All it takes is a drive from tiny Sarpy County (241 square miles) across Nebraska to Cherry County (5,961 square miles, slightly larger than Connecticut) to see there's no such thing as one-size-fits-all when it comes to Nebraska's counties. That doesn't just go for the size of those counties; it goes for the size of their boards, too. Stand before the county board in Hall, Buffalo or Adams County, and you'll face seven people.  Head east to Hamilton County, and you'll see just three. That could change next month, when Hamilton County residents vote on whether to increase their board's size to five members.

While state legislative candidates Mike Gloor and Gregg Neuhaus agreed on many issues during their debate Thursday at Walnut Middle School, it did turn contentious at times.

State legislative candidates Mike Gloor and Greg Neuhaus will debate Thursday at a forum beginning at 7 p.m. at Walnut Middle School in Grand Island.

KEARNEY -- Students from 10 states and six countries abroad are included on the University of Nebraska at Kearney dean's list for the 2008 spring semester.

In visiting with The Independent's editorial board on Wednesday, Republican Senate candidate Mike Johanns advocated what he calls a "tough but very fair approach to immigration."

Mike Gloor took 20 out of 22 precincts in the District 35 legislative race on Tuesday. Precinct-by-precinct results were released Friday by the Hall County election commissioner's office.

With an embarrassing turnout of less than 25 percent of Hall County's registered voters showing up to vote on Tuesday, reason stands that there should be a lot less complaining from the citizens about how their government works. It stands to reason that if a citizen does not respect the democracy enough to vote, they should keep their mouths tightly zipped until they return to the voting booth.

Central City and Valley County voters passed bond issues Tuesday, but Broken Bow voters defeated a school bond issue and a levy override.

Democrat Scott Kleeb, 32, will face former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in the November contest to replace Republican Chuck Hagel, who isn't seeking re-election.

Dan Purdy was elected to his first term on the Hall County Board of Supervisors representing District 2, and Gary Quandt was elected to his fourth term on the board from District 6 after taking six years off.

An attorney and a semi-retired banker will be moving on to November's general election in the Legislative District 33 race. Chuck Shoemaker and Dennis Utter finished with 2,886 and 2,342 votes, respectively, with 80 percent of the votes counted Tuesday night.

Mike Gloor handily beat Gregg Neuhaus in Tuesday's primary race for the 35th Legislative District in a contest that automatically sends both men to the November general election.

Republican Adrian Smith and Democrat Jay Stoddard will face each other in the fall election for Nebraska's 3rd District House seat.

Check here for final election results. Final update: 12:30am.

Mary Macias has never voted, but she will cast her first ballot in Nebraska's primary today.

"I just felt convicted, because voting is my duty," the 46-year-old said. "I don't think I can say anything -- I can't express my opinion -- if I don't vote."

For Jeremiah Ellison of Grand Island, the lack of financial accountability in Washington, D.C., and the resulting economic mess have motivated him to run for Congress from Nebraska's 3rd District.

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