♪ >>> CASINO GAMBLING IS NOW LEGAL IN NEBRASKA.

WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR THE STATE AND THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY IN NEBRASKA?

GAMBLING ALSO TOOK CENTER STAGE AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK, AND WE'’LL CHECK IN ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

ALL OF THAT TONIGHT ON "“SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA.

"” ♪ >> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA.

I'’M NET NEWS DIRECTOR DENNIS KELLOGG.

THE PATH TO LEGALIZE GAMBLING FOR SUPPORTERS WASN'’T SHORT-LIVED NOR EASY.

FOR OPPONENTS, THE SAME COULD BE SAID.

BUT NOW, AFTER THREE BALLOT INITIATIVES IN NOVEMBER, CASINO GAMBLING IS LEGAL IN THE STATE -— BUT ONLY AT RACE TRACKS.

STATE LAWMAKERS WILL NOW WORK TO DETERMINE RULES, WHILE RACE TRACKS LOOK TO BREAK GROUND.

AARON DUNCAN, A UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN PROFESSOR WHO'’S STUDIED GAMBLING, SAYS THE LEGALIZATION OF GAMBLING THIS YEAR WASN'’T SURPRISING BECAUSE WE'’VE BECOME A RISK-BASED SOCIETY.

>> IN 2006, 61% OF NEBRASKANS VOTED AGAINST CASINO GAMBLING.

NOW, WE GET 65%-69% BEING FOR IT.

AS THE REASONS FOR THAT, WE'RE KIND OF LEFT TO SPECULATE.

BUT THE POPULAR BELIEF IS THAT IN THIS CASE, I THINK ECONOMIC ARGUMENTS TRUMPED THE MORAL ARGUMENT.

SO, OPPOSITION LEADERS TO GAMBLING IN NEBRASKA GAMBLING WITH THE GOOD LIFE, COUCHED THEIRS MAINLY ON THE SOCIAL COST OF GAMBLING, I.E.

POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED CRIME OR GAMBLING ADDICTION -- AND A LARGER KIND OF MORAL ARGUMENT THAT GAMBLING ISN'T NECESSARILY MORALLY PERMISSIBLE.

BUT, THE FOLKS BACKING, YOU KNOW, CASINO GAMBLING, CENTER THEIR ARGUMENT AROUND KEEPING DOLLARS IN NEBRASKA, AND, ESSENTIALLY, CIRCUMVENTED THE MORAL ARGUMENT BY SAYING, "“LISTEN, GAMBLING IS GOING TO HAPPEN, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT IN THESE NEIGHBORING STATES, SO WE MIGHT AS WELL KEEP THE TAX REVENUE FROM IT.

"” AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THIS SORT OF PARALLELED THE SAME ARGUMENT THAT GOTTEN MEDICARE, MEDICAID EXPANSION IN NEBRASKA.

YOU KNOW, TALKING TO THE FOLKS WHO WORKED ON THAT THEY SAID THAT ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ARGUMENTS WASN'T ABOUT THE MORALITY OF EXPANDING MEDICAID OR EVEN THE PRACTICALITY IT WAS 'HEY, WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS ALREADY, SO WE MIGHT AS WELL REAP THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF HAVING EXPANDED MEDICAID IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

SO IT REALLY BECAME ABOUT PRACTICAL AND ECONOMIC ARGUMENTS BEING MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN THEY WERE IN THE PAST, AND REALLY SUCCEEDING AND TRUMPING THE MORAL ARGUMENTS IN NEBRASKA FOR MANY NEBRASKANS.

AND I THINK A VERY SMART STRATEGIC MOVE WAS TYING THE REVENUE FROM THE TAXES OF GAMBLING TO PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, WHICH PERENNIALLY POLLS AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR THE AVERAGE NEBRASKAN.

♪ >> JOINING US NOW ARE LANCE MORGAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HO-CHUNK, INC., THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARM OF THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE, LYNNE MCNALLY, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NEBRASKA HORSEMEN'’S BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE AGENCY AND VIA ZOOM, CHRIS KOTULAK, CEO OF FONNER PARK IN GRAND ISLAND.

AS OF NOW, WE KNOW THERE ARE SIX LICENSED HORSE RACING TRACKS IN NEBRASKA, OMAHA, LINCOLN, GRAND ISLAND, HASTINGS, COLUMBUS, AND SOUTH SIOUX CITY.

A CASINO AND TRACK HAVE TO BE ONE IN THE SAME, UNDER THE NEW LAWS.

AS OF NOW, THERE COULD BE SIX CASINOS BUILT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

WE KNOW THERE ARE CONCRETE PLANS TO BUILD THREE HO-CHUNK, INC. CASINOS IN LINCOLN, OMAHA AND SOUTH SIOUX CITY.

COLUMBUS IS WORKING ON BUILDING ONE, AS WELL, AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL DEVELOPER IN NORTH PLATTE.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A CASINO AT FONNER PARK IN GRAND ISLAND, AS WELL.

LANCE MORGAN, LET'’S BEGIN WITH YOU.

LOOKING AT THE POTENTIAL, DO YOU EXPECT HO-CHUNK INCORPORATED TO BE INVOLVED IN MORE THAN THE THREE SITES THAT YOU'’VE ALREADY ANNOUNCED?

>> WE'RE DEFINITELY DOING THE THREE AND WE'’VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH A COUPLE OF THE OTHER TRACKS BOTH IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN COOPERATE OR MAYBE ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING TOGETHER.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S CLEAR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN EXACTLY.

THIS PROCESS IS STILL ONGOING.

IT'S VERY EARLY STILL.

BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> AND THE ONE IN LINCOLN IN PARTICULAR, I THINK WE'’VE GOT SOME VIDEO TO SHOW PEOPLE, BUT DESCRIBE WHAT THAT'’S GOING TO BE LIKE.

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A MAJOR LARGE CASINO BEING BUILT?

>> I THINK OMAHA IS A BIGGER MARKET, BUT IN LINCOLN WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE ROOM, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT OUT FOR A SPIN AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE SOMETHING REALLY PARTICULAR, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL DESTINATION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO LINCOLN FOR EVENTS ALL THE TIME AND SO I THINK IT'’LL JUST ADD TO THE OVERALL DRAW OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> LYNNE MCNALLY, YOU REPRESENT THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY IN THE STATE AND WE'VE HEARD THE STORIES OF THE FINANCIAL STRUGGLES OF THE RACETRACKS IN THE PAST.

WILL CASINO GAMBLING TURN THE SCRIPT AROUND AND BE A FINANCIAL DIFFERENCE MAKER FOR RACETRACKS?

>> IT WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

ACTUALLY, THE DECLINE OF RACING IN NEBRASKA STARTED WITH THE RIVERBOATS IN IOWA OPENING.

AK-SAR-BEN WAS ONE OF THE TOP TEN TRACKS IN THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE CAME FROM MILES AROUND FROM KANSAS CITY AND THE SURROUNDING AREA TO SEE THE RACES.

WHEN THE RIVERBOATS AND CASINO GAMING CAME TO IOWA, IT REALLY PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS.

THAT WAS THE FINAL STRAW FOR THEM.

SO IRONICALLY, CASINO GAMING IN NEBRASKA CAN TURN THIS ALL AROUND.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT HORSE RACING IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEBRASKA WILL BE THE PREMIER SITES AGAIN IN THE UNITED STATES FOR RACING.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> AND CHRIS KOTULAK, YOU HAVE -- YOU'RE THE CEO AT FANNER PARK IN GRAND ISLAND SO YOU'RE USED TO WORKING WITH THE BOTTOM LINE.

CAN YOU KIND OF GIVE US AN IDEA OF THE IMPACT YOU THINK GAMBLING IS GOING TO HAVE FOR FONNER PARK?

>> SURE.

AND LYNNE TOUCHED ON IT ALREADY.

I WOULD ADD TO IT THIS.

THE REASON WHY NEBRASKA IS REALLY AT THE BACK OF THE PACK NOW IS BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO PURSE MONEY TO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED WITH NEBRASKA RACING.

HERE'S THE THING.

THERE ARE MANY NEBRASKANS WHO OWN AND BREED THOROUGHBRED RACE HORSES, BUT THEY'RE BREEDING MINNESOTA BREDS, IOWA BREDS, INDIANA BREDS, OKLAHOMA BREDS, AND SO ON BECAUSE THERE'’S BEEN NO MONEY IN THE LAST 20 YEARS TO RACE FOR HERE.

BUT WITH THE CASINO GAMING, NOW THAT MONEY THAT HAS LEFT THE STATE WILL RETURN INTO THE STATE AND THE AG ARM OF THAT, THOSE THAT ARE PROVIDING FOR THESE THOROUGHBREDS WILL REALLY BE BOLSTERED, AS WELL.

>> AND CHRIS, CAN YOU BRING US UP TO DATE ON WHERE GRAND ISLAND STANDS AS FAR AS BRINGING A CASINO TO TOWN?

>> SURE.

WELL, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK WE'RE ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL BECAUSE THEY ARE ASKING WHERE ARE THOSE GRAND VIDEOS LIKE YOU SAW FOR OMAHA AND LINCOLN.

AND THE REASON IS THAT HO-CHUNK INCORPORATED AND HBPA ALIGNED LONG AGO TO ESTABLISH A PARTNERSHIP.

I WANT TO FIRST SAY THANK YOU TO THE HO-CHUNK INCORPORATED INITIATIVE, BECAUSE WITHOUT THEIR CASINO INITIATIVE, WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

FONNER PARK LED THE CHARGE FOR HISTORICAL HORSE RACING AND SPENT TIME AND MONEY AND EFFORT THERE.

WE DIDN'T WANT GET TO FINISH LINE FIRST.

CLEARLY, THE CASINO GAMES OF CHANCE DID AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

BUT, WE HAVE YET TO DETERMINE WHO OUR CASINO OPERATOR WILL BE.

IT COULD BE HO-CHUNK INCORPORATED, OR IT COULD BE AMONG A NUMBER OF OTHER CASINO OPERATORS THAT WE'RE INTERVIEWING WITH.

LANCE TOUCHED ON IT EARLIER.

IT'S A PROCESS.

THEY HAD A HEAD START, SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO THE BEST THING FOR FONNER PARK, GRAND ISLAND AND CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

>> OVER A THIRD OF NEBRASKANS VOTED AGAINST THOSE GAMBLING INITIATIVES THIS PAST NOVEMBER.

THEY HAD BEEN ON THE WINNING SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT UP UNTIL THIS LAST VOTE.

OPPONENTS ARGUE GAMBLING EXACERBATES SOCIAL PROBLEMS; THE MONEY MAYBE IS TAKEN OUT OF STATE AND INTO THE POCKETS OF CASINO OPERATORS; AND THERE'’S AN ARGUMENT ABOUT MORALITY, AS WELL.

LANCE, I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO ONE OF THOSE 300,000 NEBRASKANS WHO VOTED NO THE LAST TIME AROUND?

>> I THINK IT'S A DEMOCRACY AND CLEARLY THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.

TO GET 65% TO 68% OF AMERICANS TO AGREE ON ANYTHING THESE DAYS IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

AND I -- SO I THINK IT'S -- I THINK IT'S THEIR RIGHT TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO CONDUCT GAMING IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.

WE PUT THIS FORWARD AS A LIMITED EXPANSION OF GAMING.

WE WANTED TO BRING SOME OF THE MONEY AND REVENUE BACK.

A LARGE AMOUNT OF REVENUE IS NOT EXTRA, IT'S JUST OVER IN IOWA.

SO WE'’VE PUT FORWARD A VERY LOGIC-BASED ARGUMENT ON BRINGING IT BACK HERE.

AND THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE TREATED IT AS ENTERTAINMENT AND ACT RESPONSIBLY IS REALLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY NOW TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T BECOME A REAL PROBLEM, AND WE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.

>> IS THERE ANY CREDIBILITY TO THEIR ARGUMENT THAT WE MAY SEE AN INCREASE IN PERSONAL BANKRUPTCIES OR MORE GAMBLING ADDICTION?

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN?

>> WELL, I MEAN, ANYTIME YOU HAVE SOME SORT OF GAMBLING YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SORT OF ABUSE.

WE PUT ASIDE SOME OF THE MONEY TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THOSE ISSUES, AND WE CERTAINLY ARE NOT GOING TO ENCOURAGE IT AND HOPE NOT.

BUT I MEAN, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IN OMAHA ALMOST ALL THE GAMBLING REVENUE THAT WE'RE PROJECTING TO GET IS ALREADY BEING SPENT IN IOWA.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT IS GOING TO CREATE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY CONSIDERING IT'S RIGHT THERE, AND IF YOU LIVE IN LINCOLN YOU'RE AN HOUR AWAY FROM THREE CASINOS, SO I JUST DON'T THINK -- I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE GIANT SHIFT IN SOCIAL BEHAVIOR.

YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE JOBS AND THE TAXES AND THE INCOME STAY HERE.

>> 20% OF CASINO REVENUE IN NEBRASKA WILL BE TAXED.

SOME OTHER STATES TAKE MORE THAN 20% OF THE REVENUE.

OF THE SURROUNDING STATES, SOUTH DAKOTA IS THE ONLY OTHER STATE THAT TAKES LESS -— AND THEY TAKE WAY LESS.

LYNNE, I WANT TO ASK YOU.

DO YOU THINK NEBRASKA SHOULD BE TAKING MORE?

>> WELL, WHAT'S NOT ENUMERATED IN THAT PERCENTAGE IS THAT THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE FEES CHARGED BY THE RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR BACKGROUND CHECKS, DO THE OVERALL MONITORING OF THE CASINOS.

SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ALL THE CASINOS ARE GOING TO BE PAYING.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAYING ADDITIONAL ANNUAL FEES IN LICENSING, REGISTRATION, AND PROBABLY A PER MACHINE COST.

THAT'S JUST THE START OF THE ASSESSMENT.

THAT'S NOT THE END OF THE ASSESSMENT.

>> WE'’RE ALSO DOING SOMETHING UNIQUE.

YOU KNOW, WE'’RE NOT -- THERE'’S ALSO LARGE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES, AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS BUT WE'RE ALSO DOING SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE.

FROM THE BEGINNING, THIS HAS BEEN AN ATTEMPT TO REVIVE AN INDUSTRY THAT WAS ONCE GREAT IN NEBRASKA AND IN AN INDUSTRY THAT CENTERED IN RURAL NEBRASKA, TOO.

AND SO AS CHRIS MENTIONED, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO INTO THE PURSES.

AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS -- WE'RE GOING TO DIVERT A PERCENTAGE OF THAT INTO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE OF DEVELOPING THE RACES.

AND SO IT REALLY IS A -- USUALLY TO GET AN INDUSTRY HERE, THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY ALL KINDS OF TAX INCENTIVES TO DO THAT.

WE'RE CREATING REALLY TWO INDUSTRIES, THE GAMING INDUSTRY AND THE REVIVAL OF ANOTHER ONE.

SO A LOT OF THIS MONEY IS ALLOCATED TOWARDS THAT AND THAT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THE TAX RATE WAS SET.

>> A LOT OF THIS MONEY IS ALLOCATED TOWARDS PROPERTY TAXES.

WE MENTIONED BEFORE 70% OF THE REVENUE WILL GO TOWARDS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FUNDS, 25 PERCENT WILL GO TO CITY OR COUNTY WHERE THE CASINO IS LOCATED.

2.5% WILL GO TO SUPPORTING GAMBLING ADDICTION PROGRAMS AND THE FINAL 2.5% WILL GO TO THE STATE.

ARE YOU ABLE TO PUT DOLLAR AMOUNTS ON THAT AT ALL?

WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO IMPACT THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER'’S PROPERTY TAX BILL OR TO FUND SUBSTANTIAL PROJECTS AT THE CITY AND COUNTY LEVEL?

>> THE AMOUNT AS WE GOT MORE INTO THE DETAILS OF THIS, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEING MILLION THAT'S GOING TO GO INTO THE TAX FUND, BUT WE THINK NOW IT'S GOING TO BE MORE LIKE $100 MILLION DEPENDING HOW THE -- HOW RAPIDLY IT EXPANDS AND GETS OPEN.

OF THAT, 70% IS GOING INTO THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FUND.

SO THAT'S $70 MILLION.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT TRANSLATES ON A -- YOU KNOW ON PER PERSON BASIS, BUT I MEAN IT'S $70 MILLION THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE.

AND IT'S $70 MILLION THAT IOWA HAD THE YEAR BEFORE.

AND SO THERE IS NO WAY IT'S A NEGATIVE.

SO I THINK SOME CRITICISM HAS BEEN IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

BUT YOU KNOW, IN A STATE OUR SIZE IT WILL BE MEANINGFUL, IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT, AND IT WILL PROBABLY CERTAINLY SLOW DOWN SOME OF THE ADVANCES.

IF YOU GET YOUR TAX BILL, IT SEEMS LIKE THE ONE THING THAT CONTINUALLY GOES UP IN THIS STATE.

>> CHRIS KOTULAK, I WANT TO BRING YOU BACK INTO THE CONVERSATION.

I BELIEVE YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE IN OTHER STATES WITH HORSE TRACKS MOVING TO BRING CASINOS IN.

WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN THAT PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS FOR BOTH THE CASINO AND RACETRACK?

>> WELL, I THINK THE IMPORTANT ELEMENT IS COMMUNITY.

I HAVE WORKED AT A NUMBER OF RACETRACKS THAT ALSO HAD CASINOS ON PROPERTY.

THEY USED THE TERM "“RACINO"”, I DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE THAT TERM, BUT WHATEVER, THAT IS THE CASE.

LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA, NEW MEXICO...

I'VE ACTUALLY WORKED JUST AT A CASINO THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH RACETRACK, AS WELL.

SO I HAVE SOME BACK OF HOUSE OPERATIONS HAVING BEEN AN EXECUTIVE CASINO HOST AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY ENLIGHTENING.

THAT WAS A LIFETIME AGO, LAST MILLENNIUM, IN SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA, THE SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER AREA I WILL HAVE TO SAY THIS.

TALK ABOUT WHAT NEGATIVE ASPECT WILL CASINOS BRING TO A COMMUNITY.

HOW ABOUT THE POSITIVE ASPECTS, WHICH CERTAINLY OUT WEIGH THE NEGATIVE?

WHEN I MOVED TO SHREVEPORT, THAT TOWN, THAT CITY, THAT COMMUNITY WAS STAGNANT AND THAT'S THE KIND OF WORD I CAN SAY.

WITH THE CASINOS THAT CAME TOWN, PEOPLE WERE QUITE LITERALLY COMING OUT OF THE WOODS TO HAVE A JOB AND HAVE BENEFITS.

AND NOW THEY HAD MONEY AND THERE ARE MANY PARTS OF THAT TOWN THAT JUST STARTED TO BLOOM WITH THE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, MERCHANTS CAME TO TOWN, PEOPLE STARTED BUYING NEW HOMES AND IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE RENAISSANCE, IF YOU WILL, MAYBE THAT'S TOO BIG OF A WORD FOR NORTH LOUISIANA, BUT IT HAPPENED AND IT HAPPENED ELSEWHERE AND IT PROVIDED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF JOBS, BUT RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY OF GRAND ISLAND, WE'RE LOOKING SOMEWHERE AROUND 350 JOBS ONCE WE GET TO FULL SPEED AHEAD.

ALL OF THAT WILL ADD UP AND A VARIETY OF OTHER WAYS WILL ADD TO THE COMMUNITY ENDEAVOR.

>> CHRIS, WITH ALL THIS TALK ABOUT THE GAMBLING COMING IN, DOES IT WORRY YOU AT ALL THAT SOME OF THE ATTENTION MAY BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE SPORT OF HORSE RACING?

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT.

AND I WILL SAY THIS, THAT BACK IN THE '80S AND '90S WHEN AK-SAR-BEN ROUTINELY HAD 20,000 PEOPLE THERE ON SATURDAYS, WHAT WE LEARNED WITH THE ADDITION OF DOG TRACKS AND LOTTERY AND KENO AND OTHER RACETRACKS OPENING IS, THOSE PEOPLE WEREN'T NECESSARILY ALL RACING FANS.

THEY JUST LIKED TO GO OUT AND HAVE SOME ACTION AND HAVE A BET.

WE WILL TAKE A HIT HERE AT FONNER PARK, ULTIMATELY, WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO THE RACES.

FONNER PARK IS KIND OF UNIQUE.

WE ARE ONE OF JUST A VERY FEW RACETRACKS THAT ROUTINELY SELL OUT EVERY SATURDAY IN THE NATION WITH AN 11-WEEK RACE MEET.

WE STILL HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE THAT THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS BUT THAT WILL TAKE ITS TOLL.

THERE WILL BE A HIT ON OUR MUTUAL HANDLE, AND WE HAVE TO FACTOR THAT IN INTO OUR FINANCIAL MACHINATIONS ON MAKING THIS ALL WORK.

>> LYNNE, WE KNOW WE HAVE CASINOS ALREADY ON SEVERAL OF OUR BORDERS.

IS THERE ANY DANGER IN BUILDING TOO MANY CASINOS THAT COULD HURT BOTH THE CASINOS AND THE RACETRACKS?

>> WE DON'T BELIEVE SO.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE CASINOS IN IOWA WILL BE HURT, BUT I'LL BE HONEST I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE MONEY BACK INTO NEBRASKA AND KEEP IT HERE.

THAT HAS BEEN OUR MAIN GOAL FROM DAY ONE AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

I THINK THAT THE MARKET IN OMAHA IS FAIRLY SATURATED, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE NEBRASKA CUSTOMERS BACK WITHIN OUR BORDERS TO SPEND THE MONEY HERE.

AND LINCOLN IS KIND OF A UNIQUE SITUATION.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING CLOSE BY.

SO I THINK THAT THE OPPORTUNITY IN LINCOLN IN PARTICULAR IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE.

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO STARTING WITH 50 DAYS OF RACING IN LINCOLN, HOPEFULLY GOING UP TO 100.

SO, I GUESS WE HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION THAN CHRIS DOES ABOUT RACING.

WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING IT AT THE CASINO BECAUSE WE THINK WHAT'S GOING TO BE A MUTUAL ENHANCEMENT.

SO WE THINK THAT RACING CUSTOMERS WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE CASINO AMENITIES AND WE THINK THAT CASINO CUSTOMERS WHO MAY NOT BE A BIG FAN OF RACING MAY CHECK IT OUT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND WE THINK IT WILL BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL AND VERY EXCITING.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> LANCE, I WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, THAT YOU WROTE IN THE "OMAHA WORLD HERALD."

YOU SAID, "“I NEVER SAW THIS COMING.

IN ONE GENERATION THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE HAS EVOLVED OUT OF EXTREME POVERTY BY LEVERAGING A SMALL CASINO TO BUILD A LARGE CORPORATE ENTITY WHICH SOON WILL BE THE LARGEST PROPERTY TAXPAYER IN THE STATE.

YOU REALLY CANNOT MAKE THIS STUFF UP.

"” WHAT DOES THE APPROVAL OF CASINO GAMBLING MEAN FOR THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE?

>> WELL, THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE HAS A CASINO, BUT IT'S MODEST AND IT REALLY STRUGGLED WITH COVID.

BUT IT DID REALLY WELL IN THE EARLY '‘90S BEFORE THE EXPANSION OF GAMING IN IOWA HURT IT.

SO WE HAVE A VERY SIMILAR STORY TO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HORSE RACES.

IT'S JUST THAT WE TOOK SOME OF THE MONEY AND STARTED HO-CHUNK, INC. WE BELIEVE IN COMING FULL CIRCLE.

WE'RE BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THEIR BUSINESS AND BRING IT TO NEBRASKA.

WE'VE HAD THIS -- WE'VE BEEN WATCHING SOMEBODY EAT OUR LUNCH FOR 20 YEARS.

AND NOT CARE ABOUT US.

AND SO US GOING INTO THE TRACK IN SOUTH SIOUX AND THE PARTNERING WITH THE HORSEMEN HAS GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY AS WE'VE GROWN AS A CORPORATE ENTITY AND DEVELOPED THE SKILL SETS -- WE HAVE BECOME A LARGE COMPANY IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY DO THIS AND REALLY SET OUR TRIBE AND OUR PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT PATH FOR THE FUTURE.

WE STRUGGLED WITH GENERATIONS, GENERATIONS OF POVERTY, AND FIGURING OUT A WAY TO USE THE SYSTEM THAT HAS SUPPRESSED US TO ACTUALLY HELP US AND GIVE US OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE NEVER WOULD HAVE DREAMED POSSIBLE.

IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE AND IT WAS MY IDEA.

AND SO WE'RE PRETTY HAPPY ABOUT IT.

>> LYNNE, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE NOW THAT GAMBLING HAS BEEN APPROVED THAT YOU SEE THE RACETRACKS OR THE CASINOS INDUSTRY BRINGING BEFORE VOTERS OR BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE THAT YOU WANT TO SEE PASSED?

>> NO, CHAIRMAN BRIESE OF THE GENERAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE BROUGHT A COUPLE OF WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER CLEANUP BILLS IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR TO CLARIFY SPORTS BETTING, FOR EXAMPLE, SO THAT IT STAYS AT THE RACETRACK AND IS CONTAINED SO IT'S NOT IN HUNDREDS OF LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, OTHER THAN MAYBE SOME TECHNICAL CLARIFICATIONS OR SOMETHING, I -- I DON'T SEE US COMING FORWARD WITH ANYTHING NEW.

WE HAD OUR THREE INITIATIVES IN NOVEMBER.

WE'RE THRILLED THAT ALL THREE PASSED, AND WE'RE JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THESE FACILITIES OPEN AS ARE THE OTHER LOCATIONS, I'M SURE.

>> THANKS, LYNNE.

AND CHRIS KOTULAK, JUST SECONDS OR SO.

I KNOW FONNER'’S OPENING DAY IS COMING UP FEBRUARY 19, I BELIEVE.

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE A CASINO AT FONNER PARK?

WHAT'S THE TIMELINE?

>> YOU WOULDN'T HEAR THE FIRST SLOT MACHINE BELL RING UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR AT THE VERY SOONEST, AND THAT WOULD BE IN SOME SORT OF ROLL-OUT PHASE.

WHATEVER WE DO, IT'S GOING TO MAKE THE HORSEMEN AND THE COMMUNITY OF NEBRASKA PROUD.

WE WANT SOMETHING JUST AS DAZZLING AS WHAT LINCOLN AND OMAHA WILL ROLL OUT, AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHRIS KOTULAK, THE CEO OF FONNER PARK IN GRAND ISLAND, ALSO LYNNE MCNALLY, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NEBRASKA HORSEMEN'’S BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE AGENCY AND LANCE MORGAN, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HO-CHUNK, INC.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US.

THIS INTERVIEW AND TONIGHT'S PROGRAM ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.

JUST GO TO NETNEBRASKA.ORG/ SPEAKINGOFNEBRASKA.

AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT NET NEWS NEBRASKA.

LET'’S SPEND A FEW MINUTES ON THE LATEST WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

HERE TO DO THAT IS DR. JIM NORA, THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF INFECTION PREVENTION AT BRYAN MEDICAL CENTER.

DR. NORA, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>> THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU OFF THE TOP ABOUT THE NEW STRAIN OF THE CORONAVIRUS THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT, AND THERE HAS BEEN REPORTS THAT IT'S EVEN MORE INFECTIOUS THAN THE ORIGINAL STRAIN.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT IT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, ONE WE GET A LOT, AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF NEW STRAINS THAT ARE BEING SEEN AROUND THE WORLD.

AND THEY'’RE CERTAINLY HERE IN THE U.S., AS WELL.

THERE'’S CERTAINLY SOME SPECULATION THAT THEY COULD BE MORE TRANSMISSIBLE.

HOWEVER, WE REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN NUMBERS OF CASES WE SEE EVERY WEEK, AND FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS WE HAVE SEEN NATIONWIDE AND IN NEBRASKA A STEADY AND CONTINUOUS DECLINE IN CASES.

SO, TO ME, THAT SPEAKS SOMEWHAT AGAINST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THIS STRAIN IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE.

WE DON'T KNOW ALL FACTS YET, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED.

>> DO WE THINK THE NEW STRAINS ARE ACTUALLY IN NEBRASKA AT THIS TIME?

>> I THINK IT'S LIKELY THAT THERE ARE SOME NEW STRAINS HERE.

THERE ARE NEW STRAINS IN COLORADO, IN WYOMING, MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, MANY STATES THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TO NEBRASKA.

SO I SUSPECT THERE ARE SOME STRAINS HERE IN NEBRASKA, BUT THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN PROVEN.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT HOSPITALIZATIONS BECAUSE THEY DROPPED BELOW 10% LAST WEEK AND THAT ALLOWED GOVERNOR RICKETTS TO MOVE EVERYTHING INTO THE GREEN OR THE LOWEST DIRECTED HEALTH MEASURE.

THAT MEANS ACROSS THE STATE WITH LINCOLN BEING THE EXCEPTION, INDOOR GATHERINGS CAN BE 100% OF CAPACITY NOW.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS WITH THAT?

COULD WE BE DOING THIS TOO SOON?

>> THAT'S ALWAYS A CONCERN, AND IT IS CERTAINLY GREAT NEWS TO SEE OUR CASES DROPPING, BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY CAUTION FOLKS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT AND TO NOT NECESSARILY JUMP RIGHT INTO LARGE GATHERINGS.

THERE IS A LARGE SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION THAT IS NOT IMMUNE RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE NEITHER SEEN COVID NOR HAVE HAD THE VACCINE.

AND THOSE PEOPLE REMAIN EXQUISITELY VULNERABLE TO INFECTION.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT VACCINATIONS, AS WELL.

207,000 NEBRASKANS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, ALMOST 4% OF THE ELIGIBLE POPULATION AT THIS POINT.

A WHOLE STATE IS EXPECTED TO BE IN PHASE 1 B THIS WEEK VACCINATING ELDERLY AND THE HIGH RISK, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER HIGH PROFILE TYPES OF GROUPS.

HOW DO YOU THINK OVERALL THE VACCINATION PROCESS IS GOING FOR NEBRASKA?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING WELL.

THERE HAVE BEEN OCCASIONAL HICCUPS IN TERMS OF GETTING THINGS OUT, BUT I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST LIMITING FACTOR IS THE SUPPLY OF VACCINE.

I THINK WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO VACCINATE EVEN MORE INDIVIDUALS IF WE HAD MORE VACCINE, AND THAT'S THE WAY WE WANT IT TO BE.

WE WANT TO HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO VACCINATE EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO GET A VACCINE.

WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON NOW IS AMPLE SUPPLY.

>> DO YOU SEE ANY PROMISES THAT THAT'S GOING TO IMPROVE IN THE FUTURE?

THAT SUPPLY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'LL HAVE A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL VACCINES AVAILABLE SOON.

IN FIGHTING THIS PANDEMIC WORLDWIDE, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A VARIETY OF VACCINES AND ONE THAT IS PARTICULARLY EXCITING I THINK IS THE UPCOMING VACCINE FROM JOHNSON AND JOHNSON WHICH IS JUST A SINGLE INJECTION.

THAT'S NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THE TWO-STAGE VACCINES, BUT IT IS MUCH MORE EASY TO DELIVER TO SOME DIFFICULT-TO-REACH POPULATIONS.

>> THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.

DR. JIM NORA, FROM BRYAN HEALTH, THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF INFECTIOUS PREVENTION, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN FOLLOW THE NET NEWS TEAM'’S COVERAGE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AT NETNEBRASKA.ORG/CORONAVIRUS.

ALSO, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE BRYAN HEALTH SITE, THEY'LL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS THERE REGARDING THE VACCINATION PROCESS.

THAT'S BRYANHEALTH.ORG/VACCINE.

♪ >> THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE IS DIGGING INTO WHAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE SOME OF THE MAJOR ISSUES IT DEALS WITH THIS SESSION, AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'’S GOING ON IS NET NEWS LEGISLATIVE REPORTER FRED KNAPP.

FRED, WHERE HAS THE DISCUSSION LED US THIS WEEK?

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES, OF COURSE, IS POLICE REFORM.

THIS GROWS OUT OF THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD LAST YEAR AT THE HANDS OF THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE AND THE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT FOLLOWED THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING IN NEBRASKA.

AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.

LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED INDEPENDENT CIVILIAN POLICE REVIEW BOARDS IN CITIES OF 5,000 OR MORE.

THIS YEAR SENATOR MCKINNEY FROM OMAHA RESTRICTED IT INITIALLY TO LINCOLN AND OMAHA, AND THESE WOULD BE BOARDS THAT WOULD EVALUATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE MISCONDUCT AND THEN RECOMMEND DISCIPLINE.

THE THEORY IS THAT THESE WOULD BE INDEPENDENT BOARDS, THEY WOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND CONFIRMED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT THEY WOULD BE INDEPENDENT.

BUT, IT MET RESISTANCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING OMAHA POLICE CHIEF TODD SCHMADERER WHO SAID THAT THESE BOARDS ACTUALLY HISTORICALLY RECOMMEND LIGHTER DISCIPLINE THAN POLICE CHIEFS IMPOSE AND THAT ACCOUNTABILITY OUGHT TO REMAIN WITH THE CHIEFS.

>> THAT'S A PRETTY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

ARE THERE OTHER PROPOSALS THAT DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES?

>> YES, THERE'S A BIG BILL BY SENATOR STEVE LATHROP, THE CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THAT HAS A NUMBER OF ELEMENTS DESIGNED TO SEPARATE -- WEED OUT THE BAD COPS FROM THE GOOD ONES, INCLUDING MORE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS IN DE-ESCALATION, PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING OF APPLICANTS, YOU COULDN'T HAVE HAD YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT LICENSES SUSPENDED OR REVOKED ELSEWHERE, IT PROHIBITS THE USE OF CHOKE HOLDS OR CAROTID ARTERY HOLDS UNLESS IT'S A SITUATION WHERE DEADLY FORCE WOULD BE JUSTIFIED.

IT REQUIRES OFFICERS TO INTERVENE IF THEY THINK ONE OF THEIR COLLEAGUES IS USING EXCESSIVE FORCE.

AND THIS ONE GOT SUPPORT BOTH FROM THE ACLU AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LATHROP SAID HE THINKS THEY REALIZED THAT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE AFTER THE EVENTS OF LAST YEAR.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GAMBLING TONIGHT, SO GAMBLING WAS KIND OF CENTER STAGE IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK, AS WELL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE WAS A BIG HEARING, VOTERS APPROVED GAMES OF CHANCE AT RACETRACKS AND THE DISCUSSION DURING THE CAMPAIGN WAS THAT THAT MEANT CASINOS, BUT NOW SENATOR BRIESE WHO IS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THIS SAYS HE THINKS IT INCLUDES SPORTS WAGERING, AS WELL, AND SO THAT IS IN HIS BILL.

BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT AT THE RACETRACK.

OPPONENTS OF THE INITIATIVE CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR SAY "“NO, NO, SPORTS BETTING WAS NOT PART OF IT,"” AND THERE IS A SEPARATE PROPOSAL FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE IT ANYWHERE.

>> WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT PROPERTY TAXES AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.

ANY MOVEMENT THERE?

>> THERE IS A PROPOSAL FOR A SCHOOL FINANCE REVIEW COMMISSION, BECAUSE SCHOOLS ARE THE BIGGEST USERS OF PROPERTY TAXES.

IT WOULD STUDY IT AND MAKE PRESUMABLY RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED IN THE LATE '80S, THEY INCREASED THE SALES AND INCOME TAX IN ORDER TO PROVIDE MORE SCHOOL AID, BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL COMPLAINING ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES, SO IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THIS WOULD BE.

>> AND IN THE WEEK AHEAD, WE'’VE GOT MORE HEARINGS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'’VE GOT A PROPOSAL TO LIMIT SCHOOLS TO GETTING ONLY A THIRD OF THEIR REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES.

THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO REDUCE WHERE PRISONERS COULD GO TO CLASSES AND REDUCE THEIR SENTENCES THAT WAY.

AND A PROPOSAL FOR AN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE ST. FRANCIS CONTRACT -- THAT'’S THE CHILD WELFARE CONTRACT IN EASTERN NEBRASKA, THAT HAS HAD COST OVERRUNS.

>> FRED, THANKS FOR KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THE LEGISLATURE FOR US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FRED KNAPP KEEPS US INFORMED ON WHAT'’S HAPPENING IN THE LEGISLATURE EVERY DAY.

LISTEN FOR HIS UPDATES ON NET RADIO AT 4:54 AND 7:45 WEEKDAY MORNINGS, AND 5:45 IN THE EVENING AND READ HIS STORIES EVERY DAY ON OUR WEBSITE AT NETNEBRASKA.ORG/NEWS.

♪ THAT'’S ALL FOR THIS WEEK ON "SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA."

THANKS TO LANCE MORGAN, LYNNE MCNALLY AND CHRIS KOTULAK, AS WELL AS DR. JIM NORA, FOR JOINING US.

AND TO FRED KNAPP FOR HIS REPORTING.

NEXT WEEK, JOIN US FOR A DISCUSSION ABOUT ECONOMIC RECOVERY FROM THE PANDEMIC AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE.

UNTIL THEN, I'’M NET NEWS DIRECTOR DENNIS KELLOGG.

THANKS FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US.

WE'’LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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