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Colorado judge temporarily blocks Kroger-Albertsons grocery ‘megamerger’
A Colorado judge has issued an order temporarily blocking the proposed $24.6 billion merger between the nation’s two largest supermarket chains ahead of an antitrust trial in state court set to begin in September. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser sued in February to block the merger between grocery giant Kroger, which operates King Soopers and City […]
Nebraska Supreme Court upholds law restricting abortion and trans health care for minors
LINCOLN — The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday protected the Legislature’s prerogative to decide which bills are related, allowing the last-minute combination of a stricter abortion ban and restrictions on the treatment options of trans minors. Planned Parenthood, represented by ACLU of Nebraska, had argued that Legislative Bill 574 had merged two unrelated ideas that […]
Lawmakers introduce Gov. Pillen’s property tax plan, which would require legislation in 2025
LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen’s property tax proposals were officially introduced Thursday in the Nebraska Legislature, which included a major tax credit program instead of reducing school district tax rates to provide relief. State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, the Legislature’s Revenue Committee chair, introduced Legislative Bill 1 on Thursday on Pillen’s behalf. While the […]
Lawmakers propose decade-long plan to reduce Nebraska K-12 property tax rates
LINCOLN — A new K-12 school funding proposal from a bipartisan segment of five urban and rural Nebraska lawmakers is being pitched as an alternative approach to provide tax relief. State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, a former school board member, introduced Legislative Bill 9 on Thursday. She has nicknamed the proposal “Lower the Levy Cap” […]
25 states file emergency appeal to U.S. Supreme Court to halt EPA’s carbon rule
Attorneys general in nearly 25 states, including Nebraska’s Mike Hilgers, have sent an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to immediately halt a Biden administration rule that they say threatens to shutter the country’s remaining fleet of coal-fired power plants. The emergency appeal to stay the Environmental Protection Agency’s plans to require […]
Federal judge blocks updated Title IX rule in Arkansas lawsuit
A Missouri federal judge on Wednesday halted implementation of a Biden administration rule that extends protections for LGBTQ students, adding to the number of U.S. courts that have issued similar orders. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel of the Eastern District of Missouri came in a lawsuit filed on May 7 by […]
A guide to Nebraska’s property tax relief special session beginning Thursday
LINCOLN — Thursday is officially game day for Gov. Jim Pillen’s special session on property taxes: a high-risk, high-reward moment for the first-term governor who has vowed, if necessary, to keep lawmakers in Lincoln “ ‘til Christmas.” State senators will convene at 10 a.m. Thursday for the first of three days of bill introductions, all […]
Defense secretary orders review of Wounded Knee Massacre medals
The medals awarded to soldiers who participated in the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre will be subjected to a review, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Wednesday. The department said the review’s purpose is “to ensure no awardees were recognized for conduct inconsistent with the nation’s highest military honor.” The move comes after years of activism […]
In Capitol address, Israeli leader calls for U.S. backing to defeat Hamas
WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised victory over Hamas militants and said he knows “America has our back” during a joint meeting of Congress Wednesday that drew thousands of protesters and sparked a boycott from some Democrats who oppose the Israeli government’s monthslong offensive in Gaza. “Our enemies are your enemies, our fight […]
Nebraska Gov. Pillen formally calls special session for property tax relief
Lincoln — Gov. Jim Pillen on Wednesday officially called state lawmakers back to Lincoln in just one day to address a host of items related to property tax relief. The long-awaited proclamation comes months after a previous Pillen-backed plan for tax relief failed to garner enough legislative support to pass. Beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, […]
Pillen promotes property tax plan to Nebraska school leaders
KEARNEY — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen spent the morning before his special session on property tax relief pitching his proposal for the state takeover of K-12 funding to an audience that might not embrace it: school administrators. District superintendents and school leaders gathered in Kearney this week for an administrators conference. Wednesday focused on the […]
America must do whatever it takes to prevent a looming crisis induced by low-cost Chinese EVs
President Joe Biden has taken important action to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum shipped from Mexico but made elsewhere. The threat of these materials streaming into the United States made it necessary to take the step in order to check China’s predatory trade practices. We’re likely going to need the same action on automobiles. […]
‘We are not his slaves’: Lawmakers demand respect before a property tax special session
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 […]
Nebraska AG Hilgers joins opposition to reclassifying weed as less-dangerous drug
LINCOLN — Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers sent a letter this week from 11 red states arguing that the Biden administration should not reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to the lesser classification of Schedule III. The attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, South Carolina and South Dakota joined […]
Gov. Pillen clarifies property tax relief plan as special session nears
LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and his staff clarified key concepts of his property tax relief plan Monday ahead of this week’s special session. Pillen outlined seven values in a “statement of principles” that he wants lawmakers to consider regarding sales taxes. That comes as lawmakers will approach a list of likely more than 100 […] The post Gov. Pillen clarifies property tax relief plan as special session nears appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Nebraska push for winner-take-all will wait in line after property tax relief
LINCOLN — Nebraska Republicans who want to change how the state awards its Electoral College votes before the presidential election this fall will have to wait a little longer. Gov. Jim Pillen’s office confirmed Monday that his written call for this week’s special session will focus on property taxes alone and won’t include winner-take-all. Pillen […] The post Nebraska push for winner-take-all will wait in line after property tax relief appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Flurry of 100+ new laws taking effect in Nebraska
LINCOLN — A flurry of new state laws took effect Friday, establishing new policies for firearms in small schools, launching Parole Board reforms and expanding open government and voting rights. Of the 150 bills signed into law this year, more than 100 became effective last week. Some took effect in the spring while others won’t get […] The post Flurry of 100+ new laws taking effect in Nebraska appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Noise, chaos, violence require a pause
As America contends with an attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and a sitting president’s momentous decision not to seek re-election, we need to find the reset button. The country could use a deep breath, a count to 10, a break from the 24-hour news and noise cycle. We could use some time to put […] The post Noise, chaos, violence require a pause appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Overflow crowd turns out for lawmaker-led Omaha event on Pillen plan, property tax relief
OMAHA — About 300 people turned out for a “listening session” in Nebraska’s biggest city Sunday, many taking aim at Gov. Jim Pillen’s ideas on property tax relief and at him for skipping Omaha on his earlier 26-city tour to seek support. The governor did not attend the lawmaker-led event during which seven state senators […] The post Overflow crowd turns out for lawmaker-led Omaha event on Pillen plan, property tax relief appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
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