NOTE: NE Legislative Bills Jan 2011 Session are listed under the tab "Unicameral"
Effort touts schools' 'A+' programs - Omaha.com www.omaha.com A program at Omaha North High School has students designing building additions and partnering with community groups. A comment from one of my FACEBOOK friends: Nebraska Loves our Public Schools is a propaganda campaign, not a serious review of Nebraska schools. Of course, public schools do some good things, since they use 60% of the property tax and have the largest share, over 800 million , of the state budget, plus about 15% of budgets in federal aid. Look elsewhere for a balanced review.Naming of North Omaha Freeway http://www.omaha.com/article/20101214/NEWS01/712139880/0?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4d0b79d1d73666ee%2C0
Commentary from Objective Conservative:
Name a Street, Stop a Crime One of the most outrageous leaps of faith we've ever heard is the argument from Omaha City Council Members Ben Gray and Franklin Thompson that by renaming the North Freeway as the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway would aid in halting gang/gun violence. According to the Douglas Street Rag: http://objectiveconservative.blogspot.com/| My Letter to the Highway Commission asking them to deny their request: Highway Commission Nebraska Dept.of Roads 1500 Hwy 2 Lincoln, Ne Re: Naming of North Omaha Interstate Section Dear Commissioners: I'm asking the Highway Commission to deny the request of Omaha City Councilmen Gray and Thompson to make an exception to the rules of naming the North Omaha Interstate section after Dr. Martin Luther King for the following reasons: 1, Enforcing the Rule of Law. Rules have been established for a reason and should not be adapted for any compelling reason. The naming of the entry into North Omaha should be one of celebration honoring a Nebraska resident who has influenced our community. 2. Time line. Since the next available consideration won't be until October 2011, this would give Councilman Gray time to compile a list of qualified individuals, present them to the North Omaha community in a poll like fashion and then submit the appropriate paperwork. 3. Some candidates who may be considered: Dr. Matthew O. Ricketts was the first African-American to serve in Nebraska Legislature. He served from 1893 to 1897. He was also the first African-American to graduate from a Nebraska college or university.
Mildred D. Brown, Founder of The Omaha Star The Omaha Star brought "joy and happiness" with positive news about the black community. Positive role models were celebrated, families were honored, and individual accomplishments such as new jobs or graduation from high school or college were common features. The Omaha Star brought respect by reporting local and national news with black perspectives. The Omaha Star also encouraged its readers to become involved politically by voting. Sally Bayne was credited with being the first FREE African American settler in 1855. Sally settled in the Omaha area. JoAnn Maxey was the first female African American to serve as a state senator and was known as an advocate for the young and disadvantaged. "She always asked, What can I do to make a better life for all of us, and especially young people," said Lenora Letcher, president of the Lincoln chapter of the NAACP, upon Maxey's death in 1992. Maxey was 54. Maxey served as a state senator from 1977-1979, representing the 46th district in Lincoln. Former Gov. James Exon appointed her after Sen. Harold Simpson resigned. She was the first female African American to serve as a state senator. Preston Love grew up in North Omaha and graduated from North Hight. He became renowned as a professional sideman and saxophone balladeer in the heyday of the big band era. He was a member of the bands of Nat Towles, Lloyd Hunter, Snub Mosely, Lucky Millinder and Fats Waller before getting his big break with the Count Basie Orchestra when he was 22. Love eventually became a bandleader himself, playing with Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, his friends Johnny Otis and Wynonie Harris, with whom he had several hits. In the early 1960s Love worked with Ray Charles in California, eventually becoming Motown's West Coast house bandleader. Love toured the U.S. and Europe quite frequently into the 1990s, additionally lecturing and writing about the history he was part of. Other legends he played with included the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. In his later years Love moved back to Omaha, wrote a book and was an advertising agent for the Omaha Star, a local newspaper serving the city's African American community. Sgt. Germaine L. Debro, Killed in Action Sept. 4, 2006 while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Distinguished with the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. At Sgt Debro's funeral there were 1,000 + diverse mourners. The Rev. Leroy E. Adams of the Morning Star Baptist Church while looking at the diverse crowd said, " I see America in this one place. He brought us all together." One of Sgt Debro's fellow soldiers Specialist Shawn O'Neil said, " I can describe him for three days - the people he was around he definitely touched....Debro was always willing to sacrifice not only for his country, but for his unit as well. "He always stuck with that and he quotes Debro as saying," I go so somebody else doesn't have to and so somebody with a family can stay back." Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Susan Smith Founder What a shame that funding is double for organizations who service illegal aliens! Recovery Act Funding for Community Health Centers in Nebraska
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