By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/19/new-u-s-sen-pete-ricketts-raises-200k-for-campaign-1-57-million-for-joint-committee/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Former Nebraska
 Gov. Pete Ricketts raised $200,000 in his first quarter as an appointed
 U.S. senator this spring. But that’s only part of his funding picture.

Like many senators, Ricketts formed a
 joint fundraising committee composed of his Senate campaign, his 
political committee to support other congressional conservatives, and 
the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The joint committee raised
 $1.57 million from mid-January through March, flexing a little of the 
fundraising muscle Ricketts brings to Washington, D.C.&nbsp;

The Ricketts Victory Fund and other 
candidates’ joint committees are subject to legal limits on how much 
donors and groups can give to federal candidates and campaigns. Federal 
law, for example, limits campaign donations from individuals to $3,300 
per federal candidate per election.&nbsp;

But the joint committees let big 
donors give larger single donations that can then be distributed to 
multiple races and political parties and causes. This bulk giving lets 
the committee steer donor funds to whichever participant in the 
committee needs it.&nbsp;

The unusual thing about how Ricketts 
is raising funds as a new senator, political observers said, is that he 
raised more money early on for his joint committee than for his 
campaign. Others in the Nebraska delegation with joint committees, 
including U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., prioritized 
campaign fundraising at this point in the cycle.

Fischer, for example, raised $170,000
 for her Fischer Victory Fund in the first quarter and $374,000 for her 
campaign. The Bacon Victory Fund raised $60,000 over the same span. 
Members of Congress often use the joint committee funds to boost other 
colleagues’ campaigns, as well as their own.

Nearly $1 million of the $1.57 
million raised for Ricketts Victory Fund came from a handful of GOP 
mega-donors with Nebraska ties. The committee received $600,000 from 
Ricketts’ parents, Joe and Marlene Ricketts. The Ricketts family helped 
start the TD Ameritrade financial firm.

Sandhills Publishing executive Tom 
Peed and his family gave the Ricketts Victory Fund $200,000. Mickey 
Anderson and his family, who run Baxter Auto Group, gave the fund 
$100,000, and Tonn Ostergard of Crete Carrier gave $50,000.

Not all of that money will make its 
way to Ricketts’ campaign. This quarter, the Ricketts Victory Fund 
transferred $203,000 to the Ricketts campaign, which boosted his cash on
 hand to $368,000 by the end of March. Money sent to a campaign 
committee from joint committees is counted as a fund transfer and not as
 money raised. That’s why Ricketts’ campaign finance forms list more 
cash on hand than his campaign reported having raised.&nbsp;

As for the $200,000 that Ricketts 
raised for his campaign, about $51,000 came from individual donors. The 
rest came from political groups and committees, including from fellow 
Republicans in Congress. Ricketts also saw an infusion of smaller-dollar
 donations raised by WinRed, the Republican version of ActBlue, a 
digital-first national group that raises similar funds for Democrats.

Ricketts faces the unusual task of 
running in 2024 to finish former Sen. Ben Sasse’s vacated term and 
running again in 2026 for a full term. He has one announced opponent for
 the 2024 race, former 1st
 District candidate John Glen Weaver. He had not filed any fundraising 
paperwork with the Federal Election Commission as of Tuesday.&nbsp;

Former GOP gubernatorial candidate 
Charles Herbster has flirted with challenging Ricketts after losing the 
2022 GOP primary to Gov. Jim Pillen. Ricketts endorsed and helped fund 
Pillen’s campaign.&nbsp;

Matthew Trail, a spokesman for the 
Ricketts campaign, said Ricketts has strong support “across the state.” 
Trail said conservatives “are invested and engaged” in the senator’s 
campaign and said Ricketts is “working hard for every vote.”&nbsp;

Fischer, facing a re-election bid in 
2024, raised $374,000 from January through March, the most her campaign 
has collected in any first quarter this far ahead of the primary 
election.&nbsp;

She raised $100,000 from individual 
donors and $274,000 from political committees and groups. Her joint 
fundraising committee, Fischer Victory Fund, transferred $100,000 to the
 campaign. That helped her campaign stockpile $1.75 million in cash on 
hand.

Fischer has no announced opponents, 
though she, like Ricketts, could face challenges from both the right and
 left. She said she would keep fighting for Nebraskans’ priorities, 
including national security, border security, farmers and ranchers, and 
veterans.

“We’ll be ready for any challenge,” Fischer said.&nbsp;

Flood recovering after three elections in 7 months

Nebraska’s newest House member, 
Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, raised nearly $200,000 in the first 
quarter of his first full term in Congress.&nbsp;

But he’s still paying down $213,000 
in debt from campaign spending on three races last year, including a 
competitive GOP primary with former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb.

Flood also ran in a special election 
last June, after Fortenberry was convicted of three campaign-related 
felonies, plus a general election in November against former State Sen. 
Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln.&nbsp;&nbsp;

His campaign says he is making 
progress on a payment plan while working to fund a competitive campaign 
in 2024. The campaign showed $83,000 in cash on hand. Flood campaign 
spokesman Corben Waldron said the congressman “won’t take anything for 
granted.”

Flood has no announced opponents in the Lincoln-heavy 1st Congressional District, which now also includes significant portions of Papillion and La Vista.

Nebraska’s senior member of the House
 delegation, U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., raised $142,000 in the 
first quarter of 2023. His campaign has $901,000 in cash on hand.

Smith has no announced challengers in the mostly rural 3rd Congressional District, the state’s most conservative.

One interesting aside: The state’s largest federal campaign war chest
 moved to Florida — Sasse’s campaign finance forms showed his campaign 
had $2.5 million in cash on hand.

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/19/new-u-s-sen-pete-ricketts-raises-200k-for-campaign-1-57-million-for-joint-committee/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Former Nebraska
 Gov. Pete Ricketts raised $200,000 in his first quarter as an appointed
 U.S. senator this spring. But that’s only part of his funding picture.Like many senators, Ricketts formed a
 joint fundraising committee composed of his Senate campaign, his 
political committee to support other congressional conservatives, and 
the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The joint committee raised
 $1.57 million from mid-January through March, flexing a little of the 
fundraising muscle Ricketts brings to Washington, D.C.&nbsp;The Ricketts Victory Fund and other 
candidates’ joint committees are subject to legal limits on how much 
donors and groups can give to federal candidates and campaigns. Federal 
law, for example, limits campaign donations from individuals to $3,300 
per federal candidate per election.&nbsp;But the joint committees let big 
donors give larger single donations that can then be distributed to 
multiple races and political parties and causes. This bulk giving lets 
the committee steer donor funds to whichever participant in the 
committee needs it.&nbsp;The unusual thing about how Ricketts 
is raising funds as a new senator, political observers said, is that he 
raised more money early on for his joint committee than for his 
campaign. Others in the Nebraska delegation with joint committees, 
including U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., prioritized 
campaign fundraising at this point in the cycle.Fischer, for example, raised $170,000
 for her Fischer Victory Fund in the first quarter and $374,000 for her 
campaign. The Bacon Victory Fund raised $60,000 over the same span. 
Members of Congress often use the joint committee funds to boost other 
colleagues’ campaigns, as well as their own.Nearly $1 million of the $1.57 
million raised for Ricketts Victory Fund came from a handful of GOP 
mega-donors with Nebraska ties. The committee received $600,000 from 
Ricketts’ parents, Joe and Marlene Ricketts. The Ricketts family helped 
start the TD Ameritrade financial firm.Sandhills Publishing executive Tom 
Peed and his family gave the Ricketts Victory Fund $200,000. Mickey 
Anderson and his family, who run Baxter Auto Group, gave the fund 
$100,000, and Tonn Ostergard of Crete Carrier gave $50,000.Not all of that money will make its 
way to Ricketts’ campaign. This quarter, the Ricketts Victory Fund 
transferred $203,000 to the Ricketts campaign, which boosted his cash on
 hand to $368,000 by the end of March. Money sent to a campaign 
committee from joint committees is counted as a fund transfer and not as
 money raised. That’s why Ricketts’ campaign finance forms list more 
cash on hand than his campaign reported having raised.&nbsp;As for the $200,000 that Ricketts 
raised for his campaign, about $51,000 came from individual donors. The 
rest came from political groups and committees, including from fellow 
Republicans in Congress. Ricketts also saw an infusion of smaller-dollar
 donations raised by WinRed, the Republican version of ActBlue, a 
digital-first national group that raises similar funds for Democrats.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681913074970.jpeg" alt="The Nebraska Republican Party’s Executive Committee meets to decide who will earn the party’s nomination for the June 28, 2022, special election for the 1st Congressional District. Shown is John Glen Weaver. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The Nebraska Republican Party’s Executive Committee meets to decide who will earn the party’s nomination for the June 28, 2022, special election for the 1st Congressional District. Shown is John Glen Weaver. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Ricketts faces the unusual task of 
running in 2024 to finish former Sen. Ben Sasse’s vacated term and 
running again in 2026 for a full term. He has one announced opponent for
 the 2024 race, former 1st
 District candidate John Glen Weaver. He had not filed any fundraising 
paperwork with the Federal Election Commission as of Tuesday.&nbsp;Former GOP gubernatorial candidate 
Charles Herbster has flirted with challenging Ricketts after losing the 
2022 GOP primary to Gov. Jim Pillen. Ricketts endorsed and helped fund 
Pillen’s campaign.&nbsp;Matthew Trail, a spokesman for the 
Ricketts campaign, said Ricketts has strong support “across the state.” 
Trail said conservatives “are invested and engaged” in the senator’s 
campaign and said Ricketts is “working hard for every vote.”&nbsp;<h2>Fischer raises $374,000</h2>Fischer, facing a re-election bid in 
2024, raised $374,000 from January through March, the most her campaign 
has collected in any first quarter this far ahead of the primary 
election.&nbsp;She raised $100,000 from individual 
donors and $274,000 from political committees and groups. Her joint 
fundraising committee, Fischer Victory Fund, transferred $100,000 to the
 campaign. That helped her campaign stockpile $1.75 million in cash on 
hand.Fischer has no announced opponents, 
though she, like Ricketts, could face challenges from both the right and
 left. She said she would keep fighting for Nebraskans’ priorities, 
including national security, border security, farmers and ranchers, and 
veterans.“We’ll be ready for any challenge,” Fischer said.&nbsp;<h2>Flood recovering after three elections in 7 months</h2>Nebraska’s newest House member, 
Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, raised nearly $200,000 in the first 
quarter of his first full term in Congress.&nbsp;But he’s still paying down $213,000 
in debt from campaign spending on three races last year, including a 
competitive GOP primary with former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb.Flood also ran in a special election 
last June, after Fortenberry was convicted of three campaign-related 
felonies, plus a general election in November against former State Sen. 
Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln.&nbsp;&nbsp;His campaign says he is making 
progress on a payment plan while working to fund a competitive campaign 
in 2024. The campaign showed $83,000 in cash on hand. Flood campaign 
spokesman Corben Waldron said the congressman “won’t take anything for 
granted.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680539471542.jpeg" alt="Adrian Smith, R-Neb." />
 <figcaption>Adrian Smith, R-Neb.</figcaption>
 </figure>Flood has no announced opponents in the Lincoln-heavy 1st Congressional District, which now also includes significant portions of Papillion and La Vista.<h2>Smith has nearly $1 million cash on hand</h2>Nebraska’s senior member of the House
 delegation, U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., raised $142,000 in the 
first quarter of 2023. His campaign has $901,000 in cash on hand.Smith has no announced challengers in the mostly rural 3rd Congressional District, the state’s most conservative.One interesting aside: The state’s largest federal campaign war chest
 moved to Florida — Sasse’s campaign finance forms showed his campaign 
had $2.5 million in cash on hand.

Ricketts raises $200k for campaign, $1.57M for joint committee

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/u-s-reps-flood-and-neguse-recreate-house-group-aimed-at-innovators-entrepreneurs/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., and Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., announced
 Tuesday they are reviving a bipartisan group in Congress aimed at 
focusing federal lawmakers on the importance of steering policy toward 
nurturing the nation’s innovators and entrepreneurs.&nbsp;

Flood, whose 1st
 Congressional District is home to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
and community college campuses, said the new Congressional Bipartisan 
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Caucus would help the House “support 
small business.”

Flood said that he hopes to help 
Nebraska incubate startup companies and that focusing on the environment
 that helps these businesses grow need not be political or partisan. 
Neguse said in his statement that he hopes to buttress Colorado’s 
emphasis on the aerospace and technology industries, allowing the state 
to continue serving as a hub of innovation.&nbsp;

“We invite our colleagues to join us as we support the next generation of American entrepreneurs,” Flood said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681912913052.png" alt="Bling provided at a recent announcement by Google to build a Nebraska facility (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Bling provided at a recent announcement by Google to build a Nebraska facility (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/u-s-reps-flood-and-neguse-recreate-house-group-aimed-at-innovators-entrepreneurs/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., and Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., announced
 Tuesday they are reviving a bipartisan group in Congress aimed at 
focusing federal lawmakers on the importance of steering policy toward 
nurturing the nation’s innovators and entrepreneurs.&nbsp;Flood, whose 1st
 Congressional District is home to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
and community college campuses, said the new Congressional Bipartisan 
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Caucus would help the House “support 
small business.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1649875722746.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Mike Flood (Craig Chandler/University Communications)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Mike Flood (Craig Chandler/University Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure>Flood said that he hopes to help 
Nebraska incubate startup companies and that focusing on the environment
 that helps these businesses grow need not be political or partisan. 
Neguse said in his statement that he hopes to buttress Colorado’s 
emphasis on the aerospace and technology industries, allowing the state 
to continue serving as a hub of innovation.&nbsp;Both will co-chair the group.“We invite our colleagues to join us as we support the next generation of American entrepreneurs,” Flood said in a statement.

U.S. Reps. Flood and Neguse recreate House group aimed at innovators, entrepreneurs

WASHINGTON —On Tuesday, the President and First Lady released their 2022 federal income tax return. With this release, President Biden has shared a total of 25 years of tax returns with the American public. Once again demonstrating his commitment to being transparent with the American people about the finances of the Commander-in-Chief, President Biden has released the most tax returns of any president while in office.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/POTUS-2022-Tax-Returns-Final-Signed-Redacted.pdf">Click here to view</a>&nbsp;the President and First Lady’s tax returns&nbsp; <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/VPOTUS-2022-Tax-Returns-Final-Signed-Redacted.pdf">Click here to view</a>&nbsp;the Vice President and Second Gentleman’s tax returns

The President and First Lady filed their income tax return jointly and reported federal adjusted gross income of $579,514. They paid $169,820 in combined federal, Delaware, and Virginia income taxes. And their 2022 effective federal income tax rate is 23.8 percent. The President and First Lady also reported contributions of $20,180 to 20 different charities. The largest gift to charity was $5,000 to the Beau Biden Foundation, a public charity dedicated to ensuring that all children are free from the threat of abuse. They also donated to St. Joseph on the Brandywine, their home parish, to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, and the National Fraternal Order of Police Foundation, among other charities. Specifically, the President and First Lady paid $137,658 in federal income tax. They also released their Delaware income tax return and reported paying $29,023 in Delaware income tax. The First Lady released her Virginia income tax return as well, and reported paying $3,139 in Virginia income tax. The Vice President and the Second Gentleman also released their 2022 federal income tax return, as well as state income tax returns for California and the District of Columbia. Including today’s release, the Vice President has published 19 years of tax returns.&nbsp; The Vice President and the Second Gentleman reported federal adjusted gross income of $456,918. They paid $93,570 in federal income tax, amounting to a 2022 effective federal income tax rate of 20.5 percent. They also paid $17,612 in California income tax, and Mr. Emhoff paid $9,697 in District of Columbia income tax. They contributed $23,000 to charity in 2022.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676821587118.png" alt="The President and First Lady also reported contributions of $20,180 to 20 different charities.- file photo White House" />
 <figcaption>The President and First Lady also reported contributions of $20,180 to 20 different charities.- file photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —On Tuesday, the President and First Lady released their 2022 federal income tax return. With this release, President Biden has shared a total of 25 years of tax returns with the American public. Once again demonstrating his commitment to being transparent with the American people about the finances of the Commander-in-Chief, President Biden has released the most tax returns of any president while in office.<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/POTUS-2022-Tax-Returns-Final-Signed-Redacted.pdf">Click here to view</a>&nbsp;the President and First Lady’s tax returns&nbsp; <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/VPOTUS-2022-Tax-Returns-Final-Signed-Redacted.pdf">Click here to view</a>&nbsp;the Vice President and Second Gentleman’s tax returns The President and First Lady filed their income tax return jointly and reported federal adjusted gross income of $579,514. They paid $169,820 in combined federal, Delaware, and Virginia income taxes. And their 2022 effective federal income tax rate is 23.8 percent. The President and First Lady also reported contributions of $20,180 to 20 different charities. The largest gift to charity was $5,000 to the Beau Biden Foundation, a public charity dedicated to ensuring that all children are free from the threat of abuse. They also donated to St. Joseph on the Brandywine, their home parish, to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, and the National Fraternal Order of Police Foundation, among other charities. Specifically, the President and First Lady paid $137,658 in federal income tax. They also released their Delaware income tax return and reported paying $29,023 in Delaware income tax. The First Lady released her Virginia income tax return as well, and reported paying $3,139 in Virginia income tax. The Vice President and the Second Gentleman also released their 2022 federal income tax return, as well as state income tax returns for California and the District of Columbia. Including today’s release, the Vice President has published 19 years of tax returns.&nbsp; The Vice President and the Second Gentleman reported federal adjusted gross income of $456,918. They paid $93,570 in federal income tax, amounting to a 2022 effective federal income tax rate of 20.5 percent. They also paid $17,612 in California income tax, and Mr. Emhoff paid $9,697 in District of Columbia income tax. They contributed $23,000 to charity in 2022.

President, Vice President release their 2022 tax returns

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/18/elk-creek-is-among-nebraska-towns-boosted-with-new-grants-totaling-about-2-million/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — It’s been a half-century since the tiny Nebraska village of Elk Creek has witnessed the rise of a new public building.

But after a few years of seeking 
state assistance, the farm town in southeast Nebraska is set to 
construct a community center, a pivotal development made possible with a
 grant announced Tuesday.&nbsp;

The $333,000 award is part of $1.94 
million the Nebraska Department of Economic Development will dole out to
 five of the state’s smaller communities from the Community Development 
Block Grant program.

“A big boost in the arm,” is what 
Arlin Beethe called the grant that will fund the new town hall at First 
and Ash Streets. Beethe is village clerk, president of the rural fire 
board and a former member of the Village Board.

Administered by the Nebraska DED, 
CDBG funds come from the federal Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, and in this round are intended for public works 
enhancements.

Other grant recipients are: Village 
of Craig, $433,000 for a street improvement project; Village of 
Newcastle, $433,000 for sidewalk, curb and other repairs; City of 
Superior, $433,000 for park improvements; City of Schuyler, $309,360, to
 convert two parking lots into a park and an amphitheater.

The funded communities demonstrated collaboration and a “strategic 
approach to community development within their project designs,” a DED 
statement said. Beethe said it was the third time that Elk Creek had 
applied for the competitive grant funding.

In Elk Creek, the new community 
center will provide a home for events that bring together residents of 
the town and the surrounding farming community. (Though its official 
population is less than 100, officials say users of town services grow 
to as many as 300 when one counts the surrounding farmsteads.)

For years, village service clubs and 
organizations have held their big community to-dos, such as the annual 
BBQ, inside the fire hall that was built in the mid-1970s, said Beethe 
and Village Board member Greg Bates.

Volunteers relocate the fire trucks to a secure spot while the BBQ is going on.&nbsp;

Weather permitting, other activities such as the street dance are held outside.

“It isn’t very often anything new gets built in a lot of these little towns,” said Bates.

Kathryn Gottula, who has lived in Elk
 Creek most of her 72 years (her husband was longtime fire chief), said 
the new facility will have handicapped accessible restrooms that are 
lacking in the old fire hall. “That’ll be a big, big thing for us,” she 
said.

While growth has been stagnant in the
 village south of Tecumseh, Gottula said she and others are awaiting a 
spurt that could come from a long-discussed mining project nearby: 
NioCorp’s Elk Creek superalloy materials facility.

NioCorp announced last year it was <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/09/26/long-delayed-niocorp-mine-announces-deals-that-could-bring-more-investment/">entering into agreements</a>
 that could lead to millions of dollars more investment in its proposed 
$1.1 billion project. The underground mine would extract niobium, 
scandium, titanium and “rare earth” elements that, the company said, 
represent ingredients vital to greenhouse gas-reducing technologies.

“Hopefully there will be people coming here to work and to live,” said Gottula. “That’s a really huge and awesome thing.”

Beethe said that the proposed mining 
project, and talk of 450 possible jobs, likely had a hand in positioning
 Elk Creek for the community center grant.&nbsp;

NioCorp’s leadership was among supporters who wrote letters urging 
the DED to award the community center grant, Beethe said, noting how 
area business also could benefit from the amenity.

Meanwhile, Bates and Beethe said the 
town, for now, is well known for its signature cocktail: Elk Creek 
Water, which includes a few sweet soft drink flavors plus gin and vodka 
splashes.

“One gal said it tasted like lemonade with happiness inside,” said Bates.

Perhaps not so coincidentally, the town’s water tower beckons visitors with the words: Elk Creek Water.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681912763435.png" alt="Village of Elk Creek, Nebraska, and its water tower. (Courtesy of Elk Creek Village Board)" />
 <figcaption>Village of Elk Creek, Nebraska, and its water tower. (Courtesy of Elk Creek Village Board)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/18/elk-creek-is-among-nebraska-towns-boosted-with-new-grants-totaling-about-2-million/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — It’s been a half-century since the tiny Nebraska village of Elk Creek has witnessed the rise of a new public building.But after a few years of seeking 
state assistance, the farm town in southeast Nebraska is set to 
construct a community center, a pivotal development made possible with a
 grant announced Tuesday.&nbsp;The $333,000 award is part of $1.94 
million the Nebraska Department of Economic Development will dole out to
 five of the state’s smaller communities from the Community Development 
Block Grant program.“A big boost in the arm,” is what 
Arlin Beethe called the grant that will fund the new town hall at First 
and Ash Streets. Beethe is village clerk, president of the rural fire 
board and a former member of the Village Board.<h2>Public works projects</h2>Administered by the Nebraska DED, 
CDBG funds come from the federal Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, and in this round are intended for public works 
enhancements.Other grant recipients are: Village 
of Craig, $433,000 for a street improvement project; Village of 
Newcastle, $433,000 for sidewalk, curb and other repairs; City of 
Superior, $433,000 for park improvements; City of Schuyler, $309,360, to
 convert two parking lots into a park and an amphitheater.The funded communities demonstrated collaboration and a “strategic 
approach to community development within their project designs,” a DED 
statement said. Beethe said it was the third time that Elk Creek had 
applied for the competitive grant funding.In Elk Creek, the new community 
center will provide a home for events that bring together residents of 
the town and the surrounding farming community. (Though its official 
population is less than 100, officials say users of town services grow 
to as many as 300 when one counts the surrounding farmsteads.)For years, village service clubs and 
organizations have held their big community to-dos, such as the annual 
BBQ, inside the fire hall that was built in the mid-1970s, said Beethe 
and Village Board member Greg Bates.Volunteers relocate the fire trucks to a secure spot while the BBQ is going on.&nbsp;Weather permitting, other activities such as the street dance are held outside.“It isn’t very often anything new gets built in a lot of these little towns,” said Bates.Kathryn Gottula, who has lived in Elk
 Creek most of her 72 years (her husband was longtime fire chief), said 
the new facility will have handicapped accessible restrooms that are 
lacking in the old fire hall. “That’ll be a big, big thing for us,” she 
said.<h2>$1.1 billion mining project nearby</h2>While growth has been stagnant in the
 village south of Tecumseh, Gottula said she and others are awaiting a 
spurt that could come from a long-discussed mining project nearby: 
NioCorp’s Elk Creek superalloy materials facility.NioCorp announced last year it was <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/09/26/long-delayed-niocorp-mine-announces-deals-that-could-bring-more-investment/">entering into agreements</a>
 that could lead to millions of dollars more investment in its proposed 
$1.1 billion project. The underground mine would extract niobium, 
scandium, titanium and “rare earth” elements that, the company said, 
represent ingredients vital to greenhouse gas-reducing technologies.“Hopefully there will be people coming here to work and to live,” said Gottula. “That’s a really huge and awesome thing.”Beethe said that the proposed mining 
project, and talk of 450 possible jobs, likely had a hand in positioning
 Elk Creek for the community center grant.&nbsp;NioCorp’s leadership was among supporters who wrote letters urging 
the DED to award the community center grant, Beethe said, noting how 
area business also could benefit from the amenity.Meanwhile, Bates and Beethe said the 
town, for now, is well known for its signature cocktail: Elk Creek 
Water, which includes a few sweet soft drink flavors plus gin and vodka 
splashes.“One gal said it tasted like lemonade with happiness inside,” said Bates.Perhaps not so coincidentally, the town’s water tower beckons visitors with the words: Elk Creek Water.

Elk Creek is among Nebraska towns boosted with new grant

WASHINGTON – Nearly 150 lawmakers including all GOP members of the Kansas Congressional delegation except Senator Jerry Moran signed a brief on Tuesday urging the United State's Supreme Court to uphold a ruling limiting the use of the abortion pill.&nbsp;The U.S. Senators from Nebraska Deb Fisher and Pete Rickets and 2nd congressional district Representative Don Bacon joined Moran and didn't sign.

The 23 members of the Senate are nearly half the Senate GOP conference supporting the 5th circuit’s ruling that put sharply stricter limits on the abortion drug nationwide

<a href="https://aul.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Brief-Amici-Curiae-of-147-MOC.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the brief

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/Brief%20Amici%20Curiae%20of%20147%20MOC%20041823.pdf">updated brief</a>&nbsp;filed Tuesday is similar to the briefs filed by Members in&nbsp;Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA&nbsp;at the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067.84.0_5.pdf">district</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145.84.0_3.pdf">circuit court</a>&nbsp;levels, but with updates in light of the Fifth Circuit’s ruling. &nbsp;Americans United for Life authored the briefs, according to a statement from&nbsp;U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi.

“The FDA’s unlawful deregulation of chemical abortion drugs subverts Congress’ public policy considerations and safeguards for patient safety. &nbsp;Amici respectfully urge this Court to deny the application for a stay of the District Court’s order because the FDA exceeded the scope of its authorized power, and endangered the health and safety of women and girls seeking chemical abortion drugs,”&nbsp;the lawmakers’ brief concludes.

The Supreme Court brief argues that emergency appeals by DOJ and Danco Laboratories, LLC should be denied because:

In response to the emergency appeals, the Supreme Court issued an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/041423zr2_c9dh.pdf">administrative stay</a>&nbsp;of the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067.137.0_8.pdf">district court’s order</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, as&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145.183.2_1.pdf">partially stayed</a>&nbsp;by the Fifth Circuit, until 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, April 19.

In addition to Hyde-Smith, chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, the amicus brief was signed by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

124 Members of the House of Representatives signed including Mike Flood and Adrian Smith.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>About 60% of abortions in Kansas involve the abortion pill. photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON – Nearly 150 lawmakers including all GOP members of the Kansas Congressional delegation except Senator Jerry Moran signed a brief on Tuesday urging the United State's Supreme Court to uphold a ruling limiting the use of the abortion pill.&nbsp;The U.S. Senators from Nebraska Deb Fisher and Pete Rickets and 2nd congressional district Representative Don Bacon joined Moran and didn't sign.The 23 members of the Senate are nearly half the Senate GOP conference supporting the 5th circuit’s ruling that put sharply stricter limits on the abortion drug nationwide<a href="https://aul.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Brief-Amici-Curiae-of-147-MOC.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the briefThe&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hydesmith.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/Brief%20Amici%20Curiae%20of%20147%20MOC%20041823.pdf">updated brief</a>&nbsp;filed Tuesday is similar to the briefs filed by Members in&nbsp;Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA&nbsp;at the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067.84.0_5.pdf">district</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145.84.0_3.pdf">circuit court</a>&nbsp;levels, but with updates in light of the Fifth Circuit’s ruling. &nbsp;Americans United for Life authored the briefs, according to a statement from&nbsp;U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi.“The FDA’s unlawful deregulation of chemical abortion drugs subverts Congress’ public policy considerations and safeguards for patient safety. &nbsp;Amici respectfully urge this Court to deny the application for a stay of the District Court’s order because the FDA exceeded the scope of its authorized power, and endangered the health and safety of women and girls seeking chemical abortion drugs,”&nbsp;the lawmakers’ brief concludes.The Supreme Court brief argues that emergency appeals by DOJ and Danco Laboratories, LLC should be denied because:<ul>
 <li>The FDA failure to adhere to the FFDCA drug approval process has created grave risks to the health and safety of women and girls.</li><li>The FDA endangers pregnant adolescents seeking chemical abortion drugs by unlawfully subverting the pediatric study requirement.</li><li>The FDA has created serious hazards for women’s health and safety by permitting mail-order chemical abortion drugs in violation of federal law.</li>
 </ul>In response to the emergency appeals, the Supreme Court issued an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/041423zr2_c9dh.pdf">administrative stay</a>&nbsp;of the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067/gov.uscourts.txnd.370067.137.0_8.pdf">district court’s order</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, as&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145/gov.uscourts.ca5.213145.183.2_1.pdf">partially stayed</a>&nbsp;by the Fifth Circuit, until 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, April 19.In addition to Hyde-Smith, chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, the amicus brief was signed by U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).124 Members of the House of Representatives signed including Mike Flood and Adrian Smith.

Nebraska GOP Senators did not sign brief supporting abortion pill ban

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; City Beverage, a beer distributor in Hutchinson, issued a statement on social media Tuesday addressing Bud Light's partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681838709394.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy City Beverage" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy City Beverage</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; City Beverage, a beer distributor in Hutchinson, issued a statement on social media Tuesday addressing Bud Light's partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681838615205.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Kan. beer distributor responds to Bud Light can controversy

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s that day when throngs of taxpayers&nbsp; file their income tax returns before the deadline. Many often pay to use software from private companies such as Intuit and H&amp;R Block.

Almost one-quarter of Americans wait until the last minute to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taxes-deadline-refund-irs-extension-penalties-563500015ec236b55a75798c3138ba60">file their taxes</a>.

There could be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-free-file-system-expansion-one-step-closer-democrats-b2c39db83e4a95f1d1cd1aa488495256">new, free option in future years</a>. The IRS has been tasked with looking into how to create a government-operated electronic free-file tax return system for all. But that doesn’t sit well with the big tax-prep companies.

The idea has been batted around and hotly debated for a long time. Congress now has directed the IRS to report in on how such a system might work.

The order came as part of the $80 billion infusion of money for the tax agency over the next 10 years under the Democrats' flagship climate and health care measure, known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-seniors-medicare-economy-68f2df858de98487e82e236ab31fab7e">Inflation Reduction Act</a>, that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-congress-climate-and-environment-63df07e15002c01fb560a6f0e69fcb03">President Joe Biden signed</a>&nbsp;last summer. It gave the IRS nine months and $15 million to report in on how it might implement such a program and how much it would cost.

Next month, the IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-taxes-audits-customer-service-wealthy-taxpayers-c845bfbfb32aaf24ae52f464b537e6cb">will release</a>&nbsp;the first in a series of reports looking into how it might be done.

The possibility of an electronic free-file system operated by Washington is being celebrated by some taxpayer advocates who for years have said that would reflect good governance and well serve taxpayers. Critics voice skepticism about the IRS taking on the dual roles of both tax collector and tax preparer, arguing that the new service could create a power imbalance between taxpayers and the government.

Robert Marvin, an IRS spokesperson, said in an email that a key goal of the study is to “look for ways to make filing taxes as easy as possible.”

“It’s important that Americans have choices that work best for them when preparing their taxes, whether it’s by using a tax professional, tax software or free options,” he said.

But big tax preparation companies have millions of dollars to lose if the program comes to fruition. Last year, more than 60 million taxpayers were serviced between Intuit, the parent company of TurboTax, and H&amp;R Block.

Tens of millions of dollars have been spent trying to influence policymakers on the issue, and lobbying data shows that the big tax companies in particular have spent heavily.

An analysis shows that Intuit, H&amp;R Block, and other private companies and advocacy groups for large tax preparation businesses, as well as proponents in favor of electronic free file, have reported spending $39.3 million since 2006 to lobby on “free-file” and other matters. Federal law doesn’t require domestic lobbyists to itemize expenses by specific issue, so the sums are not limited to free-file.

Intuit has spent $25.6 million since 2006 on lobbying, H&amp;R Block about $9.6 million and the conservative Americans for Tax Reform roughly $3 million.

Derrick Plummer, a spokesman for Intuit, said taxpayers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-taxes-internal-revenue-service-5e5a3d855ba42d3e0174462050f11b3c">can already file</a>&nbsp;their taxes for free and there are online free-file programs available to some people. Individuals of all income levels can submit their returns for free via the mail.

A “direct-to-IRS e-file system is a solution in search of a problem, and that solution will unnecessarily cost taxpayers billions of dollars,” he said. “We will continue unapologetically advocating for American taxpayers and against a direct-to-IRS e-file system because it’s a bad idea.”

Starting in 2006,&nbsp;<a href="https://freefilealliance.org/">an agreement between</a>&nbsp;the IRS and some commercial tax preparation companies, known as the Free File Alliance, prevented the IRS from creating its own free tax return filing system. In exchange, tax preparation companies agreed to provide free services to taxpayers making $73,000 or less.

The provision that barred the IRS from exploring a free-file system expired in 2019, but the Free File Alliance agreement to provide free services for low-income taxpayers remains in effect.

Ariel Jurow-Kleiman, a tax law professor at Loyola Law School, and the New America think tank have been selected by the IRS to conduct the congressionally mandated study for the agency. Jurow-Kleiman said their mandate is “evaluating the feasibility, approach, schedule, cost, organizational design, and IRS capacity to deliver a possible direct e-file system.”

But she has faced pushback from Republicans who say she does not fit the law’s requirement that an independent third party assess what it would take to deliver a direct file program.

Rep. Jason Smith, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter to the IRS in March questioning Jurow-Kleiman’s ability to be an independent reviewer, saying her work indicates “a clear preference for an expansive government-run system.”

Smith, R-Mo., said the selection of Jurow-Kleiman and New America shows that “the Administration has already predetermined that a government-directed e-file system should exist regardless of what might be found in a truly nonpartisan, independent, third-party review.”

Jurow-Kleiman said the GOP pushback to her selection was based on an unpublished draft of an article about tax compliance costs and that none of her writings have “addressed the questions that we are assessing in the feasibility study.”

Molly Martin, director of strategy at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newamerica.org/">New America</a>, referred requests for comment to the IRS, saying the organization “is still working on its report.”

David Williams, at the right-leaning, nonprofit Taxpayers Protection Alliance, says the “government preparing taxes is problematic.”

“The taxpayer is looking for the biggest refund possible, but for the IRS that’s not their job to look for the biggest refund for filers,” he said. “We’re concerned about that conflict of interest, but also really the ability of the IRS to do this.”

To Gabriel Zucker, who helped create the tool to help families access the Advance Child Tax Credit during the pandemic, successfully setting up a free-file program is possible. "It is a really great way for government to better serve people,'' said Zucker, associate policy director for tax benefits at Code for America.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579706571729.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s that day when throngs of taxpayers&nbsp; file their income tax returns before the deadline. Many often pay to use software from private companies such as Intuit and H&amp;R Block.Almost one-quarter of Americans wait until the last minute to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taxes-deadline-refund-irs-extension-penalties-563500015ec236b55a75798c3138ba60">file their taxes</a>.There could be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-free-file-system-expansion-one-step-closer-democrats-b2c39db83e4a95f1d1cd1aa488495256">new, free option in future years</a>. The IRS has been tasked with looking into how to create a government-operated electronic free-file tax return system for all. But that doesn’t sit well with the big tax-prep companies.The idea has been batted around and hotly debated for a long time. Congress now has directed the IRS to report in on how such a system might work.The order came as part of the $80 billion infusion of money for the tax agency over the next 10 years under the Democrats' flagship climate and health care measure, known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-health-seniors-medicare-economy-68f2df858de98487e82e236ab31fab7e">Inflation Reduction Act</a>, that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-congress-climate-and-environment-63df07e15002c01fb560a6f0e69fcb03">President Joe Biden signed</a>&nbsp;last summer. It gave the IRS nine months and $15 million to report in on how it might implement such a program and how much it would cost.Next month, the IRS&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-taxes-audits-customer-service-wealthy-taxpayers-c845bfbfb32aaf24ae52f464b537e6cb">will release</a>&nbsp;the first in a series of reports looking into how it might be done.The possibility of an electronic free-file system operated by Washington is being celebrated by some taxpayer advocates who for years have said that would reflect good governance and well serve taxpayers. Critics voice skepticism about the IRS taking on the dual roles of both tax collector and tax preparer, arguing that the new service could create a power imbalance between taxpayers and the government.Robert Marvin, an IRS spokesperson, said in an email that a key goal of the study is to “look for ways to make filing taxes as easy as possible.”“It’s important that Americans have choices that work best for them when preparing their taxes, whether it’s by using a tax professional, tax software or free options,” he said.But big tax preparation companies have millions of dollars to lose if the program comes to fruition. Last year, more than 60 million taxpayers were serviced between Intuit, the parent company of TurboTax, and H&amp;R Block.Tens of millions of dollars have been spent trying to influence policymakers on the issue, and lobbying data shows that the big tax companies in particular have spent heavily.An analysis shows that Intuit, H&amp;R Block, and other private companies and advocacy groups for large tax preparation businesses, as well as proponents in favor of electronic free file, have reported spending $39.3 million since 2006 to lobby on “free-file” and other matters. Federal law doesn’t require domestic lobbyists to itemize expenses by specific issue, so the sums are not limited to free-file.Intuit has spent $25.6 million since 2006 on lobbying, H&amp;R Block about $9.6 million and the conservative Americans for Tax Reform roughly $3 million.Derrick Plummer, a spokesman for Intuit, said taxpayers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-personal-taxes-internal-revenue-service-5e5a3d855ba42d3e0174462050f11b3c">can already file</a>&nbsp;their taxes for free and there are online free-file programs available to some people. Individuals of all income levels can submit their returns for free via the mail.A “direct-to-IRS e-file system is a solution in search of a problem, and that solution will unnecessarily cost taxpayers billions of dollars,” he said. “We will continue unapologetically advocating for American taxpayers and against a direct-to-IRS e-file system because it’s a bad idea.”Starting in 2006,&nbsp;<a href="https://freefilealliance.org/">an agreement between</a>&nbsp;the IRS and some commercial tax preparation companies, known as the Free File Alliance, prevented the IRS from creating its own free tax return filing system. In exchange, tax preparation companies agreed to provide free services to taxpayers making $73,000 or less.The provision that barred the IRS from exploring a free-file system expired in 2019, but the Free File Alliance agreement to provide free services for low-income taxpayers remains in effect.Ariel Jurow-Kleiman, a tax law professor at Loyola Law School, and the New America think tank have been selected by the IRS to conduct the congressionally mandated study for the agency. Jurow-Kleiman said their mandate is “evaluating the feasibility, approach, schedule, cost, organizational design, and IRS capacity to deliver a possible direct e-file system.”But she has faced pushback from Republicans who say she does not fit the law’s requirement that an independent third party assess what it would take to deliver a direct file program.Rep. Jason Smith, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter to the IRS in March questioning Jurow-Kleiman’s ability to be an independent reviewer, saying her work indicates “a clear preference for an expansive government-run system.”Smith, R-Mo., said the selection of Jurow-Kleiman and New America shows that “the Administration has already predetermined that a government-directed e-file system should exist regardless of what might be found in a truly nonpartisan, independent, third-party review.”Jurow-Kleiman said the GOP pushback to her selection was based on an unpublished draft of an article about tax compliance costs and that none of her writings have “addressed the questions that we are assessing in the feasibility study.”Molly Martin, director of strategy at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newamerica.org/">New America</a>, referred requests for comment to the IRS, saying the organization “is still working on its report.”David Williams, at the right-leaning, nonprofit Taxpayers Protection Alliance, says the “government preparing taxes is problematic.”“The taxpayer is looking for the biggest refund possible, but for the IRS that’s not their job to look for the biggest refund for filers,” he said. “We’re concerned about that conflict of interest, but also really the ability of the IRS to do this.”To Gabriel Zucker, who helped create the tool to help families access the Advance Child Tax Credit during the pandemic, successfully setting up a free-file program is possible. "It is a really great way for government to better serve people,'' said Zucker, associate policy director for tax benefits at Code for America.

On Tax Day there is a push for free electronic tax-filing system 

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Wearing a red cap and a Buffalo Bills pullover, safety Damar Hamlin sat down at the podium and declared he’s ready to resume playing football.

“This event was life-changing, but it’s not the end of my story,” Hamlin said Tuesday, speaking at a news conference at the team’s facility for the first time since he went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field during a game at Cincinnati four months ago.

“I plan on making a comeback to the NFL,” Hamlin added. “My heart is still in the game.”

Hamlin spoke a few hours after general manager Brandon Beane announced Hamlin was cleared to play and was attending the team’s voluntary workout program, the latest and biggest steps in the 25-year-old’s remarkable recovery.

“He’s fully cleared. He’s here and he is of the mindset. He’s in a great headspace to come back and make his return,” Beane told reporters.

Beane said the clearance came after Hamlin met with a third and final specialist on Friday, with all three being in agreement that Hamlin can resume playing without any fear of setbacks or complications. While the Bills had their head athletic trainer sit in on Hamlin’s meetings with specialists, Beane said the team is following the lead of the specialists.

“He’s such a great kid and has such a great family, and it’s exciting to go from a guy who was fighting for his life to now,” Beane said. “His story hasn’t been written. Now it’s about his comeback.”

Hamlin’s teammates were elated to see him back in the facility working out.

“D-Ham is a special person, a beautiful soul,” fellow safety Micah Hyde said. “I look up to him, especially how he’s bounced back after facing adversity. A little scary. But to see him well and in the building and move around a little bit, it gives you a little energy.”

Hamlin’s recovery is personal to many who watched in shock as Hamlin collapsed on the field on a nationally televised “Monday Night Football” game, but moreso for Beane. While the Bills returned home after the game initially was suspended and eventually canceled, Beane spent the first four days at Hamlin’s side, including when he was awakened from a medically induced coma at the University Cincinnati Medical Center.

“It was all about his health, and it’s always going to be about his health,” Beane said. “But to truly, you know, however many months later be talking about he’s fully cleared is pretty remarkable. And I’m excited for him and his family where for where they are on his journey.”

Hamlin collapsed after making what appeared to be a routine tackle in the first quarter of a Jan. 2 game against the Bengals. His collapse led to an outporing of support from around the NFL and across North America, with donations made to Hamlin’s charitable organization topping more than $9 million.

The second-year player from Pittsburgh’s exurb of McKee’s Rock spent nearly 10 days recovering in hospitals in Cincinnati and Buffalo before being released. He eventually began visiting the Bills’ facility and attended the team’s season-ending 27-10 loss to Cincinnati in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Hamlin has since made numerous appearances around the country, including meeting with President Joe Biden last month.

Biden posted a tweet on the visit that read: “Hamlin’s courage, resilience, and spirit inspired the American people. And what’s more: he turned recovery into action — and our country is better for it.”

The White House said in a statement that Hamlin’s efforts during his recovery had helped to “make life-saving technologies more widely available.” Biden previously spoke by phone with Hamlin’s parents while visiting Cincinnati on Jan. 4, two days after the game and while Hamlin was in the hospital.

Hamlin’s visit to Washington came as part of the player’s desire to back a bill that would increase access to defibrillators in public and private elementary and secondary schools.

During the Super Bowl festivities in Arizona in February, he received the NFLPA’s Alan Page Community Award. He also took part in a pregame ceremony in which the NFL honored the Bills’ and Bengals’ training and medical staffs and first responders who treated him.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Wearing a red cap and a Buffalo Bills pullover, safety Damar Hamlin sat down at the podium and declared he’s ready to resume playing football.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“This is not the end of my story. I plan to make a comeback to the NFL.” 🫶 <a href="https://t.co/jlAMdErKWk">pic.twitter.com/jlAMdErKWk</a>&mdash; Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/status/1648384392128020481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“This event was life-changing, but it’s not the end of my story,” Hamlin said Tuesday, speaking at a news conference at the team’s facility for the first time since he went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field during a game at Cincinnati four months ago.“I plan on making a comeback to the NFL,” Hamlin added. “My heart is still in the game.”Hamlin spoke a few hours after general manager Brandon Beane announced Hamlin was cleared to play and was attending the team’s voluntary workout program, the latest and biggest steps in the 25-year-old’s remarkable recovery.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Per GM Brandon Beane, Damar Hamlin has been cleared to resume full football activities.<a href="https://twitter.com/HamlinIsland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HamlinIsland</a> is in Buffalo and in a great headspace. ❤️💙 <a href="https://t.co/wa2ZfGm8mX">pic.twitter.com/wa2ZfGm8mX</a>&mdash; Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/status/1648340190140956676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“He’s fully cleared. He’s here and he is of the mindset. He’s in a great headspace to come back and make his return,” Beane told reporters.Beane said the clearance came after Hamlin met with a third and final specialist on Friday, with all three being in agreement that Hamlin can resume playing without any fear of setbacks or complications. While the Bills had their head athletic trainer sit in on Hamlin’s meetings with specialists, Beane said the team is following the lead of the specialists.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Damar Hamlin is working out with the team today in Buffalo. Glad to have you back, 3. 🫶 <a href="https://t.co/n80HheSIaG">pic.twitter.com/n80HheSIaG</a>&mdash; Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/status/1648342750566182915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“He’s such a great kid and has such a great family, and it’s exciting to go from a guy who was fighting for his life to now,” Beane said. “His story hasn’t been written. Now it’s about his comeback.”Hamlin’s teammates were elated to see him back in the facility working out.“D-Ham is a special person, a beautiful soul,” fellow safety Micah Hyde said. “I look up to him, especially how he’s bounced back after facing adversity. A little scary. But to see him well and in the building and move around a little bit, it gives you a little energy.”Hamlin’s recovery is personal to many who watched in shock as Hamlin collapsed on the field on a nationally televised “Monday Night Football” game, but moreso for Beane. While the Bills returned home after the game initially was suspended and eventually canceled, Beane spent the first four days at Hamlin’s side, including when he was awakened from a medically induced coma at the University Cincinnati Medical Center.“It was all about his health, and it’s always going to be about his health,” Beane said. “But to truly, you know, however many months later be talking about he’s fully cleared is pretty remarkable. And I’m excited for him and his family where for where they are on his journey.”Hamlin collapsed after making what appeared to be a routine tackle in the first quarter of a Jan. 2 game against the Bengals. His collapse led to an outporing of support from around the NFL and across North America, with donations made to Hamlin’s charitable organization topping more than $9 million.The second-year player from Pittsburgh’s exurb of McKee’s Rock spent nearly 10 days recovering in hospitals in Cincinnati and Buffalo before being released. He eventually began visiting the Bills’ facility and attended the team’s season-ending 27-10 loss to Cincinnati in the divisional round of the playoffs.Hamlin has since made numerous appearances around the country, including meeting with President Joe Biden last month.Biden posted a tweet on the visit that read: “Hamlin’s courage, resilience, and spirit inspired the American people. And what’s more: he turned recovery into action — and our country is better for it.”The White House said in a statement that Hamlin’s efforts during his recovery had helped to “make life-saving technologies more widely available.” Biden previously spoke by phone with Hamlin’s parents while visiting Cincinnati on Jan. 4, two days after the game and while Hamlin was in the hospital.Hamlin’s visit to Washington came as part of the player’s desire to back a bill that would increase access to defibrillators in public and private elementary and secondary schools.During the Super Bowl festivities in Arizona in February, he received the NFLPA’s Alan Page Community Award. He also took part in a pregame ceremony in which the NFL honored the Bills’ and Bengals’ training and medical staffs and first responders who treated him.___

🎥Damar Hamlin cleared to play football after cardiac arrest

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines planes were grounded nationwide for what the airline called an intermittent technology issue, causing more than 1,700 flight delays Tuesday just four months after the carrier suffered a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-transportation-us-department-of-0925834b8cfcf1150358f874334d16d7">meltdown</a>&nbsp;over the Christmas travel rush.

The hold on departures was lifted by late morning, shortly after it was announced, according to Southwest and the Federal Aviation Administration, but not before traffic at airports from Denver to New York City backed up.

“Southwest has resumed operations after temporarily pausing flight activity this morning to work through data connection issues resulting from a firewall failure,” the Dallas airline said in a prepared statement. “Early this morning, a vendor-supplied firewall went down and connection to some operational data was unexpectedly lost.”

The airline urged customers to check on their flight status “and explore self-service options” for travel as the airline worked on restoring its operation.

By late morning on the East Coast, Southwest accounted for well over half of all delays nationwide, but the airline had canceled fewer than a dozen flights, according to FlightAware.

Tuesday's flight freeze was brief, but it added to the picture of an airline that has struggled more than most with technology issues. CEO Robert Jordan has embarked on a campaign to repair the airline's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-texas-arizona-california-da3b72f2350b0f77498f7f67316facb5">damaged reputation</a>.

In December, Southwest canceled nearly 17,000 flights over the Christmas holiday due to bad weather and its crew-scheduling system becoming overwhelmed. Those cancellations cost the airline more than $1 billion. The Transportation Department is investigating the breakdown.

The airline’s unions have said they warned management about problems with the crew-scheduling system after a previous meltdown in October 2021.

Southwest said last month it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-cancellations-technology-weather-314069ab4bb9de5eb804c566927606ec">add deicing equipment and increase staffing</a>&nbsp;during winter weather that is cold enough to limit the amount of time that ground workers can stay outside.

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines planes were stopped from taking off nationwide for what the airline called an intermittent technology issue, causing more than 1,500 flight delays Tuesday just four months after the carrier suffered a meltdown over the Christmas travel rush.

Southwest and the Federal Aviation Administration said by late morning on the East Coast that the pause had been lifted.

In December, Southwest canceled nearly 17,000 flights over the Christmas holiday due to bad weather and its crew-scheduling system becoming overwhelmed. Those cancellations cost the airline more than $1 billion and are being investigated by the Transportation Department.

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights again Tuesday in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S., and the federal government said it would investigate why the company lagged so far behind other carriers.

y late morning on the East Coast, more than 1,500 Southwest flights had been delayed, accounting for well over half of all delays nationwide, according to FlightAware.

Southwest said on Twitter that it asked the Federal Aviation Administration to hold up departures because of “intermittent" technical issues and hoped to resume flights as soon as possible.

The airline did not immediately respond to questions about the nature of the technical problem.

The FAA said only that Southwest requested the pause on flights, and referred questions to the Dallas-based airline.

KANSAS CITY —All Southwest Airlines flight departures were halted nationwide just before 10a.m. Tuesday due to technical issues, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Grounds stops prevent any flights not already in the air from departing, according to the FAA.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

In December, Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681829765447.png" alt="Image Kansas City International Airport" />
 <figcaption>Image Kansas City International Airport</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This morning <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SouthwestAir</a> experienced a technical issue with one of their internal systems. At the airline’s request, the FAA paused Southwest’s departures as they resolved the issue. The pause has been lifted and their service has resumed.&mdash; The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FAANews/status/1648343231569035266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines planes were grounded nationwide for what the airline called an intermittent technology issue, causing more than 1,700 flight delays Tuesday just four months after the carrier suffered a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-transportation-us-department-of-0925834b8cfcf1150358f874334d16d7">meltdown</a>&nbsp;over the Christmas travel rush.The hold on departures was lifted by late morning, shortly after it was announced, according to Southwest and the Federal Aviation Administration, but not before traffic at airports from Denver to New York City backed up.“Southwest has resumed operations after temporarily pausing flight activity this morning to work through data connection issues resulting from a firewall failure,” the Dallas airline said in a prepared statement. “Early this morning, a vendor-supplied firewall went down and connection to some operational data was unexpectedly lost.”The airline urged customers to check on their flight status “and explore self-service options” for travel as the airline worked on restoring its operation.By late morning on the East Coast, Southwest accounted for well over half of all delays nationwide, but the airline had canceled fewer than a dozen flights, according to FlightAware.Tuesday's flight freeze was brief, but it added to the picture of an airline that has struggled more than most with technology issues. CEO Robert Jordan has embarked on a campaign to repair the airline's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-texas-arizona-california-da3b72f2350b0f77498f7f67316facb5">damaged reputation</a>.In December, Southwest canceled nearly 17,000 flights over the Christmas holiday due to bad weather and its crew-scheduling system becoming overwhelmed. Those cancellations cost the airline more than $1 billion. The Transportation Department is investigating the breakdown.The airline’s unions have said they warned management about problems with the crew-scheduling system after a previous meltdown in October 2021.Southwest said last month it would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-cancellations-technology-weather-314069ab4bb9de5eb804c566927606ec">add deicing equipment and increase staffing</a>&nbsp;during winter weather that is cold enough to limit the amount of time that ground workers can stay outside.------------DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines planes were stopped from taking off nationwide for what the airline called an intermittent technology issue, causing more than 1,500 flight delays Tuesday just four months after the carrier suffered a meltdown over the Christmas travel rush.Southwest and the Federal Aviation Administration said by late morning on the East Coast that the pause had been lifted.“Southwest has resumed operations after temporarily pausing flight activity this morning to work through data connection issues resulting from a firewall failure,” the Dallas airline said in a prepared statement. “Early this morning, a vendor-supplied firewall went down and connection to some operational data was unexpectedly lost.”By late morning on the East Coast, Southwest accounted for well over half of all delays nationwide, but the airline had canceled fewer than a dozen flights, according to FlightAware.In December, Southwest canceled nearly 17,000 flights over the Christmas holiday due to bad weather and its crew-scheduling system becoming overwhelmed. Those cancellations cost the airline more than $1 billion and are being investigated by the Transportation Department.------------DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights again Tuesday in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S., and the federal government said it would investigate why the company lagged so far behind other carriers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Southwest Airlines requested the FAA pause the airline’s departures. Please contact Southwest Airlines for more.&mdash; The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FAANews/status/1648334637574356994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>y late morning on the East Coast, more than 1,500 Southwest flights had been delayed, accounting for well over half of all delays nationwide, according to FlightAware.Southwest said on Twitter that it asked the Federal Aviation Administration to hold up departures because of “intermittent" technical issues and hoped to resume flights as soon as possible.The airline did not immediately respond to questions about the nature of the technical problem.The FAA said only that Southwest requested the pause on flights, and referred questions to the Dallas-based airline.In December, Southwest canceled nearly 17,000 flights over the Christmas holiday due to bad weather and its crew-scheduling system becoming overwhelmed. Those cancellations cost the airline more than $1 billion and are being investigated by the Transportation Department.-----------------KANSAS CITY —All Southwest Airlines flight departures were halted nationwide just before 10a.m. Tuesday due to technical issues, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Southwest Airlines requested the FAA pause the airline’s departures. Please contact Southwest Airlines for more.&mdash; The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FAANews/status/1648334637574356994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Grounds stops prevent any flights not already in the air from departing, according to the FAA.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.In December, Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S.

Southwest passengers face delays after nationwide grounding

CONSHOKOCKEN, Pa. (AP) — David’s Bridal has filed for bankruptcy protection, the second time for the chain in the past five years.

The announcement Monday arrives days after the company, one of the largest sellers of wedding gowns and formal wear, said it could eliminate more than 9,200 jobs across the United States. Based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company has about 300 stores across dozens of states and employs more than 11,000 workers,

David’s Bridal is looking to sell the company, but its stores remain open and its fulfilling orders without delay. Its online platforms also remain available to help people with their wedding planning needs.

The company last filed for bankruptcy protection in 2018 but reemerged a year later. Monday's filing was made in New Jersey.

The company has Nebraska locations in Omaha and Lincoln.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681826105095.png" alt="David's Bridal in Topeka-&nbsp; Google image" />
 <figcaption>David's Bridal in Topeka-&nbsp; Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>CONSHOKOCKEN, Pa. (AP) — David’s Bridal has filed for bankruptcy protection, the second time for the chain in the past five years.The announcement Monday arrives days after the company, one of the largest sellers of wedding gowns and formal wear, said it could eliminate more than 9,200 jobs across the United States. Based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company has about 300 stores across dozens of states and employs more than 11,000 workers,David’s Bridal is looking to sell the company, but its stores remain open and its fulfilling orders without delay. Its online platforms also remain available to help people with their wedding planning needs.The company last filed for bankruptcy protection in 2018 but reemerged a year later. Monday's filing was made in New Jersey.The company has Nebraska locations in Omaha and Lincoln.

David's Bridal files for bankruptcy, but your order is safe

'We are a new unsettling force that has arisen to disrupt the status flow'

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-poor-peoples-campaign-rooted-in-national-civil-rights-movement-rallies-at-state-capitol/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — About 50 Nebraskans rallied on the steps of the State Capitol for a 
“Moral Monday” demonstration, saying they won’t be silent about state 
lawmakers’ actions that affect voting rights, transgender kids, gun 
control, a proposed sub-minimum wage for youths and more.

The event was organized by the Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign, which represents a local revival of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/about/">national network</a> founded by civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

“We are a new unsettling force that 
has arisen to disrupt the status flow,” said Angela Montalvo of 
Ogallala, a member of the coordinating committee.&nbsp;

Prior to the rally, the group — 
carrying signs with messages such as&nbsp; “Living Wage” and “Stop the Wars, 
Feed the Poor” — was inside the State Capitol handing out a list of 
“demands” and positions on certain bills to state lawmakers who would 
meet with them. 

Outside, State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha appeared to be the lone legislator who stopped by.

Similar rallies are being held in 
various other states, Montalvo said. She said the Nebraska group formed 
in 2020 but this year has taken on a more active role, given 
high-profile proposed laws related to such topics as voter ID, abortion,
 a gender-affirming care ban and child care subsidies.

“Rather than make Nebraska a 
hospitable home for everyone, we have seen most of our senators turning 
our state into a space for a very specific demographic,” said the Rev. 
Zac Wolfe of Lincoln. “A place that cares about the bottom line of 
business rather than the embodied life of the constituents.”

He said that those who resist “returning to the wild, wild west” have been called ignorant and told to stay quiet.

During the rally, a dozen or so 
Nebraskans stood up to speak about personal experiences and how certain 
legislation or state policies impact their families.

Sierra Edmisten of Hastings said she 
is a working mom whose family has suffered from “food insecurity.” She 
said she and her husband at times had to choose which of them was going 
to eat that day.

Edmisten pushed against tightening eligibility levels for state SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.

She said that to stay within SNAP eligibility limits, she already has had to forgo pay raises she should be “celebrating.”

Emma Haar, 15, of Grand Island spoke against proposed legislation to pay minors in Nebraska less than minimum wage.

“It makes me sad to know I have to come here repeatedly … for what should be basic human rights for teenagers,” she said.

Among other speakers were Blanca 
Mejia, founder of Generation Diamond, a South Omaha-based organization 
that helps the homeless and those seeking to re-enter the workforce 
after prison.

She said many view poor people as “losers.”

“Really, you don’t know their story,”
 she said, adding that there are many different reasons for being poor. 
Policy decisions can help or hurt, Mejia and others said.

Mejia looked toward the State Capitol and said: “Please do something.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681825698728.png" alt="The “Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign,” representing a reactivated national movement founded by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., held a rally Monday at the State Capitol. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The “Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign,” representing a reactivated national movement founded by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., held a rally Monday at the State Capitol. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>'We are a new unsettling force that has arisen to disrupt the status flow'</h2>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-poor-peoples-campaign-rooted-in-national-civil-rights-movement-rallies-at-state-capitol/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — About 50 Nebraskans rallied on the steps of the State Capitol for a 
“Moral Monday” demonstration, saying they won’t be silent about state 
lawmakers’ actions that affect voting rights, transgender kids, gun 
control, a proposed sub-minimum wage for youths and more.The event was organized by the Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign, which represents a local revival of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/about/">national network</a> founded by civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.“We are a new unsettling force that 
has arisen to disrupt the status flow,” said Angela Montalvo of 
Ogallala, a member of the coordinating committee.&nbsp;Prior to the rally, the group — 
carrying signs with messages such as&nbsp; “Living Wage” and “Stop the Wars, 
Feed the Poor” — was inside the State Capitol handing out a list of 
“demands” and positions on certain bills to state lawmakers who would 
meet with them. Outside, State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha appeared to be the lone legislator who stopped by.Similar rallies are being held in 
various other states, Montalvo said. She said the Nebraska group formed 
in 2020 but this year has taken on a more active role, given 
high-profile proposed laws related to such topics as voter ID, abortion,
 a gender-affirming care ban and child care subsidies.“Rather than make Nebraska a 
hospitable home for everyone, we have seen most of our senators turning 
our state into a space for a very specific demographic,” said the Rev. 
Zac Wolfe of Lincoln. “A place that cares about the bottom line of 
business rather than the embodied life of the constituents.”He said that those who resist “returning to the wild, wild west” have been called ignorant and told to stay quiet.During the rally, a dozen or so 
Nebraskans stood up to speak about personal experiences and how certain 
legislation or state policies impact their families.Sierra Edmisten of Hastings said she 
is a working mom whose family has suffered from “food insecurity.” She 
said she and her husband at times had to choose which of them was going 
to eat that day.Edmisten pushed against tightening eligibility levels for state SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.She said that to stay within SNAP eligibility limits, she already has had to forgo pay raises she should be “celebrating.”Emma Haar, 15, of Grand Island spoke against proposed legislation to pay minors in Nebraska less than minimum wage.“It makes me sad to know I have to come here repeatedly … for what should be basic human rights for teenagers,” she said.Among other speakers were Blanca 
Mejia, founder of Generation Diamond, a South Omaha-based organization 
that helps the homeless and those seeking to re-enter the workforce 
after prison.She said many view poor people as “losers.”“Really, you don’t know their story,”
 she said, adding that there are many different reasons for being poor. 
Policy decisions can help or hurt, Mejia and others said.Mejia looked toward the State Capitol and said: “Please do something.”

‘Nebraska Poor People’s Campaign’ rallies at State Capitol

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/18/sleuthing-discovers-thousands-of-locations-missed-as-unserved-by-broadband-on-federal-map/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Using a laptop at her farm near Clatonia, and some help 
from the state’s public power districts, a rural broadband advocate has 
uncovered oversights that may brings millions of extra federal dollars 
to Nebraska to expand high-speed internet service.

Emily Haxby, who also serves on the Gage County Board, said she 
started doubting the accuracy of federal maps showing areas that were 
“unserved” by broadband.

Just in her own rural neighborhood, Haxby said, she could tell there 
were at least a dozen rural homes, machine shops and other locations 
that were listed as “served” by broadband when they weren’t.

That’s important because a new pile of federal money — $42.45 billion
 via the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program — is 
being distributed on the basis of how many “unserved” locations there 
are in each state compared to other states.

And with the help of the Nebraska Public Power District and the 
Nebraska Rural Electric Association, she found 11,367 farms, homes and 
other locations across the state that should have been labeled as 
“unserved” on federal broadband maps.

The discovery could mean tens of millions of extra federal dollars 
for Nebraska to get broadband to unserved areas, according to Pat Pope, 
the former president/CEO of the Nebraska Public Power District.

“This was above and beyond the call of duty,” said Pope of Haxby’s discoveries.

It’s the kind of work, Pope said, that should have been done by a 
state broadband office, something Gov. Jim Pillen has proposed creating 
at the urging of Pope and others.

A proposal to do that, <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/07/proposed-state-broadband-office-touted-as-more-effective-creative-in-closing-digital-divide/">Legislative Bill 683</a>,
 recently advanced from first-round debate in the State Legislature. 
Pillen has yet to name a director of the new broadband office. Haxby has
 applied for the job.

“The real key now is to get the right person to run that office, and I think it’s Emily,” Pope said. “She’s lived this, she’s breathed this, she’s felt the pain of living in rural Gage County without adequate broadband.”

State Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, a key senator on broadband 
issues, said that Haxby’s “out of the box” work is what’s needed to 
accomplish the elusive goal of getting high-speed internet across the 
state.

Under the BEAD Act, part of the Biden administration’s “Internet for 
All” initiative, each state is assured of getting at least $100 million.
 The priority is to fund projects that reach currently unserved areas. 
The FCC defines “unserved” areas as those with internet service that is 
less than 25/3 — 25 megabits per second download speed and 3 mbps 
upload.

Internet speeds are important — the higher the speeds, the more 
capacity to operate computers, play video game or stream TV shows at a 
time.

But additional federal funds will be doled out based on how many 
locations a state can show are unserved in comparison with other states.
 So showing more “unserved” areas should result in more federal funds.

Haxby became interested in broadband coverage after some federal 
American Rescue Plan Act funds became available to her county to expand 
high-speed service in rural Nebraska.

Through her work on the Gage County Board, Haxby helped put together a
 collaboration with an internet provider to string high-speed, fiber 
internet to nearly 1,000 locations. It’s a partnership that other 
counties in the state are now seeking to duplicate, she said.

During that project, Haxby was able to show that several farms, rural
 homes and repair shops in Gage County where internet was needed were 
being listed on Federal Communications Commission maps as either 
“underserved” (less than 100/20 mbps) or “served” (speeded above that) 
when they were really “unserved.”

That led to speculation about how many locations statewide were wrongly labeled.

“This is bad, and this is how our funding is coming,” Haxby said.

It led to enlisting NPPD and the NREA to provide electric meter data 
to show locations where internet was needed. Then, Haxby and a fellow 
with the Americorps program working for the Southeast Nebraska 
Development District, Oliver Borchers-Williams, sifted through the data 
to identify farms and homes missing on the FCC map.

The FCC is allowing states to challenge its map prior to the 
distribution of the federal BEAD funds by the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in June.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681822931473.png" alt="Emily Haxby, a farmer and Gage County commissioner, used a laptop and help from the state’s public power districts to discover hundreds of “unserved” broadband locations in the state. (Courtesy of Emily Haxby)" />
 <figcaption>Emily Haxby, a farmer and Gage County commissioner, used a laptop and help from the state’s public power districts to discover hundreds of “unserved” broadband locations in the state. (Courtesy of Emily Haxby)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/18/sleuthing-discovers-thousands-of-locations-missed-as-unserved-by-broadband-on-federal-map/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Using a laptop at her farm near Clatonia, and some help 
from the state’s public power districts, a rural broadband advocate has 
uncovered oversights that may brings millions of extra federal dollars 
to Nebraska to expand high-speed internet service.Emily Haxby, who also serves on the Gage County Board, said she 
started doubting the accuracy of federal maps showing areas that were 
“unserved” by broadband.Just in her own rural neighborhood, Haxby said, she could tell there 
were at least a dozen rural homes, machine shops and other locations 
that were listed as “served” by broadband when they weren’t.That’s important because a new pile of federal money — $42.45 billion
 via the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program — is 
being distributed on the basis of how many “unserved” locations there 
are in each state compared to other states.So, Haxby did some digital sleuthing.And with the help of the Nebraska Public Power District and the 
Nebraska Rural Electric Association, she found 11,367 farms, homes and 
other locations across the state that should have been labeled as 
“unserved” on federal broadband maps.The discovery could mean tens of millions of extra federal dollars 
for Nebraska to get broadband to unserved areas, according to Pat Pope, 
the former president/CEO of the Nebraska Public Power District.<h2>‘Beyond the call of duty’</h2>“This was above and beyond the call of duty,” said Pope of Haxby’s discoveries.It’s the kind of work, Pope said, that should have been done by a 
state broadband office, something Gov. Jim Pillen has proposed creating 
at the urging of Pope and others.A proposal to do that, <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/07/proposed-state-broadband-office-touted-as-more-effective-creative-in-closing-digital-divide/">Legislative Bill 683</a>,
 recently advanced from first-round debate in the State Legislature. 
Pillen has yet to name a director of the new broadband office. Haxby has
 applied for the job.“The real key now is to get the right person to run that office, and I think it’s Emily,” Pope said. “She’s lived this, she’s breathed this, she’s felt the pain of living in rural Gage County without adequate broadband.”State Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, a key senator on broadband 
issues, said that Haxby’s “out of the box” work is what’s needed to 
accomplish the elusive goal of getting high-speed internet across the 
state.<h2>BEAD Act</h2>Under the BEAD Act, part of the Biden administration’s “Internet for 
All” initiative, each state is assured of getting at least $100 million.
 The priority is to fund projects that reach currently unserved areas. 
The FCC defines “unserved” areas as those with internet service that is 
less than 25/3 — 25 megabits per second download speed and 3 mbps 
upload.Internet speeds are important — the higher the speeds, the more 
capacity to operate computers, play video game or stream TV shows at a 
time.But additional federal funds will be doled out based on how many 
locations a state can show are unserved in comparison with other states.
 So showing more “unserved” areas should result in more federal funds.Haxby became interested in broadband coverage after some federal 
American Rescue Plan Act funds became available to her county to expand 
high-speed service in rural Nebraska.Through her work on the Gage County Board, Haxby helped put together a
 collaboration with an internet provider to string high-speed, fiber 
internet to nearly 1,000 locations. It’s a partnership that other 
counties in the state are now seeking to duplicate, she said.During that project, Haxby was able to show that several farms, rural
 homes and repair shops in Gage County where internet was needed were 
being listed on Federal Communications Commission maps as either 
“underserved” (less than 100/20 mbps) or “served” (speeded above that) 
when they were really “unserved.”That led to speculation about how many locations statewide were wrongly labeled.<h2>‘This is bad’</h2>“This is bad, and this is how our funding is coming,” Haxby said.It led to enlisting NPPD and the NREA to provide electric meter data 
to show locations where internet was needed. Then, Haxby and a fellow 
with the Americorps program working for the Southeast Nebraska 
Development District, Oliver Borchers-Williams, sifted through the data 
to identify farms and homes missing on the FCC map.The FCC is allowing states to challenge its map prior to the 
distribution of the federal BEAD funds by the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in June.Nebraska missed the first round of “location” challenges in December,
 but both Haxby and the Nebraska Public Service Commission submitted 
“availability” challenges in January.In March, Haxby met a federal deadline to submit her 11,367 
challenges to locations missed as “unserved” on the FCC map. She said 
that seven counties across the state had more than 5% of their farms and
 homes missing on the map, with Banner County off by 11%.<h2>Another batch of federal money</h2>Tom Rolfes, a federal program
 officer with the NTIA, said he was unaware of any individual like Haxby
 who submitted challenges to the FCC broadband map. Challenges are 
typically done by internet providers and state agencies, he said.The challenges, once verified federally, would serve to enhance a 
state’s chances of getting more of the $42 billion in BEAD funding, 
Rolfes said.For certain, Haxby said, a more accurate map will mean that more 
unserved locations of the state will be getting high-speed internet.Rolfes added that another influx of federal money for broadband expansion will be awarded in June, with $87
 million targeted for Nebraska’s 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts. 
Another $35 million has been set aside to improve high-speed internet in
 areas of North and South Omaha.<h2>Community input sought</h2>The Nebraska Public Service Commission, 
along with the Nebraska Broadband Office and the Office of the 
OCIO/NITC, has scheduled a series of&nbsp;sessions to get community input on 
improving broadband access:<ul>
 <li>Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.,&nbsp;Hall County Extension, 3180 W. Highway 34, Grand Island.</li><li>April 26, noon, Niobrara Village Fire Hall, 259 Spruce Ave., Niobrara.</li><li>April 26, 5 p.m., Norfolk Public Library, 308 W. Prospect Avenue, Norfolk.</li>
 </ul>