By Joan von Kampen | Editor-in-chief
“I’m obviously fighting for my son, but I’m also fighting for all those others who don’t have a voice or can’t necessarily get in the weeds on these kinds of details to shine a light on what’s going on. What do they have to hide? This should not be this hard.” - Curt Safranek, who is suing after DHHS said his records request would take 50 years and nearly $1 million to fulfill.
The Safranek family poses for a family photo in Omaha. Back row, from left, Clayton, Tim and Will. Middle row, from left, Linda and Curt. At front is the family dog, Bodie. (Photo courtesy of Curt Safranek)
HEALTH
By Zach Wendling
An Omaha father said he was “dumbfounded” when his request for transparency about a DHHS tool used in determining funding for families with disabilities led to a nearly $1 million estimate to provide records, with expected completion by September 2076.
DHHS now faces a lawsuit over the estimate.
Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts Mike Foley (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
By Erin Bamer
With no clear answers from the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Board on the continued pay for its seemingly absent executive director, State Auditor Mike Foley said he is growing frustrated.
“The board is completely abdicating their fiduciary responsibility to the state, to the employees, to retirees,” Foley told the Nebraska Examiner. “I’m very upset about this.”
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
By Juan Salinas II
President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that he will nominate Eric Hamilton to the U.S. District Court of Nebraska. Among other positions, Hamilton is a former Nebraska solicitor general.
John Cartier of Lincoln, left, and Robin Richards of Ralston respectively led creation of the America First Party and Nebraska Working People Party and served as the inaugural chairs of the parties. Richards is also the 2026 U.S. Senate nominee for her party. (Photos courtesy of John Cartier, Robin Richards and the respective political parties | Nebraska Capitol photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
ICYMI
By Zach Wendling
Candidates and ballot-measure campaigns petitioning to appear on Nebraska’s ballot must disclose how much is spent on signature gathering.
But Nebraska law doesn’t require new political parties to disclose their finances until they are qualified to have candidates on the ballot.
Ukrainians living in Nebraska and supporters gathered at an event earlier this year marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
D.C. BUREAU
By Ariana Figueroa
WASHINGTON — Immigrants living in the United States with humanitarian status from Ukraine and Sudan will retain their deportation protections and work authorizations for now, the Department of Homeland Security said over the weekend.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
JD Vance is coming to Nebraska for a North Platte midterm rally | Juan Salinas II
No Kings rallies in Lincoln, Omaha draw demonstrators opposed to Trump's policies | Juan Salinas II, Chase Zagurski
‘Antithesis to that chaos’: 15-petition effort will soon launch, seeking Nebraska’s 2028 ballot | Zach Wendling
COMMENTARY
Myth busting, values voting, Maine messaging | George Ayoub
EDITOR'S CHOICE
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