Nebraska governor hospitalized after he is bucked off a horse

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen was injured Sunday after being bucked off a horse and is expected to be hospitalized for several days.

Pillen, a first-term Republican, was with his family when he was thrown off a new horse and injured, according to the governor's office. He was taken to a hospital in Columbus, Nebraska, and then transported to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

The governor's office said Pillen is conscious and alert and has been in touch with his staff. He is expected to remain at the Omaha hospital for several days.

Pillen, 68, was elected governor in 2022. Before becoming governor, he worked as a veterinarian and owned a livestock operation. ___ This story was first published on Dec. 22, 2024. It was updated on Dec. 23, 2024 to correct the name of the hospital where the governor was being treated. It is the Nebraska Medical Center, not the University of Nebraska Medical Center.