By Erin Bamer | Reporter
“I know what it takes to win a statewide campaign for a statewide office … Not very many people know that. Certainly, nobody in the field knows what it takes to win.” - Gov. Jim Pillen, in reference to his general election opponents.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen greets attendees at one of his property tax town halls Friday, May 24, 2024, in Beatrice. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
ELECTION 2026
By Zach Wendling
LINCOLN — As Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen pivots to his reelection efforts, he remains confident in his chances for four more years to continue similar priorities that got him elected four years ago.
Construction at a Google data center near Blair High Road and State Street in northwest Omaha on March 10, 2026. (Photo by Naomi Delkamiller/Flatwater Free Press)
ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE
By Anila Yoganathan, Flatwater Free Press
Google’s Nebraska data centers consumed about 732 million gallons of water in 2025, the tech giant recently self-reported.
Viewed one way, that’s a lot of water: More than Omaha Metropolitan Utilities District customers use in an average week, combined, according to data from MUD.
President Donald Trump faces a decision by 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 11, on a bipartisan housing bill passed by large majorities in Congress. In this photo, Trump attends a meeting at the G7 Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
D.C. BUREAU
By Jacob Fischler
President Donald Trump is running out of time to decide what to do with a bipartisan bill meant to lower housing costs by making it easier to build.
A man gets a checkup at a mobile health clinic in Parlier, Calif. A new report details preliminary Obamacare insurer premium rate increases. (Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local)
HEALTH
By Nada Hassanein
Health insurance premiums are likely to grow more expensive next year for those who buy Marketplace plans, after increases this year.
A Special Public Policy Briefing from States Newsroom and KFF
The public is invited to a special public policy briefing on significant changes coming to Medicaid. The free virtual event will be hosted by healthcare policy experts from KFF and journalists from States Newsroom, the nonprofit news organization that operates 39 state news outlets, including the Nebraska Examiner. The in-depth discussion will focus on the impacts that federal funding cuts, work requirements and state policy are having on healthcare in the United States. Journalists and policy experts will explain the latest developments and discuss the political debate around these changes. The panel discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A. The event will be held Thursday, July 23 at 11 a.m. CT.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Bellevue cybersecurity campus poised for takeoff | Cindy Gonzalez
Nonpartisan NE-03 candidate enters race as write-in | Juan Salinas II
North Omaha officials see change at ‘innovation district’ | Cindy Gonzalez
COMMENTARY
OPINION: The Supreme Court headline is not what you think | George Ayoub
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Ballot initiative for total abortion ban fails to submit signatures | Juan Salinas II
Nebraska Secretary of State calls RNC lawsuit ‘a little baffling’ | Juan Salinas II
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