Opinion

Well, it now appears that we will have a third, substantial candidate on the ballot to become the next governor. Last week, former State Sen.

In 2022, Karly Rain Wood, a 20-year-old from Omaha, was murdered. She went to a friend’s birthday party and was shot eight times. She was there for only 15 minutes. Five other victims were also shot. Karly Rain’s killer was previously convicted of four different felonies. But he had been released.

From our rolling Sandhills to the Missouri River Valley and everywhere in between, Nebraskans are bound by a set of exceptional values: hard work, determination, and above all, a natural tendency to serve those around us. Seeing this value in action is what inspired me to run for my local school board, the Nebraska Unicameral, and eventually the U.S. Senate. Today, it is what drives me to advocate for Nebraska in Washington.

Sometimes the most memorable adventures in life begin by taking the road less traveled and, in the words of my beloved grandmother, taking time to “stop and smell the roses.” That's part of what makes the Nebraska Passport program so beneficial. It gives us a reason to take the scenic route, explore communities across our state, support local businesses, and discover places we might otherwise miss.

In Nebraska, August marks the close of summer and the beginning of a busy new season. It means the return of Husker football and volleyball games, final preparations ahead of harvest, and the rush of back-to-school shopping.

insights frOm d.C . When Nebraskans sent me to the U.S.

W Now that the August district work period is officially underway, I am excited to spend the coming weeks on the road, listening to Nebraskans across the Third District and seeing firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing our communities. I hit the ground running this week with a swing through the Panhandle, hearing directly from constituents about the issues that matter most to them and discussing how we can keep working together to make the Good Life an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Some folks, I see, are criticizing Gov. Pillen for embarking on a trade mission to the Far East at a time when the state budget is bleeding red ink.

It seems like a lifetime ago, when COVID turned our lives upside down, yet the consequences for many remain very real. While the shutdowns in much of rural Nebraska may not have been as severe as those experienced in our larger cities, our lives were still changed in ways we never imagined. Schools closed or were disrupted, weddings and funerals were canceled, businesses struggled, churches wrestled with how to continue serving their congregations, and families found themselves separated during some of life’s most difficult moments. Across Nebraska and across our nation, uncertainty, fear, and isolation affected us all, even if the experience looked different depending on where we lived. We quickly learned how much we had taken for granted, from gathering with family and friends to attending church, school activities, and community events and became keenly aware of how precious freedom is.

nOte frOm d.C . A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.” That quote came from President John F.