PROPERTY TAX SPECIAL SESSION COULD BE AMONG COSTLIEST IN NEBRASKA HISTORY

LINCOLN- If Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen calls lawmakers back to the Capitol this summer to tackle the state's property tax crisis, it could be among the costliest special sessions in state history. Pillen, now in his second year as governor, has remained firm in vowing to "call as many special sessions as it takes" in his pursuit of reducing local property taxes by 40% by the end of the year.

Reducing the rate by 40% equates to around $2 billion. In his April 18th end-of-session speech, Pillen said it was unacceptable that lawmakers failed to enact any meaningful relief. "Enjoy halftime," he told the body, "We'll see you again here soon." The Legislature's accounting office released cost breakdowns for special sessions of varying lengths this year:

• Five Days: $79,686 (Roughly $16,000 per session day)

• Seven Days: $130,165 (Roughly $18,500 per session day)

• Ten Days $174,876 (Roughly $17,500 per session day)

Three years ago, lawmakers returned in the summer for a 13-day session concerning redistricting, which cost a total of $105,436, or around $8,000 per day. If estimates hold, the property tax special session would see the largest per-day cost increases between sessions in Unicameral history.

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STATE SEES LARGEST NUMBER OF ACTIVE TORNADOES BEFORE JUNE IN 20 YEARS

LINCOLN- The National Weather Service has confirmed that more than two dozen tornadoes touched down in Nebraska during storms that raked across the state last week, continuing what has been one of the most active tornado season on record in the state. Thankfully, most of the tornadoes that hit across the state last Thursday and Friday were small and did very little damage.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which has tornado records dating back to 1950, indicated that only once in 2004 have there been more tornadoes recorded in the state before June. According to the University, the number of tornadoes recorded this year is "notably high" compared to historical averages.

According to data from Accuweather, Nebraska has had the third-highest total of tornadoes reported so far this spring, trailing only Iowa and Texas. On average, the state usually sees around 41 tornadoes per year, according to UNL. Last year, there were 60 confirmed tornadoes.

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PETITION DRIVE TO PUT PAID SICK LEAVE ON NOVEMBER BALLOT NEARS FINISH LINE

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, Jill Heggen, spokeswoman for an initiative to put required paid sick leave on Nebraska's November ballot, said organizers are in the process of verifying signature numbers and making sure everything is in order before submitting the information collected to the Secretary of State. According to Heggen, organizers expect to turn in signatures in June, well ahead of the July 3rd deadline.

The proposal seeks to ensure paid sick leave for all Nebraska workers. If approved, the measure would require employers with fewer than 20 workers to offer at least five days of paid sick leave per year, or one hour for every 30 hours worked. Employers with more than 20 workers would have to offer at least seven days per year.

Heggen said that it was not a difficult endeavor to gather an adequate number of signatures, since almost everyone has experienced the need to take time off work because of an illness. "It's been a fairly straightforward, commonsense issue," she said. The petition must collect valid signatures from at least 7% of registered voters statewide, around 86,300 people.

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SEN. HANSEN SAYS SCHOOLS COULD BE USING CRITICAL MAPPING THIS YEAR

LINCOLN- Critical Response Group, an organization founded by special ops veterans, provides aerial and gridded overlay mapping for school districts across the country, information that is to be used during emergency situations. "We basically took how we map and communicate overseas during counter-terrorism raids, and we took that technique and we started to adopt it and adapt it for schools," said COO Alex Carney.

This spring, the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill that would open the door for school districts to buy mapping services such as these, and provided grants to help in this endeavor. "The school board has to then decide if this is what they want, and then put it up for bid," said Sen. Ben Hansen, "Then they can make a decision on who they best see fit."

Hansen, who proposed the bill allowing schools to purchase this service, said he doesn't know the specific date when funding will be ready for distribution, but that some school districts could begin utilizing these services as soon as this year. He added that with the finding the state allocated, lawmakers will get an idea of what each district thinks about it, opening the door for future amendments to raise the funding.

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NEBRASKA SCHOOLS TO GET $3.3 MILLION FOR CLEAN BUSES

OMAHA- The Biden Administration revealed the recipients of the Environmental Protection Agency's 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, including Omaha Public Schools, Lincoln Public Schools, and Winnebago Public School District. The rebates will help selectees purchase 16 clean buses between them, an endeavor that reflects Biden's aim to encourage zero-emission vehicles.

The investment, according to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, will also boost demand for American-made batteries and vehicles, enhance domestic manufacturing, and create jobs. In total, Nebraska was awarded $3.3 million. Lincoln Public Schools is set to receive $815,000 for three clean school buses, while Omaha Public Schools will receive $1,450,000 for ten.

Winnebago Public School District will receive $1,035,000 for three buses. "President Biden believes every child deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life and breathe clean air, and his Investing in America agenda is designed to deliver just that," said Regan. The EPA's selections will fund school districts in 47 states.

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EXPANDING INTERGENERATIONAL CARE IS ON THE HORIZON FOR NEBRASKA CHILD CARE, NURSING HOMES

LINCOLN- As a number of long-term care and child care facilities in the state continue to face challenges, including closures, a new intergenerational care grant program seeks to turn the tide. LB1178, introduced by Sen. Anna Wishart, established this new incentive program, which would allow qualified nursing homes or assisted-living facilities that are certified for Medicare or Medicaid to apply for one-time startup costs to build out child care in the same unit.

"The concept is simple: providing child care in a nursing facility and creating opportunities for shared activities between senior citizens and children," said Wishart. The $300,000 program begins with up to $100,000 per facility through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. As per the language of the bill, priority will be given to rural communities.

Wishart said she first read about the concept of intergenerational care in 2019, and was "instantly inspired" by it. Her first proposal to introduce such a system in Nebraska stalled, in part, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wishart says she hopes this initial investment into these facilities will have a positive return on investment and encourage future lawmakers to provide additional financial support.

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BREWER SEES 'WAR FATIGUE' AMONG SOLDIERS AT FRONT IN UKRAINE

KYIV- After witnessing what he described as "war fatigue" in the Ukrainians stationed at the front lines, State Sen. Tom Brewer argued that America must continue to help stop the Russian advance or risk a wider war. "Democracy dies if we let the Ukrainians be defeated by Russia," said Brewer.

Brewer, now on his fourth visit to the war-torn country since the fighting broke out, said Ukraine needs more anti-missile defense systems and longer-range armaments. The bottom line, according to Brewer, is that the United States, Britain, and other allies must be more aggressive in providing Ukraine with weaponry.

"Instead of stringing them out, and feeding them little bits and pieces to survive," said Brewer, "give them what they need." As Brewer's month-long visit to Ukraine comes to a close, the senator said he plans to brief Nebraska's Congressional delegation on the situation there. Brewer said this visit, which began on May 2nd, was "by far" the hardest and most dangerous.

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NEBRASKA URGED TO BECOME 'MOST WELCOMING PLACE IN AMERICA' FOR IMMIGRANTS

LINCOLN- Nebraska business leaders are arguing that it's "glaringly apparent" that the state won't be able to meet its workforce needs without more immigrants, according to a consultant to the Nebraska Chamber Foundation. The North Carolina-based Economic Leadership Group, which consults with the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is meant to assess the state's economic competitiveness.

The group released a trio of reports examining how Nebraska stacks up among its peer states in an array of areas, the health of the state's manufacturing industry, and immigration in relation to the state's workforce. In all three studies, immigration surfaced as a top solution to fill the state's workforce gaps and ward off economic decline.

According to the reports, a majority of Nebraskans consider the current federal immigration system "broken." "They understood that there's a stigma around illegal immigration but stressed that legal paths must be improved," the consultant group wrote, "They felt that America needs to 'close the back door' but 'open the front door' for a greater volume of legal immigration."

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BIDEN APPROVES DISASTER, ASSISTANCE FOR NEBRASKA PANHANDLE'S WINTRY STORMS IN EARLY APRIL

LINCOLN- President Joe Biden has granted a major disaster declaration for the early April wintry storms that impacted eight counties in the Nebraska Panhandle. The Friday declaration has unlocked federal assistance to help with recovery from last month's storms, as requested by Gov. Jim Pillen in early May.

The counties that are to receive assistance include: Banner, Cheyenne, Dawes, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, and Sioux. "Some residents in the impacted areas were without electricity for up to a week," an early-May release from the Governor's Office stated, "Other storm impacts included closed highways, downed trees, and some damage to local buildings and equipment."

Andrew Meyer of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is to oversee the operations in western Nebraska. Meyer is also overseeing FEMA assistance in eastern Douglas and Washington Counties following the Arbor Day tornado outbreak, for which Biden also approved federal assistance and a disaster declaration.

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LAWMAKERS MEET WITH GOV. PILLEN IN CLOSED-DOOR MEETING TO DISCUSS PROPERTY TAXES

LINCOLN- Over a dozen state lawmakers met with Gov. Pillen in the Governor's Mansion early on Thursday to discuss property taxes. According to several senators, the group meeting with Pillen was asked to keep the discussion confidential.

"There was a meeting this morning, yes, at the Governor's Mansion," said Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, "The subject was 'What are we going to do about property taxes?'" While Linehan, at the request of the governor, withheld specific details, she said that no concrete plan came of Thursday's discussion.

Gov. Pillen is planning to call the Legislature back to Lincoln for a special session to deal with the issue of property taxes, but also indicated that there's no point in doing so if there isn't a solid plan that has support from the 33 lawmakers needed to overcome a potential filibuster.

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SARPY COUNTY SEEKS TO STEP UP TRUST, TRANSPARENCY BY HIRINH THIRD-PARTY WHISTLEBLOWER CONTRACTOR

BELLEVUE- Nebraska's fast-growing Sarpy County is poised to take an extra step to provide an anonymous, third-party path for its employees and citizens to report harassment, waste, and suspected mismanagement. The county, as of late May, is now offering this resource, formally titled IntegrityCounts, which is operated independently by Candian company Whistleblower Security Inc.

Under an annual $13,700 contract, Whistleblower Security is to confidentially accept information around-the-clock, information that will then be delivered to a committee of county officials for evaluation and the creation of a plan to tackle the issue. "This platform will help Sarpy County maintain the highest ethical standards in serving the public," said Sarpy County Board Chair Angi Burmeister.

Sarpy County officials said they began to offer this service to "promote transparency and accountability." Reports can be made by phone, email, or through an online service. Those who submit reports and tips are not required to provide any personal information. "Ultimately, problems can't be solved if they don't see the light of day," said Sarpy County Commissioner David Klug.

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HOUSE REPUBLICANS RIDE TO BACON'S AID WITH $2.8 MILLION AD RESERVATION

OMAHA- The Congressional Leadership Fund, a top fundraising arm of the U.S. House Republicans, recently announced that it has reserved $2.8 million in Omaha-area television advertising time for the fall rematch between incumbent Rep. Don Bacon and State Sen. Tony Vargas.

The reservations for Bacon came as a part of a $141 million wave of national spending by the group, which often invests significantly in swing districts held by Republican incumbents. Dan Conston, the group's president, called the investment "a significant early down payment on Republicans holding the House majority."

The tally for ad reservations this year rose sharply compared to 2022, when $1.3 million was spent. House Democrats are also spending in District 2 on behalf of Sen. Tony Vargas, as the Democrat-led House Majority PAC pledged $2 million to reserve ad time. The House Majority PAC, like the Congressional Leadership Fund, has spent significantly this year on the national scale, reserving a total of $186 million in television ads.

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ABORTION INITIATIVE WITH THE MOST VOTES WOULD BECOME LAW, SHOULD VOTERS PASS MORE THAN ONE

LINCOLN- According to Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, if voters pass more than one competing constitutional amendment seeking to prohibit, restrict, or enshrine abortion in the state Constitution, the initiative with the most votes would pass and become law, as the passage of two or more would generate constitutional and statutory conflicts.

"If they're on the same topic," said Evnen, "you're looking for the amendment that received the most raw votes. It's not the percentage." Three groups are currently circulating petitions to place abortion-related initiatives on the 2024 General Election ballot. One, put forward by Protect Our Rights Nebraska, would enshrine the right to abortions in the state Constitution.

A second, circulated by Protect Women and Children, would allow no abortions after the first trimester, much like current law, but would also allow the Legislature to restrict abortion further. Finally, another petition circulated by Now Choose Life would grant "personhood" to embryos and fetuses in the mother's womb, essentially outlawing abortion entirely.

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U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE DAN OSBORN APPEALS TO WORKING CLASS AT LINCOLN TOWN HALL

LINCOLN- Independent U.S. Senate Candidate Dan Osborn leaned into his blue-collar roots and railed against the state's "country club" congressional members during his first town hall event on Tuesday in Lincoln. Osborn, a Navy veteran and former union president, drew a stark contrast between himself and incumbent U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, against whom he is running.

"There is no one like me in the U.S. Senate," he told the crowd. For around an hour, Osborn fielded questions on topics ranging from abortion access to the war in Ukraine. He often sought the middle ground in his answers as he cast his candidacy as one meant to disrupt the status quo.

"We are not near as divided as the media wants us," Osborn said to cheers and applause, "I would say 95% of the stuff, we all agree on, whether I'm at a bar in Pickrell, Nebraska, or we're here in Lincoln. People understand we need a change." When faced with a question about whether the United States should fund the Ukrainians in their war against Russia, an issue that has divided Republicans in Congress, Osborn said supporting Ukraine was putting America first.

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SLAMA WILL NOT ENDORSE LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATE

LINCOLN- In her latest legislative column, State Sen. Julie Slama, who decided not to run for reelection this year, offered her reasoning for endorsing neither Dennis Schaardt nor Robert Hallstrom, both candidates in her Legislative District. Slama highlighted her past experiences endorsing candidates, and pointed to the competitive nature of the District 1 race.

"Since both Dennis Schaardt and Bob Hallstrom advanced to the November election to represent Southeast Nebraska in our Legislature, I've been asked several times if I'll be making an endorsement in the race," wrote Slama, "I won't be endorsing either Bob or Dennis for several reasons--most importantly because I think they'd both do a solid job of representing District 1 in Lincoln."

According to Slama, one of the most "valuable lessons" she learned during the 2020 campaign "came from a higher-ranking elected official who graciously refused to endorse either candidate in [her] race because the official had positive relationships with each candidate." Slama said she embraced that message wholeheartedly, and expects the race between Hallstrom and Schaardt to be highly competitive.

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NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO ENGAGE IN TWO NEBRASKA LEGISLATIVE RACES

WASHINGTON, DC- Two Democrats seeking seats in Nebraska's Legislature will be exposed to a national audience of potential donors after a Democratic Party committee designated them 2024 "spotlight" candidates, party officials said.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee — the party committee focused on electing Democrats to statehouses across the country — tabbed Mary Ann Folchert and Victor Rountree as the party's candidates who "represent two of the best opportunities to check the MAGA agenda in" Nebraska's formally nonpartisan Legislature.

Folchert, a former Westside Community Schools teacher, is seeking to unseat Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, a Republican who has emerged as among the Legislature's most controversial figures in her two years representing the Millard area. Kauth won the primary election 59.13% to Folcherts 40.87%.

Rountree, a retired Air Force chief master sergeant, is vying with Ben "Felix" Ungerman, a retired Air Force colonel and chief of staff in the Nebraska office of U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, for the Legislative District 3 seat set to be vacated by term-limited Sen. Carol Blood, a Democrat who once served on Bellevue's City Council. Ungerman beat Rountree 53.06%-46.94% in the primary election.

The designation does not come with a specific campaign finance windfall but ensures the DLCC will fundraise on behalf of the candidates.

GOVERNOR PILLEN, AT BEATRICE TOWN HALL, SAYS HE'S CONFIDENT SPECIAL SESSION WILL YIELD REFORM

BEATRICE – Saying Nebraskans are sick of the conversation, Governor Jim Pillen said it’s time for the State of Nebraska to fix its tax system to relieve the burden of property taxes.

Pillen held another of his townhall meetings Friday at the Beatrice Public Library, to get input from residents about tax and spending issues. Pillen said he plans to call a special session late this summer to pass a comprehensive tax reform package-something that failed to happen in this year’s regular legislative session when the clock ran out and a plan under consideration lacked support.

"It's going to be really hard to get done before the Fourth of July and I've made commitments to sell Nebraska around the world, so it's going to be after the middle of July to before school...that's going to be the goal."

Pillen said the benefit of a special session will be the ability to focus on one issue. He told an audience at the Beatrice Public Library that the effort to reduce property taxes will take spending restraint, removing sales tax exemptions and instituting a hard cap on local governments to help hold future spending down.

Pillen told the Beatrice audience Friday that another component of tax reform is eliminating mandates passed on to local governments that put pressure on their budgets.

NEBRASKA ADVOCATES FEAR 'CATASTROPHIC' NURSING HOME STAFFING RULE WILL LEAD TO CLOSURES

LINCOLN- Some Nebraska advocates and lawmakers are concerned that more nursing homes will close their doors in light of a now-finalized federal rule concerning minimum staffing requirements. In May, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published a rule that will set the minimum number of daily nursing hours that must be provided to each resident at 3.48 per day.

The new rule will also require that a registered nurse be on hand at all times. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the agency administrator, said that the changes are meant to ensure that eligible people can benefit from the "critical lifeline" of health coverage. The rule came in response to mass nursing home closures, which were prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, who introduced legislation to prevent the rule's publication, also sought to establish an advisory panel on nursing home workforce issues. The bill, however, was referred to the Senate's Committee on Finance and no action has been taken. Gov. Jim Pillen also spoke out against the change during a property tax town hall in Grand Island. "For crying out loud," Pillen told the crowd, "we don't have enough registered nurses to do that."

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OMAHA-BORN MALCOLM X TAKES A PLACE IN NEBRASKA HALL OF FAME

LINCOLN- Although Malcolm X left Nebraska before he turned two years old amid threats to his family, it is in Nebraska that the human rights advocate planted his roots, said Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of the slain civil rights hero. Shabazz and around 200 others gathered Wednesday in the Nebraska Capitol to induct Malcolm X into the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

Shabazz told those in attendance that she saw her father's entry as the state's 27th hall-of-famer, and the first who is African American, as significant in urging others to push boundaries. "Let Malcolm's dedication to truth and justice inspire us all, ensuring that future generations understand the full story of my father's life and transformation as it relates to their journeys."

A climatic moment came with the unveiling of a bust of Malcolm X, which was sculpted by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray and is to be displayed in the Nebraska Capitol's statuary hall. Former Sen. Ernie Chamber, who served in the Legislature for 46 years, commented on the fact that the induction of Malcolm X seemed, to him, an improbable feat.

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AG HILGERS SUES TIKTOK, BLASTS SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY AS 'DECEPTIVE' AND 'HARMFUL'

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, in a move that he cast as a potentially 'historic' case, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers announced that the state was suing media giant TikTok, accusing the company of misleading parents and children while "intentionally designing and operating a platform that is addictive and harmful."

In the 82-page lawsuit, which Hilgers unveiled at a press conference, TikTok is alleged to have marketed the app as youth-friendly while also creating intentional and addictive algorithms to lure minors to the app and keep them there. Hilgers also said that the content displayed on the app often does not align with the community standards TikTok touts.

"This truly is digital poison and it's poisoning our communities," Hilgers said of the app. Hilgers' complaint seeks monetary relief and an injunction, though his major goal is for TikTok to "stop misleading parents." Representatives from BryteDance, the technology firm that owns TikTok, did not immediately comment on the lawsuit.

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