Nebraska
‘We are not his slaves’: Lawmakers demand respect before a property tax special session • Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers blasted Gov. Jim Pillen on Tuesday night for his “blatant disrespect” to the Legislature in not yet formally calling a special session to address what many have called the state’s property tax “crisis.”
Pillen has said for a month that he intends to call senators back to Lincoln this Thursday to iron out property tax relief ideas. Most recently, he has said the “Nebraska Plan” he’s worked on throughout the summer would result in major savings to taxpayers, with up to 50% savings in property taxes for the average Nebraskan. Many senators have questioned whether that would be the case or if property tax savings would be undercut by a broadened sales tax base.
Lawmakers were unsuccessful in passing a previous Pillen-backed property tax plan during the regular legislative session, which ended April 18, so Pillen immediately pivoted to a special session for the summer. However, he hasn’t yet issued a proclamation to do so, as he is required to do under the Nebraska Constitution.
That document must specify when lawmakers are to return to Lincoln and for which topics legislation can be introduced.
‘We are not his slaves’
State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha wrote in an email to all 48 of his colleagues shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday that state government is composed of three independent branches, which should respect each other’s roles.
But with fewer than 48 hours until a special session, Wayne said, lawmakers didn’t have the necessary information to do their jobs.
“I am compelled to express my profound disappointment and frustration with the Governor’s blatant disrespect in failing to call a special session in a timely and responsible manner,” Wayne wrote.
“We are not his slaves to be summoned at his whim,” Wayne continued. “We have families and lives, and this lack of consideration is unacceptable.”
Wayne said that to solve the problem of rising property taxes, lawmakers must ensure they can collaborate effectively. He and other lawmakers, such as State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar, have voiced concern that Pillen’s proclamation could exclude ideas they’re working on to overhaul the state’s tax system.
Among those are ideas to legalize and tax online sports betting or marijuana sales, which Wayne said he is considering bringing.
Slama has said she’s working on legislation but declined to share details.
Multiple senators have confirmed to the Nebraska Examiner that dozens of bills — more than 80 — are being prepped by legislative staff ahead of the special session.
Special session schedule
Pillen first issued a “save-the-date” on June 17 for the special session, to be held between July 26 and Aug. 15. A week later, he landed on July 25 as the starting date, and Speaker John Arch of La Vista offered a suggested schedule for the special session.
Under that schedule, lawmakers would introduce bills within the scope of Pillen’s call for three straight days this week, Thursday through Saturday. No bills could be introduced after that, per legislative rules.
Full-day hearings would start next Monday on the bills introduced.
“This issue of property tax has been something we’ve been working on for a long time, and not this session of the Legislature, but for a long time,” Arch said.
Wayne, chair of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, said that during regular legislative sessions, committee chairs provide a “basic level of respect” by working with other lawmakers to schedule hearings. Wayne said Arch also helps in providing advanced notice of daily agendas.
Regardless of if or when Pillen formally calls a special session, Wayne said, lawmakers should demand a week’s notice before a special session begins and otherwise should adjourn “sine die.” Such a vote requires a simple majority of those present to pass. If successful, it would send lawmakers home unless the governor chose to issue another call for a special session at a later date.
It’s unclear how many lawmakers will attend the first day of the session. Arch has been contacting lawmakers to ensure that at least 25 of the 49 senators show up to meet quorum.
Previous special sessions
Since 1940, considering 36 special sessions for the Unicameral, Nebraska governors have, on average, given at least seven days’ notice between when a proclamation is issued and the time senators are called to meet in Lincoln, according to the Legislature’s records.
Previous governors called lawmakers back just one day after issuing the proclamation three times: Gov. Bob Kerrey, in 1988, and Gov. Val Peterson, for two special sessions in 1952. Gov. Kay Orr gave the longest notice in 1988, at 37 days.
Former Gov. Pete Ricketts gave 17 days’ notice before the 2021 special session on redistricting; Gov. Dave Heinemann gave one week’s notice before a 2011 special session on oil pipelines.
“If that is too daunting for some,” Wayne continued, he suggested lawmakers should meet Thursday but at least recess until Aug. 1, giving senators one week to draft bills within the scope of the session.
“It is time we assert our independence and demand the respect we deserve,” Wayne said.
Speaker leaves scheduling door open
Arch agreed that any special session is a “serious sacrifice” for many senators who must earn a living outside of their elected duties as “citizen legislators” with annual salaries of $12,000.
Wayne, an attorney, noted that his trials and court hearings can’t proceed until an official “call” has been sent.
“He has points in what he brings out,” Arch said of Wayne.
Arch said lawmakers will “wait and see” for the proclamation, though they shouldn’t anticipate that the topics they’re working on related to property taxes will be excluded. Senators will police themselves in determining what is within the scope of the session, Arch previously told the Examiner.
Asked about Wayne’s suggested schedule, Arch left the door open. He wants to see what Pillen’s proclamation contains and what bills are introduced. He also wants to consider how any schedule change could further disrupt lawmakers’ lives.
“The further you push this out, the more weeks are impacted. We’ll have to make that call,” he said.
Arch described Pillen’s outlined property tax proposal as a “framework” that doesn’t have all the details and said that will certainly be part of the discussion in solving “the property tax crisis.”
The speaker said many Legislatures have come up to the plate to address that crisis but backed away because reforms always involve “very politically difficult decisions.”
“Decisions that affect a large number of people that, unless you see the big picture, and if you’re only focusing on one piece of the plan and not the whole picture, it’s just very different,” Arch said. “It’s just very easy to just say, ‘No. No, that’s a bad idea.’”
But put together, Arch said, the ideas could provide a way forward.
“Maybe we can come together and have some significant impact,” he continued.
Lawmakers echo criticisms
State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard was among a handful of lawmakers to voice support for Wayne’s suggestions, adding that “perhaps after Labor Day” would work to reconvene.
State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha thanked Wayne “for expressing so clearly what many are feeling.” She led a group of lawmakers in hosting public listening sessions in Omaha and Lincoln last Sunday and Monday after Pillen hosted town halls in 26 smaller cities across the state.
“I would welcome the opportunity to adjourn after the first day until such time that our deliberative body had appropriate notice for undertaking a special session,” Cavanaugh wrote.
Slama said she “entirely” agreed with Wayne and said the “lack of transparency and timeliness” had “compromised the integrity of the Legislature as a co-equal branch of government.”
“It is incumbent upon Speaker Arch, as the leader of this branch of government, to demand the minimal level of respect of having enough time to draft bills to properly conduct the special session,” Slama wrote back. “The integrity of the institution depends on it.”
State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, who has served in three special sessions during her tenure, said the governor is “well within his legal right” to delay calling the session until the last possible moment, though it might not be a “recipe for success.”
She cautioned that now is not the time for “creative procedural distractions” that, while important, could reflect poorly on the institution.
Conrad said procedural options should remain on the table for the future but told her colleagues they shouldn’t back away from a plan that she believes “will collapse naturally under its own weight when subjected to public analysis and engagement.”
“I look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate that indeed our Founders were right to be skeptical of an all powerful Executive and democracy should remain inconvenient to bad ideas.”
Pillen’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the emails.
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On Saturday afternoon (3 p.m. CT, Peacock), No. 13 Illinois (8-2, 1-0 Big Ten) will host No. 23 Nebraska (10-0, 1-0 Big Ten) in Champaign for an early-season ranked-on-ranked Big Ten showdown.
The Cornhuskers made their season debut in the AP poll this Monday. Two days later, they dismantled – by 30 points – a Wisconsin club that entered the season ranked in the top 25, knocking off the Badgers 90-60 in Lincoln.
Blood in the water. 🦈📹https://t.co/LKzCqN3tcz
— Nebraska Men’s Basketball (@HuskerMBB) December 11, 2025
ESPN’s matchup predictor makes its pick for Illinois-Nebraska
Yet on Saturday, according to ESPN’s analytics, the odds are not at all in Nebraska’s favor. The matchup predictor gives Illinois a 77.5 percent chance of staving off the visitors this weekend.
And it makes sense for two key reasons: 1) Home-court advantage. Playing at home, especially in Big Ten action, already gives any team a massive leg up. For example, the Illini, despite losing 14 conference games over the past two seasons, have just five league losses on their home floor during that stretch.
2) Illinois is really good.
The AP poll doesn’t always reflect reality. Both of these clubs may, in fact, be better than their respective rankings in that poll. Nevertheless, the difference between the No. 20 team and the No. 25 team isn’t nearly as drastic as the difference between the No. 5 and No. 10 team.
The Illini should absolutely dominate the Cornhuskers on the glass. Given the relative shortcomings of Brad Underwood’s squad in that department in its past few outings, it’s possible the margin is closer than it should be, but Illinois will undoubtedly control the boards to at least some extent.
And given the level the Illini defense has been operating at, specifically on first attempts in each possession, the Cornhuskers are going to find points extremely tough to come by. Offensively, Illinois will surely rely heavily on its talent once again, staying away from any complex schematic design and simply letting its players operate.
As the old adage goes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And with an Illinois offense currently ranked No. 5 in KenPom in terms of efficiency, it very clearly isn’t broken.
As Nebraska has done all season thus far to its opponents, Fred Hoiberg’s unit figures to make the Illini appear somewhat less than. But between the size and talent disparity, not to mention the home-floor advantage, Illinois will still very likely put an end to Nebraska’s exceptional undefeated start – even if it is a tighter battle than the Illini would like.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KSNB) – One lucky player who bought a Nebraska Pick 4 ticket for the Wednesday, Dec. 10, drawing is holding a ticket worth $3,125.
The ticket was sold at Pump & Pantry No. 16 at 109 Lincoln Avenue in York. The winning numbers from Wednesday’s Nebraska Pick 4 drawing were 02, 00, 01, 05.
Winning Nebraska Lottery tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Tickets with total prize amounts of $501 to $19,999 must be claimed by mail or at a regional lottery claim center. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at nelottery.com or by calling 800-587-5200.
Nebraska Pick 4 is a daily lotto game from the Nebraska Lottery. Players select four numbers, each from a separate set of digits from 0 through 9, for a chance to win up to $6,000. Players choose one of six bet types to set their play style and potential prizes. The odds of winning the $3,125 prize in Nebraska Pick 4 are 1 in 10,000.
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LINCOLN, Neb. — One month ago, on the heels of a breakthrough performance by Emmett Johnson against UCLA, Nebraska launched a Heisman Trophy push for the junior running back.
Johnson enjoyed the limelight. Fans flocked to see him during an appearance in downtown Lincoln and at the high school championship games inside Memorial Stadium. He traveled home to Minneapolis during the Huskers’ bye week and visited his high school, Academy of Holy Angels. He had stopped in previously, but this trip was different.
“It was like a celebrity came to the school,” Holy Angels coach Jim Gunderson said.
In the final two games of the regular season with Nebraska, Johnson rushed for 320 yards, but the Huskers lost them in ugly fashion against Penn State and Iowa to cap a 7-5 regular season. As fast as the Heisman campaign began, it was over — but worthwhile, nonetheless.
Johnson ran this season in part so that running backs at Nebraska who follow him can fly. He leaves Nebraska with a sterling legacy.
On Wednesday, Johnson became the first Nebraska player to receive first-team All-America mentions since linebacker Lavonte David in 2011 — and the fourth running back in the past 70 years, matching Mike Rozier (1982 and ’83), Jarvis Redwine (1980) and Jeff Kinney (1971). His final year ranks among the top five in school history by a running back. Stack it alongside Rozier’s 1983 Heisman season, Lawrence Phillips in 1994, Ahman Green in 1997 and Ameer Abdullah in 2013.
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule and his staff aim to use Johnson’s success to help bring backs to Lincoln who can finish what he started.
“It’s very much not in vogue anymore not to wait your turn,” Rhule said. “Sometimes, it’s like, ‘I’ll just go here and do this, just go there.’ But guys like Emmett had chances. And they stayed. And he deserves everything that he’s getting.”
Johnson was named the Big Ten running back of the year, a first at Nebraska. Last Friday, he declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, foregoing his final season of eligibility and the Dec. 31 Las Vegas Bowl.
High praise for the B1G’s top back@Emmett21Johnson pic.twitter.com/g7EhpUE2EP
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) December 11, 2025
What separated Johnson this year?
• His 1,130 yards in Big Ten play were the most by a Power 4 back in conference play. He stands alone with 1995 Heisman winner Eddie George as the only Big Ten players to total 1,100 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards in one season of league play.
• Johnson led the nation by accounting for 40.8 percent of his team’s total yards.
• He was the fourth FBS player since 2017 to average 120 yards rushing and 30 yards receiving.
• His 1,821 yards from scrimmage and 1,451 rushing ranked second and third, respectively, in the FBS.
In form true to his roots, Johnson proved wrong skeptics who believed he could not handle 20 carries per game in Big Ten play.
Does everyone realize how freaking good Emmett Johnson is for @HuskerFootball ? Dude is a straight balla. Quick, decisive, tough, great as a receiver. One of the most underrated RB’s in the Country!
— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) November 28, 2025
“He has always had that chip to prove people wrong and be great,” Gunderson said. “This is how he envisioned it going, and he wasn’t going to be denied.”
Four years ago, on a Sunday in mid-December, less than a week before the signing period opened, Johnson accepted a Nebraska scholarship offer. Ron Brown extended it.
A month earlier, Scott Frost, the Nebraska coach from 2018 to 2022, fired four offensive assistants. Brown, with 24 years of experience as a Nebraska assistant under three head coaches, was elevated late in that season from offensive analyst to running backs coach. He reviewed tape of Johnson, who scored 42 touchdowns and rushed for 2,500 yards at Holy Angels in 2021.
And Brown wondered why no big school had snatched up Johnson.
“I was perplexed,” Brown said. “Because when I saw Emmett play, I thought, ‘This guy is special.’”
Brown had recruited Abdullah from high school in Alabama to Nebraska in 2011. And Brown coached Abdullah in his back-to-back 1,600-yard seasons as a junior and senior before an NFL career that continues this year in its 11th season. In Johnson, Brown saw some of Abdullah’s vision, change of direction, endurance and ability to recover.
Brown quizzed Gunderson, the Holy Angels coach, about Johnson.
“I probably threw 100 questions at him,” Brown said, “looking for something that might be a little bit off, something that I had missed.”
Nothing.
“Coach Brown could just see the intangibles,” Gunderson said, “the stuff that isn’t measured. He saw the potential and the kind of kid who was going to work and who believed in himself.”
Johnson started six games as a redshirt freshman in 2023. He started five in 2024 and found his rhythm in the Nebraska offense when Dana Holgorsen arrived as coordinator last season. In December 2024, Johnson considered entering the transfer portal.
Holgorsen’s commitment helped get him to stay.
“ I think he just wanted to know that somebody had a plan for him,” Gunderson said.
The plan was never to leave Nebraska early. Johnson simply wanted the chance to receive a heavy workload.
He got 32 offensive touches against Cincinnati in the 2025 opener, 24 against Michigan, 23 against Maryland and 29 against Northwestern. In November, after quarterback Dylan Raiola was injured, Johnson stacked three games with 31 opportunities apiece and a 27-touch effort against Penn State.
“This dude really did what he said he was going to do,” Nebraska tight end Luke Lindenmeyer said.
His reliability never came into question.
“I’m so proud of Emmett, man,” senior cornerback Ceyair Wright said. “I think his success is a product of who he is as a person, how he treats people and the work that he puts in.”
Emmett Johnson shouldered a heavy load late in the season, garnering 27-plus touches in each of his final five games for Nebraska. (Harry How / Getty Images)
His humility and care for others rate as Johnson’s most admirable trait. Johnson said he wanted to share credit with his teammates for the accomplishments of this season. He rushed for 177 yards in the first half against Iowa and 217 for the game. But he stressed in the aftermath that he felt badly for older teammates who played their final games in Lincoln on Black Friday.
Turns out, he was among them. Johnson takes pride, he said, in building a new reputation for Nebraska running backs — more than a decade after Abdullah departed, three decades after Green and 42 years after Rozier’s Heisman.
“It matters a lot,” Johnson said, “because Nebraska is a special place. I want to be able to have recruits look at this place and know it’s special. It is special. I’m blessed to be the one doing that and helping. It’s bigger than just football.
“There are a lot of great humans here. That’s what I want to help push.”
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