Opinion

Public comment on the Habitat Conservation Plan and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the R-Project Powerline Meeting to be held at Broken Bow and North Platte at 1:00 p.m is unacceptable!

Three of the four kids in my family were born on the same day in December over a span of 14 years. The “other” one was born on March 1.

Dear Editor, A recent editorial in this publication showed no understanding of the constraints on city governments regarding rundown properties, citing LB 45. While it would be most desirable for all property owners to keep their properties in peak condition, that is not the reality; thus, communities across the state are left with buildings which continue to deteriorate.

W This week is National FFA Week, our annual opportunity to commemorate the important role this organization plays in building future leaders for rural America. As we celebrate, it’s encouraging to see an increasing number of young people taking advantage of career and character-building opportunities.

nOte frOm d.C . Agriculture is the heart and soul of what we do in Nebraska.

With the short session of the Nebraska Legislature slightly more than half over, repeat after me: When it comes to taxation, it’s all about whose ox is getting gored. The Governor wants a 40 percent reduction in property taxes by the end of the year.

WashingtOn d.C . In his 1954 State of the Union address, President Dwight D.

Valentines Day was the deadline for Senators to designate their personal priority bill. A senator can introduce as many bills as they wish during the first 10 days of the session. Our rules say the Speaker must put priority bills on the agenda. This assumes the Senator has managed to convince the chairman of the committee to hold an executive session and advance their bill to the floor for debate by the full legislature. Bills that do not advance are held by the committee and cannot be put on the agenda.

In 2020 I wrote a lengthy and detailed “amicus brief” (friend of the court) concerning NPPD’s proposed R-Project powerline. The U.S. District Court in Colorado agreed with the plaintiffs, and put a stop to this terrible, unnecessary project. I have spent years trying to convince NPPD that a “supplemental environmental impact statement” is needed so that proper consideration can be given to the full scope of the destruction this powerline is going to cause the Sandhills. Apparently, it took NPPD losing in federal court for them to finally prepare a new impact statement.

nOte frOm d.C . In December, President Biden’s team shut down two border rail crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso, TX.