Nebraska Update

Host Intro: Debate in the Nebraska Legislature over inheritance taxes Wednesday showed a generational divide, and raised questions about whether senators were debating things that are irrelevant to many Nebraskans.

As of January, Nebraskans can start donating to scholarship granting organizations, or SGOs, to fund tuition for students going to private schools. In return, donors receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. There are currently four certified SGOs in the state.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has launched a new program in an effort to attract and retain teachers from diverse backgrounds. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena has the details.

Host Intro: Fines and penalties would increase for distracted driving that resulted in someone dying, under a proposal heard Tuesday by a legislative committee. And lawmakers continued to debate abolishing the state’s inheritance tax. From the Capitol, Fred Knapp of Nebraska Public Media News has this legislative update:

A pregnancy-related death is when a person dies during pregnancy– or within a year after the pregnancy due to complications or pre-existing conditions. In some Midwest states, maternal mortality rates are higher than the national average. As Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena/ KBIA’s Anna Spidel report for the Midwest Newsroom, the data on Hispanic women can be particularly challenging.

Leading up to the death of Kevin Carter at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln, Angelo Bol allegedly threatened his cellmate's life. They remained in the same cell. That’s among the many accusations filed in federal court this month alleging negligence by former and current Nebraska Department of Correctional Services employees. Former director of the NDCS, Scott Frakes, and warden Michele Wilhelm are included in the total of 12 employees listed in the lawsuit.

A group of gun owners and the City of Lincoln will square off in Lancaster County District Court to argue whether there can be limits on carrying guns in parks and government buildings. Similiar restrictions put in place by Omaha's mayor have temporarily been put on hold by another judge.

Experts in media, election security and counterterrorism spoke on ChatGPT, deep fake videos, voice cloning and more at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Saturday for Civic Nebraska’s AI and Democracy Community Summit. The panel included UNL public relations professor Bryan Wang, UNL journalism professor Matt Waite, Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse and UNO counterterrorism center director, Gina Ligon.

The Nebraska Legislature moved Friday toward restoring its oversight authority for state agencies, and lawmakers heard a proposal to help veterans accused of crimes avoid convictions.

Lincoln Public School students at four high schools had the opportunity to learn more about H-B-C-Us this week. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports the informational sessions offered some students a first-time look at some of these schools.