Nebraska
Lawmaker proposes new medication abortion requirements, documentation in Nebraska • Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — A pregnant woman seeking a medication abortion in Nebraska would be required under a new bill to attend an in-person appointment with her physician before receiving the drugs and a follow-up appointment after to document any “adverse events.”
Legislative Bill 512, by State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, has proposed the Chemical Abortion Safety Protocol Act. It would apply to any “abortion-inducing drug” that has the specific intent of terminating a pregnancy.
Other drugs, medications or substances that can be known to cause an abortion but are provided for other medical reasons, such as chemotherapy meds, would be excluded.
“The purpose of the bill [is] just to try and ensure we’re providing good health care for our women who are receiving abortions,” Holdcroft told reporters after introducing LB 512.
Some reproductive health doctors for Nebraska women said the proposed restrictions appear aimed at making it harder to get a medication abortion in the state.
New requirements and documentation
State law already prohibits telemedicine for receiving abortion medications, but Holdcroft said his goal is to prevent physicians from flying into Nebraska just to prescribe the drug, then leave.
LB 512 would add additional steps before a physician could give a woman an abortion-inducing drug in the state:
- Independently verify the woman is pregnant.
- Determine whether the woman has an ectopic pregnancy.
- Document the gestational age and location of the pregnancy.
- Determine the woman’s blood type and, if the woman is Rh negative, offer to administer Rh immunoglobulin to prevent Rh incompatibility, complications or miscarriage in future pregnancies.

The physician also would need to schedule an in-person follow-up visit with the woman who received the drug between three and 14 days after it is given. The physician would need to confirm the woman’s pregnancy is completely terminated and document any adverse events
An “adverse event” could include shock, heavy or prolonged bleeding, hemorrhage, aspiration or allergic response, infection, sepsis, pelvic inflammatory disease or missed ectopic pregnancy.
That report would need to be sent to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, similar to current reports for non-medication abortions in the state.
A woman who receives an attempted or successful medication abortion could not be held liable under the new law.
‘Effectively a total ban’
Dr. Elizabeth Constance, a reproductive endocrinologist in Omaha, said the bill doesn’t ban major drugs like mifepristone or misoprostol, the most common two-drug regimen for a medication abortion.
“But I do think it puts so many onerous and non-standard of care restrictions on their use that it will effectively be a total ban on medication abortions,” Constance said in a text. “Effective ban if not an outright one.”
Constance said the bill doesn’t explicitly include an exception for the targeted drugs to be used in miscarriage management, which they often are.
She said that could complicate access to care, including in emergencies, as the drugs are more highly regulated. That includes misoprostol, routinely used to treat postpartum hemorrhage.
Mifepristone is also used to treat endometriosis, fibroids or hyperglycemia associated with Cushing’s syndrome. Misoprostol can also be used to treat ulcers. Both medications can be used to induce labor.
Dr. Emily Patel, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Omaha, said other medications can be obtained without someone ever seeing a physician but are more dangerous, such as certain over-the-counter pain relievers or erectile-dysfunction meds that could be bought online.
Patel said the characterization that physicians are flown in to provide abortions is “overblown,” though some physicians do travel to provide general care, like she does to Hastings or Fremont.
‘Pretty slipshod operation’
Holdcroft said he didn’t know whether mifepristone could be used for other medical purposes but that his intent isn’t to ban medication abortions, just to tighten up the medical care.
He said if his bill needs amendments, he’s willing to look into any needed changes, but he thinks LB 512 has support for an issue that isn’t “that far a stretch.”
“I just want to make sure we’re providing safe procedures, and that’s not what we’re seeing,” Holdcroft said. “We’re seeing a pretty slipshod operation, in my opinion.”

Patel said the assumption patients aren’t receiving standard-of-practice care is “blatantly false.”
“It is not standard practice to have mandated follow ups,” Patel said in a text, “nor is it standard to have to report how we practice medicine to the state.”
LB 512 was among 96 legislative bills or constitutional amendments introduced Tuesday, including:
- LB 443, by State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Omaha, would outlaw “unlawful squatting,” defined as the intent to claim ownership of someone’s land or property by refusing to leave.
- LB 457, by State Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, would require school districts and licensed child care facilities to design policies to prevent and respond to serious allergic reactions — anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. It would also limit the cost that an insured individual must pay for a two-pack of medically necessary epinephrine injectors to up to $60, regardless of the type of brand.
- LB 463, by State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, would require school districts to develop a cardiac emergency response plan and place automated external defibrillators on school grounds. The bill would create up to $1.5 million in grants to fund the plans.
- LB 475, by State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, would classify tianeptine — known as “gas station heroin” — as a controlled substance in Nebraska. The drug had previously been used to treat depression in dozens of countries, and even though it is illegal to market or sell the drug, it is not on the list of federally controlled substances.
- LB 500, by State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha, would create a 21-member School Financing Review Commission for an in-depth review of how K-12 schools are funded in the state.
- LB 513, by State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, would increase the salaries of justices on the Nebraska Supreme Court by 4% each on July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026. They would rise from $225,055.35 currently to $243,419.87 next year.
- LB 523, by State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha, would create a stipend program for student teachers, who could apply for stipends at $4,000 per student-teaching semester. Most student teachers are not currently paid by their districts.
- Legislative Resolution 22CA, by State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, would enshrine a right to a clean and healthy natural environment and that political subdivisions serve as trustees of Nebraska’s natural resources in the Nebraska Constitution.
- LR 25CA, by State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, would amend the Nebraska Constitution so lawmakers are paid the state’s minimum wage, which will rise from $13.50 to $15 next year, before annual cost-of-living increases. Lawmakers would also receive health insurance. Senators currently receive a $12,000 salary, as set in the Constitution. The proposal does not set a floor or ceiling for how much lawmakers would be paid.
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Nebraska
Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection
LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.
On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.
During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.
After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.

Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.
Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.
According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.
“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”
Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.
“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.
“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.
Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.
“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.
Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.
“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”
Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.
“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”
Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.
“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.
Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.
“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.
“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.
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Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.
Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.
ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year
“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”
Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.
The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.
His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.
“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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