By Erin Bamer | Reporter
Immigration and its enforcement were big issues during the 2024 presidential election. The frontrunners of Nebraska’s 2026 U.S. Senate race — Sen. Pete Ricketts and Dan Osborn — have taken different approaches on the subject as they try to win votes in a red state.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer watches a crowd of protesters at Delaney Hall, a detention center, in Newark, New Jersey, on May 25, 2026. Employing new tactics, ICE arrested more people in July than in any previous month of the Trump administration. (Photo by Ben Ackman/New Jersey Monitor)
ELECTION 2026
By Juan Salinas II
LINCOLN — The Nebraska Senate race between frontrunners Sen. Pete Ricketts and Dan Osborn has seen tough talk on immigration throughout the campaign cycle as they both try to win a ruby red state.
U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., left, and Democrat Chris Backemeyer will face off for Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District in November 2026. (Candidate photos courtesy of respective campaigns | U.S. Capitol photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
ELECTION 2026
By Juan Salinas II
LINCOLN — Nebraska Rep. Mike Flood and his Democratic challenger Chris Backemeyer squabbled Wednesday in the only debate for the 1st Congressional District.
New federal rules likely will force three dozen states to reduce their annual Medicaid payments to healthcare providers by a total of more than $50 billion. (Photo by Dana DiFilippo / New Jersey Monitor)
HEALTH
By Shalina Chatlani
New federal rules likely will force three dozen states to reduce their annual Medicaid payments to doctors and hospitals by a total of more than $50 billion — potentially shrinking the number of providers willing to see Medicaid patients, according to a new analysis.
Gov. Jim Pillen announces a pair of executive orders aimed at easing cost burdens on Nebraska agriculture producers on Sept. 24, 2026. (Courtesy of the Governor’s Office)
AGRICULTURE
By Erin Bamer
LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen signed a pair of executive orders Thursday aimed at easing cost burdens for Nebraska’s agricultural producers on the same day a like-minded initiative was announced for the 2028 election cycle.
State Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln, center, talks with state Sens. Paul Strommen of Sidney and Kathleen Kauth of Omaha on May 28, 2025. Raybould sponsored a measure to slow down voter-approved minimum wage increases while Strommen sponsored a measure to modify voter-guaranteed paid sick leave for most Nebraska employees. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
ICYMI
By Zach Wendling
Legislative changes this year to annual bumps in Nebraska’s minimum wage mean workers’ increase next year will be 29 cents less than what voters approved in 2022.
Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson. Aug. 2, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
By Cindy Gonzalez
OMAHA — The Douglas County sheriff on Thursday announced that he will open an investigation into the practices of a county program designed to help the poor.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Ricketts asks Trump to push China to buy more ag goods | Juan Salinas II
Pillen proclaims state of emergency after Crofton storm | Cindy Gonzalez
COMMENTARY
‘Silly season’ moving right along | George Ayoub
EDITOR'S CHOICE
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.