NEBRASKA LEFT OFF FEDERAL MEDICAL CANNABIS PROTECTIONS

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s medical cannabis program has hit an unexpected federal roadblock after the state was excluded from a key congressional amendment that shields state-legal medical marijuana laws from interference by the U.S. Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration. For more than a decade, that federal protection has been included in annual budget legislation to ensure patients, providers and state programs operating under voter-approved laws could do so without fear of federal prosecution. But in the latest update, Nebraska was left off the list, meaning its nascent medical cannabis system could be vulnerable to federal enforcement even as state regulators work to implement the law voters approved in November 2024. 

Advocates and policy experts warned the omission could chill investment and delay access for patients who rely on cannabis for pain management and other conditions, pointing to continued tensions between state and federal marijuana law. Nebraska’s medical cannabis program has been slow to launch, and supporters argue that without federal assurances they face both legal uncertainty and potential prosecution after the state legalized medical use. Critics of the exclusion have called it a setback not only for patients but for respecting the will of voters, underscoring how federal and state conflicts over cannabis policy continue to complicate implementation in states like Nebraska.

For the full article, click HERE.

STATE SENATOR CALLS OUT DHHS AFTER MEDICAID ERROR IMPACTS HIS SON

BELLEVUE —State Sen. Victor Rountree publicly criticized the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services after his 37-year-old adult son, who has developmental disabilities, was abruptly dropped from Medicaid and had his disability waiver halted due to what DHHS later acknowledged was a data-entry error. The mistake temporarily left the Rountree family without critical coverage and supports, prompting Rountree to demand accountability and more transparent processes within the agency that oversees services for some of Nebraska’s most vulnerable residents.

Rountree’s remarks reflect broader concerns from families and advocates about DHHS’s handling of Medicaid and disability services, especially amid ongoing debates over proposed changes to how the state administers Medicaid waivers and caregiver reimbursements. While the error affecting his son was corrected and coverage reinstated, the incident has underscored lawmakers' and disability advocates' frustrations with bureaucratic errors and the need for better oversight and reliability in delivering essential health services.

For the full article, click HERE.

DEM PRIMARY FUNDRAISING IN NEBRASKA’S 2ND DISTRICT TIGHTENS AS GOP RACE NARROWS

LINCOLN — Six candidates are competing for the Democratic nomination in Nebraska’s open 2nd Congressional District ahead of the May 12 primary, and recent Federal Election Commission filings show fundraising is tightening among the top contenders. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha raised more in the fourth quarter of 2025 than business owner and PAC co-founder Denise Powell, reporting about $343,600 compared with Powell’s roughly $305,300. Although Powell still leads overall in total funds raised and cash on hand entering 2026, she trails both Cavanaugh and Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades in local name recognition and polling. Other Democratic hopefuls, including Navy veteran Kishla Askins and former congressional staffer James Leuschen, also reported substantial fundraising, while Evangelos Argyrakis hasn’t yet filed financial figures. 

The Republican side has also seen movement: former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom recently exited the GOP primary, leaving Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding as the likely Republican nominee, who reported raising over $315,000 with more than $540,000 on hand. Cavanaugh’s campaign emphasized his growing fundraising momentum, while Powell argues her cumulative haul positions her as best equipped to flip the district Democratic. Meanwhile, Rhoades has focused on grassroots voter engagement over large-scale fundraising. National experts view Nebraska’s 2nd District—a diverse and politically divided area—as a potential Democratic pickup with incumbent Republican Rep. Don Bacon retiring.

For the full article, click HERE.

NO STATEWIDE SURPRISES AT NEBRASKA INCUMBENT FILING DEADLINE FOR 2026 ELECTION

LINCOLN — As of the Feb. 17 incumbent filing deadline for Nebraska’s 2026 election cycle, most current officeholders seeking reelection have filed their candidacies with no major surprises statewide, according to the Nebraska Examiner. A handful of appointed officials — including Public Service Commissioner Christian Mirch, State Sen. Fred Meyer and University of Nebraska Regent Joel Makovicka — chose not to file for their seats, but key statewide figures like Gov. Jim Pillen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, Secretary of State Bob Evnen and Auditor Mike Foley all filed to run again. U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts is seeking a full six-year term after his 2024 special election win, while U.S. Reps. Mike Flood and Adrian Smith are also seeking reelection. Twenty-one incumbents in the Legislature and other statewide boards have filed, and nonincumbents still have until March 2 to enter races for offices ranging from federal seats to the Legislature and the Board of Regents. 

Several notable departures were confirmed, with U.S. Rep. Don Bacon opting not to seek another term and state Sens. Christy Armendariz and Jane Raybould sticking to earlier decisions not to run again. Ten state senators are ineligible for reelection due to term limits, and additional vacancies on the State Board of Education and University of Nebraska Board of Regents have opened competitive races. Nebraska’s primary election is scheduled for May 12, with the top vote-getters advancing to the Nov. 3 general election.

For the full article, click HERE.

STATE AUDITOR FLAGS TAX INCENTIVE COSTS AND DHHS SPENDING IRREGULARITIES

LINCOLN —A new audit from State Auditor Mike Foley found that Nebraska’s two major incentive programs, the Nebraska Advantage Act and ImagiNE Nebraska Act, have cost the state an estimated $1.2 billion in lost revenue over the past four years, including $295 million in fiscal year 2025 alone. The report found benefits paid to companies that no longer met program requirements and raised concerns that current law does not adequately ensure long-term job and project commitments. Nearly $181 million in local sales tax revenue has also been refunded since 2019. With a projected $451 million budget deficit, Foley warned the incentives could add to mounting fiscal pressure without reforms.

In a separate review, Foley’s office cited issues with spending and reimbursements by Steve Corsi, head of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Auditors examined 105 state purchasing card transactions totaling $19,477 and identified dozens of questionable expenses, including meals purchased while receiving per diem and insufficient documentation. The agency said overlapping expenses have been reimbursed and pledged to improve oversight and compliance procedures moving forward.

For the full article, click HERE.

NEBRASKA GOP OPPOSES BILL TO MOVE BRAND COMMITTEE INTO STATE AGENCY

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Republican Party has formally taken a stand against Legislative Bill 1258, a proposal from State Sen. Ben Hansen that would make brand inspection voluntary across the state and fold the self-funded Nebraska Brand Committee into the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. In a resolution adopted Jan. 31, the GOP urged Republican legislators to oppose the bill, arguing that the shift could expand bureaucratic control and weaken the independent branding agency. The party planned to share its stance with lawmakers to influence the officially nonpartisan Legislature. The Brand Committee, funded through fees rather than general tax dollars, currently oversees cattle brand inspections and theft investigations in much of Nebraska, a function some ranchers and rural officials see as vital to the cattle industry’s integrity.

Opposition to the bill extended beyond the state GOP, with livestock groups like Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Farm Bureau and Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska also urging lawmakers to preserve the Brand Committee’s autonomy. At a legislative hearing, many testified that the existing system protects ranchers and deters theft, while supporters of Hansen’s proposal — including some feedlot owners — argued it would reduce red tape and improve efficiency. Critics countered that the bill misrepresented the committee’s role and would undermine a long-standing institution important to Nebraska’s agricultural economy. No immediate action was taken on the bill following the hearing.

For the full article, click HERE.

FORMER NEBRASKA FIRST LADY SUSANNE SHORE RUNS FOR NU REGENT IN OMAHA

OMAHA — The political divide between Nebraska’s Democratic former first lady, Susanne Shore, and her husband, Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, a former two-term governor, has drawn attention for more than a decade. 

Shore has said she and Ricketts regularly disagree on politics at the dinner table and come together as a family. But this week, the political odd couple finally agreed on a Nebraska Democrat running for office. Her.

Shore is seeking an Omaha seat on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. She says she wants to help NU heal from months of infighting and help stakeholders set a vision for its future. She says she wants all NU campuses to learn from what others are doing well — at NU and elsewhere. She wants NU to use that data to innovate in learning, research, and student experience.

She would like to see the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska at Kearney emulate the University of Nebraska at Omaha in studying what its students need to succeed. 

For the full article, click HERE

PROPOSED REFORM TO NEBRASKA’S SPORTS ARENA FINANCING LAW WOULD REDUCE GOVERNOR’S POWER

LINCOLN —Nebraska lawmakers are advancing proposals to change how the Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act operates, aiming to reduce the governor’s ability to stall or block applications for sports arena and complex financing incentives. Under current law, Gov. Jim Pillen’s vote on the board that reviews applications has effectively held projects in limbo, with several proposals for new youth and community facilities awaiting decisions. One bill would impose a 30-day deadline for the board to act on applications once a public hearing is held, and another would remove the requirement that the governor’s vote be needed for approval. Supporters say the changes would bring certainty to developers and communities seeking to use state sales tax turnback incentives for economic and recreational development.

Backers argue that stalled approvals are delaying or discouraging investments in sports infrastructure across the state, from large complexes to smaller municipal facilities, and that clearer, more predictable timelines could help Nebraska communities capitalize on growing demand for youth and competitive sports venues. Opponents of the current system say it empowers a single executive decisionmaker too heavily and slows economic development tied to state incentives. The proposed reforms reflect bipartisan legislative efforts to streamline the process and clarify how financing assistance for sports projects should move forward.

For the full article, click HERE.

‘A SMALL STEP’: COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY ADVANCES NEBRASKA MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION TWEAKS

LINCOLN — A legislative committee unanimously advanced small changes to the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission as part of Legislative Bill 1235, aiming to help the new commission operate more effectively after voter approval of medical cannabis measures in 2024. The amended bill, trimmed to just three pages from 28, would set a $12,500 salary for commissioners, create a state cash fund to support commission work, allow the commission to charge application fees up to $50,000, and require fingerprinting for applicants. Lawmakers described the updates as modest but necessary administrative fixes to fill gaps in the voter-approved framework.

Supporters said the changes help the commission move forward with licensing cultivators and other roles, while critics of broader proposals last year had opposed more expansive regulatory authority. Though the tweaks do not dramatically expand patient access or overhaul the system, backers argued they help clarify funding and operational basics. The committee also advanced confirmations of three new commission members as part of the package.

For the full article, click HERE.

TOP NEBRASKA BUSINESS LEADER LEAVES CHAMBER POST AFTER LESS THAN YEAR

LINCOLN — A top Nebraska business leader has stepped down as president and CEO of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry after serving less than a year in the role. The chamber confirmed the departure in a brief statement but did not provide a detailed explanation for the leadership change. The exit comes during a key period for the state’s largest business advocacy organization as it engages lawmakers on tax, workforce and economic development issues.

The departing executive, Todd Bingham, began leading the chamber in mid-2025 after being selected earlier that spring. His tenure lasted roughly nine months. The chamber’s board has launched a search for new leadership, saying it will work to ensure continuity in its policy priorities and support for Nebraska businesses during the transition.

For the full article, click HERE.

NEBRASKA BATHROOM, GENDER CARE BILLS ADVANCE FROM COMMITTEE, LACK VOTES TO PASS

LINCOLN —Nebraska legislative committees this week narrowly advanced two contentious bills: one (LB 730) that would require bathrooms, locker rooms and similar group facilities in K-12 schools, colleges and state buildings to be designated strictly as “male” or “female,” and another (LB 732) that would ban puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone treatments for minors and prohibit such care via telehealth. Supporters, led by State Sen. Kathleen Kauth, argue the proposals protect privacy and safety, but neither measure appears to have the 33 votes needed to overcome opposition during full-Legislature debate, including from key swing Republican State Sen. Merv Riepe. Omaha and Lincoln public schools have opposed the bathroom bill, and no senator chose the gender care ban as a legislative “priority,” likely ending its path for 2026.

 Critics, including moderate senators and LGBTQ advocates, have pushed back, with some lawmakers saying the bathroom bill isn’t necessary and questioning how enforcement would work. Advocates for transgender Nebraskans voiced concern about the impact of the gender care restrictions and bathroom designations, and opponents of LB 732 have indicated they would try to kill it even if it reaches the floor. As scheduling for debate remains uncertain, supporters say they may revisit the proposals in future sessions if they fall short this year.

For the full article, click HERE.

ADVOCATES SAY PROPOSAL WOULD PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST FROM ‘DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS’

LINCOLN —Conservation groups and wildlife advocates urged state senators to back a proposal aimed at safeguarding the Nebraska Environmental Trust from repeated transfers of its funds to help balance the state budget. Gov. Jim Pillen has proposed sweeping more than $40 million from the Trust over the next two years, which critics say could jeopardize competitive grants that have funded conservation, habitat and recycling projects for decades. Opponents of the transfers warned that ongoing diversions — totaling about $29 million in recent years — amount to “death by a thousand cuts” and dilute the Trust’s mission to support environmental work. 

In response, State Sen. Tom Brandt introduced Legislative Resolution 298, a proposed constitutional amendment that would ensure Trust funds are used only for competitive grants as originally intended by voters. Supporters say enshrining that purpose in the Nebraska Constitution would block future transfers like those sought by the governor and preserve funding for conservation efforts. No one spoke against the measure at a committee hearing, and online comments heavily favored advancing it, suggesting strong public backing for protecting the Trust’s funding structure.

For the full article, click HERE.

'NOT DEAD YET': BEN SASSE REFLECTS ON REGRETS, FAITH AFTER PANCREATIC CANCER DIAGNOSIS

In a wide-ranging interview about seven weeks after his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse reflected on regret, faith and mortality. Speaking with Peter Robinson of the Hoover Institution, Sasse said he wishes he had been more intentional about balancing work and family life and observing the Sabbath during decades he described as workaholic. Now battling cancer that has spread to his spine and carries a 97% mortality rate, he is undergoing a clinical trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He acknowledged the physical pain and emotional weight of the diagnosis, saying it has reshaped how he prays and how he thinks about self-importance, time and family. When he dies, he said he plans to be buried in Arlington, Nebraska, overlooking the Elkhorn River.

Despite the grim prognosis, Sasse said he still believes his time in politics mattered, arguing that ordered liberty requires engagement even if politics should not become central to one’s life. He also discussed technology and culture, contending that greater access to information has not necessarily produced greater wisdom. Now sleeping up to 16 hours a day because of treatment, he recently wrote a Wall Street Journal opinion piece “on morphine” and is preparing to launch a podcast titled “Not Dead Yet,” a project renamed after his diagnosis. Above all, he said his primary motivation in pursuing treatment is to have more time to guide and support his 14-year-old son.

For the full article, click HERE.

STIFFER FENTANYL PENALTIES ADVANCE IN LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Legislature moved forward with a proposal to increase penalties for fentanyl trafficking, elevating the maximum sentence from 20 years to life imprisonment for serious offenses as senators voted to cut off debate and attach the measure to another bill for further approval. Supporters, including Sen. Tanya Storer, argue the tougher penalties align fentanyl with punishments for other hard drugs and address its deadly impact in communities, while critics warn the changes could lead to severe sentences even in cases involving small amounts and contribute to prison overcrowding.

For the full article, click HERE.

OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS PLANNING FOR $50.6 MILLION SHORTFALL DUE TO STATE TAX FORMULA ERROR

OMAHA - Omaha Public Schools announced that updated information from the Nebraska Department of Education reduced the district’s expected shortfall for the 2026-27 school year from an initial $61 million to $50.6 million. The shortfall results from a correction in the state’s TEEOSA funding formula, which overpaid districts in the previous year. OPS officials said they may need to raise the property tax levy to help cover the gap, though the exact amount will depend on final county property valuations later this year. The district emphasized ongoing communication with the public and plans to present its five-year budget at a rescheduled board meeting on February 23.

To address the shortfall, OPS is relying primarily on property taxes and grants, while seeking savings in other areas. The district has already taken steps to reduce costs, including negotiating a lower 2.49% staff raise with the Omaha Education Association and considering program cuts such as removing cellular data plans from student iPads. OPS leaders stressed that they do not plan to reduce staff and are taking a proactive approach to balance the budget, though some non-staff expenditures may need to be reduced to ensure fiscal stability.

For the full article, click HERE.

WINNER-TAKE-ALL DEBATE, AS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, LIKELY IN LEGISLATURE

LINCOLN — Senators could soon feel déjà vu as a Republican lawmaker prioritized a constitutional amendment seeking to alter how Nebraska awards Electoral College votes for president.

State Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul prioritized the proposal from State Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams that would let voters decide if the state should change from awarding a single electoral vote to the popular vote winner in each of three congressional districts and two to the statewide winner to awarding all five votes to the statewide winner. That proposal was pushed out from the Legislature’s Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee last year. 

Read the full article by clicking HERE  

‘GUEST WORKER PERMIT’ BILL DRAWS LABOR UNION SUPPORT, OPPOSITION FROM NEBRASKA’S LABOR COMMISSIONER

LINCOLN — A Nebraska “guest worker permit” bill for undocumented immigrants drew support Monday from the bulk of public testifiers, while the biggest pushback came from Nebraska’s labor commissioner and the proposer’s fellow lawmakers.

State Sen. Dunixi Guereca of Omaha told the Legislature’s Business and Labor Committee that the Guest Worker Permit Act he introduced would set up a legal framework for undocumented immigrants to work in Nebraska — provided the federal government allows it.

He called LB 879 a “trigger law,” meaning that Nebraska would be ready to go if given the green light by the feds, but he said it would not bypass federal authority or grant a legal status. 

State officials estimated Nebraska’s undocumented population at between 50,000 and 60,000 people, based on data from the Migration Policy Institute and the American Immigration Council.

“We need workers. Period. You can not dispute that — it’s stagnating the Nebraska economy,” Guereca said. “If the native population isn’t bringing more workers, we need immigration.”

For the full article, click HERE.

NEBRASKANS RAISE ALARM ABOUT PROPOSED $152 MILLION CUT TO DHHS

LINCOLN —Nebraska’s Legislature recently held a public hearing where healthcare workers, advocates, and others raised serious concerns about Gov. Jim Pillen’s proposed $152 million reduction to the Department of Health and Human Services, part of broader efforts to address the state’s budget challenges. Supporters of DHHS services warned that deep cuts could hurt essential programs that support vulnerable populations, including Medicaid and other health services, even as DHHS officials said they could manage the reductions without harming core functions.

Lawmakers and advocates questioned the impact of the reductions during budget planning, emphasizing potential threats to access to care and program effectiveness for Nebraskans who rely on DHHS services. Agency leaders maintained that the cuts could be absorbed through changes in operations and funding strategies, but public testimony highlighted widespread anxiety about the consequences of shrinking support for health and human services across the state.

For the full article, click HERE.

JOCELYN BRASHER ENTERS NEBRASKA AG RACE, SQUARES OFF WITH FORMER BOSS

OMAHA —Democrat Jocelyn Brasher, a Nebraska native and former assistant attorney general, has officially launched her campaign for Nebraska attorney general, challenging incumbent Republican Mike Hilgers, whom she once worked under. Brasher framed her campaign as a bid for new leadership and a different approach in the state’s top legal office, highlighting her experience in public service and law. Her announcement sets up a competitive statewide race as she seeks to persuade voters that her vision better reflects Nebraskans’ priorities.

A central focus of Brasher’s campaign is her criticism of Hilgers’ handling of key policy issues, particularly the state’s medical marijuana implementation. She argues that Hilgers has resisted the will of Nebraska voters — who approved medical cannabis legalization by a wide margin — by challenging related legislation and potentially blocking timely guidance for patients and providers. Brasher says that on Day One in office she would move swiftly to clarify rules so patients can access care and healthcare professionals can practice without undue legal risk, contrasting her priorities with those of the incumbent.

For the full article, click HERE.

LA VISTA POLICE OFFICER RUNS FOR NEBRASKA LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 18

BENNINGTON — A La Vista police officer has announced their candidacy for the open seat in Nebraska Legislative District 18, which covers parts of north-central Douglas County. The officer is campaigning on issues important to local families, with a particular emphasis on making life more affordable, including concerns about housing and cost of living for residents.

The race comes as the current District 18 seat will be open in the upcoming election, and the new candidate is positioning themselves as someone with public-safety experience and community ties who wants to bring that background to the Nebraska Legislature.

For the full article, click HERE.