Nebraska
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.
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.
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.”
“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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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A K9 assigned to the Nebraska State Patrol sniffed out a major haul of drugs Wednesday morning, authorities say.
The patrol said it happened shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Interstate 80 near Milford, a city of about 2,000 people about 20 miles west of Lincoln.
A trooper stopped the driver of an eastbound Nissan Rogue that was following a semi too closely, the patrol said.
During the stop, the K9 smelled drugs, according to the patrol. Troopers said a search of the vehicle uncovered about 525 pounds of suspected cocaine and 9.3 grams of suspected heroin.
The driver, a 23-year-old California man, was booked into jail on suspicion possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver.
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Jordy Frahm, Hannah Coor lead Nebraska softball past OSU for WCWS berth
Former OU softball players Jordy Frahm and Hannah Coor talk about leading Nebraska to a sweep of Oklahoma State in the NCAA super regionals to earn a WCWS trip on Saturday, May 23.
LINCOLN, NE — The question about the importance of star softball player Jordy Frahm’s decision to transfer to Nebraska had barely left the reporter’s mouth when coach Rhonda Revelle joyously blurted out her answer.
“You mean when Jordy called me at 1:02 p.m. on June 14, and I almost drove off the road when I saw her name pop up?” Revelle said with a smile. “Not that I remember.”
No team in the Women’s College World Series, which begins Thursday at Devon Park, can track its presence in Oklahoma City back to a singular moment the way the fourth-seeded Cornhuskers can.
Frahm — then known as Jordy Bahl — left Oklahoma in the summer of 2023 after winning a pair of national championships and returned to her home state to play for a Nebraska team that had barely qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
Three years later, the Huskers are a legitimate national title contender, thanks in large part to what Frahm can do as their ace pitcher and leadoff hitter.
She’s one of the best players in the country, posting a 20-4 record and 1.14 ERA with 234 strikeouts in 171 ⅔ innings in the circle, plus a .419 batting average, 19 home runs and 50 RBIs at the plate.
But more than her statistical contributions, her presence reinvigorated a program that had made seven WCWS appearances in its history, but only one in the previous two decades (2013).
The timing of Frahm’s phone call to Revelle couldn’t have been better — aside from the car accident it nearly caused.
It tipped over a domino that set in motion all the events that have landed the Huskers at the WCWS nearly three years later, where they’ll face fifth-seeded Arkansas at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
Frahm’s presence has made Nebraska a desirable program again.
“People want to play with Jordy,” Revelle said. “When people got in the portal, they would take a call from me because we have Jordy on the roster.”
When Frahm tore her ACL in February 2024, it seemed like a roadblock to the program’s new growth. But it turned out to be an alignment of future events.
Frahm redshirted, which provided the ability to play this season.
Without the injury, maybe the timeline would have accelerated, and Nebraska would’ve made its WCWS return last year. But the arrival of key players this season, like transfer center fielder Hannah Coor and freshman pitcher Alexis Jensen, seems to suggest Frahm was needed as the centerpiece of this squad.
“If that didn’t happen, I’m not sitting here today in my fifth year with this special team,” Frahm said. “I’ve thought about that so much this year as it’s gone on. I couldn’t have scripted this. Nobody could’ve scripted this with the way this team came together.”
And without the year of reflection and growth Frahm experienced when softball was taken away from her in 2024, she might not have become the type of leader her team needed.
“I believe that little injury is one of the best things that has ever happened to me in the world of my sports career,” Frahm said. “I just needed that year so bad, to be away from the game, be away from the pressures, be away from everything.
“Just reset and realign with my faith. The joy doesn’t come from the outcomes on the field. That year I was hurt was one of the most joyful years I’ve had and that’s just continued from there.”
Revelle, who has coached her alma mater since 1993 and compiled more than 1,200 wins, witnessed Frahm blossoming in 2024, when she couldn’t be on the field with her teammates.
“The extra year was really important for her for a reset,” Revelle said. “But also for her to get infiltrated in this program with her teammates and her coaches. The relationship she and I have built is second to none, and that extra year was really a time when we didn’t have to focus on softball to do that. So when we got to softball, there was a lot of trust that was built.
“From the day she stepped on this campus, she raised the intensity and focus, and she brings that with her everywhere she goes.”
Scott Wright covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Scott? He can be reached at swright@oklahoman.com or on X at @ScottWrightOK. Support Scott’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.
Curtis, Neb — Graduates of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture were honored May 7 during the Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony at the Curtis Memorial Community Center, celebrating the completion of two years of training for careers in agriculture and animal health.
Kelly Bruns, Ph.D., interim executive director of NCTA, presided over the ceremony and recognized the ways students supported their communities and one another throughout the year, including helping fight wildfires and stepping up during difficult times.
Graduate Carly Stewart delivered the invocation, followed by a welcome from graduate and Student Senate President Lydia Ziemba.
Bruns introduced special guests and University of Nebraska leaders, including Regents Kathy Wilmot and Tim Clare, who delivered remarks to graduates. Tiffany Heng-Moss, Ph.D., University of Nebraska vice president and IANR Harlan vice chancellor, also addressed graduates and later conferred degrees.
Commencement speaker Nathan Nicklas, the residence life manager, encouraged graduates to lead with purpose, invest in relationships and use their talents and experiences to positively impact their communities and industries. Early in Nicklas’ address, a power outage darkened the facility. Doors were opened to let in sunlight, and Nicklas continued without amplification.
After his address, a student representative presented Nicklas with flowers in appreciation for his leadership and support of students.
Jennifer McConville, Ph.D., associate dean, recognized academic honors and announced Hannah Brett as the 2026 Aggie of the Year. Rachel Bose delivered the benediction.
The following list represents December and May graduates. It is not a complete list, as some graduates chose not to have their names released. Academic honors are noted as: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude.
Agricultural Production Systems
Atlanta, Nebraska — Magna Cum Laude Carly Stewart, Animal Science
Bartley, Nebraska — Treven Critchfield, Diversified Ag
Central City, Nebraska — Magna Cum Laude Grace Strong, Livestock Ind Mgt
Dalton, Nebraska — Cum Laude Justin Ernest, Livestock Ind Mgt; Crop Production Cert
Franklin, Nebraska — Magna Cum Laude J Gladden II, Livestock Ind Mgt
Friend, Nebraska — Mason Semler, Agronomy Ind Mgt
Greensburg, Kansas — Brock Hassiepen, Livestock Ind Mgt
Hallsville, Missouri — Magna Cum Laude Dominic Troutman, Livestock Ind Mgt
Indianola/Cambridge, Nebraska — Gracelynn tenBensel-McConville, Agribusiness Mgt & Agronomy; Agribusiness Mgt Cert
Indianola, Nebraska — Cum Laude Hunter Blume, Agronomy
Leigh, Nebraska — Cum Laude Jacob Martensen, Diversified Ag
Lexington, Nebraska — Cayden Gibbons, Diversified Ag
Linden, Iowa — Magna Cum Laude Weston Ploeger, Agribusiness Mgt & Livestock Ind
McCook, Nebraska — Rachel Bose, Agronomy Ind Mgt
Milburn, Nebraska — Cum Laude Samuel McMillan, Diversified Ag
Omaha, Nebraska — Cum Laude Vivien Appleby, Diversified Ag
Rushville, Nebraska — Cum Laude Jessalinn Dieriex, Animal Science
Sargent, Nebraska — Cum Laude Tera Horky, Ag Education; Ag Welding Cert
Seneca, Kansas — Magna Cum Laude Isabelle Evans, Equine Ind Mgt
Severance, Colorado — Natalie Baker, Animal Science
Seward, Nebraska — Masa Brown, Livestock Ind Mgt
Seward, Nebraska — Cadance Mae Craig, Livestock Ind Mgt
Shubert, Nebraska — Magna Cum Laude Danyelle Kuker, Livestock Ind Mgt & Equine Ind Mgt; Equine Training Cert
Sidney, Nebraska — Magna Cum Laude Dominik Lucero, Ag Equipment; Ag Welding & Irrigation Tech Certs
Silver Creek, Nebraska — Magna Cum Laude Lydia Ziemba, Agribusiness Mgt; Beef Production Cert
Springview, Nebraska — Magna Cum Laude Courtney McCarthy, Agribusiness Mgt & Livestock Ind
Vet Technology Systems
Cawker City, Kansas — Carter Walsh, Vet Tech; Animal Care Cert
Covington, Oklahoma — Kiley Grantz, Vet Asst; Animal Care Cert
Esbon, Kansas — Haylee Cockroft, Vet Tech; Animal Care Cert
Fairport, Kansas — Morgan Dockendorf, Vet Asst; Animal Care Cert
Grant, Nebraska — Magna Cum Laude Emma Klahn, Vet Tech; Animal Care Cert
Kearney, Nebraska — Cum Laude Wednesday Fielder, Vet Tech; Animal Care Cert
Lexington, Nebraska — Alyssa Copper, Vet Tech; Animal Care Cert
Lexington, Nebraska — Patti Louthan, Vet Asst
Middlesex, Vermont — Summa Cum Laude Hannah Brett, Vet Tech; Animal Care Cert
North Platte, Nebraska — Olivia Dimas, Vet Asst; Animal Care Cert
North Platte, Nebraska — Ella Harmon, Vet Asst; Animal Care Cert
Scottsbluff, Nebraska — Alexia Furman, Vet Asst; Animal Care Cert
Additional Certificates
Curtis, Nebraska — Hunter Markley, Ag Welding Cert
Indianola, Nebraska — Tristan Martin, Ag Welding & Irrigation Tech Certs
Ord, Nebraska — Laci Weeks, Animal Care Cert
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