Tag Archives: Nebraska

Omaha Man Who Killed BLM Protester Commits Suicide

The Omaha World-Herald reports: The surreal and sordid ordeal involving a white Omaha bar owner and a young Black Omaha man ended Sunday with a staggering development. Jake Gardner — awaiting arrest after a grand jury in Omaha indicted him last week — shot himself outside a medical clinic in suburban Portland, Oregon, two law enforcement officials told The World-Herald. …

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NE Gov To Drop Most COVID Restrictions Amid Spike

Omaha’s NBC News affiliate reports: Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts will end nearly all of his state’s social-distancing restrictions on Monday even as the number of new coronavirus cases has trended upward over the last few months. Ricketts said all counties except Lancaster County would move into Phase 4, which loosens restrictions and allows outdoor venues to have 100% occupancy and …

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NE Gov: No Money For Counties That Require Masks

The Omaha World-Herald reports: At his regular coronavirus press conferences, Gov. Pete Ricketts makes a point of urging Nebraskans to wear a mask when they go to a store. But when it comes to the state’s 93 courthouses and other county offices, he doesn’t want local officials to require masks. In fact, he’s told counties that they won’t receive any …

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Nebraska Gov Declares Day Of Prayer Against Abortion

The Christian Post reports: Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a proclamation Wednesday declaring Jan. 22 a “statewide day of prayer” as abortion rights advocates prepare to celebrate the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. “I, Pete Ricketts, Governor of the State of Nebraska, do hereby proclaim the 22nd day of January 2020 …

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NEBRASKA: GOP Gov “Horrified” To Learn Top Staffer Is Racist Who Posted “Frag Grenades At Fag Parades”

Talking Points Memo reports: Bennett Bressman has “more compassion for small dogs than illegals,” uses the n-word freely and claims his “whole political ideology revolves around harming journalists.” Bressman also happens to have served as statewide field director for Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts’ successful 2018 reelection campaign. A shocking trove of leaked private messages Bressman sent over Discord, a web …

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NEBRASKA: Bill To Protect LGBT Workers Fails After GOP Reps Claim “Reverse Discrimination” Against Christians

The Lincoln Journal Star reports: It wasn’t exactly a vote on the bill that would give protections to LGBTQ workers, but it was a vote that ended debate and the bill’s chances of passing this session. The bill (LB627) that would ensure workers couldn’t be fired or discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or gender identity will be put …

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Omaha Archdiocese Names 38 Priests For Sex Crimes

The Omaha World-Herald reports: Shock and questions abound after the Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha made public on Friday the names of 38 clergy members accused of sexual misdeeds with minors. The archdiocese said “substantiated claims of sexual abuse of, or sexual misconduct with, a minor” had been made against 34 priests and four deacons on a list it provided to …

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Nebraska Tourism Pitch: “There’s Nothing To Do Here”

The Omaha World-Herald reports: Nebraska’s new tourism marketing campaign concedes that the state is a bit boring, yet it hopes to lure travelers by highlighting that you can escape noisy cities and create your own fun. “Nebraska Nice” is out. “Honestly, it’s not for everyone” is the new tagline in ads. The new ad pitch, which leans on self-deprecating humor, …

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Sixteen States Petition US Supreme Court: Companies Should Be Able To Fire Workers Just For Being LGBT

Bloomberg Law reports: A group of 16 states urged the U.S. Supreme Court Aug. 23 to rule that companies can fire workers based on their sexual orientation and gender identity without violating federal workplace discrimination law. The states, led by Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson, asked the justices to overturn an appeals court decision against a Michigan funeral home that …

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NEBRASKA: Alleged Neo-Nazi Charged With Terrorism After Failed October Attempt To Derail Amtrak Train

The Omaha World-Herald reports: A Missouri man with connections to white supremacists has been charged with terrorism after authorities said he brought a cross-country Amtrak train to a halt last fall in rural Nebraska. Taylor M. Wilson of suburban St. Louis intended to hurt passengers, authorities said. The 26-year-old has been charged in federal court in Lincoln with terrorism attacks …

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NEBRASKA: State Supreme Court Upholds Ruling That Struck Down Nation’s Last Ban On LGBT Adoption

The Omaha World Herald reports: The Nebraska Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision Friday ordering the state to pay nearly $174,000 in attorneys fees to those who successfully challenged a policy that denied the placement of foster children with same-sex couples. The high court rejected the appeal of Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson, who said the same-sex couples who …

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Liberty Counsel: We Just Killed Nebraska’s LGBT Rights Bill (Except The Bill Isn’t Actually Quite Dead Yet)

The Lincoln Journal Star reports: A bill that would prohibit workplace discrimination for those people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender got its three hours in the sun Thursday. But no vote was taken before senators adjourned at noon for their long weekend. If the bill’s supporters can show they have 33 votes, the number needed to break …

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NEBRASKA: State GOP Senator Resigns After His Tweet Suggesting Women’s Marchers Were Too Ugly To Rape

The Associated Press reports: A Nebraska state legislator known for his blunt, occasionally offensive manner, who was fined for having cybersex using a state computer, resigned Wednesday after he retweeted a comment that implied participants at a women’s march were too unattractive to be sexually assaulted. Republican Sen. Bill Kintner announced at a news conference in the state Capitol that …

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NEBRASKA: GOP Rep Deletes Twitter Account After Suggesting Women’s Marchers Are Too Ugly To Rape

Remember last year when the governor of Nebraska called for this guy to resign after sexually explicit Skype videos starring himself were found on his government computer? The Omaha World-Herald reports: Papillion State Sen. Bill Kintner has landed in hot water again, this time over his use of Twitter. On Sunday, the senator retweeted a photograph and comment about the …

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NEBRASKA: Federal Court Rules Pastafarianism Not A Real Religion, Denies Pirate Costume To Inmate

Via Mediaite: A federal judge in Nebraska has ruled that the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSMism) is not a real religion, delivering a setback to practicing Pastafarians around the country. In an order filed Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge John M. Gerrard wrote that: “The Court finds that FSMism is not a ‘religion’ within the meaning of the …

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Clinton Wins Louisiana, Sanders Takes Nebraska

More Super Saturday results: Hillary Clinton has won the Louisiana primary and Bernie Sanders took the Nebraska caucus. Speaking the Associated Press, tonight Sanders expressed optimism for winning the upcoming “very big” races in New York, California, Oregon and Washington.

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OPEN THREAD: Super Saturday Voting

The GOP holds caucuses today in Kansas, Kentucky, and Maine. Democrats hold their caucuses in Nebraska and Kansas. Both parties have their primaries in Louisiana. If you are voting or caucusing today, weigh in below and share your experience.

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NEBRASKA: Federal Judge Issues Permanent Injunction Against State’s Now Moot Ban On Gay Marriage

The same federal judge who last year struck down Nebraska’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage today issued a permanent injunction against the now moot law. The move was largely a formality but Judge Joseph Bataillon’s order comes after gay parents complained that the state had barred them from listing both their names on the birth certificates of their children.

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NEBRASKA: Marriage Ban Repeal Might Go To Voters

Via the Associated Press: Nebraska’s defunct same-sex marriage ban could once again go before voters under a measure that seeks to remove it from the state constitution. Sen. Burke Harr of Omaha told a legislative committee Wednesday that his proposed amendment would ensure the constitution stays consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that allowed same-sex marriage. Voters approved the …

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NEBRASKA: Woman Charged With Child Abuse For Forcing Sons To Watch Mommie Dearest

The abuse charge comes because the kids were duct-taped to their chairs. This case made a bit of news back in August when the boyfriend was arrested and now the mother has been charged too. The Smoking Gun has the arrest details: A Nebraska woman whose two young boys were forced to watch the film “Mommie Dearest” while duct-taped to …

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