Latest news with #LB3
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears Coach Confirms Luther Burden III Will Get Opportunity to Beat Out Former Pro Bowler for Spot
Bears fans should be excited about the addition of Luther Burden III. As much as we might love Colston Loveland, Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Grady Jarrett and other new Bears, the 2025 offseason might ultimately be remembered as the year the Bears got Burden III. He's that explosive and exciting, and I can imagine his jersey sales being right under Caleb Williams if the Bears reach their potential. A recent declaration from the Bears' coaching staff confirms LB3 will have an opportunity to make an impact similar to Devin Hester. Getty Images Chicago's special teams coordinator Richard Hightower confirmed what many fans had hoped: Luther Burden III will be in the mix for the team's No. 1 punt returner spot. Advertisement Burden will compete with Pro Bowl return man Devin Duvernay. Hightower says LB3 is 'a different dude with the ball in his hand.' The Bears want to use him in multiple phases of the game. Here's what Hightower told Bears Wire's Alyssa Barbieri: 'He's going to have a chance just like everyone else, but you see it on offense and saw it in college, how electric he is when the ball is in his hands. Like, he's a different dude with the ball in his hand. So all we're looking for is playmakers that will help us change field position and win games. In case you haven't seen LB3 in action, take a look at this highlight reel: Burden's usage will be one of the most closely watched developments in Chicago's preseason. He's the kind of player you don't want to limit. While Devin Duvernay brings experience and past accolades, Burden brings that edge-of-your-seat energy the Bears have desperately missed in the return game. Advertisement The battle between the veteran and the rookie could shape how the team opens games, flips field position, and steals momentum. In case you're not aware, Williams could have this suite of weapons at his disposal if the team uses a two tight-end set: WR, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, LB3/Swift, TE, Colt Kmet and Colston Loveland. The matchup problems that the Bears can present teams with is scary. I can imagine a situation where LB3 is in the backfield taking pitches. Don't be surprised if LB3 is one of the breakout rookies on offense in the NFL in 2025. Burden may have been drafted for his offensive upside, but his impact could start with field position—and that's how legends like Devin Hester got started in Chicago. With the coaching staff clearly on board, and the competition wide open, all signs point to LB3 becoming a key contributor right away. Advertisement Related: Bulls Big Man Zach Collins Says His Teammate 'Could Be More Selfish' Related: Nike Dropped a Jordan 6 Rings Graphic Tee and It Goes With Almost Everything
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nebraska Legislature to debate winner-take-all bill Tuesday, but unlikely to have enough votes
Gov. Jim Pillen has successfully pressured the Nebraska Legislature into again discussing a winner-take-all proposal. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — The Nebraska statehouse is set to debate a bill and perhaps a related constitutional amendment Tuesday seeking to alter how the state awards Electoral College votes for president. Legislative Bill 3 was pushed out of the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee on March 10, after pressure from the governor, whose political future with President Donald Trump could depend on whether he delivers winner-take-all. Despite this week's political theater and pressure from state and nationwide Republicans, the bill and the separate constitutional amendment are likely dead on arrival. State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City is unlikely to have the 33 votes needed to overcome a promised filibuster. The same holdouts from earlier in the legislative session haven't budged from opposing the change. As of Monday afternoon, Lippincott said he doesn't yet have the votes for LB 3. 'I have not seen any change, but I remain hopeful,' Lippincott told the Nebraska Examiner. Nebraska is one of just two states — Maine is the other — that parcel out some electoral votes to the winner of the presidential popular vote in each congressional district. The district approach, adopted in Nebraska in 1991, has led to Democrats claiming a single electoral vote from the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District three times — in 2008, 2020, and 2024. Republicans have won the rest, including two for winning statewide. The Nebraska Democratic Party, which has dubbed the 2nd District the 'Blue Dot,' calls LB 3 and the related constitutional amendment an attempt to 'suppress the voices of Nebraskans' and said it would 'work hard to ensure this bill fails.' Some rural Republicans have shared concerns about one day losing 'their voice' under winner-take-all as the state becomes more urban and suburban over time. Gov. Jim Pillen is using the same tactic he did with the Government Committee, which he pressed to advance the bill to the floor for debate. On Thursday, he released a statement on X saying all Unicameral Republicans need to 'stand together as a team.' Republicans hold 33 of the 49 seats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature. 'President Trump has called for the restoration of WTA, as have the majority of Nebraskans across our state.' Pillen wrote in the post. 'I call upon our Republican Senators to answer this call and vote to advance WTA. In particular, I hope that veteran Senator Merv Riepe stands with his fellow Republicans on this critical issue.' State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston, who often proves a pivotal vote on controversial legislation, has been the loudest holdout on winner-take-all. He was one of the holdouts Trump called in 2024, when the then-presidential candidate was trying to convince senators to support Pillen's 11th-hour push for winner-take-all. Two months before the 2024 election, Pillen held a meeting on winner-take-all at the Governor's Mansion with at least two dozen Republican state senators about securing support and trying to convince holdouts. The push was killed by then-State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, a former Democrat and union leader who had pledged when he changed parties and became a Republican to keep the status quo but flirted with changing his mind. McDonnell decided not to support the change, saying he didn't want to disrupt the money and attention that presidential politics brings to the Omaha area. He has since been term-limited from office and lost a recent primary bid for Omaha mayor. With McDonell term-limited and replaced by State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha, Riepe is taking the brunt of the political pressure this go-round. He reaffirmed his stance and intent to vote against the bill and the constitutional amendment during a mini press conference Thursday, saying his voters had expressed their appreciation for how the state stands out because of its electoral system. 'I feel like my family name is on the line,' Riepe told reporters. State Sen. Dave Wordekemper of Fremont, who voted to advance the bill out of committee, is also likely to vote no but has expressed interest in letting the voters decide via the proposed state constitutional amendment, LR24CA. State Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams has proposed that approach, which the committee also advanced to the floor. LR24CA is not scheduled for debate Tuesday but could be discussed as a potential fallback position. 'At minimum, WTA deserves a fair up-or-down vote on its merits by the people's representatives, not to be smothered by a filibuster led by ultra-liberal Democrats,' Pillen said in last week's statement. Another indicator of the bill's difficult path is that Speaker John Arch of La Vista announced he is limiting floor debate on LB 3 to four hours Thursday, because most members have already determined how they will vote. Typical bills are given eight hours on the first round of debate. 'I do not believe a drawn-out eight-hour debate benefits this body or anyone on either side of the issue,' he said. State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln has already filed motions to indefinitely postpone, bracket, and send the bill back to committee before Tuesday's debate, a hint that Democrats and others opposed to the change are prepared to follow through on a promised filibuster. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha told Nebraska Public Media that the LB 3 debate would be a waste of time because the proposal lacks support. 'The people in the state of Nebraska have been clear that they like the system that we use,' Cavanaugh said. Recently, a Democratic state lawmaker in Maine proposed a bill in their state's Legislature that would move Maine back to winner-take-all if Nebraska switches as a way of 'protecting' Maine's voices and voters. Riepe said that Maine's push to change the system would offset any 'advantage' Republicans would gain if Nebraska switched to winner-take-all. He added that he wished more states did their Electoral College system by district because 'it's closer to a popular vote.' 'I'm not ready to give up on that,' Riepe said. The state's Republicans have pushed for winner-take-all for decades. The effort gained new steam after Trump and surrogates expressed support during his 2024 campaign. Now, with Trump back in the White House and his grip on GOP politics strengthened, people in Pillen's orbit have said he wants to make sure Trump does not endorse Trump donor and friend Charles Herbster in the 2026 GOP primary for governor if Herbster runs. Pillen defeated Herbster in the 2022 GOP primary for governor despite Herbster having Trump's endorsement. But he had help from then-Gov. Pete Ricketts, now a U.S. senator. Debate over LB3 is set to begin by 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pillen's nudge helps Nebraska's winner-take-all proposals advance out of Government Committee
State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City, left, joins Gov. Jim Pillen for a ceremonial bill signing for a bill aimed at boosting Nebraska National Guard recruitment and retention. Dec. 10, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN – After public pressure from Gov. Jim Pillen, Nebraska lawmakers advanced to the full Legislature a winner-take-all bill and a separate proposed constitutional amendment to let voters alter how the state awards Electoral College votes for president. The Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee of the officially nonpartisan Legislature advanced both proposals Monday along party lines. The chair, State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue, had said in the past that she wouldn't put anything out of committee if it didn't have the 33 votes needed to overcome a promised filibuster, which could grind the Legislature to a halt, at least for a time. But that changed when the emails and phone calls came in, she said. 'Lippincott making it a priority…so people are speaking, and most of them said, 'Let's get the vote,'' Sanders said after the vote to advance. Sanders added that any attempt to pull any bill out of a committee, if it ends up in gridlock, would weaken the bill and said it should go through the committee process. State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City, who filed LB 3 and made it his priority bill for the session, told the Nebraska Examiner on Friday that he was grateful for the 'opportunity to try and get Nebraska back to the same rules' as the rest of the country. The Government Committee also advanced Legislative Resolution 24CA, a proposed amendment to the state constitution from State Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams, allowing voters to decide whether to change to winner-take-all. Nebraska is just one of two states — Maine is the other — that parcel out some electoral votes by the winner of the presidential popular vote in each congressional district. The approach, adopted in Nebraska in 1991, has led to Democrats claiming a single electoral vote from the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District three times — in 2008, 2020 and 2024. Nebraska Democrats have dubbed the 2nd District the 'Blue Dot.' The Nebraska Democratic Party has called LB 3 an attempt to 'suppress the voices of Nebraskans' and said it 'will work hard to ensure this bill fails.' Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb released a statement Monday calling the proposed move 'short-sighted.' 'We have a competitive primary for both parties in 2028, and we should all want candidates asking for our votes. That will only happen if we keep the split electoral vote system. Nebraska is unique. Let's not be like all the rest of the states. Let the other states follow our lead in true representative democracy. We urge senators from all parties to vote no on the final version of the bills,' Kleeb said in her statement. State Sen. Dave Wordekemper of Fremont said that just because he voted to advance the bill out of committee doesn't mean he agrees with the two proposals. 'We can have a debate on those [proposals] on the floor and decide as a body,' Wordkemper said. Wordkemper said he would keep an 'open mind' on both proposals. Lippincott said after the vote that he always feels 'hopeful' about his bill's chances. Pillen, in a statement, said the bill's advancement was 'great news for Nebraska, and I'm grateful to Chair Rita Sanders and the great senators who voted to advance WTA.' He said switching to winner-take-all 'would restore unity to Nebraska's allocation of Electoral College votes and strengthen our voice in presidential elections.' The state's Republicans have pushed for winner-take-all for decades. The effort has gained steam since Trump expressed support for the initiative during his 2024 campaign. The latest push likely signals that Pillen's political future with Trump could depend on whether he can deliver winner-take-all. Sander said the committee would have another executive session late this week to possibly combine the two proposals. It was not immediately clear when the two proposals would reach the floor for debate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nebraska lawmakers respond to Gov. Jim Pillen's pressure on winner-take-all
Gov. Jim Pillen is greeted by members of the Nebraska Legislature during his annual State of the State speech. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen successfully pressured Nebraska lawmakers to discuss a bill early next week that would alter how the state awards Electoral College votes for president after multiple efforts fell short in recent years. During Thursday morning's legislative session, Pillen took to social media, on X, and urged his supporters to contact senators on the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee to advance Legislative Bill 3 to the full Legislature. That bill would return the state to its previous system of awarding all five of its electoral votes for president to the winner of the statewide popular vote. 'Passing Winner Take All is a priority for President Trump, and it is mine as well,' Pillen posted on X. He added that the committee was 'preventing the full Legislature from giving it fair and open consideration.' By the end of the day, State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City, who filed LB 3 and made it his priority bill for the session, said the committee would hold an executive session on Monday morning, as first reported by Lincoln Journal Star. Lippincott told the Nebraska Examiner on Friday that he is grateful for the 'opportunity to try and get Nebraska back to the same rules' as the rest of the country. The committee also will consider a proposed amendment to the state constitution from State Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams, allowing voters to decide whether to change to winner-take-all. It would take five votes to advance either measure out of the eight-member committee, but a senator could attempt to pull a bill out of a committee if it ends up in gridlock. 'Our governor, U.S. senators, our secretary of state, treasurer and auditor serve the whole state and are elected by the whole state,' Lippincott said. 'The U.S. president also serves the whole state and should be elected by the popular vote of the whole state.' Nebraska is just one of the two states — Maine is the other — that parcel out some electoral votes by the winner in each of the state's congressional districts. The approach, adopted in Nebraska in 1991, has led to Democrats claim a single electoral vote from the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District three times — in 2008, 2020 and 2024. Nebraska Democrats have dubbed the 2nd District the 'Blue Dot.' The Nebraska Democratic Party has called this bill an attempt to 'suppress the voices of Nebraskans' and 'will work hard to ensure this bill fails.' The state's Republicans have pushed for winner-take-all for decades, but the effort has gained steam since Trump expressed support for the initiative during his 2024 campaign. It's unlikely Lippincott has the 33 votes needed to overcome a promised filibuster, which could grind the Legislature to a halt, at least for a time. However, the latest push likely signals that Pillen's political future with Trump could depend on whether he can deliver winner-take-all. With Trump back in the White House and his grip on GOP politics strengthened, people in Pillen's orbit have said he wants to keep Trump from endorsing if Trump donor and friend Charles Herbster jumps into the Republican primary for governor in 2026. Pillen defeated Herbster in the 2022 GOP primary for governor despite Herbster having Trump's endorsement. Pillen's 11th-hour push for winner-take-all in 2024 was killed by former State Sen. Mike McDonell of Omaha. He decided not to support it, saying he didn't want to disrupt the money and attention that presidential politics brings the Omaha area. Now, his no vote is a part of a controversy in his bid for Omaha mayor. Two months before the 2024 presidential election, Pillen held a meeting on winner-take-all at the Governor's Mansion with at least two dozen Republican state senators about securing support and trying to convince holdouts. Trump even called some of the holdouts. Pillen told senators the importance of Trump winning the election and securing all of Nebraska's electoral votes, as national polls at the time showed a tight race between Trump and the Democratic nominee, former Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris ended up winning the 2nd District, but Trump won Nebraska statewide. He also won the swing states and the popular vote. Lippincott said earlier this session that he felt more optimistic about his latest attempt to change how the state awards electoral votes, because term limits and elections had changed the faces in the Legislature, and there is no presidential election this year. During the hearing for LB 3, some rural Republicans shared concerns about losing 'their voice' under winner-take-all if the state becomes more urban and Democratic over time. Committee member State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, said the bill would 'diminish the value of the votes' of some voters. This week, Lippincott said Nebraska was following 'a trend' when it implemented its district-based electoral system, but it didn't catch on and 'put us out of step' with the nation. 'If it was such a great idea, why isn't the rest of the nation following suit?' he asked. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
