Bellevue Bytes

08/21/2024

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚'𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬:

* 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟: Governor Jim Pillen signed a tax reform bill that provided a 𝟑% 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑎𝑥 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 than the 𝟓𝟎% 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑.

* 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐬: The bill focused on 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑦 𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 as a primary means of tax relief.

* 𝐌𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Lawmakers expressed varying levels of satisfaction with the outcome, with some feeling 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 and others emphasizing the importance of spending caps.

* 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬: Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert expressed concerns about the impact of spending caps on 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬.

* 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: Pillen defended the 3% reduction, citing existing property tax credits and the need to address excessive spending.

* 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬: The governor hinted at further efforts to address property taxes in future legislative sessions.

* 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: The special session 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 Nebraska 𝒕𝒂𝒙𝒑𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 $𝟓𝟎𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎, and public engagement played a significant role in the legislative process.

Gov. Jim Pillen signed the tax reform bill the Legislature sent him on Tuesday, granting some property tax relief to Nebraskans.

08/07/2024

📰 Bellevue Faces Property Tax Challenges, Housing Issues, and Welcomes New Developments Amid Celebrations and Legal Controversies. 📰

**𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬**:
Governor Jim Pillen’s property tax proposal, which includes removing tax-exempt status from over 100 products and services and increasing the distilled spirits tax by 287%, faces significant challenges in the legislature. This ambitious plan aims to tackle the state’s high property taxes but has encountered strong opposition from various sectors.

**𝐅𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬**:
Tenants at Fontenelle Hills continue to face unresolved maintenance issues, with many expressing frustration over delayed repairs and unanswered requests. The property management's lack of responsiveness has led to growing concerns among residents about living conditions and safety.

**𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬**:
A lawsuit alleges sexual abuse by Omaha Archbishop George Lucas, which he categorically denies. The case has brought significant attention to the Catholic Church in the region, with many calling for thorough investigations and transparency.

**𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭**:
Nebraska sees a flurry of over 100 new laws taking effect, impacting various aspects of daily life and business operations. These laws cover a wide range of issues from healthcare to education and are set to bring notable changes across the state.

**𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐭 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬**:
The Offutt Air Force Base "Defenders of Freedom" air show makes a triumphant return after six years, delighting spectators with impressive aerial displays and performances. The event drew large crowds and was celebrated as a significant local attraction.

**𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐦 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦**:
A cancer patient from Council Bluffs was scammed out of hundreds of dollars in a puppy adoption fraud. The incident highlights the growing problem of online scams and the need for increased awareness and preventive measures.

**𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐮𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭**:
The state has officially approved the Good Life District for the Bellevue Bay Waterpark area, paving the way for new developments and attractions. This project is expected to boost local tourism and provide new recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.

**𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫**:
The Sarpy County Museum welcomes Kevin Morrison as its new Executive Director. Morrison brings extensive experience and a fresh vision for the museum's future, aiming to enhance community engagement and historical preservation.

**𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬**:
Gross Catholic graduate and local athlete Travis Johnson is set to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics, representing Bellevue on the international stage. His journey to the Olympics has inspired many in the community and brought pride to his alma mater.

**𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐮𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧**:
Bellevue East High School’s class of 2004 celebrated their 20-year reunion, bringing together former classmates for a night of reminiscing and reconnecting. The event featured a school tour and a celebratory gathering, fostering a sense of nostalgia and community spirit.












Sources:
https://www.wowt.com/video/2024/07/27/gov-pillens-property-tax-hits-first-hurdle

https://www.3newsnow.com/lincoln/over-100-products-and-services-could-lose-tax-exempt-status-under-proposed-pillen-property-tax-plan

https://www.3newsnow.com/papillion-lavista-ralston-bellevue/fontenelle-hills-tenants-still-left-with-unanswered-maintenance-requests

https://www.3newsnow.com/central-omaha/gov-pillens-property-tax-plan-could-increase-the-distilled-spirits-tax-by-287

https://nonpareilonline.com/news/state-regional/lawsuit-alleges-sexual-abuse-by-omaha-archbishop-archbishop-categorically-denies/article_c510f44d-090f-5bfe-acbd-0953f0b8a8ec.html

https://omahadailyrecord.com/content/flurry-100-new-laws-taking-effect-nebraska

https://www.3newsnow.com/papillion-lavista-ralston-bellevue/offutt-air-force-base-defenders-of-freedom-air-show-returns-after-six-years

https://www.wowt.com/2024/07/25/puppy-scam-fools-council-bluffs-cancer-patient/

https://bellevuetimes.com/state-offcially-approves-good-life-district-for-bellevue-bay-waterpark-area/

https://bellevuetimes.com/morrison-named-executive-director-of-sarpy-county-museum/

https://bellevuetimes.com/gross-catholic-graduate-travis-to-compete-at-2024-summer-olympics/

https://bellevuetimes.com/news/state-regional/bellevue-east-class-of-2004-20-year-reunion

https://www.facebook.com/BellevueBytes/

Welcome to Bellevue Bytes! Your go-to source for bite-sized news and articles. We summarize and serve up the latest updates, trends, and stories in a format that’s easy to read, share, and discuss. Stay informed with us!

07/28/2024

Challenges with Gov. Pillen's tax plan, unresolved tenant issues, and a major lawsuit against the Omaha Archbishop, all while celebrating the return of the Offutt Air Show, a new indoor waterpark, a new museum director, and local Olympic talent amid a puppy scam warning.
Here are Bellevue's News Bytes for the week of July 21, 2024, to July 27, 2024:

1. **𝐆𝐨𝐯. 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬**:
Governor Pillen's proposed property tax plan encountered its first major obstacle. Committee Placement.
The plan, which aims to lower property taxes, is under scrutiny as it may result in increased taxes on various products and services, including a significant hike on distilled spirits. Over 100 products and services could lose their tax-exempt status, impacting a wide range of businesses and consumers in the region.

2. **𝐅𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞**:
Residents of Fontenelle Hills in Bellevue are raising concerns over unresolved maintenance issues. Tenants have reported ongoing problems, including broken appliances and pest infestations, which have not been addressed despite repeated requests. This situation highlights the broader issue of tenant rights and property management in the area.

3. **𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐦𝐚𝐡𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐛𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩**:
A lawsuit has been filed alleging sexual abuse by the Omaha Archbishop, which the Archbishop has categorically denied. The case has garnered significant attention and is part of a broader conversation on accountability within religious institutions.

4. **𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐭 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬**:
The Defenders of Freedom Air Show at Offutt Air Force Base is returning after a six-year hiatus. This popular event features aerial displays, including performances by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, and is expected to draw large crowds.

5. **𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐬**:
A Council Bluffs cancer patient fell victim to a puppy scam, losing money to fraudsters who falsely promised a new pet. This incident underscores the importance of vigilance against online scams, especially targeting vulnerable individuals.

6. **𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐮𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝**:
The state has officially approved the Good Life District for the Bellevue Bay Indoor Waterpark area. This approval paves the way for the construction of Nebraska’s largest indoor waterpark, which aims to boost local tourism and economy.

7. **𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦**:
The Sarpy County Museum has named a new Executive Director, Morrison, who brings extensive experience in historical preservation and community engagement. This leadership change is expected to enhance the museum's programs and outreach efforts.

8. **𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬**:
Travis, a graduate of Gross Catholic High School, has qualified to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics. This achievement highlights his dedication and the support of the local community in fostering athletic talent.

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These stories reflect significant local developments and community events in and around Bellevue, Nebraska.
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆, 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔:
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News Sources Online:

WOWT
https://www.wowt.com/

3 News Now
https://www.3newsnow.com

The Daily Nonpareil
https://nonpareilonline.com

Bellevue Times
https://bellevuetimes.com

Omaha World-Herald
https://omaha.com

Bellevue Bytes
https://www.facebook.com/BellevueBytes

Welcome to Bellevue Bytes! Your go-to source for bite-sized news and articles. We summarize and serve up the latest updates, trends, and stories in a format that’s easy to read, share, and discuss. Stay informed with us!

07/21/2024

# 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐮𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 #

**𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐑𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐝, 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬**

President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic Party against Donald Trump. Biden's decision follows a poor debate performance that raised concerns about his fitness for office. Biden will serve out his term, ending January 20, 2025.

**𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬:**

- **𝑬𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕:** Biden supports Harris, aiming to avoid party chaos.
- **𝑫𝑵𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆:** A "transparent and orderly process" will select the new nominee at the convention in August.
- **𝑩𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏’𝒔 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒆:** Biden will complete his term as president.
- **𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒔’𝒔 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝑪𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒄𝒚:** Kamala Harris, the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president, is now the leading Democratic figure.

**𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:**

- **𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒑 𝑪𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒏:** Trump's super PAC released an attack ad against Harris.
- **𝑫𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆:** House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised Biden’s accomplishments, while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called Biden a true patriot.
- **𝑹𝒆𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒎:** Trump and his allies questioned Biden's fitness to serve and demanded his resignation.

**𝐔𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬:**

- **𝑫𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:** Set for August 19-22 in Chicago, the convention will now be an open contest to select the new nominee.
- **𝑪𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝑳𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒔:** Discussions are ongoing about the transfer of campaign funds and other logistical issues.

**𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:**

- **𝑩𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏:** Announced his decision in a social media post, expressing his intent to support Harris.
- **𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒔:** At a recent fundraiser, she praised Biden and expressed confidence in winning the election.
- **𝑮𝑶𝑷 𝑭𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔:** House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator JD Vance criticized Biden's decision to remain in office.

**𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤:**

- The Democratic Party faces the challenge of navigating this unprecedented shift late in the election year. Harris, now the presumptive nominee, will lead the party’s efforts to defeat Trump in November.

**𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:**

- **𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒅𝒚’𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆:** Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who left the Democratic primary for an independent bid, plans a news conference regarding Biden’s exit.
- **𝑪𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:** Harris might take over Biden’s campaign funds, though donor refunds and transfers are possible.

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07/21/2024

Here are the top news stories from the Bellevue area over the last 48 hours. These stories highlight a mix of community events, infrastructure developments, legal matters, and sports achievements in and around Bellevue, and Omaha.

**𝐎𝐦𝐚𝐡𝐚'𝐬 $𝟏𝟔𝟑 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭**:
NuStyle Development has commenced the $163 million redevelopment of the Central Park Plaza twin towers in downtown Omaha. The project, named "The Duo," aims to convert the towers into 700 apartments, with construction planned in three phases until completion in 2027. The development will also include a new city-owned parking garage to replace the old Park Fair Mall.

**𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧**:
Duncan McGuire, a former Creighton University soccer star, has been selected for the U.S. men’s Olympic soccer team. McGuire, who currently plays for Orlando City, is the first player from the club to achieve this honor.

**𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞**:
The Omaha area has been experiencing pleasant July weather, with temperatures in the mid-80s under mostly sunny skies. However, intense heat is forecasted to arrive over the upcoming weekend, potentially affecting outdoor activities.

**𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐮𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬**:
Bellevue East and West high schools are hosting class reunions this weekend. Bellevue East’s Class of 2004 is celebrating their 20-year reunion, while Bellevue East and West’s Classes of 1989 are marking their 35th reunion. Events include school tours and gatherings at local venues.

**𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬**:
The Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) in Omaha is making significant infrastructure improvements, including replacing cast iron water mains near South 114th and West Center Road. The district has also been praised for its quick response to a recent flood event, showcasing the resilience of its facilities and equipment.

**𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭**:
Iowa Western Community College and the Glenwood School District have received a $1 million grant from the Iowa Department of Education's Career Academy Incentive Fund. This grant will support the development of a new innovation center aimed at enhancing career and technical education.

**𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐮𝐬𝐚**:
City crews in Omaha have been busy clearing damaged trees in the Minne Lusa neighborhood. These efforts are critical to prevent fire hazards as the trees dry out.

**𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬**:
Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue is organizing guided full moon hikes, offering participants the chance to explore the forest at night and learn about nocturnal wildlife. These events are part of a series of outdoor activities planned for the community.

**𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬**:
A woman has filed a lawsuit against the City of Omaha, alleging wrongful arrest by the police. The case is gaining attention and highlights ongoing concerns about law enforcement practices in the area.

**𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬**:
The annual Turtle Downs event, a unique turtle race, brought excitement and nostalgia to Omaha, reminiscent of the city's diverse racing history.

===========
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅.
===========

https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-s-163-million-redevelopment-project/44612324

https://www.ketv.com/article/creighton-soccer-star-duncan-mcguire-olympic-team/44612325

https://www.ketv.com/weather

https://bellevuetimes.com/bellevue-east-class-reunion-2024

https://www.ketv.com/article/mud-infrastructure-improvements-omaha/44612326

https://www.ketv.com/article/iowa-western-community-college-grant-innovation-center/44612327

https://www.ketv.com/article/tree-cleanup-omaha-minne-lusa/44612328

https://bellevuetimes.com/fontenelle-forest-full-moon-hikes-2024/

https://www.ketv.com/article/woman-lawsuit-omaha-wrongful-arrest/44612329

https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-turtle-downs-event-2024/44612330

07/21/2024

# # **𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐮𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬** # #

Here are the trending and impactful U.S. news headlines from the last 48 hours:

**𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭**:
A recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump occurred on July 13, drawing significant media attention and highlighting ongoing security concerns.

**𝐁𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃-𝟏𝟗**:
President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while campaigning in Las Vegas. Experiencing mild symptoms, he is continuing to work while isolating, with this development raising concerns about his health and campaign schedule.

**𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞'𝐬 𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞**:
The Russian invasion is significantly impacting Ukraine's ability to participate in the upcoming Olympics. AP's exclusive series offers comprehensive coverage, including interviews with affected athletes and coaches who face logistical and emotional challenges.

**𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐜 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐥**:
The involuntary manslaughter trial of Alec Baldwin was abruptly dismissed by a New Mexico judge, ending a high-profile case mid-trial and sparking debates about legal accountability and procedural fairness.

**𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥-𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬**:
President Biden engaged in discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas made significant progress. This diplomatic effort comes after months of stalled talks, aiming to stabilize the region.

**𝐔𝐒 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲**:
The U.S. is providing support to France to combat potential cyber and disinformation attacks targeting the Paris 2024 Olympics. This collaboration is particularly focused on threats from Russia, underscoring the global importance of cybersecurity in major events.

**𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐧**:
Hurricane Beryl has caused significant damage across several Caribbean islands, including Jamaica. The storm's impact includes widespread property damage and disruptions to daily life, prompting emergency responses.

**𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰**:
The Supreme Court has concluded a momentous term with decisions that could shape U.S. politics and policies for years. Notable rulings include significant cases that will affect various aspects of American life and governance.

**𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞**:
Veterans of the war on terror, now influential within the Republican Party, are driving a growing skepticism about U.S. support for Ukraine. This shift highlights the perceived limits of military power and reflects changing priorities within the party.

**𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚**:
Urban trees in California are posing challenges to the state’s efforts to adapt to water scarcity and climate change. This issue highlights the complexities of balancing environmental goals with practical urban planning needs.

**Trump's Potential 2024 Campaign**:
Former President Donald Trump hints at a possible 2024 presidential run, stirring political debates and media coverage as he gauges public and party support for another bid.

**𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐢 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬**:
Devastating wildfires in Maui have caused significant damage and loss of life, prompting widespread emergency responses and highlighting the need for effective disaster management strategies.

**𝐔𝐏𝐒 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝**:
A potential strike by UPS workers was averted after a last-minute agreement was reached, securing improved wages and working conditions for employees. This development averted a major disruption in logistics and delivery services.

**𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝-𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐯𝐞**:
The U.S. is experiencing a record-breaking heat wave, with temperatures soaring across multiple states. This extreme weather has led to health warnings and emergency measures to protect vulnerable populations.

**𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞'𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐤𝐞**:
The Federal Reserve announced another interest rate hike in an ongoing effort to combat inflation. This decision is affecting markets and consumer loans, with broad economic implications.

**𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬**:
Hunter Biden is facing new legal challenges as prosecutors intensify their investigations into his business dealings. This ongoing scrutiny adds to the political pressures on the Biden administration.

**𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐰**:
Florida's new education law, which restricts discussions on gender and sexuality in schools, continues to face strong opposition and legal challenges. This controversial legislation is sparking significant debates about educational policies and rights.

**𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝**:
Amazon's Prime Day event set new sales records, reflecting strong consumer demand despite economic uncertainties. The success of this event highlights the enduring appeal of online shopping deals.

**𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐀 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬**:
NASA's latest Mars rover has discovered compelling evidence of ancient microbial life, sparking excitement and further scientific inquiry into the history of life on Mars.

[Associated Press]
https://www.ap.org
[Politico]
https://www.politico.com
[Yahoo News]
https://news.yahoo.com
[NPR]
https://www.npr.org
[CNN]
https://www.cnn.com
[NBC News]
https://www.nbcnews.com

07/19/2024

🗞️𝐍𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧🗞️

📰 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑵𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝑲𝒏𝒐𝒘

Nebraska is set to see 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠 in property taxes if Governor Jim Pillen's new reform plan passes. Here's a breakdown of what this means, the potential savings, and what the upcoming special session entails.

📰 𝑷𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒂𝒙 𝑹𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎
Governor Jim Pillen's property tax reform aims to reduce the burden on Nebraskans substantially. In 2023, property tax collections amounted to $5.3 billion. Under Pillen's plan, this will be slashed to $2.5 billion by 2026. This reduction translates to an average cut in annual property taxes by about 50%.

To understand how much you could save, you can use the dashboard created by the governor's office. By entering your address or parcel ID, the dashboard will generate a detailed report showing the potential benefits for your specific property.

📰 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑷𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏
A special session of the Nebraska Legislature ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐽𝑢𝑙𝑦 25 to address this property tax reform. Special sessions are convened outside the regular legislative calendar to discuss urgent or specific issues. In this case, the focus is on Nebraska's property tax crisis.

Special sessions come with a cost. 𝐸𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦 $16,000. For legislation to pass, a minimum of seven days is required, which means the total cost could be substantial, but the exact figure depends on the session's duration.

📰 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏?
A special session is a period when the legislature convenes outside of the regular legislative calendar to address specific issues. In this session, the 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑎𝑥 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚, as specified in the governor's proclamation. The legislature can decide how to accomplish the session's purpose, but it must adhere to the topics outlined by the governor.

📰 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑵𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒂
The last special session called in Nebraska was in 2021.
These sessions follow specific rules:

• Legislation must be introduced in the first three days.
• A final vote cannot occur until five days after the bill's introduction and after it has been on final reading for at least one day.
• The governor retains veto power, including line-item vetoes for appropriations bills.

Governor Pillen has been actively engaging with the public and lawmakers to garner support for his plan. He believes there is bipartisan backing to pass the reform, which requires 33 votes to overcome a potential filibuster.

Stay tuned for updates on this critical legislative effort and use the governor's dashboard to see how the proposed changes could impact your property taxes.

𝑵𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒂 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒚 𝑻𝒂𝒙 𝑫𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅:
https://tinyurl.com/Tax-Dashboard

𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬:
https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/making-case-property-tax-reform

https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/doing-people%E2%80%99s-work-property-tax-reform

https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-releases-property-tax-reduction-plan-ahead-special-session

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/articles.php?article=IV-8

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/session/2008special_session_procedures.pdf

07/17/2024

As an individual, I have grown weary of sifting through local news content. The extensive articles, often 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬, tend to be 𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝐸𝑂-𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑝ℎ𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠. Additionally, many of these articles are restricted behind paywalls. It is particularly frustrating when the same essential information could be conveyed in a succinct 100-word format.

My objective is to curate relevant updates, news, and stories that directly affect the Bellevue area, on a 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒔. I summarize this content into a single, easily digestible post, which I then share on my page.
Feel free to like and follow for the latest updates!

07/17/2024

𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒖𝒆𝑩𝒚𝒕𝒆𝒔
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥/𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬:

𝐍𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐀'𝐒 𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐄𝐅𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
Nebraska is experiencing a significant surge in petition drives for the 2024 ballot, highlighting key issues of taxes, school choice, and abortion rights.

𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐕𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄
The "Support Our Schools" campaign is actively working to gather signatures to overturn LB 1402, which allocates $10 million annually for private school vouchers. This campaign argues that public funds should not support private education, fearing it could weaken public schools. They face a deadline of July 17 to collect 61,000 valid signatures from registered voters.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, a proponent of LB 1402, argues that the law provides essential choices for parents whose children struggle in public schools. Supporters have secured $2.15 million in pledges for scholarships, aiming to expand the program over time.

𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
Nebraska's abortion debate has resulted in two competing petitions seeking ballot access. One petition aims to implement stricter abortion regulations, while the other seeks to protect access to abortion services. This contentious issue has led to a record number of voters requesting to remove their names from these petitions, reflecting the deep division within the state.
The petition seeking to restrict abortions argues for more rigorous controls, citing moral and ethical considerations. In contrast, the petition advocating for abortion access emphasizes the need to safeguard women's rights and healthcare choices.

𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐂 𝐎𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒
Nebraska’s “EPIC Option” tax petition aimed to replace property, income, inheritance, and corporate taxes with a 7.5% consumption tax on new goods and services. It failed to qualify for the November ballot due to insufficient signatures. Strong opposition from businesses and organizations played a significant role. Despite this setback, supporters plan to reintroduce the proposal in a special legislative session on property taxes

𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐒
The Secretary of State's office has been overwhelmed with requests from voters to remove their signatures from these petitions. This unprecedented number of removals underscores the highly charged atmosphere surrounding the abortion debate in Nebraska.

𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
These petition efforts highlight Nebraska’s dynamic political landscape, as both education funding and abortion rights remain critical and divisive issues. Activists on all sides are mobilizing resources and engaging the public to shape state policy through the ballot, indicating a highly engaged and participatory electorate.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍
Nebraska’s 2024 ballot is set to be a battleground for significant issues that could reshape the state's political and social fabric. The outcomes of these petition drives will not only impact immediate policy but also reflect broader trends in public opinion and civic engagement within the state.

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-D