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HERE’S YOUR RUNDOWN
Happy World Puppetry Day
Today’s news informs us that this art form is almost as old as civilization itself.
Creighton women’s basketball makes it to the Sweet 16 for the first time in history, Gov. Pete Ricketts says he and his father donated a combined $600K to dark money group Conservative Nebraska, and GOP Sen. Ben Sasse has doubts about the record of the first Black female Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM
THE DESK OF REED MOORE
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On a less jovial note, COVID-19 is sticking around — and therefore so are the daily COVID-19 roundups. Yes, that means we’ll also continue to hold off on the Thing To Do. Sigh. Reed Moore about our coronavirus coverage in the “COVID-19 Update” section below and — you can guess what’s coming next — get vaxed and masked!
REED MOORE’S FEATURED STORY
Nebraska Prison Officials Wrote a Bill to Release Inmates Earlier. They’re Applying the Law in a Way that Doesn’t Do So.
Prison officials now shorten an inmate’s final release date, but never change the day that prisoner becomes eligible for parole.
The result: Thousands of prisoners sentenced under the law have potentially stayed in prison days, weeks or months longer than the law’s authors intended.
Story by Natalia Alamdari. Originally published in Flatwater Free Press. Republished in The Reader.
The Reed Moore newsletter is supported by:
COVID-19 UPDATE
Given the worldwide rise in COVID-19 cases, Reed Moore’s coronavirus coverage will continue on a daily basis for the foreseeable future. Don’t blame Reed Moore. Blame the BA.2 variant, our new ‘rona nemesis.
But if you’re sick (no pun intended) of our Christmas-colored COVID-19 graphics, you’re in luck: We’re swapping those out for a COVID-19 Dashboard from the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center. Check ‘er out below.
By the numbers:
AROUND OMAHA
- For the first time in history, Creighton women’s basketball makes it to the Sweet 16.
- The city’s housing crisis continues to plague former tenants of the “unlivable” apartment building shut down in January.
- The NorthStar Foundation, which serves boys in the North O community, has a new program: The NorthStar Adventure.
- Dawaune Lamont Hayes, founder of NOISE, discusses the future of the downtown library on Riverside Chats.
- Ralston baseball remembers 18-year-old infielder Tanner Farrell, who died tragically on March 12.
AROUND NEBRASKA
- Latest in the Legislature: Lawmakers are slated to debate how to use American Rescue Plan Act funds. Environmental groups are pulling for legislators to update the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s “Understanding and Assessing Climate Change” study, which is nearly one decade old. Sen Ben Sasse still hasn’t signed a bill that would name the Benson branch post office for Black WWII hero Charles Jackson French — and the deadline is 12 p.m. Tuesday, March 22. Advocates continue to fight for legalization of medical marijuana.
- Gov. Pete Ricketts says he and his father donated a combined $600K to Conservative Nebraska, a dark money group. Reed Moore about how dark money is playing a role in Republican gubernatorial ads.
- Flatwater Free Press’ Natalia Alamdari, author of today’s Reed Moore feature story, chats with 1st Sky Omaha.
- GOP Sen. Ben Sasse has doubts about the record of President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. The White House says Republicans’ concerns are “disingenuous attacks” on the first Black female Supreme Court nominee.
REED MOORE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
This week:
- No City Council: The Omaha City Council doesn’t meet this week. Next meeting is March 29.
- ARPA: The Douglas County Board of Commissioners will vote on proposals for ARPA spending, including $800,000 for a Ronald McDonald House treatment center and $498,000 for mental health initiatives at Millard Public School.
- Affordable Housing Action Plan: The board will discuss a proposal to include Bennington, Valley and Waterloo in the City of Omaha’s Affordable Housing Action Plan.
Every week, Anton Johnson picks noteworthy agenda items from the Omaha City Council and Douglas County Board of Commissioners. See the full Board of Commissioners agenda for Tuesday, March 22, and tune in here to the Douglas County Board at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
FACT OF THE DAY
from Harper’s Index
Portion of Americans who have recently skipped medical care because they couldn’t afford it: 3/10
Source: Gallup
DAILY FUNNY
Comic by Koterba. Support him on Patreon.
