Government & Politics
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 […]
U.S. Rep. Fortenberry found guilty of three felonies in stunning and swift jury verdict
LOS ANGELES — With stunning swiftness, a California jury found U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry guilty Thursday of lying to federal investigators and trying to conceal illegal campaign donations. The jury of eight women and four men took just over two hours to render a verdict on three felony charges faced by the 61-year-old Republican. The […]
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 […]
Federal jury finds U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry guilty on all three counts
Editor’s note: This report was updated at 9 p.m. CDT Thursday with a verdict. LOS ANGELES — In stunning swiftness, a California jury ruled Thursday that U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry was guilty of lying to federal investigators and trying to conceal illegal campaign donations. The jury of eight women and four men took just over […]
Medical marijuana petition drive makes urgent pitch for donors, volunteers
An initiative petition drive seeking to legalize medical cannabis in Nebraska has issued an urgent plea for donations and volunteers after reportedly losing a major contributor. In an email to supporters on Wednesday, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana said that due to “personal and tragic circumstances,” a “committed donor” is no longer able to fund its […]
Nebraska lawmakers hone in on who gets $1 billion in federal pandemic recovery funds
LINCOLN — The Nebraska Legislature moved closer Wednesday to distributing more than $1 billion in federal pandemic recovery funds — and boosted the bounty headed to such efforts as mental health services and bonuses to attract nurses. State lawmakers, following a daylong hearing, tweaked the Appropriations Committee’s spending proposal for the state’s allotment of federal […]
Fortenberry defense presents case that congressman was unaware of illegal gifts
Editor’s note: This report was updated at 8 p.m. CDT Wednesday. LOS ANGELES — The defense of U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry against charges that he lied to federal investigators picked up Wednesday with his defense seeking to bolster its contention that the congressman was “set up” and misled. Former U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, who was […]
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 […]
Chambers says the ‘worm has turned’ in verse to political adversary Fortenberry
LOS ANGELES — Former State Sen. Ernie Chambers has been out of office for two years, but he couldn’t resist a recent chance to get in a dig against a former political adversary. Chambers, now 84, sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, just prior to last week’s start of the congressman’s trial for […]
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 […]
Nebraska lawmakers wrangle, then act on spending plans touching both rural and urban turf
LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers on Tuesday dived into emotional debate reflecting rural vs. urban interests and, after hours-long wrangling, advanced two separate proposals that would fund projects across the state. On a 39-4 vote, the Legislature moved to a second round of discussion a plan to transfer about $513 million from the state’s “rainy day” […]