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Ricketts joined 49 other senators in opposition to a border security bill and foreign aid bill that had the support of Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and most Senate Democrats. Ricketts explained his opposition in a press call Wednesday.

Newly-released data from higher education researchers shows Nebraska is behind the national average when it comes to community college students transferring to four-year universities and ultimately earning their bachelor’s degrees. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena has the details.

A proposed constitutional amendment that would change the makeup of the State Board of Education drew opposition Tuesday at the Legislature’s Education Committee hearing.

Host Intro: Nebraska schools would have more options for armed personnel to confront possible shooters under a bill that drew strong support and opposition at a hearing Tuesday.

A man imprisoned for the past year after being convicted of sexual assault in Merrick County will get a new trial. In a very unusual move, Nebraska’s Attorney General filed a memorandum with the Nebraska Court of Appeals stating testimony that helped put 63-year-old Jack Tourtillott of Chapman in jail should not have been heard by the jury. The attorney recommended the jury’s guilty verdict be reversed. The court did so in January.

There are plenty of elections this year including Nebraska primaries, local elections and a vote for U.S. president. This means people like Dwayne Hawkins—the director for Black Votes Matter Get Out the Vote initiative based in Omaha-- is very busy. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena got a coffee with him to talk about what’s on his mind in this new role.

Nebraskans will continue to switch their clocks twice a year, after senators rejected proposals today/Monday to stick with standard time or daylight saving time year-round.

The University of Nebraska announced a new full-ride scholarship starting in the fall for in-state students who receive a perfect score on the ACT. The President’s scholarship will cover all costs to attend the University of Nebraska – including room, board and books — plus a $5,000 stipend.

An effort to require two-person crews on trains crossing Nebraska fell short Friday in the Legislature. And senators heard a proposal to tighten requirements for local governments or businesses that want to condemn land.

State Board of Education members disagreed on a potential rule change that would prohibit sexually explicit content in school libraries at their meeting Friday.

This November, voters will decide the next president. And depending on this outcome, Nebraska refugee resettlement agencies may have to quickly adjust how many new arrivals to prepare for. The refugee outlook for 2024 may be starkly different from 2025.

Aguilar’s Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination Act would prohibit state and local government entities from entering into a contract with a company that has a policy of discriminating against the firearm industry. Steve Hornady, president of Hornady Manufacturing, an ammunition company based in Grand Island, testified at Thursday’s legislative hearing on the bill.

Governor Jim Pillen and the Department of Correctional Services announced Thursday the start of a new strategy to help incarcerated individuals re-enter their community.

Proposals to expand sales taxes to reduce property taxes ran into opposition in a public hearing Thursday. And, opponents of requiring two-people on train crews continued the first legislative filibuster of the year, leading the discussion onto some interesting sidings.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers have released results from an electric vehicle crash test last fall. Cody Stolle, assistant director of UNL’s Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, says the research is important as electric vehicles, which can be much heavier than their gas-powered counterparts, become more common.

Under the current process, voters must sign a notarized affidavit to make that happen. Linehan, who introduced the new legislation, says her bill would only require voters to send a letter to the Secretary of State’s Office to remove their name.

Property tax levies would be automatically reduced if valuations increased, under a proposal heard by the Legislature’s Revenue Committee Wednesday. And senators debated requiring at least two crew members on trains crossing the state.

Douglas County is taking steps to prevent drug overdose related deaths with a new program, The Douglas County Overdose Fatality Review Team(OFR).

The Nebraska Legislature continued debate Tuesday on proposals to have the state observe either yearlong Daylight Saving Time or yearlong Standard Time.

Lincoln has developed a way for the state’s resettled refugees to help fill the workforce. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena shares more about a manufacturing course starting this weekend (Sunday).