Opinion

May 11 to May 16 was National Police Week. It was an opportunity to show our gratitude and appreciation to the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep our people and communities safe.

The nursing home situation in rural Nebraska is facing some very serious challenges. Last year, there were at least six nursing homes that closed in rural Nebraska. We lost the nursing home in Valentine and the facilities in Ainsworth and Crawford are in tough shape. Skilled nursing facilities across the state face similar challenges.

In the 49 years since the Roe v. Wade decision, the pro-life movement has displayed remarkable commitment and resolve. Decades of steady, grassroots efforts by pro-life advocates are yielding not just state-level legislation which recognizes the humanity of unborn children but a growing culture of life which seeks to compassionately connect with expectant mothers who lack support.

When all is said and done, usually more is said than done. The 107th Nebraska Legislature might just about be done for the year, pending a decision on a special session – it would be their second for the year – to deal with possible fallout from the anticipated United States Supreme Court opinion on Roe v.

Grit and determination. Readiness to help at a moment’s notice. Willingness to work long and hard. Steadfastness in the face of difficulty. These are the qualities that define us as Nebraskans. And we saw them on full display last month as our state battled the worst fires in a decade.

It’s an exciting time of year. The robes, mortar boards, and tassels are on display as Nebraska’s graduates are celebrating with their friends and loved ones. I am always so encouraged to see our state’s young people succeed and pursue new opportunities.

Abortion is an important issue for a clear majority of Nebraskans. The recent leak of a Supreme Court of the United States (SCO- TUS) draft opinion concerning an abortion case before the court is shocking. My lawyer friends tell me something like this is unprecedented in history, and represents a huge betrayal of the integrity of the court and all the dedicated Americans who work there. The person responsible will likely be disbarred and will never practice law in the United States again. It’s possible they could even be charged with serious federal crimes.

While traveling in the Third District in recent weeks, I have been encouraged by the expertise and creativity our communities possess and sobered by the challenges we face. We have much to be thankful for, but there is also no shortage to the adversity we must overcome.

We Don’t Know Where We’re Going, but We’re on our Way. One of my late father’s favorite songs, from long ago.

Nebraskans have long been strong supporters of the right to keep and bear arms. Nearly 85 years after it was enshrined in the Second Amendment at the federal level, Nebraska’s leaders chose to make our stance on gun rights crystal clear. Article I of the Nebraska Constitution proclaims that “the right to keep and bear arms for security or defense of self, family, home, and others, and for lawful common defense, hunting, recreational use, and all other lawful purposes...shall not be denied or infringed by the state or any subdivision thereof.” This should serve as the exclamation point on where Nebraska stands in its commitment to constitutional gun rights.