LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Friday was National Airborne Day. It’s meant to honor the first men who volunteered to jump out of a plane in 1940. Nebraska has it’s own airborne division and a history of men who literally jumped into combat.

Honoring the current and former airborne members took center stage at the Nebraska National Guard Museum Friday afternoon. The national day was created by former president George W. Bush in 2002.

In Nebraska, the airborne group is the second battalion of the 134th Infantry Regiment. They were established in 2019.

But just because the battalion was created recently, doesn’t mean Nebraskans didn’t jump into combat. In World War 2, Eldin Hermann jumped at D-Day and Market Garden. In the Korean War, Frank Nitz jumped on two different occasions.

For the members of the 134th, it’s an honor to do what those men did so long ago.

“The men that paved the way for us back during World War Two and Vietnam, the valor that they had and doing something that was completely unknown, jumping directly into combat, that’s something that we always remember each time that we jump,” said Staff Sgt. Natalie Hernandez, Nebraska Army National Guard.

Three members of the regiment are sisters. Two of them are in the airborne battalion, and the third loves getting to watch them and cheer them on as they jump out of the aircraft.

“I feel a lot of a sense of pride. I’m I’m their biggest fan,” said Spc. Jessica Figueroa. “I have my phone now I’m recording, I’m taking pictures and I’m like, you guys did it. You guys are safe, no broken bones”

For the ladies who are jumping out of the aircraft, it was a little nerve-wracking at first.

“I can’t believe I’m actually doing this,” said Sgt. Maria Figueroa. “I’m gonna jump out of a aircraft with the parachute, but that’s supposed to deploy. “Looked up my parachute had deployed so I was very happy about that and then I remember just taking it all in, in the air just floating in the air taking the view in. I could see the horizon and it was just peaceful.”

The airborne members jump about five to eight times a year for training.
If you want to learn more about the National Guard and the airborne side of it, you can visit the National Guard Museum in Seward. It’s free to the public.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – In the wake of casino legalization in Nebraska, and as gambling races its way to the forefront of the sports and entertainment industry, some lawmakers say it’s time to pump the brakes in the Cornhusker State.

With a special session geared toward slashing Nebraska’s property tax rate having reached its 14th day of debate Friday, the expansion of gambling legalization in the state could be called upon as a potential solution, which is why a group of 13 senators released the following statement:

Senators John Lowe, Ray Aguilar, Joni Albrecht, Robert Clements, Robert Dover, Steve Erdman, Steve Halloran, Brian Hardin, Rick Holdcroft, Loren Lippincott, Rita Sanders, and Julie Slama issued the statement.

Mobile wagering has rapidly increased in popularity over the past half decade, since May 2018 when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 1992 federal law banning sports gambling in most states. Prior to that court decision, sports betters could only get their fix — legally, at least — in Las Vegas. Now, sportsbooks and online casinos like Fanduel and DraftKings are available at the press of a button in 26 states.

Nebraska’s neighbor to the east, Iowa, made it legal in August 2019 while southward in Kansas, the law began allowing mobile gambling in the summer of 2022. And it’s important to remember that legalization of mobile gambling isn’t limited to sports betting. In some states, popular sportsbook apps have become full-blown pocket casinos, with games like roulette, poker and blackjack.

Lawmakers in Nebraska, though, have remained steadfast in largely blocking the mobile gaming industry from entering its borders, and this group of 13 state senators is set on keeping it that way.

Their statement Friday cites data from the National Council on Problem Gambling, which says online sports betting has increased the risk of gambling addiction by 30 percent, while the council’s helpline reports a 150 percent spike in calls. The data also shows that 20 percent of college students gamble using financial aid dollars.

But the argument from their opposition boils down to the amount of money being pulled in by the states who have already legalized mobile casinos and sportsbooks.

Since changing the law in 2019, Iowa has seen over $9 billion in wagers placed and, in turn, has collected $44 million in tax revenue with just a 7.3 percent hold — the lowest of any state besides Nevada. In states with a higher hold percentage, like Louisiana, $6 billion in wagers has turned into $108 million in tax revenue.

Nebraska isn’t totally anti-gambling in comparison to some states. Casino licenses have been granted in several places across the state, including a WarHorse Casino in Lincoln, which opened in 2022, and a brand new one in Omaha.

With that in mind, the group of 13 senators fear that, as states which have preceded Nebraska in this process have shown, mobile gambling will soon follow suit.

Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.

A proposed spirits tax increase of 287% in Nebraska will not go ahead after more than 1,500 letters were sent to lawmakers.

Nebraska governor Jim Pillen was considering providing property tax relief by increasing excise taxes on a list of 100 everyday goods and services, including a triple-digit hike on spirits.

Pillen was planning to raise the current excise tax rate for spirits from US$3.75 per gallon to US$14.50 per gallon.

However, the tax increase is no longer being considered following a grassroots activation by trade group the Distilled Spirits Council of the US (Discus) and coordination with local distillers and wholesale partners.

More than 1,500 letters were sent to legislators through Discus’ Spirits United campaign, which called on consumers and industry members to write to their senator to oppose the tax increases.

“Defeating this tax threat is a huge win for consumers, distillers and the hospitality industry,” said Adam Smith, vice president of state government relations at Discus.

“We’ve seen in other states how high taxes send consumers across the border as they search for better prices. However well-intentioned, this hospitality tax would have harmed local businesses and Nebraska consumers. We are grateful to the legislature for removing this increase from consideration.”

If the tax hike had proceeded, Discus said approximately 1,350 people would lose their jobs because of a more than US$110 million decline in retail alcohol sales, based on analysis by the trade body.

Furthermore, the new rate would have established Nebraska as the second-highest spirits tax rate among licensed US states.

The state already pays a high rate of tax on spirits. On a typical bottle purchased in the state, more than 44% of the retail cost already goes to pay a tax or fee of some kind.

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