Sen. Nelson takes issue with Clinton’s comments on pipeline

Sen. Nelson takes issue with Clinton’s comments on pipeline Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco last week that the State Department is “inclined” to sign off on the Keystone XL Pipeline, the first public indication of federal approval for the controversial pipeline that would pump 37 million gallons of oil daily through Nebraska and five other states. In a letter sent to Clinton Oct. 21, Sen. Ben Nelson said the comments “deeply concerned” him and that he fears a decision has been made without addressing the state’s environmental concerns. “To be clear, this decision should be based on science, not politics … Failure by federal and state officials to adequately analyze and assess the impact of the proposed pipeline before a decision is made is both irresponsible and unacceptable,” Nelson wrote. Earlier this month, Sen. Mike Johanns sent a similar letter to Clinton asking whether alternate routes were considered. It was a departure for the Republican senator, who had previously said the pipeline was a federal rather than state issue. Clinton’s comments ran counter to an Oct. 17 Associated Press report that the pipeline was on hold over the State Department’s environmental concerns after recent oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico and Kalamazoo River in Michigan. TransCanada, the company proposing the pipeline, hopes to begin construction by the end of the year. State senator joins effort to end automatic citizenship Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont says he will join an effort led by the State Legislators for Legal Immigration looking to end automatic citizenship for every baby born in the U.S. The group is challenging the 14th Amendment, which has allowed citizenship for American-born children since 1868. Janssen says the law provides incentive for illegal immigrants to cross the border and has been misapplied. A constitutional amendment would be necessary to end birthright citizenship at the federal level, but Janssen hopes to craft a resolution that could be introduced in the Legislature. Earlier this year, Janssen supported the Fremont city ordinance prohibiting renting to or hiring illegal immigrants. The city suspended the ordinance in July and awaits a ruling from the Nebraska Supreme Court on whether or not it violates state law. State Legislators for Legal Immigration has been tied by numerous sources to the Federation for American Immigrant Reform, an anti-immigration group founded in 1979 by John Tanton. In 2007 the Southern Poverty Law Center added FAIR to its list of American hate groups saying Tanton’s federation has accepted more than $1 million from the Pioneer Fund, a “racist eugenics foundation.” Missing woman found dead in North Omaha Police found the body of Karen Jenkins, 48, behind an abandoned house near 40th and Ames Saturday afternoon. Jenkins, a teacher at Metropolitan Community College, was reported missing on Oct. 18. Police are treating the case as a homicide. Shooting Rounds Cesar Sanchez-Gonzales, 36, was shot and killed Friday afternoon outside his auto repair business near 24th and I. Four people were arrested on suspicion of criminal homicide after the suspect vehicle crashed four blocks from the scene. Joshua Dillon, 24, died after he was shot while sitting in his car near 30th and Fort St. early Saturday morning. Tegory Criswell, 23, survived after being shot Saturday while at the Burger King drive-thru at 4404 N. 60th St. Vincent Spencer, 39, survived after he was shot Saturday night while sitting on a porch at 4727 N. 42nd St. Servando Kaiser, 24, and Oscar Guzman, 19, survived after a drive-by shooting Sunday outside a residence at 1913 Martha St. Police have made no arrests outside of the Sanchez-Gonzales case. —Brandon Vogel Fifteen years of community organizing Social action group Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) marks a milestone in its nonviolent mobilizing efforts when the Industrial Areas Foundation affiliate organization hosts a 15th anniversary celebration on Oct. 31. The 2:30-4 p.m. free public event at the Benson High School auditorium, 5120 Maple Street, will review past campaigns and introduce OTOC’s new agenda. The coalition of faith-based congregations, conducts house meetings to identify issues. Its 2011 focus includes: enhancing job center services; enforcing housing codes; improving police-community relations; restoring summer youth enrichment programs; and stopping anti-immigration laws in the state Legislature. OTOC began agitating for change in the local meatpacking industry in 1995. It remains a vocal advocacy group. — Leo Adam Biga