Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Sorted by date Results 1133 - 1157 of 1718
To kick off 2018, the American Farm Bureau welcomed President Trump to their annual meeting. It was the first time a U.S. president addressed this gathering in 26 years. Our country depends on ag producers every day for our food, feed, fuel, and fiber, which makes it all the more surprising so much time had passed without a president speaking directly to this assembly of thousands of ag leaders from across the nation. In his address, President Trump expressed appreciation for the hard work of U.S. farmers and ranchers, and reinforced his...
LB829 is the number assigned to my property tax relief bill. LB829 will allow tax payers to get a 50 percent credit or refund on that portion of their property tax bill which goes to fund public education when they file their Nebraska state income taxes. For most taxpayers, LB829 will result in a 30 percent reduction in property taxes. LB829 is necessary because property taxes in Nebraska have been running out of control. According to the Department of Numbers, Nebraska’s real median h...
Like many Nebraskans, my life has been shaped by agriculture. For over 40 years, I’ve worked with agriculture and rural development organizations across our state and recognized how the success of ag producers is connected to the success of our state as a whole. As a state senator in the Nebraska Legislature and as a U.S. Senator, common-sense agriculture policies have always been a top priority for me. Now, I have an opportunity to be more involved at the federal level. I am happy to a...
People on the West Coast endure droughts and forest fires. People on the Northeast Coast endure minus degree temperatures and a foot of snow. People in the Southeast endure the ferocious winds, rain, and flooding that hurricanes bring. People who live in Tornado Alley—Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri—suffer from those spinning cyclones’ destruction. Here on the Great Plains, in fly-over country, we suffer from droughts, prairie fires, hailstorms, grasshoppers, and winter blizzards. The d...
The 2018 legislative session has commenced! Last week, State Senators gathered at the State Capitol building in Lincoln to kick off the second session of Nebraska’s 105th Legislature. This is a short 60-day legislative session. From now until to mid-April, State Senators will be debating changes to the state budget and a variety of policies. Short sessions require the Legislature to focus on high-priority issues. During this session, many senators have said that the state budget and tax r...
Each of us, regardless of age, experience or circumstances, has something to contribute to his or her community. We are fast approaching the time to file to run or run for re-election for local public offices. Even if you have not considered running for office in the past, now is a great time to think about public service. It is a decision you will not regret because public service is interesting, challenging and rewarding. In western Nebraska, it has grown harder to find people to seek public...
There is a lot of work ahead in the new year. Before we undertake a fresh set of challenges, it is good to take stock of the many positive outcomes and accomplishments of 2017. Tax reform becoming law was one of the year’s most celebrated victories. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, it has been a privilege to be part of this years-long effort to overhaul our broken and overly burdensome tax code for the first time in a generation. The economy is already responding. More than 100 companies across the country, including Nelnet and P...
One bill I believe Nebraska needs is LB611. LB611 is a carry-over bill from last year. Last year the bill advanced out of the Appropriations Committee, where it also became the committee’s priority bill. The bill currently sits on General File. LB611 would require annual reporting of federal funds received by state agencies participating in the State’s budgeting process. The report would require every State agency to create two operating plans; the first would go into effect once federal rec...
Serving Nebraska during the last five years has been an honor, and as I begin 2018, I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of our great state and our great people. My staff, both in Washington and throughout Nebraska, work hard to ensure that Nebraskans receive the best representation and guidance when navigating federal bureaucracy, planning a trip to the nation’s capital, or looking for other services that my office can provide. My offices in Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Kearney, and Scott...
“Ask Brianna” is a column from NerdWallet for 20-somethings or anyone else starting out. I’m here to help you manage your money, find a job and pay off student loans — all the real-world stuff no one taught us how to do in college. Send your questions about postgrad life to [email protected]. Q: I never keep my New Year’s resolutions. But this year, I set a goal to save more money. How can I finally stick with it? A: When we set money goals, our motivations are pure. A new year has just begun, we recently got engaged or we’re try...
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get healthier, you may already be taking the necessary steps, such as improving your diet and increasing your exercise. Of course, physical fitness is important to your well-being – but, at the same time, don’t forget about your financial fitness. Specifically, what can you do to ensure your investment situation is in good shape? Here are a few “healthy living” suggestions that may also apply to your investment portfolio: Build endurance – Just as exer...
I get some of my best ideas drinking coffee. I get good ideas drinking whiskey, too, but I forget them before I can write them down. I was drinking coffee in the office yesterday morning, instant coffee in a cup with a Christmas tree and the “Peanuts” character Snoopy on the side, when I came up with the best idea I’ve had since I decided to stop smoking cigars around my wife. Well, actually, the cigar idea was hers, but I got on board with it pretty quickly. What I want to do is change the Constitution of the United States of America, of which...
1) In 2018, a. the Democrats will win control of the House of Representatives. b. the Republicans will retain control of the Senate. c. President Donald Trump will provoke the use of the 25th Amendment by his Cabinet to remove him temporarily from office. d. the key issue in the congressional races will be whether or not to impeach President Trump. 2) At the end of 2018, a. more American troops will be deployed around the world than are today. b. the United States will be directly involved in a land war in North Korea. c. the United States...
I have to admit my usual reference to biking doesn't work. A guy can't spend much time on a bike, safely, when winter suddenly arrives with the single-digit readings and varieties of snow and ice. I guess on that note it is time to check all the parts, prepare for streets clearing and weather warming. The holiday season, generically speaking, is an interesting progress. Halloween, if we claim it as a holiday, is barely closed, discount prices on orange and black candies posted, when retailers...
Happy New Year and welcome to 2018! The second session of the 105th Nebraska Legislature will commence on January 3. So, this week I want to offer an update on some of the bills I have been working on and will introduce this year. The first bill I will introduce will be the property tax relief bill I promised to introduce in a press conference I held last May after the closing of the first session of the 105th Nebraska Legislature. My Property Tax Relief Act will give Nebraska taxpayers a 30%...
Happy New Year, fellow Nebraskans! With the start of a new year, the Unicameral Legislature convenes in January to work on priorities Nebraskans care about. In good times and in bad, Nebraskans work together to get things done and move our state forward. When we see a need, we go out and meet that need. Over the years, many of your State Senators and I have worked together on your priorities. You don't have to look any further than the work we did together in the 2017 session to see the power...
Sidney Regional Medical Center (SRMC), a very devoted business member of the community and proud supporter of Sidney, Cheyenne County, and the region, on behalf of the Board of Directors, administration, directors, and staff of SRMC, we would like to wish the new clinic the best and look forward to our continued partnership to support the community's healthcare needs. We are glad that the physicians and physician assistants have retained their hospital privileges at Sidney Regional Medical...
With the arrival of the New Year, many of us will pause and ponder the age-old question: "Who knows where the time goes?" And, as is always the case, none of us really do know. However, wherever the time goes, it will usually be a key factor in your success as an investor. Time can affect how you invest, and the results of your investing, in different ways: Growth potential – Contrary to myth, there's no real way to "get rich quick" when investing. To build wealth, you need patience – and time....
Christmas feels a little different this year. I’ve spent more time on two wheels in the last few weeks than I have most of the summer, welcomed by unseasonable weather. The weather adjusted recently, welcoming the Santa, sleigh, and Frosty the Snowman concept of Christmas. In the spirit of traditional or classic storylines, what causes a heart to be “two sizes too small,” or to choose an island adventure over family and friends? What causes a person who enjoys life to abruptly become withd...
Our children are our future. In Nebraska and across the country, families are working hard and doing all they can to keep their kids happy and healthy. When a child is sick, caretakers want to know their children will receive the care necessary to get better. During my time in the Senate, I have worked hard to support effective programs to do just that. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) helps to ensure all of our nation’s children have access to health insurance coverage, and it...
People want politics to be simple. Left vs. right. Clinton vs. Trump. My side vs. your side. Elect the right guy, and things will be good! The truth is more complicated. Influential political philosophies created the mess we live with today, not just a political "left" and "right." There's socialism, conservatism, populism, progressivism, liberalism, scientism (eugenics), Marxism, totalitarianism, nationalism, fascism, Islamo-fascism, Nazism and probably others I missed. But only two "isms" work well for ordinary people. More on them in a...
This is the season of good news, and the economic potential we are currently seeing in our country is no exception. The unemployment rate has fallen to a 17-year low, a signal of rising opportunity in America. The Trump administration’s commitment to rolling back much of the Obama administration’s red tape has loosened the regulatory stranglehold on the economy and set the stage for more extensive growth through tax reform. As former Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp used to say, “The tax code is 10 times the size of the Bible with none of th...
As 2017 draws to a close, I sit by the fire with pen and paper in hand, reflecting on all that has transpired since I first took office back in January 2017. It has truly been an honor and a privilege to represent the good people of District 47 in the Nebraska Legislature. So, I thank you for providing me with this very exciting and wonderful adventure in Nebraska politics. Nebraska really is the good life. So, I went to Lincoln with the understanding that my job is to somehow make the good...
Every successful organization and household has to manage a budget. Our farmers and ranchers work to control the cost of inputs so that they operate profitably when it comes time to market their crop. Families watch their spending so that they can meet their household needs. Our Main Street job creators monitor their bottom line so they can deliver value to their customers, attract quality talent to their organizations, and grow opportunities. Just like Nebraska’s ag producers, households, a...
The news out of Korea is a mix of bad and good, but perhaps more lopsided on the side of bad. President Donald Trump continues to accelerate his war of words with North Korea, by calling the rogue nation’s dictator, Kim Jong Un, “Little Rocket Man,” and promising him “fire and fury.” Late in November, Trump re-designated North Korea as “a state sponsor of terrorism,” an action that unleashed a slew of additional U. S. financial sanctions that will hit hard the already starved and desperate Nor...
