Nebraska
Insurance must now cover all parts of Nebraskans’ colorectal cancer screenings • Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — In the summer of 2002, Margaret Stamp returned home to Sarpy County from college four weeks after her 74-year-old grandmother, Phyllis Behm, had died from a short battle with colorectal cancer.
Stamp found her dad, Mark Behm, a former northeast Nebraska county attorney and private practice lawyer, wincing in pain on the living room floor. Stamp described him as in shape and thin. She said he looked healthy and didn’t drink or smoke.
But that weekend, Stamp’s father was doubled over, and he told his daughter, “Call your mom.”
“I’d never seen him like that,” Stamp recalled. “Never even remember him getting the flu or sick. Next thing we know, he’s in emergency surgery — it’s stage IV [colorectal] cancer, and there’s nothing they can do.”
Behm grew up in Olde Towne Bellevue and graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1976. He served as the Cedar County attorney from 1977 through 1993 and had a private practice in Wausa for many years, later a private practice with other attorneys in Randolph. Behm was also a 1980 delegate to the Republican National Convention for Ronald Reagan and was president of Out Front Properties, a local property management company where his daughter is now vice president.
Stamp said her father’s doctors did what they could to prolong his life and make conditions less painful, and he continued practicing law until about a week before he died in April 2004, at the age of 52.
Twenty years later, Stamp and others have successfully pushed for new state laws that expand insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screenings and associated procedures. The latest law took effect this week.
Stamp recalled losing her father as different from cancer deaths she had seen in some movies, where someone closes their eyes and goes to sleep. She said it was awful and that her father said over and over he couldn’t breathe, had muscle spasms and felt his body shutting down.
“To me, anything you can do to stop that is worth every penny,” Stamp said. “It’s worth going in, getting your colonoscopy, even though I know it can be literally a pain in the butt for some people, but you don’t want that message, ‘It’s too late,’ because then there’s nothing to do but plan the funeral.”
‘We can save lives’
Legislative Bill 829 from State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue took effect Jan. 1. It requires insurance companies to cover each “integral part” of performing a colorectal cancer screening, including:
- Removing polyps (abnormal cell growths in the underlining of the colon or rectum) found as part of a colonoscopy.
- Any pathology examination of a polyp biopsy.
- Required specialist consultation prior to the screening.
- Bowel preparation medications prescribed for the screening.
- Anesthesia services performed in connection with the preventive colonoscopy.

Its adoption followed passage of LB 92 in 2023, which included a provision from State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln that required insurance plans to cover screening colonoscopies, as well as an annual stool-based preventative screening test designed for patients with minimal to average risk of colorectal cancer.
Nebraska is ranked in the lower half of states for colorectal cancer screening rates, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Blood told the Nebraska Examiner she came up with the idea for her LB 829 when she was getting a colonoscopy and was handed a release before her procedure saying most insurance companies wouldn’t cover part of a colonoscopy should they find something, like a polyp, which can grow into cancer over time.
“Why would you want somebody to be put under anesthesia and look for something and just leave it there?” Blood said. “It made no sense whatsoever.”
Blood said her colonoscopy found something that her insurance didn’t cover, which left her on the hook for a procedure that cost $800 to $900.
Congress has closed this “loophole” for people on Medicare and Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act, Blood said, while others with private insurance were told they “could just go pound sand.”
“I thought, well, we can save lives with this one tweak,” Blood said of her Nebraska law, which passed 41-5 in the spring.
What is colorectal cancer?
Jungyoon Kim, Ph.D., who does colon cancer screening research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health, said colorectal cancer develops in the large intestine areas like the colon or rectum that are part of the digestive system.
Most colorectal cancers start with a polyp, Kim said, most of which are benign. However, some polyps can change into cancer over time, mostly over many years, like 10-15 years.
Symptoms can include blood in the stool or toilet after a bowel movement, constipation over a long period, abdominal pain or cramping, changes in the shape or size of stool and sudden or unexplained weight loss. If observed, Kim said a doctor should be consulted immediately.
One of the most common misconceptions, though, is that people think they must wait to see symptoms before getting screened, Kim said, which gives polyps time to grow.
“Sometimes, if you see the symptoms and go to the doctor, it might be too late,” Kim said. “That’s why the United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends to get screening when people become 45, even if they do not have any symptoms.”
People with a family history or who have previously had cancer should be screened earlier, Kim said, such as in their 20s or 30s.
Kim said that when a doctor can find and remove polyps, it stops the growth in its tracks and is “like you’re preventing cancer before it even becomes cancer cells.”
If colorectal cancer is detected early, Kim said, the chance of the cancer being cured is about 92%.
Some cancers can be prevented by regular screening, which includes breast cancer through mammograms at the age of 40 or other screenings for cervical or lung cancer.
Disparities include rural Nebraska
According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, early-age colorectal cancer diagnoses are on the rise. By 2030, the cancer is predicted to be the leading cause of death in people younger than 50, according to DHHS.
It is already the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women combined.
Kim said disparities exist among racial minorities, people living in rural areas, people who are low-income or people with limited access to insurance or certain doctors, who can’t access screenings.
Blood noted those disparities as a reason for the bill, as every medical procedure comes with a certain amount of risk, but that for some patients, they had to “play Russian roulette with what’s in their body” and decide whether they could pay or come back later, if needed.
“That just seems wrong, especially when you look at how much higher colon cancer rates are in our rural areas,” Blood said.
Kim and Stamp said the new law made sense. Stamp added it will help avoid costlier cancer treatments and help save lives.
Importance of prevention
Stamp said her father had found some blood in his stool about two years prior to discovering he had cancer. His doctor had said it was probably hemorrhoids but gave him an at-home testing kit just in case, as at the time he didn’t have a family history of the disease.
The day after Stamp’s father found out he had cancer, Stamp said her mother found the at-home test in her father’s drawer at home. Stamp noted that around 2000, colon cancer wasn’t talked about as much as it is today. She said some people are still embarrassed to talk about it.
Stamp, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln alum who is now 44 and lives in Omaha with her husband and two teenage daughters, got her first colonoscopy at the age of 24.
She has had three more colonoscopies since, with a fifth planned in 2026, and encouraged others to get the procedure, which she described as a “walk in the park.”
“You are taken such good care of, and it is nothing compared to getting cancer and having to have surgery or chemotherapy or one of those colostomy bags,” Stamp said.
Stamp said her father missed her getting married about six months after his death and her two daughters being born, all for not realizing he had cancer.
“It was two quick deaths in the family that got me starting to try to advocate for colon cancer and having colonoscopies,” Stamp said. “… Anything people can do for prevention, it is so worth it, because it’s one of those things you don’t see coming.”
YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
Nebraska
No. 15 Nebraska’s offense picks up in second half to put away UND
LINCOLN, Neb. — No. 15 Nebraska found itself in a rock fight with UND at halftime on Sunday evening.
The Cornhuskers shot 28.1% from the field, barely worse than the Fighting Hawks’ 31.3%, and trailed by two points.
It didn’t take long for the Husker offense to find its rhythm in the second half, though.
Undefeated Nebraska (12-0) pulled away quickly for a 78-55 win at the Pinnacle Bank Arena, shooting 63.3% in the second half.
The Huskers found scoring from across the lineup, as four different players notched 12 or more points. Forward Braden Frager led the way with 17 points.
Dylan Widger/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
UND fell to 5-10. The Hawks will close up non-conference play next Sunday, hosting Dakota State.
The Hawks ended the day shooting 33.3%. They actually were better from beyond the arc than from the field, shooting 34.5% from deep with 10 triples.
Senior guard Eli King scored a team-high 13 points. Freshman forward Marley Curtis contributed 10 points and six rebounds after missing last Thursday’s game against Winthrop.
Redshirt sophomore guard Zach Kraft did not play against Nebraska. He was out due to illness, according to the broadcast.
King started hot, nailing two 3-pointers as UND jumped out to an 8-2 lead.
Dylan Widger/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Hawks clung onto a slight advantage for the entire first half, leading by as much as nine points. By halftime, they led the Huskers 26-24.
Nebraska, which entered Sunday’s contest averaging 11.2 3-pointers per game, shot 2-for-18 from beyond the arc in the first half.
The Huskers ripped off a quick 6-0 to start the second half, capturing a 30-26 lead.
UND counterpunched with a layup from freshman guard Anthony Smith III and a triple from senior guard Garrett Anderson for a one-point advantage.
That was the last time the Hawks led. Nebraska responded with a 13-1 run, and its lead slowly ballooned as the second half progressed.
The Huskers made a concerted effort to push the ball inside. They made just four triples, content to create easy field goals and force contact by attacking the rim.
Nebraska was 12-for-13 from the stripe in the second half.
Dylan Widger/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Staff reports and local scoreboards from the Grand Forks Herald Sports desk.
Nebraska
Cowboy Wrestling Set to Scrap With No. 6 Nebraska – Oklahoma State University Athletics
The No. 5 Oklahoma State wrestling team heads to Lincoln, Nebraska, to face No. 6 Nebraska at 1 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network at the Devaney Sports Center. The Cowboys met up with the Cornhuskers earlier this season at the National Duals Invitational and defeated them, 33-6. The premier bout of the night is without a doubt No. 2 Sergio Vega vs. No. 3 Brock Hardy at 141 pounds. Vega defeated Hardy by major decision at the National Duals. This marks the 58th meeting between the storied programs.
On the Air
Sunday’s dual is scheduled for a 1 p.m. CT start and will be available for streaming on the Big Ten Network. Rex Holt also returns as the voice of Cowboy wrestling to provide live radio coverage, which will be carried on Pete 94.3 KSPI-AM. Live stats and results can be found on trackwrestling.com.
The Series
The Cowboys have dominated the Cornhuskers in their 57 meetings, leading 52-4-1. Oklahoma State is 19-2 in Lincoln, and won the last road contest, 22-10, in 2011. Oklahoma State comes into the matchup having won the previous three by a combined score of 86-22. Despite the history between the squads, before this season’s contest at the National Duals Invitational, OSU and Nebraska had not met since 2011.
About the Cowboys
The David Taylor era is in full swing after a third-place finish with a pair of individual champions at the NCAA Championships in March. The Cowboys return six NCAA qualifiers and added three more out of the portal, including Richard Figueroa II, Casey Swiderski and Alex Facundo. Despite losing NCAA champions Wyatt Hen- drickson and Dean Hamiti Jr., the Cowboys are primed for another deep run in March.
Affectionately known as “Sparky,” Troy Spratley is back and ready for another deep run this season in the Cowboys’ leadoff spot. A 2025 national finalist, Spratley holds down the 125-pound slot and is ranked seventh in the nation. Sparkey avenged his Big 12 title bout loss to WVU’s Jett Strickenberger on December 14, where he defeated Strickenberger on the road, 6-2.
The Cowboy lineup this season features multiple transfers who have made immediate impacts, including 2024 All-American Casey Swiderski, Alex Facundo and Zack Ryder. Konner Doucet retakes the reins at heavyweight after sitting behind Hendrickson in 2025.
Coach Taylor’s first freshman class has already left its mark on the 2025-26 squad. The hometown hero LaDarion “Dee” Lockett put the country on notice at 165 pounds. Other freshmen who have made an immediate impact are 157-pounder Landon Robideau, 141-pounder Sergio Vega and 133-pounder Ronnie Ramirez. Lockett, Robideau and Vega are all undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the country.
Last year’s highly touted freshman Cody Merrill has had a dominant start to his 2025-26 campaign, starting his season off 7-1 and ranked No. 7 in the country.
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
• Make OSU 53-4-1 against Nebraska.
• Make OSU 20-2 in Lincoln.
• Give OSU its seventh ranked win of the season.
• Make OSU 29-3 against ranked opponents since the 2023-24 season.
• Improve OSU’s record to 52-6 in its past 58 duals.
• Improve David Taylor‘s record against Nebraska to 2-0.
• Improve OSU to 10-1 on the road under David Taylor.
• Improve OSU to 21-2 in dual matches under David Taylor.
• Improve OSU to 17-2 against ranked opponents under David Taylor.
The Opening Act
David Taylor‘s opening season for the Cowboys brought the Cowboy faithful a new hope. Taylor’s Cowboys dominated the competition by going 13-1 in dual action, finishing the season unblemished at home in seven matches and winning 10 matches against ranked opponents, including Oregon State, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, NC State, West Virginia, Northern Iowa, Iowa State, Missouri and Little Rock in dual action. Taylor also led the Cowboys to a Big 12 title for the first time since 2021. On the biggest stage of collegiate wrestling, Oklahoma State had a pair of Cowboys, Wyatt Hendrickson and Dean Hamiti Jr., crowned national champions. It marked the first time since 2016 the Cowboys had multiple NCAA champions in the same season. Taylor’s Cowboys never left the top three in the rankings, climbing as high as two in the polls.
Hey Now, You’re an All-Star
On November 1, Zack Ryder and Casey Swiderski competed in the NWCA All-Star Classic. Casey Swiderski led off the night for the Cowboys by facing Michigan’s three- time All-American Lachlan McNeil. Swiderski controlled the match and nabbed the lone takedown of the bout to win, 4-2. The win vaulted Swiderski up to No. 2 in the poll at 149 pounds. Ryder dominated what was considered the match of the weekend, as he took down Maryland’s Jaxon Smith at 184 pounds. Ryder collected the only bonus-point win of the event with his major decision over Smith, 14-4. He took down Smith four times and did not allow a takedown. Smith, a three-time national qualifier, had only given up bonus points twice in his career – once to Carter Starocci and the other to Aaron Brooks, who have nine national titles between them. Ryder’s win turned heads around the country, and it was seen in the polls as he climbed to fourth at 184 pounds.
The Spark
The Cowboys have one of, if not the most, vaunted lead-off man in the country in Troy Spratley. Spratley, a returning NCAA finalist from last season now ranks seventh in the latest poll after his win on December 14 against No.
7 Jett Stickenberger. The 125-pounder is 5-2 on the young season. Spratley’s incredible season in 2024-25 included five wins over top-five opponents, gaining bonus points for the Cowboys in over half of his matches as the leadoff man.
Fab Freshmen
The freshmen on the OSU roster have been the story of the 2025-26 season. 141-pounder Sergio Vega, 157-pounder Landon Robideau and 165-pounder Dee Lockett are all 7-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country at their respective weight classes. Other true freshman Ronnie Ramirez is 6-1 with a Cougar Clash title in the 133-pound division. Other freshmen making an immediate impact are 184-pounder Zack Ryder
and 197-pounder Cody Merrill. Ryder started his season with an impressive win at the NWCA All-Star Classic. Ryder currently ranks No. 10 in the country with an 8-3 record, while Merrill holsters a 7-1 record on the year and is ranked No. 7.
New Kids On the Block
David Taylor took the recruiting world by storm, as he brought in the second-ranked recruiting class in the country entering his second season at the helm. The Cowboys led the nation with eight signees ranked inside FloWrestling’s Top 100 Big Board. The group is spearheaded by blue-chip prospects LaDarion “Dee” Lockett, Landon Robideau and Sergio Vega, who make up half of the top six overall spots. Of the 10 wrestlers in the class, six are in-state products while the others hail from Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Arizona and California. The full list includes Kruz Goff, Ishmael Guerrero, Beau Hickman, Austin Johnson, Lockett, Ronnie Ramirez, Robideau, Kody Routledge, Ethan Teague, and Vega.
The Douce(t) is loose
A familiar face for Cowboy fans, Konner Doucet is back in the lineup for the 2025 season after sitting behind Hodge Trophy winner Wyatt Hendrickson last season. Doucet started the season ranked ninth and has now climbed to seventh. The two-time NCAA qualifier is primed for a breakout season after going 1-0 in his only dual action against Air Force last season and collecting four wins at the Michigan State Open, where he took first.
Made for the Moment
True freshman Landon Robideau and Dee Lockett made their Cowboy debuts on November 7 against Stanford, both facing All-Americans in Daniel Cardenas and Hunter Garvin. Unafraid of the moment, Robideau picked up a major decision victory and Lockett used a gutsy second period ride out to pick up a 2-1 win. Other true freshman Sergio Vega was incredible in his debut as well, picking up a technical fall win. Of the Cowboys’ 33 points in last Friday’s opener, the true freshman accounted for 12 of them. The trio is now a combined 21-0 and all are ranked No. 2 in the country in their respective weight classes.
The Power of the Pivot
The Cowboys brought in transfers Richard Figueroa II, Casey Swiderski, Alex Facundo, Zack Ryder and Gary Steen to bolster the lineup this season, and if last year’s transfers are any indication of what they can do in David Taylor‘s program, the sky is the limit for those five. Last year’s transfers that started for the Cowboys were Caleb Fish, Cam Amine, Dean Hamiti Jr. and Wyatt Hendrickson. All four of them earned All-America status and two of them went on to win national titles.
Wrestling’s House of Horrors
No venue in America has a richer wrestling tradition than Gallagher-Iba Arena, home of the Oklahoma State wrestling program since 1939. In its beginning as Gallagher Hall, the gymnasium was named for Ed Gallagher, but when renovations were completed in January 1988, it was renamed Gallagher-Iba Arena to honor the late Mr. Henry P. Iba, Oklahoma State’s legendary basketball coach. Alongside 54 NCAA championship banners, Gallagher and Iba’s names have looked over Oklahoma State’s historic venue for nearly 40 years.
Since 1939, Oklahoma State has captured 25 NCAA team titles, completed 45 perfect campaigns at home and won over 90% of its duals inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. The building’s opening coincided with the longest home unbeaten streak in program history, as the Pokes won their first 37 duals inside GIA as part of a 67-dual unbeaten streak at home. That stretch still stands as the program’s longest home unbeaten streak, as OSU never suffered defeat from 1933 to February 1951.
Oklahoma State’s next-longest home unbeaten streak 1. occurred from the 1959 finale to the middle of the 1967 2. season, going undefeated for 57 duals in a row.
Not far 3. behind, the Cowboys won 51 consecutive duals inside
Gallagher-Iba Arena from 1986-1993, good for the third-longest such streak in program history. More recently, John Smith guided the Cowboys to a 26-dual home winning streak from 2018-2022. Not long after the streak was snapped, Oklahoma State defeated South Dakota State on February 4, 2022, for the program’s 500th victory inside the venue.
The Home of Wrestling
Oklahoma State is the gold standard in the college wrestling world. On the national level, the Cowboys have won 34 NCAA team titles, crowned 145 NCAA individual champions and earned 492 All-America honors. No other program comes close to those astounding numbers. It’s a similar story on the conference level, with OSU winning 56 team titles and Cowboy wrestlers combining for 297 individual championships.
From an individual perspective, any list of the greatest wrestlers in NCAA history must include Oklahoma State’s Yojiro Uetake, who was a perfect 57-0 with three NCAA titles, and Pat Smith, the first four-time NCAA champion in history. Pat’s older brother, John Smith, was a two-time NCAA champion for the Cowboys and went on to win six straight world gold medals from 1987-92. His OSU teammate, Kenny Monday, also won gold in 1988 and 1989 as part of his four world medals. That group is just part of Oklahoma State’s consistent representation on the Olympic stage every four years. Since 1924, 32 Oklahoma State wrestlers have fought their way to Olympic team membership a total of 41 times, with nine athletes winning 11 gold medals.
All told, 40 members of the Cowboy wrestling family have been inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, the most in the country.
NCAA Team Championships
- Oklahoma State 34
- Iowa 24
- Penn State 13
NCAA Individual Champions
- Oklahoma State 145
- Iowa 85
- Iowa State 71
NCAA All-Americans
- Oklahoma State 492
- Iowa 367
- Iowa State 310
Olympians
- Oklahoma State 41
- Iowa 23
- Oklahoma 22
Nebraska
Nebraska Lottery results: See winning numbers for Powerball, Pick 3 on Dec. 20, 2025
The Nebraska Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Lottery players in Nebraska can choose from popular national games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, which are available in the vast majority of states. Other games include Lotto America, Lucky For Life, Pick 3, Pick 5, MyDaY and 2 by 2.
Big lottery wins around the U.S. include a lucky lottery ticketholder in California who won a $1.27 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. See more big winners here. And if you do end up cashing a jackpot, here’s what experts say to do first.
Here’s a look at Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 20 drawing
04-05-28-52-69, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Dec. 20 drawing
05-08-19-23-43, Powerball: 06
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 20 drawing
1-9-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from Dec. 20 drawing
08-17-19-25-36
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from Dec. 20 drawing
Red Balls: 13-26, White Balls: 08-21
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 20 drawing
08-21-30-41-47, Lucky Ball: 15
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from Dec. 20 drawing
Month: 11, Day: 01, Year: 07
Check MyDay 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.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
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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