Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 10

2B Lincoln Journal Star Wednesday, April 2, 2008 LOCAL Fluoridation bill wins first-round OK Calls, door hangers criticize senator over immigration the people, Johnson told senators Monday that the Nebraska Mission of Mercy and the Nebraska Dental Association held free dental clinics in three communities North Platte, Norfolk and Grand Island in the past three years that did not have fluoride in the water. Dental workers saw more than 4,000 patients in those cities and provided more than $1.5 million in free dental care. Much of that work, Johnson said, couldj have been avoided with fluoridated water. "Do the right thing for youth throughout the state and those of us who are a little bit older," he told senators. The cost to add fluoride to water, according to the Nebraska partment of Healdl and Human Services, is about $5,000 per city treatment point.

Annual operation and maintenance is about 1 0 percent of the capital cost Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoungjoumalstar.com. hibit the demineralization process that occurs when a person eats sugar or refined carbohydrates that interact with bacteria in the mouUi to produce acid. That acid removes minerals from the tooth surface, and after a while, a cavity can form. Omaha Sen. Don Preister continued to express his concern Tuesday that fluoride could be harmful to children because no one knows the amount they are ingesting from water and other sources.

"I'm at least one voice, and as long as I have one voice, I'm going to be speaking out for the kids, Preister said. Johnson said every Legislature needs a Sen. Preister who will question what is best for the environment and the people in that environment. Senators defeated ah attempt to tack on to the bill an amendment that would have allowed city councils and village boards to make the decision on fluoridation rather than sending it to a vote of alarming changes he has seen since returning to the Legislature is the partisan activity that goes on outside the Legislature. But it will not influence what goes on inside, he said.

"We need to put partisan politics aside when we're running the Legislature," he said. The Judiciary Committee is not going to pander to political or special interest groups in dealing with issues that could be "hot-button wedge issues," he said. State Republican Party Chairman Mark Quandahl said the messages were not necessarily motivated by partisan politics. Lathrop made illegal immigration a priority in his campaign, Quandahl said, "and we thought it would behoove us to educate voters on the differences in what the candidate would say to get elected and the way he acted when in office." The party did not target other Democrats or Republicans on the committee who voted to kill the bill. "This is just the first of the ed-.

ucational efforts," he said. "We'll see what we do in the future." Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoungjournalstar.com. Heineman and Attorney General Jon Bruning, that would have required state and local agencies to verify the legal status of immigrants seeking benefits. The bill failed to get out of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee when members voted 5-1 to kill it. Lathrop, vice chairman of the committee, and Omaha Sen.

Brad Ashford, the committee chairman, did not vote on the kill motion. Ashford called a news ence Tuesday afternoon to "set the record straight." He said he and Lathrop intended to work on a compromise that included retaining the part of the bill that dealt with public benefits but not including rescinding resident tuition for illegal immigrants. In the end, they could not get five votes in the committee to reconsider the kill motion. The Republican messages do not accurately depict what went on during the committee's discussion and vote on the immigration bill, Ashford said. The messages were an effort to embarrass Lathrop, a talented contributor to the Legislature, he said.

Ashford, who is a Republican, said Tuesday that one of the most BY JoANNE YOUNG Lincoln Journal Star It's not an election year in Omaha Legislative District 12, but even so, partisan politics has descended on voters. Last week, it was automated Ehone calls; this week, it's door angers, paid for by the Nebraska Republican Party, criticizing Sen. Steve Lathrop, a Democrat. The calls and door hangers said Lathrop had failed to support a bill that would have banned benefits to illegal immigrants, even though he said during his campaign in 2006 he was going to be tough on illegal immigration. The door hangers, one of which Lamrop found on his own door Tuesday morning, said: "Apparently Senator Lathrop has no problem with illegal immigrants taking advantage of the system while Nebraska taxpayers foot the bill." Lathrop said the content of the calls and door hangers was "completely false." "There's no place for that kind of politics in the Legislature," he said.

The partisan communications referred to a bill (LB963), on behalf of Republican Gov. Dave Corporate farming Proposed limitations on nonfamily farm corporations is now 'dead for this MICHAEL PAULSENLincoln Journal Star Clayton Anderson signs autographs for students during an LPS science fair held Tuesday at Pershing Center. Anderson shares space stories with students bill pulled How they voted Senators defeated an amendment (AM2319), that would have replaced LB1174, an anti-corporate farming measure that was getting first-round debate. Debate was stopped Tuesday by the bill's introducer, Sen. Cap Dierks.

Voting yes (20): Ashford, Avery, Chambers, Christensen, Dubas, Howard, Hudkins, Karpisek, Kopplin, Kruse, Lathrop, McDonald, McGill, Nantkes, Nelson, Preister, Schimek, Synowiecki, Wallman, White Voting no (27): Adams, Aguilar, Burling, Carlson, Cornell, Erdman, Fischer, Rood, Friend, Fulton, Gay, Hansen, Harms, Heidemann, janssen, Johnson, Langemeier, Lautenbaugh, Louden, Pahls, Pankonin, Pedersen, Pirsch, Raikes, Rogert, Wightman Present not voting (2): Dierks, Engel There's more regulation of livestock operations, and all but five Nebraska counties now have zoning regulations, he pointed out "We can't assume that the solution in 1982 is right for 2008," he said. Reach Nancy Hicks at 478-7250 or nhicksjournalstar.com. get paid this month by Joanne young Lincoln Journal Star Twenty-nine senators indicated Tuesday they trusted the information on fluoridated water supplies with a first-round vote to approve the mandatory treatment of water in Nebraska cities or villages with populations of more than 1,000. The bill (LB245) that advanced on a 29-4 vote would offer an opt-out clause for city residents to vote on the issue in their cities either by initiative petition or by a vote of the City Council or village board to place it on the ballot. Sixty-four of the affected com- niunities do not fluoridate their water.

'Seni Joel Johnson, the bill's sponsor, reiterated his position and thatoftheCentersfor Disease Control and Prevention that fluoridation is a safe, effective way to prevent tooth decay. The past five surgeons general have supported it and encouraged communities to fluoridate their water. Fluoride helps to reverse or in- Man enters plea in sexual assault case Rex Holman, 53, pleaded no contest Tuesday in the 2003 sexual assault of a Lincoln girl. Holman could receive up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine at his sentencing in Lancaster County District Court on June 26. He entered the plea Tuesday to third-degree sexual assault, a The Lancaster County attor-.

ney's office had charged Holman with several felony counts arising from allegations he had illicit contact with the girl beginning in 2003 and ending in early 2005. The victim is now 19. Holman pleaded no contest Tuesday to an allegation he pulled down the girl's underwear and touched her genitalia in August 2003. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed not to file additional charges against Holman. Man gets 10-20 years in vehicle deaths Lancaster County District Judge Karen Rowers sentenced Brett E.

Griffin to 10 to 20 years in prison Tuesday in the motor vehicle deaths of two Southeast Community College students last year. Griffin, 40, had entered a plea of no contest in January to a single count of felony motor vehicle the judge consid- ered both deaths in setting his sentence. Authorities said Griffin was driving a Monte Carlo north on 84th Street on June 10 after a night of drinking when he attempted to turn left on Havelock Avenue. A southbound motorcycle operated by Josh Milana, 20, collided with the car. Milaha and his passenger, Morgan Hohnbaum, 18, died as a result.

A prosecutor said at the plea hearing Milana was going fast but that Griffin still could have seen him in time. Griffin's blood-alcohol content was 0.158, or nearly double the legal limit, authorities said. Copter crash suits settled for $18 AM The Associated Press OMAHA Three families will receive $18.4 million to settle their lawsuits over a 2002 medical helicopter crash, in Norfolk that killed three people aboard. The multimillion-dollar settlement is thought to be the largest ever in Nebraska. The families' three lawsuits were dismissed in Lancaster County District Court on Tuesday because of the settlement.

Six companies that made and maintained the helicopter and its key components agreed to pay the families but did not admit any wrongdoing. The helicopter's French manufacturer, Eurocopter also promised to require more frequent inspections of the part that was believed to have caused the crash. The LifeNet of the Heartland helicopter had just left a Norfolk hospital June 21, 2002, when the pilot reported trouble. Thecopter crashed at the Norfolk airport. Killed in the crash were Lori Schrempp, 41, an emergency room nurse from Yankton, S.D.; pilot Phil Herring, 43, of Lincoln; and paramedic Patrick Scollard, 40, of Sioux City, Iowa.

The National Transportation Safety Board ruled in 2004 that a faulty tail rotor and an inexperienced pilot were the likely causes of the crash. BY NANCY HICKS Lincoln Journal Star A bill that would have limited farming by nonfamily corporations is dead for the year. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Cap Dierks of Ewing, pulled it. from consideration after the Legislature failed Tuesday morning to adopt the committee amendment that was the heart of the measure (LB 11 74).

The amendment received 20 of the necessary 25 votes for passage. "It's dead for this year," Dierks said after that decision. Dierks said he didn't know whether he would offer a corporate farming option next year. "People (who support die bill) have come and told me we should. I'm waiting for the opposition to come and tell me we should," he said.

Senators spent more than four hours Monday and Tuesday debating the merits of retaining owner-operated farms and the problems with trying to limit corporate ownership of land and ag operations. Supporters of limiting non-family farm corporations believe that those who own and live on the land are more likely to take care of the natural resource. In fact, the state's fairly strict ban on nonfamily corporate farming Plan to increase fuel tax (Initiative 300) was passed by voters during a time when corporate operaiions were plowing, irrigating and destroying the fragile Sandhills. The federal courts overturned Initiative 300, and the bill (LB 1 174) was an attempt to have some control over nonfamily farm corporation operations in the state. "There's not a place in hell low enough for a person who is going to deplete the soil and then walk away from it because he can make some money on the short haul," Omaha Sen.

Lowen Kruse said. "This (bill) is a matter of stewardship. This is a matter of caring," Kruse said. "I recognize that a family corporation may not be sensitive to this, but they are far more likely to be sensitive than someone who is living out of the state." "Are they (owner-operated) better stewards? You're darn right. We are better stewards; it's our land," said Sen.

Phil Erdman of Bayard. But agriculture has changed since voters put the, state's corporate; fanning ban (Initiative 300) into the constitution in 1982, Erdman said, noting that he was 5 years old and couldn't vote in 1982. advances Irrigators to Wit iv READ MORE MORE HEAR MORE JournalStar.com Audio: Students attending the 13th annual Pfizer-Lincoln Public Schools Science Fair ask astronaut Clayton Anderson questions. cane, of Chicago and Houston and volcanos and Niagara Falls and even Lincoln and Memorial Stadium. Even from space, Anderson proved, the sea of Huskef red is visible on game day.

"It was on the day they played Texas he said of the photo. The science fair committee had the idea months ago before Anderson had come back to Earth, actually that he would be a great speaker for kids interested enough in science to take their projects to the district competition. "I think he's a perfect role modr el," said Curtis Mann, chairman of the science fair committee. "Just the idea that you don't have to be from a big school or a big city; to be from Ashland and go to the NASA space station, living your dream." The committee thought it was an opportune time to have Anderson speak because he had just comeback from space, so they put in the application and waited. A few weeks ago, they found out he'd be able to get back to Nebraska for the event.

And that gave students a chance to find out firsthand the answers to their questions about being an astronaut Best food? Lamb with vegetables made by the Russians. And chocolate pudding cake. How quiet is it in space? Very. Would he do it again? In York minute." The hardest part? Being away from his family. Flow he slept? Buckled in.

The best thing that ever happened to this Ashfand native? "Getting to come to speak to a group of kids at Lincoln East High School." Riley Elementary fifth-grader Alysa Knutson had to agree. "I thought it was just awesome and incredible we got to see the first astronaut from Nebraska." Reach Margaret Reist at 473-7226 or mreistjournalstar.com. for Senate KLEtB A plan to increase fuel taxes is trucking along full steam in the Legislature. Senators gave seconckound approval Tuesday to a spending bill and new method of taxing fuel (LB846). Combined with another spending increase already approved for the Department of Roads earlier this session, the measures could raise the price of fuel by more than 4 cents a gallon.

Supporters say the increase is needed to help build and maintain roads. The current fuel tax revenue is expected to remain flat and hasn't kept up with in- flation. Sen. Phil Erdman of Bayard suggested taking money from the general fund instead of raising the fuel tax. But he garnered little support for his amendment, which was defeated.

Gov. Dave Heineman signed a bill that will make the state borrow $9 million from its cash reserve to pay Republican River irrigators. Heineman said Tuesday the farmers should receive payments by April 17. Because of a pending lawsuit, about 300 farmers in the basin haven't been paid for sending water to Kansas last year instead of irrigating their crops. The lawsuit alleges a new state law that allows property taxes to be collected for the purchase of water is unconstitutional.

If the state loses the lawsuit and the property taxes are ruled unconstitutional, the $9 million could be paid back to the state through a current tax on irrigated acres or through Some other mechanism approved by the Legislature. From wire reports BY MARGARET REIST Journal Star There, on. the screen at the front of the East High Auditorium on Tuesday afternoon, was Nebraska's very own astronaut brushing his teeth in space. He was in his spacesuit, with his family, and if you squinted and looked closely at the screen that was him in the window of the International Space Station, the one hovering 200 miles alxwe Earth. Topping this: Clayton Anderson at the front of the auditorium the real deal showing his slides to the 500 or so students with their eyes trained forward.

Getting to hear about the Ashland native's five months in space was one nice perk for the students participating in the 13th annual Lincoln Public Schools-Pfzier Sci-ence Fair. "You're looking through my eyeballs. You're seeing exactly what I'm seeing," the astronaut told the group as they watched a video filmed by Anderson outside the space center. "I'm leaning back. There's the Earth and the sun." The fifth- through eighth-graders came from schools across the district to hear Anderson, who 1 lived and worked aboard the International Space Station from early June until early November-Later, they heard him speak at the science fair at Pershing Center, after they'd set up their science projects and before the judges started making rounds with their clipboards.

Anderson spent about an hour at East regaling them with stories of living in zero gravity. How taking out the trash was a major adventure in a spacesuit. How he wore red and white on his first spacewalk. How. it was easy to getaround.

"It was the easiest thing I've ever done," he said. "I got up and flew to breakfast." In space, he said, if you fell asleep reading a book at night and it slipped from your hands, it would stay put, suspended in front of you. That way, when you woke up, he said, you could just keep reading. His presentation included a geography lesson: pictures of the Egyptian pyramids from space, an astronaut's-eye-view of a hurri- IVJoney to Learn Scholarship Congratulations Abby Dennell AFL-CIO endorses Kleeb Abby Dennell of Millard North High School in Omaha is the eighteenth Nebraska high school senior to receive a Money to Learn scholarship sponsored by ASAPUnion Bank Trust and the Newspapers in Education program of the Lincoln Journal Star. A total of 24 high school seniorc will be chosen this year in random drawings to receive $500 college scholarships.

One Money to Learn scholarship winner will be featured weekly in the Lincoln Journal Starto congratulate him or her for this honor. Please join us in saluting these individuals as they are recognized for this important achievement. Raimondo is chairman of Behlen Manufacturing Co. in Columbus. James Bryan Wilson of Lincoln and Larry Marvin of Fremont also are in the Democratic contest.

Kleeb said he is committed to policies that would restore economic security to the middle class. "Through tax relief for families, trade assistance adjustments and investment in green-collar jobs, we can forge a stronger middle class, he said. Green-collar jobs are those that can help improve the environment Lincoln Journal Star The Nebraska State AFL-CIO has endorsed Scott Kleeb in the Democratic Senate race. "Middle-class workers in Nebraska need a voice in Washington, D.C.," AFL-CIO President Ken Mass of Omaha said Tuesday. "Scott Kleeb is a leader families across Nebraska can count on to do the right thing for them and their loved ones." Kleeb, the 2000 Democratic congressional nominee in western and central Nebraska's 3rd District, is locked in a primary struggle with Tony Raimondo of Columbus.

For more information about the Money to Learn scholarship, please visit www.asapubt.com. Joi'TrnaiStar Cl.1NNU HON nUNJONBANK TRUM (O MP AN ft A (n)ldt HAND a rtfistertd service mart of ftelnrt Inc. 7008 tWrwt, Ik. AH right! rtstnnd feintt.