If you come inspect our toilets (I wouldn’t recommend it), you’ll see that like many things around here, cleaning them has definitely been put on the back burner. Though they must not be too bad because I’ve learned over 15 years of marriage that if something gets too gross, Dane will clean it!

When I agreed to run for the Legislature, I did so with the intent to support and advance legislation that would positively impact District 42 and rural Nebraska. For far too long, rural Nebraska has been underrepresented in the Nebraska Legislature, and as a result, we have not gotten our “fair share” of funding and have been left out of many economic development programs.

It was great spending the week back in North Platte this past week. I returned to town on Saturday night, and after attending church on Sunday morning, Julie and I had the opportunity to attend the musical “Something Rotten” at the Fox Theatre. It was another great performance by many of our very talented local performers. It was just what the doctor ordered after a long 60-day session.

Every year after the Nebraska Press Association Convention, I hope I have somehow absorbed just an ounce of the talent and knowledge of those who I have been around for two full days. I’m not sure how many NPA conventions I have attended, but between two March babies and COVID, I think it’s around 10 in the last 15 years.

Dear Dave, I have a roommate, and we’ve shared the same twobedroom apartment for about three years. During that time, we’ve always had an agreement that we would split the bills fifty-fifty. But for the last several months, he’s been very late paying his half of the bills. There have even been a few times when he didn’t pay his part at all, and I had to cover the entire bill. We both work good jobs, so money isn’t an issue. He says he’s broke, but when I ask him where all his money goes, he just shrugs and acts like he doesn’t know. We’re good friends, so I don’t want to be cruel. How can I approach him about the situation? Mikhail Dear Mikhail, No matter whether you’re talking about friendships or business dealings, to be unclear is to be unkind. Believe me, I understand you don’t want to be mean to a friend. But situations like this should always be addressed directly and quickly, before things get out of hand.

At 6:35 p.m. last Thursday, the 108th Legislature adjourned Sine Die, bringing the session to an end. The last day of this 60-day session was anything but normal. We considered eight bills on Final Reading along with the appropriation bills (“A” bills) associated with the funding for those bills if required. Three of the eight bills were filibustered. Comparatively, most legislative sessions end with consideration of any gubernatorial vetoes, outgoing speeches from outgoing Senators, and a few ceremonial activities.

How mentally tough are you? Mental toughness is something I never really thought much about until I started running 5Ks (and one half marathon) as an adult and then had natural labor and deliveries with both of our kids. Our 11-year-old has way more experience at mental toughness than I had at his age.

Dear Dave, My husband and I are in a bad situation, and we’re thinking about taking my parents up on their offer to move in with them. We both work two jobs. I’m a medical transcriptionist with a small business on the side, and he’s a warehouse clerk who is also trying to get a business off the ground. Combined, we bring home about $70,000 a year, plus we have $80,000 in debt between credit cards and a car loan. On top of all this, our rent went up 18% at the first of the year, and we can’t afford the increase. Should we move in with my folks? Melissa Dear Melissa, I’m not opposed to families jumping into a situation together to solve a problem. That includes grown children moving back home for a short period of time. Sometimes, when the right people are involved (and proper boundary expectations are established and agreed upon), it can work out well for everyone. I just want you to be very careful that you’re not using a move like this to mask the real problem.

As promised, last week proved to be grueling even though we were only in session for three days. Our constitution requires bills to lay over at least one session day between Select File and Final Reading. Accordingly, bills advanced from Select File last Wednesday will not be eligible for a Final Reading vote until this Thursday, which is Day 60. Day 60 is generally reserved for ceremonial activities and to consider any veto overrides. There is a risk in having your bill passed on Day 60 because there is no later opportunity for a veto override.

“NNA expresses concern over new postal rates slated for July 2024” was the subject line of an email I received last week from the National Newspaper Association. As others were reading the news from places like NPR.org about how “The Forever Stamp is forever rising in price.” The Forever stamp is supposed to rise from 68 cents to 73 cents.