By Erin Bamer | Reporter
“In no way do we want to compete against the historical figures that are at the Capitol … Instead, we want to have just his presence there in a way that reflects the joy and the nonpartisanship that he brought to those who know him and to future people through the statue.” - former state Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, at a Nebraska Capitol Environs Commission meeting Friday.
An AI-rendered image of what a proposed sculpture honoring Cameron the Capitol Cat outside the Nebraska State Capitol could look like is projected during a meeting of the Nebraska Capitol Environs Commission on Sept. 25, 2026. The artificial intelligence image is not the final design. The supporters and sculptor Benjamin Victor would design the final work. (Photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
By Zach Wendling
LINCOLN — A commission expressed openness Friday to a revised proposal for a sculpture to honor the Nebraska State Capitol’s longtime unofficial feline mascot.
Czech President Petr Pavel speaks in the Nebraska Capitol in Lincoln on Sept. 24, 2026. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner)
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
By Juan Salinas II
LINCOLN — Czech President Petr Pavel visited Nebraska Thursday to highlight the state’s ties and partnership with the Czech Republic.
The saying on the north side of the Nebraska State Capitol reads, “The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness in the Citizen.” Feb. 28, 2026 (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
COMMENTARY
By Lou Ann Linehan, Tom Briese
We are writing in response to former state Sen. John Stinner’s commentary of Sept. 19.
When we were sworn into the Legislature in January of 2017, the state was facing a budget crisis. The 17 new senators in our class were told repeatedly, “We are $1 billion short.” In reaction to the forecasted shortfall, we reduced the minimum reserve from 3% to 2.5% and we reduced the school funding formula by increasing the local effort rate from $1 per $100 valuation to $1.03.
The Ten Commandments on the Nebraska State Capitol. April 17, 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner)
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
By Erin Bamer
LINCOLN — After an 18-month search to find a new director for Nebraska’s Public Employees Retirement System, the man selected for the position is resigning at the end of October.
A mother and her son hold hands on a swing set. Nebraska received three grants to upgrade child welfare related operations. (Photo by Troy Bennett/Maine Morning Star)
SOCIAL SERVICES
By Cindy Gonzalez
LINCOLN — Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services has been selected to receive nearly $1.5 million in federal grants intended to modernize the child welfare system.
A federal judge sentenced a man to three years probation for an incident aboard a plane. (Getty Images)
HEALTH
By Erin Bamer
LINCOLN — A pair of Nebraska mothers appealed a ruling Friday denying their request for a preliminary injunction on a state law banning nurse midwives from assisting in home births.
Police officers exit a polling station in New York City. Voters in nine states will decide on 11 ballot measures this fall addressing a variety of criminal justice and drug policies. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
ELECTION 2026
By Amanda Watford
Voters in nine states will weigh changes to their criminal legal systems and drug policies this fall.
The Nov. 3 ballot measures include questions about pretrial release, fentanyl and human trafficking penalties, immigration enforcement, traffic cameras, drug cartels and marijuana regulation.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
COMMENTARY
‘Silly season’ moving right along | George Ayoub
Careless budget decisions threaten state’s stability | John Stinner
EDITOR'S CHOICE
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