Through Operation Souther Spear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard,Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department.&nbsp; 

Tuesday morning, U.S. military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended Motor Vessel Sagitta without incident, according to a social media report from the U.S. Southern Command. 

"The apprehension of another tanker operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean demonstrates our resolve to ensure that the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully."

"As the joint force operates in the Western Hemisphere, we reaffirm that the security of the American people is paramount, demonstrating our commitment to safety and stability.

These operations are backed by the full power our elite joint force team deployed in the Caribbean."

Through Operation Souther Spear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard,Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department.&nbsp; <div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Through <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpSouthernSpear?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OpSouthernSpear</a>, the <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofWar</a> is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with <a href="https://twitter.com/USCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCG</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DHSgov</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheJusticeDept</a>. This morning, U.S. military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended… <a href="https://t.co/UPADtiw681">pic.twitter.com/UPADtiw681</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2013718812424630376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Tuesday morning, U.S. military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended Motor Vessel Sagitta without incident, according to a social media report from the U.S. Southern Command. "The apprehension of another tanker operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean demonstrates our resolve to ensure that the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully.""As the joint force operates in the Western Hemisphere, we reaffirm that the security of the American people is paramount, demonstrating our commitment to safety and stability.

These operations are backed by the full power our elite joint force team deployed in the Caribbean."

🎥 US forces seize another oil tanker linked to Venezuela 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768960159653.png" alt="<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">Vice President JD Vance</a>&nbsp;and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usha-vance-attorney-jd-vance-wife-vp-63406da4f6739546391ed7797fc1fef2">second lady Usha Vance</a>&nbsp;photo from the Vice President's social media page" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">Vice President JD Vance</a>&nbsp;and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usha-vance-attorney-jd-vance-wife-vp-63406da4f6739546391ed7797fc1fef2">second lady Usha Vance</a>&nbsp;photo from the Vice President's social media page</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We’re very happy to share some exciting news. Our family is growing! <a href="https://t.co/0RohEBYXM7">pic.twitter.com/0RohEBYXM7</a>&mdash; Second Lady Usha Vance (@SLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/SLOTUS/status/2013712959608946721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Vice President JD Vance and his wife make a special announcement

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

Days after&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/walz-frey-to-receive-subpoenas-in-criminal-matter-related-to-ice/">news leaked</a>&nbsp;of a criminal investigation of Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over their handling of immigration enforcement in Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Justice has delivered subpoenas to the offices of Walz and Frey, as well as St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.

The New York Times&nbsp;first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/us/politics/subpoena-minnesota-democrats-immigration.html" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;the delivery of the subpoenas, and other national outlets also confirmed that reporting. A spokesman for Ellison said they were in receipt of the subpoena and working on a response.

The subpoenas are an extraordinary escalation of the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and Minnesota, where heavily-armed, masked federal agents&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/how-ice-numbers-compare-to-twin-cities-largest-police-forces/601562617" target="_blank">now outnumber all the metro police departments</a>&nbsp;combined, frequently using tactics a&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/federal-judge-tells-ice-to-cool-it/">federal judge has called unconstitutional</a>.

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

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

He added: “I will not be intimidated.”

The&nbsp;Washington Post&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/16/trump-minnesota-walz-frey-criminal-investigation/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that “the&nbsp;subpoenas suggest that the Justice Department is examining whether Walz’s and Frey’s public statements disparaging the surge of officers and federal actions have amounted to criminal interference in law enforcement work.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768610962226.png" alt="Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz from his social media page" />
 <figcaption>Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz from his social media page</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/j-patrick-coolican/">J. Patrick Coolican</a> <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>Days after&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/walz-frey-to-receive-subpoenas-in-criminal-matter-related-to-ice/">news leaked</a>&nbsp;of a criminal investigation of Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over their handling of immigration enforcement in Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Justice has delivered subpoenas to the offices of Walz and Frey, as well as St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/rGLZVW34kc">pic.twitter.com/rGLZVW34kc</a>&mdash; Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovTimWalz/status/2013670376220348484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The New York Times&nbsp;first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/us/politics/subpoena-minnesota-democrats-immigration.html" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;the delivery of the subpoenas, and other national outlets also confirmed that reporting. A spokesman for Ellison said they were in receipt of the subpoena and working on a response.The subpoenas are an extraordinary escalation of the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and Minnesota, where heavily-armed, masked federal agents&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/how-ice-numbers-compare-to-twin-cities-largest-police-forces/601562617" target="_blank">now outnumber all the metro police departments</a>&nbsp;combined, frequently using tactics a&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/16/federal-judge-tells-ice-to-cool-it/">federal judge has called unconstitutional</a>.When the investigation became public last week, Walz replied in a statement: “Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly,” he said, referring to the&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/3-democratic-lawmakers-federal-investigation-illegal-orders-social/story?id=129244803" target="_blank">U.S. senators</a>&nbsp;who made a video telling U.S. servicemembers that&nbsp;they can and must refuse illegal orders, as well as the&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5687457-fed-jerome-powell-justice-department-gop-criticism/" target="_blank">chairman</a>&nbsp;of the Federal Reserve, who has refused to lower interest rates as quickly as Trump desires. “Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic,” Walz said.Frey called the investigation “an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, our local law enforcement and our residents against the chaos and danger this administration has brought to our streets.”He added: “I will not be intimidated.”The&nbsp;Washington Post&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/16/trump-minnesota-walz-frey-criminal-investigation/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that “the&nbsp;subpoenas suggest that the Justice Department is examining whether Walz’s and Frey’s public statements disparaging the surge of officers and federal actions have amounted to criminal interference in law enforcement work.”Walz, who announced earlier this month he&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/05/minnesota-gov-tim-walz-ends-campaign-for-third-term/">won’t seek</a>&nbsp;a third term, also used his statement last week to criticize the federal government for not properly investigating the killing of Renee Good by federal immigration officer Jonathan Ross. “The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her,” he said.Six prosecutors in the Minnesota Office of U.S. Attorney quit last week,&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/us/prosecutors-doj-resignation-ice-shooting.html#:~:text=Six%20Prosecutors%20Quit%20Over%20Push,supposed%20ties%20to%20activist%20groups." target="_blank">reported</a>, because they objected to their bosses’ push to investigate the widow of Good and their ties to anti-ICE groups.The ICE surge, which has put as many as 3,000 federal agents in the state — or nearly five times the number of sworn officers with the Minneapolis Police Department —&nbsp;is just the latest round of an ongoing conflict between Minnesota and the federal government. Fraud in Minnesota’s social programs —&nbsp;often funded in whole or part by the federal government —&nbsp;has caught the attention of right-wing media and activists, and the Trump administration has followed with a wide array of investigations of Minnesota programs across a range of agencies.The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/15/homeland-security-audits-hennepin-healthcares/">auditing Hennepin Healthcare</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;Minnesota’s largest safety net hospital —&nbsp;for compliance with immigrant employment eligibility laws.The<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/01/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-establishes-new-department-of-justice-division-for-national-fraud-enforcement/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Trump administration</a>&nbsp;has frozen child care payments and halted small business grants. The administration also says it’s investigating possible housing assistance fraud and looking into Minnesota’s&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/trump-admin-announces-target-review-of-minnesotas-unemployment-insurance-program/">unemployment insurance program</a>. The federal government has also attempted to withhold funds to Minnesota for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, but a federal court issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/15/federal-judge-blocks-usda-from-cutting-snap-benefits-in-minnesota" target="_blank">preliminary injunction.</a>Earlier this week, Trump said he would cut all federal funding to Minnesota and other states that have sanctuary cities beginning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/13/white-house-end-funding-sanctuary-cities-states-00726557" target="_blank">Feb. 1,</a>&nbsp;but it’s unclear what that means and few details have been released.

US Dept. of Justice delivers subpoenas to Walz, Frey, Her, Ellison, Moriarty

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">Cami Koons</a>

The American Farm Bureau Federation, along with soybean and specialty crop farm organizations, has asked congressional leadership for economic support to “fill in the gap of remaining losses for both field and specialty crop farmers.”&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/files/1.15.26-Ag-Letter-to-Congress-Economic-Assistance_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;follows a December announcement from the Trump administration of a&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/12/08/repub/trump-to-send-12-billion-in-one-time-payments-to-farmers-to-offset-ag-losses/" target="_blank">$12 billion</a>&nbsp;one-time package to offset farmer losses across the country.

“These funds could provide a meaningful first step but do not cover the extensive and cumulative losses that farmers have absorbed over the last several years,” the letter said after acknowledging the farmer bridge payment program.&nbsp;

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is allocating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/farmer-bridge-assistance-fba-program" target="_blank">funding</a>&nbsp;with commodity specific payment rates and set aside $1 billion of the $12 billion for specialty crop farmers.&nbsp;

The American Soybean Association, a signee on the recently submitted letter, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://soygrowers.com/news-releases/asa-usda-farmer-bridge-assistance-payments-fall-short-for-soybean-farmers/" target="_blank">news release</a>&nbsp;the $30.88 per acre allotted for soybeans from the payment package was not enough to cover the “significant financial damage soybean farmers sustained this year due to the high cost of production and losses sustained during the China trade war.”&nbsp;

Grant Kimberley,&nbsp;Iowa Soybean Association’s director of market development, said the additional need from farmers is “complicated” and is a result of more than just one event in the past year.&nbsp;

“I think people don’t really realize this has been going on for a couple years now,” Kimberley said. “… Just about every row crop agriculture sector in the whole country has been losing money, probably, for the last three years.”

Kimberley said the ongoing downturn in the industry is due to several factors, including low commodity prices, high input costs, changes in global trade and uncertainty in domestic markets.&nbsp;

Data from Farm Bureau&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/market-intel/declining-farm-economy-continues-to-pressure-profitability" target="_blank">show</a>&nbsp;that commodity prices for major row crops like corn, soybeans, cotton and wheat have declined each year since 2022.&nbsp;

Kimberley said as the prices that farmers can get for their crops has declined, expenses have not declined, and have instead increased.&nbsp; Land, rent, equipment and inputs like fertilizer, seed and chemicals continue to squeeze farmers’ bottom lines, he said.

Farm Bureau economists found that farm expenses in 2025 were 12% higher than the previous five-year average cost.&nbsp;

Another piece to the puzzle, Kimberley explained, is the growing soybean and row crop markets in Brazil and other South American countries. He said the expansion of these markets has interrupted U.S. demand, especially with big buyers like China.&nbsp;

China also declined to purchase U.S. soybeans for the beginning part of harvest season due to President Donald Trump’s trade policies. While the country later&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/10/30/farm-groups-encouraged-by-trade-deal-with-china-for-u-s-soybeans/" target="_blank">agreed</a>&nbsp;to a trade deal, Kimberley said it’s less than what the country previously bought from the U.S. and the gap in purchasing this year has also had an effect.&nbsp;

Kimberley also pointed to the lack of finalized guidance from federal agencies on renewable fuel standards and tax credits. Many of these initiatives, like&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/biofuel-producers-stuck-in-neutral-without-finalized-tax-credit-guidance/" target="_blank">45Z tax credits</a>&nbsp;for low-carbon fuel, were initiated during the Biden administration and still do not have finalized guidelines.

Other standards, like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/06/13/epa-proposes-historic-renewable-fuel-blending-standards/" target="_blank">blending standards</a>,&nbsp;were proposed over the summer and have yet to be finalized. Kimberley, who is also executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, said this uncertainty means overall biodiesel production has declined in the state, causing a “ripple in the pond” for soybean demand.

“You can’t really just say it’s this or that, you know, it’s all of these things that have kind of added up a little bit over time,” Kimberley said.

The letter from American Farm Bureau Federation also noted the compounding factors squeezing farmers. According to the letter, farmer bankruptcies are increasing and nationwide farmer losses are approaching $100 billion.&nbsp;

“These trends aren’t just statistics; they represent an economic crisis in rural America,” the letter said.&nbsp;

Specialty crop farmers are also struggling under similar pressures and asked Congress for relief.&nbsp;

The majority of the more than 50 organizations that signed the letter represented specialty crop growers.&nbsp;

In a news release about the letter, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance said that despite the fact that specialty crops account for more than one-third of all U.S. crop sales, the farmer bridge program from USDA allocated just $1 billion to the industry.&nbsp;

“Any agricultural aid package should reflect the economic contribution of specialty crops, which support rural communities and provide key nutrition,” the alliance leadership said in the release.&nbsp;

The letter, addressed to House and Senate leadership, ask for “immediate” congressionally approved support.&nbsp;

Kimberley said additional changes need to occur in the farm economy for farmers to be profitable, but those changes won’t happen overnight.

“None of these things make farmers whole, and (aid packages) are not preferred, but sometimes they’re necessary,” Kimberley said.&nbsp;

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/01/16/farm-bureau-soybean-and-specialty-ag-groups-ask-congress-for-additional-farmer-support/" target="_blank">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Kansas Reflector, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761787157829.png" alt="Photo USDA" />
 <figcaption>Photo USDA</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">Cami Koons</a>The American Farm Bureau Federation, along with soybean and specialty crop farm organizations, has asked congressional leadership for economic support to “fill in the gap of remaining losses for both field and specialty crop farmers.”&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/files/1.15.26-Ag-Letter-to-Congress-Economic-Assistance_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;follows a December announcement from the Trump administration of a&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/12/08/repub/trump-to-send-12-billion-in-one-time-payments-to-farmers-to-offset-ag-losses/" target="_blank">$12 billion</a>&nbsp;one-time package to offset farmer losses across the country.“These funds could provide a meaningful first step but do not cover the extensive and cumulative losses that farmers have absorbed over the last several years,” the letter said after acknowledging the farmer bridge payment program.&nbsp;The U.S. Department of Agriculture is allocating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/farmer-bridge-assistance-fba-program" target="_blank">funding</a>&nbsp;with commodity specific payment rates and set aside $1 billion of the $12 billion for specialty crop farmers.&nbsp;The American Soybean Association, a signee on the recently submitted letter, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://soygrowers.com/news-releases/asa-usda-farmer-bridge-assistance-payments-fall-short-for-soybean-farmers/" target="_blank">news release</a>&nbsp;the $30.88 per acre allotted for soybeans from the payment package was not enough to cover the “significant financial damage soybean farmers sustained this year due to the high cost of production and losses sustained during the China trade war.”&nbsp;Grant Kimberley,&nbsp;Iowa Soybean Association’s director of market development, said the additional need from farmers is “complicated” and is a result of more than just one event in the past year.&nbsp;“I think people don’t really realize this has been going on for a couple years now,” Kimberley said. “… Just about every row crop agriculture sector in the whole country has been losing money, probably, for the last three years.”Kimberley said the ongoing downturn in the industry is due to several factors, including low commodity prices, high input costs, changes in global trade and uncertainty in domestic markets.&nbsp;Data from Farm Bureau&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/market-intel/declining-farm-economy-continues-to-pressure-profitability" target="_blank">show</a>&nbsp;that commodity prices for major row crops like corn, soybeans, cotton and wheat have declined each year since 2022.&nbsp;Kimberley said as the prices that farmers can get for their crops has declined, expenses have not declined, and have instead increased.&nbsp; Land, rent, equipment and inputs like fertilizer, seed and chemicals continue to squeeze farmers’ bottom lines, he said.Farm Bureau economists found that farm expenses in 2025 were 12% higher than the previous five-year average cost.&nbsp;Another piece to the puzzle, Kimberley explained, is the growing soybean and row crop markets in Brazil and other South American countries. He said the expansion of these markets has interrupted U.S. demand, especially with big buyers like China.&nbsp;China also declined to purchase U.S. soybeans for the beginning part of harvest season due to President Donald Trump’s trade policies. While the country later&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/10/30/farm-groups-encouraged-by-trade-deal-with-china-for-u-s-soybeans/" target="_blank">agreed</a>&nbsp;to a trade deal, Kimberley said it’s less than what the country previously bought from the U.S. and the gap in purchasing this year has also had an effect.&nbsp;Kimberley also pointed to the lack of finalized guidance from federal agencies on renewable fuel standards and tax credits. Many of these initiatives, like&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/biofuel-producers-stuck-in-neutral-without-finalized-tax-credit-guidance/" target="_blank">45Z tax credits</a>&nbsp;for low-carbon fuel, were initiated during the Biden administration and still do not have finalized guidelines.Other standards, like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/06/13/epa-proposes-historic-renewable-fuel-blending-standards/" target="_blank">blending standards</a>,&nbsp;were proposed over the summer and have yet to be finalized. Kimberley, who is also executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, said this uncertainty means overall biodiesel production has declined in the state, causing a “ripple in the pond” for soybean demand.“You can’t really just say it’s this or that, you know, it’s all of these things that have kind of added up a little bit over time,” Kimberley said.The letter from American Farm Bureau Federation also noted the compounding factors squeezing farmers. According to the letter, farmer bankruptcies are increasing and nationwide farmer losses are approaching $100 billion.&nbsp;“These trends aren’t just statistics; they represent an economic crisis in rural America,” the letter said.&nbsp;Specialty crop farmers are also struggling under similar pressures and asked Congress for relief.&nbsp;The majority of the more than 50 organizations that signed the letter represented specialty crop growers.&nbsp;In a news release about the letter, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance said that despite the fact that specialty crops account for more than one-third of all U.S. crop sales, the farmer bridge program from USDA allocated just $1 billion to the industry.&nbsp;“Any agricultural aid package should reflect the economic contribution of specialty crops, which support rural communities and provide key nutrition,” the alliance leadership said in the release.&nbsp;The letter, addressed to House and Senate leadership, ask for “immediate” congressionally approved support.&nbsp;Kimberley said additional changes need to occur in the farm economy for farmers to be profitable, but those changes won’t happen overnight.“None of these things make farmers whole, and (aid packages) are not preferred, but sometimes they’re necessary,” Kimberley said.&nbsp;This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/01/16/farm-bureau-soybean-and-specialty-ag-groups-ask-congress-for-additional-farmer-support/" target="_blank">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Kansas Reflector, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Farm Bureau, soybean and specialty ag groups ask Congress for more support

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;— Today, Governor Jim Pillen joined President Trump at the White House to celebrate the great and historic Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative established under the Trump Administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cms.gov%2Fnewsroom%2Fpress-releases%2Fcms-announces-50-billion-awards-strengthen-rural-health-all-50-states&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C02fa487b6b9a436d379908de55cb33cb%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C639042528392328390%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Q%2BMYPBlJyO3xUdRRS%2BGC%2B2rc%2FqNQ27ciJ9IlrOlaoeM%3D&amp;reserved=0">Working Families Tax Cuts</a>&nbsp;legislation to strengthen and modernize health care in rural communities across the country.

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

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

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

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

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

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

A video of the event is available via C-Span:&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.c-span.org%2Fprogram%2Fwhite-house-event%2Fpres-trump-hosts-rural-health-roundtable%2F671774&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C02fa487b6b9a436d379908de55cb33cb%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C639042528392354615%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=TT4jXM5lqAFtWALEDV%2FRkgyKg0bZB0rM%2F39vRXXFMfo%3D&amp;reserved=0">https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/pres-trump-hosts-rural-health-roundtable/671774</a>

Press Release<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768794120612.png" alt="Gov. Pillen speaks during White House Rural Health Care Roundtable January 2026.png" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Pillen speaks during White House Rural Health Care Roundtable January 2026.png</figcaption>
 </figure><div><div style="position:relative;overflow:hidden;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/ksPEAgom-xS4RtpB7.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="President%20Trump%20Hosts%20Rural%20Health%20Roundtable%20%7C%20C-SPAN.org" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;— Today, Governor Jim Pillen joined President Trump at the White House to celebrate the great and historic Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative established under the Trump Administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cms.gov%2Fnewsroom%2Fpress-releases%2Fcms-announces-50-billion-awards-strengthen-rural-health-all-50-states&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C02fa487b6b9a436d379908de55cb33cb%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C639042528392328390%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Q%2BMYPBlJyO3xUdRRS%2BGC%2B2rc%2FqNQ27ciJ9IlrOlaoeM%3D&amp;reserved=0">Working Families Tax Cuts</a>&nbsp;legislation to strengthen and modernize health care in rural communities across the country.“Mr. President, a gigantic thank you for your incredible leadership,” Gov Pillen said during the roundtable. “Your courage gives me more courage to say it the way it is.”“We’re working very hard in Nebraska to run government like a business. This investment into rural America will allow us to do common sense, pragmatic investments in rural Nebraska, and they will be sustainable.”Gov. Pillen highlighted that Nebraska’s focus will be on incentivizing real food, taking care of our Veterans, investing in technology, and supporting Nebraskans struggling with mental health or drugs.&nbsp;Gov. Pillen’s comments continued, “In Nebraska, we work hard. We’re about faith, family, and hard work — the American dream — and we don’t ask for much help in rural Nebraska. So, we’re really grateful for this investment. Thank you.”President Trump complimented Gov. Pillen saying, “Governor, we appreciate you being here, very much. You’re doing a fantastic job.”Through the initiative, the state of Nebraska will receive $218,529,075 for the first year of the five-year grant from the federal government, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to Make Rural Nebraska Healthy Again.A video of the event is available via C-Span:&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.c-span.org%2Fprogram%2Fwhite-house-event%2Fpres-trump-hosts-rural-health-roundtable%2F671774&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C02fa487b6b9a436d379908de55cb33cb%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C639042528392354615%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=TT4jXM5lqAFtWALEDV%2FRkgyKg0bZB0rM%2F39vRXXFMfo%3D&amp;reserved=0">https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/pres-trump-hosts-rural-health-roundtable/671774</a>

Gov. Pillen Attends White House Rural Health Roundtable

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768821125747.png" alt=" A Lexington water tower on Dec. 9, 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> A Lexington water tower on Dec. 9, 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts said he encouraged Tyson to keep the plant open and help displaced workers find jobs</h2>By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/jsalinas/">Juan Salinas II</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/01/05/nebraska-report-examines-state-impacts-if-u-s-enters-armed-conflict/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA&nbsp; — U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, asking her federal department to “block” the closure of the Tyson beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska.&nbsp;Schumer, in the letter, pointed to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/packers-and-stockyards-act/faq#:~:text=Answer:%20The%20Packers%20and%20Stockyards%20Act%20(the,in%20the%20livestock%2C%20meat%2C%20and%20poultry%20industries." target="_blank">Packers and Stockyards Act</a>, saying the upcoming closure in Lexington is a “textbook violation” of the&nbsp;century-old federal law. The New York Democrat said the closure will send “shockwaves through America’s cattle market.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759341764637.png" alt="File image- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer-courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File image- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer-courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>“[USDA] publicly stated it is ‘closely monitoring’ the planned closure of large processors like Tyson’s Lexington plant, yet has offered little clarity on whether that monitoring includes active investigation, enforcement, or any concrete steps to protect producers and competition … I urge you to act swiftly to preserve competition, help bring prices down for families and farmers, and save jobs,” Schumer’s letter reads.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/packers-and-stockyards-act/faq#:~:text=Answer:%20The%20Packers%20and%20Stockyards%20Act%20(the,in%20the%20livestock%2C%20meat%2C%20and%20poultry%20industries." target="_blank">Packers and Stockyards Act</a>, passed in 1921, was meant to promote competitiveness and fair practices in the livestock, meat and poultry industries — and to ensure payment protection.The law prohibits deception and fraud in those markets.&nbsp;Some have questioned whether the feds have the authority to do so.&nbsp;The Packers and Stockyards Act does give the Agriculture Department the authority to force Tyson to sell the plant.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nebraska Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, during a campaign event Friday in Omaha, told the Examiner he had talked to Tyson to “encourage them to quickly make a decision about the plant and to keep it open.” He said he also is working to connect people affected by the closure with help finding jobs.&nbsp;“I think about the disaster that’s going on in Lexington … like a natural disaster,” Ricketts said, “so it’s locally executed, state supported or state managed, federally supported [and] we’re supporting the state of Nebraska.”&nbsp;Lexington is likely see 3,200 workers lose their jobs. The statewide economic loss, including both direct and ripple effects, has been estimated at $3.28 billion a year, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/01/03/unl-report-outlines-nebraska-financial-hit-from-tyson-plant-exit/">University of Nebraska-Lincoln Bureau of Business Research analysis</a>.The west-central Nebraska city is home to more than 10,000 people.State agencies have&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/agencies-groups-reach-out-to-tyson-workers-as-lexington-beef-plant-closure-nears/">partnered with Lexington nonprofits and other groups</a>&nbsp;to support the affected workers. Gov. Jim Pillen&nbsp;<a href="https://flatwaterfreepress.org/what-are-we-going-to-do/" target="_blank">told the press</a>&nbsp;after his State of the State address that he is “pushing at every meeting” with Tyson to decide the future of the plant “sooner than later.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Tyson has not scheduled any shifts at the Lexington facility this week,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.drovers.com/news/industry/tysons-lexington-beef-plant-shudders-early-no-shifts-scheduled-week" target="_blank">according to Farm Journal</a>.The letter from Schumer comes after Ricketts’ Senate race opponent this fall,&nbsp;registered nonpartisan Dan Osborn, used a campaign appearance in Lexington to highlight the plant’s loss. He accused the company of breaking the century-old law. Tyson also is reducing its operations in a&nbsp;plant in Amarillo, in the Texas panhandle.The Ricketts campaign said Schumer is “amplifying Osborn’s political grandstanding.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“Dan Osborn will be a consistent yes vote for Schumer’s far-left agenda. … It’s why Schumer spent $3.85 million on Osborn’s last campaign,” said Will Coup, a Ricketts campaign spokesperson. “Nebraskans will see through these political games.”&nbsp;Dan Osborn said the&nbsp;interest from Washington is “too little and too late.”“The workers and their families in Lexington are the latest to have the rug pulled out from under them by corporate greed. … Where has Pete Ricketts been on all this?” Osborn asked.&nbsp;Nebraska also lost a Tyson plant in 2006 in Norfolk.&nbsp;U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, a Republican from Norfolk representing the 1st Congressional District, has said Tyson “stripped the plant bare” and the property couldn’t be used as a beef processing facility. Flood said the plant still sits empty today.Tyson’s Lexington plant is set to close next week.&nbsp;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758122115940.jpg" alt="Image Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>While some states are seeing more enrollees, there has been a drop nationwide.</h2>By:<a href="https://stateline.org/author/nhassanein/">Nada Hassanein</a>Nationwide, the number of people buying health plans on Obamacare insurance marketplaces is down by about 833,000 compared with a year ago, according to federal data released this week.Many states are reporting fewer new enrollees, more people dropping their coverage, and more people choosing cheaper and less generous health insurance plans with higher deductibles.Across most states, Thursday was the last day to enroll for plans that start in February. But nine states and Washington, D.C., have deadlines later this month, so the numbers could change.There are 21 states with state-run health insurance marketplaces, and the rest use the federal website. The vast majority of states have seen declines in enrollment&nbsp;so far, compared with around this time last year.Preliminary data&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/marketplace-2026-open-enrollment-period-report-national-snapshot-0#AnchorFour" target="_blank">released</a>&nbsp;Monday by the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services shows 22.8 million enrollees, down from a record total of 24.3 million last year.Premiums have surged as a result of the expiration of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/issue-brief/inflation-reduction-act-health-insurance-subsidies-what-is-their-impact-and-what-would-happen-if-they-expire/#:~:text=The%20Inflation%20Reduction%20Act%20(IRA,three%20years%2C%20ending%20after%202025." target="_blank">enhanced federal subsidies</a>&nbsp;first made available by the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021 and later extended through the end of 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act. The availability of the subsidies spurred a sharp increase in the number of people buying health plans on the marketplaces. In 2020, 11.4 million people were enrolled in marketplaces through Obamacare, formally known as the Affordable Care Act. More than double that amount enrolled last year.Congress failed to reach an agreement on extending the subsidies before the end of last year and still hasn’t reached one. As a result, premiums were expected to increase this year by 114% on average — from $888 last year to about $1,904, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/aca-marketplace-premium-payments-would-more-than-double-on-average-next-year-if-enhanced-premium-tax-credits-expire/" target="_blank">estimates</a>&nbsp;made in September by health policy research organization KFF.The higher costs appear to be driving many people to forgo insurance or opt for cheaper, less generous plans this year, health officials and analysts say. Several states with state-based marketplaces — including Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Virginia and Washington — are reporting fewer enrollments this year in comparison with enrollments through early January 2025, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/state-indicator/marketplace-enrollment-snapshot-for-open-enrollment-2026/?currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D" target="_blank">early data</a>. Other states, such as California, are reporting fewer new enrollees.“It’s important to consider that this is preliminary data, so this represents people who have signed up and selected the plan — but they probably haven’t received their first premium bill,” said Elizabeth Lukanen, executive director of the health policy research organization State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota. “Once that happens, I think there’s concern — and it seems very possible — that people may decide to drop coverage. So, the decline could get bigger.“On the other hand, open enrollment hasn’t closed, so you have two things sort of competing. It seems pretty likely that there will be a decline,” she said.If the downward trend continues, the nation could see the first decline in enrollment since 2020, Lukanen said, adding that a full picture of income levels and demographics of people who have dropped coverage&nbsp;won’t be clear&nbsp;until the summer.In Pennsylvania, data updated through Tuesday shows more than 15,000 previously enrolled adults between the ages of 55 and 64 have dropped coverage entirely — the most of any age bracket.Pennsylvania’s state-based exchange, Pennie, has seen about 15% fewer new enrollments compared with last year. The state is also reporting 1,000 residents dropping coverage per day during open enrollment — with the most coverage losses among people with incomes 150% to 200% of the poverty level. These could include families of two adults and two children with an income between $48,225 and $64,300.The state is seeing an “unprecedented” number of previously enrolled people dropping coverage, said Devon Trolley, executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange Authority.California is reporting 31% fewer new enrollees this year compared with last year, and more than a third of new enrollees are choosing bronze plans — the lowest, least generous coverage tier — up from less than a quarter at this time last year.In Minnesota, data as of Dec. 3 shows more than half of active enrollees are opting to keep their coverage tier. But of those changing plans, more than a third — 37% — are going to cheaper plans. The state notes a full picture won’t be available until March.Meanwhile, some states are seeing roughly the same number of enrollees or more. Texas, for example, is reporting about 4.1 million people enrolling this year compared with 4 million last year.Charles&nbsp;Miller, health and economic mobility policy director at&nbsp;Texas 2036, a policy research nonprofit, said it’s unclear why enrollments are up, but pointed to some clues.“Texas had a uniquely large population of uninsured individuals eligible for free and inexpensive plans that hadn’t enrolled previously … [and] has more affordable bronze and gold plans than many states,” he said.He attributes that to a bipartisan state law, enacted in 2021, that had the effect of increasing subsidies for those plans, Miller said.Nevada is seeing fewer enrollees overall. But compared with this time last year, the state is seeing 29% more people who are actively shopping the website to explore plans, said Katie Charleson, communications officer at the Nevada Health Authority Division of Consumer Health Services.The state introduced a new public option, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://nevadacurrent.com/2026/01/08/with-health-insurance-premiums-rising-nevadas-new-public-option-is-proving-popular/" target="_blank">Nevada Current</a>, and health officials told lawmakers last week that about 1 in 5 active shoppers are opting for that plan.In addition to the expiration of the subsidies, the cost of coverage has risen because of other factors, according to insurers. They say&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-much-and-why-aca-marketplace-premiums-are-going-up-in-2026/#Distribution%20of%20proposed%202026%20rate%20changes%20among%20312%20ACA%20Marketplace%20insurers" target="_blank">they’ve had to raise premiums</a>&nbsp;because of rising prescription drug costs, inflation and workforce challenges, such as provider shortages.But the enhanced premium tax credits were aimed at buffering those year-to-year changes for Americans with lower incomes, said Trolley, adding that the tax credit structure “helps make sure that [enrollees] don’t see those really larger drops that happen from time to time, sort of from those market forces.”“When there are broader rate increases of … the total cost of the coverage, the tax credits are structured so that people who get a tax credit don’t feel a lot of that increase. They’re sort of sheltered from it on a year to year basis,” Trolley said. “The tax credit is tied to someone’s income and limits what they pay as part of their income, not necessarily tied to the cost of the coverage.”She added that she’s also heard from some residents who say they are waiting to enroll in a plan to see if Congress takes action.“People are leaving the ACA marketplace because the trade-offs have just become harder to justify,” Lukanen said. “What worries me is that when the coverage becomes unaffordable, it isn’t that people suddenly stop needing care. They just lose the protection that insurance offers, and those health care costs don’t go away.”Lukanen added that if more people forgo coverage, health care services may end up costing the nation more overall.“If people are going to the doctor and they don’t have insurance, these costs are then just shifted. They’re shifted to hospitals, ultimately to the community and the taxpayer.”Trolley echoed that, saying she’s concerned about the overall burden on providers in rural counties, which are seeing the highest drops in Obamacare coverage in Pennsylvania.“Any increase in the uninsured rate is going to further strain providers that are in rural areas, especially — further strain their financial situation,” she said. “We are very concerned about that in Pennsylvania.”Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nhassanein@stateline.org">nhassanein@stateline.org</a>.

Far fewer people buy Obamacare coverage as insurance premiums spike

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768689690412.png" alt="U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon takes in a selection of grade school students’ patriotic artworks and high schoolers’ recent output in a special installation set up at Exeter-West Greenwich Regional Junior High and High School in Rhode Island on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon takes in a selection of grade school students’ patriotic artworks and high schoolers’ recent output in a special installation set up at Exeter-West Greenwich Regional Junior High and High School in Rhode Island on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education, for now, is backtracking on plans to garnish wages and seize tax refunds of student loan borrowers in default, the department announced Friday.<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-garnish-wages-defaulted-student-loans" target="_blank">Less than a month</a>&nbsp;after the agency said it would begin garnishing wages by sending notices to roughly 1,000 borrowers in default the first full week of January, the department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-delays-involuntary-collections-amid-ongoing-student-loan-repayment-improvements" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;that the temporary delay would allow it to implement “major student loan repayment reforms” under Republicans’ tax and spending cut bill that President Donald Trump signed into law in 2025.The delay would “give borrowers more options to repay their loans,” the department said.&nbsp;It was not immediately clear from the announcement how long the pause would last.&nbsp;Education Secretary Linda McMahon signaled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/AsuO9zf7WxY?t=685s" target="_blank">earlier this week</a>&nbsp;during the&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/12/us-education-secretary-promotes-returning-school-autonomy-to-states/" target="_blank">Rhode Island</a>&nbsp;portion of her Returning Education to the States Tour that wage garnishment has been “put on pause for a bit.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The agency resumed collections for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-education-department-restart-defaulted-student-loan-collections" target="_blank">defaulted federal student loans</a>&nbsp;in May after a pause that began during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.A borrower can have their wages garnished as a consequence of defaulting on their loans, and a loanholder can order an employer to withhold up to 15% of their disposable pay to collect defaulted debt without being taken to court, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/what-is-wage-garnishment" target="_blank">Federal Student Aid</a>, an office of the Education Department.The delay also applies to the Treasury Offset Program, which “allows the federal government to collect income tax refunds and certain government benefits (for example, Social Security benefits) from individuals who owe debts to the federal government,” per&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/offset" target="_blank">FSA</a>.&nbsp;Aissa Canchola Bañez, policy director for the advocacy group Protect Borrowers, said in a Friday statement that “after months of pressure and countless horror stories from borrowers, the Trump Administration says it has abandoned plans to snatch working people’s hard-earned money directly from their paychecks and tax refunds simply for falling behind on their student loans.”&nbsp;“Amidst the growing affordability crisis, the Administration’s plans would have been economically reckless and would have risked pushing nearly 9 million defaulted borrowers even further into debt,” she added, while pointing to a&nbsp;<a href="https://protectborrowers.org/new-analysis-finds-that-a-student-loan-borrower-defaulted-every-nine-seconds-in-2025-as-trump-restarts-wage-garnishment/" target="_blank">Jan. 7 letter</a>&nbsp;from Protect Borrowers and other organizations calling on McMahon to “immediately halt its plan to resume garnishment of millions of struggling borrowers’ wages.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739746302792.png" alt="File photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DAMASCUS — U.S. forces conducted a strike in northwest Syria on Friday that resulted in the death of a leader affiliated with Al-Qaeda who had direct ties to an ISIS terrorist responsible for an ambush which killed two U.S. service members and an American interpreter on Dec. 13, 2025, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.Bilal Hasan al-Jasim was an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected with the ISIS gunman who killed and injured American and Syrian personnel last month in Palmyra, Syria.“The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. “There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.”CENTCOM launched large-scale strikes in Syria in response to the Dec. 13 attack. The operation, dubbed Hawkeye Strike, resulted in U.S. and partner forces hitting more than 100 ISIS infrastructure and weapons site targets with over 200 precision munitions.Additionally, U.S. and partner forces have captured more than 300 ISIS operatives and killed over 20 across Syria during the past year, removing terrorists who posed a direct threat to the United States and regional security.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Allison Peck&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768622077355.jpeg" alt="Lt Colonel Jason Scott" />
 <figcaption>Lt Colonel Jason Scott</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;(Lincoln, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The Nebraska State Patrol is pleased to announce multiple command staff promotions and a change in the agency leadership structure.Under the new command structure, the agency will be divided into two parts: Operations and Services. Each of those areas will be under the command of an assistant superintendent. Lt. Colonel Jeff Roby will serve as Assistant Superintendent of Operations. Captain Jason Scott has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and will serve as Assistant Superintendent of Services.“Lt. Colonel Scott has been an outstanding leader for our troopers and investigators for many years,” said Colonel Bryan Waugh, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “His wealth of knowledge, attitude of service, and professional integrity have equipped him for this new role, and we are excited for him to share his leadership with a larger part of our NSP team.”Lt. Colonel Scott is a 27-year veteran of the Nebraska State Patrol. He most recently served as a statewide commander for Investigative Services. Throughout his career, he has served in Carrier Enforcement, Patrol, Investigative Services, and Special Operations. Lt. Colonel Scott is also a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.“This new command structure modernizes the agency and reflects the growth NSP has experienced over our history of serving Nebraska,” said Colonel Waugh. “While the public safety mission has never wavered, the personnel, tools, and knowledge we use have adapted. This latest adaptation positions the Nebraska State Patrol to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future, as we continually strive to keep Nebraska safe. I’m thankful for the alignment between Governor Pillen, Lt. Governor Kelly, and our leadership to make this change and better position the agency for the future. Thank you to Governor Pillen and Lt. Governor Kelly for their constant support of our team.”This marks the first change to the structure of the superintendent’s office since the first introduction of the Lieutenant Colonel rank in 1969.In addition to Lt. Colonel Scott’s promotion, NSP is pleased to announce several recent promotions around the agency:<ul>
 <li>Lieutenant Paul Jacobson has been promoted to the rank of Captain in command of Administrative Services. Captain Jacobson replaces Captain Kevin Ryan, who retired at the end of 2025.</li><li>Lieutenant Monty Lovelace has been promoted to Captain in command of the Criminal Identification Division and Nebraska Information Analysis Center. Captain Lovelace replaces Captain Lance Rogers, who retired at the end of 2025.</li><li>Sergeant Curtis Gremm has been promoted to Lieutenant, serving in the NSP Capitol Security Division.</li><li>Sergeant Cassie Martin has been promoted to Lieutenant in command of Troop E Investigative Services.</li><li>Sergeant Cody Paro has been promoted to Lieutenant, serving in NSP Internal Affairs.</li><li>Sergeant Matt Workman has been promoted to Lieutenant, serving in the Troop C Patrol Division.</li>
 </ul>“Our team is filled with dedicated and talented leaders across Nebraska,” said Colonel Waugh. “These leaders have already demonstrated their abilities in numerous areas. Nebraskans should be proud of their desire to continue being leaders for our team as our troopers and investigators serve the public in all corners of the state.”

NSP Modernizes Command Structure, Promotes Scott to Lt. Colonel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768660024282.png" alt="File photo Jared Kushner-photo White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo Jared Kushner-photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>On Friday, President Donald J. Trump congratulated the formation of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a vital step forward in implementing Phase Two of his Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict—a 20-point roadmap for lasting peace, stability, reconstruction, and prosperity in the region, according to statement from the White House.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768659635415.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The NCAG will be led by Dr. Ali Sha’ath, a widely respected technocratic leader who will oversee the restoration of core public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions, and the stabilization of daily life in Gaza, while laying the foundation for long-term, self-sustaining governance. Dr. Sha’ath brings deep experience in public administration, economic development, and international engagement, and is widely respected for his pragmatic, technocratic leadership and understanding of Gaza’s institutional realities.This milestone perfectly aligns with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), which endorsed President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan and welcomed the establishment of the Board of Peace. The Board of Peace will play an essential role in fulfilling all 20 points of the President’s plan, providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development.To operationalize the Board of Peace’s vision—under the chairmanship of President Donald J. Trump—a founding Executive Board has been formed, composed of leaders with experience across diplomacy, development, infrastructure, and economic strategy. The appointed members are:<ul>
 <li>Secretary Marco Rubio</li><li>Steve Witkoff</li><li>Jared Kushner</li><li>Sir Tony Blair</li><li>Marc Rowan</li><li>Ajay Banga</li><li>Robert Gabriel</li>
 </ul>Each Executive Board member will oversee a defined portfolio critical to Gaza’s stabilization and long-term success, including, but not limited to, governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization.In support of this operating model, the Chairman has appointed Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisors to the Board of Peace, charged with leading day-to-day strategy and operations, and translating the Board’s mandate and diplomatic priorities into disciplined execution.H.E. Nickolay Mladenov, an Executive Board member, will serve as the High Representative for Gaza. In this capacity, he will act as the on-the-ground link between the Board of Peace and the NCAG. He will support the Board’s oversight of all aspects of Gaza’s governance, reconstruction, and development, while ensuring coordination across civilian and security pillars.To establish security, preserve peace, and establish a durable terror-free environment, Major General Jasper Jeffers has been appointed Commander of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), where he will lead security operations, support comprehensive demilitarization, and enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials.In support of the Office of the High Representative and the NCAG, a Gaza Executive Board is being established. The Board will help support effective governance and the delivery of best-in-class services that advance peace, stability, and prosperity for the people of Gaza. The appointed members are:<ul>
 <li>Steve Witkoff</li><li>Jared Kushner</li><li>Minister Hakan Fidan</li><li>Ali Al-Thawadi</li><li>General Hassan Rashad</li><li>Sir Tony Blair</li><li>Marc Rowan</li><li>Minister Reem Al-Hashimy</li><li>Nickolay Mladenov</li><li>Yakir Gabay</li><li>Sigrid Kaag</li>
 </ul>The United States remains fully committed to supporting this transitional framework, working in close partnership with Israel, key Arab nations, and the international community to achieve the objectives of the Comprehensive Plan. The President calls on all parties to cooperate fully with the NCAG, the Board of Peace, and the International Stabilization Force to ensure the swift and successful implementation of the Comprehensive Plan.Additional Executive Board and Gaza Executive Board members will be announced over the coming weeks.

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

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

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

A DOJ spokesperson declined comment.&nbsp;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768610962226.png" alt="Minnesoty Gov. Tim Walz-photo from video provided by the governor's office" />
 <figcaption>Minnesoty Gov. Tim Walz-photo from video provided by the governor's office</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/j-patrick-coolican/">J. Patrick Coolican</a> <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>The U.S. Justice Department has issued subpoenas to Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey as part of a criminal investigation into whether they’ve impeded federal immigration enforcement, the&nbsp;Washington Post&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/16/trump-minnesota-walz-frey-criminal-investigation/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Friday.The investigation intensifies an already combustible conflict between the feds and Minnesota, while also adding to the DOJ’s list of targets deemed enemies by President Donald Trump and his administration.&nbsp;A DOJ spokesperson declined comment.&nbsp;Walz’s office said he hadn’t received any notice of investigation.&nbsp;Walz replied in a statement to the news: “Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly,” he said, referring to the&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/3-democratic-lawmakers-federal-investigation-illegal-orders-social/story?id=129244803" target="_blank">U.S. senators</a>&nbsp;who made a video telling U.S. servicemembers that&nbsp;they can and must refuse illegal orders, as well as the&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5687457-fed-jerome-powell-justice-department-gop-criticism/" target="_blank">chairman</a>&nbsp;of the Federal Reserve, who has refused to lower interest rates as quickly as Trump desires. “Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic,” Walz said.&nbsp;Frey called the investigation “an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, our local law enforcement and our residents against the chaos and danger this administration has brought to our streets.”&nbsp;He added: “I will not be intimidated.”&nbsp;The&nbsp;Post&nbsp;reported that “the&nbsp;subpoenas suggest that the Justice Department is examining whether Walz’s and Frey’s public statements disparaging the surge of officers and federal actions have amounted to criminal interference in law enforcement work.”Walz, who announced earlier this month he&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/05/minnesota-gov-tim-walz-ends-campaign-for-third-term/">won’t seek</a>&nbsp;a third term, also used his statement to criticize the federal government for not properly investigating the killing of Renee Good by federal immigration officer Jonathan Ross. “The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Six prosecutors in the Minnesota Office of U.S. Attorney quit this week,&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/us/prosecutors-doj-resignation-ice-shooting.html#:~:text=Six%20Prosecutors%20Quit%20Over%20Push,supposed%20ties%20to%20activist%20groups." target="_blank">reported</a>, because they objected to their bosses’ push to investigate the widow of Good and their ties to anti-ICE groups.&nbsp;The ICE surge, which has put as many as 3,000 federal agents in the state — or nearly five times the number of sworn officers with the Minneapolis Police Department —&nbsp;is just the latest round of an ongoing conflict between Minnesota and the federal government. Fraud in Minnesota’s social programs —&nbsp;often funded in whole or part by the federal government —&nbsp;has caught the attention of right-wing media and activists, and the Trump administration has followed with a wide array of investigations of Minnesota programs across a range of agencies.&nbsp;&nbsp;The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/15/homeland-security-audits-hennepin-healthcares/">auditing Hennepin Healthcare</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;Minnesota’s largest safety net hospital —&nbsp;for compliance with immigrant employment eligibility laws.The<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/01/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-establishes-new-department-of-justice-division-for-national-fraud-enforcement/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Trump administration</a>&nbsp;has frozen child care payments and halted small business grants. The administration also says it’s investigating possible housing assistance fraud and looking into Minnesota’s&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/trump-admin-announces-target-review-of-minnesotas-unemployment-insurance-program/">unemployment insurance program</a>. The federal government has also attempted to withhold funds to Minnesota for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, but a federal court issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/15/federal-judge-blocks-usda-from-cutting-snap-benefits-in-minnesota" target="_blank">preliminary injunction.</a>Earlier this week, Trump said he would cut all federal funding to Minnesota and other states that have sanctuary cities beginning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/13/white-house-end-funding-sanctuary-cities-states-00726557" target="_blank">Feb. 1,</a>&nbsp;but it’s unclear what that means and few details have been released.

Minnesota gov. to receive subpoena in criminal matter related to ICE

By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post

LINCOLN, Neb. — Gov. Jim Pillen is urging lawmakers to advance two education-related bills this legislative session, continuing his push to strengthen classroom learning environments and improve student reading outcomes across Nebraska.

The governor is advocating for passage of legislation addressing early-grade classroom discipline and student literacy, including revisions to a 2023 law and a proposal aimed at ensuring students can read proficiently by the third grade.

One bill, LB1053, introduced on the governor’s behalf by the Education Committee, would revise portions of LB705 passed in 2023. Current law prohibits the suspension of students in pre-kindergarten through second grade. LB1053 would restore the authority of school administrators to suspend young students based on behavioral issues.

“The feedback that I have received from teachers is that their hands are tied when students act out in the classroom. In some cases, the behavior is not just disruptive, it is downright rude and inappropriate, even among our youngest students,” Pillen said. “This legislation will re-instate a tool that teachers lost with passage of LB705, which is important to managing classroom behavior and creating a positive environment in which all students can learn.”

The second bill, LB1050, focuses on literacy and student reading proficiency. According to the 2025 Kids Count Data Profile, 72 percent of Nebraska fourth graders are not proficient in reading, an increase from 63 percent in 2019. National data estimates that only 30 percent of fourth graders are proficient readers.

Under LB1050, third-grade students would be required to undergo reading assessments. Students who are unable to read adequately would be required to repeat the grade, with exceptions for certain circumstances, including students receiving special education services. The bill also requires school districts to establish intensive acceleration classes designed to help retained students improve their reading skills.

“The 3rd grade is a critical milestone for young readers. It is the point where you transition from learning to read to reading to learn,” Pillen said. “We must send our kids into the fourth grade with an adequate comprehension, so they can continue to learn going forward. Otherwise, they have no chance.”

Gov. Pillen has previously championed efforts to improve literacy, including the launch of the READ Nebraska Program through the Department of Economic Development in 2023. The program provides grants to youth mentoring organizations focused on improving elementary-level reading skills.

The Nebraska Legislature recently approved $4.8 million in funding for the READ Nebraska Program for fiscal years 2025–2026 and 2026–2027. In August, the Department of Economic Development announced that 16 youth mentoring organizations would receive grants to support reading initiatives during the 2025–2026 academic year.

LB1053 and LB1050 are currently under consideration by the Nebraska Legislature.

By Allison Peck | North Platte Post/Sandhills Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766499693619.jpeg" alt=" Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen talking at St. Teresa Catholic School in Lincoln on Sep. 29. 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen talking at St. Teresa Catholic School in Lincoln on Sep. 29. 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. — Gov. Jim Pillen is urging lawmakers to advance two education-related bills this legislative session, continuing his push to strengthen classroom learning environments and improve student reading outcomes across Nebraska.The governor is advocating for passage of legislation addressing early-grade classroom discipline and student literacy, including revisions to a 2023 law and a proposal aimed at ensuring students can read proficiently by the third grade.One bill, LB1053, introduced on the governor’s behalf by the Education Committee, would revise portions of LB705 passed in 2023. Current law prohibits the suspension of students in pre-kindergarten through second grade. LB1053 would restore the authority of school administrators to suspend young students based on behavioral issues.“The feedback that I have received from teachers is that their hands are tied when students act out in the classroom. In some cases, the behavior is not just disruptive, it is downright rude and inappropriate, even among our youngest students,” Pillen said. “This legislation will re-instate a tool that teachers lost with passage of LB705, which is important to managing classroom behavior and creating a positive environment in which all students can learn.”The second bill, LB1050, focuses on literacy and student reading proficiency. According to the 2025 Kids Count Data Profile, 72 percent of Nebraska fourth graders are not proficient in reading, an increase from 63 percent in 2019. National data estimates that only 30 percent of fourth graders are proficient readers.Under LB1050, third-grade students would be required to undergo reading assessments. Students who are unable to read adequately would be required to repeat the grade, with exceptions for certain circumstances, including students receiving special education services. The bill also requires school districts to establish intensive acceleration classes designed to help retained students improve their reading skills.“The 3rd grade is a critical milestone for young readers. It is the point where you transition from learning to read to reading to learn,” Pillen said. “We must send our kids into the fourth grade with an adequate comprehension, so they can continue to learn going forward. Otherwise, they have no chance.”Gov. Pillen has previously championed efforts to improve literacy, including the launch of the READ Nebraska Program through the Department of Economic Development in 2023. The program provides grants to youth mentoring organizations focused on improving elementary-level reading skills.The Nebraska Legislature recently approved $4.8 million in funding for the READ Nebraska Program for fiscal years 2025–2026 and 2026–2027. In August, the Department of Economic Development announced that 16 youth mentoring organizations would receive grants to support reading initiatives during the 2025–2026 academic year.LB1053 and LB1050 are currently under consideration by the Nebraska Legislature.

Gov. Pillen Pushes Education Legislation Focused on Classroom Discipline, Literacy

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/nlGbtxEp3G">pic.twitter.com/nlGbtxEp3G</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2011964069075448319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Donald J. Trump meets with María Corina Machado of Venezuela in the Oval Office, during which she presented the President with her Nobel Peace Prize in recognition and honor.🕊️ <a href="https://t.co/v7pYHjVNVO">pic.twitter.com/v7pYHjVNVO</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2012006221340164338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

What President Trump said about gift of Machado's Nobel Peace Prize

By Allison Peck | North Platte Post

LINCOLN, Neb. — Gov. Jim Pillen declared “the state of our state is as strong as ever” during his annual State of the State Address, outlining economic growth, tax reform priorities, public safety initiatives and education policy goals for Nebraska lawmakers during the 2026 legislative session.

Pillen opened the address by reflecting on his recovery from serious injuries suffered in a horseback riding accident one year ago, calling the experience “life-giving” and thanking Nebraskans for their prayers. He also recognized First Lady Suzanne Pillen and the families of public servants for their support.

“Just as I thank her for all she does for me—and for putting up with me—I thank the family and loved ones behind all the public servants in this room for making it possible for you to come here to work for a better Nebraska,” Pillen said.

The governor emphasized efforts to shrink government, reduce spending and enforce conservative social policies.

“We have worked tirelessly to shrink government so that it better serves Nebraskans – improving outcomes, while cutting costs and waste just like a business,” Pillen said.

He noted the administration has reduced reliance on contractors, brought state employees back to in-person work, and enforced laws restricting gender-transition treatments for minors.

“Today, because of the massive victories I stood with the pro-life community to achieve and enshrine in our Constitution – more babies in this state are being protected from the tragedy of abortions than any time since Roe v. Wade,” he said.

Pillen credited partnerships with President Donald Trump’s administration for new opportunities and federal investments in Nebraska, including welfare reform, education funding and rural healthcare.

By Allison Peck | North Platte Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766165967433.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb. — Gov. Jim Pillen declared “the state of our state is as strong as ever” during his annual State of the State Address, outlining economic growth, tax reform priorities, public safety initiatives and education policy goals for Nebraska lawmakers during the 2026 legislative session.Pillen opened the address by reflecting on his recovery from serious injuries suffered in a horseback riding accident one year ago, calling the experience “life-giving” and thanking Nebraskans for their prayers. He also recognized First Lady Suzanne Pillen and the families of public servants for their support.“Just as I thank her for all she does for me—and for putting up with me—I thank the family and loved ones behind all the public servants in this room for making it possible for you to come here to work for a better Nebraska,” Pillen said.<h2>Government reform and social policy</h2>The governor emphasized efforts to shrink government, reduce spending and enforce conservative social policies.“We have worked tirelessly to shrink government so that it better serves Nebraskans – improving outcomes, while cutting costs and waste just like a business,” Pillen said.He noted the administration has reduced reliance on contractors, brought state employees back to in-person work, and enforced laws restricting gender-transition treatments for minors.“Today, because of the massive victories I stood with the pro-life community to achieve and enshrine in our Constitution – more babies in this state are being protected from the tragedy of abortions than any time since Roe v. Wade,” he said.<h2>Federal partnerships and investments</h2>Pillen credited partnerships with President Donald Trump’s administration for new opportunities and federal investments in Nebraska, including welfare reform, education funding and rural healthcare.“Nebraska was first in the nation to get a waiver to ban pop and energy drinks… from government-subsidized nutrition programs,” he said. “We were first in the nation to take advantage of the One Big Beautiful Bill opportunity to require able-bodied adults to work before they access welfare.”He also announced Nebraska ranked among the top ten states in federal investments through the Rural Health Transformation program, receiving more than $218 million.“This stuff is a win-win for Nebraska and a win-win for America,” Pillen said.<h2>Law enforcement and border security</h2>The governor highlighted Nebraska’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, including the establishment of an ICE detention facility.“We have a simple message: Nebraska is proud to be doing our part to get the border secure and to protect America’s kids from criminals who traffic people, gang violence, and drugs like fentanyl and meth,” he said.Pillen also honored six Omaha police officers involved in a December shooting that left three officers wounded and a suspect dead.“These men represent all of the brave Nebraska law enforcement officers who answer the call to protect our people and hold the line against anarchy,” he said.<h2>Economic growth and infrastructure</h2>Pillen pointed to strong economic indicators, including population growth and GDP expansion.“Nebraska’s economy has grown faster than most states, posting the sixth highest quarterly GDP growth rate in the country,” he said, citing Bureau of Economic Analysis data.He noted Nebraska has surpassed two million residents for the first time and praised growth in agriculture, ethanol production, cattle, manufacturing and construction.“Today, we can proudly say that Nebraska ethanol is number one in America,” Pillen said, adding that Nebraska’s cattle industry is also “number one in America.”The governor also announced acceleration of the Highway 275 corridor project from Norfolk to Omaha.<h2>Workforce, business, and energy priorities</h2>Pillen highlighted the success of Lincoln-based CompanyCam, Nebraska’s first homegrown “unicorn” company valued at more than $1 billion, and called for continued pro-business reforms.“We must shield against that in Nebraska,” he said, referring to frivolous lawsuits, while urging lawmakers to pass tort reform legislation.He also promoted the proposed Grow the Good Life Incentive, which would provide a 10% tax credit for businesses that bring new, high-paying jobs to Nebraska.On energy, Pillen warned of growing electricity demands tied to artificial intelligence.“Nebraska will win the electricity and AI power game. There’s no other option,” he said.<h2>Taxes and state finances</h2>Calling Nebraska’s tax system “broken,” Pillen urged lawmakers to deliver property tax relief while cutting government spending.“To truly deliver a real and durable tax cut, we must simultaneously deliver an equal decrease in government spending,” he said.Pillen said his proposed budget would improve the state’s bottom line by $500 million and dismissed concerns about a fiscal crisis.“Let me repeat that — nearly 2 billion dollars in the bank and our highest credit rating, ever,” he said.<h2>Education and cultural issues</h2>The governor called for reforms in K-12 and higher education, including ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in public universities.“I have introduced language in the budget that will definitively end DEI and CRT from Nebraska’s higher ed system,” Pillen said.He also urged lawmakers to address classroom disruptions in early grades and support legislation restoring disciplinary options for schools.“Our kids deserve better. And our teachers deserve better,” he said.<h2>Closing message</h2>Pillen closed his address by reflecting on Nebraska’s veterans, unity, and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.“I look forward to working alongside you – with that Ray Krings-like can-do attitude – to do the work of our state this session,” he said.