LINCOLN — Under a crime-fighting package pitched Thursday by Attorney General Mike Hilgers, Nebraskans scammed out of money or property might have another way to recoup some of their losses by freezing the assets of alleged fraudsters. State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln speaks on Dec. 6. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
Potential victims of sex trafficking or exploitation might have a clearer path to stop websites from profiting from posting their images or videos.
Local hemp growers would be regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture instead of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
And the sale of hemp-based delta-8, which often laces food items with THC, would be expressly outlawed.
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“All of these have to do with protecting vulnerable Nebraskans, and, in particular, giving our office more tools to protect those who are exploited by bad actors,” Hilgers said.
Three bills from three senators
Hilgers said the three-bill package would be introduced in the coming days by State Sens. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, Christy Armemndariz of Omaha and Teresa Ibach of Sumner. None of the bills had yet been assigned a number, nor were they made available for independent review on Thursday. State Sen. Christy Armendariz of Omaha listens to a colleague. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska News Service)
Bosn, a former Lancaster County prosecutor, said her bill would create a process for the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office to ask a judge to freeze the financial assets of someone charged with fraud or deceptive trade practices.
Today, she said, Nebraska courts can’t prevent a person or business from spending ill-gotten gains until after a civil case is concluded.
Bosn and Hilgers said the bill might help Nebraskans fighting disreputable online sellers of iPhones or other products who failed to deliver purchases.
“This lets us get a subpoena, get the information that shows that you have the accounts … and then take that information and say … we’re making a formal request with the court,” Bosn said.
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Armendariz proposes extending the state’s powers against trafficking online, nonconsensual sexual content beyond Nebraska’s borders. She said she wants to “take power away from traffickers and strengthen our ability to empower victims.”
Hilgers said some adult and child victims of sex assault and others who were recorded without consent struggle to get out-of-state internet content providers to stop sharing such images and videos.
Armendariz’s bill, which Hilgers said also would strengthen the state’s other protections against human trafficking online, would make it easier to stop the distribution.
Hemp changes
A third bill, being brought by Ibach, would shift responsibility for regulating hemp growers back to the federal government from the state. Ibach said she seeks the change because USDA is better equipped to oversee hemp growing, not because she wants to stop hemp from being grown. State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner speaks on the legislative floor on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
“Those that already produce hemp in the state, this will not inhibit their ability to do that if they’re successful hemp farmers already,” she said.
The other part of Ibach’s bill takes aim at delta-8, one of Hilgers’ top targets since the 2023 legislative session ended. He said the bill would clarify that products containing the hemp-based chemicals are illegal.
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Today, he said, there is some confusion about whether selling such products is legal, and many stores sell products that look like junk food which are laced with THC. He said his chief reason for outlawing delta-8 is to keep people safe from potential harm.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has acknowledged hearing concerns about delta-8 products the FDA hasn’t approved that are being sold in dispensaries and vape shops, and concerns about some potentially harmful synthetics used in processing them.
Some people have reported to the FDA instances of hallucinations, vomiting, anxiety and loss of consciousness after consuming some delta-8 THC products. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers holds a press conference on consumer protection action targeting “deceptive” labeling of delta-8 products. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
Local sellers of the items have defended themselves and their products from Hilgers’ accusations, saying that their products are safe and that what they sell is legal.
Ibach and Hilgers said they are not trying to restrict CBD-containing products that are legal under federal law. But Hilgers said he wants to get delta-8 THC products off store shelves in Nebraska. He said the law already prohibits selling the products but said it requires lawsuits to resolve.
“There are a lot of stores around the state, and … making sure that there is no uncertainty as to what the rules of the road are, I think, will help those retailers,” Hilgers said.
HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) – A warning to boaters operating impaired during the Fourth of July weekend – Nebraska conservation officers will be watching.
Operation Dry Water, a national heightened awareness and enforcement campaign focused on reducing the number of alcohol and drug-related incidents and deaths, will take place July 4 through the 6th.
For those days, Nebraska Game and Parks conservation officers will have an enhanced presence on waters across the state, targeting impaired boat operators. Their goal will be to raise awareness and to foster a stronger, more visible deterrent to alcohol and drug use on the water through enforcement.
The Fourth of July is a holiday known for increased boaters on the water where alcohol use is prevalent and a higher number of boating incidents and fatalities, according to Operation Dry Water.
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“A bad decision to drink while operating a boat can change a life – or several. That’s why we’re trying to keep the waters as safe as possible so families can enjoy the holiday,” Game and Parks Law Enforcement Administrator Jeff Clauson said. “Enjoy the water with family and friends safely – and responsibly.”
Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor to fatal boating incidents. Just like on land, alcohol use impairs judgment, balance, vision, reaction time and can increase fatigue. Sun, wind, noise, and motion – stressors coming during boating – also intensify the side effects of alcohol and drugs.
Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating incidents. Where the primary cause was known, it was listed as the leading factor in 16% of deaths according to U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics 2021.
Since the inception of Operation Dry Water in 2009, law enforcement officers have removed 6,869 BUI operators from the nation’s waterways and contacted more than 2.8 million boaters during the annual three-day weekend.
In Nebraska, it is unlawful to operate a motorboat with a blood alcohol level content of 0.08% or greater. Doing so constitutes BUI, which carries penalties such as vessel impoundment, fines, jail time and loss of boating privileges.
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In 2023, 488 local, state and federal agencies participated in Operation Dry Water. Over the three-day weekend, officers contacted 302,146 boaters, made 717 BUI arrests and issued 42,822 citations and warnings for safety violations.
Operation Dry Water is a joint program of Game and Parks, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the U.S. Coast Guard. Find more information on the national effort at OperationDryWater.org.
Other boat safety reminders
In addition to recreating responsibly, Game and Parks offers these boat safety reminders:
Have all required boating safety equipment on your vessel, including life jackets or U.S. Coast Guard-approved floatation devices, lights, a fire extinguisher, horn, bailing bucket and an orange flag if pulling skiers and tubers.
Children aged 12 and younger and anyone riding or operating a personal watercraft or being pulled on a towable must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
Anyone operating a motorboat or personal watercraft must be at least 14 years old.
Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1985, must complete a boater safety course, which can be taken at OutdoorNebraska.gov, search for “boater education.”
For more information on boating rules and requirements, read the 2024 Boating Guide at OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides-maps.
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The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman picked Nebraska as the Big Ten’s surprise team in 2024, in what will be a new-look conference.
The first year under Matt Rhule had its bumps and bruises, but the Huskers knew this could be the right way to rebuild the program. Rhule’s done it before at Temple and Baylor.
That’s why Feldman is confident in Year 2 with the pieces acquired in the portal and recruiting.
“Keep an eye on Nebraska,” Feldman said on The Herd. “You know, like Matt Rhule struggles in his first (year at a place) and then he gets it going. Dylan Raiola is super talented freshman quarterback. He’s a legacy kid. And when I say kid he does not look like a kid … He was committed to Georgia, was committed to Ohio State, ends up kind of going home where he has family ties at Nebraska. Very talented.”
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Raiola is the projected starter as a true freshman, although Rhule wants the competition to play out.
“Obviously, I’d like it before game week,” Rhule said. “What I don’t want to do is name someone the starter and then have second thoughts a couple weeks later. It’s like I tell guys in recruiting – take all your visits if you have to because when you commit to us, we want you here for four years, not just four weeks. It’s the same thing with this.
“We’ll let them play it out and let them show off all the work they did this summer and see where we are.”
The Nebraska quarterback competition is certainly one to watch, but Feldman pointed out a terrific defense that could surprise this fall. That’s led by the defensive line of Ty Robinson, Nash Hutmacher and Jimari Butler.
“The other thing that was big for them is, you know, Texas last year, people couldn’t run on them very well,” Feldman said. “They had two great defensive tackles. Nebraska actually has, potentially, the best interior defensive tackle combination in the country. I mean, they have two studs in the middle of the defense, they’re gonna be physical.
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“I don’t think they have a ton of firepower, but I think they’ll be much better, a bunch of games that’ll (be) close. I feel like they’re a team that has a chance to sneak into the top 25.”
There’s a collection of talent for Nebraska to steadily improve in 2024. Maybe the Huskers aren’t a big secret anymore.
One of Nebraska’s top targets in the class of 2025 has announced his commitment. Linebacker Dawson Merritt committed to Alabama over Nebraska on Wednesday afternoon.
Merritt plays for Blue Valley High School in Stilwell, Kansas. Last season, he recorded 83 tackles, 17 for loss, and seven sacks.
Prior to his commitment, he told Chad Simmons of On3 that he had a close relationship with the Nebraska coaching staff and had even heard from a Nebraska quarterback.
“My relationship with that whole staff is different. I’m close to a lot of guys on the defensive staff. Me and Dylan Raiola have had a recent connection.”
Nebraska’s class of 2025 currently holds 11 commitments and is ranked 34th in the nation and tenth in the Big Ten, according to recruiting service On3. Below are social media reactions to the commitment.
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Bama over Nebraska
2025 Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley four-star LB Dawson Merritt has announced his commitment to Alabama over Nebraska
Tough loss for the Huskers who fought valiantly against the Crimson Tidehttps://t.co/a32VnsEd87
