Political News

Pillen, As Expected, Taps Former Gov. Pete Ricketts To Succeed Sasse In Senate

Published by Nikki Palmer on Mon, 01/16/2023 - 5:00am

Governor Jim Pillen, left, announces the appointment of former governor Pete Ricketts, right, to Nebraska’s open senate seat, on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. The vacancy, left open by the departure of Ben Sasse, has been expected to go to Ricketts after his departure from the governorship last year. (Kenneth Ferriera / Lincoln Journal Star via AP Photo)

LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen made the expected choice Thursday, appointing his predecessor, Pete Ricketts, to the U.S. Senate.

Ricketts, who finished his second term as governor last week, fills the seat that Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., vacated Sunday to lead the University of Florida.

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Nebraska Anti-Abortion Senators Proposing ‘Heartbeat’ Bill

Published by Nikki Palmer on Mon, 01/16/2023 - 4:00am

LINCOLN — Nebraskans would have about six weeks, and in many practical instances less, to decide on ending a pregnancy, instead of the current 20 weeks, under legislation anti-abortion senators plan to propose this session.

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Governor Pillen Declares January “Human Trafficking Awareness Month”

Published by Nikki Palmer on Mon, 01/16/2023 - 3:00am

LINCOLN, NE – On January 10, Governor Jim Pillen was joined by Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, and State Patrol Superintendent Colonel John Bolduc for the signing of a proclamation declaring January "Human Trafficking Awareness Month." The event highlighted Nebraska's efforts in the last year to combat human trafficking in Nebraska including the adoption of a new human trafficking hotline from the State Patrol and the Attorney General's 2022 Human Trafficking Report.

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Leadership Selections

Published by Nikki Palmer on Mon, 01/09/2023 - 5:00am

Banking, Commerce and Insurance: Julie Slama, Sterling

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Nebraska State Senators Elect New Leaders On Day 1, Put Off Fight Over Secret Ballot Voting

Published by Nikki Palmer on Mon, 01/09/2023 - 5:00am

Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican, left, swears in the new senators for 2023, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. (Kenneth Ferriera / Lincoln Journal Star via AP Photo)

LINCOLN — State senators put off until later a fight over legislative rules, then spent the first day of the 2023 session on Wednesday electing a new speaker and leaders of legislative committees.

The day opened with the possibility of a session-paralyzing debate over whether a tradition of electing chairs of legislative committees by secret ballot should be changed to an open vote.

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Biden Toughens Border, Offers Legal Path For 30,000 A Month

Published by Nikki Palmer on Mon, 01/09/2023 - 3:00am

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday the U.S. would immediately begin turning away Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans who cross the border from Mexico illegally, his boldest move yet to confront the arrivals of migrants that have spiraled since he took office two years ago.

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Two Recent Polls Found Majority Of Nebraska Respondents Oppose More Abortion Restrictions

Published by Nikki Palmer on Mon, 01/02/2023 - 3:00am

LINCOLN — Two recent polls found that a majority of respondents were opposed to adding more restrictions to abortion rights in Nebraska.

One poll, released Wednesday by the ACLU of Nebraska, found that 59% of 604 registered voters polled in mid-November either “somewhat opposed” or “strongly opposed” the enactment of “more restrictive abortion bans” in the state.

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Q&A With Gov.-Elect Jim Pillen: Taxes, School Finance Top Legislative Priority List

Published by Nikki Palmer on Mon, 01/02/2023 - 12:00am

LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov.-elect Jim Pillen says he wants to work with the Legislature to knock some sense into the state’s property taxes, income taxes and school finance.

Pillen, who takes office Jan. 5, detailed the top priorities for his first legislative session during a Dec. 21 interview with the Nebraska Examiner in his transition office at the Capitol.

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Supreme Court Asked To Bar Punishment For Acquitted Conduct

Published by Nikki Palmer on Fri, 12/30/2022 - 5:00am

WASHINGTON (AP) — A jury convicted Dayonta McClinton of robbing a CVS pharmacy but acquitted him of murder. A judge gave McClinton an extra 13 years in prison for the killing anyway.

In courtrooms across America, defendants get additional prison time for crimes that juries found they didn’t commit.

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Nebraska State Troopers To Get 22% Raises Under ‘Historic,’ New Labor Contract

Published by Nikki Palmer on Mon, 12/26/2022 - 5:00am

LINCOLN — The state troopers union and incoming Gov. Jim Pillen have agreed to a new labor contract granting 22% raises in the first year for the state’s top law enforcement agency.

The raises, announced Wednesday, come after the Nebraska State Patrol’s wages for its uniformed troopers had slipped compared to other law enforcement agencies, and as the Patrol struggles with a shortage of about 60 troopers.