<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/31/iowa-wisconsin-national-educators-urge-nebraskans-to-repeal-state-support-to-private-schools/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Educators from Iowa, Wisconsin and the National Education Association are joining Cornhusker State educators in urging Nebraskans to repeal a law that funds “education scholarships” for private K-12 schools.

The public school advocates said Nebraskans should vote to “repeal” on&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/ballot-measures/private-education-scholarship-partial-referendum/">Referendum Measure 435</a>&nbsp;on the&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/2024-elections" target="_blank">Nov. 5 ballot</a>&nbsp;to remove the main section of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=55486" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 1402</a>, which was passed in April. The law appropriates $10 million annually so the State Treasurer’s Office can provide “education scholarships” for Nebraska families to attend private schools.&nbsp;

The Treasurer’s Office will join scholarship-granting organization Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska on Thursday to announce that 4,000 students will receive all $10 million through the scholarships, regardless of the partial referendum on the general election ballot.

Ron Duff Martin, a Wisconsin educator who serves as an at-large member of the National Education Association, told the Nebraska Examiner that Milwaukee was really the “birthplace of the voucher program” in the early 1990s.

“From there it just grew,” Martin said. “It grew not only in Wisconsin, but we saw other states that adopted similar legislation.”

Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, said the&nbsp;<a href="https://will-law.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-13-Proposed-Nonparty-Brief-To-File.pdf" target="_blank">Wisconsin legislation</a>&nbsp;has led to funding two systems, one of which included $568.5 million in taxpayer dollars in the 2022-23 school year going to a “web of private voucher systems.”

“That labyrinth, that web, is entirely, in terms of funding, unsustainable,” Wirtz-Olsen said.

Martin said that in Wisconsin, lawmakers set the state budget for public education and then “skim off the top” for private-school vouchers.&nbsp;

“Our local school districts are having to go to referendum to keep the doors open and the lights on,” Wirtz-Olsen said.

In Nebraska, the vast majority of public school funding comes from property taxes, which are assessed locally. The state offers $1,500 in foundation aid per public school student, and public school advocates have expressed concern in losing students needed to help stabilize funding that shifts year over year.

Lawmakers have perennially updated Nebraksa’s major state funding distribution model since it was adopted in the 1990s, and advocates and lawmakers have agreed major changes are needed but haven’t yet agreed in what form.

Public funding help for Nebraska’s private schools could not increase without future approval. The lead lawmaker supporting such a program, State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, has repeatedly said the state is in good financial health and can afford to extend a small fraction of “hope” to families. Linehan is in her final year in the Legislature because of term limits.

Martin has joined the Cornhusker State teacher’s union and visited the state to oppose its newest laws on at least four occasions. He warned, “Nebraskans: Don’t be Wisconsin.”

“Nebraska: Don’t go down that road,” Martin said. “You’re a state that has warded it off and you’ve done a really good job. Continue to go down the route that you’ve gone for 100-plus years with your public schools.”

Martin attended a campaign fundraiser July 11 with Jenni Benson, the former president of the Nebraska teacher’s union and current president of the Support Our Schools Nebraska campaign, which has opposed the current ballot measure.

At that event, Benson pointed to a quote displayed in her office that reads, “There is a special place in Hell for those who remain neutral in a crisis.” Benson told those at the July event that the current battle over school funding is such a crisis.

Nebraska became the 49th state nationwide to embrace “school choice” legislation in 2023, with&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50326" target="_blank">LB 753</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/businesses/opportunity-scholarship-act#:~:text=The%20scholarships%20are%20funded%20by,2024%2C%202025%2C%20and%202026." target="_blank">Opportunity Scholarships Act</a>. In 2024, facing a public referendum on the fall ballot for that program, lawmakers replaced it with LB 1402, leading to a second referendum.

The National Education Association and Nebraska State Education Association have been the major donors behind repeal efforts on both pieces of legislation.&nbsp;

Martin said that’s because of concerns over accountability, transparency and concern over potentially funding two school systems eventually.

Asked why he’s sure Nebraska would follow the same path, Martin said providing a small initial investment — currently $10 million in Nebraska —&nbsp;is similar to what happened in states like Arizona, Wisconsin or Florida, but the funding eventually ballooned.

“I don’t see anything different,” Martin said.

Kentucky and Colorado also have&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2024/10/11/school-choice-goes-before-voters-in-3-states-faces-pushback-in-others/" target="_blank">school choice questions</a>&nbsp;on their November ballot.

Linehan is the sponsor behind LB 753 and LB 1402, as well as various versions that didn’t pass during her eight-year legislative tenure.

LB 753, which comes off the law books officially Oct. 31, appropriated $25 million every calendar year as a one-to-one refundable income tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations, like Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska.

That organization is the largest, receiving 965 tax credit contributions since Jan. 1, when the law began, totaling about $9.53 million. The average credit was $9,800, and credits ranged from $50 to $100,000, according to a spokesperson.

In total the organization distributed $2.6 million in scholarships for this academic year to 1,515 students. The average scholarship was $1,723.

The LB 1402 program ended LB 753 and instead was designed to divert funds through the Nebraska Treasurer’s Office, at a smaller level of $10 million that wouldn’t grow, as the funding under LB 753 would have.

Linehan has noted that $10 million represents 0.02% of the total cost for Nebraska’s public schools, which receive more than $5 billion. Linehan has said it is a civil rights issue that families are locked into attending public schools, particularly for low-income families, students of color or children with disabilities.

“I’ve been lucky all my life, real lucky. I don’t know when people have the good fortune to have a good job, to be stable, why they would not help those who are not so lucky,” Linehan told the Examiner. “I’ve never understood it. I hope I never do.”

Helping to get the first legislation over the hurdle in 2023 was American Federation for Children, a national nonprofit that advocates for charter schools, vouchers and other forms of scholarships for private K-12 schools. Linehan’s daughter is a spokesperson for the organization, which was founded by former U.S. Education Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/27/betsy-devos-two-others-spent-big-on-nebraska-legislative-races/">Betsy DeVos</a>.

Tim Royers, president of the NSEA,&nbsp; said the problem isn’t with the cost but with the general concept.

Josh Brown, president of the Iowa State Education Association, said that the appropriation for Iowa school choice programs was projected to be hundreds of millions less than it has ended up costing, and that the state auditor can’t review how the funds are spent, because they go to private entities.

“There’s no looking at how the money is being spent,” Brown said of the&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2023/06/15/more-states-use-taxpayer-dollars-to-help-people-pay-for-private-school/" target="_blank">Iowa system</a>.

Wirtz-Olsen, in Wisconsin, said the conversation would be different if taxpayers knew how the money is spent, what private schools’ academic standards and other procedures are, and whether the state could track student achievement.

“I believe very firmly in my heart of hearts that if taxpayers across Wisconsin could see all of that in their own tax bills that that would open their eyes,” Wirtz-Olsen said.

Private schools serve about 10% of students

In the next four years, more than $1 billion will go to Iowa schools, which serve less than 10% of students, Brown said. He expects private tuition costs to grow until low-income families can’t afford the programs even with the vouchers.

“They have snuck in a program pretending like it was to help those that are most unfortunate in a way that, in the end, is going to just be a public funded tuition for those who already would have been choosing that anyway,” Brown said.

Nebraska and Wisconsin have a similar, 9:1 split of students between public and private schools.

Linehan said the choice for Nebraskans this Nov. 5 is whether the 10% of students not attending public schools are as important as the other 90%.

“I think every kid matters, and I’m pretty sure most Nebraskans do,” Linehan said.

Brown said public schools were designed as a solution to inequality and said lawmakers should invest in public schools instead of finding “ways to divide us and have the haves and have nots and put people into a situation where we’re fighting among ourselves for limited resources.”

“In the end it’s not a war or anything between public and private schools,” Brown said. “It’s really a conflict between how public money is spent on private services without equal access and without taxpayer accountability.”

Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/31/iowa-wisconsin-national-educators-urge-nebraskans-to-repeal-state-support-to-private-schools/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;Educators from Iowa, Wisconsin and the National Education Association are joining Cornhusker State educators in urging Nebraskans to repeal a law that funds “education scholarships” for private K-12 schools.The public school advocates said Nebraskans should vote to “repeal” on&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/ballot-measures/private-education-scholarship-partial-referendum/">Referendum Measure 435</a>&nbsp;on the&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/2024-elections" target="_blank">Nov. 5 ballot</a>&nbsp;to remove the main section of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=55486" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 1402</a>, which was passed in April. The law appropriates $10 million annually so the State Treasurer’s Office can provide “education scholarships” for Nebraska families to attend private schools.&nbsp;The Treasurer’s Office will join scholarship-granting organization Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska on Thursday to announce that 4,000 students will receive all $10 million through the scholarships, regardless of the partial referendum on the general election ballot.Ron Duff Martin, a Wisconsin educator who serves as an at-large member of the National Education Association, told the Nebraska Examiner that Milwaukee was really the “birthplace of the voucher program” in the early 1990s.“From there it just grew,” Martin said. “It grew not only in Wisconsin, but we saw other states that adopted similar legislation.”<h2>Stability of funding</h2>Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, said the&nbsp;<a href="https://will-law.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-13-Proposed-Nonparty-Brief-To-File.pdf" target="_blank">Wisconsin legislation</a>&nbsp;has led to funding two systems, one of which included $568.5 million in taxpayer dollars in the 2022-23 school year going to a “web of private voucher systems.”“That labyrinth, that web, is entirely, in terms of funding, unsustainable,” Wirtz-Olsen said.Martin said that in Wisconsin, lawmakers set the state budget for public education and then “skim off the top” for private-school vouchers.&nbsp;“Our local school districts are having to go to referendum to keep the doors open and the lights on,” Wirtz-Olsen said.In Nebraska, the vast majority of public school funding comes from property taxes, which are assessed locally. The state offers $1,500 in foundation aid per public school student, and public school advocates have expressed concern in losing students needed to help stabilize funding that shifts year over year.Lawmakers have perennially updated Nebraksa’s major state funding distribution model since it was adopted in the 1990s, and advocates and lawmakers have agreed major changes are needed but haven’t yet agreed in what form.Public funding help for Nebraska’s private schools could not increase without future approval. The lead lawmaker supporting such a program, State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, has repeatedly said the state is in good financial health and can afford to extend a small fraction of “hope” to families. Linehan is in her final year in the Legislature because of term limits.<h2>‘Nebraskans: Don’t be Wisconsin’</h2>Martin has joined the Cornhusker State teacher’s union and visited the state to oppose its newest laws on at least four occasions. He warned, “Nebraskans: Don’t be Wisconsin.”“Nebraska: Don’t go down that road,” Martin said. “You’re a state that has warded it off and you’ve done a really good job. Continue to go down the route that you’ve gone for 100-plus years with your public schools.”Martin attended a campaign fundraiser July 11 with Jenni Benson, the former president of the Nebraska teacher’s union and current president of the Support Our Schools Nebraska campaign, which has opposed the current ballot measure.At that event, Benson pointed to a quote displayed in her office that reads, “There is a special place in Hell for those who remain neutral in a crisis.” Benson told those at the July event that the current battle over school funding is such a crisis.Nebraska became the 49th state nationwide to embrace “school choice” legislation in 2023, with&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50326" target="_blank">LB 753</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/businesses/opportunity-scholarship-act#:~:text=The%20scholarships%20are%20funded%20by,2024%2C%202025%2C%20and%202026." target="_blank">Opportunity Scholarships Act</a>. In 2024, facing a public referendum on the fall ballot for that program, lawmakers replaced it with LB 1402, leading to a second referendum.The National Education Association and Nebraska State Education Association have been the major donors behind repeal efforts on both pieces of legislation.&nbsp;Martin said that’s because of concerns over accountability, transparency and concern over potentially funding two school systems eventually.Asked why he’s sure Nebraska would follow the same path, Martin said providing a small initial investment — currently $10 million in Nebraska —&nbsp;is similar to what happened in states like Arizona, Wisconsin or Florida, but the funding eventually ballooned.“I don’t see anything different,” Martin said.Kentucky and Colorado also have&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2024/10/11/school-choice-goes-before-voters-in-3-states-faces-pushback-in-others/" target="_blank">school choice questions</a>&nbsp;on their November ballot.<h2>Nebraska school choice laws</h2>Linehan is the sponsor behind LB 753 and LB 1402, as well as various versions that didn’t pass during her eight-year legislative tenure.LB 753, which comes off the law books officially Oct. 31, appropriated $25 million every calendar year as a one-to-one refundable income tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations, like Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska.That organization is the largest, receiving 965 tax credit contributions since Jan. 1, when the law began, totaling about $9.53 million. The average credit was $9,800, and credits ranged from $50 to $100,000, according to a spokesperson.In total the organization distributed $2.6 million in scholarships for this academic year to 1,515 students. The average scholarship was $1,723.The LB 1402 program ended LB 753 and instead was designed to divert funds through the Nebraska Treasurer’s Office, at a smaller level of $10 million that wouldn’t grow, as the funding under LB 753 would have.Linehan has noted that $10 million represents 0.02% of the total cost for Nebraska’s public schools, which receive more than $5 billion. Linehan has said it is a civil rights issue that families are locked into attending public schools, particularly for low-income families, students of color or children with disabilities.“I’ve been lucky all my life, real lucky. I don’t know when people have the good fortune to have a good job, to be stable, why they would not help those who are not so lucky,” Linehan told the Examiner. “I’ve never understood it. I hope I never do.”Helping to get the first legislation over the hurdle in 2023 was American Federation for Children, a national nonprofit that advocates for charter schools, vouchers and other forms of scholarships for private K-12 schools. Linehan’s daughter is a spokesperson for the organization, which was founded by former U.S. Education Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/27/betsy-devos-two-others-spent-big-on-nebraska-legislative-races/">Betsy DeVos</a>.Tim Royers, president of the NSEA,&nbsp; said the problem isn’t with the cost but with the general concept.<h2>Accountability and transparency</h2>Josh Brown, president of the Iowa State Education Association, said that the appropriation for Iowa school choice programs was projected to be hundreds of millions less than it has ended up costing, and that the state auditor can’t review how the funds are spent, because they go to private entities.“There’s no looking at how the money is being spent,” Brown said of the&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2023/06/15/more-states-use-taxpayer-dollars-to-help-people-pay-for-private-school/" target="_blank">Iowa system</a>.Wirtz-Olsen, in Wisconsin, said the conversation would be different if taxpayers knew how the money is spent, what private schools’ academic standards and other procedures are, and whether the state could track student achievement.“I believe very firmly in my heart of hearts that if taxpayers across Wisconsin could see all of that in their own tax bills that that would open their eyes,” Wirtz-Olsen said.<h2>Private schools serve about 10% of students</h2>In the next four years, more than $1 billion will go to Iowa schools, which serve less than 10% of students, Brown said. He expects private tuition costs to grow until low-income families can’t afford the programs even with the vouchers.“They have snuck in a program pretending like it was to help those that are most unfortunate in a way that, in the end, is going to just be a public funded tuition for those who already would have been choosing that anyway,” Brown said.Nebraska and Wisconsin have a similar, 9:1 split of students between public and private schools.Linehan said the choice for Nebraskans this Nov. 5 is whether the 10% of students not attending public schools are as important as the other 90%.“I think every kid matters, and I’m pretty sure most Nebraskans do,” Linehan said.Brown said public schools were designed as a solution to inequality and said lawmakers should invest in public schools instead of finding “ways to divide us and have the haves and have nots and put people into a situation where we’re fighting among ourselves for limited resources.”“In the end it’s not a war or anything between public and private schools,” Brown said. “It’s really a conflict between how public money is spent on private services without equal access and without taxpayer accountability.”

Iowa, Wisconsin, national educators urge Nebraskans to repeal state support to private schools

The United States Department of Justice

WASHINGTON — Consistent with longstanding Justice Department practices and procedures, the department today is providing information about its efforts, through the Civil Rights Division, Criminal Division, National Security Division (NSD), and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country, to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots and have their votes counted free of discrimination, intimidation, or criminal activity in the election process, and to ensure that our elections are secure and free from foreign malign influence and interference.

The department’s Civil Rights Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote and with the criminal provisions of federal statutes prohibiting discriminatory interference with that right. This work is often performed in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of a wide range of federal statutes that protect the right to vote including: the Voting Rights Act; National Voter Registration Act; Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; Help America Vote Act; and Civil Rights Acts. Among other things, collectively, these laws:

The Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination in voting based on disability. The ADA applies to all aspects of voting, including voter registration, selection and accessibility of voting facilities, and the casting of ballots on Election Day or during early voting, whether in-person or absentee.

The Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter interference based on race, color, national origin, or religion.

Complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911. They should also be reported to the department after local authorities are contacted.&nbsp;

Criminal Division and the Department’s 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices

The department’s Criminal Division oversees the enforcement of federal laws that criminalize certain forms of election fraud and vindicate the integrity of the federal election process.

The Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are responsible for enforcing the federal criminal laws that prohibit various forms of election crimes, such as destruction of ballots, vote-buying, multiple voting, submission of fraudulent ballots or registrations, alteration of votes, and malfeasance by postal or election officials and employees.&nbsp;See&nbsp;Justice Manual 9-85.210 (discussing requirements regarding election crime matters); 9-85.300 (discussing approach to ballot fraud); 9-85.400 (discussing application of 18 U.S.C. § 592); 9-85.500 (discussing timing of actions).

The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are also responsible for enforcing federal criminal law prohibiting unlawful threats of violence against election workers, and prohibiting voter intimidation and voter suppression for reasons other than race, color, national origin, or religion (as noted above, voter intimidation and voter suppression that has a basis in race, color, national origin, or religion is addressed by the Civil Rights Division often in partnership with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices).

U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country designate Assistant U.S. Attorneys who serve as District Election Officers (DEOs) in their respective districts. DEOs are responsible for overseeing potential election-crime matters in their districts, and for coordinating with the department’s election-crime experts in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work with specially trained FBI personnel in each district to ensure that complaints from the public involving possible election crimes are handled appropriately. Specifically:

All complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should be reported first to local police authorities by calling 911. After alerting local law enforcement to such emergencies by calling 911, the public should contact the Justice Department.

The department’s National Security Division (NSD) supervises the investigation and prosecution of cases affecting or relating to national security, including any cases involving foreign malign influence and interference in elections or violent extremist threats to elections. In this context:

As in past elections, the National Security Division will work closely with counterparts at the FBI and our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to protect our nation’s elections from any national security threats. Attorneys from National Security Division sections will be partnered with FBI Headquarters components to provide support to U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI field offices to counter any such threats. The Department of Homeland Security also plays its own important role in safeguarding critical election infrastructure from cyber and other threats.

Complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911 and, after local authorities are contacted, then should be reported also to the department.

Protecting the right to vote, prosecuting election crimes, and securing our elections are all essential to maintaining the confidence of all Americans in our democratic system of government. The department encourages anyone with information regarding concerns in these subject areas to contact the appropriate authorities.

For more information about the department’s work to ensure compliance with federal civil and criminal laws related to voting, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fvoting%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000192ddcdaebf-4fac8ff6-30b6-490c-9505-70f6416f5082-000000/eziTw6kDqBA6o98ciYfexZcAXYUbJVWBvouB0XvQcII=377" target="_blank">www.justice.gov/voting</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fcriminal%2Fcriminal-pin%2Felection-crimes-branch%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000192ddcdaebf-4fac8ff6-30b6-490c-9505-70f6416f5082-000000/6Ek2CDh1Zp_rFXXNSZFvqrFkIYo_WGb9d06dk2ePpPA=377" target="_blank">www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-pin/election-crimes-branch</a>.

The United States Department of JusticeWASHINGTON — Consistent with longstanding Justice Department practices and procedures, the department today is providing information about its efforts, through the Civil Rights Division, Criminal Division, National Security Division (NSD), and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country, to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots and have their votes counted free of discrimination, intimidation, or criminal activity in the election process, and to ensure that our elections are secure and free from foreign malign influence and interference.Civil Rights DivisionThe department’s Civil Rights Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote and with the criminal provisions of federal statutes prohibiting discriminatory interference with that right. This work is often performed in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of a wide range of federal statutes that protect the right to vote including: the Voting Rights Act; National Voter Registration Act; Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; Help America Vote Act; and Civil Rights Acts. Among other things, collectively, these laws:<ul>
 <li>Prohibit election practices that have either a discriminatory purpose or a discriminatory result on account of race, color, or language minority status;</li><li>Prohibit intimidation of voters;</li><li>Allow voters who need assistance in voting because of disability or inability to read or write to receive assistance from a person of their choice (other than agents of their employer or union);</li><li>Require minority language election materials and assistance in certain jurisdictions;</li><li>Require accessible voting systems for voters with disabilities;</li><li>Require that provisional ballots be offered to voters who assert they are registered and eligible to vote in the jurisdiction, but whose names do not appear on poll books;</li><li>Require states to provide for absentee voting for uniformed service members serving away from home, their family members also away from home due to that service, and U.S. citizens living abroad; and</li><li>Require covered states to offer the opportunity to register to vote through offices that provide driver licenses, public assistance, and disability services, as well as through the mail, and to take steps regarding maintaining voter registration lists.</li>
 </ul>The Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination in voting based on disability. The ADA applies to all aspects of voting, including voter registration, selection and accessibility of voting facilities, and the casting of ballots on Election Day or during early voting, whether in-person or absentee.The Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter interference based on race, color, national origin, or religion.<ul>
 <li>Throughout the election cycle, Civil Rights Division attorneys in the Voting, Disability Rights, and Criminal Sections in Washington, D.C., will be ready to receive complaints of potential violations of any of the statutes the Civil Rights Division enforces. The Civil Rights Division will work closely with counterparts at U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and other department components to review and take appropriate action concerning these complaints.&nbsp;</li><li>Individuals with complaints related to possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can call the Justice Department’s toll-free telephone line at 800-253-3931, and can also submit complaints at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.civilrights.justice.gov%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000192ddcdaebf-4fac8ff6-30b6-490c-9505-70f6416f5082-000000/UWhXAvNkSt5kjkYPkFbfvWi29JXGC7nUZB9R8-WSjxk=377" target="_blank">www.civilrights.justice.gov</a>.</li><li>Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.ada.gov%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000192ddcdaebf-4fac8ff6-30b6-490c-9505-70f6416f5082-000000/4bcPw8i_V99dWCjS8XY0XZzqM9JIC1zSKVzmeoOrriM=377" target="_blank">www.ada.gov</a>.</li>
 </ul>Complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911. They should also be reported to the department after local authorities are contacted.&nbsp;Criminal Division and the Department’s 94 U.S. Attorneys’ OfficesThe department’s Criminal Division oversees the enforcement of federal laws that criminalize certain forms of election fraud and vindicate the integrity of the federal election process.The Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are responsible for enforcing the federal criminal laws that prohibit various forms of election crimes, such as destruction of ballots, vote-buying, multiple voting, submission of fraudulent ballots or registrations, alteration of votes, and malfeasance by postal or election officials and employees.&nbsp;See&nbsp;Justice Manual 9-85.210 (discussing requirements regarding election crime matters); 9-85.300 (discussing approach to ballot fraud); 9-85.400 (discussing application of 18 U.S.C. § 592); 9-85.500 (discussing timing of actions).The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are also responsible for enforcing federal criminal law prohibiting unlawful threats of violence against election workers, and prohibiting voter intimidation and voter suppression for reasons other than race, color, national origin, or religion (as noted above, voter intimidation and voter suppression that has a basis in race, color, national origin, or religion is addressed by the Civil Rights Division often in partnership with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices).U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country designate Assistant U.S. Attorneys who serve as District Election Officers (DEOs) in their respective districts. DEOs are responsible for overseeing potential election-crime matters in their districts, and for coordinating with the department’s election-crime experts in Washington, D.C.The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work with specially trained FBI personnel in each district to ensure that complaints from the public involving possible election crimes are handled appropriately. Specifically:<ul>
 <li>In consultation with federal prosecutors at the Public Integrity Section in Washington, D.C., the DEOs in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, FBI officials at headquarters in Washington, D.C., and FBI special agents serving as Election Crime Coordinators in the FBI’s 56 field offices will be on duty while polls are open to receive complaints from the public.</li><li>Election-crime complaints should be directed to the local U.S. Attorney’s Office or the local FBI field office. A list of U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and their telephone numbers can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao%2Fdistricts%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000192ddcdaebf-4fac8ff6-30b6-490c-9505-70f6416f5082-000000/w3bT2uwnROqr4R8zoHjVV9BwIR5VpBQR9jrK_5qVJcY=377" target="_blank">www.justice.gov/usao/districts</a>. A list of FBI field offices and accompanying telephone numbers can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.fbi.gov%2Fcontact-us%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000192ddcdaebf-4fac8ff6-30b6-490c-9505-70f6416f5082-000000/S5bvZekCER-P0Pm7HmLrdkOvPRN8MBogZI8Rk7h733U=377" target="_blank">www.fbi.gov/contact-us</a>.</li><li>Public Integrity Section prosecutors are available to consult and coordinate with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the FBI regarding the handling of election-crime allegations.</li>
 </ul>All complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should be reported first to local police authorities by calling 911. After alerting local law enforcement to such emergencies by calling 911, the public should contact the Justice Department.National Security DivisionThe department’s National Security Division (NSD) supervises the investigation and prosecution of cases affecting or relating to national security, including any cases involving foreign malign influence and interference in elections or violent extremist threats to elections. In this context:<ul>
 <li>NSD oversees matters involving a range of malign influence activities that foreign governments may attempt.</li><li>NSD’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section oversees matters involving covert information operations (e.g., to promulgate disinformation through social media); covert efforts to support or denigrate political candidates or organizations; and other covert influence operations that might violate various criminal statutes.</li><li>NSD’s National Security Cyber Section oversees such matters when they are cyber-enabled (i.e., when online platforms, such as social media and other online services, are central to the commission of the offense), as well as those involving computer hacking of election or campaign infrastructure.</li><li>NSD’s Counterterrorism Section oversees matters involving international and domestic terrorism and supports law enforcement in preventing any acts of terrorism that impact Americans, including any violent extremism that might threaten election security.</li>
 </ul>As in past elections, the National Security Division will work closely with counterparts at the FBI and our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to protect our nation’s elections from any national security threats. Attorneys from National Security Division sections will be partnered with FBI Headquarters components to provide support to U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI field offices to counter any such threats. The Department of Homeland Security also plays its own important role in safeguarding critical election infrastructure from cyber and other threats.Complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911 and, after local authorities are contacted, then should be reported also to the department.Protecting the right to vote, prosecuting election crimes, and securing our elections are all essential to maintaining the confidence of all Americans in our democratic system of government. The department encourages anyone with information regarding concerns in these subject areas to contact the appropriate authorities.For more information about the department’s work to ensure compliance with federal civil and criminal laws related to voting, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fvoting%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000192ddcdaebf-4fac8ff6-30b6-490c-9505-70f6416f5082-000000/eziTw6kDqBA6o98ciYfexZcAXYUbJVWBvouB0XvQcII=377" target="_blank">www.justice.gov/voting</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fcriminal%2Fcriminal-pin%2Felection-crimes-branch%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000192ddcdaebf-4fac8ff6-30b6-490c-9505-70f6416f5082-000000/6Ek2CDh1Zp_rFXXNSZFvqrFkIYo_WGb9d06dk2ePpPA=377" target="_blank">www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-pin/election-crimes-branch</a>.

Justice Department Releases Information on Efforts to Protect the Right to Vote, Prosecute Election Fraud, and Secure Elections

DAMASCUS —U.S. forces conducted a series of air strikes against several known ISIS camps in Syria in the early evening of Oct. 28, resulting in up to 35 ISIS operatives killed, the U.S. Central Command reported Wednesday.

The strikes targeted multiple ISIS locations in the Syrian desert, targeting multiple ISIS senior leaders. There are no indications of civilian casualties, according to the Central Command.

The strikes will disrupt the ability of ISUS to plan, organize and conduct attacks against civilians as well as U.S. allies and partners throughout the region and beyond.

"Central Command forces alongside allies and partners in the region will continue to aggressively degrade ISUS operation capabilities to ensure its enduring defeat."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730298603773.png" alt="A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II operates over the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility." />
 <figcaption>A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II operates over the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility.</figcaption>
 </figure>DAMASCUS —U.S. forces conducted a series of air strikes against several known ISIS camps in Syria in the early evening of Oct. 28, resulting in up to 35 ISIS operatives killed, the U.S. Central Command reported Wednesday.The strikes targeted multiple ISIS locations in the Syrian desert, targeting multiple ISIS senior leaders. There are no indications of civilian casualties, according to the Central Command.The strikes will disrupt the ability of ISUS to plan, organize and conduct attacks against civilians as well as U.S. allies and partners throughout the region and beyond."Central Command forces alongside allies and partners in the region will continue to aggressively degrade ISUS operation capabilities to ensure its enduring defeat."

U.S. forces conduct airstrikes against terrorist camps in Syria

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded UNMC one of 10 Regional Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response across the nation.

These regional centers will play an essential role over the next five years in advancing the uptake of evidence-based strategies and interventions across communities, enhancing their ability to prepare for and respond to public health threats, according to the CDC.

UNMC will administer the center for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region Seven – Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.

The center will work with a coalition of regional partners, including the University of Iowa and the University of Iowa College of Public Health. Other collaborators will include health departments from across the four states, as well as various rural and tribal partners.

The goal is to implement evidence-based practices in public health and emergency preparedness and response, especially in scenarios such as extreme weather events. The center also will work to address concerns around public health workforce development, workforce resiliency and improving community trust in public health, said principal investigator Rachel Lookadoo, JD, assistant professor of environmental, agricultural and occupational health.

The center will build upon an existing culture of regional cooperation within the four states, as well as a depth of expertise.

“Our preparedness efforts in the region are strong – but we can continue to strengthen them through coordination and collaboration,” said Lauren Sauer, associate professor of environmental, agricultural and occupational health, and associate director of research at the Global Center for Health Security, a co-principal investigator. “And so, we’ll work that our preparedness activities are not siloed and are evidence-based. One of the key goals of this contract is to improve regional coordination and improve a nationwide dialogue on evidence-based practice.”

Lookadoo added, “The goal of this center will be to help create a more interconnected regional approach to responding to some of the public health emergency threats that are particularly concerning to our region.”

The other regional centers are at Harvard University, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Minnesota, Tulane University, University of Utah, University of California San Francisco and University of Washington.

Caption: From left, Rachel Lookadoo, JD, and Lauren Sauer

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730300987168.jpeg" alt=" From left, Rachel Lookadoo, JD, and Lauren Sauer" />
 <figcaption> From left, Rachel Lookadoo, JD, and Lauren Sauer</figcaption>
 </figure>UNMCThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded UNMC one of 10 Regional Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response across the nation.These regional centers will play an essential role over the next five years in advancing the uptake of evidence-based strategies and interventions across communities, enhancing their ability to prepare for and respond to public health threats, according to the CDC.UNMC will administer the center for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region Seven – Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.The center will work with a coalition of regional partners, including the University of Iowa and the University of Iowa College of Public Health. Other collaborators will include health departments from across the four states, as well as various rural and tribal partners.The goal is to implement evidence-based practices in public health and emergency preparedness and response, especially in scenarios such as extreme weather events. The center also will work to address concerns around public health workforce development, workforce resiliency and improving community trust in public health, said principal investigator Rachel Lookadoo, JD, assistant professor of environmental, agricultural and occupational health.The center will build upon an existing culture of regional cooperation within the four states, as well as a depth of expertise.“Our preparedness efforts in the region are strong – but we can continue to strengthen them through coordination and collaboration,” said Lauren Sauer, associate professor of environmental, agricultural and occupational health, and associate director of research at the Global Center for Health Security, a co-principal investigator. “And so, we’ll work that our preparedness activities are not siloed and are evidence-based. One of the key goals of this contract is to improve regional coordination and improve a nationwide dialogue on evidence-based practice.”Lookadoo added, “The goal of this center will be to help create a more interconnected regional approach to responding to some of the public health emergency threats that are particularly concerning to our region.”The other regional centers are at Harvard University, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Minnesota, Tulane University, University of Utah, University of California San Francisco and University of Washington.Caption: From left, Rachel Lookadoo, JD, and Lauren Sauer

 UNMC named new public health regional center for CDC

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/29/trial-begins-in-case-against-nebraskas-medical-cannabis-ballot-measures/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The trial over Nebraska’s two medical cannabis ballot measures began Tuesday with a broad examination into notary publics, citizen-led initiatives and the different groups that have reviewed the petition signatures.&nbsp;

The case in Lancaster County District Court involves two petitions from the Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign that would&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20Ballot%20Measures%20Pamphlet.pdf" target="_blank">legalize and regulate medical cannabis</a>. Both petitions remain on the Nov. 5 ballot, but if this week’s legal challenges are successful, that could invalidate the election results. The trial picks back up Thursday.

The medical marijuana campaign needs&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/23/breaking-down-petition-signatures-for-nebraska-2024-ballot-measures/">86,499 valid signatures</a>. Nearly 90,000 signatures were verified on each petition.

Attorneys for John Kuehn, a former state senator and former State Board of Health member who&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/12/lawsuit-seeks-to-invalidate-nebraskas-medical-marijuana-ballot-measures/">filed the Sept. 12 lawsuit</a>, and Secretary of State Bob Evnen, a defendant in the lawsuit, sought to frame the case around one question: “Following the rules.”

Anne Mackin, an Austin-based attorney and one of Kuehn’s lead attorneys, said the question is whether the campaign garnered enough signatures, and said she is being aided by an “unbiased third-party firm” that Kuehn hired to review the signatures. She said the firm found suspicious behavior involving the petition drive.

“These are not isolated incidents. This is large, large-scale, known malfeasance by key campaign workers,” Mackin said. “It’s a larger scale than my client ever could have imagined when initially filing this lawsuit.”

Mackin is a former Texas assistant attorney general who worked as legal counsel for the Texas Senate and Federal Election Commission.

Deputy Solicitor General Zach Viglianco in the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, who is defending Evnen, said during opening arguments that “cheating is a choice.” He accused the ballot sponsors and a significant number of campaign circulators and notaries public of cheating Nebraskans.

“The choice those individuals made is an unfortunate one,” Viglianco said. “But it’s not a choice that can be ignored.”

Sydney Hayes, an attorney for the ballot sponsors, said the goal of the opposing attorneys is to find enough questionable signatures to invalidate both petitions.

Hayes told Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong that there isn’t enough evidence of “fraud” or mistakes, noting&nbsp;at most 706 questionable signatures on one petition and 394 signatures on the other.

“They simply can’t meet the numbers,” Hayes said. “In fact, they don’t even come close.”

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office and Kuehn’s attorneys are focusing on the behavior of certain notaries, Hayes said, seeking to invalidate any signatures that they touched.

Hayes said invalidating that many signatures is “quite simply” not the law. She and Daniel Gutman, another ballot sponsor attorney, have argued&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/08/medical-cannabis-sponsors-push-back-on-nebraska-officials-claims-of-fraud-and-malfeasance/">no court nationwide has ever accepted</a>.

Wayne Bena, deputy secretary of state for elections, testified that local county officials verify signatures by matching at least two of three identifying details –– printed names, birth dates or home addresses — to a voter’s registration file.

Bena testified that it is possible that county officials would not catch fraud, for example, if a circulator provided a registered voter’s information without their knowledge or consent. He noted county election officials also aren’t handwriting experts.

Much of Kuehn’s initial lawsuit focused on instances where the two-out-of-three rule wasn’t followed, or when the campaign wasn’t disclosing whether circulators were paid. However, Kuen’s attorneys largely avoided&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/27/district-court-judge-dismisses-some-but-not-all-charges-in-nebraska-medical-cannabis-lawsuit/">those arguments&nbsp;</a>on Tuesday,&nbsp;for the most part focusing on notaries and circulators, like Evnen’s attorneys.

David Wilson Jr., associate general counsel for the Secretary of State’s Office and director of licensing, who oversees the work of notaries for the office, explained that notarizations give “presumptive evidence” over a matter’s legal validity.

Wilson said notaries must physically witness an “oath” and confirm the identity of whose documents they are notarizing. In this case, that’s a notarization for a circulator swearing to the validity of the signatures they’ve gathered.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office has alleged that thousands of signatures were collected where those requirements weren’t met.

Wilson testified that he is unaware of his office having criminal prosecutorial authority over notaries or of instances where one document being invalidated led to every document a particular notary touched being tossed.&nbsp;

At least one notary, Jacy Todd of York, has been criminally charged in the case. He faces 24 counts of alleged malfeasance. Todd is a prospective witness in the case but is currently facing medical issues that raised questions whether he’ll be able to testify in court.

Wilson said he is unaware of any other notaries being criminally charged for malfeasance.

Kait Madsen, an attorney for the ballot sponsors, asked Wilson whether there is additional training or continuing education for notaries, which he said there is not.&nbsp;

Wilson said a mistake doesn’t always mean malfeasance.

“Everyone makes mistakes,” Wilson said. “… It’s fact dependent on what happened.”

Kory Langhofer, a high-profile, Phoenix-based elections attorney and co-founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://signafide.com/about.html" target="_blank">Signafide</a>, a cloud-based petition validation service that Kuehn hired to review the petitions. The firm uses artificial intelligence and manual labor to review petitions nationwide.

Langhofer has represented various clients nationwide, including former President Donald Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns, including questions about the 2020 Arizona election results; Carly Fiorina’s Republican presidential campaign in 2016; and then-Gov. Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign in 2012.

He testified that he began working in the ballot access field in 2011, has worked in all U.S. states and territories at least twice, and has reviewed at least 17 state ballot measure petitions, one of which involved a client favoring marijuana legalization.

Signafide’s process involves AI and hours of visual review, Langhofer said. However, he noted the firm didn’t receive all the scans of the Nebraska petition pages, so his estimates would likely undercount some alleged irregularities.

Hayes objected to using the network analysis because of Langhofer’s noted limitations. Mackin said the analysis is intended to corroborate evidence from the Attorney General’s Office.

John Brennan, a civil investigator and certified fraud examiner in the Attorney General’s Office, walked Viglianco through a handful of examples of questionable circulator or notary signatures and instances where a circulator notarized his or her own petition sheet.

Brennan said he has never investigated a case involving circulator fraud or notary malfeasance but said it is similar to consumer protection cases he’s investigated.

Brennan said he reviewed more than 25,000 pages and outlined multiple pieces of evidence with some “facial” defects that he said were improperly validated, some of which were forwarded to a handwriting expert who is expected to be called as a witness later this week.

The attorneys for Kuehn and the ballot sponsors will continue questioning Brennan on Thursday.

Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/29/trial-begins-in-case-against-nebraskas-medical-cannabis-ballot-measures/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The trial over Nebraska’s two medical cannabis ballot measures began Tuesday with a broad examination into notary publics, citizen-led initiatives and the different groups that have reviewed the petition signatures.&nbsp;The case in Lancaster County District Court involves two petitions from the Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign that would&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20Ballot%20Measures%20Pamphlet.pdf" target="_blank">legalize and regulate medical cannabis</a>. Both petitions remain on the Nov. 5 ballot, but if this week’s legal challenges are successful, that could invalidate the election results. The trial picks back up Thursday.The medical marijuana campaign needs&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/23/breaking-down-petition-signatures-for-nebraska-2024-ballot-measures/">86,499 valid signatures</a>. Nearly 90,000 signatures were verified on each petition.<h2>‘Cheating is a choice’</h2>Attorneys for John Kuehn, a former state senator and former State Board of Health member who&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/12/lawsuit-seeks-to-invalidate-nebraskas-medical-marijuana-ballot-measures/">filed the Sept. 12 lawsuit</a>, and Secretary of State Bob Evnen, a defendant in the lawsuit, sought to frame the case around one question: “Following the rules.”Anne Mackin, an Austin-based attorney and one of Kuehn’s lead attorneys, said the question is whether the campaign garnered enough signatures, and said she is being aided by an “unbiased third-party firm” that Kuehn hired to review the signatures. She said the firm found suspicious behavior involving the petition drive.“These are not isolated incidents. This is large, large-scale, known malfeasance by key campaign workers,” Mackin said. “It’s a larger scale than my client ever could have imagined when initially filing this lawsuit.”Mackin is a former Texas assistant attorney general who worked as legal counsel for the Texas Senate and Federal Election Commission.Deputy Solicitor General Zach Viglianco in the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, who is defending Evnen, said during opening arguments that “cheating is a choice.” He accused the ballot sponsors and a significant number of campaign circulators and notaries public of cheating Nebraskans.“The choice those individuals made is an unfortunate one,” Viglianco said. “But it’s not a choice that can be ignored.”<h2>Pursuit of the ‘magic number’</h2>Sydney Hayes, an attorney for the ballot sponsors, said the goal of the opposing attorneys is to find enough questionable signatures to invalidate both petitions.Hayes told Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong that there isn’t enough evidence of “fraud” or mistakes, noting&nbsp;at most 706 questionable signatures on one petition and 394 signatures on the other.“They simply can’t meet the numbers,” Hayes said. “In fact, they don’t even come close.”The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office and Kuehn’s attorneys are focusing on the behavior of certain notaries, Hayes said, seeking to invalidate any signatures that they touched.Hayes said invalidating that many signatures is “quite simply” not the law. She and Daniel Gutman, another ballot sponsor attorney, have argued&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/08/medical-cannabis-sponsors-push-back-on-nebraska-officials-claims-of-fraud-and-malfeasance/">no court nationwide has ever accepted</a>.<h2>Signature validation and notaries</h2>Wayne Bena, deputy secretary of state for elections, testified that local county officials verify signatures by matching at least two of three identifying details –– printed names, birth dates or home addresses — to a voter’s registration file.Bena testified that it is possible that county officials would not catch fraud, for example, if a circulator provided a registered voter’s information without their knowledge or consent. He noted county election officials also aren’t handwriting experts.Much of Kuehn’s initial lawsuit focused on instances where the two-out-of-three rule wasn’t followed, or when the campaign wasn’t disclosing whether circulators were paid. However, Kuen’s attorneys largely avoided&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/09/27/district-court-judge-dismisses-some-but-not-all-charges-in-nebraska-medical-cannabis-lawsuit/">those arguments&nbsp;</a>on Tuesday,&nbsp;for the most part focusing on notaries and circulators, like Evnen’s attorneys.David Wilson Jr., associate general counsel for the Secretary of State’s Office and director of licensing, who oversees the work of notaries for the office, explained that notarizations give “presumptive evidence” over a matter’s legal validity.Wilson said notaries must physically witness an “oath” and confirm the identity of whose documents they are notarizing. In this case, that’s a notarization for a circulator swearing to the validity of the signatures they’ve gathered.The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office has alleged that thousands of signatures were collected where those requirements weren’t met.Wilson testified that he is unaware of his office having criminal prosecutorial authority over notaries or of instances where one document being invalidated led to every document a particular notary touched being tossed.&nbsp;At least one notary, Jacy Todd of York, has been criminally charged in the case. He faces 24 counts of alleged malfeasance. Todd is a prospective witness in the case but is currently facing medical issues that raised questions whether he’ll be able to testify in court.Wilson said he is unaware of any other notaries being criminally charged for malfeasance.Kait Madsen, an attorney for the ballot sponsors, asked Wilson whether there is additional training or continuing education for notaries, which he said there is not.&nbsp;Wilson said a mistake doesn’t always mean malfeasance.“Everyone makes mistakes,” Wilson said. “… It’s fact dependent on what happened.”<h2>Dual investigations</h2>Kory Langhofer, a high-profile, Phoenix-based elections attorney and co-founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://signafide.com/about.html" target="_blank">Signafide</a>, a cloud-based petition validation service that Kuehn hired to review the petitions. The firm uses artificial intelligence and manual labor to review petitions nationwide.Langhofer has represented various clients nationwide, including former President Donald Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns, including questions about the 2020 Arizona election results; Carly Fiorina’s Republican presidential campaign in 2016; and then-Gov. Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign in 2012.He testified that he began working in the ballot access field in 2011, has worked in all U.S. states and territories at least twice, and has reviewed at least 17 state ballot measure petitions, one of which involved a client favoring marijuana legalization.Signafide’s process involves AI and hours of visual review, Langhofer said. However, he noted the firm didn’t receive all the scans of the Nebraska petition pages, so his estimates would likely undercount some alleged irregularities.Hayes objected to using the network analysis because of Langhofer’s noted limitations. Mackin said the analysis is intended to corroborate evidence from the Attorney General’s Office.John Brennan, a civil investigator and certified fraud examiner in the Attorney General’s Office, walked Viglianco through a handful of examples of questionable circulator or notary signatures and instances where a circulator notarized his or her own petition sheet.Brennan said he has never investigated a case involving circulator fraud or notary malfeasance but said it is similar to consumer protection cases he’s investigated.Brennan said he reviewed more than 25,000 pages and outlined multiple pieces of evidence with some “facial” defects that he said were improperly validated, some of which were forwarded to a handwriting expert who is expected to be called as a witness later this week.The attorneys for Kuehn and the ballot sponsors will continue questioning Brennan on Thursday.

Trial Begins in Case Against Nebraska’s Medical Cannabis Ballot Measures

LINCOLN, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation awarded six agricultural professionals with scholarships to participate in the Nebraska LEAD program, keeping with the mission of cultivating the future of agriculture.

“These individuals continue to push to make agriculture better across Nebraska,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. “We are proud to support these individuals as they make an investment in their future, becoming equipped to better serve their communities and agriculture through the Nebraska LEAD program.”

The LEAD Scholarship awards agricultural stakeholders that participate in the Nebraska LEAD program. The LEAD program improves leadership skills and abilities of Nebraska’s future agricultural leaders through exposure to diverse topics, issues, concerns, points of view, and innovative ideas. The winners of the LEAD Scholarship are current Farm Bureau members that commit to serving in a leadership role with Farm Bureau upon completion of the program.

The six winners are Adam Oldemeyer (Ayr); April Delsing (Hemingford); Jake Werner (Lincoln); Jake Judge (Norfolk); Courtney Nelson (Norfolk); and Michelle Bose (Arcadia).

The mission of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is to engage youth, educators, and the general public to promote an understanding of the vital importance of agriculture in the lives of all Nebraskans. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For more information about the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefbfoundation.org/" target="_blank">www.nefbfoundation.org</a>.&nbsp;

Nebraska Farm BureauLINCOLN, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation awarded six agricultural professionals with scholarships to participate in the Nebraska LEAD program, keeping with the mission of cultivating the future of agriculture.“These individuals continue to push to make agriculture better across Nebraska,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. “We are proud to support these individuals as they make an investment in their future, becoming equipped to better serve their communities and agriculture through the Nebraska LEAD program.”The LEAD Scholarship awards agricultural stakeholders that participate in the Nebraska LEAD program. The LEAD program improves leadership skills and abilities of Nebraska’s future agricultural leaders through exposure to diverse topics, issues, concerns, points of view, and innovative ideas. The winners of the LEAD Scholarship are current Farm Bureau members that commit to serving in a leadership role with Farm Bureau upon completion of the program.The six winners are Adam Oldemeyer (Ayr); April Delsing (Hemingford); Jake Werner (Lincoln); Jake Judge (Norfolk); Courtney Nelson (Norfolk); and Michelle Bose (Arcadia).The mission of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is to engage youth, educators, and the general public to promote an understanding of the vital importance of agriculture in the lives of all Nebraskans. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For more information about the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefbfoundation.org/" target="_blank">www.nefbfoundation.org</a>.&nbsp;

Nebraska Farm Bureau Awards LEAD Fellow Scholarships

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/center-pivot-machine-outperforms-toilet-paper-for-2024-title-coolest-thing-made-in-nebraska/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA —&nbsp;A center pivot irrigation machine washed out toilet paper to be named Tuesday as the 2024 “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska.”&nbsp;

The winner of the third annual competition — created to bring awareness and excitement to the state’s No. 2 industry, manufacturing — was announced during the Nebraska Manufacturing Summit in La Vista.

The tournament began in mid-September with 16 products. (Courtesy of Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

Tens of thousands of votes were cast during the bracket-style tournament that kicked off in mid-September, according to the organizer, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Valley Center Pivot by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ValleyIrrigationEnglish" target="_blank">Valley Irrigation&nbsp;</a>emerged as champion following several rounds of public voting that started with 16 products.

Runner-up was toilet paper produced by Omaha-based Outlook Nebraska, which, according to its website, is the largest employer of the blind and visually impaired in Nebraska and a seven-state region.

Matt Ondrejko, senior vice president of product excellence and commercialization at Valley Irrigation, which is a Valmont company, accepted the award during the conference.&nbsp;

He called it a testament to “all the work, innovation and dedication that our team pours into every single pivot.”&nbsp;

According to the company, its center pivots have “revolutionized global agriculture.” Used in more than 90 countries, they conserve water, improve crop yields and use cutting-edge technology such as remote management.&nbsp;

“It’s not just a piece of machinery, it’s a symbol of Nebraska ingenuity,” Ondrejko said of the center pivot. “Together we’re proving that the Heartland isn’t just where food grows, it’s where world-changing ideas take root.”

Outlook Nebraska says it is the sole toilet paper manufacturer in Nebraska and an Omaha not-for-profit with a global reach. (Courtesy of Outlook Nebraska and Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/top-16-contenders-announced-for-2024-coolest-thing-made-in-nebraska/">16 products that started off</a>&nbsp;the tournament were selected from an original pool of about 65 entries. A Leadership Nebraska alumni group of statewide business and nonprofit representatives narrowed that field of nominees. Then the public vote took over for future rounds.

The summit marked a highlight of Manufacturing Month in Nebraska. State officials said Nebraska’s manufacturing job count, about 109,000, has hit its highest point in more than 20 years, since 2001.

They said the manufacturing industry is second to agriculture in the state and contributes $21.6 billion to Nebraska’s annual gross domestic product, a 57% increase from five years ago.

Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/center-pivot-machine-outperforms-toilet-paper-for-2024-title-coolest-thing-made-in-nebraska/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA —&nbsp;A center pivot irrigation machine washed out toilet paper to be named Tuesday as the 2024 “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska.”&nbsp;The winner of the third annual competition — created to bring awareness and excitement to the state’s No. 2 industry, manufacturing — was announced during the Nebraska Manufacturing Summit in La Vista.The tournament began in mid-September with 16 products. (Courtesy of Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry)Tens of thousands of votes were cast during the bracket-style tournament that kicked off in mid-September, according to the organizer, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry.The Valley Center Pivot by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ValleyIrrigationEnglish" target="_blank">Valley Irrigation&nbsp;</a>emerged as champion following several rounds of public voting that started with 16 products.Runner-up was toilet paper produced by Omaha-based Outlook Nebraska, which, according to its website, is the largest employer of the blind and visually impaired in Nebraska and a seven-state region.Matt Ondrejko, senior vice president of product excellence and commercialization at Valley Irrigation, which is a Valmont company, accepted the award during the conference.&nbsp;He called it a testament to “all the work, innovation and dedication that our team pours into every single pivot.”&nbsp;According to the company, its center pivots have “revolutionized global agriculture.” Used in more than 90 countries, they conserve water, improve crop yields and use cutting-edge technology such as remote management.&nbsp;“It’s not just a piece of machinery, it’s a symbol of Nebraska ingenuity,” Ondrejko said of the center pivot. “Together we’re proving that the Heartland isn’t just where food grows, it’s where world-changing ideas take root.”Outlook Nebraska says it is the sole toilet paper manufacturer in Nebraska and an Omaha not-for-profit with a global reach. (Courtesy of Outlook Nebraska and Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry)The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/top-16-contenders-announced-for-2024-coolest-thing-made-in-nebraska/">16 products that started off</a>&nbsp;the tournament were selected from an original pool of about 65 entries. A Leadership Nebraska alumni group of statewide business and nonprofit representatives narrowed that field of nominees. Then the public vote took over for future rounds.The summit marked a highlight of Manufacturing Month in Nebraska. State officials said Nebraska’s manufacturing job count, about 109,000, has hit its highest point in more than 20 years, since 2001.They said the manufacturing industry is second to agriculture in the state and contributes $21.6 billion to Nebraska’s annual gross domestic product, a 57% increase from five years ago.

Center pivot machine outperforms toilet paper for 2024 title: “Coolest Thing Made In Nebraska”

Lincoln, October 29, 2024- The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) has set a November hearing date for telecommunications carrier Lumen (&nbsp;<a href="https://psc.nebraska.gov/state-911/911-075pi-248-lumen-affiliates-911-outage-investigation" target="_blank">911-075/PI-248, 911-077/C-5581/PI-252</a>&nbsp;)concerning three separate service outages/disruptions affecting 911.

The hearing will be held in the Commission hearing room, beginning at 9:00 a.m., on Monday,November 4.&nbsp; The Commission has set aside, Tuesday, November 5, at 9:00 a.m., should asecond day of testimony be required.

The three separate Lumen outages/disruptions occurred on August 31, 2023, April 17 &amp; July 9,2024, impacting 911 service over a wide area of Lumens’ Nebraska network.

An initial public hearing regarding the August 31, 2023, Lumen outage was held by the Commission in January. As the Commission expanded its investigation to include the two 2024disruptions it conducted additional data requests and sought analysis from outside experts on network infrastructure specifically in the area of 911 network requirements. During the hearing Commissioners and legal staff will ask questions and get answers directly from the telecommunications carrier. Testimony during the hearing may also include invited witnesses. A decision regarding the investigations will be made at a later date.

As the proceeding is an investigatory hearing, public comment will not be taken during thehearing.

Those choosing to observe the hearing in-person are reminded the Commission hearing room has a limited capacity. Individuals interested in watching the proceeding may also do so online at&lt;&nbsp;<a href="https://psc.nebraska.gov/stream" target="_blank">https://psc.nebraska.gov/stream</a>&nbsp; &gt;.

Deb CollinsPSCLincoln, October 29, 2024- The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) has set a November hearing date for telecommunications carrier Lumen (&nbsp;<a href="https://psc.nebraska.gov/state-911/911-075pi-248-lumen-affiliates-911-outage-investigation" target="_blank">911-075/PI-248, 911-077/C-5581/PI-252</a>&nbsp;)concerning three separate service outages/disruptions affecting 911.The hearing will be held in the Commission hearing room, beginning at 9:00 a.m., on Monday,November 4.&nbsp; The Commission has set aside, Tuesday, November 5, at 9:00 a.m., should asecond day of testimony be required.The three separate Lumen outages/disruptions occurred on August 31, 2023, April 17 &amp; July 9,2024, impacting 911 service over a wide area of Lumens’ Nebraska network.An initial public hearing regarding the August 31, 2023, Lumen outage was held by the Commission in January. As the Commission expanded its investigation to include the two 2024disruptions it conducted additional data requests and sought analysis from outside experts on network infrastructure specifically in the area of 911 network requirements. During the hearing Commissioners and legal staff will ask questions and get answers directly from the telecommunications carrier. Testimony during the hearing may also include invited witnesses. A decision regarding the investigations will be made at a later date.As the proceeding is an investigatory hearing, public comment will not be taken during thehearing.Those choosing to observe the hearing in-person are reminded the Commission hearing room has a limited capacity. Individuals interested in watching the proceeding may also do so online at&lt;&nbsp;<a href="https://psc.nebraska.gov/stream" target="_blank">https://psc.nebraska.gov/stream</a>&nbsp; &gt;.

PSC Sets Hearing Date for Lumen Outage Investigations

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/grants-available-for-fixing-buildings-on-historic-register/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Grants of between $5,000 and $35,000 are now available for fixing roofs and brickwork on historic structures in Nebraska.

The “Bricks and Mortar” grants, to be handed out by the Nebraska State Historical Society, are aimed at&nbsp;repairing properties on the National Register of Historic Places.

A total of $80,000 is available, which can be used to reimburse 80% of eligible project costs.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Nov. 15. Applications must be submitted online via the website:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraska.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4af6c119278bab53245cdd3e6&amp;id=bcfcf2f2e8&amp;e=9191af6659" target="_blank">history.nebraska.gov/historic-preservation/bricks-and-mortar-roof-grant/</a>

&nbsp;Additional points are given to properties that are in communities with a population of less than 50,000.

The grants are administered by the National Park Service. For more information, contact the State Historical Preservation Office at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hn.hp@nebraska.gov">hn.hp@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;or 402-805-7392.

Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/grants-available-for-fixing-buildings-on-historic-register/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Grants of between $5,000 and $35,000 are now available for fixing roofs and brickwork on historic structures in Nebraska.The “Bricks and Mortar” grants, to be handed out by the Nebraska State Historical Society, are aimed at&nbsp;repairing properties on the National Register of Historic Places.A total of $80,000 is available, which can be used to reimburse 80% of eligible project costs.The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Nov. 15. Applications must be submitted online via the website:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraska.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4af6c119278bab53245cdd3e6&amp;id=bcfcf2f2e8&amp;e=9191af6659" target="_blank">history.nebraska.gov/historic-preservation/bricks-and-mortar-roof-grant/</a>&nbsp;Additional points are given to properties that are in communities with a population of less than 50,000.The grants are administered by the National Park Service. For more information, contact the State Historical Preservation Office at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hn.hp@nebraska.gov">hn.hp@nebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;or 402-805-7392.

Grants available for fixing buildings on Historic Register

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/29/lawmakers-public-school-advocates-spar-over-ads-against-using-state-funds-for-ne-private-schools/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska lawmakers made what likely was a final push Monday before Election Day to save the state’s latest “school choice” program to offset attendance costs at private schools.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who sponsored the original&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50326" target="_blank">Legislative Bills 753</a>&nbsp;in 2023 and&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=55486" target="_blank">1402</a>&nbsp;this year, joined with about 20 of her legislative colleagues to criticize a new ad from the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/ballot-measures/private-education-scholarship-partial-referendum/">Support Our Schools campaign</a>, which has opposed both of Linehan’s bills. But in the face of a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign, Linehan said opponents are intentionally not matching spending.

“I’m not putting much value on a repeal that was funded by $5 million against no opposition,” Linehan said.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SOSNebraska/status/1849464803066089834" target="_blank">targeted ad</a>, posted to the campaign’s social media four days ago, shows three men in suits, which the senators took as caricatures of themselves. The men enter a classroom, steal toy blocks from the children, break pencils, knock over dominoes and break a house made of Legos.

“The Legislature’s school voucher bill fails our kids,” a voiceover says.

Linehan herself used Legos at a Monday news conference to demonstrate the issue, placing her left hand on a jug of Legos about a foot high, overflowing with hundreds of blocks, while holding a small cup of about 10 Legos in her right hand.&nbsp;

She said the first represented $5 billion in funds that public schools spend annually from the state, while the other is the $10 million provided to private schools under her legislation.

“The commercials are ridiculous, and they are insulting to the Legislature,” Linehan said.

Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, and Jenni Benson, president of the Support Our Schools campaign, criticized the opponents as rehashing arguments from when the bills passed the Legislature.

Royers, who attended Monday’s news conference, said the decision is in the hands of Nebraska voters. He said the decision is about “a fundamental attack on the integrity of public education within the state.”

“We view this as an existential threat to our capacity to fund our schools in the future,” Royers said. “That’s why we’re committing the resources we are to this.”

As of the campaign’s latest filings, through Oct. 21, the campaign opposing the LB 1402 “education scholarships” raised $4.6 million and spent $4.1 million. LB 1402 provided a direct $10 million to the State Treasurer’s Office to distribute “education scholarships” for students to attend nonpublic K-12 schools.

Much of the news conference focused on allegations in the ad, which lawmakers sought to discredit as “prejudicial,” “in bad taste,” “insulting,” “distasteful” and “disrespectful.” They jointly urged voters to vote to retain LB 1402, as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20Ballot%20Measures%20Pamphlet.pdf" target="_blank">Referendum Measure 435</a>.

“Whoever came up with that idea, I’ll be honest, like my mother used to say, should be ashamed of themselves,” said State Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul, a former member of the State Board of Education. “That has no place in the public discourse in Nebraska.”

State Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus said “by any measure” state funding is up for public schools. He said the ad was meant to make voters mad. He questioned whether opponents would again spend millions of dollars if similar legislation was reintroduced rather than spending such funds on teacher retirement programs or improving test scores.

“You’re going to have to work with state senators moving forward to try to do the best you can for your schools and for your students,” Moser said. “The Legislature is interested in working with you, but that commercial is over the top.”

Royers said in response: “I thought it was a pretty fun ad. My kids thought it was a pretty fun ad. And candidly, I could run up a bunch of mailers and other ads that I think are far, far worse than an ad with kids in the classroom.”

Multiple speakers, including State Sens. Julie Slama of Dunbar and Justin Wayne of Omaha, criticized Royers on Monday.

“If you’re a dues paying teachers union member, your money is being wasted on advertising like this,” Slama said.

State Sens. Rob Clements of Elmwood, Rita Sanders of Bellevue and Dave Murman of Glenvil pointed to legislation in the past three years as significant investments in public education.

Clements, chair of the Appropriations Committee, pointed to the “Education Future Fund,” an initial $1 billion investment in 2023.

Sanders noted legislation to increase state special education reimbursement to 80% of costs and $1,500 in “foundation aid” for all public school students.

Murman, chair of the Education Committee, looked at recent legislation to provide $5,000 in grants for first-year educators for each of five years if they stay in the state, as well as $5,000 in funds if educators add endorsements in special education, science, math or technology.

Murman also pointed to rural schools, with at least 140 nonpublic schools partnering with the largest scholarship-granting organization, Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska.

Wayne, an initial critic of Linehan’s legislation eight years ago, turned into a key ally. The former Omaha Public Schools board member has said he isn’t “pro-school choice” but is pro-“I have no other alternative.”

“Break hold of this ancient belief that we’re destroying public education and embrace the idea that we are giving parents and students a chance for a better future,” Wayne said last week. “If we get it wrong, how worse are we right now than what’s happening in my district, where people aren’t graduating and we are filling up prisons with fourth-grade education requirements?”

Wayne has frequently said his northeast Omaha district can’t wait for improvements in the public schools.&nbsp;

Some public school advocates have pointed to “<a href="https://www.education.ne.gov/fos/enrollment-option-application-instructions-faqs/" target="_blank">option enrollment</a>,” which allows families to choose a different public school district for their children. The state is spending at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2425SA_StateAidCalculatedbySystemStateAidComponents_Annexation.pdf" target="_blank">$124 million</a>&nbsp;for the current school year.

But Wayne criticized those arguments, pointed to a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Agencies/Education__Department_of/846_20240830-102307.pdf" target="_blank">new state report</a>&nbsp;indicating hundreds of option enrollment applications were denied, some because of special education needs.

He and other lawmakers have also noted that the state already provides funding for nonpublic schools, such as textbook loan programs, transportation, teacher grants and school safety funds.

Wayne said every family deserves high quality education, “not by chance, but by right.”

Royers said there is always room for improvement in option enrollment and said he is looking forward to an&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/calendar/hearings.php?day=2024-11-07" target="_blank">upcoming Education Committee hearing</a>&nbsp;on the topic.

Benson, who was president of the teacher’s union for the past three years, said she’s watched what happens in other states “once you get a foot in the door” and criticized the goals of billionaires funding the efforts who she said are looking forward to the “decimation of public schools.”

“They let the horse out of the barn, and now they’re all trying to claw it back,” Benson told the Nebraska Examiner. “… If you’ve made the decision to not have accountability, then you’ve made the decision that you shouldn’t have public funds for that.”

Linehan and Royers said if voters reject the legislation Nov. 5, it likely would return in the future.

“I would be surprised that you don’t see more legislation,” Linehan told reporters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730219179857.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn holds a cup of about 10 Legos compared to an overflowing jug of Legos to her left, which she said is supposed to illustrate the difference in $10 million for nonpublic schools to $5 billion for total public school spending in Nebraska. Oct. 28, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn holds a cup of about 10 Legos compared to an overflowing jug of Legos to her left, which she said is supposed to illustrate the difference in $10 million for nonpublic schools to $5 billion for total public school spending in Nebraska. Oct. 28, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/29/lawmakers-public-school-advocates-spar-over-ads-against-using-state-funds-for-ne-private-schools/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska lawmakers made what likely was a final push Monday before Election Day to save the state’s latest “school choice” program to offset attendance costs at private schools.State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who sponsored the original&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=50326" target="_blank">Legislative Bills 753</a>&nbsp;in 2023 and&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=55486" target="_blank">1402</a>&nbsp;this year, joined with about 20 of her legislative colleagues to criticize a new ad from the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/ballot-measures/private-education-scholarship-partial-referendum/">Support Our Schools campaign</a>, which has opposed both of Linehan’s bills. But in the face of a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign, Linehan said opponents are intentionally not matching spending.“I’m not putting much value on a repeal that was funded by $5 million against no opposition,” Linehan said.The&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SOSNebraska/status/1849464803066089834" target="_blank">targeted ad</a>, posted to the campaign’s social media four days ago, shows three men in suits, which the senators took as caricatures of themselves. The men enter a classroom, steal toy blocks from the children, break pencils, knock over dominoes and break a house made of Legos.“The Legislature’s school voucher bill fails our kids,” a voiceover says.Linehan herself used Legos at a Monday news conference to demonstrate the issue, placing her left hand on a jug of Legos about a foot high, overflowing with hundreds of blocks, while holding a small cup of about 10 Legos in her right hand.&nbsp;She said the first represented $5 billion in funds that public schools spend annually from the state, while the other is the $10 million provided to private schools under her legislation.“The commercials are ridiculous, and they are insulting to the Legislature,” Linehan said.<h2>‘An existential threat’</h2>Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, and Jenni Benson, president of the Support Our Schools campaign, criticized the opponents as rehashing arguments from when the bills passed the Legislature.Royers, who attended Monday’s news conference, said the decision is in the hands of Nebraska voters. He said the decision is about “a fundamental attack on the integrity of public education within the state.”“We view this as an existential threat to our capacity to fund our schools in the future,” Royers said. “That’s why we’re committing the resources we are to this.”As of the campaign’s latest filings, through Oct. 21, the campaign opposing the LB 1402 “education scholarships” raised $4.6 million and spent $4.1 million. LB 1402 provided a direct $10 million to the State Treasurer’s Office to distribute “education scholarships” for students to attend nonpublic K-12 schools.<h2>‘No place in the public discourse’</h2>Much of the news conference focused on allegations in the ad, which lawmakers sought to discredit as “prejudicial,” “in bad taste,” “insulting,” “distasteful” and “disrespectful.” They jointly urged voters to vote to retain LB 1402, as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20Ballot%20Measures%20Pamphlet.pdf" target="_blank">Referendum Measure 435</a>.“Whoever came up with that idea, I’ll be honest, like my mother used to say, should be ashamed of themselves,” said State Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul, a former member of the State Board of Education. “That has no place in the public discourse in Nebraska.”State Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus said “by any measure” state funding is up for public schools. He said the ad was meant to make voters mad. He questioned whether opponents would again spend millions of dollars if similar legislation was reintroduced rather than spending such funds on teacher retirement programs or improving test scores.“You’re going to have to work with state senators moving forward to try to do the best you can for your schools and for your students,” Moser said. “The Legislature is interested in working with you, but that commercial is over the top.”Royers said in response: “I thought it was a pretty fun ad. My kids thought it was a pretty fun ad. And candidly, I could run up a bunch of mailers and other ads that I think are far, far worse than an ad with kids in the classroom.”Multiple speakers, including State Sens. Julie Slama of Dunbar and Justin Wayne of Omaha, criticized Royers on Monday.“If you’re a dues paying teachers union member, your money is being wasted on advertising like this,” Slama said.<h2>Investments in public education</h2>State Sens. Rob Clements of Elmwood, Rita Sanders of Bellevue and Dave Murman of Glenvil pointed to legislation in the past three years as significant investments in public education.Clements, chair of the Appropriations Committee, pointed to the “Education Future Fund,” an initial $1 billion investment in 2023.Sanders noted legislation to increase state special education reimbursement to 80% of costs and $1,500 in “foundation aid” for all public school students.Murman, chair of the Education Committee, looked at recent legislation to provide $5,000 in grants for first-year educators for each of five years if they stay in the state, as well as $5,000 in funds if educators add endorsements in special education, science, math or technology.Murman also pointed to rural schools, with at least 140 nonpublic schools partnering with the largest scholarship-granting organization, Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska.<h2>Public option enrollment</h2>Wayne, an initial critic of Linehan’s legislation eight years ago, turned into a key ally. The former Omaha Public Schools board member has said he isn’t “pro-school choice” but is pro-“I have no other alternative.”“Break hold of this ancient belief that we’re destroying public education and embrace the idea that we are giving parents and students a chance for a better future,” Wayne said last week. “If we get it wrong, how worse are we right now than what’s happening in my district, where people aren’t graduating and we are filling up prisons with fourth-grade education requirements?”Wayne has frequently said his northeast Omaha district can’t wait for improvements in the public schools.&nbsp;Some public school advocates have pointed to “<a href="https://www.education.ne.gov/fos/enrollment-option-application-instructions-faqs/" target="_blank">option enrollment</a>,” which allows families to choose a different public school district for their children. The state is spending at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2425SA_StateAidCalculatedbySystemStateAidComponents_Annexation.pdf" target="_blank">$124 million</a>&nbsp;for the current school year.But Wayne criticized those arguments, pointed to a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Agencies/Education__Department_of/846_20240830-102307.pdf" target="_blank">new state report</a>&nbsp;indicating hundreds of option enrollment applications were denied, some because of special education needs.He and other lawmakers have also noted that the state already provides funding for nonpublic schools, such as textbook loan programs, transportation, teacher grants and school safety funds.Wayne said every family deserves high quality education, “not by chance, but by right.”Royers said there is always room for improvement in option enrollment and said he is looking forward to an&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/calendar/hearings.php?day=2024-11-07" target="_blank">upcoming Education Committee hearing</a>&nbsp;on the topic.<h2>Focus is on ‘a foot in the door’</h2>Benson, who was president of the teacher’s union for the past three years, said she’s watched what happens in other states “once you get a foot in the door” and criticized the goals of billionaires funding the efforts who she said are looking forward to the “decimation of public schools.”“They let the horse out of the barn, and now they’re all trying to claw it back,” Benson told the Nebraska Examiner. “… If you’ve made the decision to not have accountability, then you’ve made the decision that you shouldn’t have public funds for that.”Linehan and Royers said if voters reject the legislation Nov. 5, it likely would return in the future.“I would be surprised that you don’t see more legislation,” Linehan told reporters.“To us, this is a fundamental issue,” Royers said. “Red line in the sand.”