While it is far from a Jeep, Alan Jackson nearly hit the nail on the head on every other descriptor of the old farm pickup that sits in my garage from day-to-day. I think there are a lot of rural homes and farm places that have similar vehicles.

Disclaimer: I have never owned, driven, or ridden a traditional two-wheel motorcycle. I sat on one owned by my late brother. But in more than five decades as a reporter, I have covered numerous accidents involving motorcycles with any variety of other vehicles. I have seen dead bodies and spent time waiting and praying in hospital emergency rooms. I have also covered countless hours of debate about repealing the helmet law.

If you are anything like me, you have some memories from your childhood, the very early years of your childhood especially, that remain vividly tucked away in your mind. For me, one of those memories was ushered to the forefront of my mind this week when it was announced that Ryan Seacrest had been selected to take over as the host of Wheel of Fortune following the retirement of Pat Sajak from the role.

It slipped in on an uneventful Tuesday this year, although many towns celebrated on Monday, the third, just to give the holiday a long weekend type feel. Maybe it was a little bit easier to remember the true historic origins of the holiday this year, given the drought and all the caution about fireworks lighting up more than just the night sky.

This last spring, the Nebraska Legislature passed LB753, the Opportunity Scholarships Act, which will entitle individuals to receive tax credits by donating to scholarship funds for private and parochial schools in Nebraska.

Every Monday night, like clockwork— well, almost—I haul my garbage out to the curb. And, from time to time, on the side of the street, I also pile other things that I no longer have any use for.

The new governor says, jubilantly, that the honeymoon cruise with the Nebraska Legislature was a huge success. Sorry governor, I’m seeing flags.

I punished some people on Friday. It was intentional but, to be honest with you, I really had no other choice.

So, this is prison reform? At this point, it’s something, and we’ll cling to every little bit of it while the Republican majority anticipates the building of a new prison, which will do little, if anything, to alleviate overcrowding An omnibus bill sponsored by Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne and signed into law by Governor Jim Pillen creates several programs intended to improve the state’s criminal justice system, including a program to expand problem- solving courts, a pilot program to establish parole-violation residential housing, and a probationer incentive program.