LINCOLN SCULPTOR'S BUST OF MALCOLM X CHOSEN FOR NEBRASKA HALL OF FAME

LINCOLN- Nathan Murray, a Lincoln-based sculptor, was selected from among three Nebraska artists to design and create the bust of Malcolm Little, who was born on May 19th, 1925 in Omaha, and who was selected by the Nebraska Hall of Fame to reside in the State Capitol's statuary hall. Little, also known as Malcolm X, was selected unanimously by the commission after being passed over twice in the past.

Murray, a 2009 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who teaches at the Lux Center for the Arts and Nebraska Wesleyan University, said he was honored to be chosen. "Being a Black Nebraska artist chosen to celebrate such an incredible part of our history is an honor," he said. Murray's other works explore issues of race, ethnicity, and intersectionality.

Meagan Dion, a public art and artist program specialist with the Nebraska Arts Council, said Murray's vision for Malcolm X aligned with the selection committee's priorities. Murray said his mock-up of the sculpture, which was shown to the commission earlier this year, portrayed Malcolm X as both a fighter and an intellectual. "It was very important for me that he have that sense of dignified strength," said Murray, "He was very much focused on doing for yourself, being strong, being moral, just that kinds of self-determination and being willing to be what need to succeed."

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GOVS. REYNOLDS, PILLEN, AND NOEM TOUT RECORDS AT 18TH TRI-STATE GOVERNORS' CONFERENCE IN SIOUX CITY

SIOUX CITY- On Wednesday, the governors of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota convened in Sioux City to discuss their respective records and hear from local business leaders. The meeting, formally titled the Tri-State Governors' Conference and which featured Govs. Kim Reynolds, Jim Pillen, and Kristi Noem, is a biennial event meant to bolster interstate commerce and cooperation between the three states.

"This is a great opportunity to bring everyone together for our common interests," said Kristie VerMulm McManamy, the former chair of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, which organized the event. Pillen highlighted four key areas of his work so far as governor, "kids, taxes, agriculture, values." "My dream as governor of Nebraska is that we lift every kids up, that nobody falls through the cracks, not one," said Pillen, "We lift all these kids up and help them get their skill sets for their training."

To attain that goal, Pillen suggested that the business leaders present at the event begin reaching out to and making connections with seventh and eighth graders in all three states, and even consider hiring them out of high school. Pillen also said he's focused on faith and family. "We have to be activated, as conservatives," Pillen said, "If you believe in conservative leadership, we all have to do more. We can't say: 'That's somebody else's issue'."

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GAMING TAX REVENUE FROM NEBRASKA'S RACETRACK CASINOS GREW IN SEPTEMBER

LINCOLN- Gaming tax revenue from Nebraska racetrack casinos continued to grow in September, according to state records. Racetrack casinos generated a total of $1.582 million in revenue for the state, cities and counties. That number reflects a 20% tax on the casinos’ total gross revenue for the month of $7.914 million.

The September tax revenue was up from $1.551 million in August and $1.544 million in July. Three racetrack casinos are currently open in Nebraska: WarHorse Casino in Lincoln, Grand Island Casino Resort in Grand Island and Harrah’s Columbus NE Racing & Casino. Sports betting revenue at the racetrack casinos rose in September for the second straight month as football season got underway.

While climbing steadily since July, the gross revenue from sports wagering represented a narrow slice — about 3.1% — of the total gross gambling revenue from casinos during the month. Slots and electronic gaming devices at the casinos brought in nearly 30 times the gross revenue of sports betting, according to state records.

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17 NEBRASKA NONPROFITS TO SHARE $70 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS FOR 'SHOVEL-READY' BUILDING PROJECTS

LINCOLN- Seventeen Nebraska nonprofits will share around $70 million in grant funds awarded Wednesday by the state for "shovel-ready" building projects. The funds come from the Shovel-ready Capital Recovery and Investment Act Program, for which extra funding was appropriated by the Nebraska Legislature and Gov. Jim Pillen this year.

The fund was created to assist nonprofits with capital projects that were delayed due to the pandemic or that are expected to provide a positive economic impact in the State of Nebraska. The biggest grant winner was Omaha's Creighton University, which is to receive $30 million. The remaining $40 million in funding was divided among the state's three congressional districts.

District 1 winners include the Malone Community Center, Lancaster County Agricultural Society, and Lindsay Area Development. District 2 winners include Creighton Preparatory School, Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, Omaha Community Playhouse, Rabble Mill, and the Young Men's Christian Association of Greater Omaha. District 3 winners included, among others, Art Farm, Chadron Public Library Foundation, and the Grand Island Children's Museum.

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LOCAL OFFICIALS, FAMILIES PRESS NEBRASKA FOR HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH CARE GAPS

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, lawmakers part of the Legislature's Health and Human Services committee were told by prosecutors, public defenders, mental health providers, and individuals with mentally ill family members that more needs to be done to address the shortcomings and gaps in the state's mental health care system.

Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov emphasized during the hearing that Nebraska's jails and prisons have become the "de facto" largest mental health facilities in many counties. Douglas County Attorney Tom Riley echoed a similar statement, adding that Nebraska needs to do more to shift its approach to mental health towards community-based care and regional mental health facilities. "We might not agree on the specific remedies," Riley told the committee, "but we all agree that this needs to be addressed."

The study, LR199, was proposed by Sen. Mike McDonnell, with the intent of pushing mental health care discussions forward between the courts, probation offices, law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, schools, and local leaders. "The State of Nebraska is facing an urgent behavioral health crisis," said McDonnell, "Nebraska has unintentionally shifted the responsibility of caring for the mentally unwell to our law enforcement and correctional facilities."

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LINCOLN-LANCASTER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES CHANGE TO COVID VACCINE POLICY

LINCOLN- The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department announced Wednesday that it would no longer be offering COVID-19 vaccine shots to Nebraskans who have private health insurance. Their reasoning for the change, which was provided in a press release, was based on the recent federal decision to no longer pay for every American to receive the vaccines free of charge.

"The Health Department serves as a safety net for members of our community who have limited health care coverage or none at all and helps ensure they have access to the vaccine," said Pat Lopez, the Health Director, "We're now returning to a more traditional role, but if the situation changes, we stand ready to respond."

Most Nebraskans with private health insurance should be able to receive the vaccine with no out-of-pocket costs, and seniors with Medicare will also be able to obtain the vaccine through a pharmacy or health provider. However, some have noted that scheduling a vaccine appointment in Lincoln has become increasingly difficult, but Health Department spokeswoman Leah Bucco-White said the department has checked with several large pharmacies in Lincoln and has not received any reports of a vaccine shortage.

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NEBRASKA REGENTS OK $450M OVERHAUL OF MEMORIAL STADIUM, BUT HAVE FUNDING QUESTIONS

LINCOLN- On Thursday, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved a $450 million plan to overhaul and update the 100-year-old Memorial Stadium following the 2024 Husker football season. However, while the item passed unanimously on an 8-0 vote, several regents expressed their concern over the ambitious plan.

Specifically, regents were curious about what contingency plans were in place should Nebraska Athletics fall short in its goal of raising $225 million in private funding for the project. Regent Jim Scheer said he wanted to know of any "off-ramps" the athletic department was considering if this fundraising goal fails to be met.

"We don't want to get caught behind the 8-ball," said Scheer, adding that the project was discussed in great detail among members of the university's Business and Finance Committee, but not the entire Board of Regents. Nebraska Athletics Director Trev Alberts confirmed that the Department was indeed ready "to cut the cloth to fit the quilt" if necessary. Alberts and NU President Ted Carter also stated that ground would not be broken until all of the funding was in place.

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'WE NEED TO BE UNIFIED': NEBRASKA CONGRESSMAN EXPECTS HOUSE SPEAKER VOTE NEXT WEEK

WASHINGTON D.C.- Congress was due for a four-day weekend, but it's coming a couple of days early after the vote to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from California. "Congress is essentially shut down until next Wednesday," Rep. Mike Flood said on Wednesday. "The House and Senate can't work together to pass any bills."

All three Republican Nebraska congressman voiced their support for McCarthy, but every Democrat and eight hard right Republicans voted to remove the House Speaker. The final tally was 216-210. "It was a very tough thing to watch and not good for our country," Flood said. "What happened yesterday was reckless."

House Republicans will conference next Tuesday to hear from all the potential candidates to fill McCarthy's role. Flood said he expects a vote on Wednesday. "Going forward, we need to be unified," Flood said. "We need to be focused on spending and national security, and things like this simply cannot happen again."

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WATER ISSUES ARISE AGAIN AT NEBRASKA'S WOMEN'S PRISON DUE TO WELL MAINTENANCE

YORK- Maintenance work on the primary water well at Nebraska's Correctional Center for Women has hampered the York facility's access to clean drinking water. Officials have advised staff and inmates to only consume water from the purified water sources located in "many places" throughout the 275-bed facility, including in all of the housing units, as the prison temporarily draws water from a secondary well.

The maintenance work is expected to be over within a week, but in the meantime, the state is providing bottled water for drinking in areas where there is no water filtering system, the spokeswoman, Dayne Urbanovsky, said. He said water from the alternative well is safe for showering and handwashing and that all water meant for consumption, including in the kitchen, has been filtered by a process called reverse osmosis that separates water molecules from other substances.

It's unclear how many of the facility's water access points offer the filtered water. Multiple women incarcerated at the facility have said that prison staff members posted signs on taps and faucets throughout the prison warning that the water isn't safe to consume, but inmates are still expected to use the water to shower.

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NEBRASKA ATTORNEY GENERAL CHALLENGES CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILL

LINCOLN- Attorney General Mike Hilgers is challenging more than one effort to reduce the state’s chronic prison overcrowding. And his efforts are sparking the ire of leading state senators. Sen. Wayne said that it appears to be an effort to account for building a new state prison, a $366 million project. “I believe in the (state) constitution,” the senator said.

While in the Legislature, Hilgers voted with to pass one of the laws he is challenging, LB686, which allows a “deferred judgment” by a judge. The other law he is legally attacking, LB 50, was a much-compromised measure that his AG’s office helped negotiate so it could pass in 2023. Wayne said if the “deferred judgment” law is ruled unconstitutional, problem-solving courts would also be in question.

Hilger's office declined to respond citing they couldn’t comment on a pending legal appeal. This led to criticism from Sen. Conrad who claimed, “That’s politics at its worst". She added that it “challenges the credibility” of the attorney general’s office when it is involved in negotiating legislation.

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STATE OFFICIALS UNVEIL 'NEW VENTURE' STUDENT COMPETITION TO FIND THE 'NEXT HUDL'

LINCOLN- State officials launched a new contest for student entrepreneurs that they hope will lead to creating the “next Hudl,” a sports tech start-up that now employs 3,500 across the world. With about two dozen 20-somethings looking on at Hudl’s downtown Lincoln headquarters, Gov. Jim Pillen pitched the “Governor’s New Ventures Competition” as a way to keep the “best and the brightest” college students in Nebraska from moving away.

The contest will pay $20,000 for the best business idea submitted by Nebraska college students, and $15,000 and $10,000 for second and third place, respectively. “We’re entering into an incredible new economy, and the more that we can do to stimulate students to have the next bold idea that can change the world (the better),” Pillen said.

Bryan Slone, the president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that Hudl was “a model of what’s possible” in the state. “Where is the coolest sports tech company in the world?” Slone asked. It’s here, he responded. Hudl CEO David Graff, a UNL graduate, said that he and partners entered several similar contests 17 years ago when the company was founded.

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UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY FACULTY, STUDENTS PROTEST BUDGET CUTS

KEARNEY- Faculty and students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney are pushing back against millions in proposed budget cuts that could lead to fewer degrees and faculty positions. The University of Nebraska system is facing an approximate $58 million shortfall over the next two years across its campuses in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney. UNK is estimating a $4.3 million shortfall this fiscal year.

Will Avilés, a professor of political science at UNK and president of the UNK Education Association, said administrators have proposed cutting approximately 30 faculty positions from 14 departments. The UNK departments of Geography, Philosophy and Theater are proposed to be eliminated. “I don’t think they appreciate or understand how harmful these cuts are going to be,” said Avilés.

Students protested the proposed budget cuts, which have been sent to a Faculty Advisory Committee for further review. The committee’s role is an advisory one. “I think we’re going to lose a lot of those students [from central and western Nebraska],” Avilés said. “Some of the students are not going to then just go to Lincoln or Omaha. They’re going to look elsewhere.”

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GOV. PILLEN CONTRIBUTES TO CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT LB753 WITH $100,000 DONATION

LINCOLN- Gov. Jim Pillen has doubled down on his support for an “opportunity scholarships” bill he signed into law this year, contributing $100,000 to the campaign to fend off an effort to repeal it. The latest campaign finance statements submitted by the Keep Kids First committee indicates that it collected more than $701,000 in contributions over the past two months, pushing its total receipts to retain LB753 to $1.45 million.

The pricey battle pits public school advocates, who maintain that LB753 is a preliminary step to charter schools and a drain on public education, against school choice advocates, who argue that not all students thrive in public schools and some need financial help to afford private school tuition. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said that the donations from Pillen and others demonstrate that “there are a lot of Nebraskans who think we should have school choice.”

But Jenni Benson, the president of the Nebraska State Education Association, said that “all Nebraskans should be troubled by these uber-wealthy individuals giving huge $100,000 contributions in their attempt to deny Nebraskans the right to vote on this important issue.” Pillen’s $100,000 donation was among the largest given recently to the drive to oppose the repeal effort.

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TWO COMMISSIONERS CENSURED BY PSC BOARD; THEY CLAIM IT WAS 'RETALIATION'

LINCOLN- Two members of the Nebraska Public Service Commission censured by the rest of the five-member board claimed they were victims of “retaliation.” Board members Christian Mirch of Omaha and Kevin Stocker of Scottsbluff were censured by the board on a 3-2 vote following an investigation by an attorney hired by the board. The probe looked at complaints of mistreatment of staff members of the Public Service Commission by the two commissioners.

A press release quoted Dan Watermeier, the chairman of the elected board, stating that “the Commission will not condone the conduct that led us to today’s decision”. But both Mirch and Stocker that the official reprimand was in retaliation in large part because they have pushed too hard to get the PSC to act more quickly in distributing $1 million in grants for “precision agriculture.”

But the PSC, after conducting hearings on how to best utilize the funds, later determined that it couldn’t use BEAD funds for the precision ag program. Mirch and Stocker wanted the PSC to move quickly to hand out the grants, arguing that public hearings had already been held on the idea. But the rest of the commission disagreed. Commissioner Tim Schram of Gretna said that a new round of hearings and comments was necessary.

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LANCASTER COUNTY GOP CHAIR ACCUSED OF STALKING, ABUSE IN CIVIL COURT FILING

LINCOLN- Last month, a judge ordered former U.S. Senate candidate and current head of the Lancaster County Republican Party, Matthew Innis, to cease communication with his wife and stay away from their once-shared home after she accused him of abuse and stalking in civil court filings. The judge's ruling came just a week after Innis was elected chairman of the Lancaster County GOP.

The order, issued on an emergency basis and can be either kept in place for a year, modified, or vacated altogether, came in response to the civil petition from Innis' wife, who also filed for divorce in January. In March, Judge McManaman also issued an order barring Innis and his wife from "disturbing the peace and quiet" of each other, but Innis' wife, in a July filing, argued that Innis had violating this exlusion order 11 times.

The July filing requested that the judge enact a protection order, with Innis' wife accusing the Lancaster GOP chairman of "severe post-separation abuse" in the form of repeated unannounced visits to her home. Neither Innis' attorney nor the Lancaster County GOP responded to questions regarding the accusations.

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AFTER 100 YEARS, NEBRASKA REVIVES PLANS TO BUILD A CANAL, STIRRING CONTROVERSY WITH COLORADO

LINCOLN- The South Platte River, which flows from Colorado to Nebraska, has prompted controversy among lawmakers and water users in both states and led to arguments surrounding ownership of the water. That controversy burst into public view at the beginning of last year, when then-Gov. Pete Ricketts outlined a plan to capture that water for usage in Nebraska.

"To secure Nebraska's water supply I am recommending $500 million to construct a canal and water reservoir system from the South Platte River," said Ricketts a year ago, "Access to this water enables our farmers and ranchers to produce. It provides for quality drinking water." That original $500 million proposal has now reached $628 million, and is being spearheaded now by Gov. Jim Pillen. Supporters of the project argued that if Nebraska doesn't build the canal, Colorado could divert almost all of the water away from the state.

Colorado officials called these fears exaggerated, and even some Nebraska lawmakers, including former Sen. Steve Lathrop, questioned why Ricketts brought up an almost 100-year-old canal proposal. Despite the skepticism, Nebraska lawmakers approved money for a feasibility study, and were greeted with four conclusions from consulting firm Zanjero. The state also recently contracted HDR Engineering to design the canal and reservoir system, and Jesse Bradley, assistant director of the Department of Natural Resources, said the project is moving forward.

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NEBRASKA'S PLATTE INSTITUTE CALLS FOR FOCUS ON WORKFORCE SHORTAGES, TAXES, SCHOOL CHOICE

LINCOLN- A Nebraska-based conservative think tank, The Platte Institute, recently called on state lawmakers to focus on issues relating to workforce shortages, taxes, and education during the upcoming 2024 legislative session. Each of these subjects was highlighted at a Thursday panel held by the Institute. Speaker of the Legislature John Arch, who was present at the panel, confirmed that these subjects will likely be addressed next year.

However, Arch told a crowd that the first order of business during the 2024 legislative session will be another rules debate, which he hopes will provide clarity on the Legislature's procedures. This year, lawmakers spent multiple days debating the rules, which was prompted by an almost session-long filibuster conducted by Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh.

Arch also confirmed that the Legislature's Executive Committee will tackle the recent opinion issued by Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, which limited the powers of the Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare and Inspector General of Corrections. Tweaks to a large tax relief package passed this year, according to Arch, will also be made, along with certification and licensure changes to reduce the state's workforce shortage.

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ROUND TWO OF EMERGENCY RENT AID, ONCE A POLITICAL HOT POTATO, NOW AVAILABLE TO 91 NEBRASKA COUNTIES

LINCOLN- Just a few days into accepting applications for a new batch of emergency rental aid, representatives from around the state of Nebraska said they've already fielded more than 600 requests from 55 different counties. "It's been insanely busy," said Tanya Gifford of Lift Up Sarpy County. Gifford's organization is among those helping the Nebraska Investment Authority disburse $48 million in pandemic-related rent and utility aid, this time towards the state's 91 more rural counties.

The federal funding for these smaller counties had become shrouded in controversy in past years, after then-Gov. Pete Ricketts refused to tape into the federal dollars set aside for Nebraska. Ricketts, following the announcement that Nebraska would receive the funding, claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic was over and that Nebraska should guard against becoming a "welfare state." Despite this, state lawmakers became involved, but fell one vote short of overriding a veto on a bill that would have forced Ricketts' hand.

Gov. Jim Pillen, upon assuming the governorship, accepted what was left of the original $120 million in federal funding for these counties, bucking his predecessor's stance. A spokeswoman from Pillen's office said that the new governor recognized that housing stability and affordability issues still plagued rural Nebraska, and that accepting the funding would help ease those burdens. For the second round, applicants must demonstrate that they faced financial hardship during the pandemic, and then can receive up to $30,000 for past-due and future rent and utility payments.

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LINCOLN AIRPORT AUTHORITY BACK AT FULL STRENGTH WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF VANESSA EMLICH

LINCOLN- Vanessa Emlich recently served her first day as a member of the Lincoln Airport Authority after being appointed by Lincoln May Leirion Gaylor Baird following the resignation of Nick Cusick in late July. Emlich said she hopes to lend a hand to the airport board that has, in recent weeks, taken hits after the closure of Red Way Airlines.

"I want to see the airport grow," she said, "I definitely want to see more air services come into Lincoln, but I think there are obviously other opportunities to help the community grow." Emlich previously ran for a seat on the airport authority in May and lost, but said she found a lot of positivity in her time spent campaigning.

During that time, Emlich said she spent a lot of time with current board members and the airport's executive staff, and learned how things work. "I wanted to understand kind of what the issues were," she said, "I wanted to be as informed as possible. That was enjoyable because I got to a better education about what the airport was working on."

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ONE YEAR IN, WARHORSE LINCOLN HAS DONE WHAT IT PROMISED

LINCOLN- While WarHorse Lincoln is still a work in progress, it's an endeavor that has only just scratched the surface of its potential, according to its ownership group. "It's really going to be something," said Lance Morgan, CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, which operates the casino.

For now, the casino is being housed in a small building, but phase two of its development, which will double the size of the facility, began last month, with an expected completion date of October 2024. A year on, the numbers generated by the casino seem to suggest that it has been nothing short of successful. Financially, WarHorse Casino has contributed just over $4.7 million to a property tax credit fund, as well as roughly $845,000 each to the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County.

"I think everybody said, 'Wow that's a lot of Money,'" said Tom Sage, executive director of the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, "But I don't know what the expectations were...I had no expectations, and I don't believe the commission had any expectations." According to Morgan, the casino's generated revenue has lived up to past projections, and has done so without causing many of the problems opponents claimed it would. "I think it's very good, and it probably will only get better when the permanent facilities become operations," said Morgan.

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