Nebraska
Nebraska experiences déjà vu during ongoing battle over school choice
Wyoming’s smallest schools aim to meet kids where they’re at
Educators say smaller schools and class sizes allows for individualized education, and for kids to teach each other across grade levels.
LINCOLN – On a warm Monday evening, volunteers in a church parking lot passed large clipboards to drivers of minivans and pickup trucks, all part of a petition drive. Their objective: block a new measure that would introduce private school vouchers in the state. However, this campaign stirred a sense of déjà vu among Nebraskans. It marked the second ballot initiative within a year by the group Support Our Schools, a public school advocacy organization, following the state Legislature’s recent override of their initial effort.
As the national debate around school vouchers plays out across the country, the Cornhusker State is in a heated tug-of-war between school choice supporters and public school advocates over the passage of the Opportunity Scholarship Act in 2023. The Act allocates $25 million from state coffers to tax credits for private school scholarship donations.
“If it gets on the ballot, you can vote whatever way you want. It’s just signing it to give the people a voice that belongs in public schools,” Nebraska State Educators Association President and Support Our Schools sponsor Jenni Benson said. “If you get public funds, you have to be accountable just the same way any other public entity would be if you’re giving them to a private school.”
If the current referendum is successful, it will end both the tax credit and the state appropriation of private school scholarship funds.
While some argue the law was a workaround for the initiative, state Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, a sponsor of both bills, said this year’s law was crafted with the public’s response to the initial tax credit in mind.
“They said it was too much money, so we addressed both those things,” Linehan said. “We took it from 25 million to 10 with no escalator, and it’s no longer a tax credit. That’s what they said the problem was. … we listened, and we adjusted to what they said was problematic.”
She added that the state is already adequately funding public schools, pointing to a $1 billion funding boost for public education approved by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen last year, raising special education funding to 80%.
The debate plays out in Nebraska
Currently, 29 states and DC operate some form of school voucher system. While some states have more expansive programs than others, Nebraska’s is one of the newest. It was previously one of two states, including North Dakota, that didn’t offer some form of public funding for private school tuition.
In the days leading up to the Opportunity Scholarship application deadline for the next academic year, approximately 2,000 students had submitted applications, according to Lauren Gage, the Director of Marketing and Outreach at Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska. The program gives priority to students from low-income families, those who have experienced bullying, children of military personnel, foster care students, and those with an Individualized Education Program.
“The core of this program is to help give more kids a chance who are struggling to get their needs met in the school that they’re zoned for,” Gage said. “A lot of families in Nebraska do have school choice because they’re able to afford it. But for those families that are more disadvantaged, more low-income, that’s who this program is really targeting to help.”
While supporters argue that private school voucher programs help underprivileged kids access better resources and educational opportunities, opponents say they deprive public schools of funding.
Between collecting signatures in the church parking lot, June Pederson, a volunteer and League of Women Voters member, brought up a point that many against private school vouchers highlight. She finds putting public funding towards private school scholarships troubling because these are less accountable for discriminating against LGBTQ+ students and staff.
“If you want your child to have education other than a public school, wonderful, but don’t ask me to pay for it,” Pederson said. “Particularly if they have the option to say, ‘as a teacher, we heard you’re gay, and we don’t want you here,’ or ‘you have to follow our rules regarding abortion.’ We don’t do that in public schools.”
This story has been updated with new information
LINCOLN, NE — Ole Miss baseball will have to wait until May 31 to finish its second game of the Lincoln Regional.
The game between Ole Miss (37-20) and Nebraska (43-15) will resume May 31 at noon. TV information has not been announced. The game went in a weather delay at 10:20 p.m. before the ninth inning on May 30 because of rain and lightning.
No. 2 Rebels are leading No. 1 Nebraska 6-3. It’s a winner’s bracket game in the Lincoln Regional at Haymarket Park.
Ole Miss has taken control of the game after entering the sixth inning down 1-0. Starting pitcher Taylor Rabe pitched six innings and gave up one run.
Owen Paino had a two-run double in a three-run sixth for the Rebels. Ole Miss scored two runs on bases-loaded walks in the seventh.
The other two games on May 31 remain in their originally scheduled timeslots. If Ole Miss wins, the Rebels will face the winner of Nebraska and Arizona State on May 31 at 7 p.m. The Cornhuskers and Sun Devils play an elimination game at 2 p.m. to get to the night game.
If Ole Miss wins that game, the Rebels will move on to a super regional against the winner of the Auburn Regional. If Ole Miss loses, the Rebels will play in an if-necessary game against the same team on June 1 to decide who wins the regional.
Lincoln Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA Tournament
Friday, May 29
Game 1: Nebraska 4, South Dakota State 1
Game 2: Ole Miss 7, Arizona State 6
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Arizona State 17, South Dakota State 0
Game 4: Nebraska vs Ole Miss, suspended ninth inning
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Arizona State vs Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. CT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs Game 5 winner, 7 p.m. CT
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs Game 6 loser, if necessary
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
Jordy Frahm and the Nebraska Cornhuskers face Jocelyn Briski and the Alabama Crimson Tide in an NCAA softball Women’s College World Series winners’ bracket game Saturday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
The Cornhuskers (51-6) beat Arkansas 5-3 in 10 innings on Thursday, while the Crimson Tide (54-7) beat UCLA 6-3 in its WCWS opener.
Here’s how to watch the Cornhuskers-Crimson Tide game today, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:
What time is the Alabama vs Nebraska softball Women’s College World Series game on TV?
- Date: Saturday, May 30
- Time: 6 p.m. CT
The Alabama Crimson Tide and Nebraska Cornhuskers will play in a 2026 Women’s College World Series winners’ bracket game on Saturday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
What channel is the Nebraska softball vs Alabama WCWS game on? Where to watch Cornhuskers-Crimson Tide
When is the Women’s College World Series? What is the 2026 WCWS schedule?
The 2026 Women’s College World Series gets under way with four games at Devon Park in OKC on Thursday, May 28.
Here’s the full schedule for the 2026 Women’s College World Series at Devon Park in Oklahoma City:
All times Central
Thursday, May 28
Friday, May 29
Saturday, May 30
Sunday, May 31
- Game 9: Texas vs. Game 8 loser, 2 p.m., ABC (Fubo)
- Game 10: UCLA vs. Game 7 loser, 6 p.m., ESPN2 (Fubo)
Monday, June 1
- Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 11 a.m., ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 12 (if necessary): Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 1:30 p.m., ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 13: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 6 p.m., ESPN2 (Fubo)
- Game 14 (if necessary): Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 8:30 p.m., ESPN2 (Fubo)
Tuesday, June 2
Wednesday, June 3
- WCWS finals Game 1: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., ESPN (Fubo)
Thursday, June 4
- WCWS finals Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., ESPN (Fubo)
Friday, June 5 (if necessary)
- WCWS finals Game 3: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m., ESPN (Fubo)
Nebraska
What channel is Ole Miss baseball vs Nebraska on today? Time, TV schedule to watch NCAA regional game
Ole Miss baseball continues on in the winner’s bracket of the NCAA Lincoln Regional with a game against host Nebraska on May 30.
The Rebels (37-21) outlasted Arizona State 7-6 in 14 innings on May 30 after a Brayden Randle walk-off RBI single.
Nebraska (43-15) pulled away late in a 4-1 win over South Dakota State to open regional play on May 30.
The winner will play in the regional final on May 31, with two games to win one. The loser will play in the first game on May 31 against the South Dakota State-Arizona State winner.
Here’s how you can watch Ole Miss baseball vs. Nebraska:
Ole Miss baseball vs Nebraska on May 30 in Lincoln, Nebraska will be televised on ESPNU. Karl Ravech and Kyle Peterson will call the game in Lincoln.
- Game date: Saturday, May 30
- Start time: Approximately 7 p.m.
Friday, May 29
- Game 1: Nebraska vs. South Dakota State, 3 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 2: Ole Miss vs. Arizona State, 8 p.m. on ESPN2
Saturday, May 30
- Game 3: South Dakota State vs. Arizona State, 2 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 4: Nebraska vs. Ole Miss, approx. 7 p.m. on ESPNU
Sunday, May 31
- Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. on TBD
- Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, approx. 7 p.m. on TBD
Monday, June 1
- Game 7: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner (if necessary), Time and TV TBD
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