By Erin Bamer | Reporter
“We don’t even have a count yet … It’s that many. It’s very time-consuming.” - Lancaster County Sheriff Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, about the number of petition signatures now under investigation after the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office expanded its fraud investigation to all four statewide citizen-led initiatives.
Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon, left, and Lancaster County Sheriff Chief Deputy Ben Houchin announce criminal charges and arrests of five out-of-state individuals who helped circulate petitions for three petitions in Nebraska’s capital city at a news briefing Aug. 7, 2026, in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
ELECTION 2026
By Zach Wendling
LINCOLN — The ongoing Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office investigation into possibly fraudulent petition signatures has expanded to all four statewide citizen-led initiatives.
Lancaster County District Judge Darla Ideus addresses attorneys during a hearing at the Lancaster County Courthouse on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Lincoln. (Photo by Kenneth Ferriera-Pool/Lincoln Journal Star)
ELECTION 2026
By Juan Salinas II
LINCOLN — A Lancaster District Court judge has dismissed objections to two new Nebraska political parties from the state’s two major parties.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen greets State Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney on the final day of the 2026 legislative session. April 17, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Nebraska Legislature will decide whether to apply Gov. Pillen’s 5% spending cuts during 2027 session
By Erin Bamer
LINCOLN — When a new Nebraska Legislature convenes for its 2027 session, lawmakers will have the authority to accept or reject Gov. Jim Pillen’s plan to cut all state agencies’ budgets by a minimum of 5%.
Jennifer Henning of Omaha speaks about the impact a relatively new interRAI assessment system has had on her two children. She and others discussed their exasperation with the system, calling on Gov. Jim Pillen to pause funding reductions. (Photo by Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraskas Examiner)
HEALTH
By Cindy Gonzalez
LINCOLN — Some came in wheelchairs, with caretakers. Others, with intellectual disabilities, were escorted by parents. Among them were four state lawmakers and a host of advocates for a population they described as Nebraska’s “most vulnerable.”
The staff of the Nebraska Examiner in front of the historic Billy’s Restaurant in Lincoln, Nebraska, across from the Nebraska State Capitol. Back row, center: editor-in-chief Joan von Kampen. Middle row, from left: political reporter Juan Salinas II and reporter Zach Wendling. Front row, from left: reporter Erin Bamer and senior reporter Cindy Gonzalez. (Photo by Sara Baranowski/States Newsroom)
COMMENTARY
By Joan von Kampen
I wouldn’t leave western Nebraska for just any job.
And I haven’t left the west entirely.
As the Nebraska Examiner’s new editor-in-chief, I’ll be splitting my time between Lincoln and North Platte, where my husband and I have our home.
Voters line up at a polling place at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Neb., shortly before polls close on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Zac Arens/Nebraska News Service)
ELECTION 2026
By Zach Wendling
LINCOLN — The conservative campaign seeking to reshape Lincoln municipal elections turned in a second set of signatures Wednesday in hopes of reaching the November ballot.
Children’s Aid, a 170-year-old organization in New York City, told Stateline in July that their nearly $1 million grant that served 1,200 youth each year was canceled. A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration can’t move forward with its proposed changes to the national prevention program. (Photo Courtesy of Children’s Aid)
HEALTH
By Kelcie Moseley-Morris
A federal judge in the District of Columbia issued an order Wednesday blocking U.S. Health and Human Services from implementing sweeping changes to grants under the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program while a lawsuit proceeds, but dozens of existing grants that were canceled this summer will remain so for now, unless the administration chooses to reinstate the funds.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Nebraska AG sues City of Omaha over minimum wage ordinance | Zach Wendling
Hospital executive resigns as auditor alleges misuse of public funds | Cindy Gonzalez
Nebraska Dems to vote on Senate candidate to replace Burbank | Juan Salinas II
COMMENTARY
OPINION: Debate questions no one asked for | George Ayoub
EDITOR'S CHOICE
One year after Pillen announced McCook ICE jail, protests continue | Cindy Gonzalez
Ex-NU Regent given 1-year sentence for felony DUI | Zach Wendling
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