LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed into law Wednesday a measure banning transgender students from girls’ sports, making the state the latest to keep transgender athletes from competing on women’s and girls’ teams.

Pillen signed the law flanked by dozens of lawmakers, women athletes and other advocates — including former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, who has made a name for herself as a vocal advocate of banning transgender athletes from women’s sports.

The measure passed by the Nebraska Legislature last week broke a filibuster by a single vote cast along party lines. It was pared down from its initial form, which also sought to bar transgender students from using bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding with their gender identity.

Sponsors agreed to drop the bathroom and locker room ban when one Republican — Omaha Sen. Merv Riepe — declared he would vote against it otherwise.

The measure was first introduced in 2023 by then-freshman Sen. Kathleen Kauth, but failed to advance as lawmakers angrily argued over Kauth’s other bill that sought to bar gender-affirming care for transgender minors under the age of 19. An amended version that banned gender-affirming surgery — but not all gender-affirming care — for minors later passed and was enacted that year.

On Wednesday, Kauth promised to revive her bathroom and locker room ban next year, reiterating her rejection that people can determine their own gender.

“Men are men and women are women,” she said, and urged voters in Riepe’s district to pressure him to support it.

Republicans behind the sports ban say it protects women and girls and their ability to fairly compete in sports. Opponents say with so few transgender students seeking to participate in sports, the measure is a solution in search of a problem.

Fewer than 10 transgender students have participated in middle school and high school sports in the state over the past decade, according to the Nebraska School Activities Association.

At least 24 other states have adopted similar bans. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order this year intended to dictate which sports competitions transgender athletes can enter and has battled in court with Maine over that state’s allowing transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska denounced the measure.

ACLU Nebraska Executive Director Mindy Rush Chipman said the ban “slams the door shut” for some transgender students to fully participate in their school communities.

“This ban will only create problems, not solve any,” Rush Chipman said, adding that “the constant targeting of LGBTQ+ Nebraskans must stop.”

• Video shows three problem homes near the area of East and Alexander street in Valley.
• Neighbors say that decrepit properties near their homes have sat empty for years after being damaged by floods. They are hoping the problem homes could be turned into affordable housing.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

Its definitely not the sight you want to see first thing in the morning.

“I have my cup of coffee in the morning and I have to look out my front window at this every day and thats not good,” said Valley resident Donald Suster.

Across the street from Donald’s property are three decrepit homes.

After being damaged in the floods of 2019 they have sat empty, one is already condemned.

He told me he has asked the city and the mayor to do something to fix it but in the 6 years since the flood, little has been done.

Donald’s neighbor Steve Peoples said the eyesore doesn’t match up with his spiking property valuations.

“My house evaluation last year was $140,700. This year its 180,700. Just imagine what the valuation would be if these two or three houses weren’t here,” said Peoples.

Steve said he knows that offers have been made to purchase the properties but the owner isn’t interested in selling.

“They wont do it. They would rather pay the taxes and let them sit,” said Peoples.

Both Steve and Donald think the lots have the potential to be transformed into affordable housing, a big need in Valley.

Ryan Basye with On Deck housing, a non-profit who builds affordable homes in the metro area, has a separate development in Valley trying to meet that demand.

“We have three lots in Valley at this time under On Deck. That’s all we have going on right now but we are lined up to build three affordable homes out there,” said Basye.

I had a chance to speak with the mayor of Valley Cindy Grove who told me she couldn’t give specifics on these properties. But she did say these homes, along with every other nuisance property, have received notice from the city things need to be taken care of.

Donald hopes, those notices turn into something that could help Valley long term.

“I think it would be great. It would be great for the city and if they could do affordable housing that would be great,” said Suster.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – Tonight, Greater Nebraska is in for a stormy and wet evening, with showers and thunderstorms expected to intensify after 7 PM. Some of these storms may produce heavy rainfall, prompting a Flood Watch from 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Winds will shift from south to north, gusting up to 30 mph, making for a breezy and turbulent night. Temperatures will dip to a chilly 46°F by early morning.

Tuesday starts off damp with lingering showers likely before 11 AM. Skies will remain mostly cloudy throughout the day, and highs will struggle to reach the mid-60s. A gusty north wind will keep conditions feeling cooler, though skies will clear by Tuesday night, with lows falling to the low 40s.

Wednesday brings a brief reprieve: partly sunny skies and milder temperatures in the upper 60s, though unsettled weather returns Wednesday night with a chance of showers and thunderstorms.

The active weather continues through Thursday and into the weekend, with scattered thunderstorms likely during the day Thursday and possibly again Thursday night. Temperatures will hover in the 60s and 70s, with occasional breaks in the clouds.

Friday and Saturday look warmer, especially Saturday when highs could reach near 80°F, but storm chances linger each afternoon and evening, suggesting a typical early summer storm pattern. Sunday looks like the best day of the weekend, with mostly sunny skies and highs near 79°F.

The weather appears to settle briefly into early next week, with sunshine returning Monday and highs in the upper 70s. However, with so much recent rainfall, continue monitoring for localized flooding and be prepared for rapid weather changes throughout the week.

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