LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen has sent a request to President Donald J. Trump asking for a major disaster declaration resulting from the winter storm that hit the state March 18 and 19. Twenty-seven counties have met damage assessments making them eligible for a federal declaration request. So far, damage estimates have exceeded $64.8 million. The bulk of those costs are due to utility repairs.

Counties requested to be covered in the declaration include Boone, Burt, Butler, Cass, Clay, Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Hamilton, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nuckolls, Otoe, Platte, Polk, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, Thurston, Washington, Webster and York.

The storm, which produced thunderstorms, sleet, high winds and blizzard conditions resulted in the closure of major roadways, including 160 miles of Interstate 80 and 70 miles of Interstate 29. The most significant damage was to power poles and electrical lines. More than 1,700 poles were downed or destroyed. At the height of the storm, an estimated 200,000 customers were without power. To assist those who were without electricity for a prolonged period, some communities – including York and Fremont – established emergency shelters. Additional damage reports have included downed trees and structures.

In his letter to the President, Gov. Pillen called the mid-March storm “one of the most destructive winter weather events to impact Nebraska in recent history…”

Federal funding approval would help cover costs in the above-named counties to repair damaged infrastructure and assist with debris clean up.

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen has sent a request to President Donald J. Trump asking for a major disaster declaration resulting from the winter storm that hit the state March 18 and 19. Twenty-seven counties have met damage assessments making them eligible for a federal declaration request. So far, damage estimates have exceeded $64.8 million. The bulk of those costs are due to utility repairs.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691680806458.jpeg" alt="Gov. Jim Pillen (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Jim Pillen (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Counties requested to be covered in the declaration include Boone, Burt, Butler, Cass, Clay, Colfax, Cuming, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Hamilton, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nuckolls, Otoe, Platte, Polk, Saline, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, Thurston, Washington, Webster and York.The storm, which produced thunderstorms, sleet, high winds and blizzard conditions resulted in the closure of major roadways, including 160 miles of Interstate 80 and 70 miles of Interstate 29. The most significant damage was to power poles and electrical lines. More than 1,700 poles were downed or destroyed. At the height of the storm, an estimated 200,000 customers were without power. To assist those who were without electricity for a prolonged period, some communities – including York and Fremont – established emergency shelters. Additional damage reports have included downed trees and structures.In his letter to the President, Gov. Pillen called the mid-March storm “one of the most destructive winter weather events to impact Nebraska in recent history…”Federal funding approval would help cover costs in the above-named counties to repair damaged infrastructure and assist with debris clean up.

Pillen requests disaster declaration from March snow storms

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>

WASHINGTON — Fired federal probationary workers saw setbacks this week, as the U.S. Supreme Court and an appeals court dealt blows in two separate cases, leaving the newly hired or recently promoted employees hit by the administration’s mass firings once again in limbo.

In a case that affected up to 24,000 fired probationary employees across 17 federal agencies, the U.S. Appeals Court for the 4th Circuit on Wednesday blocked a lower court order requiring the government to rehire the workers.

A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 to stay the order, writing that the Trump administration is “likely to succeed in showing the district court lacked jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ claims.”

Judge Allison Rushing, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019, directed the order, with Judge James Wilkinson, a President Ronald Reagan appointee, concurring. Judge DeAndrea Benjamin, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2023, dissented.

The case centered on a lawsuit filed by the Democratic attorneys general for 19 states and the District of Columbia, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-attorneys-general-face-trump-administration-over-rehiring-fired-feds" target="_blank">allege</a>&nbsp;economic harm because the federal government did not provide legally required warning ahead of an influx of unemployed state residents.

Federal Judge James Bredar for the District of Maryland&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-orders-fired-federal-probationary-workers-reinstated-19-states-dc" target="_blank">issued a preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;on April 2 requiring the government to rehire thousands of workers who either lived or reported to work only in the 19 plaintiff states and the District of Columbia while the case moved forward. They included:

The case marked the first time the government provided the number of probationary employees fired at each agency.

Bredar required the figures from the government to show compliance with his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/second-federal-judge-orders-reversal-some-trump-workforce-cuts" target="_blank">mid-March emergency order</a>&nbsp;that the agencies reinstate the workers. The documents showed that the majority of the employees were not recalled to active duty, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fired-fed-workers-won-their-jobs-back-many-linger-administrative-leave-limbo" target="_blank">placed on administrative leave</a>.

In the second case bearing on fired federal workers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a lower court order mandating the federal government reinstate the jobs of 16,000 fired probationary federal workers across six agencies.

The unsigned two-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/040825zr_1b8e.pdf" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;stated the nine nonprofits that brought the case do not have legal standing. The justices did not address the question at the center of the lawsuit: whether the firings were illegal.

The Trump administration had escalated the case to the Supreme Court’s emergency docket after the U.S. Appeals Court for the 9th Circuit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-appeals-court-turns-down-trump-attempt-block-rehiring-fired-workers" target="_blank">denied</a>&nbsp;the government’s request to block the agencies from rehiring the employees.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup for the Northern District of California&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-orders-rehiring-thousands-fired-probationary-federal-employees" target="_blank">extended</a>&nbsp;his temporary emergency order on March 13, mandating the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Treasury and Veterans Affairs reinstate employees who were fired under a directive from the Office of Personnel Management as part of an agenda by President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-workforce-hit-trumps-sweeping-firings-thousands-probationary-employees" target="_blank">slash the federal workforce</a>.

As the case continues on the lower court track, lawyers for the American Federal of Government Employees, AFL-CIO faced the Trump administration in court Wednesday before Alsup, a Clinton appointee. Alsup ordered both to provide more information by the end of the day Friday, including a comprehensive list of those fired and statements about economic harms.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741729690736.png" alt="Department of Education in Washington -AP photo" />
 <figcaption>Department of Education in Washington -AP photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>WASHINGTON — Fired federal probationary workers saw setbacks this week, as the U.S. Supreme Court and an appeals court dealt blows in two separate cases, leaving the newly hired or recently promoted employees hit by the administration’s mass firings once again in limbo.In a case that affected up to 24,000 fired probationary employees across 17 federal agencies, the U.S. Appeals Court for the 4th Circuit on Wednesday blocked a lower court order requiring the government to rehire the workers.A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 to stay the order, writing that the Trump administration is “likely to succeed in showing the district court lacked jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ claims.”Judge Allison Rushing, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019, directed the order, with Judge James Wilkinson, a President Ronald Reagan appointee, concurring. Judge DeAndrea Benjamin, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2023, dissented.The case centered on a lawsuit filed by the Democratic attorneys general for 19 states and the District of Columbia, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-attorneys-general-face-trump-administration-over-rehiring-fired-feds" target="_blank">allege</a>&nbsp;economic harm because the federal government did not provide legally required warning ahead of an influx of unemployed state residents.Federal Judge James Bredar for the District of Maryland&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-orders-fired-federal-probationary-workers-reinstated-19-states-dc" target="_blank">issued a preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;on April 2 requiring the government to rehire thousands of workers who either lived or reported to work only in the 19 plaintiff states and the District of Columbia while the case moved forward. They included:<ul>
 <li>Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.</li>
 </ul>The affected agencies included:<ul>
 <li>The departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense (civilian employees only), Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, Treasury and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, General Services Administration, Office of Personnel Management, Small Business Administration and the U.S. Agency for International Development.</li>
 </ul>The case marked the first time the government provided the number of probationary employees fired at each agency.Bredar required the figures from the government to show compliance with his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/second-federal-judge-orders-reversal-some-trump-workforce-cuts" target="_blank">mid-March emergency order</a>&nbsp;that the agencies reinstate the workers. The documents showed that the majority of the employees were not recalled to active duty, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fired-fed-workers-won-their-jobs-back-many-linger-administrative-leave-limbo" target="_blank">placed on administrative leave</a>.<h2>Supreme Court action</h2>In the second case bearing on fired federal workers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a lower court order mandating the federal government reinstate the jobs of 16,000 fired probationary federal workers across six agencies.The unsigned two-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/040825zr_1b8e.pdf" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;stated the nine nonprofits that brought the case do not have legal standing. The justices did not address the question at the center of the lawsuit: whether the firings were illegal.The Trump administration had escalated the case to the Supreme Court’s emergency docket after the U.S. Appeals Court for the 9th Circuit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-appeals-court-turns-down-trump-attempt-block-rehiring-fired-workers" target="_blank">denied</a>&nbsp;the government’s request to block the agencies from rehiring the employees.U.S. District Judge William Alsup for the Northern District of California&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-orders-rehiring-thousands-fired-probationary-federal-employees" target="_blank">extended</a>&nbsp;his temporary emergency order on March 13, mandating the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Treasury and Veterans Affairs reinstate employees who were fired under a directive from the Office of Personnel Management as part of an agenda by President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-workforce-hit-trumps-sweeping-firings-thousands-probationary-employees" target="_blank">slash the federal workforce</a>.As the case continues on the lower court track, lawyers for the American Federal of Government Employees, AFL-CIO faced the Trump administration in court Wednesday before Alsup, a Clinton appointee. Alsup ordered both to provide more information by the end of the day Friday, including a comprehensive list of those fired and statements about economic harms.&nbsp;

Fired federal probationary employees thrown back in limbo after court losses

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/10/bill-advances-to-end-lifetime-food-aid-ban-for-nebraskans-who-served-time-for-drug-felonies/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;A Bellevue state senator’s priority bill to remove a lifetime ban on public food assistance for Nebraskans convicted of drug felonies advanced Thursday to its next law-making step, despite resistance from a fellow Sarpy County lawmaker.

Currently, Nebraska has a narrow exception to the ban for people with one or two drug possession or drug use felony convictions. They can access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as food stamps, if they have completed a licensed and accredited treatment program.

<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59057" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 319,</a>&nbsp;championed by State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, would open the door for other felony drug offenders who currently can’t access SNAP benefits, as long as they’ve completed their sentence or are on parole or under post-release supervision.

A 32-5 vote moved LB 319 forward. Seven lawmakers were present and did not vote.

The most vocal opponent was State Sen. Bob Andersen, also of Sarpy County.

“They chose to be a drug dealer, and now when they come out of prison you want to give them more money in food stamps,” said Andersen, who is serving his first term.&nbsp;

Rountree, also a freshman lawmaker, said his time on the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee has given him a deeper appreciation of the rehabilitation needs for those transitioning out of prison.

He and others noted that Nebraskans who kill or rape someone can get access to SNAP benefits after they’ve served their sentences. But that’s not the same for people with certain felony drug convictions.

“That doesn’t make sense to me,” said State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward. “At what point do you get to become a citizen of the United States again and try to do better?”

Rountree said his bill is “a piece of the puzzle” needed to fortify inmate rehabilitation efforts and continues the effort led in the last legislative session by State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha.

About 1,000 Nebraskans would be impacted by his bill, Rountree said. It comes with no additional state cost, according to a fiscal analysis, as&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/pages/SNAP-Next-Step.aspx" target="_blank">SNAP benefits</a>&nbsp;are paid with federal funds. SNAP provides low-income people with a stipend to buy food at certain retailers and also has an employment and training component.

“Everybody has to eat,” Rountree said, adding that hunger can lead to circumstances that increase the chances of someone committing another crime.

“It’s righting a wrong. It’s righting an injustice,” said State Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln, a proponent.

She noted that 220 people wrote in support of the bill, versus 12 who opposed it.&nbsp;

Andersen, questioning Rountree during legislative debate, said those affected should turn to nonprofits and philanthropic groups – not the government – for help after they’ve served their time in prison.

He was not swayed by comments from State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, a proponent of LB 319 who said that three of the “most conservative states around us are already doing this, that would be Iowa, Wyoming and South Dakota.”

Rountree said 26 states have opted out of the SNAP ban entirely.

Hardin said that when the ban is in place, the recidivism goes up “pretty dramatically from about 3% to about 10%.”&nbsp;He said without the change, more people would go back to prison because of bad things they do outside of prison when they don’t have access to food.

Said Andersen: “Just cause all the other states are doing it doesn’t mean we should, too.”&nbsp;

The ban dates back to 1996 welfare reform and the nation’s “war on drugs.” States can pass laws to opt out or modify the ban.

That is how Nebraska previously created the exception for people with lesser drug offenses. A full prohibition remains for those with a felony conviction for drug sale or distribution.

State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte was a yes vote but said he was conflicted partly because the bill didn’t cut off benefits after a certain number of felony drug offenses.

Rountree said he was willing to work with Jacobson and others before the bill is debated at a later stage. He said the bill had much support during a previous public hearing. Proponents include the Lincoln police chief and the Omaha Police Officers Association.&nbsp;

“If our law enforcement says this is going to help us have better interactions on the streets. If it is going to cut that recidivism rate down … then my fellow senators, this is what we need to do,” said Rountree.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744382678378.jpeg" alt=" State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, on April 10, 2025, as lawmakers debate his priority bill before eventually advancing it to the next stage. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, on April 10, 2025, as lawmakers debate his priority bill before eventually advancing it to the next stage. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/10/bill-advances-to-end-lifetime-food-aid-ban-for-nebraskans-who-served-time-for-drug-felonies/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;A Bellevue state senator’s priority bill to remove a lifetime ban on public food assistance for Nebraskans convicted of drug felonies advanced Thursday to its next law-making step, despite resistance from a fellow Sarpy County lawmaker.Currently, Nebraska has a narrow exception to the ban for people with one or two drug possession or drug use felony convictions. They can access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as food stamps, if they have completed a licensed and accredited treatment program.<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59057" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 319,</a>&nbsp;championed by State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, would open the door for other felony drug offenders who currently can’t access SNAP benefits, as long as they’ve completed their sentence or are on parole or under post-release supervision.A 32-5 vote moved LB 319 forward. Seven lawmakers were present and did not vote.<h2>‘Piece of the puzzle’</h2>The most vocal opponent was State Sen. Bob Andersen, also of Sarpy County.“They chose to be a drug dealer, and now when they come out of prison you want to give them more money in food stamps,” said Andersen, who is serving his first term.&nbsp;Rountree, also a freshman lawmaker, said his time on the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee has given him a deeper appreciation of the rehabilitation needs for those transitioning out of prison.He and others noted that Nebraskans who kill or rape someone can get access to SNAP benefits after they’ve served their sentences. But that’s not the same for people with certain felony drug convictions.“That doesn’t make sense to me,” said State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward. “At what point do you get to become a citizen of the United States again and try to do better?”Rountree said his bill is “a piece of the puzzle” needed to fortify inmate rehabilitation efforts and continues the effort led in the last legislative session by State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha.About 1,000 Nebraskans would be impacted by his bill, Rountree said. It comes with no additional state cost, according to a fiscal analysis, as&nbsp;<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/pages/SNAP-Next-Step.aspx" target="_blank">SNAP benefits</a>&nbsp;are paid with federal funds. SNAP provides low-income people with a stipend to buy food at certain retailers and also has an employment and training component.“Everybody has to eat,” Rountree said, adding that hunger can lead to circumstances that increase the chances of someone committing another crime.“It’s righting a wrong. It’s righting an injustice,” said State Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln, a proponent.She noted that 220 people wrote in support of the bill, versus 12 who opposed it.&nbsp;<h2>Not swayed</h2>Andersen, questioning Rountree during legislative debate, said those affected should turn to nonprofits and philanthropic groups – not the government – for help after they’ve served their time in prison.He was not swayed by comments from State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, a proponent of LB 319 who said that three of the “most conservative states around us are already doing this, that would be Iowa, Wyoming and South Dakota.”Rountree said 26 states have opted out of the SNAP ban entirely.Hardin said that when the ban is in place, the recidivism goes up “pretty dramatically from about 3% to about 10%.”&nbsp;He said without the change, more people would go back to prison because of bad things they do outside of prison when they don’t have access to food.Said Andersen: “Just cause all the other states are doing it doesn’t mean we should, too.”&nbsp;<h2>Ban dates back to 1996</h2>The ban dates back to 1996 welfare reform and the nation’s “war on drugs.” States can pass laws to opt out or modify the ban.That is how Nebraska previously created the exception for people with lesser drug offenses. A full prohibition remains for those with a felony conviction for drug sale or distribution.State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte was a yes vote but said he was conflicted partly because the bill didn’t cut off benefits after a certain number of felony drug offenses.Rountree said he was willing to work with Jacobson and others before the bill is debated at a later stage. He said the bill had much support during a previous public hearing. Proponents include the Lincoln police chief and the Omaha Police Officers Association.&nbsp;“If our law enforcement says this is going to help us have better interactions on the streets. If it is going to cut that recidivism rate down … then my fellow senators, this is what we need to do,” said Rountree.

Bill advances to end lifetime food aid ban for Nebraskans who served time for drug felonies

Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Narciso Maciel, 25, of Moses Lake, Washington, was sentenced on April 10, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Maciel to 150 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Maciel’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

On September 5, 2023, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 1 pound of methamphetamine from Maciel in Omaha. On October 26, 2023, they purchased another pound of methamphetamine from him. On November 2, 2023, law enforcement served a search warrant of the Airbnb Maciel rented in Omaha and seized more than 8 pounds of methamphetamine, drug packaging, shipping labels, receipts of money wires to Mexico, and $10,146 in United States currency. Through the investigation, law enforcement learned that Maciel was receiving and storing methamphetamine at the Airbnb in Omaha while also distributing methamphetamine and wiring money to Mexico for the drug trafficking organization. The currency has been forfeited to the United States.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.&nbsp; This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-

United States Attorney's OfficeActing United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Narciso Maciel, 25, of Moses Lake, Washington, was sentenced on April 10, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Maciel to 150 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Maciel’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.On September 5, 2023, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 1 pound of methamphetamine from Maciel in Omaha. On October 26, 2023, they purchased another pound of methamphetamine from him. On November 2, 2023, law enforcement served a search warrant of the Airbnb Maciel rented in Omaha and seized more than 8 pounds of methamphetamine, drug packaging, shipping labels, receipts of money wires to Mexico, and $10,146 in United States currency. Through the investigation, law enforcement learned that Maciel was receiving and storing methamphetamine at the Airbnb in Omaha while also distributing methamphetamine and wiring money to Mexico for the drug trafficking organization. The currency has been forfeited to the United States.This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.&nbsp; This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-

Drug Dealer from Washington State Receives 150 Months for Trafficking More Than 10 Pounds of Methamphetamine in Omaha

Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Dustin Lee Vittitoe, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 10, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, for possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Vittitoe to 97 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Vittitoe’s release from prison, he will begin an eight-year term of supervised release.

On January 21, 2023, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of an individual in possession of child pornography on his cell phone.&nbsp; Deputies learned Dustin Lee Vittitoe had child pornography on his cell phone and within the MEGA application contained on his phone.&nbsp; Deputies confirmed the subscriber information for Vittitoe’s MEGA account.&nbsp; On February 22, 2023, deputies served a federal search warrant at Vittitoe’s residence and seized his electronic devices for forensic examination. Investigators forensically extracted and analyzed Vittitoe’s electronic devices. The device extractions showed Vittitoe soliciting and searching for child pornography across several applications.&nbsp; The extractions revealed Vittitoe possessed at least 411 child pornography image files.&nbsp; The files included pornographic images involving prepubescent children, adults having sex with children, and depictions of sadistic and masochistic conduct involving children.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/" target="_blank">www.projectsafechildhood.gov</a>.

This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

United States Attorney's OfficeActing United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Dustin Lee Vittitoe, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 10, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, for possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Vittitoe to 97 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Vittitoe’s release from prison, he will begin an eight-year term of supervised release.On January 21, 2023, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of an individual in possession of child pornography on his cell phone.&nbsp; Deputies learned Dustin Lee Vittitoe had child pornography on his cell phone and within the MEGA application contained on his phone.&nbsp; Deputies confirmed the subscriber information for Vittitoe’s MEGA account.&nbsp; On February 22, 2023, deputies served a federal search warrant at Vittitoe’s residence and seized his electronic devices for forensic examination. Investigators forensically extracted and analyzed Vittitoe’s electronic devices. The device extractions showed Vittitoe soliciting and searching for child pornography across several applications.&nbsp; The extractions revealed Vittitoe possessed at least 411 child pornography image files.&nbsp; The files included pornographic images involving prepubescent children, adults having sex with children, and depictions of sadistic and masochistic conduct involving children.&nbsp;&nbsp;This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/" target="_blank">www.projectsafechildhood.gov</a>.This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Omaha Man Sentenced to 97 Months for Possession of Child Pornography

Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, reintroduced&nbsp;Hammers’ Law&nbsp;to hold the cruise industry accountable for the wrongful deaths of passengers who do not have dependents or income — including children, students, and retirees. In addition to Fischer, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).

The bill is named for Larry and Christy Hammer of Omaha, who tragically lost their lives in a fire in their cabin onboard a Peruvian river cruise on April 10th, 2016. Today marks the nine-year anniversary of the incident.

“Nine years ago today, Larry and Christy Hammer tragically and unexpectedly lost their lives because of the negligence of a cruise company. Since then, their bereaved daughters, Jill and Kelly, have endured a frustrating fight for accountability. My Hammers’ Law, named for Larry and Christy, will help prevent future tragedies and give families fairer compensation if tragedy does strike,”&nbsp;said Fischer.

“A century-old law has prevented families from obtaining fair financial accountability when their loved ones die tragically onboard a cruise ship. Our bipartisan effort will ensure that bad actors in the cruise industry fairly compensate Americans whose family members are killed on their ships – just like an airline does, when something goes wrong on a plane. No amount of money can ever fully compensate a family for this kind of tragic loss, but our measure will help bring about some small measure of justice after a cruise catastrophe,”&nbsp;said Blumenthal.

“Families like the Hammers deserve justice when loved ones are wrongfully lost at sea. This bipartisan bill ensures that cruise lines are held to the same accountability standards as airlines,”&nbsp;said Ricketts.

"Hammers' Law is a crucial step toward justice and accountability for the countless families who have tragically lost loved ones due to negligence onboard cruise ships. This legislation ensures that no victim's family is denied the right to seek justice solely because of antiquated laws. Hammers' Law will extend to cruise passengers the same protections airline passengers have enjoyed for decades, compelling cruise companies to prioritize safety and protecting millions of travelers each year,”&nbsp;said the Hammers’ daughters, Jill Hammer Malott and Kelly Hammer Lankford.

Hammers’ Law would amend an over 100-year-old law, known as the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA). Today, the cruise industry uses DOHSA to avoid financial accountability for the wrongful deaths of passengers who do not have dependents or income. These passengers — including children, students, and retirees — account for a significant portion of the 12 million Americans who cruise each year.&nbsp;As retirees, Larry and Christy Hammer did not have financial dependents or wages, so antiquated DOHSA rules restricted the Hammer family from pursuing the accountability that would likely be available for wrongful deaths occurring on dry land. DOHSA was amended in 2000 to allow the same kind of compensation for victims of major airline accidents.

Passing Hammers’ Law will enable future families to pursue fairer compensation when similar tragedies strike, and it will hold the responsible cruise line accountable by allowing for compensation that more fully reflects the company’s negligence.

Hammers’ Law was first&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/4/fischer-introduces-hammers-law-named-after-omaha-natives-killed-in-cruise-ship-fire">introduced</a>&nbsp;in 2019. Since then, Fischer has continued to grow support for this legislation, reintroducing it during the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2022/4/fischer-blumenthal-reintroduce-hammers-law-for-omaha-natives-killed-in-2019-cruise-ship-fire">117th Congress</a>&nbsp;and again&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2023/4/fischer-blumenthal-reintroduce-hammers-law-named-after-omaha-natives-killed-in-2016-cruise-ship-fire">last Congress</a>.

Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/d5c47d4b-b788-4fe0-bc4c-2f4677c45c7d/4.10.25-hammers-law.pdf">here</a>&nbsp;to read the full text of the bill.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Office of U.S. Senator Deb FischerWASHINGTON&nbsp;– Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, reintroduced&nbsp;Hammers’ Law&nbsp;to hold the cruise industry accountable for the wrongful deaths of passengers who do not have dependents or income — including children, students, and retirees. In addition to Fischer, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).The bill is named for Larry and Christy Hammer of Omaha, who tragically lost their lives in a fire in their cabin onboard a Peruvian river cruise on April 10th, 2016. Today marks the nine-year anniversary of the incident.“Nine years ago today, Larry and Christy Hammer tragically and unexpectedly lost their lives because of the negligence of a cruise company. Since then, their bereaved daughters, Jill and Kelly, have endured a frustrating fight for accountability. My Hammers’ Law, named for Larry and Christy, will help prevent future tragedies and give families fairer compensation if tragedy does strike,”&nbsp;said Fischer.“A century-old law has prevented families from obtaining fair financial accountability when their loved ones die tragically onboard a cruise ship. Our bipartisan effort will ensure that bad actors in the cruise industry fairly compensate Americans whose family members are killed on their ships – just like an airline does, when something goes wrong on a plane. No amount of money can ever fully compensate a family for this kind of tragic loss, but our measure will help bring about some small measure of justice after a cruise catastrophe,”&nbsp;said Blumenthal.“Families like the Hammers deserve justice when loved ones are wrongfully lost at sea. This bipartisan bill ensures that cruise lines are held to the same accountability standards as airlines,”&nbsp;said Ricketts."Hammers' Law is a crucial step toward justice and accountability for the countless families who have tragically lost loved ones due to negligence onboard cruise ships. This legislation ensures that no victim's family is denied the right to seek justice solely because of antiquated laws. Hammers' Law will extend to cruise passengers the same protections airline passengers have enjoyed for decades, compelling cruise companies to prioritize safety and protecting millions of travelers each year,”&nbsp;said the Hammers’ daughters, Jill Hammer Malott and Kelly Hammer Lankford.Background:Hammers’ Law would amend an over 100-year-old law, known as the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA). Today, the cruise industry uses DOHSA to avoid financial accountability for the wrongful deaths of passengers who do not have dependents or income. These passengers — including children, students, and retirees — account for a significant portion of the 12 million Americans who cruise each year.&nbsp;As retirees, Larry and Christy Hammer did not have financial dependents or wages, so antiquated DOHSA rules restricted the Hammer family from pursuing the accountability that would likely be available for wrongful deaths occurring on dry land. DOHSA was amended in 2000 to allow the same kind of compensation for victims of major airline accidents.Passing Hammers’ Law will enable future families to pursue fairer compensation when similar tragedies strike, and it will hold the responsible cruise line accountable by allowing for compensation that more fully reflects the company’s negligence.Hammers’ Law was first&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/4/fischer-introduces-hammers-law-named-after-omaha-natives-killed-in-cruise-ship-fire">introduced</a>&nbsp;in 2019. Since then, Fischer has continued to grow support for this legislation, reintroducing it during the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2022/4/fischer-blumenthal-reintroduce-hammers-law-for-omaha-natives-killed-in-2019-cruise-ship-fire">117th Congress</a>&nbsp;and again&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2023/4/fischer-blumenthal-reintroduce-hammers-law-named-after-omaha-natives-killed-in-2016-cruise-ship-fire">last Congress</a>.Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/d5c47d4b-b788-4fe0-bc4c-2f4677c45c7d/4.10.25-hammers-law.pdf">here</a>&nbsp;to read the full text of the bill.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fischer Reintroduces Hammers’ Law to Honor Omaha Natives, Hold Cruise Industry Accountable

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/10/lawmakers-approve-no-longer-issuing-front-facing-license-plates-in-nebraska-by-2029/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — By the start of Nebraska’s next license plate cycle in 2029, the state could only issue drivers a rear-facing license plate and allow multiyear registrations.

State lawmakers gave near-unanimous approval Thursday, on a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=12046" target="_blank">46-0 vote</a>, to approve&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59072&amp;docnum=LB97&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 97</a>&nbsp;led by State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha. It included the new license plate change from State Sen. Brad von Gillern of the Elkhorn area (originally&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59295&amp;docnum=LB297&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 297</a>) and the multiyear registration allowance from State Sen. Rob Dover of Norfolk (originally&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59074&amp;docnum=LB543&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 543</a>).

Von Gillern said he brought his change partly because it is often the “norm” for new cars to no longer have brackets or mounts for front-facing license plates.

He said that means some new car owners are left with three options:

Von Gillern said his bill, originally LB 297, could save taxpayer dollars by not issuing dual license plates to about 2 million vehicles in the state. Nebraskans currently pay&nbsp;<a href="https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dvr/reg/registration-fees-and-taxes#:~:text=$1.50%20%2D%20County%20General%20Fund%20%2D%20this,%C2%A760%2D3%2C102" target="_blank">$4.10 per license plate</a>, leading to potential savings of about $8 million.&nbsp;<a href="https://csi.nebraska.gov/products/license-plates" target="_blank">Nebraskans incarcerated at the Nebraska State Penitentiary</a>&nbsp;manufacture state plates. New car buyers could also save about $6 million to $8 million, von Gillern estimated.

His bill could also have an environmental benefit, von Gillern said, reducing 200 tons of aluminum mined. At least 26 other states no longer require front-facing plates.

Law enforcement officials from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Omaha Police Officer’s Association have testified neutral or in support of similar legislation in recent years. Von Gillern’s proposal was added to LB 97 during first-round debate in a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=11820" target="_blank">30-5 vote</a>.

Under Dover’s bill, auto owners could pay up to three years of&nbsp;<a href="https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dvr/reg/registration-fees-and-taxes#:~:text=$1.50%20%2D%20County%20General%20Fund%20%2D%20this,%C2%A760%2D3%2C102" target="_blank">registration taxes or fees</a>&nbsp;in advance, giving them the chance to save if local taxes or fees increased in future years.

Lawmakers during debate Thursday also passed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59465&amp;docnum=LB113&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 113</a>&nbsp;from State Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island, which would allow licensed craft breweries to operate up to eight separate retail locations (up from five) and allow such license holders to directly sell for resale up to 3,500 gallons of microdistilled products (up from 500 gallons) each year to retail licensees in the state.

State Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln led opposition to the bill, as she’s done during each of the bill’s three stages of debate. She alleged it would give “preferential treatment” to in-state operators compared to out-of-state or regional distributors, risking a lawsuit.

“It is only a matter of time that some regional distributor that plays by all the rules and adheres to the regulations and standards gets frustrated and files a lawsuit,” Raybould said.

The longtime grocery store executive&nbsp;<a href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/docs/opinions/Opinion%20No.%2025-001.pdf" target="_blank">sought an attorney general’s opinion</a>&nbsp;on whether LB 113 could increase the risk of a lawsuit against the state’s craft brewery laws on the grounds of violating the constitutional clause about regulating commerce over state lines. Raybould argued the lawsuit could undo some of the state’s other alcohol-related laws.

Quick told his colleagues to remember that they were discussing Nebraska small businesses and that lawmakers had added an earlier amendment to protect other statutes if LB 113 was ever challenged and ruled unconstitutional.

“This is a good bill,” Quick said. “It will help a lot of our Nebraska businesses grow their business model.”

State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman also defended the proposal. She said it had gone through “significant compromises” from its original version and was “just government allowing someone to distribute their own product to the retail market without being forced to pay a middleman some fee to distribute that for them.”

The bill passed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=12048" target="_blank">33-13</a>&nbsp;— six senators were present but did not vote, which, under a legislative rule adopted earlier this year for final reading votes, meant their votes had to be&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/23/lawmakers-vote-to-limit-soft-nos-during-final-stage-of-debate-on-nebraska-bills/">categorized as “no” votes</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744308775198.jpeg" alt=""The Genius of Creative Energy," a mosaic at the Nebraska State Capitol, was unveiled as the backdrop for the new state license plate in May 2022. A new license plate cycle will begin in 2029, bringing a new design and changes to registration. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>"The Genius of Creative Energy," a mosaic at the Nebraska State Capitol, was unveiled as the backdrop for the new state license plate in May 2022. A new license plate cycle will begin in 2029, bringing a new design and changes to registration. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/10/lawmakers-approve-no-longer-issuing-front-facing-license-plates-in-nebraska-by-2029/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — By the start of Nebraska’s next license plate cycle in 2029, the state could only issue drivers a rear-facing license plate and allow multiyear registrations.State lawmakers gave near-unanimous approval Thursday, on a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=12046" target="_blank">46-0 vote</a>, to approve&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59072&amp;docnum=LB97&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 97</a>&nbsp;led by State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha. It included the new license plate change from State Sen. Brad von Gillern of the Elkhorn area (originally&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59295&amp;docnum=LB297&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 297</a>) and the multiyear registration allowance from State Sen. Rob Dover of Norfolk (originally&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59074&amp;docnum=LB543&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 543</a>).Von Gillern said he brought his change partly because it is often the “norm” for new cars to no longer have brackets or mounts for front-facing license plates.He said that means some new car owners are left with three options:<ul>
 <li>Pay the car dealership an average of $100 to furnish and install a front plate holder.</li><li>Pay a $50 annual fee for a windshield decal conferring the right to display just a rear plate.</li><li>Drill holes in the front bumper of someone’s “dream” car.</li>
 </ul>Von Gillern said his bill, originally LB 297, could save taxpayer dollars by not issuing dual license plates to about 2 million vehicles in the state. Nebraskans currently pay&nbsp;<a href="https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dvr/reg/registration-fees-and-taxes#:~:text=$1.50%20%2D%20County%20General%20Fund%20%2D%20this,%C2%A760%2D3%2C102" target="_blank">$4.10 per license plate</a>, leading to potential savings of about $8 million.&nbsp;<a href="https://csi.nebraska.gov/products/license-plates" target="_blank">Nebraskans incarcerated at the Nebraska State Penitentiary</a>&nbsp;manufacture state plates. New car buyers could also save about $6 million to $8 million, von Gillern estimated.His bill could also have an environmental benefit, von Gillern said, reducing 200 tons of aluminum mined. At least 26 other states no longer require front-facing plates.Law enforcement officials from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Omaha Police Officer’s Association have testified neutral or in support of similar legislation in recent years. Von Gillern’s proposal was added to LB 97 during first-round debate in a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=11820" target="_blank">30-5 vote</a>.Under Dover’s bill, auto owners could pay up to three years of&nbsp;<a href="https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dvr/reg/registration-fees-and-taxes#:~:text=$1.50%20%2D%20County%20General%20Fund%20%2D%20this,%C2%A760%2D3%2C102" target="_blank">registration taxes or fees</a>&nbsp;in advance, giving them the chance to save if local taxes or fees increased in future years.Lawmakers during debate Thursday also passed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59465&amp;docnum=LB113&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 113</a>&nbsp;from State Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island, which would allow licensed craft breweries to operate up to eight separate retail locations (up from five) and allow such license holders to directly sell for resale up to 3,500 gallons of microdistilled products (up from 500 gallons) each year to retail licensees in the state.State Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln led opposition to the bill, as she’s done during each of the bill’s three stages of debate. She alleged it would give “preferential treatment” to in-state operators compared to out-of-state or regional distributors, risking a lawsuit.“It is only a matter of time that some regional distributor that plays by all the rules and adheres to the regulations and standards gets frustrated and files a lawsuit,” Raybould said.The longtime grocery store executive&nbsp;<a href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/docs/opinions/Opinion%20No.%2025-001.pdf" target="_blank">sought an attorney general’s opinion</a>&nbsp;on whether LB 113 could increase the risk of a lawsuit against the state’s craft brewery laws on the grounds of violating the constitutional clause about regulating commerce over state lines. Raybould argued the lawsuit could undo some of the state’s other alcohol-related laws.Quick told his colleagues to remember that they were discussing Nebraska small businesses and that lawmakers had added an earlier amendment to protect other statutes if LB 113 was ever challenged and ruled unconstitutional.“This is a good bill,” Quick said. “It will help a lot of our Nebraska businesses grow their business model.”State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman also defended the proposal. She said it had gone through “significant compromises” from its original version and was “just government allowing someone to distribute their own product to the retail market without being forced to pay a middleman some fee to distribute that for them.”The bill passed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=12048" target="_blank">33-13</a>&nbsp;— six senators were present but did not vote, which, under a legislative rule adopted earlier this year for final reading votes, meant their votes had to be&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/23/lawmakers-vote-to-limit-soft-nos-during-final-stage-of-debate-on-nebraska-bills/">categorized as “no” votes</a>.The Legislature also approved Thursday:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59626&amp;docnum=LB390&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 390</a>, from State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, to require that public schools by the start of the 2026-27 school year&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/a-proposed-school-book-database-law-moves-forward-in-nebraska-statehouse/">publicly catalog all library books by school building</a>. Parents could opt-in to be notified via email of when their child checks out a book, including the title, author name and the book due date. It passed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=12056" target="_blank">34-14</a>.</li><li><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59534&amp;docnum=LB457&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 457</a>, from State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/12/bill-for-nebraska-epinephrine-injector-cost-cap-severe-allergy-response-plans-advances/">cap out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary epinephrine injectors</a>, such as EpiPens, to no more than $60 for a two-pack. It also would require the state’s health and education agencies to create model policies for schools and licensed child care programs for responding to severe allergic reactions, or anaphylaxis. It passed&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=12057" target="_blank">47-1</a>.</li>
 </ul>

Lawmakers approve no longer issuing front-facing license plates in Nebraska by 2029

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans adopted a budget resolution Thursday, clearing the way for both chambers of Congress to write a bill extending 2017 tax cuts and bolstering funding for border security and defense, though the blueprint set vastly different targets for spending cuts.

<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025100" target="_blank">The cliff-hanger 216-214 vote</a>&nbsp;followed a tumultuous week on Capitol Hill. Far-right members of the GOP Conference said repeatedly they wouldn’t accept the outline, since it requires the House to write a bill that cuts spending by at least $1.5 trillion, while senators set themselves a floor of $4 billion in cuts.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-gop-punts-vote-trump-backed-budget-now-amid-battle-over-spending-cuts" target="_blank">forced to postpone a floor vote</a>&nbsp;on the budget resolution on Wednesday evening. But Johnson was able to secure the votes needed after he and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced Thursday morning that they were in agreement about meeting the higher threshold for spending cuts.

Johnson said both chambers of Congress “are committed to finding at least $1.5 trillion in savings for the American people, while also preserving our essential programs.”

“Many of us are going to aim much higher and find those savings because we believe they are there,” Johnson said. “We want to make the government more efficient, effective and leaner for the American people. And I think that will serve every American of every party. And we’re happy to do that.”

Despite the difference in reconciliation instructions, Thune said the Senate is “aligned with the House” when it comes to cutting spending over the next decade.

“The speaker has talked about $1.5 trillion,” Thune said. “We have a lot of United States senators who believe that is a minimum.”

Thune added he believes it’s time for Congress “to get the country on a more sustainable fiscal path and that entails us taking a hard scrub of our government and figuring out where we can find those savings.”

Democrats, and some centrist Republicans, have expressed deep concerns the House’s instructions require the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, to cut at least $880 billion.

The panel, which also oversees Medicare and other programs, could not recoup that level of spending without pulling hundreds of billions from Medicaid,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-tax-cut-plans-may-depend-savings-medicaid-what-it-and-who-relies-it" target="_blank">the state-federal program</a>&nbsp;for lower-income Americans and some people with disabilities.

The budget resolution has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, who’s repeatedly urged the House to adopt the measure. “Great News! “The Big, Beautiful Bill” is coming along really well. Republicans are working together nicely. Biggest Tax Cuts in USA History!!! Getting close. DJT,” Trump posted on social media Thursday morning prior to the vote.

Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz were the only members of the Republican Party to vote against approval.

“If you were trying to hasten financial collapse of our country and bribe voters to go along with it, the strategy wouldn’t look much different than what Congress is doing today,” Massie wrote on social media. “The big beautiful bill cuts taxes while keeping spending on an increasingly unsustainable trajectory.”

Spartz wrote in a social media post of her own that the reconciliation instructions “we voted on today are still setting us up for the largest deficit increase in the history of our Republic, &amp; opening up a ‘pandora’s box’ by changing accounting rules to hide it.

“In good conscience, I couldn’t vote YES.”

The House adopting the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/14/text" target="_blank">68-page budget resolution</a>&nbsp;only marks the start of the months-long journey of writing and voting on the reconciliation package.

Republicans hope to use that bill to permanently extend the 2017 tax law, increase spending on border security and defense by hundreds of billions of dollars and rework energy policy.

The budget resolution includes different budget targets for many of those goals, and for raising the debt limit. It calls on the House to increase the country’s borrowing authority by $4 trillion, while the Senate’s instructions say that chamber would lift the debt ceiling by up to $5 trillion.

Writing the various elements of the reconciliation package will fall to 11 committee chairs in the House and 10 committee leaders in the Senate, as well as Johnson, Thune and a lot of staffers.

In the House, the Agriculture Committee needs to slice at least $230 billion; Education and Workforce must reduce spending by a minimum of $330 billion; Energy and Commerce needs to cut no less than $880 billion; Financial Services must find at least $1 billion in savings; Natural Resources has a minimum of $1 billion; Oversight and Government Reform has a floor of $50 billion; and the Transportation Committee needs to reduce deficits by $10 billion or more.

Four Senate committees — Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP — must each find at least $1 billion in spending cuts over the 10-year budget window.

House committees that can increase the federal deficit include the Armed Services Committee with a cap of $100 billion in new spending, Homeland Security with a $90 billion ceiling for new funding for programs it oversees, Judiciary with a maximum of $110 billion and Ways and Means, which can increase deficits up to $4.5 trillion for tax cuts.

Senate committees also got instructions for increasing the deficit, which will allow them to spend up to the dollar amount outlined in the budget resolution. Those committees include Armed Services at $150 billion; Commerce, Science and Transportation with $20 billion; Environment and Public Works at $1 billion; Finance with $1.5 trillion in new deficits, likely for tax cuts; Homeland Security at $175 billion and Judiciary with $175 billion.

If the process to reach agreement on a final reconciliation package is anything like the path to adopting the budget resolution, it will be long, winding and filled with drama.

The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-adopts-plan-b-budget-gop-seeks-billions-border-security" target="_blank">voted for a completely different budget resolution</a>&nbsp;in February that would have set up Congress to enact Republicans’ agenda in two reconciliation bills instead of one.

Budget Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., referred to the reconciliation instructions in that budget proposal as “Plan B.”

That tax-and-spending blueprint would have had lawmakers first write a bill increasing funding for border security and defense, and rewriting energy policy, before debating another bill later in the year to extend the 2017 tax law and cut federal spending.

The House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-overcome-own-members-doubts-push-through-sweeping-budget" target="_blank">voted about a week later to approve its original budget resolution</a>, but not without a bit of theatrics.

Johnson didn’t originally have the votes and opted to recess the chamber before calling lawmakers back about 15 minutes later to approve that version of the budget resolution.

The Senate made changes to its reconciliation instructions in the House-approved budget resolution, before&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-wins-approval-sprawling-budget-blueprint-shipping-it-house" target="_blank">voting to send it back across the Capitol</a>&nbsp;for their colleagues to vote on final approval, which they did Thursday.

Each time the Senate voted on a budget resolution it undertook a marathon amendment voting session, known as a vote-a-rama, where lawmakers stay on the floor overnight to debate various aspects of the outline.

Senators will need to undertake one more of those when they debate the actual reconciliation package later this year, though the stakes will be much higher.

The budget resolution is a blueprint for how Congress wants to shape tax and spending policy during the 10-year budget window. It’s not a bill so it never becomes law. And it contains no actual money, it’s simply a plan for how lawmakers want to structure policy.

The reconciliation package, once written, will have the chance of becoming law, so any amendments offered during the Senate’s vote-a-rama will carry greater weight than the proposals voted on when the chamber took up the two budget resolutions.

Democrats will have an opportunity to challenge centrist GOP senators on whether they support or want to remove every single policy that Republicans put in their reconciliation package.

That could create real issues for GOP leadership if they include tax policy or spending cuts that cannot garner the backing of senators like Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, Maine’s Susan Collins and others.

The final reconciliation package will need support from nearly every Republican in Congress. GOP leaders will not be able to lose more than three House lawmakers or three Republican senators, under their very slender majorities.&nbsp;

Four or more Republicans opposing the reconciliation package in one chamber, either because it cuts too much spending or doesn’t cut enough, would likely prevent it from becoming law.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744299694388.png" alt="House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune during the press briefing ahead of the vote -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune during the press briefing ahead of the vote -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans adopted a budget resolution Thursday, clearing the way for both chambers of Congress to write a bill extending 2017 tax cuts and bolstering funding for border security and defense, though the blueprint set vastly different targets for spending cuts.<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025100" target="_blank">The cliff-hanger 216-214 vote</a>&nbsp;followed a tumultuous week on Capitol Hill. Far-right members of the GOP Conference said repeatedly they wouldn’t accept the outline, since it requires the House to write a bill that cuts spending by at least $1.5 trillion, while senators set themselves a floor of $4 billion in cuts.Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-gop-punts-vote-trump-backed-budget-now-amid-battle-over-spending-cuts" target="_blank">forced to postpone a floor vote</a>&nbsp;on the budget resolution on Wednesday evening. But Johnson was able to secure the votes needed after he and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced Thursday morning that they were in agreement about meeting the higher threshold for spending cuts.Johnson said both chambers of Congress “are committed to finding at least $1.5 trillion in savings for the American people, while also preserving our essential programs.”“Many of us are going to aim much higher and find those savings because we believe they are there,” Johnson said. “We want to make the government more efficient, effective and leaner for the American people. And I think that will serve every American of every party. And we’re happy to do that.”Despite the difference in reconciliation instructions, Thune said the Senate is “aligned with the House” when it comes to cutting spending over the next decade.“The speaker has talked about $1.5 trillion,” Thune said. “We have a lot of United States senators who believe that is a minimum.”Thune added he believes it’s time for Congress “to get the country on a more sustainable fiscal path and that entails us taking a hard scrub of our government and figuring out where we can find those savings.”Democrats, and some centrist Republicans, have expressed deep concerns the House’s instructions require the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, to cut at least $880 billion.The panel, which also oversees Medicare and other programs, could not recoup that level of spending without pulling hundreds of billions from Medicaid,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-tax-cut-plans-may-depend-savings-medicaid-what-it-and-who-relies-it" target="_blank">the state-federal program</a>&nbsp;for lower-income Americans and some people with disabilities.The budget resolution has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, who’s repeatedly urged the House to adopt the measure. “Great News! “The Big, Beautiful Bill” is coming along really well. Republicans are working together nicely. Biggest Tax Cuts in USA History!!! Getting close. DJT,” Trump posted on social media Thursday morning prior to the vote.Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz were the only members of the Republican Party to vote against approval.“If you were trying to hasten financial collapse of our country and bribe voters to go along with it, the strategy wouldn’t look much different than what Congress is doing today,” Massie wrote on social media. “The big beautiful bill cuts taxes while keeping spending on an increasingly unsustainable trajectory.”Spartz wrote in a social media post of her own that the reconciliation instructions “we voted on today are still setting us up for the largest deficit increase in the history of our Republic, &amp; opening up a ‘pandora’s box’ by changing accounting rules to hide it.“In good conscience, I couldn’t vote YES.”<h2>Only a beginning</h2>The House adopting the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/14/text" target="_blank">68-page budget resolution</a>&nbsp;only marks the start of the months-long journey of writing and voting on the reconciliation package.Republicans hope to use that bill to permanently extend the 2017 tax law, increase spending on border security and defense by hundreds of billions of dollars and rework energy policy.The budget resolution includes different budget targets for many of those goals, and for raising the debt limit. It calls on the House to increase the country’s borrowing authority by $4 trillion, while the Senate’s instructions say that chamber would lift the debt ceiling by up to $5 trillion.Writing the various elements of the reconciliation package will fall to 11 committee chairs in the House and 10 committee leaders in the Senate, as well as Johnson, Thune and a lot of staffers.In the House, the Agriculture Committee needs to slice at least $230 billion; Education and Workforce must reduce spending by a minimum of $330 billion; Energy and Commerce needs to cut no less than $880 billion; Financial Services must find at least $1 billion in savings; Natural Resources has a minimum of $1 billion; Oversight and Government Reform has a floor of $50 billion; and the Transportation Committee needs to reduce deficits by $10 billion or more.Four Senate committees — Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP — must each find at least $1 billion in spending cuts over the 10-year budget window.House committees that can increase the federal deficit include the Armed Services Committee with a cap of $100 billion in new spending, Homeland Security with a $90 billion ceiling for new funding for programs it oversees, Judiciary with a maximum of $110 billion and Ways and Means, which can increase deficits up to $4.5 trillion for tax cuts.Senate committees also got instructions for increasing the deficit, which will allow them to spend up to the dollar amount outlined in the budget resolution. Those committees include Armed Services at $150 billion; Commerce, Science and Transportation with $20 billion; Environment and Public Works at $1 billion; Finance with $1.5 trillion in new deficits, likely for tax cuts; Homeland Security at $175 billion and Judiciary with $175 billion.<h2>The back story</h2>If the process to reach agreement on a final reconciliation package is anything like the path to adopting the budget resolution, it will be long, winding and filled with drama.The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-adopts-plan-b-budget-gop-seeks-billions-border-security" target="_blank">voted for a completely different budget resolution</a>&nbsp;in February that would have set up Congress to enact Republicans’ agenda in two reconciliation bills instead of one.Budget Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., referred to the reconciliation instructions in that budget proposal as “Plan B.”That tax-and-spending blueprint would have had lawmakers first write a bill increasing funding for border security and defense, and rewriting energy policy, before debating another bill later in the year to extend the 2017 tax law and cut federal spending.The House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-overcome-own-members-doubts-push-through-sweeping-budget" target="_blank">voted about a week later to approve its original budget resolution</a>, but not without a bit of theatrics.Johnson didn’t originally have the votes and opted to recess the chamber before calling lawmakers back about 15 minutes later to approve that version of the budget resolution.The Senate made changes to its reconciliation instructions in the House-approved budget resolution, before&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-wins-approval-sprawling-budget-blueprint-shipping-it-house" target="_blank">voting to send it back across the Capitol</a>&nbsp;for their colleagues to vote on final approval, which they did Thursday.<h2>Politically difficult votes ahead</h2>Each time the Senate voted on a budget resolution it undertook a marathon amendment voting session, known as a vote-a-rama, where lawmakers stay on the floor overnight to debate various aspects of the outline.Senators will need to undertake one more of those when they debate the actual reconciliation package later this year, though the stakes will be much higher.The budget resolution is a blueprint for how Congress wants to shape tax and spending policy during the 10-year budget window. It’s not a bill so it never becomes law. And it contains no actual money, it’s simply a plan for how lawmakers want to structure policy.The reconciliation package, once written, will have the chance of becoming law, so any amendments offered during the Senate’s vote-a-rama will carry greater weight than the proposals voted on when the chamber took up the two budget resolutions.Democrats will have an opportunity to challenge centrist GOP senators on whether they support or want to remove every single policy that Republicans put in their reconciliation package.That could create real issues for GOP leadership if they include tax policy or spending cuts that cannot garner the backing of senators like Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, Maine’s Susan Collins and others.The final reconciliation package will need support from nearly every Republican in Congress. GOP leaders will not be able to lose more than three House lawmakers or three Republican senators, under their very slender majorities.&nbsp;Four or more Republicans opposing the reconciliation package in one chamber, either because it cuts too much spending or doesn’t cut enough, would likely prevent it from becoming law.&nbsp;

Trump-supported budget squeaks by in U.S. House after GOP assurances of vast spending cuts

By Scottsbluff Police&nbsp;Sgt. Royce Massie

On 4-5-25, officers with Scottsbluff PD received a report of an incident at a local retail store that involved an individual masturbating in the aisles of the store.&nbsp; Security camera footage was obtained, and Kolten Weinkauf, 19 of Hartville, Wyoming was identified as a suspect.&nbsp; Police located him on 4-9-25, and he was issued a citation for Public Indecency.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716320706146.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By Scottsbluff Police&nbsp;Sgt. Royce MassieOn 4-5-25, officers with Scottsbluff PD received a report of an incident at a local retail store that involved an individual masturbating in the aisles of the store.&nbsp; Security camera footage was obtained, and Kolten Weinkauf, 19 of Hartville, Wyoming was identified as a suspect.&nbsp; Police located him on 4-9-25, and he was issued a citation for Public Indecency.

Wyoming Teen issued a citation for public indecency at a Panhandle Store 

The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) has launched its Southeast Site in Lincoln. The opening of the site means BHECN now has locations in all six of the state’s behavioral health regions.

The newest site will allow BHECN to address the unique behavioral health workforce needs of the southeastern part of the state, said BHECN Director Marley Doyle, MD.

“Southeast Nebraska has a unique blend of urban and rural communities, and our newest site will help us ensure we are being responsive to the workforce challenges and opportunities that exist here,” Dr. Doyle said.

Along with having a mix of urban and rural populations, the southeast region is also home to several higher education institutions that help educate behavioral health workers, as well as multiple correctional facilities where the need for behavioral health professionals is high.

BHECN Southeast will work with partners from across these entities -- as well as other behavioral health workers -- to help identify key workforce challenges and ways BHECN can address them, said site co-directors Wendy Baumeister, PsyD, and Kimberly Clawson, MD.

“BHECN has long been a leader in helping grow our state’s behavioral health workforce, and we are excited to work to help ensure BHECN’s efforts are more tailored to meet the needs of our region,” Dr. Baumeister said.

“Southeastern Nebraska is unique in many ways, and its behavioral health workforce needs reflect that fact,” Dr. Clawson said. “By working with stakeholders from a broad array of fields and communities, we will help ensure our workforce meets those needs and improves behavioral health for those who live here.”

While BHECN Southeast is currently operational, a formal opening event will be held on Tuesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Region 5 Systems at 3600 Union Drive in Lincoln. (<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bhecn-southeast-roll-out-event-tickets-1290254829929?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank">RSVP for the event here</a>.)

As BHECN’s sixth site, BHECN Southeast joins:

<a href="https://www.unmc.edu/bhecn/bhecn-sites/index.html" target="_blank">Learn more about the BHECN sites.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1561900937732.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>UNMCThe Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) has launched its Southeast Site in Lincoln. The opening of the site means BHECN now has locations in all six of the state’s behavioral health regions.The newest site will allow BHECN to address the unique behavioral health workforce needs of the southeastern part of the state, said BHECN Director Marley Doyle, MD.“Southeast Nebraska has a unique blend of urban and rural communities, and our newest site will help us ensure we are being responsive to the workforce challenges and opportunities that exist here,” Dr. Doyle said.Along with having a mix of urban and rural populations, the southeast region is also home to several higher education institutions that help educate behavioral health workers, as well as multiple correctional facilities where the need for behavioral health professionals is high.BHECN Southeast will work with partners from across these entities -- as well as other behavioral health workers -- to help identify key workforce challenges and ways BHECN can address them, said site co-directors Wendy Baumeister, PsyD, and Kimberly Clawson, MD.“BHECN has long been a leader in helping grow our state’s behavioral health workforce, and we are excited to work to help ensure BHECN’s efforts are more tailored to meet the needs of our region,” Dr. Baumeister said.“Southeastern Nebraska is unique in many ways, and its behavioral health workforce needs reflect that fact,” Dr. Clawson said. “By working with stakeholders from a broad array of fields and communities, we will help ensure our workforce meets those needs and improves behavioral health for those who live here.”While BHECN Southeast is currently operational, a formal opening event will be held on Tuesday, April 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Region 5 Systems at 3600 Union Drive in Lincoln. (<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bhecn-southeast-roll-out-event-tickets-1290254829929?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank">RSVP for the event here</a>.)As BHECN’s sixth site, BHECN Southeast joins:<ul>
 <li>BHECN Central, launched at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2015.</li><li>BHECN Panhandle, started at Chadron State College in 2019.</li><li>BHECN Northeast, launched at Wayne State College in 2023.</li><li>BHECN East, started at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2024.</li><li>BHECN Southwest, started in North Platte in 2024.</li>
 </ul><a href="https://www.unmc.edu/bhecn/bhecn-sites/index.html" target="_blank">Learn more about the BHECN sites.</a>

BHECN launches southeast site in Lincoln

Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Stephanie Cummings, 39, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 9, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Cummings to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Cummings’ release from prison, she will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.

On December 5, 2023, law enforcement intercepted a package that contained nearly 4 pounds of methamphetamine in Nebraska.&nbsp; On December 6, 2023, law enforcement, in an undercover capacity, delivered the package to a residence in Omaha.&nbsp; Cummings and Mitchell Bostic picked up the package. Officers watched Cummings and Bostic as they drove away in Bostic’s vehicle. Believing law enforcement was following them, Bostic instructed Cummings to throw the package containing methamphetamine out of the car window. The officers located the package and subsequently conducted a traffic stop of Bostic’s vehicle. Bostic and Cummings were both arrested. Bostic was previously sentenced in federal court to 235 months’ imprisonment.

This case was investigated by&nbsp;the Drug Enforcement Administration.

United States Attorney's OfficeActing United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Stephanie Cummings, 39, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 9, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Cummings to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Cummings’ release from prison, she will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.On December 5, 2023, law enforcement intercepted a package that contained nearly 4 pounds of methamphetamine in Nebraska.&nbsp; On December 6, 2023, law enforcement, in an undercover capacity, delivered the package to a residence in Omaha.&nbsp; Cummings and Mitchell Bostic picked up the package. Officers watched Cummings and Bostic as they drove away in Bostic’s vehicle. Believing law enforcement was following them, Bostic instructed Cummings to throw the package containing methamphetamine out of the car window. The officers located the package and subsequently conducted a traffic stop of Bostic’s vehicle. Bostic and Cummings were both arrested. Bostic was previously sentenced in federal court to 235 months’ imprisonment.This case was investigated by&nbsp;the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Drug Dealer Receives 108 Months After Picking Up Package with 4 Pounds of Methamphetamine

Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Arvis Manvil Lewis, Jr., 39, of Sisseton, South Dakota, was sentenced on April 9, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for abusive sexual contact with a child under twelve (12) years of age. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Lewis to 77 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lewis’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

In December 2022, Lewis made sexual contact with a minor child (age 9) entrusted to his care as the child slept. The minor child disclosed Lewis’s conduct to a trusted adult, who reported the incident to appropriate authorities. A forensic interview was conducted with the minor child, confirming the offense occurred in the child’s home in Santee, Nebraska, on the Santee Sioux Nation Indian Reservation. After initially denying the offense, Lewis ultimately confessed to law enforcement that he had perpetrated against the minor child.

This case was prosecuted in federal court because the offense was a felony and occurred on the Santee Sioux Nation Indian Reservation in Nebraska.

This case was investigated by&nbsp;the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney's OfficeActing United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Arvis Manvil Lewis, Jr., 39, of Sisseton, South Dakota, was sentenced on April 9, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for abusive sexual contact with a child under twelve (12) years of age. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Lewis to 77 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lewis’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.In December 2022, Lewis made sexual contact with a minor child (age 9) entrusted to his care as the child slept. The minor child disclosed Lewis’s conduct to a trusted adult, who reported the incident to appropriate authorities. A forensic interview was conducted with the minor child, confirming the offense occurred in the child’s home in Santee, Nebraska, on the Santee Sioux Nation Indian Reservation. After initially denying the offense, Lewis ultimately confessed to law enforcement that he had perpetrated against the minor child.This case was prosecuted in federal court because the offense was a felony and occurred on the Santee Sioux Nation Indian Reservation in Nebraska.This case was investigated by&nbsp;the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen hosted a news conference and bill signing for LB168,&nbsp;the&nbsp;340B Contract Pharmacy Protection Act. Calling the bill a critical part of healthcare, especially for hospitals in rural communities, Gov. Pillen expressed his appreciation for the work of senators, hospitals and others to get the legislation to his desk.&nbsp;

LB168, introduced by Senator Brian Hardin, protects the savings created by the 340B program. Passed Congress in 1992, the program was later expanded to cover additional entities. Under 340B, drug manufacturers that participate in Medicaid, sell certain outpatient drugs at discounted prices to health care providers like hospitals, clinics and federally qualified health centers – places that often care for uninsured and underinsured patients. During COVID, drug manufacturers not only disallowed discounts for medications, but they also imposed burdensome requirements, which are now prohibited through passage of the&nbsp;340B Contract Pharmacy Protection Act.&nbsp;

“This is really important legislation that allows our hospitals – from the biggest to the smallest – to provide the services Nebraskans depend on,” said Gov. Pillen. “The savings from the 340B program have been a critical part of how our hospitals operate and ensures that our patients are getting great care.”&nbsp;

Sen. Hardin emphasized that without legislation securing the savings from drug costs, hospitals – both rural and urban – as well as their patients, would suffer, including his own hospital in Scottsbluff.&nbsp;

“In fact, the hospitals that are most vulnerable -- probably a dozen and a half of the 58 critical access hospitals that participate in 340B -- may not see it through another year if they don’t get that help because they operate at a 1.4% margin,” noted Sen. Hardin. “’I’m very thankful for everyone who has stepped forward to make sure this moves ahead. Thanks to all my fellow senators who saw this need.”

Olivia Little, who directs the 340B program for Johnson County Hospital, explained in detail how the program has been a benefit to her hospital system and its associated clinics.

“Our hospitals rely heavily on the 340B program to fund services that operate at a loss, like our home health program and our EMS program. While these services operate at a loss, they are vital to patients and community members caring for their loved ones.”

Tyler Toline, president and CEO of Franciscan Healthcare in West Point noted that his healthcare system had similar challenges.&nbsp;

“We have a home health and hospice that loses many hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. We have a nursing home and an assisted living facility that are in that same boat. When you look at the dollars that we get out of the 340B program, it allows us to keep these operations and services going, which are vital to the success of our communities.”

“Without those rural, critical care hospitals, we are going to lose population,” added Senator Mike Jacobsen, chairman of the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee, which heard and advanced the bill for debate.

“This is another step forward in trying to preserve the hospitals that are there, so they can remain open and continue to serve Medicare and Medicaid patients, which is where a lot of these dollars go.”&nbsp;

“Staff members at our hospitals do amazing work, and I’m proud to sign this bill into law to help their efforts,” said Gov. Pillen. “This legislation will make a great deal of difference for our critical access and rural hospitals going forward.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744291008537.jpeg" alt="Governor Pillen Flanked by Senator Mike Jacobson (Left) and Senator Brian Hardin (Right) Showing the Signed Bill (Courtesy)" />
 <figcaption>Governor Pillen Flanked by Senator Mike Jacobson (Left) and Senator Brian Hardin (Right) Showing the Signed Bill (Courtesy)</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen hosted a news conference and bill signing for LB168,&nbsp;the&nbsp;340B Contract Pharmacy Protection Act. Calling the bill a critical part of healthcare, especially for hospitals in rural communities, Gov. Pillen expressed his appreciation for the work of senators, hospitals and others to get the legislation to his desk.&nbsp;LB168, introduced by Senator Brian Hardin, protects the savings created by the 340B program. Passed Congress in 1992, the program was later expanded to cover additional entities. Under 340B, drug manufacturers that participate in Medicaid, sell certain outpatient drugs at discounted prices to health care providers like hospitals, clinics and federally qualified health centers – places that often care for uninsured and underinsured patients. During COVID, drug manufacturers not only disallowed discounts for medications, but they also imposed burdensome requirements, which are now prohibited through passage of the&nbsp;340B Contract Pharmacy Protection Act.&nbsp;“This is really important legislation that allows our hospitals – from the biggest to the smallest – to provide the services Nebraskans depend on,” said Gov. Pillen. “The savings from the 340B program have been a critical part of how our hospitals operate and ensures that our patients are getting great care.”&nbsp;Sen. Hardin emphasized that without legislation securing the savings from drug costs, hospitals – both rural and urban – as well as their patients, would suffer, including his own hospital in Scottsbluff.&nbsp;“In fact, the hospitals that are most vulnerable -- probably a dozen and a half of the 58 critical access hospitals that participate in 340B -- may not see it through another year if they don’t get that help because they operate at a 1.4% margin,” noted Sen. Hardin. “’I’m very thankful for everyone who has stepped forward to make sure this moves ahead. Thanks to all my fellow senators who saw this need.”Olivia Little, who directs the 340B program for Johnson County Hospital, explained in detail how the program has been a benefit to her hospital system and its associated clinics.“Our hospitals rely heavily on the 340B program to fund services that operate at a loss, like our home health program and our EMS program. While these services operate at a loss, they are vital to patients and community members caring for their loved ones.”Tyler Toline, president and CEO of Franciscan Healthcare in West Point noted that his healthcare system had similar challenges.&nbsp;“We have a home health and hospice that loses many hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. We have a nursing home and an assisted living facility that are in that same boat. When you look at the dollars that we get out of the 340B program, it allows us to keep these operations and services going, which are vital to the success of our communities.”“Without those rural, critical care hospitals, we are going to lose population,” added Senator Mike Jacobsen, chairman of the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee, which heard and advanced the bill for debate.“This is another step forward in trying to preserve the hospitals that are there, so they can remain open and continue to serve Medicare and Medicaid patients, which is where a lot of these dollars go.”&nbsp;“Staff members at our hospitals do amazing work, and I’m proud to sign this bill into law to help their efforts,” said Gov. Pillen. “This legislation will make a great deal of difference for our critical access and rural hospitals going forward.”

Gov. Pillen Holds Bill Signing on the 340B Contract Pharmacy Protection Act

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will pause his sweeping tariffs for 90 days on countries willing to negotiate new trade deals but will not relent on China, according to a post Wednesday on his social media platform.

Stocks surged upon his announcement after days of wrecked markets erased trillions of dollars from investors. The Nasdaq saw the biggest single-day hike in five years as of Wednesday afternoon, according to financial media.

The pause will not extend to China, which he announced will see a further hike to 125% on imports to the U.S. “effective immediately,” he said.

“At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“Conversely, and based on the fact that more than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and the USTR, to negotiate a solution to the subjects being discussed relative to Trade, Trade Barriers, Tariffs, Currency Manipulation, and Non Monetary Tariffs, and that these Countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way, shape, or form against the United States, I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately,” Trump continued.

The tariffs, which the administration maintains are “reciprocal,” went into effect just after midnight Wednesday.

The announcement came just hours after the president posted on social media “BE COOL!” and “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT.”

Trump’s sudden pause also came hours after U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/nervous-senators-both-parties-press-trump-trade-rep-tariffs-high-104" target="_blank">defended</a>&nbsp;the steep tariffs before nervous lawmakers on Capitol Hill for the second day in a row.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for a list of countries whose tariff rates will drop to a universal baseline of 10%.

Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” announcement sent shock waves through the economy after he unveiled import taxes on trading partners and allies, some as high as 46% as in the case of Vietnam, a major tech exporter to the U.S.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters outside the White House Wednesday that the tariffs were “a successful negotiating strategy.”

“As I told everyone a week ago in this very spot, do not retaliate, and you will be rewarded,” Bessent said.

The administration met with Vietnamese officials Wednesday, according to Bessent, and meetings with Japan, South Korea and India are expected shortly, though he didn’t provide details.

When asked by reporters if Trump’s tariff policy was mainly now focused on China, Bessent said “it’s about bad actors” but added that China “is the biggest source of the U.S. trade problems.”

The trade war — though Bessent said he is “not calling it a trade war” — between the U.S. and China expanded rapidly overnight Wednesday when Chinese officials raised levies on U.S. goods to 84%.

“The US’s practice of escalating tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake, which seriously infringes on China’s legitimate rights and interests and seriously damages the rules-based multilateral trading system,” according to a translation of a&nbsp;<a href="https://gss.mof.gov.cn/gzdt/zhengcefabu/202504/t20250409_3961684.htm" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;Wednesday from the country’s State Council Tariff Commission.

Bessent did not answer shouted questions about whether the European Union would see a 90-day reprieve from Trump’s 20% tax on EU imports.

The European bloc of 27 nations approved new tariffs on a range of American goods Wednesday in retaliation to an earlier round of levies that Trump imposed.

EU lawmakers did not yet publish a final list of the U.S. products it targeted Wednesday.

The EU import taxes are set to begin April 15 and are in response to Trump’s “unjustified and damaging” 25% tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum that went into effect in mid-March, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_25_1025" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;from the European Commission.

“These countermeasures can be suspended at any time, should the US agree to a fair and balanced negotiated outcome,” the statement continued.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744061043393.png" alt="&nbsp;President Trump during an Oval Office meeting on Tuesday- White. House photo" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;President Trump during an Oval Office meeting on Tuesday- White. House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will pause his sweeping tariffs for 90 days on countries willing to negotiate new trade deals but will not relent on China, according to a post Wednesday on his social media platform.Stocks surged upon his announcement after days of wrecked markets erased trillions of dollars from investors. The Nasdaq saw the biggest single-day hike in five years as of Wednesday afternoon, according to financial media.The pause will not extend to China, which he announced will see a further hike to 125% on imports to the U.S. “effective immediately,” he said.“At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable,” Trump posted on Truth Social.“Conversely, and based on the fact that more than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and the USTR, to negotiate a solution to the subjects being discussed relative to Trade, Trade Barriers, Tariffs, Currency Manipulation, and Non Monetary Tariffs, and that these Countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way, shape, or form against the United States, I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately,” Trump continued.The tariffs, which the administration maintains are “reciprocal,” went into effect just after midnight Wednesday.The announcement came just hours after the president posted on social media “BE COOL!” and “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT.”Trump’s sudden pause also came hours after U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/nervous-senators-both-parties-press-trump-trade-rep-tariffs-high-104" target="_blank">defended</a>&nbsp;the steep tariffs before nervous lawmakers on Capitol Hill for the second day in a row.The White House did not immediately respond to a request for a list of countries whose tariff rates will drop to a universal baseline of 10%.<h2>A rollercoaster few days</h2>Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” announcement sent shock waves through the economy after he unveiled import taxes on trading partners and allies, some as high as 46% as in the case of Vietnam, a major tech exporter to the U.S.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters outside the White House Wednesday that the tariffs were “a successful negotiating strategy.”“As I told everyone a week ago in this very spot, do not retaliate, and you will be rewarded,” Bessent said.The administration met with Vietnamese officials Wednesday, according to Bessent, and meetings with Japan, South Korea and India are expected shortly, though he didn’t provide details.When asked by reporters if Trump’s tariff policy was mainly now focused on China, Bessent said “it’s about bad actors” but added that China “is the biggest source of the U.S. trade problems.”The trade war — though Bessent said he is “not calling it a trade war” — between the U.S. and China expanded rapidly overnight Wednesday when Chinese officials raised levies on U.S. goods to 84%.“The US’s practice of escalating tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake, which seriously infringes on China’s legitimate rights and interests and seriously damages the rules-based multilateral trading system,” according to a translation of a&nbsp;<a href="https://gss.mof.gov.cn/gzdt/zhengcefabu/202504/t20250409_3961684.htm" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;Wednesday from the country’s State Council Tariff Commission.<h2>European Union</h2>Bessent did not answer shouted questions about whether the European Union would see a 90-day reprieve from Trump’s 20% tax on EU imports.The European bloc of 27 nations approved new tariffs on a range of American goods Wednesday in retaliation to an earlier round of levies that Trump imposed.EU lawmakers did not yet publish a final list of the U.S. products it targeted Wednesday.The EU import taxes are set to begin April 15 and are in response to Trump’s “unjustified and damaging” 25% tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum that went into effect in mid-March, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_25_1025" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;from the European Commission.“These countermeasures can be suspended at any time, should the US agree to a fair and balanced negotiated outcome,” the statement continued.

Trump sets 90-day pause on many tariffs, hikes China to 125%

Lincoln, April 9, 2025- The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) reminds consumers served by Black Hills Energy’s&nbsp;<a href="https://psc.nebraska.gov/natural-gas/consumer-choice-program" target="_blank">Choice Gas Program</a>, the time to choose a supplier is underway. The selection period for residential/commercial choice customers in the Black Hills area runs through April 23.The Choice Gas Program administered by Black Hills Energy allows residential, commercial, and ag customers residing in certain areas of the state to choose a third-party supplier to provide their natural gas.

“It’s important to remember the selection period only applies to those customers served by the Choice Gas Program,” said Nichole Mulcahy, Director, PSC Natural Gas Department. “Consumers in the areas served by the program, should have received information from suppliers to help them make an informed choice on which company they would like to provide them natural gas.”

Choosing a supplier could result in the consumer seeing a benefit by receiving a lower price fortheir natural gas. Those customers who don’t make a selection, are assigned a default supplierand rate, which could result in paying more.

Lincoln, April 9, 2025- The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) reminds consumers served by Black Hills Energy’s&nbsp;<a href="https://psc.nebraska.gov/natural-gas/consumer-choice-program" target="_blank">Choice Gas Program</a>, the time to choose a supplier is underway. The selection period for residential/commercial choice customers in the Black Hills area runs through April 23.The Choice Gas Program administered by Black Hills Energy allows residential, commercial, and ag customers residing in certain areas of the state to choose a third-party supplier to provide their natural gas.“It’s important to remember the selection period only applies to those customers served by the Choice Gas Program,” said Nichole Mulcahy, Director, PSC Natural Gas Department. “Consumers in the areas served by the program, should have received information from suppliers to help them make an informed choice on which company they would like to provide them natural gas.”Choosing a supplier could result in the consumer seeing a benefit by receiving a lower price fortheir natural gas. Those customers who don’t make a selection, are assigned a default supplierand rate, which could result in paying more.Information for Nebraska Choice Gas customers including a list of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/sites/blackhillsenergy.com/files/files/CGNECities.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska towns participating in the Choice Gas Program</a>&nbsp;can be found on the Black Hills Energy website &lt;<a href="https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/services/choice-gas-program/nebraska-choice-gas-customers" target="_blank">https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/services/choice-gas-program/nebraska-choice-gas-customers</a>&gt;. Additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://psc.nebraska.gov/natural-gas/consumer-choice-program" target="_blank">Choice Gas Program</a>&nbsp;page of the PSC website.Director Mulcahy said, “We encourage eligible consumers to take the time to review theiroptions and make an informed choice before the April 23 deadline.”Consumers with questions regarding the Nebraska Consumer Choice Gas Program are encouraged to contact Black Hills Energy at 1-877-245-3506