EPSTEIN CHANGE: President Donald Trump on Sunday night abruptly changed his tune, telling House Republicans to vote on a bill to compel the Department of Justice to release all files related to its investigation into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. From States Newsroom:

COMMENTARY FROM AYOUB: For me, the lasting imprint will be the callous vigor with which this administration went after SNAP benefits, government assistance that feeds children, the elderly and more.

STATE TAX COLLECTIONS LAG? Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley is sounding the alarm on state tax collections from people and businesses in delinquency. This comes as the state needs to close a budget deficit. From Cindy Gonzalez:

NEW FACES: Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced two appointments Monday to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission and the Medical Cannabis Commission. Take a look at what they're walking into. From Zach Wendling:

FLIGHTS RESUMING: The Trump administration's FAA lifted an order that airlines cut domestic flights to 40 major U.S. airports now that the government is funded. From States Newsroom:

ICYMI: States are still trying to figure out what comes next after the shutdown ends. Many programs are restarting. Questions about reimbursements remain. From Stateline: buff.ly/hRNlc6u

ICYMI: A program that helps farmers with disabilities stay in the field has been vital for some Nebraska families, including one from the Syracuse area. From Cindy Gonzalez:

NU BUDGET: Get more into the specifics about the University of Nebraska’s $27.5 million in proposed budget cuts. From Zach Wendling: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/17/b...

COLLEGE ACCREDITATION: The process of vetting and evaluating colleges and universities has gained more scrutiny and grown more political. From Stateline: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/13/r...

SNAP UPDATE: With the federal government now re-opened, Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services has resumed distribution of food assistance. From Erin Bamer: nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebra...

ICYMI: Former Nebraska Treasurer Don Stenberg argued Friday that Gov. Jim Pillen made the right call to have Nebraska participate in an optional federal tax credit for donating to scholarship-granting organizations for private and parochial K-12 schools.

OUTSIDE COMMENTARY: Nebraska State Education Association President Tim Royers argues Gov. Jim Pillen could make the state's participation in a federal tax credit for private K-12 schools also apply to the foundations backing public schools.

NEWSPAPER RAID FOLO: The county involved in a small-town Kansas newspaper raid in 2023 will pay a cumulative $3 million to three journalists and a city councilor. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office also crafted a statement admitting regret. From States Newsroom:

ICYMI: Nebraska lawmakers and Gov. Jim Pillen are talking about beefing up security around the Capitol building. From Erin Bamer:

START YOUR WEEKEND: With a story of agricultural resilience, about a Nebraska family that has fought to stay on the farm with help from a state and federal program aimed at people with disabilities. From Cindy Gonzalez:

HEALTH CARE FIX? The drama at the center of the government shutdown has yet to be resolved, and health care costs are rising. From States Newsroom:

DATA CENTERS HELP: States are not disclosing which incentives they're giving what data centers. From Stateline: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/13/r...

SHUTDOWN FOR THE STATES? Though Congress ended the record-setting federal government shutdown this week, financial and policy questions remain for states already wading through seismic federal changes. From Stateline: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/14/r...

OUTSIDE COMMENTARY: Former Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg argues Nebraskans would rather keep their federal tax dollars where they help employ Nebraska private school teachers and administrators and provide income to businesses selling to schools. nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/14/n...

SHUTDOWN HANGOVER: Much of American life that was disrupted by the government shutdown is rattling its way back to functionality today. From States Newsroom:

ICYMI: Nebraska is trying to beat Wisconsin in a #B1G blood drive contest that the Huskers won last year. Andi Jackson and others are asking for public help. From Juan Salinas II: buff.ly/FpvcZZQ

START YOUR FRIDAY: With the flow of SNAP food aid benefits resumed after the end of the longest government shutdown. From Erin Bamer: nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebra...

DATA CENTER INFO: Most states offering incentives to data centers don’t disclose which companies benefit, according to a new report. From Stateline:

NEW MEMBER: Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva was sworn in to office Wednesday after a delay critics allege was because the Arizona lawmaker pledged to be the deciding signature on a petition to release the so-called Epstein files. From States Newsroom: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/12/r...

EPSTEIN FILES: U.S. House Democrats investigating the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein released emails Wednesday they say show President Donald Trump knew about the financier’s abuse of underage girls as far back as 2011. From States Newsroom:

SNAP BACK? Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services says it's begun issuing partial SNAP food aid benefits again to eligible residents in the wake of the federal government shutdown. From Erin Bamer: buff.ly/11NgUT9

BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE? The national bus driver shortage persists years after the COVID-19 pandemic. From Stateline: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/12/r...

SNAP UPDATE: The end of the federal government shutdown should mean fuller payments for the people who defend on food aid from SNAP payments. From States Newsroom: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/12/r...

ICYMI: Veterans who were seeking a way out of the justice system with a new state diversion program aimed at them are running into budget realities that have stalled the start of the court effort. From Zach Wendling: buff.ly/kx4cD6D

SECURITY CHANGES? Visiting the Nebraska Capitol could get more complicated and possibly safer after a review by the Nebraska State Patrol of security at entrances. Some wonder what that means for guns. From Erin Bamer:

B1G BLOOD DRIVE: Nebraska volleyball star Andi Jackson wants to make sure the Huskers don't lose to Wisconsin in a contest that could save lives. She wants Nebraskans to donate blood in the name of UNL to help the school and others. From Juan Salinas II:

SHUTDOWN ENDS: The federal government shutdown is over after the Senate and House voted to fund the government in the short term. From States Newsroom:

SORRY, MS. JACKSON: Nebraska volleyball star Andi Jackson asked Husker fans and people interested in a good cause to step up and donate blood this week to help people who need it and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. From Juan Salinas II: buff.ly/FpvcZZQ

RURAL HEALTH: Competition for rural health care dollars from a new federal fund has states seeking money to bolster emergency services, address chronic diseases and recruit and train doctors and nurses. From Stateline: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/12/r...

HEMP CHANGES? Congress included a provision that would sharply limit the sale of intoxicating hemp products in the bill aimed at ending the government shutdown. In states like Nebraska, where prosecutors and retailers have sought more clarity, that could matter. From Stateline:

NEW SECURITY? The Nebraska Capitol is reviewing security protocols and approaches before the next legislative session in the wake of violence in other states. What that means is not yet clear. From Erin Bamer: buff.ly/3MDo5ZG

SENATE SPOTLIGHT: Today, @NE_Examiner took a detour from state government to sit down with two Nebraska U.S. Senate candidates. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts aims to beat a nonpartisan labor populist by focusing on his own conservative record. From Juan Salinas II: buff.ly/TaQI57H

SENATE SPOTLIGHT: Today, @NE_Examiner took a detour from state government to sit down with two Nebraska U.S. Senate candidates. A former Omaha labor leader aims to beat Nebraska's top political machine by focusing on working-class issues. From Juan Salinas II: buff.ly/PKMZa2Q

REDISTRICTING FUND? A new nonprofit with ties to President Donald Trump on Monday launched a six-figure advertising effort to back Indiana congressional redistricting efforts in the upcoming legislative session. From States Newsroom: nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/11/r...

BALLOT FIGHTS: Nebraska is not the only state fighting over the future of ballot measures for the 2026 elections. A national look from Stateline:

SNAP IMPACT? The possible end of the government shutdown hasn't stopped the Trump administration from trying in court to keep states from paying the full amount of food aid in November. From States Newsroom:

In 1981, then-Nebraska Gov. Charlie Thone was asked to submit three nominees to fill a vacancy on the state’s slice of the U.S. District Court. He nominated only one. From Paul Hammel:

SHUTDOWN LATEST: The U.S. Senate approved a stopgap spending bill Monday that will end the longest government shutdown in American history once the measure becomes law later this week and heads back to the House. From States Newsroom:

NEW FACE: Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Douglas County District Court Judge Derek Vaughnon Monday as the next associate justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court, the high court's first justice of color. From Zach Wendling:

MISSION DIVERTED? Funding for a new Nebraska court diversion program for military veterans was cut and the rollout of the program was delayed by Gov. Jim Pillen and the Legislature after the state budget got tight. From Zach Wendling: buff.ly/kx4cD6D

ICYMI: Nebraska's election calendar for 2026 is rounding into shape. From Zach Wendling: nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/dates...

SOMBER ANNIVERSARY: Fifty years after the sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, the freighter that sank on Lake Superior in 1975 on its way to Detroit, memorials around Michigan and the Great Lakes paid homage to the 29 lives lost. From States Newsroom:

REMEMBERING JUDGE BEAM: Judge Arlen Beam of Stapleton, Nebraska, served 38 years on the federal bench, eventually joining the prestigious U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. From Paul Hammel: buff.ly/YWbuIml

DEATH PENALTY: States are diverging even more sharply in how they handle the death penalty. From Stateline:

NEW JUSTICE: Nebraska's Supreme Court is replacing one judicial pioneer with another, as Gov. Jim Pillen appoints Douglas County District Court Judge Derek Vaughn, the high court's first justice of color. From Zach Wendling: buff.ly/TzpRxDG