Opinion
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Our View:
On Feb. 16, business owners and managers, City officials and the curious met at the Elks Lodge to discuss the possibility of a Downtown Business Association. The concept as presented is to promote growth and work together as a business community, sup...
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Stuck in Memories
For whatever reason, this year is keeping some curtains open. Actually I’m in between days. February has become a month of emotions. I have birthdays, Valentines Day when guys are reminded to stay...
The Climate Fiasco - Part 1
Global temperatures are getting warmer. For that reason, a climate crisis has been declared. John Kerry, the Biden administration’s “climate tsar,” says we have only nine years to stop a global...
Straight Talk from Steve: TERC
If it is true that every cowboy sings a sad, sad song, then in Nebraska they all sing the same sad song about protesting their property valuation. Protesting property values in Nebraska is like...
The Fort Report
Here’s a tweet I wrote this week: “I’ve been in meetings with @BillGates. I respect his intellect and desire for social responsibility by the world’s wealthy. On this idea, though, maybe he should come to #Nebraska and learn a little more....
Leading on Biofuels
Nebraska is a biofuels powerhouse - the second and third largest producer of ethanol and corn, respectively, in the country. With 25 active ethanol plants and a capacity of more than 2.5 billion gallo...
The Safe Connections Act
COVID-19 brought with it many new challenges, including furloughs, unemployment, and hospitals struggling to keep up with surges of new patients. We all hear about those things every day. But you may...
Lacking Consistency
The second impeachment hearing of now former-President Trump is about a week old by now. I was immediately struck by a saying I heard many years ago from an attorney. It is so obvious most people don...
Here Comes Gun Control
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) has introduced legislation that could have a huge impact on gun owners. House Resolution 127 (HR 127), also known as the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and...
The Festival of Purim
Jews will soon celebrate, on 26 February 2021, the joyous festival of Purim which occurs every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar (late winter/early spring). It commemorates the (Divinely...
Lions and Tigers and Bears, OH MY!
How things have changed, and not necessarily for the better. Since retirement I’m trying to stay out of my wife Dorothy’s hair and not get on her nerves. (But that’s another story!) Like many...
Fiscal Notes
Every bill introduced in the Nebraska Legislature gets a fiscal note attached to it. Fiscal notes are usually boring and not much fun to read. Fiscal notes are usually written by budgetary experts...
We Should Be Ashamed
I am no stranger to grief and the many stages of it. Maybe I’m just staying stuck in the really, REALLY mad phase, but my father-in-law was recently locked away from us for 19 days, without a...
What Can We Do
I know my columns haven’t been cheerful in recent weeks. It’s hard to see our country heading where we’d rather it not go. I was once in a mentoring relationship with an accomplished CEO who...
Is Speech Still Free
I frequently see the comment of "If God only gives you what you can handle, I must be a superhero," or something like that. The context of the discussion is worth another platform. But look at it...
Sidney Needs Home Health, Hospice Services
Dear Editor, Even though it has been over seven months since our son Andy died of lung cancer and he could have benefited from Home Health and Hospice, it is still important to express our concern for the community’s continued need for Sidney...
Straight Talk from Steve
The Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee recently conducted a hearing on LB562, my bill to relocate the headquarters for the Game and Parks Commission to the City of Sidney. Relocating the...
I've Retired... Theoretically
A few weeks ago I reached that “Golden Age” that virtually all working class people strive for. Yes! That time of life when we can do just about anything we want without worrying about scheduling...
Value the Dash
I was recently reminded of the obvious, or at least it should be obvious. Life is not easy. If it is easy, be careful for the skies to change. I’m not being negative. I haven’t signed up for the...
You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet
Joe Biden began his presidency by issuing more executive orders in his 10 days than any other president in history during that time frame. As of this writing, 42 edicts from on high have been handed...
Let the States Lead
On January 20, the United States carried out a distinctive national tradition: Our country underwent a peaceful transition of power. Looking back on the history of nations, this is not typical....
Nebraska's Future Leaders
Nebraska’s high school seniors have a lot to look forward to in 2021. Years of hard work in the classroom have led up to the college applications that many of them submitted last fall, and now, all...
Illusions
In recent days, I reread Daniel Boorstin’s book, The Image, or What Happened to the American Dream. Boorstin trained as a historian, but in his 1961 book, he steps away from history long enough to...
Straight Talk from Steve
One bill that I will support this year is LB364, which creates the Opportunity Scholarships Act. Under this Act individual and corporate taxpayers would qualify for a non-refundable tax credit on the...
The Cost of a Free Dialogue
We’re in the early days of a new administration. Joe Biden is officially the 46th president of the United States and Kamala Harris his second. What is yet to be seen, what will be proven as time goe...
