“Falletta Conducts ‘Pines of Rome'”
Omaha, NE—Omaha Symphony welcomes guest conductor Maestra JoAnn Falletta, and guest violinist, Blake Pouliot, for a performance this weekend in homage to Rome. Maestra Falletta, the only female conductor of a top 40 orchestra, will lead the orchestra in the works of Berlioz and Respighi.
Road to Omaha – Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Omaha, NE – On today’s episode of “Road to Omaha,” KVNO’s Brandon McDermott spoke with Oral Roberts head coach Ryan Folmar.
Gov calls special session on pipeline
October 24th, 2011
Lincoln, NE – After months of resisting suggestions that he call a special session to deal with pipeline legislation, Gov. Dave Heineman declared on Monday he would do just that.
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[audio:https://kvnonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Pipeline-Session-KVNOx01.mp3]During the regular legislative session, from January to June, the governor took a hands-off position on pipeline legislation, saying he would consider it if it reached his desk. But the issue was heating up as opponents of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline publicized their concerns about possible threats to the environment.
Gov. Heineman says the special session will begin Nov. 1. (Photo courtesy State of Nebraska)
On Aug. 31, Heineman wrote a letter to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton urging denial of a permit for the pipeline route over the Ogallala Aquifer. But still, he resisted calling a special session to enact pipeline siting legislation, saying not enough senators supported a proposal to make it worthwhile.
By October 4, Heineman was calling on senators to make their position known. But he still wanted them to decide whether to take the unprecedented step of calling themselves into special session. When asked if he couldn’t force them to take a stand by calling a special session, Heineman said three weeks ago that would be pointless if, for example, a bill couldn’t even get out of the Natural Resources Committee.
“If they don’t support it, all we’ll do is waste $10,000 a day,†Heineman said in an interview with NET News. “What — be in session 60 days, waste $600,000 and no action? I don’t think any governor — I certainly — haven’t called a special session on the budget or safe haven or any other issue that we didn’t have a pretty good idea that we were going to move forward on the issue, that there was going to be a positive outcome.â€
On Monday, Heineman called a special session to consider piepleine siting legislation.
“I believe Nebraskans are expecting our best efforts to determine if alternatives exist,†Heineman said. “Therefore, I will be calling a special session of the Nebraska Legislature on Nov. 1 to have a thoughtful and thorough public discussion about alternative solutions that could impact the route of the pipeline in a legal and constitutional manner.â€
So is the governor now confident that there will be a positive outcome?
“This isn’t going to be easy,†he said. “At the end of the day, I want to be very, very clear. I believe that we need to make the effort. I think Nebraskans will appreciate that. But it’s entirely possible at the end of the day, we’ll have this conversation and the legislature will come to the conclusion we don’t have a legal and constitutional option.â€
Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood raised that possibility last week, in recommending against a special session to consider a bill that let the Nebraska Public Service Commission approve or disapprove pipeline routes. Flood cited a legal analysis that said federal law preempts state law on pipeline safety, and delays from new state legislation at this point could be seen as impeding interstate commerce.
On Monday, Flood said he welcomed the news that the governor had called a session. Flood said if a solution could present more than a short-term, feel-good “band-aid†for legitimate concerns, he’ll consider it carefully and act on it thoughtfully. Lincoln Senator Ken Haar, who’s been pushing for a special session, said a new version of pipeline siting legislation will be proposed soon.
Lincoln Senator Bill Avery, who’s also been pushing for a special session, applauded Heineman’s decision.
“I think he did the right thing,†Avery said. “The citizens of Nebraska deserve to have a voice in this process. He recognizes that. He talks to more Nebraskans than anybody else in this state. And he saw the need for it, and he was right.â€
Asked what changed his mind, Heineman said it was just as a result of the ongoing conversation about the issue. And he said it’s important for the state to try and act before the federal government decides on a pipeline permit before the end of the year.
“One thing is very clear,†Heineman said. “The state of Nebraska would have a stronger legal basis for its action if it acted prior to the permit decision by the Obama administration. In perfect hindsight, the state should have acted several years ago. But that’s not where we’re at today.â€
Heineman said the special session will probably last a couple of weeks, and he hopes it will finish before Thanksgiving.
Following the governor’s announcement, the Consumer Energy Alliance, a pro-pipeline group, said it was disappointed. It said it was unfortunate the governor was ignoring the pipeline’s energy and jobs benefits to instead “put taxpayers on the hook for an exercise that will either yield no legislation or put the State in the middle of a costly litigation cycle.”
On the other hand, BOLD Nebraska, a group that’s been in the forefront of opposing the pipeline, welcomed the news. Executive Director Jane Kleeb said she was taking the governor at his word that he’s calling a special session to deal with the pipeline route. But she added “we look forward to seeing his bill to protect our land and water that specifically gets the pipeline out of the Sandhills and heart of the Ogallala Aquifer. ”
For it’s part, pipeline company TransCanada issued a statement repeating that the pipeline would be safe on its proposed route.
“By asking us to re-route, what people are asking us to do is ignore the rules we are required to follow, ignore the regulations that we are trying to meet and ignore federal laws,” said spokeman Shawn Howard, adding that a new route would invalidate the federal environmental review process that’s been going on for three years.
I wanted to let you know about a new petition I created on We the People, a
new feature on WhiteHouse.gov, and ask for your support. Will you add your
name to mine? If this petition gets 25,000 signatures by November 18, 2011,
the White House will review it and respond!
We the People allows anyone to create and sign petitions asking the Obama
Administration to take action on a range of issues. If a petition gets
enough support, the Obama Administration will issue an official response.
It has to get 150 signatures to be made public. I am shy for a Hermit so right now it has
1 signature. I send a letter to the JournalStar but. What it will take is 150 signatures at the
Address just below. Then you might send the link to any other states or places or organizations that oppose the pipeline.
Yes we can create as many maybe more jobs, use Canada’s oil etc.
Here is what it says they limit your space.
Support a new refinery not the Keystone Pipeline.
Old ones susceptible to weather, attack.
Northeast needs Jobs too
A feasible alternative to building a pipeline over the Ogallala Aquifer. One
can Google the location of the current refineries most of which are older
than 30 years.
They are susceptible to floods, hurricanes, too concentrated to long term
safe strategic considerations.
And when any one goes off line gas goes up enough short term to pay for
construction of a new one.
You can view and sign the petition here: http://wh.gov/Tx0