A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Burt, Harrison and Monona counties until 9:30 p.m. A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until midnight for much of eastern Nebraska, including Omaha. A tornado watch is in effect for Cass, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline and Seward counties until 10 p.m. Sunday.
Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz has defended before a legislative rules committee two emergency voting rules he plans to implement before the November election.
Democratic members of the Administrative Rules Review Committee criticized the rules at a hearing Tuesday as a scare tactic designed to intimidate Hispanic and other voters.
The rules allow Schultz to begin a process of challenging certain votes and to make it easier to report fraud.
Schultz, a Republican, approved the rules in July without public input, saying he had to act before the November election to ensure noncitizens don't vote.
Some lawmakers say it isn't necessary to rush the rules weeks before a very close presidential election.
Schultz says he's doing his job ensuring clean elections and not trying to give anyone an advantage.
