This column by Donnis Hueftle-Bullock was originally published in the April 15, 2021 issue of the Custer County Chief. Last Wednesday morning I received an email from Dennis DeRossett, Nebraska Press Association (NPA) Executive Director, letting all the NPA membership know of a comment made on the floor of the Legislature the day before. âIt is expensive and nobody reads newspapers anymore, anyway,â Sen. Ben Hansen, Dist. 16, said. The bill under discussion, LB644, was going to be debated that morning on the floor. In his email, Dennis stated we needed to get in touch with our area senator by 9 a.m. I sent Senator Matt Williams an email about the comment made Tuesday and gave him my two cents on the importance of community newspapers. Senator Williams replied back to me 15 minutes. His response was âI totally agree with you. I plan to say something on the mic about the papers in my district.â