Nebraska
Nebraska retracts 287% spirits tax hike plan – The Spirits Business
A proposed spirits tax increase of 287% in Nebraska will not go ahead after more than 1,500 letters were sent to lawmakers.
Nebraska governor Jim Pillen was considering providing property tax relief by increasing excise taxes on a list of 100 everyday goods and services, including a triple-digit hike on spirits.
Pillen was planning to raise the current excise tax rate for spirits from US$3.75 per gallon to US$14.50 per gallon.
However, the tax increase is no longer being considered following a grassroots activation by trade group the Distilled Spirits Council of the US (Discus) and coordination with local distillers and wholesale partners.
More than 1,500 letters were sent to legislators through Discus’ Spirits United campaign, which called on consumers and industry members to write to their senator to oppose the tax increases.
“Defeating this tax threat is a huge win for consumers, distillers and the hospitality industry,” said Adam Smith, vice president of state government relations at Discus.
“We’ve seen in other states how high taxes send consumers across the border as they search for better prices. However well-intentioned, this hospitality tax would have harmed local businesses and Nebraska consumers. We are grateful to the legislature for removing this increase from consideration.”
If the tax hike had proceeded, Discus said approximately 1,350 people would lose their jobs because of a more than US$110 million decline in retail alcohol sales, based on analysis by the trade body.
Furthermore, the new rate would have established Nebraska as the second-highest spirits tax rate among licensed US states.
The state already pays a high rate of tax on spirits. On a typical bottle purchased in the state, more than 44% of the retail cost already goes to pay a tax or fee of some kind.
Related news
Nebraska considers 287% spirits tax hike
Spirits tax hinders Australia’s global potential
On-trade spirits sales in Australia drop 7.7%
Nebraska
How Nebraska men’s basketball’s historic start to the season could end its NCAA tournament drought
Skip to main content
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Britt Prince scored 20 points and Jessica Petrie added 17 for No. 25 Nebraska in a 78-73 win over Indiana on Thursday night.
Prince, who buried her 700th career point in the fourth quarter, scored 15 of her points in the second half after holding off a late surge from the Hoosiers (11-6, 0-5 Big 10) in the third quarter. Logan Nissley added 11 points.
Indiana went on a 14-1 run in the third to take the lead from Nebraska (14-2, 3-2) for the first time since the beginning of the game, leading briefly at 51-49. Indiana took a 1-point lead with 5:32 to play, but Nebraska scored 16 points over the final 6:14.
Shay Ciezki scored 31 points on 13-of-21 shooting for Indiana, her fourth time this season scoring more than 30 points. Zania Socka-Nguemen added 19 points and 11 rebounds. Maya Makalusky had 12 points. The Hoosiers shot 51% as a team from the field compared to Nebraska’s 42%, but have dropped their fourth straight game.
Up next
Indiana: Hosts No. 14 Iowa on Sunday.
Nebraska: Hosts No. 4 UCLA on Sunday.
___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
Nebraska
33 Nebraska senators urge Board of Regents to delay vote on $800M acquisition of Nebraska Medicine
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Thirty-two Nebraska state senators joined Sen. Brad von Gillern’s letter calling on the Nebraska Board of Regents to delay a vote on the proposed $800 million acquisition of Nebraska Medicine.
The letter, dated Thursday and bearing a total of 33 signatures from state senators, shared concerns about the proposed acquisition, including the lack of transparency to the public and the Legislature.
According to the letter, the regents’ Jan. 9 meeting agenda item summary indicates that the Board has “negotiated the final agreement over a series of meetings in the past 18 months”.
The regents will consider a proposal in which Clarkson Regional Health Services would give up its 50% membership in Nebraska Medicine. The deal would give full control of the health system to the University of Nebraska.
However, the letter said the public and Legislature have had little time to understand the proposal, its impact and any financial implications of the transaction.
“The University of Nebraska and Nebraska Medicine are two institutions of tremendous significance to our state, and any major changes to the existing structures must be carefully considered,” the letter stated.
Senators are asking the Board to delay the vote to “ensure all viable alternatives have been considered and until all stakeholders understand the impact of the proposal for the state” and the two institutions.
The Board of Regents meeting, previously set for Friday, will now be held Thursday, Jan. 15 at 9 a.m.
Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Police to address Princeton death during child sexual abuse material investigation
Protests continue in the Triangle over ICE actions after Minnesota shooting incident
Mississippi lawmakers aim to raise funding cap for hospitals
Missouri Secretary of State admits to misleading ballot language for gerrymander referendum
Montana pediatrician group pushes back against CDC vaccine changes
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
AOC accuses Vance of believing ‘American people should be assassinated in the street’
Mercosur: How Macron’s domestic weakness undercut his Brussels clout
National Park Service will void passes with stickers over Trump’s face
Trump plans to meet with Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado next week
Trump says meeting Iran’s ‘Crown Prince’ Pahlavi would not be appropriate
-
Detroit, MI6 days ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology3 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX4 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Health5 days agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Iowa3 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Nebraska3 days agoOregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska
-
Nebraska3 days agoNebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek
-
Oklahoma1 day agoNeighbors sift debris, help each other after suspected Purcell tornado