News
Lathrop announces that he won’t seek re-election: ’12 years … is a long time’
LINCOLN — A leading Democrat in the Nebraska Legislature, State Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha, confirmed Monday that he isn’t running for re-election. Lathrop, a 64-year-old attorney, has served 12 years in the Legislature, returning to the Unicameral in 2018 after sitting out four years because of term limits. On Monday, he said it was […]
Concerns raised over bill to allow counties to set higher minimum wage
LINCOLN — A representative of Nebraska’s counties told a legislative committee Monday that more study is needed before granting the power to set a minimum wage county by county. “We typically don’t get involved in these main street business decisions,” said Jon Cannon, executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials. “This isn’t a […]
Judge rejects request to move Fortenberry trial, sets court date of March 15 in California
LINCOLN — A California judge has rejected a request from U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry to move his trial, for allegedly lying to federal agents, to Nebraska. Fortenberry’s trial date was also rescheduled and will now begin March 15 in U.S. District Court in the central district of California. U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld, in rulings […]
Prime location for business/habitat development snubbed for lottery funds
LINCOLN — For more than 20 years, new business prospects have come and gone to redevelop a former fertilizer plant site at the confluence of the Platte and Missouri Rivers, south of Bellevue. Toyota was among those that looked at locating on the old PCS Nitrogen site before picking another state for a new automobile […]
Several films, TV programs chose Nebraska locations in 2021
LINCOLN — The year 2021 turned out to be a pretty good year for filmmaking in Nebraska, despite the pandemic, according to the State Film Office. Bruce Springsteen shot a Jeep commercial in Webster County, episodes of “RV There Yet” were filmed at several state parks and an Italian-American horror-romance film used sites near Fort […]
Tax cut coming for those who inherit property in Nebraska
LINCOLN — Those who inherit property in Nebraska would pay less in taxes under a bill given final approval Friday by the State Legislature. Legislative Bill 310, introduced by State Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood, would increase what is exempt from state inheritance taxes and reduce the rates paid by more distant relatives and nonrelatives. […]
Ricketts declines to comment on RNC description of Jan. 6 riot as ‘legitimate political discourse’
LINCOLN — Gov. Pete Ricketts is declining to get embroiled into the controversy over whether the Jan. 6 violent riot at the U.S. Capitol was “legitimate political discourse.” In a response to questions submitted by the Nebraska Examiner earlier this week, a spokeswoman for Ricketts said Friday that he had no comment on that description […]
NU system said to grow the state economy by $5.8 billion
NU system said to grow state by $5.8 billion annually
Senators scrap with Ricketts’ budget administrator over rental aid
LINCOLN — A two-hour public hearing Friday on whether Nebraska should apply for more COVID-related federal rental aid was capped by a rather testy exchange between a few state lawmakers and the lone opponent who appeared on behalf of Gov. Pete Ricketts. About 20 parents, service providers and landlords took turns endorsing Lincoln Sen. Matt […]
COVID vaccine for kids under 5 delayed until at least April
WASHINGTON — A COVID-19 vaccine for young children will be delayed by at least two months as Pfizer and BioNTech gather more information on a three-dose regimen. The news came after the Biden administration earlier had announced it was preparing to get the vaccines out to states as soon as it could following federal approval. […]
Fortenberry’s defense lawyers urge judge to move trial to Nebraska
LINCOLN — Attorneys for indicted U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry continued Friday to push for a transfer of the congressman’s trial for lying to federal investigators to Nebraska, instead of California. During a court hearing in California which Fortenberry attended, U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld questioned the need to move the trial because of COVID-19 restrictions […]
NU Regents agree to end dry spell at university athletic events — with caveats
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted Friday to end a longtime ban on booze sales and consumption at Husker sporting venues — but there are caveats. President Ted Carter said that any change related to alcohol at a particular NU campus first would need to be approved by the respective chancellor and then […]