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Groups planning protest, Nebraska ballot initiative after school choice bill passes

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1 year ago

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Groups planning protest, Nebraska ballot initiative after school choice bill passes


OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Nebraska lawmakers on Wednesday passed LB753, known as the “school choice” or “school voucher” bill, but opponents are already planning to put the matter before voters.

Backed by Gov. Jim Pillen, the bill authorizes millions in tax credits for those who donate scholarships to private schools in Nebraska — one of two states that do not provide such schools with public funds. It passed 33-11-5 on Wednesday.

“Today is an important, hard-fought victory for school choice in Nebraska,” according to a news release from Nebraska Family Alliance. “LB753 puts power back into the hands of parents and will help more families have the choice to send their child to the school that best meets their needs and aligns with their values.

But opponents say the bill threatens public education, and have plans to protest at the state capitol on Saturday morning.

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“We need to remind state senators and the governor that a majority of Nebraskans oppose giving public tax dollars to fund private schools,” said Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association.

The NSEA called LB753 “a tax scheme” voters don’t want, saying it will “hurt taxpayers and kids” — and hold state funding for public schools hostage.

Nebraska legislators debated a bill today that would allow private school donors to receive a tax break.

“Supporters of LB753 claim it’s all sunshine and rainbows, but the reality is LB753 is a tax voucher scheme that will drain funding from our public schools and give it to unaccountable private schools that discriminate against kids,” Benson said in a statement following the vote. “…If lawmakers cut promised state funding for public schools, it puts more pressure on our already-high property taxes.”

The OpenSky Policy Institute agreed, saying in a news release public schools in rural areas would be hit particularly hard, noting that only seven of 38 counties west of Kearney have private schools.

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“The income tax credits in LB753 essentially allow wealthy Nebraskans to opt out of paying to support public education and other state services,” OpenSky Executive Director Dr. Rebecca Firestone said in the release. “In other states, these credits have started small but steadily ballooned in cost, reducing what’s available to districts to pay teachers, provide counseling services, and fund vocational and technical programs fundamental to achieving many of the things that we want in the state.”

The organization is joining forces with an NSEA-led coalition called Support Our Schools Nebraska to bring forth a ballot initiative on the issue in 2024.

“In large cities and small towns, Nebraskans take pride in strong public schools that make our communities better places to live, raise a family and start a business,” Firestone said. “They should have a say in voucher programs like LB753.”

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This is a developing story. Stay with 6 News for updates.

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Nebraska

Huskers win Big Ten Championship with 2-1 victory over Penn State

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4 hours ago

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May 27, 2024

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Huskers win Big Ten Championship with 2-1 victory over Penn State


Nebraska baseball entered Saturday’s Big Ten Championship game after climbing out of elimination following a first-round loss to Ohio State. The Huskers won four straight games to reach their final challenge in the tournament, Penn State. In a low-scoring battle, Nebraska edged out the Nittany Lions, claiming its first-ever Big Ten tournament title.

The Huskers earned just six hits and two RBIs on the day, while Penn State finished with four hits. Jackson Brockett started on the mound for Nebraska and pitched 8.0 innings, facing down 29 batters.

After coughing up a run in the first, Brockett threw lights out in the following seven innings, finishing the game with five strikeouts and surrendering four hits. Brett Sears pitched the final inning and threw three-up, three-down.

Josh Caron delivered the equalizer with his sixth home run of the tournament, a record, before Gabe Swansen hit the go-ahead RBI double in the ninth, bringing in Cayden Brumbaugh.

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With the win, Nebraska punches its ticket to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2021 and the seventh time in the last 10 years. The Regionals are set to begin on Friday.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.





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Nebraska

Nebraska Baseball Not Among 16 Regional Hosts

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11 hours ago

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May 26, 2024

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Nebraska Baseball Not Among 16 Regional Hosts


Nebraska baseball is not hosting an NCAA regional in 2024.

That isn’t necessarily a surprise. The Huskers have an RPI at No. 28 and some glaringly bad losses on the résumé, but there remained some outside hope that the committee would find a place for a regional going to Nebraska.

Among the 16 teams selected to host, East Carolina is No. 22 in RPI. Even further down, Arizona’s RPI is 31. The Pirates did get to 43 wins with a tough schedule though, and the Wildcats had the No. 1 nonconference strength of schedule on top of winning the Pac-12 regular season and tournament.

Earlier in the season, Lincoln looked primed to host a regional. The Huskers were ranked by several outlets and rolling. But the midweek woes took over in April. Over the last seven games played on a Tuesday or Wednesday, the only win came with Jackson Brockett’s no-hitter.

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Nebraska went 5-8 in games played on Tuesday and Wednesdays for the season, including a Big Ten Conference Tournament opening game loss to Ohio State before an elimination game win over Purdue the next night.

No, the five-game winning streak through the loser’s bracket didn’t bump Nebraska’s RPI enough to warrant a host selection. But it will certainly scare some of the teams selected to host.

NU went 4-0 over the weekend. In games played Thursday through Sunday, the Huskers went 34-12 this year. The regionals will be played Friday to Sunday or Saturday to Monday this week. That bodes well for a team that has enjoyed weekend success all season.

The full field of 64 will be announced Monday at 11 a.m. CDT on ESPN2. Nebraska is already in the field as an automatic qualifier for winning the Big Ten tournament.

The 16 host sites and their records are listed below.

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Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking All Huskers, following HuskerMax on X, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.





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BIG TEN CHAMPIONS: Nebraska Outlasts Penn State 2-1 for First Big Ten Tournament Title

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18 hours ago

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May 26, 2024

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BIG TEN CHAMPIONS: Nebraska Outlasts Penn State 2-1 for First Big Ten Tournament Title


Nebraska baseball has won the Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship.

NU outlasted Penn State 2-1 in the league title game Sunday. This is the first conference tournament championship for the Big Red since joining the Big Ten.

Nebraska has won five conference tournament titles in program history: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2024.

No Big Ten team since Ohio State in 1995 had dropped their first game and ended up as the champion. That tournament consisted of only four teams where the Buckeyes had to play four games. Nebraska played in six games over six days.

The Huskers improve to 39-20 ahead of the NCAA Tournament beginning this next weekend. Penn State’s season comes to a close at 29-24.

The Nittany Lions struck first when a pickoff throw to second went awry, scoring the runner from third. From there, No. 8 seed managed just one more hit.

Nebraska didn’t get on the board until Josh Caron belted a home run over the right field wall. Then, in the top of the ninth inning, Gabe Swansen, who had two of Nebraska’s six hits on the day, crushed a double that scored Cayden Brumbaugh.

After Jackson Brocket posted a sensational 8.0 innings, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year took the hill for the save. Brett Sears worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to take the title back to Lincoln.

Caron, with a conference tournament record six home runs this week, was named Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten Conference Tournament. Other Huskers on the All-Big Ten Tournament team are Swansen, Caron, Josh Stokes, and Will Walsh.

Nebraska will learn its regional destination on Monday. The Selection Show airs at 11 a.m. CDT on ESPN2.

Nebraska Athletics

Nebraska’s Path to the Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship

Tuesday: No. 7 seed Ohio State run rules Nebraska in seven innings. | Recap, Photos

Thursday: The Huskers get a gem on the hill form Brett Sears and Drew Christo to eliminate Purdue. | Recap, Photos

Friday: Nebraska avenges their opening game loss to Ohio State by sending the Buckeyes home. | Recap, Photos

Saturday 1: Will Walsh tosses a complete game to send NU to a do-or-die semifinal game. | Recap, Photos

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Saturday 2: Nebraska crushes Penn State to reach its first conference tournament title game since 2019. | Recap, Photos

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking All Huskers, following HuskerMax on X, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.





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