Nebraska Update

Hosted by UNL’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, a few hundred gathered outside the school’s union on Monday afternoon. Juneteenth, the oldest commemoration of slavery’s end, was celebrated with snow cones, music and educational posters.

Unleaded is a joint investigation by The Missouri Independent and the Midwest Newsroom exploring the issue of high levels of lead in children in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

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Producers will make more than 15 billion gallons of ethanol from corn, complying with the new renewable fuels mandate from the EPA.

Nearly 5.5 million chickens and turkeys have died or had to be destroyed in Buena Vista County, Iowa, during the latest bird flu outbreak — more than in any other county in the nation. That’s impacted producers, as well as workers and their families.

Campaign finance reports show competition in raising and spending funds in Nebraska's First Congressional District.

Ukrainian War Refugees are coming to Lincoln, but need rental housing. Two families, a total of 23 people, are currently living in on home owned by a local relative of one of those families.

After a District Court judge met privately with battling attorneys to sort out their grievances, the defamation lawsuit filed against State Senator Julie Slama and her countersuit against Charles Herbster moved forward.
Both cases came in response to allegations of sexual assault leveled at Herbster during his unsuccessful campaign for governor.
Lawyers representing the two appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday before District Court Judge Rick Schreiner. The case originated in Johnson County. For the convenience of scheduling the first hearing was heard at the Gage County Courthouse in Beatrice.
Herbster claims Slama damaged his reputation in the closing weeks of his unsuccessful campaign when she and seven other women accused him of groping them at political events. In a counter-suit, Slama accuses Herbster of sexual battery.
Before Judge Schriener were five motions amounting to complaints about how one side or the other responded to the lawsuit.

The Lincoln City Council voted to withdraw a proposed ordinance that would provide protections for people regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. The vote highlighted differing thoughts on if Lincoln voters would ultimately support it. Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada spoke with council member Sandra Washington on the now-rescinded ordinance, as well as Nebraska Family Alliance's Executive Director Karen Bowling.

Jeff Fortenberry would spend six months in prison if federal prosecutors have their say. Fortenberry’s legal team is asking for no jail time and no fine.
A jury convicted Fortenberry of lying to F.B.I. agents investigating illegal campaign donations.
Documents filed in federal court in Central California reveal a pre-sentence report provided to the Judge by federal probation officers recommends no prison time for Jeff Fortenberry. These reports include interviews with the convicted person, information about the offense, and the range of punishment allowed by federal law.

Higher interest rates point to less farm income, ripple effects on Nebraska economy.