Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 291
Welcome to 2023, a new year with a whole lotta new going on at the State Capitol. There’s a new governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor and 14 new state senators assuming leadership roles in the Republican-dominated Nebraska government. There will be a new U.S. senator from Nebraska to be appointed by the new governor. There are 33 Republicans and 16 Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature. So, what does this mean to you and me? A new year marks a great chance to move one year further away from the Covid pandemic l...
Here we are sandwiched between Christmas and New Year. Time to take stock of what we've been through as it impacts what lies ahead. In case you were somehow fortunate enough to sleep through it, 2022 was an election year. A couple really rich guys and some others ran for the Republican nomination for governor to replace term-limited Deep Pockets Pete Ricketts who still managed to throw enough money around to have an influence. Before you get all upset by that, remember that I have said before it isn’t illegal to spend his own money or the f...
A study released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates between 2018 and 2020, close to 120,000 households in Nebraska faced food insecurity, which the agency defines as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active and healthy life. Leaders in some states, including Nebraska, have taken note. In 2021, the Nebraska Legislature expanded the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to hundreds of additional families by increasing the gross...
Third-party ads that targeted state Sen. Tony Vargas during his recent run for U.S. Congress featured incredulous voices, baffled over a seemingly selfish move: He wanted to "double his own salary" with taxpayer money. What the ads didn't say: Nebraska's 49 lawmakers have been paid $12,000 a year since George H. W. Bush was first elected president, leg warmers were en vogue and Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" blasted unironically from boomboxes. If their pay had kept pace with inflation...
This week, Governor Pete Ricketts is leading a trade mission to Japan to promote Nebraska's quality ag products and to pitch Nebraska as a top destination for international investment. The governor and trade delegation will meet with government officials, promote Nebraska beef, pork, ethanol and other ag products and encourage Japanese businesses to invest in Nebraska. Delegates on the mission include representatives from ag businesses, state commodity organizations, Nebraska Farm Bureau, the De...
ORDINANCE NO. 2022-17 VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER, NEBRASKA TO AMEND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO ADOPT A WORKFORCE HOUSING PLAN; TO REPEAL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; TO PROVIDE WHEN THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ORDINANCE IN PAMPHLET FORM. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CHAIRPERSON AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF CLEARWATER, NEBRASKA: SECTION 1. That the Board of Trustees, has by Ordinance, adopted an Economic...
Two initiative measures - one requiring photographic identification, one increasing minimum wage - were passed by Nebraska voters during the Nov. 8 General Election. Initiative 432 amends Nebraska's constitution, to require voters to "present valid photographic identification" prior to voting. Nebraska's Legislature will hammer out the details, according to language in the measure. Voters also approved Initiative 433, which will gradually raise the state's minimum wage from the current rate of...
Dear editor: Education is the key, and the fix is local. We the people have the power to control our elections at the county level as stated in Nebraska Legislature Article 3, Sec 18 of the Nebraska Constitution states: The Legislature shall not pass local or special laws in any of the following cases: Regulating county and township offices. Providing for the election of officers in townships, incorporated towns or cities. The opening and conducting of any election or designating the place of voting. Our county clerk states it’s unlawful to m...
Approximately 50 individuals attended a public hearing about local property taxes, Friday, in Neligh. Presentations from representatives of Antelope County, Elgin Public and Summerland schools read statements about tax requests. Citizens weren't shy about increased costs. The hearing, required by a new law - LB644 as amended by LB1250 - was passed by the Nebraska Legislature in 2021 and known as the Property Tax Request Act. Some call it truth in taxation. Based on legislation, each political...
A group of individuals concerned about voter integrity addressed Holt County Supervisors, Aug. 31, about the possibility of handcounting ballots. Chairman Bill Tielke told the gallery of 35 visitors the board was not required to make a decision following public comment. Grace Coleman, of Atkinson, told supervisors she is concerned about the safety of this November’s election. “If we cannot be assured that our elections are secure and no one has changed any results, then we just as well con...
Nebraska voters looking beyond the two major political parties and a Libertarian could have a fourth choice on November's general election ballot for governor. Long-odds candidate David Wright of Ewing is trying to get on - as a nonpartisan candidate. Wright, a former Republican who has re-registered as a nonpartisan, should hear next week if he turned in enough valid signatures to petition onto the fall ballot. Wright spoke at a Kearney event organized, in July by the Nebraska Freedom...
A program incentivizing microentrepreneurship, by encouraging business investment, is seeing renewed interest after updates made last year. Established in 2005, the Nebraska Advantage Microenterprise Tax Credit experienced strong usage from 2008 to 2014 but saw a decline to only 75 applicants in 2019 and 81 in 2020. These dwindling participation rates encouraged a small group of senators to propose canceling the program. Understanding its value to rural communities, the Center for Rural Affairs...
Should ballots cast in Antelope County elections be counted by hand instead of by machine? Members of the Antelope County Patriots filled the Antelope County commissioners' meeting room, Aug 9, to discuss those questions and other election procedures. Sheryl Baker approached the board and yielded her time to Professor David Clements, of New Mexico, and Connie Reinke with the Nebraska Voter Accuracy Project. Clements introduced himself as a former law professor at New Mexico State University, a...
Nebraska is experiencing terrific growth. We’ve seen big success creating jobs, cutting taxes and attracting investment to our state. Recently, I hosted Nebraska’s Ag and Economic Development Summit in Kearney. The summit convenes key leaders from across the state to discuss how to build on our strong momentum. Over the course of the summit, we dove into the challenges and opportunities we face as a state. Some topics are familiar: developing our workforce, opening new markets for Nebraska’s exp...
For two years, processors and producers across rural Nebraska have fought hard to get a program to improve and expand Nebraska's meat processing capabilities approved and established. Their work, along with that of the Nebraska Legislature and staff at Nebraska Department of Agriculture, has paid off as grant applications for the Independent Processor Assistance Program are now being accepted. This development is not only good news to processors who've spent the last two years doing everything...
As we gather to celebrate Independence Day, it's a good time to reflect on how our most fundamental freedoms have served this nation well. It's an even better time to think about what would happen if those liberties were taken away. Sadly, the latter doesn't take much imagination in 2022. Your closest video screen will show you scenes of Russian troops pummeling Ukraine with the support of a majority of the Russian people. The Russian public has been told that their country is doing noble work...
GENERAL ELECTION NOTICE & OFFICES TO BE FILLED BY ELECTION AND FILING DEADLINES I, Lisa Payne, Antelope County Clerk/Election Commissioner, hereby give notice of the offices to be filled by election that will appear on the 2022 General Election Ballot to be held November 8, 2022, in Antelope County, Nebraska, as per State Statute 32-601. Notice is also given that the filing deadline for such offices are: July 15, 2022, for incumbents and Aug. 1, 2022. for non-incumbents. An incumbent is anyone serving in an elective office, even if they are...
Voter turnout in the May 10 primary election was more than 40% in Holt and Antelope counties. Summerland Board of Education A summary report from Antelope County Clerk Lisa Payne shows 49.68% of voters cast ballots in Royal; 46.63% voted in Clearwater and 46.39% made their way to the polls in Orchard. Holt County Clerk Cathy Pavel confirmed 41% of registered voters visited the polls. Summerland Board of Education Three seats are up for election for the Summerland School Board of Education. Six...
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...
Update: 11:05 p.m.: Jim Pillen has won the Republican primary in the Nebraska governor's race. With 810 precincts reporting, Pillen received 72,197 votes. All election results are unofficial until verified by a county's canvassing board. 8:15 p.m. Nebraska polls closed at 8 p.m., May 10, and early results from across the state show Brett Lindstrom leading Jim Pillen, in the Republican race for Governor. Lindstrom currently has 20,987 votes, or 41%, while Pillen has received 29.1% - or 14,885 - o...
The 107th Legislature, second session, has adjourned sine die. The last day was filled with last-minute items, the governor’s closing speech and ceremonial procedures. The 13 senators who won’t be back in January, either due to term limits or deciding not to seek a second term, were recognized. Although I won’t be running for another term, I will miss my colleagues and am thankful for being given the chance to serve with them in representing the State of Nebraska. When I ran for office, my pr...
With their approval of several key pieces of legislation, Nebraska lawmakers solidified the importance of small entrepreneurs, local meat processors and family farms to our state’s economy and way of life. Their support also preserves a healthy future for rural Nebraska. Entering this legislative session, lawmakers faced tough decisions regarding how to spend the state’s allotment of recovery funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. For rural senators, priorities included support for...
The Legislature passed nearly 100 bills during the first three days of this past week. We will now recess for several days, thereby giving the Legislature the opportunity to override any potential governor veto prior to adjourning sine die. Governor Ricketts has five days (not counting Sunday) to either sign or veto the bills. He also has the option to let the legislation become law without his signature. Bills passed include all five bills that I introduced this year, in addition to one...
Many major issues were dealt with this past week in the Legislature, with the most significant being the passage of LB 873. When fully implemented, LB 873 will result in almost $900 million in annual tax relief. The legislation sets a floor for the refundable income tax credit of $548 million in 2022 and $560.7 million in 2023. This guarantees an approximate 25% refund for property taxes paid to school districts. Additionally, a similar income tax credit will be implemented for property taxes pa...
The Legislature gave final approval to the budget bills. During the 90-day legislative session, the biennial budget is crafted. During the 60-day session, adjustments are made. This was a much more demanding task this year due to the increased revenue projections and the influx of federal money due to the pandemic. The budget was filibustered at every stage of debate, not because of what was in it, but due to possible amendments that could have been added. The budget sets aside $175 million for...
