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June 28 set for special election to fill remainder of Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s term
LINCOLN — June 28 has been picked as the date of a special election to fill the vacancy left when U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry resigned after being convicted of lying to federal investigators. On that same day, Fortenberry, who had represented Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District since 2005, will be sentenced in a Los Angeles federal […]
Bill advances to double state ‘turnback’ payments for two Omaha and Ralston arenas
LINCOLN — The state would double its financial commitment, from $75 million to $150 million, to Omaha’s CHI Health Center under a bill given first-round approval Thursday in the Nebraska Legislature. The so-called “turnback” tax proceeds would also double for Ralston’s Liberty First Credit Union Arena, to $100 million, under Legislative Bill 927. The bill […]
Study of Nebraska’s AltEn health, environmental impacts gets $1 million boost
LINCOLN — A last-minute amendment adopted Thursday will devote $1 million toward continuing research into the health, environmental and ecological impacts of contamination caused by the AltEn ethanol plant. A team of scientists, doctors and an engineer, volunteering their time and using donated funds for tests, has been studying the impacts of the pesticide-laced seed […]
Third time is the charm for $900 million tax-cut plan in Nebraska Legislature
LINCOLN — The third time was the charm Wednesday for a massive tax cut proposal in the Nebraska Legislature. After failing to advance the package twice last week, lawmakers mustered enough votes Wednesday evening to overcome a filibuster and then advance the tax cuts on a 44-0 vote. The comprehensive and much amended proposal includes […]
‘Racino’ bill advances with initial limit at six racetracks
LINCOLN — A bill that seeks to limit, at least for now, the number of gambling casinos that can be established in Nebraska got out of the gate Tuesday but is far from the finish line. Senators advanced Legislative Bill 876 from first-round debate on a 30-0 vote, but one leading state senator complained that […]
Major bills on corrections, taxes headed for debate Wednesday
LINCOLN — After two days of acrimony over unsuccessful attempts at compromise, a legislative showdown is coming Wednesday on a major tax relief bill and a comprehensive criminal justice reform proposal. Both bills are scheduled for debate Wednesday. The fate of those two issues, and the Legislature’s proposal for spending its $1 billion federal American […]
Bill advanced to allow ‘progressive design-build’ of highways, bridges
LINCOLN — The state would have a new tool to help complete the long-delayed state expressway system, and other highway and bridge projects, under a bill that appears headed for approval in the Nebraska Legislature. With little debate Monday, lawmakers gave 31-0 first-round approval for Legislative Bill 1016, which would allow the Nebraska Department of […]
Nebraska lawmakers pledge work to improve handling of workplace harassment complaints
LINCOLN — The Nebraska Legislature appears headed for a review of how it handles workplace harassment complaints by employees and how it handles senators who breach ethical standards. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said Monday that a recent complaint filed against then-Sen. Mike Groene pointed up the “inadequacies” in the current complaint process. She […]
State’s $1 billion ARPA budget moves forward but faces uncertain future
LINCOLN — A group of state lawmakers worked into the night Monday in hopes of crafting a grand compromise among three major issues in the 2022 session. Amid that work, legislators gave second-round approval to the bill outlining proposed spending of the state’s $1 billion allocation from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). But […]
School officials say ‘furries’ talk is ridiculous after Nebraska lawmaker raises the issue
LINCOLN — Officials with the Seward and Adams Central school districts on Monday labeled as “ridiculous” and “an ugly rumor” talk that students have dressed up as cats and dogs and have requested litter boxes to handle their bathroom needs. Officials with both the Millard and Omaha public schools also said they were unaware of […]
Fortenberry resignation sets up unique situation with special election
LINCOLN — Nebraska’s voters, and election officials, are about to enter new territory. Because of the impending resignation of U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, voters in eastern Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District will be asked to vote in three elections in 2022 concerning the post Fortenberry is vacating. The three are the May primary, a special election […]
Carol Blood picks former State Sen. Al Davis as her running mate in Nebraska governor race
LINCOLN— Former State Sen. Al Davis, a Sandhills rancher with a second home in Lincoln, was picked Sunday by Democratic gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Carol Blood as her running mate. Blood, of Bellevue, said she was seeking a lieutenant governor who would be “servant-hearted, hard working,” who had past political experience and who had “the […]