Women in nearby states with abortion bans might not have to travel so far for the procedure.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/khardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/"></a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The outcome of a trial over Missouri’s abortion regulations could ripple far beyond the state, potentially creating new availability for women in the Midwest and South who can’t access abortion close to home.

As a judge&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/12/missouri-abortion-rights-trial-focuses-on-two-decades-of-state-restrictions/" target="_blank">weighs the constitutionality</a>&nbsp;of a litany of state restrictions on abortion, the stakes are clear for Missouri women: The decision could hamper access for nearly everyone in the state — or greatly broaden it in ways not seen in decades. That would allow women in a dozen nearby states with abortion bans to travel a shorter distance to access the procedure.

“Opening and reestablishing rights in the state of Missouri would help to alleviate some of the pressure that other states have since so many Southern states have banned abortion,” said Julie Burkhart, the co-owner of Hope Clinic in Granite City, Illinois. “It just seems logical that we would see a shift in migration patterns of patients in the country.”

At her clinic, about a 15-minute drive from downtown St. Louis, Missourians account for about half of all patients, Burkhart said. Though Missouri voters in 2024 enshrined a right to abortion in the state constitution, access has remained&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/05/missouri-abortion-legal-access-hinges-courts-rebuilding/" target="_blank">highly limited because of restrictive state laws</a>. Only procedural abortions are available on a limited basis across three Planned Parenthood clinics in the state.

Many of those state laws face legal scrutiny this week as a Missouri judge weighs the constitutionality of regulations targeting abortion providers. Those include a 72-hour waiting period between initial appointments and procedures, mandatory pelvic exams for medication abortions and a ban on telemedicine appointments for medication abortions.

Planned Parenthood affiliates in Missouri argue state restrictions are unconstitutional under 2024’s voter-approved constitutional amendment. Over decades, state restrictions have gutted Missouri’s provider networks, limited appointment availability and ultimately forced abortions to a halt in 2022, before a limited number resumed after the 2024 vote.

Experts and advocates are closely monitoring the Missouri case, which is expected to be appealed regardless of the outcome, because of its practical implications on access in the region. While many women now rely on abortion medication, procedural abortion is still crucial for those seeking later-term abortions or who prefer an in-clinic procedure.

But the two-week bench trial in downtown Kansas City also tests lawmakers’ ability to put in place rules so restrictive that they effectively ban abortion — a practice used by anti-abortion lawmakers in other states looking to limit access to the procedure.

“Judges do not operate in a vacuum,” Burkhart said, “ … and we know for a fact that judges look outside the borders of their state for information and for guidance. I do see this as having national importance.”

That’s especially true in other states also litigating abortion access, including Arizona, Michigan and Ohio, said Rebecca Reingold, an associate director at Georgetown University’s O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law.

While state judges are not bound by the decisions of judges in other states, their deliberations can be informed by court rulings, particularly involving novel legal questions or areas of the law that are evolving.

“There is little doubt that advocates and decision-makers in other states navigating similar legal challenges are closely monitoring the litigation over Missouri’s abortion regulations,” Reingold said.

In the first days of the trial, Planned Parenthood leaders argued that ever-changing state laws and agency regulations have drastically limited access, caused needless red tape and posed privacy risk for their patients.

Dr. Margaret Baum, chief medical officer with St. Louis-based Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, said the Missouri requirements specifically target abortion rather than all other kinds of medical care.

“I provide vasectomies routinely. … And I am not required to have a complication plan, contact a primary care physician, even ask the patient how many miles they live from the health center.”

Baum said state-mandated reporting rules unique to abortion require clinicians to ask the race, education level, marital status and specific location of each patient — none of which is relevant to their care.

Planned Parenthood Great Rivers would like to offer abortion services in Springfield, Baum testified. Access in that region would provide an option for rural Missourians, and also could help serve residents in nearby Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, where abortion is almost universally banned.

But the organization’s facilities there do not meet state abortion regulations for physical attributes, including hallway size, doorway size and the number of recliners in recovery rooms, Baum testified.

Lawyers for the state defended Missouri’s restrictions as commonsense safeguards aimed at protecting vulnerable women. The attorney general’s office argued that complication risks of abortion justify additional state regulation — despite professional medical associations saying it’s generally safe. The AG’s office also maintained that Planned Parenthood faced a conflict of interest because of its financial motivations.

“Abortion is a business,” Deputy Solicitor General Peter Donohue said during a procedural argument on Monday. “Your Honor, the plaintiffs are asking to deregulate their profession in order to make more money.”

The state was expected to call as witnesses anti-abortion doctors and activists later in the trial.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned federal constitutional protections for abortion in June 2022, the number of abortions has increased slightly across the country, according to the health research nonprofit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/abortion-trends-before-and-after-dobbs/" target="_blank">KFF</a>.

The group points to expanded telehealth, which can offer medication abortion more affordably through virtual appointments.

Since the 2022 ruling and subsequent state abortion bans, patients have experienced higher travel costs for abortions and delays in care, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/07/16/travel-time-costs-for-abortions-increased-after-state-bans-researchers-find/">research</a>&nbsp;published in the American Journal of Public Health in July.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco found that travel time to access abortion increased from 2.8 hours to 11.3 hours for residents in states with abortion bans. Travel costs increased from $179 to $372. And more than half of survey respondents said their abortion care required an overnight hotel stay, compared with 5% before an abortion ban.

In 2024, an estimated 7,880 Missourians traveled to Illinois and 3,960 traveled to Kansas to access abortion, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/monthly-abortion-provision-study" target="_blank">Guttmacher Institute</a>, a research and policy organization focused on advancing reproductive rights.

Those Missourians were among the approximate 155,000 people who crossed state lines to access abortion care that year, representing 15% of all abortions provided in states without total bans.

Regardless of its outcome, the Missouri case is expected to be appealed. Even if the plaintiffs are ultimately successful, it may take a long time to restore care networks across the state, said Isaac Maddow-Zimet, a data scientist at the Guttmacher Institute.

“And that’s particularly the case when there are states that have a lot of legal uncertainty or restrictions coming into effect and then coming out of effect,” he said. “It’s not quick to open up a clinic. It’s not quick to even necessarily expand the kinds of services, or the kinds of the number of people that a clinic can see.”

Kimya Forouzan, the organization’s principal state policy adviser, said Missouri’s landscape is evidence that lawmakers can drastically curb abortion access without total bans. And despite an overwhelming vote to amend the constitution, legal battles can follow.

Even if the state’s laws are found unconstitutional, Forouzan said, lawmakers will likely still push anti-abortion measures. She noted that several bills have already been introduced in this year’s just-convened legislative session, and that Republican lawmakers are pushing a ballot&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/04/missouri-appeals-court-rejects-abortion-ban-ballot-language/" target="_blank">measure to repeal</a>&nbsp;2024’s reproductive rights amendment.

“There’s very much a push to pass as many restrictions as possible and kind of see what happens later and how things shape up later. … Time will tell, but we do know that they’re still pushing forth restrictions,” she said.

Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:khardy@stateline.org">khardy@stateline.org</a>. Missouri Independent reporter Anna Spoerre can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aspoerre@missouriindependent.com">aspoerre@missouriindependent.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768404776458.png" alt="A trial over Missouri’s abortion regulations began Monday at the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City, Mo. Experts are watching the case, which could impact abortion access across the Midwest and South. (Photo by Kevin Hardy/Stateline)" />
 <figcaption>A trial over Missouri’s abortion regulations began Monday at the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City, Mo. Experts are watching the case, which could impact abortion access across the Midwest and South. (Photo by Kevin Hardy/Stateline)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Women in nearby states with abortion bans might not have to travel so far for the procedure.</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/khardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/"></a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The outcome of a trial over Missouri’s abortion regulations could ripple far beyond the state, potentially creating new availability for women in the Midwest and South who can’t access abortion close to home.As a judge&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/12/missouri-abortion-rights-trial-focuses-on-two-decades-of-state-restrictions/" target="_blank">weighs the constitutionality</a>&nbsp;of a litany of state restrictions on abortion, the stakes are clear for Missouri women: The decision could hamper access for nearly everyone in the state — or greatly broaden it in ways not seen in decades. That would allow women in a dozen nearby states with abortion bans to travel a shorter distance to access the procedure.“Opening and reestablishing rights in the state of Missouri would help to alleviate some of the pressure that other states have since so many Southern states have banned abortion,” said Julie Burkhart, the co-owner of Hope Clinic in Granite City, Illinois. “It just seems logical that we would see a shift in migration patterns of patients in the country.”At her clinic, about a 15-minute drive from downtown St. Louis, Missourians account for about half of all patients, Burkhart said. Though Missouri voters in 2024 enshrined a right to abortion in the state constitution, access has remained&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/05/missouri-abortion-legal-access-hinges-courts-rebuilding/" target="_blank">highly limited because of restrictive state laws</a>. Only procedural abortions are available on a limited basis across three Planned Parenthood clinics in the state.Many of those state laws face legal scrutiny this week as a Missouri judge weighs the constitutionality of regulations targeting abortion providers. Those include a 72-hour waiting period between initial appointments and procedures, mandatory pelvic exams for medication abortions and a ban on telemedicine appointments for medication abortions.Planned Parenthood affiliates in Missouri argue state restrictions are unconstitutional under 2024’s voter-approved constitutional amendment. Over decades, state restrictions have gutted Missouri’s provider networks, limited appointment availability and ultimately forced abortions to a halt in 2022, before a limited number resumed after the 2024 vote.Experts and advocates are closely monitoring the Missouri case, which is expected to be appealed regardless of the outcome, because of its practical implications on access in the region. While many women now rely on abortion medication, procedural abortion is still crucial for those seeking later-term abortions or who prefer an in-clinic procedure.But the two-week bench trial in downtown Kansas City also tests lawmakers’ ability to put in place rules so restrictive that they effectively ban abortion — a practice used by anti-abortion lawmakers in other states looking to limit access to the procedure.“Judges do not operate in a vacuum,” Burkhart said, “ … and we know for a fact that judges look outside the borders of their state for information and for guidance. I do see this as having national importance.”That’s especially true in other states also litigating abortion access, including Arizona, Michigan and Ohio, said Rebecca Reingold, an associate director at Georgetown University’s O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law.While state judges are not bound by the decisions of judges in other states, their deliberations can be informed by court rulings, particularly involving novel legal questions or areas of the law that are evolving.“There is little doubt that advocates and decision-makers in other states navigating similar legal challenges are closely monitoring the litigation over Missouri’s abortion regulations,” Reingold said.<h2>Restrictions targeting abortion</h2>In the first days of the trial, Planned Parenthood leaders argued that ever-changing state laws and agency regulations have drastically limited access, caused needless red tape and posed privacy risk for their patients.Dr. Margaret Baum, chief medical officer with St. Louis-based Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, said the Missouri requirements specifically target abortion rather than all other kinds of medical care.“I provide vasectomies routinely. … And I am not required to have a complication plan, contact a primary care physician, even ask the patient how many miles they live from the health center.”Baum said state-mandated reporting rules unique to abortion require clinicians to ask the race, education level, marital status and specific location of each patient — none of which is relevant to their care.Planned Parenthood Great Rivers would like to offer abortion services in Springfield, Baum testified. Access in that region would provide an option for rural Missourians, and also could help serve residents in nearby Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, where abortion is almost universally banned.But the organization’s facilities there do not meet state abortion regulations for physical attributes, including hallway size, doorway size and the number of recliners in recovery rooms, Baum testified.Lawyers for the state defended Missouri’s restrictions as commonsense safeguards aimed at protecting vulnerable women. The attorney general’s office argued that complication risks of abortion justify additional state regulation — despite professional medical associations saying it’s generally safe. The AG’s office also maintained that Planned Parenthood faced a conflict of interest because of its financial motivations.“Abortion is a business,” Deputy Solicitor General Peter Donohue said during a procedural argument on Monday. “Your Honor, the plaintiffs are asking to deregulate their profession in order to make more money.”The state was expected to call as witnesses anti-abortion doctors and activists later in the trial.<h2>Patients traveling for care</h2>Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned federal constitutional protections for abortion in June 2022, the number of abortions has increased slightly across the country, according to the health research nonprofit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/abortion-trends-before-and-after-dobbs/" target="_blank">KFF</a>.The group points to expanded telehealth, which can offer medication abortion more affordably through virtual appointments.Since the 2022 ruling and subsequent state abortion bans, patients have experienced higher travel costs for abortions and delays in care, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/07/16/travel-time-costs-for-abortions-increased-after-state-bans-researchers-find/">research</a>&nbsp;published in the American Journal of Public Health in July.Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco found that travel time to access abortion increased from 2.8 hours to 11.3 hours for residents in states with abortion bans. Travel costs increased from $179 to $372. And more than half of survey respondents said their abortion care required an overnight hotel stay, compared with 5% before an abortion ban.In 2024, an estimated 7,880 Missourians traveled to Illinois and 3,960 traveled to Kansas to access abortion, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/monthly-abortion-provision-study" target="_blank">Guttmacher Institute</a>, a research and policy organization focused on advancing reproductive rights.Those Missourians were among the approximate 155,000 people who crossed state lines to access abortion care that year, representing 15% of all abortions provided in states without total bans.<h2>Ongoing uncertainty</h2>Regardless of its outcome, the Missouri case is expected to be appealed. Even if the plaintiffs are ultimately successful, it may take a long time to restore care networks across the state, said Isaac Maddow-Zimet, a data scientist at the Guttmacher Institute.“And that’s particularly the case when there are states that have a lot of legal uncertainty or restrictions coming into effect and then coming out of effect,” he said. “It’s not quick to open up a clinic. It’s not quick to even necessarily expand the kinds of services, or the kinds of the number of people that a clinic can see.”Kimya Forouzan, the organization’s principal state policy adviser, said Missouri’s landscape is evidence that lawmakers can drastically curb abortion access without total bans. And despite an overwhelming vote to amend the constitution, legal battles can follow.Even if the state’s laws are found unconstitutional, Forouzan said, lawmakers will likely still push anti-abortion measures. She noted that several bills have already been introduced in this year’s just-convened legislative session, and that Republican lawmakers are pushing a ballot&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/04/missouri-appeals-court-rejects-abortion-ban-ballot-language/" target="_blank">measure to repeal</a>&nbsp;2024’s reproductive rights amendment.“There’s very much a push to pass as many restrictions as possible and kind of see what happens later and how things shape up later. … Time will tell, but we do know that they’re still pushing forth restrictions,” she said.Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:khardy@stateline.org">khardy@stateline.org</a>. Missouri Independent reporter Anna Spoerre can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aspoerre@missouriindependent.com">aspoerre@missouriindependent.com</a>.

Missouri trial could affect abortion access across the Midwest and South

By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post

NEST 529-sponsored event to be held during Nebraska vs. Penn State basketball game

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska families still have time to enter their “future Husker” in the annual Husker Athletics Baby Race, set for Saturday, Feb. 21, during halftime of the University of Nebraska men’s basketball game against Penn State at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg said interest in the baby races continues to grow alongside the popularity of Husker basketball.

“The Husker baby races are soaring in popularity — just like University of Nebraska basketball,” Spellerberg said. “This contest is a fantastic way to spotlight Nebraska’s educational savings program, as well as the critical mission of the University of Nebraska — a leader of innovation — as it trains the next generation to grow our state and the 21st century economy.”

Parents can submit entries online through Feb. 12 at huskers.com/babyraces. Contestants will be selected at random, with parents given 24 hours to confirm participation. Six babies will compete in the Feb. 21 race. Eligible participants must be at the crawling stage and not yet walking.

The event is sponsored by the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust, also known as NEST 529, which is overseen by the State Treasurer’s Office. The program offers tax-advantaged savings options for education after high school.

“Whether a child eventually wears the scarlet and cream, attends another institution, or pursues a trade, NEST 529 helps make that path possible,” Spellerberg said.

Nebraska allows an income tax deduction of up to $10,000 per year for contributions made by a NEST 529 account owner, or up to $5,000 for married individuals filing separately. Funds in a NEST 529 account grow tax-deferred and can be withdrawn tax-free when used for qualified education expenses.

NEST 529 funds may be used at accredited universities, graduate schools, community colleges, trade and vocational schools, and registered apprenticeship programs. More information is available at nest529.com.

By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post<h2>NEST 529-sponsored event to be held during Nebraska vs. Penn State basketball game</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768406793583.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska families still have time to enter their “future Husker” in the annual Husker Athletics Baby Race, set for Saturday, Feb. 21, during halftime of the University of Nebraska men’s basketball game against Penn State at Pinnacle Bank Arena.State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg said interest in the baby races continues to grow alongside the popularity of Husker basketball.“The Husker baby races are soaring in popularity — just like University of Nebraska basketball,” Spellerberg said. “This contest is a fantastic way to spotlight Nebraska’s educational savings program, as well as the critical mission of the University of Nebraska — a leader of innovation — as it trains the next generation to grow our state and the 21st century economy.”Parents can submit entries online through Feb. 12 at huskers.com/babyraces. Contestants will be selected at random, with parents given 24 hours to confirm participation. Six babies will compete in the Feb. 21 race. Eligible participants must be at the crawling stage and not yet walking.The event is sponsored by the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust, also known as NEST 529, which is overseen by the State Treasurer’s Office. The program offers tax-advantaged savings options for education after high school.“Whether a child eventually wears the scarlet and cream, attends another institution, or pursues a trade, NEST 529 helps make that path possible,” Spellerberg said.Nebraska allows an income tax deduction of up to $10,000 per year for contributions made by a NEST 529 account owner, or up to $5,000 for married individuals filing separately. Funds in a NEST 529 account grow tax-deferred and can be withdrawn tax-free when used for qualified education expenses.NEST 529 funds may be used at accredited universities, graduate schools, community colleges, trade and vocational schools, and registered apprenticeship programs. More information is available at nest529.com.

State Treasurer: Husker Athletics Baby Race Set for Feb. 21

If you’re renting farmland in Nebraska, there are a few lease options to think about. A lot of folks still use a verbal or handshake agreement and that’s fine however it’s good to know what happens when it’s time to end one. For cropland, the Nebraska Supreme Court says the lease year starts on March first. If a landowner wants to end a year-to-year verbal cropland lease, they need to give notice six months ahead that means by September first. Most people recommend that people send notice by Registered Mail, so you’ve got proof it was received.

&nbsp;Pasture leases are a little simpler. They usually line up with the grazing season for about five or six months and most end automatically when the grazing’s done, unless there’s something different written in an agreement.

Even though handshake deals are common, putting it in writing is always the best route. A written lease keeps things clear, protects everyone involved, and helps avoid misunderstandings.

Want to learn more or see an example of a sample lease? Check out the Ag Lease 101 Document Library online.

By Shannon Sand<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745851907586.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>If you’re renting farmland in Nebraska, there are a few lease options to think about. A lot of folks still use a verbal or handshake agreement and that’s fine however it’s good to know what happens when it’s time to end one. For cropland, the Nebraska Supreme Court says the lease year starts on March first. If a landowner wants to end a year-to-year verbal cropland lease, they need to give notice six months ahead that means by September first. Most people recommend that people send notice by Registered Mail, so you’ve got proof it was received.&nbsp;Pasture leases are a little simpler. They usually line up with the grazing season for about five or six months and most end automatically when the grazing’s done, unless there’s something different written in an agreement.Even though handshake deals are common, putting it in writing is always the best route. A written lease keeps things clear, protects everyone involved, and helps avoid misunderstandings.Want to learn more or see an example of a sample lease? Check out the Ag Lease 101 Document Library online.

Forage Minute: Lease Agreements Verbal Vs. Written

By<a href="https://news.unl.edu/author/troy-fedderson-university-communication-and-marketing">Troy Fedderson | University Communication and Marketing</a>

Katherine S. Ankerson began work Jan. 12 as interim chancellor of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, opening her tenure with a call for collaboration, dialogue and a shared focus on the university’s future.

Ankerson, a longtime campus leader and educator, was appointed Jan. 5 by Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, president of the University of Nebraska system. She steps into the role with a focus on engaging students, faculty and staff as the university navigates a period of transition and planning for the future.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://chancellor.unl.edu/welcome-interim-chancellor-katherine-ankerson/">message to the campus community</a>, Ankerson emphasized resilience and the importance of working together.

“How we respond to challenges defines us and builds resilience,” Ankerson wrote. “We are strongest when we face obstacles together — working with humility and purpose to build a positive future.”

Katherine S. Ankerson, interim chancellor, welcomes students, faculty and staff back in this video.

She encouraged the university community to engage openly in shaping the institution’s next chapter and highlighted upcoming events, including a Charter Day observance in February, as opportunities to celebrate UNL’s work and look ahead together.

Listening and dialogue will also be central to her leadership. A campus listening session with Ankerson and Gold is 4 to 5 p.m. Jan. 15 in the Nebraska East Union.&nbsp;<a href="https://news.unl.edu/article/listening-session-set-with-interim-chancellor">Learn more about the listening session</a>.

Ankerson previously served as the university's executive vice chancellor from January 2022 until retiring in December 2024. Her 35-year career in higher education includes 24 years at UNL, where she has also served as dean, associate dean and professor in the College of Architecture.

As dean from 2016 to 2022, Ankerson led a revitalization of the College of Architecture, producing gains in faculty distinction and student success. During that period, the college’s six-year graduation rate increased from about 51% to nearly 72% and post-graduation employment rates consistently ranged from 95% to 100%.

Before joining UNL in 1996, Ankerson held academic appointments at Radford University, Washington State University and Kansas State University, and worked in private architectural practice and design. She was named the International Interior Design Association’s Educator of the Year in 2020.

Gold said Ankerson’s deep knowledge of the campus and years of leadership experience make her well-positioned to guide UNL toward the future.&nbsp;

“I appreciate Kathy’s willingness to step into this role at an important moment for the campus,” Gold said. “I am confident she will lead with purpose and care.”

In her message, Ankerson said she is committed to fostering transformative learning experiences, strengthening community and guiding the university as it looks to the future.

“I am honored to lead UNL as we boldly contribute to Nebraska’s tomorrow of limitless promise and potential,” Ankerson said.

Ankerson is the second woman to serve as the leader of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Joan Leitzel, a mathematics professor and university administrator, served as the university's interim chancellor for six months, from July 22, 1995 to Jan. 31, 1996.

Read Ankerson’s full message&nbsp;<a href="https://chancellor.unl.edu/welcome-interim-chancellor-katherine-ankerson/">here</a>.

By<a href="https://news.unl.edu/author/troy-fedderson-university-communication-and-marketing">Troy Fedderson | University Communication and Marketing</a><figure>
 <img src="https://news.unl.edu/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/media/images/260107_Ankerson_007.JPG?itok=PzL_Fvk6" alt="Jordan Opp | University Communication and MarketingKatherine S. Ankerson started her new role as the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's interim chancellor on Jan. 12." />
 <figcaption>Jordan Opp | University Communication and MarketingKatherine S. Ankerson started her new role as the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's interim chancellor on Jan. 12.</figcaption>
 </figure>Katherine S. Ankerson began work Jan. 12 as interim chancellor of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, opening her tenure with a call for collaboration, dialogue and a shared focus on the university’s future.Ankerson, a longtime campus leader and educator, was appointed Jan. 5 by Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, president of the University of Nebraska system. She steps into the role with a focus on engaging students, faculty and staff as the university navigates a period of transition and planning for the future.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://chancellor.unl.edu/welcome-interim-chancellor-katherine-ankerson/">message to the campus community</a>, Ankerson emphasized resilience and the importance of working together.“How we respond to challenges defines us and builds resilience,” Ankerson wrote. “We are strongest when we face obstacles together — working with humility and purpose to build a positive future.”Katherine S. Ankerson, interim chancellor, welcomes students, faculty and staff back in this video.She encouraged the university community to engage openly in shaping the institution’s next chapter and highlighted upcoming events, including a Charter Day observance in February, as opportunities to celebrate UNL’s work and look ahead together.Listening and dialogue will also be central to her leadership. A campus listening session with Ankerson and Gold is 4 to 5 p.m. Jan. 15 in the Nebraska East Union.&nbsp;<a href="https://news.unl.edu/article/listening-session-set-with-interim-chancellor">Learn more about the listening session</a>.Ankerson previously served as the university's executive vice chancellor from January 2022 until retiring in December 2024. Her 35-year career in higher education includes 24 years at UNL, where she has also served as dean, associate dean and professor in the College of Architecture.As dean from 2016 to 2022, Ankerson led a revitalization of the College of Architecture, producing gains in faculty distinction and student success. During that period, the college’s six-year graduation rate increased from about 51% to nearly 72% and post-graduation employment rates consistently ranged from 95% to 100%.Before joining UNL in 1996, Ankerson held academic appointments at Radford University, Washington State University and Kansas State University, and worked in private architectural practice and design. She was named the International Interior Design Association’s Educator of the Year in 2020.Gold said Ankerson’s deep knowledge of the campus and years of leadership experience make her well-positioned to guide UNL toward the future.&nbsp;“I appreciate Kathy’s willingness to step into this role at an important moment for the campus,” Gold said. “I am confident she will lead with purpose and care.”In her message, Ankerson said she is committed to fostering transformative learning experiences, strengthening community and guiding the university as it looks to the future.“I am honored to lead UNL as we boldly contribute to Nebraska’s tomorrow of limitless promise and potential,” Ankerson said.Ankerson is the second woman to serve as the leader of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Joan Leitzel, a mathematics professor and university administrator, served as the university's interim chancellor for six months, from July 22, 1995 to Jan. 31, 1996.Read Ankerson’s full message&nbsp;<a href="https://chancellor.unl.edu/welcome-interim-chancellor-katherine-ankerson/">here</a>.

Ankerson takes helm At UNL; pledges bold, forward-focused leadership

By:<a href="https://stateline.org/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>

WASHINGTON — A pair of blockbuster cases to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court could carry far-reaching implications for transgender rights, even as the Trump administration during the past year has rolled out a broad anti-trans agenda targeting everything from sports to military service.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-38">Click here to listen to a replay of the argument in Little vs. Hecox</a>

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-43">Click here to listen to a replay of the argument in West Virginia vs. B.P.J.</a>

The court on Jan. 13 will hear challenges to laws in&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/07/03/u-s-supreme-court-takes-up-trans-athlete-ban-in-idaho-west-virginia/" target="_blank">Idaho</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://westvirginiawatch.com/2025/07/03/scotus-to-take-up-west-virginias-transgender-athlete-ban/" target="_blank">West Virginia</a>&nbsp;banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. Both cases center on whether the laws violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The West Virginia case before the Supreme Court also questions whether the state’s law violates Title IX — a landmark federal civil rights law that bars schools that receive federal funding from practicing sex-based discrimination.&nbsp;

Lower court rulings have temporarily blocked the states from implementing the bans, to varying extents, and Republican attorneys general in Idaho and West Virginia have asked the Supreme Court to intervene.&nbsp;

“We know we have an uphill fight, and our hope is certainly that we prevail,” Joshua Block, senior counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBT &amp; HIV Project, who will be presenting oral arguments in the West Virginia case, said at a Jan. 8 ACLU press briefing.&nbsp;

“But we also hope that regardless of what happens, this case isn’t successfully used as a tool to undermine the rights of transgender folks more generally in areas far beyond just athletics.”&nbsp;

The outcome of the oral arguments before a court dominated 6-3 by conservative justices will be closely watched. Nearly 30 states have laws that ban trans students’ participation in sports consistent with their gender identity, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/youth/sports_participation_bans" target="_blank">Movement Advancement Project</a>, an independent think tank.

The justices are taking up both cases in one day. First will be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-38.html" target="_blank">Little v. Hecox,&nbsp;</a>which contests a 2020 Idaho law that categorically bans trans athletes from competing on women’s and girls’ sports teams.&nbsp;

Lindsay Hecox sued over the ban in 2020, just months before the law was set to take effect.&nbsp;

Though Hecox wanted to try out for the women’s track and cross-country teams at Boise State University, the Idaho law — the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/sports/transgender-idaho-ban-sports.html" target="_blank">first of its kind</a>&nbsp;in the nation — would have prevented her from doing so because she is transgender.&nbsp;

A federal court in Idaho halted the law from taking effect later that year. A federal appeals court initially upheld the ruling in 2023 but later adjusted the scope of it in 2024 to only apply to Hecox, not other athletes.&nbsp;

Idaho appealed to the Supreme Court in July 2024.

Since that time, Hecox has asked both an Idaho federal court and the Supreme Court to drop the case.&nbsp;

An&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/10/15/idaho-federal-judge-keeps-transgender-athletics-lawsuit-open/" target="_blank">Idaho federal judge</a>&nbsp;in October rejected that attempt, but the Supreme Court deferred the request until after oral argument — meaning justices could still dismiss the case.

“The Supreme Court is trying to decide whether Idaho can preserve women’s sports based on biological sex, or must female be redefined based on gender identity,” Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador said at a Jan. 8 press briefing ahead of the oral arguments.

“I think Idaho is just trying to protect fairness, safety and equal protection for girls and women in sports,” Labrador said at the briefing alongside West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey, hosted by the conservative legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom.&nbsp;&nbsp;

After the Idaho case, the justices will hear arguments in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-43.html" target="_blank">West Virginia v. B.P.J.</a>, which centers on a 2021 Mountain State law that also bans trans athletes from participating on women’s and girls’ sports teams.&nbsp;

McCuskey argued that his state’s law “supports and bolsters the original intent and the continuing intent and purpose of Title IX.”&nbsp;

McCuskey said the law complies with the Equal Protection Clause because it “treats all biological males and all biological females identically” and “doesn’t ban anyone from playing sports.”&nbsp;

Becky Pepper-Jackson, who was 11 at the time, wanted to try out for the girls’ cross-country team when starting middle school, but would have been prevented from doing so under the West Virginia law because she is transgender.&nbsp;

A federal appeals court in 2024 barred West Virginia from enforcing the ban, prompting the state to ask the nation’s highest court to intervene.&nbsp;&nbsp;

White House, Congress zero in on trans athletes

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s administration has taken steps at the federal level to prohibit trans athletes’ participation in women’s sports teams aligning with their gender identity.&nbsp;

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-signs-executive-order-banning-transgender-athletes-womens-school-sports" target="_blank">signed an executive order</a>&nbsp;in February 2025 that banned such participation and made it the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/" target="_blank">policy</a>&nbsp;of the United States to “rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncaa.org/news/2025/2/6/media-center-ncaa-announces-transgender-student-athlete-participation-policy-change.aspx" target="_blank">NCAA promptly changed its policy</a>&nbsp;to comply with the order, limiting “competition in women’s sports to student-athletes assigned female at birth only.”&nbsp;

In late 2024, prior to the policy shift, NCAA President Charlie Baker&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6062855/2025/01/14/ncaa-transgender-athlete-policy-charlie-baker/" target="_blank">told Congress</a>&nbsp;that of the more than half-million total athletes in NCAA schools, he knew of fewer than 10 who were transgender.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-passes-bill-banning-trans-athletes-competing-womens-school-sports" target="_blank">GOP-led House</a>&nbsp;passed a measure in January 2025 that would bar transgender students from participating on women’s school sports teams consistent with their gender identity.&nbsp;

But Senate Democrats in March&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-democrats-block-bill-banning-transgender-athletes-womens-school-sports" target="_blank">blocked an attempt</a>&nbsp;at imposing such a ban and codifying Trump’s executive order.&nbsp;

Forty-eight GOP members of Congress argued in a September&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-38/375168/20250919112943701_CongressIdaho_Amicus%20Document%20September%2019%202025%20EFile.pdf" target="_blank">amicus brief</a>&nbsp;supporting Idaho and West Virginia that “if allowed to stand, the interpretation of the lower courts will unsettle the very promises that Congress made to generations of young women and men through Title IX.”&nbsp;

On the flip side,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-43/384769/20251117150239241_MembersofCongressAmici.pdf" target="_blank">130 congressional Democrats</a>&nbsp;stood behind the two transgender athletes in a November amicus brief, noting that “categorical bans preventing transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity impose significant harm on all children — especially girls.”&nbsp;

The group argued that such bans “do not meet the standards this Court has put in place to assess discrimination based on sex — whether as a matter of Title IX or under the Equal Protection Clause.”&nbsp;

Trump’s broader anti-trans agenda has extended beyond athletic participation in the nearly one year since he took office.&nbsp;

He signed executive orders that:<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/" target="_blank">&nbsp;make it</a>&nbsp;the “policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female;” restrict access to<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/newest-round-trump-moves-targets-federal-employees-care-transgender-kids" target="_blank">&nbsp;gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;for kids; and aim to bar openly<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-issues-order-prohibiting-openly-transgender-service-members-military" target="_blank">&nbsp;transgender service members</a>&nbsp;from the U.S. military.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hrc.org/resources/get-the-facts-about-transgender-non-binary-athletes" target="_blank">Human Rights Campaign</a>, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, has noted that there has been “considerable disinformation and misinformation about what the inclusion of transgender youth in sports entails” and that trans students’ sports participation “has been a non-issue.”

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/backgrounder-supreme-court-to-hear-oral-arguments-for-west-virginia-v-bpj-and-little-v-hecox-key-cases-on-the-inclusion-of-transgender-youth-in-sports" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;ahead of oral arguments, HRC’s senior director of legal policy Cathryn Oakley said “every child, no matter their background, race, or gender, should have access to a quality education where they can feel safe to learn and grow — and for many kids that involves being a part of a school sports team.”

Oakley added that “to deny transgender kids the chance to participate in school sports alongside their peers simply because of who they are is textbook discrimination — and it’s unconstitutional.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768315435044.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://stateline.org/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>WASHINGTON — A pair of blockbuster cases to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court could carry far-reaching implications for transgender rights, even as the Trump administration during the past year has rolled out a broad anti-trans agenda targeting everything from sports to military service.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-38">Click here to listen to a replay of the argument in Little vs. Hecox</a><a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-43">Click here to listen to a replay of the argument in West Virginia vs. B.P.J.</a>The court on Jan. 13 will hear challenges to laws in&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/07/03/u-s-supreme-court-takes-up-trans-athlete-ban-in-idaho-west-virginia/" target="_blank">Idaho</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://westvirginiawatch.com/2025/07/03/scotus-to-take-up-west-virginias-transgender-athlete-ban/" target="_blank">West Virginia</a>&nbsp;banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. Both cases center on whether the laws violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.The West Virginia case before the Supreme Court also questions whether the state’s law violates Title IX — a landmark federal civil rights law that bars schools that receive federal funding from practicing sex-based discrimination.&nbsp;Lower court rulings have temporarily blocked the states from implementing the bans, to varying extents, and Republican attorneys general in Idaho and West Virginia have asked the Supreme Court to intervene.&nbsp;“We know we have an uphill fight, and our hope is certainly that we prevail,” Joshua Block, senior counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBT &amp; HIV Project, who will be presenting oral arguments in the West Virginia case, said at a Jan. 8 ACLU press briefing.&nbsp;“But we also hope that regardless of what happens, this case isn’t successfully used as a tool to undermine the rights of transgender folks more generally in areas far beyond just athletics.”&nbsp;The outcome of the oral arguments before a court dominated 6-3 by conservative justices will be closely watched. Nearly 30 states have laws that ban trans students’ participation in sports consistent with their gender identity, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/youth/sports_participation_bans" target="_blank">Movement Advancement Project</a>, an independent think tank.<h2>Idaho case&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>The justices are taking up both cases in one day. First will be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-38.html" target="_blank">Little v. Hecox,&nbsp;</a>which contests a 2020 Idaho law that categorically bans trans athletes from competing on women’s and girls’ sports teams.&nbsp;Lindsay Hecox sued over the ban in 2020, just months before the law was set to take effect.&nbsp;Though Hecox wanted to try out for the women’s track and cross-country teams at Boise State University, the Idaho law — the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/sports/transgender-idaho-ban-sports.html" target="_blank">first of its kind</a>&nbsp;in the nation — would have prevented her from doing so because she is transgender.&nbsp;A federal court in Idaho halted the law from taking effect later that year. A federal appeals court initially upheld the ruling in 2023 but later adjusted the scope of it in 2024 to only apply to Hecox, not other athletes.&nbsp;Idaho appealed to the Supreme Court in July 2024.Since that time, Hecox has asked both an Idaho federal court and the Supreme Court to drop the case.&nbsp;An&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/10/15/idaho-federal-judge-keeps-transgender-athletics-lawsuit-open/" target="_blank">Idaho federal judge</a>&nbsp;in October rejected that attempt, but the Supreme Court deferred the request until after oral argument — meaning justices could still dismiss the case.“The Supreme Court is trying to decide whether Idaho can preserve women’s sports based on biological sex, or must female be redefined based on gender identity,” Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador said at a Jan. 8 press briefing ahead of the oral arguments.“I think Idaho is just trying to protect fairness, safety and equal protection for girls and women in sports,” Labrador said at the briefing alongside West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey, hosted by the conservative legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>West Virginia case</h2>After the Idaho case, the justices will hear arguments in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-43.html" target="_blank">West Virginia v. B.P.J.</a>, which centers on a 2021 Mountain State law that also bans trans athletes from participating on women’s and girls’ sports teams.&nbsp;McCuskey argued that his state’s law “supports and bolsters the original intent and the continuing intent and purpose of Title IX.”&nbsp;McCuskey said the law complies with the Equal Protection Clause because it “treats all biological males and all biological females identically” and “doesn’t ban anyone from playing sports.”&nbsp;Becky Pepper-Jackson, who was 11 at the time, wanted to try out for the girls’ cross-country team when starting middle school, but would have been prevented from doing so under the West Virginia law because she is transgender.&nbsp;Her mother sued on her behalf in 2021.A federal appeals court in 2024 barred West Virginia from enforcing the ban, prompting the state to ask the nation’s highest court to intervene.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>White House, Congress zero in on trans athletes</h2>Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s administration has taken steps at the federal level to prohibit trans athletes’ participation in women’s sports teams aligning with their gender identity.&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-signs-executive-order-banning-transgender-athletes-womens-school-sports" target="_blank">signed an executive order</a>&nbsp;in February 2025 that banned such participation and made it the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/" target="_blank">policy</a>&nbsp;of the United States to “rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncaa.org/news/2025/2/6/media-center-ncaa-announces-transgender-student-athlete-participation-policy-change.aspx" target="_blank">NCAA promptly changed its policy</a>&nbsp;to comply with the order, limiting “competition in women’s sports to student-athletes assigned female at birth only.”&nbsp;In late 2024, prior to the policy shift, NCAA President Charlie Baker&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6062855/2025/01/14/ncaa-transgender-athlete-policy-charlie-baker/" target="_blank">told Congress</a>&nbsp;that of the more than half-million total athletes in NCAA schools, he knew of fewer than 10 who were transgender.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-passes-bill-banning-trans-athletes-competing-womens-school-sports" target="_blank">GOP-led House</a>&nbsp;passed a measure in January 2025 that would bar transgender students from participating on women’s school sports teams consistent with their gender identity.&nbsp;But Senate Democrats in March&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-democrats-block-bill-banning-transgender-athletes-womens-school-sports" target="_blank">blocked an attempt</a>&nbsp;at imposing such a ban and codifying Trump’s executive order.&nbsp;Forty-eight GOP members of Congress argued in a September&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-38/375168/20250919112943701_CongressIdaho_Amicus%20Document%20September%2019%202025%20EFile.pdf" target="_blank">amicus brief</a>&nbsp;supporting Idaho and West Virginia that “if allowed to stand, the interpretation of the lower courts will unsettle the very promises that Congress made to generations of young women and men through Title IX.”&nbsp;On the flip side,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-43/384769/20251117150239241_MembersofCongressAmici.pdf" target="_blank">130 congressional Democrats</a>&nbsp;stood behind the two transgender athletes in a November amicus brief, noting that “categorical bans preventing transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity impose significant harm on all children — especially girls.”&nbsp;The group argued that such bans “do not meet the standards this Court has put in place to assess discrimination based on sex — whether as a matter of Title IX or under the Equal Protection Clause.”&nbsp;Trump’s broader anti-trans agenda has extended beyond athletic participation in the nearly one year since he took office.&nbsp;He signed executive orders that:<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/" target="_blank">&nbsp;make it</a>&nbsp;the “policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female;” restrict access to<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/newest-round-trump-moves-targets-federal-employees-care-transgender-kids" target="_blank">&nbsp;gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;for kids; and aim to bar openly<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-issues-order-prohibiting-openly-transgender-service-members-military" target="_blank">&nbsp;transgender service members</a>&nbsp;from the U.S. military.&nbsp;<h2>‘Textbook discrimination’&nbsp;</h2>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hrc.org/resources/get-the-facts-about-transgender-non-binary-athletes" target="_blank">Human Rights Campaign</a>, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, has noted that there has been “considerable disinformation and misinformation about what the inclusion of transgender youth in sports entails” and that trans students’ sports participation “has been a non-issue.”In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/backgrounder-supreme-court-to-hear-oral-arguments-for-west-virginia-v-bpj-and-little-v-hecox-key-cases-on-the-inclusion-of-transgender-youth-in-sports" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;ahead of oral arguments, HRC’s senior director of legal policy Cathryn Oakley said “every child, no matter their background, race, or gender, should have access to a quality education where they can feel safe to learn and grow — and for many kids that involves being a part of a school sports team.”Oakley added that “to deny transgender kids the chance to participate in school sports alongside their peers simply because of who they are is textbook discrimination — and it’s unconstitutional.”&nbsp;

🎧Landmark cases on transgender athletes at the US Supreme Court 

&nbsp;Valentine's Day Weekend Event Serves as Gateway to National Competition

Omaha, Neb. – Heartwood Park, located at 301 S. 145th St., will transform from an outdoor ice-skating rink to a competitive snow sculpting arena February 13–15, 2026, as Heartwood Preserve hosts the Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships. This sanctioned qualifying event, held in partnership with Nebraska Snow Sculpting, will determine which team represents Nebraska at the 2027 U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Teams of up to three sculptors will compete for the state championship title, using only hand tools to create family-friendly masterpieces out of 4' x 4' x 8' blocks of specially made snow that will be created on-site at Heartwood Park. Both amateur and professional sculptors are welcome to compete and must submit a team application by January 30, 2026.

The Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships offers a rare experience for spectators, having taken place in Nebraska just once before in 2019.

"Having a qualifying event of this caliber in Omaha with no entry fee to compete gives Nebraska sculptors a legitimate path to the national stage," said Competition Director Matt Seeley with Nebraska Snow Sculpting. "This isn't just a local contest; it's a sanctioned competition that brings the community together to put Nebraska snow art on the map. The fact that it's happening at Heartwood Preserve during Valentine's weekend makes it even more special."

-Free to compete and attend the snow sculpting competition.

-Spectator and competition hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14.

-Judging will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15 with an awards ceremony at 2 p.m. and public viewing of the finished sculptures between 3-6 p.m. These events are open to the public.

-A People's Choice Award will be determined through public voting, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.

-Professional sculptor demonstrations throughout the weekend.

-Valentine's Day weekend programming with additional surprises for spectators.

For complete rules, judging criteria and application materials, visit https://heartwoodomaha.com/event/snow-sculpting-championships-2026/ or contact NebraskaSnowSculpting@gmail.com.

About Heartwood Preserve (www.heartwoodomaha.com)

Heartwood Preserve is a 500-acre mixed-use urban development with roughly 80 acres devoted to green space, 8 miles of bike paths and open trails and over 10,000 newly planted trees. Offering a wide variety of retail, commercial, residential and recreational facilities on an environmentally observant landscape, Heartwood Preserve is designed to become a top destination for the greater Omaha area and surrounding region. Follow Heartwood Preserve on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok or visit heartwoodomaha.com/events for the latest updates on events at Heartwood Park.

For Immediate Release<h2>&nbsp;Valentine's Day Weekend Event Serves as Gateway to National Competition</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768250691295.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Omaha, Neb. – Heartwood Park, located at 301 S. 145th St., will transform from an outdoor ice-skating rink to a competitive snow sculpting arena February 13–15, 2026, as Heartwood Preserve hosts the Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships. This sanctioned qualifying event, held in partnership with Nebraska Snow Sculpting, will determine which team represents Nebraska at the 2027 U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.Teams of up to three sculptors will compete for the state championship title, using only hand tools to create family-friendly masterpieces out of 4' x 4' x 8' blocks of specially made snow that will be created on-site at Heartwood Park. Both amateur and professional sculptors are welcome to compete and must submit a team application by January 30, 2026.The Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships offers a rare experience for spectators, having taken place in Nebraska just once before in 2019."Having a qualifying event of this caliber in Omaha with no entry fee to compete gives Nebraska sculptors a legitimate path to the national stage," said Competition Director Matt Seeley with Nebraska Snow Sculpting. "This isn't just a local contest; it's a sanctioned competition that brings the community together to put Nebraska snow art on the map. The fact that it's happening at Heartwood Preserve during Valentine's weekend makes it even more special."Schedule and Event Highlights:-Free to compete and attend the snow sculpting competition.-Spectator and competition hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14.-Judging will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15 with an awards ceremony at 2 p.m. and public viewing of the finished sculptures between 3-6 p.m. These events are open to the public.-A People's Choice Award will be determined through public voting, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.-Professional sculptor demonstrations throughout the weekend.-Valentine's Day weekend programming with additional surprises for spectators.For complete rules, judging criteria and application materials, visit https://heartwoodomaha.com/event/snow-sculpting-championships-2026/ or contact NebraskaSnowSculpting@gmail.com.About Heartwood Preserve (www.heartwoodomaha.com)Heartwood Preserve is a 500-acre mixed-use urban development with roughly 80 acres devoted to green space, 8 miles of bike paths and open trails and over 10,000 newly planted trees. Offering a wide variety of retail, commercial, residential and recreational facilities on an environmentally observant landscape, Heartwood Preserve is designed to become a top destination for the greater Omaha area and surrounding region. Follow Heartwood Preserve on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok or visit heartwoodomaha.com/events for the latest updates on events at Heartwood Park.

Seeking Snow Sculptors to Compete in 2026 Nebraska Snow Sculpting Championships

&nbsp;Protests across Iran are escalating and may turn violent, resulting in arrests and injuries.&nbsp;Increased security measures, road closures, public transportation disruptions, and internet blockages are ongoing.&nbsp;The Government of Iran has restricted access to mobile, landline, and national internet networks.&nbsp;Airlines continue to limit or cancel flights to and from Iran, with several suspending service until Friday, January 16.

U.S. citizens should expect continued internet outages, plan alternative means of communication, and, if safe to do so, consider departing Iran by land to Armenia or Türkiye.

U.S.-Iranian dual nationals&nbsp;must&nbsp;exit Iran on Iranian passports. &nbsp;The Iranian government does not recognize&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Ftravel.state.gov%2Fen%2Finternational-travel%2Fplanning%2Fpersonal-needs%2Fdual-nationality.html/1/0101019bb41844ac-eebb16c6-5ecb-42fe-8769-e4b2bec38e1c-000000/UFwE19dzLrxqMM2owcWBVy91WFujudbOfFb7r85b8-Q=439" target="_blank">dual nationality&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;and will treat U.S.-Iranian dual nationals solely as Iranian citizens.&nbsp;U.S. nationals are at significant risk of questioning, arrest, and detention in Iran.&nbsp;Showing a U.S. passport or demonstrating connections to the United States can be reason enough for Iranian authorities to detain someone.

The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety if you choose to depart using the following options.&nbsp;You should leave only if you believe it is safe to do so.

As of Monday, January 12, the Armenian land border at Agarak/Norduz&nbsp;remains open.&nbsp;U.S. citizens entering Armenia from Iran need a valid U.S. passport and may stay for up to 180 days visa-free. &nbsp;U.S. citizens who require assistance&nbsp;should send the following to the&nbsp;U.S. Embassy Yerevan American Citizens Services Unit at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ACSYerevan@state.gov">ACSYerevan@state.gov</a>:

As of Monday, January 12, Turkish land border crossings with Iran remain open (Gürbulak/Bazargan, Kapıköy/Razi, and Esendere/Serow). &nbsp;For U.S. citizens seeking to depart Iran by land via these border gates:&nbsp;

U.S.-Iranian dual nationals who plan to enter Türkiye on Iranian or Turkish passports do not require advance approval.&nbsp;U.S. citizens who plan to enter Türkiye using their U.S. passports&nbsp;and those who lack a valid travel document should send the following to the U.S. Embassy Ankara American Citizens Services Unit at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Ankara-ACS@state.gov">Ankara-ACS@state.gov</a>:

As of Monday, January 12, Turkmenistan’s land borders are open, but U.S. citizens need special authorization from the Government of Turkmenistan before approaching the border.&nbsp;&nbsp;U.S. Embassy Ashgabat must facilitate this approval. &nbsp;U.S. citizens who plan to request entry into Turkmenistan should send the following to the U.S. Embassy Ashgabat American Citizens Services Unit at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:AshgabatUScitizen@state.gov">AshgabatUScitizen@state.gov</a>:

U.S. citizens with an urgent need to depart Iran via Azerbaijan should be aware that entry into Azerbaijan from Iran has been restricted for U.S. citizens during periods of heightened tension, such as the June 2025 conflict between Iran and Israel.&nbsp;U.S. citizens should consider alternative routes for departure from Iran.&nbsp;U.S. citizens should not travel to Afghanistan, Iraq, or the Pakistan-Iran border area.

The U.S. government does not have diplomatic or consular relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.&nbsp;The Swiss government, acting through its embassy in Tehran, serves as the protecting power for U.S. interests in Iran.

Embassy of Switzerland – Foreign Interests Section in Tehran:

&nbsp;Protests across Iran are escalating and may turn violent, resulting in arrests and injuries.&nbsp;Increased security measures, road closures, public transportation disruptions, and internet blockages are ongoing.&nbsp;The Government of Iran has restricted access to mobile, landline, and national internet networks.&nbsp;Airlines continue to limit or cancel flights to and from Iran, with several suspending service until Friday, January 16.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Iran: Protests across Iran are escalating. Increased security measures, road closures, public transportation disruptions, and internet blockages are ongoing. Airlines continue to limit or cancel flights to and from Iran, with several suspending service until Friday, January 16.… <a href="https://t.co/AneGPdfn6I">pic.twitter.com/AneGPdfn6I</a>&mdash; TravelGov (@TravelGov) <a href="https://twitter.com/TravelGov/status/2010830259177078931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. citizens should expect continued internet outages, plan alternative means of communication, and, if safe to do so, consider departing Iran by land to Armenia or Türkiye.Actions to Take:<ul>
 <li>Leave Iran now.&nbsp;Have a plan for departing Iran that does not rely on U.S. government help.</li><li>If you cannot leave, find a secure location within your residence or another safe building.&nbsp;Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items.</li><li>Avoid demonstrations, keep a low profile, and stay aware of your surroundings.</li><li>Monitor local media for breaking news.&nbsp;Be prepared to adjust your plans.</li><li>Keep your phone charged and maintain communication with family and friends to inform them of your status.</li><li>Enroll in the&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fmytravel.state.gov%2Fs%2Fstep/1/0101019bb41844ac-eebb16c6-5ecb-42fe-8769-e4b2bec38e1c-000000/8tdhdWC4d9I3snKIoOKaEAq7jOeNNyDTNdyQ_n3axoE=439" target="_blank">Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)&nbsp;</a>to receive the latest updates on security in Iran.</li>
 </ul>If You Plan to Leave Iran:&nbsp;U.S.-Iranian dual nationals&nbsp;must&nbsp;exit Iran on Iranian passports. &nbsp;The Iranian government does not recognize&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Ftravel.state.gov%2Fen%2Finternational-travel%2Fplanning%2Fpersonal-needs%2Fdual-nationality.html/1/0101019bb41844ac-eebb16c6-5ecb-42fe-8769-e4b2bec38e1c-000000/UFwE19dzLrxqMM2owcWBVy91WFujudbOfFb7r85b8-Q=439" target="_blank">dual nationality&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;and will treat U.S.-Iranian dual nationals solely as Iranian citizens.&nbsp;U.S. nationals are at significant risk of questioning, arrest, and detention in Iran.&nbsp;Showing a U.S. passport or demonstrating connections to the United States can be reason enough for Iranian authorities to detain someone.The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety if you choose to depart using the following options.&nbsp;You should leave only if you believe it is safe to do so.As of Monday, January 12, the Armenian land border at Agarak/Norduz&nbsp;remains open.&nbsp;U.S. citizens entering Armenia from Iran need a valid U.S. passport and may stay for up to 180 days visa-free. &nbsp;U.S. citizens who require assistance&nbsp;should send the following to the&nbsp;U.S. Embassy Yerevan American Citizens Services Unit at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ACSYerevan@state.gov">ACSYerevan@state.gov</a>:<ul>
 <li>Name, DOB, passport information (number and dates of issue/expiration), border crossing, and a photograph of the passport biodata page</li>
 </ul>As of Monday, January 12, Turkish land border crossings with Iran remain open (Gürbulak/Bazargan, Kapıköy/Razi, and Esendere/Serow). &nbsp;For U.S. citizens seeking to depart Iran by land via these border gates:&nbsp;U.S.-Iranian dual nationals who plan to enter Türkiye on Iranian or Turkish passports do not require advance approval.&nbsp;U.S. citizens who plan to enter Türkiye using their U.S. passports&nbsp;and those who lack a valid travel document should send the following to the U.S. Embassy Ankara American Citizens Services Unit at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Ankara-ACS@state.gov">Ankara-ACS@state.gov</a>:<ul>
 <li>Name, DOB, passport information (number and dates of issue/expiration), border crossing, and a photograph of the passport biodata page</li>
 </ul>As of Monday, January 12, Turkmenistan’s land borders are open, but U.S. citizens need special authorization from the Government of Turkmenistan before approaching the border.&nbsp;&nbsp;U.S. Embassy Ashgabat must facilitate this approval. &nbsp;U.S. citizens who plan to request entry into Turkmenistan should send the following to the U.S. Embassy Ashgabat American Citizens Services Unit at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:AshgabatUScitizen@state.gov">AshgabatUScitizen@state.gov</a>:<ul>
 <li>Name, DOB, passport information (number and dates of issue/expiration), border crossing, and a photograph of the passport biodata page</li>
 </ul>U.S. citizens with an urgent need to depart Iran via Azerbaijan should be aware that entry into Azerbaijan from Iran has been restricted for U.S. citizens during periods of heightened tension, such as the June 2025 conflict between Iran and Israel.&nbsp;U.S. citizens should consider alternative routes for departure from Iran.&nbsp;U.S. citizens should not travel to Afghanistan, Iraq, or the Pakistan-Iran border area.The U.S. government does not have diplomatic or consular relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.&nbsp;The Swiss government, acting through its embassy in Tehran, serves as the protecting power for U.S. interests in Iran.Embassy of Switzerland – Foreign Interests Section in Tehran:<ul>
 <li>Phone(s):+98-21-22-54-21-78+98-21-22-56-52-73+98-21-22-77-24-63</li><li>+98-21-22-54-21-78</li><li>+98-21-22-56-52-73</li><li>+98-21-22-77-24-63</li><li>Email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tehran.fi@eda.admin.ch">tehran.fi@eda.admin.ch</a></li>
 </ul>

 U.S. State Department issues security alert for Iran

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office renewed its attempts to access abortion patient records as the state tries to build a case in favor of strict abortion regulations

KANSAS CITY — Attorneys for Missouri’s only abortion provider presented a timeline Monday of two decades of restrictions on the procedure, laid out for a crowded courtroom across four easels.

On the opening day of what promises to be a 10-day trial over which regulations should remain in place under Missouri’s voter-approved abortion rights amendment, lawyers for Planned Parenthood argued the restrictions were “petty, demanding and increasingly aggressive,” and became increasingly so as more anti-abortion lawmakers were elected to the statehouse.

“The most consistent thing about abortion provisions in Missouri is that it’s been inconsistent,” Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in Columbia and the Kansas City area, testified Monday.&nbsp;

As the trial kicked off in a Jackson County courtroom, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office renewed its plea for access to abortion patient records, including patient complaints and ER transfers. So far, a judge has denied the state’s attempt to access these records.

“We’ve had to fight tooth and nail to find smoking gun evidence,” Peter Donohue, an assistant attorney general, said Monday after appealing the court’s decision to allow Planned Parenthood to submit a summary chart of patient complications rather than records.

Vanessa Pai-Thompson, an attorney with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, called the state’s continued efforts “a last-ditch attempt to find a there there.”&nbsp;

Assistant Solicitor General Alexandria Overcash painted for the judge a picture of a hypothetical woman faced with an unintended pregnancy. Maybe she’s young and lacks a strong safety net. Maybe she can’t afford a baby, or is unsure if she is ready to be a mother.

Then Overcash detailed a world where the woman goes to an abortion provider and is shown an ultrasound. A state-mandated informed consent booklet is handed to her with other options and she is required to wait 72-hours before she can get an abortion.&nbsp;

This scenario, Overcash said, exists if the state’s current abortion regulations are upheld as part of a system designed to protect women in “emotionally fraught and medically-risky circumstances.”&nbsp;

But the first two witnesses in the case, called by Planned Parenthood, said dozens of unnecessary restrictions ensure access to abortion remains limited, if not impossible. As a result,<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/05/missouri-abortion-legal-access-hinges-courts-rebuilding/">&nbsp;only a few dozen in-clinic abortions</a>&nbsp;were performed in recent years, as restrictions continued to pile up, compared to more than 20,000 a few decades earlier. Medication abortion remains inaccessible.

These restrictions came to a head in 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion and Missouri’s trigger law banning nearly all abortions went into effect.&nbsp;

Two years later,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/05/missouri-legalized-abortion-1-year-ago-ban/">52% of Missourians voted to add reproductive health care protections</a>, including access to abortion up to the point of fetal viability, into the state constitution. The amendment prevents the state from denying, interfering with or otherwise restricting abortion.&nbsp;

Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri sued the state a day after the vote, asking that a few dozen abortion regulations, commonly referred to as “targeted regulation of abortion providers” or TRAP laws, be struck down as unconstitutional under the new amendment.

The regulations, which will be dissected in court over the next two weeks, include:&nbsp;

If the courts decide to strike down these regulations, Missourians will be able to access abortion closer to home and earlier in pregnancy, Dr. Margaret Baum, chief medical officer with Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, based in eastern Missouri, Springfield and Illinois, testified Monday.

The regulations being challenged in the lawsuit caused frustration for patients and made it difficult to hire and retain staff, Wales testified, especially for providers under the threat of criminalization.&nbsp;

“I felt under a microscope. I felt targeted. This is nothing like what I’ve experienced in a nursing home or hospital,” Wales recalls clinic staff saying.

The trial will resume Tuesday morning, when several more Planned Parenthood employees are expected to testify.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768301874356.png" alt=" Dr. Margaret Baum (center), chief medical officer with Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, speaks to reporters following the opening day of a trial litigating Missouri’s abortion regulations on Monday, Jan. 12, 2025, in front of the Jackson County courthouse in Kansas City (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Dr. Margaret Baum (center), chief medical officer with Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, speaks to reporters following the opening day of a trial litigating Missouri’s abortion regulations on Monday, Jan. 12, 2025, in front of the Jackson County courthouse in Kansas City (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>The Missouri Attorney General’s Office renewed its attempts to access abortion patient records as the state tries to build a case in favor of strict abortion regulations</h2>KANSAS CITY — Attorneys for Missouri’s only abortion provider presented a timeline Monday of two decades of restrictions on the procedure, laid out for a crowded courtroom across four easels.On the opening day of what promises to be a 10-day trial over which regulations should remain in place under Missouri’s voter-approved abortion rights amendment, lawyers for Planned Parenthood argued the restrictions were “petty, demanding and increasingly aggressive,” and became increasingly so as more anti-abortion lawmakers were elected to the statehouse.“The most consistent thing about abortion provisions in Missouri is that it’s been inconsistent,” Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in Columbia and the Kansas City area, testified Monday.&nbsp;As the trial kicked off in a Jackson County courtroom, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office renewed its plea for access to abortion patient records, including patient complaints and ER transfers. So far, a judge has denied the state’s attempt to access these records.“We’ve had to fight tooth and nail to find smoking gun evidence,” Peter Donohue, an assistant attorney general, said Monday after appealing the court’s decision to allow Planned Parenthood to submit a summary chart of patient complications rather than records.Vanessa Pai-Thompson, an attorney with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, called the state’s continued efforts “a last-ditch attempt to find a there there.”&nbsp;Assistant Solicitor General Alexandria Overcash painted for the judge a picture of a hypothetical woman faced with an unintended pregnancy. Maybe she’s young and lacks a strong safety net. Maybe she can’t afford a baby, or is unsure if she is ready to be a mother.Then Overcash detailed a world where the woman goes to an abortion provider and is shown an ultrasound. A state-mandated informed consent booklet is handed to her with other options and she is required to wait 72-hours before she can get an abortion.&nbsp;This scenario, Overcash said, exists if the state’s current abortion regulations are upheld as part of a system designed to protect women in “emotionally fraught and medically-risky circumstances.”&nbsp;But the first two witnesses in the case, called by Planned Parenthood, said dozens of unnecessary restrictions ensure access to abortion remains limited, if not impossible. As a result,<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/05/missouri-abortion-legal-access-hinges-courts-rebuilding/">&nbsp;only a few dozen in-clinic abortions</a>&nbsp;were performed in recent years, as restrictions continued to pile up, compared to more than 20,000 a few decades earlier. Medication abortion remains inaccessible.These restrictions came to a head in 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion and Missouri’s trigger law banning nearly all abortions went into effect.&nbsp;Two years later,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/05/missouri-legalized-abortion-1-year-ago-ban/">52% of Missourians voted to add reproductive health care protections</a>, including access to abortion up to the point of fetal viability, into the state constitution. The amendment prevents the state from denying, interfering with or otherwise restricting abortion.&nbsp;Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri sued the state a day after the vote, asking that a few dozen abortion regulations, commonly referred to as “targeted regulation of abortion providers” or TRAP laws, be struck down as unconstitutional under the new amendment.The regulations, which will be dissected in court over the next two weeks, include:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>The state’s near-total abortion ban, as well as gestational limits on abortion.</li><li>The required distribution of&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/womenshealth/pregnancyassistance/pdf/Mo.InformedConsentBooklet-Revisedpgs.12-15August2019jkOGCReviewed.pdf" target="_blank">Missouri’s informed consent booklet&nbsp;</a>prior to an abortion.</li><li>A 72-hour waiting period between an initial appointment and an abortion.</li><li>A requirement that the same doctor who saw the patient at the initial appointment also provide the abortion.</li><li>A ban on prescribing medication abortion to patients via telemedicine.</li><li>A requirement that only doctors be able to provide abortions.</li><li>Abortion facility licensing requirements, including building specifications.</li><li>Mandatory pelvic exams prior to the administration of medication abortion.</li><li>Admitting privileges and a written transfer agreement at a nearby hospital.</li><li><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/11/laws-regulations-medication-abortion-mifepristone-misoprostol-missouri/">Complication plan for medication abortion</a>&nbsp;that must be approved by the state health department.&nbsp;</li><li>Providers who prescribe medication abortion must carry tail insurance that is effective for 21 years after the abortion takes place.&nbsp;</li><li>All pregnancy tissue removed during procedural abortions must be submitted to a pathologist for review.</li>
 </ul>If the courts decide to strike down these regulations, Missourians will be able to access abortion closer to home and earlier in pregnancy, Dr. Margaret Baum, chief medical officer with Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, based in eastern Missouri, Springfield and Illinois, testified Monday.The regulations being challenged in the lawsuit caused frustration for patients and made it difficult to hire and retain staff, Wales testified, especially for providers under the threat of criminalization.&nbsp;“I felt under a microscope. I felt targeted. This is nothing like what I’ve experienced in a nursing home or hospital,” Wales recalls clinic staff saying.The trial will resume Tuesday morning, when several more Planned Parenthood employees are expected to testify.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Opening day of Missouri abortion-rights trial focuses on decades of state restrictions

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s feud with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has escalated into a Department of Justice investigation, raising alarm bells among some Republicans in the Senate, where Trump will need broad backing from GOP lawmakers to get his choice for the next Fed chairman approved after Powell’s term ends in May.

Retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who sits on the narrowly divided Banking Committee that will hold hearings on the next nominee, wrote in a statement he won’t approve anyone to fill Powell’s seat if Trump or administration officials try to further erode its independence.&nbsp;

“If there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none,” Tillis wrote. “It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question.”

Tillis added he plans to “oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed—including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy—until this legal matter is fully resolved.”

Trump has criticized Powell repeatedly since retaking the Oval Office in January, pressing him to reduce interest rates faster and signaling he wanted to fire him.&nbsp;

Powell said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20260111a.htm" target="_blank">a video</a>&nbsp;released this weekend that Justice Department officials on Friday “served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas, threatening a criminal indictment related to my testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June.”

Powell alleged the DOJ investigation is not purely about oversight of the multi-year renovation project at the Fed’s offices in Washington, D.C., but “a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president.”

“This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions—or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation,” Powell said.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-nomination-jerome-powell-chairman-board-governors-federal-reserve-system/" target="_blank">first nominated</a>&nbsp;Powell to be chairman of the Federal Reserve in November 2017 for a four-year term that began in February 2018, writing in a statement that Powell had “demonstrated steady leadership, sound judgment, and policy expertise.”

“Mr. Powell will bring to the Federal Reserve a unique background of Government service and business experience,” Trump wrote. “He previously served as Under Secretary at the Department of Treasury in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Mr. Powell also has nearly three decades of business experience.”

The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1152/vote_115_2_00019.htm" target="_blank">voted 84-13</a>&nbsp;in January 2018 to confirm Powell to the role.&nbsp;

President Joe Biden re-nominated Powell in November 2021 for another four-year term that began in May 2022 after the Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00176.htm" target="_blank">voted 80-19</a>&nbsp;to confirm him for a second time.&nbsp;

Trump hasn’t said publicly whom he will nominate to succeed Powell as Fed chairman, but whoever he picks will need to move past the Senate Banking Committee in order to receive a confirmation vote on the floor and actually take on the role.&nbsp;

The Banking Committee holds 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats, giving Tillis considerable leverage to block any Trump nominee from advancing if all of the Democrats on the panel also vote against reporting that person to the floor.&nbsp;

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, ranking member on the committee, wrote in a statement that “Trump is abusing the authorities of the Department of Justice like a wannabe dictator so the Fed serves his interests, along with his billionaire friends.”&nbsp;

“As Donald Trump prepares to nominate a new Fed Chair, he wants to push Jerome Powell off the Fed Board for good and install another sock puppet to complete his corrupt takeover of America’s central bank,” Warren wrote. “This Committee and the Senate should not move forward with any Trump nominee for the Fed, including Fed Chair.”

Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., had not released any public statements about the Department of Justice investigation into Powell as of Monday morning.&nbsp;

Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who isn’t on the committee, released a written statement after speaking with Powell on Monday morning, saying “it’s clear the administration’s investigation is nothing more than an attempt at coercion.”&nbsp;

“If the Department of Justice believes an investigation into Chair Powell is warranted based on project cost overruns—which are not unusual—then Congress needs to investigate the Department of Justice,” Murkowski wrote. “The stakes are too high to look the other way: if the Federal Reserve loses its independence, the stability of our markets and the broader economy will suffer. My colleague, Senator Tillis, is right in blocking any Federal Reserve nominees until this is resolved.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in a statement the Justice Department’s actions represent “the kind of bullying that we’ve all come to expect from Donald Trump and his cronies.”&nbsp;

“Anyone who is independent and doesn’t just fall in line behind Trump gets investigated,” Schumer wrote. “Jay Powell and the Fed aren’t the reason Trump’s economy and his poll numbers are in the toilet. If he’s looking for the person who caused that he should look in the mirror.”

Former Federal Reserve chairmen, Treasury secretaries and White House economic advisers released&nbsp;<a href="https://jointstatement.substack.com/p/statement-on-the-federal-reserve" target="_blank">a written statement</a>&nbsp;that the Fed’s “independence and the public’s perception of that independence are critical for economic performance, including achieving the goals Congress has set for the Federal Reserve of stable prices, maximum employment, and moderate long-term interest rates.”

“The reported criminal inquiry into Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell is an unprecedented attempt to use prosecutorial attacks to undermine that independence,” they wrote. “This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly. It has no place in the United States whose greatest strength is the rule of law, which is at the foundation of our economic success.”

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s feud with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has escalated into a Department of Justice investigation, raising alarm bells among some Republicans in the Senate, where Trump will need broad backing from GOP lawmakers to get his choice for the next Fed chairman approved after Powell’s term ends in May.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell: <a href="https://t.co/5dfrkByGyX">https://t.co/5dfrkByGyX</a> <a href="https://t.co/O4ecNaYaGH">pic.twitter.com/O4ecNaYaGH</a>&mdash; Federal Reserve (@federalreserve) <a href="https://twitter.com/federalreserve/status/2010510130970849338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who sits on the narrowly divided Banking Committee that will hold hearings on the next nominee, wrote in a statement he won’t approve anyone to fill Powell’s seat if Trump or administration officials try to further erode its independence.&nbsp;“If there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none,” Tillis wrote. “It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question.”Tillis added he plans to “oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed—including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy—until this legal matter is fully resolved.”<h2>Powell fights back in a video</h2>Trump has criticized Powell repeatedly since retaking the Oval Office in January, pressing him to reduce interest rates faster and signaling he wanted to fire him.&nbsp;Powell said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20260111a.htm" target="_blank">a video</a>&nbsp;released this weekend that Justice Department officials on Friday “served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas, threatening a criminal indictment related to my testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June.”Powell alleged the DOJ investigation is not purely about oversight of the multi-year renovation project at the Fed’s offices in Washington, D.C., but “a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president.”“This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions—or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation,” Powell said.Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-nomination-jerome-powell-chairman-board-governors-federal-reserve-system/" target="_blank">first nominated</a>&nbsp;Powell to be chairman of the Federal Reserve in November 2017 for a four-year term that began in February 2018, writing in a statement that Powell had “demonstrated steady leadership, sound judgment, and policy expertise.”“Mr. Powell will bring to the Federal Reserve a unique background of Government service and business experience,” Trump wrote. “He previously served as Under Secretary at the Department of Treasury in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Mr. Powell also has nearly three decades of business experience.”The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1152/vote_115_2_00019.htm" target="_blank">voted 84-13</a>&nbsp;in January 2018 to confirm Powell to the role.&nbsp;President Joe Biden re-nominated Powell in November 2021 for another four-year term that began in May 2022 after the Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00176.htm" target="_blank">voted 80-19</a>&nbsp;to confirm him for a second time.&nbsp;<h2>Tillis leverage on committee</h2>Trump hasn’t said publicly whom he will nominate to succeed Powell as Fed chairman, but whoever he picks will need to move past the Senate Banking Committee in order to receive a confirmation vote on the floor and actually take on the role.&nbsp;The Banking Committee holds 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats, giving Tillis considerable leverage to block any Trump nominee from advancing if all of the Democrats on the panel also vote against reporting that person to the floor.&nbsp;Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, ranking member on the committee, wrote in a statement that “Trump is abusing the authorities of the Department of Justice like a wannabe dictator so the Fed serves his interests, along with his billionaire friends.”&nbsp;“As Donald Trump prepares to nominate a new Fed Chair, he wants to push Jerome Powell off the Fed Board for good and install another sock puppet to complete his corrupt takeover of America’s central bank,” Warren wrote. “This Committee and the Senate should not move forward with any Trump nominee for the Fed, including Fed Chair.”Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., had not released any public statements about the Department of Justice investigation into Powell as of Monday morning.&nbsp;<h2>Murkowski sees ‘attempt at coercion’</h2>Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who isn’t on the committee, released a written statement after speaking with Powell on Monday morning, saying “it’s clear the administration’s investigation is nothing more than an attempt at coercion.”&nbsp;“If the Department of Justice believes an investigation into Chair Powell is warranted based on project cost overruns—which are not unusual—then Congress needs to investigate the Department of Justice,” Murkowski wrote. “The stakes are too high to look the other way: if the Federal Reserve loses its independence, the stability of our markets and the broader economy will suffer. My colleague, Senator Tillis, is right in blocking any Federal Reserve nominees until this is resolved.”Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in a statement the Justice Department’s actions represent “the kind of bullying that we’ve all come to expect from Donald Trump and his cronies.”&nbsp;“Anyone who is independent and doesn’t just fall in line behind Trump gets investigated,” Schumer wrote. “Jay Powell and the Fed aren’t the reason Trump’s economy and his poll numbers are in the toilet. If he’s looking for the person who caused that he should look in the mirror.”Former Federal Reserve chairmen, Treasury secretaries and White House economic advisers released&nbsp;<a href="https://jointstatement.substack.com/p/statement-on-the-federal-reserve" target="_blank">a written statement</a>&nbsp;that the Fed’s “independence and the public’s perception of that independence are critical for economic performance, including achieving the goals Congress has set for the Federal Reserve of stable prices, maximum employment, and moderate long-term interest rates.”“The reported criminal inquiry into Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell is an unprecedented attempt to use prosecutorial attacks to undermine that independence,” they wrote. “This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly. It has no place in the United States whose greatest strength is the rule of law, which is at the foundation of our economic success.”

​​US Senate Republicans defend independence of the Fed after DOJ launches Powell probe

By Erin Bamer &amp; Zach Wendling | Nebraska Examiner

Immigration enforcement, homeless regulations, artificial intelligence among topics addressed in latest bills

LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers are set to consider a slew of nationally relevant topics in the 2026 legislative session, including new bills addressing immigration enforcement, homeless encampments and artificial intelligence.

More than 100 new bills were introduced Thursday and Friday. That brings the total number of new bills, resolutions and constitutional amendments introduced over the first three days of a shorter, 60-day session to 250. Legislation can be introduced through the 10th legislative day: Jan. 21.

<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=62906&amp;docnum=LB907&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 907</a>&nbsp;from State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha, would prohibit law enforcement officers from entering “community safe spaces” to enforce immigration law. Such spaces include a range of public properties, including hospitals, schools, libraries, churches, shelters and courthouses.&nbsp;

Juarez said she brought the bill because she is “appalled” that the Trump administration has allowed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to go “everywhere.” She said she views it as a violation that impacts both the people ICE is targeting and other members of the public visiting the same spaces.&nbsp;

“I don’t like the creation of that precedent,” Juarez said.&nbsp;

Juarez also introduced LB 906, which would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings, masks or disguises and require them to wear identification. State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha brought a similar bill — LB 854. Juarez said she didn’t talk to Hunt about the issue beforehand.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Juarez’s bill is a bit more expansive than Hunt’s. It specifies that any evidence collected by an officer in violation of the new law would be inadmissible in court. She said there are legitimate safety reasons for officers to wear face coverings but argued it shouldn’t become the norm.&nbsp;

By Erin Bamer &amp; Zach Wendling | Nebraska Examiner<h2>Immigration enforcement, homeless regulations, artificial intelligence among topics addressed in latest bills</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ballard-juarez_ZJW_010926-01-1536x1024.jpg" alt="&nbsp;State Sens. Beau Ballard of Lincoln and Margo Juarez of Omaha meet on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. Jan. 9, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;State Sens. Beau Ballard of Lincoln and Margo Juarez of Omaha meet on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. Jan. 9, 2026. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers are set to consider a slew of nationally relevant topics in the 2026 legislative session, including new bills addressing immigration enforcement, homeless encampments and artificial intelligence.More than 100 new bills were introduced Thursday and Friday. That brings the total number of new bills, resolutions and constitutional amendments introduced over the first three days of a shorter, 60-day session to 250. Legislation can be introduced through the 10th legislative day: Jan. 21.<h2>Immigration enforcement</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/juarez-headshot-200x300.jpg" alt="State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha. (Courtesy of Nebraska Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha. (Courtesy of Nebraska Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=62906&amp;docnum=LB907&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 907</a>&nbsp;from State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha, would prohibit law enforcement officers from entering “community safe spaces” to enforce immigration law. Such spaces include a range of public properties, including hospitals, schools, libraries, churches, shelters and courthouses.&nbsp;Juarez said she brought the bill because she is “appalled” that the Trump administration has allowed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to go “everywhere.” She said she views it as a violation that impacts both the people ICE is targeting and other members of the public visiting the same spaces.&nbsp;“I don’t like the creation of that precedent,” Juarez said.&nbsp;Juarez also introduced LB 906, which would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings, masks or disguises and require them to wear identification. State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha brought a similar bill — LB 854. Juarez said she didn’t talk to Hunt about the issue beforehand.&nbsp;&nbsp;Juarez’s bill is a bit more expansive than Hunt’s. It specifies that any evidence collected by an officer in violation of the new law would be inadmissible in court. She said there are legitimate safety reasons for officers to wear face coverings but argued it shouldn’t become the norm.&nbsp;“Bank robbers cover their faces, not law enforcement,” Juarez said.<h2>Homeless encampments</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/dist49-200x300.jpg" alt="State Sen. Bob Andersen of Sarpy County. (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Bob Andersen of Sarpy County. (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63081&amp;docnum=LB925&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 925</a>, from State Sen. Bob Andersen of western Sarpy County, would outlaw unauthorized encampments on any public property or right-of-way, unless the land is designated as a campsite or temporary site for an unsanctioned homeless encampment. State law already prohibits unauthorized encampments on state and county property, Andersen said.The “Safe Parks and Public Spaces Act” came about, Andersen said, because of some residential area encampments where residents had seen unlawful behavior, such as drug use.&nbsp;“It is threatening and makes it unsafe for the resident,” Andersen said.Violations of the new law would be a Class V misdemeanor, but, for first-time offenders, law enforcement would direct them to the nearest appropriate shelter for homeless individuals.&nbsp;Political subdivisions would be prohibited from allowing anyone to regularly camp or sleep on such property or rights-of-way and could not prohibit or discourage enforcement. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services would oversee any alleged violations.<h2>AI chatbots</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/dist38-200x300.jpg" alt="State Sen. Dave Murman, District 38. (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Dave Murman, District 38. (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63038&amp;docnum=LB939&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 939</a>, from State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, would require age verification for chatbots on online platforms and require online platforms to identify when chatbots use artificial intelligence and prevent such chatbots from impersonating a human while interacting with a minor.&nbsp;Chatbots are often operated by artificial intelligence software and apps, including X’s Grok, Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Murman said some of these services have been linked to youth suicides, and he hopes to mitigate those risks by increasing transparency.&nbsp;“I don’t want to overly regulate AI at all,” Murman said. “AI has a bright future.”&nbsp;Murman said LB 939 is similar to a previous bill he passed in 2024, LB 1092, which required online porn companies to verify users’ ages. As a result of the law, Pornhub went dark in Nebraska, where it remains to this day.&nbsp;It is unclear how an executive order President Donald Trump signed in December seeking to stop states from regulating artificial intelligence might impact LB 939. The order does include a carveout for protecting minors.&nbsp;<h2>Other legislation</h2>Among other notable bills introduced this week:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63325&amp;docnum=LB837&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 837</a>, by State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte — Allow cash transactions and wages in the state to be rounded up or down to the nearest nickel with the national elimination of pennies. Transactions ending in one, two, six or seven cents could be rounded down, while transactions ending in three, four, eight or nine to be rounded up. Digital payments, gift cards, checks and money orders would not be affected.</li><li><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63182&amp;docnum=LB843&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 843</a>, by State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue — Require the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to file a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program waiver for refugees and immigrants.&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63054&amp;docnum=LB848&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 848</a>, by State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, and&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=62827&amp;docnum=LB865&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 865</a>, by State Sen. Jason Prokop of Lincoln —&nbsp;Create three-day sales tax holidays before the start of fall school semesters. Cavanaugh’s LB 848 would begin at 12:01 a.m. the first Friday of August for clothing, school supplies, computer software, graphing calculators and personal computers up to certain dollar amounts. Prokop’s LB 865 would begin at 12:01 a.m. the last Friday of July for child care supplies, clothing, footwear and school supplies up to certain dollar amounts. The state sales tax is 5.5 cents per $1, most local rates are up to 2 cents.</li><li><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63055&amp;docnum=LB849&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 849</a>, also by Cavanaugh —&nbsp;Exempt over-the-counter drugs from sales taxes.</li><li><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=62746&amp;docnum=LB881&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 881</a>, by State Sen. Dunixi Guereca of Omaha — Require law enforcement agencies, jails and the Nebraska State Patrol to receive approval from a “local governing body” before entering agreements to enforce immigration law. This follows controversies over Nebraska entering an agreement with the federal government over transferring the McCook Work Ethic Camp to ICE and local decisions by county sheriffs and county jails to help ICE.&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=62833&amp;docnum=LB910&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 910</a>, by State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering — Require individuals convicted of sexual offenses against children to pay a fee for electronic devices seized during prosecution.&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63340&amp;docnum=LB913&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 913</a>, also by Hardin —&nbsp;Requie DHHS to appoint a dementia services coordinator who would serve as a central point to collect data on Alzheimer’s and dementia, evaluate needs and link families caring for individuals facing those diagnoses with resources.</li><li><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=63197&amp;docnum=LB915&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 915</a>, by State Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City — Allow one additional Inland Port Authority district, for a total of six. The five current ones are in Omaha, Bellevue, South Sioux City, Lincoln County and Fremont/Dodge County. Districts require approval from a host city or county and are intended to help spur economic development.</li><li><a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=62814&amp;docnum=LB940&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">LB 940</a>, by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil — Prohibit certain artificial color additives in meals served at public K-12 schools. The banned additives would include Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Nebraska Examiner senior reporter Cindy Gonzalez contributed to this report.