At the request of Governor Ricketts, Speaker Mike Hilgers introduced LB 1015. This bill intends to protect Nebraska’s water supply by giving the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources the ability to build a canal and reservoir system that would be tied to the South Platte River. The project has been called the Perkins County Canal project and cost estimates have been up to $500 million dollars. In 1923, Nebraska and Colorado signed a compact outlining the use of the water that flows from Colorado into Nebraska via the South Platte River. Under the compact Nebraska is allowed to divert 500 cubic feet per second during the non-irrigation season but to do this Nebraska must construct, maintain and operate a canal for the diverted water out of the South Platte River.

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Those are wise words and good advice. I wish I had read them before Tuesday morning.

Each session of the legislature is complicated, but I feel this session may be more so than most. The state has excess revenue and also has ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) funds available. Nebraska was projected to receive about $6 billion in total funds. Over 80% of that money flowed directly through existing programs or funding mechanisms which dictated where that money would go. The state’s allocation is $1.04 billion. The federal government has laid out what are eligible expenditures and we must be careful to stay within the guidelines or we could be required to pay back that money. Eligible expenditures are; responding to a public health emergency, replacing public sector revenue premium pay for essential workers, and also infrastructure, including water, sewer and broadband. There were over 100 bills introduced that would utilize these funds, we will have to wait and see what ideas make it out of the Appropriations Committee and onto the floor.

INDIANOLA - The Indianola City Council met Monday to discuss an ongoing issue with trains blocking a city crossing for extended periods of time as well as to hire for the open utilities position and other items of business.

CAMBRRIDGE - The Cambridge City Council met in regular session Monday evening, January 7, 2022 with all council members, City staff including Kandra Kinne, Lisa Shifflet, Maria Downer, and Dave Houghtelling, and three visitors, John Kutnink, Bruce Lefler, and Randy Heitmann in attendance.

Did the groundhog see his shadow this year? Every year on February 2, people gather in the small town of Punxsutawney in western Pennsylvania to observe the annual Groundhog Day ceremony. If the groundhog does see his shadow, he may retreat to his den and winter will last another six weeks. If he does not see his shadow, spring may arrive early.

We’re on the cusp of a historic moment in America. After 49 years, the Supreme Court is set to revisit the infamous Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in 1973. This year, they have an opportunity to undo one of the worst decisions ever made by our nation’s highest court.

We are almost a third of the way through this session and we still have a lot of work yet to do. Last week the Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on my bill LB 978. This bill lays out the next steps required for the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy to fully assume the federal Clean Water Action Section 404 Program. In 2019, the Legislature passed LB302 which allowed the NDEE to begin the process of pursuing this assumption. The changes contained in LB978 finalize that process to allow the NDEE to apply to the Environmental Protection Agency for full assumption. Specifically, the bill sets out a process to promulgate rules and regulations for the program, hold hearings, administer fees, hire staff and establish a cash fund.

As your U.S. senator, my job is to represent your interests in Washington.

Last spring, I was at home washing my hands, and as I glanced up into the mirror, I noticed something unusual. My bathroom light hit my neck just right as I swallowed and there it was: a prominent lump. I diagnosed myself with a thyroid nodule and wondered how I, a physician, had failed to notice this large protuberance before that moment.