Nebraska
Nebraska voter turnout is a near record-breaker • Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — The 2024 general election marked Nebraska’s second-highest number of votes cast in the state’s history.
That’s according to Secretary of State Bob Evnen’s Office, which reported Wednesday that 934,188 ballots were cast, and that several thousand early voting and provisional ballots have yet to be counted.
Still on top of the heap, in terms of votes cast, is turnout during the pandemic-era general election of 2020, with 966,920 ballots cast.
Preliminary turnout numbers show that 73.9% of Nebraska’s registered voters participated in the 2024 general election. That’s higher than the 72% prediction that Evnen had made earlier in the week.
Final turnout results could inch up slightly as remaining ballots are counted, a spokeswoman for the office said. As is, the 73.9% puts Tuesday’s general election among at least the Top 8 ever in terms of highest share of state voter participation.
No. 1 for percentage turnout remains the 1968 general election, with 80.8% turnout. That was the year Republican presidential nominee Richard Nixon defeated the Democratic nominee, incumbent Vice President Hubert Humphrey, and the American Independent Party nominee, former Alabama Gov. George Wallace.
‘Smooth and secure’
Evnen said that county election offices across the state reported consistent voter turnout throughout Tuesday with “almost all voters” prepared with voter ID, as required by the new state law.
“County election officials and poll workers ensured a smooth and secure Election Day for thousands of Nebraskans,” said Evnen.
Voters who did not have an accepted ID on Election Day were able to vote provisionally. For those ballots to be accepted, the voters can present acceptable ID to their county election office by the end of the business day Nov. 12.
Unofficial results are posted at electionresults.nebraska.gov. Representatives of the Secretary of State’s Office and county election offices are to conduct a post-election audit to verify accuracy of the results. That happens with all statewide elections. Members of the Nebraska State Board of Canvassers are to convene Dec. 2 to certify election results
Close to call
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a few Nebraska legislative races remained close enough that the Nebraska Democratic Party said they were too close to call. Democrats were slightly ahead in those contests.
According to unofficial election results: Democrat Ashlei Spivey led Nick Batter, a nonpartisan, by 41 votes in northeast Douglas County’s District 13; Democrat Dan Quick led incumbent Ray Aguilar, a Republican, by 125 votes in Grand Island’s District 35; and Democrat Victor Rountree led Felix Ungerman, a Republican, by 181 votes in Sarpy County’s Legislative District 3.
Jane Kleeb, the Democratic Party’s executive director, called it a grueling election cycle.
“We stand tall that we did deliver the blue dot for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz,” she said, adding: “Our party has work to do.”
County election commissioners said they’ve yet to count early and provisional voting ballots.
In Hall County, for example, 195 largely provisional ballots in District 35 had yet to be validated and potentially included in the count, said Election Commissioner Tracy Overstreet. She said it would be seven to 10 days before the results are final.
Results within a certain range could trigger a recount. Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse said if there was any recount, it would happen on Dec 4.
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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Fans are invited to join the No. 2 Nebraska softball team at Bowlin Stadium on Sunday for a free NCAA selection-show watch party.
Doors open at 5 p.m., and the show begins at 6 p.m. During the event, Nebraska will learn its NCAA Tournament opponents.
Nebraska Athletics said fans will have an opportunity to take a photo with the Big Ten regular-season championship trophy during the event.
Nebraska makes its first appearance in the Big Ten Tournament at Maryland Softball Stadium in College Park, Maryland, on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. It will play either No. 8 Ohio State or No. 9 Michigan.
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LINCOLN, Neb — University of Nebraska–Lincoln agriculture students will soon get hands-on experience with a new kind of farm equipment: methane-powered tractors.
CNH donated two New Holland methane-powered tractors through the University of Nebraska Foundation, creating new agriculture research and education opportunities for faculty and students in the university’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The New Holland T6.180 is the world’s first 100% methane-powered production tractor. Each tractor has a retail value of $287,240.
The gift was facilitated by Andy Dozler, manufacturing engineering manager of the CNH plant in Grand Island. Dozler earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanized systems management from Nebraska in 2004 and serves on the Biological Systems Engineering advisory board. CNH’s manufacturing engineering department in Grand Island also employs 10 engineers who are Husker alumni.
“I was made aware of a unique opportunity that CNH was looking to donate several state-of-the-art methane-powered tractors to universities,” Dozler said. “The goal was to place this advanced equipment in the hands of students for real-world use, helping prepare the next generation of farmers and innovators while demonstrating the viability of alternative-powered machinery in everyday agricultural operations.”
The two tractors will be used at the university’s Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center, a research and education facility near Mead.
The bright blue tractors are designed to minimize emissions while maximizing profitability and productivity on farms. Farms equipped with biodigesters can power the tractors by converting the operation’s plant waste and livestock manure into biomethane. The tractors can also operate on compressed natural gas, which is how they initially will be fueled at the university.
“ENREEC functions as both a working farm and a commercial-scale laboratory where faculty, staff, students, producers, partner organizations and members of the public can observe and test new and emerging technologies,” said Doug Zalesky, director of ENREEC. “This donation is an incredible addition to the slate of technologies here at ENREEC, and it highlights the strong partnership we’re grateful to share with CNH. We’re extremely thankful to CNH for the donation of these tractors, and we look forward to putting them to work.”
The tractors were made at a CNH plant in Basildon, England. CNH’s Grand Island plant, which recently celebrated 60 years of operation, employs more than 600 people. For more than 125 years, New Holland has supported farmers with the technology, solutions and services they need for productive agriculture.
The gift was made as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future, an effort to engage 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support the University of Nebraska.
Nebraska
Nebraska rewards men’s basketball assistants for its best season in history with contract extensions
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg announced Tuesday that assistants Nate Loenser, Ernie Zeigler and Pat Monaghan and general manager Luca Virgilio have signed contract extensions following the best season in program history.
Hoiberg, the Associated Press national coach of the year, also named Loenser associate head coach.
The Cornhuskers finished 28-7 overall, tied for second in the Big Ten at 15-5 and beat Troy for their first-ever NCAA Tournament win and then Vanderbilt to reach the Sweet 16. They were No. 14 in the final AP Top 25.
“The success our program had this year is really a testament to the efforts of our entire staff, and it is important to reward them for all of their work,” Hoiberg said. “The work they pour into our players is evident in their development in our program. Nate, Ernie and Luca have been vital over the last four years in helping us build a winning culture and enjoy sustained success that Nebraska basketball has not seen in a long time.”
Loenser, who coordinates the defense, got a two-year extension through the 2028-29 season starting at $525,000 annually. Zeigler, who works with the offense and plays a major role in game planning, got a one-year extension through 2027-28 starting at $420,000 annually. Monaghan, who assists in player development, game planning and recruiting, was extended through 2027-28 at $350,000 annually.
Virgilio, who has been with Hoiberg all seven seasons at Nebraska, is in charge of roster management and retention as general manager. His extension is through 2027-28 and pays $350,000 annually.
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