Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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In October 1988, the Cold War was still simmering. World War II was just a generation ago, fresh in many veterans’ minds and in the hearts of families who lost their parents and grandparents in the conflict. More recently, many Americans had fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and many returned home in need of health care and in search of employment. October 1988 was the month President Ronald Reagan signed the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, which transformed the independent Veterans A...
Memorial Day was born out of our nation’s most fractured and pivotal moment: the Civil War. Battered and worn after four years of internal strife, America nonetheless emerged intact in 1865, the dream of the Union preserved. The price of preserving our nation, our ideals, and our freedoms was approximately 620,000 American lives — nearly a quarter of a million more souls than our nation would give 80 years later to liberate Europe and defeat the Empire of Japan. In the aftermath of such ext...
I never expected that after attending a couple events in Omaha I’d be rushing to a friend’s basement for cover from massive tornadoes at the end of April. But that’s what thousands of Nebraskans were doing that weekend. The strongest tornadoes our state has seen in years swept across Nebraska, leaving unbelievable damage in their wake. Miraculously, there were no fatalities in Nebraska. But tragically, the tornadoes did destroy people’s homes and livelihoods. They derailed train cars and upr...
This week, we will celebrate the 150th birthday of one of Nebraska’s foremost literary icons: Willa Cather. Cather, who died in 1947, was born on Dec. 7, 1873. One hundred and fifty years after that day, her legacy lives on through her poignant novels — including American classics “O Pioneers!” and “My Ántonia” — and her profound influence on our country. Cather moved from Virginia to Nebraska with her family at nine years old. Even at that young age, she was observant and clever. Cather...
Nearly 1.2 million Americans live in nursing homes today. The vast majority of those Americans are seniors, people who urgently need the specialized care that long-term nursing facilities provide. That's especially true in small towns, where a greater percentage of the population is over 65. But this fall, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed a rule that could close nursing facilities across rural America. The rule proposed in September has the stated goal of improving care in...
Earlier this year, a new Nebraska statue arrived in the U.S. Capitol. Each state memorializes two people in the Capitol building and our newest addition is Pulitzer Prize- winning author Willa Cather. One quote by Cather, from her novel, "My Ántonia," encapsulates what I'm thankful for during this season of gratitude: "We were talking about what it is like to spend one's childhood in little towns like these, buried in wheat and corn, under stimulating extremes of climate: burning summers when th...
Last week, I heard the story of a veteran trying to use his GI benefits and attend school. After retiring from service, this veteran, who requires the use of a service dog, decided to enroll at a Commercial Driver’s License school. Obtaining a CDL will qualify this veteran for a good career as a truck driver. The veteran lives near a city with a new CDL school branch — but there’s a problem. Because it’s less than two years old, the branch isn’t yet approved to receive the military GI benefits...
Nebraska is home to over 100,000 of our most honorable American heroes. These heroes left home and family to follow a call. They showed grit and dedication throughout taxing training. They fought hard for their homeland and made countless sacrifices. Many of them made the ultimate sacrifice - they sacrificed their own lives to protect others. These heroes are our veterans. Earlier this year, three of our own Nebraskan World War II veterans met in Omaha to remember their service so many years...
Despite hysteria from social media, late night comedy shows or even presidential administrations, net neutrality is not a policy that needs to be controversial. Net neutrality is the idea that internet service providers should treat all data on their networks fairly, without favoring or disfavoring certain types of internet traffic. This means that service providers shouldn’t block lawful content, slow down access to content or unjustly prioritize traffic to certain sites. The basic p...
The heinous attack on Israel by Hamas this month sent shockwaves throughout the Middle East and across the world. War in one part of the world has a ripple effect — we all feel its impact. In this case, the United States is especially affected. Hamas killed American citizens in its assaults on innocent people across Israel. It is holding American citizens hostage underground in Gaza. Hamas has American blood on its hands. The United States and Israel have always been bound by shared values and s...
This weekend, Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown. After a turbulent week, the House of Representatives passed a short-term bipartisan spending bill. The Senate approved the bill hours before the deadline of Oct. 1. From 2005 to 2013, I served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature. During that time, we ran into a major budget shortfall. All of us in the Unicameral worked together and compromised to find solutions to that fiscal crisis. We were legislators, so we legislated. In the...
On September 11, 2001, America suffered a series of terrible losses. Some lost offices or jobs when the Twin Towers came crashing down. Some lost a sense of safety and security as we watched buildings crumble on TV. Most tragically, many of us lost dear friends or family members to these atrocious attacks on our nation. Nebraska was no stranger to the widespread suffering caused by 9/11. Some of our own were lost that day and we remember them on this 22nd anniversary of the attacks. Navy Capt....
Of all our Nebraska traditions, one is especially memorable. It's a big production that seems to bring our whole state together to enjoy exhibits, shows, food, friends and a lot of fun. The sights, sounds and smells are unmistakable. I'm talking about the Nebraska State Fair, of course. After many years of attending the fair, I still get excited for this wonderful tradition. Every year, the state fair makes its long-anticipated appearance in Grand Island for 11 days to showcase Nebraska's best....
Monday was National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day — an opportunity to thank the men and women who keep Nebraskans safe. It’s particularly important that we use this special day to celebrate our law enforcement officers because in some parts of the country, their lifesaving work is undervalued and even demonized. That lifesaving work was on full display recently as the Midwest was hit with intense winter storms. During December storms in Nebraska, law enforcement responded to hundreds of inc...
Public safety has rightfully been on the minds of Americans across the country. Violent crime rates remain high. So far this year, nearly 300 police officers have been shot in the line of duty – an 11% increase from this point in 2020. Deadly drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine continue to flow into the United States at disturbing rates. Regardless of whether you live in a larger city or a small town, so many Americans are worried that their communities simply don’t feel as safe as they use...
In March 2021, Democrats unilaterally passed a massive $1.9 trillion spending bill. That bill is credited with jumpstarting the inflation nightmare our country is now confronting. This weekend, Democrats unilaterally passed yet another reckless spending bill. The Schumer-Manchin legislation will waste taxpayer dollars, raise taxes and do nothing to address inflation. Let’s start with the claim that billions of dollars in federal spending will help with inflation. The Penn-Wharton Budget M...
Every fall, spring and summer, my office provides some outstanding college students with the opportunity to intern in Washington, D.C. or at one of our state offices. These internships give students the chance to learn more about public policy, our system of government and constituent service. This summer, I welcomed four interns to our D.C. team. These college students are all from Nebraska and, over the last eight weeks, they have done important work on behalf of the state. I am always...
Your cell phone number is tied to countless aspects of your daily life. If you are like me, you have had the same number for a decade or more. Your family and friends all know how to reach you at that number. If you change it, you could lose contact with dozens of loved ones and many other people who need to contact you for crucial needs – like your bank, healthcare provider, employer or your children’s school. Would you panic if you had to change your number all of a sudden? This is a dil...
May 11 to May 16 was National Police Week. It’s an opportunity to show our gratitude and appreciation to the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep our people and communities safe. Nebraskans take police week seriously. From the candlelight “Walk the Beat” vigil in Omaha to National Law Enforcement Day memorial services in Douglas County and Grand Island, we demonstrate that we back the blue. We honor our fallen officers, like Omaha Police Officer Kerrie Orozco and Lincoln Polic...
It’s an exciting time of year. The robes, mortar boards and tassels are on display as Nebraska’s graduates are celebrating with their friends and loved ones. I am always so encouraged to see our state’s young people succeed and pursue new opportunities. Graduates, congratulations on your achievements. I know I join Nebraskans all across our state in saying how proud we are of you. These moments can feel bittersweet as you reflect on what you have accomplished and the fond memories of your past...
