Humanities Desk | NET Radio

Gov. Jim Pillen declined to sign draft regulations for the medical cannabis industry the commission approved last week. In a letter to the commission sent Thursday, Pillen wrote "Leaving the cultivators without a limit would increase likelihood of an overabundance of cannabis product that creates an unregulated, unintended black-market supply.” The commission responded by placing a limit of 1,250 flowering plants for each cultivator.

The city has earned a national recognition for building an inclusive community. It's the second city in the state to earn this label.

Nebraska farmers entering harvest season with near record high corn and soybean yields have been met with low prices for their crops. Coupled with higher than usual input prices due to tariffs, many will lose money this year. Smith, who serves as chair of the Congressional Agriculture Trade Caucus, says he is hopeful that President Trump will work to open up new markets for farmers and reach trade deals to bring down tariffs. Brian Kuehl, the co-executive director of Farmers for Free Trade, says time is running out.

Pillen's team says the Work Ethic Camp in McCook – which currently provides rehabilitative programming to low-risk offenders – will soon house undocumented immigrants arrested by ICE. The administration clarified it will only house Level 1 detainees, meaning those with minor criminal records and non-violent felonies. After the briefing, Judiciary Committee Vice Chair Wendy DeBoer told reporters she has "grave concerns" about the process from federal agents.

More than a week after Gov. Jim Pillen announced that the McCook Work Ethic Camp would be used as an immigration detention facility, some state lawmakers are still seeking answers on the details. Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Megan Hunt sent a letter to Judiciary Committee chair, Sen. Carolyn Bosn, requesting a legislative hearing to address questions surrounding the project. The letter was signed by 12 other state senators. “We urge you, as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, to conduct an Interim Study Hearing to improve public transparency for all stakeholders and citizens and ensure we are doing our due diligence as State leaders,” it reads.

Uncertainty on whether there will be a Historic Preservation Fund in the 2026 fiscal year, has those in the museum and preservation communities worried. A group of volunteers is working to get a North Omaha building added to the National Register of Historic Places before the end of this congressional fiscal year.

Nebraska's federal delegation has been busy throughout the August recess sharing the benefits of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill' in their home state. Sen. Pete Ricketts kept the trend going on Wednesday at a roundtable with farmers, ranchers and local officials in Broken Bow. Ricketts said he covered a variety of topics including biofuel expansion, firefighting coordination and mental health needs at the meeting, which was closed to the media. The senator said no one directly mentioned tariffs in the discussion, but he highlighted the Trump administration's commitment to finding new trading partners, including the United Kingdom and India. He also said he heard from public power officials about the importance of legislation

The governor said the facility would house minimal to low-risk detainees for between five and fifty days until they are able to see a judge. In two other immigration-related announcements also made Tuesday, state officials said that approximately 20 Army National Guard soldiers will provide support for Nebraska-based ICE enforcement, and that the State is empowering Nebraska State Patrol troopers to arrest people suspected of immigration violations.

Bacon says he wants to see a peace deal allow Ukraine to join NATO (NAY-toe) and not place any limit on the size of Ukraine's military. Bacon has also cosponsored legislation that would impose sanctions on Russia and other countries buying its imports. Republican majority leaders in the House and Senate have said they want to wait for Trump's approval before moving forward. But Bacon says he would consider using a discharge petition to bring it to the floor for a vote if a peace deal appears unjust.

Most people think of California for surfing. But surfers can be found from Wisconsin to Texas on lakes, rivers and even man-made water parks.

As Nebraska's row crop production continues to grow, farmers are looking for new markets for their corn and soybeans. Jet fuel made from biomass could be the answer they are looking for. At Friday's Sustainable Aviation Fuels Conference in Ashland, political and business leaders alike said the state is well-positioned to become a major player in the burgeoning industry. Jacki Fee, a biofuels specialist with Cargill, explained why.

Several hundred state leaders in agriculture and manufacturing gathered in Kearney today/Thursday to discuss how to develop Nebraska's economy. Gov. Jim Pillen touted the potential for Nebraska to grow its bioeconomy through investments in ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel and plastic products made from corn. Thursday morning, Husker football head coach Matt Rhule addressed the summit with a message about dreaming big. The governor said he's dreaming big too.

Emma Harner, a musician who grew up in Nebraska, got to play at Chicago's Lollapalooza last weekend with Boston based band Jesse Detor. She has been playing guitar for only 5 years, yet has managed to already travel abroad because of her music. Nebraska Public Media's Arthur Jones got to chat with her and hear her story so far.

Members of Nebraska's federal delegation shared their legislative priorities with the state's business leaders in Ashland Tuesday. At the annual federal legislative summit hosted by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Sen. Deb Fischer, Sen. Pete Ricketts, and Rep. Mike Flood explained how the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill' could help grow Nebraska businesses.

Congressman Mike Flood's third town hall of the year was his biggest, and arguably most contentious one yet. The 850-seat Kimball Recital Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus was filled with a crowd that wasted no time vocalizing their criticisms of the representative. Following an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance and performance of ‘God Bless America,' Flood began touting the ‘Big Beautiful Bill' that he and 217 of his fellow Republicans voted for last month. “I truly believe that this bill will allow America to experience growth, that it will allow our communities to thrive, that it will spark our economy, that it will help farmers and ranchers, that it will take care of the vulnerable,” he said. “And more than anything, I truly believe this bill protects Medicaid for the future.”

Comic Con Nebraska held its inaugural event at Omaha's C-H-I Health Center this weekend. The con was host to artists, authors, vendors and even an arcade, but according to those attending the con, it was more than that.

The University of Nebraska was selected to receive a grant to continue its work uncovering and publicizing the journalistic writings of famed poet Walt Whitman. The National Endowment for the Humanities selected the project as one of 97 recipients across the country receiving grants for August 2025. The university will receive $300,000 over the course of three years for its research.

Benson is hosting its New Americans Arts Festival today, and organizers say it has a new meaning this year.

Comic Con Nebraska is coming to Omaha's C-H-I Health Center this weekend. The new ‘con' is the first event being put on by Octopus Events Group, whose members have previously put on comic cons in Portland and Seattle.

Students, professors and volunteers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Anthropology program just landed in France to help in a month-long project. The goal is to send home any remains from a WWII plane crash.

Last weekend marked the 104th Burwell Rodeo. This year, the Burwell community literally weathered a storm to continue the tradition. It took many volunteers to make it happen.

Omaha non-profit ‘Playing with Fire' is putting on their 21st Playing with Fire event this Friday and Saturday. The event, held for the first time inside the Slowdown, will host 6 blues artists, including four from outside the U.S.

Pillen says the proposed cuts are part of his goal of reducing the size of government and not due to economic indicators. However, June tax revenues fell well short of predictions for the fiscal year and the amount of federal funds for the state next year is uncertain. Justin Hubly, the executive director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, says Pillen's proposal would likely lead to a workforce reduction.

Less than a week after setting a new national record in the road mile for his age group, Lynn Rathjen already has his sights set on the next accomplishment. The 80-year-old retired physical therapist is training to break the age group records in the 800 and 1500 meter races at the national championships in Alabama this weekend.

The stretch of 14th street between O and P streets is now Boehmer Street, after the former owner and talent promoter at Lincoln's Zoo Bar, Larry Boehmer.

Omaha's Heartland Pride event begins today. With recent scrutiny of D-E-I programs, as well as companies distancing themselves from Pride Month, Nebraska Public Media's Arthur Jones spoke to Heartland Pride's Vice President Samual Parnell about what this year will look like.

Congressman Don Bacon introduced legislation Thursday that would increase criminal penalties for anyone convicted of killing or conspiring to kill public safety officers. The so-called ‘Back the Blue Act' would also create mandatory minimums for assaulting a federally funded law enforcement officer, which could include a firefighter, chaplain, federal judge or rescue squad member. If a death occurs, there is a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years. Attempting to flee to avoid prosecution carries a minimum of 10 years.

The last fluent speaker for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska died in 2006. An Oklahoma tribe helped organize the first digital Ponca dictionary, which is also available in physical copies.

Soda and energy drinks would no longer be eligible for purchase through the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program in Nebraska under proposed regulations from the state's Department of Health and Human Services. At a hearing Tuesday, advocates said the restrictions could hurt grocery stores and stigmatize Nebraskans who use SNAP. “Implementing the SNAP restriction waiver will lead to fewer food retailers accepting SNAP, thereby causing a significant number of Nebraskan families, including those with children, veterans, people with disabilities and the elderly, to face even greater barriers when trying to put food on the table,” said Madison Castor with Nebraska Appleseed.

Nebraska lawmakers overcame a significant shortfall through the passage of this year's budget, but more fiscal trouble may be on the horizon. On the final day of this year's legislative session in June, Speaker John Arch made a prediction on the focus of the legislature's return in 2026. “I will predict that our biggest challenge next year will be our budget,” he said. “Once again, we sent a balanced budget to the governor, but we always face mid-biennium budget adjustments, and next year will be no different. And in fact, could be more challenging” So how did Nebraska get into this situation in the first place?

The nearly 6,000 mechanical amusement devices in Nebraska are now taxed at five percent of their net operating revenue, thanks to a law passed last April. These devices are found in gas stations, cafes and social halls and are used for contests of skill, unlike keno or bingo. Fraternal organizations are exempt from the tax.

Governor Jim Pillen has signed the commission's emergency regulations, which prohibit dispensaries from selling whole-plant cannabis and products that are vaped or smoked. The rules also cap the number of dispensaries at one in each of the state's 12 district court judicial districts. The emergency regulations will be in effect for the next 90 days, after which they can be amended or put into law.

In the month of May alone, the casino contributed more than one million dollars to the state's Property Tax Credit Cash Fund. Thanks in part to a new expansion in April, WarHorse has already generated more revenue at its south Omaha location in the first five months of 2025 than it did throughout all of last year. Across the state, revenues have grown steadily at other casinos in Lincoln, Grand Island, and Columbus with new locations on the horizon in other cities. Lance Morgan, the CEO of WarHorse Gaming, doesn't see the growth of the industry slowing down any time soon.

Lancaster County District Court Judge Susan Strong dismissed a lawsuit Thursday alleging that the state's medical cannabis program violates state and federal law. The case was brought by former State Sen. John Kuehn, who claimed laws allowing any form of marijuana are unconstitutional because the substance remains illegal at the federal level. Kuehn argued his status as a Nebraska taxpayer gives him the right to sue the state over its “illegal expenditure of taxpayer money.” Strong disagreed, saying that “the Court does not believe that the incidental burdens of implementing a law, like employee time and printing costs, is an ‘expenditure of public funds' sufficient to confer taxpayer standing under Nebraska law.”

The commission voted unanimously to approve emergency regulations on medical cannabis to meet its deadline of July 1st in the initiative approved by voters last November. The regulations allow only one dispensary in each of the state's 12 district court judicial districts and prohibit raw plant material or any product that is smoked or vaped. The regulations did not include details about who counts as a qualified patient to receive medical cannabis.

State Sen. John Cavanaugh kicked off his bid to become the next congressman for Nebraska's Second District Tuesday night. In a speech to several hundred supporters gathered at Omaha's Firefighters Union Hall, Cavanaugh vowed to stand up to President Donald Trump and work to protect Medicaid, social security and public lands.

Bur oak trees are some of the most common native Nebraska trees that shade many city parks and congregate in the state's eastern deciduous forests. They're hardy trees, known to withstand a range of stresses, including Nebraska's harshest weather. But they're dying en masse due to years of devastating drought.

Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon says he supports President Donald Trump's attack on Iran and believes the President does not intend to start a long-term war with the country. Monday afternoon, Bacon said people tend to overestimate Iran's capabilities but underestimate the country's intentions for the West. He said America's military is in a strong position to respond to retaliation.

Frank Lloyd Wright is the most widely known architect in the world. The only structure he designed in Nebraska is the Sutton “Prairie School” house in McCook, built in 1905. David Wendell, of Holdrege, has a sizable collection of Wright artifacts on display for a “first of its kind” exhibit at Pioneer Village in Minden. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson caught up with Wendell at our studios in Lincoln.

The Great American Comedy Festival, celebrating Johnny Carson's Legacy in Norfolk returned for its 16th year.

Planned Parenthood Advocates' annual state gathering in Sarpy County was postponed out of an abundance of caution for staff, supporters and community, according to the group's website. State Sen. Ashlei Spivey, an abortion rights advocate in the Nebraska Legislature, was scheduled to be the event's keynote speaker. She says the news coming out of Minnesota this week was terrifying.

A gasoline blend with 15 percent ethanol offers a cheaper option at the pump and a steady market for Nebraska's corn producers. For some members of Nebraska's federal delegation, allowing its sale year-round is a legislative priority, while others say ethanol expansion comes with negative environmental and economic impacts.

Nebraska's Secretary of State Bob Evnen announced today/Friday that he is running for his third term in office. The Republican was first elected in 2018 and oversaw the implementation of the state's voter ID law. He said that under his leadership, no state has had more secure or accurate elections than Nebraska.