Legal News

Punching Down

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 06/06/2025 - 12:00am

Throughout the world and across nearly all cultures, those who are poor and in need are seen as, dare I say… sacred? Certainly, it is frowned upon for a rich man to point at those less fortunate and laugh and mock such a person's life. Adjacent to this point: there are weight classes for a reason. It is seen as ignoble for a man to box a woman, or even for a big man to find and challenge a much smaller one.

Read more about Punching Down

Nebraska Lawmakers Adjourn 2025 Legislative Session, Look Ahead To Future Budget Changes

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 06/06/2025 - 12:00am

State senators join together after adjourning for the year at the end of the 2025 legislative session. Not pictured: State Sens. Christy Armendariz of Omaha, Myron Dorn of Adams, Rob Dover of Norfolk and Glen Meyer of Pender, June 2, 2025.
(Zach Wendling / Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers ended the 2025 legislative session Monday, celebrating a balanced budget achieved over a major projected deficit and the passage of more than 200 bills.

Read more about Nebraska Lawmakers Adjourn 2025 Legislative Session, Look Ahead To Future Budget Changes

Supreme Court Changes The Game On Federal Environmental Reviews

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 06/06/2025 - 12:00am

Getting federal approval for permits to build bridges, wind farms, highways and other major infrastructure projects has long been a complicated and time-consuming process. Despite growing calls from both parties for Congress and federal agencies to reform that process, there had been few significant revisions – until now.

In one fell swoop, the U.S. Supreme Court has changed a big part of the game.

Read more about Supreme Court Changes The Game On Federal Environmental Reviews

Nebraska Governor Touts ‘Historically Conservative Budget,’ Wins

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 06/06/2025 - 12:00am

LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, in his end of session speech to state lawmakers, called the state budget “historically conservative.”

Read more about Nebraska Governor Touts ‘Historically Conservative Budget,’ Wins

As Nebraska Reports First Measles Case In 8 Years, State Contends With Rising Religious Vaccine Exemptions

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 05/30/2025 - 12:00am

As he tracked the growing measles outbreak in Texas, watching with dread as it crossed state lines, Bob Rauner knew there was no time to waste.

Fearful the once common — and life-threatening — virus would eventually reach Nebraska, the physician and Lincoln Public Schools board president began publicly sounding the alarm.

Read more about As Nebraska Reports First Measles Case In 8 Years, State Contends With Rising Religious Vaccine Exemptions

Nebraska Judges Again Likely To Receive Pay Raises, Consistent Since 2005

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 05/30/2025 - 12:00am

State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood (right)talks with State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature on Feb. 27, 2024.
(Zach Wendling / Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN — As pay raises for Nebraska’s constitutional officers and state lawmakers remain stagnant for decades, the state’s 148 judges are once again likely to receive salary bumps over the next two fiscal years, as they’ve had for 30 of the past 36 years.

Read more about Nebraska Judges Again Likely To Receive Pay Raises, Consistent Since 2005

US Stops Scheduling Visa Interviews For Foreign Students While It Expands Social Media Vetting

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 05/30/2025 - 12:00am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department has halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the U.S. while it prepares to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said.

Read more about US Stops Scheduling Visa Interviews For Foreign Students While It Expands Social Media Vetting

Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women: Native Americans Take Lead In Addressing Ongoing Issue

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 05/23/2025 - 12:00am

Nate McCauley talks about the arrest of a man accused of murdering his mother. The man was arrested more than 40 years after the Winnebago tribal citizen’s death. Next to him is Lestina Saul-Merdassi.
(Tim Trudell / The Daily Record)

Never surrendering, the family of Terri McCauley is one step closer to seeing justice as her accused murderer sits in a Sioux City, Iowa, jail, awaiting trial more than 40 years after her death. The Omaha tribal citizen was killed in 1983.

Read more about Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women: Native Americans Take Lead In Addressing Ongoing Issue

Number Of New Laws Should Be Noted In Washington

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 05/23/2025 - 12:00am

The Nebraska Legislature last week sent 31 bills to Gov. Jim Pillen for his signature to transform them into state laws. If you’re keeping score at home (Pro tip: You should be.), that’s nearly six times more than the U.S. Congress has sent along to the president to become federal law as of this writing.

Read more about Number Of New Laws Should Be Noted In Washington

Nebraska First In Nation To Ban Soda, Energy Drinks From Public Grocery Aid Benefits

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 05/23/2025 - 12:00am

LINCOLN — Nebraska has become the first state in the nation to restrict low-income recipients of public grocery aid from using SNAP benefits to buy soda and energy drinks.

The ban related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was announced Monday during a daylong visit to the Cornhusker state by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.