LINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Nebraska’s credit rating has been boosted to an exceptional AAA rating by Moody’s. The credit rating agency cited Nebraska’s stable economy, conservative spending, low debit liability and financial flexibility in determining to upgrade the state’s credit rating.

“I praise Moody’s recognition of Nebraska’s strong economic position. &nbsp;The trajectory of our state’s economy and financial stability is better than ever,” said Governor Jim Pillen. “We must continue our work to deliver a strong fiscally conservative budget and rebalance our tax structure, so we are less dependent on soaring local property taxes.”

Nebraska already enjoys a Standard &amp; Poor’s bond rating of AAA, and the increase from Moody’s aligns the state’s bond rating across rating agencies. Moody’s increase means the state is seen as more credit worthy. The exceptional credit rating will help save the state money by reducing future borrowing costs for capital projects such as highway construction. It also increases the state’s financial reputation, which is likely to attract additional investment.

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE –&nbsp;Nebraska’s credit rating has been boosted to an exceptional AAA rating by Moody’s. The credit rating agency cited Nebraska’s stable economy, conservative spending, low debit liability and financial flexibility in determining to upgrade the state’s credit rating.“I praise Moody’s recognition of Nebraska’s strong economic position. &nbsp;The trajectory of our state’s economy and financial stability is better than ever,” said Governor Jim Pillen. “We must continue our work to deliver a strong fiscally conservative budget and rebalance our tax structure, so we are less dependent on soaring local property taxes.”Nebraska already enjoys a Standard &amp; Poor’s bond rating of AAA, and the increase from Moody’s aligns the state’s bond rating across rating agencies. Moody’s increase means the state is seen as more credit worthy. The exceptional credit rating will help save the state money by reducing future borrowing costs for capital projects such as highway construction. It also increases the state’s financial reputation, which is likely to attract additional investment.

Moody’s Increases Nebraska’s Bond Rating to AAA

LINCOLN, NE —&nbsp;Governor Jim Pillen, a strong defender of farmers and ranchers and Nebraska’s first governor to come from agriculture in over 100 years, praised the legislature for advancing LB 246 another step closer to becoming law.

“This is a major victory for Nebraska agriculture. The creation of this bioreactor meat is simply a dishonest attack on producers in our state — and has no place on Nebraska’s grocery shelves. Thank you to Senator DeKay for his leadership and to all the other senators who voted to advance this effort to protect producers and consumers.”

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE —&nbsp;Governor Jim Pillen, a strong defender of farmers and ranchers and Nebraska’s first governor to come from agriculture in over 100 years, praised the legislature for advancing LB 246 another step closer to becoming law.“This is a major victory for Nebraska agriculture. The creation of this bioreactor meat is simply a dishonest attack on producers in our state — and has no place on Nebraska’s grocery shelves. Thank you to Senator DeKay for his leadership and to all the other senators who voted to advance this effort to protect producers and consumers.”

Gov Pillen Comments on ‘Bioreactor’ Meat Legislation

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-unemployment-rate-reaches-3-mark-first-time-since-during-pandemic/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s unemployment rate has reached 3% according to the latest labor report, up from 2.6% a year ago.

The last time the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was at 3% was in December 2020. The rate for January was 2.9%.

Prior to the pandemic, Nebraska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was consistently around 3.0%, ranging from 2.8% to 3.2%.

Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate still remains among the lowest nationally, tying for fifth lowest in the recently released data that reflects February. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February is 4.1%, up from 3.9% a year earlier.

Labor Commissioner Katie Thurber said the uptick appears to be driven by an increase in the state labor force.

“When someone enters the labor force and begins searching for work, they are classified as unemployed until they find a job,” she said. “Both new entrants and re-entrants into the labor force were up in February, and Nebraska’s labor force is now at an all-time high of 1,077,890 participants.”

The number of employed and unemployed people in the labor force are based on a U.S. Census Bureau survey on employment status. Both individuals who are claiming unemployment benefits and those who are not claiming the benefits can be counted as unemployed based on their survey responses.

Those not working or seeking a job are not considered part of the labor force and are not included in the unemployment rate calculation.

The number of filled nonfarm jobs was 1,048,487 in February, up 6,569 over a year earlier. Private industries with the most growth over the past year were private education and health services (up 5,889 jobs) and mining and construction (up 1,803 jobs).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743450661978.jpeg" alt=" The last time the Nebraska unemployment rate was at 3% was in December 2020 during the pandemic. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Labor)" />
 <figcaption> The last time the Nebraska unemployment rate was at 3% was in December 2020 during the pandemic. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Labor)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-unemployment-rate-reaches-3-mark-first-time-since-during-pandemic/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska’s unemployment rate has reached 3% according to the latest labor report, up from 2.6% a year ago.The last time the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was at 3% was in December 2020. The rate for January was 2.9%.Prior to the pandemic, Nebraska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was consistently around 3.0%, ranging from 2.8% to 3.2%.Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate still remains among the lowest nationally, tying for fifth lowest in the recently released data that reflects February. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February is 4.1%, up from 3.9% a year earlier.Labor Commissioner Katie Thurber said the uptick appears to be driven by an increase in the state labor force.“When someone enters the labor force and begins searching for work, they are classified as unemployed until they find a job,” she said. “Both new entrants and re-entrants into the labor force were up in February, and Nebraska’s labor force is now at an all-time high of 1,077,890 participants.”The number of employed and unemployed people in the labor force are based on a U.S. Census Bureau survey on employment status. Both individuals who are claiming unemployment benefits and those who are not claiming the benefits can be counted as unemployed based on their survey responses.Those not working or seeking a job are not considered part of the labor force and are not included in the unemployment rate calculation.The number of filled nonfarm jobs was 1,048,487 in February, up 6,569 over a year earlier. Private industries with the most growth over the past year were private education and health services (up 5,889 jobs) and mining and construction (up 1,803 jobs).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743450692496.jpeg" alt=" (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Labor)" />
 <figcaption> (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Labor)</figcaption>
 </figure>

Nebraska unemployment rate reaches 3% mark, first time since during pandemic

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Last night, in a successful counter-terrorism operation with our allies in El Salvador, the United States military transferred a group of 17 violent criminals from the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 organizations, including murderers and rapists. In order to keep the American people…&mdash; Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio/status/1906684174020284784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Last night, in a joint military operation with our allies from the United States, we transferred 17 extremely dangerous criminals linked to Tren de Aragua and MS-13. All individuals are confirmed murderers and high-profile offenders, including six child rapists. This operation… <a href="https://t.co/Tk1Xq7vnuB">pic.twitter.com/Tk1Xq7vnuB</a>&mdash; Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) <a href="https://twitter.com/nayibbukele/status/1906703745158660177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥US deports more alleged gang members to El Salvador

Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen and Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) Deputy Director Levi Bennet honored Vietnam War period veterans at Nebraska’s annual Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“The soldiers who served in Vietnam made a huge impact that resonates to this day,” said Gov. Pillen. “Today’s ceremony was about acknowledging their sacrifices and letting them know that the people of Vietnam, the United States, and Nebraska are truly grateful for their service.”&nbsp;

During the ceremony, Governor Pillen signed a proclamation declaring March 29 “Vietnam War Veterans Day” in the state of Nebraska. Nationally, March 29 has been recognized as Vietnam War Veterans Day since 2017.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Nebraska remains dedicated to serving our veterans and their families,” said NDVA Deputy Director Bennett. “Recognition events like this are a great opportunity for our team to meet with veterans face-to-face and not only recognize them for their service but learn their needs and connect them with the benefits they’ve earned. It was an honor to be a part of today’s ceremony recognizing Nebraska’s Vietnam veterans.”&nbsp;

Over 150 people attended the ceremony, including 75 Vietnam veterans as well as family members, friends, and fellow veterans. Around 64,000 Nebraskans served during the Vietnam War, and the state is currently home to around 33,000 Vietnam-era veterans according to data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. Events are being held throughout the state—including at the four state veterans’ homes—to honor and recognize them for their service this week.&nbsp;

NDVA’s mission is to honor Nebraska veterans and their families by providing excellent service, assistance, and care. Its state service office helps veterans identify and access federal benefits, such as disability compensation and healthcare through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and state benefits, such as Nebraska Veterans Aid, tuition waivers, and more. 

Its four state veterans’ homes offer high quality assisted living and skilled nursing care to veterans and eligible family members across the state. And its cemetery system ensures eligible veterans receive an honorable final resting place maintained to the highest national standards. To learn more about NDVA and how it serves Nebraska’s veterans and their families, please visit <a href="https://veterans.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">veterans.nebraska.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743436377644.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Nebraska Department of Veterans' AffairsLINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen and Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) Deputy Director Levi Bennet honored Vietnam War period veterans at Nebraska’s annual Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony. &nbsp;&nbsp;“The soldiers who served in Vietnam made a huge impact that resonates to this day,” said Gov. Pillen. “Today’s ceremony was about acknowledging their sacrifices and letting them know that the people of Vietnam, the United States, and Nebraska are truly grateful for their service.”&nbsp;During the ceremony, Governor Pillen signed a proclamation declaring March 29 “Vietnam War Veterans Day” in the state of Nebraska. Nationally, March 29 has been recognized as Vietnam War Veterans Day since 2017.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Nebraska remains dedicated to serving our veterans and their families,” said NDVA Deputy Director Bennett. “Recognition events like this are a great opportunity for our team to meet with veterans face-to-face and not only recognize them for their service but learn their needs and connect them with the benefits they’ve earned. It was an honor to be a part of today’s ceremony recognizing Nebraska’s Vietnam veterans.”&nbsp;Over 150 people attended the ceremony, including 75 Vietnam veterans as well as family members, friends, and fellow veterans. Around 64,000 Nebraskans served during the Vietnam War, and the state is currently home to around 33,000 Vietnam-era veterans according to data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. Events are being held throughout the state—including at the four state veterans’ homes—to honor and recognize them for their service this week.&nbsp;NDVA’s mission is to honor Nebraska veterans and their families by providing excellent service, assistance, and care. Its state service office helps veterans identify and access federal benefits, such as disability compensation and healthcare through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and state benefits, such as Nebraska Veterans Aid, tuition waivers, and more. Its four state veterans’ homes offer high quality assisted living and skilled nursing care to veterans and eligible family members across the state. And its cemetery system ensures eligible veterans receive an honorable final resting place maintained to the highest national standards. To learn more about NDVA and how it serves Nebraska’s veterans and their families, please visit <a href="https://veterans.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">veterans.nebraska.gov</a>.

Governor Pillen, NDVA Honor Vietnam War Veterans at State Capitol Ceremony 

Lincoln, Nebraska, March 31, 2025 - Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2025 crop year have until April 15, 2025, to revise elections and sign contracts. Both safety net programs, delivered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provide vital income support to eligible farmers who experience substantial declines in crop prices or revenues for the 2025 crop year. In Nebraska, producers have completed 74,763 contracts to date, representing 84 % of the more than 89,474 expected contracts.    

“Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs provide excellent risk protection, for market declines, at no cost to the producer,” said Tim Divis, Deputy State Executive Director for FSA in Nebraska. “If you haven’t made your program election or signed a contract, please contact your local FSA county office as soon as possible to set an appointment so you don’t miss the April 15 deadline.” 

Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County or PLC, which provide crop-by-crop protection, or ARC-Individual, which protects the entire farm. Although election changes for 2025 are optional, producers must enroll, with a signed contract, each year. If a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm, the contract will continue for 2025 unless an election change is made.   

If producers do not submit their election revision by the April 15, 2025, deadline, the election remains the same as their 2024 election for eligible commodities on the farm. Also, producers who do not complete enrollment and sign their contract by the deadline will not be enrolled in ARC or PLC for the 2025 year and will not receive a payment if one is triggered. Farm owners can only enroll in these programs if they have a share interest in the commodity. 

Producers are eligible to enroll farms with base acres for the following commodities:  barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.   

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability and Nebraska FSA cooperated on a webinar designed to educate producers on the 2025 ARC/PLC options. The webinar recording is available at this link. Producers are encouraged to use the tool of their choice to support their ARC and PLC elections.    

 Producers are reminded that enrolling in ARC or PLC programs can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products offered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA). Producers who elect and enroll in PLC also have the option of purchasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their Approved Insurance Provider, but producers of covered commodities who elect ARC are ineligible for SCO on their planted acres. 

Unlike SCO, RMA’s Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by participating in ARC for the same crop, on the same acres. Producers may elect ECO regardless of their farm program election. 

Agricultural producers visiting FSA to complete ARC/PLC elections and enrollment are encouraged to also conduct other FSA program business during their scheduled appointment, including completing farm loan applications and applying for the recently announced Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP).

Sign up for ECAP began on March 19, 2025. ECAP, authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, provides up to $10 billion to agricultural producers for the 2024 crop year. Administered by FSA, ECAP will help agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices. Congress gave USDA 90 days to implement the program, and that deadline was met. Producers of eligible commodities must submit ECAP applications to their local FSA county office by Aug. 15, 2025. Only one application is required for all ECAP eligible commodities nationwide. ECAP applications can be submitted to FSA in-person, electronically using Box and One-Span, by fax or by applying online at fsa.usda.gov/ecap utilizing a secure login.gov account. For more information, please visit the ECAP website or review the ECAP Fact Sheet.

More details are forthcoming on more than $20 billion to be made available through the American Relief Act, 2025, for producers who suffered losses from natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 including $2 billion set aside for livestock producers and other funds that will be administered through block grants with states. 

More Information To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today.

FSA helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.

Lincoln, Nebraska, March 31, 2025 - Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2025 crop year have until April 15, 2025, to revise elections and sign contracts. Both safety net programs, delivered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provide vital income support to eligible farmers who experience substantial declines in crop prices or revenues for the 2025 crop year. In Nebraska, producers have completed 74,763 contracts to date, representing 84 % of the more than 89,474 expected contracts.    “Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs provide excellent risk protection, for market declines, at no cost to the producer,” said Tim Divis, Deputy State Executive Director for FSA in Nebraska. “If you haven’t made your program election or signed a contract, please contact your local FSA county office as soon as possible to set an appointment so you don’t miss the April 15 deadline.” Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County or PLC, which provide crop-by-crop protection, or ARC-Individual, which protects the entire farm. Although election changes for 2025 are optional, producers must enroll, with a signed contract, each year. If a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm, the contract will continue for 2025 unless an election change is made.   If producers do not submit their election revision by the April 15, 2025, deadline, the election remains the same as their 2024 election for eligible commodities on the farm. Also, producers who do not complete enrollment and sign their contract by the deadline will not be enrolled in ARC or PLC for the 2025 year and will not receive a payment if one is triggered. Farm owners can only enroll in these programs if they have a share interest in the commodity. Producers are eligible to enroll farms with base acres for the following commodities:  barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.   Educational Tool     The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability and Nebraska FSA cooperated on a webinar designed to educate producers on the 2025 ARC/PLC options. The webinar recording is available at this link. Producers are encouraged to use the tool of their choice to support their ARC and PLC elections.    Crop Insurance Considerations  Producers are reminded that enrolling in ARC or PLC programs can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products offered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA). Producers who elect and enroll in PLC also have the option of purchasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their Approved Insurance Provider, but producers of covered commodities who elect ARC are ineligible for SCO on their planted acres. Unlike SCO, RMA’s Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by participating in ARC for the same crop, on the same acres. Producers may elect ECO regardless of their farm program election. Optimizing FSA Office VisitsAgricultural producers visiting FSA to complete ARC/PLC elections and enrollment are encouraged to also conduct other FSA program business during their scheduled appointment, including completing farm loan applications and applying for the recently announced Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP).Sign up for ECAP began on March 19, 2025. ECAP, authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, provides up to $10 billion to agricultural producers for the 2024 crop year. Administered by FSA, ECAP will help agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices. Congress gave USDA 90 days to implement the program, and that deadline was met. Producers of eligible commodities must submit ECAP applications to their local FSA county office by Aug. 15, 2025. Only one application is required for all ECAP eligible commodities nationwide. ECAP applications can be submitted to FSA in-person, electronically using Box and One-Span, by fax or by applying online at fsa.usda.gov/ecap utilizing a secure login.gov account. For more information, please visit the ECAP website or review the ECAP Fact Sheet.More details are forthcoming on more than $20 billion to be made available through the American Relief Act, 2025, for producers who suffered losses from natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 including $2 billion set aside for livestock producers and other funds that will be administered through block grants with states. More Information To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today.FSA helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.

April 15 Deadline to Enroll in USDA’s Key Commodity Safety Net Programs for '25 Crop Year 

OMAHA, Nebraska — The Nebraska District Office of the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) announce the approval of six counties added to the qualified list of HUBZone counties in Nebraska for 2025. The counties approved through the SBA Governor-designated HUBZone Initiative include Dodge County, Box Butte County, Frontier County, Howard County, Sherman County and Knox County.

These counties have received HUBZone designation from the US Small Business Administration through the petition of Governor Pillen to support the SBA’s initiative to increase economic opportunity and growth for rural small businesses in these communities. “This designation is going to increase opportunities in new markets for small businesses to&nbsp;&nbsp;grow and ultimately drive growth and prosperity for the community at large. We want to thank the Governor and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for their support of this initiative that will, in turn, support our small businesses”, says Lisa Tedesco, Deputy Director for the SBA Nebraska District Office, who spearheaded the effort with DED.

“Thank you to Governor Pillen for going to bat for small businesses in rural Nebraska,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz. “Our Department appreciates having a strong collaborative relationship with the SBA. Together, we’re excited to reach out to businesses in the designated HUBZone counties to connect them with great opportunities to grow.”

The HUBZone Program is a federal program that seeks to fuel small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least 3% of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year. The HUBZone Program Governor-Designated Areas Initiative will provide rural small businesses an opportunity to work towards HUBZone certification, leading to small business growth and development in undercapitalized communities.

Plans for outreach and education will be implemented in the newly designated counties in 2025 to educate the small business community on this opportunity to grow their businesses in a new market.

To learn more about the HUBZone Program, visit&nbsp; https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/hubzoneprogram.

OMAHA, Nebraska — The Nebraska District Office of the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) announce the approval of six counties added to the qualified list of HUBZone counties in Nebraska for 2025. The counties approved through the SBA Governor-designated HUBZone Initiative include Dodge County, Box Butte County, Frontier County, Howard County, Sherman County and Knox County.These counties have received HUBZone designation from the US Small Business Administration through the petition of Governor Pillen to support the SBA’s initiative to increase economic opportunity and growth for rural small businesses in these communities. “This designation is going to increase opportunities in new markets for small businesses to&nbsp;&nbsp;grow and ultimately drive growth and prosperity for the community at large. We want to thank the Governor and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for their support of this initiative that will, in turn, support our small businesses”, says Lisa Tedesco, Deputy Director for the SBA Nebraska District Office, who spearheaded the effort with DED.“Thank you to Governor Pillen for going to bat for small businesses in rural Nebraska,” said DED Director K.C. Belitz. “Our Department appreciates having a strong collaborative relationship with the SBA. Together, we’re excited to reach out to businesses in the designated HUBZone counties to connect them with great opportunities to grow.”The HUBZone Program is a federal program that seeks to fuel small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least 3% of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year. The HUBZone Program Governor-Designated Areas Initiative will provide rural small businesses an opportunity to work towards HUBZone certification, leading to small business growth and development in undercapitalized communities.Plans for outreach and education will be implemented in the newly designated counties in 2025 to educate the small business community on this opportunity to grow their businesses in a new market.To learn more about the HUBZone Program, visit&nbsp; https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/hubzoneprogram.

SBA approves eligible counties in Nebraska for HUBZone areas for 2025

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/29/nebraska-lawmakers-explore-ways-to-stop-red-light-runners-and-reduce-highway-harm/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers are considering high-tech tools and new civil sanctions to make roads safer, including automated cameras that could send red light runners to a “stop” class or cost them money.

A pair of Omaha state senators on Friday laid out their respective bills to the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, both saying they were open to tweaks that would help green light the measures.

“We have had too many people die on roads, and I am interested in making this work,” State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington during a public hearing at the Capitol. “Let’s figure out a way.”

Nebraska had 251 traffic fatalities in 2024, the highest single-year total since 2007, which had 256, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

DeBoer’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59514&amp;docnum=LB600&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 600</a>&nbsp;in part would give the Transportation Department the power to set up speed-detecting systems in highway work zones and to lower speed limits in dangerous areas.

<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59421&amp;docnum=LB616&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 616,</a>&nbsp;introduced by State Sen. John Cavanaugh, would authorize the use of automatic license plate reader cameras for red light violations and provides for civil enforcement.

Cavanaugh said his goal was to create a noncriminal way to deter reckless driving on city streets. A violation would result in a civil fee that could be waived if the driver participated in a no-cost safety program he called a “rehabilitative stop” class.

Any fees paid by those who choose not to take the class would help cover someone else taking the class, he said.&nbsp;

No points would be assessed against the violator’s driver’s license. No warrant would be issued. If someone failed to pay the fee or complete the class, a charge would be assessed as a condition of renewing the vehicle’s registration.&nbsp;

Any evidence or information obtained from the camera is not to be used for any purpose other than that particular statute.

“Someone is not going to find themself incarcerated as a result of a red light camera,” Cavanaugh said, adding that the threat of jail should not be the only way to improve public safety.

Acknowledging that the bill needs work, Cavanaugh, a lawyer, chuckled that a pair of typically at-odds parties were unified in their objection to his bill. “That’s a real accomplishment,” he said of the alliance between the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska and the Nebraska Sheriffs Association.&nbsp;

Bryan Waugh, the Kearney police chief, spoke on behalf of the Nebraska Sheriffs and Police Associations. He said cameras can be helpful in fighting violent and property crime and in alerts for missing persons — and said his city has 28 in use.

But Waugh does not think they are intended for “minor traffic or parking violations.”

“While we appreciate the focus on traffic safety, we believe intermingling this technology for traffic enforcement may negatively impact the effective use of the technology for crime prevention, solving crime and keeping the community safe from crime,” he said.

Waugh said his research shows that cameras targeting red light runners could increase the likelihood of a traffic collision, if people slam on their brakes to avoid getting caught.

Spike Eickholt, representing the ACLU and the Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, expressed concerns about license plate reader companies and how they “harvest, collect and sell” license plate data.

His bigger worry, he said, is that traffic infractions in Nebraska are criminal in nature and that those charged or cited have rights, including to a trial.

“I don’t think that the Legislature can make something that is criminal, civil, just due to the enforcement mechanism that happens to be different than an officer actually observing a red light violation and writing a citation,” Eickholt said.

Supporters of the change included Timothy Adams, an engineer specializing in roadway safety. He told the committee that 80 people died in the Lincoln and Omaha areas alone at signalized intersections over the past five years.

“These cameras serve as a strong deterrent leading to long term behavioral changes that make our roads safe.”

DeBoer said a multifaceted LB 600 aims to improve safety around highway worker construction areas and at-risk spots and intersections.

As written, DeBoer said, the law would empower the Transportation Department to assess administrative civil penalties to the registered owner of a vehicle recorded by special technology traveling at excessive speed through a marked area.&nbsp;

For a highway work zone, that threshold would be eleven miles per hour or more over the speed limit. The first offense would be a warning. A second offense within three years would be $75. She said she is open to considering a criminal violation route.

Vicki Kramer, director of the state Department of Transportation, supported the bill.

She told the committee that in 2024, Nebraska’s roadway fatality count spiked to a 17-year high, despite national statistics for crashes trending down. She said that motivated the department to research counter measures. Among the department’s recommendations, she said, were speed safety cameras or devices in work areas and variable speed limits in danger zones.

“The provisions are not intended to generate revenue, but to influence driver behavior,” she said.

The Judiciary Committee did not take action on either bill.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743435788353.jpeg" alt="Nebraska lawmakers are looking at new ways to improve safety on Nebraska roads. Onramps lead both directions on Interstate 80 from 13th Street on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Omaha. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska lawmakers are looking at new ways to improve safety on Nebraska roads. Onramps lead both directions on Interstate 80 from 13th Street on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Omaha. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/29/nebraska-lawmakers-explore-ways-to-stop-red-light-runners-and-reduce-highway-harm/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers are considering high-tech tools and new civil sanctions to make roads safer, including automated cameras that could send red light runners to a “stop” class or cost them money.A pair of Omaha state senators on Friday laid out their respective bills to the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee, both saying they were open to tweaks that would help green light the measures.“We have had too many people die on roads, and I am interested in making this work,” State Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington during a public hearing at the Capitol. “Let’s figure out a way.”<h2>Record pace</h2>Nebraska had 251 traffic fatalities in 2024, the highest single-year total since 2007, which had 256, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.DeBoer’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59514&amp;docnum=LB600&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 600</a>&nbsp;in part would give the Transportation Department the power to set up speed-detecting systems in highway work zones and to lower speed limits in dangerous areas.<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59421&amp;docnum=LB616&amp;leg=109" target="_blank">Legislative Bill 616,</a>&nbsp;introduced by State Sen. John Cavanaugh, would authorize the use of automatic license plate reader cameras for red light violations and provides for civil enforcement.Cavanaugh said his goal was to create a noncriminal way to deter reckless driving on city streets. A violation would result in a civil fee that could be waived if the driver participated in a no-cost safety program he called a “rehabilitative stop” class.Any fees paid by those who choose not to take the class would help cover someone else taking the class, he said.&nbsp;No points would be assessed against the violator’s driver’s license. No warrant would be issued. If someone failed to pay the fee or complete the class, a charge would be assessed as a condition of renewing the vehicle’s registration.&nbsp;Any evidence or information obtained from the camera is not to be used for any purpose other than that particular statute.“Someone is not going to find themself incarcerated as a result of a red light camera,” Cavanaugh said, adding that the threat of jail should not be the only way to improve public safety.Acknowledging that the bill needs work, Cavanaugh, a lawyer, chuckled that a pair of typically at-odds parties were unified in their objection to his bill. “That’s a real accomplishment,” he said of the alliance between the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska and the Nebraska Sheriffs Association.&nbsp;<h2>‘Harvest, collect and sell’</h2>Bryan Waugh, the Kearney police chief, spoke on behalf of the Nebraska Sheriffs and Police Associations. He said cameras can be helpful in fighting violent and property crime and in alerts for missing persons — and said his city has 28 in use.But Waugh does not think they are intended for “minor traffic or parking violations.”“While we appreciate the focus on traffic safety, we believe intermingling this technology for traffic enforcement may negatively impact the effective use of the technology for crime prevention, solving crime and keeping the community safe from crime,” he said.Waugh said his research shows that cameras targeting red light runners could increase the likelihood of a traffic collision, if people slam on their brakes to avoid getting caught.Spike Eickholt, representing the ACLU and the Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, expressed concerns about license plate reader companies and how they “harvest, collect and sell” license plate data.His bigger worry, he said, is that traffic infractions in Nebraska are criminal in nature and that those charged or cited have rights, including to a trial.“I don’t think that the Legislature can make something that is criminal, civil, just due to the enforcement mechanism that happens to be different than an officer actually observing a red light violation and writing a citation,” Eickholt said.<h2>Behavioral change</h2>Supporters of the change included Timothy Adams, an engineer specializing in roadway safety. He told the committee that 80 people died in the Lincoln and Omaha areas alone at signalized intersections over the past five years.“These cameras serve as a strong deterrent leading to long term behavioral changes that make our roads safe.”DeBoer said a multifaceted LB 600 aims to improve safety around highway worker construction areas and at-risk spots and intersections.As written, DeBoer said, the law would empower the Transportation Department to assess administrative civil penalties to the registered owner of a vehicle recorded by special technology traveling at excessive speed through a marked area.&nbsp;For a highway work zone, that threshold would be eleven miles per hour or more over the speed limit. The first offense would be a warning. A second offense within three years would be $75. She said she is open to considering a criminal violation route.<h2>17-year high</h2>Vicki Kramer, director of the state Department of Transportation, supported the bill.She told the committee that in 2024, Nebraska’s roadway fatality count spiked to a 17-year high, despite national statistics for crashes trending down. She said that motivated the department to research counter measures. Among the department’s recommendations, she said, were speed safety cameras or devices in work areas and variable speed limits in danger zones.“The provisions are not intended to generate revenue, but to influence driver behavior,” she said.The Judiciary Committee did not take action on either bill.

Nebraska lawmakers explore ways to stop red light runners and reduce highway harm 

WASHINGTON — Extensive coordination and cooperation efforts between the U.S. Department of Justice and law enforcement authorities in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom resulted in the extraditions this month of alleged murderers, a child rapist, an MS-13 leader, an alien smuggler, Colombian drug traffickers, a Russian cybercriminal, a Nigerian fraudster, and an immigration scammer.

“The dedicated, persistent work of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs with foreign partners resulted in the extradition of fugitives wanted in the United States for violent crimes,” said Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Matthew R. Galeotti. “The Justice Department will aggressively pursue and bring to justice in the United States transnational criminals and hold them accountable for the death and violence they have committed here and abroad.”

The fugitives extradited to the United States in March 2025 include:

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions along with the U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department thanks and acknowledges the instrumental role of its law enforcement partners in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom for making these extraditions possible.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743426246375.jpeg" alt="united states department of justice.jpg" />
 <figcaption>united states department of justice.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>U.S. Department of JusticeWASHINGTON — Extensive coordination and cooperation efforts between the U.S. Department of Justice and law enforcement authorities in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom resulted in the extraditions this month of alleged murderers, a child rapist, an MS-13 leader, an alien smuggler, Colombian drug traffickers, a Russian cybercriminal, a Nigerian fraudster, and an immigration scammer.“The dedicated, persistent work of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs with foreign partners resulted in the extradition of fugitives wanted in the United States for violent crimes,” said Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Matthew R. Galeotti. “The Justice Department will aggressively pursue and bring to justice in the United States transnational criminals and hold them accountable for the death and violence they have committed here and abroad.”The fugitives extradited to the United States in March 2025 include:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.dhs.gov%2Fnews%2F2025%2F03%2F21%2Fillegal-alien-extradited-honduras-face-justice-alleged-killing-sarah-root%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/VJ2bW2MkOLdwAJ6c_JN9AeWIlPxPhfCLeyrDfj_Cs5w=398" target="_blank">Eswin Mejia</a>, 28, was extradited from Honduras to face charges of vehicular homicide and failure to appear in court for the January 2016 killing of 21-year-old Sarah Root in Douglas County, Nebraska. Mejia was arrested and released on bond in February 2016 and subsequently fled the country to evade prosecution by the Douglas County Attorney’s Office.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fopa%2Fpr%2Ftwo-men-convicted-and-third-extradited-guatemala-united-states-involvement-2022-mass%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/FUzALxF1HGByMYrTC9qBucxDtjp9_UgJ0M8rSItcoFY=398" target="_blank">Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco</a>, 48, an alleged leader of a Guatemala-based alien smuggling organization, was extradited from Guatemala to face charges in the Western District of Texas for his alleged role in the June 2022 San Antonio mass casualty incident that resulted in the death of 53 Guatemalan, Honduran, and Mexican nationals, including children, and the injury of 11 others.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fopa%2Fpr%2Falleged-international-leader-ms-13-extradited-rico-charge%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/Od6yFOkxKQ3-SfvCHRRxHhXDPrW6POKIsT_-_CR8a7M=398" target="_blank">Moises Humberto Rivera Luna</a>, 55, an alleged international leader of the violent gang MS-13, was extradited from Guatemala to face racketeering conspiracy charges in the District of Columbia regarding racketeering activities to include murder, narcotics distribution, extortion, robberies, obstruction of justice, and other crimes.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.saltlakecounty.gov%2Fdistrict-attorney%2FMedia%2Fman-charged-in-2018-for-child-rape-extradited-from-spain%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/5K-DNb0GcM29uVXGLRTl0JyBNweShvnlT7Dj4IW95Bo=398" target="_blank">Carlos Espino Farfan</a>, 36, was extradited from Spain to face charges of first-degree felony rape of a child and first-degree felony sodomy upon a child filed by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-mdfl%2Fpr%2Fformer-colombian-navy-personnel-extradited-united-states-their-role-selling-locations%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/CUGCaApBy-MsRd26koPVYchnPyNxVQKnb5t6vI0Qf00=398" target="_blank">Jair Alberto Alvarez Valenzuela</a>, 54, and Luis&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-mdfl%2Fpr%2Fformer-colombian-navy-personnel-extradited-united-states-their-role-selling-locations%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/2/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/yZ9dBugocG7cJDr-iDpHW_BnPuNRsVKLi5cruH6qWMA=398" target="_blank">Carlos Diaz Martinez</a>, 32, former Colombian Navy personnel were extradited to face charges in the Middle District of Florida for their alleged role in selling locations of Colombian Navy drug interdiction vessels to international drug traffickers.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fx.com%2FRentonpdWA%2Fstatus%2F1899610886953975924%2Fphoto%2F1%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/AGoNfoHDY7EYymqMCv0XVvfH0xyFzZ-yLz1lCRZpLRc=398" target="_blank">Louie Hernandez</a>, 61, was extradited from Mexico to face charges in King County, Washington, of first-degree murder in connection with the February 2024 fatal shooting of his alleged estranged partner, Reyna Hernandez.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.sjpd.org%2FHome%2FComponents%2FNews%2FNews%2F2166%2F262%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/L9sp1VkkXZXY6PRNtRvyfXlkjIfn1lP-lX-dQKoqgNA=398" target="_blank">Juan Ramirez</a>, 37, was extradited from Mexico to face charges in Santa Clara, California, for the March 22, 2013, fatal stabbing of 29-year-old Sandra Cruzes-Gonsalez.</li><li>Solomon Sincler Gheorghe, 20, an Irish national, was extradited from France to face charges in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, of felony death by motor vehicle and felony serious injury by vehicle. Gheorghe is alleged to have been impaired by alcohol and drugs when he caused a multi-vehicle wreck on Sept. 20, 2023, resulting in the deaths of two adults and a 12-year-old boy, and with injury to others.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-nj%2Fpr%2Fdual-russian-and-israeli-national-extradited-united-states-his-role-lockbit-ransomware%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/TCOKQ83gwkuli_YN4i44qly4CskjwBeI7rFwY0FJfN0=398" target="_blank">Rostislav Panev</a>, 51, a dual Russian and Israeli national, was extradited from Israel to faces charges in the District of New Jersey for his alleged role as a developer for the LockBit ransomware group from its inception in or around 2019 through at least February 2024. The LockBit group has attacked more than 2,500 victims in at least 120 countries around the world, including 1,800 in the United States.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-sdny%2Fpr%2Fdominican-national-extradited-murder-narcotics-and-firearms-charges-0%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/pi6Nvi30fFVxuGWPJ8f1HxuOcdluxZK-MkWs84BxiHE=398" target="_blank">Marco Tulio Fernandez-Rodriguez</a>, 24, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was extradited from the Dominican Republic to face charges in the Southern District of New York of murder, narcotics, and firearms in connection with his alleged role in an attempted gunpoint robbery of a Mount Vernon, New York, warehouse&nbsp;that sold various unlicensed marijuana and nicotine products. Two people — one employee of the warehouse and one member of the roughly 15-man robbery crew — were shot and killed during the failed robbery attempt.&nbsp;</li><li>Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, 41, a Nigerian national, was extradited from the United Kingdom to face charges in the Southern District of Florida for allegedly engaging in a transnational criminal organization that operated an inheritance fraud scheme targeting elder U.S. consumers.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-wdnc%2Fpr%2Fforeign-national-extradited-spain-face-charges-alleged-international-tech-support%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/wLV1bvDYDPg-KYPvGRjjxBncqZO9up1N9bkMKdh6G2k=398" target="_blank">Bikramjit Ahluwalia</a>, 39, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates living in Dubai, was extradited from Spain to face charges in the Western District of North Carolina of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to damage a protected computer, and wire fraud for his alleged role in an extensive tech support fraud scheme.</li><li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-ndca%2Fpr%2Fsan-jose-immigration-lawyer-extradited-kyrgyz-republic-face-charges-large-scale-visa%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000195de58b1a2-1447c232-7d8c-467f-9ebf-47dd2b71ebac-000000/gCwmDOu3doGf3ZuPcbmXWP1D0HV-tAeQ4xl_GNqolf8=398" target="_blank">Danhong “Jean” Chen</a>, also known as Maria Sofia Taylor, 60, a San Jose, California, immigration attorney, was extradited from the Kyrgyz Republic to face charges in the Northern District of California for allegedly committing visa fraud and related crimes to obtain immigration benefits for more than 100 foreign investors through the government’s Employment-Based Immigration Fifth Preference, or “EB-5,” visa program. Chen is the first extradition from the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States on federal criminal charges.</li>
 </ul>The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions along with the U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department thanks and acknowledges the instrumental role of its law enforcement partners in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom for making these extraditions possible.An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

United States Secures Extradition of More Than a Dozen Fugitives from 10 Countries

WIESBADEN, Germany —The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the four missing U.S. Soldiers were operating during a training exercise has been located in Lithuania, according to a media release from U.S. Army.

 The vehicle was discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area after a search by U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces and other Lithuanian authorities. Recovery efforts are underway by U.S. Army and Lithuanian Armed Forces and civilian agencies.

Search efforts for the Soldiers continue.

The Soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident. We will provide further updates as new information becomes available.

The 3rd Inf. Div. is continuing to keep families of the Soldiers informed on the status of search efforts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743415329786.png" alt="In this image provided by the U.S. Army, U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, along with Lithuanian Army and emergency services personnel, discuss their plan to recover four U.S. soldiers in a U.S. Army M88 Hercules submerged under several meters of water in a swamp near a training area near Pabadre, Lithuania, Thursday, March 27, 2025. Christopher Saundersn/U.S. Army&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>In this image provided by the U.S. Army, U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, along with Lithuanian Army and emergency services personnel, discuss their plan to recover four U.S. soldiers in a U.S. Army M88 Hercules submerged under several meters of water in a swamp near a training area near Pabadre, Lithuania, Thursday, March 27, 2025. Christopher Saundersn/U.S. Army&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WIESBADEN, Germany —The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the four missing U.S. Soldiers were operating during a training exercise has been located in Lithuania, according to a media release from U.S. Army. The vehicle was discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area after a search by U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces and other Lithuanian authorities. Recovery efforts are underway by U.S. Army and Lithuanian Armed Forces and civilian agencies.Search efforts for the Soldiers continue.The Soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident. We will provide further updates as new information becomes available.The 3rd Inf. Div. is continuing to keep families of the Soldiers informed on the status of search efforts.

Mystery: US Army vehicle pulled from swamp in Lithuania; soldiers still missing

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen took another step in protecting and preserving Nebraska’s vital water resources. Speaking to executive-level members, he kicked off the first meeting of the Water Quality and Quantity Task Force.

“We have tremendous opportunity through this group to initiate actions that will impact Nebraska for generations to come,” said Gov. Pillen. “For years, water policy in this state has been largely reactive. Now, we have the knowledge and technology in place to be proactive in how we approach issues that impact our farmers, our industries and our communities.”

These core members, appointed by the Governor, represent a cross-section of interests and industries:

Jesse Bradley, Interim Director, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of Environment and Energy (DEE)

Matt Manning, Engineer, Department of Natural Resources

Marty Stange, Environmental Supervisor, City of Hastings

Brandon Hunnicutt, Chairman, Nebraska Corn Board

Don Batie, Past-President of the Natural Resources Commission and farmer

Dean Settje, Founder &amp; President, Settje Agri-Services

Scott Schaneman, General Manager of the North Platte Natural Resources District

Additional members will be added in the coming weeks, creating a team of about 20 – 25 people. In addition to water quality and quantity, an inter-related issue is education. Members of the group say they want to encourage increased adoption of technologies and solutions for handling water issues, especially in agriculture.

Over the next 12 to 15 months, the group will meet to identify short, mid, and long-term goals and accompanying action items to be pursued. To better focus on specific issues, members may break down into smaller subgroups.

“Our water is our holy grail because of the Ogallala Aquifer,” noted Gov. Pillen. “We must be smart about how we use our water and keep it as clean and contaminate free as possible. Only then, will we be able to meet all necessary demands.”

Gov. Pillen announced the creation of the Water Quality and Quantity Task Force when he testified on LB317. That bill, brought on his behalf by Senator Tom Brandt, calls for the merger of the Department of Environment and Energy (DEE) with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in part, to bring more meaningful and streamlined oversight around water use.

Office of Governor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen took another step in protecting and preserving Nebraska’s vital water resources. Speaking to executive-level members, he kicked off the first meeting of the Water Quality and Quantity Task Force.“We have tremendous opportunity through this group to initiate actions that will impact Nebraska for generations to come,” said Gov. Pillen. “For years, water policy in this state has been largely reactive. Now, we have the knowledge and technology in place to be proactive in how we approach issues that impact our farmers, our industries and our communities.”These core members, appointed by the Governor, represent a cross-section of interests and industries:Jesse Bradley, Interim Director, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of Environment and Energy (DEE)Matt Manning, Engineer, Department of Natural ResourcesMarty Stange, Environmental Supervisor, City of HastingsBrandon Hunnicutt, Chairman, Nebraska Corn BoardDon Batie, Past-President of the Natural Resources Commission and farmerDean Settje, Founder &amp; President, Settje Agri-ServicesScott Schaneman, General Manager of the North Platte Natural Resources DistrictAdditional members will be added in the coming weeks, creating a team of about 20 – 25 people. In addition to water quality and quantity, an inter-related issue is education. Members of the group say they want to encourage increased adoption of technologies and solutions for handling water issues, especially in agriculture.Over the next 12 to 15 months, the group will meet to identify short, mid, and long-term goals and accompanying action items to be pursued. To better focus on specific issues, members may break down into smaller subgroups.“Our water is our holy grail because of the Ogallala Aquifer,” noted Gov. Pillen. “We must be smart about how we use our water and keep it as clean and contaminate free as possible. Only then, will we be able to meet all necessary demands.”Gov. Pillen announced the creation of the Water Quality and Quantity Task Force when he testified on LB317. That bill, brought on his behalf by Senator Tom Brandt, calls for the merger of the Department of Environment and Energy (DEE) with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in part, to bring more meaningful and streamlined oversight around water use.

Gov. Pillen Kicks Off First Water Quality & Quantity Task Force Meeting

Lincoln – Attorney General Hilgers&nbsp;is urging consumers to check their eligibility for compensation for certain generic drug purchases as Nebraska&nbsp;joins 50 states and territories in seeking preliminary approval for a $39.1 million settlement with generic drug manufacturer Apotex over conspiracy to inflate prices and limit competition.

Attorney General Hilgers and the multistate coalition previously announced the settlement in principle with Apotex last fall along with a $10 million settlement with Heritage Pharmaceuticals. At the time of that announcement, the settlement with Apotex was conditioned on the signatures of all necessary states and territories. Those signatures have been obtained, and the coalition filed the settlement in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford.

If you purchased a generic prescription drug&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.aggenericdrugs.com/Portals/0/Document*20Files/documents/HeritageDrugList.pdf__;JQ!!Ke5ujdWW74OM!9CLeJCJimOOSJXjNPv0abM-OPbie0J892tX431LerjhuI3wFnLYY29xVPh0w9DSt_31ajuI5ZEFvJBs--XSKwiytvHjsEGs$">listed here&nbsp;</a>between&nbsp;May 2009 and December 2019, you may be eligible for compensation. To determine your eligibility, call 1-866-290-0182 (Toll-Free), email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@AGGenericDrugs.com">info@AGGenericDrugs.com</a>&nbsp;or visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.aggenericdrugs.com/__;!!Ke5ujdWW74OM!9CLeJCJimOOSJXjNPv0abM-OPbie0J892tX431LerjhuI3wFnLYY29xVPh0w9DSt_31ajuI5ZEFvJBs--XSKwiyt0Z_OdBM$">www.AGGenericDrugs.com</a>.

The settlement agreements resolve allegations that both Apotex and Heritage engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade with regard to numerous generic prescription drugs.

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico joined in the announcement.

Attorney General's officeLincoln – Attorney General Hilgers&nbsp;is urging consumers to check their eligibility for compensation for certain generic drug purchases as Nebraska&nbsp;joins 50 states and territories in seeking preliminary approval for a $39.1 million settlement with generic drug manufacturer Apotex over conspiracy to inflate prices and limit competition.Attorney General Hilgers and the multistate coalition previously announced the settlement in principle with Apotex last fall along with a $10 million settlement with Heritage Pharmaceuticals. At the time of that announcement, the settlement with Apotex was conditioned on the signatures of all necessary states and territories. Those signatures have been obtained, and the coalition filed the settlement in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford.If you purchased a generic prescription drug&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.aggenericdrugs.com/Portals/0/Document*20Files/documents/HeritageDrugList.pdf__;JQ!!Ke5ujdWW74OM!9CLeJCJimOOSJXjNPv0abM-OPbie0J892tX431LerjhuI3wFnLYY29xVPh0w9DSt_31ajuI5ZEFvJBs--XSKwiytvHjsEGs$">listed here&nbsp;</a>between&nbsp;May 2009 and December 2019, you may be eligible for compensation. To determine your eligibility, call 1-866-290-0182 (Toll-Free), email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@AGGenericDrugs.com">info@AGGenericDrugs.com</a>&nbsp;or visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.aggenericdrugs.com/__;!!Ke5ujdWW74OM!9CLeJCJimOOSJXjNPv0abM-OPbie0J892tX431LerjhuI3wFnLYY29xVPh0w9DSt_31ajuI5ZEFvJBs--XSKwiyt0Z_OdBM$">www.AGGenericDrugs.com</a>.The settlement agreements resolve allegations that both Apotex and Heritage engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade with regard to numerous generic prescription drugs.Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico joined in the announcement.

Attorney General Hilgers Urges Consumers to Check Eligibility for Compensation for Inflated Generic Drug Prices

Lincoln - Today, Attorney General Hilgers joined numerous leaders and statewide organizations to announce the launch of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://securethegoodlife.nebraska.gov/">SecureTheGoodLife.Nebraska.gov</a>,&nbsp;a website designed to help recruit talent for law enforcement and prosecution offices across Nebraska.

Since taking office, Attorney General Hilgers traveled across the state to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/news/attorney-general-mike-hilgers-december-column-miles-across-nebraska-what-i-learned-visiting-law">all 93 counties</a>,&nbsp;meeting with law enforcement and county attorneys. In 2024, he and his staff hosted regional roundtable discussions. During these meetings, many agencies expressed challenges in recruiting across Greater Nebraska. Secure The Good Life is designed to answer those expressed needs.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers seeks to amplify the high calling of those serving in law enforcement and cast a vision for those who would consider public service.

“Today’s launch of the Secure The&nbsp;Good Life site is exciting. People are craving the opportunity for professional and personal fulfillment, where they can make a difference and spend quality time with their families or in the outdoors. Serving in law enforcement in Greater Nebraska is a great way to do both. We have amazing public servants making a real difference, and we have opportunities for others to join them. The Secure the Good Life site will help elevate their stories and show others how they can do it too,” stated Attorney General Mike Hilgers. “This effort will be an important part of our strategic, statewide effort to recruit the next generation of law enforcement professionals.”

This website shares real stories of the hometown heroes serving our Greater Nebraska communities. Narratives told by county attorneys, police chiefs, and sheriffs voicing what they love about their communities and why they choose to serve in Nebraska. The next generation of those called to serve in Nebraska will be inspired by hearing the personal stories shared.

Secure The Good Life also links to available job openings in law enforcement and prosecution careers through the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ncc.nebraska.gov/law-enforcement-job-listings">Nebraska Crime Commission</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://necaa.org/jobs/">Nebraska County Attorneys Association</a>.

The Attorney General’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/">website</a>,&nbsp;alongside many partnering agencies and organizations, will promote the website with a unified logo, helping to drive traffic from the public to the recruiting website.

Statements from Nebraska’s Federal Delegation

“Nebraska is a great place to live, work, and raise a family because of the law enforcement officers and prosecutors who keep our communities safe; however, staffing shortages across our state have made that harder. I look forward to seeing ‘Secure the Good Life’ celebrate our hometown heroes while encouraging others to help make the ‘Good Life’ even better.”&nbsp;

“Nebraska’s law enforcement officers are the backbone of our communities. We must do all we can to recruit and support those who protect us. This resource will connect dedicated individuals with opportunities to serve across our state. It will help showcase the Good Life so we can keep the Good Life secure.”

“Recently, our law enforcement agencies and county attorney offices have had a difficult time recruiting new hires and this website is a much-needed tool to recruit the best of the best. Our law enforcement officers and county attorney staff are vital to the safety and security of our communities, and we must find ways to support them as they continue to do their duties and protect us all.”

“Nebraska is working to get the word out that we’re the best place in the nation to work as a law enforcement officer. Thanks to Attorney General Hilgers to launching this new effort to fill vacant law enforcement jobs across the state. Recruiting the next generation of peace officers will take all hands on&nbsp;deck, and this Secure the Good Life initiative is a great step towards achieving this goal.”

“Communities across Nebraska are not only great places to live, they&nbsp;provide promising opportunities for professionals with a calling to public service. I commend Attorney General Hilgers for this effort to reinforce the indispensable work of local law enforcement and prosecutorial offices in our state. Ensuring talented young people are aware of the benefits of living and working in such roles in Nebraska is critical for our future.”

Partnering Organizations and Agencies

Nebraska Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry

General Attorney OfficeLincoln - Today, Attorney General Hilgers joined numerous leaders and statewide organizations to announce the launch of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://securethegoodlife.nebraska.gov/">SecureTheGoodLife.Nebraska.gov</a>,&nbsp;a website designed to help recruit talent for law enforcement and prosecution offices across Nebraska.Since taking office, Attorney General Hilgers traveled across the state to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/news/attorney-general-mike-hilgers-december-column-miles-across-nebraska-what-i-learned-visiting-law">all 93 counties</a>,&nbsp;meeting with law enforcement and county attorneys. In 2024, he and his staff hosted regional roundtable discussions. During these meetings, many agencies expressed challenges in recruiting across Greater Nebraska. Secure The Good Life is designed to answer those expressed needs.Attorney General Mike Hilgers seeks to amplify the high calling of those serving in law enforcement and cast a vision for those who would consider public service.“Today’s launch of the Secure The&nbsp;Good Life site is exciting. People are craving the opportunity for professional and personal fulfillment, where they can make a difference and spend quality time with their families or in the outdoors. Serving in law enforcement in Greater Nebraska is a great way to do both. We have amazing public servants making a real difference, and we have opportunities for others to join them. The Secure the Good Life site will help elevate their stories and show others how they can do it too,” stated Attorney General Mike Hilgers. “This effort will be an important part of our strategic, statewide effort to recruit the next generation of law enforcement professionals.”This website shares real stories of the hometown heroes serving our Greater Nebraska communities. Narratives told by county attorneys, police chiefs, and sheriffs voicing what they love about their communities and why they choose to serve in Nebraska. The next generation of those called to serve in Nebraska will be inspired by hearing the personal stories shared.Secure The Good Life also links to available job openings in law enforcement and prosecution careers through the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ncc.nebraska.gov/law-enforcement-job-listings">Nebraska Crime Commission</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://necaa.org/jobs/">Nebraska County Attorneys Association</a>.The Attorney General’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/">website</a>,&nbsp;alongside many partnering agencies and organizations, will promote the website with a unified logo, helping to drive traffic from the public to the recruiting website.Statements from Nebraska’s Federal DelegationSenator Deb Fischer“Nebraska is a great place to live, work, and raise a family because of the law enforcement officers and prosecutors who keep our communities safe; however, staffing shortages across our state have made that harder. I look forward to seeing ‘Secure the Good Life’ celebrate our hometown heroes while encouraging others to help make the ‘Good Life’ even better.”&nbsp;Senator Pete Ricketts“Nebraska’s law enforcement officers are the backbone of our communities. We must do all we can to recruit and support those who protect us. This resource will connect dedicated individuals with opportunities to serve across our state. It will help showcase the Good Life so we can keep the Good Life secure.”Congressman Don Bacon“Recently, our law enforcement agencies and county attorney offices have had a difficult time recruiting new hires and this website is a much-needed tool to recruit the best of the best. Our law enforcement officers and county attorney staff are vital to the safety and security of our communities, and we must find ways to support them as they continue to do their duties and protect us all.”Congressman Mike Flood“Nebraska is working to get the word out that we’re the best place in the nation to work as a law enforcement officer. Thanks to Attorney General Hilgers to launching this new effort to fill vacant law enforcement jobs across the state. Recruiting the next generation of peace officers will take all hands on&nbsp;deck, and this Secure the Good Life initiative is a great step towards achieving this goal.”Congressman Adrian Smith“Communities across Nebraska are not only great places to live, they&nbsp;provide promising opportunities for professionals with a calling to public service. I commend Attorney General Hilgers for this effort to reinforce the indispensable work of local law enforcement and prosecutorial offices in our state. Ensuring talented young people are aware of the benefits of living and working in such roles in Nebraska is critical for our future.”Partnering Organizations and AgenciesNebraska Association of County OfficialsNebraska Chamber of Commerce &amp; IndustryNebraska County Attorneys AssociationNebraska League of MunicipalitiesNebraska Sheriff's AssociationPolice Chiefs Association of NebraskaPolice Officers Association of Nebraska

Attorney General Hilgers Joins with Statewide Leaders to Launch Website to Support Law Enforcement and Prosecution Recruitment Efforts

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced a sweeping plan Thursday to restructure the Department of Health and Human Services by cutting an additional 10,000 workers and closing down half of its 10 regional offices.

The overhaul will affect many of the agencies that make up HHS, including the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. HHS overall will be downsized from a full-time workforce of 82,000 to 62,000, including those who took early retirement or a buyout offer.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. released a written statement along with the announcement, saying the changes would benefit Americans.

“We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic,” Kennedy said. “This Department will do more — a lot more — at a lower cost to the taxpayer.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The U.S. Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/rfk-jr-confirmed-nations-health-chief-despite-vaccine-denial-conspiracy-theories" target="_blank">voted to confirm Kennedy</a>&nbsp;as the nation’s top public health official in mid-February.

Democrats immediately reacted with deep concern.

Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Patty Murray, D-Wash., said that she was “stunned at the lack of thought about what they are doing to the American public and their health.”

Murray said the committee, which controls about one-third of all federal spending, “absolutely” has an oversight role to play in tracking HHS actions.

Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, the top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that funds HHS, said she believes HHS has overstepped its authority and expects the panel will look into its actions.

“These individuals who are going to be terminated under this plan play vital roles in the health of Wisconsinites and people nationally,” Baldwin said. “And I believe that they do not have the authority, the Trump administration does not have the authority to do this wholesale reorganization without working with Congress.”

Maryland Democratic Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, whose constituents in suburban Washington likely hold many of the jobs in question, wrote in a statement the HHS’ restructuring plans are “dangerous and deadly.”

“I warned America that confirming RFK Jr. would be a mistake,” Alsobrooks wrote. “His blatant distrust of science and disregard for research and advancement makes him completely unqualified.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/hhs-restructuring-doge.html" target="_blank">announcement</a>&nbsp;says reorganizing HHS will cut its $1.7 trillion annual budget by about $1.8 billion, in part, by lowering overall staff levels.

Staffing cuts will be spread out over HHS and several of the agencies it oversees. The restructuring plans to eliminate 3,500 full-time workers at the FDA, 2,400 employees at the CDC, 1,200 staff at the NIH and 300 workers at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“The consolidation and cuts are designed not only to save money, but to make the organization more efficient and more responsive to Americans’ needs, and to implement the Make America Healthy Again goal of ending the chronic disease epidemic,” according to a fact sheet.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP, Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., wrote in a statement that he looks “forward to hearing how this reorganization furthers these goals.”

“I am interested in HHS working better, such as lifesaving drug approval more rapidly, and Medicare service improved,” Cassidy wrote.

HHS did not immediately respond to a request from States Newsroom about which five of its 10 regional offices would shutter or when those closures would take effect.

Its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/iea/regional-offices/index.html" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;shows the offices are located in Boston; New York City; Philadelphia; Atlanta; Chicago; Dallas; Kansas City, Missouri; Denver; San Francisco; and Seattle.

HHS plans to reduce its divisions from 28 to 15 while also establishing the Administration for a Healthy America, or AHA.

That new entity will combine the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

That change will “improve coordination of health resources for low-income Americans and will focus on areas including, Primary Care, Maternal and Child Health, Mental Health, Environmental Health, HIV/AIDS, and Workforce development. Transferring SAMHSA to AHA will increase operational efficiency and assure programs are carried out because it will break down artificial divisions between similar programs,” according to the announcement.

HHS will roll the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response into the CDC.

The department plans to create a new assistant secretary for enforcement, who will be responsible for work within the Departmental Appeals Board, Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals and Office for Civil Rights.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., posted on social media that he fully backed the changes in store for HHS.

​​”HHS is one of the most bureaucratic and bloated government agencies,” Johnson wrote. “@SecKennedy is bringing new, much-needed ideas to the department by returning HHS to its core mission while maintaining the critical programs it provides Americans.”

Advocates shared Democrats’ concern about the staff cutbacks.

Stella Dantas, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, released a statement saying the organization was “alarmed by the sudden termination of thousands of dedicated HHS employees, whose absence compounds the loss of thousands of fellow employees who have already been forced to leave U.S. health agencies.”

“Thanks to collaboration with HHS, ACOG has been able to contribute to advances in the provision of maternal health care, broadened coverage of critical preventive care, increased adoption of vaccines, raised awareness of fetal alcohol syndrome, strengthened STI prevention efforts, and more,” Dantas wrote. “This attack on public health—and HHS’ ability to advance it—will hurt people across the United States every single day.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743090245316.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Marshall met with RFK, Jr. on Thursday-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Marshall met with RFK, Jr. on Thursday-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced a sweeping plan Thursday to restructure the Department of Health and Human Services by cutting an additional 10,000 workers and closing down half of its 10 regional offices.The overhaul will affect many of the agencies that make up HHS, including the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. HHS overall will be downsized from a full-time workforce of 82,000 to 62,000, including those who took early retirement or a buyout offer.HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. released a written statement along with the announcement, saying the changes would benefit Americans.“We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic,” Kennedy said. “This Department will do more — a lot more — at a lower cost to the taxpayer.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The U.S. Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/rfk-jr-confirmed-nations-health-chief-despite-vaccine-denial-conspiracy-theories" target="_blank">voted to confirm Kennedy</a>&nbsp;as the nation’s top public health official in mid-February.Democrats immediately reacted with deep concern.Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Patty Murray, D-Wash., said that she was “stunned at the lack of thought about what they are doing to the American public and their health.”Murray said the committee, which controls about one-third of all federal spending, “absolutely” has an oversight role to play in tracking HHS actions.Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, the top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that funds HHS, said she believes HHS has overstepped its authority and expects the panel will look into its actions.“These individuals who are going to be terminated under this plan play vital roles in the health of Wisconsinites and people nationally,” Baldwin said. “And I believe that they do not have the authority, the Trump administration does not have the authority to do this wholesale reorganization without working with Congress.”Maryland Democratic Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, whose constituents in suburban Washington likely hold many of the jobs in question, wrote in a statement the HHS’ restructuring plans are “dangerous and deadly.”“I warned America that confirming RFK Jr. would be a mistake,” Alsobrooks wrote. “His blatant distrust of science and disregard for research and advancement makes him completely unqualified.”<h2>Cuts across department</h2>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/hhs-restructuring-doge.html" target="_blank">announcement</a>&nbsp;says reorganizing HHS will cut its $1.7 trillion annual budget by about $1.8 billion, in part, by lowering overall staff levels.Staffing cuts will be spread out over HHS and several of the agencies it oversees. The restructuring plans to eliminate 3,500 full-time workers at the FDA, 2,400 employees at the CDC, 1,200 staff at the NIH and 300 workers at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.“The consolidation and cuts are designed not only to save money, but to make the organization more efficient and more responsive to Americans’ needs, and to implement the Make America Healthy Again goal of ending the chronic disease epidemic,” according to a fact sheet.Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP, Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., wrote in a statement that he looks “forward to hearing how this reorganization furthers these goals.”“I am interested in HHS working better, such as lifesaving drug approval more rapidly, and Medicare service improved,” Cassidy wrote.<h2>Regional offices, divisions affected</h2>HHS did not immediately respond to a request from States Newsroom about which five of its 10 regional offices would shutter or when those closures would take effect.Its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/iea/regional-offices/index.html" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;shows the offices are located in Boston; New York City; Philadelphia; Atlanta; Chicago; Dallas; Kansas City, Missouri; Denver; San Francisco; and Seattle.HHS plans to reduce its divisions from 28 to 15 while also establishing the Administration for a Healthy America, or AHA.That new entity will combine the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.That change will “improve coordination of health resources for low-income Americans and will focus on areas including, Primary Care, Maternal and Child Health, Mental Health, Environmental Health, HIV/AIDS, and Workforce development. Transferring SAMHSA to AHA will increase operational efficiency and assure programs are carried out because it will break down artificial divisions between similar programs,” according to the announcement.HHS will roll the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response into the CDC.The department plans to create a new assistant secretary for enforcement, who will be responsible for work within the Departmental Appeals Board, Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals and Office for Civil Rights.<h2>House speaker says HHS is ‘bloated’</h2>U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., posted on social media that he fully backed the changes in store for HHS.​​”HHS is one of the most bureaucratic and bloated government agencies,” Johnson wrote. “@SecKennedy is bringing new, much-needed ideas to the department by returning HHS to its core mission while maintaining the critical programs it provides Americans.”Advocates shared Democrats’ concern about the staff cutbacks.Stella Dantas, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, released a statement saying the organization was “alarmed by the sudden termination of thousands of dedicated HHS employees, whose absence compounds the loss of thousands of fellow employees who have already been forced to leave U.S. health agencies.”“Thanks to collaboration with HHS, ACOG has been able to contribute to advances in the provision of maternal health care, broadened coverage of critical preventive care, increased adoption of vaccines, raised awareness of fetal alcohol syndrome, strengthened STI prevention efforts, and more,” Dantas wrote. “This attack on public health—and HHS’ ability to advance it—will hurt people across the United States every single day.”

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services to slash 10,000 jobs, close 5 regional offices

Omaha, NE: The Nebraska Broadcasters Association Foundation (NBAF) is awarding $1,000.00 scholarships to four Nebraska high school seniors with plans to earn a broadcasting-related degree and aspirations to work in broadcasting.&nbsp; Applications were reviewed by a panel of NBA board members resulting in the following students earning a scholarship:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Brody Heidemann, Gretna East High School.&nbsp; Brody will attend the University of Nebraska – Lincoln to pursue a degree in Sports Media &amp; Communication;&nbsp;

George Knockenhauer, Creighton Preparatory School.&nbsp; George will attend the University of Nebraska – Lincoln to pursue a major in Sports Media &amp; Communication;&nbsp;

Grace Vidlak, Millard North High School.&nbsp; Grace will attend the University of Nebraska – Lincoln to pursue a degree in Broadcasting;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Samuel Whittaker, Millard West High School.&nbsp; Samuel will attend the University of Nebraska – Lincoln to pursue a degree in Sports Media &amp; Communication.&nbsp;&nbsp;

NBAF Board Chairperson Jessie Johnson, Vice President of News Channel Nebraska Tri-Cities/General Manager – Kearney, said: “Today, we celebrate our scholarship winners, whose talent and ambition promise to illuminate the future of our industry. Their fresh perspectives and innovative ideas are the driving forces that will shape a brighter tomorrow for broadcasting. From all of us on the NBA Board of Directors, congratulations to each of you!”&nbsp;

The NBAF also offers scholarships to assist students enrolled in radio and/or television broadcasting or broadcast journalism educational programs at designated colleges and universities in Nebraska.&nbsp; Over $300,000 in scholarships have been awarded by the NBA and NBAF since the NBA first began a scholarship program in 1977.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705610071408.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Omaha, NE: The Nebraska Broadcasters Association Foundation (NBAF) is awarding $1,000.00 scholarships to four Nebraska high school seniors with plans to earn a broadcasting-related degree and aspirations to work in broadcasting.&nbsp; Applications were reviewed by a panel of NBA board members resulting in the following students earning a scholarship:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Brody Heidemann, Gretna East High School.&nbsp; Brody will attend the University of Nebraska – Lincoln to pursue a degree in Sports Media &amp; Communication;&nbsp;George Knockenhauer, Creighton Preparatory School.&nbsp; George will attend the University of Nebraska – Lincoln to pursue a major in Sports Media &amp; Communication;&nbsp;Grace Vidlak, Millard North High School.&nbsp; Grace will attend the University of Nebraska – Lincoln to pursue a degree in Broadcasting;&nbsp;&nbsp;Samuel Whittaker, Millard West High School.&nbsp; Samuel will attend the University of Nebraska – Lincoln to pursue a degree in Sports Media &amp; Communication.&nbsp;&nbsp;NBAF Board Chairperson Jessie Johnson, Vice President of News Channel Nebraska Tri-Cities/General Manager – Kearney, said: “Today, we celebrate our scholarship winners, whose talent and ambition promise to illuminate the future of our industry. Their fresh perspectives and innovative ideas are the driving forces that will shape a brighter tomorrow for broadcasting. From all of us on the NBA Board of Directors, congratulations to each of you!”&nbsp;The NBAF also offers scholarships to assist students enrolled in radio and/or television broadcasting or broadcast journalism educational programs at designated colleges and universities in Nebraska.&nbsp; Over $300,000 in scholarships have been awarded by the NBA and NBAF since the NBA first began a scholarship program in 1977.

NBA Foundation Announces 2025 High School Senior Scholarship Recipients

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/new-program-to-bring-more-pediatric-nurses-to-growing-childrens-nebraska-campus/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — As thrilled as they are about a $114 million pediatric mental health care facility rising in Omaha, local health care officials expect challenges, including assembling the necessary workforce during the current nursing shortage.

Helping to address such demand is a new partnership between Children’s Nebraska and the Creighton University College of Nursing, which is designed to bring additional skilled pediatric nurses to the Children’s campus.

Buoyed by the Omaha-based&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryan.foundation/" target="_blank">Ryan Foundation</a>, 40 full-tuition scholarships will be available in Creighton’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.creighton.edu/academics/programs/accelerated-bsn" target="_blank">(ABSN) program.</a>&nbsp;In exchange for the free schooling, recipients, who already must have a bachelor’s degree, will commit to two years of work at Children’s Nebraska.

Jessica Clark, dean of Creighton’s College of Nursing, said she’s talked to many professionals interested in pursuing nursing as a different career choice but who are deterred by cost, especially if mired in student debt. She says tuition and fees for the program run about $55,000. The new scholarship is designed to help break down the financial barrier.

Clark said the 12-month accelerated program — now in its 50th year — typically draws older students and professionals with more life experience.&nbsp;

“They make phenomenal workers when they hit the workforce,” she said.

Marcie Peterson, vice president and associate chief nursing officer at Children’s, said she expects the initiative to produce nurses who “really have a calling to nursing.”

“What we find is they bring a lot of value to the workforce because of those experiences they already have and they know what they want,” Peterson said. She said they provide “a lot more bang for our buck.”

The scholarship idea emerged as various factors collided, Clark said, including the planned 2026 opening of the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/114m-omaha-mental-health-center-for-kids-on-track-for-2026-opening/">Behavioral Health &amp; Wellness Center</a>&nbsp;at the Children’s Omaha headquarters site. Of that facility’s total price tag, $16 million comes from federal American Rescue Plan Act funding earmarked by the Nebraska Legislature.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, a study by state health care entities showed Nebraska on pace to be short nearly 5,500 nurses this year. In the backdrop, Clark said, conversations with nurse wannabes working in other professions explained that the top barrier to a nursing career was financial.

Clark said she met with representatives at Children’s, who talked to the Ryan Foundation. They hoped for 10 scholarships — and received funding for 40.

Peterson and Clark expect that nurses who go through the program will stay at Children’s beyond the promised two-year commitment. Peterson said Children’s has a track record of high nurse retention rates.

She said that Children’s provides an environment to expand one’s career. Her own ascent is an example. Peterson started as a receptionist at Children’s right out of high school, 26 years ago. She entered nursing school and said in an interview this week that along the way to her current position she was helped by mentors and colleagues to reach her goals.

The scholarship program, beginning this fall and supporting five cohorts, will help students as they develop pediatric skills and prepare to serve in one of 89 pediatric subspecialties across multiple Children’s Nebraska facilities.

&nbsp;“We are building a workforce that is prepared to meet the evolving needs of children and families across our region,” said Pam Johnson-Carlson, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Children’s. “This partnership ensures that highly skilled pediatric nurses will be ready to deliver exceptional care in both acute and specialized settings for years to come.”

Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/new-program-to-bring-more-pediatric-nurses-to-growing-childrens-nebraska-campus/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — As thrilled as they are about a $114 million pediatric mental health care facility rising in Omaha, local health care officials expect challenges, including assembling the necessary workforce during the current nursing shortage.Helping to address such demand is a new partnership between Children’s Nebraska and the Creighton University College of Nursing, which is designed to bring additional skilled pediatric nurses to the Children’s campus.Buoyed by the Omaha-based&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryan.foundation/" target="_blank">Ryan Foundation</a>, 40 full-tuition scholarships will be available in Creighton’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.creighton.edu/academics/programs/accelerated-bsn" target="_blank">(ABSN) program.</a>&nbsp;In exchange for the free schooling, recipients, who already must have a bachelor’s degree, will commit to two years of work at Children’s Nebraska.Jessica Clark, dean of Creighton’s College of Nursing, said she’s talked to many professionals interested in pursuing nursing as a different career choice but who are deterred by cost, especially if mired in student debt. She says tuition and fees for the program run about $55,000. The new scholarship is designed to help break down the financial barrier.Clark said the 12-month accelerated program — now in its 50th year — typically draws older students and professionals with more life experience.&nbsp;“They make phenomenal workers when they hit the workforce,” she said.<h2>Call to nursing</h2>Marcie Peterson, vice president and associate chief nursing officer at Children’s, said she expects the initiative to produce nurses who “really have a calling to nursing.”“What we find is they bring a lot of value to the workforce because of those experiences they already have and they know what they want,” Peterson said. She said they provide “a lot more bang for our buck.”The scholarship idea emerged as various factors collided, Clark said, including the planned 2026 opening of the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/114m-omaha-mental-health-center-for-kids-on-track-for-2026-opening/">Behavioral Health &amp; Wellness Center</a>&nbsp;at the Children’s Omaha headquarters site. Of that facility’s total price tag, $16 million comes from federal American Rescue Plan Act funding earmarked by the Nebraska Legislature.&nbsp;Meanwhile, a study by state health care entities showed Nebraska on pace to be short nearly 5,500 nurses this year. In the backdrop, Clark said, conversations with nurse wannabes working in other professions explained that the top barrier to a nursing career was financial.Clark said she met with representatives at Children’s, who talked to the Ryan Foundation. They hoped for 10 scholarships — and received funding for 40.Peterson and Clark expect that nurses who go through the program will stay at Children’s beyond the promised two-year commitment. Peterson said Children’s has a track record of high nurse retention rates.She said that Children’s provides an environment to expand one’s career. Her own ascent is an example. Peterson started as a receptionist at Children’s right out of high school, 26 years ago. She entered nursing school and said in an interview this week that along the way to her current position she was helped by mentors and colleagues to reach her goals.The scholarship program, beginning this fall and supporting five cohorts, will help students as they develop pediatric skills and prepare to serve in one of 89 pediatric subspecialties across multiple Children’s Nebraska facilities.&nbsp;“We are building a workforce that is prepared to meet the evolving needs of children and families across our region,” said Pam Johnson-Carlson, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Children’s. “This partnership ensures that highly skilled pediatric nurses will be ready to deliver exceptional care in both acute and specialized settings for years to come.”

New program to bring more pediatric nurses to growing Children’s Nebraska campus

LINCOLN, Neb. – Gov. Jim Pillen has declared April as Financial Awareness Month.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Gov. Jim Pillen has declared April as Financial Awareness Month.During a March 25 ceremony at the State Capitol, the governor signed a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zKIVXmJOD4RR3dpd6vZlAlXuWNZQS7QB/view?usp=sharing">proclamation</a>&nbsp;to spotlight the importance of financial awareness and how it affects Nebraskans. In attendance were approximately 80 school children who participate in Nebraska’s in-school savings program, which is being implemented by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://business.unl.edu/outreach/econ-ed/nebraska-council-on-economic-education/student-programs/in-school-savings-program/#:~:text=71%20In%20School%20Savings%20Programs%20Operate%20in%20Nebraska">more than 70 schools</a>&nbsp;statewide.<a>Coordinated by the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance&nbsp;</a>(<a target="_blank" href="https://ndbf.nebraska.gov/">NDBF</a>) and Nebraska Council on Economic Education (<a target="_blank" href="https://business.unl.edu/outreach/econ-ed/nebraska-council-on-economic-education/">NCEE</a>), Financial Awareness Month spotlights activities in schools, workplaces, and communities to enhance the knowledge of money-related topics. Throughout April, NDBF and NCEE will distribute financial awareness updates and information via social media and traditional media outlets.“Helping Nebraskans build financial awareness — so they can save, invest, and protect their hard-earned dollars — is a worthwhile pursuit of state government,” Gov. Pillen said. “Financial Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder that Nebraska’s future prosperity depends on the financial well-being of our residents.”During the proclamation ceremony at the Capitol, Tanner Ellis of Ravenna Public Schools was recognized as the 2025 economic educator of the year. Gov. Pillen honored Ellis by making him an admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska – the state’s highest civic award.Later in the day, Nebraska’s bestselling children's author Julia Cook spent time with the students who participated in the proclamation ceremony. Cook’s “I Am Money” is an acclaimed book that teaches younger students the principles of financial literacy. A hardback copy of “I Am Money” has been mailed to each of Nebraska’s 680 elementary school libraries.<a>NDBF Director Kelly Lammers said: “Financial awareness is about ensuring that we, as individuals, make wise decisions with our money. The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance is proud to support Financial Awareness Month and provide information to help Nebraskans secure their future.”</a><a>Dr. Jennifer Davidson, NCEE President, said: “As president of the Nebraska Council on Economic Education, I’ve seen firsthand how economic and financial literacy can change lives. It’s not just about numbers – it’s about empowerment.”</a>