Legal News

Small Towns, Big Challenges: How Local Lawyers Keep Valley and Waterloo Growing Strong

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

Desirae Solomon has served as Waterloo’s village attorney for about three years.
(Tim Trudell / The Daily Record)

While a city the size of Omaha can have a law department with dozens of attorneys specializing in areas such as taxation and prosecution, smaller communities in the Metro can't afford that luxury.

Turning to outside law firms to represent them in civil matters and to provide legal counsel on ordinances and such, communities like Valley and Waterloo have learned to lean on their attorneys' expertise.

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Gold, Lies, and Justice: Rumpelstiltskin Takes the Queen to Court in Fairy Tale Mock Trial

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

Students from Paddock Road Elementary School pose with actors and legal professionals taking part in the 2025 Law Day mock trial at the Roman Hruska Federal Courthouse in Omaha.
(Courtesy of Dave Sommers)

Rumpelstiltskin felt slighted by Queen Malory when she refused to pay him for work he did in magically changing straw into gold. His work led her to marrying King Ray and becoming royalty. So he took her to court, seeking a financial resolution.

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Beyond the Courtroom: How Offutt’s JAG Team Balances Justice, Readiness, and Service

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

A JAG tradition is painting tiles with each of the office’s sections. At Offutt, servicemembers went a step further and honored General Curtis LeMay, the first commander of the Strategic Air Command, whose office was in the building. His ghost is rumored to haunt the building, with people reporting faint aroma of LeMay’s cigar.
(Tim Trudell / The Daily Record)

“A Few Good Men” is like a classic wine, aging well over the years. However, the hit movie about military lawyers falls short of reality, say actual lawyers with the Judge Advocate Group at Offutt Air Force Base. Especially, a classic scene depicting a junior officer’s challenge of a senior ranking official. The lawyer was warned he could face court-martial for challenging the colonel. Nothing could be farther from truth in reality, says Offutt’s JAG commander.

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Law Day Essay Contest - For 8th Graders

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

The Law Day Essay Contest is open to all Omaha area 8th graders, and Nebraska Court Reporters Association coordinated the judging of the essays . Essays are limited to 250 words, and shall discuss the 2025 Law Day Theme of "Out of Many, One." The winning essay will be published in the OBA Newsletter, online, and in The Daily Record newspaper. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will receive cash prizes from the Omaha Bar Association.

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Law Day Poster Contest - For 5th Graders

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

First Place Winner: Iris Clements
Our Lady of Lourdes
(Mrs. Kowskie)

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Interviews With Jennifer Gaughan, Angela Lennon, Dagmar Myslinska, Andrew Wilson, G. Michael Fenner

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

We are a nation of laws. Truth, justice and the American way have long been ingrained into our collective consciousness and daily life.

Our inalienable rights – emphasizing liberty and human dignity – bestowed upon us by our Founding Fathers, the framers of our Constitution, drafting the laws of our land, as a rebuke to authoritarian rule, henceforth safeguarding our civil liberties for generations to come.

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Alfred G. Ellick Lawyer Referral Service Award

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

Molly and Jake Steinkemper

Steinkemper Law

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Robert M. Spire Public Service Award:

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00am

Lauren Micek Vargas
Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder
(Courtesy of Education Rights Counsel)

A Chicago study of 13,000 students by David Kerbow found that the more elementary students change schools, the more they fall behind academically; four or more times is equivalent to being a grade behind. The Education Rights Counsel works to ensure that students can remain in their same school, among plenty of other noble pursuits.

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Judge Allows Charges To Proceed Against Nebraska Notary For Medical Cannabis Petitions

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 04/25/2025 - 7:00am

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana celebrate turn-in day for 114,000 signatures the group gathered across two petitions to legalize and regulate medical marijuana, July 3, 2024.
(Courtesy of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign)

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — The District Court of Hall County decided Tuesday to allow criminal charges against a notary public for “official misconduct” to proceed, overturning a lower court decision.