Nebraska
Nebraska Considers State Zoning to Increase Housing Density
Nebraska lawmakers are considering state zoning for duplexes and accessory dwelling units as a solution for the state’s housing challenges, reports Unicameral Update, a daily news source produced by the state legislature’s information office. “On January 30, the legislature’s Urban Affairs Committee heard testimony on two measures intended to increase housing density in Nebraska cities,” the article states.
The proposed legislation would help address the need for an estimated 200,000 housing units to meet demand by ensuring local zoning regulations do not limit the types of housing that can be built, according to the bills’ sponsor, Nebraska State Sen. John Lowe.
Under LB1165, duplex housing would be allowed as a permitted use on a lot where a single-family residence is a permitted use in metropolitan, primary, and first class cities. It would also prohibit zoning regulations that apply to duplexes from being more restrictive than regulations that apply to single-family residences.
Under LB1166, municipalities would be required to adopt zoning regulations that allow at least one accessory dwelling unit on a lot or parcel that contains a single-family residence. It also stipulates that ADUs be allowed by right — meaning they can be approved without a public hearing or conditional use permit — and prohibits other actions like parking requirements, aesthetic requirements, or impact fees that could discourage the development of ADUs.
Representatives from developers, homebuilder associations, chambers of commerce, and AARP Nebraska testified in support of the bill. Opponents of the proposal said cities with populations of more than 20,000 are already working to address housing issues and that by preempting local control, the proposed state mandates would be both unworkable in some neighborhoods and disenfranchising.
Instead, Wayne Mortensen of NeighborWorks Lincoln proposed, “the state could create sample design and zoning guidelines that cities could adopt, allow cities to exempt certain neighborhoods from the proposed requirements or incentivize them to adopt zoning changes by tying them to state funding.”
Todd Stubbendieck of AARP Nebraska, a proponent of the bills, expressed concern in his testimony that “a piecemeal approach to housing zoning reform, specifically regarding ADUs, will simply take too long and leave too many communities behind.”
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska baseball team lost to Kansas 9-7 on Tuesday in front of a record crowd at Hoglund Park. The Huskers took an early lead on an RBI single by National Freshman of the Week Drew Grego. After giving up three unanswered runs, Nebraska rallied to go back in front on a 3rd-inning single by Will Jesske. Both Grego and Jesske finished with two hits in the game.
Kansas, however, took control in the middle innings. The Jayhawks got home runs from Tyson Owens and Josh Dykoff in the sixth frame. Both round-trippers came off NU relief pitcher Ty Horn. Kansas added insurance in the 7th inning before a late rally by the Huskers.
Nebraska trimmed a five-run deficit to two, but couldn’t complete the comeback on the road.
The Huskers’ loss is their second to the Jayhawks this season. Nebraska’s record drops to 31-10 overall.
Will Bolt’s team returns to action on Friday at Illinois. Game one is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Champaign.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Softball
April 21, 2026
Nebraska jumps up to No. 2 in college softball Power 10 rankings
April 21, 2026
Check out Michella Chester’s updated college softball Power 10 rankings for the week of April 21, which sees Nebraska rise to No. 2 behind an 11-game win streak.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A deeper look tonight as First Alert 6 continues to dig deeper into the state of mental health care in Nebraska and possible solutions, ever since last week’s two instances involving law enforcement.
A Douglas County sheriff’s deputy was shot responding to a domestic call. Investigators said the suspect, Brian Huggins, had a history of behavioral health issues. Huggins died by suicide.
And then Noemi Guzman, who police say kidnapped a 3-year-old from inside an Omaha Walmart and cut him in the arm and face with a stolen kitchen knife. Omaha police officers shot and killed her before she could strike again.
Guzman had been on a court-ordered mental health treatment plan since last summer for her schizophrenia. According to court records, psychiatrists determined she could live in the community. Remember, this was after she was arrested for setting her father’s house on fire and threatening a priest with a knife.
Monitoring system
We wanted to know who is part of the system monitoring those who may not be following their mental health treatment plan and are a risk to others or themselves. When that happens, the Board of Mental Health will often notify the local sheriff so a warrant can be issued and deputies can track the individual down.
Here are the numbers since 2023:
In 2023, 842 warrants were issued for those not following their treatment plans according to the Board of Mental Health. In 2024, 756. In 2025, 690. So far in 2026, 190.
But out of these 2,500 warrants, 85% of them didn’t have a second warrant, meaning deputies picked them up, got them back into treatment and the individuals continued to thrive after the one hiccup.
But in 15% of these cases, the individuals messed up again and had another warrant issued by the Board of Mental Health. Twenty-five individuals had five or more issued in Douglas County.
Sheriff Hanson said there has to be a better way, a more team approach for this.
One model to explore is the way Nebraska’s problem-solving courts work like drug court and veterans’ treatment court where experts from a variety of stakeholders help individuals who are on the fringes to do everything to make them productive citizens.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
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