What do warts, pap smears, cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, and a vaccine all have in common? Three letters: HPV Human papillomavirus ( HPV) is a common virus that can cause growths on skin and mucous membranes. There are over one hundred different types of HPV, and while some cause common warts, others can cause cancer.

In America, elections are about choices. Choices have consequences. A president’s policies and priorities shape our economy, our freedoms, and our standing in the world. We saw it in 2016 when voters chose Donald Trump. His policies built a strong economy that included lower taxes and energy independence. He also brought strength and security at home and abroad. We saw the consequences of our elections again in 2020. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have brought stubbornly high costs of living and higher taxes. Under Biden-Harris, we’ve also seen an open border and appeasement to adversaries. The implications of our choices in the coming election will impact America for generations to come.

A few years ago, the Nebraska Legislature debated on how to help families access a school that best fit their needs no matter the zip code where they reside. On the floor sat a bill aimed at creating tax credit scholarships to pay for low-income students to have the choice to attend a private school. Both sides of the aisle agreed that not every family felt their needs were met, there was more work to be done, and while committed to doing so understood that struggling education systems don’t get cleaned up overnight.

The saying goes, “newer isn’t always better,” and while I typically tend to agree with that, newer might be better when it comes to glucose monitoring technology. In recent years we have seen rapid development and uptake of new types of glucometers, leaving fewer and fewer patients with diabetes using the old standby fingerstick method of blood sugar monitoring.

Last Monday, the FBI arrested an Afghan national planning an Election Day attack on U.S. soil. The man was paroled into the country following the U.S.’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. He was one of tens of thousands of Afghans evacuated to the U.S. and granted entry under a humanitarian parole program.

As Nebraska gets closer to the 2024 election, voters will decide on two competing abortion-related measures. The first is measure 434, the “Protect Women and Children Initiative,” which protects the unborn from abortion past the first trimester, or about thirteen weeks of pregnancy. The second is 439, the so-called “Protect Our Rights” measure, which in reality, endangers the rights of the unborn by enshrining abortion on demand into law.

Apples have been freshly picked, are readily available in local grocery stores and are a favorite every Fall. They are a great source of fiber and vitamin C, plus they taste great. Johnny Appleseed is best known across the United States for introducing apples to North America in the early 1800’s. However, apples were actually introduced earlier in the 17 th Century by colonists. Since then apples have become a favorite to many Americans.

“Doc, my right hip has been bothering me. Do you think I need a new hip?” “First, tell me more about your hip pain.” Hip pain is a common complaint which can have a variety of causes. The first thing that comes to mind is arthritis of the hip joint. The hip is a ball and socket joint. The main upper leg bone, the femur, has a rounded top called the head. Under the head of the femur is the neck, which can often be what breaks when someone suffers a hip fracture. Arthritis and wear and tear over time can cause the cartilage in the ball and socket joint to break down and become thinner and irregular. This can cause pain especially with movement and walking.

For Nebraska to thrive, we must care for our families, infrastructure, workforce, and safety. It’s an effort that requires close coordination between private companies, nonprofits, and every level of government. But the payoff is worth it, and when we work together, we build a better state for the next generation of Nebraskans.

Last year I had the privilege of being elected by the Nebraska Legislature to serve as the chair of the Education Committee. This is a role that I have not taken lightly. Parents across the State rightly care deeply about their children’s education and have valid concerns about how our schools are funded, what students are learning, safety, teacher shortages, ensuring quality pathways from an education to a career, and more. I’m pleased to say that the Education Committee has made improvements in all of these regards.