Nebraska State News

Nebraska inmate dies at hospital after testing positive for COVID-19

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 17:25:00 +0000

The man in his 50s had been hospitalized in Lincoln for two weeks. He had several underlying health conditions, in addition to his recent diagnosis for the coronavirus.

Search of North Platte business and owner's home turned up pills, guns and ammo, State Patrol says

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 17:00:00 +0000

A search of Hunt's Construction & Roofing on Thursday turned up more than 500 Xanax pills and led to the arrest of the owner, the Nebraska State Patrol said.

Nebraska now has lowest unemployment rate in U.S.

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:35:00 +0000

The state's rate dropped to 4% in August, the lowest its been since the pandemic began but still considerably higher than it was a year ago.

Stricture picture: ‘All In: The Fight For Democracy’

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:00:26 +0000

We’ve had Sept. 18 circled on our calendars since Amazon Prime Video announced it as the release date for All In: The Fight For Democracy, a new documentary that examines the issue of voter suppression in the United States. Interweaving personal experiences with activism and historical insight, All In exposes a problem that has imbued our nation’s electoral history from the very beginning.

With Stacey Abrams, a 2018 Democratic candidate for Georgia’s governorship, at the center of the film, it’s bound to ruffle a few partisan feathers. But that doesn’t make the film’s message any less urgent – and that message is simple: Do what it takes to vote. Watch it here via Prime Video.

Then, join Civic Nebraska’s voting rights team for a virtual training to learn the ins and outs of election protection for Election Day on Nov. 3 and become a volunteer election observer. We’ll go over basic election law, some do’s and dont’s at polling places, what’s asked of nonpartisan election observers amid COVID-19 restrictions, and observers’ important role in ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections in Nebraska. RSVP for our Zoom meeting here. And if you’re an attorney in Nebraska, we can always use volunteer attorneys to help out with our Election Protection efforts on Election Day. We’ll be holding a special training for lawyers on Sept. 28 – get details for that session here. Help us protect the vote!

The post Stricture picture: ‘All In: The Fight For Democracy’ appeared first on Civic Nebraska.

Couple wedded in Nebraska celebrates 85 years of marriage

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 13:00:00 +0000

He was just 17 and she was 16 when they tied the knot on Sept. 17, 1935, at the Burt County Courthouse in Tekamah. “Everybody said it would never last."

Omaha petting zoo will get its animals back

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:48:00 +0000

The animals taken Aug. 24 by the Nebraska Humane Society include a porcupine, seven Patagonian cavies and a coatimundi.

Rain last week helps ease drought in Nebraska slightly

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:30:00 +0000

More than half the state remained in some level of drought this week, although the percentage dropped from almost 56% last week to about 53.4%.

My country, right or wrong?

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:00:59 +0000

We arrived home around midnight on the Fourth of July after spending the day with my parents in Grant, an hour and a half away. As we pulled in front of our house, we could see spent fireworks all over the neighborhood and about a dozen people in our neighbor’s front lawn. After talking with them, it was apparent they spent a lot of the night drinking and shooting fireworks.

The Fourth is a holiday to celebrate our independence. We do this by spending an absurd amount on fireworks, having cookouts, and drinking beer. Many claim they are being patriotic.

In the months since then, I’ve been thinking about the things we do to claim to be patriotic vs. what is actually patriotic. If we really wanted to be patriotic on Independence Day, we’d probably spend it doing public service and donating some of our fireworks money on charities that improve our city and country.

Another way we believe we’re patriotic is through our symbolic actions, such as saying the Pledge of Allegiance before meetings and public events. I believe we are good citizens when we take some action to promote “liberty and justice for all,” which could include participating in public demonstrations.

I was curious about what others thought, so I put the question on Facebook. It was my most popular post since I took a picture with Scott Frost.

Here are a few that stood out:

Several people mentioned voting. I would put voting in the category that looks patriotic – but researching what each candidate, including city, county, and school board is looking to do and voting based on this and not the political party is what is really patriotic.

Our local newspaper editor, Bruce Crosby, mentioned that it is patriotic to read balanced news stories and not just the sources that agree with your opinion. I would agree that digging in deeper on issues you care about and reading in-depth discussion on different sides of an issue helps you gain better understanding than the 24-hour infotainment channels.

Going through patriotic motions looks patriotic. But Greta Leach, who I enjoyed working with when she was with the Nebraska Community Foundation, gave me a great list. The one that stood out was supporting community development projects that don’t directly benefit you. We think it is patriotic to support any actions that have a direct benefit to us or to use our political system for our benefit.

My friend Shari Weber, who I met through Courage and Renewal work, mentioned that we standardize American history in our schools to make us feel we met our patriotic duty. What is really patriotic is to study American history from a variety of perspectives and not just the 11^th grade U.S. history textbook that usually tells history from the winner’s viewpoint.

After thinking about it a couple days, Shari added another contribution: “We think we’re being patriotic when we celebrate and say how great and exceptional/wonderful we are as a country. We’re actually patriotic when we recognize that our democracy has repeatedly struggled – and grown through those struggles. Patriotism is struggling and striving for better, not just cheering about how great we are.”

I used to be a college recruiter and Jay Stooksberry was a colleague. Jay is now active in politics in Delta, Colorado, and pointed out that we think it’s patriotic to know our national politicians. But it is really patriotic to know our local council, commissioners, and school board members, and be involved in their work.

A college friend, Adam Anderson, mentioned: “Patriotism is vigorous devotion and support of your country. It seems like people can only do this though if they feel the government and society are moving, acting, and looking like they want it to (which can never happen for everyone at the same time). If you are only proud to be an American when your candidate wins – or your expectations for a Supreme Court case are met – then that’s not real patriotism. It’s bandwagon patriotism.”

My post ended up with 47 comments, with the main theme being that strong citizenship is not about being a spectator, but a participant. It isn’t about claiming individual rights, but exercising personal responsibility.

One of my older brother’s best friends in high school, Brian Thomas, served two decades in the military. He summed it up best when he wrote: “After 20 years serving our country, I think the most patriotic thing anyone can do is help others out.”

As citizens, it is our duty to continue to give our time to our community to make it a better place. This is how we become true patriots.

Andy Long is the executive director of the McCook Economic Development Corp. and is the director of Cultivate Rural Leaders, a nonprofit providing rural communities and organizations with leadership education.

For more Civic Nebraska Writers Group columns, click here.

The post My country, right or wrong? appeared first on Civic Nebraska.

Rain last week helps ease drought in Nebraska slightly

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 21:30:00 +0000

More than half the state remained in some level of drought this week, although the percentage dropped from almost 56% last week to about 53.4%.

Council Bluffs gambler ordered to pay restitution for false tax filings in Nebraska

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 19:55:00 +0000

An IRS investigation revealed Tony Merksick had underreported his earnings from being a bookie for an online, off-shore gambling operation.

Blaze at Nebraska City's Arbor Day Farm won't stop annual AppleJack Festival

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 17:00:00 +0000

The fire started in Porter's BBQ, a small restaurant on the north side of the Apple House, but was contained before it spread upstairs, where it would have been impossible to contain.

Kearney man forms Nonpartisan Nebraska group

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 15:30:00 +0000

Nathan Leach has written on social media about the benefits of a nonpartisan Legislature since 2017. And he's testified a few times at the Capitol on the topic. Now he's put together a group of like-minded people to form Nonpartisan…

Nebraska initial unemployment claims up slightly

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Continuing claims continue to fall, however, as the state's extended unemployment benefits program has now come to an end.

All Omaha teachers to be regularly tested for COVID-19 as students return to in-person classes

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 13:20:00 +0000

Elementary and middle school students will return Oct. 5; high school students will return Oct. 19. With the district returning to in-person learning, OPS will proceed with winter sports and activities that begin in November.

'I'm still here': 99-year-old Papillion woman survives bout with COVID-19

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 13:10:00 +0000

Thelma Armitage beat cancer twice. And now, at 99 years old, she has survived COVID-19.

Democracy’s Dozen: Movies for Constitution Day

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 11:00:10 +0000

It’s Constitution Day, a time to celebrate those 4,400 words that make up the oldest – and shortest – written Constitution of any major government. If you include amendments, the word count comes in at 7,591. Our Constitution is worth a read at least once a year, so we’ll wait here while you tackle that.

All done? Great. Now, let’s grab some popcorn and fire up some movies! If you look closely, our supreme law of the land has a long cinematic history. It co-stars in so many great films, in fact, that there are too many for just a dozen clear picks. So, we’re just focused on the amendments this go-round to make up this list (we’ve thrown in a few suggestions for further viewing, too).

Enjoy!

The First Amendment protects five core American liberties – religion, speech, press, petition, and assembly. Defining the limits of these freedoms is a quintessential, and ongoing, American argument.

Our pick: The Post (2017). Set in 1971, The Post highlights The Washington Post’s decision to publish portions of the Pentagon Papers, a classified report that revealed U.S. decades of U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia. This Spielberg-directed thriller is not only about freedom of the press; it’s about courage when the Powers That Be wage war with that constitutional right.

Further viewing: Selma (2014); Citizen Kane (1941); All the President’s Men (1976); The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)

The Second Amendment references both the collective right of a militia and an individual right to bear arms. For all its modern controversy, the Second Amendment hasn’t been a very hot-button topic for much of U.S. history – in fact, the Supreme Court didn’t clearly back an individual’s right to keep a weapon at home until 2008.

Our pick: Gran Torino (2008). Directed by, produced by, and starring Clint Eastwood, this story of growth and friendship follows Walt, a retired autoworker who keeps his shotgun ready to lock and load to protect his changing neighborhood. He becomes a reluctant hero when he stands up to gang members attempting to coerce a neighbor teen to steal Walt’s treasured Gran Torino. An unlikely friendship results.

Further viewing: Tank (1984), Dirty Harry (1971), Death Wish (1974)

The Third Amendment is one of the least-cited sections of the Constitution, which we’re pretty sure is fine with most everyone. It restricts the quartering of soldiers in private homes without their consent, and forbids it in peacetime.

Our pick: The Patriot (2000). Mel Gibson stars as Daniel, a South Carolina widower and father in the 1770s. He’s reluctant to join the Revolution; that changes when a monstrous British colonel arrests his eldest son and takes him away to be hanged, after first shooting another son on a whim, then burns down his house that he had just used as a makeshift military hospital.

Further viewing: Training Day (2001), Cops and Robbersons (1990)

The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Amendments protect Americans’ privacy against unreasonable searches and seizures; against self-incrimination; rights for a fair and speedy jury trial; and rights to bring civil actions.

Our picks: Whew. So many good ones in this category. Minority Report (2002) is a powerful, futuristic Fourth Amendment primer; The Client (1994) is a legal thriller that features a teenager’s Fifth Amendment rights (among others); 12 Angry Men (1957) highlights the Sixth Amendment; and Philadelphia (1993) is a powerful example of the Seventh.

Further viewing: The Conversation (1974), The Truman Show (1998), Gattaca (1997), Runaway Jury (2003), Erin Brockovich (2000)

The Eighth Amendment protects us against excessive bail or fines and, importantly, against cruel and unusual punishments.

Our pick: 12 Monkeys (1995). If there’s ever been a dystopian case against cruel and unusual punishment, it would be James Cole (Bruce Willis), a prisoner in the year 2035. Cole is sent back in time to help scientists develop a cure to a deadly pandemic that wiped out much of the globe in 1996. During a series of time travels, he’s thrown in a 1990 mental institution, shot during World War I, and eventually is forced to carry out what promises to be a suicide mission. Whew.

Further viewing: Dead Man Walking (1995), Sleepers (1996)

The Ninth and Tenth Amendments were added to the Bill of Rights because the Framers feared that later presidents, congresses and judges might say the previous amendments were exclusive. The Ninth Amendment says that spelling out certain rights shouldn’t be seen as “denying or disparaging other rights.” The Tenth Amendment says that powers not designated by Constitution to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people.

Our pick: The Ninth Amendment comes in handy for Chris Gardner (Will Smith) in Enemy of the State (1998), a victim of federal government overreach. The Tenth Amendment runs ironically and symbolically, if not literally, throughout The Free State of Jones (2016), about a disillusioned Confederate deserter in Mississippi who leads a militia of fellow deserters in an uprising against their corrupt government.

Further viewing: C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America (2004); Milk (2008)

Sales tax revenues drive Nebraska's tax collections higher than expected for August

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 12:20:00 +0000

Nebraska collected nearly $68 million more in net tax revenue than projected for August.

State, NU won't cut take part in temporary payroll tax cut

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 23:00:00 +0000

Employees of both the state and the University of Nebraska won't participate in President Donald Trump's offer to defer payroll taxes for the remainder of this year.

State, NU won't take part in temporary payroll tax cut

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 23:00:00 +0000

Employees of both the state and the University of Nebraska won't participate in President Donald Trump's offer to defer payroll taxes for the remainder of this year.

Grand jury indicts Jake Gardner for manslaughter in death of James Scurlock

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 22:30:00 +0000

Omaha bar owner Jake Gardner has been indicted on four counts, including manslaughter, in connection to the shooting death of James Scurlock during protests May 30.

Sales tax revenues drive Nebraska's tax collections higher than expected for August

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 22:15:00 +0000

Nebraska collected nearly $68 million more in net tax revenue than projected for August.

Lincoln man wins $50,000 playing Nebraska Lottery

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 21:45:00 +0000

"Well, who's crazy now," Lincoln's Edgar King is telling all of the people who have told him he's crazy for thinking he'll win with scratch tickets.

Child welfare caseloads still too high, YRTC system too unstable in Nebraska, report finds

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 21:35:00 +0000

There are still too many attempted suicides and suicides of youth who are involved in the system, the new inspector general said.

Voter confidence: Early mail-in ballot requests top 230,000

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 20:58:48 +0000

Here’s some good news for democracy: As of Sept. 15, Nebraska voters have requested more than 231,000 early mail-in ballots for the upcoming election, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Assuming those ballots are completed and returned by Election Day, that is close to already surpassing the total number of total early votes cast – in person or by mail – in 2016. And we’ve still got more than a month to go before the Oct. 23 deadline to ask for an early ballot.

We’re not surprised. Nebraska is a “no-excuse” state, which means anyone can request an early mail-in ballot for any reason. And COVID-19 has changed how hundreds of thousands of Nebraskans have voted this year; in May, eight in 10 reached for an early mail-in ballot to make their voices heard during the state’s primary election.

Many of those were lifelong voters who had never voted by mail before, but who found vote-by-mail to be easy, secure, and – in the age of coronavirus – safe. It’s no wonder huge numbers of Nebraskans are turning to early mail-in ballots once more as the general election approaches.

It tells us something else, too: Despite politically motivated rancor, and contrary to well-reported worries about whether the U.S. Postal Service is up to the task of getting ballots delivered on time, Nebraskans have faith in their elections. They have faith in their election processes. And they have faith in their election officials.

It’s well-earned. This spring’s primary went a long way in solidifying that confidence. Months of collaboration, coordination, and planning led to a very smooth process on May 12. Our state’s voters have not forgotten, and that confidence is on full display in these latest early ballot request numbers.

A national trend

Nebraskans aren’t alone in their newfound interest in early voting. A recent national poll shows Americans quickly warming to the process. Six in 10 Americans said they plan to cast their ballots before Election Day, either in-person at an early voting location or after getting to a dropbox or the post office. Four years ago, four in 10 voters cast their ballots ahead of time.

Importantly, plans to vote early by mail – or early via a dropbox – are more than double what they were four years ago, the poll shows.

Those who voted early by mail in their state’s primary this year also had very few problems with the process, according to the poll, which surveyed 1,929 Americans at the end of August. Ninety-five percent responded that they had no trouble getting their ballot, and 98 percent said their ballot was accepted.

This is the kind of confidence and momentum we’re happy to see. More Americans participating in their democracy makes it more modern and robust. And that matters.

Early mail-in voting resources

Still need to request your early mail-in ballot? We can help.

Keep track of the 2020 election calendar so you do not miss any election-year voting deadlines.

Get answers to your frequently asked questions about the 2020 election.

Build a plan to vote. Here’s our quick guide for making and executing your plan.

Fight the infodemic! Share these eight facts about vote-by-mail.

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Defense department renews $92M contract with NU for military research

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 19:30:00 +0000

"Today, we're announcing the University of Nebraska has delivered for our United States Department of Defense warfighters, and we're going to continue to do so well into the future," NU President Ted Carter said.

Unidentified male found dead in a gravel pit south of Lexington

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 18:15:00 +0000

With the assistance of divers from the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department, the body was recovered from the water. The deceased was only wearing shorts and tennis shoes.

Beatrice judge will retire Oct. 31, after serving on the bench 40 years

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 18:00:00 +0000

Gage County Court Judge Steven Timm has served the citizens of the First Judicial District since then-Gov. Charles Thone appointed him in 1980.

Beatrice man gets federal time, said to be responsible for distribution of 24 pounds of meth

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 17:15:00 +0000

Charles Burr, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Body found in back seat of car that was on fire near Plattsmouth airport

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:00:00 +0000

After extinguishing the fire in the gray 2014 Ford Fusion, workers found the body.

Lincoln man gets probation for crash that killed David City man

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:15:00 +0000

Juan Maldonado pleaded no contest to motor vehicle homicide, a misdemeanor, for the crash May 3, 2019, on Nebraska 92.

Donald Trump Jr. visits Omaha to stump for dad as Biden buys local ad time

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 13:20:00 +0000

The visit was the latest example of how Nebraska’s largest city and surrounding areas have become targets in the presidential race. “It matters," Trump Jr. said.

Nebraska medical marijuana supporters to try, try again

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 12:40:00 +0000

Sens. Anna Wishart and Adam Morfeld, who led the drives both in the Legislature and to get medical marijuana on the ballot in 2020, said they plan to launch a new ballot initiative for 2021.

Two Lincoln prisons are up to 185 COVID-19 cases

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 12:30:00 +0000

A total of 1,546 inmates have been tested for the virus; some inmates have been tested at all 10 Nebraska prisons.

Gibbon woman killed in 2-vehicle crash in Custer County

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 12:20:00 +0000

A young Gibbon woman died in a two-vehicle crash in Custer County near Berwyn, authorities in central Nebraska said.

One killed in Banner County rollover

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000

One person has been killed and another injured in a Banner County rollover.

One killed in Banner County rollover

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 03:00:00 +0000

One person has been killed and another injured in a Banner County rollover.

With coronavirus restrictions easing across state, Ricketts says it's time to return to a more normal life

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 00:30:00 +0000

While the governor said he disagrees with the need for Lancaster County to remain in Phase 3, he acknowledged that the county has a special "carve-out" that allows it to take independent action.