Good morning, Lincoln. Here’s what you should know today.
State of the State
In his annual address to lawmakers Wednesday, Republican Governor Jim Pillen declared Nebraska is in a strong position but maintained the "work of making Nebraska a low tax state is far from over," outlining a policy agenda and budget focused on fiscal and social conservatism.
Pillen, now in his third year as Nebraska's governor, noted that the state's unemployment rate is among the lowest in the country and Nebraska's population has topped 2 million while he touted his administration's work to make the state's government "smaller, more efficient and more productive."
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But Pillen also lamented the period the lack of fiscal restraint that he said preceded his governorship, which he said resulted in "bloated government growing unchecked on the backs of its people."
Solar farm opponents speak out
Lancaster County commissioners listened to six hours of testimony Tuesday on the potential benefits and detriments of issuing a special permit for what would be the largest solar farm in Lancaster County.
Most of the testimony came from opponents — more than 25 residents who live or own land near the 2,400 acres where Florida company NextEra Energy wants to build a nearly $600 million, 304-megawatt solar project east of Hallam in the southern part of the county.
Their concerns ranged from how it would affect their property values and wildlife, to removing farmland from production and taking business from ag-related businesses to erosion and fire risks to questions about the Florida company itself.
The Lancaster County Board will vote on the special permit at its meeting next Tuesday.
Remembering Jack Hoffman
Jack Hoffman, the namesake of the Team Jack Foundation and a pre-law student at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, died Wednesday after a yearslong battle with brain cancer. He was 19.
Hoffman catapulted into the hearts of sports fans in 2013 after he ran for a touchdown in the spring game at Memorial Stadium at the age of 7. In the weeks and months after, he met then-President Barack Obama and won an ESPY for “Best Moment” — which helped spark awareness for pediatric brain cancer research.
Since its founding in 2013, Team Jack has raised more than $12 million to develop new treatments for pediatric brain cancer patients.
That’s it for Thursday, Jan. 16. Stay in the know with Lincoln’s longest-standing news source at JournalStar.com and we will see you back here tomorrow.
