Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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REQUEST FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING CONSULTING SERVICES HOLT COUNTY, NEBRASKA Holt County is seeking an engineering consultant(s) to provide professional services for a two-year period beginning Nov. 1, 2024. This contract may include projects that utilize county, state and/or federal funding or reimbursement. If selected for a project, the selected consultant will meet with Holt County to develop a detailed work plan and cost estimate for the primary engineering and/or construction engineering services required. A conflict-of-interest...
Installation of Trimlight lighting along Ewing's business district hit a snag. Joe Kaup, owner of Trimlight Lighting, told Ewing village officials, on Aug. 19, "Found out the hard way, can't have a wireless network in the post office or bank, because of security rules, so that threw a major monkey wrench in my original plan." He spoke with representatives from Great Plains Communication, who suggested establishing multiple hot spots to run the lighting. "We're not going down that road," Kaup said. He also contacted Rise Broadband and did not...
Every candidate for governor always promises two things – to cut property taxes, and eliminate the “waste” in state spending. Both of those pledges are awfully easy to make -- and play well on a TV ad -- and much harder to achieve. Current Gov. Jim Pillen is finding that out this year with his property tax reduction ideas. But he’s adopted a different tactic in cutting the fat from state spending by hiring a high-priced consultant to suggest reductions. He enlisted Epiphany Associates, a Utah-ba...
On April 18, the Legislature completed its work for this 60-day legislative session. Although the last day is typically reserved for veto overrides and closing remarks, the Legislature also took action on 15 bills remaining on Final Reading. Notably, the governor’s proposed property tax package contained in LB388 stalled when it became clear that the bill did not have the votes to break a filibuster. LB388 was then passed over on the agenda at the request of the introducing senator, meaning t...
It has been a very busy and productive past several months at the Nebraska Public Service Commission. As spring arrives, I wanted to share another quarterly update on the work over the past three months. I am Eric Kamler and I am your commissioner for the 4th District of the Public Service Commission, which covers 31 counties of Nebraska. The Nebraska PSC is an elected five-member statewide board that oversees several industries which affect our everyday lives including broadband internet and...
Summerland Public Schools will potentially add two vehicles to its fleet, using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds to pay the bill. The district currently has $153,629 in untapped pandemic-related federal funds available. During the board's April meeting, held Monday, Superintendent Kyle Finke suggested the district purchase a 65-passenger Thomas bus with approximately 32,000 miles, for $92,650. "It's coming off a lease," he said. A year ago, the district purchased a bus...
Renewable energy development, energy conservation and energy efficiency improvements offer an opportunity for rural communities to save money, become more energy-resilient and increase the reliability of the electric grid. While many Nebraska communities are interested in such improvements, the upfront costs associated with energy-related projects have often been initially prohibitive, until now. The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced a funding opportunity for Nebraska communities....
With the approach of the 2024 primary election, more and more political campaign signs are appearing in front lawns and roadside locations with each passing day. The Nebraska Department of Transportation issued a recent release to remind the public that it is unlawful to place political campaign signs, or any signs, on state highway and interstate right-of-way. This includes intersections, medians, entrance and exit ramps, sidewalks, and the ditches and lands that make up the right-of-way...
A March 6 crash, near Neligh, claimed the life of an Orchard man and injured another individual. The collision occurred at approximately 3:49 p.m., near the Antelope County Road Department shed, east of Neligh on Highway 275, said Antelope County Sheriff Bob Moore. Billy Ziegenbein, 76, of Orchard, was traveling west in a 1997 Ford pickup when the front driver’s side tire blew out, causing the pickup to swerve into the eastbound lane, resulting in a head-on collision with another vehicle. Dean Baker, 76, of Columbus, was driving a 1997 Ford E...
Much of this week’s activity focused on broadband and the Nebraska Department of Transportation, along with some controversy relating to education policy. The Transportation and Telecommunications Committee heard three of my bills this week. LB1038 would make a small change to the membership requirement of the Nebraska Information Technology Commission, which develops and reviews our state’s information technology plans. The commission currently has nine voting members and one member from the...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed from the road 65 impaired drivers during the holiday season. During the final two weeks of 2023, troopers participated in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which ran from Dec. 15 to Jan. 1 and included hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the country. “The holidays are always a busy time of year on Nebraska roadways, and with a winter storm right in the middle this year, our troopers were working around the clock to keep roads safe,” said Colonel John Bolduc, sup...
The Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska Department of Transportation are urging travelers be prepared for a winter storm that will bring potentially hazardous driving conditions. "The expected severity of this storm has increased over the last couple of days and will now pose significant travel challenges across the state," said Vicki Kramer, director of the NDOT. "NDOT is ready as this storm affects Nebraska, but we urge travelers to assess whether their travel is absolutely necessary before...
Governor Jim Pillen wants all state government employees at their desks in their assigned departments beginning next month. He said the pandemic-era remote is over, although both empirical and anecdotal evidence nationwide show a workplace change that was pandemic caused has become the new normal. Oh, and never mind the fact that some state agencies have remote and telework policies that have been in place for 15 years. And, of course, not every department has the physical space available for...
"For it's a long, long while from May to December But the days grow short when you reach September And the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame..." -- September Song I decided it was time to get out of the office and go see Nebraska. It's been a post-pandemic while since I have done so. I jumped at the chance to ride to Chadron with a friend with numerous stops along the way. Call it a visual checkup to see how the Cornhusker State is holding up amid almost daily reports of increasing...
The summer driving season is winding down and the Nebraska State Patrol is joining numerous law enforcement agencies across the country in this year’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. The effort runs through Labor Day weekend. “This has been a busy summer on Nebraska roads,” said Colonel John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “As we close out the summer travel season, let’s make any final summer road trips safe by following the speed limit, wearing a seat belt, avoiding distractions, and always driving sober.” T...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol stopped 118 people for driving at 100 miles per hour or more during the month of July. The effort coincided with the nationwide law enforcement campaign focused on the dangers of speeding. The 118 citations for 100 miles per hour or higher is the most issued by troopers in any month since July 2020. Troopers issued another 505 citations for speeds between 90 and 99 miles per hour in July. So far in 2023, troopers have cited a monthly average of 85 drivers for traveling above 100 miles per hour and an...
Nebraska State Troopers took 36 impaired drivers off the road in the days surrounding the Independence Day holiday. “Our troopers stayed busy this weekend as Nebraskans gathered to celebrate America,” said Colonel John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “As the summer continues, we encourage all travelers to drive safely, no matter how far the road trip takes you.” Troopers and dispatchers worked overtime from June 30 through July 5, as part of a nationwide effort to keep roads safe for 4th of July travel. NSP’s campaign was m...
Agriculture, broadband connectivity and tax savings were key topics addressed during Gov. Jim Pillen's town hall meeting, June 28, in O'Neill. Pillen opened by telling the crowd of approximately 80 that his team strives to work for "all Nebraskans. "I can't stand politics. I can't stand politicians," the governor said. "The privilege I had in the first six months, it is unbelievable how many incredible public servants we have serving the state of Nebraska." One of Pillen's goals has been to...
The new governor says, jubilantly, the honeymoon cruise with the Nebraska Legislature was a huge success. Sorry governor, I'm seeing flags. Red flags. The cheering I hear is, "See you in court!" So, let's wait until the lawsuits are filed and the petition drives are all launched before we get too excited. In a "report card" from his office, Governor Jim Pillen said he was elected to office "with a clear mandate to make transformational change in the areas most important to our future: our kids;...
Independence Day weekend brings fireworks to the sky and vehicles to the road as many people travel to be with family and friends to celebrate America. Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol will be working hard to keep Nebraska roadways safe and help motorists in need of an assist. “Nebraska communities are full of awesome Fourth of July celebrations, and we want everyone to be safe as they travel this weekend,” said Colonel John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “If your party involves alcohol, make sure to plan for a sob...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol are teaming up with troopers from many other states for a campaign focused on patrolling U.S. Highway 20. "Highway 20 is a major route of travel across the country and for vacationers coming to experience northern Nebraska," said Captain Dain Hicks, commander of Troop B, based in Norfolk. "This multi-state partnership is positively impacting the safety for Highway 20 travelers from Nebraska to Iowa and across the entire country." During the month of May, N...
In a state that’s 92% farmland, one of the biggest issues we face in our health care system is disparate outcomes for our rural population. Eighty-five of Nebraska’s rural communities are considered medically underserved areas, and that’s just for primary care services. This is concerning — rural populations are significantly more vulnerable to health inequities and poor, often preventable outcomes. The age-adjusted death rate in rural areas is 20% higher than that of urban areas. There’s a relatively simple solution: More rural health care pro...
The 108th Legislature, First Session, has adjourned sine die. This past year, lawmakers passed some important bills and failed to agree on other critical issues. Excluding A bills, of the 820 bills and 274 resolutions introduced this year, only 33 bills and one resolution actually received a final vote. However, the bills passed included many expansive Christmas tree packages, meaning the Legislature actually passed 291 bills in total, including A bills. This figure is comparable to the last...
The Nebraska Broadband Office, along with the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Information Technology Commission and the Office of the Chief Information Officer have announced seven public meeting locations across Nebraska in an effort provide and seek information about the quality and availability of high-speed internet access. These sessions build upon the Nebraska Public Service Commission and the OCIO/NITC earlier sessions and are intended to assist the state in developing comprehensive approach to addressing digital access...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed 65 impaired drivers from the road during the annual Click It or Ticket campaign to begin the summer travel season. “Nebraska roadways have had a busy start to summer,” said Colonel John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Our troopers were also busy over the last three weeks, working to help start the summer travel season safely across Nebraska.” During the campaign, which ran from May 15 through June 4, troopers arrested 65 drivers for driving under the influence. Trooper...
