Briefs
Nebraska economic development leaders open an office in South Omaha
OMAHA — Nudged by South Omaha leaders and an avalanche of public dollars that appear to be headed to that area, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development has opened up a satellite office in South Omaha. The state’s economic development director, Anthony Goins, said he had been considering adding a “strategic South Omaha presence” even […]
Victims of $55 million fraud urged to contact federal officials after Florida man pleads guilty
A Florida man pleaded guilty Friday for his part in an investment fraud scheme that defrauded more than 10,000 victims nationwide of over $55 million. Some of those victims may be from Nebraska, and federal officials are asking potential victims to contact them. Michael Glaspie, 72, of Palm City, Florida, faces up to 20 years […]
U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh visits Lincoln job training center
LINCOLN — U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh was in Lincoln on Thursday visiting a workforce development program that was recently awarded a $2.1 million federal grant from the City of Lincoln. The nonprofit Rabble Mill earlier this year was selected by Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird’s administration to receive funding from the federal American Rescue Plan […]
Senator makes pitch to start taxing e-cigarettes as a way to reduce teen usage
LINCOLN — With usage of e-cigarettes “exploding” among teens, it’s time for Nebraska to begin imposing a state excise tax on vaping products, a state senator told a legislative committee Wednesday. “It’s super addictive,” said State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, who called it “hooey” that vaping was safer than smoking cigarettes. “These are addictive […]
Bill would require public vote before school districts could use ‘work around’ to finance new schools
LINCOLN — Voters would have to approve agreements to finance new schools via little-used interlocal agreements under a legislative bill given first-round approval Wednesday. State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said Legislative Bill 299 would close a “loophole” in state law that allows financing of new school construction without a public vote. “If you’re […]
Nebraska committee considers harmonizing hemp regulation
LINCOLN — A legislative committee Tuesday considered proposals to harmonize Nebraska’s hemp regulation with federal standards and terminate the Nebraska Hemp Commission. Legislative Bill 263, introduced by the Agriculture Committee at the request of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, would amend the Nebraska Hemp Farming Act to align with the federal 2018 Farm Bill in […]
Former Dodge County attorney sentenced to prison for harassment of estranged wife’s boyfriend
LINCOLN — The former Dodge County attorney has been sentenced to nine months in prison for using his elected position to carry out a personal vendetta. Oliver Glass, 47, who had served as county attorney for 10 years until his resignation in 2021, was sentenced Friday in federal court for conspiracy to commit deprivation of […]
Willa Cather’s 150 years to be celebrated throughout 2023
LINCOLN — Acclaimed Nebraska novelist Willa Cather, who would have marked her 150th birthday in 2023, will be celebrated throughout the year with a series of events. The National Willa Cather Center will host events locally and nationally for Cather’s 150th birthday and also the 100th anniversaries of her Pulitzer Prize for “One of Ours” and […]
Center for Rural Affairs honors handful of Nebraska advocates
LINCOLN — The Center for Rural Affairs is honoring a handful of Nebraskans for their work in advocating for rural affairs. The center, based in Lyons, Nebraska, announced it is giving awards to four Nebraskans in its 50th year, with additional honorees from Kansas and South Dakota. The private nonprofit’s mission is to strengthen small […]
Federal government to send medical experts to site of Ohio train derailment
WASHINGTON — The federal government is sending medical personnel and toxicologists to conduct public health testing following the derailment of a train carrying hazardous materials that released into a small town near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. A team from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be […]
Biden’s annual physical shows he is ‘a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male’
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden received a mostly positive review of his health from doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Thursday after undergoing his annual physical. The official evaluation of Biden’s health comes as the former vice president and longtime U.S. senator from Delaware weighs whether to run for reelection in 2024. […]
Nebraska joins other states to fight new WOTUS rule
LINCOLN — Nebraska on Thursday joined 24 other states in a lawsuit against the Biden administration’s new rule defining so-called Waters of the United States, or WOTUS. The multi-state coalition said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers rushed to publish the new rule, even though the Supreme Court is expected to […]