NEBRASKA CITIES MAKE KEY STRIDES IN PURSUIT OF ACTIVATING 'GOOD LIFE DISTRICTS'

GRETNA- The pursuit of the “good life” in Nebraska made a few key strides this week as measured by progress toward building Good Life Districts aimed at luring new tourism, retailers, and other additions to the state.

To date, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development has designated four geographical areas as Good Life Districts. Five in total are allowed under recently passed state legislation, which makes the districts eligible for public incentives to help create unique tourist-oriented campuses expected to generate jobs and economic activity.

Per Good Life legislation passed in 2023 and refined in 2024, the state has reduced the state sales tax within the boundaries of the Gretna area and Omaha Good Life Districts, from 5.5% to 2.75%. The idea was for that money to be redirected instead to help develop the respective districts, but first needed is the voter approval.

For the full article click HERE

GOV. JIM PILLEN LEADING NEBRASKA DELEGATION TO CZECH REPUBLIC, GERMANY

LINCOLN- Gov. Jim Pillen and state leaders will embark on a diplomatic and trade mission to the Czech Republic and Germany later this week. The mission will take place from Thursday to Nov. 14. According to a news release, the delegation includes representatives from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Nebraska National Guard, the University of Nebraska, the state’s agriculture and banking industries, and the agricultural technology sector.

In the Czech Republic, Nebraska’s delegation will meet with the national government’s ministries of agriculture and foreign affairs, military leaders, and Czech agribusinesses. The goal of the mission is to deepen existing military, commercial and educational partnerships. Nebraska officials will also explore opportunities for agricultural research collaboration, particularly in livestock production.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS LEAVING MEDICAID OVER 'AGGRESSIVE', COSTLY AUDITS.

LINCOLN - The envelope didn’t surprise Dru McMillan. But when she opened the letter and read the number, she felt sick.

“If you agree with the determination, please submit a draft in the amount of $21,042.73 within 30 days,” it read.

McMillan is a Lincoln therapist. She has long served a majority of patients who use Medicaid, the government-funded cheap or free insurance, to pay for mental health care.

The letter came from an auditor working for one of three massive insurance companies the State of Nebraska is paying $4.25 billion, over six years, to oversee the state’s Medicaid program. It accused McMillan, through various technical measures, of overbilling the government for services she provided her patients.

Since May the organization has surveyed 126 mental health providers and found about 20% are so unhappy with the state’s Medicaid program that they plan to leave it. The bureaucracy of Medicaid is a hassle, Vandercoy said. Audit anxiety might push more away, even as Nebraska struggles with a shortage of mental health providers.

For the full article click HERE

LAWMAKERS PROBE SPECIAL EDUCATION, 'OPTION ENROLLMENT' AMONG NEBRASKA SCHOOL DISTRICTS

LINCOLN- Lawmakers are exploring how to help more students who require special education take part in a Nebraska program that allows families the option to enroll in a different public school district. State Sens. Dave Murman of Glenvil and Danielle Conrad of Lincoln each brought interim studies to probe the issue and better support students who need special education services and might be on individualized education plans, or IEPs.

The study also came after a Nebraska Department of Education report in August that about 86% of students who applied for “option enrollment” were accepted into the district of their choice. Among the 14% denied, a portion were students on IEPs. “The goal is that there wouldn’t be any discrimination because of disabilities,” Murman said after the hearing.

For the full article click HERE

NEBRASKA VOTER TURNOUT IS A NEAR RECORD-BREAKER; SEVERAL LEGISLATIVE RACES OUTCOME STILL UNKNOWN

LINCOLN- The 2024 general election marked Nebraska’s second-highest number of votes cast in the state’s history. That’s according to Secretary of State Bob Evnen’s Office, which reported Wednesday that 934,188 ballots were cast and that several thousand early voting and provisional ballots have yet to be counted. Still on top of the heap, regarding votes cast, is turnout during the pandemic-era general election of 2020, with 966,920 ballots cast.

Preliminary turnout numbers show that 73.9% of Nebraska’s registered voters participated in the 2024 general election. That’s higher than the 72% prediction that Evnen had made earlier in the week. Final turnout results could inch up slightly as remaining ballots are counted, a spokeswoman for the office said.

Several races though are still in flux, especially in the legislature where there are several races within a couple hundred votes, potentially requiring a recount if those numbers close with ballots yet to be counted. County election commissioners said they’ve yet to count early and provisional voting ballots.

According to unofficial election results: Democrat Ashlei Spivey led Nick Batter, a nonpartisan, by 41 votes in northeast Douglas County’s District 13; Democrat Dan Quick led incumbent Ray Aguilar, a Republican, by 125 votes in Grand Island’s District 35; and Democrat Victor Rountree led Felix Ungerman, a Republican, by 181 votes in Sarpy County’s Legislative District 3.

In Hall County, for example, 195 largely provisional ballots in District 35 had yet to be validated and potentially included in the count, said Election Commissioner Tracy Overstreet. She said it would be seven to 10 days before the results are final.

The Douglas County Election Commission plans to tally 7,500 to 8,000 ballots on Friday, about half of the remaining uncounted ballots in the county. Election Commissioner Brian Kruse said he will update unofficial general election results late Friday afternoon.

About 15,000 Douglas County voters’ ballots had not been counted by Thursday. Results within a certain range could trigger a recount. Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse said if there was any recount, it would happen on Dec 4.

For the full article click HERE

FISCHER SHORTING UP GOP BASE AGAIST OSBORN IN NEBRASKA U.S. SENATE RACE

BELLEVUE, Nebraska — Even as outside polling shows a competitive race for U.S. Senate in ruby-red Nebraska, Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer remains adamant that her challenge from nonpartisan industrial mechanic Dan Osborn is a media-driven fabrication.

Fischer said reporters “wanted to see a race,” so they created one. Nebraskans, she said, know her record of getting results on national defense issues, funding roads, bridges and broadband and fighting profligate spending.

Fischer’s frustrated tone belies her annoyance at needing help from local and national Republican groups to fend off the Omaha union leader. Osborn has had help from some national Democrats, Libertarians and local Legal Marijuana NOW Party members in his upstart campaign. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, which typically focuses spending in swing states, has taken the unusual step of investing millions to help Fischer in right-leaning Nebraska.

For the full article click HERE

LOVE MAKES HISTORY AGAIN WHILE RICKETS LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR SECOND RUN IN 2026

OMAHA — Making history has become a political habit for Preston Love Jr., the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Nebraska, who is facing U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, a Republican incumbent.

In 2020, Love became the state’s first Black candidate for the U.S. Senate backed by a major political party after the Nebraska Democratic Party abandoned its nominee, Chris Janicek. This year, Love became the first Black Nebraskan to win a major party’s Senate nomination. His opponent, Ricketts, is a two-term governor who was appointed to the Senate by his successor.

Love has made no bones about the steep climb he faces Tuesday against Ricketts, the political face of one of the most influential donor families in conservative politics nationally. Love, who has helped run voter turnout efforts in North Omaha, said he wants his campaign to help motivate poorer voters who too often lose hope in the value of the process. He said it could make a difference in Nebraska’s 2nd District U.S. House race between Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas and U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., and in the presidential contest.

For the full article click HERE

BALLOT MEASURE FUNDRAISING NEARS $40 MILLION AHEAD OF NEBRASKA 2024 ELECTION

LINCOLN — Nebraskans are facing one of the most expensive elections in state history, including about $38 million raised and at least $32 million spent on campaigns involving six ballot measures.

Five campaigns have measures on the ballot, with the most expensive being the conflicting measures over whether to amend the Nebraska Constitution related to abortion. The three other efforts revolve around medical cannabis, paid sick leave and whether voters should repeal a recent state law that provides state funds to offset private K-12 school attendance costs.  

As of  Oct. 21, the five campaigns reported having a total of $2.21 million cash on hand. About $6.9 million came in just the past two weeks. Final campaign filings are due Jan. 14. 

For the full article click HERE

SPENDING IN NEBRASKA LEGISLATIVE RACES EXCEEDS $7.4 MILLION, SURPASSES 2022 LEVELS

LINCOLN — Nearly every Nebraska legislative race in this election cycle has surpassed six figures in spending ahead of Tuesday’s election, already climbing above 2022 records. Together, legislative candidates had raised $9.2 million and spent $7.4 million as of the Oct. 21 campaign finance reporting deadline. The latest deadline leaves about two weeks of fundraising and spending before Election Day to report when final reports are due Jan. 14. In the final 10 days of the election, another $505,000 had already been raised.

Spending in 22 of the 25 races exceeded six figures by Oct. 21, and all but one race exceeded six figures in fundraising. The single fundraising exception is South Omaha’s Legislative District 5 between Margo Juarez and Gilbert Ayala. They raised $93,000 combined, most by Juarez. 

The annual salary for a state senator is $12,000. Candidates who spent the most in 2022 legislative races won their elections in all but two cases. The most expensive race that year was about $577,000.

For the full article click HERE

JUDGE RULES NEBRASKA MEDICAL CANNABIS VOTES WILL BE COUNTED, DECLINES TO DELAY TRIAL

LINCOLN — The votes cast for or against Nebraska’s two medical cannabis ballot measures Tuesday will be counted and made public, after a district court judge rebuffed a request to prevent both actions. Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong said she agreed with attorney Daniel Gutman, who is defending the ballot sponsors, that the “status quo” is to count votes on Election Day. She noted that it was Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen who certified the measures for the ballot and that Nebraskans are already voting.

Austin-based attorney Anne Mackin, on behalf of John Kuehn, who filed a lawsuit against the ballot measures, asked Strong to prevent the counting and tabulating of votes because the ongoing trial could invalidate the measures. Mackin said state law requires that only “valid” votes be counted. The measures would regulate and legalize medical cannabis.

Beginning Monday morning, 24 hours before polls open Tuesday, county officials may begin counting early or mail-in votes.

For the full article click HERE

LANCASTER COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION SAYS SOCIAL MEDIA POST IMPLYING ELECTION FRAUD IS 'FALSE AND MISLEADING'

LANCASTER COUNTY, Nebr. - Officials said a member of a "malicious conspiracy theorist group" recorded a video showing a man on a skateboard returning his ballot and shared it on social media Sunday. The social media post "erroneously implied" that the man did something wrong, the Lancaster County Election Commissioner Todd Wiltgen said.

Officials said they reviewed surveillance footage of the ballot drop box and identified the voter when his ballot was retrieved. "It is shameful and unAmerican to intimidate and threaten anyone for exercising their right to vote," Wiltgen said in a statement.

Officials said they were concerned for the man's safety when commenters on the social media post were threatening to harm him. The election commission contacted the Lincoln Police Department, who reached out to the voter, officials said.

For the full article click HERE

NE SECRETARY OF STATE BOB EVNEN PREDICTS 72% STATEWIDE VOTER TURNOUT

LINCOLN — Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen is predicting a 72% statewide voter turnout for the 2024 general election, an estimate based on early voting and turnout trends in recent general elections.That’s in the same league as the statewide 76% turnout for the 2020 presidential election, which was fueled by overwhelming amounts of early voting connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nebraskans continue to fulfill the new voter ID requirement before voting, and we expect that to continue on Election Day,” he said.

Nebraska has 1,264,149 registered voters. So far, Evnen said, 332,455 registered voters have successfully cast ballots for the Nov. 5 general election. Of those, 72,049 have voted early in person at county election offices and 260,406 have voted early by mail including voters in by-mail counties or precincts.

Nebraskans can find their polling place on VoterCheck.

For the full article click HERE

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE ELECTION DAY IN NEBRASKA'S 2024 GENERAL ELECTION

LINCOLN — Attention Nebraska voters: Those of you who haven’t voted yet have spent months being bombarded by ads and text messages, campaign mailers and news coverage. You’re ready to vote. But just a reminder before you head to the polls: Take along a photo ID.

The state’s voters passed a constitutional amendment in 2022 requiring a picture ID to vote, and the Legislature in 2023 specified what types of identification would be accepted. Primary election voters have already done the ID drill, but this is the first statewide general election since the changes. If you forget an ID, you’ll have to go home to get it and return, or you’ll have to vote provisionally, taking an ID to your county election office after Election Day.

If Nebraska’s most populous county is any indication, voter turnout in the 2024 presidential election could be extraordinary. Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse last week predicted a 73% overall voter turnout in the county, including ballots cast on Election Day, but he said it could reach 75%.

For the full article click HERE

ROD YATES' $5B GOOD LIFE DISTRICT PLAN HITS NOT-SO-GOOD PATCH

OMAHA- Businessman Rod Yates’ plan to create a multibillion-dollar sports-centric tourist magnet between Omaha and Lincoln appears to have hit some headwinds, despite an apparent endorsement by Gov. Jim Pillen. Advisers to the City of Gretna, where the sprawling Good Life District project is proposed to surround Yates’ existing Nebraska Crossing outlets, have recommended against moving forward under terms laid out by Yates’ team.

The advisers cited concerns about the lack of detail, a call for the city to reduce its own sales tax rate in the Good Life District, and a call for Gretna to use city resources for land acquisition or possibly exercise its power of eminent domain. City administrator Paula Dennison, in a report to the Gretna City Council, said the staff was excited to continue to work on ways “to bring transformational development to Gretna” via the Good Life District legislation, but she said the current demands by Yates are not in the best interests of Gretna taxpayers.

For the full article click HERE

MEDICAL MARIJUANA WOULD FACE BUSINESS CHALLENGES IF INITIATIVES PASS

LINCOLN- If Nebraska voters legalize medical marijuana on Election Day, there would be opportunities for entrepreneurs but also a lot of challenges. Michael Johnson, who lives in Nebraska and is the CEO of the Colorado-based marijuana business Shift, said Nebraska would be late to the medical marijuana market, but that's an opportunity.

People familiar with the medical marijuana market said that creating a stable industry in Nebraska is possible if the ballot measures legalizing medical marijuana are approved. However, the medical marijuana market has had supply and demand imbalances in other states, lacks access to typical resources, and is surrounded by regulatory uncertainty.

The potential market size for medical cannabis is about 4% of Nebraska’s population by 2030, said Andrew Livingston, the director of Economics and Research at the national cannabis law firm Vicente LLP.

For the full article click HERE

NEW REVENUE PREDICTIONS POINT TO TOUGHER BUDGET, TAX DECISIONS NEXT YEAR

LINCOLN- Nebraska lawmakers could have a tough job balancing the state budget or providing more property tax relief next year, based on new projections of state tax revenues. At a meeting Thursday, the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board projected minimal growth in revenues during the period ending June 30, 2027, which includes the next two-year state budget period.

The board forecast state tax revenues of $6.95 billion for the first year of the budget period and $6.965 billion for the second year, amounting to growth of 0.2% between the two years. For the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2025, it forecast revenues would come in $141 million less than previously expected.

State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, the Appropriations Committee chairman, said the new revenue projections, combined with estimates of state spending, would put the state about $226 million into the red by the end of the period.

For the full article click HERE

UNMC SELECTED AS ONE OF 10 NEW REGIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH CENTERS FOR CDC

OMAHA- The University of Nebraska Medical Center is one of 10 regional centers across the United States selected to start a program to help communities prepare for and respond to public health threats. The recognition and five-year funding commitment from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention follow an earlier grant in which UNMC led the development of a new national planning approach to large-scale health crises.

The first annual installment of the grant is about $640,000, said Rachel Lookadoo, principal investigator who also is an assistant professor of environmental, agricultural, and occupational health. UNMC announced Thursday it will administer the center for Region Seven of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, serving Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri.

For the full article click HERE

IOWA, WISCONSIN, NATIONAL EDUCATORS URGE NEBRASKANS TO REPEAL STATE SUPPORT TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS

LINCOLN - Educators from Iowa, Wisconsin and the National Education Association (NEA) are joining Nebraskan educators in urging Nebraskans to vote “repeal” on Referendum Measure 435. If passed, the measure would repeal LB 1402, a law that funds “education scholarships” for private K-12 schools. LB 1402, which was passed in April, appropriates $10 million annually for the State Treasurer’s Office to distribute “education scholarships” for students to attend private schools.

Representatives from the NEA are pointing Nebraskans to look at Wisconsin where there are two funding systems, one totalling over $568.5 million for a private voucher system. They argue the system harms public schools and makes it tough, “to keep the doors open and the lights on” in public schools. However, Senator Linehan, who has spearheaded the legislation during her time in the legislature noted that, “$10 million represents 0.02% of the total cost for Nebraska’s public schools, which receive more than $5 billion.”

For the full article click HERE

MAYA HARRIS, KAMALA HARRIS' SISTER, VISITS NORTH OMAHA TO PUSH EARLY VOTING

OMAHA - Maya Harris, sister of Vice President Kamala Harris, stopped in North Omaha on Saturday to encourage those in Nebraska’s “Blue Dot” to get out and vote early.

State Sen. Tony Vargas, a candidate for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District seat; U.S. Senate candidate Preston Love Jr.; and Terrell McKinney, a Nebraska state senator seeking reelection, also spoke during the event.

More than a hundred Harris supporters, many wearing shirts or holding signs featuring a “Blue Dot,” cheered as speakers highlighted the impact Omaha and the rest of Nebraska’s 2nd District could have on the presidential election. Maya Harris encouraged those at the rally to vote early and tell their friends and family to do the same.

For the full article click HERE

REP. MIKE FLOOD FACES FAMILIAR CHALLENGER, STATE SEN. CAROL BLOOD, IN RACE FOR 1ST DISTRICT

LINCOLN - Congressman Mike Flood, a Republican from Norfolk who rose from Nebraska's Legislature to the House in 2022, is vying for reelection with Democratic challenger Carol Blood, a state lawmaker from Bellevue who is perhaps best known statewide for her unsuccessful run for governor in 2022.

Neither campaign has released polling ahead of the Nov. 5 election, but Republicans enjoy a massive voter registration advantage in the district, which has 74,275 more GOP voters than Democrats — despite the fact that Lincoln, the state's second largest city and a Democratic stronghold, is the 1st District's most populous city.

Blood, a 63-year-old former city councilwoman from Bellevue who will be term-limited in the Legislature this year, faces long odds as she tries to become the first Democrat elected to represent Nebraska's 1st Congressional District since 1964.

For the full article click HERE