By Joan von Kampen | Editor-in-chief
Three proposals from the Good Government Lincoln campaign must be on Lincoln voters’ ballots on Nov. 3, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled 5-2 on Wednesday. But there could be even more, as the the court unanimously left open the door for the Lincoln City Council to put forward other alternatives for voters to choose from.
Justices of the Nebraska Supreme Court (and when they were seated), front row from left: William Cassel (2012), Jeffrey Funke (2016, 2024 as chief justice) and Stephanie Stacy (2015). Back row, from left: Jason Bergevin (2025), Jonathan Papik (2018), John Freudenberg (2018) and Derek Vaughn (2026). In the Lincoln City Charter amendments case, Court of Appeals Judge Michael W. Pirtle of Omaha filled in for Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke. (Courtesy of the Nebraska Judicial Branch)
ELECTION 2026
By Zach Wendling
The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Lincoln voters will see at least three proposed city charter amendments on their ballot this fall
In an unsigned, 20-page ruling, the high court decided 5-2 that Lincoln city officials must place the qualifying three proposals from the Good Government Lincoln campaign on the Nov. 3 ballot. City officials had contended that because they did not have time for at least two meetings prior to a Sept. 1 deadline, the measures would instead appear on the May 4, 2027, ballot.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, right, hosts a general election kickoff event where he confirmed he is sticking with his running mate, Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly, for another four years on Aug. 25, 2026, in Lincoln. To Pillen's right are first lady Suzanne Pillen, Kelly and Kelly's wife Susie. (Photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
POLITICS
By Zach Wendling
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen is facing pushback from the challengers to his reelection bid over his immigration stance as a new Flatwater Free Press investigation states his family ag operation has long hired undocumented laborers.
According to Flatwater, Pillen Family Farms and an official spokesperson for Pillen said neither the company nor the governor “knowingly hired an illegal immigrant.”
Hours after the investigation was released, Pillen’s campaign released “Pillen Playbook 2.0,” an updated policy wishlist.
Tony Green, director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, at a meeting of the Nebraska Olmstead Advisory Committee. Dec. 19, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
HEALTH
By Erin Bamer
Just over a year after Nebraska launched a new system to assess Nebraskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities seeking Medicaid assistance, a group of parents gathered to inform state officials about flaws in the system that are negatively affecting their families.
One of the biggest flaws noted was that the interRAI system reducing financial aid to people with disabilities who live at home with their loved ones.
Hemlock trees in the woods that are part of the Flight 93 crash site. They were marked with spray-paint by searchers in the days and weeks after the crash. This photo is from sometime in 2006. (Photo courtesy of Tim Lambert)
COMMENTARY
By Tim Lambert
Pennsylvania Capital-Star Editor-in-Chief Tim Lambert’s family owned a piece of land that was part of the Flight 93 crash site near Shanksville, Pa., on Sept. 11, 2001. He revisited the site recently.
“Passing through two towering concrete walls, my eyes were focused on the overlook ahead,” he writes. “The expanse of fields of tall grasses, trees and flowers disappeared from view. I reached the end and stood in front of a waist-high glass window, marked with the phrase: ‘A common field one day. A field of honor forever.’
“I was back at the Flight 93 National Memorial.”
Attorney Daniel Gutman argues before the Nebraska Supreme Court. From left on the bench are Justices Jason Bergevin, Jonathan Papik, William Cassel (not pictured), Jeffrey Funke (chief justice), Stephanie Stacy and John Freudenberg. At right is Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner, who is rounding out the court due to a temporary vacancy. Dec. 3, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
ELECTION 2026
By Zach Wendling
The Nebraska Supreme Court on Sept. 30 will hear oral arguments in a lawsuit seeking to disqualify a ballot measure that would cement sex-separate school sports requirements in the Nebraska Constitution. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen must certify the Nov. 3 general election ballot by Friday, so the measure will appear on the ballot regardless. However, the appeal, if successful, could invalidate the vote in November.
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