Alliance – Big Blue Bay will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 9th, to allow the Alliance Swim Team time to set up for their annual home swim meet. The pool will also be closed for the swim meet on Saturday, June 10th all day. Big Blue Bay will reopen on Sunday June 11th at noon.

Noon to 1 pm Lap Swim and 8 and under Family swim

5 pm to 6 pm Lap Swim and 8 and under Family swim

6 pm to 7 pm Family Hour Tuesday - Saturday

Contact the Leisure Services Department at 762-2384 for additional information.

By City of AllianceAlliance – Big Blue Bay will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 9th, to allow the Alliance Swim Team time to set up for their annual home swim meet. The pool will also be closed for the swim meet on Saturday, June 10th all day. Big Blue Bay will reopen on Sunday June 11th at noon.Normal hours of operation are:6 am to 7 am Lap SwimNoon to 1 pm Lap Swim and 8 and under Family swim1 pm to 5 pm Open Swim5 pm to 6 pm Lap Swim and 8 and under Family swim6 pm to 7 pm Family Hour Tuesday - SaturdayContact the Leisure Services Department at 762-2384 for additional information.

Big Blue Bay to close for Alliance swim meet

EAA Chapter 608 is thrilled to announce the annual Airport Appreciation Day and Fly-In event, taking place on June 10th, 2023 at the Western Nebraska Regional Airport. 

This event aims to bring together aviation enthusiasts, families, and the local community to celebrate the wonders of flight and showcase the importance of aviation in our region. The gates will be open to the public from 7:00 am until noon, providing ample time for attendees to explore a variety of engaging activities and attractions. One of the highlights of the day will be the opportunity for young aviation enthusiasts to experience the thrill of flying through Young Eagles Flights, which will be made available by the dedicated volunteers of EAA Chapter 608. Participants can learn more about this program and register online at&nbsp;<a href="http://youngeaglesday.org/" target="_blank">youngeaglesday.org</a> To kickstart the event, the first 200 visitors will be treated to a complimentary breakfast courtesy of the Scottsbluff Kiwanis. This gesture serves as a token of gratitude to those who join us early in the day and sets the stage for an enjoyable experience at Airport Appreciation Day.

Throughout the event, attendees will have the chance to explore a diverse display of aircraft and interact with representatives from local aviation businesses. This presents a unique opportunity for individuals to learn about the aviation industry, discover career paths, and gain insight into the fascinating world of flight. There will also be a KC-135 refueling tanker from the Nebraska Air Guard's 155th Refueling Wing, representatives of the Nebraska Army National Guard's local 1057th Military Police, and more. Airport Appreciation Day promises to be an unforgettable experience for aviation enthusiasts of all ages. Mark your calendars for June 10th, 2023, and join us at the Western Nebraska Regional Airport for a day filled with excitement, learning, and a celebration of the remarkable world of aviation. About EAA Chapter 608: EAA Chapter 608 is a dedicated group of aviation enthusiasts who aim to promote and preserve the spirit of aviation in our community. With a passion for flight, they organize various events, provide educational resources, and foster a welcoming environment for all aviation enthusiasts. About Western Nebraska Regional Airport: Western Nebraska Regional Airport is a vital transportation hub serving the region with commercial and general aviation services. Situated in a scenic location, it offers a range of facilities and services to support aviation activities while contributing to the economic growth of the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

News Release&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685992920946.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>EAA Chapter 608 is thrilled to announce the annual Airport Appreciation Day and Fly-In event, taking place on June 10th, 2023 at the Western Nebraska Regional Airport. This event aims to bring together aviation enthusiasts, families, and the local community to celebrate the wonders of flight and showcase the importance of aviation in our region. The gates will be open to the public from 7:00 am until noon, providing ample time for attendees to explore a variety of engaging activities and attractions. One of the highlights of the day will be the opportunity for young aviation enthusiasts to experience the thrill of flying through Young Eagles Flights, which will be made available by the dedicated volunteers of EAA Chapter 608. Participants can learn more about this program and register online at&nbsp;<a href="http://youngeaglesday.org/" target="_blank">youngeaglesday.org</a> To kickstart the event, the first 200 visitors will be treated to a complimentary breakfast courtesy of the Scottsbluff Kiwanis. This gesture serves as a token of gratitude to those who join us early in the day and sets the stage for an enjoyable experience at Airport Appreciation Day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685992954239.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Throughout the event, attendees will have the chance to explore a diverse display of aircraft and interact with representatives from local aviation businesses. This presents a unique opportunity for individuals to learn about the aviation industry, discover career paths, and gain insight into the fascinating world of flight. There will also be a KC-135 refueling tanker from the Nebraska Air Guard's 155th Refueling Wing, representatives of the Nebraska Army National Guard's local 1057th Military Police, and more. Airport Appreciation Day promises to be an unforgettable experience for aviation enthusiasts of all ages. Mark your calendars for June 10th, 2023, and join us at the Western Nebraska Regional Airport for a day filled with excitement, learning, and a celebration of the remarkable world of aviation. About EAA Chapter 608: EAA Chapter 608 is a dedicated group of aviation enthusiasts who aim to promote and preserve the spirit of aviation in our community. With a passion for flight, they organize various events, provide educational resources, and foster a welcoming environment for all aviation enthusiasts. About Western Nebraska Regional Airport: Western Nebraska Regional Airport is a vital transportation hub serving the region with commercial and general aviation services. Situated in a scenic location, it offers a range of facilities and services to support aviation activities while contributing to the economic growth of the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Airport Appreciation Day coming to Western Nebraska Regional Airport

The Dawes County Historical Society will hold it's annual Garden Party fundraiser today from 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the County Museum south of Chadron on Country Club Road.

The event highlights some of the Museum’s “Hidden Treasures,” with the primary fundraiser being an auction of hats from the Museum collection. 

Local auctioneer Bruce Schoepner will handle the bidding call.

Master of Ceremonies Dave Carlson will give a talk on the historic buildings now located on the museum grounds. 

Guests will be entertained by music from Jack Issacs, and there were refreshments. All guests will receive complimentary copy of a book full of facts about early Chadron.

Visitors are also invited to come out before the Garden Party or to remain after to visit the various buildings and exhibits at the Dawes County Historical Museum.

By KALIN KROHE Panhandle PostThe Dawes County Historical Society will hold it's annual Garden Party fundraiser today from 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the County Museum south of Chadron on Country Club Road.The event highlights some of the Museum’s “Hidden Treasures,” with the primary fundraiser being an auction of hats from the Museum collection. Local auctioneer Bruce Schoepner will handle the bidding call.Master of Ceremonies Dave Carlson will give a talk on the historic buildings now located on the museum grounds. Guests will be entertained by music from Jack Issacs, and there were refreshments. All guests will receive complimentary copy of a book full of facts about early Chadron.Visitors are also invited to come out before the Garden Party or to remain after to visit the various buildings and exhibits at the Dawes County Historical Museum.

Dawes County Historical Society holds Garden Party fundraiser

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — According to Lincoln County District Court records, Logan Divine, 22, is facing a life sentence after pleading no contest last month to second-degree murder and the use of a weapon to commit a felony.

The charges stem from an incident that took place in August of 2021, as reported by the North Platte Police Department (NPPD).

Authorities allege that Divine beat 23-year-old Geoffrey Allen into unconsciousness using a baseball bat. Allen later died after being airlifted to a Denver hospital.

According to an arrest affidavit, Divine entered an apartment on South Cottonwood Street and struck Allen twice with a baseball bat. He then allegedly punched Allen multiple times while he sat on a chair.

The affidavit said witnesses told NPPD officers that Divine dragged Allen into a vehicle and drove him to a residence on East Phillip Avenue. Witnesses said Divine threw Allen over a fence before striking him again with a bat.

Divine then loaded Allen into his car and drove him back to the apartment on South Cottonwood Street. Upon arrival, he performed CPR on Allen before 911 was called.

Divine is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — According to Lincoln County District Court records, Logan Divine, 22, is facing a life sentence after pleading no contest last month to second-degree murder and the use of a weapon to commit a felony.The charges stem from an incident that took place in August of 2021, as reported by the North Platte Police Department (NPPD).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686150173557.png" alt="Logan Divine, 22, is facing a life sentence after pleading no contest last month to second-degree murder and the use of a weapon to commit a felony." />
 <figcaption>Logan Divine, 22, is facing a life sentence after pleading no contest last month to second-degree murder and the use of a weapon to commit a felony.</figcaption>
 </figure>Authorities allege that Divine beat 23-year-old Geoffrey Allen into unconsciousness using a baseball bat. Allen later died after being airlifted to a Denver hospital.According to an arrest affidavit, Divine entered an apartment on South Cottonwood Street and struck Allen twice with a baseball bat. He then allegedly punched Allen multiple times while he sat on a chair.The affidavit said witnesses told NPPD officers that Divine dragged Allen into a vehicle and drove him to a residence on East Phillip Avenue. Witnesses said Divine threw Allen over a fence before striking him again with a bat.Divine then loaded Allen into his car and drove him back to the apartment on South Cottonwood Street. Upon arrival, he performed CPR on Allen before 911 was called.Divine is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24.

North Platte man facing life in prison

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk 6/5/23

POST PODCAST: United Way of Western Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — With the rail industry relying on longer and longer trains to cut costs, the Biden administration is handing out $570 million in grants to help eliminate many railroad crossings in 32 states.

The grants announced Monday will contribute to building bridges or underpasses at the sites of more than three dozen crossings that delay traffic and sometimes keep first responders from where help is desperately needed.

In some places, trains routinely stretching more than 2 miles (3.2 km) long can block crossings for hours, cutting off access to parts of towns and forcing pedestrians to attempt the dangerous act of climbing through trains that could start moving without warning.

“We see countless stories of people unable to get to work on time, goods being blocked from getting where they need to be and first responders being delayed by these these trains that can be slowed or stopped — even seeing images of children having to crawl between or under freight trains in order to get to school,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.

In one case Buttigieg mentioned, a Texas mom called 911 because her 3-month-old baby was in distress, but an idle train kept the ambulance from getting there quickly and the baby died at the hospital two days later.

In addition to problems associated with blocked crossings, roughly 2,000 collisions are reported at railroad crossings every year. Nearly 250 deaths were recorded last year in those car-train crashes. In one instance Buttigieg cited, a woman in California wound up stopped on the tracks after traffic backed up and she was killed when a train slammed into her vehicle.

In recent years, the major freight railroads have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">overhauled their operations</a>&nbsp;to rely on fewer, longer trains so they can use fewer crews and locomotives as part of efforts to cut costs.

The railroads insist those changes haven't made their trains riskier, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ohio-pennsylvania-f1cd9d79cdd66b1f45d1dcdf1e53ff58">regulators</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-congress-6288cdfb0b4381de4c9bfb05199b8ba6">Congress</a>&nbsp;are scrutinizing their operations closely after several recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailments-tank-car-ohio-minnesota-c60f33b64e9c7dc05768a78ae20f3ce5">high-profile derailments</a>. And the problems at rail crossings are well documented.

These grants are part of $3 billion in funding approved in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144">$1 trillion infrastructure law</a>&nbsp;for these rail crossing projects that will be doled out over the next five years.

A number of the 63 projects that will receive grants involve only planning and design work for eliminating crossings in the future, but most of the money will go toward physical improvements at crossings and eliminating longstanding problems.

Buttigieg said he plans to visit Grand Forks, North Dakota, Monday to highlight a $30 million grant helping to pay for a project near the University of North Dakota campus that will improve access to the local hospital.

A grant worth nearly $37 million will help eliminate four rail crossings in Houston, which has the second-highest number of rail crossing deaths in the nation. The four new underpasses to be built will reduce traffic delays and improve pedestrian safety.

One $7.2 million grant will help improve access to an area of Fostoria, Ohio, known as the Iron Triangle because it is bordered on three sides by train tracks. A CSX train passes through the community about once every 26 minutes, with warning sirens at the crossings sounding for at least two hours daily. A new bridge will be built over the tracks on one side of the neighborhood to provide a safe route into the area.

In each of these grants, states and cities — sometimes with the help of the railroads — must cover at least 20% of the project cost.

By Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — With the rail industry relying on longer and longer trains to cut costs, the Biden administration is handing out $570 million in grants to help eliminate many railroad crossings in 32 states.The grants announced Monday will contribute to building bridges or underpasses at the sites of more than three dozen crossings that delay traffic and sometimes keep first responders from where help is desperately needed.In some places, trains routinely stretching more than 2 miles (3.2 km) long can block crossings for hours, cutting off access to parts of towns and forcing pedestrians to attempt the dangerous act of climbing through trains that could start moving without warning.“We see countless stories of people unable to get to work on time, goods being blocked from getting where they need to be and first responders being delayed by these these trains that can be slowed or stopped — even seeing images of children having to crawl between or under freight trains in order to get to school,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.In one case Buttigieg mentioned, a Texas mom called 911 because her 3-month-old baby was in distress, but an idle train kept the ambulance from getting there quickly and the baby died at the hospital two days later.In addition to problems associated with blocked crossings, roughly 2,000 collisions are reported at railroad crossings every year. Nearly 250 deaths were recorded last year in those car-train crashes. In one instance Buttigieg cited, a woman in California wound up stopped on the tracks after traffic backed up and she was killed when a train slammed into her vehicle.In recent years, the major freight railroads have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-aab7d3084a8d17d8d721d2cb750be323">overhauled their operations</a>&nbsp;to rely on fewer, longer trains so they can use fewer crews and locomotives as part of efforts to cut costs.The railroads insist those changes haven't made their trains riskier, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ohio-pennsylvania-f1cd9d79cdd66b1f45d1dcdf1e53ff58">regulators</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-congress-6288cdfb0b4381de4c9bfb05199b8ba6">Congress</a>&nbsp;are scrutinizing their operations closely after several recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-derailments-tank-car-ohio-minnesota-c60f33b64e9c7dc05768a78ae20f3ce5">high-profile derailments</a>. And the problems at rail crossings are well documented.These grants are part of $3 billion in funding approved in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144">$1 trillion infrastructure law</a>&nbsp;for these rail crossing projects that will be doled out over the next five years.A number of the 63 projects that will receive grants involve only planning and design work for eliminating crossings in the future, but most of the money will go toward physical improvements at crossings and eliminating longstanding problems.Buttigieg said he plans to visit Grand Forks, North Dakota, Monday to highlight a $30 million grant helping to pay for a project near the University of North Dakota campus that will improve access to the local hospital.A grant worth nearly $37 million will help eliminate four rail crossings in Houston, which has the second-highest number of rail crossing deaths in the nation. The four new underpasses to be built will reduce traffic delays and improve pedestrian safety.One $7.2 million grant will help improve access to an area of Fostoria, Ohio, known as the Iron Triangle because it is bordered on three sides by train tracks. A CSX train passes through the community about once every 26 minutes, with warning sirens at the crossings sounding for at least two hours daily. A new bridge will be built over the tracks on one side of the neighborhood to provide a safe route into the area.In each of these grants, states and cities — sometimes with the help of the railroads — must cover at least 20% of the project cost.

Dozens of dangerous rail crossings will be eliminated with $570 million in grants

-Greg Matthew Lauder and Erica Dawn Smith

-Jacob Scott Mills and Arielle Elizabeth Anne Courchesne

-Adam Ray Snyder and Hannah Rae Sandersfeld

-Skylar Christian Howell and Tami Kay Hall

-Cameron Ryan Nagaki and Carissa Ann Adamson

-Shane Weldon Hobbs and Kelsey Jade Wahlgren

-Aaron Tunheim and Heidi Irish Tunheim&nbsp;

Marriages:&nbsp;-Greg Matthew Lauder and Erica Dawn Smith-Jacob Scott Mills and Arielle Elizabeth Anne Courchesne-Adam Ray Snyder and Hannah Rae Sandersfeld-Skylar Christian Howell and Tami Kay Hall-Cameron Ryan Nagaki and Carissa Ann Adamson-Shane Weldon Hobbs and Kelsey Jade Wahlgren-Simon Izak Gous and Molly Beth RaymerDivorces:&nbsp;-Jennifer D Swanson and Jason P Swanson-Joshua Brown and Marissa Peterson-Aaron Tunheim and Heidi Irish Tunheim&nbsp;

Marriages, divorces May 2023

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Legislature has long prided itself on being a paragon of collegiality and function, as the only single-chamber, nonpartisan Legislature in the country.

But after a vicious 2023 session in which the body of 49 lawmakers remained irreconcilably split, Nebraska's statehouse is beginning to reflect broad, national discord.

The acrimony was on full display as a handful of progressive lawmakers carried out an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/filibuster-transgender-gender-affirming-therapy-bill-nebraska-cavanaugh-b9018fd1bf72112ca984ff58679eda6d">epic filibuster</a>&nbsp;of nearly every bill that came up for debate — even ones they supported — to protest a bill targeting transgender minors. The filibuster drew national media attention, revealing lawmakers' deep divide over political ideology — which was expressed through yelling, name-calling, crying and the refusal of some to even speak to other lawmakers.

“I never saw anything even close to what we witnessed this year,” said Patrick O'Donnell, who served for 45 years as clerk of the Nebraska Legislature until his retirement in December. “This was clearly the worst legislative session we've had. It's just a totally different animal.”

While officially nonpartisan, all of the Legislature's members are registered as Republicans, Democrats or independents. Republicans hold a strong majority with 32 seats, but need 33 votes to be able to break a filibuster — a slim margin that has left Republicans unable in recent years to pass signature legislation, such as a near-total abortion ban last year and a bill to allow people to carry concealed guns without a permit.

Frustration over those losses led conservatives to open this session with aggressive moves to exert even more control over a state government they’ve dominated for decades. They bucked norms to weight legislative committees, which determine what bills will be debated by the full Legislature. They did that by removing moderate and progressive lawmakers from key committees and replacing them with more conservative ones, a practice referred to as “cracking and packing.”

Then came the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-ban-bill-nebraska-60d64c873ef9279b607f5c172b366473">trans health bill</a>&nbsp;by Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth, who parroted far-right fears that children are being manipulated, calling the rising number of transgender teens “a social contagion.”

Outraged, Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh warned she would filibuster every bill if Kauth's advanced, declaring she would “burn the session to the ground over this bill.” Conservatives pushed back, not only advancing the bill, but amending it to add a 12-week abortion ban, following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-laws-states-gender-affirming-zephyr-fc2528326823c8232cb0aaa7ece0beab">nationwide, conservative wave</a>&nbsp;of bills targeting abortion and transgender rights. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-ban-nebraska-filibuster-b0b88845d29f1aaadf7936b7304a0507">hybrid bill</a>&nbsp;passed and was signed into law by Republican Gov. Jim Pillen in late March.

The spectacle that played out over the 90-day session came as a shock to longtime statehouse observers. Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, a left-leaning lawmaker who fled the Democratic Party mid-session to register as an independent, revealed that her 13-year-old child is transgender in a personal speech on the floor. She begged fellow lawmakers not to strip her or doctors of the right to care for her child.

Her plea was met with a formal ethics complaint filed against her by a far-right activist who claimed she had a conflict of interest because her child is transgender. That complaint was dismissed as unfounded on Friday.

Frustration saw Hunt and Cavanaugh often angrily lash out at conservative lawmakers who continued to vote to restrict residents' access to gender-affirming care, but also measures to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-health-nebraska-omaha-06b7febb41715e7e0b28ae3a2b62c6ca">strip abortion rights</a>, loosen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/constitutional-carry-bill-nebraska-a8168215d00c1e4bf51017e82e8da80b">gun laws</a>, and divert public money to scholarships for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/private-school-scholarships-nebraska-taxpayers-c7be118aa5a43b3ebc2da82aacaa4e29">private school tuition</a>. Hunt called other lawmakers “trash” and warned them on the statehouse floor not to speak to her, adding, “I don’t like you.”

Cavanaugh called the body “morally bankrupt” and said she was looking forward to the time "when I no longer have to serve with many of you.”

Some conservative lawmakers, in turn, lashed back. Sen. Julie Slama called for Cavanaugh's censure over remarks comparing the trans bill to genocide.

Others used racist and extremist language during debates over restricting abortion. Sen. Steve Erdman bemoaned that since the 1973 legalization of abortion, Nebraska's population has not grown “except those foreigners who have moved here or refugees who have been placed here … because we’ve killed 200,000 people.” Sen. Steve Halloran argued that the legalization of abortion in the U.S. had its roots not in choice for women, but in a plot to “kill off the Black race.”

Even moderates and peacemakers were caught in the partisan crossfire. Sen. John Arch, in his first year as Speaker of the Legislature, repeatedly called for calm during debate and was heavily criticized by both sides. Progressives accused him of favoring fellow Republicans as he sought to navigate unprecedented challenges. Conservatives thrashed him for refusing to change debate rules mid-session to cut off the filibuster.

The problem is multilayered, O'Donnell said, starting with national partisanship and big-money campaign funding that has seeped into state politics. He also pointed to term limits enacted in 2006 that keep state lawmakers from serving more than eight consecutive years. That doesn't give lawmakers enough time to learn how to develop long-term agendas or negotiate compromises, he said.

“What we have now is an uninformed and unenlightened Legislature,” O'Donnell said. “Lawmakers used to get to know each other and really talk to each other. That led to floor debate that used to change votes. But I'm afraid that's gone. What you have now are people who show up knowing how they're going to vote before they ever even get on the floor. And that's not legislating.”

A notable exception came when Republican Sen. Merv Riepe, an 80-year-old former hospital administrator, changed his mind on a proposed abortion ban at about six weeks of pregnancy. He had initially cosigned the bill, but after deciding the ban was too severe, he abstained from voting. Without his vote, the bill didn't have enough votes to advance. He later voted in favor of the 12-week ban that passed.

In response, he received threats from anti-abortion supporters who called him “demonic" and “pure evil." Conversely, many who support abortion rights angrily rebuked him for supporting the 12-week ban.

“Sometimes there's no way to win in this,” Riepe said when asked about the backlash. “I hope we do better next year and avoid some of the anger and drama we saw this year.”

By Associated PressLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Legislature has long prided itself on being a paragon of collegiality and function, as the only single-chamber, nonpartisan Legislature in the country.But after a vicious 2023 session in which the body of 49 lawmakers remained irreconcilably split, Nebraska's statehouse is beginning to reflect broad, national discord.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685925126177.jpeg" alt="The Nebraska Legislature convenes on Jan. 4, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. The Nebraska Legislature has long prided itself on being a paragon of collegiality and function, as the only single-chamber, nonpartisan Legislature in the country. But after a vicious 2023 session in which the body of 49 lawmakers remained irreconcilably split, Nebraska's statehouse is beginning to reflect broad, national discord. (Eileen T. Meslar/Omaha World-Herald via AP)" />
 <figcaption>The Nebraska Legislature convenes on Jan. 4, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. The Nebraska Legislature has long prided itself on being a paragon of collegiality and function, as the only single-chamber, nonpartisan Legislature in the country. But after a vicious 2023 session in which the body of 49 lawmakers remained irreconcilably split, Nebraska's statehouse is beginning to reflect broad, national discord. (Eileen T. Meslar/Omaha World-Herald via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>The acrimony was on full display as a handful of progressive lawmakers carried out an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/filibuster-transgender-gender-affirming-therapy-bill-nebraska-cavanaugh-b9018fd1bf72112ca984ff58679eda6d">epic filibuster</a>&nbsp;of nearly every bill that came up for debate — even ones they supported — to protest a bill targeting transgender minors. The filibuster drew national media attention, revealing lawmakers' deep divide over political ideology — which was expressed through yelling, name-calling, crying and the refusal of some to even speak to other lawmakers.“I never saw anything even close to what we witnessed this year,” said Patrick O'Donnell, who served for 45 years as clerk of the Nebraska Legislature until his retirement in December. “This was clearly the worst legislative session we've had. It's just a totally different animal.”While officially nonpartisan, all of the Legislature's members are registered as Republicans, Democrats or independents. Republicans hold a strong majority with 32 seats, but need 33 votes to be able to break a filibuster — a slim margin that has left Republicans unable in recent years to pass signature legislation, such as a near-total abortion ban last year and a bill to allow people to carry concealed guns without a permit.Frustration over those losses led conservatives to open this session with aggressive moves to exert even more control over a state government they’ve dominated for decades. They bucked norms to weight legislative committees, which determine what bills will be debated by the full Legislature. They did that by removing moderate and progressive lawmakers from key committees and replacing them with more conservative ones, a practice referred to as “cracking and packing.”Then came the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-ban-bill-nebraska-60d64c873ef9279b607f5c172b366473">trans health bill</a>&nbsp;by Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth, who parroted far-right fears that children are being manipulated, calling the rising number of transgender teens “a social contagion.”Outraged, Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh warned she would filibuster every bill if Kauth's advanced, declaring she would “burn the session to the ground over this bill.” Conservatives pushed back, not only advancing the bill, but amending it to add a 12-week abortion ban, following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lgbtq-laws-states-gender-affirming-zephyr-fc2528326823c8232cb0aaa7ece0beab">nationwide, conservative wave</a>&nbsp;of bills targeting abortion and transgender rights. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-ban-nebraska-filibuster-b0b88845d29f1aaadf7936b7304a0507">hybrid bill</a>&nbsp;passed and was signed into law by Republican Gov. Jim Pillen in late March.The spectacle that played out over the 90-day session came as a shock to longtime statehouse observers. Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, a left-leaning lawmaker who fled the Democratic Party mid-session to register as an independent, revealed that her 13-year-old child is transgender in a personal speech on the floor. She begged fellow lawmakers not to strip her or doctors of the right to care for her child.Her plea was met with a formal ethics complaint filed against her by a far-right activist who claimed she had a conflict of interest because her child is transgender. That complaint was dismissed as unfounded on Friday.Frustration saw Hunt and Cavanaugh often angrily lash out at conservative lawmakers who continued to vote to restrict residents' access to gender-affirming care, but also measures to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-health-nebraska-omaha-06b7febb41715e7e0b28ae3a2b62c6ca">strip abortion rights</a>, loosen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/constitutional-carry-bill-nebraska-a8168215d00c1e4bf51017e82e8da80b">gun laws</a>, and divert public money to scholarships for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/private-school-scholarships-nebraska-taxpayers-c7be118aa5a43b3ebc2da82aacaa4e29">private school tuition</a>. Hunt called other lawmakers “trash” and warned them on the statehouse floor not to speak to her, adding, “I don’t like you.”Cavanaugh called the body “morally bankrupt” and said she was looking forward to the time "when I no longer have to serve with many of you.”Some conservative lawmakers, in turn, lashed back. Sen. Julie Slama called for Cavanaugh's censure over remarks comparing the trans bill to genocide.Others used racist and extremist language during debates over restricting abortion. Sen. Steve Erdman bemoaned that since the 1973 legalization of abortion, Nebraska's population has not grown “except those foreigners who have moved here or refugees who have been placed here … because we’ve killed 200,000 people.” Sen. Steve Halloran argued that the legalization of abortion in the U.S. had its roots not in choice for women, but in a plot to “kill off the Black race.”Even moderates and peacemakers were caught in the partisan crossfire. Sen. John Arch, in his first year as Speaker of the Legislature, repeatedly called for calm during debate and was heavily criticized by both sides. Progressives accused him of favoring fellow Republicans as he sought to navigate unprecedented challenges. Conservatives thrashed him for refusing to change debate rules mid-session to cut off the filibuster.The problem is multilayered, O'Donnell said, starting with national partisanship and big-money campaign funding that has seeped into state politics. He also pointed to term limits enacted in 2006 that keep state lawmakers from serving more than eight consecutive years. That doesn't give lawmakers enough time to learn how to develop long-term agendas or negotiate compromises, he said.“What we have now is an uninformed and unenlightened Legislature,” O'Donnell said. “Lawmakers used to get to know each other and really talk to each other. That led to floor debate that used to change votes. But I'm afraid that's gone. What you have now are people who show up knowing how they're going to vote before they ever even get on the floor. And that's not legislating.”A notable exception came when Republican Sen. Merv Riepe, an 80-year-old former hospital administrator, changed his mind on a proposed abortion ban at about six weeks of pregnancy. He had initially cosigned the bill, but after deciding the ban was too severe, he abstained from voting. Without his vote, the bill didn't have enough votes to advance. He later voted in favor of the 12-week ban that passed.In response, he received threats from anti-abortion supporters who called him “demonic" and “pure evil." Conversely, many who support abortion rights angrily rebuked him for supporting the 12-week ban.“Sometimes there's no way to win in this,” Riepe said when asked about the backlash. “I hope we do better next year and avoid some of the anger and drama we saw this year.”

Even Nebraska's nonpartisan Legislature is divided from acrimonious 2023 session

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A pilot was killed in the crash of a single-engine plane Friday near Kearney in central Nebraska, officials said.

A statement from the Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot of the single-engine Vans RV-7 was the only person on board. The pilot's name was not immediately released.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office said the crash was reported by a citizen around 9:15 a.m. First responders found the wreckage about 12 miles (19 kilometers) east of Kearney and south of Interstate 80 in a field near the Bassway Strip State Wildlife Management Area. The site is roughly 2 miles (3 kilometers) southeast of the Kearney airport.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

The Vans RV-7 is a two-seat homebuilt plane sold in kit form and is capable of aerobatics and cross-country flights, according to the manufacturer.

By Associated PressKEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A pilot was killed in the crash of a single-engine plane Friday near Kearney in central Nebraska, officials said.A statement from the Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot of the single-engine Vans RV-7 was the only person on board. The pilot's name was not immediately released.The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office said the crash was reported by a citizen around 9:15 a.m. First responders found the wreckage about 12 miles (19 kilometers) east of Kearney and south of Interstate 80 in a field near the Bassway Strip State Wildlife Management Area. The site is roughly 2 miles (3 kilometers) southeast of the Kearney airport.The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.The Vans RV-7 is a two-seat homebuilt plane sold in kit form and is capable of aerobatics and cross-country flights, according to the manufacturer.

Pilot killed in crash of single-engine plane in central Nebraska

Each state in our nation has the opportunity to honor two great Americans hailing from their state with statues in the U.S. Capitol. When I was Governor, I had the privilege of signing legislation to change Nebraska’s statues and honor two tremendous Nebraskans: Chief Standing Bear and Willa Cather. This week as U.S. Senator, I am humbled to see that process come to fruition as we welcome the arrival of Willa Cather’s statue on June 7th.

Cather’s family moved to Nebraska at the age of nine, where she spent her&nbsp;formative&nbsp;years in Red Cloud. Upon reflecting on the impact of her family's move to Nebraska,&nbsp;Cather said,&nbsp;“By the end of the first autumn the shaggy grass country had gripped me with a passion that I have never been able to shake. It has been the happiness and curse of my life."

In 1890, after graduating high school at age 16, Cather&nbsp;enrolled&nbsp;at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Originally planning to study science and medicine&nbsp;at UNL,&nbsp;Cather’s ambitions quickly changed after seeing her first essay published. Later in her life, she described that as the launching pad of her&nbsp;success. Her classmates remember her as an intelligent, outspoken, opinionated, and talented person. Those characteristics led her to Pittsburgh to be the managing editor of a women’s magazine. While away from her home state, she honed her creative talents, writing and publishing a collection of short stories.

Cather had a career in the magazine industry for almost two decades, as she continued to develop her craft. She took the leap of faith to embark on a full-time writing career just months before her 38th&nbsp;birthday. In 1912,&nbsp;Cather published her first novel. Her second novel,&nbsp;O Pioneers,&nbsp;was published the next year,&nbsp;celebrating&nbsp;immigrant farmers and their desire to develop the prairie. This book launched Cather into the spotlight of American literature&nbsp;and brought&nbsp;much attention to her new and unique writing style.

Her most popular book,&nbsp;My Antonia,&nbsp;directly drew on her early life and followed&nbsp;an&nbsp;autobiographical theme&nbsp;through the eyes of Jim. The book was unanimously praised, and&nbsp;many,&nbsp;including&nbsp;Cather,&nbsp;claimed&nbsp;it as her&nbsp;greatest work.

Cather&nbsp;made waves again&nbsp;when she traded&nbsp;epic autobiographical novels for&nbsp;a&nbsp;streak of post-war novels.&nbsp;One of Ours&nbsp;told&nbsp;the story of her cousin’s experience fighting in the war, and was her most impactful.&nbsp;It earned tremendous praise from soldiers for the accurate depiction of&nbsp;their&nbsp;experiences, and would earn&nbsp;Cather a Pulitzer Prize.

Willa Cather epitomizes the Nebraska values we hold so dearly –&nbsp;a focus on family, a love of&nbsp;learning,&nbsp;the&nbsp;power&nbsp;of our experiences to shape us, and optimism&nbsp;for the future. She used our state and&nbsp;the&nbsp;varied&nbsp;experiences of our people&nbsp;to tell epic and innovative stories that are still revered by millions.&nbsp;She&nbsp;was a pioneer&nbsp;who&nbsp;redefined success and broke barriers. Cather’s headstone reads, “That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great."&nbsp;Cather’s legacy is great, indeed. I am pleased that she will now be representing Nebraska inside our United States Capitol for years to come.

Along with Senator Fischer and the rest of my colleagues in the Nebraska delegation, my team and I are here to serve you.&nbsp;Contact my team and I anytime&nbsp;by phone at&nbsp;202-224-4224&nbsp;or on my website&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact" target="_blank">www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact</a>.&nbsp;I am honored to serve our great state and will continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;work to protect the Good Life from Washington overreach.

By Office of Sen. Pete RickettsEach state in our nation has the opportunity to honor two great Americans hailing from their state with statues in the U.S. Capitol. When I was Governor, I had the privilege of signing legislation to change Nebraska’s statues and honor two tremendous Nebraskans: Chief Standing Bear and Willa Cather. This week as U.S. Senator, I am humbled to see that process come to fruition as we welcome the arrival of Willa Cather’s statue on June 7th.Cather’s family moved to Nebraska at the age of nine, where she spent her&nbsp;formative&nbsp;years in Red Cloud. Upon reflecting on the impact of her family's move to Nebraska,&nbsp;Cather said,&nbsp;“By the end of the first autumn the shaggy grass country had gripped me with a passion that I have never been able to shake. It has been the happiness and curse of my life."In 1890, after graduating high school at age 16, Cather&nbsp;enrolled&nbsp;at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Originally planning to study science and medicine&nbsp;at UNL,&nbsp;Cather’s ambitions quickly changed after seeing her first essay published. Later in her life, she described that as the launching pad of her&nbsp;success. Her classmates remember her as an intelligent, outspoken, opinionated, and talented person. Those characteristics led her to Pittsburgh to be the managing editor of a women’s magazine. While away from her home state, she honed her creative talents, writing and publishing a collection of short stories.Cather had a career in the magazine industry for almost two decades, as she continued to develop her craft. She took the leap of faith to embark on a full-time writing career just months before her 38th&nbsp;birthday. In 1912,&nbsp;Cather published her first novel. Her second novel,&nbsp;O Pioneers,&nbsp;was published the next year,&nbsp;celebrating&nbsp;immigrant farmers and their desire to develop the prairie. This book launched Cather into the spotlight of American literature&nbsp;and brought&nbsp;much attention to her new and unique writing style.Her most popular book,&nbsp;My Antonia,&nbsp;directly drew on her early life and followed&nbsp;an&nbsp;autobiographical theme&nbsp;through the eyes of Jim. The book was unanimously praised, and&nbsp;many,&nbsp;including&nbsp;Cather,&nbsp;claimed&nbsp;it as her&nbsp;greatest work.Cather&nbsp;made waves again&nbsp;when she traded&nbsp;epic autobiographical novels for&nbsp;a&nbsp;streak of post-war novels.&nbsp;One of Ours&nbsp;told&nbsp;the story of her cousin’s experience fighting in the war, and was her most impactful.&nbsp;It earned tremendous praise from soldiers for the accurate depiction of&nbsp;their&nbsp;experiences, and would earn&nbsp;Cather a Pulitzer Prize.Willa Cather epitomizes the Nebraska values we hold so dearly –&nbsp;a focus on family, a love of&nbsp;learning,&nbsp;the&nbsp;power&nbsp;of our experiences to shape us, and optimism&nbsp;for the future. She used our state and&nbsp;the&nbsp;varied&nbsp;experiences of our people&nbsp;to tell epic and innovative stories that are still revered by millions.&nbsp;She&nbsp;was a pioneer&nbsp;who&nbsp;redefined success and broke barriers. Cather’s headstone reads, “That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great."&nbsp;Cather’s legacy is great, indeed. I am pleased that she will now be representing Nebraska inside our United States Capitol for years to come.Along with Senator Fischer and the rest of my colleagues in the Nebraska delegation, my team and I are here to serve you.&nbsp;Contact my team and I anytime&nbsp;by phone at&nbsp;202-224-4224&nbsp;or on my website&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact" target="_blank">www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact</a>.&nbsp;I am honored to serve our great state and will continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;work to protect the Good Life from Washington overreach.

Ricketts: Honoring Willa Cather

NORTH PLATTE, NEB. — A combined effort of several law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of a Lexington man following multiple pursuits in western Nebraska Friday.

The incident began at approximately 9:15 a.m., when the Nebraska State Patrol was informed that the Logan County Sheriff’s Office was in pursuit of a vehicle that had fled an attempted traffic stop north of North Platte on Highway 83. The suspect vehicle, a Chevrolet Silverado, was southbound on Highway 83 at a high rate of speed and drove in the northbound lane at times. The Logan County deputy discontinued the pursuit at the Lincoln County line.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies and North Platte Police officers picked up the pursuit north of North Platte but discontinued the pursuit out of concern for public safety as the vehicle entered North Platte at a high rate of speed.

At approximately 10:00 a.m., a trooper observed the vehicle traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 and attempted a stop near mile marker 220. The vehicle accelerated and fled. The trooper initiated a pursuit. The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office also joined the pursuit. The suspect vehicle exited I-80 at mile marker 231, turned eastbound on Highway 30, and continued toward Lexington. The pursuit was discontinued as the vehicle entered Lexington.

NSP dispatchers were able to confirm the address associated with the vehicle registration. Troopers, Dawson County deputies, and Lexington Police officers responded to that address and located the vehicle in the driveway. The registered owner of the vehicle exited the residence and attempted to flee on foot. He was quickly apprehended.

The driver, Jesus Torres, 42, of Lexington, was arrested for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, and obstructing a peace officer. He was lodged in Dawson County Jail. Additional charges are possible in relation to the incidents in Logan and Lincoln counties.

By NSPNORTH PLATTE, NEB. — A combined effort of several law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of a Lexington man following multiple pursuits in western Nebraska Friday.The incident began at approximately 9:15 a.m., when the Nebraska State Patrol was informed that the Logan County Sheriff’s Office was in pursuit of a vehicle that had fled an attempted traffic stop north of North Platte on Highway 83. The suspect vehicle, a Chevrolet Silverado, was southbound on Highway 83 at a high rate of speed and drove in the northbound lane at times. The Logan County deputy discontinued the pursuit at the Lincoln County line.Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies and North Platte Police officers picked up the pursuit north of North Platte but discontinued the pursuit out of concern for public safety as the vehicle entered North Platte at a high rate of speed.At approximately 10:00 a.m., a trooper observed the vehicle traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 and attempted a stop near mile marker 220. The vehicle accelerated and fled. The trooper initiated a pursuit. The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office also joined the pursuit. The suspect vehicle exited I-80 at mile marker 231, turned eastbound on Highway 30, and continued toward Lexington. The pursuit was discontinued as the vehicle entered Lexington.NSP dispatchers were able to confirm the address associated with the vehicle registration. Troopers, Dawson County deputies, and Lexington Police officers responded to that address and located the vehicle in the driveway. The registered owner of the vehicle exited the residence and attempted to flee on foot. He was quickly apprehended.The driver, Jesus Torres, 42, of Lexington, was arrested for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, and obstructing a peace officer. He was lodged in Dawson County Jail. Additional charges are possible in relation to the incidents in Logan and Lincoln counties.

Lexington man arrested after pursuits in 3 counties

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM MDT
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL BOX BUTTE AND NORTHWESTERN MORRILL COUNTIES...

At 346 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles south of
Kilpatrick Lake, or 21 miles southwest of Alliance, moving northeast
at 15 mph.



SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of south
central Box Butte and northwestern Morrill Counties.


For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.&nbsp;

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM MDT
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL BOX BUTTE AND NORTHWESTERN MORRILL COUNTIES...

At 346 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles south of
Kilpatrick Lake, or 21 miles southwest of Alliance, moving northeast
at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Damage to vehicles is expected.

This severe thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of south
central Box Butte and northwestern Morrill Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.&nbsp;

 Panhandle Weather Update

Alliance – Due to mechanical issues effecting one of the refuse trucks as well as the short week in observance of Memorial Day, refuse pickup is delayed. Next week is anticipated to be back on schedule. Staff thanks you for your patience as they continue to run their routes.

For more information, please contact the Administrative Offices at (308)762-5400.

By City of AllianceAlliance – Due to mechanical issues effecting one of the refuse trucks as well as the short week in observance of Memorial Day, refuse pickup is delayed. Next week is anticipated to be back on schedule. Staff thanks you for your patience as they continue to run their routes.For more information, please contact the Administrative Offices at (308)762-5400.

Garbage pickup delayed in City of Alliance 

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk 6/2/23

By National Weather Service in Cheyenne, WY

FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be

* WHERE...Portions of panhandle Nebraska and Wyoming, including the

  following areas, in panhandle Nebraska, Banner County, Box Butte

  County, Cheyenne County, Dawes County, Kimball County, Morrill

  County, Northern Sioux County, Scotts Bluff County and Southern

  Sioux County. In Wyoming, Central Carbon County, Central Laramie

  County, Central Laramie Range and Southwest Platte County,

  Converse County Lower Elevations, East Laramie County, East Platte

  County, Ferris/Seminoe/Shirley Mountains, Goshen County, Laramie

  Valley, Niobrara County, North Laramie Range, North Snowy Range

  Foothills, Shirley Basin, Sierra Madre Range, Snowy Range, South

  Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills, Southwest Carbon

  County and Upper North Platte River Basin.

* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,

  creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.

  - Heavy rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms, and training

    thunderstorms, will create the potential for localized flash

    flooding across portions of southeast Wyoming and the

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action

By National Weather Service in Cheyenne, WYFLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.* WHERE...Portions of panhandle Nebraska and Wyoming, including the following areas, in panhandle Nebraska, Banner County, Box Butte County, Cheyenne County, Dawes County, Kimball County, Morrill County, Northern Sioux County, Scotts Bluff County and Southern Sioux County. In Wyoming, Central Carbon County, Central Laramie County, Central Laramie Range and Southwest Platte County, Converse County Lower Elevations, East Laramie County, East Platte County, Ferris/Seminoe/Shirley Mountains, Goshen County, Laramie Valley, Niobrara County, North Laramie Range, North Snowy Range Foothills, Shirley Basin, Sierra Madre Range, Snowy Range, South Laramie Range, South Laramie Range Foothills, Southwest Carbon County and Upper North Platte River Basin.* WHEN...Through late Saturday night.* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Heavy rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms, and training thunderstorms, will create the potential for localized flash flooding across portions of southeast Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/floodPRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take actionshould Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Flood Watch issued for portions of Panhandle 

Dawes County Highway Superintendent Wade Yada is warning drivers on unpaved county roads to be prepared for the possibility of flooding or washed out sections.

Yada said Thursday afternoon that Mansfield Road was currently closed between Raben Road and Old Highway 20 due to flooding. He advised drivers to avoid driving through flooded areas of roads, as it is impossible to know if there is surface or subsurface damage. 

Yada also said that unmarked flooding and washouts can occur.

Yada said that the recent rains and the threat of more to come have made the roads more susceptible to flooding. He urged drivers to use caution and to be aware of the potential hazards when driving on unpaved roads.

By KALIN KROHE Panhandle PostDawes County Highway Superintendent Wade Yada is warning drivers on unpaved county roads to be prepared for the possibility of flooding or washed out sections.Yada said Thursday afternoon that Mansfield Road was currently closed between Raben Road and Old Highway 20 due to flooding. He advised drivers to avoid driving through flooded areas of roads, as it is impossible to know if there is surface or subsurface damage. Yada also said that unmarked flooding and washouts can occur.Yada said that the recent rains and the threat of more to come have made the roads more susceptible to flooding. He urged drivers to use caution and to be aware of the potential hazards when driving on unpaved roads.

Dawes Co. Highway Superintendent warns of flooding on unpaved roads

Chadron City Hall will close at 4 p.m., an hour earlier than its previous closing time of 5 p.m. The change took effect today, June 2.

Chadron City Manager Tom Menke said the change was made in response to feedback from city employees. 

In a survey conducted earlier this year, employees said they would like to have an hour each day without phone calls or visitors so they could focus on their work. Menke said the busiest time at city hall in terms of citizens coming in is in the morning.

Menke said the plan is to review the 4 p.m. closure in about 6 months to see if it should be changed or made permanent.

By KALIN KROHE Panhandle PostChadron City Hall will close at 4 p.m., an hour earlier than its previous closing time of 5 p.m. The change took effect today, June 2.Chadron City Manager Tom Menke said the change was made in response to feedback from city employees. In a survey conducted earlier this year, employees said they would like to have an hour each day without phone calls or visitors so they could focus on their work. Menke said the busiest time at city hall in terms of citizens coming in is in the morning.Menke said the plan is to review the 4 p.m. closure in about 6 months to see if it should be changed or made permanent.

Chadron City Hall changes hours of operation 

WASHINGTON, D.C. –&nbsp;Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) released the following statement after voting against&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3746" target="_blank">H.R. 3746</a>, the bill to increase the debt ceiling:

“There are a lot of things Nebraskans should like in this agreement, but I believe the federal government has two primary responsibilities: to provide opportunity instead of hand-outs and to keep Americans safe. Despite reasonable amendments that would have addressed both, this bill ultimately adds more welfare spending and underfunds our national defense. At a time when our economy is desperate for more workers and our nation faces increasingly hostile threats from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party and Russia, this bill failed to deliver the solutions that we need.”

By Office of Sen. Pete RickettsWASHINGTON, D.C. –&nbsp;Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) released the following statement after voting against&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3746" target="_blank">H.R. 3746</a>, the bill to increase the debt ceiling:“There are a lot of things Nebraskans should like in this agreement, but I believe the federal government has two primary responsibilities: to provide opportunity instead of hand-outs and to keep Americans safe. Despite reasonable amendments that would have addressed both, this bill ultimately adds more welfare spending and underfunds our national defense. At a time when our economy is desperate for more workers and our nation faces increasingly hostile threats from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party and Russia, this bill failed to deliver the solutions that we need.”

Ricketts statement on debt ceiling vote

By Kerri Rempp, Discover Northwest Nebraska

There are a lot of things Northwest Nebraska doesn’t have when compared to other destinations: beaches, miles of retail shopping, professional sports teams…traffic, crowded trails, air and light pollution.

The lack of light pollution translates to an attraction many residents take for granted, the night sky.

The “World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness,” commissioned in 2016, indicates that 80% of the world’s population lives under skyglow. Millions of children around the world will never see the Milky Way in their lifetime.

According to the International Dark Sky Association, there is growing evidence that, in addition to never enjoying the sight of dark skies, light pollution is connected to increasing energy consumption, disrupts the ecosystem and wildlife, harms human health and negatively affects crime and safety rates.

At Agate Fossil Beds National Monument south of Harrison, Tera Lynn Gray, the new lead interpretive ranger, and her husband, Jason, the regional manager for the Black Hills Parks &amp; Forest Association, are working to inspire awe, awareness and enjoyment of the night skies in residents and visitors.

The park has already hosted two night sky events this season, one focused on the stories of the constellations and another introducing kids to the wonders of astronomy (with ice cream!). Four more are planned from now until September.

The next night sky program will be a new adventure for the park. On June 24, 50 pre-registered guests will be allowed to campout at the Agate Fossil Beds; the park does not allow camping at any other time, but Gray wanted to offer the opportunity to spend an entire night under the stars with interpretive elements.

On July 1, the park will offer a full moon hike from 7-9 p.m., and on Aug. 12, visitors can view the Perseids through telescopes. The final program will take place Sept. 9, when Jason will lead an astrophotography 101 program.

Calling himself “a geek from birth,” Jason says the night skies have always been fascinating to him. The ability to combine it with the cultural aspect of constellation stories ranging from the Greco-Roman era to Native American beliefs and the science behind the importance of the night skies to flora and fauna fulfills every desire.

The couple have spent the last several years traveling to a new detail every six months at national parks across the country. Tera Lynn, a former teacher and principal at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, has taken positions at a variety of parks, and Jason then volunteers at each one, often in the night sky programming.

“He’s done amazing stuff at the parks we’ve been,” Tera Lynn said. “We love the message of the park service,” she added, noting that their children, Travis, 15, and Ainsley, 12, have 70 junior ranger badges.

In their travels, they always made plans to catch the night sky programs at the parks, and it’s not unknown for them to wake up the kids at 2 a.m. for night sky viewing.

There is a connection between the sky and Earth, and night skies need to be protected, Jason said. As an example, light pollution can wipe out a population of fireflies in two summers, he said. Agricultural growing seasons and wildlife all depend on night skies, he continued.

While the night sky programs’ main goal is to raise awareness and share the dark skies experience with visitors, Agate Fossil Beds is also hoping the programming will assist them in an application to become a certified Dark Sky Park through the International Dark Skies Association.

While the parks’ trails will still be required to close at sunset if certification is achieved, Agate Fossil Beds will focus more programming on accessibility to night sky viewing. Some of the legwork required for certification was completed by previous staff, including a lighting survey and transitioning to compliant lighting within the park boundaries. The Grays will work together to finish the park’s other requirements for application this year.

Acquiring the certification will help visitors interested in dark skies find their way to Agate Fossil Beds, which translates to increased tourism dollars for local businesses.

Tera Lynn joined the park service after Jason set up an interview for her, noting that the commute to her job in education was stressful. Their sustainable farm in Colorado was also a challenge given the state’s water regulations. They decided the career change would be worth it because it would allow them to work together at each park.

Tera Lynn’s first posting was Agate Fossil Beds before they moved on to other locations. When it was time to pick one location and settle down again, the choice was easy for the entire family: Agate Fossil Beds.

Of course, in full transparency, Jason said, the kids were lured to Harrison for the full-sized candy bars many homes give out at Halloween.

Tera Lynn took over the posting as lead interpretive ranger last September, while Jason, who has a background in finance, took the position as the regional manager for the Black Hills Parks &amp; Forest Association, offering resources in the park stores that further interpret the stories of the parks themselves.

“We’ve slowly evolved from hard-core urban southern California types to living in Harrison,” Jason said. “There was something about Agate, the region and the environment.”

Now, working from both sides - the National Park Service and the park store – they want to put Agate Fossil Beds on the map with additional programming and exhibits, making both avenues accessible to those with disabilities given Tera Lynn’s educational background. Jason and the Black Hills Parks &amp; Forest Association are also working to enhance the park’s interactive trailer to make Agate’s story mobile in an effort to reach new audiences.

“We love the park service, and we love this town,” Tera Lynn said, adding that she wants to connect with more community members. A volunteer experience on Martin Luther King Jr. Day brought in community

members to work on the park’s archives, and it inspired at least two volunteers to become regular faces at the park.

“This is their park,” Tera Lynn said of the Sioux County residents. “Harrison is our gateway community.”

Jason has researched James Cook and his family extensively since coming to Agate Fossil Beds and what they envisioned for the park.

“It was going to be a flagship site, and there was a lot of excitement in the community,” he said. “One hundred years later, we’re trying to live up to some of that.”

By Kerri Rempp, Discover Northwest Nebraska<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685672656012.jpeg" alt="Jason Gray shares Native American constellation stories during a night sky program at Agate Fossil Beds earlier this year. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska" />
 <figcaption>Jason Gray shares Native American constellation stories during a night sky program at Agate Fossil Beds earlier this year. Photo by Kerri Rempp/Discover Northwest Nebraska</figcaption>
 </figure>There are a lot of things Northwest Nebraska doesn’t have when compared to other destinations: beaches, miles of retail shopping, professional sports teams…traffic, crowded trails, air and light pollution.The lack of light pollution translates to an attraction many residents take for granted, the night sky.The “World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness,” commissioned in 2016, indicates that 80% of the world’s population lives under skyglow. Millions of children around the world will never see the Milky Way in their lifetime.According to the International Dark Sky Association, there is growing evidence that, in addition to never enjoying the sight of dark skies, light pollution is connected to increasing energy consumption, disrupts the ecosystem and wildlife, harms human health and negatively affects crime and safety rates.At Agate Fossil Beds National Monument south of Harrison, Tera Lynn Gray, the new lead interpretive ranger, and her husband, Jason, the regional manager for the Black Hills Parks &amp; Forest Association, are working to inspire awe, awareness and enjoyment of the night skies in residents and visitors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685672695800.jpeg" alt="Agate Fossil Beds offers a variety of night sky programming. Photo by Brandon Davenport/Discover Northwest Nebraska" />
 <figcaption>Agate Fossil Beds offers a variety of night sky programming. Photo by Brandon Davenport/Discover Northwest Nebraska</figcaption>
 </figure>The park has already hosted two night sky events this season, one focused on the stories of the constellations and another introducing kids to the wonders of astronomy (with ice cream!). Four more are planned from now until September.The next night sky program will be a new adventure for the park. On June 24, 50 pre-registered guests will be allowed to campout at the Agate Fossil Beds; the park does not allow camping at any other time, but Gray wanted to offer the opportunity to spend an entire night under the stars with interpretive elements.On July 1, the park will offer a full moon hike from 7-9 p.m., and on Aug. 12, visitors can view the Perseids through telescopes. The final program will take place Sept. 9, when Jason will lead an astrophotography 101 program.Calling himself “a geek from birth,” Jason says the night skies have always been fascinating to him. The ability to combine it with the cultural aspect of constellation stories ranging from the Greco-Roman era to Native American beliefs and the science behind the importance of the night skies to flora and fauna fulfills every desire.“It hits every button,” he said.The couple have spent the last several years traveling to a new detail every six months at national parks across the country. Tera Lynn, a former teacher and principal at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, has taken positions at a variety of parks, and Jason then volunteers at each one, often in the night sky programming.“He’s done amazing stuff at the parks we’ve been,” Tera Lynn said. “We love the message of the park service,” she added, noting that their children, Travis, 15, and Ainsley, 12, have 70 junior ranger badges.In their travels, they always made plans to catch the night sky programs at the parks, and it’s not unknown for them to wake up the kids at 2 a.m. for night sky viewing.There is a connection between the sky and Earth, and night skies need to be protected, Jason said. As an example, light pollution can wipe out a population of fireflies in two summers, he said. Agricultural growing seasons and wildlife all depend on night skies, he continued.While the night sky programs’ main goal is to raise awareness and share the dark skies experience with visitors, Agate Fossil Beds is also hoping the programming will assist them in an application to become a certified Dark Sky Park through the International Dark Skies Association.While the parks’ trails will still be required to close at sunset if certification is achieved, Agate Fossil Beds will focus more programming on accessibility to night sky viewing. Some of the legwork required for certification was completed by previous staff, including a lighting survey and transitioning to compliant lighting within the park boundaries. The Grays will work together to finish the park’s other requirements for application this year.Acquiring the certification will help visitors interested in dark skies find their way to Agate Fossil Beds, which translates to increased tourism dollars for local businesses.Tera Lynn joined the park service after Jason set up an interview for her, noting that the commute to her job in education was stressful. Their sustainable farm in Colorado was also a challenge given the state’s water regulations. They decided the career change would be worth it because it would allow them to work together at each park.Tera Lynn’s first posting was Agate Fossil Beds before they moved on to other locations. When it was time to pick one location and settle down again, the choice was easy for the entire family: Agate Fossil Beds.“It was unanimous,” Tera Lynn said.Of course, in full transparency, Jason said, the kids were lured to Harrison for the full-sized candy bars many homes give out at Halloween.Tera Lynn took over the posting as lead interpretive ranger last September, while Jason, who has a background in finance, took the position as the regional manager for the Black Hills Parks &amp; Forest Association, offering resources in the park stores that further interpret the stories of the parks themselves.“We’ve slowly evolved from hard-core urban southern California types to living in Harrison,” Jason said. “There was something about Agate, the region and the environment.”Now, working from both sides - the National Park Service and the park store – they want to put Agate Fossil Beds on the map with additional programming and exhibits, making both avenues accessible to those with disabilities given Tera Lynn’s educational background. Jason and the Black Hills Parks &amp; Forest Association are also working to enhance the park’s interactive trailer to make Agate’s story mobile in an effort to reach new audiences.“We love the park service, and we love this town,” Tera Lynn said, adding that she wants to connect with more community members. A volunteer experience on Martin Luther King Jr. Day brought in communitymembers to work on the park’s archives, and it inspired at least two volunteers to become regular faces at the park.“This is their park,” Tera Lynn said of the Sioux County residents. “Harrison is our gateway community.”Jason has researched James Cook and his family extensively since coming to Agate Fossil Beds and what they envisioned for the park.“It was going to be a flagship site, and there was a lot of excitement in the community,” he said. “One hundred years later, we’re trying to live up to some of that.”

Agate Fossil Beds offers night sky viewing in Sioux County 

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider recommendations for a 2024 mountain lion hunting season at its June 9 meeting in Alma.

The meeting begins at 8 a.m. Central time at the Alma Municipal Golf Course, 102 Dick Brown Memorial Drive.

For the first time, a harvest season will be proposed for mountain lions outside the Pine Ridge. If approved, a Niobrara Unit will be created, encompassing parts of Brown, Cherry, Keya Paha, Rock and Sheridan counties. The objective for the Niobrara Unit will be to provide a harvest opportunity for mountain lions that will allow the population to remain resilient and healthy, while slowing growth of the population.

Mountain lion presence has been documented in the Niobrara River Valley of north-central Nebraska since 2001. There has been a resident reproducing population there since 2013 and information gathered through research suggests a population that is growing and will be resilient to harvest.

Season 1 in the Niobrara and Pine Ridge units would take place Jan. 2 through the end of February. The season would end immediately in a unit if the annual harvest limit or female sub-limit were reached. The Pine Ridge limit would be four mountain lions with a sub-limit of two females, and the Niobrara limit would be two mountain lions with a one female sub-limit. Up to 320 permits would be issued by lottery in the Pine Ridge Unit and up to 160 permits will be issued in the Niobrara Unit. An auxiliary season would be held March 16 through the end of March if the annual harvest limit or female sub-limit were not reached during Season 1 in a unit.

The Commission also will consider changes to the river otter trapping season. The proposal would eliminate the overall season harvest limit and simplify the check-in process by allowing them to be checked within two days after the close of the season and before the sale or transfer of the otter. The requirement of daily checking of season status would be eliminated as well. The proposed season would be Nov. 1, 2023, through Feb. 29, 2024. Each harvester would be limited to one otter per season.

In other business, staff will recommend changes to sportfishing regulations that would allow archery paddlefish permit holders to harvest paddlefish in the spillway below Gavins Point Dam. The north wall and discharge canal would remain closed to archery paddlefish fishing.

The Commission also will consider renaming the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln the Nebraska Game and Parks Turpin Outdoor Education Center in the memory of Dick Turpin, a longtime Game and Parks employee and outdoor enthusiast.

Staff also will conduct a presentation about the recently completed Wetlands of Nebraska Outreach and Education project, which produced a series of products to increase awareness of the importance of wetlands in Nebraska.

To view a complete agenda, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cuT3V0ZG9vck5lYnJhc2thLmdvdiIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MDEuNzc1OTExNDEifQ.wLz56O6qeTvkmqx_Bxwdp5yh8f0SUzWL4Z0185guCRU/s/497221906/br/204074691842-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;and search for “public notices.” To view proposed changes to Commission regulations and orders, search for “regulations.”

By Nebraska Game and ParksThe Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider recommendations for a 2024 mountain lion hunting season at its June 9 meeting in Alma.The meeting begins at 8 a.m. Central time at the Alma Municipal Golf Course, 102 Dick Brown Memorial Drive.For the first time, a harvest season will be proposed for mountain lions outside the Pine Ridge. If approved, a Niobrara Unit will be created, encompassing parts of Brown, Cherry, Keya Paha, Rock and Sheridan counties. The objective for the Niobrara Unit will be to provide a harvest opportunity for mountain lions that will allow the population to remain resilient and healthy, while slowing growth of the population.Mountain lion presence has been documented in the Niobrara River Valley of north-central Nebraska since 2001. There has been a resident reproducing population there since 2013 and information gathered through research suggests a population that is growing and will be resilient to harvest.Season 1 in the Niobrara and Pine Ridge units would take place Jan. 2 through the end of February. The season would end immediately in a unit if the annual harvest limit or female sub-limit were reached. The Pine Ridge limit would be four mountain lions with a sub-limit of two females, and the Niobrara limit would be two mountain lions with a one female sub-limit. Up to 320 permits would be issued by lottery in the Pine Ridge Unit and up to 160 permits will be issued in the Niobrara Unit. An auxiliary season would be held March 16 through the end of March if the annual harvest limit or female sub-limit were not reached during Season 1 in a unit.The Commission also will consider changes to the river otter trapping season. The proposal would eliminate the overall season harvest limit and simplify the check-in process by allowing them to be checked within two days after the close of the season and before the sale or transfer of the otter. The requirement of daily checking of season status would be eliminated as well. The proposed season would be Nov. 1, 2023, through Feb. 29, 2024. Each harvester would be limited to one otter per season.In other business, staff will recommend changes to sportfishing regulations that would allow archery paddlefish permit holders to harvest paddlefish in the spillway below Gavins Point Dam. The north wall and discharge canal would remain closed to archery paddlefish fishing.The Commission also will consider renaming the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln the Nebraska Game and Parks Turpin Outdoor Education Center in the memory of Dick Turpin, a longtime Game and Parks employee and outdoor enthusiast.Staff also will conduct a presentation about the recently completed Wetlands of Nebraska Outreach and Education project, which produced a series of products to increase awareness of the importance of wetlands in Nebraska.To view a complete agenda, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cuT3V0ZG9vck5lYnJhc2thLmdvdiIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA2MDEuNzc1OTExNDEifQ.wLz56O6qeTvkmqx_Bxwdp5yh8f0SUzWL4Z0185guCRU/s/497221906/br/204074691842-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;and search for “public notices.” To view proposed changes to Commission regulations and orders, search for “regulations.”

Commissioners to consider 2024 mountain lion season

Alliance – The Alliance Public Landfill, construction and demo area and the loose fill area are closed to the public due to muddy conditions until conditions clear up.

For more information, please contact the Alliance Landfill at (308) 762-2705.

By City of AllianceAlliance – The Alliance Public Landfill, construction and demo area and the loose fill area are closed to the public due to muddy conditions until conditions clear up.For more information, please contact the Alliance Landfill at (308) 762-2705.