Nebraska

Thursday April 14 COVID-19 update: Nebraska DHHS separates hospital, virus data

Published

2 years ago

April 15, 2022

(WOWT) – Under are in the present day’s updates from knowledge experiences on new circumstances and different COVID-19 stats reported by well being officers throughout Nebraska and western Iowa.

Preserve scrolling to discover a vaccination clinic close to you.

Nebraska DHHS splits knowledge

The Nebraska Division of Well being and Human Companies this week moved its respiratory sicknesses dashboard to a piece of its website referred to as the Nebraska Public Well being Atlas.

In doing so, it additionally separated the a part of the dashboard displaying COVID-19, flu, and RSV knowledge from the state’s hospital capability knowledge.

The weekly summaries from each dashboards could be discovered within the merchandise beneath.

Nebraska knowledge snapshot

In response to Nebraska Division of Well being and Human Companies knowledge up to date Wednesday, the state up to date the next numbers of COVID-19 circumstances, hospitalizations, and vaccinations as of Tuesday:

DEATHS: Per week after reporting just one COVID-19 loss of life within the state — down from 101 the week prior — DHHS reported 21 COVID-19 deaths up to now week, bringing the state’s COVID-19 loss of life toll to three,432 individuals.

CASES: Testing numbers throughout the state up to now week have been about 500 larger than the week prior, however yielded greater than twice as many positives because the earlier week. Amongst 19,629 checks, 442 optimistic circumstances have been recorded. The totals nudged Nebraska’s positivity price as much as 3.4% as of Saturday, from an adjusted 2.7% reported every week in the past. A couple of month in the past, it was 3.2%. About two months in the past, it was 10.5%.

HOSPITALIZATIONS: The state’s well being division additionally reported 5 extra COVID-19 hospitalizations as of Wednesday in comparison with a couple of week in the past, bringing this week’s whole to 62 COVID-19 sufferers.

In response to the Nebraska Hospital Capability & Respiratory Sickness dashboard, as of Wednesday, hospitals throughout the state have been caring for 57 grownup COVID-19 sufferers, up from 53 reported every week in the past. There have been nonetheless 4 grownup COVID-19 sufferers in ICUs, the identical as every week in the past. The state dashboard additionally reported one pediatric COVID-19 affected person throughout the state; final week, there have been no pediatric COVID-19 sufferers being cared for in Nebraska hospitals.

HOSPITAL CAPACITY: As of Wednesday, 72% of three,218 grownup beds have been occupied, in comparison with 73% of three,223 every week in the past. Pediatric wards had 81% of 372 beds full, in contrast with 83% of 370 pediatric beds every week in the past.

As of Wednesday, 76% of 475 grownup ICU beds have been stuffed, in contrast with 73% of 476 every week in the past. Pediatric ICU wards had 80% of 153 pediatric ICU beds full, in comparison with 81% of 153 beds full final week.

VACCINATIONS: The state’s vaccination price for the 1.77 million residents ages 5 and older elevated about 0.1% up to now week to 68.2%. The state administered 3,342 doses in that point.

Pottawattamie County knowledge snapshot

The next info is from knowledge dated Tuesday on the Iowa Division of Public Well being web site, which not contains hospitalization and hospital capability knowledge.

DEATHS: IDPH reported the COVID-19 loss of life toll in Pottawattamie County remained at 315 individuals this week. The web site additionally signifies 21 Iowans have died in the identical timeframe; the state’s pandemic loss of life toll is now 9,475 individuals.

The state can also be not breaking down whether or not these individuals had pre-existing situations.

CASES: IDPH confirmed 23 circumstances of COVID-19 in Pottawattamie County within the final seven days, down from 13 circumstances reported final week. The county’s whole case depend is now 27,793 individuals.

The web site additionally reveals that the common per 100,000 individuals is 15 circumstances as of Tuesday.

VACCINATIONS: The county was reporting a 55.6% vaccination price amongst these ages 5 and older, in accordance with IDPH knowledge, in comparison with a 62.2% vaccination price for a similar age group in all of Iowa. That quantities to 52.1% of the county’s whole inhabitants, in comparison with the 58.4% vaccination price for the state.

Douglas County replace

The Douglas County Well being Division experiences COVID-19 knowledge twice weekly, issuing up to date stats on Mondays and Thursdays.

DEATHS: The native pandemic loss of life toll stays at 1,107 individuals. The newest loss of life was reported every week in the past.

CASES: DCHD additionally mentioned Thursday that 130 new COVID-19 circumstances had been confirmed since its final report, bringing the operating whole of native pandemic circumstances to 149,939, which incorporates reinfections. The newest circumstances raised the native seven-day common from 28 circumstances to 33 circumstances, the very best it’s been since March 10.

The Douglas County Well being Division’s COVID-19 dashboard confirmed the seven-day whole variety of circumstances per 100,000 individuals rising from 34 circumstances to 40.6 circumstances, which remains to be within the “reasonable” vary.

HOSPITALIZATIONS: As of late Wednesday, space hospitals have been nonetheless caring for 61 COVID-19 sufferers; 10 have been in ICUs, with two on ventilators. None of the present sufferers have been in pediatrics.

HOSPITAL CAPACITY: Space hospital capability fluctuates in accordance with staffing ranges. As of late Wednesday, hospitals have been 81% full with 226 beds out there, down from 261 beds reported Monday. Space ICUs have been 87% full with 41 beds out there, down from 66 reported Monday. Pediatric ICUs have been 87% full with 17 beds out there, up from 11 reported Monday.

VACCINATIONS: So far, 67.8% of all Douglas County residents are vaccinated. The newest group licensed for vaccination, youth ages 5-11, is 37.1% vaccinated; 67.5% of county youth ages 12-17 are absolutely vaccinated.

Vaccination clinics

Nebraska DHHS

Federal Retail Pharmacy Program: Pharmacies in and close to the Omaha-metro space at present taking part in this system embrace:

Medication Man Pharmacy, 15615 Pacific St. Suite 8, Omaha NE 668118
ViaRx, 825 N. ninetieth St., Omaha NE 68114
Walmart, 3010 E. twenty third St., Fremont NE 68025

Douglas County

Under is a listing of the Douglas County COVID-19 vaccination clinics scheduled for this week, together with little one vaccination clinics at space faculties. All clinics are open to the general public for any authorised shot within the vaccination collection as indicated beneath. These planning to get a booster shot ought to deliver their vaccination card.

FRIDAY

9 a.m.-3 p.m. on the Douglas County Well being Division, positioned at 1111 S. forty first St. – All vaccines out there

TUESDAY

Midday-4 p.m. on the Douglas County Well being Division, positioned at 1111 S. forty first St. – All vaccines out there

THURSDAY

11 a.m.-2 p.m. on the Harmony Sq. Residences, positioned at 2120 Paul St. – All vaccines out there

FRIDAY

9 a.m.-3 p.m. on the Douglas County Well being Division, positioned at 1111 S. forty first St. – All vaccines out there

SATURDAY

10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the South Omaha Youth Well being Pageant, Plaza de la Raza, positioned at twenty fourth and N streets – All vaccines out there
10 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Karen Christian Revival Church, positioned at 6019 N. forty ninth St. – Pfizer & Moderna vaccines out there
11 a.m.-3 p.m. on the Minority Well being Honest at Ladies Inc., positioned at 2188 N. forty fifth St. – All vaccines out there

SUNDAY

4-6 p.m. on the Crosspoint Bible Church, positioned at 7820 Fort St. – Pfizer & Moderna vaccines out there

About Textual content Nebraska

The Douglas County Well being Division is encouraging residents who take a look at optimistic for COVID-19 to cooperate with Textual content Nebraska with the intention to assist stop additional unfold of the virus.

In case you are age 19 or older, have lately examined optimistic for COVID-19, and supplied a cell quantity when registering on your take a look at, you’ll seemingly obtain a textual content message from the Nebraska Division of Well being and Human Companies telephone quantity 1-844-774-7604 that prompts you to take a survey. Including that quantity to your telephone’s listing will guarantee that your telephone or supplier doesn’t mark it as a spam name.

“It’s not spam and is protected to reply,” DCHD mentioned in a Thursday information launch, noting that the survey is totally digital and doesn’t require you to talk with anybody.

“Textual content Nebraska is the subsequent step involved tracing, and that is the place you’ll be able to assist,” Well being Director Dr. Lindsay Huse mentioned within the launch. “Your response is required because the variety of circumstances makes it unimaginable for our workers to maintain up with the demand.”

Did you’re taking an at-home take a look at?

In-home appointments

DCHD helps these homebound to get vaccinated, scheduling in-home appointments for all three grownup vaccination varieties, for any shot within the collection.

To rearrange this, name the DCHD info helpline at 402-444-3400.

OneWorld little one vaccination clinics

OneWorld provides COVID-19 vaccinations on the following clinics:

In south Omaha on the Livestock Constructing, positioned at 4920 S. thirtieth St.
In Bellevue, at 2207 Georgia Ave.
In northwest Omaha, at 4229 N. ninetieth St.
In Plattsmouth, at 122 S. Sixth St.

OneWorld additionally provides kids’s COVID-19 vaccinations at college well being facilities:

Bryan Excessive Faculty, positioned at 4700 Giles Street
Indian Hill Elementary, positioned at 3121 U St.
Liberty Elementary, positioned at 2021 St. Mary’s Ave.
Spring Lake Elementary, positioned at 4215 S. twentieth St.

Stroll-ins are accepted on a first-come, first-served foundation; or you’ll be able to name 402-734-4110 to make an appointment.

Youngsters’s Hospital

Youngsters’s Hospital is planning to supply devoted COVID-19 vaccination clinics for a couple of month, beginning by Thursday, Nov. 11 — or sooner, if they’re equipped the doses earlier than that.

5-7 p.m. Thursdays at West Village Pointe and Spring Valley places of work
8 a.m.-noon Saturdays at West Village Pointe and Spring Valley places of work

After Saturday, Dec. 11, pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations might be out there by appointment at any Youngsters’s Hospital location.

Tuesday and Thursday appointments out there on the Mission Village location, 16909 Q St. Name 402-955-7575 or 402-955-SHOT (7468) for out there occasions.
Thursday and Friday appointments out there on the Dundee location, 4825 Dodge St. Name 402-955-7676 or 402-955-SHOT (7468) for out there occasions.

Nebraska Medication

Nebraska Medication is providing COVID-19 vaccinations at clinics in a number of retail pharmacies and well being facilities across the Omaha-metro.

NebMed will present Pfizer vaccinations by appointment at:

Eagle Run Well being Middle, positioned at 132nd Road and West Maple Street
Fontenelle Well being Middle, positioned at fiftieth Road and Ames Avenue
Ladies Inc. Well being Middle, positioned at forty fifth Road and West Maple Street
Previous Market Well being Middle, positioned at thirteenth and Leavenworth streets
Village Pointe Well being Middle, positioned at a hundred and seventy fifth and Burke streets

For these searching for walk-in appointments, single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccinations might be out there at these pharmacies:

Outpatient Pharmacy at Bellevue Well being Middle, positioned at twenty fifth Road and Freeway 370, will provide J&J vaccinations from 8 a.m. to eight p.m. Monday by way of Friday; and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
Outpatient Pharmacy at Durham Outpatient Middle, positioned at forty fifth and Emile streets, will provide J&J vaccinations from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays; and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the weekends.

Round Omaha

SOUTH OMAHA: Testing and vaccinations can be found at OneWorld, positioned at 4920 S. thirtieth St. Name 402-734-4110 to make an appointment for vaccinating anybody age 12 and older.

CHARLES DREW HEALTH CENTER: Name 402-451-3553 to schedule an appointment.

CHURCH CLINIC: Metropolitan Neighborhood Chuch of Omaha will host a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. No ID is required, however a dad or mum or guardian should be current on the clinic with teenagers ages 12-18.

MCC FORT OMAHA: Vaccinations additionally might be distributed Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Metropolitan Neighborhood Faculty’s Fort Omaha campus, positioned at 5300 N. thirtieth St. Appointments might be made by way of the county’s vaccination registry.

TOTAL WELLNESS: DCHD has been working with Whole Wellness, positioned at 9320 H Courtroom, to determine a vaccination clinic from 10 a.m. to three:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

VETERANS: Any eligible veterans can receive COVID-19 vaccinations or boosters on the Omaha VA Medical Middle’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics’ walk-in hours from 8 a.m.-2:45 p.m. weekdays. Appointments may also be scheduled on-line.

Sarpy/Cass well being district

The Sarpy/Cass Well being Division has scheduled vaccination clinics for all COVID-19 vaccine doses, together with pediatric doses, at its places of work, positioned at 701 Olson Drive in Papillion:

Tuesdays: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Wednesdays: 1-4:30 p.m.

The well being division provides the primary and second doses of Pfizer and Fashionable vaccines, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) single doses, and booster doses of all three vaccines.

To make an appointment, name 833-998-2275 or 531-249-1873.

Pottawattamie County

The Pottawattamie County Public Well being Division urges residents to benefit from free drive-through COVID-19 testing at:

Hy-Vee Pharmacy on West Broadway
Nomi Well being at 1751 Madison Ave.
Any Walgreens pharmacy location

Free take-home take a look at kits can be found at:

All Care Well being Middle, positioned at 902 S. Sixth St., in Council Bluffs
Pottawattamie County Public Well being Division workplace, positioned at 600 S. Fourth St., Suite 100, in Council Bluffs

Stroll-ins can obtain COVID-19 vaccinations on the well being division workplace at:

4-6 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays
8 a.m.-noon Saturdays

Vaccinations are additionally out there from 8 a.m. to midday on the Veterans Affairs Constructing, positioned at 623 Sixth Ave. in Council Bluffs.

Three Rivers well being district

Three Rivers Public Well being Division is giving out boosters to these in sure danger classes who’ve had Pfizer vaccinations. It’s also working with space companies and faculties to supply plan extra COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

Three common pediatric vaccination clinics have been arrange for kids ages 5-11:

Wahoo: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on the primary and third Mondays of the month at 1320 E. thirty first St.
Fremont: Midday-3:30 p.m. Fridays at 2400 N. Lincoln Ave.

We can have our regular Friday clinic TOMORROW from midday to three:30 pm. Subsequent week, we might be switching days and hours–our walk-in vaccine clinics might be Tuesdays from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on the well being division. COVID vaccines are free, and no appointment is required. pic.twitter.com/83pHdXgEZ2
— Three Rivers Public Well being (@threerivers_ph) April 14, 2022

The well being division has the required kinds posted on their web site, for minors and adults, for individuals who wish to fill them out forward of their go to.

3RPHD’s common clinic hours will change subsequent week:

In Dodge County, the Three Rivers clinic at 2400 N. Lincoln Ave. in Fremont, is open for walk-ins from midday to three:30 p.m. Friday. Subsequent week, it will likely be open from 4-7 p.m. Fridays.
In Saunders County, the Three Rivers clinic in Lake Wanahoo, positioned at 1320 E. thirty first St., might be open to walk-ins from 9 a.m. to three p.m. on the primary and third Mondays of the month.

Those that are home-bound or require particular lodging however want a COVID-19 take a look at or vaccine can contact the well being district at 402-704-2245 to make preparations.

Off-line assist

METHODIST HEALTH INFORMATION: The vaccine is out there at most Methodist Physicians Clinic places. Appointments for the vaccine are really useful and could be made by calling 402-354-CARE.

NEBRASKA VACCINE HOTLINE: Nebraskans can name 531-249-1873 or toll-free at 833-998-2275 for extra info on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination course of and to get help with signing up for a vaccination appointment.

DOUGLAS COUNTY HELPLINE: Native COVID-19 info, in Spanish and English, is out there from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, aside from holidays. Name 402-444-3400 for help.

IOWA VACCINE HOTLINE: Iowans who need assistance to discover a vaccine appointment can name 211 for help or 1-800-244-7431. Older or home-bound Iowans can contact Connections Space Company on Ageing at 712-328-2540 or 1-800-432-9209. For multilingual help, name 1-877-558-2609.

NATIONAL HOTLINE: To verify vaccine availability in your neighborhood, name the nationwide COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-232-0233.

Useful resource hyperlinks

The place to get a take a look at: Douglas County

Vaccine sign-up: Douglas County | Sarpy/Cass | Three Rivers | Nebraska

Vaccinations at hospitals: Nebraska Medication | Methodist Well being System | Youngsters’s Hospital

Vaccine info: Douglas County | Douglas County clinics | Nebraska || Iowa | Pottawattamie County | Mills County | Fremont County

COVID-19 danger dials: Lincoln-Lancaster County

WOWT.com fast search: COVID-19 | Coronavirus | Vaccine

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Nebraska

Nebraska 511 reports semi-fire on I-80 westbound

Published

7 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Press Room

Nebraska 511 reports semi-fire on I-80 westbound

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska 511 reported that a semi-fire has closed I-80 westbound near Seward at mile marker 377.

According to the Nebraska 511, the right lane is currently blocked, and speed in the area has been reduced.

This is an ongoing incident. Stay connected to 1011now.com for the latest information.

The Nebraska 511 reported that semi-fire is affecting traffic on I-80 westbound near Seward at mile marker 377.(Nebraska 511)

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Nebraska

Nebraska GOP pushes unity after primary fight with incumbents; delegates disagree • Nebraska Examiner

Published

13 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Press Room

Nebraska GOP pushes unity after primary fight with incumbents; delegates disagree • Nebraska Examiner

LINCOLN — Days after losing the three highest-profile races it endorsed in this spring, leaders of the new Nebraska Republican Party encouraged unity this weekend but faced pushback from their own delegates.

State GOP Chairman Eric Underwood said he would keep working to bring Republicans together after the primary, but he said he might need reciprocity from the elected officials angered by the party.

Fences need mending after the GOP didn’t endorse any of the state’s five-member, all-GOP congressional delegation for the primary. None in the state’s delegation sought the party’s endorsement, either.

All five — Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts and Reps. Adrian Smith, Mike Flood and Don Bacon — easily won their primaries even though three of them — Ricketts, Smith and Bacon — were challenged by populist GOP candidates the state party endorsed.

Then the party’s delegates balked at a resolution Saturday to endorse the incumbents in November, delaying a decision until the next state central committee meeting.

Former U.S. Rep. Hal Daub led the floor resolution to endorse former President Donald Trump and all five members of the delegation. The step is usually a formality. Daub said his intention was “to have unity projected to the public.”

“Since our delegation won their primaries pretty substantially, we should let the public know that we appreciate the process and support the people,” he said.

The resolution faced immediate pushback from the majority of delegates, led in part by Bacon’s primary opponent, Dan Frei. Frei said he adamantly opposed endorsing members of the delegation because they hadn’t come to the meeting to ask for the endorsements.

Instead, delegates passed the endorsement of Trump and punted the delegation decision to a later date after it became clear the measure lacked enough votes. That step was proposed by a state party official.

“Endorsements are earned, not given,” said Frei. He conceded the race Friday but has yet to endorse Bacon, who won by 24 percentage points.

It remains unclear what kind of unity either side in the intra-GOP fight would accept.

“You have to ask where the trust has been lost,” Underwood said. “You have to look at the 2022 primary. We’re nowhere near that loss of trust, because the party wasn’t weaponized.”

Power of party endorsements

Critics of the party’s approach said that its endorsements were ineffective without financial assistance behind them — and that they held little sway with the wider electorate.

Bacon said after the primary that it was time for some “soul searching” by state and county GOP leaders who had “weakened the party and weakened the conservative movement in Nebraska.”

Nebraska Republican Party Chairman Eric Underwood gets Republicans to sing happy birthday to his son. (Aaron Sanderford/Nerbaska Examiner)

“He lied about four of my votes,” Bacon said of Underwood. “When a chairman lies about an incumbent in the federal delegation there is a problem.”

Underwood acknowledged that the party sent a mailer for 2nd District GOP candidate Dan Frei in his run against Bacon, but he said it’s different from how the party previously put its thumb on the scale.

He pointed to GOP criticism of the former state party leadership for aggressively taking sides in a legislative race between State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar and former state GOP volunteer Janet Palmtag.

Underwood said he would keep reaching out as he has to the delegation and to Gov. Jim Pillen. Elected leaders often help state parties in Nebraska and elsewhere raise funds for political activity.

Fundraising challenges

The Nebraska GOP, like many state parties taken over in recent years by populists, has had a hard time reconciling populist fervor and energy from the party’s base with its traditional leaders.

Fundraising has lagged, though Underwood said he expected to show a significant infusion of funds in the party’s pending May report to the Federal Election Commission.

A crowd of more than 500 Republicans gathered in Lincoln on Saturday for the annual convention of the Nebraska Republican Party. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

One area the new GOP excels at is partisan energy. On Saturday, 360 delegates and more than 500 Republicans turned out for the state party’s annual convention at the Cornhusker Marriott in Lincoln.

Many of them came to hear retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, national security adviser under Trump, tell them they are ‘in the fight for our lives” this November in the presidential election.

Most came to update party rules, select delegates to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and gather with other conservatives from around the state.

Congressional district caucuses discussed moving Nebraska to winner-take-all for presidential elections. They also discussed ballot security and border security.

The party also voted on other resolutions, including a 157-139 vote on one that was postponed at a previous meeting, to censure State Sen. Merv Riepe for opposing a proposed abortion ban after an ultrasound can detect a fetal cardiac activity, at about six weeks.

Flynn speaks to Nebraska GOP

Flynn, who twice admitted to lying to federal agents during the FBI investigation of Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election, then later recanted and was pardoned by Trump, said voters need to engage.

He reiterated his support for former Trump, who fired him 24 days into his term, at the height of public interest in the Russia investigation.

Flynn, Underwood and State Board of Education President Elizabeth Tegtmeier all urged those attending to pay attention to education races farther down the ballot.

Flynn told them to seek incremental victories and to focus on stopping the push to change American culture by reaffirming Christian beliefs and culture.

GOP focuses on education races

Tegtmeier said she and other conservatives on the State Board need voters’ help to remove books they consider inappropriate from school libraries.

People who object to removing books say such efforts often discriminate against books written by nonwhite or LGBTQ authors or about race, sex or gender.

She pointed to efforts by grassroots conservatives to oppose proposed health standards that included sex education in 2021 as a model for what they can accomplish together. She argued kids were learning too much too young.

Tegtmeier called on more investment in state and local education races, saying “the Democrats and the teachers union will not let go of the stronghold they have on the board without a fight.” She said that would take money.

She said she would like to see more emphasis placed on training young people for skilled trades.

“People are starting to realize that the state board races are just as crucial and important as our state legislative races,” she said, speaking in her personal capacity.

Flynn said getting involved at the local level is one of the best ways to push back against political opponents.

“I’ve seen the absolute worst of humanity,” he said. “In the long arc of history, good always prevails over evil. But there are times that it takes longer than you expect it to take.”

Flynn movie talk

About 700 people paid $35-plus for a Friday night screening of Flynn’s image-rehab documentary, “Flynn: Deliver the Truth Whatever the Cost.”

A crowd of more than 700 people paid at least $35 to watch Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn’s documentary at the Cornhusker Marriott in Lincoln on Friday. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Flynn contended in the film that prosecutors coerced him into lying to FBI agents about his talks with the Russian ambassador in the run-up to Trump’s 2017 inauguration.

He said they did so by using his fear of them prosecuting his son, who was his business partner in a consulting firm.

Authorities have said Flynn illegally discussed sanctions with a foreign government before he was a formal representative of the United States. Flynn has said he made no direct pledge involving sanctions.

He tried withdrawing his guilty plea, saying he was misled by his lawyers. At one point, the Justice Department moved to drop the case against Flynn, but the judge disagreed with Attorney General Bill Barr and the case moved forward.

Fanchon Blythe, Nebraska’s national GOP committeewoman, asked Flynn to call former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., saying he was similarly prosecuted.

Flynn said he was unfamiliar with the case. Fortenberry was convicted of lying to FBI agents about his knowledge of foreign funds illegally raised for his 2016 House campaign. Federal law prohibits raising foreign funds in congressional races.

A federal appeals court overturned his conviction because he was prosecuted in California, where the fundraiser was held, and not where Fortenberry allegedly lied. He was recently charged again, this time in Washington, D.C.

Kleeb criticized GOP, Flynn

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb criticized the state GOP for bringing Flynn to the state, saying it was evidence of a lost party.

“Given all the massive divides in their party where over 35% of the base votes for (U.S.) Rep. (Don) Bacon’s opponent one would think they would focus on building bridges,” she said. “It seems the only bridge the Republicans want to build is one to (Vladimir) Putin.”

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

In mentioning Bacon, she was stumping for state Democrats’ best opportunity to win a congressional race this year. Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha is challenging Bacon for the second time, after losing to Bacon in 2022 by about three percentage points.

Flynn told those attending he would be watching to see how many of them care enough to vote this fall. He chided them for a low turnout in the Nebraska primary, where 28% of registered voters turned in ballots.

“We have to get together, we have to unify and we have to figure out how to get past all the petty arguments and move forward as one nation,” Flynn said.

National committeeman will change

Also on Saturday, Blythe was re-elected national GOP committeewoman. She has been among the state party’s most aggressive organizers of county party takeovers. She has been criticized for defending people arrested after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

State GOP committeeman JL Spray, one of the last links to the former state GOP leadership team from 2022, will be replaced by William Feely of Aurora. Spray will still represent the party at the 2024 national convention. Feely will take over after that.

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