Table Rock, NE -&nbsp;When small-town Nebraska meets big-league recognition, you get a story like Den’s Country Meats. The family-owned business in Table Rock was named the 2025 Independent Processor of the Year by The National Provisioner, earning a spot among the nation’s most respected meat processors.

The story of Den’s began in 1985, when a 19-year-old Dennis Schaardt purchased the local meat locker in Table Rock. What started as a modest custom-processing shop has since grown into a full USDA-inspected operation offering retail meats, wild game services, and an extensive lineup of house-made products including sausages, jerky, and meat sticks. By 1995, Den’s moved into its current facility, allowing for expanded production and a growing customer base. Today, Dennis and his wife Kim work alongside their daughter Courtney Shreve and her husband Seth—making Den’s a true multigenerational business.

This year’s national recognition follows an extraordinary run of awards. Den’s Country Meats entered 72 products in the 2025 German Butchers Association and AAMP international competition, returning home with 62 gold, eight silver, and one bronze medal. The team also earned the prestigious “Cup of Honor” and placed first in both the ham and sausage divisions, as well as the overall top prize. Back home in Nebraska, Den’s received the Nebraska Association of Meat Processors’ Travelling Sweepstakes Award for overall excellence—a first for any processor in the state.

The company now produces more than 80 varieties of sausage and specialty meats and has built a loyal following that stretches well beyond Table Rock. Den’s products can be found in retail coolers across Nebraska and Kansas, including in Lincoln, Beatrice, and Sabetha, and their online store now ships nationwide.

For the Schaardt family, the success is rooted in dedication, craft, and community. Dennis, inducted into the AAMP Cured Meats Hall of Fame in 2024, continues to be active in local leadership, while Courtney calls the recognition “a meaningful honor” for the entire team.

In an industry dominated by large corporations, Den’s Country Meats stands as proof that family tradition and small-town pride can still earn national acclaim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759848791740.png" alt="Pictured: Dennis Shaardt, wife Kim, daughter Courtney Shreve, and her husband Seth operate Den's Country Meats in Table Rock as a family-owned business. (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Pictured: Dennis Shaardt, wife Kim, daughter Courtney Shreve, and her husband Seth operate Den's Country Meats in Table Rock as a family-owned business. (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>Table Rock, NE -&nbsp;When small-town Nebraska meets big-league recognition, you get a story like Den’s Country Meats. The family-owned business in Table Rock was named the 2025 Independent Processor of the Year by The National Provisioner, earning a spot among the nation’s most respected meat processors.The story of Den’s began in 1985, when a 19-year-old Dennis Schaardt purchased the local meat locker in Table Rock. What started as a modest custom-processing shop has since grown into a full USDA-inspected operation offering retail meats, wild game services, and an extensive lineup of house-made products including sausages, jerky, and meat sticks. By 1995, Den’s moved into its current facility, allowing for expanded production and a growing customer base. Today, Dennis and his wife Kim work alongside their daughter Courtney Shreve and her husband Seth—making Den’s a true multigenerational business.This year’s national recognition follows an extraordinary run of awards. Den’s Country Meats entered 72 products in the 2025 German Butchers Association and AAMP international competition, returning home with 62 gold, eight silver, and one bronze medal. The team also earned the prestigious “Cup of Honor” and placed first in both the ham and sausage divisions, as well as the overall top prize. Back home in Nebraska, Den’s received the Nebraska Association of Meat Processors’ Travelling Sweepstakes Award for overall excellence—a first for any processor in the state.The company now produces more than 80 varieties of sausage and specialty meats and has built a loyal following that stretches well beyond Table Rock. Den’s products can be found in retail coolers across Nebraska and Kansas, including in Lincoln, Beatrice, and Sabetha, and their online store now ships nationwide.For the Schaardt family, the success is rooted in dedication, craft, and community. Dennis, inducted into the AAMP Cured Meats Hall of Fame in 2024, continues to be active in local leadership, while Courtney calls the recognition “a meaningful honor” for the entire team.In an industry dominated by large corporations, Den’s Country Meats stands as proof that family tradition and small-town pride can still earn national acclaim.

Den’s Country Meats: A Nebraska Gem Earns National Acclaim 

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Walmart plans to remove synthetic food dyes and several other additives from its private-label food products by early 2027, part of a nationwide effort to simplify ingredient lists and respond to consumer demand for more transparent labeling.

The retailer announced that all Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and bettergoods products will be reformulated to eliminate petroleum-based color additives and about 30 other artificial ingredients. Walmart said roughly 90 percent of its store-brand foods are already free of synthetic dyes, with the remaining products expected to transition over the next two years.

The move aligns with broader industry trends and recent federal actions to reduce or eliminate certain food dyes. The Food and Drug Administration is phasing out the use of Red No. 3 in foods by 2027, following research linking the dye to potential health risks.

Walmart stated that reformulated products will begin appearing on shelves in the coming months, including at stores across Nebraska, with full implementation expected by 2027. The company also indicated it will continue reviewing additional ingredients such as artificial sweeteners and preservatives as part of its ongoing “clean label” initiative.

Similar commitments have been made by other major food companies, including Kraft Heinz, General Mills, and Nestlé, as consumers increasingly seek products made without artificial coloring or unnecessary additives.

The changes are expected to affect hundreds of items under Walmart’s private-label lines, which account for a significant portion of the company’s grocery sales nationwide.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665773864149.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Walmart plans to remove synthetic food dyes and several other additives from its private-label food products by early 2027, part of a nationwide effort to simplify ingredient lists and respond to consumer demand for more transparent labeling.The retailer announced that all Great Value, Marketside, Freshness Guaranteed, and bettergoods products will be reformulated to eliminate petroleum-based color additives and about 30 other artificial ingredients. Walmart said roughly 90 percent of its store-brand foods are already free of synthetic dyes, with the remaining products expected to transition over the next two years.The move aligns with broader industry trends and recent federal actions to reduce or eliminate certain food dyes. The Food and Drug Administration is phasing out the use of Red No. 3 in foods by 2027, following research linking the dye to potential health risks.Walmart stated that reformulated products will begin appearing on shelves in the coming months, including at stores across Nebraska, with full implementation expected by 2027. The company also indicated it will continue reviewing additional ingredients such as artificial sweeteners and preservatives as part of its ongoing “clean label” initiative.Similar commitments have been made by other major food companies, including Kraft Heinz, General Mills, and Nestlé, as consumers increasingly seek products made without artificial coloring or unnecessary additives.The changes are expected to affect hundreds of items under Walmart’s private-label lines, which account for a significant portion of the company’s grocery sales nationwide.

Walmart to Remove Synthetic Dyes and Additives from Store Brands by 2027

LINCOLN, Neb. — Photographers across Nebraska have a chance to showcase the state’s natural beauty in the 2025 Nebraskaland Magazine Photo Contest, now open for submissions through October 31.

The contest invites photographers of all skill levels to submit their best shots taken in Nebraska. Entries are accepted in four categories: Wildlife, Scenic, Recreation, and Macro. All photographs must be original and captured within the state.

Winners will be featured in the January/February 2026 issue of Nebraskaland Magazine, with cash prizes for top entries. First-place winners in each category receive $150, second place earns $100, third place $50, and the overall Best in Show takes home $250.

“The contest is a great way to celebrate Nebraska’s landscapes, wildlife, and outdoor recreation,” said contest organizers. “Whether you’re an amateur snapping pictures on your phone or a professional photographer, this is your chance to share the beauty of our state.”

Photographers can submit entries online by following the guidelines at magazine.outdoornebraska.gov. All submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on October 31.

The contest provides an opportunity for Nebraskans to highlight the diversity and charm of their state, from sweeping plains and rivers to wildlife and outdoor adventures.

For more information and entry details, visit magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/about/submissions/photo-contest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759760573732.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. — Photographers across Nebraska have a chance to showcase the state’s natural beauty in the 2025 Nebraskaland Magazine Photo Contest, now open for submissions through October 31.The contest invites photographers of all skill levels to submit their best shots taken in Nebraska. Entries are accepted in four categories: Wildlife, Scenic, Recreation, and Macro. All photographs must be original and captured within the state.Winners will be featured in the January/February 2026 issue of Nebraskaland Magazine, with cash prizes for top entries. First-place winners in each category receive $150, second place earns $100, third place $50, and the overall Best in Show takes home $250.“The contest is a great way to celebrate Nebraska’s landscapes, wildlife, and outdoor recreation,” said contest organizers. “Whether you’re an amateur snapping pictures on your phone or a professional photographer, this is your chance to share the beauty of our state.”Photographers can submit entries online by following the guidelines at magazine.outdoornebraska.gov. All submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on October 31.The contest provides an opportunity for Nebraskans to highlight the diversity and charm of their state, from sweeping plains and rivers to wildlife and outdoor adventures.For more information and entry details, visit magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/about/submissions/photo-contest.

Capture Nebraska’s Beauty: Nebraskaland Magazine Photo Contest Now Open

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/micah-drew/">Micah Drew</a> <a href="https://dailymontanan.com/">Daily Montanan</a>

Glacier National Park remains open to visitors during the federal government shutdown, which a former superintendent said could lead to trash pileup, a lack of communication for visitors and limited emergency response operations.&nbsp;

Last month, former Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow joined more than 40 former national park superintendents in signing a&nbsp;<a href="https://protectnps.org/2025/09/25/former-nps-superintendents-urge-secretary-burgum-to-close-national-parks-if-government-shuts-down/" target="_blank">letter urging</a>&nbsp;the federal government to close National Park Service sites in the event of a government shutdown.&nbsp;

“Past shutdowns in which gates remained open with limited staff have hurt our parks: Iconic symbols cut down and vandalized, trash piled up, habitats destroyed, and visitor safety jeopardized. If you don’t act now, history is not just doomed to repeat itself, the damage could in fact be much worse,” the letter states.&nbsp;

But when the calendar rolled over to October, the federal government shut down and roughly 750,000 federal workers were furloughed, but parks stayed open.&nbsp;

A bright red banner across the websites for Glacier and Yellowstone national parks states that national parks “remain as accessible as possible” during the shutdown, but services may be limited or unavailable. Visitors are directed to a Department of the Interior webpage that lists contingency plan documents for each agency group, which vaguely outline what operations can remain.&nbsp;

However, those contingency plans are about the only communication given to the public about national park system operations, which Mow said adds to the uncertainty for visitors and staff alike.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For example, Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road typically closes the third Monday of October, but that is contingent on weather conditions along the alpine stretches of the 50-mile scenic byway. The park superintendent has the ability to close the road if inclement weather hits, and typically, any winter-related closures are communicated through press releases, social media posts, and updates to the park’s website.&nbsp;

But during a shutdown of the federal government, communication isn’t a top priority.&nbsp;

According to Glacier’s official&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPRm_7WDtq8/?hl=en" target="_blank">social media accounts</a>, the National Park Service “will continue to share critical information about park access, safety, and resources. Some services may be limited.”&nbsp;

But Glacier’s communications specialist is among those furloughed, and cannot respond to emails or speak on behalf of the park. Emails sent to the National Park Service’s media office about what constitutes “critical information about park access” went unanswered.&nbsp;

“If there’s a snowstorm that closes the Sun Road, will that show up on the website?” Mow said. “I don’t know. We’ll see how long it stays open.”

There is currently a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mdt.mt.gov/_resources/pl/rdrpt.pl?rptname=Winter" target="_blank">winter storm warning</a>&nbsp;in place over the weekend for elevations over 5,500 feet — with four to eight inches of snow possible. Logan Pass has a 15% chance of receiving 10 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Mow served as Glacier’s superintendent during the last government shutdown, a 35-day long affair that stretched from December 2018 to January 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first administration.&nbsp;

Back then, Mow said, Glacier was fully in winter mode — most roads into the park, including Going-to-the-Sun Road, were closed, and operations and programming were already parred down compared to peak season.&nbsp;

Mow was among the employees furloughed during the last shutdown as a “nonessential” part of daily operations. He said one of the biggest concerns for the year-round staff who also ended up furloughed was the lack of communication — about what employees could still do, any timeline for returning to work, and whether to sign up for unemployment benefits.&nbsp;

“It’s adding more of this uncertainty in their lives, and this administration has certainly done a lot to add uncertainty into federal employees’ lives,” Mow said.&nbsp;

In 2018, Mow said there was an employee Facebook page where staff could post updates to communicate — furloughed staff can’t access their emails or government-issued devices — and they found ways to bring the staff together, including setting up work days at the local food bank to “maintain our community as employees of Glacier National Park,” Mow said.&nbsp;

There is no indication how long the current shutdown will last. Friday, Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2025/10/03/repub/government-shutdown-primed-to-roll-into-next-week-after-us-senate-deadlocks-again/" target="_blank">clashed again</a>&nbsp;and failed to advance measures to partially fund the government.&nbsp;

The current shutdown comes amid one of the largest reductions in force across the National Park system. According to Politico, since Trump took office for his second term, the Park Service has lost roughly 35% of its staff, while the Interior Department as a whole is down around 14%.

An internal memo from Glacier obtained by the Daily Montanan in May indicated that 20% of park positions were vacant, including almost half of dispatch positions.&nbsp;

A shutdown further compounds problems from short staffing.&nbsp;

“National parks are not designed to run with so little staff. I think that’s one of the things that differentiates us from other public lands — national parks are designed and staffed for high levels of visitation,” Mow said. “There’s lots of infrastructure, visitor information centers, and a response system for visitor safety issues. Our counterparts in FS and BLM, not so much, they depend more on local and county resources.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09/doi-nps-lapse-plan2025930508.pdf" target="_blank">contingency plan</a>&nbsp;released by the park service late Tuesday said “park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors.” However, parks without “accessible areas,” such as primarily indoor exhibitions, will be closed, and sites currently open could close if damage is done to park resources or garbage is building up, the plan says.

For Glacier and Yellowstone, two massive parks where the main attractions are natural features more so than exhibitions, that means the public is free to roam.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://montanafreepress.org/2025/10/02/gates-open-at-yellowstone-on-first-day-of-shutdown/" target="_blank">Montana Free Press</a>&nbsp;reported that Yellowstone’s entrance stations are open, concessionaire-run businesses including lodges and restaurants are operational, and private commercial guiding companies were still allowed to operate within open parts of the Park.&nbsp;

In Glacier, private concessionaire Xanterra, which operates lodges, restaurants, gift shops, the iconic red bus tours, and crucially, restrooms, “will be open and welcoming guests and visitors from around the world,” according to their website.&nbsp;

Andrew Heltzel, Chief Commercial Officer for Xanterra, said in an email that staffing has remained the same at both parks as the shutdown began, and the Park Service had shared that entrances and roads to the parks would remain open and accessible.

“We are optimistic that our guests will continue to come and enjoy the incredible landscapes and experiences these parks offer. Travelers can book with confidence knowing that we are working closely with the National Park Service and we are committed to providing clear and timely communication to our guests,” Heltzel said.

One entrance to Glacier, into the Two Medicine Valley, closed on Wednesday for pre-planned construction.

Sarah Lundstrum, the Glacier program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, said the organization has also pushed for parks to close down if they aren’t being fulling staffed.

“In previous years, we’ve seen vandalism, trees cut down, petroglyphs vandalized, people driving where they shouldn’t, trash, garbage and feces piling up in national parks,” Lundstrum said. “If there’s not going to be full staffing, parks shouldn’t be open.”

The association is encouraging people to avoid going to parks, but if they do visit, do so responsibly.

“Be prepared for not a lot of services. Recreate responsibly, leave no trace, take your garbage with you,” she said. “And be polite to the staff that are there — they’re under a lot of stress — so just be a good steward.”

The National Park Service this week&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm" target="_blank">released an economic report</a>&nbsp;showing that Glacier and Yellowstone generated roughly $1.5 billion in economic output in nearby communities in 2024.&nbsp;

While Glacier has largely entered its shoulder season and nearby communities aren’t relying on October visitation to bolster their bottom lines, other parks, including Yellowstone and those in warmer climates, such as Utah and southern California, are closer to peak season, Lundstrum said, and are preparing for much larger economic impacts of a shutdown.

During the last shutdown, public lands across the country saw issues with garbage buildup and human waste as workers were unable to take out the trash and restock toilet paper.&nbsp;

In Grand Teton, the Jackson Hole News &amp; Guide reported Wednesday that toilet paper ran out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/environmental/local/with-grand-teton-open-in-shutdown-tourists-seek-toilet-paper-as-staff-preps-for-furloughs/article_0df2c8e0-a2d8-4cda-9dce-9a798e322a1b.html" target="_blank">in just six hours</a>.&nbsp;

“Whenever we go into these minimal-operations mode, things will suffer. Resources will suffer, staffing will suffer, visitor safety – if there are emergency response needs &nbsp;— they will probably suffer some,” Mow added. “Honestly, it should not be a goal for the National Park Service of ‘how to run a park during a shutdown.’ It’s not a contingency we prepare for.”

Editor’s note: this article has been updated with comments from Xanterra and to reflect the closure of GTTSR.&nbsp;

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2025/10/03/as-federal-government-shuts-down-visitors-can-still-enter-glacier-yellowstone-national-parks/" target="_blank">Daily Montanan</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Nebraska Examiner, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759774183360.png" alt="A webcam image of the entrance station to Glacier National Park shows blocked off lanes and shuttered windows on Oct. 3, 2025." />
 <figcaption>A webcam image of the entrance station to Glacier National Park shows blocked off lanes and shuttered windows on Oct. 3, 2025.</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/micah-drew/">Micah Drew</a> <a href="https://dailymontanan.com/">Daily Montanan</a>Glacier National Park remains open to visitors during the federal government shutdown, which a former superintendent said could lead to trash pileup, a lack of communication for visitors and limited emergency response operations.&nbsp;Last month, former Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow joined more than 40 former national park superintendents in signing a&nbsp;<a href="https://protectnps.org/2025/09/25/former-nps-superintendents-urge-secretary-burgum-to-close-national-parks-if-government-shuts-down/" target="_blank">letter urging</a>&nbsp;the federal government to close National Park Service sites in the event of a government shutdown.&nbsp;“Past shutdowns in which gates remained open with limited staff have hurt our parks: Iconic symbols cut down and vandalized, trash piled up, habitats destroyed, and visitor safety jeopardized. If you don’t act now, history is not just doomed to repeat itself, the damage could in fact be much worse,” the letter states.&nbsp;But when the calendar rolled over to October, the federal government shut down and roughly 750,000 federal workers were furloughed, but parks stayed open.&nbsp;A bright red banner across the websites for Glacier and Yellowstone national parks states that national parks “remain as accessible as possible” during the shutdown, but services may be limited or unavailable. Visitors are directed to a Department of the Interior webpage that lists contingency plan documents for each agency group, which vaguely outline what operations can remain.&nbsp;However, those contingency plans are about the only communication given to the public about national park system operations, which Mow said adds to the uncertainty for visitors and staff alike.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road typically closes the third Monday of October, but that is contingent on weather conditions along the alpine stretches of the 50-mile scenic byway. The park superintendent has the ability to close the road if inclement weather hits, and typically, any winter-related closures are communicated through press releases, social media posts, and updates to the park’s website.&nbsp;But during a shutdown of the federal government, communication isn’t a top priority.&nbsp;According to Glacier’s official&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPRm_7WDtq8/?hl=en" target="_blank">social media accounts</a>, the National Park Service “will continue to share critical information about park access, safety, and resources. Some services may be limited.”&nbsp;But Glacier’s communications specialist is among those furloughed, and cannot respond to emails or speak on behalf of the park. Emails sent to the National Park Service’s media office about what constitutes “critical information about park access” went unanswered.&nbsp;“If there’s a snowstorm that closes the Sun Road, will that show up on the website?” Mow said. “I don’t know. We’ll see how long it stays open.”There is currently a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mdt.mt.gov/_resources/pl/rdrpt.pl?rptname=Winter" target="_blank">winter storm warning</a>&nbsp;in place over the weekend for elevations over 5,500 feet — with four to eight inches of snow possible. Logan Pass has a 15% chance of receiving 10 inches, according to the National Weather Service.Mow served as Glacier’s superintendent during the last government shutdown, a 35-day long affair that stretched from December 2018 to January 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first administration.&nbsp;Back then, Mow said, Glacier was fully in winter mode — most roads into the park, including Going-to-the-Sun Road, were closed, and operations and programming were already parred down compared to peak season.&nbsp;Mow was among the employees furloughed during the last shutdown as a “nonessential” part of daily operations. He said one of the biggest concerns for the year-round staff who also ended up furloughed was the lack of communication — about what employees could still do, any timeline for returning to work, and whether to sign up for unemployment benefits.&nbsp;“It’s adding more of this uncertainty in their lives, and this administration has certainly done a lot to add uncertainty into federal employees’ lives,” Mow said.&nbsp;In 2018, Mow said there was an employee Facebook page where staff could post updates to communicate — furloughed staff can’t access their emails or government-issued devices — and they found ways to bring the staff together, including setting up work days at the local food bank to “maintain our community as employees of Glacier National Park,” Mow said.&nbsp;There is no indication how long the current shutdown will last. Friday, Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2025/10/03/repub/government-shutdown-primed-to-roll-into-next-week-after-us-senate-deadlocks-again/" target="_blank">clashed again</a>&nbsp;and failed to advance measures to partially fund the government.&nbsp;The current shutdown comes amid one of the largest reductions in force across the National Park system. According to Politico, since Trump took office for his second term, the Park Service has lost roughly 35% of its staff, while the Interior Department as a whole is down around 14%.An internal memo from Glacier obtained by the Daily Montanan in May indicated that 20% of park positions were vacant, including almost half of dispatch positions.&nbsp;A shutdown further compounds problems from short staffing.&nbsp;“National parks are not designed to run with so little staff. I think that’s one of the things that differentiates us from other public lands — national parks are designed and staffed for high levels of visitation,” Mow said. “There’s lots of infrastructure, visitor information centers, and a response system for visitor safety issues. Our counterparts in FS and BLM, not so much, they depend more on local and county resources.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09/doi-nps-lapse-plan2025930508.pdf" target="_blank">contingency plan</a>&nbsp;released by the park service late Tuesday said “park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors.” However, parks without “accessible areas,” such as primarily indoor exhibitions, will be closed, and sites currently open could close if damage is done to park resources or garbage is building up, the plan says.For Glacier and Yellowstone, two massive parks where the main attractions are natural features more so than exhibitions, that means the public is free to roam.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://montanafreepress.org/2025/10/02/gates-open-at-yellowstone-on-first-day-of-shutdown/" target="_blank">Montana Free Press</a>&nbsp;reported that Yellowstone’s entrance stations are open, concessionaire-run businesses including lodges and restaurants are operational, and private commercial guiding companies were still allowed to operate within open parts of the Park.&nbsp;In Glacier, private concessionaire Xanterra, which operates lodges, restaurants, gift shops, the iconic red bus tours, and crucially, restrooms, “will be open and welcoming guests and visitors from around the world,” according to their website.&nbsp;Andrew Heltzel, Chief Commercial Officer for Xanterra, said in an email that staffing has remained the same at both parks as the shutdown began, and the Park Service had shared that entrances and roads to the parks would remain open and accessible.“We are optimistic that our guests will continue to come and enjoy the incredible landscapes and experiences these parks offer. Travelers can book with confidence knowing that we are working closely with the National Park Service and we are committed to providing clear and timely communication to our guests,” Heltzel said.One entrance to Glacier, into the Two Medicine Valley, closed on Wednesday for pre-planned construction.Sarah Lundstrum, the Glacier program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, said the organization has also pushed for parks to close down if they aren’t being fulling staffed.“In previous years, we’ve seen vandalism, trees cut down, petroglyphs vandalized, people driving where they shouldn’t, trash, garbage and feces piling up in national parks,” Lundstrum said. “If there’s not going to be full staffing, parks shouldn’t be open.”The association is encouraging people to avoid going to parks, but if they do visit, do so responsibly.“Be prepared for not a lot of services. Recreate responsibly, leave no trace, take your garbage with you,” she said. “And be polite to the staff that are there — they’re under a lot of stress — so just be a good steward.”The National Park Service this week&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm" target="_blank">released an economic report</a>&nbsp;showing that Glacier and Yellowstone generated roughly $1.5 billion in economic output in nearby communities in 2024.&nbsp;While Glacier has largely entered its shoulder season and nearby communities aren’t relying on October visitation to bolster their bottom lines, other parks, including Yellowstone and those in warmer climates, such as Utah and southern California, are closer to peak season, Lundstrum said, and are preparing for much larger economic impacts of a shutdown.During the last shutdown, public lands across the country saw issues with garbage buildup and human waste as workers were unable to take out the trash and restock toilet paper.&nbsp;In Grand Teton, the Jackson Hole News &amp; Guide reported Wednesday that toilet paper ran out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/environmental/local/with-grand-teton-open-in-shutdown-tourists-seek-toilet-paper-as-staff-preps-for-furloughs/article_0df2c8e0-a2d8-4cda-9dce-9a798e322a1b.html" target="_blank">in just six hours</a>.&nbsp;“Whenever we go into these minimal-operations mode, things will suffer. Resources will suffer, staffing will suffer, visitor safety – if there are emergency response needs &nbsp;— they will probably suffer some,” Mow added. “Honestly, it should not be a goal for the National Park Service of ‘how to run a park during a shutdown.’ It’s not a contingency we prepare for.”Editor’s note: this article has been updated with comments from Xanterra and to reflect the closure of GTTSR.&nbsp;This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2025/10/03/as-federal-government-shuts-down-visitors-can-still-enter-glacier-yellowstone-national-parks/" target="_blank">Daily Montanan</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Nebraska Examiner, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

As federal government shuts down, visitors can still enter Glacier, Yellowstone national parks

Each day hardworking parents, farmers, ranchers, linesmen, teachers, and laborers across the country get out of bed and do what it takes to provide for their families and pay their bills. This week, as Americans continued to go to work, unfortunately ideological, partisan demands from Senate Democrats again obstructed commonsense legislation to keep the federal government open. As a result, funding for the government lapsed, initiating a shutdown.

This shutdown is especially unfortunate for our servicemembers and federal law enforcement officers who continue working but won’t receive their pay until the shutdown ends. It is also unfortunate for veterans and others who are served by federal agencies which have had to furlough thousands of employees. Ultimately, it is unfortunate for the American people, who fulfill their responsibilities without complaint and deserve to see their tax dollars managed reasonably and effectively.

The fact is this unfortunate shutdown was avoidable. On September 19th, well before the funding deadline of September 30th, House Republicans did our job to pass a clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution (CR) which would have prevented a shutdown and provided time to responsibly address spending for the next fiscal year. Democrats supported enactment of similar legislation 13 times while President Biden was in the White House.

Despite this record, Democrats in the Senate, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have refused to cooperate with Republicans to garner the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster, pass the CR, and avoid a shutdown. Instead, Leader Schumer is making demands which would add $1.5 trillion to the national debt. This is completely out of step with the American people.

In H.R. 1, Republicans worked diligently to uphold the integrity of Medicaid and protect it from waste and fraud. We strengthened its fiscal outlook for the Americans who need it most and made improvements to stop the abuse of taxpayer dollars going to those for which the program was never intended, including coverage for illegal immigrants. Democrats are now trying to reverse these reforms and are now holding the appropriations process hostage in favor of broken loopholes which threatened the sustainability of Medicaid programs.

The Democrat proposal would also eliminate the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund enacted alongside the working families tax cuts package (H.R. 1) in July. Many of our rural healthcare providers have been counting on these dollars, which amount to the single largest investment in rural healthcare in American history. While Leader Schumer may not see himself as an advocate of rural America, to repeal funding dedicated to rural health is unfair and inappropriate.

During a government shutdown, authority to execute essential federal functions rests with the executive branch. It is surprising to me congressional Democrats have effectively given the president expanded authority in this case given their stated dislike and distrust for President Trump, but I am confident the Trump administration is doing its due diligence to sift through the agency and staffing decisions which must be made.

This shutdown was truly avoidable, and Republicans stand ready to end it. It is unfortunate Leader Schumer has placed his ideological priorities above the normal functioning of the American government. This is not the way to move forward. It is a good sign a small handful of Democrat members and an Independent member of the Senate have demonstrated support for a clean CR to fund the government. However, we're not back on track yet, and I hope we see more senators set aside partisan politics to support our commonsense solution very soon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727279471716.jpeg" alt="Adrian Smith" />
 <figcaption>Adrian Smith</figcaption>
 </figure>Each day hardworking parents, farmers, ranchers, linesmen, teachers, and laborers across the country get out of bed and do what it takes to provide for their families and pay their bills. This week, as Americans continued to go to work, unfortunately ideological, partisan demands from Senate Democrats again obstructed commonsense legislation to keep the federal government open. As a result, funding for the government lapsed, initiating a shutdown.This shutdown is especially unfortunate for our servicemembers and federal law enforcement officers who continue working but won’t receive their pay until the shutdown ends. It is also unfortunate for veterans and others who are served by federal agencies which have had to furlough thousands of employees. Ultimately, it is unfortunate for the American people, who fulfill their responsibilities without complaint and deserve to see their tax dollars managed reasonably and effectively.The fact is this unfortunate shutdown was avoidable. On September 19th, well before the funding deadline of September 30th, House Republicans did our job to pass a clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution (CR) which would have prevented a shutdown and provided time to responsibly address spending for the next fiscal year. Democrats supported enactment of similar legislation 13 times while President Biden was in the White House.Despite this record, Democrats in the Senate, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have refused to cooperate with Republicans to garner the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster, pass the CR, and avoid a shutdown. Instead, Leader Schumer is making demands which would add $1.5 trillion to the national debt. This is completely out of step with the American people.In H.R. 1, Republicans worked diligently to uphold the integrity of Medicaid and protect it from waste and fraud. We strengthened its fiscal outlook for the Americans who need it most and made improvements to stop the abuse of taxpayer dollars going to those for which the program was never intended, including coverage for illegal immigrants. Democrats are now trying to reverse these reforms and are now holding the appropriations process hostage in favor of broken loopholes which threatened the sustainability of Medicaid programs.The Democrat proposal would also eliminate the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund enacted alongside the working families tax cuts package (H.R. 1) in July. Many of our rural healthcare providers have been counting on these dollars, which amount to the single largest investment in rural healthcare in American history. While Leader Schumer may not see himself as an advocate of rural America, to repeal funding dedicated to rural health is unfair and inappropriate.During a government shutdown, authority to execute essential federal functions rests with the executive branch. It is surprising to me congressional Democrats have effectively given the president expanded authority in this case given their stated dislike and distrust for President Trump, but I am confident the Trump administration is doing its due diligence to sift through the agency and staffing decisions which must be made.This shutdown was truly avoidable, and Republicans stand ready to end it. It is unfortunate Leader Schumer has placed his ideological priorities above the normal functioning of the American government. This is not the way to move forward. It is a good sign a small handful of Democrat members and an Independent member of the Senate have demonstrated support for a clean CR to fund the government. However, we're not back on track yet, and I hope we see more senators set aside partisan politics to support our commonsense solution very soon.Sincerely,<figure>
 <img src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/meips/ADKq_NYmhxEyccW3DFsOONp9Rzkt2m1J1HDeL7HKhupc3MkO9moGAIqdrBsSIwviMgEYZjAuw5UgNYmZt2t6vhfgyS71fa_Euxm8eIkW9qdvfxTw7_Z-Yh9MaDqc6FbzaQpA9s4K=s0-d-e1-ft#https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/Customers/NE03AS/NE03AS_Signature.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Adrian SmithMember of Congress

From the Desk of Adrian Smith: An Avoidable Shutdown

LINCOLN, Neb. — As the federal government shutdown enters its sixth day, Nebraska faces mounting financial pressures and service disruptions — with little relief in sight.

According to a White House analysis, Nebraska’s gross state product could decline by about $98 million per week while the shutdown persists. Over a full month, that translates to a loss of roughly $426 million in economic output.
If the shutdown stretches to a month, the report warns unemployment in Nebraska could rise by 300 people.

Federal Workforce, Benefits, and Aid in Peril

Nebraska is home to about 17,000 federal employees, representing nearly 1.7% of the state’s workforce. Many of those workers are furloughed or forced to work without pay.
Key public assistance programs are also on edge:

Small businesses may feel the pinch as SBA loan distributions stop, potentially putting $16 million in Nebraska funding on hold over a month.
Federal contracting takes a hit too — cost-reimbursable contracts (which pay actual expenses) may be suspended, pulling back $58 million in contract spending in the state.
As federal wages evaporate and business deals stall, analysis suggests consumer spending in Nebraska could drop by $155 million monthly.

Local and national leaders are speaking out. Nebraska’s congressional delegation is under pressure to negotiate a funding resolution. Some are pointing fingers, while others warn of long-term damage if the standoff continues. Meanwhile, service providers and charitable organizations warn of rising demand if benefits halt and federal workers go unpaid.

Nebraska’s leaders are reacting sharply as the federal shutdown continues into its second week, with both parties pointing fingers over who’s to blame and what’s at stake for Nebraskans.

Sen. Pete Ricketts said the blame lies squarely with Senate Democrats.

“This is a Schumer Shutdown,” Ricketts said. “It’s the same reckless behavior we’ve seen before — putting politics ahead of the people who count on government services.”
He warned that programs like WIC and Social Security assistance could face disruptions if Congress doesn’t act soon.

Sen. Deb Fischer took a more measured tone, saying she supported efforts to pass a short-term funding bill to keep the government open.

“I supported a clean continuing resolution to fund our government and keep essential services running,” Fischer said. “My offices remain open and ready to help Nebraskans navigate this.”

Rep. Adrian Smith, who represents Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District, called the standoff “unfortunate and avoidable.”

“We can and should govern responsibly,” Smith said. “Nebraskans expect solutions — not shutdowns.”

On the other side of the aisle, Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said Republican leaders were to blame for what she described as a “manufactured crisis.”

“The GOP chose chaos,” Kleeb said. “This shutdown hurts working families, small businesses, and federal employees — all to score political points. Nebraskans deserve better.”

Federal shutdowns force non-essential agencies to scale back or pause operations altogether. Essential services—like air traffic control, veterans’ health, and Social Security—are generally maintained, but many administrative and support functions must stop.
Historically, once a shutdown ends, Congress retroactively pays furloughed federal workers, but that doesn’t ease the immediate cash crises families and businesses may face.

For Nebraska, the longer the shutdown drags on, the deeper the damage. State leaders, economists, and business groups alike are watching closely — and hoping for a rapid resolution.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741017239557.jpeg" alt="(Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>(Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. — As the federal government shutdown enters its sixth day, Nebraska faces mounting financial pressures and service disruptions — with little relief in sight.<h2>Economic Toll: Millions at Stake</h2>According to a White House analysis, Nebraska’s gross state product could decline by about $98 million per week while the shutdown persists. Over a full month, that translates to a loss of roughly $426 million in economic output.
If the shutdown stretches to a month, the report warns unemployment in Nebraska could rise by 300 people.<h2>Federal Workforce, Benefits, and Aid in Peril</h2>Nebraska is home to about 17,000 federal employees, representing nearly 1.7% of the state’s workforce. Many of those workers are furloughed or forced to work without pay.
Key public assistance programs are also on edge:<ul>
 <li>SNAP (food assistance) can continue for about 30 days before funds run dry.
</li><li>WIC (Women, Infants &amp; Children nutrition aid) could be interrupted in as little as one week due to limited local reserves.
</li><li>Approximately 2,100 Nebraskans who receive Social Security via paper check may face delays in payments.
</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759756613249.jpeg" alt="Economic Impacts of the Government Shutdown in Nebraska (whitehouse.gov)" />
 <figcaption>Economic Impacts of the Government Shutdown in Nebraska (whitehouse.gov)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Business and Contracting Impact</h2>Small businesses may feel the pinch as SBA loan distributions stop, potentially putting $16 million in Nebraska funding on hold over a month.
Federal contracting takes a hit too — cost-reimbursable contracts (which pay actual expenses) may be suspended, pulling back $58 million in contract spending in the state.
As federal wages evaporate and business deals stall, analysis suggests consumer spending in Nebraska could drop by $155 million monthly.<h2>Voices from Nebraska</h2>Local and national leaders are speaking out. Nebraska’s congressional delegation is under pressure to negotiate a funding resolution. Some are pointing fingers, while others warn of long-term damage if the standoff continues. Meanwhile, service providers and charitable organizations warn of rising demand if benefits halt and federal workers go unpaid.Nebraska’s leaders are reacting sharply as the federal shutdown continues into its second week, with both parties pointing fingers over who’s to blame and what’s at stake for Nebraskans.Sen. Pete Ricketts said the blame lies squarely with Senate Democrats.“This is a Schumer Shutdown,” Ricketts said. “It’s the same reckless behavior we’ve seen before — putting politics ahead of the people who count on government services.”
He warned that programs like WIC and Social Security assistance could face disruptions if Congress doesn’t act soon.Sen. Deb Fischer took a more measured tone, saying she supported efforts to pass a short-term funding bill to keep the government open.“I supported a clean continuing resolution to fund our government and keep essential services running,” Fischer said. “My offices remain open and ready to help Nebraskans navigate this.”Rep. Adrian Smith, who represents Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District, called the standoff “unfortunate and avoidable.”“We can and should govern responsibly,” Smith said. “Nebraskans expect solutions — not shutdowns.”On the other side of the aisle, Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said Republican leaders were to blame for what she described as a “manufactured crisis.”“The GOP chose chaos,” Kleeb said. “This shutdown hurts working families, small businesses, and federal employees — all to score political points. Nebraskans deserve better.”<h2>What Comes Next</h2>Federal shutdowns force non-essential agencies to scale back or pause operations altogether. Essential services—like air traffic control, veterans’ health, and Social Security—are generally maintained, but many administrative and support functions must stop.
Historically, once a shutdown ends, Congress retroactively pays furloughed federal workers, but that doesn’t ease the immediate cash crises families and businesses may face.For Nebraska, the longer the shutdown drags on, the deeper the damage. State leaders, economists, and business groups alike are watching closely — and hoping for a rapid resolution.

Nebraska Faces Deepening Economic Strain as Federal Shutdown Hits Day 6

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/joshua-haiar/">Joshua Haiar</a> <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/">South Dakota Searchlight</a>

SALEM — Spending 12 hours a day in his combine this week, harvesting amber rows of soybeans he planted in the spring, Andrew Streff has time to think — and it’s hard not to think about the ongoing trade dispute with China.

The country is boycotting purchases of U.S. soybeans in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

“China hasn’t purchased any soybeans from the United States this year, thanks to the president,” said Streff, who farms near Salem. “Our beans are the cheapest in the world, by about $2 a bushel, but this trade war is keeping them out of China — our biggest customer.”

Robert Lee is harvesting 300 acres of soybeans on his land near De Smet. He said many farmers are hesitant to blame Trump for bad bean prices.

“But the fact is, China imported 120 million metric tons of soybeans this year and not one bushel came from the U.S.,” Lee said. “That’s a direct result of this trade war.”

Farmers were similarly affected by trade disputes during Trump’s first term. Congress responded with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF11289/IF11289.3.pdf" target="_blank">$28 billion</a>&nbsp;of aid for farmers in 2018 and 2019, according to the Congressional Research Service. The relief paid for farmers’ lost income by providing direct payments in its place.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said during a Sept. 26 public event in Rapid City that the federal government will probably have to help farmers again.

“I have talked to the president about this, because some of this is a result of tariff policies, trade relationships, etc. — China’s not buying soybeans today,” Thune said. “And so I think, inevitably, what’s going to happen is they’ll probably end up doing what we did a few years ago, because of loss of markets.”

Thune said that’s something “none of us want.”

“But I think some of that tariff revenue that’s coming in probably will end up heading in that direction,” he said.

Trump’s tariffs will increase federal tax revenues by an estimated $171 billion this year, according to a Sept. 26 report from the&nbsp;<a href="https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/trump-tariffs-trade-war/" target="_blank">Tax Foundation</a>, a nonpartisan, tax policy research nonprofit.

On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the Trump administration is considering aid to farmers. He said in an<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/02/cnbc-transcript-us-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-speaks-with-cnbcs-squawk-box-today.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;interview</a>&nbsp;with CNBC that farmers “should expect some news on Tuesday” about “substantial support for our farmers, especially the soybean farmers.”

Jerry Schmitz is the executive director of the South Dakota Soybean Association. He said U.S. soybean prices are down more than a dollar per bushel from last year, from over $11 down to $10, with South Dakota prices another 80 cents to $1.35 lower. Local grain elevators are struggling because exports through the Pacific Northwest into Asian countries have slowed to a trickle.

Based on the number of soybean acres planted this year, Schmitz said a $1 drop in price equates to about $250 million of lost income for South Dakota farmers.

A tariff is a tax paid by importers, with the cost often passed along in prices charged to customers. Schmitz said the impact of tariffs on farmers goes beyond the obvious. An example is a rise in fertilizer prices, “partly due to inflation, but exacerbated by the tariffs.”

Streff, the Salem-area farmer, also works as a commodities broker in Mitchell. He said farmers like him who locked in a price with a grain buyer months before harvest are doing better, but “you were gambling on the future.”

“A lot of farmers were hoping the president learned from the last time around,” he said. “But it didn’t surprise me — he campaigned on doing these tariffs. The U.S. elected someone who likes to pick fights with other countries, and now we’re in the middle of it.”

He said others waited to see how the crop would turn out and if trade relations with China would improve. They haven’t.

Farm leaders and state officials are creating new domestic soybean uses, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/09/09/500-million-soybean-processing-plant-opens-in-mitchell/" target="_blank">$500 million soybean processing plant</a>&nbsp;in Mitchell that will mostly use soybeans to make renewable diesel and livestock feed.

Streff said that’s encouraging, but it won’t replace the demand of a country with 1.4 billion people who like soybean-fed pork.

“It’s not going to solve all our problems,” he said.

It’s a point Thune echoed while in Rapid City.

“We need to get the Chinese market back at some point because we sell a ton,” Thune said. “Sixty percent of our soybeans are exported, mostly to China. And so we’ve got to have those export markets.”

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/10/02/harvest-of-stress-soybean-farmers-await-help-as-tariff-dispute-closes-china-market/" target="_blank">South Dakota Searchlight</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759754181444.png" alt="Andrew Streff drives his combine while harvesting soybeans on Sept. 29, 2025, near Salem. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)" />
 <figcaption>Andrew Streff drives his combine while harvesting soybeans on Sept. 29, 2025, near Salem. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/joshua-haiar/">Joshua Haiar</a> <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/">South Dakota Searchlight</a>SALEM — Spending 12 hours a day in his combine this week, harvesting amber rows of soybeans he planted in the spring, Andrew Streff has time to think — and it’s hard not to think about the ongoing trade dispute with China.The country is boycotting purchases of U.S. soybeans in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.“China hasn’t purchased any soybeans from the United States this year, thanks to the president,” said Streff, who farms near Salem. “Our beans are the cheapest in the world, by about $2 a bushel, but this trade war is keeping them out of China — our biggest customer.”Robert Lee is harvesting 300 acres of soybeans on his land near De Smet. He said many farmers are hesitant to blame Trump for bad bean prices.“But the fact is, China imported 120 million metric tons of soybeans this year and not one bushel came from the U.S.,” Lee said. “That’s a direct result of this trade war.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759754226543.png" alt="Andrew Streff drives his combine while harvesting soybeans on Sept. 29, 2025, near Salem. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)" />
 <figcaption>Andrew Streff drives his combine while harvesting soybeans on Sept. 29, 2025, near Salem. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)</figcaption>
 </figure>Farmers were similarly affected by trade disputes during Trump’s first term. Congress responded with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF11289/IF11289.3.pdf" target="_blank">$28 billion</a>&nbsp;of aid for farmers in 2018 and 2019, according to the Congressional Research Service. The relief paid for farmers’ lost income by providing direct payments in its place.U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said during a Sept. 26 public event in Rapid City that the federal government will probably have to help farmers again.“I have talked to the president about this, because some of this is a result of tariff policies, trade relationships, etc. — China’s not buying soybeans today,” Thune said. “And so I think, inevitably, what’s going to happen is they’ll probably end up doing what we did a few years ago, because of loss of markets.”Thune said that’s something “none of us want.”“But I think some of that tariff revenue that’s coming in probably will end up heading in that direction,” he said.Trump’s tariffs will increase federal tax revenues by an estimated $171 billion this year, according to a Sept. 26 report from the&nbsp;<a href="https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/trump-tariffs-trade-war/" target="_blank">Tax Foundation</a>, a nonpartisan, tax policy research nonprofit.On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the Trump administration is considering aid to farmers. He said in an<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/02/cnbc-transcript-us-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-speaks-with-cnbcs-squawk-box-today.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;interview</a>&nbsp;with CNBC that farmers “should expect some news on Tuesday” about “substantial support for our farmers, especially the soybean farmers.”Jerry Schmitz is the executive director of the South Dakota Soybean Association. He said U.S. soybean prices are down more than a dollar per bushel from last year, from over $11 down to $10, with South Dakota prices another 80 cents to $1.35 lower. Local grain elevators are struggling because exports through the Pacific Northwest into Asian countries have slowed to a trickle.Based on the number of soybean acres planted this year, Schmitz said a $1 drop in price equates to about $250 million of lost income for South Dakota farmers.A tariff is a tax paid by importers, with the cost often passed along in prices charged to customers. Schmitz said the impact of tariffs on farmers goes beyond the obvious. An example is a rise in fertilizer prices, “partly due to inflation, but exacerbated by the tariffs.”Streff, the Salem-area farmer, also works as a commodities broker in Mitchell. He said farmers like him who locked in a price with a grain buyer months before harvest are doing better, but “you were gambling on the future.”“A lot of farmers were hoping the president learned from the last time around,” he said. “But it didn’t surprise me — he campaigned on doing these tariffs. The U.S. elected someone who likes to pick fights with other countries, and now we’re in the middle of it.”He said others waited to see how the crop would turn out and if trade relations with China would improve. They haven’t.Farm leaders and state officials are creating new domestic soybean uses, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/09/09/500-million-soybean-processing-plant-opens-in-mitchell/" target="_blank">$500 million soybean processing plant</a>&nbsp;in Mitchell that will mostly use soybeans to make renewable diesel and livestock feed.Streff said that’s encouraging, but it won’t replace the demand of a country with 1.4 billion people who like soybean-fed pork.“It’s not going to solve all our problems,” he said.It’s a point Thune echoed while in Rapid City.“We need to get the Chinese market back at some point because we sell a ton,” Thune said. “Sixty percent of our soybeans are exported, mostly to China. And so we’ve got to have those export markets.”This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/10/02/harvest-of-stress-soybean-farmers-await-help-as-tariff-dispute-closes-china-market/" target="_blank">South Dakota Searchlight</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Harvest of stress: Soybean farmers await help as tariff dispute closes China market

WASHINGTON —The government shutdown is moving into day 6 with no end in sight. The White House has&nbsp;a rolling government shutdown clock on the official White House website.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/government-shutdown-clock/">Click here to view the Clock</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759744952822.png" alt="White House government shutdown clock just after 5a.m. Monday" />
 <figcaption>White House government shutdown clock just after 5a.m. Monday</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —The government shutdown is moving into day 6 with no end in sight. The White House has&nbsp;a rolling government shutdown clock on the official White House website.<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/government-shutdown-clock/">Click here to view the Clock</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759315687610.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>

Government shutdown day 6: No immediate end in sight

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> arrive aboard the USS George H.W. Bush off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia, to celebrate the <a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNavy</a>&#39;s 250th birthday. <a href="http
s://t.co/BrP0ByFZmX">pic.twitter.com/BrP0ByFZmX</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974892908827300085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President Trump and theFirst Lady walk through a cordon of U.S. Navy Sailors as they arrive on the USSS Harry’s Truman 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/EXhHyWHQ0e">pic.twitter.com/EXhHyWHQ0e</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1974927779763556583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">NAVY 1! President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> makes an announcement on USSS George H.W. Bush 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/WqMVLvREXg">pic.twitter.com/WqMVLvREXg</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1974928957561819394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: We are gathered on this storied waterfront to celebrate 250 years of strength, tenacity, and unwavering courage by the greatest fighting force ever to roam the seas — the UNITED STATES NAVY. <a href="https://t.co/sOYwKP8V3x">pic.twitter.com/sOYwKP8V3x</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974933318073508208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Docked beside us today are a combined 150,000 tons of pure American Naval supremacy — and two colossal reasons why NO ONE should ever want to start a fight with the USA.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/7uGYhVlpWh">pic.twitter.com/7uGYhVlpWh</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974934985653277096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUIS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUIS</a>: &quot;Whenever duty calls, American Sailors will hoist our flag high and they will rally to Admiral Farragut&#39;s immortal battle cry: &#39;DAMN THE TORPEDOS, FULL SPEED AHEAD!&#39;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/0pJleUey7N">pic.twitter.com/0pJleUey7N</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974943920779153693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a>: &quot;HOOYAH, NAVY!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/gUMfbjZZv5">pic.twitter.com/gUMfbjZZv5</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974931079682457750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">THE <a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNAVY</a> LOVES <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SECWAR</a>! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/my6pxPAHOP">pic.twitter.com/my6pxPAHOP</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974929453295006076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">THE <a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNAVY</a> LOVES <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SECWAR</a>! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/my6pxPAHOP">pic.twitter.com/my6pxPAHOP</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974929453295006076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">250 years of the greatest fighting force ever to roam the seas — THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 🇺🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNavy</a> ⚓️ <a href="https://t.co/pwZLiAMNz6">pic.twitter.com/pwZLiAMNz6</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1974944835108065313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sailors wave goodbye to President Trump after the largest celebration in the history of the U.S. Navy! ⚓️🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/03f8ztRTSl">pic.twitter.com/03f8ztRTSl</a>&mdash; Anna Kelly (@AnnaKelly47) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnnaKelly47/status/1974946429543366974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">TRUMP DANCE ABOARD THE USS HARRY S. TRUMAN! GOD BLESS OUR NAVY! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/TCYmQ2ayh0">pic.twitter.com/TCYmQ2ayh0</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974944086718403000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 President, First Lady celebrate Navy's 250th birthday 

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ebamer/">Erin Bamer</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Legislative committee considers study examining impacts of unfunded mandates on county budgets

LINCOLN — State senators are renewing a push to reduce unfunded mandates on Nebraska counties in hopes of reducing local reliance on property taxes.

The Nebraska Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee considered Legislative Resolution 195 at a public hearing Friday at the Capitol. The resolution, proposed by State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, asked lawmakers to study the impacts of unfunded mandates.

The committee heard from eight invited testifiers, all of whom represented various county government entities across Nebraska. Each argued that the state passing down requirements to counties puts additional strain on their resources and increases the likelihood of future property tax increases.

“When we talk about unfunded mandates, these are things the state doesn’t want to fund, and therefore it’s going to go on the backs of property taxpayers,” said one testifier Jon Cannon, deputy director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials.

A line of Nebraska lawmakers has fought against unfunded mandates for decades to minimal success, including former Gov. Ben Nelson and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., when she served in the Legislature. Before Holdcroft, former State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue championed the cause.

At one point during her eight years in office, she claimed she had the votes to pass a constitutional amendment that would put the fate of unfunded mandates in the hands of voters, but legislative leaders ended the session early to prevent it from passing. She argued most lawmakers don’t want to end unfunded mandates, because that would force them to explain how the state will pay for services.

Blood claimed she even heard resistance from Holdcroft to her proposals when he ran against her in 2020. She said many opponents question whether unfunded mandates are a big deal, because most of the individual mandates don’t have a high price tag. But Blood countered that there are so many mandates that together they make a dent in local budgets.

Friday’s testifiers confirmed as much. While the annual costs vary county to county, several testifiers attested that their counties spend millions of dollars each year to address state requirements.

In Sarpy County, Commissioner David Klug said state mandates make up about 9% of their general fund, which equates to about $12.4 million in the current fiscal year. In Lancaster County, fiscal officer Dennis Meyer said taxpayers paid more than $20 million last year to cover unfunded mandates.

While the number of unfunded mandates seem to increase, several testifiers noted counties have limited options in how to generate revenue to pay for the costs. NACO Deputy Director Candace Meredith said the primary revenue options for counties are property taxes and inheritance taxes — two measures lawmakers have been trying to reduce in recent years.

“Lancaster County has a demonstrated track record of prudent financial management, but we have no control over the continually escalating costs of these state mandates,” Meyer said.

Unfunded mandates cover a broad range of services, but many of the costliest involve the criminal justice system. Multiple testifiers pinpointed courtroom security and probation housing as services with high costs and no state support, though a majority of the workers are employed by the state.

Meyer claimed Lancaster County foots the entire bill for their criminal justice system, except for the salaries and benefits of state employees.

But state mandates stretch beyond criminal justice. Multiple testifiers listed concerns with the rising costs of verifying signatures for ballot petitions and budgeting for University of Nebraska extension programs.

Seward County Commissioner Misty Ahmic said the state requires counties to budget for NU extension programs, but counties have no discretion in how those programs operate. Since 2020, Ahmic said Seward County has spent more than $1.2 million on this, mostly covering salaries.

The University of Nebraska system has 83 county extension offices across the state, which provide research opportunities typically relevant to their locations, such as livestock systems, horticulture and early childhood development.

In addition to burdening taxpayers, Meredith said unfunded mandates also make it more difficult for counties to offer competitive pay and benefits to employees.

There have been some signs of progress recently. Klug thanked lawmakers for passing Legislative Bill 376 this year, which, among other things, eliminated the requirement for counties to provide office space for the Department of Health and Human Services.

“If we can start to chip away at (unfunded mandates), we see that as a huge advantage,” Klug said.

Meredith suggested lawmakers consider modernizing current regulations to possibly eliminate some mandates. Cannon encouraged committee members to brainstorm requests the state can afford to let counties stop covering.

Meredith also proposed the Legislature review existing tax exemptions to ensure Nebraska’s tax structure is “fair and equitable to everyone.”

“Counties are all in to work alongside the Legislature to modernize unfunded and underfunded mandates,” Meredith said.

Holdcroft has introduced several bills still pending in the Legislature that would remove some existing unfunded mandates. These include Legislative Bill 327, which would require the state to pay for probation services, and LB 216, which would give the Nebraska Supreme Court administrative authority over all courts in the state. Neither bill has advanced out of committee.

Blood followed a broader strategy in the Legislature that attempted to reduce or eliminate unfunded mandates as a whole. She said she disagrees with Holdcroft’s more individualized approach, arguing it makes the state “pick winners and losers.”

Holdcroft said he hopes to make progress on the pending bills in 2026 but acknowledged that Nebraska’s ongoing budget constraints pose a challenge. The state faces a projected budget deficit of at least $95 million, and several other factors at play could multiply that figure.

Holdcroft said the success of his bills will likely depend on “how serious” fellow lawmakers are about addressing Nebraska’s property tax crisis. He said he introduced LR 195 in an attempt to raise their awareness of how unfunded mandates impact counties and taxpayers.

“I think right now almost every senator looks at his legislation to make sure that there aren’t unfunded mandates that are included in there,” Holdcroft said. “And this, I think, helps with the lens.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759676518373.png" alt=" State Sens. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue and John Cavanaugh of Omaha, chair and vice chair of the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee, from left, meet off the legislative floor. April 8, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> State Sens. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue and John Cavanaugh of Omaha, chair and vice chair of the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee, from left, meet off the legislative floor. April 8, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ebamer/">Erin Bamer</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a><h2>Legislative committee considers study examining impacts of unfunded mandates on county budgets</h2>LINCOLN — State senators are renewing a push to reduce unfunded mandates on Nebraska counties in hopes of reducing local reliance on property taxes.The Nebraska Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee considered Legislative Resolution 195 at a public hearing Friday at the Capitol. The resolution, proposed by State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, asked lawmakers to study the impacts of unfunded mandates.The committee heard from eight invited testifiers, all of whom represented various county government entities across Nebraska. Each argued that the state passing down requirements to counties puts additional strain on their resources and increases the likelihood of future property tax increases.“When we talk about unfunded mandates, these are things the state doesn’t want to fund, and therefore it’s going to go on the backs of property taxpayers,” said one testifier Jon Cannon, deputy director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials.A line of Nebraska lawmakers has fought against unfunded mandates for decades to minimal success, including former Gov. Ben Nelson and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., when she served in the Legislature. Before Holdcroft, former State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue championed the cause.At one point during her eight years in office, she claimed she had the votes to pass a constitutional amendment that would put the fate of unfunded mandates in the hands of voters, but legislative leaders ended the session early to prevent it from passing. She argued most lawmakers don’t want to end unfunded mandates, because that would force them to explain how the state will pay for services.Blood claimed she even heard resistance from Holdcroft to her proposals when he ran against her in 2020. She said many opponents question whether unfunded mandates are a big deal, because most of the individual mandates don’t have a high price tag. But Blood countered that there are so many mandates that together they make a dent in local budgets.“Those pennies add up,” Blood said.Friday’s testifiers confirmed as much. While the annual costs vary county to county, several testifiers attested that their counties spend millions of dollars each year to address state requirements.In Sarpy County, Commissioner David Klug said state mandates make up about 9% of their general fund, which equates to about $12.4 million in the current fiscal year. In Lancaster County, fiscal officer Dennis Meyer said taxpayers paid more than $20 million last year to cover unfunded mandates.While the number of unfunded mandates seem to increase, several testifiers noted counties have limited options in how to generate revenue to pay for the costs. NACO Deputy Director Candace Meredith said the primary revenue options for counties are property taxes and inheritance taxes — two measures lawmakers have been trying to reduce in recent years.“Lancaster County has a demonstrated track record of prudent financial management, but we have no control over the continually escalating costs of these state mandates,” Meyer said.Unfunded mandates cover a broad range of services, but many of the costliest involve the criminal justice system. Multiple testifiers pinpointed courtroom security and probation housing as services with high costs and no state support, though a majority of the workers are employed by the state.Meyer claimed Lancaster County foots the entire bill for their criminal justice system, except for the salaries and benefits of state employees.But state mandates stretch beyond criminal justice. Multiple testifiers listed concerns with the rising costs of verifying signatures for ballot petitions and budgeting for University of Nebraska extension programs.Seward County Commissioner Misty Ahmic said the state requires counties to budget for NU extension programs, but counties have no discretion in how those programs operate. Since 2020, Ahmic said Seward County has spent more than $1.2 million on this, mostly covering salaries.The University of Nebraska system has 83 county extension offices across the state, which provide research opportunities typically relevant to their locations, such as livestock systems, horticulture and early childhood development.In addition to burdening taxpayers, Meredith said unfunded mandates also make it more difficult for counties to offer competitive pay and benefits to employees.There have been some signs of progress recently. Klug thanked lawmakers for passing Legislative Bill 376 this year, which, among other things, eliminated the requirement for counties to provide office space for the Department of Health and Human Services.“If we can start to chip away at (unfunded mandates), we see that as a huge advantage,” Klug said.Meredith suggested lawmakers consider modernizing current regulations to possibly eliminate some mandates. Cannon encouraged committee members to brainstorm requests the state can afford to let counties stop covering.Meredith also proposed the Legislature review existing tax exemptions to ensure Nebraska’s tax structure is “fair and equitable to everyone.”“Counties are all in to work alongside the Legislature to modernize unfunded and underfunded mandates,” Meredith said.Holdcroft has introduced several bills still pending in the Legislature that would remove some existing unfunded mandates. These include Legislative Bill 327, which would require the state to pay for probation services, and LB 216, which would give the Nebraska Supreme Court administrative authority over all courts in the state. Neither bill has advanced out of committee.Blood followed a broader strategy in the Legislature that attempted to reduce or eliminate unfunded mandates as a whole. She said she disagrees with Holdcroft’s more individualized approach, arguing it makes the state “pick winners and losers.”Holdcroft said he hopes to make progress on the pending bills in 2026 but acknowledged that Nebraska’s ongoing budget constraints pose a challenge. The state faces a projected budget deficit of at least $95 million, and several other factors at play could multiply that figure.Holdcroft said the success of his bills will likely depend on “how serious” fellow lawmakers are about addressing Nebraska’s property tax crisis. He said he introduced LR 195 in an attempt to raise their awareness of how unfunded mandates impact counties and taxpayers.“I think right now almost every senator looks at his legislation to make sure that there aren’t unfunded mandates that are included in there,” Holdcroft said. “And this, I think, helps with the lens.”

Nebraska lawmakers consider cutting unfunded local mandates to ease property tax burden

Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, and John Lowe, PhD, spoke to board.

University of Nebraska Medical Center Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, and John Lowe, PhD,&nbsp;director of the Global Center for Health Security at UNMC, teamed Friday to detail the many partnerships between the U.S. armed services and UNMC.

The information was shared with the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, which met at UNMC.

“Among our collaborations, UNMC serves as a clinical readiness hub for the U.S. Air Force, embedding trauma surgeons, training military clinicians and sustaining medical skills in Nebraska and abroad,” Dr. Davies said. “UNMC partners with the Department of Defense to train military physicians, physician assistants and health care leaders through programs that span Nebraska communities and national service.”

Dr. Lowe, who also serves as assistant vice chancellor for health security training and education and the Anne M. Hubbard Chair of the UNMC Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, spoke to the regents about C-STARS Omaha and its mission – with UNMC and Nebraska Medicine – to advance the readiness skills and competency of U.S. Air Force medical personnel so they can provide safe and effective care for patients who have contracted or may have been exposed to highly hazardous infectious diseases.

Other collaborations discussed with the regents included:

“We are proud of our efforts on behalf of our nation and our veterans,” Dr. Davies said. “We are grateful to partner with the C-STARS team; and we continue to find ways to provide more impactful health care and safety measures for Nebraska, our nation and the world.”

Dr. Lowe said he was proud of the partnership’s impact on advancing global health security and military readiness.

“Collaborating with the U.S. Air Force team has allowed us to push the boundaries of innovation, training and preparedness,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759520643349.jpeg" alt="University of Nebraska Medical Center Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, addresses the Board of Regents Friday. (Courtesy UNMC)" />
 <figcaption>University of Nebraska Medical Center Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, addresses the Board of Regents Friday. (Courtesy UNMC)</figcaption>
 </figure>For Immediate Release<h2>Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, and John Lowe, PhD, spoke to board.</h2>University of Nebraska Medical Center Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, and John Lowe, PhD,&nbsp;director of the Global Center for Health Security at UNMC, teamed Friday to detail the many partnerships between the U.S. armed services and UNMC.The information was shared with the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, which met at UNMC.“Among our collaborations, UNMC serves as a clinical readiness hub for the U.S. Air Force, embedding trauma surgeons, training military clinicians and sustaining medical skills in Nebraska and abroad,” Dr. Davies said. “UNMC partners with the Department of Defense to train military physicians, physician assistants and health care leaders through programs that span Nebraska communities and national service.”Dr. Lowe, who also serves as assistant vice chancellor for health security training and education and the Anne M. Hubbard Chair of the UNMC Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, spoke to the regents about C-STARS Omaha and its mission – with UNMC and Nebraska Medicine – to advance the readiness skills and competency of U.S. Air Force medical personnel so they can provide safe and effective care for patients who have contracted or may have been exposed to highly hazardous infectious diseases.Other collaborations discussed with the regents included:<ul>
 <li>Department of Defense academic partnerships – such as the Interservice Physician Assistant Program – that have resulted in more than 3,100 service members trained by UNMC.</li><li>UNMC’s 36 DoD research projects, include developing protective drugs for soldiers facing biological, chemical or radiological threats, as well as advancing cancer therapies and treatments for combat injuries.</li><li>UNMC’s partnership with the Veterans Affairs, with 62 faculty providing care at the Omaha VA, as well as 21 residency programs and 112 research projects.</li><li>The Infectious Disease Air Transport (IDAT) program, in which med center subject matter experts work with C-STARS to create training plans, hold exercises and do research on dealing with high-consequence infectious diseases in the field.</li><li>Plans for a more advanced IDAT facility, purpose-built to enhance the nation’s capability and capacity for transport of patients affected by HCID to higher levels of care.</li><li>The UNMC College of Dentistry’s veteran outreach efforts, including holding its own clinics and participating with local and national efforts.</li>
 </ul>“We are proud of our efforts on behalf of our nation and our veterans,” Dr. Davies said. “We are grateful to partner with the C-STARS team; and we continue to find ways to provide more impactful health care and safety measures for Nebraska, our nation and the world.”Dr. Lowe said he was proud of the partnership’s impact on advancing global health security and military readiness.“Collaborating with the U.S. Air Force team has allowed us to push the boundaries of innovation, training and preparedness,” he said.

UNMC leaders discuss defense collaborations at regents meeting

By:<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a> <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

The Des Moines School Board is suing JG Consulting, the firm contracted in the search that led to hiring former Superintendent Ian Roberts.

The board hired Roberts in 2023. He held the position until Sept. 30, when he resigned after being placed on&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/29/state-board-revokes-dmps-superintendent-ian-roberts-license-after-ice-arrest/">unpaid administrative leave</a>&nbsp;by the school board Monday and having his license revoked by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Sunday.

These actions came after Roberts was&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/26/des-moines-public-schools-superintendent-in-ice-custody-after-arrest/">detained by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement</a>. Roberts, who is a citizen of Guyana according to court documents, was arrested by ICE agents Sept. 26 during a “targeted enforcement operation,” a news release from the federal agency stated. A handgun, hunting knife and $3,000 in cash were found in his vehicle, and ICE stated he evaded arrest.

While there has been significant confusion and backlash surrounding Roberts’ detainment, in the days since his arrest, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/10/03/dhs-releases-new-information-extensive-criminal-history-illegal-alien-ian-roberts" target="_blank">has released documents</a>&nbsp;confirming Roberts was given an order of removal by an immigration judge in May 2024, and he has faced multiple criminal charges.

Some of the information that has come to light about Roberts’ background, such as a 2022 criminal charge for having a loaded weapon in his vehicle while hunting, and that he had not received the doctorate from Morgan State University claimed in his resume, were subjects flagged for Des Moines Public Schools and board members during the superintendent search process.

But DMPS officials said many of the issues brought up since his arrest — including his immigration status, previous criminal charges as well as the falsification of other parts of his resume — were subjects that should have been flagged during the search and background check process.

After two closed session meetings Friday, Board President Jackie Norris announced the board was filing a lawsuit against JG Consulting for breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation and negligence in the process of offering Roberts as a candidate.

The lawsuit states the $41,000 contract between the search firm and DMPS required candidates be referred to the district only if the business “reasonably believed the candidate could lawfully and satisfactorily perform the position and that the candidate’s application materials were true and complete.”

Norris said JG Consulting “failed its duty to properly vet candidates,” and that Roberts “should have never been presented as a finalist.” The contract required the firm to conduct “comprehensive reference calls” to verify employment experiences, in addition to criminal, credit and background checks conducted through a third party, Norris said, and the business was required to provide all known information, both positive and negative, to the board.

“That did not occur,” Norris said. “We are pursuing pursuing legal action, as allowed by law. This is about accountability. Taxpayer dollars were used, and we are seeking accountability.”

The DHS report, released Friday, included information on Roberts’ alleged criminal history such as 1996 charges for the criminal possession of narcotics and possession of a forged instrument in New York as well as previously reported weapons charges.

“Ian Andre Roberts, a criminal illegal alien with multiple weapons charges and a drug trafficking charge, should have never been able to work around children,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in the news release. “When ICE officers arrested this Superintendent, he was in possession of an illegal handgun, a hunting knife, and nearly $3,000 in cash. This criminal illegal alien is now in U.S. Marshals custody and facing charges for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearms.”

Several of the academic institutions Roberts claimed to have received degrees or honors from disputed having records of his enrollment, or of granting him awards,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2025/10/01/dmps-superintendent-ian-andre-roberts-did-not-attend-mit-university-says/86454972007/" target="_blank">the Des Moines Register</a>&nbsp;has reported.

Josh Romero, attorney for JG Consulting, said in a statement Friday that Roberts had provided the necessary documents to show he was eligible for the superintendent position in regard to his citizenship — he had completed the I-9 employment eligibility verification form and submitted other required documentation showing his employment eligibility when hired by DMPS.

Romero also stated that the firm’s team “identified and reported to the board on the discrepancy in his educational history prior to the board making its selection,” and that the Des Moines school board chose to move forward.

“That the district has now decided to litigate about their choice of candidate at this time, when they have had all relevant information since the beginning, is unfortunate and unwarranted,” Romero said in the statement. “We will answer any claims brought by the district in court.”

JG Consulting had contracted with Baker-Eubanks, a separate consulting firm, to perform third-party background checks during Roberts’ hiring process. A news release from Baker-Eubanks stated it was not contracted to perform work addressing eligibility or citizenship verification.

But Norris said information on Roberts’ criminal history and educational background should have been uncovered through the search process.

“I think it’s clear that people are identifying and finding information online in a matter of hours,” Norris said. “And so it is probably something that they should have caught, and that was our expectation.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758925503158.png" alt="&nbsp;Ian Roberts in February 2020.- photo ICE" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Ian Roberts in February 2020.- photo ICE</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a> <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>The Des Moines School Board is suing JG Consulting, the firm contracted in the search that led to hiring former Superintendent Ian Roberts.The board hired Roberts in 2023. He held the position until Sept. 30, when he resigned after being placed on&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/29/state-board-revokes-dmps-superintendent-ian-roberts-license-after-ice-arrest/">unpaid administrative leave</a>&nbsp;by the school board Monday and having his license revoked by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Sunday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759615148707.png" alt=" Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, right, greets students and staff on the first day of school at Goodrell Elementary on Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Jon Lemons/Courtesy of Des Moines Public Schools)" />
 <figcaption> Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, right, greets students and staff on the first day of school at Goodrell Elementary on Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Jon Lemons/Courtesy of Des Moines Public Schools)</figcaption>
 </figure>These actions came after Roberts was&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/26/des-moines-public-schools-superintendent-in-ice-custody-after-arrest/">detained by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement</a>. Roberts, who is a citizen of Guyana according to court documents, was arrested by ICE agents Sept. 26 during a “targeted enforcement operation,” a news release from the federal agency stated. A handgun, hunting knife and $3,000 in cash were found in his vehicle, and ICE stated he evaded arrest.While there has been significant confusion and backlash surrounding Roberts’ detainment, in the days since his arrest, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/10/03/dhs-releases-new-information-extensive-criminal-history-illegal-alien-ian-roberts" target="_blank">has released documents</a>&nbsp;confirming Roberts was given an order of removal by an immigration judge in May 2024, and he has faced multiple criminal charges.Some of the information that has come to light about Roberts’ background, such as a 2022 criminal charge for having a loaded weapon in his vehicle while hunting, and that he had not received the doctorate from Morgan State University claimed in his resume, were subjects flagged for Des Moines Public Schools and board members during the superintendent search process.But DMPS officials said many of the issues brought up since his arrest — including his immigration status, previous criminal charges as well as the falsification of other parts of his resume — were subjects that should have been flagged during the search and background check process.After two closed session meetings Friday, Board President Jackie Norris announced the board was filing a lawsuit against JG Consulting for breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation and negligence in the process of offering Roberts as a candidate.The lawsuit states the $41,000 contract between the search firm and DMPS required candidates be referred to the district only if the business “reasonably believed the candidate could lawfully and satisfactorily perform the position and that the candidate’s application materials were true and complete.”Norris said JG Consulting “failed its duty to properly vet candidates,” and that Roberts “should have never been presented as a finalist.” The contract required the firm to conduct “comprehensive reference calls” to verify employment experiences, in addition to criminal, credit and background checks conducted through a third party, Norris said, and the business was required to provide all known information, both positive and negative, to the board.“That did not occur,” Norris said. “We are pursuing pursuing legal action, as allowed by law. This is about accountability. Taxpayer dollars were used, and we are seeking accountability.”The DHS report, released Friday, included information on Roberts’ alleged criminal history such as 1996 charges for the criminal possession of narcotics and possession of a forged instrument in New York as well as previously reported weapons charges.“Ian Andre Roberts, a criminal illegal alien with multiple weapons charges and a drug trafficking charge, should have never been able to work around children,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in the news release. “When ICE officers arrested this Superintendent, he was in possession of an illegal handgun, a hunting knife, and nearly $3,000 in cash. This criminal illegal alien is now in U.S. Marshals custody and facing charges for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearms.”Several of the academic institutions Roberts claimed to have received degrees or honors from disputed having records of his enrollment, or of granting him awards,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2025/10/01/dmps-superintendent-ian-andre-roberts-did-not-attend-mit-university-says/86454972007/" target="_blank">the Des Moines Register</a>&nbsp;has reported.Josh Romero, attorney for JG Consulting, said in a statement Friday that Roberts had provided the necessary documents to show he was eligible for the superintendent position in regard to his citizenship — he had completed the I-9 employment eligibility verification form and submitted other required documentation showing his employment eligibility when hired by DMPS.Romero also stated that the firm’s team “identified and reported to the board on the discrepancy in his educational history prior to the board making its selection,” and that the Des Moines school board chose to move forward.“That the district has now decided to litigate about their choice of candidate at this time, when they have had all relevant information since the beginning, is unfortunate and unwarranted,” Romero said in the statement. “We will answer any claims brought by the district in court.”JG Consulting had contracted with Baker-Eubanks, a separate consulting firm, to perform third-party background checks during Roberts’ hiring process. A news release from Baker-Eubanks stated it was not contracted to perform work addressing eligibility or citizenship verification.But Norris said information on Roberts’ criminal history and educational background should have been uncovered through the search process.“I think it’s clear that people are identifying and finding information online in a matter of hours,” Norris said. “And so it is probably something that they should have caught, and that was our expectation.”

School board sues search firm used in superintendent’s hiring process

Transformational academic health care facility will help shape the future of Nebraska.

On Friday, Oct. 3, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the second design phase for&nbsp;Project Health, a transformational academic health care facility that will be based on the Omaha campus of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and its primary clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine.

The project, the first phase of the larger&nbsp;Project NExT&nbsp;initiative, will serve as a state-of-the-art clinical learning center to educate and train future health care providers, conduct cutting-edge research and expand access to clinical trials.

“As we look ahead, Project Health will not only transform our medical campus – it will help shape the future of health care for Nebraska,” said NU President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “The visible progress already underway is a powerful reminder of the momentum we’ve built – and will continue to build – as we work to deliver on our bold vision for the state.”

The regent action authorizes construction of the shell and core of the facility. This work amounts to about $1.22 billion of the entire $2.19 billion project. Initial design phase approval, granted in April 2025, allowed for site preparation and foundational work to begin. A planned third phase, which also would require regental approval, would be necessary to complete the project. Funding for the project comes from several sources: philanthropy, the state of Nebraska; the city of Omaha; the university and Nebraska Medicine; and private financing.

In addition to serving as an ultramodern clinical learning and research environment, Project Health will become the primary in-patient clinical hospital for Nebraska Medicine. When the project is complete, more than 550 beds will be available in the facility.

“UNMC must grow professional learner enrollment by 20-25% to meet the needs across our state,” said H. Dele Davies, MD, interim chancellor of UNMC. “This will be possible only with significant improvement of our physical environment, as these students will need a modern, cutting-edge space to practice and hone their skills. With 30% of the building dedicated for educational purposes, Project Health will truly help UNMC grow Nebraska’s health and medical workforce.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757447050560.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759520513285.jpeg" alt="Rendering Courtesy UNMC" />
 <figcaption>Rendering Courtesy UNMC</figcaption>
 </figure>For Immediate Release<h2>Transformational academic health care facility will help shape the future of Nebraska.</h2>On Friday, Oct. 3, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the second design phase for&nbsp;Project Health, a transformational academic health care facility that will be based on the Omaha campus of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and its primary clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine.The project, the first phase of the larger&nbsp;Project NExT&nbsp;initiative, will serve as a state-of-the-art clinical learning center to educate and train future health care providers, conduct cutting-edge research and expand access to clinical trials.“As we look ahead, Project Health will not only transform our medical campus – it will help shape the future of health care for Nebraska,” said NU President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “The visible progress already underway is a powerful reminder of the momentum we’ve built – and will continue to build – as we work to deliver on our bold vision for the state.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759520557141.jpeg" alt="Rendering of the Project Health Facility Courtesy UNMC." />
 <figcaption>Rendering of the Project Health Facility Courtesy UNMC.</figcaption>
 </figure>The regent action authorizes construction of the shell and core of the facility. This work amounts to about $1.22 billion of the entire $2.19 billion project. Initial design phase approval, granted in April 2025, allowed for site preparation and foundational work to begin. A planned third phase, which also would require regental approval, would be necessary to complete the project. Funding for the project comes from several sources: philanthropy, the state of Nebraska; the city of Omaha; the university and Nebraska Medicine; and private financing.In addition to serving as an ultramodern clinical learning and research environment, Project Health will become the primary in-patient clinical hospital for Nebraska Medicine. When the project is complete, more than 550 beds will be available in the facility.“UNMC must grow professional learner enrollment by 20-25% to meet the needs across our state,” said H. Dele Davies, MD, interim chancellor of UNMC. “This will be possible only with significant improvement of our physical environment, as these students will need a modern, cutting-edge space to practice and hone their skills. With 30% of the building dedicated for educational purposes, Project Health will truly help UNMC grow Nebraska’s health and medical workforce.”Both Drs. Gold and Davies pointed to the state’s critical need for more health care professionals:<ul>
 <li>Sixty-six of Nebraska’s 93 counties are designated as medically underserved​.</li><li>​There is an uneven distribution of health professionals in Nebraska: 83% of providers reside in metro areas, while only 65% of Nebraska’s population does so. The result is that 35% of the state’s population relies on 17% of the total health care workforce for care.​</li><li>​Although many health professions are expected to see varying growth rates by 2030, need and demand also will be affected by an imminent retirement boom of health professionals over the next 5-10 years, including about 20% of practicing physicians.​</li><li>​This will coincide with an expected decline of 1% of dental professionals and 9% of primary care physicians (defined as family medicine, general practice, internal medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics and pediatric internal medicine) by 2030.​</li><li>​In 2023, 21 Nebraska counties lacked a primary care physician. ​</li><li>​The Nebraska Center for Nursing projected that Nebraska would experience a workforce shortage of 5,436 nurses this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;​</li>
 </ul>Dr. Davies noted that Project Health would complement other initiatives to boost the health care workforce in Nebraska. Notably, expansion of UNMC’s programs in Kearney will increase the number of graduates there by 75% – to more than 600 annually – within the next five years.