By Erin Bamer | Reporter
“Our state is facing a pivotal moment in terms of how we manage our budget and create opportunities for future generations and Nebraskans deserve another choice.” - Former state Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, on his decision to run for Nebraska governor.
Former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, left, talks with University of Nebraska Regent Jim Scheer of Norfolk, a former state senator and legislative speaker who served with Lindstrom. June 6, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
ELECTION 2026
By Zach Wendling
LINCOLN — Former state Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha is officially jumping into the 2026 race for Nebraska governor as a nonpartisan candidate.
President Donald Trump greets onlookers after arriving to Medora, North Dakota, by train on July 1, 2026. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
COMMENTARY
By George Ayoub
Pro tip: Eisenhower is no longer in office. You might not know with recent political buzz that communism is apparently afoot on the political hustings although calling someone a communist was a widely used insult well beyond mid-century.
Ernie Chambers, whose years in the Nebraska Legislature spanned nearly 50 years turned 89 years old July 10. He gave no speech at a Saturday celebration, but greeted well wishers individually during the three-hour event that also marked the pre-opening, public reveal of his legacy library and an exhibit at 4401 N. 21st St. in Omaha. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
By Cindy Gonzalez
OMAHA — Nebraska’s longest serving lawmaker, former state Sen. Ernie Chambers, celebrated his 89th birthday surrounded by scores of faces: political figures, family, friends — and portraits of more than 70 Black local legends whose candles burned out before his.
President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
D.C. BUREAU
By Ashley Murray
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump “acted in bad faith” when he swiftly dropped his tax return lawsuit and directed his Cabinet members to establish a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, a federal judge in Florida ruled Monday.
A laptop shows Grok, an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s company xAI. The Trump administration is continuing its pushback against state AI laws that it views as ideologically biased. (Photo by Robbie Sequeira/Stateline)
TECHNOLOGY
By Robbie Sequeira
The Trump administration is continuing its pushback against state artificial intelligence laws that it views as ideologically biased, proposing a new Federal Trade Commission policy.
President Donald Trump speaks at a Freedom 250 Grand Prix showcase on West Executive Avenue between the West Wing of the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on July 13, 2026, as, from left to right, 2026 Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist, reigning IndyCar series champion Álex Palou and Freedom 250 Grand Prix Chairman Bud Denker look on. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
D.C. BUREAU
By Amelia Twyman
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump enlisted star IndyCar racers, a simulated pit stop and a pair of high-powered sports cars Monday as he sought to rev up excitement for a race around the nation’s capital next month.
Agents make an immigration arrest in April in Nashville, Tenn. A new federal appeals court ruling means many immigration prisoners from all over the country can still be held indefinitely without bond in some of the nation’s largest detention centers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. (Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
IMMIGRATION
By Tim Henderson
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a July 2 panel decision requiring bond hearings for immigrants held under the Trump administration’s mandatory detention policy.
A panel discussed kids’ online safety and artificial intelligence during a conference of Gen Z and millenial lawmakers Friday July 10, 2026. Pictured, from left, are moderator Diana Haber-Daws, South Carolina State Rep. Brandon Guffey, Ohio state Rep. Christine Cockley and Project Liberty President Tomicah Tilleman. (Photo by Amelia Twyman/States Newsroom)
D.C. BUREAU
By Amelia Twyman
WASHINGTON — Young Democratic and Republican state lawmakers from across the country found common ground Friday on the need to regulate artificial intelligence and kids’ online safety.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Will Democrat Cindy Burbank drop out of U.S. Senate race? | Juan Salinas II
Nebraska abortions rose nearly 8% in 2025 | Erin Bamer
COMMENTARY
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Bellevue cybersecurity campus poised for takeoff | Cindy Gonzalez
Nonpartisan NE-03 candidate enters race as write-in | Juan Salinas II
Pillen pivots focus from primary to general election | Zach Wendling
Thanks for reading Examiner Today. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.