Nebraska
Nebraska senator invokes colleague's name while reading rape scene during debate
LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner) — A Nebraska legislative debate about keeping obscenity out of K-12 schools ended abruptly Monday night after a lawmaker, while reading a book passage about an explicit rape scene, invoked a colleague’s name.
State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings, during debate on Legislative Bill 441, warned state senators and those watching the livestream of legislative proceedings that he would be quoting from the hearing testimony on the bill.
LB 441, the priority bill of State Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, seeks to crack down on obscenity and pornography in K-12 schools.
One person testifying at the March 24, 2023, hearing on LB 441 read passages from a book titled “Lucky,” by Alice Sebold, which includes a graphic description of a rape Sebold survived in college.
While reading the testimony, Halloran inserted the name “Senator Cavanaugh” at the end of some sentences about the sexual assault.
He didn’t specify which Cavanaugh. (Both Machaela Cavanaugh and her brother John serve in the Legislature.)
At least two of Halloran’s colleagues publicly called for him to resign.
During about four hours of debate, Halloran and others alluded repeatedly to the hearing transcript. Halloran was the first to read directly from it.
“We talked about, ‘My kids haven’t experienced this in my school,’” Halloran said. “Doesn’t matter. If it’s just one school that experiences this, (it’s) one too many.”
The lawmaker also invoked State Sen. George Dungan’s name after reading the passage.
He called out Dungan, of Lincoln, and Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, both attorneys, for questioning the legality of LB 441 but not proposing solutions.
“Don’t throw it away — fix it,” Halloran said. “It’s a problem.”
Much of Monday’s debate featured supporters saying that LB 441 would fix a loophole that they say prevents prosecution if a school official provides obscenity to minors.
Opponents said that is already illegal under state law, and school officials do not have immunity from prosecution.
After Halloran read from “Lucky,” Sen. John Cavanaugh said the Hastings senator “missed the point.”
“Yes, life is gross and very unpleasant,” he said. “But that is what life is, and people who experience that want to know they’re not alone.”
Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh told Halloran that his speech was harassment.
She said that while she and Albrecht disagreed about the bill, Albrecht remained professional during debate. Halloran did not, she said.
“That was so out of line and unnecessary and disgusting to say my name over and over again like that,” Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh said.
“You don’t know anything about anyone else’s life, and I can tell you that women in this body have been subjected to sexual violence,” she continued. “I didn’t know you were capable of such cruelty. That was so unbecoming of you and unbecoming of this body, and I hope that some other people who are Republicans will stand up and defend me.”
Albrecht and a handful of other lawmakers had left the floor when Halloran was reading the passage.
Albrecht said afterward she was “mortified” if Cavanaugh’s name was invoked.
“I don’t want to listen to this, but deep down inside, this is what’s happening,” Albrecht said. “… I will be the first to stand up and say I’m sorry — I’m sorry that we even have to read anything like this.”
Halloran, in an email to a Nebraska teacher Monday evening, wrote, “If you would have listened closely, I was addressing her lawyer brother … John!”
In another email shared online and with the Examiner, Halloran described the passage as a “‘how to rape’ lesson given to young people” and said his only regret is that liberals are not upset that “Lucky” is in school libraries.
Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh said on social media that Halloran’s explanation that he was referring to her brother was “dismissive” and ignores that men can also be sexually assaulted.
Colleagues from both sides of the aisle in the officially nonpartisan Legislature condemned Halloran.
State Sens. Megan Hunt of Omaha, a progressive, and Julie Slama of Dunbar, a conservative, both called for him to resign.
“Disgusting,” Slama wrote on X. “No context makes this appropriate.”
Speaker John Arch of La Vista, on a motion from Hunt, agreed to adjourn one hour early Monday evening.
The debate is scheduled to pick up Tuesday afternoon after lawmakers finish second-round debate on the state budget.
“There’s times when we just have to step back from the debate, and I think this is one of those times,” Arch said.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska women’s basketball team lost its fourth straight game on Thursday. The Huskers fell to unranked Minnesota, 84-67, at Williams Arena.
Nebraska fell behind early and never claimed the lead, despite a late-game surge. Amiah Hargrove’s 3-pointer in the fourth quarter pulled the Big Red within six points, but NU got no closer as the homestanding Golden Gophers finished strong. Minnesota ended the game on a 13-2 run.
Britt Prince scored a team-high 15 points for Nebraska. Hargrove, Jessica Petrie, and Logan Nissley also scored in double figures for the Huskers.
Nebraska’s record drops to 16-9 (5-9 Big Ten). The Huskers return to action on Monday against Iowa.
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.
LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – On Thursday, the Nebraska Secretary of State is expected to release the state’s voter registration list to the Department of Justice.
On Sept 8. 2025, the DOJ sent a letter to Secretary of State Bob Evnen’s office requesting personal information on voters such as addresses, driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.
Common Cause Nebraska filed a lawsuit to stop the request, asking the Lancaster County District Court to find that the DOJ request violates Nebraska law protecting data privacy, according to the Nebraska Examiner.
The court is not ordering the release to stop, but the Nebraska Supreme Court has decided it would take up the case.
The DOJ states it needs to make sure voter registration records are accurate and secure.
—
Watch breaking news unfold on our livestream. Download the First Alert 6 streaming app to your TV or find us in your favorite streaming platform.
Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska
Minnesota Returns to The Barn to Host Nebraska Thursday – University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota (18-6, 9-4 Big Ten) vs. Nebraska (16-8, 5-8 Big Ten)
TV: Big Ten Network (Jack Kizer, Shimmy Miler)
Tip Time: 7 p.m. CT
Radio: KFAN+ 96.7 FM, and the iHeartRadio app (Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist)
Location: Williams Arena
STARTING FIVE
- The Golden Gophers return to Williams Arena on Thursday after picking up Big Ten road wins over No. 10 Iowa on Thursday and Rutgers on Sunday.
- Minnesota extended its win streak to six following Sunday’s 63-52 win over the Scarlet Knights. It’s the team’s longest win streak overall since opening the 2024-25 season with 10 consecutive victories. In addition, it’s tied for the Gophers’ second longest win streak within the Big Ten. They last won six in a row during the 2018-19 campaign, while the only longer streak was 11 games from Feb. of 2003 to January of 2004.
- After struggling offensively in the first half against the Scarlet Knights, the Gophers bounced back in the second half. An 8-0 run by Mara Braun, who ended the game with 12 points, in the third quarter was the turning point. Sophie Hart secured her second double-double of the season with a team-leading 17 points and 10 rebounds. Tori McKinney had 16 points, marking the 15th time she’s hit double figures this season.
- The Rutgers win improved the Maroon and Gold’s record to 18-6 overall and 9-4 in Big Ten play. It marks the best 13-game start in conference play since the 2017-18 season when the team also started 9-4. That season was also the last time Minnesota made the NCAA Tournament.
- Against Iowa, Minnesota was 10-of-14 on 3-pointers, setting a program record by shooting 71.4% from 3-point range and breaking a mark that had stood since 2015.
NEBRASKA SERIES HISTORY
- Nebraska leads the all-time record, 18-14, in a series that began in 1977.
- The Maroon and Gold lead at Williams Arena, 10-3.
- The Huskers have a two-game winning streak over Minnesota. Last season, The Gophers traveled to Lincoln and lost 84-65.
WHERE THEY RANK
- Minnesota is ranked No. 9 in the NET and is one of 10 Big Ten teams in the top 25. The Maroon and Gold’s NET ranking is the third highest in the Big Ten, only behind No. 2 UCLA and No. 6 Michigan.
- While not ranked in either top 25 poll, Minnesota was the first team out of the AP Poll and WBCA USA Today Coaches poll, receiving 42 and 39 votes, respectively.
- The Gophers lead the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game, averaging 10.1. The next closest Big Ten team is Illinois at 12.4 turnovers per contest.
- Minnesota’s 1.64 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks third nationally and second in the Big Ten, only behind No. 2 UConn (1.88) and No. 3 UCLA (1.72).
- The Maroon and Gold’s defense allows only 55.9 points per game, ranking them 18th in the nation he NCAA and first in the conference.
- Minnesota leads the Big Ten and is third in the NCAA with 11 games this season holding opponents to 50 points or fewer. The only teams with more such games are Connecticut (13) and Fairleigh Dickinson, while UCLA (8) is the next closest Big Ten school.
DOWN GOES No. 10
- The Maroon and Gold are coming off a 91-85 upset of No. 10 Iowa on Thursday night. The win marked Minnesota’s second victory over an AP Top 25 opponent this season, its first outright win over a top-10 team since a 93-74 victory over No. 10 Maryland at Williams Arena in 2018 and its first top-10 road win since 2003, when the Gophers defeated No. 9 Stanford 68-56 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
- It was also Minnesota’s first regular-season top-10 road win since beating No. 5 Wisconsin 92-85 in 2002.
- Minnesota snapped an 11-game losing streak against Iowa, earning its first win over the Hawkeyes since a 90-89 victory in the 2018 Big Ten Tournament.
THE ORIGINAL G-MONEY
- This season, Grace Grocholski leads Minnesota with 316 points and averages 13.2 points per game.
- The guard-forward is shooting 49.8% from the field, 46.3 from 3-point range and 82.3% from the free throw line.
- The North Prairie, Wis., native has 205 career made 3-pointers, ranking No. 8 all time in Minnesota program history.
- Grocholski is ranked No. 7 in the nation and third in the Big Ten in 3-point percentage.
- Grocholski ranks second on the Gophers’ roster with 65 assists.
- Against No. 7 Maryland on Dec. 7, Grocholski knocked down a career-high nine 3-pointers on her way to a career-best 31 points, tying for the second-most 3-pointers made in a single game in program history.
BATTLE TIME
- Amaya Battle is the only active NCAA player (playing from 2022-present) with more than 1,000 career points, 600 career rebounds and 500 career assists.
- Battle’s career totals stand at 1,404 points, 707 rebounds and 573 assists.
- Along with Battle, Rachel Banham is the only other Golden Gopher to record at least 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, and 500 assists in a career.
- Battle ranks third all-time in career assists in Minnesota’s record book. She is six away from surpassing Lindsay Whalen (578) for second all-time.
McKINNEY MAGIC
- In the Maroon and Gold’s last five games, Tori McKinney has averaged a team-leading 17.6 points per game and has tallied nine steals during that stretch.
- McKinney recorded back-to-back 20-point games, scoring 23 points against Penn State on Jan. 28after posting 20 against Wisconsin on Jan. 25.
- It marked the first time a Gopher scored 20 or more points in consecutive games since Mara Braun did so against Purdue (21 on Dec. 10, 2023) and Grambling (26 on Dec. 13, 2023).
- Against the Nittany Lions, McKinney set a career high threes made in a game, going 5-of-7.
MINNESOTA MARA
- In Minnesota’s last five games, Mara Braun has been a spark on offense averaging 13 points per game.
- She led the Gophers and scored a season high 22 points at Penn State on Jan. 28.
- At Iowa, she had 16 points and went 4-of-4 from the 3-point line.
Second US aircraft carrier is being sent to the Middle East, AP source says, as Iran tensions high
Beloved sandcastle artist booted from California beach by luxury hotel after nearly 20 years
Early missteps, delayed search plane response emerge in Savannah Guthrie’s mother disappearance
Rep. Steve Cohen tells Pam Bondi that ‘worst of the worst’ are native-born Americans, not immigrants
AI raises the stakes for national security. Here’s how to get it right
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
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Second US aircraft carrier is being sent to the Middle East, AP source says, as Iran tensions high
Tim Walz demands federal government ‘pay for what they broke’ after Homan announces Minnesota drawdown
Leaders embrace two-speed Europe as Macron sets June deadline
What the data tells us about kidnapped people — and how Nancy Guthrie is an outlier
House Republican Greg Steube introduces bill to nix controversial H-1B visa program
-
Politics1 week agoWhite House says murder rate plummeted to lowest level since 1900 under Trump administration
-
Alabama6 days agoGeneva’s Kiera Howell, 16, auditions for ‘American Idol’ season 24
-
Politics1 week agoTrump unveils new rendering of sprawling White House ballroom project
-
San Francisco, CA1 week agoExclusive | Super Bowl 2026: Guide to the hottest events, concerts and parties happening in San Francisco
-
Ohio1 week agoOhio town launching treasure hunt for $10K worth of gold, jewelry
-
Culture1 week agoAnnotating the Judge’s Decision in the Case of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-Year-Old Detained by ICE
-
Culture1 week agoIs Emily Brontë’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ Actually the Greatest Love Story of All Time?
-
News1 week agoThe Long Goodbye: A California Couple Self-Deports to Mexico