The NSP Special Investigations Team is investigating a Mitchell Police and Scotts Bluff County officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday evening. 

One person was hospitalized. No officers were injured. There is no threat to the public. More information will be released when possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;

NSP Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Panhandle

The Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition has named Laura Nelson as its new Executive Director.

Nelson brings deep roots in Nebraska agriculture and more than a decade of experience in agriculture communications, organizational leadership and rancher-led conservation. For the past ten months, she has served as NGLC’s Statewide Grassland Coordinator, where she led the development and launch of the Nebraska Grassland Alliance — a collaborative network uniting ranchers, conservation professionals and community leaders around a shared commitment to healthy, working grasslands.

“I’m grateful for the strong foundation so many have helped build over the past two and a half decades at NGLC, and for the growth and positive change Leah led over the past three years,” Nelson said. “I look forward to building on that momentum with the board, staff and partners as we continue supporting Nebraska’s ranching families and the grasslands we all depend on.”

Nelson’s agricultural roots are in Kimball County, where her family still farms and ranches. She began her career writing for the Certified Angus Beef brand before spending nearly a decade living and working in Montana. There, she served as editor and manager of an award-winning weekly newspaper and later founded an agriculture communications company, providing strategic communications and project management for organizations including the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, the Montana Environmental Stewardship Award Program and the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance. She returned to Nebraska in 2021 and now resides in Bassett.

As Executive Director, Nelson will work alongside the board and staff to guide strategic direction, partnerships and programs advancing NGLC’s mission to enhance Nebraska’s grasslands through voluntary technical assistance, education and public awareness.

The board and NGLC staff are deeply grateful for the dedication, leadership and hard work that former Executive Director Leah Peterson contributed during her tenure.

Nelson began her role as Executive Director on Dec. 29, 2025.

Visit Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition at <a href="http://www.nebraskagrazingslands.org">www.nebraskagrazingslands.org</a>

NGLC Names Laura Nelson as New Executive Director

ALLIANCE, Neb. – RSVP staff would like to remind the community about the MLK Community Needs Drive happening right now! Each January, RSVP staff and volunteers participate in a MLK Community Food Drive. The idea is to perform an “act of service” in honor of the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. The act of service we chose is to conduct a Needs Drive that will restock the shelves of our local Food Pantries, provide warm hands and emergency needs that are depleted from holiday demand. The items collected will be donated to local Food Pantries. The hope is to replenish our Food Pantries and needs so they will have supplies available for the immediate hunger and emergencies families may have.

We invite and challenge you to donate nonperishable food items, hats and gloves, and/or to conduct your own mini Needs Drive for the week of Jan. 19–23. RSVP staff will pick up your donated food items and add them to the overall collection. Please let us know if you will join the challenge.

Call RSVP at (308) 762-1293 for more information about how you can make a difference.

For more information, contact Angie Flesner at (308) 762-1293 or aflesner@cityofalliance.net.

RSVP 2026 MLK Food Drive

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;–&nbsp;On Jan. 20 and 21, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) will visit Columbus and Grand Island to host "Working Families Tax Cuts" roundtables and tour the Grand Island VA Medical Center.

During the roundtables, Senator Ricketts will discuss the impact of the recently passed&nbsp;Working Families Tax Cuts,&nbsp;which prevented a significant tax hike on Nebraska families. Key provisions include the expansion of the Child Tax Credit, permanent exemptions for the Death Tax to protect family farms, and the elimination of federal taxes on tips and overtime.

Senator Pete Ricketts to Host Tax Cut Roundtables in Central Nebraska

ALLIANCE, Neb. – At Alliance Public Library, join the festive Valentine fun! Preschool through second grade can participate in a Beary Sweet Search for Rosy during Library hours through Feb. 14, with one prize per day and one prize per child.

Grades 3-8 can participate in the Hearts Guessing Game by submitting one entry at the circulation desk before 3 pm on February 13th, guessing the number of Heart candies in the jar. The person with the closest guess will win a Valentine Prize courtesy of the Alliance Public Library Foundation.

For more information, contact Cynthia Horn, Children’s and Youth Services Librarian at (308) 762-1387.

Beary Sweet Search for Rosy and Hearts Guessing Game at Alliance Public Library

LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp;— Over the weekend, Governor Jim Pillen joined President Trump at the White House to celebrate the great and historic Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative established under the Trump Administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-50-billion-awards-strengthen-rural-health-all-50-states" target="_blank">Working Families Tax Cuts</a>&nbsp;legislation to strengthen and modernize health care in rural communities across the country.

“Mr. President, a gigantic thank you for your incredible leadership,” Gov Pillen said during the roundtable. “Your courage gives me more courage to say it the way it is.”

“We’re working very hard in Nebraska to run government like a business. This investment into rural America will allow us to do common sense, pragmatic investments in rural Nebraska, and they will be sustainable.”

Gov. Pillen highlighted that Nebraska’s focus will be on incentivizing real food, taking care of our Veterans, investing in technology, and supporting Nebraskans struggling with mental health or drugs.

Gov. Pillen’s comments continued, “In Nebraska, we work hard. We’re about faith, family, and hard work — the American dream — and we don’t ask for much help in rural Nebraska. So, we’re really grateful for this investment. Thank you.”

President Trump complimented Gov. Pillen saying, “Governor, we appreciate you being here, very much. You’re doing a fantastic job.”

Through the initiative, the state of Nebraska will receive $218,529,075 for the first year of the five-year grant from the federal government, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to Make Rural Nebraska Healthy Again.

A video of the event is available via C-Span:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/pres-trump-hosts-rural-health-roundtable/671774" target="_blank">https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/pres-trump-hosts-rural-health-roundtable/671774</a>

Gov. Pillen Attends White House Rural Health Roundtable

One of the questions I field most often is: “Do you take (fill in the blank)?” Often the answer is: “Yes, you can bring that down to the recycling center.” Other times the reply is a definite no when a patron may have used lumber he’d like to drop off as well as cardboard or perhaps a broken refrigerator to go with an outdated TV.

Last week a local business owner texted to see if Keep Alliance Beautiful could use any functional four-foot fluorescent tubes (both the thicker and thinner varieties) after they upgraded to LED lighting. Unfortunately, the recycling center’s fluorescent fixtures are 8-foot. However, we are happy to play the middleman. If anyone wants a 4-foot tube call our office at 308-762-1729 and we can facilitate the acquisition. There are a few dozen available.

Connecting the public with useful – free – stuff has not been my forte. A few years ago we had people stop by the recycling center fairly regularly looking for paint. At the time there was a small stockpile that was able to accommodate most requests. So judging by that trend we took in more paint. Supply quickly outpaced what became low to occasional demand. Though we still have some in stock most of it was shipped out and we do not currently accept paint. In the case of the bulbs we are hoping to get the word out so they can have a bit more life.

Thinking if nobody wants any of this business’ bulbs or there are some left, I started to tell the owner that our facility could not accept this type of household hazardous waste (HHW) then decided to double check. We have not allowed light bulbs with the glass though Spud, our hauler, who also heads Keep Kimball Beautiful, said he’s been handing the tubes for the past four years and would tell us how to prep the fragile lights for transport.

As longer lasting LEDs continue to replace fluorescent, KAB will be accepting intact four- and eight-foot tubes. We will also be taking intact CFL bulbs. The Alliance Municipal Landfill bales the tubes, Supervisor Clint Fankhauser said. He explained the practice falls under Nebraska’s small quantity hazardous waste rules, adding “99 percent of the time they don’t come to us intact.”

Fluorescent tubes and CFLs are recycled to recover valuable mercury in addition to aluminum and glass. Earth911’s website explains that mercury may go in new bulbs, thermostats and other products. This keeps a hazardous substance from harming the environment. Aluminum has new life as scrap metal. The glass is downcycled into concrete, ceramic tile and other materials.

Earth911 has search links for locations accepting tubes and CFLs. When I entered “69301” for Alliance the nearest tube locations were hundreds of miles away while Home Depot popped up as the only place to accept CFLs within 60 miles. However, I would suggest checking with our local hardware and lumber stores. There are services that will accept both types through the mail for a fee although the option is more available for CFLs. BulbCycle is among the companies that offer a mail-back kit for tubes.

So, rather than mailing used fluorescent tubes and CFLs or driving an hour I encourage everyone to drop by the KAB Recycling Center at 107 ½ Cheyenne Ave. in Alliance for a more convenient option. We look forward to adding a new material to our list for 2026.

COLUMN: (Fluorescent) Lightbulb Moment

Following the resignations of LD 41 State Senator Dan McKeon and District 4 Regent Elizabeth O’Connor, voters in the respective districts will elect a candidate to fill the offices on both their primary and general election ballots in 2026.

Governor Pillen’s appointee to the LD 41 seat, Senator Fred Meyer, will serve until Jan. 5, 2027. The Governor’s appointee to the Board of Regents will serve until Jan. 7, 2027 (unless either runs and is elected in November). Elected candidates will take office to finish out the remainder of each term. The current term for Legislative District 41 runs through Jan. 2, 2029. The current term for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 4 runs through Jan. 9, 2031.

Candidates who are interested in running for these offices will be subject to the same primary candidate filing deadlines as other races, February 17 for incumbent candidates and March 2 for non-incumbents. Candidate filing forms can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/information-candidates" target="_blank">Secretary of State’s website</a>&nbsp;along with other candidate filing resources. A full list of state and federal level offices that will be nominated in the 2026 primary election is also available.

Elections for LD 41, Board of Regents District 4 to Appear on 2026 Election Ballots

LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp; — The Nebraska State Patrol is pleased to announce multiple command staff promotions and a change in the agency leadership structure.

Under the new command structure, the agency will be divided into two parts: Operations and Services. Each of those areas will be under the command of an assistant superintendent. Lt. Colonel Jeff Roby will serve as Assistant Superintendent of Operations. Captain Jason Scott has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and will serve as Assistant Superintendent of Services.

“Lt. Colonel Scott has been an outstanding leader for our troopers and investigators for many years,” said Colonel Bryan Waugh, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “His wealth of knowledge, attitude of service, and professional integrity have equipped him for this new role, and we are excited for him to share his leadership with a larger part of our NSP team.”

Lt. Colonel Scott is a 27-year veteran of the Nebraska State Patrol. He most recently served as a statewide commander for Investigative Services. Throughout his career, he has served in Carrier Enforcement, Patrol, Investigative Services and Special Operations. Lt. Colonel Scott is also a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

“This new command structure modernizes the agency and reflects the growth NSP has experienced over our history of serving Nebraska,” said Colonel Waugh. “While the public safety mission has never wavered, the personnel, tools, and knowledge we use have adapted. This latest adaptation positions the Nebraska State Patrol to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future, as we continually strive to keep Nebraska safe. I’m thankful for the alignment between Governor Pillen, Lt. Governor Kelly, and our leadership to make this change and better position the agency for the future. Thank you to Governor Pillen and Lt. Governor Kelly for their constant support of our team.”

This marks the first change to the structure of the superintendent’s office since the first introduction of the Lieutenant Colonel rank in 1969.

In addition to Lt. Colonel Scott’s promotion, NSP is pleased to announce several recent promotions around the agency:

“Our team is filled with dedicated and talented leaders across Nebraska,” said Colonel Waugh. “These leaders have already demonstrated their abilities in numerous areas. Nebraskans should be proud of their desire to continue being leaders for our team as our troopers and investigators serve the public in all corners of the state.”

NSP Modernizes Command Structure, Promotes Scott to Lt. Colonel

Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) Chair Tim Schram of Gretna has been appointed to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) board of directors.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr appointed him to the three-year term, which began Jan. 1 and runs through 2028.

USAC is the independent nonprofit organization that administers the multi-billion-dollar federal Universal Service Fund (USF). The fund ensures affordable access to phone and broadband service through programs such as:

-High Cost, which supports broadband and voice service in rural and high-cost areas;

-E-Rate, which helps schools and libraries obtain affordable internet access;

-Rural Health Care, which supports connectivity for health care providers in rural areas; and

-Lifeline, which assists low-income consumers with the cost of communications services.

“I’m honored by Chairman Carr’s appointment and the opportunity to serve on the USAC Board,” Commissioner Schram said. “USAC plays a critical role in connecting communities across the country, particularly in rural areas. I look forward to contributing my regulatory experience and working with fellow board members to ensure these programs are administered efficiently, transparently and in the best interest of consumers.”

In addition to program administration, USAC is responsible for collecting and disbursing USF monies, conducting outreach and education, and ensuring program integrity through audits and oversight activities. The board’s next quarterly meeting is scheduled for Jan.26- 27 in Washington, D.C.

Now in his fourth term on the PSC, Commissioner Schram has been closely involved in telecommunications regulation and broadband expansion initiatives, with an emphasis on improving connectivity in unserved and underserved areas of Nebraska. He was first elected in 2006 to represent District 3, which includes Sarpy, Saunders and western Douglas counties in eastern Nebraska.

During his time in office, Commissioner Schram has regularly contributed his state regulatory perspective to federal boards and national industry groups. Among other FCC-related appointments, he serves on the Interstate Telecommunications Relay System (TRS) Fund Advisory Council and the Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC).

Commissioner Schram Appointed To USAC Board

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in February.

Celebrate World Wetlands Day with a winter hike at Frank Shoemaker Marsh north of Lincoln on Feb. 1.

Participate in the free Full Moon Winter Wetland Walk from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. and connect with nature through a guided hike, with prompts to reflect by creating sketches and writings while observing the full moon. Experts will be available to educate about wetland ecology.

Art materials and paper will be available, though participants may bring their own.

There will be about 30 minutes of walking in 10-minute intervals on unpaved trails. There are no restrooms. Parking space is limited, so carpooling is encouraged.

See the calendar event entry at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fcalendar.outdoornebraska.gov%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019bc7c663e9-9d9a05e9-b457-4d6b-b8c1-a22b1666be25-000000/SnpgRmcHkFEK3wvex4M2gBE2rruflK9dmlrGZtmIEbE=440" target="_blank">Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;for more information and to register, which is encouraged. Direct questions to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ly.graff@nebraska.gov" target="_blank">ly.graff@nebraska.gov</a>.

Discover ‘Science of’ squirrels

Explore the squirrel species found in Nebraska and what they eat, how they survive winter, and the roles they play in our ecosystems as Nebraska Game and Parks’ popular “Science of” virtual webinar series returns.

On Feb. 12, learn the science behind squirrel behavior, from how they communicate and navigate to the ways they store food and build nests.&nbsp;

In this series, on select Thursdays at 3 p.m. Central time, Game and Parks educators discuss some of the science behind common things regarding nature and animals.

The hourlong webinars are free, but separate registration is required for each. See the calendar event entries at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fcalendar.outdoornebraska.gov%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/2/0100019bc7c663e9-9d9a05e9-b457-4d6b-b8c1-a22b1666be25-000000/igTN18DcjVfYnTwc3G3VL4ARWQiIUvG3EoQbh-Z-h4A=440" target="_blank">Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>&nbsp;for registration links.

Catch These Game and Parks Education Events in February

Alliance City Council Meeting Agenda, Jan. 20

The Brothers Duo to play in Scottsbluff

Southern Fryed will perform at the Alliance Eagles Club for the annual Barn Dance on Saturday, Jan. 17 starting at 9pm. There is a cover charge to attend.&nbsp;

Southern Fryed to perform in Alliance 

Nebraska Extension Announes Dates for Pesticide License Trainings

The Greendales will perform at Flyover Brewery in Scottsbluff on Saturday, Jan. 8 from 6pm - 9pm.&nbsp;

The Greendales to play in Scottsbluff

Alliance, NE – The City of Alliance Landfill’s loose fill pit and construction/demolition area is pausing operations for January 6th, 2026, and is anticipating to be intermittently closed over the next few days – weeks due to dangerous wind speed. This is for safety measures to ensure no one is injured.

For any questions, please contact the City of Alliance Landfill at (308) 762-2705.

Alliance Landfill Intermittently Pausing Specific Operations Due to Wind 

Box Butte Commissioners Meeting Jan. 7 Agenda

By Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District

The Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (UNWNRD) is seeking a director to fill a vacancy on the board. The position will represent subdistrict 5 which encompasses western Dawes and northern Sioux Counties and was previously held by Al Rasmussen who passed away Dec. 12, 2025. The appointed applicant will serve until January 2027. The position will be up for election in 2026 and again in 2028.

Written letters of interest will serve as the application and must be submitted by January 15, 2026. Applicants must reside in the subdistrict as well as being a registered voter.

The UNWNRD is an eleven-person board serving Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan and the northern 2/3rds of Sioux Counties. The district is made up of five election subdistricts with two representatives and one at-large director. Directors typically serve four-year terms. Board meetings are held in Chadron on the second Thursday of the month. Directors receive $70 per diem and reimbursement of mileage and other expenses while conducting NRD business.

Interested individuals should submit the letter of application to Patrick O’Brien, General Manager, Upper Niobrara White NRD, 430 East 2 nd Street, Chadron, NE 69337. For more information feel free to contact the UNWNRD at 308-432-6190.

Subdistrict 5 Vacancy Announcement

Loaded Dice will perform at the Elks Lodge in Scottsbluff on Dec. 31. The concert starts at 8:30pm - 12:30pm. There is a cover charge to attend.&nbsp;

Loaded Dice to play in Scottsbluff

&nbsp; Keep Alliance Beautiful will be picking up their regular curb side routes on Tuesday, Dec. 23, rather than Wednesday, Dec. 24 for the holidays.&nbsp;

Keep Alliance Beautiful announcement on holiday curb side recycling

U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts said he encouraged Tyson to keep the plant open and help displaced workers find jobs

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/jsalinas/">Juan Salinas II</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/01/05/nebraska-report-examines-state-impacts-if-u-s-enters-armed-conflict/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA&nbsp; — U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, asking her federal department to “block” the closure of the Tyson beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska.&nbsp;

Schumer, in the letter, pointed to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/packers-and-stockyards-act/faq#:~:text=Answer:%20The%20Packers%20and%20Stockyards%20Act%20(the,in%20the%20livestock%2C%20meat%2C%20and%20poultry%20industries." target="_blank">Packers and Stockyards Act</a>, saying the upcoming closure in Lexington is a “textbook violation” of the&nbsp;century-old federal law. The New York Democrat said the closure will send “shockwaves through America’s cattle market.”

“[USDA] publicly stated it is ‘closely monitoring’ the planned closure of large processors like Tyson’s Lexington plant, yet has offered little clarity on whether that monitoring includes active investigation, enforcement, or any concrete steps to protect producers and competition … I urge you to act swiftly to preserve competition, help bring prices down for families and farmers, and save jobs,” Schumer’s letter reads.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/packers-and-stockyards-act/faq#:~:text=Answer:%20The%20Packers%20and%20Stockyards%20Act%20(the,in%20the%20livestock%2C%20meat%2C%20and%20poultry%20industries." target="_blank">Packers and Stockyards Act</a>, passed in 1921, was meant to promote competitiveness and fair practices in the livestock, meat and poultry industries — and to ensure payment protection.

The law prohibits deception and fraud in those markets.&nbsp;Some have questioned whether the feds have the authority to do so.&nbsp;The Packers and Stockyards Act does give the Agriculture Department the authority to force Tyson to sell the plant.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nebraska Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, during a campaign event Friday in Omaha, told the Examiner he had talked to Tyson to “encourage them to quickly make a decision about the plant and to keep it open.” He said he also is working to connect people affected by the closure with help finding jobs.&nbsp;

“I think about the disaster that’s going on in Lexington … like a natural disaster,” Ricketts said, “so it’s locally executed, state supported or state managed, federally supported [and] we’re supporting the state of Nebraska.”&nbsp;

Lexington is likely see 3,200 workers lose their jobs. The statewide economic loss, including both direct and ripple effects, has been estimated at $3.28 billion a year, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/01/03/unl-report-outlines-nebraska-financial-hit-from-tyson-plant-exit/">University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bureau of Business Research analysis</a>.

The west-central Nebraska city is home to more than 10,000 people.

State agencies have&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/agencies-groups-reach-out-to-tyson-workers-as-lexington-beef-plant-closure-nears/">partnered with Lexington nonprofits and other groups</a>&nbsp;to support the affected workers. Gov. Jim Pillen&nbsp;<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/what-are-we-going-to-do/" target="_blank">told the press</a>&nbsp;after his State of the State address that he is “pushing at every meeting” with Tyson to decide the future of the plant “sooner than later.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tyson has not scheduled any shifts at the Lexington facility this week,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.drovers.com/news/industry/tysons-lexington-beef-plant-shudders-early-no-shifts-scheduled-week" target="_blank">according to Farm Journal</a>.

The letter from Schumer comes after Ricketts’ Senate race opponent this fall,&nbsp;registered nonpartisan Dan Osborn, used a campaign appearance in Lexington to highlight the plant’s loss. He accused the company of breaking the century-old law. Tyson also is reducing its operations in a&nbsp;plant in Amarillo, in the Texas panhandle.

The Ricketts campaign said Schumer is “amplifying Osborn’s political grandstanding.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Dan Osborn will be a consistent yes vote for Schumer’s far-left agenda. … It’s why Schumer spent $3.85 million on Osborn’s last campaign,” said Will Coup, a Ricketts campaign spokesperson. “Nebraskans will see through these political games.”&nbsp;

Dan Osborn said the&nbsp;interest from Washington is “too little and too late.”

“The workers and their families in Lexington are the latest to have the rug pulled out from under them by corporate greed. … Where has Pete Ricketts been on all this?” Osborn asked.&nbsp;

Nebraska also lost a Tyson plant in 2006 in Norfolk.&nbsp;U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, a Republican from Norfolk representing the 1st Congressional District, has said Tyson “stripped the plant bare” and the property couldn’t be used as a beef processing facility. Flood said the plant still sits empty today.

Tyson’s Lexington plant is set to close next week.&nbsp;

Senate Minority Leader wants USDA to stop Nebraska Tyson beef plant closure

While some states are seeing more enrollees, there has been a drop nationwide.

By:<a href="https://stateline.org/author/nhassanein/">Nada Hassanein</a>

Nationwide, the number of people buying health plans on Obamacare insurance marketplaces is down by about 833,000 compared with a year ago, according to federal data released this week.

Many states are reporting fewer new enrollees, more people dropping their coverage, and more people choosing cheaper and less generous health insurance plans with higher deductibles.

Across most states, Thursday was the last day to enroll for plans that start in February. But nine states and Washington, D.C., have deadlines later this month, so the numbers could change.

There are 21 states with state-run health insurance marketplaces, and the rest use the federal website. The vast majority of states have seen declines in enrollment&nbsp;so far, compared with around this time last year.

Preliminary data&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/marketplace-2026-open-enrollment-period-report-national-snapshot-0#AnchorFour" target="_blank">released</a>&nbsp;Monday by the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services shows 22.8 million enrollees, down from a record total of 24.3 million last year.

Premiums have surged as a result of the expiration of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/issue-brief/inflation-reduction-act-health-insurance-subsidies-what-is-their-impact-and-what-would-happen-if-they-expire/#:~:text=The%20Inflation%20Reduction%20Act%20(IRA,three%20years%2C%20ending%20after%202025." target="_blank">enhanced federal subsidies</a>&nbsp;first made available by the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021 and later extended through the end of 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act. The availability of the subsidies spurred a sharp increase in the number of people buying health plans on the marketplaces. In 2020, 11.4 million people were enrolled in marketplaces through Obamacare, formally known as the Affordable Care Act. More than double that amount enrolled last year.

Congress failed to reach an agreement on extending the subsidies before the end of last year and still hasn’t reached one. As a result, premiums were expected to increase this year by 114% on average — from $888 last year to about $1,904, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/aca-marketplace-premium-payments-would-more-than-double-on-average-next-year-if-enhanced-premium-tax-credits-expire/" target="_blank">estimates</a>&nbsp;made in September by health policy research organization KFF.

The higher costs appear to be driving many people to forgo insurance or opt for cheaper, less generous plans this year, health officials and analysts say. Several states with state-based marketplaces — including Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Virginia and Washington — are reporting fewer enrollments this year in comparison with enrollments through early January 2025, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/state-indicator/marketplace-enrollment-snapshot-for-open-enrollment-2026/?currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D" target="_blank">early data</a>. Other states, such as California, are reporting fewer new enrollees.

“It’s important to consider that this is preliminary data, so this represents people who have signed up and selected the plan — but they probably haven’t received their first premium bill,” said Elizabeth Lukanen, executive director of the health policy research organization State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota. “Once that happens, I think there’s concern — and it seems very possible — that people may decide to drop coverage. So, the decline could get bigger.

“On the other hand, open enrollment hasn’t closed, so you have two things sort of competing. It seems pretty likely that there will be a decline,” she said.

If the downward trend continues, the nation could see the first decline in enrollment since 2020, Lukanen said, adding that a full picture of income levels and demographics of people who have dropped coverage&nbsp;won’t be clear&nbsp;until the summer.

In Pennsylvania, data updated through Tuesday shows more than 15,000 previously enrolled adults between the ages of 55 and 64 have dropped coverage entirely — the most of any age bracket.

Pennsylvania’s state-based exchange, Pennie, has seen about 15% fewer new enrollments compared with last year. The state is also reporting 1,000 residents dropping coverage per day during open enrollment — with the most coverage losses among people with incomes 150% to 200% of the poverty level. These could include families of two adults and two children with an income between $48,225 and $64,300.

The state is seeing an “unprecedented” number of previously enrolled people dropping coverage, said Devon Trolley, executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange Authority.

California is reporting 31% fewer new enrollees this year compared with last year, and more than a third of new enrollees are choosing bronze plans — the lowest, least generous coverage tier — up from less than a quarter at this time last year.

In Minnesota, data as of Dec. 3 shows more than half of active enrollees are opting to keep their coverage tier. But of those changing plans, more than a third — 37% — are going to cheaper plans. The state notes a full picture won’t be available until March.

Meanwhile, some states are seeing roughly the same number of enrollees or more. Texas, for example, is reporting about 4.1 million people enrolling this year compared with 4 million last year.

Charles&nbsp;Miller, health and economic mobility policy director at&nbsp;Texas 2036, a policy research nonprofit, said it’s unclear why enrollments are up, but pointed to some clues.

“Texas had a uniquely large population of uninsured individuals eligible for free and inexpensive plans that hadn’t enrolled previously … [and] has more affordable bronze and gold plans than many states,” he said.

He attributes that to a bipartisan state law, enacted in 2021, that had the effect of increasing subsidies for those plans, Miller said.

Nevada is seeing fewer enrollees overall. But compared with this time last year, the state is seeing 29% more people who are actively shopping the website to explore plans, said Katie Charleson, communications officer at the Nevada Health Authority Division of Consumer Health Services.

The state introduced a new public option, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://nevadacurrent.com/2026/01/08/with-health-insurance-premiums-rising-nevadas-new-public-option-is-proving-popular/" target="_blank">Nevada Current</a>, and health officials told lawmakers last week that about 1 in 5 active shoppers are opting for that plan.

In addition to the expiration of the subsidies, the cost of coverage has risen because of other factors, according to insurers. They say&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-much-and-why-aca-marketplace-premiums-are-going-up-in-2026/#Distribution%20of%20proposed%202026%20rate%20changes%20among%20312%20ACA%20Marketplace%20insurers" target="_blank">they’ve had to raise premiums</a>&nbsp;because of rising prescription drug costs, inflation and workforce challenges, such as provider shortages.

But the enhanced premium tax credits were aimed at buffering those year-to-year changes for Americans with lower incomes, said Trolley, adding that the tax credit structure “helps make sure that [enrollees] don’t see those really larger drops that happen from time to time, sort of from those market forces.”

“When there are broader rate increases of … the total cost of the coverage, the tax credits are structured so that people who get a tax credit don’t feel a lot of that increase. They’re sort of sheltered from it on a year to year basis,” Trolley said. “The tax credit is tied to someone’s income and limits what they pay as part of their income, not necessarily tied to the cost of the coverage.”

She added that she’s also heard from some residents who say they are waiting to enroll in a plan to see if Congress takes action.

“People are leaving the ACA marketplace because the trade-offs have just become harder to justify,” Lukanen said. “What worries me is that when the coverage becomes unaffordable, it isn’t that people suddenly stop needing care. They just lose the protection that insurance offers, and those health care costs don’t go away.”

Lukanen added that if more people forgo coverage, health care services may end up costing the nation more overall.

“If people are going to the doctor and they don’t have insurance, these costs are then just shifted. They’re shifted to hospitals, ultimately to the community and the taxpayer.”

Trolley echoed that, saying she’s concerned about the overall burden on providers in rural counties, which are seeing the highest drops in Obamacare coverage in Pennsylvania.

“Any increase in the uninsured rate is going to further strain providers that are in rural areas, especially — further strain their financial situation,” she said. “We are very concerned about that in Pennsylvania.”

Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nhassanein@stateline.org">nhassanein@stateline.org</a>.

Far fewer people buy Obamacare coverage as insurance premiums spike

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education, for now, is backtracking on plans to garnish wages and seize tax refunds of student loan borrowers in default, the department announced Friday.

<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-garnish-wages-defaulted-student-loans" target="_blank">Less than a month</a>&nbsp;after the agency said it would begin garnishing wages by sending notices to roughly 1,000 borrowers in default the first full week of January, the department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-delays-involuntary-collections-amid-ongoing-student-loan-repayment-improvements" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;that the temporary delay would allow it to implement “major student loan repayment reforms” under Republicans’ tax and spending cut bill that President Donald Trump signed into law in 2025.

The delay would “give borrowers more options to repay their loans,” the department said.&nbsp;

It was not immediately clear from the announcement how long the pause would last.&nbsp;

Education Secretary Linda McMahon signaled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/AsuO9zf7WxY?t=685s" target="_blank">earlier this week</a>&nbsp;during the&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/12/us-education-secretary-promotes-returning-school-autonomy-to-states/" target="_blank">Rhode Island</a>&nbsp;portion of her Returning Education to the States Tour that wage garnishment has been “put on pause for a bit.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The agency resumed collections for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-education-department-restart-defaulted-student-loan-collections" target="_blank">defaulted federal student loans</a>&nbsp;in May after a pause that began during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A borrower can have their wages garnished as a consequence of defaulting on their loans, and a loanholder can order an employer to withhold up to 15% of their disposable pay to collect defaulted debt without being taken to court, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/what-is-wage-garnishment" target="_blank">Federal Student Aid</a>, an office of the Education Department.

The delay also applies to the Treasury Offset Program, which “allows the federal government to collect income tax refunds and certain government benefits (for example, Social Security benefits) from individuals who owe debts to the federal government,” per&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/offset" target="_blank">FSA</a>.&nbsp;

Aissa Canchola Bañez, policy director for the advocacy group Protect Borrowers, said in a Friday statement that “after months of pressure and countless horror stories from borrowers, the Trump Administration says it has abandoned plans to snatch working people’s hard-earned money directly from their paychecks and tax refunds simply for falling behind on their student loans.”&nbsp;

“Amidst the growing affordability crisis, the Administration’s plans would have been economically reckless and would have risked pushing nearly 9 million defaulted borrowers even further into debt,” she added, while pointing to a&nbsp;<a href="https://protectborrowers.org/new-analysis-finds-that-a-student-loan-borrower-defaulted-every-nine-seconds-in-2025-as-trump-restarts-wage-garnishment/" target="_blank">Jan. 7 letter</a>&nbsp;from Protect Borrowers and other organizations calling on McMahon to “immediately halt its plan to resume garnishment of millions of struggling borrowers’ wages.”

US Education Dept. delays plan to garnish wages of student borrowers in default

DAMASCUS — U.S. forces conducted a strike in northwest Syria on Friday that resulted in the death of a leader affiliated with Al-Qaeda who had direct ties to an ISIS terrorist responsible for an ambush which killed two U.S. service members and an American interpreter on Dec. 13, 2025, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

Bilal Hasan al-Jasim was an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected with the ISIS gunman who killed and injured American and Syrian personnel last month in Palmyra, Syria.

“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. “There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”

CENTCOM launched large-scale strikes in Syria in response to the Dec. 13 attack. The operation, dubbed Hawkeye Strike, resulted in U.S. and partner forces hitting more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons site targets with over 200 precision munitions.

Additionally, U.S. and partner forces have captured more than 300 ISIS operatives and killed over 20 across Syria during the past year, removing terrorists who posed a direct threat to the United States and regional security.

U.S. forces kill Al-Qaeda affiliate leader linked to ISIS ambush on Americans

On Friday, President Donald J. Trump congratulated the formation of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a vital step forward in implementing Phase Two of his Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict—a 20-point roadmap for lasting peace, stability, reconstruction, and prosperity in the region, according to statement from the White House.

The NCAG will be led by Dr. Ali Sha’ath, a widely respected technocratic leader who will oversee the restoration of core public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions, and the stabilization of daily life in Gaza, while laying the foundation for long-term, self-sustaining governance. Dr. Sha’ath brings deep experience in public administration, economic development, and international engagement, and is widely respected for his pragmatic, technocratic leadership and understanding of Gaza’s institutional realities.

This milestone perfectly aligns with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), which endorsed President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan and welcomed the establishment of the Board of Peace. The Board of Peace will play an essential role in fulfilling all 20 points of the President’s plan, providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development.

To operationalize the Board of Peace’s vision—under the chairmanship of President Donald J. Trump—a founding Executive Board has been formed, composed of leaders with experience across diplomacy, development, infrastructure, and economic strategy. The appointed members are:

Each Executive Board member will oversee a defined portfolio critical to Gaza’s stabilization and long-term success, including, but not limited to, governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization.

In support of this operating model, the Chairman has appointed Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisors to the Board of Peace, charged with leading day-to-day strategy and operations, and translating the Board’s mandate and diplomatic priorities into disciplined execution.

H.E. Nickolay Mladenov, an Executive Board member, will serve as the High Representative for Gaza. In this capacity, he will act as the on-the-ground link between the Board of Peace and the NCAG. He will support the Board’s oversight of all aspects of Gaza’s governance, reconstruction, and development, while ensuring coordination across civilian and security pillars.

To establish security, preserve peace, and establish a durable terror-free environment, Major General Jasper Jeffers has been appointed Commander of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), where he will lead security operations, support comprehensive demilitarization, and enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials.

In support of the Office of the High Representative and the NCAG, a Gaza Executive Board is being established. The Board will help support effective governance and the delivery of best-in-class services that advance peace, stability, and prosperity for the people of Gaza. The appointed members are:

The United States remains fully committed to supporting this transitional framework, working in close partnership with Israel, key Arab nations, and the international community to achieve the objectives of the Comprehensive Plan. The President calls on all parties to cooperate fully with the NCAG, the Board of Peace, and the International Stabilization Force to ensure the swift and successful implementation of the Comprehensive Plan.

Additional Executive Board and Gaza Executive Board members will be announced over the coming weeks.

Who is on Trump's 'Board of Peace' for Gaza?

By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/j-patrick-coolican/">J. Patrick Coolican</a> <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>

The U.S. Justice Department has issued subpoenas to Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey as part of a criminal investigation into whether they’ve impeded federal immigration enforcement, the&nbsp;Washington Post&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/16/trump-minnesota-walz-frey-criminal-investigation/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Friday.

The investigation intensifies an already combustible conflict between the feds and Minnesota, while also adding to the DOJ’s list of targets deemed enemies by President Donald Trump and his administration.&nbsp;

A DOJ spokesperson declined comment.&nbsp;

Walz’s office said he hadn’t received any notice of investigation.&nbsp;

Walz replied in a statement to the news: “Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly,” he said, referring to the&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/3-democratic-lawmakers-federal-investigation-illegal-orders-social/story?id=129244803" target="_blank">U.S. senators</a>&nbsp;who made a video telling U.S. servicemembers that&nbsp;they can and must refuse illegal orders, as well as the&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5687457-fed-jerome-powell-justice-department-gop-criticism/" target="_blank">chairman</a>&nbsp;of the Federal Reserve, who has refused to lower interest rates as quickly as Trump desires. “Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic,” Walz said.&nbsp;

Frey called the investigation “an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, our local law enforcement and our residents against the chaos and danger this administration has brought to our streets.”&nbsp;

He added: “I will not be intimidated.”&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Post&nbsp;reported that “the&nbsp;subpoenas suggest that the Justice Department is examining whether Walz’s and Frey’s public statements disparaging the surge of officers and federal actions have amounted to criminal interference in law enforcement work.”

Walz, who announced earlier this month he&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/05/minnesota-gov-tim-walz-ends-campaign-for-third-term/">won’t seek</a>&nbsp;a third term, also used his statement to criticize the federal government for not properly investigating the killing of Renee Good by federal immigration officer Jonathan Ross. “The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Six prosecutors in the Minnesota Office of U.S. Attorney quit this week,&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/us/prosecutors-doj-resignation-ice-shooting.html#:~:text=Six%20Prosecutors%20Quit%20Over%20Push,supposed%20ties%20to%20activist%20groups." target="_blank">reported</a>, because they objected to their bosses’ push to investigate the widow of Good and their ties to anti-ICE groups.&nbsp;

The ICE surge, which has put as many as 3,000 federal agents in the state — or nearly five times the number of sworn officers with the Minneapolis Police Department —&nbsp;is just the latest round of an ongoing conflict between Minnesota and the federal government. Fraud in Minnesota’s social programs —&nbsp;often funded in whole or part by the federal government —&nbsp;has caught the attention of right-wing media and activists, and the Trump administration has followed with a wide array of investigations of Minnesota programs across a range of agencies.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/15/homeland-security-audits-hennepin-healthcares/">auditing Hennepin Healthcare</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;Minnesota’s largest safety net hospital —&nbsp;for compliance with immigrant employment eligibility laws.

The<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/01/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-establishes-new-department-of-justice-division-for-national-fraud-enforcement/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Trump administration</a>&nbsp;has frozen child care payments and halted small business grants. The administration also says it’s investigating possible housing assistance fraud and looking into Minnesota’s&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/trump-admin-announces-target-review-of-minnesotas-unemployment-insurance-program/">unemployment insurance program</a>. The federal government has also attempted to withhold funds to Minnesota for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, but a federal court issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/15/federal-judge-blocks-usda-from-cutting-snap-benefits-in-minnesota" target="_blank">preliminary injunction.</a>

Earlier this week, Trump said he would cut all federal funding to Minnesota and other states that have sanctuary cities beginning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/13/white-house-end-funding-sanctuary-cities-states-00726557" target="_blank">Feb. 1,</a>&nbsp;but it’s unclear what that means and few details have been released.

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