Nebraska

Douglas County officials strongly oppose Nebraska bill that would change state’s voting process

Published

10 months ago

February 25, 2025

Douglas County officials strongly oppose Nebraska bill that would change state’s voting process

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – According to Douglas County officials, 50 percent of voters now choose to vote by mail, and on average, 75 percent of all ballots are returned in secure drop boxes located across the county.

Election Commissioner Brian Kruse told members of the Douglas County Board that, if passed, LB 541 would change the way Nebraskans vote, eliminating online voter registration, restricting registration by mail, and requiring voters to give a reason for voting early.

“There’s only three state in the nation where you have to have an excuse [to vote early]: Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire,” Kruse said. “And Mississippi has some legislation now to eliminate that. I also think it’s worth pointing out that both major candidates from both political parties for president not only embraces early voting, but ran campaigns that they spent millions on to get their voters out to vote early across the nation.”

Kruse also mentioned that reducing the number of early voting days like LB 541 suggests is basically an unfunded mandate.

“If we were to move from 35 [days] to 22, you have to do the same amount of work in a lot less days,” Kruse said. “We estimate that for last fall’s election, we would have had to hire 22 additional employees. It would have been in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

Other provisions in the bill would require hand-counting of ballots to combat voter fraud, which Kruse says is not a serious problem in Nebraska.

“I think the bottom-line to this bill is what problems we are solving, and I don’t think there’s any question that its taking a lot of rights away from voters,” Kruse said.

Members of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners believe the bill and its changes aren’t necessary in Nebraska.

“If I had an opportunity, I could pound the heck out of this bill,” said commissioner Mike Friend. “I could take eight hours to rip this to shreds, and the lawyers better come in and convince me we’re trying to solve a problem, because this is just regulatory restraint.”

Other commissioners echoed Friend’s comments.

“This seem to me to be the latest in a long line of voter suppression efforts by people who aren’t interested in getting the highest vote total we can possibly get, and that should be all of our goals,” said commissioner James Cavanaugh.

Commissioners ultimately voted 7-0 to oppose LB 541.

“The question was asked, ‘Where did this come from?’” said commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson. “Well, look across the country. I mean, seriously, all this is is people throwing out misnomers, untruths about voter fraud.”

Kruse told the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, the Election Law Committee for Commissioners and Clerks Association, and the Nebraska Association of County Officials to oppose LB 541. Lancaster County and Hall County commissioners also voted to send a message opposing the bill.

The hearing for LB 541 is scheduled for March 5.

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Nebraska

Nebraska football adds run game coordinator, defensive edge coach to staff

Published

32 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Nebraska football adds run game coordinator, defensive edge coach to staff

Courtesy Nebraska Athletics

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska football is bolstering its staff with the addition of a run game coordinator and a defensive edge coach.

On Friday, head coach Matt Rhule announced the hiring of run game coordinator Lonnie Teasley and defensive edge coach Roy Manning.

Teasley spent the last five seasons with South Carolina, serving as the Gamecocks’ offensive line coach for the last three years.

He was also an assistant offensive line coach on Rhule’s Temple staff in 2014. Teasley also had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Tech.

“Lonnie Teasley brings a wealth of offensive line coaching experience to our staff,” Rhule said in a press release. “Lonnie has had great success throughout his career and specifically has been one of the elite offensive tackle coaches in the country. He also has a proven track record as an excellent recruiter. Lonnie will make a positive impact on our coaching staff and the Nebraska Football program.”

Manning worked with new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich as a defensive edge coach at San Diego State in 2025. He helped the Aztecs rank among the nation’s top defenses.

Manning has also spent time coaching at USC, Michigan and Cincinnati.

“We are excited to add Roy Manning to our defensive staff,” Rhule said. “Along with Coach Aurich, he was a key part of the defensive transformation at San Diego State this past season. Roy has experience coaching defense from front to back and has coached at high-level programs throughout his career.”

Nebraska fired three assistant coaches following a lopsided loss to Iowa in November: defensive coordinator John Butler, offensive line coach Donovan Raiola and defensive line coach Terry Bradden.

Aurich has been hired to lead the defense and Geep Wade is Nebraska’s new offensive line coach.

SEE ALSO: Report: Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola to enter the transfer portal

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Nebraska

Husker Fans flock to NCAA Volleyball final four despite no Nebraska

Published

13 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Husker Fans flock to NCAA Volleyball final four despite no Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – With 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championships in Kansas City this season, many Nebraska fans made plans ahead time given the driving distance to Lincoln. The Huskers lost in the regional final at home yet many fans still attended the final four.

“We just want to watch high-quality volleyball, grow the sport, and it’s a competitive sport, and there’s still four very good teams here,” Elizabeth Wright, a life-long Nebraska Volleyball fan, said.

Hundreds of Husker faithful dawned their red Nebraska gear as they entered the T Mobile Center on Thursday night with their team not playing. When asked about which team Nebraska fans would support, the majority of interviewees said Texas A&M.

“Part of me wants to watch Texas A&M win just because they beat us, and if they win, it gives us a little validation that we lost to the best team,” Karla Huneke, a Grand Island native and Nebraska Volleyball fan, said.

Overall, the surprise of Nebraska not making the NCAA Volleyball Championship didn’t impact Nebraskans from attending the final four.

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