Property tax trial balloon calls for state takeover of funding

Back in the day, a small, “trial balloon” would be sent aloft to discern wind speed and direction before a balloon carrying people was launched.Folks were rightly concerned about rising into the heavens blindly, without knowing if a catastrophic whirlwind was aloft.

Independence Day: A call for renewed patriotism

Patriotism is on the decline.You’ve all seen the news coverage of athletes kneeling during our national anthem, activists burning American flags, and street mobs defacing statues of our founders.

What am I really signing?

With the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade two years ago this month many Americans mistakenly thought the 50-year abortion battle in this country was over.

Letter to the Editor

There are two abortion related petitions being circulated in Nebraska. One is the “Protect Our Rights” ballot initiative that will enshrine in our state constitution the right to abortion at any stage of pregnancy.

View From the Sideline

Who is the person in your life that has no problem telling you when you are wrong? If you do not have one, get one.For me, that person is my wife, Kimberly. She is the one person in my life that is not afraid to point out when I am being stupid, immature or just flat out wrong.And I love her for it.

Beth’s Bits

This weekend was less busy than some as I didn’t have anything to cover for the newspaper. Luckily it was Homestead Days in Beatrice, and they had special speaker Sean Astin.Some of you (who are close to my age or older) may recognize his name from the movie “Rudy.

Alan’s Anecdotes

When something is important, we treat it that way. If it’s important to get done, we make it a priority. If it’s important to keep it private, we are careful who we talk to. If it’s important to keep it safe, we guard it or put it in a safe place.

Representing You

Illegal immigration is not a victimless crime. An influx of illegal immigrants can drive down wages for working Americans, drive up drug and human trafficking, and strain government resources meant for American citizens.

All Things Nebraska

Many have tried, and few have succeeded in expanding the state’s sales tax base by taxing things now exempt from taxation.But that is where Gov. Jim Pillen is venturing in his pursuit of property tax relief.

Representing You

The recently-declared national holiday known as Juneteenth commemorates the June 19, 1865 declaration of freedom for slaves in Texas by General Gordon Granger. Months earlier President Abraham Lincoln had signed the 13th Amendment passed by Congress.