Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sheriff proposal to lease Douglas County jail space to feds for migrant detainees appears iced out • Nebraska Examiner

1 8

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 10h

ICED OUT? The Douglas County sheriff’s proposal to rent Omaha-based jail space to the federal government for migrant detention appears to have hit a dead end with a majority of the Douglas County Board.

From Cindy Gonzalez:

buff.ly/8ZJ7XiG

The Douglas County sheriff's proposal to lease Omaha jail space to the feds for migrant detainees appears iced out.

Illegal street takeovers — with stunts and noise — are growing as states try to crack down • Nebraska Examiner

6 22

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 11h

STREET TAKEOVERS: Street takeovers for street racing are becoming a problem in enough cities and states that state governments are starting to push back with new bills and laws.

From Stateline:

Illegal street takeovers, where drivers block roads to perform stunts, have become an increasing concern in cities across the country.

Former governors, state AGs weigh in on Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops • Nebraska Examiner

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 13h

FORMER OFFICIALS WEIGH IN: Former governors and attorneys general weigh in on President Donald Trump's use of the National Guard for law enforcement purposes across state lines.

From States Newsroom:

President Donald Trump’s use of National Guard troops for law enforcement has reopened debate over states’ authority to control police powers.

Jack Daniel’s is ending a program that helped farmers feed cows with its scraps. What happens now? • Nebraska Examiner

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 15h

JACK DANIEL'S LOSS? You had our interest at Jack Daniel's and agriculture.

From States Newsroom:

Jack Daniel’s is terminating a program that provided the company’s corn byproduct “slop” to local cattle farmers at low or no cost.

Former StratCom worker sentenced, shared classified Russia-Ukraine war info on dating site • Nebraska Examiner

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 17h

STRATCOM WORKER SENTENCED: A former civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force to nearly six years in federal prison on one felony count of conspiring to transmit classified national defense information via a foreign online dating platform.

From Zach Wendling:

A federal judge sentenced the veteran and former civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force to nearly six years in federal prison.

Senate confirms Nebraska U.S. Attorney, first since 2021 under Trump • Nebraska Examiner

3 3

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 20h

NEW U.S. ATTORNEY: Nebraska has a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney for the first time since 2021.

From Zach Wendling:

buff.ly/9LS8HwE

Nebraska has its first Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney since 2021, a role last held by now-Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly in the Trump administration.

Nebraska AG sues OPPD, targets North Omaha power plant changes and 'net-zero' plan • Nebraska Examiner

1 1 5

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 21h

WHILE YOU SLEPT: A lawsuit from the Nebraska Attorney General's Office seeks to stop changes planned for the North Omaha Station power plant, as well as prevent OPPD from pursuing any policy that prioritizes considerations other than price or reliability.

From Zach Wendling:

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers sued the Omaha Public Power District to stop energy production changes at a North Omaha power plant.

Douglas County Sheriff urges ICE detention contract for jail, County Board chair balks • Nebraska Examiner

1 1

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 1d

START YOUR FRIDAY: With what's going on in Douglas County, where the local sheriff wants to use Omaha's largest local jail to hold federal immigration detainees, but the county board chair says no.

From Cindy Gonzalez:

The Douglas County sheriff seeks an ICE detention contract for a jail in Nebraska's most populous county, but County Board chair balks.

Nebraska AG sues OPPD, targets North Omaha power plant changes and 'net-zero' plan • Nebraska Examiner

2

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 1d

LUMP OF COAL? Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers sued OPPD Thursday to stop a plan to retire three of five power-producing units at the utility’s North Omaha Station and switch the other two coal-fired units to natural gas.

From Zach Wendling:

buff.ly/UeROO3A

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers sued the Omaha Public Power District to stop energy production changes at a North Omaha power plant.

Former FBI Director Comey pleads not guilty to criminal charges demanded by Trump • Nebraska Examiner

1 2

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 1d

COMEY CASE: Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to two felony charges Wednesday in federal court in Virginia, in response to an indictment that followed pressure on prosecutors from President Donald Trump.

From States Newsroom:

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to two felony charges Wednesday in federal court in Virginia, in response to an indictment that followed an extraordinary pressure…

Douglas County Sheriff urges ICE detention contract for jail, County Board chair balks • Nebraska Examiner

1 1

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 1d

ICE JAIL IN OMAHA? The Douglas County sheriff said Thursday that he wants to contract with ICE to hold migrant detainees at Omaha’s largest local jail. But the head of the county board said he's not interested.

From Cindy Gonzalez;

buff.ly/qM1sLz1

The Douglas County sheriff seeks an ICE detention contract for a jail in Nebraska's most populous county, but County Board chair balks.

Former StratCom worker sentenced, shared classified Russia-Ukraine war info on dating site • Nebraska Examiner

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 1d

A judge sentenced a former Air Force civilian employee to nearly six years in federal prison on a felony count of conspiring to transmit classified national defense information via a foreign online dating platform.

From Zach Wendling:

buff.ly/GcvDfNI

A federal judge sentenced the veteran and former civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force to nearly six years in federal prison.

US House GOP delays seating Rep.-elect Grijalva, potential deciding vote on Epstein petition • Nebraska Examiner

1 1 1

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 1d

SEATING CONGRESS: House Dems failed to force Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva. Johnson has said he’s holding off after her September election until the government reopens. Dems say it's because she wants a vote on Jeffrey Epstein.

From States Newsroom:

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats failed again Wednesday to force Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva. Johnson has said he’s holding off on swearing in Grijalva — an Arizona…

Air traffic control staffing steady, but stress during shutdown worries DOT • Nebraska Examiner

1 4

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 1d

AIR TRAFFIC DELAYS: We are almost to the point in the federal shutdown when air traffic controllers start calling in sick and flights get delayed. Not quite yet. But it's happened before.

From States Newsroom:

The Federal Aviation Administration reported no travel delays due to staffing levels at U.S. air traffic control facilities Wednesday, following a day of some delays related to above-average absences…

US Senate rejects restriction of military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean • Nebraska Examiner

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 1d

NO BRAKES: Congress on Wednesday decided not to restrict how presidents can use military strikes abroad after President Donald Trump's recent strikes on civilian vessels.

From States Newsroom:

The U.S. Senate failed to advance Wednesday night a resolution designed to curb the president’s power regarding military actions abroad,

‘This shutdown feels different.’ States might not get repaid when government reopens. • Nebraska Examiner

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 1d

STATES WORRIED: State governments that run joint programs with the federal government and share costs with federal taxpayers are starting to worry about what happens if Congress doesn't pay them back for the time the states carried the programs during the shutdown.

From Stateline:

States are continuing to operate federally funded programs during the shutdown. But some are worried about getting repaid.

Former President Joe Biden heads to Nebraska • Nebraska Examiner

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 1d

BIDEN VISIT: Former President Joe Biden is making his way to Nebraska for the Nebraska Democratic Party's top fundraiser. And he'll be joined by Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

From Juan Salinas II:

Former President Joe Biden’s Nebraska visit will be a rare public appearance since dropping out of the 2024 presidential election

$40M Little Bo Village project aims to be a ‘front door’ to Nebraska’s largest downtown • Nebraska Examiner

2 4

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 1d

START YOUR THURSDAY: With a different idea for how South Omaha's main drag into downtown might look. An interesting development story on Little Bohemia from Cindy Gonzalez:

buff.ly/6PBi522

A $40 million Little Bo Village project along 13th Street spine aims to be a "front door" to Omaha's downtown.

Rural cemetery maintenance dispute in Tekamah may spur creation of new cemetery board • Nebraska Examiner

2 1

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 2d

ICYMI: Residents of Nebraska towns near Tekamah are asking questions about how a cemetery board has handled local cemeteries over those in nearby rural areas. Now they might be pursuing a new board of their own.

From Erin Bamer:

nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/10/06/d...

In Tekamah, a months-long dispute over maintenance of rural cemeteries in the region may spur the creation of a new local cemetery board.

US prison population rises for second straight year • Nebraska Examiner

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 2d

POPULATIONS UP: Nebraska is not the only state seeing its prisons get crowded. Nationally, prison populations are up again.

From Stateline:

The nation’s prison population grew for the second consecutive year in 2023, reversing more than a decade of steady decline.

US House GOP delays seating Rep.-elect Grijalva, potential deciding vote on Epstein petition • Nebraska Examiner

1 7 9

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 2d

U.S. House Democrats failed again Wednesday to force Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva.

From Cindy Gonzalez

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats failed again Wednesday to force Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva. Johnson has said he’s holding off on swearing in Grijalva — an Arizona…

$40M Little Bo Village project aims to be a ‘front door’ to Nebraska’s largest city • Nebraska Examiner

2

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 2d

A $40 million Little Bo Village project along 13th Street spine aims to be a "front door" to Omaha's downtown.

From Cindy Gonzalez buff.ly/6PBi522

A $40 million Little Bo Village project along 13th Street spine aims to be a "front door" to Omaha's downtown.

Hotter temperatures mean more workplace injuries, study finds • Nebraska Examiner

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 2d

WHAT WARMING MEANS: Climate impacts more than sea levels. It also might be contributing to increases in the number of workplace injuries.

From Stateline:

With hotter temperatures come more heat-related workplace injuries — about 28,000 injuries each year, a new study published Monday found.

AG Pam Bondi confronts US Senate Judiciary over Trump crackdown • Nebraska Examiner

2 3

Nebraska Examiner @nebraskaexaminer.com · 2d

AG-SENATE TUSSLE: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sparred with members of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. Catch up here from States Newsroom:

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi pushed back on Democratic senators as she faced questions over sending federal agents to blue cities.