This week, I gave my U.S. Senate Maiden Speech –&nbsp;a long-held tradition for freshman senators to highlight their priorities in an inaugural speech on the Senate floor. The first time I entered the U.S. Senate chamber, I got chills. The chamber and the&nbsp;Capitol building represent the values we’ve held for nearly two and a half centuries.&nbsp;They&nbsp;represent how exceptional our Republic is.

We must not lose sight of what makes America so exceptional. Our founders threw off the tyranny of a king with an idea;&nbsp;that our rights come to us directly from God – not from a king. Governments are instituted to protect those rights.

Even today, after 246 years, our founding principles are every bit as true. These values – like rule of law, checks and balances, and federalism – are critical to our republic. They've created the greatest nation the world has ever seen. We’re strongest when we follow them. We’re never weaker than when we stray from them.

Our American system unleashes the power of individuals to achieve their full potential. In our country, it doesn't matter where you start. With enough grit and hard work, you can go anywhere. That's why the world wants to come here. That’s why nearly every major innovation and breakthrough comes from America.

The framers of the Constitution also believed that government closest to the people is best able to serve them. It's common sense. What works in New York may not work in Nebraska.&nbsp;Our state has shown America what's possible when the federal government gets out of the way and allows states to lead.

During my time as Governor, we kept the size and scope of government small. We empowered people. We ran government more like a business. We dramatically improved the level of service provided to Nebraska families. We got help to people in need faster than ever before. We made it easier for citizens and businesses to work with the state. We provided billions of dollars in tax relief – including for veterans and seniors by phasing out taxes on their retirement income and Social Security. We attracted new investments and jobs for communities big and small. We employed a record-number of Nebraskans while our state’s unemployment rate reached a historic low.

We made government work better. We proved that we can do a better job of providing services while still controlling our costs. We also proved that we can respect people’s liberty and freedoms while protecting their safety. During the pandemic, we kept kids in school, people at work, and government open.&nbsp;As a result, we were rated the number one best pandemic response state.

All of this reflects Nebraska’s conservative values. In Nebraska, we respect people’s freedom. We value strong communities, faith, and family. We honor our law enforcement and military. We expect a limited, accountable government. We believe in personal responsibility and the boundless potential of the individual.

Nebraska is what America is supposed to be.

But nationally, we’ve strayed from those values.&nbsp;Too many now take our freedoms for granted. Too often we hear resentment rather than reverence for the very principles that make this country great. Too many have forgotten the old adage that a government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.

As your Senator, I will strive to make the federal government work better for the people. I will reject every effort to restrict our liberties and undermine our values. I will work to restore transparency and faith in the federal government. I will work to control spending, curb unnecessary regulation, and limit the size and scope of government. I will work to secure our borders and provide the resources to defend against our enemies. I will work to assure that we have a well-trained, well-led, and&nbsp;well-equipped military to defend us. I will hold this and future administrations accountable to the American people.&nbsp;More importantly,&nbsp;I will always fight for the best interests and freedoms of&nbsp;you,&nbsp;the Nebraskans I serve.

Throughout our history, we have risen to meet every challenge. With our founding values as our guide, we will again rise to meet the challenge of this moment.

&nbsp; Along with 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 202-224-4224, on my website&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ricketts.senate.gov/" target="_blank">www.ricketts.senate.gov</a>, or via email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:contactricke@ricketts.senate.gov" target="_blank">contactricke@ricketts.senate.gov</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 Gov. Pete RickettsThis week, I gave my U.S. Senate Maiden Speech –&nbsp;a long-held tradition for freshman senators to highlight their priorities in an inaugural speech on the Senate floor. The first time I entered the U.S. Senate chamber, I got chills. The chamber and the&nbsp;Capitol building represent the values we’ve held for nearly two and a half centuries.&nbsp;They&nbsp;represent how exceptional our Republic is.We must not lose sight of what makes America so exceptional. Our founders threw off the tyranny of a king with an idea;&nbsp;that our rights come to us directly from God – not from a king. Governments are instituted to protect those rights.Even today, after 246 years, our founding principles are every bit as true. These values – like rule of law, checks and balances, and federalism – are critical to our republic. They've created the greatest nation the world has ever seen. We’re strongest when we follow them. We’re never weaker than when we stray from them.Our American system unleashes the power of individuals to achieve their full potential. In our country, it doesn't matter where you start. With enough grit and hard work, you can go anywhere. That's why the world wants to come here. That’s why nearly every major innovation and breakthrough comes from America.The framers of the Constitution also believed that government closest to the people is best able to serve them. It's common sense. What works in New York may not work in Nebraska.&nbsp;Our state has shown America what's possible when the federal government gets out of the way and allows states to lead.During my time as Governor, we kept the size and scope of government small. We empowered people. We ran government more like a business. We dramatically improved the level of service provided to Nebraska families. We got help to people in need faster than ever before. We made it easier for citizens and businesses to work with the state. We provided billions of dollars in tax relief – including for veterans and seniors by phasing out taxes on their retirement income and Social Security. We attracted new investments and jobs for communities big and small. We employed a record-number of Nebraskans while our state’s unemployment rate reached a historic low.We made government work better. We proved that we can do a better job of providing services while still controlling our costs. We also proved that we can respect people’s liberty and freedoms while protecting their safety. During the pandemic, we kept kids in school, people at work, and government open.&nbsp;As a result, we were rated the number one best pandemic response state.All of this reflects Nebraska’s conservative values. In Nebraska, we respect people’s freedom. We value strong communities, faith, and family. We honor our law enforcement and military. We expect a limited, accountable government. We believe in personal responsibility and the boundless potential of the individual.Nebraska is what America is supposed to be.But nationally, we’ve strayed from those values.&nbsp;Too many now take our freedoms for granted. Too often we hear resentment rather than reverence for the very principles that make this country great. Too many have forgotten the old adage that a government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.As your Senator, I will strive to make the federal government work better for the people. I will reject every effort to restrict our liberties and undermine our values. I will work to restore transparency and faith in the federal government. I will work to control spending, curb unnecessary regulation, and limit the size and scope of government. I will work to secure our borders and provide the resources to defend against our enemies. I will work to assure that we have a well-trained, well-led, and&nbsp;well-equipped military to defend us. I will hold this and future administrations accountable to the American people.&nbsp;More importantly,&nbsp;I will always fight for the best interests and freedoms of&nbsp;you,&nbsp;the Nebraskans I serve.Throughout our history, we have risen to meet every challenge. With our founding values as our guide, we will again rise to meet the challenge of this moment.&nbsp; Along with 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 202-224-4224, on my website&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ricketts.senate.gov/" target="_blank">www.ricketts.senate.gov</a>, or via email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:contactricke@ricketts.senate.gov" target="_blank">contactricke@ricketts.senate.gov</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.

Sen. Ricketts: Nebraska is what America is supposed to be

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former high school journalist and the Nebraska High School Press Association sued Friday over a school district's shutdown of the school newspaper after it published an LGBTQ-focused edition.

The federal lawsuit claims Grand Island Northwest Public Schools and its superintendent violated the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment in May when it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gender-identity-nebraska-gay-rights-newspapers-censorship-229d12b873a51cfe5f6eb3a4b9b715f5">closed</a>&nbsp;the Viking Saga newspaper at Grand Island Northwest High School, which has about 700 students. The district later agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-nebraska-gay-rights-newspapers-grand-island-c40f420ba8bf9a6a93a7f5fb1f2499ae">bring the newspaper back</a>&nbsp;in digital form.

“It is hard to find words for what it felt like watching people who were supposed to be supporting our education instead silence us for covering issues impacting our lives,” Marcus Pennell, the former student suing the district, said in a statement. “I was crushed."

An email message left with the school district's superintendent, Jeffrey Edwards, was not immediately returned. Edwards last year called the shutdown “an administrative decision."

Saga newspaper staff were informed of the newspaper’s elimination three days after printing of the June edition, which included an article titled, “Pride and prejudice: LGBTQIA+,” on the origins of Pride Month and the history of homophobia. It also included an editorial opposing a Florida law, dubbed by critics as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-lifestyle-education-florida-ron-desantis-322e0a40da909f48954b8b1bd9190750">“Don’t Say Gay,"</a>&nbsp;that bans some lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity and

A May 22 email from a school employee canceling the paper’s printing services said it was “because the school board and superintendent are unhappy with the last issue’s editorial content.” Some school board members publicly stated their objection to the Saga’s LGBTQ content.

The lawsuit also states that Pennell, who is transgender, was told in March 2022 that he and others could use only names assigned to them at birth in their bylines and that they could not list their pronouns.

The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the district violated the law as well as unspecified damages. Grand Island is a city of about 52,300 residents about 150 miles (241 kilometers) west of Omaha.

By Associated Press<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680278465498.jpeg" alt="Former Viking Saga student newspaper staff members Marcus Pennell, left, and Emma Smith display a pride flag outside of Northwest High School in Grand Island, Neb., July 20, 2022. A former high school journalist is suing the Nebraska school district that last year shut down the school newspaper after it published an LGBTQ-focused edition. The federal lawsuit filed Friday, March 31, 2023, names Grand Island Northwest Public Schools and its superintendent. It claims the shutdown of the student paper at Northwest High School was unconstitutional. (McKenna Lamoree/The Independent via AP, File)" />
 <figcaption>Former Viking Saga student newspaper staff members Marcus Pennell, left, and Emma Smith display a pride flag outside of Northwest High School in Grand Island, Neb., July 20, 2022. A former high school journalist is suing the Nebraska school district that last year shut down the school newspaper after it published an LGBTQ-focused edition. The federal lawsuit filed Friday, March 31, 2023, names Grand Island Northwest Public Schools and its superintendent. It claims the shutdown of the student paper at Northwest High School was unconstitutional. (McKenna Lamoree/The Independent via AP, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former high school journalist and the Nebraska High School Press Association sued Friday over a school district's shutdown of the school newspaper after it published an LGBTQ-focused edition.The federal lawsuit claims Grand Island Northwest Public Schools and its superintendent violated the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment in May when it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gender-identity-nebraska-gay-rights-newspapers-censorship-229d12b873a51cfe5f6eb3a4b9b715f5">closed</a>&nbsp;the Viking Saga newspaper at Grand Island Northwest High School, which has about 700 students. The district later agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-nebraska-gay-rights-newspapers-grand-island-c40f420ba8bf9a6a93a7f5fb1f2499ae">bring the newspaper back</a>&nbsp;in digital form.“It is hard to find words for what it felt like watching people who were supposed to be supporting our education instead silence us for covering issues impacting our lives,” Marcus Pennell, the former student suing the district, said in a statement. “I was crushed."An email message left with the school district's superintendent, Jeffrey Edwards, was not immediately returned. Edwards last year called the shutdown “an administrative decision."Saga newspaper staff were informed of the newspaper’s elimination three days after printing of the June edition, which included an article titled, “Pride and prejudice: LGBTQIA+,” on the origins of Pride Month and the history of homophobia. It also included an editorial opposing a Florida law, dubbed by critics as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-lifestyle-education-florida-ron-desantis-322e0a40da909f48954b8b1bd9190750">“Don’t Say Gay,"</a>&nbsp;that bans some lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity andA May 22 email from a school employee canceling the paper’s printing services said it was “because the school board and superintendent are unhappy with the last issue’s editorial content.” Some school board members publicly stated their objection to the Saga’s LGBTQ content.The lawsuit also states that Pennell, who is transgender, was told in March 2022 that he and others could use only names assigned to them at birth in their bylines and that they could not list their pronouns.The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the district violated the law as well as unspecified damages. Grand Island is a city of about 52,300 residents about 150 miles (241 kilometers) west of Omaha.

District sued over axing of student paper after LGBTQ issue

Road Trip for St Patrick's Day, was a short trip  across town. I read online that Pigaro's was having corn beef and cabbage. So, I put on my green socks,  picked up my faithful sidekick and off we went. 

 Alliance is fortunate to have this business here, its amazing. It Is located at 615 W 3rd St., next door to Git N' Split, you cant miss it. The smell will bring you there from a block away.&nbsp;

I am not a huge BBQ fan, so I had not been in yet to try it. That, was my first mistake!  Corn Beef, yes, it was time to broaden my Horizons. We stepped in to a paradise of smell,  taste and beautiful decor  that will knock your socks off!!  So we claimed a table and went up to order.

We were met by the owners.  Who were very kind and awesome people. I had to ask him how to correctly pronounce Pigaro's as I was murdering it. He laughed and helped me out.

We ordered our corn beef and cabbage meal. Got it right then and there, and there was so much i seriously ate on it for three meals. It was fantastic. Never had i eaten corn beef that way. I was so surprised. Also surprised at given so much, not to mention only $10!  I put a little BBQ sauce on it . Wow that taste just was so good. Each meal came with Bread and i made a sandwich. The cabbage, well those folks know how to do it right. I cant hardly wait to go back. 

By the time we were stuffed and ready to leave, the tables were filling up, and a line at the counter.  These folks knew where to come for great&nbsp;food. See ya there!

By Tami Cox Swearingen<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680278184552.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Road Trip for St Patrick's Day, was a short trip across town. I read online that Pigaro's was having corn beef and cabbage. So, I put on my green socks, picked up my faithful sidekick and off we went. Alliance is fortunate to have this business here, its amazing. It Is located at 615 W 3rd St., next door to Git N' Split, you cant miss it. The smell will bring you there from a block away.&nbsp;I am not a huge BBQ fan, so I had not been in yet to try it. That, was my first mistake! Corn Beef, yes, it was time to broaden my Horizons. We stepped in to a paradise of smell, taste and beautiful decor that will knock your socks off!! So we claimed a table and went up to order.We were met by the owners. Who were very kind and awesome people. I had to ask him how to correctly pronounce Pigaro's as I was murdering it. He laughed and helped me out.We ordered our corn beef and cabbage meal. Got it right then and there, and there was so much i seriously ate on it for three meals. It was fantastic. Never had i eaten corn beef that way. I was so surprised. Also surprised at given so much, not to mention only $10! I put a little BBQ sauce on it . Wow that taste just was so good. Each meal came with Bread and i made a sandwich. The cabbage, well those folks know how to do it right. I cant hardly wait to go back. By the time we were stuffed and ready to leave, the tables were filling up, and a line at the counter. These folks knew where to come for great&nbsp;food. See ya there!

Road Trip: Pigaro's BBQ in Alliance 

On this episode of Beverages of the Damned, Wenty, Kman and Gles get into their St. Patrick's Day vibe.&nbsp;

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ckD1UqAIIVY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Beverages of the Damned, Wenty, Kman and Gles get into their St. Patrick's Day vibe.&nbsp;

🎥 Beverages of the Damned: Hibiscus, sour watermelon Peeps 

By JOSH FUNK Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. — Americans are renewing their focus on railroad 
safety after a string of recent derailments, especially two fiery ones 
involving hazardous chemicals in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">Ohio</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-train-derailment-evacuation-ethanol-fire-73cc3e80f616070806f8f8b35191a616">Minnesota</a> that prompted evacuations.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ohio-pennsylvania-f1cd9d79cdd66b1f45d1dcdf1e53ff58">Federal regulators</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-congress-6288cdfb0b4381de4c9bfb05199b8ba6">members of Congress</a> are urging railroads to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">do more</a>
 to prevent derailments. They want standards for the trackside detectors
 used to help identify equipment problems, more notice to states about 
hazardous chemicals they are hauling, and at least two people at the 
helm of freight trains.

A Senate bill would toughen the penalty 
for safety violations to up to 1% of a railroad's annual operating 
income and set standards for the maximum length and weight of freight 
trains, which have grown significantly in recent years. Trains now 
routinely stretch beyond two miles (3 kilometers) long.

The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials-74d7aec638500c52d1eb9fda0acf9f26">railroads themselves</a>
 say they will take steps that include installing roughly 1,000 more 
trackside detectors. But the industry has a long history of resisting 
new regulations. The Association of American Railroads trade group has 
already spoken out against the crew size rule and requiring 
electronically-controlled brakes.

Railroads are generally regarded as the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinian-territories-ohio-canada-business-accidents-d57651e17b2f9e0163c50298106950a3">safest way</a>
 to transport hazardous chemicals across land, and statistics show that 
99.9% of those shipments arrive safely. Most derailments don't cause 
major problems, but there are still nearly three a day somewhere in the 
country. Just one derailment involving hazardous chemicals can be 
disastrous.

Regulators established a 
set of safety rules for trains hauling large amounts of crude oil, 
ethanol or other flammable liquids in 2015 after several fiery 
derailments, including one of the worst disasters in railroad history.

In
 2013, the brakes failed on a parked crude oil train in the hills above 
the Canadian town of Lac Megantic. The unmanned train rolled downhill 
and derailed, killing 47 people and causing millions of dollars in 
damage.

Other crude oil crashes, like one that created a massive 
fireball outside the town of Casselton, North Dakota, in 2013, alarmed 
regulators because the number of crude oil shipments had skyrocketed as 
more oil was being produced in areas without many pipelines, like North 
Dakota.

The 2015 rules require railroads to notify states about 
how many flammable liquid trains they expect to transport each week and 
to find the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wv-state-wire-us-news-ap-top-news-montana-international-news-17ff7868111b4ecd9455e42e48ba101a">safest route possible</a> for them. They also establish a maximum speed limit of 50 mph (80 kph).

Neither
 the Ohio or Minnesota trains that derailed were covered by these rules.
 To be considered a high-hazardous flammable train, a train must have 
either a block of 20 or more flammable liquid cars or at least 35 
flammable liquid cars in all.

Lawmakers and regulators have discussed expanding the definition, so more trains would be covered.

Federal
 regulators originally proposed that any high-hazardous flammable train 
would need upgraded electronically-controlled brakes that can stop 
trains more quickly by applying all cars' brakes simultaneously. 
Conventional systems apply air brakes sequentially. But they dropped 
that proposal in 2018 after Congress required them to conduct a detailed
 cost-benefit analysis.

Mike Rush, a senior vice president of 
safety and operations with the AAR trade group, told Federal Railroad 
Administration officials this week that considering electronic brakes 
now would be “a complete waste of time.”

He said the major freight
 railroads spent a decade testing electronic brakes and found only 
limited benefits. Electronic brakes also were prone to breaking down, he
 said.

Since 2015, it has become much more common for railroads to
 use multiple locomotives spread throughout a train. That helps stop 
trains more quickly because the locomotives can send a braking signal at
 once — though likely not as quickly as electronic brakes would.

One
 thing in the 2015 rules was a requirement to upgrade DOT-111 tank cars 
used to haul crude oil and ethanol to make them less likely to leak in a
 derailment. The tank cars involved in Thursday's BNSF derailment in 
Minnesota were upgraded triple-hulled DOT-117 cars, but they still 
ruptured and caught fire.

Since 2015, nearly 48,000 of the newer 
tank cars have been built, and some 41,000 older tank cars have been 
upgraded to meet a 2029 deadline set by Congress. Another 35,000 older 
tank cars need to be upgraded or replaced.

Transportation 
Secretary Pete Buttigieg suggested speeding up those upgrades to 
complete them by 2025 after the Ohio derailment. But the Railway Supply 
Institute, which represents big tank car manufacturers that own most of 
the nation’s tank cars, says that’s not possible because of current 
labor and supply chain shortages.

The ethanol that spilled and caught fire in the Minnesota derailment is less of a concern than the vinyl chloride that was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">released after the Ohio derailment</a>
 or other toxic chemicals railroads routinely carry, like chlorine gas 
that was released during a 2005 derailment in Graniteville, South 
Carolina, killing nine people and injuring more than 250.

Ethanol is relatively clean burning, but contaminated soil in the area will have to be removed.

The vinyl chloride released from tank cars in Ohio out of fear it might explode is associated with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-dioxins-environment-0e1b8e6632fe7e0a310eeee965cfd6d1">increased risk of certain cancers</a>. Officials warned when they burned it that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-evacuations-ohio-health-climate-and-environment-3f84663f0b97837cc74a8ce9a50ef6c7">two concerning gases</a> — hydrogen chloride and phosgene, which was used as a weapon in World War I — might be released in the process.

That's why so many East Palestine residents <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-contamination-fears-brockovich-fc68b402096a4f5f8598a657f7e399f8">remain concerned</a>
 about potential long-term health impacts even though state and federal 
officials insist they haven't found alarming levels of chemicals in the 
air or water. Norfolk Southern has also been ordered to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-dioxins-environment-0e1b8e6632fe7e0a310eeee965cfd6d1">test for dioxins</a>, which may have been released during the February incineration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678459913884.jpeg" alt="A view of the scene Feb. 24 f of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened n East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, file)" />
 <figcaption>A view of the scene Feb. 24 f of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened n East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, file)</figcaption>
 </figure> By JOSH FUNK Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. — Americans are renewing their focus on railroad 
safety after a string of recent derailments, especially two fiery ones 
involving hazardous chemicals in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-ohio-evacuations-fires-5d399dc745f51ef746e22828083d8591">Ohio</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-train-derailment-evacuation-ethanol-fire-73cc3e80f616070806f8f8b35191a616">Minnesota</a> that prompted evacuations.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ohio-pennsylvania-f1cd9d79cdd66b1f45d1dcdf1e53ff58">Federal regulators</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-congress-6288cdfb0b4381de4c9bfb05199b8ba6">members of Congress</a> are urging railroads to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">do more</a>
 to prevent derailments. They want standards for the trackside detectors
 used to help identify equipment problems, more notice to states about 
hazardous chemicals they are hauling, and at least two people at the 
helm of freight trains.A Senate bill would toughen the penalty 
for safety violations to up to 1% of a railroad's annual operating 
income and set standards for the maximum length and weight of freight 
trains, which have grown significantly in recent years. Trains now 
routinely stretch beyond two miles (3 kilometers) long.The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials-74d7aec638500c52d1eb9fda0acf9f26">railroads themselves</a>
 say they will take steps that include installing roughly 1,000 more 
trackside detectors. But the industry has a long history of resisting 
new regulations. The Association of American Railroads trade group has 
already spoken out against the crew size rule and requiring 
electronically-controlled brakes.Railroads are generally regarded as the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinian-territories-ohio-canada-business-accidents-d57651e17b2f9e0163c50298106950a3">safest way</a>
 to transport hazardous chemicals across land, and statistics show that 
99.9% of those shipments arrive safely. Most derailments don't cause 
major problems, but there are still nearly three a day somewhere in the 
country. Just one derailment involving hazardous chemicals can be 
disastrous.FLAMMABLE TRAIN RULESRegulators established a 
set of safety rules for trains hauling large amounts of crude oil, 
ethanol or other flammable liquids in 2015 after several fiery 
derailments, including one of the worst disasters in railroad history.In
 2013, the brakes failed on a parked crude oil train in the hills above 
the Canadian town of Lac Megantic. The unmanned train rolled downhill 
and derailed, killing 47 people and causing millions of dollars in 
damage.Other crude oil crashes, like one that created a massive 
fireball outside the town of Casselton, North Dakota, in 2013, alarmed 
regulators because the number of crude oil shipments had skyrocketed as 
more oil was being produced in areas without many pipelines, like North 
Dakota.The 2015 rules require railroads to notify states about 
how many flammable liquid trains they expect to transport each week and 
to find the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wv-state-wire-us-news-ap-top-news-montana-international-news-17ff7868111b4ecd9455e42e48ba101a">safest route possible</a> for them. They also establish a maximum speed limit of 50 mph (80 kph).Neither
 the Ohio or Minnesota trains that derailed were covered by these rules.
 To be considered a high-hazardous flammable train, a train must have 
either a block of 20 or more flammable liquid cars or at least 35 
flammable liquid cars in all.Lawmakers and regulators have discussed expanding the definition, so more trains would be covered.ELECTRONIC BRAKESFederal
 regulators originally proposed that any high-hazardous flammable train 
would need upgraded electronically-controlled brakes that can stop 
trains more quickly by applying all cars' brakes simultaneously. 
Conventional systems apply air brakes sequentially. But they dropped 
that proposal in 2018 after Congress required them to conduct a detailed
 cost-benefit analysis.Mike Rush, a senior vice president of 
safety and operations with the AAR trade group, told Federal Railroad 
Administration officials this week that considering electronic brakes 
now would be “a complete waste of time.”He said the major freight
 railroads spent a decade testing electronic brakes and found only 
limited benefits. Electronic brakes also were prone to breaking down, he
 said.Since 2015, it has become much more common for railroads to
 use multiple locomotives spread throughout a train. That helps stop 
trains more quickly because the locomotives can send a braking signal at
 once — though likely not as quickly as electronic brakes would.TANK CAR UPGRADESOne
 thing in the 2015 rules was a requirement to upgrade DOT-111 tank cars 
used to haul crude oil and ethanol to make them less likely to leak in a
 derailment. The tank cars involved in Thursday's BNSF derailment in 
Minnesota were upgraded triple-hulled DOT-117 cars, but they still 
ruptured and caught fire.Since 2015, nearly 48,000 of the newer 
tank cars have been built, and some 41,000 older tank cars have been 
upgraded to meet a 2029 deadline set by Congress. Another 35,000 older 
tank cars need to be upgraded or replaced.Transportation 
Secretary Pete Buttigieg suggested speeding up those upgrades to 
complete them by 2025 after the Ohio derailment. But the Railway Supply 
Institute, which represents big tank car manufacturers that own most of 
the nation’s tank cars, says that’s not possible because of current 
labor and supply chain shortages.CHEMICAL CONCERNSThe ethanol that spilled and caught fire in the Minnesota derailment is less of a concern than the vinyl chloride that was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">released after the Ohio derailment</a>
 or other toxic chemicals railroads routinely carry, like chlorine gas 
that was released during a 2005 derailment in Graniteville, South 
Carolina, killing nine people and injuring more than 250.Ethanol is relatively clean burning, but contaminated soil in the area will have to be removed.The vinyl chloride released from tank cars in Ohio out of fear it might explode is associated with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-dioxins-environment-0e1b8e6632fe7e0a310eeee965cfd6d1">increased risk of certain cancers</a>. Officials warned when they burned it that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-evacuations-ohio-health-climate-and-environment-3f84663f0b97837cc74a8ce9a50ef6c7">two concerning gases</a> — hydrogen chloride and phosgene, which was used as a weapon in World War I — might be released in the process.That's why so many East Palestine residents <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-contamination-fears-brockovich-fc68b402096a4f5f8598a657f7e399f8">remain concerned</a>
 about potential long-term health impacts even though state and federal 
officials insist they haven't found alarming levels of chemicals in the 
air or water. Norfolk Southern has also been ordered to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-dioxins-environment-0e1b8e6632fe7e0a310eeee965cfd6d1">test for dioxins</a>, which may have been released during the February incineration.

Fiery derailments renew Americans' focus on railroad safety

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with USA Today Woman of the Year 2023 honoree Jade Piros de Carvalho.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p4fEi-BuxTE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with USA Today Woman of the Year 2023 honoree Jade Piros de Carvalho.

🎤 Forward Ever: USA Today Woman of the Year 2023 honoree Jade Piros de Carvalho

Alliance – The Alliance Public Landfill, construction and demo area and top of the hill are closed to the public due to muddy conditions.

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 top of the hill are closed to the public due to muddy conditions.For more information, please contact the Alliance Landfill at (308) 762-2705.

Alliance landfill announces partial closure

PRINSBURG, Minn. (AP) — Hundreds of people had to evacuate their Minnesota town after a train hauling ethanol and corn syrup derailed and caught fire early Thursday, but authorities were hopeful that the quick response and cold weather would help limit the impact of this latest crash.

Still, those pushing to improve rail safety said the derailment only added urgency to the debate over reforms that Congress and regulators are considering, even as officials seemed to apply some of the lessons learned after last month's fiery derailment near East Palestine, Ohio.

Minnesota officials said the BNSF train derailed around 1 a.m. in Raymond, roughly 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of Minneapolis. That prompted the evacuation of essentially all of the town's 250 homes because they were within 1/2 mile (0.8 kilometers) of the derailment. The evacuation order was lifted around noon.

The nation has been increasingly focused on railroad safety since the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment that prompted several thousand evacuations in and around East Palestine near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Residents in that town of about 5,000 remain concerned about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-contamination-fears-brockovich-fc68b402096a4f5f8598a657f7e399f8">lingering health impacts</a>&nbsp;after officials decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">release and burn toxic chemicals</a>&nbsp;to prevent a tank car explosion. State and federal officials maintain that no harmful levels of toxic chemicals have been found in the air or water, but residents remain uneasy.

The major freight railroads&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials-74d7aec638500c52d1eb9fda0acf9f26">have said</a>&nbsp;they plan to add about 1,000 more trackside detectors nationwide to help spot equipment problems, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ohio-pennsylvania-f1cd9d79cdd66b1f45d1dcdf1e53ff58">federal regulators</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-congress-6288cdfb0b4381de4c9bfb05199b8ba6">members of Congress</a>&nbsp;have proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">additional reforms</a>&nbsp;they want the railroads to make. A group of Ohio Representatives said at a news conference Thursday about their rail safety legislation that the Minnesota derailment reinforces the need for reform.

While state and federal agencies were quick to respond to the Ohio derailment, Norfolk Southern's CEO and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg were slow to visit the town, and President Joe Biden has yet to survey the damage himself. The railroad even skipped one of the first community meetings because of fears about the safety of its employees. Contrast that with Thursday's response when BNSF CEO Katie Farmer showed up on day one to apologize and promise a thorough cleanup, and Buttigieg jumped on CNN within hours.

“We will have our team here until this is cleaned up,” Farmer said at a news conference with Gov. Tim Walz and other Minnesota officials.

Walz said the response from Burlington Northern was "unprecedented, in my opinion” with the railroad getting in touch with state and local officials before 6 a.m.

BNSF officials said 22 cars derailed, including about 10 carrying ethanol, and the track remained blocked, but no injuries were reported. The cause hasn't been determined, but EPA officials&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/EPAGreatLakes/status/1641450465392197633">said on Twitter</a>&nbsp;that four ethanol cars ruptured and the flammable fuel additive caught fire.

ADM confirmed that the ethanol came from its corn processing facility in Marshall, Minnesota.

Evacuees went to nearby Prinsburg — first to a school and a church where volunteers prepared food and distributed donated bottled water. Emergency responders retrieved three dogs from homes in Raymond in the morning and brought them to the church shelter.

Darwin and Sharon Heida, both 81, said they received an evacuation alert on Darwin’s cell phone around 2:30 a.m. at their home about three blocks away from the train tracks.

Darwin, who is a former volunteer firefighter for over 20 years, said the evacuation was “very orderly” and emergency personnel went door-to-door to relay the message. But it was unnerving to see flames above the tree line as they left home.

“It happens in other places but not in our backyard,” Sharon said.

Lawmakers pushing for railroad safety improvements say statistics show too many communities are dealing with these issues.

“Three derailments per day on average. That’s way too many," Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Ohio said. "When is the next one going to occur, and what is the next village or township or community in American that is going to have to be evacuated?”

Walz and railroad officials said they aren't especially concerned about groundwater contamination from the latest derailment because much of the ethanol will burn off and the ground remains frozen. Plus, the U.S. Energy Information Administration says pure ethanol is biodegradable and breaks down into harmless substances if spilled.

Environmental Protection Agency officials from the same regional office that responded to the Ohio derailment arrived on site and started monitoring the air for toxic chemicals by 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

The Federal Railroad Administration, the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board also responded to the derailment, and the NTSB said a team would conduct a safety investigation.

It doesn't appear likely that this BNSF train would have been covered by the additional safety regulations for high-hazardous flammable trains, because those rules only apply when a train has either a block of 20 flammable liquid cars or more than 35 total. Those rules, which also require notice to states, were developed after a string of fiery oil and ethanol derailments a decade ago.

Officials said the tank cars in Thursday's derailment were the upgraded triple-hulled DOT-117 cars required by those 2015 rules, designed to better contain the chemicals in an accident. The railroad said ethanol was the only hazardous material aboard.

Since 2015 nearly 48,000 such cars have been built and some 41,000 older ones have been upgraded to meet the new standards ahead of a 2029 deadline set by Congress. But another 35,000 older tank cars still need to be replaced or upgraded.

Buttigieg suggested speeding up those upgrades to complete them by 2025 after the Ohio derailment, but the Railway Supply Institute, which represents all the big tank car manufacturers that actually own most of the nation's tank cars, says that's not technically possible because of current labor and supply chain limits.

Earlier this month another BNSF train derailed in Washington and spilled 3,100 gallons (about 11,700 liters) of diesel near the Swinomish Channel on that tribe’s reservation after a safety device meant to keep a train from crossing onto an open swinging bridge malfunctioned.

The Association of American Railroads trade group likes to tout that 99.9% of all hazardous materials shipments that railroads haul reach their destinations safely and only 11 train accidents the Federal Railroad Administration recorded last year involved hazardous chemicals being released.

The government data shows that derailments have declined in recent years and most don't cause significant damage, but there were still 1,049 last year. This Minnesota and Ohio derailments demonstrate how even a single crash involving hazardous materials can be disastrous.

Hazardous materials, including about two-thirds of all the ethanol produced nationwide, account for about 7% to 8% of the 30 million shipments that railroads deliver across the country every year.

Railroad unions believe the industry is getting riskier after the major railroads eliminated nearly one-third of jobs in recent years, because employees are spread thin, inspections are rushed and preventative maintenance may be neglected.

BNSF, which is based in Fort Worth, Texas, is owned by Warren Buffett's Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate.

Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Steve Karnowski contributed from Minneapolis, and Heather Hollingsworth contributed from Mission, Kansas.

By Associated Press<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680278641747.jpeg" alt="Firefighters work near piled up train cars, near Raymond, Minn., Thursday, March 30, 2023, the morning after a BNSF freight train derailed. Authorities say a train hauling ethanol and corn syrup derailed and caught fire and residents within 1/2 mile of the crash were ordered to evacuate from their homes. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Firefighters work near piled up train cars, near Raymond, Minn., Thursday, March 30, 2023, the morning after a BNSF freight train derailed. Authorities say a train hauling ethanol and corn syrup derailed and caught fire and residents within 1/2 mile of the crash were ordered to evacuate from their homes. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>PRINSBURG, Minn. (AP) — Hundreds of people had to evacuate their Minnesota town after a train hauling ethanol and corn syrup derailed and caught fire early Thursday, but authorities were hopeful that the quick response and cold weather would help limit the impact of this latest crash.Still, those pushing to improve rail safety said the derailment only added urgency to the debate over reforms that Congress and regulators are considering, even as officials seemed to apply some of the lessons learned after last month's fiery derailment near East Palestine, Ohio.Minnesota officials said the BNSF train derailed around 1 a.m. in Raymond, roughly 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of Minneapolis. That prompted the evacuation of essentially all of the town's 250 homes because they were within 1/2 mile (0.8 kilometers) of the derailment. The evacuation order was lifted around noon.The nation has been increasingly focused on railroad safety since the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment that prompted several thousand evacuations in and around East Palestine near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Residents in that town of about 5,000 remain concerned about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-contamination-fears-brockovich-fc68b402096a4f5f8598a657f7e399f8">lingering health impacts</a>&nbsp;after officials decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-updates-bf5a60de2243cd6f7f730096aa33294c">release and burn toxic chemicals</a>&nbsp;to prevent a tank car explosion. State and federal officials maintain that no harmful levels of toxic chemicals have been found in the air or water, but residents remain uneasy.The major freight railroads&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/railroad-safety-ohio-derailment-hazardous-materials-74d7aec638500c52d1eb9fda0acf9f26">have said</a>&nbsp;they plan to add about 1,000 more trackside detectors nationwide to help spot equipment problems, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rail-accidents-transportation-pete-buttigieg-ohio-pennsylvania-f1cd9d79cdd66b1f45d1dcdf1e53ff58">federal regulators</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-train-derailment-congress-6288cdfb0b4381de4c9bfb05199b8ba6">members of Congress</a>&nbsp;have proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derailment-ohio-safety-senate-legislation-brown-vance-82c55dc95aca9524d6ae8e6d01336dbe">additional reforms</a>&nbsp;they want the railroads to make. A group of Ohio Representatives said at a news conference Thursday about their rail safety legislation that the Minnesota derailment reinforces the need for reform.While state and federal agencies were quick to respond to the Ohio derailment, Norfolk Southern's CEO and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg were slow to visit the town, and President Joe Biden has yet to survey the damage himself. The railroad even skipped one of the first community meetings because of fears about the safety of its employees. Contrast that with Thursday's response when BNSF CEO Katie Farmer showed up on day one to apologize and promise a thorough cleanup, and Buttigieg jumped on CNN within hours.“We will have our team here until this is cleaned up,” Farmer said at a news conference with Gov. Tim Walz and other Minnesota officials.Walz said the response from Burlington Northern was "unprecedented, in my opinion” with the railroad getting in touch with state and local officials before 6 a.m.BNSF officials said 22 cars derailed, including about 10 carrying ethanol, and the track remained blocked, but no injuries were reported. The cause hasn't been determined, but EPA officials&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/EPAGreatLakes/status/1641450465392197633">said on Twitter</a>&nbsp;that four ethanol cars ruptured and the flammable fuel additive caught fire.ADM confirmed that the ethanol came from its corn processing facility in Marshall, Minnesota.Evacuees went to nearby Prinsburg — first to a school and a church where volunteers prepared food and distributed donated bottled water. Emergency responders retrieved three dogs from homes in Raymond in the morning and brought them to the church shelter.Darwin and Sharon Heida, both 81, said they received an evacuation alert on Darwin’s cell phone around 2:30 a.m. at their home about three blocks away from the train tracks.Darwin, who is a former volunteer firefighter for over 20 years, said the evacuation was “very orderly” and emergency personnel went door-to-door to relay the message. But it was unnerving to see flames above the tree line as they left home.“It happens in other places but not in our backyard,” Sharon said.Lawmakers pushing for railroad safety improvements say statistics show too many communities are dealing with these issues.“Three derailments per day on average. That’s way too many," Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Ohio said. "When is the next one going to occur, and what is the next village or township or community in American that is going to have to be evacuated?”Walz and railroad officials said they aren't especially concerned about groundwater contamination from the latest derailment because much of the ethanol will burn off and the ground remains frozen. Plus, the U.S. Energy Information Administration says pure ethanol is biodegradable and breaks down into harmless substances if spilled.Environmental Protection Agency officials from the same regional office that responded to the Ohio derailment arrived on site and started monitoring the air for toxic chemicals by 6:30 a.m. Thursday.The Federal Railroad Administration, the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board also responded to the derailment, and the NTSB said a team would conduct a safety investigation.It doesn't appear likely that this BNSF train would have been covered by the additional safety regulations for high-hazardous flammable trains, because those rules only apply when a train has either a block of 20 flammable liquid cars or more than 35 total. Those rules, which also require notice to states, were developed after a string of fiery oil and ethanol derailments a decade ago.Officials said the tank cars in Thursday's derailment were the upgraded triple-hulled DOT-117 cars required by those 2015 rules, designed to better contain the chemicals in an accident. The railroad said ethanol was the only hazardous material aboard.Since 2015 nearly 48,000 such cars have been built and some 41,000 older ones have been upgraded to meet the new standards ahead of a 2029 deadline set by Congress. But another 35,000 older tank cars still need to be replaced or upgraded.Buttigieg suggested speeding up those upgrades to complete them by 2025 after the Ohio derailment, but the Railway Supply Institute, which represents all the big tank car manufacturers that actually own most of the nation's tank cars, says that's not technically possible because of current labor and supply chain limits.Earlier this month another BNSF train derailed in Washington and spilled 3,100 gallons (about 11,700 liters) of diesel near the Swinomish Channel on that tribe’s reservation after a safety device meant to keep a train from crossing onto an open swinging bridge malfunctioned.The Association of American Railroads trade group likes to tout that 99.9% of all hazardous materials shipments that railroads haul reach their destinations safely and only 11 train accidents the Federal Railroad Administration recorded last year involved hazardous chemicals being released.The government data shows that derailments have declined in recent years and most don't cause significant damage, but there were still 1,049 last year. This Minnesota and Ohio derailments demonstrate how even a single crash involving hazardous materials can be disastrous.Hazardous materials, including about two-thirds of all the ethanol produced nationwide, account for about 7% to 8% of the 30 million shipments that railroads deliver across the country every year.Railroad unions believe the industry is getting riskier after the major railroads eliminated nearly one-third of jobs in recent years, because employees are spread thin, inspections are rushed and preventative maintenance may be neglected.BNSF, which is based in Fort Worth, Texas, is owned by Warren Buffett's Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate.___Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Steve Karnowski contributed from Minneapolis, and Heather Hollingsworth contributed from Mission, Kansas.

Minnesota BNSF train derailment, ethanol fire renew safety fears

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Lottery recently distributed among its beneficiary funds $14,679,553, derived from a share of Scratch and Lotto ticket sales for the previous three months.

A total of $923,596,712 has been distributed in quarterly transfers since the Nebraska Lottery began operation on September 11, 1993. The latest transfer, made the week of March 31, was distributed among beneficiaries in the following manner:

• Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $6,532,401; • Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $6,532,401; • Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $1,467,955; and • Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $146,796.

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

The funds' respective totals to date are:

• Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $139,154,478; • Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $395,845,800; • Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $69,412,149; and • Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $20,570,971.

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

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

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

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

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $923 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Nebraska Lottery&nbsp;LINCOLN — The Nebraska Lottery recently distributed among its beneficiary funds $14,679,553, derived from a share of Scratch and Lotto ticket sales for the previous three months.A total of $923,596,712 has been distributed in quarterly transfers since the Nebraska Lottery began operation on September 11, 1993. The latest transfer, made the week of March 31, was distributed among beneficiaries in the following manner:• Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $6,532,401; • Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $6,532,401; • Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $1,467,955; and • Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $146,796.Amendment 4 passed by Nebraska voters in November 2004 established the following distribution formula: Education as directed by the Legislature (44.5 percent) - currently distributed to the Nebraska Education Improvement Fund; Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund (44.5 percent); Nebraska State Fair (10 percent); and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund (1 percent, plus the first $500,000 in fund proceeds each fiscal year).The funds' respective totals to date are:• Nebraska Education Improvement Fund, $139,154,478; • Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, $395,845,800; • Nebraska State Fair Support and Improvement Fund, $69,412,149; and • Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund, $20,570,971.Prior to July 1, 2016, the Education Innovation Fund received proceeds totaling $174,222,842, and the Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund received proceeds totaling $100,929,476.Prior to July 1, 1997, the Solid Waste Landfill Closure Assistance Fund received proceeds totaling $18,460,996. In 2004, the Legislature directed that a one-time transfer of $5 million be made to the State General Fund.Criteria for proceeds distribution are established by the beneficiary funds in accordance with legislative mandates. Every county in Nebraska has received service through grants funded with Nebraska Lottery proceeds.The Nebraska Lottery marked $3.5 billion in total sales (since 1993) in December 2021.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $923 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

$14.6M in proceeds raised for Nebraska Lottery beneficiaries

By National Weather Service in Cheyenne, WY

&nbsp; &nbsp;Multiple headlines are in effect for portions of the forecast area. Winter Storm Warning/Winter Weather Advisory in effect for the Snowy and Sierra Madre Ranges through Friday night. Looking at a final storm snowfall total of 10-18 inches of snow for the Sierra Madres and up to a foot for the Snowy Range. Winter Storm Warning/Winter Weather Advisory for portions of the northern NE Panhandle. 4-8 inches anticipated for Dawes County, and 1-4 inches for northern Sioux and Box Butte County. Strong winds across the I-80 corridor that will continue all the way through Saturday afternoon. High Wind Warnings and Watches in effect for areas across southeast WY today into tomorrow. Stay tuned to later updates in the forecast as a more widespread high wind event likely taking shape for Saturday and Sunday.&nbsp; &nbsp;

By National Weather Service in Cheyenne, WY&nbsp; &nbsp;Multiple headlines are in effect for portions of the forecast area. Winter Storm Warning/Winter Weather Advisory in effect for the Snowy and Sierra Madre Ranges through Friday night. Looking at a final storm snowfall total of 10-18 inches of snow for the Sierra Madres and up to a foot for the Snowy Range. Winter Storm Warning/Winter Weather Advisory for portions of the northern NE Panhandle. 4-8 inches anticipated for Dawes County, and 1-4 inches for northern Sioux and Box Butte County. Strong winds across the I-80 corridor that will continue all the way through Saturday afternoon. High Wind Warnings and Watches in effect for areas across southeast WY today into tomorrow. Stay tuned to later updates in the forecast as a more widespread high wind event likely taking shape for Saturday and Sunday.&nbsp; &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680273598003.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Winter Storm Warning, Advisory in effect for areas of Panhandle 

Columbus, Neb. –&nbsp;As severe weather season approaches, Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) reminds customers to be aware of the dangers of downed powerlines.

Tornadoes can bring down transmission lines typically located in rural areas, but trees damaged by tornadoes or high wind conditions can come down on local distribution lines, creating a power outage to residents in the area. In addition to any power outages these storms may cause, it’s important that customers are aware of the dangers downed powerlines can pose.

"A powerline lying on the ground or over a roadway can charge the ground around it with electricity, potentially causing a fatal situation for anyone getting too close to that line," said NPPD T&amp;D Construction &amp; Maintenance Manager Scott Walz. "It's important to stress that if you see or hear of a downed powerline, to avoid the area and call the local power utility or 911."&nbsp;

If you are in a car and a powerline or power pole has fallen on it,&nbsp;stay in the car&nbsp;until public power utility personnel arrive on the scene. If remaining in the car is not an option due to a fire or other unsafe conditions,&nbsp;jump&nbsp;clear of the vehicle so that you land upright with your feet touching the ground together, and then&nbsp;shuffle away from the area.

Tips on safety precautions during a power outage are available at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nppd.com/outages-safety/electrical-safety" target="_blank">https://www.nppd.com/outages-safety/electrical-safety</a>.

By NPPDColumbus, Neb. –&nbsp;As severe weather season approaches, Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) reminds customers to be aware of the dangers of downed powerlines.Tornadoes can bring down transmission lines typically located in rural areas, but trees damaged by tornadoes or high wind conditions can come down on local distribution lines, creating a power outage to residents in the area. In addition to any power outages these storms may cause, it’s important that customers are aware of the dangers downed powerlines can pose."A powerline lying on the ground or over a roadway can charge the ground around it with electricity, potentially causing a fatal situation for anyone getting too close to that line," said NPPD T&amp;D Construction &amp; Maintenance Manager Scott Walz. "It's important to stress that if you see or hear of a downed powerline, to avoid the area and call the local power utility or 911."&nbsp;If you are in a car and a powerline or power pole has fallen on it,&nbsp;stay in the car&nbsp;until public power utility personnel arrive on the scene. If remaining in the car is not an option due to a fire or other unsafe conditions,&nbsp;jump&nbsp;clear of the vehicle so that you land upright with your feet touching the ground together, and then&nbsp;shuffle away from the area.Tips on safety precautions during a power outage are available at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nppd.com/outages-safety/electrical-safety" target="_blank">https://www.nppd.com/outages-safety/electrical-safety</a>.

NPPD: Stay clear of downed powerlines during severe weather

GRAND ISLAND&nbsp; — Fourteen troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have been cross-trained by the Nebraska Forest Service as part of the Nebraska Wildland Fire Academy. These troopers are drone pilots stationed throughout the state, many of whom responded to assist at wildfires in 2022.&nbsp;

“As our NSP drone program grew last year, it became a valuable public safety resource at many wildfire responses across the state,” said Captain Jason Scott, Commander of NSP Special Operations. “Adding basic wildland firefighter training for our drone operators adds an important level of safety to their operation. We want to thank the Nebraska Forest Service for providing the training and additional knowledge to our troopers.”

These 14 troopers received Red Card Wildland Fire Training earlier this month. The Nebraska Forest Service offers several levels of training for wildfire response. More information can be found at the&nbsp;<a href="https://nfs.unl.edu/NWFA">Nebraska Forest Service website.</a>

“The Nebraska State Patrol provides a much-needed resource for wildfire suppression in Nebraska,” said State Forester John Erixson. “The information collected by the drones is invaluable for understanding what is happening with the wildfires. Having State Troopers trained in basic wildland firefighting will help keep everyone safe. Folks taught in these classes learn critical skills, including wildfire behavior, firefighting techniques, and how to be safe in a high-risk environment.”

In 2022, NSP troopers flew drone missions in response to wildfires in many parts of Nebraska. In total, troopers flew missions at ten wildfires, often with multiple drone pilots working on different areas of the fire. The drones were able to provide a real-time view of fire activity for firefighters battling the blaze on the ground. NSP also coordinated with the Nebraska National Guard in multiple responses, using drones to pinpoint hotspots which were then doused with a water drop from an aircraft.

As the spring and summer months arrive, NSP and the Nebraska Forest Service remind all Nebraskans to be cognizant of fire danger and the potential for wildfires in dry conditions.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663263228019.png" alt="Smoke rises from a wildfire sparked in 2022 by lightning south of Gering, in Nebraska’s Panhandle. (Courtesy Nebraska State Patrol)" />
 <figcaption>Smoke rises from a wildfire sparked in 2022 by lightning south of Gering, in Nebraska’s Panhandle. (Courtesy Nebraska State Patrol)</figcaption>
 </figure>NSPGRAND ISLAND&nbsp; — Fourteen troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have been cross-trained by the Nebraska Forest Service as part of the Nebraska Wildland Fire Academy. These troopers are drone pilots stationed throughout the state, many of whom responded to assist at wildfires in 2022.&nbsp;“As our NSP drone program grew last year, it became a valuable public safety resource at many wildfire responses across the state,” said Captain Jason Scott, Commander of NSP Special Operations. “Adding basic wildland firefighter training for our drone operators adds an important level of safety to their operation. We want to thank the Nebraska Forest Service for providing the training and additional knowledge to our troopers.”These 14 troopers received Red Card Wildland Fire Training earlier this month. The Nebraska Forest Service offers several levels of training for wildfire response. More information can be found at the&nbsp;<a href="https://nfs.unl.edu/NWFA">Nebraska Forest Service website.</a>“The Nebraska State Patrol provides a much-needed resource for wildfire suppression in Nebraska,” said State Forester John Erixson. “The information collected by the drones is invaluable for understanding what is happening with the wildfires. Having State Troopers trained in basic wildland firefighting will help keep everyone safe. Folks taught in these classes learn critical skills, including wildfire behavior, firefighting techniques, and how to be safe in a high-risk environment.”In 2022, NSP troopers flew drone missions in response to wildfires in many parts of Nebraska. In total, troopers flew missions at ten wildfires, often with multiple drone pilots working on different areas of the fire. The drones were able to provide a real-time view of fire activity for firefighters battling the blaze on the ground. NSP also coordinated with the Nebraska National Guard in multiple responses, using drones to pinpoint hotspots which were then doused with a water drop from an aircraft.As the spring and summer months arrive, NSP and the Nebraska Forest Service remind all Nebraskans to be cognizant of fire danger and the potential for wildfires in dry conditions.&nbsp;

Neb. troopers cross-trained in wildland firefighting

Alliance – The 2023 Tire Amnesty Event begins tomorrow; Friday, March 31st. The Landfill will be open to all business, however staff recommends limiting other visits to the landfill on Friday and Saturday during Tire Amnesty due to anticipated long lines.

Tire Amnesty will be held at the City of Alliance Landfill, located at 1441 Kansas Street from Friday, March 31st - Friday, April 21st. Hours of operation will be Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm, Saturday, 8:00am - 3:00pm, Closed Sunday.

This year’s event is limited to Box Butte County residents only. Because we met our limit so quickly last year, we will be allowing drop-offs according to the schedule below.

· 2-axle vehicles only - March 31st - April 7th

· 4-axle vehicles only - April 7th - April 14th

There will be no charge for tires for the public during this time. No tires will be accepted from participants who have accepted fees to accumulate tires. Tires must be removed from their rims before being accepted. Amnesty will be discontinued after our qualified limit has been reached.

We were fortunate to receive an increased amount of funding this year, allowing us to collect an estimated 800 tons’ vs the 500 tons’ were able to collect last year.

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

By City of AllianceAlliance – The 2023 Tire Amnesty Event begins tomorrow; Friday, March 31st. The Landfill will be open to all business, however staff recommends limiting other visits to the landfill on Friday and Saturday during Tire Amnesty due to anticipated long lines.Tire Amnesty will be held at the City of Alliance Landfill, located at 1441 Kansas Street from Friday, March 31st - Friday, April 21st. Hours of operation will be Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm, Saturday, 8:00am - 3:00pm, Closed Sunday.This year’s event is limited to Box Butte County residents only. Because we met our limit so quickly last year, we will be allowing drop-offs according to the schedule below.· 2-axle vehicles only - March 31st - April 7th· 4-axle vehicles only - April 7th - April 14th· Open to all - April 14th - April 21stThere will be no charge for tires for the public during this time. No tires will be accepted from participants who have accepted fees to accumulate tires. Tires must be removed from their rims before being accepted. Amnesty will be discontinued after our qualified limit has been reached.We were fortunate to receive an increased amount of funding this year, allowing us to collect an estimated 800 tons’ vs the 500 tons’ were able to collect last year.For more information about this event, please contact the Landfill at (308) 762-2705.<figure>
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Alliance Tire Amnesty event to begin in Box Butte County 

Due to illness, the upcoming Chadron State College concert on Friday night March 31 with Brooks Hafey, James Przygocki and Blake McGee has been canceled. It will likely not be rescheduled this semester.

The CSC&nbsp;piano recital by Dr. Brooks Hafey originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 29, at 7 p.m. and been postponed to Monday, April 17, at 7 p.m. in the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium.

The CSC&nbsp;piano recital by Dr. Brooks Hafey originally scheduled for Sunday, April 23, at 3 p.m. and been postponed to Sunday, April 30, at 3 p.m. in the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium.

By CSCDue to illness, the upcoming Chadron State College concert on Friday night March 31 with Brooks Hafey, James Przygocki and Blake McGee has been canceled. It will likely not be rescheduled this semester.The CSC&nbsp;piano recital by Dr. Brooks Hafey originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 29, at 7 p.m. and been postponed to Monday, April 17, at 7 p.m. in the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium.The CSC&nbsp;piano recital by Dr. Brooks Hafey originally scheduled for Sunday, April 23, at 3 p.m. and been postponed to Sunday, April 30, at 3 p.m. in the Sandoz Center Chicoine Atrium.

Chadron State College concert series schedule to change 

WASHINGTON, D.C. –&nbsp;Today,&nbsp;U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) released the following statement after voting to end the federal emergency declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic currently in effect under the National Emergencies Act (NEA):

“It makes absolutely no sense that the Biden administration still needs these emergency powers when&nbsp;President Biden himself declared the ‘pandemic is over’&nbsp;last year. When I was Governor,&nbsp;we trusted our people, kept schools and businesses open, and were named the nation’s best state for pandemic response.&nbsp;In Nebraska, we ended our state emergency nearly two years ago. It’s time the Biden administration&nbsp;does&nbsp;the same.”

By Office of Sen. Pete RickettsWASHINGTON, D.C. –&nbsp;Today,&nbsp;U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) released the following statement after voting to end the federal emergency declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic currently in effect under the National Emergencies Act (NEA):“It makes absolutely no sense that the Biden administration still needs these emergency powers when&nbsp;President Biden himself declared the ‘pandemic is over’&nbsp;last year. When I was Governor,&nbsp;we trusted our people, kept schools and businesses open, and were named the nation’s best state for pandemic response.&nbsp;In Nebraska, we ended our state emergency nearly two years ago. It’s time the Biden administration&nbsp;does&nbsp;the same.”

Ricketts comments on vote to end COVID-19 National Emergency

CHADRON – Discover Northwest Nebraska is excited to announce the nominees for its first-ever Northwest Nebraska Tourism Industry Awards.

“We are happy to announce 12 nominees across three award categories in our inaugural year,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp. “We implemented the awards to showcase the people and places who are going above and beyond to make visitors feel welcome and inspire them to return.”

The nominees for Business/Attraction of the Year include the Bean Broker Coffee House and Pub in Chadron and the Prairie Agate Rock Shop in Crawford. The Bean Broker was nominated for its willingness to host events, provide a friendly atmosphere for business and leisure visitors and the readily-available tourism information on the region. Prairie Agate Rock Shop was nominated for its uniqueness as a business that capitalizes on the region’s assets and the friendly, helpful nature of its ownership.

Two groups of volunteers and a single individual were nominated for Tourism Volunteer of the Year. The board of directors and a group of 40 volunteers who keep the Dawes County Historical Museum operating were nominated for their shared vision to chronicle the region’s history, while the Sioux County Fair and Rodeo Board was nominated for pulling off a successful event without many resources since 1896. Dave Hockenbary was nominated for his work with the Fur Trade Days board, having served two years as its president and as a still-willing committee member and volunteer.

Five nominees will vie for Frontline Employee of the Year. Laure Sinn and Courtney Kouba of the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center each earned a nod; Sinn for her warmth and knowledge of the area and Kouba for the exhibits she creates and atmosphere she helps provide. Kennady Stack of the Bean Broker, Pam Wing of Country Kitchen and Brooklyn Anderson of Just Love Coffee each earned nominations for the friendly, helpful service they provide at their respective establishments.

The awards will be presented April 20 at Discover Northwest Nebraska’s Treasure Chest of the Northwest industry workshop, co-hosted by Chadrad Communications and the Heartland Center's committee for Rural Prosperity in Northwest Nebraska. The event will kick off at 5:30 p.m. at the Dawes County Fairgrounds Events Center.

Northwest Nebraska tourism industry professionals will have a chance to network with each other during the third annual Treasure Chest of the Northwest April 20, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dawes County Fairgrounds Event Center.

In addition to the awards, attendees will have the opportunity to network and exchange ideas and information with each other and hear from several speakers during the workshop. Topics to be addressed include: "Hospitality: What Is It and Why Is It Important?," "Mutual Promotion &amp; Collaboration," and "Diversified Marketing Strategies." There will also be a recap of the 2022 tourism season and information about the Discover Northwest Nebraska tourism office presented.

A brochure exchange will be offered, and attendees can play Brochure Bingo for a chance to win prizes, and there will be other opportunities to win prizes that evening as well.

Event coordinators, business/attraction managers, owners and employees are invited to enjoy heavy appetizers provided by B&amp;B Catering, networking and informational sessions. Anyone who works in the Dawes &amp; Sioux County tourism industry is invited to attend. RSVPs are required, however, so interested individuals are asked to contact Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp by April 6 at director@discovernwnebraska.com, or by calling 308-432-3006.

Tickets are $5 per person, payable at the door to B&amp;B Catering.

By Discover Northwest NebraskaCHADRON – Discover Northwest Nebraska is excited to announce the nominees for its first-ever Northwest Nebraska Tourism Industry Awards.“We are happy to announce 12 nominees across three award categories in our inaugural year,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp. “We implemented the awards to showcase the people and places who are going above and beyond to make visitors feel welcome and inspire them to return.”The nominees for Business/Attraction of the Year include the Bean Broker Coffee House and Pub in Chadron and the Prairie Agate Rock Shop in Crawford. The Bean Broker was nominated for its willingness to host events, provide a friendly atmosphere for business and leisure visitors and the readily-available tourism information on the region. Prairie Agate Rock Shop was nominated for its uniqueness as a business that capitalizes on the region’s assets and the friendly, helpful nature of its ownership.Two groups of volunteers and a single individual were nominated for Tourism Volunteer of the Year. The board of directors and a group of 40 volunteers who keep the Dawes County Historical Museum operating were nominated for their shared vision to chronicle the region’s history, while the Sioux County Fair and Rodeo Board was nominated for pulling off a successful event without many resources since 1896. Dave Hockenbary was nominated for his work with the Fur Trade Days board, having served two years as its president and as a still-willing committee member and volunteer.Five nominees will vie for Frontline Employee of the Year. Laure Sinn and Courtney Kouba of the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center each earned a nod; Sinn for her warmth and knowledge of the area and Kouba for the exhibits she creates and atmosphere she helps provide. Kennady Stack of the Bean Broker, Pam Wing of Country Kitchen and Brooklyn Anderson of Just Love Coffee each earned nominations for the friendly, helpful service they provide at their respective establishments.The awards will be presented April 20 at Discover Northwest Nebraska’s Treasure Chest of the Northwest industry workshop, co-hosted by Chadrad Communications and the Heartland Center's committee for Rural Prosperity in Northwest Nebraska. The event will kick off at 5:30 p.m. at the Dawes County Fairgrounds Events Center.Northwest Nebraska tourism industry professionals will have a chance to network with each other during the third annual Treasure Chest of the Northwest April 20, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dawes County Fairgrounds Event Center.In addition to the awards, attendees will have the opportunity to network and exchange ideas and information with each other and hear from several speakers during the workshop. Topics to be addressed include: "Hospitality: What Is It and Why Is It Important?," "Mutual Promotion &amp; Collaboration," and "Diversified Marketing Strategies." There will also be a recap of the 2022 tourism season and information about the Discover Northwest Nebraska tourism office presented.A brochure exchange will be offered, and attendees can play Brochure Bingo for a chance to win prizes, and there will be other opportunities to win prizes that evening as well.Event coordinators, business/attraction managers, owners and employees are invited to enjoy heavy appetizers provided by B&amp;B Catering, networking and informational sessions. Anyone who works in the Dawes &amp; Sioux County tourism industry is invited to attend. RSVPs are required, however, so interested individuals are asked to contact Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp by April 6 at director@discovernwnebraska.com, or by calling 308-432-3006.Tickets are $5 per person, payable at the door to B&amp;B Catering.

Dawes County tourism award nominees announced

United States Attorney 
Steven Russell announced that Kendra R. Baker, 37, of Grand Island was sentenced last week in federal
court in Lincoln.&nbsp; Senior United States 
District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Baker to 54 months in prison 
for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and 5 
grams or more of methamphetamine actual.&nbsp; After
 serving her sentence, Baker will serve a 3-year term of supervised 
release.&nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.&nbsp;


In
 March and April of 2021, drug investigators used a confidential 
informant to arrange the controlled purchase of methamphetamine from 
Baker.&nbsp; Four methamphetamine purchases were
 conducted during that time period at various locations in Grand Island 
and Hastings.&nbsp; The quantities purchased during those buys ranged from a 
half ounce to two ounces of methamphetamine.&nbsp; Baker sold in total over 
125 grams of lab-confirmed methamphetamine.&nbsp;
 Some of that methamphetamine was tested for purity and determined to 
contain at least 74 grams of actual methamphetamine.

This case was 
investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). TRIDENT is
 a task force with law enforcement personnel from the Adams County 
Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Federal
 Bureau of Investigation, Grand Island Police Department, Hall County 
Sheriff’s Office, Hastings Police Department, Homeland Security 
Investigations, Kearney Police Department, and the Nebraska State 
Patrol.

U.S. Attorney's OfficeUnited States Attorney 
Steven Russell announced that Kendra R. Baker, 37, of Grand Island was sentenced last week in federal
court in Lincoln.&nbsp; Senior United States 
District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Baker to 54 months in prison 
for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and 5 
grams or more of methamphetamine actual.&nbsp; After
 serving her sentence, Baker will serve a 3-year term of supervised 
release.&nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.&nbsp;
In
 March and April of 2021, drug investigators used a confidential 
informant to arrange the controlled purchase of methamphetamine from 
Baker.&nbsp; Four methamphetamine purchases were
 conducted during that time period at various locations in Grand Island 
and Hastings.&nbsp; The quantities purchased during those buys ranged from a 
half ounce to two ounces of methamphetamine.&nbsp; Baker sold in total over 
125 grams of lab-confirmed methamphetamine.&nbsp;
 Some of that methamphetamine was tested for purity and determined to 
contain at least 74 grams of actual methamphetamine.This case was 
investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). TRIDENT is
 a task force with law enforcement personnel from the Adams County 
Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Federal
 Bureau of Investigation, Grand Island Police Department, Hall County 
Sheriff’s Office, Hastings Police Department, Homeland Security 
Investigations, Kearney Police Department, and the Nebraska State 
Patrol.

Nebraska woman sentenced for distribution of methamphetamine

Applications are now being accepted for the NE Chamber Foundation’s Leadership Nebraska, the statewide leadership program that prepares Nebraskans who want to play a key role in helping their community and state thrive.

Applications must be received in the NE Chamber office on or before May 1. Applications can be completed online and submitted, emailed or mailed.&nbsp;

Leadership Nebraska is beginning its 15th year. Its mission is to identify, educate, connect, inspire and engage Nebraska’s current and emerging leaders for the well-being of the state of Nebraska. The program focuses on leadership development and broadening understanding and engagement on issues and opportunities facing our state. Participants gain in-depth knowledge that helps them define challenges, develop solutions and achieve positions of higher responsibility. Class members are selected from different regions of the state, with different backgrounds and diverse talents. Applicants must have demonstrated community and professional leadership experiences, as well as an abiding interest in Nebraska and its future.

The nine-month program consists of six sessions, each of which lasts two and a half days. The sessions cover a broad range of key Nebraska issues – such as economic development, health care, education, agriculture, government and policy.

“Strong leaders are the heart of our communities and businesses,” said Bryan Slone, NE Chamber president. “We must equip our next generation of leaders with the experiences, information and connections they need to generate big ideas and make bold moves that push Nebraska forward.”

Leadership Nebraska’s next class will begin with an orientation retreat in June at Lied Lodge in Nebraska City. Other sessions will be held in August, September, October, November and January across the state. A commencement ceremony will be held in Lincoln in February 2024. The application form and all session dates are posted at<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ZcsFIV6ZxKTO706UTS-J6WkOUOR_R6kFvxHuZ6i6qw1tjeOxBRFsmKB1cttyaTIcU7Z0bu1zzqlp5KT5Y-jJHsnBycYUEr6Y28z3qH7cU-4yC92RFQCu1UE2B7j9r7yXTr0Jk6LzwOivTVWY_4fVrkxuCGT6AB-y&amp;c=sXV4wJc7COaDi5UkvtI9bzgJTjlkF5cx7racbuobCQyH4yoLORNfWw==&amp;ch=DlHWSvnOlIp719jKEcI6ncQGVB0alFl3lbXIyq6W-hCMdwEbVNdVnA==" target="_blank">www.leadershipnebraska.com</a>.

Tuition for the 2023-2024 class is $3,750, which includes all meals and lodging. Individuals not sponsored by an organization or employer may be eligible for a scholarship, based on financial need. Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, please contact NE Chamber Foundation President&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tnorris@nechamber.com?subject=Tell%20me%20more%20about%20Leadership%20Nebraska" target="_blank">Tera Norris</a>at the NE Chamber, 402-937-9262.

The NE Chamber Foundation builds a stronger future for Nebraska by driving nonpartisan research on issues important to businesses, providing regular analytics on the state economy and business climate, and building partnerships to leverage connections between business, education and all Nebraskans. It is a 501(c)3 charitable and educational organization. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ZcsFIV6ZxKTO706UTS-J6WkOUOR_R6kFvxHuZ6i6qw1tjeOxBRFsmBm1PK2la4r6xDh3lZVhRmslsKgJLeaKOy5Q86E-0jQw6mDDXVnkGZUoQohI9JfJM7LpqYa6ff7HgJ74RaFMec469Zp1mz7CzUet-v9dtsgYOg27WZkKi9w=&amp;c=sXV4wJc7COaDi5UkvtI9bzgJTjlkF5cx7racbuobCQyH4yoLORNfWw==&amp;ch=DlHWSvnOlIp719jKEcI6ncQGVB0alFl3lbXIyq6W-hCMdwEbVNdVnA==" target="_blank">nechamber.com/foundation</a>

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFOPhWED4VI"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseApplications are now being accepted for the NE Chamber Foundation’s Leadership Nebraska, the statewide leadership program that prepares Nebraskans who want to play a key role in helping their community and state thrive.Applications must be received in the NE Chamber office on or before May 1. Applications can be completed online and submitted, emailed or mailed.&nbsp;Leadership Nebraska is beginning its 15th year. Its mission is to identify, educate, connect, inspire and engage Nebraska’s current and emerging leaders for the well-being of the state of Nebraska. The program focuses on leadership development and broadening understanding and engagement on issues and opportunities facing our state. Participants gain in-depth knowledge that helps them define challenges, develop solutions and achieve positions of higher responsibility. Class members are selected from different regions of the state, with different backgrounds and diverse talents. Applicants must have demonstrated community and professional leadership experiences, as well as an abiding interest in Nebraska and its future.The nine-month program consists of six sessions, each of which lasts two and a half days. The sessions cover a broad range of key Nebraska issues – such as economic development, health care, education, agriculture, government and policy.“Strong leaders are the heart of our communities and businesses,” said Bryan Slone, NE Chamber president. “We must equip our next generation of leaders with the experiences, information and connections they need to generate big ideas and make bold moves that push Nebraska forward.”Leadership Nebraska’s next class will begin with an orientation retreat in June at Lied Lodge in Nebraska City. Other sessions will be held in August, September, October, November and January across the state. A commencement ceremony will be held in Lincoln in February 2024. The application form and all session dates are posted at<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ZcsFIV6ZxKTO706UTS-J6WkOUOR_R6kFvxHuZ6i6qw1tjeOxBRFsmKB1cttyaTIcU7Z0bu1zzqlp5KT5Y-jJHsnBycYUEr6Y28z3qH7cU-4yC92RFQCu1UE2B7j9r7yXTr0Jk6LzwOivTVWY_4fVrkxuCGT6AB-y&amp;c=sXV4wJc7COaDi5UkvtI9bzgJTjlkF5cx7racbuobCQyH4yoLORNfWw==&amp;ch=DlHWSvnOlIp719jKEcI6ncQGVB0alFl3lbXIyq6W-hCMdwEbVNdVnA==" target="_blank">www.leadershipnebraska.com</a>.Tuition for the 2023-2024 class is $3,750, which includes all meals and lodging. Individuals not sponsored by an organization or employer may be eligible for a scholarship, based on financial need. Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, please contact NE Chamber Foundation President&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tnorris@nechamber.com?subject=Tell%20me%20more%20about%20Leadership%20Nebraska" target="_blank">Tera Norris</a>at the NE Chamber, 402-937-9262.The NE Chamber Foundation builds a stronger future for Nebraska by driving nonpartisan research on issues important to businesses, providing regular analytics on the state economy and business climate, and building partnerships to leverage connections between business, education and all Nebraskans. It is a 501(c)3 charitable and educational organization. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ZcsFIV6ZxKTO706UTS-J6WkOUOR_R6kFvxHuZ6i6qw1tjeOxBRFsmBm1PK2la4r6xDh3lZVhRmslsKgJLeaKOy5Q86E-0jQw6mDDXVnkGZUoQohI9JfJM7LpqYa6ff7HgJ74RaFMec469Zp1mz7CzUet-v9dtsgYOg27WZkKi9w=&amp;c=sXV4wJc7COaDi5UkvtI9bzgJTjlkF5cx7racbuobCQyH4yoLORNfWw==&amp;ch=DlHWSvnOlIp719jKEcI6ncQGVB0alFl3lbXIyq6W-hCMdwEbVNdVnA==" target="_blank">nechamber.com/foundation</a>

🎥 Leadership Nebraska accepting applications through May 1

KEARNEY, Neb. – As drug trends change and overdose incidents increase across the country, law enforcement partners continue working to counter the threat to Nebraska communities through enforcement and education. That ongoing partnership was on display for law enforcement agencies and county attorneys during this week’s second annual Nebraska Drug Forum, held in Kearney.

Last year, methamphetamine was the primary focus of the Nebraska Drug Forum. This year, attendees received additional training on a broad range of drug-related topics. More than 150 investigators, prosecutors, and representatives from law enforcement agencies attended the two-day forum.

“Illicit drugs are harming and killing Nebraskans in communities across our state. Having&nbsp;our local, state, and federal agencies&nbsp;work together and share resources is a critical part of the strategic response.&nbsp;This year’s forum—with record-setting attendance that brought together police departments, sheriffs, county attorneys, postal inspectors, the state patrol, the FBI, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the DEA—was an important step in our coordinated effort to keep Nebraskans safe,”&nbsp;stated Attorney General Mike Hilgers.

Recent DEA laboratory testing reveals that 6 out of 10 fentanyl-laced pills now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. That is an increase over the rate of 4 out of 10 that tested positive for potentially lethal doses last year.

“Fentanyl and methamphetamine are the top two drug threats facing Nebraskans,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King said. “Through the collaborative efforts of our state, local, federal, and tribal partners, we’re raising awareness to the dangers of these substances and working together to remove the individuals responsible for bringing these potentially lethal substances into our communities.”

“The FBI is dedicated to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in Nebraska to disrupt and dismantle criminal drug trafficking organizations.&nbsp;

The trafficking of illegal drugs is not a victimless crime. We&nbsp;remain committed to&nbsp;leveraging our task forces to&nbsp;target the most prolific traffickers, and tracing back the source of supply to identify where the drugs are coming from. Like all of our partners, we will not stand idly by and watch our neighborhoods suffer from the influx of drugs and the violence that comes with it,"&nbsp;said FBI Special Agent in Charge Gene Kowel.

“The Nebraska Informational Analysis Center has an important role to play in connecting the dots between agencies,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Our NIAC crime analysts are able to review information from a local narcotics case&nbsp;and potentially make connections that may lead to larger investigations, including our federal law enforcement partners.”

For more information, or to speak with the Nebraska Attorney General, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Nebraska State Patrol, or the U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska, please contact the respective Public Information Officer as noted at the bottom of this release.

News Release<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680118974352.jpeg" alt="Special Agent in Charge Gene Kowel Omaha FBI Field Office" />
 <figcaption>Special Agent in Charge Gene Kowel Omaha FBI Field Office</figcaption>
 </figure>KEARNEY, Neb. – As drug trends change and overdose incidents increase across the country, law enforcement partners continue working to counter the threat to Nebraska communities through enforcement and education. That ongoing partnership was on display for law enforcement agencies and county attorneys during this week’s second annual Nebraska Drug Forum, held in Kearney.Last year, methamphetamine was the primary focus of the Nebraska Drug Forum. This year, attendees received additional training on a broad range of drug-related topics. More than 150 investigators, prosecutors, and representatives from law enforcement agencies attended the two-day forum.“Illicit drugs are harming and killing Nebraskans in communities across our state. Having&nbsp;our local, state, and federal agencies&nbsp;work together and share resources is a critical part of the strategic response.&nbsp;This year’s forum—with record-setting attendance that brought together police departments, sheriffs, county attorneys, postal inspectors, the state patrol, the FBI, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the DEA—was an important step in our coordinated effort to keep Nebraskans safe,”&nbsp;stated Attorney General Mike Hilgers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680119005267.jpeg" alt="Attorney General Hilgers" />
 <figcaption>Attorney General Hilgers</figcaption>
 </figure>Recent DEA laboratory testing reveals that 6 out of 10 fentanyl-laced pills now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. That is an increase over the rate of 4 out of 10 that tested positive for potentially lethal doses last year.“Fentanyl and methamphetamine are the top two drug threats facing Nebraskans,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King said. “Through the collaborative efforts of our state, local, federal, and tribal partners, we’re raising awareness to the dangers of these substances and working together to remove the individuals responsible for bringing these potentially lethal substances into our communities.”“The FBI is dedicated to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in Nebraska to disrupt and dismantle criminal drug trafficking organizations.&nbsp;The trafficking of illegal drugs is not a victimless crime. We&nbsp;remain committed to&nbsp;leveraging our task forces to&nbsp;target the most prolific traffickers, and tracing back the source of supply to identify where the drugs are coming from. Like all of our partners, we will not stand idly by and watch our neighborhoods suffer from the influx of drugs and the violence that comes with it,"&nbsp;said FBI Special Agent in Charge Gene Kowel.“The Nebraska Informational Analysis Center has an important role to play in connecting the dots between agencies,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Our NIAC crime analysts are able to review information from a local narcotics case&nbsp;and potentially make connections that may lead to larger investigations, including our federal law enforcement partners.”For more information, or to speak with the Nebraska Attorney General, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Nebraska State Patrol, or the U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska, please contact the respective Public Information Officer as noted at the bottom of this release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680119032795.jpeg" alt="Colonel John Bolduc" />
 <figcaption>Colonel John Bolduc</figcaption>
 </figure>

Law enforcement partners host second annual Nebraska Drug Forum

Scottsbluff –Three area United Way supporters won United Way of Western Nebraska’s 2022-23 Campaign Raffle for Cash drawing with the cash prize sponsored by Platte Valley Bank. Tim Sherlock of Alliance, Robin Hoxworth of Scottsbluff and Kathleen Snyder of Kimball were the three lucky winners each winning $500. They became eligible by donating generously to United Way.

Platte Valley Company representatives were on hand to present the winnings in Scottsbluff and Alliance with United Way Executive Director, Karen Benzel.

Tony Kaufman, Platte Valley Bank Community President remarked, “Platte Valley Companies is proud to be a part of this with United Way. Through many of our partnerships we work to give back to the community, it is the foundation of Platte Valley Companies to give back to communities.”

Tim Sherlock (Winner, PREMA), Karen Benzel (Executive Director, United Way of Western Nebraska) and Rob Bila (Community President, Platte Valley Bank)

United Way of Western Nebraska is a nonprofit organization that unites people and resources to build a stronger, healthier and more compassionate community. They support 25 local nonprofit agencies in the areas of education, health and financial stability. They have been reinvesting in Western Nebraska since their inception in 1945. For more information, visit www.uwwn.org.

By United Way of Western NebraskaScottsbluff –Three area United Way supporters won United Way of Western Nebraska’s 2022-23 Campaign Raffle for Cash drawing with the cash prize sponsored by Platte Valley Bank. Tim Sherlock of Alliance, Robin Hoxworth of Scottsbluff and Kathleen Snyder of Kimball were the three lucky winners each winning $500. They became eligible by donating generously to United Way.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680110930612.jpeg" alt="Tony Kaufman (Community President, Platte Valley Bank), Robin Hoxworth (Raffle for Cash winner, Scottsbluff Public Schools), Karen Benzel (Executive Director, United Way of Western Nebraska) and Amy Doll (Marketing Director, Platte Valley Companies)" />
 <figcaption>Tony Kaufman (Community President, Platte Valley Bank), Robin Hoxworth (Raffle for Cash winner, Scottsbluff Public Schools), Karen Benzel (Executive Director, United Way of Western Nebraska) and Amy Doll (Marketing Director, Platte Valley Companies)</figcaption>
 </figure>Platte Valley Company representatives were on hand to present the winnings in Scottsbluff and Alliance with United Way Executive Director, Karen Benzel.Tony Kaufman, Platte Valley Bank Community President remarked, “Platte Valley Companies is proud to be a part of this with United Way. Through many of our partnerships we work to give back to the community, it is the foundation of Platte Valley Companies to give back to communities.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680110958381.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Tim Sherlock (Winner, PREMA), Karen Benzel (Executive Director, United Way of Western Nebraska) and Rob Bila (Community President, Platte Valley Bank)United Way of Western Nebraska is a nonprofit organization that unites people and resources to build a stronger, healthier and more compassionate community. They support 25 local nonprofit agencies in the areas of education, health and financial stability. They have been reinvesting in Western Nebraska since their inception in 1945. For more information, visit www.uwwn.org.

United Way of Western Nebraska announces raffle for cash winners

POST PODCAST: Coffee Talk 3/29/23

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. -&nbsp;The Western Community College Area Board of Governors has approved the recommendation of three finalists for the position of president by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee at Western Nebraska Community College.

The three finalists, in alphabetical order are Dr. Samuel (Todd) Brand, chief academic officer at Ashland Community &amp; Technical College; Mr. Greg Dart, chief campus administrator at Utah State University Eastern; and Dr. George McNulty, president at Gogebic Community College.

By WNCC<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680101757535.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. -&nbsp;The Western Community College Area Board of Governors has approved the recommendation of three finalists for the position of president by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee at Western Nebraska Community College.The three finalists, in alphabetical order are Dr. Samuel (Todd) Brand, chief academic officer at Ashland Community &amp; Technical College; Mr. Greg Dart, chief campus administrator at Utah State University Eastern; and Dr. George McNulty, president at Gogebic Community College.The WCCA Board of Governors voted to approve the finalists at the March Board of Governors meeting.Dr. Brand is the current chief academic officer at Ashland Community &amp; Technical College in Ashland, Kentucky. Prior to his position at Ashland, he was the arts/communications division chair from 2006-2019 at Meridian Community College in Mississippi, where he also served as the arts &amp; letters series director from 2014-2019.Brand holds a Ph.D. from Mississippi State University, a Master of Science in Communications, and a Bachelor of Science from Mississippi College.Mr. Dart has been the chief campus administrator at Utah State University Eastern in Price, Utah since 2018. Prior to that, he served as the vice chancellor of student affairs &amp; enrollment management from 2014-2018, and the director of enrollment services from 2012-2013. Dart has also held roles as the vice president for student services at Zane State college in Ohio; the director of admissions, scholarships, and communications, and associate professor of communications, both at Snow College in Utah.Dart is finalizing his doctorate of education at Northeastern University, with all but his dissertation complete. He also has a Master of Education in Instructional Technology from Utah State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Communications from the University of Alaska-Anchorage, and an Associate of Science from Snow College.Dr. McNulty has been the president of Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, Michigan since 2019. He previously served as the vice president of student affairs at Colby Community College in Kansas for six years, as well as the college's acting Title IX coordinator during the same time. He has held a variety of roles at higher education institutions including positions as an interim director of financial assistance, coordinator of retention/counselor, student-athlete advisor, Phi Theta Kappa co-advisor, and academic advisor, among others. He also served in the U.S. Army, active duty from 1988-1991.McNulty holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and a Master of Arts in Counseling and Educational Psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno, a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education from California State University, Chico, and two associate's degrees from Feather River College.The Board will conduct in-person interviews and campus visits with the finalists in the first two weeks of April. Each candidate will have an open forum on the Scottsbluff Campus and meet and greets on the Alliance and Sidney campuses where they will have the opportunity to meet with WNCC students, employees, and community members. The public is encouraged to attend the forums and the meet and greets. Livestream options are also available for the Scottsbluff Campus open forums.The open forum with Dr. McNulty will be held Monday, April 3, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m in the John N. Harms Center. The open forum is also available via livestream at&nbsp;<a href="https://livestream.com/wncc/forum-april3" target="_blank">https://livestream.com/wncc/forum-april3</a>.&nbsp;Dr. McNulty's meet and greet on the Alliance and Sidney campuses will be on Tuesday, April 4, from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. and from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m, respectively.The open forum with Mr. Dart will be held Wednesday, April 5, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m in the John N. Harms Center. The open forum is also available via livestream at&nbsp;<a href="https://livestream.com/wncc/forum-april5" target="_blank">https://livestream.com/wncc/forum-april5</a>.&nbsp;Mr. Dart's meet and greet on the Alliance and Sidney campuses will be on Thursday, April 6 from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. and from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m, respectively.The final open forum with Dr. Brand will be held Thursday, April 13, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m in the John N. Harms Center. The open forum is also available via livestream at&nbsp;<a href="https://livestream.com/wncc/forum-april13" target="_blank">https://livestream.com/wncc/forum-april13</a>.&nbsp;Dr. Brand's meet and greet on the Alliance and Sidney campuses will be on Friday, April 14 from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. and from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m, respectively.After all three finalists have interviewed with the Board and visited WNCC campuses, the board will announce their selection at a special board meeting on April 19.For more information about the search, visit wncc.edu/about-wncc/presidentialsearch.

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