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Pillen pushes school boards to slow spending to ease property taxes
LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen doubled down last week on his effort to curb higher spending by local school districts after the state invested in a tax shift meant to ease property tax bills. Pillen sent a letter Wednesday to every school board member in the state, the Governor’s Office confirmed. He repeated his […]
Nebraska might push to clarify 1889 state law on foreign land ownership
LINCOLN — Nebraska has had a law on the books since 1889 limiting foreign ownership and leases of land, an expert on agricultural law told the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee on Friday. But state lawmakers never clarified how they wanted to enforce the law, which agency would enforce it or what penalty would be levied for […]
Nebraska AG sues private Husker ticket package seller on behalf of wronged donors
LINCOLN — The lines in the ad seem clear: “Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch a Nebraska football game with a Husker legend? This season, we’ve teamed up with Husker playmakers to create memorable Game Day Experiences to raise money and awareness for the charities they support.” Starting in 2022, […]
Nebraska’s stricter abortion ban and trans health care limits law won’t face injunction during appeal
LINCOLN — The Nebraska Supreme Court this week allowed Nebraska’s new law combining a stricter abortion ban with new limits on gender-affirming care for minors to remain in effect for now. The court rejected the injunction sought by Planned Parenthood and ACLU Nebraska. Both groups had argued that women and others seeking abortion care are […]
Pillen appoints State Sen. Tom Briese as new state treasurer
LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, the first farmer to hold the governor’s office in over a century, appointed another farmer Thursday as state treasurer: State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion. During his two terms in the Legislature, Briese, a law school graduate, has advocated shifting more education funding away from local property taxes and […]
Sen. Pete Ricketts proposes federal tax cut on Social Security income
LINCOLN — U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts was Nebraska’s governor in 2022, when then-State Sen. Brett Lindstrom proposed cutting the state tax on Social Security income in incremental steps. Now Ricketts wants to take Nebraska’s idea national. Ricketts said he is proposing legislation Thursday to phase in a reduction on federal income taxes on Social Security […]
Two protesters of development near Lincoln sweat lodge see split results in court
LINCOLN — Two people cited after months of protests against tree removal for a new housing development near Lincoln’s Wilderness Park are absorbing a split result in their misdemeanor cases. Lancaster County Judge Tim Phillips convicted Louis Braatz III and Delan E. Lonowski of trespassing but said the state failed to prove they refused to […]
Nebraska Legislature hires outside lawyer to advise about work of inspectors general
LINCOLN – The Nebraska Legislature has hired an outside lawyer to help senators find a legislative solution to last month’s opinion by the state attorney general’s that limited lawmakers’ oversight of the state’s child welfare and prison systems. Speaker of the Legislature John Arch and State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, chair of the Executive […]
Lincoln school superintendent acknowledges an allegation he made against former employer was false
LINCOLN — Lincoln’s new superintendent filed a lawsuit against his former employer that made an allegation that has since proven false, he acknowledged in a court filing last week. Paul Gausman, whom Lincoln Public Schools hired from Iowa’s Sioux City Community Schools in 2022, sued the Iowa district this January, alleging violations of open meetings […]
Populists win Sarpy GOP leadership race after ousting 50-plus members from voting
SPRINGFIELD, Nebraska — Sarpy County Republicans handily elected a new chair Thursday after the party’s younger, Trumpier and more populist wing spent months pushing for change. Former Papillion City Council candidate Michael Tiedeman beat Sarpy County Vice Chair Michael Cook by a vote of 50-23, observers said. Tiedeman declined immediate comment. Cook confirmed the result. […]
State Sen. Tom Briese joins nine other treasurer applicants
OMAHA — A second chairman of a state legislative committee is among those applying to join Nebraska’s executive branch. State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion confirmed Thursday that he has applied for the $85,000 a year job as state treasurer. “For me … it presents an opportunity to continue serving,” said Briese, who is term-limited […]
Slama, Spellerberg, Royal, Biar among state treasurer applicants
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect a fourth confirmed candidate. LINCOLN — This year, Gov. Jim Pillen has the only vote for state treasurer that matters. Pillen’s appointed successor to John Murante will serve until voters get a say in 2026. The governor has not hinted that he has any favorites among […]