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3 weeks ago | 
news-journal.com | Zach Wendling |Cindy Gonzalez
State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, center, talks with State Sens. Danielle Conrad and George Dungan, both of Lincoln. April 10, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen late Wednesday vetoed a measure passed just hours earlier to end a lifetime ban preventing some Nebraskans from accessing SNAP benefits. The veto of Legislative Bill 319, from State Sen.
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1 month ago | 
columbustelegram.com | Zach Wendling |Zach Wendling
State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn, center, flanked by State Sens. Beau Ballard of Lincoln and Mike McDonnell of Omaha. Aug. 20, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Lawmakers gave wide final approval Wednesday to two measures designed to shrink the state’s looming budget deficit by $136 million. The two bills are Legislative Bill 650, from State Sen. Brad von Gillern of the Elkhorn area, related to trimming business incentives, and LB 645, from State Sen.
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1 month ago | 
starherald.com | Zach Wendling |Zach Wendling
Smoke plumes from the Plum Creek Fire in north-central Nebraska's Brown County in the immediate aftermath of the firefight that began April 21, 2025. (Courtesy of Ann Moylan Fiala, Ainsworth Volunteer Fire Department)LINCOLN — The “Plum Creek Fire” in north-central Nebraska is now 100% contained as of Wednesday morning, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency confirmed.
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1 month ago | 
starherald.com | Zach Wendling |Zach Wendling
A marijuana plant at the Dakota Herb grow operation near Tea, SD. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)LINCOLN — A legislative proposal to crack down on “synthetic” consumable hemp or other THC products advanced Monday over some opponents’ preference for regulations and not a “de facto ban.” Legislative Bill 316, from State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of the Millard area, would redefine most “hemp” products to mean “marijuana,” putting them legally in line with existing enforcement and penalties.
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1 month ago | 
kearneyhub.com | Zach Wendling |Zach Wendling
Crews battle the Plum Creek Fire in north-central Nebraska's Brown County. (Courtesy of Ann Moylan Fiala, Ainsworth Volunteer Fire Department)LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen enacted an emergency declaration and statewide burn ban Wednesday amid serious drought conditions and a raging wildfire in north-central Nebraska.
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1 month ago | 
fremonttribune.com | Zach Wendling |Zach Wendling
State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln. April 8, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)LINCOLN — State lawmakers are one debate away from adopting two bills backed by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen meant to increase online safety for minors and curb student phone use at school. Senators on Wednesday, by voice vote, advanced Legislative Bill 504, the “Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act” by State Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln.
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2 months ago | 
theindependent.com | Zach Wendling |Zach Wendling
State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, center, hosts a news conference on property taxes. Behind him are, from left: State Sens. Margo Juarez of Omaha, Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, Tom Brandt of Plymouth, Jana Hughes of Seward and Glen Meyer of Pender. Jan. 9, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — The effort to plug a “hole” left behind from Nebraska’s 2024 special session on property taxes — a “missing year” of tax relief — will likely not move forward this year. State Sen.
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2 months ago | 
theindependent.com | Zach Wendling |Zach Wendling
The Central Community College campus in Grand Island. (Courtesy of Nebraska Community College Association)LINCOLN — Tax credits to offset property taxes owed to local K-12 school districts are now automatically applied, but Nebraskans still need to file for income tax credits for community colleges for additional relief each year. State lawmakers opted to “front-load” the in August, beginning with tax statements that went out in December, lowering property tax obligations.
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2 months ago | 
columbustelegram.com | Zach Wendling |Zach Wendling
Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, leads a news conference highlighting 2025 priorities for teachers statewide. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Nebraska’s teachers union will no longer oppose a governor-backed bill to tweak the state’s school retirement plan, partly due to an amendment that could also benefit teachers.
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2 months ago | 
nptelegraph.com | Zach Wendling |Zach Wendling
Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, leads a news conference highlighting 2025 priorities for teachers statewide. Jan. 28, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Nebraska’s teachers union will no longer oppose a governor-backed bill to tweak the state’s school retirement plan, partly due to an amendment that could also benefit teachers.
