NE OFFICIALS SAY VOTING WENT MOSTLY SMOOTHLY IN STATE'S FIRST ELECTION REQUIRING VOTER ID

LINCOLN- The biggest change that Nebraskans saw in voting procedures — the new legal requirement that they show a form of identification to cast a ballot at the polls — caused no widespread problems or concerns as of early evening, according to a check with various Nebraska officials. “This has been a pretty smooth day,” said Steve Smith, spokesman for Civic Nebraska.

He said earlier outreach efforts by the Nebraska Secretary of State — whom he called the “MVP” of the day — and advocacy groups appeared to have helped educate voters about requirements under the recently passed law. Overall, Civic Nebraska as of about 6:30 p.m. Central Time reported an “efficient” Election Day. Smith said about four dozen observers visited a total of about 100 precincts.

Besides a few unexpected mishaps, the day went extremely smoothly. Officials said that voters had their ID ready to go when they reached their polling place. It is being reported that driver's licenses and state IDs were the bulk of the identification cards presented. The Secretary of State hopes the smooth voting process will continue into the general election in November.

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DAN OSBORN SPURNS DEMOCRATS, OTHER PARTIES WHOSE HELP HE SOUGHT IN SENATE RACE

OMAHA- Dan Osborn, a non-partisan candidate for the U.S. Senate, seems to have burned all bridges with the Nebraska Democratic Party, which he had been courting support from for months. During a Wednesday announcement at a press event in his Chalco Hills garage, Osborn stated that he would no longer be seeking endorsements from any political party. Along with expressing his lack of desire to forcibly adhere to the rigid requests of a political party, Osborn stated he wouldn't accept a party's endorsement even if he were chosen.

Democrats feel betrayed by Osborn's decision, being that it was confirmed by election officials to be too late to add a Democratic candidate to the ballot for the fall election. Some are speculating that Osborn's distancing from the Democratic Party and centrist statements are a tactic to persuade Republican-leaning voters. Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb voiced her disappointment with Osborn's decisions and stated that there will be a write-in candidate endorsed by the Democratic Party.

Disdain for Osborn's independent status has been voiced clearly by liberal affiliates who have assisted in his campaign, characterizing him as dishonest and untrustworthy. It's believed that his chances are slim to none without Democratic support, but Osborn is adamant that his anti-establishment sentiments and blue-collar demeanor will win progressives over.

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OMAHA SAW NARROWEST PRIMARY ELECTIONS FOR NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE, WITH A RECOUNT POSSIBLE

OMAHA- Nebraska's largest city had some of the closest primary races for the state legislature this year, with one headed towards a possible recount. The state voted on 25 seats up for election still being decided by about 13,000 uncounted ballots as of Wednesday.

One main highlight of this primary election was in north-central Omaha's highly-contested second-place spot for Legislative District 13. Nick Batter, the frontrunner, leads by a comfortable margin while Ashlei Spivey and Tracy Hightower-Henne fight for second place. As of now, Spivey emerged victorious by a minuscule five-vote margin. Hightower-Henne has stated she is currently awaiting the final vote count.

Other close races in Omaha include Legislative District 7, whose top candidates were separated by 26 votes, Legislative District 11, whose top candidates were separated by 21 votes, and Legislative District 5, whose top candidates were separated by 18 votes. Aside from Omaha's elections, three other races in eastern Nebraska could decide the ideological split of the officially nonpartisan legislature. In Legislative District 49, State Senator Jen Day looks to be gearing up for a second term, while in Legislative District 3, Republican Felix Ungerman looks to replace the term-limited State Senator Carol Blood, a Democrat. Republicans are expected to gain a Democrat's seat in District 15 replacing State Senator Lynne Walz.

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BIDEN REELECTION CAMPAIGN HIRES NEBRASKA ORGANIZERS TO KEEP OMAHA ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE

OMAHA- Pres. Biden's reelection campaign has hired two seasoned Nebraska political organizers--Precious McKesson and Meg Mandy--as senior advisors to lead a campaign in the state to provide an Electoral College vote for the incumbent president. McKesson and Mandy have been charged with continuing Omaha's reputation as the "blue dot" on the Electoral College map.

"Precious and Meg are leaders with deep Nebraska ties who will be critical to delivering Omaha for President Biden again this November," said Dan Kanninen, Biden-Harris battleground states director. Despite repeated Republican efforts to return the state to a winner-take-all allocation, Nebraska remains one of two states that allows its Electoral College votes to be split.

The most recent attempt to change the vote allocation came during this year's legislative session, following pressure from former Pres. Donald Trump. McKesson, who previously worked on the Biden-Harris campaign in 2020, currently serves as the executive director of the Nebraska Democratic Party. Mandy is a partner at One House Strategies and the campaign manager for congressional candidate Tony Vargas.

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BRUISING BACON-FREI PRIMARY BLEEDS INTO BACON-VARGAS REMATCH THIS FALL

OMAHA- The expected rematch between Democratic State Sen. Tny Vargas and Incumbent Republican Rep. Don Bacon is set for November. However, unlike in 2022, when these candidates first battled for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District seat, the incumbent who largely built his reputation by catering to centrist voters is coming off of a primary that forced him to bank to the right.

Dan Frei, Bacon's populist opponent in this month's GOP primary, utilized guerilla tactics to organize and energize GOP partisans unhappy with the status quo, and was quick to criticize Bacon for waiting so long to endorse former Pres. Donald Trump. Several political observers argued that Bacon's margin of victory showed that conservative populists aren't reflective of the broader GOP electorate.

However, others have said that Frei's ability to motivate this vocal group could signal potential trouble for Bacon in November, since his campaign may not be able to generate such enthusiasm. Thus far, Vargas has raised $2.4 million, while national Democratic groups have spent roughly $2 million on digital, TV, and radio ads to criticize Bacon.

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STATE GOP PUSHES UNITY AFTER PRIMARY FIGHT WITH INCUMBENT, DELEGATES DISAGREE

LINCOLN- Days after losing the three high-profile races it had endorsed this spring, leaders of the Nebraska Republican Party encouraged unity this weekend but faced pushback from delegates. State GOP Chairman Eric Underwood said he would keep pushing for Republican unity, but that he would also need reciprocity from the elected officials angered by the party.

Relations are in need of mending after the state GOP decided not to endorse any of the state's five-member, all-GOP congressional delegation. All five easily won their respective primaries, despite the fact that Ricketts, Smith, and Bacon were challenged by populist GOP candidates supported by the state party.

During the State GOP Conference, held Saturday in Lincoln, party delegates balked at a resolution to endorse the five candidates in November, delaying a decision until the next central committee meeting. Former U.S. Rep. Hal Daub led the resolution, saying his intention was "to have unity projected to the public."

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TOP-TWO CANDIDATE ELECTION MARGINS EXPAND IN OMAHA LEGISLATIVE RACES

OMAHA- With most of the early ballots from Tuesday's Primary Election counted in Douglas County, the top two finishers in a tight legislative district race expanded their leads. After counting more than 8,000 additional votes Friday, the Douglas County Election Commissioner released new numbers, widening the leads for first and second finishers in the north-central and southeastern legislative districts.

The top two finishers in the competitive North Omaha and South Omaha races also swapped places after the updated tally was released. According to Jackie Ourada, spokesperson for the Nebraska Secretary of State's Office, 1,500 ballots are left to be reviewed and counted by Thursday, May 23rd. By midday Friday, candidate Ashlei Spivey in District 13 expanded her lead to 36 votes over Tracy Hightower-Henne.

In District 11, incumbent Sen. Terrell McKinney moved into first place by a three-vote margin, just barely beating legendary former Sen. Ernie Chambers, who served for 46 years in the body. The gap in South Omaha's District 7 race also widened for second-place finisher Tim Pendrell, who is expected to face primary winner Dunixi Guereca in November.

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PROPOSED 'PERSONHOOD' AMENDMENT WOULD OUTLAW ALMOST ALL ABORTIONS IN NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- With just six weeks until signatures for ballot initiatives are due to the Secretary of State's Office, a group of anti-abortion activists has begun circulating petitions for a constitutional amendment that would outlaw elective abortions. The Now Choose Life petition would grant "personhood" under the law to embryos and fetuses.

If passed by voters, the new law would treat embryos and fetuses like a child that has already been born. Rose Kohl, one of the organizers, described the current ballot initiative to enshrine abortion rights in the Nebraska Consitution as radical, since it would prohibit the recently passed abortion restrictions.

Kohl also criticized the petition being circulated by Protect Women and Children, which has been funded largely by U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, as an effort aimed at protecting abortion only in the first trimester. "I think the middle one is terrible," Kohl said of that petition. "Ours says life starts at conception," she said of her group's petition, "It would make elective abortions 100 percent banned."

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EPIC TAX BACKERS SAY PETITION EFFORT CLEARED 38-COUNTY HURDLE

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Sen. Steve Erdman, a fierce advocate for the adoption of an EPIC consumption tax, announced that a petition effort to do just that has gathered signatures from 5% of registered voters in 38 of Nebraska's counties. Should the petition land on the 2024 ballot, voters will have the chance to decide whether to eliminate the state's income, property, and corporate taxes and replace it with a broader consumption tax.

However, despite clearing this hurdle, Erdman and the EPIC tax backers still need to gather a total of 123,000 signatures from registered voters by July 3, a number equal to 10% of all voters in the state. "Every signature counts," said Erdman on Tuesday, "We've got to figure out a way to fix this broken tax system, and I haven't come up with another idea that makes any sense."

Gov. Pillen, who has pledged to call a special session to reduce the state's property tax burden by 40%, has previously opposed the EPIC tax initiative, arguing that it would harm retail sales, necessitate a higher tax rate, and take away local control from the state's communities. "The EPIC tax is not a workable solution," Pillen said in a statement Tuesday.

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BILL INTRODUCED TO ALLOW LAKESIDE CABINS TO REMAIN AT TWO SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA RESEVOIRS

WASHINGTON, D.C.- On Wednesday, U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, along with U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, announced the introduction of legislation that would allow for the transfer of cabin areas at Swanson and Red Willow Resevoirs to Hitchcock County and Frontier County, respectively.

Previously, controversy had erupted after the current owner of the cabin areas, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, had sought to remove the privately owned cabins and trailer situated by the reservoirs to make way for a proposed slate of campground improvements. That order did not sit well with cabin owners.

Under the new bill, Hitchcock and Frontier Counties would have three years to purchase the two cabin sites. If they choose to do so, they would be expected to manage the two areas and benefit from the lease payments and concession fees paid. Fischer said the legislation "charts a better path forward for the local community and the federal government."

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APRIL 2024 GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS

LINCOLN- On Wednesday of this week, the Nebraska Department of Revenue released the April 2024 General Fund receipts. Tax Commissioner James R. Kamm reports that gross General Fund receipts for April were $970 million, which is 3.7% below the forecast of $1.007 billion.

April tax refunds were $605 million, which is 28.4% above the forecast of $471 million. Net receipts for April were $365 million, which is 32.0% below the forecast of $536 million. Net General Fund receipts for fiscal year 2023-24 through April were $6.055 billion, which is 2.4% above the forecast of $5.916 billion.

The comparisons in this report are based on the forecast made by the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board (Board) on February 29, 2024. The Board forecast was divided into monthly estimates by the Tax Commissioner and Legislative Fiscal Analyst on March 11, 2024.

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JUSTICE DEPARTMENT: NEBRASKA UNNECESSARILY INSTITUTIONALIZES PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

LINCOLN- The U.S. Department of Justice concluded that Nebraska unnecessarily institutionalizes adults with serious mental illness in violation of their civil rights. The Justice Department said Nebraskans are being segregated in assisted living and day program facilities, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1999 decision in Olmstead v. L.C.

The department interviewed affected Nebraskans, agency heads and others after beginning an investigation June 25, 2021, following multiple complaints. Meanwhile, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services expressed disappointment in federal assessment, pointing to work it said has been done to improve services.

In a letter to Gov. Jim Pillen, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the department’s Civil Rights Division said the department wants to “work cooperatively” to resolve the findings. This includes entering settlement negotiations and an agreement to remedy the identified violations. If Nebraska does not negotiate, or if the talks fail, the federal government said it could take appropriate action, which could include legal action, to remedy the violations.

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COLUMBUS CASINO'S OPENING PUSHED BACK AFTER SUSTAINING STORM DAMAGE

COLUMBUS- In a perfect world, Nebraska's first fully operational casino would have opened this week. The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission unanimously voted last month to allow Harrah's Nebraska to open its doors in Columbus, pending a final walk-through. And then a mid-April storm hit the construction site, causing damage to the roof and some of the equipment inside the building.

That has pushed back the casino's opening to a yet-to-be-determined date, its general manager said. "We're close," said Don Ostert, the casino's general manager. "Currently, we're putting the final touches and approvals on the facility. Our goal is always to deliver a great experience — from day one. "So, we haven't set a date yet, but we'll be setting one soon. It's a beautiful facility."

Ostert said he is optimistic the Columbus casino will open sometime before the end of the month. Even without the storm, there were no guarantees Harrah's Nebraska would have opened this week. Before the official opening, the Racing and Gaming Commission will have a final walk-through, probably the night before the official opening, to make sure everything — from checking alarms, doors and camera angles to making sure all the signage is in place — is up to specifications.

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GOV. JIM PILLEN CRITICIZES EFFORT TO REPEAL PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING

LINCOLN- Gov. Jim Pillen criticized the petition drive seeking to repeal a $10 million scholarship program for private K-12 schools, saying it’s “absurd” in the scope of the total state budget and what the state spends on public education. For the second time in a year, Support Our Schools Nebraska launched a petition drive seeking to block efforts by the Legislature and Pillen to fund private school scholarships.

The public teacher-led group succeeded last year in gathering enough petitions to put a law providing $25 million in annual tax credits for private school scholarships up for repeal on the November ballot. In response to that, lawmakers this year directly appropriated $10 million annually for scholarships at private and faith-based schools, prompting the second petition drive.

Speaking in Omaha to the Greater Omaha Pachyderm Group, a regular lunch meeting held by local Republicans, Pillen said the scholarship funding is out of total state revenues of some $6.5 billion. “Public education, private education have to be together for our kids, it’s as simple as that,” Pillen said.

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MULTISTATE, NEBRASKA-LED LAWSUITS TARGET CALIFORNIA AND EPA EMISSION REGULATIONS

LINCOLN- Nebraska is leading the charge in two multistate lawsuits filed against a California regulatory board and the Environmental Protection Agency related to new emissions rules. Attorney General Mike Hilgers, in announcing the lawsuits against the California Air Resources Board and the EPA, said new regulations on internal combustion engines and greenhouse gas emissions are unconstitutional and will “put us on a collision course” for a national mandate for electric vehicles.

Twenty-four states joined the lawsuit against the EPA and 17 states in the California lawsuit. Hilgers said the rule from the California board, which is continuing goals for zero-emission vehicle requirements, will prevent Nebraska and many other states from doing business in California and reaching its ports. The lawsuit focuses on the U.S. Constitution and its broader impacts on interstate commerce.

Gov. Jim Pillen, who joined Hilgers at a press conference along with representatives of trucking companies and the Nebraska Trucking Association, said Nebraska is in the center of the country and ships products to both coasts. This helps to “feed the world, save the planet” through state agriculture, he added.

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NEBRASKA MAY SEE ADDITIONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS UNDER NEW BOSTAR LAW

LINCOLN- A provision from Sen. Eliot Bostar regulating electric vehicle charging stations, passed unanimously in a larger package of bills in April, may increase the number of such stations in the state, according to Charge Ahead Partnership, an electric vehicle lobbying group. Through the end of 2027, non-utility EV charging providers can prohibit public power companies from building their own charging stations within 15 miles of their location.

Under the new law, public power companies will also be prohibited from operating charging stations with different rates, terms, and conditions from their privately owned counterparts. Raina Shoemaker Fromm, owner of Shoemaker's Travel Center in Lincoln, said the new law opens the door for her to invest in EV charging stations at her business.

"Up until this point, we weren't allowed to charge for charging," she said, "And that kind of was a holdup for a lot of obvious reasons to put in chargers." With more charging stations, Fromm said EV buyers could have less anxiety surrounding the range of their vehicles. Beginning in 2028, an excise tax of three cents per kilowatt hour on energy used to charge EVs will be levied under the new law.

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RURAL COUNTY BOARD ACTS TO PREVENT DUPLICATED BROADBAND EFFORTS

LINCOLN- A recent decision made by the Gage County Board to prevent the duplication of taxpayer funds to deploy broadband internet, an action they argued the Nebraska Public Service Commission failed to do, came after two state senators urged board members to avoid what would be a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Sens. Bruce Bostelman and Myron Dorn told the county board that it didn't make sense to subsidize a broadband project that's already been subsidized by taxpayer funding. If allowed to stay in place, the decision from the Public Service Commission would allow two different government grants to be used to service the same area, despite the project only requiring funding from one of the grants.

The new decision by the Gage County Board, which passed on a 5-2 vote, means that a $535,000 state Broadband Bridge Act grant to Pinpoint Communications, one of two companies contracted to provide service to the area, will likely be rescinded. The Public Service Commission had previously denied rescinding the funding to Pinpoint, despite it being a duplicated amount.

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FEDERAL ATTORNEYS PLAN TOWN HALLS AS PART OF NEBRASKA MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROBE

LINCOLN- Federal attorneys are set to visit Nebraska to look into complaints that people with severe mental illnesses struggle to get the services they need to live and work in their communities. The visit comes as part of an ongoing probe by the U.S. Department of Justice, said Dianne DeLair, the legal services director for Disability Rights Nebraska.

According to DeLair the DOJ has been investigating whether Nebraska is complying with federal laws, such as the Americans With Disabilities Act, which require that people with disabilities be served in the most integrative manner. During their trip, a team of federal attorneys will hold town halls in Lincoln, Omaha, Kearney and Scottsbluff to hear from people who have had experiences with the state's mental health system.

"This is a fact-finding event," said DeLair, "They are trying to get a sense of gaps in services." Previous visits to Nebraska have featured federal attorneys going into assisted living facilities and other facilities where people with severe mental illness often end up. DeLair described these facilities as "mini-institutions" where residents are isolated from the community and do not receive the help they need to recover.

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STATE MAKES CHANGES TO NURSING SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO REACH MORE NE STUDENTS BEFORE DEADLINE

LINCOLN- Nebraska's legislature repurposed $5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds towards scholarships for students on short-term or accelerated nursing tracks in 2022 to populate a workforce need in public health. As of now, only $3 million has been awarded to nearly 800 students. A deadline approaches for the funds to be utilized before the rest is returned to the federal government. Unfortunately, the funds have not caused a change in the state's nursing shortage.

Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services changed the parameters of the scholarship program. The maximum amount an applicant can receive was raised and eligibility was expanded to include traditional students seeking bachelor's degrees. The cap on these scholarships was raised from $2,500 to $5,000. Requirements for a scholarship include some prerequisites and enrollment in a Nebraska nursing program.

Those impacted by the change have expressed satisfaction and gratitude. "These scholarships will help reduce barriers to entry in the nursing field and grow Nebraska’s public health workforce," said Charity Menefee, DHHS director of public health. There is a wide belief among administration affected by the adjustment that it will further assist Nebraska in addressing its nursing shortage.

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OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP ACT REPEAL IS PULLED FROM BALLOT AFTER LB 1402 ADOPTED

LINCOLN- On Thursday, Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen officialized the sentiment that there would be no need to vote on the repeal of the original Opportunity Scholarships Act come November. The initial tax credit for donors to scholarships for K-12 private education was redesigned and repealed by the legislature.

Representatives from public schools petitioned for Nebraskans to have the chance to vote for repeal, and polling indicated they were likely to do so. This petition effort was circumvented with the repeal of the initial bill, LB 753, followed by its replacement with a more explicit bill, LB 1402, appropriating $10 million annually for private K-12 education scholarships or vouchers. State Senator Lou Ann Linehan expressed an understanding of the importance of choice but wants all families to have alternative options to public schooling.

Opponents of the bill are not caving yet, though, as another petition to vote on this bill has been launched. They have to obtain signatures from 5% of Nebraska's voters and 5% in at least 38 of the 93 Nebraska counties before July 17 to get the bill on the ballot. The adoption of LB 1402 will repeal LB 753 on July 19.

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