State Budget & Taxes: North Platte’s 2026-27 city budget heads to a public hearing with total spending down and the property tax rate falling for the sixth straight year, but the city’s own property tax request rises to cover inflation-driven costs like wages, insurance, and fuel. Congressional Reform & Campaigns: Independent Senate candidate Mark Cohen says he supports term limits, backs a ban on lawmakers trading individual stocks, and wants bills to stay focused rather than bundled—while Nebraska Democrats are backing him in the 3rd District race. Data Centers & Immigration at the Local Level: In Columbus, Lynne Walz and others discussed “guardrails” for data center development, plus voter concerns that include property taxes, education, and economic development; immigration policy came up around the need for an organized system. Agriculture Policy & Youth Exposure: A Sandy Creek student shadowed Renewable Fuels Nebraska’s executive director at the Nebraska State Fair, getting a front-row look at ethanol policy and high-level agriculture discussions. Housing Numbers Across Nebraska Counties: HUD’s latest county-by-county public housing counts show many areas holding steady in 2025, with detailed snapshots ranging from small rural totals to larger metro-area figures. Trade & Beef Prices: Nebraska Farm Bureau leaders criticized tariff-driven moves as coming at a bad moment for cow-calf producers, warning short-term “fixes” won’t solve longer-term cattle economics. Pentagon Leadership Turmoil: Reports of reshuffling at the top of the Pentagon intensified after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s resignation, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly defending Deputy Steve Feinberg. Energy From Manure: A Broken Bow project broke ground on turning feedlot waste into renewable natural gas, aiming for about 1.2 million MMBtu per year.