Opinion

W Events in recent weeks have highlighted the importance of safety, security, and the vital role of law enforcement in our communities. Violence has no place in American life, yet we have seen troubling attacks and disruptions within our country as well as international unrest which puts Americans abroad and our allies at risk.

A state senator – who will remain unnamed – once told me that “we’re all mammals” in reference to a sex scandal at the State Capitol. Another senator had been caught using a state computer to...shall we say...do something naughty - while watching a woman do something naughty online.

I recently returned from a visit to Israel and wanted to share a few reflections from that trip, especially now, as the first phase of the Gaza peace deal, led by President Trump, begins to take shape, and the living hostages have been released. We also mark the second anniversary of the horrific Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, a day that remains one of the darkest in recent history, when twelve-hundred Jews were slaughtered and roughly 250 were taken hostage; the most since the end of the Holocaust. It wasn’t a battle between soldiers but a brutal assault on civilians, an effort to humiliate, strip away dignity, and spread fear among families simply living their lives.

Dear Editor, Did you know, if you live in Valentine, you are a served by a locally owned and operated electric utility? This week, we celebrate Public Power Week, a time to highlight the value of community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities. Public power communities, like Valentine, offer five distinct advantages.

W Each day hardworking parents, farmers, ranchers, linesmen, teachers, and laborers across the country get out of bed and do what it takes to provide for their families and pay their bills. This week, as Americans continued to go to work, unfortunately ideological, partisan demands from Senate Democrats again obstructed commonsense legislation to keep the federal government open.

We live in a world where having adequate high-speed internet service is not just a luxury, but a necessity. With proper broadband, you can use a computer to run a business, manage a good website, work remotely and operate the new generation of precision agriculture equipment.

WashingtOn d.C . The federal government is currently shut down.

insights frOm d.C . Another shutdown has hit Washington, and Nebraskans are right to shake their heads.

With all that is going on in the world, ranging from ongoing conflict in the Middle East, an impasse in Congress resulting in a Government Shutdown, the plethora of “pink postcards” received by taxpayers across the State, as a result of locally increased property taxes and numerous other challenges, there is no shortage of topics to discuss. It seems that the list of conflicts is endless. I am going to take a bit of personal privilege this week and talk about something entirely different.

It is a profound privilege to represent the people of the Third District. I never take for granted the opportunity to take your ideas to Washington and work together to create solutions. It can be easy to merely talk about the many challenges we face, but taking the time to formulate and focus on solutions is what yields results, though it requires more effort.