Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

&nbsp; WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, questioned Howard Lutnick at the confirmation hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of Commerce.

During the hearing, Senator Fischer’s exchange with Lutnick focused on federal spectrum management and its critical role in national security, the impact of retaliatory tariffs on agriculture and manufacturing, the need to expand export markets, preserving critical broadband funding, and strategies to counter threats from China in technology markets.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On the Role Spectrum Plays in&nbsp;Protecting&nbsp;National Security:

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;If confirmed, you will lead a massive federal agency across 13 bureaus. And to start with, I want to highlight one that you've already heard of—the NTIA.&nbsp;It has critical influence over the U.S. economy and over our security, as well. Among its roles&nbsp;. . .&nbsp;NTIA coordinates spectrum management, ensuring that federal airwaves are being used most effectively. But, as spectrum becomes more scarce, critical federal operations, especially those essential for our national security, have been seen as obstacles. At the onset, I want to make it clear to you that DOD airwaves are not lying dormant and that proposals to clear them would jeopardize our national security.

We have constellations of DOD satellites that rely on spectrum. Our nuclear command and control relies on spectrum. Advanced fighter aircraft like F-35s rely on spectrum. And we are investing tens of billions of dollars in developing sixth-generation aircraft that will rely on spectrum. We have radar systems on our Navy ships tracking incoming missiles around the world. These allowed us to help defend Israel from over 300 missile and drone attacks last year. They rely on spectrum. I can go on and on, as my colleagues know, but this is all to say that I hope we can work together so that we can come up with a really strong strategy for federal spectrum management in the future.

On Protecting Nebraska’s Industries From Retaliatory Tariffs:

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;I'm from Nebraska, and Nebraska's agricultural and manufacturing industries rely on our strong export markets for our products. You and I talked about trade and about the need under this administration for trade to be front and center. We know that we didn’t see much of that happen in the previous administration. We also know, though sir, that other countries may try to retaliate against our agricultural and our manufacturing industries. So, if confirmed, will you work with your colleagues at other agencies to understand the impact of retaliatory tariffs on agriculture and manufacturing?

On Opportunities To Expand Export Markets:

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Thank you. Can you also talk a little bit about what opportunities you view that are out there so that we can expand certain export markets over the next four years under this administration?

Howard Lutnick:&nbsp;I think our farmers, ranchers, and fishermen are treated with disrespect.

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Always, the fish.

Howard Lutnick:&nbsp;Always, you have to include them. You know, how often do we eat seafood? Come on. So they are treated with disrespect around the world. They are our farmers, our ranchers, and our fishermen are treated with disrespect. The countries take advantage of American kindness, American gratitude, that we used to rebuild the world after the World Wars, and after the Korean War, and after the Vietnam War.

We need that disrespect to end. And I think tariffs are a way to create reciprocity, to be treated fairly, to be treated appropriately. And I think it will help our farmers, our ranchers, and our fishermen to flourish. And that’s what I expect this administration is going to drive. And that’s why I am honored to serve President Trump in his pursuit of that reciprocity and that fairness, and the end of the disrespect.

These countries have reliance on the American economy, and they need to start respecting us and respect us now.

On Understanding the Importance of&nbsp;the BEAD&nbsp;Broadband&nbsp;Program:

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Thank you. You heard about the BEAD funding from Senator Thune and other members of this committee as well. And I hope you will take that to heart and help our states get through some of those regulations that are out there. It has been an impediment to us.

On&nbsp;Bolstering American Competitiveness Against China:&nbsp;

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;I'd like to talk a little bit here in the last few seconds about technology and competitiveness. I think I have Senator Wicker’s time.

In previous hearings, this committee has discussed the United States’ AI capabilities and that we are in a dead heat with China. This week, we heard about DeepSeek, and I think it’s having us to examine kind of where we are right now with that.

If confirmed, given the Commerce Department’s breadth of influence on that issue, how will you address different threats that we see coming from the CCP within these information and technology markets?

Howard Lutnick:&nbsp;I take a very jaundiced view of China. I think they only care about themselves and seek to harm us. We need to protect ourselves, we need to drive our innovation forward, and we need to stop helping them.

Open platforms—Meta’s open platform, let DeepSeek rely on it. Nvidia’s chips, which they bought tons of and they found their ways around it, drive their DeepSeek model. It’s got to end.

If they are going to compete with us, let them compete, but stop using our tools to compete with us. So I’m going to be very strong on that. I am thrilled to oversee BIS and I’m thrilled to coordinate and empower BIS with tariffs that will improve the strength. When we say no, that answer’s got to be no.

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;I look forward to working with you, sir. Thank you.

Howard Lutnick:&nbsp;Thank you.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer&nbsp; WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, questioned Howard Lutnick at the confirmation hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of Commerce.During the hearing, Senator Fischer’s exchange with Lutnick focused on federal spectrum management and its critical role in national security, the impact of retaliatory tariffs on agriculture and manufacturing, the need to expand export markets, preserving critical broadband funding, and strategies to counter threats from China in technology markets.&nbsp;&nbsp;On the Role Spectrum Plays in&nbsp;Protecting&nbsp;National Security:Senator Fischer:&nbsp;If confirmed, you will lead a massive federal agency across 13 bureaus. And to start with, I want to highlight one that you've already heard of—the NTIA.&nbsp;It has critical influence over the U.S. economy and over our security, as well. Among its roles&nbsp;. . .&nbsp;NTIA coordinates spectrum management, ensuring that federal airwaves are being used most effectively. But, as spectrum becomes more scarce, critical federal operations, especially those essential for our national security, have been seen as obstacles. At the onset, I want to make it clear to you that DOD airwaves are not lying dormant and that proposals to clear them would jeopardize our national security.We have constellations of DOD satellites that rely on spectrum. Our nuclear command and control relies on spectrum. Advanced fighter aircraft like F-35s rely on spectrum. And we are investing tens of billions of dollars in developing sixth-generation aircraft that will rely on spectrum. We have radar systems on our Navy ships tracking incoming missiles around the world. These allowed us to help defend Israel from over 300 missile and drone attacks last year. They rely on spectrum. I can go on and on, as my colleagues know, but this is all to say that I hope we can work together so that we can come up with a really strong strategy for federal spectrum management in the future.On Protecting Nebraska’s Industries From Retaliatory Tariffs:Senator Fischer:&nbsp;I'm from Nebraska, and Nebraska's agricultural and manufacturing industries rely on our strong export markets for our products. You and I talked about trade and about the need under this administration for trade to be front and center. We know that we didn’t see much of that happen in the previous administration. We also know, though sir, that other countries may try to retaliate against our agricultural and our manufacturing industries. So, if confirmed, will you work with your colleagues at other agencies to understand the impact of retaliatory tariffs on agriculture and manufacturing?Howard Lutnick:&nbsp;I will.On Opportunities To Expand Export Markets:Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Thank you. Can you also talk a little bit about what opportunities you view that are out there so that we can expand certain export markets over the next four years under this administration?Howard Lutnick:&nbsp;I think our farmers, ranchers, and fishermen are treated with disrespect.Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Always, the fish.Howard Lutnick:&nbsp;Always, you have to include them. You know, how often do we eat seafood? Come on. So they are treated with disrespect around the world. They are our farmers, our ranchers, and our fishermen are treated with disrespect. The countries take advantage of American kindness, American gratitude, that we used to rebuild the world after the World Wars, and after the Korean War, and after the Vietnam War.We need that disrespect to end. And I think tariffs are a way to create reciprocity, to be treated fairly, to be treated appropriately. And I think it will help our farmers, our ranchers, and our fishermen to flourish. And that’s what I expect this administration is going to drive. And that’s why I am honored to serve President Trump in his pursuit of that reciprocity and that fairness, and the end of the disrespect.These countries have reliance on the American economy, and they need to start respecting us and respect us now.On Understanding the Importance of&nbsp;the BEAD&nbsp;Broadband&nbsp;Program:Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Thank you. You heard about the BEAD funding from Senator Thune and other members of this committee as well. And I hope you will take that to heart and help our states get through some of those regulations that are out there. It has been an impediment to us.On&nbsp;Bolstering American Competitiveness Against China:&nbsp;Senator Fischer:&nbsp;I'd like to talk a little bit here in the last few seconds about technology and competitiveness. I think I have Senator Wicker’s time.In previous hearings, this committee has discussed the United States’ AI capabilities and that we are in a dead heat with China. This week, we heard about DeepSeek, and I think it’s having us to examine kind of where we are right now with that.If confirmed, given the Commerce Department’s breadth of influence on that issue, how will you address different threats that we see coming from the CCP within these information and technology markets?Howard Lutnick:&nbsp;I take a very jaundiced view of China. I think they only care about themselves and seek to harm us. We need to protect ourselves, we need to drive our innovation forward, and we need to stop helping them.Open platforms—Meta’s open platform, let DeepSeek rely on it. Nvidia’s chips, which they bought tons of and they found their ways around it, drive their DeepSeek model. It’s got to end.If they are going to compete with us, let them compete, but stop using our tools to compete with us. So I’m going to be very strong on that. I am thrilled to oversee BIS and I’m thrilled to coordinate and empower BIS with tariffs that will improve the strength. When we say no, that answer’s got to be no.Senator Fischer:&nbsp;I look forward to working with you, sir. Thank you.Howard Lutnick:&nbsp;Thank you.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fischer Questions Howard Lutnick at Confirmation Hearing

United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Edwin Okoronkwo, age 36, of Nigeria, was sentenced on January 29, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Okoronkwo to 75 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Okoronkwo will be placed on a 3-year term of supervised release and will be deported by immigration authorities. Okoronkwo was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $342,535.00 to seven victims as a result of his crimes.<a></a><a></a>

Edwin Okoronkwo, a citizen of Nigeria and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, and his spouse, Julie Okoronkwo, residing in Nebraska, used “catfishing” schemes to obtain money from victims via the Internet. In doing so, they convinced victims to send money using false online social media personas. In some instances, they claimed to be high-ranking members of the United States military on overseas missions. Through the “catfishing” schemes, victims from all over the country were tricked into sending money through the United States Postal Service (USPS) and other commercial carriers such as FedEx and UPS.

The Okoronkwos used victims’ personal identifying information (PII) obtained from identity theft victims to open bank accounts and other online financial services accounts, including peer-to-peer digital payments platforms (e.g., PayPal and Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App). They directed the victims of the “catfishing” schemes to send money from the victims’ personal peer-to-peer digital payment platform accounts to the peer-to-peer digital payment platforms opened by the Okoronkwos using the names and PII of the identity theft victims. From those false accounts, the Okoronkwos would then transfer money into their personal bank accounts, to bank accounts opened using the names of identity theft victims but controlled by the Okoronkwos, or to cryptocurrency exchange platforms. Some of the money would also then be passed along to recipients overseas to Nigeria via international wire transfers through remittance services.

Julie Okoronkwo contacted “catfishing” victims over the phone to further convince them of the legitimacy of their need for cash and obtained from her workplace – a hospital – victims’ means of identification, including their social security numbers and Nebraska driver’s license information. The means of identification were used by the Okoronkwos in furtherance of their “catfishing’ schemes.&nbsp;Julie Okoronkwo was previously sentenced to imprisonment for 25 months by U.S. District Judge Buescher on January 10, 2025. Judge Buescher stated at Edwin Okoronkwo’s sentencing hearing that the crimes were “truly a tragedy for the victims.”

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.

United States Attorney's OfficeUnited States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Edwin Okoronkwo, age 36, of Nigeria, was sentenced on January 29, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Okoronkwo to 75 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Okoronkwo will be placed on a 3-year term of supervised release and will be deported by immigration authorities. Okoronkwo was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $342,535.00 to seven victims as a result of his crimes.<a></a><a></a>Edwin Okoronkwo, a citizen of Nigeria and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, and his spouse, Julie Okoronkwo, residing in Nebraska, used “catfishing” schemes to obtain money from victims via the Internet. In doing so, they convinced victims to send money using false online social media personas. In some instances, they claimed to be high-ranking members of the United States military on overseas missions. Through the “catfishing” schemes, victims from all over the country were tricked into sending money through the United States Postal Service (USPS) and other commercial carriers such as FedEx and UPS.The Okoronkwos used victims’ personal identifying information (PII) obtained from identity theft victims to open bank accounts and other online financial services accounts, including peer-to-peer digital payments platforms (e.g., PayPal and Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App). They directed the victims of the “catfishing” schemes to send money from the victims’ personal peer-to-peer digital payment platform accounts to the peer-to-peer digital payment platforms opened by the Okoronkwos using the names and PII of the identity theft victims. From those false accounts, the Okoronkwos would then transfer money into their personal bank accounts, to bank accounts opened using the names of identity theft victims but controlled by the Okoronkwos, or to cryptocurrency exchange platforms. Some of the money would also then be passed along to recipients overseas to Nigeria via international wire transfers through remittance services.Julie Okoronkwo contacted “catfishing” victims over the phone to further convince them of the legitimacy of their need for cash and obtained from her workplace – a hospital – victims’ means of identification, including their social security numbers and Nebraska driver’s license information. The means of identification were used by the Okoronkwos in furtherance of their “catfishing’ schemes.&nbsp;Julie Okoronkwo was previously sentenced to imprisonment for 25 months by U.S. District Judge Buescher on January 10, 2025. Judge Buescher stated at Edwin Okoronkwo’s sentencing hearing that the crimes were “truly a tragedy for the victims.”This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.

 Nigerian Man, a Lawful Permanent Resident of the US, Sentenced to 75 Months & Ordered to Pay Over $342,000 in Restitution to Victims of Catfishing Scheme

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738207177867.png" alt="Image from Kennedy Center web camera at the time of the collision&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Image from Kennedy Center web camera at the time of the collision&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fire &amp; EMS Chief John Donnelly: &quot;We are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. At this point we don&#39;t believe there are any survivors from this accident. We have recovered 27 people from the plane and one from the helicopter.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/422JqoEiVO">pic.twitter.com/422JqoEiVO</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884965008783667498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Fire Chief: No survivors after collision of jet from Kansas and Army Helicopter

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - Elected delegates from the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation (NEFB) took part in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) annual policy session at the 106th AFBF Convention in San Antonio, TX. Just under 400 delegates from state Farm Bureaus gathered together to discuss several hundred federal policy resolutions which once passed, become the playbook of the policy work the organization focuses on for the year.&nbsp;

Federal policy passed at the NEFB Annual Meeting back in December of 2024 including substantial support for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and needed reforms to USDA loan programs all became part of AFBF policy. &nbsp;New policy regarding the impact of tariffs on farm and ranch inputs was also adopted.&nbsp;

“Policy developed and passed at the Nebraska Farm Bureau annual meeting, again received significant support amongst the voting delegates. As a grassroots organization with a successful policy development process, we take great pride in our ability to help shape the policy of the largest farm and ranch organization in the country,” said Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue.

Among the largest wins secured by NEFB was a significant amount of policy passed supporting the development of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel industry. As the nation’s second largest producer of ethanol, approved carbon sequestration pipeline infrastructure moving forward, and ample support amongst decision makers around the state, Nebraska has the opportunity to quickly become a leader in this emerging market.&nbsp;

“Outside of simply supporting the industry, AFBF voting delegates also approved policy to require SAF made in the U.S. only use U.S. produced feedstocks which will help ensure imported products, like used cooking oil from China, don’t qualify for U.S. taxpayer supported tax credits. Delegates also approved language supporting a farmer's ability to use a variety of conservation practices to produce SAF feedstocks, rather than simply a few as was the case with the rules surrounding the 40B tax credit funded through the Inflation Reduction Act,” said McHargue.&nbsp;

Delegates also supported Nebraska’s resolution focused on providing needed updates to USDA loan programs, including those used by young and beginning farmers and ranchers. The policy focused on providing more certainty to farm and ranch families who utilize loan programs by allowing for more permanency on funding regardless of changes to financial or family status. Language was also adopted to support a pre-approval process for USDA loans as this on-going issue greatly impacts beginning farmers and ranchers who try to purchase land at auction.&nbsp;

“The rules governing USDA loans need to fit within the real world and be flexible for the many challenges and changes farmers and ranchers regularly work through. USDA’s inability to grant new and beginning farmers pre-approval letters which document the amount of money the individual is approved to borrow, regularly limits their ability to purchase farm ground and usually ends up costing them more in lending fees. Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon was able to secure language in the House version of the new Farm Bill, and we look forward to continuing to work with him to address this significant challenge,” said McHargue.&nbsp;

Given President Trumps regular threat to utilize tariffs to address actions taken by other countries, the discussion of trade and tariffs also took center stage. Both AFBF and NEFB have significant policy in support of free and expanded trade. At the same time, we know President Trump has and continues to utilize tariffs as a way to address both economic and national security issues.&nbsp;

“After four years of relative inaction by the Biden administration on the subject of trade, NEFB stands ready to work to find new trading partners and hold our existing partners to the agreements negotiated and approved. The policy approved by our national delegates focuses on the need for diligence when tariffs affect agricultural and business inputs,” said McHargue.&nbsp;

With a new Congress, President Trump back at the White House, and new leadership across all federal agencies, NEFB is ready to get to work helping to ensure the economic futures of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families.&nbsp;

In addition to policy development, a series of Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&amp;R) competitive events occurred during AFBF’s Annual Meeting. David Schuler, a Morrill County Farm Bureau member, competed as Nebraska’s representative in the YF&amp;R Discussion Meet. Grant Jones of Chase County Farm Bureau was recognized as Nebraska’s competitor for the Achievement in Agriculture award.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 56,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685966879006.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Nebraska Fam BureauSAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - Elected delegates from the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation (NEFB) took part in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) annual policy session at the 106th AFBF Convention in San Antonio, TX. Just under 400 delegates from state Farm Bureaus gathered together to discuss several hundred federal policy resolutions which once passed, become the playbook of the policy work the organization focuses on for the year.&nbsp;Federal policy passed at the NEFB Annual Meeting back in December of 2024 including substantial support for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and needed reforms to USDA loan programs all became part of AFBF policy. &nbsp;New policy regarding the impact of tariffs on farm and ranch inputs was also adopted.&nbsp;“Policy developed and passed at the Nebraska Farm Bureau annual meeting, again received significant support amongst the voting delegates. As a grassroots organization with a successful policy development process, we take great pride in our ability to help shape the policy of the largest farm and ranch organization in the country,” said Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue.Among the largest wins secured by NEFB was a significant amount of policy passed supporting the development of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel industry. As the nation’s second largest producer of ethanol, approved carbon sequestration pipeline infrastructure moving forward, and ample support amongst decision makers around the state, Nebraska has the opportunity to quickly become a leader in this emerging market.&nbsp;“Outside of simply supporting the industry, AFBF voting delegates also approved policy to require SAF made in the U.S. only use U.S. produced feedstocks which will help ensure imported products, like used cooking oil from China, don’t qualify for U.S. taxpayer supported tax credits. Delegates also approved language supporting a farmer's ability to use a variety of conservation practices to produce SAF feedstocks, rather than simply a few as was the case with the rules surrounding the 40B tax credit funded through the Inflation Reduction Act,” said McHargue.&nbsp;Delegates also supported Nebraska’s resolution focused on providing needed updates to USDA loan programs, including those used by young and beginning farmers and ranchers. The policy focused on providing more certainty to farm and ranch families who utilize loan programs by allowing for more permanency on funding regardless of changes to financial or family status. Language was also adopted to support a pre-approval process for USDA loans as this on-going issue greatly impacts beginning farmers and ranchers who try to purchase land at auction.&nbsp;“The rules governing USDA loans need to fit within the real world and be flexible for the many challenges and changes farmers and ranchers regularly work through. USDA’s inability to grant new and beginning farmers pre-approval letters which document the amount of money the individual is approved to borrow, regularly limits their ability to purchase farm ground and usually ends up costing them more in lending fees. Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon was able to secure language in the House version of the new Farm Bill, and we look forward to continuing to work with him to address this significant challenge,” said McHargue.&nbsp;Given President Trumps regular threat to utilize tariffs to address actions taken by other countries, the discussion of trade and tariffs also took center stage. Both AFBF and NEFB have significant policy in support of free and expanded trade. At the same time, we know President Trump has and continues to utilize tariffs as a way to address both economic and national security issues.&nbsp;“After four years of relative inaction by the Biden administration on the subject of trade, NEFB stands ready to work to find new trading partners and hold our existing partners to the agreements negotiated and approved. The policy approved by our national delegates focuses on the need for diligence when tariffs affect agricultural and business inputs,” said McHargue.&nbsp;With a new Congress, President Trump back at the White House, and new leadership across all federal agencies, NEFB is ready to get to work helping to ensure the economic futures of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families.&nbsp;In addition to policy development, a series of Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&amp;R) competitive events occurred during AFBF’s Annual Meeting. David Schuler, a Morrill County Farm Bureau member, competed as Nebraska’s representative in the YF&amp;R Discussion Meet. Grant Jones of Chase County Farm Bureau was recognized as Nebraska’s competitor for the Achievement in Agriculture award.The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 56,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

Nebraska Farm Bureau Plays Pivotal Role in Shaping National Agriculture Policy at the 106th American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting

&nbsp; WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.)&nbsp;released the following statement after the death of former Union Bank and Trust President and CEO Jay Dunlap:

“As a distinguished Nebraskan and servant leader, Jay Dunlap leaves behind a wonderful legacy. His drive and focus elevated UBT to new heights during his tenure as President and CEO. Bruce and I send our condolences to his wife, Shirley, and their family.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer&nbsp; WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.)&nbsp;released the following statement after the death of former Union Bank and Trust President and CEO Jay Dunlap:“As a distinguished Nebraskan and servant leader, Jay Dunlap leaves behind a wonderful legacy. His drive and focus elevated UBT to new heights during his tenure as President and CEO. Bruce and I send our condolences to his wife, Shirley, and their family.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fischer Statement on Passing of Jay Dunlap

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738163034654.png" alt="Kennedy spoke with Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, a member of the Senate Finance committee, moments before the hearing started-image courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kennedy spoke with Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, a member of the Senate Finance committee, moments before the hearing started-image courtesy CSPAN&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. complete opening statement at Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing. <a href="https://t.co/FE0svVjixs">pic.twitter.com/FE0svVjixs</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884628422279721203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A protester interrupts Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. during his opening statement, as he addresses his views on vaccines. He says, &quot;I am not anti-vaccine.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/h5UliMeP1I">pic.twitter.com/h5UliMeP1I</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884624753744347323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: &quot;I don&#39;t want to take food away from anybody. If you like a McDonald&#39;s cheeseburger, a Diet Coke -- which my boss loves -- you should be able to get them.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/MC7cZUkkF1">pic.twitter.com/MC7cZUkkF1</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884626398230253810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;Are you lying to Congress today when you say you are pro-vaccine or did you lie on all those podcasts?&quot; Watch exchange between Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/RonWyden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonWyden</a> and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on vaccines. <a href="https://t.co/4jYWaWUuzL">pic.twitter.com/4jYWaWUuzL</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884628588785254722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. &quot;I support the measles vaccine. I support the polio vaccine. I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking either of those vaccines.&quot; Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/RonWyden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonWyden</a>: &quot;Anybody who believes that ought to look at the measles… <a href="https://t.co/NqMxcr1ep0">pic.twitter.com/NqMxcr1ep0</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884631127950037297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorBennet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenatorBennet</a> to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: &quot;Unlike other jobs were confirming around this place, this is a job where it is life and death...it&#39;s too important for the games that you&#39;re playing Mr. Kennedy.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/VQZlA26o2V">pic.twitter.com/VQZlA26o2V</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884639007289507891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: &quot;I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/OPrRNEq1FP">pic.twitter.com/OPrRNEq1FP</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884643434792652848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorHassan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenatorHassan</a> asks Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: &quot;When was it that you decided to sell out the values you&#39;ve had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump?&quot; <a href="https://t.co/nNBzzaB9Xv">pic.twitter.com/nNBzzaB9Xv</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884643823499788405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorHassan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenatorHassan</a> asks Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: &quot;When was it that you decided to sell out the values you&#39;ve had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump?&quot; <a href="https://t.co/nNBzzaB9Xv">pic.twitter.com/nNBzzaB9Xv</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1884643823499788405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Highlights of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearing 

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/28/chief-justice-funkes-first-state-of-the-judiciary-lauds-probation-services-calls-for-more-funds/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;In his first annual address to lawmakers Tuesday, Nebraska’s new Supreme Court chief justice called for more funding for court areas such as language interpreters, cybersecurity, veterans’ courts and an “archaic” case document filing and management system.

Chief Justice<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/25/justice-jeffrey-funke-chosen-as-nebraskas-next-chief-justice-after-justice-heavican-retires/">&nbsp;Jeffrey Funke,</a>&nbsp;in his “State of the Judiciary” address, praised several parts of the state court system, saying its probation services for adults and juveniles are considered national models.

Yet, he said, that Nebraska continues to have some of the nation’s most crowded prisons and, despite a drop in the state’s crime rate, rates of incarceration have increased.&nbsp;

Successes of the Judicial Branch are impaired, Funke said, by funding holes in integral areas including the “JUSTICE” system that manages cases for judges, attorneys, staff and the public.

Reflecting back, he noted that the system was implemented in 1994 — “the same year Ben Nelson was Nebraska’s governor and the Cornhuskers won a national championship in football.”

Said Funke: “We can no longer operate in the past.”

The Nebraska City native, elevated to the post in October, called for financial support from the Legislature to augment a $1.7 million grant aimed at creating “JUSTICE 2.0.” He said modernization will enable judges, attorneys, court staff and the public to navigate cases more efficiently.

We have done what you have asked. It is essential that the Judicial Branch receive adequate funding for the next biennium to sustain the progress we have made.

Another concern underscored in the half-hour talk to the public and state senators in the Legislative Chambers: insufficient behavioral health services — an area Funke said must be prioritized.

While largely outside the direct purview of the judicial system, mental health challenges lead many Nebraskans into crime and abuse and neglect of children, Funke said.

“The lack of treatment options means that our citizens are not getting the care they need, which reduces their chances of stability and recovery,” he said.

Last year, more than 6,000 people participated in financial assistance programs for behavioral health services under probation services. Still, Funke said, health organizations report a significant shortage of available providers. He said reimbursement rates are not keeping pace with the costs of delivering services.

As a result, options are limited for judges at sentencing times and for officials leading probation services, problem-solving courts and post-release supervision.

Another top need Funke addressed is salaries so the Judicial Branch can retain and compete for talent. He said the high court sought funds from the Legislature in 2023 to raise pay for interpreters, to add an adult drug court for Platte County, a veterans’ treatment court in Sarpy County and three additional IT staff members for cybersecurity and cloud-based IT management.

While the Legislature supported those efforts by increasing personnel spending limits, it did not direct any new funds. Funke said existing dollars soon will be exhausted.

“We have done what you have asked,” said Funke, joined in the chambers by fellow members of the State Supreme Court. “It is essential that the Judicial Branch receive adequate funding for the next biennium to sustain the progress we have made.”

Organizations including the civil rights organization, ACLU Nebraska, weighed in. Legal director Rose Godinez said she heard from Funke a “keen understanding of the importance of strengthening diversion and reentry programs to achieve better outcomes for us all.”

“His acknowledgment of Nebraska’s costly overcrowded prisons, his support for growing problem-solving courts, and his commitment to access to justice — including language access — were all on target,” Godinez said. “We look forward to continued partnerships with the judicial branch to help advance our shared goals.”

Giving the annual address may be new to Funke, appointed by Gov. Jim Pillen to replace former Chief Justice Mike Heavican of Lincoln, who retired in October after having been the<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/bluebook/bluebook_2022.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;second-longest</a>&nbsp;serving Chief Justice, at 18 years.&nbsp;

But Funke, appointed as an associate justice in 2016, said he is familiar with the “excellent work” of judicial branch staff to help ensure that Nebraskans have a forum to resolve disputes.

He said the core functions of courts have been expanded over the years, with new and innovative ways to administer justice, sometimes increasing public safety and saving taxpayer dollars.

In the area of Adult Probation, the Chief Justice noted 2014 and 2021 criminal justice reform efforts aimed at reducing high costs of incarceration and diverting less serious felons from prison to probation.

Today, he said, adult probation officers supervise more than 14,000 people across Nebraska, and the recidivism rate for those successfully completing probation “is an exceptional 19%.” That’s the percentage that relapsed into crime within three years of release.

In June, the Supreme Court approved the first-ever strategic plan for adult probation services. Funke said a goal is to ensure that Nebraska probation remains a “national model” of sentencing alternatives for courts.

The average cost to imprison a person in Nebraska Is $41,000 per year, he said, compared to $3,500 per person annually for probation.

Post-release supervision&nbsp;came about after the 2014 justice reforms showed that Nebraska’s felony sentencing system failed to provide adequate supervision upon an individual’s release from prison. On a daily average, 1,300 individuals are supervised under the program and must comply with court-ordered conditions including maintaining a job, participating in behavioral health services and keeping away from crime.

Less than 10% of those under post-release supervision returned to prison due to a probation revocation — a sign, Funke said, that the program has prevented crime.

Nebraska’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/10/04/problem-solving-courts-broadly-popular-but-how-to-expand-them-remains-unclear/">problem-solving courts</a>&nbsp;provide highly supervised treatment for military veterans and those battling substance abuse and mental illness. Participation is at nearly 800 people, and Funke has called for additional resources to serve more Nebraskans.

He said the recidivism rate for those who successfully graduate from a problem-solving court is 24%. Today, adult drug courts are in every judicial district. Trial court judges have implemented four veterans treatment courts, two reentry courts, one young adult court, a mental health court and a DUI court. Juvenile court judges have implemented two family treatment courts and a juvenile drug court. Nebraska judges volunteer to preside over the labor-intensive courts.

Juvenile Probation,&nbsp;on any given day, serves nearly 2,700 youths. Funke described the program as a “nationwide leader” with an all-time low of 17% of the youths returning to crime after a year of completing the program.

However, he said, juveniles who commit violent crime remain a priority focus.&nbsp;

“Though this population comprises only 3% of the total juveniles on probation, it requires our full attention,” he said, noting a new effort with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to better transition young offenders back into communities.&nbsp;

As part of an effort to improve “access to justice,”&nbsp;Nebraska developed a pilot project in Douglas County to help self-represented litigants file and process documents in their cases. The goal, Funke said, is to expand statewide, especially in rural areas and for low-income court users.

He said the state also began collaborating with foreign consulates to produce videos in languages beyond English to detail court processes and the role of interpreters.

The court system expanded services for those with hearing loss, and nearly every courtroom in the state is equipped with infrared assistive listening devices at no expense to county governments.

“Regarding remote access, our trial court judges have made significant strides in using technology to enable communication, document sharing and teamwork between courthouses,” Funke said.&nbsp;

He said technology advancements have opened virtual courtrooms and allowed remote hearings that reduce travel and enhance scheduling flexibility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738170410762.jpeg" alt="Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke greets state lawmakers after his first annual State of the Judiciary address. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke greets state lawmakers after his first annual State of the Judiciary address. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/28/chief-justice-funkes-first-state-of-the-judiciary-lauds-probation-services-calls-for-more-funds/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;In his first annual address to lawmakers Tuesday, Nebraska’s new Supreme Court chief justice called for more funding for court areas such as language interpreters, cybersecurity, veterans’ courts and an “archaic” case document filing and management system.Chief Justice<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/25/justice-jeffrey-funke-chosen-as-nebraskas-next-chief-justice-after-justice-heavican-retires/">&nbsp;Jeffrey Funke,</a>&nbsp;in his “State of the Judiciary” address, praised several parts of the state court system, saying its probation services for adults and juveniles are considered national models.Yet, he said, that Nebraska continues to have some of the nation’s most crowded prisons and, despite a drop in the state’s crime rate, rates of incarceration have increased.&nbsp;Successes of the Judicial Branch are impaired, Funke said, by funding holes in integral areas including the “JUSTICE” system that manages cases for judges, attorneys, staff and the public.Reflecting back, he noted that the system was implemented in 1994 — “the same year Ben Nelson was Nebraska’s governor and the Cornhuskers won a national championship in football.”Said Funke: “We can no longer operate in the past.”<h2>Behavioral health, a priority</h2>The Nebraska City native, elevated to the post in October, called for financial support from the Legislature to augment a $1.7 million grant aimed at creating “JUSTICE 2.0.” He said modernization will enable judges, attorneys, court staff and the public to navigate cases more efficiently.We have done what you have asked. It is essential that the Judicial Branch receive adequate funding for the next biennium to sustain the progress we have made.– Chief Justice Jeffrey FunkeAnother concern underscored in the half-hour talk to the public and state senators in the Legislative Chambers: insufficient behavioral health services — an area Funke said must be prioritized.While largely outside the direct purview of the judicial system, mental health challenges lead many Nebraskans into crime and abuse and neglect of children, Funke said.“The lack of treatment options means that our citizens are not getting the care they need, which reduces their chances of stability and recovery,” he said.Last year, more than 6,000 people participated in financial assistance programs for behavioral health services under probation services. Still, Funke said, health organizations report a significant shortage of available providers. He said reimbursement rates are not keeping pace with the costs of delivering services.As a result, options are limited for judges at sentencing times and for officials leading probation services, problem-solving courts and post-release supervision.Another top need Funke addressed is salaries so the Judicial Branch can retain and compete for talent. He said the high court sought funds from the Legislature in 2023 to raise pay for interpreters, to add an adult drug court for Platte County, a veterans’ treatment court in Sarpy County and three additional IT staff members for cybersecurity and cloud-based IT management.While the Legislature supported those efforts by increasing personnel spending limits, it did not direct any new funds. Funke said existing dollars soon will be exhausted.“We have done what you have asked,” said Funke, joined in the chambers by fellow members of the State Supreme Court. “It is essential that the Judicial Branch receive adequate funding for the next biennium to sustain the progress we have made.”<h2>Strong diversion, reentry efforts</h2>Organizations including the civil rights organization, ACLU Nebraska, weighed in. Legal director Rose Godinez said she heard from Funke a “keen understanding of the importance of strengthening diversion and reentry programs to achieve better outcomes for us all.”“His acknowledgment of Nebraska’s costly overcrowded prisons, his support for growing problem-solving courts, and his commitment to access to justice — including language access — were all on target,” Godinez said. “We look forward to continued partnerships with the judicial branch to help advance our shared goals.”Giving the annual address may be new to Funke, appointed by Gov. Jim Pillen to replace former Chief Justice Mike Heavican of Lincoln, who retired in October after having been the<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/bluebook/bluebook_2022.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;second-longest</a>&nbsp;serving Chief Justice, at 18 years.&nbsp;But Funke, appointed as an associate justice in 2016, said he is familiar with the “excellent work” of judicial branch staff to help ensure that Nebraskans have a forum to resolve disputes.He said the core functions of courts have been expanded over the years, with new and innovative ways to administer justice, sometimes increasing public safety and saving taxpayer dollars.“More work is to be done.”&nbsp;<h2>Highlights</h2>Other highlights of Funke’s speech:In the area of Adult Probation, the Chief Justice noted 2014 and 2021 criminal justice reform efforts aimed at reducing high costs of incarceration and diverting less serious felons from prison to probation.Today, he said, adult probation officers supervise more than 14,000 people across Nebraska, and the recidivism rate for those successfully completing probation “is an exceptional 19%.” That’s the percentage that relapsed into crime within three years of release.In June, the Supreme Court approved the first-ever strategic plan for adult probation services. Funke said a goal is to ensure that Nebraska probation remains a “national model” of sentencing alternatives for courts.The average cost to imprison a person in Nebraska Is $41,000 per year, he said, compared to $3,500 per person annually for probation.Post-release supervision&nbsp;came about after the 2014 justice reforms showed that Nebraska’s felony sentencing system failed to provide adequate supervision upon an individual’s release from prison. On a daily average, 1,300 individuals are supervised under the program and must comply with court-ordered conditions including maintaining a job, participating in behavioral health services and keeping away from crime.Less than 10% of those under post-release supervision returned to prison due to a probation revocation — a sign, Funke said, that the program has prevented crime.Nebraska’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/10/04/problem-solving-courts-broadly-popular-but-how-to-expand-them-remains-unclear/">problem-solving courts</a>&nbsp;provide highly supervised treatment for military veterans and those battling substance abuse and mental illness. Participation is at nearly 800 people, and Funke has called for additional resources to serve more Nebraskans.He said the recidivism rate for those who successfully graduate from a problem-solving court is 24%. Today, adult drug courts are in every judicial district. Trial court judges have implemented four veterans treatment courts, two reentry courts, one young adult court, a mental health court and a DUI court. Juvenile court judges have implemented two family treatment courts and a juvenile drug court. Nebraska judges volunteer to preside over the labor-intensive courts.Juvenile Probation,&nbsp;on any given day, serves nearly 2,700 youths. Funke described the program as a “nationwide leader” with an all-time low of 17% of the youths returning to crime after a year of completing the program.However, he said, juveniles who commit violent crime remain a priority focus.&nbsp;“Though this population comprises only 3% of the total juveniles on probation, it requires our full attention,” he said, noting a new effort with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to better transition young offenders back into communities.&nbsp;As part of an effort to improve “access to justice,”&nbsp;Nebraska developed a pilot project in Douglas County to help self-represented litigants file and process documents in their cases. The goal, Funke said, is to expand statewide, especially in rural areas and for low-income court users.He said the state also began collaborating with foreign consulates to produce videos in languages beyond English to detail court processes and the role of interpreters.The court system expanded services for those with hearing loss, and nearly every courtroom in the state is equipped with infrared assistive listening devices at no expense to county governments.“Regarding remote access, our trial court judges have made significant strides in using technology to enable communication, document sharing and teamwork between courthouses,” Funke said.&nbsp;He said technology advancements have opened virtual courtrooms and allowed remote hearings that reduce travel and enhance scheduling flexibility.

Chief Justice Funke’s first ‘State of the Judiciary’ lauds probation services, calls for more funds

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/28/nsea-lawmakers-outline-2025-priorities-after-survey-of-nearly-10000-nebraska-teachers/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;The Nebraska State Education Association sought to rally support Tuesday for a package of legislation designed after a survey of nearly 10,000 teachers statewide.

Tim Royers, president of the state teacher’s union, joined with seven lawmakers to unveil the top 2025 priorities for the NSEA. The proposals generally seek to increase state support for teachers, such as retention bonuses, stipends for student teachers, reimbursements for school supplies and paid family and medical leave.

“One of the things that we know in Nebraska is that without our teachers, Nebraska has no future,” State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha said at a morning news conference.

The eight bills presented Tuesday were introduced by State Sens. Margo Juarez of Omaha, Jason Prokop of Lincoln, George Dungan of Lincoln, Ashlei Spivey of Omaha and Danielle Conrad of Lincoln. All are Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature.

Royers said the legislation is part of NSEA’s goal to ensure all Nebraska children get to receive a great public education, which he said often depends on highly qualified teachers.

In the fall, the NSEA received written comments from thousands of teachers, whose feedback ranged from workplace conditions to compensation and teachers’ plans for the future.

Royers said only 8% of respondents reported feeling that the Legislature takes them into account when crafting education policy, and about 11% said the state currently incentivizes them to stay in the profession.

More than a quarter of educators, Royers continued, are unsure if they want to continue teaching after this school year “unless something meaningfully changes.”

“Candidly, educators don’t really feel like they have folks in their corner right now,” Royers said.

One of the “boldest” 2025 ideas, Royers said, comes from Spivey’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59667" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 440</a>. It would establish an additional 0.35% payroll tax on teachers, matched by local school districts, to offer teachers six weeks of paid family and medical leave by funding long-term substitute teachers.

For a teacher making $60,000, that would amount to a monthly fee of $17.50.

“For less than $20 a month out of a teacher’s paycheck, they would get access to a profound benefit,” Royers said.

The focus of the Spivey legislation started on young women in teaching sometimes being forced to leave the profession after taking one or two months of unpaid leave because they had a child early in their career.

But the NSEA began to see other needs, too, Royers said, such as teachers who faced cancer diagnoses or teachers who waited seven years to even attempt having kids, trying to save up enough days off “so they wouldn’t take that hit.”

“No person should have to make family decisions based on when their paid leave is sufficient for them to do that,” Royers said.

Juarez, a former school board member for Omaha Public Schools and former paraeducator, is seeking to create retention bonuses for paraeducators through&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59701" target="_blank">LB 524</a>, $1,000 for a para working an average of 28 hours per week, or proportional for a paraeducator working less.

Her&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59700" target="_blank">LB 523</a>&nbsp;would establish a statewide student teacher stipend program, paying them $4,000 per teaching semester.

Juarez said the underpaid and unpaid labor that teachers are expected to offer when training for the job is “extreme,” which begins with student teaching.

Quality educators, she said, are sometimes turned away because the financial burden.

Another Juarez bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59290" target="_blank">LB 161</a>, would increase how much the state pays school districts for full-time early childhood students. The bill does not yet have a cost estimate from the Legislature.

Currently, all school districts get about $1,500 in state aid for each K-12 student, but districts receive roughly 60% of that amount, or $900, for each early childhood student. Juarez’s bill would raise that to 100% for the foundation aid.

“Education is more likely for early childhood students to earn higher wages later on, live healthier lives and avoid incarceration, raise strong families and contribute to society,” Juarez said.

Prokop’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59521" target="_blank">LB 282</a>&nbsp;would similarly seek to support teachers who “pour their hearts and souls” into their classrooms and students as well as their wallets, with one study indicating teachers annually pay average out-of-pocket costs on school supplies of about $860.

His bill would establish up to $300 in reimbursements through the State Board of Education for qualified teaching supplies.&nbsp;If all of Nebraska’s approximate 27,000 teachers applied for the reimbursement, the Nebraska Department of Education estimates it would cost $8.1 million annually.

The Legislature’s fiscal office&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/FN/LB282_20250124-113559.pdf" target="_blank">estimated that 60% of teachers</a>&nbsp;might use the funds, which would also gain $300,000 to $400,000 in additional state revenue through increased teacher income.

“While it’s about acknowledging that financial commitment they’ve made to the students, it’s really more about the acknowledgment that they just really care about their kids and the students that they are teaching,” Prokop said.

<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59493" target="_blank">LB 411</a>, from State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, would establish baseline retention grants for all teachers, beginning at $2,500 for teachers in years one through six of service and increasing to $4,000 for teachers in their 16th or later.

“One of the things that we know in Nebraska is that without our teachers, Nebraska has no future.”

– State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha

Excluding high-need retention grants, Dungan’s program could&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/21/all-nebraska-teachers-would-receive-retention-bonus-under-legislative-proposal/">annually cost</a>&nbsp;between $66 million (if all teachers were in their first to sixth year of teaching) and $106 million (if all teachers were in their 16th year of teaching or beyond).

If all teachers received one high-need retention grant before 2028, as allowed under the bill for certain subject area endorsements, that would cost an additional $132 million.

DeBoer’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59787" target="_blank">LB 598</a>&nbsp;would increase state funding for school districts that provide teachers at least 60 minutes of non-instructional planning time daily.&nbsp;

The bill would also allow school districts to apply for additional limited English proficiency program funding, based on need, and get additional funds based on the&nbsp;number of students with disabilities who are on Section 504 support plans.

The last bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59622" target="_blank">LB 589</a>, from State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, would allow school districts to be reimbursed for the costs of substitute teachers who cover special education teachers&nbsp;if they take a&nbsp;“paperwork day” to complete documentation, reporting and compliance requirements. The bill does not yet have a cost estimate from the Legislature. Four such days could be reimbursed annually.

“Making small changes like that, that don’t come with a big price tag to state taxpayers, can make a world of difference for the teachers and the children that they are serving,” Conrad said.

Conrad and Royers indicated the proposed legislation is in direct response to legislation that they said would undermine teachers’ ability to serve kids. That includes&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/28/nebraska-school-choice-supporters-opponents-ready-for-another-rematch/">continued efforts</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/31/families-urge-nebraskans-to-retain-state-support-to-private-schools/">divert state funds for private schools</a>, which Conrad described as a “slap in the face” to voters.

“Let’s be clear: We’re not content to just play defense when it comes to standing up for our schools and our kids and our teachers and our incredible public education system,” she said.

Royers said the NSEA will also partner with State Sens. Kathleen Kauth and John Fredrickson, both of Omaha, on studies that could inform possible future legislation around alternate certification pathways for high school teachers and for high behavioral needs care facilities.

A third planned interim study would examine how to improve higher education compensation.

Royers said even with a projected budget shortfall for the state, he and senators are confident they’ll find the support for proposals that are “perfectly in line” with the Education Future Fund that Gov. Jim Pillen carved out in 2023 to ensure continued state support for education.

“Some of these bills that you just heard about today aren’t going to get over the finish line this year,” Royers said. “It might take us a few tries, but I can tell you that by simply introducing all of these proposals, it’s already making a difference in how educators feel in this state.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738167198147.jpeg" alt=" Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, leads a news conference highlighting 2025 priorities for teachers statewide. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, leads a news conference highlighting 2025 priorities for teachers statewide. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/28/nsea-lawmakers-outline-2025-priorities-after-survey-of-nearly-10000-nebraska-teachers/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;The Nebraska State Education Association sought to rally support Tuesday for a package of legislation designed after a survey of nearly 10,000 teachers statewide.Tim Royers, president of the state teacher’s union, joined with seven lawmakers to unveil the top 2025 priorities for the NSEA. The proposals generally seek to increase state support for teachers, such as retention bonuses, stipends for student teachers, reimbursements for school supplies and paid family and medical leave.“One of the things that we know in Nebraska is that without our teachers, Nebraska has no future,” State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha said at a morning news conference.The eight bills presented Tuesday were introduced by State Sens. Margo Juarez of Omaha, Jason Prokop of Lincoln, George Dungan of Lincoln, Ashlei Spivey of Omaha and Danielle Conrad of Lincoln. All are Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature.<h2>Statewide teacher survey results</h2>Royers said the legislation is part of NSEA’s goal to ensure all Nebraska children get to receive a great public education, which he said often depends on highly qualified teachers.In the fall, the NSEA received written comments from thousands of teachers, whose feedback ranged from workplace conditions to compensation and teachers’ plans for the future.Royers said only 8% of respondents reported feeling that the Legislature takes them into account when crafting education policy, and about 11% said the state currently incentivizes them to stay in the profession.More than a quarter of educators, Royers continued, are unsure if they want to continue teaching after this school year “unless something meaningfully changes.”“Candidly, educators don’t really feel like they have folks in their corner right now,” Royers said.<h2>Paid family and medical leave</h2>One of the “boldest” 2025 ideas, Royers said, comes from Spivey’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59667" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 440</a>. It would establish an additional 0.35% payroll tax on teachers, matched by local school districts, to offer teachers six weeks of paid family and medical leave by funding long-term substitute teachers.For a teacher making $60,000, that would amount to a monthly fee of $17.50.“For less than $20 a month out of a teacher’s paycheck, they would get access to a profound benefit,” Royers said.The focus of the Spivey legislation started on young women in teaching sometimes being forced to leave the profession after taking one or two months of unpaid leave because they had a child early in their career.But the NSEA began to see other needs, too, Royers said, such as teachers who faced cancer diagnoses or teachers who waited seven years to even attempt having kids, trying to save up enough days off “so they wouldn’t take that hit.”“No person should have to make family decisions based on when their paid leave is sufficient for them to do that,” Royers said.<h2>Student teachers and paraeducators</h2>Juarez, a former school board member for Omaha Public Schools and former paraeducator, is seeking to create retention bonuses for paraeducators through&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59701" target="_blank">LB 524</a>, $1,000 for a para working an average of 28 hours per week, or proportional for a paraeducator working less.Her&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59700" target="_blank">LB 523</a>&nbsp;would establish a statewide student teacher stipend program, paying them $4,000 per teaching semester.Juarez said the underpaid and unpaid labor that teachers are expected to offer when training for the job is “extreme,” which begins with student teaching.Quality educators, she said, are sometimes turned away because the financial burden.Another Juarez bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59290" target="_blank">LB 161</a>, would increase how much the state pays school districts for full-time early childhood students. The bill does not yet have a cost estimate from the Legislature.Currently, all school districts get about $1,500 in state aid for each K-12 student, but districts receive roughly 60% of that amount, or $900, for each early childhood student. Juarez’s bill would raise that to 100% for the foundation aid.“Education is more likely for early childhood students to earn higher wages later on, live healthier lives and avoid incarceration, raise strong families and contribute to society,” Juarez said.<h2>Acknowledgement of teacher dedication</h2>Prokop’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59521" target="_blank">LB 282</a>&nbsp;would similarly seek to support teachers who “pour their hearts and souls” into their classrooms and students as well as their wallets, with one study indicating teachers annually pay average out-of-pocket costs on school supplies of about $860.His bill would establish up to $300 in reimbursements through the State Board of Education for qualified teaching supplies.&nbsp;If all of Nebraska’s approximate 27,000 teachers applied for the reimbursement, the Nebraska Department of Education estimates it would cost $8.1 million annually.The Legislature’s fiscal office&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/FN/LB282_20250124-113559.pdf" target="_blank">estimated that 60% of teachers</a>&nbsp;might use the funds, which would also gain $300,000 to $400,000 in additional state revenue through increased teacher income.“While it’s about acknowledging that financial commitment they’ve made to the students, it’s really more about the acknowledgment that they just really care about their kids and the students that they are teaching,” Prokop said.<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59493" target="_blank">LB 411</a>, from State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, would establish baseline retention grants for all teachers, beginning at $2,500 for teachers in years one through six of service and increasing to $4,000 for teachers in their 16th or later.“One of the things that we know in Nebraska is that without our teachers, Nebraska has no future.”– State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of OmahaExcluding high-need retention grants, Dungan’s program could&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/21/all-nebraska-teachers-would-receive-retention-bonus-under-legislative-proposal/">annually cost</a>&nbsp;between $66 million (if all teachers were in their first to sixth year of teaching) and $106 million (if all teachers were in their 16th year of teaching or beyond).If all teachers received one high-need retention grant before 2028, as allowed under the bill for certain subject area endorsements, that would cost an additional $132 million.<h2>‘A world of difference’</h2>DeBoer’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59787" target="_blank">LB 598</a>&nbsp;would increase state funding for school districts that provide teachers at least 60 minutes of non-instructional planning time daily.&nbsp;The bill would also allow school districts to apply for additional limited English proficiency program funding, based on need, and get additional funds based on the&nbsp;number of students with disabilities who are on Section 504 support plans.The last bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59622" target="_blank">LB 589</a>, from State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, would allow school districts to be reimbursed for the costs of substitute teachers who cover special education teachers&nbsp;if they take a&nbsp;“paperwork day” to complete documentation, reporting and compliance requirements. The bill does not yet have a cost estimate from the Legislature. Four such days could be reimbursed annually.“Making small changes like that, that don’t come with a big price tag to state taxpayers, can make a world of difference for the teachers and the children that they are serving,” Conrad said.Conrad and Royers indicated the proposed legislation is in direct response to legislation that they said would undermine teachers’ ability to serve kids. That includes&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/28/nebraska-school-choice-supporters-opponents-ready-for-another-rematch/">continued efforts</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/31/families-urge-nebraskans-to-retain-state-support-to-private-schools/">divert state funds for private schools</a>, which Conrad described as a “slap in the face” to voters.“Let’s be clear: We’re not content to just play defense when it comes to standing up for our schools and our kids and our teachers and our incredible public education system,” she said.<h2>‘Already making a difference’</h2>Royers said the NSEA will also partner with State Sens. Kathleen Kauth and John Fredrickson, both of Omaha, on studies that could inform possible future legislation around alternate certification pathways for high school teachers and for high behavioral needs care facilities.A third planned interim study would examine how to improve higher education compensation.Royers said even with a projected budget shortfall for the state, he and senators are confident they’ll find the support for proposals that are “perfectly in line” with the Education Future Fund that Gov. Jim Pillen carved out in 2023 to ensure continued state support for education.“Some of these bills that you just heard about today aren’t going to get over the finish line this year,” Royers said. “It might take us a few tries, but I can tell you that by simply introducing all of these proposals, it’s already making a difference in how educators feel in this state.”

NSEA, lawmakers outline 2025 priorities after survey of nearly 10,000 Nebraska teachers

(Kearney, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Kearney County Sheriff’s Office, apprehended a juvenile Monday night after a trooper clocked a vehicle traveling at over 160 miles per hour.

At approximately 9:50 p.m. Monday, a trooper observed a Chevrolet Corvette traveling at over 130 miles per hour on South 2nd&nbsp;Avenue in Kearney, near the I-80 interchange. The vehicle continued southbound on Highway 44 and the trooper attempted a traffic stop.

The driver of the Corvette refused to yield and accelerated. The trooper initiated a pursuit. During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle reached a speed of 168 miles per hour. The vehicle turned eastbound onto Highway 6 and continued fleeing. Before the vehicle reached Minden, another trooper successfully deployed stop sticks to slow the vehicle.

As the vehicle reached Minden, the driver turned off the vehicle’s lights, pulled onto a side street, and parked. It was quickly located by a Kearney County deputy and troopers arrived moments later. The driver was then taken into custody without further incident.

The driver, a 16-year-old male from Kearney, was cited for willful reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest, and speeding. The entire pursuit lasted approximately ten minutes and covered approximately 20 miles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716320706146.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Cody ThomasNebraska State Patrol(Kearney, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Kearney County Sheriff’s Office, apprehended a juvenile Monday night after a trooper clocked a vehicle traveling at over 160 miles per hour.At approximately 9:50 p.m. Monday, a trooper observed a Chevrolet Corvette traveling at over 130 miles per hour on South 2nd&nbsp;Avenue in Kearney, near the I-80 interchange. The vehicle continued southbound on Highway 44 and the trooper attempted a traffic stop.The driver of the Corvette refused to yield and accelerated. The trooper initiated a pursuit. During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle reached a speed of 168 miles per hour. The vehicle turned eastbound onto Highway 6 and continued fleeing. Before the vehicle reached Minden, another trooper successfully deployed stop sticks to slow the vehicle.As the vehicle reached Minden, the driver turned off the vehicle’s lights, pulled onto a side street, and parked. It was quickly located by a Kearney County deputy and troopers arrived moments later. The driver was then taken into custody without further incident.The driver, a 16-year-old male from Kearney, was cited for willful reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest, and speeding. The entire pursuit lasted approximately ten minutes and covered approximately 20 miles.

16-Year-Old Apprehended After High-Speed Pursuit South of Kearney

Attorney General Mike Hilgers office

Attorney General Mike Hilgers announced that Nebraska has joined the United States, 37 other States, and Puerto Rico in settling kickback allegations against Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd., owned by pharmaceutical company Pfizer, Inc. Pfizer, on behalf of Biohaven, has agreed to pay more than $59 million to resolve allegations that Biohaven knowingly submitted or caused to be submitted false claims to the Medicaid program and other federal healthcare programs.

Biohaven was paying kickbacks to healthcare providers in the form of cash, lavish meals, and honoraria payments to induce them to prescribe Biohaven’s product, Nurtec ODT. Nurtec is a prescription medication for the treatment of migraine headaches. Nebraska will receive $62,688.71 in restitution and other recoveries as part of the settlement.

Biohaven paid kickbacks to providers to present at speaker programs to induce them to prescribe Nurtec for Medicaid and other federal healthcare beneficiaries. Biohaven paid some providers tens of thousands of dollars and, in some cases, more than a hundred thousand dollars for these speaker programs. In numerous instances, speaker programs were also attended by individuals such as the speaker’s spouse, family members, and friends, who had no educational need to attend. Also, certain providers attended multiple programs on the same topic and received expensive meals and drinks paid for by Biohaven but received no educational benefit from attending these programs.

The case against Biohaven was initiated by a whistleblower who was a former Biohaven employee and was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.

The matter was investigated by a team from the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office in New York.&nbsp;

Attorney General Mike Hilgers officeAttorney General Mike Hilgers announced that Nebraska has joined the United States, 37 other States, and Puerto Rico in settling kickback allegations against Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd., owned by pharmaceutical company Pfizer, Inc. Pfizer, on behalf of Biohaven, has agreed to pay more than $59 million to resolve allegations that Biohaven knowingly submitted or caused to be submitted false claims to the Medicaid program and other federal healthcare programs.Biohaven was paying kickbacks to healthcare providers in the form of cash, lavish meals, and honoraria payments to induce them to prescribe Biohaven’s product, Nurtec ODT. Nurtec is a prescription medication for the treatment of migraine headaches. Nebraska will receive $62,688.71 in restitution and other recoveries as part of the settlement.Biohaven paid kickbacks to providers to present at speaker programs to induce them to prescribe Nurtec for Medicaid and other federal healthcare beneficiaries. Biohaven paid some providers tens of thousands of dollars and, in some cases, more than a hundred thousand dollars for these speaker programs. In numerous instances, speaker programs were also attended by individuals such as the speaker’s spouse, family members, and friends, who had no educational need to attend. Also, certain providers attended multiple programs on the same topic and received expensive meals and drinks paid for by Biohaven but received no educational benefit from attending these programs.The case against Biohaven was initiated by a whistleblower who was a former Biohaven employee and was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.The matter was investigated by a team from the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office in New York.&nbsp;

Nebraska Joins in Settling Kickback Allegations against Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd.

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

WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Tuesday addressed some of her staff, promising to provide resources and support as the agency fulfills its duties, one of them carrying out President Donald Trump’s plan to deport masses of undocumented people.

Earlier in the day, Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, was in New York City, accompanying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in arrests across the city.&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Sec_Noem/status/1884264039158800547" target="_blank">In a video posted</a>&nbsp;to social media, Noem — clad in a vest labeled POLICE/ICE — said she was in the city “to get the dirt bags off our streets.”&nbsp;

The visit to New York followed a weekend of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/immigration-lawyers-decry-cutoff-legal-help-trump-administration-ramps-raids" target="_blank">highly publicized immigration enforcement,</a>&nbsp;where ICE officials announced they arrested nearly 1,000 people in the country without legal authorization. However, an arrest does not mean an immigrant has been detained or in deportation proceedings and ICE has not specified details of those arrests.

Before Noem addressed DHS workforce, as she walked up to the lectern, the song “Hot Mama” by country singer&nbsp;Trace Adkins, played in the background, with the chorus “One hot mama, you turn me on, let’s turn it up and turn this room into a sauna.”

It was reminiscent of a March 2024 appearance by Noem with Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/trump-calls-noem-to-podium-comments-on-her-appearance-at-ohio-rally/" target="_blank">at an Ohio campaign rally&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;at which he called her “a very special woman who’s&nbsp;hot as a politician” and “beautiful.” Noem at the time was considered a potential running mate for Trump, who later chose J.D. Vance, then a Republican senator from Ohio.

Noem told staff that she aims to provide them the resources to carry out their mission and that her vision for the agency stems from a story from her childhood.

When she was 10, building a fence with her dad, he asked her for a tool that was in the truck. When she ran to the truck to get it for him, he told her, “You should know what I need, before I know what I need.”

“What he was doing was teaching us to think ahead,” she said. “That is what our job is as well here at the Department of Homeland Security. We prepare ahead and think three steps ahead so that people have what they need before they need it.”

Noem,&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/01/25/south-dakota-gov-kristi-noem-confirmed-as-u-s-homeland-security-secretary/" target="_blank">whom the U.S. Senate confirmed on Saturday</a>, will lead&nbsp;one of the federal government’s largest departments, with a staff of roughly 260,000 employees and a budget around $100 billion.

DHS responsibilities include border protection, disaster response, global threats, cyber and airline security and the U.S. Secret Service, among other duties.

In her address, Noem added that she specifically asked Trump to lead DHS because it is the president’s “number one priority.”

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Tuesday addressed some of her staff, promising to provide resources and support as the agency fulfills its duties, one of them carrying out President Donald Trump’s plan to deport masses of undocumented people.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">7 AM in NYC. Getting the dirt bags off the streets. <a href="https://t.co/AlDD819K89">pic.twitter.com/AlDD819K89</a>&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1884264039158800547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Earlier in the day, Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, was in New York City, accompanying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in arrests across the city.&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Sec_Noem/status/1884264039158800547" target="_blank">In a video posted</a>&nbsp;to social media, Noem — clad in a vest labeled POLICE/ICE — said she was in the city “to get the dirt bags off our streets.”&nbsp;The visit to New York followed a weekend of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/immigration-lawyers-decry-cutoff-legal-help-trump-administration-ramps-raids" target="_blank">highly publicized immigration enforcement,</a>&nbsp;where ICE officials announced they arrested nearly 1,000 people in the country without legal authorization. However, an arrest does not mean an immigrant has been detained or in deportation proceedings and ICE has not specified details of those arrests.Before Noem addressed DHS workforce, as she walked up to the lectern, the song “Hot Mama” by country singer&nbsp;Trace Adkins, played in the background, with the chorus “One hot mama, you turn me on, let’s turn it up and turn this room into a sauna.”It was reminiscent of a March 2024 appearance by Noem with Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/trump-calls-noem-to-podium-comments-on-her-appearance-at-ohio-rally/" target="_blank">at an Ohio campaign rally&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;at which he called her “a very special woman who’s&nbsp;hot as a politician” and “beautiful.” Noem at the time was considered a potential running mate for Trump, who later chose J.D. Vance, then a Republican senator from Ohio.Noem told staff that she aims to provide them the resources to carry out their mission and that her vision for the agency stems from a story from her childhood.When she was 10, building a fence with her dad, he asked her for a tool that was in the truck. When she ran to the truck to get it for him, he told her, “You should know what I need, before I know what I need.”“What he was doing was teaching us to think ahead,” she said. “That is what our job is as well here at the Department of Homeland Security. We prepare ahead and think three steps ahead so that people have what they need before they need it.”Noem,&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/01/25/south-dakota-gov-kristi-noem-confirmed-as-u-s-homeland-security-secretary/" target="_blank">whom the U.S. Senate confirmed on Saturday</a>, will lead&nbsp;one of the federal government’s largest departments, with a staff of roughly 260,000 employees and a budget around $100 billion.DHS responsibilities include border protection, disaster response, global threats, cyber and airline security and the U.S. Secret Service, among other duties.In her address, Noem added that she specifically asked Trump to lead DHS because it is the president’s “number one priority.”

Noem labels illegal immigrants as ‘dirt bags,’ pledges support to Homeland Security staff

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/28/nebraska-school-choice-supporters-opponents-ready-for-another-rematch/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Advocates and opponents of school choice programs in Nebraska, including one that voters rejected in November, are gearing up for another legislative session featuring efforts to revive the policies.

Lawmakers supporting those programs introduced proposals this month with an end goal of helping students attend private K-12 schools in the state. Two bills would revive the laws&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-approves-nebraskas-newest-school-choice-law-as-opponents-weigh-next-steps/">passed, repealed, replaced and then repealed by voters</a>&nbsp;in just the past two years.&nbsp;

The latest version in law,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=55486" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 1402</a>, was&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/05/nebraska-voters-reject-state-funding-for-students-attending-private-k-12-schools/">repealed by 57% of voters</a>&nbsp;in November —&nbsp;in 45 of Nebraska’s 49 legislative districts, 82 of its 93 counties and all three congressional districts.

“I’m not dissuaded by the fact that it was defeated at the ballot box,” said freshman State Sen. Tony Sorrentino of Omaha, one of many lawmakers with school choice proposals in 2025. “There’s been a number of cases that lost at the ballot box and were reinstated, so let’s hope for that.”

The effort to revive&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50326" target="_blank">LB 753</a>&nbsp;and its one-for-one tax break to fund “opportunity scholarships” will return to the Revenue Committee, while the effort to revive LB 1402 and its state-funded vouchers or “education scholarships” will return to the Appropriations Committee.

Two new proposals will go to the Health and Human Services and Education Committees. The first would create and narrow a voucher or scholarship program for private education to youths in foster care. The other would pay families whose K-12 “option enrollment” application to a different public school district is rejected.

Tim Royers is president of the Nebraska State Education Association, which led successive repeal efforts against the state-funded version of the law in 2024, and successfully placed the tax credit version on the ballot before lawmakers replaced that program.

Royers said he and others are disappointed that senators, no matter their approach, are “choosing to ignore the very clear message that voters set in November on this issue.”

“We’re really looking for our leaders in Lincoln to be championing legislation that’s going to tackle the real issues surrounding education and not trying to relitigate something that has already been resolved at the polls,” Royers said.

Royers said the focus should be on getting friendly, pro-public education legislation over the finish line, such as those to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/21/all-nebraska-teachers-would-receive-retention-bonus-under-legislative-proposal/#:~:text=By%3A%20Zach%20Wendling%20%2D%20January%2021%2C%202025%205%3A00%20am&amp;text=LINCOLN%20%E2%80%94%20All%20Nebraska%20teachers%20could,and%20retain%20teachers%20through%202028.">tackle teaching vacancies statewide</a>. He’s confident school choice efforts will be stopped before a major vote this year.

But if needed, Royers said, opponents are ready for a school choice rematch, even if they have to “make it an annual summer habit” to get signatures to repeal the laws.

“We joke about it, but in all seriousness, we will out-resolve them on this issue,” Royers said. “We will be more tenacious than them. We will have more resources and more commitment than them on this. If they don’t get that point, yes, we will absolutely put this in front of the voters again so that way they can reject vouchers for the fifth time in the state’s history if necessary.”

Sorrentino is the Elkhorn-area successor to former State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, who championed the previous voucher and tax-credit laws in 2023 and 2024 after years of trying. Sorrentino’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59783" target="_blank">LB 509</a>&nbsp;would nearly word-for-word reinstate Linehan’s 2023 tax-credit law: the Opportunity Scholarships Act.

He said that law “didn’t get the proper time” before lawmakers repealed in October, a strategic move as part of LB 1402 by Linehan partly to stop a certified ballot measure seeking to repeal the law. When her replacement scholarship or voucher law made it to the ballot in November, nearly 55% of voters in their Legislative District 39 rejected it.

Sorrentino, a tax practitioner, noted the Opportunity Scholarships Act had raised nearly $10 million of the $25 million it could have raised in its first year. The program could grow over time to $100 million annually, if there is high demand.&nbsp;

Under the Opportunity Scholarships Act, Nebraskans could donate to scholarship-granting organizations for a one-to-one tax credit. Donations from 2024 are still tax deductible, even with the law being repealed.

He said the “beauty” of the bill is supporting children in their formative years, when their values are set.

“I just don’t think you can put a round peg in a square hole when it comes to education,” Sorrentino said. “Education needs to meet the needs of children, not to meet the needs of organizations or opponents to this.”

Of the four legislative districts that voted to retain LB 1402, the state-funded scholarship program in the State Treasurer’s Office, in November, one of the representatives is seeking to revive the program: State Sen. Rob Dover of Norfolk.

The other three districts that voted to retain the law are represented by State Sens. Brian Hardin of Gering, Terrell McKinney of Omaha and Mike Moser of Columbus.

<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59768" target="_blank">LB 624</a>, from Dover, would revive LB 1402, but his version is one page compared to the repealed section of LB 1402, which was five pages.

Part of his effort is to explicitly define the annual $10 million program as an appropriation, which some have argued can’t&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/articles.php?article=III-3" target="_blank">constitutionally be subject to a referendum</a>. The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that the more expansive LB 1402 version&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/13/nebraska-supreme-court-lets-voters-decide-fate-of-school-choice-law/">was subject to referendum</a>&nbsp;because it wasn’t a direct appropriation.

Dover said his structure is similar to the&nbsp;<a href="https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/gov-pillen-announces-read-nebraska-grant-recipients/" target="_blank">READ Nebraska grant program</a>&nbsp;established in 2023 to boost mentorship, at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen. That program was created through the annual state budget, not an individual bill. Dover is a member of the Appropriations Committee.

“I think we should let the kids go where they need to go, where they’re the most happy because, obviously, a happy child, a happy student, is going to be much more receptive to learning,” Dover said.

Dover said he wants to be a voice for his constituents, and his primary concern is the roughly 4,500 students who received funds under LB 1402 but might not get additional funding in the future. Some, Dover noted, might go back to hostile environments where they were bullied or felt unwelcome.

“I’m not a Catholic. I’m not Lutheran. There’s no gain in my religion to do this,” Dover said. “I think it’s just a responsibility to children, to kids.”

<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59412" target="_blank">LB 427</a>, from State Sen. Bob Andersen of Omaha, would require the state treasurer to allow families to create educational savings accounts for any K-12 school expenses.&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59361" target="_blank">LB 131</a>, also by Sorrentino, would expand the state’s current college savings accounts to let them be used to cover the costs of K-12 schools.

State Sens. Beau Ballard of Lincoln and Christy Armendariz of Omaha are taking a narrower approach to support students in need.

<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59668" target="_blank">LB 481</a>, from Ballard, would create the Foster Care Child Scholarships Act focused on foster care youths, a vulnerable population he said the state already seeks to give every opportunity to flourish. He said those children, too, should have an opportunity to go to a school where they can achieve their dreams.

Ballard’s bill would set aside $200,000 in state funding for the next two years for HOPE Scholarships for private K-12 schools through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.