from Truth Be Tolled event
VIP is excited to share about our recent fundraiser, the Truth Be Tolled handbell benefit concert held on July 31, 2026. It included 5 key components, and we are grateful to say that thanks to the generosity of the attendees, as well as some who donated before (and some who are continuing to donate), nearly half of VIP’s expenses were raised for this year.
1) The music!
Unfortunately, the handbell music cannot be "replayed" here, but we can report the excellent content the Truth Be Tolled duo provided in celebrating the USA's 250th. First, we introduce the musicians: Juanita Thurow, …
For several months we have presented information on the petitions in circulation in our "To Sign or Not to Sign, That is the Question" series. Only a few of those petitions acquired enough signatures to be submitted for verification. Currently all the county clerks and/or county election offices are verifying signatures on those petitions.
Much of the following information was acquired from a Plains Sentinel article that you can access in full, here.
Three separate groups have announced that they have turned in signatures for their ballot initiatives, including:
“Tax Relief Nebraska,” a pair of initiatives that would legalize …
"To Sign or not to Sign" series
UN-SIGNING
It doesn't happen often, and it takes some due diligence to make it happen, but if you or someone you know wishes they had not signed one or more of the petitions being circulated, they can "un-sign". These should be completed by June 30, 2026.
To do so requires contacting the County Election Office - sometimes that is the County Clerk. They have an affidavit you sign stating which petition(s) you wish to remove your signature from, and it has to be notorized. Following find the contact information for the offices in our 7-county target area:
Douglas County: …
"To Sign or Not to Sign" series
The last four petitions in circulation deal with how Nebraska should conduct its elections; strengthening the voice of the people in referendums by making it harder for the Legislature to override them; and reserving women’s spaces to biological females.
The first two are proposed by “Advocates For All Nebraskans,” the same group that proposed three of the initiatives intending to reduce property taxes, which we covered in March. Their two amendments are (a) a constitutional amendment to require paper ballots and hand counts for all elections, and (b) winner-take-all presidential elections.
1) Hand Count Ballots for Elections Constitutional Amendment
"A …
"To Sign or Not to Sign" series
TEACHER MINIMUM PAY
The petitions being circulated say:
Establish a statewide minimum base salary for certificated public school teachers.
The details of how the statute would be written are included here.
Explanation:
Base Pay for Teachers
Advocates for All Nebraskans, the same group which proposed the property tax and valuation petitions that we covered last month, is also attempting to tackle the property tax problem from another angle. One of the biggest drivers of property tax is schools, which are largely funded locally. A large percentage of property tax goes to fund schools—especially teacher salaries—and beyond that, it is …
For the in-between time between election cycles
Higher Education
Voters elect two groups of leaders in higher education: the Board of Regents for the University of Nebraska system, and the Board of Governors for the community colleges. [The state colleges, Peru, Wayne, Chadron, are managed under the auspices of a Governor appointed Board.] Each of these groups has its own responsibilities and resources. This month, we will focus on the Regents’ responsibilities.
Board of Regents
The University of Nebraska system includes the following schools:
- University of Nebraska at Lincoln, including the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
- University of Nebraska at Omaha
- University of Nebraska at Kearney
- University …
