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Column: Renewable energy and Nebraska's unique public power system (3/15/24)State Sen. Tom Brewer | District 43One of the bills that I will bring to the floor this session concerns public power and private renewable energy generators. LB 399 has been prioritized by Senator Bostelman. This bill is about how privately-owned intermittent generators of “renewable” energy fit into our unique public power system we have in Nebraska. ...
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Letter to the Editor: Practical tips to protect your sobriety on St. Patrick’s Day (3/15/24)Achieving sobriety is a unique process for everyone involved. There are obstacles along the way, ups and downs, and most work hard to protect their sobriety. This does not mean avoiding all social engagement but rather planning and knowing personal limitations...
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Editorial: Protect our community: Vaccinate for measles (3/15/24)In recent years, the United States has witnessed a concerning resurgence in measles cases, with 45 reported cases across 16 states and New York City as of last week alone. While Nebraska has thus far avoided this troubling trend, it is imperative that we remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding our communities against this highly contagious and potentially life-threatening disease...
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Column: Taxation with representation (3/15/24)In our revolution of 1776, we fought a war that overturned an oppressive, rigid, and inescapable class structure that had enslaved us all for millennia. Our newer, more egalitarian design for government inspired others and spread like an infection throughout much of the Western world...
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Column: Setting the vibe in our community (3/14/24)My closet at home is overflowing with T-shirts, filling totes, lining shelves and hanging from racks. There are shirts from 5K road races and sprint triathlons we have done the past few decades. Shirts from the bands we have seen at concerts in our own town and those we have traveled hours to watch. And shirts from just a few of the cities and states we have visited over the years...
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Editorial: Better Internet access comes with hazards of its own (3/13/24)The expansion of Internet access in rural areas of Nebraska is undoubtedly a positive step forward, bringing opportunities for connectivity, education, and economic growth. However, as recent data reveals, it also brings forth a concerning rise in fraudulent activities. While we celebrate progress, we must be vigilant about safeguarding against the dangers that accompany it...
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Column: Biden's speech, a missed opportunity and theater triumph (3/12/24)3Your old columnist apologizes for being a news junkie but feels the need to comment. Yes Grannie Annie and I leaned back in our easy chairs to listen to our President Joe Biden (D) deliver his annual State of the Union Address. It was a good idea for the Republican Majority Leader, Mike Johnson, to caution his people to not be disruptive because they had lots of chances to object. ...
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Column: Tech underlines the value of local service (3/8/24)It is often said that “What goes around comes around.” We hear that phrase uttered regarding fads and fashion, but a changing technological landscape can occasionally drive the repetition of more practical matters–sometimes in unexpected ways. Recently, I’ve found myself being pulled back in the direction of local, personalized customer service. ...
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Column: Pearls of wisdom from the past apply today (3/7/24)Pearls of wisdom from the past apply today Wisdom - The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The word, wisdom, can be a little intimidating. If you are interested in finding meaning and purpose in your life, then you may be interested in gaining wisdom. If you are interested in bringing joy to a your life, then you may be want to learn how to live wisely...
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Letter to the Editor: Let's elect presidents for six-year terms (3/5/24)3Dear Editor, When America’s Constitution was written, Presidents swore their Oath of Office of March 4th after an election year. That ended when President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressured Congress to pass a Constitutional Amendment moving it up to January 20th. Hence, FDR’s first inauguration was March 4, 1933; but his second inauguration was on January 20, 1937. It still remains January 20th...
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Column: From Plain Jane to high tech: Nostalgia vs. modern conveniences in automobiles (3/5/24)2I was visiting with a friend lately that has recently purchased a new vehicle. He was complaining about all the new “conveniences” that came with his new pickup. For instance, it steered to the center of the lane that he chose to drive in but squawked or chimed when he got too close to a line on the pavement. ...
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Editorial: Don't become a victim of the lates online scams (3/4/24)Attorney General Mike Hilgers’ call for vigilance during National Consumer Protection Week couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. The prevalence of online fraud, particularly in the form of identity theft, financial scams, and cyber threats, underscores the importance of safeguarding personal information and accounts. ...
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Editorial: Happy 157th birthday to Nebraska (3/1/24)Nebraska’s “honestly, it’s not for everyone” drew the nationwide attention it was designed for in 2019, but the reverse-psychology, self-deprecation had a predictably short shelf-life, becoming a thing of the past last month, despite possessing a modicum of truth...
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Letter to the Editor: Disability services seriously underfunded in Nebraska (3/1/24)Dear Editor, Nebraska has chronically underfunded our Disability Services for so long that we are now dangerously understaffing services and support for these vulnerable individuals. The recent economic study conducted by Ernie Goss (Fueling Prosperity: The Positive Economic Ripple Effects of Increasing Wages for Nebraska’s Direct Care Workforce) underscores the significant positive impact that such investments can have on both individuals with disabilities and the broader economy...
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Column: Narcissism, gaslighting, and the general election (3/1/24)As I consume my balanced news diet, I hear much concern from the left about Trump’s narcissistic tendencies and fear that he will become a dictator. The more thoughtful pundits I encounter are less concerned about his hyperbolic “dictator for a day” comments than his willingness to challenge vote certification and his wait-and-see attitude toward the January 6 Capitol incursion. ...
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Column: Choosing words to have an impact on our community (2/29/24)Talk to any small child and they probably have a lot of favorites: their favorite color, their favorite number, their favorite dinosaur, their favorite chicken nugget shape. As we grow up, those favorites just seem to slip away. I’d be hard pressed to name a dinosaur much less my favorite kind...
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Letter to the Editor: Disability services seriously underfunded in Nebraska (2/28/24)Dear Editor, Nebraska has chronically underfunded our Disability Services for so long that we are now dangerously understaffing services and supports for these vulnerable individuals. The recent economic study conducted by Ernie Goss (Fueling Prosperity: The Positive Economic Ripple Effects of Increasing Wages for Nebraska’s Direct Care Workforce) underscores the significant positive impact that such investments can have on both individuals with disabilities and the broader economy...
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Letter to the Editor: If you see something, say something (2/27/24)If you saw a co-worker doing something blatantly unsafe, would you say something or not? It’s a question that’s getting a lot of attention in the law enforcement world and the issue is an important one to consider when working in most other vocations, also...
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Column: Taxes, inflation and support for veterans (2/27/24)You may have noticed that our City Council followed the advice of a hired consulting firm and elected to raise water and wastewater fees starting shortly. Gripe and complain might be the response of we taxpayers. Still, let’s think about it a little...
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Letter to the Editor: Senator responds to recent Capitol View column (2/23/24)Dear Editor, A recent [column] in this publication showed no understanding of the constraints on city governments regarding rundown properties, citing LB 45. While it would be most desirable for all property owners to keep their properties in peak condition, that is not the reality; thus, communities across the state are left with buildings that continue to deteriorate...
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Editorial: State property taxes are a matter of perspective (2/23/24)Gov. Jim Pillen has staked much of his first-term reputation on an effort to reduce property taxes. While it’s important to scrutinize tax policies, especially when they impact residents directly, a deeper examination reveals that the situation might not be as dire as portrayed...
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Column: Exploring the hands-free experience (2/23/24)It was bound to happen sooner or later. I have finally joined the ranks of those using the Alexa Echo Dot smart speaker. I’m glad that I have made the transition. They have been around since 2014, and I have given them as gifts, but this is my first...
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Column: Adults can change youth's view of a community (2/22/24)Becca KoenigMy time at McCook High School is nearing an end, which also means my membership on McCook Community Foundation Fund’s Youth Change Reaction group will also come to a close. And to sum up my experience over the past few years, YCR has played a huge role in my personal growth and appreciation for our little community...
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Editorial: LB907 addresses serious health threat of obesity (2/20/24)State Sen. Merv Riepe’s proposal, Legislative Bill 907, aiming to extend Medicaid coverage to include obesity treatment, is a commendable and much-needed initiative. The prevalence of obesity is not merely a matter of personal lifestyle choices but a complex health issue with profound implications for individuals and society as a whole. LB 907 represents a proactive step toward tackling the root causes of obesity and its associated comorbidities...
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Letter to the Editor: LB1109: Want-to-be-mothers and fatal fetal anomalies (2/20/24)State Sen. Merv RiepeThere exists a group of women who desire to carry their pregnancies to term but discover a non-viable fetus, a Fatal Fetal Anomaly, often not until the midpoint of their pregnancies. These women are those I term “Want-to-be Mothers.” This presents a dilemma in Nebraska, where access to a medical abortion in such circumstances is limited. ...