hot-button ballot initiatives on the ballot. Initiative 434, which would place the state’s current policy on abortion that allows the procedure only during the first 12 weeks of gestation, into the State Constitution, received overwhelming support from Custer County voters.

The other abortion measure, Initiative 439, would place in the State Constitution a right to an abortion until the fetus is viable – when the fetus would survive outside the womb – which is around the 23rd or 24th week, as determined by a doctor. Results of that measure were nearly identical to 434 in Custer County, with 4,187 Against and 1,503 For.

Initiative 436, or the Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, would enact a state law allowing eligible workers the opportunity to earn paid sick leave. In Custer County 3,247 voted For and 2,102 Against the measure.

A “yes” vote for ballot issue No. 435, the Private Education Scholarship Partial Referendum, would repeal LB 1402, and stop state funding of private school scholarships. That was fairly close in Custer County with 3,133 voting to Repeal and 2,285 voting to Retain.

Initiatives 437 and 438 would legalize the use of cannabis as medicine, if prescribed by a licensed physician, and set up a state regulation framework for the sale and possession of such products. Both measures won the support of Nebraska voters by a landslide, with 437 receiving nearly 71 percent yes, and 438 nearly 67 percent yes. Custer County voters did not agree, with 2,876 voting Against 437 and 2,528 For; while 3,060 voted Against 438 and 2,306 voted For.

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development is seeking your help! They are asking households and organizations to complete a brief survey to help form state funding priorities. The results of the survey will be used to set goals for programs and investments, over the next five years (2025-2029), to meet community development needs across Nebraska.

To take the survey, follow this link - https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/FW2SRHD It will be open until Dec. 10, 2024. Information collected is confidential and used for data purposes only, no personally identifying information is required or saved. You are welcome to share this survey with your friends, family, and colleagues. If you work for a mission-driven organization, please complete the survey as an individual and on behalf of your organization. Please do not complete multiple surveys for your person or organization.

Please answer all questions to the best of your ability. If you have questions about this survey or how your data will be used, please contact ded.research@nebraska.gov.

Thank you, Carla Kimball, CNEDD Executive Director