Nebraska
Budget, childcare, tax reform among top legislative priorities for Nebraska senators in 2026
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) — State senators Wednesday worked with the state and city chambers of commerce to hit on a couple of their upcoming legislative priorities now that the next session is only 77 days away.
With Nebraska’s first quarter GDP down more than 6% this year and a budget shortfall in the millions looming over their shoulder, those days will lead to what one senator called “a lot of difficult decisions.”
The handful of state senators reiterated similar policy priorities for the next session: housing, childcare cost and availability and tax challenges.
Sen. George Dungan addressed the elephant in the room, saying the budget will take up “a lot of oxygen of this short session.”
Nebraska is facing a budget deficit of $95 million.
Senators expressed that the session will be about more than just funding affordable housing projects, addressing zoning laws and reforming educational tax policy.
“We’re looking at home insurance premiums. I talked to my peers in this state, and we’re at the point now where we are paying more in insurance premiums and property taxes than we are in principal interest,” Sen. Beau Ballard said.
Sen. Carolyn Bosn said public safety and social media protections for children are high on her list.
“There’s some legislation that needs to be modified, accommodated,” Bosn said. “I know that individuals who oppose that legislation had good reasons for doing it, but wanting to work with them in ways that we can still provide social media protections for kids, keeping kids safe while not stepping on the toes of some of those businesses.”
Sen. Jason Prokop plans to continue working on LB304, a childcare subsidy bill.
Dungan, Conrad and Prokop also hit on the need to support Nebraska’s higher education landscape.
“It is critical, critical, critical that we appropriately fund and support the University of Nebraska,” Prokop said. “It is an economic engine for our state. It is educating our young people. These are the future business leaders. We’ve got to support the university in every way that we can.”
Sen. Eliot Bostar added he’d like to address growing the state but that there is opposition from those who he believes fear change.
“There are a lot of people out there and a lot of interests out there that fundamentally do not want the state to grow,” Bostar said. “And that is something we run into specifically often as we’re trying to pursue policies that I think folks would instinctively identify as common sense.”
Sen. Danielle Conrad — who is entering her 12th year at the Unicameral — highlighted how the landscape has changed but their goals haven’t.
“But now more than ever, we need an experienced and independent, robust checks and balances in the people’s house, in the legislature, to make sure that personal liberty and economic prosperity is guarded against government overreach from the other branches of government and the federal government,” Conrad said.
The Unicameral is set to gavel in for the 2026 session on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026.
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The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on May 9.
Winning Powerball numbers from May 9 drawing
15-41-46-47-56, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from May 9 drawing
06-27-58-61-65, Powerball: 14
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 9 drawing
8-2-8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from May 9 drawing
19-25-26-28-34
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from May 9 drawing
Red Balls: 01-02, White Balls: 13-26
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from May 9 drawing
Month: 08, Day: 06, Year: 05
Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 9 drawing
08-11-17-29-49, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Nebraska Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, 5: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- 2 By 2: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- MyDaY: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
I recently read an article by Nate McHugh of SB Nation that stated the last two “sure things” to bring Nebraska football back failed. The first “thing” is back coaching at UCF, and the second “thing” is now wearing an Oregon uniform. Because these two “sure things” failed, McHugh points to them as reasons for Husker fan’s frustration. But did he miss the third reason? If I’m not mistaken, the hiring of Matt Rhule felt like one of those “sure things” as well. But after the ‘mythical’ year three and disappointment it became clear Rhule’s hiring was anything but a “sure thing” for success.
Because of that fans are torn how they feel about Rhule. I’m one of them. I catch myself saying Rhule is the right guy for Nebraska and then quickly point out that his overall record as a head coach is 66-62. Clearly mediocre compared to Kyle Whittingham (177-88) or James Franklin (104-45). But Rhule hasn’t stayed anywhere long enough to truly establish himself like Whittingham or Franklin either.
See what I mean, I’m quick to point out his shortcomings but still believe he can make the Huskers relevant again. Where Husker fans struggle is that Rhule has in fact taken us to back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2015-2016 yet allowed his team to get curb stomped by Penn State, Iowa, and Utah to end the season.
So, fans are leery going into the 2026 season. What are we going to get considering the schedule? The Huskers get Indiana, Washington, and Ohio State at home, and Oregon, Illinois, and Iowa on the road. While no game is a sure win, if they can’t notch victories against Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota, Michigan State, Maryland and Rutgers, then we’ll once again question if Rhule is the right man. Simply put, the fan base will be disappointed with another 6-6 season. Personally, with the coaching changes and improvement in talent, my expectation is a record of 7-5 or 8-4 on the season.
Tim Verghese of ‘Inside Nebraska’ got my attention last week when talking about fans giving recruits a negative vibe and possibly influencing their decision to commit to a program. He used Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M as an example. The fanbase was so negative about Fisher that it made recruits question how secure he was at A&M. Obviously recruits had reason to be worried.
Does that affect how I approach what I write or talk about? It does, but then again, I don’t think so much of myself to think it matters. I see myself as your typical fan. I’m just someone who shares their thoughts about Husker football. And frankly, like 50% or more of the fans, I’m torn between being supportive and negativity. We’ve been burned too many times and haven’t seen the things that we need to see to convince us a turnaround is about to happen. Whether it’s offense, defense, or beating the teams they are supposed to beat (Minnesota & Iowa) there just hasn’t been any consistency from Rhule’s teams. As fans we need to see Rhule’s teams win the games they are supposed to, then win the close games, and finally beat the teams they aren’t supposed to. Until we see Rhule’s teams take those steps, there will be doubt and a level of negativity.
As far as recruits are concerned, I don’t see Rhule going anywhere. He’s safe due to his contract, the investment being made on the stadium, and Trae Taylor making it clear he’s all ‘N’ as long as Matt Rhule is the head man. He may just be a senior in high school, but don’t think QB Trae Taylor doesn’t play a role here. He does. And I’m good with that. Taylor has the same expectations as the fans.
And no, those expectations aren’t too high. I’ve been a fan for over fifty years. The standard at Nebraska was set a long time ago. That standard hasn’t changed. Nebraska fans may be up and down on how they feel about Rhule, but they are consistent on their expectations. The standard is the standard and always will be.
GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!
Photo courtesy of the Falls City Journal Home – Falls City Journal – Falls City, NE
Stay on top of Husker football at CarrikerChronicles.com
The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Friday, May 8, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on May 8.
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing
37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 8 drawing
8-0-5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from May 8 drawing
01-03-12-24-26
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from May 8 drawing
Red Balls: 02-20, White Balls: 09-11
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from May 8 drawing
Month: 01, Day: 16, Year: 17
Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing
14-16-21-43-51, Bonus: 03
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Nebraska Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, 5: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- 2 By 2: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- MyDaY: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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