Opinion

Christmas is going to look different for many Americans because of ongoing supply chain challenges and soaring inflation. We have seen shortages of items such as appliances, jewelry, electronics, holiday food items such as turkey, and even Christmas lights and trees. Faced with a serious hike in input costs, more than 70 percent of wholesale Christmas tree growers have been forced to increase their prices by up to 15 percent over last year.

I gathered with state and local officials to celebrate the opening of the Lincoln South Beltway. This 11-mile, four lane freeway connects U.S. Highway 77 to the Nebraska Highway (N-2). It’s expected to divert over 75 percent of the truck traffic to the new high-speed facility, saving significant travel time and bringing much needed relief to a congested thoroughfare through the city of Lincoln. This project will also improve safety and regional connectivity. Whether driving their kids to school, commuting to work, or delivering essential goods through our region, all of Nebraska will benefit from this 21st century infrastructure. Its opening was a priority for my administration, and I am happy to say that we have delivered on this monumental milestone that has been decades in the making. It is the most complex project in Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) history.

As the holiday season marches on, Christmas is now nearly upon us. From the Pine Ridge through the Sandhills, we have been slammed by severe drought for most of the year. Now we have gotten a whole lot of moisture all at once and in solid form. The holiday spirit has been evident in District 43 as neighbors help neighbors dig out, tend to livestock, and cope with the mess dealt out by this Nebraska holiday weather. As water-starved as we have been, I know a lot of us are grateful for the trouble. Please pray for all those who are trying to get feed to their livestock and for those who have lost electricity.

Last Friday, I attended the change of command ceremony at U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base.

There’s an acronym that has been stirring things up in government for the last 30-plus years. It’s called TEEOSA and the mere mention of its name sends senators to consult with staff, lobbyists to check their wallets and school administrators to check with their budget gurus.

Dear Editor, We serve as elected Public Service Commissioners representing Nebraska. Our job is to regulate industries that are natural monopolies such as taxis, natural gas, telecommunications companies, grain warehouses as well as manufactured homes and the next generation 911 service.

W Nearly a week prior to the first day of winter, we have already seen snow, ice, and freezing conditions across the Third District. While precipitation is needed to relieve Nebraska’s fourth driest year on record, and the snowfall may have many dreaming of a white Christmas, colder than average temperatures are expected to accompany already historically high energy costs this winter.

WashingtOn d.C . Top agricultural states like Nebraska help to feed the world.

My friend USAF General Tom Bussiere departs his position next week as Deputy Commander of USSTRATCOM to take the four star commander’s position at U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command in Barksdale, LA. I’m very excited to extend a warm Big Red welcome to USAF General Tony Cotton as the new commander of USSTRATCOM.

There will be 18 women sworn in as state senators in January, the most ever in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature. Half declare as Republicans and half as Democrats in the officially nonpartisan body.