LINCOLN, Neb. (Sept. 26, 2025) — A Nebraska Lottery player who purchased a Pick 4 ticket for the Sept. 25 drawing is holding a winning ticket worth $6,000.

The ticket was sold at Nick’s Gas &amp; Liquor, 224 E. Third St., in Alliance. The winning numbers were 01, 05, 06, and 08.

Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes totaling between $501 and $19,999 must be claimed either by mail or at a Regional Lottery Claim Center. Details on prize claims are available at nelottery.com or by calling 800-587-5200.

Since its launch in 1993, the Nebraska Lottery has generated more than $1.037 billion for beneficiary funds across the state. All 93 counties have benefited from projects funded with lottery proceeds.

The Nebraska Lottery says its mission is to provide quality entertainment while supporting good causes statewide.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758633254774.png" alt="<br>" />
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                    </figure><p>LINCOLN, Neb. (Sept. 26, 2025) — A Nebraska Lottery player who purchased a Pick 4 ticket for the Sept. 25 drawing is holding a winning ticket worth $6,000.</p><p>The ticket was sold at Nick’s Gas &amp; Liquor, 224 E. Third St., in Alliance. The winning numbers were 01, 05, 06, and 08.</p><p>Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes totaling between $501 and $19,999 must be claimed either by mail or at a Regional Lottery Claim Center. Details on prize claims are available at nelottery.com or by calling 800-587-5200.</p><p>Since its launch in 1993, the Nebraska Lottery has generated more than $1.037 billion for beneficiary funds across the state. All 93 counties have benefited from projects funded with lottery proceeds.</p><p>The Nebraska Lottery says its mission is to provide quality entertainment while supporting good causes statewide.</p>

Winning Nebraska Pick 4 Ticket Worth $6,000 Sold in Alliance

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: “JUSTICE IN AMERICA!” <a href="https://t.co/polaL0r6ky">pic.twitter.com/polaL0r6ky</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1971355485019439155?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPC1sFFD2iF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPC1sFFD2iF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPC1sFFD2iF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by James Comey (@comey)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758884974711.png" alt="Comey indictment page 1 -United State's Attorney" />
                        <figcaption>Comey indictment page 1 -United State's Attorney</figcaption>
                    </figure><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758885000026.png" alt="Comey indictment page 2 -United State's Attorney" />
                        <figcaption>Comey indictment page 2 -United State's Attorney</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/sLFMnuLrpF">pic.twitter.com/sLFMnuLrpF</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1971545971315380590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 James Comey's defiant response after charged with lying to Congress

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on TikTok: &quot;We have American investors taking it over, running it — highly sophisticated... Oracle is going to play a very big role.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Y6Vj7WbM7s">pic.twitter.com/Y6Vj7WbM7s</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1971311489337446627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">REPORTER: On the TikTok algorithm, are you satisfied that there&#39;s no security concerns?<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Yeah, I am... It&#39;s owned by Americans, and very sophisticated Americans — and people that love the country.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/5RteAf4JT6">pic.twitter.com/5RteAf4JT6</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1971312021602992190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="lt" dir="ltr">PRESIDENT TRUMP SAVES TIKTOK! <a href="https://t.co/GBntfhCKrQ">pic.twitter.com/GBntfhCKrQ</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1971311657034146020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on what saving TikTok will mean for small businesses: &quot;Small businesses have become very successful because of TikTok... they use it virtually as an advertising tool, and without it, they wouldn&#39;t have anything... So, it&#39;s a very important thing for small business.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/JHZ3GhLCSy">pic.twitter.com/JHZ3GhLCSy</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1971314356056174722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> on the TikTok deal: &quot;This deal really does mean that Americans can use TikTok, but actually use it with more confidence than they had in the past because their data&#39;s going to be secure and it&#39;s not going to be used as a propaganda weapon against our fellow citizens.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/4sqqOd5B0t">pic.twitter.com/4sqqOd5B0t</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1971311739556987048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Trump signs executive order to save TikTok, says China on board

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation has awarded 22 teachers with funds to support agricultural education and FFA programs across the state.

The awards, known as the Dr. Allen G. and Kay L. Blezek Teacher Retention Awards, aim to help keep early-career agricultural education teachers in Nebraska classrooms. Recipients are all within their first five years of teaching and are eligible for increasing awards as their impact grows in the classroom, in FFA chapters, and within their communities.

“The Dr. Allen G. and Kay L. Blezek Teacher Retention Award is an investment in the future of Nebraska agriculture,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. “We are very proud to support these teachers as they get established in their classrooms and communities. Since agriculture is Nebraska’s leading industry, we know that investing in agricultural education and its teachers will continue to produce returns for years to come.”

The award, a long-standing program of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, was renamed in recognition of an estate gift from Dr. Allen Blezek. Dr. Blezek was an agricultural education teacher, the first director of the Nebraska LEAD program, and a founding member of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation board of directors.

This year’s 22 award recipients represent schools across Nebraska, including:

The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation’s mission is to engage youth, educators, and the general public to promote an understanding of the vital importance of agriculture in the lives of all Nebraskans. It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

For more information about the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, visit <a href="https://www.nefbfoundation.org">www.nefbfoundation.org</a>.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758743515046.jpeg" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation has awarded 22 teachers with funds to support agricultural education and FFA programs across the state.</p><p>The awards, known as the Dr. Allen G. and Kay L. Blezek Teacher Retention Awards, aim to help keep early-career agricultural education teachers in Nebraska classrooms. Recipients are all within their first five years of teaching and are eligible for increasing awards as their impact grows in the classroom, in FFA chapters, and within their communities.</p><p>“The Dr. Allen G. and Kay L. Blezek Teacher Retention Award is an investment in the future of Nebraska agriculture,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. “We are very proud to support these teachers as they get established in their classrooms and communities. Since agriculture is Nebraska’s leading industry, we know that investing in agricultural education and its teachers will continue to produce returns for years to come.”</p><p>The award, a long-standing program of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, was renamed in recognition of an estate gift from Dr. Allen Blezek. Dr. Blezek was an agricultural education teacher, the first director of the Nebraska LEAD program, and a founding member of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation board of directors.</p><p>This year’s 22 award recipients represent schools across Nebraska, including:</p><ul>
                        <li>Kiley Codner, Hall County
</li><li>Andra Smith, Cherry County
</li><li><b>Kelsey Steinkraus, Chase County
</b></li><li>Megan Skibinski, Valley County
</li><li>Kaydie Brandl, Platte County
</li><li>Colton Husa, Gage County
</li><li>Maren DeJonge, Richardson County
</li><li>Toriann Holly, Jefferson County
</li><li>Nick Birdsley, Douglas County
</li><li><b>Trevor Mann, Lincoln County
</b></li><li>Hallett Moomey, Buffalo County
</li><li>Tanner Nun, Gage County
</li><li>Payden Woodruff, Hall County
</li><li>Jocelyn Pohl, Morrill County
</li><li>Kealey Widdowson, Buffalo County
</li><li>Mikayla Martensen, Platte County
</li><li>Kylie Kinley, Nuckolls County
</li><li><b>Emily Kammerer, Lincoln County
</b></li><li>Mai Lee Olsen, Banner County
</li><li>Kayla Mues, Dundy County
</li><li>Caleb tenBensel, Custer County
</li><li>Lexi Meister, Cuming County
</li>
                    </ul><p>The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation’s mission is to engage youth, educators, and the general public to promote an understanding of the vital importance of agriculture in the lives of all Nebraskans. It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.</p><p>For more information about the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, visit <a href="https://www.nefbfoundation.org">www.nefbfoundation.org</a>.</p>

Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation Honors 22 Agricultural Education Teachers

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

WASHINGTON — The White House has sent guidance to departments and agencies, telling them that if a shutdown begins Wednesday, they’re expected to institute mass firings and layoffs.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26157388-omb-lapse-email/" target="_blank">two-page memo</a>, shared with States Newsroom by a Trump administration official, says any programs that received funding in the “big, beautiful” law will “continue uninterrupted.”

But the vast majority of federal departments and agencies need Congress to approve an annual funding bill or a stopgap spending bill before the start of the new fiscal year to keep running.&nbsp;

The memo says the employees who run those programs may receive a Reduction in Force notice if lawmakers don’t broker an agreement before the Oct. 1 deadline.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Those reductions will apply to programs, projects, or activities that are “not consistent with the President’s priorities,” according to the memo.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“RIF notices will be in addition to any furlough notices provided due to the lapse in appropriation,” the memo states. “RIF notices should be issued to all employees working on the relevant (programs, projects, or activities), regardless of whether the employee is excepted or furloughed during the lapse in appropriations.”

Once lawmakers reach a deal and the government reopens, the memo says agencies should rework their reduction in force plans “to retain the minimal number of employees necessary to carry out statutory functions.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in a statement the memo represents “an attempt at intimidation.”

“Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since day one—not to govern, but to scare. This is nothing new and has nothing to do with funding the government,” Schumer wrote. “These unnecessary firings will either be overturned in court or the administration will end up hiring the workers back, just like they did as recently as today.”

American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley wrote in a statement the memo shows that White House budget director Russ Vought intends “to pursue another DOGE-like round of illegal mass firings in the event of a shutdown, adding to the chaos.”&nbsp;

“The truth is simple: Republicans cannot fund the government without Democratic votes. That means the only path forward is compromise,” Kelley wrote. “The president and congressional leaders must sit down and negotiate in good faith to keep the lights on for the American people. Nothing less is acceptable.”

Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen wrote in a statement that “Trump is engaged in mafia-style blackmail, with his threats ultimately harming the American people.”&nbsp;

“He is threatening to double down on the failed actions of Elon Musk and his chainsaw — going after patriotic civil servants that provide Americans with critical services — despite having to rehire many of these workers after Americans experienced the negative impact of those cuts,” Van Hollen wrote. “These dedicated workers have nothing to do with the ongoing political and policy disputes that have brought us to the brink of a shutdown.”

The House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/chance-government-shutdown-rises-us-senate-fails-advance-spending-bill" target="_blank">voted mostly along party lines</a>&nbsp;to approve a seven-week stopgap spending bill last week before leaving town. GOP leaders were supposed to bring lawmakers in that chamber back to Capitol Hill on Monday, but extended their break and won’t return until after the shutdown deadline.&nbsp;

The move was largely seen as a way to jam the Senate, specifically Democrats, with the short-term government funding bill that they largely oppose because GOP lawmakers wrote it behind closed doors without bipartisan negotiations.&nbsp;

The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/chance-government-shutdown-rises-us-senate-fails-advance-spending-bill" target="_blank">tried to advance</a>&nbsp;the House-passed Republican stopgap bill but didn’t have the necessary 60 votes to move the legislation toward final passage.&nbsp;

Democrats have maintained for weeks that if Republican leaders want their support on a short-term spending bill, they should have negotiated with party leaders on key issues, including an extension of the enhanced tax credits for people who buy their health insurance on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.

Those tax credits are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-dems-push-gop-extension-expiring-health-care-subsidies" target="_blank">set to expire</a>&nbsp;at the end of the year but Americans who rely on the marketplace for their health insurance will begin purchasing their plans for next year on Nov. 1.&nbsp;

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said he views negotiations on those tax credits as an issue for December, not this month, despite the open enrollment period ending on Dec. 15.&nbsp;

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has said repeatedly he views the issue as separate from government funding.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609336731287.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a></p><p>WASHINGTON — The White House has sent guidance to departments and agencies, telling them that if a shutdown begins Wednesday, they’re expected to institute mass firings and layoffs.&nbsp;</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758805389171.png" alt="Memo from OMB" />
                        <figcaption>Memo from OMB</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26157388-omb-lapse-email/" target="_blank">two-page memo</a>, shared with States Newsroom by a Trump administration official, says any programs that received funding in the “big, beautiful” law will “continue uninterrupted.”</p><p>But the vast majority of federal departments and agencies need Congress to approve an annual funding bill or a stopgap spending bill before the start of the new fiscal year to keep running.&nbsp;</p><p>The memo says the employees who run those programs may receive a Reduction in Force notice if lawmakers don’t broker an agreement before the Oct. 1 deadline.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Those reductions will apply to programs, projects, or activities that are “not consistent with the President’s priorities,” according to the memo.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“RIF notices will be in addition to any furlough notices provided due to the lapse in appropriation,” the memo states. “RIF notices should be issued to all employees working on the relevant (programs, projects, or activities), regardless of whether the employee is excepted or furloughed during the lapse in appropriations.”</p><p>Once lawmakers reach a deal and the government reopens, the memo says agencies should rework their reduction in force plans “to retain the minimal number of employees necessary to carry out statutory functions.”</p><h2>Employee union urges compromise</h2><p>Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in a statement the memo represents “an attempt at intimidation.”</p><p>“Donald Trump has been firing federal workers since day one—not to govern, but to scare. This is nothing new and has nothing to do with funding the government,” Schumer wrote. “These unnecessary firings will either be overturned in court or the administration will end up hiring the workers back, just like they did as recently as today.”</p><p>American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley wrote in a statement the memo shows that White House budget director Russ Vought intends “to pursue another DOGE-like round of illegal mass firings in the event of a shutdown, adding to the chaos.”&nbsp;</p><p>“The truth is simple: Republicans cannot fund the government without Democratic votes. That means the only path forward is compromise,” Kelley wrote. “The president and congressional leaders must sit down and negotiate in good faith to keep the lights on for the American people. Nothing less is acceptable.”</p><p>Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen wrote in a statement that “Trump is engaged in mafia-style blackmail, with his threats ultimately harming the American people.”&nbsp;</p><p>“He is threatening to double down on the failed actions of Elon Musk and his chainsaw — going after patriotic civil servants that provide Americans with critical services — despite having to rehire many of these workers after Americans experienced the negative impact of those cuts,” Van Hollen wrote. “These dedicated workers have nothing to do with the ongoing political and policy disputes that have brought us to the brink of a shutdown.”</p><h2>House GOP departs until after Oct. 1</h2><p>The House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/chance-government-shutdown-rises-us-senate-fails-advance-spending-bill" target="_blank">voted mostly along party lines</a>&nbsp;to approve a seven-week stopgap spending bill last week before leaving town. GOP leaders were supposed to bring lawmakers in that chamber back to Capitol Hill on Monday, but extended their break and won’t return until after the shutdown deadline.&nbsp;</p><p>The move was largely seen as a way to jam the Senate, specifically Democrats, with the short-term government funding bill that they largely oppose because GOP lawmakers wrote it behind closed doors without bipartisan negotiations.&nbsp;</p><p>The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/chance-government-shutdown-rises-us-senate-fails-advance-spending-bill" target="_blank">tried to advance</a>&nbsp;the House-passed Republican stopgap bill but didn’t have the necessary 60 votes to move the legislation toward final passage.&nbsp;</p><p>Democrats have maintained for weeks that if Republican leaders want their support on a short-term spending bill, they should have negotiated with party leaders on key issues, including an extension of the enhanced tax credits for people who buy their health insurance on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.</p><p>Those tax credits are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-dems-push-gop-extension-expiring-health-care-subsidies" target="_blank">set to expire</a>&nbsp;at the end of the year but Americans who rely on the marketplace for their health insurance will begin purchasing their plans for next year on Nov. 1.&nbsp;</p><p>Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said he views negotiations on those tax credits as an issue for December, not this month, despite the open enrollment period ending on Dec. 15.&nbsp;</p><p>Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has said repeatedly he views the issue as separate from government funding.</p>

Trump threatens mass firings of federal employees in a government shutdown

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/aaron-sanderford/">Aaron Sanderford</a><br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The former executive director of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission faces seven felony charges, including some that allege he deprived Nebraskans of his honest work as a public official by letting two Lincoln strip clubs give him cash, lap dances, sexual favors and free drinks.

He visited often enough that employees tallied the amount his visits pulled from the cash register on sticky notes left for their bosses that they labeled “COB” for the cost of the clubs doing business, according to a federal indictment of the state official unsealed this week.

Part of the state official’s job was to help the commission dole out, discipline and rescind Nebraska liquor licenses. That role included weighing in after police investigations of rival Omaha strip clubs the indictment alleges the state official shared with the co-owner of the Lincoln clubs and looking up dancers in law enforcement databases. And the indictment alleges he demanded a total of $65,000 from one bar owner to protect a liquor license.

The grand jury charged former commission director Hobert “Hobie” Rupe with three counts of honest services fraud — the charge that means a public official or employee depriving the people of an official’s honest work — one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, two counts of wire fraud and one count of extortion.&nbsp;

It charged a co-owner of Lincoln strip clubs The Office and The Night Before Lounge, Brent Zywiec, with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. All are felonies carrying sentences of up to 20 years in prison. All must still be proven in court.

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who attended a news conference at the FBI’s Omaha office with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to announce the indictment, said it should serve as a warning to anybody who would seek personal gain from public service.

“Nebraskans expect that their public servants give them honest services, that they act with integrity and follow the oath of office they swear to uphold,” Hilgers said of Rupe, who served as executive director from 2004 until June 2025. “That’s not what happened here.”

Gov. Jim Pillen, in a statement Wednesday, expressed disappointment at the “failure of leadership at the Liquor Control Commission.” He said he would do “everything in my power” to make sure the agency, which is run independently of his administration, meets public expectations “going forward.”&nbsp;

“The conduct alleged in the indictment … falls completely short of what Nebraskans expect of officials placed in positions of public trust,” Pillen said.

Rupe served almost 10 years as an assistant attorney general prior to joining the commission. He did not immediately return calls seeking comment. One former number had been changed. The other went straight to voicemail. The Liquor Control Commission had suspended him without pay from his $130,596-a-year job in May after a search warrant was served.

Liquor Control Commission Chair Bruce Bailey of Lincoln had said in May that Rupe’s alleged offenses related to his “fitness and ability” to serve and required an immediate suspension. No new information had been available until this week.

The shake-up at the Liquor Commission could have impacts beyond liquor cases, because the members of the board also serve on the new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission and the two commissions began sharing funds after Rupe’s departure.

A woman who answered the phone at The Office Gentlemen’s Club in Lincoln said the club would have no comment. One person at the club said Zywiec had been “suspended.” No one immediately answered the Examiner’s calls to The Night Before Lounge. Efforts to reach Zywiec were unsuccessful Wednesday.

The indictment alleges that payments and services were offered at the clubs from January 2022 through May 2025. Among the gifts offered and accepted, it said, were free entry into bars that usually charge $20 cover fees, free drinks and cash to cover free lap dances, free VIP dances and services that included oral sex.

A single private dance at the club can cost about $100 for three songs, while a turn in the VIP lounge can cost up to $500. The feds say at least one surveillance video investigators secured showed Rupe receiving sexual favors. Some videos of people in compromising positions were saved to the owner’s iCloud account, the indictment says.

Rupe, in addition to sharing sensitive information with Zywiec about law enforcement investigations into rival clubs, also ignored violations he saw occurring in the Lincoln clubs, the indictment alleges.&nbsp;

Text messages between Zywiec and an unnamed cohort who is likely cooperating with the feds show the two had developed coded language to speak about visiting the club, the indictment alleges. They used the term “team players” to discuss whether a particular dancer might be willing to offer favors, it adds. The two used the words “book” or “papers” to discuss cash, authorities allege.

“Like I said if I don’t know em. Know em i can’t endorse em,” Zywiec allegedly wrote in one text message exchange. “But that shouldn’t stop you.”

Rupe replied, the documents allege: “You know me. Always on the lookout for team players.”

In another text exchange, Zywiec and an unnamed co-conspirator discussed a “new blond” who “just took Hobie to vip.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is requesting a jury trial in Lincoln.

<i>Nebraska Examiner Reporter Zach Wendling contributed to this report.</i>

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657162175501.jpeg" alt="Image unsplash&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Image unsplash&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/aaron-sanderford/">Aaron Sanderford</a><br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/">Nebraska Examiner</a></p><p>LINCOLN — The former executive director of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission faces seven felony charges, including some that allege he deprived Nebraskans of his honest work as a public official by letting two Lincoln strip clubs give him cash, lap dances, sexual favors and free drinks.</p><p>He visited often enough that employees tallied the amount his visits pulled from the cash register on sticky notes left for their bosses that they labeled “COB” for the cost of the clubs doing business, according to a federal indictment of the state official unsealed this week.</p><p>Part of the state official’s job was to help the commission dole out, discipline and rescind Nebraska liquor licenses. That role included weighing in after police investigations of rival Omaha strip clubs the indictment alleges the state official shared with the co-owner of the Lincoln clubs and looking up dancers in law enforcement databases. And the indictment alleges he demanded a total of $65,000 from one bar owner to protect a liquor license.</p><p>The grand jury charged former commission director Hobert “Hobie” Rupe with three counts of honest services fraud — the charge that means a public official or employee depriving the people of an official’s honest work — one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, two counts of wire fraud and one count of extortion.&nbsp;</p><p>It charged a co-owner of Lincoln strip clubs The Office and The Night Before Lounge, Brent Zywiec, with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. All are felonies carrying sentences of up to 20 years in prison. All must still be proven in court.</p><p>Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who attended a news conference at the FBI’s Omaha office with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to announce the indictment, said it should serve as a warning to anybody who would seek personal gain from public service.</p><p>“Nebraskans expect that their public servants give them honest services, that they act with integrity and follow the oath of office they swear to uphold,” Hilgers said of Rupe, who served as executive director from 2004 until June 2025. “That’s not what happened here.”</p><p>Gov. Jim Pillen, in a statement Wednesday, expressed disappointment at the “failure of leadership at the Liquor Control Commission.” He said he would do “everything in my power” to make sure the agency, which is run independently of his administration, meets public expectations “going forward.”&nbsp;</p><p>“The conduct alleged in the indictment … falls completely short of what Nebraskans expect of officials placed in positions of public trust,” Pillen said.</p><p>Rupe served almost 10 years as an assistant attorney general prior to joining the commission. He did not immediately return calls seeking comment. One former number had been changed. The other went straight to voicemail. The Liquor Control Commission had suspended him without pay from his $130,596-a-year job in May after a search warrant was served.</p><p>Liquor Control Commission Chair Bruce Bailey of Lincoln had said in May that Rupe’s alleged offenses related to his “fitness and ability” to serve and required an immediate suspension. No new information had been available until this week.</p><p>The shake-up at the Liquor Commission could have impacts beyond liquor cases, because the members of the board also serve on the new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission and the two commissions began sharing funds after Rupe’s departure.</p><p>A woman who answered the phone at The Office Gentlemen’s Club in Lincoln said the club would have no comment. One person at the club said Zywiec had been “suspended.” No one immediately answered the Examiner’s calls to The Night Before Lounge. Efforts to reach Zywiec were unsuccessful Wednesday.</p><p>The indictment alleges that payments and services were offered at the clubs from January 2022 through May 2025. Among the gifts offered and accepted, it said, were free entry into bars that usually charge $20 cover fees, free drinks and cash to cover free lap dances, free VIP dances and services that included oral sex.</p><p>A single private dance at the club can cost about $100 for three songs, while a turn in the VIP lounge can cost up to $500. The feds say at least one surveillance video investigators secured showed Rupe receiving sexual favors. Some videos of people in compromising positions were saved to the owner’s iCloud account, the indictment says.</p><p>Rupe, in addition to sharing sensitive information with Zywiec about law enforcement investigations into rival clubs, also ignored violations he saw occurring in the Lincoln clubs, the indictment alleges.&nbsp;</p><p>Text messages between Zywiec and an unnamed cohort who is likely cooperating with the feds show the two had developed coded language to speak about visiting the club, the indictment alleges. They used the term “team players” to discuss whether a particular dancer might be willing to offer favors, it adds. The two used the words “book” or “papers” to discuss cash, authorities allege.</p><p>“Like I said if I don’t know em. Know em i can’t endorse em,” Zywiec allegedly wrote in one text message exchange. “But that shouldn’t stop you.”</p><p>Rupe replied, the documents allege: “You know me. Always on the lookout for team players.”</p><p>In another text exchange, Zywiec and an unnamed co-conspirator discussed a “new blond” who “just took Hobie to vip.”</p><p>The U.S. Attorney’s Office is requesting a jury trial in Lincoln.</p><p><i>Nebraska Examiner Reporter Zach Wendling contributed to this report.</i></p>

Ex-Nebraska Liquor Commission director charged with taking cash, sexual favors in strip club probe

President Trump on Wednesday unveiled the new Presidential Wall of Fame at the White House. Joe Biden’s portrait is an AUTO-PEN&nbsp;

<p>President Trump on Wednesday unveiled the new Presidential Wall of Fame at the White House. Joe Biden’s portrait is an AUTO-PEN&nbsp;</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758735968499.png" alt="Image courtesy White House" />
                        <figcaption>Image courtesy White House</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="art" dir="ltr">🤣🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/MSERUFrlyH">https://t.co/MSERUFrlyH</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1970899696227942480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">👀 <a href="https://t.co/jE2Vm7UdjL">https://t.co/jE2Vm7UdjL</a> <a href="https://t.co/CJ3yQBtPGQ">pic.twitter.com/CJ3yQBtPGQ</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1970902690474647786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Surprise portrait in new White House Presidential Walk of Fame

September 24, 2025 (Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The first three home Saturdays of the Husker football season have come and gone, and Nebraska State Troopers were on patrol to keep fans safe on the way to and from Lincoln.

Troopers throughout Nebraska made 30 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol on the first three home gamedays of the season. Six of those arrests occurred in Lancaster County in the hours surrounding a Husker football game. During the first month of home games last season, troopers made 35 DUI arrests, including 10 DUI arrests in Lancaster County.

“Gameday safety is absolutely a team effort, and it starts on the road to the game,” said Colonel Bryan Waugh, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “The vast majority of fans followed the safety game plan and drove sober. If alcohol is part of your gameday experience, use the off week to make the adjustment to designate a sober driver or make another plan to get home without driving impaired.”

This effort was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office. In addition to patrolling the roads, troopers assist gameday security operations alongside the UNL Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and other partners.

The team is off this weekend, but the Huskers will be back at home against Michigan State on October 4.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756755319947.jpeg" alt="photo courtesy Nebraska State Patrol" />
                        <figcaption>photo courtesy Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><i>For Immediate Release</i></p><p>September 24, 2025 (Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The first three home Saturdays of the Husker football season have come and gone, and Nebraska State Troopers were on patrol to keep fans safe on the way to and from Lincoln.</p><p>Troopers throughout Nebraska made 30 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol on the first three home gamedays of the season. Six of those arrests occurred in Lancaster County in the hours surrounding a Husker football game. During the first month of home games last season, troopers made 35 DUI arrests, including 10 DUI arrests in Lancaster County.</p><p>“Gameday safety is absolutely a team effort, and it starts on the road to the game,” said Colonel Bryan Waugh, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “The vast majority of fans followed the safety game plan and drove sober. If alcohol is part of your gameday experience, use the off week to make the adjustment to designate a sober driver or make another plan to get home without driving impaired.”</p><p>This effort was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office. In addition to patrolling the roads, troopers assist gameday security operations alongside the UNL Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and other partners.</p><p>The team is off this weekend, but the Huskers will be back at home against Michigan State on October 4.</p>

Troopers Make 30 DUI Arrests During Husker Home Games

Officials said the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and no ICE personnel were among the victims. FBI Director Kash Patel said an anti-ICE message was found on an unspent shell casing.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/uriel-j-garcia/">Uriel J. García</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/colleen-deguzman/">Colleen DeGuzman</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/nicholas-gutteridge/">Nicholas Gutteridge</a><br><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/">Texas Tribune</a>

A shooter killed one person and injured two others at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas on Wednesday morning, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said at a news conference.

The shooter, whose identity has not been released by authorities, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.

Police didn’t provide any other details about the victims but emphasized they didn’t include any law enforcement officers. Still, R. Joseph Rothrock, the special agent in charge of the Dallas office, said that ammunition found near the shooter’s body “contain messages that are anti-ICE in nature.”

“I'm not going to be identifying victims at this time,” Rothrock said. “The only thing I will confirm at this time is, no law enforcement was injured.”

Law enforcement officials at the news conference provided few additional details, but urged the public to tone down the political rhetoric toward immigration officers.

“This needs to stop. Violence is wrong. Politically motivated violence is wrong,” Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said at the news conference. “We should not be putting language out there that inspires madmen.”

FBI Director Kash Patel shared a photo on social media depicting “five unspent shell casings” on the ground, with “ANTI ICE” written on one of them.

Patel, who has been criticized for releasing incorrect information about the assassination of conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk, said that even though the Dallas shooting is still under investigation, the “initial review of the evidence shows an idealogical motive behind this attack.”

In a<a href="https://x.com/DallasPD/status/1970842592418914725">&nbsp;statement</a>, the Dallas Police Department said the preliminary investigation “determined that a suspect opened fire at a government building from an adjacent building.”

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a<a href="https://x.com/sec_noem/status/1970837092742664662?s=46&amp;t=ht96GmWRAfUT8sq2SWwBMA">&nbsp;post on X</a>&nbsp;that the motive is unclear.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs in the Department of Homeland Security, told Fox News that the victims included detainees. She added that no federal agents were shot.

Vice President JD Vance said on X that “the obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop.”

Gov. Greg Abbott wrote on X that the shooting “will NOT slow our arrest, detention, &amp; deportation of illegal immigrants. We will work with ICE &amp; the Dallas Police Dept. to get to the bottom of the assassin’s motive. We will offer ICE additional support to assist their operations.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also weighed in on X, saying: “We will continue to do everything in our power to combat the alarming increase of targeted attacks against ICE and all law enforcement by evil, twisted individuals.”

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called the incident “horrific,” and said his office is making sure that “all resources are brought to bear in the investigation.”

House Speaker Dustin Burrows echoed that sentiment.

The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors.&nbsp;<a href="https://mediakit.texastribune.org/">Become one</a>.

“All acts of violence and intimidation simply cannot be tolerated within our society, whether it be against law enforcement personnel, political figures, or innocent individuals,” he wrote on X. “I am grateful to the law enforcement officers who quickly responded to the shooting in Dallas this morning and continue to work to ensure the safety of everyone at the ICE field office.”

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, posted on X: "My team and I are closely monitoring the situation at the ICE Detention Facility in Dallas. We are praying for the swift recovery of those injured, and we are deeply grateful to the brave first responders who rushed to the scene."

<p>Officials said the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and no ICE personnel were among the victims. FBI Director Kash Patel said an anti-ICE message was found on an unspent shell casing.</p><p>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/uriel-j-garcia/">Uriel J. García</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/colleen-deguzman/">Colleen DeGuzman</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/nicholas-gutteridge/">Nicholas Gutteridge</a><br><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/">Texas Tribune</a></p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This morning just before 7am local time, an individual fired multiple rounds at a Dallas, Texas ICE facility, killing one, wounding several others, before taking his own life. FBI, DHS, ATF are on the ground with Dallas PD and state authorities. <br><br>While the investigation is… <a href="https://t.co/SMOyxiKLqA">pic.twitter.com/SMOyxiKLqA</a></p>&mdash; FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1970877754221498599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>A shooter killed one person and injured two others at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas on Wednesday morning, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said at a news conference.</p><p>The shooter, whose identity has not been released by authorities, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.</p><p>Police didn’t provide any other details about the victims but emphasized they didn’t include any law enforcement officers. Still, R. Joseph Rothrock, the special agent in charge of the Dallas office, said that ammunition found near the shooter’s body “contain messages that are anti-ICE in nature.”</p><p>“I'm not going to be identifying victims at this time,” Rothrock said. “The only thing I will confirm at this time is, no law enforcement was injured.”</p><p>Law enforcement officials at the news conference provided few additional details, but urged the public to tone down the political rhetoric toward immigration officers.</p><p>“This needs to stop. Violence is wrong. Politically motivated violence is wrong,” Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said at the news conference. “We should not be putting language out there that inspires madmen.”</p><p>FBI Director Kash Patel shared a photo on social media depicting “five unspent shell casings” on the ground, with “ANTI ICE” written on one of them.</p><p>Patel, who has been criticized for releasing incorrect information about the assassination of conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk, said that even though the Dallas shooting is still under investigation, the “initial review of the evidence shows an idealogical motive behind this attack.”</p><p>In a<a href="https://x.com/DallasPD/status/1970842592418914725">&nbsp;statement</a>, the Dallas Police Department said the preliminary investigation “determined that a suspect opened fire at a government building from an adjacent building.”</p><p>Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a<a href="https://x.com/sec_noem/status/1970837092742664662?s=46&amp;t=ht96GmWRAfUT8sq2SWwBMA">&nbsp;post on X</a>&nbsp;that the motive is unclear.</p><p>Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs in the Department of Homeland Security, told Fox News that the victims included detainees. She added that no federal agents were shot.</p><p>Vice President JD Vance said on X that “the obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop.”</p><p>Gov. Greg Abbott wrote on X that the shooting “will NOT slow our arrest, detention, &amp; deportation of illegal immigrants. We will work with ICE &amp; the Dallas Police Dept. to get to the bottom of the assassin’s motive. We will offer ICE additional support to assist their operations.”</p><p>Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also weighed in on X, saying: “We will continue to do everything in our power to combat the alarming increase of targeted attacks against ICE and all law enforcement by evil, twisted individuals.”</p><p>U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called the incident “horrific,” and said his office is making sure that “all resources are brought to bear in the investigation.”</p><p>House Speaker Dustin Burrows echoed that sentiment.</p><p>The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors.&nbsp;<a href="https://mediakit.texastribune.org/">Become one</a>.</p><p>“All acts of violence and intimidation simply cannot be tolerated within our society, whether it be against law enforcement personnel, political figures, or innocent individuals,” he wrote on X. “I am grateful to the law enforcement officers who quickly responded to the shooting in Dallas this morning and continue to work to ensure the safety of everyone at the ICE field office.”</p><p>U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, posted on X: "My team and I are closely monitoring the situation at the ICE Detention Facility in Dallas. We are praying for the swift recovery of those injured, and we are deeply grateful to the brave first responders who rushed to the scene."</p>

FBI: At least two dead after shooting at ICE facility

The nation’s largest railroad union and one of the country’s largest rail carriers have struck what leaders are calling an unprecedented agreement to safeguard jobs as Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern pursue a proposed merger.

The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD) and Union Pacific Railroad announced the deal Monday, saying it guarantees job protection for thousands of train and yardmaster service employees for the remainder of their careers, subject to standard employment requirements.

Union Pacific committed that no SMART-TD members will face involuntary furloughs as a result of the merger — a first in the history of U.S. railroading.

SMART-TD President Jeremy R. Ferguson said the protections bring long-sought security to rail families. “For generations, railroaders have worried about what mergers might mean for their jobs and whether or not they would be given the opportunity to reach retirement on the rail,” Ferguson said. “Today, we can say with confidence that the biggest railroad and the biggest rail union in America are breaking new ground.”

The union said its support for the merger will be presented before the Surface Transportation Board as part of Docket No. 36873.

Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena praised the agreement, noting it fulfills a pledge made when the merger was announced. “Those who have a job when the merger is approved will continue to have one,” Vena said. He added the combined railroad will reduce truck traffic on highways, serve new markets, and preserve U.S. railroad jobs.

Norfolk Southern CEO Mark George called the deal a reflection of the company’s confidence in its workforce. “This merger will create opportunities for growth – not just for our business, but for our people,” George said.

The agreement also includes preferential hiring for affected terminal employees and a commitment to collaborate on future implementation measures.

Ferguson described it as “more than a contract—it’s a commitment,” saying the deal shows how unions and management can balance economic progress with protecting livelihoods.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714141645381.jpeg" alt=" A Union Pacific worker walks between two locomotives that are being serviced in a railyard in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Dec. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Josh Funk)" />
                        <figcaption> A Union Pacific worker walks between two locomotives that are being serviced in a railyard in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Dec. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Josh Funk)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The nation’s largest railroad union and one of the country’s largest rail carriers have struck what leaders are calling an unprecedented agreement to safeguard jobs as Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern pursue a proposed merger.</p><p>The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD) and Union Pacific Railroad announced the deal Monday, saying it guarantees job protection for thousands of train and yardmaster service employees for the remainder of their careers, subject to standard employment requirements.</p><p>Union Pacific committed that no SMART-TD members will face involuntary furloughs as a result of the merger — a first in the history of U.S. railroading.</p><p>SMART-TD President Jeremy R. Ferguson said the protections bring long-sought security to rail families. “For generations, railroaders have worried about what mergers might mean for their jobs and whether or not they would be given the opportunity to reach retirement on the rail,” Ferguson said. “Today, we can say with confidence that the biggest railroad and the biggest rail union in America are breaking new ground.”</p><p>The union said its support for the merger will be presented before the Surface Transportation Board as part of Docket No. 36873.</p><p>Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena praised the agreement, noting it fulfills a pledge made when the merger was announced. “Those who have a job when the merger is approved will continue to have one,” Vena said. He added the combined railroad will reduce truck traffic on highways, serve new markets, and preserve U.S. railroad jobs.</p><p>Norfolk Southern CEO Mark George called the deal a reflection of the company’s confidence in its workforce. “This merger will create opportunities for growth – not just for our business, but for our people,” George said.</p><p>The agreement also includes preferential hiring for affected terminal employees and a commitment to collaborate on future implementation measures.</p><p>Ferguson described it as “more than a contract—it’s a commitment,” saying the deal shows how unions and management can balance economic progress with protecting livelihoods.</p>

SMART-TD, Union Pacific Announce Landmark Deal Protecting Rail Jobs Amid Merger Plans

&nbsp;President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;criticized the United Nations during a speech before the general assembly on Tuesday in New York.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758638236501.png" alt="Image courtesy White House" />
                        <figcaption>Image courtesy White House</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>&nbsp;President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;criticized the United Nations during a speech before the general assembly on Tuesday in New York.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Watch in full: President Donald J. Trump&#39;s address to the 80th session of the United Nations Generally Assembly <a href="https://t.co/sJKI6GPkyk">pic.twitter.com/sJKI6GPkyk</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1970525758855536854?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/UaxUrM2zCG">pic.twitter.com/UaxUrM2zCG</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1970513791168208929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump issues warning to Europe in UN General Assembly speech

Nebraska’s 2026 U.S. Senate race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests in the country, pitting incumbent Republican Senator Pete Ricketts against independent challenger Dan Osborn, a former labor leader and Navy veteran.

Pete Ricketts: The Incumbent Seeking a Full Term

Pete Ricketts, who was appointed to the Senate in 2023 to finish the term of former Senator Ben Sasse, is now seeking a full six-year term. Ricketts, a former governor of Nebraska and heir to the TD Ameritrade fortune, officially launched his re-election campaign in September 2025. He has emphasized his conservative leadership and commitment to delivering results for Nebraskans.

Dan Osborn is making a return to the Senate race after a strong showing in 2024, where he narrowly lost to Republican Senator Deb Fischer. Osborn, who ran as an independent in 2024, is again positioning himself as a champion for working-class Nebraskans. He criticizes Ricketts for his wealth and corporate ties, framing the race as a battle between the working class and the elite according to Nebraska Examiner.&nbsp;

Osborn has launched his campaign with a populist, blue-collar message, focusing on issues like income inequality and the influence of money in politics. He has also established a political action committee, the Working Class Heroes Fund, to support underfunded candidates and challenge the political establishment.

The 2026 Nebraska Senate race is expected to be highly competitive, with both candidates bringing distinct perspectives to the table. Ricketts has the advantage of incumbency and significant financial resources, while Osborn is relying on grassroots support and his message of economic populism. With the election still over a year away, both campaigns are gearing up for a battle that could have national implications.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758638683803.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Nebraska’s 2026 U.S. Senate race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests in the country, pitting incumbent Republican Senator Pete Ricketts against independent challenger Dan Osborn, a former labor leader and Navy veteran.</p><h2>Pete Ricketts: The Incumbent Seeking a Full Term</h2><p>Pete Ricketts, who was appointed to the Senate in 2023 to finish the term of former Senator Ben Sasse, is now seeking a full six-year term. Ricketts, a former governor of Nebraska and heir to the TD Ameritrade fortune, officially launched his re-election campaign in September 2025. He has emphasized his conservative leadership and commitment to delivering results for Nebraskans.</p><h2>Dan Osborn: The Independent Challenger</h2><p>Dan Osborn is making a return to the Senate race after a strong showing in 2024, where he narrowly lost to Republican Senator Deb Fischer. Osborn, who ran as an independent in 2024, is again positioning himself as a champion for working-class Nebraskans. He criticizes Ricketts for his wealth and corporate ties, framing the race as a battle between the working class and the elite according to Nebraska Examiner.&nbsp;</p><p>Osborn has launched his campaign with a populist, blue-collar message, focusing on issues like income inequality and the influence of money in politics. He has also established a political action committee, the Working Class Heroes Fund, to support underfunded candidates and challenge the political establishment.</p><h2>A Race to Watch</h2><p>The 2026 Nebraska Senate race is expected to be highly competitive, with both candidates bringing distinct perspectives to the table. Ricketts has the advantage of incumbency and significant financial resources, while Osborn is relying on grassroots support and his message of economic populism. With the election still over a year away, both campaigns are gearing up for a battle that could have national implications.</p>

Nebraska Senate Showdown: Pete Ricketts Faces Independent Dan Osborn in 2026 Election

Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air, but viewers across western and central Nebraska won’t see him on their local ABC stations.

ABC brought Jimmy Kimmel Live! back Monday, less than a week after suspending the late-night show over controversy surrounding Kimmel’s remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The network said internal discussions led to the decision to reinstate the program.

But two of the nation’s largest station groups—Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group—say they will continue to preempt the show on their ABC affiliates. Together, those companies own roughly one-quarter of ABC stations nationwide.

That includes Nebraska Television Network (NTV), which operates ABC affiliates KHGI in Kearney, KWNB in Hayes Center and their translators serving North Platte, Ogallala and much of western and central Nebraska. Sinclair owns the network, and as a result, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is being replaced with other programming on those stations.

The move means many Nebraska viewers, particularly in the western half of the state, won’t see Kimmel’s return on traditional broadcast. By contrast, Lincoln’s ABC affiliate, KLKN, is not owned by Sinclair and is expected to continue carrying the show as normal.

Nexstar and Sinclair both say their decisions stem from concerns over Kimmel’s recent remarks. Nexstar called them “ill-timed and insensitive,” while Sinclair said it wants a “formal dialogue” with ABC about promoting “constructive dialogue” in programming.

The dispute underscores the influence local affiliates hold over what reaches viewers, even when a network reinstates a show. Analysts warn the preemptions could affect ratings and advertising reach, especially in mid-sized markets.

Kimmel, one of late night’s longest-serving hosts, has not publicly addressed the suspension or the affiliate backlash. ABC has not said whether content guidelines will change moving forward.

For Nebraska fans in places like North Platte and Ogallala, that leaves few options outside of streaming or ABC’s digital platforms if they want to keep up with Kimmel’s return.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758653179428.png" alt="Disney" />
                        <figcaption>Disney</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air, but viewers across western and central Nebraska won’t see him on their local ABC stations.</p><p>ABC brought Jimmy Kimmel Live! back Monday, less than a week after suspending the late-night show over controversy surrounding Kimmel’s remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The network said internal discussions led to the decision to reinstate the program.</p><p>But two of the nation’s largest station groups—Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group—say they will continue to preempt the show on their ABC affiliates. Together, those companies own roughly one-quarter of ABC stations nationwide.</p><p>That includes Nebraska Television Network (NTV), which operates ABC affiliates KHGI in Kearney, KWNB in Hayes Center and their translators serving North Platte, Ogallala and much of western and central Nebraska. Sinclair owns the network, and as a result, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is being replaced with other programming on those stations.</p><p>The move means many Nebraska viewers, particularly in the western half of the state, won’t see Kimmel’s return on traditional broadcast. By contrast, Lincoln’s ABC affiliate, KLKN, is not owned by Sinclair and is expected to continue carrying the show as normal.</p><p>Nexstar and Sinclair both say their decisions stem from concerns over Kimmel’s recent remarks. Nexstar called them “ill-timed and insensitive,” while Sinclair said it wants a “formal dialogue” with ABC about promoting “constructive dialogue” in programming.</p><p>The dispute underscores the influence local affiliates hold over what reaches viewers, even when a network reinstates a show. Analysts warn the preemptions could affect ratings and advertising reach, especially in mid-sized markets.</p><p>Kimmel, one of late night’s longest-serving hosts, has not publicly addressed the suspension or the affiliate backlash. ABC has not said whether content guidelines will change moving forward.</p><p>For Nebraska fans in places like North Platte and Ogallala, that leaves few options outside of streaming or ABC’s digital platforms if they want to keep up with Kimmel’s return.</p>

Jimmy Kimmel Returns to Late Night, but Western Nebraska Viewers Left Out

President Donald Trump returned to the United Nations to deliver a speech on Tuesday morning.&nbsp;

As the President and the first lady arrived, they encountered challenges. First, the building's escalator stopped working just they stepped on it. They were forced to climb the steps.&nbsp; 

A few moments later, the teleprompter President Trump was going to use for his speech was not working. The President gave his speech without it, "that way you speak more from the heart," he said.&nbsp; &nbsp;And he also said, "whoever is running the teleprompter is in big trouble.” The teleprompter did finally begin to work.&nbsp;"I ended seven wars and never even received a phone all from the UN. These are the two things I got from the UN, a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter." Trump said.

<p>President Donald Trump returned to the United Nations to deliver a speech on Tuesday morning.&nbsp;</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CLIP: &quot;Bad escalator&quot; President Trump referred to during his address to the U.N. General Assembly. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNGA80?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNGA80</a> <a href="https://t.co/S1w9kUOq1l">https://t.co/S1w9kUOq1l</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ja1JRyfF7m">pic.twitter.com/Ja1JRyfF7m</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1970544863130399037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 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"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NOW - Escalator at UN headquarters immediately stops as Trump and Melania step on it shortly after arriving. <a href="https://t.co/8nlUkDoQxm">pic.twitter.com/8nlUkDoQxm</a></p>&mdash; Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) <a href="https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1970488216470859859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>As the President and the first lady arrived, they encountered challenges. First, the building's escalator stopped working just they stepped on it. They were forced to climb the steps.&nbsp; </p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump begins <a href="https://twitter.com/UN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UN</a> General Assembly Address: &quot;I don&#39;t mind making this speech without a teleprompter, because the teleprompter is not working…Whoever&#39;s operating this teleprompter is in big trouble.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/01t80AL9de">pic.twitter.com/01t80AL9de</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1970492091034734761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>A few moments later, the teleprompter President Trump was going to use for his speech was not working. The President gave his speech without it, "that way you speak more from the heart," he said.&nbsp; &nbsp;And he also said, "whoever is running the teleprompter is in big trouble.” The teleprompter did finally begin to work.&nbsp;"I ended seven wars and never even received a phone all from the UN. These are the two things I got from the UN, a bad escalator and a bad teleprompter." Trump said.</p>

President Trump handles technical problems with humor at UN

NEST 529 Encourages Families to Make the Most of Education Savings Benefits

(LINCOLN, Neb.) –&nbsp;<a>Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has proclaimed September as College Savings Month in Nebraska, highlighting the importance of helping families prepare for the rising costs of higher education. The proclamation serves as a reminder to parents, grandparents, and guardians that investing in education early can open the door to more opportunities for loved ones.&nbsp;</a>

“As the costs of higher education continue to rise, it’s more important than ever for families to take advantage of the tools available to plan for the future,” said Nebraska State Treasurer Tom Briese. “NEST 529 offers a tax-advantaged way to save for a child’s education — whether that’s college, trade school, or an apprenticeship — and helps turn academic dreams into reality. College Savings Month is the perfect time to start because every contribution, no matter how small, can grow into something meaningful over time.”

This College Savings Month, parents and guardians should take the opportunity to discuss how a NEST 529 Education Savings Plan can help their loved ones reach their goals.

Higher education costs continue to rise above the rate of inflation1&nbsp;and extend beyond just tuition and board to include books, laptops, institution fees, and more. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://research.collegeboard.org/trends/college-pricing" target="_blank">College Board</a>, a nonprofit organization that helps students navigate the path to secondary education, in 2024-25, the average yearly costs2&nbsp;of higher education tuition and fees for a full-time student are as follows:

Scholarships and grants can help, but they rarely cover the full cost of attendance, leaving families responsible for books, technology, lab fees, and other essentials. A NEST 529 Education Savings Plan can help with those financial pressures with tax-advantaged benefits.

With no minimum deposit required to open an account and contributions that can be managed online, families can start saving at any time with a NEST 529 account. Account owners in Nebraska may be eligible for an annual state income tax deduction of up to $10,000 for NEST 529 contributions, or $5,000 if married filing separately3. Plus, any earnings grow tax free, and qualified withdrawals may be free from federal and state income taxes4, providing even greater savings potential.

While the future may be uncertain, taking small steps to save can have a big impact on a child’s success. A NEST 529 account allows families to start investing in their children’s future, so they can soar toward their goals. Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nest529.com/" target="_blank">NEST529.com</a>&nbsp;to read more about the benefits of the NEST 529 Education Savings Plans.

The Nebraska State Treasurer serves as the Program Trustee. All investments, including the portfolio structure offered through NEST 529 program, are vetted and approved by the Nebraska Investment Council.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758645047479.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><h2>NEST 529 Encourages Families to Make the Most of Education Savings Benefits</h2><p><i>For Immediate Release</i></p><p>(LINCOLN, Neb.) –&nbsp;<a>Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has proclaimed September as College Savings Month in Nebraska, highlighting the importance of helping families prepare for the rising costs of higher education. The proclamation serves as a reminder to parents, grandparents, and guardians that investing in education early can open the door to more opportunities for loved ones.&nbsp;</a></p><p>“As the costs of higher education continue to rise, it’s more important than ever for families to take advantage of the tools available to plan for the future,” said Nebraska State Treasurer Tom Briese. “NEST 529 offers a tax-advantaged way to save for a child’s education — whether that’s college, trade school, or an apprenticeship — and helps turn academic dreams into reality. College Savings Month is the perfect time to start because every contribution, no matter how small, can grow into something meaningful over time.”</p><p>This College Savings Month, parents and guardians should take the opportunity to discuss how a NEST 529 Education Savings Plan can help their loved ones reach their goals.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758641380973.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Higher education costs continue to rise above the rate of inflation1&nbsp;and extend beyond just tuition and board to include books, laptops, institution fees, and more. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://research.collegeboard.org/trends/college-pricing" target="_blank">College Board</a>, a nonprofit organization that helps students navigate the path to secondary education, in 2024-25, the average yearly costs2&nbsp;of higher education tuition and fees for a full-time student are as follows:</p><ul>
                        <li>Public, two-year institution: $4,050</li><li>Public, four-year, in-state institution: $11,610</li><li>Public, four-year, out-of-state institution: $30,780</li><li>Private, nonprofit, four-year institution: $43,350</li>
                    </ul><p>Scholarships and grants can help, but they rarely cover the full cost of attendance, leaving families responsible for books, technology, lab fees, and other essentials. A NEST 529 Education Savings Plan can help with those financial pressures with tax-advantaged benefits.</p><p>With no minimum deposit required to open an account and contributions that can be managed online, families can start saving at any time with a NEST 529 account. Account owners in Nebraska may be eligible for an annual state income tax deduction of up to $10,000 for NEST 529 contributions, or $5,000 if married filing separately3. Plus, any earnings grow tax free, and qualified withdrawals may be free from federal and state income taxes4, providing even greater savings potential.</p><p>While the future may be uncertain, taking small steps to save can have a big impact on a child’s success. A NEST 529 account allows families to start investing in their children’s future, so they can soar toward their goals. Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nest529.com/" target="_blank">NEST529.com</a>&nbsp;to read more about the benefits of the NEST 529 Education Savings Plans.</p><p>The Nebraska State Treasurer serves as the Program Trustee. All investments, including the portfolio structure offered through NEST 529 program, are vetted and approved by the Nebraska Investment Council.&nbsp;</p>

Nebraska Governor Declares September as College Savings Month

NEW YORK –&nbsp;The U.S. Secret Service dismantled a network of electronic devices located throughout the New York tristate area that were used to conduct multiple telecommunications-related threats directed towards senior U.S. government officials, which represented an imminent threat to the agency’s protective operations, according to a media release from the agency.

This protective intelligence investigation led to the discovery of more than 300 co-located SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites.

In addition to carrying out anonymous telephonic threats, these devices could be used to conduct a wide range of telecommunications attacks. This includes disabling cell phone towers, enabling denial of services attacks and facilitating anonymous, encrypted communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises.

While forensic examination of these devices is ongoing, early analysis indicates cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement.

“The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated,” said U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran. “The U.S. Secret Service’s protective mission is all about prevention, and this investigation makes it clear to potential bad actors that imminent threats to our protectees will be immediately investigated, tracked down and dismantled.”

These devices were concentrated within 35 miles of the global meeting of the United Nations General Assembly now underway in New York City. Given the timing, location and potential for significant disruption to New York telecommunications posed by these devices, the agency moved quickly to disrupt this network. The U.S. Secret Service’s Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit, a new section of the agency dedicated to disrupting the most significant and imminent threats to our protectees, is conducting this investigation. This investigation is currently ongoing.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Justice, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the NYPD, as well as other state and local law enforcement partners, provided valuable technical advice and assistance in support of this investigation.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758634316959.png" alt="Sim boxes-photo U.S. Secret Service" />
                        <figcaption>Sim boxes-photo U.S. Secret Service</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>NEW YORK –&nbsp;The U.S. Secret Service dismantled a network of electronic devices located throughout the New York tristate area that were used to conduct multiple telecommunications-related threats directed towards senior U.S. government officials, which represented an imminent threat to the agency’s protective operations, according to a media release from the agency.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758637728470.png" alt="Photo Secret Service" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Secret Service</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>This protective intelligence investigation led to the discovery of more than 300 co-located SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards across multiple sites.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758634294809.png" alt="Photo Secret Service" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Secret Service</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>In addition to carrying out anonymous telephonic threats, these devices could be used to conduct a wide range of telecommunications attacks. This includes disabling cell phone towers, enabling denial of services attacks and facilitating anonymous, encrypted communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises.</p><p>While forensic examination of these devices is ongoing, early analysis indicates cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement.</p><p>“The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated,” said U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran. “The U.S. Secret Service’s protective mission is all about prevention, and this investigation makes it clear to potential bad actors that imminent threats to our protectees will be immediately investigated, tracked down and dismantled.”</p><p>These devices were concentrated within 35 miles of the global meeting of the United Nations General Assembly now underway in New York City. Given the timing, location and potential for significant disruption to New York telecommunications posed by these devices, the agency moved quickly to disrupt this network. The U.S. Secret Service’s Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit, a new section of the agency dedicated to disrupting the most significant and imminent threats to our protectees, is conducting this investigation. This investigation is currently ongoing.</p><p>The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Justice, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the NYPD, as well as other state and local law enforcement partners, provided valuable technical advice and assistance in support of this investigation.</p>

Secret Service finds network of devices capable of crashing phone network

Lincoln, NE ‐ September 23, 2025 ‐ One lucky player who bought a Nebraska Pick 4 ticket for the Monday, September 22 drawing is holding a ticket worth $6,000.

The ticket was sold at City Discount Liquor, 821 N Jeffers, in North Platte. The winning numbers from Monday's Pick 4 draw were and 03, 06, 04, 00.

Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling 800-587-5200.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $1.037 billion has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery's beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758633254774.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p><i>For Immediate Release</i></p><p>Lincoln, NE ‐ September 23, 2025 ‐ One lucky player who bought a Nebraska Pick 4 ticket for the Monday, September 22 drawing is holding a ticket worth $6,000.</p><p>The ticket was sold at City Discount Liquor, 821 N Jeffers, in North Platte. The winning numbers from Monday's Pick 4 draw were and 03, 06, 04, 00.</p><p>Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling 800-587-5200.</p><p>The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $1.037 billion has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery's beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.</p>

$6,000 Nebraska Pick 4 Winning Ticket Sold in North Platte

NeCGA is committed to working with lawmakers to ensure corn growers' needs are a priority

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) collected more than 700 signatures during this year’s Husker Harvest Days, showing strong support for policy priorities critical to corn growers across the state.

The signatures back initiatives such as year-round, nationwide access to E-15 fuel, the advancement of key trade agreements and updates to Farm Bill provisions—issues NeCGA says are especially urgent given the industry’s current economic challenges.

Kaitlin Taylor, NeCGA’s director of public policy, delivered the petitions directly to Nebraska’s congressional offices in Washington, D.C. She also met with staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and congressional committees as part of a broader advocacy fly-in.

“The number of signatures we collected shows how united our growers are around these priorities,” said Jan tenBensel, a Cambridge farmer and NeCGA board member who joined the meetings in Washington. “Farmers need action on E-15, trade and the Farm Bill, and they are making their voices heard.”

NeCGA says it will continue working with federal lawmakers to ensure Nebraska corn growers’ concerns remain front and center.

About the Nebraska Corn Growers Association
The Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) is a grassroots commodity group that represents more than 2,400 dues-paying members across the state. The organization focuses on advancing Nebraska’s corn farmers through leadership, policy and education. NeCGA is affiliated with the National Corn Growers Association, which has over 36,000 members nationwide.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701885934512.jpeg" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><h2>NeCGA is committed to working with lawmakers to ensure corn growers' needs are a priority</h2><p>LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) collected more than 700 signatures during this year’s Husker Harvest Days, showing strong support for policy priorities critical to corn growers across the state.</p><p>The signatures back initiatives such as year-round, nationwide access to E-15 fuel, the advancement of key trade agreements and updates to Farm Bill provisions—issues NeCGA says are especially urgent given the industry’s current economic challenges.</p><p>Kaitlin Taylor, NeCGA’s director of public policy, delivered the petitions directly to Nebraska’s congressional offices in Washington, D.C. She also met with staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and congressional committees as part of a broader advocacy fly-in.</p><p>“The number of signatures we collected shows how united our growers are around these priorities,” said Jan tenBensel, a Cambridge farmer and NeCGA board member who joined the meetings in Washington. “Farmers need action on E-15, trade and the Farm Bill, and they are making their voices heard.”</p><p>NeCGA says it will continue working with federal lawmakers to ensure Nebraska corn growers’ concerns remain front and center.</p><p>About the Nebraska Corn Growers Association
The Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) is a grassroots commodity group that represents more than 2,400 dues-paying members across the state. The organization focuses on advancing Nebraska’s corn farmers through leadership, policy and education. NeCGA is affiliated with the National Corn Growers Association, which has over 36,000 members nationwide.</p><p>— Nebraska Corn Growers Association</p>

Nebraska Corn Growers Deliver 700+ Signatures to Congress, Urging Action on E-15, Trade and Farm Bill

The vast majority of autism researchers understand that there is not a singular cause of autism. Our collective body of global research going back decades means that we have encyclopedic knowledge about the risks for autism, its possible causes, and the highly variable experience of autistic individuals. &nbsp;

The September 22 press conference held by U.S. Health and Human Services alarms us researchers who committed our entire careers to better understanding autism. The data cited do not support the claim that Tylenol causes autism and leucovorin is a cure, and only stoke fear and falsely suggest hope when there is no simple answer.

In brief response to this report, <a href="https://www.coalitionofautismscientists.org/members">the Coalition of Autism Scientists </a>makes the following points:

Regarding a possible link between acetaminophen and autism:

While a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://secure-web.cisco.com/12-p9UShCUEOIYXv2znxa0aqkVuAlW2WK3T38wkoNTPgfKSx8WnvjIoTnqn05j82eTwnFO4qRQvfyvd056Wr8P4Vlm8GIHFKVQHGel7LOPtCJLNfJI9EIU7vrL6GibpF7n9sfqgI19H1VoN9hAWeYdLeyuMoBqjSYdNqdyHBVvnUJIv3YuKY5ptdZMUb8gQgRlFDz3dsRFH8XhC3EJBdTAFec4qFO9ywpwg28skFd07aPu5nPXsGbfUp4haQYLVw39r4w4kcTCLkW3pMw2MezeD8ih7YHQrRBeSGMBRKLZ_-RJv1dKo-UBUKG6PDZLMkw0-y1JKaSVDvDljRNpextllv8v2NiGDw-RwBIZLTmdSH09TSedfSa-qtxgWfHDINtQpxL_F2zHvJxRfawXgWmmvhvDcS-8UFTSGm3Dk3dsnCckVfAFE7xE90UBNOGTMXvlHGJCCDbYMr4FzQLvF2rpQ/https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.com%2Fv3%2F__https%3A%2Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2F40804730%2F__%3B%21%21BZ50a36bapWJ%21phJNivUOy1QcmpRhRfW5EkPBp-NTRftfdwl71wwXMMaSTNweKlOdlsJZvlbcFh-0bx189_kHfJ6DukAILqduukZ_FQ3NRiSr_uM%24" target="_blank">summary analysis</a>&nbsp;found some evidence for a weak association, it does not evaluate the quality of the studies informing the analysis. Importantly, these studies fail to address the fact that fevers during pregnancy are known to increase risk for autism, and that’s why mothers take acetaminophen in the first place. Rather, the most recent,&nbsp;<a href="https://secure-web.cisco.com/1F-SP49beOizPL4WGm4SdputO84cITRjShoz9_K0m0WWU4EvEzee34XX1qNQWDuCpynga2ZOFdwTHCy3hWo33WVKUBBPgKXZmqoTfxm0nikIaS8p1c6tQOWOxF1hGG_vXQd2cTnxxz8s3nUwHT2a2VjHVdUXkp0xEJGg1WlETiE6G0orDiwTmftf6KTEybadFVVFq2igmfcxf2teI3v2sIHjbxoPFm9ZBLxv-RIRBqFuOBQmtivm-T8eWbk3MSOWUCUK7Ee249S5k8sBRV7s6JTSvAGs0LZCjqyimjy-p4LmEiu3ZGpFGaCcbqo0dQQZc4UwW4IhVMSCPSSQnw_vX8DlccbMZTQiD6maZBUSqohurPhf2xjA4nUBhuAz1nMpqcJuro-Uz3T9zSVWkh2mYGO9hXtDWrEWVA63CUBdKBQtXyHxybYbdiM516h9Jm3N1FZtnNmzQ7H8r9khuuN0KQQ/https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.com%2Fv3%2F__https%3A%2Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2F38592388%2F__%3B%21%21BZ50a36bapWJ%21phJNivUOy1QcmpRhRfW5EkPBp-NTRftfdwl71wwXMMaSTNweKlOdlsJZvlbcFh-0bx189_kHfJ6DukAILqduukZ_FQ3NbyKdUAo%24" target="_blank">rigorous study</a>&nbsp;that controlled for unmeasured familiar risks found that acetaminophen did not cause autism.

Given that use of acetaminophen during pregnancy&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2817406" target="_blank">&nbsp;has not increased</a>&nbsp;(Ahlqvist VH, et al., Fig 2A in reference) over the past two decades alongside rates of autism, it’s clearly not the cause of the increased diagnoses of autism and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acog.org/news/news-articles/2021/09/response-to-consensus-statement-on-paracetamol-use-during-pregnancy" target="_blank">American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists agrees.</a>

There are only a handful of clinical trials of leucovorin and evidence connecting treatment to improvements in outcomes is very weak. (See references) All of them are very small, and the study designs and approaches to statistical analyses of the data are not all of high quality.&nbsp; &nbsp;It is premature to claim that leucovorin is an effective treatment for autism and add autism as a secondary indication. &nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coalitionofautismscientists.org/" target="_blank">Coalition of Autism Scientists</a>&nbsp;reviewed these studies and found that the researchers aren’t using high quality study designs or statistical analysis. Most of these studies test many outcomes, without statistically adjusting for the fact that they are doing so along the way. Some of them use statistics that are inappropriate for a randomized trial (e.g., showing that there is statistically significant change in the intervention group but not in the control group, without actually comparing the groups). Others attempt to conduct analyses separately for children that they say have a gene or antibody that would suggest that they have folate deficiency, meaning that they are conducting the analysis on even smaller groups.

With this in mind, we do not support any recommendation from the HHS or FDA regarding increased use of folinic acid. Instead, we call for a well-designed, large scale clinical trial of leucovorin (folinic acid) with all of the rigor needed (biomarkers, proper endpoints) and most importantly a pre-registered analysis plan.

Dozens of studies demonstrate the role vaccination plays to protect individuals, particularly the most vulnerable in our community, against potentially fatal diseases. There is no evidence that routine vaccinations have any connection to autism at all.

Secretary Kennedy is using his position to push forward his well-known anti-vaccination views, which does not align with Americans’ broad support of vaccines. Outbreaks and epidemics are inevitable if access to free, safe vaccines is reduced.

Is HHS wants to speed up autism research, then investment in gold-standard, peer-reviewed research – that which was already in progress before the rulebook suddenly changed – must continue. Regarding the grants awarded as part of the Autism Data Science Initiative (ADSI), the Coalition of Autism Scientists calls for an independent external advisory board of autism scientists and community members to support the ADSI and analyze methodologies, which will facilitate earning the trust of researchers and the public.

The Coalition of Autism Scientists will continue to speak factually and forcefully about the science that should inform our public understanding of autism and support autistic individuals and their families.

<p><i>Coalition of Autism Scientists</i></p><p>The vast majority of autism researchers understand that there is not a singular cause of autism. Our collective body of global research going back decades means that we have encyclopedic knowledge about the risks for autism, its possible causes, and the highly variable experience of autistic individuals. &nbsp;</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 President Donald J. Trump announces FDA&#39;s new guidance alerting physicians to a potential link between acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism. <a href="https://t.co/ZjVgEAR6MX">pic.twitter.com/ZjVgEAR6MX</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1970268144569819420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>The September 22 press conference held by U.S. Health and Human Services alarms us researchers who committed our entire careers to better understanding autism. The data cited do not support the claim that Tylenol causes autism and leucovorin is a cure, and only stoke fear and falsely suggest hope when there is no simple answer.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Tylenol during pregnancy can be associated with a very increased risk of autism.&quot; - <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> <a href="https://t.co/0FdBCOjtZk">pic.twitter.com/0FdBCOjtZk</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1970247984106328147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>In brief response to this report, <a href="https://www.coalitionofautismscientists.org/members">the Coalition of Autism Scientists </a>makes the following points:</p><p>Regarding a possible link between acetaminophen and autism:</p><p>While a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://secure-web.cisco.com/12-p9UShCUEOIYXv2znxa0aqkVuAlW2WK3T38wkoNTPgfKSx8WnvjIoTnqn05j82eTwnFO4qRQvfyvd056Wr8P4Vlm8GIHFKVQHGel7LOPtCJLNfJI9EIU7vrL6GibpF7n9sfqgI19H1VoN9hAWeYdLeyuMoBqjSYdNqdyHBVvnUJIv3YuKY5ptdZMUb8gQgRlFDz3dsRFH8XhC3EJBdTAFec4qFO9ywpwg28skFd07aPu5nPXsGbfUp4haQYLVw39r4w4kcTCLkW3pMw2MezeD8ih7YHQrRBeSGMBRKLZ_-RJv1dKo-UBUKG6PDZLMkw0-y1JKaSVDvDljRNpextllv8v2NiGDw-RwBIZLTmdSH09TSedfSa-qtxgWfHDINtQpxL_F2zHvJxRfawXgWmmvhvDcS-8UFTSGm3Dk3dsnCckVfAFE7xE90UBNOGTMXvlHGJCCDbYMr4FzQLvF2rpQ/https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.com%2Fv3%2F__https%3A%2Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2F40804730%2F__%3B%21%21BZ50a36bapWJ%21phJNivUOy1QcmpRhRfW5EkPBp-NTRftfdwl71wwXMMaSTNweKlOdlsJZvlbcFh-0bx189_kHfJ6DukAILqduukZ_FQ3NRiSr_uM%24" target="_blank">summary analysis</a>&nbsp;found some evidence for a weak association, it does not evaluate the quality of the studies informing the analysis. Importantly, these studies fail to address the fact that fevers during pregnancy are known to increase risk for autism, and that’s why mothers take acetaminophen in the first place. Rather, the most recent,&nbsp;<a href="https://secure-web.cisco.com/1F-SP49beOizPL4WGm4SdputO84cITRjShoz9_K0m0WWU4EvEzee34XX1qNQWDuCpynga2ZOFdwTHCy3hWo33WVKUBBPgKXZmqoTfxm0nikIaS8p1c6tQOWOxF1hGG_vXQd2cTnxxz8s3nUwHT2a2VjHVdUXkp0xEJGg1WlETiE6G0orDiwTmftf6KTEybadFVVFq2igmfcxf2teI3v2sIHjbxoPFm9ZBLxv-RIRBqFuOBQmtivm-T8eWbk3MSOWUCUK7Ee249S5k8sBRV7s6JTSvAGs0LZCjqyimjy-p4LmEiu3ZGpFGaCcbqo0dQQZc4UwW4IhVMSCPSSQnw_vX8DlccbMZTQiD6maZBUSqohurPhf2xjA4nUBhuAz1nMpqcJuro-Uz3T9zSVWkh2mYGO9hXtDWrEWVA63CUBdKBQtXyHxybYbdiM516h9Jm3N1FZtnNmzQ7H8r9khuuN0KQQ/https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.com%2Fv3%2F__https%3A%2Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2F38592388%2F__%3B%21%21BZ50a36bapWJ%21phJNivUOy1QcmpRhRfW5EkPBp-NTRftfdwl71wwXMMaSTNweKlOdlsJZvlbcFh-0bx189_kHfJ6DukAILqduukZ_FQ3NbyKdUAo%24" target="_blank">rigorous study</a>&nbsp;that controlled for unmeasured familiar risks found that acetaminophen did not cause autism.</p><p>Given that use of acetaminophen during pregnancy&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2817406" target="_blank">&nbsp;has not increased</a>&nbsp;(Ahlqvist VH, et al., Fig 2A in reference) over the past two decades alongside rates of autism, it’s clearly not the cause of the increased diagnoses of autism and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acog.org/news/news-articles/2021/09/response-to-consensus-statement-on-paracetamol-use-during-pregnancy" target="_blank">American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists agrees.</a></p><p>Regarding folinic acid (leucovorin):</p><p>There are only a handful of clinical trials of leucovorin and evidence connecting treatment to improvements in outcomes is very weak. (See references) All of them are very small, and the study designs and approaches to statistical analyses of the data are not all of high quality.&nbsp; &nbsp;It is premature to claim that leucovorin is an effective treatment for autism and add autism as a secondary indication. &nbsp;</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coalitionofautismscientists.org/" target="_blank">Coalition of Autism Scientists</a>&nbsp;reviewed these studies and found that the researchers aren’t using high quality study designs or statistical analysis. Most of these studies test many outcomes, without statistically adjusting for the fact that they are doing so along the way. Some of them use statistics that are inappropriate for a randomized trial (e.g., showing that there is statistically significant change in the intervention group but not in the control group, without actually comparing the groups). Others attempt to conduct analyses separately for children that they say have a gene or antibody that would suggest that they have folate deficiency, meaning that they are conducting the analysis on even smaller groups.</p><p>With this in mind, we do not support any recommendation from the HHS or FDA regarding increased use of folinic acid. Instead, we call for a well-designed, large scale clinical trial of leucovorin (folinic acid) with all of the rigor needed (biomarkers, proper endpoints) and most importantly a pre-registered analysis plan.</p><p>Vaccines and Autism:</p><p>Dozens of studies demonstrate the role vaccination plays to protect individuals, particularly the most vulnerable in our community, against potentially fatal diseases. There is no evidence that routine vaccinations have any connection to autism at all.</p><p>Secretary Kennedy is using his position to push forward his well-known anti-vaccination views, which does not align with Americans’ broad support of vaccines. Outbreaks and epidemics are inevitable if access to free, safe vaccines is reduced.</p><p>Is HHS wants to speed up autism research, then investment in gold-standard, peer-reviewed research – that which was already in progress before the rulebook suddenly changed – must continue. Regarding the grants awarded as part of the Autism Data Science Initiative (ADSI), the Coalition of Autism Scientists calls for an independent external advisory board of autism scientists and community members to support the ADSI and analyze methodologies, which will facilitate earning the trust of researchers and the public.</p><p>The Coalition of Autism Scientists will continue to speak factually and forcefully about the science that should inform our public understanding of autism and support autistic individuals and their families.</p><p>References:</p><ul>
                        <li>Prada D, Ritz B, Bauer AZ, Baccarelli AA. Evaluation of the evidence on acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders using the Navigation Guide methodology. Environ Health. 2025 Aug 14;24(1):56. doi: 10.1186/s12940-025-01208-0. PMID: 40804730; PMCID: PMC12351903.</li><li>Ahlqvist VH, Sjöqvist H, Dalman C, et al. Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children’s Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability. JAMA. 2024;331(14):1205–1214. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.3172 (See figure 2A)</li><li>Zhang C, Chen Y, Hou F, Li Y, Wang W, Guo L, Zhang C, Li L, Lu C. Safety and Efficacy of High-Dose Folinic Acid in Children with Autism: The Impact of Folate Metabolism Gene Polymorphisms. Nutrients. 2025 May 7;17(9):1602. doi: 10.3390/nu17091602. PMID: 40362912; PMCID: PMC12073535.</li><li>ACOG Response to Consensus Statement on Paracetamol Use During Pregnancy. 9-21-21.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acog.org/news/news-articles/2021/09/response-to-consensus-statement-on-paracetamol-use-during-pregnancy" target="_blank">https://www.acog.org/news/news-articles/2021/09/response-to-consensus-statement-on-paracetamol-use-during-pregnancy</a></li><li>Panda PK, Sharawat IK, Saha S, Gupta D, Palayullakandi A, Meena K. Efficacy of oral folinic acid supplementation in children with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Pediatr. 2024 Nov;183(11):4827-4835. doi: 10.1007/s00431-024-05762-6. Epub 2024 Sep 7. PMID: 39243316.</li><li>Batebi N, Moghaddam HS, Hasanzadeh A, Fakour Y, Mohammadi MR, Akhondzadeh S. Folinic Acid as Adjunctive Therapy in Treatment of Inappropriate Speech in Children with Autism: A Double-Blind and Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2021 Oct;52(5):928-938. doi: 10.1007/s10578-020-01072-8. Epub 2020 Oct 7. PMID: 33029705.</li><li>Renard E, Leheup B, Guéant-Rodriguez RM, Oussalah A, Quadros EV, Guéant JL. Folinic acid improves the score of Autism in the EFFET placebo-controlled randomized trial. Biochimie. 2020 Jun;173:57-61. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.04.019. Epub 2020 May 7. PMID: 32387472.</li><li>Frye RE, Slattery J, Delhey L, Furgerson B, Strickland T, Tippett M, Sailey A, Wynne R, Rose S, Melnyk S, Jill James S, Sequeira JM, Quadros EV. Folinic acid improves verbal communication in children with autism and language impairment: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Mol Psychiatry. 2018 Feb;23(2):247-256. doi: 10.1038/mp.2016.168. Epub 2016 Oct 18. PMID: 27752075; PMCID: PMC5794882.</li>
                    </ul>

Coalition of autism scientists oppose links between Tylenol and Autism; use of Leucovorin

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a><br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley accused a state agency director of padding his work hours to “bilk the agency” of about $20,700 in what Foley called “unearned compensation.”

In his office’s latest probe, a&nbsp;<a href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2025/SA66-09222025-July_1_2024_through_June_30_2025_Attestation_Report.pdf" target="_blank">54-page report</a>&nbsp;released Monday, Foley took aim at the part-time executive director of the Nebraska Abstractors Board of Examiners and its governor-appointed board. A key criticism: lax oversight.

“This guy reminds me of the legendary ‘Big Foot,’ as there are rumors of his existence but few verifiable on-the-job sightings,” Foley said of Trenton Behr, who was replaced by an interim director and could not be reached for comment.&nbsp;

Established in 1965, the Abstractors Board exists to ensure competent real estate abstracting, the practice of creating understandable records of leases and deeds so buyers can be fully informed of a property’s legal status.

Funded by certification and exam fees, the agency, which is governed by a five-member board, employs one part-timer.&nbsp;

Foley said his team tried to talk to Behr who declined to do so through his attorney.

The board declined to comment to the Nebraska Examiner, but responded in the auditor’s report. At one point, the board reminded Foley’s team of a 2021 arrangement it made with the Department of Administrative Services for DAS to manage payment and oversight of the director’s pay.

“The DAS office should have been responsible for management of timekeeping and reporting of fraudulent hours submitted,” the board said, requesting that auditors remove or modify findings related to lack of internal controls to prevent one person from carrying out financial wrongdoings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The board agreed to take other actions in light of the auditor’s probe, including the review of itemized time cards submitted by the director to DAS.&nbsp;

Foley’s team said that while a contract arrangement with DAS might mitigate some risk, it does not relieve the board of its oversight responsibilities.&nbsp;

“A proper system of internal controls includes procedures to mitigate the risk for errors or abuse when a segregation of duties cannot be achieved,” the report said.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744213180581.jpeg" alt="The Nebraska State Auditor’s Office is located in the State Capitol. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
                        <figcaption>The Nebraska State Auditor’s Office is located in the State Capitol. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a><br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a></p><p>LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley accused a state agency director of padding his work hours to “bilk the agency” of about $20,700 in what Foley called “unearned compensation.”</p><p>In his office’s latest probe, a&nbsp;<a href="https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2025/SA66-09222025-July_1_2024_through_June_30_2025_Attestation_Report.pdf" target="_blank">54-page report</a>&nbsp;released Monday, Foley took aim at the part-time executive director of the Nebraska Abstractors Board of Examiners and its governor-appointed board. A key criticism: lax oversight.</p><p>“This guy reminds me of the legendary ‘Big Foot,’ as there are rumors of his existence but few verifiable on-the-job sightings,” Foley said of Trenton Behr, who was replaced by an interim director and could not be reached for comment.&nbsp;</p><p>Established in 1965, the Abstractors Board exists to ensure competent real estate abstracting, the practice of creating understandable records of leases and deeds so buyers can be fully informed of a property’s legal status.</p><p>Funded by certification and exam fees, the agency, which is governed by a five-member board, employs one part-timer.&nbsp;</p><h2>Key findings</h2><p>Among the audit’s findings:</p><ul>
                        <li>&nbsp;Alleged fraudulent payroll payments totaling $20,700 were made to the director, who auditors said was responsible for performing all payroll processing procedures. Foley said the amount could have been “worse” had there been no cap on eligible hours to work.</li><li>The director received two payments, totaling $1,128, for an unemployment insurance claim Foley said appeared to have been filed fraudulently because Behr still had another job.</li><li>Foley said the board is responsible for reporting budget information to the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, and the auditing team said that was not completed properly for fiscal year 2025.</li>
                    </ul><p>Foley said his team tried to talk to Behr who declined to do so through his attorney.</p><p>The board declined to comment to the Nebraska Examiner, but responded in the auditor’s report. At one point, the board reminded Foley’s team of a 2021 arrangement it made with the Department of Administrative Services for DAS to manage payment and oversight of the director’s pay.</p><p>“The DAS office should have been responsible for management of timekeeping and reporting of fraudulent hours submitted,” the board said, requesting that auditors remove or modify findings related to lack of internal controls to prevent one person from carrying out financial wrongdoings.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The board agreed to take other actions in light of the auditor’s probe, including the review of itemized time cards submitted by the director to DAS.&nbsp;</p><p>Foley’s team said that while a contract arrangement with DAS might mitigate some risk, it does not relieve the board of its oversight responsibilities.&nbsp;</p><p>“A proper system of internal controls includes procedures to mitigate the risk for errors or abuse when a segregation of duties cannot be achieved,” the report said.</p><h2>Honor and responsibility</h2><p>Foley, in an interview, reiterated the obligations of governing boards, even those that are volunteer.&nbsp;</p><p>“There is just a common misunderstanding of what board service is all about,” he said. “It is an honor, but it is also a responsibility.”</p><p>Foley told the Examiner that his team’s findings do not convey anything negative or inappropriate about real estate-related practices.</p><p>“Nothing in our report reflects poorly on the core duties of the Abstractors Board to make sure real estate transactions are being properly handled,” he said.&nbsp;</p><p>Foley said that while Behr was employed by the state, he also worked for another employer full-time and that the audit team collaborated with Albireo Energy in Omaha to examine Behr’s schedule between May 2024 and June 2025.</p><p>The audit team laid out documentation that disputed many hours Behr said he worked. In one 48-hour period examined, Behr claimed to have worked 24 hours straight for Albireo and another 10 hours for the board, Foley said.&nbsp;</p><p>During a five-month stretch in 2025, timesheets filled out by Behr showed him working eight hours a day seven days a week for 140 consecutive days — “a remarkable display of fortitude and devotion to duty by a public servant,” Foley said sarcastically.</p><p>He also said Behr was a University of Nebraska at Omaha student earning a master’s degree during much of the time in question. The report documented a trip Behr made to Disneyland, while claiming hours worked for the board.</p><p>Auditors said they cooperated with the Nebraska State Patrol and the private employer looking into use of the Albireo corporate credit card.&nbsp;</p><p>Foley said that Behr, after his job was terminated at the private employer, filed for benefits from the Nebraska Department of Labor, claiming a “not working” status despite his employment at the time with the board. Foley said the Labor Department paid Behr $1,128, and stopped after auditors&nbsp; flagged the agency of the situation.&nbsp;</p><p>Foley called the arrogance and “lack of civic consciousness” displayed by a “rogue” state employee&nbsp; egregious.</p>