NE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION PREVIEWS LITERACY AND FIREARMS POLICIES

LINCOLN- The Nebraska State Board of Education focused much of its recent meeting on advancing student literacy. Education Commissioner Brian Maher previewed updates to the “Nebraska Literacy Project” plan to improve student literacy, which will go to the full board for approval in December. The board has made it a priority to improve student literacy, particularly by increasing third-grade proficiency on state assessments to 75% by 2030.

This spring, state lawmakers voted to allow the state’s smallest school districts, those with fewer than 5,000 residents, to authorize select school security personnel to carry firearms. The law, introduced by State Sen. Tom Brewer of north-central Nebraska and included in Legislative Bill 1329, authorizes Class I and Class II public school districts to create such a policy, in addition to nonpublic schools. The state board drafted a “model policy” that schools can use as a starting point but are not required to match.

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39 NEBRASKA STATE LAWMAKERS SIGN RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL

LINCOLN- Thirty-nine of Nebraska’s 49 state senators have signed an informal resolution affirming their support for the Israeli people and condemning Hamas terrorists one year after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Thirty-nine senators signed a similar resolution a year ago. This year’s resolution urges members of Nebraska’s federal delegation to do all they can to support the Israeli people.

The resolution calls out the “terrorist infrastructure” of hiding among civilian population centers to use civilians and Palestinians “as human shields.” The cosigners write they recognize Israel’s rights to act decisively and unilaterally in self-defense and “pursue without interference or condemnation” the elimination and permanent neutralization of Hamas. “The undersigned hereby convey our most heartfelt condolences to all innocent victims as well as their families and communities,” the senators wrote.

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NE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP HURRICANE MILTON EMERGENCY, JOINING OTHER HUSKERS DELIVERING MUTUAL AID

LINCOLN- About 150 Nebraska National Guard soldiers and airmen will be on their way to Florida at the end of this week to assist in emergency response operations related to Hurricane Milton. Gov. Jim Pillen, in a statement Thursday, said that he ordered the deployment in response to an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request from the State of Florida to provide support following Milton’s landfall on the state’s west coast.

Pillen said the dangerous storm will require a strong and coordinated recovery effort. “Nebraska is proud to support Florida and the resources from other states that are being brought to bear in assisting storm-impacted residents,” he said.

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NEW ‘EDGE DISTRICT’ SEEN AS GIVING UNMC AN EDGE IN GROWING GLOBAL REPUTATION

OMAHA- A roughly 30-acre area just west of the main University of Nebraska Medical Center campus has a lot going on, including a sprawling innovation hub and a six-story research and office building under construction.

It now has a new name: the EDGE District.

The name for the developing site west of Saddle Creek Road near Farnam Street was revealed Thursday during a news media event that featured a video and remarks from area academic, government and business leaders. Dele Davies, UNMC interim chancellor, said the name is not only a nod to the fact that the area is on the edge of the campus. The acronym stands for Explore, Develop, Grow, Engage.

“It represents that UNMC wants to be on the leading edge in all areas of our missions,” Davies said.

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CANDIDATES FOR LD23 SEAT SAY EXPERIENCE SETS THEM APART

DAVID CITY - While voters across Nebraska and the country will choose between candidates with clashing political ideologies up and down their ballots this November, the people of Legislative District 23 will face less-distinct contrasts. Both men running to replace term-limited Sen. Bruce Bostelman as the eastern Nebraska district's representative in the Legislature agree: their politics are more or less indistinguishable.

"Dennis — he's a conservative Republican and so am I," said Jared Storm, a David City agricultural pilot and business owner facing off in the general election with Dennis Fujan, a retired farmer who lives southeast of Prague. "I mean, we're very much similar in policies," Storm said. "I would say that most of what I would support, Dennis would support."

Fujan offered a similar assessment of his opponent in the race to represent District 23, which includes Saunders and Colfax counties and much of Butler County.

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PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED FOR NEBRASKA’S SIX BALLOT MEASURES

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office has scheduled a series of public hearings across the state to inform voters about six ballot measures ahead of the November election. These hearings, required by state law, will take place in each of Nebraska’s congressional districts.

Secretary of State Bob Evnen highlighted the significance of this election, stating, 'This is a record number of petition-initiated ballot measures on a Nebraska general election ballot.' To help voters better understand the initiatives, the office has provided pamphlets in both English and Spanish that explain the language of each measure.

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MEDICAL CANNABIS SPONSORS PUSH BACK ON NEBRASKA OFFICIALS' CLAIMS OF FRAUD AND MALFEASANCE

LINCOLN- The sponsors of Nebraska’s medical cannabis ballot measures are pushing back on the state’s chief election official for questioning nearly 100,000 signatures, which they say threatens “the initiative right altogether.” Secretary of State Bob Evnen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers entered court filings questioning the validity of roughly 49,000 signatures on each of two medical cannabis petitions.

They alleged that more than half involved “notary malfeasance.” Evnen asked the court to determine the number of valid signatures and void the election results if there weren’t enough. Attorneys for the three sponsors of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana said Monday that Evnen has not alleged any “intentional wrongdoing” as required under the law and ignores past legal precedents “in his effort to disenfranchise tens of thousands of Nebraska voters.”

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BACON, VARGAS TOUT STARK DIFFERENCES IN FIRST DEBATE OF 2ND DISTRICT REMATCH

OMAHA- The first debate of the second race between Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas and Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon drew clearer lines between the candidates than the last campaign. Both candidates punched holes in one another’s stances Friday on abortion, immigration, guns, and ethics during the hourlong debate hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha and the Omaha Press Club.

As in 2022, Vargas emphasized his support for reproductive rights and Bacon defended his belief that new life deserves protection. Bacon defended his stance that he has long supported exceptions to any federal or state abortion ban to protect the life of the mother if a complicated pregnancy endangers her. On ethics, the two candidates sparred about the role of outside money in the 2nd District campaign, which typically sees millions of dollars spent on outside advertising.

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OUTSIDE AD ATTACKS VARGAS FOR SCHOOL BOARD PERSONNEL VOTES, WHICH VARGAS CAMP CALLS A SMEAR

OMAHA – A campaign ad targeting State Senator Tony Vargas for a vote during his time on the Omaha Public Schools (OPS) Board has sparked backlash from both Vargas and his opponent, Congressman Don Bacon. The ad, funded by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), highlights Vargas' approval of a middle school IT specialist who was later convicted of possessing and distributing child pornography.

Vargas’ campaign condemned the ad as a 'smear,' arguing that it distorts the reality of the hiring process. The campaign clarified that board members are not directly involved in hiring decisions but merely approve groups of candidates vetted by OPS staff. Congressman Bacon distanced himself from the ad, stating he would not have run it and placed responsibility for its airing on the NRCC.

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CIVIC NEBRASKA TO TRAIN VOLUNTEER OBSERVES FOR GENERAL ELECTION

LINCOLN- Civic Nebraska is seeking volunteers for election observers to monitor polling places on Election Day. Election protectors monitor polling places and share their concerns with Civic Nebraska regarding how elections are run around the state. They record any irregularities or different treatment of voters and if polling locations comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, live in Nebraska, and attend a virtual or in-person training session before Election Day. Civic Nebraska creates a post-election report shared with county and state election officials and the public to show “areas of success and improvement” and inform future legislative initiatives relating to elections.

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FISCHER ATTACKS OSBORN AS THREAT TO GOP PUSH FOR SENATE CONTROL

OMAHA- U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer recently called a press conference and criticized former Omaha union leader Dan Osborn as a nationally backed threat to a possible Republican majority in the Senate. Fischer, a two-term Republican from Lincoln whose family owns a ranch near Valentine, was joined by supporters who touted her record of voting for infrastructure investments, agricultural interests, and national defense, among other things.

Longtime Fischer supporter Former Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman repeated the allegation that Osborn is a supporter of Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats. Heineman and Fischer said that Osborn has portrayed himself as an independent but that behind closed doors he is more likely to support Democrats and more likely to cost a GOP-leaning state its seniority and influence in the Senate.

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GWEN WALZ STOPS IN NEBRASKA TO STUMP FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, DEMS

OMAHA- Minnesota's First Lady recently visited Omaha's 2nd Congressional District to rally support for Vice President Harris' presidential campaign. As part of a national bus tour, Walz, alongside other key Democratic leaders, is visiting pivotal swing states to energize voters.

During the rally, she underscored the significance of safeguarding women's reproductive rights, emphasizing it as a cornerstone of the campaign. Her visit to the 2nd Congressional District is especially notable, as the area is seen as a critical battleground that could play a decisive role in Harris' path to victory.

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OPINION: FISCHER'S FARM FOUL-UP

CHERRY COUNTY- A ranch belonging to the family of Republican Senator Deb Fischer has been dissolved several times over the past few years over unpaid corporate taxes, according to Nebraska state records; including earlier this year, as Fischer mounts an unexpectedly contentious reelection bid. Sunny Slope Ranch in Cherry County, Nebraska, has long figured in Fischer’s political career.

In April 2018, the corporation owning the ranch was dissolved after it failed to pay state corporate occupation taxes, before getting reinstated the next month, according to a Nebraska Secretary of State record. The ranch was again dissolved in April 2020 for the same reason before being reinstated in May 2023. The same thing happened this past April, with the ranch being reinstated two months later.

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FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND REPORT ON DYSLEXIA, READING UNVEILED AT NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

LINCOLN- A first-of-its-kind statewide report related to reading and dyslexia for Nebraska K-12 students shows strides in addressing literacy as policymakers see room for improvement. The Nebraska Department of Education submitted its first report to the Legislature on Sept. 3 as required under Legislative Bill 298.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn shepherded that legislation in 2023 as a next step from 2018 legislation that began assessing K-3 students three times a year to get them on individualized reading improvement plans and supports earlier if needed. The data indicates that of 10,225 public K-12 students ages 3 to 21 who were tested last year for a specific learning disability in the area of reading, 4,747 students (46.43%) were eligible for special education services.

However, the department cautions that the term “specific learning disability” is broad and consists of various distinct areas in which a child might need additional support to meet state standards: oral expression, written expression, basic reading skills, reading fluency, reading comprehension, mathematics calculation, and mathematics problem-solving. “In sum, there is currently not a clean and clear way to fully identify the number of students with a specific learning disability in reading,” the report states.

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NE EDUCATION OFFICIALS WEIGH IN ON SCHOOL DISTRICT'S USE OF NUTRITION FUND FOR GYM SCOREBOARDS

LINCOLN- Two big digital scoreboards that a Nebraska school district purchased with funds from a student nutrition fund and installed in a school gym were not an appropriate spend, a Nebraska Department of Education spokesman said Monday. Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley last week issued a scathing letter to the Chase County public school district in southwest Nebraska, calling out its use of about $125,000 from a nonprofit school food account for the pair of “massive video scoreboards.”

The school district, in response, said that it was confident that it “appropriately and transparently” bought the video display boards after consulting with the Nebraska Department of Education. A law firm representing the district told Foley’s audit team in a letter that while the boards are used for sports, they also display nutritional information.

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OMAHA INLAND PORT AUTHORITY TURNS ATTENTION TO 'INNOVATION DISTRICT' SET FOR $30M

OMAHA- The Omaha Inland Port Authority opened the door Thursday to seeking a consultant to lay a framework for how such an urban hotbed of leading-edge institutions, businesses, and entrepreneurs could operate within its 300-acre jurisdiction. A state law passed this year directed $30 million to the Omaha port authority to fuel the creation of an innovation district.

During the port authority’s monthly meeting, board members ultimately delayed the effort to seek requests for consulting services for the innovation district. Members said they wanted to further review verbiage. According to public records, the consultant would, among other things, recommend strategic and financial approaches to shaping the innovation district. It would involve community members, local businesses, and governmental entities to develop a shared vision.

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NEBRASKA REGENTS APPROVE ALCOHOL SALES AT HUSKER FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL GAMES

LINCOLN – The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has voted to allow alcohol sales at Husker football and volleyball games, starting in Fall 2025. This decision marks a significant change, as Nebraska was the only school in the Big Ten to prohibit alcohol sales during football games.

Previously, the Regents had approved alcohol sales at basketball, baseball, and softball events. NU President Gold stated that a portion of the revenue generated from alcohol sales will be reinvested into university-sponsored “alcohol safety programs,” aiming to promote responsible consumption on campus.

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AS DROUGHT WORSENS IN NEBRASKA, SO DOES FIRE DANGER

NEBRASKA- Drought is continuing to get worse in Nebraska thanks to unseasonably warm and dry weather, leading to high fire danger in many places. According to the latest Drought Monitor released Thursday by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, almost half of the state is now in at least a moderate drought.

The dry conditions are widespread across the state. Omaha, Norfolk, and Sidney all saw their driest Septembers ever. Kearney saw its second-driest September, Hastings and Valentine both had their third-driest, Chadron had its fourth-driest, and Grand Island had its fifth-driest. The dry conditions have led to both red flag warnings and fire weather watches across large portions of western, central, and northeast Nebraska, as dry vegetation along with hot and windy conditions has increased the danger of wildfires.

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NEBRASKA HOSPITALS URGE SENIORS TO EXAMINE MEDICARE OPTIONS, BE CAUTIOUS OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE

LINCOLN- With just under two weeks before the Medicare open enrollment period begins, Nebraska hospital officials urged seniors to look carefully and make sure they know what they’re signing up for when they select a plan. During open enrollment, seniors can choose between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, which are administered by private health insurers. A shift has been underway in recent years, with about 54% of the eligible Medicare population now enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

The plans can look appealing when compared with traditional Medicare, Jeremy Nordquist, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association, said. They may offer lower out-of-pocket expenses and additional benefits including dental, vision, and hearing coverage, as well as perks such as free groceries and gym memberships. But Nordquist added during a media call Tuesday that some Medicare Advantage plans restrict access to health services by inappropriately denying covered services that are medically necessary and by requiring extensive documentation to demonstrate that necessity.

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SURVEY SHOWS NEBRASKA RURAL YOUTHS LIKE THEIR SMALL-TOWN LIVING

LINCOLN- Five years of data from a student survey coordinated by the Nebraska Community Foundation is in and the consensus shows that rural youths like their small-town living. The foundation released cumulative results of an annual youth survey conducted since 2020 in partnership with the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Respondents are about 4,000 middle and high school students from 43 schools in cities and towns as small as Diller, population less than 250, and as large as Norfolk, which has nearly 26,000 residents. With a network that stretches across 270 Nebraska communities, foundation officials said the survey was designed to better understand the priorities and perspectives of young people growing up in rural areas as well as their expectations for the future.

Brain drain, or educated professionals leaving the state, has been a persistent concern, noted Josie Schafer, who heads CPAR at UNO, but the exodus of Nebraskans of all ages and education levels combined has slowed down according to the most recent U.S. Census data for 2023. That suggests that perhaps younger people may not be fleeing in the same way and as fast as in the past, Schafer said. Specific and updated brain drain census data won’t be available until later this year.

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