AGP Executive Report

College World Series Safety: Nebraska officials warned Omaha fans about human trafficking risks tied to the men’s College World Series, urging people to report suspicious behavior as hotels fill up. Energy Policy: Gov. Jim Pillen signed LB1261, letting private companies building 1,000-megawatt-or-more projects generate their own power if they secure a power purchase deal with local public utilities and get Power Review Board approval. Healthcare Fraud: A federal judge ordered Nebraska pharmacist Joan Kicken to pay $3.4M for alleged Medicare and Medicaid billing fraud. Labor Rights Fight: A House Armed Services Committee amendment would block Trump’s executive order rolling back collective bargaining for DoD civilians, with Rep. Don Bacon joining Democrats. Business Expansion: Pump & Pantry agreed to buy 21 Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh standalone stores across Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota, adding Starbucks and Smokey Row locations. Elections: Nebraska’s Board of State Canvassers certified the 2026 primary results, calling the May 12 vote “very smoothly.” Sports Betting Fallout: Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility ruling sparked backlash, including Nebraska AD Troy Dannen saying teams were told not to schedule Texas Tech.

Ag Data Privacy: Gov. Jim Pillen and Nebraska ag leaders celebrated passage of LB 525, a first-in-the-nation law that defines agricultural data and makes farmers and ranchers the owners—setting rules for collection, sharing, and security. Retail Deal: Pump & Pantry will buy 21 Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh convenience stores, including two in Nebraska, with plans to rebrand them after a July close. Health Coverage: States are scrambling as new Medicaid work-rule guidance tightens exemptions for people with serious or complex health conditions—raising fears of coverage gaps. Nebraska Leadership Change: After an 18-month delay, the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Board is moving toward a new executive director candidate, Thomas Pfeifle, pending approvals. Education Tech: A Nebraska ed-tech startup, Short Answer, is expanding its K-12 writing platform used by 80,000 educators nationwide, aiming to reduce overreliance on AI. World Cup Public Health: Federal and public health teams plan to screen U.S. wastewater for disease outbreaks during the 2026 World Cup. Ukraine Aid: The U.S. House passed a major Ukraine aid package, with Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon among supporters.

Nebraska Politics & Policy: Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon weighed in on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s D-Day remarks, saying the comments about migration were “not helpful” and should stay focused on honoring WWII service members. State & Local Economy: The SBA opened low-interest disaster loans for drought-hit small businesses and nonprofits across parts of Nebraska, including Banner, Kimball, Scotts Bluff and Sioux counties. Cost of Living: A new inflation wave is expected to hit grocery stores next, with higher food prices tied to weather, tariffs and a shrinking cattle herd—adding pressure ahead of the midterms. Health & Privacy: RFK Jr. is pushing HHS for access to Americans’ identifiable medical records through state systems, raising privacy concerns among officials and patient advocates. Nebraska Community: UNO graduate student Nate Ostdiek is campaigning for the Nebraska Legislature, touting thousands of doors knocked and a grassroots push after the primary. Travel & Summer Planning: AAA reports gas prices still sting for boaters, with ethanol-free fuel often costing more—shaping how families plan summer outings.

Nebraska Ag Policy: Gov. Jim Pillen and ag leaders celebrated passage of LB 525, the state’s first-in-the-nation law setting rules to protect farmers’ and ranchers’ agricultural data—aimed at keeping ownership and privacy clear as GPS, variable-rate tech, and yield tracking spread. Husker Recruiting: Nebraska’s official visit weekend paid off again, flipping Minnesota EDGE Ma’atoe Moe to the Cornhuskers, while the Huskers also landed other commits over the weekend. Local Sports Spotlight: Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska appeared on “Face the Nation,” weighing national politics and candidate quality as the campaign season heats up. Courtroom Watch: A federal court order ended Nebraska’s practice of letting some undocumented students pay in-state tuition while out-of-state citizens did not—Pillen praised the ruling as aligning state law with federal requirements. Food Supply Pressure: A border closure tied to screwworm concerns is squeezing U.S. beef supplies, pushing prices higher and hitting feedlots and processors.

Nebraska Recruiting: Four-star defensive back Bryce Williams committed to Nebraska during his official visit, choosing the Cornhuskers over Oklahoma and Florida after reopening his pledge late last year. Ag Data Privacy: Gov. Jim Pillen and Sen. Mike Jacobson celebrated LB 525, a new Nebraska law that sets rules to protect the agricultural data of individual farms and ranches. Tuition Court Fight: A federal judge’s order ends Nebraska’s practice of letting some undocumented students pay in-state tuition, and Pillen praised the ruling as aligning state law with federal requirements. Energy & Nuclear: The U.S. Energy Department says a small reactor at Idaho National Lab reached “criticality,” a milestone that could lead to electricity generation in the next few years. Beef Supply Shock: A border closure tied to screwworm concerns is squeezing the U.S. beef pipeline, pushing record prices and hitting processors and jobs. Medicaid Work Rules: CMS issued a tougher definition for “medically frail” exemptions under new Medicaid work requirements, raising fears of coverage losses for sick Nebraskans and others. Business/Policy: The U.S. House passed a Ukraine aid package with bipartisan support, including $1.3 billion in direct military aid.

Nebraska Politics & Policy: The U.S. House passed a major Ukraine aid package, with Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon backing it and framing support as “Churchill” over “Chamberlain,” while the bill now heads to the Senate. Medicaid Work Requirements: CMS issued a tougher rule on who qualifies for Medicaid “medically frail” exemptions, raising alarms that sick Nebraskans could lose coverage; Nebraska is also seeking relief for Dawson County. Nebraska Economy & Business: Hy-Vee is selling 21 Fast & Fresh stores to Nebraska-based Bosselman’s Pump & Pantry, with rebranding set for mid-July. Courts & Public Safety: Nebraska authorities say Adam Dean Hoffman must register as a sex offender after a Texas child sexual abuse plea. Energy & Infrastructure: A $100 million Lincoln Airport runway reconstruction project is underway, aimed at boosting civilian travel and military capability. Sports: West Virginia is one win from the College World Series after a 12-2 super regional win over Cal Poly.

Nebraska Medicaid Relief: Gov. Jim Pillen directed DHHS to seek CMS approval for a temporary high-unemployment hardship exemption from Medicaid work requirements for Dawson County after the Tyson Foods closure left thousands jobless in Lexington. Local Government & Infrastructure: South Sioux City secured a $40M EPA WIFIA loan to expand its wastewater treatment plant, aiming to cut long-term costs and protect the Missouri River. State Economic Leadership: Nebraska DED grant program manager Javier Saldaña Jr. left state government to become Omaha deputy chief of staff for economic development, steering real estate projects in the mayor’s agenda. Retail Deal: Nebraska-based Bosselman Enterprises is buying 21 Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh standalone stores in Iowa and rebranding them as Pump & Pantry, with changes rolling out in July. Public Safety: Authorities say Adam Dean Hoffman must register as a sex offender in Nebraska after a Texas child sexual abuse plea. Aviation: Lincoln Airport hosted a showcase for the $100M Runway 18/36 reconstruction, with completion targeted for fall 2027.

Nebraska Agriculture & Livestock: Drought is squeezing pasture and feed nationwide, with USDA data showing Nebraska at the worst end of the pasture-stress scale (80% poor or very poor), adding pressure to cattle supplies and retail beef prices. Rural Help & Community: Farm Rescue named fifth-generation Nebraska farmer Shari Rogge-Fidler as its new executive director, saying extreme weather and rural labor shortages are driving more requests for free planting, haying, and livestock feeding help. Courts & Higher Ed: The Nebraska Supreme Court sided with the state Tax Commissioner in an MLB data center dispute, upholding a demand tied to a failed investment and a denied transfer of incentives. State Policy & Immigration: A federal judge upheld Nebraska’s end to in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, rejecting a plan that treated them better than out-of-state U.S. citizens. Beef Checkoff Appointments: USDA appointed two Nebraska cattle industry leaders—Jaslyn Livingston and Jim Dinklage—to the national Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board. Public Safety & Pets: Nebraska Humane Society is at 100% dog capacity, with an adoption push for dogs 25 pounds and up. Energy & Land Use: A Sandhills landowner group says a major transmission-line fight is coming to a head at the Nebraska Public Service Commission. National Politics: House Republicans split with Democrats to pass additional Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions, despite leadership and Trump urging negotiations.

Nebraska Immigration & Courts: A federal judge permanently blocked Nebraska’s 2006 in-state tuition law for undocumented students, ruling it conflicts with federal immigration rules and can’t treat illegal immigrants differently than U.S. citizens. Livestock Health Watch: USDA confirmed a New World screwworm case in a Texas calf for the first time in 60 years; Nebraska ranchers are being urged to stay vigilant and report suspected cases as sterile-fly efforts ramp up. Cost of Living: An economics professor says Nebraska households are paying up to about $150 more per month on gas after war-driven price spikes, with relief tied to ceasefire conditions. Aging Office Shakeup: The Aging Office of Western Nebraska begins searching for a new executive director after an internal investigation led to the termination of its executive director and fiscal coordinator. Air Travel Boost: Lincoln Airport celebrated American Airlines launching nonstop service to Chicago O’Hare and Dallas-Fort Worth, with seasonal Phoenix service starting Dec. 17. Local Community: Miss Omaha Maria Cade is competing for Miss Nebraska, using her “Filter the Facts” media literacy work to teach students how to spot AI and misinformation. Education & Culture: Kookmin University and UNL’s fine arts colleges signed an agreement to expand student and faculty exchanges in design, film, and new media. Agriculture Planning: UNL Extension is hosting a farm and ranch succession and estate planning workshop in Lincoln on June 26.

Federal AI Education Funding: A new Sallie Mae-backed analysis says federal AI-related education awards are increasingly concentrated in a few states, with California leading and New Mexico surprising at No. 2, followed by Massachusetts, New York and D.C. HHS Medical Records Push: U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is seeking federal access to Americans’ medical records to study links to autism and vaccines, drawing privacy and legal concerns. Nebraska Sports: Nebraska baseball reliever J’Shawn Unger was named a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, announced June 12 in Omaha. Nebraska Energy/Tech: Scale Microgrids held a public open house for its White Cloud Acres data center project, with water use a top concern. Nebraska Agriculture: Farm income in Nebraska is projected to hit a record high, even as drought and market pressures keep ranchers and cattle producers watching closely.

Federal Courts & Immigration: A judge struck down Nebraska’s long-running in-state tuition law for some undocumented students, saying it’s preempted by federal rules. Local Governance: Omaha’s Planning Board heard pushback over a proposed Center Mall redevelopment designation that could open the door to TIF-style tools. Energy & Industry: Nebraska Public Power District identified four possible sites for a new nuclear plant, with officials saying local support will matter. Water & Growth: The Missouri National Recreational River is coordinating a new “Water Trails” safety-and-paddling plan with Nebraska and South Dakota agencies. State Politics & Elections: Three GOP-leaning petitions aim to reshape Lincoln city elections, including changing dates and allowing some non-city-limit residents to vote. Public Safety & Health: Nebraska Humane Society demonstrated how fast car temperatures rise to warn against leaving pets in hot vehicles. Agriculture & Economy: Senators Fischer and others defended E15 ethanol in a letter, arguing it helps lower gas prices. Education & Research: UNL’s actuarial science research ranked No. 1 in North America and No. 12 worldwide.

Nebraska Energy & Data Centers: Gov. Pillen and senators are pushing LB 1261, calling it a “transformative” step that makes it easier for private power plants tied to data centers and other industries to operate without public power districts taking them over via eminent domain. Water Conservation: Google is partnering with Omaha’s Metropolitan Utilities District, sending $3 million to expand leak detection across 500 miles of water lines—aimed at cutting water loss for the company’s Nebraska data centers. Public Safety & Health: A new analysis finds “deaths of despair” fell overall in 2024, but some Midwestern states saw increases; Nebraska’s rate stayed flat. Community Forestry: UNL experts are urging Nebraska towns to diversify tree canopy planning and maintenance to reduce losses from pests like emerald ash borer. Local Politics: Criminal complaints in Nebraska allege some Senate candidates ran sham campaigns to clear the way for Dan Osborn. Arts & Culture: Hastings Museum won reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums.

Energy Policy: Gov. Jim Pillen signed LB 1261, a new law aimed at letting private companies help build major energy infrastructure for Nebraska’s growing power needs—especially for data centers—while reducing the risk of cost blowback on public power districts and ratepayers. Public Health: UNMC reported the first five of 18 hantavirus-exposed cruise passengers have left Omaha’s National Quarantine Unit to finish monitoring at home; 13 remain under health department oversight. Child Welfare Oversight: A Nebraska Foster Care Review Office report says congregate care placements are rising sharply, with more than 685 kids in restrictive facilities as of March 2026, including many outside Nebraska, citing a shortage of foster homes and mental health services. Local Government & Housing: North Platte City Council approved TIF for Newberry Village, a planned park of up to 247 single-wide homes, in a split 5-3 vote that centered on how the homes will be taxed and how TIF accountability works. Agriculture & Rural Workforce: UNL selected 21 students for the Nebraska Elite 11 Veterinarian Program to help address the shortage of food-animal vets, with Ava Reikofski among the new cohort. Community Notes: Pierce County set a scrap tire collection for June 23, and a Norfolk-area USDA conservation Local Working Group meeting is scheduled for June 11.

Nebraska Politics & Governance: Gov. Jim Pillen and state senators marked passage of LB 1261, a new energy law meant to attract private investment in large-load power generation by changing public power district authority and eminent domain rules. Public Health: Five former passengers from the MV Hondius left UNMC’s Omaha National Quarantine Unit after weeks of hantavirus monitoring, with continued self-checks at home under state and local health guidance. Election Security: Nebraska’s GOP secretary of state race is framed as a referendum on election security, with Petersen and Slattery positioning their campaigns around how votes are protected. Consumer Protection: The BBB warned Omaha-area shoppers about a fake “Thrifty Auto Sales Shop” website using stolen photos and fabricated paperwork, after at least one buyer lost $1,500. Sports (Nebraska): Jordy Frahm announced she’s pregnant after Nebraska’s Women’s College World Series run ended in an elimination loss to Texas. Business & Economy: Creighton’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index stayed above growth neutral, pointing to steady regional manufacturing improvement.

Nebraska Public Health: Eighteen people exposed to hantavirus at UNMC’s National Quarantine Unit are now eligible to leave, though some will finish monitoring at home under 24/7 local oversight through June 21. Local Safety & Courts: A Pocahontas man died in a fiery 16-vehicle I-80 crash near Brule after a dust storm; five others were injured. Crime & Sentencing: An Iowa court convicted a Pomeroy man of continuous sexual abuse of a child; sentencing is set for July 31. State & Local Government: Lincoln’s minimum-wage debate is back in focus as Oklahoma weighs a similar move, with Nebraska’s 2022 ballot change cited as a key comparison point. Business & Economy: Creighton’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index stayed above growth-neutral, but hiring remains weak and inflation pressures linger. Consumer Watch: The Omaha Better Business Bureau warns of a fake “Thrifty Auto Sales” website scam that took at least $1,500 from a victim. Sports (Nebraska): Nebraska softball star Jordy Frahm announced she’s three months pregnant, a day after the Huskers’ WCWS loss to Texas.

Housing & Business: Berkshire Hathaway, based in Omaha, agreed to buy homebuilder Taylor Morrison for $6.8B in cash, paying a 24% premium as it expands its housing platform. Nebraska Politics & Immigration: U.S. Rep. Mike Flood kept holding town halls in 2026 despite hostile crowds, facing questions on medical marijuana and the administration’s “anti-weaponization” fund. Public Safety & Courts: A Supreme Court ruling in India emphasized consent as the key legal line between adult sex work and trafficking, with directives aimed at how police handle “rescue” operations. Immigration Uncertainty in Nebraska: A Nebraska-focused report describes undocumented families living with shrinking legal options and long waits as federal immigration rules tighten. Health Policy: States are bracing for Medicaid work requirements, warning the implementation costs are already hitting budgets. Local Nebraska Community: Volunteers in Denton preserved small-town history by building a museum that now houses hundreds of family stories and artifacts. Agriculture: A cover crop incentive program reopened with higher annual payments for eligible producers.