AGP Executive Report

Nebraska Elections & Ballot Measures: With less than a month to Election Day, Nebraska voters will weigh three public initiatives tied to online sports gambling—Initiatives 440 and 441—plus a separate constitutional amendment already passed by the Legislature, with supporters pitching economic activity and property tax relief and opponents warning about family and student-athlete impacts. Statehouse & Policy: Nebraska’s Gov. Jim Pillen is pushing a statewide economic development strategy via executive order, while the diesel debate keeps heating up for farmers—Pillen has ordered a 90-day pause on diesel taxes for ag producers, and other states are moving to let untaxed “red-dyed” farm diesel be used on public roads during harvest. Federal Politics With Nebraska Stakes: National reporting says House Republicans are privately bracing for losses and may pull resources from hard races, including an open Nebraska seat. Public Safety & Courts: A Tren de Aragua-linked ATM “jackpotting” architect, Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre, appeared in Nebraska court and pleaded not guilty, while prosecutors in another case say a man tried to hire an inmate to kill a child’s mother before a bench trial. Civic Engagement: Nebraska Sen. Barry DeKay is urging eligible students to apply for the 2027 U.S. Senate Youth Program; applications are due Oct. 16.

Nebraska Ballot Hearings: The Nebraska Secretary of State will hold public hearings in Kearney for three Nov. 3 ballot measures: online sports wagering authorization (#440) and regulation (#441), plus “Fairness for Girls” (#442). Medicaid Work Rules: Nebraska’s first official numbers show most Medicaid renewal denials under the new work requirement were due to missed paperwork, not failing the hours—92% of denials were for not returning requested information. Fuel Price Relief: With diesel and gasoline costs still driving politics, states including Nebraska are moving to ease prices—especially through expanded use of red-dyed diesel for farmers during harvest. School Choice Push: The Trump administration’s federal scholarship tax credit plan would let families in 30+ states use taxpayer-backed funds for private school and homeschooling. Trans Sports Fight: Colorado’s Prop 134 would ban transgender students from sports teams matching gender identity; Nebraska has a similar constitutional ban on the ballot. Supreme Court Security: AG Jeff Jackson leads a bipartisan push to fully fund Supreme Court security after threats to justices surged. Campaign Trail: Trump kicked off a 32-day midterm blitz in Oklahoma, with stops also planned for Nebraska.

Midterm Campaign Push: President Trump kicked off a 32-day blitz with stops in Texas and Oklahoma, aiming to energize Republicans as polls show low approval and voters sour on costs of living and the Iran war. Nebraska Spotlight in National Politics: A report says Trump plans to stop in Nebraska on Monday as part of the same closing-stretch schedule, underscoring how the GOP is trying to hold slim congressional ground. Money in the Race (Alaska): PAC spending is pouring into Alaska’s congressional contests, with the Senate race dominating ad buys and attack messaging. Nebraska Civic Engagement: Omaha’s JCRC and Henry Monsky Lodge Breadbreakers launched a candidate forum series, with more Nebraska officeholders scheduled through October. Local Government & Accountability (Nebraska): Former Dodge County sheriff Dustin Weitzel was sentenced to three years’ probation for federal wire fraud tied to unauthorized lodge-to-person transfers. Health Care Policy: Montana’s early rollout of Medicaid work rules is drawing confusion and disruption as states implement similar requirements. Agriculture Policy: The 2018 Farm Bill has expired, leaving farmers waiting while Congress works toward a replacement.

Flood Watch: Historic rainfall is triggering widespread flooding across Nebraska and Texas, with record-setting rain in Lincoln and major impacts around Omaha, including power outages and road closures. Federal Education Policy: The Trump administration is moving ahead with a new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, letting nearly all students in 30-plus states apply for help paying for private school and homeschooling. Nebraska Health Care: Nebraska is implementing federally mandated Medicaid work requirements, raising alarms that red tape will block people from coverage. Nebraska Elections & Representation: In Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, Democrats and Republicans are scrambling to replace retiring Rep. Don Bacon, with Omaha’s “Blue Dot” seat drawing national attention. State Government & Economy: Gov. Pillen’s economic development push and diesel-tax pause for Nebraska ag producers are part of the latest state agenda. National Security: The FBI alleges two Louisiana brothers used social media to raise money for Hamas, with court records unsealed. Military Planning: Nebraska’s National Guard partnership with Tanzania is highlighted in multinational exercise planning for Justified Accord 2027.

Nebraska Courts & Voting: The Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments in a case challenging the state’s law allowing overseas voters, as a GOP lawyer argued even a tiny number of votes should be blocked. Ballot Measures: Nebraska’s Secretary of State scheduled public hearings across all three congressional districts for three voter-led initiatives: “Fairness for Girls” plus two online sports betting measures. State Fiscal Watch: Nebraska reported $8 million in miscellaneous tax revenue in Q1 2026, up 14.3% from the prior quarter. Health Care Politics: The Trump administration began mailing $500 Obamacare refund checks to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, a move timed ahead of the midterms. Ag & Fuel Costs: USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins hinted at fuel relief for farmers as diesel prices stay high; Nebraska’s neighbors also moved to ease harvest hauling rules. Campaign Trail: With 34 days to go, Trump is launching a 32-day campaign blitz that includes a Nebraska stop, while GOP strategists warn several House races—including Nebraska’s 2nd—are slipping away. Local Services: Project Connect Lincoln drew hundreds to a one-stop event for people facing homelessness or financial hardship. Justice System: A judge sentenced Kelli Lepler to 15 years probation and ordered $266,636 restitution tied to her Monument Advisors headstone scheme.

Nebraska Senate race heats up: A rape survivor, Jody Snogren, is confronting Sen. Pete Ricketts in a new ad over his 2022 deciding vote to pardon her attacker and restore his gun rights, saying the pardon “brought back all the nightmares.” Campaign trail in the spotlight: Local coverage says President Trump will campaign for Ricketts at a Grand Island rally Oct. 5, with the Ricketts team aiming to energize central Nebraska voters ahead of Election Day. Digital ag push: UNL launched the Nebraska Digital Ag Hub to help producers build and test digital agriculture tools, with researchers and Extension working directly with farmers. Data privacy and compliance: A multistate settlement with Labcorp over the 2019 AMCA data breach highlights ongoing vendor-data security fights. Fuel and affordability backdrop: Nebraska gas prices remain a political pressure point, with one Otoe County station reported at $3.97 for regular in the week ending Sept. 19, while statewide averages tick higher. Opioid settlement spending: Counties are leaning toward regional behavioral health authorities to use opioid settlement funds for treatment, citing staffing gaps like Sheridan County’s lack of a psychiatrist. National politics spillover: A White House plan to send $500 ACA refund checks to nearly 1 million Americans is rolling out just weeks before midterms.

Trump Campaign Stop: President Donald Trump will rally Monday at the Nebraska State Fair’s Pinnacle Bank Expo Center in Grand Island, a high-profile push for Sen. Pete Ricketts against Dan Osborn, with local officials expecting security, logistics, and downtown spending to boost the community. Veterans Funding: Omaha nonprofit At Ease USA won nearly $260,000 in federal grant money to expand veteran suicide-prevention services, adding another peer support specialist in Omaha. Nebraska Politics—Term Limits: A new ballot proposal would change Nebraska legislative term limits by allowing senators to serve three consecutive four-year terms instead of two. Diesel Export Ban Fight: Gov. Jim Pillen is pressing for a federal diesel export ban, even as Nebraska’s federal delegation is split or hesitant, while Pillen also signed orders pausing diesel taxes for ag producers during harvest. State Economic Strategy: Pillen signed executive orders creating a statewide economic growth working group to coordinate business recruitment, site selection, and a unified inventory of sites and assets. College Sports Policy: Nebraska sports leaders praised the Senate’s passage of the Protect College Sports Act, aimed at stabilizing college athletics amid NIL and transfer-portal changes. Medicaid Pressure: New federal rules are projected to cut Medicaid payments to providers in dozens of states, raising concerns about access for Medicaid patients.

Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports the week ending Sept. 19 brought the lowest E15 price in Adams County at $3.89 (one station), while midgrade hit $4.54 in Adams County and diesel bottomed at $6.25 in Perkins County; Nebraska’s averages for E15 and diesel both rose week over week. Nebraska Politics & Governance: Gov. Jim Pillen’s office highlighted agriculture-focused executive orders and a 90-day pause on diesel taxes for ag producers, as lawmakers also question the legality and cost of similar fuel-tax relief orders. Federal Policy Hits Nebraska Voters: ProPublica reports a White House OMB proposal could block federal grant money from being used for voter registration drives, raising alarms for elderly and disabled Nebraskans who rely on Disability Rights Nebraska. Defense & Military Health: Rep. Don Bacon introduced bills to expand the National Guard Relief Foundation’s role and to require an independent health and safety review tied to the Minuteman III missile system. Election-Year Pressure on Health Care: Coverage also flags confusion around early Medicaid work-rule rollouts, with states moving toward stricter enforcement. Community Spotlight: The Nebraska Diplomats’ awards banquet in Kearney recognized local business and community leaders.

Taxpayer-funded Trump TV ads: Senate GOP leader John Thune says the White House shouldn’t pay for pro-Trump “public service” ads with taxpayer dollars, as critics argue the spending may violate federal propaganda rules. Election logistics: Ballots are now being mailed for Nebraska’s Nov. 3 general election, with sample ballots posted online and early voting set to begin Oct. 5; Douglas and Lancaster counties also report early-ballot mailing and pickup details. Nebraska governor fuel-tax fight: Lawmakers are questioning the legality and budget impact of Gov. Jim Pillen’s 90-day diesel tax relief orders for ag producers. Omaha minimum wage court fight: A judge blocked part of Omaha’s youth minimum wage ordinance, allowing other parts tied to the higher annual increases to proceed. Public safety upgrade: Lincoln Fire and Rescue is rolling out an EMS program to carry packed red blood cells for trauma patients. Energy prices: GasBuddy reports show Douglas County’s lowest regular price at $3.80 (week ending Sept. 19), with other counties seeing mid-$4 regular and mid-$5 diesel ranges. Gun-rights endorsements: Pillen and rival candidate Lynne Walz held dueling events featuring NRA support and former lawmakers. Nebraska Medicine governance: NU Regents approved new representatives for the Nebraska Medicine board.

Diesel and gas prices hit Nebraska drivers: Trump says he’s “thinking very seriously” about a diesel export ban but admits it could raise gasoline prices; meanwhile Nebraska’s week-ending Sept. 19 reports show diesel still high statewide (about $6.08 average) with local lows like $5.25 in Lancaster County and $5.87 in York County. Ag cost relief from Gov. Pillen: Pillen signed 90-day executive orders to pause Nebraska diesel taxes for vehicles hauling seasonal ag products/livestock, allow untaxed dyed diesel for highway-registered vehicles, and raise weight limits up to 25% without extra permits. Nebraska politics on the campaign trail: Independent Senate candidate Brian Bengs responded to a Capitol-area confrontation caught on video, as absentee voting ramps up. State government scrutiny: Nebraska Auditor Mike Foley’s Lancaster County audit raises questions about large-scale misappropriated funds and no-bid contracting concerns tied to Gov. Pillen-era decisions. Healthcare and elections pressure: The Trump administration canceled ACA marketplace coverage for 760,000 people, while national reporting highlights GOP anxiety over the Iran war’s political fallout. Public health/environment: A new review finds atrazine contamination in nearly 25% of continental U.S. river miles at levels that can harm wildlife and may threaten human health.

CD-1 Race: Rep. Mike Flood and challenger Chris Backemeyer squared off on affordability and the country’s direction, with Backemeyer pressing for lower costs and ending the Iran conflict while Flood leaned on legislative experience and bringing federal dollars home. Nebraska Politics & Governance: Gov. Jim Pillen is weighing ag-focused tax and diesel relief moves as Farm Bureau leaders push back on any sales-tax changes to farm inputs, arguing there’s no budget crisis and warning about unintended impacts. Healthcare Policy: The Trump administration announced it canceled ACA Marketplace coverage for 760,000 people, citing fraud or “nonexistence,” while experts warn new federal Medicaid payment rules could reduce provider participation for Medicaid patients. Immigration & Enforcement: ICE raids in Kansas are disrupting meat processing and rattling communities, with Nebraska-area observers watching how federal enforcement could affect regional labor. Public Safety: Fremont is being investigated after a volunteer firefighter’s full-time job bid was denied over homeschool education credentials. Economy Watch: Nebraska’s Q1 2026 tax revenues totaled $1.8B, and gas prices remain a political talking point as weekly lows were reported across multiple counties.

Medicaid Work Rules: Six states will require medical proof—not self-attestation—for Medicaid work exemptions starting in January, a change that could hit Nebraskans and others who can’t afford regular doctor visits. ICE Violence Spike: DHS says assaults against ICE officers jumped more than 1,700%+ since the second Trump administration began, as Democrats face fresh scrutiny over anti-ICE rhetoric. Nebraska Courts & Health Policy: Nebraska mothers are set to appeal a ruling upholding state restrictions on midwife-assisted home births, keeping the fight over maternal care rules alive. Agriculture & Politics: Polling shows Trump’s net approval slipping across major beef states, including Nebraska, after his temporary lean-beef import quota move aimed at lowering grocery prices. Election Climate: National Democrats are pressing a Senate flip narrative as analysts describe the map as increasingly competitive heading into the Nov. 3 midterms. Local Government & Accountability: A Nebraska report highlights teens allegedly abused by state employees at YRTC-Kearney and underscores how hard it can be to sue the state for damages. Gas Prices Watch: GasBuddy price reports show wide Nebraska variation week ending Sept. 19, with E85 lows in Buffalo County ($2.07) and diesel highs hovering around the $6 range statewide.

Nebraska Courts & Families: Nebraska mothers are set to appeal a ruling upholding state restrictions on midwife-assisted home births, keeping the fight over home-birth rules alive heading toward the next legislative session. Youth Safety & Accountability: A former state employee accused in sexual abuse at YRTC-Kearney remains jailed, but advocates say suing the state is hard under current law—pushing renewed pressure for 2027 reforms. State Government & Data Privacy: Nebraska Attorney General Ford announced a $2.3 million multistate settlement with Labcorp over a patient data breach, adding to the week’s focus on government and health-industry accountability. Elections & Political Climate: National coverage says Democrats’ paths to flipping the U.S. Senate are improving as Trump’s approval slips and voter frustration grows, with several races flagged as moving toward Democrats. Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports show Nebraska fuel prices easing in the Sept. 19 week, with multiple counties hitting low points (including diesel lows around $5.59–$5.99 and premium lows near $4.39–$4.94). Local Notes: Lincoln announced several street closures starting Sept. 28 for water main and utility work.

Nebraska Courts & Health Care: Two Nebraska mothers are appealing a federal judge’s denial of a preliminary injunction against the state’s ban on nurse midwives assisting in home births, arguing it violates religious rights and freedom of choice while the judge said the restriction is a health-and-safety measure. State Government & Oversight: The Nebraska Board of Regents approved four new members to serve on the Nebraska Medicine board as part of a governance update that adds the Omaha Community Foundation. Elections & Voting Access: The American Postal Workers Union launched a Nebraska-focused ad campaign defending voting by mail amid claims of confusion after a White House mail-ballot order was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Agriculture & Cost Relief: Gov. Jim Pillen signed executive orders aimed at helping Nebraska agriculture producers, including diesel-related relief and changes to trailer weight limits. Public Safety & Local Budgets: Douglas County, Omaha, and Omaha Public Schools faced public scrutiny during a Sept. 16 joint budget and property tax hearing, with residents raising affordability concerns. Data Privacy: Nebraska’s attorney general announced a multistate Labcorp settlement tied to a patient data breach, with stronger vendor oversight requirements.

Midwife Home Birth Fight: Nebraska mothers Emily Tvrdy and Amanda Musilek are appealing a federal judge’s denial of a preliminary injunction against the state’s ban on nurse midwives assisting home births, arguing it violates religious rights and freedom of choice. Diesel Cost Pressure: The Trump administration is weighing options to lower diesel prices, including possible tax changes and easing rules tied to “red diesel,” as pump prices hover near record levels. Ag Relief From Pillen: Gov. Jim Pillen signed executive orders aimed at Nebraska agriculture, including diesel-related tax relief for farmers and higher trailer weight allowances. Nebraska Medicine Governance: The NU Board of Regents approved four new “Nebraska Medicine” board members as part of formalizing the system’s governance structure. Data Breach Accountability: Nebraska’s AG Mike Hilgers announced a multistate $2.3 million settlement with Labcorp over a patient data breach tied to a medical debt collector. Election Access Push: The American Postal Workers Union launched a Nebraska ad campaign promoting voting by mail and defending the process as secure. Property Tax Heat: A Douglas County-area joint hearing drew concerns about rising property taxes and school funding, with residents questioning affordability and service levels. Czech Ties & Guard: Czech President Petr Pavel visited Nebraska, meeting Pillen and touring the National Guard as the state highlights Czech heritage and partnership. Rural Transit Funding: NDOT says Open Plains Transit can’t receive new federal funding until outstanding audits and reimbursement issues are resolved. ICE Violence Spike: DHS data shows assaults against ICE officers surged more than 1,700% as anti-ICE rhetoric and protests intensify.

Agriculture Relief: Gov. Jim Pillen issued two executive orders to blunt harvest-season diesel costs—letting highway-registered vehicles use untaxed dyed diesel for 90 days and allowing seasonal crop/livestock haulers to run up to 25% over weight limits without extra permits—plus a letter to President Trump urging a 90-day pause on U.S. diesel exports. State Audit Fallout: Lancaster County Commissioner Matt Schulte will hold a livestreamed press conference on Friday after the state auditor alleged nearly $1 billion in accounting errors tied to the Treasurer’s Office, with Treasurer Rachel Garver disputing the impact on missing property tax funds. Immigration Enforcement: DHS expanded its public “Worst of the Worst” deportation database by 5,000 people, pushing the total above 40,000, including thousands of criminal records listed across all states. Federal Courts on Visas: A judge temporarily blocked DHS’s new F and J student visa rules that would have replaced “duration of status” with an “admit until date” system. Campaign Pressure: Reuters reports Republicans are pouring money and high-profile visits into Farm Belt states—including Nebraska—as voters sour on the economy amid high gasoline and diesel prices. Energy Prices (Local): GasBuddy price reports showed low E15 and diesel spots across multiple Nebraska counties in the week ending Sept. 19.