Joe Duggan
Omaha World-Herald
Lincoln, NE, United States
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Past articles by Joe:
Gage County again asks state for help paying $28 million Beatrice Six judgment
Gage County officials said a plan to appropriate $4 million in state funds toward paying a $28 million wrongful conviction judgment would help the county shed a heavy tax burden → Read More
Ex-prosecutor opposes death penalty after 'huge' mistake in Beatrice Six case
Surviving members of the Beatrice Six testified during the recent trial how authorities frequently reminded them they faced the death penalty if they didn’t cooperate with investigators. They said fear → Read More
With judge's ruling, death penalty foes fail in bid to amend language of capital punishment ballot issue
Lancaster County District Judge Lori Maret ruled this week that ballot language written by Attorney General Doug Peterson was not insufficient or unfair. Voters will decide Nov. 8 whether to ratify the Nebraska Legislature’s 2015 repeal of capital punishment. → Read More
Wrongful death lawsuit filed after boy killed by train should continue, Nebraska Supreme Court rules
The 3-2 decision overruled Colfax County District Judge Mary Gilbride, who had dismissed the lawsuit in favor of Union Pacific Railroad. → Read More
Ricketts pursuing refund for execution drugs but may consult with same vendor should voters keep death penalty
During the governor’s monthly radio call-in show, Ricketts said much depends on whether voters decide in November 2016 to overturn the Nebraska Legislature’s repeal of capital punishment. → Read More
3 finalists named for top job in Nebraska Department of Economic Development
Gov. Pete Ricketts said Friday he has already interviewed the three finalists for the job, and he anticipates making his selection soon. → Read More
Ricketts' plan to centralize IT services to save the state $5.3 million over next decade
Gov. Pete Ricketts announced the plan Wednesday as an example of his pledge to apply the best practices of private industry to state government. → Read More
Nebraska lawmaker: 'Get rid of the gun-free zones' at schools, churches, elsewhere
"This has gotten to the point of madness," Bellevue Sen. Tommy Garrett says in response to a national epidemic of mass shootings. → Read More
2 inmates assault Tecumseh State Prison staff member
The staff member was struck by the inmates at about 1:20 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news release from the Department of Correctional Services. The release did not provide information on the staff member's condition. → Read More
Ponca Tribe will soon own piece of land that's part of 'Trail of Tears,' name it after Chief Standing Bear
During a ceremony Sunday at their offices in Lincoln, tribal leaders signed an agreement to accept 19½ miles of a former railroad right-of-way between Beatrice and the Kansas border in southeast Nebraska. The land holds special significance because it traces part of the path walked by the Ponca in 1877, when the U.S. Army forced 500 men, women and children to march 500 miles to a reservation in… → Read More
180 Nebraska inmates collected state money for claiming to be jobless
The State Labor Department's failure to cross-check names enabled the fraud. → Read More
Capital punishment repeal: 'Until we get it finalized, we really can’t rejoice,' Nebraska death row inmate says
Marco Torres Jr. – who has been on death row since 2008 for a double murder in Grand Island – discussed his thoughts about last week’s historic repeal vote during a 20-minute phone interview Tuesday from the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. → Read More
Omaha Councilwoman Aimee Melton helping lead petition drive to reinstate death penalty
Nebraskans for the Death Penalty filed paperwork Monday with the Secretary of State to start a petition drive, said Chris Peterson, the group’s spokesman. → Read More
Nebraska begins issuing driver's licenses to children of illegal immigrants
Less than 24 hours after lawmakers passed Legislative Bill 623, the state began issuing driver’s licenses to young adult immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children. → Read More
Some young immigrants heading to DMV today to apply for driver's licenses after lawmakers override Ricketts' veto
Lines might be longer than normal at Nebraska driver examination offices today after state lawmakers passed legislation to provide driver’s licenses to children of illegal immigrants. The Legislature voted 34-10 Thursday to override the governor’s veto of a bill that extends driving privileges to a special category of immigrants. → Read More
Some young immigrants heading to DMV to apply for driver's licenses Friday after lawmakers override Ricketts' veto
Senators voted 34-10 to overturn the veto and end Nebraska’s status as the only state to deny driving privileges to a special category of immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. → Read More
Does capital punishment repeal apply to men on death row? AG says bill's language is unconstitutional
Language in the bill says it is the intent of the Legislature that sentences for the men on death row shall be changed to life in prison. However, according to the State Constitution, only the Nebraska Board of Pardons, not the Legislature, holds the authority to change a legally imposed sentence. → Read More
5 black prison officers nearer to getting $477,000 that state owes them in workplace bias case
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval to the annual state claims bill that, in addition to the nearly $500,000 for the five officers, approves settlements with three members of the Beatrice Six who were wrongly convicted of murder. → Read More
Ricketts unmoved on immigrant licenses, despite rising support for bill that would change Nebraska's policy
Gov. Pete Ricketts isn’t tipping his hand on his veto plans, but he’s still against granting licenses, despite the rapidly shifting politics surrounding the driver’s license bill. → Read More
NU's Innovation Campus to host packaged Korean food producer's research HQ
Suji's Cuisine USA will employ two research and development staff (one of whom will start part time) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Food Processing Center, opening later this year on Innovation Campus. → Read More