WASHINGTON, D.C. (NEXSTAR) – A bi-partisan group of Senators is working to address concerns about broadband mapping. The Federal Communications Commission uses it to determine how billions of dollars are distributed to increase access to broadband. Some lawmakers worry the current mapping process has flaws and needs to be updated to make sure rural and under-served areas get the funding they need. 

Senators said access to broadband is all about location. “I can drive through my state and tell you where we are going to have dropped service and no service” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, (R) West Virginia.

Senator Capito said current maps used by the FCC to distribute funding don’t accurately show where there is poor or no connectivity. Members of the bi-partisan Senate Broadband Caucus said without good data, they can’t pass policies to effectively address the problem.

“If we don’t get this right we can’t get anything else right” said John Boozman (R) Arkansas.

“The FCC’s maps overstate coverage in many rural areas” said Senator Amy Klobachur (D) Minnesota. “This means communities that need help to deploy broadband are ineligible to receive federal funds”.

The Federal Communications Commission agrees its collection process has flaws. But officials said updating the mapping process takes time.

“It’s challenging with a 150 million or so addresses nationwide,” said Kris Monteith, FCC Wireline Competition Bureau   

Lawmakers are working on ways to speed up the drawing of more accurate maps.  One proposed bill directs the FCC to consider using consumer reported data as well as data from state and local governments.

Supporters said federal officals, carriers and other stakeholders must work together on solutions or underserved communities will continue to struggle.

“If those of us who are left behind in the digital divide aren’t able to close that divide we are going to drag the rest of our state and our regions with us. We don’t want to see that” said Senator Capito. 

Lawmakers are also pushing for broadband funding t obe included in any infrastruture deal.

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is unquestionably the most powerful woman in America.  She was the first woman to be voted speaker of the House, and when Democrats reclaimed the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, the first to return to that position.  

But Pelosi says despite that power, it’s not good to climb the political ladder unless you can reach down and pull other women up along with you.

She is the first, but does not want to be the last. After eight years of being mired in minority politics Pelosi is back on top, again holding the speaker’s gavel, and working to put more women in seats of power. It’s more than a goal, she explained.

“It is not a goal it’s an imperative. When I first came here there were 23 women in Congress, 12 Democrats, 11 Republicans,” Pelosi recalled. “We made a decision on our side to increase that number–we have now 91.”

A record number applauded even by President Trump during the State of the Union. Democrats encouraged all congressional women to wear white to honor women’s suffrage. But women in Pelosi’s party are not thinking – or voting – with a single mind, but with their own.

“I always say our diversity is our strength. Diversity in every way, gender, ethnicity, generationally, geographically, yes philosophically. That’s our strength–our diversity.  Our unity is our power,” Pelosi emphasized. 

A power Pelosi reclaimed in 2018, admitting the 2016 presidential election was traumatic for women in her party and caused her to shelve a plan to retire from Congress.

”I did really believe that if Hillary Clinton had won for president and there would be a woman at the very head of the table–the Affordable Care Act would be protected, our initiatives for children – Hillary Clinton [was] so committed -that I could go home and work in the community and not necessarily in Congress. But that didn’t happen and so here I am still,” Pelosi reflected.

First elected to Congress in 1987, Pelosi describes herself as naturally shy.  A mother of five, she says she was driven to public service by a desire to advance policies supportive of children.

“I always say to people, put a gold star next to your experience as a mom. Some people say, ‘oh well I have this space where I was just a mom.’ I always say don’t ever say I was just a mom or just a housewife–that’s a balance of diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, quarter mastering, care, feeding, driving all the other things and also just keeping the peace letting everyone reach their fulfillment not at the expense of anyone else,” Pelosi said. 

“Back in the 80s, there was a saying–that women have to work twice as hard to get half as far,” NBC4 anchor Colleen Marshall said. “There was this feeling that there were a limited number of seats at the table for women. Was that daunting for you or was that the challenge that was inspirational for you?”

“Well first of all, there were no seats at the table for women in terms of a leadership table,” Pelosi answered. “Twice as hard for half as much recognition probably was true then and I don’t want it to be true now, so I say to women, just know your power, be confident in what you bring to the table, there’s nobody like you. The authenticity of you is your strength, and the country needs you.”

And although Pelosi is a lightning rod for Republicans, she concedes the country needs a Congress that can work with the White House, and a speaker who can work with the president.

“Increasing paychecks by rebuilding the infrastructure of America he says he supports that – we can do that by working together. So let’s find our common ground, we have a responsibility to do that.  Stand our ground where we can, but again, not find issues from the start that are dividing but issues that are unifying.  E pluribus unum. That’s our founders’ guidance to us. From many, one.”

Pelosi says during her first stint as speaker she rarely talked about the power that comes with the office, but now she does speak openly about her “clout” because she wants other women to have confidence in what they bring to the table. 

Read more stories Celebrating Women here

The biggest game in football will take center stage on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and one of the biggest attractions leading up to the big game is Radio Row.

It’s a sight to see: over 200 stations in one room in the Georgia World Congress Center, all talking about Super Bowl 53.

“You walk into Radio Row, you never know who you’re going to run into where you go, ‘Wow, I can’t believe they’re here,'” said Mike Golic, ESPN Radio personality.  

The current stars at Radio Row are players like Patrick Mahomes and Alvin Kamara, as well as all-time great Jerry Rice.

Super Bowl 43 MVP Santonio Holmes and Super Bowl-winning player and head coach Tony Dungy headed down for the game excitement, too.

“Incredible to see how this game has grown. Super Bowl 13 we flew in on Wednesday, we played the game, it was a big game, but just like another game,” said Dungy. “Now, 40 years later it’s just incredible how it’s grown.”

It’s former players like Holmes who add to the hype on the Row.

“I’m more so getting the questions in stares of amazement that ‘Santonio Holmes is actually walking past me’ and ‘I remember that catch 10 years ago and to see him here at radio row answering these questions,’” he explained.

This year, even Nexstar Nation is front and center.

“Nexstar Nation has made the most emphatic entrance on to Radio Row. We are here in full force doing a live stream every single solitary day leading up to the Big Game,” said J.B. Biunno, Member of Nexstar Radio Row Digital Team.

Two more Big Game Bound shows are lined up for this weekend. Tune in on The Big Game page at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Upstate New York native Breanna Stewart won four NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship titles with the University of Connecticut.

In 2016, she won a gold medal in Rio with Team USA and also picked up two ESPYs for Best Female Athlete and Best Female Collegiate Athlete.

That same year, Stewie was unanimously voted WNBA rookie of the year after being the league’s No. 1 draft pick to the Seattle Storm.

Last year, the Storm claimed the WNBA Championship and Stewie was awarded the MVP title.

At the young age of 24, the dynamic forward may soon run out of room in her trophy case.

She openly says she has her sights set on going down as the greatest to ever play the game of basketball, but at the same time, Stewie is also making assists off the court.

Last December, Stewie hosted her first ever youth basketball camp and she brought it home to North Syracuse, N.Y.

It’s been years since Stewie has had the chance to be home during the holidays due to collegiate tournaments as a UConn Huskie and playing overseas in China as a pro.

Despite the time crunch and short visit home, Stewie dedicated an entire day of her vacation to working with aspiring basketball players.

Once lighting up high school hoops for the Cicero-North Syracuse North Stars — Stewie and a team of other players and coaches ordered up drills on the junior high school hardwood she once played on.

Emphasizing the importance of making it affordable — the price was set at $25 per child. Participants came from all over New York state, New Jersey and the Carolinas. Each child also received an official Nike T-shirt with “Breanna Stewart Basketball” donned in Storm colors.

Slots for Stewie’s camp sold out in a day and a few hundred children got the chance to dribble, shoot and pass alongside the hoops star.

“When I dreamed about things, it was kind of like, when I was in high school I dreamed about, you know, college and then when I was in college, I was like oh, I can go play in the WNBA,” Stewie shared.

Stewie is not just “playing in the WNBA,” she is breaking records and picking up even more honors.

During her second year with the Storm — Stewie became the fastest WNBA player to reach 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in just 55 career games.

“I don’t know…Not thinking too far ahead of myself,” Stewie said. “I mean, now I know that anything’s possible, really.”

Stewie has proved she can conquer the court and since she started, she’s been aiming from well beyond the arc to make an even bigger mark on the world.

“I’m playing basketball for a living which is amazing, but like there’s other things in life that are more important,” Stewie shared.

Last year, Stewie stood up and shared her truth with the world in the Players’ Tribune echoing, “Me too,” with countless other survivors of sexual abuse.

“I couldn’t sleep. I was always up just because that would be the time that things would happen,” Stewie shared in an E60 interview. “You know, when I was at a family member’s house and it was night time.”

She was nine years old when her uncle started molesting her.

Years went by and she didn’t feel safe — even the basketball court did not make her feel completely safe, but it did give her a space to be a kid and be free of haunting thoughts.

When Stewie was 11, she broke her silence and told her parents. After filing a report, Stewie’s father told her “the guy had confessed everything to the police.”

“Saying that my article helped save their life or that type of thing, those are powerful statements,” Stewie shared.

Several months after sharing her own truth, Stewie still hears from survivors.

Years removed from what she describes as a childhood with pain, black holes and blank spaces — Stewie admits some memories flash into her mind every day.

“Opening it up to the rest of the world was like an additional weight lifted off my chest,” Stewie said.

While some may never speak their truth, Stewie wants survivors to know how much it can help and heal. Saying, “Me too,” on the world stage is just part of her mission that goes beyond breaking records and winning awards.

“If it’s something that I believe in, I’m going to share my opinion,” Stewie said. “Our worlds are colliding between sports and everything else that’s going on outside of that.”

Stewie’s long list of awards and fame put her in a league of her own but her beginning tethers her to what many can connect to.

“All I have to do is play basketball,” Stewie said. “I can be a relatable, normal person because it may happen to me and it may happen to a random person on the street and that’s life.”

What many of us know about Stewie’s life and legacy so far is really just the beginning as she continues dazzling the world of basketball, building her own brand as an athlete and advocate, and being a voice for those who may never have one.

Stewie says she plans to host more youth basketball camps.

Her first camp held in North Syracuse, N.Y., benefited Vera House Inc., an Upstate New York agency that supports victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Stewie plans to make the North Syracuse camp an annual event.

Read more stories Celebrating Women here

With a win over the Atlanta Falcons at home, the Packers have kept their hopes alive for being Big Game Bound but now they will have to go on the road to division rivals the Chicago Bears.

Interim Head Coach Joe Philbin’s debut as head coach went about as good as could be expected despite losing two challenges on the opening drive and falling behind 7-0.

But that didn’t stop them. The Packer rattled off 34 unanswered points against the Falcons and held on for a 34 – 20 putting them at 5-7-1 overall, and still in the NFC playoff race.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for less yards than he has all season, but he’s fine with the results,

“I wouldn’t say the concepts were basic, but I thought the flow was really good, Joe did a great job.

The communication was great on the sideline and the flow was good and kind of got into a rhythm.”

They’ll need that same kind of performance against the Bears who have performing off the charts with the best defensive football in the league. Not only did they shut down the high flying Rams last Sunday but they picked off Jared Goff four times. 

They are 3rd in total defense, 4th in sacks and number one in the NFL with 34 takeaways and an NFL best plus 13 turnover margin.

According to Philbin, it’s how they put you in bad spots that makes the biggest difference;

“If you look at the game the other night, I think they had the Rams in 2nd and 10 plus maybe 11 times, 10 times?

Now you’re susceptible to all these linemen going like this. And these guys are fast and they move well and they might want to blitz here and there.

It makes your job tougher. Takeaways certainly in the game the other night were a big factor, and I think they have been throughout the course of the year.” 

The season started for both these teams in week one at Lambeau Field and it was another memorable chapter in the longest running rivalry where Rodgers naturally led the greatest late game comeback in Packers history after being down 20 – 0.  

This time around, there are plenty of factors to consider. The Packers have won 8 straight in Chicago but Green Bay hasn’t won a single road game this season. Not to mention, Rodgers has owned the Bears in his career with a 17-4 overall record.

The Playoff Picture comes down to this: 

• They will need to win out
• Carolina, Philadelphia, and Washington each lose at least one game 

AND

• Vikings lose two out of their last three. 

A loss in Chicago and the Packers are almost guaranteed to be done in Green Bay for 2018.  

WISH-TV is your local election headquarters.

A live debate of the three Republican candidates for Indiana’s U.S. Senate seat will be broadcast Sunday on WISH-TV and Nexstar’s Indiana family of stations. The one-hour debate will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday. It also will air on WISHTV.com.

Who are businessman Mike Braun, and U.S. Reps. Luke Messer and Todd Rokita? Republican voters will chose one of them to try to unseat Democrat U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly. The primary election is May 8. 

All three candidates went to the same small, liberal-arts college in central Indiana, Wabash College, in Crawfordsville. But after school, their lives took different routes.

Rokita serves the state’s 4th Congressional District. He has been elected to four terms in Congress. Before that, he served as Indiana’s secretary of state from 2003 to 2010.

Rokita and his family live near Brownsburg.

“I look forward to demonstrating who the real Trump ally is here.” Rokita has said. “I’m pro-life, I’m pro-Second Amendment and I’m pro-President Trump.”

Braun is the founder of Meyer Distributing and owner of Meyer Logistics headquartered in Jasper. He served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 2014 to 2017.

Braun is a Harvard Business School graduate. He and his wife live in Jasper.

Braun previously said, “I am looking forward to another debate to show Hoosiers which candidate is the true conservative and political outsider. We’re proving to Hoosiers everywhere that I am the conservative outsider who will defeat Joe Donnelly in November.”

Messer serves the 6th Congressional District. He has been elected to three terms in Congress. Before that, he served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 2003 to 2006.

A family man as well, Messer is from Greensburg. He also attended Vanderbilt Law School.

Messer has said, “We’re glad to be there when you guys conduct your debate, Frankly, I think voters will see through it if somebody decides they don’t want to show up.”

Editor’s note: Nexstar Indiana’s statewide political correspondent, David Williams, contributed to this story.