Nebraska

Letter: Ricketts leaves state better off

Published

2 years ago

December 22, 2022

Letter: Ricketts leaves state better off

President Ronald Reagan famously requested, “Are you higher off than you have been 4 years in the past?” That’s the query Nebraskans ought to think about as Gov. Pete Ricketts concludes two phrases; are we higher off than we have been eight years in the past? I feel the reply is an amazing sure!

When Gov. Ricketts took workplace in January 2015 Nebraska’s unemployment charge was 3.3%, at the moment our state is close to a historic low charge of two.2%. State spending was rising at a median charge of 6.5% earlier than Ricketts was despatched to Lincoln; at the moment that development in spending is half.

One instance of Nebraska’s economic system benefiting from Gov. Ricketts’ concentrate on increasing our export markets is the spike in beef exports to Japan, which have risen 88% since 2015 to $215 million yearly. Rising exports helps Nebraska’s industries and our economic system thrive. These robust financial indicators have led to Nebraskans having fun with precise wage development that beats the nationwide common.

However rising our economic system and our earnings isn’t the entire story. Due to his tax cuts extra Nebraskans are maintaining their hard-earned cash. Since taking workplace, Ricketts has lower taxes every year, most notably in 2022, signing the biggest tax lower in state historical past into regulation.

A big discount within the earnings tax and huge funding in returning property tax funds by means of tax credit additionally advantages Nebraskans. Reducing taxes wouldn’t be attainable however for Gov. Ricketts’ management, dedication to controlling spending and rising our economic system. For this I want to say thanks.

Jessica Shelburn, Lincoln, state director of People for Prosperity-Nebraska

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Nebraska

Badgers Wire staff predictions for Wisconsin vs. Nebraska

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

Badgers Wire staff predictions for Wisconsin vs. Nebraska

Nov 16, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Will Pauling (6) celebrates with quarterback Braedyn Locke (18) after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Both programs enter play Saturday trying to figure out who they are and what they have left in the tank.

Wisconsin will be working with a new play-caller on offense, attempting to reestablish their strong form from earlier in the season. If the Badgers are to get back on track, it will be as a result of the reemergence of Tawee Walker in the backfield. Braedyn Locke is more suited for a rush-heavy attack on offense, sprinkling in passes when needed.

On the other side, after being a top 25 team, Nebraska fell back into the program’s old ways, losing several consecutive one-score games. Losers of four straight and at home for the last time in 2024, Matt Rhule’s squad will be itching to snap the 10-game skid versus Wisconsin. I’m inclined to go with history here.

Prediction: Wisconsin 24, Nebraska 20

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Nebraska

'This is actually a cool place': Tourists spent record $4.6 billion in Nebraska last year

Published

11 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

'This is actually a cool place': Tourists spent record .6 billion in Nebraska last year

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Is Nebraska a new tourism hot spot?

A new report from Visit Nebraska shows a major increase in travel, providing an economic boost.

Last year, out-of-state visitors spent $4.6 billion in Nebraska, an all-time record.

And since 2019, the number of overnight hotel guests has doubled, with 76% of them coming from out of state.

What happened in 2019? Visit Nebraska began a new marketing strategy that included ideas such as finding out what locations it should be promoting and focusing on attracting out of state visitors.

“Truly it’s just because people have been invited to the state in a way they understand, in a way that makes sense,” said John Ricks, executive director of Visit Nebraska, also known as the Nebraska Tourism Commission.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska tourism slogan is no more. ‘Everything has a shelf life,’ official says

Ricks says the preconceived notion of Nebraska being a flyover state isn’t true. The commission just had to let people know what the state offers.

After talking with out-of-state visitors, it learned what barriers were keeping people from the Cornhusker State.

“There’s just a simple awareness problem and a familiarity problem,” Ricks said.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska Tourism receives second national award for ‘not for everyone’ campaign

We asked users of the Now Local News App, some who live here and some who don’t, what their favorite spots are in Nebraska.

“I think that going out to western Nebraska is my family’s favorite place to go,” Melanie Dawkins said. “I don’t think enough Nebraskans make it all the way out there, like to the Panhandle.”

Kimberly Grace, who lives out of state, said she likes visiting the Stuhr Museum at Grand Island.

“You can learn about the pioneer days, and they have houses that they put on the land where you can go to visit.”

SEE ALSO: Rooms fill up in Lincoln, one of Airbnb renters’ top college football destinations

Ricks says to keep this growth going, it’s always going to be about getting the word out.

“The more people we make aware, the more people who are discovering that, ‘Hey, whatever I heard in the past isn’t true, and this is actually a cool place.’”

According to Ricks, despite the 2023 numbers just getting released, this year’s numbers are already beating last year’s by over 10%.

Tags: cornhusker state, Grand Island, John Ricks, Nebraska, Nebraska Tourism Commission, now local news app, Panhandle, stuhr museum, Tourism, tourism industry, visit nebraska, Western Nebraska

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Nebraska

Wisconsin and Nebraska are both seeking bowl eligibility and an end to their losing streaks

Published

20 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Wisconsin and Nebraska are both seeking bowl eligibility and an end to their losing streaks

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Bowl eligibility goes to the winner. Wisconsin is looking to extend its bowl streak to 22 seasons, third-longest in the nation. Nebraska has lost four straight after a 5-1 start and is looking to go to a bowl for the first time since 2016, the longest drought in the Power Four. The Badgers, losers of three straight, have clinched bowl eligibility the last two years with wins over Nebraska.

KEY MATCHUP

Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola vs. Wisconsin pass defense. Raiola will be playing his second game with new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen as the play-caller. The freshman has struggled against Big Ten opponents. He’s thrown just three touchdown passes and been intercepted eight times over the last six games. Wisconsin has one of the best pass defenses in the conference and has allowed just three TD passes in six games.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wisconsin: QB Braedyn Locke, like Raiola, has struggled and will have a new offensive coordinator following the firing of Phil Longo. The Badgers have scored a combined 33 points during their three-game losing streak, with Locke completing 49.4% of his passes (49 of 99) with two TDs and four interceptions.

Nebraska: DE Ty Robinson, a sixth-year player, will need to be his best in his final home game going against a Wisconsin offensive line that has allowed just 11 sacks. He’s one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the Big Ten, with 10 tackles for loss and six sacks.

FACTS & FIGURES

Wisconsin has won 10 straight meetings with Nebraska, including all nine since the Freedom Trophy was introduced in 2014. The Badgers are 11-1 against Nebraska since the Huskers joined the Big Ten in 2011. … Nebraska is 0-8 under second-year coach Matt Rhule when trying to win a sixth game to become bowl-eligible. … Badgers have allowed only two plays of 40-plus yards, tied with Ohio State for fewest in the country. … Wisconsin’s Tawee Walker is averaging 97.3 rushing yards per game in his six Big Ten starts.

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