Armed with a filibuster-proof majority in Nebraska's Legislature, Republicans could seek further restrictions on abortion, dramatic changes to the state's election system and an expansion of the use of the death penalty to include drug traffickers in the upcoming legislative session. All three proposals are among more than 70 policies the Nebraska Republican Party included in a five-page document outlining the party's 2025 legislative agenda , which circulated on social media last week after the GOP posted it to its website earlier this year. The agenda includes proposals that have emerged as priorities for Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and a large group of lawmakers, including placing caps on annual tax increases from local governments, ensuring foreign adversaries cannot purchase Nebraska land and continuing to boost access to broadband internet outstate. People are also reading... Rest assured, Nebraska volleyball fans: The missing fan behind the servers will be back Saturday Matt Rhule reacts to no-call at end of Nebraska-USC game: "I don’t know what else to say" Arrest made in 55-year-old cold case of Nebraska teen stabbed to death 'Bocephus' is back: Hank Williams Jr. to play Lincoln arena Friday Nebraska's home game against Wisconsin gets time, TV designation Kidnapping in Nebraska prompted police chase that ended with 3 dead in Missouri Signing Day: Meet Nebraska volleyball's five-player 2025 class Wind-aided fire destroys vacant Village Inn in Lincoln As Nebraska's Democratic Party shrinks, some former party officials call for change Amie Just: Ahead of milestone birthday, local sports figures give advice on turning 30 Mountain lion spotted on trail camera east of Bennet, Sheriff's Office says UNO freezes funds for LGBTQ+, multicultural, other student groups after audit Blunt as ever, Dana Holgorsen unpacks Nebraska role, struggling run game Nebraska faces $432 million shortfall heading into next budget cycle 'Sophisticated yet simple': How Nebraska's offense changed in Dana Holgorsen's debut And some of the party's proposals mirror ideas championed by Democratic lawmakers in the formally nonpartisan Legislature, including addressing poverty and mental health issues in urban and rural areas and engaging in drug use and mental health "correction efforts" for the state's homeless population. But much of the document centers on the kind of hard-right cultural issues that have divided the Legislature — and Nebraskans — in recent years, suggesting lawmakers could once again find themselves in the kind of rancorous partisan fights that defined the 2023 legislative session that was derailed by an attempt to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender youths that prompted a months-long filibuster. The Nebraska GOP's 2025 agenda calls for a ban on transgender K-12 students from using restrooms or locker rooms that do not match the biological sex assigned to them at birth, the elimination of diversity and equity initiatives in state schools and the creation of standards "allowing parents to protect children from indoctrination and pornography." The document also calls for eliminating gender ideology and critical race theory — a graduate-level concept that captured the attention of Nebraska Republicans in 2021 despite its limited orbit — from school curriculums while embracing patriotic education "to rebuild the love of country." The proposed policies extend far beyond Nebraska's classrooms, wading into matters of public health, taxation, citizenship, election security and criminal justice. The party is calling on lawmakers to ban "ID chip and vaccine mandates," support "stricter interpretations of citizenship eligibility," support the death penalty for drug traffickers and child smugglers and enact an election system that requires the hand-counting of paper ballots filled out in-person. The agenda also calls for lawmakers to address "dangerous Communist countries' ownership of American land," root out environmental, social, and governance movements "grounded in leftist ideology," and for local leaders to "attack tent cities" through legislation and ordinances. One proposal calls for lawmakers to "end the legal ability" of the state's Natural Resource Districts to "try and play 'God' and attempt to modify the weather." It's unclear to what extent the Nebraska Republican Party's agenda will influence Republican lawmakers. Most GOP lawmakers who were contacted for this story did not return phone calls Friday. Eric Underwood, the Nebraska Republican Party's chairman, also didn't return a phone call Friday. Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City, a Republican who is entering his third year as a lawmaker in January and became the face of the bid to implement a winner-take-all election system in Nebraska this year, indicated the document represented the GOP's policy aspirations but said "you have to remember we live in 'Realville,'" borrowing the term from the late right-wing commentator Rush Limbaugh. "A person has to set their sights on lofty goals that you want to eventually bring into implementation," he said. "But it's like storming the beaches of Normandy. You have to establish a beachhead first, and little by little by little, you continue to advance." Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, a registered Democrat, said the Nebraska GOP's agenda has "been generating a lot of dialogue" among lawmakers who have offered "mixed reviews at best for a variety of different reasons." "Historically, when political parties and partisan interests try and inject a heavy hand into our beloved, nonpartisan Legislature, it's usually met with a great deal of skepticism — and rightly so," she said, adding that the GOP's agenda seems to have generated such a response from her colleagues this time around, too. Some of the party's policy proposals have already been spurned by the Republican-dominated Legislature, which last year rejected bills seeking to ban transgender students from using restrooms in conflict with their biological sex, remove protections for educators accused of providing obscene materials to minors and replace Nebraska's presidential electoral system with a winner-take-all model backed by President-elect Donald Trump. Lawmakers have already repeatedly eschewed attempts to eliminate property, income and inheritance taxes and replace them with a broad-based consumption tax. Republicans retained 33 seats, enough for a filibuster-proof majority in the Legislature, by flipping two seats previously held by Democrats this month, but failed to gain further ground. The GOP had the same majority for the last month of this year's legislative session after Democratic Sen. Mike McDonnell switched parties in April, but Republicans failed to vote in lockstep when it came to the proposed transgender restroom ban, the winner-take-all electoral system and Republican Gov. Jim Pillen's tax plan — none of which became law. Nebraska Republicans have remained fractured since the summer of 2022, when conservative activists took over the state Republican Party , which had been run by establishment figures loyal to then-Gov. Pete Ricketts. Continued tensions between the party's social conservative activist wing and its establishment figures emerged earlier this year when the Nebraska GOP withheld endorsements from the state's federal incumbent officeholders , including Ricketts and Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, who faced primary challenges from the right. In response, a group of 26 Republican lawmakers signed a public letter in February endorsing Nebraska's federal delegation while some of them aired their frustrations with the Nebraska Republican Party on the floor of the Legislature, calling the party "broke" and questioning its rationale. The moment was one among few instances of partisan rancor that arose in the Legislature this year after Speaker John Arch of La Vista, a Republican, had asked senators to turn the page from last year’s session that ended in resentment, imploring them to instead focus on issues that have "the greatest impact on the greatest number of people." Conrad said the Nebraska GOP's policy agenda seems to focus on "hot-button, controversial issues that are pretty divisive." "I think that it would be a disservice to the state of Nebraska if we spent most of our time and energy on topics like that," she said. "I think the message out of the electorate is really clear: they want government that's working to help working people succeed." But for some Republicans like Lippincott, some of the Nebraska GOP-backed proposals to expand conservative influence in public schools or upend the state's tax system fit that bill. Lippincott said lawmakers need to make changes to Nebraska's tax and public school systems — even if the reforms Republicans seek prompt intense opposition along party lines. "I do not believe that we should allow the minority party to dictate and put restraints on anybody," he said.Pakistani police arrest thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of rally in the capital
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GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs left his team’s game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday because of a concussion. Doubs’ injury came on a third-quarter play in the end zone that resulted in a pass interference penalty against San Francisco’s Renardo Green. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.ENTRUSTED with our readers’ deep secrets, the Dear Deidre team really have a unique insight into what dilemmas the nation is grappling with. Of course, there are some constants — cheating, differing sex drives, low self-esteem and loneliness. But some issues loom larger in certain years as new problems come to the fore. As 2024 nears an end, we take a look at what exactly our readers have been writing in about. Every year, we help thousands of people by answering every single dilemma with a personalised answer, and we’ve kept a record of the issues we’ve tackled. Relationship issues consistently come out on top, with 23 per cent of the emails Dear Deidre receives focused on romantic problems. READ MORE DEAR DEIDRE Sex came a close second, with 19 per cent of readers writing in with a sexual dilemma. Interestingly, half of every single relationship message addressed cheating. Sometimes, the unfaithful party would be writing in, otherwise a suspicious or heartbroken partner worried about their relationship . Among the emails about cheating on partners, home surveillance and doorbell cameras featured more prominently, with some partners forgetting to turn off cameras before inviting flings to come back to their homes . Most read in The Sun A growing number of readers also wrote in because, although they were separated, financial constraints meant they could not move out of the marital home. The reluctant house sharers were frustrated at being unable to move on — a trend that reflects economic uncertainty in the UK. Notable developments this year have been new requests for support with quitting vaping . Another new issue came in the form of pensioners worrying about losing their winter fuel allowance. Social media has been a common theme in all the categories. It is impossible to quantify but has had a huge impact. So many of the relationship problems relate to partners ogling scantily clad influencers or flirting with others they have met online. Plenty don’t see this as cheating but the feeling of betrayal is real for those on the receiving end. And it’s not just cheating that worries people. Time spent watching endless videos encourages weird infatuations, with one woman complaining her husband had become obsessed with the French election. Opportunity for temptation He insisted they spend their family holiday in France watching speeches — and had previously had no interest in politics . The issue of phone addiction came up, particularly for parents fretting about not only what their children were being exposed to, but also how their mobile activity was affecting their own behaviour. They asked our team for help on how to manage this. And a huge number of adults wrote in fed up with their partner, who had little interest in them but spent all hours playing online games or scrolling through their socials. It’s clear that while technology enables us to do far more and do it efficiently, left unchecked it threatens our real-world connections and provides more opportunity for temptation. Next year, I will be recording when social media, phone usage and the internet are mentioned as part of the problem, and I predict this will be a huge growth area. Below is a reader’s letter about ogling, followed by one about winter fuel allowance. I also break down what percentages of our mail different types of letter make up. Mortified after ex saw me having sex on security cam (Letter from November 14) DEAR DEIDRE: MY ex saw me having sex with a one-night stand using the camera security system he’d installed as a favour to me. I was completely unaware that he was watching this, until he turned up the next morning and got very upset with me. Originally, I was grateful for his help setting up the system, but now I feel really uncomfortable. He said he’d received an alert on his phone and checked it by chance, but I can’t help worrying he’s keeping an eye on me. He insists he hasn’t been watching and that was a one-off, but the whole experience has really unsettled me. I’m 36, my ex is 39, and we were together for eight years before we broke up five months ago. Our split was both mutually agreed, and amicable, and we decided to remain friends. We still met up and sometimes even had sex, but as we didn’t discuss what this meant I thought we were simply friends with benefits . I really appreciated still having him in my life. When I was moving house, he offered to help, knowing how useless I am at DIY. He helped put up shelves, and installed security cameras which he set up online so I could view them through an app. I knew he had access to it all while he set it up but assumed he’d log out. So when I brought a man home, I didn’t think twice. Now I feel mortified. He says he didn’t mean to breach my privacy, but I feel so conflicted. DEIDRE SAYS: Watching you have sex with another man was a huge breach of your privacy, and you shouldn’t take it lightly. As a priority, please ensure that you are the only one with access to your security system. Make sure you’re the primary account holder and change your password so that he doesn’t have access. It’s completely understandable that this experience has made you question the sort of person he is. Unless you decide you can trust him completely, you would be wise to stay away. At the very least, it’s clear that the lines are blurred between you and your ex and some boundaries need to be re-established. As for your relationship with him, you need to decide if there’s any hope of a future together. If you decide there’s not, it would be best to step away so you can both move on. My support pack Moving On will help. Left freezing since losing fuel payment (Letter from December 18) DEAR DEIDRE : SINCE the Government cut my Winter Fuel Payment , I’ve been struggling to afford my bills . Now I’m forced to choose between putting my heating on or buying food, and the stress is making me unwell. I’m a 76-year-old pensioner, and live alone. Until this year, I was receiving £200 payments to cover the cost of my heating bills, and I heavily relied on it. So when the Government announced the change, I went into a complete panic. My pension is already low as it is, so without the extra payments I knew it was going to be a hard couple of months. When I contacted the council for help, they told me that, while I was eligible to apply, I had missed the deadline so now I’d have to go without. Ever since, my life has been an absolute nightmare. Now I wake up every morning to a freezing house – and no matter what I do, I can’t keep warm. The constant dread is getting me down, and I’m now struggling to cope. DEIDRE SAYS: I can only imagine how distressing this must be for you. While the qualifying week for this year’s Fuel Payment has now passed, you may still be eligible if you successfully apply for Pension Credit by December 21. READ MORE SUN STORIES Please note that you only have two days to do this, so please take action today. You may also be eligible for a £150 Warm Home Discount. You can find out more about this on the government website ( gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme ). TOP TOPICS: Relationships 23% Sex 19% Family 8% Parenting 7% Friendships 4% Workplace issues 5% Mental health 11% Health 5% Addictions 8% Bereavement 5% Sexuality 4% Other 1% SEX WOES Sex drive 43% Fetishes 16% Threesomes 12% Erection problems 11% Fantasies 7% Climaxing 4% Menopause 3% Other 4% LOVE Cheating 49% Domestic abuse 12% Addictive love 10% Broken heart 14% Online romance 6% Age gaps 5% Other 4% ADDICTION Alcohol 42% Porn 22% Drugs 13% Smoking 8% Vaping 5% Gambling 9% Shopping and spending 1%
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:14 p.m. ESTThe Pittsburgh Steelers left Huntington Bank Field on Thursday night with a disappointing 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns, but wide receiver George Pickens wasn’t exactly impressed by the opposition. While the snowy conditions provided a dramatic backdrop for the AFC North rivalry, Pickens dismissed the Browns’ performance, attributing their victory more to the weather than their abilities. Pickens: “The Conditions Saved Them” “The conditions played a huge, huge part in today’s game,” Pickens told reporters. “I don’t really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all. I think the conditions kinda saved them today.” The confident, fiery demeanor of the 22-year-old wideout seemed to mirror the frustrations of a Steelers team that outgained the Browns 368-304 and won the turnover battle 3-1 but still couldn’t come away with a victory. Cleveland struggled on third downs, converting just 1 of 10 attempts, though they excelled in critical moments by converting all four of their fourth-down tries. Despite these statistical advantages, the Steelers couldn’t close out the game when it mattered most. A late Nick Chubb touchdown with under a minute left sealed the win for the Browns, leaving Pittsburgh to wonder what went wrong. Tomlin Praises Browns’ Effort Contrary to Pickens’ blunt assessment, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin offered a more measured view of the Browns performance. “I thought they brought it tonight,” Tomlin said during his postgame news conference. “They made more plays over the course of 60 minutes than we did.” Tomlin pointed out the pivotal moments that turned the contest in the visitor’s favor. It was looking like the momentum finally was on the Steelers side as Russell Wilson hooked up with Calvin Austin III on a 23-yard touchdown pass that gave them a 19-18 lead with just over six minutes left. However, a critical 15-yard punt by Corliss Waitman gave the Browns ideal field position late in the game, and they took advantage as Chubb had a 2-yard game-winning touchdown run. But the Steelers did have one last chance at a final rally of sorts, which finally ended when Wilson’s last pass to the end zone fell incomplete, leaving Pittsburgh at 8-3 and some soul-searching to do ahead of its rematch with Cleveland on Dec. 8. Pickens’ Performance, Postgame Clash Pickens had a good but unspectacular day, hauling in four passes for 48 yards on seven targets. The game ended with fireworks, as Pickens appeared to exchange words with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II following the final play. While the specifics of the altercation are still unclear, the exchange encapsulated the chippy nature of the matchup and the mounting tensions in this rivalry. Greg Newsome was going to make sure George Pickens didn’t make that Hail Mary catch as they battle to the stands, pic.twitter.com/FJgVIwkltm — Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) November 22, 2024 The outspoken receiver’s post-game comments will only fuel the fire for the rematch in Pittsburgh. The Steelers, with still very real playoff contention, will need to refocus in a big way if they want to continue to sit atop the AFC North. Looking Ahead The Steelers’ defeat was a reminder that, sometimes, even dominant performances in certain aspects of the game do not translate into wins. As for Pickens, his fiery comments could either rally the team or create some unnecessary distractions as they prepare for a critical stretch of the season. Meanwhile, the Browns have little to lose but a lot of pride to play for while sitting at 3-8 in the next meeting. With emotions high and the stakes even higher, Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh is setting up to be a ‘must-watch’ affair. Pickens might not think the Browns are any good, but the scoreboard said differently Thursday night. Now, the Steelers must prove their mettle and back up their words when the two teams meet again. This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.SURREY, B.C. - Mounties say a Chilliwack, B.C., man has been charged with three criminal offences after a crash between a tractor and BC Highway Patrol vehicle during a 2023 protest. They say the 54-year-old was arrested on Dec. 18 and will appear in Surrey Provincial Court on Jan. 16, charged with fleeing police, dangerous operation of a vehicle and assaulting a police officer with a weapon. RCMP said last year that the tractor was one of several vehicles involved in a convoy that began in Chilliwack and was travelling to Vancouver. The tractor driver sustained serious injuries in the crash that left an officer with minor injuries. Photos from the collision posted to social media at the time showed a John Deere tractor on its side, and that it was flying a black and white flag that read “stop SOGI 123,” an apparent reference to a set of classroom guidelines on sexual orientation and gender identity. Several protests erupted in cities across Canada last fall by those opposed to the educational resource intended to create more inclusive classrooms. The Independent Investigations Office issued a statement in February after concluding its investigation into the Highway 17 crash in Surrey, saying it had cleared police of any wrongdoing. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024.