City of Lincoln:
The most pressing issue confronting the city at this time is what Lincoln Electric System (LES) is calling its “Central Lincoln Reliability Project”. The project involves the extension of power lines to connect four existing substations. LES is seeking input from citizens before it decides whether the power lines will be buried, extended overhead, or some combination of the two. Depending upon which alternative is chosen, the cost will vary from a low of $4M (overhead) to a high of $53M (buried). A combination of the two would result in a cost of $27M to LES customers. Let your voice be heard now, or forever hold your peace when it comes to complaining about high utility bills!
Grassroots in Nebraska recently issued an action alert on this issue and has provided links and details on how the options for giving input. Click HERE.
Click any of the dates below to read articles, editorials, and letters to the editor in the Lincoln Journal Star:
October 1 - October 5 (1) - October 5 (2) – October 8
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Lancaster County:
The sale of Lancaster Manor occupied much of the County Board’s time this past year or more. Now, the Board has appointed a nine-member panel to advise the Board regarding how best to spend the $2.6M that is the County’s share of the sale proceeds. This panel merits attention because any recommendations it makes may limit the alternatives the public is allowed to comment on when the Board meets to make its decision. Anyone with an opinion as to what the County should do with the proceeds should be in touch with their County Board representative. The Lancaster County Democratic Party has already adopted a resolution asking the Board to place the funds in the Community Health Endowment of Lincoln, created in 1998 from the proceeds of the sale of Lincoln General Hospital.
Click HERE or HERE to read articles on this subject on the Lincoln Journal Star website.
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State of Nebraska:
The looming budget deficit, now estimated to exceed $751M for the next two-year budget cycle, is clearly the primary issue currently confronting the state. To meet this challenge, members of the Unicameral’s standing committees have met over the summer to collect information from state agencies concerning possible budget cuts of ten percent across the board and concerning possible program cuts as well. Reports from state agencies were expected by September 15th.
Click any of the following topics listed below to read articles or information on this topic:
State Board of Education - University of Nebraska - Dept. Of Correctional Services - Nebraska Supreme Court – Health and Human Services