Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
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I encourage all Nebraskans to get involved in their communities as a volunteer during ServeNebraska Week of Service, April 22-28. Many Nebraskans generously give of their time through volunteerism every day, and this special week is set aside to focus on the ability of all Nebraskans to serve others. First Lady Sally and I look forward to volunteering that week alongside many others in our state. The ServeNebraska Week of Service works to inspire Nebraskans to seek out creative ways to serve their communities. This statewide effort encourages...
By the year 2018, it is estimated that nearly 70 percent of jobs in Nebraska will require some type of postsecondary education? To meet that need, Nebraska must increase the number of its citizens who have a college education. I am devoting this week’s column to the segment of Nebraska’s population that could help our state meet future job needs–adults aged 25-64 who went to college but left without finishing a degree. This group of individuals represents over 236,000 Nebraskans. According to 2010 census data, the percentage of working-age Nebr...
I want to share an update on the expected weather conditions we are facing as a state, in particular so our farmers and ranchers can make the best decisions for their businesses and families in the upcoming seasons. In 2012, Nebraska experienced record-setting heat and dryness. We would like a return to normal weather pattern in 2013, but as spring approaches, it is apparent that conditions have not improved. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of Nebraska remains in the “exceptional” drought category. Unfortunately, we are act...
The Nebraska National Guard had earned several significant national awards in recent months and I would like to talk more about these awards as well as several other significant events involving the men and women of our Nebraska National Guard. Members of the Nebraska National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters air staff learned they had been awarded their second-consecutive U.S. Air Force Organizational Excellence Award while the Nebraska Air National Guard’s 155th Air Refueling Wing had been awarded its 11th Outstanding Unit Award since its...
This week, I am pleased to announce the grand opening of the new Nebraska Center China, located in the heart of the business district in Shanghai. The opening of Nebraska’s first trade office in China is exciting for many reasons. With soaring export growth and ever increasing opportunities for foreign direct investment, we are working to create new trade opportunities that benefit Nebraska. China is Nebraska’s fastest growing export market, and already Nebraska’s fourth largest export market. We want to enhance Nebraska’s opportu...
During the week of March 17-23 people all over the nation will celebrate National Agriculture Week. I would like to remind all Nebraskans of this important week and encourage our citizens to take a moment to reflect on the importance of the agricultural industry in our state. Farming, ranching and related agribusiness activities are responsible for approximately a quarter of our state’s economic activity. Ninety-three percent of our state’s land is used for agricultural production, and Nebraska is one of the top states in the nation for interna...
The Nebraska Legislature recently held a public hearing on LB 577, a bill to bring President Obama’s massive unfunded Medicaid expansion to Nebraska. To no one’s surprise, liberal advocacy groups have voiced support for the optional expansion, but ultimately it would be at the expense of our state priorities, including education. What you don’t hear from them is a discussion about the enormous and unsustainable costs of this expansion and who’s going to pay for it. Today, I’d like to share information with you about the burden that would be pla...
Water is Nebraska’s most precious natural resource and during the last few years we have experienced both extreme flooding and prolonged drought. I would like to share with you the work of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and their dedication to the sustainable use and proper management of our water and related land resources. The Department’s staff of over 100 is directed by Brian Dunnigan and has major responsibilities for regulating the use of the waters of our streams (also referred to as surface water administration), dir...
Before we know it summer will be here and students will be actively searching for internships to enhance their skills. This is a great time to remind businesses and students about Nebraska’s internship program – Intern Nebraska. I am pleased to announce the new and improved InternNE.com website is up and running. Since going live in early January, the website has seen an increase of nearly 100 registered students. The new, streamlined design and easier navigation capabilities make this a positive change for both students and business lea...
This week, I announced a joint compact between the University of Nebraska and Nebraska State College System that would help ensure continued affordable access to higher education for Nebraska students and families. This compact will allow for a two year tuition freeze. A state investment in higher education would help ensure a strong University of Nebraska and Nebraska State College System. In Nebraska, we understand that education is the great equalizer and that’s why it is a priority for me. Investing in education is important to N...
The 25th Annual Governor’s Ag Conference will be held February 12-13 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney. I invite all Nebraskans to attend this event and participate in discussions that focus on the future of the state’s number one industry. The theme for this year’s conference is “A Platform for Nebraska Agriculture’s Future.” The conference will challenge the farmers and ranchers, agribusiness representatives, and policy and business leaders in attendance to think about some of the key policies and practices that will drive agric...
