HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) – The annual Nebraska Bigfoot Conference returned to Grand Island on Friday with plenty of people from all over the country there to see the newest developments on the cryptid.

The conference featured plenty of keynote speakers sharing the latest in the science behind Bigfoot as well as some of the most recent sightings.

Most people at the event said they had seen the creature before, and many expressed how friendly he was to them.

“When you ask them, they speak English,” said Robin Haynes, an observer who helped organize the conference. “When you ask them, they will tell you exactly that they are part human so you have your different mood swings, their different types of people. Primarily they’re good. When they love, they love at a much higher level than we do. They are just incredible.”

The conference lasts through Saturday. More information can be found here.

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If Nebraska Republicans revise their state’s method of awarding presidential electors to help Donald Trump in November, Maine might match the change to boost President Joe Biden’s reelection prospects.

Maureen Terry Submitted photo

Nebraska’s governor, Jim Pillen, has said he’s open to calling a special legislative session to push through the change, but only if he’s sure it will pass. It isn’t clear whether the idea has enough support.

But Democrats are concerned.

“If Nebraska’s Republican Governor and Republican-controlled Legislature were to change their electoral system this late in the cycle in order to unfairly award Donald Trump an additional electoral vote, I think the Maine Legislature would be compelled to act in order to restore fairness to our country’s electoral system,” state House Majority Leader Maureen Terry, a Gorham Democrat, said in a prepared statement Friday.

Currently, both states award two electoral votes to whichever presidential candidate wins the statewide tally and then allocate one for each congressional district, awarded to the contender who wins that district.

In practical terms, Maine typically votes for the Democratic presidential hopeful while Nebraska votes for the GOP’s nominee. But each state has one congressional district that the majority can’t count on.

In Nebraska in 2020, Biden got one electoral vote while Trump picked up one in Maine by winning its 2nd Congressional District.

Nebraska’s Republican leadership is pushing for the state to change its system this year to give all of its electoral votes to the statewide winner, the way it’s done in 48 states.

Maine, the only other state with a process like Nebraska’s, has awarded electoral votes by congressional district since 1972. Not until 2016, when Trump first won the 2nd District, had the winners in each district been different in the Pine Tree State.

Maine hasn’t had any serious effort to revise its longstanding system despite Democratic control of the governorship and Legislature since the 2018 election.

But Nebraska is still weighing whether to rush through a revision this year to give Trump an extra electoral vote, which could make the difference in some Election Day scenarios.

Terry said that Nebraska should not try it.

“Voters in Maine and voters in Maine’s 2nd congressional district value their independence, but they also value fairness and playing by the rules,” Terry said.

“It is my hope and the hope of my colleagues in Maine that the Nebraska Republican Party decides not to make this desperate and ill-fated attempt to sway the 2024 election.”

Maine has agreed to award its four electoral votes to the nationwide popular vote winner if enough other states also agree to do so. So far, the national compact does not have enough backing to take effect.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Nebraska softball will play its final home games of the season this weekend when the Huskers host Northwestern for a three-game series on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Bowlin Stadium.

Tickets for each game of the series can be purchased at huskers.com/softball, by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED or at the Bowlin Stadium ticket office beginning one hour prior to first pitch. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets prior to game day. Tickets purchased on the day of the game cost $2 more than tickets purchased in advance.

Fans should also be advised that effective immediately, re-entry is no longer permitted at Bowlin Stadium. Fans who enter the stadium and leave will not be allowed to re-enter.

On Saturday, the Haymarket Park parking lots will also be used for football parking and the lots will be cashiered until 11 a.m. Any fan with a Saturday softball ticket can park for free by showing a parking attendant their softball ticket.

Saturday will also feature a post-game jersey retirement ceremony for Husker great Taylor Edwards. On Sunday, eight Nebraska seniors will be recognized following the game.

Fans unable to make it out to Bowlin Stadium can watch all three games on Big Ten+, with subscriptions starting at $9.99 a month. A free radio broadcast of the three games – and every game this season – will be available on Huskers.com or the official Huskers app.

Scouting Northwestern (29-9, 15-2 Big Ten)

Northwestern enters the weekend series at Nebraska with a 29-9 overall record, with the Wildcats boasting the top winning percentage (.763) in the conference. Northwestern is atop the Big Ten standings with a 15-2 record in conference play as the Wildcats seek their third consecutive Big Ten regular-season title.

Nebraska and Northwestern share three common opponents this season in Illinois, Michigan and UCLA. The Huskers posted a 2-4 record against that trio while the Wildcats went 5-1.

Northwestern bats .280 as a team while averaging 5.7 runs per game. The Wildcats rank 15th nationally and lead the Big Ten with an average of 1.4 home runs per game and are 23rd in the country with a .403 on-base percentage. Defensively, Northwestern boasts a 2.11 ERA and a .969 fielding percentage while allowing only 2.6 runs per game. The Wildcats lead the Big Ten and rank 15th nationally in ERA.

The Wildcats have outscored their opponents 109-39 in their first 17 Big Ten Conference games, winning by an average of more than four runs per game. Northwestern has also hit 34 home runs in its 17 conference games while allowing only five home runs.

• Kansas Robinson leads Northwestern with a .422 batting average, 49 hits, 10 doubles, 10 homers, 33 RBIs, an .802 slugging percentage and a .524 on-base percentage. Robinson ranks second in the Big Ten in average and on-base percentage and is third in slugging percentage and walks per game (0.7).
• Kelsey Nader is second on the team with a .358 average, 43 hits, 28 runs and seven doubles.
• Angela Zedak is the Wildcats’ third .300 hitter as she boasts a .322 average. Zedak leads Northwestern with 30 runs scored and has added seven doubles, five homers and 24 RBIs.
• Bridget Donahey has drawn a team-high 30 walks and leads the Big Ten and ranks 19th nationally with an average of 0.8 walks per game. Donahey has added eight home runs to complement a .282 batting average.
• In the circle, Ashley Miller has statistically been the Big Ten’s best pitcher. The reigning two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Week, Miller is 16-4 on the season with a 1.14 ERA in 135.2 innings. She has thrown more than 55 percent of Northwestern’s total innings while appearing in 27 games with 18 starts. Miller has thrown five shutouts among her 15 complete games and has added four saves. Opponents are hitting just .161 against her, and Miller has struck out 155 batters while averaging eight strikeouts per seven innings.
• Miller ranks 11th nationally in fewest hits allowed per seven innings (4.0), 12th in ERA, 24th in shutouts and 25th in strikeouts. On the conference level, Miller leads the Big Ten in ERA, opponent batting average and is tied for the league lead in saves.
• Riley Grudzielanek has seen the most time behind Miller, appearing in 13 games with nine starts and posting a 6-1 record with a 3.40 ERA in 45.1 innings.
• Cami Henry is 3-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 34.2 innings with two saves in 12 appearances and eight starts.
• Renae Cunningham rounds out the Northwestern staff. Cunningham is 4-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 30.0 innings. She has added one shutout and two saves over 12 appearances and three starts.
• Kate Drohan is in her 23rd season at Northwestern where she owns a 774-422-1 record. Northwestern softball’s all-time wins leader, Drohan has won four Big Ten titles with the Wildcats while advancing to 15 NCAA Tournaments and three Women’s College World Series.

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