AGP Executive Report

Energy Law in Focus: Nebraska lawmakers and Gov. Jim Pillen celebrated LB 1261, calling it “transformative” for meeting rising electricity demand while aiming to keep costs off public power ratepayers by letting private firms finance and build major generation projects. Rail Merger Pause: The federal Surface Transportation Board paused the Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, asking for more details and more public input before it can move forward. Hantavirus Update in Omaha: UNMC said five quarantined cruise passengers have been released from the National Quarantine Unit after completing the first part of monitoring; 13 remain. Bank Expansion: FNBO announced it will buy Blue Ridge Bancshares in Independence, Missouri, adding to its Kansas City-area buildout. Consumer Safety Alert: The BBB warned of a fake Omaha car sales website using stolen photos and fabricated paperwork, with at least one reported $1,500 loss. Ag and Wildlife: USDA unveiled a migratory big game conservation framework across 17 states, including Nebraska, to support elk, pronghorn and mule deer while keeping working lands working. Retail/Workplace Notes: Several companies earned Inc. “Best Workplaces” recognition, including eVero, iSeatz, Opkalla and Opus Training.

Nebraska Politics & Elections: Nebraska’s GOP secretary of state primary turned into a referendum on election security, with candidates Petersen and Slattery positioning their campaigns around how the state should protect voting. Rural Health: A bipartisan push to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration cleared the Senate, giving rural hospitals a path to test Medicare payment models for five more years. Agriculture & Land: Land transition planning is forcing Nebraska families to tackle how to treat newer acres versus long-held ground as values rise and heirs negotiate the future of the farm. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Lincoln County commissioners backed away from a data-center zoning moratorium for now, instead directing planners to update zoning rules and revisit the issue next week. Business & Jobs: Creighton’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index points to manufacturing growth but also a weak labor market and inflationary pressure. Sports: Nebraska softball’s historic WCWS run ended in Oklahoma City, but the program’s opening-round TV audience set new ESPN viewership records. Consumer Watch: The Better Business Bureau warned Omaha consumers about a lookalike online car dealer scam tied to a fake “Thrifty Auto Sales Shop” using an Omaha address.

Nebraska Softball: The Huskers’ historic 2026 run ended at the Women’s College World Series, but the program’s culture message—“loving, serving and caring”—stayed front and center after a 52-8 season and a first-ever NCAA Super Regional at home. Ag & Food: UNL’s hard red winter wheat line NE20620 just earned a national Miller’s Choice Award for top milling, mixing and baking performance, underscoring Nebraska’s push for end-use quality. Public Health: UNMC says some of the hantavirus-exposed cruise passengers quarantined in Omaha are expected to leave this week, with at least two New York residents planning to return home to finish monitoring. State Policy: Nebraska’s cannabis rescheduling fight continues as Nebraska AG joins a lawsuit challenging the federal move, even as Louisiana withdraws from the case. Community & Local Government: An ACLU of Nebraska mayoral pardons clinic in Omaha helped residents sort out which past ordinance violations may qualify for relief. Business: Berkshire Hathaway’s new CEO signaled a shift as the company agreed to buy Taylor Morrison for $6.8B, expanding its housing footprint.

Nebraska Politics: Independent Senate hopeful Dan Osborn has quietly scrubbed “abortion” from his website while still taking money from a Planned Parenthood figure, a move that could reshape how voters read his platform. State Education: Gov. Jim Pillen signed an executive order targeting antisemitism in Nebraska schools, requiring annual reporting and new Holocaust/Israel-related professional development. Agriculture: Nebraska’s 2026 wheat variety tour was altered after drought and freeze damage, with several field days canceled or moved indoors. USDA Grants: A USDA move canceled $300M in farm grants over fraud claims, raising questions about how the agency handled the cases. Insurance & Housing: A new report says homeowners’ odds of getting paid are barely 50% as roof and hail volatility drive costs higher. Sports: Nebraska’s softball season ended with a 3-1 loss to Texas in the WCWS after a 52-8 run. Business: Berkshire Hathaway announced it will buy Omaha-based Taylor Morrison for about $6.8B. Local/Community: The Nebraska Humane Society is seeking foster families for kittens as shelter demand rises.

Education & Civil Rights: Gov. Jim Pillen signed an executive order aimed at combating antisemitism in Nebraska’s public schools, requiring annual reporting on incidents and directing statewide professional development and curricula on the Holocaust, Israel, and Jewish American history. Sports: Nebraska’s softball team faces Texas in an elimination game at the Women’s College World Series in Omaha, with the Huskers trying to keep their run alive. Agriculture: UNL adjusted its 2026 Wheat Variety Tour after drought and freeze damage, canceling some field days and moving others indoors to keep growers connected with research. Local Economy & Planning: Lincoln County commissioners will consider a potential data center proposal from Tenaska, including a possible temporary moratorium and zoning review. Public Health & Safety: Nebraska City first responders responded to an ammonia leak at a Cargill facility; officials say exposures were treated as precautionary and the building was cleared after readings dropped to zero. Health Policy: States are pushing back on Medicaid work requirements as budgets tighten, with lawmakers weighing cuts to health care and education to meet new obligations.

Hazmat Response in Nebraska City: Multiple ambulances responded to a reported ammonia leak at the Cargill Value Added Meats plant on Industrial Road. Officials say the building was evacuated, 10 people were treated as a precaution, and ammonia readings dropped to 0 ppm after crews cleared the area. State Education Policy: Gov. Jim Pillen signed an executive order requiring Nebraska K-12 districts, colleges, and universities to track and report antisemitic incidents to the Governor’s Office. Marijuana Legal Fight: Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers joined Indiana and Louisiana in asking a federal appeals court to block the Trump administration’s medical cannabis rescheduling move. Rural Health Funding: The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act cleared the Senate, extending a Medicare program that includes Nebraska hospitals. Agriculture & Markets: China lifted HPAI-related poultry import restrictions for 17 U.S. states, potentially reopening export access for Nebraska-area producers. Workforce & Economy: Nebraska’s unemployment picture continues to diverge from other states, with a widening gap between strong and weak job markets nationwide. Capitol Life: “Cameron the Capitol Cat” remains a familiar Nebraska State Capitol presence, drawing visitors and lawmakers alike.

Antisemitism in Nebraska Schools: Gov. Jim Pillen signed an executive order requiring Nebraska K-12 schools and colleges to use the IHRA definition of antisemitism, strengthen prevention and reporting, and submit annual incident reports to the Governor’s Office. Child Sex Trafficking Case: A 27-year-old Indian national, Kavankumar Patel, was sentenced to 10 years in federal court in Omaha for trafficking two minor girls, with deportation likely after release. Local Economy & Jobs: Kellogg’s Omaha plant will lay off more than 450 employees in two phases between late July and mid-August, with the facility slated for sale. Public Health: Passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship remain under hantavirus quarantine in Omaha; officials say none are currently symptomatic or positive, and two New Yorkers are expected to finish quarantine at home in New York. Transportation Funding: Eppley Airfield in Omaha is getting an additional $10.5 million to modernize terminals and boarding bridges. Food Security: New data says millions of Americans are losing SNAP access as work requirements expand, hitting Black, Latino, and Native households hardest. Education & Care Access: Creighton dental students provided free screenings for Special Olympics athletes, highlighting ongoing barriers to dental care for people with disabilities. Agriculture & Livestock: Rural areas still struggle to recruit large-animal veterinarians, with Nebraska communities facing shortages and relying on incentives to fill gaps.

Health Access in Omaha: Creighton dental students offered free screenings and mouthguards to Special Olympics athletes, highlighting how training and access barriers can keep people with special needs from getting routine care. Nebraska Agriculture Exports: A U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council team brought Mexican feed nutritionists to Nebraska to learn how corn co-products like DDGS can fit into livestock diets, including tours of a POET ethanol facility and local farms. Omaha Job Losses: WK Kellogg says the remaining Omaha plant workforce will be laid off starting late July through mid-August, with severance and the complex set for sale. State Election Process: Nebraska’s Board of State Canvassers will meet June 8 to certify 2026 primary results, with a possible June 10 recount trigger. Public Health & Food Support: DHHS begins issuing Summer EBT benefits, with new rules barring soda and energy drinks. Crime Commission Leadership: Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Scott Gray to lead the Nebraska Crime Commission starting Aug. 3. Local Community: LifeNet of the Heartland expanded regional helicopter EMS in Siouxland, already transporting more than 90 patients since last November.

Rail & Business: The Surface Transportation Board accepted the Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger application but paused formal review, saying parts of the filing are unclear; the railroads have until July 27 to supplement details before the process moves forward. State Policy: Nebraska enacted a “mini-WARN” law requiring 90 days’ advance notice for certain business closings or mass layoffs, taking effect July 17, 2026. Agriculture & Rural Workforce: Gov. Jim Pillen is backing LB 1165 and LB 847 as part of a broader push to strengthen Nebraska’s business climate, while UNL’s Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinarian Program selected 21 students to help address the state’s food-animal vet shortage. Public Health & Safety: Nebraska quarantine rules for Americans exposed to Andes hantavirus may allow return home early next week if states post 24/7 monitoring. Community & Infrastructure: Nebraska Public Power District is urging boaters to clean, drain, and dry to stop invasive species from spreading on NPPD waterways.

Summer EBT: Nebraska’s first summer EBT payments of $120 per eligible child went out Thursday, with cards mailed to families and a new rule barring soda and energy drinks. Elections & governance: The Nebraska Board of State Canvassers is set to certify 2026 primary results in June, with no automatic recounts expected unless certification triggers one. Marijuana lawsuit: Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers joined Indiana and Louisiana in suing to block the Trump Justice Department’s marijuana reclassification, arguing the federal move skipped proper rulemaking. Crime commission leadership: Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Omaha Police executive deputy chief Scott Gray to lead the Nebraska Crime Commission. Rail update: Federal regulators paused the Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger review and asked for more details, including public-interest questions. Drought & wheat: Nebraska producers are bracing as drought worsens winter wheat prospects, with much of the crop rated very poor to poor. Business & growth: Kwik Trip is exploring expansion into Nebraska, while Nebraska casino revenue jumped in April. Community & culture: The Omaha Tribe began its second Genoa Indian School memorial walk, honoring Indigenous children sent to the school.

Marijuana Lawsuit: Nebraska, Indiana and Louisiana AGs sued to block the Trump Justice Department’s move to reclassify marijuana, arguing the federal government skipped normal rulemaking and may clash with a 1967 narcotics treaty. Ebola Response: The Trump administration plans to send Americans exposed to Ebola while abroad to a new Kenya facility for quarantine and treatment, rather than flying them home, raising questions about where care will be provided and whether Kenya has signed off. Public Health & Fraud: CMS is stepping up Medicaid fraud scrutiny, with states largely responsible for day-to-day enforcement as federal officials push best practices. Agriculture: A late-spring freeze hit Northeast farms hard, threatening peach and apple crops, while drought remains a major concern for much of the region. Local Impact: Nebraska State Patrol says a traffic stop near Milford led to the seizure of more than 500 pounds of cocaine and about 9 grams of suspected heroin. Education & Research: UNL graduate researchers earned NSF fellowships, and a UNL professor won an NSF CAREER award to build more trustworthy AI for next-gen mobile networks. Community & Culture: The College World Series countdown is on in Omaha, with new community cleanup plans tied to the event.

Rural Broadband & BEAD: Nebraska is reopening its BEAD portal after some internet providers declined to sign final agreements, leaving 12% of eligible locations uncommitted, while Sen. Deb Fischer is pushing for more fiber in the state’s broadband expansion plans. Affordability Pressure: Grocery prices are expected to keep climbing as another inflation wave hits food, with economists pointing to weather, tariffs and a shrinking cattle herd—making 2027 a tough year for household budgets. Cattle Health Watch: Nebraska ranchers are being warned about a tick-borne parasite tied to imported cattle; the Asian longhorned tick hasn’t been found in the state, but positive tests elsewhere mean producers should stay alert. Ag & Weather: A new study links Corn Belt farming and shallow groundwater to more frequent and longer-lasting thunderstorm complexes across the region, raising flood, hail and tornado risks. Community & Services: Siouxland’s LIFENET medical helicopter base celebrated its launch, and O’Neill opened a Little Free Pantry to help with food insecurity. Policy & Kids Online Safety: Nebraska lawmakers joined a broader push to oppose the federal KIDS Act, arguing it would weaken state authority to protect children online.

Medicaid Work Rules Hit Montana: Montana is moving to be among the first states to enforce Trump’s Medicaid work mandate, but doctors and patient advocates warn it could kick more people off coverage while leaving an already strained health system even harder to staff. Nebraska Cattle Health Watch: Nebraska officials say Theileria has been detected in Nebraska cattle after positive tests tied to imported animals, with tick control urged and no vaccine available. Online Kids Safety Fight: Nebraska AG Nick Brown joined a coalition urging Congress to reject the KIDS Act, arguing it would weaken state protections for children online while insulating Big Tech. Farm Tech Safety Push: Omaha’s Grain Weevil is advancing a remote-controlled robot meant to keep workers out of dangerous grain bins. Local Culture Spotlight: The Great Plains Black History Museum is rolling out a Negro League baseball exhibit timed with the College World Series. Nebraska Jobs Snapshot: Nebraska’s April unemployment rate is preliminarily 3.0%, slightly lower than March.

Hantavirus scare hits Nebraska again: A new confirmed hantavirus case tied to the MV Hondius cruise outbreak is now isolating in Spain, with officials saying the patient was already inside the country’s isolation system—while the U.S. continues monitoring exposed travelers, including quarantined people in Nebraska and Georgia. Nebraska cattle watch: The Nebraska Department of Agriculture says Theileria has been detected statewide in cattle herds after imported animals tested positive, and it’s urging producers to monitor for anemia, jaundice, and weakness. Broadband pressure point: Nebraska is reopening BEAD applications after some winning providers reportedly declined to sign award agreements, leaving 1,735 locations unfunded. Online child-safety fight: Connecticut AG William Tong announced an investigation into Roblox over alleged child exploitation and harm, joining a wider push by states to hold platforms accountable. Energy policy showdown: Georgia AG Chris Carr urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a Boulder, Colorado lawsuit that would let one city dictate energy policy nationwide.

Invasive Species Alert: NPPD is urging Nebraska lake-goers to “clean, drain, and dry” boats to stop zebra mussels and other hitchhikers from spreading across NPPD waterways. Medicaid Fallout: A new national tally says 900+ hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes are at risk as federal Medicaid cuts begin to bite. Nebraska Health Story: A Fulbright-Mach Award recipient at UNL will head to Austria for dissertation research, adding to the state’s academic momentum. Drought Relief: The SBA opened low-interest disaster loans for Nebraska small businesses and nonprofits hit by drought. Local Governance: Nebraska City/Otoe County is moving to pause new data-center permits for up to a year amid water and power worries—an issue spreading nationwide. Sports: Nebraska is set for NCAA baseball postseason action, with the WCWS field including the Huskers. Memorial Day: Lincoln’s Wyuka Cemetery drew a large turnout for a flag-and-wreath ceremony honoring fallen service members.

War in Iran: A Nebraska mother is among families grieving after 13 U.S. service members were killed in Operation Epic Fury, including a KC-135 crash in western Iraq—another reminder that the Trump administration is bracing for more casualties. Water & drought: A brutal winter is turning into a bleak summer as drought grips 70% of the West, drying rivers and forcing tough choices for cities and farmers—pressure that will only grow for states like Nebraska tied to the Colorado River system. Nebraska schools: A new Nebraska law will let parents see which books their kids check out from school libraries, starting in the 2026-27 school year, as debate over “book bans” shifts into notification rules. Local governance: Otoe County, Nebraska, has paused data-center permits for up to a year amid worries about water and power—one of the clearest signs the AI boom is colliding with local limits. Sports: Nebraska hosts the NCAA baseball Lincoln Regional, while ASU lands there as the No. 3 seed and Ogden’s new play-by-play voice is a Nebraska student stepping into the family business.