Nebraska

Opinion: Colorado and Nebraska must negotiate, not litigate, a better path for the South Platte River

Published

2 months ago

October 16, 2025

Opinion: Colorado and Nebraska must negotiate, not litigate, a better path for the South Platte River

With warming temperatures, reduced snowpack and longer droughts across the western U.S., the policies and institutions that we rely upon to manage shared water resources are under strain.

For Colorado’s Front Range, the South Platte River sustains booming cities, vital industries and agricultural production. At the same time, Colorado must ensure that adequate supplies from the South Platte make their way downstream to Nebraska, under a century-old interstate compact that is under stress.

In July, Nebraska filed a U.S. Supreme Court lawsuit against Colorado over the South Platte River compact. Nebraska’s lawsuit is about defining and protecting its rights to a river that is increasingly stressed by drought and development. In a news conference on the lawsuit, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said: “We’re going to fight like heck … and we’re going to do it in the United States Supreme Court.” In discussing the lawsuit with community members in Julesburg in September, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said: “We cannot be afraid to litigate or fight for our rights in Colorado.”

Colorado on Wednesday filed a response brief, claiming that Nebraska’s case is not ripe for a Supreme Court case. (The high court has not yet decided if it will hear the case.)

Such lawsuits are nothing new, but they are notoriously time-consuming and costly. Rather than spending years in court, Nebraska and Colorado should take a cue from history and negotiate a settlement — one that reflects current realities and shared interests.

Conflicts are a perennial feature of interstate river basins, particularly when downstream states feel shortchanged. In the early-mid 1900s, states adopted compacts to address water disputes, but by the 1970s downstream states began to question upstream states’ compliance with their water delivery commitments and filed U.S. Supreme Court lawsuits to clarify and enforce required water deliveries.

Colorado, as an “upstream” state on seven interstate river compacts, is no stranger to Supreme Court lawsuits. Some of these lawsuits — such as on the Arkansas, Rio Grande and Republican rivers — were triggered by tributary groundwater pumping in upstream states that reduced river flows. Since the original compacts did not address groundwater, years of litigation ensued by Kansas and Texas against its upstream neighbors.

The South Platte River conflict raises a different issue, but one that is solvable: how to share winter river flows. Signed in 1923, the South Platte compact guarantees a share of water to Nebraska during irrigation season. In the fall and winter, both states may use river flows and Colorado is not required to deliver a defined amount of water to Nebraska, with one exception.

Nebraska can access a share of winter water under the compact if it completes a canal diverting water in Colorado and carrying it to Nebraska. Nebraska abandoned the canal project before the compact was adopted but recently revived the project. Without the canal, Nebraska fears that winter river flows will be entirely diverted by Colorado through efforts to build more storage reservoirs.

Nebraska is threatening to use eminent domain to acquire land in Colorado near the state line for the canal. This has raised serious concerns by Colorado landowners and farmers in Sedgwick County and would limit Colorado’s ability to use the waters of the South Platte.

The canal, while mentioned in the compact, is not necessary for Nebraska and Colorado to jointly manage and share river flows. While Colorado has urged the Supreme Court not to take up the case, the question is, what comes next?

We propose the states drop their posturing, sit down and negotiate a more collaborative solution to the challenges facing the South Platte basin.

Prior Supreme Court rulings have shown that states can — and should — develop shared management systems to adapt to changing conditions. These systems include deliveries and accounting for groundwater diversions, improved hydrologic modeling, monitoring water diversions and deliveries, and enforcement mechanisms. Such actions have proven effective in resolving conflicts and enhancing shared decision making.

Nebraska and Colorado have decades of experience managing shared rivers. Both states have claims to winter river flows and both want to invest in actively managing those flows for high valued uses and environmental protection.

Rather than fighting over a canal, they should invest in shared infrastructure — such as surface and groundwater storage — backed by joint monitoring, conflict resolution and enforcement procedures that neither state can unilaterally override.

How Nebraska and Colorado resolve their differences can set the stage for the next conflict in other river basins. As climate change intensifies and water becomes scarcer, regional cooperation will be essential.

Litigation may clarify legal rights, but it rarely builds trust or long-term solutions.

Nebraska and Colorado have an opportunity to demonstrate real leadership and show that collaboration is possible and preferable. The South Platte River and the people and ecosystems who depend on it deserve better than another courtroom battle. They deserve a future shaped by shared vision, not division.

Tanya Heikkila, of Denver, is a professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver, where she does research on conflict and collaboration in environmental governance.

Edella Schlager, of Tucson, Arizona, is a professor in the School of Government and Public Policy at the University of Arizona and an expert in collaborative watershed management who was born and raised in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy. Learn how to submit a column. Reach the opinion editor at opinion@coloradosun.com.

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Nebraska

ESPN’s Analytics Reveal Strong Prediction in Illinois vs. Nebraska Matchup

Published

5 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

ESPN’s Analytics Reveal Strong Prediction in Illinois vs. Nebraska Matchup

On Saturday afternoon (3 p.m. CT, Peacock), No. 13 Illinois (8-2, 1-0 Big Ten) will host No. 23 Nebraska (10-0, 1-0 Big Ten) in Champaign for an early-season ranked-on-ranked Big Ten showdown.

The Cornhuskers made their season debut in the AP poll this Monday. Two days later, they dismantled – by 30 points – a Wisconsin club that entered the season ranked in the top 25, knocking off the Badgers 90-60 in Lincoln.

Blood in the water. 🦈📹https://t.co/LKzCqN3tcz
— Nebraska Men’s Basketball (@HuskerMBB) December 11, 2025

ESPN’s matchup predictor makes its pick for Illinois-Nebraska

Nov 29, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Fred Hoiberg watches from the sideline during the first half against the South Carolina Upstate Spartans at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Yet on Saturday, according to ESPN’s analytics, the odds are not at all in Nebraska’s favor. The matchup predictor gives Illinois a 77.5 percent chance of staving off the visitors this weekend.

And it makes sense for two key reasons: 1) Home-court advantage. Playing at home, especially in Big Ten action, already gives any team a massive leg up. For example, the Illini, despite losing 14 conference games over the past two seasons, have just five league losses on their home floor during that stretch.

2) Illinois is really good.

The AP poll doesn’t always reflect reality. Both of these clubs may, in fact, be better than their respective rankings in that poll. Nevertheless, the difference between the No. 20 team and the No. 25 team isn’t nearly as drastic as the difference between the No. 5 and No. 10 team.

The Illini should absolutely dominate the Cornhuskers on the glass. Given the relative shortcomings of Brad Underwood’s squad in that department in its past few outings, it’s possible the margin is closer than it should be, but Illinois will undoubtedly control the boards to at least some extent.

And given the level the Illini defense has been operating at, specifically on first attempts in each possession, the Cornhuskers are going to find points extremely tough to come by. Offensively, Illinois will surely rely heavily on its talent once again, staying away from any complex schematic design and simply letting its players operate.

As the old adage goes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And with an Illinois offense currently ranked No. 5 in KenPom in terms of efficiency, it very clearly isn’t broken.

As Nebraska has done all season thus far to its opponents, Fred Hoiberg’s unit figures to make the Illini appear somewhat less than. But between the size and talent disparity, not to mention the home-floor advantage, Illinois will still very likely put an end to Nebraska’s exceptional undefeated start – even if it is a tighter battle than the Illini would like.

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Nebraska

York lottery player wins $3,125 in Nebraska Pick 4 drawing

Published

18 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

York lottery player wins ,125 in Nebraska Pick 4 drawing

LINCOLN, Neb. (KSNB) – One lucky player who bought a Nebraska Pick 4 ticket for the Wednesday, Dec. 10, drawing is holding a ticket worth $3,125.

The ticket was sold at Pump & Pantry No. 16 at 109 Lincoln Avenue in York. The winning numbers from Wednesday’s Nebraska Pick 4 drawing were 02, 00, 01, 05.

Winning Nebraska Lottery tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Tickets with total prize amounts of $501 to $19,999 must be claimed by mail or at a regional lottery claim center. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at nelottery.com or by calling 800-587-5200.

Nebraska Pick 4 is a daily lotto game from the Nebraska Lottery. Players select four numbers, each from a separate set of digits from 0 through 9, for a chance to win up to $6,000. Players choose one of six bet types to set their play style and potential prizes. The odds of winning the $3,125 prize in Nebraska Pick 4 are 1 in 10,000.

Click here to subscribe to our KSNB Local4 daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.

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Nebraska

Emmett Johnson leaves Nebraska with sterling legacy, All-America status

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Emmett Johnson leaves Nebraska with sterling legacy, All-America status

LINCOLN, Neb. — One month ago, on the heels of a breakthrough performance by Emmett Johnson against UCLA, Nebraska launched a Heisman Trophy push for the junior running back.

Johnson enjoyed the limelight. Fans flocked to see him during an appearance in downtown Lincoln and at the high school championship games inside Memorial Stadium. He traveled home to Minneapolis during the Huskers’ bye week and visited his high school, Academy of Holy Angels. He had stopped in previously, but this trip was different.

“It was like a celebrity came to the school,” Holy Angels coach Jim Gunderson said.

In the final two games of the regular season with Nebraska, Johnson rushed for 320 yards, but the Huskers lost them in ugly fashion against Penn State and Iowa to cap a 7-5 regular season. As fast as the Heisman campaign began, it was over — but worthwhile, nonetheless.

Johnson ran this season in part so that running backs at Nebraska who follow him can fly. He leaves Nebraska with a sterling legacy.

On Wednesday, Johnson became the first Nebraska player to receive first-team All-America mentions since linebacker Lavonte David in 2011 — and the fourth running back in the past 70 years, matching Mike Rozier (1982 and ’83), Jarvis Redwine (1980) and Jeff Kinney (1971). His final year ranks among the top five in school history by a running back. Stack it alongside Rozier’s 1983 Heisman season, Lawrence Phillips in 1994, Ahman Green in 1997 and Ameer Abdullah in 2013.

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule and his staff aim to use Johnson’s success to help bring backs to Lincoln who can finish what he started.

“It’s very much not in vogue anymore not to wait your turn,” Rhule said. “Sometimes, it’s like, ‘I’ll just go here and do this, just go there.’ But guys like Emmett had chances. And they stayed. And he deserves everything that he’s getting.”

Johnson was named the Big Ten running back of the year, a first at Nebraska. Last Friday, he declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, foregoing his final season of eligibility and the Dec. 31 Las Vegas Bowl.

High praise for the B1G’s top back@Emmett21Johnson pic.twitter.com/g7EhpUE2EP
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) December 11, 2025

What separated Johnson this year?

• His 1,130 yards in Big Ten play were the most by a Power 4 back in conference play. He stands alone with 1995 Heisman winner Eddie George as the only Big Ten players to total 1,100 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards in one season of league play.

• Johnson led the nation by accounting for 40.8 percent of his team’s total yards.

• He was the fourth FBS player since 2017 to average 120 yards rushing and 30 yards receiving.

• His 1,821 yards from scrimmage and 1,451 rushing ranked second and third, respectively, in the FBS.

In form true to his roots, Johnson proved wrong skeptics who believed he could not handle 20 carries per game in Big Ten play.

Does everyone realize how freaking good Emmett Johnson is for @HuskerFootball ? Dude is a straight balla. Quick, decisive, tough, great as a receiver. One of the most underrated RB’s in the Country!
— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) November 28, 2025

“He has always had that chip to prove people wrong and be great,” Gunderson said. “This is how he envisioned it going, and he wasn’t going to be denied.”

Four years ago, on a Sunday in mid-December, less than a week before the signing period opened, Johnson accepted a Nebraska scholarship offer. Ron Brown extended it.

A month earlier, Scott Frost, the Nebraska coach from 2018 to 2022, fired four offensive assistants. Brown, with 24 years of experience as a Nebraska assistant under three head coaches, was elevated late in that season from offensive analyst to running backs coach. He reviewed tape of Johnson, who scored 42 touchdowns and rushed for 2,500 yards at Holy Angels in 2021.

And Brown wondered why no big school had snatched up Johnson.

“I was perplexed,” Brown said. “Because when I saw Emmett play, I thought, ‘This guy is special.’”

Brown had recruited Abdullah from high school in Alabama to Nebraska in 2011. And Brown coached Abdullah in his back-to-back 1,600-yard seasons as a junior and senior before an NFL career that continues this year in its 11th season. In Johnson, Brown saw some of Abdullah’s vision, change of direction, endurance and ability to recover.

Brown quizzed Gunderson, the Holy Angels coach, about Johnson.

“I probably threw 100 questions at him,” Brown said, “looking for something that might be a little bit off, something that I had missed.”

Nothing.

“Coach Brown could just see the intangibles,” Gunderson said, “the stuff that isn’t measured. He saw the potential and the kind of kid who was going to work and who believed in himself.”

Johnson started six games as a redshirt freshman in 2023. He started five in 2024 and found his rhythm in the Nebraska offense when Dana Holgorsen arrived as coordinator last season. In December 2024, Johnson considered entering the transfer portal.

Holgorsen’s commitment helped get him to stay.

“ I think he just wanted to know that somebody had a plan for him,” Gunderson said.

The plan was never to leave Nebraska early. Johnson simply wanted the chance to receive a heavy workload.

He got 32 offensive touches against Cincinnati in the 2025 opener, 24 against Michigan, 23 against Maryland and 29 against Northwestern. In November, after quarterback Dylan Raiola was injured, Johnson stacked three games with 31 opportunities apiece and a 27-touch effort against Penn State.

“This dude really did what he said he was going to do,” Nebraska tight end Luke Lindenmeyer said.

His reliability never came into question.

“I’m so proud of Emmett, man,” senior cornerback Ceyair Wright said. “I think his success is a product of who he is as a person, how he treats people and the work that he puts in.”

Emmett Johnson shouldered a heavy load late in the season, garnering 27-plus touches in each of his final five games for Nebraska. (Harry How / Getty Images)

His humility and care for others rate as Johnson’s most admirable trait. Johnson said he wanted to share credit with his teammates for the accomplishments of this season. He rushed for 177 yards in the first half against Iowa and 217 for the game. But he stressed in the aftermath that he felt badly for older teammates who played their final games in Lincoln on Black Friday.

Turns out, he was among them. Johnson takes pride, he said, in building a new reputation for Nebraska running backs — more than a decade after Abdullah departed, three decades after Green and 42 years after Rozier’s Heisman.

“It matters a lot,” Johnson said, “because Nebraska is a special place. I want to be able to have recruits look at this place and know it’s special. It is special. I’m blessed to be the one doing that and helping. It’s bigger than just football.

“There are a lot of great humans here. That’s what I want to help push.”

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