One thing that COVID-19 has highlighted is a shortage of medical personnel in rural Nebraska. The number of COVID patients put a strain on an already burdened healthcare workforce. I have introduced legislation this session to try and combat this shortage.

Perhaps this has happened to you: Your recent cough kept you up for another night, so you went to the doctor. The nurse took your vitals, the doctor asked you some questions, listened to your lungs, maybe looked at your ears and your throat, and recommended rest, fluids, over the counter treatments, and time. It all seemed fine until you got home and realized the doctor did not “do anything” for you.

Thursday, February 24th was “Pro-Life Legislative Day” at the Capitol. This event was sponsored by Nebraska Right to Life. Many people from across the state who value life came to meet with their state senators and to show their support for three pro-life bills heard before the Judiciary Committee. I am an ardent supporter of the pro-life movement, and was able to address the group at their morning gathering at the Cornhusker Hotel. Joining me were State Senators Joni Albrecht of Thurston, Suzanne Geist of Lincoln, and Julie Slama of Peru, as well as Lt. Governor Mike Foley, a champion for life in our state. The three senators each spoke about their pending life-affirming bills, and I spoke about my bill, LB 963, which calls for the adoption of the “Medical Ethics and Diversity Act.”

Cancer is a broad term which encompasses many different diseases, and each type of cancer has different patterns and tendencies. But at its core, cancer means a group of cells which is growing uncontrollably, due to one or multiple genetic mutations.

By my count, I have slept in my own home six of the last 12 nights. There have been two trips to Omaha, another stay in North Platte and yet another with some family in Arapahoe. We’ll get to that in a bit, but it’s been a blur.

Cutting taxes. This is a perennial issue that most senators promise to address in the legislature. They campaign on this issue and make promises, usually with good intentions. But then, year after year, little, if anything, is accomplished.

The Biden administration has never wanted to admit that what is going on at our southern border is a crisis. But what else would you call a situation where illegal crossings are at an all-time high, dangerous drugs are pouring into our country, and the men and women charged with protecting the border aren’t given the resources they need to do their jobs?

Experts estimate that well over 80 percent of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Perhaps ten percent of adults experience it at any given moment. Back pain is extremely common, and people with back pain can be extremely miserable. It may hurt to move, sit, stand, lay, even breathe. No wonder back pain accounts for so many visits to the doctor! When people with acute back pain

Like millions of Americans, I took in the Super Bowl Sunday evening, pulling for the eventual losers as seems to be my custom of late. While I was watching, I glanced at some social media and saw a post from one of my all-time favorite sports personalities - Bill Curry.

There is a proposal before the legislature this session to fund the Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability (STAR WARS) project. This project proposes to build a lake between Lincoln and Omaha. It also intends to fund projects in other parts of the state, including Lake McConaughy and the Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area.