Nebraska

A jury found Nebraska's Republican Party defamed one of its own candidates in 2020

Published

12 months ago

April 21, 2025

A jury found Nebraska's Republican Party defamed one of its own candidates in 2020

OMAHA, Neb. — A jury has found that the Nebraska Republican Party defamed one of its own candidates during an ugly legislative race five years ago and ordered it to pay her $500,000.

The Lancaster County jury sided with Janet Palmtag on Friday in her defamation lawsuit against the party. Palmtag sued after the Nebraska GOP sent out campaign mailers in October 2020 falsely claiming she had been charged with mishandling business trust accounts and had lost her Iowa real estate license.

At the time, Palmtag had been a lifelong Republican who was challenging fellow Republican and then-state Sen. Julie Slama of Peru, who had been appointed by and was backed by former Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts.

The race highlighted a growing schism within the state GOP, particularly between supporters of Ricketts and those of his predecessor, Republican Gov. Dave Heineman, who backed Palmtag in the legislative race.

The party’s mailers, sent to about 3,200 households of registered voters, included statements that Palmtag “broke the law and lost her real estate license,” and that her license had been “revoked.” The mailers also described Palmtag as “too irresponsible to keep her license.”

The mailers grossly mischaracterized a 2018 disciplinary case out of Iowa that found Palmtag’s real estate brokerage firm responsible for improperly transferring funds from an Iowa account to a Nebraska one. It was not Palmtag but another real estate agent who worked for the firm that had made the improper transaction. The company paid a $500 fine for the oversight.

Two years later, Palmtag canceled her Iowa real estate license, citing a lack of business for her firm there. The decision was not related to the disciplinary case, she said.

Palmtag demanded corrections to the mailers, but the state party refused. She sued after losing the race to Slama, seeking more than $4 million.

A judge initially dismissed Palmtag’s case, but upon her appeal, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled last year that a jury should decide whether she was defamed.

Palmtag, who left the Republican Party following the dispute, argued that the campaign attack had not only cost her the race, but had hurt her business and personal life. The jury agreed, awarding $500,000 — a rare win for a defamation case involving politicians who are often seen as public figures and fair game in political attacks.

Palmtag’s attorney, David Domina, has been a trial attorney in Nebraska for 50 years and said he has seen only a couple of defamation cases that led to significant awards for the person suing.

“I think it’s it’s about as scarce as hen’s teeth,” Domina said.

The Nebraska GOP has 30 days to decide whether it will appeal the jury’s finding, and another 10 days to file for a new trial. After that, “Janet could start collection procedures,” Domina said.

Nebraska GOP Chair Mary Jane Truemper, who was just elected to the post last month, said Monday that the state party is “in the investigative phase right now” of weighing whether it will appeal.

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Nebraska

Southeast Nebraska neighbors: Obituaries for April 4

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22 minutes ago

April 4, 2026

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Southeast Nebraska neighbors: Obituaries for April 4

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Nebraska

Nebraska’s Hoiberg named AP National Coach of the Year

Published

12 hours ago

April 3, 2026

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Nebraska’s Hoiberg named AP National Coach of the Year

Nebraska basketball coach Fred Hoiberg has been rewarded – in a big way – after leading the Huskers to their best season in history.

Hoiberg on Friday was named The Associated Press National Coach of the Year.

Hoiberg led Nebraska to a 28-7 season that included a school record for both overall victories and conference victories, a record 24-game winning streak and the first two NCAA tournament wins in the school’s history.

He did all that with a team that among its seven regular players included two walk-ons, a redshirt freshman and a player who missed all of last year with a knee injury.

“It took us some time to get here, but it was all about getting the right players in here, especially the ones that the fans could get behind,” Hoiberg told The Associated Press.

That team was picked to finish 14th in the 18-team Big Ten this year. Instead, the Huskers finished tied for second.

Hoiberg summed up the team’s accomplishments in an interview with college basketball reporter Andy Katz.

“For all the things we accomplished this year — top five ranking, 20 straight wins, 15 wins in league — you know, a lot of doubters,” he said. “I think we accomplished a lot.”

Hoiberg becomes the first Husker men’s basketball coach to win the AP award in its 59-year history. He joins former Husker women’s basketball coach Connie Yori, who won the award in 2010.

The award comes after Hoiberg was named Big Ten coach of the year last month by the league’s coaches.

The coach who won only 24 games his first three seasons has won a school record 72 the past three seasons and this year became the first Husker men’s basketball coach in history to string together three consecutive 20-win seasons.

The university, recognizing his achievements, signed Hoiberg to a contract extension last month that raises his salary from $4.35 million a year to $5 million and extends his tenure through the 2031-2032 season.

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Nebraska

Nebraska Department of Transporation Update

Published

1 day ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Department of Transporation Update

Work will begin on US-26, from Mitchell to Scottsbluff

Weather permitting, work will begin April 13, 2026 on U.S. Highway (US-26), from reference post 13.25 to reference post 21.25, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Simon Contractors, Inc., from Cheyenne, Wyo., is the contractor for this project. Work includes installing ADA ramps at various locations in the town of Mitchell, pavement repair and paving new asphaltic concrete between Mitchell and Scottsbluff. Traffic will be maintained with lane closures. A 12-foot width restriction will be in effect. Anticipated completion is Oct. 2026.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and put phones down.

Work will begin in District 5 Sidemount DMS Boards

Weather permitting, work will begin April 13 on the District 5 Sidemount DMS Boards project, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Watts Electric Company, of Waverly, is the contractor for this project. Work includes installing digital message boards and automated gates at various locations in the panhandle of Nebraska. Traffic willbe maintained with shoulder closures. Anticipated completion is Oct. 2026.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and put phones down.

Work will begin on N-250, north of Lakeside

Weather permitting, work will begin April 13 on Nebraska Highway 250 (N-250), from reference post 0.2 to reference post 13.38, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Work will also resume south of Smith Lake, from reference post 13.38 to reference post 26.10.

Werner Construction, of Hastings, is the contractor for both projects. Work includes asphalt paving, culvert extensions, curb and gutter, flumes, and grading and seeding. Traffic will be maintained with lane restrictions and a pilot car with flaggers. A 12-foot width restriction will be in effect. Anticipated completion is Nov. 2026.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and put phones down.

NDOT, UNO Conducting Community Stakeholders Survey and Public Meetings for Unmet Needs of Rural Intercity Bus Service

The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is partnering with the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research (UNO CPAR) to conduct an Intercity Bus Service Study of the intercity bus services available in Nebraska.

As part of the Study, NDOT is requesting input from stakeholders and community members with an interest in the state’s intercity bus public transportation services by utilizing the survey link provided below. NDOT administers the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) Section 5311(f) funding for rural intercity bus services in Nebraska, and this survey is an important element of the consultation process required under this program. A major focus of this effort is to determine the need for state/federal assistance to maintain current services or provide expanded connections from rural areas to connect with the national intercity bus network. By using these services many Nebraska residents can reach key connecting points for more distant travel.

Comments can be submitted via the survey at ndot.info/656469. Answers to the survey are confidential and will only be shared in the aggregate form. Comments must be submitted by April 30, 2026.

In addition to the survey, there will be two public meetings scheduled via Zoom to gather input. The first meeting will be on Tuesday, April 21 from 1-2 p.m. To join the meeting, visit unomaha.zoom.us/j/95425601695 and enter meeting ID 954 2560 1695. The meeting can also be joined via one tap mobile at +17193594580,,95425601695# US or +12532050468,,95425601695# US.

The second meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 29 from 9-10 a.m. To join the meeting, visit unomaha.zoom.us/j/92503332015 and enter meeting ID 925 0333 2015. The meeting can also be joined via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,92503332015# US or +16699006833,,92503332015# US.

Input from the meetings will be used by NDOT as it considers using federal funds to maintain the existing intercity services or provide additional intercity services.

For questions about the survey, please contact Clay Stevens, UNO Center for Public Affairs Research, at claystevens@unomaha.edu. For questions about the consultation process or the intercity bus program, contact Sarah Soula at NDOT at sarah.soula@nebraska.gov or 402-479-4871.

Appropriate provisions for the hearing and visually challenged or persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) will be made if NDOT is notified by April 8, 2026. For those without internet access, information may be obtained at NDOT Headquarters, 1500 Nebraska Parkway, Lincoln, NE 68502 or by contacting Sarah Soula, NDOT Transit Manager, at 402-479-4871 or sarah.soula@nebraska.gov.

For more information visit ndot.info/intercityf3e2cc.