Nebraska
Secretary of State celebrates local election officials in finalizing Nebraska’s fall 2024 ballot • Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — Secretary of State Bob Evnen has officially finalized Nebraska’s fall 2024 ballot with six ballot measures advancing to the Nov. 5 general election.
Evnen said county election officials faced upwards of 600,000 signatures to verify this summer across six different petitions, each garnering enough valid signatures by Friday’s final deadline.
“We have met that time frame because our counties put the pedal to the metal and did a great job confirming these signatures,” Evnen said at an afternoon news conference.
The certification also confirms candidates for various offices — U.S. president, members of Congress, Nebraska Legislature, State Board of Education, University of Nebraska Board of Regents, Public Service Commission, community college governing boards, natural resources districts, public power districts, educational service units and reclamation districts.
It also confirms the list of judges and justices up for retention.
Medical cannabis signatures
An investigation continues, as announced Friday by Attorney General Mike Hilgers, into what he and Evnen said were “infirmities” or “irregularities” in the signature-gathering process for two ballot measures related to medical cannabis.
Evnen declined to specify what irregularities might exist, and Hilgers did not outline them.
Hall County officials charged a Grand Island man, who was a paid circulator for those efforts, with a felony for allegedly falsifying at least 200 signatures across the two petitions. Evnen said his office will continue to cooperate with Hilgers.
Medical marijuana legalization and regulation are certified for Nebraska’s November ballot
Evnen said that even though the ballot is certified, the Nebraska Supreme Court could take up a challenge to the marijuana-related petitions, or any others. He’s said that happened in Nebraska history up to four days before an election, as well as after voters had weighed in, that invalidated ballot measures.
“The fact that we had a hard stop and certified the ballot today doesn’t mean that nothing further is going to happen with respect to the investigation of the signatures in the medical cannabis initiatives,” Evnen said.
Evnen also confirmed what the Nebraska Examiner reported earlier in the day from Hall County Election Commissioner Tracy Overstreet that any invalid signatures, including those from the man charged with a felony, were tossed.
“They were flagged as fraudulent and rejected and not counted toward those totals from the get-go,” Overstreet said Friday morning.
Evnen said there “may” be irregularities in other counties. But when asked by reporters whether he had heard from county election officials other than Overstreet, Evnen said he had not.
The medical cannabis petitions are also being targeted in a separate lawsuit from John Kuehn, a former state senator and former State Board of Health member. The case in Lancaster County District Court has not been scheduled.
Other legal challenges
Dueling abortion measures make ballot, Nebraska Supreme Court decides
Three other ballot measures also faced legal challenges but the Nebraska Supreme Court rejected them Friday morning. Those measures were on two separate constitutional amendments related to abortion and a partial repeal of a state-funded program to cover private K-12 school costs. Evnen said he doesn’t expect further signature-related challenges on those.
Evnen celebrated the court’s “speed and dispatch” in delivering decisions for cases filed before the court within just the past few weeks.
Multiple justices had questioned whether the court could take legal challenges sooner in the process, not just after Evnen had certified the measures for the ballot. Some of those deadlines are set by federal or state law, and others are constitutional in nature.
Nebraska Supreme Court lets voters decide fate of school choice law
The secretary said he is looking at whether there can be a way to ease up the timeline. Currently, signatures are due four months before an election and counties must verify the petitions within 40 days of receiving them. The ballot must be finalized 50 days before the election.
Evnen said he also intends to follow the advice from Chief Justice Mike Heavican and Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman, the court’s two longest serving members, that once a secretary of state determines the legal sufficiency of a measure, it can’t be rescinded.
Hilgers, on Evnen’s behalf, said Evnen had changed his mind but would respect the court’s decision but might decertify the measure if the court tossed the lawsuit on a technicality.
“The opinions that the court handed down today are well reasoned and well articulated,” Evnen said.
2024 ballot measures
Evnen certified six ballot measures for the Nov. 5 general election ballot, which were assigned a measure number between 434 and 439 at random.
- Protect Women and Children — Prohibit abortions after the first trimester or pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother, in the Nebraska Constitution. Future restrictions would be allowed. (Measure 434)
- Private Education Scholarship Partial Repeal (Legislative Bill 1402) — Repeal the $10 million scholarship program, enacted earlier this year, that the state treasurer oversees to distribute to students to attend K-12 private schools. (Measure 435)
- Paid Sick Leave — Enact a new state law that would require businesses with 20 or fewer employees to fund at least five paid sick days each year for full-time employees. Larger businesses would need to annually fund at least seven sick days per full-time employee. An hour of sick leave would be earned after every 30 hours worked. (Measure 436)
- Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation — Define cannabis; legalize possessing, manufacturing, distributing, delivering and dispensing cannabis for medical purposes; and create the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to oversee the new state law. (Measure 437)
- Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection — Set an allowable amount of medical cannabis at five ounces; exempt patients and caregivers from using or assisting someone else in using the cannabis; and require a written recommendation from a health care practitioner prior to prescription. (Measure 438)
- Protect the Right to Abortion — Codify a right to abortion in the Nebraska Constitution until “fetal viability” as determined by a health care provider, with a later exception for the mother’s health. (Measure 439)
Nebraska
What channel is Ole Miss baseball vs Nebraska on today? Time, TV schedule to watch NCAA regional game
Ole Miss baseball continues on in the winner’s bracket of the NCAA Lincoln Regional with a game against host Nebraska on May 30.
The Rebels (37-21) outlasted Arizona State 7-6 in 14 innings on May 30 after a Brayden Randle walk-off RBI single.
Nebraska (43-15) pulled away late in a 4-1 win over South Dakota State to open regional play on May 30.
The winner will play in the regional final on May 31, with two games to win one. The loser will play in the first game on May 31 against the South Dakota State-Arizona State winner.
Here’s how you can watch Ole Miss baseball vs. Nebraska:
Ole Miss baseball vs Nebraska on May 30 in Lincoln, Nebraska will be televised on ESPNU. Karl Ravech and Kyle Peterson will call the game in Lincoln.
- Game date: Saturday, May 30
- Start time: Approximately 7 p.m.
Friday, May 29
- Game 1: Nebraska vs. South Dakota State, 3 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 2: Ole Miss vs. Arizona State, 8 p.m. on ESPN2
Saturday, May 30
- Game 3: South Dakota State vs. Arizona State, 2 p.m. on ESPN+
- Game 4: Nebraska vs. Ole Miss, approx. 7 p.m. on ESPNU
Sunday, May 31
- Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. on TBD
- Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, approx. 7 p.m. on TBD
Monday, June 1
- Game 7: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner (if necessary), Time and TV TBD
A Kearney, Nebraska, man who loves the giant Big Boy 4014 suffered a small fracture to his spine when he fell off a ladder trying to climb into the cab of the locomotive during its historic whistle-stop tour on Thursday.
Trevor Allen Bentley told Cowboy State Daily that he was about to fulfill a longtime dream of riding inside the cab of the world’s largest operating locomotive.
He was climbing on the outside of the Cheyenne-based locomotive and had one more step to go on the five-rung ladder to get into the cab when he fell backward about 8 feet, landing hard on the ground.
A 16-second video posted (see below) shows the heavyset man, wearing a bright yellow construction vest, jeans and tennis shoes, gripping the handles on either side of the ladder and struggling to get up to the last step.
After a few seconds, he slips and falls to the ground, landing on his back between the train tracks.
Three others nearby, also in bright-colored vests, were at Bentley’s side immediately. Instinct seemed to kick in as they attempt to help him sit up.
Bentley said he was able to sit up and that he wanted to get up right away.
“I felt fine,” he told Cowboy State Daily on Friday. “Obviously, I was sore. But I just wanted to get up.”
He said he was more embarrassed than anything, “because the Big Boy attracts a show.”
He guessed a few hundred people had turned out to see the Big Boy at the station.
It also was raining, a factor Bentley said likely contributed to his slip.
Ride Of A Lifetime Dashed
Bentley, who works for the online news site CentralNebraskaToday.com, had planned to ride Big Boy 4014 on its approximate 40-mile leg between Kearney and Grand Island, Nebraska, documenting the trip on video for the outlet.
He said he had emailed Union Pacific to request the ride, which the railroad granted.
In a social media post he shared after the fall, he wrote, “A boyhood dream got dashed as I fell 8 feet off of Big Boy 4014 before I got the ride of a lifetime.”
He later told Cowboy State Daily he has been a train enthusiast all his life. He had been in the Big Boy cab before, he said, “which is why I thought I could do it.”
“I just couldn’t get that last step in,” he added.
30-Minute Delay
Big Boy was already running behind schedule when it pulled into the Kearney station, said Bentley. His fall caused an added 30-minute delay.
North Platte resident James Burns said he frequently visits the tracks and had decided to follow Big Boy from North Platte to Kearney.
He was at the stop, taking pictures of Big Boy 4014 when Bentley fell, though he told Cowboy State Daily he did not see the fall. He also confirmed the incident caused an approximate 30-minute travel delay.
The fall sparked a lot of speculation on social media, with comments ranging from prayers that Bentley was OK to sharper criticisms of Bentley’s attempt to climb aboard. One such criticism was his wearing tennis shoes rather than work boots.
Bentley was taken via ambulance to CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and said he was released later that day.
‘No Fault of UP’
He was home resting when he spoke with Cowboy State Daily via phone Friday.
“I’m just stiff more than anything,” he said, adding that he hopes to be back to work next week. “I am just extremely lucky.”
Bentley wanted to make it clear that his fall was no fault of Union Pacific or anyone but himself. He said what happened was a total accident and that’s why he signed a waiver with UP about riding in the locomotive.
“I do not fault them in any way, shape, or form,” he said. “I don’t want to put a blemish on their tour. It was no fault of Union Pacific. It was on my own accord.”
Union Pacific publicly responded to the incident in a 16-word statement: “We are glad the person is OK and appreciate the concern we’ve heard from rail fans.”
Contact Kate Meadows at kate@cowboystatedaily.com
Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – First Alert 6 has the headlines you need to know to get your Friday started.
One hurt in Friday morning crash on I-80 in Omaha
One person was taken to the hospital after a crash Friday morning on Interstate 80 in Omaha.
The crash happened shortly before 6 a.m. on I-80 westbound near 72nd Street. Cameras show the car is completely flipped upside down.
Traffic is being impacted Friday morning, as the far left lane remains blocked.
Police dispatch says initial reports show the victim’s injuries are considered serious.
Nebraska softball defeats Arkansas in extra innings at WCWS
Ava Kuszak hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning as Nebraska defeated Arkansas 5-3 Thursday night at the Women’s College World Series. The victory marks the Huskers’ first WCWS win since 2002.
Jordy Frahm pitched all 10 innings for Nebraska, striking out nine batters. Hannah Coor also homered for the Huskers. Nebraska advances to face Alabama on Saturday at 6 p.m.
The fourth-seeded Huskers are making their eighth WCWS appearance and first since 2013. Six players on the roster are Omaha natives who developed through Nebraska Gold Softball.
Papillion native Frahm earned NFCA Player of the Year honors this season. Gretna’s Alexis Jensen also earned All-American recognition.
The WCWS runs through June 5. The full tournament bracket can be found here.
Nebraska baseball to open NCAA regional Friday
The first Lincoln baseball regional in nearly two decades will begin on Friday.
Nebraska hosts South Dakota State, Ole Miss and Arizona State in the double-elimination pod, hoping to advance to the program’s first super regional since 2005.
The Huskers open the weekend with the Jackrabbits on Friday at 3 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. The Rebels and Sun Devils play at 8 p.m.
Nebraska defeated South Dakota State 5-4 in a close midweek game on March 4. The Jackrabbits (24-31) made an unlikely run to a Summit League championship as the No. 4 seed to earn their place in this weekend’s regional.
STB pauses Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger proceedings
The Surface Transportation Board has accepted Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s updated merger application but is seeking more information before a full review.
The agency ordered an Environmental Impact Statement under federal environmental law and requested details on nine issues, including passenger rail, market-share projections and service assurance plans. Responses are due by July 27.
The EIS process will include at least 12 in-person public meetings and several virtual sessions.
In a release Thursday, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern called the move “an important step forward” as the deal continues to advance.
Shareholders have backed the merger, and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has endorsed it.
NU Board of Regents to hold emergency meeting Friday
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is set to hold an emergency meeting Friday.
A notice sent to First Alert 6 does not state why the meeting was called.
According to the notice, the only business on the agenda is a motion to go into a closed session.
First Alert 6 is told the session is private to protect people who have not requested a public meeting to discuss confidential real estate acquisitions.
Farnam Street to close Friday morning for streetcar work
Farnam Street in Omaha is scheduled to be temporarily closed Friday morning for work in the streetcar project.
The closure is set between Turner Boulevard and 33rd Street for streetcar track concrete placement. Work is expected to begin at 6 a.m. and go until 10 a.m.
City officials say the street will reopen once the last truck has finished.
The full streetcar system is still on track to open by fall 2028.
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