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nebraskaexaminer.com
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OUTSIDE COMMENTARY: The presidents of Nebraska's three largest chambers of commerce wrote an op-ed in today's Nebraska Examiner arguing that the Legislature should consider NU's economic impact while making some difficult budget decisions.

UKRAINE NOW: Three years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a lot has changed on the ground and in the halls of power. From States Newsroom:

BERNIE VISITS OMAHA: About 2,500 people crowded into a hotel ballroom to hear Vermont Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders kick off his pushback tour against President Donald Trump and billionaires like Elon Musk. From Jamie Reiff of the Nebraska News Service:

DOGE AND THE TREASURY: A federal judge sided with 19 Democratic attorneys general to preliminarily block DOGE from accessing U.S. Treasury payment systems. From States Newsroom

THREE YEARS: Monday marks the third year since Russia invaded Ukraine. It's the first anniversary with President Donald Trump at the helm of foreign policy. From States Newsroom

JUDGE EXTENDS NIH RULING: A federal judge has extended her temporary order to prevent the National Institutes of Health from capping indirect costs paid to research universities and medical schools, including the University of Nebraska. From States newsroom

WHITE HOUSE MEETING: President Donald Trump met with a bipartisan group of governors at the White House where he featured immigration and the death penalty and confronted Maine Gov. Janet Mills. From States Newsroom https://buff.ly/431En9L

BACKING AWAY: The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office said this week that AG Mike Hilgers would “reevaluate Nebraska’s involvement” in a lawsuit against a Biden-era rule if it threatens federal disability protections. From Zach Wendling:

NOTHING BUT TIME: The Nebraska Legislature’s fight over which direction to turn the clocks had a day of debate on the floor Thursday. Zach Wendling was there:

START YOUR MORNING: With a story about a potential legislative change to protect Nebraskans who seek genetic testing. This one starts with a mother and daughter. From Zach Wendling:

DEPORTATION PAUSE: Immigrant advocacy groups on Thursday got a District of Columbia federal judge to temporarily block the Trump administration from deporting their clients, potentially within hours. From States Newsroom:

LIKE CLOCKWORK: The Nebraska Legislature on Thursday advanced a pair of competing bills with different visions for doing the same thing, stopping people from having to switch their clocks. From Zach Wendling:

KASH CONFIRMED: All Senate Republicans, except two, voted on Thursday to confirm Kash Patel to a 10-year term as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an agency in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump. From States Newsroom:

CATCHING UP: The company-fed push to cement drivers for ridesharing and food delivery apps as independent contractors in Nebraska survived a second round of labor-centered resistance. Battle lines were drawn during previous debate. From Aaron Sanderford:

GENETIC TESTING SHIELD: A new Nebraska bill seeks expanded access and fewer barriers to genetic testing, including keeping results from being used in determining insurance premiums or eligibility. From Zach Wendling:

CONFIRMATION NEARS: Linda McMahon got a step closer in her bid to serve as the next U.S. secretary of Education after a Senate panel on Thursday propelled her nomination to the full Senate. From States Newsroom:

GOOD LIFE REDUX? Nebraska Crossing developer Rod Yates is back in Lincoln, with State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, seeking a revamped Good Life district law to fit his new vision for a larger tourist destination. Not everyone is pleased. From Cindy Gonzalez:

MEDICAID CUTS? U.S. Senate Democrats on Wednesday urged Americans throughout the country who rely on Medicaid for their or a family member’s health care to call up GOP members of Congress and urge them not to cut benefits. From States Newsroom:

BUDGET FIGHT: U.S. Senate Republicans plan to vote on their budget resolution this week as planned, despite President Donald Trump throwing his support behind the House’s budget on Wednesday morning. From States Newsroom:

REMEMBERING TROOPER MCACY: Services for Nebraska State Patrol trooper Kyle McAcy are open to the public and planned for Feb. 27 in Ralston. People were also invited to join a law enforcement procession for the family to the funeral. From Aaron Sanderford:

BIRTHRIGHT APPEAL: The Trump admin appealed a nationwide injunction in a lawsuit brought by Democratic attorneys general challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order that aims to redefine the constitutional right to birthright citizenship. From States Newsroom:

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Nebraska Legislature’s Executive Board heard testimony Tuesday about the effort to clarify its oversight of state agencies after Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Gov. Jim Pillen sought to limit legislative reach. From Aaron Sanderford:

UPDATE FROM YESTERDAY: The Nebraska State Capitol will be bathed in orange light to remember survivors and descendants of the Genoa Industrial School. State officials announced that the lighting of the Capitol to remember those housed at the Genoa boarding school would be delayed.

RIDESHARING WORKERS: The company-fed push to cement drivers for ridesharing and food delivery apps as independent contractors in Nebraska survived a second round of labor-centered resistance. From Aaron Sanderford and Zach Wendling:

CATCHING UP: The public hearing about Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen's budget proposal lined up a lot of groups Tuesday opposed to his proposed cuts and funding shifts. From Cindy Gonzalez:

BUDGET RECAP:  The Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee unveiled a preliminary budget that hinted at how members might agree with Gov. Jim Pillen, including his cuts to NU. From Zach Wendling:

WORK FROM HOME? Nebraska is one of many GOP-led states pulling back from letting public employees work from home. From States Newsroom:

PUBLIC PUSHBACK: From child care to tourism to banking, housing and wildlife, advocates of various Nebraska industries spoke in opposition Tuesday of Gov. Jim Pillen budget bills. From Cindy Gonzalez:

BUDGET APPETIZER: The Legislature’s Appropriations Committee unveiled a preliminary budget, a key early step before Nebraska lawmakers pass a two-year budget by mid-May. It includes Gov. Pillen's proposed cuts to NU. From Zach Wendling:

RACE AS FACTOR: The U.S. Department of Education is threatening to pull funds from schools that use race as a factor in decisions about funding, hiring and more. From States Newsroom:

LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT FIX: Leaders of the Nebraska Legislature heard from reps of the judicial and executive branch on Tuesday about how a potential oversight fix might still stretch too far into their branches' business. But does it? From Aaron Sanderford:

ICYMI: A Nebraska State Patrol trooper was killed Monday in the line of duty, while responding to a wreck along Interstate 80 between Ashland and Greenwood. His name was Kyle McAcy. From Aaron Sanderford:

REMEMBERING HISTORY: The Nebraska State Capitol will be bathed in orange light on Thursday to remember and honor the survivors and descendants of the Genoa Industrial School. From Paul Hammel:

FARM AND RANCH IMPACT: Disruption in Washington, D.C., and with trade abroad are putting more farmers and ranchers in precarious financial positions. From States Newsroom:

BUDGET CUTS? Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has proposed cutting state funding he approved from an internship program aimed at keeping the next generation in jobs here. State Chamber of Commerce leaders want it saved. From Cindy Gonzalez:

MERGER BILL? Nebraska NRDs and key ag leaders were among those who threw cold water last week on an idea from Gov. Jim Pillen to merge the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources into the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. From Zach Wendling:

SPEAKING OF GOOD NEWS: More options are coming for Nebraska young people needing mental health help. In case you missed it because you were busy late last week. From Cindy Gonzalez:

SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AI? More K-12 schools and public buildings are turning to AI security software to predict and prepare for possible shootings. Supporters say the software gives an early warning to staff. Critics say it can fail and lead to false positives. From States Newsroom:

TROOPER KILLED: A Nebraska State Patrol trooper has been killed in a snow day crash while responding to another wreck along Interstate 80 between Ashland and Greenwood. The trooper is the first killed in the line of duty since 2019. From Aaron Sanderford:

AFTERNOON UPLIFT: A financial gift from a Creighton University nursing alumna aims to provide 25 other nurses full scholarships to gain a higher degree and experience in healthcare-deprived communities across the globe. From Cindy Gonzalez:

COMMENTARY FROM GEORGE AYOUB: The Nebraska Legislature is making the right call by advancing a bill banning student cellphone use at school. A number of school districts already curtail students’ phone time on campus.

NEBRASKA TOURISM AWARDS: From Adeline’s Bakery just outside of Burr to Norfolk’s whitewater rafting-enhanced riverfront, a batch of Nebraska standout attractions was spotlighted last week for tourism fans. From Cindy Gonzalez:

ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST FUNDS: Millions of Nebraska dollars devoted to restoring wildlife habitat and recycling efforts could be diverted to aid campgrounds, marinas and cabins at state parks under plans backed by Gov. Jim Pillen. From Paul Hammel:

START YOUR SUNDAY: With some good news about juvenile mental health in Nebraska. Some new help is coming. Let our Cindy Gonzalez tell you more:

OUTSIDE COMMENTARY: An Omaha-area nurse says part of the state's problem with the bird flu is the way modern agriculture raises animals for food. From Cody Stubbe:

LAYOFFS: Massive layoffs are hitting the federal workforce hard. From States Newsroom:

WATER FIGHT? Nebraska's governor and some in the Legislature want to merge the state Departments of Natural Resources and Environment and Energy. Water users, farmers and environmentalists want to know more about why. From Zach Wendling:

GOOD NEWS: A little good news for your Saturday about a Creighton University program doing some good on the global stage. From Cindy Gonzalez:

AS THE DOGE TURNS: A federal judge in New York on Friday extended a temporary order blocking billionaire Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency from accessing the Department of Treasury’s payment systems. From States Newsroom:

SHOOTING PREVENTION: Schools and public buildings increasingly turn to AI technology to help security staff identify threats before they become active shooting situations. From States Newsroom: