Nebraska Department of Transportation

 (Lincoln, Neb.) — The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is pleased to announce the opening of a procurement bid opportunity under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. NDOT has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) Number R231-24 for the selection of one or more qualified contractors to build, own and operate direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations at seven strategically located sites along the I-80 corridor.

This initiative is a key component of Nebraska’s commitment to expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, supporting the transition to a more sustainable transportation network. The DCFC stations established through this RFP will be funded by the NEVI Formula Program and will be required to meet all program requirements for a minimum of five years after becoming operational.

Interested vendors are encouraged to review the full bid specifications and requirements available on the NDOT website: ndot.info/yrr. Contact Brandy Henke, brandy.henke@nebraska.gov or (402) 479-4328 for the duration of the RFP period. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the instructions outlined in the bid document by Nov. 4, 2024 at 2 p.m. (CST).

Nebraska Department of Transportation (Lincoln, Neb.) — The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is pleased to announce the opening of a procurement bid opportunity under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. NDOT has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) Number R231-24 for the selection of one or more qualified contractors to build, own and operate direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations at seven strategically located sites along the I-80 corridor.This initiative is a key component of Nebraska’s commitment to expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, supporting the transition to a more sustainable transportation network. The DCFC stations established through this RFP will be funded by the NEVI Formula Program and will be required to meet all program requirements for a minimum of five years after becoming operational.Interested vendors are encouraged to review the full bid specifications and requirements available on the NDOT website: ndot.info/yrr. Contact Brandy Henke, brandy.henke@nebraska.gov or (402) 479-4328 for the duration of the RFP period. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the instructions outlined in the bid document by Nov. 4, 2024 at 2 p.m. (CST).

NDOT Announces RFP Opportunity for Electric Vehicle Charging  Stations Under NEVI Program

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen issued the following statement in response to an announcement by University of Nebraska—Lincoln Chancellor Rodney Bennett that UNL will dissolve its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and eliminate the vice chancellor position that directed its efforts.

“I am pleased with Chancellor Bennett’s decision to close this office. Although that office should never have been established in the first place, it takes courage for a leader to recognize a mistake and chart a new direction. The work of eliminating DEI and critical race theory (CRT) from our public institutions is not complete with the elimination of one bureaucratic office, though. We must continue the work of keeping our university curriculum, programming and its mission free of discrimination or racial preferences in any form.

I will continue to fight to ensure taxpayer dollars are not used for these purposes, not only in state government, but throughout our university system, too. The University of Nebraska should be open and equally welcoming to people of all races and creeds, focused on discipline, excellence and integrity, not race-based DEI.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen issued the following statement in response to an announcement by University of Nebraska—Lincoln Chancellor Rodney Bennett that UNL will dissolve its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and eliminate the vice chancellor position that directed its efforts.“I am pleased with Chancellor Bennett’s decision to close this office. Although that office should never have been established in the first place, it takes courage for a leader to recognize a mistake and chart a new direction. The work of eliminating DEI and critical race theory (CRT) from our public institutions is not complete with the elimination of one bureaucratic office, though. We must continue the work of keeping our university curriculum, programming and its mission free of discrimination or racial preferences in any form.I will continue to fight to ensure taxpayer dollars are not used for these purposes, not only in state government, but throughout our university system, too. The University of Nebraska should be open and equally welcoming to people of all races and creeds, focused on discipline, excellence and integrity, not race-based DEI.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

 Gov. Pillen Issues Statement to Closure of UNL Diversity & Inclusion Office

CHICAGO —Minnesota Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Tim Walz</a>&nbsp;accepted his party's nomination for vice president Wednesday night at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/democratic-national-convention">Democratic National Convention</a>.&nbsp;Bill Clinton, the nation's 42nd president, and Oprah Winfrey also were among the featured speakers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724321278705.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO —Minnesota Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Tim Walz</a>&nbsp;accepted his party's nomination for vice president Wednesday night at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/democratic-national-convention">Democratic National Convention</a>.&nbsp;Bill Clinton, the nation's 42nd president, and Oprah Winfrey also were among the featured speakers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tim_Walz</a>: &quot;It&#39;s the honor of my life to accept your nomination for vice president of the United States.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DNC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNCConvention?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DNCConvention</a> <a href="https://t.co/d0H937CWBV">pic.twitter.com/d0H937CWBV</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1826461306938917223?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tim_Walz</a> on reproductive freedom: &quot;It took Gwen and I years but we had access to fertility treatments and when our daughter was born, we named her Hope. Hope, Gus and Gwen, you are my entire world and I love you!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/v881Wq3QRm">pic.twitter.com/v881Wq3QRm</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1826476167458947211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Stevie Wonder speaks and performs &quot;Higher Ground&quot; at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DNC</a>. <a href="https://t.co/QsDRqZeYCA">pic.twitter.com/QsDRqZeYCA</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1826429321507958986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Oprah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Oprah</a>: Soon, and very soon, we&#39;re going to be teaching our daughters and sons about how this child of an Indian mother &amp; a Jamaican father, two idealist energetic immigrants...how this child grew up to become the 47th president of the United States. That is the best of America. <a href="https://t.co/WCY4xwPnvX">pic.twitter.com/WCY4xwPnvX</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1826452010897408007?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President <a href="https://twitter.com/BillClinton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BillClinton</a> addresses <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DNC</a> – LIVE on C-SPAN <a href="https://t.co/g1TYhenzmT">https://t.co/g1TYhenzmT</a> <a href="https://t.co/oZOYYbXiVs">pic.twitter.com/oZOYYbXiVs</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1826429602920530072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/BillClinton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BillClinton</a> on Kamala Harris: &quot;When she was young, she worked at McDonald&#39;s...I will be so happy when she actually enters the White House as president because she will break my record as the president who spent the most time at <a href="https://twitter.com/McDonalds?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@McDonalds</a>. <a href="https://t.co/OcMGynwe7t">pic.twitter.com/OcMGynwe7t</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1826438561186677103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 Highlights of 3rd night of Democratic National Convention

Drug Enforcement Administration - Omaha Office

<a>OMAHA, Neb.&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>–&nbsp;The five state Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, is reminding Midwestern communities to continue education efforts that raise awareness to the life-threatening consequences of fentanyl experimentation and use while recognizing National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day on August 21.

Education and prevention are critical components of the DEA’s law enforcement mission, and the agency proudly supports the efforts of organizations working to increase awareness of fentanyl.

<a></a><a>Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is inexpensive, widely available, highly addictive and comes in a variety of colors, shapes and forms – including powder and pills.&nbsp; Drug traffickers are increasingly mixing fentanyl with other illicit drugs to drive addiction and create repeat business. Many victims of fentanyl poisoning were unaware they ingested fentanyl. Two milligrams of fentanyl, small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially lethal dose.</a>

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that more than 107,543 people died last year from a drug poisoning or overdose, and according to a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rand.org/news/press/2024/02/21.html" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;by RAND Corporation, 42 percent of Americans know someone who died from a drug-related death.&nbsp;

“By arming people with information on the dangers of fentanyl, we’re helping them make informed decisions when faced with a potentially life-altering choice,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said. “If one conversation about the lethality of fentanyl encourages one person to say no when asked to experiment, that’s one life saved and one less family torn apart by the devastating effects of this drug.”&nbsp;

To date, DEA Omaha Division investigators have seized an estimated 1.6 million lethal doses of fentanyl, including nearly 224,000 fake fentanyl pills, in 2024.

Information and free resources, including the One Pill Can Kill partner toolkit, are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dea.gov/OnePill" target="_blank">DEA.gov/OnePill</a>

Drug Enforcement Administration - Omaha Office<a>OMAHA, Neb.&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>–&nbsp;The five state Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, is reminding Midwestern communities to continue education efforts that raise awareness to the life-threatening consequences of fentanyl experimentation and use while recognizing National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day on August 21.Education and prevention are critical components of the DEA’s law enforcement mission, and the agency proudly supports the efforts of organizations working to increase awareness of fentanyl.<a></a><a>Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is inexpensive, widely available, highly addictive and comes in a variety of colors, shapes and forms – including powder and pills.&nbsp; Drug traffickers are increasingly mixing fentanyl with other illicit drugs to drive addiction and create repeat business. Many victims of fentanyl poisoning were unaware they ingested fentanyl. Two milligrams of fentanyl, small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially lethal dose.</a>The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that more than 107,543 people died last year from a drug poisoning or overdose, and according to a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rand.org/news/press/2024/02/21.html" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;by RAND Corporation, 42 percent of Americans know someone who died from a drug-related death.&nbsp;“By arming people with information on the dangers of fentanyl, we’re helping them make informed decisions when faced with a potentially life-altering choice,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said. “If one conversation about the lethality of fentanyl encourages one person to say no when asked to experiment, that’s one life saved and one less family torn apart by the devastating effects of this drug.”&nbsp;To date, DEA Omaha Division investigators have seized an estimated 1.6 million lethal doses of fentanyl, including nearly 224,000 fake fentanyl pills, in 2024.Information and free resources, including the One Pill Can Kill partner toolkit, are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dea.gov/OnePill" target="_blank">DEA.gov/OnePill</a>

 On National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, DEA Encourages Communities to Continue Education Efforts

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/skychadde/">SKY CHADDE</a>&nbsp;

Agribusiness giant Bayer won a legal victory last week in long-running litigation over whether its popular Roundup pesticide has caused cancer.

The case started in 2019, when a husband and wife in Pennsylvania sued Missouri-based Monsanto, which Bayer purchased in 2018, and alleged the company had violated state law by not including a cancer warning label on Roundup. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates pesticides, did not make the company add such a warning.

On Aug. 15, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, based in Pennsylvania,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10041458/david-schaffner-jr-v-monsanto-corp/?q=bayer&amp;type=o&amp;order_by=dateFiled%20desc&amp;stat_Precedential=on" target="_blank">ruled</a>&nbsp;the federal law governing pesticides — the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, or FIFRA — requires “nationwide uniformity” over pesticide regulation. The state of Pennsylvania did not have authority in the case, the court decided.

The appeals court decision in Pennsylvania conflicts with another decision made earlier this year in Atlanta,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2024/08/16/bayer-roundup-appeal-victory-compels-review.html" target="_blank">according to the St. Louis Business Journal</a>.

In February, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled FIFRA did not preempt state law. Georgia’s law on warning residents about possible harms from pesticides was “fully consistent with” the federal law, according to the Business Journal.

Because the decisions conflict with each other, that could lead to the U.S. Supreme Court stepping in,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/bayer-wins-victory-us-legal-battle-against-roundup-cancer-claims-2024-08-15/" target="_blank">according to Reuters</a>.

Bayer told Reuters the Supreme Court should “settle this important issue of law.”

In 2020, Bayer settled most of its Roundup litigation for about $10 billion, but some cases still remain active. After news of the legal victory, Bayer’s stock price surged,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/bayer-surges-after-roundup-appeal-wins-in-philadelphia-court/ar-AA1oSmvq" target="_blank">according to Bloomberg</a>. It had been slumping over the past year.

This&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/08/19/bayer-notches-win-in-roundup-litigation/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/" target="_blank">Investigate Midwest</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593022262288.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/skychadde/">SKY CHADDE</a>&nbsp;Agribusiness giant Bayer won a legal victory last week in long-running litigation over whether its popular Roundup pesticide has caused cancer.The case started in 2019, when a husband and wife in Pennsylvania sued Missouri-based Monsanto, which Bayer purchased in 2018, and alleged the company had violated state law by not including a cancer warning label on Roundup. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates pesticides, did not make the company add such a warning.On Aug. 15, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, based in Pennsylvania,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10041458/david-schaffner-jr-v-monsanto-corp/?q=bayer&amp;type=o&amp;order_by=dateFiled%20desc&amp;stat_Precedential=on" target="_blank">ruled</a>&nbsp;the federal law governing pesticides — the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, or FIFRA — requires “nationwide uniformity” over pesticide regulation. The state of Pennsylvania did not have authority in the case, the court decided.The appeals court decision in Pennsylvania conflicts with another decision made earlier this year in Atlanta,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2024/08/16/bayer-roundup-appeal-victory-compels-review.html" target="_blank">according to the St. Louis Business Journal</a>.In February, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled FIFRA did not preempt state law. Georgia’s law on warning residents about possible harms from pesticides was “fully consistent with” the federal law, according to the Business Journal.Because the decisions conflict with each other, that could lead to the U.S. Supreme Court stepping in,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/bayer-wins-victory-us-legal-battle-against-roundup-cancer-claims-2024-08-15/" target="_blank">according to Reuters</a>.Bayer told Reuters the Supreme Court should “settle this important issue of law.”In 2020, Bayer settled most of its Roundup litigation for about $10 billion, but some cases still remain active. After news of the legal victory, Bayer’s stock price surged,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/bayer-surges-after-roundup-appeal-wins-in-philadelphia-court/ar-AA1oSmvq" target="_blank">according to Bloomberg</a>. It had been slumping over the past year.This&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/08/19/bayer-notches-win-in-roundup-litigation/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/" target="_blank">Investigate Midwest</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<figure>
 <img src="https://investigatemidwest.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=747714&amp;ga4=G-R9VE8P61LG" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Bayer notches win in litigation over whether Roundup has caused cancer

On August 14th District Judge Travis O' Gorman presided over the sentencing of Yadira L. Garza. Garza was found guilty on a count of Attempted Use of a Deadly Weapon To Commit A Felony.

The charges are based on an incident involving a stand-off with Alliance police in November of 2023. The stand-off involved the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT team, Nebraska Game and Parks, Alliance Fire Department, Scottsbluff Police Department and other organizations.

Garza was sentenced to a term of not less than six years and not more than twelve years. Garza did receive credit for 263 days previously served, and has been ordered to pay the costs of prosecution.

On August 14th District Judge Travis O' Gorman presided over the sentencing of Yadira L. Garza. Garza was found guilty on a count of Attempted Use of a Deadly Weapon To Commit A Felony.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724258445971.jpeg" alt="Yadira Garza (courtesy of Box Butte County Corrections)" />
 <figcaption>Yadira Garza (courtesy of Box Butte County Corrections)</figcaption>
 </figure>The charges are based on an incident involving a stand-off with Alliance police in November of 2023. The stand-off involved the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT team, Nebraska Game and Parks, Alliance Fire Department, Scottsbluff Police Department and other organizations.Garza was sentenced to a term of not less than six years and not more than twelve years. Garza did receive credit for 263 days previously served, and has been ordered to pay the costs of prosecution.

Alliance Woman Sentenced In District Court

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/20/gov-jim-pillen-says-the-next-property-tax-push-can-wait-for-january/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen says he has no plans to call the Legislature back into special session this year to consider additional property tax relief after final passage Tuesday of a pared-down proposal.

Rather than rush lawmakers back to Lincoln for more changes yet this year, as the governor discussed during bill negotiations, he said he would wait until the next regular session begins in January.

He also repeated his stance that he would be willing to call a special session to shift how the state awards Electoral College votes to winner-take-all if lawmakers can secure enough votes. He said Tuesday that they have not.

Pillen pushed back on criticism by some senators who said he shouldn’t have called them into special session July 25 if he didn’t have the votes for his proposals. He said he understands his plans need more support.

“I think we know where we’re at,” Pillen said during a break in a Pardons Board meeting. “We’ve all got to just kind of come together, and (we) plan on working with the new body after the first of the year.”

For him, the focus now shifts to engaging Nebraska voters in the November election. He said he wants people to send more conservatives to the Legislature.

Pillen’s political operation has spent months encouraging donors to give money to his campaign and political action committees so he can help more legislative candidates of his choosing.

Some GOP campaigns have complained that he has made fundraising harder for candidates and campaigns, because more than a few top donors are being told to funnel their political giving through him.

Pillen told the Examiner he is treating Legislative Bill 34 and the progress senators made this summer as a “first step forward.”&nbsp;

The bill accelerates an existing income tax credit for property taxes paid, pulling forward the amount of money from the credit and applying it up front to people’s property tax bills.

“It’s obviously a step in the right direction — 55 or 45 percent of Nebraskans are going to have a 20 percent property tax reduction and won’t need an accountant to get it,” Pillen said.&nbsp;

The governor said he also appreciated LB 34’s new spending caps on local government, which he called an important move toward controlling local spending he says is driving property taxes higher.

The caps have carve-outs for public safety spending that makes up the bulk of local spending, but they limit spending ranging from roads and potholes to parks and libraries.

Pillen said yes when asked directly if he still plans to pursue fuller state funding of K-12 education and harder caps on K-12 education spending in the next legislative session.&nbsp;

Both have to happen to make a dent in property taxes, he said.

“It’s a critical piece of it,” he said. “I think it’s fundamental that we work to make sure the state is funding K-12 education and not property taxpayers.”

Defenders of public education and local government have said the caps on local spending risk quality education and public services because governments won’t be able to&nbsp; keep pace with needs.&nbsp;

Opponents of the caps fought instead to change Pillen’s original plan to more broadly expand the state sales tax to more items, including some that touched agriculture.&nbsp;

The Nebraska State Education Association and others have said they know Pillen won’t back down, and said they will be ready to remind Nebraskans of the value of local control.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724255733171.jpeg" alt=" Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen hosts an afternoon news conference about public safety exemptions related to local property tax collections. Aug. 5, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen hosts an afternoon news conference about public safety exemptions related to local property tax collections. Aug. 5, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/20/gov-jim-pillen-says-the-next-property-tax-push-can-wait-for-january/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen says he has no plans to call the Legislature back into special session this year to consider additional property tax relief after final passage Tuesday of a pared-down proposal.Rather than rush lawmakers back to Lincoln for more changes yet this year, as the governor discussed during bill negotiations, he said he would wait until the next regular session begins in January.He also repeated his stance that he would be willing to call a special session to shift how the state awards Electoral College votes to winner-take-all if lawmakers can secure enough votes. He said Tuesday that they have not.Pillen pushed back on criticism by some senators who said he shouldn’t have called them into special session July 25 if he didn’t have the votes for his proposals. He said he understands his plans need more support.“I think we know where we’re at,” Pillen said during a break in a Pardons Board meeting. “We’ve all got to just kind of come together, and (we) plan on working with the new body after the first of the year.”<h2>Turning to voters for help</h2>For him, the focus now shifts to engaging Nebraska voters in the November election. He said he wants people to send more conservatives to the Legislature.Pillen’s political operation has spent months encouraging donors to give money to his campaign and political action committees so he can help more legislative candidates of his choosing.Some GOP campaigns have complained that he has made fundraising harder for candidates and campaigns, because more than a few top donors are being told to funnel their political giving through him.<h2>A first step forward</h2>Pillen told the Examiner he is treating Legislative Bill 34 and the progress senators made this summer as a “first step forward.”&nbsp;The bill accelerates an existing income tax credit for property taxes paid, pulling forward the amount of money from the credit and applying it up front to people’s property tax bills.“It’s obviously a step in the right direction — 55 or 45 percent of Nebraskans are going to have a 20 percent property tax reduction and won’t need an accountant to get it,” Pillen said.&nbsp;The governor said he also appreciated LB 34’s new spending caps on local government, which he called an important move toward controlling local spending he says is driving property taxes higher.“Those are key,” he said.The caps have carve-outs for public safety spending that makes up the bulk of local spending, but they limit spending ranging from roads and potholes to parks and libraries.<h2>He says more caps needed</h2>Pillen said yes when asked directly if he still plans to pursue fuller state funding of K-12 education and harder caps on K-12 education spending in the next legislative session.&nbsp;Both have to happen to make a dent in property taxes, he said.“It’s a critical piece of it,” he said. “I think it’s fundamental that we work to make sure the state is funding K-12 education and not property taxpayers.”Defenders of public education and local government have said the caps on local spending risk quality education and public services because governments won’t be able to&nbsp; keep pace with needs.&nbsp;Opponents of the caps fought instead to change Pillen’s original plan to more broadly expand the state sales tax to more items, including some that touched agriculture.&nbsp;The Nebraska State Education Association and others have said they know Pillen won’t back down, and said they will be ready to remind Nebraskans of the value of local control.

Gov. Jim Pillen says the next property tax push can wait for January

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/21/new-report-provides-insight-to-help-address-ne-workforce-woes-brain-drain-puzzle/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska college graduates who grew up in the state are about twice as likely to stay and work here compared to their out-of-state peers, according to new research on what keeps talent in Cornhusker territory.

Key findings also show that having social and economic ties to the state, as well as previous work experience in Nebraska, go hand in hand with higher retention rates.

Yet substantial differences exist in talent retention rates across various degree fields. For example, agriculture students are among those most likely to flee, while manufacturing has been more of a magnet.

Such highlights are included&nbsp;<a href="https://insights.nswers.org/briefs/nswers-talent-retention-brief-2024.pdf" target="_blank">in the new report from the Nebraska</a>&nbsp;Statewide Workforce &amp; Educational Reporting System, which focuses on factors influencing talent retention, or staying and working in Nebraska after graduation from college. The analysis tapped data from local sources including public high schools, public postsecondary institutions and the Nebraska Labor Department generally from 2013 to 2023.&nbsp;

The Nebraska Statewide Workforce &amp; Educational Reporting System, or NSWERS, is rooted in legislation dating to 2010. A law signed by Gov. Dave Heineman directed governing boards of educational institutions across the state to adopt a policy to share student data.&nbsp;

In 2019, the partners went further to legally form NSWERS as a joining public entity for mutual advantage regarding data initiatives.

The following year, legislation also directed the Nebraska Department of Labor to engage with workforce data.

In 2022, legislation signed by Gov. Pete Ricketts required an annual report and overview of the entity’s research.

In short, NSWERS is a data system intended to promote a strong economy, good jobs, business growth and thriving communities. It is unique, says its website, in that it is the only state resource that integrates education and workforce data over time, from preschool into the workforce — “creating a holistic view of the learning and earning journey.”

The information is considered momentous, said NSWERS executive director Matt Hastings, because state policymakers, legislators and business leaders have not previously had this level of targeted data to help solve burning questions of the day: How can Nebraska stop brain drain? Where are critical workforce gaps? How can Nebraska maximize the return on state investment in higher education?

“Historically speaking, we have not really had the data in Nebraska to really drill in on these questions,” said Hastings.

He said state officials mostly have relied on U.S. Census data, which is vital and useful in tracking general flows in and out of the state. But the research led by David Nguyen offers more specifics on, for instance, what types of students are staying and leaving.

“This really represents one of the first public products … to begin to really inform those kinds of discussions,” said Hastings.

Overall, a goal of NSWERS is to create an information source that creates a better understanding of how Nebraska’s education system is supporting workforce development.

The latest research, to be shared with state policymakers, notes that Nebraska invests heavily in higher education and that a payoff is realized if alumni remain employed in the state.&nbsp;However, since the 1970s, Nebraska has consistently faced brain drain — the exodus of highly trained or educated individuals.

Nguyen said such out-migration has accelerated in recent years, and that can lead to “economic stagnation.”

The hope is that the newly reported insights help state leaders develop policies and strategies to expand Nebraska’s workforce and position the state for economic growth, he and Hastings said.

Given the higher talent retention rates among in-state students, the report’s author said, it would be more efficient to grow Nebraska’s labor force by producing college-educated workers from within the state.

However, Nguyen said, that does not mean Nebraska colleges should pay less attention to students from outside the state. He said in the report that to encourage that population to stay and work in Nebraska, additional support could be provided — such as increasing work opportunities in the state during the college years.

Indeed, the analysis showed that internships and part-time jobs during the two years leading up to college graduation are crucial for retaining talent in Nebraska.

“People who earn more wages while they’re going to college seem to be more likely to stay and work in Nebraska,” Nguyen said.

Graduates who earn the equivalent of one to two summer internships of wages in Nebraska are about 5-10 percentage points more likely to stay and work in Nebraska compared to those with no earnings.

Talent retention rates differed, according to the report, depending on a graduate’s degree field.

The three degree areas with the highest talent retention rates from 2015 to 2020 were: manufacturing (79%); transportation, distribution and logistics (74%); and architecture and construction (74%).

The theee with the lowest rates were: science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, at 50%; government and public administration at 53%; and agriculture, food &amp; natural resources at 59%.

Notably, said Nguyen, two degree areas designated as high importance to Nebraska, STEM and agriculture, have graduates with the lowest rates of talent retention. Another high-priority field, manufacturing, boasts the highest retention rate.

Differences may be due to varying demands in Nebraska’s labor market, Nguyen said.&nbsp;

Hastings said next steps would be for policymakers to refine goals and use the new information to determine where investment or change can make programs more effective.

“If we do that better than other states around us, that’s a competitive advantage,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724254052668.jpeg" alt="Students on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska)" />
 <figcaption>Students on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/21/new-report-provides-insight-to-help-address-ne-workforce-woes-brain-drain-puzzle/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska college graduates who grew up in the state are about twice as likely to stay and work here compared to their out-of-state peers, according to new research on what keeps talent in Cornhusker territory.Key findings also show that having social and economic ties to the state, as well as previous work experience in Nebraska, go hand in hand with higher retention rates.Yet substantial differences exist in talent retention rates across various degree fields. For example, agriculture students are among those most likely to flee, while manufacturing has been more of a magnet.Such highlights are included&nbsp;<a href="https://insights.nswers.org/briefs/nswers-talent-retention-brief-2024.pdf" target="_blank">in the new report from the Nebraska</a>&nbsp;Statewide Workforce &amp; Educational Reporting System, which focuses on factors influencing talent retention, or staying and working in Nebraska after graduation from college. The analysis tapped data from local sources including public high schools, public postsecondary institutions and the Nebraska Labor Department generally from 2013 to 2023.&nbsp;<h2>Maximizing NE’s investment</h2><h2>What is NSWERS?</h2>The Nebraska Statewide Workforce &amp; Educational Reporting System, or NSWERS, is rooted in legislation dating to 2010. A law signed by Gov. Dave Heineman directed governing boards of educational institutions across the state to adopt a policy to share student data.&nbsp;In 2019, the partners went further to legally form NSWERS as a joining public entity for mutual advantage regarding data initiatives.The following year, legislation also directed the Nebraska Department of Labor to engage with workforce data.In 2022, legislation signed by Gov. Pete Ricketts required an annual report and overview of the entity’s research.In short, NSWERS is a data system intended to promote a strong economy, good jobs, business growth and thriving communities. It is unique, says its website, in that it is the only state resource that integrates education and workforce data over time, from preschool into the workforce — “creating a holistic view of the learning and earning journey.”The information is considered momentous, said NSWERS executive director Matt Hastings, because state policymakers, legislators and business leaders have not previously had this level of targeted data to help solve burning questions of the day: How can Nebraska stop brain drain? Where are critical workforce gaps? How can Nebraska maximize the return on state investment in higher education?“Historically speaking, we have not really had the data in Nebraska to really drill in on these questions,” said Hastings.He said state officials mostly have relied on U.S. Census data, which is vital and useful in tracking general flows in and out of the state. But the research led by David Nguyen offers more specifics on, for instance, what types of students are staying and leaving.“This really represents one of the first public products … to begin to really inform those kinds of discussions,” said Hastings.Overall, a goal of NSWERS is to create an information source that creates a better understanding of how Nebraska’s education system is supporting workforce development.The latest research, to be shared with state policymakers, notes that Nebraska invests heavily in higher education and that a payoff is realized if alumni remain employed in the state.&nbsp;However, since the 1970s, Nebraska has consistently faced brain drain — the exodus of highly trained or educated individuals.Nguyen said such out-migration has accelerated in recent years, and that can lead to “economic stagnation.”The hope is that the newly reported insights help state leaders develop policies and strategies to expand Nebraska’s workforce and position the state for economic growth, he and Hastings said.<h2>Among highlights</h2>Among the report’s highlights:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>The talent retention rate among four-year college graduates is 78% for in-state graduates (those who originated in or went to high school in Nebraska) vs. 38% for those who came to Nebraska to attend college. That suggests that to grow an additional 100 college-educated workers, Nebraska four-year public colleges would need to graduate, on average, an additional 130 in-state graduates or an additional 265 out-of-state graduates.</li><li>&nbsp;For two-year colleges, the retention rate is 84% for in-state graduates and 37% for out-of-state graduates. So to grow an additional 100 college-educated workers, Nebraska two-year public colleges would need to graduate, on average, an additional 120 in-state graduates or an additional 275 out-of-state graduates.</li>
 </ul>Given the higher talent retention rates among in-state students, the report’s author said, it would be more efficient to grow Nebraska’s labor force by producing college-educated workers from within the state.However, Nguyen said, that does not mean Nebraska colleges should pay less attention to students from outside the state. He said in the report that to encourage that population to stay and work in Nebraska, additional support could be provided — such as increasing work opportunities in the state during the college years.Indeed, the analysis showed that internships and part-time jobs during the two years leading up to college graduation are crucial for retaining talent in Nebraska.“People who earn more wages while they’re going to college seem to be more likely to stay and work in Nebraska,” Nguyen said.Graduates who earn the equivalent of one to two summer internships of wages in Nebraska are about 5-10 percentage points more likely to stay and work in Nebraska compared to those with no earnings.Talent retention rates differed, according to the report, depending on a graduate’s degree field.The three degree areas with the highest talent retention rates from 2015 to 2020 were: manufacturing (79%); transportation, distribution and logistics (74%); and architecture and construction (74%).The theee with the lowest rates were: science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, at 50%; government and public administration at 53%; and agriculture, food &amp; natural resources at 59%.Notably, said Nguyen, two degree areas designated as high importance to Nebraska, STEM and agriculture, have graduates with the lowest rates of talent retention. Another high-priority field, manufacturing, boasts the highest retention rate.Differences may be due to varying demands in Nebraska’s labor market, Nguyen said.&nbsp;Hastings said next steps would be for policymakers to refine goals and use the new information to determine where investment or change can make programs more effective.“If we do that better than other states around us, that’s a competitive advantage,” he said.

New report provides insight to help address NE workforce woes, brain drain puzzle

Kearney, Neb. - At 1:05 PM on Tuesday, August 20th, the Kearney Police Department responded to a series of events leading to the apprehension of a burglary suspect east of Walmart.&nbsp;

Around noon, the 911 Communications Center received a report of a suspicious male hiding&nbsp; under vehicles in the Walmart parking lot. KPD Officers were dispatched to the scene and&nbsp; conducted a thorough search but were unable to locate the individual.&nbsp;

Less than an hour later, KPD received a call from a residence near Parklane Drive and East 54th Street. The homeowner reported an unknown male had entered their residence and was&nbsp; attempting to steal their vehicle. The suspect was chased out of the house by the homeowner.&nbsp; In an effort to escape, the suspect attempted to steal a car from a nearby home, however, the homeowner intervened and managed to pull the suspect out of the vehicle.&nbsp;

As KPD Officers arrived on the scene, the suspect fled on foot. A Police K9 unit was&nbsp; immediately deployed, which successfully tracked and located the suspect hiding under an evergreen tree a few houses away. The suspect was promptly taken into custody and&nbsp; transported to the Buffalo County Jail.&nbsp;

The suspect has been identified as Justin Coccorese, a 36-year-old transient from the Gibbon&nbsp; area. He is facing multiple charges, including Robbery, Burglary, Attempted Theft, and 1st Degree Trespassing.&nbsp;

The Kearney Police Department would like to commend the quick thinking and decisive actions&nbsp; of the residents involved, as well as the swift response of the officers and K9 unit. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and cooperation in ensuring&nbsp; the safety and security of our neighborhoods.&nbsp;

Kearney Police Department continues to investigate this incident. Anyone with information&nbsp; about this incident is asked to contact Investigator Taillon at the Kearney Police Department at (308) 237-2104, Buffalo County Crimestoppers at (308) 237-3424, or by using the See&nbsp; Something Send Something App.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724239792536.jpeg" alt="Justin Coccorese (Kearney Police Department)" />
 <figcaption>Justin Coccorese (Kearney Police Department)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kearney Police DepartmentKearney, Neb. - At 1:05 PM on Tuesday, August 20th, the Kearney Police Department responded to a series of events leading to the apprehension of a burglary suspect east of Walmart.&nbsp;Around noon, the 911 Communications Center received a report of a suspicious male hiding&nbsp; under vehicles in the Walmart parking lot. KPD Officers were dispatched to the scene and&nbsp; conducted a thorough search but were unable to locate the individual.&nbsp;Less than an hour later, KPD received a call from a residence near Parklane Drive and East 54th Street. The homeowner reported an unknown male had entered their residence and was&nbsp; attempting to steal their vehicle. The suspect was chased out of the house by the homeowner.&nbsp; In an effort to escape, the suspect attempted to steal a car from a nearby home, however, the homeowner intervened and managed to pull the suspect out of the vehicle.&nbsp;As KPD Officers arrived on the scene, the suspect fled on foot. A Police K9 unit was&nbsp; immediately deployed, which successfully tracked and located the suspect hiding under an evergreen tree a few houses away. The suspect was promptly taken into custody and&nbsp; transported to the Buffalo County Jail.&nbsp;The suspect has been identified as Justin Coccorese, a 36-year-old transient from the Gibbon&nbsp; area. He is facing multiple charges, including Robbery, Burglary, Attempted Theft, and 1st Degree Trespassing.&nbsp;The Kearney Police Department would like to commend the quick thinking and decisive actions&nbsp; of the residents involved, as well as the swift response of the officers and K9 unit. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and cooperation in ensuring&nbsp; the safety and security of our neighborhoods.&nbsp;Kearney Police Department continues to investigate this incident. Anyone with information&nbsp; about this incident is asked to contact Investigator Taillon at the Kearney Police Department at (308) 237-2104, Buffalo County Crimestoppers at (308) 237-3424, or by using the See&nbsp; Something Send Something App.&nbsp;

Kearney man arrested for burglary 

August 20, 2024 (Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol made 31 arrests for driving under the influence during the first weekend of the&nbsp;Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over&nbsp;effort. The campaign runs through Labor Day weekend.

“Impaired driving is preventable,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “By making the decision to never drive impaired, you’re preventing potential tragedies on the roads and you’re preventing a potential DUI arrest. Plan ahead to help keep our roads safe and always drive sober.”

The&nbsp;Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over&nbsp;campaign began on August 14 and continues through September 2. Troopers are working overtime throughout the effort thanks to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

“As summer travel comes to a close, we have several major travel events in the next couple weeks, including the State Fair and the start of the Husker Football season,” said Colonel Bolduc. “Whether you’re traveling across the state or just across town, always make sure you have a sober driver.”

Cody ThomasNebraska State PatrolAugust 20, 2024 (Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol made 31 arrests for driving under the influence during the first weekend of the&nbsp;Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over&nbsp;effort. The campaign runs through Labor Day weekend.“Impaired driving is preventable,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “By making the decision to never drive impaired, you’re preventing potential tragedies on the roads and you’re preventing a potential DUI arrest. Plan ahead to help keep our roads safe and always drive sober.”The&nbsp;Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over&nbsp;campaign began on August 14 and continues through September 2. Troopers are working overtime throughout the effort thanks to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.“As summer travel comes to a close, we have several major travel events in the next couple weeks, including the State Fair and the start of the Husker Football season,” said Colonel Bolduc. “Whether you’re traveling across the state or just across town, always make sure you have a sober driver.”

Troopers Make 31 DUI Arrests to Begin Impaired Driving Campaign

By Scottsbluff Police&nbsp;Sgt. Royce Massie

On August 19 at approximately 4:30 p.m., Scottsbluff police officers were dispatched to the 700 block of West 27th Street in response to an injury accident.

The preliminary investigation indicates that an eastbound motorcycle struck a Lexus SUV that was pulling out of the Dairy Queen parking lot exit, preparing to turn west onto 27th Street.

A 24 year old male was transported to RWMC with serious injuries, and is believed to be in critical condition.

The investigation is still ongoing, and any businesses with security camera footage of the accident are encouraged to contact Scottsbluff PD and contact Sgt. Eckerberg or Ofc. Yocum.

By Scottsbluff Police&nbsp;Sgt. Royce MassieOn August 19 at approximately 4:30 p.m., Scottsbluff police officers were dispatched to the 700 block of West 27th Street in response to an injury accident.The preliminary investigation indicates that an eastbound motorcycle struck a Lexus SUV that was pulling out of the Dairy Queen parking lot exit, preparing to turn west onto 27th Street.A 24 year old male was transported to RWMC with serious injuries, and is believed to be in critical condition.The investigation is still ongoing, and any businesses with security camera footage of the accident are encouraged to contact Scottsbluff PD and contact Sgt. Eckerberg or Ofc. Yocum.

One transported to hospital following Scottsbluff accident

Lincoln, NE ‐ August 20, 2024 ‐ Nebraska has a new millionaire. One lucky player who bought a Powerball® ticket for the Monday, August 19 drawing is holding a ticket worth $1,000,000.

The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Monday's $44 million Powerball® draw matched the first five numbers, but not the Powerball number itself. The ticket was sold at Hy-Vee Food Store #01 (1465), 5150 Center St, in Omaha. The winning numbers from Monday's Powerball draw were and 01, 02, 15, 23, 28, and the Powerball was 10.

Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling 800-587-5200.

The Nebraska Lottery has offered Powerball since July 1994. The odds of winning $1,000,000 playing Powerball are 1 in 11,688,053.52. The overall odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $991 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery's beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Neil WatsonNebraska LotteryLincoln, NE ‐ August 20, 2024 ‐ Nebraska has a new millionaire. One lucky player who bought a Powerball® ticket for the Monday, August 19 drawing is holding a ticket worth $1,000,000.The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Monday's $44 million Powerball® draw matched the first five numbers, but not the Powerball number itself. The ticket was sold at Hy-Vee Food Store #01 (1465), 5150 Center St, in Omaha. The winning numbers from Monday's Powerball draw were and 01, 02, 15, 23, 28, and the Powerball was 10.Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling 800-587-5200.The Nebraska Lottery has offered Powerball since July 1994. The odds of winning $1,000,000 playing Powerball are 1 in 11,688,053.52. The overall odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $991 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery's beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

$1 Million Powerball® Winning Ticket Sold in Omaha

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>

CHICAGO — State legislators from across the country mingled Monday during a Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee meeting at the Democratic National Convention, where they overwhelmingly agreed that the new Harris-Walz presidential ticket has reenergized the party base.

“I think that there is a collective opportunity to bring a whole new set of Democrats, and voters in general, into understanding how really important their statehouses are, and building that for a future where voters better understand why their representation in their statehouses matters so much,” Heather Williams, the president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said in an interview with States Newsroom.

Democratic state lawmakers from states that typically lean Republican, like Iowa, Tennessee and Oklahoma, said they too have seen an increase in volunteers since Vice President Kamala Harris entered the race as the new Democratic presidential nominee. President Joe Biden stepped down from his reelection bid following a disastrous debate performance and pressure from top Democrats.

Tennessee state Rep. John Ray Clemmons, the House Democratic Caucus chair, said that he’s seeing volunteers not only on the national level, but for Tennessee state House races.

“With this new energy, comes new excitement, and people feel like there’s this new sense of hope and purpose,” he said.

He said the presidential race feels similar to former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign.

Iowa state Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum said that she’s seen an uptick in people wanting to volunteer.

“Iowans are very excited,” she said. “It has spurred on additional fundraising, and we do have people who are … calling us and saying, ‘What can we do to help?’”

State lawmakers added that they’ve seen an even bigger boost in enthusiasm with Harris tapping Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

“We haven’t really felt that kind of hope and energy for a while,” Jochum said, adding that Walz “brings common sense and a real passion for our democracy and freedom, and compliments Kamala (Harris) really, really well.”

Oklahoma State Sen. Carri Hicks said that it’s been refreshing to see Walz on the ticket, “who is giving a different face of masculinity, embracing, supporting women … what I consider just true kindness and compassion, in his leadership style.”

Hicks said that Harris’ work on reproductive rights since Roe v. Wade was overturned, and Walz’s frequent mentions of his daughter Hope, who was born with the help of in vitro fertilization, have resonated with voters in her state.

“In my state Senate district, health care is the number one economic engine for the district that I represent,” she said. “So when you’re thinking about access to reproductive care, being able to build a family, I think that it humanizes that story that so many of my constituents have gone through, that so many Americans have gone through.”

In swing states, the reaction was much the same.

North Carolina state House Democratic leader Robert Reives said that reproductive right issues such as abortion, IVF and contraception have played a big part in voter turnout.

“What you definitely see, especially in urban areas, is a recognition by women of all ages that there is a war on women,” he said. “All these rights and opportunities that women should have are suddenly gone.”

Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate said that the energy around the Harris and Walz campaign has been a “shot in the arm.”

“I think we’re going to continue to see that trend just increase with Democrats from the top of the ticket all the way down,” Tate said, adding that he’s hoping to expand Democratic control in the statehouse, as well as have Michigan go blue for Harris.

Since Harris entered the race, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/national/national-politics/presidential-campaign-reset-arizona-georgia-and-nevada-move" target="_blank">moved several battleground states</a>&nbsp;— Arizona, Georgia and Nevada — from “lean Republican” to a “toss-up. “

Harris and Walz have aggressively hit the battleground states already, with less than three months until November.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/we-can-sleep-when-were-dead-walz-rallies-wisconsin-sprint-election-day" target="_blank">During a Monday breakfast with Wisconsin delegates</a>, another battleground state, Walz encouraged those delegates to keep campaigning until Election Day.

“We’ve got 78 days of hard work,” Walz said. “We can sleep when we’re dead.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724014466626.png" alt="Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>CHICAGO — State legislators from across the country mingled Monday during a Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee meeting at the Democratic National Convention, where they overwhelmingly agreed that the new Harris-Walz presidential ticket has reenergized the party base.“I think that there is a collective opportunity to bring a whole new set of Democrats, and voters in general, into understanding how really important their statehouses are, and building that for a future where voters better understand why their representation in their statehouses matters so much,” Heather Williams, the president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said in an interview with States Newsroom.Democratic state lawmakers from states that typically lean Republican, like Iowa, Tennessee and Oklahoma, said they too have seen an increase in volunteers since Vice President Kamala Harris entered the race as the new Democratic presidential nominee. President Joe Biden stepped down from his reelection bid following a disastrous debate performance and pressure from top Democrats.Tennessee state Rep. John Ray Clemmons, the House Democratic Caucus chair, said that he’s seeing volunteers not only on the national level, but for Tennessee state House races.“With this new energy, comes new excitement, and people feel like there’s this new sense of hope and purpose,” he said.He said the presidential race feels similar to former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign.Iowa state Senate Democratic Leader Pam Jochum said that she’s seen an uptick in people wanting to volunteer.“Iowans are very excited,” she said. “It has spurred on additional fundraising, and we do have people who are … calling us and saying, ‘What can we do to help?’”State lawmakers added that they’ve seen an even bigger boost in enthusiasm with Harris tapping Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.“We haven’t really felt that kind of hope and energy for a while,” Jochum said, adding that Walz “brings common sense and a real passion for our democracy and freedom, and compliments Kamala (Harris) really, really well.”Oklahoma State Sen. Carri Hicks said that it’s been refreshing to see Walz on the ticket, “who is giving a different face of masculinity, embracing, supporting women … what I consider just true kindness and compassion, in his leadership style.”Hicks said that Harris’ work on reproductive rights since Roe v. Wade was overturned, and Walz’s frequent mentions of his daughter Hope, who was born with the help of in vitro fertilization, have resonated with voters in her state.“In my state Senate district, health care is the number one economic engine for the district that I represent,” she said. “So when you’re thinking about access to reproductive care, being able to build a family, I think that it humanizes that story that so many of my constituents have gone through, that so many Americans have gone through.”In swing states, the reaction was much the same.North Carolina state House Democratic leader Robert Reives said that reproductive right issues such as abortion, IVF and contraception have played a big part in voter turnout.“What you definitely see, especially in urban areas, is a recognition by women of all ages that there is a war on women,” he said. “All these rights and opportunities that women should have are suddenly gone.”Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate said that the energy around the Harris and Walz campaign has been a “shot in the arm.”“I think we’re going to continue to see that trend just increase with Democrats from the top of the ticket all the way down,” Tate said, adding that he’s hoping to expand Democratic control in the statehouse, as well as have Michigan go blue for Harris.Since Harris entered the race, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/national/national-politics/presidential-campaign-reset-arizona-georgia-and-nevada-move" target="_blank">moved several battleground states</a>&nbsp;— Arizona, Georgia and Nevada — from “lean Republican” to a “toss-up. “Harris and Walz have aggressively hit the battleground states already, with less than three months until November.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/we-can-sleep-when-were-dead-walz-rallies-wisconsin-sprint-election-day" target="_blank">During a Monday breakfast with Wisconsin delegates</a>, another battleground state, Walz encouraged those delegates to keep campaigning until Election Day.“We’ve got 78 days of hard work,” Walz said. “We can sleep when we’re dead.”

Red-state Democratic legislators praise Harris-Walz ticket for invigorating voters

KANSAS&nbsp; CITY– The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is advising recent resort guests of a potential health concern for individuals that may have been in contact with a water source within the Roaring River Lodge and RV Park in Cassville, Mo. The hotel is located at 23359 State Highway 112 in Cassville, according to a media release.

DHSS has determined that three unassociated individuals who stayed at the Cassville resort in July of this year were diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease within 14 days after their stay. People can get Legionnaires' disease, a serious type of pneumonia, by breathing in small water droplets containing Legionella bacteria. In general, people do not spread Legionnaires' disease to other people.

DHSS conducted a facility assessment and collected samples. Preliminary environmental sample results indicate the presence of Legionella bacteria in the water system, with confirmed results being available later this week. The investigation is still ongoing and DHSS is actively working with the Roaring River Lodge to make improvements to the facility’s water system that will kill off Legionella in the system.&nbsp;

The resort has indicated they will begin notifying all recent guests who stayed in the hotel portion of the facility.&nbsp;

Most healthy people exposed to Legionella do not get sick. However, an individual’s risk may increase if they are 50 years or older, smoke cigarettes, or have certain medical conditions, such as a weakened immune system.

Symptoms usually begin 2 to 10 days after being exposed to the bacteria, but it can take longer so people should watch for symptoms for about 2 weeks after exposure. If you develop symptoms of pneumonia within two weeks of staying, working at or visiting the Roaring River Lodge and RV Park in Cassville, seek medical attention right away. Pneumonia symptoms typically include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches and headaches. Additional symptoms may be present, such as confusion, nausea or diarrhea. Ask your doctor to test you with both a urine test and a respiratory culture. If you test positive, ask your doctor to report your illness to your local or state health department as soon as possible after your diagnosis.

DHSS will continue to work with facility and take proactive measures to minimize future risks and develop a water management plan to ensure protection of the health of guests and employees. Additional information on Legionella is available from the CDC website.

KANSAS&nbsp; CITY– The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is advising recent resort guests of a potential health concern for individuals that may have been in contact with a water source within the Roaring River Lodge and RV Park in Cassville, Mo. The hotel is located at 23359 State Highway 112 in Cassville, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724101035366.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DHSS has determined that three unassociated individuals who stayed at the Cassville resort in July of this year were diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease within 14 days after their stay. People can get Legionnaires' disease, a serious type of pneumonia, by breathing in small water droplets containing Legionella bacteria. In general, people do not spread Legionnaires' disease to other people.DHSS conducted a facility assessment and collected samples. Preliminary environmental sample results indicate the presence of Legionella bacteria in the water system, with confirmed results being available later this week. The investigation is still ongoing and DHSS is actively working with the Roaring River Lodge to make improvements to the facility’s water system that will kill off Legionella in the system.&nbsp;The resort has indicated they will begin notifying all recent guests who stayed in the hotel portion of the facility.&nbsp;Most healthy people exposed to Legionella do not get sick. However, an individual’s risk may increase if they are 50 years or older, smoke cigarettes, or have certain medical conditions, such as a weakened immune system.Symptoms usually begin 2 to 10 days after being exposed to the bacteria, but it can take longer so people should watch for symptoms for about 2 weeks after exposure. If you develop symptoms of pneumonia within two weeks of staying, working at or visiting the Roaring River Lodge and RV Park in Cassville, seek medical attention right away. Pneumonia symptoms typically include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches and headaches. Additional symptoms may be present, such as confusion, nausea or diarrhea. Ask your doctor to test you with both a urine test and a respiratory culture. If you test positive, ask your doctor to report your illness to your local or state health department as soon as possible after your diagnosis.DHSS will continue to work with facility and take proactive measures to minimize future risks and develop a water management plan to ensure protection of the health of guests and employees. Additional information on Legionella is available from the CDC website.

Attention travelers: 3 cases of Legionnaires' disease in Missouri

August 19, 2024 (Omaha, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested a Nevada homicide suspect and also located over 250 suspected fentanyl pills.

The incident occurred Thursday morning, when an investigator was at a local business in downtown Omaha. The investigator detected the odor of marijuana and observed the subject in possession of marijuana in plain view. As the investigator attempted to contact the subject, the man attempted to flee.

The man tried to throw a small package of pills while fleeing the investigator, but the investigator was able to quickly apprehend the man. The man was positively identified as Samario Williams, 34, of Nevada. Williams had an active warrant in connection with a homicide investigation in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Investigators determined that the package of pills contained 270 suspected fentanyl pills. Williams was lodged in Douglas County Jail for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, flight to avoid arrest, obstructing a peace officer, and the warrant. NSP is coordinating with the Las Vegas Police Department for their investigation.

Cody ThomasNebraska State PatrolAugust 19, 2024 (Omaha, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested a Nevada homicide suspect and also located over 250 suspected fentanyl pills.The incident occurred Thursday morning, when an investigator was at a local business in downtown Omaha. The investigator detected the odor of marijuana and observed the subject in possession of marijuana in plain view. As the investigator attempted to contact the subject, the man attempted to flee.The man tried to throw a small package of pills while fleeing the investigator, but the investigator was able to quickly apprehend the man. The man was positively identified as Samario Williams, 34, of Nevada. Williams had an active warrant in connection with a homicide investigation in Las Vegas, Nevada.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724091066125.png" alt="Damario Williams (Courtesy of Douglas County Corrections)" />
 <figcaption>Damario Williams (Courtesy of Douglas County Corrections)</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators determined that the package of pills contained 270 suspected fentanyl pills. Williams was lodged in Douglas County Jail for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, flight to avoid arrest, obstructing a peace officer, and the warrant. NSP is coordinating with the Las Vegas Police Department for their investigation.

Nevada Homicide Suspect Arrested in Omaha

On Monday the House Oversight Committee released their report on the impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden, finding he committed impeachable offenses.

&nbsp;<a href="https://justthenews.com/sites/default/files/2024-08/2024.08.19%20Report%20of%20the%20Impeachment%20Inquiry%20of%20Joseph%20R.%20Biden%20Jr.%20President%20of%20the%20United%20States.pdf">Click here to read the full</a>&nbsp;impeachment report

A statement from the committee said, "the evidence produced by the impeachment inquiry is the strongest case for impeachment of a sitting president the House of Representatives has ever investigated."

"Americans now know Joe Biden was ‘the brand’ the Bidens sold around the world to enrich the Biden family, and Joe Biden knew of, benefitted from, and participated in his family’s influence peddling schemes."

"Our report details evidence to establish President Biden abused his office and violated his oaths of office as Vice President by engaging in a conspiracy to peddle influence to enrich his family. Then as President, Joe Biden and the Biden-Harris Administration obstructed the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry and the criminal investigation of President Biden’s son."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724066875833.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On Monday the House Oversight Committee released their report on the impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden, finding he committed impeachable offenses.&nbsp;<a href="https://justthenews.com/sites/default/files/2024-08/2024.08.19%20Report%20of%20the%20Impeachment%20Inquiry%20of%20Joseph%20R.%20Biden%20Jr.%20President%20of%20the%20United%20States.pdf">Click here to read the full</a>&nbsp;impeachment reportA statement from the committee said, "the evidence produced by the impeachment inquiry is the strongest case for impeachment of a sitting president the House of Representatives has ever investigated.""Americans now know Joe Biden was ‘the brand’ the Bidens sold around the world to enrich the Biden family, and Joe Biden knew of, benefitted from, and participated in his family’s influence peddling schemes.""Our report details evidence to establish President Biden abused his office and violated his oaths of office as Vice President by engaging in a conspiracy to peddle influence to enrich his family. Then as President, Joe Biden and the Biden-Harris Administration obstructed the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry and the criminal investigation of President Biden’s son."

Read the shocking House impeachment report on President Biden

Offutt Air Force Base, NE — The United States Air Force Thunderbirds will honor Marine Corporal Daegan Page as the Fallen Warrior of the Defenders of Freedom Air &amp; Space Show. The Thunderbirds will dedicate their Sunday, August 25th performance to the memory of Cpl. Page, who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country.

Cpl. Page, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, served with honor and distinction in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was among the 13 service members who tragically lost their lives during the evacuation mission in Kabul, Afghanistan, in August 2021. His bravery and selflessness are a testament to the courage and commitment of all who serve.

The 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base is deeply honored that the Thunderbirds have accepted their nomination of Cpl. Page as the Defenders of Freedom Air &amp; Space Show’s Fallen Warrior. This tribute reflects the community's respect and admiration for Cpl. Page and his family.

Following the Thunderbirds’ aerial demonstration on Sunday, August 25th, a private ceremony will be held to honor Cpl. Page’s memory. This ceremony will be attended by his family and close friends, providing a moment of reflection and remembrance for the life and legacy of a true American hero.

The Defenders of Freedom Air &amp; Space Show is proud to host the Thunderbirds as they pay tribute to Cpl. Page, and we invite the public to join us in honoring his sacrifice and service.

Offutt Air Force Base PROffutt Air Force Base, NE — The United States Air Force Thunderbirds will honor Marine Corporal Daegan Page as the Fallen Warrior of the Defenders of Freedom Air &amp; Space Show. The Thunderbirds will dedicate their Sunday, August 25th performance to the memory of Cpl. Page, who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country.Cpl. Page, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, served with honor and distinction in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was among the 13 service members who tragically lost their lives during the evacuation mission in Kabul, Afghanistan, in August 2021. His bravery and selflessness are a testament to the courage and commitment of all who serve.The 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base is deeply honored that the Thunderbirds have accepted their nomination of Cpl. Page as the Defenders of Freedom Air &amp; Space Show’s Fallen Warrior. This tribute reflects the community's respect and admiration for Cpl. Page and his family.Following the Thunderbirds’ aerial demonstration on Sunday, August 25th, a private ceremony will be held to honor Cpl. Page’s memory. This ceremony will be attended by his family and close friends, providing a moment of reflection and remembrance for the life and legacy of a true American hero.The Defenders of Freedom Air &amp; Space Show is proud to host the Thunderbirds as they pay tribute to Cpl. Page, and we invite the public to join us in honoring his sacrifice and service.

Thunderbirds to Honor Marine Cpl. Daegan Page at Defenders of Freedom Air & Space Show

Late Thursday night, the Kimball County Sheriff's Office posted on social media that the fire ban in Kimball County has been lifted by the fire chiefs of Kimball County.

Kimball County - Kimball County officials have made an announcement that due to dry weather; a fire ban will be in effect until further notice. Officials say no open flames or fires are permitted.

Panhandle PostLate Thursday night, the Kimball County Sheriff's Office posted on social media that the fire ban in Kimball County has been lifted by the fire chiefs of Kimball County.-----Original StoryKimball County - Kimball County officials have made an announcement that due to dry weather; a fire ban will be in effect until further notice. Officials say no open flames or fires are permitted.

ICYMI: Fire ban lifted in Kimball County

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/17/debate-delayed-on-owner-occupied-housing-valuations-as-tensions-flare-in-nebraska-legislature/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;What was intended to be a simple, rare Saturday meeting of the Nebraska Legislature began with flared emotions but ended with key senators making nice to save the very legislation their fight had imperiled.

At the center of the debate was&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58068" target="_blank">Legislative Resolution 2CA</a>, a constitutional amendment that would allow the Legislature, if voters approve, to set a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/16/nebraska-constitutional-amendment-revived-on-owner-occupied-property-valuations/">different valuation process</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/committee-advances-proposal-to-value-ne-owner-occupied-housing-differently-similar-to-ag-land/">owner-occupied housing</a>. Most Nebraska property is valued&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/about/frequently-asked-questions/nebraska-property-assessment-faqs" target="_blank">at or near 100% of actual market value</a>, with the exception of agricultural land, which is currently valued at 75%. Voters in 1984 authorized the Legislature to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/articles.php?article=VIII-1" target="_blank">value ag land differently</a>.

State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, a farmer, said he got the idea for LR 2CA while on his tractor, frustrated at how the Nebraska Constitution is “locked up so tight,” and he wanted to see a specific change.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the Revenue Committee chair, noted at least 19 states value residential property differently than other types.

“There’s no smoke and mirrors here,” Brandt said Thursday after his measure was unanimously voted out of the Revenue Committee. “It simply is something the Legislature can do.”

Logan County, at 85%, has the most owner-occupied homeownership among Nebraska’s 93 counties.

The other highest nine counties, all at 83%, are:

Hooker County has the least owner-occupied homeownership, at 45%.&nbsp;

Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://news.legislature.ne.gov/lrd/files/2024/08/Maptime-29-Percentage-of-Owner-Occupied-Homeownership-by-County.png" target="_blank">Legislative Research Office</a>

Lawmakers left without advancing the measure Saturday but allowed it to limp along until Tuesday, with about one hour of debate remaining. That’s because lawmakers voted&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=11371" target="_blank">25-7</a>&nbsp;to postpone debate, at Brandt’s request, for a chance to win more support and have more senators in attendance.

Had lawmakers gotten to a vote on the measure itself Saturday, it likely would have needed 33 votes. Only 36 senators were in attendance and a number of them were opposed, including some who voted to give Brandt a fighting chance.

On Tuesday, Brandt will likely again need 33 votes (he would need 25 if debate ended before the four-hour mark). To pass during final reading, it would need at least 30 votes in order to appear on the 2026 ballot, and at least 40 votes to appear on the November 2024 ballot.

Brandt said he’s unsure if he’ll have 40 votes but is more confident about the smaller threshold.

Speaker John Arch of La Vista confirmed he’ll schedule LR 2CA on Tuesday. The earliest day final debate could come is Thursday. Should the tax package and budget-related bills pass Tuesday, lawmakers could also just vote to go home and end the session.

The postponement was a strategy brokered between Brandt, Linehan and Omaha State Sen. Justin Wayne, with flared tensions among them spawning the audible to begin with. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha offered the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=11369" target="_blank">prevailing motion</a>&nbsp;to regroup Tuesday.

Wayne was the first to speak Saturday and drew his line in the sand, telling Brandt, “This is what happens when you play political games with people’s lives.”

On Friday, lawmakers fell one vote short of a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/budget-related-bills-to-fund-nebraskas-property-tax-relief-plan-advance-without-changes/">procedural motion</a>&nbsp;that could have led to a vote on whether to exempt residential electricity from sales taxes as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58118" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 3</a>. Brandt was one of 17 senators to oppose Wayne’s procedural move to determine the amendment was relevant, or germane, and able to be amended onto LB 3. Wayne had&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Journal/s1day14.pdf" target="_blank">21 supporters</a>, but he needed 22.

“Let’s just say ‘to hell with the individual’ and focus on profits over people, because that’s what we’re doing,” Wayne said Saturday.

Linehan saw anger also aimed at her because she was “present, not voting” on that LB 3 fight, unaware her vote could have been the deciding one. She said even if she had known, it might not have made a difference as she was following the lead of Appropriations Committee chair State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724073748547.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, center, meets with a group of his colleagues as debate takes an unintended turn Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Lincoln. Around him are, from left, State Sens. George Dungan of Lincoln, John Cavanaugh of Omaha, Ben Hansen of Blair, Anna Wishart of Lincoln and Justin Wayne of Omaha. Not pictured, to Brandt’s right: State Sens. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha and Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, center, meets with a group of his colleagues as debate takes an unintended turn Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Lincoln. Around him are, from left, State Sens. George Dungan of Lincoln, John Cavanaugh of Omaha, Ben Hansen of Blair, Anna Wishart of Lincoln and Justin Wayne of Omaha. Not pictured, to Brandt’s right: State Sens. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha and Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/17/debate-delayed-on-owner-occupied-housing-valuations-as-tensions-flare-in-nebraska-legislature/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;What was intended to be a simple, rare Saturday meeting of the Nebraska Legislature began with flared emotions but ended with key senators making nice to save the very legislation their fight had imperiled.At the center of the debate was&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58068" target="_blank">Legislative Resolution 2CA</a>, a constitutional amendment that would allow the Legislature, if voters approve, to set a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/16/nebraska-constitutional-amendment-revived-on-owner-occupied-property-valuations/">different valuation process</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/committee-advances-proposal-to-value-ne-owner-occupied-housing-differently-similar-to-ag-land/">owner-occupied housing</a>. Most Nebraska property is valued&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/about/frequently-asked-questions/nebraska-property-assessment-faqs" target="_blank">at or near 100% of actual market value</a>, with the exception of agricultural land, which is currently valued at 75%. Voters in 1984 authorized the Legislature to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/articles.php?article=VIII-1" target="_blank">value ag land differently</a>.State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, a farmer, said he got the idea for LR 2CA while on his tractor, frustrated at how the Nebraska Constitution is “locked up so tight,” and he wanted to see a specific change.State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the Revenue Committee chair, noted at least 19 states value residential property differently than other types.“There’s no smoke and mirrors here,” Brandt said Thursday after his measure was unanimously voted out of the Revenue Committee. “It simply is something the Legislature can do.”<h2>Owner-occupied housing statewide</h2>Logan County, at 85%, has the most owner-occupied homeownership among Nebraska’s 93 counties.The other highest nine counties, all at 83%, are:<ul>
 <li>Boyd.</li><li>Cass.</li><li>Deuel.</li><li>Franklin.</li><li>Gosper.</li><li>Greely.</li><li>Harlan.</li><li>Nance.</li><li>Pawnee.</li>
 </ul>Hooker County has the least owner-occupied homeownership, at 45%.&nbsp;The other lowest nine counties are:<ul>
 <li>Cherry (58%).&nbsp;</li><li>Lancaster (59%).&nbsp;</li><li>Thurston (61%).&nbsp;</li><li>Douglas (62%).&nbsp;</li><li>Hall (62%).&nbsp;</li><li>Sioux (62%).&nbsp;</li><li>Dawes (63%).&nbsp;</li><li>Cheyenne (65%).&nbsp;</li><li>Dakota (65%).</li>
 </ul>Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://news.legislature.ne.gov/lrd/files/2024/08/Maptime-29-Percentage-of-Owner-Occupied-Homeownership-by-County.png" target="_blank">Legislative Research Office</a><h2>Debate postponed to Tuesday</h2>Lawmakers left without advancing the measure Saturday but allowed it to limp along until Tuesday, with about one hour of debate remaining. That’s because lawmakers voted&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=11371" target="_blank">25-7</a>&nbsp;to postpone debate, at Brandt’s request, for a chance to win more support and have more senators in attendance.Had lawmakers gotten to a vote on the measure itself Saturday, it likely would have needed 33 votes. Only 36 senators were in attendance and a number of them were opposed, including some who voted to give Brandt a fighting chance.On Tuesday, Brandt will likely again need 33 votes (he would need 25 if debate ended before the four-hour mark). To pass during final reading, it would need at least 30 votes in order to appear on the 2026 ballot, and at least 40 votes to appear on the November 2024 ballot.Brandt said he’s unsure if he’ll have 40 votes but is more confident about the smaller threshold.Speaker John Arch of La Vista confirmed he’ll schedule LR 2CA on Tuesday. The earliest day final debate could come is Thursday. Should the tax package and budget-related bills pass Tuesday, lawmakers could also just vote to go home and end the session.<h2>‘Picking between our friends’</h2>The postponement was a strategy brokered between Brandt, Linehan and Omaha State Sen. Justin Wayne, with flared tensions among them spawning the audible to begin with. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha offered the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=11369" target="_blank">prevailing motion</a>&nbsp;to regroup Tuesday.Wayne was the first to speak Saturday and drew his line in the sand, telling Brandt, “This is what happens when you play political games with people’s lives.”On Friday, lawmakers fell one vote short of a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/budget-related-bills-to-fund-nebraskas-property-tax-relief-plan-advance-without-changes/">procedural motion</a>&nbsp;that could have led to a vote on whether to exempt residential electricity from sales taxes as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58118" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 3</a>. Brandt was one of 17 senators to oppose Wayne’s procedural move to determine the amendment was relevant, or germane, and able to be amended onto LB 3. Wayne had&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Journal/s1day14.pdf" target="_blank">21 supporters</a>, but he needed 22.“Let’s just say ‘to hell with the individual’ and focus on profits over people, because that’s what we’re doing,” Wayne said Saturday.Linehan saw anger also aimed at her because she was “present, not voting” on that LB 3 fight, unaware her vote could have been the deciding one. She said even if she had known, it might not have made a difference as she was following the lead of Appropriations Committee chair State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood.“The hardest thing we do here is picking between our friends,” Linehan said, visibly frustrated and wiping her eyes with a tissue while speaking.Wayne and Linehan, both elected in 2016, are in their&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/15/term-limited-nebraska-lawmakers-mount-what-could-be-last-push-for-more-property-tax-relief/">last year in the Legislature</a>. They have often been on opposing sides of issues but have a close friendship and frequently help one another, even when diametrically opposed.This session, Wayne has fought to have the Legislature try for more than currently contained in the core tax package, LB 34, even though he opposes the current version and opposed the original package contained in LB 1, which Linehan introduced on behalf of Gov. Jim Pillen.&nbsp;Wayne has helped stall debate to give Linehan and others time to negotiate. He helped draft ideas. He took political hits for her. It was often his progressive colleagues who declined to budge.<h2>Ag leaders ‘need a partner’</h2>Linehan, speaking angrily on the floor Saturday, recounted how many times in her eight years the Legislature has helped agriculture, only to see multiple senators from more rural districts opposing LR 2CA.“I’m not mad at anybody in here&nbsp;today,” Linehan said. “I am furious with the Farm Bureau, texting us this morning and saying that 2CA is hard for ag.”Brandt said the organization told him Friday night it was in favor of his constitutional amendment, but by Saturday morning the Farm Bureau had flipped. He shared an email the organization sent to him and State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, with what Brandt said were “fantasy numbers.”Linehan pointed to a major property tax proposal passed in 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=41565" target="_blank">LB 1107</a>, that had lawmakers negotiating in the State Capitol for a three-year funding stretch while the Farm Bureau was busy making a deal with lobbyists for a five-year proposal. She said “they threw us under the bus.”That moment wasn’t a one-off exchange, Linehan added, arguing ag has been “really lucky” and “the angels have been with them.”&nbsp;She sees LR 2CA as a chance for agricultural interests to join with residential landowners and find a “partner,” which she said the Farm Bureau currently lacks. As a result, Linehan argued, ag land might soon return to being valued at 100% of market value.“You have to understand, Ag: if you ever want to move the ball, you’re going to need a partner, and the partner you ought to be holding hands with is the homeowners,” Linehan said. “And if you don’t want to,&nbsp;I can’t feel sorry for you anymore.”<h2>‘Whack-a-mole’ for other property types</h2>State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte repeated criticism he lobbied at the measure Friday, saying that it was “way too early” and “not ready for primetime.”&nbsp;Jacobson said LR 2CA doesn’t have 40 votes and might fall short of 33. He’s promised to filibuster the bill either way to prevent unintended consequences.“Without pay-fors, this is whack-a-mole,” Jacobson said. “One goes up, others go down. One goes down, the other one or two classes [of property valuations] go up.”Others, including State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn, Revenue Committee vice chair, expressed similar concern for renters and multi-family units in commercial properties.Brandt and Wayne, after moving past their differences, suggested using property tax credits to buy down the cost of lowered valuations for owner-occupied properties, which they said could already be done now, without a constitutional change. That would be different from ag land, where counties are affected by a shift in valuations, Brandt said.<h2>Looking ahead</h2>State Sens. Julie Slama of Dunbar and Mike McDonnell of Omaha, who also&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/11/tributes-paid-to-15-departing-state-senators-as-session-nears-end-13-leaving-due-to-term-limits/">won’t return</a>&nbsp;to the Legislature next year, differed over whether to continue the special session to tackle other ideas. Slama opposed LR 2CA; McDonnell supported it.Slama said for ag to accomplish any victories, it often includes negotiations that mean urban areas have to get something, too. She said the special session has amped up emotions in a compressed timeline to an “11” but that if lawmakers fail, “it’s not for lack of trying.”“You are on duty 24/7, 365, but that doesn’t discount the sacrifices that people are making to be here,” Slama said of the session, pointing to lawmakers with personal health issues or whose journeys to Lincoln include leaving “ailing” family members at home.McDonnell said that suggestions from Jacobson and others to wait until January aren’t good enough and that senators can’t just say, “We tried.” He suggested an up-or-down vote on various proposals after one hour of debate, and then if a bill doesn’t have 33 votes, it’s dead for the session.“I don’t believe we should stop until we’ve exhausted every idea, had every discussion possible, because if we’re saying we’re going to wait until next year, there’s people out there that can’t wait,” McDonnell said. “There’s people out there making life-changing decisions today — where they’re going to live, and what they’re going to eat.”Lawmakers will meet from 9-9:30 a.m. Monday for a check-in day. Debate is scheduled to resume Tuesday on&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58075" target="_blank">LB 34</a>&nbsp;(the core tax package),&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58053" target="_blank">LB 2</a>&nbsp;(<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/14/nebraska-legislature-sidesteps-filibuster-on-cuts-to-hhs-legislative-council/">budget cuts</a>), LB 3 (<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/second-budget-bill-advances-after-another-filibuster/">cash fund transfers and fee increases</a>) and LR 2CA. Special sessions continue until lawmakers vote to go home.