Molly Ashford

6 days ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Molly Ashford

Nearly 1,800 people in Nebraska prisons will receive earlier parole eligibility dates — or become parole eligible for the first time — after a Friday decision from the Nebraska Supreme Court. The decision reversed a lower court’s ruling that parts of LB50, a comprehensive criminal justice reform effort passed by the Nebraska Legislature in 2023, were unconstitutional. LB50 accelerated parole eligibility for certain offenders and created a geriatric parole program.

1 week ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Molly Ashford

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced a new grant program on Monday aimed at attracting livestock veterinarians to practice in rural Nebraska. The Nebraska Rural Veterinary Grant Program will provide up to 13 new veterinary graduates with $150,000 if they accept a job in rural Nebraska with 80% or more of their practice dedicated to treating “production animals,” or livestock. The awardees must agree to continue practicing in rural Nebraska for eight years.

1 week ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Molly Ashford

Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have received a $2.3 million grant to explore selectively breeding beef cattle to lower methane emissions. UNL is the only U.S. university to receive a grant through the $27 million international project. The initiative is funded by the Bezos Earth Fund, a philanthropic effort of billionaire Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, and the Global Methane Hub, an international philanthropic organization focused on reducing methane emissions.

3 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Molly Ashford

The Nebraska Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday in a case likely to determine if a person must violate a law before they have standing to challenge the law in court. The case stems from a lawsuit brought by gun owners against the City of Lincoln over an ordinance banning concealed weapons on city-owned properties. A Lancaster County judge dismissed the lawsuit, finding the petitioners lacked standing because they had not been prosecuted or imminently threatened with prosecution.

3 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Molly Ashford

City Council shakeupOnly two of Omaha’s seven city council districts had competitive races with more than two candidates: District 4 in South Omaha and District 2 in North Omaha. In District 4, incumbent Ron Hug had a commanding lead with 2,538 votes by 10:25 p.m. The race for second place was closer, with Andrew Adams recording 1,126 votes and Gilbert Ayala recording 1,098 - a difference of just 28 votes.