By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com">High Plains Journal</a>

President Donald J. Trump and U.S. 
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently announced that up to $14 
billion will be available to help producers who face market disruptions 
and associated costs because of COVID-19 and the news was endorsed in 
the industry.

The aid was 
authorized as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security 
Act signed into law in March. The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 
has already distributed one round of direct payments to agricultural 
producers whose markets have been disrupted or lost due to the pandemic,
 according to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and 
Forestry. On Aug. 11, U.S. Department of Agriculture announced approximately 60 additional commodities that would be eligible for assistance under CFAP.

U.S.
 Sen. Pat Roberts, R-KS, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, 
thanked Trump and Perdue for their efforts to help farmers and ranchers 
who have continued to feed the world amidst depressed commodity prices 
and disrupted markets.&nbsp;

“I have heard directly from our farmers 
and ranchers about the harsh conditions in farm country. I will continue
 to advocate for certainty and predictability for agricultural 
producers, especially during these challenging and unprecedented times,”
 Roberts said.

Congress 
authorized funding for CFAP in the CARES Act, which was approved by a 
unanimous vote in the U.S. Senate and signed by Trump into law on March 
27. The CARES Act included $9.5 billion in funds to assist agricultural 
producers and resources to partially replenish the Commodity Credit 
Corporation. Additionally, Congress provided flexibility for Perdue to 
purchase commodities for emergency distribution in the Families First 
Coronavirus Response Act.&nbsp;

House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson, D-MN, said the program will help but much work is ahead.

“There
 are some good things in this second CFAP plan, and the secretary should
 be commended for simplifying the application process for specialty crop
 growers and making sure livestock producers, like the turkey growers in
 my district, have what they need. It also expands the program to all 
classes of wheat and makes sure most commodities left out in the first 
round receive some support,” Peterson said. “And while this version of 
CFAP takes those good steps, there is some frustration over the 
participation rate among some sectors, including specialty crop 
producers.

“I still want to see
 help for the ethanol industry that has been hurt by the drop in fuel 
demand, textile mills that are helping create COVID medical supplies, 
pork and poultry producers that had to depopulate as a result of plant 
closures, and contract growers who have faced loss of income.”

House
 Agriculture Committee Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway, R-TX, said the
 program was needed relief for farmers, ranchers and dairy producers but
 expressed concern the Democratic leadership might block Commodity 
Credit Corporation funding that would halt farm bill funding and further
 COVID-19 relief.

“Sadly, the 
aid could have been much stronger had Congressional Democrats not 
blocked critical funding of the Department of Agriculture through the 
Commodity Credit Corporation during the CARES Act debate,” Conaway said.
 “Now, Democrats are trying once again to block USDA funding in the 
debate over the continuing resolution, which Congress must approve this 
month to keep the government open.”

Roberts
 took to the Senate floor to urge colleagues to replenish the CCC, which
 is used to implement farm bill programs and to provide additional 
assistance to agricultural producers affected by the pandemic. Failure 
to replenish the CCC would jeopardize the continued implementation of 
2018 farm bill programs and hurt already struggling farmers, ranchers 
and growers.

U.S. Rep. Roger 
Marshall, R-KS, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, said 
farmers and ranchers never missed a day of work due to COVID but they 
faced serious challenges associated with the ongoing pandemic.

“This
 second round of payments continues this administration’s commitment to 
the agriculture industry and includes all Kansas wheat farmers, many of 
which were left out of the first round of payments,” Marshall said. “It 
is essential we continue to provide our hard working farmers, ranchers 
and farm families with the resources and assistance necessary to 
continue providing Americans and the world the safest, highest quality 
and most affordable food supply in the world.”

Grower groups and others organizations were supportive of the actions of the $14 billion program.

“It’s
 been a tough year for agriculture and there’s still a lot of 
uncertainty across the Corn Belt as we head into harvest,” said National
 Corn Growers Association President Kevin Ross. “We’re doing all we can 
to get back on solid ground but we can’t do it alone, which is why 
today’s announcement is a positive and welcome step forward.”

NCGA
 analysis projects a $59 per acre average revenue decline for the 2019 
corn crop and an $89 per acre average revenue decline for 2020, compared
 to pre-COVID-19 projections. If realized, the 2020 crop year revenue 
would be the lowest corn revenues since 2006. Residual impacts from 
COVID-19 on corn prices are very likely to persist into 2021 and 
possibly beyond.

The Iowa Corn Growers Association said an Aug. 10 derecho damaged millions of acres of corn on top of the coronavirus’ impact.

“The
 Iowa Corn Growers Association has continually contacted&nbsp;Secretary 
Perdue by personally handing him a letter and speaking directly to him 
at the beginning of the month urging him and the administration to 
provide additional relief for our farmers including&nbsp;CFAP payments,” said
 ICGA President Carl Jardon.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the program should help the state’s producers.

“The
 COVID-19 pandemic continues to create significant market and trade 
disruptions, and this poses very real challenges for Iowa farmers. The 
agriculture economy will rebound but it will take time,” Naig said, 
adding the program helps turkey producers because they have also been 
impacted by the coronavirus. “I’m very pleased to see Iowa’s turkey 
producers were included in this round of CFAP funding, as they too have 
been hit hard by the decreased demand at delis and quick-service 
restaurants.”

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said monies will help cattle producers.

“We
 are pleased to see that USDA is using unspent funds in the Coronavirus 
Food Assistance Program to provide further relief to cattle producers 
who have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said NCBA Vice 
President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “The initial CFAP
 payments served as an important stopgap in the immediate wake of the 
coronavirus. Unfortunately, many in our industry are still reeling from 
abnormal marketing decisions they were forced to make in the spring, 
unprecedented supply chain disruptions, and an overall tumultuous farm 
economy.&nbsp;

He said the organization is calling on Congress to eliminate the program’s remaining disparities.

Two farmer and rancher organizations also echoed the need for relief.

The
 second round of aid may provide added relief, according to the American
 Farm Bureau Federation. Almost $10 billion from the first CFAP provided
 much-needed support to livestock, dairy, non-specialty and specialty 
crop producers throughout the country. Many farmers were initially left 
out of CFAP, and although the program was expanded to include more 
commodities, aid was only made available for losses suffered before 
April 15, 2020, the AFBF noted. The deadline for most producers to apply
 for the first round of CFAP assistance expired on Sept. 11.

“Farmers
 and ranchers saw demand for their markets disappear during the initial 
shockwave of the pandemic. Even though concerns over food supplies have 
now subsided, the economic hardships are still taking their toll on farm
 families across the country,” said American Farm Bureau Federation 
President Zippy Duvall. “We don’t know when this pandemic will end and 
we are still feeling the effects of trade imbalances and severe weather.
 This lifeline will keep farmers and ranchers afloat as they continue to
 keep America’s pantries stocked.”

In
 a statement, National Farmers Union President Rob Larew conveyed 
appreciation for the financial support and urged that it be distributed 
to those who need it most. Citing economy-wide impacts and high 
unemployment rates, he also called on Congress to provide the relief 
hungry Americans and rural communities need to withstand this crisis.

“Even
 as restrictions ease, it is evident that farmers will be feeling the 
effects of the pandemic for quite some time. Markets have been slow to 
recover, prices remain low and processing facilities are still backed 
up. While these challenges persist, farmers will certainly need 
assistance to stay solvent—and we are grateful that USDA is providing it
 through another round of CFAP.

“This
 support is absolutely crucial—but it is just as crucial that it is 
distributed fairly and equitably. The first round of funding, though 
greatly appreciated, was not without its flaws; not only did it favor 
large farms over smaller ones, it also sent millions of dollars to 
foreign-owned operations and excluded some farmers entirely. With 
congressional oversight, we ask that USDA rectify these issues and 
ensure that payments are commensurate with demonstrated need.

“It’s
 important to note that farmers are by far not the only Americans in 
need of relief right now; millions are out of work and experiencing food
 insecurity, family-owned businesses are struggling to stay afloat, 
already strained rural hospitals are hemorrhaging money, and students 
without broadband access are falling behind in school. It’s unacceptable
 that it has been months since these groups have received any help at 
all; Congress must act quickly to provide the support that all Americans
 need to withstand this crisis.”

Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or <a href="mailto:dbergmeier@hpj.com">dbergmeier@hpj.com</a>. Republished with permission.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601059498543.png" alt="By Larry Carver, Hutchinson, Kansas." />
 <figcaption>By Larry Carver, Hutchinson, Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com">High Plains Journal</a>President Donald J. Trump and U.S. 
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently announced that up to $14 
billion will be available to help producers who face market disruptions 
and associated costs because of COVID-19 and the news was endorsed in 
the industry.The aid was 
authorized as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security 
Act signed into law in March. The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 
has already distributed one round of direct payments to agricultural 
producers whose markets have been disrupted or lost due to the pandemic,
 according to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and 
Forestry. On Aug. 11, U.S. Department of Agriculture announced approximately 60 additional commodities that would be eligible for assistance under CFAP.U.S.
 Sen. Pat Roberts, R-KS, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, 
thanked Trump and Perdue for their efforts to help farmers and ranchers 
who have continued to feed the world amidst depressed commodity prices 
and disrupted markets.&nbsp;“I have heard directly from our farmers 
and ranchers about the harsh conditions in farm country. I will continue
 to advocate for certainty and predictability for agricultural 
producers, especially during these challenging and unprecedented times,”
 Roberts said.Congress 
authorized funding for CFAP in the CARES Act, which was approved by a 
unanimous vote in the U.S. Senate and signed by Trump into law on March 
27. The CARES Act included $9.5 billion in funds to assist agricultural 
producers and resources to partially replenish the Commodity Credit 
Corporation. Additionally, Congress provided flexibility for Perdue to 
purchase commodities for emergency distribution in the Families First 
Coronavirus Response Act.&nbsp;House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson, D-MN, said the program will help but much work is ahead.“There
 are some good things in this second CFAP plan, and the secretary should
 be commended for simplifying the application process for specialty crop
 growers and making sure livestock producers, like the turkey growers in
 my district, have what they need. It also expands the program to all 
classes of wheat and makes sure most commodities left out in the first 
round receive some support,” Peterson said. “And while this version of 
CFAP takes those good steps, there is some frustration over the 
participation rate among some sectors, including specialty crop 
producers.“I still want to see
 help for the ethanol industry that has been hurt by the drop in fuel 
demand, textile mills that are helping create COVID medical supplies, 
pork and poultry producers that had to depopulate as a result of plant 
closures, and contract growers who have faced loss of income.”House
 Agriculture Committee Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway, R-TX, said the
 program was needed relief for farmers, ranchers and dairy producers but
 expressed concern the Democratic leadership might block Commodity 
Credit Corporation funding that would halt farm bill funding and further
 COVID-19 relief.“Sadly, the 
aid could have been much stronger had Congressional Democrats not 
blocked critical funding of the Department of Agriculture through the 
Commodity Credit Corporation during the CARES Act debate,” Conaway said.
 “Now, Democrats are trying once again to block USDA funding in the 
debate over the continuing resolution, which Congress must approve this 
month to keep the government open.”Roberts
 took to the Senate floor to urge colleagues to replenish the CCC, which
 is used to implement farm bill programs and to provide additional 
assistance to agricultural producers affected by the pandemic. Failure 
to replenish the CCC would jeopardize the continued implementation of 
2018 farm bill programs and hurt already struggling farmers, ranchers 
and growers.U.S. Rep. Roger 
Marshall, R-KS, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, said 
farmers and ranchers never missed a day of work due to COVID but they 
faced serious challenges associated with the ongoing pandemic.“This
 second round of payments continues this administration’s commitment to 
the agriculture industry and includes all Kansas wheat farmers, many of 
which were left out of the first round of payments,” Marshall said. “It 
is essential we continue to provide our hard working farmers, ranchers 
and farm families with the resources and assistance necessary to 
continue providing Americans and the world the safest, highest quality 
and most affordable food supply in the world.”<h2>Additional comments</h2>Grower groups and others organizations were supportive of the actions of the $14 billion program.“It’s
 been a tough year for agriculture and there’s still a lot of 
uncertainty across the Corn Belt as we head into harvest,” said National
 Corn Growers Association President Kevin Ross. “We’re doing all we can 
to get back on solid ground but we can’t do it alone, which is why 
today’s announcement is a positive and welcome step forward.”NCGA
 analysis projects a $59 per acre average revenue decline for the 2019 
corn crop and an $89 per acre average revenue decline for 2020, compared
 to pre-COVID-19 projections. If realized, the 2020 crop year revenue 
would be the lowest corn revenues since 2006. Residual impacts from 
COVID-19 on corn prices are very likely to persist into 2021 and 
possibly beyond.The Iowa Corn Growers Association said an Aug. 10 derecho damaged millions of acres of corn on top of the coronavirus’ impact.“The
 Iowa Corn Growers Association has continually contacted&nbsp;Secretary 
Perdue by personally handing him a letter and speaking directly to him 
at the beginning of the month urging him and the administration to 
provide additional relief for our farmers including&nbsp;CFAP payments,” said
 ICGA President Carl Jardon.Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said the program should help the state’s producers.“The
 COVID-19 pandemic continues to create significant market and trade 
disruptions, and this poses very real challenges for Iowa farmers. The 
agriculture economy will rebound but it will take time,” Naig said, 
adding the program helps turkey producers because they have also been 
impacted by the coronavirus. “I’m very pleased to see Iowa’s turkey 
producers were included in this round of CFAP funding, as they too have 
been hit hard by the decreased demand at delis and quick-service 
restaurants.”The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said monies will help cattle producers.“We
 are pleased to see that USDA is using unspent funds in the Coronavirus 
Food Assistance Program to provide further relief to cattle producers 
who have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said NCBA Vice 
President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “The initial CFAP
 payments served as an important stopgap in the immediate wake of the 
coronavirus. Unfortunately, many in our industry are still reeling from 
abnormal marketing decisions they were forced to make in the spring, 
unprecedented supply chain disruptions, and an overall tumultuous farm 
economy.&nbsp;He said the organization is calling on Congress to eliminate the program’s remaining disparities.Two farmer and rancher organizations also echoed the need for relief.The
 second round of aid may provide added relief, according to the American
 Farm Bureau Federation. Almost $10 billion from the first CFAP provided
 much-needed support to livestock, dairy, non-specialty and specialty 
crop producers throughout the country. Many farmers were initially left 
out of CFAP, and although the program was expanded to include more 
commodities, aid was only made available for losses suffered before 
April 15, 2020, the AFBF noted. The deadline for most producers to apply
 for the first round of CFAP assistance expired on Sept. 11.“Farmers
 and ranchers saw demand for their markets disappear during the initial 
shockwave of the pandemic. Even though concerns over food supplies have 
now subsided, the economic hardships are still taking their toll on farm
 families across the country,” said American Farm Bureau Federation 
President Zippy Duvall. “We don’t know when this pandemic will end and 
we are still feeling the effects of trade imbalances and severe weather.
 This lifeline will keep farmers and ranchers afloat as they continue to
 keep America’s pantries stocked.”In
 a statement, National Farmers Union President Rob Larew conveyed 
appreciation for the financial support and urged that it be distributed 
to those who need it most. Citing economy-wide impacts and high 
unemployment rates, he also called on Congress to provide the relief 
hungry Americans and rural communities need to withstand this crisis.“Even
 as restrictions ease, it is evident that farmers will be feeling the 
effects of the pandemic for quite some time. Markets have been slow to 
recover, prices remain low and processing facilities are still backed 
up. While these challenges persist, farmers will certainly need 
assistance to stay solvent—and we are grateful that USDA is providing it
 through another round of CFAP.“This
 support is absolutely crucial—but it is just as crucial that it is 
distributed fairly and equitably. The first round of funding, though 
greatly appreciated, was not without its flaws; not only did it favor 
large farms over smaller ones, it also sent millions of dollars to 
foreign-owned operations and excluded some farmers entirely. With 
congressional oversight, we ask that USDA rectify these issues and 
ensure that payments are commensurate with demonstrated need.“It’s
 important to note that farmers are by far not the only Americans in 
need of relief right now; millions are out of work and experiencing food
 insecurity, family-owned businesses are struggling to stay afloat, 
already strained rural hospitals are hemorrhaging money, and students 
without broadband access are falling behind in school. It’s unacceptable
 that it has been months since these groups have received any help at 
all; Congress must act quickly to provide the support that all Americans
 need to withstand this crisis.”Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or <a href="mailto:dbergmeier@hpj.com">dbergmeier@hpj.com</a>. Republished with permission.

Coronavirus relief package welcome news in hurting ag economy

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF CHAPPELL, BIG SPRINGS, OGALLALA, PAXTON, 
GRANT, CHAMPION, ENDERS, IMPERIAL, AND WAUNETA



WHAT...REDUCED VISIBILITY OF 1 MILE OR LESS AT TIMES DUE TO SMOKE
FROM WESTERN WILDFIRES. 



WHERE...ACROSS SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA INTO PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHEAST 
PANHANDLE.



IMPACTS: SMOKE AT THE SURFACE IS CREATING LOW VISIBILITY OF 1 MILE
OR LESS AT TIMES. ASH HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED FALLING ON SURFACES,
USE CAUTION IF OUTDOORS.&nbsp;&nbsp; LINCOLN COUNTY IS COVERED IN SMOKE FROM A FIRE IN KEITH COUNTY AT LAKE MAC ARTHUR BAY NO ACTIVE FIRES IN NORTH PLATTE OR LINCOLN COUNTY&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601150814650.png" alt="From @NWSNorthPlatte (Twitter)" />
 <figcaption>From @NWSNorthPlatte (Twitter)</figcaption>
 </figure>LOW VISIBILITY DUE TO SMOKEDEUEL-KEITH-PERKINS-CHASE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF CHAPPELL, BIG SPRINGS, OGALLALA, PAXTON, 
GRANT, CHAMPION, ENDERS, IMPERIAL, AND WAUNETA
REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO SMOKE...

WHAT...REDUCED VISIBILITY OF 1 MILE OR LESS AT TIMES DUE TO SMOKE
FROM WESTERN WILDFIRES. 

WHERE...ACROSS SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA INTO PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHEAST 
PANHANDLE.

WHEN...THROUGH 6 PM MDT SATURDAY

IMPACTS: SMOKE AT THE SURFACE IS CREATING LOW VISIBILITY OF 1 MILE
OR LESS AT TIMES. ASH HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED FALLING ON SURFACES,
USE CAUTION IF OUTDOORS.&nbsp;&nbsp; LINCOLN COUNTY IS COVERED IN SMOKE FROM A FIRE IN KEITH COUNTY AT LAKE MAC ARTHUR BAY NO ACTIVE FIRES IN NORTH PLATTE OR LINCOLN COUNTY&nbsp; <div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Smoky skies this morning obscuring the sun here in North Platte. Anyone else seeing the smoky skies? Share your photos with location! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/5EVAYiXR7x">pic.twitter.com/5EVAYiXR7x</a>&mdash; NWS North Platte (@NWSNorthPlatte) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSNorthPlatte/status/1309860538550157312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Weather service warns of low visibility due to smoke in southwest Nebraska

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-NebraskaLand University is scheduled to begin the first session on Monday, October 5,&nbsp;2020, in the Banquet Room on the third floor of NebraskaLand National Bank, 1400 South Dewey. The session begins promptly at 7:00 p.m.&nbsp; Thirty-one area high school seniors were accepted into the program for the 2020-2021 sessions.&nbsp;

NebraskaLand University is a six-course financial literacy program designed to educate students on budgeting, savings, credit, loans, career development, identity theft protection, and more.&nbsp; The curriculum uses a combination of established financial literacy materials and unique lesson plans created and instructed by Senior and Executive Officers at NebraskaLand National Bank.&nbsp;

Each student is required to complete all six classes in order to graduate and receive a $250.00 scholarship.&nbsp; Students must also complete projects and homework as assigned as well as an essay.&nbsp; Essays will be reviewed and judged by a Bank committee.&nbsp; The students with the highest scores will be the recipients of a $1,000.00, $750.00, and $500.00 scholarship. Through the course, students will receive invaluable financial lessons as well as career development and wealth-building knowledge.&nbsp;

News ReleaseNORTH PLATTE, Neb.-NebraskaLand University is scheduled to begin the first session on Monday, October 5,&nbsp;2020, in the Banquet Room on the third floor of NebraskaLand National Bank, 1400 South Dewey. The session begins promptly at 7:00 p.m.&nbsp; Thirty-one area high school seniors were accepted into the program for the 2020-2021 sessions.&nbsp;NebraskaLand University is a six-course financial literacy program designed to educate students on budgeting, savings, credit, loans, career development, identity theft protection, and more.&nbsp; The curriculum uses a combination of established financial literacy materials and unique lesson plans created and instructed by Senior and Executive Officers at NebraskaLand National Bank.&nbsp;Each student is required to complete all six classes in order to graduate and receive a $250.00 scholarship.&nbsp; Students must also complete projects and homework as assigned as well as an essay.&nbsp; Essays will be reviewed and judged by a Bank committee.&nbsp; The students with the highest scores will be the recipients of a $1,000.00, $750.00, and $500.00 scholarship. Through the course, students will receive invaluable financial lessons as well as career development and wealth-building knowledge.&nbsp;

NebraskaLand University welcomes 31 students

LINCOLN, Neb. – Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can discover the outdoors by participating in the second annual Nebraska Fish Art Contest.

The 2021 contest, which is sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Wildlife Forever and Bass Pro Shops, is accepting entries through March 31, 2021. Enter at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA5MjQuMjc2OTc2NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy53aWxkbGlmZWZvcmV2ZXIub3JnL2hvbWUvc3RhdGUtZmlzaC1hcnQvIn0.0Rzp94Y9NpDzUeF5KW2WSsaykTc44SzxTxvqVW34E-Q/s/497221905/br/85934566500-l" target="_blank">statefishart.org</a>.

This free international art and writing competition gives young people the opportunity to highlight their artistic talents while learning about fish, fishing and aquatic conservation. Participants can win prizes and recognition in Nebraska and internationally.

Young artists create an original illustration of a species from the Official Fish List and also submit a one-page creative writing detailing their species habitat and efforts to conserve it. Entries are categorized in four grade levels: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Educators nationwide use Fish On!, the State-Fish Art Lesson Plan, integrating the disciplines of science and art. Judging will be held in April and winners announced in May.

The 2021 contest also has many specialty award categories and opportunities for additional prizes and recognition, such as the Fish Habitat Award, Western Native Trout Award, and Guy Harvey Award.

“The Nebraska Fish Art Contest was quite popular in its first year,” said Larry Pape, Game and Parks aquatic education specialist. “Students really were engaged in incorporating art, science and conservation education in this fun project.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1569891809219.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. – Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can discover the outdoors by participating in the second annual Nebraska Fish Art Contest.The 2021 contest, which is sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Wildlife Forever and Bass Pro Shops, is accepting entries through March 31, 2021. Enter at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA5MjQuMjc2OTc2NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy53aWxkbGlmZWZvcmV2ZXIub3JnL2hvbWUvc3RhdGUtZmlzaC1hcnQvIn0.0Rzp94Y9NpDzUeF5KW2WSsaykTc44SzxTxvqVW34E-Q/s/497221905/br/85934566500-l" target="_blank">statefishart.org</a>.This free international art and writing competition gives young people the opportunity to highlight their artistic talents while learning about fish, fishing and aquatic conservation. Participants can win prizes and recognition in Nebraska and internationally.Young artists create an original illustration of a species from the Official Fish List and also submit a one-page creative writing detailing their species habitat and efforts to conserve it. Entries are categorized in four grade levels: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Educators nationwide use Fish On!, the State-Fish Art Lesson Plan, integrating the disciplines of science and art. Judging will be held in April and winners announced in May.The 2021 contest also has many specialty award categories and opportunities for additional prizes and recognition, such as the Fish Habitat Award, Western Native Trout Award, and Guy Harvey Award.“The Nebraska Fish Art Contest was quite popular in its first year,” said Larry Pape, Game and Parks aquatic education specialist. “Students really were engaged in incorporating art, science and conservation education in this fun project.”

2021 Nebraska Fish Art Contest open for entries

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-Great Plains Health, in partnership with North Platte Fire and Rescue, North Platte Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s office, and the Nebraska State Patrol will conduct an active-shooter response drill from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 30 at Great Plains Health.

The training event will have an active shooter in the hospital and a coordinated response by first responders. There will be an increased presence of emergency vehicles and personnel at Great Plains Health, which may include law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances.

The drill will help all partners evaluate their response in the event an active shooter enters a Great Plains Health facility to inflict harm on visitors and employees.

“Unfortunately, these types of events do happen in hospitals around the country, said Matt Odle, Great Plains Health emergency management coordinator. “Organizing and participating in ongoing training and drills is one of the best ways to prepare our staff to respond in a way that ultimately saves lives and mitigates tragedy.”&nbsp;

Areas that may be impacted by the exercise include the North Platte Health Pavilion and the emergency department. The main lobby area may also be part of the exercise. Signs will be posted throughout campus to inform visitors and employees that an active shooter exercise is underway.

Normal hospital operations will continue during the exercise.

News Release Great Plains HealthNORTH PLATTE, Neb.-Great Plains Health, in partnership with North Platte Fire and Rescue, North Platte Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s office, and the Nebraska State Patrol will conduct an active-shooter response drill from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 30 at Great Plains Health.The training event will have an active shooter in the hospital and a coordinated response by first responders. There will be an increased presence of emergency vehicles and personnel at Great Plains Health, which may include law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances.The drill will help all partners evaluate their response in the event an active shooter enters a Great Plains Health facility to inflict harm on visitors and employees.“Unfortunately, these types of events do happen in hospitals around the country, said Matt Odle, Great Plains Health emergency management coordinator. “Organizing and participating in ongoing training and drills is one of the best ways to prepare our staff to respond in a way that ultimately saves lives and mitigates tragedy.”&nbsp;Areas that may be impacted by the exercise include the North Platte Health Pavilion and the emergency department. The main lobby area may also be part of the exercise. Signs will be posted throughout campus to inform visitors and employees that an active shooter exercise is underway.Normal hospital operations will continue during the exercise.

Great Plains Health to hold active-shooter drill

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska public health officials have confirmed 453 new cases of the coronavirus but no new deaths, according to the latest available data.

The total number of known cases has reached 42,731 as of Thursday evening, according to the state's online tracking portal.

Of those cases, 462 people have died since the pandemic began. Nearly 438,000 people have been tested so far.

Despite the increase, the number of available hospital beds has remained stable. State officials say 33% of Nebraska's hospital beds, 27% of its intensive care unit beds and 80% of its ventilators are still available for coronavirus patients if needed.

For some infected people, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe illness or death. But for most people, it causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska public health officials have confirmed 453 new cases of the coronavirus but no new deaths, according to the latest available data.The total number of known cases has reached 42,731 as of Thursday evening, according to the state's online tracking portal.Of those cases, 462 people have died since the pandemic began. Nearly 438,000 people have been tested so far.Despite the increase, the number of available hospital beds has remained stable. State officials say 33% of Nebraska's hospital beds, 27% of its intensive care unit beds and 80% of its ventilators are still available for coronavirus patients if needed.For some infected people, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe illness or death. But for most people, it causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks.

Nebraska reports 453 new virus cases, no new deaths

Kearney Police Department News Release

Billy P. Herl Sr. (43) and Jenny F. Cleaveland (22), were taken into custody in Teller County, Colorado on Tuesday, September 22nd, in connection to the September 3rd Assault / Armed Robbery that occurred in Kearney.  Both subjects are charged with Robbery, Assault in the 1st Degree, Use of a Weapon to Commit a Felony, Theft, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited person.

At approximately 1:17 p.m. on Thursday, September 3rd, Kearney Police responded to CHI Good Samaritan Emergency Room for an assault/armed robbery report. The adult male victim reported he had been assaulted and robbed at a residence in south Kearney on September 2, 2020, sustaining serious injuries to his face and head. With information provided by the victim, investigators were able to identify two suspects in this case. 43-year-old, white male, Billy P. Herl Sr. and 22-year-old, white female, Jenny F. Cleaveland. Both suspects are believed to be homeless and have been seen panhandling at several intersections in Kearney over the past week. The female has been seen with a small dog and cardboard sign.  

Felony arrest warrants for both suspects have been issued for 1st Degree Assault, Robbery, Use Of a Weapon to Commit a Felony, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Herl and Cleaveland are asked to call 911 and not approach the suspects.  

If you have information about this case, please contact Investigator Amy Trausch of the Kearney Police Department at (308)237-2104, Buffalo County Crimestoppers at (308) 237-3424, or you can submit your tip using the See it, Say it, Send it App.   

Check out our web site at www.cityofkearney.org. 

We are sending this News Release as a service to the news media and citizens of Kearney. 

Kearney Police Department News ReleaseUPDATE - ARMED ROBBERY/ASSAULT Billy P. Herl Sr. (43) and Jenny F. Cleaveland (22), were taken into custody in Teller County, Colorado on Tuesday, September 22nd, in connection to the September 3rd Assault / Armed Robbery that occurred in Kearney. Both subjects are charged with Robbery, Assault in the 1st Degree, Use of a Weapon to Commit a Felony, Theft, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited person.At approximately 1:17 p.m. on Thursday, September 3rd, Kearney Police responded to CHI Good Samaritan Emergency Room for an assault/armed robbery report. The adult male victim reported he had been assaulted and robbed at a residence in south Kearney on September 2, 2020, sustaining serious injuries to his face and head. With information provided by the victim, investigators were able to identify two suspects in this case. 43-year-old, white male, Billy P. Herl Sr. and 22-year-old, white female, Jenny F. Cleaveland. Both suspects are believed to be homeless and have been seen panhandling at several intersections in Kearney over the past week. The female has been seen with a small dog and cardboard sign. Felony arrest warrants for both suspects have been issued for 1st Degree Assault, Robbery, Use Of a Weapon to Commit a Felony, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Herl and Cleaveland are asked to call 911 and not approach the suspects. If you have information about this case, please contact Investigator Amy Trausch of the Kearney Police Department at (308)237-2104, Buffalo County Crimestoppers at (308) 237-3424, or you can submit your tip using the See it, Say it, Send it App. Check out our web site at www.cityofkearney.org. We are sending this News Release as a service to the news media and citizens of Kearney. pc:

Suspects in Kearney armed robbery arrested in Colorado

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska Medicine will resume normal operations "in days" following a cyberattack that shut down computer systems early Sunday, health system officials said.

Officials described the outage in a statement Thursday as a "significant information technology system downtime event. It led to the postponement of appointments for patients with elective procedures or other non-critical health concerns, The Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/nebraska-medicine-says-normal-operations-should-resume-in-days-after-cyberattack/article_b0d17205-d91e-5402-8ea5-c4e7dae49dee.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1" target="_blank">reported</a>.

The statement, which was provided by Dr. James Linder, Nebraska Medicine's chief executive officer, said that the system's emergency rooms have remained open, and no patients were diverted to other hospitals.

"People have done a yeoman's job in making sure we deliver good patient care," Linder told the newspaper.

No patients' electronic medical records were deleted or destroyed, thanks to the system's back-up and recovery processes.

The statement did not include any further information about the attack's nature, extent or origins, nor did officials address whether patient medical or financial information had been exposed.

Note: This has impacted Great Plains Health in North Platte. See the original story HERE

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska Medicine will resume normal operations "in days" following a cyberattack that shut down computer systems early Sunday, health system officials said.Officials described the outage in a statement Thursday as a "significant information technology system downtime event. It led to the postponement of appointments for patients with elective procedures or other non-critical health concerns, The Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/nebraska-medicine-says-normal-operations-should-resume-in-days-after-cyberattack/article_b0d17205-d91e-5402-8ea5-c4e7dae49dee.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1" target="_blank">reported</a>.The statement, which was provided by Dr. James Linder, Nebraska Medicine's chief executive officer, said that the system's emergency rooms have remained open, and no patients were diverted to other hospitals."People have done a yeoman's job in making sure we deliver good patient care," Linder told the newspaper.No patients' electronic medical records were deleted or destroyed, thanks to the system's back-up and recovery processes.The statement did not include any further information about the attack's nature, extent or origins, nor did officials address whether patient medical or financial information had been exposed.Note: This has impacted Great Plains Health in North Platte. See the original story HERE

Cyberattack shut down computer systems at Nebraska Medicine

9.25.2020 NPHS Football @ Lincoln NorthEast - LIVESTREAM

Jared J Webster, 26, North Platte and Emma Lee, 26, North Platte

Eric S Allision, 41, North Platte and Karen R Buresh, 36, North Platte

Published September 25, 2020Jared J Webster, 26, North Platte and Emma Lee, 26, North PlatteEric S Allision, 41, North Platte and Karen R Buresh, 36, North Platte

Lincoln County Marriage Licenses

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-A North Platte couple was arrested on child abuse allegations.

According to North Platte police, on September 23 the Lincoln County Attorney's Office issued detention orders on 3 juveniles (ages 8,5 and 3).  

Police say the parents of the juveniles are Heather and David Granados. 

According to police, Heather is currently on probation but had failed to meet with her probation officer since July.  A warrant was issued on Heather for probation violation.&nbsp;Heather has failed to show up for mandatory drug testing.

Police say Heather failed to answer the door when probation attempted to contact her.&nbsp; 

Police say the school-aged juveniles haven't gone to school or been enrolled in remote learning. As a result, a search warrant was sought for the Granados residence to serve the detention orders on the children. 

Police say the door of the residence had to be breached as the Granados' refused to answer it. Upon entry, officers found the living conditions in the home were unfit for juveniles. &nbsp;The juveniles were present and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services took custody of them. 

David and Heather were present and arrested on suspicion of child abuse and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601050229450.jpeg" alt="David Granados" />
 <figcaption>David Granados</figcaption>
 </figure>NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-A North Platte couple was arrested on child abuse allegations.According to North Platte police, on September 23 the Lincoln County Attorney's Office issued detention orders on 3 juveniles (ages 8,5 and 3). Police say the parents of the juveniles are Heather and David Granados. According to police, Heather is currently on probation but had failed to meet with her probation officer since July. A warrant was issued on Heather for probation violation.&nbsp;Heather has failed to show up for mandatory drug testing.Police say Heather failed to answer the door when probation attempted to contact her.&nbsp; Police say the school-aged juveniles haven't gone to school or been enrolled in remote learning. As a result, a search warrant was sought for the Granados residence to serve the detention orders on the children. Police say the door of the residence had to be breached as the Granados' refused to answer it. Upon entry, officers found the living conditions in the home were unfit for juveniles. &nbsp;The juveniles were present and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services took custody of them. David and Heather were present and arrested on suspicion of child abuse and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

North Platte couple arrested on child abuse accusations

<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/899474920&color=%232a1bd9&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/eagleradio-1" title="eagleradio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">eagleradio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/eagleradio-1/goc-sunday" title="Guardians of the Children Sept 27th" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Guardians of the Children Sept 27th</a></div></div>

Post Podcast: Guardians of the Children holding two events Sept 27th

OMAHA-United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Angel Merida Herrera, 29, of Lexington, Nebraska, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher for being a felon in possession of ammunition. There is no parole in the federal system. Upon his release from prison, he will serve three years of supervised release.

On January 27, 2020, law enforcement was dispatched to a residence in Lexington for an unknown 911 call.&nbsp; Upon arrival, Herrera walked toward officers.&nbsp; One of the officers recognized Herrera and knew from past contact with Herrera that he could possibly be carrying a weapon.&nbsp; After a frisk, law enforcement located a knife in his front jeans pocket.&nbsp; Officers asked for consent to search and Herrera consented.&nbsp; Officers found one 9mm bullet in his pocket.&nbsp; Officers confirmed through his criminal history that he was a felon.&nbsp; They then applied for and received a search warrant for a room at the Super 8 that Herrera rented.&nbsp; Herrera had the room rented from January 17 through January 28, 2020.&nbsp; In the room, law enforcement seized another seven rounds of Luger 9mm ammunition.&nbsp; Herrera is a felon for possession of controlled substance from Dawson County in 2014.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This case was brought as part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian" target="_blank">https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian</a>.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Lexington Police Department.&nbsp;&nbsp;

OMAHA-United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Angel Merida Herrera, 29, of Lexington, Nebraska, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher for being a felon in possession of ammunition. There is no parole in the federal system. Upon his release from prison, he will serve three years of supervised release.On January 27, 2020, law enforcement was dispatched to a residence in Lexington for an unknown 911 call.&nbsp; Upon arrival, Herrera walked toward officers.&nbsp; One of the officers recognized Herrera and knew from past contact with Herrera that he could possibly be carrying a weapon.&nbsp; After a frisk, law enforcement located a knife in his front jeans pocket.&nbsp; Officers asked for consent to search and Herrera consented.&nbsp; Officers found one 9mm bullet in his pocket.&nbsp; Officers confirmed through his criminal history that he was a felon.&nbsp; They then applied for and received a search warrant for a room at the Super 8 that Herrera rented.&nbsp; Herrera had the room rented from January 17 through January 28, 2020.&nbsp; In the room, law enforcement seized another seven rounds of Luger 9mm ammunition.&nbsp; Herrera is a felon for possession of controlled substance from Dawson County in 2014.&nbsp;&nbsp;This case was brought as part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian" target="_blank">https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian</a>.This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Lexington Police Department.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lexington man gets prison for possession ammunition

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Gov. Pete Ricketts on Thursday lauded a new law that will help Nebraska National Guard members save some money when they attend a state university of college.

The law passed earlier this year will increase the amount of undergraduate tuition assistance for Guard members from 75% to 100% of the cost. It also will expand the program to include 50% tuition assistance for graduate programs.

Ricketts praised the work of the Guard during a ceremonial bill signing at the Capitol. He pointed to the Guard's response to last year's record floods in Nebraska and its help this year in testing residents for the coronavirus.

Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, the adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard, called the law as "a game-changer" that will help recruit and retain new members.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Gov. Pete Ricketts on Thursday lauded a new law that will help Nebraska National Guard members save some money when they attend a state university of college.The law passed earlier this year will increase the amount of undergraduate tuition assistance for Guard members from 75% to 100% of the cost. It also will expand the program to include 50% tuition assistance for graduate programs.Ricketts praised the work of the Guard during a ceremonial bill signing at the Capitol. He pointed to the Guard's response to last year's record floods in Nebraska and its help this year in testing residents for the coronavirus.Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, the adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard, called the law as "a game-changer" that will help recruit and retain new members.

Ricketts hails new tuition benefits for Nebraska Guard

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-COVID-19 Community Risk Dial remains in the elevated risk level

The risk dial moved from a 2.12 down to
a 2.0 this week, which remains within the elevated risk level. There
were changes in the following variables that contributed to movement
in the dial:

We had decreases in the following
(please reference the WCDHD risk dial website page for additional
information):

The risk dial will be updated every
Thursday after the information is reviewed by the Public Health
Command Center. Dial updates are posted HERE.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-COVID-19 Community Risk Dial remains in the elevated risk levelThe risk dial moved from a 2.12 down to
a 2.0 this week, which remains within the elevated risk level. There
were changes in the following variables that contributed to movement
in the dial:We had decreases in the following
(please reference the WCDHD risk dial website page for additional
information):<ol>
 <li>Measure ID R4: Average Daily
	Hospitalization 
	
	</li><li>Measure ID R7: Community Spread
	</li><li>Measure ID R11: Individuals
	Affected
</li>
 </ol>We had an increase in the following:<ol>
 <li>Measure ID R12: Medical &amp;
	Surgical Beds 
	
</li>
 </ol>The risk dial will be updated every
Thursday after the information is reviewed by the Public Health
Command Center. Dial updates are posted HERE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1601000947330.png" alt="risk dial september 24 2020.PNG" />
 <figcaption>risk dial september 24 2020.PNG</figcaption>
 </figure>

WCDHD lowers Community Risk Dial slightly, remains 'Elevated'

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Gov. Pete Ricketts doubled down Thursday on his decision to leave Nebraska as the only state that has discontinued emergency food assistance benefits that were made available under the federal coronavirus relief package, despite pleas from advocates for the poor.

Ricketts argued that Nebraska's economy has fared far better than others hit by the coronavirus, and that other forms of assistance are still available to those who need it.

His comments came after advocates for low-income Nebraskans called on the Republican governor to reinstate the emergency aid, which ended in July. A group of state lawmakers has made a similar request.

"Our friends, our family members, and our neighbors are being told they should face an unprecedented global pandemic without emergency support for which they are eligible," said Eric Savaino, who works on food-access issues for the advocacy group Nebraska Appleseed.

The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, was temporarily expanded during the pandemic to help low-income Americans who took a financial hit due to the coronavirus and subsequent business closures and layoffs. SNAP benefits are financed by the federal government, with the state covering half of the administrative costs.

"The reality for thousands of Nebraska families who are still in crisis, disabled, or working but at reduced hours or at lower paying jobs, is that these benefits were essential and are still sorely needed," Savaino said.

Advocates said they've heard from hundreds of Nebraska residents who relied on the additional aid to pay for food during the pandemic. The Food Bank of the Heartland, based in Omaha, reported a 40% increase in calls to its hotline since March.

"The SNAP program reaches across communities, urban, suburban and rural, to improve access to healthy food for families in need," said Shelley Mann, an assistant director at the food bank. "Neither the charitable food system, nor SNAP can do it alone."

Ricketts argued that the extra assistance isn't needed because Nebraska had the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-archive-a1c42816d54d586490d2a9a260214e27" target="_blank">nation's lowest unemployment rate&nbsp;</a>as of last month. The state's unemployment rate was 4% in August, compared to 8.4% nationally, and the current numbers are comparable to Nebraska's jobless rates before the pandemic.

He said Nebraska's economy also took a small hit relative to other states, based on federal data. Nebraska's gross domestic product shrank 1.2% in the first three months of 2020, a smaller decrease than any other state,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bea.gov/news/2020/gross-domestic-product-state-1st-quarter-2020" target="_blank">according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis</a>.

Additionally, Ricketts said that the number of applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has returned to normal levels after a sudden increase. Nebraska had roughly 70,000 people enrolled in the program in February, and the number rose to a high of 78,000 during the pandemic. It has since dropped to around 71,000.

"Here in Nebraska, being the least impacted the state, we have a way to show the rest of the country how to get back to normal," Ricketts said at a news conference on an unrelated issue.

A group of 20 state lawmakers sent a letter to Ricketts earlier this month, asking that he extend the emergency benefits. The effort was led by state Sen. John McCollister, a Republican in the officially nonpartisan Legislature who his often at odds with his party.

"Nebraska should not withhold this life-sustaining aid to those residents who remain food insecure," the senators wrote in the letter.

By GRANT SCHULTE-Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Gov. Pete Ricketts doubled down Thursday on his decision to leave Nebraska as the only state that has discontinued emergency food assistance benefits that were made available under the federal coronavirus relief package, despite pleas from advocates for the poor.Ricketts argued that Nebraska's economy has fared far better than others hit by the coronavirus, and that other forms of assistance are still available to those who need it.His comments came after advocates for low-income Nebraskans called on the Republican governor to reinstate the emergency aid, which ended in July. A group of state lawmakers has made a similar request."Our friends, our family members, and our neighbors are being told they should face an unprecedented global pandemic without emergency support for which they are eligible," said Eric Savaino, who works on food-access issues for the advocacy group Nebraska Appleseed.The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, was temporarily expanded during the pandemic to help low-income Americans who took a financial hit due to the coronavirus and subsequent business closures and layoffs. SNAP benefits are financed by the federal government, with the state covering half of the administrative costs."The reality for thousands of Nebraska families who are still in crisis, disabled, or working but at reduced hours or at lower paying jobs, is that these benefits were essential and are still sorely needed," Savaino said.Advocates said they've heard from hundreds of Nebraska residents who relied on the additional aid to pay for food during the pandemic. The Food Bank of the Heartland, based in Omaha, reported a 40% increase in calls to its hotline since March."The SNAP program reaches across communities, urban, suburban and rural, to improve access to healthy food for families in need," said Shelley Mann, an assistant director at the food bank. "Neither the charitable food system, nor SNAP can do it alone."Ricketts argued that the extra assistance isn't needed because Nebraska had the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-archive-a1c42816d54d586490d2a9a260214e27" target="_blank">nation's lowest unemployment rate&nbsp;</a>as of last month. The state's unemployment rate was 4% in August, compared to 8.4% nationally, and the current numbers are comparable to Nebraska's jobless rates before the pandemic.He said Nebraska's economy also took a small hit relative to other states, based on federal data. Nebraska's gross domestic product shrank 1.2% in the first three months of 2020, a smaller decrease than any other state,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bea.gov/news/2020/gross-domestic-product-state-1st-quarter-2020" target="_blank">according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis</a>.Additionally, Ricketts said that the number of applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has returned to normal levels after a sudden increase. Nebraska had roughly 70,000 people enrolled in the program in February, and the number rose to a high of 78,000 during the pandemic. It has since dropped to around 71,000."Here in Nebraska, being the least impacted the state, we have a way to show the rest of the country how to get back to normal," Ricketts said at a news conference on an unrelated issue.A group of 20 state lawmakers sent a letter to Ricketts earlier this month, asking that he extend the emergency benefits. The effort was led by state Sen. John McCollister, a Republican in the officially nonpartisan Legislature who his often at odds with his party."Nebraska should not withhold this life-sustaining aid to those residents who remain food insecure," the senators wrote in the letter.

Ricketts stands by decision to discontinue emergency SNAP

9.24.2020 NPHS Volleyball vs Hastings - LIVESTREAM

GERING, Neb. (AP) - Several western Nebraska schools are scrambling to deal with outbreaks of new coronavirus cases.

About 70 students and staff at Gering High School were under quarantine this week after an outbreak, the Scottsbluff Star-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://starherald.com/users/login/?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fstarherald.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Feducation%2Fgering-alliance-schools-see-outbreaks-of-covid-19-affect-activities%2Farticle_8db8315f-46d5-56dd-a88a-093d9c0c8b85.html#tracking-source=registration_wall" target="_blank">reported</a>. That came after at least four cases were confirmed last week in the school. School officials have since temporarily ended a policy allowing people to opt-out of wearing masks inside its high school and on school buses, and officials postponed the homecoming dance until Oct. 17.

Neighboring Scottsbluff Public Schools has had nine confirmed cases and 113 quarantines across its buildings, the Star-Herald reported. And in Alliance, the high school football game was canceled last week after a student tested positive and several team members were quarantined.

The state's&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">online virus tracker</a>&nbsp;shows 42,278 in Nebraska have tested positive for the virus and 462 people have died since the outbreak began. Those numbers include nearly 500 new cases on Wednesday alone.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska has soared over the past two weeks, to 402 new cases per day in the last week from nearly 272 cases per day the week prior, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 tracking project.

GERING, Neb. (AP) - Several western Nebraska schools are scrambling to deal with outbreaks of new coronavirus cases.About 70 students and staff at Gering High School were under quarantine this week after an outbreak, the Scottsbluff Star-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://starherald.com/users/login/?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fstarherald.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Feducation%2Fgering-alliance-schools-see-outbreaks-of-covid-19-affect-activities%2Farticle_8db8315f-46d5-56dd-a88a-093d9c0c8b85.html#tracking-source=registration_wall" target="_blank">reported</a>. That came after at least four cases were confirmed last week in the school. School officials have since temporarily ended a policy allowing people to opt-out of wearing masks inside its high school and on school buses, and officials postponed the homecoming dance until Oct. 17.Neighboring Scottsbluff Public Schools has had nine confirmed cases and 113 quarantines across its buildings, the Star-Herald reported. And in Alliance, the high school football game was canceled last week after a student tested positive and several team members were quarantined.The state's&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ece0db09da4d4ca68252c3967aa1e9dd" target="_blank">online virus tracker</a>&nbsp;shows 42,278 in Nebraska have tested positive for the virus and 462 people have died since the outbreak began. Those numbers include nearly 500 new cases on Wednesday alone.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska has soared over the past two weeks, to 402 new cases per day in the last week from nearly 272 cases per day the week prior, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 tracking project.

Western Nebraska schools plagued by virus outbreaks

LINCOLN, Neb-The Powerball Product Group, a collective group of 38 lotteries, today announced a series of exciting, new changes coming to the Powerball draw show. New drawing machines, ball sets and other production enhancements will debut in the Wednesday, September 30 drawing. While the look of the draw show will change, the Powerball® game itself will remain the same.

“Powerball has been America’s life-changing jackpot game for 28 years,” said May Scheve Reardon, Powerball Product Group Chair and Missouri Lottery Executive Director. “Players can be assured that the new drawing equipment has undergone rigorous security screenings and certifications to ensure its integrity.”

Throughout Powerball’s 28-year history, the game’s drawing machines and ball sets have been replaced as industry standards for drawing equipment have evolved. The new drawing machines are the&nbsp;Halogen II&nbsp;model from Smartplay International, Inc. The&nbsp;Halogen II&nbsp;is an upgraded version of the gravity-driven machines that are currently used in Powerball drawings.

Powerball’s official ball sets will also transition from hard rubber balls to solid foam balls. Solid foam balls are the new industry standard for ball sets used in gravity-driven machines. Players may have previously seen solid foam balls used in other drawings, such as the drawing for the Powerball First Millionaire of the Year on ABC’s live broadcast of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020.”

“The work to overhaul the Powerball draw show started last year, and in the middle of the project, the COVID-19 public health crisis hit,” said Gregg Edgar, MUSL Marketing and Promotions Committee Chair and Arizona Lottery Executive Director. “Despite the challenges, we were able to continue our collaboration with lotteries and businesses across the country to produce a draw show that captures the thrill of Powerball. We are excited to share the final product with our loyal Powerball players.”

Powerball tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are broadcast live every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, and can also be viewed online at Powerball.com. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold.

Ten Nebraska Powerball players have won a total of $357 million in jackpot prizes since the Nebraska Lottery joined the game in July 1994.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $782 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

News Release Nebraska LotteryLINCOLN, Neb-The Powerball Product Group, a collective group of 38 lotteries, today announced a series of exciting, new changes coming to the Powerball draw show. New drawing machines, ball sets and other production enhancements will debut in the Wednesday, September 30 drawing. While the look of the draw show will change, the Powerball® game itself will remain the same.“Powerball has been America’s life-changing jackpot game for 28 years,” said May Scheve Reardon, Powerball Product Group Chair and Missouri Lottery Executive Director. “Players can be assured that the new drawing equipment has undergone rigorous security screenings and certifications to ensure its integrity.”Throughout Powerball’s 28-year history, the game’s drawing machines and ball sets have been replaced as industry standards for drawing equipment have evolved. The new drawing machines are the&nbsp;Halogen II&nbsp;model from Smartplay International, Inc. The&nbsp;Halogen II&nbsp;is an upgraded version of the gravity-driven machines that are currently used in Powerball drawings.Powerball’s official ball sets will also transition from hard rubber balls to solid foam balls. Solid foam balls are the new industry standard for ball sets used in gravity-driven machines. Players may have previously seen solid foam balls used in other drawings, such as the drawing for the Powerball First Millionaire of the Year on ABC’s live broadcast of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020.”“The work to overhaul the Powerball draw show started last year, and in the middle of the project, the COVID-19 public health crisis hit,” said Gregg Edgar, MUSL Marketing and Promotions Committee Chair and Arizona Lottery Executive Director. “Despite the challenges, we were able to continue our collaboration with lotteries and businesses across the country to produce a draw show that captures the thrill of Powerball. We are excited to share the final product with our loyal Powerball players.”Powerball tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are broadcast live every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, and can also be viewed online at Powerball.com. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold.Ten Nebraska Powerball players have won a total of $357 million in jackpot prizes since the Nebraska Lottery joined the game in July 1994.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $782 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Exciting enhancements coming to Powerball draw show

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - An inmate at a prison in Lincoln has been hospitalized after being attacked and stabbed by another inmate, prison officials said.

The attack happened Wednesday in the Lincoln Correctional Center's woodshop, according to a news release by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

The inmate was attacked from behind by another inmate, hit several times in the head with a large metal bar clamp and was stabbed several times with a screwdriver, the release said. The injured inmate is in a Lincoln hospital with serious injuries.

Staff members were able to restrain and disarm the attacker, officials said. The names of the inmates involved have not been released.

The Nebraska State Patrol is leading the investigation into the attack, the release said.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - An inmate at a prison in Lincoln has been hospitalized after being attacked and stabbed by another inmate, prison officials said.The attack happened Wednesday in the Lincoln Correctional Center's woodshop, according to a news release by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.The inmate was attacked from behind by another inmate, hit several times in the head with a large metal bar clamp and was stabbed several times with a screwdriver, the release said. The injured inmate is in a Lincoln hospital with serious injuries.Staff members were able to restrain and disarm the attacker, officials said. The names of the inmates involved have not been released.The Nebraska State Patrol is leading the investigation into the attack, the release said.

Nebraska inmate hospitalized after attack by other inmate

LINCOLN, Neb.-Governor Pete Ricketts proclaimed Saturday, September 26th&nbsp;as National Hunting and Fishing Day in Nebraska during a ceremony at the State Capitol. &nbsp;The proclamation recognizes the contributions Nebraska’s sportsmen and women make to the state’s conservation efforts and economic well-being.&nbsp;

“Nebraska is blessed with abundant wildlife, and our outdoorsmen and women have done great work to steward our natural resources through the years,” said Gov. Ricketts.&nbsp; “I encourage Nebraskans to take along a friend, neighbor, or family member when they hunt and fish this fall.&nbsp; It’s important for all of us to pass along our love for these activities to a new generation of Nebraskans.”

National Hunting and Fishing Day is celebrated the fourth Saturday of every September.&nbsp; Hunting and fishing have an annual economic impact of over one billion dollars in Nebraska and support nearly 12,000 jobs in the state. &nbsp;Purchases of hunting and fishing permits also help fund the stewardship of Nebraska’s fish and wildlife.

Video from today’s ceremony is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovernorPeteRicketts%2Fvideos%2F823449131760799&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C8f7096fb85f542fc941a08d85f42f8f6%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637364088527460794&amp;sdata=xzArKjusT5otC7TaLWXH6MjQHAlr6M7rxkT9moJwI4g%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.&nbsp; Interested Nebraskans can learn more about hunting and fishing opportunities in the state at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C8f7096fb85f542fc941a08d85f42f8f6%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637364088527470779&amp;sdata=SIEcwfyvk5fW%2FfJUHgU%2BcOwgvdkeQ%2FYpXz%2FhEla6A58%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Video from today’s press conference is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovernorPeteRicketts%2Fvideos%2F823449131760799&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C8f7096fb85f542fc941a08d85f42f8f6%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637364088527460794&amp;sdata=xzArKjusT5otC7TaLWXH6MjQHAlr6M7rxkT9moJwI4g%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600911742075.png" alt="Gov. Ricketts (at center in blue tie) and outdoor enthusiasts celebrate the proclamation of Hunting and Fishing Day in Nebraska." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Ricketts (at center in blue tie) and outdoor enthusiasts celebrate the proclamation of Hunting and Fishing Day in Nebraska.</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb.-Governor Pete Ricketts proclaimed Saturday, September 26th&nbsp;as National Hunting and Fishing Day in Nebraska during a ceremony at the State Capitol. &nbsp;The proclamation recognizes the contributions Nebraska’s sportsmen and women make to the state’s conservation efforts and economic well-being.&nbsp;“Nebraska is blessed with abundant wildlife, and our outdoorsmen and women have done great work to steward our natural resources through the years,” said Gov. Ricketts.&nbsp; “I encourage Nebraskans to take along a friend, neighbor, or family member when they hunt and fish this fall.&nbsp; It’s important for all of us to pass along our love for these activities to a new generation of Nebraskans.”National Hunting and Fishing Day is celebrated the fourth Saturday of every September.&nbsp; Hunting and fishing have an annual economic impact of over one billion dollars in Nebraska and support nearly 12,000 jobs in the state. &nbsp;Purchases of hunting and fishing permits also help fund the stewardship of Nebraska’s fish and wildlife.Video from today’s ceremony is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovernorPeteRicketts%2Fvideos%2F823449131760799&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C8f7096fb85f542fc941a08d85f42f8f6%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637364088527460794&amp;sdata=xzArKjusT5otC7TaLWXH6MjQHAlr6M7rxkT9moJwI4g%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.&nbsp; Interested Nebraskans can learn more about hunting and fishing opportunities in the state at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C8f7096fb85f542fc941a08d85f42f8f6%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637364088527470779&amp;sdata=SIEcwfyvk5fW%2FfJUHgU%2BcOwgvdkeQ%2FYpXz%2FhEla6A58%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; Video from today’s press conference is available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovernorPeteRicketts%2Fvideos%2F823449131760799&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C8f7096fb85f542fc941a08d85f42f8f6%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637364088527460794&amp;sdata=xzArKjusT5otC7TaLWXH6MjQHAlr6M7rxkT9moJwI4g%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gov. Ricketts proclaims September 26 'Hunting and Fishing Day'

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) reported eight new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lincoln County on Wednesday.

Officials say three cases are from September 19, three cases are from September 22 and two cases are from September 23.

One case is close contact, one case is community spread and six cases are under investigation.

<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172?fbclid=IwAR1tD3qNjCcXKbsT_jaW6Ugk6NQug_Q85jaSrpWiHZ6eJ0udLqTaFf_yhsY#!/vizhome/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/Story1?publish=yes">WCDHD Dashboard</a>

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-The West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) reported eight new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lincoln County on Wednesday.Officials say three cases are from September 19, three cases are from September 22 and two cases are from September 23.One case is close contact, one case is community spread and six cases are under investigation.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172?fbclid=IwAR1tD3qNjCcXKbsT_jaW6Ugk6NQug_Q85jaSrpWiHZ6eJ0udLqTaFf_yhsY#!/vizhome/WestCentralDistrictHealthDepartmentCOVID-19Dashboard/Story1?publish=yes">WCDHD Dashboard</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600950791363.png" alt="covid update september 23 2020.png" />
 <figcaption>covid update september 23 2020.png</figcaption>
 </figure>

WCDHD reported 8 new COVID cases on Wednesday

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600911955228.png" alt="police activity september 22 to 23 2020.png" />
 <figcaption>police activity september 22 to 23 2020.png</figcaption>
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North Platte Police Call Log (September 22-23, 2020)

LINCOLN –&nbsp;Today, Governor Pete&nbsp;Ricketts&nbsp;announced recent appointments he has made to fill Nebraska’s boards and commissions.

The following appointees are unpaid and are not subject to Legislative confirmation:

County Attorney Standards Advisory Council

Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities

Mark D. Shriver, Ph.D.,&nbsp;BCBA-D, Omaha

Daniel P.&nbsp;Schachtman, Ph.D., Lincoln

Nebraska Commission for the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision

Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

Nebraska Propane Education and Research Council

Riparian Vegetation Management Task Force

ServeNebraska&nbsp;– The Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission

Nebraska Wheat Development, Utilization, and Marketing Board

The following appointee is paid and subject to Legislative confirmation:

Thank you to the many Nebraskans that give generously of their time and talent to make a difference in our state.&nbsp; These appointments will provide crucial insight and expertise to their respective boards, committees, and commissions.&nbsp; To learn about openings and apply to serve on a board or commission, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/board-comm-req">https://governor.nebraska.gov/board-comm-req</a>.

LINCOLN –&nbsp;Today, Governor Pete&nbsp;Ricketts&nbsp;announced recent appointments he has made to fill Nebraska’s boards and commissions.The following appointees are unpaid and are not subject to Legislative confirmation:Nebraska Aeronautics CommissionScott E. Tarry, Ph.D., OmahaCapitol Environs CommissionAnn Post, J.D., LincolnCounty Attorney Standards Advisory CouncilRobert E. Bowen, M.D., BenningtonElizabeth Waterman, LexingtonNebraska Council on Developmental DisabilitiesMark D. Shriver, Ph.D.,&nbsp;BCBA-D, OmahaDry Bean CommissionDavid W. Howell,&nbsp;MorrillCourtney M.&nbsp;Schuler,&nbsp;MorrillDavid G. Weber, AllianceNebraska Equal Opportunity CommissionArla&nbsp;Jo Meyer, LincolnEPSCoR/IDeA&nbsp;CommitteeDaniel P.&nbsp;Schachtman, Ph.D., LincolnNebraska Fire Safety Appeals BoardRonald Geary, LincolnDonald J. Sheets, LincolnSteven&nbsp;Thornburg, PapillionNebraska Commission on Indian AffairsDerek R.&nbsp;LaPointe,&nbsp;NiobraraSteve&nbsp;Laravie&nbsp;Sr., LincolnDarren Wolfe, MacyLarry Wright Jr., LincolnNebraska Commission for the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender SupervisionJacey&nbsp;Rader, LincolnNebraska Investment Finance AuthoritySusan E.&nbsp;Bredthauer, LincolnColten&nbsp;R.&nbsp;Zamrzla, LincolnJail Standards BoardMark H. Benne, ColumbusBruce M. Ferrell, ElkhornNebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal JusticeRaymond “Ray” Norris, LincolnThomas P. Parker,&nbsp;GeringProfessional Practices CommissionLinda K. Brock, OmahaNebraska Propane Education and Research CouncilRichard Wedding, FirthNebraska Commission on Public AdvocacyJulie E. Bear,&nbsp;PlattsmouthJonathan M.&nbsp;Braaten, LincolnMichael E.&nbsp;Ziskey, OmahaRacial Profiling Advisory CommitteeStephen B.&nbsp;Hensel, CreteMark A. Hogue, Central CityRiparian Vegetation Management Task ForceKevin C. Adams,&nbsp;MinatareTala&nbsp;Awada, Ph.D., LincolnDavid Carr, Grand IslandRyan Chapman, LincolnJohn A.&nbsp;Erixson, LincolnLarry J.&nbsp;Heyen&nbsp;CerescoBrent Meyer, DentonNathan J.&nbsp;Munter,&nbsp;HoldregeJohn W. Orr, BlairMichael D. Reed, OmahaJames&nbsp;Sarchet,&nbsp;MinatareJames&nbsp;Skavdahl,&nbsp;MarslandRichard&nbsp;Tesar, WaterlooThomas L. Walker, Jr., LincolnShuhai&nbsp;Zheng, LincolnTammy Zimmerman, LincolnDavid Zorn, GothenburgServeNebraska&nbsp;– The Nebraska Volunteer Service CommissionColette “Kelly” Fleming, OmahaM. Ashley&nbsp;Hatheway, ElkhornLisa&nbsp;Hiatt, LincolnAshley Mueller, LincolnNebraska Wheat Development, Utilization, and Marketing BoardRichard B. Dunbar, EustisNebraska Workforce Development BoardJim Smith, LincolnGovernor’s Youth Advisory CouncilChloe R. Irwin,&nbsp;GretnaSamuel J. Rosa, LincolnThe following appointee is paid and subject to Legislative confirmation:Nebraska Board of ParoleRosalyn R. Cotton, OmahaThank you to the many Nebraskans that give generously of their time and talent to make a difference in our state.&nbsp; These appointments will provide crucial insight and expertise to their respective boards, committees, and commissions.&nbsp; To learn about openings and apply to serve on a board or commission, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/board-comm-req">https://governor.nebraska.gov/board-comm-req</a>.

Gov. Ricketts announces appointments to boards and commissions 

Dunkin’ has been keeping millions of Americans running for decades and is recognized as one of the country’s most-loved brands. This year, in celebration of its passionate fans and everyone across the U.S. for whom Dunkin’ is synonymous with great coffee, Dunkin’ is making it official by&nbsp;renaming National Coffee Day on September 29 as National Dunkin’ Day.&nbsp;

Coffee lovers will be able to celebrate National Dunkin’ Day in the best way possible: with a free medium hot or iced coffee (with any purchase) at Dunkin’ restaurants nationwide on Tuesday, September 29.&nbsp;To further plus-up National Dunkin’ Day, anyone anywhere in the U.S. can take part in the celebration, with a chance to win an ultimate Dunkin’ care package. Beginning September 24 and while supplies last, devoted Dunkin’ fans can also purchase limited-run National Dunkin’ Day merchandise online at&nbsp;<a href="https://shopdunkin.com/" target="_blank">ShopDunkin.com</a>.&nbsp;

“For so many Americans, Dunkin’ equals coffee, and coffee equals Dunkin’… there is simply no other coffee choice. We’re declaring National Coffee Day as National Dunkin’ Day to highlight how much our coffee means to people, and create an opportunity to raise a cup to everyone across the entire country who understands and appreciates how important that daily cup of Dunkin’ can be to keep running,” said Drayton Martin, Vice President, Brand Stewardship at Dunkin’.&nbsp;

National Dunkin’ Day Brings Free Dunkin’ Coffee Nationwide&nbsp;

Dunkin’ is bringing the energy and excitement to National Dunkin’ Day, and showing its appreciation for fans by making it easy for everyone to celebrate the day with a cup of Dunkin’ coffee in hand. On Tuesday, September 29, Dunkin’ will offer guests a free medium hot or iced coffee (with any purchase) at participating Dunkin’ restaurants across the U.S.* Dunkin’s lineup of quality hot and iced coffee choices includes its beloved Original Blend, Dark Roast and Dunkin’ Decaf, which are all freshly brewed in-store.&nbsp;

Celebrate National Dunkin’ Day Anywhere&nbsp;

News ReleaseDunkin’ has been keeping millions of Americans running for decades and is recognized as one of the country’s most-loved brands. This year, in celebration of its passionate fans and everyone across the U.S. for whom Dunkin’ is synonymous with great coffee, Dunkin’ is making it official by&nbsp;renaming National Coffee Day on September 29 as National Dunkin’ Day.&nbsp;Coffee lovers will be able to celebrate National Dunkin’ Day in the best way possible: with a free medium hot or iced coffee (with any purchase) at Dunkin’ restaurants nationwide on Tuesday, September 29.&nbsp;To further plus-up National Dunkin’ Day, anyone anywhere in the U.S. can take part in the celebration, with a chance to win an ultimate Dunkin’ care package. Beginning September 24 and while supplies last, devoted Dunkin’ fans can also purchase limited-run National Dunkin’ Day merchandise online at&nbsp;<a href="https://shopdunkin.com/" target="_blank">ShopDunkin.com</a>.&nbsp;“For so many Americans, Dunkin’ equals coffee, and coffee equals Dunkin’… there is simply no other coffee choice. We’re declaring National Coffee Day as National Dunkin’ Day to highlight how much our coffee means to people, and create an opportunity to raise a cup to everyone across the entire country who understands and appreciates how important that daily cup of Dunkin’ can be to keep running,” said Drayton Martin, Vice President, Brand Stewardship at Dunkin’.&nbsp;National Dunkin’ Day Brings Free Dunkin’ Coffee Nationwide&nbsp;Dunkin’ is bringing the energy and excitement to National Dunkin’ Day, and showing its appreciation for fans by making it easy for everyone to celebrate the day with a cup of Dunkin’ coffee in hand. On Tuesday, September 29, Dunkin’ will offer guests a free medium hot or iced coffee (with any purchase) at participating Dunkin’ restaurants across the U.S.* Dunkin’s lineup of quality hot and iced coffee choices includes its beloved Original Blend, Dark Roast and Dunkin’ Decaf, which are all freshly brewed in-store.&nbsp;Celebrate National Dunkin’ Day Anywhere&nbsp;For anyone who can’t make it to Dunkin’ for a free coffee on National Dunkin’ Day, the brand is brewing up another way to give guests a taste of Dunkin’, no matter where they are. Dunkin’ has created the ultimate care package to give coffee drinkers anywhere in the U.S. the chance to celebrate National Dunkin’ Day the right way. The special Dunkin’ kit includes Dunkin’ ready-to-drink iced coffee, K-Cup®&nbsp;pods, packaged coffee,&nbsp;<a href="https://news.dunkindonuts.com/news/america-runs-on-dunkin-post-cereals-and-dunkin-team-up-to-bring-americas-favorite-coffee-to-a-cereal-aisle-near-you" target="_blank">Post Cereals made with Dunkin’ coffee</a>, Dunkin’ Extra Extra Creamer Singles, tumblers, masks, stickers, temporary tattoos, tote bags, and other surprises.&nbsp;For the chance to receive a National Dunkin’ Daycare package, fans can comment on Dunkin’s Instagram or Twitter post on September 23 with the emoji that best describes themselves before having their Dunkin’ and tag a friend using #NationalDunkinDaySweepstakes. A total of 100 winners will be randomly selected from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET on September 23. NoPurchNec. Legal US/DC res 18+. Ends 9/23/2020. For official rules, visit<a href="http://ddsweeps.com/" target="_blank">DDSweeps.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The brand will also be delivering the exclusive care packages to select fans who do not currently live close enough to a Dunkin’ store to celebrate National Dunkin’ Day. The brand has identified 20 social media fans that expressed they miss their daily Dunkin’ run, and will surprise them with a special delivery on National Dunkin’ Day so they too can enjoy the day.&nbsp;Display Your Dunkin’ Devotion and Coffee Cravings&nbsp;For those who know running on Dunkin’ is a lifestyle as much as a coffee choice, the brand is rolling out special, limited-run National Dunkin’ Day merchandise for Dunkin’ diehards and coffee lovers to show their pride. Featuring bold, original, animated graphics designed by creative partner Jones Knowles Ritchie, the fun, new apparel and accessories explore the funny and relatable ways fans interact with Dunkin’s beloved coffee, with sayings such as “My Blood Type is Dunkin’” and “I Only Need Dunkin’ On Days Ending in Y.”&nbsp;All items will be available on&nbsp;<a href="https://shopdunkin.com/" target="_blank">ShopDunkin.</a>com beginning&nbsp;September 24, while supplies last.&nbsp;To learn more about Dunkin’, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dunkindonuts.com/" target="_blank">www.DunkinDonuts.com</a>&nbsp;or subscribe to the Dunkin’ blog to receive notifications at&nbsp;<a href="https://news.dunkindonuts.com/blog" target="_blank">https://news.dunkindonuts.com/blog</a>.&nbsp;*Limit one per order, per day. Excludes Nitro Cold Brew and Cold Brew. Espresso shots, flavors and dairy alternatives may be an additional charge. Excludes Gift Card purchases. Not available on delivery platforms or with guest checkout on the mobile app. Cannot be combined with other discounts, coupon or reward.&nbsp;

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