Nebraska
State chief medical officer a no-show at Nebraska gender care briefing • Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — The state’s chief medical officer, through his agency’s legal counsel, declined to attend a legislative briefing Thursday as requested by the Health and Human Services Committee.
The HHS Committee requested last week that Dr. Timothy Tesmer give an in-person update on the ongoing rules and regulations process regarding gender care for minors. Those provisions became law Oct. 1 through Legislative Bill 574.
State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, who led opposition to LB 574, said Tesmer’s absence was disappointing, particularly when he committed to keep the committee informed.
“He has not kept that commitment,” Cavanaugh told the Nebraska Examiner.
DHHS ‘must respectfully decline’
State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, committee chair, read a letter sent just before the Thursday briefing from Bo Botelho, chief legal officer for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Hanse wrote the amendment to LB 574 delegating authority to the chief medical officer to write the rules and regulations.
Botelho’s letter told the committee that because the final regulations are currently under review by the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, and will soon go to the Governor’s Office for final say, DHHS “must respectfully decline” to participate in the briefing.
Unanswered questions
Cavanaugh introduced LB 879 this year to repeal LB 574. She withdrew it last week just after Hansen formally requested the update briefing, stating it was mutually agreed between the two that a public briefing with Tesmer would be a “more beneficial avenue” than a public hearing that wouldn’t advance the bill.
Cavanaugh said her intention was to get answers for concerns raised by families of transgender youths and medical providers after a Nov. 28 hearing on the regulations.
“I think that they deserve an answer as to what the thought process is behind them and what the reasoning is,” Cavanaugh said.
With a four-page document in hand, with more than two dozen questions she planned to ask Tesmer, Cavanaugh spent most of the 10-minute briefing reading the questions out loud. They ranged from whether DHHS consulted with local physicians and/or considered possible mental health impacts to Tesmer’s philosophy on gender identity patients.
Future briefing possible
Hansen noted that communication among branches of government can be difficult, and he’s hoping Thursday can begin a process of more communication as many committee members have questions and concerns, as do their constituents.
“We’re hoping this can be the start of it and we can maybe even have a briefing sometime down the road when things can get more settled,” Hansen said.
The current set of temporary gender care regulations expire in one month, the future of gender care regulations hinging upon the current drafts in the Attorney General’s Office.
Cavanaugh said any public information is good and important, and she welcomes another briefing. However, she called Botelho’s justification “ludicrous” for a process that is supposed to be public.
“That’s not a real reason,” Cavanaugh said. “It’s really unfortunate that he (Tesmer) would not come because the questions are real.”
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Nebraska Game and Parks is offering residents a chance to win prizes simply for getting outside and moving, as part of a challenge honoring America’s 250th birthday.
The Outdoor Nebraska 250-Mile Challenge invites participants to log miles through activities like walking, running, kayaking, horseback riding and more using any fitness app. The goal is to reach 250 miles before the end of the year. Once completed, participants fill out a form on the Nebraska Game and Parks website to become eligible for prizes.
Mike Selman, a regular walker at Zorinsky Lake, said the challenge caught his attention.
“I think it’s great, as long as you put in the time and effort,” Selman said.
Selman said getting outdoors is already a big part of his routine.
“I absolutely love it, I love being outdoors, just the beauty, the nature, the trees, the water,” Selman said.
He said one of his favorite aspects of the challenge is the opportunity to explore Nebraska’s many outdoor spaces.
“Especially here, around Zorinsky, Standing Bear, Flanagan, you got great opportunities and great places to go,” Selman said.
When asked if he planned to submit his miles, Selman did not hesitate.
“I’ll definitely think about it, most definitely,” Selman said.
Between Memorial Day and the end of the year, logging just over 1 mile a day would be enough to reach the 250-mile goal and qualify for prizes.
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We’ll have to wait a bit longer to get into the Cowgirls’ Super Regional.
A rainy night in Lincoln meant the teams only managed to get four outs into the Super between Oklahoma State and Nebraska. The game is tied at 0. The weather delay lasted about two hours before they called it.
The game will resume at 4 p.m. Friday and be televised on ESPN2. They will not play another game Friday, as Game 2 will now take place at 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Nebraska football team added its third 2027 offensive line commitment and addition from the state of Georgia on Wednesday.
Loganville (Ga.) Grayson offensive lineman KD Jones officially announced his commitment to NU this week. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Jones picked the Huskers over Georgia Tech, Auburn, Kentucky and Virginia Tech. He visited Lincoln on May 6 and is scheduled to take his official visit to Nebraska on June 6.
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The Huskers first offered Jones in April, after offensive line coach Geep Wade had previously been recruiting him at Georgia Tech.
“Coach Wade called me and offered me today,” Jones told HuskerOnline on Apr. 25. “He has been on me for a long time, ever since he was at Tech. So his interest wasn’t anything new to me. He came to watch me train at school and was amazed. He offered the next day.”
Jones joins safety Corey Hadley from the state of Georgia in NU’s 2027 recruiting class.
“I knew nothing about Nebraska before the offer,” Jones said in April. But now that Coach Wade and Coach (Lonnie) Teasley are there, I know I can trust them.”
Jones had planned to take official visits to all the schools recruiting him, but his early commitment to NU appears to have shut down those visits.
He jones Omaha (Neb.) Millard North’s Matt Erickson and fellow Grayson product Jordan Agbanoma are the other offensive linemen in the Huskers’ 2027 recruiting class. He’s now the 10th commitment in Nebraska’s class of 2027.
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