ABORTION RESULTS SO FAR: Initiative 434 - which would put NE's current 12-week ban in the constitution - is creeping to the approval threshold as more results come in. They're at 49.9% approval. Initiative 439 - which would guarantee access until fetal viability - is at 54.5%

Initiative 434, which would put NE's current 12-week ban in the constitution, has officially tipped over 50% approval, with 50.4%. Initiative 439, which would guarantee access til fetal viability, is at 53.9%. At the 439 watch party they're saying it's still too close to tell.

BREAKING: Abortion measure passes in Missouri | The Associated Press

AP CALL: Amendment 3 passes. This overturns Missouri’s near total ban on abortion. This is big for: Missouri was the first state in the country to enact an abortion ban after the fall of Roe in 2022. Two years later, voters have overturned it

Elizabeth Constance, an Omaha doc/fertility specialist, says she supports 439 bc it would help patients. "This is critically important for physicians to be allowed to treat the patient in front of them, the unique situation that person is in and do the best for that person."

NE Abortion ballots update: Both initiatives are currently clearing the 50% approval threshold. But remember that if both pass, it *could* come down to whichever got THE MOST VOTES. Right now the fetal viability initiative is leading the 12-week ban measure by just 2,048 votes.

This tweet immediately became old news with a new update from the Secretary of State! Now the fetal viability initiative is leading by just 84 votes.

News is happening fast in Nebraska's competing abortion ballot race: For the first time tonight, the effort to enshrine the 12-week ban is leading with 52.2% approval and 305,197 votes. The fetal viability initiative has 51.94% approval and 304,627 votes.

Emotions are low at the watch party for the fetal viability initiative. Lots of sighs and hugs. I've reached out to the 12-week campaign + supporters, have not heard back for their reaction.

Just checked with Douglas Co Election Commissioner - still ~ 10,000 votes that'll be counted on Friday. These include early voting ballots returned after 12 p.m. Monday - 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Nebraska abortion ballot measures: With about 78% of votes counted by midnight, both were passing, with the measure to keep Nebraska's current limits getting the most "yes" votes. Elizabeth Rembert Nebraska Public Media News 1/2 nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-a…

NE ABORTION BALLOTS: The AP says initiative 434, which enshrines the 12-week ban in the state constitution, has passed. Initiative 439, which aims to guarantee rights til fetal viability, is now notching a 49.6% approval rating. They need >50% to pass.

For the 16,000th time, 434 does not enshrine the 12-week ban. The statutes can be changed to a total ban in the next session. But they cannot be changed to allow abortions beyond the first trimester except as allowed in the constitution. /

This one's for my fellow rodent heads. Let me regale you with the tale of how Omaha became a squirrel research hub, and along the way, I'll introduce you to KickAss, the three-footed black squirrel. flatwaterfreepress.org/black-red-or-d…

Such a great story from Sara Gentzler. The way Ricketts used his money to reshape the Unicameral, and politics in Nebraska, is stunning. Gotta keep reading for the kicker quote, though, my God. flatwaterfreepress.org/ricketts-riche…

No Nebraska hospitals are in compliance with a federal price transparency rule, according to recently-released data from an advocacy group. nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-a…