Nebraska
Former Defense Secretary Hagel backs Nebraska proposal expanding access to veterans court services | Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel joined a Nebraska legislative push Friday to expand the number and types of wayward veterans who can access some of the structure and support provided by problem-solving courts.
Hagel and several veterans advocates spoke during a Judiciary Committee hearing for Amendment 2668 to Legislative Bill 253 from State Sens. Justin Wayne of Omaha and State Sen. Tom Brewer, who represents north-central Nebraska.
Hagel told senators and a pre-hearing crowd that American justice needs to find better tools to deal with veterans back from the nation’s longest wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, tools he said would have helped Vietnam, Korea and World War II vets.
“We have had so many deployments over the last 20 years, and veterans have had so many redeployments going back,” Hagel said. “It’s unfair, I think, for all veterans to be treated the same way (by the justice system).”
Services in more places
The proposal would let every Nebraska state court connect veterans with some of the wraparound services offered today by separate veterans courts in Douglas, Sarpy, Lancaster, Adams, Hall and Buffalo Counties.
Unlike the fuller county problem-solving courts, which experts said serve 5% of eligible veterans, this proposal would instead rely on the federal Veterans Administration for services such as mental health counseling and medical help.
Brewer, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, called the proposal a starting point that would be good for veterans, good for Nebraska and “good for our communities.”
“This bill is probably not perfect,” Brewer told the committee. “We were rushed when we put it together. We’re probably 90% there. Let’s focus on the concept.”
Brewer said he, Wayne and State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, a former Hagel staffer, spent the past two weeks weighing parts of a model proposal by the Hagel-led Veterans Justice Commission. Hagel said the bill offers veterans another chance to succeed.
Separate from veterans courts
Brock Hunter, a Veterans Justice Commission lawyer in Minnesota who led efforts in that state on handling veterans in 2021, said AM 2668 would supplement the “gold-standard model” of separate veterans courts.
“We still want those courts to operate,” Hunter said. “This is meant to expand where some of those services can reach.”
Hunter said he understands when people question whether the VA or private providers have the capacity to serve rural veterans who need mental health care. He said most rural veterans already travel some distance for care.
Under the proposal, each veteran’s case would get a specific plan for supervision, goals, rules and treatment requirements.
Expanded eligibility
The bill would expand which veterans are eligible for help. It would broaden the group from nonviolent offenders chosen by county prosecutors to participate in a veterans court to any veteran deemed worthy by a judge.
Among newly eligible veterans would be those charged with violent crimes in situations where their actions can be tied to mental or physical health issues stemming from their military service. Nebraska veterans courts don’t allow that today.
Hagel said he and the Judiciary Committee trust judges to use the facts and information they have about individual cases to make the best decision on who should be eligible for diversion. People who complete most veterans court programs have their charges set aside.
Questions about process
State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, a former Lancaster County prosecutor, questioned the reasons for pulling the decision making from county attorneys and giving it to a judge. She asked testifiers why unelected judges would be better.
Dan Zigg of the Nebraska County Attorneys Association said the proposal places too few restrictions on which crimes would be eligible. He said people charged with sex assault, child sex assault and human trafficking might be deemed eligible as the bill is currently written.
Wayne, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, questioned why prosecutors need a say in the process over judges. He said the committee was starting the conversation and would decide its approach and find a way forward.
Brewer, in closing remarks, expressed frustrations about the hearing devolving into turf battles over who should have what authority instead of considering the people the measure could help. Veterans deserve better, he said.
Next steps
Hunter said Minnesota, in its veterans court service expansion law, gives access to expanded services to veterans who are eligible for probation and are charged with low-to-moderate felonies. Veterans charged with more serious felonies can have their status as a veteran considered as a mitigating factor at sentencing.
The Nebraska proposal would also allow any veteran to have their status as a veteran considered as a mitigating factor.
The proposal would provide services to veterans who were discharged because of substance abuse disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental health conditions or sexual abuse while in the military. Today, many of those folks can’t easily get help, Hunter said.
Hagel told the Examiner he hopes Nebraska will give judges more options with veterans than just issuing a criminal sentence. His group has found no hard numbers for jailed or imprisoned veterans, but estimates place the number near 200,000 nationally.
“When veterans get in trouble, judges have very few options other than to sentence veterans,” Hagel said. “This allows them to take a look at the facts and really understand what we’re dealing with here. Are there options?”
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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Red Flag Warnings are in effect across Nebraska as dangerous fire conditions develop heading into the weekend, paired with unseasonably warm temperatures and strong winds that could quickly spread any flames.
Red Flag Warnings are in place for eastern Nebraska through 9 p.m. Friday night. The warning area expands significantly on Saturday, covering the entire state from throughout the entire day Saturday.
Friday: Moderate Fire Danger, Drying Trend
Friday’s fire concerns are lower than Saturday’s, but still significant. A Red Flag Warning remains in place for eastern Nebraska through 9 p.m. tonight as northerly winds pull in drier air throughout the afternoon. Dewpoints are expected to fall between 0° and 10° this evening as wind speeds taper.
The strongest winds and driest air won’t occur at the same time Friday, which is why confidence in Red Flag conditions is lower than normal today. By sunset, winds will become light and shift to the south as a surface high pressure system moves through the area.
Saturday: Extreme Fire Danger
Saturday brings the most critical fire weather conditions of the period. The Red Flag Warning expands to encompass the entire state as relative humidity values plummet to 8-15% — dangerously dry levels that will allow fires to spread rapidly.
Winds will be the primary concern. Southerly winds are expected to be sustained between 20 and 30 MPH for most — with gusts between 40 and 50 MPH possible at times. These powerful winds combined with extreme dryness create a recipe for rapid fire spread.
Temperatures will warm into the 60s and low 70s on Saturday — warmer in the west — but the heat is secondary to the wind and dryness threat. Relative humidity values will fall below 30% as early as 9 a.m. when the Red Flag Warning begins.
Sunday: High Fire Danger, Lighter Winds
Fire danger remains high to very high Sunday as an upper ridge moves overhead. Temperatures will climb to the upper 70s to upper 80s. The good news: southerly winds won’t be as strong, with gusts peaking at only 20 mph. This provides some relief from the most critical conditions, though fire danger will still be elevated.
Record Heat Monday
Monday will be the week’s warmest day, with mid- to upper-80s and low 90s forecast across Nebraska. Records are within reach — for many areas across the state. Lincoln’s forecast high of 88 degrees would tie the 1917 record.
Pattern Change Ahead
A cold front will slice through the area Tuesday morning, bringing cooler and cloudier conditions back to Nebraska. Highs will fall back to the 50s and 60s — a dramatic 30+ degree temperature drop from Monday. Winds will remain gusty from the north.
Precipitation chances will increase by early to mid-week. Tuesday through Thursday will see low chances (~20%) for light precipitation, with a mixture of rain and snow possible at times. No winter impacts are expected. Better chances are forecast for Wednesday night and Friday night as a wholesale pattern change develops, bringing southwest flow and surface moisture back to the region.
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Iowa coach Ben McCollum met with the media following his team’s 77-71 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Sweet 16. The Cornhuskers led by three at the half but Iowa was able to outscore Nebraska 34-25 in the second half.
Pryce Sandfort led all scorers with 25 points while shooting 8 of 13 from the field and 6 of 10 from the 3-point line. Bennett Stirtz led the Hawkeyes with 20 points and played for all 40 minutes.
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Iowa shot 52% (27-52) from the floor, 43% (13-30) from beyond the arc and 83% (10-12) from the free throw line. Nebraska struggled shooting 41% (24-58) from the field, 34% (13-38) from the 3-point line and 91% (10-11) from the charity stripe.
The Hawkeyes’ head coach acknowledged that his team had a poor start but a great finish and said that his team will need to play better to advance beyond the Elite Eight.
Yeah, I think to start we weren’t fantastic to start. They had an elite game plan to start. They played with elite pace. They adjusted their defense quite a bit. I think a lot of people will talk about the rivalry. I was around it when I was in Iowa, you know, and grew up in Iowa and understand the rivalry and whatnot. It’s nice to have — I guess if you would a call it rival that runs such a class program.
I think Coach Hoiberg, they have got great kids. They completely turned everything around from the previous season, and they have absolutely nothing to hang their heads about or anything. I have the utmost respect for them, all their players, and especially Coach Hoiberg. Heck of a season. I know it’s no consolation, but we still want to beat ’em every time and they want to beat us every time.
But from and internal perspective, there’s not a lot of bad blood there. It’s actually a lot of respect. I was really pleased with our second-half performance. I thought we actually decided we were going to try — not try. They had a lot to do with it, but kind of. Yeah, they’re smiling over there because they saw me break my marker.
And I thought our kids did a good job of executing offensively in both halves. We spent a lot of time trying to make sure that we could score, and you saw the result of that. We didn’t defend. But we were able to score, so we were able to stay in the game long enough and then get enough stops and had some big possessions down the stretch. Really good program win for everybody, coaches, managers, everybody included.
Iowa advances to the Elite Eight with the victory. Nebraska’s season ends with a record of 28-7.
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This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: What Iowa coach Ben McCollum said after defeating Nebraska on Thursday
LINCOLN, Neb — Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed Antonio Gomez of Jackson to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, adding a longtime Siouxland business leader and public servant to the panel.
Commission members serve four-year terms and are subject to approval by the Nebraska Legislature.
Gomez launched Gomez Pallets in South Sioux City in 1983. He has since retired from daily operations, but last year the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce recognized him with the W. Edwards Deming Business Leadership and Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.
Gomez previously served on the Nebraska Commission on Latino Americans from 1981 to 2002. He also served as a Dakota County commissioner for 12 years and was on the Foundation Board for Northeast Community College.
Gomez’s appointment is effective April 1.
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