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Bacon brings backup from Legislature to bash Vargas in 2nd District • Nebraska Examiner

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Bacon brings backup from Legislature to bash Vargas in 2nd District • Nebraska Examiner


OMAHA — U.S. Rep. Don Bacon brought some Republican friends from the Nebraska Legislature to the food fight in his Omaha-based 2nd District race against Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas. 

Revenue Committee Chairwoman Lou Ann Linehan, Speaker John Arch and other GOP lawmakers helped Bacon amplify some of his recent criticisms of Vargas’ record.

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., criticizes Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas, his opponent in the 2nd District U.S. House race in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan (right) listens as he speaks. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Linehan, whose committee handles tax-cut proposals, relished reinforcing Bacon’s debate critiques that Vargas was often an impediment to passing property tax relief proposals.

She has skewered senators who claim credit for passing tax cuts but rarely provided her one of the 33 votes needed to break a filibuster until it’s clear a measure has overwhelming support.

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“We have a saying down there that it’s hard to get to 33, but boy then do you get to 42,” she said. “The idea that he ran ads saying he fought for property taxes (relief) is just not true.”

Former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom, who has been appearing more with Bacon after many have speculated he might run in the 2nd District when Bacon retires, supported Linehan’s criticism. 

State Sen. Brett Lindstrom
State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha (Courtesy of Lindstrom campaign)

He worked with Vargas but said his participation in the Bacon press conference “was just business,” not personal. He said he struggled to get Vargas’ vote for income tax cuts.

“What you see on the advertisements is not particularly accurate,” said Lindstrom, a former GOP gubernatorial candidate who acknowledged interest in an open-seat 2nd District bid. 

Vargas defends record

Vargas pointed during debates with Bacon to votes in support of $6 billion in tax cuts or tax relief. He also touted his being named a defender of taxpayers by a conservative organization.

Vargas said Wednesday in a statement that he was proud of his record of supporting tax relief and said that no amount of partisan machinations can change what he has done.

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His defenders in the Legislature point to his work on the Appropriations Committee and call him a serious legislator who spent much of his time trying to steer funding.

State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, a Democrat, answers questions after his 2nd District debate Sunday at KETV with U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

“MAGA Republicans can say whatever they want three weeks before an election to try to keep Don Bacon in office, but my record is clear,” Vargas said in response to the press conference. 

Vargas used the term MAGA, which is short for Make America Great Again, the campaign slogan of former President Donald Trump. He often points out Bacon has endorsed Trump three times.

Trump is popular statewide in Nebraska, and he won the 2nd District in 2016. But President Joe Biden beat Trump in the 2nd District in 2020, securing a stray Electoral College vote.

Nebraska and Maine award an electoral vote to the winner in each congressional district, as well as awarding two electoral votes to the winner of the presidential popular vote statewide.

Vargas supporters seek to tie Bacon to Trump and to tie Vargas to Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign. They argue Bacon enables Trump. Harris polls better than Trump in the 2nd District.

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Bacon points to public spats between him and Trump over infrastructure funding and more and says he faced a primary challenger this spring for being insufficiently MAGA.

Bacon, Vargas spend final 2nd District debate swinging for undecideds

More than taxes

Bacon’s GOP crew did more than talk taxes. State Sen. Kathleen Kauth, an ally of police unions, slammed Vargas for supporting juvenile justice reforms that Linehan joined Vargas in backing.

Linehan acknowledged to reporters that she, like Vargas, had supported the broader criminal justice package that included the amendment making it harder to detain underage offenders.

She said the Legislature often has to compromise and that not everyone will support everything in a package that contains items they want to pass. Linehan is term-limited.

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Kauth then bashed Vargas for opposing her legislation limiting access to some gender care for transgender minors and her bill seeking to restrict them from using certain school bathrooms and locker rooms.

State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha criticizes State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha for opposing her legislation limiting health care for trans minors and other legislation limiting access to school bathrooms and locker rooms for trans students. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

“He did not support that at all,” Kauth said. 

Some advocates for trans youth have argued that such legislation risks increasing the risks of self-harm and suicide to a population of children already at greater risk of suffering.

Kauth’s trans health care bill was combined with Nebraska’s current abortion ban, at 12 weeks gestational age, with exceptions for the life of the mother and for rape and incest.

Vargas supports abortion rights. Bacon has co-sponsored federal legislation that would have effectively banned abortion, and the language did not contain exceptions, though he has long said he supports exceptions.

Lately, Bacon has said he accepts Nebraska’s current ban as where the people are and said he would support Initiative 434, which largely sets current law as a ceiling but sets no floor.

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Vargas and his campaign have criticized Bacon for trying to soften his abortion stance without acknowledging that Bacon co-sponsored legislation with no exceptions.

Bacon has argued that the legislation did not contain the word abortion and would not have penalized women getting an abortion. But legal experts said it would have made the procedure illegal.

On Wednesday, Bacon said that Vargas is emphasizing abortion because it’s “the only issue he has.” Bacon said voters care more about inflation and jobs, immigration and public safety.

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Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection

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Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection


LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.

On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.

Arwinderjit Singh mugshot(Dawson County Jail)

During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.

After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.

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Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.(Nebraska State Patrol)

Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.

Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.

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Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

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Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas


OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.

According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.

“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”

The senior ended his career as the 39th four-time state champion in Nebraska history, winning three at Wilber-Clatonia before joining the Jr. Jays.

Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.

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“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.

“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.

Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.

“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.

Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.

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“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”

The sophomore won his first state title after finishing as a runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman.

Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.

“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”

The junior finished the season as a back-to-back state champion after winning a gold medal at 175 pounds as a sophomore.

Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.

“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.

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Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.

“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.

“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.

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Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

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Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition


LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.

Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.

ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year

“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”

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Matt Williams(NE Chamber)

Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.

The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.

His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”

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