By Aaron Sanderford | Editor-in-chief
“Fiber is proven to be able to last.” - U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., speaking on the value of investing more federal broadband in hard infrastructure like fiber internet.
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb. June 6, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
TECHNOLOGY
By Erin Bamer
LINCOLN — U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., wants Nebraska to use more fiber in its broadband expansion plans, contradicting Gov. Jim Pillen’s claims that other internet technologies are sufficient.
Livestock Exchange Building at 100 years old in 2026. To the right, is one of the newer health center buildings on the South Omaha campus. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
LABOR & GROWTH
By Cindy Gonzalez
OMAHA — On Thursday, the Livestock Exchange Building’s current anchor tenant, OneWorld Community Health Centers, celebrates a century of the historic 11-story structure with an open house and display of historical materials.
Signs in the bowels of the Nebraska State Capitol advocate for legalization of marijuana. Aug. 2, 2024. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)
HEALTH
By Aaron Sanderford
LINCOLN — The Republican attorneys general of Nebraska, Indiana and Louisiana filed a lawsuit headed into Memorial Day weekend to stop the Trump Justice Department’s order reclassifying marijuana as a less harmful drug.
A combine harvests corn on a farm. (Courtesy of Lance Muirhead/Muirhead farms)
ENVIRONMENT & AGRICULTURE
By Medill News Service
WASHINGTON — The White House says China committed to buy at least $17 billion in more U.S. ag products annually for three years. Beijing has not confirmed the figure, and farm groups have expressed skepticism.
Downtown Omaha construction on the future home of Mutual of Omaha continues. April 25, 2026. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
By Paul Hammel
OMAHA — Nebraska Public Media is launching a dedicated Omaha station to expand its statewide reach and feature its two reporters in the state’s largest city. NPM recently purchased KOOO, located at 101.9 on the FM dial and plans a June 15 launch.
Jacy Todd of York takes the witness stand during a criminal trial against him in Hall County Court on day two of the trial in Grand Island on Feb. 24, 2026. (Kasey Mintz-Pool/KSNB Local 4)
ICYMI
By Zach Wendling
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — A former notary for separate Nebraska petitions to legalize and regulate medical cannabis in 2024 is appealing his 24 criminal convictions related to improper notarizations.
A sign at the Michigan Pride rally in Lansing on June 26, 2022. (Laina G. Stebbins)
ABORTION POLICY
By Katherine Dailey
A panel of judges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the federal district court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Right to Life of Michigan challenging the state’s constitutional amendment enshrining abortion rights.
Connor Champion, president of Austin Christian University in Texas, addresses students at the school. Some of the nation’s biggest megachurches are getting into the college business, prioritizing hands-on job training and church culture. (Courtesy of Austin Christian University)
EDUCATION
By Anna Claire Vollers
A different model of Christian education is on the upswing: Some of the nation’s biggest megachurches are getting into the college business, prioritizing job training and church culture over traditional liberal arts.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
U.S. Senate candidate might have to sue to get off ballot | By Juan Salinas II
Burbank endorses Ahlman in 1st District House race | By Juan Salinas II
Harding misses financial disclosure deadlines | By Molly Ashford, NPM
COMMENTARY
OPINION: Worker’s race against time and a company | By Jeff Miller
OPINION: New Nebraska law correctly keeps books | By George Ayoub
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Ex-Nebraska lawmaker readies ninth Ukraine mission | By Zach Wendling
Bacon helping get ‘Ukraine Support Act’ to full House | By Zach Wendling
A BEAD on Nebraska broadband: $300M still in limbo | By Erin Bamer
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.