<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/democrat-paul-theobald-decides-not-to-challenge-sen-pete-ricketts-republican-herbster-still-mulling-his-options/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — A Nebraska Democrat who considered a 2024 bid for the seat held by appointed U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., announced Friday that he has decided not to run.

Paul Theobald, a former dean of education and counseling at Wayne State College, filed paperwork in June signaling an intent to raise money for a possible Senate campaign.

He said then that he was mulling an underdog challenge of Ricketts and needed a few weeks to decide. On Friday, he told the Nebraska Examiner he couldn’t make it work.&nbsp;

“It’s nothing in particular … just kind of a confluence of forces,” he said. “It just felt like it’s too big of a job.”

Thus far, Ricketts has only one announced opponent seeking to fill the final two years of former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse’s 2020 term.

That is John Glen Weaver, a Republican who lost a primary election challenge last year against Mike Flood in the 1st Congressional District.&nbsp;

Ricketts was appointed by Gov. Jim Pillen to replace i Sasse, who resigned to become president of the University of Florida. Ricketts had been one of Pillen’s top donors and surrogates.

Theobald said he hopes Democrats can find a better candidate. He said Ricketts should be vulnerable, despite the fact that his parents, Joe and Marlene Ricketts, are two of the top GOP donors nationally.&nbsp;

“Obviously, we’re talking about a guy who tried to buy his own Legislature, so I don’t think he should be able to buy his own Senate seat,” Theobald said.

Ricketts has declined to discuss any potential challengers, saying that he remains focused on doing the job he was appointed to do.

Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster has said he is considering his options, including a possible Senate bid. He has blamed Ricketts for his loss to Pillen in 2022.&nbsp;

A Herbster staffer said this week that Herbster had made no decision yet about 2024. Herbster has said he is focused on helping former President Donald Trump’s presidential bid.

Nebraska Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb said her party would put strong candidates on the ballot against Ricketts and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., who is up for re-election in 2024.

“We are committed to recruiting candidates that Nebraskans of all political stripes can support instead of the status quo politics of Ricketts and Fischer,” Kleeb said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689480941400.jpeg" alt="Pete Ricketts, former Nebraska governor and now a U.S. senator. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Pete Ricketts, former Nebraska governor and now a U.S. senator. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/democrat-paul-theobald-decides-not-to-challenge-sen-pete-ricketts-republican-herbster-still-mulling-his-options/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — A Nebraska Democrat who considered a 2024 bid for the seat held by appointed U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., announced Friday that he has decided not to run.Paul Theobald, a former dean of education and counseling at Wayne State College, filed paperwork in June signaling an intent to raise money for a possible Senate campaign.He said then that he was mulling an underdog challenge of Ricketts and needed a few weeks to decide. On Friday, he told the Nebraska Examiner he couldn’t make it work.&nbsp;“It’s nothing in particular … just kind of a confluence of forces,” he said. “It just felt like it’s too big of a job.”<h2>One known opponent</h2>Thus far, Ricketts has only one announced opponent seeking to fill the final two years of former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse’s 2020 term.That is John Glen Weaver, a Republican who lost a primary election challenge last year against Mike Flood in the 1st Congressional District.&nbsp;Ricketts was appointed by Gov. Jim Pillen to replace i Sasse, who resigned to become president of the University of Florida. Ricketts had been one of Pillen’s top donors and surrogates.Theobald said he hopes Democrats can find a better candidate. He said Ricketts should be vulnerable, despite the fact that his parents, Joe and Marlene Ricketts, are two of the top GOP donors nationally.&nbsp;“Obviously, we’re talking about a guy who tried to buy his own Legislature, so I don’t think he should be able to buy his own Senate seat,” Theobald said.Ricketts has declined to discuss any potential challengers, saying that he remains focused on doing the job he was appointed to do.<h2>Herbster still mulling</h2>Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster has said he is considering his options, including a possible Senate bid. He has blamed Ricketts for his loss to Pillen in 2022.&nbsp;A Herbster staffer said this week that Herbster had made no decision yet about 2024. Herbster has said he is focused on helping former President Donald Trump’s presidential bid.Nebraska Democratic Party chair Jane Kleeb said her party would put strong candidates on the ballot against Ricketts and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., who is up for re-election in 2024.“We are committed to recruiting candidates that Nebraskans of all political stripes can support instead of the status quo politics of Ricketts and Fischer,” Kleeb said.

Democrat Paul Theobald decides not to challenge Sen. Pete Ricketts; Republican Herbster still mulling his options

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/15/nebraska-democrats-fail-to-reach-quorum-kick-censure-resolution-down-the-road/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA —&nbsp;Members of the Nebraska Democratic Party will forgo a censure resolution against one of its elected officials in favor of a different action plan after failing at a Saturday meeting to reach quorum.

Party officials were poised to consider a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/15/nebraska-democrats-to-consider-inflection-point-censure-of-state-sen-mike-mcdonnell/">censure resolution</a>&nbsp;against Omaha State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha at its quarterly meeting in Scottsbluff. Now, that resolution will take the place of a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskademocrats.org/blog/statement-from-ndp-officers-stonewall-democrats-secular-democrats-and-nebraska-young-democrats/">handful of action items</a>&nbsp;moving forward.

<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49961">LB 574</a>, which was signed into law in May, restricts health care sought by transgender and gender-nonconforming minors and bans most abortions after 12 weeks gestational age.

The Legislature is officially nonpartisan, with 32 Republicans, 16 Democrats and one independent progressive.

In a Saturday letter to the state party, McDonnell said he is a Christian and a lifelong member of the Roman Catholic Church. He noted he registered as a Democrat in 1984 and ran as an anti-abortion candidate publicly in 2016 and again when he ran for reelection in 2020.

“The proposed censure and admonishment of me by the Nebraska Democratic Party, because I am pro-life, is not going to change my informed conscience and religious beliefs!” McDonnell wrote.

McDonnell told the Nebraska Examiner he plans to sit down with Jane Kleeb, chair of the state party, and C.J. King, chair of the Douglas County Democratic Party, and have a discussion.&nbsp;

He said he will ask to speak with the memberships of the county and state parties at future meetings, if Kleeb and King allow it.

King in a text said he plans to talk with McDonnell.

The joint statement calls for Democratic members to get involved so the Legislature does not come down to a “one-vote margin.” A stated goal is to “elect 20 Democrats and independents in 2024.”

McDonnell is term-limited next year in the Legislature, and he confirmed he is considering a run for Omaha mayor in 2025.

Party officers and Stonewall Democrats committed through the statement to:

Nebraska Democrats are progressive, moderate and conservative, the statement adds, and each has differences and agreements in the platform.

“We are a coalition party and we are here to build for working families across the state. Smart, brave, and strong Nebraskans in rural and urban communities have stood up and chosen to be Democrats,” the statement continues.

‘Shouldn’t check their faith at the door’

Tom Venzor, executive director for the Nebraska Catholic Conference, said McDonnell has shown a “clear, consistent and serious commitment” to his faith while in the Legislature and in working on legislation consistent with his faith and with “human reason, common sense and basic human decency.”

Mike Marcheck, chair of the Stonewall Democrats of Nebraska, an LGBTQIA2S+ caucus, sponsored the resolution to reprimand McDonnell because he supported Legislative Bill 574 in the spring. The caucus also sought to prohibit directing state party resources to McDonnell, immediately and indefinitely.

In a joint statement, state party officials, Stonewall Democrats, Secular Democrats and Nebraska Young Democrats said McDonnell, as the only Democratic member of the Nebraska Legislature to support LB 574, went against the “very core of our values as Democrats.”

“We protect people,” the statement reads. “First and always.”

Venzor said this includes helping Nebraskans, particularly low-income families, in the areas of food assistance, employment, housing and greater educational opportunity.

While not addressing the censure resolution or allegations, Venzor said Catholics are called to bring their moral commitment and values to the table and transform their party, building a culture on truth and common good.

“They shouldn’t check their faith at the door or water it down,” he said in an email. “A Catholic should never give in to any pressure or party platform that would deny basic moral truths or espouse intrinsically evil actions.”

State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar, who has defended McDonnell on the floor of the Legislature, was at least one Republican watching for the vote Saturday. She said extremely partisan censure votes, regardless of party, “drive good people out of politics and serve to only further divide our Nebraska Legislature.”

She described McDonnell as honest, popular in his district and “one of the most effective senators in the Nebraska Legislature.”

Slama said it makes “perfect sense” that Democrats would try for censure.

“The message to religious and pro-life Democrats is clear: You are no longer welcome in Jane Kleeb’s Nebraska Democratic Party,” Slama said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689480727038.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha. (Courtesy of Nebraska Unicameral Information Office)&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha. (Courtesy of Nebraska Unicameral Information Office)&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/15/nebraska-democrats-fail-to-reach-quorum-kick-censure-resolution-down-the-road/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA —&nbsp;Members of the Nebraska Democratic Party will forgo a censure resolution against one of its elected officials in favor of a different action plan after failing at a Saturday meeting to reach quorum.Party officials were poised to consider a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/15/nebraska-democrats-to-consider-inflection-point-censure-of-state-sen-mike-mcdonnell/">censure resolution</a>&nbsp;against Omaha State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha at its quarterly meeting in Scottsbluff. Now, that resolution will take the place of a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskademocrats.org/blog/statement-from-ndp-officers-stonewall-democrats-secular-democrats-and-nebraska-young-democrats/">handful of action items</a>&nbsp;moving forward.<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49961">LB 574</a>, which was signed into law in May, restricts health care sought by transgender and gender-nonconforming minors and bans most abortions after 12 weeks gestational age.The Legislature is officially nonpartisan, with 32 Republicans, 16 Democrats and one independent progressive.In a Saturday letter to the state party, McDonnell said he is a Christian and a lifelong member of the Roman Catholic Church. He noted he registered as a Democrat in 1984 and ran as an anti-abortion candidate publicly in 2016 and again when he ran for reelection in 2020.“The proposed censure and admonishment of me by the Nebraska Democratic Party, because I am pro-life, is not going to change my informed conscience and religious beliefs!” McDonnell wrote.McDonnell told the Nebraska Examiner he plans to sit down with Jane Kleeb, chair of the state party, and C.J. King, chair of the Douglas County Democratic Party, and have a discussion.&nbsp;He said he will ask to speak with the memberships of the county and state parties at future meetings, if Kleeb and King allow it.King in a text said he plans to talk with McDonnell.<h2>Call to action and next steps</h2>The joint statement calls for Democratic members to get involved so the Legislature does not come down to a “one-vote margin.” A stated goal is to “elect 20 Democrats and independents in 2024.”McDonnell is term-limited next year in the Legislature, and he confirmed he is considering a run for Omaha mayor in 2025.Party officers and Stonewall Democrats committed through the statement to:<ul>
 <li>Lead townhall meetings in Omaha, Lincoln and rural Nebraska to hear from the LGBTQ community on how to improve the party and elect Democrats “who reflect our values.”</li><li>Fund more outreach activities with the Stonewall Democrats and conduct more events with the LGBTQ community, with a focus on young voters.</li><li>Review bylaw language around party resources and put forward a change to be voted on in the future on when and why the party can withhold party resources from candidates or elected officials.</li>
 </ul>Nebraska Democrats are progressive, moderate and conservative, the statement adds, and each has differences and agreements in the platform.“We are a coalition party and we are here to build for working families across the state. Smart, brave, and strong Nebraskans in rural and urban communities have stood up and chosen to be Democrats,” the statement continues.<h2>‘Shouldn’t check their faith at the door’</h2>Tom Venzor, executive director for the Nebraska Catholic Conference, said McDonnell has shown a “clear, consistent and serious commitment” to his faith while in the Legislature and in working on legislation consistent with his faith and with “human reason, common sense and basic human decency.”Mike Marcheck, chair of the Stonewall Democrats of Nebraska, an LGBTQIA2S+ caucus, sponsored the resolution to reprimand McDonnell because he supported Legislative Bill 574 in the spring. The caucus also sought to prohibit directing state party resources to McDonnell, immediately and indefinitely.In a joint statement, state party officials, Stonewall Democrats, Secular Democrats and Nebraska Young Democrats said McDonnell, as the only Democratic member of the Nebraska Legislature to support LB 574, went against the “very core of our values as Democrats.”“We protect people,” the statement reads. “First and always.”Venzor said this includes helping Nebraskans, particularly low-income families, in the areas of food assistance, employment, housing and greater educational opportunity.While not addressing the censure resolution or allegations, Venzor said Catholics are called to bring their moral commitment and values to the table and transform their party, building a culture on truth and common good.“They shouldn’t check their faith at the door or water it down,” he said in an email. “A Catholic should never give in to any pressure or party platform that would deny basic moral truths or espouse intrinsically evil actions.”<h2>‘You are no longer welcome’</h2>State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar, who has defended McDonnell on the floor of the Legislature, was at least one Republican watching for the vote Saturday. She said extremely partisan censure votes, regardless of party, “drive good people out of politics and serve to only further divide our Nebraska Legislature.”She described McDonnell as honest, popular in his district and “one of the most effective senators in the Nebraska Legislature.”Slama said it makes “perfect sense” that Democrats would try for censure.“The message to religious and pro-life Democrats is clear: You are no longer welcome in Jane Kleeb’s Nebraska Democratic Party,” Slama said.

Nebraska Democrats pass on censure, seek new action after failing to reach quorum

By STEFANIE DAZIO and LARRY FENN Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Slain at the hands of strangers or gunned down by loved ones. Massacred in small towns, in big cities, inside their own homes or outside in broad daylight. This year's unrelenting bloodshed across the U.S. has led to the grimmest of milestones: The deadliest six months of mass killings recorded since at least 2006.

From Jan. 1 to June 30, the nation endured 28 mass killings, all but one of which involved guns. The death toll rose just about every week, a constant cycle of violence and grief.

Six months. 181 days. 28 mass killings. 140 victims. One country.

"What a ghastly milestone," said Brent Leatherwood, whose three children were in class at a private Christian school in Nashville on March 27 when a former student killed three children and three adults. "You never think your family would be a part of a statistic like that."

Leatherwood, a prominent Republican in a state that hasn't strengthened gun laws, believes something must be done to get guns out of the hands of people who might become violent. The shock of seeing the bloodshed strike so close to home has prompted him to speak out.

"You may as well say Martians have landed, right? It's hard to wrap your mind around it," he said.

A mass killing is defined as an occurrence when four or more people are slain, not including the assailant, within a 24-hour period. A database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University tracks this large-scale violence dating back to 2006.

The 2023 milestone beat the previous record of 27 mass killings, which was only set in the second half of 2022. James Alan Fox, a criminology professor at Northeastern University, never imagined records like this when he began overseeing the database about five years ago.

"We used to say there were two to three dozen a year," Fox said. "The fact that there's 28 in half a year is a staggering statistic."

But the chaos of the first six months of 2023 doesn't automatically doom the last six months. The remainder of the year could be calmer, despite more violence over the July Fourthholiday weekend.

"Hopefully it was just a blip," said Dr. Amy Barnhorst, a psychiatrist who is the associate director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis.

"There could be fewer killings later in 2023, or this could be part of a trend. But we won't know for sometime," she added.

Experts like Barnhorst and Fox attribute the rising bloodshed to a growing population with an increased number of guns in the U.S. Yet for all the headlines, mass killings are statistically rare and represent a fraction of the country's overall gun violence.

"We need to keep it in perspective," Fox said.

But the mass violence most often spurs attempts to reform gun laws, even if the efforts are not always successful.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, had urged the General Assembly in the wake of the Nashville school shooting to pass legislation keeping firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others, so-called "red flag laws," though Lee says the term is politically toxic.

Getting such a measure passed in Tennessee is an uphill climb. The Republican-led Legislature adjourned earlier this year without taking on gun control, prompting Lee to schedule a special session for August.

Leatherwood, a former executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party and now the head of the influential Southern Baptist Convention's public policy arm, wrote a letter to lawmakers asking them to pass the governor's proposal.

Leatherwood said he doesn't want any other family to go through what his children experienced at the time of the shooting when they were in kindergarten, second grade and fourth grade. One of his kids, preparing for a recent sleepaway camp, asked whether they would be safe there.

"Our child was asking, 'Do you think that there will be a gunman that comes to this camp? Do I need to be worried about that?'" Leatherwood said.

The Nashville shooter, whose writings Leatherwood and other parents are asking a court to keep private, used three guns in the attack, including an AR-15-style rifle. It was one of at least four mass killings in the first half of 2023 involving such a weapon, according to the database.

Nearly all of the mass killings in the first half of this year, 27 of 28, involved guns. The other was a fire that killed four people in a home in Monroe, Louisiana. A 37-year-old man was arrested on arson and murder charges in connection with the March 31 deaths.

Despite the unprecedented carnage, the National Rifle Association maintains fierce opposition to regulating firearms, including AR-15-style rifles and similar weapons.

"Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' constant efforts to gut the Second Amendment will not usher in safety for Americans; instead, it will only embolden criminals," NRA spokesman Billy McLaughlin said in a statement. "That is why the NRA continues our fight for self-defense laws. Rest assured, we will never bow, we will never retreat, and we will never apologize for championing the self-defense rights of law-abiding Americans."

Tito Anchondo's brother, Andre Anchondo, was among 23 people killed in a 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. The gunman was sentenced last week to 90 consecutive life sentences but could face more punishment, including the death penalty. The prosecution of the racist attack on Hispanic shoppers in the border city was one of the U.S. government's largest hate crime cases.

Andre Anchondo and his wife, Jordan, died shielding their 2-month-old son from bullets. Paul, who escaped with just broken bones, is now 4 years old.

Tito Anchondo said he feels like the country has forgotten about the El Paso victims in the years since and that not nearly enough has been done to stem the bloodshed. He worries about Paul's future.

"I hope that things can drastically change because this country is going down a very, very slippery slope; a downward spiral," he said. "It's just a little unnerving to know that he's eventually going to go to school with kids that also may bring a gun to school."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687710602889.png" alt="KC Police on the scene of&nbsp; the mass shooting at&nbsp; an after hours club near 57th and Prospect Avenue June 26-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>KC Police on the scene of&nbsp; the mass shooting at&nbsp; an after hours club near 57th and Prospect Avenue June 26-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEFANIE DAZIO and LARRY FENN Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) — Slain at the hands of strangers or gunned down by loved ones. Massacred in small towns, in big cities, inside their own homes or outside in broad daylight. This year's unrelenting bloodshed across the U.S. has led to the grimmest of milestones: The deadliest six months of mass killings recorded since at least 2006.From Jan. 1 to June 30, the nation endured 28 mass killings, all but one of which involved guns. The death toll rose just about every week, a constant cycle of violence and grief.Six months. 181 days. 28 mass killings. 140 victims. One country."What a ghastly milestone," said Brent Leatherwood, whose three children were in class at a private Christian school in Nashville on March 27 when a former student killed three children and three adults. "You never think your family would be a part of a statistic like that."Leatherwood, a prominent Republican in a state that hasn't strengthened gun laws, believes something must be done to get guns out of the hands of people who might become violent. The shock of seeing the bloodshed strike so close to home has prompted him to speak out."You may as well say Martians have landed, right? It's hard to wrap your mind around it," he said.A mass killing is defined as an occurrence when four or more people are slain, not including the assailant, within a 24-hour period. A database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University tracks this large-scale violence dating back to 2006.The 2023 milestone beat the previous record of 27 mass killings, which was only set in the second half of 2022. James Alan Fox, a criminology professor at Northeastern University, never imagined records like this when he began overseeing the database about five years ago."We used to say there were two to three dozen a year," Fox said. "The fact that there's 28 in half a year is a staggering statistic."But the chaos of the first six months of 2023 doesn't automatically doom the last six months. The remainder of the year could be calmer, despite more violence over the July Fourthholiday weekend."Hopefully it was just a blip," said Dr. Amy Barnhorst, a psychiatrist who is the associate director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis."There could be fewer killings later in 2023, or this could be part of a trend. But we won't know for sometime," she added.Experts like Barnhorst and Fox attribute the rising bloodshed to a growing population with an increased number of guns in the U.S. Yet for all the headlines, mass killings are statistically rare and represent a fraction of the country's overall gun violence."We need to keep it in perspective," Fox said.But the mass violence most often spurs attempts to reform gun laws, even if the efforts are not always successful.Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, had urged the General Assembly in the wake of the Nashville school shooting to pass legislation keeping firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others, so-called "red flag laws," though Lee says the term is politically toxic.Getting such a measure passed in Tennessee is an uphill climb. The Republican-led Legislature adjourned earlier this year without taking on gun control, prompting Lee to schedule a special session for August.Leatherwood, a former executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party and now the head of the influential Southern Baptist Convention's public policy arm, wrote a letter to lawmakers asking them to pass the governor's proposal.Leatherwood said he doesn't want any other family to go through what his children experienced at the time of the shooting when they were in kindergarten, second grade and fourth grade. One of his kids, preparing for a recent sleepaway camp, asked whether they would be safe there."Our child was asking, 'Do you think that there will be a gunman that comes to this camp? Do I need to be worried about that?'" Leatherwood said.The Nashville shooter, whose writings Leatherwood and other parents are asking a court to keep private, used three guns in the attack, including an AR-15-style rifle. It was one of at least four mass killings in the first half of 2023 involving such a weapon, according to the database.Nearly all of the mass killings in the first half of this year, 27 of 28, involved guns. The other was a fire that killed four people in a home in Monroe, Louisiana. A 37-year-old man was arrested on arson and murder charges in connection with the March 31 deaths.Despite the unprecedented carnage, the National Rifle Association maintains fierce opposition to regulating firearms, including AR-15-style rifles and similar weapons."Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' constant efforts to gut the Second Amendment will not usher in safety for Americans; instead, it will only embolden criminals," NRA spokesman Billy McLaughlin said in a statement. "That is why the NRA continues our fight for self-defense laws. Rest assured, we will never bow, we will never retreat, and we will never apologize for championing the self-defense rights of law-abiding Americans."Tito Anchondo's brother, Andre Anchondo, was among 23 people killed in a 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. The gunman was sentenced last week to 90 consecutive life sentences but could face more punishment, including the death penalty. The prosecution of the racist attack on Hispanic shoppers in the border city was one of the U.S. government's largest hate crime cases.Andre Anchondo and his wife, Jordan, died shielding their 2-month-old son from bullets. Paul, who escaped with just broken bones, is now 4 years old.Tito Anchondo said he feels like the country has forgotten about the El Paso victims in the years since and that not nearly enough has been done to stem the bloodshed. He worries about Paul's future."I hope that things can drastically change because this country is going down a very, very slippery slope; a downward spiral," he said. "It's just a little unnerving to know that he's eventually going to go to school with kids that also may bring a gun to school."___Dazio reported from Los Angeles.

Grim milestone: New U.S. record for deadliest 6 months of mass killings

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/15/nebraska-democrats-to-consider-inflection-point-censure-of-state-sen-mike-mcdonnell/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — After one Democratic state senator supported a stricter abortion ban and restrictions on transgender health care, some Nebraska Democrats are advancing a censure resolution they say could decide the party’s future.

Leaders of the Nebraska Democratic Party will meet in Scottsbluff on Saturday and, if they reach quorum, consider a censure resolution against Omaha State Sen. Mike McDonnell because of his support this spring for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49961">Legislative Bill 574</a>, which restricted gender-affirming care for minors and banned abortion after 12 weeks gestational age.&nbsp;

McDonnell was the only Democratic senator in the officially nonpartisan Legislature to vote for LB 574. For some of his constituents, the timing of the resolution vote raises the stakes for Democrats.

Multiple high-profile Democratic elected officials and volunteers are also expected to march in Heartland Pride with LGBTQ Nebraskans on Saturday, on the other side of the state in Omaha.

Luke Schroer, who lives in McDonnell’s district and who is gay, said the senator has harmed his constituents.&nbsp;

If Democrats can’t “figure it out” Saturday, Schroer said, “it’s just going to be that one more little feather on the scale,” or a “rock” as the pressure has grown.

The Stonewall Democrats of Nebraska, an official LGBTQIA2S+ caucus, introduced the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskademocrats.org/blog/statement-by-ndp-on-resolution-to-censure-senator-mcdonnell-prior-to-scc-quarterly-meeting/">resolution</a>&nbsp;arguing that LB 574 “egregiously violated the human rights of Nebraskans.”&nbsp;

The resolution calls on Democrats to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskademocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/NDP-Constitution-Bylaws-10.3.21.pdf">withhold all party resources</a>&nbsp;from McDonnell, immediately and indefinitely, and alleges McDonnell violated the party’s constitution, bylaws, platform and core values.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskademocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020-2022-Nebraska-Democratic-Party-Platform.06.01.20fnl.pdf">platform</a>&nbsp;includes advocacy for reproductive and LGBTQ rights.

McDonnell, responding to requests for comment, said he would be willing to talk after Saturday’s vote.

When the Douglas County Democratic Party&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/23/mcdonnell-in-crosshairs-of-fellow-dems-on-abortion-trans-debates/">voted against him</a>&nbsp;in February for a leadership bid, McDonnell told the Nebraska Examiner that he was upfront with voters about his anti-abortion stance and his Catholic faith. He said he’s been a Democrat since 1984.

“I’ve been consistent and made that statement from Day One,” he said at the time. “If people weren’t aware of that, if they didn’t realize what that meant, then I understand that they have questions and try to answer them.”

McDonnell, who is term limited out of the Legislature next year, is considering a run for Omaha mayor in 2025. Marcheck said if he does, he shouldn’t run as a Democrat.

The Douglas County Democratic Party denied him the leadership post similarly because of his support for LB 574 and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50641">LB 626</a>, a stricter, near-total abortion ban that failed by one vote.

C.J. King, chair of the Douglas County Democratic Party, said he would wait to hear evidence on Saturday before the appropriate course of action. King is a longtime friend of McDonnell but said he disagrees with a “whole bunch” of his votes.

Mike Marcheck, chair of the Stonewall Dems, is leading the resolution, at the least, he said, to prevent any party support or funding for McDonnell. Marcheck said it currently feels like McDonnell is “laughing at us.”

“He’s just slapping us in the face and we’re [Democrats] turning the other cheek,” he said.

The end goal is to push McDonnell out of the party, he said.

“Republicans didn’t get rid of abortion rights in the state,” Marcheck added. “Democrats did.”

The resolution is also supported by the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mcusercontent.com/c787dc9280af16bcd4a8cc0e5/files/d5ee058e-8035-67e2-2edc-6e5473ec019f/Motion_of_Admonishment_and_Censure_as_passed_.pdf">Secular Democrats of Nebraska</a>&nbsp;and the Democrats Experiencing Disabilities Caucus.

Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, said in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskademocrats.org/blog/statement-by-ndp-on-resolution-to-censure-senator-mcdonnell-prior-to-scc-quarterly-meeting/">Thursday statement</a>&nbsp;that she has “always believed that all shades of blue make our party strong.”

“Building power is about addition, not subtraction,” Kleeb said. “… Our party is working to elect Democrats across the state so one vote does not define our reproductive rights, safety and freedoms.”

Marcheck and Lacy Smith, who chairs the disability caucus, criticized the state party for celebrating after the 2022 midterms and saying then that the party maintained a “firewall” of senators —&nbsp;17 members who could, as a bloc, prevent legislation from moving forward.

The Legislature’s rules require at least 33 votes to end a filibuster. Republicans hold 32 of 49 seats.

State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, a progressive who&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/05/prominent-progressive-nebraska-lawmaker-leaves-democratic-party/">left the Democratic Party</a>&nbsp;this spring citing concerns with the national party,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/NebraskaMegan/status/1591823565569118208?s=20&amp;t=xnC57ecXuPKUQoER3ncEYQ">warned</a>&nbsp;just days after the 2022 election that the Legislature had anti-abortion Democrats and “for the first time, zero moderate Republicans.”

Multiple moderate Republicans were term-limited out of the Legislature in 2022. Several were replaced by more conservative lawmakers. This paved the way for the passage of more&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/29/conservatives-ruled-during-2023-session-of-nebraska-legislature-like-never-before/">conservative measures</a>&nbsp;this year, including LB 574.

The state party has in the past embraced Democratic officeholders who opposed abortion.

In fact, one of the state party’s biggest fundraisers is named after former Nebraska Gov. and U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, who opposed abortion during his time in office.

McDonnell’s predecessor, former State Sen. Heath Mello, opposed abortion, yet he ran for Omaha mayor in 2017 with party support.

Hunt said that she is personally against censure because the decision on whether to support McDonnell should be up to the voters to decide and that a censure could stifle speech. She said she also didn’t like censure actions against former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb.

“McDonnell knows that his views are not only deeply unpopular but harmful, and he holds them anyway,” Hunt said in a text. “But I believe he has a right to be bigoted and cruel and call himself a member of whatever political party he wants.”

Hunt said the issue wasn’t about McDonnell voting with Republicans but about restricting health care.

Isabella Manhart, an 18-year-old constituent of McDonnell’s, said their family met with McDonnell earlier this session.

During that meeting, said Manhart, who is nonbinary and whose younger brother is trans, McDonnell compared hormone therapies to heroin.

Jill Dibbern Manhart, Isabella’s mother, said the issue is human rights and whether the Nebraska Democratic Party is committed to those values.

Molly Davies, an educator and member of the Omaha Education Association who lives in McDonnell’s district, said her concern was that McDonnell supported a nearly full ban on abortion and a “direct attack” on LGBTQ people.

McDonnell is the president of the Omaha Federation of Labor, which includes unions that are among the Nebraska Democratic Party’s biggest donors.

Marcheck predicted that the party will lose members and funding either way — from progressives or those aligned with McDonnell.

Isabella Manhart said it’s time for Democrats in Nebraska to know they can’t have it both ways, and Saturday’s vote will be an “inflection point” on where the party stands.

“They can’t be marching in the pride parade this weekend as our allies,” Manhart said, “and then also be supporting a man who’s attacking our rights to exist in this state.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689431235717.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha speaks to the Legislature. (Courtesy of the Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha speaks to the Legislature. (Courtesy of the Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/15/nebraska-democrats-to-consider-inflection-point-censure-of-state-sen-mike-mcdonnell/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — After one Democratic state senator supported a stricter abortion ban and restrictions on transgender health care, some Nebraska Democrats are advancing a censure resolution they say could decide the party’s future.Leaders of the Nebraska Democratic Party will meet in Scottsbluff on Saturday and, if they reach quorum, consider a censure resolution against Omaha State Sen. Mike McDonnell because of his support this spring for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49961">Legislative Bill 574</a>, which restricted gender-affirming care for minors and banned abortion after 12 weeks gestational age.&nbsp;McDonnell was the only Democratic senator in the officially nonpartisan Legislature to vote for LB 574. For some of his constituents, the timing of the resolution vote raises the stakes for Democrats.Multiple high-profile Democratic elected officials and volunteers are also expected to march in Heartland Pride with LGBTQ Nebraskans on Saturday, on the other side of the state in Omaha.Luke Schroer, who lives in McDonnell’s district and who is gay, said the senator has harmed his constituents.&nbsp;If Democrats can’t “figure it out” Saturday, Schroer said, “it’s just going to be that one more little feather on the scale,” or a “rock” as the pressure has grown.The Stonewall Democrats of Nebraska, an official LGBTQIA2S+ caucus, introduced the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskademocrats.org/blog/statement-by-ndp-on-resolution-to-censure-senator-mcdonnell-prior-to-scc-quarterly-meeting/">resolution</a>&nbsp;arguing that LB 574 “egregiously violated the human rights of Nebraskans.”&nbsp;The resolution calls on Democrats to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskademocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/NDP-Constitution-Bylaws-10.3.21.pdf">withhold all party resources</a>&nbsp;from McDonnell, immediately and indefinitely, and alleges McDonnell violated the party’s constitution, bylaws, platform and core values.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskademocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020-2022-Nebraska-Democratic-Party-Platform.06.01.20fnl.pdf">platform</a>&nbsp;includes advocacy for reproductive and LGBTQ rights.McDonnell, responding to requests for comment, said he would be willing to talk after Saturday’s vote.<h2>McDonnell’s past comments</h2>When the Douglas County Democratic Party&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/23/mcdonnell-in-crosshairs-of-fellow-dems-on-abortion-trans-debates/">voted against him</a>&nbsp;in February for a leadership bid, McDonnell told the Nebraska Examiner that he was upfront with voters about his anti-abortion stance and his Catholic faith. He said he’s been a Democrat since 1984.“I’ve been consistent and made that statement from Day One,” he said at the time. “If people weren’t aware of that, if they didn’t realize what that meant, then I understand that they have questions and try to answer them.”McDonnell, who is term limited out of the Legislature next year, is considering a run for Omaha mayor in 2025. Marcheck said if he does, he shouldn’t run as a Democrat.The Douglas County Democratic Party denied him the leadership post similarly because of his support for LB 574 and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50641">LB 626</a>, a stricter, near-total abortion ban that failed by one vote.C.J. King, chair of the Douglas County Democratic Party, said he would wait to hear evidence on Saturday before the appropriate course of action. King is a longtime friend of McDonnell but said he disagrees with a “whole bunch” of his votes.<h2>‘We’re turning the other cheek’</h2>Mike Marcheck, chair of the Stonewall Dems, is leading the resolution, at the least, he said, to prevent any party support or funding for McDonnell. Marcheck said it currently feels like McDonnell is “laughing at us.”“He’s just slapping us in the face and we’re [Democrats] turning the other cheek,” he said.The end goal is to push McDonnell out of the party, he said.“Republicans didn’t get rid of abortion rights in the state,” Marcheck added. “Democrats did.”The resolution is also supported by the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mcusercontent.com/c787dc9280af16bcd4a8cc0e5/files/d5ee058e-8035-67e2-2edc-6e5473ec019f/Motion_of_Admonishment_and_Censure_as_passed_.pdf">Secular Democrats of Nebraska</a>&nbsp;and the Democrats Experiencing Disabilities Caucus.<h2>‘All shades of blue’</h2>Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, said in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskademocrats.org/blog/statement-by-ndp-on-resolution-to-censure-senator-mcdonnell-prior-to-scc-quarterly-meeting/">Thursday statement</a>&nbsp;that she has “always believed that all shades of blue make our party strong.”“Building power is about addition, not subtraction,” Kleeb said. “… Our party is working to elect Democrats across the state so one vote does not define our reproductive rights, safety and freedoms.”Marcheck and Lacy Smith, who chairs the disability caucus, criticized the state party for celebrating after the 2022 midterms and saying then that the party maintained a “firewall” of senators —&nbsp;17 members who could, as a bloc, prevent legislation from moving forward.The Legislature’s rules require at least 33 votes to end a filibuster. Republicans hold 32 of 49 seats.State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, a progressive who&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/05/prominent-progressive-nebraska-lawmaker-leaves-democratic-party/">left the Democratic Party</a>&nbsp;this spring citing concerns with the national party,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/NebraskaMegan/status/1591823565569118208?s=20&amp;t=xnC57ecXuPKUQoER3ncEYQ">warned</a>&nbsp;just days after the 2022 election that the Legislature had anti-abortion Democrats and “for the first time, zero moderate Republicans.”Multiple moderate Republicans were term-limited out of the Legislature in 2022. Several were replaced by more conservative lawmakers. This paved the way for the passage of more&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/29/conservatives-ruled-during-2023-session-of-nebraska-legislature-like-never-before/">conservative measures</a>&nbsp;this year, including LB 574.<h2>Size of political tent</h2>The state party has in the past embraced Democratic officeholders who opposed abortion.In fact, one of the state party’s biggest fundraisers is named after former Nebraska Gov. and U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, who opposed abortion during his time in office.McDonnell’s predecessor, former State Sen. Heath Mello, opposed abortion, yet he ran for Omaha mayor in 2017 with party support.Hunt said that she is personally against censure because the decision on whether to support McDonnell should be up to the voters to decide and that a censure could stifle speech. She said she also didn’t like censure actions against former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb.“McDonnell knows that his views are not only deeply unpopular but harmful, and he holds them anyway,” Hunt said in a text. “But I believe he has a right to be bigoted and cruel and call himself a member of whatever political party he wants.”Hunt said the issue wasn’t about McDonnell voting with Republicans but about restricting health care.<h2>Can’t have it both ways</h2>Isabella Manhart, an 18-year-old constituent of McDonnell’s, said their family met with McDonnell earlier this session.During that meeting, said Manhart, who is nonbinary and whose younger brother is trans, McDonnell compared hormone therapies to heroin.Jill Dibbern Manhart, Isabella’s mother, said the issue is human rights and whether the Nebraska Democratic Party is committed to those values.Molly Davies, an educator and member of the Omaha Education Association who lives in McDonnell’s district, said her concern was that McDonnell supported a nearly full ban on abortion and a “direct attack” on LGBTQ people.McDonnell is the president of the Omaha Federation of Labor, which includes unions that are among the Nebraska Democratic Party’s biggest donors.Marcheck predicted that the party will lose members and funding either way — from progressives or those aligned with McDonnell.Isabella Manhart said it’s time for Democrats in Nebraska to know they can’t have it both ways, and Saturday’s vote will be an “inflection point” on where the party stands.“They can’t be marching in the pride parade this weekend as our allies,” Manhart said, “and then also be supporting a man who’s attacking our rights to exist in this state.”

Nebraska Democrats to consider ‘inflection point’ censure of State Sen. Mike McDonnell

Another Powerball drawing ended with no winner Saturday night, sending the jackpot soaring to an estimated $900 million.

No ticket for Saturday's drawing matched the winning combination: white balls 2, 9, 43, 55, 57 and red Powerball 18. The jackpot was estimated at $875 million.

Ticket buyers for Monday’s drawing have a chance at either $900 million paid out in yearly increments or a $465.1 million, one-time lump sum before taxes.

The top prize is the third biggest Powerball jackpot and the seventh largest in U.S. lottery history, Powerball said in a statement early Sunday.

While there was no jackpot winner, Powerball said three tickets that matched all five white balls Saturday are eligible to claim $1 million prizes, including two in Texas and one in Colorado.

The jackpot will keep growing until someone wins.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">game’s abysmal odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-36ef3aefbbc37a15e1c5f172129fa6a6">$2.04 billion</a>&nbsp;in November.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-winner-ohio-252-million-5506023262d64fb54556fb454a478615">last time</a>&nbsp;someone won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one has won the grand prize in the past 37 consecutive drawings.

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Mega Millions top prize has grown again to an estimated $640 million after there was no winner of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/district-of-columbia-us-virgin-islands-lotteries-3903b40088f0aaf80e06d0d7179227f3" target="_blank">the lottery’s latest giant jackpot</a>.

The numbers drawn late Friday night were: 10, 24, 48, 51, 66 and gold Mega Ball 15.

The estimated $640 million jackpot in the next drawing would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for Tuesday night’s drawing is an estimated $328 million.

The jackpot is the seventh largest in the game’s history, Mega Millions said in a statement.

Four tickets matched all five white balls to garner the second prize level in the drawing. A ticket sold in South Carolina included an optional multiplier making it worth $2 million. Two tickets in California and one in North Carolina also were second-tier winners, Mega Millions said.

Despite the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players continue to purchase tickets as the size of the grand prize grows.

The last time a Mega Millions player hit the top prize was April 18.

Mega Millions is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-alabama-alaska-lotteries-business-86424cf8e2b7cccf8ae9d06f6652d559" target="_blank">played in 45 states</a>&nbsp;as well as in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689430765536.jpeg" alt="FILE - A Mega Millions wagering slip is held in Cranberry Township, Pa., Jan. 12, 2023. The Mega Millions jackpot has grown again, to at least an estimated $640 million, after there was no winner Friday night, July 14. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - A Mega Millions wagering slip is held in Cranberry Township, Pa., Jan. 12, 2023. The Mega Millions jackpot has grown again, to at least an estimated $640 million, after there was no winner Friday night, July 14. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESSAnother Powerball drawing ended with no winner Saturday night, sending the jackpot soaring to an estimated $900 million.No ticket for Saturday's drawing matched the winning combination: white balls 2, 9, 43, 55, 57 and red Powerball 18. The jackpot was estimated at $875 million.Ticket buyers for Monday’s drawing have a chance at either $900 million paid out in yearly increments or a $465.1 million, one-time lump sum before taxes.The top prize is the third biggest Powerball jackpot and the seventh largest in U.S. lottery history, Powerball said in a statement early Sunday.While there was no jackpot winner, Powerball said three tickets that matched all five white balls Saturday are eligible to claim $1 million prizes, including two in Texas and one in Colorado.The jackpot will keep growing until someone wins.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">game’s abysmal odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-36ef3aefbbc37a15e1c5f172129fa6a6">$2.04 billion</a>&nbsp;in November.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-winner-ohio-252-million-5506023262d64fb54556fb454a478615">last time</a>&nbsp;someone won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one has won the grand prize in the past 37 consecutive drawings.Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.----------The Mega Millions top prize has grown again to an estimated $640 million after there was no winner of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/district-of-columbia-us-virgin-islands-lotteries-3903b40088f0aaf80e06d0d7179227f3" target="_blank">the lottery’s latest giant jackpot</a>.The numbers drawn late Friday night were: 10, 24, 48, 51, 66 and gold Mega Ball 15.The estimated $640 million jackpot in the next drawing would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for Tuesday night’s drawing is an estimated $328 million.The jackpot is the seventh largest in the game’s history, Mega Millions said in a statement.Four tickets matched all five white balls to garner the second prize level in the drawing. A ticket sold in South Carolina included an optional multiplier making it worth $2 million. Two tickets in California and one in North Carolina also were second-tier winners, Mega Millions said.Despite the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players continue to purchase tickets as the size of the grand prize grows.The last time a Mega Millions player hit the top prize was April 18.Mega Millions is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-alabama-alaska-lotteries-business-86424cf8e2b7cccf8ae9d06f6652d559" target="_blank">played in 45 states</a>&nbsp;as well as in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Powerball prize grows to $900 million after no jackpot winner drawn

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/woman-who-shouted-shame-following-critical-gun-bill-passage-is-banned-from-nebraska-capitol/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — State tax receipts finished the fiscal year in the black, barely beating the projections of a state advisory board and sending an extra $3 million to Nebraska’s rainy day fund.

General fund receipts for the 2022-23 fiscal year came in at $6.37 billion, within 0.05% of what the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board had projected in April.

tate Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, chair of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee, said getting a projection that close is “like getting a 37 on the ACT.”

“To be that close is amazing,” she said of the forecasters. “They had to kind of swim against the waves because they were kind of told and guided in a different direction.”

The final tally rebounded from recent economic trends that tightened toward the end of the 2023 legislative session. The change was fed in part by June receipts that jumped 9%.&nbsp;

Gov. Jim Pillen celebrated the “great news.” He said the state would “continue to work with state agencies to constrain spending” and make room for the tax relief the Legislature passed.

“Those measures, combined with the increase in tax receipts, bode well for the stability of our state’s economy,” Pillen said in a statement Friday afternoon.

Critics of a massive tax relief package the Legislature passed, which is set to start kicking in, said it is too soon for Pillen, a former Husker, to spike the football.

Rebecca Firestone, executive director of OpenSky Policy Institute, a progressive local think tank, said tax collections above projections are a good sign of the economy’s resilience.

But she said cuts to income tax rates and new state spending to offset local property taxes, plus one-time spending out of the state’s cash reserve, could put Nebraska in a pinch.

“Lawmakers removed some of the cushion available for a potential economic downturn,” she said in a statement. “As a result, paying for the tax cuts passed in 2023 without impacting state services remains a concern.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689472180064.png" alt="tate Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha speaks on the floor of the Legislature. (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>tate Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha speaks on the floor of the Legislature. (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/woman-who-shouted-shame-following-critical-gun-bill-passage-is-banned-from-nebraska-capitol/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — State tax receipts finished the fiscal year in the black, barely beating the projections of a state advisory board and sending an extra $3 million to Nebraska’s rainy day fund.General fund receipts for the 2022-23 fiscal year came in at $6.37 billion, within 0.05% of what the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board had projected in April.tate Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, chair of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee, said getting a projection that close is “like getting a 37 on the ACT.”“To be that close is amazing,” she said of the forecasters. “They had to kind of swim against the waves because they were kind of told and guided in a different direction.”The final tally rebounded from recent economic trends that tightened toward the end of the 2023 legislative session. The change was fed in part by June receipts that jumped 9%.&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen celebrated the “great news.” He said the state would “continue to work with state agencies to constrain spending” and make room for the tax relief the Legislature passed.“Those measures, combined with the increase in tax receipts, bode well for the stability of our state’s economy,” Pillen said in a statement Friday afternoon.Critics of a massive tax relief package the Legislature passed, which is set to start kicking in, said it is too soon for Pillen, a former Husker, to spike the football.Rebecca Firestone, executive director of OpenSky Policy Institute, a progressive local think tank, said tax collections above projections are a good sign of the economy’s resilience.But she said cuts to income tax rates and new state spending to offset local property taxes, plus one-time spending out of the state’s cash reserve, could put Nebraska in a pinch.“Lawmakers removed some of the cushion available for a potential economic downturn,” she said in a statement. “As a result, paying for the tax cuts passed in 2023 without impacting state services remains a concern.”

Neb. state tax receipts hit the mark projected by forecasting board

BY JAKE OFFENHARTZ, MICHAEL R. SISAK AND MICHAEL BALSAMO

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities on Long Island are vowing to continue investigating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/367d7f2520bda1c5235a9844462d5ea4" target="_blank">a string of killings</a>&nbsp;known as the Gilgo Beach murders after charging an architect in the deaths of three of the 11 victims.

Rex Heuermann, 59, is accused of killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello over a decade ago. He is also considered the prime suspect in the death of another woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

Their bodies were bound and hidden in thick underbrush along a remote beach highway across the bay from the Massapequa Park community where Heuermann has lived all his life. Investigators have said it’s unlikely just one person killed all the victims.

“We’re going to continue to work, investigate, and try to get a small measure of closure for all the victims’ families,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Heuermann, 59, was arrested late Thursday, a year and a half after authorities formed an interagency task force with investigators from the FBI, as well as state and local police departments, aimed at solving the case. He was charged Friday.

Heuermann was first identified as a suspect in March 2022, when detectives linked him to a pickup truck that a witness reported seeing when one of the victims disappeared in 2010. In March, detectives recovered Heuermann’s DNA from a pizza crust he discarded and matched it to evidence found on one of the victims, authorities said.

“They never stopped working and will continue to work tirelessly until we bring justice to all the families involved,” Suffolk County police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said.

Heuermann was ordered jailed without bail after his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf at an arraignment Friday in state court in Riverhead. In denying bail, Judge Richard Ambro cited “the extreme depravity” of Heuermann’s alleged conduct.

Heuermann’s lawyer, Michael Brown, said his client told him: “I didn’t do this.”

Investigators were continuing to search Heuermann’s home, about a 25-minute drive across a causeway spanning South Oyster Bay to the sandy stretch known as Gilgo Beach where the remains were found in 2010 and 2011.

Most of the victims were young women who had been sex workers. Their deaths long stumped investigators, and the mystery fueled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gilgo-beach-lost-girls-ap-was-there-3adda073ca64c3e1fcb28e748b0a5dcd" target="_blank">immense public attention</a>&nbsp;and led to a 2020 Netflix film, “Lost Girls.”

BY JAKE OFFENHARTZ, MICHAEL R. SISAK AND MICHAEL BALSAMORIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities on Long Island are vowing to continue investigating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/367d7f2520bda1c5235a9844462d5ea4" target="_blank">a string of killings</a>&nbsp;known as the Gilgo Beach murders after charging an architect in the deaths of three of the 11 victims.Rex Heuermann, 59, is accused of killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello over a decade ago. He is also considered the prime suspect in the death of another woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes.Their bodies were bound and hidden in thick underbrush along a remote beach highway across the bay from the Massapequa Park community where Heuermann has lived all his life. Investigators have said it’s unlikely just one person killed all the victims.“We’re going to continue to work, investigate, and try to get a small measure of closure for all the victims’ families,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.Heuermann, 59, was arrested late Thursday, a year and a half after authorities formed an interagency task force with investigators from the FBI, as well as state and local police departments, aimed at solving the case. He was charged Friday.Heuermann was first identified as a suspect in March 2022, when detectives linked him to a pickup truck that a witness reported seeing when one of the victims disappeared in 2010. In March, detectives recovered Heuermann’s DNA from a pizza crust he discarded and matched it to evidence found on one of the victims, authorities said.“They never stopped working and will continue to work tirelessly until we bring justice to all the families involved,” Suffolk County police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said.Heuermann was ordered jailed without bail after his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf at an arraignment Friday in state court in Riverhead. In denying bail, Judge Richard Ambro cited “the extreme depravity” of Heuermann’s alleged conduct.Heuermann’s lawyer, Michael Brown, said his client told him: “I didn’t do this.”Investigators were continuing to search Heuermann’s home, about a 25-minute drive across a causeway spanning South Oyster Bay to the sandy stretch known as Gilgo Beach where the remains were found in 2010 and 2011.Most of the victims were young women who had been sex workers. Their deaths long stumped investigators, and the mystery fueled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gilgo-beach-lost-girls-ap-was-there-3adda073ca64c3e1fcb28e748b0a5dcd" target="_blank">immense public attention</a>&nbsp;and led to a 2020 Netflix film, “Lost Girls.”

Long Island serial killer probe not over after architect is charged in 3 of 11 deaths

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/central-nebraska-dawson-districts-postpone-special-meetings-will-continue-talks-with-opponents-of-merger/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The Central Nebraska Public Power &amp; Irrigation District has postponed a special meeting scheduled Monday and will continue talks with a group opposed to its controversial merger with the Dawson Public Power District.

Dawson, in a press release Friday, said it will also postpone its special board meeting to take a vote on whether to continue to pursue the merger.

Central spokesman Alex Linden said Friday that the utility had been in “ongoing discussions” with a group of irrigators opposed to the proposed merger and wanted to continue those talks before the Central board took its vote.

The talks, he said, “address all their concerns,” and focus on “making sure it’s the best way to go forward.”

An application to approve the merger was turned down, on a technicality, by the Nebraska Power Review Board in April. That has forced the two utilities to review their charters and then take new votes to reapply for state approval to merge.

The proposed merger to form the “Platte River Public Power and Irrigation District” has been controversial from the start.

Irrigators in the Central district rebelled, maintaining that they’ll lose representation and clout in a merger. They say&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/10/24/irrigators-upset-over-proposed-merger-of-central-nebraska-irrigation-power-districts/">it’s a lopsided deal</a>&nbsp;that provides little benefit for Central or for water users.

It has spawned the formation of a grassroots opposition group, Citizens Opposed to the Merger, as well&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/one-lawsuit-dismissed-another-filed-opposing-merger-of-central-nebraska-irrigation-district-and-dawson-public-power/">as lawsuits</a>&nbsp;and other objections.

Central and Dawson, meanwhile, said a merger would save $12 million in electrical costs over seven years and would marry a district that generates hydropower (Central) with one (Dawson) that sells to retail customers, benefiting both.

The two districts held several meetings to discuss the merger prior to moving ahead last year with their initial application.

On Thursday, the water users met with two area state senators, Steve Halloran of Hastings and Dave Murman of Glenvil, to discuss their objections to the merger.

Gary Robison, a spokesman for the citizens group, said it was a good meeting. He declined to comment on the postponement of the two districts’ meetings.

In recent weeks, the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce and the Kearney and Phelps County Boards have passed resolutions opposing the merger.

The Holdrege chamber said the merger could harm economic development there, while Central and Dawson maintain that a merged district would help central Nebraska job and business development.

The special meetings might be rescheduled for later this month, Linden said.

Central, based in Holdrege, serves 900 irrigators on the south side of the Platte River via its canal system, which recharges groundwater used by center-pivot irrigation systems. It also produces hydropower at Lake McConaughy and other sites.

Dawson, based in Lexington, is one of the state’s largest rural retailers of electricity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689430395062.png" alt="A center-pivot irrigation system that draws groundwater bolstered by canals operated by the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District. (Courtesy of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District)" />
 <figcaption>A center-pivot irrigation system that draws groundwater bolstered by canals operated by the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District. (Courtesy of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/central-nebraska-dawson-districts-postpone-special-meetings-will-continue-talks-with-opponents-of-merger/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The Central Nebraska Public Power &amp; Irrigation District has postponed a special meeting scheduled Monday and will continue talks with a group opposed to its controversial merger with the Dawson Public Power District.Dawson, in a press release Friday, said it will also postpone its special board meeting to take a vote on whether to continue to pursue the merger.Central spokesman Alex Linden said Friday that the utility had been in “ongoing discussions” with a group of irrigators opposed to the proposed merger and wanted to continue those talks before the Central board took its vote.The talks, he said, “address all their concerns,” and focus on “making sure it’s the best way to go forward.”An application to approve the merger was turned down, on a technicality, by the Nebraska Power Review Board in April. That has forced the two utilities to review their charters and then take new votes to reapply for state approval to merge.<h2>Concerned about representation</h2>The proposed merger to form the “Platte River Public Power and Irrigation District” has been controversial from the start.Irrigators in the Central district rebelled, maintaining that they’ll lose representation and clout in a merger. They say&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/10/24/irrigators-upset-over-proposed-merger-of-central-nebraska-irrigation-power-districts/">it’s a lopsided deal</a>&nbsp;that provides little benefit for Central or for water users.It has spawned the formation of a grassroots opposition group, Citizens Opposed to the Merger, as well&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/one-lawsuit-dismissed-another-filed-opposing-merger-of-central-nebraska-irrigation-district-and-dawson-public-power/">as lawsuits</a>&nbsp;and other objections.Central and Dawson, meanwhile, said a merger would save $12 million in electrical costs over seven years and would marry a district that generates hydropower (Central) with one (Dawson) that sells to retail customers, benefiting both.The two districts held several meetings to discuss the merger prior to moving ahead last year with their initial application.On Thursday, the water users met with two area state senators, Steve Halloran of Hastings and Dave Murman of Glenvil, to discuss their objections to the merger.Gary Robison, a spokesman for the citizens group, said it was a good meeting. He declined to comment on the postponement of the two districts’ meetings.<h2>Holdrege, Kearney, Phelps County oppose</h2>In recent weeks, the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce and the Kearney and Phelps County Boards have passed resolutions opposing the merger.The Holdrege chamber said the merger could harm economic development there, while Central and Dawson maintain that a merged district would help central Nebraska job and business development.The special meetings might be rescheduled for later this month, Linden said.Central, based in Holdrege, serves 900 irrigators on the south side of the Platte River via its canal system, which recharges groundwater used by center-pivot irrigation systems. It also produces hydropower at Lake McConaughy and other sites.Dawson, based in Lexington, is one of the state’s largest rural retailers of electricity.

Central Nebraska, Dawson districts postpone special meetings, will continue talks with opponents of merger

Lisa Marie Presley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lisa-marie-presley">died</a>&nbsp;after developing a small bowel obstruction, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-death-cause-cbf0039dd8251a870f3ad8431dc78093">severe complication</a>&nbsp;of bariatric surgery years ago, according to an autopsy report released Thursday.

Experts say these types of complications are a known but rare risk after having weight-loss surgery. Here’s what to know:

The 54-year-old singer-songwriter and daughter of Elvis Presley was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital on Jan. 12 after being found unresponsive at home and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-dies-9fc02552f6f31e270647897a2e4104e9">died hours later</a>.

The cause of death was from complications of a small bowel obstruction tied to previous bariatric surgery, the autopsy showed. Portions of Presley’s bowel became trapped, or “strangulated,” from scar tissue that formed following surgery, and she also had developed a severe buildup of acids in her blood.

WHAT IS BARIATRIC SURGERY? HOW COMMON IS IT?

Bariatric surgeries are operations performed on the stomach or intestines to spur weight loss. They’re usually done in cases of moderate or severe obesity when other methods haven’t worked.

There are several types of bariatric procedures, including those in which a portion of the stomach is removed or rerouted or when a band is placed around a part of the stomach to make it smaller.

It’s not clear from the autopsy report which type of surgery Presley had, though experts said it was not a sleeve gastrectomy, which is the most common procedure.

About 263,000 bariatric surgeries were done in 2021, according to Dr. Marina Kurian, the president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Only about 1% of people who qualify for the surgery receive it.

In general, bariatric surgery is “very safe,” Kurian said. The risk of major complications is about 4% overall and the risk of death is about 0.1%, according to ASMBS.

“It’s safer than gallbladder surgery,” Kurian said.

Scar tissue, known as adhesions, can form after surgery or other trauma to the abdomen. That can lead to kinks and blockages in the intestine, said Dr. Thomas Inge, chief surgeon and a bariatric surgery expert at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

In Presley’s case, it appeared that “she had a twist of her entire intestine,” said Inge, who reviewed the autopsy report.

If that's not quickly fixed, the blockage cuts off the flow of blood to the intestine, causing the bowel to become “strangulated” and creating a cascade of potentially deadly problems. In Presley’s case, it led to a toxic build-up of acids in her body and her heart stopped, the autopsy report said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674489309670.png" alt="More than a thousand people gathered on the front lawn of Graceland on a gray, chilly Memphis morning to mourn the death and remember the life of Lisa Marie Presley, who died Jan. 12 after she was taken to a hospital in California. photo by John Amis, Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>More than a thousand people gathered on the front lawn of Graceland on a gray, chilly Memphis morning to mourn the death and remember the life of Lisa Marie Presley, who died Jan. 12 after she was taken to a hospital in California. photo by John Amis, Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Lisa Marie Presley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lisa-marie-presley">died</a>&nbsp;after developing a small bowel obstruction, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-death-cause-cbf0039dd8251a870f3ad8431dc78093">severe complication</a>&nbsp;of bariatric surgery years ago, according to an autopsy report released Thursday.Experts say these types of complications are a known but rare risk after having weight-loss surgery. Here’s what to know:WHAT HAPPENED TO LISA MARIE PRESLEY? The 54-year-old singer-songwriter and daughter of Elvis Presley was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital on Jan. 12 after being found unresponsive at home and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-dies-9fc02552f6f31e270647897a2e4104e9">died hours later</a>.The cause of death was from complications of a small bowel obstruction tied to previous bariatric surgery, the autopsy showed. Portions of Presley’s bowel became trapped, or “strangulated,” from scar tissue that formed following surgery, and she also had developed a severe buildup of acids in her blood.WHAT IS BARIATRIC SURGERY? HOW COMMON IS IT? Bariatric surgeries are operations performed on the stomach or intestines to spur weight loss. They’re usually done in cases of moderate or severe obesity when other methods haven’t worked.There are several types of bariatric procedures, including those in which a portion of the stomach is removed or rerouted or when a band is placed around a part of the stomach to make it smaller.It’s not clear from the autopsy report which type of surgery Presley had, though experts said it was not a sleeve gastrectomy, which is the most common procedure.About 263,000 bariatric surgeries were done in 2021, according to Dr. Marina Kurian, the president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Only about 1% of people who qualify for the surgery receive it.HOW RISKY ARE THESE OPERATIONS? In general, bariatric surgery is “very safe,” Kurian said. The risk of major complications is about 4% overall and the risk of death is about 0.1%, according to ASMBS.“It’s safer than gallbladder surgery,” Kurian said.WHAT COMPLICATIONS CAN HAPPEN? Scar tissue, known as adhesions, can form after surgery or other trauma to the abdomen. That can lead to kinks and blockages in the intestine, said Dr. Thomas Inge, chief surgeon and a bariatric surgery expert at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.In Presley’s case, it appeared that “she had a twist of her entire intestine,” said Inge, who reviewed the autopsy report.If that's not quickly fixed, the blockage cuts off the flow of blood to the intestine, causing the bowel to become “strangulated” and creating a cascade of potentially deadly problems. In Presley’s case, it led to a toxic build-up of acids in her body and her heart stopped, the autopsy report said.Presley reported abdominal pain and not feeling well the morning of her death, the report said. It’s not clear if the pain was new.Anyone who has had abdominal surgery to seek prompt treatment for pain, Inge said. If diagnosed early, it’s possible to treat the problem.