LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen announced the appointment of Jeff Bucher to the Nebraska Board of Parole. He replaces member Robert Twiss, whose term expired in September. &nbsp;

Captain Bucher has been with the Lincoln Police Department since 1990. Recently, he has supervised operations for the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force and the Lincoln Gang Unit. Previous responsibilities include team captain of the Northeast Team as well as managing criminal investigations and serving as duty commander. In 2015, Bucher was recognized as the LPD Officer of the Year.

Bucher has a degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL).

The Board of Parole is comprised of five full-time members, each appointed by the Governor. One of the members is designated as the chairperson. Terms of office are six years. Law requires that at least one member be a minority, one must be a female and one must have a professional background in corrections. Appointments to the board are subject to confirmation by the Legislature.

In addition to Bucher, current board members are Rosalyn Cotton (Chair), Layne Gissler (Vice Chair), Mark Langan, and Habib Olomi.

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen announced the appointment of Jeff Bucher to the Nebraska Board of Parole. He replaces member Robert Twiss, whose term expired in September. &nbsp;Captain Bucher has been with the Lincoln Police Department since 1990. Recently, he has supervised operations for the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force and the Lincoln Gang Unit. Previous responsibilities include team captain of the Northeast Team as well as managing criminal investigations and serving as duty commander. In 2015, Bucher was recognized as the LPD Officer of the Year.Bucher has a degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL).The Board of Parole is comprised of five full-time members, each appointed by the Governor. One of the members is designated as the chairperson. Terms of office are six years. Law requires that at least one member be a minority, one must be a female and one must have a professional background in corrections. Appointments to the board are subject to confirmation by the Legislature.In addition to Bucher, current board members are Rosalyn Cotton (Chair), Layne Gissler (Vice Chair), Mark Langan, and Habib Olomi.

Gov. Pillen Announces Appointment to Board of Parole

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-psychiatric-hospital-college-of-saint-mary-partner-to-train-mental-health-professionals/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;A new partnership between the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ Lincoln Regional Center and the College of Saint Mary in Omaha seeks to train future mental health nursing professionals.

DHHS announced the new partnership Tuesday as a way to benefit college students with training and professional experience in a direct mental health setting. It will also provide the regional center with additional staff, where&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/14/justice-department-nebraska-unnecessarily-institutionalizes-people-with-mental-illness/">concerns</a>&nbsp;have been raised in the past year about&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/15/blood-asks-pillen-to-respond-to-worsening-violence-worker-safety-at-state-psychiatric-hospital/">staffing</a>&nbsp;levels, including from mental health technicians who&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/21/mental-health-techs-protest-working-conditions-safety-at-nebraska-psychiatric-hospital/">protested over working conditions and safety</a>.

Twenty-two students are enrolled for training at the center through the program, which began in late September.

Mitchell Bruening, hospital administrator of the regional center, said in a statement that his center is “thrilled” to have the college students involved. They will help adult patients with severe and persistent mental health challenges and their discharge plans.

“They are a tremendous asset to our team,” Bruening said of the students. “In the short time they have been at LRC, I have seen the students learn, treat all with dignity and serve Nebraskans with compassion.”

The Lincoln Regional Center is an accredited psychiatric hospital under The Joint Commission and operated by DHHS.

Allison Bartlett, talent acquisition director for DHHS, said that the nursing labor market is competitive and that DHHS is excited to work with the students and build the partnership.

Christi Glesmann, assistant dean for health sciences at the College of Saint Mary, said the partnership “reflects our shared commitment to providing care that honors the dignity and needs of every individual.”

“This collaboration offers tremendous opportunities for our nursing students to gain invaluable clinical experience while learning the importance of compassionate care,” Glesmann said in a statement. “Together, we are building a stronger nursing workforce that will positively impact the health and well-being of all Nebraskans and our Nebraska communities.”

More information on the College of Saint Mary’s nursing program is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.csm.edu/nursing" target="_blank">http://www.csm.edu/nursing</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731701958615.jpeg" alt=" The Lincoln Regional Center was first established in 1869, just outside the capital city. It treats adults with mental illnesses, and those committed for being not responsible for committing a crime due to a mental illness, at several buildings on a campus just southwest of the city. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> The Lincoln Regional Center was first established in 1869, just outside the capital city. It treats adults with mental illnesses, and those committed for being not responsible for committing a crime due to a mental illness, at several buildings on a campus just southwest of the city. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-psychiatric-hospital-college-of-saint-mary-partner-to-train-mental-health-professionals/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;A new partnership between the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ Lincoln Regional Center and the College of Saint Mary in Omaha seeks to train future mental health nursing professionals.DHHS announced the new partnership Tuesday as a way to benefit college students with training and professional experience in a direct mental health setting. It will also provide the regional center with additional staff, where&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/14/justice-department-nebraska-unnecessarily-institutionalizes-people-with-mental-illness/">concerns</a>&nbsp;have been raised in the past year about&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/15/blood-asks-pillen-to-respond-to-worsening-violence-worker-safety-at-state-psychiatric-hospital/">staffing</a>&nbsp;levels, including from mental health technicians who&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/21/mental-health-techs-protest-working-conditions-safety-at-nebraska-psychiatric-hospital/">protested over working conditions and safety</a>.Twenty-two students are enrolled for training at the center through the program, which began in late September.Mitchell Bruening, hospital administrator of the regional center, said in a statement that his center is “thrilled” to have the college students involved. They will help adult patients with severe and persistent mental health challenges and their discharge plans.“They are a tremendous asset to our team,” Bruening said of the students. “In the short time they have been at LRC, I have seen the students learn, treat all with dignity and serve Nebraskans with compassion.”The Lincoln Regional Center is an accredited psychiatric hospital under The Joint Commission and operated by DHHS.Allison Bartlett, talent acquisition director for DHHS, said that the nursing labor market is competitive and that DHHS is excited to work with the students and build the partnership.Christi Glesmann, assistant dean for health sciences at the College of Saint Mary, said the partnership “reflects our shared commitment to providing care that honors the dignity and needs of every individual.”“This collaboration offers tremendous opportunities for our nursing students to gain invaluable clinical experience while learning the importance of compassionate care,” Glesmann said in a statement. “Together, we are building a stronger nursing workforce that will positively impact the health and well-being of all Nebraskans and our Nebraska communities.”More information on the College of Saint Mary’s nursing program is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.csm.edu/nursing" target="_blank">http://www.csm.edu/nursing</a>.

Nebraska psychiatric hospital, College of Saint Mary partner to train mental health professionals

LINCOLN, NE –Governor Jim Pillen&nbsp;led Nebraska’s trade delegation to Germany on Sunday, kicking off the second phase of the state trade mission to Europe. The mission to Germany follows three event-packed days in the Czech Republic, which concluded with a reception for University of Nebraska alumni on Saturday evening in Prague.

On Monday morning, Gov. Pillen held a high-level meeting with Stephan Weil, Minister President of Niedersachsen Government, to explore opportunities to grow trade. Niedersachsen, also known as Lower Saxony, is a federal state in northwestern Germany. The region is known for its ag tech innovation and is home to prominent research institutions and companies that are developing advanced agricultural practices.

While in Lower Saxony, the state delegation visited the headquarters of Continental (ContiTech) to thank the company for its investment in Nebraska. ContiTech has a major manufacturing plant in Lincoln, where it makes belts for lawnmowers, snowblowers, and combine headers—along with many other products. The business also has extensive operations in Norfolk, where it manufactures industrial and hydraulic hosing.

“In the last few days, we've met with German companies doing business in Nebraska,” said Gov. Pillen. “We’re showing our appreciation and discussing how each company can have a greater impact in our state. Two things are very clear from our time here. First, everyone we’ve met in Germany absolutely loves the people in Nebraska. Second, they can’t talk enough about how much they love our melt-in-your-mouth Nebraska beef!”

On Monday evening, Gov. Pillen gave the keynote at EuroTier’s International Cattle and Pig Event—highlighting Nebraska’s global leadership in sustainable livestock production. EuroTier is the largest international trade fair for animal agriculture. Annually, it draws upward of 150,000 visitors. Members of the Nebraska delegation manned a large pavilion during the event, holding a special reception on Tuesday evening to showcase the state’s world-class agricultural equipment, technologies, and products.

“We learned about the precision agricultural equipment in Germany, while sharing about the standards we have in Nebraska,” said Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Sherry Vinton. “We look forward to working together in partnership to produce the high-quality, safe food that consumers around the world demand. As we do, we’re going to take care of our natural resources for this generation and generations to come.”

Gov. Pillen and members of Nebraska’s trade team met leadership of CLAAS Group on Wednesday to discuss how the state can best support the German manufacturer’s continued growth in Nebraska. Since 2001, CLAAS has produced its LEXION combine harvesters in Omaha. Matt Ristow, President of CLAAS Omaha Inc., participated in the meetings, as did Dr. Theo Freye — retired CEO of CLAAS KgaA, who now leads the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) trade office in Germany.

“This trade mission is a beneficial exchange,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz. “We've been able to share some things from Nebraska, while also learning from our German counterparts. For example, German manufacturers excel at connecting young people to great careers through apprenticeships. We’re going to bring this lesson home to make Nebraska’s economy stronger.”

On Wednesday evening, the state’s trade delegation connected with Albers Beef, a leading German company specializing in the distribution of food products, including Nebraska beef. During the gathering, Nebraska’s leaders reinforced the sustainable production, premium quality, and nutritiousness of the state’s beef products.

“The German people are friendly, cordial, and they want to learn more about Nebraska,” said Jim Ramm, a cow-calf producer from Holt County and board member of the Nebraska Beef Council. “There is a bus load of people eager to come to Nebraska to see firsthand how we do things. They’re deeply impressed by how we care for our cattle herds.”

The trade mission will wrap up on Thursday, Nov. 14, with meetings at Bayer and Evonik—along with a conference with the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia. Bayer operates crop science facilities across the Midwest, including a major research station in Beaver Crossing. Evonik is a global company that develops specialty chemicals for a variety of industries. It has produced lysine, an animal feed additive, in Blair since 2000. North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany’s most populous state and accounts for more than one-fifth of the country’s GPD.

While strengthening relationships with companies who already invest in Nebraska, the state’s trade delegation is also prioritizing recruitment meetings with German manufacturers considering expansion in the U.S. Nebraska’s trade representatives are highlighting the state’s world-class workforce; business-friendly climate, and advantageous, central location. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Germany is tied with Japan as the top source of&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.trade.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2024-05%2FNebraska.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cjim.buehler%40nebraska.gov%7C0c460b192e814356d6db08dd0432c6b8%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638671338526323906%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=TFpp9rXhVLUSjkVunv2DzYjOsMY9p3pAYt3U0RXYwf8%3D&amp;reserved=0">foreign direct investment (FDI) into Nebraska</a>, accounting for 27% of FDI into the state.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731681236407.jpeg" alt="Exchange of gifts with Stephan Weil, Minister President of Niedersachsen Government (Courtesy)" />
 <figcaption>Exchange of gifts with Stephan Weil, Minister President of Niedersachsen Government (Courtesy)</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE –Governor Jim Pillen&nbsp;led Nebraska’s trade delegation to Germany on Sunday, kicking off the second phase of the state trade mission to Europe. The mission to Germany follows three event-packed days in the Czech Republic, which concluded with a reception for University of Nebraska alumni on Saturday evening in Prague.On Monday morning, Gov. Pillen held a high-level meeting with Stephan Weil, Minister President of Niedersachsen Government, to explore opportunities to grow trade. Niedersachsen, also known as Lower Saxony, is a federal state in northwestern Germany. The region is known for its ag tech innovation and is home to prominent research institutions and companies that are developing advanced agricultural practices.While in Lower Saxony, the state delegation visited the headquarters of Continental (ContiTech) to thank the company for its investment in Nebraska. ContiTech has a major manufacturing plant in Lincoln, where it makes belts for lawnmowers, snowblowers, and combine headers—along with many other products. The business also has extensive operations in Norfolk, where it manufactures industrial and hydraulic hosing.“In the last few days, we've met with German companies doing business in Nebraska,” said Gov. Pillen. “We’re showing our appreciation and discussing how each company can have a greater impact in our state. Two things are very clear from our time here. First, everyone we’ve met in Germany absolutely loves the people in Nebraska. Second, they can’t talk enough about how much they love our melt-in-your-mouth Nebraska beef!”On Monday evening, Gov. Pillen gave the keynote at EuroTier’s International Cattle and Pig Event—highlighting Nebraska’s global leadership in sustainable livestock production. EuroTier is the largest international trade fair for animal agriculture. Annually, it draws upward of 150,000 visitors. Members of the Nebraska delegation manned a large pavilion during the event, holding a special reception on Tuesday evening to showcase the state’s world-class agricultural equipment, technologies, and products.“We learned about the precision agricultural equipment in Germany, while sharing about the standards we have in Nebraska,” said Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Sherry Vinton. “We look forward to working together in partnership to produce the high-quality, safe food that consumers around the world demand. As we do, we’re going to take care of our natural resources for this generation and generations to come.”Gov. Pillen and members of Nebraska’s trade team met leadership of CLAAS Group on Wednesday to discuss how the state can best support the German manufacturer’s continued growth in Nebraska. Since 2001, CLAAS has produced its LEXION combine harvesters in Omaha. Matt Ristow, President of CLAAS Omaha Inc., participated in the meetings, as did Dr. Theo Freye — retired CEO of CLAAS KgaA, who now leads the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) trade office in Germany.“This trade mission is a beneficial exchange,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz. “We've been able to share some things from Nebraska, while also learning from our German counterparts. For example, German manufacturers excel at connecting young people to great careers through apprenticeships. We’re going to bring this lesson home to make Nebraska’s economy stronger.”On Wednesday evening, the state’s trade delegation connected with Albers Beef, a leading German company specializing in the distribution of food products, including Nebraska beef. During the gathering, Nebraska’s leaders reinforced the sustainable production, premium quality, and nutritiousness of the state’s beef products.“The German people are friendly, cordial, and they want to learn more about Nebraska,” said Jim Ramm, a cow-calf producer from Holt County and board member of the Nebraska Beef Council. “There is a bus load of people eager to come to Nebraska to see firsthand how we do things. They’re deeply impressed by how we care for our cattle herds.”The trade mission will wrap up on Thursday, Nov. 14, with meetings at Bayer and Evonik—along with a conference with the Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia. Bayer operates crop science facilities across the Midwest, including a major research station in Beaver Crossing. Evonik is a global company that develops specialty chemicals for a variety of industries. It has produced lysine, an animal feed additive, in Blair since 2000. North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany’s most populous state and accounts for more than one-fifth of the country’s GPD.While strengthening relationships with companies who already invest in Nebraska, the state’s trade delegation is also prioritizing recruitment meetings with German manufacturers considering expansion in the U.S. Nebraska’s trade representatives are highlighting the state’s world-class workforce; business-friendly climate, and advantageous, central location. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Germany is tied with Japan as the top source of&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.trade.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2024-05%2FNebraska.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cjim.buehler%40nebraska.gov%7C0c460b192e814356d6db08dd0432c6b8%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638671338526323906%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=TFpp9rXhVLUSjkVunv2DzYjOsMY9p3pAYt3U0RXYwf8%3D&amp;reserved=0">foreign direct investment (FDI) into Nebraska</a>, accounting for 27% of FDI into the state.

Governor Pillen Leads State Trade Delegation to Germany

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/14/attorneys-summarize-arguments-against-nebraska-medical-cannabis-measures/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Attorneys summarized their arguments this week for why a district court judge should void the election results last week for Nebraska’s successful medical cannabis ballot measures.

On Nov. 5, Nebraskans&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/06/medical-cannabis-prevails-at-nebraskas-ballot-box-but-fate-depends-on-legal-challenges/">overwhelmingly voted to legalize and regulate medical cannabis</a>, though a legal challenge continues in Lancaster County District Court. The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/12/lawsuit-seeks-to-invalidate-nebraskas-medical-marijuana-ballot-measures/">lawsuit</a>, filed by John Kuehn, a former state senator and former member of the State Board of Health, seeks to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/01/judge-rules-nebraska-medical-cannabis-votes-will-be-counted-and-is-leaning-against-delaying-trial/">invalidate those measures</a>, citing allegations of systemic fraud and malfeasance that “permeated” the process.

Kuehn sued the three ballot sponsors of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, as well as Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who certified the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/28/parents-patients-make-final-push-for-nebraskans-to-support-medical-cannabis/">measures</a>&nbsp;for the ballot.

Since then, Evnen, through the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, has joined Kuehn in arguing that tens of thousands of petition signatures were “tainted” by circulator fraud or notarial malfeasance.

The campaign needed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/13/medical-marijuana-legalization-and-regulation-are-certified-for-nebraskas-november-ballot/">at least 86,499 valid signatures</a>&nbsp;on each petition for ballot access, which Evnen said the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/13/secretary-of-state-celebrates-local-election-officials-in-finalizing-nebraskas-fall-2024-ballot/">campaign reached Sept. 13</a>, although he cautioned that a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/13/nebraska-ag-announces-investigation-into-several-thousand-signatures-on-2024-petitions/">civil investigation</a>&nbsp;continued into the petition effort.

The main arguments from Kuehn and Evnen allege that “cheating is a choice” and that instances of fraud or malfeasance should eliminate the presumption that other signatures a circulator or notary touched were validly collected.

“This Court cannot turn a blind eye to the sponsors and [Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana] campaign members’ willful disregard of the Nebraska Constitution and the statutory scheme that regulates the initiative process,” the AG’s Office wrote in a Tuesday brief on behalf of Evnen.

Kuehn’s attorneys have endorsed and similarly advanced Evnen’s arguments that notaries regularly and willfully did not notarize circulators’ petition pages while in the presence of one another, self-notarized petitions they circulated or notarized without a circulator’s oath present.

Notarizations add worth to a signature on a piece of paper, Evnen’s attorneys add, alleging that the “pervasiveness” of fraud makes it “practically impossible” to distinguish genuine signatures.

“Intentional wrongful conduct permeated the campaign from top to bottom,” the AG’s Office brief states. “Their abuse of the public trust, their willful disregard for the law, their willingness to let the ends justify the means have brought us here.”

If District Judge Susan Strong accepts those arguments, she could allow the ballot sponsors to try to “rehabilitate” signatures and prove their validity. Evnen’s attorneys argue that would be “futile.”

Strong could also rule against or for the sponsors outright and end the trial.

No matter the outcome, Strong and attorneys involved in the case have signaled the ruling would likely be appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court.

The core of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/07/ag-secretary-of-state-target-nearly-100000-signatures-on-nebraska-medical-cannabis-petitions/">legal arguments advanced by Evnen’s attorneys</a>&nbsp;hinges on a&nbsp;<a href="https://history.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/doc_publications_NH1988Barkley.pdf" target="_blank">1919 Nebraska Supreme Court case</a>&nbsp;dealing with an anti-women’s suffrage referendum that allowed all signatures tied to a circulator who had committed fraud to be tossed from the ballot, defeating the anti-suffrage effort.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;<a href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/docs/opinions/AG%20Opinion%201992-104.pdf" target="_blank">1992 Nebraska Attorney General’s Office opinion</a>, which doesn’t carry the same weight as a judicial ruling, suggested the same standard could be applied to notaries.

Evnen’s attorneys point to both the 1919 ruling and the 1992 opinion and nod to other states that have tossed election measures or results because of wrongdoing or fraud.

Kuehn’s original lawsuit was broader, including alleged&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/25/attorneys-weigh-in-on-whether-to-dismiss-nebraska-medical-cannabis-lawsuit/">irregularities</a>&nbsp;in voters’ printed names, birthdates, addresses or other information, which Evnen denied. Strong allowed that claim to move forward, as well as a “cross-claim” from Evnen, but&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/27/district-court-judge-dismisses-some-but-not-all-charges-in-nebraska-medical-cannabis-lawsuit/">dismissed</a>&nbsp;Kuehn’s other allegations.

When the trial began, Kuehn’s attorneys instead focused on notaries and joined Evnen’s argument They said in filings Tuesday that the ballot sponsors “had no interest in the rules” and that when someone’s credibility is questioned, that can be extended to other actions.

“It is the individual’s credibility that is impeached, and all acts by that person can be determined to have lost credibility,” Kuehn’s attorneys wrote.

The ballot sponsors’ attorneys accused Evnen and Kuehn during the trial of focusing on notaries specifically because they couldn’t find a path to invalidation, so they ignored past precedents.

The sponsors’ attorneys have said&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/08/medical-cannabis-sponsors-push-back-on-nebraska-officials-claims-of-fraud-and-malfeasance/">no court in the nation</a>, to their knowledge, has ruled that “notarial malfeasance” can be extended to all documents. They’ve said that could affect any unrelated documents, such as wills, purchase agreements or other legal documents that a notary has witnessed.

“Even worse, Nebraska’s highest election official advances a burden-shifting framework that threatens to undermine and eliminate the initiative right altogether,” the sponsors’ brief states.

The ballot sponsors were given until Friday to file their post-trial brief. The opposing attorneys can offer a response, if needed, by Monday.

The AG’s Office said if the signatures are allowed to stand, that could “undermine the people’s faith in the precious power of initiative” or send a message that cheating is allowed, so long as enough can be concealed or covered up behind a guise of “potentially” valid signatures.

Throughout a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/29/trial-begins-in-case-against-nebraskas-medical-cannabis-ballot-measures/">four-day trial</a>, the state’s attorneys narrowed in on Crista Eggers, a ballot sponsor and the campaign manager for the measures. They showed texts where she told campaign volunteers to “push the limits” or ignore “the rules,” which the AG’s Office said included the law.

“There is no more nice campaign,” Eggers said in one text to a top campaign volunteer. “We don’t follow the rules anymore. And we just pay the consequences and hope it’s OK.”

The attorneys for the ballot sponsors have alleged that Eggers’ texts are being taken out of context and didn’t show what the AG’s Office alleged.

Among the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/28/nebraska-medical-cannabis-trial-begins-tuesday-with-at-least-16-prospective-witnesses/">witnesses</a>&nbsp;for Evnen were two paid circulators, Michael Egbert of York and Jennifer Henning of Omaha, who said they violated the law.&nbsp;

Egbert&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/11/grand-island-petition-circulator-pleads-guilty-to-misdemeanor-and-fine/">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;last week to a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/revisor/classification_penalties2024.pdf" target="_blank">Class I misdemeanor</a>&nbsp;of “attempting” to commit a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=32-1546" target="_blank">Class IV felony of falsely swearing a circulator’s oath</a>. He admitted to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/01/judge-rules-nebraska-medical-cannabis-votes-will-be-counted-and-is-leaning-against-delaying-trial/">using a phone book</a>&nbsp;to forge voter signatures. Eggers was a notary for six petition pages for Egbert.

“Ms. Eggers has no memory of notarizing Egbert’s petitions and states these documents were notarized by mistake, likely because they were inadvertently mixed with a stack of petitions from circulators that properly showed Ms. Eggers their ID and signed in front of her,” the ballot attorneys wrote on Eggers behalf in a legal filing.

Henning has not been charged with a crime She alleged that Eggers told her to pick up petition pages from Seward County, sign the oath of a petition she didn’t circulate and drop them off at Eggers’ house to notarize later.

The ballot sponsors’ attorneys moved to impeach Henning’s testimony, citing that she is on probation for two counts of felony insurance fraud and has submitted fraudulent documents to Nebraska courts in the past decade. Henning offered texts to corroborate her testimony and said she is on medications to help her mental health, which she said led to that&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/31/paid-petition-circulator-with-troubled-past-takes-the-stand-in-nebraska-medical-cannabis-trial/">past behavior</a>.

Other evidence presented at the trial included expert testimony from Mark Songer, a forensic document examiner from Colorado, who reviewed about 150 circulators’ signatures from five people at the request of the AG’s Office.&nbsp;

Songer said his review suggested possible forgeries on signatures for three of the five circulators, though he later confirmed he didn’t review each circulator’s signatures and was doing so in a condensed timeline.

The AG’s Office briefs stated that the office was unsuccessful in locating all three circulators with alleged forgeries to confirm whether they signed and circulated the suspected petitions.

Initiative Measure 437, the legalization petition, passed with 71% voter support. Initiative Measure 438, the regulatory petition, passed slightly behind with 67% of voter support.

Citing a Nebraska Supreme Court case from 1905, the AG’s Office said an election is allowed to be “rightfully quashed” if the process is so “infused” with fraud, corruption or “gross irregularity” that lawful votes can’t be determined.

“The appropriate remedy is declaring the result of the elections void,” the AG’s Office said.

Nebraska’s state constitutional officers will meet Dec. 2 to certify the election. Legal arguments can continue after that date.

That board consists of Evnen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, State Auditor Mike Foley, State Treasurer Tom Briese and Gov. Jim Pillen.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dailynebraskan.com/news/voices-gather-in-state-capitol-to-discuss-medical-marijuana/article_53909ad0-8b66-11ef-9c41-d75fad207c07.html" target="_blank">Foley</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/13/nebraska-medical-marijuana-advocates-confident-third-time-is-the-charm/">Pillen</a>&nbsp;have criticized the medical marijuana petition campaign. Briese and Hilgers&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=7039" target="_blank">voted against the most recent legislation</a>&nbsp;while serving in the Legislature.

Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/14/attorneys-summarize-arguments-against-nebraska-medical-cannabis-measures/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Attorneys summarized their arguments this week for why a district court judge should void the election results last week for Nebraska’s successful medical cannabis ballot measures.On Nov. 5, Nebraskans&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/06/medical-cannabis-prevails-at-nebraskas-ballot-box-but-fate-depends-on-legal-challenges/">overwhelmingly voted to legalize and regulate medical cannabis</a>, though a legal challenge continues in Lancaster County District Court. The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/12/lawsuit-seeks-to-invalidate-nebraskas-medical-marijuana-ballot-measures/">lawsuit</a>, filed by John Kuehn, a former state senator and former member of the State Board of Health, seeks to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/01/judge-rules-nebraska-medical-cannabis-votes-will-be-counted-and-is-leaning-against-delaying-trial/">invalidate those measures</a>, citing allegations of systemic fraud and malfeasance that “permeated” the process.Kuehn sued the three ballot sponsors of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, as well as Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who certified the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/28/parents-patients-make-final-push-for-nebraskans-to-support-medical-cannabis/">measures</a>&nbsp;for the ballot.<h2>‘Court cannot turn a blind eye’</h2>Since then, Evnen, through the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, has joined Kuehn in arguing that tens of thousands of petition signatures were “tainted” by circulator fraud or notarial malfeasance.The campaign needed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/13/medical-marijuana-legalization-and-regulation-are-certified-for-nebraskas-november-ballot/">at least 86,499 valid signatures</a>&nbsp;on each petition for ballot access, which Evnen said the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/13/secretary-of-state-celebrates-local-election-officials-in-finalizing-nebraskas-fall-2024-ballot/">campaign reached Sept. 13</a>, although he cautioned that a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/13/nebraska-ag-announces-investigation-into-several-thousand-signatures-on-2024-petitions/">civil investigation</a>&nbsp;continued into the petition effort.The main arguments from Kuehn and Evnen allege that “cheating is a choice” and that instances of fraud or malfeasance should eliminate the presumption that other signatures a circulator or notary touched were validly collected.“This Court cannot turn a blind eye to the sponsors and [Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana] campaign members’ willful disregard of the Nebraska Constitution and the statutory scheme that regulates the initiative process,” the AG’s Office wrote in a Tuesday brief on behalf of Evnen.Kuehn’s attorneys have endorsed and similarly advanced Evnen’s arguments that notaries regularly and willfully did not notarize circulators’ petition pages while in the presence of one another, self-notarized petitions they circulated or notarized without a circulator’s oath present.Notarizations add worth to a signature on a piece of paper, Evnen’s attorneys add, alleging that the “pervasiveness” of fraud makes it “practically impossible” to distinguish genuine signatures.“Intentional wrongful conduct permeated the campaign from top to bottom,” the AG’s Office brief states. “Their abuse of the public trust, their willful disregard for the law, their willingness to let the ends justify the means have brought us here.”If District Judge Susan Strong accepts those arguments, she could allow the ballot sponsors to try to “rehabilitate” signatures and prove their validity. Evnen’s attorneys argue that would be “futile.”Strong could also rule against or for the sponsors outright and end the trial.No matter the outcome, Strong and attorneys involved in the case have signaled the ruling would likely be appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court.<h2>What have other courts said?</h2>The core of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/07/ag-secretary-of-state-target-nearly-100000-signatures-on-nebraska-medical-cannabis-petitions/">legal arguments advanced by Evnen’s attorneys</a>&nbsp;hinges on a&nbsp;<a href="https://history.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/doc_publications_NH1988Barkley.pdf" target="_blank">1919 Nebraska Supreme Court case</a>&nbsp;dealing with an anti-women’s suffrage referendum that allowed all signatures tied to a circulator who had committed fraud to be tossed from the ballot, defeating the anti-suffrage effort.&nbsp;A&nbsp;<a href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/docs/opinions/AG%20Opinion%201992-104.pdf" target="_blank">1992 Nebraska Attorney General’s Office opinion</a>, which doesn’t carry the same weight as a judicial ruling, suggested the same standard could be applied to notaries.Evnen’s attorneys point to both the 1919 ruling and the 1992 opinion and nod to other states that have tossed election measures or results because of wrongdoing or fraud.Kuehn’s original lawsuit was broader, including alleged&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/25/attorneys-weigh-in-on-whether-to-dismiss-nebraska-medical-cannabis-lawsuit/">irregularities</a>&nbsp;in voters’ printed names, birthdates, addresses or other information, which Evnen denied. Strong allowed that claim to move forward, as well as a “cross-claim” from Evnen, but&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/27/district-court-judge-dismisses-some-but-not-all-charges-in-nebraska-medical-cannabis-lawsuit/">dismissed</a>&nbsp;Kuehn’s other allegations.When the trial began, Kuehn’s attorneys instead focused on notaries and joined Evnen’s argument They said in filings Tuesday that the ballot sponsors “had no interest in the rules” and that when someone’s credibility is questioned, that can be extended to other actions.“It is the individual’s credibility that is impeached, and all acts by that person can be determined to have lost credibility,” Kuehn’s attorneys wrote.The ballot sponsors’ attorneys accused Evnen and Kuehn during the trial of focusing on notaries specifically because they couldn’t find a path to invalidation, so they ignored past precedents.The sponsors’ attorneys have said&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/08/medical-cannabis-sponsors-push-back-on-nebraska-officials-claims-of-fraud-and-malfeasance/">no court in the nation</a>, to their knowledge, has ruled that “notarial malfeasance” can be extended to all documents. They’ve said that could affect any unrelated documents, such as wills, purchase agreements or other legal documents that a notary has witnessed.“Even worse, Nebraska’s highest election official advances a burden-shifting framework that threatens to undermine and eliminate the initiative right altogether,” the sponsors’ brief states.The ballot sponsors were given until Friday to file their post-trial brief. The opposing attorneys can offer a response, if needed, by Monday.The AG’s Office said if the signatures are allowed to stand, that could “undermine the people’s faith in the precious power of initiative” or send a message that cheating is allowed, so long as enough can be concealed or covered up behind a guise of “potentially” valid signatures.<h2>Key witness testimony</h2>Throughout a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/29/trial-begins-in-case-against-nebraskas-medical-cannabis-ballot-measures/">four-day trial</a>, the state’s attorneys narrowed in on Crista Eggers, a ballot sponsor and the campaign manager for the measures. They showed texts where she told campaign volunteers to “push the limits” or ignore “the rules,” which the AG’s Office said included the law.“There is no more nice campaign,” Eggers said in one text to a top campaign volunteer. “We don’t follow the rules anymore. And we just pay the consequences and hope it’s OK.”The attorneys for the ballot sponsors have alleged that Eggers’ texts are being taken out of context and didn’t show what the AG’s Office alleged.Among the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/28/nebraska-medical-cannabis-trial-begins-tuesday-with-at-least-16-prospective-witnesses/">witnesses</a>&nbsp;for Evnen were two paid circulators, Michael Egbert of York and Jennifer Henning of Omaha, who said they violated the law.&nbsp;Egbert&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/11/grand-island-petition-circulator-pleads-guilty-to-misdemeanor-and-fine/">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;last week to a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/revisor/classification_penalties2024.pdf" target="_blank">Class I misdemeanor</a>&nbsp;of “attempting” to commit a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=32-1546" target="_blank">Class IV felony of falsely swearing a circulator’s oath</a>. He admitted to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/01/judge-rules-nebraska-medical-cannabis-votes-will-be-counted-and-is-leaning-against-delaying-trial/">using a phone book</a>&nbsp;to forge voter signatures. Eggers was a notary for six petition pages for Egbert.“Ms. Eggers has no memory of notarizing Egbert’s petitions and states these documents were notarized by mistake, likely because they were inadvertently mixed with a stack of petitions from circulators that properly showed Ms. Eggers their ID and signed in front of her,” the ballot attorneys wrote on Eggers behalf in a legal filing.Henning has not been charged with a crime She alleged that Eggers told her to pick up petition pages from Seward County, sign the oath of a petition she didn’t circulate and drop them off at Eggers’ house to notarize later.The ballot sponsors’ attorneys moved to impeach Henning’s testimony, citing that she is on probation for two counts of felony insurance fraud and has submitted fraudulent documents to Nebraska courts in the past decade. Henning offered texts to corroborate her testimony and said she is on medications to help her mental health, which she said led to that&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/31/paid-petition-circulator-with-troubled-past-takes-the-stand-in-nebraska-medical-cannabis-trial/">past behavior</a>.Other evidence presented at the trial included expert testimony from Mark Songer, a forensic document examiner from Colorado, who reviewed about 150 circulators’ signatures from five people at the request of the AG’s Office.&nbsp;Songer said his review suggested possible forgeries on signatures for three of the five circulators, though he later confirmed he didn’t review each circulator’s signatures and was doing so in a condensed timeline.The AG’s Office briefs stated that the office was unsuccessful in locating all three circulators with alleged forgeries to confirm whether they signed and circulated the suspected petitions.<h2>Impact to election results</h2>Initiative Measure 437, the legalization petition, passed with 71% voter support. Initiative Measure 438, the regulatory petition, passed slightly behind with 67% of voter support.Citing a Nebraska Supreme Court case from 1905, the AG’s Office said an election is allowed to be “rightfully quashed” if the process is so “infused” with fraud, corruption or “gross irregularity” that lawful votes can’t be determined.“The appropriate remedy is declaring the result of the elections void,” the AG’s Office said.Nebraska’s state constitutional officers will meet Dec. 2 to certify the election. Legal arguments can continue after that date.That board consists of Evnen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, State Auditor Mike Foley, State Treasurer Tom Briese and Gov. Jim Pillen.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dailynebraskan.com/news/voices-gather-in-state-capitol-to-discuss-medical-marijuana/article_53909ad0-8b66-11ef-9c41-d75fad207c07.html" target="_blank">Foley</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/13/nebraska-medical-marijuana-advocates-confident-third-time-is-the-charm/">Pillen</a>&nbsp;have criticized the medical marijuana petition campaign. Briese and Hilgers&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=7039" target="_blank">voted against the most recent legislation</a>&nbsp;while serving in the Legislature.

Attorneys summarize arguments against Nebraska’s successful medical cannabis ballot measures

ATLANTA —Worldwide, there were an estimated 10.3 million cases of measles in 2023, a 20% increase from 2022, according to new estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Inadequate immunization coverage globally is driving the surge in cases, according to the CDC.

Measles is preventable with two doses of the measles vaccine; yet more than 22 million children missed their first dose of the measles vaccine in 2023. Globally, an estimated 83% of children received their first dose of measles vaccine last year, while only 74% received the recommended second dose.

Coverage of 95% or greater of two doses of measles vaccine is needed in each country and community to prevent outbreaks and protect populations from one of the world's most contagious human viruses.

As of November 7, 2024, a total of 277 measles cases were reported by 32 jurisdictions: Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

"Measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "To save even more lives and stop this deadly virus from harming the most vulnerable, we must invest in immunization for every person, no matter where they live."

"The number of measles infections are rising around the globe, endangering lives and health," CDC Director Mandy Cohen said. "The measles vaccine is our best protection against the virus, and we must continue to invest in efforts to increase access."

As a result of global gaps in vaccination coverage, 57 countries experienced large or disruptive measles outbreaks in 2023, affecting all regions except the Americas, and representing a nearly 60% increase from 36 countries in the previous year. The WHO African, Eastern Mediterranean, European, Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions experienced a substantial upsurge in cases. Nearly half of all large or disruptive outbreaks occurred in the African region.

An unacceptable death toll due to rising measles cases

The new data show that an estimated 107,500 people, mostly children younger than 5 years of age, died due to measles in 2023. Although this is an 8% decrease from the previous year, far too many children are still dying from this preventable disease. This slight reduction in deaths was mainly because the surge in cases occurred in countries and regions where children with measles are less likely to die, due to better nutritional status and access to health services.

Even when people survive measles, serious health effects can occur, some of which are lifelong. Infants and young children are at greatest risk of serious complications from the disease, which include blindness, pneumonia, and encephalitis (an infection causing brain swelling and potentially brain damage).

As measles cases surge and outbreaks increase, the world's elimination goal, as laid out in Immunization Agenda 2030, is under threat. Worldwide, 82 countries had achieved or maintained measles elimination at the end of 2023. Just this week, Brazil was reverified as having eliminated measles, making the WHO Americas Region once again free of endemic measles. With the exception of the African Region, at least 1 country in all WHO regions has eliminated the disease.

Urgent and targeted efforts by countries and partners, particularly in the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions, and in fragile, conflict-affected, and vulnerable settings, are needed to vaccinate all children fully with two doses of measles vaccine. This requires achieving and maintaining high-performing routine immunization programmes and delivering high-quality, high-coverage campaigns when those programmes are not yet sufficient to protect every child.

Countries and global immunization partners must also strengthen disease surveillance, including the Global Measles Rubella Laboratory Network (GMRLN). Strong disease surveillance is critical to optimizing immunization programmes and detecting and responding rapidly to measles outbreaks in order to mitigate their size and impact.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731697519867.png" alt="CDC image" />
 <figcaption>CDC image</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA —Worldwide, there were an estimated 10.3 million cases of measles in 2023, a 20% increase from 2022, according to new estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Inadequate immunization coverage globally is driving the surge in cases, according to the CDC.Measles is preventable with two doses of the measles vaccine; yet more than 22 million children missed their first dose of the measles vaccine in 2023. Globally, an estimated 83% of children received their first dose of measles vaccine last year, while only 74% received the recommended second dose.Coverage of 95% or greater of two doses of measles vaccine is needed in each country and community to prevent outbreaks and protect populations from one of the world's most contagious human viruses.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731697414720.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As of November 7, 2024, a total of 277 measles cases were reported by 32 jurisdictions: Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731697454790.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"Measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "To save even more lives and stop this deadly virus from harming the most vulnerable, we must invest in immunization for every person, no matter where they live.""The number of measles infections are rising around the globe, endangering lives and health," CDC Director Mandy Cohen said. "The measles vaccine is our best protection against the virus, and we must continue to invest in efforts to increase access."As a result of global gaps in vaccination coverage, 57 countries experienced large or disruptive measles outbreaks in 2023, affecting all regions except the Americas, and representing a nearly 60% increase from 36 countries in the previous year. The WHO African, Eastern Mediterranean, European, Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions experienced a substantial upsurge in cases. Nearly half of all large or disruptive outbreaks occurred in the African region.An unacceptable death toll due to rising measles casesThe new data show that an estimated 107,500 people, mostly children younger than 5 years of age, died due to measles in 2023. Although this is an 8% decrease from the previous year, far too many children are still dying from this preventable disease. This slight reduction in deaths was mainly because the surge in cases occurred in countries and regions where children with measles are less likely to die, due to better nutritional status and access to health services.Even when people survive measles, serious health effects can occur, some of which are lifelong. Infants and young children are at greatest risk of serious complications from the disease, which include blindness, pneumonia, and encephalitis (an infection causing brain swelling and potentially brain damage).As measles cases surge and outbreaks increase, the world's elimination goal, as laid out in Immunization Agenda 2030, is under threat. Worldwide, 82 countries had achieved or maintained measles elimination at the end of 2023. Just this week, Brazil was reverified as having eliminated measles, making the WHO Americas Region once again free of endemic measles. With the exception of the African Region, at least 1 country in all WHO regions has eliminated the disease.Urgent and targeted efforts by countries and partners, particularly in the African and Eastern Mediterranean regions, and in fragile, conflict-affected, and vulnerable settings, are needed to vaccinate all children fully with two doses of measles vaccine. This requires achieving and maintaining high-performing routine immunization programmes and delivering high-quality, high-coverage campaigns when those programmes are not yet sufficient to protect every child.Countries and global immunization partners must also strengthen disease surveillance, including the Global Measles Rubella Laboratory Network (GMRLN). Strong disease surveillance is critical to optimizing immunization programmes and detecting and responding rapidly to measles outbreaks in order to mitigate their size and impact.

Report: Measles cases surge worldwide due to inadequate immunization

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen announced the retirement of Department of Labor Commissioner John Albin. Albin has served the agency for 35 years in a variety of roles including general counsel, legislative liaison, and administrative law judge. He has been the commissioner since Jan. 2015, a role to which he was reappointed by Gov. Pillen. Albin’s retirement is effective Dec. 20.

“John’s length of service to the Department of Labor speaks volumes about his commitment to public service,” said Gov. Pillen. “Nebraska has been the benefit of his dedication, vision and leadership. I wish Commissioner Albin all the best as he embraces his retirement and future activities.”

Further determinations about interim leadership and the pending appointment of an agency director will be announced at a future date.

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen announced the retirement of Department of Labor Commissioner John Albin. Albin has served the agency for 35 years in a variety of roles including general counsel, legislative liaison, and administrative law judge. He has been the commissioner since Jan. 2015, a role to which he was reappointed by Gov. Pillen. Albin’s retirement is effective Dec. 20.“John’s length of service to the Department of Labor speaks volumes about his commitment to public service,” said Gov. Pillen. “Nebraska has been the benefit of his dedication, vision and leadership. I wish Commissioner Albin all the best as he embraces his retirement and future activities.”Further determinations about interim leadership and the pending appointment of an agency director will be announced at a future date.

Gov. Pillen Announces Retirement of Labor Commissioner John Albin

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking the public's assistance with&nbsp; obtaining identifying information regarding an unknown male who may have critical information&nbsp; pertaining to the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation.&nbsp; Photographs and an informational poster depicting the unknown individual, known only as John&nbsp; Doe 49, are being disseminated to the public and can be found online at the FBI website at https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/ecap/unknown-individual---john-doe-49.&nbsp;

Initial video of the unidentified male, John Doe 49, was first recorded by the National&nbsp; Center for Missing and Exploited Children and is believed to have been produced on or before&nbsp; July of 2024. There is no EXIF data em-bedded within the video file.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;John Doe 49 is described as a White male between 45 and 65 years old, bald, with a dark&nbsp; goatee. He has at least five visual tattoos: the word Dabby on the right side of his chest, 197&nbsp; followed by possible additional unknown text on his left bicep, and additional tattoos on his left&nbsp; and right forearms and right bicep.&nbsp;

Anyone with information to provide should submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov/ or call the FBI's toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). The public is reminded no&nbsp; charges have been filed in this case and the pictured individual is presumed innocent unless and&nbsp; until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;

This individual is being sought as part of the FBI's Operation Rescue Me and Endangered&nbsp; Child Alert Program (ECAP) initiatives. Operation Rescue Me focuses on utilizing clues&nbsp; obtained through in-depth image analysis to identify the child victims depicted in child&nbsp; exploitation material, while ECAP seeks national and international media exposure of unknown&nbsp; adults (referred to as John/Jane Does) who visibly display their faces and/or other distinguishing&nbsp; characteristics in association with child pornography images.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731686097583.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FBI Omaha OfficeThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking the public's assistance with&nbsp; obtaining identifying information regarding an unknown male who may have critical information&nbsp; pertaining to the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation.&nbsp; Photographs and an informational poster depicting the unknown individual, known only as John&nbsp; Doe 49, are being disseminated to the public and can be found online at the FBI website at https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/ecap/unknown-individual---john-doe-49.&nbsp;Initial video of the unidentified male, John Doe 49, was first recorded by the National&nbsp; Center for Missing and Exploited Children and is believed to have been produced on or before&nbsp; July of 2024. There is no EXIF data em-bedded within the video file.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;John Doe 49 is described as a White male between 45 and 65 years old, bald, with a dark&nbsp; goatee. He has at least five visual tattoos: the word Dabby on the right side of his chest, 197&nbsp; followed by possible additional unknown text on his left bicep, and additional tattoos on his left&nbsp; and right forearms and right bicep.&nbsp;Anyone with information to provide should submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov/ or call the FBI's toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). The public is reminded no&nbsp; charges have been filed in this case and the pictured individual is presumed innocent unless and&nbsp; until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;This individual is being sought as part of the FBI's Operation Rescue Me and Endangered&nbsp; Child Alert Program (ECAP) initiatives. Operation Rescue Me focuses on utilizing clues&nbsp; obtained through in-depth image analysis to identify the child victims depicted in child&nbsp; exploitation material, while ECAP seeks national and international media exposure of unknown&nbsp; adults (referred to as John/Jane Does) who visibly display their faces and/or other distinguishing&nbsp; characteristics in association with child pornography images.&nbsp;

FBI Seeking Individual Who May Have Information Regarding the Identity  of a Child Sexual Abuse Victim

YEMEN —U.S. forces executed a series of precise airstrikes on multiple Houthi weapons storage facilities situated within Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, Nov. 9-10, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

These facilities housed a variety of advanced conventional weapons used by the Iran-backed Houthis to target U.S. and international military and civilian vessels navigating international waters in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The operation involved U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy assets to include the F-35C.

This targeted operation was conducted in response to the Houthi’s repeated and unlawful attacks on international commercial shipping, as well as U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. It also aimed to degrade the Houthi’s ability to threaten regional partners.

Additionally, U.S. Navy destroyers USS Stockdale (DDG 106), USS Spruance (DDG 111), along with U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft successfully defeated a range of Houthi-launched weapons while transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. These forces successfully engaged and defeated eight one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWA UAS), five anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), and four anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), ensuring the safety of the ships and their personnel.

There were no injuries or damage to U.S. personnel or equipment. These actions reflect the ongoing commitment of CENTCOM forces to protect U.S. personnel, regional partners, and international shipping, while maintaining security and stability in the region.

YEMEN —U.S. forces executed a series of precise airstrikes on multiple Houthi weapons storage facilities situated within Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, Nov. 9-10, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">U.S. Central Command Strikes Houthi Facilities and Weapons Systems U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces executed a series of precise airstrikes on multiple Houthi weapons storage facilities situated within Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, Nov. 9-10. These facilities… <a href="https://t.co/nMkWTvegIr">pic.twitter.com/nMkWTvegIr</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1856780067231469739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>These facilities housed a variety of advanced conventional weapons used by the Iran-backed Houthis to target U.S. and international military and civilian vessels navigating international waters in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The operation involved U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy assets to include the F-35C.This targeted operation was conducted in response to the Houthi’s repeated and unlawful attacks on international commercial shipping, as well as U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. It also aimed to degrade the Houthi’s ability to threaten regional partners.Additionally, U.S. Navy destroyers USS Stockdale (DDG 106), USS Spruance (DDG 111), along with U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft successfully defeated a range of Houthi-launched weapons while transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. These forces successfully engaged and defeated eight one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWA UAS), five anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), and four anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), ensuring the safety of the ships and their personnel.There were no injuries or damage to U.S. personnel or equipment. These actions reflect the ongoing commitment of CENTCOM forces to protect U.S. personnel, regional partners, and international shipping, while maintaining security and stability in the region.

🎥 US military released video of strike on Iran-backed rebels

LINCOLN&nbsp;--&nbsp;Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has filed a lawsuit against Nebraska social media influencer Elizabeth “Liz” Friesen and a Florida company she worked with called WiFi Money, along with several other entities and individuals, regarding their collaboration and involvement in various “passive income” schemes. 

The schemes were highly misleading and led to millions in lost savings for Nebraska consumers. The lawsuit seeks to recover funds wrongfully taken from Nebraska consumers and put a stop to the defendants’ deceptive and unfair business practices.&nbsp;According to the lawsuit, the defendants enticed Nebraskans to purchase “automated” e-commerce stores that would be run by “dropshipping gurus” on Amazon and Walmart.com. 

Nebraskans were allegedly deceived with empty promises of getting “paid to live” and “money-back guarantees,” as well as misleading statements regarding the scheme’s track record of success. The so-called “gurus” that consumers paid to “manage” stores repeatedly violated Amazon’s and Walmart.com’s policies, leading to mass suspensions and deactivations of the consumers’ accounts. 

The consumers repeatedly experienced huge losses while the defendants pocketed the money and used it to finance their lavish lifestyles. The defendants continued to promote the scheme despite its many problems and track record of failure, and they continued to induce Nebraskans to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a scheme that had no chance at success.

Deceptive marketing and sales tactics were allegedly used to recruit consumers, including through Nebraska-based social media influencer Liz Friesen. The “influencers” named in the suit allegedly used the money they made off the scheme to fund their expensive lifestyles and promoted their lifestyles on social media to lure more consumers into their schemes. Instead of using Nebraskans’ savings to make good on their promises or provide refunds, the defendants splurged on multi-million-dollar mansions, Lamborghinis, Cadillac Escalades, a private jet, designer clothing, jewelry, luxury vacations around the world, and countless other extravagances. 

“This group of influencers manufactured lavish lifestyles on Instagram to lure consumers into a stream of ‘passive income’ schemes that were doomed to fail, then divvied up the money they took amongst themselves despite the schemes’ total failures,” explains Attorney General Mike Hilgers. “These highly deceptive ‘passive income’ schemes will not be tolerated in Nebraska under my watch. Our Office will fight hard to get Nebraskans’ hard-earned money back and hold bad actors to account.”&nbsp;

The lawsuit was filed in the District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska. The complaint alleges violations of the Consumer Protection Act and Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, among other laws.

The Attorney General is asking the Court to order the Defendants to fully refund consumers, stop their schemes and refrain from them in the future, reimburse the state for its legal fees, and pay civil penalties, among other relief.&nbsp;

For more information or to file a complaint related to this case, consumers can contact the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office at&nbsp;<a href="https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/">ProtectTheGoodLife.Nebraska.gov</a>.

Attorney General Mike HilgersLINCOLN&nbsp;--&nbsp;Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has filed a lawsuit against Nebraska social media influencer Elizabeth “Liz” Friesen and a Florida company she worked with called WiFi Money, along with several other entities and individuals, regarding their collaboration and involvement in various “passive income” schemes. The schemes were highly misleading and led to millions in lost savings for Nebraska consumers. The lawsuit seeks to recover funds wrongfully taken from Nebraska consumers and put a stop to the defendants’ deceptive and unfair business practices.&nbsp;According to the lawsuit, the defendants enticed Nebraskans to purchase “automated” e-commerce stores that would be run by “dropshipping gurus” on Amazon and Walmart.com. Nebraskans were allegedly deceived with empty promises of getting “paid to live” and “money-back guarantees,” as well as misleading statements regarding the scheme’s track record of success. The so-called “gurus” that consumers paid to “manage” stores repeatedly violated Amazon’s and Walmart.com’s policies, leading to mass suspensions and deactivations of the consumers’ accounts. The consumers repeatedly experienced huge losses while the defendants pocketed the money and used it to finance their lavish lifestyles. The defendants continued to promote the scheme despite its many problems and track record of failure, and they continued to induce Nebraskans to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a scheme that had no chance at success.Deceptive marketing and sales tactics were allegedly used to recruit consumers, including through Nebraska-based social media influencer Liz Friesen. The “influencers” named in the suit allegedly used the money they made off the scheme to fund their expensive lifestyles and promoted their lifestyles on social media to lure more consumers into their schemes. Instead of using Nebraskans’ savings to make good on their promises or provide refunds, the defendants splurged on multi-million-dollar mansions, Lamborghinis, Cadillac Escalades, a private jet, designer clothing, jewelry, luxury vacations around the world, and countless other extravagances. “This group of influencers manufactured lavish lifestyles on Instagram to lure consumers into a stream of ‘passive income’ schemes that were doomed to fail, then divvied up the money they took amongst themselves despite the schemes’ total failures,” explains Attorney General Mike Hilgers. “These highly deceptive ‘passive income’ schemes will not be tolerated in Nebraska under my watch. Our Office will fight hard to get Nebraskans’ hard-earned money back and hold bad actors to account.”&nbsp;The lawsuit was filed in the District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska. The complaint alleges violations of the Consumer Protection Act and Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, among other laws.The Attorney General is asking the Court to order the Defendants to fully refund consumers, stop their schemes and refrain from them in the future, reimburse the state for its legal fees, and pay civil penalties, among other relief.&nbsp;For more information or to file a complaint related to this case, consumers can contact the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office at&nbsp;<a href="https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/">ProtectTheGoodLife.Nebraska.gov</a>.

Nebraska Attorney General Hilgers Files Lawsuit against Social Media “Influencers” for Their Involvement in “E-Commerce Automation” and Dropshipping Store Schemes

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer Statement

&nbsp; WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) issued the statement below following the election of Senator&nbsp;John Thune (R-S.D.)&nbsp;as Senate Republican Leader:

“Last week, Americans voted overwhelmingly to make our country safer and more affordable. Working with President Trump, I’m confident that Leader-elect Thune will deliver on that mission for the American people. I also trust that he will honor the Senate, preserving vital precedents like the filibuster. I’m grateful to all of our leadership candidates, and I look forward to working with our new leadership team to build Nebraska and protect our nation.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer Statement&nbsp; WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) issued the statement below following the election of Senator&nbsp;John Thune (R-S.D.)&nbsp;as Senate Republican Leader:“Last week, Americans voted overwhelmingly to make our country safer and more affordable. Working with President Trump, I’m confident that Leader-elect Thune will deliver on that mission for the American people. I also trust that he will honor the Senate, preserving vital precedents like the filibuster. I’m grateful to all of our leadership candidates, and I look forward to working with our new leadership team to build Nebraska and protect our nation.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

   Fischer Statement on Senate Leadership Election

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>&nbsp;

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans on Wednesday elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune as that chamber’s next majority leader during a closed-door, secret ballot election.

When Thune takes over in January, it will mark the first time since 2007 that Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell hasn’t held the top GOP slot after choosing to retire from leadership.

Thune defeated Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Florida Sen. Rick Scott during the vote.

“I am extremely honored&nbsp;to have earned the support of my colleagues to lead the Senate in the 119th Congress, and I am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House,”&nbsp;Thune said in a written statement. “This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.”

Wyoming’s Sen. John Barrasso, who ran unopposed, will become the majority whip next Congress, holding the No. 2 slot in the Senate.

President-elect Donald Trump had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-pressures-three-senators-vying-be-us-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank">made demands</a>&nbsp;of the next Senate Republican leader ahead of the election, writing on social media that whoever is chosen should recess the chamber early next year so he can appoint whoever he wants without having to go through the confirmation process.

Cornyn, Scott and Thune all quickly got in line with social media posts of their own about what are called recess appointments.

Thune wrote: “We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s nominees in place as soon as possible, &amp; all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments. We cannot let Schumer and Senate Dems block the will of the American people.” Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, is the Senate majority leader.

Thune, 63, was elected to the Senate in 2004 after spending six years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He currently holds the title of Republican whip, but has done stints as Republican Conference vice chair, Republican Policy Committee chair, Republican Conference chair and chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Thune has given dozens of floor speeches and press conferences during his time in the Senate, but highlighted his support for bipartisanship in April 2021, applauding Democrats, who were in the majority, &nbsp;for working with the GOP on legislation.

“The Senate was designed to promote moderation and consensus. It was intended to be a check on the more partisan — or as the founders would put it, factious — House of Representatives,” Thune said during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/117/crec/2021/04/22/167/70/CREC-2021-04-22-senate.pdf" target="_blank">a floor speech</a>. “The Senate fulfills its constitutional role best when it engages in serious, bipartisan consideration and negotiation and ensures that members of both parties are heard.”

He then pressed lawmakers from both parties to adopt that framework to negotiate infrastructure legislation in the months ahead.

Thune will have to break from those beliefs a bit during the next two years as Republicans use what is expected to be unified control of government to move through as much conservative legislation as they can via the complex budget reconciliation process.

That legislative pathway will allow Republicans to get around the Senate’s 60-vote legislative filibuster, which typically forces bipartisanship on major legislation.

The GOP used the process to try to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, during the first Trump administration, but were unsuccessful. Republicans were able to use it to enact the 2017 tax law.

Democrats used budget reconciliation to approve a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package and their signature climate change, health care and tax package called the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, during the first two years of President Joe Biden’s term.

Thune expressed frustration during his April 2021 floor speech that Democrats had used the process to avoid negotiating with Republicans senators on those two laws.

“Our Founders established a democratic republic instead of a pure democracy because they wanted to balance majority rule with protection for minority rights. They knew that majorities could be tyrants, so they wove protection for minority rights into our system of government,” Thune said at the time. “The Senate was one of those protections. That is why we should be preserving rules like the filibuster, which ensures that the minority party and the many Americans it represents have a voice in legislation.”

U.S. House Republicans are expected to hold their leadership elections later Wednesday.

The House GOP was expected to nominate Louisiana’s Mike Johnson to return as speaker, though he’ll need to secure the votes needed on the floor in January to continue in that role.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota were both expected to stay in those roles next Congress.

Shauneen Miranda contributed to this report.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>&nbsp;WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans on Wednesday elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune as that chamber’s next majority leader during a closed-door, secret ballot election.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Newly elected <a href="https://twitter.com/SenateGOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenateGOP</a> Leader <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJohnThune?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenJohnThune</a>: &quot;We have the team assembled...I&#39;m excited to get to work with this team right away...I promise to be a leader who serves the entire Republican conference.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/H1Sf8vAIDI">pic.twitter.com/H1Sf8vAIDI</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1856770268821090648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>When Thune takes over in January, it will mark the first time since 2007 that Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell hasn’t held the top GOP slot after choosing to retire from leadership.Thune defeated Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Florida Sen. Rick Scott during the vote.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Honored to serve as the next U.S. Senate majority leader. <a href="https://t.co/zq9XLrPDUr">pic.twitter.com/zq9XLrPDUr</a>&mdash; Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJohnThune/status/1856748892550832530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I am extremely honored&nbsp;to have earned the support of my colleagues to lead the Senate in the 119th Congress, and I am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House,”&nbsp;Thune said in a written statement. “This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.”Wyoming’s Sen. John Barrasso, who ran unopposed, will become the majority whip next Congress, holding the No. 2 slot in the Senate.President-elect Donald Trump had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-pressures-three-senators-vying-be-us-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank">made demands</a>&nbsp;of the next Senate Republican leader ahead of the election, writing on social media that whoever is chosen should recess the chamber early next year so he can appoint whoever he wants without having to go through the confirmation process.Cornyn, Scott and Thune all quickly got in line with social media posts of their own about what are called recess appointments.Thune wrote: “We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s nominees in place as soon as possible, &amp; all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments. We cannot let Schumer and Senate Dems block the will of the American people.” Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, is the Senate majority leader.<h2>South Dakota veteran lawmaker</h2>Thune, 63, was elected to the Senate in 2004 after spending six years in the U.S. House of Representatives.He currently holds the title of Republican whip, but has done stints as Republican Conference vice chair, Republican Policy Committee chair, Republican Conference chair and chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.Thune has given dozens of floor speeches and press conferences during his time in the Senate, but highlighted his support for bipartisanship in April 2021, applauding Democrats, who were in the majority, &nbsp;for working with the GOP on legislation.“The Senate was designed to promote moderation and consensus. It was intended to be a check on the more partisan — or as the founders would put it, factious — House of Representatives,” Thune said during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/117/crec/2021/04/22/167/70/CREC-2021-04-22-senate.pdf" target="_blank">a floor speech</a>. “The Senate fulfills its constitutional role best when it engages in serious, bipartisan consideration and negotiation and ensures that members of both parties are heard.”He then pressed lawmakers from both parties to adopt that framework to negotiate infrastructure legislation in the months ahead.Thune will have to break from those beliefs a bit during the next two years as Republicans use what is expected to be unified control of government to move through as much conservative legislation as they can via the complex budget reconciliation process.That legislative pathway will allow Republicans to get around the Senate’s 60-vote legislative filibuster, which typically forces bipartisanship on major legislation.The GOP used the process to try to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, during the first Trump administration, but were unsuccessful. Republicans were able to use it to enact the 2017 tax law.Democrats used budget reconciliation to approve a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package and their signature climate change, health care and tax package called the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, during the first two years of President Joe Biden’s term.Thune expressed frustration during his April 2021 floor speech that Democrats had used the process to avoid negotiating with Republicans senators on those two laws.“Our Founders established a democratic republic instead of a pure democracy because they wanted to balance majority rule with protection for minority rights. They knew that majorities could be tyrants, so they wove protection for minority rights into our system of government,” Thune said at the time. “The Senate was one of those protections. That is why we should be preserving rules like the filibuster, which ensures that the minority party and the many Americans it represents have a voice in legislation.”U.S. House Republicans are expected to hold their leadership elections later Wednesday.The House GOP was expected to nominate Louisiana’s Mike Johnson to return as speaker, though he’ll need to secure the votes needed on the floor in January to continue in that role.Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota were both expected to stay in those roles next Congress.Shauneen Miranda contributed to this report.

South Dakota U.S. Sen. Thune elected as next majority leader for Republicans

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/12/education-commissioner-outlines-priorities-at-nebraska-legislative-briefing/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska’s commissioner of education has promised state legislators he would be a commissioner for all students as the state tackles key goals to improve literacy, halve chronic absenteeism and halve school staff shortages.

Commissioner Brian Maher, testifying Friday before the Legislature’s Education Committee, said the Nebraska Department of Education serves about 360,000 students in public, nonpublic and home school settings. The department, which Maher leads, also supports vocational rehabilitation and disability determination services for Nebraskans of all ages.

“I’m happy to report that the state of education in Nebraska is strong,” Maher testified. “I’m proud of the accomplishments of our schools, and there are few places, as good or better, to raise a kid than to raise that kid in Nebraska.”

Maher became Nebraska’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.education.ne.gov/commissioner/from-the-commissioner/" target="_blank">commissioner of education</a>&nbsp;on July 1, 2023, after being&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/31/nebraska-education-department-picks-a-new-commissioner-with-a-familiar-name-maher/">selected</a>&nbsp;by the State Board of Education to lead the state’s education department.

Friday’s legislative briefing came at the request of the Education Committee, chaired by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, through&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=57979" target="_blank">Legislative Resolution 496</a>. It sought a broad overview of the Education Department regularly impacted by new state laws and the state budget, but of which the Legislature has a different set of oversight compared to the State Board.

Murman and other senators said that they get a lot of questions from constituents about the department and that the briefing, which could be repeated in the future, helped answer some of those.

The main focus of Maher’s briefing focused on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Board-Legislative-Priorities_2025-27.pdf" target="_blank">three legislative priorities</a>&nbsp;that the State Board of Education seeks to achieve by 2030:

The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/22/nebraska-student-test-scores-appear-to-rebound-after-covid-19-pandemic/">K-12 state test results</a>&nbsp;for the previous school year won’t come out for a couple of weeks, Maher said, but he previewed that Nebraska has bounced back from academic dips after the COVID-19 pandemic but continues to see “pervasive gaps” for students with disabilities, English language learners and economically disadvantaged students.

The Education Department is continuing to address student literacy, and the State Board is set to adopt&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/04/ne-state-board-of-education-previews-literacy-and-firearms-policies/">updates</a>&nbsp;to the “<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/File_-Nebraska-Literacy-Project-Plan-and-Overview_9.26.24.pdf">Nebraska Literacy Project</a>” next month.&nbsp;

Those updates, which Maher previewed in October, include recent legislation to inform five tenets for professional development grounded in the “science of reading,” curriculum and teacher preparation that aligns with evidence-based instructional, regional literacy coaches statewide, robust&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/23/family-fights-for-continued-awareness-of-dyslexia-grateful-for-eight-years-of-nebraska-legislation/">data collection</a>&nbsp;and family literacy programs with pre-kindergarten education.

Nebraska recently received a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-education-department-awarded-55-million-federal-grant-to-improve-student-literacy/">$55 million federal grant</a>&nbsp;over the next five years to help improve literacy. In partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/2-million-aims-to-boost-reading-skills-of-nebraska-pre-schoolers-eliminate-book-deserts/">Nebraska first lady Suzanne Pillen</a>, almost 800,000 age-appropriate books have been distributed to children statewide, Maher testified.

He said the steps aren’t to train teachers, but for Nebraska to have more proficient readers.

“That’s something I’m hoping the whole state can get behind,” Maher testified. “We will be focused, and we will be relentless in accomplishing that goal.”

As the Education Department rolls out&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/09/lawmakers-narrow-advance-bill-on-computer-science-special-education-reading-and-more/">new standards for teaching literacy</a>&nbsp;— in part led by State Sens. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn and Lynne Walz of Fremont — Maher said pilot schools are leading the way and there are some incentives for schools and teachers who participate.

“Our way to roll this out is to work with the coalition of the willing,” Maher said.

Pilot schools include those needing the most support, such as Omaha, Lincoln, Scottsbluff, Crete, Alliance and Ralston.

Staffing shortages and chronic absenteeism

Legislative proposals continue to support teacher retention and recruitment with grants and stipends for earning new teaching endorsements in high-demand subject areas.

Many committee members said they were surprised to learn that of the department’s approximately 554 employees, 224 are designated statewide to support adult and other vocational learning to help Nebraskans with disabilities and prospective employers.

Maher said the Education Department has also implemented a return to work policy and is strategically reviewing each retirement, resignation or other recommendation for a new position.

This fall, Maher was one of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.attendanceworks.org/50-states-one-goal-cut-chronic-absenteeism-in-schools-by-50-percent-in-5-years/" target="_blank">14 education officials</a>&nbsp;nationally to join a national pledge to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.attendanceworks.org/states-participating-in-the-50-challenge/" target="_blank">halve chronic absenteeism</a>.

Walz asked Maher whether there have been conversations to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-education-chief-takes-pandemic-related-message-to-capitol-hill/">improve family involvement and parental support</a>&nbsp;to tackle chronic absenteeism.&nbsp;

Maher responded that as optimistic as he is on the literacy goal, he’s looking forward to exploring the building blocks to tackle chronic absenteeism next.

“I don’t have that firm vision yet,” Maher said. “I would say that the baby step is working across agencies.”

A pilot program in Ralston is bringing together representatives of law enforcement, the judicial system and others in the community for wraparound services to get children to school, though Maher said that was all he could say at this time.

Lawmakers praised Maher for saying he would be the commissioner for all students, not just public school students.

“If Nebraska is going to be as good as we can be, we all have to pull in the same direction,” said State Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul, a former State Board of Education member.

Maher told State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue that anyone with questions about the Education Department showing “favoritism” to public education can go to him. As an example, he said, he recently met with about 10 private school leaders and they discussed how to improve their third-grade reading proficiency, even though nonpublic school students don’t take the same test as public school students.

“We need all schools in our mission of learning, earning and living,” Maher said. “We’ll do our best to dispel what I would say is a myth that we have favorites.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731517601647.jpeg" alt="Brian Maher, Nebraska education commissioner, testifies before the Legislature’s Education Committee. July 31, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Brian Maher, Nebraska education commissioner, testifies before the Legislature’s Education Committee. July 31, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/12/education-commissioner-outlines-priorities-at-nebraska-legislative-briefing/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska’s commissioner of education has promised state legislators he would be a commissioner for all students as the state tackles key goals to improve literacy, halve chronic absenteeism and halve school staff shortages.Commissioner Brian Maher, testifying Friday before the Legislature’s Education Committee, said the Nebraska Department of Education serves about 360,000 students in public, nonpublic and home school settings. The department, which Maher leads, also supports vocational rehabilitation and disability determination services for Nebraskans of all ages.“I’m happy to report that the state of education in Nebraska is strong,” Maher testified. “I’m proud of the accomplishments of our schools, and there are few places, as good or better, to raise a kid than to raise that kid in Nebraska.”Maher became Nebraska’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.education.ne.gov/commissioner/from-the-commissioner/" target="_blank">commissioner of education</a>&nbsp;on July 1, 2023, after being&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/31/nebraska-education-department-picks-a-new-commissioner-with-a-familiar-name-maher/">selected</a>&nbsp;by the State Board of Education to lead the state’s education department.Friday’s legislative briefing came at the request of the Education Committee, chaired by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, through&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=57979" target="_blank">Legislative Resolution 496</a>. It sought a broad overview of the Education Department regularly impacted by new state laws and the state budget, but of which the Legislature has a different set of oversight compared to the State Board.Murman and other senators said that they get a lot of questions from constituents about the department and that the briefing, which could be repeated in the future, helped answer some of those.<h2>Student literacy</h2>The main focus of Maher’s briefing focused on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Board-Legislative-Priorities_2025-27.pdf" target="_blank">three legislative priorities</a>&nbsp;that the State Board of Education seeks to achieve by 2030:<ul>
 <li>Improve third-grade reading proficiency on state tests to 75%.</li><li>Halve the number of school staffing vacancies.</li><li>Halve&nbsp;<a href="https://www.education.ne.gov/csds/chronic-absenteeism/" target="_blank">chronic absenteeism</a>.</li>
 </ul>The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/22/nebraska-student-test-scores-appear-to-rebound-after-covid-19-pandemic/">K-12 state test results</a>&nbsp;for the previous school year won’t come out for a couple of weeks, Maher said, but he previewed that Nebraska has bounced back from academic dips after the COVID-19 pandemic but continues to see “pervasive gaps” for students with disabilities, English language learners and economically disadvantaged students.The Education Department is continuing to address student literacy, and the State Board is set to adopt&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/04/ne-state-board-of-education-previews-literacy-and-firearms-policies/">updates</a>&nbsp;to the “<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/File_-Nebraska-Literacy-Project-Plan-and-Overview_9.26.24.pdf">Nebraska Literacy Project</a>” next month.&nbsp;Those updates, which Maher previewed in October, include recent legislation to inform five tenets for professional development grounded in the “science of reading,” curriculum and teacher preparation that aligns with evidence-based instructional, regional literacy coaches statewide, robust&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/23/family-fights-for-continued-awareness-of-dyslexia-grateful-for-eight-years-of-nebraska-legislation/">data collection</a>&nbsp;and family literacy programs with pre-kindergarten education.Nebraska recently received a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-education-department-awarded-55-million-federal-grant-to-improve-student-literacy/">$55 million federal grant</a>&nbsp;over the next five years to help improve literacy. In partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/2-million-aims-to-boost-reading-skills-of-nebraska-pre-schoolers-eliminate-book-deserts/">Nebraska first lady Suzanne Pillen</a>, almost 800,000 age-appropriate books have been distributed to children statewide, Maher testified.He said the steps aren’t to train teachers, but for Nebraska to have more proficient readers.“That’s something I’m hoping the whole state can get behind,” Maher testified. “We will be focused, and we will be relentless in accomplishing that goal.”As the Education Department rolls out&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/09/lawmakers-narrow-advance-bill-on-computer-science-special-education-reading-and-more/">new standards for teaching literacy</a>&nbsp;— in part led by State Sens. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn and Lynne Walz of Fremont — Maher said pilot schools are leading the way and there are some incentives for schools and teachers who participate.“Our way to roll this out is to work with the coalition of the willing,” Maher said.Pilot schools include those needing the most support, such as Omaha, Lincoln, Scottsbluff, Crete, Alliance and Ralston.<h2>Staffing shortages and chronic absenteeism</h2>Legislative proposals continue to support teacher retention and recruitment with grants and stipends for earning new teaching endorsements in high-demand subject areas.Many committee members said they were surprised to learn that of the department’s approximately 554 employees, 224 are designated statewide to support adult and other vocational learning to help Nebraskans with disabilities and prospective employers.Maher said the Education Department has also implemented a return to work policy and is strategically reviewing each retirement, resignation or other recommendation for a new position.This fall, Maher was one of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.attendanceworks.org/50-states-one-goal-cut-chronic-absenteeism-in-schools-by-50-percent-in-5-years/" target="_blank">14 education officials</a>&nbsp;nationally to join a national pledge to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.attendanceworks.org/states-participating-in-the-50-challenge/" target="_blank">halve chronic absenteeism</a>.Walz asked Maher whether there have been conversations to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-education-chief-takes-pandemic-related-message-to-capitol-hill/">improve family involvement and parental support</a>&nbsp;to tackle chronic absenteeism.&nbsp;Maher responded that as optimistic as he is on the literacy goal, he’s looking forward to exploring the building blocks to tackle chronic absenteeism next.“I don’t have that firm vision yet,” Maher said. “I would say that the baby step is working across agencies.”A pilot program in Ralston is bringing together representatives of law enforcement, the judicial system and others in the community for wraparound services to get children to school, though Maher said that was all he could say at this time.<h2>Support for all Nebraska students</h2>Lawmakers praised Maher for saying he would be the commissioner for all students, not just public school students.“If Nebraska is going to be as good as we can be, we all have to pull in the same direction,” said State Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul, a former State Board of Education member.Maher told State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue that anyone with questions about the Education Department showing “favoritism” to public education can go to him. As an example, he said, he recently met with about 10 private school leaders and they discussed how to improve their third-grade reading proficiency, even though nonpublic school students don’t take the same test as public school students.“We need all schools in our mission of learning, earning and living,” Maher said. “We’ll do our best to dispel what I would say is a myth that we have favorites.”

Education commissioner outlines priorities at Nebraska legislative briefing

DAMASCUS—For the second straight day, U.S. forces conducted strikes against Iranian backed militia groups, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

These strikes targeted&nbsp; weapons storage and logistics headquarters facility.&nbsp; The strikes were in response to a rocked attack on U.S. personnel at&nbsp; Patrol Base Shaddadi, according to the command.

There was no damage to U.S. facilities and no injuries to U.S. or parter forces during the attack.

These strikes will degrade the Iranian backed groups’ ability to plan and launch future attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces who are in the region to conduct D-ISIS operations.

"We have made it clear that attacks on U.S. personnel, partner forces and facilities will not be tolerated and that we retain the right to defend ourselves, " said General Michael Erik Kurilla, Centcom Commander.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731463064461.png" alt="Image from U.S. Central Command video" />
 <figcaption>Image from U.S. Central Command video</figcaption>
 </figure>DAMASCUS—For the second straight day, U.S. forces conducted strikes against Iranian backed militia groups, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.These strikes targeted&nbsp; weapons storage and logistics headquarters facility.&nbsp; The strikes were in response to a rocked attack on U.S. personnel at&nbsp; Patrol Base Shaddadi, according to the command.There was no damage to U.S. facilities and no injuries to U.S. or parter forces during the attack.These strikes will degrade the Iranian backed groups’ ability to plan and launch future attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces who are in the region to conduct D-ISIS operations."We have made it clear that attacks on U.S. personnel, partner forces and facilities will not be tolerated and that we retain the right to defend ourselves, " said General Michael Erik Kurilla, Centcom Commander.

U.S. Forces strike more Iranian-backed targets in Syria 

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nu-officially-expands-full-ride-scholarships-to-nebraska-students-who-score-32-35-on-act/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;The University of Nebraska is officially expanding its newest full-ride scholarship to include up to 50 Nebraska students who ace or perform the highest results on the ACT or SAT college admissions tests.

NU welcomed 17 freshmen across its campuses as inaugural “Presidential Scholars,” for scoring a perfect 36 on the ACT or the equivalent on the SAT this fall. Students who ace the ACT will continue to automatically qualify for the program, with the remaining spots among the 50 scholarships will be&nbsp; open to students who score 32-35 on the ACT, or similarly on the SAT.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraska.edu/presidential-scholars" target="_blank">Presidential Scholars Program</a>&nbsp;covers the full cost of attendance for NU undergraduates from Nebraska, including tuition and fees, housing and food, and personal expenses for up to four years of study. Students also receive a $5,000 stipend each year.

Eligible Nebraska students can apply for the program immediately. More information is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://nebraska.edu/presidential-scholars" target="_blank">nebraska.edu/presidential-scholars</a>.

“Our state’s future will be bright when our most driven and passionate young people attend college here in Nebraska,” President Jeffrey Gold said in a statement. “This is an investment in our state that underscores two deeply ingrained Nebraska values: hard work and excellence at the highest level.”

NU officials joined Gov. Jim Pillen to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/05/nu-unveils-full-cost-of-attendance-scholarship-stipend-for-perfect-act-performance/">announce the program in February</a>, which began with a $5 million endowment. It came in part to seek to keep&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/more-of-nebraskas-top-test-scorers-choose-nu-for-new-presidential-scholars-program/">high-performing students</a>&nbsp;from leaving the state.&nbsp;

The NU Board of Regents&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/01/nebraska-regents-to-consider-multimillion-dollar-health-project-programs-for-ai-and-esports/">requested a $3 million addition</a>&nbsp;to NU’s state-aided budget from the Nebraska Legislature for the next two years to expand the program.&nbsp;

The state’s budget will be debated in the spring before going to Pillen for approval.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731428842831.jpeg" alt="University of Nebraska regents, chancellors and then-interim NU President Chris Kabourek join with state senators and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen following the announcement of a new scholarship for top-performing Nebraska students. Feb. 5, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>University of Nebraska regents, chancellors and then-interim NU President Chris Kabourek join with state senators and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen following the announcement of a new scholarship for top-performing Nebraska students. Feb. 5, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nu-officially-expands-full-ride-scholarships-to-nebraska-students-who-score-32-35-on-act/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;The University of Nebraska is officially expanding its newest full-ride scholarship to include up to 50 Nebraska students who ace or perform the highest results on the ACT or SAT college admissions tests.NU welcomed 17 freshmen across its campuses as inaugural “Presidential Scholars,” for scoring a perfect 36 on the ACT or the equivalent on the SAT this fall. Students who ace the ACT will continue to automatically qualify for the program, with the remaining spots among the 50 scholarships will be&nbsp; open to students who score 32-35 on the ACT, or similarly on the SAT.The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraska.edu/presidential-scholars" target="_blank">Presidential Scholars Program</a>&nbsp;covers the full cost of attendance for NU undergraduates from Nebraska, including tuition and fees, housing and food, and personal expenses for up to four years of study. Students also receive a $5,000 stipend each year.Eligible Nebraska students can apply for the program immediately. More information is available at&nbsp;<a href="http://nebraska.edu/presidential-scholars" target="_blank">nebraska.edu/presidential-scholars</a>.“Our state’s future will be bright when our most driven and passionate young people attend college here in Nebraska,” President Jeffrey Gold said in a statement. “This is an investment in our state that underscores two deeply ingrained Nebraska values: hard work and excellence at the highest level.”NU officials joined Gov. Jim Pillen to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/05/nu-unveils-full-cost-of-attendance-scholarship-stipend-for-perfect-act-performance/">announce the program in February</a>, which began with a $5 million endowment. It came in part to seek to keep&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/more-of-nebraskas-top-test-scorers-choose-nu-for-new-presidential-scholars-program/">high-performing students</a>&nbsp;from leaving the state.&nbsp;The NU Board of Regents&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/01/nebraska-regents-to-consider-multimillion-dollar-health-project-programs-for-ai-and-esports/">requested a $3 million addition</a>&nbsp;to NU’s state-aided budget from the Nebraska Legislature for the next two years to expand the program.&nbsp;The state’s budget will be debated in the spring before going to Pillen for approval.“It is essential we compete to keep our kids here. The Presidential Scholarship Program provides that pathway,” Pillen said in a statement. “When our brightest make the commitment to attend an institution of higher learning in Nebraska, then it is more likely they will stay.”