LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen has joined 25 other Republican governors calling for passage of legislation in the U.S. Senate reinforcing Jewish civil rights. The unified message comes ahead of the Oct. 7 anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israeli and American citizens. The letter draws attention to the recent deaths of hostages and the dozens more still held captive, as well as the rising acts of antisemitism in the United States.

The letter, addressed to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, requests passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA) which codifies the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism.&nbsp; In May, that legislation received strong bipartisan support and was passed in the U.S. House.

Quickly following last year’s attack by Hamas, Gov. Pillen issued a proclamation affirming the state’s adoption of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism and directed all state code agencies charged with enforcing non-discrimination laws to utilize the definition when investigating complaints of anti-Semitic harassment and discrimination. At the same time, he requested that the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) review personnel and procurement policies, to further ensure the state’s stance against antisemitism.

Other states signing the letter to U.S. Senator Schumer include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

A copy of the letter is attached to this email along with the link to proclamation (release) issued by Gov. Pillen last fall:&nbsp;

<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/IHRA%20Joint%20Letter%20to%20Sen.%20Schumer%209.23.24.pdf">IHRA Joint Letter to Sen. Schumer </a>

<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/IHRA%20Joint%20Letter%20to%20Sen.%20Schumer%209.23.24.pdf">9.23.24</a><a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-issues-proclamation-announces-actions-fight-antisemitism-and-support-nebraska%E2%80%99s" target="_blank">https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-issues-proclamation-announces-actions-fight-antisemitism-and-support-nebraska%E2%80%99s</a>

Office of Governor Jim Pillen LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen has joined 25 other Republican governors calling for passage of legislation in the U.S. Senate reinforcing Jewish civil rights. The unified message comes ahead of the Oct. 7 anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israeli and American citizens. The letter draws attention to the recent deaths of hostages and the dozens more still held captive, as well as the rising acts of antisemitism in the United States.The letter, addressed to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, requests passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA) which codifies the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism.&nbsp; In May, that legislation received strong bipartisan support and was passed in the U.S. House.Quickly following last year’s attack by Hamas, Gov. Pillen issued a proclamation affirming the state’s adoption of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism and directed all state code agencies charged with enforcing non-discrimination laws to utilize the definition when investigating complaints of anti-Semitic harassment and discrimination. At the same time, he requested that the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) review personnel and procurement policies, to further ensure the state’s stance against antisemitism.Other states signing the letter to U.S. Senator Schumer include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.A copy of the letter is attached to this email along with the link to proclamation (release) issued by Gov. Pillen last fall:&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/IHRA%20Joint%20Letter%20to%20Sen.%20Schumer%209.23.24.pdf">IHRA Joint Letter to Sen. Schumer </a><a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/IHRA%20Joint%20Letter%20to%20Sen.%20Schumer%209.23.24.pdf">9.23.24</a><a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-issues-proclamation-announces-actions-fight-antisemitism-and-support-nebraska%E2%80%99s" target="_blank">https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-issues-proclamation-announces-actions-fight-antisemitism-and-support-nebraska%E2%80%99s</a>

Gov. Pillen Joins 25 Republican Governors in Calling for Passage  of Federal Antisemitism Legislation

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>&nbsp;

The Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, laid out more of her economic vision Wednesday during her first one-on-one cable TV interview.

Harris and former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, are laying out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/taxes-where-do-trump-and-harris-stand" target="_blank">dueling economic agendas</a>&nbsp;this week as the two vie for the Oval Office in an extremely close race.

“I really love and am so energized by what I know to be the spirit and character of the American people — we have ambition, we have aspirations, we have dreams, we can see what’s possible, we have an incredible work ethic, but not everyone has the access to the opportunities that allow them to achieve those things, but we don’t lack for those things, but not everyone gets handed stuff on a silver platter,” Harris told MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle.

“My vision for the economy — I call it an opportunity economy — is about making sure that all Americans — wherever they start, wherever they are — have the ability to actually achieve those dreams and those ambitions, which include, for middle-class families, just being able to know that their hard work allows them to get ahead,” she said.

Earlier on Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/election-2024/harris-touts-economic-plans-in-pittsburgh-the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/" target="_blank">Harris touted her economic plans</a>&nbsp;in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at Carnegie Mellon University. During her MSNBC interview later in the day, she reiterated her plan to cut taxes for more than 100 million Americans, including $6,000 in tax relief for new parents in the first year of their child’s life.

In that first year, Harris said these parents are going to “need help buying a crib, buying a car seat, and we all benefit when they’re actually able to do what they naturally want to do to take care of their child.”

Part of her economic agenda also includes as much as $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers and an up to $50,000 tax break for first-time small businesses.

She also took jabs at Trump when it comes to the economy, saying he’s “just not very serious about how he thinks about some of these issues.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/news/8760cee3-7340-4dcc-9fc5-3457aa5953bd" target="_blank">Trump campaign</a>&nbsp;clapped back at her MSNBC appearance on Wednesday, saying “it was (another) reminder why she never does interviews,” and that she’s “not competent enough — and she has no plans to offer Americans.”

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/09/24/trump-pitches-economic-plan-in-savannah-while-insulting-democrats-praising-kemp/" target="_blank">pitched his economic plan</a>&nbsp;earlier this week in Georgia, part of which includes levying tariffs on exported goods, and he vowed to place a 100% tariff on cars imported from Mexico.

Harris also touched on immigration, telling Ruhle “we do have a broken immigration system, and it needs to be fixed.”

She also said she would bring back and sign into law a major&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/bleak-future-immigration-action-after-us-senate-gop-abandons-border-security-deal" target="_blank">bipartisan border security bill</a>&nbsp;from earlier this year while pinning its legislative failure on Trump.

“He killed a bill that would have actually been a solution because he wants to run on a problem instead of fixing the problem, and that’s part of what needs to be addressed,” Harris said.

The veep is set to visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday for the first time since becoming the Democratic nominee. Her Douglas, Arizona, visit comes as she’s faced repeated criticism and backlash from both sides of the aisle for her efforts surrounding immigration.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113193502568945796" target="_blank">Truth Social post</a>&nbsp;earlier this week regarding her upcoming visit, Trump again dubbed Harris a “border czar,” saying “what a disgrace that she waited so long, allowing millions of people to enter our Country from prisons, mental institutions, and criminal cells all over the World, not just South America, many of those coming are terrorists, and at a level never seen before!”

President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/what-know-about-vice-president-kamala-harris-endorsed-biden-his-successor" target="_blank">tapped Harris back in 2021</a>&nbsp;to help address the “root causes” of migration in Central America, but he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.factcheck.org/2024/08/trump-tv-ad-repeats-false-border-czar-illegal-immigration-claims/" target="_blank">did not give her</a>&nbsp;the title of “border czar.” The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of border security.

What’s next for Harris, Trump campaigns

Harris was set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday afternoon.

The meeting between the two leaders “serves as a reminder that the Vice President has been a champion for the United States, advancing our security and prosperity on the world stage and standing up to dictators and autocrats,” her campaign said in a Thursday press release.

This will be her seventh meeting with Zelenskyy, according to her campaign, which noted that as vice president, “she helped rally a global coalition of 50 allies and partners to help Ukraine defend itself.”

Trump is set to deliver remarks in Walker, Michigan, on Friday. Later in the day, he will also host a town hall in Warren, Michigan.

And in the thick of the college football season, Trump is set to attend the Alabama-Georgia football game on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-says-jewish-voters-would-be-partly-blame-election-loss" target="_blank">confirmed to States Newsroom last week</a>.

Harris’ running mate, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is set to attend the Michigan-Minnesota football game Saturday in Ann Arbor, the Harris-Walz campaign announced.

He’s also slated to campaign there and will “speak with students about the power of their vote and the importance of registering to vote ahead of the November election,” per the announcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727438181004.png" alt="Vice President Harris during a White House press conference on Thursday image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Harris during a White House press conference on Thursday image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>&nbsp;The Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, laid out more of her economic vision Wednesday during her first one-on-one cable TV interview.Harris and former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, are laying out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/taxes-where-do-trump-and-harris-stand" target="_blank">dueling economic agendas</a>&nbsp;this week as the two vie for the Oval Office in an extremely close race.“I really love and am so energized by what I know to be the spirit and character of the American people — we have ambition, we have aspirations, we have dreams, we can see what’s possible, we have an incredible work ethic, but not everyone has the access to the opportunities that allow them to achieve those things, but we don’t lack for those things, but not everyone gets handed stuff on a silver platter,” Harris told MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle.“My vision for the economy — I call it an opportunity economy — is about making sure that all Americans — wherever they start, wherever they are — have the ability to actually achieve those dreams and those ambitions, which include, for middle-class families, just being able to know that their hard work allows them to get ahead,” she said.Earlier on Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/election-2024/harris-touts-economic-plans-in-pittsburgh-the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/" target="_blank">Harris touted her economic plans</a>&nbsp;in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at Carnegie Mellon University. During her MSNBC interview later in the day, she reiterated her plan to cut taxes for more than 100 million Americans, including $6,000 in tax relief for new parents in the first year of their child’s life.In that first year, Harris said these parents are going to “need help buying a crib, buying a car seat, and we all benefit when they’re actually able to do what they naturally want to do to take care of their child.”Part of her economic agenda also includes as much as $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers and an up to $50,000 tax break for first-time small businesses.She also took jabs at Trump when it comes to the economy, saying he’s “just not very serious about how he thinks about some of these issues.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/news/8760cee3-7340-4dcc-9fc5-3457aa5953bd" target="_blank">Trump campaign</a>&nbsp;clapped back at her MSNBC appearance on Wednesday, saying “it was (another) reminder why she never does interviews,” and that she’s “not competent enough — and she has no plans to offer Americans.”Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/09/24/trump-pitches-economic-plan-in-savannah-while-insulting-democrats-praising-kemp/" target="_blank">pitched his economic plan</a>&nbsp;earlier this week in Georgia, part of which includes levying tariffs on exported goods, and he vowed to place a 100% tariff on cars imported from Mexico.<h2>Harris to visit southern border&nbsp;</h2>Harris also touched on immigration, telling Ruhle “we do have a broken immigration system, and it needs to be fixed.”She also said she would bring back and sign into law a major&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/bleak-future-immigration-action-after-us-senate-gop-abandons-border-security-deal" target="_blank">bipartisan border security bill</a>&nbsp;from earlier this year while pinning its legislative failure on Trump.“He killed a bill that would have actually been a solution because he wants to run on a problem instead of fixing the problem, and that’s part of what needs to be addressed,” Harris said.The veep is set to visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday for the first time since becoming the Democratic nominee. Her Douglas, Arizona, visit comes as she’s faced repeated criticism and backlash from both sides of the aisle for her efforts surrounding immigration.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113193502568945796" target="_blank">Truth Social post</a>&nbsp;earlier this week regarding her upcoming visit, Trump again dubbed Harris a “border czar,” saying “what a disgrace that she waited so long, allowing millions of people to enter our Country from prisons, mental institutions, and criminal cells all over the World, not just South America, many of those coming are terrorists, and at a level never seen before!”President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/what-know-about-vice-president-kamala-harris-endorsed-biden-his-successor" target="_blank">tapped Harris back in 2021</a>&nbsp;to help address the “root causes” of migration in Central America, but he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.factcheck.org/2024/08/trump-tv-ad-repeats-false-border-czar-illegal-immigration-claims/" target="_blank">did not give her</a>&nbsp;the title of “border czar.” The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of border security.<h2>What’s next for Harris, Trump campaigns</h2>Harris was set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday afternoon.The meeting between the two leaders “serves as a reminder that the Vice President has been a champion for the United States, advancing our security and prosperity on the world stage and standing up to dictators and autocrats,” her campaign said in a Thursday press release.This will be her seventh meeting with Zelenskyy, according to her campaign, which noted that as vice president, “she helped rally a global coalition of 50 allies and partners to help Ukraine defend itself.”Trump is set to deliver remarks in Walker, Michigan, on Friday. Later in the day, he will also host a town hall in Warren, Michigan.And in the thick of the college football season, Trump is set to attend the Alabama-Georgia football game on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-says-jewish-voters-would-be-partly-blame-election-loss" target="_blank">confirmed to States Newsroom last week</a>.Harris’ running mate, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is set to attend the Michigan-Minnesota football game Saturday in Ann Arbor, the Harris-Walz campaign announced.He’s also slated to campaign there and will “speak with students about the power of their vote and the importance of registering to vote ahead of the November election,” per the announcement.

Harris pitches an ‘opportunity economy’ in debut one-on-one TV interview 

WASHINGTON —On Thursday, as part of the surge of assistance that President Biden directed ahead of his meeting with President Zelenskyy, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced a significant new security assistance package to ensure Ukraine has the tools it needs to prevail in its fight against Russian aggression, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense.

This security assistance package commits an additional $2.4 billion in support through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) that will provide Ukraine with additional air defense, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and air-to-ground munitions, as well as strengthen Ukraine’s defense industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements.&nbsp;

The capabilities in this announcement include:

This is the Biden Administration’s twenty-first USAI package. The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated capability coalitions to provide the support Ukraine needs to win the war.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727380260471.png" alt="Ukrainian President Zelenskyy watches as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signs bombs that will used in the war against Russia-photo Office of Gov. Shapiro" />
 <figcaption>Ukrainian President Zelenskyy watches as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signs bombs that will used in the war against Russia-photo Office of Gov. Shapiro</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —On Thursday, as part of the surge of assistance that President Biden directed ahead of his meeting with President Zelenskyy, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced a significant new security assistance package to ensure Ukraine has the tools it needs to prevail in its fight against Russian aggression, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense.This security assistance package commits an additional $2.4 billion in support through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) that will provide Ukraine with additional air defense, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and air-to-ground munitions, as well as strengthen Ukraine’s defense industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727392281821.png" alt="-President Zelenskyy and Vice President Harris at the White House on Thursday-White House image" />
 <figcaption>-President Zelenskyy and Vice President Harris at the White House on Thursday-White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>The capabilities in this announcement include:<ul>
 <li>Munitions and support for Ukrainian air defense systems;</li><li>Air-to-ground munitions;</li><li>Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and components to support Ukrainian production of UAS;</li><li>Counter-UAS equipment;&nbsp; Unmanned surface vessels;</li><li>Secure communications equipment;</li><li>Equipment and materiel to support Ukrainian munitions production; and&nbsp;</li><li>Spare parts, maintenance and sustainment support, and other ancillary equipment.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727380341399.png" alt="Ukraine President Zelenskyy and President Biden at the White House on Thursday-White House image" />
 <figcaption>Ukraine President Zelenskyy and President Biden at the White House on Thursday-White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>This is the Biden Administration’s twenty-first USAI package. The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated capability coalitions to provide the support Ukraine needs to win the war.

U.S. to spend another $2.4 billion on security assistance for Ukraine

Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

&nbsp; WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer’s (R-Neb.) Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation, which&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2023/11/senate-unanimously-approves-fischer-s-bipartisan-legislation-to-expand-vets-access-to-cdl-schools">passed</a>&nbsp;the Senate in November 2023, will expand veterans’ training opportunities in the trucking industry. The bill now awaits the president’s signature.

Current laws prevent new trucking school locations from accepting GI Bill benefits for two years after opening, including new locations opened by schools that are already established. Senator Fischer’s legislation will allow new facilities to accept GI Bill benefits if their primary institutions have already received regulatory approval.

“Our veterans deserve every opportunity to participate in the American dream they’ve fought to protect. But when their service is over, many veterans face unfair roadblocks when they look for jobs,” said Senator Fischer. “My legislation makes it easier for veterans to get their CDL licenses and earn a good living.”

Senator Fischer&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2023/3/fischer-padilla-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-expand-vets-access-to-cdl-schools">introduced</a>&nbsp;this bipartisan, bicameral legislation with Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) in March 2023. It was introduced in the House by Representatives Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.).

Veteran Service Organizations:&nbsp;American Legion, Moving Veterans Forward, Student Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Great Plains Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Nebraska Military Officers Association of America.

Labor Organizations:&nbsp;International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Trucking Industry Groups:&nbsp;Werner Trucking, American Trucking Association, Commercial Vehicle Training Association, and Nebraska Trucking Association.

Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/f5947372-59b2-4755-9891-e4390a6b0358/cdl.pdf">here</a>&nbsp;to read the text of the bill.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer&nbsp; WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer’s (R-Neb.) Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation, which&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2023/11/senate-unanimously-approves-fischer-s-bipartisan-legislation-to-expand-vets-access-to-cdl-schools">passed</a>&nbsp;the Senate in November 2023, will expand veterans’ training opportunities in the trucking industry. The bill now awaits the president’s signature.Current laws prevent new trucking school locations from accepting GI Bill benefits for two years after opening, including new locations opened by schools that are already established. Senator Fischer’s legislation will allow new facilities to accept GI Bill benefits if their primary institutions have already received regulatory approval.“Our veterans deserve every opportunity to participate in the American dream they’ve fought to protect. But when their service is over, many veterans face unfair roadblocks when they look for jobs,” said Senator Fischer. “My legislation makes it easier for veterans to get their CDL licenses and earn a good living.”Senator Fischer&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2023/3/fischer-padilla-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-expand-vets-access-to-cdl-schools">introduced</a>&nbsp;this bipartisan, bicameral legislation with Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) in March 2023. It was introduced in the House by Representatives Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.).The bill has received endorsements from:Veteran Service Organizations:&nbsp;American Legion, Moving Veterans Forward, Student Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Great Plains Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Nebraska Military Officers Association of America.Labor Organizations:&nbsp;International Brotherhood of Teamsters.Trucking Industry Groups:&nbsp;Werner Trucking, American Trucking Association, Commercial Vehicle Training Association, and Nebraska Trucking Association.Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/f5947372-59b2-4755-9891-e4390a6b0358/cdl.pdf">here</a>&nbsp;to read the text of the bill.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fischer Bill Expanding Vets’ Access to CDL Schools Heads to President

Gary Premus has been located. Unfortunately, he has been found deceased.

&nbsp; An Endangered Missing Advisory has been activated to determine the whereabouts of Gary Premus.

Gary Premus was last seen at 1725 MT on 9/25/24 at 320 West 42nd Street in Scottsbluff. Gary is an 84 years old white male, 5'9, 290lbs, possibly driving a 1997 Buick Park Avenue, beige with Nebraska plate 21-P624. Gary is heavily reliant on oxygen and becomes disoriented when not on oxygen. He may be traveling to Fort Pierre, SD where he has other family.

Gary's phone has been shut off. Contact Scottsbluff Police Department at 308-632-7176 with any information about Gary Premus' location.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727366847365.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>UPDATE 9/26/24Gary Premus has been located. Unfortunately, he has been found deceased.-----&nbsp; An Endangered Missing Advisory has been activated to determine the whereabouts of Gary Premus.Gary Premus was last seen at 1725 MT on 9/25/24 at 320 West 42nd Street in Scottsbluff. Gary is an 84 years old white male, 5'9, 290lbs, possibly driving a 1997 Buick Park Avenue, beige with Nebraska plate 21-P624. Gary is heavily reliant on oxygen and becomes disoriented when not on oxygen. He may be traveling to Fort Pierre, SD where he has other family.Gary's phone has been shut off. Contact Scottsbluff Police Department at 308-632-7176 with any information about Gary Premus' location.

UPDATE: Missing Advisory cancelled, Gary Premus located

&nbsp; WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) issued the following statement after voting no on a three-month continuing resolution:

“Republicans insisted for weeks that the Senate needed to accomplish what we were elected to do: support our national defense and pass our funding bills in regular order. Instead, Senator Schumer chose to spend his time on partisan show votes he knew would fail. I can’t support his decision to force a last minute vote.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer&nbsp; WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) issued the following statement after voting no on a three-month continuing resolution:“Republicans insisted for weeks that the Senate needed to accomplish what we were elected to do: support our national defense and pass our funding bills in regular order. Instead, Senator Schumer chose to spend his time on partisan show votes he knew would fail. I can’t support his decision to force a last minute vote.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

 Fischer Statement on Continuing Resolution Vote

Sidney, Neb. -&nbsp;

On Wednesday September 25th at approximately 4:40 pm a citizen brought a suspicious letter to the Sidney Police Station at 1200 Pole Creek Crossing. The concerned citizen received the letter on Monday and immediately placed the letter into a ziplock bag. The letter originated from over seas and was screened by US Customs. 

The letter contained a single blank sheet of paper with an orange smudge on it. The Sidney Police Department contacted the Sidney Fire Department who ensured no life or environmental dangers were present. The Sidney Police Department’s thanks the citizen and the Sidney Fire Department for their actions.



Sidney Police DepartmentSidney, Neb. -&nbsp;

On Wednesday September 25th at approximately 4:40 pm a citizen brought a suspicious letter to the Sidney Police Station at 1200 Pole Creek Crossing. The concerned citizen received the letter on Monday and immediately placed the letter into a ziplock bag. The letter originated from over seas and was screened by US Customs. The letter contained a single blank sheet of paper with an orange smudge on it. The Sidney Police Department contacted the Sidney Fire Department who ensured no life or environmental dangers were present. The Sidney Police Department’s thanks the citizen and the Sidney Fire Department for their actions.

Sidney Police investigated a suspicious letter sent to local resident

The 27th annual Omaha Women’s Health and Wellness Conference will be held Oct. 25 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Scott Conference Center in Aksarben Village, 6450 Pine St.

This year’s conference will feature main sessions on social media influence and separating fact from fiction in adult ADHD.

Other sessions will offer insight into topics such as the effects of opioids, young women’s health concerns, myofascial release in pain relief, intuitive eating, menopause and promoting positive behavior in school-aged children.

Several health and educational exhibits will be available during a morning health fair. Attendees can register for blood work and flu shots with an additional fee.

The conference is hosted by the Olson Center&nbsp;for&nbsp;Women’s Health, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine.

Continuing education will be provided for&nbsp;nurses and social workers.&nbsp;Registration, which includes lectures, lunch&nbsp;and&nbsp;refreshments, is $75 for&nbsp;the general public and $110 for&nbsp;nurses and social workers.&nbsp;

Registration is&nbsp;open&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nebraskamed.com/womens_conference" target="_blank">online</a>. For&nbsp;more information about the event, call the Olson Center&nbsp;at 402-559-6345

UNMCThe 27th annual Omaha Women’s Health and Wellness Conference will be held Oct. 25 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Scott Conference Center in Aksarben Village, 6450 Pine St.This year’s conference will feature main sessions on social media influence and separating fact from fiction in adult ADHD.Other sessions will offer insight into topics such as the effects of opioids, young women’s health concerns, myofascial release in pain relief, intuitive eating, menopause and promoting positive behavior in school-aged children.Several health and educational exhibits will be available during a morning health fair. Attendees can register for blood work and flu shots with an additional fee.The conference is hosted by the Olson Center&nbsp;for&nbsp;Women’s Health, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine.Continuing education will be provided for&nbsp;nurses and social workers.&nbsp;Registration, which includes lectures, lunch&nbsp;and&nbsp;refreshments, is $75 for&nbsp;the general public and $110 for&nbsp;nurses and social workers.&nbsp;Registration is&nbsp;open&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nebraskamed.com/womens_conference" target="_blank">online</a>. For&nbsp;more information about the event, call the Olson Center&nbsp;at 402-559-6345

 Registration open for Omaha Women’s Health and Wellness Conference

September 25, 2024 (Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The first homestand of the Husker football season is in the books and Nebraska State Troopers were on patrol to keep fans safe on gamedays.

Troopers throughout Nebraska made 35 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol on gamedays. Ten of those arrests occurred in Lancaster County in the hours surrounding a Husker football game.

“We’re thankful that the vast majority of fans do their part to keep roads safe and make sure to have a sober driver,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Whether it’s gameday or any other day, always have a gameplan to have a sober driver if your event involves alcohol.”

This effort was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office. In addition to patrolling the roads, troopers assist gameday security operations alongside the UNL Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and other partners.

The Husker football team is on the road to take on Purdue this Saturday but returns home to Lincoln for an afternoon game against Rutgers on October 5.

Cody ThomasNebraska State PatrolSeptember 25, 2024 (Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The first homestand of the Husker football season is in the books and Nebraska State Troopers were on patrol to keep fans safe on gamedays.Troopers throughout Nebraska made 35 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol on gamedays. Ten of those arrests occurred in Lancaster County in the hours surrounding a Husker football game.“We’re thankful that the vast majority of fans do their part to keep roads safe and make sure to have a sober driver,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Whether it’s gameday or any other day, always have a gameplan to have a sober driver if your event involves alcohol.”This effort was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office. In addition to patrolling the roads, troopers assist gameday security operations alongside the UNL Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and other partners.The Husker football team is on the road to take on Purdue this Saturday but returns home to Lincoln for an afternoon game against Rutgers on October 5.

Troopers Make 35 DUI Arrests During Husker Home Games

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen addressed the newly formed&nbsp;Committee on Pacific Conflict, which held its inaugural meeting this morning. The group, formed through passage of LB1300, has the responsibility of identifying potential risks to the state that might emanate from China in the event of a conflict in the Pacific Theater. Nebraska is the first state in the nation to enact such a committee for this purpose.

“This group, in many ways, will be the front lines to identifying potential risks to our state,” said Gov. Pillen. “It will work collaboratively across education, military, federal and other partners to best secure our infrastructure, our natural resources, our economy and our way of life. When we consider the threats posed in the world today, formulation of this committee is critical and will allow Nebraska to be better prepared for any situation we may face.”

The Committee consists of the following seven voting members: Director of State Homeland Security and Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly; Director of the Division of Administrative Services (DAS) Jason Jackson; State Investment Officer Ellen Hung; Major General Craig Strong, adjutant general for the Nebraska National Guard; Bob Andersen, defense contractor and U.S. Air Force veteran; Rick Nelson, general manager for the Nebraska Rural Electric Association (NREA); and Allen Geist of the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska. Andersen, Nelson and Geist were appointed by Gov. Pillen.

Members appointed by the Executive Board of the Legislative Council include senators Beau Ballard (District 21), Eliot Bostar (District 29), Rick Holdcroft (District 36) and Rita Sanders (District 45).Sen. Bostar sponsored legislation on behalf of Gov. Pillen creating the&nbsp;Pacific Conflict Stress Test Act. In addition to the formulation of the committee, LB1300 requires DAS to review critical procurements purchased or supplied through the state supply chain and to provide a report to the Governor.

The Nebraska Investment Council must take similar action by auditing and reporting on all state managed funds. Finally, the Governor must publish a state threat assessment prior to the annual State of the State address. Given the sensitive nature of information presented to and shared by committee members, state law specifies that meetings are not open to the public.

“The value of this committee can’t be overstated,” said Sen. Bostar. “First and foremost, it brings us in line with the mission and objectives of our federal partners who are currently working to assess and prepare for threats to our state. Across the country, we are seeing an increased focus on the targeting of state and local governments by malicious actors. We have a duty to protect the residents, infrastructure, agriculture, and critical systems of Nebraska from threats posed by foreign adversaries."

Speaking from his experience working in the military at both the state and federal level, MG Strong noted that while many areas of security overlap across departments and levels, gaps remain.

“This committee can help fill those gaps in a strategic and important way,” he explained. “Nebraska is an incredibly resilient state, but there are challenges, and these are the first steps toward addressing those vulnerabilities.”

Given Nebraska’s unique contribution to critical American assets, which includes being home to Offutt Air Force Base (AFB), it would not be difficult to imagine the state being subject to attack.

“Whether that be to critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, public safety, telecommunications, or state supply chains, we must continue to take action to bolster our economy and safeguard against potential loopholes that might allow foreign adversaries to gain a foothold from within,” said Committee Chairman, Lt. Gov. KellyDirector Jackson noted that DAS was underway in completing its report due to the Governor by Nov. 1. 

It will include a review of critical procurements with connections to foreign adversaries as well as an exploration into what difficulties might arise if disruptions occurred involving procurements from such entities.

“I appreciate the wisdom of the Governor, Sen. Bostar and the other members serving on this committee. From the perspective of DAS, we have a lot of touchpoints from a national security perspective that may not be completely obvious.” said Dir. Jackson. “All of those areas will benefit from information gleaned through the efforts of this committee.” &nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;Committee on Pacific Conflict&nbsp;is slated to meet quarterly over an initial three-year period.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen addressed the newly formed&nbsp;Committee on Pacific Conflict, which held its inaugural meeting this morning. The group, formed through passage of LB1300, has the responsibility of identifying potential risks to the state that might emanate from China in the event of a conflict in the Pacific Theater. Nebraska is the first state in the nation to enact such a committee for this purpose.“This group, in many ways, will be the front lines to identifying potential risks to our state,” said Gov. Pillen. “It will work collaboratively across education, military, federal and other partners to best secure our infrastructure, our natural resources, our economy and our way of life. When we consider the threats posed in the world today, formulation of this committee is critical and will allow Nebraska to be better prepared for any situation we may face.”The Committee consists of the following seven voting members: Director of State Homeland Security and Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly; Director of the Division of Administrative Services (DAS) Jason Jackson; State Investment Officer Ellen Hung; Major General Craig Strong, adjutant general for the Nebraska National Guard; Bob Andersen, defense contractor and U.S. Air Force veteran; Rick Nelson, general manager for the Nebraska Rural Electric Association (NREA); and Allen Geist of the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska. Andersen, Nelson and Geist were appointed by Gov. Pillen.Members appointed by the Executive Board of the Legislative Council include senators Beau Ballard (District 21), Eliot Bostar (District 29), Rick Holdcroft (District 36) and Rita Sanders (District 45).Sen. Bostar sponsored legislation on behalf of Gov. Pillen creating the&nbsp;Pacific Conflict Stress Test Act. In addition to the formulation of the committee, LB1300 requires DAS to review critical procurements purchased or supplied through the state supply chain and to provide a report to the Governor. The Nebraska Investment Council must take similar action by auditing and reporting on all state managed funds. Finally, the Governor must publish a state threat assessment prior to the annual State of the State address. Given the sensitive nature of information presented to and shared by committee members, state law specifies that meetings are not open to the public.“The value of this committee can’t be overstated,” said Sen. Bostar. “First and foremost, it brings us in line with the mission and objectives of our federal partners who are currently working to assess and prepare for threats to our state. Across the country, we are seeing an increased focus on the targeting of state and local governments by malicious actors. We have a duty to protect the residents, infrastructure, agriculture, and critical systems of Nebraska from threats posed by foreign adversaries."Speaking from his experience working in the military at both the state and federal level, MG Strong noted that while many areas of security overlap across departments and levels, gaps remain.“This committee can help fill those gaps in a strategic and important way,” he explained. “Nebraska is an incredibly resilient state, but there are challenges, and these are the first steps toward addressing those vulnerabilities.”Given Nebraska’s unique contribution to critical American assets, which includes being home to Offutt Air Force Base (AFB), it would not be difficult to imagine the state being subject to attack.“Whether that be to critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, public safety, telecommunications, or state supply chains, we must continue to take action to bolster our economy and safeguard against potential loopholes that might allow foreign adversaries to gain a foothold from within,” said Committee Chairman, Lt. Gov. KellyDirector Jackson noted that DAS was underway in completing its report due to the Governor by Nov. 1. It will include a review of critical procurements with connections to foreign adversaries as well as an exploration into what difficulties might arise if disruptions occurred involving procurements from such entities.“I appreciate the wisdom of the Governor, Sen. Bostar and the other members serving on this committee. From the perspective of DAS, we have a lot of touchpoints from a national security perspective that may not be completely obvious.” said Dir. Jackson. “All of those areas will benefit from information gleaned through the efforts of this committee.” &nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;Committee on Pacific Conflict&nbsp;is slated to meet quarterly over an initial three-year period.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gov. Pillen Addresses Committee on Pacific Conflict at Inaugural Meeting

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that the man who allegedly stalked former President Donald Trump for a month before aiming his rifle through a fence at Trump’s private golf course on Sept. 15 was indicted on the charge of an attempted assassination of a political candidate.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ryan-wesley-routh-indicted-attempted-assassination-former-president-trump" target="_blank">The Justice Department&nbsp;</a>said a federal grand jury in Miami late Tuesday returned an indictment charging Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of attempting to kill the GOP presidential nominee while at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“Violence targeting public officials endangers everything our country stands for, and the Department of Justice will use every available tool to hold Ryan Routh accountable for the attempted assassination of former President Trump charged in the indictment,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

“The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy, and we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it. This must stop,” Garland said.

The maximum sentence for the attempted assassination charge is a life sentence. Routh remains in pretrial detention.

The case is being handled by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who&nbsp;<a href="https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/07/15/federal-judge-dismisses-trump-classified-documents-criminal-case/" target="_blank">previously dismissed criminal charges&nbsp;</a>against Trump related to illegally allegedly keeping classified documents after he left the presidency. Cannon was appointed by Trump to the federal bench.

<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gunman-who-allegedly-targeted-trump-offered-150k-anyone-who-could-finish-job" target="_blank">Prosecutors on Monday detailed&nbsp;</a>that Routh stalked Trump for a month, noting events Trump would be at, and wrote a note where he offered $150,000 to anyone who could “finish the job,” according to court filings.

This is now officially the second assassination attempt against Trump, after the&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/campaigns-elections/trump-campaigns-in-western-pennsylvania-with-rally-in-butler-county/" target="_blank">first&nbsp;</a>one in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump sustained an injury to his ear. He was not injured at his Florida golf club.

Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/09/16/man-arrested-after-poking-rifle-onto-trump-golf-course-charged-with-federal-gun-crimes/" target="_blank">confirmed that Routh did not fire his weapon</a>&nbsp;and that the gunshots heard were from a Secret Service agent who saw part of Routh’s gun poking out from the chain link fence and immediately fired.

<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/man-arrested-after-poking-rifle-trump-golf-course-charged-federal-gun-crimes" target="_blank">Routh has already been charged</a>&nbsp;with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and with obliterating the serial number on a firearm, according to court records. With those charges, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726536262473.png" alt="Ryan Routh during his arrest -photo Martin Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Ryan Routh during his arrest -photo Martin Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that the man who allegedly stalked former President Donald Trump for a month before aiming his rifle through a fence at Trump’s private golf course on Sept. 15 was indicted on the charge of an attempted assassination of a political candidate.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ryan-wesley-routh-indicted-attempted-assassination-former-president-trump" target="_blank">The Justice Department&nbsp;</a>said a federal grand jury in Miami late Tuesday returned an indictment charging Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of attempting to kill the GOP presidential nominee while at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.“Violence targeting public officials endangers everything our country stands for, and the Department of Justice will use every available tool to hold Ryan Routh accountable for the attempted assassination of former President Trump charged in the indictment,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.“The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy, and we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it. This must stop,” Garland said.The maximum sentence for the attempted assassination charge is a life sentence. Routh remains in pretrial detention.The case is being handled by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who&nbsp;<a href="https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/07/15/federal-judge-dismisses-trump-classified-documents-criminal-case/" target="_blank">previously dismissed criminal charges&nbsp;</a>against Trump related to illegally allegedly keeping classified documents after he left the presidency. Cannon was appointed by Trump to the federal bench.<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gunman-who-allegedly-targeted-trump-offered-150k-anyone-who-could-finish-job" target="_blank">Prosecutors on Monday detailed&nbsp;</a>that Routh stalked Trump for a month, noting events Trump would be at, and wrote a note where he offered $150,000 to anyone who could “finish the job,” according to court filings.This is now officially the second assassination attempt against Trump, after the&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/campaigns-elections/trump-campaigns-in-western-pennsylvania-with-rally-in-butler-county/" target="_blank">first&nbsp;</a>one in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump sustained an injury to his ear. He was not injured at his Florida golf club.Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/09/16/man-arrested-after-poking-rifle-onto-trump-golf-course-charged-with-federal-gun-crimes/" target="_blank">confirmed that Routh did not fire his weapon</a>&nbsp;and that the gunshots heard were from a Secret Service agent who saw part of Routh’s gun poking out from the chain link fence and immediately fired.<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/man-arrested-after-poking-rifle-trump-golf-course-charged-federal-gun-crimes" target="_blank">Routh has already been charged</a>&nbsp;with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and with obliterating the serial number on a firearm, according to court records. With those charges, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Ryan Routh charged with attempted assassination in Trump golf course case

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen has signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency in Sioux County for the Bronco Fire near Crawford. The fire, which started Sept. 18, has burned more than 1,000 acres. Latest reports indicate it is nearly contained.

The written proclamation follows verbal authorization by the Governor allowing the state adjutant general to activate emergency plans and resources necessary to manage the fire. The adjutant general also serves as the state disaster coordinator.

The proclamation also permits the use of funds from the Governor’s Emergency Fund to be used for those purposes.

The proclamation is included with this release.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Office Of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen has signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency in Sioux County for the Bronco Fire near Crawford. The fire, which started Sept. 18, has burned more than 1,000 acres. Latest reports indicate it is nearly contained.The written proclamation follows verbal authorization by the Governor allowing the state adjutant general to activate emergency plans and resources necessary to manage the fire. The adjutant general also serves as the state disaster coordinator.The proclamation also permits the use of funds from the Governor’s Emergency Fund to be used for those purposes.The proclamation is included with this release.&nbsp; &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727281118144.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Gov. Pillen Declares State of Emergency for Sioux County 'Bronco Fire'

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>&nbsp;

WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Tuesday during a radio interview that she supports changing a Senate procedure in order to codify the right to an abortion.

Vice President Harris said she is in favor of ending the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, known as the filibuster, to advance abortion rights legislation. But that task would hinge on Democrats agreeing to do so and holding on to majority control in the Senate, a difficult feat this November as&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/09/23/racing-toward-election-day-control-of-u-s-senate-and-house-up-for-grabs/" target="_blank">Republicans appear potentially poised to take back the upper chamber.&nbsp;</a>

“I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe, and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do,” she said during an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio.

Harris in 2022 said she would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/09/10/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-at-the-2022-democratic-national-committee-summer-meeting/" target="_blank">cast a tie-breaking vote</a>&nbsp;in favor of abortion rights in her role as vice president. She has often pledged to sign into law a codification of Roe v. Wade, the constitutional right to an abortion struck down by the conservative U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in August that Democrats would talk about rules changes to codify abortion rights,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/chuck-schumer-outlines-2025-agenda-democrats-sweep-eying-filibuster-ch-rcna167433" target="_blank">NBC reported</a>.

<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/election-2024/trump-talks-agriculture-and-china-in-smithton-ahead-of-rally-at-iup/" target="_blank">At a Monday rally in Pennsylvania</a>, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump referred to himself as a “protector” of women. Trump said women no longer needed to think about abortion and it is “now where it always had to be, with the states.”

“All they want to do is talk about abortion,” the former president said at the rally, referring to Democrats. “It really no longer pertains because we’ve done something on abortion that no one thought was possible.”

Trump has called for Senate Republicans to dismantle the filibuster, but GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other Republican leaders like No. 2 Sen. John Thune of South Dakota have vowed to keep the procedure in place.

Current Senate projections indicate Republicans are likely to gain control of the Senate. Republicans are also expected to pick up a seat in West Virginia, and only need to hold on to seats in Florida, Texas and Nebraska.

Democrats will need to secure wins in Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Additionally, Senate Democrats would need to break a possible 50-50 tie through a Democratic presidency — if they want to remain the majority party and change the filibuster.

If Harris wins, and Democrats hold 50 seats in the Senate, then Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the vice presidential nominee, would be the tie-breaking vote.

During a Tuesday Senate press conference on abortion, Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington said she was supportive of Harris’ stance and that it would be a carve-out of the filibuster, rather than an elimination of it.

“What we are talking about is a simple procedure to allow, whenever rights are taken away from someone, that the U.S. Senate can, without being blocked by a filibuster, be able to restore those rights,” she said.

The Harris campaign hosted a Tuesday press call with business owner and&nbsp; “Shark Tank” investor Mark Cuban, to advocate for Harris’ economic policies.

Polls have found that voters view Trump as better for the economy.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/09/09/in-tied-presidential-race-harris-and-trump-have-contrasting-strengths-weaknesses/" target="_blank">Pew Research</a>&nbsp;found that Trump’s key advantage is the economy, with 55% of voters viewing the former president as making good economic decisions, and 45% of voters viewing Harris as making good decisions about the economy.

“In a nutshell, the vice president and her team thinks through her policies,” Cuban said. “She doesn’t just off the top of her head say what she thinks the crowd wants to hear, like the Republican nominee.”

Battleground states still the favorite spot

The candidates will continue to campaign and travel, especially around battleground states this week.

Trump is scheduled Tuesday to visit Savannah, Georgia, where he will give an afternoon campaign speech about lowering taxes for business owners.

Walz is scheduled to head back to his home state of Minnesota Tuesday&nbsp;for a campaign reception there.

Harris is heading to&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/briefs/kamala-harris-to-campaign-in-pennsylvania-on-wednesday/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wednesday&nbsp;</a>for a campaign rally and then she’ll travel to Arizona on Friday and Nevada on Sunday.

Trump is stopping in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on Wednesday to give remarks about the importance of making goods in the U.S. His running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, will travel to Traverse City, Michigan, on Wednesday to rally supporters.

Vance on Thursday will give a campaign speech on the economy in Macon, Georgia, and then host a voter mobilization drive in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

On Friday, Trump is scheduled to rally supporters in Walker, Michigan and in the evening hold a town hall in Warren, Michigan.

&nbsp;Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727264828416.png" alt="File photo Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign stop last week in Wisconsin -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign stop last week in Wisconsin -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>&nbsp;WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Tuesday during a radio interview that she supports changing a Senate procedure in order to codify the right to an abortion.Vice President Harris said she is in favor of ending the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, known as the filibuster, to advance abortion rights legislation. But that task would hinge on Democrats agreeing to do so and holding on to majority control in the Senate, a difficult feat this November as&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/09/23/racing-toward-election-day-control-of-u-s-senate-and-house-up-for-grabs/" target="_blank">Republicans appear potentially poised to take back the upper chamber.&nbsp;</a>“I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe, and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do,” she said during an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio.Harris in 2022 said she would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/09/10/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-at-the-2022-democratic-national-committee-summer-meeting/" target="_blank">cast a tie-breaking vote</a>&nbsp;in favor of abortion rights in her role as vice president. She has often pledged to sign into law a codification of Roe v. Wade, the constitutional right to an abortion struck down by the conservative U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in August that Democrats would talk about rules changes to codify abortion rights,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/chuck-schumer-outlines-2025-agenda-democrats-sweep-eying-filibuster-ch-rcna167433" target="_blank">NBC reported</a>.<h2>Trump in Pennsylvania</h2><a href="https://penncapital-star.com/election-2024/trump-talks-agriculture-and-china-in-smithton-ahead-of-rally-at-iup/" target="_blank">At a Monday rally in Pennsylvania</a>, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump referred to himself as a “protector” of women. Trump said women no longer needed to think about abortion and it is “now where it always had to be, with the states.”“All they want to do is talk about abortion,” the former president said at the rally, referring to Democrats. “It really no longer pertains because we’ve done something on abortion that no one thought was possible.”Trump has called for Senate Republicans to dismantle the filibuster, but GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other Republican leaders like No. 2 Sen. John Thune of South Dakota have vowed to keep the procedure in place.Current Senate projections indicate Republicans are likely to gain control of the Senate. Republicans are also expected to pick up a seat in West Virginia, and only need to hold on to seats in Florida, Texas and Nebraska.Democrats will need to secure wins in Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Additionally, Senate Democrats would need to break a possible 50-50 tie through a Democratic presidency — if they want to remain the majority party and change the filibuster.If Harris wins, and Democrats hold 50 seats in the Senate, then Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the vice presidential nominee, would be the tie-breaking vote.During a Tuesday Senate press conference on abortion, Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington said she was supportive of Harris’ stance and that it would be a carve-out of the filibuster, rather than an elimination of it.“What we are talking about is a simple procedure to allow, whenever rights are taken away from someone, that the U.S. Senate can, without being blocked by a filibuster, be able to restore those rights,” she said.<h2>Harris, Trump and the economy</h2>The Harris campaign hosted a Tuesday press call with business owner and&nbsp; “Shark Tank” investor Mark Cuban, to advocate for Harris’ economic policies.Polls have found that voters view Trump as better for the economy.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/09/09/in-tied-presidential-race-harris-and-trump-have-contrasting-strengths-weaknesses/" target="_blank">Pew Research</a>&nbsp;found that Trump’s key advantage is the economy, with 55% of voters viewing the former president as making good economic decisions, and 45% of voters viewing Harris as making good decisions about the economy.“In a nutshell, the vice president and her team thinks through her policies,” Cuban said. “She doesn’t just off the top of her head say what she thinks the crowd wants to hear, like the Republican nominee.”<h2>Battleground states still the favorite spot</h2>The candidates will continue to campaign and travel, especially around battleground states this week.Trump is scheduled Tuesday to visit Savannah, Georgia, where he will give an afternoon campaign speech about lowering taxes for business owners.Walz is scheduled to head back to his home state of Minnesota Tuesday&nbsp;for a campaign reception there.Harris is heading to&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/briefs/kamala-harris-to-campaign-in-pennsylvania-on-wednesday/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wednesday&nbsp;</a>for a campaign rally and then she’ll travel to Arizona on Friday and Nevada on Sunday.Trump is stopping in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on Wednesday to give remarks about the importance of making goods in the U.S. His running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, will travel to Traverse City, Michigan, on Wednesday to rally supporters.Vance on Thursday will give a campaign speech on the economy in Macon, Georgia, and then host a voter mobilization drive in Flowery Branch, Georgia.On Friday, Trump is scheduled to rally supporters in Walker, Michigan and in the evening hold a town hall in Warren, Michigan.&nbsp;Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report.&nbsp;

Harris says she’d back an elimination of the filibuster to restore abortion rights

New York– World leaders Sunday adopted a Pact for the Future that includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations, according to a media release from the United Nations.

 This Pact is the culmination of an inclusive, years-long process to adapt international cooperation to the realities of today and the challenges of tomorrow. The most wide-ranging international agreement in many years, covering entirely new areas as well as issues on which agreement has not been possible in decades, the Pact aims above all to ensure that international institutions can deliver in the face of a world that has changed dramatically since they were created. As the Secretary-General has said, “we cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built by our grandparents.”

<a href="https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/ltd/n24/252/89/pdf/n2425289.pdf">Click here to read</a> the full text of the agreement

Overall, the agreement of the Pact is a strong statement of countries’ commitment to the United Nations, the international system and international law.&nbsp; Leaders set out a clear vision of an international system that can deliver on its promises, is more representative of today’s world and draws on the energy and expertise of governments, civil society and other key partners.

“The Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations open the door to new opportunities and untapped possibilities,” said the Secretary-General during his remarks at the opening of the Summit of the Future. The President of the General Assembly noted that the Pact would “lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order – for all peoples and nations.”

The Pact covers a broad range of issues including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. Key deliverables in the Pact include:

On sustainable development, climate and financing for development

There are provisions across the Pact and its annexes for follow-up action, to ensure that the commitments made are implemented.

The Summit process and the Pact have been deeply enriched by the contributions of millions of voices and thousands of stakeholders from around the world.

The Summit brought together over 4000 individuals from Heads of State and Government, observers, IGOs, UN System, civil society and non-governmental organizations. In a broader push to increase the engagement of diverse actors, the formal Summit was preceded by the Action Days from 20-21 September, which attracted more than 7,000 individuals representing all segments of society. The Action Days featured strong commitments to action by all stakeholders, as well as pledges of USD 1.05 billion to advance digital inclusion.

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 </figure>New York– World leaders Sunday adopted a Pact for the Future that includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations, according to a media release from the United Nations. This Pact is the culmination of an inclusive, years-long process to adapt international cooperation to the realities of today and the challenges of tomorrow. The most wide-ranging international agreement in many years, covering entirely new areas as well as issues on which agreement has not been possible in decades, the Pact aims above all to ensure that international institutions can deliver in the face of a world that has changed dramatically since they were created. As the Secretary-General has said, “we cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built by our grandparents.”<a href="https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/ltd/n24/252/89/pdf/n2425289.pdf">Click here to read</a> the full text of the agreementOverall, the agreement of the Pact is a strong statement of countries’ commitment to the United Nations, the international system and international law.&nbsp; Leaders set out a clear vision of an international system that can deliver on its promises, is more representative of today’s world and draws on the energy and expertise of governments, civil society and other key partners.“The Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations open the door to new opportunities and untapped possibilities,” said the Secretary-General during his remarks at the opening of the Summit of the Future. The President of the General Assembly noted that the Pact would “lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order – for all peoples and nations.”The Pact covers a broad range of issues including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. Key deliverables in the Pact include:In the area of peace and security<ul>
 <li>The most progressive and concrete commitment to Security Council reform since the 1960s, with plans to improve the effectiveness and representativeness of the Council, including by redressing the historical under-representation of Africa as a priority.</li><li>The first multilateral recommitment to nuclear disarmament in more than a decade, with a clear commitment to the goal of totally eliminating nuclear weapons.</li><li>Agreement to strengthen international frameworks that govern outer space, including a clear commitment to prevent an arms race in outer space and the need to ensure all countries can benefit from the safe and sustainable exploration of outer space.</li><li>Steps to avoid the weaponization and misuse of new technologies, such as lethal autonomous weapons, and affirmation that the laws of war should apply to many of these new technologies.</li>
 </ul>On sustainable development, climate and financing for development<ul>
 <li>The entire Pact is designed to turbo-charge implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.</li><li>The most detailed agreement ever at the United Nations on the need for reform of the international financial architecture so that it better represents and serves developing countries, including:Giving developing countries a greater say in how decisions are taken at international financial institutions;Mobilizing more financing from multilateral development banks to help developing countries meet their development needs;Reviewing the sovereign debt architecture to ensure that developing countries can borrow sustainably to invest in their future, with the IMF, UN, G20 and other key players working together;Strengthening the global financial safety net to protect the poorest in the event of financial and economic shocks, through concrete actions by the IMF and Member States;and accelerating measures to address the challenge of climate change, including through delivering more finance to help countries adapt to climate change and invest in renewable energy.</li><li>Giving developing countries a greater say in how decisions are taken at international financial institutions;</li><li>Mobilizing more financing from multilateral development banks to help developing countries meet their development needs;</li><li>Reviewing the sovereign debt architecture to ensure that developing countries can borrow sustainably to invest in their future, with the IMF, UN, G20 and other key players working together;</li><li>Strengthening the global financial safety net to protect the poorest in the event of financial and economic shocks, through concrete actions by the IMF and Member States;</li><li>and accelerating measures to address the challenge of climate change, including through delivering more finance to help countries adapt to climate change and invest in renewable energy.</li><li>Improving how we measure human progress, going beyond GDP to capturing human and planetary wellbeing and sustainability.</li><li>A commitment to consider ways to introduce a global minimum level of taxation on high-net-worth individuals.</li><li>On climate change, confirmation of the need to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.</li>
 </ul>On digital cooperation<ul>
 <li>The Global Digital Compact, annexed to the Pact, is the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation and AI governance.</li><li>At the heart of the Compact is a commitment to design, use and govern technology for the benefit of all. This includes commitments by world leaders to:Connect all people, schools and hospitals to the Internet;Anchor digital cooperation in human rights and international law;Make the online space safe for all, especially children, through actions by governments, tech companies and social media;Govern Artificial Intelligence, with a roadmap that includes an International Scientific Panel and a Global Policy Dialogue on AI;Make data more open and accessible, with agreements on open-source data, models, and standards;This is also the first global commitment to data governance, placing it on the UN agenda and requiring countries to take concrete actions by 2030.</li><li>Connect all people, schools and hospitals to the Internet;</li><li>Anchor digital cooperation in human rights and international law;</li><li>Make the online space safe for all, especially children, through actions by governments, tech companies and social media;</li><li>Govern Artificial Intelligence, with a roadmap that includes an International Scientific Panel and a Global Policy Dialogue on AI;</li><li>Make data more open and accessible, with agreements on open-source data, models, and standards;</li><li>This is also the first global commitment to data governance, placing it on the UN agenda and requiring countries to take concrete actions by 2030.</li>
 </ul>Youth and future generations<ul>
 <li>The first ever Declaration on Future Generations, with concrete steps to take account of future generations in our decision-making, including a possible envoy for future generations.</li><li>A commitment to more meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in the decisions that shape their lives, especially at the global level.</li>
 </ul>Human rights and gender<ul>
 <li>A strengthening of our work on human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women.</li><li>A clear call on the need to protect human rights defenders.</li><li>Strong signals on the importance of engagement of other stakeholders in global governance, including local and regional governments, civil society, private sector and others.</li>
 </ul>There are provisions across the Pact and its annexes for follow-up action, to ensure that the commitments made are implemented.Summit ProcessThe Summit process and the Pact have been deeply enriched by the contributions of millions of voices and thousands of stakeholders from around the world.The Summit brought together over 4000 individuals from Heads of State and Government, observers, IGOs, UN System, civil society and non-governmental organizations. In a broader push to increase the engagement of diverse actors, the formal Summit was preceded by the Action Days from 20-21 September, which attracted more than 7,000 individuals representing all segments of society. The Action Days featured strong commitments to action by all stakeholders, as well as pledges of USD 1.05 billion to advance digital inclusion.

Read the U.N. approved Pact for the Future to transform global governance

WASHINGTON, DC –&nbsp;Invest in Education Coalition,&nbsp;a national organization dedicated to advancing school choice at the federal level, endorsed&nbsp;Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), in his race today.

Sen. Ricketts has co-sponsored the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), a bill that is designed to expand access to school choice for children nationwide by funding K-12 scholarships through private donations that cover essential elements such as tuition, tutoring and special needs services.

Earlier this month, the ECCA&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=e770575bdb7349bca315370c0b23aaa0&amp;_e=Yll8CHaTlKpT5Yt-1MgjYzV7PS9eye689SNLO4rw6mQJK6W-88SvXz2VZJ9y2H-7-qxsarv7AlIi4EXJBl8D6I8jP634KSszfvvCDCzO-fWiTKCTocSweEz71r_syAoGv5WiwNgAcsDx4FjP-HzMgbj-REZjFWx3T52Ceyab2VON86aZ0fBX_qXczcJax_o_Yo-QS9OrMmO57XA_JOypg-PFifW6MPy8EQvGDjJUU-HuR4y29GfeEAp-G14z0JfpPHIktnXAJTQ7IdF3xzMYClf-smnIOf6-8Lik6P8pKBLewbBBzQnc2F-n1xnJgsFin0UuiIGwB7WBvOGmtVtURIsUwcw-nxZvMWASj6LIcuPTh3rQJPS9XdjtHeEkAIWhnTudj_WMWPOQtp83L34tYu4Qge0Zd2AprbaSLkj2yilFaAYB0Vfok2kKLB9Cem319CI7_etrMxCd1c5cIv8CngTiplg1Uj7maV1D23nrQKpkhuMZjk59ZVRGiigwKQLzQ9MtK9Do30NB3NhgMUsFtCrPfNZsQtNdwnxu71rQr6wFelN6SrkHAoSMfWnrS9iYmivHu2JL2CbAa70rdD-CTEuwlRIHCnHWVhGYhC3qL1WA1boI7TfTO4zGHgT7Ije3jVGYxlwQ7WTv4R49kPNQTvV-XjwM6HNy-uovCDdNYiSA0FNaZgPOGFV9iWe3xdJKHNzZMBt52nANoKgK73Qm6lgf4AOJvkMHfiJTvZs0O7vi3ppmwWQbyP_wKerSSTp_trRcY6kW0omIQofgLyBRfvQEFA9qgamgS0Qb3OtecqE%3D">passed</a>&nbsp;out of the House Ways &amp; Means Committee and now heads to the House Floor. This comes as the Republican National Committee has named school choice as one of their priorities in its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=e770575bdb7349bca315370c0b23aaa0&amp;_e=Yll8CHaTlKpT5Yt-1MgjY1BiAXyQ-vjLndktaoLMi_dpXsCqMAGC0bo0pbj_bcSyDAjpUtSIn2XNPHT8jYuDHQrWQ4IPKoSQNazoRQXmB4NZJnsiX8TGux6w0En4UIDRuEqNHgJeFZjsAz6xKXTbyZJAymxOmKWB_lvYLVUCDSUyqozm47aLfqVZhMF9nHe-TXyeA9ZKRbiXL82Xb72rUj07hUcsE4pOpsvT3ovW6qIbvGoYzh3EvdHAdDqChqOkJeH4THzggWrjiSedddZFlA%3D%3D">2024 Republican Platform</a>. A recent national survey shows more than&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=e770575bdb7349bca315370c0b23aaa0&amp;_e=Yll8CHaTlKpT5Yt-1MgjY8EWTx4r-X_sTP_QeErsnCdCWils1OWJSR3OR5d4QGUsAJiv1VjXlh7Y-470gyQvnKG_QRw3cx_nK-ESigfFGKqxCdNurM8gR_0DQcPXv-BLUNBHP-4TUZNxrzCP1OY4LPL5maWowgn3lyCWfglqEgWkJX9tGvHs_He2auBiG_bKtqY8rrq32wmr-pA_XnkL6P0_OJuwwnkJT4NslJ9XhQx_5q5EufpzjAN_y8I0PXld58Rhgo7tnT6W-821nDM3kf-lO6WWoHso_nS82Ui_5D0%3D">70 percent</a>&nbsp;of voters across all demographics agree that providing school choice for all students is an issue that needs attention.

Anthony J. de Nicola, Chairman of the Board of Invest in Education Coalition, said:

“We are very pleased to have the support and leadership of Sen. Ricketts of Nebraska for the Educational Choice for Children Act, as he understands the vital importance of empowering parents to access the highest quality, most suitable K-12 education available for their children.

“We commend Sen. Ricketts for his foresight and courage in championing K-12 education reform, and we look forward to working alongside him to make parental choice a reality for every child in Nebraska and across America.

“Invest in Education Coalition is proud to endorse Senator Pete Ricketts from the Cornhusker State of Nebraska.”

To learn more, please visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=e770575bdb7349bca315370c0b23aaa0&amp;_e=Yll8CHaTlKpT5Yt-1MgjY1BiAXyQ-vjLndktaoLMi_cXdpbacSKF1PDcNL0j_TIgKEdbikvmrjyeyAQGg3wO7NV_litoksUmYvAerzndG6G4fVrMhRYzmeE8ICybqXqjCJvdcwBNcbW0u3BOZ2fyEDs2rGqmxlxQjU9m3IaGGO0S39qo4Vnl2Jg552LaK2OP99BvEiz8OV5HGHLMaq4YPw%3D%3D">investineducation.org</a>&nbsp;

For more information on the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), please click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=e770575bdb7349bca315370c0b23aaa0&amp;_e=Yll8CHaTlKpT5Yt-1MgjY1BiAXyQ-vjLndktaoLMi_dpXsCqMAGC0bo0pbj_bcSym0TyYw5bCgJ6W7s9g8cSic406keeE3_BF6ETczLd11q36kOzd_3ABjsHH72qmC5Dlxj0wrRn5u1rifx6qN3A_tXJ6NkSHxYD8rWyQ7W2KznD71kvgEupWao-JWdTFvKJGDiN8nOWplCgZ3obKsIb8mCO4SoY5wZlKAFWxDFZPng%3D">here</a>.

Invest in Education Coalition is a 501(c)(4) organization that advocates at the federal level for legislation that will directly empower K-12 parents throughout the nation to choose the best school or education service for their children.&nbsp;Invest in Education Coalition is the only national organization exclusively dedicated to advancing school choice at the federal level, working to make this goal a reality for children in all 50 states.&nbsp;We believe that K-12 parents should have the power to choose the best educational options for their own children.&nbsp;Simply put, parents should decide where their child’s education dollars are spent.&nbsp;

Priscilla IvascoWASHINGTON, DC –&nbsp;Invest in Education Coalition,&nbsp;a national organization dedicated to advancing school choice at the federal level, endorsed&nbsp;Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), in his race today.Sen. Ricketts has co-sponsored the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), a bill that is designed to expand access to school choice for children nationwide by funding K-12 scholarships through private donations that cover essential elements such as tuition, tutoring and special needs services.Earlier this month, the ECCA&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=e770575bdb7349bca315370c0b23aaa0&amp;_e=Yll8CHaTlKpT5Yt-1MgjYzV7PS9eye689SNLO4rw6mQJK6W-88SvXz2VZJ9y2H-7-qxsarv7AlIi4EXJBl8D6I8jP634KSszfvvCDCzO-fWiTKCTocSweEz71r_syAoGv5WiwNgAcsDx4FjP-HzMgbj-REZjFWx3T52Ceyab2VON86aZ0fBX_qXczcJax_o_Yo-QS9OrMmO57XA_JOypg-PFifW6MPy8EQvGDjJUU-HuR4y29GfeEAp-G14z0JfpPHIktnXAJTQ7IdF3xzMYClf-smnIOf6-8Lik6P8pKBLewbBBzQnc2F-n1xnJgsFin0UuiIGwB7WBvOGmtVtURIsUwcw-nxZvMWASj6LIcuPTh3rQJPS9XdjtHeEkAIWhnTudj_WMWPOQtp83L34tYu4Qge0Zd2AprbaSLkj2yilFaAYB0Vfok2kKLB9Cem319CI7_etrMxCd1c5cIv8CngTiplg1Uj7maV1D23nrQKpkhuMZjk59ZVRGiigwKQLzQ9MtK9Do30NB3NhgMUsFtCrPfNZsQtNdwnxu71rQr6wFelN6SrkHAoSMfWnrS9iYmivHu2JL2CbAa70rdD-CTEuwlRIHCnHWVhGYhC3qL1WA1boI7TfTO4zGHgT7Ije3jVGYxlwQ7WTv4R49kPNQTvV-XjwM6HNy-uovCDdNYiSA0FNaZgPOGFV9iWe3xdJKHNzZMBt52nANoKgK73Qm6lgf4AOJvkMHfiJTvZs0O7vi3ppmwWQbyP_wKerSSTp_trRcY6kW0omIQofgLyBRfvQEFA9qgamgS0Qb3OtecqE%3D">passed</a>&nbsp;out of the House Ways &amp; Means Committee and now heads to the House Floor. This comes as the Republican National Committee has named school choice as one of their priorities in its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=e770575bdb7349bca315370c0b23aaa0&amp;_e=Yll8CHaTlKpT5Yt-1MgjY1BiAXyQ-vjLndktaoLMi_dpXsCqMAGC0bo0pbj_bcSyDAjpUtSIn2XNPHT8jYuDHQrWQ4IPKoSQNazoRQXmB4NZJnsiX8TGux6w0En4UIDRuEqNHgJeFZjsAz6xKXTbyZJAymxOmKWB_lvYLVUCDSUyqozm47aLfqVZhMF9nHe-TXyeA9ZKRbiXL82Xb72rUj07hUcsE4pOpsvT3ovW6qIbvGoYzh3EvdHAdDqChqOkJeH4THzggWrjiSedddZFlA%3D%3D">2024 Republican Platform</a>. A recent national survey shows more than&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=e770575bdb7349bca315370c0b23aaa0&amp;_e=Yll8CHaTlKpT5Yt-1MgjY8EWTx4r-X_sTP_QeErsnCdCWils1OWJSR3OR5d4QGUsAJiv1VjXlh7Y-470gyQvnKG_QRw3cx_nK-ESigfFGKqxCdNurM8gR_0DQcPXv-BLUNBHP-4TUZNxrzCP1OY4LPL5maWowgn3lyCWfglqEgWkJX9tGvHs_He2auBiG_bKtqY8rrq32wmr-pA_XnkL6P0_OJuwwnkJT4NslJ9XhQx_5q5EufpzjAN_y8I0PXld58Rhgo7tnT6W-821nDM3kf-lO6WWoHso_nS82Ui_5D0%3D">70 percent</a>&nbsp;of voters across all demographics agree that providing school choice for all students is an issue that needs attention.<figure>
 <img src="" alt="" />
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 </figure>Anthony J. de Nicola, Chairman of the Board of Invest in Education Coalition, said:“We are very pleased to have the support and leadership of Sen. Ricketts of Nebraska for the Educational Choice for Children Act, as he understands the vital importance of empowering parents to access the highest quality, most suitable K-12 education available for their children.“We commend Sen. Ricketts for his foresight and courage in championing K-12 education reform, and we look forward to working alongside him to make parental choice a reality for every child in Nebraska and across America.“Invest in Education Coalition is proud to endorse Senator Pete Ricketts from the Cornhusker State of Nebraska.”To learn more, please visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=e770575bdb7349bca315370c0b23aaa0&amp;_e=Yll8CHaTlKpT5Yt-1MgjY1BiAXyQ-vjLndktaoLMi_cXdpbacSKF1PDcNL0j_TIgKEdbikvmrjyeyAQGg3wO7NV_litoksUmYvAerzndG6G4fVrMhRYzmeE8ICybqXqjCJvdcwBNcbW0u3BOZ2fyEDs2rGqmxlxQjU9m3IaGGO0S39qo4Vnl2Jg552LaK2OP99BvEiz8OV5HGHLMaq4YPw%3D%3D">investineducation.org</a>&nbsp;For more information on the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), please click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=e770575bdb7349bca315370c0b23aaa0&amp;_e=Yll8CHaTlKpT5Yt-1MgjY1BiAXyQ-vjLndktaoLMi_dpXsCqMAGC0bo0pbj_bcSym0TyYw5bCgJ6W7s9g8cSic406keeE3_BF6ETczLd11q36kOzd_3ABjsHH72qmC5Dlxj0wrRn5u1rifx6qN3A_tXJ6NkSHxYD8rWyQ7W2KznD71kvgEupWao-JWdTFvKJGDiN8nOWplCgZ3obKsIb8mCO4SoY5wZlKAFWxDFZPng%3D">here</a>.About Invest in Education CoalitionInvest in Education Coalition is a 501(c)(4) organization that advocates at the federal level for legislation that will directly empower K-12 parents throughout the nation to choose the best school or education service for their children.&nbsp;Invest in Education Coalition is the only national organization exclusively dedicated to advancing school choice at the federal level, working to make this goal a reality for children in all 50 states.&nbsp;We believe that K-12 parents should have the power to choose the best educational options for their own children.&nbsp;Simply put, parents should decide where their child’s education dollars are spent.&nbsp;

National School Choice Advocates Endorse Sen. Ricketts from Nebraska

WASHINGTON, DC –&nbsp;Invest in Education Coalition,&nbsp;a national organization dedicated to advancing school choice at the federal level, endorsed&nbsp;Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE-3), in his re-election bid today.

Rep. Smith was one of the original sponsors to introduce the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), a bill that is designed to expand access to school choice for children nationwide by funding K-12 scholarships through private donations that cover essential elements such as tuition, tutoring and special needs services.

Earlier this month, the ECCA&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=95e5e19631774888800445e25020cf03&amp;_e=2xq3lASpeSwVXctMXaet80ZbRShEYEdJrCiAnoafl7Xn84a9GffJWI8YhhUfDnVI_e82GchoWSnTaDzjzQUKc4x5m6Nc50BtO5UC0yOns4_3brMZrBsQd4MNsiFCaIwtmpnxg6vamJn5H7ZMPIpZB6Rp-wEZ4SdJ4mBIs1dGoCcf0jTSSiKtg_9ZOIRPzv7AXFP3tjESjoygRffYjh-GSVHNCogTPuiznTE31VFksweIbnYOJbwQwwAEWeOhYqJgSMxxbkTnBYIEzRDdhbb0s35nY0Dr2EdEIE-ad74aXdrGqigChFGZZKUga2TOnP9qG_KPPblr_Twy6f2lePWxQ9EbXaq3jyKHfwZNhJB7x0cPHYHcuLLQd6TlXvhxk5FhhooosHWW9gzTE2phqBzcWENDaJIs1mlo-gkiT6IkYdTJpaERXE5u2_5EIlHdCzDlILwY3sLYyXIk24sXrpZD1uoGBkGvBQx09t1MfaCg0mbTnEC15xqSk0ri-I55ZukKdqTW5GWqc66IBe6KkVr-RnkZ0cWucWbwlr0gd92KCumYzdRd7TkO9vbVZJaoquh-b2NMgGxByYL9mTP1htzXYaOooiwA4qI6tnFCQpCHjRMeFnmWhigE44ug6iB8SnCDfj5ZtY3CKFdWcTzwSkjZ62onzLYt0ihKJ2xv2t-jZueQhQgwetAzGAZokjZShibFgwUBpMG6rNul31DwcC8WcgnaG6rEhov3spObSYo-92c0A8YzKFskeRhs5iopqRVA9ty7QltbQro9deL4MimPMwYlwi2XEYJjeyd0I3-9XDg%3D">passed</a>&nbsp;out of the House Ways &amp; Means Committee and now heads to the House Floor. This comes as the Republican National Committee has named school choice as one of their priorities in its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=95e5e19631774888800445e25020cf03&amp;_e=2xq3lASpeSwVXctMXaet8_gM6EpdhsfkGWf9Yy-hLvQ_-4U2Zy10hNO9_EhzXcKAXnju2owbuwgFVqakV9Qoc9L9d-uJoA_MTtRRNBNf67FVzQZt3xsMxhegdy5Oj89EatV9_2TPYZlSGzZn1pBDvrRV5I2l8hCBEhb_2dhhpeSsECGdRwMDwGDBE_zq8CJ7_7UARSWeTUmYVrG8Okvm2XfqoRDCr1i-kayAnx1qQDUWGXnKv7_UyoJEBnfbiYPCNXxt3t9gQVhoDX4-iG5COg%3D%3D">2024 Republican Platform</a>. A recent national survey shows more than&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=95e5e19631774888800445e25020cf03&amp;_e=2xq3lASpeSwVXctMXaet81n8d6qBPKVAnwOC5dbgcOnrcMqx-5rCOIEVA1bdS9vTINrqHE5wTv14WEP8w09wNxwNJPLy58MmEoNVTgPz7IsnGAuSp_2GXQXjOOgDjWjC8cbZ8xeHm7rt_TNopZH7f1paNxzEPWsx8msGp3RE5IpvYol56oW4mP0cafzrn4A9j8Z51dtNy1HOxa1NEiBoqeymjqsiTpZv83OBwCIA5DDEeYmgFvYdTLyWC3vhLUJEMO_ACX5RugygHN7-kGw1E94PQw9xBq83-ANvoLbl5BM%3D">70 percent</a>&nbsp;of voters across all demographics agree that providing school choice for all students is an issue that needs attention.

“We are very pleased to have the support and leadership of Rep. Smith of Nebraska for the Educational Choice for Children Act, as he understands the vital importance of empowering parents to access the highest quality, most suitable K-12 education available for their children.

“We commend Rep. Smith for his foresight and courage in championing K-12 education reform, and we look forward to working alongside him to make parental choice a reality for every child in Nebraska and across America.

“Invest in Education Coalition is proud to endorse Congressman Adrian Smith from the Cornhusker State of Nebraska.”

To learn more, please visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=95e5e19631774888800445e25020cf03&amp;_e=2xq3lASpeSwVXctMXaet8_gM6EpdhsfkGWf9Yy-hLvStRpEJzzuM4HMYpU6QrlaeRlrp_o1LeFNe_Zjh57Vpw5k5ECQcuid9JaOdGPtPFdqVeHXHebRoZ3Plefdy3hnhI-99FPUClgrtmRszn6de51hyXsbmv5TK8dUIBcbt-CGhDZozqL52eZmh-K3mSqHIiDbBT460L3L_JIRCYgnHug%3D%3D">investineducation.org</a>&nbsp;

For more information on the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), please click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=95e5e19631774888800445e25020cf03&amp;_e=2xq3lASpeSwVXctMXaet8_gM6EpdhsfkGWf9Yy-hLvQ_-4U2Zy10hNO9_EhzXcKA2Ax-iJodkFNZ8OW5GtysecjPooi7b8N0VB5bFoAEVWuJQEwP8tR-4ZZEo9NAU-CjLmYUWRRBH3_Fe_vXttfo_jREFzVQQ--soRPYYtDTKKO8DKctHdWIF__rUobdJaHEzz82cW9f3_Ppc9t9JzD4BCqwUd7Dvn2_YdpJ5ziwDdw%3D">here</a>.

Priscilla Ivasco&nbsp;WASHINGTON, DC –&nbsp;Invest in Education Coalition,&nbsp;a national organization dedicated to advancing school choice at the federal level, endorsed&nbsp;Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE-3), in his re-election bid today.Rep. Smith was one of the original sponsors to introduce the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), a bill that is designed to expand access to school choice for children nationwide by funding K-12 scholarships through private donations that cover essential elements such as tuition, tutoring and special needs services.Earlier this month, the ECCA&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=95e5e19631774888800445e25020cf03&amp;_e=2xq3lASpeSwVXctMXaet80ZbRShEYEdJrCiAnoafl7Xn84a9GffJWI8YhhUfDnVI_e82GchoWSnTaDzjzQUKc4x5m6Nc50BtO5UC0yOns4_3brMZrBsQd4MNsiFCaIwtmpnxg6vamJn5H7ZMPIpZB6Rp-wEZ4SdJ4mBIs1dGoCcf0jTSSiKtg_9ZOIRPzv7AXFP3tjESjoygRffYjh-GSVHNCogTPuiznTE31VFksweIbnYOJbwQwwAEWeOhYqJgSMxxbkTnBYIEzRDdhbb0s35nY0Dr2EdEIE-ad74aXdrGqigChFGZZKUga2TOnP9qG_KPPblr_Twy6f2lePWxQ9EbXaq3jyKHfwZNhJB7x0cPHYHcuLLQd6TlXvhxk5FhhooosHWW9gzTE2phqBzcWENDaJIs1mlo-gkiT6IkYdTJpaERXE5u2_5EIlHdCzDlILwY3sLYyXIk24sXrpZD1uoGBkGvBQx09t1MfaCg0mbTnEC15xqSk0ri-I55ZukKdqTW5GWqc66IBe6KkVr-RnkZ0cWucWbwlr0gd92KCumYzdRd7TkO9vbVZJaoquh-b2NMgGxByYL9mTP1htzXYaOooiwA4qI6tnFCQpCHjRMeFnmWhigE44ug6iB8SnCDfj5ZtY3CKFdWcTzwSkjZ62onzLYt0ihKJ2xv2t-jZueQhQgwetAzGAZokjZShibFgwUBpMG6rNul31DwcC8WcgnaG6rEhov3spObSYo-92c0A8YzKFskeRhs5iopqRVA9ty7QltbQro9deL4MimPMwYlwi2XEYJjeyd0I3-9XDg%3D">passed</a>&nbsp;out of the House Ways &amp; Means Committee and now heads to the House Floor. This comes as the Republican National Committee has named school choice as one of their priorities in its&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=95e5e19631774888800445e25020cf03&amp;_e=2xq3lASpeSwVXctMXaet8_gM6EpdhsfkGWf9Yy-hLvQ_-4U2Zy10hNO9_EhzXcKAXnju2owbuwgFVqakV9Qoc9L9d-uJoA_MTtRRNBNf67FVzQZt3xsMxhegdy5Oj89EatV9_2TPYZlSGzZn1pBDvrRV5I2l8hCBEhb_2dhhpeSsECGdRwMDwGDBE_zq8CJ7_7UARSWeTUmYVrG8Okvm2XfqoRDCr1i-kayAnx1qQDUWGXnKv7_UyoJEBnfbiYPCNXxt3t9gQVhoDX4-iG5COg%3D%3D">2024 Republican Platform</a>. A recent national survey shows more than&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=95e5e19631774888800445e25020cf03&amp;_e=2xq3lASpeSwVXctMXaet81n8d6qBPKVAnwOC5dbgcOnrcMqx-5rCOIEVA1bdS9vTINrqHE5wTv14WEP8w09wNxwNJPLy58MmEoNVTgPz7IsnGAuSp_2GXQXjOOgDjWjC8cbZ8xeHm7rt_TNopZH7f1paNxzEPWsx8msGp3RE5IpvYol56oW4mP0cafzrn4A9j8Z51dtNy1HOxa1NEiBoqeymjqsiTpZv83OBwCIA5DDEeYmgFvYdTLyWC3vhLUJEMO_ACX5RugygHN7-kGw1E94PQw9xBq83-ANvoLbl5BM%3D">70 percent</a>&nbsp;of voters across all demographics agree that providing school choice for all students is an issue that needs attention.<figure>
 <img src="" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Anthony J. de Nicola, Chairman of the Board of Invest in Education Coalition, said:“We are very pleased to have the support and leadership of Rep. Smith of Nebraska for the Educational Choice for Children Act, as he understands the vital importance of empowering parents to access the highest quality, most suitable K-12 education available for their children.“We commend Rep. Smith for his foresight and courage in championing K-12 education reform, and we look forward to working alongside him to make parental choice a reality for every child in Nebraska and across America.“Invest in Education Coalition is proud to endorse Congressman Adrian Smith from the Cornhusker State of Nebraska.”To learn more, please visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=95e5e19631774888800445e25020cf03&amp;_e=2xq3lASpeSwVXctMXaet8_gM6EpdhsfkGWf9Yy-hLvStRpEJzzuM4HMYpU6QrlaeRlrp_o1LeFNe_Zjh57Vpw5k5ECQcuid9JaOdGPtPFdqVeHXHebRoZ3Plefdy3hnhI-99FPUClgrtmRszn6de51hyXsbmv5TK8dUIBcbt-CGhDZozqL52eZmh-K3mSqHIiDbBT460L3L_JIRCYgnHug%3D%3D">investineducation.org</a>&nbsp;For more information on the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), please click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links.iterable.com/u/click?_t=4cb001c262fa4d838325b9090fa826bf&amp;_m=95e5e19631774888800445e25020cf03&amp;_e=2xq3lASpeSwVXctMXaet8_gM6EpdhsfkGWf9Yy-hLvQ_-4U2Zy10hNO9_EhzXcKA2Ax-iJodkFNZ8OW5GtysecjPooi7b8N0VB5bFoAEVWuJQEwP8tR-4ZZEo9NAU-CjLmYUWRRBH3_Fe_vXttfo_jREFzVQQ--soRPYYtDTKKO8DKctHdWIF__rUobdJaHEzz82cW9f3_Ppc9t9JzD4BCqwUd7Dvn2_YdpJ5ziwDdw%3D">here</a>.About Invest in Education CoalitionInvest in Education Coalition is a 501(c)(4) organization that advocates at the federal level for legislation that will directly empower K-12 parents throughout the nation to choose the best school or education service for their children.&nbsp;Invest in Education Coalition is the only national organization exclusively dedicated to advancing school choice at the federal level, working to make this goal a reality for children in all 50 states.&nbsp;We believe that K-12 parents should have the power to choose the best educational options for their own children.&nbsp;Simply put, parents should decide where their child’s education dollars are spent.&nbsp;

National School Choice Advocates Endorse Rep. Smith from Nebraska

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/23/ne-auditor-auburn-returns-658003-after-tif-practices-are-questioned/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The City of Auburn has returned $658,003 to the public coffers after a state auditor team questioned certain practices used for tax-increment financing projects, Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley&nbsp;<a href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2024/CV9309-09232024-City_of_Auburn_Press_Release.pdf" target="_blank">announced Monday.</a>

The questions were laid out in a 13-page&nbsp;<a href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2024/CV9309-05072024-May_7_2024_City_of_Auburn_Letter.pdf" target="_blank">letter in May</a>&nbsp;from Foley’s office to Auburn’s mayor, the city’s Community Redevelopment Authority and the chairman of the Nemaha County Board.

Foley on Monday reiterated the gist of his concerns<a href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2024/CV9309-09232024-City_of_Auburn_Press_Release.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;in a news release</a>&nbsp;and during an interview with the Nebraska Examiner.

He alleges that Auburn’s Community Redevelopment Authority collected more tax-increment financing (TIF) revenue than it should have for certain redevelopment projects and then retained those funds to pay the costs of different projects, some of which had yet to be hatched.

“The purpose of TIF is to pay the costs of a specific redevelopment project with the increased property taxes resulting from the improvements to that particular parcel of land,” Foley said. “It is not to allow developers to collect excess property taxes for a slush fund to bankroll some other undertaking.”

Generally with TIF projects, which require a city’s approval, property tax revenue generated on new development is used for up to 20 years to cover a developer’s eligible costs — instead of going to traditional recipients such as school districts and local municipalities.

Meanwhile, property tax on the original site, prior to any improvements, continues to be paid by the owner but is frozen at that amount. Those payments continue to go to the usual destination for property taxes: schools and local governments.

After the TIF loan is paid off, all property tax revenues on that more valuable property is to start flowing to traditional recipients.

Crystal Dunekacke, Auburn city administrator and economic developer, said Monday that the returned funds should not be considered an admission of wrongdoing.

She said the redevelopment authority maintains that it has abided by the Community Development Law, which governs tax-increment financing. TIF, as the tool is called, is a decades-old financing mechanism used by local governments to incentivize economic development in blighted areas.

The returned funds, Dunekacke said, were a “self-imposed action or compromise to address a gray area” of the law.

That gray area, she said, centered on whether TIF revenue that remained from a redevelopment project could be “rolled over” into an account to be used for other projects.&nbsp;

Foley said Auburn officials can have their say. “The reality is they put the money back where it belonged.”

Both sides are in agreement that the $658,003 will be divided among local governmental subdivisions that are traditional recipients of property tax collections.

Broader concerns remain statewide, Foley said, and were laid out in a separate but&nbsp;<a href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2024/CV0001-09102024-September_10_2024_TIF_Letter.pdf" target="_blank">related letter earlier this month</a>&nbsp;to state senators regarding the growth of TIF.

Foley said some Nebraska communities are being “very creative” with the way they tap TIF and he asserts that certain practices risk further upward pressure on local property taxes.

Foley noted, though, that state statutes say that the TIF law is to be “liberally construed.”&nbsp;

“That is an open invitation for, as some would say, creativity. Others would say mischief-making,” he said.&nbsp;

Foley pointed again Monday to the City of Omaha’s use of TIF to cover the $389 million cost of a modern streetcar project set to be up and running in 2027.&nbsp;

He has referred to the streetcar as the “largest diversion of property tax dollars for an economic development project in Nebraska history.”

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert has said that Omaha has followed the law with regard to its TIF-approved projects, including the streetcar.

“While the State Auditor may have an issue with TIF, the city has followed the law as set out by the Legislature,” Stothert said earlier.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727186561904.jpeg" alt=" The Nebraska State Auditor’s Office is located in the State Capitol. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> The Nebraska State Auditor’s Office is located in the State Capitol. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/23/ne-auditor-auburn-returns-658003-after-tif-practices-are-questioned/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The City of Auburn has returned $658,003 to the public coffers after a state auditor team questioned certain practices used for tax-increment financing projects, Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley&nbsp;<a href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2024/CV9309-09232024-City_of_Auburn_Press_Release.pdf" target="_blank">announced Monday.</a>The questions were laid out in a 13-page&nbsp;<a href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2024/CV9309-05072024-May_7_2024_City_of_Auburn_Letter.pdf" target="_blank">letter in May</a>&nbsp;from Foley’s office to Auburn’s mayor, the city’s Community Redevelopment Authority and the chairman of the Nemaha County Board.Foley on Monday reiterated the gist of his concerns<a href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2024/CV9309-09232024-City_of_Auburn_Press_Release.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;in a news release</a>&nbsp;and during an interview with the Nebraska Examiner.He alleges that Auburn’s Community Redevelopment Authority collected more tax-increment financing (TIF) revenue than it should have for certain redevelopment projects and then retained those funds to pay the costs of different projects, some of which had yet to be hatched.“The purpose of TIF is to pay the costs of a specific redevelopment project with the increased property taxes resulting from the improvements to that particular parcel of land,” Foley said. “It is not to allow developers to collect excess property taxes for a slush fund to bankroll some other undertaking.”<h2>What is TIF?</h2>Generally with TIF projects, which require a city’s approval, property tax revenue generated on new development is used for up to 20 years to cover a developer’s eligible costs — instead of going to traditional recipients such as school districts and local municipalities.Meanwhile, property tax on the original site, prior to any improvements, continues to be paid by the owner but is frozen at that amount. Those payments continue to go to the usual destination for property taxes: schools and local governments.After the TIF loan is paid off, all property tax revenues on that more valuable property is to start flowing to traditional recipients.<h2>Not an admission of guilt</h2>Crystal Dunekacke, Auburn city administrator and economic developer, said Monday that the returned funds should not be considered an admission of wrongdoing.She said the redevelopment authority maintains that it has abided by the Community Development Law, which governs tax-increment financing. TIF, as the tool is called, is a decades-old financing mechanism used by local governments to incentivize economic development in blighted areas.The returned funds, Dunekacke said, were a “self-imposed action or compromise to address a gray area” of the law.That gray area, she said, centered on whether TIF revenue that remained from a redevelopment project could be “rolled over” into an account to be used for other projects.&nbsp;Foley said Auburn officials can have their say. “The reality is they put the money back where it belonged.”Both sides are in agreement that the $658,003 will be divided among local governmental subdivisions that are traditional recipients of property tax collections.<h2>Satewide concerns loom</h2>Broader concerns remain statewide, Foley said, and were laid out in a separate but&nbsp;<a href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2024/CV0001-09102024-September_10_2024_TIF_Letter.pdf" target="_blank">related letter earlier this month</a>&nbsp;to state senators regarding the growth of TIF.Foley said some Nebraska communities are being “very creative” with the way they tap TIF and he asserts that certain practices risk further upward pressure on local property taxes.Foley noted, though, that state statutes say that the TIF law is to be “liberally construed.”&nbsp;“That is an open invitation for, as some would say, creativity. Others would say mischief-making,” he said.&nbsp;Foley pointed again Monday to the City of Omaha’s use of TIF to cover the $389 million cost of a modern streetcar project set to be up and running in 2027.&nbsp;He has referred to the streetcar as the “largest diversion of property tax dollars for an economic development project in Nebraska history.”Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert has said that Omaha has followed the law with regard to its TIF-approved projects, including the streetcar.“While the State Auditor may have an issue with TIF, the city has followed the law as set out by the Legislature,” Stothert said earlier.<h2>In Legislature’s court</h2>Foley said his team can report results of their investigation. It can not enforce a penalty, he said. It would be up to the State Legislature, Foley said, to determine if the law should be changed.“Cities are desperate to clean up blighted areas and incentivize economic development. That is all good,” Foley said. “We may have reached a point where things are getting a little out of control.”