We’ll have a recap of the State Department hearings posted as soon as possible. Nebraskans clad in red outnumbered pipeline proponents at both hearings. We were immensely proud to stand with so many intelligent and concerned citizens. Here’s your Roundup:

The National Story: The State Department moved on to Atkinson yesterday and heard real, heartfelt, and true testimony from Nebraskans that are fighting the atrocity that is the Keystone XL Pipeline. One thousand Nebraskans came to each State Department hearing this week, while 250 pipeline supporters were bussed in to Lincoln and 150 bussed into Atkinson from other parts of the country. There is no question on where Nebraskans stand on this issue. We stand for the rights of landowners, the beauty of the Sandhills and the Ogallala Aquifer. Read here

Occupy Wall Street: As Nebraskans protested the KXL pipeline this week, youths protested on Wall Street. They are frustrated with the growing inequality in the United States, where 400 families own more wealth than 180 million Americans. This movement to “Take Back the American Dream” is people-powered and another example of average citizens taking on the interests of corporate powers by rallying for democracy. Read here

Another One Down: The public face of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Anwar Al-Awlaki, has been killed by a US drone. The American-born Al Qaeda leader was considered a major threat to security and has been linked to an attempt to blow up an airliner over Detriot in 2009. It’s another big national security win for the White House. Read here

Wednesday, Sept 28th

We had an outstanding turnout yesterday at the Pershing Center. Thank you to everyone who came. To those of you who couldn’t make it, we definitely felt you there in spirit. See you in Atkinson! Here’s your Roundup:

Divided We Fall: Frustration over our national government seems to be growing from all sides, and a main concern is lack of bipartisanship. What happened to the days when legislators could work together and get something done without causing panic that our government can’t pay its bills, that it can’t take care of its citizens? According to one in a series of opinion articles on CNN, the reason for the divided government could be divided constituents. Those who define themselves as moderates have shrunk in numbers. Read here 

Nebraskans United: The article printed in the Lincoln Journal Star today leaves the impression that the State Department hearings in Lincoln yesterday yielded results that testimonies supporting and opposing the KXL pipeline were roughly equal, with opponents coming out on top. We would like to report that 80% of the testimony heard yesterday from pipeline opponents. One thousand pipeline fighters showed up to the hearings yesterday, while supporters numbered the 250 that were bussed in from other parts of the country. With these numbers, there is no question where Nebraskans stand on the pipeline. 

Farmers on Immigration: Today a federal judge rules on whether or not Alabama’s immigration law, the toughest in the nation, will stand. But it has already had its effects. Smith, an Alabama farmer, has already lost six workers because of the fear and division this law has created. He is afraid he may lose his farm. Anti-immigration laws have been fueled by the belief that undocumented workers are taking jobs Americans want. Smith has employed a few non-Latinos and witnessed them quit after a few hours on the job. The fact is that no one with legitimate papers will take the backbreaking work that is done by these workers. Read here 

Monday, Sept 26th

Tomorrow is the day, the day we tell the State Department and the rest of the country that we say NO to the TransCanada Pipeline. Rally with us at 11am in front of the Pershing Center. You can RSVP and receive more information on Facebook. In the meantime, here’s your Roundup:

Actions Speak Louder than Words: Governor Heineman is now quick to say that he opposes the current route of Keystone XL, but when it actually comes to seizing his power to change the route, he’s more than reticent. Heineman continues to deny any possibility for a special session and balks at the idea of the state passing anything to protect our natural resources. Again, all he can offer us is, “Tell the President.” We certainly are doing that, but in the meantime we’re demanding serious action from our state leaders. These last few days tell of what we feared: Heineman’s support may be more about setting up the Obama Administration for criticism than it is about protecting Nebraskans. We hope that’s not the case as it would be a shameful disregard for Nebraskans’ well being. Read here

Bare Minimum: Folks in Utah wanted to show their displeasure with the drastic conservatism in their state in a new way. Thus, the Utah Undie Run was created, giving participants a chance to more openly oppose the conservative nature of Utah politics. It has been evident on a national scale that conservatism is drifting (if not running) from its core values and playing to the fringes. Events such as this in Utah may become more common around the nation as moderates and progressives and even moderate conservatives act against the polarizing nature of the Far Right. Read here

At Long Last: Finally ,Joshua Fattal and Shane Bauer have arrived back in the United States after being in an Iran prison for over two years on allegations of spying. The two have long attested that they were hiking and they were detained solely because they were Americans. Around the nation, folks are happy to have their countrymen back. Read here

Shutdown Showdown Part II: A new fear of shutdown looms over Washington. The reason? Our lawmakers can’t seem to decide if it’s really necessary to help natural disaster victims within our own country. Democrats charge Republicans with playing political games at the expense of the safety and health of American victims of floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. Regardless, this argument is not healthy for a struggling economy that needs some level of stability by the federal government. The Senate prepares for a key vote today on a measure to address the issue. Read here