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Nebraska bill would provide cancer benefits to firefighters

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Nebraska bill would provide cancer benefits to firefighters


LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – A bill before Nebraska lawmakers would provide workers’ compensation benefits to firefighters diagnosed with cancer without requiring them to prove their cancer came from the job.

LB-400 entered its first round of debate Monday. The bill was introduced by Sen. Dave Wordekemper of Fremont, a longtime firefighter.

“Firefighters don’t want to die. They don’t want to leave their jobs, their families, their fellow firefighters,” Wordekemper said.

Cancer risks for firefighters

Wordekemper said firefighters face increased cancer risks compared to the general population.

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“Firefighters face a nine percent increase in cancer diagnosis, and a fourteen percent increase in cancer-related deaths compared to the general population,” he said.

“This isn’t speculation, this isn’t a theory, this is an established scientific fact from an independent international body,” Wordekemper said.

Trevor Towey, president of the Omaha Professional Firefighters union, said modern fires pose greater chemical risks than in previous decades.

“Fires of today are not like the fires in the seventies and the eighties. The products that are inside homes burn faster, there’s chemicals in the fires and firefighters are exposed to that,” Towey said.

Opposition to the bill

The bill was opposed by Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte and Sen. Bob Hallstrom.

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Jacobson argued the bill could be unaffordable for smaller communities.

“Villages and cities are paying for it; and how are they paying for it? With property taxes,” Jacobson said.

Jacobson said current law is adequate.

“The current law is working. No one is turning their backs on firefighters,” he said. “Their benefits are all better than any other city employee.”

Jacobson referenced his own skin cancer diagnosis during the debate.

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“Some of you have probably noticed I have a couple of cuts on my face. Well, it wasn’t from shaving,” he said. “I’ve never been a firefighter, by gosh somehow I’ve got cancer, so I’m dealing with it. Not every firefighter gets cancer.”

Current law and proposed changes

Current Nebraska law lists 20 cancers as presumed job-related if a firefighter is diagnosed. However, families are not compensated until the firefighter dies.

Towey said several Omaha firefighters are currently battling cancer.

“I can tell you we have got about 5 or 6 right now, and a couple of them are continuing to fight for their lives,” he said.

“Why would not those same cancers be also presumed while they are still alive, while they can still recover, while they can still fight and come back and service our community? That’s all we’re asking for,” Towey said.

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Under current law, firefighters who get cancer and believe it is job-related must sue insurance companies to receive benefits. The proposed bill would allow firefighters to receive workers’ compensation benefits automatically, with employers able to sue if they believe the cancer was not job-related.

Towey said 33 other states have similar legislation.

“We’re not asking something that is outrageous, we’re not asking for something to be created that doesn’t exist,” he said.



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Shelter in place issued after suspicious object found in mailbox

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Shelter in place issued after suspicious object found in mailbox


UPDATE: Grand Island Police said around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday that the shelter in place order has been lifted .

GIPD said the item was retrieved by the Nebraska State Patrol Bomb Squad, who is investigating.

The area has also now been reopened.

ORIGINAL STORY:

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The Grand Island Police Department has cordoned off a local block and is urging residents to shelter in place.

According to GIPD, officers responded to the 4300 block of Sherwood Road just before 2:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. A resident reported finding a suspicious cylindrical object wrapped in duct tape inside a home.

The Nebraska State Patrol Bomb Squad has been called to the scene to investigate the device.

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68 students chosen as Nebraska Young Artist Award winners

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68 students chosen as Nebraska Young Artist Award winners


The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts has announced the winners of the 29th annual Nebraska Young Artist Awards.

The awards recognize 11th-grade students from Nebraska for their talents in visual art, dance, music, theatre, and film and emerging media arts. 

Sixty-eight students from more than 40 high schools across the state have been selected as award winners and will be invited to a day of activities on campus March 25.

“Our faculty always look forward to this event,” said Chris Watson, director of recruitment for the college and coordinator of the awards. “They love meeting enthusiastic young artists, working with them and celebrating their talent.”

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Students applied for the recognition and submitted an example of their work. Applications were received from 92 students. Hixson-Lied College faculty chose the winners.

Award winners were also asked to nominate the teacher who provided them with the greatest amount of mentoring and support in the development of their special talents. 

Each student will receive a certificate and an original piece of artwork commissioned for the event and created by a School of Art, Art History and Design student.

Following is a list of award winners by hometown, with their high school and specialty area(s).

Aurora:

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  • Calvin Miller, Aurora, music

Beaver City:

  • Johnathan Eakin, Southern Valley, visual arts

Bellevue:

  • Mami Lloyd, Bellevue West, music

Bennington:

  • Liliana Martic, Bennington, music

Eagle:

  • Jorie Goings, Waverly, dance

Firth:

  • Petra Van Cleave, home school, music

Fremont:

  • Xavier Herre, Bergan Catholic, theatre

Fullerton:

  • Lylla Sabata, Fullerton, music

Gretna:

  • Lillian Bock, Gretna, music

Harvard:

  • Allee Jarzynka, Harvard, music

Hendley:

  • Lily Jordan, Southern Valley, visual arts

Hooper:

  • Leo Arellano, Logan View, visual arts
  • Ellsie Meier, Logan View, visual arts

Kearney:

  • Kruz Flamig, Kearney, visual arts
  • Isaac Hooton, Kearney, visual arts
  • Mariah Kaslon, Kearney, visual arts
  • Landen Tilley, Kearney, visual arts

Lincoln:

  • Alissa Brenning, Norris, dance
  • Kali Brewer, Lincoln Southeast, visual arts
  • Ava Engel, Lincoln Northeast, dance
  • Emalie Fischer, Lincoln North Star, dance
  • Adelyn Haden, Lincoln Standing Bear, dance and music
  • Audrey Haugen, Lincoln Southwest, theatre
  • Andrea Hu, Lincoln East, music
  • Logan Lambrecht, Lincoln Southwest, music and theatre
  • Mckinzey Lile, Lincoln North Star, dance
  • Hayley Marshall, Lincoln Southwest, dance
  • Riley Minster, Lincoln East, music
  • Joslyn Morgan, Lincoln Southeast, music
  • Ariadne Ottoson, home school, music
  • Megan Plander, Lincoln Lutheran, theatre
  • Lauren Ramey, LPS Arts and Humanities Focus Program, visual arts
  • Blake Semrad, Lincoln Southwest, dance
  • Emma Shaeffer, Lincoln Southwest, dance
  • Taylor Sharpe, Lincoln Southwest, dance
  • Hugh Skretta, Lincoln High, music
  • Samuel Sulzle, Lincoln Northwest, music
  • Brooks Xia, Lincoln East, music

Martell:

  • Reese Thomas, home school, music

Norfolk:

  • Noah Asbury, Norfolk, music
  • Emily Henkel, Norfolk, music; Nathan Kaiser, Norfolk, music
  • North Platte: Brett Pfeifer, North Platte, theatre

Omaha:

  • Asher Abuhl, Trinity Classical Academy, music
  • Adam Campagna, Omaha South, film and emerging media arts
  • Liam Cowherd Richardson, Creighton Preparatory, music
  • Regina Ho, Millard South, film and emerging media arts
  • Connor Holmstedt, Fort Calhoun, music
  • Kara Leininger, Duchesne Academy, music
  • Jayden Li, Millard North, music; Violet Little, Omaha Central, dance
  • Mrethi Magesh, Millard North, dance
  • Venkatesan Marichamy, Millard North, dance
  • Moyra Matthews, Duchesne Academy, dance and music
  • Jackson Mu, Millard North, music
  • Gauri Nair, Millard North, dance
  • Angela Qi, Millard North, music
  • Jackson Ramsey, Gretna East, music
  • Tara Richardson, Creighton Prep, music
  • Vandana Santhanam, Marian, music
  • Caroline Soderlin, Millard North, music
  • Akshara Venkatesan, Millard North, dance
  • Caleigh Walkenhorst, Millard West, music

Osmond:

  • Donovan Heiman, Osmond, theatre

Papillion:

  • Emelia Weaver, Papillion-La Vista, music

Pierce:

  • Spencer Sindt, Pierce, music

Randolph:

  • Brecken Shearer, Randolph, visual arts

York:

  • Allison Holmes, York, visual arts



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Nebraska completes sweep over Michigan State in 12-2 seven-inning win

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Nebraska completes sweep over Michigan State in 12-2 seven-inning win


Nebraska baseball (10-5, 3-0) closed out its three-game series with Michigan State (3-11, 0-3) on Sunday afternoon. The Huskers completed the sweep over the Spartans, earning a 12-2 run-rule win in seven.

Nebraska shut down Michigan State early, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first after the Spartans took a 1-0 lead. The Huskers scored 11 straight before surrendering another run. The team totaled 11 hits and held Michigan State to three. The Spartans also suffered five errors.

Nebraska struck three home runs on the day, two off the bat of Dylan Carey. He hit 3-for-4 for four RBIs after hitting multiple two-run home runs. Preston Freeman also blasted a two-run shot over the wall to finish 1-for-3.

Case Sanderson brought in three RBIs after batting 2-for-4 with a double. Drew Grego also finished 2-for-4, earning one RBI. Mac Moyer grabbed one RBI off a double. Jett Buck and Joshua Overbeek each delivered one hit.

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Gavin Blachowicz (2-1) won at the mound and pitched all seven innings for the Huskers. He struck out a career-high 11 batters and allowed three hits for two runs.

Nebraska remains at home for its next matchup, hosting North Dakota State on Wednesday night. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT on B1G+.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.





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