Associated Press

Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) at Purdue Boilermakers (12-4, 4-1 Big Ten)

West Lafayette, Indiana; Sunday, 12 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Nebraska visits No. 20 Purdue after Brice Williams scored 28 points in Nebraska’s 97-87 overtime loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The Boilermakers are 8-0 on their home court. Purdue has an 11-4 record against teams over .500.

The Cornhuskers are 2-2 in Big Ten play. Nebraska scores 77.5 points and has outscored opponents by 10.8 points per game.

Purdue’s average of 8.4 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.7 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game Nebraska gives up. Nebraska scores 8.9 more points per game (77.5) than Purdue allows to opponents (68.6).

The Boilermakers and Cornhuskers face off Sunday for the first time in Big Ten play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Trey Kaufman-Renn is scoring 17.7 points per game with 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Boilermakers.

Williams is scoring 19.4 points per game with 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Cornhuskers.

LAST 10 GAMES: Boilermakers: 7-3, averaging 75.0 points, 29.9 rebounds, 16.5 assists, 6.2 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.1 points per game.

Cornhuskers: 8-2, averaging 77.9 points, 34.0 rebounds, 14.6 assists, 7.8 steals and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.6 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – Friday, Senator Kathleen Kauth introduced Legislative Bill 89, or Stand with Women Act.

Sen. Kauth was joined by Governor Jim Pillen and advocates for the bill which aims to impact all schools, colleges, and state agencies.

Its expands portions of the Women’s Bill of Rights passed by Gov. Pillen through Executive Order in 2023.

If passed, LB 89 would create a definition of the male and female genders. It would also require people to use the bathroom and locker rooms according to that definition.

“Honestly, my heart just mostly breaks for the trans community because I believe a lot of them resorted to that community was because people weren’t listening when they were crying,” said Nebraska volleyball player Rebekah Allick.

“People weren’t listening when they were asking for help and they were confused. The questions is not what God condemns us for but is when we make those active decisions to defy him.”

The bill would also create restrictions for participation in sports. Prohibiting trans men and women from playing sports alongside the gender they identify with.

LB 89 would also require sports teams to adhere to its definition of what a male and female are when adding athletes to their rosters.

“We see those opposed to allowing men into women sports locker rooms, restrooms, and prisons, we see the people opposed to it as the problem. So, my question is just in how this short amount of time, how have we gotten to this extreme?” said Nebraska softball player Jordyn Bahl.

“I believe that a big part of the answer to that is just extremism across the board. There’s been extreme demand but there is also been extreme consequences for saying no to insanity that has been pushed upon us.”

ACLU of Nebraska Policy Director Scout Richters says the bill is a further escalation from the Sports and Spaces Act which failed last year.

“It will impact trans Nebraskans, if enacted it will impact them at any touch point they have with a government agency or in using identification that doesn’t correspond with their gender identity,” said Richters. “So, each of those things are harmful and damaging and again invites harassment and violence and attempts to erase those identities.”

She says every Nebraskan deserves to be themselves and bills like that undermine it. Richters worries it could lead to further attacks and discrimination against the trans community.

”As a woman it is very upsetting to have your identity as a women used to discriminate against a group of Nebraskans,” said Richters. “There are many other efforts and bills that could be enacted to improve the lives of women. So, to deem this bill what they’ve called it is very insulting and upsetting.”

Richters plans to continue educating voters as the bill continues to evolves.

Sen. Kauth says she doesn’t have the 33 votes she needs right now but believes she can get them.

LGBTQ+ advocacy group OutNebraska issued a statement about the proposed bill.

“LB89 goes way beyond the defeated Sports and Spaces Ban and escalates the potential dangers to our community,” said Abbi Swatsworth, executive director of OutNebraska. “The best approach to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all, both transgender and non-transgender people alike, is not LB89.”

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George Norris charted a path for us with a vision of unity and fairness, but for the past 40 years, oligarchs and partisans have steered us astray, leaving us a nation divided.

As our forefathers warned, partisanship and money have poisoned our democracy. It’s time to reclaim Norris’ vision and re-embrace his philosophy.

John F. Kennedy, in a 1958 speech, lamented that biographers often focused on presidents and generals but should go “below the summit” and shine light on senators and party leaders who helped shape our history and heritage, but are largely forgotten. He specifically referenced George Norris.

The citizens of our country, and especially the citizens of Nebraska, often overlook what an extraordinary leader we were fortunate enough to have represent us. Norris served Nebraska in Congress and the Senate from 1903 to 1943.

A fierce independent, he dismantled the power of party bosses, most notably Speaker of the House Joe Cannon, who had been wielding near-dictatorial control over the U.S. House in the early 1900s. Norris’ actions helped create a more decentralized and democratic federal government.

As the architect of the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Norris shortened the “lame duck” period between elections, enhancing government efficiency and accountability. He also stood against war when it was deeply unpopular to do so. Norris was one of only six senators to vote against entering World War I, arguing that the war served corporate interests more than the cause of peace.

This courageous stance exemplified his willingness to stand alone for his principles, even when it was politically costly.

Norris is perhaps best known for his role in creating the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). These initiatives lifted poor and rural Americans from a near-medieval existence, ushering them into an electrified era that transformed their lives, work, and incomes. Norris took on powerful private utility interests to make these landmark achievements a reality.

Despite his legacy, Norris was a victim of political retribution. In the 1950s, 160 historians evaluated the greatest legislators in U.S. history, selecting five to be honored with permanent portraits in the U.S. Capitol.

Norris was ranked as the greatest senator, yet Nebraska’s Republican senators, Carl Curtis and Roman Hruska, blocked his inclusion due to his support for Franklin D. Roosevelt. This glaring injustice remains unaddressed, but there is hope it may someday be rectified.

Norris brought his philosophy of prioritizing the public good over party politics back to Nebraska when he championed the establishment of the state’s Unicameral Legislature in 1937. He argued that a single-house, nonpartisan Legislature would limit the influence of party politics while enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

He believed this system gave Nebraskans greater power and access to their representatives, driven by his conviction that the salvation of the state is in the watchfulness of the people.

Norris’ legacy is a powerful reminder of what it means to lead with courage and principle. He defied party lines, corporate interests, and popular opinion to champion democracy and the common good. Today, we see too few leaders fighting those same battles, nationally or within our state.

George Norris is not just a central figure in Nebraska’s history. He is a model of integrity and independence for the entire nation. His life and work deserve recognition and celebration. He exemplifies the profound impact one determined individual can have.

As we honor Norris this month, let us also follow his example and continue striving for a government that champions democracy, peace, and the common good. Now is the time to uphold his legacy and ensure our government remains by, of and for the people.

Wesley Dodge, an attorney with over 35 years of legal experience in Nebraska, serves on the Board of Directors for Common Cause Nebraska and Better Ballots Nebraska. He also heads a group called Represent Us Omaha. Dan Osborn is a Navy veteran, a former nonpartisan U.S. Senate candidate and a former labor union leader based in Omaha.