Nebraska
'Defender of Downtrodden' keeps voters guessing as deadline nears to file for 2024 election | Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — The self-proclaimed “Defender of the Downtrodden” is keeping voters guessing about whether he might seek to reclaim his North Omaha seat in the Nebraska Legislature.
In a recent interview with the Examiner, former State Sen. Ernie Chambers — the longest serving legislator in state history — said he’s “thinking about” running against incumbent Sen. Terrell McKinney.
‘Thinking’ different than ‘planning’
But Chambers, now 86, added that thinking about it is “different than planning or intending to.”
The final deadline to file as a candidate for the Nebraska Legislature is March 1 at 5 p.m.
The filing deadline for incumbents came and went on Thursday with one big surprise: State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar declined to seek another term, setting off a storm of speculation about who might seek her seat in southeast Nebraska.
Sixteen of the 25 seats up for election in 2024 are “open” seats — seats lacking an incumbent — and four other races feature appointees making their first run to retain their post. Appointees, as history has shown, aren’t a shoo-in for re-election.
Big turnover coming
So a big turnover is ahead for the 49-seat, nonpartisan Unicameral.
As of Friday, only one legislative district in the state lacked a candidate: Fremont’s District 15, where two-term Sen. Lynne Walz is barred from running again due to term limits.
One remaining mystery as the deadline looms is whether Chambers — who served 46 years in the Unicameral — might seek a return to the Legislature, where he often dominated floor debate and listed his occupation as “Defender of the Downtrodden.”
Chambers has “returned” once before, reclaiming his seat in 2012 after being term-limited in 2008.
‘People won’t let me be’
After leaving office in 2021 — again, due to term limits — the veteran senator said he’d consider running again in 2024 if his health was good and his mind was “clear.”
Chambers said both of those boxes are checked, but “people won’t let me be.”
He said that those people believe he could block some of the “bad things” that have happened in recent sessions, and that he has a “magic wand” to do that.
“But there’s only so much one person can do,” Chambers said. “Even Jesus would end up on the cross.”
Still, he described what’s been coming out of Lincoln as “crazy” and “pathetic.”
“It’s like a throwback to all those years ago when you had nutty people bringing backward stuff,” Chambers said.
Yet, the former senator said, it’s hard to imagine driving back and forth to Lincoln, amid the cold, snow and slush of winter, to serve again.
“To be completely honest, I’m thinking about it, but I can’t say really say if I’ll do it,” Chambers said.
Here are the candidates who have filed as of Friday. Incumbents noted with *:
District 1
Mike Powers of Palmyra. A former school board member, he ran unsuccessfully for the Legislature in 2000, 2004 and in 2020.
District 3
Ben “Felix” Ungerman of Papillion. A retired Air Force colonel, he serves as deputy chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Don Bacon.
District 5
Tim Benak of Omaha. A 10-year veteran of the Omaha Fire Department as well as an adjunct instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Flint Harkness of Omaha. He serves as a resource teacher for special education.
Margo Juarez of Omaha. A member of the Omaha School Board, she is a retired federal tax examiner.
Gilbert Ayala of Omaha. He ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2016 and 2020, and for Omaha City Council in 2021.
District 7
Dunixi Guereca of Omaha. He is the executive director of Stand for Schools, which supports public schools and opposes school choice laws.
Christopher Geary of Omaha. A martial arts instructor/studio owner and former Marine, he ran unsuccessfully for Omaha mayor in 2017 and the Nebraska Legislature in 2012.
District 9
*John Cavanaugh of Omaha. A lawyer and member of a widely known political family.
Julia Palzer of Omaha. Also a lawyer, she previously served as dean of admissions at Creighton University School of Law.
District 11
* Terrell McKinney of Omaha. A law student at Creighton School of Law.
District 13
Tracy Hightower Henne of Omaha. A lawyer who serves as executive director of the Nebraska Innocence Project.
District 15
None
District 17
Glen Meyer of Pender. Chairman of the Thurston County Board, he has farmed and worked as a sales manager for a seed company.
District 19
*Rob Dover of Norfolk. Real estate manager/owner of a real estate firm. He was appointed to the Legislature in July 2022 by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts.
Jeanne Reigle of Madison. A farmer, she is a member of the governing board of the Northeast Community College.
District 21
*Beau Ballard of Lincoln. A small-business owner, he was appointed to the Legislature in December 2022 by then-Gov. Ricketts.
Seth Derner of Lincoln. He is co-founder of a business that designs instructional programs, curriculum and online learning modules.
District 23
Jacob Wolff of Colon. A Navy veteran who recently moved into the district after living in Omaha.
Dennis Fujan of Prague. A farmer and a Navy veteran, he is a past president of the Nebraska Soybean Association.
Alan Zavodny of David City. A farmer and former David City mayor.
Jared Storm of David City. A small-business owner and pilot.
Allie French of Prague. The co-owner of a bait shop and head of Nebraskans Against Government Overreach.
District 25
*Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln. A former county prosecutor, she was appointed to the Legislature in April by Gov. Jim Pillen.
Nicki Behmer Popp of Lincoln. A small-business owner, Realtor and member of the Lincoln Airport Authority.
Maher Aurang Zeb of Lincoln. A small business owner, he ran unsuccessfully for the Lincoln City Council in 2021 and the Lincoln Airport Authority in 2019.
District 27
Jason Prokop of Lincoln. The director of an early childhood care and education nonprofit, he once served as an adviser to then-U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson.
District 29
*Eliot Bostar of Lincoln. The executive director of the Nebraska Conservation Voters and Conservation Nebraska.
Phil Bruce of Lincoln. A cybersecurity analyst who launched a nonprofit that works on community building.
District 31
*Kathleen Kauth of Omaha. A professional mediator, she was appointed to the Legislature in June 2022 by then-Gov. Ricketts.
Mary Ann Folchert of Omaha. A former teacher.
District 33
Michelle Smith of Hastings. A mental health practitioner.
Dan Lonowski of Hastings. An Army veteran and retired teacher, now a manager for a substance and alcohol abuse prevention program.
Paul Hamelink of Hastings. A former member of the Hastings City Council and owner of a cigar lounge.
District 35
*Ray Aguilar of Grand Island. The retired owner of a janitorial service, he served in the Legislature from 1999 to 2008, then was re-elected to the post in 2020.
Dan Quick of Grand Island. A former state senator, who has served as president of a labor union, he was defeated for re-election in 2020 by Aguilar.
District 37
Stanley Clouse of Kearney. The mayor of Kearney, he is an account manager for Nebraska Public Power District.
Lana Peister of Kearney. A nurse and small business partner.
District 39
Tony Sorrentino of Omaha. A lawyer and certified public accountant, he is president/founder of a firm that helps health plans comply with federal law. Sorrentino ran unsuccessfully for the Legislature in 2006.
Allison Heimes of Omaha. A lawyer, she ran unsuccessfully for the Legislature in 2020.
District 41
Ethan Clark of Ord. He works in marketing for an agriculture implement company.
Nadine Diane Bane of Scotia. A retiree with experience in farming, nursing and trucking.
Daniel McKeon of Amherst. An Army National Guard veteran, he works as an agronomy consultant.
District 43
Tanya Storer of Whitman. A rancher and former member of the Cherry County Board, she ran unsuccessfully for the Legislature in 2020.
Tony Tangwall of Whitney. A rancher and senior pastor at his church.
District 45
*Rita Sanders of Bellevue. A former mayor of Bellevue and a commercial real estate developer.
Sarah Centineo of Bellevue. A nurse and attorney, she is a member of the Bellevue School Board.
District 47
Paul Strommen of Sidney. A member of the Sidney City Council and the Nebraska Oil and Gas Commission, he is an executive with an ethanol plant.
Larry Bolinger of Alliance. A property manager and Air Force veteran, he ran unsuccessfully for Nebraska attorney general in 2022 and for U.S. Congress in 2018 and 2020.
District 49
*Jen Day of Omaha. A small-business owner and fitness coach.
Caleb Muhs, Omaha. A financial consultant, he has degrees in law and finance.
Bob Anderson of Papillion. An Air Force veteran, he and his wife own child care businesses, and he formed a nonprofit geared toward defense-related research.
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Nebraska
What channel is Ole Miss baseball vs Nebraska on today? Time, TV schedule to watch NCAA regional game
Ole Miss baseball continues on in the winner’s bracket of the NCAA Lincoln Regional with a game against host Nebraska on May 30.
The Rebels (37-21) outlasted Arizona State 7-6 in 14 innings on May 30 after a Brayden Randle walk-off RBI single.
Nebraska (43-15) pulled away late in a 4-1 win over South Dakota State to open regional play on May 30.
The winner will play in the regional final on May 31, with two games to win one. The loser will play in the first game on May 31 against the South Dakota State-Arizona State winner.
Here’s how you can watch Ole Miss baseball vs. Nebraska:
Ole Miss baseball vs Nebraska on May 30 in Lincoln, Nebraska will be televised on ESPNU. Karl Ravech and Kyle Peterson will call the game in Lincoln.
- Game date: Saturday, May 30
- Start time: Approximately 7 p.m.
Friday, May 29
- Game 1: Nebraska vs. South Dakota State, 3 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 2: Ole Miss vs. Arizona State, 8 p.m. on ESPN2
Saturday, May 30
- Game 3: South Dakota State vs. Arizona State, 2 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 4: Nebraska vs. Ole Miss, approx. 7 p.m. on ESPNU
Sunday, May 31
- Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. on TBD
- Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, approx. 7 p.m. on TBD
Monday, June 1
- Game 7: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner (if necessary), Time and TV TBD
A Kearney, Nebraska, man who loves the giant Big Boy 4014 suffered a small fracture to his spine when he fell off a ladder trying to climb into the cab of the locomotive during its historic whistle-stop tour on Thursday.
Trevor Allen Bentley told Cowboy State Daily that he was about to fulfill a longtime dream of riding inside the cab of the world’s largest operating locomotive.
He was climbing on the outside of the Cheyenne-based locomotive and had one more step to go on the five-rung ladder to get into the cab when he fell backward about 8 feet, landing hard on the ground.
A 16-second video posted (see below) shows the heavyset man, wearing a bright yellow construction vest, jeans and tennis shoes, gripping the handles on either side of the ladder and struggling to get up to the last step.
After a few seconds, he slips and falls to the ground, landing on his back between the train tracks.
Three others nearby, also in bright-colored vests, were at Bentley’s side immediately. Instinct seemed to kick in as they attempt to help him sit up.
Bentley said he was able to sit up and that he wanted to get up right away.
“I felt fine,” he told Cowboy State Daily on Friday. “Obviously, I was sore. But I just wanted to get up.”
He said he was more embarrassed than anything, “because the Big Boy attracts a show.”
He guessed a few hundred people had turned out to see the Big Boy at the station.
It also was raining, a factor Bentley said likely contributed to his slip.
Ride Of A Lifetime Dashed
Bentley, who works for the online news site CentralNebraskaToday.com, had planned to ride Big Boy 4014 on its approximate 40-mile leg between Kearney and Grand Island, Nebraska, documenting the trip on video for the outlet.
He said he had emailed Union Pacific to request the ride, which the railroad granted.
In a social media post he shared after the fall, he wrote, “A boyhood dream got dashed as I fell 8 feet off of Big Boy 4014 before I got the ride of a lifetime.”
He later told Cowboy State Daily he has been a train enthusiast all his life. He had been in the Big Boy cab before, he said, “which is why I thought I could do it.”
“I just couldn’t get that last step in,” he added.
30-Minute Delay
Big Boy was already running behind schedule when it pulled into the Kearney station, said Bentley. His fall caused an added 30-minute delay.
North Platte resident James Burns said he frequently visits the tracks and had decided to follow Big Boy from North Platte to Kearney.
He was at the stop, taking pictures of Big Boy 4014 when Bentley fell, though he told Cowboy State Daily he did not see the fall. He also confirmed the incident caused an approximate 30-minute travel delay.
The fall sparked a lot of speculation on social media, with comments ranging from prayers that Bentley was OK to sharper criticisms of Bentley’s attempt to climb aboard. One such criticism was his wearing tennis shoes rather than work boots.
Bentley was taken via ambulance to CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and said he was released later that day.
‘No Fault of UP’
He was home resting when he spoke with Cowboy State Daily via phone Friday.
“I’m just stiff more than anything,” he said, adding that he hopes to be back to work next week. “I am just extremely lucky.”
Bentley wanted to make it clear that his fall was no fault of Union Pacific or anyone but himself. He said what happened was a total accident and that’s why he signed a waiver with UP about riding in the locomotive.
“I do not fault them in any way, shape, or form,” he said. “I don’t want to put a blemish on their tour. It was no fault of Union Pacific. It was on my own accord.”
Union Pacific publicly responded to the incident in a 16-word statement: “We are glad the person is OK and appreciate the concern we’ve heard from rail fans.”
Contact Kate Meadows at kate@cowboystatedaily.com
Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – First Alert 6 has the headlines you need to know to get your Friday started.
One hurt in Friday morning crash on I-80 in Omaha
One person was taken to the hospital after a crash Friday morning on Interstate 80 in Omaha.
The crash happened shortly before 6 a.m. on I-80 westbound near 72nd Street. Cameras show the car is completely flipped upside down.
Traffic is being impacted Friday morning, as the far left lane remains blocked.
Police dispatch says initial reports show the victim’s injuries are considered serious.
Nebraska softball defeats Arkansas in extra innings at WCWS
Ava Kuszak hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning as Nebraska defeated Arkansas 5-3 Thursday night at the Women’s College World Series. The victory marks the Huskers’ first WCWS win since 2002.
Jordy Frahm pitched all 10 innings for Nebraska, striking out nine batters. Hannah Coor also homered for the Huskers. Nebraska advances to face Alabama on Saturday at 6 p.m.
The fourth-seeded Huskers are making their eighth WCWS appearance and first since 2013. Six players on the roster are Omaha natives who developed through Nebraska Gold Softball.
Papillion native Frahm earned NFCA Player of the Year honors this season. Gretna’s Alexis Jensen also earned All-American recognition.
The WCWS runs through June 5. The full tournament bracket can be found here.
Nebraska baseball to open NCAA regional Friday
The first Lincoln baseball regional in nearly two decades will begin on Friday.
Nebraska hosts South Dakota State, Ole Miss and Arizona State in the double-elimination pod, hoping to advance to the program’s first super regional since 2005.
The Huskers open the weekend with the Jackrabbits on Friday at 3 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. The Rebels and Sun Devils play at 8 p.m.
Nebraska defeated South Dakota State 5-4 in a close midweek game on March 4. The Jackrabbits (24-31) made an unlikely run to a Summit League championship as the No. 4 seed to earn their place in this weekend’s regional.
STB pauses Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger proceedings
The Surface Transportation Board has accepted Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s updated merger application but is seeking more information before a full review.
The agency ordered an Environmental Impact Statement under federal environmental law and requested details on nine issues, including passenger rail, market-share projections and service assurance plans. Responses are due by July 27.
The EIS process will include at least 12 in-person public meetings and several virtual sessions.
In a release Thursday, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern called the move “an important step forward” as the deal continues to advance.
Shareholders have backed the merger, and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has endorsed it.
NU Board of Regents to hold emergency meeting Friday
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is set to hold an emergency meeting Friday.
A notice sent to First Alert 6 does not state why the meeting was called.
According to the notice, the only business on the agenda is a motion to go into a closed session.
First Alert 6 is told the session is private to protect people who have not requested a public meeting to discuss confidential real estate acquisitions.
Farnam Street to close Friday morning for streetcar work
Farnam Street in Omaha is scheduled to be temporarily closed Friday morning for work in the streetcar project.
The closure is set between Turner Boulevard and 33rd Street for streetcar track concrete placement. Work is expected to begin at 6 a.m. and go until 10 a.m.
City officials say the street will reopen once the last truck has finished.
The full streetcar system is still on track to open by fall 2028.
—
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