Humanities Desk

August 3 marks the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide in northern Iraq. A large number of them chose to relocate to Lincoln, Nebraska.

Legal Marijuana NOW Party candidate Kerry Eddy has ended her campaign for the U.S. Senate. Tuesday morning, Eddy announced she is endorsing independent Dan Osborn, who will face incumbent Republican Senator Deb Fischer in the general election. Eddy said polling indicated she did not have a path to victory, and she supports Osborn’s view on marijuana legalization.

Documentation status, language barriers and lack of information can all create barriers for immigrants to access federal grants. Now a number of organizations are stepping in to provide direct support.

Sen.Jen Day introduced a bill during Friday’s special session that would force the sale of the state plane Gov. Jim Pillen uses to get around the state. According to flight logs, on July 25, the first day of the special session, Pillen took three flights connecting Lincoln, Beatrice and Nebraska City. Day said selling the $3.6 million plane would provide additional money for the state’s general fund. That money, she said, could be put toward property tax relief or other purposes.

Nebraska voters could decide whether to legalize online sports betting in the state this November, thanks to legislation introduced in the special legislative session dedicated to lowering state property taxes. Thursday morning, Sen. Elliot Bostar put forth a bill and constitutional amendment that would put legalization on the November ballot. It will advance if 60% of the legislature is in favor.

Both campaigns in the U.S. Senate race between Deb Fischer and Dan Osborn have very different perspectives on where things stand. An internal poll from the Fischer campaign found the senator has a 26-percentage point lead over Osborn, while a poll from the Osborn campaign showed the candidates tied at 42% each. According to the latest fundraising numbers, the Fischer campaign has more cash on hand, but Osborn raised more than his opponent in the last three months.

A dozen state senators from a variety of political perspectives hosted a listening session on property taxes in Lincoln Monday evening. The event comes ahead of a likely special legislative session devoted to reducing property taxes in Nebraska. Gov. Jim Pillen has said he wants to reduce property taxes by at least 40% by having the state pay for K-12 schools and eliminating some sales tax exemptions.

A group hoping to repeal Nebraska legislation regarding private school scholarships turned in enough signatures to put the issue on the November ballot. If passed, the referendum would repeal legislation passed in April allocating 10 million dollars to the state treasurer’s office to be used for private and religious school scholarships.

A two-megawatt solar energy facility is coming to Madison, Nebraska thanks to an investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The project was selected to receive a Powering Affordable Clean Energy program award, which pays for 40% of the project. Clare Sierawski with the USDA said the solar facility could spur economic development in Madison and help residents save money.

Omaha Performing Arts is receiving an additional 2.5 million dollars in funding from the state for the construction of a new building on its campus. Upon completion, the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement will include three rehearsal halls, classrooms and practice rooms, enabling the organization to offer new arts programs. The 108-million-dollar building is expected to open in the spring of 2026.