LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers will have at least a few bills to consider this year as they work to fix, replace or even eliminate the Good Life Transformational Projects Act, which the state aimed at creating unique, tourist magnet destinations.
One measure, introduced Wednesday by State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, appears to provide another shot for Rod Yates’ mega sports-themed vision surrounding his Nebraska Crossing shopping center in Gretna. State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln. July 25, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
Yates this month moved to terminate his good life district application that had been approved by the state early last year. He did so after reaching an impasse with the City of Gretna, which rejected Yates’ demands as too risky for taxpayers, legally and financially.
Ballard’s Legislative Bill 637, which he named the Destination Nebraska Act, reads much like the original Good Life Act. It does not name Yates, but appears tailored to his ideas. The proposal would give power to an approved district applicant to issue bonds. It would grant the district power and authority similar to an independent village, much like the economic development zones that Walt Disney World uses in central Florida.
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No more than two such destination districts could be formed under LB 637, and the price tag of each would have to surpass $3 billion, create jobs and build new-to-market venues and retail that would draw at least 10 million visitors a year to a site spanning up to 5,000 acres.
Details still evolving
Another bill introduced Wednesday, the final day to submit proposed 2025 legislation, is what sponsoring State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Omaha called a shell bill – one that lawmakers can use to amend later with a new proposal or pieces of different ones. Legislative Bill 707’s details will be firmed up as the session continues.
Von Gillern, chair of the Revenue Committee, said aspects of the original good life legislation approved in 2023 and revised in 2024 must be fixed. But he and others are still trying to figure out the best way forward, he said.
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State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue. July 31, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
Tuesday, State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue introduced Legislative Bill 510 as a “placeholder” to revise aspects of the good life legislation. He said that measure was looking out for the needs of Gretna taxpayers.
Holdcroft said much has changed over the past few weeks regarding the Gretna district, and he expects the language of LB 510 to change substantially.
Among its elements, currently, is language prohibiting a city or village from using eminent domain to acquire property within a good life district for the purpose of giving or selling such property to a private individual or corporation.
That was just one of the sticking points between Gretna and Yates, as Gretna representatives said Yates’ demands would have had them use eminent domain if private property owners did not want to sell, something the city balked at. They said Yates owns just a slice of the approved 2,000-acre district.
Pillen budget in play, too
Also in play with regard to the good life districts is Gov. Jim Pillen’s proposed budget, which suggested taking back the annual $5 million in state incentives that the Legislature and governor set aside to help fund development in the good life districts.
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Holdcroft and von Gillern said they would like to preserve the good life districts in some way. They expect a unified bill to come forward as lawmakers grapple over the issues. State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Omaha. Aug. 8, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
Ending the good life incentive at this point, as is suggested by Pillen’s budget, would put other approved districts — in the cities of Grand Island, Omaha and Bellevue — in a bind and perhaps open the state to legal problems, Holdroft said. Those cities are farther along in their planning and processes than Gretna.
The good life legislation, as approved in 2023 and updated the next year, called for the state sales tax within the districts to be cut in half from 5.5% to 2.75%. The idea was for the difference to be recaptured and used to help finance new “transformational” economic developments within the project sites.
But the incentive, particularly as it applied to Gretna, has been controversial.
“I think they will continue,” Holdcroft said. “What we do with the Gretna district is still up in the air.”
Radio: Sunday’s game will be carried on the Huskers Radio Network with Kent Pavelka and Jake Muhleisen on the call, including KLIN (1400 AM) in Lincoln, KXSP (590 AM) in Omaha and KRVN (880 AM) in Lexington. The pregame show begins an hour before tipoff and will also be available on Huskers.com and the Huskers app.
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TV/Online: Sunday’s game will be on BTN with Kevin Kugler and Stephen Bardo on the call. It will also be available online on the Fox Sports app.
Jarek’s Pre-tipoff Thoughts: Ok, eventually Nebraska has to win a game in the conference again, right? This will be a big game for Connor Essegian, the former Badger who gets to play against his old team at his old home. The rest of the Huskers will have to match his intensity levels, as it is a different breed of animal to face a former team. If, and it’s a big if, they can do that, Nebraska just might have a chance. Nebraska’s last road game, which was Maryland, was a much better performance on the road than any other this season. Hopefully that momentum continues. Having said all of that, I just don’t see Nebraska winning, making the Conference losing streak 6 games. Prediction: Wisconsin 91 Nebraska 76.
Women’s Basketball
The style of play used by the Buckeyes – a full court press and pressure defense has flustered the Huskers in their most recent matchups. The Buckeyes try to take their opponent out of the game early and has an offense that comes at you from every position on the floor.
Can the Huskers stay composed and handle the early punches from the Buckeyes? Will they be in position to pull off one of their patented fourth quarter surges?
RV/25 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. 12/12 Ohio State Buckeyes Sunday, January 26, 2025, 2 p.m. (CT) Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, Nebraska Special Event: Pack PBA Giveaway: ”For Three” Roller Banners (500) Live TV: B1G+ Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (1:30 p.m.)Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)Lincoln (107.3 FM), Huskers.com, Huskers App Live Stats: Huskers.com (statbroadcast – public)
Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-7, 2-6 Big Ten) at Wisconsin Badgers (15-4, 5-3 Big Ten)
Madison, Wisconsin; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Badgers -7.5; over/under is 151.5
BOTTOM LINE: No. 18 Wisconsin faces Nebraska after John Tonje scored 24 points in Wisconsin’s 85-83 loss to the UCLA Bruins.
The Badgers are 10-1 on their home court. Wisconsin is sixth in the Big Ten scoring 82.5 points while shooting 47.1% from the field.
The Cornhuskers have gone 2-6 against Big Ten opponents. Nebraska is 0-3 in one-possession games.
Wisconsin makes 47.1% of its shots from the field this season, which is 5.7 percentage points higher than Nebraska has allowed to its opponents (41.4%). Nebraska averages 5.3 more points per game (76.4) than Wisconsin gives up (71.1).
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The Badgers and Cornhuskers match up Sunday for the first time in conference play this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Max Klesmit is averaging 10.4 points for the Badgers. John Blackwell is averaging 17.7 points over the last 10 games.
Brice Williams is scoring 18.5 points per game with 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Cornhuskers. Juwan Gary is averaging 13.9 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 42.5% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Badgers: 7-3, averaging 82.1 points, 31.6 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 4.5 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.0 points per game.
Cornhuskers: 5-5, averaging 73.2 points, 32.6 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 7.1 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.4 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Wisconsin will look to bounce back after failing to sweep its games out west with a home game on Sunday afternoon against a spiraling Nebraska squad.
The Badgers have asserted themselves as one of the best teams in the Big Ten this season, and with that comes taking care of business against the likes of a bottom feeding team in the conference like the Cornhuskers.
Can Wisconsin return home and win in a big way?
Let’s find out below.
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Moneyline
Total: 151.5 (Over -105/Under -115)
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Nebraska
Brice Williams: The veteran forward has struggled to shoot in Big Ten play, down to 32% after flirting with 40% shooting from behind the three-point line in non conference play. While he is a consistent scorer, it hasn’t been as efficient which has coincided with the Cornhuskers overall Big Ten struggles.
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Wisconsin
John Tonje: One of the best newcomers to any team in the country, Tonje responded to his quiet effort against USC last weekend in which he scored zero points to pour in 24 points on six three-point makes against one of the best defenses in the nation in UCLA. While it was a loss, Tonje is the straw that stirs the drink for the Badgers high octane offense.
Nebraska has struggled on both sides of the floor in Big Ten play, and I don’t see it getting better in this matchup against Wisconsin.
The Cornhuskers compact defense yields the three-point shot, allowing opponents to post a near-49% three-point rate this season that ranks in the top 10 in the country. However, this plays right into the hands of Wisconsin, a fantastic three-point shooting team (85th in the country) on a top 40 rate in the nation.
With the ability to run its preferred offense, the Badgers should dictate the terms of this one while also contending nicely on the defensive side of the floor. The Cornhuskers’ three-point shooting is limited and is reliant on getting to the rim, but that’s tough to come by on the Badgers, who rank top 80 in the country in average shot proximity, per Haslametrics.
Nebraska has been competitive despite being mired in a five game Big Ten losing streak, losing its last three games by five points or less, but the matchup edges side with Wisconsin that I can’t look past laying it with the home team.
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PICK: Wisconsin -7.5
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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