Nebraska

Lincoln area senators look ahead to 2025 Legislative Session

Published

1 year ago

January 7, 2025

Lincoln area senators look ahead to 2025 Legislative Session

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – This Wednesday, Nebraska’s 49 lawmakers will flock to the Nebraska State Capitol to begin the 2025 Legislative Session.

It falls to them to build a biennial budget proposal for the next two years, but already, projections show a roughly $400 million deficit that they need to close.

“We are mandated to pass a balanced budget in the state of Nebraska by the Constitution,” State Sen. Tom Brandt said. “It is going to happen. Will there be pain and suffering? I’m sure, but it will happen on the part of the Legislature.”

Many lawmakers say that means it won’t be a year for bold spending ideas. Instead, they’ll be looking for places to tighten the belt.

“I think working together we’ll be able to mitigate deep cuts on critical human services and key priorities like education,” State Sen. Danielle Conrad said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to also kind of chart a path together that keeps us on the right path and away from devolving into a divisive session.”

One big difference between this year and last year is time. 2024 was more of a sprint, just 60 days of legislative action. This year, it’s 90 days, dragging lawmakers to the beginning of June and giving them plenty of time to hammer out compromises—so long as there’s an appetite.

And more than a dozen new senators will be sworn in on Wednesday, which some more veteran lawmakers see as a boon.

“My last two years in the legislature have been marked by a lot of tumultuous fights, a lot of culture war issues, things like that,” State Sen. George Dungan, said. “With the new crop of people coming in, I think it gives us an opportunity to kind of hit that reset button and really have a conversation with each about why are we here.”

Every senator 10/11 NOW spoke with on Monday emphasized property taxes, though their approaches varied between targeted relief and more general cuts funded by sales taxes.

Many said they’re greeting the session with hopefulness.

“I think we’ve got an opportunity to make some big changes this year and really dive deep into some of those property tax issues that we spoke about this summer,” State Sen. Carolyn Bosn said.

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Nebraska

Huskers/OSU game three canceled

Published

6 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Courtesy Nebraska Athletics

The third matchup this weekend between No. 9 Nebraska and No. 21 Oklahoma State was canceled Sunday due to expected bad weather in the Stillwater, Okla., area. The Cowgirls won the first matchup Thursday, 2-1 in 11 innings, while the Cornhuskers won Saturday, 4-3. The game will not be made up.

Nebraska now prepares for its home opener Thursday at Bowlin Stadium as the Huskers take on South Dakota State in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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Nebraska

Nebraska State Patrol investigates attempted murder/suicide in Kearney County

Published

18 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska State Patrol investigates attempted murder/suicide in Kearney County

MINDEN, Neb. (KSNB) – The Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Kearney County Sheriff’s Office and Kearney County Attorney’s Office, is investigating an attempted murder/suicide in rural Kearney County.

The Kearney County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene Saturday afternoon.

According to NSP, three children and a woman had gunshot wounds, with the woman found dead.

The three children were transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and treated for their injuries. Two of the children have since been transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.

NSP said all three children are expected to survive. The children are all under the age of 12.

This investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement said there is no ongoing threat to the public.

According to NSP, names are not being released at this time to protect the identities of the victims.

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Nebraska

UNK Students Selected for Nebraska Intercollegiate Band – Sandhills Express

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

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UNK Students Selected for Nebraska Intercollegiate Band – Sandhills Express

Ten UNK students will perform with other outstanding instrumentalists from across the state as part of the 2026 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band. Front row, from left: Olivia Kohmetscher, Kaia Johnson, Douglas Davidchik, Micah Feddersen and Avery Reitz. Back row, from left: Evan Porter, Ike Smith, Kaitlyn Obrecht, Cameron Grafel and Chloe Harms. (Courtesy UNK, Click to enlarge)

KEARNEY, Neb – Ten students will represent the University of Nebraska at Kearney as members of the 2026 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band.

They’ll perform 11:30 a.m. March 7 in Kimball Recital Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus as part of the 65th annual Nebraska State Bandmasters Association convention. The concert is free and open to the public.

The Nebraska Intercollegiate Band includes outstanding instrumentalists from colleges and universities across the state. Students selected for the honor spend time rehearsing together in Lincoln before performing for the public. This year’s ensemble is led by guest conductor Donald McKinney, director of bands at Indiana University.

“Rehearsing and performing in the Nebraska Intercollegiate Band will be an excellent opportunity for experiential learning,” said professor Duane Bierman, director of bands at UNK. “Not only will these students get a great musical experience but they will also get a chance to expand their network and grow their interpersonal skills.”

Students representing UNK include:
Broken Bow – Cameron Grafel, horn
Columbus – Douglas Davidchik, clarinet
Elm Creek – Chloe Harms, euphonium
Grand Island – Olivia Kohmetscher, tenor saxophone
Kearney – Ike Smith, trumpet
Kearney – Micah Feddersen, trumpet
Kearney – Avery Reitz, string bass and tuba
La Vista – Kaitlyn Obrecht, piano
Minden – Evan Porter, percussion
Ravenna – Kaia Johnson, flute