LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen proclaimed January as Mentoring Month in Nebraska in front of an audience of state mentorship organizations and Miss Nebraska Raechel Warren whose platform was mentorship. Organizations in attendance included 100 Black Men of Omaha, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lincoln, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands, Kids Can, MentorNebraska, Partnership for Kids, TeamMates and Visionary Youth.

After signing the proclamation, Gov. Pillen awarded specially designed mentorship challenge coins to 25 of the State of Nebraska’s top public servant youth mentors. Following the awarding of the challenge coin, each honoree received a photo with Gov. Jim Pillen, First Lady Suzanne Pillen and Miss Nebraska Raechel Warren.

“One of the best things we can do for kids is ensure that they have a mentor in their life who will listen to them and provide guidance,“ said Gov. Pillen. “I am pleased to proclaim January as Mentoring Month in Nebraska and I am proud of the public servants being recognized today for their service as youth mentors.”

Melissa Mayo, executive director of MENTORNebraska, emphasized that more than 2,500 Nebraska kids still need mentors. She encouraged Nebraskans to get involved with mentoring youth across the state.

"National Mentoring Month is an opportunity to celebrate the powerful impact of mentoring and raise awareness about the critical need for mentors,” Mayo said. “The Governor's Public Servant Youth Mentoring Program stands as a prime example of how dedicating just one hour a week of paid time off to mentor a young person can create lasting positive change throughout communities in Nebraska."

TeamMates Mentoring is one of the organizations participating in the public servant youth mentoring program. CEO DeMoine Adams of TeamMates spoke on the importance of expanding mentoring. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘what are you doing for others?’” he said.

"We’re excited to celebrate Mentoring Month in Nebraska collectively with other mentoring organizations by celebrating the power of relationships, raising awareness around the importance of mentoring, and expanding the mentoring movement across the state of Nebraska,” said Adams. “We appreciate the state for supporting mentoring by allowing their employees to volunteer their time."

Christopher McCoy, executive director of 100 Black Men of Omaha, emphasized the importance of mentorship programs rooted in cultural sensitivity and community engagement. These programs help young people see their potential reflected in mentors who share their experience.

"As we navigate an increasingly complex and polarizing world, the role of mentorship in shaping the future of our youth has never been more critical,” said McCoy. “National Mentoring Month provides a meaningful opportunity to unite in celebration of the powerful impact mentoring has on the lives of young people. When mentors actively engage with youth in their communities, they foster a sense of belonging, cultural pride, and a vision of what is possible. Mentoring is more than just guidance — it is a lifeline."

The State of Nebraska Public Servant Youth Mentoring program provides one hour of paid leave to public servants participating in an approved mentoring program. Public servants being recognized today mentored through 100 Black Men of Omaha, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands, Kids Can and TeamMates Mentoring.

“The State of Nebraska is pleased to contribute to our local communities by offering this opportunity for public servants to mentor Nebraska youth,” said State Personnel Director Sean Davis. “We are working to expand the number of mentors in the program and look for even more to be recognized for their efforts next year.”

The 25 public servants recognized with challenge coins, and their respective agencies:

Courtney Brewer, Department of Health and Human Services

Karen Krull Robart, Department of Health and Human Services

Daniell Moore, Department of Health and Human Services

Anissa Rasmussen, Department of Economic Development

Leticia Torres, Department of Health and Human Services

Jamie Adkins, Department of Health and Human Services

Lucas Atkinson, Department of Health and Human Services

Tiffany Bui, Department of Health and Human Services

Ami Dorant, Department of Health and Human Services

Jadyn Gentleman, Department of Corrections

Michele Janky, Department of Health and Human Services

Crystal L'Heureux, Department of Health and Human Services

Kayleigh Monzon, Department of Health and Human Services

Kerrin Packard, Department of Health and Human Services

Michelle Schmit Zwingman, Department of Education

Macey Van Ackeren, Department of Corrections

Tylor Watts, Department of Health and Human Services

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen proclaimed January as Mentoring Month in Nebraska in front of an audience of state mentorship organizations and Miss Nebraska Raechel Warren whose platform was mentorship. Organizations in attendance included 100 Black Men of Omaha, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lincoln, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands, Kids Can, MentorNebraska, Partnership for Kids, TeamMates and Visionary Youth.After signing the proclamation, Gov. Pillen awarded specially designed mentorship challenge coins to 25 of the State of Nebraska’s top public servant youth mentors. Following the awarding of the challenge coin, each honoree received a photo with Gov. Jim Pillen, First Lady Suzanne Pillen and Miss Nebraska Raechel Warren.“One of the best things we can do for kids is ensure that they have a mentor in their life who will listen to them and provide guidance,“ said Gov. Pillen. “I am pleased to proclaim January as Mentoring Month in Nebraska and I am proud of the public servants being recognized today for their service as youth mentors.”Melissa Mayo, executive director of MENTORNebraska, emphasized that more than 2,500 Nebraska kids still need mentors. She encouraged Nebraskans to get involved with mentoring youth across the state."National Mentoring Month is an opportunity to celebrate the powerful impact of mentoring and raise awareness about the critical need for mentors,” Mayo said. “The Governor's Public Servant Youth Mentoring Program stands as a prime example of how dedicating just one hour a week of paid time off to mentor a young person can create lasting positive change throughout communities in Nebraska."TeamMates Mentoring is one of the organizations participating in the public servant youth mentoring program. CEO DeMoine Adams of TeamMates spoke on the importance of expanding mentoring. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘what are you doing for others?’” he said."We’re excited to celebrate Mentoring Month in Nebraska collectively with other mentoring organizations by celebrating the power of relationships, raising awareness around the importance of mentoring, and expanding the mentoring movement across the state of Nebraska,” said Adams. “We appreciate the state for supporting mentoring by allowing their employees to volunteer their time."Christopher McCoy, executive director of 100 Black Men of Omaha, emphasized the importance of mentorship programs rooted in cultural sensitivity and community engagement. These programs help young people see their potential reflected in mentors who share their experience."As we navigate an increasingly complex and polarizing world, the role of mentorship in shaping the future of our youth has never been more critical,” said McCoy. “National Mentoring Month provides a meaningful opportunity to unite in celebration of the powerful impact mentoring has on the lives of young people. When mentors actively engage with youth in their communities, they foster a sense of belonging, cultural pride, and a vision of what is possible. Mentoring is more than just guidance — it is a lifeline."The State of Nebraska Public Servant Youth Mentoring program provides one hour of paid leave to public servants participating in an approved mentoring program. Public servants being recognized today mentored through 100 Black Men of Omaha, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands, Kids Can and TeamMates Mentoring.“The State of Nebraska is pleased to contribute to our local communities by offering this opportunity for public servants to mentor Nebraska youth,” said State Personnel Director Sean Davis. “We are working to expand the number of mentors in the program and look for even more to be recognized for their efforts next year.”The 25 public servants recognized with challenge coins, and their respective agencies:Courtney Brewer, Department of Health and Human ServicesAlison Kortefay, Department of EducationKaren Krull Robart, Department of Health and Human ServicesNicole Mercer, Nebraska Probation SystemDaniell Moore, Department of Health and Human ServicesAnissa Rasmussen, Department of Economic DevelopmentLeticia Torres, Department of Health and Human ServicesJamie Adkins, Department of Health and Human ServicesLucas Atkinson, Department of Health and Human ServicesTiffany Bui, Department of Health and Human ServicesTrudy Clark, Department of EducationAmi Dorant, Department of Health and Human ServicesJadyn Gentleman, Department of CorrectionsMichele Janky, Department of Health and Human ServicesCrystal L'Heureux, Department of Health and Human ServicesNicole Miller, Board of ParoleKayleigh Monzon, Department of Health and Human ServicesKerrin Packard, Department of Health and Human ServicesMichelle Schmit Zwingman, Department of EducationMacey Van Ackeren, Department of CorrectionsRuth Walla, Department of RevenueTylor Watts, Department of Health and Human ServicesCaitlyn Wensel, Nebraska State PatrolBrennan Young, Department of CorrectionsPaige Zamora, Nebraska Probation System

Governor Pillen Proclaims Mentorship in Nebraska Month, Recognizes Top Public Servant Mentors

LINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Today, Governor Jim Pillen joined state senators, county attorneys, and law enforcement officials to discuss legislation (LB 556) to fix Nebraska’s broken juvenile justice system. Senator Merv Riepe of Omaha introduced LB 556 at the request of the Governor. LB 556 was introduced in response to a dramatic rise in felonies committed by juveniles since 2017. In Douglas County alone, juvenile repeat offenders have increased by 1700% since 2017.&nbsp;

“Public safety is the highest calling of government,” said Gov. Pillen. “None of us in Nebraska want to come to the reality that we have young boys committing these violent acts. The reality is that there are violent and even deadly crimes being committed by juveniles as young as 11 and 12 years old. This is hard for us to comprehend in Nebraska. The officers and prosecutors here are seeing the impacts of it firsthand and to say it’s alarming is an understatement.”

LB 556 changes the criteria for detention to give greater authority to the courts to detain juveniles in a physically restrictive facility for the safety of the juvenile and the community. Furthermore, this legislation will require a court hearing to review juvenile placement unless waived by both parties and lower the minimum age at which a juvenile may be detained from age 13 to age 11.

For felony arrests of a juvenile, it requires a judge, in consultation with a probation officer, to make a determination about detention. Finally, LB 556 will lower the age at which a juvenile can be charged as an adult for the most serious crimes (Class I, IA, IB, IC, ID, II and IIA felonies) from age 14 to age 12.

"This bill is not about punishment—it’s about protection: for our communities, our families, and the juveniles themselves,” said Senator Riepe. “By providing safe, secure detention options and empowering judges to make case-specific decisions, we can intervene early, prevent further harm, and offer meaningful opportunities for rehabilitation. Safety and accountability go hand-in-hand, ensuring a balanced approach that reduces crime and builds a safer future for all."

Speaking on the importance of addressing the spike in serious criminal offenses by juveniles, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine thanked Governor Pillen for prioritizing this commonsense legislation that will address public safety deficiencies within our current law dealing with juveniles committing very violent crimes. “I’ve seen and met with the victims of these crimes, and I’ve seen the impact it also has on that juvenile,” said Mr. Kleine. “We need better tools to address these issues. The judge will ultimately determine whether detention is appropriate. It’s about fairness, safety, and doing what’s right for the juvenile.”

Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson added his support for LB 556. "I would like to thank Governor Pillen and Senator&nbsp;Riepe for introducing this commonsense piece of legislation,” said Sheriff Aaron Hanson. “Since 2017's Juvenile Justice reform&nbsp;efforts, we have seen a 1700% increase in repeat juvenile offenders in Douglas County alone. Current law ties the hands of parents, probation officers, police, prosecutors, and judges when it comes to keeping the public and these offenders safe. This new legislation is a transformative step that will allow Law Enforcement to better protect the public and these juvenile offenders."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737742581655.jpeg" alt="(Courtesy)" />
 <figcaption>(Courtesy)</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Today, Governor Jim Pillen joined state senators, county attorneys, and law enforcement officials to discuss legislation (LB 556) to fix Nebraska’s broken juvenile justice system. Senator Merv Riepe of Omaha introduced LB 556 at the request of the Governor. LB 556 was introduced in response to a dramatic rise in felonies committed by juveniles since 2017. In Douglas County alone, juvenile repeat offenders have increased by 1700% since 2017.&nbsp;“Public safety is the highest calling of government,” said Gov. Pillen. “None of us in Nebraska want to come to the reality that we have young boys committing these violent acts. The reality is that there are violent and even deadly crimes being committed by juveniles as young as 11 and 12 years old. This is hard for us to comprehend in Nebraska. The officers and prosecutors here are seeing the impacts of it firsthand and to say it’s alarming is an understatement.”LB 556 changes the criteria for detention to give greater authority to the courts to detain juveniles in a physically restrictive facility for the safety of the juvenile and the community. Furthermore, this legislation will require a court hearing to review juvenile placement unless waived by both parties and lower the minimum age at which a juvenile may be detained from age 13 to age 11.For felony arrests of a juvenile, it requires a judge, in consultation with a probation officer, to make a determination about detention. Finally, LB 556 will lower the age at which a juvenile can be charged as an adult for the most serious crimes (Class I, IA, IB, IC, ID, II and IIA felonies) from age 14 to age 12."This bill is not about punishment—it’s about protection: for our communities, our families, and the juveniles themselves,” said Senator Riepe. “By providing safe, secure detention options and empowering judges to make case-specific decisions, we can intervene early, prevent further harm, and offer meaningful opportunities for rehabilitation. Safety and accountability go hand-in-hand, ensuring a balanced approach that reduces crime and builds a safer future for all."Speaking on the importance of addressing the spike in serious criminal offenses by juveniles, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine thanked Governor Pillen for prioritizing this commonsense legislation that will address public safety deficiencies within our current law dealing with juveniles committing very violent crimes. “I’ve seen and met with the victims of these crimes, and I’ve seen the impact it also has on that juvenile,” said Mr. Kleine. “We need better tools to address these issues. The judge will ultimately determine whether detention is appropriate. It’s about fairness, safety, and doing what’s right for the juvenile.”Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson added his support for LB 556. "I would like to thank Governor Pillen and Senator&nbsp;Riepe for introducing this commonsense piece of legislation,” said Sheriff Aaron Hanson. “Since 2017's Juvenile Justice reform&nbsp;efforts, we have seen a 1700% increase in repeat juvenile offenders in Douglas County alone. Current law ties the hands of parents, probation officers, police, prosecutors, and judges when it comes to keeping the public and these offenders safe. This new legislation is a transformative step that will allow Law Enforcement to better protect the public and these juvenile offenders."

Governor Pillen and Senators Introduce Juvenile Justice Reform Legislation 

January 24, 2025 (Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, with the assistance of the UNL Police Department, have arrested one person after a laser strike on the NSP helicopter. Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal offense and any laser strike constitutes an in-flight emergency.

At approximately 10:00 p.m. Thursday, the NSP Aviation Support Unit was assisting the Lincoln Police Department with a pursuit of a reckless driver. As the pilot and tactical flight officer were tracking the suspect vehicle, the helicopter was struck with a green laser.

The pilot was able to determine that the laser had come from a window in a specific area of Abel Hall, on the campus of University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Officers from the UNL Police Department were then able to locate the person responsible.

A trooper arrived on scene and arrested the suspect for second degree assault. The suspect, an 18-year-old male, was lodged in Lancaster County Jail. NSP has reported the laser strike to the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Pointing a laser at an aircraft is not only a federal crime, but also extremely dangerous,” said Lieutenant Justin Grint, Commander of the NSP AirWing. “A laser strike, at the very least, takes a pilot’s attention away from the flight of the aircraft, but it can also temporarily blind a pilot.”

According to the FAA, there were 38 reported laser strike incidents in Nebraska in 2024. This is the third time in the last two months that the NSP helicopter has been struck with a laser while flying above Lincoln.

Cody ThomasNebraska State PatrolJanuary 24, 2025 (Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol, with the assistance of the UNL Police Department, have arrested one person after a laser strike on the NSP helicopter. Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal offense and any laser strike constitutes an in-flight emergency.At approximately 10:00 p.m. Thursday, the NSP Aviation Support Unit was assisting the Lincoln Police Department with a pursuit of a reckless driver. As the pilot and tactical flight officer were tracking the suspect vehicle, the helicopter was struck with a green laser.The pilot was able to determine that the laser had come from a window in a specific area of Abel Hall, on the campus of University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Officers from the UNL Police Department were then able to locate the person responsible.A trooper arrived on scene and arrested the suspect for second degree assault. The suspect, an 18-year-old male, was lodged in Lancaster County Jail. NSP has reported the laser strike to the Federal Aviation Administration.“Pointing a laser at an aircraft is not only a federal crime, but also extremely dangerous,” said Lieutenant Justin Grint, Commander of the NSP AirWing. “A laser strike, at the very least, takes a pilot’s attention away from the flight of the aircraft, but it can also temporarily blind a pilot.”According to the FAA, there were 38 reported laser strike incidents in Nebraska in 2024. This is the third time in the last two months that the NSP helicopter has been struck with a laser while flying above Lincoln.

Troopers Make Arrest After Laser Strike on NSP Helicopter

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned six (6) unsealed Indictments charging six (6) defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Brett A. Richardson, age 55, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged in a ten-count Indictment with failure to pay over to the Internal Revenue Service payroll taxes throughout calendar years 2018 to 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment on all counts.&nbsp;

Walter James Hulit, age 37, of Walthill, Nebraska, is charged with failure to register as a sex offender from at least on or about October 2024, and continuing to on or about November 18, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp;

Jal Chuar, age 29, of Omaha, Nebraska is charged with bank robbery on or about December 4, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Joshua M. Meyer, age 44, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count 1 charges Meyer with distribution of child pornography with a prior conviction beginning on or about June 27, 2023, and continuing until on or about July 17, 2023.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count 2 charges Meyer with distribution of child pornography with a prior conviction beginning on or about June 1, 2024, and continuing until on or about August 7, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Doob Tut, age 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a five-count Indictment.&nbsp; Count 1 charges Tut with conspiracy to distribute 10 grams or more of fentanyl beginning on or about October 18, 2023, and continuing to on or about October 16, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, not less than 4 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Count 2 charges Tut with distribution of 10 grams or more of fentanyl on or about November 21, 2023.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, not less than 4 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Counts 3 charges Tut with distribution of 10 grams or more of fentanyl on or about June 26, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, not less than 4 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count 4 charges Tut with being a felon in possession of a firearm on or about November 1, 2023.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, not less than 4 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count 5 charges Tut with being a felon in possession of a firearm on or about November 2, 2023.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, not less than 4 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Rodolfo Urieta-Barba, age 33, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.&nbsp; Count 1 charges Urieta-Barba with conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine beginning on or about November 13, 2024, and continuing to on or about November 21, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count 2 charges Urieta-Barba with possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about November 21, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned six (6) unsealed Indictments charging six (6) defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.Brett A. Richardson, age 55, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged in a ten-count Indictment with failure to pay over to the Internal Revenue Service payroll taxes throughout calendar years 2018 to 2021.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment on all counts.&nbsp;Walter James Hulit, age 37, of Walthill, Nebraska, is charged with failure to register as a sex offender from at least on or about October 2024, and continuing to on or about November 18, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp;Jal Chuar, age 29, of Omaha, Nebraska is charged with bank robbery on or about December 4, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Joshua M. Meyer, age 44, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count 1 charges Meyer with distribution of child pornography with a prior conviction beginning on or about June 27, 2023, and continuing until on or about July 17, 2023.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count 2 charges Meyer with distribution of child pornography with a prior conviction beginning on or about June 1, 2024, and continuing until on or about August 7, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.Doob Tut, age 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a five-count Indictment.&nbsp; Count 1 charges Tut with conspiracy to distribute 10 grams or more of fentanyl beginning on or about October 18, 2023, and continuing to on or about October 16, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, not less than 4 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.&nbsp; Count 2 charges Tut with distribution of 10 grams or more of fentanyl on or about November 21, 2023.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, not less than 4 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Counts 3 charges Tut with distribution of 10 grams or more of fentanyl on or about June 26, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, not less than 4 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count 4 charges Tut with being a felon in possession of a firearm on or about November 1, 2023.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, not less than 4 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count 5 charges Tut with being a felon in possession of a firearm on or about November 2, 2023.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, not less than 4 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.Rodolfo Urieta-Barba, age 33, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.&nbsp; Count 1 charges Urieta-Barba with conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine beginning on or about November 13, 2024, and continuing to on or about November 21, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count 2 charges Urieta-Barba with possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about November 21, 2024.&nbsp; The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than 5 years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska

Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, questioned Brooke Rollins at&nbsp;the confirmation hearing on her nomination to be Secretary of Agriculture.

During the hearing, Senator Fischer asked Rollins about her plans to hold America’s trading partners accountable, the role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in creating new export markets, and the importance of the biofuels market for agricultural producers.&nbsp;Senator Fischer also asked Rollins to commit to working with her to complete&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2024/7/fischer-advances-additional-16-million-for-construction-of-agricultural-research-service-facility-at-unl">the USDA Agricultural Research Service facility at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Innovation Campus</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Senator Fischer questions Brooke Rollins:

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Mrs. Rollins, so good to see you. I really, really appreciated you coming to the office last month, and the great discussion that we had. As you know, the agricultural industry is the economic engine of Nebraska. We grow a lot of corn and beans and wheat and sugar beets and livestock. So, we understand the necessity of having that strong economy for our state, that food security, how important it is for our country.&nbsp; And I look forward to working with you in the future on that.

Brooke Rollins:&nbsp;&nbsp;Thank you.

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;&nbsp;You noted in your testimony that we must demand strong and steady markets for our agricultural bounty. And this is a statement that I hear consistently from our producers as well. One of those really important markets for Nebraska's agriculture is biofuels.

In his day one actions, President Trump emphasized the need for our country to be energy dominant. The President has long recognized that ag producers have a role to play in producing abundant homegrown energy. And he took steps in his executive order declaring a national energy emergency so that we can continue to allow for the sale of E15 year-round. And I've long led an effort to make this policy permanent, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to deliver on that part of the President's agenda.

We know that there's going to be a number of other biofuel decisions that will be made in the coming months that will have significant impacts on the biofuel market. I know you've heard from a number of my colleagues on this committee about the importance of that. Can you just speak briefly about how you view the importance of biofuel markets for our farmers?

Brooke Rollins:&nbsp;I will and Senator, thank you. Loved being in your office and meeting Fred Fisher. And really look forward to hopefully having more conversations in your office and in your home state of Nebraska, which is one of the shining stars of our country.

In the last few months, since the announcement was made that I was going to be hopefully, if confirmed, joining this administration and the Cabinet as the head of USDA, I have had multiple conversations with many of you on the committee and outside the committee. Your governor flew to Texas to give me a couple of hours of his time to make sure I understood specifically within your state, but frankly, how this affects so much of the Midwest and in our corn states.

My commitment is to defend and protect and fight for all of American agriculture. Clearly, in the last administration, this issue was under the National Economic Council, Larry Kudlow, so I didn't manage it under the Domestic Policy Council. But I was certainly in a lot of the meetings, which there were a lot of meetings. President Trump would tell you in the Oval Office about this. His executive order in the last few days, mentioning biofuels is a part of his all-of-the-above strategy to reclaim energy dominance across the world is important.

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;President Trump was very generous with his time in his previous time in the Oval Office. And he's correct, we had a lot of meetings in the Oval Office.

Brooke Rollins:&nbsp;I think he said 27.

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Truly, and he would like to get this issue settled as well. I thought maybe we would in the CR, but we'll continue to push for that. What we've seen over the last four years, and what I've heard has been a lot of disappointment from Nebraskans about the lack of any kind of trade agenda from the Biden Administration.

In fact, for the first time in decades, we've had an agricultural trade deficit. And as you said earlier, it's projected to hit a record breaking $45 billion. I understand there can be a variety of factors that impact a trade deficit, but I am concerned that part of this stems from there not being really any kind of clear agricultural trade agenda from the last administration.

We cannot see that happen again. Can you talk about how you would both hold our current trading partners accountable, and the role that you will or that you would want to see USDA play in developing these new export markets?

Brooke Rollins:&nbsp;Yes, Senator, and that $45 billion, what's remarkable about that is 42 percent of that is just in the last year. So, the wheels are falling off, and it is very, very important that the wheels get put back on as soon as possible.

I think those that know me for a long time—but even Senator, you and I have just gotten to know each other in the recent months—know that I am a relentless cheerleader for whatever it is that I have been called to do. And for this moment in my life, and to me, this moment as Scripture says, I am called to take agriculture, to preserve our rural communities, and take our products to the world and work around the clock to ensure that that sort of trade deficit begins to peel back—and hopefully, by the end of our time here in the next four years, is completely gone. And in fact, we are back in the positive and I believe we can do that.

I mentioned earlier, I think President Trump is the consummate deal maker. His heart, for rural America and for our farmers and ranchers, I think will hopefully lead the way. I certainly will be right next to him, whispering in his ear as we move forward on this and I think and hope and pray that we can begin to solve this immediately.

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Yes. Great. Another area that I focus on is how precision ag technology can help our farmers and ranchers to achieve better yields and reduce environmental impact, and improve economic returns.

I've had a number of bills on that, and I'm going to be reintroducing and including, hopefully, in the Farm Bill that we work on. Additionally, myself and really the entire Nebraska delegation, along with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, have been working in a very close partnership with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) on the National Center for Resilience and Regenerative Precision Agriculture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Innovation Campus.

And last May, we broke ground on that facility. And I hope that I can continue to work with you to make sure that we get that facility completed. Can I get your commitment to continue working with me on this facility? Can I get your commitment to come to Nebraska? We had Sonny Perdue out at the ranch and had a great barbecue with neighbors. We can do that and another trip we can get you to Lincoln to see the ARS facility, what we're doing there.

Brooke Rollins:&nbsp;That would be my great honor.

Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Great, thank you.

Brooke Rollins:&nbsp;Thank you, Senator.

Office of U.S. Senator Deb FischerWASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, questioned Brooke Rollins at&nbsp;the confirmation hearing on her nomination to be Secretary of Agriculture.During the hearing, Senator Fischer asked Rollins about her plans to hold America’s trading partners accountable, the role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in creating new export markets, and the importance of the biofuels market for agricultural producers.&nbsp;Senator Fischer also asked Rollins to commit to working with her to complete&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2024/7/fischer-advances-additional-16-million-for-construction-of-agricultural-research-service-facility-at-unl">the USDA Agricultural Research Service facility at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Innovation Campus</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Senator Fischer questions Brooke Rollins:Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Mrs. Rollins, so good to see you. I really, really appreciated you coming to the office last month, and the great discussion that we had. As you know, the agricultural industry is the economic engine of Nebraska. We grow a lot of corn and beans and wheat and sugar beets and livestock. So, we understand the necessity of having that strong economy for our state, that food security, how important it is for our country.&nbsp; And I look forward to working with you in the future on that.Brooke Rollins:&nbsp;&nbsp;Thank you.Senator Fischer:&nbsp;&nbsp;You noted in your testimony that we must demand strong and steady markets for our agricultural bounty. And this is a statement that I hear consistently from our producers as well. One of those really important markets for Nebraska's agriculture is biofuels.In his day one actions, President Trump emphasized the need for our country to be energy dominant. The President has long recognized that ag producers have a role to play in producing abundant homegrown energy. And he took steps in his executive order declaring a national energy emergency so that we can continue to allow for the sale of E15 year-round. And I've long led an effort to make this policy permanent, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to deliver on that part of the President's agenda.We know that there's going to be a number of other biofuel decisions that will be made in the coming months that will have significant impacts on the biofuel market. I know you've heard from a number of my colleagues on this committee about the importance of that. Can you just speak briefly about how you view the importance of biofuel markets for our farmers?Brooke Rollins:&nbsp;I will and Senator, thank you. Loved being in your office and meeting Fred Fisher. And really look forward to hopefully having more conversations in your office and in your home state of Nebraska, which is one of the shining stars of our country.In the last few months, since the announcement was made that I was going to be hopefully, if confirmed, joining this administration and the Cabinet as the head of USDA, I have had multiple conversations with many of you on the committee and outside the committee. Your governor flew to Texas to give me a couple of hours of his time to make sure I understood specifically within your state, but frankly, how this affects so much of the Midwest and in our corn states.My commitment is to defend and protect and fight for all of American agriculture. Clearly, in the last administration, this issue was under the National Economic Council, Larry Kudlow, so I didn't manage it under the Domestic Policy Council. But I was certainly in a lot of the meetings, which there were a lot of meetings. President Trump would tell you in the Oval Office about this. His executive order in the last few days, mentioning biofuels is a part of his all-of-the-above strategy to reclaim energy dominance across the world is important.Senator Fischer:&nbsp;President Trump was very generous with his time in his previous time in the Oval Office. And he's correct, we had a lot of meetings in the Oval Office.Brooke Rollins:&nbsp;I think he said 27.Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Truly, and he would like to get this issue settled as well. I thought maybe we would in the CR, but we'll continue to push for that. What we've seen over the last four years, and what I've heard has been a lot of disappointment from Nebraskans about the lack of any kind of trade agenda from the Biden Administration.In fact, for the first time in decades, we've had an agricultural trade deficit. And as you said earlier, it's projected to hit a record breaking $45 billion. I understand there can be a variety of factors that impact a trade deficit, but I am concerned that part of this stems from there not being really any kind of clear agricultural trade agenda from the last administration.We cannot see that happen again. Can you talk about how you would both hold our current trading partners accountable, and the role that you will or that you would want to see USDA play in developing these new export markets?Brooke Rollins:&nbsp;Yes, Senator, and that $45 billion, what's remarkable about that is 42 percent of that is just in the last year. So, the wheels are falling off, and it is very, very important that the wheels get put back on as soon as possible.I think those that know me for a long time—but even Senator, you and I have just gotten to know each other in the recent months—know that I am a relentless cheerleader for whatever it is that I have been called to do. And for this moment in my life, and to me, this moment as Scripture says, I am called to take agriculture, to preserve our rural communities, and take our products to the world and work around the clock to ensure that that sort of trade deficit begins to peel back—and hopefully, by the end of our time here in the next four years, is completely gone. And in fact, we are back in the positive and I believe we can do that.I mentioned earlier, I think President Trump is the consummate deal maker. His heart, for rural America and for our farmers and ranchers, I think will hopefully lead the way. I certainly will be right next to him, whispering in his ear as we move forward on this and I think and hope and pray that we can begin to solve this immediately.Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Yes. Great. Another area that I focus on is how precision ag technology can help our farmers and ranchers to achieve better yields and reduce environmental impact, and improve economic returns.I've had a number of bills on that, and I'm going to be reintroducing and including, hopefully, in the Farm Bill that we work on. Additionally, myself and really the entire Nebraska delegation, along with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, have been working in a very close partnership with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) on the National Center for Resilience and Regenerative Precision Agriculture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Innovation Campus.And last May, we broke ground on that facility. And I hope that I can continue to work with you to make sure that we get that facility completed. Can I get your commitment to continue working with me on this facility? Can I get your commitment to come to Nebraska? We had Sonny Perdue out at the ranch and had a great barbecue with neighbors. We can do that and another trip we can get you to Lincoln to see the ARS facility, what we're doing there.Brooke Rollins:&nbsp;That would be my great honor.Senator Fischer:&nbsp;Great, thank you.Brooke Rollins:&nbsp;Thank you, Senator.

Fischer Questions Brooke Rollins at Confirmation Hearing

Lincoln, NE ‐ January 24, 2025 ‐ One lucky player who bought a 2by2 ticket for the Thursday, January 23 drawing is holding a ticket worth $22,000.

The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Thursday's 2by2 draw matched all four winning numbers for the $22,000 top prize. The ticket was sold at Snac Shac, 715 S Locust St, in Grand Island. The winning numbers from Thursday's 2by2 draw were and Red 24, 25, White 09, 19.

Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling 800-587-5200.

2by2 is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association and was introduced in June 2002. Players in Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming have the opportunity to win up to $22,000 Monday through Sunday by playing 2by2. The odds of winning the $22,000 2by2 top prize are 1 in 105,625. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.59.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $1.015 billion has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery's beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Neil WatsonNebraska LotteryLincoln, NE ‐ January 24, 2025 ‐ One lucky player who bought a 2by2 ticket for the Thursday, January 23 drawing is holding a ticket worth $22,000.The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Thursday's 2by2 draw matched all four winning numbers for the $22,000 top prize. The ticket was sold at Snac Shac, 715 S Locust St, in Grand Island. The winning numbers from Thursday's 2by2 draw were and Red 24, 25, White 09, 19.Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling 800-587-5200.2by2 is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association and was introduced in June 2002. Players in Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming have the opportunity to win up to $22,000 Monday through Sunday by playing 2by2. The odds of winning the $22,000 2by2 top prize are 1 in 105,625. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.59.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $1.015 billion has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery's beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

$22,000 2by2 Winning Ticket Sold in Grand Island

WASHINGTON —A Capitol Police officer has been suspended after a man with a gun was able to get past a security check at the Capitol Visitor Center.

“On Tuesday, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) received a lookout for a man with reported mental health issues and suicidal thoughts who was believed to be armed and in the area, according to a media release.

Just after 1p.m. Capitol Police officers spotted the man’s car on First Street, near East Capitol Street, NE. Officers conducted a canvass of the area and discovered that the man had recently entered the Capitol Visitor Center&nbsp; and taken a Capitol tour.

At 2:15 p.m., the man identified as 27-year-old James A. Faber of Massachusetts, was found leaving the Library of Congress, after the tour, and walking towards his car. He was stopped, searched, and arrested. 

Officers discovered a small 9mm handgun concealed in his waistband. 

Faber is being held on requested charges of Unlawful Activities, Carrying a Pistol Without a License, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, and Resisting Arrest. 

The case is currently with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

USCP security video shows Faber entered through the south Capitol Visitors Center checkpoint. After the magnetometers sounded, an officer performed a secondary hand search, and Faber was let into the building.&nbsp; The officer is suspended while the USCP’s Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting an administrative investigation into the officer’s performance of that search. 

At this time, there is no indication that the man was coming to harm the Congress. Nobody was hurt. The USCP demands the highest standards when it comes to screening visitors, so a full review of this incident has already been ordered, as well as mandatory refresher training on security screening, so this never happens again.”

WASHINGTON —A Capitol Police officer has been suspended after a man with a gun was able to get past a security check at the Capitol Visitor Center.“On Tuesday, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) received a lookout for a man with reported mental health issues and suicidal thoughts who was believed to be armed and in the area, according to a media release.Just after 1p.m. Capitol Police officers spotted the man’s car on First Street, near East Capitol Street, NE. Officers conducted a canvass of the area and discovered that the man had recently entered the Capitol Visitor Center&nbsp; and taken a Capitol tour.At 2:15 p.m., the man identified as 27-year-old James A. Faber of Massachusetts, was found leaving the Library of Congress, after the tour, and walking towards his car. He was stopped, searched, and arrested. Officers discovered a small 9mm handgun concealed in his waistband. Faber is being held on requested charges of Unlawful Activities, Carrying a Pistol Without a License, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, and Resisting Arrest. The case is currently with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. USCP security video shows Faber entered through the south Capitol Visitors Center checkpoint. After the magnetometers sounded, an officer performed a secondary hand search, and Faber was let into the building.&nbsp; The officer is suspended while the USCP’s Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting an administrative investigation into the officer’s performance of that search. At this time, there is no indication that the man was coming to harm the Congress. Nobody was hurt. The USCP demands the highest standards when it comes to screening visitors, so a full review of this incident has already been ordered, as well as mandatory refresher training on security screening, so this never happens again.”

Man with a loaded gun got past security at U.S. Capitol

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/23/lawmakers-propose-regulations-to-implement-nebraskas-new-medical-cannabis-laws/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Three similar legislative proposals introduced Wednesday seek to help implement the voter-enacted legalization and regulation of medical cannabis in Nebraska by later this year.

The legislation, introduced by State Sens. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, Ben Hansen of Blair and Terrell McKinney of Omaha, would create registry programs and further stipulate the licensing and regulatory duties of the new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission.&nbsp;

All three would allow Nebraskans, after receiving a written recommendation from a health care practitioner for medical cannabis, to apply for a registry card, identifying them as a qualified patient. The registry would similarly apply to registered caregivers, such as for minors.

The bills, which are all structurally similar with some key differences, are:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59170" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 651</a>&nbsp;(Conrad),&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58979" target="_blank">LB 677</a>&nbsp;(Hansen) and&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59708" target="_blank">LB 705</a>&nbsp;(McKinney).

“The time is long overdue that Nebraskans in need of care have access to that care,” Conrad told reporters.

“I think we’re in a little bit of a unique position, where a lot of other states have already gone this direction,” Hansen said. “We have the ability to see what has worked well for others and what hasn’t.”

Without further state law changes, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission must establish criteria to accept or deny applications for registered cannabis establishments&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/26/whats-next-for-nebraska-medical-cannabis-paid-sick-leave-abortion-school-choice/">by July 1</a>. Licenses could then be granted as early as Oct. 1.

Conrad, Hansen and McKinney would delay the start of licensing slightly, to give commissioners more time to work on the new regulations. Applications could instead be filed beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

A fourth bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59393" target="_blank">LB 483</a>&nbsp;from freshman State Sen. Jared Storm of David City, would limit legal medical cannabis to 300 milligrams of delta-9 THC, the compound in the cannabis plant most commonly associated with getting a person high.

LB 483 would also limit “permissible” cannabis to the form of pills or liquid tinctures, which are concentrated herbal extracts.&nbsp;

With about 28,350 milligrams per ounce, Storm’s bill would reduce legalization to about 0.21% of what&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20General%20Canvass%20Book.pdf" target="_blank">71% of voters authorized</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/06/medical-cannabis-prevails-at-nebraskas-ballot-box-but-fate-depends-on-legal-challenges/">less than three months ago</a>. About 67% of Nebraska voters also supported the second measure, to&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20Ballot%20Measures%20Pamphlet.pdf" target="_blank">regulate medical cannabis</a>. Storm’s legislative district of Butler, Colfax and Saunders Counties approved both measures.

Conrad said some patients seeking medical cannabis can’t take pills because of their conditions. She said she drafted her bill with advocates from the recent medical marijuana campaign for “one of the most expansive bills possible to effectuate the will of the people as swiftly as possible.”

She said she and Hansen are committed to enacting the will of the people.

“When and if those negotiations happen, I want to make sure to have their best interest at heart and in the room,” Conrad said.

Hansen said enacting the will of the people is important to him after multiple years around the issue, including working with former State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, a former lead member of the medical cannabis efforts. A&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=43730" target="_blank">2021 bill from Wishart</a>&nbsp;fell&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=7039" target="_blank">two votes short</a>&nbsp;of advancing.

“It’s my kind of somewhat conservative-Libertarian-leaning stance about is it the government’s right to deny you a natural or a different form of medication to help with a&nbsp;condition&nbsp;as opposed to pharmaceutical medications,” Hansen said. “That’s what the people, I think, wanted as well, just the option to use it if they could.”

The cannabis ballot measures continue to be challenged in court, with one lawsuit being appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court and another&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/13/lawsuit-against-nebraska-medical-cannabis-extended-to-regulatory-board-state-agencies/">against multiple state officials and the campaign</a>&nbsp;in Lancaster County District Court.

Gov. Jim Pillen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers have&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/12/12/medical-cannabis-paid-sick-leave-abortion-restrictions-and-school-choice-repeal-take-effect/">questioned the constitutionality of the measures</a>&nbsp;under federal law, which they argue bans marijuana because the drug is classified as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling" target="_blank">Schedule I drug</a>, defined as having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Conrad, however, said that opposition is a “political opinion” that is odd when compared with the wide latitude authorized in the U.S. Constitution for states’ rights. The Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign has made similar arguments, pointing to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/12/10/new-lawsuit-seeks-to-void-nebraska-medical-cannabis-ballot-measures/">dozens of other states with medical cannabis programs</a>&nbsp;under the&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-10/#:~:text=Tenth%20Amendment%20Explained,respectively%2C%20or%20to%20the%20people." target="_blank">10th Amendment</a>.

Under the regulatory bills from McKinney, Conrad and Hansen, all three would prohibit a patient, caregiver or other licensed officials under the law from being arrested, prosecuted or penalized for following the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act or Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act.

Medical cannabis would be legalized for all patients in all three bills, up to 5 ounces.&nbsp;

Conrad and McKinney would allow a health care practitioner to write a recommendation for a greater amount, depending on a patient’s needs.

The bills from Conrad and McKinney would set up a confidential patient and caregiver registry in the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Hansen’s bill would put a registry as part of the new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, with an application fee of up to $45.

All three regulatory bills would maintain membership on the new commission as the members of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission and the authority of the governor to appoint up to two more commissioners.&nbsp;

The new commission also would have an executive director, who could be the same person across the liquor and medical cannabis commissions.

Under the proposed laws, commissioners could not have conflicts of interest for cannabis sales or licensing, in addition to existing conflict of interest laws governing liquor sales and licensing.

The Nebraska Department of Revenue, DHHS, Nebraska Department of Agriculture and the Medical Cannabis Commission would all collaborate to execute the new laws, too.

The new bills include language about cultivating and transporting cannabis in Nebraska.

The laws voters passed do not supersede or replace prohibitions on using or possessing cannabis in the following situations:

In some circumstances, minor patients or workers could use or access their medical cannabis at schools or in child care, foster care or health care facilities. Those places could impose “reasonable restrictions” but could not “unreasonably limit” the patient’s access to the medicine.

However, if allowing cannabis would risk financial penalties or loss of a license under federal law or regulations, cannabis could still be banned.

Smoking cannabis or inhaling cannabis would also remain illegal if it could be inhaled by a nonpatient minor child or is used in a public place, other than with an aerosol inhaler.

Employers would not be required to permit or accommodate cannabis possession or use or and could restrict use of the drug&nbsp;under all three bills.&nbsp;Drug-testing and drug-free work policies could still be enforced.

McKinney’s bill would specifically prohibit employers from discriminating against a qualified patient or registered caregiver in hiring, firing or other conditions of employment unless the employee used cannabis during work hours and the usage impaired job performance or safety. Employers would need to provide reasonable accommodations under McKinney’s approach.

Insurance and Medicaid plans would not be required to cover the costs of cannabis in the versions from Hansen and Conrad. Insurance coverage is not specified in McKinney’s bill.

All three bills would establish more specific licensing requirements, similar to alcohol establishments now, with set fees, license types or business tiers.

Conrad would create five license types: cultivator, dispensary, products manufacturer, testing facility and vertical (for an “integrated” medical cannabis business). Hansen would allow one additional type for transporters.

Vertical licenses, which would include other licenses for businesses, would be limited across congressional districts. All licenses would also be limited in the number issued, except transporters.

Instead of “vertical” licenses, McKinney would add a patient delivery license and set up three tiers of businesses —&nbsp;microbusinesses, small businesses and large-scale operators.

McKinney’s bill would stipulate that beginning on Jan. 1 for licensing applications, only “social equity applicants” could apply. He would reserve more than half of all licenses for people who have lived in areas impacted by state and federal marijuana possession and distribution laws or who were themselves disproportionately harmed by the country’s “war on drugs.”

Such applicants would be eligible for mentorship and financial assistance in new programs proposed through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

Other applicants could apply beginning April 1, 2026.

The bill also offers resentencing or the automatic erasure and expungement of criminal wrongdoing for certain marijuana-related offenses.&nbsp;

McKinney said his goal in LB 705 is to have a conversation about equity and justice, particularly for people who have been harmed in the past.

“It’s cool to legalize it, but I want to make sure that those that have been negatively affected and disproportionately affected by marijuana laws and cannabis laws have an opportunity to take advantage of the law change,” McKinney said.

Hansen said many factors went into his bill, such as the ballot measure and what voters approved, possible economic benefits and “what we can with live with as a Legislature.”

“I don’t think we should pass the bill or do this because we’re going to make money,” Hansen said. “It’s because it’s what the people wanted, and it’s right for our state.”

Sales taxes are not applied to medicines in Nebraska, but McKinney, Conrad and Hansen would redefine “medical cannabis” to make it subject to state and local sales taxes.&nbsp;

Storm’s bill doesn’t include that change, meaning it would not be taxed under LB 483.

McKinney would tax cannabis at the statewide 5.5 cents per $1 purchase, before local taxes. Hansen and Conrad are seeking a 4-cent state sales tax rate per $1 purchase, before local taxes.

Revenue from sales taxes would be funneled back into the program under the proposals from McKinney and Conrad. Hansen’s bill would redirect the cannabis tax revenues toward property tax relief.

Because voters enacted the measures at the ballot box, lawmakers would need 33 votes in the 49-member Legislature to amend, narrow or reapl any related legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/articles.php?article=III-2#:~:text=The%20first%20power%20reserved%20by,be%20set%20forth%20at%20length." target="_blank">under the Nebraska Constitution</a>.

Conrad said that means patients and advocates already have a “fail-safe plan” because if lawmakers don’t get 33 votes, the measures are self-enacting and will take effect anyway.

“Our hope is that we’re going to work as fast and as hard as possible to make sure that they can get access to the care that they need,” Conrad said. “But if the Legislature stands in the way of that, the will of the people will prevail.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737665685146.jpeg" alt="Supporters of medical cannabis helped two measures reach the 2024 general election ballot, Initiatives 437 and 438. Some spoke during a public hearing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Oct. 25, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Supporters of medical cannabis helped two measures reach the 2024 general election ballot, Initiatives 437 and 438. Some spoke during a public hearing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Oct. 25, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/23/lawmakers-propose-regulations-to-implement-nebraskas-new-medical-cannabis-laws/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Three similar legislative proposals introduced Wednesday seek to help implement the voter-enacted legalization and regulation of medical cannabis in Nebraska by later this year.The legislation, introduced by State Sens. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, Ben Hansen of Blair and Terrell McKinney of Omaha, would create registry programs and further stipulate the licensing and regulatory duties of the new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission.&nbsp;All three would allow Nebraskans, after receiving a written recommendation from a health care practitioner for medical cannabis, to apply for a registry card, identifying them as a qualified patient. The registry would similarly apply to registered caregivers, such as for minors.The bills, which are all structurally similar with some key differences, are:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59170" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 651</a>&nbsp;(Conrad),&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58979" target="_blank">LB 677</a>&nbsp;(Hansen) and&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59708" target="_blank">LB 705</a>&nbsp;(McKinney).“The time is long overdue that Nebraskans in need of care have access to that care,” Conrad told reporters.“I think we’re in a little bit of a unique position, where a lot of other states have already gone this direction,” Hansen said. “We have the ability to see what has worked well for others and what hasn’t.”Without further state law changes, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission must establish criteria to accept or deny applications for registered cannabis establishments&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/26/whats-next-for-nebraska-medical-cannabis-paid-sick-leave-abortion-school-choice/">by July 1</a>. Licenses could then be granted as early as Oct. 1.Conrad, Hansen and McKinney would delay the start of licensing slightly, to give commissioners more time to work on the new regulations. Applications could instead be filed beginning Jan. 1, 2026.<h2>A fourth proposal</h2>A fourth bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59393" target="_blank">LB 483</a>&nbsp;from freshman State Sen. Jared Storm of David City, would limit legal medical cannabis to 300 milligrams of delta-9 THC, the compound in the cannabis plant most commonly associated with getting a person high.LB 483 would also limit “permissible” cannabis to the form of pills or liquid tinctures, which are concentrated herbal extracts.&nbsp;With about 28,350 milligrams per ounce, Storm’s bill would reduce legalization to about 0.21% of what&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20General%20Canvass%20Book.pdf" target="_blank">71% of voters authorized</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/11/06/medical-cannabis-prevails-at-nebraskas-ballot-box-but-fate-depends-on-legal-challenges/">less than three months ago</a>. About 67% of Nebraska voters also supported the second measure, to&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/2024%20Ballot%20Measures%20Pamphlet.pdf" target="_blank">regulate medical cannabis</a>. Storm’s legislative district of Butler, Colfax and Saunders Counties approved both measures.Storm declined to comment on his bill.<h2>‘Best interest at heart’</h2>Conrad said some patients seeking medical cannabis can’t take pills because of their conditions. She said she drafted her bill with advocates from the recent medical marijuana campaign for “one of the most expansive bills possible to effectuate the will of the people as swiftly as possible.”She said she and Hansen are committed to enacting the will of the people.“When and if those negotiations happen, I want to make sure to have their best interest at heart and in the room,” Conrad said.Hansen said enacting the will of the people is important to him after multiple years around the issue, including working with former State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, a former lead member of the medical cannabis efforts. A&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=43730" target="_blank">2021 bill from Wishart</a>&nbsp;fell&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=7039" target="_blank">two votes short</a>&nbsp;of advancing.“It’s my kind of somewhat conservative-Libertarian-leaning stance about is it the government’s right to deny you a natural or a different form of medication to help with a&nbsp;condition&nbsp;as opposed to pharmaceutical medications,” Hansen said. “That’s what the people, I think, wanted as well, just the option to use it if they could.”The cannabis ballot measures continue to be challenged in court, with one lawsuit being appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court and another&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/13/lawsuit-against-nebraska-medical-cannabis-extended-to-regulatory-board-state-agencies/">against multiple state officials and the campaign</a>&nbsp;in Lancaster County District Court.Gov. Jim Pillen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers have&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/12/12/medical-cannabis-paid-sick-leave-abortion-restrictions-and-school-choice-repeal-take-effect/">questioned the constitutionality of the measures</a>&nbsp;under federal law, which they argue bans marijuana because the drug is classified as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling" target="_blank">Schedule I drug</a>, defined as having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.Conrad, however, said that opposition is a “political opinion” that is odd when compared with the wide latitude authorized in the U.S. Constitution for states’ rights. The Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign has made similar arguments, pointing to&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/12/10/new-lawsuit-seeks-to-void-nebraska-medical-cannabis-ballot-measures/">dozens of other states with medical cannabis programs</a>&nbsp;under the&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-10/#:~:text=Tenth%20Amendment%20Explained,respectively%2C%20or%20to%20the%20people." target="_blank">10th Amendment</a>.<h2>Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission</h2>Under the regulatory bills from McKinney, Conrad and Hansen, all three would prohibit a patient, caregiver or other licensed officials under the law from being arrested, prosecuted or penalized for following the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act or Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act.Medical cannabis would be legalized for all patients in all three bills, up to 5 ounces.&nbsp;Conrad and McKinney would allow a health care practitioner to write a recommendation for a greater amount, depending on a patient’s needs.The bills from Conrad and McKinney would set up a confidential patient and caregiver registry in the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Hansen’s bill would put a registry as part of the new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, with an application fee of up to $45.All three regulatory bills would maintain membership on the new commission as the members of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission and the authority of the governor to appoint up to two more commissioners.&nbsp;The new commission also would have an executive director, who could be the same person across the liquor and medical cannabis commissions.Under the proposed laws, commissioners could not have conflicts of interest for cannabis sales or licensing, in addition to existing conflict of interest laws governing liquor sales and licensing.The Nebraska Department of Revenue, DHHS, Nebraska Department of Agriculture and the Medical Cannabis Commission would all collaborate to execute the new laws, too.The new bills include language about cultivating and transporting cannabis in Nebraska.<h2>Proposed restrictions to use</h2>The laws voters passed do not supersede or replace prohibitions on using or possessing cannabis in the following situations:<ul>
 <li>While undertaking any task that would constitute negligence or professional malpractice because of cannabis use (including driving or while at work).</li><li>On K-12 postsecondary school grounds, including on school buses or in vans.</li><li>In any jail, adult or juvenile correctional facility or a youth rehabilitation and treatment center.</li><li>At any child care facility or home day care.</li>
 </ul>In some circumstances, minor patients or workers could use or access their medical cannabis at schools or in child care, foster care or health care facilities. Those places could impose “reasonable restrictions” but could not “unreasonably limit” the patient’s access to the medicine.However, if allowing cannabis would risk financial penalties or loss of a license under federal law or regulations, cannabis could still be banned.Smoking cannabis or inhaling cannabis would also remain illegal if it could be inhaled by a nonpatient minor child or is used in a public place, other than with an aerosol inhaler.Employers would not be required to permit or accommodate cannabis possession or use or and could restrict use of the drug&nbsp;under all three bills.&nbsp;Drug-testing and drug-free work policies could still be enforced.McKinney’s bill would specifically prohibit employers from discriminating against a qualified patient or registered caregiver in hiring, firing or other conditions of employment unless the employee used cannabis during work hours and the usage impaired job performance or safety. Employers would need to provide reasonable accommodations under McKinney’s approach.Insurance and Medicaid plans would not be required to cover the costs of cannabis in the versions from Hansen and Conrad. Insurance coverage is not specified in McKinney’s bill.<h2>Licensing requirements</h2>All three bills would establish more specific licensing requirements, similar to alcohol establishments now, with set fees, license types or business tiers.Conrad would create five license types: cultivator, dispensary, products manufacturer, testing facility and vertical (for an “integrated” medical cannabis business). Hansen would allow one additional type for transporters.Vertical licenses, which would include other licenses for businesses, would be limited across congressional districts. All licenses would also be limited in the number issued, except transporters.Instead of “vertical” licenses, McKinney would add a patient delivery license and set up three tiers of businesses —&nbsp;microbusinesses, small businesses and large-scale operators.<h2>Social equity and justice</h2>McKinney’s bill would stipulate that beginning on Jan. 1 for licensing applications, only “social equity applicants” could apply. He would reserve more than half of all licenses for people who have lived in areas impacted by state and federal marijuana possession and distribution laws or who were themselves disproportionately harmed by the country’s “war on drugs.”Such applicants would be eligible for mentorship and financial assistance in new programs proposed through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.Other applicants could apply beginning April 1, 2026.The bill also offers resentencing or the automatic erasure and expungement of criminal wrongdoing for certain marijuana-related offenses.&nbsp;McKinney said his goal in LB 705 is to have a conversation about equity and justice, particularly for people who have been harmed in the past.“It’s cool to legalize it, but I want to make sure that those that have been negatively affected and disproportionately affected by marijuana laws and cannabis laws have an opportunity to take advantage of the law change,” McKinney said.<h2>‘The will of the people’</h2>Hansen said many factors went into his bill, such as the ballot measure and what voters approved, possible economic benefits and “what we can with live with as a Legislature.”“I don’t think we should pass the bill or do this because we’re going to make money,” Hansen said. “It’s because it’s what the people wanted, and it’s right for our state.”Sales taxes are not applied to medicines in Nebraska, but McKinney, Conrad and Hansen would redefine “medical cannabis” to make it subject to state and local sales taxes.&nbsp;Storm’s bill doesn’t include that change, meaning it would not be taxed under LB 483.McKinney would tax cannabis at the statewide 5.5 cents per $1 purchase, before local taxes. Hansen and Conrad are seeking a 4-cent state sales tax rate per $1 purchase, before local taxes.Revenue from sales taxes would be funneled back into the program under the proposals from McKinney and Conrad. Hansen’s bill would redirect the cannabis tax revenues toward property tax relief.Because voters enacted the measures at the ballot box, lawmakers would need 33 votes in the 49-member Legislature to amend, narrow or reapl any related legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/articles.php?article=III-2#:~:text=The%20first%20power%20reserved%20by,be%20set%20forth%20at%20length." target="_blank">under the Nebraska Constitution</a>.Conrad said that means patients and advocates already have a “fail-safe plan” because if lawmakers don’t get 33 votes, the measures are self-enacting and will take effect anyway.“Our hope is that we’re going to work as fast and as hard as possible to make sure that they can get access to the care that they need,” Conrad said. “But if the Legislature stands in the way of that, the will of the people will prevail.”

Lawmakers Propose Regulations to Implement Nebraska’s New Medical Cannabis Laws

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/22/second-nebraska-bill-focused-on-transgender-athletes-is-based-on-nsaa-participation-policy/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Transgender student-athletes in Nebraska K-12 schools would have a narrow path to participation in a new legislative proposal unveiled Wednesday seeking to codify existing guidelines.

<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59468" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 605</a>, from State Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln, would require all of Nebraska’s 245 public school districts to adopt policies regarding the eligibility of transgender students to participate in extracurricular activities, including sports.&nbsp;

Time is being taken up, Raybould said, focusing on an effort from State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha to define “male” and “female” in state law and restrict sports teams and bathrooms to a student’s sex at birth.

Kauth’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58025" target="_blank">LB 89</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/11/nebraska-lawmakers-aim-to-define-male-female-for-sports-bathrooms-and-more/">Stand With Women Act</a>, would also apply to collegiate athletics and other areas of state government, such as prisons, economic development and health care.

Raybould said some senators are concerned that Kauth’s effort revolves around a very small number of students who have applied to and been approved by the nonprofit Nebraska School Activities Association to participate in school sports that match their gender identity.

“We’re talking less than 10 [students] when there are perfectly detailed guidelines,” Raybould told reporters.

LB 605, from Raybould, seeks to mirror the&nbsp;<a href="https://nsaahome.org/about/gppolicy.pdf" target="_blank">NSAA’s Gender Participation Policy</a>&nbsp;adopted in 2016. It offers a&nbsp;<a href="https://nsaahome.org/equity-inclusion-information/" target="_blank">narrow path for participation</a>&nbsp;in NSAA-sponsored athletics based on gender.

That’s a nonstarter for Kauth, who has regularly criticized the NSAA policy for letting school districts choose their own policies. That includes some districts —&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/05/kearney-norfolk-school-officials-explain-trans-student-athlete-policies/">at least Kearney Public Schools and Norfolk Public Schools</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;that have chosen to restrict athletic teams to sex at birth.

Kauth said a patchwork of participation policies only “solidifies the problem.”

“I’m shocked that Senator Raybould, who has done so much with women’s groups, would choose to allow men [to] pretend to be women and take away opportunities [and] impact their safety and their privacy,” Kauth said.

The NSAA-mirrored steps in LB 605 would require school boards to collect documentation of whether a student is transgender, relying upon medical records and documentation from friends, family or teachers “affirming the actions, attitudes, dress and manner of the student that demonstrates the student’s consistent gender identification and expression.”

Raybould’s bill states that nothing in her proposed law or required school policies “shall be construed to encourage any student to undergo hormone therapy, sex reassignment surgery or other medical treatment resulting in a change to the student’s gender.”

Schools participating with the NSAA could continue to use the existing participation policy, which requires the activities association to convene a “Gender Identity Eligibility Committee” to review each student’s eligibility, which must unanimously approve the application.

The eligibility committee group includes a physician with experience in transgender health care; a psychiatrist, psychologist or licensed mental health professional; a school administrator from a non-appealing school and an NSAA staff member.

The eligibility committee must unanimously approve a student’s application to approve participation, which, as Raybould said, has happened fewer than 10 times since 2017.

Female transgender students are subject to more steps than transgender male students under the NSAA policy, including medical examination and physiological testing to prove they do not possess “physical or physiological advantages over genetic females of the same age group.”

Transgender girls must also have at least one year of hormone treatment related to gender transition or have gone through gender reassignment surgery.

Kauth’s 2023 bill, the Let Them Grow Act, banned gender reassignment surgery for minors in Nebraska and set an&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/28/nebraskans-testify-largely-against-gender-care-regulations-ask-for-looser-restrictions/">extensive state process for obtaining hormones</a>&nbsp;as part of gender care after months of gender-identity-focused therapy.

LB 605 doesn’t specify what guidelines local school districts would need to abide by in allowing trans youths to participate in school sports, which could lead to de facto bans.

Raybould said her concern is many senators have been fed information, particularly in the last presidential election cycle, that “distorts the truth of the matter.” She wants parents and transgender youths to have a voice.

“We certainly hope the schools that haven’t adopted it [the NSAA guidelines] will review that policy and give it more thoughtful consideration,” Raybould said.

Lawmakers aren’t strangers to the NSAA approach, partly thanks to State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston who passed out the NSAA policy ahead of debate in 2024 on a different Kauth bill to restrict K-12 sports and bathrooms to sex at birth, which&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/05/bathroom-sports-team-restrictions-fall-short-in-nebraska-legislature/">fell short by two votes</a>.&nbsp;

Riepe and State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, both Republicans, refused to vote for or against the bill —&nbsp;LB 575, the Sports and Spaces Act.

Both Raybould and Riepe said the NSAA policy offers clear protocols and guidelines, backed by evidence from the NSAA in 2016 that is well thought out.

However, Riepe said he is waiting for guidance from the federal government and President Donald Trump, who is seeking to have Congress pass similar legislation.

“Last I knew, the feds, when they call the shots, it’s game over,” Riepe said. “I want to wait and see.”

Riepe said he is concerned about possible physiological advantages of trans students and does want to “protect” women’s sports, but he doesn’t feel legislation needs to go much further, such as to other areas of government as in Kauth’s Stand With Women Act.

He added that local control equates to local accountability and if local communities feel strongly, they can vote, as the districts in Kearney and Norfolk did.

Still, Riepe said he doesn’t want to drive transgender youths “into a total isolation.”

“Doesn’t mean I want them to play the sport,” Riepe said, “but doesn’t mean you can’t go to the school dance.”

The Nebraska School Activities Association oversees athletics and general activities for many of Nebraska’s public and private K-12 schools. The association implemented a&nbsp;<a href="https://nsaahome.org/about/gppolicy.pdf" target="_blank">Gender Participation Policy</a>&nbsp;in January 2016, avoiding a “sex at birth” rule that year supported by former Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Transgender students wishing to utilize the outlined procedures must follow these steps:

A four-member Gender Identity Eligibility Committee through the NSAA must reviews the student’s application. For participation to be approved, the committee must unanimously agree.

Transgender female students must also take one year of hormones or go through gender reassignment surgery, which was banned for minors after Oct. 1, 2023.

Trans girls, in either case, must also demonstrate through a medical examination and physiological testing they do “not possess physical … or physiological advantages over genetic females of the same age group.”

This includes bone structure, muscle mass and testosterone hormonal levels.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737664984866.jpeg" alt=" Lawmakers are set to consider two proposals in 2025 involving participation of transgender student-athletes in K-12 sponsored sports. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Lawmakers are set to consider two proposals in 2025 involving participation of transgender student-athletes in K-12 sponsored sports. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/22/second-nebraska-bill-focused-on-transgender-athletes-is-based-on-nsaa-participation-policy/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Transgender student-athletes in Nebraska K-12 schools would have a narrow path to participation in a new legislative proposal unveiled Wednesday seeking to codify existing guidelines.<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59468" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 605</a>, from State Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln, would require all of Nebraska’s 245 public school districts to adopt policies regarding the eligibility of transgender students to participate in extracurricular activities, including sports.&nbsp;Time is being taken up, Raybould said, focusing on an effort from State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha to define “male” and “female” in state law and restrict sports teams and bathrooms to a student’s sex at birth.Kauth’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58025" target="_blank">LB 89</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/11/nebraska-lawmakers-aim-to-define-male-female-for-sports-bathrooms-and-more/">Stand With Women Act</a>, would also apply to collegiate athletics and other areas of state government, such as prisons, economic development and health care.Raybould said some senators are concerned that Kauth’s effort revolves around a very small number of students who have applied to and been approved by the nonprofit Nebraska School Activities Association to participate in school sports that match their gender identity.“We’re talking less than 10 [students] when there are perfectly detailed guidelines,” Raybould told reporters.<h2>A patchwork approach</h2>LB 605, from Raybould, seeks to mirror the&nbsp;<a href="https://nsaahome.org/about/gppolicy.pdf" target="_blank">NSAA’s Gender Participation Policy</a>&nbsp;adopted in 2016. It offers a&nbsp;<a href="https://nsaahome.org/equity-inclusion-information/" target="_blank">narrow path for participation</a>&nbsp;in NSAA-sponsored athletics based on gender.That’s a nonstarter for Kauth, who has regularly criticized the NSAA policy for letting school districts choose their own policies. That includes some districts —&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/09/05/kearney-norfolk-school-officials-explain-trans-student-athlete-policies/">at least Kearney Public Schools and Norfolk Public Schools</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;that have chosen to restrict athletic teams to sex at birth.Kauth said a patchwork of participation policies only “solidifies the problem.”“I’m shocked that Senator Raybould, who has done so much with women’s groups, would choose to allow men [to] pretend to be women and take away opportunities [and] impact their safety and their privacy,” Kauth said.The NSAA-mirrored steps in LB 605 would require school boards to collect documentation of whether a student is transgender, relying upon medical records and documentation from friends, family or teachers “affirming the actions, attitudes, dress and manner of the student that demonstrates the student’s consistent gender identification and expression.”Raybould’s bill states that nothing in her proposed law or required school policies “shall be construed to encourage any student to undergo hormone therapy, sex reassignment surgery or other medical treatment resulting in a change to the student’s gender.”<h2>NSAA guidelines</h2>Schools participating with the NSAA could continue to use the existing participation policy, which requires the activities association to convene a “Gender Identity Eligibility Committee” to review each student’s eligibility, which must unanimously approve the application.The eligibility committee group includes a physician with experience in transgender health care; a psychiatrist, psychologist or licensed mental health professional; a school administrator from a non-appealing school and an NSAA staff member.The eligibility committee must unanimously approve a student’s application to approve participation, which, as Raybould said, has happened fewer than 10 times since 2017.Female transgender students are subject to more steps than transgender male students under the NSAA policy, including medical examination and physiological testing to prove they do not possess “physical or physiological advantages over genetic females of the same age group.”Transgender girls must also have at least one year of hormone treatment related to gender transition or have gone through gender reassignment surgery.Kauth’s 2023 bill, the Let Them Grow Act, banned gender reassignment surgery for minors in Nebraska and set an&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/28/nebraskans-testify-largely-against-gender-care-regulations-ask-for-looser-restrictions/">extensive state process for obtaining hormones</a>&nbsp;as part of gender care after months of gender-identity-focused therapy.LB 605 doesn’t specify what guidelines local school districts would need to abide by in allowing trans youths to participate in school sports, which could lead to de facto bans.Raybould said her concern is many senators have been fed information, particularly in the last presidential election cycle, that “distorts the truth of the matter.” She wants parents and transgender youths to have a voice.“We certainly hope the schools that haven’t adopted it [the NSAA guidelines] will review that policy and give it more thoughtful consideration,” Raybould said.<h2>‘I want to wait and see’</h2>Lawmakers aren’t strangers to the NSAA approach, partly thanks to State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston who passed out the NSAA policy ahead of debate in 2024 on a different Kauth bill to restrict K-12 sports and bathrooms to sex at birth, which&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/05/bathroom-sports-team-restrictions-fall-short-in-nebraska-legislature/">fell short by two votes</a>.&nbsp;Riepe and State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, both Republicans, refused to vote for or against the bill —&nbsp;LB 575, the Sports and Spaces Act.Both Raybould and Riepe said the NSAA policy offers clear protocols and guidelines, backed by evidence from the NSAA in 2016 that is well thought out.However, Riepe said he is waiting for guidance from the federal government and President Donald Trump, who is seeking to have Congress pass similar legislation.“Last I knew, the feds, when they call the shots, it’s game over,” Riepe said. “I want to wait and see.”Riepe said he is concerned about possible physiological advantages of trans students and does want to “protect” women’s sports, but he doesn’t feel legislation needs to go much further, such as to other areas of government as in Kauth’s Stand With Women Act.He added that local control equates to local accountability and if local communities feel strongly, they can vote, as the districts in Kearney and Norfolk did.Still, Riepe said he doesn’t want to drive transgender youths “into a total isolation.”“Doesn’t mean I want them to play the sport,” Riepe said, “but doesn’t mean you can’t go to the school dance.”<h2>NSAA Gender Participation Policy</h2>The Nebraska School Activities Association oversees athletics and general activities for many of Nebraska’s public and private K-12 schools. The association implemented a&nbsp;<a href="https://nsaahome.org/about/gppolicy.pdf" target="_blank">Gender Participation Policy</a>&nbsp;in January 2016, avoiding a “sex at birth” rule that year supported by former Gov. Pete Ricketts.Transgender students wishing to utilize the outlined procedures must follow these steps:<ul>
 <li>Provide written notice to their home school that will determine whether the student meets the activity eligibility standards.</li><li>Apply for participation with the NSAA and complete a&nbsp;<a href="https://nsaahome.org/about/appform.pdf" target="_blank">Transgender Student Application</a>.</li><li>Provide affirming information of the student’s gender identity and expression, such as credible documentation from parents, friends or teachers “affirming the actions, attitudes, dress and manner” of the student’s identity.</li><li>Submit written verification from an appropriate health care professional affirming the student’s identity.</li>
 </ul>A four-member Gender Identity Eligibility Committee through the NSAA must reviews the student’s application. For participation to be approved, the committee must unanimously agree.Transgender female students must also take one year of hormones or go through gender reassignment surgery, which was banned for minors after Oct. 1, 2023.Trans girls, in either case, must also demonstrate through a medical examination and physiological testing they do “not possess physical … or physiological advantages over genetic females of the same age group.”This includes bone structure, muscle mass and testosterone hormonal levels.

Second Nebraska Bill Focused on Transgender Athletes is Based on NSAA Participation Policy

January 23, 2025 (Scottsbluff, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person after a multi-county pursuit in the Nebraska Panhandle.

At approximately 11:10 p.m. MT, NSP received information about a stolen vehicle that was believed to be traveling eastbound on Highway 92, just east of Gering. A trooper located the vehicle, a Chevrolet Impala, and observed it to be speeding. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused to yield and accelerated to over 110 miles per hour. The trooper initiated a pursuit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716320706146.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Cody ThomasNebraska State PatrolJanuary 23, 2025 (Scottsbluff, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person after a multi-county pursuit in the Nebraska Panhandle.At approximately 11:10 p.m. MT, NSP received information about a stolen vehicle that was believed to be traveling eastbound on Highway 92, just east of Gering. A trooper located the vehicle, a Chevrolet Impala, and observed it to be speeding. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused to yield and accelerated to over 110 miles per hour. The trooper initiated a pursuit.The pursuit continued eastbound on Highway 92 for approximately 20 minutes with the suspect driving in the wrong lane of traffic several times. As the suspect vehicle approached Bridgeport, it slowed its speed. Another trooper was able to successfully deploy stop sticks to further slow the vehicle. As the vehicle traveled through Bridgeport, the driver struck a parked vehicle and several mailboxes and came to a stop near the intersection of 5th&nbsp;Street and P Street.The driver was then taken into custody without further incident. The driver, Jeremie Steen, 32, of Scottsbluff, was arrested for theft by unlawful taking $5,000+, flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, criminal mischief $5,000+, no operator’s license, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana – less than one ounce, and numerous traffic violations. He was lodged in Scotts Bluff County Jail.