cgonzalez

A Reporter in Nashville, Detained by ICE Estefany Rodríguez, a journalist for a Spanish-language outlet, was covering immigration raids. The next day, agents arrested her without a warrant.

A Reporter in Nashville, Detained by ICE …. 🦋
www.cjr.org/analysis/est...

Milestone reached on bumpy road to northeast Omaha business park buoyed by $90M from state • Nebraska Examiner A milestone is reached on a bumpy road to a northeast Omaha business park funded in part by $90 million state grant.

BIG MILESTONE: The team that in 2024 was awarded a $90 million state grant to develop shovel-ready property for manufacturers and other employers to build on has bought two sites at a combined price of nearly $30 million.

From Cindy Gonzalez:

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Milestone reached on bumpy road to northeast Omaha business park buoyed by $90M from state • Nebraska Examiner A milestone is reached on a bumpy road to a northeast Omaha business park funded in part by $90 million state grant.

Biz park plan for northeast Omaha hits new stride. After years of chatter, concepts n some controversy, land is purchased. Read more here…
nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/03/05/m...

Visit Nebraska reveals 70 featured stops for travelers in 2026 ‘Passport’ program • Nebraska Examiner Visit Nebraska revealed this season's 70 featured stops in the popular "Passport" program, which guides travelers to hidden state gems.

Is your community on the list? Check out Visit Nebraska’s reseal of 70 featured stops for travelers in its 2026 popular Passport’ program nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/visit...

Hearing on Omaha's roughly half-billion-dollar wastewater project raises eyebrows, concerns • Nebraska Examiner A public hearing Tuesday on Omaha's roughly half-billion-dollar wastewater project raises eyebrows and concerns.

SEWAGE HEARING: A public hearing Tuesday on Omaha's roughly half-billion-dollar wastewater project raises eyebrows and concerns, including from a contractor and city officials.

From Cindy Gonzalez;

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Is Omaha getting ‘snookered’ in roughly half-billion-dollar infrastructure project? • Nebraska Examiner Is Omaha getting "snookered" in a roughly half-billion-dollar infrastructure project? The City Council will hear debate Tuesday.

It’s smelly & expensive subject matter…but someone’s gotta treat the metro’s toilet and other wastewater. Omaha’s City Council today will hear pros/cons of a high$$ contract. Here’s a story teeing up anticipated contentious conversation: nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/03/02/i...

No 2026 rerun: Charles Herbster will not run for Nebraska governor • Nebraska Examiner Nebraska Gov. JimPillen now a heavy favorite to win GOP primary; facing likely general election against Lynne Walz.

NO 2026 RERUN: Nebraska's 2026 GOP primary for governor will not include multistate agribusinessman Charles Herbster, his team announced Monday. Today is the filing deadline for candidates.

From Juan Salinas II:

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Nebraska immigration-related bills draw hours of public comment, largely anti-ICE testimony • Nebraska Examiner Nebraska immigration-related bills drew nearly five hours of testimony Friday and largely anti-ICE sentiment.

Nebraska immigration-related bills draw hours of public comment, largely anti-ICE testimony “It is un-American to have a secret masked police force in our country,” says State Sen. Megan Hunt.
nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/02/27/n...

Nebraska immigration-related bills draw hours of public comment, largely anti-ICE testimony • Nebraska Examiner Nebraska immigration-related bills drew nearly five hours of testimony Friday and largely anti-ICE sentiment.

ICE BILLS: Dozens of Nebraskans visited the State Capitol Friday for a rally and back-to-back hearings on five immigration-related measures aimed at reining in ICE tactics in the state and increasing public scrutiny.

From Cindy Gonzalez:

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Nebraska’s budget deficit to grow by roughly $175M after new economic forecast • Nebraska Examiner A new economic forecast effectively doubled the size of Nebraska’s projected deficit from what state lawmakers had reduced it to so far this session.

MIND THE GAP: A new economic forecast on Friday effectively doubled the size of Nebraska’s projected deficit from what state lawmakers had reduced it to so far this legislative session.

From Erin Bamer:

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Former U.S. Marshal Mark Martinez runs for Douglas County sheriff • Nebraska Examiner Douglas County Democrats make play for Republican Sheriff Aaron Hanson’s post as Mark Martinez seeks to unseat him.

DOUGLAS COUNTY TILT: The fight for Douglas County sheriff in 2026 will include another pair of candidates with deep ties to the Omaha Police Department, as Mark Martinez challenges Sheriff Aaron Hanson.

From Juan Salinas II:

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OPINION: Needle moving, social contracting, teacher listing • Nebraska Examiner Racism used to mean something. It moved the needle. Bigotry in individuals, groups or countries was booed, banned and boycotted.

OPINION: Needle moving, social contracting, teacher listing nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/02/16/o...

Nebraska lawmakers land on pulling $11.1 million from Environmental Trust • Nebraska Examiner Weeks after Gov. Jim Pillen proposed pulling more than $40 million from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, lawmakers agreed to pull about $11.1 million.

ICYMI: Nebraska lawmakers took a different approach than Gov. Jim Pillen toward sweeping funds from the Environmental Trust, but some money would still be shifted by the Appropriations Committee.

From Erin Bamer:

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Notary for Nebraska medical cannabis petitions found guilty of all 24 criminal charges • Nebraska Examiner A former notary for separate petitions to legalize and regulate medical cannabis was found guilty of all 24 criminal charges he faced.

START YOUR MORNING: With a verdict that could reverberate through Nebraska politics in what could be another big year in ballot initiatives.

From Zach Wendling, who was in Grand Island for the trial:

nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/02/25/n...

Union Pacific-centric tax incentives measure sees no opposition during hearing • Nebraska Examiner A Union Pacific Railroad-centric tax incentives measure sees no public opposition during a public hearing Wednesday at the State Capitol.

“What would the fallout of those folks leaving look like?” asks Sen. Brad von Gillern in promoting a tax incentives bill in the NE Leg. It’s aimed at keeping UP Railroad HQ and jobs in state, tho there’s more…
nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/02/25/u...

Union Pacific-centric tax incentives measure sees no opposition during hearing • Nebraska Examiner A Union Pacific Railroad-centric tax incentives measure sees no public opposition during a public hearing Wednesday at the State Capitol.

ON INCENTIVES TRAIN: Despite a recent kerfuffle over alleged flaws in Nebraska’s business incentives, a new tax incentives package aimed at high-paying jobs drew no resistance during a legislative hearing Wednesday.

From Cindy Gonzalez:

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Nebraska Ukrainian refugees, supporters gather as fifth year of 'occupation and resistance' begins • Nebraska Examiner Nebraska Ukrainian refugees and supporters gathered in solidarity at an Elkhorn church as the fifth year of occupation and resistance begins.

FOUR YEARS LATER: A few hundred people, many of them Ukrainian families, gathered in an Elkhorn church Tuesday night to pray and support one another on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

From Cindy Gonzalez:

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Accused notary for Nebraska medical cannabis petitions takes stand in criminal trial • Nebraska Examiner The former notary facing 24 criminal charges took the witness stand on the second day of his criminal trial.

Day 2 of this criminal trial is in the books, with the defendant taking the stand and giving a different explanation for alleged events than the prosecution. Closing arguments are today, and the jury is expected to begin deliberations. nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/02/24/a...

Nebraska DACA recipient freed from ICE custody and deportation case due to program protections • Nebraska Examiner A Nebraska DACA recipient is freed from ICE custody and his deportation proceedings due to his DACA status.

In the swirl of immigration-related lawsuits, detentions and enforcement tactics … an interesting DACA twist for Nebraska case: nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/02/24/n...

Accused notary for Nebraska medical cannabis petitions takes stand in criminal trial • Nebraska Examiner The former notary facing 24 criminal charges took the witness stand on the second day of his criminal trial.

NOTARY TRIAL: A former notary facing 24 criminal charges, all but one for allegedly improper notarizations on petitions seeking to legalize and regulate medical cannabis in 2024, took the stand Tuesday in his trial.

From Zach Wendling:

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Nebraska DACA recipient freed from ICE custody and deportation case due to program protections • Nebraska Examiner A Nebraska DACA recipient is freed from ICE custody and his deportation proceedings due to his DACA status.

DACA RELEASE? The Nebraska DACA recipient whom ICE had detained for nearly three months returned home to his Omaha family after an immigration judge dismissed his deportation case because of his renewable protection under DACA.

From Cindy Gonzalez:

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Nebraska Legislature advances Capitol security bill to second round of debate • Nebraska Examiner Nebraska lawmakers gave an early green light Tuesday to the bones of a bill that would enhance security protocols at the state Capitol.

CAPITOL SECURITY BILL: Nebraska lawmakers gave an early green light Tuesday to the bones of a bill that would enhance security protocols at the state Capitol, but the bill is likely to change in the next round.

From Erin Bamer:

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ICE officer training is ‘deficient’ and ‘broken,’ former agency lawyer tells congressional forum | CNN A former US Immigration and Customs Enforcement lawyer who was responsible for training new deportation officers warned Monday that the agency’s training program for new recruits is “deficient, defect...

Newly resigned ICE lawyer responsible for training new agents warns that ICE academy training is “broken” and DHS “lied” to public.

www.cnn.com/2026/02/23/u...

Bill to protect Nebraska physicians recommending medical cannabis unopposed at hearing • Nebraska Examiner A majority of the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee appears open to a proposal to protect physicians who recommend medical cannabis.

CANNABIS PROTECTIONS? A majority of the Legislature's HHS Committee appears open to a Nebraska bill to protect physicians recommending medical cannabis to patients. A vote on whether to send it to the floor is set for Tuesday.

From Zach Wendling:

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Nebraska accepts responsibility, liability for environmental reviews tied to transportation projects • Nebraska Examiner Nebraska has agreed to accept full responsibility and liability for environmental reviews tied to federally funded transportation projects.

FAST LANE? Nebraska is taking over more of the responsibility and risks from the federal government of environmental reviews for road and bridge projects in the state.

From Cindy Gonzalez:

nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebra...

Nebraska lawmakers propose cutting $5M from state Cultural Endowment Fund • Nebraska Examiner For the first time since its 1998 inception, Nebraska lawmakers are slated to remove state tax dollars from a unique endowment fund that supports arts and humanities across the state.

START YOUR WEEK: With an update on Appropriations Committee tweaks to Gov. Jim Pillen's proposed cut to the Nebraska Cultural Preservation Endowment Fund, which still would cut the state's share.

From Erin Bamer:

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Nebraska’s all-GOP federal delegation talks Trump tariff ruling • Nebraska Examiner U.S. Supreme Court struck major blow to Trump’s trade agenda, but many imports still subject to steep tariffs.

TARIFF RULING REAX: Nebraska’s all-Republican congressional delegation split on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling over President Donald Trump’s tariffs on many imported items.

From Juan Salinas II:

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Trump appoints Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen to bipartisan Council of Governors • Nebraska Examiner Gov. Jim Pillen is the newest member of the Council of Governors focused on national security, disaster response and military coordination.

COUNCIL POST: Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen is the newest member of the bipartisan Council of Governors focused on national security, disaster response and military coordination.

From Zach Wendling:

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Nebraska grand jury indicts more in international ‘ATM jackpotting’ scheme • Nebraska Examiner A Nebraska grand jury indicts six more people in an international "ATM jackpotting" scheme alleged to involve Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

TREN DE UPDATE: Six more people have been charged by a federal grand jury in Nebraska for alleged roles in an international “ATM jackpotting” conspiracy in which millions were stolen from automated teller machines.

From Cindy Gonzalez:

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Nebraska auditor reports problems with DHHS CEO’s public spending and reimbursements • Nebraska Examiner A Nebraska auditor's examination finds problems with the DHHS CEO's public spending and reimbursement practices.

DHHS CEO: The Nebraska auditor has challenged public spending and reimbursement practices by the head of the state’s largest agency, including questioning some meal and alcohol charges while on state trips.

From Cindy Gonzalez:

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