Nebraska Update

The Nebraska Legislature is dealing with reports and proposals affecting prisons, teachers, redistricting and school aid.

A Title IX lawsuit against the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is moving forward in federal court. An anonymous woman is suing the school for not protecting her after a professor harassed her. Nebraska Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert has more on the update.

Over one month ago, Lyons, Nebraska had brown tap water with high levels of iron and manganese. In the process of replacing filter beds at its treatment plant, a temporary filter system was put in place. That filter broke down and Lyons was forced to issue a boil water order. Now, Lyons is running water through its new filters at the treatment plant and the water passed a partial test by the state.

Legislation stemming from the controversy over sex education in proposed health standards, and getting the state have a "mega-site" ready for future industrial projects, are among ideas being introduced in the Nebraska Legislature.

Douglas County's first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer started working this week.

Omaha’s January 6th Vigil will be located at the College of Saint Mary’s fieldhouse and online. The event will start with a speech from the college’s president Maryanne Stevens, then a prayer and three songs to be performed by the Omaha Justice Choir. There will be three additional speakers after the music, each from Black Votes Matter, Civic Nebraska, and the Women’s Fund of Omaha.

Last January Republican Josh Hawley had been in the Senate for barely two years. Elected at 39, after serving briefly as Missouri’s Attorney General, he was seen by many in the party as a politician on the rise.

But that seemed to be at risk for Hawley after the January 6 events and his vote against certifying election results.

Some of the biggest companies in Missouri and elsewhere stopped supporting him.

The two largest newspapers in the state openly called on him to resign. His mentor, former Republican Senator John Danforth, repudiated his actions.

But now, a year later, it appears Hawley has paid hardly any political price in a state that’s taken a hard swing to the political right in recent years.

Terry Smith teaches political science at Columbia College in Missouri.

Long description: In the last two weeks, COVID-19 cases are up 26 percent in Nebraska, according to CDC data. The seven-day rolling average indicates nearly 14-hundred cases. For comparison, though, last winter, the seven-day average nearly hit 24-hundred positives.

The COVID-19 Omicron variant has brought a surge of cases throughout the state and some schools are bringing back extra precautions.

The Nebraska Legislature began its 2022 session with proposals on abortion, guns, and other topics.