>>> TITLE IX TURNS 50 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR.

WHAT HAS THAT LEGISLATION MEANT FOR WOMEN'S ATHLETICS IN OUR STATE?

PLUS, AN INTERVIEW WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TOM VILSACK, AN UPDATE ON COVID-19 TRENDS IN OUR STATE, AND A DEADLOCK IN THE LEGISLATURE OVER SCHOOL FINANCE AND PROPERTY TAXES.

IT'S ALL AHEAD TONIGHT ON "SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA."

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

I'M NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NEWS DIRECTOR DENNIS KELLOGG.

TITLE IX IS THE LANDMARK LEGISLATION THAT OUTLAWED DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX.

HERE AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, WE'RE REPORTING ON HOW TITLE IX HAS IMPACTED OUR STATE AS WE APPROACH THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THAT LAW.

BEFORE WE GET TO OUR CONVERSATION TONIGHT, ONE OF THE MOST VISIBLE PARTS OF OUR SOCIETY THAT TITLE IX HAS CHANGED IS WOMEN'S SPORTS.

CARRIE AND DEVIN EIGHMEY, WHO COACH THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM, AND ONE OF THEIR PLAYERS, TELL US THEIR SPORT IS BETTER BECAUSE OF TITLE IX, BUT THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

>> FIND YOUR TARGET.

DRIVE YOUR LEGS.

>> THE TITLE IX MOVEMENT AND THE PROGRESSION OVER THE LAST 20-25 YEARS SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO YOUNG GIRLS ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH COLLEGE AGE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS.

EVEN WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

>> GOOD ROLL, HALEY!

>> I AM SO GLAD THAT I WAS BORN IN THE TIME THAT I'M BORN IN, WHERE I GET TO PLAY FULL COURT, AND I GET TO PLAY BASKETBALL IN A SUPER ATHLETIC AND MEANINGFUL COMPETITIVE TEAM-ORIENTED WAY, INSTEAD OF ALL THE RESTRICTIONS WE USED TO HAVE WITH GIRLS ONLY BEING ALLOWED TO PLAY ON HALF COURT AND THE CHANGES IN THE RULES BECAUSE OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT OUR BODIES COULD DO.

I JUST THINK IT KEEPS CHANGING AND KEEPS GETTING BETTER.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HAS FOR ALL THESE LITTLE GIRLS THAT ARE JUST NOW STARTING TO GROW UP AND THEY KNOW NOTHING ELSE EXCEPT FOR THE WNBA AND GIRLS PLAY COLLEGE SPORTS.

>> I THINK WE'RE ON THE VERGE OF HOPEFULLY HAVING SOME REALLY GOOD FEMALE COACHES BREAK THROUGH EVEN ON THE MEN'S SIDE BECAUSE THERE'S SOME UNBELIEVABLE COACHES AND UNBELIEVABLE PLAYERS FROM A FEMALE STANDPOINT THAT NEED TO BE GIVEN EXPOSURE AND OPPORTUNITIES.

IT'S GETTING BETTER.

BUT FOR SURE, THERE'S BEEN THE STUFF CARRIE TELLS ME 20 YEARS AGO AND HOW DIFFERENT IT IS.

THERE'S STILL A GAP IN IT.

I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

>> I DEFINITELY THINK THAT TITLE IX WAS THE START OF CHANGE.

AND I THINK WE'VE GONE THROUGH SOME DECADES WHERE THAT CHANGE WAS HAPPENING MORE DRASTICALLY, AND THEN OTHER DECADES WHERE IT WAS KIND OF PUT ON THE BACK BURNER.

AND OBVIOUSLY RIGHT NOW, WITH WHAT OUR COUNTRY'S GOING THROUGH AND EVEN SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE AWARENESS AND PUBLICITY IT BRINGS TO VARIOUS ISSUES ONE BEING EQUITY IN SPORT, I DEFINITELY THINK THAT THAT HAS HELPED.

AND DEFINITELY WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE CHANGE BUT I DON'T THINK WE'D BE WHERE WE'RE AT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE TITLE IX.

>> JOINING US NOW, NANCY GRANT COLSON.

A MEMBER OF ONE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL TEAMS, ONE OF THE VERY FIRST TEAMS.

SHE WENT ON TO TEACH WITH LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF "SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA" TONIGHT.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> WELL, I WANT TO ASK YOU.

YOU STARTED ON THE 1976 TEAM.

1975 WAS THE VERY FIRST TEAM.

VOLLEYBALL DIDN'T BECOME AN NCAA SANCTIONED SPORT UNTIL AFTER THAT FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO ME WHAT IT WAS LIKE PLAYING THEN AND HOW DIFFERENT WAS IT A FEW YEARS AFTER TITLE IX?

DID YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE?

>> YEAH.

SO FROM -- I GUESS FIRST OF ALL, I ACCEPTED A SCHOLARSHIP TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA.

IT WAS TUITION AND FEES -- SO WE WERE NOT ON FULL SCHOLARSHIP AT THE TIME.

AND AS FAR AS THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS, PAT SULLIVAN WHO WAS THE HEAD COACH MY FRESHMAN YEAR.

SHE CAME TO WATCH ME PLAY IN HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUMS A COUPLE TIMES AND BROUGHT JANICE KRUGER ALONG A COUPLE TIMES WHO WAS A SENIOR WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN, AND I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY AT THE UNIVERSITY AND IT WAS VERY EXCITING FOR ME.

AND I JUST KNEW I LOVED BEING AN ATHLETE, I LOVED PLAYING SPORTS, I LOVED VOLLEYBALL, AND I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>> TITLE IX NOT ONLY AFFECTS THE ATHLETIC SIDE, BUT ALSO THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE.

IT DIRECTLY IMPACTS STUDENT ENROLLMENT.

BEFORE TITLE IX, THERE WERE MORE MEN THAN WOMEN ATTENDING COLLEGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT AROUND FIVE YEARS AFTER THE LEGISLATION'S INCEPTION, MORE FEMALE STUDENTS ATTENDED COLLEGE, EVENTUALLY OUTNUMBERING MEN AND THAT TREND STILL HOLDS TRUE TO THIS DAY.

WAS IT OBVIOUS, NANCY, TO YOU IN THOSE YEARS AFTER TITLE IX THAT YOU WERE SEEING MORE WOMEN IN THE CLASSROOMS?

>> I HAVE NEVER BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION BEFORE.

I DON'T THINK I EVER REALLY THOUGHT OF THAT.

I GUESS I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO, YOU KNOW, MY FRIENDS AND THE GROUP OF WOMEN I KNEW FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND THE EXCITEMENT ABOUT GOING TO COLLEGE AND THINKING ABOUT PROFESSIONAL CAREERS.

>> WELL, WHEN IT COMES TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEMALE STUDENTS IN THE '70s, DID YOU SEE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT YOU EXPERIENCED ON THE VOLLEYBALL COURT AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM?

WAS EITHER ATHLETICS OR THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD WHEN IT CAME TO ADAPTING TO TITLE IX?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T NECESSARILY REMEMBER THE -- PROMINENTLY THE TITLE OF BEING A STUDENT-ATHLETE, BEING SORT OF PROMINENTLY A PART OF OUR EXPERIENCE BUT WE CERTAINLY -- ACADEMICS WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND ATHLETICS WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND WE WORKED CONSTANTLY TO NEGOTIATE BOTH AND NAVIGATE BOTH.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TRAINING TABLES OR STUDY HALLS.

I MEAN, WE REALLY AS A -- AS TEAM MEMBERS, WE REALLY KIND OF HELPED EACH OTHER NAVIGATE ALL OF THAT.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU, BECAUSE YOU TALKED WITH US FOR A PREVIOUS STORY, ABOUT HOW EVEN TRAVELING TO GAMES WAS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE SEE TODAY.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, DURING THE SEASON, OF COURSE, I REMEMBER CLEARLY, I HAD TAKEN MY FIRST AIRPLANE RIDE AS AN 18-YEAR-OLD ON THE VOLLEYBALL TEAM.

WE FLEW TO L.A., WE FLEW TO UCLA FOR A HUGE TOURNAMENT.

AND I THINK THE SAME WAS TRUE FOR MANY OF THE WOMEN ON THE TEAM.

FLYING AND TRAVELING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAD DONE A WHOLE LOT OF.

SO THAT WAS COOL TO EXPERIENCE THAT.

AND THEN IN THE SPRING, WHEN WE WERE OUT OF SEASON, WE -- THE UNIVERSITY -- THERE WAS NOT A WHOLE LOT PROVIDED FROM THE UNIVERSITY FOR US TO TRAVEL.

TERRY HAD TO MAKE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS.

>> TERRY PETIT.

>> TERRY PETIT HAD TO MAKE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS.

HE MADE CONTACTS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I RECALL US DRIVING OUR OWN CARS SOMETIMES.

SOME OF THE PLAYERS DRIVING OUR OWN CARS TO GO TO SPRING TOURNAMENTS LIKE AT K-STATE OR SOME PLACE LIKE THAT.

>> YOU SAID YOU EVEN LEARNED TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT BECAUSE YOU WERE DRIVING ONE OF THE CARS BACK HOME, RIGHT?

>> TERRY CALLED ME AFTER THAT SEGMENT.

HE SAID HE DOESN'T REMEMBER THAT.

WE'VE HAD A LITTLE DIFFERENT MEMORY ON THAT.

[ CHUCKLING ] >> WHAT ABOUT FACILITIES?

DID YOU NOTICE A HUGE STARK DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN'S FACILITIES AND WOMEN'S FACILITIES?

>> WHAT I DO REMEMBER - OH, THE WEIGHT ROOM WITHOUT A DOUBT.

OUR LOCKER ROOM AND OUR WEIGHT ROOM WAS IN THE BASEMENT OF THE COLISEUM.

AND THEY WERE TINY.

THEY WERE TINY, AND I DO REMEMBER THINKING, SOMETIMES I FELT LIKE EVEN WHEN WE WERE PRACTICING, THERE WAS SORT OF LIKE A - SOMETIMES THERE WAS SORT OF LIKE A PEEK IN BY SOME MALE ATHLETES, SORT OF LIKE, "WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

THERE WAS ALL -- BUT AGAIN, WE DIDN'T KNOW ANY DIFFERENT REALLY EXCEPT TO HAVE JUST ENOUGH EQUIPMENT AND JUST ENOUGH SPACE TO HAVE A LOCKER FOR YOUR GEAR AND EQUIPMENT -- LIFTING EQUIPMENT.

THAT WAS SORT OF JUST ENOUGH.

>> YEAH.

SINCE THOSE PLAYING DAYS OF YOURS BACK IN THE '70S, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CHANGES THAT YOU'VE WATCHED IN THE SPORT OF VOLLEYBALL OVER THE YEARS?

>> SO, WE BOUGHT OUR OWN SHOES.

WE WASHED OUR OWN CLOTHES.

WE SET UP CHAIRS IN THE COLISEUM.

THIS WAS BASICALLY, THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WERE OUR FAMILIES AND OUR BEST FRIENDS AND -- SO WE SET UP THE CHAIRS THAT RINGED THE COURT.

WE TOOK DOWN THE CHAIRS AFTERWARDS.

WE REALLY -- YOU KNOW, WE OWNED PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT WAS A PART OF OUR VOLLEYBALL EXPERIENCE.

>> WOW!

AND I HAVE TO ASK YOU, AS SOMEONE WHO WAS ONE OF THE ATHLETES AND COACHES WHO STRUGGLED TO GET THE HUSKER VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM ON THE MAP AND MOVING, DO YOU EVER LOOK IN AMAZEMENT AT THE HEIGHTS THAT THE PROGRAM HAS REACHED IN 2022?

>> YES, AND NO.

TERRY ALWAYS HAD -- TERRY ALWAYS HAD A VISION.

YOU KNOW, I JUST -- HE WAS -- HE WAS THAT TYPE OF PERSON WHO LOOKED AROUND.

I THINK I SAID THIS IN THE OTHER INTERVIEW.

HE LOOKED AROUND THE CORNER AND HE HAD A VISION, AND HE MADE CONNECTIONS AND HE WAS -- I JUST KNEW GROWTH WOULD HAPPEN UNDER HIM.

AND HE ALSO -- IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HIM THAT WE WERE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AS ATHLETES.

THAT WE WEREN'T GIRLS PLAYING A SPORT.

THAT WE WERE ATHLETES TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

I REMEMBER A CONVERSATION WE HAD ONE TIME.

PLEASE DON'T DISPUTE ME ON THIS, TERRY.

WE HAD A CONVERSATION ONE TIME THAT WENT SOMETHING LIKE I WAS CONFUSED WHY WE WERE CALLED "THE LADY HUSKERS."

THAT DID NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME.

WHY WEREN'T WE JUST CALLED "THE HUSKERS?"

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS STILL HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES, AND I WISH IT WOULD CHANGE.

>> DO YOU THINK TODAY'S HUSKER FEMALE ATHLETES HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT WHAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH, AND YOUR TEAMMATES HAD TO GO THROUGH TO EARN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE NOW JUST COMMONPLACE IN WOMEN'S ATHLETICS?

>> YOU KNOW, I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO THAT, WHAT THE COACHING STAFF DOES OR DOES NOT TALK ABOUT WITH THE PLAYERS.

BUT I DO -- THERE HAVE BEEN ALUMNI EVENTS AND BRINGING PREVIOUS TEAMS TOGETHER AND SO I DO THINK THAT THERE IS THAT THREAD OF KEEPING THE PLAYERS MINDFUL OF WHO CAME BEFORE YOU.

AND, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THEM HUMBLE IN THAT SENSE TOO, THAT THEY'RE -- THIS IS -- YOU ARE STANDING UPON SHOULDERS OF WOMEN WHO BUILT THIS AND WHO WERE NAVIGATING A TIME THAT -- "THROWING LIKE A GIRL" WAS STILL A COMMON -- A DEROGATORY STATEMENT.

>> VERY WELL PUT.

JUST ABOUT 30 SECONDS OR SO AND I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION.

IS THERE SOMETHING OUT THERE, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS PROCESS ISN'T OVER, THAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO HAPPEN FROM THE NCAA STANDPOINT TO BRING THAT EQUITY TO WOMAN'S ATHLETICS?

>> WELL, GOOD GRIEF, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

>> WITH THE WEIGHTLIFTING FACILITIES?

>> YEAH, THE FACILITIES, THE ACCESS TO THE FACILITIES AND THE QUALITY OF THE FACILITIES.

I THINK THAT'S A GLARING EXAMPLE THAT THERE'S STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.

>> YEAH, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THERE IS, AND IT'S BEEN GREAT TALKING WITH YOU.

NANCY GRANT COLSON, A MEMBER OF THE '76 HUSKER VOLLEYBALL TEAM AND SEVERAL SEASONS AFTER THAT.

THANKS FOR COMING BACK AND SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE ABOUT HUSKER VOLLEYBALL AND TITLE IX >> YEAH, YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU CAN WATCH THE FULL STORY OF TITLE IX'S IMPACT ON THE UNK WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAM ON AN UPCOMING EPISODE OF "NEBRASKA STORIES" THIS SPRING.

DON'T MISS ANY OF NEBRASKA'S PUBLIC MEDIA COVERAGE OF TITLE IX'S 50th ANNIVERSARY.

YOU CAN FIND THAT AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/TITLEIX.

>>> JOINING US NOW IS TOM VILSACK, THE U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND I SHOULD POINT OUT THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF IOWA, SO HE KNOWS THE MIDWEST VERY WELL.

SECRETARY VILSACK, THANKS FOR TAKING TIME TO SPEAK WITH US ON "SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA."

>> HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.

>> NEBRASKA, AS YOU KNOW, IS A BEEF STATE.

MEAT PACKING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT CYCLE BUT FOUR COMPANIES CONTROL 85% OF THAT PARTICULAR MARKET.

YOUR ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NEW ONLINE TOOL FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO REPORT UNFAIR AND ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES.

WE ALSO HAVE SENATORS FISCHER AND SENATOR GRASSLEY DEALING WITH THE PRICING SIDE THAT WERE THE PROBLEMS WE'RE SEEING WITH THE MARKET.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE, AND IS IT A PRIORITY TO RESTORE THAT BALANCE IN THOSE BEEF MARKETS?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS A PRIORITY FOR MANY REASONS, FIRST AND FOREMOST TO MAKE SURE OUR FARMERS AND RANCHERS WHO ARE WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD TO PRODUCE THAT BEEF ARE ADEQUATELY AND FAIRLY COMPENSATED.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR CONSUMERS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CHOICE AND KNOW THAT WHEN THEY GO INTO THE GROCERY STORE, THEY ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE A PRODUCT THAT IS SUPPORTING THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL ECONOMY.

I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS PERSPECTIVE.

THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE MORE PROCESSING CAPACITY WILL MEAN MORE RURAL JOBS.

FINALLY, I THINK WE LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC OF THE NECESSITY OF OUR FOOD SYSTEM NOT ONLY TO BE EFFICIENT BUT ALSO TO BE RESILIENT.

>> I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON A NEW PROCESSING PLANT THAT IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT IN WESTERN NEBRASKA IN NORTH PLATTE.

THE CATTLEMAN OF THAT AREA HAVE BANDED TOGETHER AND ARE A FEW YEARS AWAY FROM PROCESSING 1500 CATTLE A DAY.

DO YOU THINK NEBRASKA AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY NEED MORE OF THESE SMALL PROCESSING PLANTS?

>> WE DO AND I THINK THE PROGRAM THAT WE'VE ANNOUNCED LATER THIS MONTH WILL PROVIDE MORE SPECIFICS ON IT.

I THINK WE'LL ADDRESS SOME OF THE CAPITAL CHALLENGES THAT MANY OF THESE FACILITIES FACE AS THEY TRY TO GET UP AND GOING.

WE BELIEVE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VERY SMALL AND MID-SIZED OPERATIONS TO DOT THE LANDSCAPE, TO PROVIDE THOSE JOBS, TO PROVIDE MORE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND COMPETITION.

MORE CHOICE FOR CONSUMERS.

WE'RE ANXIOUS TO SEE AS THIS GRANT PROGRAM AND LOAN PROGRAM HAS UNFOLDED, THE INTEREST.

WE THINK THERE ARE SHOVEL-READY PROJECTS, PERHAPS SIMILAR TO THE ONE YOU MENTIONED THAT COULD USE A LITTLE BIT OF A BOOST, AND WE'RE PREPARED TO PROVIDE THAT SOON.

>> WE'RE SPEAKING WITH UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE TOM VILSACK AND A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WE SPOKE WITH FORMER NEBRASKA GOVERNOR AND ALSO SENATOR AND AGRICULTURE SECRETARY MIKE JOHANNS.

WE ASKED HIM ABOUT TRADE IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

HIS COMMENT WAS THAT HE WISHED HE WAS WRONG, BUT HE WASN'T CONFIDENT TRADE WOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION.

OBVIOUSLY, FORMER SECRETARY JOHANNS IS A REPUBLICAN, AS WELL WE SHOULD POINT OUT, BUT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO FORMER SECRETARY JOHANNS ABOUT THE PRIORITY OF TRADE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION?

>> WELL, MIKE IS A GOOD FRIEND AND THE FIRST THING I WOULD POINT OUT TO HIM, IS THAT DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, A RECORD AGRICULTURE EXPORT RECORD WAS SET.

THAT STOOD UNTIL THIS YEAR, WHEN IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, WE SET YET ANOTHER RECORD OF AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS, AND THE CURRENT YEAR IS PROJECTED TO BREAK THAT RECORD YET AGAIN.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE'RE SEEING RECORD EXPORTS.

SECONDLY, IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRADE, THAT WE CREATE WITHIN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AN UNDERSTANDING AND A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP ABOUT TRADE.

I THINK MANY AMERICANS THINK THAT TRADE WORKS AGAINST AMERICA AND NOT FOR AMERICA.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO RE-ESTABLISH THAT TRUST.

HOW DO WE DO THAT?

BY ENFORCEMENT.

THAT'S WHY WE SUCCESSFULLY TOOK CANADA TO TASK UNDER THE USMCA FOR NOT LIVING UP TO THAT TRADE AGREEMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY WITH REFERENCE TO DAIRY.

>> A LOT OF NEBRASKA FARMERS ARE KEEPING THEIR EYE ON FERTILIZER PRICES.

A TEXAS A&M STUDY SHOWED THOSE COULD JUMP BY AS MUCH AS 80% THIS YEAR.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO AND HOW CLOSELY ARE YOU WATCHING THOSE FERTILIZER PRICES?

>> WELL, IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION NO DOUBT FOR FARMERS.

WHAT WE CAN DO AT USDA IS MAKE SURE THAT FARMERS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS ABOUT THE LEVEL AND AMOUNT OF FERTILIZER THEY NEED.

WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN RESEARCH, IN SENSOR TECHNOLOGY, SO THAT FARMERS CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND WITH MORE PRECISION HOW MUCH FERTILIZER IS NEEDED.

I WAS RECENTLY AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY TALKING TO SOME SCIENTISTS THAT ARE DEVELOPING A SENSOR FOR CORN AND THEY TELL ME THAT BASED ON THEIR PRELIMINARY RESEARCH, AS MUCH AS 30% OF OUR CORN ACRES MAY NOT REQUIRE ANY FERTILIZER AT ALL.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT TYPE OF RESEARCH.

>> SECRETARY VILSACK, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE USDA INVOLVING CLIMATE SMART AG PRODUCTS.

YOU'RE SETTING ASIDE ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES TO APPLY FOR THOSE FUNDS.

WHY SUCH A HUGE INVESTMENT IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR AMERICAN AGRICULTURE TO PROVIDE A LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO MEET THE MARKET WHERE IT IS AND WHERE IT'S HEADED.

WHETHER IT'S THE DOMESTIC FOOD INDUSTRY OR WHETHER IT'S EXPORTS, THERE IS A GROWING DEMAND FOR SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FARMERS IN THE U.S. AND RANCHERS IN THE U.S., AND FORESTED LANDOWNERS IN THE U.S. ARE EQUIPPED TO MEET THAT DEMAND WHERE IT IS AND TO LEAD THAT EFFORT.

>> WE'LL DEFINITELY KEEP OUR EYE ON THAT PROJECT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE AN EXCITING ONE THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR.

SECRETARY TOM VILSACK, THE U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, ON "SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA."

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> OUR FULL INTERVIEW WITH SECRETARY VILSACK AND OUR CONVERSATION WITH NANCY GRANT COLSON ABOUT TITLE IX ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.

JUST GO TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/ SPEAKINGOFNEBRASKA.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NEWS.

>>> DR. BOB RAUNER A FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND THE PRESIDENT OF PARTNERSHIP FOR A HEALTHY LINCOLN IS HERE TO BREAK DOWN THE PANDEMIC AND THE LATEST THAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT.

DR. RAUNER, THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF "SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA."

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK TO BEGIN WITH AT SOME TRENDS WITH COVID.

COVID-19 CASES ARE DOWN 71% OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

DO YOU THINK WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WE CAN SAY THAT THE PANDEMIC IS WINDING DOWN AND WE CAN SEE THE WORST OF IT YET?

>> WE HOPE SO.

CASES ARE DROPPING AND USUALLY HOSPITALIZATIONS FOLLOW ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE HOSPITALIZATIONS DROP, ESPECIALLY IN OMAHA, A LITTLE BIT IN LINCOLN, AND HOPEFULLY THE REST OF THE STATE, AS WELL.

THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

IF IT KEEPS DROPPING, WE CAN KIND OF LOOK TO NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY BECAUSE THEY STARTED FIRST AND SEE IF WE FOLLOW THEIR TRENDS.

THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD, AS LONG AS WE DON'T HIT ANOTHER NEW VARIANT.

>> THAT'S THE KEY.

THAT'S ALWAYS THE KEY.

YOU BROUGHT UP HOSPITALIZATION, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A REALLY IMPORTANT METRIC SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THOSE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE STARTING TO DROP A LITTLE BIT.

IS THERE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THAT TREND WON'T CONTINUE TO DECLINE IN THE COMING WEEKS?

>> RIGHT NOW, NO.

THE CASES KEEP DROPPING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SECONDARY SOURCES TO CHECK THAT, FOR EXAMPLE SCHOOL ABSENCES AND POSITIVES, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA'S POSITIVES.

EVERYTHING IS DROPPING ACROSS THE BOARD SO THAT REALLY IS AN OPTIMISTIC SIGN.

HOPEFULLY ENOUGH IMMUNITY TOO, THAT EVEN THOUGH OUR VACCINATION RATES COULD BE A LITTLE BETTER, THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE.

AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE LOOK TO THE EAST AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

THEIR NUMBERS ARE DROPPING.

THE QUESTION IS WILL THEY DROP ALL THE WAY BACK DOWN TO SORT OF LIKE -- WE ALMOST HAD A NORMAL SUMMER LAST SUMMER.

FINGERS CROSSED THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HIT IN A FEW MORE WEEKS.

>> THE MASK MANDATE IN LINCOLN WAS EXTENDED FOR TWO WEEKS AND OMAHA FOR ANOTHER WEEK.

DOES THE DATA SHOW US THAT MASKING HAS BEEN AN EFFECTIVE TOOL OR IS IT A TOOL THAT REALLY HASN'T WORKED AS WELL AS WE THOUGHT IT WOULD?

>> ACTUALLY, I'D SAY IT'S WORKED VERY WELL.

OUR SCHOOL DATA BACKS THAT UP.

WE'VE HAD CONTACT TRACING WHERE WE HAD FOR EXAMPLE 500 HIGH RISK CONTACTS AND OUT OF THAT ONLY 15 OR 20 SO VERY EFFECTIVE.

MY WIFE IS A PHYSICIAN WHO HAS MADE IT THROUGH THE WHOLE PANDEMIC SEEING SICK PEOPLE AND WEARING A MASK, AND HASN'T HAD COVID ONCE SO YES, THE MASKS WORK.

THE BIG MISCONCEPTIONS ARE THERE'S DIFFERENT KINDS OF MASKS.

IT'S NOT A ONE-SIZE THING.

CLOTH MASKS ARE PRETTY HELPFUL.

IF I HAVE CORONAVIRUS AND I'M WEARING A CLOTH MASK, IT HELPS PROTECT YOU A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE OTHER WAY AROUND NOT QUITE THAT EFFECTIVE, BUT WE HAVE THE SURGICAL MASKS AND NOW REALLY PRETTY GOOD ACCESS TO WHAT I ACTUALLY USE WHICH IS CALLED A KF94 FOR EXAMPLE.

THOSE ARE ACTUALLY VERY EFFECTIVE AND THERE WAS JUST A STUDY FROM THE CDC SHOWING THAT'S ALSO PROTECTIVE TO WEAR, AS WELL.

YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT WITH ENOUGH DROP IN CASE RATES, IF YOU'RE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MAY STILL NEED THAT BUT THE REST OF US MAY NOT NEED MASKS IN A COUPLE MORE WEEKS.

>> ALONG THOSE LINES, IS THERE ANY TRUTH TO THE FACT THAT AS WE SEE THESE NUMBERS START TO GO DOWN, WE SHOULD BE LIFTING THESE RESTRICTIONS, SO WHEN WE NEED PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AGAIN, THEY'LL BE MORE WILLING TO DO THAT?

>> YES, I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE GOOD ARGUMENTS.

YOU DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THINGS GET TO ZERO.

THAT'S TOO LONG.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE CORONAVIRUS GO COMPLETELY AWAY.

IT'S PROBABLY LIKE INFLUENZA WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE WITH US FOR THE LONG HAUL AND SO IT MAY COME BACK AGAIN AND SO I TELL PEOPLE IT'S LIKE WHEN DO YOU WEAR A RAINCOAT?

YOU WEAR A RAINCOAT WHEN IT'S RAINING BUT YOU DON'T WEAR IT WHEN IT'S SUNNY, SO LET'S LOOK AT THOSE RATES.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT WOULD HELP US, IF WE CAN COME TO SOME CONSENSUS ABOUT WHAT THAT RATE SHOULD BE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM THE CDC ON DOWN WITH THAT.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A CLEAR METRIC THAT ALL OF US CAN GET BEHIND.

>> WE'RE COMING OFF SOME OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC FOR CASES, IN PARTICULAR.

AND THAT MEANS THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH SOME OF THE NATURAL IMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN BUILT UP THROUGH THE VIRUS.

DO WE CHANGE OUR MESSAGING WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINATIONS AND BOOSTERS BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THIS IMMUNITY?

>> YES, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME STUDIES NOW, THAT A SECOND INFECTION ACTUALLY IS PRETTY HIGHLY PROTECTIVE.

THE PROBLEM WITH OMICRON IS THAT IT ESCAPED IMMUNITY.

EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE HAD THE WUHAN OR THE ALPHA STRAIN A YEAR AGO, IT DIDN'T PROTECT AS MUCH AS THE OMICRON STRAIN.

WHEN YOU ADD VACCINATION RATES OF ABOUT 2/3 OF NEBRASKANS, A LITTLE MORE THAN A THIRD OF THEM EVEN HAVE THE BOOSTER SHOT, WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD PROBABLY TWO INFECTIONS, IF YOU ADD THOSE TWO TOGETHER, IT MIGHT BE ENOUGH THAT WE HIT SORT OF A HERD IMMUNITY THRESHOLD, AS LONG AS WE DON'T GET A NEW VARIANT THAT ESCAPES SOME OF THAT IMMUNITY.

>> WE JUST HAVE UNDER A MINUTE, BUT WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT THERAPEUTICS THROUGH ALL OF THIS?

>> WELL, THE GOOD -- WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF ADVANCES OUT THERE.

IN ADDITION TO VACCINES, WE ACTUALLY HAVE QUITE A FEW MEDICATIONS OUT THERE.

SOME OF THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY INFUSIONS ARE VERY EFFECTIVE.

WE'VE GOT SEVERAL PILLS: PAXLOVID AND MOLNUPIRAVIR.

THEY'VE BEEN LIMITED QUANTITIES SO FAR, BUT WITHIN 1-2 MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF QUANTITY THERE SO EVEN PEOPLE WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, THEY HAVE ANOTHER BACKUP PLAN, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A PROTECTIVE ANTIBODY YOU CAN GET CALLED EVUSHELD WHICH WILL PROTECT A COMPROMISED PERSON FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX NOW THAT I THINK REALLY COULD PUSH US INTO "RETURNING TO NORMAL" HERE IN THE NEXT WEEKS OR A MONTH OR TWO.

>> THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO RETURN TO NORMAL, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> THANK YOU, DR. BOB RAUNER WHO IS THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF PARTNERSHIP FOR A HEALTHY LINCOLN AND A FAMILY PHYSICIAN HIMSELF.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> FOR THE LATEST PANDEMIC NEWS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/ CORONAVIRUS.

>>> THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE IS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY THROUGH ITS 2022 SESSION.

AND NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA NEWS LEGISLATIVE REPORTER FRED KNAPP IS HERE TO BRING US UP TO SPEED ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS.

FRED, WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING EFFORTS REGARDING SCHOOL FINANCE AND PROPERTY TAXES.

THOSE DON'T SEEM TO BE GOING TOO WELL.

>> WELL, THEY'RE AT PRETTY MUCH OF A STALEMATE.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, SENATOR TOM BRIESE HAD HIS BILL WHICH WOULD HAVE LIMITED SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX INCREASES TO 2 1/2% A YEAR OR INFLATION, WHICHEVER IS HIGHER.

THAT WAS FILIBUSTERED TO DEATH.

NOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SENATOR LYNNE WALZ' PROPOSAL TO VASTLY INCREASE SCHOOL AID, AND THE PROPONENTS OF THE PREVIOUS BILL FOR CAPS ARE FILIBUSTERING AGAINST IT, BECAUSE THEY SAY THERE AREN'T STRONG ENOUGH LIMITS ON SCHOOL SPENDING IN THERE.

>> THERE WAS ALSO A PUBLIC HEARING ON A STORY THAT WE'VE DONE A LOT OF REPORTING ON.

GOVERNOR RICKETTS PROPOSING FOR A CANAL TO TAKE WATER FROM THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER IN COLORADO AND BRING IT INTO NEBRASKA.

DID WE SEE SUPPORT FOR THAT PROJECT THAT HAS QUITE A HEFTY PRICE TAG?

>> IT DOES.

IT'S $500 MILLION OFFICIALLY.

THE GOVERNOR TESTIFIED FOR IT AT THE PUBLIC HEALING, BUT HE HAD AN ALMOST DEFENSIVE RATIONALE.

HE SAID, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY MORE WATER OUT OF THIS.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS PREVENT A LOSS OF UP TO 90% OF WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY GETTING AS THE FRONT RANGE GROWS IN THE DENVER AREA.

BUT UNDER THE INTERSTATE COMPACT THAT CAME INTO EFFECT IN THE 1920s, NEBRASKA ISN'T ENTITLED TO THE WATER UNLESS IT BUILDS THIS CANAL.

BUT THERE ARE BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TIMING OF IT.

DIRECTOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES, TOM RILEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE 18 MONTHS TO 36 MONTHS TO DESIGN.

AND THEN ANOTHER 5-7 YEARS TO BUILD IF THE LEGISLATURE APPROVES THE MONEY.

>> ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ANY ALTERNATIVES POSSIBLY TO THE PROPOSED CANAL?

>> THE SIERRA CLUB TESTIFIED AGAINST IT, AND THEIR RATIONALE WAS, IT'S A DISRUPTION TO THE NATURAL ECOSYSTEM.

AND IT WILL HARM BIRDS AND FISHES AT -- IN ORDER TO GROW MORE CORN AND SOYBEANS.

SENATOR JUSTIN WAYNE TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF RENEGOTIATING THE COMPACT WITH COLORADO TO GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WATER AND PARKING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO SHOW THEM WE'RE SERIOUS.

BUT SENATOR HILGERS SAID HE DIDN'T LIKE THAT APPROACH.

THIS IS A REAL REQUEST FOR REAL MONEY, AND IT'S NOT IN THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE PRELIMINARY BUDGET, SO IT'S VERY MUCH UP IN THE AIR.

>> WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT TAXES.

NEXT WEEK WE'RE GOING TO TALK INCOME TAXES?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE'S A PROPOSAL THAT SENATOR LINEHAN HAS TO LOWER THE TOP CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL RATES FROM JUST ABOVE 7% TO JUST BELOW 6% AND THAT'S LIKELY TO HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT, BUT WE'LL SEE.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE WILL SEE NEXT WEEK.

THANKS, FRED FOR COVERING THE LEGISLATURE AND FRED DOES JUST THAT, KEEPING US INFORMED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LEGISLATURE EACH DAY.

LISTEN FOR HIS RADIO UPDATES 5:45 AND 7:45 WEEKDAY MORNINGS AND 5:45 IN THE EVENING ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

YOU CAN READ HIS STORIES EACH NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/NEWS.

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

THANKS TO NANCY GRANT COLSON, TOM VILSACK AND DR. BOB RAUNER FOR JOINING US AND THANKS TO FRED KNAPP FOR HIS REPORTING.

NEXT WEEK ON "SPEAKING OF NEBRASKA," JOIN US FOR A CONVERSATION WITH FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND NORTH PLATTE NATIVE CHUCK HAGEL ABOUT OUR NATION'S DEFENSE IN TENSE TIMES ABROAD.

I'M DENNIS KELLOGG, THANKS FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.