Updated: 6:04 AM A "test vote" in the Legislature suggests that a majority of Nebraska lawmakers want to abolish the death penalty, but there may not be enough support to overcome a filibuster.

Updated: 5:20 PM Lawmakers have pulled funding to buy an airplane from the University of Nebraska Foundation, choosing instead to study whether better options are available.

Posted: 11:19 AM The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners announces the appointment of Troy Hawk as Clerk of the District Court. This appointment follows the recent retirement notice of the current Clerk of the District Court, Sue Kirkland.

Posted: 6:47 AM Lawmakers have failed to reach a vote on a proposal to buy a $2.2 million airplane from the University of Nebraska Foundation.

Posted: 10:51 PM Senate Republicans have boycotted a scheduled committee vote on President Barack Obama's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

Updated: 6:30 AM Lawmakers have given first-round approval to a bill that makes up most of Nebraska's state budget.

Posted: 5:14 PM Minnesota is positioned to become the 12th state to approve gay marriages following a historic vote in the state House. The 75-59 vote Thursday was seen as pivotal for the measure, which would allow same-sex weddings beginning Aug. 1.

Posted: 12:49 PM Lawmakers have rejected an attempt to add $7.5 million in yearly funding to Nebraska's property tax credit program.

Posted: 5:42 AM Many Republican leaders are pushing their party to accept a more welcoming U.S. immigration policy, arguing that it will make the GOP more appealing to Hispanic voters whose numbers are growing rapidly.

Updated: 5:31 AM Lawmakers have started to debate a series of bills that will make up Nebraska's next state budget. The proposals that won committee approval allocate about $7.8 billion for the new two-year budget cycle, which begins on July 1.

Posted: 11:55 AM Former Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy has reimbursed the state $500 for thousands of calls to four women on his state-issued cellphone.

Updated: 4:22 AM Democratic and Republican senators have filed hundreds of amendments to a landmark immigration bill that will face its first votes this week in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Updated: 9:31 AM Roy Christensen, Leirion Gaylor Baird and Trent Fellers are Lincoln City Council's newly elected members.

Updated: 6:38 AM Of the more than 160-thousand registered voters in Lincoln, only about 34,000 are expected to cast their ballots in this election.

Posted: 3:57 PM Nebraska lawmakers who support an Omaha charter-schools bill launched a debate on a measure that was killed in committee this year.

Updated: 3:54 PM U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today met with two Nebraska students, who were honored at the The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards for outstanding volunteer service.

Posted: 2:37 PM A longtime Nebraska businessman and Senate candidate passed away from cancer over the weekend. Fifty-four year-old Pat Flynn from Schuyler unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2008 and 20012.

Posted: 8:36 AM It's been nearly three months since U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns announced he wouldn't seek a second term in 2014, and still, not one of his fellow Nebraska Republicans has stepped up to replace him.

Updated: 5:13 AM Bill Orr, the husband of former Nebraska Governor Kay Orr, passed away early Sunday morning at the age of 78.

Updated: 4:33 AM Six candidates are vying for three seats on the Lincoln City Council. Voters will decide who gets the spots in the Lincoln City General Election on Tuesday.

Posted: 6:43 AM Nebraska lawmakers have passed a bill that would require many hospitals and nursing facilities to offer vaccinations to patients before they're discharged.

Updated: 5:35 AM A water compensation bill in the Nebraska Legislature is generating a lot of policy discussion.

Updated: 3:56 PM After struggling to sway both state and federal lawmakers, proponents of expanding background checks for gun sales are now exploring whether they will have more success by taking the issue directly to voters.

Posted: 5:00 PM Investors who were spooked by Washington's fiscal-cliff showdown have created a one-time cash windfall for Nebraska.

Updated: 5:39 AM A new state-equalization funding bill for Nebraska public schools has won first-round approval from lawmakers.