McCook Daily Gazette: Columns: Gov. Dave Heineman

The value of agriculture (03/15/10)
In recognition of the agriculture industry's contributions to our state, I am declaring March 14 to 20 as Nebraska Ag Week. A strong rural background is the foundation of our state and a rich mix of natural resources helped establish Nebraska as a strong agricultural state...

Report from Governor's Ag Conference (03/08/10)
At the 22nd Annual Governor's Ag Conference, several presenters from Nebraska and other states offered insight about the future of the agriculture. Speakers included Darci Vetter, a native Nebraskan who serves as a Deputy Undersecretary with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Her comments provided an update on federal efforts to expand trade opportunities in 2010 by focusing on three free trade agreements ready for approval by President Obama and Congress...

The value of Nebraska's state colleges (03/01/10)
This week, I'd like to highlight the work of our Nebraska State College System. These colleges offer a great value in higher education. The system consists of three colleges located in Chadron, Peru and Wayne. The Nebraska State College System began in 1861, the same year as Nebraska was admitted to the Union, as a resource to prepare teachers for their careers in the classroom. ...

Get to know the Nebraska Department of Roads (02/22/10)
This week, I'd like to share information with you about the Nebraska Department of Roads and what the department does for you and our state. The Department of Roads provides a valuable service to citizens and thousands of travelers each day in Nebraska...

E-file your taxes (02/12/10)
By now, you should have received your 2009 tax information. I want to encourage Nebraskans to file their individual income taxes electronically this year. Electronic filing, better known as e-filing, is convenient and secure. This option provides a speedy refund, reduces the risk of errors and offers confirmation that your return has been filed and received...

Be a part of Governor's Ag Conference (02/08/10)
Be Part of Governor's Ag Conference By Governor Dave Heineman February 5, 2010 Dear Fellow Nebraskans: I want to share a preview of what you can expect at the 2010 Governor's Ag Conference. The 22nd annual conference will be held March 3- 4 in Kearney. The theme of the event is "Nebraska Agriculture: Your Industry. Your Story. Your Future."...

Nebraska's Gold Star families (02/01/10)
Dear Fellow Nebraskans: Recently I had the honor of presenting the first Gold Star Family license plates to two families that lost sons while serving in Iraq. These Gold Star parents were instrumental in creating a license plate to remember Nebraska's fallen heroes...

A vision for strengthening education (01/25/10)
Nebraska was among 40 states to recently submit an application to the U.S. Department of Education for a portion of the federal Race to the Top funding available to help states advance academic learning. Nebraska's proposal was developed by my office along with Commissioner of Education, Dr. ...

Three priorities for 2010 (01/20/10)
As we enter a new decade, we have the opportunity to reflect on accomplishments made in the last few years and take our first steps toward new endeavors. In my State of the State address, I said that we have worked hard these past few years to position Nebraska as an attractive place to live and do business...

Get to know the division of public health (01/11/10)
One of the key responsibilities of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is to help ensure our state's nearly 1.8 million people are safe and healthy. This is the mission of the Division of Public Health. The efforts of public health experts over the last century have added 30 years to the life of Nebraskans. In 1900, the average age at death was 48. Today the average life expectancy has reached 78...

Get to know the Division of Veterans Homes (12/24/09)
Providing quality care and services for Nebraska's veterans is the top priority of the Division of Veterans Homes. Nebraska operates four homes in communities across the state providing a comfortable place for many of our national heroes to call home...

Online services (12/18/09)
Providing services that help residents and businesses access the services they need is a central part of Nebraska's digital online strategy. The state website, Nebraska.gov, provides a vast array of information and online services, which offer added convenience for users and help state agencies work more efficiently...

VINE marks 10 years in Nebraska (12/14/09)
Ten years ago this week, a new service launched in Nebraska aimed at providing peace of mind for the victims of violent crime. Launched in 1999, VINE, which stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday, alerts Nebraskans to changes in an offender's custody status 24 hours a day, via telephone or email...

209 leaders in parental involvement (12/04/09)
Recently the Nebraska Association of School Board and I honored four school districts with the 2009 Governor's Education Initiative Award for Parental Involvement. The Cozad, Kearney, Millard, and Sutherland Public School Districts were recognized for efforts to engage parents in daily school activities and their child's education...

Appreciating the bounty of Nebraska agriculture (11/25/09)
As Nebraskans across the state are gathering with family and friends around the dinner table this week, it is important to remember our agricultural producers that helped provide the food that are a special part of our holidays and meals around the year...

November is Adoption Month (11/13/09)
Dear Fellow Nebraskans: It is very important that our children are safe and in homes that provide support and love. It's a privilege and an honor to recognize the caring families who are choosing to adopt children who are state wards. All children deserve to grow up in a loving and stable family, and National Adoption Month is a great opportunity to personally thank all of the wonderful foster and adoptive parents in our state who have made a difference in a child's life...

209 leaders in Workplace Wellness (11/09/09)
Recently, I had the pleasure of recognizing several Nebraska employers for their efforts to promote wellness at work. Last year, we developed an award to highlight successful workplace wellness programs and 27 organizations were honored this year as Governor's Excellence in Wellness Award winners...

Get to know the Division of Children and Family Services (11/02/09)
This week I want to highlight the work of the staff at the Division of Children and Family Services, which is the largest of the six divisions making up the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The primary responsibility of the approximately 2,100 employees within the division is to ensure that Nebraska children and families are safe. ...

A unique story of business recruitment (10/26/09)
I recently toured the progress of a new project taking place in Beaver City, where a company still fairly new to Nebraska is finishing a new facility and its second expansion project in our state in the last four years. While this is one of several new developments in Nebraska communities this year, this particular project is inspiring because it is an example of how personal connections can sometimes make the difference in attracting new business development to our state...

A new century begins at UNO (10/19/09)
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) this year marked 100 years of academic excellence in our largest city. As UNO completes a year-long centennial celebration honoring its past, the campus continues to build and plan for the future. The largest of several projects currently underway include the creation of a new $30 million College of Business Administration building on the old Aksarben racetrack property. ...

Get to know the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (10/13/09)
The mission of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services is to serve and protect the public by providing humane care and program opportunities to the 5,300 inmates and parolees placed in its custody. The department's chief responsibility is to protect Nebraska citizens. ...

Activation of new statewide radio network begins (10/02/09)
Recently, I had the privilege of activating the first segment of Nebraska's new statewide radio network during an event held at Scotts Bluff National Monument. The network uses radio towers and upgraded communications equipment at the Nebraska State Patrol's Troop E dispatch center, along with radios installed in first responder vehicles to provide an enhanced radio network for the state's public safety officials in the Nebraska Panhandle...

The Nebraska Diplomats (09/28/09)
I want to highlight an organization that plays an important role in our business recruitment efforts here in Nebraska. The Nebraska Diplomats is the largest economic development organization in Nebraska with more than 375 business and community leaders from across the state...

UNL Contributes to Education and Business Development (09/21/09)
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is focused on serving two key goals: keeping young people in our state and growing Nebraska's economy. As one of the nation's top 50 public universities, UNL provides great educational opportunities for young Nebraskans. The array of 150 undergraduate majors and 275 programs of study offered at UNL provide an astonishing list of educational opportunities...

Preparing your family for H1N1 this fall (09/14/09)
A new kind of influenza is circulating in Nebraska. It's called the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1). Public health officials, like our state's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joann Schaefer, expect there to be more cases nationally and within Nebraska. With the beginning of school and kids congregating together, cases are on the rise...

Innovation in Nebraska agriculture (09/03/09)
Nebraska has a strong history as one of our nation's leading agricultural producing states. Nebraska agriculture plays an important role in the research that fosters ag innovation and is making our state a premiere place for new developments in bioscience and conservation...

Nebraska State Fair celebrates a milestone (08/21/09)
Final preparations are underway for the 2009 Nebraska State Fair, which starts Friday, Aug. 28 and runs through the Labor Day holiday in Lincoln. This year's State Fair represents a turning point for an institution that predates Nebraska's statehood. The 2009 State Fair will be memorable as the last to be held in our capital city...

Gov. Dave Heineman
Gov. Dave Heineman