In Nebraska

In Nebraska

The Beatrice Daily Sun reports, "Death penalty bill signals Chambers' last chance at repeal."

Ernie Chambers has introduced his bill to repeal the death penalty, a battle he's promised to make the priority of his last session as a state senator.

The bill (LB1063) would change the maximum penalty to life in prison without possibility of parole.

In a pre-session survey by The Associated Press, 11 of Nebraska's 49 state senators said they supported repealing the death penalty _ versus six last year. Twenty-three said they opposed a repeal, versus 29 last year. Others were unsure or didn't respond to the survey.

The closest Chambers came to having the law changed was in 1979, when his bill passed on a 26-22 vote but was vetoed by then-Gov. Charley Thone.

Earlier coverage of developments in Nebraska is here.