Comments from two state senators from Omaha have pretty much diminished hopes for a “normal” session of the Nebraska Legislature this year. “I think it will be a difficult session again.

Last session, 820 bills were introduced. Given the never-ending filibuster by a few senators last year, only fifty bills were signed into law by the Governor. So far this session, 371 bills have been introduced. Bill introduction continues until next Wednesday the 17th of January. Twenty of the bills I introduced last year remain active. Two are on select file and six are on general file. So far I have introduced another ten bills this session and I have five still being drafted. Altogether I will have 35 bills working through the committee and floor debate process.

“Last Weekend Reminded Me of the Blizzard of 1975” Last weekend had very brutal negative windchill temperatures dipping into -49˚. Anyway that was the coldest one I saw for Ainsworth but I may not have seen the coldest temperature. Either way, hopefully these temperatures have moved on.

The annual Caring About Kids Early Childhood Conference will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Ainsworth High School. The conference runs from 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., offering a sixhour training for in-home and center day care providers, preschool and others interested in early childhood education.

Governor Jim Pillen is sharing his appreciation and state agencies are providing updates, as progress is made in the aftermath of a severe winter storm. An emergency declaration has allowed the state to seek assistance from South Dakota through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). As a result, Nebraska will receive two truck-mounted blowers and two loader blowers as well as crew support, which will help supplement crews from the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT), who have been working non-stop to reopen highways and local roads.

During the Ainsworth Area's Chamber of Commerce's Boots and Bling Gala, five Brown County residents were recognized. They were Youth of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Ag Business of the Year, Outstanding Business of the Year and Chamber Give Back Award.