Close encounters of the zoning kind

The Nebraska Legislature began talking about “exterrestrials” the other day, and well, who could pass up writing about that?I have a buddy who insists that an alien craft hovered over his acreage outside of Ashland.

Simple ways to close the state budget gap dismissed

If you’re like me, you were sickened to read about the wildfires running amok across sections of Nebraska in mid March.Thousands and thousands of acres, as far as the eye could see in areas of the Sandhills, in bluffs and hills southeast of North Platte and south of Kilgore, and (once again) in...

Simple ways to close the state budget gap dismissed

Way back in the day, when I was in high school, I had a summer job of mopping floors at a local hospital.Being a janitor was a really satisfying job because when you were done, you could easily see what you had accomplished, unlike a lot of other occupations.Anyway, one of my compatriots on the...

‘SAVE America Act’ is a solution in search of a problem

One of my favorite political slogans of all time is “a solution in search of a problem.”It’s used frequently in debates at the Nebraska Legislature to describe a proposal or idea that imposes new rules and restrictions to address a problem that doesn’t exist.You might call it “government...

Mentoring programs are great, but what about reading skills

Mentoring programs are a great thing.They help kids — mostly kids in single-parent families — gain confidence, and learn leadership and life skills from adults.I’ve seen first-hand how beneficial they are, first as a “big brother” in the Big Brothers-Big Sisters program, and then as a participant...

In a rush to deport, there have been deadly consequences

Can we all agree on one thing?Seeing Americans shot and killed on American streets by fellow Americans is not at all good.I’ve purposely waited to write about the killing of two people on the streets of Minneapolis by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol to...

State lawmakers have a $471-million budget shortfall to close, and an expulsion effort to consider

The first time I walked into the State Capitol, I wondered “what is making all these people walk like Olympic racers down these halls?”I almost got run over by some walkers; the new guy needed to get out of the way.To be sure, the Capitol hallways extend in a square, making them ideal for a quick...

Former state senator tries again to help Ukraine win war

A former Nebraska state senator, once again, is calling on the United States to do more to help Ukraine win its war with Russia.Tom Brewer, who served in the Legislature from 2017 to 2025 and earned two Purple Hearts during 36 years in the military, recently made his eighth trip to the front in...

‘Cornhusker Clink’ doesn’t help state’s image

No matter your opinion of immigrants, I think we can agree on one thing – having a federal detention center in Nebraska is not a good look for our state.The opening of the “Cornhusker Clink” illustrates that Nebraska is in full-throated agreement with the roundup and deportation of those who came...

Trade war pinches farmers leading to $12 billion bailout

So much for cutting federal spending.Just recently, President Trump announced a new $12 billion payout to American farmers.It’s not a reward for great work – farmers produced another record crop this year.No, it’s a bailout for a failed tariff war with China, that largest customer for our...