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Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is suing General Motors over the sale of its customers' data to insurance companies.

The federal government is withholding federal funds to after-school programs across the nation, with about $6.5 million that typically goes to Nebraska. After school and summer program providers say this could lead to programs cutting down on services, serving less students or even closing their doors.

Communities continue to recover from the impacts of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in Omaha earlier this month. Some worry about the longer-term stresses of the impacted children.

Hydropower accounts for nearly 30% of utility-scale renewable energy in the U.S., but federal hurdles may prevent older hydroelectric plants from staying online and new projects from getting off the ground.

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.

Naloxone, a drug that counteracts the effects of opioid overdose, has become more available within Southeastern Nebraska. Free Naloxone can be found at three vending machines, as well as five grab-and-go sites located around Lincoln. There is also a grab-and-go site now located in Jansen, Southwest of Beatrice, near the Kansas border.

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.

Nebraskans with felony drug convictions almost saw a light at the end of the tunnel when legislators voted to end the lifetime ban on SNAP access. But then, the governor's veto was not overturned. Those impacted said this decision will ultimately harm the state.

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.

The over 1000 page ‘big beautiful bill' covers many things, but rural health leaders are most concerned over what proposed Medicaid cuts will do to an already fragile rural health system.

Specialty producers exporting to China have been hit just as hard as soybeans and beef. But they often have fewer alternative markets for their crops, worsening the impact of retaliatory tariffs.

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.

Come the end of the month, Nebraska's Women's Health Initiative Advisory Council will also come to an end. The council was terminated in the recent legislative session.

The manufacturing and agriculture sectors are struggling to grow, according to two surveys in the Midwest.

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.

New data from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services suggest a disconnect between people with developmental disabilities who are offered money by the state and getting them connected to services. More than 3,000 families have been offered state funding, since Governor Jim Pillen launched an initiative last spring to end an eight year waiting list. But data show not many families are using the state funding.

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.

A Lincoln nonprofit collaboration has launched a new website to share immigration information and resources. Its aim is to address misinformation and fear amid heightened attention on immigration enforcement.

Concerned citizens met at Omaha's Tri-Faith Center to express their concerns about the “big, beautiful bill's” cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and access to federal loans for medical students.

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.

Governor Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced the end of the developmental disabilities waiting list.

Since being identified as its own distinct subspecies, the Salt Creek tiger beetle has been receiving help in its fight for survival. How is the project going after over ten years?

Across much of the Midwest, the atmosphere is becoming warmer and retaining more water, leading to heavier downpours. A two-crop system called relay intercropping could help farmers buffer weather whiplash and boost profits.

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.

The 19th superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol comes to the job with 32 years of law enforcement experience. Colonel Bryan Waugh spent the last six years as Police Chief in Kearney. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson asked Colonel Waugh how it feels going from policing 34,000 people in a community to overseeing a statewide law enforcement agency in charge of protecting 2 million people.

Nebraska food bank representatives said they are concerned how cuts to SNAP, Medicare and Medicaid will impact those who rely on the programs. The House of Representatives has already approved the cuts, and now the Senate will decide on them.

Everyday Nebraskans could be on SportsCenter. ESPN's flagship show SportsCenter will broadcast a show in Nebraska this summer during the Cornhusker State Games.

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.

The School as Hub model connects families with their school community from their child's birth to starting kindergarten and beyond. School officials and researchers say it helps families feel like they belong in their school, potentially leading to better attendance rates.

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.

In the last 75 years, college baseball has been categorized by a rollercoaster of changes, especially in the last 30 years. Regulations on the ball and bats and a new stadium are just a few of the differences in today's series.

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says it's received bids for building a new prison in Lincoln, but won't say how much they're for.

A Nebraska teacher will be honored at the end of June as the Braille Institue's “Teacher of the Year.” Audrey Graves has worked with students who are blind or visually impaired for 20 years across Nebraska as well as in some Iowa and Missouri towns.

Douglas County Board President Roger Garcia said his wife's aunt was detained in Tuesday's raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement

In May, the federally funded child care program Head Start was included in President Donald Trump's draft proposal of cuts he was planning to send to Congress. He backed off of defunding Head Start, but advocates say their work isn't done.

Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. was officially inaugurated as Omaha's 52nd mayor in a ceremony held Monday evening.

New World Screwworms used to be a constant concern for ranchers, until they were eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s. Now that they're on their way back, those who remember dealing with them have warnings about their impact.

Nineteen rural Nebraska hospitals announced Thursday that they are joining together to bolster the services they offer. This network includes hospitals from all across the state.

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.

More than half of Nebraska's counties, most of Kansas and all of Iowa are labeled as radon hot spots. The harmful gas is nearly undetectable and can show up in any building, including homes. Health officials and radon mitigators say it's easy to test for and fix, but harder to get the word out.

The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce has a new President and CEO. Todd Bingham comes to Lincoln having led the Manufacturers Association in Utah, a state known for high-tech and diverse industries. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson sat down with Bingham to find out how his Utah skills will benefit him in Nebraska.

The Omaha Arts Fair is making its debut this weekend. This is following the Omaha Arts Festival stopping after 50 years of operation last year.

The Nebraska Legislature finished its 2025 regular session with widely varying opinions about how well senators handled the state's business.

State Auditor Mike Foley has issued audit letters to eight local government units in the past six weeks highlighting alleged financial malpractice. The offenses include a Nemaha County commissioner using a county gas pump to fill his personal vehicle, a Custer County employee who recorded work hours while at her children's school events and Pleasanton village employees who used their 11% rebates from village expenses at Menards for personal purchases. Foley says he didn't remember there being so many cases during his previous term as auditor between 2007 and 2015.

The Nebraska chapter of the nation's oldest Latino advocacy group is closing its doors for now.

Farmers continued to take on more debt through the first quarter of 2025, prolonging a trend from last year. That's as farm incomes have shrunk over the last couple of years, and some worry President Trump's tariffs could make economic conditions tougher.

The Nebraska Legislature wrapped up its 2024 regular session Monday with praise for its work, mixed with caution.

A proposal banning certain forms of hemp and so-called synthetic cannabis was passed over Friday before a vote could be taken. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Kathleen Kauth, made the decision after it appeared there would not be the votes necessary to overcome a filibuster attempt. Progressives filed motions to stop an amendment clarifying that the bill wouldn't supersede the medical marijuana initiatives Nebraskans passed in November from being added to the bill. Sen. Ben Hansen, who voted for the bill on the first two rounds, said without the amendment, he couldn't support it moving forward.