Nebraska

Former Defense Secretary Hagel backs Nebraska proposal expanding access to veterans court services | Nebraska Examiner

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2024

Former Defense Secretary Hagel backs Nebraska proposal expanding access to veterans court services | Nebraska Examiner

LINCOLN — Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel joined a Nebraska legislative push Friday to expand the number and types of wayward veterans who can access some of the structure and support provided by problem-solving courts.

Hagel and several veterans advocates spoke during a Judiciary Committee hearing for Amendment 2668 to Legislative Bill 253 from State Sens. Justin Wayne of Omaha and State Sen. Tom Brewer, who represents north-central Nebraska.

State Sen. Justin Wayne addresses a pre-hearing briefing on the amendment he worked on with State Sen. Tom Brewer. It would expand access to some of the services provided by problem-solving courts aimed at veterans. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Hagel told senators and a pre-hearing crowd that American justice needs to find better tools to deal with veterans back from the nation’s longest wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, tools he said would have helped Vietnam, Korea and World War II vets.

“We have had so many deployments over the last 20 years, and veterans have had so many redeployments going back,” Hagel said. “It’s unfair, I think, for all veterans to be treated the same way (by the justice system).”

Services in more places

The proposal would let every Nebraska state court connect veterans with some of the wraparound services offered today by separate veterans courts in Douglas, Sarpy, Lancaster, Adams, Hall and Buffalo Counties.

State Sen. Tom Brewer introduces an amendment aimed at broadening which veterans charged with crimes can access services aimed at helping veterans in the court system. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Unlike the fuller county problem-solving courts, which experts said serve 5% of eligible veterans, this proposal would instead rely on the federal Veterans Administration for services such as mental health counseling and medical help.

Brewer, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, called the proposal a starting point that would be good for veterans, good for Nebraska and “good for our communities.”

“This bill is probably not perfect,” Brewer told the committee. “We were rushed when we put it together. We’re probably 90% there. Let’s focus on the concept.”

Brewer said he, Wayne and State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, a former Hagel staffer, spent the past two weeks weighing parts of a model proposal by the Hagel-led Veterans Justice Commission. Hagel said the bill offers veterans another chance to succeed.

Separate from veterans courts

Brock Hunter, a Veterans Justice Commission lawyer in Minnesota who led efforts in that state on handling veterans in 2021, said AM 2668 would supplement the “gold-standard model” of separate veterans courts.

“We still want those courts to operate,” Hunter said. “This is meant to expand where some of those services can reach.”

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, center, is joined by Brock Hunter (left) and Jim Seward of the Veterans Justice Commission on Feb. 23, 2024, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Hunter said he understands when people question whether the VA or private providers have the capacity to serve rural veterans who need mental health care. He said most rural veterans already travel some distance for care.

Under the proposal, each veteran’s case would get a specific plan for supervision, goals, rules and treatment requirements.

Expanded eligibility

The bill would expand which veterans are eligible for help. It would broaden the group from nonviolent offenders chosen by county prosecutors to participate in a veterans court to any veteran deemed worthy by a judge.

Among newly eligible veterans would be those charged with violent crimes in situations where their actions can be tied to mental or physical health issues stemming from their military service. Nebraska veterans courts don’t allow that today.

Hagel said he and the Judiciary Committee trust judges to use the facts and information they have about individual cases to make the best decision on who should be eligible for diversion. People who complete most veterans court programs have their charges set aside.

Questions about process

State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, a former Lancaster County prosecutor, questioned the reasons for pulling the decision making from county attorneys and giving it to a judge. She asked testifiers why unelected judges would be better.

State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, speaks on the floor of the Legislature. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Dan Zigg of the Nebraska County Attorneys Association said the proposal places too few restrictions on which crimes would be eligible. He said people charged with sex assault, child sex assault and human trafficking might be deemed eligible as the bill is currently written.

Wayne, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, questioned why prosecutors need a say in the process over judges. He said the committee was starting the conversation and would decide its approach and find a way forward.

Brewer, in closing remarks, expressed frustrations about the hearing devolving into turf battles over who should have what authority instead of considering the people the measure could help. Veterans deserve better, he said.

Next steps

Hunter said Minnesota, in its veterans court service expansion law, gives access to expanded services to veterans who are eligible for probation and are charged with low-to-moderate felonies. Veterans charged with more serious felonies can have their status as a veteran considered as a mitigating factor at sentencing.

The Nebraska proposal would also allow any veteran to have their status as a veteran considered as a mitigating factor.

The proposal would provide services to veterans who were discharged because of substance abuse disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental health conditions or sexual abuse while in the military. Today, many of those folks can’t easily get help, Hunter said.

Hagel told the Examiner he hopes Nebraska will give judges more options with veterans than just issuing a criminal sentence. His group has found no hard numbers for jailed or imprisoned veterans, but estimates place the number near 200,000 nationally.

“When veterans get in trouble, judges have very few options other than to sentence veterans,” Hagel said. “This allows them to take a look at the facts and really understand what we’re dealing with here. Are there options?”

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Source link

Click to comment

Nebraska

‘Best we’ve played all year.’ Trent Perry scores 20 points as UCLA routs No. 9 Nebraska

Published

5 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

‘Best we’ve played all year.’ Trent Perry scores 20 points as UCLA routs No. 9 Nebraska

The UCLA men’s basketball team made Senior Night one to savor Tuesday, dominating No. 9 Nebraska 72-52 at Pauley Pavilion for its 20th victory of the season and third over a top-10 ranked opponent.

The Bruins improved to 20-10 overall and 12-7 in the Big Ten with one regular season game remaining, Saturday at crosstown rival USC.

Trent Perry scored 20 points, Eric Dailey Jr. had 14 and three players — Tyler Bilodeau, Skyy Clark and Xavier Booker — each added eight points.

“Nebraska’s got a great team,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. “This is the best we’ve played all year — they brought out the best in us. We went from our worst defensive effort to our best. They outhustle everyone they play, but not us. Tonight we were great, but I love the way they play. If we had their attitude we’d have their record.”

Eric Freeny had four points, five rebounds and three steals in 18 minutes for UCLA, which got 26 points in the paint and 17 second-chance points.

“Effort is what it takes to win in March,” Freeny said. “It was our last home game. Coach keeps on pushing me to be better everyday.”

Sam Hoiberg had 12 points to lead Nebraska, but Pryce Sandfort, who began the game leading the conference in three-pointers made per game, was held to nine points.

“Sandford has been unbelievable so to hold him to nine points is amazing,” Cronin said. “Brandon Williams was the unsung hero.”

Williams had six points and three rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench.

The Bruins were in control from the opening tip-off and never trailed the Cornhuskers (25-5, 14-5). UCLA improved to 10-3 in all-time against Nebraska and the win greatly strengthened its resume for the NCAA tournament as the Bruins also beat then-No. 4 Purdue 69-67 on Jan. 20 and then-No. 10 Illinois 95-94 in overtime on Feb. 21 on Donovan Dent’s layup with one second left.

“We have to take attitude we came with tonight, bottle it up and take it on the road,” Dailey Jr. said. “We’ve got so much left. The season’s not over… we’re only as good as our last game. It’s all about how you respond. I love the fight that we played with tonight.”

This is the fifth time in Cronin’s seven seasons that the Bruins have won 20 or more games. They are 17-1 at home (their only loss in overtime to Indiana on Jan. 31).

“Since I’ve been here we don’t lose much at home.” Cronin said.

UCLA went ahead by 15 points, 37-22, on Perry’s three-pointer with 2:41 left and led 37-24 at intermission. The Bruins shot 50% from the field in the first half (15 for 30) while Nebraska was only 31% (nine for 29).

The Bruins increased their advantage to 18 points on Dailey’s dunk less than five minutes into the second half and the visitors got no closer than nine the rest of the way.

Prior to pregame introductions the Bruins honored seniors Bilodeau, Dent and Clark; fifth-year player Jamar Brown; redshirt seniors Steven Jamerson II, Jack Seidler and Anthony Peoples Jr; and redshirt junior Evan Manjikian. In a media timeout, midway through the first half, former coach Jim Harrick (who led UCLA to its 11th national championship in 1995) was honored and got a loud ovation.

“I’m happy for our seniors, I didn’t want them to lose their last game at Pauley,” said Perry, who reversed a subpar performance at Minnesota, where he was 0-for-7 from the field with one rebound and one assist in 26 minutes. “I had to come out here tonight and bounce back for my team. I play for something bigger than myself and I’m fortunate to have the type of guys I do around me.”

UCLA guard Skyy Clark looks to pass while under pressure from Nebraska guard Sam Hoiberg and forward Berke Buyuktuncel in the second half.

(William Liang / Associated Press)

Over the last four games, Dent has 46 assists and just two turnovers.

Bilodeau has scored in double figures in 26 of 28 games played, totaling 20 points or more nine times.

Dailey moved to within five points of reaching the 1,000-career point milestone.

UCLA has now made at least one three-pointer in 887 of 888 games dating to February 2000.

“We had one practice this week, that’s it,” Cronin said. “We watched film, had a heart-to-heart talk and a shoot around today but that’s it.”

Source link

Nebraska

4.1-magnitude earthquake hits south-central Nebraska

Published

17 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

4.1-magnitude earthquake hits south-central Nebraska

People across Nebraska and Kansas reported feeling an earthquake Sunday afternoon.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a quake measuring 4.1 on the Richter Scale struck around 1 p.m. about 3 miles east of the Webster County village of Cowles, which is in south-central Nebraska near the Kansas border.

A quake of that magnitude is considered “light” and not likely to cause damage.

But the USGS received dozens of reports from people who said they felt the quake, some as far away as Omaha and Manhattan, Kansas. Numerous people took to social media to report feeling the quake.

Two aftershocks of 2.6 magnitude later occurred near the original quake site, one about 90 minutes after the initial quake and one later Sunday night.

Earthquakes are relatively rare in Nebraska, but the state does usually record one or two minor ones per year. The last time Nebraska recorded a quake of a magnitude 4 or above was in December 2023, also in Webster County.

Source link

Nebraska

Nebraska Lottery results: See winning numbers for Powerball, Pick 3 on March 2, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Monday, March 2, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on March 2.

Winning Powerball numbers from March 2 drawing

02-17-18-38-62, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 2 drawing

21-28-58-65-67, Powerball: 25

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 2 drawing

7-5-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from March 2 drawing

03-08-09-17-25

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from March 2 drawing

Red Balls: 14-26, White Balls: 17-18

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning MyDay numbers from March 2 drawing

Month: 05, Day: 03, Year: 23

Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 2 drawing

28-41-42-50-55, 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.

Source link