Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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This is a time of tremendous opportunity in farming and ranching for beginners looking to start a venture of their own. Alternative crops and high-value markets offer profit potential and lower risk for new farmers than do commodity crops commonly priced at break-even levels. But regardless of the crop or market, farming depends on land access. If land ownership is the preferred route, funding will have to come from savings, bootstrapping, investors/partners, or loans. There are no grants, or...
If you're like me, you were sickened to read about the wildfires running amok across sections of Nebraska in mid March. Thousands and thousands of acres, as far as the eye could see in areas of the Sandhills, in bluffs and hills southeast of North Platte and south of Kilgore, and (once again) in areas near the Nebraska National Forest in Halsey. As I write this, more than 800,000 acres have burned, according to the Nebraska Public Media. That's pasture that could feed hundreds of thousands of...
One never knows what will happen on deadline day, a.k.a. Tuesday. My phone rang 8:06 a.m. Caller ID said United States Postal Service. Since I work directly with them to mail the paper, and since I get weekly updates about mailing status, and since I have voiced opinions about the mailing process, I figured I better answer. It was Marcie, from the USPS call center, wondering if I would like to learn how USPS could help me grow my small business. Oh Marcie, you’re speaking my language. As the n...
This past week, the Legislature gave first-round approval to the two budget bills which propose adjustments to the biennial budget that was passed last year. As I mentioned last week, the Legislature creates a two-year, biennial budget in odd-numbered years, and that budget must be balanced. The spending approved must not exceed the amount of revenue projected by the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board in their most recent meeting prior to the end of the session. This frequently...
To borrow a line from one of my favorite podcasters, Kylie Kelce - I’m not gonna lie. I cried like a schoolgirl breaking up with her adolescent crush Sunday afternoon when the Husker senior basketball players and their families were recognized at the season finale in Lincoln. Watching this group battle through the worst of times and flip this season on its head to become the best in Husker history has been amazing. It seems like yesterday they upset the BYU Cougars men’s basketball team in an...
On Friday, Feb. 27, the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board met and revised its October revenue projections, adding another $175 million to the deficit. This board has nine members that are tasked with developing a consensus projection of economic activity in Nebraska. They provide an advisory forecast of the state’s General Fund revenue receipts. The consensus General Fund revenue forecast is used to set the operating budget for the State of Nebraska. Senators entered this l...
One of my favorite political slogans of all time is “a solution in search of a problem.” It’s used frequently in debates at the Nebraska Legislature to describe a proposal or idea that imposes new rules and restrictions to address a problem that doesn’t exist. You might call it “government overreach,” too. Anyway, the “solution in search of a problem” line is being used often today to describe President Trump’s efforts to change election laws via the dramatically labeled “SAVE America Act...
In communities across Nebraska, thousands of families share a common concern: How can a loved one with a disability build financial savings without risking important benefits? For years, the answer was complicated and discouraging. Today, it doesn't have to be. March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in Nebraska, as proclaimed by Gov. Jim Pillen. My office is using this occasion to help more families learn about the Enable Savings Plan, a powerful tool that helps individuals with...
For nearly a month, I’ve had a nagging cough, drippy nose, and an overall feeling of malaise. During that time, I debated whether to drive myself to the emergency room in the middle of the night due to a high fever (Scott wouldn’t wake up, I tried), experienced muscle pain in the ribs from excessive coughing, and shuddered every time my ears popped. For relief, I tried a shot or two of blackberry brandy, antibiotics, over-the-counter meds and homemade concoctions. While some worked better tha...
Thursday, Feb. 20 marked the last day for senators and committees to designate their priority bills for the year. A total of 107 bills and resolutions were prioritized. With the Unicameral now in the latter half of this short 60-day legislative session, the majority of the bills that will be debated from this point on will be priority bills and the budget. My personal priority for this session is LR283CA. Currently, the Nebraska Constitution specifies that every citizen of the United States shal...
There are ways to change state policies, and there are other ways to change state policies. Which brings us to the "death by a thousand cuts" of the Nebraska Environmental Trust. The Trust was created back in 1992, when Nebraska voters decided to join a growing number of states launched state lotteries to generate extra revenue. (That seems like centuries ago, before casinos were in every big city, and before you could lose a paycheck in an afternoon at a "skill game" in your local tavern. It wa...
Regenerative agriculture is gaining real momentum in Nebraska as producers search for ways to stay profitable in a very tough economic environment. Farmers are facing a significant financial squeeze in 2025–2026, driven by high production costs, low commodity prices, and rising debt. At the same time, a growing number of ag producers and rural communities are recognizing another urgent priority: protecting the soil and water beneath our feet. Across the state, what was once considered a niche i...
Not gonna lie, my heart skipped a beat when I checked numbers for the Top 5 articles read online in last week’s edition. Why? Two legal notices made the list. Public notices are required to keep citizens informed about actions of government entities. A public notice holds the government accountable, relying on an independent third party to print proof of publication. By doing so, each public notice has verifiable proof - via paper trail - of its permanent existence in print. Simply posting a n...
This past week, the Agriculture Committee heard two bills at a public hearing: LB1187 and LB1258. Both bills propose changes to the state’s livestock branding law. The Nebraska Livestock Brand Act requires cattle owners in the western two-thirds of the state to comply with mandatory brand inspections. These inspections are overseen by the Nebraska Brand Committee and are meant to safeguard against cattle theft. Last year, the Agriculture Committee held an interim hearing to examine the L...
A U.S. Department of Agriculture program is helping producers turn raw commodities into value-added products, allowing more of the income to remain in rural communities. The Value-Added Producer Grant program, administered by USDA Rural Development, supports agricultural producers, as well as farmer and rancher cooperatives, that want to start or expand value-added activities. Producers can apply for up to $50,000 in planning grants or up to $200,000 in working capital grants. Applications are...
Mentoring programs are a great thing. They help kids – mostly kids in single-parent families – gain confidence, and learn leadership and life skills from adults. I've seen first-hand how beneficial they are, first as a "big brother" in the Big Brothers-Big Sisters program, and then as a participant in the TeamMates Mentoring program. My "little brother" was the first in his family to graduate from high school (imagine that!) and my TeamMate graduated from high school despite problems with att...
Someone recently asked me to describe district wrestling since they have never attended. It’s a glimpse of pure joy, and a view of intense heartbreak. Tears flow - win or lose - after you’ve invested energy and headspace to an activity that pushes you to physical and mental limits. Nothing wrong with tears. It’s the culmination of sweat equity, countless practice sessions, prayers for a healthy season. Over the last two weekends, I watched several athletes who let the liquid flow follo...
This week, I would like to highlight a number of the proposals that have been introduced this session that have the intent of reducing property taxes. Both the Education Committee and the Revenue Committee have begun to hold public hearings on these measures now that there has been some time for agencies and groups to analyze many of the different measures. LB1182 and LB1183 represent the two components of the so-called Apple Tax Plan that is sponsored by the group known as Advocates for All...
Separating your business and personal finances is one of the smartest (and simplest) steps you can take to protect your business, your sanity, and your future. Whether you're a brand new business owner or have been operating for years, here's why financial separation matters. Dividing your business and personal finances simplifies accounting, protects personal assets, and establishes credibility. 1) Separate accounts make bookkeeping and tax filing easier. When business and personal funds are...
Can we all agree on one thing? Seeing Americans shot and killed on American streets by fellow Americans is not at all good. I've purposely waited to write about the killing of two people on the streets of Minneapolis by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol to allow more information to come out. There was quite a rush to judgment in both cases. Renee Good, who was shot and killed a month ago, was immediately labeled a "domestic terrorist" who "ran over" a federal...
When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, “Music is the universal language of mankind - poetry their universal pastime and delight,” his message was clear: music extends beyond cultural, linguistic and social boundaries, it creates connections and shouts emotion. If you watched Sunday’s halftime show with Bad Bunny, you saw Longfellow’s quote come to life. From the sugarcane fields blowing in the breeze, to the LA taqueria serving tacos, to the symbolic high-line power poles that serve as a reminder of how natural disasters affect his native...
This past week, senators debated LB669, a bill introduced by Sen. Storer, which would update Nebraska’s informed consent laws to require women be screened for coercion and abuse when they go in for an abortion appointment. This measure was introduced with the intent of combatting domestic violence and human trafficking. In debate, senators presented contrasting information on the potential impacts of this measure. Senator Storer and other supporters of the bill argued it was necessary to give v...
Scammers continue to rely on familiar tactics to exploit fear, urgency, and trust-targeting people through tax threats, impersonation, personal relationships, and travel plans. While these schemes aren't new, they remain effective because they evolve just enough to catch people off guard. Recognizing the warning signs and knowing how to respond can help prevent financial loss and identity theft. Tax Season is Prime Time for IRS Impostor Scams: Tax season is stressful enough, and scammers take...
What is it about Nebraskans and the slab of aluminum we bolt onto the back of our cars, the license plate? For some reason, we Cornhuskers get emotional over the design of the state's plates. There are gripes aplenty. "It's too boring." "You can't see the graphic." "It doesn't represent our state." "It doesn't inspire people to visit or live there." Nebraskans' opinions about license plates are almost as strong as those about the second-string quarterback for the Huskers. Why isn't that guy...
Multiple times a month, never fail, I listen to friends, neighbors, acquaintances, etc., opine about government operations, from the local to federal level. After I listen to their concerns, my first questions to them are simple. What steps are or have you taken to make your voice heard? Or, have you attended a meeting and shared your thoughts? The questions are usually met with silence. Don’t say you’ve attended a fill-in-the-name-of-a-government-body meeting. At most local meetings, I’m the l...
