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A shift in the ‘backfield’: State Patrol, instead of UNL police, will escort NU football coach off field after games
LINCOLN — During Thursday night’s Nebraska-Minnesota football game, spectators might have noticed a shift in the “backfield” that provides security for the NU football coach. In a change communicated Friday, the Nebraska State Patrol’s executive protection team — the group that provides security for the governor — will now escort NU football coach Matt Rhule […]
Governor seeks applicants for State Treasurer vacancy after Murante signals he’s leaving Sept. 18
LINCOLN — State Treasurer John Murante has officially submitted his resignation, effective Sept. 18, triggering a call for applicants for the $85,000-a-year elective post. Gov. Jim Pillen, who will make the appointment, said in a press release Wednesday that he wants to make his decision quickly. He set a deadline for applications for Wednesday, Sept. […]
Change of ‘circumstances’ and criticism by residents lead to new site for state prison
LINCOLN — A change of heart by Lincoln’s mayor and complaints by nearby residents led Wednesday to an agreement to move the location of a planned, 1,500-bed state prison. The new location is a plot of 300 acres of farmland owned by the City of Lincolns east of the Lincoln city landfill, and just north […]
Turmoil over site for new state prison prompts press conference Wednesday
LINCOLN — East of the Lincoln city landfill lies nearly 417 acres of rolling farmland, trees and prairie owned by the City of Lincoln that some local officials and residents say would be a better location for a state prison than the site selected. “It would be a lot less hassle,” said Brian Gage, the […]
Did State Treasurer meet the qualifications to run Nebraska’s public employees retirement agency?
LINCOLN — The job posting to lead the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems clearly states that “successful candidates will have an advanced degree….” But the person hired, State Treasurer John Murante, doesn’t have an advanced degree, let alone one in the fields described in the job posting: “business administration, public administration, finance/accounting or related field.” […]
NU College of Law to establish clinic to defend First Amendment rights
LINCOLN — Journalists and the members of the public facing violations of they First Amendment rights will soon have somewhere else to turn. The University of Nebraska College of Law announced Monday that it was establishing a law clinic, staffed by law students and supervised by practicing attorneys, to take on cases involving free speech, […]
More than $30 million in claims certified against estate of deceased Lincoln businessman
Editor’s note: This article has been revised to correct the amount of return to banks based on assets obtained so far. LINCOLN — Nearly 10 months after Lincoln businessman Aaron Marshbanks was found dead under suspicious circumstances, some things are becoming clearer in what is perhaps the largest bank fraud case in state history. Over the […]
Pillen allows hotter water discharges from power plants due to ‘extreme’ demand, thanks feds for increasing payments on cattle losses
LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen signed an emergency order Friday allowing power plants, facing higher demands due to this week’s heat wave, to discharge hotter water from their facilities. Pillen, in a press release, said the order allows power plants to “safely” exceed temperature limits, while allowing utilities to meet “extreme” demands for power. The […]
Nebraska State Auditor to explore $3 million grant for Red Way airlines, which is quitting service at Lincoln Airport
LINCOLN — Citing concerns expressed to his office, State Auditor Mike Foley said his office will explore a $3 million grant given to a airline that is soon quitting service at the Lincoln Airport. Foley, in a letter to the Lincoln Airport Authority on Friday, said his office had fielded concerns about the large outlay […]
Officials still unsure on changing drug-use standards for police recruits
LINCOLN — A law enforcement panel is still considering whether to adjust its drug-use standards for new recruits after Gov. Jim Pillen recently rejected a proposal to relax them. But one thing is clear — statistics sought by the governor aren’t available to indicate how many potential recruits are deterred by the current standards: no […]
Former History Nebraska director asks for preliminary hearing over felony theft charge
Editor’s note: this story has been updated to include information about hiring a new director. LINCOLN — The former director of History Nebraska, facing up to 20 years in prison on a felony theft charge, has asked for a preliminary hearing to substantiate the allegation. Trevor Jones appeared via Zoom from an undisclosed location for […]
State Environmental Trust, facing a decline in grant applications, sets educational sessions
LINCOLN — Facing a decline in grant applications, the Nebraska Environmental Trust has scheduled three question-and-answer sessions beginning Friday about its grant process. The director of the Trust said the sessions are about the agency’s “ongoing process improvement effort” and not about increasing grant applications The Trust has faced criticism in recent years, however, for a […]