Talking to a Brick Wall

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOKDo you ever feel like you are talking to a brick wall?Well — as a parent — sometimes talking to my kids feels like I’m talking to myself or just talking to hear myself speak.Usually it is when I tell them to go clean their room or tell them to go get ready for bed.

Community Connection

Call Annie Jeffrey Health Center at (402) 747-2031 for more informationApril is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month. Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects approximately 10–20% of the general population.

Time Flies: 5 Years

BETH’S BITSWhere were you five years ago?It’s hard to believe COVID was five years ago. In ways it feels like yesterday, and in ways eons ago. I tell my kids they were born yesterday, even though they are teenagers. It feels like yesterday to me.Things have really changed since COVID.

Adventure Day

ALAN’S ANECDOTESThis weekend our family made the trek to Fairbury, Nebraska to go to the Outdoor Adventure Day at Camp Jefferson. It’s something we look forward to every year.

Initiative 436: Paid Sick Leave

REPRESENTING YOULast November the voters of Nebraska approved a ballot measure, Initiative 436, to require businesses to offer employees paid sick leave. Initiative 436 passed with a vote of 75% for to 25% against.

A Celebration of Nebraska Beef

NEBRASKA SENATORNebraska is the Beef State. Agriculture is the heart and soul of what we do. One in four jobs in Nebraska is related to agriculture. Beef is essential to our state’s economy. Recently, we celebrated a major win for our state and our beef industry.

Aspects

Thoughts for this week’s input were “blown away” by shocking current events! Therefore, I respectfully address the following concerns.First came “DOGE” and now “TARIFFS” -- each topic upending our beloved United States in its own way!

Inheritance

ALAN’S ANECDOTESA number of years ago I had a coworker, who was also a close friend, return to work after the death of a parent. On his first day back to work, a woman poked her head into our office area and asked, “Have you spent your inheritance yet?” You could have heard a pin drop.

Political Discourse

ALL THINGS NEBRASKAThe other day, I got a text from my uncle in California.He’d just watched a news report about the tumultuous, March 18 town hall held by U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, a Republican, in which shouts and boos dominated.

Testing 1, 2, 3

BETH’S BITSIt’s that time of year, the time when students take tests. My son takes the ACT this year, and my daughter still has the NSCAS. I remember taking the ACT but it wasn’t during school. ACT stands for American College Testing. I guess the maximum on the ACT has been 36 for the whole time.