Politics & Elections

The Omaha City Council has approved an ordinance banning discrimination in the workplace and all public places against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

Councilman Ben Gray sponsored the ordinance. It passed on a city council vote of four to three. The vote came one week after a three-hour public hearing, where supporters and opponents made their case as to why the ordinance should, or shouldn’t, pass.

After hearing more than three hours of testimony last week on an anti-discrimination ordinance, the Omaha City Council is set to vote on it Tuesday afternoon.

City Councilman Ben Gray introduced the ordinance. It bans discrimination against gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual individuals in the workplace and all public places. Religious institutions, and organizations run all or in part by religious organizations, are exempt from the ordinance.

Economic development and eco-tourism are the focus of a conference next Friday in Nebraska.

Governor Dave Heineman announced Monday he’ll meet with Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. The meeting is, in part, an opportunity for the three Governors to view the sandhill crane migration. Gov. Heineman says it's also a chance for the three Governors to discuss economic development, water use, and what each state can learn from the other.

Nebraska Regent Chuck Hassebrook is no longer a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.

Hassebrook announced Thursday morning he’s dropping out of the Senate race and endorsing fellow Democratic candidate Bob Kerrey. Last week, Hassebrook said Kerrey’s candidacy wouldn’t affect his own. But Hassebrook says it’s been difficult to organize a campaign. "I’ve spent a lot of hours since then working to do just that. But in recent days, I’ve come to the realization that I would not succeed."