START YOUR SNOWY SATURDAY: With a story about a new competitor for Nebraska’s “Carhenge” in the Badlands of neighboring South Dakota. Built with fire trucks. From Paul Hammel: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/29/c...

START YOUR THANKSGIVING: With a story about Nebraska SNAP benefits during the government shutdown, the special session that almost was and the people left scrambling after the disruption. From Zach Wendling, with help from Cindy Gonzalez and Erin Bamer: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/27/s...

GOVERNOR'S RACE? Nebraska's 2026 GOP primary for governor might not have officially started, but one of the candidates from the 2022 race, Charles Herbster, is acting like it has. This time, there's an incumbent. From Juan Salinas II: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/23/h...

NEW THIS MORNING: Conversations with retiring Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman, the first woman to serve on the Nebraska Supreme Court. A great story from @cgonzalez_NE about a different kind of pioneer. A Saturday special from the Nebraska Examiner: buff.ly/7tzt0vj

SCHOOL FUNDING: A commission meeting to find ways to better design Nebraska's system of funding K-12 education met Monday and might have laid some groundwork for how it will pursue potential recommendations. From Zach Wendling: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/09/22/n...

VARGAS RUNNING: Former State Sen. Tony Vargas is running for office again in the Omaha area, but not for Congress. He's running for the mayor's old job, Douglas County treasurer. First in the Examiner from CIndy Gonzalez: buff.ly/Pgx59pv

BACON ON TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT: Nebraska GOP U.S. Rep. Don Bacon says President Donald Trump should remember who Vladimir Putin is and what he wants, which is more than Ukraine. He says Trump doesn't want to be "Chamberlain 2." From Aaron Sanderford: buff.ly/ZK7SQsj

DEBOER RUNNING: Term-limited State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Omaha seeks a seat on Nebraska’s catch-all regulator, the Public Service Commission. From Zach Wendling: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/08/14/s...

CHIMNEY ROCK ATTACKED? As part of a training exercise for the Nebraska Army National Guard, soldiers will descend from Blackhawk helicopters near iconic Chimney Rock. From Paul Hammel: nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pound...

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ROLLINS VISIT: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins heard about tough times from Nebraska farmers and ranchers during a tour and roundtable Saturday with the state's congressional delegation and hinted that more federal help might be on the way. From Aaron Sanderford: buff.ly/9LsFj5n

COUNTY TUSSLE: Deputy Douglas County Attorney Amy Jacobsen, who has prosecuted some high-profile cases, says she was fired by Douglas Co. Attorney Don Kleine after telling him she was running against him. First in Examiner rom Cindy Gonzalez:

NEBRASKA REDISTRICTING? Count Nebraska among the GOP-led states discussing mid-decade redistricting, depending on how Democratic-led states respond to Texas' push to help Republicans hold the U.S. House. First in the Examiner by Juan Salinas II: buff.ly/5mhuegW

PARTY FUNDRAISING: The Nebraska Democratic Party has outraised the Nebraska Republican Party since 2022. Does that matter? From Erin Bamer: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/29/n...

NEW CANDIDATE CONFIRMED: Nebraska's Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District has another familiar face seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House, Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades. #NE02 First in the NebEx from Juan Salinas II: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/21/d...

ICYMI: Advocates for Nebraskans with autism are watching closely as the State of Nebraska tweaks its reimbursement rates that it says were the highest in the nation for some services. From Cindy Gonzalez: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/18/a...

BIG PLANT: A new soybean crushing facility that owners say brings a $700 million investment to Nebraska’s David City and will support 80 jobs is set to launch commercial operations by the end of August. From Cindy Gonzalez: buff.ly/TCQGUnW

NEW CANDIDATE: Nebraska’s 2nd District U.S. House race is getting more crowded. Democrat Kishla Askins announced her bid Tuesday in #NE02. From Juan Salinas II: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/15/r...

START YOUR MORNING: With thoughts of a historic Nebraska bed and breakfast in Chadron possibly changing hands. A fun one from Paul Hammel: buff.ly/cVYtWMH

ICE says it arrested MS-13 ‘kingpin’ in Omaha, Nebraska. The federal agency did not identify the man, telling reporters the investigation was not yet complete. nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/ice-s...

CONGRESS: Former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom kicks off his GOP bid for Congress in Nebraska’s Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District (#NE02) today. He faces @BrinkerHarding in the 2026 primary to replace @DonJBacon. From Juan Salinas II: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/07/f...

ABORTION STATISTICS: A total of 2,501 abortions were reported to have been performed in Nebraska in 2024, a 7.6% increase from the previous year. From Erin Bamer buff.ly/QoPAU5F

MEDICAL CANNABIS REGS: Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has approved the state’s emergency medical cannabis regulations. A regulatory commission can now solicit licensing applications. From Zach Wendling: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/01/p...

REPUBLICAN IN NE-02 RACE: Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding announced a bid Tuesday for the House seat held by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon in Nebraska's Omaha-based 2nd District. He's the first Republican to announce. First in NE Examiner from Juan Salinas II: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/07/01/o...

BACON BOWS OUT: U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., made it official Monday, confirming what had leaked Friday, that will not to run for a sixth term in 2026. He talked about his time in the House and what comes next. From Juan Salinas II: buff.ly/JvR3JQQ

NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS? The reality of stepped-up immigration enforcement is hitting home in Nebraska, including for some who voted for the Trump administration. New polling hints at a shift. A local look from Cindy Gonzalez: buff.ly/L5ed8A7

FIREWORKS FEES: The return of retail fireworks sales this week comes after Nebraska lawmakers increased State Fire Marshal fees this spring, many for the first time in nearly four decades. From Zach Wendling: nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebra...

RAID UPDATE: A Glenn Valley Foods worker detained in a June 10 worksite immigration raid that ensnared nearly 80 people was released this week on a bond set by an immigration judge. From Cindy Gonzalez:

BACON RETIRES FROM CONGRESS: Five Republicans familiar with @RepDonBacon's decision-making process confirmed to the @NE_Examiner that he is set to step away next week from the 2026 House race, creating an open seat in NE-02. From Juan Salinas II: buff.ly/V74Av8i

NEW IN NE-02: Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades told the Nebraska Examiner this week that she is “testing-the-waters” for jumping into the Omaha-based 2nd District U.S. House race. First from Juan Salinas II: buff.ly/GaCKuXl

STATE VEHICLES: The Nebraska auditor on Wednesday flagged “widespread misuse” of state-owned vehicles — including allegations of an employee taking multiple trips to his family’s vineyard. From Cindy Gonzalez:

CHANGES AT THE TOP? After serving two years as the state’s top economic developer, K.C. Belitz is exiting as director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Gov. Jim Pillen announced the resignation without saying why. From Cindy Gonzalez: buff.ly/7IWo6HR

SCOOP: People who want to weigh in on proposed emergency regulations likely to be considered by the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission are waiting for a draft to be released. Advocates also worry about the involvement of DHHS. From Zach Wendling: buff.ly/0cmGe6d

FACTS AND FIGURES: Let the Examiner’s Zach Wendling take you through some interesting numbers from Nebraska’s 2025 legislative session.

START YOUR MONDAY: With Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen talking about the state budget and fielding questions about a projected structural imbalance in the years to come. From Zach Wendling: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/23/p...

RAID CHARGES: Federal prosecutors charged five people for encounters with immigration agents during the June 10 worksite enforcement raid at Omaha’s Glenn Valley Foods. Court documents shared more details. From Cindy Gonzalez: buff.ly/Hgs9aUC

POLITICAL THREATS: A 25-year-old Georgia man was arraigned Monday in Atlanta on charges of making threats across state lines against Nebraska GOP U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. From Juan Salinas II: buff.ly/DU5N0MV

START YOUR WEEK: With a sit-down discussion about next steps on property tax relief with Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, who still wants to expand sales taxes to offset more local property taxes. From Zach Wendling:

FIRST IN @NE_EXAMINER: Former Nebraska State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks is announcing today that she is running again for her previous seat in the Nebraska Legislature. From Zach Wendling: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/13/p...

SCOOP: State. Sen Jane Raybould of Lincoln, a Nebraska state senator with a progressive record who angered some by trying to slow voter-approved increases in the minimum wage, will not run for reelection in 2026. From Zach Wendling: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/12/s...

NEW OMAHA MAYOR: From economic development to TIF, the streetcar, immigration arrests and staffing, Omaha Mayor-elect John Ewing Jr. on Wednesday talked about how he plans to lead Nebraska’s largest city. From Cindy Gonzalez:

MED CANNABIS CONNECTION: The Nebraska Liquor Commission appointee who Gov. Jim Pillen chose not to let apply for another term told @NE_Examiner that Pillen's top staffer said he wanted someone on the board with "cannabis experince." From Zach Wendling: buff.ly/zgsy3os

NE-02 ENDORSEMENT: Former Omaha State Sen. Tony Vargas, a two-time Democratic U.S. House nominee, endorsed nonprofit co-founder and business owner Denise Powell’s bid for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. First in the Examiner from Juan Salinas II:

NE-02 SCOOP: Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District has a new high-profile candidate for Congress, State Sen John Cavanaugh. From Juan Salinas II: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/04/s...

2ND DISTRICT SCOOP: The talking stage of whether to run for Congress in Nebraska’s Omaha-based 2nd District ended this week with Denise Powell, known for helping new candidates, announcing her bid. From Juan Salinas II: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/05/01/d...

Eric Smoyer was a good teammate and student athletic trainer at NWU who was taken too early. A tree has been planted in his honor by his friends and teammates. @ajohnsonljs.bsky.social wrote about it here: journalstar.com/news/local/a...

MASSIVE RANCH: One of the most historic and largest multigenerational ranches in the Nebraska Sandhills is poised to find new owners. And listing for a cool $50 million. See for yourself with Cindy Gonzalez:

START YOUR WEEKEND: With how the University of Nebraska Board of Regents reacted to an anti-DEI letter from the Trump administration. From Zach Wendling: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/11/u...

BRANDING FIGHT: A divide between rural Nebraska lawmakers is rustling in the statehouse with a bill that would exempt a significant sector of agriculture in the state — feedlots — from branding and inspection fees. From Juan Salinas II:

WATERED DOWN SICK LEAVE? Nebraska state lawmakers advanced a bill Friday that seeks additional carveouts to the language of the new paid sick leave law voters approved in 2024 before it takes effect this fall. From Zach Wendling: