<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/the-search-is-on-for-this-years-coolest-product-created-on-cornhusker-turf/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Top glory last year went to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/coolest-thing-made-in-nebraska-winner-for-2023-is-an-all-terrain-wheelchair-from-columbus/">a Columbus-made wheelchair</a>&nbsp;built to move through rough and tough terrain.

The year before that, a technology&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/subway-car-takes-the-win-in-coolest-thing-made-in-nebraska-contest/">subway car</a>&nbsp;produced in Lincoln and running on New York City tracks emerged as the coolest thing made in Nebraska.

Now the process has begun to name the 2024 winner of the “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” competition,&nbsp;coordinated by the Nebraska Manufacturing Alliance and Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In its third year, the contest has become a fun and increasingly popular way to draw attention to the state’s manufacturing industry and to provide companies a platform to show off their wares, said Mike Johnson, chief operating officer for the chamber.

It starts off with a monthlong&nbsp;<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P85G5VQ" target="_blank">nomination</a>&nbsp;period that ends July 31. A Leadership Nebraska alumni group of statewide business and nonprofit representatives then weighs in to narrow the field of nominees to 16.&nbsp;

In September, those 16 Nebraska-made products&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nemanufacturingalliance.com/coolest-thing-made-in-ne.html" target="_blank">will start competing in weekly</a>&nbsp;head-to-head matchups, with the public invited to vote online, until a winner emerges from a final tournament round.

The 2024 champion is to be revealed Oct. 29 during a LaVista summit marking manufacturing month.

Johnson said organizers have been surprised at how the contest took off and has exceeded expectations.

“Each year we’ve gotten more nominations,” said Johnson. Public engagement has grown, too. “It’s clearly something Nebraskans just get excited about.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721157207958.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/the-search-is-on-for-this-years-coolest-product-created-on-cornhusker-turf/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Top glory last year went to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/coolest-thing-made-in-nebraska-winner-for-2023-is-an-all-terrain-wheelchair-from-columbus/">a Columbus-made wheelchair</a>&nbsp;built to move through rough and tough terrain.The year before that, a technology&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/subway-car-takes-the-win-in-coolest-thing-made-in-nebraska-contest/">subway car</a>&nbsp;produced in Lincoln and running on New York City tracks emerged as the coolest thing made in Nebraska.Now the process has begun to name the 2024 winner of the “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” competition,&nbsp;coordinated by the Nebraska Manufacturing Alliance and Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry.In its third year, the contest has become a fun and increasingly popular way to draw attention to the state’s manufacturing industry and to provide companies a platform to show off their wares, said Mike Johnson, chief operating officer for the chamber.It starts off with a monthlong&nbsp;<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P85G5VQ" target="_blank">nomination</a>&nbsp;period that ends July 31. A Leadership Nebraska alumni group of statewide business and nonprofit representatives then weighs in to narrow the field of nominees to 16.&nbsp;In September, those 16 Nebraska-made products&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nemanufacturingalliance.com/coolest-thing-made-in-ne.html" target="_blank">will start competing in weekly</a>&nbsp;head-to-head matchups, with the public invited to vote online, until a winner emerges from a final tournament round.The 2024 champion is to be revealed Oct. 29 during a LaVista summit marking manufacturing month.Johnson said organizers have been surprised at how the contest took off and has exceeded expectations.“Each year we’ve gotten more nominations,” said Johnson. Public engagement has grown, too. “It’s clearly something Nebraskans just get excited about.”

The search is on for this year’s ‘coolest’ product created on Cornhusker turf

<a>JULY 16, 2024 (SCOTTSBLUFF, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>—&nbsp;&nbsp;Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed three impaired drivers and three drivers under suspension from the roads in Scotts Bluff County during Oregon Trail Days.

Oregon Trail Days ran from Thursday through Sunday of last week. Troopers performed high visibility patrols throughout the event, in addition to providing safe-driving education messages at the event itself.

“Oregon Trail Days is always a great time for our communities in Scotts Bluff County,” said Major Jeff Roby, NSP Western Operations Major. “We’re thankful that this weekend was safe on the roads for everyone in attendance. As this summer’s activities continue this weekend, remember to always have a sober driver lined-up to get home safely.”

Oregon Trail Days marked its 103rd&nbsp;consecutive year in 2024. The events occurred at several locations around Gering. NSP’s effort was made possible thanks in part to a grant for $2,160 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office. NDOT-HSO has designated Scotts Bluff County as a priority county for 2024.

Mikayla HallNebraska State Patrol<a>JULY 16, 2024 (SCOTTSBLUFF, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>—&nbsp;&nbsp;Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed three impaired drivers and three drivers under suspension from the roads in Scotts Bluff County during Oregon Trail Days.Oregon Trail Days ran from Thursday through Sunday of last week. Troopers performed high visibility patrols throughout the event, in addition to providing safe-driving education messages at the event itself.“Oregon Trail Days is always a great time for our communities in Scotts Bluff County,” said Major Jeff Roby, NSP Western Operations Major. “We’re thankful that this weekend was safe on the roads for everyone in attendance. As this summer’s activities continue this weekend, remember to always have a sober driver lined-up to get home safely.”Oregon Trail Days marked its 103rd&nbsp;consecutive year in 2024. The events occurred at several locations around Gering. NSP’s effort was made possible thanks in part to a grant for $2,160 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office. NDOT-HSO has designated Scotts Bluff County as a priority county for 2024.

Troopers Help Keep Roads Safe During Oregon Trail Days

Lincoln, NE–July 16,&nbsp;2024–Kimberly McPhaul of Omaha is the fourth winner of a 2024 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew truck in the 29th edition of the Nebraska Lottery’s $2 Truck$ &amp; Buck$ Scratch game.

McPhaul purchased her winning Truck$ &amp; Buck$ ticket at Hy-Vee Food Store #04 at 10808 Fort St. in Omaha. She was presented with her new truck at Hy-Vee on Monday, July 15 by Nebraska Lottery officials.

McPhaul stopped at Hy-Vee to grab a few last minute items for a Fourth of July family get-together. While she was there, she decided she might as well get some Scratch tickets.

She brought the groceries home and sat down to scratch her tickets, surrounded by her family. McPhaul said she was stunned at what she saw.

“They didn’t believe me,” McPhaul said. “I yelled, ‘I won a truck!’”

“You screamed,” her husband David McPhaul reminded her.

McPhaul said she currently drives a pickup truck, but there’s plenty of room in the driveway for a new one. She said her daughter jokes that she should give the truck to her, but McPhaul has other ideas.

The 29th edition of the Nebraska Lottery’s popular $2 Truck$ &amp; Buck$ Scratch game features the 2024 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew truck as its top prize. Players have the opportunity to win one of eight Ford F-150 trucks as well as thousands of cash prizes. The truck prize is valued at $81,500, which includes $976 for costs associated with ownership and state and federal withholding paid by the Nebraska Lottery of $4,075 and $19,560, respectively. The odds of winning the top prize in Truck$ &amp; Buck$ are 1 in 336,000, while the overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.69.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $991 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Neil WatsonNebraska LotteryLincoln, NE–July 16,&nbsp;2024–Kimberly McPhaul of Omaha is the fourth winner of a 2024 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew truck in the 29th edition of the Nebraska Lottery’s $2 Truck$ &amp; Buck$ Scratch game.McPhaul purchased her winning Truck$ &amp; Buck$ ticket at Hy-Vee Food Store #04 at 10808 Fort St. in Omaha. She was presented with her new truck at Hy-Vee on Monday, July 15 by Nebraska Lottery officials.McPhaul stopped at Hy-Vee to grab a few last minute items for a Fourth of July family get-together. While she was there, she decided she might as well get some Scratch tickets.She brought the groceries home and sat down to scratch her tickets, surrounded by her family. McPhaul said she was stunned at what she saw.“They didn’t believe me,” McPhaul said. “I yelled, ‘I won a truck!’”“You screamed,” her husband David McPhaul reminded her.McPhaul said she currently drives a pickup truck, but there’s plenty of room in the driveway for a new one. She said her daughter jokes that she should give the truck to her, but McPhaul has other ideas.“This one’s all mine,” she said.The 29th edition of the Nebraska Lottery’s popular $2 Truck$ &amp; Buck$ Scratch game features the 2024 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew truck as its top prize. Players have the opportunity to win one of eight Ford F-150 trucks as well as thousands of cash prizes. The truck prize is valued at $81,500, which includes $976 for costs associated with ownership and state and federal withholding paid by the Nebraska Lottery of $4,075 and $19,560, respectively. The odds of winning the top prize in Truck$ &amp; Buck$ are 1 in 336,000, while the overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.69.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $991 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Omaha Woman Wins Fourth Truck$ & Buck$ Truck

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/16/pornhub-blocks-access-by-nebraska-users-as-age-verification-law-takes-effect/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraskans might need a new source for online smut, as Pornhub and its affiliates went dark Monday, a decision the website’s parent company promised after passage of a new state law.&nbsp;

That law, Legislative Bill 1092, requires online porn companies to verify users’ ages. Users would upload ID cards or other age-identifying documents.

Among the legally acceptable options: records from employers, mortgage companies, banks or educational institutions.

Nebraska’s Legislative Bill 1092, the Online Age Verification Liability Act, takes effect Friday July 19. The law defines a minor as anyone under 18 years of age.

It defines “material harmful to minors” as something the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to or is designed to pander to the prurient interest.&nbsp;

The material must be patently offensive to prevailing standards for minors. And the material must lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.

State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil has said he modeled the bill after efforts in other conservative-led states. His law requires the company to verify a user’s age and then get rid of the data.

His main goal was to reduce access to porn by minors, pointing to research that he says showed more minors are accessing porn at younger ages.

“I’m not sure who said good riddance first, myself or&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/20/pornhub-intends-to-ban-nebraska-users-after-passage-of-lb-1092/">the governor</a>, but I’m not disappointed,” Murman said Monday. “I haven’t personally seen it, but from what I hear it’s not good for anyone.”

Critics of the law, including some who agree with the goal of limiting youth access to porn, such as State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, say LB 1092 puts user data at risk.

Blood has argued instead for a data broker registry that would let consumers know who has access to their data, as well as why and what the companies do with the information.

First Amendment advocates and others pushing for freer expression have argued that children today carry the internet in their pockets, via smartphones and other devices, and will find other ways to access porn.

On Monday, adults in Nebraska who tried to access any of Aylo’s websites or videos were met with a video statement from a porn star sharing the company’s decision to end access.

Cherie DeVille, an adult-video actress who has a contract with Aylo subsidiaries, tells local visitors in the video that they will not be able to access the site.

DeVille echoed Aylo’s previous statements that it would prefer verifying a user’s age at the device level instead of putting more personal information on the web.

She and Aylo have argued that users will go to less secure parts of the internet for porn with “far fewer safety measures in place.”

“Until a real solution is offered, we’ve made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in your region,” DeVille said in the video message.

Murman said lawmakers “want to keep your data safe, for sure.”

“I guess I’m not knowledgeable enough about it to know which way would be the best for keeping data safe,” Murman said.

The U.S. Supreme Court has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/02/texas-pornography-age-verification-supreme-court/" target="_blank">agreed to hear a challenge</a>&nbsp;from the porn industry and other free speech advocates against Texas’ version of the age-verification law, which a lower court partially upheld.

Nebraska passed its version of the law 35-3 in April. It creates a new civil liability for knowingly or intentionally publishing or distributing material harmful to minors on the internet.

Anyone could sue a commercial entity or third party for alleged violations of the law. Internet providers solely offering access or connections to the sites are exempt.

Local users can still access the site, however, using virtual private networks that mask where they are from.

Other states whose users are blocked because of similar laws are Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia.&nbsp;

Florida has passed a similar law, but it doesn’t go into effect until next year.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721142896465.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil speaks during a hearing of the Nebraska Legislature on Sept. 8, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil speaks during a hearing of the Nebraska Legislature on Sept. 8, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Aaron Sanderford and Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/16/pornhub-blocks-access-by-nebraska-users-as-age-verification-law-takes-effect/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraskans might need a new source for online smut, as Pornhub and its affiliates went dark Monday, a decision the website’s parent company promised after passage of a new state law.&nbsp;That law, Legislative Bill 1092, requires online porn companies to verify users’ ages. Users would upload ID cards or other age-identifying documents.Among the legally acceptable options: records from employers, mortgage companies, banks or educational institutions.<h2>‘Material harmful to minors’</h2>Nebraska’s Legislative Bill 1092, the Online Age Verification Liability Act, takes effect Friday July 19. The law defines a minor as anyone under 18 years of age.It defines “material harmful to minors” as something the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find appeals to or is designed to pander to the prurient interest.&nbsp;The material must be patently offensive to prevailing standards for minors. And the material must lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil has said he modeled the bill after efforts in other conservative-led states. His law requires the company to verify a user’s age and then get rid of the data.His main goal was to reduce access to porn by minors, pointing to research that he says showed more minors are accessing porn at younger ages.“I’m not sure who said good riddance first, myself or&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/20/pornhub-intends-to-ban-nebraska-users-after-passage-of-lb-1092/">the governor</a>, but I’m not disappointed,” Murman said Monday. “I haven’t personally seen it, but from what I hear it’s not good for anyone.”<h2>Data risks real, critics say</h2>Critics of the law, including some who agree with the goal of limiting youth access to porn, such as State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, say LB 1092 puts user data at risk.Blood has argued instead for a data broker registry that would let consumers know who has access to their data, as well as why and what the companies do with the information.First Amendment advocates and others pushing for freer expression have argued that children today carry the internet in their pockets, via smartphones and other devices, and will find other ways to access porn.On Monday, adults in Nebraska who tried to access any of Aylo’s websites or videos were met with a video statement from a porn star sharing the company’s decision to end access.Cherie DeVille, an adult-video actress who has a contract with Aylo subsidiaries, tells local visitors in the video that they will not be able to access the site.DeVille echoed Aylo’s previous statements that it would prefer verifying a user’s age at the device level instead of putting more personal information on the web.She and Aylo have argued that users will go to less secure parts of the internet for porn with “far fewer safety measures in place.”“Until a real solution is offered, we’ve made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in your region,” DeVille said in the video message.Murman said lawmakers “want to keep your data safe, for sure.”“I guess I’m not knowledgeable enough about it to know which way would be the best for keeping data safe,” Murman said.<h2>Court to take up challenge</h2>The U.S. Supreme Court has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/02/texas-pornography-age-verification-supreme-court/" target="_blank">agreed to hear a challenge</a>&nbsp;from the porn industry and other free speech advocates against Texas’ version of the age-verification law, which a lower court partially upheld.Nebraska passed its version of the law 35-3 in April. It creates a new civil liability for knowingly or intentionally publishing or distributing material harmful to minors on the internet.Anyone could sue a commercial entity or third party for alleged violations of the law. Internet providers solely offering access or connections to the sites are exempt.Local users can still access the site, however, using virtual private networks that mask where they are from.Other states whose users are blocked because of similar laws are Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia.&nbsp;Florida has passed a similar law, but it doesn’t go into effect until next year.&nbsp;

Pornhub blocks access by Nebraska users as age verification law takes effect

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/16/ne-audit-blasts-state-transportation-agency-for-millions-spent-on-overtime-unexplained-fuel-buys/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A new probe of the Nebraska Department of Transportation reveals a “stunning” spate of questionable spending — including more than $6 million in annual overtime pay racked up by 71% of its workers and millions of dollars more in “unexplained” fuel and fleet-related costs, according to the State Auditor’s Office.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2024/SA27-07152024-January_1_2023_Through_December_31_2023_Attestation_Report.pdf" target="_blank">108-page audit</a>&nbsp;released Tuesday lists myriad flaws in oversight by the public agency in charge of about 2,000 workers, 2,100 vehicles, 599 buildings, 3,500 bridges and nearly 10,000 miles of public roads. The report covers 2023.

Blasting the DOT as a “land of opportunity” for authorities looking to rein in public costs of state government, Auditor Mike Foley took particular aim at that agency’s handling of credit cards.

Foley said the department has more than twice as many active credit cards as workers.

About 3,600 active Voyager credit cards and 500 state procurement credit cards are used by the roughly 2,000 employees for the purchase of fuel, service, maintenance and repair of the agency’s fleet of vehicles and equipment, he said.

That number of credit cards circulating in an agency with “sloppy-to-nonexistent record keeping” is a “sure-fire recipe for trouble and abuse,” Foley said in a media statement.

“With over 4,000 government credit cards active and in play at the agency under shockingly weak accounting controls and thousands of purchases transacted at privately-owned commercial gas pumps sprinkled across Nebraska, how can NDOT possibly know whose vehicles are really getting all that fuel? The simple truth is, they don’t.”

Originally created in 1895 as the State Board of Irrigation, the agency became the Department of Roads in 1957. In 2017, it merged with the Department of Aeronautics to form the Nebraska Department of Transportation. The DOT is responsible for highway, bridge, rail, public transit and other surface transportation programs, as well as development of aviation in the state. Duties include design, construction, maintenance and administration of the state’s highway system.

To remedy inefficiencies reported by his auditing team, Foley recommended putting all future overtime claims through a “proper review” that approves only hours determined to be both necessary and cost-effective.

He stressed the “urgent need” for credit card oversight and an overhaul of travel, mileage and fuel accounting controls for employee use of state vehicles.

“Without such drastic and immediate measures, NDOT remains ripe for potential and unrestrained financial fraud and abuse —&nbsp;with the taxpayers left footing the bill,” said Foley.

The DOT, which is led by&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-names-former-employee-for-kiewit-state-as-transportation-director/">Director Vicki Kramer</a>, appointed in January 2023 by Gov. Jim Pillen, responded briefly to the audit findings as a department, with no one writer specifically mentioned.&nbsp;

The response said the agency would look for opportunities to better track travel data in state-owned vehicles, and that it has implemented software to better manage fuel purchases via credit cards.&nbsp;

“NDOT will continue to investigate and implement further methods to ensure proper fuel use,” the response said.

On the criticism of overtime, the agency was more defensive. The response noted that the majority of overtime users were construction and maintenance workers, and said the department will continue to review requests to ensure overtime is “reasonable and necessary.”

But the response said that long overtime days or nights for the workers often means that state roadways will open sooner to the traveling public. During the winter, it said, overtime hours for experienced workers often helps ensure the safety of travelers.

Furthermore, DOT representatives noted that the Legislative Audit Office conducted an overtime use audit of the agency in October 2022 that covered three years. They said that review yielded no recommended changes.

Foley and his auditing team detailed numerous findings. Among them:

Foley said the department “failed consistently” to enforce its own regulations requiring that vehicles be refueled, when possible, at one of 95 state-owned fuel pumps located across Nebraska.&nbsp;

Auditors identified more than 3,500 separate purchases at commercial pumps, totaling about 85,000 gallons of fuel, that they said likely would have cost as much as 85 cents per gallon less at a state-owned pump.

In all, the DOT spent more than $3 million in taxpayer funds at commercial pumps statewide during 2023. Additionally, auditors said, $6 million for other vehicle-related costs was charged on the agency’s credit cards at more than 2,000 merchants.

“The disconcerting trifecta of loose fuel purchasing practices, sloppy-to-nonexistent record keeping, and glaringly inadequate oversight led the auditors to surmise that fuel obtained with NDOT credit cards could have been diverted quite readily —&nbsp;perhaps in appallingly large volumes —&nbsp;to personal vehicles,” Foley said.

The latest audit follows two other&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/10/state-auditor-raps-transportation-department-for-failing-to-track-excessive-overtime-and-travel/">recent reports</a>&nbsp;that raised questions about similar issues within the DOT.

Foley said a frustration of his job is not seeing auditor recommendations fully implemented. He said respective departments and the Governor’s Office have ability to direct change.

“I can’t fix anything,” he said. “All I can do is report it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721145282975.png" alt=" (Courtesy of the Nebraska Department of Transportation)" />
 <figcaption> (Courtesy of the Nebraska Department of Transportation)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/16/ne-audit-blasts-state-transportation-agency-for-millions-spent-on-overtime-unexplained-fuel-buys/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A new probe of the Nebraska Department of Transportation reveals a “stunning” spate of questionable spending — including more than $6 million in annual overtime pay racked up by 71% of its workers and millions of dollars more in “unexplained” fuel and fleet-related costs, according to the State Auditor’s Office.A&nbsp;<a href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2024/SA27-07152024-January_1_2023_Through_December_31_2023_Attestation_Report.pdf" target="_blank">108-page audit</a>&nbsp;released Tuesday lists myriad flaws in oversight by the public agency in charge of about 2,000 workers, 2,100 vehicles, 599 buildings, 3,500 bridges and nearly 10,000 miles of public roads. The report covers 2023.Blasting the DOT as a “land of opportunity” for authorities looking to rein in public costs of state government, Auditor Mike Foley took particular aim at that agency’s handling of credit cards.<h2>‘Sure-fire recipe for trouble’</h2>Foley said the department has more than twice as many active credit cards as workers.About 3,600 active Voyager credit cards and 500 state procurement credit cards are used by the roughly 2,000 employees for the purchase of fuel, service, maintenance and repair of the agency’s fleet of vehicles and equipment, he said.That number of credit cards circulating in an agency with “sloppy-to-nonexistent record keeping” is a “sure-fire recipe for trouble and abuse,” Foley said in a media statement.“With over 4,000 government credit cards active and in play at the agency under shockingly weak accounting controls and thousands of purchases transacted at privately-owned commercial gas pumps sprinkled across Nebraska, how can NDOT possibly know whose vehicles are really getting all that fuel? The simple truth is, they don’t.”<h2>Roots of NDOT</h2>Originally created in 1895 as the State Board of Irrigation, the agency became the Department of Roads in 1957. In 2017, it merged with the Department of Aeronautics to form the Nebraska Department of Transportation. The DOT is responsible for highway, bridge, rail, public transit and other surface transportation programs, as well as development of aviation in the state. Duties include design, construction, maintenance and administration of the state’s highway system.To remedy inefficiencies reported by his auditing team, Foley recommended putting all future overtime claims through a “proper review” that approves only hours determined to be both necessary and cost-effective.He stressed the “urgent need” for credit card oversight and an overhaul of travel, mileage and fuel accounting controls for employee use of state vehicles.“Without such drastic and immediate measures, NDOT remains ripe for potential and unrestrained financial fraud and abuse —&nbsp;with the taxpayers left footing the bill,” said Foley.<h2>DOT defends overtime</h2>The DOT, which is led by&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-names-former-employee-for-kiewit-state-as-transportation-director/">Director Vicki Kramer</a>, appointed in January 2023 by Gov. Jim Pillen, responded briefly to the audit findings as a department, with no one writer specifically mentioned.&nbsp;The response said the agency would look for opportunities to better track travel data in state-owned vehicles, and that it has implemented software to better manage fuel purchases via credit cards.&nbsp;“NDOT will continue to investigate and implement further methods to ensure proper fuel use,” the response said.On the criticism of overtime, the agency was more defensive. The response noted that the majority of overtime users were construction and maintenance workers, and said the department will continue to review requests to ensure overtime is “reasonable and necessary.”But the response said that long overtime days or nights for the workers often means that state roadways will open sooner to the traveling public. During the winter, it said, overtime hours for experienced workers often helps ensure the safety of travelers.Furthermore, DOT representatives noted that the Legislative Audit Office conducted an overtime use audit of the agency in October 2022 that covered three years. They said that review yielded no recommended changes.<h2>Findings</h2>Foley and his auditing team detailed numerous findings. Among them:<ul>
 <li>Regarding overtime pay, 37 employees reportedly increased their annual salaries by 40% or more by working beyond 40 hours a week. A standout case involved an employee who boosted his salary by 62%, from about $76,000 to nearly $123,000.&nbsp;</li><li>A quirk in accounting practices led to workers being paid for unused leave that typically gets paid only upon termination of employment. The audit team believes that more than $750,000 may have been overpaid to workers as a result.</li><li>Employees often did not properly complete mandatory vehicle log reports or specify the purpose of travel. Reportedly more than 7,000 times during the year, certain employees revised travel reports without proper documentation or support.</li><li>In one situation, a Valentine-based worker was tasked with traveling to Holdrege for a replacement part to be delivered to North Platte. Managers couldn’t explain, auditors said, why the person would drive more than 600 miles round-trip when someone in another district could have done it in 200 miles.</li><li>Fuel purchases with credit cards were not always reviewed or monitored. Auditors identified almost two dozen fuel purchases, totaling thousands of dollars, for specific vehicles on days when those cars weren’t even in service.&nbsp;</li><li>About 8,500 fuel transactions by agency employees were not tied to any travel log, making “legitimacy” of those expenditures impossible to verify.</li><li>More than 700 times, Foley said, the quantity of fuel purchased appeared to exceed the fuel tank capacity of that vehicle. Likewise, the audit said there were hundreds of instances when fuel type purchased (diesel or gasoline) did not appear to match the fuel requirement of the agency vehicle reported to have been filled.</li><li>On two separate occasions, one fleet vehicle supposedly fueled twice at the same state-owned facility on the same day. In another case, three purchases of fuel on a single credit card occurred at a commercial facility within nine minutes of each other. The department could not produce records to identify the vehicle for which the purchases were made, thwarting the team’s ability to verify the spending.</li><li>Auditors identified more than 10,000 fuel transactions for which employees recorded odometer readings that were inaccurate by 1,000 miles or more. Some inaccuracies were off by tens of thousands of miles, Foley said.</li>
 </ul><h2>‘Frustration’ of an auditor</h2>Foley said the department “failed consistently” to enforce its own regulations requiring that vehicles be refueled, when possible, at one of 95 state-owned fuel pumps located across Nebraska.&nbsp;Auditors identified more than 3,500 separate purchases at commercial pumps, totaling about 85,000 gallons of fuel, that they said likely would have cost as much as 85 cents per gallon less at a state-owned pump.In all, the DOT spent more than $3 million in taxpayer funds at commercial pumps statewide during 2023. Additionally, auditors said, $6 million for other vehicle-related costs was charged on the agency’s credit cards at more than 2,000 merchants.“The disconcerting trifecta of loose fuel purchasing practices, sloppy-to-nonexistent record keeping, and glaringly inadequate oversight led the auditors to surmise that fuel obtained with NDOT credit cards could have been diverted quite readily —&nbsp;perhaps in appallingly large volumes —&nbsp;to personal vehicles,” Foley said.The latest audit follows two other&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/10/state-auditor-raps-transportation-department-for-failing-to-track-excessive-overtime-and-travel/">recent reports</a>&nbsp;that raised questions about similar issues within the DOT.Foley said a frustration of his job is not seeing auditor recommendations fully implemented. He said respective departments and the Governor’s Office have ability to direct change.“I can’t fix anything,” he said. “All I can do is report it.”

NE audit blasts state transportation agency for millions spent on overtime, ‘unexplained’ fuel buys

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraskas-2023-24-general-tax-receipts-come-in-10-6-million-below-latest-projections/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska’s tax receipts for the 2023-24 fiscal year released Monday came in 0.1% below the most recent projections.

In the past year, the State of Nebraska collected $7.156 billion for the state’s general pocketbook, about $10.6 million below a Feb. 29 forecasting projection. The&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/news-release/gen-fund/2024/General_Fund_Receipts_News_Release_June_2024_Final_Copy.pdf" target="_blank">reported general fund tax receipts</a>&nbsp;include net sales and use taxes, individual income taxes, corporate income taxes and miscellaneous taxes.&nbsp;

Gov. Jim Pillen said the receipts give momentum to his efforts to offset local property taxes, which will be aided through additional state spending cuts “to run the state like a business.”

“That feeds into our most immediate goal of fixing the state’s property tax crisis in the upcoming special session,” Pillen said in a statement.

The special session is&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/25/property-tax-special-session-likely-to-begin-july-25-speaker-arch-offers-schedule/">tentatively to begin July 25</a>.

State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln cautioned there is more to the story after “eyebrow raising” receipts from corporate income and individual income in the past few months. She said that’s largely because of 2023 legislation that changed how big corporations handle their taxes.

Fiscal analysts “woefully underestimated” how many people would use those changes, Conrad said, leading to large percentage differences between projected and actual receipts:

“It kind of artificially propped up our general fund receipts,” Conrad said, saying the taxes would come to a “new normal” pretty quickly.

Fiscal Year 2023-24 General Fund Net Tax Receipts

Total receipts —&nbsp;$7.156 billion (12.37% annual increase)

Sales and use taxes — $2.459 billion (5.26% annual increase)

Individual income taxes —&nbsp;$2.479 billion (17.53% annual decrease)

Corporate income taxes —&nbsp;$1.725 billion (148.92% annual increase)

Miscellaneous taxes —&nbsp;$494 million (47.98% annual increase)

Conrad cautioned that on top of major income tax cuts last year, taxpayers nationwide appear to be making fewer purchases, indicated by smaller sales tax receipts.

The governor’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/14/gov-pillens-property-tax-plan-would-add-new-taxes-on-120-goods-and-services-draft-indicates/">draft plan for property tax relief</a>, obtained over the weekend, indicates sales taxes are a key part of his suggested solution, which Conrad criticized for various reasons, including that the taxes are “less stable and more volatile.”

“When he’s out there trumpeting for political purposes, ‘Receipts look great, let’s get moving,’ that’s very political,” Conrad said. “That’s a very political lens that shouldn’t come into play in regards to our budgeting process, which has always been very conservative and very sound.”

State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, a member of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee, said the data doesn’t reflect that lawmakers transferred nearly $200 million from the state’s “rainy day” fund to its general fund, in part to pay for future obligations.

“I think it would be a mistake to rely on those numbers in making major decisions without taking into account the entire story,” Dungan said in a text.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the Revenue Committee chair, meanwhile agreed with the governor that because the state took in more than $7 billion, “it’s amazing how close the projections are.”

She said there is momentum to provide more tax relief.

“Obviously, I’m pleased. It’s nice to be that close because it’s really not an exact science,” she said. “I think we’re in a very strong financial position.”

Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraskas-2023-24-general-tax-receipts-come-in-10-6-million-below-latest-projections/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska’s tax receipts for the 2023-24 fiscal year released Monday came in 0.1% below the most recent projections.In the past year, the State of Nebraska collected $7.156 billion for the state’s general pocketbook, about $10.6 million below a Feb. 29 forecasting projection. The&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/news-release/gen-fund/2024/General_Fund_Receipts_News_Release_June_2024_Final_Copy.pdf" target="_blank">reported general fund tax receipts</a>&nbsp;include net sales and use taxes, individual income taxes, corporate income taxes and miscellaneous taxes.&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen said the receipts give momentum to his efforts to offset local property taxes, which will be aided through additional state spending cuts “to run the state like a business.”“That feeds into our most immediate goal of fixing the state’s property tax crisis in the upcoming special session,” Pillen said in a statement.The special session is&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/25/property-tax-special-session-likely-to-begin-july-25-speaker-arch-offers-schedule/">tentatively to begin July 25</a>.State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln cautioned there is more to the story after “eyebrow raising” receipts from corporate income and individual income in the past few months. She said that’s largely because of 2023 legislation that changed how big corporations handle their taxes.Fiscal analysts “woefully underestimated” how many people would use those changes, Conrad said, leading to large percentage differences between projected and actual receipts:<ul>
 <li>858.8% more corporate income receipts for May.</li><li>231.7% less individual income receipts for April.</li><li>1,206.35% more individual income receipts and 248.3% more corporate income receipts for March.</li>
 </ul>“It kind of artificially propped up our general fund receipts,” Conrad said, saying the taxes would come to a “new normal” pretty quickly.<h2>Fiscal Year 2023-24 General Fund Net Tax Receipts</h2>Total receipts —&nbsp;$7.156 billion (12.37% annual increase)Sales and use taxes — $2.459 billion (5.26% annual increase)Individual income taxes —&nbsp;$2.479 billion (17.53% annual decrease)Corporate income taxes —&nbsp;$1.725 billion (148.92% annual increase)Miscellaneous taxes —&nbsp;$494 million (47.98% annual increase)Source: Nebraska Department of RevenueConrad cautioned that on top of major income tax cuts last year, taxpayers nationwide appear to be making fewer purchases, indicated by smaller sales tax receipts.The governor’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/14/gov-pillens-property-tax-plan-would-add-new-taxes-on-120-goods-and-services-draft-indicates/">draft plan for property tax relief</a>, obtained over the weekend, indicates sales taxes are a key part of his suggested solution, which Conrad criticized for various reasons, including that the taxes are “less stable and more volatile.”“When he’s out there trumpeting for political purposes, ‘Receipts look great, let’s get moving,’ that’s very political,” Conrad said. “That’s a very political lens that shouldn’t come into play in regards to our budgeting process, which has always been very conservative and very sound.”State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, a member of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee, said the data doesn’t reflect that lawmakers transferred nearly $200 million from the state’s “rainy day” fund to its general fund, in part to pay for future obligations.“I think it would be a mistake to rely on those numbers in making major decisions without taking into account the entire story,” Dungan said in a text.State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the Revenue Committee chair, meanwhile agreed with the governor that because the state took in more than $7 billion, “it’s amazing how close the projections are.”She said there is momentum to provide more tax relief.“Obviously, I’m pleased. It’s nice to be that close because it’s really not an exact science,” she said. “I think we’re in a very strong financial position.”

Nebraska’s 2023-24 general tax receipts come in $10.6 million below latest projections

<a href="https://statesnewsroom.com/">State News Room</a>

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Donald Trump announced Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate Monday during the first day of the Republican National Convention, capping off months of speculation about who would get the nod as his vice presidential pick.

Vance has not been a member of Congress long, having less than two years experience as a senator and having voted against major bipartisan bills throughout his tenure in the upper chamber.

Before becoming a U.S. lawmaker, Vance served in the Marine Corps during the Iraq war, worked as a venture capitalist and wrote a book about growing up in Appalachia. He holds a law degree from Yale.

“After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” Trump, who will be nominated as the 2024 Republican presidential candidate on Thursday night, posted on social media.

“J.D. has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the Campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond….,” Trump added.

Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence has distanced himself from Trump since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol building — requiring Trump to find a different person to join him on the ticket this year.

Pence was in the Capitol that day, when a pro-Trump mob attacked police officers, broke into building and disrupted Congress’ certification of the electoral college votes for President Joe Biden.

Pence has been critical of how the Republican Party has changed under Trump’s leadership, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-convention-go-planned-milwaukee-trump-attendance" target="_blank">rejecting how the platform evolved&nbsp;</a>on abortion this year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721072657573.png" alt="Ohio U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (Courtesy of U.S. Senator J.D. Vance page)" />
 <figcaption>Ohio U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (Courtesy of U.S. Senator J.D. Vance page)</figcaption>
 </figure>Jennifer Shutt and Ariana Figueroa&nbsp;<a href="https://statesnewsroom.com/">State News Room</a>MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Donald Trump announced Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate Monday during the first day of the Republican National Convention, capping off months of speculation about who would get the nod as his vice presidential pick.Vance has not been a member of Congress long, having less than two years experience as a senator and having voted against major bipartisan bills throughout his tenure in the upper chamber.Before becoming a U.S. lawmaker, Vance served in the Marine Corps during the Iraq war, worked as a venture capitalist and wrote a book about growing up in Appalachia. He holds a law degree from Yale.“After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” Trump, who will be nominated as the 2024 Republican presidential candidate on Thursday night, posted on social media.“J.D. has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the Campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond….,” Trump added.Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence has distanced himself from Trump since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol building — requiring Trump to find a different person to join him on the ticket this year.Pence was in the Capitol that day, when a pro-Trump mob attacked police officers, broke into building and disrupted Congress’ certification of the electoral college votes for President Joe Biden.Pence has been critical of how the Republican Party has changed under Trump’s leadership, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-convention-go-planned-milwaukee-trump-attendance" target="_blank">rejecting how the platform evolved&nbsp;</a>on abortion this year.

 Trump picks Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/dr-james-linder-to-replace-dr-gold-on-nebraska-medicine-board/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Nebraska Medicine’s board of directors this week chose Dr. James Linder, CEO of Nebraska Medicine, to replace new University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold as chair.

Linder has been CEO since 2018 and has helped teach at UNMC for four decades. He has served stints as interim president of NU and interim dean of the College of Medicine.

He is one of the NU Foundation’s lead fundraising chairs for its “Only in Nebraska” campaign. And he is known for his research on cervical cancer screening and work with blood disorders.

Gold left UNMC July 1 for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unmc.edu/newsroom/2024/04/29/jeffrey-p-gold-md-named-nu-system-president/" target="_blank">NU’s Varner Hall</a>&nbsp;after about a decade. Nebraska Medicine is UNMC’s decade-old nonprofit medical partner, operating hospitals and medical offices.

“Dr. Gold provided outstanding leadership since Nebraska Medicine was organized,” Linder said. “He can now bring transformative leadership to the University of Nebraska. “&nbsp;

Like many hospital groups, Nebraska Medicine is run by a group of people from local business, philanthropy, nonprofits and the medical community who essentially govern the system.

Mogens Bay, chair of Valmont Industries and vice chair of the Nebraska Medicine board, said, “It’s difficult to think of someone better suited to serve as board chair than Dr. Linder. He brings experience in leading clinical care, research and education,” plus years of work in business and giving.&nbsp;

Gold’s interim replacement at UNMC,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/dr-dele-davies-named-interim-chancellor-for-university-of-nebraska-medical-center/">Dr. H. Dele Davis</a>, also joined the Nebraska Medicine board.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721062298764.jpeg" alt="Dr. James Linder is CEO of Nebraska Medicine. (Courtesy of Nebraska Medicine)" />
 <figcaption>Dr. James Linder is CEO of Nebraska Medicine. (Courtesy of Nebraska Medicine)</figcaption>
 </figure>Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/dr-james-linder-to-replace-dr-gold-on-nebraska-medicine-board/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Nebraska Medicine’s board of directors this week chose Dr. James Linder, CEO of Nebraska Medicine, to replace new University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold as chair.Linder has been CEO since 2018 and has helped teach at UNMC for four decades. He has served stints as interim president of NU and interim dean of the College of Medicine.He is one of the NU Foundation’s lead fundraising chairs for its “Only in Nebraska” campaign. And he is known for his research on cervical cancer screening and work with blood disorders.Gold left UNMC July 1 for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unmc.edu/newsroom/2024/04/29/jeffrey-p-gold-md-named-nu-system-president/" target="_blank">NU’s Varner Hall</a>&nbsp;after about a decade. Nebraska Medicine is UNMC’s decade-old nonprofit medical partner, operating hospitals and medical offices.“Dr. Gold provided outstanding leadership since Nebraska Medicine was organized,” Linder said. “He can now bring transformative leadership to the University of Nebraska. “&nbsp;Like many hospital groups, Nebraska Medicine is run by a group of people from local business, philanthropy, nonprofits and the medical community who essentially govern the system.Mogens Bay, chair of Valmont Industries and vice chair of the Nebraska Medicine board, said, “It’s difficult to think of someone better suited to serve as board chair than Dr. Linder. He brings experience in leading clinical care, research and education,” plus years of work in business and giving.&nbsp;Gold’s interim replacement at UNMC,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/dr-dele-davies-named-interim-chancellor-for-university-of-nebraska-medical-center/">Dr. H. Dele Davis</a>, also joined the Nebraska Medicine board.

Dr. James Linder to replace Dr. Gold on Nebraska Medicine board

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/14/gov-pillens-property-tax-plan-would-add-new-taxes-on-120-goods-and-services-draft-indicates/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;The draft text of Gov. Jim Pillen’s plan to reduce Nebraska property taxes calls for new taxes on certain goods or services and phasing out most local K-12 property taxes over three years.

The Nebraska Examiner obtained the draft document and verified it over the weekend with six lawmakers who are part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/09/k-12-funding-shift-from-property-taxes-would-be-multiyear-effort-nebraska-lawmakers-say/">17-member task force</a>&nbsp;working with Pillen on the proposal. The outline calls for collecting more than $1 billion from the sales of currently tax-exempt goods or services, including agricultural and machinery and equipment and energy used in industry or agriculture.

“I would say that what you were sent is a very accurate depiction of kind of where we are heading,” State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte said Sunday.

“You have correctly stated everything the committee has discussed. At this point the committee has not decided on a specific plan,” State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said in a text.

State Sens. Teresa Ibach of Sumner, Merv Riepe of Ralston, George Dungan of Lincoln and John Fredrickson of Omaha also confirmed the Examiner’s reporting. Several stressed that the ideas remain in motion and that the group will likely meet at least once more before the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/25/property-tax-special-session-likely-to-begin-july-25-speaker-arch-offers-schedule/">expected special session begins July 25</a>.

A major component of the Pillen-led plan is phasing out all&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/26/questions-remain-as-gov-pillen-doubles-down-on-taking-over-k-12-public-school-funding/">operating expenses for K-12 public school districts</a>, which is about 80% of some district budgets and includes teacher salaries. Instead, the state would take on that burden.&nbsp;

The plan states this would cost about $1.2 billion in the first year.

To accomplish that goal, lawmakers would subsidize local spending levels and phase-down current tax rates for schools, with nearly all up to $1.05 per $100 of property valuations to:

Property owners would receive a credit beginning on their 2025 property tax statements to reflect the lower tax rates.

Jacobson said the tax rates are still being negotiated and could be higher than those listed.

Under the plan, school districts could still assess property taxes if approved by voters for bonds or two other school-related funds. Should the state fail to provide full year-to-year funding to schools, school boards could also collect taxes, by a majority vote, to cover that shortfall.

If still unsatisfied, school boards could ask voters to approve higher rates. That would require 60% approval of a ballot issue in a statewide primary or general election, which comes every other year.

Rewriting the state’s education formula “to boost student outcomes” would not be tackled until the 2025 legislative session. Almost one-third of the Legislature will be brand-new next year.

Another component, which Jacobson said is critical, is spending caps on city and county governments, with few exceptions.

“I’ve said this from the beginning, that without spending caps, we’ll end up right back where we were before,” Jacobson said.

The Pillen model calls for a 0% increase in annual property tax collections in deflationary times or based on inflationary increases, as determined by the consumer price index each December for the previous 12 months.

Exceptions where local governments could seek increased property tax rates would include&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=81-829.39" target="_blank">declared public emergencies</a>, voter approved bonds and other voter-approved increases (which would also need 60% approval at a statewide primary or general election). The plan also calls for a “reasonable exemption” for public health and safety, which has not been defined.

New growth would be allowed, defined as the percentage increase in taxable property value due to annexations or property improvements from construction or other value-added services.

The plan would include state spending cuts

“To ensure this is a total tax reduction,” the plan continues, “a portion of financing will come from spending cuts at the state level.”

In a Friday column, Pillen said $360 million in state spending would be cut, which includes $200 million in the state’s general pocketbook and $160 million from the newly created Education Future Fund in the current fiscal year.&nbsp;

Savings have been identified by Pillen’s Cabinet and the ongoing efficiency study from the Utah-based Epiphany Associates, the draft states.

Other major funding will come from&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/10/everybodys-got-to-play-breaking-down-nebraskas-more-than-100-sales-tax-exemptions/">removing sales tax exemptions</a>, raising “sin” taxes and using about $910 million from existing property tax programs, like homestead exemptions and property tax credits.

The target date for removing the exemptions is Oct. 1, with the Governor’s Office estimating about $663 million in new sales would be collected in the first nine months of implementation. In a full fiscal year, more than $1 billion would be collected.

Specific information on new “sin” taxes was not provided, though the governor has suggested raising cigarette taxes up $2 to $2.64 per pack and raising taxes on alcohol, vaping and more.&nbsp;

The plan doesn’t mention online sports betting, which the governor has said he’s open to, but does list new revenue from advertising services and cloud or other data-based software.

Pillen has said he would veto any proposal during the special session that includes legalizing and taxing marijuana.

The current statewide sales tax rate is 5.5 cents per dollar. Dakota County as well 261 cities or villages also&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/tax-forms/2024/slstax_rates_04-01-2024.pdf" target="_blank">levy local sales taxes</a>&nbsp;between 0.5 cents and 2 cents, which are collected by the state and returned to local governments.

Under the draft plan, more than 120 goods and services would be added to the tax rolls.

The group has discussed the state keeping the local-levied portion on the new sales taxes, rather than returning that revenue to local governments as is done with all other purchases.

Some of the goods and services slated for the new tax system include animal grooming, debt counseling, custom meat slaughtering, home repair and maintenance, lobbying and consulting, motor vehicle repair, pinball and other mechanical amusements and veterinary services for pets.

Ibach said that the list of exemptions remains fluid and that some exemptions have already been dropped after last week’s meeting, including net wrap and certain catalysts, chemicals and materials used in manufacturing ethanol and its coproducts.

Ibach said she continues to take issue with removing ag or manufacturing sales tax exemptions because her district wouldn’t support them. She said there were some indications in the meetings that “sin” tax revenue may be well above projections, and she wants to consider that potential revenue before eliminating sales tax exemptions.

“The plan continues to be revised/updated with each task force meeting,” she said in a text.

The plan would also levy taxes on agricultural and manufacturing equipment or machinery and energy used in agriculture or industry, which are currently exempt.

However, those goods would be taxed at a new, lower rate: 2 cents per dollar purchase. To prevent “double taxation,” personal property taxes would be removed on any newly taxed goods.

In many cases, the suggested goods and services have never been on state sales tax rolls or were exempted over time through legislation.

About 70 sales tax exemptions would remain, which could generate more than $5 billion if ended, according to the most recent Revenue Department estimates.

The most apparent is most food and groceries, medical equipment and medicine, and sales by religious organizations. Pillen had indicated all would remain exempt.

Also remaining tax-exempt would be: agricultural machinery repair and replacement parts, commercial artificial insemination, newspapers, laundromats, political campaign fundraisers, admissions to school events, public records and feminine hygiene products.

The two largest exempt categories would also remain: business components ($1.67 billion) and animal life whose products constitute food for human consumption or apparel ($1.18 billion).

While their broader categories are slated for new taxes, the following would remain exempt: coin-operated laundry; railroad rolling stock; special needs transportation services; offices for physicians, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists and mental health practitioners; substance abuse services; and other outpatient services.

Riepe said in a text the plan benefits large net-worth property owners, both rural and residential, at the expense of middle- and lower-income renters who have not not seen the yet-to-be-publicized list of new sales taxes.

“If the Governor is so sure he’s right, why hasn’t he held one town hall in Lincoln or Omaha?” Riepe asked, pointing to the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/13/gov-pillens-property-tax-tour-across-nebraska-didnt-lead-to-feedback-for-many-lawmakers/">two most populous cities</a>.

“We need transparency/engagement and a legitimate process,” Riepe said in another text.

State Sens. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln and Julie Slama of Dunbar, who are not task force members, reviewed the proposal and both harshly criticized the contents.

Said Slama: “Pillen’s plan taxes the average Nebraskan to death, then taxes them again for burial.”

Conrad said despite Pillen’s “best efforts to hide the ball and keep citizens and senators in the dark,” his ideas have come to light. She said “our worst fears are being confirmed.”

“This plan is indeed nothing more than a reverse Robin Hood scheme representing perhaps an unprecedented tax increase and massive tax shift asking Nebraska families to pay more to benefit the largest wealthiest landowners in the state like himself, which is ridiculous,” Conrad said.

Conrad said Pillen’s plan is “unserious at best and dangerous at worst” and said Pillen should cancel the special session “because his so-called plan is dead on arrival.”

“If he pushes forward,” Conrad continued, “the Legislature will reject this nonsense and explore responsible realistic solutions to deliver for Nebraskans.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721049739125.jpeg" alt="Gov. Jim Pillen leads a town hall on his property tax reform ideas in his hometown of Columbus at the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Jim Pillen leads a town hall on his property tax reform ideas in his hometown of Columbus at the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/14/gov-pillens-property-tax-plan-would-add-new-taxes-on-120-goods-and-services-draft-indicates/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;The draft text of Gov. Jim Pillen’s plan to reduce Nebraska property taxes calls for new taxes on certain goods or services and phasing out most local K-12 property taxes over three years.The Nebraska Examiner obtained the draft document and verified it over the weekend with six lawmakers who are part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/09/k-12-funding-shift-from-property-taxes-would-be-multiyear-effort-nebraska-lawmakers-say/">17-member task force</a>&nbsp;working with Pillen on the proposal. The outline calls for collecting more than $1 billion from the sales of currently tax-exempt goods or services, including agricultural and machinery and equipment and energy used in industry or agriculture.“I would say that what you were sent is a very accurate depiction of kind of where we are heading,” State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte said Sunday.“You have correctly stated everything the committee has discussed. At this point the committee has not decided on a specific plan,” State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said in a text.State Sens. Teresa Ibach of Sumner, Merv Riepe of Ralston, George Dungan of Lincoln and John Fredrickson of Omaha also confirmed the Examiner’s reporting. Several stressed that the ideas remain in motion and that the group will likely meet at least once more before the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/25/property-tax-special-session-likely-to-begin-july-25-speaker-arch-offers-schedule/">expected special session begins July 25</a>.<h2>School funding phaseout</h2>A major component of the Pillen-led plan is phasing out all&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/26/questions-remain-as-gov-pillen-doubles-down-on-taking-over-k-12-public-school-funding/">operating expenses for K-12 public school districts</a>, which is about 80% of some district budgets and includes teacher salaries. Instead, the state would take on that burden.&nbsp;The plan states this would cost about $1.2 billion in the first year.To accomplish that goal, lawmakers would subsidize local spending levels and phase-down current tax rates for schools, with nearly all up to $1.05 per $100 of property valuations to:<ul>
 <li>15 cents in 2024.</li><li>7.5 cents in 2025.</li><li>0 cents in 2026.</li>
 </ul>Property owners would receive a credit beginning on their 2025 property tax statements to reflect the lower tax rates.Jacobson said the tax rates are still being negotiated and could be higher than those listed.Under the plan, school districts could still assess property taxes if approved by voters for bonds or two other school-related funds. Should the state fail to provide full year-to-year funding to schools, school boards could also collect taxes, by a majority vote, to cover that shortfall.If still unsatisfied, school boards could ask voters to approve higher rates. That would require 60% approval of a ballot issue in a statewide primary or general election, which comes every other year.Rewriting the state’s education formula “to boost student outcomes” would not be tackled until the 2025 legislative session. Almost one-third of the Legislature will be brand-new next year.<h2>Local city, county spending caps</h2>Another component, which Jacobson said is critical, is spending caps on city and county governments, with few exceptions.“I’ve said this from the beginning, that without spending caps, we’ll end up right back where we were before,” Jacobson said.The Pillen model calls for a 0% increase in annual property tax collections in deflationary times or based on inflationary increases, as determined by the consumer price index each December for the previous 12 months.Exceptions where local governments could seek increased property tax rates would include&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=81-829.39" target="_blank">declared public emergencies</a>, voter approved bonds and other voter-approved increases (which would also need 60% approval at a statewide primary or general election). The plan also calls for a “reasonable exemption” for public health and safety, which has not been defined.New growth would be allowed, defined as the percentage increase in taxable property value due to annexations or property improvements from construction or other value-added services.<h2>The plan would include state spending cuts</h2>“To ensure this is a total tax reduction,” the plan continues, “a portion of financing will come from spending cuts at the state level.”In a Friday column, Pillen said $360 million in state spending would be cut, which includes $200 million in the state’s general pocketbook and $160 million from the newly created Education Future Fund in the current fiscal year.&nbsp;Savings have been identified by Pillen’s Cabinet and the ongoing efficiency study from the Utah-based Epiphany Associates, the draft states.Other major funding will come from&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/06/10/everybodys-got-to-play-breaking-down-nebraskas-more-than-100-sales-tax-exemptions/">removing sales tax exemptions</a>, raising “sin” taxes and using about $910 million from existing property tax programs, like homestead exemptions and property tax credits.The target date for removing the exemptions is Oct. 1, with the Governor’s Office estimating about $663 million in new sales would be collected in the first nine months of implementation. In a full fiscal year, more than $1 billion would be collected.Specific information on new “sin” taxes was not provided, though the governor has suggested raising cigarette taxes up $2 to $2.64 per pack and raising taxes on alcohol, vaping and more.&nbsp;The plan doesn’t mention online sports betting, which the governor has said he’s open to, but does list new revenue from advertising services and cloud or other data-based software.Pillen has said he would veto any proposal during the special session that includes legalizing and taxing marijuana.<h2>Proposed sales tax exemptions</h2>The current statewide sales tax rate is 5.5 cents per dollar. Dakota County as well 261 cities or villages also&nbsp;<a href="https://revenue.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/tax-forms/2024/slstax_rates_04-01-2024.pdf" target="_blank">levy local sales taxes</a>&nbsp;between 0.5 cents and 2 cents, which are collected by the state and returned to local governments.Under the draft plan, more than 120 goods and services would be added to the tax rolls.The group has discussed the state keeping the local-levied portion on the new sales taxes, rather than returning that revenue to local governments as is done with all other purchases.Some of the goods and services slated for the new tax system include animal grooming, debt counseling, custom meat slaughtering, home repair and maintenance, lobbying and consulting, motor vehicle repair, pinball and other mechanical amusements and veterinary services for pets.Ibach said that the list of exemptions remains fluid and that some exemptions have already been dropped after last week’s meeting, including net wrap and certain catalysts, chemicals and materials used in manufacturing ethanol and its coproducts.Ibach said she continues to take issue with removing ag or manufacturing sales tax exemptions because her district wouldn’t support them. She said there were some indications in the meetings that “sin” tax revenue may be well above projections, and she wants to consider that potential revenue before eliminating sales tax exemptions.“The plan continues to be revised/updated with each task force meeting,” she said in a text.The plan would also levy taxes on agricultural and manufacturing equipment or machinery and energy used in agriculture or industry, which are currently exempt.However, those goods would be taxed at a new, lower rate: 2 cents per dollar purchase. To prevent “double taxation,” personal property taxes would be removed on any newly taxed goods.In many cases, the suggested goods and services have never been on state sales tax rolls or were exempted over time through legislation.<h2>What would remain exempt?</h2>About 70 sales tax exemptions would remain, which could generate more than $5 billion if ended, according to the most recent Revenue Department estimates.The most apparent is most food and groceries, medical equipment and medicine, and sales by religious organizations. Pillen had indicated all would remain exempt.Also remaining tax-exempt would be: agricultural machinery repair and replacement parts, commercial artificial insemination, newspapers, laundromats, political campaign fundraisers, admissions to school events, public records and feminine hygiene products.The two largest exempt categories would also remain: business components ($1.67 billion) and animal life whose products constitute food for human consumption or apparel ($1.18 billion).While their broader categories are slated for new taxes, the following would remain exempt: coin-operated laundry; railroad rolling stock; special needs transportation services; offices for physicians, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists and mental health practitioners; substance abuse services; and other outpatient services.<h2>‘A reverse Robin Hood scheme’</h2>Riepe said in a text the plan benefits large net-worth property owners, both rural and residential, at the expense of middle- and lower-income renters who have not not seen the yet-to-be-publicized list of new sales taxes.“If the Governor is so sure he’s right, why hasn’t he held one town hall in Lincoln or Omaha?” Riepe asked, pointing to the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/07/13/gov-pillens-property-tax-tour-across-nebraska-didnt-lead-to-feedback-for-many-lawmakers/">two most populous cities</a>.“We need transparency/engagement and a legitimate process,” Riepe said in another text.State Sens. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln and Julie Slama of Dunbar, who are not task force members, reviewed the proposal and both harshly criticized the contents.Said Slama: “Pillen’s plan taxes the average Nebraskan to death, then taxes them again for burial.”Conrad said despite Pillen’s “best efforts to hide the ball and keep citizens and senators in the dark,” his ideas have come to light. She said “our worst fears are being confirmed.”“This plan is indeed nothing more than a reverse Robin Hood scheme representing perhaps an unprecedented tax increase and massive tax shift asking Nebraska families to pay more to benefit the largest wealthiest landowners in the state like himself, which is ridiculous,” Conrad said.Conrad said Pillen’s plan is “unserious at best and dangerous at worst” and said Pillen should cancel the special session “because his so-called plan is dead on arrival.”“If he pushes forward,” Conrad continued, “the Legislature will reject this nonsense and explore responsible realistic solutions to deliver for Nebraskans.”

Gov. Pillen’s property tax plan would add new taxes on 120+ goods and services, draft indicates

Nebraska Department of Transportation

(Ainsworth, Neb.) — Work is underway on N-11, from reference post 114.97 to reference post 127.42, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Vontz Paving of Hastings is the prime contractor for this project. Work includes culvert and flume installation, milling, asphalt paving, and seeding. Traffic will be maintained with a pilot car and flaggers for temporary lane restrictions. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane for complete surfacing removal and replacement, from station 175+00 to 185+00, with traffic maintained with temporary traffic signals and an 11-foot width restriction. Anticipated completion is Sept. 2024.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.

Nebraska Department of Transportation(Ainsworth, Neb.) — Work is underway on N-11, from reference post 114.97 to reference post 127.42, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.Vontz Paving of Hastings is the prime contractor for this project. Work includes culvert and flume installation, milling, asphalt paving, and seeding. Traffic will be maintained with a pilot car and flaggers for temporary lane restrictions. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane for complete surfacing removal and replacement, from station 175+00 to 185+00, with traffic maintained with temporary traffic signals and an 11-foot width restriction. Anticipated completion is Sept. 2024.Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and to put phones down.

Road work underway on N-11, from the Garfield/Holt County line north for 13 miles

WASHINGTON —Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley on Sunday&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14386QQQ9225034QQQ8082554QQQ8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2024%2f07%2fHawley-Letter-to-Chairman-Peters-re-Attempted-Assassination-of-Trump.pdf&amp;redir_log=659204414725889" target="_blank">sent</a>&nbsp;a letter to U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), calling on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Chairman to immediately&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14386QQQ9225034QQQ8082554QQQ8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fx.com%2fHawleyMO%2fstatus%2f1812462184728846842&amp;redir_log=967991304406288" target="_blank">launch</a>&nbsp;an investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally Saturday.

“This HSGAC investigation must include public testimony, hearings, and robust oversight over the relevant federal departments as they respond to this assassination attempt. Sworn testimony must be heard from Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. Nothing should be classified or withheld from the public,”&nbsp;wrote Senator Hawley.

“Our prayers are with President Trump, the family of the slain American, and the innocent civilians who were injured. We owe it to the victims and the American people to get to the bottom of what happened. The American people have questions. And they deserve answers,”&nbsp;he concluded.

Senator Hawley previously&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14386QQQ9225034QQQ8082554QQQ8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fhawley-statement-on-attempted-assassination-of-president-trump%2f&amp;redir_log=558475836707660" target="_blank">released</a>&nbsp;statements following the shooting,&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14386QQQ9225034QQQ8082554QQQ8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.realclearpolitics.com%2farticles%2f2024%2f07%2f14%2ftrump_survives_assassination_attempt_shooter_dead__151259.html&amp;redir_log=115496052595803" target="_blank">condemning</a>&nbsp;the political violence and demanding answers from President Biden’s Justice Department on the identity of the shooter.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720953321409.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley on Sunday&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14386QQQ9225034QQQ8082554QQQ8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2024%2f07%2fHawley-Letter-to-Chairman-Peters-re-Attempted-Assassination-of-Trump.pdf&amp;redir_log=659204414725889" target="_blank">sent</a>&nbsp;a letter to U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), calling on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Chairman to immediately&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14386QQQ9225034QQQ8082554QQQ8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fx.com%2fHawleyMO%2fstatus%2f1812462184728846842&amp;redir_log=967991304406288" target="_blank">launch</a>&nbsp;an investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally Saturday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721008784101.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“This HSGAC investigation must include public testimony, hearings, and robust oversight over the relevant federal departments as they respond to this assassination attempt. Sworn testimony must be heard from Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. Nothing should be classified or withheld from the public,”&nbsp;wrote Senator Hawley.“Our prayers are with President Trump, the family of the slain American, and the innocent civilians who were injured. We owe it to the victims and the American people to get to the bottom of what happened. The American people have questions. And they deserve answers,”&nbsp;he concluded.Senator Hawley previously&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14386QQQ9225034QQQ8082554QQQ8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fhawley-statement-on-attempted-assassination-of-president-trump%2f&amp;redir_log=558475836707660" target="_blank">released</a>&nbsp;statements following the shooting,&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=14386QQQ9225034QQQ8082554QQQ8019990&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.realclearpolitics.com%2farticles%2f2024%2f07%2f14%2ftrump_survives_assassination_attempt_shooter_dead__151259.html&amp;redir_log=115496052595803" target="_blank">condemning</a>&nbsp;the political violence and demanding answers from President Biden’s Justice Department on the identity of the shooter.&nbsp;

Missouri Senator demands full-scale investigation on attempted assassination of Trump

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Author/42773/c-todd-lopez/">C. Todd Lopez</a>, Department of Defense

As the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nato.int/" target="_blank">NATO</a>&nbsp;summit in Washington concluded last week, the U.S. announced its latest security package for Ukraine.&nbsp;

"The Defense Department announced the 61st presidential drawdown authority package, which has an estimated value of $225 million," said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh during a briefing Friday. "This package will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs and includes one Patriot battery, munitions for rocket systems, and artillery and antitank weapons."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717851301558.png" alt="File photo White House -Since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, the United States has committed more than $53.7 billion in security assistance" />
 <figcaption>File photo White House -Since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, the United States has committed more than $53.7 billion in security assistance</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Author/42773/c-todd-lopez/">C. Todd Lopez</a>, Department of DefenseAs the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nato.int/" target="_blank">NATO</a>&nbsp;summit in Washington concluded last week, the U.S. announced its latest security package for Ukraine.&nbsp;"The Defense Department announced the 61st presidential drawdown authority package, which has an estimated value of $225 million," said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh during a briefing Friday. "This package will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs and includes one Patriot battery, munitions for rocket systems, and artillery and antitank weapons."Also among the materials in the latest security assistance package are 155 mm and 105 mm artillery rounds; Javelin and AT-4 antiarmor systems; and small-arms ammunition.&nbsp;Since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, the United States has committed more than $53.7 billion in security assistance through both presidential drawdown authority and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.