By Aaron Sanderford | Editor-in-chief
A group that says it’s interested in making Lincoln city government better reflect the people it impacts wants voters in Nebraska’s second-largest city to help it change the timing and makeup of Lincoln’s city elections.
Kathy Disney prepares ballots at the Sower Church on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Lincoln, Neb. (Sophia Walsh/Nebraska News Service)
ELECTION 2026
By Zach Wendling
LINCOLN — A former state tax commissioner is leading efforts to change the dates of Lincoln city elections, let residents outside city limits vote and place term limits on City Council members.
Denise Powell is interviewed by a reporter in Omaha on April 11, 2026. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner)
ELECTION 2026
Denise Powell’s NE-02 race against Brinker Harding joins DCCC’s ‘Red-to-Blue’ program for House Dems
By Juan Salinas II
OMAHA — Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District Democratic nominee Denise Powell is now part of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” program.
A banner showing President Donald Trump hangs on the Department of Justice on Feb. 20, 2026. (Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom)
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
By Molly Ashford, Nebraska Public Media News
OMAHA — A federal judge ruled Wednesday that a Nebraska law allowing some undocumented students to access in-state tuition rates at the state’s colleges and universities is preempted by federal law and barred its enforcement.
Gov. Jim Pillen ceremonially signs LB 1261 alongside introducer State Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara (right), and State Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus (left). (Erin Bamer/Nebraska Examiner)
ICYMI
By Erin Bamer
LINCOLN — As demand for electricity grows across Nebraska, Gov. Jim Pillen expressed his preference for establishing public-private partnerships to shoulder some of the cost burdens.
A confined swine feeding operation is shown in this photo. Congress is once again taking aim at state animal welfare laws regarding livestock confinement. (Kent Becker/U.S. Geological Survey)
ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE
By Kevin Hardy
Congress is looking to roll back state animal welfare laws as it wrangles over reauthorization of the federal farm bill. A pending version of the bill would block states from regulating livestock.
President Donald Trump salutes as a U.S. Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer of the remains of Sgt. Declan J. Coady at Dover Air Force Base on March 7, 2026 in Delaware. Six soldiers from the 103rd Sustainment Command were killed in action by an Iranian drone strike on March 1 in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)
D.C. BUREAU
By Ariana Figueroa
WASHINGTON — The House passed a resolution Wednesday to force President Donald Trump to withdraw from war with Iran and require congressional approval for further military action.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testifies during a U.S. Senate Committee on Finance hearing on June 3, 2026. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
D.C. BUREAU
By Ashley Murray
WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent evaded questions on Capitol Hill Wednesday about whether President Donald Trump, his family and the Trump Organization would be absolved from future tax enforcement.
Tamara Taitt, the executive director of the Atlanta Birth Center and a plaintiff in a lawsuit against Georgia’s midwifery restrictions, speaks at a news conference outside the state Capitol in Atlanta on April 2, 2026. (Maya Homan/Georgia Recorder)
ABORTION POLICY
By Elisha Brown
Black midwives in the South are leading lawsuits over state regulations that they say limit their ability to provide care. Women behind the litigation say midwives can help improve birthing outcomes in Southern states.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Why did GOP voters pick Petersen over Evnen? | By Juan Salinas II
Passengers facing hantavirus risk head home | By Aaron Sanderford
U.S. Rep. Mike Flood is still doing town halls. Why? | By Juan Salinas II
COMMENTARY
OPINION: Good on those calling bad ideas bad | By George Ayoub
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Pillen order requires tracking antisemitic behavior | By Juan Salinas II
Pancreatic cancer director sues NU, UNMC | By Erin Bamer
Feds pause Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger | By Aaron Sanderford
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.