WASHINGTON —The United States imposed new sanctions Wednesday on procurement networks based in Iran, Türkiye, Oman, and Germany that have acquired goods for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization, Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), the Iran Centrifuge Technology Company, and other U.S.-sanctioned entities that are part of Iran’s military-industrial base, according to a statement from Matthew Miller, State Department spokesman.

“Through complex covert procurement networks, Iran seeks to supply rogue actors around the world with weapons systems that fuel conflict and risk countless civilian lives,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “The United States will continue to use our tools to disrupt these networks and hold accountable those countries that would help proliferate Iran’s drones and missiles.”

The designations follow previous U.S. designations of individuals and entities linked to the IRGC, MODAFL, and their subsidiaries’ ballistic missile production and other activities on behalf of Iran’s defense industrial base.

The Department of the Treasury’s actions were taken pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction, and their means of delivery, and their supporters.&nbsp;

As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the persons named above, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. All transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons are prohibited.

In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions. Furthermore, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the or entities designated today could be subject to U.S. sanctions.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.&nbsp;<a href="https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/897">For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC’s Frequently Asked Question 897 here</a>.

WASHINGTON —The United States imposed new sanctions Wednesday on procurement networks based in Iran, Türkiye, Oman, and Germany that have acquired goods for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization, Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), the Iran Centrifuge Technology Company, and other U.S.-sanctioned entities that are part of Iran’s military-industrial base, according to a statement from Matthew Miller, State Department spokesman.“Through complex covert procurement networks, Iran seeks to supply rogue actors around the world with weapons systems that fuel conflict and risk countless civilian lives,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “The United States will continue to use our tools to disrupt these networks and hold accountable those countries that would help proliferate Iran’s drones and missiles.”The designations follow previous U.S. designations of individuals and entities linked to the IRGC, MODAFL, and their subsidiaries’ ballistic missile production and other activities on behalf of Iran’s defense industrial base.The Department of the Treasury’s actions were taken pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction, and their means of delivery, and their supporters.&nbsp;As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the persons named above, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. All transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons are prohibited.In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions. Furthermore, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the or entities designated today could be subject to U.S. sanctions.The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.&nbsp;<a href="https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/897">For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC’s Frequently Asked Question 897 here</a>.

US imposes new sanctions on Iran's military procurement networks

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/20/workplace-harassment-investigation-launched-against-hastings-senator/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — An investigation has been launched under the Nebraska Legislature’s workplace harassment policy against State Sen. Steve Halloran for comments he made Monday night while reading a violent rape scene in a book.

State Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, who chairs the Legislature’s Executive Board, told his colleagues Wednesday morning that he had personally launched an investigation against Halloran.

Aguilar said he wanted to clear up the “inaccuracies” about the incident, that no action was being explored against Halloran for his statements, which several senators described as “hurtful” and reviving nightmares about past incidents of sexual violence.&nbsp;

“This could not be further from the truth,” Aguilar said, adding that he initiated a complaint “the first thing” on Tuesday morning.

“This formal investigation will be thorough and by the book,” the senator said.

Halloran declined to comment after the announcement on the floor of the Legislature, except to say that Aguilar was in violation of a policy that made such investigations confidential.

Aguilar, during his announcement, said that because Halloran’s comments came during floor debate that was broadcast by Nebraska Public Media, it was determined that the confidentiality requirement no longer applied.

He added that given the “public nature” of the comments, he expected that the final report would be shared with all state senators, as well as the public.

Aguilar&nbsp;said he launched the investigation Tuesday morning, and under the Legislature’s workplace harassment rules, appointed a panel of three state senators to investigate the comments. That panel, whose members were not disclosed, met Tuesday.

That panel will hire an outside investigator, and, under the rules, must report its finding within 45 days.

Aguilar said it was important “that all members of the Legislature and legislative staff” feel safe in the workplace and that all complaints will be taken seriously.

Halloran, during floor debate on a bill related to obscenity, read a portion of a book that graphically described a violent rape, interjecting the words, “Senator Cavanaugh,” frequently during the reading.

The Hastings senator, who is term-limited from running for re-election, said it was an example of the kinds of obscene literature available in some school libraries. He insisted later that he was referring to State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, not his sister, fellow Sen. Michaela Cavanaugh.

But several senators considered the speech an aggressive affront to a fellow senator and said the reading revived troubling memories of sexual violence they, or their families, had endured.

Dunbar Sen. Julie Slama had decried the lack of action against Halloran, while Halloran said the outrage should be directed at the content of the book he had read.

A year ago, the Legislture updated its workplace harassment policies in the wake of a scandal involving then-Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte.

Groene had taken photos of one of his female staff members without her knowledge.

Groene resigned, and later,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/13/probe-concludes-sen-mike-groenes-actions-were-boorish-brainless-and-bizarre-not-unlawful/">a seven-week investigation</a>&nbsp;concluded that his behavior was “boorish, brainless and bizarre,” but not illegal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710949390620.jpeg" alt="Protester Judy King, right, confronts State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings outside the Nebraska legislative chamber near Speaker John Arch’s office on Tuesday morning. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Protester Judy King, right, confronts State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings outside the Nebraska legislative chamber near Speaker John Arch’s office on Tuesday morning. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/20/workplace-harassment-investigation-launched-against-hastings-senator/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — An investigation has been launched under the Nebraska Legislature’s workplace harassment policy against State Sen. Steve Halloran for comments he made Monday night while reading a violent rape scene in a book.State Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, who chairs the Legislature’s Executive Board, told his colleagues Wednesday morning that he had personally launched an investigation against Halloran.Aguilar said he wanted to clear up the “inaccuracies” about the incident, that no action was being explored against Halloran for his statements, which several senators described as “hurtful” and reviving nightmares about past incidents of sexual violence.&nbsp;“This could not be further from the truth,” Aguilar said, adding that he initiated a complaint “the first thing” on Tuesday morning.“This formal investigation will be thorough and by the book,” the senator said.Halloran declined to comment after the announcement on the floor of the Legislature, except to say that Aguilar was in violation of a policy that made such investigations confidential.Aguilar, during his announcement, said that because Halloran’s comments came during floor debate that was broadcast by Nebraska Public Media, it was determined that the confidentiality requirement no longer applied.He added that given the “public nature” of the comments, he expected that the final report would be shared with all state senators, as well as the public.Aguilar&nbsp;said he launched the investigation Tuesday morning, and under the Legislature’s workplace harassment rules, appointed a panel of three state senators to investigate the comments. That panel, whose members were not disclosed, met Tuesday.That panel will hire an outside investigator, and, under the rules, must report its finding within 45 days.Aguilar said it was important “that all members of the Legislature and legislative staff” feel safe in the workplace and that all complaints will be taken seriously.Halloran, during floor debate on a bill related to obscenity, read a portion of a book that graphically described a violent rape, interjecting the words, “Senator Cavanaugh,” frequently during the reading.The Hastings senator, who is term-limited from running for re-election, said it was an example of the kinds of obscene literature available in some school libraries. He insisted later that he was referring to State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, not his sister, fellow Sen. Michaela Cavanaugh.But several senators considered the speech an aggressive affront to a fellow senator and said the reading revived troubling memories of sexual violence they, or their families, had endured.Dunbar Sen. Julie Slama had decried the lack of action against Halloran, while Halloran said the outrage should be directed at the content of the book he had read.A year ago, the Legislture updated its workplace harassment policies in the wake of a scandal involving then-Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte.Groene had taken photos of one of his female staff members without her knowledge.Groene resigned, and later,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/04/13/probe-concludes-sen-mike-groenes-actions-were-boorish-brainless-and-bizarre-not-unlawful/">a seven-week investigation</a>&nbsp;concluded that his behavior was “boorish, brainless and bizarre,” but not illegal.

Workplace harassment investigation launched against Hastings senator

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials signaled Wednesday that they still expect to cut their key interest rate three times in 2024 despite signs that inflation stayed surprisingly high at the start of the year. Yet they foresee fewer rate cuts in 2025, and they slightly raised their inflation forecasts.

After ending their latest meeting, the officials kept their benchmark interest rate unchanged for a fifth straight time.

In new quarterly projections they issued, the Fed officials forecast that stronger growth and stubborn inflation would persist this year and next. As a result, they predicted that interest rates would have to stay slightly higher for longer.

Speaking at a news conference, Chair Jerome Powell noted that inflation has cooled considerably from its peak. But, he added, "inflation is still too high, ongoing progress in bringing it down is not assured and the path forward is uncertain.”

“The risks are really two-sided here,” Powell said. "We’re in a situation where if we ease too much or too soon, we could see inflation come back. And if we ease too late, we could see unnecessary harm to employment.”

Rate cuts would, over time, lead to lower costs for home and auto loans, credit card borrowing and business loans. They might also aid President Joe Biden’s re-election bid, which is facing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-inflation-election-2024-eggs-trump-6690e93b2817f28ebc314c088cbec267">widespread public unhappiness</a>&nbsp;over higher prices and could benefit from an economic jolt stemming from lower borrowing rates.

The Fed's policymakers now foresee three rate cuts in 2025, down from four in their December projections. They expect “core” inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, to still be 2.6% by the end of 2024, up from their previous projection of 2.4%. In January, core inflation was 2.8%, according to the Fed's preferred measure.

As a whole, Wednesday's forecasts suggest that the policymakers expect the U.S. economy to continue enjoying an unusual combination: A healthy job market and economy in tandem with inflation that continues to cool — just more gradually than they had predicted three months ago.

The Fed’s officials signaled that they also now foresee their benchmark rate as being higher in the future than it was in recent years — high enough to keep inflation in check but low enough to keep the economy growing. They had long pegged this “neutral rate” at 2.5%. But on Wednesday, the officials estimated that it's now 2.6%. If so, this means rates are less likely to return to the ultra-low levels that prevailed for years before the pandemic struck.

When the Fed raises its benchmark rate above the neutral rate, it seeks to slow growth and tame inflation. If the neutral rate is actually higher than the Fed had thought, it means its key rate should be higher, too, to cool the economy and inflation.

Most economists have pegged the Fed’s June meeting as the most likely time for it to announce its first rate cut, which would begin to reverse the 11 hikes it imposed beginning two years ago. The Fed’s hikes have helped lower annual inflation from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 3.2%. But they have also made borrowing much costlier for businesses and households.

Two recent government reports pointed to higher-than-expected inflation. One showed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-4ac316b6a435ef44c370ce7686da67c0">consumer prices jumped</a>&nbsp;from January to February by much more than is consistent with the Fed’s target. The second showed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-wholesale-prices-consumer-federal-reserve-rates-b0456bd9bdc0cfdb5945f443ff75d865">wholesale inflation</a>&nbsp;came in surprisingly high — a possible sign of inflation pressures in the pipeline that could cause consumer price increases to remain elevated.

Powell and the 18 other officials on the Fed’s interest-rate-setting committee have been considering how — or whether — those figures should affect their timetable for cutting rates. The central question is whether they have kept rates high enough for long enough to fully tame inflation.

Though consumer inflation has tumbled since mid-2022, it has remained stuck above 3%. And in the first two months of 2024, the costs of services, like rents, hotels and hospital stays, remained elevated. That suggested that high borrowing rates weren’t sufficiently slowing inflation in the economy’s vast service sector.

While the Fed’s rate hikes typically make borrowing more expensive for homes, cars, appliances and other costly goods, they have much less effect on services spending, which doesn’t usually involve loans. With the economy still healthy, there is no compelling reason for the Fed to cut rates until it feels inflation is sustainably under control.

At the same time, the central bank faces a competing concern: If it waits too long to cut rates, a long period of high borrowing costs could seriously weaken the economy and even tip it into a recession.

In most respects, the U.S. economy remains remarkably heathy.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-unemployment-economy-inflation-federal-reserve-96162ff805670eb19a44cdf67fa20e3e">Employers keep hiring</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-unemployment-economy-inflation-federal-reserve-96162ff805670eb19a44cdf67fa20e3e">unemployment remains low</a>, and the stock market is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-fed-inflation-cba7b728da06fa6ee309bd5c26e08e20">hovering at record highs</a>. Yet average consumer prices remain much higher than they were before the pandemic — a source of unhappiness for many Americans for which Republicans have sought to pin blame on Biden.

And there are signs that the economy could weaken in the coming months. Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-economy-inflation-9136c3aeecb2afeee14a3a4b64ab3773">slowed their spending at retailers</a>&nbsp;in January and February, for example. The unemployment rate has reached 3.9% — still a healthy level, but up from a half-century low last year of 3.4%. And much of the hiring in recent months has occurred in government, health care and private education, with many other industries barely adding any jobs.

Other major central banks are also keeping rates high to ensure that they have a firm handle on consumer price spikes. In Europe,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bank-of-england-interest-rates-britain-308acb9c0e72c57869d53b336dada7ca">pressure is building to lower borrowing costs</a>&nbsp;as inflation drops and economic growth stalls. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/european-central-bank-interest-rates-inflation-7af79779d91d04076b169111254f82fd">European Central Bank’s leader hinted</a>&nbsp;this month that a possible rate cut could come in June, while the Bank of England isn’t expected to open the door to any imminent cut when it meets Thursday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials signaled Wednesday that they still expect to cut their key interest rate three times in 2024 despite signs that inflation stayed surprisingly high at the start of the year. Yet they foresee fewer rate cuts in 2025, and they slightly raised their inflation forecasts.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Federal Reserve Chair Powell: &quot;Today, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged and to continue to reduce our securities holdings.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/hoobsvmcO6">pic.twitter.com/hoobsvmcO6</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1770532861285732679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>After ending their latest meeting, the officials kept their benchmark interest rate unchanged for a fifth straight time.In new quarterly projections they issued, the Fed officials forecast that stronger growth and stubborn inflation would persist this year and next. As a result, they predicted that interest rates would have to stay slightly higher for longer.Speaking at a news conference, Chair Jerome Powell noted that inflation has cooled considerably from its peak. But, he added, "inflation is still too high, ongoing progress in bringing it down is not assured and the path forward is uncertain.”“The risks are really two-sided here,” Powell said. "We’re in a situation where if we ease too much or too soon, we could see inflation come back. And if we ease too late, we could see unnecessary harm to employment.”Rate cuts would, over time, lead to lower costs for home and auto loans, credit card borrowing and business loans. They might also aid President Joe Biden’s re-election bid, which is facing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-inflation-election-2024-eggs-trump-6690e93b2817f28ebc314c088cbec267">widespread public unhappiness</a>&nbsp;over higher prices and could benefit from an economic jolt stemming from lower borrowing rates.The Fed's policymakers now foresee three rate cuts in 2025, down from four in their December projections. They expect “core” inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, to still be 2.6% by the end of 2024, up from their previous projection of 2.4%. In January, core inflation was 2.8%, according to the Fed's preferred measure.As a whole, Wednesday's forecasts suggest that the policymakers expect the U.S. economy to continue enjoying an unusual combination: A healthy job market and economy in tandem with inflation that continues to cool — just more gradually than they had predicted three months ago.The Fed’s officials signaled that they also now foresee their benchmark rate as being higher in the future than it was in recent years — high enough to keep inflation in check but low enough to keep the economy growing. They had long pegged this “neutral rate” at 2.5%. But on Wednesday, the officials estimated that it's now 2.6%. If so, this means rates are less likely to return to the ultra-low levels that prevailed for years before the pandemic struck.When the Fed raises its benchmark rate above the neutral rate, it seeks to slow growth and tame inflation. If the neutral rate is actually higher than the Fed had thought, it means its key rate should be higher, too, to cool the economy and inflation.Most economists have pegged the Fed’s June meeting as the most likely time for it to announce its first rate cut, which would begin to reverse the 11 hikes it imposed beginning two years ago. The Fed’s hikes have helped lower annual inflation from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 3.2%. But they have also made borrowing much costlier for businesses and households.Two recent government reports pointed to higher-than-expected inflation. One showed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-rates-economy-biden-federal-reserve-4ac316b6a435ef44c370ce7686da67c0">consumer prices jumped</a>&nbsp;from January to February by much more than is consistent with the Fed’s target. The second showed that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-wholesale-prices-consumer-federal-reserve-rates-b0456bd9bdc0cfdb5945f443ff75d865">wholesale inflation</a>&nbsp;came in surprisingly high — a possible sign of inflation pressures in the pipeline that could cause consumer price increases to remain elevated.Powell and the 18 other officials on the Fed’s interest-rate-setting committee have been considering how — or whether — those figures should affect their timetable for cutting rates. The central question is whether they have kept rates high enough for long enough to fully tame inflation.Though consumer inflation has tumbled since mid-2022, it has remained stuck above 3%. And in the first two months of 2024, the costs of services, like rents, hotels and hospital stays, remained elevated. That suggested that high borrowing rates weren’t sufficiently slowing inflation in the economy’s vast service sector.While the Fed’s rate hikes typically make borrowing more expensive for homes, cars, appliances and other costly goods, they have much less effect on services spending, which doesn’t usually involve loans. With the economy still healthy, there is no compelling reason for the Fed to cut rates until it feels inflation is sustainably under control.At the same time, the central bank faces a competing concern: If it waits too long to cut rates, a long period of high borrowing costs could seriously weaken the economy and even tip it into a recession.In most respects, the U.S. economy remains remarkably heathy.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-unemployment-economy-inflation-federal-reserve-96162ff805670eb19a44cdf67fa20e3e">Employers keep hiring</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-unemployment-economy-inflation-federal-reserve-96162ff805670eb19a44cdf67fa20e3e">unemployment remains low</a>, and the stock market is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-fed-inflation-cba7b728da06fa6ee309bd5c26e08e20">hovering at record highs</a>. Yet average consumer prices remain much higher than they were before the pandemic — a source of unhappiness for many Americans for which Republicans have sought to pin blame on Biden.And there are signs that the economy could weaken in the coming months. Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-economy-inflation-9136c3aeecb2afeee14a3a4b64ab3773">slowed their spending at retailers</a>&nbsp;in January and February, for example. The unemployment rate has reached 3.9% — still a healthy level, but up from a half-century low last year of 3.4%. And much of the hiring in recent months has occurred in government, health care and private education, with many other industries barely adding any jobs.Other major central banks are also keeping rates high to ensure that they have a firm handle on consumer price spikes. In Europe,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bank-of-england-interest-rates-britain-308acb9c0e72c57869d53b336dada7ca">pressure is building to lower borrowing costs</a>&nbsp;as inflation drops and economic growth stalls. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/european-central-bank-interest-rates-inflation-7af79779d91d04076b169111254f82fd">European Central Bank’s leader hinted</a>&nbsp;this month that a possible rate cut could come in June, while the Bank of England isn’t expected to open the door to any imminent cut when it meets Thursday.

🎥Americans will continue paying higher costs to borrow

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/20/unmc-chancellor-gold-tapped-as-priority-presidential-candidate-for-university-of-nebraska/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Editor’s note: This is a developing story and will be updated.

LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents unanimously tapped the chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center as its priority candidate Wednesday for the next NU president.

Jeffrey Gold, who has served as UNMC chancellor since 2014, will go through a 30-day public vetting period before an expected confirmation vote at the board’s April 19 meeting.

Gold, if confirmed, would be the ninth NU system president, filling the role after former NU President Ted Carter left for The Ohio State University on Dec. 31.

Gold concurrently served as chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha for four years and is NU’s current chief academic officer, serving as a liaison between NU and the regents.&nbsp;

A graduate from the Cornell University College of Engineering with a degree in theoretical and applied mechanics, Gold earned his medical degree from the Will Cornell College of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at The New York – Presbyterian Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.&nbsp;

He has been certified by the American Boards of Surgery and Thoracic Surgery, specializing in adult and pediatric cardiac surgery, and is licensed in Nebraska, Ohio, New York and New Jersey.

Gov. Jim Pillen, a former regent, blasted his former governing board last week for slow walking the presidential search. As a regent, Pillen led the 2019 search that brought Carter to NU. That search took 214 days from the time NU President Hank Bounds announced his departure to Carter being named priority candidate.

With Wednesday’s announcement, the most recent search clocked out at 211 days.

Regents universally praised Gold as the right pick to take NU to its next chapter, with Regent Elizabeth O’Connor of Omaha stating NU is at a “crossroads.”

“As an experienced leader in education, I firmly believe that Dr. Gold is poised to help us take advantage of these opportunities and to build a university for Nebraska’s future,” O’Connor said.

Regent Kathy Wilmot of Beaver City: “I do think this is going to leave us at a point where we can step forward with competence and we can proceed onward with making the university that best place to be for our students and for our state of Nebraska.”

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Regent Paul Pechous said Gold is a champion for NU and has proven as much over his last 10 years of service. Under his leadership, Pechous said, he looks forward to Gold “continuing to be a champion for our students.”

Gold received praise from State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, a former hospital administrator, who said Gold has taken UNMC “to a new level.”

“He’s smarter than hell,” said Riepe, who worked with Gold as chair of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee.

Gold will be available at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

Nebraska Examiner senior reporter Paul Hammel contributed to this report.

University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Jeffrey Gold has been at the helm during unprecedented UNMC growth and a multibillion-dollar flurry of building initiatives on and around its midtown Omaha home campus.

At the end of last year, he gathered with area officials to celebrate the start of the six-story so-called $105 million “CORE” facility (Campus Operations &amp; Research Excellence), which is expected to open in 2026. That facility — along with other developments ongoing or planned along the Saddle Creek corridor — could expand the UNMC footprint by roughly 1.5 million square feet of building space, the medical center’s officials have said.

Officials called that unprecedented growth for the public medical center’s midtown Omaha base, whose building space now spans about 10 million square feet.

Gold has said that growth is essential to maintain momentum reflected in rising student enrollment, research and clinical care for Nebraskans as well as others.

UNMC also has launched projects designed to expand its rural presence.&nbsp;

A $85 million rural medical school, for example, is expected to open in 2025 in Kearney and has been touted as a sign of Nebraska’s effort to grow the health care workforce in its rural communities.

— Nebraska Examiner senior reporter Cindy Gonzalez

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710952019443.jpeg" alt=" Jeffrey Gold, M.D., chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in his office in the UNMC campus in Omaha. May 1, 2020. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska Medical Center)" />
 <figcaption> Jeffrey Gold, M.D., chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in his office in the UNMC campus in Omaha. May 1, 2020. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska Medical Center)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/20/unmc-chancellor-gold-tapped-as-priority-presidential-candidate-for-university-of-nebraska/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Editor’s note: This is a developing story and will be updated.LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents unanimously tapped the chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center as its priority candidate Wednesday for the next NU president.Jeffrey Gold, who has served as UNMC chancellor since 2014, will go through a 30-day public vetting period before an expected confirmation vote at the board’s April 19 meeting.Gold, if confirmed, would be the ninth NU system president, filling the role after former NU President Ted Carter left for The Ohio State University on Dec. 31.Gold concurrently served as chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha for four years and is NU’s current chief academic officer, serving as a liaison between NU and the regents.&nbsp;A graduate from the Cornell University College of Engineering with a degree in theoretical and applied mechanics, Gold earned his medical degree from the Will Cornell College of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at The New York – Presbyterian Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.&nbsp;He has been certified by the American Boards of Surgery and Thoracic Surgery, specializing in adult and pediatric cardiac surgery, and is licensed in Nebraska, Ohio, New York and New Jersey.Gov. Jim Pillen, a former regent, blasted his former governing board last week for slow walking the presidential search. As a regent, Pillen led the 2019 search that brought Carter to NU. That search took 214 days from the time NU President Hank Bounds announced his departure to Carter being named priority candidate.With Wednesday’s announcement, the most recent search clocked out at 211 days.Regents universally praised Gold as the right pick to take NU to its next chapter, with Regent Elizabeth O’Connor of Omaha stating NU is at a “crossroads.”“As an experienced leader in education, I firmly believe that Dr. Gold is poised to help us take advantage of these opportunities and to build a university for Nebraska’s future,” O’Connor said.Regent Kathy Wilmot of Beaver City: “I do think this is going to leave us at a point where we can step forward with competence and we can proceed onward with making the university that best place to be for our students and for our state of Nebraska.”University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Regent Paul Pechous said Gold is a champion for NU and has proven as much over his last 10 years of service. Under his leadership, Pechous said, he looks forward to Gold “continuing to be a champion for our students.”Gold received praise from State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, a former hospital administrator, who said Gold has taken UNMC “to a new level.”“He’s smarter than hell,” said Riepe, who worked with Gold as chair of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee.Gold will be available at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.Nebraska Examiner senior reporter Paul Hammel contributed to this report.<h2>UNMC growth and expansion</h2>University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Jeffrey Gold has been at the helm during unprecedented UNMC growth and a multibillion-dollar flurry of building initiatives on and around its midtown Omaha home campus.At the end of last year, he gathered with area officials to celebrate the start of the six-story so-called $105 million “CORE” facility (Campus Operations &amp; Research Excellence), which is expected to open in 2026. That facility — along with other developments ongoing or planned along the Saddle Creek corridor — could expand the UNMC footprint by roughly 1.5 million square feet of building space, the medical center’s officials have said.Officials called that unprecedented growth for the public medical center’s midtown Omaha base, whose building space now spans about 10 million square feet.Gold has said that growth is essential to maintain momentum reflected in rising student enrollment, research and clinical care for Nebraskans as well as others.UNMC also has launched projects designed to expand its rural presence.&nbsp;A $85 million rural medical school, for example, is expected to open in 2025 in Kearney and has been touted as a sign of Nebraska’s effort to grow the health care workforce in its rural communities.— Nebraska Examiner senior reporter Cindy Gonzalez

UNMC Chancellor Gold tapped as priority presidential candidate for University of Nebraska

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/19/https-nebraskaexaminer-com-briefs-new-ballot-initiative-seeks-to-ban-nebraska-abortions-after-first-trimester-of-pregnancy/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Editor’s note: This story has been updated.

LINCOLN — A group of Nebraska medical professionals is seeking to present a different abortion-related constitutional amendment — billed as a “better choice” — to voters in November: banning abortions after the first trimester.

The petition effort quickly received the backing of two Nebraska groups that oppose abortion rights, Nebraska Right to Life and the Nebraska Family Alliance. They billed the new petition as “a second, better choice,” that also includes exceptions for rape, incest and medical emergencies.

“Now, instead of the abortion industry’s extreme proposal, which grants the abortionist sole authority to determine fetal viability and allows minors to obtain an abortion without parental notification, voters may have a second option on their ballot,” said Karen Bowling of the Family Alliance in a press release.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America also announced its support, saying voters will have a “clear choice” come November on two abortion measures.&nbsp;

The new “Protect Women and Children Constitutional Amendment,” based on paperwork filed March 1 with the Secretary of State’s Office, would ban abortions past the first trimester, or at about 13 weeks of pregnancy. A state law passed in 2023 prohibits most abortions after 12 weeks gestational age.

Current law allows exceptions for medical emergencies and pregnancies resulting from sexual assault or incest, as does the new petition.

“Unborn children shall be protected from abortion in the second and third trimesters,” the filed&nbsp;petition language states.

The new effort would compete with an initiative petition drive launched last year to place a constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot. Backed by abortion rights groups, it would allow abortion up to the time when a fetus could be viable outside the womb, usually around 23 weeks.

Jasmine Smith, of the sponsors of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/15/nebraska-abortion-rights-petition-language-aims-for-viability-standard/">Protect Our Rights campaign</a>, said Tuesday that the new effort was launched by those who want to outlaw abortion “in all circumstances.”

“This new effort would enshrine Nebraska’s current harmful ban in our state constitution and leave the door open for far more restrictive bans,” Smith said.

The Protect Our Rights effort has the backing of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the ACLU of Nebraska, I Be Black Girl, &nbsp;Women’s Fund of Omaha and others.&nbsp;

Scout Richters, policy director for the ACLU of Nebraska, also said supporters would not stop at the first trimester and predicted the counter proposal could be part of a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/29/nebraska-gov-jim-pillen-says-he-wont-stop-on-abortion-seeks-total-ban/">stated goal</a>&nbsp;from lawmakers and Gov. Jim Pillen to further restrict or outlaw abortion.

Smith said Protect Our Rights is about stopping government overreach and protecting individual freedoms.

Richters said the ACLU has always supported the idea that decisions about pregnancy and abortions belong to patients, in consultation with their medical providers.

“This proposal really just simply flies in the face of that,” Richters said.

Jackie Ourada, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s Office, said the petition language for the new effort has not been finalized, although it has been reviewed by the Revisor of Statutes. Petitions cannot be circulated for signatures until sponsors file their final language and the Secretary of State’s Office prepares sample copies of the petition, Ourada said.

Organizers of any ballot initiative must gather&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/sos.nebraska.gov/files/doc/01-init_ref.pdf">signatures</a>&nbsp;from at least 10% of Nebraska voters. The signatures must include 5% of registered voters in at least 38 of the state’s 93 counties. The deadline is July 3.

Who is&nbsp;the “Protect Women and Children Initiative,” which is funding what is expected to be an expensive petition drive?

The organization did not return an email seeking more information, and Mark Patefield, who serves as a pharmacist in both Wayne and Laurel, told the Examiner on Tuesday afternoon that he was too busy to answer questions.

The Protect Women and Children Initiative had not yet filed organization papers with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission as of Tuesday. Filings with the commission can indicate who is funding such a campaign.

But the email launching the initiative says the four people named on the committee are listed as health professionals.

Patefield ran unsuccessfully for Nebraska Legislature in 2022, when he was endorsed by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts as well as Nebraska Right to Life.

Elizabeth Peterson is a registered nurse, as is Jan Kuehn, who is retired. Maureen Bausch, another retired RN, previously served as a chaplain at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lincoln.

—&nbsp;By Nebraska Examiner senior reporter Paul Hammel

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710941685713.jpeg" alt=" Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen addresses a crowd of anti-abortion advocates outside the Capitol. April 12, 2023. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen addresses a crowd of anti-abortion advocates outside the Capitol. April 12, 2023. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/19/https-nebraskaexaminer-com-briefs-new-ballot-initiative-seeks-to-ban-nebraska-abortions-after-first-trimester-of-pregnancy/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Editor’s note: This story has been updated.LINCOLN — A group of Nebraska medical professionals is seeking to present a different abortion-related constitutional amendment — billed as a “better choice” — to voters in November: banning abortions after the first trimester.The petition effort quickly received the backing of two Nebraska groups that oppose abortion rights, Nebraska Right to Life and the Nebraska Family Alliance. They billed the new petition as “a second, better choice,” that also includes exceptions for rape, incest and medical emergencies.“Now, instead of the abortion industry’s extreme proposal, which grants the abortionist sole authority to determine fetal viability and allows minors to obtain an abortion without parental notification, voters may have a second option on their ballot,” said Karen Bowling of the Family Alliance in a press release.Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America also announced its support, saying voters will have a “clear choice” come November on two abortion measures.&nbsp;<h2>Paperwork filed March 1</h2>The new “Protect Women and Children Constitutional Amendment,” based on paperwork filed March 1 with the Secretary of State’s Office, would ban abortions past the first trimester, or at about 13 weeks of pregnancy. A state law passed in 2023 prohibits most abortions after 12 weeks gestational age.Current law allows exceptions for medical emergencies and pregnancies resulting from sexual assault or incest, as does the new petition.“Unborn children shall be protected from abortion in the second and third trimesters,” the filed&nbsp;petition language states.The new effort would compete with an initiative petition drive launched last year to place a constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot. Backed by abortion rights groups, it would allow abortion up to the time when a fetus could be viable outside the womb, usually around 23 weeks.<h2>Could lead to further restrictions</h2>Jasmine Smith, of the sponsors of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/15/nebraska-abortion-rights-petition-language-aims-for-viability-standard/">Protect Our Rights campaign</a>, said Tuesday that the new effort was launched by those who want to outlaw abortion “in all circumstances.”“This new effort would enshrine Nebraska’s current harmful ban in our state constitution and leave the door open for far more restrictive bans,” Smith said.The Protect Our Rights effort has the backing of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the ACLU of Nebraska, I Be Black Girl, &nbsp;Women’s Fund of Omaha and others.&nbsp;Scout Richters, policy director for the ACLU of Nebraska, also said supporters would not stop at the first trimester and predicted the counter proposal could be part of a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/29/nebraska-gov-jim-pillen-says-he-wont-stop-on-abortion-seeks-total-ban/">stated goal</a>&nbsp;from lawmakers and Gov. Jim Pillen to further restrict or outlaw abortion.Smith said Protect Our Rights is about stopping government overreach and protecting individual freedoms.Richters said the ACLU has always supported the idea that decisions about pregnancy and abortions belong to patients, in consultation with their medical providers.“This proposal really just simply flies in the face of that,” Richters said.Jackie Ourada, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s Office, said the petition language for the new effort has not been finalized, although it has been reviewed by the Revisor of Statutes. Petitions cannot be circulated for signatures until sponsors file their final language and the Secretary of State’s Office prepares sample copies of the petition, Ourada said.Organizers of any ballot initiative must gather&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/sos.nebraska.gov/files/doc/01-init_ref.pdf">signatures</a>&nbsp;from at least 10% of Nebraska voters. The signatures must include 5% of registered voters in at least 38 of the state’s 93 counties. The deadline is July 3.<h2>Protect Women and Children Initiative</h2>Who is&nbsp;the “Protect Women and Children Initiative,” which is funding what is expected to be an expensive petition drive?The organization did not return an email seeking more information, and Mark Patefield, who serves as a pharmacist in both Wayne and Laurel, told the Examiner on Tuesday afternoon that he was too busy to answer questions.The Protect Women and Children Initiative had not yet filed organization papers with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission as of Tuesday. Filings with the commission can indicate who is funding such a campaign.But the email launching the initiative says the four people named on the committee are listed as health professionals.Patefield ran unsuccessfully for Nebraska Legislature in 2022, when he was endorsed by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts as well as Nebraska Right to Life.Elizabeth Peterson is a registered nurse, as is Jan Kuehn, who is retired. Maureen Bausch, another retired RN, previously served as a chaplain at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lincoln.—&nbsp;By Nebraska Examiner senior reporter Paul Hammel

New ‘better’ ballot initiative seeks to ban Nebraska abortions after first trimester of pregnancy

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Texas'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-2edc0f202156bf792cd531e814bbf2f5">plans to arrest migrants</a>&nbsp;suspected of entering the U.S. illegally were again on hold Wednesday after setting off uncertainty along the border and anger from Mexico flared during a brief few hours that the law was allowed to take effect.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-migrant-arrests-texas-13ffaed316d16f42e928f6958f0658f2">late-night order Tuesday</a>&nbsp;from a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel temporarily put on hold — again — Texas' dramatic state expansion into border enforcement. Earlier in the day, the U.S. Supreme Court had cleared the way for the strict immigration law, dealing a victory to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/greg-abbott">Republican Gov. Greg Abbott</a>&nbsp;and encouraging GOP lawmakers in other states that are pushing for similar measures.

But later in a 2-1 order, an appeals court panel continued the legal seesaw surrounding the Texas law, again putting it on pause ahead of oral arguments that were scheduled for Wednesday. It was not clear how quickly the next decision might come.

During the short time the law was in effect Tuesday, Texas authorities did not announce that any arrests had been made or say whether it was being actively enforced. Along the border in Kinney County, Sheriff Brad Coe embraced the arrest powers but said deputies would need probable cause.

“It is unlikely that observers will see an overnight change,” said Coe, whose county covers a stretch of border near Del Rio that until recently had been the busiest corridor for illegal crossings but has quieted considerably.

The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the law. It instead kicked back to the lower appeals court a challenge led by the Justice Department, which has argued that Texas is overstepping the federal government's immigration authority.

The latest appeals court order included no explanation from the panel. But it had the effect of restoring an injunction&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-migrant-arrests-court-ruling-3bcded91620cbd9686575caa6bcac203">issued in February</a>&nbsp;by U.S. District Judge David Ezra, who rebuked the law on multiple fronts. His 114-page opinion brushed off Republicans' claims of an “invasion” along the southern border due to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-crossings-mexico-biden-18ac91ef502e0c5433f74de6cc629b32">record-high</a>&nbsp;illegal crossings. Ezra, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, also warned that the law could hamper U.S. foreign relations.

Under the Texas law, once defendants are in custody on illegal entry charges, they can agree to a judge's order to leave the U.S. or face prosecution. On Tuesday, Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary said in a sharply worded statement that it would refuse to take anyone back who is ordered to cross the border.

“Mexico reiterates the legitimate right to protect the rights of its nationals in the United States and to determine its own policies regarding entry into its territory,” the government said.

The impact extends far beyond the Texas border. Republican legislators wrote the law so that it applies in all of the state’s 254 counties, although Steve McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, has said he expects it will mostly be enforced near the border.

Other GOP-led states are already looking to follow Texas’ path. In Iowa, the state House on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill that would also give its state law enforcement the power to arrest people who are in the U.S. illegally and have previously been denied entry into the country.

It now goes to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. If signed, it would take effect in July.

“The federal government has abdicated its responsibilities and states can and must act,” Republican Iowa state Rep. Steven Holt said.

In Texas, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, the top county executive, said immigration enforcement should remain a federal, not state, responsibility, echoing the Biden administration's view. He said heightened law enforcement presence in the city of El Paso during a previous migrant surge brought high-speed chases and traffic stops based on assumptions that passengers were in the country illegally.

“We had accidents, we had injuries, we got a little glimpse of what would happen if the state begins to control what happens in respect to immigration,” Samaniego said.

Skylor Hearn, executive director of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, said sheriffs' offices have been training since last year.

“If a county chooses to take it on themselves, they are choosing for their taxpayers to take it on themselves as well,” Hearn said. “As long as the federal government is willing to do its part that it is supposed to be doing, it is ideal for them to take possession and custody of these people."

Daniel Morales, an associate professor of law at the University of Houston Law Center, said the Texas law "will be a mess, very clearly, to enforce.”

“It’s very clear that Greg Abbott wants to enforce the law so he can get lots of photo ops and opportunities, but it’s gonna take a lot of state resources to implement. And I don’t know, in fact, how much appetite and capacity for that the state government actually has,” Morales said. Texas will find enforcement is “difficult and taxing,” he said.

Arrests for illegal crossings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-security-migrants-homeland-security-1c6e9f612dff721191c0254f980947a5">fell by half in January</a>&nbsp;from a record-high of 250,000 in December, with sharp declines in Texas. Arrests in the Border Patrol's Del Rio sector, the focus of Abbott's enforcement, fell 76% from December. Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings for much of the last decade, recorded its fewest arrests since June 2020.

Tucson, Arizona, has been the busiest corridor in recent months, followed by San Diego in January, but reasons for sudden shifts are often complicated and are dictated by smuggling organizations.

When President Joe Biden visited the Rio Grande Valley for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-immigration-biden-trump-42c945d02742b169bde40601a27fde02">his second trip to the border</a>&nbsp;as president last month, administration officials credited Mexico for heightened enforcement on that part of the border for the drop in arrests. They said conditions were more challenging for Mexican law enforcement in Sonora, the state that lies south of Arizona.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671577993523.png" alt="Photo courtesy Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Texas'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-texas-2edc0f202156bf792cd531e814bbf2f5">plans to arrest migrants</a>&nbsp;suspected of entering the U.S. illegally were again on hold Wednesday after setting off uncertainty along the border and anger from Mexico flared during a brief few hours that the law was allowed to take effect.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-migrant-arrests-texas-13ffaed316d16f42e928f6958f0658f2">late-night order Tuesday</a>&nbsp;from a 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel temporarily put on hold — again — Texas' dramatic state expansion into border enforcement. Earlier in the day, the U.S. Supreme Court had cleared the way for the strict immigration law, dealing a victory to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/greg-abbott">Republican Gov. Greg Abbott</a>&nbsp;and encouraging GOP lawmakers in other states that are pushing for similar measures.But later in a 2-1 order, an appeals court panel continued the legal seesaw surrounding the Texas law, again putting it on pause ahead of oral arguments that were scheduled for Wednesday. It was not clear how quickly the next decision might come.During the short time the law was in effect Tuesday, Texas authorities did not announce that any arrests had been made or say whether it was being actively enforced. Along the border in Kinney County, Sheriff Brad Coe embraced the arrest powers but said deputies would need probable cause.“It is unlikely that observers will see an overnight change,” said Coe, whose county covers a stretch of border near Del Rio that until recently had been the busiest corridor for illegal crossings but has quieted considerably.The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the law. It instead kicked back to the lower appeals court a challenge led by the Justice Department, which has argued that Texas is overstepping the federal government's immigration authority.The latest appeals court order included no explanation from the panel. But it had the effect of restoring an injunction&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-migrant-arrests-court-ruling-3bcded91620cbd9686575caa6bcac203">issued in February</a>&nbsp;by U.S. District Judge David Ezra, who rebuked the law on multiple fronts. His 114-page opinion brushed off Republicans' claims of an “invasion” along the southern border due to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-crossings-mexico-biden-18ac91ef502e0c5433f74de6cc629b32">record-high</a>&nbsp;illegal crossings. Ezra, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, also warned that the law could hamper U.S. foreign relations.Under the Texas law, once defendants are in custody on illegal entry charges, they can agree to a judge's order to leave the U.S. or face prosecution. On Tuesday, Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary said in a sharply worded statement that it would refuse to take anyone back who is ordered to cross the border.“Mexico reiterates the legitimate right to protect the rights of its nationals in the United States and to determine its own policies regarding entry into its territory,” the government said.The impact extends far beyond the Texas border. Republican legislators wrote the law so that it applies in all of the state’s 254 counties, although Steve McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, has said he expects it will mostly be enforced near the border.Other GOP-led states are already looking to follow Texas’ path. In Iowa, the state House on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill that would also give its state law enforcement the power to arrest people who are in the U.S. illegally and have previously been denied entry into the country.It now goes to Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. If signed, it would take effect in July.“The federal government has abdicated its responsibilities and states can and must act,” Republican Iowa state Rep. Steven Holt said.In Texas, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, the top county executive, said immigration enforcement should remain a federal, not state, responsibility, echoing the Biden administration's view. He said heightened law enforcement presence in the city of El Paso during a previous migrant surge brought high-speed chases and traffic stops based on assumptions that passengers were in the country illegally.“We had accidents, we had injuries, we got a little glimpse of what would happen if the state begins to control what happens in respect to immigration,” Samaniego said.Skylor Hearn, executive director of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, said sheriffs' offices have been training since last year.“If a county chooses to take it on themselves, they are choosing for their taxpayers to take it on themselves as well,” Hearn said. “As long as the federal government is willing to do its part that it is supposed to be doing, it is ideal for them to take possession and custody of these people."Daniel Morales, an associate professor of law at the University of Houston Law Center, said the Texas law "will be a mess, very clearly, to enforce.”“It’s very clear that Greg Abbott wants to enforce the law so he can get lots of photo ops and opportunities, but it’s gonna take a lot of state resources to implement. And I don’t know, in fact, how much appetite and capacity for that the state government actually has,” Morales said. Texas will find enforcement is “difficult and taxing,” he said.Arrests for illegal crossings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-security-migrants-homeland-security-1c6e9f612dff721191c0254f980947a5">fell by half in January</a>&nbsp;from a record-high of 250,000 in December, with sharp declines in Texas. Arrests in the Border Patrol's Del Rio sector, the focus of Abbott's enforcement, fell 76% from December. Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings for much of the last decade, recorded its fewest arrests since June 2020.Tucson, Arizona, has been the busiest corridor in recent months, followed by San Diego in January, but reasons for sudden shifts are often complicated and are dictated by smuggling organizations.When President Joe Biden visited the Rio Grande Valley for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-immigration-biden-trump-42c945d02742b169bde40601a27fde02">his second trip to the border</a>&nbsp;as president last month, administration officials credited Mexico for heightened enforcement on that part of the border for the drop in arrests. They said conditions were more challenging for Mexican law enforcement in Sonora, the state that lies south of Arizona.___

Texas' illegal migrant arrest law back on hold after Appeals Court ruling

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/19/nebraska-lawmakers-speaker-of-legislature-condemn-hurtful-speech-about-violent-rape/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Turmoil over comments made Monday night by a state senator — in which he described a violent rape while interjecting names of fellow senators — spilled over into the beginning of Tuesday morning’s session of the Nebraska Legislature.

Several lawmakers, including two conservative colleagues, called out State Sen. Steve Halloran for what they described as “inappropriate” and “hurtful” comments Monday night in which he read from a book describing a violent rape and repeatedly inserted the name “Senator Cavanaugh” amid the reading.

“We’ve got to be careful with each other. We are all human beings who deserve respect. We do not deserve aggression,” said Omaha Sen. Wendy DeBoer.

Dunbar Sen. Julie Slama, who has been open about being a victim of sexual violence, said it was wrong that the Nebraska Legislature doesn’t have policies — as in private businesses — to punish someone for saying something so inappropriate. She brought up an incident five years ago when then-Sen. Ernie Chambers implied that “favors of the flesh” led to her appointment to the Legislature.

“It’s the one place where you can stand up and talk about raping a colleague and not have any consequences,” Slama said. “Senator Halloran, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

The comment was greeted with some applause from the &nbsp;gallery and from observers who were behind the glass wall at the back of the legislative chambers.

Halloran, when he rose to speak, apologized — not for reading the graphic description of a violent rape, but for “interjecting” a senator’s name while reading from the book, “Lucky,” which he said was required reading in some schools.

The Hastings senator, who is term limited from running for a third term this year, rejected the idea that he was “trivializing rape” by reading a “very ugly” section of the book.

“Should I have interjected a senator’s name? No,” Halloran said.&nbsp;

But he insisted, as he did Monday night, that his reference to “Senator Cavanaugh” was to State Sen. John Cavanaugh, the brother of Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh. Halloran said he also referenced Lincoln Sen. George Dungan before beginning his reading.

“Once the transcribers have transcribed what I read, I think you’ll notice that I first referenced them,” he said.

Other senators rejected that explanation and also said it didn’t matter who exactly he was referencing. They said that Halloran’s words worked to traumatize victims of rape who are in the Legislature or were watching the Monday night session.

Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh also said that Halloran, prior to speaking on the mic last night, came up to her and fellow Sen. Lynne Walz and began describing the rape scene from the book.

Omaha Sen. Brad Von Gillern said two members of his family have been victims of sexual violence, and he said the reading from the book — which continually mentioned the name “Brad” — served to revive memories of those nightmares.

&nbsp;“Maybe it’s PTSD … when you hear a story that brings back personal memories, hard memories, it doesn’t matter what gender you are,” von Gillern said, his voice cracking.

He added that he taught his children never to use the word “but” when giving an apology because it makes it conditional. It was a reference to Halloran’s apology.

Halloran said he called out senators’ names because they weren’t paying attention to the debate Monday night — the first night session of the session — on a bill related to obscenity that was being debated on the floor.

“I wanted them to hear what was in the book and what was being required,” Halloran said. “If you read the transcript it’s like a how to lesson on how to rape.”

About a dozen people showed up to protest Halloran at his office early Tuesday. State Sens. Robert Dover of Norfolk and Kathleen Kauth of Omaha talked with them, as did State Sen. John Lowe of Kearney.

Dover said felt as though everyone needed to settle down.

“We need to have decorum,” Dover said. “We can disagree to disagree, but we need to not attack each other.”

Kauth was not present during Halloran’s speech, so protesters played the audio for her. She focused on the book Halloran read from.

“So you think this should be available for kids?” Kauth asked. Protesters said the book passage should not have been read aloud at all.&nbsp;

Halloran, as well as those calling for his resignation, have freedom of speech, Kauth said.

The group confronted Halloran after he arrived and met with Speaker John Arch in the speaker’s office. One protester yelled at Halloran, “You’re a rapist through your words.”

The speaker of the Legislature, La Vista Sen. John Arch, began Tuesday morning’s floor debate with an apology for what was said last night.

He called on senators to not let it derail the rest of the legislative session, which has 14 more days in a 60-day session.

The Legislature, it was pointed out, could issue a letter of rebuke, pass a censure motion, or seek to expel a member, but none of those penalties was pursued Tuesday, despite talk of some punishment Monday night.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad — a former director of the ACLU of Nebraska — called on colleagues to “temper the toxicity” and to call out inappropriate comments, not seek punishment. She reminded senators that what’s said on the floor is protected free speech.

But other senators disagreed and said they were disappointed that some lawmakers were laughing about Halloran’s comments last night.

Sen. John Cavanaugh called Halloran’s comments political “grandstanding.”

“You sexualized the people you work with for some effect,” he said.

“What happened last night was not OK,” DeBoer said.

Slama said the comments would get someone fired if they were working at a private company.

“Those comments where wholly inappropriate,” she said, adding that the Legislature lacks policies that protect lawmakers from “predatory” colleagues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710872347126.jpeg" alt=" State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings, left, meets with protesters outside the legislative chamber near Speaker John Arch’s office. March 19, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings, left, meets with protesters outside the legislative chamber near Speaker John Arch’s office. March 19, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel and Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/19/nebraska-lawmakers-speaker-of-legislature-condemn-hurtful-speech-about-violent-rape/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Turmoil over comments made Monday night by a state senator — in which he described a violent rape while interjecting names of fellow senators — spilled over into the beginning of Tuesday morning’s session of the Nebraska Legislature.Several lawmakers, including two conservative colleagues, called out State Sen. Steve Halloran for what they described as “inappropriate” and “hurtful” comments Monday night in which he read from a book describing a violent rape and repeatedly inserted the name “Senator Cavanaugh” amid the reading.“We’ve got to be careful with each other. We are all human beings who deserve respect. We do not deserve aggression,” said Omaha Sen. Wendy DeBoer.Dunbar Sen. Julie Slama, who has been open about being a victim of sexual violence, said it was wrong that the Nebraska Legislature doesn’t have policies — as in private businesses — to punish someone for saying something so inappropriate. She brought up an incident five years ago when then-Sen. Ernie Chambers implied that “favors of the flesh” led to her appointment to the Legislature.<h2>‘Should be ashamed’</h2>“It’s the one place where you can stand up and talk about raping a colleague and not have any consequences,” Slama said. “Senator Halloran, you should be ashamed of yourself.”The comment was greeted with some applause from the &nbsp;gallery and from observers who were behind the glass wall at the back of the legislative chambers.Halloran, when he rose to speak, apologized — not for reading the graphic description of a violent rape, but for “interjecting” a senator’s name while reading from the book, “Lucky,” which he said was required reading in some schools.The Hastings senator, who is term limited from running for a third term this year, rejected the idea that he was “trivializing rape” by reading a “very ugly” section of the book.“Should I have interjected a senator’s name? No,” Halloran said.&nbsp;But he insisted, as he did Monday night, that his reference to “Senator Cavanaugh” was to State Sen. John Cavanaugh, the brother of Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh. Halloran said he also referenced Lincoln Sen. George Dungan before beginning his reading.“Once the transcribers have transcribed what I read, I think you’ll notice that I first referenced them,” he said.<h2>‘Maybe it’s PTSD …’</h2>Other senators rejected that explanation and also said it didn’t matter who exactly he was referencing. They said that Halloran’s words worked to traumatize victims of rape who are in the Legislature or were watching the Monday night session.Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh also said that Halloran, prior to speaking on the mic last night, came up to her and fellow Sen. Lynne Walz and began describing the rape scene from the book.Omaha Sen. Brad Von Gillern said two members of his family have been victims of sexual violence, and he said the reading from the book — which continually mentioned the name “Brad” — served to revive memories of those nightmares.&nbsp;“Maybe it’s PTSD … when you hear a story that brings back personal memories, hard memories, it doesn’t matter what gender you are,” von Gillern said, his voice cracking.He added that he taught his children never to use the word “but” when giving an apology because it makes it conditional. It was a reference to Halloran’s apology.Halloran said he called out senators’ names because they weren’t paying attention to the debate Monday night — the first night session of the session — on a bill related to obscenity that was being debated on the floor.<h2>‘Wanted them to hear’</h2>“I wanted them to hear what was in the book and what was being required,” Halloran said. “If you read the transcript it’s like a how to lesson on how to rape.”About a dozen people showed up to protest Halloran at his office early Tuesday. State Sens. Robert Dover of Norfolk and Kathleen Kauth of Omaha talked with them, as did State Sen. John Lowe of Kearney.Dover said felt as though everyone needed to settle down.“We need to have decorum,” Dover said. “We can disagree to disagree, but we need to not attack each other.”Kauth was not present during Halloran’s speech, so protesters played the audio for her. She focused on the book Halloran read from.“So you think this should be available for kids?” Kauth asked. Protesters said the book passage should not have been read aloud at all.&nbsp;Halloran, as well as those calling for his resignation, have freedom of speech, Kauth said.The group confronted Halloran after he arrived and met with Speaker John Arch in the speaker’s office. One protester yelled at Halloran, “You’re a rapist through your words.”The speaker of the Legislature, La Vista Sen. John Arch, began Tuesday morning’s floor debate with an apology for what was said last night.He called on senators to not let it derail the rest of the legislative session, which has 14 more days in a 60-day session.The Legislature, it was pointed out, could issue a letter of rebuke, pass a censure motion, or seek to expel a member, but none of those penalties was pursued Tuesday, despite talk of some punishment Monday night.<h2>Call to ‘temper the toxicity’</h2>Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad — a former director of the ACLU of Nebraska — called on colleagues to “temper the toxicity” and to call out inappropriate comments, not seek punishment. She reminded senators that what’s said on the floor is protected free speech.But other senators disagreed and said they were disappointed that some lawmakers were laughing about Halloran’s comments last night.Sen. John Cavanaugh called Halloran’s comments political “grandstanding.”“You sexualized the people you work with for some effect,” he said.“What happened last night was not OK,” DeBoer said.Slama said the comments would get someone fired if they were working at a private company.“Those comments where wholly inappropriate,” she said, adding that the Legislature lacks policies that protect lawmakers from “predatory” colleagues.

Nebraska lawmakers, speaker of Legislature condemn ‘hurtful’ speech about violent rape

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nu-board-of-regents-could-pick-presidential-finalist-on-wednesday/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Four days after Gov. Jim Pillen told the University of Nebraska regents they’re taking too long to hire a president, the board cracked open the door to possibly breaking a 4-4 tie.

The agenda for the regents’ Wednesday meeting was revised Tuesday to add another item: “POTENTIAL DESIGNATION OF A PRIORITY CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.” It means the board wants the legal flexibility to coalesce around a candidate and name a finalist for the job.

The regents’ next meeting after Wednesday’s is set for April 19, and under NU’s process for hiring presidents, the finalist or priority candidate must visit each of NU’s campuses and have a 30-day vetting period.&nbsp;

The board has been&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/16/nu-leadership-choice-was-deadlocked-between-unmc-chancellor-and-state-chamber-head/">deadlocked for months</a>&nbsp;between two candidates: University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Gold and Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, neither of whom has commented.

Pillen, in a Thursday “<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/TeamPillen/status/1768327970979000570?s=20">call to action</a>,” blamed the regents for not naming a presidential successor sooner and for the departure last week of the flagship campus’ athletic director.

Pillen’s push might have jostled a single vote loose on either side. It’s also possible the board could discuss a different candidate altogether to find consensus. Search committee members won’t talk publicly.

They were previously turned down by U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb. Some observers have hinted that they should consider contacting University of Florida President Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska who formerly led Midland University in Fremont.

Interim NU President Chris Kabourek has gotten some internal support for the full-time gig, although in accepting the interim role, he was required not to apply for the permanent job.

Some recently told the Examiner that Pillen, a former NU regent, might want the board to declare a failed search. Doing so would allow Kabourek to apply formally for the permanent job.&nbsp;

Pillen last week acknowledged giving some input on the process. His wish list included selecting a candidate with Nebraska ties who is willing to stay for a decade. He also wants a candidate who respects the values of conservative Nebraskans, which some familiar with the search said was a push for someone who won’t advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Pillen campaigned against DEI efforts in his 2022 run for governor.

Some have criticized Pillen for meddling where he doesn’t belong. State law assigns responsibility for governing the university to the elected eight-member Board of Regents.&nbsp;

Public attention on the presidential search increased after NU Athletics Director Trev Alberts left last week to take the same job at Texas A&amp;M University, citing concerns about leadership. Seven months ago, former NU President Ted Carter accepted a job leading The Ohio State University. He finished the calendar year in Lincoln.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710863188167.jpeg" alt="The University of Nebraska’s Varner Hall, which houses system-wide communications for the NU system as well as the Office of the NU President. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska)" />
 <figcaption>The University of Nebraska’s Varner Hall, which houses system-wide communications for the NU system as well as the Office of the NU President. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nu-board-of-regents-could-pick-presidential-finalist-on-wednesday/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Four days after Gov. Jim Pillen told the University of Nebraska regents they’re taking too long to hire a president, the board cracked open the door to possibly breaking a 4-4 tie.The agenda for the regents’ Wednesday meeting was revised Tuesday to add another item: “POTENTIAL DESIGNATION OF A PRIORITY CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.” It means the board wants the legal flexibility to coalesce around a candidate and name a finalist for the job.The regents’ next meeting after Wednesday’s is set for April 19, and under NU’s process for hiring presidents, the finalist or priority candidate must visit each of NU’s campuses and have a 30-day vetting period.&nbsp;<h2>Deadlocked for months</h2>The board has been&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/16/nu-leadership-choice-was-deadlocked-between-unmc-chancellor-and-state-chamber-head/">deadlocked for months</a>&nbsp;between two candidates: University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Gold and Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, neither of whom has commented.Pillen, in a Thursday “<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/TeamPillen/status/1768327970979000570?s=20">call to action</a>,” blamed the regents for not naming a presidential successor sooner and for the departure last week of the flagship campus’ athletic director.Pillen’s push might have jostled a single vote loose on either side. It’s also possible the board could discuss a different candidate altogether to find consensus. Search committee members won’t talk publicly.They were previously turned down by U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb. Some observers have hinted that they should consider contacting University of Florida President Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska who formerly led Midland University in Fremont.Interim NU President Chris Kabourek has gotten some internal support for the full-time gig, although in accepting the interim role, he was required not to apply for the permanent job.Some recently told the Examiner that Pillen, a former NU regent, might want the board to declare a failed search. Doing so would allow Kabourek to apply formally for the permanent job.&nbsp;<h2>Pillen’s input</h2>Pillen last week acknowledged giving some input on the process. His wish list included selecting a candidate with Nebraska ties who is willing to stay for a decade. He also wants a candidate who respects the values of conservative Nebraskans, which some familiar with the search said was a push for someone who won’t advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Pillen campaigned against DEI efforts in his 2022 run for governor.Some have criticized Pillen for meddling where he doesn’t belong. State law assigns responsibility for governing the university to the elected eight-member Board of Regents.&nbsp;Public attention on the presidential search increased after NU Athletics Director Trev Alberts left last week to take the same job at Texas A&amp;M University, citing concerns about leadership. Seven months ago, former NU President Ted Carter accepted a job leading The Ohio State University. He finished the calendar year in Lincoln.

NU Board of Regents could pick presidential finalist on Wednesday

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/18/legislative-committee-moves-closer-to-drafting-final-property-tax-relief-bill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A state legislative committee moved closer Monday to finalizing a much-anticipated property tax relief bill, with a key senator saying it might not reach the goal of $1 billion in relief sought by Gov. Jim Pillen.

The Legislature’s Revenue Committee also got a bit of homework Monday evening: a list outlining possible sales tax exemptions to eliminate, and what size increase to prefer in state sales taxes.

“Go through them. Tell me ‘yes,’ ‘no’ or ‘maybe,’ ” said State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who chairs the powerful committee that crafts state tax policy.

Later, she gave this assessment of where things stand on the top priority of the 2024 session: “I think we’re making some progress.”

The homework came after a flurry of activities Monday — Day 45 of the 60-day session — concerning the long-anticipated, and as-yet-unfinalized, tax relief proposal. Developments included an unusual, closed-door briefing Monday morning by the Governor’s Office with the eight-member Revenue Committee that excluded news media.

Pillen has “guaranteed” that lawmakers will deliver a $2 billion reduction in local property taxes — actually $1 billion this year on top of $1 billion passed in recent years — even if it takes meeting “every day&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/14/despite-pushback-pillen-remains-committed-to-property-tax-relief-plan/">until Christmas</a>.”

But many of his ideas, and in particular a 1-cent increase in state sales taxes, have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/30/pillen-plan-to-sweep-excess-cash-funds-gets-bumpy-reception-at-capitol-hearing/">faced a rocky reception</a>&nbsp;in the Legislature.

Business and retail groups howled that eliminating tax exemptions on soda pop and candy, legal and accounting services, and farm repair parts would hurt Nebraska outlets and force transactions across the border.

Lobbying groups mobilized to oppose a proposed $2-a-pack increase in cigarette taxes and higher taxes on vaping products.

Usually reliable allies of the governor, including the Platte Institute, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperty, have decried the idea of raising sales taxes to lower property taxes, as a “tax shift” that really isn’t tax relief.

But Linehan, without revealing exact details of the tax plan, said she thinks Nebraskans will be OK with a hike in the state sales tax rate if they see a reduction in their property taxes this fall.

The increase envisioned has been from 5.5 cents to 6.5 cents, which would rank Nebraska at No. 9 highest in the country, matching adjacent Kansas.

Linehan added, however, that it will be up to the Revenue Committee to decide how much to raise the sales tax rate in the final draft of the tax bill. The increase, she said, might be less than 1-cent, depending on the strength of state tax receipts.

‘Don’t know if we’ll get $1 billion’

Pillen has sought, through an increase in sales taxes and new taxes on previously exempt items, to raise $1 billion a year in new revenue, to allow a $1 billion reduction in local property taxes. Coupled with past tax relief bills, that would add up to a 40% overall drop in property taxes, the governor’s much-stated goal.

But Linehan added this: “I don’t know if we’re going to get to $1 billion in one year.”

A key portion of the tax proposal, the senator said, will be a “front loading” of current state tax credits against property taxes, along with the new cuts. Pillen has said that currently, all eligible Nebraskans have not been taking the tax credit available when filing state income taxes, and they need to pay an accountant to get it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710858465086.jpeg" alt=" Nebraska State Capitol (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska State Capitol (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/03/18/legislative-committee-moves-closer-to-drafting-final-property-tax-relief-bill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A state legislative committee moved closer Monday to finalizing a much-anticipated property tax relief bill, with a key senator saying it might not reach the goal of $1 billion in relief sought by Gov. Jim Pillen.The Legislature’s Revenue Committee also got a bit of homework Monday evening: a list outlining possible sales tax exemptions to eliminate, and what size increase to prefer in state sales taxes.“Go through them. Tell me ‘yes,’ ‘no’ or ‘maybe,’ ” said State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who chairs the powerful committee that crafts state tax policy.Later, she gave this assessment of where things stand on the top priority of the 2024 session: “I think we’re making some progress.”The homework came after a flurry of activities Monday — Day 45 of the 60-day session — concerning the long-anticipated, and as-yet-unfinalized, tax relief proposal. Developments included an unusual, closed-door briefing Monday morning by the Governor’s Office with the eight-member Revenue Committee that excluded news media.Pillen has “guaranteed” that lawmakers will deliver a $2 billion reduction in local property taxes — actually $1 billion this year on top of $1 billion passed in recent years — even if it takes meeting “every day&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/14/despite-pushback-pillen-remains-committed-to-property-tax-relief-plan/">until Christmas</a>.”<h2>Sales tax hike decried as ‘shift’</h2>But many of his ideas, and in particular a 1-cent increase in state sales taxes, have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/01/30/pillen-plan-to-sweep-excess-cash-funds-gets-bumpy-reception-at-capitol-hearing/">faced a rocky reception</a>&nbsp;in the Legislature.Business and retail groups howled that eliminating tax exemptions on soda pop and candy, legal and accounting services, and farm repair parts would hurt Nebraska outlets and force transactions across the border.Lobbying groups mobilized to oppose a proposed $2-a-pack increase in cigarette taxes and higher taxes on vaping products.Usually reliable allies of the governor, including the Platte Institute, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperty, have decried the idea of raising sales taxes to lower property taxes, as a “tax shift” that really isn’t tax relief.But Linehan, without revealing exact details of the tax plan, said she thinks Nebraskans will be OK with a hike in the state sales tax rate if they see a reduction in their property taxes this fall.The increase envisioned has been from 5.5 cents to 6.5 cents, which would rank Nebraska at No. 9 highest in the country, matching adjacent Kansas.Linehan added, however, that it will be up to the Revenue Committee to decide how much to raise the sales tax rate in the final draft of the tax bill. The increase, she said, might be less than 1-cent, depending on the strength of state tax receipts.<h2>‘Don’t know if we’ll get $1 billion’</h2>Pillen has sought, through an increase in sales taxes and new taxes on previously exempt items, to raise $1 billion a year in new revenue, to allow a $1 billion reduction in local property taxes. Coupled with past tax relief bills, that would add up to a 40% overall drop in property taxes, the governor’s much-stated goal.But Linehan added this: “I don’t know if we’re going to get to $1 billion in one year.”A key portion of the tax proposal, the senator said, will be a “front loading” of current state tax credits against property taxes, along with the new cuts. Pillen has said that currently, all eligible Nebraskans have not been taking the tax credit available when filing state income taxes, and they need to pay an accountant to get it.But front loading the tax credits has proved to be complicated, which has delayed a final draft of the tax-relief package.Linehan said the tax relief will be delivered via a revised state aid formula to K-12 schools, with a goal of providing tax relief to every property owner, but providing more funds to districts with the highest tax levies.That would be good news to places like Lincoln, Millard and Omaha, which have high tax levies, and to rural districts that generally don’t have high-dollar farm land.Linehan said the Revenue Committee would meet again Tuesday to work further on the property tax relief bill.