“FFA State Qualifiers and Placers” Please take a look at the recognition dedicated to the Ainsworth FFA State Qualifiers and to those who placed at the Nebraska State Virtual Competition this year. Results can be found on page 6 in this week’s edition.

There have been three property tax reduction bills debated on the floor of the legislature this month. There will be more coming up. Two of these bills advanced to the next round of debate, and one has been killed. LB 408 by Senator Briese was killed by a filibuster on a 29–8 vote. Thirty-three votes (two-thirds of all 49 senators) are required to invoke cloture and defeat a filibuster.

Lawmakers Take Important Step Toward Treating At-Risk Youth Lawmakers have amended and advanced a package of bills that will keep the Nebraska Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers on track toward becoming treatment-based instead of correctionsbased facilities. Back in the day, “bad boys” went to Kearney and “bad girls” went to Geneva after the scarce number of local social services agencies and the court system had pretty much given up on them.

Last week was a strange winter weather week in Brown County. One moment it would be sunny, the next minute we would watch the snow fall.

Brown County participated in this year's Bargain Buyway Event, April 23rd - 25th. Vendors were set up throughout the county with refurbished items, antiques, bake sales, crafts, clothing, homemade furniture, jewelry, plants, household items and garage sales.

Ainsworth Star-Journal co-publishers Rod and Kathy Worrell are excited to announce the addition of Lydia Allen to the Star-Journal staff as an Associate Editor. Allen will be editing, covering meetings, feature-writing, photographing events and assisting in the office.