Free Republic

Just like any other couple, Mitch Lee and Ryan Lowry want the perfect wedding. And just like any other couple, money is an issue. So, in what Lee calls a "somewhat greedy act," he entered the Journal Star's Ultimate Wedding Giveaway contest, which offers more than $20,000 in invitations, catering, cake, reception hall, honeymoon, photography and more from local vendors. You can find the full prize list here. They won.

Stunning figures in a new Gallup Poll paint Nebraska as a competitive political battleground in which Democrats might even hold a tiny edge. Democratic State Chairman Vic Covalt of Lincoln hailed the numbers Tuesday and said they'll help him recruit a strong candidate to challenge Gov. Dave Heineman next year. Republican Chairman Mark Fahleson of Lincoln dismissed the results as "a post-election euphoric snapshot" that would not hold up today. The survey of 1,035 Nebraskans during the first six months of 2009 showed 43 percent favoring Democrats and 42 percent favoring Republicans. That prompted Gallup to move Nebraska from a...