Nebraska
Parents deserve the right to choose what’s best for their children • Nebraska Examiner
Every parent wants their child to succeed. That looks different for every student — whether it’s academic excellence, social growth or emotional well-being. But ultimately it’s about helping each child reach their full potential. When a child struggles in school — whether academically, socially or emotionally — parents deserve real solutions to help them thrive.
This week is National School Choice Week, and it’s a reminder of the importance of empowering parents to choose the school that best meets their child’s unique needs. Public, private or parochial — every student deserves a chance to succeed in an environment that works for them.
During my time in the Legislature, I worked with my colleagues, Gov. Pete Ricketts, and later Gov. Jim Pillen to champion education reform that supported kids, parents, teachers, and taxpayers.
Education matters
We mandated a focus on reading in early grades and testing for learning disabilities so conditions like dyslexia are diagnosed and addressed at an early age. We invested in teacher recruitment, retention and loan forgiveness programs. And we provided a record 38% increase in state funding for public schools, the largest increase in four decades.
This funding included a minimum of $1,500 per student in foundation aid that provided state funding to more than 180 rural school districts that otherwise weren’t receiving state K-12 equalization aid. We also increased how much the state would cover of special education costs from 42% to 80%, doubling the state’s commitment to children with special needs.
Despite relentless opposition from the teachers union, a bipartisan majority of the Legislature passed school choice bills in 2023 and 2024. With the adoption of the Opportunity Scholarships Act tax credit program two years ago, Nebraska became the 49th state to approve a school choice bill. Last year the Legislature replaced that program with an education scholarship program funded with a $10 million state appropriation.
Through these two scholarship programs, more than 4,000 students from across the state were given access to the best educational fit for them. These scholarships are making a life-changing difference for families in Norfolk, Seward, Beatrice, Omaha, Nebraska City, Ogallala, South Sioux City, David City, Grand Island, Lincoln and dozens more communities across the state. For many families, this is the first time they’ve been able to choose an educational path that meets their children’s needs.
Tragically for these families, special interests led by unions spent more than $7 million misrepresenting these programs, which resulted in their repeal in November. There is a disturbing irony in the election results. Former teachers union president Jenni Benson gave a TV interview in which she stated their repeal efforts wouldn’t take scholarships from kids. The union’s paid advertising stated the scholarship programs took money from public schools. And petition circulators said the program benefitted the rich when the program prioritized low-income families. Regardless of the barrage of false claims, several communities, who want and need better educational options voted not to repeal Opportunity Scholarships.
These communities stretch across Nebraska, from the economically depressed urban areas of Omaha to Scotts Bluff County and communities as diverse as Lexington and Norfolk.
Growing elsewhere
Meanwhile school choice is advancing across the country with new and expanded programs proposed in Texas, North Dakota, Tennessee, South Dakota, Virginia and elsewhere.
Across the Missouri River, Iowa’s education savings account (ESA) program will be accessible to all families regardless of income beginning this fall. Nebraska families deserve the same opportunities.
Supporters of school choice in Nebraska won’t relent because the future of our kids is too important to walk away from. This year Nebraska lawmakers will consider several proposals to empower parents to choose the school that’s the best fit for their child, including an Iowa-style ESA, vouchers, and tax credit scholarships, among others.
With more than 4,000 Nebraska students receiving scholarships in the current school year, a new program will be needed to keep those students from losing their newfound opportunity. I simply cannot believe Nebraskans are in favor of disrupting the education of 4,000 children who finally found the right school.
We must stand together for these children and protect their scholarships. This is common sense, and it should not be controversial. As Governor Jim Pillen said in his State of the State address, “Every child deserves a chance to succeed.”
Lou Ann Linehan served as chair of the Nebraska Legislature’s Revenue Committee for six years before being term-limited after 2024.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – President Donald Trump’s executive order to reclassify marijuana at the federal level is reigniting debate in Nebraska, where voters approved medical marijuana in 2024.
Trump signed the executive order on Thursday, directing federal agencies to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III. The move does not legalize marijuana nationwide but opens the door for more medical research.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers joined attorneys general from seven other states in releasing a statement saying they are “concerned” with the order. Hilgers said the science shows marijuana should remain a Schedule I drug.
Sen. Pete Ricketts also opposes the move. He signed a letter with 14 other Republican senators urging Trump not to reschedule marijuana. The letter argues marijuana is linked to mental health issues, impaired driving and workplace accidents.
Local medical marijuana advocate Lia Post disagreed with state leaders’ opposition.
“It just comes to the point, when is enough enough?” Post said.
Post said the argument from state leaders ignores what Nebraska voters decided in November 2024 when they overwhelmingly approved medical marijuana.
“It does open up the door for research, which really makes me happy, and the ability to speak to my doctor. It’s hard to be excited when you know you’re just a part of the big, giant grift that is going on,” Post said.
The federal change would allow the FDA to study marijuana’s medical uses. That could potentially help veterans, seniors, and people with chronic pain. Advocates said it also removes excuses for state leaders to delay implementation.
“I feel like we are in the exact same place we always are with the people wanting medical cannabis, the current law supporting medical cannabis, but the elected officials stopping medical cannabis,” Post said.
The federal rescheduling process could take several more months to finalize. The executive order does not legalize recreational marijuana. Trump made that clear Thursday, saying he is not open to that.
“It is a big deal, it is change, and change is always a big deal. Anything to do with medical cannabis and politics, I have to find the joy in whatever small wins there are, because there are so few,” Post said.
Copyright 2025 WOWT. All rights reserved.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska football is bolstering its staff with the addition of a run game coordinator and a defensive edge coach.
On Friday, head coach Matt Rhule announced the hiring of run game coordinator Lonnie Teasley and defensive edge coach Roy Manning.
Teasley spent the last five seasons with South Carolina, serving as the Gamecocks’ offensive line coach for the last three years.
He was also an assistant offensive line coach on Rhule’s Temple staff in 2014. Teasley also had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Tech.
“Lonnie Teasley brings a wealth of offensive line coaching experience to our staff,” Rhule said in a press release. “Lonnie has had great success throughout his career and specifically has been one of the elite offensive tackle coaches in the country. He also has a proven track record as an excellent recruiter. Lonnie will make a positive impact on our coaching staff and the Nebraska Football program.”
Manning worked with new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich as a defensive edge coach at San Diego State in 2025. He helped the Aztecs rank among the nation’s top defenses.
Manning has also spent time coaching at USC, Michigan and Cincinnati.
“We are excited to add Roy Manning to our defensive staff,” Rhule said. “Along with Coach Aurich, he was a key part of the defensive transformation at San Diego State this past season. Roy has experience coaching defense from front to back and has coached at high-level programs throughout his career.”
Nebraska fired three assistant coaches following a lopsided loss to Iowa in November: defensive coordinator John Butler, offensive line coach Donovan Raiola and defensive line coach Terry Bradden.
Aurich has been hired to lead the defense and Geep Wade is Nebraska’s new offensive line coach.
SEE ALSO: Report: Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola to enter the transfer portal
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – With 2025 NCAA Volleyball Championships in Kansas City this season, many Nebraska fans made plans ahead time given the driving distance to Lincoln. The Huskers lost in the regional final at home yet many fans still attended the final four.
“We just want to watch high-quality volleyball, grow the sport, and it’s a competitive sport, and there’s still four very good teams here,” Elizabeth Wright, a life-long Nebraska Volleyball fan, said.
Hundreds of Husker faithful dawned their red Nebraska gear as they entered the T Mobile Center on Thursday night with their team not playing. When asked about which team Nebraska fans would support, the majority of interviewees said Texas A&M.
“Part of me wants to watch Texas A&M win just because they beat us, and if they win, it gives us a little validation that we lost to the best team,” Karla Huneke, a Grand Island native and Nebraska Volleyball fan, said.
Overall, the surprise of Nebraska not making the NCAA Volleyball Championship didn’t impact Nebraskans from attending the final four.
Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2025 KOLN. All rights reserved.
‘On the cusp of something very special.’ In Q&A, Vermont’s education secretary ponders the challenges and opportunities of ed reform. – VTDigger
Colorado, Deion Sanders to hire former highly-touted DC as defensive assistant
Atmospheric Rivers Spread Flood Threat To California | Weather.com
What time, TV channel is Johns Hopkins vs Wisconsin-River Falls game on today? Live stream, preview
Op-ed: Building on progress – my dedication to West Virginia continues
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
Sen Murphy warns ‘people are going to die’ as Congress punts on expiring Obamacare subsidies
Ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan, wife sentenced to 17 years in corruption case
U.S. launches strikes in Syria targeting Islamic State fighters after American deaths
Trump administration touts ‘most secure border in history’ as 2.5 million migrants exit US
How the reparations loan for Ukraine fell apart at the eleventh hour
-
Iowa5 days agoAddy Brown motivated to step up in Audi Crooks’ absence vs. UNI
-
Iowa7 days agoHow much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals
-
Maine4 days agoElementary-aged student killed in school bus crash in southern Maine
-
Maryland5 days agoFrigid temperatures to start the week in Maryland
-
Technology1 week agoThe Game Awards are losing their luster
-
South Dakota6 days agoNature: Snow in South Dakota
-
New Mexico3 days agoFamily clarifies why they believe missing New Mexico man is dead
-
Nebraska1 week agoNebraska lands commitment from DL Jayden Travers adding to early Top 5 recruiting class