The health of Nebraska’s economy is at stake when state senators return to Lincoln for the special legislative session I’m convening July 25. Our decades-long property tax crisis must be resolved. Not getting the job done is unacceptable.

If property taxes aren’t reduced, goods and services rise in price, rent gets higher for young farmers, job creators think twice about doing business here and economic development is harmed. We can also count on escalating property taxes to increase, soon reaching $1 million a day. Out-of-whack property taxes hurt Nebraskans, hurt Nebraska business owners, and hurt Nebraska’s economic competitiveness.

Specifics of the plan have been cultivated by talking to citizens and senators. With your input we have created a bold plan that will:

However, special interest groups are very persuasive, and they would have you believe their interests are yours. We need to cut through the distractions and focus on what is important. One of those things is ensuring we are not pricing lifelong Nebraskans out of their homes. The second is providing a future for our children where they feel they can chase the dream of raising their families in-state, without paying exorbitant property taxes as a result.

I have a call to action for anyone who has been or is concerned they will be impacted by our state’s 7th&nbsp;place ranking for highest property tax in the nation. Your concerns are well-founded and should be shared with your state senator. Only they can advocate on your behalf when the session starts. If you do that, then you will be part of the solution – helping pass a plan that is fair to all and provides significant and lasting tax cuts.

Governor Jim PillenThe health of Nebraska’s economy is at stake when state senators return to Lincoln for the special legislative session I’m convening July 25. Our decades-long property tax crisis must be resolved. Not getting the job done is unacceptable.If property taxes aren’t reduced, goods and services rise in price, rent gets higher for young farmers, job creators think twice about doing business here and economic development is harmed. We can also count on escalating property taxes to increase, soon reaching $1 million a day. Out-of-whack property taxes hurt Nebraskans, hurt Nebraska business owners, and hurt Nebraska’s economic competitiveness.Specifics of the plan have been cultivated by talking to citizens and senators. With your input we have created a bold plan that will:<ol>
 <li>Put a hard cap on property tax collections.</li><li>Cutting state spending by $360 million to help finance this plan.</li><li>Cut property taxes by 50%.</li><li>Invest more in Public Education.</li>
 </ol>However, special interest groups are very persuasive, and they would have you believe their interests are yours. We need to cut through the distractions and focus on what is important. One of those things is ensuring we are not pricing lifelong Nebraskans out of their homes. The second is providing a future for our children where they feel they can chase the dream of raising their families in-state, without paying exorbitant property taxes as a result.I have a call to action for anyone who has been or is concerned they will be impacted by our state’s 7th&nbsp;place ranking for highest property tax in the nation. Your concerns are well-founded and should be shared with your state senator. Only they can advocate on your behalf when the session starts. If you do that, then you will be part of the solution – helping pass a plan that is fair to all and provides significant and lasting tax cuts.

Making the Case for Property Tax Reform

UNL&nbsp;Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources



Lincoln, Neb. July 12, 2024 —&nbsp;The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program will celebrate 40 years with the debut of a photo gallery exhibition, "Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture," at the 2024 Nebraska State Fair, Aug. 26 to Sept. 2, in Grand Island.

The gallery aims to highlight the vital role of women in Nebraska’s agricultural landscape with a collection of portraits captured at the 2024 Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference by renowned photographer John Noltner. Through portraits and personal stories, Noltner works to bridge divides and encourage dialogue around important issues. He has produced projects for national magazines, Fortune 500 companies, and non-profit organizations.

"We are thrilled to present this unique exhibition honoring the resilience, innovation and enduring impact of women in agriculture," said Jessica Groskopf, Director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. "Through these powerful portraits, we hope to encourage discussion about the role of women in our state’s largest industry."

The "Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture" photo gallery will show at four events this year:

For more information about the "Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture" photo gallery, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://unl233.acemlnb.com/lt.php?x=3DZy~GDDJFPP6HOtyt~OV.Oh2q-giQ~0k~sxkKI4KXTO5HR9_Uy.0.hw2I2pjd-~kuVAXHjGIXS" target="_blank">https://wia.unl.edu</a>&nbsp;or contact the Nebraska Women in Agriculture Program at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:wia@unl.edu" target="_blank">wia@unl.edu</a>."Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture" is funded in part by a grant from Humanities Nebraska.

Humanities Nebraska is a private nonprofit with a mission to help people explore what connects us and makes us human. Humanities Nebraska is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, an appropriation from the Nebraska Legislature, private donations and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, a public-private partnership with state dollars matching private dollars to benefit the arts and humanities in Nebraska.

About Nebraska Women in Agriculture

Beginning in 1985, the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program is one of the longest University-led women in agriculture Programs in the country. The mission of this program is to provide unbiased, research-based risk management education to female agriculture operators, consultants, landowners, service providers and value-added business owners in Nebraska.

In 2023, the program reached over 1,400 participants. The Women in Agriculture program is committed to providing educational opportunities for all Nebraska women interested in developing management skills in every facet of agriculture by providing leadership, learning experiences, support and networking avenues to empower women to compete and survive in this challenging and complex industry.



<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720798942907.png" alt="The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program will celebrate 40 years with the debut of a photo gallery exhibition, "Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture,” at the 2024 Nebraska State Fair, Aug. 26 to Sept. 2, in Grand Island." />
 <figcaption>The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program will celebrate 40 years with the debut of a photo gallery exhibition, "Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture,” at the 2024 Nebraska State Fair, Aug. 26 to Sept. 2, in Grand Island.</figcaption>
 </figure>UNL&nbsp;Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Lincoln, Neb. July 12, 2024 —&nbsp;The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program will celebrate 40 years with the debut of a photo gallery exhibition, "Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture," at the 2024 Nebraska State Fair, Aug. 26 to Sept. 2, in Grand Island.The gallery aims to highlight the vital role of women in Nebraska’s agricultural landscape with a collection of portraits captured at the 2024 Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference by renowned photographer John Noltner. Through portraits and personal stories, Noltner works to bridge divides and encourage dialogue around important issues. He has produced projects for national magazines, Fortune 500 companies, and non-profit organizations."We are thrilled to present this unique exhibition honoring the resilience, innovation and enduring impact of women in agriculture," said Jessica Groskopf, Director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. "Through these powerful portraits, we hope to encourage discussion about the role of women in our state’s largest industry."The "Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture" photo gallery will show at four events this year:<ul>
 <li>Aug. 26-Sept. 2, in the Raising Nebraska Building at the Nebraska State Fair, 501 E. Fonner Park Road, Suite 100, in Grand Island.</li><li>Sept. 11, 2024, in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Building at Husker Harvest Days, 9000 W. Husker Highway, near Wood River.</li><li>Oct. 1–31, 2024, in the Loft Gallery at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus Union, 1705 Arbor Drive, in Lincoln.</li><li>Feb. 20-21, 2025, at the Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference, 110 2nd&nbsp;Ave, in Kearney</li>
 </ul>For more information about the "Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture" photo gallery, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://unl233.acemlnb.com/lt.php?x=3DZy~GDDJFPP6HOtyt~OV.Oh2q-giQ~0k~sxkKI4KXTO5HR9_Uy.0.hw2I2pjd-~kuVAXHjGIXS" target="_blank">https://wia.unl.edu</a>&nbsp;or contact the Nebraska Women in Agriculture Program at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:wia@unl.edu" target="_blank">wia@unl.edu</a>."Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture" is funded in part by a grant from Humanities Nebraska.Humanities Nebraska is a private nonprofit with a mission to help people explore what connects us and makes us human. Humanities Nebraska is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, an appropriation from the Nebraska Legislature, private donations and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, a public-private partnership with state dollars matching private dollars to benefit the arts and humanities in Nebraska.About Nebraska Women in AgricultureBeginning in 1985, the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program is one of the longest University-led women in agriculture Programs in the country. The mission of this program is to provide unbiased, research-based risk management education to female agriculture operators, consultants, landowners, service providers and value-added business owners in Nebraska.In 2023, the program reached over 1,400 participants. The Women in Agriculture program is committed to providing educational opportunities for all Nebraska women interested in developing management skills in every facet of agriculture by providing leadership, learning experiences, support and networking avenues to empower women to compete and survive in this challenging and complex industry.

‘Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture’ exhibition marks 40 years of Women in Ag program

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/11/ne-labor-court-sides-with-gov-pillens-order-calling-state-employees-back-to-the-office/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A Nebraska labor court has ruled on the side of Gov. Jim Pillen’s order to send remote workers back to their state offices — and went farther to harshly chastise the state’s biggest employee union for the “disingenuous maneuver.”

“The totality of the record before the Commission demonstrates that Petitioner [the employees union] engaged in a pattern of willful, flagrant, aggravated, persistent and pervasive prohibited misconduct by pursuing this action in bad faith,” the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations unanimously decided Thursday.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1561-Findings-of-Fact-and-Order.pdf">10-page ruling</a>&nbsp;comes&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/26/remote-work-trial-begins-as-employees-relay-whats-at-stake-under-pillen-return-to-office-edict/">five months after a trial</a>&nbsp;was held before the Lincoln-based commission on the topic that gripped the attention of state government employees and others across the state.

Central to the case is Pillen’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/13/governor-orders-end-to-remote-work-directs-state-workers-back-to-offices/">November executive order</a>&nbsp;directing state workers to return to the office beginning Jan. 2, save for certain exceptions. The governor at the time said that the pandemic was over and that the “common-sense expectation” of the public is that state employees are to be working in a state office.

Nebraska Association of Public Employees leaders, representing more than 8,000 state workers — of which an estimated 1,300 worked remotely — immediately objected.&nbsp;

The union’s contention was that such a change in the terms and conditions of employment is a prohibited practice that can’t be done without bargaining between the union and the state.

The commission&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/29/state-labor-court-orders-postponement-of-pillen-order-to-end-remove-work/">paused Pillen’s order Dec. 29</a>&nbsp;as it considered the issue.

On Thursday, a three-member panel of the commission said the state had not violated the law and dismissed the challenge “with prejudice” — meaning it cannot be refiled. Commissioner Gregory Neuhaus signed the opinion. The governor appoints&nbsp;<a href="https://ncir.nebraska.gov/content/who-we-are" target="_blank">commission members</a>.

Justin Hubly, executive director for NAPE, said the union “couldn’t disagree with the decision more” and that the decision “fails to acknowledge the realities of a 21st century work environment.” The union is considering an appeal to the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Hubly and other union leaders in December said “all Nebraskans will pay the price” of the executive order, and he emphasized that a second, more recent executive order, to eliminate&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/30/gov-jim-pillen-announces-plans-to-slash-nearly-1000-vacant-state-positions/">vacant state positions after 90 days</a>, would also add to employment vacancies.

“I was concerned then that it could exacerbate the problem,” Hubly told the Nebraska Examiner. “I think it’s only going to exacerbate it more at this point.”

Pillen described the ruling as a “vindication” of the state’s right to determine that workers come into work “where they can be the most productive.”&nbsp;

All public employees currently working remotely should be prepared to report for work in person starting Monday, July 15, Pillen said, as many other state workers have done since before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I know they will come with a positive attitude that reflects their professionalism and determination to serve the people of the [State of] Nebraska,” Pillen said.

The commission wrote that the state employees’ collective bargaining agreement covered worksite assignments, including for telework, arguing the union must have been aware of it because it hadn’t challenged any revocation of remote work privileges in the past.

“The Petitioner’s own witnesses testified that they were aware that working from home was a privilege, not a right, that could be revoked by the employer at any time,” the decision states.

The union&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/07/nebraska-state-employees-union-renews-demands-to-bargain-for-remote-work/">requested to negotiate</a>&nbsp;regarding a list of questions, including parking availability, procedures if no in-person worksite was available and work policies during severe weather or other emergencies.&nbsp;

But the commission said the state had unilateral authority to set workplace locations and procedures and there was “no vagueness or ambiguity” in that authority.

The decision said NAPE could not believe in “good faith” that it would prevail in the case and said the case required a penalty be imposed on the union.

The punishment rendered requires the union to cover any attorney costs and fees the State of Nebraska incurred during the trial, which must be identified within the next 15 business days.

Hubly said that the penalty was “particularly concerning.” He worried it could have a chilling effect on other workers or unions in bringing labor disputes to the commission.

“Our union is a group of employees who’ve united together to protect the interests of all Nebraskans in this case,” Hubly said. “The claim that we brought it in ‘bad faith’ just to simply delay the implementation of the governor’s order is wrong.”

If anything, Hubly said, the commission delayed a decision for four months, adding, “If there were such a rush, well, why did they wait so long?”

The commission also determined that even if it hadn’t decided that the bargaining agreement covered telework, it could have dismissed the case anyway.

That’s because union leaders, during previous negotiations, had made and withdrawn a specific remote work policy and “in turn received a ‘historic’ and ‘record-breaking’ contract that providing bargaining unit members with ‘the largest salary increase in the 35-year history of the State Employees Collective Bargaining Act.’”

“Filing of the present petition was a disingenuous maneuver seemingly for the purpose of improperly delaying the implementation of EO 23-17 [the executive order] and boosting membership numbers using the subsequent press coverage,” the CIR decision states.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720790413738.jpeg" alt="Justin Hubly, executive director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, leads a noon-hour news conference Dec. 7, 2023, in Lincoln regarding Gov. Jim Pillen’s executive order mandating state employees return to in-peson offices by Jan. 2, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Justin Hubly, executive director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, leads a noon-hour news conference Dec. 7, 2023, in Lincoln regarding Gov. Jim Pillen’s executive order mandating state employees return to in-peson offices by Jan. 2, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling and Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/11/ne-labor-court-sides-with-gov-pillens-order-calling-state-employees-back-to-the-office/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A Nebraska labor court has ruled on the side of Gov. Jim Pillen’s order to send remote workers back to their state offices — and went farther to harshly chastise the state’s biggest employee union for the “disingenuous maneuver.”“The totality of the record before the Commission demonstrates that Petitioner [the employees union] engaged in a pattern of willful, flagrant, aggravated, persistent and pervasive prohibited misconduct by pursuing this action in bad faith,” the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations unanimously decided Thursday.The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1561-Findings-of-Fact-and-Order.pdf">10-page ruling</a>&nbsp;comes&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/26/remote-work-trial-begins-as-employees-relay-whats-at-stake-under-pillen-return-to-office-edict/">five months after a trial</a>&nbsp;was held before the Lincoln-based commission on the topic that gripped the attention of state government employees and others across the state.Central to the case is Pillen’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/13/governor-orders-end-to-remote-work-directs-state-workers-back-to-offices/">November executive order</a>&nbsp;directing state workers to return to the office beginning Jan. 2, save for certain exceptions. The governor at the time said that the pandemic was over and that the “common-sense expectation” of the public is that state employees are to be working in a state office.Nebraska Association of Public Employees leaders, representing more than 8,000 state workers — of which an estimated 1,300 worked remotely — immediately objected.&nbsp;The union’s contention was that such a change in the terms and conditions of employment is a prohibited practice that can’t be done without bargaining between the union and the state.The commission&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/29/state-labor-court-orders-postponement-of-pillen-order-to-end-remove-work/">paused Pillen’s order Dec. 29</a>&nbsp;as it considered the issue.<h2>Dismissed “with prejudice”</h2>On Thursday, a three-member panel of the commission said the state had not violated the law and dismissed the challenge “with prejudice” — meaning it cannot be refiled. Commissioner Gregory Neuhaus signed the opinion. The governor appoints&nbsp;<a href="https://ncir.nebraska.gov/content/who-we-are" target="_blank">commission members</a>.Justin Hubly, executive director for NAPE, said the union “couldn’t disagree with the decision more” and that the decision “fails to acknowledge the realities of a 21st century work environment.” The union is considering an appeal to the Nebraska Supreme Court.Hubly and other union leaders in December said “all Nebraskans will pay the price” of the executive order, and he emphasized that a second, more recent executive order, to eliminate&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/30/gov-jim-pillen-announces-plans-to-slash-nearly-1000-vacant-state-positions/">vacant state positions after 90 days</a>, would also add to employment vacancies.“I was concerned then that it could exacerbate the problem,” Hubly told the Nebraska Examiner. “I think it’s only going to exacerbate it more at this point.”Pillen described the ruling as a “vindication” of the state’s right to determine that workers come into work “where they can be the most productive.”&nbsp;All public employees currently working remotely should be prepared to report for work in person starting Monday, July 15, Pillen said, as many other state workers have done since before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.“I know they will come with a positive attitude that reflects their professionalism and determination to serve the people of the [State of] Nebraska,” Pillen said.The commission wrote that the state employees’ collective bargaining agreement covered worksite assignments, including for telework, arguing the union must have been aware of it because it hadn’t challenged any revocation of remote work privileges in the past.“The Petitioner’s own witnesses testified that they were aware that working from home was a privilege, not a right, that could be revoked by the employer at any time,” the decision states.The union&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/07/nebraska-state-employees-union-renews-demands-to-bargain-for-remote-work/">requested to negotiate</a>&nbsp;regarding a list of questions, including parking availability, procedures if no in-person worksite was available and work policies during severe weather or other emergencies.&nbsp;But the commission said the state had unilateral authority to set workplace locations and procedures and there was “no vagueness or ambiguity” in that authority.<h2>Union ordered to pay attorney costs</h2>The decision said NAPE could not believe in “good faith” that it would prevail in the case and said the case required a penalty be imposed on the union.The punishment rendered requires the union to cover any attorney costs and fees the State of Nebraska incurred during the trial, which must be identified within the next 15 business days.Hubly said that the penalty was “particularly concerning.” He worried it could have a chilling effect on other workers or unions in bringing labor disputes to the commission.“Our union is a group of employees who’ve united together to protect the interests of all Nebraskans in this case,” Hubly said. “The claim that we brought it in ‘bad faith’ just to simply delay the implementation of the governor’s order is wrong.”If anything, Hubly said, the commission delayed a decision for four months, adding, “If there were such a rush, well, why did they wait so long?”The commission also determined that even if it hadn’t decided that the bargaining agreement covered telework, it could have dismissed the case anyway.That’s because union leaders, during previous negotiations, had made and withdrawn a specific remote work policy and “in turn received a ‘historic’ and ‘record-breaking’ contract that providing bargaining unit members with ‘the largest salary increase in the 35-year history of the State Employees Collective Bargaining Act.’”“Filing of the present petition was a disingenuous maneuver seemingly for the purpose of improperly delaying the implementation of EO 23-17 [the executive order] and boosting membership numbers using the subsequent press coverage,” the CIR decision states.

NE labor court sides with Gov. Pillen’s order calling state employees back to the office 

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/senate-appropriations-sets-aside-more-money-for-usda-unl-research-center/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A U.S. Department of Agriculture research center being built on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Innovation Campus would receive another $16 million in federal funds under a bill the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced Thursday.

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, a member of the committee, touted the new money as a worthy investment in a “hub for research [that] will attract students, scientists, and industry leaders focused on turning research into products and solutions in the field.”&nbsp;

USDA and UNL&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/education/usda-research-innovation-campus-research-groundbreaking-unl/article_6c111bec-0bc4-11ef-9995-ef4d799a06a9.html" target="_blank">broke ground on the new research facility</a>&nbsp;in May. Its purpose is to find new ways to produce more food for a growing global population while using fewer natural resources.&nbsp;

Fischer, in a statement, said the new funding, if approved by the full Senate and the House, could “expand Nebraska’s leading role in agricultural innovation.” It was part of an agricultural, food security and rural development bill.

Fischer also celebrated the inclusion of $3 million in new funding for the National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL and $1 million for a new cooperative focused on protecting agricultural research data from online theft and threats.

The $16 million in construction funds for the $160 million National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Agriculture follows $25 million that the Nebraska delegation steered last year toward the facility, which will combine USDA and UNL research.

Part of that combination will happen at the Nebraska Ag-Tech Innovation Accelerator, built by NU and the state to take strong agricultural research to the marketplace, much like a similar center for medical technologies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

New University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold thanked the state’s congressional delegation for keeping NU “at the forefront” of ag research. This builds on the 67 USDA scientists&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/06/usda-unl-celebrate-new-frontier-of-nebraskas-agricultural-research-and-innovation-partnership/">NU officials have said</a>&nbsp;are already working on East Campus.&nbsp;

“This facility is going to be a game-changer for our state,” Gold said. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with our elected leaders, university colleagues, philanthropic partners and farmers and ranchers across the state.”

Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., and his predecessor in the 1st District, Jeff Fortenberry, have also secured millions in federal funding for the project.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720792649689.jpeg" alt="University of Nebraska, state and federal leaders ceremonially break ground on the new U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service Naitonal Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln. May 6, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>University of Nebraska, state and federal leaders ceremonially break ground on the new U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service Naitonal Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln. May 6, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/senate-appropriations-sets-aside-more-money-for-usda-unl-research-center/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A U.S. Department of Agriculture research center being built on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Innovation Campus would receive another $16 million in federal funds under a bill the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced Thursday.U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, a member of the committee, touted the new money as a worthy investment in a “hub for research [that] will attract students, scientists, and industry leaders focused on turning research into products and solutions in the field.”&nbsp;<h2>Broke ground in May</h2>USDA and UNL&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/education/usda-research-innovation-campus-research-groundbreaking-unl/article_6c111bec-0bc4-11ef-9995-ef4d799a06a9.html" target="_blank">broke ground on the new research facility</a>&nbsp;in May. Its purpose is to find new ways to produce more food for a growing global population while using fewer natural resources.&nbsp;Fischer, in a statement, said the new funding, if approved by the full Senate and the House, could “expand Nebraska’s leading role in agricultural innovation.” It was part of an agricultural, food security and rural development bill.Fischer also celebrated the inclusion of $3 million in new funding for the National Drought Mitigation Center at UNL and $1 million for a new cooperative focused on protecting agricultural research data from online theft and threats.<h2>Part of $160 million project</h2>The $16 million in construction funds for the $160 million National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Agriculture follows $25 million that the Nebraska delegation steered last year toward the facility, which will combine USDA and UNL research.Part of that combination will happen at the Nebraska Ag-Tech Innovation Accelerator, built by NU and the state to take strong agricultural research to the marketplace, much like a similar center for medical technologies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.New University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold thanked the state’s congressional delegation for keeping NU “at the forefront” of ag research. This builds on the 67 USDA scientists&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/06/usda-unl-celebrate-new-frontier-of-nebraskas-agricultural-research-and-innovation-partnership/">NU officials have said</a>&nbsp;are already working on East Campus.&nbsp;“This facility is going to be a game-changer for our state,” Gold said. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with our elected leaders, university colleagues, philanthropic partners and farmers and ranchers across the state.”Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., and his predecessor in the 1st District, Jeff Fortenberry, have also secured millions in federal funding for the project.&nbsp;

Senate Appropriations sets aside more money for USDA-UNL research center

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>&nbsp;

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Thursday passed&nbsp;a measure to reverse an Education Department rule seeking to extend federal discrimination protections for LGBTQ students, though President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the legislation should it land on his desk.

House passage of the resolution on a party-line vote,&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024354?Page=2" target="_blank">210-205</a>, is part of a barrage of GOP pushback at the state and federal levels to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/house-speaker-johnson-betsy-devos-lead-attack-title-ix-rule-protects-lgbtq-kids" target="_blank">Biden administration’s final rule for Title IX</a>&nbsp;since its April release. For all schools that receive federal funding, the rule protects against discrimination for students based on “sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.”

Twenty-six states with GOP attorneys general have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/more-half-states-sue-block-biden-title-ix-rule-protecting-lgbtq-students" target="_blank">sued to block</a>&nbsp;the rule, and courts have temporarily blocked it from going into effect in 14 states on August 1.

The 14 states with temporary blocks are: Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Illinois GOP Rep. Mary Miller&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-title-ix-regulation-targeted-republicans-congress" target="_blank">introduced the legislation</a>&nbsp;in early June. A week later, the Republican-controlled House Committee on Education and the Workforce approved it. Miller’s resolution seeks to reverse the rule through the&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10023" target="_blank">Congressional Review Act</a>, a procedural tool Congress can use to overturn certain actions from federal agencies.

In the Senate, Mississippi Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/96" target="_blank">also introduced legislation</a>&nbsp;in June to try to block the final rule under the same tool. The Senate version has gathered over 30 Republican cosponsors.

Rep. Virginia Foxx — chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and a fierce opponent of the administration’s final rule — said during the floor debate Wednesday that she wanted to preserve Title IX, which helped equalize funding for women’s sports and education programs beginning in 1972.

“Title IX ushered in a golden era for women’s competition and education,” the North Carolina Republican said. “There is sanctity in the community and tradition of these memories, these spaces and these opportunities for young girls.”

Regardless of whether the attempt to roll back the measure is successful in the Democratic-controlled Senate,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SAP-HJRes-165.pdf" target="_blank">Biden</a>’s veto threat leaves virtually no possibility it could be adopted this year.

Democrats, LGBTQ advocates in opposition&nbsp;

Democrats and LGBTQ advocates have described the effort to overturn the rule as motivated by misinformation and fear.

“Unfortunately, this resolution has been clouded by misinformation, unfounded fears and with some, just hatred of transgender individuals,” said Rep. Bobby Scott, a Virginia Democrat and ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, during the debate.

Oregon’s Rep. Suzanne Bonamici — ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education — said the resolution was “another attempt to undercut this administration’s efforts to empower survivors and protect all Americans from discrimination.”

“If Republicans truly cared about protecting women and children, they would stop this prejudiced rhetoric and take action on bills that would actually protect women from discrimination and harassment and defend women’s reproductive health care, make child care more affordable, preserve opportunities in workplaces for all parents, especially women,” Bonamici said.

Scott called on the House to “reject these narratives and focus on real issues of safety and equity.”

Meanwhile, challenges to the rule are playing out in a handful of federal courts.

Last week, Judge John Broomes of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas temporarily blocked the measure from taking effect in the Sunflower State, along with Alaska, Utah and Wyoming.

Broomes also halted the rule from taking effect in “the schools attended by the members of Young America’s Foundation or Female Athletes United, as well as the schools attended by the children of the members of Moms for Liberty,” all groups that sued alongside the four states, per the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ksd.152561/gov.uscourts.ksd.152561.53.0.pdf" target="_blank">order</a>.

Under Broomes’ order, the rule is also halted in an Oklahoma public school attended by a minor who is one of the plaintiffs.

In June, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana&nbsp;<a href="https://lailluminator.com/2024/06/13/title-ix-transgender/" target="_blank">issued a temporary injunction</a>&nbsp;barring the final rule from taking effect there, along with Idaho, Mississippi and Montana.

In Kentucky federal court, Chief Judge Danny Reeves&nbsp;<a href="https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/06/17/us-judge-in-kentucky-blocks-biden-title-ix-rules-says-sex-gender-identity-not-the-same-thing/" target="_blank">temporarily blocked the final rule</a>&nbsp;in the Bluegrass State, plus Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Virginia. Reeves rejected the department’s request for a partial stay of the injunction while its appeal plays out, per a&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.kyed.104801/gov.uscourts.kyed.104801.117.0.pdf" target="_blank">Wednesday court filing</a>.

The Education Department has confirmed it is appealing the other two rulings but did not have an update Wednesday on whether it is filing a notice of appeal on the most recent ruling in the Kansas federal court.

The spokesperson reiterated earlier this week that the agency has “asked the trial courts to allow the bulk of the final rule to take effect in these states as scheduled, on August 1, while the appeals are pending.”

LGBTQ advocacy groups push back on GOP effort

Allen Morris, policy director for the advocacy group National LGBTQ Task Force, said the vote was part of a pattern of anti-LGBTQ policy measures.

“When you look at the rise in hatred and the rise in violence and the rise of young LGBTQ individuals not having the support that they need, where suicide rates are high, it is disappointing to see our opposition go against us with such a high level of intention,” he said.

Morris told States Newsroom that “a lot of what is happening with this extremism is not founded in truth.”

“It is founded in ways to spew hate and to spew fear. It is a lot of fear mongering, and it’s anything to make people feel like their backs are up against the wall, or as if they don’t have the power,” he said.

Echoing a previous statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said it “does not comment on pending legislation” and emphasized that all schools receiving federal funding are obligated to comply with the new regulations as a condition of receiving those funds.

The department has yet to finalize a separate rule establishing new criteria for transgender athletes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720781223271.png" alt=" The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)." />
 <figcaption> The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>&nbsp;WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Thursday passed&nbsp;a measure to reverse an Education Department rule seeking to extend federal discrimination protections for LGBTQ students, though President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the legislation should it land on his desk.House passage of the resolution on a party-line vote,&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024354?Page=2" target="_blank">210-205</a>, is part of a barrage of GOP pushback at the state and federal levels to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/house-speaker-johnson-betsy-devos-lead-attack-title-ix-rule-protects-lgbtq-kids" target="_blank">Biden administration’s final rule for Title IX</a>&nbsp;since its April release. For all schools that receive federal funding, the rule protects against discrimination for students based on “sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.”Twenty-six states with GOP attorneys general have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/more-half-states-sue-block-biden-title-ix-rule-protecting-lgbtq-students" target="_blank">sued to block</a>&nbsp;the rule, and courts have temporarily blocked it from going into effect in 14 states on August 1.The 14 states with temporary blocks are: Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.Illinois GOP Rep. Mary Miller&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-title-ix-regulation-targeted-republicans-congress" target="_blank">introduced the legislation</a>&nbsp;in early June. A week later, the Republican-controlled House Committee on Education and the Workforce approved it. Miller’s resolution seeks to reverse the rule through the&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10023" target="_blank">Congressional Review Act</a>, a procedural tool Congress can use to overturn certain actions from federal agencies.In the Senate, Mississippi Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/96" target="_blank">also introduced legislation</a>&nbsp;in June to try to block the final rule under the same tool. The Senate version has gathered over 30 Republican cosponsors.Rep. Virginia Foxx — chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and a fierce opponent of the administration’s final rule — said during the floor debate Wednesday that she wanted to preserve Title IX, which helped equalize funding for women’s sports and education programs beginning in 1972.“Title IX ushered in a golden era for women’s competition and education,” the North Carolina Republican said. “There is sanctity in the community and tradition of these memories, these spaces and these opportunities for young girls.”Regardless of whether the attempt to roll back the measure is successful in the Democratic-controlled Senate,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SAP-HJRes-165.pdf" target="_blank">Biden</a>’s veto threat leaves virtually no possibility it could be adopted this year.<h2>Democrats, LGBTQ advocates in opposition&nbsp;</h2>Democrats and LGBTQ advocates have described the effort to overturn the rule as motivated by misinformation and fear.“Unfortunately, this resolution has been clouded by misinformation, unfounded fears and with some, just hatred of transgender individuals,” said Rep. Bobby Scott, a Virginia Democrat and ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, during the debate.Oregon’s Rep. Suzanne Bonamici — ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education — said the resolution was “another attempt to undercut this administration’s efforts to empower survivors and protect all Americans from discrimination.”“If Republicans truly cared about protecting women and children, they would stop this prejudiced rhetoric and take action on bills that would actually protect women from discrimination and harassment and defend women’s reproductive health care, make child care more affordable, preserve opportunities in workplaces for all parents, especially women,” Bonamici said.Scott called on the House to “reject these narratives and focus on real issues of safety and equity.”<h2>Final rule blocked in more states&nbsp;</h2>Meanwhile, challenges to the rule are playing out in a handful of federal courts.Last week, Judge John Broomes of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas temporarily blocked the measure from taking effect in the Sunflower State, along with Alaska, Utah and Wyoming.Broomes also halted the rule from taking effect in “the schools attended by the members of Young America’s Foundation or Female Athletes United, as well as the schools attended by the children of the members of Moms for Liberty,” all groups that sued alongside the four states, per the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ksd.152561/gov.uscourts.ksd.152561.53.0.pdf" target="_blank">order</a>.Under Broomes’ order, the rule is also halted in an Oklahoma public school attended by a minor who is one of the plaintiffs.In June, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana&nbsp;<a href="https://lailluminator.com/2024/06/13/title-ix-transgender/" target="_blank">issued a temporary injunction</a>&nbsp;barring the final rule from taking effect there, along with Idaho, Mississippi and Montana.In Kentucky federal court, Chief Judge Danny Reeves&nbsp;<a href="https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/06/17/us-judge-in-kentucky-blocks-biden-title-ix-rules-says-sex-gender-identity-not-the-same-thing/" target="_blank">temporarily blocked the final rule</a>&nbsp;in the Bluegrass State, plus Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Virginia. Reeves rejected the department’s request for a partial stay of the injunction while its appeal plays out, per a&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.kyed.104801/gov.uscourts.kyed.104801.117.0.pdf" target="_blank">Wednesday court filing</a>.The Education Department has confirmed it is appealing the other two rulings but did not have an update Wednesday on whether it is filing a notice of appeal on the most recent ruling in the Kansas federal court.The spokesperson reiterated earlier this week that the agency has “asked the trial courts to allow the bulk of the final rule to take effect in these states as scheduled, on August 1, while the appeals are pending.”<h2>LGBTQ advocacy groups push back on GOP effort</h2>Allen Morris, policy director for the advocacy group National LGBTQ Task Force, said the vote was part of a pattern of anti-LGBTQ policy measures.“When you look at the rise in hatred and the rise in violence and the rise of young LGBTQ individuals not having the support that they need, where suicide rates are high, it is disappointing to see our opposition go against us with such a high level of intention,” he said.Morris told States Newsroom that “a lot of what is happening with this extremism is not founded in truth.”“It is founded in ways to spew hate and to spew fear. It is a lot of fear mongering, and it’s anything to make people feel like their backs are up against the wall, or as if they don’t have the power,” he said.Echoing a previous statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said it “does not comment on pending legislation” and emphasized that all schools receiving federal funding are obligated to comply with the new regulations as a condition of receiving those funds.The department has yet to finalize a separate rule establishing new criteria for transgender athletes.

GOP plan to reverse final Title IX rule passed U.S. House, but Biden says he’d veto

The Alliance Volunteer Fire Department along with the Hemingford Volunteer Fire Department battled a business fire on Thursday in Alliance.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"We received an initial dispatch for a fully involved structure fire at B &amp; S Auto," Alliance Fire Chief Troy Shoemaker said. "Upon arrival we had smoke showing from the roof and eaves with no fire showing. A vertical ventilation hole was cut in the roof to assist with removing the smoke from the structure and assist the crew of firefighters that entered the building. This also assisted us with locating the active fire."

The Nebraska State Fire Marshal Investigator will conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire.

"We also requested mutual aid from the Hemingford Volunteer Fire Department," Chief Shoemaker said. "The Alliance Nebraska Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, and Box Butte Sheriff's Office assisted with closing down streets so that we could operate safely. The City of Alliance, Nebraska Water and Electric Departments responded and assisted with disconnecting utility services."

"Thank you to those folks and the folks that dropped off water and food for us. We appreciate everyone assisting us, it means a lot to the members of your fire department," Shoemaker added.

By Panhandle PostThe Alliance Volunteer Fire Department along with the Hemingford Volunteer Fire Department battled a business fire on Thursday in Alliance.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720790858596.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>"We received an initial dispatch for a fully involved structure fire at B &amp; S Auto," Alliance Fire Chief Troy Shoemaker said. "Upon arrival we had smoke showing from the roof and eaves with no fire showing. A vertical ventilation hole was cut in the roof to assist with removing the smoke from the structure and assist the crew of firefighters that entered the building. This also assisted us with locating the active fire."The Nebraska State Fire Marshal Investigator will conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire."We also requested mutual aid from the Hemingford Volunteer Fire Department," Chief Shoemaker said. "The Alliance Nebraska Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, and Box Butte Sheriff's Office assisted with closing down streets so that we could operate safely. The City of Alliance, Nebraska Water and Electric Departments responded and assisted with disconnecting utility services."Black Hills Energy was also on scene."Thank you to those folks and the folks that dropped off water and food for us. We appreciate everyone assisting us, it means a lot to the members of your fire department," Shoemaker added.<figure>
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Alliance, Hemingford Fire Departments battle business fire

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;-- Today the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations (CIR), which rules on labor disputes, issued an order upholding Governor Jim Pillen’s November 2023 executive order (EO 23-17) for all state employees to return to their workplaces. The CIR’s decision completely upheld the validity of the Governor’s executive order, ruling that the issue of ordering the state’s workforce back to the office is fully under the Governor’s executive authority and dismissing all the Nebraska Association of Public Employee (NAPE) union’s claims.

The CIR went further, ordering the union to repay the taxpayers for their expenses in defending the case. The CIR characterized the union’s petition as a “disingenuous maneuver seemingly for the purpose of improperly delaying the [executive order] and boosting membership numbers using the subsequent press coverage.” The CIR further ruled that the union “could not have reasonably or in good faith believed they would prevail by bringing this case.”

Gov. Pillen issued the following statement commending the CIR’s decision:

“Today’s ruling is a vindication of the state’s right to determine that its public servants will come into work where they can be most productive. The COVID-19 pandemic is long over, and it is likewise long overdue that our full workforce is physically back. I am grateful for this thorough and well-reasoned decision and to the state’s personnel and legal teams for their tremendous work in securing this victory on behalf of the people of Nebraska.”

The Governor expects all state agency heads to immediately enforce Executive Order No. 23-17.

“It is my expectation that all public servants currently working remotely, should be prepared to report to their home offices starting Monday,” said Gov. Pillen. “That is exactly what our state troopers, correctional officers, highway workers, farmers, ranchers, and business owners have done before, during and since the pandemic. I know they will come with a positive attitude that reflects their professionalism and determination to serve the people of the Nebraska.” &nbsp;

Copies of the CIR decision as well as EO 23-17 are included with this release.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/1561-Findings-of-Fact-and-Order.pdf">1561 Findings of Fact and Order</a>

<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/23-17.pdf">Executive Order No. 23-17</a>

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;-- Today the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations (CIR), which rules on labor disputes, issued an order upholding Governor Jim Pillen’s November 2023 executive order (EO 23-17) for all state employees to return to their workplaces. The CIR’s decision completely upheld the validity of the Governor’s executive order, ruling that the issue of ordering the state’s workforce back to the office is fully under the Governor’s executive authority and dismissing all the Nebraska Association of Public Employee (NAPE) union’s claims.The CIR went further, ordering the union to repay the taxpayers for their expenses in defending the case. The CIR characterized the union’s petition as a “disingenuous maneuver seemingly for the purpose of improperly delaying the [executive order] and boosting membership numbers using the subsequent press coverage.” The CIR further ruled that the union “could not have reasonably or in good faith believed they would prevail by bringing this case.”Gov. Pillen issued the following statement commending the CIR’s decision:“Today’s ruling is a vindication of the state’s right to determine that its public servants will come into work where they can be most productive. The COVID-19 pandemic is long over, and it is likewise long overdue that our full workforce is physically back. I am grateful for this thorough and well-reasoned decision and to the state’s personnel and legal teams for their tremendous work in securing this victory on behalf of the people of Nebraska.”The Governor expects all state agency heads to immediately enforce Executive Order No. 23-17.“It is my expectation that all public servants currently working remotely, should be prepared to report to their home offices starting Monday,” said Gov. Pillen. “That is exactly what our state troopers, correctional officers, highway workers, farmers, ranchers, and business owners have done before, during and since the pandemic. I know they will come with a positive attitude that reflects their professionalism and determination to serve the people of the Nebraska.” &nbsp;Copies of the CIR decision as well as EO 23-17 are included with this release.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/1561-Findings-of-Fact-and-Order.pdf">1561 Findings of Fact and Order</a><a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/23-17.pdf">Executive Order No. 23-17</a>

CIR Upholds Governor Pillen’s Order for State Employees to Return to Workplace

&nbsp; The Endangered Missing Advisory activated to determine the whereabouts of DAVID P. GLENN, has been cancelled.

The alert has been cancelled due to LOCATED SAFE&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp; An Endangered Missing Advisory has been activated to determine the whereabouts of DAVID P. GLENN.

Last seen on 7/11/24 @ 4:00 PM near 7200 Shamrock Crt, Lincoln NE. Poss driving a GRAY 2019 DODGE CARAVAN with 2 round stickers on back / NE Plates YNA116. Wearing BLU t-shirt, GRY pants. DAVID suffers from dementia; left w/o meds.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Anyone with information is urged to call the Lincoln Police Department at 402-441-6000 or call your local police department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720791743174.jpeg" alt="David Glenn Courtesy of Lincoln Police Department)" />
 <figcaption>David Glenn Courtesy of Lincoln Police Department)</figcaption>
 </figure>Nebraska State PatrolUpdate 7-12-24&nbsp; The Endangered Missing Advisory activated to determine the whereabouts of DAVID P. GLENN, has been cancelled.The alert has been cancelled due to LOCATED SAFE&nbsp;&nbsp;-----&nbsp; An Endangered Missing Advisory has been activated to determine the whereabouts of DAVID P. GLENN.DAVID GLENN, 82 years old, 5'7"/235 lbs.Hair: GRY (Balding)Eye: HAZ.Last seen on 7/11/24 @ 4:00 PM near 7200 Shamrock Crt, Lincoln NE. Poss driving a GRAY 2019 DODGE CARAVAN with 2 round stickers on back / NE Plates YNA116. Wearing BLU t-shirt, GRY pants. DAVID suffers from dementia; left w/o meds.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone with information is urged to call the Lincoln Police Department at 402-441-6000 or call your local police department.

Endangered Missing Advisory CANCELLED as 82-year-old man has been safely located

<a>(SCOTTSBLUFF, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>—&nbsp;&nbsp;Scotts Bluff County’s Oregon Trail Days bring thousands of people to celebrate Nebraska’s rich history, tradition, and hometown spirit. Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol will be working to reduce the likelihood of serious crashes around the event.

“Many people from near and far come together for Oregon Trail, so we’ll be working diligently to keep our local residents and visitors safe this weekend,” said Major Jeff Roby, NSP Western Operations Major. “As folks participate in the different events this weekend, we encourage everyone to plan ahead to have a sober driver.”

Oregon Trail Days is marking its 103rd&nbsp;consecutive year in 2024. The events run from today, July 11, through Sunday, July 14, at several locations around Gering.

Troopers will be performing high visibility patrols on roadways throughout Scotts Bluff County as part of the effort. The Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office (NDOT-HSO) has designated Scotts Bluff County as a priority county for 2024. This effort is made possible thanks in part to a grant for $2,160 from NDOT-HSO.

Cody ThomasNebraska State Patrol<a>(SCOTTSBLUFF, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>—&nbsp;&nbsp;Scotts Bluff County’s Oregon Trail Days bring thousands of people to celebrate Nebraska’s rich history, tradition, and hometown spirit. Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol will be working to reduce the likelihood of serious crashes around the event.“Many people from near and far come together for Oregon Trail, so we’ll be working diligently to keep our local residents and visitors safe this weekend,” said Major Jeff Roby, NSP Western Operations Major. “As folks participate in the different events this weekend, we encourage everyone to plan ahead to have a sober driver.”Oregon Trail Days is marking its 103rd&nbsp;consecutive year in 2024. The events run from today, July 11, through Sunday, July 14, at several locations around Gering.Troopers will be performing high visibility patrols on roadways throughout Scotts Bluff County as part of the effort. The Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office (NDOT-HSO) has designated Scotts Bluff County as a priority county for 2024. This effort is made possible thanks in part to a grant for $2,160 from NDOT-HSO.

Troopers on Patrol During Oregon Trail Days

&nbsp; (Old Post) An Endangered Missing Advisory has been activated to determine the whereabouts of DAVID P. GLENN.

DAVID GLENN, 82 years old, 5'7"/235 lbs. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720791743174.jpeg" alt="David Glenn (Courtesy of Lincoln Police Department)" />
 <figcaption>David Glenn (Courtesy of Lincoln Police Department)</figcaption>
 </figure>Nebraska State Patrol&nbsp; (Old Post) An Endangered Missing Advisory has been activated to determine the whereabouts of DAVID P. GLENN.DAVID GLENN, 82 years old, 5'7"/235 lbs. Hair: GRY (Balding) Eye: HAZ. Last seen on 7/11/24 @ 4:00 PM near 7200 Shamrock Crt, Lincoln NE. Poss driving a GRAY 2019 DODGE CARAVAN with 2 round stickers on back / NE Plates YNA116. Wearing BLU t-shirt, GRY pants. DAVID suffers from dementia; left w/o meds.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anyone with information is urged to call the Lincoln Police Department at 402-441-6000 or call your local police department.

Endangered Missing Advisory for 82-year-old Lincoln man

JERUSALEM —U.S. Forces continue to face terrorist obstacles in the Red Sea. 

Since Sunday, U.S. forces successfully destroyed seven Iranian-backed Houthi drone boats and and seven aerial drones over the Red Sea or in a Houthi controlled area of Yemen, according to the U.S. Central Command.

Additionally on July 7, partner forces successfully destroyed two Houthi UAVs over the Gulf of Aden. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701138062166.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM —U.S. Forces continue to face terrorist obstacles in the Red Sea. Since Sunday, U.S. forces successfully destroyed seven Iranian-backed Houthi drone boats and and seven aerial drones over the Red Sea or in a Houthi controlled area of Yemen, according to the U.S. Central Command.Additionally on July 7, partner forces successfully destroyed two Houthi UAVs over the Gulf of Aden. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels.

U.S. forces continue to face daily terrorist threats in the Red Sea

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden held his first news conference in 8-months Thursday night.&nbsp; The event was delayed for over two hours.

He incorrectly referenced Donald Trump in one of his first answers.

(Click below to watch a replay of the news conferenc)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720742007717.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden held his first news conference in 8-months Thursday night.&nbsp; The event was delayed for over two hours.He incorrectly referenced Donald Trump in one of his first answers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Q: &quot;What concerns do you have about Vice President Harris&#39; ability to beat Donald Trump if she were at the top of the ticket? President Biden: Look, I wouldn&#39;t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if I didn&#39;t think she was not qualified to be vice president. <a href="https://t.co/TqqSKBsyQu">pic.twitter.com/TqqSKBsyQu</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1811546437567586658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>(Click below to watch a replay of the news conferenc)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4YF3ksozMBw?si=3XavzsHKEhlly8DY&amp;start=4321" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Here are other video highlights.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden: &quot;I always have an inclination...just to keep going. I just got to pace myself a bit more.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/vYsoeTip1J">pic.twitter.com/vYsoeTip1J</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1811559314382868719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden: &quot;I am not opposed if my doctors tell me I should have another neurological exam, I&#39;ll do it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/7glZeatRyP">pic.twitter.com/7glZeatRyP</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1811559403511824708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden on <a href="https://twitter.com/NATO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NATO</a> Summit: &quot;I thought it was the most successful conference I&#39;ve attended in a long time and find me a world leader who didn&#39;t think it was.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/7rZDnwXhGv">pic.twitter.com/7rZDnwXhGv</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1811549885809783207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden: &quot;I will not bow down to Putin. I will not walk away from Ukraine. I will keep NATO strong. That&#39;s exactly what we did and exactly what we will continue to do.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/LSDp2dPd7G">pic.twitter.com/LSDp2dPd7G</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1811550403399463028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PeterAlexander?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeterAlexander</a>: &quot;You referred to Vice President Harris as Vice President Trump. Right now Donald Trump is using that to mock your age and your memory. How do you combat that criticism from tonight? President Biden: &quot;Listen to him.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/hJPpXbvDFi">pic.twitter.com/hJPpXbvDFi</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1811560186022142094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Highlights from President Biden's first news conference in 8 months

Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

&nbsp; WASHINGTON ­–&nbsp;U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured&nbsp;$16 million in additional funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) facility at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s (UNL) Innovation Campus.

The funding was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. It builds upon the $25 million Senator Fischer secured for the facility in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2023/6/fischer-advances-25-million-for-ne-agricultural-research-service-facility-in-funding-bill-in-first-key-step">FY 2024 Appropriations Bill</a>.

Senator Fischer also&nbsp;secured funding in this year’s bill to support both the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) at UNL and the National Ag Producers Data Cooperative led by UNL.&nbsp;The legislation, which must still be voted upon by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, was advanced today by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“This bill includes new funding for the second phase of construction of UNL’s ARS&nbsp;Center, which will expand Nebraska’s&nbsp;leading role in agricultural innovation. This hub for research will attract students, scientists, and industry leaders&nbsp;focused on turning research into products and solutions in the field,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Fischer.

Additional details on the Nebraska projects Senator Fischer secured are below.

ARS National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture:$16 million appropriated to continue construction of the ARS National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture facility at UNL’s Innovation Campus.

Secured $3 million in program funding to help build resiliency to drought.

Secured $1 million in program funding to help promote collaboration between researchers and stakeholders to develop a framework for a standardized, secure system to process agricultural data.

Senator Fischer also secured language that would:1) Prioritize ARS research critical for the beef industry at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska.2) Require the USDA to better utilize the Conservation Loan Program as a Precision Ag Loan Program.3) Push the USDA to provide advanced cost share on the Emergency Conservation Program.4) Require reporting on lab-grown and plant-based protein labeling.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer&nbsp; WASHINGTON ­–&nbsp;U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured&nbsp;$16 million in additional funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) facility at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s (UNL) Innovation Campus.The funding was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. It builds upon the $25 million Senator Fischer secured for the facility in&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2023/6/fischer-advances-25-million-for-ne-agricultural-research-service-facility-in-funding-bill-in-first-key-step">FY 2024 Appropriations Bill</a>.Senator Fischer also&nbsp;secured funding in this year’s bill to support both the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) at UNL and the National Ag Producers Data Cooperative led by UNL.&nbsp;The legislation, which must still be voted upon by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, was advanced today by the Senate Appropriations Committee.“This bill includes new funding for the second phase of construction of UNL’s ARS&nbsp;Center, which will expand Nebraska’s&nbsp;leading role in agricultural innovation. This hub for research will attract students, scientists, and industry leaders&nbsp;focused on turning research into products and solutions in the field,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Fischer.Additional details on the Nebraska projects Senator Fischer secured are below.ARS National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture:$16 million appropriated to continue construction of the ARS National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture facility at UNL’s Innovation Campus.NDMC at UNL:Secured $3 million in program funding to help build resiliency to drought.National Ag Producers Data Cooperative:Secured $1 million in program funding to help promote collaboration between researchers and stakeholders to develop a framework for a standardized, secure system to process agricultural data.Senator Fischer also secured language that would:1) Prioritize ARS research critical for the beef industry at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska.2) Require the USDA to better utilize the Conservation Loan Program as a Precision Ag Loan Program.3) Push the USDA to provide advanced cost share on the Emergency Conservation Program.4) Require reporting on lab-grown and plant-based protein labeling.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fischer Advances Additional $16 Million for Construction of Agricultural Research Service Facility at UNL

&nbsp; WASHINGTON ­–&nbsp;U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a&nbsp;member of the Senate&nbsp;Appropriations Committee,&nbsp;secured a total of&nbsp;$121.9 million for Nebraska&nbsp;military construction projects in&nbsp;the 2025&nbsp;Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act.

The majority of the funding will go towards the planning and design of aircraft hangars, ramps, operations training facilities, supply storage, and a fire and rescue station at Offutt Air Force Base—required infrastructure for the Air Force’s new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) program.

SAOC will eventually replace the Air Force’s current fleet of E-4Bs, highly specialized&nbsp;“doomsday” planes hosted by Offutt Air Force Base. E-4Bs, which serve as mobile command centers for senior government leaders in crisis scenarios, are rapidly aging and must be replaced. Senator Fischer secured this funding in the MilCon-VA bill to prepare Offutt Air Force Base to host the new versions of the E-4Bs.The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to advance the legislation today. It now heads to the full Senate for passage.

“Nebraska is the proud home of the Air Force’s ‘doomsday’ planes, which the president and other military leaders use for command and control of our armed forces during extreme crisis situations. My provision provides Offutt with key resources needed to host the next generation of these highly specialized aircraft,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Fischer.

Nebraska’s Military Construction Funding:1) $110 million appropriated to plan and design the necessary facilities to support the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) program.2) $6 million to plan and design a new building to consolidate Offutt Air Force Base’s educational functions, military support functions, and the DOD STEM-based STARBASE program.3) $5.9 million to expand available housing at the Greenlief Training Site in Adams County, NE.

Veterans Affairs (VA) Request:1) Urges the VA to purchase essential medical devices from U.S. manufacturers or allied trading partners and requests the VA to submit a report on ways to reduce dependency on Chinese medical devices while safeguarding against shortages.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer&nbsp; WASHINGTON ­–&nbsp;U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a&nbsp;member of the Senate&nbsp;Appropriations Committee,&nbsp;secured a total of&nbsp;$121.9 million for Nebraska&nbsp;military construction projects in&nbsp;the 2025&nbsp;Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act.The majority of the funding will go towards the planning and design of aircraft hangars, ramps, operations training facilities, supply storage, and a fire and rescue station at Offutt Air Force Base—required infrastructure for the Air Force’s new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) program.SAOC will eventually replace the Air Force’s current fleet of E-4Bs, highly specialized&nbsp;“doomsday” planes hosted by Offutt Air Force Base. E-4Bs, which serve as mobile command centers for senior government leaders in crisis scenarios, are rapidly aging and must be replaced. Senator Fischer secured this funding in the MilCon-VA bill to prepare Offutt Air Force Base to host the new versions of the E-4Bs.The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to advance the legislation today. It now heads to the full Senate for passage.“Nebraska is the proud home of the Air Force’s ‘doomsday’ planes, which the president and other military leaders use for command and control of our armed forces during extreme crisis situations. My provision provides Offutt with key resources needed to host the next generation of these highly specialized aircraft,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Fischer.Additional details on the Nebraska projects Senator Fischer secured are below.Nebraska’s Military Construction Funding:1) $110 million appropriated to plan and design the necessary facilities to support the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) program.2) $6 million to plan and design a new building to consolidate Offutt Air Force Base’s educational functions, military support functions, and the DOD STEM-based STARBASE program.3) $5.9 million to expand available housing at the Greenlief Training Site in Adams County, NE.Veterans Affairs (VA) Request:1) Urges the VA to purchase essential medical devices from U.S. manufacturers or allied trading partners and requests the VA to submit a report on ways to reduce dependency on Chinese medical devices while safeguarding against shortages.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 Fischer Secures $116 Million for Offutt Air Force Base

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/11/nine-apply-to-become-next-director-of-history-nebraska/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN – Applicants to become the next director of the state historical society include a supervisor of Nebraska historical parks, the head of an Indiana agency that handles historic documents and the manager of an&nbsp;agricultural exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair.

The list of applicants obtained by the Nebraska Examiner also includes a former Lincoln City Council member, a state legislative fiscal analyst and a former History Nebraska librarian who had complained about the policies of the agency’s then-director, Trevor Jones.

One of the 10 applicants was listed in error – Rob Dump, publisher of a group of community newspapers based in Hartington, said he was seeking appointment to the History Nebraska Board of Trustees, and not the director’s job.

July 1 was the application deadline for the job of replacing Jones, who resigned two years ago after six years in the post.&nbsp;

He left the job with the intention of traveling in Europe, just prior to the release of a state audit that accused him of improperly misappropriating a private donation to the history agency.

Jones is now awaiting trial on a criminal charge of theft by deception in Lancaster County District Court.

Since Jones resigned, Jill Dolberg,&nbsp;who had headed History Nebraska’s historic preservation office, has served as interim director.

Dolberg was not among the list of applicants released by the Governor’s Office. Gov. Jim Pillen, under a law passed this spring by the Nebraska Legislature, will choose a new director.&nbsp;

Previously, the 14-member History Nebraska board of trustees picked the director, as it has since the agency was founded as the Nebraska State Historical Society 146 years ago.

But state lawmakers, citing the controversy surrounding Jones and a previous case involving an assistant director embezzling funds, voted to shift the agency from an independent entity to one under the supervision of the governor.

The job paid $164,800 a year when Jones quit. There is no timeline for selecting a new director, according to Pillen spokeswoman Laura Strimple, and the salary will be negotiated with the successful candidate.&nbsp;

One former trustee, Jim McKee of Lincoln, said he was surprised at the shortage of applicants for director and about how only one was from out of state.

He said there were about 35 applicants for the job when Jones was hired, and only one was from Nebraska. Jones came from Kentucky, where he was director of historical resources for the state’s historical society

McKee said he was not familiar with any of the applicants.&nbsp;

But one, Bob Hanover of Crab Orchard, reportedly had emerged as a leading candidate during a director’s search conducted by the History Nebraska board of trustees. That search process was abandoned earlier this year when it became clear that oversight of the agency and the hiring decision would be shifting to the governor.

Hanover, according to his resume, currently supervises the 10 historical parks operated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and he has worked at federal and state historical parks in Utah. Recently, he served as chair of the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Board, which reviews and decides whether properties should be included on the National Register of Historic Places.

Another applicant in the history field and the lone out-of-state candidate is&nbsp;Chandler Lighty of Indianapolis, who is the director of the Indiana State Archives, the official repository of historical documents in that state.

Another applicant,&nbsp;Sarah Polak of Hastings, works for Nebraska Extension as experience coordinator of Raising Nebraska, an agriculture literacy exhibit at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720717790968.jpeg" alt=" History Nebraska, formerly known as the Nebraska State Historical Society, is located just off the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus at 1500 R St. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> History Nebraska, formerly known as the Nebraska State Historical Society, is located just off the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus at 1500 R St. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/11/nine-apply-to-become-next-director-of-history-nebraska/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN – Applicants to become the next director of the state historical society include a supervisor of Nebraska historical parks, the head of an Indiana agency that handles historic documents and the manager of an&nbsp;agricultural exhibit at the Nebraska State Fair.The list of applicants obtained by the Nebraska Examiner also includes a former Lincoln City Council member, a state legislative fiscal analyst and a former History Nebraska librarian who had complained about the policies of the agency’s then-director, Trevor Jones.One of the 10 applicants was listed in error – Rob Dump, publisher of a group of community newspapers based in Hartington, said he was seeking appointment to the History Nebraska Board of Trustees, and not the director’s job.July 1 was the application deadline for the job of replacing Jones, who resigned two years ago after six years in the post.&nbsp;He left the job with the intention of traveling in Europe, just prior to the release of a state audit that accused him of improperly misappropriating a private donation to the history agency.<h2>Charge of theft by deception</h2>Jones is now awaiting trial on a criminal charge of theft by deception in Lancaster County District Court.Since Jones resigned, Jill Dolberg,&nbsp;who had headed History Nebraska’s historic preservation office, has served as interim director.Dolberg was not among the list of applicants released by the Governor’s Office. Gov. Jim Pillen, under a law passed this spring by the Nebraska Legislature, will choose a new director.&nbsp;Previously, the 14-member History Nebraska board of trustees picked the director, as it has since the agency was founded as the Nebraska State Historical Society 146 years ago.But state lawmakers, citing the controversy surrounding Jones and a previous case involving an assistant director embezzling funds, voted to shift the agency from an independent entity to one under the supervision of the governor.The job paid $164,800 a year when Jones quit. There is no timeline for selecting a new director, according to Pillen spokeswoman Laura Strimple, and the salary will be negotiated with the successful candidate.&nbsp;One former trustee, Jim McKee of Lincoln, said he was surprised at the shortage of applicants for director and about how only one was from out of state.He said there were about 35 applicants for the job when Jones was hired, and only one was from Nebraska. Jones came from Kentucky, where he was director of historical resources for the state’s historical societyMcKee said he was not familiar with any of the applicants.&nbsp;But one, Bob Hanover of Crab Orchard, reportedly had emerged as a leading candidate during a director’s search conducted by the History Nebraska board of trustees. That search process was abandoned earlier this year when it became clear that oversight of the agency and the hiring decision would be shifting to the governor.<h2>Runs historical parks</h2>Hanover, according to his resume, currently supervises the 10 historical parks operated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and he has worked at federal and state historical parks in Utah. Recently, he served as chair of the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Board, which reviews and decides whether properties should be included on the National Register of Historic Places.Another applicant in the history field and the lone out-of-state candidate is&nbsp;Chandler Lighty of Indianapolis, who is the director of the Indiana State Archives, the official repository of historical documents in that state.Another applicant,&nbsp;Sarah Polak of Hastings, works for Nebraska Extension as experience coordinator of Raising Nebraska, an agriculture literacy exhibit at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds.&nbsp;Others who applied are:<ul>
 <li>Scott Danigole of Eagle, a fiscal analyst for the Nebraska Legislature whose responsibilities have included the budget of History Nebraska.</li><li>Cindy Drake of Avoca, who served as a librarian for History Nebraska for more than 40 years.</li><li>Roy Christensen of Lincoln, a former Lincoln City Council member and audiologist who specializes in hearing aids.</li><li>Scott Clarke of Lincoln, owner of a business that designs museum displays.</li><li>Darren Ivy of Firth, owner/publisher of the Hickman Voice.</li><li>Kenneth Albin of Omaha.</li>
 </ul>

Nine apply to become next director of History Nebraska

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/09/k-12-funding-shift-from-property-taxes-would-be-multiyear-effort-nebraska-lawmakers-say/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Some Nebraska lawmakers working with Gov. Jim Pillen on property tax reforms this summer said Monday if lawmakers do move to take over most K-12 school funding, it would be a multiyear process.

A group of 17 lawmakers has been meeting with Pillen regularly since the Legislature adjourned in April. The governor has spoken publicly as those meetings have progressed. But senators confirmed to the Nebraska Examiner that many details remained to be ironed out before a special session&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/25/property-tax-special-session-likely-to-begin-july-25-speaker-arch-offers-schedule/">could begin July 25</a>.

The 17 lawmakers who have been part of the property tax working group discussions with Gov. Jim Pillen are State Sens. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, Rob Clements of Elmwood, Wendy DeBoer of Omaha, George Dungan of Lincoln, Steve Erdman of Bayard, John Fredrickson of Omaha, Ben Hansen of Blair, Teresa Ibach of Sumner, Mike Jacobson of North Platte, Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, Mike McDonnell of Omaha, Fred Meyer of St. Paul, Dave Murman of Glenvil, Merv Riepe of Ralston and Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn.

Thirteen Republicans and four Democrats make up the working group for the officially nonpartisan Legislature. Three are from the 1st Congressional District while seven each are from the 2nd and 3rd Congressional Districts.

Among Pillen’s most ambitious ideas is the state assuming control of most local K-12 funding, the “operational” side of school funding. Property taxes would remain a “backstop” if approved by a vote of the people, including for&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/pad/research/annual-reports/2023/annrpt2023%20table%2014.pdf" target="_blank">bonds</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/pad/research/annual-reports/2023/annrpt2023%20table%2013.pdf" target="_blank">two other funds</a>.

With school budgets already in motion for the upcoming school year, lawmakers who were briefed on the closed-door meetings said they would likely need to clean up the proposals, if enacted this year, in the 2025 legislative session.

The model would be similar to how the state began funding community colleges after 2023 legislation was passed. However, the state has six community colleges, which have tuition power, compared to 244 school districts, which don’t have such a funding option.

“I think the governor is committed to being a good dance partner for the schools, and he wants to fund them. That doesn’t mean the Legislature always will,” said State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha, a task force member. “But I will give him credit that I think he does want to.”

“We need to figure out what we can afford, keep some skin in the game, if you will, from the local property taxpayer, and let’s make sure that we get the right funding levels,” said State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte.

Many funding details of the joint proposal still need to be worked out, several senators said. That includes deciding which of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/10/everybodys-got-to-play-breaking-down-nebraskas-more-than-100-sales-tax-exemptions/">more than 120 sales tax exemptions</a>&nbsp;would be removed and which of various “sin” taxes, on alcohol, cigarettes and vaping, would be increased.

The “task force” of lawmakers had originally planned for Monday to be the group’s last meeting, but many said they had “homework” and would meet again at least once, likely July 22. That would be three days before Pillen&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/17/nebraska-gov-pillen-issues-save-the-date-for-special-session-on-property-taxes/">signaled</a>&nbsp;a special session would commence.

State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston said after Monday’s meeting that “we have work to do.” He&nbsp; said he has concerns about releasing a plan within five days of the special session, likely under the assumption it would be the final version.

“I just need time to digest it and, quite frankly, read it and study it and put it aside and then come back and read it again and study it,” Riepe said.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said she didn’t have concerns if a plan isn’t released until then as during a regular legislative session, bills are introduced and then sent for a hearing at least a week later. She also said Pillen has been sharing&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/24/gov-pillen-outlines-some-funding-levers-in-his-quest-to-lower-nebraska-property-taxes/">parts of the eventual proposal</a>&nbsp;publicly.

Jacobson said the task force set out to bring bold ideas and a framework to a special session and see whether a majority of lawmakers would agree to it.

“But I want to be clear that this is a working group and then what we bring forward is not ‘the plan,’ it is ‘a plan,’ ” Jacobson said.

State Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston said she hopes Nebraskans will do their due diligence once the proposal is formally released and participate in public hearings, which are&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/25/property-tax-special-session-likely-to-begin-july-25-speaker-arch-offers-schedule/">tentatively slated to begin July 29</a>.

Throughout the summer, task force members have been asked to keep conversations private. Linehan confirmed they are at a point where they need to start talking with other senators, who agree high property taxes are pushing old people out of their homes and preventing young people from buying a home.

Linehan said the ideas would make a difference in a family’s monthly budget, pointing to an example of a the property tax portion of a monthly mortgage payment of $300, where a 60% reduction in property taxes would save about $180 each month.

“That’s a trip to the grocery store. And then, over a year of course, it’s enough that people would notice it,” Linehan said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720709542428.jpeg" alt=" Gov. Jim Pillen addresses attendees at a property tax town hall in Plattsmouth on Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Jim Pillen addresses attendees at a property tax town hall in Plattsmouth on Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/09/k-12-funding-shift-from-property-taxes-would-be-multiyear-effort-nebraska-lawmakers-say/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Some Nebraska lawmakers working with Gov. Jim Pillen on property tax reforms this summer said Monday if lawmakers do move to take over most K-12 school funding, it would be a multiyear process.A group of 17 lawmakers has been meeting with Pillen regularly since the Legislature adjourned in April. The governor has spoken publicly as those meetings have progressed. But senators confirmed to the Nebraska Examiner that many details remained to be ironed out before a special session&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/25/property-tax-special-session-likely-to-begin-july-25-speaker-arch-offers-schedule/">could begin July 25</a>.<h2>‘Figure out what we can afford’</h2><h2>Property tax working group members</h2>The 17 lawmakers who have been part of the property tax working group discussions with Gov. Jim Pillen are State Sens. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, Rob Clements of Elmwood, Wendy DeBoer of Omaha, George Dungan of Lincoln, Steve Erdman of Bayard, John Fredrickson of Omaha, Ben Hansen of Blair, Teresa Ibach of Sumner, Mike Jacobson of North Platte, Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, Mike McDonnell of Omaha, Fred Meyer of St. Paul, Dave Murman of Glenvil, Merv Riepe of Ralston and Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn.Thirteen Republicans and four Democrats make up the working group for the officially nonpartisan Legislature. Three are from the 1st Congressional District while seven each are from the 2nd and 3rd Congressional Districts.Among Pillen’s most ambitious ideas is the state assuming control of most local K-12 funding, the “operational” side of school funding. Property taxes would remain a “backstop” if approved by a vote of the people, including for&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/pad/research/annual-reports/2023/annrpt2023%20table%2014.pdf" target="_blank">bonds</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/pad/research/annual-reports/2023/annrpt2023%20table%2013.pdf" target="_blank">two other funds</a>.With school budgets already in motion for the upcoming school year, lawmakers who were briefed on the closed-door meetings said they would likely need to clean up the proposals, if enacted this year, in the 2025 legislative session.The model would be similar to how the state began funding community colleges after 2023 legislation was passed. However, the state has six community colleges, which have tuition power, compared to 244 school districts, which don’t have such a funding option.“I think the governor is committed to being a good dance partner for the schools, and he wants to fund them. That doesn’t mean the Legislature always will,” said State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha, a task force member. “But I will give him credit that I think he does want to.”“We need to figure out what we can afford, keep some skin in the game, if you will, from the local property taxpayer, and let’s make sure that we get the right funding levels,” said State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte.Many funding details of the joint proposal still need to be worked out, several senators said. That includes deciding which of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/10/everybodys-got-to-play-breaking-down-nebraskas-more-than-100-sales-tax-exemptions/">more than 120 sales tax exemptions</a>&nbsp;would be removed and which of various “sin” taxes, on alcohol, cigarettes and vaping, would be increased.<h2>Final product is not ‘the plan’</h2>The “task force” of lawmakers had originally planned for Monday to be the group’s last meeting, but many said they had “homework” and would meet again at least once, likely July 22. That would be three days before Pillen&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/17/nebraska-gov-pillen-issues-save-the-date-for-special-session-on-property-taxes/">signaled</a>&nbsp;a special session would commence.State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston said after Monday’s meeting that “we have work to do.” He&nbsp; said he has concerns about releasing a plan within five days of the special session, likely under the assumption it would be the final version.“I just need time to digest it and, quite frankly, read it and study it and put it aside and then come back and read it again and study it,” Riepe said.State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said she didn’t have concerns if a plan isn’t released until then as during a regular legislative session, bills are introduced and then sent for a hearing at least a week later. She also said Pillen has been sharing&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/24/gov-pillen-outlines-some-funding-levers-in-his-quest-to-lower-nebraska-property-taxes/">parts of the eventual proposal</a>&nbsp;publicly.Jacobson said the task force set out to bring bold ideas and a framework to a special session and see whether a majority of lawmakers would agree to it.“But I want to be clear that this is a working group and then what we bring forward is not ‘the plan,’ it is ‘a plan,’ ” Jacobson said.State Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston said she hopes Nebraskans will do their due diligence once the proposal is formally released and participate in public hearings, which are&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/25/property-tax-special-session-likely-to-begin-july-25-speaker-arch-offers-schedule/">tentatively slated to begin July 29</a>.<h2>Monthly tax savings or a ‘wash’?</h2>Throughout the summer, task force members have been asked to keep conversations private. Linehan confirmed they are at a point where they need to start talking with other senators, who agree high property taxes are pushing old people out of their homes and preventing young people from buying a home.Linehan said the ideas would make a difference in a family’s monthly budget, pointing to an example of a the property tax portion of a monthly mortgage payment of $300, where a 60% reduction in property taxes would save about $180 each month.“That’s a trip to the grocery store. And then, over a year of course, it’s enough that people would notice it,” Linehan said.“I think if people realize you’re going to be saving, I don’t know, anywhere from $1,500 to thousands of dollars a year of property taxes, people will be willing to pay sales tax on things that aren’t essential,” Linehan continued.DeBoer said Nebraskans will need to consider whether they are willing to pay more in sales taxes if property tax bills go down, even if they’re paying the same amount of taxes in the end.“If it’s a wash, is that a wash they want?” DeBoer asked.<h2>Spending as key focus</h2>Jacobson said the state can’t continue to allow elected officials to have no limits on spending, though what that “cap” should be on additional property taxes year to year hasn’t been determined. Pillen has floated either keeping the amount of local property taxes each year flat during inflationary times or at a rate that increases as a measure of inflation.Also to be determined are certain exceptions, Jacobson said, including how to account for real growth like building construction or land annexation, what happens if there is a declared emergency and funding for law enforcement or critical infrastructure.Public votes could be used to override those increases, which Jacobson said should occur during regularly scheduled elections.Albrecht, a former city council member from Papillion and former Sarpy County commissioner, said that spending is the key issue. She said there is urgency to act before she and at least 14 other lawmakers leave the Legislature this year, leaving a significant learning curve for the next Legislature.Jacobson said school population growth is another factor that will need to be considered, including the number of students learning English as a second language and students with disabilities, similar to factors that currently help determine a school district’s level of state funding.He pushed back on concerns that schools would lose local control because they would retain authority over curriculum, the hiring or firing of school leaders and school district policies.“Local control is still about the local taxpayers having control, not necessarily the local boards having control of the tax dollars,” Jacobson said. “The local boards would have control over how the dollars are spent. That would not change.”<h2>‘EPIC light’</h2>Jacobson said the proposal would be “EPIC light,” a nod to the ballot initiative that fell short in seeking to eliminate property, income and corporate taxes in place of a broad consumption tax.State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, who led that petition effort, confirmed the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/03/epic-consumption-tax-nebraska-petition-falls-short-will-have-to-find-another-way/">EPIC model</a>&nbsp;will be introduced again this summer in the special session. He said the similarities between EPIC and the working group’s proposal end at a broad sales tax base.“This broken system is not going to get fixed by anything that we’ve tried to do,” Erdman said, describing the working group’s discussions as open, fair and robust.Erdman said that broadening the sales tax base has been needed for a long time and that it might be painful for some people. However, he said, if overall taxes are lowered, it will be valuable.“But getting the public to, what shall I say, believe that we’re going to lower property tax will be the hard thing,” Erdman said, pointing to decades where lawmakers haven’t fixed the problem.<h2>Finding enough votes ‘doable’</h2>Pillen, in his monthly radio call-in show Monday afternoon, pushed back on criticism of his plan and reiterated that he’ll get the votes he needs in the special session. If there is a filibuster on any of the reform measures, the governor would need 33 of the Legislature’s 49 members.“We’ll have the plan in black and white before the special session comes,” Pillen said. “It’s not going to be rocket science.”He continues to face pushback from senators who are farmers and represent more agricultural communities and who are hesitant to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/07/agricultural-education-senators-push-back-on-some-of-gov-jim-pillens-property-tax-reforms/">taxing agricultural inputs</a>, or the raw materials used in directly producing a finished product.Among those is State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner, who confirmed the group is still seeking solutions, but she said the governor wanted “transformational” ideas, and that’s what they’re working on.Linehan said lawmakers still have to figure out the “how” of the ideas, which she said is “doable.” She agrees with Pillen that 33 votes can be achieved.“We need a new way to fund schools, and we need to move away from property taxes and find a more equitable way to fund our schools and make sure that every kid in Nebraska, every kid, is getting treated well by the state,” Linehan said.Erdman said determining whether a proposal has enough votes depends on the final version of the legislation.Jacobson said multiple senators plan to bring their own proposals this summer, which he is encouraged by so the ideas can be combined so Nebraskans get meaningful tax reform.“No one’s going to be happy with all the pieces of this plan, or any plan that will be ultimately adopted, but we all, I think, are going to have to take a look at the state as a whole and try to come up with a plan that is more equitable to everyone, no matter where you live and no matter what your income may be,” Jacobson said. “And that’s going to be challenging.”