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Thibodeau picks bombastic rural voice, podcaster Loos as running mate in Nebraska governor’s race
Former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau of Omaha announced her running mate Thursday in the Republican primary race for governor. She picked a name familiar to many in Nebraska’s sprawling, largely rural 3rd Congressional District. Thibodeau tapped Trent Loos, a bombastic central Nebraska rancher known for his rural radio show and conservative political podcast. “A one-size-fits-all […]
Senate advances bill to name Benson post office bill after WWII hero Charles Jackson French
OMAHA — The Senate bill to rename the Benson branch post office after World War II hero Charles Jackson French cleared a key committee vote Wednesday and appears headed to passage as early as next week. The Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee sent the bill to the Senate floor, where Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and […]
Nebraska state troopers endorse Herbster, saying he has offered them higher pay
LINCOLN — The union representing Nebraska State Patrol troopers sent a message Tuesday to Gov. Pete Ricketts and his preferred replacement: They’re tired of waiting on the state to pay them more. The State Troopers Association of Nebraska endorsed Conklin Co. CEO Charles Herbster in the Republican governor’s primary race, a candidate Ricketts has said […]
Ex-running mate, former staffers call Herbster unfit to be Nebraska governor
OMAHA — A former running mate, a former political mentor and more than a dozen former campaign staffers who helped get Charles Herbster’s Nebraska governor’s race off the ground no longer stand by his side. Herbster, the CEO of Conklin Co., still holds the endorsement of President Donald Trump, which might be enough to get […]
Ricketts, House GOP leader, Speaker call on Fortenberry to resign
LOS ANGELES — Gov. Pete Ricketts, the Republican leader in the U.S. House and the House Speaker called Friday for U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry to resign, following his conviction for lying to federal investigators and trying to conceal illegal campaign donations. “I hope Jeff Fortenberry will do the right thing and resign so his constituents […]
Herbster goes off script in governor debate; Lindstrom stays on; Thibodeau attacks
LINCOLN — Four Republicans running to be Nebraska’s next governor stood on a soundstage Thursday and answered questions from reporters for an hour on live television statewide. That they did so is rarely news. But Thursday’s event, hosted by Nebraska Public Media, was the first and perhaps only debate of this GOP primary race. And […]
Fight is still on for Nebraska’s shot at millions of dollars in federal rent and utility aid
LINCOLN — The Legislature’s push to collect at least part of $120 million in federal rental aid that Congress set aside for Nebraska — and that Gov. Pete Ricketts rejected — remains very much alive. That’s the word Thursday, a day after 26 state lawmakers passed a bill that would force the governor to apply for […]
Bill forcing Nebraska to seek $120 million in rental aid passes, but funds in peril
LINCOLN — The Nebraska Legislature mustered 26 votes Wednesday to force the state to apply for $120 million in federal funds for rental assistance that Gov. Pete Ricketts has opposed. But the state’s renters and landlords would get none of the funds unless Ricketts changes his mind or the federal government changes its rules to […]
Push for additional Nebraska rental assistance heads to final vote
LINCOLN — The Legislature plans to vote Wednesday on whether to force Nebraska to apply for $120 million in federal rental assistance funds that Gov. Pete Ricketts has resisted. The question is whether senators secure the 30th vote necessary to override a possible veto by the governor. Ricketts wouldn’t share his plans during a news […]
Massive income, corporate and property tax relief package finds a way forward
LINCOLN — State senators pushing for a grand bargain on tax relief appear to have found a path past threatened filibusters to craft a package that would cut Nebraska’s top income tax and corporate tax rates and offset property taxes paid to community colleges. The Legislature’s Revenue Committee settled Tuesday on a plan to combine […]
Sen. John Cavanaugh plans filibuster of tax relief package without changes
LINCOLN — State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha said Tuesday that he wants his colleagues to stop tinkering with Nebraska’s tax rate on top earners and instead hand middle-class folks $200 on a debit card. Cavanaugh discussed his direct refund proposal during an OpenSky Institute news conference Tuesday. He said he plans to filibuster the […]
Sasse sends 11th-hour letter to get WWII hero French into post office bill
OMAHA — U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse’s office said Monday that the effort by Nebraska congressional colleagues to rename the Benson branch post office after a Navy World War II hero with Omaha ties now has what it needs to advance. Sasse spokesman Taylor Sliva confirmed that Sasse wrote a letter of support Monday to the […]