<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/01/nebraska-feedlot-political-fight-makes-way-to-statehouse/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2QjroqBfoFZVPcq4adV-1yc1hePtWvTDrDGypfqOEIefy-xJFJT9SlX8s_aem_kL9qfhm1S-DMGC4AyQTXFg">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A divide between rural Nebraska lawmakers is rustling in the statehouse.&nbsp;

State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner, in west-central Nebraska, has proposed a bill that would exempt a significant sector of agriculture in the state — feedlots — from branding and inspection fees under the state’s livestock branding law that she has said she aims to “modernize” with Legislative Bill 646.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“LB 646 simply provides an exemption for [feedlots], so [they] are treated uniformly across Nebraska,” Ibach said during the bill Agriculture Committee hearing.

She has faced opposition from State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman, a freshman rural lawmaker from north-central Nebraska who&nbsp;proposed an amendment to essentially kill the bill and let lawmakers make a more informed decision later&nbsp;regarding one of the state’s biggest industries. Her reason: Most lawmakers don’t deal with cattle.&nbsp;

“The reality is there’s only about four in this body of 49 that understand that,” Storer said.&nbsp;

Nebraska is the second-largest cattle-producing state in the U.S., generating $13.2 billion from cattle and other livestock, according&nbsp;<a href="https://nda.nebraska.gov/promotion/livestock_friendly/lfc_brochure.pdf" target="_blank">to the latest tally from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture</a>. Parts of that industry are regulated by the Nebraska Brand Committee, which is tasked with investigating cattle theft and verifying ownership through branding when cattle are bought, sold or moved in or beyond the brand zone in state law, essentially covering the western two-thirds of the state. Its services are funded entirely through fees, not by taxpayers.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;divide on the&nbsp;Ibach bill is&nbsp;that it would exempt feedlots in the state’s brand inspection area&nbsp;from paying branding-related fees, replacing them with a one-time payment of $500 to apply for feedlots to get exempt status.&nbsp;The Brand Committee called the legislation an attempt to “severely” weaken the cattle industry’s checks and balances, and several cattle industry groups have opposed it.

During the bill’s hearing before the Agriculture Committee, Nebraska Farmers Union president&nbsp;John Hansen&nbsp;said the Brand Committee provides security from cattle theft. He added the whole state should be under the Livestock Brand Act because the areas not in the branding area are an “invitation for abuse.”&nbsp;

“If I were stealing cattle, I know that I would be trying to sell them in the area of the state that does not have brand inspection,” Hansen said. “So the viability of the system will be undermined if this bill goes forward as is.”&nbsp;

The Nebraska State Dairy Association testified in support of the bill and requested its own exception from the state Livestock Brand Act, calling the system a time and economic burden on the dairy industry because the branding committee hasn’t updated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsln.com/news/nebraska-brand-committee-continues-work-on-electronic-inspection-program/" target="_blank">its ID Program</a>.&nbsp;

“Our producers are tired of waiting for the change to pay for a program that has no value to our industry,” said Steve Wolfe, who testified on behalf of the Nebraska State Dairy Association.

Bill sponsors initially included all eight of the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee members, though only six of the eight voted it out of committee for a floor debate: two original sponsors, State Sens. Mike Jacobson of North Platte and Dan McKeon of Amherst withdrew their names from the bill last week. Jacobson said it because his constituents won’t like it.&nbsp;

“The only reason I signed on to begin with was to try to get to the point where we could negotiate something better than what we have today,” Jacobson said. “Every email and phone call I’ve gotten on this issue, except from the feed yards who stand directly to benefit, have been not only no but hell no. That’s a pretty strong message.”

Other cattle-feeding states, including Texas and Oklahoma, deal with cattle branding differently. In those states, it’s not mandatory but encouraged to deter theft, while brand inspections are mandatory in Wyoming and Colorado.&nbsp;

Elliott Dennis, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor of livestock marketing and risk management, said Nebraska’s cattle branding approach is unique because some parts of the state don’t have to deal with the inspection fees.&nbsp;

Dennis said the quirk is because areas in the eastern parts of the state have fewer cattle than most of western Nebraska. He said consumers wouldn’t feel the proposed changes to the branding law.&nbsp;

Feedlot owners and beef and dairy cattle growers tried&nbsp;<a href="https://kearneyhub.com/ranchers-feedlots-renew-battle-over-nebraska-brand-system/article_18d863ee-ea59-11ef-8969-f7389814d9d5.html" target="_blank">but failed in 2020 and 2021</a>&nbsp;to comprehensively update state branding laws. Dennis said feedlot owners have historically been against brand inspection due to the frequency of fees they must pay based on their cattle numbers and because getting an inspector can slow down production.&nbsp;

He said who proposed the bill tells a lot about its intention.&nbsp;

“This isn’t a person unfamiliar with the cattle industry,” Dennis said.

Ibach, a first-term senator, is married to the longest-serving state agriculture director Greg Ibach. She and her family own a cattle operation in Dawson County. She said the legislation is about updating the state brand law, not getting rid of it.

“To be clear, [the] bill does not do away with brand inspection inside the brand area, nor does it impact anyone’s ability to own or use a brand,” Ibach said.&nbsp;

In&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralradio.com/kbear/news/op-ed-protecting-the-integrity-of-brand-inspection-in-nebraska/" target="_blank">an op-ed</a>&nbsp;last month on KRVN Rural Radio’s website in Lexington, Ibach said she worked with the Nebraska Brand Committee and the Nebraska Farm Bureau after the bill’s Agriculture Committee hearing to add amendments to address the concerns from the committee, farm bureau, and other groups.&nbsp;

“I believe the amendment addresses legitimate concerns raised by the testifiers and others,” Ibach wrote.&nbsp;

Her amendment,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/AM/AM829.pdf" target="_blank">AM 829</a>, to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59031" target="_blank">LB 646,</a>&nbsp;would cap the amount the Brand Committee can charge feedlots.

Currently, the committee can charge for each additional increment of 250 cattle above the total of 1,000 cattle, which represents the lot’s one-time capacity. Feedlots are charged a $1,000 annual permit.&nbsp;If the bill becomes law, it’s estimated&nbsp;the committee would lose&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/FN/LB646_20250210-123934.pdf" target="_blank">$1.6 million annually</a>, roughly 25% of its operating budget.&nbsp;

Nebraska Farm Bureau Senior Director of State Legislative Affairs Bruce Rieker said the Bureau’s stance on the bill could change as negotiations between stakeholders in the cattle industry continue.&nbsp;

“There are very sincere conversations going on between many of the parties now, Rieker said. “Much more so now than maybe they were earlier in the session.”&nbsp;

On Tuesday, the Farm Bureau released a statement expressing disapproval of the amendment to the bill, signaling that it still opposes the changes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“For more than 80 years, the Nebraska Brand Committee has played a vital role in overseeing livestock brand registration, enforcement, and proof of ownership.” The statement reads, “We support the work of the Brand Committee and believe the Committee should have the fee authority necessary to adequately fund its programs.”

Nebraska Cattlemen also expressed continued opposition to the bill. Still,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nebraskacattlemen.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=123:nc-statement-on-brand-bill-amendment-638&amp;catid=25:newsroom&amp;Itemid=130" target="_blank">the group said it would</a>&nbsp;“remain committed to working with Senator Ibach toward a solution that could be acceptable to the membership as we work to modernize brand laws in Nebraska.”After a Tuesday meeting, the Cattlemen’s Board of Directors voted to support the agriculture&nbsp;committee amendment.

Storer announced an amendment late last week to Ibach’s bill that&nbsp;would delay immediate action on the bill and call for a study by the&nbsp;Nebraska Brand Committee for&nbsp;potential solutions.&nbsp;Storer said she was “frustrated” with how the bill was initially crafted without the input of the Brand Committee and the cattle industry. She said her amendment was reasonable and would give more parts of the cattle industry a say.&nbsp;

“I believe it is vitally important that we have an agency in place to provide oversight that prevents fraud and theft in that industry,” Storer told the Nebraska Examiner. “So at the end of the day, anything that’s going to weaken that agency…to prevent fraud and theft is problematic.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The legislation is set to be debated on the floor Wednesday.

Juan Salinas II<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/01/nebraska-feedlot-political-fight-makes-way-to-statehouse/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2QjroqBfoFZVPcq4adV-1yc1hePtWvTDrDGypfqOEIefy-xJFJT9SlX8s_aem_kL9qfhm1S-DMGC4AyQTXFg">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A divide between rural Nebraska lawmakers is rustling in the statehouse.&nbsp;State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner, in west-central Nebraska, has proposed a bill that would exempt a significant sector of agriculture in the state — feedlots — from branding and inspection fees under the state’s livestock branding law that she has said she aims to “modernize” with Legislative Bill 646.&nbsp;&nbsp;“LB 646 simply provides an exemption for [feedlots], so [they] are treated uniformly across Nebraska,” Ibach said during the bill Agriculture Committee hearing.She has faced opposition from State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman, a freshman rural lawmaker from north-central Nebraska who&nbsp;proposed an amendment to essentially kill the bill and let lawmakers make a more informed decision later&nbsp;regarding one of the state’s biggest industries. Her reason: Most lawmakers don’t deal with cattle.&nbsp;“The reality is there’s only about four in this body of 49 that understand that,” Storer said.&nbsp;Nebraska is the second-largest cattle-producing state in the U.S., generating $13.2 billion from cattle and other livestock, according&nbsp;<a href="https://nda.nebraska.gov/promotion/livestock_friendly/lfc_brochure.pdf" target="_blank">to the latest tally from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture</a>. Parts of that industry are regulated by the Nebraska Brand Committee, which is tasked with investigating cattle theft and verifying ownership through branding when cattle are bought, sold or moved in or beyond the brand zone in state law, essentially covering the western two-thirds of the state. Its services are funded entirely through fees, not by taxpayers.&nbsp;The&nbsp;divide on the&nbsp;Ibach bill is&nbsp;that it would exempt feedlots in the state’s brand inspection area&nbsp;from paying branding-related fees, replacing them with a one-time payment of $500 to apply for feedlots to get exempt status.&nbsp;The Brand Committee called the legislation an attempt to “severely” weaken the cattle industry’s checks and balances, and several cattle industry groups have opposed it.<h2>‘Invitation for abuse’</h2>During the bill’s hearing before the Agriculture Committee, Nebraska Farmers Union president&nbsp;John Hansen&nbsp;said the Brand Committee provides security from cattle theft. He added the whole state should be under the Livestock Brand Act because the areas not in the branding area are an “invitation for abuse.”&nbsp;“If I were stealing cattle, I know that I would be trying to sell them in the area of the state that does not have brand inspection,” Hansen said. “So the viability of the system will be undermined if this bill goes forward as is.”&nbsp;The Nebraska State Dairy Association testified in support of the bill and requested its own exception from the state Livestock Brand Act, calling the system a time and economic burden on the dairy industry because the branding committee hasn’t updated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsln.com/news/nebraska-brand-committee-continues-work-on-electronic-inspection-program/" target="_blank">its ID Program</a>.&nbsp;“Our producers are tired of waiting for the change to pay for a program that has no value to our industry,” said Steve Wolfe, who testified on behalf of the Nebraska State Dairy Association.Bill sponsors initially included all eight of the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee members, though only six of the eight voted it out of committee for a floor debate: two original sponsors, State Sens. Mike Jacobson of North Platte and Dan McKeon of Amherst withdrew their names from the bill last week. Jacobson said it because his constituents won’t like it.&nbsp;“The only reason I signed on to begin with was to try to get to the point where we could negotiate something better than what we have today,” Jacobson said. “Every email and phone call I’ve gotten on this issue, except from the feed yards who stand directly to benefit, have been not only no but hell no. That’s a pretty strong message.”<h2>Nebraska’s quirky branding law</h2>Other cattle-feeding states, including Texas and Oklahoma, deal with cattle branding differently. In those states, it’s not mandatory but encouraged to deter theft, while brand inspections are mandatory in Wyoming and Colorado.&nbsp;Elliott Dennis, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor of livestock marketing and risk management, said Nebraska’s cattle branding approach is unique because some parts of the state don’t have to deal with the inspection fees.&nbsp;Dennis said the quirk is because areas in the eastern parts of the state have fewer cattle than most of western Nebraska. He said consumers wouldn’t feel the proposed changes to the branding law.&nbsp;Feedlot owners and beef and dairy cattle growers tried&nbsp;<a href="https://kearneyhub.com/ranchers-feedlots-renew-battle-over-nebraska-brand-system/article_18d863ee-ea59-11ef-8969-f7389814d9d5.html" target="_blank">but failed in 2020 and 2021</a>&nbsp;to comprehensively update state branding laws. Dennis said feedlot owners have historically been against brand inspection due to the frequency of fees they must pay based on their cattle numbers and because getting an inspector can slow down production.&nbsp;He said who proposed the bill tells a lot about its intention.&nbsp;“This isn’t a person unfamiliar with the cattle industry,” Dennis said.<h2>Explaining her stance</h2>Ibach, a first-term senator, is married to the longest-serving state agriculture director Greg Ibach. She and her family own a cattle operation in Dawson County. She said the legislation is about updating the state brand law, not getting rid of it.“To be clear, [the] bill does not do away with brand inspection inside the brand area, nor does it impact anyone’s ability to own or use a brand,” Ibach said.&nbsp;In&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralradio.com/kbear/news/op-ed-protecting-the-integrity-of-brand-inspection-in-nebraska/" target="_blank">an op-ed</a>&nbsp;last month on KRVN Rural Radio’s website in Lexington, Ibach said she worked with the Nebraska Brand Committee and the Nebraska Farm Bureau after the bill’s Agriculture Committee hearing to add amendments to address the concerns from the committee, farm bureau, and other groups.&nbsp;“I believe the amendment addresses legitimate concerns raised by the testifiers and others,” Ibach wrote.&nbsp;Her amendment,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/AM/AM829.pdf" target="_blank">AM 829</a>, to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59031" target="_blank">LB 646,</a>&nbsp;would cap the amount the Brand Committee can charge feedlots.Currently, the committee can charge for each additional increment of 250 cattle above the total of 1,000 cattle, which represents the lot’s one-time capacity. Feedlots are charged a $1,000 annual permit.&nbsp;If the bill becomes law, it’s estimated&nbsp;the committee would lose&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/FN/LB646_20250210-123934.pdf" target="_blank">$1.6 million annually</a>, roughly 25% of its operating budget.&nbsp;<h2>Discussions continue</h2>Nebraska Farm Bureau Senior Director of State Legislative Affairs Bruce Rieker said the Bureau’s stance on the bill could change as negotiations between stakeholders in the cattle industry continue.&nbsp;“There are very sincere conversations going on between many of the parties now, Rieker said. “Much more so now than maybe they were earlier in the session.”&nbsp;On Tuesday, the Farm Bureau released a statement expressing disapproval of the amendment to the bill, signaling that it still opposes the changes.&nbsp;&nbsp;“For more than 80 years, the Nebraska Brand Committee has played a vital role in overseeing livestock brand registration, enforcement, and proof of ownership.” The statement reads, “We support the work of the Brand Committee and believe the Committee should have the fee authority necessary to adequately fund its programs.”Nebraska Cattlemen also expressed continued opposition to the bill. Still,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nebraskacattlemen.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=123:nc-statement-on-brand-bill-amendment-638&amp;catid=25:newsroom&amp;Itemid=130" target="_blank">the group said it would</a>&nbsp;“remain committed to working with Senator Ibach toward a solution that could be acceptable to the membership as we work to modernize brand laws in Nebraska.”After a Tuesday meeting, the Cattlemen’s Board of Directors voted to support the agriculture&nbsp;committee amendment.Storer announced an amendment late last week to Ibach’s bill that&nbsp;would delay immediate action on the bill and call for a study by the&nbsp;Nebraska Brand Committee for&nbsp;potential solutions.&nbsp;Storer said she was “frustrated” with how the bill was initially crafted without the input of the Brand Committee and the cattle industry. She said her amendment was reasonable and would give more parts of the cattle industry a say.&nbsp;“I believe it is vitally important that we have an agency in place to provide oversight that prevents fraud and theft in that industry,” Storer told the Nebraska Examiner. “So at the end of the day, anything that’s going to weaken that agency…to prevent fraud and theft is problematic.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The legislation is set to be debated on the floor Wednesday.

Nebraska Feedlot Political Fight Makes its Way to Statehouse

Lincoln, NE – April 1, 2025 – The Nebraska Lottery recently distributed among its beneficiary funds $11,415,178, derived from a share of Scratch and Lotto ticket sales for the previous three months.

A total of $1,026,811,730 has been distributed in quarterly transfers since the Nebraska Lottery began operation on September 11, 1993. The latest transfer, made the week of March 28, was distributed among beneficiaries in the following manner:

<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.qkacV-2FUEFnhDrHGFtQlhVEnIH45fIlzPrWWESD4G8SueUWbK-2Byo2WIT-2BmC-2BrQcWL9icRYkTm1CodCITKMHU5xUbZsdXhcAndRZwFR7el0s8-3DVLIu_zp2viNv8WmCDmvKbS8g-2FumCH-2BSIkHTUhcISA1gweg93LIwGEu7Eu0ohNOhpJ1nCtJT3xXLcGnwndj0t64QaXbVDk0wvL65KD1iN4vYB7rKAhKu1l-2FBLlTpj0KgRYXUJnIIBjRV81vTRyYgbaxt0LxARNwnu3Y02i-2B-2B1-2BKfRyef7v7JzSZkozEce5RI1Y23REUV-2FW1EBgo9JrrGX0nysu-2F08XEmTj6gAB2VHQ7H9-2BvuRK-2BZYZQ-2FK3exAUzBKGpzvf42lARBPK4U01k-2FxmXy-2FGmKVWzV99eq2g6IMacQZ8L-2B3RVC2Qb2sBxn7VQBAyG3vXjnmC2jYc-2FjyJXmUc-2B7aBQOnW7DkhuAW7Kh-2BZLYj3aebQSR8yucouQkXW-2BbLUg6qC30pFeDZUlJxsTK-2BzDF11AQ-3D-3D" target="_blank">Education as directed by the Legislature</a>, $5,079,754;Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $5,079,754;Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $1,141,518; andCompulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $114,152.

Amendment 4 passed by Nebraska voters in November of 2004 established the following distribution formula: Education as directed by the Legislature (44.5 percent); Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund (44.5 percent); Nebraska State Fair (10 percent); and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund (1 percent, plus the first $500,000 in fund proceeds each fiscal year).

The funds' respective totals to date are:

Education as directed by the Legislature, $15,451,105Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $441,331,483;Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $79,633,651; andCompulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $22,593,121.

Prior to July 1, 2024, the Nebraska Education Improvement Fund received proceeds totaling $169,189,056.

Prior to July 1, 2016, the Education Innovation Fund received proceeds totaling $174,222,842, and the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund received proceeds totaling $100,929,476.

Prior to July 1, 1997, the Solid Waste Landfill Closure Assistance Fund received proceeds totaling $18,460,996. In 2004, the Legislature directed that a one-time transfer of $5 million be made to the State General Fund.

Criteria for proceeds distribution are established by the beneficiary funds in accordance with legislative mandates. Every county in Nebraska has received service through grants funded with Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

The Nebraska Lottery marked $1 billion in beneficiary transfers (since 1993) in September 2024.

Neil WatsonNebraska LotteryLincoln, NE – April 1, 2025 – The Nebraska Lottery recently distributed among its beneficiary funds $11,415,178, derived from a share of Scratch and Lotto ticket sales for the previous three months.A total of $1,026,811,730 has been distributed in quarterly transfers since the Nebraska Lottery began operation on September 11, 1993. The latest transfer, made the week of March 28, was distributed among beneficiaries in the following manner:<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.qkacV-2FUEFnhDrHGFtQlhVEnIH45fIlzPrWWESD4G8SueUWbK-2Byo2WIT-2BmC-2BrQcWL9icRYkTm1CodCITKMHU5xUbZsdXhcAndRZwFR7el0s8-3DVLIu_zp2viNv8WmCDmvKbS8g-2FumCH-2BSIkHTUhcISA1gweg93LIwGEu7Eu0ohNOhpJ1nCtJT3xXLcGnwndj0t64QaXbVDk0wvL65KD1iN4vYB7rKAhKu1l-2FBLlTpj0KgRYXUJnIIBjRV81vTRyYgbaxt0LxARNwnu3Y02i-2B-2B1-2BKfRyef7v7JzSZkozEce5RI1Y23REUV-2FW1EBgo9JrrGX0nysu-2F08XEmTj6gAB2VHQ7H9-2BvuRK-2BZYZQ-2FK3exAUzBKGpzvf42lARBPK4U01k-2FxmXy-2FGmKVWzV99eq2g6IMacQZ8L-2B3RVC2Qb2sBxn7VQBAyG3vXjnmC2jYc-2FjyJXmUc-2B7aBQOnW7DkhuAW7Kh-2BZLYj3aebQSR8yucouQkXW-2BbLUg6qC30pFeDZUlJxsTK-2BzDF11AQ-3D-3D" target="_blank">Education as directed by the Legislature</a>, $5,079,754;Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $5,079,754;Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $1,141,518; andCompulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $114,152.Amendment 4 passed by Nebraska voters in November of 2004 established the following distribution formula: Education as directed by the Legislature (44.5 percent); Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund (44.5 percent); Nebraska State Fair (10 percent); and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund (1 percent, plus the first $500,000 in fund proceeds each fiscal year).The funds' respective totals to date are:Education as directed by the Legislature, $15,451,105Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $441,331,483;Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $79,633,651; andCompulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $22,593,121.Prior to July 1, 2024, the Nebraska Education Improvement Fund received proceeds totaling $169,189,056.Prior to July 1, 2016, the Education Innovation Fund received proceeds totaling $174,222,842, and the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund received proceeds totaling $100,929,476.Prior to July 1, 1997, the Solid Waste Landfill Closure Assistance Fund received proceeds totaling $18,460,996. In 2004, the Legislature directed that a one-time transfer of $5 million be made to the State General Fund.Criteria for proceeds distribution are established by the beneficiary funds in accordance with legislative mandates. Every county in Nebraska has received service through grants funded with Nebraska Lottery proceeds.The Nebraska Lottery marked $1 billion in beneficiary transfers (since 1993) in September 2024.

$11.4 Million in Proceeds Raised for Nebraska Lottery Beneficiaries

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/31/end-is-near-pillen-says-for-persistent-wait-list-for-nebraskans-with-developmental-disabilities/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Gov. Jim Pillen said Monday that, by July, his administration expects to accomplish a goal it announced a year ago: elimination of a long-running “wait list” for Nebraskans seeking services for intellectual and developmental disabilities.

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/29/advocates-for-the-developmentally-disabled-react-cautiously-to-announced-end-of-wait-list/">Last March,</a>&nbsp;the list contained about 2,700 people, and a projected wait for available funds stretched for up to eight years. The governor said the number has been whittled to about 700.

“This is the first time in the last 35 years that this wait list is going to be eliminated,” Steve Corsi, chief executive officer of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, said at a press conference in Omaha that also closed Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

Pillen, Corsi and Tony Green, director of the DHHS Division of Developmental Disabilities, updated progress on cutting the wait, the public cost and what they’ve described as the state’s reimagining of how services are offered to Nebraskans with developmental disabilities to make things work better.

After a tour of the recently opened new headquarters for Madonna Ability Alliance, which helps support Nebraskans with disabilities, state officials answered questions from reporters and mingled with Madonna families and participants filling the lobby of the building near 72nd and Pine Streets in Omaha.&nbsp;

Among the lineup of speakers was Blake Hodgen, a Madonna participant who stole the show by relaying his educational, music therapy and job-training experiences since second grade at Madonna, which he and others said helped prepare him for his long-time catering job with the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Pillen told the group he took aim at shortening the list, known also as the Developmental Disabilities Registry, because it didn’t make sense to him.&nbsp;

“You break the glass if that’s what you have to do,” Pillen said. “But when the most vulnerable Nebraskans’ needs weren’t being met for eight years, (it) popped my top off.”

Eliminating the wait list, the Pillen administration says, requires a roughly $45 million annual investment, with the state footing about $19 million each year and federal funds covering the rest. The governor foresees Nebraska becoming a model for other states with long waits to access developmental disabilities services — though advocates say they see some flaws, and they are still evaluating the full impact of changes.

At one time, Green said, the Nebraska registry listed 4,500 names.

Clearing the wait, he said, means that all the families will have been offered at least some specialized support through a Medicaid waiver program that lets states to tap federal funding for accessing home- and community-based services intended to keep people out of institutions.&nbsp;

Key to the list shrinkage, said Green, is a new approach that “meets families where they’re at” — providing for a more immediate and targeted service, such as funding for child or respite care or vehicle modification. Family advocates have said a family support waiver was created, for instance, as an intermediary solution that provides up to $10,000 a year for such services.

In the old system, Green said a family would put their name on the registry and wait as long as eight years to get what is known as a “comprehensive” developmental waiver — which is more costly but provides access to a wider array of services, including full-time residential services outside the home, particularly for adults.&nbsp;

Green said not all families require such a gamut, and state officials believe that the overall needs of the population are better met by providing more narrow services closer to when a family needs them.&nbsp;

Also new and crucial, he and advocates said, is that the state now allows youths with disabilities access to medical care through Medicaid — even if their household income is beyond typical Medicaid limits.

Said Green: “What we’re working on now is a system that says, ‘What’s your need that’s being unmet?’ And we’ll figure out which waiver has the right service and supports for you. I would say it’s a continuum of care … It will be individualized to the family and child.”

Edison McDonald is executive director of The Arc of Nebraska, the state’s largest membership organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. He said the state’s new approach takes positive steps, including the Medicaid expansion that helps ensure that kids with developmental disabilities get access to health care.

However, he cited drawbacks. For example, he said, the often lengthy wait used to be a pathway to guaranteed access to comprehensive services including the out-of-home residential services. That is no longer the case, McDonald said.&nbsp;

“They call it innovation when really it is barring a lot of people from that access to residential services. In some cases, it misses the mark and can potentially be harmful,” he said.

McDonald said the comprehensive service option is still available, but for adults with the highest needs such as being homeless or being a danger to themself. He said advocates are still trying to grasp the breadth of the impact the changes will bring.&nbsp;

In some cases, it misses the mark and can be potentially harmful.

– Edison McDonald, The Arc of Nebraska

McDonald said what advocates thought was an “intermediary” solution — the family support waiver offering up to $10,000 of services annually — appears possibly to be more of a “destination.” He also said the state’s system includes what advocates view as an outdated rate schedule for service providers.

Alana Schriver, executive director of Nebraska Association of Service Providers, applauded the Pillen administration’s commitment overall. But she worries about the state rates allowed for service providers. Without better wages for more workers, she said, “this whole conversation is moot.”

“If there is nobody to serve the people, what are we doing?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743519081019.jpeg" alt="Blake Hodgen, a participant at Madonna Ability Alliance, caps the lineup of speakers during an event Monday that closed Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Gov. Jim Pillen during a talk after a tour, said a goal he announced last March is nearly accomplished — eliminating the state’s wait list for services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Blake Hodgen, a participant at Madonna Ability Alliance, caps the lineup of speakers during an event Monday that closed Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Gov. Jim Pillen during a talk after a tour, said a goal he announced last March is nearly accomplished — eliminating the state’s wait list for services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/31/end-is-near-pillen-says-for-persistent-wait-list-for-nebraskans-with-developmental-disabilities/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Gov. Jim Pillen said Monday that, by July, his administration expects to accomplish a goal it announced a year ago: elimination of a long-running “wait list” for Nebraskans seeking services for intellectual and developmental disabilities.<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/29/advocates-for-the-developmentally-disabled-react-cautiously-to-announced-end-of-wait-list/">Last March,</a>&nbsp;the list contained about 2,700 people, and a projected wait for available funds stretched for up to eight years. The governor said the number has been whittled to about 700.“This is the first time in the last 35 years that this wait list is going to be eliminated,” Steve Corsi, chief executive officer of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, said at a press conference in Omaha that also closed Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.Pillen, Corsi and Tony Green, director of the DHHS Division of Developmental Disabilities, updated progress on cutting the wait, the public cost and what they’ve described as the state’s reimagining of how services are offered to Nebraskans with developmental disabilities to make things work better.<h2>‘Popped my top’</h2>After a tour of the recently opened new headquarters for Madonna Ability Alliance, which helps support Nebraskans with disabilities, state officials answered questions from reporters and mingled with Madonna families and participants filling the lobby of the building near 72nd and Pine Streets in Omaha.&nbsp;Among the lineup of speakers was Blake Hodgen, a Madonna participant who stole the show by relaying his educational, music therapy and job-training experiences since second grade at Madonna, which he and others said helped prepare him for his long-time catering job with the University of Nebraska Medical Center.Pillen told the group he took aim at shortening the list, known also as the Developmental Disabilities Registry, because it didn’t make sense to him.&nbsp;“You break the glass if that’s what you have to do,” Pillen said. “But when the most vulnerable Nebraskans’ needs weren’t being met for eight years, (it) popped my top off.”Eliminating the wait list, the Pillen administration says, requires a roughly $45 million annual investment, with the state footing about $19 million each year and federal funds covering the rest. The governor foresees Nebraska becoming a model for other states with long waits to access developmental disabilities services — though advocates say they see some flaws, and they are still evaluating the full impact of changes.At one time, Green said, the Nebraska registry listed 4,500 names.<h2>More immediate support</h2>Clearing the wait, he said, means that all the families will have been offered at least some specialized support through a Medicaid waiver program that lets states to tap federal funding for accessing home- and community-based services intended to keep people out of institutions.&nbsp;Key to the list shrinkage, said Green, is a new approach that “meets families where they’re at” — providing for a more immediate and targeted service, such as funding for child or respite care or vehicle modification. Family advocates have said a family support waiver was created, for instance, as an intermediary solution that provides up to $10,000 a year for such services.In the old system, Green said a family would put their name on the registry and wait as long as eight years to get what is known as a “comprehensive” developmental waiver — which is more costly but provides access to a wider array of services, including full-time residential services outside the home, particularly for adults.&nbsp;Green said not all families require such a gamut, and state officials believe that the overall needs of the population are better met by providing more narrow services closer to when a family needs them.&nbsp;Also new and crucial, he and advocates said, is that the state now allows youths with disabilities access to medical care through Medicaid — even if their household income is beyond typical Medicaid limits.Said Green: “What we’re working on now is a system that says, ‘What’s your need that’s being unmet?’ And we’ll figure out which waiver has the right service and supports for you. I would say it’s a continuum of care … It will be individualized to the family and child.”<h2>‘Misses the mark’</h2>Edison McDonald is executive director of The Arc of Nebraska, the state’s largest membership organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. He said the state’s new approach takes positive steps, including the Medicaid expansion that helps ensure that kids with developmental disabilities get access to health care.However, he cited drawbacks. For example, he said, the often lengthy wait used to be a pathway to guaranteed access to comprehensive services including the out-of-home residential services. That is no longer the case, McDonald said.&nbsp;“They call it innovation when really it is barring a lot of people from that access to residential services. In some cases, it misses the mark and can potentially be harmful,” he said.McDonald said the comprehensive service option is still available, but for adults with the highest needs such as being homeless or being a danger to themself. He said advocates are still trying to grasp the breadth of the impact the changes will bring.&nbsp;In some cases, it misses the mark and can be potentially harmful.– Edison McDonald, The Arc of NebraskaMcDonald said what advocates thought was an “intermediary” solution — the family support waiver offering up to $10,000 of services annually — appears possibly to be more of a “destination.” He also said the state’s system includes what advocates view as an outdated rate schedule for service providers.Alana Schriver, executive director of Nebraska Association of Service Providers, applauded the Pillen administration’s commitment overall. But she worries about the state rates allowed for service providers. Without better wages for more workers, she said, “this whole conversation is moot.”“If there is nobody to serve the people, what are we doing?”

End is near, Pillen says, for persistent ‘wait list’ for Nebraskans with developmental disabilities

LINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Nebraska’s credit rating has been boosted to an exceptional AAA rating by Moody’s. The credit rating agency cited Nebraska’s stable economy, conservative spending, low debit liability and financial flexibility in determining to upgrade the state’s credit rating.

“I praise Moody’s recognition of Nebraska’s strong economic position. &nbsp;The trajectory of our state’s economy and financial stability is better than ever,” said Governor Jim Pillen. “We must continue our work to deliver a strong fiscally conservative budget and rebalance our tax structure, so we are less dependent on soaring local property taxes.”

Nebraska already enjoys a Standard &amp; Poor’s bond rating of AAA, and the increase from Moody’s aligns the state’s bond rating across rating agencies. Moody’s increase means the state is seen as more credit worthy. The exceptional credit rating will help save the state money by reducing future borrowing costs for capital projects such as highway construction. It also increases the state’s financial reputation, which is likely to attract additional investment.

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Nebraska’s credit rating has been boosted to an exceptional AAA rating by Moody’s. The credit rating agency cited Nebraska’s stable economy, conservative spending, low debit liability and financial flexibility in determining to upgrade the state’s credit rating.“I praise Moody’s recognition of Nebraska’s strong economic position. &nbsp;The trajectory of our state’s economy and financial stability is better than ever,” said Governor Jim Pillen. “We must continue our work to deliver a strong fiscally conservative budget and rebalance our tax structure, so we are less dependent on soaring local property taxes.”Nebraska already enjoys a Standard &amp; Poor’s bond rating of AAA, and the increase from Moody’s aligns the state’s bond rating across rating agencies. Moody’s increase means the state is seen as more credit worthy. The exceptional credit rating will help save the state money by reducing future borrowing costs for capital projects such as highway construction. It also increases the state’s financial reputation, which is likely to attract additional investment.

Moody’s Increases Nebraska’s Bond Rating to AAA

LINCOLN, NE —&nbsp;Governor Jim Pillen, a strong defender of farmers and ranchers and Nebraska’s first governor to come from agriculture in over 100 years, praised the legislature for advancing LB 246 another step closer to becoming law.

“This is a major victory for Nebraska agriculture. The creation of this bioreactor meat is simply a dishonest attack on producers in our state — and has no place on Nebraska’s grocery shelves. Thank you to Senator DeKay for his leadership and to all the other senators who voted to advance this effort to protect producers and consumers.”

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE —&nbsp;Governor Jim Pillen, a strong defender of farmers and ranchers and Nebraska’s first governor to come from agriculture in over 100 years, praised the legislature for advancing LB 246 another step closer to becoming law.“This is a major victory for Nebraska agriculture. The creation of this bioreactor meat is simply a dishonest attack on producers in our state — and has no place on Nebraska’s grocery shelves. Thank you to Senator DeKay for his leadership and to all the other senators who voted to advance this effort to protect producers and consumers.”

Gov Pillen Comments on ‘Bioreactor’ Meat Legislation

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-unemployment-rate-reaches-3-mark-first-time-since-during-pandemic/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s unemployment rate has reached 3% according to the latest labor report, up from 2.6% a year ago.

The last time the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was at 3% was in December 2020. The rate for January was 2.9%.

Prior to the pandemic, Nebraska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was consistently around 3.0%, ranging from 2.8% to 3.2%.

Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate still remains among the lowest nationally, tying for fifth lowest in the recently released data that reflects February. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February is 4.1%, up from 3.9% a year earlier.

Labor Commissioner Katie Thurber said the uptick appears to be driven by an increase in the state labor force.

“When someone enters the labor force and begins searching for work, they are classified as unemployed until they find a job,” she said. “Both new entrants and re-entrants into the labor force were up in February, and Nebraska’s labor force is now at an all-time high of 1,077,890 participants.”

The number of employed and unemployed people in the labor force are based on a U.S. Census Bureau survey on employment status. Both individuals who are claiming unemployment benefits and those who are not claiming the benefits can be counted as unemployed based on their survey responses.

Those not working or seeking a job are not considered part of the labor force and are not included in the unemployment rate calculation.

The number of filled nonfarm jobs was 1,048,487 in February, up 6,569 over a year earlier. Private industries with the most growth over the past year were private education and health services (up 5,889 jobs) and mining and construction (up 1,803 jobs).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743450661978.jpeg" alt=" The last time the Nebraska unemployment rate was at 3% was in December 2020 during the pandemic. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Labor)" />
 <figcaption> The last time the Nebraska unemployment rate was at 3% was in December 2020 during the pandemic. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Labor)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-unemployment-rate-reaches-3-mark-first-time-since-during-pandemic/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska’s unemployment rate has reached 3% according to the latest labor report, up from 2.6% a year ago.The last time the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was at 3% was in December 2020. The rate for January was 2.9%.Prior to the pandemic, Nebraska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was consistently around 3.0%, ranging from 2.8% to 3.2%.Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate still remains among the lowest nationally, tying for fifth lowest in the recently released data that reflects February. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February is 4.1%, up from 3.9% a year earlier.Labor Commissioner Katie Thurber said the uptick appears to be driven by an increase in the state labor force.“When someone enters the labor force and begins searching for work, they are classified as unemployed until they find a job,” she said. “Both new entrants and re-entrants into the labor force were up in February, and Nebraska’s labor force is now at an all-time high of 1,077,890 participants.”The number of employed and unemployed people in the labor force are based on a U.S. Census Bureau survey on employment status. Both individuals who are claiming unemployment benefits and those who are not claiming the benefits can be counted as unemployed based on their survey responses.Those not working or seeking a job are not considered part of the labor force and are not included in the unemployment rate calculation.The number of filled nonfarm jobs was 1,048,487 in February, up 6,569 over a year earlier. Private industries with the most growth over the past year were private education and health services (up 5,889 jobs) and mining and construction (up 1,803 jobs).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743450692496.jpeg" alt=" (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Labor)" />
 <figcaption> (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Labor)</figcaption>
 </figure>

Nebraska unemployment rate reaches 3% mark, first time since during pandemic

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Last night, in a successful counter-terrorism operation with our allies in El Salvador, the United States military transferred a group of 17 violent criminals from the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 organizations, including murderers and rapists. In order to keep the American people…&mdash; Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio/status/1906684174020284784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Last night, in a joint military operation with our allies from the United States, we transferred 17 extremely dangerous criminals linked to Tren de Aragua and MS-13. All individuals are confirmed murderers and high-profile offenders, including six child rapists. This operation… <a href="https://t.co/Tk1Xq7vnuB">pic.twitter.com/Tk1Xq7vnuB</a>&mdash; Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) <a href="https://twitter.com/nayibbukele/status/1906703745158660177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥US deports more alleged gang members to El Salvador

Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen and Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) Deputy Director Levi Bennet honored Vietnam War period veterans at Nebraska’s annual Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“The soldiers who served in Vietnam made a huge impact that resonates to this day,” said Gov. Pillen. “Today’s ceremony was about acknowledging their sacrifices and letting them know that the people of Vietnam, the United States, and Nebraska are truly grateful for their service.”&nbsp;

During the ceremony, Governor Pillen signed a proclamation declaring March 29 “Vietnam War Veterans Day” in the state of Nebraska. Nationally, March 29 has been recognized as Vietnam War Veterans Day since 2017.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Nebraska remains dedicated to serving our veterans and their families,” said NDVA Deputy Director Bennett. “Recognition events like this are a great opportunity for our team to meet with veterans face-to-face and not only recognize them for their service but learn their needs and connect them with the benefits they’ve earned. It was an honor to be a part of today’s ceremony recognizing Nebraska’s Vietnam veterans.”&nbsp;

Over 150 people attended the ceremony, including 75 Vietnam veterans as well as family members, friends, and fellow veterans. Around 64,000 Nebraskans served during the Vietnam War, and the state is currently home to around 33,000 Vietnam-era veterans according to data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. Events are being held throughout the state—including at the four state veterans’ homes—to honor and recognize them for their service this week.&nbsp;

NDVA’s mission is to honor Nebraska veterans and their families by providing excellent service, assistance, and care. Its state service office helps veterans identify and access federal benefits, such as disability compensation and healthcare through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and state benefits, such as Nebraska Veterans Aid, tuition waivers, and more. 

Its four state veterans’ homes offer high quality assisted living and skilled nursing care to veterans and eligible family members across the state. And its cemetery system ensures eligible veterans receive an honorable final resting place maintained to the highest national standards. To learn more about NDVA and how it serves Nebraska’s veterans and their families, please visit <a href="https://veterans.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">veterans.nebraska.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743436377644.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Nebraska Department of Veterans' AffairsLINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen and Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) Deputy Director Levi Bennet honored Vietnam War period veterans at Nebraska’s annual Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony. &nbsp;&nbsp;“The soldiers who served in Vietnam made a huge impact that resonates to this day,” said Gov. Pillen. “Today’s ceremony was about acknowledging their sacrifices and letting them know that the people of Vietnam, the United States, and Nebraska are truly grateful for their service.”&nbsp;During the ceremony, Governor Pillen signed a proclamation declaring March 29 “Vietnam War Veterans Day” in the state of Nebraska. Nationally, March 29 has been recognized as Vietnam War Veterans Day since 2017.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Nebraska remains dedicated to serving our veterans and their families,” said NDVA Deputy Director Bennett. “Recognition events like this are a great opportunity for our team to meet with veterans face-to-face and not only recognize them for their service but learn their needs and connect them with the benefits they’ve earned. It was an honor to be a part of today’s ceremony recognizing Nebraska’s Vietnam veterans.”&nbsp;Over 150 people attended the ceremony, including 75 Vietnam veterans as well as family members, friends, and fellow veterans. Around 64,000 Nebraskans served during the Vietnam War, and the state is currently home to around 33,000 Vietnam-era veterans according to data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. Events are being held throughout the state—including at the four state veterans’ homes—to honor and recognize them for their service this week.&nbsp;NDVA’s mission is to honor Nebraska veterans and their families by providing excellent service, assistance, and care. Its state service office helps veterans identify and access federal benefits, such as disability compensation and healthcare through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and state benefits, such as Nebraska Veterans Aid, tuition waivers, and more. Its four state veterans’ homes offer high quality assisted living and skilled nursing care to veterans and eligible family members across the state. And its cemetery system ensures eligible veterans receive an honorable final resting place maintained to the highest national standards. To learn more about NDVA and how it serves Nebraska’s veterans and their families, please visit <a href="https://veterans.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">veterans.nebraska.gov</a>.

Governor Pillen, NDVA Honor Vietnam War Veterans at State Capitol Ceremony 

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/29/nebraska-lawmakers-explore-ways-to-stop-red-light-runners-and-reduce-highway-harm/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers are considering high-tech tools and new civil sanctions to make roads safer, including automated cameras that could send red light runners to a “stop” class or cost them money.

A pair of Omaha state senators on Friday laid out their respective bills to the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, both saying they were open to tweaks that would help green light the measures.

“We have had too many people die on roads, and I am interested in making this work,” State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington during a public hearing at the Capitol. “Let’s figure out a way.”

Nebraska had 251 traffic fatalities in 2024, the highest single-year total since 2007, which had 256, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

DeBoer’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59514&amp;docnum=LB600&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 600</a>&nbsp;in part would give the Transportation Department the power to set up speed-detecting systems in highway work zones and to lower speed limits in dangerous areas.

<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59421&amp;docnum=LB616&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 616,</a>&nbsp;introduced by State Sen. John Cavanaugh, would authorize the use of automatic license plate reader cameras for red light violations and provides for civil enforcement.

Cavanaugh said his goal was to create a noncriminal way to deter reckless driving on city streets. A violation would result in a civil fee that could be waived if the driver participated in a no-cost safety program he called a “rehabilitative stop” class.

Any fees paid by those who choose not to take the class would help cover someone else taking the class, he said.&nbsp;

No points would be assessed against the violator’s driver’s license. No warrant would be issued. If someone failed to pay the fee or complete the class, a charge would be assessed as a condition of renewing the vehicle’s registration.&nbsp;

Any evidence or information obtained from the camera is not to be used for any purpose other than that particular statute.

“Someone is not going to find themself incarcerated as a result of a red light camera,” Cavanaugh said, adding that the threat of jail should not be the only way to improve public safety.

Acknowledging that the bill needs work, Cavanaugh, a lawyer, chuckled that a pair of typically at-odds parties were unified in their objection to his bill. “That’s a real accomplishment,” he said of the alliance between the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska and the Nebraska Sheriffs Association.&nbsp;

Bryan Waugh, the Kearney police chief, spoke on behalf of the Nebraska Sheriffs and Police Associations. He said cameras can be helpful in fighting violent and property crime and in alerts for missing persons — and said his city has 28 in use.

But Waugh does not think they are intended for “minor traffic or parking violations.”

“While we appreciate the focus on traffic safety, we believe intermingling this technology for traffic enforcement may negatively impact the effective use of the technology for crime prevention, solving crime and keeping the community safe from crime,” he said.

Waugh said his research shows that cameras targeting red light runners could increase the likelihood of a traffic collision, if people slam on their brakes to avoid getting caught.

Spike Eickholt, representing the ACLU and the Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, expressed concerns about license plate reader companies and how they “harvest, collect and sell” license plate data.

His bigger worry, he said, is that traffic infractions in Nebraska are criminal in nature and that those charged or cited have rights, including to a trial.

“I don’t think that the Legislature can make something that is criminal, civil, just due to the enforcement mechanism that happens to be different than an officer actually observing a red light violation and writing a citation,” Eickholt said.

Supporters of the change included Timothy Adams, an engineer specializing in roadway safety. He told the committee that 80 people died in the Lincoln and Omaha areas alone at signalized intersections over the past five years.

“These cameras serve as a strong deterrent leading to long term behavioral changes that make our roads safe.”

DeBoer said a multifaceted LB 600 aims to improve safety around highway worker construction areas and at-risk spots and intersections.

As written, DeBoer said, the law would empower the Transportation Department to assess administrative civil penalties to the registered owner of a vehicle recorded by special technology traveling at excessive speed through a marked area.&nbsp;

For a highway work zone, that threshold would be eleven miles per hour or more over the speed limit. The first offense would be a warning. A second offense within three years would be $75. She said she is open to considering a criminal violation route.

Vicki Kramer, director of the state Department of Transportation, supported the bill.

She told the committee that in 2024, Nebraska’s roadway fatality count spiked to a 17-year high, despite national statistics for crashes trending down. She said that motivated the department to research counter measures. Among the department’s recommendations, she said, were speed safety cameras or devices in work areas and variable speed limits in danger zones.

“The provisions are not intended to generate revenue, but to influence driver behavior,” she said.

The Judiciary Committee did not take action on either bill.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743435788353.jpeg" alt="Nebraska lawmakers are looking at new ways to improve safety on Nebraska roads. Onramps lead both directions on Interstate 80 from 13th Street on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Omaha. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska lawmakers are looking at new ways to improve safety on Nebraska roads. Onramps lead both directions on Interstate 80 from 13th Street on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Omaha. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/29/nebraska-lawmakers-explore-ways-to-stop-red-light-runners-and-reduce-highway-harm/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers are considering high-tech tools and new civil sanctions to make roads safer, including automated cameras that could send red light runners to a “stop” class or cost them money.A pair of Omaha state senators on Friday laid out their respective bills to the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, both saying they were open to tweaks that would help green light the measures.“We have had too many people die on roads, and I am interested in making this work,” State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington during a public hearing at the Capitol. “Let’s figure out a way.”<h2>Record pace</h2>Nebraska had 251 traffic fatalities in 2024, the highest single-year total since 2007, which had 256, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.DeBoer’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59514&amp;docnum=LB600&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 600</a>&nbsp;in part would give the Transportation Department the power to set up speed-detecting systems in highway work zones and to lower speed limits in dangerous areas.<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59421&amp;docnum=LB616&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 616,</a>&nbsp;introduced by State Sen. John Cavanaugh, would authorize the use of automatic license plate reader cameras for red light violations and provides for civil enforcement.Cavanaugh said his goal was to create a noncriminal way to deter reckless driving on city streets. A violation would result in a civil fee that could be waived if the driver participated in a no-cost safety program he called a “rehabilitative stop” class.Any fees paid by those who choose not to take the class would help cover someone else taking the class, he said.&nbsp;No points would be assessed against the violator’s driver’s license. No warrant would be issued. If someone failed to pay the fee or complete the class, a charge would be assessed as a condition of renewing the vehicle’s registration.&nbsp;Any evidence or information obtained from the camera is not to be used for any purpose other than that particular statute.“Someone is not going to find themself incarcerated as a result of a red light camera,” Cavanaugh said, adding that the threat of jail should not be the only way to improve public safety.Acknowledging that the bill needs work, Cavanaugh, a lawyer, chuckled that a pair of typically at-odds parties were unified in their objection to his bill. “That’s a real accomplishment,” he said of the alliance between the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska and the Nebraska Sheriffs Association.&nbsp;<h2>‘Harvest, collect and sell’</h2>Bryan Waugh, the Kearney police chief, spoke on behalf of the Nebraska Sheriffs and Police Associations. He said cameras can be helpful in fighting violent and property crime and in alerts for missing persons — and said his city has 28 in use.But Waugh does not think they are intended for “minor traffic or parking violations.”“While we appreciate the focus on traffic safety, we believe intermingling this technology for traffic enforcement may negatively impact the effective use of the technology for crime prevention, solving crime and keeping the community safe from crime,” he said.Waugh said his research shows that cameras targeting red light runners could increase the likelihood of a traffic collision, if people slam on their brakes to avoid getting caught.Spike Eickholt, representing the ACLU and the Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, expressed concerns about license plate reader companies and how they “harvest, collect and sell” license plate data.His bigger worry, he said, is that traffic infractions in Nebraska are criminal in nature and that those charged or cited have rights, including to a trial.“I don’t think that the Legislature can make something that is criminal, civil, just due to the enforcement mechanism that happens to be different than an officer actually observing a red light violation and writing a citation,” Eickholt said.<h2>Behavioral change</h2>Supporters of the change included Timothy Adams, an engineer specializing in roadway safety. He told the committee that 80 people died in the Lincoln and Omaha areas alone at signalized intersections over the past five years.“These cameras serve as a strong deterrent leading to long term behavioral changes that make our roads safe.”DeBoer said a multifaceted LB 600 aims to improve safety around highway worker construction areas and at-risk spots and intersections.As written, DeBoer said, the law would empower the Transportation Department to assess administrative civil penalties to the registered owner of a vehicle recorded by special technology traveling at excessive speed through a marked area.&nbsp;For a highway work zone, that threshold would be eleven miles per hour or more over the speed limit. The first offense would be a warning. A second offense within three years would be $75. She said she is open to considering a criminal violation route.<h2>17-year high</h2>Vicki Kramer, director of the state Department of Transportation, supported the bill.She told the committee that in 2024, Nebraska’s roadway fatality count spiked to a 17-year high, despite national statistics for crashes trending down. She said that motivated the department to research counter measures. Among the department’s recommendations, she said, were speed safety cameras or devices in work areas and variable speed limits in danger zones.“The provisions are not intended to generate revenue, but to influence driver behavior,” she said.The Judiciary Committee did not take action on either bill.

Nebraska lawmakers explore ways to stop red light runners and reduce highway harm 

WASHINGTON — Extensive coordination and cooperation efforts between the U.S. Department of Justice and law enforcement authorities in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom resulted in the extraditions this month of alleged murderers, a child rapist, an MS-13 leader, an alien smuggler, Colombian drug traffickers, a Russian cybercriminal, a Nigerian fraudster, and an immigration scammer.

“The dedicated, persistent work of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs with foreign partners resulted in the extradition of fugitives wanted in the United States for violent crimes,” said Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Matthew R. Galeotti. “The Justice Department will aggressively pursue and bring to justice in the United States transnational criminals and hold them accountable for the death and violence they have committed here and abroad.”

The fugitives extradited to the United States in March 2025 include:

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions along with the U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department thanks and acknowledges the instrumental role of its law enforcement partners in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom for making these extraditions possible.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743426246375.jpeg" alt="united states department of justice.jpg" />
 <figcaption>united states department of justice.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. Department of JusticeWASHINGTON — Extensive coordination and cooperation efforts between the U.S. Department of Justice and law enforcement authorities in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom resulted in the extraditions this month of alleged murderers, a child rapist, an MS-13 leader, an alien smuggler, Colombian drug traffickers, a Russian cybercriminal, a Nigerian fraudster, and an immigration scammer.“The dedicated, persistent work of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs with foreign partners resulted in the extradition of fugitives wanted in the United States for violent crimes,” said Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Matthew R. Galeotti. “The Justice Department will aggressively pursue and bring to justice in the United States transnational criminals and hold them accountable for the death and violence they have committed here and abroad.”The fugitives extradited to the United States in March 2025 include:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.dhs.gov%2Fnews%2F2025%2F03%2F21%2Fillegal-alien-extradited-honduras-face-justice-alleged-killing-sarah-root%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/VJ2bW2MkOLdwAJ6c_JN9AeWIlPxPhfCLeyrDfj_Cs5w=398" target="_blank">Eswin Mejia</a>, 28, was extradited from Honduras to face charges of vehicular homicide and failure to appear in court for the January 2016 killing of 21-year-old Sarah Root in Douglas County, Nebraska. Mejia was arrested and released on bond in February 2016 and subsequently fled the country to evade prosecution by the Douglas County Attorney’s Office.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fopa%2Fpr%2Ftwo-men-convicted-and-third-extradited-guatemala-united-states-involvement-2022-mass%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/FUzALxF1HGByMYrTC9qBucxDtjp9_UgJ0M8rSItcoFY=398" target="_blank">Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco</a>, 48, an alleged leader of a Guatemala-based alien smuggling organization, was extradited from Guatemala to face charges in the Western District of Texas for his alleged role in the June 2022 San Antonio mass casualty incident that resulted in the death of 53 Guatemalan, Honduran, and Mexican nationals, including children, and the injury of 11 others.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fopa%2Fpr%2Falleged-international-leader-ms-13-extradited-rico-charge%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/Od6yFOkxKQ3-SfvCHRRxHhXDPrW6POKIsT_-_CR8a7M=398" target="_blank">Moises Humberto Rivera Luna</a>, 55, an alleged international leader of the violent gang MS-13, was extradited from Guatemala to face racketeering conspiracy charges in the District of Columbia regarding racketeering activities to include murder, narcotics distribution, extortion, robberies, obstruction of justice, and other crimes.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.saltlakecounty.gov%2Fdistrict-attorney%2FMedia%2Fman-charged-in-2018-for-child-rape-extradited-from-spain%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/5K-DNb0GcM29uVXGLRTl0JyBNweShvnlT7Dj4IW95Bo=398" target="_blank">Carlos Espino Farfan</a>, 36, was extradited from Spain to face charges of first-degree felony rape of a child and first-degree felony sodomy upon a child filed by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-mdfl%2Fpr%2Fformer-colombian-navy-personnel-extradited-united-states-their-role-selling-locations%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/CUGCaApBy-MsRd26koPVYchnPyNxVQKnb5t6vI0Qf00=398" target="_blank">Jair Alberto Alvarez Valenzuela</a>, 54, and Luis&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-mdfl%2Fpr%2Fformer-colombian-navy-personnel-extradited-united-states-their-role-selling-locations%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/2/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/yZ9dBugocG7cJDr-iDpHW_BnPuNRsVKLi5cruH6qWMA=398" target="_blank">Carlos Diaz Martinez</a>, 32, former Colombian Navy personnel were extradited to face charges in the Middle District of Florida for their alleged role in selling locations of Colombian Navy drug interdiction vessels to international drug traffickers.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fx.com%2FRentonpdWA%2Fstatus%2F1899610886953975924%2Fphoto%2F1%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/AGoNfoHDY7EYymqMCv0XVvfH0xyFzZ-yLz1lCRZpLRc=398" target="_blank">Louie Hernandez</a>, 61, was extradited from Mexico to face charges in King County, Washington, of first-degree murder in connection with the February 2024 fatal shooting of his alleged estranged partner, Reyna Hernandez.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.sjpd.org%2FHome%2FComponents%2FNews%2FNews%2F2166%2F262%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/L9sp1VkkXZXY6PRNtRvyfXlkjIfn1lP-lX-dQKoqgNA=398" target="_blank">Juan Ramirez</a>, 37, was extradited from Mexico to face charges in Santa Clara, California, for the March 22, 2013, fatal stabbing of 29-year-old Sandra Cruzes-Gonsalez.</li><li>Solomon Sincler Gheorghe, 20, an Irish national, was extradited from France to face charges in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, of felony death by motor vehicle and felony serious injury by vehicle. Gheorghe is alleged to have been impaired by alcohol and drugs when he caused a multi-vehicle wreck on Sept. 20, 2023, resulting in the deaths of two adults and a 12-year-old boy, and with injury to others.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-nj%2Fpr%2Fdual-russian-and-israeli-national-extradited-united-states-his-role-lockbit-ransomware%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/TCOKQ83gwkuli_YN4i44qly4CskjwBeI7rFwY0FJfN0=398" target="_blank">Rostislav Panev</a>, 51, a dual Russian and Israeli national, was extradited from Israel to faces charges in the District of New Jersey for his alleged role as a developer for the LockBit ransomware group from its inception in or around 2019 through at least February 2024. The LockBit group has attacked more than 2,500 victims in at least 120 countries around the world, including 1,800 in the United States.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-sdny%2Fpr%2Fdominican-national-extradited-murder-narcotics-and-firearms-charges-0%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/pi6Nvi30fFVxuGWPJ8f1HxuOcdluxZK-MkWs84BxiHE=398" target="_blank">Marco Tulio Fernandez-Rodriguez</a>, 24, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was extradited from the Dominican Republic to face charges in the Southern District of New York of murder, narcotics, and firearms in connection with his alleged role in an attempted gunpoint robbery of a Mount Vernon, New York, warehouse&nbsp;that sold various unlicensed marijuana and nicotine products. Two people — one employee of the warehouse and one member of the roughly 15-man robbery crew — were shot and killed during the failed robbery attempt.&nbsp;</li><li>Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, 41, a Nigerian national, was extradited from the United Kingdom to face charges in the Southern District of Florida for allegedly engaging in a transnational criminal organization that operated an inheritance fraud scheme targeting elder U.S. consumers.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-wdnc%2Fpr%2Fforeign-national-extradited-spain-face-charges-alleged-international-tech-support%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/wLV1bvDYDPg-KYPvGRjjxBncqZO9up1N9bkMKdh6G2k=398" target="_blank">Bikramjit Ahluwalia</a>, 39, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates living in Dubai, was extradited from Spain to face charges in the Western District of North Carolina of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to damage a protected computer, and wire fraud for his alleged role in an extensive tech support fraud scheme.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-ndca%2Fpr%2Fsan-jose-immigration-lawyer-extradited-kyrgyz-republic-face-charges-large-scale-visa%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/gCwmDOu3doGf3ZuPcbmXWP1D0HV-tAeQ4xl_GNqolf8=398" target="_blank">Danhong “Jean” Chen</a>, also known as Maria Sofia Taylor, 60, a San Jose, California, immigration attorney, was extradited from the Kyrgyz Republic to face charges in the Northern District of California for allegedly committing visa fraud and related crimes to obtain immigration benefits for more than 100 foreign investors through the government’s Employment-Based Immigration Fifth Preference, or “EB-5,” visa program. Chen is the first extradition from the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States on federal criminal charges.</li>
 </ul>The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions along with the U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department thanks and acknowledges the instrumental role of its law enforcement partners in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom for making these extraditions possible.An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

United States Secures Extradition of More Than a Dozen Fugitives from 10 Countries

WIESBADEN, Germany —The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the four missing U.S. Soldiers were operating during a training exercise has been located in Lithuania, according to a media release from U.S. Army.

 The vehicle was discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area after a search by U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces and other Lithuanian authorities. Recovery efforts are underway by U.S. Army and Lithuanian Armed Forces and civilian agencies.

Search efforts for the Soldiers continue.

The Soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident. We will provide further updates as new information becomes available.

The 3rd Inf. Div. is continuing to keep families of the Soldiers informed on the status of search efforts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743415329786.png" alt="In this image provided by the U.S. Army, U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, along with Lithuanian Army and emergency services personnel, discuss their plan to recover four U.S. soldiers in a U.S. Army M88 Hercules submerged under several meters of water in a swamp near a training area near Pabadre, Lithuania, Thursday, March 27, 2025. Christopher Saundersn/U.S. Army&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>In this image provided by the U.S. Army, U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, along with Lithuanian Army and emergency services personnel, discuss their plan to recover four U.S. soldiers in a U.S. Army M88 Hercules submerged under several meters of water in a swamp near a training area near Pabadre, Lithuania, Thursday, March 27, 2025. Christopher Saundersn/U.S. Army&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WIESBADEN, Germany —The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the four missing U.S. Soldiers were operating during a training exercise has been located in Lithuania, according to a media release from U.S. Army. The vehicle was discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area after a search by U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces and other Lithuanian authorities. Recovery efforts are underway by U.S. Army and Lithuanian Armed Forces and civilian agencies.Search efforts for the Soldiers continue.The Soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident. We will provide further updates as new information becomes available.The 3rd Inf. Div. is continuing to keep families of the Soldiers informed on the status of search efforts.

Mystery: US Army vehicle pulled from swamp in Lithuania; soldiers still missing

Harley Salway III is still actively being sought by surrounding law enforcement.

The Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BBCSO) would like to clarify recent events surrounding the inadvertent release of inmate Harley Salway III. First, we would like to thank neighboring law enforcement agencies, specifically the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Office, for their assistance and to encourage public cooperation in the ongoing effort to locate Salway.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of law enforcement, situations occasionally arise that require the collaboration of multiple agencies. The BBCSO expresses gratitude towards the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Office for lending support to smaller agencies when needed. This collaboration is essential in ensuring resources are available for housing and services that may exceed the capacities of smaller law enforcement agencies. 

This incident involving the unintended release of Harley Salway III, clarifying that the responsibility for this incident does not rest with the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Office. BBCSO failed to inform Scotts Bluff County of another case in which Salway was still remanded to law enforcement custody with a bond order in place. BBCSO emphasizes the importance of public understanding regarding the complexities of law enforcement operations and the need for community support rather than blame.

The BBCSO has acknowledged the crucial role of the community in law enforcement efforts, especially during incidents such as the one involving Salway. BBCSO would like to highlight the importance of receiving tips from the public, which can significantly aid in the rapid apprehension of individuals involved in criminal activities. To facilitate this, individuals are encouraged to report any information regarding Salway's whereabouts to their appropriate law enforcement agencies. 

Several law enforcement agencies have received several valuable tips from concerned citizens, which demonstrates the community's willingness to collaborate with law enforcement. This active participation from the public is vital, as it not only assists in specific cases but also promotes a safer environment for everyone.

The Box Butte County Sheriff's Office is urging citizens to continue their support for law enforcement and corrections officers. The statement underscores the challenging nature of the work undertaken by these professionals, work that often goes unnoticed by the general public. To ensure the swift apprehension of Harley Salway III, the BBCSO has provided direct contact information for citizens to report any tips. Individuals can contact the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office at (308) 762-6464 or the Alliance Police Department at (308) 762-4955. Any information leading to Salway’s apprehension will be greatly appreciated and will not go unnoticed.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of communication and collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the community. By fostering an open dialogue and offering support, citizens can play a significant role in maintaining public safety. The Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to working with the community and values the cooperation that has been demonstrated thus far. Together, through continued support and shared information, the safety and well-being of the community can and will be collectively safeguarded.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743132954532.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Box Butte County Sheriff's OfficeHarley Salway III is still actively being sought by surrounding law enforcement.The Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BBCSO) would like to clarify recent events surrounding the inadvertent release of inmate Harley Salway III. First, we would like to thank neighboring law enforcement agencies, specifically the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Office, for their assistance and to encourage public cooperation in the ongoing effort to locate Salway.In the rapidly evolving landscape of law enforcement, situations occasionally arise that require the collaboration of multiple agencies. The BBCSO expresses gratitude towards the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Office for lending support to smaller agencies when needed. This collaboration is essential in ensuring resources are available for housing and services that may exceed the capacities of smaller law enforcement agencies. This incident involving the unintended release of Harley Salway III, clarifying that the responsibility for this incident does not rest with the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Office. BBCSO failed to inform Scotts Bluff County of another case in which Salway was still remanded to law enforcement custody with a bond order in place. BBCSO emphasizes the importance of public understanding regarding the complexities of law enforcement operations and the need for community support rather than blame.The BBCSO has acknowledged the crucial role of the community in law enforcement efforts, especially during incidents such as the one involving Salway. BBCSO would like to highlight the importance of receiving tips from the public, which can significantly aid in the rapid apprehension of individuals involved in criminal activities. To facilitate this, individuals are encouraged to report any information regarding Salway's whereabouts to their appropriate law enforcement agencies. Several law enforcement agencies have received several valuable tips from concerned citizens, which demonstrates the community's willingness to collaborate with law enforcement. This active participation from the public is vital, as it not only assists in specific cases but also promotes a safer environment for everyone.The Box Butte County Sheriff's Office is urging citizens to continue their support for law enforcement and corrections officers. The statement underscores the challenging nature of the work undertaken by these professionals, work that often goes unnoticed by the general public. To ensure the swift apprehension of Harley Salway III, the BBCSO has provided direct contact information for citizens to report any tips. Individuals can contact the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office at (308) 762-6464 or the Alliance Police Department at (308) 762-4955. Any information leading to Salway’s apprehension will be greatly appreciated and will not go unnoticed.This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of communication and collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the community. By fostering an open dialogue and offering support, citizens can play a significant role in maintaining public safety. The Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to working with the community and values the cooperation that has been demonstrated thus far. Together, through continued support and shared information, the safety and well-being of the community can and will be collectively safeguarded.

Panhandle man still at large following unintended release from jail 

In the early morning hours of Monday, March 24, 2025, Miguel Colin Tirado, age 40, of Alliance NE, suffered what appeared to be a medical emergency while in custody at the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center.&nbsp; Mr. Tirado was detained as a courtesy hold on several charges for Box Butte County, NE.

Multiple officers responded immediately and provided lifesaving measures.&nbsp;

Regional West Ambulance and the Gering Volunteer Fire Department also responded.&nbsp; Mr. Tirado was transported to Regional West Medical Center, where he was later pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

Nebraska statutes require a grand jury investigation into all in-custody deaths.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Nebraska State Patrol is in charge of the investigation.

By Scottsbluff Co. Attorney Dave EubanksIn the early morning hours of Monday, March 24, 2025, Miguel Colin Tirado, age 40, of Alliance NE, suffered what appeared to be a medical emergency while in custody at the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center.&nbsp; Mr. Tirado was detained as a courtesy hold on several charges for Box Butte County, NE.Multiple officers responded immediately and provided lifesaving measures.&nbsp;Regional West Ambulance and the Gering Volunteer Fire Department also responded.&nbsp; Mr. Tirado was transported to Regional West Medical Center, where he was later pronounced deceased.&nbsp;Nebraska statutes require a grand jury investigation into all in-custody deaths.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Nebraska State Patrol is in charge of the investigation.

Panhandle man dies following medical emergency at Scotts Bluff Co. Detention Center

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen took another step in protecting and preserving Nebraska’s vital water resources. Speaking to executive-level members, he kicked off the first meeting of the Water Quality and Quantity Task Force.

“We have tremendous opportunity through this group to initiate actions that will impact Nebraska for generations to come,” said Gov. Pillen. “For years, water policy in this state has been largely reactive. Now, we have the knowledge and technology in place to be proactive in how we approach issues that impact our farmers, our industries and our communities.”

These core members, appointed by the Governor, represent a cross-section of interests and industries:

Jesse Bradley, Interim Director, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of Environment and Energy (DEE)

Matt Manning, Engineer, Department of Natural Resources

Marty Stange, Environmental Supervisor, City of Hastings

Brandon Hunnicutt, Chairman, Nebraska Corn Board

Don Batie, Past-President of the Natural Resources Commission and farmer

Dean Settje, Founder &amp; President, Settje Agri-Services

Scott Schaneman, General Manager of the North Platte Natural Resources District

Additional members will be added in the coming weeks, creating a team of about 20 – 25 people. In addition to water quality and quantity, an inter-related issue is education. Members of the group say they want to encourage increased adoption of technologies and solutions for handling water issues, especially in agriculture.

Over the next 12 to 15 months, the group will meet to identify short, mid, and long-term goals and accompanying action items to be pursued. To better focus on specific issues, members may break down into smaller subgroups.

“Our water is our holy grail because of the Ogallala Aquifer,” noted Gov. Pillen. “We must be smart about how we use our water and keep it as clean and contaminate free as possible. Only then, will we be able to meet all necessary demands.”

Gov. Pillen announced the creation of the Water Quality and Quantity Task Force when he testified on LB317. That bill, brought on his behalf by Senator Tom Brandt, calls for the merger of the Department of Environment and Energy (DEE) with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in part, to bring more meaningful and streamlined oversight around water use.

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen took another step in protecting and preserving Nebraska’s vital water resources. Speaking to executive-level members, he kicked off the first meeting of the Water Quality and Quantity Task Force.“We have tremendous opportunity through this group to initiate actions that will impact Nebraska for generations to come,” said Gov. Pillen. “For years, water policy in this state has been largely reactive. Now, we have the knowledge and technology in place to be proactive in how we approach issues that impact our farmers, our industries and our communities.”These core members, appointed by the Governor, represent a cross-section of interests and industries:Jesse Bradley, Interim Director, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of Environment and Energy (DEE)Matt Manning, Engineer, Department of Natural ResourcesMarty Stange, Environmental Supervisor, City of HastingsBrandon Hunnicutt, Chairman, Nebraska Corn BoardDon Batie, Past-President of the Natural Resources Commission and farmerDean Settje, Founder &amp; President, Settje Agri-ServicesScott Schaneman, General Manager of the North Platte Natural Resources DistrictAdditional members will be added in the coming weeks, creating a team of about 20 – 25 people. In addition to water quality and quantity, an inter-related issue is education. Members of the group say they want to encourage increased adoption of technologies and solutions for handling water issues, especially in agriculture.Over the next 12 to 15 months, the group will meet to identify short, mid, and long-term goals and accompanying action items to be pursued. To better focus on specific issues, members may break down into smaller subgroups.“Our water is our holy grail because of the Ogallala Aquifer,” noted Gov. Pillen. “We must be smart about how we use our water and keep it as clean and contaminate free as possible. Only then, will we be able to meet all necessary demands.”Gov. Pillen announced the creation of the Water Quality and Quantity Task Force when he testified on LB317. That bill, brought on his behalf by Senator Tom Brandt, calls for the merger of the Department of Environment and Energy (DEE) with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in part, to bring more meaningful and streamlined oversight around water use.

Gov. Pillen Kicks Off First Water Quality & Quantity Task Force Meeting

Lincoln – Attorney General Hilgers&nbsp;is urging consumers to check their eligibility for compensation for certain generic drug purchases as Nebraska&nbsp;joins 50 states and territories in seeking preliminary approval for a $39.1 million settlement with generic drug manufacturer Apotex over conspiracy to inflate prices and limit competition.

Attorney General Hilgers and the multistate coalition previously announced the settlement in principle with Apotex last fall along with a $10 million settlement with Heritage Pharmaceuticals. At the time of that announcement, the settlement with Apotex was conditioned on the signatures of all necessary states and territories. Those signatures have been obtained, and the coalition filed the settlement in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford.

If you purchased a generic prescription drug&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.aggenericdrugs.com/Portals/0/Document*20Files/documents/HeritageDrugList.pdf__;JQ!!Ke5ujdWW74OM!9CLeJCJimOOSJXjNPv0abM-OPbie0J892tX431LerjhuI3wFnLYY29xVPh0w9DSt_31ajuI5ZEFvJBs--XSKwiytvHjsEGs$">listed here&nbsp;</a>between&nbsp;May 2009 and December 2019, you may be eligible for compensation. To determine your eligibility, call 1-866-290-0182 (Toll-Free), email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@AGGenericDrugs.com">info@AGGenericDrugs.com</a>&nbsp;or visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.aggenericdrugs.com/__;!!Ke5ujdWW74OM!9CLeJCJimOOSJXjNPv0abM-OPbie0J892tX431LerjhuI3wFnLYY29xVPh0w9DSt_31ajuI5ZEFvJBs--XSKwiyt0Z_OdBM$">www.AGGenericDrugs.com</a>.

The settlement agreements resolve allegations that both Apotex and Heritage engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade with regard to numerous generic prescription drugs.

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico joined in the announcement.

Attorney General's officeLincoln – Attorney General Hilgers&nbsp;is urging consumers to check their eligibility for compensation for certain generic drug purchases as Nebraska&nbsp;joins 50 states and territories in seeking preliminary approval for a $39.1 million settlement with generic drug manufacturer Apotex over conspiracy to inflate prices and limit competition.Attorney General Hilgers and the multistate coalition previously announced the settlement in principle with Apotex last fall along with a $10 million settlement with Heritage Pharmaceuticals. At the time of that announcement, the settlement with Apotex was conditioned on the signatures of all necessary states and territories. Those signatures have been obtained, and the coalition filed the settlement in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford.If you purchased a generic prescription drug&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.aggenericdrugs.com/Portals/0/Document*20Files/documents/HeritageDrugList.pdf__;JQ!!Ke5ujdWW74OM!9CLeJCJimOOSJXjNPv0abM-OPbie0J892tX431LerjhuI3wFnLYY29xVPh0w9DSt_31ajuI5ZEFvJBs--XSKwiytvHjsEGs$">listed here&nbsp;</a>between&nbsp;May 2009 and December 2019, you may be eligible for compensation. To determine your eligibility, call 1-866-290-0182 (Toll-Free), email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@AGGenericDrugs.com">info@AGGenericDrugs.com</a>&nbsp;or visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.aggenericdrugs.com/__;!!Ke5ujdWW74OM!9CLeJCJimOOSJXjNPv0abM-OPbie0J892tX431LerjhuI3wFnLYY29xVPh0w9DSt_31ajuI5ZEFvJBs--XSKwiyt0Z_OdBM$">www.AGGenericDrugs.com</a>.The settlement agreements resolve allegations that both Apotex and Heritage engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade with regard to numerous generic prescription drugs.Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico joined in the announcement.

Attorney General Hilgers Urges Consumers to Check Eligibility for Compensation for Inflated Generic Drug Prices

Lincoln - Today, Attorney General Hilgers joined numerous leaders and statewide organizations to announce the launch of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://securethegoodlife.nebraska.gov/">SecureTheGoodLife.Nebraska.gov</a>,&nbsp;a website designed to help recruit talent for law enforcement and prosecution offices across Nebraska.

Since taking office, Attorney General Hilgers traveled across the state to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/news/attorney-general-mike-hilgers-december-column-miles-across-nebraska-what-i-learned-visiting-law">all 93 counties</a>,&nbsp;meeting with law enforcement and county attorneys. In 2024, he and his staff hosted regional roundtable discussions. During these meetings, many agencies expressed challenges in recruiting across Greater Nebraska. Secure The Good Life is designed to answer those expressed needs.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers seeks to amplify the high calling of those serving in law enforcement and cast a vision for those who would consider public service.

“Today’s launch of the Secure The&nbsp;Good Life site is exciting. People are craving the opportunity for professional and personal fulfillment, where they can make a difference and spend quality time with their families or in the outdoors. Serving in law enforcement in Greater Nebraska is a great way to do both. We have amazing public servants making a real difference, and we have opportunities for others to join them. The Secure the Good Life site will help elevate their stories and show others how they can do it too,” stated Attorney General Mike Hilgers. “This effort will be an important part of our strategic, statewide effort to recruit the next generation of law enforcement professionals.”

This website shares real stories of the hometown heroes serving our Greater Nebraska communities. Narratives told by county attorneys, police chiefs, and sheriffs voicing what they love about their communities and why they choose to serve in Nebraska. The next generation of those called to serve in Nebraska will be inspired by hearing the personal stories shared.

Secure The Good Life also links to available job openings in law enforcement and prosecution careers through the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ncc.nebraska.gov/law-enforcement-job-listings">Nebraska Crime Commission</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://necaa.org/jobs/">Nebraska County Attorneys Association</a>.

General Attorney OfficeLincoln - Today, Attorney General Hilgers joined numerous leaders and statewide organizations to announce the launch of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://securethegoodlife.nebraska.gov/">SecureTheGoodLife.Nebraska.gov</a>,&nbsp;a website designed to help recruit talent for law enforcement and prosecution offices across Nebraska.Since taking office, Attorney General Hilgers traveled across the state to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/news/attorney-general-mike-hilgers-december-column-miles-across-nebraska-what-i-learned-visiting-law">all 93 counties</a>,&nbsp;meeting with law enforcement and county attorneys. In 2024, he and his staff hosted regional roundtable discussions. During these meetings, many agencies expressed challenges in recruiting across Greater Nebraska. Secure The Good Life is designed to answer those expressed needs.Attorney General Mike Hilgers seeks to amplify the high calling of those serving in law enforcement and cast a vision for those who would consider public service.“Today’s launch of the Secure The&nbsp;Good Life site is exciting. People are craving the opportunity for professional and personal fulfillment, where they can make a difference and spend quality time with their families or in the outdoors. Serving in law enforcement in Greater Nebraska is a great way to do both. We have amazing public servants making a real difference, and we have opportunities for others to join them. The Secure the Good Life site will help elevate their stories and show others how they can do it too,” stated Attorney General Mike Hilgers. “This effort will be an important part of our strategic, statewide effort to recruit the next generation of law enforcement professionals.”This website shares real stories of the hometown heroes serving our Greater Nebraska communities. Narratives told by county attorneys, police chiefs, and sheriffs voicing what they love about their communities and why they choose to serve in Nebraska. The next generation of those called to serve in Nebraska will be inspired by hearing the personal stories shared.Secure The Good Life also links to available job openings in law enforcement and prosecution careers through the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ncc.nebraska.gov/law-enforcement-job-listings">Nebraska Crime Commission</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://necaa.org/jobs/">Nebraska County Attorneys Association</a>.The Attorney General’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/">website</a>,&nbsp;alongside many partnering agencies and organizations, will promote the website with a unified logo, helping to drive traffic from the public to the recruiting website.Statements from Nebraska’s Federal DelegationSenator Deb Fischer“Nebraska is a great place to live, work, and raise a family because of the law enforcement officers and prosecutors who keep our communities safe; however, staffing shortages across our state have made that harder. I look forward to seeing ‘Secure the Good Life’ celebrate our hometown heroes while encouraging others to help make the ‘Good Life’ even better.”&nbsp;Senator Pete Ricketts“Nebraska’s law enforcement officers are the backbone of our communities. We must do all we can to recruit and support those who protect us. This resource will connect dedicated individuals with opportunities to serve across our state. It will help showcase the Good Life so we can keep the Good Life secure.”Congressman Don Bacon“Recently, our law enforcement agencies and county attorney offices have had a difficult time recruiting new hires and this website is a much-needed tool to recruit the best of the best. Our law enforcement officers and county attorney staff are vital to the safety and security of our communities, and we must find ways to support them as they continue to do their duties and protect us all.”Congressman Mike Flood“Nebraska is working to get the word out that we’re the best place in the nation to work as a law enforcement officer. Thanks to Attorney General Hilgers to launching this new effort to fill vacant law enforcement jobs across the state. Recruiting the next generation of peace officers will take all hands on&nbsp;deck, and this Secure the Good Life initiative is a great step towards achieving this goal.”Congressman Adrian Smith“Communities across Nebraska are not only great places to live, they&nbsp;provide promising opportunities for professionals with a calling to public service. I commend Attorney General Hilgers for this effort to reinforce the indispensable work of local law enforcement and prosecutorial offices in our state. Ensuring talented young people are aware of the benefits of living and working in such roles in Nebraska is critical for our future.”Partnering Organizations and AgenciesNebraska Association of County OfficialsNebraska Chamber of Commerce &amp; IndustryNebraska County Attorneys AssociationNebraska League of MunicipalitiesNebraska Sheriff's AssociationPolice Chiefs Association of NebraskaPolice Officers Association of Nebraska