LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The northern lights made an appearance Thursday night across much of Nebraska.

Channel 8 viewers and users of the NOW Local News App started sending in photos of the spectacle about 9:30 p.m.

There are dozens of submissions from Lincoln, Seward and beyond.

Many people flocked to Branched Oak Observatory near Raymond for an aurora borealis watch party.

The Channel 8 tower camera also captured the lights:

LINCOLN — Thirty-nine of Nebraska’s 49 state senators have signed an informal resolution affirming their support for the Israeli people and condemning Hamas terrorists one year after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Thirty-nine senators signed a similar resolution a year ago. State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn circulated both letters This year’s resolution urges members of Nebraska’s federal delegation to do all they can to support the Israeli people. It also calls on Nebraska law enforcement to protect Israeli Americans and supporters of Israel from all acts of crime, anti-semitism and unlawful discrimination.

“These Senators feel that it is important to speak out against the atrocities happening against the Israeli people and let Nebraskans know that their elected officials stand with those defending innocent life,” a statement from von Gillern’s office states.

State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha signed the 2023 resolution but not the latest statement.

Fredrickson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He last tweeted about Israel, Palestine or Gaza on Oct. 10, 2023, when he said “the deadly, unprovoked attacks on Israel can only be described in one word: Horrific.” 

He urged Nebraskans at the time to support organizations on the ground.

“To the many who are suffering, we are here for you. We see you. And we stand with you,” Fredrickson said on X, formerly Twitter, on Oct. 10, 2023.

Von Gillern told the Nebraska Examiner he was unable to reach Fredrickson before putting out the resolution.

“I have no reason to believe that his thoughts have changed, we were just simply unable to get a hold of him in time for his signature,” von Gillern said. “We’ll be happy to add his signature when we are able to get in touch with him.”

State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, who did not sign either resolution, has regularly criticized the Israeli government for “unforgivable crimes against humanity.” She has called for a permanent ceasefire, bringing home all hostages, an arms embargo to Israel and Palestinian freedom.

“It gets sicker every day,” Hunt tweeted Sept. 10. “I do not understand those who can witness what we are seeing and be silent.”

The resolution calls out the “terrorist infrastructure” of hiding among civilian population centers to use civilians and Palestinians “as human shields.”

The cosigners write they recognize Israel’s rights to act decisively and unilaterally in self-defense and “pursue without interference or condemnation” the elimination and permanent neutralization of Hamas.

“The undersigned hereby convey our most heartfelt condolences to all innocent victims as well as their families and communities,” the senators wrote.

State Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul, appointed to the Legislature in November, signed this year’s letter. Former State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion signed the letter in October before being appointed state treasurer.

Gov. Jim Pillen has also spoken out for Israel, recognizing a “Day of Observance” on the anniversary of the attacks this week.

Other senators who signed both letters were: Ray Aguilar, Joni Albrecht, John Arch, Christy Armendariz, Beau Ballard, Carolyn Bosn, Eliot Bostar, Bruce Bostelman, Tom Brandt, Tom Brewer, Robert Clements, Danielle Conrad, Jen Day, Myron Dorn, Barry DeKay, Robert Dover, Steve Erdman, John Fredrickson, Steve Halloran, Ben Hansen, Brian Hardin, Rick Holdcroft, Jana Hughes, Teresa Ibach, Mike Jacobson, Kathleen Kauth, Lou Ann Linehan, Loren Lippincott, John Lowe, Mike McDonnell, Mike Moser, Dave Murman, Merv Riepe, Rita Sanders, Julie Slama, Tony Vargas, Lynne Walz and Anna Wishart.

Other senators who did not sign were: Carol Blood, John Cavanaugh, Machaela Cavanaugh, Wendy DeBoer, George Dungan, Terrell McKinney, Jane Raybould and Justin Wayne.

The long shot candidate is challenging Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) in a Trump-dominated state for a seat that has become more competitive but still favors the second-term GOP incumbent. There is no Democratic candidate.

The United Association of Steamfitters and Plumbers Local 464 is hosting a Saturday rally for Osborn that includes United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, but the event has been tainted in controversy after members were told five days in advance that attendance at the union hall was “mandatory” and that absent members would face repercussions.

A steamfitters union instructor informed the chapter’s several hundred apprentices by email Monday that they were “required” to be at the union hall Saturday at the same time as the Osborn rally, according to emails obtained by the Washington Examiner. The message made no mention of the political event.

“You all are needed! This Saturday, October 12, you are all required to be at the hall at 11 am,” the email said. “If you are not present it will be counted as an unexcused absence. You will be required to do 2 Saturday Make ups if absent. This Saturday is MANDATORY ATTENDACE.”

A longtime union member, who was granted anonymity out of fear of retribution from union leaders against him and other members, accused steamfitters union leaders of orchestrating a political event akin to a “phantom gun” to avoid scrutiny and that apprentices feared speaking out.

“If it looks like a duck, it’s a duck,” the union member told the Washington Examiner. “If you look at the time that they’re to meet, and then they say, ‘Oh, it’s just a coincidence they’re having this rally and we’re invited, so let’s go.’”

Osborn was a former steamfitter apprentice at the same union chapter before launching his Senate bid.

“They really support Osborn. I’m okay with it,” the union member continued. “But there’s moral ethics, and when you force people to do something, where’s the free-will choice?”

Fischer and other Republicans have dubbed Osborn a “Democrat in sheep’s clothing,” an unrelenting moniker that he’s tried to distance himself from publicly by disassociating with Democrats and far-left figures, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). Privately, he’s continued to praise Sanders. Fain’s support has played into the GOP narrative, as he also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and vehemently opposed former President Donald Trump.

It was unclear whether the original mandatory rally could have run afoul of labor laws or the union’s own bylaws, but legal experts described it as an eyebrow-raising scenario due to warnings of consequences.

After the Washington Examiner reached out to the union, the same individual who sent the mandatory notice sent a follow-up email informing apprentices that their attendance would no longer be required but was still encouraged.

“Due to a conflict with other events that were recently scheduled at the hall, the mandatory JATC Saturday event will be cancelled,” the email said. “You are still encouraged to bring your families to the events that are taking place at the hall this weekend.”

Brett DaHart, the union business manager, said the initial requirement was the result of a rogue apprentice instructor and a “complete miscommunication” over other unrelated events set to occur at the union hall around the same time as the Osborn rally.

“I communicated with him and asked him to reach out to get as many people as we could to attend this event,” DaHart said in a phone interview. “He, in turn, not even having the authority or knowing what he was doing, sent out an email that it was mandatory to come. That is absolutely not the case. He had two things misconstrued on what was going on, and I will take responsibility for it because I must not have explained myself well enough.”

DaHart reiterated that members would not face repercussions and that such a threat should not have been conveyed. He said a health fair for retirees will be held indoors while the Osborn rally will take place outside in the parking lot as an entirely separate and voluntary event.

“I did ask him to ask some of the kids to come and represent because Dan is one of our members, but it was never going to be a mandatory thing to come to that event,” DaHart said of the rally.

The Osborn campaign said it was unaware of the saga and that steamfitter union leaders also informed them it was a mistake.

Fischer Campaign Manager Derek Oden said in a statement to the Washington Examiner that there was “no excuse to force [Osborn’s] own former union members to work for his campaign against their will. We encourage him to follow the law and respect those steamfitters who choose not to support him.”

Labor union legal experts suggested the union originally operated in a grey territory of the law.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“I’ve never seen a union try to level penalties against a member for not going to a political rally,” said attorney David Pryzbylski, who represents employers in union matters for Barnes & Thornburg. “I don’t know that that would be a violation of the National Labor Relations Act, but certainly, I think that could be viewed the wrong way by some people.”

Georgia State University College of Law professor Daniel Bowling said it would be one thing to invite a candidate to a union meeting to discuss political matters but that mandating a rally “would be very problematic legally, and certainly if they threatened people with punishment for not attending.”