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Late Wednesday night, Nebraska lawmakers passed a scaled-back version of the Stand With Women Act.Protesters chanted outside the chamber. At one point, the process was interrupted by someone yelling from the balcony, but LB89 passed 33-16. According to the text of the bill, it “promotes equality between the sexes, provides opportunities for female athletes to compete against their female peers rather than against male athletes, and allows female athletes to compete on a fair playing field for scholarships and other athletic accomplishments.” “This isn’t about exclusion, it’s about ensuring our daughters, sisters, and friends have a level playing field to compete, succeed, and shine,” Sen. Loren Lipincott said. “LB89 recognizes a simple biological truth: biological males and females are different.”LB89 defines male and female, and limits participation in sports to athletes of the same biological sex unless that sport is defined as co-ed. It also requires documentation verifying biological sex. Sponsored by Sen. Kathleen Kauth, the original bill extended the definition of sex to public buildings and locker rooms. Ralston Sen. Merv Riepe offered an amendment during the second round for the bill to focus solely on sports, which passed.”He and I talked about bringing back bathrooms and locker rooms next year,” Kauth said. “He said he’s willing to look at it but wanted to things done in a slower measure. “I can’t think of one time in American history when the passage of something like LB89 was looked back upon favorably,” Sen. John Fredrickson said. According to the Nebraska School Activities Association, eight athletes have applied for transgender exceptions since the waiver policy was put in place in 2018. “When you talk about culture war issues, why do you think they pick on gender, race, and class?” Sen. Megan Hunt said. “It’s because it keeps us divided.”Gov. Jim Pillen praised the bill’s passage, saying, “This legislation achieves a key goal — protecting girls and women’s sports. It’s just common sense that girls shouldn’t have to compete against biological boys. This legislative win will lead to many more victories for Nebraska’s female athletes, as we ensure a level and fair playing field for all girls who compete. I look forward to signing it into law.”Paid Minimum WageLawmakers also gave final round approval to LB 415, which pulls back on the voter-approved Earned Paid Sick Leave law. It passed 33-16. “We don’t need to thwart the will of the voters and undercut, or carve out, or cap access to basic sick leave,” said Sen. Danielle Conrad, who spoke against the measure. Some of the exceptions for earned paid sick leave include certain contractors, businesses with 10 or fewer employees, and minors under the age of 16. “We have to find the balance of creating economic vitality for our state while maintaining a great workforce,” said Sen. Jane Raybould, who supported the bill. Raybould was unable to attach LB258, which included exceptions for the voter-approved minimum wage law, to LB 415. It’ll likely be brought back next year. Other Notable Bills That AdvancedLB504: Age Appropriate Online Design Code Act, which bans the private information sharing of minors and gives parents more access to monitoring toolsLR19CA: A constitutional amendment to extend state senator term limits from two to three terms. Since this a constitutional amendment, it will require a public vote. LB521: Election Act, which would allow cities like Omaha to hold elections that coincide with statewide and presidential election years.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Late Wednesday night, Nebraska lawmakers passed a scaled-back version of the Stand With Women Act.
Protesters chanted outside the chamber. At one point, the process was interrupted by someone yelling from the balcony, but LB89 passed 33-16.
According to the text of the bill, it “promotes equality between the sexes, provides opportunities for female athletes to compete against their female peers rather than against male athletes, and allows female athletes to compete on a fair playing field for scholarships and other athletic accomplishments.”
“This isn’t about exclusion, it’s about ensuring our daughters, sisters, and friends have a level playing field to compete, succeed, and shine,” Sen. Loren Lipincott said. “LB89 recognizes a simple biological truth: biological males and females are different.”
LB89 defines male and female, and limits participation in sports to athletes of the same biological sex unless that sport is defined as co-ed. It also requires documentation verifying biological sex.
Sponsored by Sen. Kathleen Kauth, the original bill extended the definition of sex to public buildings and locker rooms. Ralston Sen. Merv Riepe offered an amendment during the second round for the bill to focus solely on sports, which passed.
“He and I talked about bringing back bathrooms and locker rooms next year,” Kauth said. “He said he’s willing to look at it but wanted to things done in a slower measure.
“I can’t think of one time in American history when the passage of something like LB89 was looked back upon favorably,” Sen. John Fredrickson said.
According to the Nebraska School Activities Association, eight athletes have applied for transgender exceptions since the waiver policy was put in place in 2018.
“When you talk about culture war issues, why do you think they pick on gender, race, and class?” Sen. Megan Hunt said. “It’s because it keeps us divided.”
Gov. Jim Pillen praised the bill’s passage, saying, “This legislation achieves a key goal — protecting girls and women’s sports. It’s just common sense that girls shouldn’t have to compete against biological boys. This legislative win will lead to many more victories for Nebraska’s female athletes, as we ensure a level and fair playing field for all girls who compete. I look forward to signing it into law.”
Paid Minimum Wage
Lawmakers also gave final round approval to LB 415, which pulls back on the voter-approved Earned Paid Sick Leave law.
It passed 33-16.
“We don’t need to thwart the will of the voters and undercut, or carve out, or cap access to basic sick leave,” said Sen. Danielle Conrad, who spoke against the measure.
Some of the exceptions for earned paid sick leave include certain contractors, businesses with 10 or fewer employees, and minors under the age of 16.
“We have to find the balance of creating economic vitality for our state while maintaining a great workforce,” said Sen. Jane Raybould, who supported the bill.
Raybould was unable to attach LB258, which included exceptions for the voter-approved minimum wage law, to LB 415. It’ll likely be brought back next year.
Other Notable Bills That Advanced
LB504: Age Appropriate Online Design Code Act, which bans the private information sharing of minors and gives parents more access to monitoring tools
LR19CA: A constitutional amendment to extend state senator term limits from two to three terms. Since this a constitutional amendment, it will require a public vote.
LB521: Election Act, which would allow cities like Omaha to hold elections that coincide with statewide and presidential election years.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Sports
Penn State women’s volleyball earns commitment from Texas transfer outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein | Penn State Volleyball News
Penn State landed its second commitment in the transfer portal of the day.
The Nittany Lions earned a commitment from outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein.
Lauenstein was previously at Texas and Nebraska before transferring to her third school, Penn State.
Lauenstein adds depth to the right side and outside, which is already pretty deep for the blue and white.
The Waverly, Nebraska, native had her best season in 2022 with the Cornhuskers, totaling 297 kills, with 2.78 kills per set and a .238 hitting percentage. She added 28 aces as a premier server, which could be a major part of her role with the Nittany Lions.
She’ll make her way to Happy Valley as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility.
MORE VOLLEYBALL COVERAGE

Penn State earned another commitment from the transfer portal.
Sports
Texas Outside Hitter Whitney Lauenstein Transfers To Penn State Women’s Volleyball
Texas outside hitter Whitney Lauenstein announced her commitment to Penn State women’s volleyball out of the transfer portal on Wednesday. Lauenstein posted her decision to transfer to Happy Valley on her Instagram.
As a redshirt senior this past season, Lauenstein logged 33 kills, 11 digs, and 14 total blocks across 20 sets for the Longhorns.
Lauenstein began her NCAA journey with two seasons at Nebraska. As a sophomore, she led the Cornhuskers in total points, earning AVCA All-Region Team and Academic All-Big Ten honors.
After the 2022 season, the Waverly, Nebraska, native stepped away from the team to focus on her family. Lauenstein then transferred to Texas in December of 2023, where she spent the last two seasons.
Lauenstein now joins setter Alexis Stucky and middle blocker Ryla Jones as transfer players who have committed to the Nittany Lions this cycle.
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Sports
Marquette volleyball All-American Natalie Ring transfers to Texas A&M
Updated Dec. 24, 2025, 10:22 a.m. CT
- Marquette volleyball All-American Natalie Ring is transferring to Texas A&M for her final season.
- Ring, a third-team All-American, ranked 25th in the nation with 497 kills this past season.
- She is the second key player to leave Marquette, following freshman setter Isabela Haggard’s transfer to Baylor.
- Marquette has added Ball State’s Carson Tyler, the Mid-American Conference player of the year.
A Marquette volleyball All-American is joining the national champions.
The Golden Eagles’ Natalie Ring announced on social media on Dec. 23 that she will use her final season of NCAA eligibility at Texas A&M.
Ring, a former Madison Edgewood High School standout, was a third-team All-American this season. She ranked 25th in the nation in kills with 497. Ring has 754 kills in her career.
“We are excited to add Natalie to our Aggie family here in Aggieland,” Texas A&M coach Jamie Morrison said in a statement. “She brings a wealth of experience as a well-rounded outside hitter and is a relentless competitor who consistently raised her level against the best competition.”
Ring helped lead the Golden Eagles to the second round of the NCAA tournament under first-year coach Tom Mendoza. MU lost in five sets to host Louisville.
Texas A&M went on a magical run to the national title as a No. 3 seed, beating three of the tournament’s No. 1 seeds, culminating in a sweep of Kentucky in the title game.
Ring is the second key player to leave MU’s team. Freshman setter Isabela Haggard announced a transfer to Baylor after recording 997 assists and 257 digs.
Mendoza has added Ball State’s Carson Tyler, the Mid-American Conference player of the year who will have two seasons of eligibility. She registered 506 kills, which was 18th in the country.
Sports
Izzy Starck transfers to Pitt volleyball from Penn State
Updated Dec. 24, 2025, 12:56 p.m. ET
Pitt volleyball’s fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament national semifinals ended with another heartbreak following an upset loss to the eventual champions, the Texas A&M Aggies. But the Panthers have reloaded for next season with one of the biggest names in the transfer portal.
The Panthers announced the signing of former Penn State setter Izzy Starck on Tuesday, pairing the 2024 AVCA National Freshman of the Year with Olivia Babcock, the two-time AVCA National Player of the Year.
“I’m so excited I cannot wait for next season to start,” Babcock wrote on Instagram. “WOOOOHHOOOO.”
Starck had a breakout freshman campaign at Penn State, recording 1,483 assists (10.89 per set), 342 digs, 112 kills and 99 blocks. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year led the Nittany Lions to a 35-2 overall record under head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley and the program’s eighth national championship.
The 6-foot-1 setter appeared in four games for Penn State before stepping away for the season to prioritize her mental health. Starck said her hiatus wasn’t a “goodbye forever,” but her time at Penn State officially came to an end when she entered the transfer portal earlier this month.
“I am very excited to announce that I will be entering the transfer portal this December. I look forward to finding a new home where I can grow in the next chapter of my career,” said Starck, who has three years of eligibility remaining after redshirting her sophomore season. “I am beyond grateful for the endless support I’ve received over the past months.”
Starck joins a championship contender looking to finally get over the national semifinal hump. Pitt advanced to the 2025 NCAA volleyball Final Four for the fifth consecutive year, but the No. 1 seed Panthers were swept 29-27, 25-21, 25-20 by No. 3 seed Texas A&M. It marked the first time Pitt had been swept all year and the Panthers’ fifth straight time falling short of a national championship berth.
Pitt is in search of its first national championship appearance and first national title.
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Sports
Texas A&M volleyball’s sweep of Kentucky attracts record viewership
Dec. 24, 2025, 10:30 a.m. CT
Texas A&M’s first-ever NCAA Championship win over the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday was one of the most-watched title games in college volleyball history.
The 2025 campaign has featured many first-time achievements for Jamie Morrison’s squad in just his third year as head coach in Bryan-College Station, Texas, including a victory in the No. 2-most-watched NCAA title game ever. Texas A&M’s match against Kentucky attracted a peak of 1.7 million viewers, as part of the most-consumed NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament in the history of the sport.
The Aggies have much to be proud of following their historic run on the court this season. Still, the Maroon and White faithful have also played their own crucial roles in supporting the program as it ventured to some of the most hostile road environments in volleyball. One of those rowdy atmospheres occurred in the Lincoln Regional, where Morrison’s squad dethroned No. 1 seed Nebraska in an instant classic that advanced the Aggies to their first-ever appearance in the Final Four.
Texas A&M’s outstanding season, capped off by a sweep of the Wildcats in the NCAA Championship, played a massive role in etching their name into the viewership history books.
The wheels never stop turning, however. Morrison went straight to work and immediately made a splash in the transfer portal by landing commitments from Ohio State middle blocker Kaia Castle and Marquette outside hitter Natalie Ring. While it hasn’t even been one week since Texas A&M brought the national title to College Station, Morrison and company are already turning their heads to focus on building another stacked roster eager to make more history in 2026.
That approach to recruiting and rebuilding is a massive reason for the Aggies’ recent success on the court under Morrison’s watchful eye. The talented athletes like Logan Lednicky, Ifenna Cos-Okpalla and the NCAA MVP Kyndal Stowers have molded this winning culture, which the stars of the future in the Maroon and White will look to build upon and surpass moving forward.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
Sports
K-State Hires Jeremiah Johnson to Serve as Defensive Backs Coach
Johnson comes to Manhattan after serving one season as the defensive coordinator at Coastal Carolina in addition to being the Chanticleers’ interim head coach for the Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech, which will be played next Tuesday.
“When Coach Klein called about joining his staff, it was a no brainer,” said Johnson, who worked with Klein during the 2016 season at Northern Iowa. “Having the opportunity to help him execute his vision for this program is exciting, and I am humbled and honored to work alongside one of the best coaches, leaders and humans in this business. It’s an added bonus that I am able to return to my home state. Nicki, Lane, Drew and I are so grateful to Collin and Shalin for bringing us on their journey and making us a part of their Wildcat Family. Team Johnson is fired up to get to Manhattan and get to work. Go Cats!”
Johnson has also served as a defensive coordinator at Northern Iowa (2014-2021, 2023), Kent State (2022) and Louisiana Tech (2024).
“Jeremiah is one of the best teachers of the game of football I have been around,” said Klein. “He is a relentless recruiter and a program builder. I am very excited to have him on our staff.”
This season, Johnson has helped Coastal advance to its sixth-straight bowl game as the Chanticleers rank 16th nationally and second in the Sun Belt in fourth down defense (40.0%) and 31st in fumble recoveries (8). He has helped Xamarion Gordon to a No. 2 national ranking in fumble recoveries (3) and a No. 5 ranking in the conference in interceptions (3). Myles Woods also had three interceptions on the year, while Johnson has coached Ezekiel Durham-Campbell to a No. 7 ranking in the conference in sacks (0.46 per game).
The Johnson-led Louisiana Tech defense in 2024 ranked 12th nationally in total defense, surrendering only 308.4 yards per game. It was a 98-spot improvement over where the Bulldogs finished in 2023, while his unit also produced a 91-place improvement in scoring defense (21.0 points per game) as they finished at No. 26. Additionally, Johnson led La Tech to an 88-place bump in rushing defense (135.5 yards per game) to rank 44th.
Outside of a one-year hiatus in which he served the 2022 season as Kent State’s defensive coordinator, Johnson coached for 16 seasons at Northern Iowa, spending the 2007 through 2021 seasons – in addition to the 2023 campaign – in Cedar Falls. While at UNI, Johnson coached Panther defenders to a combined 32 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) First Team honors, five MVFC Defensive Players of the Year, one Buck Buchanan Award winner, 15 Associated Press FCS All-America honors and seven American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American accolades.
In 11 seasons as the UNI defensive coordinator, Johnson’s defenses ranked in the top 10 nationally in statistical categories 29 times, which included turnovers gained on six occasions (highest ranking of No. 2 in 2019 with 34), defensive touchdowns four times (highest ranking of No. 5 in 2016 and 2019 with 4) and scoring defense three times (best ranking of No. 6 at 15.3 points per game in the Spring of 2021). During his first run as defensive coordinator from 2014 through 2021, UNI ranked sixth in the FCS by allowing 19.9 points per game over a 99-game span. He was also named a finalist for the 2019 FootballScoop FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year award.
The Panthers won four conference championships during Johnson’s time at UNI. Additionally, they made 10 FCS Playoff appearances and advanced past the first round in eight of 10 seasons, which included a semifinal showing in 2008 and quarterfinal appearances in 2015 and 2019.
Before being promoted to coordinator, Johnson coached the Northern Iowa defensive backs and served as the recruiting coordinator from 2009 through 2012. In 2007 and 2008, he was the video coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach.
Johnson went to UNI after working the 2003 through 2006 seasons at Loras College, serving on the same staff as former K-State head coach Chris Klieman. Johnson worked with the Duhawk defensive backs in 2003, 2004 and 2006, while he coached the wide receivers in 2005. Prior to his time at Loras, he was a graduate assistant and video coordinator at Wyoming in 2002.
A native of Scandia, Kansas, Johnson obtained his undergraduate degree in sports science from Kansas in 2000, while he earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from Loras in 2005.
Johnson and his five, Nicki, have a son, Lane, and a daughter, Drew.
THE JEREMIAH JOHNSON FILE
Hometown: Scandia, Kansas
College: Kansas – Bachelor’s degree in sports science (2000); Loras College – Master’s degree in athletic administration (2005)
Family: Wife: Nicki; Children: Lane, Drew
JEREMIAH JOHNSON’S COACHING CAREER
2002, Wyoming (Graduate Assistant/Video Coordinator)
2003-04, Loras College (Defensive Backs)
2005, Loras College (Wide Receivers)
2006, Loras College (Defensive Backs)
2007-08, Northern Iowa (Video Coordinator/Assistant Defensive Backs Coach)
2009-12, Northern Iowa (Defensive Backs/Recruiting Coordinator)
2013-16, Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2017-21, Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2022, Kent State (Defensive Coordinator)
2023, Northern Iowa (Defensive Coordinator)
2024, Louisiana Tech (Defensive Coordinator)
2025, Coastal Carolina (Defensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach)
2026, K-State (Defensive Backs)
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