Nebraska is a land of pioneers. Our state was settled by hardy homesteaders who ventured across windswept prairies in search of opportunity.

I know you’ve been busy through Hailer, Nebraska, but have you ever stopped there? We hadn’t either until last Sunday when we made a trip to their John Denver Tribute in the park. What a perfect day. The park in Haigler is just two blocks off the highway and is surrounded in trees. We sat up our chairs, and enjoyed listening to the opening singer with Next Tuesday.

Recently I joined several of my colleagues at a roundtable hosted by the Energy, Climate, and Conservation (ECC) Task Force to discuss proven solutions to help build resilient communities around our country by, in part, effectively addressing threats of storms, floods, wildfires, droughts, and more. Nebraskans have been hit hard by costly and tragic disasters in recent years, and the large wildfires our state has experienced this year require a comprehensive evaluation of our prevention and response policies. According to the U.S. Geological Survey nationwide, 80 percent of the freshwater resources in the U.S. originate on forested land, and more than 3,400 public drinking water systems are located in watersheds containing national forest lands. Proper management of these lands would make a significant difference in the maximization of our water supply and prevention of wildfires, which spread quickly through neglected forest land. Furthermore, the Army Corps of Engineers has an estimated $109 billion backlog of congressionally authorized projects to strengthen America’s waterway networks and protect against storm and flood damages. Science-based solutions empower cooperation between local industries and communities in addition to fostering proper care for and use of our environment. We don’t have to choose between being good stewards of the environment and economic prosperity; however, recent policies advanced by the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats in their bill – the Inflation Act – demonstrate a rejection of the best path to sustainability.

I often say one of Nebraska’s most precious resources is our children. They represent the next generation of great entrepreneurs, family farmers, doctors, police officers – you name it – that make our state the incredible place that it is. For this, they deserve our full support and care.

For students with allergies and asthma, back to school means more than getting their backpacks filled with paper, pencils, and any needed odds and ends. Keeping your child safe and healthy involves creating a proactive plan to be implemented both at home and at school. Allergy doctors refer to these plans as “control programs” because the goal is prevention and control.

One of the benefits of having three birthdays in your family in the span of five weeks is the opportunity for joint birthday We had such an event for some family and friends Saturday at our “With a grain of salt” by Cody Gerlach

Every American deserves to feel safe in their community. Yet over the last few years, violent crime has spiked across the country. Defunding the police or taking resources away from our men and women in blue is never the answer. Instead, we must provide law enforcement with the support and tools they need to carry out their duties.

The annual wellness exam is one of my favorite things to do as a doctor. It’s a chance to talk about one of my passions: health promotion. As most patients expect, our health promotion discussion includes smoking cessation, diet, and exercise. Perhaps more surprising is our conversation regarding personal safety. We talk about sunscreen, seatbelts, helmets, distracted driving or driving under the influence. And I ask if their guns are locked up.

We’re successfully growing Nebraska and creating jobs here in the Good Life. Nebraska had the nation’s lowest average unemployment rate in 2020 and 2021, and we do again so far in 2022. In fact, we currently have the lowest unemployment rate in state history at 1.9%. As of Sunday, August 14th, the State’s job website (NEworks. nebraska.gov) listed 51,835 available openings. This abundance of jobs benefits Nebraska’s families. Earlier this month, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released their annual Kids Count Data Book with information on child welfare in all 50 states. Nebraska ranked #1 for children’s economic wellbeing. That makes sense. When there are plenty of jobs available, parents can readily find work to take care of their kids. While our state’s historically low unemployment rate is great for Nebraskans looking for their next career opportunity, it poses challenges for businesses and State agencies looking to hire great people. In this labor market, employers must be creative to recruit and retain the talent they need to grow.

As a practicing urologist who is double board certified in urology and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, I see a lot of patients with urinary incontinence. And while it is extremely common, many myths surround the topic. Sadly, even though more patients in the U.S. suffer from overactive bladder than diabetes, there is very little education surrounding incontinence and other pelvic floor disorders.