Lincoln, NE – July 6, 2023 – The Nebraska Lottery recently distributed among its beneficiary funds $12,669,160, derived from a share of Scratch and Lotto ticket sales for the previous three months.

A total of $936,265,872 has been distributed in quarterly transfers since the Nebraska Lottery began operation on September 11, 1993. The latest transfer, made the week of June 30, was distributed among beneficiaries in the following manner:

Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $5,637,776; Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $5,637,776; Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $1,266,916; and Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $126,692.

Amendment 4 passed by Nebraska voters in November of 2004 established the following distribution formula: Education as directed by the Legislature (44.5 percent) - currently distributed to the Nebraska Education Improvement Fund; Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund (44.5 percent); Nebraska State Fair (10 percent); and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund (1 percent, plus the first $500,000 in fund proceeds each fiscal year).

The funds' respective totals to date are:

Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $144,792,254; Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $401,483,576; Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $70,679,065; and Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $20,697,663.

Prior to July 1, 2016, the Education Innovation Fund received proceeds totaling $174,222,842, and the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund received proceeds totaling $100,929,476.

Prior to July 1, 1997, the Solid Waste Landfill Closure Assistance Fund received proceeds totaling $18,460,996. In 2004, the Legislature directed that a one-time transfer of $5 million be made to the State General Fund.

Criteria for proceeds distribution are established by the beneficiary funds in accordance with legislative mandates. Every county in Nebraska has received service through grants funded with Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

The Nebraska Lottery marked $3.5 billion in total sales (since 1993) in December 2021.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $923 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.

Lincoln, NE – July 6, 2023 – The Nebraska Lottery recently distributed among its beneficiary funds $12,669,160, derived from a share of Scratch and Lotto ticket sales for the previous three months.A total of $936,265,872 has been distributed in quarterly transfers since the Nebraska Lottery began operation on September 11, 1993. The latest transfer, made the week of June 30, was distributed among beneficiaries in the following manner:Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $5,637,776; Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $5,637,776; Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $1,266,916; and Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $126,692.Amendment 4 passed by Nebraska voters in November of 2004 established the following distribution formula: Education as directed by the Legislature (44.5 percent) - currently distributed to the Nebraska Education Improvement Fund; Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund (44.5 percent); Nebraska State Fair (10 percent); and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund (1 percent, plus the first $500,000 in fund proceeds each fiscal year).The funds' respective totals to date are:Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $144,792,254; Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $401,483,576; Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $70,679,065; and Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $20,697,663.Prior to July 1, 2016, the Education Innovation Fund received proceeds totaling $174,222,842, and the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund received proceeds totaling $100,929,476.Prior to July 1, 1997, the Solid Waste Landfill Closure Assistance Fund received proceeds totaling $18,460,996. In 2004, the Legislature directed that a one-time transfer of $5 million be made to the State General Fund.Criteria for proceeds distribution are established by the beneficiary funds in accordance with legislative mandates. Every county in Nebraska has received service through grants funded with Nebraska Lottery proceeds.The Nebraska Lottery marked $3.5 billion in total sales (since 1993) in December 2021.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $923 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.

$12.6 Million in Proceeds Raised for Nebraska Lottery Beneficiaries

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russian fighter jets flew dangerously close to several U.S. drone aircraft over Syria again Thursday, setting off flares and forcing the MQ-9 Reapers to take evasive maneuvers, the Air Force said.

It was the second time in 24 hours that Russia has harassed U.S. drones there.

“We urge Russian forces in Syria to cease this reckless behavior and adhere to the standards of behavior expected of a professional air force so we can resume our focus on the enduring defeat of ISIS,” Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, head of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, said in a statement.

Col. Michael Andrews, Air Forces Central Command spokesman, said “the Russian harassment, including close fly-bys, by one SU-34 and one SU-35 and deploying flares directly into the MQ-9, lasted almost an hour. So it wasn’t a quick fly-by, but much more of a sustained and unprofessional interaction.”

<a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/video/889328/russian-unprofessional-behavior-over-syria-5-july-2023">U.S. Air Forces Central</a>&nbsp;released videos of the two separate incidents that took place Wednesday and Thursday. In the first incident, which took place about 10:40 a.m. local time Wednesday in Northwest Syria, Russian SU-35 fighters closed in on a Reaper, and one of the Russian pilots moved their aircraft in front of a drone and engaged the SU-35’s afterburner, which greatly increases its speed and air pressure.

The jet blast from the afterburner can potentially damage the Reaper’s electronics, and Grynkewich said it reduced the drone operator’s ability to safely operate the aircraft.

Later a number of the so-called parachute flares moved into the drone's flight path. The flares are attached to parachutes.

In the second incident, which took place over Northwest Syria around 9:30 a.m. Thursday local time, “Russian aircraft dropped flares in front of the drones and flew dangerously close, endangering the safety of all aircraft involved,” Grynkewich said.

The drones were not armed with weapons and are commonly used for reconnaissance missions.

Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, said in a statement that Russia's violation of ongoing efforts to clear the airspace over Syria "increases the risk of escalation or miscalculation.”

About 900 U.S. forces are deployed to Syria to work with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces battling the Islamic State militants there. No other details about the drone operation were provided.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russian fighter jets flew dangerously close to several U.S. drone aircraft over Syria again Thursday, setting off flares and forcing the MQ-9 Reapers to take evasive maneuvers, the Air Force said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Regarding Russia&#39;s unprofessional behavior while reacting with U.S. aircraft over Syria, please see the video of today&#39;s encounter. For the full statement by Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, Commander, 9th AF (AFCENT) visit<a href="https://t.co/WKDYPiPT96">https://t.co/WKDYPiPT96</a><a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CENTCOM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofDefense</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/usairforce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@usairforce</a> <a href="https://t.co/nmSSBxUojO">pic.twitter.com/nmSSBxUojO</a>&mdash; US AFCENT (@USAFCENT) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAFCENT/status/1676712564686831619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It was the second time in 24 hours that Russia has harassed U.S. drones there.“We urge Russian forces in Syria to cease this reckless behavior and adhere to the standards of behavior expected of a professional air force so we can resume our focus on the enduring defeat of ISIS,” Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, head of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, said in a statement.Col. Michael Andrews, Air Forces Central Command spokesman, said “the Russian harassment, including close fly-bys, by one SU-34 and one SU-35 and deploying flares directly into the MQ-9, lasted almost an hour. So it wasn’t a quick fly-by, but much more of a sustained and unprofessional interaction.”<a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/video/889328/russian-unprofessional-behavior-over-syria-5-july-2023">U.S. Air Forces Central</a>&nbsp;released videos of the two separate incidents that took place Wednesday and Thursday. In the first incident, which took place about 10:40 a.m. local time Wednesday in Northwest Syria, Russian SU-35 fighters closed in on a Reaper, and one of the Russian pilots moved their aircraft in front of a drone and engaged the SU-35’s afterburner, which greatly increases its speed and air pressure.The jet blast from the afterburner can potentially damage the Reaper’s electronics, and Grynkewich said it reduced the drone operator’s ability to safely operate the aircraft.Later a number of the so-called parachute flares moved into the drone's flight path. The flares are attached to parachutes.In the second incident, which took place over Northwest Syria around 9:30 a.m. Thursday local time, “Russian aircraft dropped flares in front of the drones and flew dangerously close, endangering the safety of all aircraft involved,” Grynkewich said.The drones were not armed with weapons and are commonly used for reconnaissance missions.Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, said in a statement that Russia's violation of ongoing efforts to clear the airspace over Syria "increases the risk of escalation or miscalculation.”About 900 U.S. forces are deployed to Syria to work with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces battling the Islamic State militants there. No other details about the drone operation were provided.---------

🎥Video shows Russian fighter jets harrassing U.S. drones

The company that owned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missing-titanic-submersible-updates-6255308420cb542fab287224c3e9b1c1" target="_blank">a submersible that imploded</a>&nbsp;on its way to explore the wreck of the Titanic, killing all five onboard, said Thursday it has suspended operations.

Investigators believe the Titan imploded as it made its descent into deep North Atlantic waters on June 18. Among those killed was Stockton Rush, the submersible’s pilot and chief executive officer of the company, OceanGate.

The Coast Guard said last week that human remains have likely been recovered from the wreckage of the submersible and are being examined by medical officials in the U.S. Remote operated vehicles, known as ROVs, were used to retrieve the debris from the ocean floor about 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) underwater.

The U.S. Coast Guard has convened a Marine Board of Investigation, its highest level of investigation, into the implosion, and plans to hold a public hearing in the future.

The statement on OceanGate’s website says the Everett, Washington-based company “has suspended all exploration and commercial operations,” but doesn’t elaborate. Phone messages seeking comment were left with the company.

OceanGate is based in the U.S. and OceanGate Expeditions, a related company that led the Titan’s dives to the Titanic, is registered in the Bahamas.

Also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missing-titanic-submersible-passengers-6616175a166cda894a83d7ebe21a6aa4" target="_blank">killed in the implosion</a>&nbsp;were two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood; British adventurer Hamish Harding; and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet. The company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/titanic-tourist-sub-passengers-cost-ee2a6358b36e48326b3977090fd9311b" target="_blank">charged passengers $250,000</a>&nbsp;each to participate in the voyage.

By Patrick WhittleAssociated PressThe company that owned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missing-titanic-submersible-updates-6255308420cb542fab287224c3e9b1c1" target="_blank">a submersible that imploded</a>&nbsp;on its way to explore the wreck of the Titanic, killing all five onboard, said Thursday it has suspended operations.Investigators believe the Titan imploded as it made its descent into deep North Atlantic waters on June 18. Among those killed was Stockton Rush, the submersible’s pilot and chief executive officer of the company, OceanGate.The Coast Guard said last week that human remains have likely been recovered from the wreckage of the submersible and are being examined by medical officials in the U.S. Remote operated vehicles, known as ROVs, were used to retrieve the debris from the ocean floor about 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) underwater.The U.S. Coast Guard has convened a Marine Board of Investigation, its highest level of investigation, into the implosion, and plans to hold a public hearing in the future.The statement on OceanGate’s website says the Everett, Washington-based company “has suspended all exploration and commercial operations,” but doesn’t elaborate. Phone messages seeking comment were left with the company.OceanGate is based in the U.S. and OceanGate Expeditions, a related company that led the Titan’s dives to the Titanic, is registered in the Bahamas.Also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missing-titanic-submersible-passengers-6616175a166cda894a83d7ebe21a6aa4" target="_blank">killed in the implosion</a>&nbsp;were two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood; British adventurer Hamish Harding; and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet. The company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/titanic-tourist-sub-passengers-cost-ee2a6358b36e48326b3977090fd9311b" target="_blank">charged passengers $250,000</a>&nbsp;each to participate in the voyage.

OceanGate, owner of the submersible that imploded during a dive to the Titanic, suspends operations

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Forces for and against repeal of a controversial school choice law have spent more than $1.6 million thus far to woo Nebraska voters, according to recent state campaign spending reports.

Spending is expected to rise even further&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/06/public-schools-supporters-launch-drive-to-put-school-choice-bill-on-ballot/">as an effort to repeal the “Opportunity Scholarships Act”</a>&nbsp;signed into law this spring faces an Aug. 30 deadline to submit about 61,000 valid signatures of state voters.

Public education forces say they are making “great progress” in achieving that goal, despite having to dodge “blockers” employed by school choice advocates who have been shadowing “Support Our Schools” petition gatherers at recent public events. That includes the Memorial Park concert in Omaha, the Fourth of July parade in Ralston and a petition signing event at a Lincoln library.

The blockers,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/16/opportunity-scholarship-supporters-to-fight-petition-drive-opposing-the-tax-credits/">paid by “Keep Kids First,”</a>&nbsp;have been asking voters to sign a nonbinding, “decline to sign” petition, and pro-public school forces claim blockers have been “deceiving” and shouting at potential signers of the referendum petitions.

“But the opponents’ tactics are not working. Nebraskans support their public schools and want to keep them strong,” said Jenni Benson, the president of the Nebraska State Education Association, a prime backer of the “Support Our Schools” referendum.

“We are making great progress toward our goal of 90,000 signatures,” Benson said. “Even in the face of some out-of-state ‘blockers’ shouting at people, lying about the petition, and carrying hateful signs about Nebraska teachers.”

(The 90,000 signatures is a goal to ensure that at least 61,000 are from registered voters.)

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the prime sponsor of the Opportunity Scholarships Act, Legislative Bill 753, said Wednesday that it was public school advocates who are the “scam artists.”

Linehan said public school advocates are employing paid petition circulators, which defies their claims of a being a totally “grassroots” effort led by teachers.

She said it was also inaccurate to say that her bill — which allows taxpayers to divert half of their state income tax liability to groups that grant scholarships for private and parochial schools — would take away funds from public education.

The initial cost of LB 753 is capped at $25 million a year, though it would rise to $100 million a year after 10 years if the tax break is fully utilized.

‘Tired of hearing that all public schools are great’

Those amounts, Linehan said, pale compared to the $300 million increase in public school funding passed by the Legislature this year, along with a new $1 billion “education future fund” established by Gov. Jim Pillen. The state, the senator said, spends almost $5 billion a year on public education.

&nbsp;“I’m tired of hearing that all public schools are great. They’re not,” the senator said. “Even a great public school is not the best fit for every kid.”

The war of words comes as the competing groups filed their initial spending reports last week with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. The referendum drive was launched a month ago by public school advocates.

Support Our Schools reported raising $1.26 million, which included an $800,000 infusion from the National Education Association and $262,000 from the NSEA, the Nebraska teachers union.

That spending includes $300,000 for paid petition circulators, who just recently joined the signature gathering effort, according to an official with the NSEA.

Keep Kids First, meanwhile. reported raising $504,810 in June, of which $494,710 came from the American Federation for Children, based in Columbia, Maryland.

That conservative group, a leading advocate for school choice, was founded by Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary under former President Donald Trump.

The DeVos group poured about $9 million into state elections last year, backing nearly 200 candidates across the nation. That included&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/27/betsy-devos-two-others-spent-big-on-nebraska-legislative-races/">spending more than $800,000 in nine Nebraska legislative</a>&nbsp;races in 2022 to back candidates who support school choice.

The spending paid off in the passage of LB 753 after similar school choice measures had failed to pass in the previous six legislative sessions.

Public school advocates maintain that Nebraskans’ ability to sign their petition is being blocked by “thugs” employed by out-of-state interests and that they’re circulating a “fake” petition. Meanwhile, Linehan claimed that the NSEA is trying to divert attention away from the fact that they are getting major funding from out of state, from the national teachers union.

But now the spending is aimed at either blocking, or supporting, a public vote in 2024 on whether Nebraska should implement the Opportunity Scholarships Act.

The Cornhusker State was one of only two states — North Dakota is the other — that didn’t have any laws directing public funds to private schools until&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/30/nebraska-gov-pillen-signs-opportunity-scholarships-proposal-into-law/#:~:text=Wendling%2FNebraska%20Examiner)-,Gov.,on%20a%2033%2D11%20vote.">Pillen signed the bill into law</a>&nbsp;in late May.

One petition circulator for Support Our Schools, Laura Fisher, a former Millard teacher who lives in Linehan’s district said paid blockers were deceiving and confusing potential signers of the pro-public schools petition at the recent Memorial Park concert in Omaha.

“They were telling people that they should sign their form to help with education in Nebraska,” Fisher said. “People would come over to our tent and they would be confused. … They thought they were helping to repeal LB 753.”

She said they were also shouting: “Don’t sign their petition. They don’t care about freedom.”

Such “blocking” activity is legal free speech as long as it’s done “peacefully,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/sites/ago.nebraska.gov/files/docs/opinions/AG%20Opinion%202008-004.pdf">according to a 2008 advisory opinion&nbsp;</a>from the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. That opinion also clarified that petition circulators, as well as blockers, must leave private property if asked.

Signing the “Pledge for Education Freedom” distributed by the blockers — which hasn’t been certified by the state — does not nullify a signature on the Support Our Schools petition — which was approved by the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office.

Fisher and Benson said Wednesday they believe that the blocking activity is backfiring and that it is serving to get more people to sign the petition to force a referendum on the Opportunity Scholarships Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“People who had no idea what LB 753 was are reading up on it,” Fisher said. “They’re deciding that, yeah, I don’t want my tax dollars going to private schools.”

By Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Forces for and against repeal of a controversial school choice law have spent more than $1.6 million thus far to woo Nebraska voters, according to recent state campaign spending reports.Spending is expected to rise even further&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/06/public-schools-supporters-launch-drive-to-put-school-choice-bill-on-ballot/">as an effort to repeal the “Opportunity Scholarships Act”</a>&nbsp;signed into law this spring faces an Aug. 30 deadline to submit about 61,000 valid signatures of state voters.Public education forces say they are making “great progress” in achieving that goal, despite having to dodge “blockers” employed by school choice advocates who have been shadowing “Support Our Schools” petition gatherers at recent public events. That includes the Memorial Park concert in Omaha, the Fourth of July parade in Ralston and a petition signing event at a Lincoln library.<h2>‘Decline to sign’ petition</h2>The blockers,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/16/opportunity-scholarship-supporters-to-fight-petition-drive-opposing-the-tax-credits/">paid by “Keep Kids First,”</a>&nbsp;have been asking voters to sign a nonbinding, “decline to sign” petition, and pro-public school forces claim blockers have been “deceiving” and shouting at potential signers of the referendum petitions.“But the opponents’ tactics are not working. Nebraskans support their public schools and want to keep them strong,” said Jenni Benson, the president of the Nebraska State Education Association, a prime backer of the “Support Our Schools” referendum.“We are making great progress toward our goal of 90,000 signatures,” Benson said. “Even in the face of some out-of-state ‘blockers’ shouting at people, lying about the petition, and carrying hateful signs about Nebraska teachers.”(The 90,000 signatures is a goal to ensure that at least 61,000 are from registered voters.)State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the prime sponsor of the Opportunity Scholarships Act, Legislative Bill 753, said Wednesday that it was public school advocates who are the “scam artists.”Linehan said public school advocates are employing paid petition circulators, which defies their claims of a being a totally “grassroots” effort led by teachers.She said it was also inaccurate to say that her bill — which allows taxpayers to divert half of their state income tax liability to groups that grant scholarships for private and parochial schools — would take away funds from public education.The initial cost of LB 753 is capped at $25 million a year, though it would rise to $100 million a year after 10 years if the tax break is fully utilized.<h2>‘Tired of hearing that all public schools are great’</h2>Those amounts, Linehan said, pale compared to the $300 million increase in public school funding passed by the Legislature this year, along with a new $1 billion “education future fund” established by Gov. Jim Pillen. The state, the senator said, spends almost $5 billion a year on public education.&nbsp;“I’m tired of hearing that all public schools are great. They’re not,” the senator said. “Even a great public school is not the best fit for every kid.”The war of words comes as the competing groups filed their initial spending reports last week with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. The referendum drive was launched a month ago by public school advocates.Support Our Schools reported raising $1.26 million, which included an $800,000 infusion from the National Education Association and $262,000 from the NSEA, the Nebraska teachers union.That spending includes $300,000 for paid petition circulators, who just recently joined the signature gathering effort, according to an official with the NSEA.Keep Kids First, meanwhile. reported raising $504,810 in June, of which $494,710 came from the American Federation for Children, based in Columbia, Maryland.<h2>Betsy DeVos group promotes school choice</h2>That conservative group, a leading advocate for school choice, was founded by Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary under former President Donald Trump.The DeVos group poured about $9 million into state elections last year, backing nearly 200 candidates across the nation. That included&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/27/betsy-devos-two-others-spent-big-on-nebraska-legislative-races/">spending more than $800,000 in nine Nebraska legislative</a>&nbsp;races in 2022 to back candidates who support school choice.The spending paid off in the passage of LB 753 after similar school choice measures had failed to pass in the previous six legislative sessions.Public school advocates maintain that Nebraskans’ ability to sign their petition is being blocked by “thugs” employed by out-of-state interests and that they’re circulating a “fake” petition. Meanwhile, Linehan claimed that the NSEA is trying to divert attention away from the fact that they are getting major funding from out of state, from the national teachers union.<h2>Bill signed into law in May</h2>But now the spending is aimed at either blocking, or supporting, a public vote in 2024 on whether Nebraska should implement the Opportunity Scholarships Act.The Cornhusker State was one of only two states — North Dakota is the other — that didn’t have any laws directing public funds to private schools until&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/30/nebraska-gov-pillen-signs-opportunity-scholarships-proposal-into-law/#:~:text=Wendling%2FNebraska%20Examiner)-,Gov.,on%20a%2033%2D11%20vote.">Pillen signed the bill into law</a>&nbsp;in late May.One petition circulator for Support Our Schools, Laura Fisher, a former Millard teacher who lives in Linehan’s district said paid blockers were deceiving and confusing potential signers of the pro-public schools petition at the recent Memorial Park concert in Omaha.<h2>Shouting at people</h2>“They were telling people that they should sign their form to help with education in Nebraska,” Fisher said. “People would come over to our tent and they would be confused. … They thought they were helping to repeal LB 753.”She said they were also shouting: “Don’t sign their petition. They don’t care about freedom.”Such “blocking” activity is legal free speech as long as it’s done “peacefully,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/sites/ago.nebraska.gov/files/docs/opinions/AG%20Opinion%202008-004.pdf">according to a 2008 advisory opinion&nbsp;</a>from the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. That opinion also clarified that petition circulators, as well as blockers, must leave private property if asked.Signing the “Pledge for Education Freedom” distributed by the blockers — which hasn’t been certified by the state — does not nullify a signature on the Support Our Schools petition — which was approved by the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office.Fisher and Benson said Wednesday they believe that the blocking activity is backfiring and that it is serving to get more people to sign the petition to force a referendum on the Opportunity Scholarships Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;“People who had no idea what LB 753 was are reading up on it,” Fisher said. “They’re deciding that, yeah, I don’t want my tax dollars going to private schools.”

Pricey spending race underway to allow — or block — voter referendum on new school choice law

WASHINGTON (AP) — A year after its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-decision-58d01ef8bd48e816d5f8761ffa84e3e8">sweeping gun rights ruling</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;agreed to decide whether judges are going too far in striking down restrictions on firearms.

The justices will hear the Biden administration's appeal of one such ruling that struck down as unconstitutional a federal law meant to keep guns away from people who have domestic violence restraining orders against them.

Arguments will take place in the fall in the first case in which the court could define the limits on new standards for evaluating gun laws that its conservative majority set out last June.

That decision in the case, which has come to be known as Bruen, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mississippi-state-government-delaware-california-massachusetts-3983cecfd1107c263d5309ec0d80a966">upended gun laws across the country.</a>&nbsp;It's led to a rash of rulings invalidating some long-standing restrictions on firearms, but also produced confusion about what laws can survive.

Governments have to justify gun control laws by showing they are “consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in an opinion that was joined by the other five conservative justices. Until that ruling, judges could consider whether a law serves public interests such as enhancing public safety.

In the past year, judges also have struck down federal laws barring people from having guns if they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-donald-trump-gun-politics-indictments-8f33eb6f21597e6ee63272aa64d32520">have been charged with serious crimes</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-oklahoma-state-government-new-orleans-city-c79d6fedc97ba657d2cab17f59354a95">use marijuana</a>. Other rulings have called into question a federal ban on possessing guns with serial numbers removed,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/young-gun-buyers-ruling-9165143fcab00ea733c703e5572e0730">the prohibition on licensed federal firearms dealers selling handguns</a>&nbsp;to young adults under 21 and Delaware’s ban on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-gun-politics-delaware-dover-39cc2a436ba0df094e9474ebd8d3d75d">possession of homemade “ghost guns.”</a>

Lower courts are also considering challenges to states’ bans on the sale of so-called assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. The Supreme Court in May&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-illinois-gun-law-14bcad1bf2ee322b0517086755b8ff56">denied an emergency request</a>&nbsp;to put an Illinois law on hold while that court challenge plays out.

The case now before the court involves Zackey Rahimi, whose conviction on possessing guns while subject to a restraining order was thrown out by a panel of three Republican appointees on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Rahimi was involved in five shootings over two months in and around Arlington, Texas, U.S. Circuit Judge Cory Wilson noted. When police identified Rahimi as a suspect in the shootings and showed up at his home with a search warrant, Rahimi admitted both to having guns in the house and being subject to a domestic violence restraining order that prohibited gun possession, Wilson wrote.

But though “hardly a model citizen,” Rahimi did not lose his constitutional right to have guns, Wilson concluded. The law at issue could not be justified by looking to history, he wrote for a unanimous panel.

Wilson and Judge James Ho were nominated by President Donald Trump. The third judge, Edith Jones, was chosen by President Ronald Reagan.

The appeals court initially upheld the conviction, then reconsidered once the Supreme Court ruled in Bruen. At least one district court has upheld the law since the Bruen decision

Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the Biden administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer, cited an earlier high court decision involving gun bans for domestic violence convictions to urge the justices to take up the case. “More than a million acts of domestic violence occur in the United States every year, and the presence of a firearm increases the chance that violence will escalate to homicide,” Prelogar wrote.

On the day the court finished deciding the cases argued in recent months, the legal fight over a gun law was among six cases that the justices added to their agenda for the term that begins on the first Monday in October.

—a Biden administration appeal of a 5th Circuit ruling that could have far-reaching effects on the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory agencies. The appeals court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-new-orleans-government-and-politics-executive-branch-a6a6c0e83238d0e5e55aedd9eb0ab85f">threw out stiff financial penalties imposed on hedge fund manager George R. Jarkesy by the SEC</a>.

—a question about whether workers can pursue job discrimination claims under federal civil rights law when those workers are not demoted or docked pay. The case taken up by the court involve a sex discrimination claim by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/st-louis-sexual-misconduct-missouri-tigers-mens-basketball-crime-4b6259d5f0745c0534dc1637024329ec">a St. Louis police sergeant</a>&nbsp;who was transferred against her will.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A year after its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-decision-58d01ef8bd48e816d5f8761ffa84e3e8">sweeping gun rights ruling</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;agreed to decide whether judges are going too far in striking down restrictions on firearms.The justices will hear the Biden administration's appeal of one such ruling that struck down as unconstitutional a federal law meant to keep guns away from people who have domestic violence restraining orders against them.Arguments will take place in the fall in the first case in which the court could define the limits on new standards for evaluating gun laws that its conservative majority set out last June.That decision in the case, which has come to be known as Bruen, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mississippi-state-government-delaware-california-massachusetts-3983cecfd1107c263d5309ec0d80a966">upended gun laws across the country.</a>&nbsp;It's led to a rash of rulings invalidating some long-standing restrictions on firearms, but also produced confusion about what laws can survive.Governments have to justify gun control laws by showing they are “consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in an opinion that was joined by the other five conservative justices. Until that ruling, judges could consider whether a law serves public interests such as enhancing public safety.In the past year, judges also have struck down federal laws barring people from having guns if they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-donald-trump-gun-politics-indictments-8f33eb6f21597e6ee63272aa64d32520">have been charged with serious crimes</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-oklahoma-state-government-new-orleans-city-c79d6fedc97ba657d2cab17f59354a95">use marijuana</a>. Other rulings have called into question a federal ban on possessing guns with serial numbers removed,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/young-gun-buyers-ruling-9165143fcab00ea733c703e5572e0730">the prohibition on licensed federal firearms dealers selling handguns</a>&nbsp;to young adults under 21 and Delaware’s ban on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-gun-politics-delaware-dover-39cc2a436ba0df094e9474ebd8d3d75d">possession of homemade “ghost guns.”</a>Lower courts are also considering challenges to states’ bans on the sale of so-called assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. The Supreme Court in May&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-illinois-gun-law-14bcad1bf2ee322b0517086755b8ff56">denied an emergency request</a>&nbsp;to put an Illinois law on hold while that court challenge plays out.The case now before the court involves Zackey Rahimi, whose conviction on possessing guns while subject to a restraining order was thrown out by a panel of three Republican appointees on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.Rahimi was involved in five shootings over two months in and around Arlington, Texas, U.S. Circuit Judge Cory Wilson noted. When police identified Rahimi as a suspect in the shootings and showed up at his home with a search warrant, Rahimi admitted both to having guns in the house and being subject to a domestic violence restraining order that prohibited gun possession, Wilson wrote.But though “hardly a model citizen,” Rahimi did not lose his constitutional right to have guns, Wilson concluded. The law at issue could not be justified by looking to history, he wrote for a unanimous panel.Wilson and Judge James Ho were nominated by President Donald Trump. The third judge, Edith Jones, was chosen by President Ronald Reagan.The appeals court initially upheld the conviction, then reconsidered once the Supreme Court ruled in Bruen. At least one district court has upheld the law since the Bruen decisionSolicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the Biden administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer, cited an earlier high court decision involving gun bans for domestic violence convictions to urge the justices to take up the case. “More than a million acts of domestic violence occur in the United States every year, and the presence of a firearm increases the chance that violence will escalate to homicide,” Prelogar wrote.On the day the court finished deciding the cases argued in recent months, the legal fight over a gun law was among six cases that the justices added to their agenda for the term that begins on the first Monday in October.The other cases include:—a Biden administration appeal of a 5th Circuit ruling that could have far-reaching effects on the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory agencies. The appeals court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-new-orleans-government-and-politics-executive-branch-a6a6c0e83238d0e5e55aedd9eb0ab85f">threw out stiff financial penalties imposed on hedge fund manager George R. Jarkesy by the SEC</a>.—a question about whether workers can pursue job discrimination claims under federal civil rights law when those workers are not demoted or docked pay. The case taken up by the court involve a sex discrimination claim by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/st-louis-sexual-misconduct-missouri-tigers-mens-basketball-crime-4b6259d5f0745c0534dc1637024329ec">a St. Louis police sergeant</a>&nbsp;who was transferred against her will.

Supreme Court will decide gun rights case on domestic violence

UNMC Colleges of Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions name top students.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center has announced its spring 2023 dean’s list for students enrolled in nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and the allied health professions.&nbsp;&nbsp;


To qualify for the dean’s list, nursing and the allied health students must be enrolled for 12 or more hours during the
 semester and have a grade point average of 3.75 or above. To qualify for the pharmacy dean’s list, students must place in the top 20 percent of their class and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or above. Dental students must be in the top 10 percent of
 their class for the semester.&nbsp;


The following is a list of students, their hometowns and the colleges in which they are enrolled.&nbsp;The names of students
 who choose not to be listed due to privacy reasons — protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act — are not included.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

COLLEGE OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS

Cardiovascular Interventional Technology

Kearney -- Riley Cope, Aurora Junge, Carlos Valdivia

Lexington -- Micaela Lopez Perez, Melissa White

Omaha -- Marly Gallegos, Wilmy Germinis, Jessica Jacobs, Ethan Kratina, Emilee Masters, Kaija Nutsch, David Ratigan, Emma Ricke, Elizabeth Ronayne, Hollyanne Stang, Josseline Vasquez, Kasey Yelick

Bellevue -- Asia Buddhacharya, Katherine Gullett

Elkhorn -- Emily Bay, Sophia Feilmeier, Mia Lutt, Grace Robitaille, Troy Scheer

Gretna -- Skylar Conrad, Kylee Lakers, Kaylee Moore

Hastings -- Teagan Abbott, Savannah Harper

Lincoln -- Tasneem Abdelfatah, Emily Alexander, Natalie Alexander, Elisabeth Bash, Sierra Beckner, Brienne Bell, Rose Beran, Kara Birner, Raelynn Burkinshaw, Claire Carter, Megan Danley, Joanna De Rosa, Madison DeBolt, Rinda Elmore, Ethaniel Franklin, Kaitlyn Gamble, Kaitlyn Haeffner, Cesen Hailesellassie, Alexia Harre, Nicole Hollander, Kyle Hughes, Melina Ilic, Sara Jaber, Erin Kerns, Peyton Mickells, Callie Petersen, Alysha Reinhardt, Kailee Runge, Tyler Schmidt, Samantha Taylor, Emma Wallin, Lailah Zuhairi

North Platte ----Karsyn Buttler, Alyssa Ramsey

Omaha -- Samuel Bausback, Lillian Bruner, Bella Costanzo, Kaelynn Eisele, Jenna Goehring, Carolyn Hudek, Anna Johnson, Lauren Karmazin, Claire Lortz, Madison Murcek, Abby Plank, Sara Smith, Taylor Story

UNMC Colleges of Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions name top students.The University of Nebraska Medical Center has announced its spring 2023 dean’s list for students enrolled in nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and the allied health professions.&nbsp;&nbsp;
To qualify for the dean’s list, nursing and the allied health students must be enrolled for 12 or more hours during the
 semester and have a grade point average of 3.75 or above. To qualify for the pharmacy dean’s list, students must place in the top 20 percent of their class and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or above. Dental students must be in the top 10 percent of
 their class for the semester.&nbsp;
The following is a list of students, their hometowns and the colleges in which they are enrolled.&nbsp;The names of students
 who choose not to be listed due to privacy reasons — protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act — are not included.&nbsp;
&nbsp;COLLEGE OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONSCardiovascular Interventional TechnologyCouncil Bluffs, IA -- Olivea BurroughsMedical Laboratory ScienceLincoln -- Tori BohlenOmaha -- Courtney SpodenLos Angeles, CA -- Jesus HernandezRadiographyAlda -- Rachel Rodriguez SanchezAnsley -- Laney StunkelBroken Bow -- Kesha DeGroffCairo -- Danielle HesnaultClarkson -- Holly KuhrCreighton -- Brienne FantaElkhorn -- Kate GusseElwood -- Lindsay SchutzGretna -- Mallory SchradHastings -- Sydney KerrHoldrege -- Jenna KarnKearney -- Riley Cope, Aurora Junge, Carlos ValdiviaLawrence -- Madison MenkeLexington -- Micaela Lopez Perez, Melissa WhiteNebraska City -- Bree BauerOmaha -- Marly Gallegos, Wilmy Germinis, Jessica Jacobs, Ethan Kratina, Emilee Masters, Kaija Nutsch, David Ratigan, Emma Ricke, Elizabeth Ronayne, Hollyanne Stang, Josseline Vasquez, Kasey YelickO'Neill -- Makayla HilkerOrchard -- Brandi RuzickaPapillion -- Leticia Cray, Ryan ReilPetersburg -- Caitlin NelsonPlattsmouth -- Sydney NelsonSaint Paul -- Alexis SackSeward -- Danielle PolickyTrenton -- Kyleigh ScottWinside -- Alex CarlsonYork -- Kimberly HalliseyHolyoke, CO -- Kaylee CamblinKensington, KS -- Grace HudsonHartford, SD -- Emma GebhardtMagnetic Resonance ImagingOmaha -- Ashley StewartRadiation TherapyOmaha -- Cassandra MirandaPhillips -- Brittany RobertsLino Lakes, MN -- Sarah DavidsonDiagnostic Medical SonographyMcPherson, KS -- Claire YowellShenandoah, IA -- Kealey AndersonCOLLEGE OF NURSINGLincoln DivisionBeatrice -- Hannah KassmeierBellevue -- Asia Buddhacharya, Katherine GullettBennet -- Wesley StewardCarroll -- Ky KennyColumbus -- Maria CervantesCrete -- Melissa ClouseEagle -- Kyra PalmElkhorn -- Emily Bay, Sophia Feilmeier, Mia Lutt, Grace Robitaille, Troy ScheerGering -- Yadbir Kaur, Ava MarezGretna -- Skylar Conrad, Kylee Lakers, Kaylee MooreHartington -- Owen SudbeckHastings -- Teagan Abbott, Savannah HarperHenderson -- Kate BergenJuniata -- Jersie FrerichsLaurel -- Jasmine GalvinLincoln -- Tasneem Abdelfatah, Emily Alexander, Natalie Alexander, Elisabeth Bash, Sierra Beckner, Brienne Bell, Rose Beran, Kara Birner, Raelynn Burkinshaw, Claire Carter, Megan Danley, Joanna De Rosa, Madison DeBolt, Rinda Elmore, Ethaniel Franklin, Kaitlyn Gamble, Kaitlyn Haeffner, Cesen Hailesellassie, Alexia Harre, Nicole Hollander, Kyle Hughes, Melina Ilic, Sara Jaber, Erin Kerns, Peyton Mickells, Callie Petersen, Alysha Reinhardt, Kailee Runge, Tyler Schmidt, Samantha Taylor, Emma Wallin, Lailah ZuhairiLouisville -- Valerie KnottNorfolk -- Sidney Leuthold, Reese LoweNorth Bend -- Lauren EmanuelNorth Platte ----Karsyn Buttler, Alyssa RamseyOmaha -- Samuel Bausback, Lillian Bruner, Bella Costanzo, Kaelynn Eisele, Jenna Goehring, Carolyn Hudek, Anna Johnson, Lauren Karmazin, Claire Lortz, Madison Murcek, Abby Plank, Sara Smith, Taylor StoryPapillion -- Trinity LovingsSpalding -- Elizabeth BauerTilden -- Amber MillerTrenton -- Kassidy KiskerChandler, AZ -- Caroline KniskernVallejo, CA -- Kyle ElmoreEldridge, IA -- Chloe BrabantGeneva, IL -- Olivia LaneLake Quivira, KS -- Savannah PeddicordOverland Park, KS -- Kinley PolzinLa Place, LA -- Alaina MeersFunk, ME -- Erica BertrandHamilton, MI -- Audrey FreyhofChanhassen, MN -- Jaiden NiskaMaple Grove, MN -- Emma ReinkeTower, MN -- Lilyana HansonRenner, SD -- Mackenzie WatkinsYankton, SD -- Hailey GokieIssaquah, WA -- Hannah MeierKearney DivisionAyr -- Jordyn BarbeeBloomington -- Karsen HaussermannCairo -- Shelby HostetlerColumbus -- Caitlin HottovyDunning -- Kaylee RhoadesFirth -- Kaitlyn OttoGibbon -- Matty HoskinsGothenburg -- Preston SmithGrand Island -- Samantha ThorntonKearney -- Morgan Guernsey, Kari Struebing, Katherine ZajacLawrence -- Allison MillerMinden -- Morgan MillerNorth Platte -- Jason WestmanPetersburg -- Faith KinneyPleasanton -- Adrienne Falk, Tyler PawloskiLakewood, CO -- Alexis GandoraOverland Park, KS -- Claire NashNorthern Division (Norfolk)Bellwood -- Laura EickmeierClarkson -- Kara KuderaColumbus -- Madeleine Anderson, Briana Drueppel, MaKenzie EnderlinCrofton -- Mackenzie FoxhovenHerman -- Kristen BitterLincoln -- Kyra BaptisteNorfolk -- Malinda MurphySaint Paul -- Sydney WellsSchuyler -- Anna RochefordWest Nebraska Division (Scottsbluff)Gering -- Ashley MaschmeierGrant -- Hailey SnyderHay Springs -- Jessica RagoneseKimball -- Madison WynneScottsbluff -- Jamison Harvey, Jaelynn Hemphill, Ashley Hill, Kaitlyn Jensen, Luke Maas, Sarah SalomonTorrington, WY -- Emma JohnsonOmaha campusBellevue -- Emily Eitzen, Lucas Goldenstein, Jocelyn Huls, Rassel Kenneth Kabigting, Ellie McManigalBenkelman -- Madison LambleyBennington -- Samantha RamlerBlair -- Alison HouserBloomfield -- Renae KauthCeresco -- Ellissa FredricksonElkhorn -- Amy Boudreau, McKenzie Brady, Isabella Crisman, Danyelle WalshGreen River -- Cole WhiteGretna -- Grace KienowKearney -- Lauren SorrellLa Vista -- Jenna BiesLincoln -- Taylor AugustynMartell -- Claire MeinkeNorfolk -- Alexa EasleyOmaha -- Samantha Clarkson, Madison Dragoo, Allison Foster, Mary Graff, Macie Johnson, Morgan Kirchhoff, Manning Kuboushek, Abigail Kurtzuba, Megan Little, Alondra Magallanes, Kathleen Merkel, Christina Nespor, McKinley Rettele, Merissa Roth, Hannah Schumacher, Mia Slagle, Anna Stratman, Grace Thede, Brenna Towne, Weston Walz, Evan WilliamsPapillion -- Julia Middleton, Aprille Proctor, Ava WilliamsSpringfield -- Emily DahlgrenCouncil Bluffs, IA&nbsp; -- Will Hunter, McAlister OverholtzerDes Moines, IA -- Winsodano NaponNorth Augusta, SC -- Wyatt PrattCOLLEGE OF PHARMACYAnselmo -- Jesica Spanel&nbsp;Bennington -- Jacob Jensen&nbsp;Blair -- Chase Clausen, Morgan Schenck&nbsp;Fort Calhoun -- Abigail&nbsp;Drobny&nbsp;Hastings -- Joshua Meyer&nbsp;Holdrege -- Jared Hunke&nbsp;La Vista -- Poonam Gupta&nbsp;Lincoln -- Tanner Cromer, Austin Johnson, Sonoor Majid&nbsp;Mc Cook -- Holli Thomas&nbsp;Omaha -- Gabriel Codling, Eric Hiatt, Benjamin Mestl, Annika Muse, Ashley Newman, Macy Ohlde, Zackery Rodriguez II, Miranda Sheehan, Lindsey Tjards&nbsp;Ord -- Cora Svoboda&nbsp;Saint Edward -- Tara Buettner&nbsp;Scotia -- Noah Jensen&nbsp;Wahoo -- Theodore Blum&nbsp;Quincy, IL -- Chad Schulz&nbsp;Wichita, KS -- Anna Ingamells&nbsp;Saint Louis, MO -- Ashley Carron&nbsp;Canton, SD -- Adam Roskam&nbsp;COLLEGE OF DENTISTRYDental HygieneLincoln -- Emma Betts&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Omaha -- Alexa FennRockville -- Capri Dethlefs&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Wolbach -- Jadie Rother&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DentalColumbus -- Lucas JareckeHastings -- Sophia PankratzLincoln -- Bryce Byman, Amanda Engelbart, Ella Majerus, Wendy ZhaoOgallala -- Brittan Hoppens, Mikah HoppensOmaha -- Luke Andreasen, Laura ShawStaplehurst -- Jacob WiesenYork -- Lauren RileySioux City, IA -- Quinn AdajarOverland Park, KS -- Tanner DelaneyMantorville, MN -- Wade StarkeyCando, ND -- Peyton HalversonAberdeen, SD -- Jonathan MitzelTianjin, China -- Yiwen Chen

UNMC announces spring 2023 dean’s list

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has been briefed on the investigation into the discovery of cocaine on the lobby floor of the White House West Wing, and thinks it is “incredibly important” for the Secret Service to determine how it got there, officials said Wednesday.

(click below to watch press briefing on the cocaine investigation)

U.S. Secret Service agents&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-suspicious-substance-cocaine-bd7a792357a85453cf55b6c955ff1b4f" target="_blank">found the powder during a routine</a>&nbsp;White House sweep on Sunday, in a small, clear plastic bag on the ground in a heavily trafficked area, according to three people, who were not authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House had confidence in the Secret Service. “The president think it’s incredibly important to get to the bottom of this,” she said.

Biden was at Camp David with members of his family for the holiday weekend when the powder was discovered and the complex was briefly evacuated as a precaution. The fire department was called in to test the substance to determine it was not hazardous, and the initial test came back positive for cocaine. A secondary, more sensitive lab analysis confirmed the results.

Investigators have not yet identified who brought the drugs into the White House. The Secret Service, which is responsible for securing the White House, was combing through visitor logs and security footage.

The lobby where the drugs were found is where many official visitors and staffers enter. It is also open to staff-led tours of the West Wing, which are scheduled for nonworking hours on the weekends and evenings. Those tours are invitation-only and led by White House staff for friends, family and other guests. Most staffers who work on the complex can request an evening or weekend tour slot, but there is often a long wait list.

If a White House employee brought in the drugs, it would be easier to determine, because staff are fingerprinted and subjected to drug tests. A visitor would be harder to pin down; there were tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday last week.

The District of Columbia fire department was called in Sunday to test the substance to determine whether it was hazardous, though officials immediately suspected illicit drugs because of how it was packaged, two of the people said. It’s routine to follow up with a more sensitive lab tests later. That test was returned Wednesday.

The Secret Service said in a statement Tuesday that the White House was closed as a precaution as emergency crews investigated.

“The item was sent for further evaluation and an investigation into the cause and manner of how it entered the White House is pending,” the Secret Service said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has been briefed on the investigation into the discovery of cocaine on the lobby floor of the White House West Wing, and thinks it is “incredibly important” for the Secret Service to determine how it got there, officials said Wednesday.(click below to watch press briefing on the cocaine investigation)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1012360460003301%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=529" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>U.S. Secret Service agents&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-suspicious-substance-cocaine-bd7a792357a85453cf55b6c955ff1b4f" target="_blank">found the powder during a routine</a>&nbsp;White House sweep on Sunday, in a small, clear plastic bag on the ground in a heavily trafficked area, according to three people, who were not authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House had confidence in the Secret Service. “The president think it’s incredibly important to get to the bottom of this,” she said.Biden was at Camp David with members of his family for the holiday weekend when the powder was discovered and the complex was briefly evacuated as a precaution. The fire department was called in to test the substance to determine it was not hazardous, and the initial test came back positive for cocaine. A secondary, more sensitive lab analysis confirmed the results.Investigators have not yet identified who brought the drugs into the White House. The Secret Service, which is responsible for securing the White House, was combing through visitor logs and security footage.The lobby where the drugs were found is where many official visitors and staffers enter. It is also open to staff-led tours of the West Wing, which are scheduled for nonworking hours on the weekends and evenings. Those tours are invitation-only and led by White House staff for friends, family and other guests. Most staffers who work on the complex can request an evening or weekend tour slot, but there is often a long wait list.If a White House employee brought in the drugs, it would be easier to determine, because staff are fingerprinted and subjected to drug tests. A visitor would be harder to pin down; there were tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday last week.The District of Columbia fire department was called in Sunday to test the substance to determine whether it was hazardous, though officials immediately suspected illicit drugs because of how it was packaged, two of the people said. It’s routine to follow up with a more sensitive lab tests later. That test was returned Wednesday.The Secret Service said in a statement Tuesday that the White House was closed as a precaution as emergency crews investigated.“The item was sent for further evaluation and an investigation into the cause and manner of how it entered the White House is pending,” the Secret Service said.

🎥 Biden responds to cocaine found at the White House

JULY 5, 2023 (GRAND ISLAND, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The next class of Nebraska State Patrol troopers has started their training at the NSP Training Academy. The recruits of Camp 68 will train for six months, with graduation in December.

“As our latest camp of troopers hits the road on patrol, we’re excited to welcome the next class of recruits to begin the process to earn their badge,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Over the next six months, they’ll build the knowledge, skills, and abilities that will prepare them to serve the people of Nebraska.”

Camp 68 includes eleven recruits from across Nebraska and Iowa. The recruits are:

Charity Allen – Hawarden, IA&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ethan Anderson – Fremont, NE

Elizabeth Forbes – Palmer, NE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Braden Heidbrink – Lincoln, NE

Alex Hutchison – Grand Island, NE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Spencer Kort – Schuyler, NE

Chad Reutlinger – Lexington, NE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kierra Stewart – Dodge, NE

Marco Vera Chavez - Alliance, NE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Melissa Vicente – Grand Island, NE

“These recruits have gone through a rigorous selection process to reach this point,” said Captain Andy Ecklund, NSP Director of Training. “They’ve answered the call and made a commitment to serve the public. Our Training Academy troopers will equip them with the tools and skills they need to serve with honor and dedication.”

Nebraska State Patrol recruits go through hundreds of hours of classroom and practical instruction, including life-like scenarios designed to simulate situations they will encounter while serving Nebraska. Camp 68 is scheduled to graduate on December 15.

The next NSP hiring process opens in August. Interested applicants can get information and connect with a trooper recruiter at&nbsp;<a>NebraskaTroopers.com</a>.

By Cody ThomasNebraska State PatrolJULY 5, 2023 (GRAND ISLAND, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The next class of Nebraska State Patrol troopers has started their training at the NSP Training Academy. The recruits of Camp 68 will train for six months, with graduation in December.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688591465780.jpeg" alt="Recruits of Camp 68, Nebraska State Patrol Training Academy. Photo courtesy of Cody Thomas NSP." />
 <figcaption>Recruits of Camp 68, Nebraska State Patrol Training Academy. Photo courtesy of Cody Thomas NSP.</figcaption>
 </figure>“As our latest camp of troopers hits the road on patrol, we’re excited to welcome the next class of recruits to begin the process to earn their badge,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Over the next six months, they’ll build the knowledge, skills, and abilities that will prepare them to serve the people of Nebraska.”Camp 68 includes eleven recruits from across Nebraska and Iowa. The recruits are:Charity Allen – Hawarden, IA&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ethan Anderson – Fremont, NEElizabeth Forbes – Palmer, NE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Braden Heidbrink – Lincoln, NEAlex Hutchison – Grand Island, NE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Spencer Kort – Schuyler, NEChad Reutlinger – Lexington, NE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kierra Stewart – Dodge, NEMarco Vera Chavez - Alliance, NE&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Melissa Vicente – Grand Island, NERylan Weaver – Wakefield, NE“These recruits have gone through a rigorous selection process to reach this point,” said Captain Andy Ecklund, NSP Director of Training. “They’ve answered the call and made a commitment to serve the public. Our Training Academy troopers will equip them with the tools and skills they need to serve with honor and dedication.”Nebraska State Patrol recruits go through hundreds of hours of classroom and practical instruction, including life-like scenarios designed to simulate situations they will encounter while serving Nebraska. Camp 68 is scheduled to graduate on December 15.The next NSP hiring process opens in August. Interested applicants can get information and connect with a trooper recruiter at&nbsp;<a>NebraskaTroopers.com</a>.

State Patrol Begins 68th Basic Recruit Camp

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

OMAHA — Gov. Jim Pillen on Wednesday announced the resignation of Dannette Smith as head of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.&nbsp;

Appointed in January 2019 by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts, Smith reportedly took a role with a national firm that supports health and human services across the United States. Her last day in Pillen’s cabinet is Aug. 4.

Pillen, in a news release, said he was grateful to Smith for her public service and dedication to improving the lives of Nebraskans.

Smith, in the same statement, said it was an honor to head the department that had oversight of some 5,000 staff members. She said she feels a “great sense of accomplishment.”

&nbsp;“I have spent every day challenging myself and my team to work with passion, integrity, and intentionality because the people of Nebraska depend on us,” Smith said. “Not only do I feel a great sense of accomplishment about what we have achieved, I look forward to taking the energy and the spirit of my fellow Nebraskans with me as I take on the new challenges in my next chapter.”

Smith managed an annual budget of $6.3 million. Highlights of her tenure, as noted in her statement, included efforts to address COVID-19 and the redesign of the state’s YRTC services.

Smith also was at the helm of DHHS when Nebraska officials awarded a contract to oversee the state’s child welfare system to St. Francis Ministries of Kansas. The financially troubled nonprofit’s $197 million bid was later revealed to be&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/10/state-aims-to-avoid-state-contract-mistakes-made-in-bad-bid-from-st-francis-ministries/">markedly low,</a>&nbsp;requiring DHHS later to come up with $158 million more in funding to avoid the organization’s financial collapse.

The state has since ended its experiment with privatizing child welfare services and has taken back those operations from St. Francis.

Smith’s resignation comes three months after the departure of another state department head, Tony Goins of the Nebraska&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/05/new-economic-development-head-a-lifelong-nebraskan-with-quarter-century-of-promoting-rural-areas/">Department of Economic Development.</a>

Pillen has not announced an interim DHHS director. He said a national search will be launched to find Smith’s permanent replacement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688640224398.png" alt="Dannette Smith, CEO of Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services, has resigned effective Aug. 4. (Courtesy of DHHS)" />
 <figcaption>Dannette Smith, CEO of Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services, has resigned effective Aug. 4. (Courtesy of DHHS)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/woman-who-shouted-shame-following-critical-gun-bill-passage-is-banned-from-nebraska-capitol/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Gov. Jim Pillen on Wednesday announced the resignation of Dannette Smith as head of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.&nbsp;Appointed in January 2019 by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts, Smith reportedly took a role with a national firm that supports health and human services across the United States. Her last day in Pillen’s cabinet is Aug. 4.Pillen, in a news release, said he was grateful to Smith for her public service and dedication to improving the lives of Nebraskans.Smith, in the same statement, said it was an honor to head the department that had oversight of some 5,000 staff members. She said she feels a “great sense of accomplishment.”&nbsp;“I have spent every day challenging myself and my team to work with passion, integrity, and intentionality because the people of Nebraska depend on us,” Smith said. “Not only do I feel a great sense of accomplishment about what we have achieved, I look forward to taking the energy and the spirit of my fellow Nebraskans with me as I take on the new challenges in my next chapter.”Smith managed an annual budget of $6.3 million. Highlights of her tenure, as noted in her statement, included efforts to address COVID-19 and the redesign of the state’s YRTC services.Smith also was at the helm of DHHS when Nebraska officials awarded a contract to oversee the state’s child welfare system to St. Francis Ministries of Kansas. The financially troubled nonprofit’s $197 million bid was later revealed to be&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/10/state-aims-to-avoid-state-contract-mistakes-made-in-bad-bid-from-st-francis-ministries/">markedly low,</a>&nbsp;requiring DHHS later to come up with $158 million more in funding to avoid the organization’s financial collapse.The state has since ended its experiment with privatizing child welfare services and has taken back those operations from St. Francis.Smith’s resignation comes three months after the departure of another state department head, Tony Goins of the Nebraska&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/05/new-economic-development-head-a-lifelong-nebraskan-with-quarter-century-of-promoting-rural-areas/">Department of Economic Development.</a>Pillen has not announced an interim DHHS director. He said a national search will be launched to find Smith’s permanent replacement.

Head of Nebraska’s Health and Human Services resigns

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran tried to seize two oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz early Wednesday, opening fire on one of them, the U.S. Navy said.

It said that in both cases, the Iranian naval vessels backed off after the U.S. Navy dispatched a guided missile destroyer to the scene, and that both commercial ships continued their voyages.

“The Iranian navy did make attempts to seize commercial tankers lawfully transiting international waters,” said Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. “The U.S. Navy responded immediately and prevented those seizures.”

He said the gunfire directed at the second vessel did not cause casualties or major damage.

There was no immediate Iranian comment on the incidents.

The U.S. Navy said an Iranian naval vessel approached the Marshall Islands-flagged TRF Moss in the Gulf of Oman at around 1 a.m. The U.S. deployed the USS McFaul, a guided-missile destroyer, as well as as MQ-9 Reaper drone and a P-8 Poseidon patrol plane.

Three hours later, the U.S. Navy received a distress call from the Bahamian-flagged oil tanker Richmond Voyager more than 20 nautical miles off the coast of Muscat, the capital of Oman. The Navy said another Iranian naval vessel had closed within a mile (1.6 kilometers) of the tanker and had ordered it to stop.

The same U.S. destroyer sped toward the tanker at “maximum speed,” the Navy said in a statement. “Prior to McFaul’s arrival on scene, Iranian personnel fired multiple, long bursts from both small arms and crew-served weapons,” it said.

The U.S. Navy says Iran has seized at least five commercial vessels in the last two years and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-tanker-seizures-us-uk-navy-revolutionary-guard-a8996a3dccccc82f8fa8d8bf263c9cfb" target="_blank">has harassed</a>&nbsp;more than a dozen others. Many of the incidents have occurred in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all crude oil passes.

In April, masked Iranian navy commandos conducted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-oil-tanker-advantage-sweet-seized-40b8f90bc0484fcd626903eef5faf64c" target="_blank">a helicopter-borne raid</a>&nbsp;to seize a U.S.-bound oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, footage of which was aired on Iranian state TV. Iran said the tanker was seized after it collided with another Iranian vessel but provided no evidence. In the past, Iran has seized commercial vessels to use as bargaining chips with the West.

Tensions have steadily risen since the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers and restored crippling sanctions. Iran has responded by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-politics-government-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-6acdb64d36fcbe05b3ee725d8a585d96" target="_blank">ramping up its nuclear activities</a>&nbsp;— which it says are purely peaceful — and is also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-iran-drone-factory-ukraine-war-dfdfb4602fecb0fe65935cb24c82421a" target="_blank">providing armed drones to Russia</a>&nbsp;for its war against Ukraine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688599050813.png" alt="Image U.S. Navy Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet" />
 <figcaption>Image U.S. Navy Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran tried to seize two oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz early Wednesday, opening fire on one of them, the U.S. Navy said.It said that in both cases, the Iranian naval vessels backed off after the U.S. Navy dispatched a guided missile destroyer to the scene, and that both commercial ships continued their voyages.“The Iranian navy did make attempts to seize commercial tankers lawfully transiting international waters,” said Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. “The U.S. Navy responded immediately and prevented those seizures.”He said the gunfire directed at the second vessel did not cause casualties or major damage.There was no immediate Iranian comment on the incidents.The U.S. Navy said an Iranian naval vessel approached the Marshall Islands-flagged TRF Moss in the Gulf of Oman at around 1 a.m. The U.S. deployed the USS McFaul, a guided-missile destroyer, as well as as MQ-9 Reaper drone and a P-8 Poseidon patrol plane.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688599074046.png" alt="Image U.S. Navy Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet" />
 <figcaption>Image U.S. Navy Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet</figcaption>
 </figure>Three hours later, the U.S. Navy received a distress call from the Bahamian-flagged oil tanker Richmond Voyager more than 20 nautical miles off the coast of Muscat, the capital of Oman. The Navy said another Iranian naval vessel had closed within a mile (1.6 kilometers) of the tanker and had ordered it to stop.The same U.S. destroyer sped toward the tanker at “maximum speed,” the Navy said in a statement. “Prior to McFaul’s arrival on scene, Iranian personnel fired multiple, long bursts from both small arms and crew-served weapons,” it said.The U.S. Navy says Iran has seized at least five commercial vessels in the last two years and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-tanker-seizures-us-uk-navy-revolutionary-guard-a8996a3dccccc82f8fa8d8bf263c9cfb" target="_blank">has harassed</a>&nbsp;more than a dozen others. Many of the incidents have occurred in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all crude oil passes.In April, masked Iranian navy commandos conducted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-oil-tanker-advantage-sweet-seized-40b8f90bc0484fcd626903eef5faf64c" target="_blank">a helicopter-borne raid</a>&nbsp;to seize a U.S.-bound oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, footage of which was aired on Iranian state TV. Iran said the tanker was seized after it collided with another Iranian vessel but provided no evidence. In the past, Iran has seized commercial vessels to use as bargaining chips with the West.Tensions have steadily risen since the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers and restored crippling sanctions. Iran has responded by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-politics-government-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-6acdb64d36fcbe05b3ee725d8a585d96" target="_blank">ramping up its nuclear activities</a>&nbsp;— which it says are purely peaceful — and is also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-iran-drone-factory-ukraine-war-dfdfb4602fecb0fe65935cb24c82421a" target="_blank">providing armed drones to Russia</a>&nbsp;for its war against Ukraine.

U.S. Navy confronts Iran after shots fired at oil tanker

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced the resignation of Dannette R. Smith, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).&nbsp; Smith was appointed CEO in January 2019 by then Governor Pete Ricketts. She will assume a role with a national firm that supports health and human services agencies across the U.S. Her last day at DHHS will be August 4.

“CEO Smith has provided leadership to DHHS throughout the start of my administration,” said Gov. Pillen. “I am grateful for her public service and dedication to improving the lives of Nebraskans.”

“It has been my honor to serve as CEO of the state’s largest agency, alongside the people of Nebraska the past four years,” said Smith. “I have spent every day challenging myself and my team to work with passion, integrity, and intentionality because the people of Nebraska depend on us. Not only do I feel a great sense of accomplishment about what we have achieved, I look forward to taking the energy and the spirit of my fellow Nebraskans with me as I take on the new challenges in my next chapter.”

During Smith’s tenure, she oversaw a staff of 5,000 and managed an annual budget of $6.3 billion. Highlights included supporting state efforts to address COVID and the redesign of the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center (YRTC).

Gov. Pillen will announce the appointment of an interim director soon. That person will lead the agency while a national search is undertaken to find a permanent CEO.

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced the resignation of Dannette R. Smith, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).&nbsp; Smith was appointed CEO in January 2019 by then Governor Pete Ricketts. She will assume a role with a national firm that supports health and human services agencies across the U.S. Her last day at DHHS will be August 4.“CEO Smith has provided leadership to DHHS throughout the start of my administration,” said Gov. Pillen. “I am grateful for her public service and dedication to improving the lives of Nebraskans.”“It has been my honor to serve as CEO of the state’s largest agency, alongside the people of Nebraska the past four years,” said Smith. “I have spent every day challenging myself and my team to work with passion, integrity, and intentionality because the people of Nebraska depend on us. Not only do I feel a great sense of accomplishment about what we have achieved, I look forward to taking the energy and the spirit of my fellow Nebraskans with me as I take on the new challenges in my next chapter.”During Smith’s tenure, she oversaw a staff of 5,000 and managed an annual budget of $6.3 billion. Highlights included supporting state efforts to address COVID and the redesign of the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center (YRTC).Gov. Pillen will announce the appointment of an interim director soon. That person will lead the agency while a national search is undertaken to find a permanent CEO.

Governor Pillen Announces Resignation of DHHS CEO Smith

Volunteers organize more than 250 signing events throughout Nebraska&nbsp;

July 5, 2023 – Hundreds of Support Our Schools Nebraska volunteers have been gathering signatures in support of the petition to let Nebraska voters decide the fate of LB753, a tax credit voucher scheme that would divert public tax dollars to private schools.

SOS-Nebraska Volunteers have organized more than 250 signing events throughout Nebraska, with more being scheduled every day.

“We are making great progress toward our goal of 90,000 signatures,” said Jenni Benson, a Support Our Schools Nebraska sponsor and president of the NSEA. “We will continue to tell Nebraskans how LB753 will affect their local public schools and why we believe it is important to let voters have their say by putting this issue on the ballot.”

Benson said the progress is particularly impressive as the initial rollout of the effort was 100% volunteer-driven “even in the face of some out-of-state “blockers” shouting at people, lying about the petition, and carrying hateful signs about Nebraska teachers.”

“Opponents have even begun circulating a fake petition to try and confuse voters,” said Benson. “But the opponents’ tactics are not working. Nebraskans support their public schools and want to keep them strong. Diverting tax dollars to private schools will hurt public schools which 9 of 10 children in Nebraska attend.”

In its June 30 filing with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, Support Our Schools Nebraska reported receipts of just over one million dollars, with the National Education Association contributing $800,000, and the Nebraska State Association contributing $205,000. Benson said that works out to about 33.5 cents per member for the effort to gather 90,000 signatures. An additional 478 individuals have contributed to the effort thus far.

“Our members have been overwhelmingly supportive of this petition,” said Benson. “They know the importance of keeping public dollars for public schools. And Nebraska taxpayers know that diverting $100 million per year in tax dollars to private schools will put even more pressure on local property taxes to fund their local public schools.”

In addition to other expenditures, the committee spent $69,205 on printing through June 25. A clerical error by the Secretary of State’s Office that incorrectly titled the petition as an “Initiative” meant the original petitions had to be reprinted with the correct title of “Referendum Petition.”

By Support Our SchoolsVolunteers organize more than 250 signing events throughout Nebraska&nbsp;July 5, 2023 – Hundreds of Support Our Schools Nebraska volunteers have been gathering signatures in support of the petition to let Nebraska voters decide the fate of LB753, a tax credit voucher scheme that would divert public tax dollars to private schools.SOS-Nebraska Volunteers have organized more than 250 signing events throughout Nebraska, with more being scheduled every day.“We are making great progress toward our goal of 90,000 signatures,” said Jenni Benson, a Support Our Schools Nebraska sponsor and president of the NSEA. “We will continue to tell Nebraskans how LB753 will affect their local public schools and why we believe it is important to let voters have their say by putting this issue on the ballot.”Benson said the progress is particularly impressive as the initial rollout of the effort was 100% volunteer-driven “even in the face of some out-of-state “blockers” shouting at people, lying about the petition, and carrying hateful signs about Nebraska teachers.”“Opponents have even begun circulating a fake petition to try and confuse voters,” said Benson. “But the opponents’ tactics are not working. Nebraskans support their public schools and want to keep them strong. Diverting tax dollars to private schools will hurt public schools which 9 of 10 children in Nebraska attend.”In its June 30 filing with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, Support Our Schools Nebraska reported receipts of just over one million dollars, with the National Education Association contributing $800,000, and the Nebraska State Association contributing $205,000. Benson said that works out to about 33.5 cents per member for the effort to gather 90,000 signatures. An additional 478 individuals have contributed to the effort thus far.“Our members have been overwhelmingly supportive of this petition,” said Benson. “They know the importance of keeping public dollars for public schools. And Nebraska taxpayers know that diverting $100 million per year in tax dollars to private schools will put even more pressure on local property taxes to fund their local public schools.”In addition to other expenditures, the committee spent $69,205 on printing through June 25. A clerical error by the Secretary of State’s Office that incorrectly titled the petition as an “Initiative” meant the original petitions had to be reprinted with the correct title of “Referendum Petition.”

It’s Full Speed Ahead for Petition to Repeal Private School Voucher Scheme 

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A private nonprofit that develops housing in an eight-county area of northeast Nebraska has been awarded $520,000 from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

The federal funds awarded to NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME Investment Partnerships program. The DED administers the HOME program in Nebraska, and the allocation is under the Community Housing Development Organization cycle for 2022.

According to a news release, NeighborWorks plans to use $500,000 to help purchase land and construct housing accessible to low- to moderate-income people in either Columbus or Norfolk, and to provide homebuyer assistance.

The remaining $20,000 is for organizational operating expenses, the release said.

Demand for more affordable housing has become an increasingly high-profile conversation across the state and in the Legislature. A study released earlier this year and led by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority said Nebraska’s economic future hinges on solving its “housing crisis.”&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/06/nebraska-housing-council-launches-with-plan-for-35000-new-affordable-dwellings/">study,</a>&nbsp;which offered input from dozens of statewide experts and policy makers, called for 35,000 new affordable dwellings in the state over the next five years. No specific allocation of funding was provided to carry out recommendations of the study, but committees were formed to work toward goals.

HOME funds are to be used to support low- and moderate-income residents. Over the past six years, HOME funding has helped finance construction of more than 750 housing units across Nebraska, according to the DED.

“Federal funds through the HOME program support DED’s work to provide affordable housing options for more families in Nebraska, “ said the department’s interim director Joe Fox.

BY Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A private nonprofit that develops housing in an eight-county area of northeast Nebraska has been awarded $520,000 from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.The federal funds awarded to NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME Investment Partnerships program. The DED administers the HOME program in Nebraska, and the allocation is under the Community Housing Development Organization cycle for 2022.According to a news release, NeighborWorks plans to use $500,000 to help purchase land and construct housing accessible to low- to moderate-income people in either Columbus or Norfolk, and to provide homebuyer assistance.The remaining $20,000 is for organizational operating expenses, the release said.Demand for more affordable housing has become an increasingly high-profile conversation across the state and in the Legislature. A study released earlier this year and led by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority said Nebraska’s economic future hinges on solving its “housing crisis.”&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/06/nebraska-housing-council-launches-with-plan-for-35000-new-affordable-dwellings/">study,</a>&nbsp;which offered input from dozens of statewide experts and policy makers, called for 35,000 new affordable dwellings in the state over the next five years. No specific allocation of funding was provided to carry out recommendations of the study, but committees were formed to work toward goals.HOME funds are to be used to support low- and moderate-income residents. Over the past six years, HOME funding has helped finance construction of more than 750 housing units across Nebraska, according to the DED.“Federal funds through the HOME program support DED’s work to provide affordable housing options for more families in Nebraska, “ said the department’s interim director Joe Fox.

State awards $520,000 to northeast Nebraska housing nonprofit

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/05/state-sen-tony-vargas-announces-2024-run-at-rep-don-bacon-in-nebraskas-2nd-district/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Voters in Nebraska’s most competitive congressional district could get another rematch in 2024.

State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha announced a repeat bid Wednesday for the Democratic nomination to represent the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District.

His early entry makes him a favorite to challenge four-term U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. Nebraska Democrats have said privately in recent weeks that they do not expect another high-profile Democrat to run.

“While we came up just short last November, I was so encouraged by the enormous response we got from voters across the district,” Vargas said in a statement from his campaign.

He said voters were “excited” by his message of “cutting middle-class taxes, growing the economy, protecting women’s health care, and keeping our communities safe from gun violence.”

In recent weeks, Bacon has said he would welcome another challenge from Vargas, whom he described as out of step with a district leaning slightly right. He has criticized Vargas’ record.

Vargas in 2022 similarly described Bacon, saying that the congressman votes more conservatively than he talks and that a number of groups that rate Bacon as bipartisan are misleading voters. (In recent years, groups, including Common Ground Committee and Georgetown University, have listed Bacon as a top House Republican for reaching across the aisle.)

Vargas, a two-term state lawmaker, backed legislation that raised awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic of conditions affecting “essential workers.”

He also worked to help steer federal coronavirus recovery funds to east Omaha, where he and others argue that people of color and people in poverty suffered disproportionately.

Vargas is a former member of the Omaha Public Schools board.

Like Kara Eastman, the last Democrat to run twice against Bacon, Vargas could be running in a presidential election year with Donald Trump on the ballot. Local political observers have said this might motivate more Democrats to vote.

Another factor that could help Vargas this time is that he will have volunteers and help from abortion-rights advocates angered by the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade.

The 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health sent abortion decisions back to the states. This year, Nebraska secured enough votes to shorten the abortion ban to 12 weeks gestational age, down from 22 weeks.

State lawmakers had tried passing a stricter abortion ban tied to when an ultrasound can detect fetal cardiac activity, often at about six weeks gestational age.

By Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/05/state-sen-tony-vargas-announces-2024-run-at-rep-don-bacon-in-nebraskas-2nd-district/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Voters in Nebraska’s most competitive congressional district could get another rematch in 2024.State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha announced a repeat bid Wednesday for the Democratic nomination to represent the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District.His early entry makes him a favorite to challenge four-term U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. Nebraska Democrats have said privately in recent weeks that they do not expect another high-profile Democrat to run.“While we came up just short last November, I was so encouraged by the enormous response we got from voters across the district,” Vargas said in a statement from his campaign.He said voters were “excited” by his message of “cutting middle-class taxes, growing the economy, protecting women’s health care, and keeping our communities safe from gun violence.”<h2>Bacon welcomes challenge</h2>In recent weeks, Bacon has said he would welcome another challenge from Vargas, whom he described as out of step with a district leaning slightly right. He has criticized Vargas’ record.Vargas in 2022 similarly described Bacon, saying that the congressman votes more conservatively than he talks and that a number of groups that rate Bacon as bipartisan are misleading voters. (In recent years, groups, including Common Ground Committee and Georgetown University, have listed Bacon as a top House Republican for reaching across the aisle.)<h2>Record and rematch</h2>Vargas, a two-term state lawmaker, backed legislation that raised awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic of conditions affecting “essential workers.”He also worked to help steer federal coronavirus recovery funds to east Omaha, where he and others argue that people of color and people in poverty suffered disproportionately.Vargas is a former member of the Omaha Public Schools board.Like Kara Eastman, the last Democrat to run twice against Bacon, Vargas could be running in a presidential election year with Donald Trump on the ballot. Local political observers have said this might motivate more Democrats to vote.<h2>Abortion factor</h2>Another factor that could help Vargas this time is that he will have volunteers and help from abortion-rights advocates angered by the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade.The 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health sent abortion decisions back to the states. This year, Nebraska secured enough votes to shorten the abortion ban to 12 weeks gestational age, down from 22 weeks.State lawmakers had tried passing a stricter abortion ban tied to when an ultrasound can detect fetal cardiac activity, often at about six weeks gestational age.Unlike many of his GOP peers in purple districts, Bacon is unapologetic in his support for additional restrictions on abortion. He has co-sponsored a proposed federal ban.Bacon has said he knows a federal abortion ban cannot become law with President Joe Biden in office or Democrats in control of the Senate. So he, like many Republicans facing re-election fights, has said he would accept a 15-week federal ban.Vargas highlighted this difference with Bacon in announcing his second House bid, saying he would stand up for “women’s health care” and not “double down” on “broken policies.”Democrats have said they plan to make abortion a key issue in the 2024 race. Bacon is one of a few Republicans supporting a federal ban in a district where Biden beat Trump in 2020.Bacon, reached Wednesday, said Vargas is the one who is “out of touch” on abortion. He repeated his criticism from 2022, that Vargas has never articulated what restrictions, if any, he could accept on abortion.<h2>District went to Biden in 2020</h2>Bacon beat Vargas by less than 3 percentage points in 2022. Biden beat Trump in the 2nd District in 2020 by more than 6 percentage points.The 2nd District presidential vote matters because Nebraska awards a Electoral College vote to the winner in each of its three congressional districts, as well as two electoral votes to the winner statewide. In 2020, Trump won statewide.Bacon has said he plans to make the economy a centerpiece of his campaign, including the need to get the economy moving again after four years with Biden in charge.Both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Republican National Congressional Committee have identified the race as one they will spend on in 2024.Bacon said recently that his fundraising is ahead of schedule. His campaign expects to report having about $1 million in cash on hand 16 months from the 2024 election.Vargas raised $3.4 million to Bacon’s $3.8 million in 2022, according to OpenSecrets.org, which tracks campaign fundraising. Bacon enjoyed a $3.6 million edge in outside spending.