CONSULTANT SEES $531M IN TRIMS TO NE STATE GOVERNMENT

LINCOLN- A highly-paid consultant from the Utah-based service Epiphany Associates projects that Nebraska could save over half a billion dollars in spending if it honed in on system-wide outcomes that benefit the state and delved into more federal and state reserve funds. Their extensive report identified four areas where changes could save money: the child welfare and Medicaid divisions within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Lincoln Regional Center, and the inmate rehabilitation and reentry program within the Department of Corrections.

Half of the projected savings would come from removing financial buffers in state budgets, while the other half would come from reduced indirect costs. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has already begun urging state agencies to get rid of unfilled positions and apply for more federal funding to displace state financing. Pillen's spokeswoman Laura Strimple expressed their office's satisfaction with Epiphany Associates' work.

Some state senators have come out and made statements opposing the company's recommendation, noting that their report takes an outdated approach and leaves a few unanswered questions. Epiphany Associates was hired for $10 million over four years to reduce spending and improve spending in the state. These new suggestions to lower state spending are part of Governor Pillen's efforts to reach his goal of reducing local property taxes by 40%.

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NEBRASKANS GET NEW OPTION TO REPORT CHILD AND ADULT ABUSE CONCERNS ONLINE

LINCOLN- The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has launched a new online method for reporting suspected abuse and neglect. The new mechanism is described as complementary to the current hotline as it provides another avenue for reporting concerns according to the DHHS Division of Children and Family Services. "Having such an important tool available to the public is a vital part of making sure we can take action on reports of abuse and neglect in our state," said CFS Director Alyssa Bish.

The new reporting mechanism is easily accessible anytime, any day, enabling people to report abuse on their own time. Not only does the new method simplify the reporting process, but it also makes reports easier to catalog for CFS. It will allow for separate reporting of abuse and neglect towards children and adults.

While making a report, individuals will be asked to provide personal information so they may be contacted, but the option to remain anonymous will also be available. During a report, the individual will be asked to provide as much information as possible about the victim and alleged perpetrator. The existing hotline remains available, and the DHHS website has a plethora of information on the issue.

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LT. GOV. JOE KELLY TO LEAD INDONESIA TRADE TRIP, AS PILLEN FOCUSES ON SPECIAL SESSION

LINCOLN- With the special legislative session soon approaching, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has asked his Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly to replace him in leading a trade mission to Indonesia this month. Pillen vowed to call a special session on property tax reform beginning when the Indonesia trip ends. Some lawmakers have criticized the decision due to Pillen and Indonesia's heavy involvement in the pork trade market, and have pressured the governor for a tax plan in writing.

Indonesia has a vast economy and population, and they are one of the top export markets for Nebraska. At the same time, its GDP and population are both quickly expanding. The group taking the trip is composed of representatives from different agricultural and environmental agencies. They will be touring different facilities and meeting with various trade partners.

The group will focus on Nebraska beef, pork, and soybeans, and other food products. "We are excited to explore this vibrant market and build new partnerships that will directly affect Nebraska’s economy," Kelly said. The delegation is to meet with a variety of different business and government entities to promote Nebraska's importance to Indonesia.

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SCHOOL VOUCHERS FIGHT IS NEBRASKA'S LAST PETITION DRIVE OF 2024

OMAHA- After last week's deadline for groups to submit signatures, one ballot initiative is still seeking signatures. Support Our Schools received two extra weeks to turn in signatures because the school choice law that the group sought to repeal was altered. They have until July 17th to collect 61,000 signatures from about 5% of registered voters to get repealing the most recent iteration of the law on the ballot in November, which they are confident will be achieved.

Supporters of the current law such as State Senators Justin Wayne and Lou Ann Linehan have emphasized the importance of providing more schooling options for parents and kids. “People aren’t putting themselves in a position of parents who have a child who is not succeeding that is miserable and they have an option here that might work,” Linehan said. The new law, LB 1402, will repeal its predecessor, LB 753, and set aside $10 million annually to create and fund the state's first voucher program for private school attendees.

The Support Our Schools ballot initiative is heavily funded and backed by influential parties. Support Our Schools is concerned that the voucher program won't reach those truly in need, but supporters of the bill refute that the change has the public interest in mind.

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NEBRASKA ABORTION FIGHT FUELS RECORD FILINGS TO REMOVE SIGNATURES FROM PETITIONS

LINCOLN- The final signature push for competing petition initiatives on abortion led to over 300 people filing affidavits claiming they mistakenly signed a petition and pulling their signatures. This number is the most filed against a single ballot initiative with the Secretary of State's Office. State Senator Megan Hunt of District 8 criticized the efforts of the anti-abortion petition group Protect Women and Children, claiming signees were purposefully coerced and misinformed.

Organizers for Protect Women and Children claim that combative efforts from groups trying to get signatures removed prove that they're concerned about their initiative failing. “The activists organizing their followers to ‘remove their names’ is a mere media spectacle,” Brenna Grasz said. The group stated that it had over 1,200 volunteers and other paid circulators who gathered 205,000 signatures.

Under the current law, Nebraska restricts abortion to 12 weeks gestational age, or about 10 weeks after fertilization. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has stated that their goal is to ban abortion outright. The pro-choice initiative Protect Our Rights would cement the right to abortion in the state's constitution until the point of fetal viability, typically at 22 to 24 weeks gestation.

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NATIONAL REPUBLICANS MATCH NEBRASKA'S 2ND DISTRICT AD PUSH BY DEMOCRATS

OMAHA- The National Republican Campaign Committee recently announced that it would be outdoing its Democratic counterparts in Nebraska's Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District by committing $1.24 million to digital and television advertisement reservations. This continues an ongoing competition between Republican U.S. Representative Don Bacon and the Democratic candidate challenging him in November, Tony Vargas. The funds are a part of the NRCC's $45.7 million set aside for advertisement reservations across the country.

Observers have stated that they expect more major investments in the 2nd District election due to the state's rare practice of awarding an Electoral College vote to the presidential candidate that wins each district. Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that divide their electoral votes. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has threatened to change the format to winner-take-all during the special legislative session, which would favor the Republican candidate Donald Trump, but liberal Maine lawmakers have said they would reciprocate the change to take away any possible advantage.

Much of the NRCC's money is targeting seats in the House of Representatives that are either held by Democrats in districts that Donald Trump won in 2020 or held by Republicans in districts that President Joe Biden won in 2020. Supporters are rallying behind Rep. Bacon while opponents criticize his platform. Nebraska's Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District is going to foster a highly contested and competitive election at the state and federal levels.

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MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATES TURN IN SIGNATURES SEEKING NEBRASKA BALLOT ACCESS

LINCOLN- Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana turned in a total of over 114,000 signatures for each of its two petitions last Wednesday. This campaign marks the group's third attempt to get on the ballot. “You can never have enough, never have enough, but it was amazing to collect until the very last moment to allow every Nebraskan out there that could get to us and wanted to sign, to sign,” said statewide campaign manager Crista Eggers.

The campaign hosted two final events in Lincoln and Omaha to collect and count signatures until the last moment. Typically 15% to 30% of signatures are invalidated during the verification process, which is why ballot initiative groups try to gather as many signatures as possible. Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana has reached the county requirement to be placed on a ballot, so their recent efforts were focused on getting signatures as a precaution.

It has been a long and turbulent journey for the initiative group to get on the ballot, but polling indicates that Nebraskans support the legalization of marijuana regardless of age, geography, and political identity. In 2020, the Nebraska Supreme Court dismissed the ballot language, arguing that it combined two issues, and in 2022, the campaign missed the signature requirement. The group now awaits certification and is hopeful for a ballot placement in November.

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PETITION SIGNATURES TURNED IN FOR NEBRASKA PAID SICK LEAVE BALLOT MEASURE

LINCOLN- Nebraskans who work at least 30 hours a week but don't have paid sick leave will likely have the chance to change that at the ballots. According to an announcement made by Organizers of Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans, 138,000 signatures were turned in to set a minimum level of sick leave by law. Supporters are confident that their efforts will land the issue on the general election ballot.

The initiative would make changes to Nebraska employment practices, such as a set minimum number of annual paid sick days and a rewards system. “It’s a process of earning that time and then being able to use it when you need it,” Jo Giles of initiative supporter Women's Fund of Omaha said. Supporters say that the change will positively impact workers in every industry.

Many businesses are happy to support the effort to relieve the financial burden of unfortunate circumstances out of their control. Lawmakers who oppose this change will have the option of changing a voter-approved law, but there is hope that the will of the voters will be respected. The initiative has raised a substantial amount of funds while no group has raised any money in opposition.

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PEOPLE PULLING NAMES OFF NEBRASKA PETITIONS IN FINAL DAYS FOR SIGNATURES

LINCOLN- In the final days for petitioners to gather signatures for their ballot initiative, Nebraskans are not taking the deceptive tactics of some groups lightly. There have been at least 14 complaints filed against petition circulators, driven mostly by competing abortion-related groups. Protect Our Rights is a petition group seeking to put abortion rights in the constitution while other groups like Protect Women and Children and Now Choose Life want to restrict, limit, or ban abortion access in the state.

Observers have noticed more social media posts alleging bad behavior from petition circulators. This includes some individuals being berated in public by pushy petitioners as well as refusing to read the petition language aloud before getting a signature, which is against the law. “It’s not unusual to get a few complaints about circulators,” Secretary of State spokeswoman Jackie Ourada said.

There are over 200 individuals who have filed to have their signatures removed from a petition, most coming from the Protect Women and Children petition. It was stated that voters have faced a lot of misguidance and misinformation regarding this issue, and they're being urged to consider whether they support the ballot they signed. This is an urgent time for circulators as petitions are due by 5 p.m. on July 3rd.

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NEBRASKA'S 2024 BORDER DEPLOYMENTS COST $1.27 MILLION

LINCOLN- Two border deployments ordered by Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen have cost a combined $1.27 million. The state says it paid most of this using interest from the second wave of the federal pandemic relief funds set aside for rental assistance, and taxpayers paid the remaining cost, over $70,000. The cost was requested by the media a year after he spent almost $1 million in pandemic-related funds and general funds on similar deployments.

Some lawmakers, namely State Senators Carol Blood of Bellevue and Megan Hunt of Omaha, are disgruntled with the decision and have stated the funds should have gone to more pressing, in-state issues. "This spending is political and partisan," Hunt said. Many have been vocal in their criticism of Pillen's spending, but others are rallying behind his decision.

Pillen has previously declined to answer questions about the cost-effectiveness of his decision but has stated that his efforts do help reduce the number of people and substances being illegally trafficked across the southern border. All of Nebraska's congressional delegation has emphasized the importance of border security as a top issue for voters. Immigrant advocacy groups are concerned about the possible fearmongering that this spending could result in.

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DR. DELE DAVIES NAMED INTERIM CHANCELLOR FOR UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER

LINCOLN- Following the appointment of University of Nebraska President Jeffery Gold, it was recently announced that Dr. H. Dele Davies will serve as the interim chancellor for the University of Nebraska Medical Center. After 14 years in the role, Gold chose Davies, the senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies. “UNMC is on a remarkable trajectory, thanks to the collective efforts of so many individuals on the campus and beyond whose work is transforming the health and quality of life for people in Nebraska and around the world,” Gold stated.

Davies is an extremely qualified, internationally recognized leader in community health. He played a key role in developing the university's experiential learning center as well as joined Gold in expanding rural health initiatives. Previously, Davies served in a similar role at Michigan State University and directed the Child Health Research Unit at Alberta's Children's Hospital in Calgary, Canada.

With Gold's promotion and the retirement of University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen, Nebraska University's system has two holes to permanently fill. The process has already begun with Charlie Bicak serving as UNK's interim chancellor. The formal search for UNMC's new chancellor has yet to be announced.

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DOUGLAS COUNTY BOARD APPROVES COMMITTEE TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL USES, RISKS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

OMAHA- The Douglas County Board recently voted to establish an advisory committee to ensure the safety of the implementation and ethical use of artificial intelligence in county government. With this decision, some are hopeful that Douglas County will emerge as a state leader in considering the potential uses and risks of utilizing artificial intelligence in government. The board approved the creation of this committee unanimously.

The new committee, named the County Commissioner Committee on Artificial Intelligence, will consist of board members including area experts and stakeholders from local departments and organizations. The board also unanimously approved a $22,000 year-long consulting agreement that provides consultants to assist with using artificial intelligence. “The purpose of this committee is to make some policies — because for all the good (AI) can do, it can be dangerous," board member Chris Rodgers said.

While some are embracing the opportunities that artificial intelligence presents, others are very weary of implementing it into government operations. People are nervous about the dangerous aspects of artificial intelligence implementation, but most agree that the establishment of the committee was necessary to deal with the issue. Software that uses artificial intelligence is already being incorporated at the county level, and it's only a matter of time before it reaches a state or national level.

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INCOME TAX CUTS WILL BE PROTECTED DURING NEBRASKA PROPERTY TAX RELIEF DISCUSSIONS, GOVERNOR SAYS

COLUMBUS- Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen's approach to reducing property taxes will likely avoid affecting income tax and focus on sales and sin taxes. Pillen has sought to reform property taxes through a broad sales tax base, which opponents assert will raise taxes on lower-income individuals in the state. If the state proceeds with Pillen's plan, Nebraska will have shifted 40% of the state's tax burden away from property tax by the end of the year.

Some Nebraskans are concerned that the progress made last year after a long-awaited reduction in state income taxes will be undone by Pillen's reforms. Some suggest that a hard cap on local spending increases will help stop the drastically increasing valuations in Nebraska. Pillen's efforts to hone in on sales tax exemptions may make his path to reform more difficult.

There are a few questions surrounding school funding regarding Pillen's reform. He plans to have the state overtake all of its public school funding, which will seemingly have far-reaching consequences. Businesspeople across the state are looking for any indication of what Pillen's tax reform will truly look like, but his unpassed bill from the last legislative session gives some clues.

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RURAL NE COUNTY ATTORNEYS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS CONFRONT 'LEGAL DESERT' IN HIRING NEW LAWYERS

LINCOLN- Hall County Public Defender Gerald Piccolo has expressed serious concern over the lack of aspiring defense attorneys applying for positions in the rural parts of Nebraska. This is part of a national trend, where law schools have seen a 21% drop since its peak in 2010. “It’s just more attractive to live in Lincoln or Omaha than live in Grand Island, Madison County or Scottsbluff,” Piccolo said.

A bill to address this shortage was in the works during the last legislative session but got derailed over a disagreement between the state's prosecutors and defense attorneys over incentives that should be offered. State Senator Danielle Conrad had proposed legislation that offered expanded financial incentives for public defenders and prosecutors practicing in rural areas, including student loan repayment assistance. The lack of attorneys is increasingly causing a problem; 12 of the state's 93 counties have zero attorneys and 18 counties have three or fewer, with projections indicating a continual deterioration.

The program had funds waiting to be allocated, but the bill fell apart due to a dispute regarding whether public defenders and county prosecutors should be paid the same. It was argued that county attorneys have a wider scope of responsibilities, not only prosecuting criminal cases but also handling the civil lawsuits that the county faces, providing legal guidance to officials, handling child support enforcement, and serving as the county coroner. Conrad emphasizes the importance of salary parity in this bill, and it is widely recognized that this issue isn't going anywhere.

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'WORST YET TO COME' IN RISING MISSOURI RIVER, WITH FLOODING EXPECTED TO BE MODERATE AND SHORT-LIVED

BELLEVUE- Water rising along the Missouri River is expected to cause moderate to minor flooding in the Bellevue and Omaha areas. Predictions indicate that the worst of it has yet to be seen, though the episode will be short-lived. There have been a variety of closings and evacuations in Bellevue as a result, such as households around Elbow Bend, lakeside communities close to the Platte River, American Heroes Park, the Haworth Park Campground, and public boat decks.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen proactively declared a state of emergency for Nebraska counties surrounding the Missouri River for Monday, particularly to free up funds needed and confer authority to Nebraska's National Guard adjutant general. Heavy rain in eastern South Dakota, northeastern Nebraska, and northwestern Iowa was the catalyst of the flooding. Pillen deployed assistance in search and rescue operations in and around Sioux City.

While predictions indicate manageable flooding, state agencies are preparing for the worst for safety purposes. This includes an order to stay off the water, the closure of the railroad, and precautionary actions for wastewater treatment plants. After the unceasing downpour upstream, Omaha and Bellevue have been forced to err on the side of safety.

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, STRATCOM, NEBRASKA SEE SPENDING BUMPS IN LATEST DEFENSE BILL

BELLEVUE- Funding for new Offutt Air Force Base facilities and better pay for young service members are two components included in the local contributions to the national defense bill that passed the U.S. House this month and is headed to the Senate. Republican U.S. Senator Deb Fischer and Representative Don Bacon said recently that the latest version of the National Defense Authorization Act includes specific projects that the state should be satisfied with. Along with renovations for the base, much of the bill's focal point was improving the quality of life for service members and their families.

Bacon was a particularly vocal advocate for improving the lives of the military and their families, mainly through a salary increase. Fischer's motivation was much more rooted in her support for deterring foreign powers from using nuclear weapons. “A dangerous world demands a strong investment in our military, and that’s what our defense bill delivers, both for Nebraska and the country as a whole,” Fischer said.

Critics of the bill have noted that it unnecessarily addressed social issues by limiting education on diversity and inclusion for military training, while others voiced appreciation for the bill's protection of conservative media on bases. Both Fischer and Bacon prioritized cyber defense and funding defense research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a portion of which is tied to StratCom. There has been an increasing concern over cybersecurity, and the bill addresses the need for professionals in that space.

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NEBRASKANS EXPLORE NEW WAYS TO WOO IMMIGRANT WORKERS

FREMONT- There was a sizable turnout for the Tuesday conference in Fremont, which offered employers strategies to integrate immigrants and refugees into their workforce. An encouraging number of participants were present, including the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce. There has been an increased effort from businesses to assist immigrant employees in their transition to living in America.

This conference in Fremont displays a shift in attitude toward immigrants in the town, especially since a rental housing ordinance targeting undocumented immigrants was ruled legal by a federal court a decade ago. “Absolutely things have changed in Fremont," said Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg. He advises the town to embrace the growing cultural diversity.

In addition to encouraging the employment of immigrant workers, the convention also addressed empathy concerns within the workplace through educational training on cultural customs. It was noted that happy employees do the best recruiting by naturally spreading the word. While this continues to be a divisive topic for some, others notice the amount of people who have completely changed their stance.

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REVISED LAW ADDS TWIST TO HIRING NEW DIRECTOR OF NEBRASKA RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION

LINCOLN- Due to a recent law change, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen will now have a say in who is hired to head the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission. The law, Legislative Bill 839, was proposed by District 37 State Senator John Lowe, who happens to be a finalist for the position. Before the bill, the governor was allowed to appoint members to the agency but was subject to confirmation by the legislature.

With this new law, the commission director is now internally selected and subject to approval from the governor. It also adds that the position is to be served full-time and bars the individual from engaging in another business, profession, or public office position. The agency has been given an increasingly important role, especially since gambling was expanded to licensed racetracks in 2020.

The commission's executive committee has selected four finalists including Lowe, who all have experience in state government. The goal of the agency was to find experienced and qualified finalists. The executive committee expects to recommend one of the finalists to the rest of the commission at its July meeting.

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OWNERS OF TWO DELTA-8 SHOPS SETTLE WITH AG HILGERS

LINCOLN- Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers announced Wednesday that his office had settled with several owners targeted in 11 lawsuits filed against vape shops selling legally murky variants of the THC-containing substance Delta-8. Ever since the 2018 federal farm bill opened the door to the sale of Delta-8 in Nebraska, Hilgers said he sought to close the legal loopholes surrounding the product.

"I am proud to announce these settlements," he said, "which represent important steps towards getting these untested, mislabeled, and dangerous THC products off the shelves in Nebraska." In a release, Hilgers called on the other retailers sued by the Attorney General's Office to negotiate settlements with the state.

"Time is running short to settle on favorable terms with our office," Hilgers wrote, "The door will soon close on obtaining settlements that waive penalties, and for those who do not settle, we will seek relief to the fullest extent of the law." Each of the lawsuits argue that the products sold in these stores were deceptively advertised and possibly contaminated.

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SPEAKER ARCH OFFERS SPECIAL SESSION SCHEDULE

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Speaker of the Legislature John Arch issued a roadmap for a likely special session on property tax reform after Gov. Pillen confirmed he would call the Legislature back in late July. In a letter to Arch, Pillen said that lawmakers will remain in session until property tax reform is delivered.

Nebraska taxpayers paid $5.3 billion in property taxes in 2023, an increase of $286 million from the year prior. That followed a previously record-breaking increase of $293 million in the previous year. "Nebraska is hurtling toward a status quo in which total property taxes will grow by more more than a million dollars per day," Pillen wrote.

In a letter to all senators and staff, Arch said the Legislature should plan to meet July 25-27, Thursday through Saturday, for bill introduction before beginning legislative hearings on Monday the 29th. In special sessions, bills offered at the governor's request are introduced first, followed by all other bills or resolutions. A full tentative schedule can be viewed below:

July 25, Thursday, at a time to be determined by Pillen in his proclamation.

July 26 and July 27, Friday and Saturday, at 10 a.m.

July 29, Monday, at 9 a.m. Hearings at 9:30 a.m.

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