LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen has joined a letter directed to President Joe Biden, asking for immediate action to address a shortage of intravenous (IV) and peritoneal dialysis solutions. Recommendations include working with the FDA to find appropriate and trusted international manufacturers, removing barriers for importation, and taking necessary steps to prevent price gouging. The moves, say the group of governors, are designed to “address a crisis that will certainly contribute to harm and potential deaths of Americans.”

The current shortage of IV solutions resulted from the closure of the Baxter International Plant in Marion, N.C. due to Hurricane Helene. That facility produces approximately 60% of IV solutions and peritoneal dialysis solutions used across the nation. The letter calls out the Biden Administration for failing to heed repeated warnings about reliance on foreign suppliers like China and India for pharmaceutical supplies and taking steps to address that situation, prior to the current shortage.

Baxter International is working to get IV products from other facilities, but in the meantime, the shortage has forced hospitals to postpone surgeries.

In addition to Gov. Pillen, the following governors have signed the letter to President Biden: Kristi Noem, South Dakota; Jeff Landry, Louisiana; Henry McMaster, South Carolina; and Mark Gordon, Wyoming.

A copy of the letter is included with this release.

<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/10-17-2024_Joint-Letter-to-Biden-Admin-on-IV-Drug%20Shortage.pdf">10-17-2024_Joint-Letter-to-Biden-Admin-on-IV-Drug Shortage.pdf</a>

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen has joined a letter directed to President Joe Biden, asking for immediate action to address a shortage of intravenous (IV) and peritoneal dialysis solutions. Recommendations include working with the FDA to find appropriate and trusted international manufacturers, removing barriers for importation, and taking necessary steps to prevent price gouging. The moves, say the group of governors, are designed to “address a crisis that will certainly contribute to harm and potential deaths of Americans.”The current shortage of IV solutions resulted from the closure of the Baxter International Plant in Marion, N.C. due to Hurricane Helene. That facility produces approximately 60% of IV solutions and peritoneal dialysis solutions used across the nation. The letter calls out the Biden Administration for failing to heed repeated warnings about reliance on foreign suppliers like China and India for pharmaceutical supplies and taking steps to address that situation, prior to the current shortage.Baxter International is working to get IV products from other facilities, but in the meantime, the shortage has forced hospitals to postpone surgeries.In addition to Gov. Pillen, the following governors have signed the letter to President Biden: Kristi Noem, South Dakota; Jeff Landry, Louisiana; Henry McMaster, South Carolina; and Mark Gordon, Wyoming.A copy of the letter is included with this release.<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/10-17-2024_Joint-Letter-to-Biden-Admin-on-IV-Drug%20Shortage.pdf">10-17-2024_Joint-Letter-to-Biden-Admin-on-IV-Drug Shortage.pdf</a>

Gov. Pillen Joins Letter Requesting Biden Take Action Dealing with IV Fluid Shortage

By Dawes County Attorney's Office - Vance Haug

On Wednesday, October 2 at approximately 5 a.m. the Dawes County Attorney/Coroner and the Chadron Police Department were contacted to investigate the death of 70-year-old Dawes County inmate, Eddie Sanchez.&nbsp;

Sanchez had been found to be unresponsive in the jail. Lifesaving measures were initiated at the scene and continued during transport to the Chadron Community Hospital where Sanchez was pronounced dead by medical personnel.&nbsp;

Because Mr. Sanchez died while in custody, a Grand Jury will be called to investigate the circumstances behind his death. An autopsy was ordered by the coroner and completed at Monument Health in Rapid City, South Dakota.&nbsp;

More information will be released when appropriate.&nbsp;

By Dawes County Attorney's Office - Vance HaugOn Wednesday, October 2 at approximately 5 a.m. the Dawes County Attorney/Coroner and the Chadron Police Department were contacted to investigate the death of 70-year-old Dawes County inmate, Eddie Sanchez.&nbsp;Sanchez had been found to be unresponsive in the jail. Lifesaving measures were initiated at the scene and continued during transport to the Chadron Community Hospital where Sanchez was pronounced dead by medical personnel.&nbsp;Because Mr. Sanchez died while in custody, a Grand Jury will be called to investigate the circumstances behind his death. An autopsy was ordered by the coroner and completed at Monument Health in Rapid City, South Dakota.&nbsp;More information will be released when appropriate.&nbsp;

Investigation underway after Dawes Co. inmate found dead

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nes-average-act-score-dips-slightly-again-but-students-outperform-most-peer-states/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA —&nbsp;Nebraska’s average ACT score declined slightly again in 2024, but education officials say the state’s students stand out compared to other states with high participation in the college entrance test.

This year’s average composite score for Nebraska students is 19.1, the Nebraska Department of Education reported Wednesday. That’s down from 19.2 in 2023, 19.4 in 2022 and 20.0 in 2021.

Nationally, the average American College Testing (ACT) score was also down one-tenth of a point, sliding from 19.5 to 19.4. The highest possible composite score is 36.

While only 36% of students across the nation take the ACT, officials said that Nebraska is among about 13 states where more than 90% of graduates participate.

Among those peer states, only Montana (at 19.5) and Wisconsin (at 19.4) scored better than Nebraska.

“This is significant as states that test a high percentage of graduates tend to have lower averages as the scores include more students who are not on a college course-taking track,” the Nebraska Department of Education said in a news release.

The ACT is used by some college admissions committees to help measure college readiness in English, reading, mathematics and science. All Nebraska public school juniors are required to take the exam as part of the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System.

Each year the ACT provides a report for all graduating seniors. Nebraska overall had 95% of public and private school graduates participate in the exam, state education officials said.

When looking more closely at individual subjects, Nebraska students scored an average of 18.1 in English, compared to 18.6 for the nation.&nbsp;

In reading, Nebraska students scored an average of 19.5, compared to the nation’s 20.1.

In math, the Nebraska average was 18.8 and the nation’s was 19.0.

The average science score for Nebraska students was 19.4, compared to 19.6 for the nation.

Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nes-average-act-score-dips-slightly-again-but-students-outperform-most-peer-states/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA —&nbsp;Nebraska’s average ACT score declined slightly again in 2024, but education officials say the state’s students stand out compared to other states with high participation in the college entrance test.This year’s average composite score for Nebraska students is 19.1, the Nebraska Department of Education reported Wednesday. That’s down from 19.2 in 2023, 19.4 in 2022 and 20.0 in 2021.Nationally, the average American College Testing (ACT) score was also down one-tenth of a point, sliding from 19.5 to 19.4. The highest possible composite score is 36.While only 36% of students across the nation take the ACT, officials said that Nebraska is among about 13 states where more than 90% of graduates participate.Among those peer states, only Montana (at 19.5) and Wisconsin (at 19.4) scored better than Nebraska.“This is significant as states that test a high percentage of graduates tend to have lower averages as the scores include more students who are not on a college course-taking track,” the Nebraska Department of Education said in a news release.The ACT is used by some college admissions committees to help measure college readiness in English, reading, mathematics and science. All Nebraska public school juniors are required to take the exam as part of the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System.Each year the ACT provides a report for all graduating seniors. Nebraska overall had 95% of public and private school graduates participate in the exam, state education officials said.When looking more closely at individual subjects, Nebraska students scored an average of 18.1 in English, compared to 18.6 for the nation.&nbsp;In reading, Nebraska students scored an average of 19.5, compared to the nation’s 20.1.In math, the Nebraska average was 18.8 and the nation’s was 19.0.The average science score for Nebraska students was 19.4, compared to 19.6 for the nation.

NE’s average ACT score dips slightly again, but students outperform most peer states

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen says he is pleased with a recent decision by the Nebraska Board of Dentistry that will now help expand access to dental care across the state. In June, he asked the Board to consider changing the licensing standards, to include acceptance of the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) exam. Acceptance of the additional exam will now provide a pathway for qualified dental professionals from other states to become licensed in Nebraska.

“This is a huge win for Nebraskans,” said Gov. Pillen. “I applaud the Nebraska Board of Dentistry for its decision and commitment to ensuring Nebraska communities have access to the professional dental services they deserve. High quality and accessible dental care are vital for the health and well-being of Nebraskans of all ages.”

During the board meeting on October 4, 2024, the Nebraska Board of Dentistry voted unanimously to expand accepted clinical examinations for dental licensure to include the ADEX. Effective July 1, 2025, successful passage of either the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS) or ADEX licensing examinations will be accepted, with periodontal subsection testing required.

Gov. Pillen recognized collaborative efforts by the Nebraska Board of Dentistry, the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Creighton University dental schools, Nebraska Dental Association (NDA), Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the Health Center Association of Nebraska (HCAN) in reducing barriers for dental professionals wishing to come to the state and improving access to care for Nebraskans.

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen says he is pleased with a recent decision by the Nebraska Board of Dentistry that will now help expand access to dental care across the state. In June, he asked the Board to consider changing the licensing standards, to include acceptance of the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) exam. Acceptance of the additional exam will now provide a pathway for qualified dental professionals from other states to become licensed in Nebraska.“This is a huge win for Nebraskans,” said Gov. Pillen. “I applaud the Nebraska Board of Dentistry for its decision and commitment to ensuring Nebraska communities have access to the professional dental services they deserve. High quality and accessible dental care are vital for the health and well-being of Nebraskans of all ages.”During the board meeting on October 4, 2024, the Nebraska Board of Dentistry voted unanimously to expand accepted clinical examinations for dental licensure to include the ADEX. Effective July 1, 2025, successful passage of either the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS) or ADEX licensing examinations will be accepted, with periodontal subsection testing required.Gov. Pillen recognized collaborative efforts by the Nebraska Board of Dentistry, the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Creighton University dental schools, Nebraska Dental Association (NDA), Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the Health Center Association of Nebraska (HCAN) in reducing barriers for dental professionals wishing to come to the state and improving access to care for Nebraskans.

Gov. Pillen Applauds Unanimous Vote to Change Nebraska Dental Licensing Standards

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/16/court-ruling-personal-for-three-new-nebraska-voters-who-served-their-time/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Three of the people waiting Wednesday in the 24-minute line from the front door to the service window at the Douglas County Election Commission did something the Nebraska Legislature changed state law to help them do.

They freshly registered to vote, thanks to Legislative Bill 20 and the Nebraska Supreme Court upholding the law hours earlier. LB 20, passed in April, eliminated a two-year wait after serving a felony criminal sentence before restoring voting rights.&nbsp;

Jason Kotas and TJ King, both of Omaha, waited in line Wednesday and registered in person, filling out the form, talking to a county employee, and leaving ready to vote. Chantal Wentz of Johnson County registered online while waiting with them.

Kotas, who helps incarcerated people re-enter society, said he had never voted. He said he is excited to go to the polls Nov. 5 with his wife. He said he wanted to feel more like a full participant in society. He registered as a Republican.

“I think it’s overall being able to vote,” Kotas said. “I wish there were different options. You gotta pick what’s best for your household, your community and just go from there.”

King, a community activist in North Omaha who has volunteered for LGBTQIA+ causes, said he was overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the people who have worked alongside justice-involved people to restore their right to vote. He registered Democratic.

“It’s very surreal,” King said. “It lets us know that a lot of us that were on the fight … that our voices were heard and that it didn’t fall on deaf ears and we have a voice now.”

And Wentz, who now also works to help people reintegrate into society, said she was excited as the mother of daughters to vote for women’s rights. She said she hopes to set a better example for her kids. Because she registered online, her party affiliation was not immediately available.

“Today to me just means not only regaining the community and my civic duty being restored, but I’m a mother of seven children,” Wentz said. “There were a lot of opportunities I missed in setting examples for them.”

All three spoke with reporters, hours after the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that LB 20 should be implemented until or unless a court rules otherwise. The court stopped short of answering the constitutional question Evnen and Hilgers raised.

Evnen and Hilgers said they would abide by the court’s ruling.

Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse, like county election officials across Nebraska, had the updated forms ready to register voters who have served their sentences. He said he had seen at least five newly eligible folks.

They had to wait to register until Wednesday because Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, acting on the advice of Attorney General Mike Hilgers, stopped registrations under LB 20 in July, expressing doubts about LB 20’s constitutionality.

Evnen and Hilgers had argued, much like Gov. Jim Pillen, that only the executive branch has the authority to restore someone’s civil rights after committing a felony — via the Pardons Board on which all three of them serve — not the legislative branch.

Their choice called into question the potential registrations of up to 7,000 Nebraskans that advocates say could have had their voting rights restored by LB 20, and also tens of thousands who had them restored by the law’s predecessor, LB 53 from 2005.

Wednesday, the Supreme Court sided with Civic Nebraska’s lawsuit with two potential voters. It ruled that Evnen and Hilgers were wrong to stop registrations under LB 20 until or unless a court deems the law unconstitutional, and none has.

Civic Nebraska and other groups, including ACLU Nebraska, are working with volunteers to call, text and knock on doors of potential voters who have been identified as among the thousands newly eligible to vote, spokesman Steve Smith said.

Time is short. Friday is the last day for Nebraskans to register to vote by mail or online for the 2024 general election. The deadline for registering in-person at a county elections office is Oct. 25. Advocates urged people to visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.getmyvoteback.org/" target="_blank">www.getmyvoteback.org</a>.

Jasmine Harris, director of public policy and advocacy for RISE, said people who have been caught in the uncertainty between LB 20’s passage and the move by Evnen and Hilgers have been “scared to vote,” including people who registered under LB 53.

Until the court acted Wednesday — and made plain that people who have served their sentence can register — many were scared that they might risk another felony by trying, she said. That’s why it was vital that the court acted, she said. Activists were ready.

“You can hear it in their voice, because these are people who really want to be a part of our community, to do what we ask people to do every day, just to show up and be apart and have your voice heard,” Harris said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729179458543.jpeg" alt="Jason Kotas, who helps incarcerated people re-enter society, said he had never voted. He registered to vote Wednesday thanks to Legislative Bill 20 and a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Jason Kotas, who helps incarcerated people re-enter society, said he had never voted. He registered to vote Wednesday thanks to Legislative Bill 20 and a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/16/court-ruling-personal-for-three-new-nebraska-voters-who-served-their-time/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Three of the people waiting Wednesday in the 24-minute line from the front door to the service window at the Douglas County Election Commission did something the Nebraska Legislature changed state law to help them do.They freshly registered to vote, thanks to Legislative Bill 20 and the Nebraska Supreme Court upholding the law hours earlier. LB 20, passed in April, eliminated a two-year wait after serving a felony criminal sentence before restoring voting rights.&nbsp;Jason Kotas and TJ King, both of Omaha, waited in line Wednesday and registered in person, filling out the form, talking to a county employee, and leaving ready to vote. Chantal Wentz of Johnson County registered online while waiting with them.<h2>Three new voters</h2>Kotas, who helps incarcerated people re-enter society, said he had never voted. He said he is excited to go to the polls Nov. 5 with his wife. He said he wanted to feel more like a full participant in society. He registered as a Republican.“I think it’s overall being able to vote,” Kotas said. “I wish there were different options. You gotta pick what’s best for your household, your community and just go from there.”King, a community activist in North Omaha who has volunteered for LGBTQIA+ causes, said he was overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the people who have worked alongside justice-involved people to restore their right to vote. He registered Democratic.“It’s very surreal,” King said. “It lets us know that a lot of us that were on the fight … that our voices were heard and that it didn’t fall on deaf ears and we have a voice now.”And Wentz, who now also works to help people reintegrate into society, said she was excited as the mother of daughters to vote for women’s rights. She said she hopes to set a better example for her kids. Because she registered online, her party affiliation was not immediately available.“Today to me just means not only regaining the community and my civic duty being restored, but I’m a mother of seven children,” Wentz said. “There were a lot of opportunities I missed in setting examples for them.”All three spoke with reporters, hours after the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that LB 20 should be implemented until or unless a court rules otherwise. The court stopped short of answering the constitutional question Evnen and Hilgers raised.Evnen and Hilgers said they would abide by the court’s ruling.<h2>Counties prepared for change</h2>Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse, like county election officials across Nebraska, had the updated forms ready to register voters who have served their sentences. He said he had seen at least five newly eligible folks.They had to wait to register until Wednesday because Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, acting on the advice of Attorney General Mike Hilgers, stopped registrations under LB 20 in July, expressing doubts about LB 20’s constitutionality.Evnen and Hilgers had argued, much like Gov. Jim Pillen, that only the executive branch has the authority to restore someone’s civil rights after committing a felony — via the Pardons Board on which all three of them serve — not the legislative branch.Their choice called into question the potential registrations of up to 7,000 Nebraskans that advocates say could have had their voting rights restored by LB 20, and also tens of thousands who had them restored by the law’s predecessor, LB 53 from 2005.Wednesday, the Supreme Court sided with Civic Nebraska’s lawsuit with two potential voters. It ruled that Evnen and Hilgers were wrong to stop registrations under LB 20 until or unless a court deems the law unconstitutional, and none has.<h2>Groups contacting potential voters</h2>Civic Nebraska and other groups, including ACLU Nebraska, are working with volunteers to call, text and knock on doors of potential voters who have been identified as among the thousands newly eligible to vote, spokesman Steve Smith said.Time is short. Friday is the last day for Nebraskans to register to vote by mail or online for the 2024 general election. The deadline for registering in-person at a county elections office is Oct. 25. Advocates urged people to visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.getmyvoteback.org/" target="_blank">www.getmyvoteback.org</a>.Jasmine Harris, director of public policy and advocacy for RISE, said people who have been caught in the uncertainty between LB 20’s passage and the move by Evnen and Hilgers have been “scared to vote,” including people who registered under LB 53.Until the court acted Wednesday — and made plain that people who have served their sentence can register — many were scared that they might risk another felony by trying, she said. That’s why it was vital that the court acted, she said. Activists were ready.“You can hear it in their voice, because these are people who really want to be a part of our community, to do what we ask people to do every day, just to show up and be apart and have your voice heard,” Harris said.

Court ruling personal for three new Nebraska voters who served their time

WASHINGTON —On Wednesday, the Department of Defense&nbsp; announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs.

 This announcement is the Biden Administration's&nbsp;sixty-seventh tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.&nbsp; This Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package, which has an estimated value of $425 million, will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs, including: air defense capabilities; air-to-ground weapons; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons.

The capabilities in this announcement include:

The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated capability coalitions to meet Ukraine's urgently needed battlefield requirements and defend against Russian aggression.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717851301558.png" alt="File photo White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —On Wednesday, the Department of Defense&nbsp; announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. This announcement is the Biden Administration's&nbsp;sixty-seventh tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.&nbsp; This Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package, which has an estimated value of $425 million, will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs, including: air defense capabilities; air-to-ground weapons; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; armored vehicles; and anti-tank weapons.The capabilities in this announcement include:<ul>
 <li>Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS):</li><li>RIM-7 missiles and support for air defense;</li><li>Stinger anti-aircraft missiles;</li><li>Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);</li><li>Air-to-ground munitions;</li><li>155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition;</li><li>Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles;</li><li>Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;</li><li>High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs);</li><li>Small arms and ammunition;</li><li>Grenades, thermals, and training equipment;</li><li>Demolitions equipment and munitions; and</li><li>Spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated capability coalitions to meet Ukraine's urgently needed battlefield requirements and defend against Russian aggression.

U.S. spending another $425 million on Ukraine military aid

&nbsp;LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen approved a recommendation by the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission to appoint Casey Ricketts as its executive director.

Ricketts was submitted to the Commission for consideration by executive committee members Shane Greckel, Tony Fulton and Danny Lee. The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission voted unanimously during its October public meeting to submit Ricketts for the Governor’s approval. Her appointment starts immediately at an annual salary of $135,000.

Office of Governor Jim Pillen&nbsp;LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen approved a recommendation by the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission to appoint Casey Ricketts as its executive director.Ricketts was submitted to the Commission for consideration by executive committee members Shane Greckel, Tony Fulton and Danny Lee. The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission voted unanimously during its October public meeting to submit Ricketts for the Governor’s approval. Her appointment starts immediately at an annual salary of $135,000.

Gov. Pillen Approves Recommendation of Ricketts as Executive Director of Racing and Gaming Commission

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>

WASHINGTON —Top advisers to the Kamala Harris presidential campaign held a Wednesday press conference including children who were separated from their parents under the highly criticized Trump administration immigration policy, as a warning of what a second term under the former president could bring for the Latino community.

The press conference in Doral, Florida, came ahead of a late Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.univision.com/univision-news/politics/how-to-see-town-hall-latinos-donald-trump-univision-interview" target="_blank">Univision town hal</a>l at which GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump will talk with undecided Latino voters.

Four children at the press conference recounted stories of being separated from a parent by immigration officials during the Trump administration and the lasting trauma it caused. Their full names and ages were not provided by the campaign.

With 20 days until Nov. 5 and early voting underway in many states, both campaigns have tried to court Latino voters, as they are the second-largest group of eligible voters.

“The Latino vote will decide this election,” Democratic Texas U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, who serves as co-chair for the Harris campaign, said at the press conference.

Harris campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz said that for the next 20 days, Democrats will continue to reach out to Latinos and stress “the threat that Donald Trump is to Latino communities everywhere.”

The 2024 presidential election is essentially a dead heat between Harris and Trump. Latino voter preferences largely resemble the 2020 presidential election, when President Joe Biden defeated Trump 61% to 36% in earning the Latino vote,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2024/09/24/in-tight-u-s-presidential-race-latino-voters-preferences-mirror-2020/" target="_blank">according to the Pew Research Center.&nbsp;</a>

Harris, the Democratic nominee, currently has a smaller lead over Trump with Latinos, 57% to 39%, according to the Pew Research Center.

Escobar warned what a second Trump administration could bring to the Latino community.

“I hear a lot of Latinos who say that they want to vote for Donald Trump, that they appreciate some of his policies,” she said.

Escobar said that Trump has not only&nbsp;<a href="https://westvirginiawatch.com/2024/08/23/trump-promises-mass-deportations-of-undocumented-people-how-would-that-work/" target="_blank">promised to carry out mass deportations</a>, but go after pathways to legal immigration. She argued that architects of some of the former president’s harshest immigration policies are top level advisers, like Stephen Miller, who has proposed eliminating legal immigration like humanitarian parole programs and Temporary Protected Status.

Miller has also proposed a program to strip naturalized citizens of their U.S. citizenship — an initiative that Miller&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/StephenM/status/1712094935820780029?lang=en" target="_blank">said would be “turbocharged”</a>&nbsp;under a second Trump administration.

“For Latinos who think that when Donald Trump insults immigrants, or when he talks about mass deportation that you’re thinking he’s talking about somebody else, oh no, no, he’s talking about you,” Escobar, who represents the border town of El Paso, said.

Escobar said there would be no guardrails for a second Trump administration and programs like family separation could be implemented. The separation occurred at the border as asylum-seeking parents were put into criminal detention and sometimes deported.

“These kids who have lived through horrific trauma, through the pain of being separated from their parents, what you heard from them moments ago will be far worse if Trump gets a second term,” she said. “In Donald Trump’s first term, he had people around him who actually tried to stop him. In a second term, not only will those guardrails not exist, but those people who were there to stop him in the first place are long gone.”

Trump has declined to say whether he would resume family separations if given a second term, also known as the zero-tolerance policy.

“Well, when you have that policy, people don’t come. If a family hears that they’re going to be separated, they love their family. They don’t come. So I know it sounds harsh,” Trump said during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/11/politics/transcript-cnn-town-hall-trump/index.html" target="_blank">a CNN town hall in May 2023.&nbsp;</a>

Escobar said that she is hoping that at Wednesday night’s town hall, Trump will be pressed on whether he would reimplement his family separation policy.

The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.together.gov/" target="_blank">established a task force</a>&nbsp;to reunite the 3,881 children who were separated from their families from 2017 to 2021.

The Department of Homeland Security has reunited about 74% of those families, but there are still&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2023/02/02/fact-sheet-review-family-reunification-task-force-second-anniversary-its" target="_blank">998 children who have not been reunited</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729112192868.png" alt="File photo courtesy Harris campaign" />
 <figcaption>File photo courtesy Harris campaign</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON —Top advisers to the Kamala Harris presidential campaign held a Wednesday press conference including children who were separated from their parents under the highly criticized Trump administration immigration policy, as a warning of what a second term under the former president could bring for the Latino community.The press conference in Doral, Florida, came ahead of a late Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.univision.com/univision-news/politics/how-to-see-town-hall-latinos-donald-trump-univision-interview" target="_blank">Univision town hal</a>l at which GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump will talk with undecided Latino voters.Four children at the press conference recounted stories of being separated from a parent by immigration officials during the Trump administration and the lasting trauma it caused. Their full names and ages were not provided by the campaign.With 20 days until Nov. 5 and early voting underway in many states, both campaigns have tried to court Latino voters, as they are the second-largest group of eligible voters.“The Latino vote will decide this election,” Democratic Texas U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, who serves as co-chair for the Harris campaign, said at the press conference.Harris campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz said that for the next 20 days, Democrats will continue to reach out to Latinos and stress “the threat that Donald Trump is to Latino communities everywhere.”<h2>Harris looks for Latino support</h2>The 2024 presidential election is essentially a dead heat between Harris and Trump. Latino voter preferences largely resemble the 2020 presidential election, when President Joe Biden defeated Trump 61% to 36% in earning the Latino vote,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2024/09/24/in-tight-u-s-presidential-race-latino-voters-preferences-mirror-2020/" target="_blank">according to the Pew Research Center.&nbsp;</a>Harris, the Democratic nominee, currently has a smaller lead over Trump with Latinos, 57% to 39%, according to the Pew Research Center.Escobar warned what a second Trump administration could bring to the Latino community.“I hear a lot of Latinos who say that they want to vote for Donald Trump, that they appreciate some of his policies,” she said.Escobar said that Trump has not only&nbsp;<a href="https://westvirginiawatch.com/2024/08/23/trump-promises-mass-deportations-of-undocumented-people-how-would-that-work/" target="_blank">promised to carry out mass deportations</a>, but go after pathways to legal immigration. She argued that architects of some of the former president’s harshest immigration policies are top level advisers, like Stephen Miller, who has proposed eliminating legal immigration like humanitarian parole programs and Temporary Protected Status.Miller has also proposed a program to strip naturalized citizens of their U.S. citizenship — an initiative that Miller&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/StephenM/status/1712094935820780029?lang=en" target="_blank">said would be “turbocharged”</a>&nbsp;under a second Trump administration.“For Latinos who think that when Donald Trump insults immigrants, or when he talks about mass deportation that you’re thinking he’s talking about somebody else, oh no, no, he’s talking about you,” Escobar, who represents the border town of El Paso, said.Escobar said there would be no guardrails for a second Trump administration and programs like family separation could be implemented. The separation occurred at the border as asylum-seeking parents were put into criminal detention and sometimes deported.“These kids who have lived through horrific trauma, through the pain of being separated from their parents, what you heard from them moments ago will be far worse if Trump gets a second term,” she said. “In Donald Trump’s first term, he had people around him who actually tried to stop him. In a second term, not only will those guardrails not exist, but those people who were there to stop him in the first place are long gone.”Trump has declined to say whether he would resume family separations if given a second term, also known as the zero-tolerance policy.“Well, when you have that policy, people don’t come. If a family hears that they’re going to be separated, they love their family. They don’t come. So I know it sounds harsh,” Trump said during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/11/politics/transcript-cnn-town-hall-trump/index.html" target="_blank">a CNN town hall in May 2023.&nbsp;</a>Escobar said that she is hoping that at Wednesday night’s town hall, Trump will be pressed on whether he would reimplement his family separation policy.The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.together.gov/" target="_blank">established a task force</a>&nbsp;to reunite the 3,881 children who were separated from their families from 2017 to 2021.The Department of Homeland Security has reunited about 74% of those families, but there are still&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2023/02/02/fact-sheet-review-family-reunification-task-force-second-anniversary-its" target="_blank">998 children who have not been reunited</a>.

Harris campaign stresses ‘the threat that Donald Trump is to Latino communities’

WASHINGTON —U.S. forces conducted multiple, precision airstrikes on numerous Iran-backed Houthi weapons storage facilities within Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen that contained various advanced conventional weapons used to target U.S. and international military and civilian vessels navigating international waters throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, according to a media release from the U.S. Central Command.<a></a>

These actions were taken to degrade the Houthi's capability to continue their reckless and unlawful attacks on international commercial shipping and on U.S., coalition, and merchant personnel and vessels in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, and to degrade their ability to threaten regional partners.

CENTCOM forces targeted the Houthi's hardened underground facilities housing missiles, weapons components, and other munitions used to target military and civilian vessels throughout the region.

U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy assets, including U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers, were part of the operation. The employment of the B-2 bomber demonstrates U.S. global strike capabilities to reach these targets, when necessary, anytime, anywhere.

Our battle damage assessments are underway and do not indicate civilian casualties. We will provide updates as information is confirmed.

WASHINGTON —U.S. forces conducted multiple, precision airstrikes on numerous Iran-backed Houthi weapons storage facilities within Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen that contained various advanced conventional weapons used to target U.S. and international military and civilian vessels navigating international waters throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, according to a media release from the U.S. Central Command.<a></a>These actions were taken to degrade the Houthi's capability to continue their reckless and unlawful attacks on international commercial shipping and on U.S., coalition, and merchant personnel and vessels in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, and to degrade their ability to threaten regional partners.CENTCOM forces targeted the Houthi's hardened underground facilities housing missiles, weapons components, and other munitions used to target military and civilian vessels throughout the region.U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy assets, including U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers, were part of the operation. The employment of the B-2 bomber demonstrates U.S. global strike capabilities to reach these targets, when necessary, anytime, anywhere.Our battle damage assessments are underway and do not indicate civilian casualties. We will provide updates as information is confirmed.

US bombers target underground bunkers of Yemen's Houthi rebels

Omaha, Neb. - Union Pacific Railroad today announced a four-year partnership with US Speedskating, the organization dedicated to supporting speed skaters from local clubs to the Olympics.

US Speedskating, along with the US Speedskating National Team, is based near Salt Lake City, Utah, a state with long historical ties to Union Pacific and home to approximately 1,200 of the company’s employees.

“This partnership brings together two iconic brands with shared values and a passion for winning,” said Union Pacific President Beth Whited. “We’re excited to support these exceptional athletes as they race to the finish line.”

The sponsorship, which runs through March 2028, includes Union Pacific internship opportunities for athletes preparing for post-skating careers.

“US Speedskating is dedicated to the success of our athletes from the first time they step on the ice to all they will accomplish after their skating careers,” said Ted Morris, Executive Director of US Speedskating. “Our partnership with Union Pacific will be crucial to supporting that success on and off ice.”

The first event featuring Union Pacific as a team sponsor will held be next month in Salt Lake City, when the 2024 Short Track World Tour gets underway. Additional upcoming events in Salt Lake City include the 2024 Short Track Four Continents Championships and the 2025 Short Track U.S. Championships.Union Pacific has had a rich history in Utah since the transcontinental railroad’s completion at Promontory Summit in 1869. Since then, the state remains a vital crossroads on Union Pacific’s 23-state network.

Union PacificOmaha, Neb. - Union Pacific Railroad today announced a four-year partnership with US Speedskating, the organization dedicated to supporting speed skaters from local clubs to the Olympics.US Speedskating, along with the US Speedskating National Team, is based near Salt Lake City, Utah, a state with long historical ties to Union Pacific and home to approximately 1,200 of the company’s employees.“This partnership brings together two iconic brands with shared values and a passion for winning,” said Union Pacific President Beth Whited. “We’re excited to support these exceptional athletes as they race to the finish line.”The sponsorship, which runs through March 2028, includes Union Pacific internship opportunities for athletes preparing for post-skating careers.“US Speedskating is dedicated to the success of our athletes from the first time they step on the ice to all they will accomplish after their skating careers,” said Ted Morris, Executive Director of US Speedskating. “Our partnership with Union Pacific will be crucial to supporting that success on and off ice.”The first event featuring Union Pacific as a team sponsor will held be next month in Salt Lake City, when the 2024 Short Track World Tour gets underway. Additional upcoming events in Salt Lake City include the 2024 Short Track Four Continents Championships and the 2025 Short Track U.S. Championships.Union Pacific has had a rich history in Utah since the transcontinental railroad’s completion at Promontory Summit in 1869. Since then, the state remains a vital crossroads on Union Pacific’s 23-state network.

Union Pacific Is New Official Sponsor of US Speedskating

United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) Christopher Ferretti and Shereece Dendy-Sanders will lead the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.&nbsp; AUSAs Ferretti and Dendy-Sanders have been appointed to serve as the District Election Officers (DEOs) for the District of Nebraska, and in that capacity are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; United States Attorney Lehr said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election.&nbsp; Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence.&nbsp; The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.&nbsp; The Department will address these violations wherever they occur.&nbsp; The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.&nbsp; It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.&nbsp; The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; United States Attorney Lehr stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.&nbsp; We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.&nbsp; In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSAs/DEOs Ferretti and Dendy-Sanders will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.&nbsp; They can be reached by the public at (402) 661-3700.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.&nbsp; The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (402) 493-8688.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at&nbsp;<a href="https://civilrights.justice.gov/" target="_blank">https://civilrights.justice.gov/</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 800-253-3931.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; United States Attorney Lehr said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate.&nbsp; It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.&nbsp; State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

United States Attorney's OfficeUnited States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) Christopher Ferretti and Shereece Dendy-Sanders will lead the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.&nbsp; AUSAs Ferretti and Dendy-Sanders have been appointed to serve as the District Election Officers (DEOs) for the District of Nebraska, and in that capacity are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; United States Attorney Lehr said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election.&nbsp; Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence.&nbsp; The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.&nbsp; The Department will address these violations wherever they occur.&nbsp; The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.&nbsp; It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.&nbsp; The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; United States Attorney Lehr stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.&nbsp; We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.&nbsp; In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSAs/DEOs Ferretti and Dendy-Sanders will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.&nbsp; They can be reached by the public at (402) 661-3700.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.&nbsp; The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (402) 493-8688.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at&nbsp;<a href="https://civilrights.justice.gov/" target="_blank">https://civilrights.justice.gov/</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 800-253-3931.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; United States Attorney Lehr said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate.&nbsp; It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.&nbsp; State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

U.S. Attorney Announces District Election Officers

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/florida-tells-ne-national-guard-never-mind-on-hurricane-aid/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The Nebraska National Guard mission to help Florida after Hurricane Milton ended shortly after it started.

Gov. Jim Pillen announced Tuesday that the emergency response operation was canceled on Saturday after Florida officials assessed storm damage.

The 150 soldiers and airmen from units throughout the state, all volunteers, had been ordered to duty by Pillen last week and were to arrive in Florida by vehicles this past weekend. The mission was in response to an Emergency Management Assistance Compact request by the State of Florida for a Guard general service support company in anticipation of damage expected by Milton.

The Nebraska soldiers and airmen returned to Nebraska this weekend, according to a news release. They were processed and released on Monday.

Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, Nebraska adjutant general, thanked the troops for their willingness to support the mission.&nbsp;

“Fortunately, the damage caused by Hurricane Milton was not as catastrophic as was first feared,” he said. “However, the willingness of our Nebraska National Guard soldiers and airmen to put their lives on hold and volunteer to support their neighbors in Florida says a tremendous amount about these individuals and their commitment to remaining ready and agile when disasters strike.”

Also released from service in Florida on Sunday was the 16-person mutual aid team from the Omaha Public Power District.

The OPPD team left Omaha more than two weeks ago to provide power restoration support in hurricane-ravaged parts of the Southeast.

The group left Nebraska Sept. 28 and began service with Appalachian Power, helping to restore power in West Virginia and Virginia after Hurricane Helene. The team then headed to Orlando to help with Hurricane Milton, and was released Sunday from service with the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC).

“Fortunately, the extent of damage and power outages for OUC were less than had been expected, and their work wrapped up after about three days,” said an OPPD media release.

Yet another group, from the Nebraska Public Power District, also was released Sunday from mutual aid service in Florida.

That 15-person team from throughout Nebraska previously was helping in Augusta, Georgia, and was given the OK by OUC to leave Florida on Sunday.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729092114096.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Public Power District crews working in Florida. (Courtesy of NPPD)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Public Power District crews working in Florida. (Courtesy of NPPD)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/florida-tells-ne-national-guard-never-mind-on-hurricane-aid/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The Nebraska National Guard mission to help Florida after Hurricane Milton ended shortly after it started.Gov. Jim Pillen announced Tuesday that the emergency response operation was canceled on Saturday after Florida officials assessed storm damage.The 150 soldiers and airmen from units throughout the state, all volunteers, had been ordered to duty by Pillen last week and were to arrive in Florida by vehicles this past weekend. The mission was in response to an Emergency Management Assistance Compact request by the State of Florida for a Guard general service support company in anticipation of damage expected by Milton.The Nebraska soldiers and airmen returned to Nebraska this weekend, according to a news release. They were processed and released on Monday.Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, Nebraska adjutant general, thanked the troops for their willingness to support the mission.&nbsp;“Fortunately, the damage caused by Hurricane Milton was not as catastrophic as was first feared,” he said. “However, the willingness of our Nebraska National Guard soldiers and airmen to put their lives on hold and volunteer to support their neighbors in Florida says a tremendous amount about these individuals and their commitment to remaining ready and agile when disasters strike.”Also released from service in Florida on Sunday was the 16-person mutual aid team from the Omaha Public Power District.The OPPD team left Omaha more than two weeks ago to provide power restoration support in hurricane-ravaged parts of the Southeast.The group left Nebraska Sept. 28 and began service with Appalachian Power, helping to restore power in West Virginia and Virginia after Hurricane Helene. The team then headed to Orlando to help with Hurricane Milton, and was released Sunday from service with the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC).“Fortunately, the extent of damage and power outages for OUC were less than had been expected, and their work wrapped up after about three days,” said an OPPD media release.Yet another group, from the Nebraska Public Power District, also was released Sunday from mutual aid service in Florida.That 15-person team from throughout Nebraska previously was helping in Augusta, Georgia, and was given the OK by OUC to leave Florida on Sunday.&nbsp;

Florida tells NE National Guard never mind on hurricane aid

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/15/hearings-on-competing-nebraska-abortion-initiatives-mirror-campaign/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s dueling ballot initiatives on abortion had separate hearings Tuesday at the Capitol, with the testimony largely echoing the campaign fight between the sponsors.

Advocates for additional abortion restrictions spoke in support of&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20Ballot%20Measures%20Pamphlet.pdf" target="_blank">Initiative 434</a>, which would allow no abortions after the first trimester of pregnancy, with some exceptions.

Critics of the restrictions amendment&nbsp;said it was designed to leave the Nebraska Legislature the option of limiting abortion more than the amendment calls for, up to and including a total ban.

Abortion-rights advocates supported&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20Ballot%20Measures%20Pamphlet.pdf" target="_blank">Initiative 439</a>, which would put a right to abortion in the Nebraska Constitution until fetal viability, as defined by a treating health care practitioner.

Critics of the abortion-rights measure argued it would leave too much room for midwives and doulas to decide viability, decisions they said were best left to doctors. They said this would allow abortions late into a pregnancy.&nbsp;

The local stakes are high. Nebraska is the first state to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/13/dueling-abortion-measures-make-ballot-nebraska-supreme-court-decides/">competing abortion amendments on the same ballot</a>&nbsp;in the time since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen has said that if voters pass both abortion-related amendments, the one with the most votes will be incorporated into the constitution.

Evnen’s office hosted Tuesday’s hearings, a step required by law for all voter-driven initiatives that reach the ballot. Each hearing drew more than 30 people, supporters and opponents.

Dr. Catherine Brooks, a neonatologist, and supporter of the restrictions amendment, Initiative 434, argued that only doctors should be allowed to decide fetal viability.&nbsp;

She also argued that the current state ban on abortion, passed in 2023, is enough. Nebraska law allows abortions up until 12 weeks gestational age, with exceptions after that for the life of the mother and for rape and incest.

Brooks and others have backed stricter bans proposed in recent years, which they said would have saved young lives.

She said the restrictions amendment is modeled after the ban the Legislature passed in 2023. It sets a similar ceiling on abortion after the first trimester, at about 12-14 weeks, but it sets no floor.

“Women deserve clear, compassionate and scientific standards of care,” Brooks said. “Initiative 439 (the abortion-rights amendment) … requires no such training and opens the door to non-physicians… This is simply unsafe.”

Dr. Kim Coleman, a pediatric specialist, backed the abortion-rights amendment. She said Initiative 439 would give doctors more leeway to do what is medically necessary for pregnant women with less government interference.

Coleman described herself as a “Christian, pro-life doctor.” She said the ban after the first trimester called for in the restrictions amendment would increase women’s suffering.

She said specialists in her field try to save babies. She said she understands and has compassion for the people advocating on the other side.&nbsp;

But she said bans like Nebraska’s current law do not always let women facing fetal anomalies get treated until their health is threatened.

“Any of you in this room or your loved one may be faced with the heartbreaking news that a child you are carrying cannot survive,” Coleman said. “Your body might be at risk.”

Supporters of both amendments accused those behind the competing initiative of distorting the truth about the opposing initiative and extolled the virtues of their preferred amendment.

Dr. Elizabeth Weedin, an Omaha obstetrician, said she and her fellow doctors are tired of activists and politicians stretching the truth and&nbsp; “stoking confusion.” She said the abortion-rights amendment would get politicians out of a private decision and that the abortion-restrictions amendment would make the existing ban harder to work around.

Dr. Richard French, a Hastings internist, argued that abortion-restrictions amendment was better. He said it would preserve other state legal restrictions on abortion and keep Nebraska from expanding access to abortion.&nbsp;

One testifier told the crowd they would face God’s judgment. Both offered examples of women who have been harmed by existing law or who they said might be harmed if the competing amendment passed.&nbsp;

Allie Berry of Protect Our Rights, the group behind Initiative 439, said the current ban harms women.

Gabriel Cloutier of Lincoln spoke about nearly losing his mother to an ectopic pregnancy.&nbsp;

“We thought it was just a bad stomach ache,” Cloutier said. “How many other sons and daughters might lose their mothers like this?”

Nikki Shasserre of Protect Women and Children, the group behind Initiative 434, said women’s health would be risked by letting non-doctors decide viability.

Part of each hearing detoured into who is funding the campaigns. Supporters of the restrictions amendment argued that abortion supporters from out of state back the abortion-rights amendment.

Supporters of the abortion-rights amendment pointed to $4 million in donations from family members of U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., helping the restrictions amendment,.

Rebecca Schwend, a mother of five from Lincoln, said she prefers the restrictions amendment because it would preserve other existing state limits on abortion, including parental consent laws for minors.

Erin Feichtinger of the Women’s Fund of Omaha backs the abortion-rights amendment. She said sex assault victims should not be forced to discuss what happened to them to be able to access reproductive care.&nbsp;

Initiative 434, from Protect Women and Children

What the language says:&nbsp;Article I of the Nebraska Constitution shall be amended by adding a new section 31 that states as follows: Except when a woman seeks an abortion necessitated by a medical emergency or when the pregnancy results from sexual assault or incest, unborn children shall be protected from abortion in the second and third trimesters.

What it would do:&nbsp;Put into the state constitution a maximum limit or cap on how long into a pregnancy an abortion could be legal. It would outlaw most abortions after the first trimester. Most medical experts set that timing between 12 and 14 weeks gestational age. Lawmakers could not revert, for instance, to the state’s former 20-week ban.

What it might cause:&nbsp;The language of this amendment would allow the Legislature to restrict abortion further. Lawmakers were a single vote away in 2023 from passing a ban tied to when an ultrasound can detect fetal cardiac activity, at about six weeks. The filibuster that prevented that measure’s passage could be changed.

Common criticisms:&nbsp;Some have argued that the amendment language is confusing on purpose and that some organizers seek to convince signers that it would protect Nebraska’s current law when it would not. Nebraska currently restricts abortion to 12 weeks gestational age, or about 10 weeks after conception.&nbsp;

Notable supporters:&nbsp;Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska Right to Life, Nebraska Family Alliance, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, Sandhills Publishing owner Tom Peed and his son and fellow business owner Shawn Peed.

What the language says:&nbsp;Article I of the Nebraska Constitution shall be amended by adding a new section 31 as shown: All persons shall have a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability, or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient, without interference from the state or its political subdivisions. Fetal viability means the point in pregnancy when in the professional judgment of the patient’s treating health care practitioner, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus’ sustained survival outside of the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures.

What it would do:&nbsp;Codify the right to an abortion in the Nebraska Constitution similar to how the U.S. Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade in 1973, before the court overturned Roe with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case in 2022. Most medical experts set the age of fetal viability between 22 and 24 weeks gestation.&nbsp;

What it might cause:&nbsp;Any state restrictions or laws passed on abortion-related care since Roe could be overturned by the courts, and no new state restrictions could be passed. This could jeopardize parts of state law addressing abortion-related care, including the state requirement that women be shown an ultrasound before having an abortion and the requirement that parents be notified if a minor is pursuing an abortion.

Common criticisms:&nbsp;Some worry that abortion-care clinics and providers could use the law to allow abortions later than 22-24 weeks by discounting fetal viability. They argue the flexibility of interpretation would rest almost entirely with medical providers. Others question whether a mandated 24-hour waiting period before having an abortion could be put at risk.

Notable supporters:&nbsp;Planned Parenthood, ACLU Nebraska, Nebraska Appleseed Action, I Be Black Girl, Women’s Fund of Omaha, former Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, University of Nebraska Regent Barbara Weitz and her daughter, nonprofit president Katie Weitz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729085116231.jpeg" alt=" Nebraska Deputy Secretary of State for Elections Wayne Bena listens to testifiers for and against Nebraska’s competing abortion ballot measures. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska Deputy Secretary of State for Elections Wayne Bena listens to testifiers for and against Nebraska’s competing abortion ballot measures. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/15/hearings-on-competing-nebraska-abortion-initiatives-mirror-campaign/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska’s dueling ballot initiatives on abortion had separate hearings Tuesday at the Capitol, with the testimony largely echoing the campaign fight between the sponsors.Advocates for additional abortion restrictions spoke in support of&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20Ballot%20Measures%20Pamphlet.pdf" target="_blank">Initiative 434</a>, which would allow no abortions after the first trimester of pregnancy, with some exceptions.Critics of the restrictions amendment&nbsp;said it was designed to leave the Nebraska Legislature the option of limiting abortion more than the amendment calls for, up to and including a total ban.Abortion-rights advocates supported&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20Ballot%20Measures%20Pamphlet.pdf" target="_blank">Initiative 439</a>, which would put a right to abortion in the Nebraska Constitution until fetal viability, as defined by a treating health care practitioner.Critics of the abortion-rights measure argued it would leave too much room for midwives and doulas to decide viability, decisions they said were best left to doctors. They said this would allow abortions late into a pregnancy.&nbsp;<h2>High stakes in ballot fight</h2>The local stakes are high. Nebraska is the first state to provide&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/13/dueling-abortion-measures-make-ballot-nebraska-supreme-court-decides/">competing abortion amendments on the same ballot</a>&nbsp;in the time since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen has said that if voters pass both abortion-related amendments, the one with the most votes will be incorporated into the constitution.Evnen’s office hosted Tuesday’s hearings, a step required by law for all voter-driven initiatives that reach the ballot. Each hearing drew more than 30 people, supporters and opponents.Dr. Catherine Brooks, a neonatologist, and supporter of the restrictions amendment, Initiative 434, argued that only doctors should be allowed to decide fetal viability.&nbsp;She also argued that the current state ban on abortion, passed in 2023, is enough. Nebraska law allows abortions up until 12 weeks gestational age, with exceptions after that for the life of the mother and for rape and incest.Brooks and others have backed stricter bans proposed in recent years, which they said would have saved young lives.She said the restrictions amendment is modeled after the ban the Legislature passed in 2023. It sets a similar ceiling on abortion after the first trimester, at about 12-14 weeks, but it sets no floor.“Women deserve clear, compassionate and scientific standards of care,” Brooks said. “Initiative 439 (the abortion-rights amendment) … requires no such training and opens the door to non-physicians… This is simply unsafe.”Dr. Kim Coleman, a pediatric specialist, backed the abortion-rights amendment. She said Initiative 439 would give doctors more leeway to do what is medically necessary for pregnant women with less government interference.Coleman described herself as a “Christian, pro-life doctor.” She said the ban after the first trimester called for in the restrictions amendment would increase women’s suffering.She said specialists in her field try to save babies. She said she understands and has compassion for the people advocating on the other side.&nbsp;But she said bans like Nebraska’s current law do not always let women facing fetal anomalies get treated until their health is threatened.“Any of you in this room or your loved one may be faced with the heartbreaking news that a child you are carrying cannot survive,” Coleman said. “Your body might be at risk.”<h2>Fight over consequences</h2>Supporters of both amendments accused those behind the competing initiative of distorting the truth about the opposing initiative and extolled the virtues of their preferred amendment.Dr. Elizabeth Weedin, an Omaha obstetrician, said she and her fellow doctors are tired of activists and politicians stretching the truth and&nbsp; “stoking confusion.” She said the abortion-rights amendment would get politicians out of a private decision and that the abortion-restrictions amendment would make the existing ban harder to work around.Dr. Richard French, a Hastings internist, argued that abortion-restrictions amendment was better. He said it would preserve other state legal restrictions on abortion and keep Nebraska from expanding access to abortion.&nbsp;One testifier told the crowd they would face God’s judgment. Both offered examples of women who have been harmed by existing law or who they said might be harmed if the competing amendment passed.&nbsp;Allie Berry of Protect Our Rights, the group behind Initiative 439, said the current ban harms women.Gabriel Cloutier of Lincoln spoke about nearly losing his mother to an ectopic pregnancy.&nbsp;“We thought it was just a bad stomach ache,” Cloutier said. “How many other sons and daughters might lose their mothers like this?”Nikki Shasserre of Protect Women and Children, the group behind Initiative 434, said women’s health would be risked by letting non-doctors decide viability.Part of each hearing detoured into who is funding the campaigns. Supporters of the restrictions amendment argued that abortion supporters from out of state back the abortion-rights amendment.Supporters of the abortion-rights amendment pointed to $4 million in donations from family members of U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., helping the restrictions amendment,.Rebecca Schwend, a mother of five from Lincoln, said she prefers the restrictions amendment because it would preserve other existing state limits on abortion, including parental consent laws for minors.Erin Feichtinger of the Women’s Fund of Omaha backs the abortion-rights amendment. She said sex assault victims should not be forced to discuss what happened to them to be able to access reproductive care.&nbsp;<h2>Initiative 434, from Protect Women and Children</h2>Abortion-restrictions amendmentWhat the language says:&nbsp;Article I of the Nebraska Constitution shall be amended by adding a new section 31 that states as follows: Except when a woman seeks an abortion necessitated by a medical emergency or when the pregnancy results from sexual assault or incest, unborn children shall be protected from abortion in the second and third trimesters.What it would do:&nbsp;Put into the state constitution a maximum limit or cap on how long into a pregnancy an abortion could be legal. It would outlaw most abortions after the first trimester. Most medical experts set that timing between 12 and 14 weeks gestational age. Lawmakers could not revert, for instance, to the state’s former 20-week ban.What it might cause:&nbsp;The language of this amendment would allow the Legislature to restrict abortion further. Lawmakers were a single vote away in 2023 from passing a ban tied to when an ultrasound can detect fetal cardiac activity, at about six weeks. The filibuster that prevented that measure’s passage could be changed.Common criticisms:&nbsp;Some have argued that the amendment language is confusing on purpose and that some organizers seek to convince signers that it would protect Nebraska’s current law when it would not. Nebraska currently restricts abortion to 12 weeks gestational age, or about 10 weeks after conception.&nbsp;Notable supporters:&nbsp;Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska Right to Life, Nebraska Family Alliance, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, Sandhills Publishing owner Tom Peed and his son and fellow business owner Shawn Peed.<h2>Initiative 439, from Protect Our Rights</h2>Abortion-rights amendmentWhat the language says:&nbsp;Article I of the Nebraska Constitution shall be amended by adding a new section 31 as shown: All persons shall have a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability, or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient, without interference from the state or its political subdivisions. Fetal viability means the point in pregnancy when in the professional judgment of the patient’s treating health care practitioner, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus’ sustained survival outside of the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures.What it would do:&nbsp;Codify the right to an abortion in the Nebraska Constitution similar to how the U.S. Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade in 1973, before the court overturned Roe with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case in 2022. Most medical experts set the age of fetal viability between 22 and 24 weeks gestation.&nbsp;What it might cause:&nbsp;Any state restrictions or laws passed on abortion-related care since Roe could be overturned by the courts, and no new state restrictions could be passed. This could jeopardize parts of state law addressing abortion-related care, including the state requirement that women be shown an ultrasound before having an abortion and the requirement that parents be notified if a minor is pursuing an abortion.Common criticisms:&nbsp;Some worry that abortion-care clinics and providers could use the law to allow abortions later than 22-24 weeks by discounting fetal viability. They argue the flexibility of interpretation would rest almost entirely with medical providers. Others question whether a mandated 24-hour waiting period before having an abortion could be put at risk.Notable supporters:&nbsp;Planned Parenthood, ACLU Nebraska, Nebraska Appleseed Action, I Be Black Girl, Women’s Fund of Omaha, former Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, University of Nebraska Regent Barbara Weitz and her daughter, nonprofit president Katie Weitz.

Hearings on competing Nebraska abortion initiatives mirror campaign

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen announced the appointment of Dr. Thomas Janousek as director for the Division of Behavioral Health in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The appointment is effective Oct. 21 at an annual salary of $175,000.

Dr. Janousek has been the deputy director of clinical excellence within the Division of Behavioral Health since Oct. 2022. Prior to joining the state, he was a neuropsychologist at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln and was previously vice president of quality and compliance at Burrell Behavioral Health in Springfield, Missouri. Dr. Janousek received his Doctor of Psychology degree (PsyD) from the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology.

In describing his vision for expanding behavioral health care in Nebraska, Dr. Janousek said he is committed to creating more access points, without diminishing quality of care.

“We need more crisis and community-based service options across our state, and we need to address those barriers which make it difficult for individuals to engage with the public behavioral health system,” said Dr. Janousek.

Acknowledging the state’s critical need for behavioral health and substance use supports, Gov. Pillen said he was excited about having Dr. Janousek take on this lead role. He also commended the work of Tony Green, who has been serving as interim director for the Division of Behavioral Health, while the search for a permanent director was ongoing.

“Over the years, Director Green has led several divisions on an interim basis for DHHS. He has been a steady presence in the agency, and I deeply appreciate his commitment to state public service,” said Gov. Pillen.

Director Green is currently director for the Division of Developmental Disabilities. His annual salary will become $195,000 on Oct. 21.

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen announced the appointment of Dr. Thomas Janousek as director for the Division of Behavioral Health in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The appointment is effective Oct. 21 at an annual salary of $175,000.Dr. Janousek has been the deputy director of clinical excellence within the Division of Behavioral Health since Oct. 2022. Prior to joining the state, he was a neuropsychologist at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln and was previously vice president of quality and compliance at Burrell Behavioral Health in Springfield, Missouri. Dr. Janousek received his Doctor of Psychology degree (PsyD) from the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology.In describing his vision for expanding behavioral health care in Nebraska, Dr. Janousek said he is committed to creating more access points, without diminishing quality of care.“We need more crisis and community-based service options across our state, and we need to address those barriers which make it difficult for individuals to engage with the public behavioral health system,” said Dr. Janousek.Acknowledging the state’s critical need for behavioral health and substance use supports, Gov. Pillen said he was excited about having Dr. Janousek take on this lead role. He also commended the work of Tony Green, who has been serving as interim director for the Division of Behavioral Health, while the search for a permanent director was ongoing.“Over the years, Director Green has led several divisions on an interim basis for DHHS. He has been a steady presence in the agency, and I deeply appreciate his commitment to state public service,” said Gov. Pillen.Director Green is currently director for the Division of Developmental Disabilities. His annual salary will become $195,000 on Oct. 21.

Gov. Pillen Appoints Dr. Janousek as Director of Behavioral Health

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/16/nebraska-supreme-court-restores-lb-20-and-lets-people-with-felony-pasts-register-to-vote/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen was wrong to stop registering voters under a new state law eliminating the two-year wait for people who have served a sentence for a felony conviction.

The court did not decide the constitutional question raised by Evnen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers — which branch of state government has the authority to set the timing of when people who have served a sentence for a felony conviction can vote.

Evnen and Hilgers, in an advisory legal opinion that Evnen cited in deciding to ignore Legislative Bill 20, argued that only the executive branch’s Pardons Board that they and Gov. Jim Pillen serve on can constitutionally restore a person’s civil rights.

Lawyers from ACLU Nebraska, arguing on behalf of Civic Nebraska and two Nebraskans prepared to register to vote, argued that the Legislature has case law and past practice on its side in setting the timing of when someone can legally vote.

One of them is Gregory Spung of Omaha, a plaintiff in the case, who plans to register as a nonpartisan voter. He had registered online before Evnen’s decision and retracted it after Evnen’s decision. He said in a statement that he was “ecstatic.”

For so long, I was uncertain if my voice would truly count under this law. Today’s decision reaffirms the fundamental principle that every vote matters.

“For so long, I was uncertain if my voice would truly count under this law,” Spung said. “Today’s decision reaffirms the fundamental principle that every vote matters. It’s a victory not just for me, but for thousands of Nebraskans.”

The other plaintiff, Jeremy Jonak of Wood River, who plans to register as a Republican, said the decision lifted “a weight off my shoulders” and that of other Nebraskans who had been waiting. He said people had earned a second chance.

“The truth is most of us are just trying to live our lives and leave the past behind us,” Jonak said. “Thanks to this decision, we get to have a say as part of our communities.”

Neither Evnen nor Hilgers had an immediate comment Wednesday. An Evnen spokeswoman said a press release was coming Wednesday afternoon. A Hilgers spokeswoman said they were reviewing the ruling and would have a statement soon.

The narrower ruling means the court could not find five justices who agree on the constitutionality or unconstitutionality of LB 20 or its predecessor, LB 53 from 2005. LB 53 had restored voting rights two years after serving a criminal sentence.

Under Nebraska’s constitution, it takes five justices to declare a law unconstitutional. Because the court did not rule the law unconstitutional, Evnen and Hilgers are likely out of time to stop registrations for the Nov. 5 general election, now less than three weeks away.&nbsp;

The court essentially took the simplest of the arguments ACLU lawyer Jane Seu made during oral arguments in late August: that Evnen and Hilgers should have known that the law of the land is the law of the land until a court rules it unconstitutional.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729088637285.jpeg" alt=" Gregory Spung of Douglas County during an earlier event talked about how excited he was to be able to vote thanks to Legislative Bill 20, the new law in Nebraska that let people with felony convictions vote after serving their sentence. Wednesday, the Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed that law. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Gregory Spung of Douglas County during an earlier event talked about how excited he was to be able to vote thanks to Legislative Bill 20, the new law in Nebraska that let people with felony convictions vote after serving their sentence. Wednesday, the Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed that law. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/16/nebraska-supreme-court-restores-lb-20-and-lets-people-with-felony-pasts-register-to-vote/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen was wrong to stop registering voters under a new state law eliminating the two-year wait for people who have served a sentence for a felony conviction.The court did not decide the constitutional question raised by Evnen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers — which branch of state government has the authority to set the timing of when people who have served a sentence for a felony conviction can vote.Evnen and Hilgers, in an advisory legal opinion that Evnen cited in deciding to ignore Legislative Bill 20, argued that only the executive branch’s Pardons Board that they and Gov. Jim Pillen serve on can constitutionally restore a person’s civil rights.Lawyers from ACLU Nebraska, arguing on behalf of Civic Nebraska and two Nebraskans prepared to register to vote, argued that the Legislature has case law and past practice on its side in setting the timing of when someone can legally vote.One of them is Gregory Spung of Omaha, a plaintiff in the case, who plans to register as a nonpartisan voter. He had registered online before Evnen’s decision and retracted it after Evnen’s decision. He said in a statement that he was “ecstatic.”For so long, I was uncertain if my voice would truly count under this law. Today’s decision reaffirms the fundamental principle that every vote matters.– Gregory Spung, plaintiff“For so long, I was uncertain if my voice would truly count under this law,” Spung said. “Today’s decision reaffirms the fundamental principle that every vote matters. It’s a victory not just for me, but for thousands of Nebraskans.”The other plaintiff, Jeremy Jonak of Wood River, who plans to register as a Republican, said the decision lifted “a weight off my shoulders” and that of other Nebraskans who had been waiting. He said people had earned a second chance.“The truth is most of us are just trying to live our lives and leave the past behind us,” Jonak said. “Thanks to this decision, we get to have a say as part of our communities.”Neither Evnen nor Hilgers had an immediate comment Wednesday. An Evnen spokeswoman said a press release was coming Wednesday afternoon. A Hilgers spokeswoman said they were reviewing the ruling and would have a statement soon.The narrower ruling means the court could not find five justices who agree on the constitutionality or unconstitutionality of LB 20 or its predecessor, LB 53 from 2005. LB 53 had restored voting rights two years after serving a criminal sentence.Under Nebraska’s constitution, it takes five justices to declare a law unconstitutional. Because the court did not rule the law unconstitutional, Evnen and Hilgers are likely out of time to stop registrations for the Nov. 5 general election, now less than three weeks away.&nbsp;The court essentially took the simplest of the arguments ACLU lawyer Jane Seu made during oral arguments in late August: that Evnen and Hilgers should have known that the law of the land is the law of the land until a court rules it unconstitutional.&nbsp;The ruling means the thousands of people that voting rights advocates said were poised to be newly registered will get their chance, if advocates can execute a plan they discussed to let people know they can now register to vote this fall.Seu called it “justice.”“Given the sheer scale of disenfranchisement that this decision corrects, there is no question that it will be remembered as one of our state’s most consequential voting rights decisions,” she said in a statement Wednesday.RISE, a re-entry program for incarcerated Nebraskans and others in the justice system, has said more than 7,000 people could be newly eligible to vote. Several have discussed the importance of being able to participate fully as key to re-entry efforts.Thousands more who were also in limbo after Evnen’s move got the reassurance that their voting rights are still sound, the people who had waited two years under the 2005 law and had already registered to vote — and in many cases voted previously.The time to register voters is tight. Friday is the last day for Nebraskans to register to vote by mail or online for the 2024 general election. The deadline for registering in-person at a county elections office is Oct. 25.Civic Nebraska, part of a group trying to organize and register voters in time, the Voting Rights Restoration Coalition, said partners would be calling, texting and reaching out to voters to make sure they know of the ruling and their rights.“From now on, every eligible voter in our state can exercise their constitutional right to participate in our democratic system,” said Steve Smith, a spokesman for Civic Nebraska.