Saturday, October 3, 2026

Omaha Daily Record

Political News

Records Raise More Questions About Influence Of Pillen’s Hand-Picked No-Bid Contractor

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 09/28/2026 - 12:00am

Gov. Jim Pillen speaks during a ceremonial bill signing for LB 1091 on Sept. 9 at Quality Living, Inc., in Omaha.
(Lily Smith / Flatwater Free Press)

Months before Gov. Jim Pillen recommended her for a $2.5 million no-bid consulting contract that Nebraska’s auditor later said “smacks of favoritism,” Julie Bushell was lobbying state officials for another deal.

She seemed poised to get it, despite skepticism from the state’s top environmental administrator. In emails obtained by the Flatwater Free Press, he called the technology she was selling “developing and aspiring at best.”

That warning, sent to Pillen’s chief of staff, wasn’t shared with the lawmaker advocating for the money.

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Nebraska Senate Race Has Seen Tough Talk And Shifts On Immigration

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 09/28/2026 - 12:00am

Registered nonpartisan U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn speaking in Lincoln on June 11, 2026.
(Juan Salinas II / Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Senate race between frontrunners Sen. Pete Ricketts and Dan Osborn has seen tough talk on immigration throughout the campaign cycle as they both try to win a ruby red state.

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8 Sailors In USS Lincoln Group Attempted Suicide On Extended Deployment, Navy Leader Says

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 09/28/2026 - 12:00am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight sailors attempted suicide while deployed with the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, which spent a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea supporting the Iran war, the Navy's top civilian leader said this week.

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Trump Hails Deep Friendship With Xi As China’s Leader Urges ‘Healthy’ Competition Between 2 Powers

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 09/28/2026 - 12:00am

A military flyover is pictured as President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan watch a military review in the Rose Garden of the White House, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Washington.
(Alex Brandon / AP Photo)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed the “truly great friendship” he has forged with Xi Jinping as the Chinese leader began his highly anticipated state visit.

While Trump has many thorny issues to discuss with the president of America’s biggest economic rival, he focused on his long relationship with Xi as the two gathered with aides for opening remarks before formal talks.

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Homeland Security Boss Visits Omaha, Talks Tough On Immigration, Touts Disaster Response Strides

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 09/21/2026 - 12:00am

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is flanked by Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts (left) and the parents of Sarah Root, Michelle and Scott (on the right). Their daughter Sarah was killed in a 2016 car crash involving an undocumented migrant. Mullin was in Omaha last Monday for two unrelated events. The other was to discuss his department’s progress on streamlining federal disaster aid to communities.
(Cindy Gonzalez / Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA — The head of U.S. Homeland Security was in Omaha Monday nurturing partnerships he said helped send roughly $120 million in federal disaster aid to Nebraska since 2025, and to seek feedback on cutting costly “red tape” in the reimbursement process.

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What To Know About Mail-In Voting For The 2026 Midterms

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 09/21/2026 - 12:00am

What to Know About Mail-In Voting for the 2026 Midterms

This week, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s plans to impose new rules for mail-in voting for the midterm elections in November.

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As Shortfall Looms, Pillen Installs Allies On Board Originally Designed To Keep Politics Out Of Budget Forecast

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 09/21/2026 - 12:00am

Former State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion championed tax cuts for top earners and corporations when he was in the Legislature. He is shown here in January 2018 in the Legislative Chamber at the Capitol.
(Nati Harnik / AP Photo)

In an unprecedented move, Gov. Jim Pillen has reshaped the state board that predicts Nebraska’s tax revenues for budget writers, replacing three members with appointees that include two former Republican allies in the Legislature.

Pillen appointed former State Sens. Lou Ann Linehan and Tom Briese to the nine-person Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board. He also appointed Tim Wilson, an Omaha accountant. The board’s chairman was notified of the shakeup in an email last week obtained by the Flatwater Free Press.

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Political Ads With Made-Up Trans People Are Being Used To Bash Democrats

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 09/21/2026 - 12:00am

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Trump Withdraws Lance Schroyer, A Former Oklahoma State Trooper, As His Nominee To Lead ICE

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 09/21/2026 - 12:00am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Thursday that it was withdrawing its nomination of Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, to lead U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ensuring that an agency at the forefront of President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda will remain without a Senate-confirmed leader for at least a while longer.

Schroyer, who has little experience in immigration, is close to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, a former U.S. senator from Oklahoma.

The White House offered no comment in a brief statement.

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Pillen Faces Blowback On Nebraska Immigration Stance, Releases ‘Pillen Playbook 2.0’ Platform

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 09/14/2026 - 12:00am

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (right) hosts a general election kickoff event where he confirmed he is sticking with his running mate, Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly, for another four years on Aug. 25, 2026, in Lincoln. To Pillen’s right are first lady Suzanne Pillen, Kelly and Kelly’s wife Susie.
(Zach Wendling / Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen is facing pushback from the challengers to his reelection bid over his immigration stance as a new Flatwater Free Press investigation states his family ag operation has long hired undocumented laborers.

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