Nebraska
Nebraska legislature continues debate on unicameral rules
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – It may be a while before Nebraska lawmakers can start tackling bills. So far, the 2024 legislative session has been center on changing the way the unicameral operates.
This is the same legislature who changed the rules in the middle of last year’s session, trying to limit a filibuster from Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha.
Some of the rule changes would limit some of the tools in the toolbox for the minority party to slow down the debate.
Last year, Sen. Cavanaugh, who’s a Democrat, vowed to filibuster the entire session because she felt her colleagues, the Republican majority, were disrespecting Nebraskans and women over abortion access and healthcare for trans youth.
“You were harmful, you were cruel, and you were malicious” Sen. Cavanaugh said Thursday in regard to this latest proposed rule change. “So yeah, I want Mama Bear. I made a plan and executed the plan, and then after that, you all decided we can’t have that happen again.”
Republicans are close to a supermajority in the legislature. The speaker says his rule changes are about fine-tuning the changes from last session.
Opponents of the bigger rule changes say that in a one-chamber unicameral, it’s important to have these guardrails so the minority party has a voice and doesn’t get steamrolled by majority rule.
”One day, there’s going to be a bill that someone disagrees with and you’re going to slow it down, stop it, and not let it pass,” said Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha. “But if we make this change, it makes it much easier to pass. I’m not saying it will pas, but changing the rules makes it easier to pass.”
Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln told 6 News that overall, the rules debate has been thoughtful and productive thus far, and gives credit to speaker Sen. John Arch for guiding that.
Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said Thursday that he has asked President Donald Trump to issue a major disaster declaration for damage caused by storms that hit the state May 15-18.
The storms spawned tornadoes and flash flooding across Buffalo, Fillmore, Gage, Howard, Jefferson, Nemaha, Thayer and Thurston counties. There were numerous downed power poles and lines as well as extensive damage to schools, building and roadways. Damage just to public infrastructure is estimated at nearly $5 million.
In addition to the disaster declaration request, Pillen said he also has requested access to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides funding to governments to allow them to rebuild in ways that will reduce or mitigate future disaster losses. Approval would allow the state to apply for such grants.
Thursday’s disaster declaration request is the second in two months. Back in May, Pillen requested one for historic wildfires in March that impacted Arthur, Garden, Grant, Lincoln and Morill counties. At the time of the request, it was estimated there was at least $9.7 million in damage from the fires, which were the worst in Nebraska’s history.
Nebraska
Bandits back in the win column with tournament-opening victory in Nebraska – East Idaho News
OMAHA, Neb. – The Bandits opened the Omaha, Nebraska tournament with a 7-4 win over Fremont.
The Bandits, coming off two losses to Billings at last week’s Bandits Invitational, trailed 4-3 in the fifth, but tied it up on a sac fly by Cole Croft.
They scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth for the win.
Carter Bowen finished 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Conner Cannon and Taye Lords each knocked in two runs for Idaho Falls (10-2).
Tyson Christenson picked up the win with four innings of relief.
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LOWELL, Neb. (WOWT) – On this day in 1872, the boomtown of Lowell, Nebraska was named the seat of Kearney County.
The Nebraska State Historical Society says the Burlington and Missouri River Railroads chose it as a town site the year before.
For a short time, it became a major shipping point for central Nebraska.
Its status would be short-lived.
Later that year, the railroad expanded to Kearney, which became the center for regional trading.
Lowell’s land office was removed in 1874.
Four years later, the boom town was nothing more than a village.
MORE LOCAL HISTORY
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