NEBRASKA GENDER CARE LAW CAUSES CONFUSION AMONG MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS

LINCOLN- Nebraska’s new gender care restrictions are causing confusion among mental health providers as the law first affects therapy sessions. The state law took effect Oct. 1 prohibiting transition surgeries and requiring state regulation of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones prescribed before the age of 19. However, the law is having a chilling effect on therapy sessions before any medications are dispensed.

Camie Nitzel, a licensed psychologist and founder of Kindred Psychology in Lincoln, wrote a Nov. 1 letter to Dr. Timothy Tesmer, the state’s chief medical officer, saying that the temporary rules currently in place force providers to violate state law regarding unprofessional conduct by psychologists. Unprofessional conduct is defined as behavior that deviates from accepted standards in the profession.

“The language as it currently stands leaves mental health providers in a personal and professional quandary for how to practice both legally and ethically in the State of Nebraska,” Nitzel wrote Tesmer, who created the regulations. Nitzel said the regulations further reduce transgender people to their gender identity and push them to seek care outside Nebraska.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA EDUCATORS TALKS SOLUTIONS TO STATE'S TEACHER SHORTAGE

KEARNEY- Nearly 200 Nebraska-based educators from various school districts, universities, and educational service units convened last week in Kearney to discuss the challenges plaguing education in the state, as well as potential solutions. The conference, formally titled the Nebraska Educator Shortage Summit, included several hours of lively discussion surrounding the rising teacher shortage in Nebraska.

According to April Buschelman, a professor at Creighton University who attended the summit, there's a long list of factors that contributed to Nebraska's waning teacher population. The shortage is being exacerbated by an increase in K-12 student enrollment paired with a stagnant number of college students participating in the state's teacher preparation programs.

However, Buschelman highlighted that the number of high school graduates enrolling in teacher preparation programs has actually increased over the years, from 2,822 in 2017 to 4,149 in 2021. However, Buschelman added, many students fail to complete these programs. "We have a lot of people starting, saying 'I would love to be a teacher,' and then they're not really quite completing their degree," said Buschelman, "Are they leaving because they get into the classroom and it's not what they epxected?"

For the full article click HERE

OMAHA MAYOR SIGNS OFF ON COUNCIL'S GUN KIT ORDINANCE, GUN RESOLUTIONS

OMAHA- On Wednesday, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert signed several new ordinances introduced by City Councilman Pete Festersen, one of which will ban the possession of kits used to build firearms at home, and another that disallows the possession of firearms on city-owned or city-leased land so long as adequate signage is posted around the perimeter.

These city ordinances came in response to Sen. Tom Brewer's recently-passed LB77, which allows for the permitless concealed carry of handguns across Nebraska. LB77 also eliminated state-mandated handgun training for those seeking to carry a concealed handgun, but Mayor Stothert also signed a resolution encouraging firearm owners to voluntarily seek training in the safe use and storage of firearms.

Stothert said that the measures she signed on Wednesday will "further our ability to reduce crime and promote responsible gun ownership." She added, "They provide law enforcement with additional provisions to help keep our citizens safe. We will pursue steps on gun safety while not infringing on the rights of responsible gun owners."

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA CIVIL RIGHTS PANEL EXAMINES COVID-19 IMPACTS ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

LINCOLN- A Nebraska panel on civil rights continued diving into the effects of COVID-19 on K-12 education on Wednesday with a focus on youth mental health, the third such meeting held by the Nebraska Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Jen Pollock, a representative of the Nebraska School Psychologists Association, said there is a dramatic national workforce shortage, particularly in education.

But, she added, teachers cannot be expected to be mental health experts. "They are experts in the content," she said, "and that's what we need them to be." Liesel Hogan, a licensed mental health practitioner who works in Educational Service Unit #3, added that the shortage has had a direct impact on students. Hogan also highlighted the pandemic as an issue, saying that it has led to more anxiety, more school absences, and more students lacking motivation.

Corey Lieneman, an assistant professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry, highlighted that, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a 25% increase globally in anxiety and depression. Nationally, around 20% of youths aged 3-17 have at least one mental or behavioral health disorder, and suicide is the second leading cause of death in children ages 10-14, more than doubling since 2008.

For the full article click HERE

CHILD CARE OPTIONS LACKING IN RURAL NEBRASKA, POLL SUGGESTS

LINCOLN- According to the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll, just over 60% of rural Nebraskans surveyed agree that there is a shortage of affordable childcare options in their community, with just 6% of respondents disagreeing with that statement. More than three-quarters of those surveyed also agreed or strongly agreed with the idea that increasing access to high-quality, affordable childcare should be a high priority for their communities.

"Access to high-quality childcare is an economic and social investment," said Holly Hatton-Bowers, an associate professor of child, youth, and family studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, "Childcare providers are essential for supporting families and businesses, and the provision of high-quality early learning and care is an investment in our children's futures."

57% of those surveyed echoed that sentiment, agreeing with the idea that their communities should invest public resources to support the availability of childcare. "This data reinforces what we've been hearing from communities across the state," said Becky Vogt, the poll's manager, "When community residents are advocating for investing public dollars to address this issue, that speaks volumes as to how important childcare is to their communities."

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS EYE FILM INDUSTRY FOR YOUTH RETENTION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

LINCOLN- On Thursday, the Legislature's Revenue Committee heard testimony from a handful of independent filmmakers and actors who emphasized the importance of the film industry, and the tourism it would bring to Nebraska. Stacy Heatherly, film commissioner for the Eastern Nebraska Film Office, told the committee that creating a stable budget for the office and its independent partners could be a first step in expanding the industry.

Ishma Yusaf Valenti, a teacher of 19 years, said the legislative resolution could positively impact the youth of Nebraska as well, who, right now, believe that the only places to pursue such a career are in Hollywood or New York. Valenti told the committee that he wanted to change that, and turn Nebraska into a place where the film industry can flourish and give up-and-coming actors the ability to hone their craft in their home state.

"Really, that's all you can ask for as a teacher is when you can find a student that's able to be fulfilled by something that makes them truly happy," said Valenti. He added that film work in Nebraska could help youth in the state find their purpose. "We're not just positively impacting the state," he said, "We're also...keeping the talent of our young people in Nebraska..."

For the full article click HERE

FIFTY COMPANIES PLEDGE TO CREATE 2,500 JOBS, INVEST $1.5 BILLION UNDER NEW NEBRASKA INCENTIVE ACT

LINCOLN- Nebraska's newest and most substantial program to spur economic growth in the state, the ImagiNE Act, has so far attracted agreements with 50 companies, who have pledged to create a total of 2,481 jobs and invest $1.55 billion in the state. The largest of these proposed investments comes from Mutual of Omaha, who project the creation of 100 new, full-time jobs after their skyscraper headquarters is finished in downtown Omaha.

Other big agreements were signed with Clean Harbors of Kimball, who seek to invest nearly $180 million and create 80 new jobs, and Perfect Day Inc. of Blair, who plans on investing $275 million and creating 70 jobs. Through the ImagiNE Act, according to the state Departments of Revenue and Economic Development, the state will provide nearly $112 million in state tax refunds and credits to all of the companies who have signed agreements.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who chairs the Legislature's Revenue Committee, said that it was "excellent" to see so many local companies pledge investments, but questioned if the state was "investing in the right things?" According to Linehan, the state might be wiser to provide incentives for people to move to and work in Nebraska, rather than give them to companies already located in the state.

For the full article click HERE

NU ON VERGE OF NAMING CHRIS KABOUREK INTERIM PRESIDENT AFTER CARTER LEAVES

LINCOLN- The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has seemingly landed on a temporary replacement for outgoing NU President Ted Carter. Chris Kabourek, NU's vice president for business and finance, is expected to be named interim president after the Board's December 1st meeting, at least according to several NU officials.

Carter leaves the NU System in January to lead Ohio State University, and announced his departure in August. Carter said that NU will "be in good hands with Chris Kabourek at the helm," as he bring "steady leadership" and offered him "wise and candid counsel" during his tenure as president of the NU System.

However, NU officials confirmed on Thursday that Kabourek will not be a candidate for the permanent job. Kabourek described being considered for the interim role as "humbling," and said he plans to continue making progress on plans developed by Carter and the Board of Regents. "I will do whatever I can to support the University of Nebraska," he said.

For the full article click HERE

CONSTRUCTION OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF AT $105M OMAHA BUILDING SITE, KEY TO FLURRY OF UNMC DEVELOPMENT

OMAHA- On Tuesday, construction officially kicked off on a "cornerstone" of a multibillion-dollar flurry of building initiatives in midtown Omaha, which are poised to further elevate the University of Nebraska Medical Center's profile. Gathered southwest of Saddle Creek Road and Farnam Street, a coalition of medical, government, and business leaders celebrated what is to become the six-story "CORE" building.

The developing 180,870-square-foot Campus Operations & Research Excellence facility, which will house scientific research and administrative functions for UNMC, is set to open in early 2026. The CORE building, when combined with several other ongoing or proposed developments, could expand the UNMC footprint by nearly 1.5 million square feet, according to Brian Spencer, head of campus development and planning.

Spencer added that such growth is unprecedented for UNMC, whose building space currently spans roughly 10 million square feet. According to UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey Gold, the expansion is a necessity. "We are just busting at the seams in the need for more space," he said, "in spite of the fact we have had quite a few groundbreakings and ribbon-cutting over the last years." Gold also indicated that the expansion will help UNMC make a mark in the national health and science industry.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA SENATORS REVISIT WHAT WENT RIGHT, AND WRONG, WITH STATE RESPONSE TO COVID-19

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, the Nebraska Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee called on nine health care associated officials to look back at and explain what went right and wrong with the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which killed, according to a New York Times report, 5,068 Nebraskans. "The pandemic was new to all of us," said Dr. John Trapp, president of the Nebraska Medical Association, "Every day was a challenge."

The interim study was sought by Sen. Ben Hansen, chairman of the HHS Committee, who previously introduced bills that would have blocked the state and businesses from mandating COVID-19 vaccines. He said he called the hearing just in case "COVID 2.0" comes about, adding that he wants the state to be better prepared to respond to such viruses. "I think we did a lot right," he said, "but I hope there's room for improvement."

Generally, those testifying said they believe Nebraska fared well in tackling the spread of COVID-19, and did a good job in communicating to state citizens why it was important to avoid crowds, wear masks, and receive the vaccine. However, Angela Ling, who became the "incident commander" for DHHS's response to COVID, said future leaders will need to "think outside the box" when it comes to future pandemics.

For the full article click HERE

38 STATE SENATORS CONDEMN HAMAS FOR 'ATROCITIES' AND FOR SEEKING TO 'MAXIMIZE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES'

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Sen. Brad von Gillern released a statement signed by thirty-eight of Nebraska's 49 state senators condemning Hamas for its "brutal, highly organized, and unprecedented attack upon Israel." Von Gillern said that he and the signers felt it was "important to speak out against the atrocities happening against the Israeli people and let Nebraskans know that their elected officials stand with those defending innocent life."

Hamas, the resolution asserts, was founded with the goal of destroying the state of Israel, and the October 7th attacks were done in such a manner that would "maximize civilian casualties." The resolution also states that senators "express their support for Israel's right to pursue without interference or condemnation the elimination of Hamas until Hamas is permanently neutralized..."

Finally, the statement also urged the United States to provide "all assistance as may be required" for Israel to defend against Hamas and other terrorist groups. The resolution garnered generally bipartisan support, with both Democratic and Republican signees.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA'S MEDICAID AND LONG-TERM CARE DIRECTOR RESIGNS

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, Gov. Pillen announced the resignation of Kevin Bagley, the director of Medicaid and Long-Term Care for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. While the press release announcing the resignation did not specify a reason for Bagley's departure, it did indicate that he would be leaving the post effective December 1st.

Gov. Pillen also announced that Matt Ahern, the current deputy director of policy and plan management for DHHS, will assume the role of director in an interim capacity after Bagley's resignation takes effect. Bagley was appointed to the position in 2020 by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts, and was one of a handful of agency heads that Pillen retained after taking office earlier this year.

In the role, Bagley was charged with overseeing and supervising Nebraska's Medicaid program, home and community-based services, and the State Unit on Aging. "I have been impressed by Director Bagley's dedication to serving Nebraska's most vulnerable," said DHHS CEO Steve Corsi, "I appreciate Kevin's three years of service at DHHS and wish him the best on his next endeavor."

For the full article click HERE

OMAHA, LINCOLN RESPONSES TO NEW CONCEALED HANDGUN LAW COULD BE HEADED TO COURT

OMAHA- Since the Nebraska Legislature this year limited cities’ authority to regulate concealed handguns more strictly than the state does, Omaha and Lincoln have restricted people from carrying concealed handguns on some city land. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird issued executive orders this summer asserting that their cities would not allow guns on most city-owned properties, citing an exception in LB77.

“Recognizing the epidemic of gun violence claiming innocent lives across our nation and that LB77 eliminates common sense safety training for gun owners, I took action to safeguard City … employees and community members,” Gaylor Baird said. Stothert, announcing her order in August, said she wanted people visiting city buildings, parks and facilities to “feel safe.”

LB77 made three big changes to state law: It lets people carry concealed handguns without a permit. It lets them carry the weapons without undergoing state-mandated training. And it aims to eliminate cities’ authority to enact gun ordinances. Sen. Tom Brewer, the bill's introducer, has asked Attorney General Mike Hilgers for an opinion on what he called the cities’ “illegal” orders.

For the full article click HERE

BOLD NEBRASKA'S JANE KLEEB EXCHANGES PIPELINE FIGHT FOR CLEAN ENERGY WITH $3 MILLION AWARD

LINCOLN- Jane Kleeb, the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, has been teasing for weeks on social media about a “big surprise,” and several political insiders have speculated she was eyeing a run for the U.S. Senate. Instead, she confirmed this week that she is taking on a new project in her work with Bold Nebraska, thanks to a big infusion of cash.

Bold Nebraska is the group Kleeb founded in 2010 to organize farmers, ranchers and Native Americans to push back against the Keystone XL Pipeline. This week, that work led to a $3 million international award. Kleeb was announced as the third American to receive the Climate Breakthrough Award. She was joined this year by Indonesia’s Gita Syahrani in receiving the award.

She will receive funding for multiple years to invest in organizing similar rural alliances to embrace alternative or green energy sources such as solar and wind power. The recognition will help the group raise more money from larger foundations focused on climate change. Kleeb wants to ensure that rural Americans understand they and their land are on the front lines of American energy for the next century.

For the full article click HERE

ABORTION RIGTHS ADVOCATES FILE INITIATIVE PETITION LANGUAGE, BUT THEY'RE MUM ON ITS EXACT CONTENT

LINCOLN- Planned Parenthood officials filed their proposed language for an initiative to restore abortion rights that they hope will be placed on the 2024 ballot in Nebraska. But, for now, exactly what proposal voters may see will remain secret, in part due to a state law that allows such language to remain confidential for up to 15 days while it undergoes a review by the State Legislature’s bill drafters office.

Organizers of the petition drive say it will “restore our rights” for access to abortion, but one veteran senator — an abortion rights supporter — warned that pushing the envelope too far might “do more harm than good.” Deciding which abortion rights proposal to put on a petition is a high-stakes, multimillion-dollar question.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad, an abortion rights supporter, said that she hasn’t seen the proposed ballot language but that unless polling shows it has at least 60% support, she labeled it an “unserious effort.” “Amending the (Nebraska) Constitution and raising such an important yet complex issue is serious business, and without a thoughtful strategy in place upon launch, it could be downright dangerous and could cause more harm than good,” Conrad said, “by sparking more radical bans in the Legislature.”

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA NURSING HOMES BASH NEW 'FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED' REGULATIONS

LINCOLN- A new rule announced by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which was intended to improve patient care in long-term nursing facilities, is being criticized by nursing home staff and administrators for its strict requirement that each nursing facility must have a registered nurse working 24 hours a day.

"It's absolutely fundamentally flawed," said Tim Groshan, who owns three Nebraska nursing facilities, "because that's not how long-term care facilities operate." Groshan added that the new rule would give Nebraska nursing homes far less flexibility in both accepting patients and adjusting staffing levels to fit patient needs.

Before the new rule, nursing homes were only required to have a registered nurse, who oversees the care offered in nursing facilities, on-site for eight hours a day. In Nebraska, Groshan said that many facilities are having trouble hiring and retaining RNs, adding that many facilities won't survive the change. "But we've been fighting a lack of RNs for a number of years," he said, "And now there's a policy that seems to think that's gone and that they're just aplenty and you can find them. That's not reality"

For the full article click HERE

NU INSTITUTE GETS $19 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR GLOBAL WATER, AG PROJECT

LINCOLN- On Friday, the University of Nebraska's Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute announced that it had received a $19 million federal grant that will be utilized to help coordinate a global network of sustainable irrigation and agricultural mechanization for small farmers in developing countries.

The U.S. Agency for International Development, which awarded the grant, also chose the Daugherty Institute to lead the global, multi-partner initiative. While the project is set to focus on the technical aspects of irrigation and agricultural mechanization, it will also attempt to tackle some of the more specific issues that must be addressed if developing nations are to achieve long-term success in managing food security.

The Water, Climate, and Health program of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, as well as the Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will be leading partners in the endeavor. The $19 million awarded to the Daugherty Insititute is meant to be used over a five-year period, with the potential to expand the program with more initiatives up to $40 million.

For the full article click HERE

RESIDENTS OF MIDWEST, MOUNTAIN WEST SEE BIGGEST PAY BUMPS

LINCOLN- Residents of some Midwestern and Mountain states gained the most income per capita during the past four years, a Stateline analysis shows, as competition for workers drove up wages in relatively affordable places to live. Stateline’s analysis offers a more complete understanding of how some states’ residents benefitted economically as policy decisions and Americans’ choices shuffled state-by-state outcomes.

Inflation took the biggest bite out of paychecks in the West and South, with consumer prices rising about 20% in those regions between mid-2019 and mid-2023, according to U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis figures. Inflation was a little lower in the Midwest, about 19%, and about 16% in the Northeast.

Inflation-adjusted per capita incomes in Utah have grown by about 8% since 2019. Incomes in Colorado, Maine, Montana and Nebraska also grew by roughly that much. Incomes in Arizona, Idaho and Missouri increased by about 7%. Many of these states experienced large income increases due to scenic or affordable areas that have attracted remote workers looking for a lower cost of living and proximity to recreation.

For the full article click HERE

ADVOCATES SEEK BETTER USE OF $126 MILLION IN EXCESS FEDERAL FUNDS FOR NEEDY FAMILIES

LINCOLN- Last week, Sen. Clements and other members of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee were urged to make changes in state policies concerning the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, federal funds that finance ADC, among other things. “This is an issue that has languished in Nebraska too long,” Conrad told committee members.

The state gets about $56.6 million a year from the feds for TANF, but until last year, has not come close to spending its annual allocation, which has resulted in nearly $126 million sitting unallocated in a reserve or “rainy day” fund. Sen. Danielle Conrad, who called for an interim study on the excess TANF funds, said that Nebraska is now using only about 30% of its available funds as direct aid for needy families and that those funds would be better used as they were intended, to help families get out of poverty.

She urged the committee to support efforts to get more of the TANF money directly in the hands of needy families, as has been done in other states. Conrad’s LB 310 would increase the maximum ADC payment from 55% of a family’s standard of need to 85%. State Auditor Mike Foley testified Friday that Nebraska is an outlier in the large size of its TANF rainy day fund.

For the full article click HERE

MISSOURI OFFICIAL HIRED AS NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

LINCOLN- The medical director for a private, for-profit provider of health care for Missouri prison inmates began work as the new medical director for the Nebraska Department of Corrections. Dr. Jerry Lee Lovelace Jr. succeeds Dr. Harbans Deol, who retired in February after serving seven years in the key position. Lovelace will paid a salary of $314,000.

State Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys, in a press release, called Lovelace “an innovative leader who has a proven record of working collaboratively to find solutions.” “His experience and commitment to providing excellent care to diverse populations will be a tremendous asset,” Jeffreys said. Most recently, Lovelace was statewide medical director for Centurion Health.

He has a background in pathology and internal medicine and had served 24 years as a primary care physician. Lovelace will oversee all health services for Nebraska state prisons, which includes medical, dental, psychiatry and behavioral health. He will be serving about 5,750 inmates in nine prisons.

For the full article click HERE