NEBRASKA RANKED THIRD BEST STATE BY U.S. NEWS

LINCOLN- According to U.S. News' 2024 Best States Rankings, Nebraska is the third-best state overall across the country, falling behind only Utah and New Hampshire. In 2023, the cornhusker state ranked fourth. The rankings are decided by 71 metrics across categories like health care, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, and crime.

U.S. News launched the rankings in 2017 with the goal of providing a comprehensive way to gauge how states perform across a wide array of issues, and decides rankings based on surveys conducted in each state. Nebraska ranked third in fiscal responsibility, fourth in infrastructure, and ninth in natural environment in this year's ratings.

The eight categories considered by U.S. News were assigned weights based on the surveys. Roughly 70,000 Nebraskans were asked to prioritize each subject in their state, and health care and education were weighted most heavily.

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LEGISLATURE GUTTED FUNDING FROM KEY CHILDCARE BILLS BEFORE PASSAGE

LINCOLN- Prior to adjourning Sine Die last month, the Nebraska Legislature passed two of their biggest proposals to date to address the severe lack of affordable childcare in Nebraska. However, lawmakers steered no funding toward these new efforts, casting doubt on whether either of the new laws will have a meaningful impact on the childcare crisis.

Between 2019 and 2023, the state lost roughly 12% of its childcare providers for kids ages 5 and under. In the last week weeks of the past legislative session, two more Lincoln-based childcare centers announced they were shutting down, bringing the total to five closures in the past six months. According to some senators, it was the property tax reduction endeavor that largely stifled any bills with a projected fiscal impact, like the two relating to childcare.

"Long story short, anything that had a fiscal note attached to it either didn't make it out of committee or was reduced on the floor," said Sen. Teresa Ibach. One of the bills, LB1416, which would have established two new childcare programs before being gutted, was touted by childcare advocates as a "game-changer."

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ADRIAN SMITH FACING OFF AGAINST TWO REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS IN PRIMARY ELECTION

GERING- For the last 18 years, Republican Adrian Smith has represented Nebraska’s sprawling third congressional district. This year, Smith has two Republican primary opponents, one of them endorsed by the Nebraska Republican Party. Two Democrats are running as well. Smith has been in the seat since 2006 and has consistently received high approval ratings.

“We need to strengthen the border, we need to work on our debt like never before, and tax policy that's about to expire, that is important to renew, expand or make permanent,” he said. “And there's a lot of work to be done. And that's why I'm running again.” Smith has two opponents in the Republican primary. Robert McCuiston of Holdrege is a welder. He said he’s running on fiscal issues, including cutting foreign aid.

The third Republican candidate, John Walz, of Hastings, runs a discount grocery store. Walz said he wants to eliminate federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, that are not explicitly authorized by the Constitution. On the Democrat side, David Else, a farmer from Overton, said he wants to maintain and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. The other candidate is Daniel Ebers, a hotel manager. He says his main concern is working with others to solve economic problems.

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OPS TO SPEND $34.8 MILLION ON NEW PAY STRUCTURE WITH BONUSES FOR SPECIALIZED EDUCATORS

OMAHA- The Omaha Public Schools district is making substantial changes to its employee contract to address its staffing shortage. During Monday’s meeting, the school board approved amendments to the collective bargaining agreement with the teachers’ union and paraprofessionals’ union for the rest of this year and the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.

The changes will impact special education teachers, instructional facilitators, paraprofessionals and teachers with advanced degrees. It will cost the district $34.8 million for the length of the contracts. “I have had several teachers reach out to me this past weekend regarding change,” said Kathy Poehling, president of the Omaha Education Association (OEA). “Many have called to thank the OEA and others have called in joyful tears to say after working for OPS for over 20 years, they can now quit their second job.

The new agreement will adjust the district’s salary schedule to give those with the most advanced degrees, on average, the highest total compensation among local and national peer districts. For example, a teacher with a master’s degree and five years of experience has been paid $59,590, but will receive $63,050 with the new contract. With 10 years of experience, the salary for such a teacher would rise from $64,640 to $70,550.

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ONCE-CONTROVERSIAL SUMMER EBT FOOD PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME NE KIDS SET FOR ROLLOUT

LINCOLN- Nebraska’s plan to carry out the once-controversial Summer EBT food program for low-income youths has been given the green light from the federal government. The U.S. Department. of Agriculture approved the state’s planned rollout of the Summer EBT program, which include details such as “touchpoints” that local officials designed to improve outreach, according to the Nebraska DHHS.

So-called touchpoints include providing Nebraska parents with information on types of nutritious foods to buy and follow-up surveys to identify additional needs or concerns. State officials expect the Summer EBT program to serve about 175,000 students, or 80,000 households that meet certain criteria, including an income that makes them eligible for free or reduced-price lunch during the school year.

That count is up from an earlier estimate of about 150,000 children anticipated to benefit at a state cost of about $400,000 per year to administer the federally-funded program. Each qualified child is to receive a card loaded with a total of $120 in grocery-buying benefits. The program is designed to allow access to nutritious food during summer months when school is out.

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BIDEN DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER, OPENS FEDERAL FUNDING TO NEBRASKA AFTER TORNADO OUTBREAK

OMAHA- On Friday, President Joe Biden officially declared a major disaster in Nebraska, opening the door to federal funding for those affected in Douglas and Washington Counties. The funds can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other recovery programs.

Andrew Meyer of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is set to oversee the allocation of this federal funding. Gov. Jim Pillen, in a statement, expressed his appreciation for the expedited declaration, which came just one day after he asked the president to give the order. "This approval will allow Nebraskans affected by the Arbor Day tornadoes to get back on their feet as quickly as possible," Pillen wrote.

Funding will also be available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures. Pillen has deployed dozens of Nebraska National Guard members to Douglas County to assist with recovery and security.

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PILLEN REQUESTS DISASTER DECLARATION: $10.5 MILLION FOR PANHANDLE'S WINTRY STORMS IN EARLY APRIL

LINCOLN- Gov. Jim Pillen submitted a federal disaster declaration request for early April wintry storms for eight counties in the Nebraska Panhandle. Pillen requested the declaration and a preliminary $10.5 million in federal funding after thunderstorms and heavy rains April 6 and April 7 developed into freezing rain, snow, strong winds and blizzard conditions.

Funding would help cover costs to repair or replace public infrastructure. The eight western counties are: Banner, Cheyenne, Dawes, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff and Sioux. A news release states the most significant storm damage was to power systems, including downed power lines, and five utility systems.

“Some residents in the impacted areas were without electricity for up to a week,” the release continues. “Other storm impacts included closed highways, downed trees, and some damage to local buildings and equipment.” President Biden recently granted the major disaster declaration for the Arbor Day tornadoes in the eastern portion of the state. It is expected that he also approves this request.

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'NEBRASKA WILL NOT COMPLY' WITH NEW TITLE IX REVISIONS, PILLEN SAYS, JOINS LAWSUIT

LINCOLN- On Friday, Gov. Jim Pillen announced that Nebraska will be joining a handful of states in defying new Title IX rules enacted by the Biden Administration and set to take effect in August. Pillen, in a news release, said the "rewrite of Title IX is an affront to the common sense idea that men do not belong in women's spaces," and that it's a "direct attack" on the Women's Bill of Rights he established last year.

Title IX, a 1972 rule, prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding. The Biden Administration recently enacted changes that explicitly protect gender identity and sexual orientation. Pillen argued that the state "must fight against radical gender ideology and vigorously protect the rights of Nebraska women and girls."

At least 16 states are suing the federal government over the Title IX changes, including Nebraska, who signed onto it on Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Education announced that states not in compliance with the new changes risk losing federal funding. Under the new rules, which go into effect on August 1st, LGBTQ students who face discrimination would be entitled to a response from their school under Title IX.

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PILLEN'S PROPERTY TAX ROAD SHOW TARGETS POSSIBLE YES VOTES

BELLEVUE- Gov. Pillen took his push for property tax relief on the road Friday, launching a series of town hall meetings aimed at finding the 30 to 33 legislate votes he needs for a promised special session this summer. Pillen told an audience of roughly 50 people at Bellevue University that he remains committed to offsetting $2 billion the $5 billion Nebraska is spending each year on property taxes.

He asked those in attendance to let lawmakers know that people can't sustain current property tax loads. His main goal is to have lawmakers pass a proposal to pull forward, or "front-load," about $750 million in already approved income tax credits for property taxes paid. Having the state pick up the tab on community colleges, said Pillen, would help the state grant another $248 million in property tax relief.

Despite criticism, Pillen also announced that he would still like lawmakers to consider up to a 1-cent increase in state sales tax, which would raise nearly half a billion dollars. One of Pillen's main targets is to increase the tax on cigarettes, which he argued was too low, and to add the sales tax to pop and candy purchases.

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NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT DISMISSES FOSTER CARE ABUSE CASE AGAINST DHHS, EXPANDS IMMUNITY

LINCOLN- On Friday, the Nebraska Supreme Court issued a 4-1 opinion in Joshua v. State that upheld certain immunity for employees of the state Department of Health and Human Services after three siblings alleged negligence after more than a decade of sexual and physical abuse in foster care. The opinion built upon the 2020 decision in Moser v. State, and overruled related cases as well.

Justices Jeffrey Funke and John Freudenberg did not participate in the decision. State lawmakers passed legislation this year that would have allowed individuals to bring lawsuits against political subdivisions, like DHHS, in cases of physical and sexual abuse, but the bill, introduced by Sen. Justin Wayne, was vetoed by Gov. Pillen. "We need a special session immediately to address this issue," said Wayne after the veto was announced.

At hand in Joshua v. State, as well as the now-vetoed legislation, is the Political Subdivisions Tort Claims Act, which forbids certain lawsuits against political subdivisions and upholds "sovereign immunity." A penned dissent from the court's longest-serving member, Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman, argued that the court "overlooked an opportunity" to differentiate between immune child assault and nonimmune child assault.

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NEBRASKA GOP SENATE PRIMARY: DAVID VS. GOLIATH

OMAHA- John Glen Weaver, the Republican challenger against U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts in next week's primary election, wants voters to see his candidacy as a referendum for populist Republicans against the leading GOP establishment. U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, on the other hand, wants voters to see him as a bulwark against President Joe Biden's policies.

Political observers consider Ricketts to be the primary's overwhelming favorite, given his advantages in fundraising and name recognition. One GOP consultant event described the race as "David vs. Goliath." The state's congressional delegation and most of the state's top GOP donors back Ricketts over Weaver. However, Weaver has the backing of the populist-led state GOP and over 20 county parties.

Some activist Republicans in Nebraska have demanded more loyalty to former President Donald Trump from the state's congressional members, including Ricketts. While Ricketts backed the former president in 2016, 2020, and 2024, he preferred other candidates during the primary stages of the 2016 and 2024 races. Weaver, for many in Nebraska, seems to be more appealing in this regard.

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EASTERN LANCASTER COUNTY RACE HIGHLIGHTS PUBLIC SAFETY, HOUSING

LINCOLN- Public safety, housing, and taxes are among the top issues being discussed among the three candidates running for the District 25 legislative seat, which covers the eastern half of Lancaster County. Incumbent Sen. Carolyn Bosn is running for the seat for the first time after being appointed by Gov. Pillen to succeed former Sen. Suzanne Geist.

Bosn, a former prosecutor, is set to face Nicki Behmer Popp, a real estate agent, and Aurang Zeb, a business owner, during next Tuesday's primary election. If elected, Bosn said she plans to continue her work to reduce Nebraska's recidivism rate. Behmer Popp, who previously worked in the Legislature's Unicameral Information Office, seeks to protect Nebraska's unicameral structure, which she describes as a "gem."

Zeb, an immigrant from Pakistan, owns several pieces of real estate as well as a construction and medical company. A Democrat, Zeb said his main goal if elected would be to provide for more affordable housing. All three candidates highlighted property taxes as a major issue as well.

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SIGNATURES BEING GATHERED TO STOP NEBRASKA'S REVAMPED SCHOOL CHOICE LAW

LINCOLN- The union representing Nebraska's K-12 public school teachers can now begin collecting signatures to stop a new state law that would provide for school choice after Secretary of State Bob Evnen released the language that petition gatherers can use to target LB1402. The petition seeks to "repeal section 1 of LB1402...which directs $10 million dollars annually for financial grants-in-aid eligible students to attend a qualifying privately operated elementary or secondary school in Nebraska."

Support Our Schools, the group operating the petition drive, will have until mid-July to gather roughly 61,000 signatures from about 5% of registered voters statewide, plus 5% from voters in at least 38 counties. The leaders of Support Our Schools have argued that lawmakers and proponents of school choice revamped last year's Opportunity Scholarships Act to deny voters the chance to vote on this issue. 

Last year's scholarship program started as a privately funded effort backed by a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $25 million a year for donors. This year, however, the revamped proposal simply appropriates $10 million to the State Treasurer's Office for distribution. Some have questioned the constitutionality of that appropriation, while others have questioned whether a ballot initiative can even repeal a legislative appropriation.

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NE BANKERS ANNOUNCE NEW PRIVATE FUND TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, Gov. Jim Pillen and Attorney General Mike Hlgers embraced the new HALT Human Trafficking Fund launched this week by the Nebraska Bankers Association. Pillen pointing to a map of Nebraska featuring the location of all human trafficking incidents reported, said it was hard to see so many communities affected by "evil."

"We have to get the word out," said Pillen, "We have to bring people to justice and protect our kids. We can't have human trafficking in the State of Nebraska. It's unacceptable." Hilgers, whose office operates a human trafficking task force, said the newly-created fund will give smaller agencies more funding to combat trafficking.

Richard Baier, CEO of the Bankers Association, said the organization has already secured pledges for more than $100,000. Grant applications, which, according to Baier and Hilgers, could be made by schools or law enforcement entities, among other organizations, will be reviewed by the Nebraska Community Foundation.

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UNMC GETS FEDERAL GRANT TO LEAD EFFORT TO DESIGN BETTER RESPONSE TO NATIONAL HEALTH DISASTERS

OMAHA- With a boost of federal funds, the University of Nebraska Medical Center will help lead development of a new national planning approach to responding to large-scale health crises. Officials announced the effort to be launched with an initial $500,000 from the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, whose mission is to advance the nation’s public health readiness for disasters.

The medical center and its main clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, are to convene federal agencies and others across academia and industry to develop a more proactive plan, based on worst case and large-scale scenarios, for meeting medical and public health requirements during national emergencies. The goal is to be prepared and not have to build on the fly when difficult times arise.

The new approach will consider a range of things, UNMC officials said, including ways to rapidly develop and deploy therapeutics and options to quickly hire, train and retain more clinical staff, especially when the types of licensed professionals are unavailable. The project fits well with the previous work that has been done in the Global Center for Health Security department.

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NORTH OMAHA RACE WEIGHS BEST APPROACH: COMBATIVE OR COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP

OMAHA- Next week, Nebraska primary election voters wade into a generational divide over leadership styles and which approach best represents North Omaha in the Legislature. District 11 features a showdown between Democrat Terrell McKinney, nonpartisan Ernie Chambers, and nonpartisan Calandra Cooper. The three are fighting to represent one of the most diverse districts in the state.

For the past four years, McKinney, 33, has prodded the state Parole Board and prison system, sought sentencing reform and helped steer federal pandemic relief funds to North and South Omaha. Chambers, 86, spent his 46 years in the Legislature building more of a reputation for the bills he killed with filibusters, amendments and stalling tactics than for what he passed.

Unlike McKinney and Chambers, who said they will not criticize one another, Cooper, 57, said North Omaha doesn’t have to pick between old-school resistance and new-school relationships. The self-financed candidate, a pharmacy technician, business owner and nonprofit leader says she would focus more on improving incomes, public safety, youth activities and neighborhoods.

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DODGE COUNTY DISTRICT 15 LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES WEIGH IN ON TAXES, EDUCATION, ECONOMY

LINCOLN- A crowded legislative race in Dodge County and Valley includes a business owner, engineer, firefighter paramedic, financial services company president and human rights advocate. The candidates are looking to fill the seat of Sen. Lynne Walz who is term limited. In the race are: Anthony Hanson, Roxie Kracl, Peter Mayberry, Scott Thomas, and Dave “Woody” Wordekemper.

The candidates range in age from their 30s to their 50s. Four are registered Republicans from Fremont, the county seat of Dodge County, while the fifth is a registered Democrat from Valley, the sliver of Douglas County that is in Legislative District 15. Hanson, an engineer, lists his top issue as property taxes. Kracl, a president of a credit bureau, is confirming that legislation is "pro-consumer".

Mayberry, a laundromat owner, did not list his top position. Thomas, a human rights director, lists his main focus as protecting children from the “calculated attack on the American family". Wordekemper, a firefighter, lists his top issue as addressing violent crimes committed by young Nebraskans. Each candidate casts property taxes as an issue while they differ on topics such as higher education and economic development. 

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VOTERS SURVEY SHOWS HEAVY SUPPORT FOR MORE STATE INVESTMENT IN EARLY LEARNING, CHILD CARE

LINCOLN- According to a survey conducted by We Care for Kids and the Nebraska Extension early childhood development arm, more than 80% of Nebraskans agree that state lawmakers should support child care and early learning programs just as much as they do for K-12 schooling and higher education. Roughly the same proportion believe lawmakers should make child care and early learning a higher priority than it is today.

Results from the survey, which interviewed roughly 501 registered voters representing different areas of the state, are to be distributed to legislators and policymakers in an effort to call for increase attention to affordable and quality child care services, said Claire Wiebe of We Care for Kids. Wiebe said that many communities across Nebraska are working to improve access to affordable child care and early learning programming, but that they "can't do it alone."

"Clearly, there is a strong desire to fix Nebraska's child care crisis and for state government to do its part," she said of the survey. Wiebe also pointed out that some positive movement was made during the most recent legislative session, including the passage of an amended LB856, which changed a Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services rule that prohibited some child care providers from receiving free child care assistance for their own children.

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UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA JOINS WAVE OF CAMPUS PROTESTS IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINE

LINCOLN- More than 100 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students and community members gathered on Wednesday in what they called a "Liberated Zone for Palestine" in an attempt to force the NU System to disclose any investments it has made into Israel and to divest from those should any be revealed. Protestors also called on UNL to end a sponsored study abroad program in Jerusalem.

"We're here because there are students, professors, administrators, and staff in Gaza who are experiencing a genocide," said Anna Synya, a UNL senior present at the protest. Although many protests arguing for divestment from Israel have turned violent, the Lincoln event focused on teach-ins, dances, chants, and prayers, all of which remained peaceful.

Synya, a member of UNL's chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, emphasized that the reason UNL students came out to protest was not to support student protestors on other campuses, like Columbia, but because they wanted to support Gaza, where every university has been bombed. While counter-protestors showed up to the event, the UNL Police Department maintained a minimal presence all day.

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STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS RUNNING OUT TO TRY FORTENBERRY IN NEBRASKA

LINCOLN- Five months after a federal appellate court reversed his convictions for making false statements to FBI agents investigating foreign campaign contributions, former Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry has yet to face any new charges, with the window to try him soon closing. On March 25th, 2022, Fortenberry was found guilty of concealing conduit campaign contributions and lying to federal agents.

However, because the original trial occurred in Las Angeles, where the contribution was given to Fortenberry, a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel overturned Fortenberry's convictions and argued that he should have instead been tried in Nebraska. "Fortenberry's conditions are reversed so that he may be retired, if at all, in a proper venue," wrote Judge James Donato.

While the statute of limitations to charge Fortenberry in Nebraska has yet to run out, just two and a half months remain before prosecutors would be barred from going forward. According to Lecia Wright of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nebraska, any prosecution in their office must begin with a referral from a law enforcement agency.

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