The 2025 Nebraska Christmas tree is moved into place in the Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda. Dec. 3, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Capitol’s annual Christmas tree-lighting event that has been marked in recent years by singing children and sometimes interrupted by protests focusing attention elsewhere is getting more private in a public place.

Gov. Jim Pillen moved this year’s event to 6 p.m., after the Capitol’s public hours, and required tickets obtained from state senators to attend. The Governor’s Office said it was an effort to keep the event focused on the season’s meaning.

The move spurred some criticism from lawmakers, including State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha, who argued in a Facebook post that the people’s event in the people’s house should be o

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