The significance of the agriculture industry to Nebraska’s Third District cannot be overstated. As the nation’s leading congressional district in market value of agriculture products sold, our farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our state’s economy. Ensuring federal agriculture policy reflects the needs of Nebraska’s outstanding producers places the Farm Bill among my top legislative priorities.

One year ago this week, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down one of the most important decisions in its history. For years, loud voices on the left have demanded the right to an abortion be absolute, including horrific practices like third-trimester and partial birth abortions. Despite an unprecedented leak and a politically-motivated assassination attempt against a sitting Supreme Court Justice, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, the Court restored the right of the American people, through their elected representatives, to make laws regarding the practice of abortion.

Last week, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) advanced its annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill, which we must pass every year, sets our policies and spending priorities for the military. Most importantly, this year’s NDAA supports an increase in pay levels for our service men and women by over five percent.

Glenvil, NE—State Senator Dave Murman, representing Legislative District 38, appeared on KETV 7 News Omaha on Thursday to celebrate the historic investments in Nebraska public schools made through a joint effort by Governor Pillen and the legislature.

There are a lot of odd duties that come with being a father of five, but one of the most fun for me is overseeing the family’s kangaroo court. These opportunities do not come along often as defendants are usually convicted and punished without a trial, but about a week ago, a criminal conspiracy took place in my house.

In Nebraska, we have a lot to be proud of. Our women’s sports are no exception. The UNL Women’s Volleyball team has won five national championships and is one of UNL’s three profit-producing teams, along with football and men’s basketball. In August, women’s volleyball teams from across the state will be playing to a sold-out Memorial Stadium in the hopes of breaking the record for the most attended women’s sporting event in American history. The Creighton Women’s Basketball team has made the NCAA tournament four of the last six years. The UNO Women’s Softball team just made history by winning their first Summit League Championship and advancing to the NCAA Regional tournament.

Marrying a farm kid has shown me the immense amount of pride in being part of the Ag community. It is prevalent that the agricultural profession, while rewarding, is challenging. Running big dollar operations that are both physically and mentally demanding creates some serious strain on our mental health. Whether it’s a co-op employee spraying chemicals or spreading fertilizer for 70+ hours a week or a farmer during planting or harvest, the demand never truly stops.

The 108th Nebraska Legislature’s first session was by all accounts historic and sometimes chaotic. The continual disruptions did not deter us from accomplishing a lot for Nebraskans. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting and breaking down the bills we were able to pass and what they mean for Nebraskans, starting first with our income and property tax packages.

“Let your fiction grow out of the land beneath your feet,” Willa Cather once wrote. The famed literary artist first came to Nebraska at the age of nine, when her family settled in Webster County. Years later, she refl ected on what it was like to first step foot in our great state.

Every summer when I was a kid, we would make the five-plus hour drive to a farm northwest of Benkelman to spend a week with my grandparents, Don and Betty. The Browns were scripted creatures of habit and routine and at such and such a time each day, my grandpa would go out to gather eggs from the chickens.