Government & Politics
Nebraska utilities say Bostelman plan to avoid rolling blackouts is unnecessary
LINCOLN — Representatives of the state’s public utilities lined up last week to oppose a bill that was portrayed as a way to avoid the rolling blackouts of last year’s polar vortex. No one testified in favor of a proposal presented Thursday to the Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee by State Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, […]
Omaha explores new 72nd and Dodge library branch
Omahans might see a new and different library facility rise southwest of the busy 72nd and Dodge Streets intersection. That public library, which is not a done deal, is separate from the City of Omaha’s ongoing and controversial process to relocate the downtown W. Dale Clark Library to 1401 Jones St. Mutual of Omaha said […]
Republican Lindstrom touts teamwork, ‘new generation leadership’ in first ad
The first television ad from Republican gubernatorial candidate Brett Lindstrom emphasizes his “teamwork” as a Nebraska football player and says he would bring “a new generation of leadership” to the state. The ad launched Friday. Lindstrom, a state senator and Omaha financial adviser, faces an uphill battle to match the spending of the two most […]
Nebraska lawmakers overcome filibuster, pass ‘Convention of States’ resolution
LINCOLN — Nebraska became the 17th state on Friday to pass a resolution calling for a “Convention of States” to draft proposed constitutional amendments to limit federal spending, impose term limits on U.S. senators and representatives and reduce the size of federal government. State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings and 18 co-sponsors, all Republican, proposed […]
Fortenberry, Flood trade charges as 1st District race heats up
The race for the Republican nomination in Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District heated up Friday, with incumbent U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry attacking State Sen. Mike Flood as having a “history” of not following conservative principles, particularly on immigration issues. Flood, in a response from a campaign spokesman, later accused the congressman of “desperately lying” to divert […]
Ricketts says no to second round of rental assistance for Nebraska
Nebraskans behind on their rent might miss out on a $120 million pot of money Congress set aside to help them. Gov. Pete Ricketts said Thursday that Nebraska will not apply for a second round of federal emergency rental aid. “The federal government has said that you no longer need any impact of COVID to […]
Utilities decry proposal to appoint, rather than elect, board members
LINCOLN — A proposal to have the governor appoint the majority of board members for the state’s two largest public utilities — instead of having them elected by voters — would “take the ‘public’ out of public power,” a legislative committee was told Thursday. “One of the founding principles of public power is that citizens […]
Lawmakers object to TIF use for Omaha streetcar
OMAHA — A Nebraska senator who championed the law that gave “extremely blighted” neighborhoods a better shot at economic development says it is being “abused” for the proposed Omaha streetcar project. Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha said he intended the 2020 change to tax-increment financing legislation to benefit the poorest areas of the state. The […]
Iowa lottery scam’s alleged mastermind is paroled after 4 1/2 years in prison
An Iowa man convicted of rigging the lottery to fraudulently claim millions in jackpots has been paroled after 4 1/2 years behind bars. The Iowa Board of Parole has approved the release of Eddie Tipton, th,e former information security director of the Multi-State Lottery Association, based in Urbandale. Tipton was arrested in 2015 and accused […]
Biden vows to nominate first Black woman to Supreme Court by end of February
WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer formally announced his retirement Thursday, giving President Joe Biden his first, and possibly only, opportunity to make a nomination for the lifetime appointment. At the White House, Biden said he will make his decision by the end of February and recommitted to nominating the court’s first Black female […]
Deja vu: Prosecutors and law enforcement again oppose some sentencing reforms
LINCOLN — Just as they did in 2015, prosecutors and law enforcement officials are criticizing criminal sentencing reforms recommended to reduce Nebraska’s nation-leading prison overcrowding as going too far. While opponents said they support some steps, such as expansion of drug courts and increasing prison rehabilitation programs, they attacked suggestions to reduce minimum sentences and […]
Fauci declines to predict COVID vaccine timetable for kids under 5
WASHINGTON — Parents hoping to vaccinate their young children against COVID-19 will need to be patient, Dr. Anthony Fauci cautioned Wednesday. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said while he expects that the vaccine regimen for children under 5 will be three doses, he couldn’t provide a timeline on when […]