Hats Off to the FIRST RESPONDERS OF SOUTH SIOUX CITY! I was honored to attend the City Council meeting and personally congratulate several South Sioux City First responders who were presented with Code Save awards from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Code Saves are given out when First Responders go on a cardiac call, and their lifesaving efforts, such as C-P-R, result in the patient returning to life as normal after treatment. South Sioux City has had four Code Save Awards in the past year, putting their success rate at over 4 times the national average. I am so proud of these fine people who serve so many residents of District 17. They rose up over and over again as exceptional examples of how we Nebraskans strive for excellence as we care for one another. Congratulations on well-deserved awards!

MUMPS OUTBREAK! On August 29, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services issued a press release about a significant increase in Mumps cases. According to NDHHS, at least 30 cases have been identified in Nebraska this year, with a large number of them reported in the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department’s jurisdiction, which includes Thurston, Wayne , Cedar, and Dixon counties.
Mumps is contagious–spread by coughing, sneezing and sharing saliva. Symptoms may include swelling of the face and neck, ear ache, jaw pain, testicular pain, fever, fatigue, or muscle aches. If you have symptoms of mumps, health officials say you should see your doctor right away and stay home to avoid contact with others. For more information, you can visit the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Dept. website at https://nnphd.org/

In news affecting both ECONOMIC GROWTH AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING in Nebraska, recently HABITAT FOR HUMANITY was recognized for its new Registered Apprenticeship Program. The program reinforces Habitat’s dedication to providing affordable housing and to providing its teammates with opportunities to advance their skills and careers, while connecting generations in support of growing businesses.
In a recognition ceremony, Governor Pete Ricketts was joined by Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College, the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) and the US Department of Labor (USDOL), all involved and/or strong supporters of the RA program. Registered Apprenticeships are recognized by the USDOL. After completing 4,000 hours of on-the-job training and classroom learning, and working with mentors, the apprentices will receive a nationally recognized credential from USDOL.
“Our Registered Apprenticeship Program provides another opportunity for Habitat for Humanity of Omaha to support Nebraskans in their goals to build strength, stability and independence,” said Amanda Brewer, Habitat Omaha Chief Executive Officer. “We see every day in our work to create quality, affordable housing how these outcomes are transformational not just for individuals but for our entire community.”
Companies interested in starting a Registered Apprenticeship program should contact Elliott Cain at elliot.cain@nebraska.gov or Scott Asmus at scott.asmus@nebraska.gov. Job seekers interested in participating in a RA should contact their local Nebraska Department of Labor office. More information is also available on the Department’s YouTube channel and at http://dol.nebraska.gov.

Finally, The Nebraska State Fair wraps up its season on Labor Day Monday, September 2. District 17 was well represented by 4-H members from all three counties. I saw lots of Blue Ribbon performances! Hope you had a chance to get out and see it. Kudos to the Fair Board for providing shuttle transportation from the parking area, making the trek easier for everyone! Already looking forward to next year.

As always, it is of great importance that I hear from my constituents to effectively do my job as your voice in the Legislature. I encourage you to contact me and I look forward to hearing from you. You can reach me by phone at 402-471-2716 or by email at jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov