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State chief medical officer a no-show at Nebraska gender care briefing • Nebraska Examiner

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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 questions Dr. Timothy Tesmer, the state’s chief medical officer. May 25, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

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.

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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.

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“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

State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair. March 22, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

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.

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“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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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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