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News

Data Shows That 10% of Drivers are Distracted

The NDOT Highway Safety Office used new digital technology to measure the number of distracted drivers in Nebraska. Results showed that 1 in 10 drivers you meet on the road are not looking where they are driving, but instead are focusing on a cell phone or other device! With fatalities in Nebraska at a 15-year high, all drivers need to do everything possible to avoid crashes.

Input Sought on Possible Changes to Elk Unit Boundaries

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is seeking public input on potential changes to elk management unit boundaries. The purpose is to help distribute hunters appropriately and increase elk harvest in areas where increased harvest is desired.

The Other Skin Cancer

When people talk about skin cancer the type that most people think about is melanoma. This skin cancer follows the ABCDE rules for diagnosis. A – Asymmetry, B – irregular Border, C – more than 1 Color, D – Diameter more than 6 mm, and E – expanding in size. However, these rules will not help find the most common type of skin cancer called a basal cell carcinoma.

Methodist Church Offers Christmas Dinner

For the third year, the Ainsworth United Methodist Church offered a Christmas dinner on December 25th for area residents. What started in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic has now turned into a tradition.

Winners Announced for the Ainsworth Chamber Bucks Drawing

Ainsworth Area Chamber of Commerce held its final drawing for the Chamber Bucks Giveaway on Friday, December 23rd. Each winner will receive $50.00 each for shopping at an Ainsworth Chamber of Commerce participating store.

A Closer Look at Local Government, KBR Leadership Academy

This year’s class for KBR Leadership Academy met last Wednesday for their session that took a deeper dive into government. Despite the cold and snow outside the Internal Design building where they met in Springview, participants warmly greeted speakers to fill the day with breakout groups and discussions.

Capitol News

It’s a New Year and There’s a Whole Lotta New Going On Welcome to 2023, a new year with a whole lotta new going on at the State Capitol. There’s a new governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor and 14 new state senators assuming leadership roles in the Republican dominated Nebraska government.

Legislative Notes

This is my last weekly update of 2022. The first session of the 108th Nebraska Legislature will be in session next Wednesday. First sessions are long (ninety legislative days). We have a new governor, and attorney general to be sworn in, along with sixteen new senators. Quite a few senior legislative staff positions will also see new people assigned to those roles. The learning curve for a lot of senior people will be quite steep.

Kat’s Korner

Sounds like the new year is going to greet us with cold temperatures and more snow. Typing this on Sunday, New Year’s Day, according to Weatherbug, it looks like we have some cold temperatures and snow (estimated anywhere from 6” - 18”) headed our way the first part of the week.