CONTROVERSY ARISES OVER PROCESS, MAYORAL PICKS FOR OMAHA'S FIRST-EVER INLAND PORT AUTHORITY BOARD

OMAHA- The recent appointment of the first-ever Omaha Inland Port Authority Board is set to trigger a start on multiple projects within a roughly 300-acre zone in northeast Omaha. Among the initiatives that the new nine-member body is expected to oversee are a $90 million industrial business park west of Eppley Airfield, a $30 million innovation hub, and the construction of 150 new housing units.

Overshadowing the appointment process, however, is a protest from some local leaders who believe that the nine nominations from Mayor Jean Stothert lacked community input and transparency, two things the Inland Port Authority is supposed to promote. Indeed, for months now North Omaha's elected officials had raised concerns over a lack of community engagement related to the plan for an airport-area business park.

The nine mayoral picks include Brook Aken, Michael Helgerson, Jacob Hoppe, Sen. Terrell McKinney, Davielle Phillips, Michael Riedmann, Carmen Tapio, Thomas Warren, and Ernest White. Carrie Murphy, a spokeswoman for Mayor Stothert, said many candidates were recommended to the mayor, and that a vigorous vetting and interview process narrowed the group. The new board was ultimately installed on Tuesday.

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OMAHA'S $45 MILLION IN TOBACCO TAX TO UNMC DELAYED, BUT WILL HELP SUPPORT SCHOOL'S PROJECT

OMAHA- Smokers and vapers in the Omaha area will help pay for a new $2.19 billion academic medical facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, but the city's tobacco tax revenue won't start flowing to the university yet. Omaha's mayor and City Council previously pledged to contribute up to $45 million over 10 years to Project NExT, a joint effort between the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Nebraska Medical Center.

The money is to come from the city's 3% occupation tax on tobacco and vaping products. As of right now, Omaha's tobacco tax revenue will go into the city's general fund, but will be primarily used to help pay for a city parking garage and street work in support of UNMC's campus development. According to UNMC Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Gold, construction on the academic building itself could begin in 2025.

"A lot depends on finalizing the funding stack, because we will not go forward to intermediate design review with the Board of Regents, of course, until every last dollar is committed," said Gold, But we're getting there. We're getting closer and closer." According to Assistant City Attorney Jennifer Taylor, the City of Omaha is committed to providing 15% of what the state contributed to the project.

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MILLIONS OF DOLLARS UNCLAIMED IN LAST YEAR'S CHILD FOOD AID PROGRAM, WITH DAYS BEFORE EXPIRATION

LINCOLN- Nebraska families have yet to claim as much as $6.6 million in grocery assistance that was issued last year as a part of the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer, a program very similar to this summer's Summer EBT program, which drew the attention of Nebraska lawmakers.

Just days remain to tap into the funds before they are reverted back to the federal government. According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, nearly $17 million in food aid benefits were issued since September of last year from the program. Around 140,000 Nebraska youth received $120 on an EBT card.

However, as of the end of April of this year, it was found that $6.6 million was yet to be accessed or spent, equating to roughly 55,000 youth having not used their cards. These cards are set to expire on June 14th. According to DHHS, families might not have claimed their funding due to a lack of awareness, EBT cards being sent to the wrong address, or because they simply chose not to participate.

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PILLEN VISITS NEBRASKA NATIONAL GUARD ON TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER WITH SPEAKER ARCH, SEN. BREWER

TEXAS- Gov. Pillen, Speaker of the Legislature John Arch, and State Sen. Tom Brewer visited a 35-member Nebraska National Guard contingent in Texas on Wednesday that the governor had previously deployed to assist the Lone Star State police on its border with Mexico. Pillen sent the contingent south in April, where they are to be stationed for 90 days.

Pillen is one of several GOP governors spending state and federal funds to police the nation's southern borders. His previous deployment of Nebraska National Guard members cost Nebraska more than $1 million. Other critics have said that Pillen's rhetoric and decision to send Guard members south makes Nebraska seem more hostile to people who may be seeking to immigrate there.

"These Nebraska troops are helping to stop the influx of criminals, weapons, drugs, and human trafficking into our country and states," Pillen said of those patrolling the border. In the past, Pillen has said that public safety in Nebraska is harmed when the U.S. lets more people cross into the country illegally, calling every state, no matter its location, a "border state."

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ECONOMISTS WEIGH IN ON PILLEN'S TAX APPROACH

LINCOLN- Over the past few weeks, Gov. Jim Pillen has indicated at a handful of town hall events that he is steadfast in his promise to reduce property taxes in the state by 40% by expanding the sales tax base during a special legislative session this summer. Creighton economics professor Ernie Goss said high property taxes are indeed hurting economic growth in Nebraska.

Goss went on to say that reducing property taxes and expanding sales taxes would result in faster economic growth, while benefiting the rich and poor alike. "The problem I hear in Nebraska is everyone keeps talking about fairness, and they don't talk in terms of growth," said Goss, "Let's talk about growth." Goss said he supports Pillen's approach, but has concerns about the plan's implementation.

Eric Thompson, chair of the economics department at UNL, said there is no specific tax that should be eliminated. "Since sales tax and income tax are levied at the state level, state government should focus on lowering income and sales tax rates," he said. Thompson finished by saying he believed local government should be responsible for reducing the amount of property tax they levy.

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NEBRASKA UPGRADES 911 SERVICES WITH RAPIDSOS TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Public Service Commission announced that it had entered into a five-year contract with RapidSOS in a move expected by commissioners to enhance the state's emergency response capabilities. According to a release, the agreement will bring RapidSOS' UNITE service to all 67 Public Safety Answering Points across the state.

UNITE is designed to enhance the Next Generation 911 system by providing critical caller location information to 911 centers, even in cases where wireless carriers fail to deliver the call. The service is expected to significantly improve emergency response times and accuracy.

"Many Nebraska PSAPs currently utilize RapidSOS," said State 911 Director David Sankey, "Elevating all PSAPs to the company's UNITE modules will provide even more tools to supplement caller location capabilities should a disruption in wireless service occur." With over 80% of emergency calls now originating from wireless devices, UNITE is viewed as a step in modernizing Nebraska's emergency response infrastructure.

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HILGERS JOINS REQUEST TO AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION TO DROP ITS DEI STANDARDS

LINCOLN- Attorney General Mike Hilgers signed a letter alongside 20 of his Republican counterparts requesting that the American Bar Association drop its diversity and inclusion standards for law schools. The states argued that DEI efforts in schools allow administrators to violate the Constitution and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

The letter comes just a year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against a Harvard College initiative that dictated that students must be considered for enrollment based on their experiences as an individual and not on their race. The decision allowed higher institutions to do away with decades-old affirmative action policies.

The diversity and inclusion standards of the American Bar Association, according to the letter, "seemingly asks law schools to defy the Court's clear directive. In its current form, the Standard all but compels law schools to consider race in both the admissions and employment contexts."

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OSBORN MIGHT NOT FACE DEMOCRATIC SENATE WRITE-IN CANDIDATE

OMAHA- Two weeks after spurning an almost guaranteed endorsement from the Nebraska Democratic Party, nonpartisan Senate candidate Dan Osborn has not yet drawn a party-backed write-in candidate to face Republican incumbent Sen. Deb Fischer. It might be the case that he could avoid one altogether.

According to attendees from a recent Nebraska Democratic Part meeting, discussions surrounding whether or not to promote a party-approved write-in candidate continue. Jane Kleeb, Democratic Party Chair, said she would prefer Osborn to endorse President Joe Biden and caucus with the Democrats if elected.

Douglas County Democratic Party Chair CJ King echoed a similar sentiment, saying he would prefer that Osborn simply side with Democrats, regardless of whether he wants a formal endorsement from the party. "I hope he wins and caucuses with the Democrats," said King, "I'd love to see him endorse President Biden." However, according to Kleeb, the promotion of a party-backed candidate is not off the table.

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JOE BURGESS, 18, LIKELY TO BE AMONG YOUNGEST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN STATE HISTORY

YORK- Joe Burgess, an 18-year-old who plans to study chemical engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this fall, may be among the youngest county commissioners ever elected in Nebraska history after his recent win in the District 5 Republican Primary for a seat on the York County Board of Commissioners. With no other names appearing on the ballot, Burgess is exceedingly likely to win.

Burgess' father had previously considered running for the seat, but felt he was too busy with work. He had joked that Burgess should run for the seat, prompting his son to approach Commissioner Daniel Grotz about what serving on the board would entail. Burgess also found himself attending county board meetings, where he spoke with current District 5 Commissioner Jack Sikes, who encouraged Burgess to run.

Leading up the election, Burgess said he did a lot of door-knocking, ultimately allowing him to beat his two Republican opponents, a firefighter and a 79-year-old retired farmer. Burgess said he looks forward to working on issues relating to roads, and plans to set aside his summer to focus on learning about the county budget. With school starting in just two months, Burgess said he's confident he'll be able to handle both commitments.

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VOTER TURNOUT LOWER THAN PREDICTED IN 2024 PRIMARY, BUT HIGHER THAN PRE-2020 AVERAGE

LINCOLN- Coming into the 2020 Nebraska Primary, Secretary of State Bob Evnen predicted that 35% of all Nebraska voters would turn up at the polls. However, when the dust had settled and the votes were counted, that number sat closer to 28%. While seemingly low, said Evnen, that number is actually right on track.

"The turnout this year exceeded the turnout of 4 of the 5 last presidential primaries," he said, "The one primary that was higher was in 2020 in the midst of COVID." The increased focus on elections seen in 2020 and 2022 seems to be slowing down in 2024. 2020 saw 40% of voters show up to cast a vote in the primary election, up significantly from the 2000-2016 average of 25.7%.

So, while the state's turnout was lower than predicted, it was still higher than the average. "I think, especially for the elections in Nebraska, they were just not very competitive," said UNO Political Science Professor Gregory Petrow. Although several of the state's incumbent Republicans faced contentious challengers, many of those in opposition were lesser-known populist Republicans that Petrow believes voters weren't familiar with.

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MCDONNELL TO STOTHERT: PUT STREETCAR ON NOVEMBER BALLOT

OMAHA- Now a Republican expected to run against incumbent Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert next year, Sen. Mike McDonnell called on the mayor to put the city's $300 million streetcar endeavor on the ballot for a vote of the people. In a letter, McDonnell doesn't specify whether he's for or against the project, but says that the streetcar is "either a tool for the future growth of the city as proponents suggest, or a financial boondoggle as opponents claim."

Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing, who announced that he was running for Mayor of Omaha, also stated that the streetcar should be voted up or down by the people of the city. Mayor Stothert, set to run for an unprecedented fourth term, has historically shot down such suggestions.

"A vote of the people is not necessary for something like the streetcar because the people, the taxpayers, are not paying for it," Stothert said last month. Ewing called the streetcar a "great opportunity for economic development," but said it will very likely cost $400 million, not $300 million, all without the approval of voters.

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PROPERTY TAX SPECIAL SESSION COULD BE AMONG COSTLIEST IN NEBRASKA HISTORY

LINCOLN- If Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen calls lawmakers back to the Capitol this summer to tackle the state's property tax crisis, it could be among the costliest special sessions in state history. Pillen, now in his second year as governor, has remained firm in vowing to "call as many special sessions as it takes" in his pursuit of reducing local property taxes by 40% by the end of the year.

Reducing the rate by 40% equates to around $2 billion. In his April 18th end-of-session speech, Pillen said it was unacceptable that lawmakers failed to enact any meaningful relief. "Enjoy halftime," he told the body, "We'll see you again here soon." The Legislature's accounting office released cost breakdowns for special sessions of varying lengths this year:

• Five Days: $79,686 (Roughly $16,000 per session day)

• Seven Days: $130,165 (Roughly $18,500 per session day)

• Ten Days $174,876 (Roughly $17,500 per session day)

Three years ago, lawmakers returned in the summer for a 13-day session concerning redistricting, which cost a total of $105,436, or around $8,000 per day. If estimates hold, the property tax special session would see the largest per-day cost increases between sessions in Unicameral history.

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STATE SEES LARGEST NUMBER OF ACTIVE TORNADOES BEFORE JUNE IN 20 YEARS

LINCOLN- The National Weather Service has confirmed that more than two dozen tornadoes touched down in Nebraska during storms that raked across the state last week, continuing what has been one of the most active tornado season on record in the state. Thankfully, most of the tornadoes that hit across the state last Thursday and Friday were small and did very little damage.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which has tornado records dating back to 1950, indicated that only once in 2004 have there been more tornadoes recorded in the state before June. According to the University, the number of tornadoes recorded this year is "notably high" compared to historical averages.

According to data from Accuweather, Nebraska has had the third-highest total of tornadoes reported so far this spring, trailing only Iowa and Texas. On average, the state usually sees around 41 tornadoes per year, according to UNL. Last year, there were 60 confirmed tornadoes.

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PETITION DRIVE TO PUT PAID SICK LEAVE ON NOVEMBER BALLOT NEARS FINISH LINE

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, Jill Heggen, spokeswoman for an initiative to put required paid sick leave on Nebraska's November ballot, said organizers are in the process of verifying signature numbers and making sure everything is in order before submitting the information collected to the Secretary of State. According to Heggen, organizers expect to turn in signatures in June, well ahead of the July 3rd deadline.

The proposal seeks to ensure paid sick leave for all Nebraska workers. If approved, the measure would require employers with fewer than 20 workers to offer at least five days of paid sick leave per year, or one hour for every 30 hours worked. Employers with more than 20 workers would have to offer at least seven days per year.

Heggen said that it was not a difficult endeavor to gather an adequate number of signatures, since almost everyone has experienced the need to take time off work because of an illness. "It's been a fairly straightforward, commonsense issue," she said. The petition must collect valid signatures from at least 7% of registered voters statewide, around 86,300 people.

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SEN. HANSEN SAYS SCHOOLS COULD BE USING CRITICAL MAPPING THIS YEAR

LINCOLN- Critical Response Group, an organization founded by special ops veterans, provides aerial and gridded overlay mapping for school districts across the country, information that is to be used during emergency situations. "We basically took how we map and communicate overseas during counter-terrorism raids, and we took that technique and we started to adopt it and adapt it for schools," said COO Alex Carney.

This spring, the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill that would open the door for school districts to buy mapping services such as these, and provided grants to help in this endeavor. "The school board has to then decide if this is what they want, and then put it up for bid," said Sen. Ben Hansen, "Then they can make a decision on who they best see fit."

Hansen, who proposed the bill allowing schools to purchase this service, said he doesn't know the specific date when funding will be ready for distribution, but that some school districts could begin utilizing these services as soon as this year. He added that with the finding the state allocated, lawmakers will get an idea of what each district thinks about it, opening the door for future amendments to raise the funding.

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NEBRASKA SCHOOLS TO GET $3.3 MILLION FOR CLEAN BUSES

OMAHA- The Biden Administration revealed the recipients of the Environmental Protection Agency's 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, including Omaha Public Schools, Lincoln Public Schools, and Winnebago Public School District. The rebates will help selectees purchase 16 clean buses between them, an endeavor that reflects Biden's aim to encourage zero-emission vehicles.

The investment, according to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, will also boost demand for American-made batteries and vehicles, enhance domestic manufacturing, and create jobs. In total, Nebraska was awarded $3.3 million. Lincoln Public Schools is set to receive $815,000 for three clean school buses, while Omaha Public Schools will receive $1,450,000 for ten.

Winnebago Public School District will receive $1,035,000 for three buses. "President Biden believes every child deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life and breathe clean air, and his Investing in America agenda is designed to deliver just that," said Regan. The EPA's selections will fund school districts in 47 states.

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EXPANDING INTERGENERATIONAL CARE IS ON THE HORIZON FOR NEBRASKA CHILD CARE, NURSING HOMES

LINCOLN- As a number of long-term care and child care facilities in the state continue to face challenges, including closures, a new intergenerational care grant program seeks to turn the tide. LB1178, introduced by Sen. Anna Wishart, established this new incentive program, which would allow qualified nursing homes or assisted-living facilities that are certified for Medicare or Medicaid to apply for one-time startup costs to build out child care in the same unit.

"The concept is simple: providing child care in a nursing facility and creating opportunities for shared activities between senior citizens and children," said Wishart. The $300,000 program begins with up to $100,000 per facility through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. As per the language of the bill, priority will be given to rural communities.

Wishart said she first read about the concept of intergenerational care in 2019, and was "instantly inspired" by it. Her first proposal to introduce such a system in Nebraska stalled, in part, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wishart says she hopes this initial investment into these facilities will have a positive return on investment and encourage future lawmakers to provide additional financial support.

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BREWER SEES 'WAR FATIGUE' AMONG SOLDIERS AT FRONT IN UKRAINE

KYIV- After witnessing what he described as "war fatigue" in the Ukrainians stationed at the front lines, State Sen. Tom Brewer argued that America must continue to help stop the Russian advance or risk a wider war. "Democracy dies if we let the Ukrainians be defeated by Russia," said Brewer.

Brewer, now on his fourth visit to the war-torn country since the fighting broke out, said Ukraine needs more anti-missile defense systems and longer-range armaments. The bottom line, according to Brewer, is that the United States, Britain, and other allies must be more aggressive in providing Ukraine with weaponry.

"Instead of stringing them out, and feeding them little bits and pieces to survive," said Brewer, "give them what they need." As Brewer's month-long visit to Ukraine comes to a close, the senator said he plans to brief Nebraska's Congressional delegation on the situation there. Brewer said this visit, which began on May 2nd, was "by far" the hardest and most dangerous.

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NEBRASKA URGED TO BECOME 'MOST WELCOMING PLACE IN AMERICA' FOR IMMIGRANTS

LINCOLN- Nebraska business leaders are arguing that it's "glaringly apparent" that the state won't be able to meet its workforce needs without more immigrants, according to a consultant to the Nebraska Chamber Foundation. The North Carolina-based Economic Leadership Group, which consults with the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is meant to assess the state's economic competitiveness.

The group released a trio of reports examining how Nebraska stacks up among its peer states in an array of areas, the health of the state's manufacturing industry, and immigration in relation to the state's workforce. In all three studies, immigration surfaced as a top solution to fill the state's workforce gaps and ward off economic decline.

According to the reports, a majority of Nebraskans consider the current federal immigration system "broken." "They understood that there's a stigma around illegal immigration but stressed that legal paths must be improved," the consultant group wrote, "They felt that America needs to 'close the back door' but 'open the front door' for a greater volume of legal immigration."

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BIDEN APPROVES DISASTER, ASSISTANCE FOR NEBRASKA PANHANDLE'S WINTRY STORMS IN EARLY APRIL

LINCOLN- President Joe Biden has granted a major disaster declaration for the early April wintry storms that impacted eight counties in the Nebraska Panhandle. The Friday declaration has unlocked federal assistance to help with recovery from last month's storms, as requested by Gov. Jim Pillen in early May.

The counties that are to receive assistance include: Banner, Cheyenne, Dawes, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, and Sioux. "Some residents in the impacted areas were without electricity for up to a week," an early-May release from the Governor's Office stated, "Other storm impacts included closed highways, downed trees, and some damage to local buildings and equipment."

Andrew Meyer of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is to oversee the operations in western Nebraska. Meyer is also overseeing FEMA assistance in eastern Douglas and Washington Counties following the Arbor Day tornado outbreak, for which Biden also approved federal assistance and a disaster declaration.

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