Nebraska
Nebraska lawmakers unanimously pass privacy law • Nebraska Examiner
In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Americans have a right to privacy when supporting nonprofit causes. This year, Nebraska lawmakers unanimously passed legislation to implement that ruling and guard against privacy violations by state agencies.
The Personal Privacy Protection Act, included in Legislative Bill 43, prohibits state officials from going beyond existing law to demand or expose Nebraskans’ personal information and donation records to nonprofits. The law ensures that citizens can safely and privately give to the causes they care about without fear of their data being leaked or abused by government agencies.
The rise of doxing and an increasingly heated political environment have raised awareness of the need to enhance privacy protections in current law. Nonprofits depend on the ability to protect their members when speaking out about contested issues in government and society. Every American should be free to join and support groups that advocate for their beliefs without harassment or retaliation.
State Sens. Rita Sanders, a Republican, and Danielle Conrad, a Democrat, cosponsored LB 43. The bipartisan legislation passed unanimously, without a single vote against the bill at any stage of the legislative process. On March 27, Gov. Jim Pillen signed the bill into law.
“I see it as really the right to associate with your fellow citizens, with your neighbors in support of causes that you believe in and free from government interference,” said Conrad at a hearing on the initial version of the bill.
“I may support organizations that Senator Conrad doesn’t and the same may be true the other way around,” said Sanders. “But we both believe in protecting everyone’s right and freedom of speech, specifically by supporting nonprofit organizations privately and without harassment. This is something we can all agree on.”
The law was also supported by a variety of nonprofit groups, some of whom disagree passionately on most policy issues. Among the supporters were the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, Alliance Defending Freedom, Americans for Prosperity, Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Family Alliance, People United for Privacy, Platte Institute, and the University of Nebraska System. Several groups testified in support of the bill as a vital protection for the First Amendment right to collective expression and the related right to associational privacy.
The Supreme Court’s concern for donor privacy is longstanding. In the 2021 case,
Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) v. Bonta, California’s attorney general demanded that all registered nonprofits in the state submit their confidential donor list to state officials. In striking down the demand, the Supreme Court pointed to a litany of previous cases defending the right to privacy in association.
In the 1950s, Alabama state officials sought to force the NAACP to disclose its membership list. The state’s demand
was a straightforward and brazen attempt to smother the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement in Alabama. Fortunately, the court struck down the state’s demand unanimously and ruled that Americans have a constitutional right to join and support nonprofits without being monitored by state officials.
NAACP v. Alabama was followed by several other cases further establishing the right to privacy in association. Yet, despite these rulings and
AFPF v. Bonta, some state officials and activists continue to seek ways to compel nonprofits with missions they oppose to expose their supporters’ names and home addresses. The goal is always the same: to name-and-shame donors, intimidate and harass them into silence, and ultimately, shut down groups they disagree with.
Nebraskans now have an additional layer of privacy to protect them from those harms. They are not alone. Eighteen other states have adopted similar laws in recent years in response to the court’s 2021 decision and growing concerns about personal privacy and political violence.
The bipartisan privacy movement in Nebraska and elsewhere is a hopeful sign for our country. The Cornhusker State now becomes a landmark in that movement through the unanimous passage of LB 43.
MILFORD, Neb. (KTIV) – A traffic stop that led to the arrest of a man after finding over 500 pounds of cocaine received help from a furry friend.
At approximately 10:25 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol saw an eastbound Rouge following a semi too closely near Milford. During the traffic stop, an NSP K9 detected an odor of cocaine coming from the vehicle.
The origin of the furry hero is linked to a Northeast Nebraska organization.
The NSP K9 that detected the cocaine is called Gable. Gable is a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois who has been with the NSP since 2020.
Gable was purchased by the NSP after a donation from the Friends of Baron Companion Animal Foundation. A foundation in West Point, Nebraska, located in Cuming County.
“A great example of a local organization from West Point making a difference for the whole state!” stated NSP in an email to KTIV.
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Copyright 2026 KTIV. All rights reserved.
A legendary Nebraska football coach has passed away. George Darlington died in Lincoln on Sunday morning at the age of 87.
Darlington coached at Nebraska for 30 seasons from 1973 to 2002. He coached defensive ends for the first 13 seasons of his tenure before becoming defensive backs coach in 1986.
During his tenure, Nebraska went 304-65-3, won 14 conference titles, and three national championships. The Huskers also played in a bowl game in each of Darlington’s 30 seasons
After his time at Nebraska ended, he served as an assistant coach at Marshall, Louisiana Tech, Southeast Missouri State and San Diego. He officially retired from coaching in 2010.
Following his retirement, Darlington remained around Husker football. He was a regular observer at football practices and could always be found in the Memorial Stadium press box on game days.
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Nebraska
National Weather Service confirmed at least 8 tornadoes in Nebraska and Iowa from Thursday’s storms
On Thursday morning, June 11, a cluster of thunderstorms raced through southeast Nebraska into southwest Iowa. While it brought heavy rain and lightning to Omaha, just 30 miles south of Omaha, it brought all kinds of significant weather.
The worst of the damage began in Cass County and continued through southwest Iowa. Within this broad swath, winds exceeding 80 mph at times brought substantial tree damage to a region already hit hard by severe storms this season.
The storms also brought hail up to 3″ in central Page County. Then, significant flash flooding occurred in Sidney, Shenandoah, and Essex.
In the days following the storms, the National Weather Service offices in Omaha/Valley and Des Moines have been surveying the damage to determine whether tornadoes or straight-line winds caused it. The findings, released Sunday afternoon, determined that eight tornadoes occurred in the storms. Six of those were rated EF-1 with winds as high as 110 mph. Two were rated EF-0.
NWS Omaha/Valley
The tornadoes began just east of Weeping Water in Cass County, where a farm building had its walls collapse. This tornado was rated a high-end EF-1 with winds up to 100 mph. An EF-0 tornado hit the creekbed of South Cedar Creek, where tree damage was observed.
Farther east, another EF-1 tornado developed north of Union. Extensive tree damage was noted at a residence and the East Union Cemetery. Meteorologist Joseph Meyer visited the cemetery and spoke with the president of the East Union Cemetery.
East Union Cemetery tornado damage
In Iowa, an EF-0 hit southwest Mills County in the bluffs northwest of Tabor. Tree damage was noted in this area.
The strongest tornado of the day happened in Fremont County, just west of Thurman. At a home just west of I-29, a roof was lifted off. This tornado was rated a high-end EF-1 with winds up to 110 mph, which is borderline EF-2 intensity.
NWS Omaha/Valley
As the storms continued into Montgomery and Page Counties, 80-90 mph winds caused extensive damage to trees, power lines, and outbuildings. Within this intense core of winds, several tornadoes occurred in the Villisca vicinity.
One of these, an EF-1, began over Viking Lake and continued east. At one home, the roof was damaged. Grain bins were thrown a mile away, landing at the interchange of US-34 and US-71. This tornado had estimated wind speeds up to 105 mph.
NWS Omaha/Valley
Southwest of Villisca, an EF-1 tornado crossed over northern Page County, twisting trees along a 7-mile path. A final EF-1 occurred between Villisca and Hepburn, where a farm outbuilding lost a wall.
The National Weather Service in Des Moines is still surveying damage in Adams County and near Corning. This story will be updated when those results are released.
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