MORE CANDIDATES JOIN RACE FOR NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- Two more candidates have announced bids for seats in the Nebraska Legislature, including one incumbent lawmaker and another candidate involved in multiple community organizations. State Sen. Rob Dover of Norfolk announced that he plans to seek a complete term in the Legislature after being appointed to replace now-U.S. Rep. Mike Flood last year.

Last week, Lincoln business owner Seth Derner announced he was seeking election to the seat currently held by Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln. Ballard is another appointee who joined the Legislature at the start of this year’s session to replace now-Attorney General Mike Hilgers, and he has yet to officially announce plans to seek a full term.

In his campaign press release, Dover touted his support for significant conservative bills that passed this session, including a large tax relief package and an increase to Nebraska’s existing abortion ban to 12 weeks based on gestational age. Derner called for the Legislature to return to its nonpartisan roots. If elected, he said, he would focus on education, healthcare, jobs and lowering property taxes.

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NEBRASKA LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE PONDERS THE DEFINITION OF 'AFFORDABLE HOUSING'

OMAHA- State Sen. Terrell McKinney hosted a Monday Urban Affairs Committee hearing in an attempt to lay out the first steps to address "affordable housing" in the next legislative session, first by learning how constituents define the term. LR138, the study conducted, explored the "revolving definition" of affordable housing during a three-hour period where over three dozen developers and community leaders had the chance to testify.

McKinney himself described affordable housing as a cost-effective way to reduce intergenerational poverty, increase economic mobility, and foster local development. "In Nebraska, we need to ensure that we're making strides to true affordable housing tailored to our state's unique needs," he said, "We have to find creative solutions to solve this problem."

Buey Ray Tut, CEO of Omaha nonprofit Spark and one of the testifiers, said one of the biggest issues is the fact that thousands of Nebraska households are "cost-burdened," or paying more than 30% of their gross income in monthly housing payments and utilities. 21,000 households in Lincoln and 55,000 in Omaha are considered "cost-burdened," according to Tut. Lynn Rex, executive director of the League of Nebraska Municipalities, said the Legislature should begin offering tuition waivers for jobs such as electrical work and plumbing to ensure that there is a strong workforce willing to build affordable homes.

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STATE SEN. TOM BREWER, A MEMBER OF THE OGLALA LAKOTA TRIBE, CHOSEN FOR 'COURAGE' AWARD FROM STANDING BEAR GROUP

LINCOLN- On Monday, it was announced that Sen. Tom Brewer would receive the "Prize for Courage" at the Chief Standing Bear Project's annual Indigenous People's Day banquet on October 9th. Larry Dwyer, a board member on the Project and an author who was written about Standing Bear, said Brewer has been a "great leader" on Native American causes during his seven years in the Nebraska Legislature.

Those efforts include working to have a Standing Bear statue placed in the National Statutory Hall in the U.S. Capitol and renaming a state office building in Lincoln after a Ponca chief. On top of that, Brewer also worked to designate a 22-mile stretch of a hike-bike trail as "Chief Standing Bear Trail," to mark the route of the Ponca Tribe when it was removed from its reservation in northeast Nebraska in 1877.

The Chief Standing Bear Project was established to honor the titular Ponca Chief, who some argue was the "Martin Luther King" of civil rights for Native Americans. Standing Bear is famous for winning a court ruling in 1879 that recognized Native Americans as "persons" under U.S. law. The Courage Award was established last year, and was previously given to actor Wes Studi.

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DUNIXI GUERECA ANNOUNCES NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE DISTRICT 7 CANDIDACY

OMAHA- Dunixi Guereca, the executive director of Stand for Schools, a nonprofit that advocates for strong public schools, announced his candidacy for the 7th legislative district seat, which is currently held by Sen. Tony Vargas, who will be term-limited in 2024. The district encompasses part of downtown and south Omaha.

Prior to working at Stand for Schools, Guereca was a union organizer for the Service Employees International Union. "As the proud son of two Mexican immigrants who came to the U.S. in search of a better life, I saw up close their struggle to achieve the American Dream," wrote Guereca in a release, "That dream is too far out of reach for so many people across Nebraska."

Guereca said his priorities, should be elected to the seat, will include strengthening Nebraska's public schools, providing higher wages to workers in the state, appropriating funding towards affordable housing and healthcare, and creating a "fair tax system for all hard-working Nebraskans." Guereca studied political science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and served there as president of the Nebraska Young Democrats.

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WHITE HOUSE TO INVEST MORE THAN $15 MILLION IN NEBRASKA RAILROADS

LINCOLN- The U.S. Department of Transportation announced it’s investing $15.22 million in Nebraska’s railroads. The Biden Administration says this funding will go toward rail improvement projects, especially looking into rail safety and supply chain upgrades. Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Grand Island on Monday to tout this new funding.

“Under President Biden’s leadership, we are making historic investments in rail, which means fewer accidents and delays, faster travel times, and lower shipping costs for the American people,” said Buttigieg in a press release.“These projects will make American rail safer, more reliable, and more resilient, delivering tangible benefits to dozens of communities where railroads are located, and strengthening supply chains for the entire country.”

This investment in Nebraska will go toward the “Cornhusker Railroad Regional Connectivity Project.” It involves final design and construction activities for track-related improvements, upgrades to certain grade crossings, and expansion of the railcar repair facility. Nationally, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing more than $1.4 billion into 70 rail improvement projects in 35 states and Washington, D.C.

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TWO STATE AGENCIES CLAMP DOWN ON NEBRASKA OMBUDSMAN'S PROBLEM-SOLVING WORK

LINCOLN- For over fifty years, Nebraska's Ombudsman's Office has been a place where state citizens could turn to resolve problems they identified within the state government. However, since mid-August, two major state agencies, the Departments of Health and Human Services and of Correctional Services, have turned off access to their cases management systems, barred agency employees from responding to requests for information, and sharply limited visits to state institutions, severely reducing the power of the Ombudsman's Office.

As a result, State Sen. Terrell McKinney said he's been hearing from Nebraskans involved with both agencies, particularly those in the state prison system, who can't get their questions or concerns answered. "There's a lot of issues that are not being addressed because they are not allowed to help," said McKinney, "It's just making a bad situation worse." State Ombudsman Julie Rogers said she and her staff are continuing to take complaints from citizens concerning the two agencies, but that responses are slow.

"Right now it's taking a lot longer," said Rogers, "We're trying to figure out what information we can get." DHHS and Corrections officials curtailed the Ombudsman's Office access within days after Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers issued an opinion concluding that two watchdog offices aimed at child welfare and prison oversight violated the State Consitution. The watchdog groups are housed within the Ombudsman's Office but are governed by separate laws.

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NEBRASKA ADVOCATES SAY 'WOMEN'S BILL OF RIGHTS' DOES NOT FOCUS ON NEEDED PRIORITIES

LINCOLN- Two of the state’s largest women’s rights groups say a new “Women’s Bill of Rights” misses the mark when seeking to support Nebraska women. Gov. Jim Pillen on Aug. 30 signed the executive order, which defines “male” and “female” for the state’s executive branch and varying agencies, boards and commissions based on the development of peoples’ reproductive systems.

In that “Women’s Bill of Rights,” a “female” is defined as someone whose biological reproductive system is developed to produce ova and a “male” as someone whose biological reproductive system is developed to fertilize the ova of a female. However, Erin Feichtinger, policy director for the Women’s Fund of Omaha, said she thinks there are no rights included in the “bill of rights.” It also comes after countless policies and ideas have been brought to the Legislature.

Pillen said in a statement nearly identical to the one he issued when he signed the order that it is “common sense” that men do not belong in women-only spaces. MaryLee Moulton, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Nebraska, said Pillen’s order is “another volley” in a culture fight that continues to be waged in Nebraska.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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