIKES, STAFFING ISSUES REMAIN AT NEBRASKA PRISONS, REPORT SAYS

LINCOLN- Despite a slew of changes made over the years to the Nebraska state prison system's salaries and hiring bonuses, staffing issues still plague many of the state's prisons, according to an annual report issued by Inspector General for Corrections Doug Koebernick. While vacancies and turnover of corrections officers have improved over the years, recent increases in these two categories drew concerns from the watchdog office created by the Nebraska Legislature.

"Retention must be a critical focus going forward, particularly as other states and agencies raise their own correctional salaries," said the report. A state Corrections spokeswoman said that staff vacancies have been fluctuating over the years, despite upward trends in recent months. "There is some up and down movement with that number based on team member movements internally and externally and our hiring," said Deputy Director of Corrections Renee Smith.

Statistics from the Inspector General's office illustrate these claims, showing that staff turnover has increased from 268 to 295 between 2022 and 2023, and vacancies from 359 in March to 377 in June of 2023. Koebernick highlighted the Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln, a prison that merged several years ago after operating separately as the Lincoln Correctional Center and Diagnostic and Evaluation Center, as having particularly pressing staffing issues. "They're very worried about the facility," Koebernick said of it.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA HIRES $10M CONSULTANT TO FIND 'BREAKTHROUGH' SAVINGS, SCRAPS RICKETTS' EFFORT

LINCOLN- Gov. Jim Pillen has signed a $10 million contract with a Utah consultant to find better, less-costly ways to run state government. At the same time, he axed a state office already working on similar goals, saying the Center for Operational Excellence had fulfilled its purpose.

The center had been created by former Gov. Pete Ricketts with a mission of simplifying government by making it more efficient, effective and customer-focused. But Pillen said he wanted to go in a different direction, using a systems approach to reduce costs on a broader, agency-wide scale while improving outcomes and performance.

“I’ve challenged our entire team to drive breakthrough change,” he said. “We are going to accelerate our progress to reduce waste in government, improve services and save taxpayer money.” His office said it was not necessary to keep the 26 employees from the Center for Operational Excellence to make those changes, although five were moved to the State Budget Office.

For the full article click HERE

ENVIROMENTAL GROUP CONTINUES FIGHT AGAINST CONTAMINANTS, NITRATES IN NEBRASKA'S WATER

LINCOLN- A Lincoln-based environmental group is encouraging local action to protect Nebraska’s water resources amid growing concerns about nitrates and other contaminants. The Guardians of the Aquifer, a group founded in 2010 to oppose the Keystone XL pipeline, hosted a three-hour “What’s in Our Water, Nebraska” forum with local experts from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and around the state.

Crystal Powers, a research and extension communication specialist with UNL’s Nebraska Water Center, described water as one of the state’s most important resources. Water access varies across the state due to different rivers and geographic differences, Powers said. For example, the southeast parts of the state, near Lincoln, receive about 2.5 times more rainfall compared to the northwest areas by Scottsbluff.

Jesse Bell, a professor and researcher of water, climate and health at UNL and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said nitrate regulations are primarily focused on 10 parts per million, which is when the risk increases for adverse health outcomes. Nebraska has one of the highest rates of pediatric cancer, and nitrates are one factor, Bell said. Bell said that nitrate exposures have been improving but that diligence is still required.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS LOOK AT STATE'S MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AHEAD OF NEXT SESSION

LINCOLN- A Nebraska lawmaker is asking his colleagues to consider the state's biggest mental and behavioral health needs and set a "strong mental health agenda" for the 2024 session. The Health and Human Services Committee heard from a collection of mental health experts at a hearing for LR202. The resolution, brought by State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha, calls for an interim study into Nebraska's ongoing mental and behavioral health needs.

"This is a time, as a state, we need to step up," Fredrickson said. Fredrickson, a mental health professional himself, said mental health care in Nebraska has reached a crisis point. According to a study by Mental Health America, Nebraska has some of the highest prevalence of mental illness in the country, particularly among youths, where the state ranks 49th. The state ranks 29th when it comes to access to care.

One of the biggest ongoing issues is a shortage in providers, which currently impacts 88 of Nebraska's 93 counties, according to Marley Doyle, director of the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN). The center is housed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

For the full article click HERE