Katie Schubert

The candidates for Ben Nelson’s U.S. Senate seat are on statewide tours of Nebraska.

Democratic candidate Bob Kerrey wrapped up his statewide tour Thursday evening. It began Wednesday morning in Omaha. Omaha is also where Republican candidate Deb Fischer began her statewide tour, following her surprising win Tuesday night.

Omaha’s first gun amnesty day of 2012 is Saturday.

The Omaha Police Department is co-sponsoring the amnesty day at 50th and Ames. Last year, police collected 127 illegal or unwanted firearms during three gun amnesty events.

Lieutenant Shayna Ray of OPD’s Gang Unit says firearms, ammunition, and fireworks are accepted at the amnesty sites. Ray says guns and ammunition are accepted no questions asked. Police don’t get information from people who turn in illegal or unwanted guns at the amnesty day events.

Gretna will have a new Mayor in November.

Unofficial results from the Sarpy County Election Commission show Jim Timmerman and Kip Edmonds were the top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s primary election. Incumbent Sally McGuire finished in fourth place, with 11-percent of the vote.

November’s general election will feature a former Nebraska Governor and a current State Senator in the race for U.S. Senate.

Democratic Senate candidate Bob Kerrey and GOP candidate Deb Fischer won their respective primaries Tuesday night. Kerrey entered the Senate race one day before the primary election filing deadline. He previously served as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska.

Paul Landow, a professor in the Political Science department at UNO, says the economy is the main issue on voters’ minds.  Landow says people are concerned about their jobs, their bank accounts and what direction things are heading in terms of their personal financial life.  

He says anything voters can do to better their own personal financial life at the ballot box is what they’ll do...and if that means voting for new leadership in the House and Senate, they will.  Landow says turnout should be above average for the primary.

The Douglas County Board is starting the process of putting together a 2012-2013 budget.

Douglas County’s new fiscal year begins July 1. Chairman Marc Kraft says everything is on the table, including a tax increase, because the county has limited sources of revenue. “The major challenge is that we have limited ability to create income sources. Most of our income comes from either grants or from property taxes, and a small amount comes from fees we charge.”

Seven high school seniors are the recipients of this year’s DJ’s Hero awards.

The scholarships were awarded at Monday’s D.J.’s Hero Awards luncheon. The awards, sponsored by the Salvation Army, honor young people who’ve overcome obstacles and given back to their community.

The South Sarpy School District could soon have a new name.

The District 46 school board will hold a public meeting Monday about a possible name change. The board is considering two options: Springfield Community Schools, or Springfield Platteview Community Schools.

Director of Operations Brett Richards says the school district needs a clear identity, something it doesn't have with its current name. South Sarpy is part of the Learning Community, and Richards says a more specific name would help the school district attract students. 

With Nebraska’s primary election approaching, the candidates for the Second Congressional District are talking jobs, the economy, and federal spending.

The primary election is next Tuesday. Second District Congressman Lee Terry is running for his seventh term in the U.S. House. Terry’s campaign chairman, Dave Boomer, says the Congressman is focusing his campaign on spending and fiscal accountability.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney says the Keystone XL pipeline project should be built. 

Romney spoke at a campaign rally Thursday afternoon in Omaha. The rally comes five days before Nebraska’s primary election. During his ten-minute speech to an overflow crowd, Romney talked about jobs, health care, and domestic sources of energy. He says all sources of power should be considered, including the Keystone XL pipeline.