By Erin Bamer | Reporter
“You can’t have the conversation if it’s not on paper, and if it’s not going to be willed into paper form at the Legislature, now it is.” - former chair of the Nebraska Republican Party Eric Underwood, explaining a 15-ballot petition effort he plans to launch aimed for the 2028 election.
Eric Underwood of Lincoln, leader of the groups Advocates for All Nebraskans and Make Nebraska Even Better, sits in a downtown bar and grill on Sept. 29, 2026. In front of him are a variety of documents for petitions he aims to file and run for the 2028 general election. (Photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
By Zach Wendling
LINCOLN — Before announcing a statewide 2028 petition last month to suspend Nebraska’s fuel tax for two months each year, Eric Underwood had spent a week to 10 days finalizing the idea.
A high voltage sign warns people away from a fenced off electrical substation in the Haymarket neighborhood of Lincoln, Nebraska, on Oct. 2, 2026. (Daniel Wheaton / Midwest Newsroom)
LABOR & GROWTH
By Daniel Wheaton, Midwest Newsroom
Rising electricity demand from manufacturing and data centers could present a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize the electric grid, but rising electricity bills might make such investments politically unpopular.
Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen speaks at an election security summit with his counterparts from Iowa, Missouri and South Dakota as well as the director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also joining the news conference was the director of the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Oct. 9, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
PUBLIC SAFETY
By Zach Wendling
LINCOLN — The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office is among election and congressional offices nationwide that received suspicious envelopes this week.
The top of the Nebraska Capitol Mar. 19, 2026. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner)
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
By Erin Bamer
LINCOLN — With a crucial economic forecasting meeting just weeks away, the last round of monthly revenue reports available to forecasters held mostly level with their previous predictions.
A diamond ring yielded the highest bid amount in an online auction of unclaimed property organized by the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office. (Courtesy of Treasurer’s Office)
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
By Cindy Gonzalez
LINCOLN — A diamond ring that had been stashed in an abandoned safe-deposit box for more than a decade now has a new owner.
It went for $15,307 — nearly twice its appraised value — in an online auction organized by the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office, which by law takes custody of such forgotten property and tries to get it back into the hands of owners or heirs.
Republican nominee Brinker Harding, left, and Democratic nominee Denise Powell before the 2nd Congressional District debate in Lincoln on Oct. 14, 2026. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner)
ICYMI
By Juan Salinas II
LINCOLN — Democratic nominee Denise Powell and Republican nominee Brinker Harding dueled it out Wednesday in the second Nebraska 2nd Congressional District debate, hosted by Nebraska Public Media and the Omaha World-Herald.
Entrance portal to yet-to-be-built rare earth mine near Elk Creek, Nebraska. (Fred Knapp/Nebraska Public Media News)
LABOR & GROWTH
By Fred Knapp, Nebraska Public Media News
Federal officials voiced support Wednesday for a rare earth mine in southeast Nebraska. But the long-awaited project still needs final approval.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Export-Import Bank Chair John Jovanovic were among those on hand for a signing ceremony at the still-under-construction Niocorp mine near Elk Creek, Nebraska, about 75 miles southeast of Lincoln.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
COMMENTARY
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Four products standing in Nebraska Chamber manufacturing contest | Cindy Gonzalez
Cost of living looms over Nebraska Senate race | Juan Salinas II
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