Editorial

The Stockdale Paradox

Published by Nikki Palmer on Wed, 03/08/2023 - 2:00am

This paradox was coined after Admiral James Stockdale, a long-time prisoner of war in the “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War, from 1965-1972. He was a Naval Aviator shot down and captured. He was the highest-ranking officer in the POW camp.

Read more about The Stockdale Paradox

Point v. Counter-Point: Legislative Bill 753: Opportunity Scholarship Bill Won’t Do Much For Rural Nebraska Children

Published by Nikki Palmer on Mon, 03/06/2023 - 3:00am

Legislative Bill 753, a bill to send $25 million to private schools through the guise of excessive tax credits for donations to scholarship granting organizations, will do next to nothing for rural Nebraska and our kids.

Read more about Point v. Counter-Point: Legislative Bill 753: Opportunity Scholarship Bill Won’t Do Much For Rural Nebraska Children

The Highlight of My Job

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 2:00am

Constituents often ask me in person or in their letters what my favorite part of serving as your Senator is. I always give the same answer: returning to Nebraska and hearing directly from you, my fellow Nebraskans.

Read more about The Highlight of My Job

Keeping Public Records Open To The Public

Published by Nikki Palmer on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 2:00am

It may not be as riveting as some headlines recently, but there weren’t many more important:

“Judge rules for news nonprofit” told the story of Lancaster County District Judge Ryan Post’s ruling in favor of the Flatwater Free Press, a nonprofit news organization, suing the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy over a $44,000 bill for public records.

Read more about Keeping Public Records Open To The Public

Look Upstream

Published by Nikki Palmer on Wed, 03/01/2023 - 12:00am

Imagine living in a world that always looked upstream to address the problems we face. Instead of repeatedly putting out fires (whether real or metaphorical), we looked at how to prevent them in the first place. That is precisely the approach numerous organizations are taking across Nebraska when it comes to addressing dental health. Intervene early – prevent suffering later.

Read more about Look Upstream

Bad Beliefs: Misinformation Is Factually Wrong – But Is It Ethically Wrong, Too?

Published by Nikki Palmer on Tue, 02/28/2023 - 4:00am

The impact of disinformation and misinformation has become impossible to ignore. Whether it is denial about climate change, conspiracy theories about elections, or misinformation about vaccines, the pervasiveness of social media has given “alternative facts” an influence previously not possible.

Read more about Bad Beliefs: Misinformation Is Factually Wrong – But Is It Ethically Wrong, Too?

In Rural America, Right-To-Repair Laws Are The Leading Edge Of A Pushback Against Growing Corporate Power

Published by Nikki Palmer on Mon, 02/27/2023 - 4:00am

Waiting for repairs can cost farmers time and money. (Shutterstock)

As tractors became more sophisticated over the past two decades, the big manufacturers allowed farmers fewer options for repairs. Rather than hiring independent repair shops, farmers have increasingly had to wait for company-authorized dealers to arrive. Getting repairs could take days, often leading to lost time and high costs.

Read more about In Rural America, Right-To-Repair Laws Are The Leading Edge Of A Pushback Against Growing Corporate Power

Legislature Needs To Figure Out Medical Marijuana

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 02/24/2023 - 12:00am

Neither medical marijuana nor its supporters are going away. The best efforts by opponents to quell the issue have only kicked the can down the proverbial road.

It is time for the Nebraska Legislature, after years of consideration, to take action on medical marijuana. If they don’t, the people — through initiated measure — will.

Read more about Legislature Needs To Figure Out Medical Marijuana

Finding Yourself In A Legal Gray Area

Published by jason@omahadail... on Tue, 02/21/2023 - 12:00am

Twice a year, I host a program for the New York State Bar Association targeting young lawyers who are looking to set up solo law practices.

These people ask a million questions, and while there are clear answers to many of them, there are some that simply cannot be answered because there aren’t clear legal precedents.

Read more about Finding Yourself In A Legal Gray Area

Year-Round DST: Do Like Colorado, For Region’s Sake

Published by Nikki Palmer on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 1:00am

We’re glad that one prime concern we’ve raised about switching Nebraska to year-round daylight saving time has been resolved — for now, at least.

Legislative Bill 143, state Sen. Tom Briese’s latest such bill, wouldn’t set up an unacceptable change-your-clock two-step for cross-country drivers in our neck of the woods (er, Plains).