Nebraska

Nebraska abortion ballot measure passes in 2024 election

Published

1 year ago

November 6, 2024

Nebraska abortion ballot measure passes in 2024 election

Amid the 2024 election, a Nebraska abortion ballot measure passed on Tuesday that enshrines the state’s current ban on abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy in the state constitution.

What Was Abortion Access Like in Nebraska?

Nebraska was one of several other states voting on constitutional amendments to protect reproductive rights this election cycle, as abortion in the state is currently banned after 12 weeks of pregnancy. Last year, the state enacted a law prohibiting abortion starting at 12 weeks of pregnancy except in medical emergencies or when pregnancy results from sexual assault or incest.

Abortion has been a key issue amid this year’s election since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the summer of 2022, as many Republican-controlled states have put abortion restrictions into effect, with 21 states banning or restricting the medical practice at every stage of pregnancy.

However, most Democratic states have laws or executive orders in place to protect access. Voters in California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Vermont and Arizona have taken steps to adopt similar ballot measures, hoping to put the abortion issue directly before voters.

Abortion rights activists protest in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 24. Nebraska’s abortion ballot measure that prohibits abortions after the first trimester with some exceptions has passed on Tuesday.

Aashish Kiphayet

What Is Initiative 439 and Initiative 434?

There were two abortion-related ballot measures in which voters could either enshrine abortion access with Initiative 439 or open the door for further restrictions with Initiative 434.

Initiative 439 would allow abortions until fetal viability—usually around 20 to 24 weeks, or when needed to protect the life or health of a pregnant woman, without interference from the state. The amendment is similar to abortion-rights measures going before voters in other states.

Meanwhile, Initiative 434 would amend the state constitution to prohibit abortion in the second and third trimesters or after 12 weeks—with some exceptions. It is supported by Nebraska Right to Life, an anti-abortion rights group. While this measure would not cause major changes at the ground level, it might make it harder to challenge the state’s abortion law and could open the door for further restrictions.

By How Much Did the Abortion Measure Pass?

The abortion measure, Initiative 434, passed with 55.3 percent of voters for the measure with 496,626 votes, according to NBC News.

Initiative 439, which would have established a right to abortion until fetal viability failed, with 51.2 percent or 460,380 votes against the measure and only 48.8 percent or 439,136 votes for the measure.

According to the Nebraska Constitution, the winning measure with the most votes shall become law “as to all conflicting provisions.” State law says the governor shall proclaim which provision is paramount.

Since Initiative 434 passed, a court could determine that it conflicts with the abortion-rights measure only in the second and third trimesters, Brandon Johnson, an assistant law professor at the University of Nebraska, previously told the Associated Press.

That could create a scenario where abortion is elevated as a fundamental right during the first trimester but restricted in the second and third.

However, despite the passage of the measure, lawsuits could soon follow Tuesday’s decision as abortion rights continue to be a divided issue across the country.

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Nebraska

Nebraska Court of Appeals upholds conviction of Grand Island man in sexual assault case

Published

1 hour ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Nebraska Court of Appeals upholds conviction of Grand Island man in sexual assault case

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — The Nebraska Court of Appeals has affirmed the conviction and sentencing of a Grand Island man charged with sexually assaulting a minor.

Cory Gilmore was sentenced in June to 36 to 48 years in prison on two counts of first-degree sexual assault. Court records said he was initially charged with first-degree sexual assault of a child, first-degree sexual assault and third-degree sexual assault of a child, but pleaded no contest to the two sexual assault counts as part of a plea deal.

According to an arrest affidavit, a report of a possible sexual assault came into the child abuse hotline that Gilmore sexually assaulted a minor girl when he was intoxicated.

A Grand Island police officer later interviewed the girl – who is younger than 19 years old – who said she was sexually assaulted by Gilmore from early 2021 to December 2023.

In his appeal, Gilmore claimed the District Court abused its discretion by imposing an excessive sentence. He also claimed his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to take the deposition of the alleged victim and failing to move to withdraw Gilmore’s plea before sentencing.

In its ruling, the Court of Appeals denied Gilmore’s claim of ineffective trial counsel. In his appeal, Gilmore said that at sentencing, he notified his counsel that he wished to withdraw his no-contest plea as he didn’t want to plead guilty or to say he did something he didn’t do.

The Court of Appeals said that at no point did Gilmore inform the District Court that he wished to withdraw his plea and that the District Court asked him if he made his plea “knowingly and voluntarily.”

The Court of Appeals also said in its order that at Gilmore’s sentencing hearing, the District Court looked at Gilmore’s risk to reoffend, his criminal history and the fact that he “showed no remorse for the trauma he has inflicted” in imposing its sentencing. The Court of Appeals said this was appropriate and that his sentencing was not excessive.

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Nebraska

Nebraska collects $200k in child support from gambling winnings

Published

13 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Nebraska collects 0k in child support from gambling winnings

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has collected more than $200,000 from gambling winnings to go toward child support arrears just three months after implementing the program.

The Gambling Winnings Setoff for Outstanding Debt Act was approved through the passage of Legislative Bill 1317 and signed by Gov. Jim Pillen in 2024.

“This program ensures funds are being used to help support kids across Nebraska,” said Gov. Pillen. “Parents have an obligation to their children, and we’re guaranteeing their well-being by collecting these winnings.”

The collections began Sept. 2, 2025. The act requires gaming operators to withhold a portion of winnings from individuals who have an unpaid debt with the state and remit the funds to the Department of Revenue.

From there, the collected funds are distributed to various agencies, including DOR, Department of Labor, Department of Motor Vehicles, and DHHS.

Within the first 13 weeks, $529,091.47 was dispersed to these agencies, with DHHS receiving $215,852.98 for the Child Support Enforcement Program.

“By administering these dollars directly to families, the Child Support Enforcement Program is setting our state’s children up for success,” said Shannon Grotrian, director of the Office of Economic Assistance. “It’s making an immediate impact on their livelihoods and making sure they have what they need to grow and thrive.”

For more information on Nebraska’s Child Support Program, visit the DHHS website.

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Big Ten basketball power rankings: Look out for Nebraska

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Big Ten basketball power rankings: Look out for Nebraska

Another week of college basketball action saw significant movement in the Big Ten Conference. Out of nowhere, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are 11-0 to start the season and are quickly ascending the national rankings. They dominated the Wisconsin Badgers on Wednesday night, handing Greg Gard the most lopsided loss of his coaching career.

Along with Nebraska, Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State and UCLA are tied atop the conference standings at 2-0. That top group will likely remain consistent over the next few weeks before the Big Ten schedule intensifies in early January.

As we enter the final stretch of nonconference play, here is an updated snapshot of the full conference power rankings. Michigan remains the leader.

Updated Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings (Dec. 15)

Michigan Wolverines (10-0, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 1 in KenPom) — No change
Purdue Boilermakers (10-1, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 6 in KenPom) — No change
Michigan State Spartans (9-1, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 12 in KenPom) — No change
Illinois Fighting Illini (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 14 in KenPom) — No change
Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-0, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 21 in KenPom) — Up 6
Iowa Hawkeyes (9-2, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 20 in KenPom) — No change
USC Trojans (10-1, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 38 in KenPom) — No change
Indiana Hoosiers (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 26 in KenPom) — Up 2
Wisconsin Badgers (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 37 in KenPom) — Down 4
Ohio State Buckeyes (8-2, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 39 in KenPom) — Down 1
UCLA Bruins (7-3, 2-0 Big Ten; No. 31 in KenPom) — Down 3
Washington Huskies (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 48 in KenPom) — No change
Northwestern Wildcats (6-4, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 58 in KenPom) — Up 1
Oregon Ducks (5-5, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 84 in KenPom) — Up 3
Maryland Terrapins (6-5, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 100 in KenPom) — No change
Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-5, 1-1 Big Ten; No. 108 in KenPom) — No change
Penn State Nittany Lions (8-3, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 107 in KenPom) — Down 4
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-6, 0-2 Big Ten; No. 147 in KenPom) — No change

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