Nebraska

Nebraska Supreme Court restores LB 20 and lets people with felony pasts register to vote • Nebraska Examiner

Published

1 year ago

October 16, 2024

Nebraska Supreme Court restores LB 20 and lets people with felony pasts register to vote • Nebraska Examiner

OMAHA — The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen was wrong to stop registering voters under a new state law eliminating the two-year wait for people who have served a sentence for a felony conviction.

The court did not decide the constitutional question raised by Evnen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers — which branch of state government has the authority to set the timing of when people who have served a sentence for a felony conviction can vote.

Judges of the Nebraska Supreme Court (and when they were appointed), front row from left: Lindsey Miller-Lerman (1998), Chief Justice Michael Heavican (2006), William Cassel (2012). Back row, from left: Jonathan Papik (2018), Stephanie Stacy (2015), Jeffrey Funke (2016) and John Freudenberg (2018). (Courtesy of the court)

Evnen and Hilgers, in an advisory legal opinion that Evnen cited in deciding to ignore Legislative Bill 20, argued that only the executive branch’s Pardons Board that they and Gov. Jim Pillen serve on can constitutionally restore a person’s civil rights.

Lawyers from ACLU Nebraska, arguing on behalf of Civic Nebraska and two Nebraskans prepared to register to vote, argued that the Legislature has case law and past practice on its side in setting the timing of when someone can legally vote.

One of them is Gregory Spung of Omaha, a plaintiff in the case, who plans to register as a nonpartisan voter. He had registered online before Evnen’s decision and retracted it after Evnen’s decision. He said in a statement that he was “ecstatic.”

For so long, I was uncertain if my voice would truly count under this law. Today’s decision reaffirms the fundamental principle that every vote matters.

– Gregory Spung, plaintiff

“For so long, I was uncertain if my voice would truly count under this law,” Spung said. “Today’s decision reaffirms the fundamental principle that every vote matters. It’s a victory not just for me, but for thousands of Nebraskans.”

The other plaintiff, Jeremy Jonak of Wood River, who plans to register as a Republican, said the decision lifted “a weight off my shoulders” and that of other Nebraskans who had been waiting. He said people had earned a second chance.

“The truth is most of us are just trying to live our lives and leave the past behind us,” Jonak said. “Thanks to this decision, we get to have a say as part of our communities.”

Neither Evnen nor Hilgers had an immediate comment Wednesday. An Evnen spokeswoman said a press release was coming Wednesday afternoon. A Hilgers spokeswoman said they were reviewing the ruling and would have a statement soon.

The narrower ruling means the court could not find five justices who agree on the constitutionality or unconstitutionality of LB 20 or its predecessor, LB 53 from 2005. LB 53 had restored voting rights two years after serving a criminal sentence.

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Under Nebraska’s constitution, it takes five justices to declare a law unconstitutional. Because the court did not rule the law unconstitutional, Evnen and Hilgers are likely out of time to stop registrations for the Nov. 5 general election, now less than three weeks away.

The court essentially took the simplest of the arguments ACLU lawyer Jane Seu made during oral arguments in late August: that Evnen and Hilgers should have known that the law of the land is the law of the land until a court rules it unconstitutional.

The ruling means the thousands of people that voting rights advocates said were poised to be newly registered will get their chance, if advocates can execute a plan they discussed to let people know they can now register to vote this fall.

Seu called it “justice.”

ACLU Nebraska attorney Jane Seu speaks after Nebraska Supreme Court oral arguments in Lincoln. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

“Given the sheer scale of disenfranchisement that this decision corrects, there is no question that it will be remembered as one of our state’s most consequential voting rights decisions,” she said in a statement Wednesday.

RISE, a re-entry program for incarcerated Nebraskans and others in the justice system, has said more than 7,000 people could be newly eligible to vote. Several have discussed the importance of being able to participate fully as key to re-entry efforts.

Thousands more who were also in limbo after Evnen’s move got the reassurance that their voting rights are still sound, the people who had waited two years under the 2005 law and had already registered to vote — and in many cases voted previously.

The time to register voters is tight. Friday is the last day for Nebraskans to register to vote by mail or online for the 2024 general election. The deadline for registering in-person at a county elections office is Oct. 25.

Civic Nebraska, part of a group trying to organize and register voters in time, the Voting Rights Restoration Coalition, said partners would be calling, texting and reaching out to voters to make sure they know of the ruling and their rights.

“From now on, every eligible voter in our state can exercise their constitutional right to participate in our democratic system,” said Steve Smith, a spokesman for Civic Nebraska.

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Nebraska

Pillen: Nebraska senator tears down historical exhibits by PragerU from Capitol walls

Published

12 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Pillen: Nebraska senator tears down historical exhibits by PragerU from Capitol walls

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Parts of a temporary historical exhibit inside the Nebraska State Capitol were torn down by a state senator, Gov. Pillen alleges.

Gov. Pillen said Wednesday on social media that several displays of historical figures, key events in the American Revolution and portraits of those who signed the Declaration of Independence were “ripped off the walls” by state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha.

A 40-second video shared by Pillen appears to show Sen. Cavanaugh taking down several displays and a photo showed the items on the floor of her office.

A 40-second video shared by Gov. Jim Pillen shows Sen. Cavanaugh taking down several displays and a photo showed the items on the floor of her office.(Governor Jim Pillen’s office)

The displays featuring material made by the controversial conservative group PragerU were put up in the state Capitol as part of the United States’ 250th anniversary.

“Celebrating America during our 250th year should be a moment of unity and patriotism, not divisiveness and destructive partisanship. I am disappointed in this shameful and selfish bad example,” Pillen wrote.

Cavanaugh told 10/11 that senators are prohibited from putting items on the walls in the hallway outside their offices. She said the posters line the entire hallway around the first floor, but she only took down the ones outside her office.

“When I walked in this morning and saw these poster boards lining the hallway of my office, I thought well I’m not allowed to have things lining the hall of my office… I tried to take them down as gently as I could and not damage any of them, and I stacked them inside of my office and I let the state patrol know that they were there,” Cavanaugh said.

PragerU has previously faced criticism for making content that historians, researchers and scholars have considered inaccurate or misleading. Some parents and educators have also spoken out against the nonprofit, saying its content spreads misinformation and is being used for “indoctrinating children.”

The Founders Museum exhibit in particular has been criticized by The American Historical Association for blurring the line between reality and fiction, according to NPR.

The exhibit is supposed to remain on display during public building hours through the summer.

Nebraska’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday includes showcasing historical figures and events in our most important public space, our beautiful State Capitol. These include Declaration of Independence signers and prominent women in American history, among others.
Sadly,… pic.twitter.com/MZ8Tbvg5nr
— Governor Jim Pillen (@TeamPillen) January 7, 2026

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Oregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Oregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska

Nebraska has picked up a third linebacker commitment from Oregon State transfer Dexter Foster, a sophomore with three seasons of eligibility remaining, including a redshirt year.

The 6-foot-3, 236lb linebacker started in seven games this fall for the Beavers, totaling 52 tackles with 3.0 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. As a true freshman in 2024, he appeared in 12 games, totaling 43 tackles with two tackles for loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries.

Foster held just two offers coming out of high school prior to committing to Oregon State, but was at one point a target for new Nebraska defensive coordinator Rob Aurich, when Aurich was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Idaho in 2022-2023.

The sophomore joins a linebacker room that has seen a bit of a facelift through transfer portal additions. San Diego State linebacker Owen Chambliss led the Aztecs in tackles this season and has now signed with the Huskers, following Rob Aurich to Lincoln. Iowa State freshman linebacker Will Hawthorne committed to the Huskers on Tuesday. Nebraska fell just short of Iowa State when Hawthorne was coming out of Gilbert (Ia.) in the 2025 cycle.

Foster is the seventh transfer portal addition for the Huskers this cycle and the fourth defensive addition. The Huskers are expected to be done with linebacker portal recruiting at this point and will turn attention to needs up front, both at defensive tackle and edge rusher.

Quick look at what Nebraska is getting in Foster

Standing 6-foot-3, and north of 235lbs, Foster is rangy and athletic in space. Has the versatility to play true strong-side or weak-side linebacker and could even spin down to edge rusher if needed. Possesses the athletic and physical range to track down ball-carriers in space, arm length to keep would-be-blockers at bay. Shows good eye discipline working through traffic, quick to react and trigger downhill, with the fluidity to change directions quickly. Still more read-and-react than anticipatory at this point in his development, but gets to his spots quickly. Has the athleticism to stick in coverage against running backs, tight ends and even slot receivers.

Has the experience, size and play-style to factor into Nebraska’s linebacker rotation immediately, and could even push to start alongside San Diego State linebacker transfer Owen Chambliss. Has the versatility to be a chess piece of sorts for Aurich and stick on the field regardless of personnel.

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Nebraska

Nebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek

Published

2 days ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska-based pizza chain Godfather’s Pizza is set to open a new location in Queen Creek

QUEEN CREEK, AZ — A slice of the Midwest is coming to the East Valley! Godfather’s Pizza from Omaha, Nebraska, is set to open a new location this month in Queen Creek.

Bruce Cannon, who owns and operates two Godfather’s Pizza locations in Lincoln and Norfolk, Nebraska, will also own and operate the new Queen Creek restaurant.

“This marks the brand’s first traditional Godfather’s Pizza restaurant in Arizona since 2009, signaling an exciting return to the Phoenix metro area,” read the news release sent to ABC15.

The restaurant will open near Queen Creek Rd and Signal Butte Rd.

The restaurant will provide dine-in, carryout, and third-party delivery options, featuring its classic pizza lineup alongside favorites like breadsticks, streusels, and specialty pies.