Opinion | Arlington Citizen

As portions of Washington County remain in either a severe or extreme drought depending on location, do you plan to stick to your normal lawn practices this year?

4/14/23

LB 583 to invest millions into Nebraska education system

Last week, we worked towards property tax relief here at the legislature, starting with how we fund our schools. Nebraska is ranked 49th in state aid for school funding because of the formula we … more

By Sen. Ben Hansen | 4/14/23

Letter to the editor

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and The Bridge is hosting a few events to show our support for those who have been impacted by sexual assault and remind everyone that … more

4/11/23

Alcohol importation, broadband and corporate income taxes

We are finally making headway here in Lincoln, slowly but surely. After a passionate debate last week, the majority of senators voted to change the rules of the Legislature to encourage the body … more

By Sen. Ben Hansen | 4/7/23

Volunteer firefighters deserve our appreciation

The five Washington County volunteer fire departments — Blair, Kennard, Herman, Arlington and Fort Calhoun — are constantly on the move fighting grass and structure fires, assisting … more

4/7/23

All about the Galapagos Islands

About 600 miles west of Ecuador, South America, in the Pacific Ocean are a group of small islands called the Galapagos Islands. They came into existence millions of years ago when volcanoes on … more

By Larrie Stone | 4/7/23

Are you going to watch Nebraska's spring game this year?

4/7/23

Letter to the editor

Candidate Jim Pillen didn't speak to us (the public) before the election, and he still does not speak to us since the election. In the majority of the other statewide races this past November, … more

4/6/23

Donkeys: Underappreciated animals

The donkey (aka burro or ass) is a hoofed mammal in the same family as the horse and zebra. They have long, floppy ears and tend to be stockier than horses or zebras. Donkeys come in a variety … more

By Larrie Stone | 3/31/23

Editorial: Pillen stealth mode is curious

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen apparently must consider himself a stealth governor. Since taking office three months ago, he has not provided schedules for his day-to-day activities nor that of … more

3/31/23

Hansen: 'Legislature at a standstill'

This session has been unique in that we are more than 50 days into the 90-day session without a single bill ready for the governor’s signature. When a bill gets voted out of committee, it … more

By Sen. Ben Hansen | 3/31/23

As the temperatures slowly begin to rise, do you make your kids go play outdoors and away from their gaming consoles and computers?

a. We plan activities with our kids to get them outdoors and playing when it is nice. b. We limit their “screen time” and they are hardly ever home as … more

3/30/23

Legislature wraps up hearings

This week marked the final week of hearings for over 800 bills introduced in the 108 th Legislature. I completed this phase of the session by presenting two bills before the Appropriations … more

By Sen. Ben Hansen | 3/24/23

EDITORIAL: Women’s History Month applies to Washington County, too

In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week. After several states made a routine of declaring March as Women’s … more

3/17/23

Hansen: 'The postcard bill' sees no opposition

The only bill of mine that was referred to the Revenue Committee was heard last week without opposition. LB 529 made changes to what many call “the postcard bill.” In September of … more

Sen. Ben Hansen | 3/17/23

How many college basketball brackets are you filling out this year?

3/17/23

Fine arts in schools should be celebrated

With the spring season upon us, many schools across the county are preparing for their performances and competitions in the fine arts realm. Fine arts encapsulate visual art, theater and music, … more

3/10/23

Corn's many uses

Corn (also called maize), like wheat and rice, is a grass that has become highly modified by artificial selection and recent genetic technology. We use the seeds or "grains" for a variety … more

By Larrie Stone | 3/10/23

Hansen: Education bills on Legislative docket

We were finally able to engage in substantive debate last week with conversations surrounding LB 77. This bill would help Nebraska join 25 other states in allowing its citizens to carry a concealed … more

By Ben Hansen | 3/10/23

What modern convenience do you wish was never invented?

3/10/23

EDITORIAL: A salute to two great leaders

Two individuals who have made a huge impact on the Washington County community have recently accepted new positions elsewhere, and it's important to take time to focus on their achievements and all … more

3/3/23

Letter to the editor

LB 626 is the abortion ban bill currently being debated in the Nebraska legislature (It technically bans abortion at six weeks, which is an abortion ban). Under this new law, Nebraska women and girls … more

3/3/23

A deep dive into black widows

Spiders are easily recognized by the four pairs of seven-segmented legs. There are more than 35,000 named species worldwide, including more than 3,000 in North America. However, there … more

By Larrie Stone | 3/3/23

POLL: With the announcement of the Husker volleyball team playing at Memorial Stadium this August, what do you think the attendance numbers will be?

3/3/23

EDITORIAL: FCCS track, football field project a benefit to community

A major victory took place in Fort Calhoun as the Board of Education unanimously voted to move forward with the track and football field renovation plan at its Feb.13 meeting. The plan includes … more

2/24/23