NEBRASKA JOINS 40 OTHER STATES IN SUING FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM OWNER META

LINCOLN- Nebraska and 40 other states announced a barrage of federal and state lawsuits against the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The filings allege Meta designed social media platforms it knew were addictive and damaging to teens. A group of state attorneys general discussed a shared goal: They want social media companies to protect and not exploit the mental health of teenagers.

A total of 33 states, including Nebraska, joined the federal lawsuit filed in federal court in northern California. Another seven states and the District of Columbia are filing separate state lawsuits against Meta based on a mix of consumer protection laws. Florida is filing a separate federal lawsuit as well. Massachusetts AG Andrea Joy Campbell said some steps Meta took went “beyond what is legal and permissible.”

Of particular note, the federal lawsuit alleges, was Meta’s work to advertise and collect data on children younger than 13 years old, which the cooperating attorneys general said violates a federal law, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. “It’s really about dismantling this apparatus that has been built, this machine that’s been built to pull in young people and sort of chew them up and spit them out,” Hilgers said of the legal effort.

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HOUSING PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE RECEIVE $12 MILLION FROM NEBRASKA AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Department of Economic Development is set to distribute over $12 million to fund 23 housing projects across the state through the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund. NeighborWorks is receiving just over $3 million of that total for two projects, while Habitat for Humanity and the Nebraska Housing Resource will receive $800,000 and $302,000 respectively.

The City of Milford and Village of Beaver Crossing are both receiving $287,000, while Blue Valley Community Action, which covers nine counties in the state, will receive $661,000. The 23 funded projects were chosen from 70 applicants requesting a total of $41 million, according to a press release from the Department of Economic Development.

The Affordable Housing Trust Fund was established by the Nebraska Legislature in 1996, and calls for a portion of the documentary stamp tax from real estate transactions to be transferred to the fund. In total, this year's round of funding will provide for the development of at least 264 housing units, which will include a mix of new home construction, construction of rental housing, rehabilitation of existing structures, and homebuyer assistance.

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LEGACY DOWNS AT WARHORSE LINCOLN LANDS FOUR RACING DAYS IN 2024, WITH DATES TO BE DETERMINED

LINCOLN- On Friday, Legacy Downs at WarHorse Lincoln was granted approval by the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission for four racing dates in 2024. However, the new horse track's first race is set to be held on October 31st. WarHorse Lincoln didn't want to promote the race heavily, though, since the track still lacks an adequate number of parking spaces and a grandstand.

The Halloween race at Legacy Downs will be the first glimpse of the new track for many, and officials are already raving about it. "I've seen what Lincoln is doing and they're doing it right," said Tom Sage, executive director of the Racing and Gaming Commission. On Friday, the Commission also approved adding the Premiere Soccer League to the sports wagering catalog, a move that, according to Lynne McNally, will attract more bets.

In addition to announcing its racing officials, as well as procedures for racing and operations, the Commission also approved 53 statewide racing days for 2024 in addition to Legacy Downs' four. "Fifty-three is our magic number," said Commission Chairman Dennis Lee. All three of Nebraska's racetracks, Columbus, Horsemen's Park, and Legacy Downs, are in some phase of construction, making it impossible to pinpoint when each track's races will take place in 2024.

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REP. BACON SAYS HIS 2024 CAMPAIGN DIDN'T STEER HIS VOTES IN THE HOUSE SPEAKER DEBATE, CASTS VOTE FOR JOHNSON INSTEAD

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Rep. Don Bacon is likely to face a tough re-election battle in a particularly competitive Omaha-area district next year, but said his race was "secondary" in his mind after casting a controversial vote against Rep. Jim Jordan for House Speaker last week. Bacon drew outrage from hard-right conservatives after voting against Jordan three times.

Some right-wing critics of Bacon, both at home and nationally, argued that Bacon, in voting against Jordan, was ignoring the wishes of his constituents. Despite this, Bacon said that he believes the people in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses most of Omaha, are probably a 50-50 split in their support for Jordan.

The 2nd District generally runs purple compared to the rest of Nebraska, making it less hospitable to politicians who take extreme partisan positions. Bacon has won the District four times, but some of these victories were exceedingly narrow. UNO political science professor Randall Adkins estimated that the 2nd District is among the nation's top 30 competitive Districts. "The margins are always going to be close," he said. On Friday, Rep. Bacon, as well as Rep. Mike Flood, cast their votes for Rep. Mike Johnson, who assumed the Speakership on Wednesday.

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FOOD DEMAND DRIVES NEED FOR GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CROPS, MEAT, UNL REPORT SAYS

LINCOLN- Wars in Europe and the Middle East, a general increase in demand, and a changing climate are making food scarcer and costlier. Farmers in the United States believe they can fill the gap with the help of biotechnology, but will need the help of Congress and federal regulators. That was a key sentiment from panelists in the agriculture, business, government, law, and academia industries during a summit this past spring at UNL's Clayton Yeutter Insitute for International Trade and Finance, which produced a report based on these findings.

Panelists who spoke at the summit said they believe politicians need to speak more clearly during trade negotiations about the urgency and science behind genetically engineered crops and meat, and to make clear to partners that the biotechnical process behind these products is very similar to natural growth processes. Panelists also highlighted the need for the general public to understand that biotechnological advances need to keep pace with the global population, which increases yearly while farmland decreases.

Jill O'Donnell, director of the Yeutter Institute, hosted the three-hour discussion in March, saying that the goal of it was to encourage freer discussions about the future of food production, especially amid shortages and high costs. One potential solution expressed at the meeting is the streamlining of the number of agencies responsible for biotech food regulations, which currently sits at three. "Too many agencies involved in different parts of the process," said O'Donnell, "Overlapping authorities."

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FINAL TALLY FOR FIRST PILLEN BORDER DEPLOYMENTS TOTALS NEARLY $1 MILLION

LINCOLN- The final tab for Gov. Pillen sending 61 Nebraska National Guard members to help Texas patrol the southern border of the United States in August was $826,000. This number came as a result of the public records request sent to Pillen's office. Projections from the National Guard placed that number closer to $2 million.

Pillen's deployments, which included several others in May and early June, which cost roughly $128,000, echo those of his predecessor, former Gov. Pete Ricketts, who spent nearly $2.5 million in deploying Nebraska National Guard and Patrol to Texas in 2020 and 2021. Nebraska was reimbursed by Texas for the 2020 deployment, but not for 2021.

The State Military Department covered the most recent deployment, using its $12.2 million general fund budget, with Pillen saying that he intends to utilize part of more than $1 billion in federal pandemic recovery funds to refill the Guard's coffers. This has drawn some criticism, and State Sen. Carol Blood believes that pandemic relief funds could be used more effectively, such as for public health.

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NEBRASKA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS LOW IN SEPTEMBER

LINCOLN- The state unemployment rate continued to remain low in September. The Nebraska Department of Labor reported that Nebraska's unemployment rate for September was 2.1%. That was up from 2% in August, but was down significantly from the 2.6% rate reported in September 2022. The state's unemployment rate last month ranked as the sixth lowest in the country.

The number of filled jobs statewide in September was up 4,738 compared with August and 15,249 compared with a year ago. Commissioner of Labor John Albin said manufacturing employment was one of the drivers of the September job growth. “Manufacturing employment remained strong in September, increasing slightly from August,” he said in a news release.

The number of people employed was down slightly in September compared with August, just over 1,000 people, but there were 6,304 more people working statewide compared with a year ago. The national unemployment rate for September was 3.8%. The state will look to hold, if not improve, this percentage heading into the winter months.

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NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS LOOK TO UNDERSTAND, CURB POTENTIAL ABUSES OF EMINENT DOMAIN

LINCOLN- Last Friday, members of the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee of the Nebraska Legislature dove into the concept of eminent domain, and explored ways state law could be more fair or transparent. The hearing concerned Sen. John Cavanaugh's LR247, which was created, according to the senator, after he saw a number of private entities utilize eminent domain.

However, Cavanaugh said that he didn't have a specific outcome in mind in holding the hearing, and was instead looking for more transparency in the process. "This is a broad project, and different entities have different types of domain and different responsibilities," Cavanaugh told the committee, "There's still a lot of work to be done and a lot to learn."

Cavanaugh previously introduced LB133, which would require public or private entities with eminent domain authority to be subject to the Open Meetings Act. Multiple organizations testified at the bill's February hearing, and argued that such a change could become onerous if the recorded meetings are not set up for them or if staff are spread nationwide.

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MENTAL HEALTH TECHS PROTEST WORKING CONDITIONS, SAFETY AT NEBRASKA PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL

LINCOLN- Over the weekend, mental health specialists at the Lincoln Regional Center escalated calls for change and attempted to raise awareness of their working conditions at Nebraska's psychiatric hospital. The specialists, or techs, rallied on Saturday outside of the Governor's Mansion before regrouping on the north steps of the State Capitol to debrief with State Sen. Carol Blood, who is one of the few state officials attempting to address their concerns.

Jennifer Head, one of the techs present, described a patient's assault on two techs that occurred last week. The patient, who had no behavioral health issues since receiving care at the facility, assaulted a woman in her 60s. "He assaulted her, kicked her like she was a soccer ball," said Head. Other workers in attendance at the rally raised similar concerns, saying that the conditions of the center should raise an alarm for lawmakers.

Yvette Olivetti, a union representative for the techs, said state inaction was the reason they were rallying. "Words are meaningless unless they're backed up by action, and that is going show techs that [lawmakers] actually care about our safety, our well-being, our own mental health, and various other issues," she said. Several other workers described other bad conditions at the center, like the loss of a 45-minute break window and a lack of staff, forcing many to take on mandatory overtime shifts.

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FARM GROUPS, WEATHER AND CLIMATE WATCHERS PITCH STATE FUNDING MODEL FOR NETWORK OF WEATHER STATIONS

LINCOLN- Once the envy of the nation for its 81 weather monitoring stations across the state, the Nebraska Mesonet program's funding has slowly dwindled over the years, forcing the system to close nearly 20 stations. However, a recent series of meetings involving agriculture groups, meteorologists, and university researchers has those involved with the weather monitoring system optimistic, and even prompted a new $2 million a year funding model.

"People really want the data, there's a ton of interest in it," said Ruben Behnke, who was hired to be the director of Nebraska Mesonet in July, "I'm trying to continue that momentum." Ken Herz, former president of the Nebraska Cattlemen and an advocate for the system, said that interest in the Mesonet system will skyrocket once Nebraskans realize its benefits. That sentiment was echoed by State Sen. Myron Dorn, who sought to fund the system and increase interest in it with an annual $550,000 during the 2023 legislative session.

However, Dorn, a farmer and member of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, didn't push for passage of the funding bill this past year, and is instead opting for a legislative study that would help to better develop a long-term plan to consistently fund the weather network. "We too often in Nebraska allocate money and say 'Go out there and plan something,'" said Dorn, "We need to plan for the long term. Behnke said his main goal is to construct 200 stations across the state, located no more than 15 miles from a Mesonet site, an endeavor that will take time and a sizable increase in funding.

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NEBRASKA'S STONEWALL DEMS HOST FORUM WITH STATE PARTY AFTER ANGER OVER LB574

LINCOLN- Today, the Nebraska Democratic Party is hosting the first of three town halls over the recently passed LB574 alongside the state's largest LGBTQ community group, the Stonewall Democrats. The event, held at 5 P.M. at Bagels & Joe in Lincoln, will be led by Mike Marcheck, chair of the Stonewall Democrats, and Jane Kleeb, the chair of the state Democratic party.

Marcheck and others, during this past legislative session, sought to censure and remove state party support from Sen. Mike McDonnell, a Democrat who helped Republican lawmakers pass LB574, a bill that added restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors as well as stricter restrictions on abortion.

Marcheck said his goal for Friday is to have "a night of engagement," while Kleeb said she's seeking feedback from younger LGBTQ Nebraskans on what the party can do better and discuss the candidate recruitment process. Kleeb also said she wants to make the party more visible in the Legislature when important or controversial bills are being discussed.

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LONGTIME STATE PROPERTY TAX ADMINISTRATOR IS LEAVING POST

LINCOLN— Ruth Sorensen, the state’s property tax administrator since 2007, is leaving her post after sources say she was asked to resign. But sources told the Nebraska Examiner that Sorensen was asked to resign in a surprise meeting Tuesday.

Her exit was announced Thursday morning in a two-paragraph press release from the Governor’s Office headlined, “Gov. Pillen Accepting Applications for Property Tax Administrator.” The job became vacant, the press release then stated, because of the “retirement” of Sorensen, a 60-year-old attorney, effective Nov. 22. As property tax administrator, Sorensen was chief executive officer of the state’s property assessment division, which oversees assessment practices by the 93 counties, as well as the granting of tax exemptions.

Tax assessment has become a hot issue in 2023, with both homeowners and farmers seeing steep increases in their valuations — and value — of their land. Nebraska farmland prices are projected to increase 14% this year, while residential land prices are up 16% over a year ago. Sorensen will be leaving as a working group, appointed by Pillen, considers changes in the state’s property valuation system.

Sorensen declined to comment on that but did say Thursday she had “thoroughly enjoyed” her job.

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ECONOMIC FORECASTING BOARD RAISES SHORT-TERM REVENUE PROJECTIONS

LINCOLN- On Friday, the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Board, which provides an advisory forecast of general fund receipts that is used by the Legislature to craft the state budget, voted to raise revenue projections for the current fiscal year during a meeting at the Nebraska Capitol.

The Board's projections for FY2023-24 were raised based on an anticipated $81.72 million increase in corporate income tax receipts. However, that increase was offset by a projected decrease in other receipt categories, including a $64.88 million decrease in individual income tax receipts.

The Board finalized for FY2023-24 a $6.44 billion overall revenue receipt projection, which is a slight increase of $7.87 million for this year based on the offset corporate income tax receipts. For FY2024-25, the Board approved a forecast of $6.37 billion for total revenue receipts, a decrease of $13.29 billion when compared to the previous year.

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UNL'S FIRST AMENDMENT CLINIC FILES LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF SANCTIONED NRD MEMBER IN NORFOLK

LINCOLN- Earlier this year, a board member, Melissa Temple, of the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District filed a federal lawsuit against her colleagues for leveling sanctions against her after she criticized the behavior of another board member. Temple, who won election to represent eastern Norfolk on the NRD Board, was removed from her subcommittee assignments and barred from being reimbursed for travel expenses by her colleagues.

On Tuesday, Temple sued the Board in U.S. District Court in Lincoln for violating her First Amendment right to free speech. "I can't fully do my job or advocate for the public good or protect my constituents if my free speech is sanctioned," said Temple. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Temple by the University of Nebraska College of Law's First Amendment Clinic, a newly created and student-driven organization that seeks to defend those who believe they've had their First Amendment rights challenged.

According to the complaint filed by the Clinic, Temple said that she witnessed another member of the Board, Scott Clausen, interrupt and make condescending comments to a local business executive during the public comment period of one of the Board's meetings. The lawsuit also alleges that Clausen made derogatory remarks about Temple, including that she was "not smart enough" to be on a proposed committee. Temple then called out Clausen for his remarks, prompting the Board to sanction her.

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ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE HILGERS REFILES CHALLENGE TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL AFTER NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO HEAR ISSUE

LINCOLN- Earlier this month, Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers' Office filed paperwork to challenge certain aspects of LB50, a wide-ranging criminal justice bill passed this year by the Legislature, but was denied by the Nebraska Supreme Court. Hilgers argued that only the State Board of Pardons can commute or reduce a prison sentence, and that the now-passed LB50 unconstitutionally allowed the Legislature to do that for elderly inmates who had served at least 80% of their sentence.

Several state lawyers have also expressed concern over the legality and constitutionality of the new law, with the Nebraska Department of Corrections echoing many of their sentiments. However, Hilgers' challenge of the law was denied by the Nebraska Supreme Court. A spokeswoman from the AG's Office said she was "not surprised" that the Supreme Court had declined to take up the issue, since it hadn't first gone through the state's lower courts.

"It just means we'll start this case in district court instead of the Supreme Court," said the spokeswoman, Suzanne Gage. Indeed, a new challenge to the law was filed on Wednesday with the Lancaster County District Court. A district judge from Lancaster County is expected to make a ruling that will ultimately, and eventually, be appealed to the State Supreme Court.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD POLICY ACADEMY KICKS OFF IN OGALLALA, SETS PACE FOR FRESH STRATEGIES IN NEBRASKA

OGALLALA- On Wednesday, a group of 26 advocates from across Nebraska gathered in Ogallala to kick off a six-month program that will help build leadership and a fresh strategy for early childhood care legislation and policy. Organized by First Five Nebraska, an early childhood research and advocacy organization, this year marks the fifth year in a row that the event, known as the annual Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy, was held

Participants selected for the latest class include childcare providers, teachers, and public health professionals. "The PLA goes beyond policymaking," said Jodi-Renee Giron, First Five's outreach director, "It develops skilled, knowledgeable, and credible movement builders who are prepared to lead change in their local communities."

Among the Academy's priorities this year, according to Giron, is reducing the time it takes for public agencies to complete fingerprinting and background checks for childcare provider applicants. This issue was brought up recently in the Nebraska Legislature by Sen. Teresa Ibach. The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also indicated that affordable and quality childcare is among the issues they will watch closely over the next year.

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PILLEN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS TO REPLACE STATE SEN. TOM BRIESE IN LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN- Central Nebraska residents seeking a part-time job in Lincoln will have until 5 P.M. on November 8th to apply to replace State Sen. Tom Briese, who represents Legislative District 41, in the Nebraska Legislature. Governor Jim Pillen, who will choose the appointee, announced that his office would begin accepting applications on Wednesday.

Pillen recently tapped Briese to serve as the next state treasurer in September, and Briese's last day as a Nebraska senator is October 31st, with his new job starting on November 1st. District 41, which Briese represents, encompasses all or parts of eight counties in Central Nebraska, including Wheeler, Boone, Valley, Greeley, Sherman, Howard, Buffalo, and Hall.

The cities and towns included within District 41 are Doniphan, Wood River, Ravenna, Loup City, Dannebrog, Ord, and Albion. Pillen's choice of appointee would be expected to serve the remainder of Briese's term, through to the end of 2024. Pillen, a Republican, said he will appoint anyone willing to run for re-election to the seat.

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RED WAY LAYS BLAME FOR DELINQUENT REFUND CHECKS ON LINCOLN AIRPORT

LINCOLN- Recent emails sent by defunct airline Red Way to customers seeking refunds for canceled fights cast blame for the delay on the Lincoln Airport. Red Way is saying it can’t give refunds until the airport makes good on the money it is owed. That’s not true, said Dave Haring, the Lincoln Airport’s executive director.

Haring said Red Way CEO Nick Wangler is “causing confusion” by conflating two revenue-related issues that have no correlation.

“We have never had access to, possessed or received any passenger revenue at all,” Haring claimed. “Realistically, there’s nothing on our end — there are no refunds that we owe to people.” Redway is still owed $700,000 that is currently frozen by a state audit.

The final payment, to be paid after Nebraska Auditor Mike Foley signs off on the audit, was capped to not exceed the $3 million. In reality, it appears that Red Way tore through that amount in less than three months, racking up about $3.6 million in losses, according to their invoices. The Lincoln Airport Authority has said this money is to be used for flight costs and not refunds.

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JOURNALISTS SLAM GOV. PILLEN FOR CALLING CHINESE REPORTER FROM NEBRASKA PUBLICATION 'A COMMUNIST'

LINCOLN- The Flatwater Free Press and the Asian American Journalists Association are standing by an investigative reporter after Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen called her “a Communist” when dismissing her in-depth report critical of his farming operation. The response comes after comments the governor made regarding his family hog farming business.

Last month, Pillen took aim at Yanqi Xu, a reporter from the Flatwater Free Press, after her investigative story raised questions about the environmental impact his hog farms had on drinking water. “I really wanted to do journalism in a way that transcended a lot of the common talking points,” Xu said. Her work on examining high nitrate levels and the potential link to childhood cancer won a national award.

Days after the story ran, KFAB asked the governor to comment on Xu’s reporting during an interview with him while he was on a trade mission to South Korea and Japan. “No. 1: I didn’t read it — and I won’t. No. 2: All you got to do is look at the author. The author is from Communist China. What more do you need to know?” “I found it disheartening that it was the only thing he said,” Xu said.

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HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION ADVISES SENIORS TO KNOW THE 'INS AND OUTS' OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS

LINCOLN- State hospital officials issued a warning to senior citizens: Know what you’re buying when you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan. Officials with the Nebraska Hospital Association said they often run into patients who don’t realize that their local hospital isn’t in the network for their advantage plan, only to discover big out-of-pocket bills later.

In addition, such plans more often deny coverage for medical care and require lengthy and time-consuming authorization processes that delay needed care or require patients to spend more time in a hospital. “Medicare Advantage will work well for some seniors, especially those who will remain healthy, but for many seniors it leaves holes, which can mean significant out of pocket costs,” said Jeremy Nordquist, the president of the Nebraska Hospital Association.

Medicare Advantage plans, officials said, now cover 51% of all Medicare-eligible individuals, a sharp rise in recent years. But nearly 33% of all Nebraska hospitals decline to participate with “certain” Advantage plans, the Hospital Association said. The hospital officials outlined more than one example of how patient care was denied or delayed.

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