LINCOLN, Neb&nbsp; — Colonel Bryan Waugh took the oath of office today as the 19th&nbsp;Superintendent in the history of the Nebraska State Patrol.

“I am honored, committed, and prepared for this opportunity,” said Colonel Waugh. “The Nebraska State Patrol is a storied organization with professional men and women who are first class, dedicated, committed, and driven to provide the highest level of public safety and professional services for the entire state of Nebraska.”

Waugh comes to NSP from the Kearney Police Department, where he has served as Chief of Police since 2019. He brings 32 years of law enforcement experience to NSP, including his service with the Kearney Police Department, the La Vista Police Department, and in the United States Air Force. He is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy.

Waugh was appointed to serve as Nebraska’s Superintendent of Law Enforcement and Public Safety by Governor Jim Pillen and unanimously confirmed by the Nebraska Legislature. Colonel Waugh’s badge was pinned on by his wife, Julie. The Oath of Office was administered by the Hon. Patrick Lee, Judge of Nebraska’s 9th&nbsp;District Court.

Colonel Waugh takes over for Lt. Colonel Jeff Roby, who has served as Interim Superintendent since the retirement of Colonel John Bolduc in early May.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748965318730.jpeg" alt="Colonel Waugh Sworn-In as Nebraska State Patrol Superintendent" />
 <figcaption>Colonel Waugh Sworn-In as Nebraska State Patrol Superintendent</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN, Neb&nbsp; — Colonel Bryan Waugh took the oath of office today as the 19th&nbsp;Superintendent in the history of the Nebraska State Patrol.“I am honored, committed, and prepared for this opportunity,” said Colonel Waugh. “The Nebraska State Patrol is a storied organization with professional men and women who are first class, dedicated, committed, and driven to provide the highest level of public safety and professional services for the entire state of Nebraska.”Waugh comes to NSP from the Kearney Police Department, where he has served as Chief of Police since 2019. He brings 32 years of law enforcement experience to NSP, including his service with the Kearney Police Department, the La Vista Police Department, and in the United States Air Force. He is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy.Waugh was appointed to serve as Nebraska’s Superintendent of Law Enforcement and Public Safety by Governor Jim Pillen and unanimously confirmed by the Nebraska Legislature. Colonel Waugh’s badge was pinned on by his wife, Julie. The Oath of Office was administered by the Hon. Patrick Lee, Judge of Nebraska’s 9th&nbsp;District Court.Colonel Waugh takes over for Lt. Colonel Jeff Roby, who has served as Interim Superintendent since the retirement of Colonel John Bolduc in early May.

Colonel Waugh Sworn-In as Nebraska State Patrol Superintendent

June 2, 2025 (York, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested an Arizona man after locating over 20 pounds of suspected fentanyl pills and methamphetamine during a traffic stop on I-80.

Friday, at approximately 3:10 p.m., a trooper saw a Nissan Altima speeding while traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 near York. During the traffic stop, an NSP K9 detected the odor of a controlled substance in the vehicle.

Troopers searched the vehicle and found numerous packages of suspected fentanyl pills and methamphetamine. The total weight of the pills was approximately 19 pounds along with 5 pounds of suspected methamphetamine.

The driver, Thomas Henry, 36, of Williams, Arizona, was arrested for possession of controlled substances and possession with intent to deliver. He was lodged in York County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748875344175.jpeg" alt="Troopers Find Thousands of Fentanyl Pills, Meth in I-80 Traffic Stop" />
 <figcaption>Troopers Find Thousands of Fentanyl Pills, Meth in I-80 Traffic Stop</figcaption>
 </figure>June 2, 2025 (York, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested an Arizona man after locating over 20 pounds of suspected fentanyl pills and methamphetamine during a traffic stop on I-80.Friday, at approximately 3:10 p.m., a trooper saw a Nissan Altima speeding while traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 near York. During the traffic stop, an NSP K9 detected the odor of a controlled substance in the vehicle.Troopers searched the vehicle and found numerous packages of suspected fentanyl pills and methamphetamine. The total weight of the pills was approximately 19 pounds along with 5 pounds of suspected methamphetamine.The driver, Thomas Henry, 36, of Williams, Arizona, was arrested for possession of controlled substances and possession with intent to deliver. He was lodged in York County Jail.

Troopers Find Thousands of Fentanyl Pills, Meth in I-80 Traffic Stop

Lincoln, Neb., May 30&nbsp;—&nbsp;Agricultural landowners and tenants in Nebraska who are involved in crop share lease agreements are invited to participate in a new survey from the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Data from responses will be used to better understand how crop share leases are structured across the state and inform new publications.Crop share agreements allow landlords and tenants to share both the risks and rewards of crop production. But the terms of these agreements — how costs and returns are divided — can differ widely depending on region, crop type, land productivity, and local traditions.

“Many leases are still based on verbal agreements or old rules of thumb,” said Anastasia Meyer, extension agricultural economist with the Center for Agricultural Profitability. “We know practices vary, but we don’t have consistent statewide data showing how. This survey is an important step toward helping landowners and producers make better-informed decisions.”

The anonymous survey asks participants — whether landlords or tenants — about lease structures, shared expenses, and other common terms. Results will inform the development of educational materials and tools to support fair and effective lease negotiations across Nebraska.

The brief survey is open now at:&nbsp;<a href="https://unl233.acemlnb.com/lt.php?x=3DZy~GDDJFPP6HOtyt~OV.Oh2q-giQ~0k~sxkKI4KXTO5HR9_Uy.0eFu13VziNLxk_Y0X6HFKneg6m" target="_blank">https://go.unl.edu/2025cropshare</a>.

“Completing the survey takes just a few minutes,” Meyer said. “Responses will help paint a clearer picture of current leasing trends and ensure educational resources reflect what’s really happening in the field.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748868071461.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Lincoln, Neb., May 30&nbsp;—&nbsp;Agricultural landowners and tenants in Nebraska who are involved in crop share lease agreements are invited to participate in a new survey from the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Data from responses will be used to better understand how crop share leases are structured across the state and inform new publications.Crop share agreements allow landlords and tenants to share both the risks and rewards of crop production. But the terms of these agreements — how costs and returns are divided — can differ widely depending on region, crop type, land productivity, and local traditions.“Many leases are still based on verbal agreements or old rules of thumb,” said Anastasia Meyer, extension agricultural economist with the Center for Agricultural Profitability. “We know practices vary, but we don’t have consistent statewide data showing how. This survey is an important step toward helping landowners and producers make better-informed decisions.”The anonymous survey asks participants — whether landlords or tenants — about lease structures, shared expenses, and other common terms. Results will inform the development of educational materials and tools to support fair and effective lease negotiations across Nebraska.The brief survey is open now at:&nbsp;<a href="https://unl233.acemlnb.com/lt.php?x=3DZy~GDDJFPP6HOtyt~OV.Oh2q-giQ~0k~sxkKI4KXTO5HR9_Uy.0eFu13VziNLxk_Y0X6HFKneg6m" target="_blank">https://go.unl.edu/2025cropshare</a>.“Completing the survey takes just a few minutes,” Meyer said. “Responses will help paint a clearer picture of current leasing trends and ensure educational resources reflect what’s really happening in the field.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

UNL Seeks Input from Nebraska Ag Landowners and Tenants in New Crop Share Survey

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a> <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

PARKERSBURG — At a sometimes raucous town hall meeting Friday morning, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst faced vocal opposition to her support for spending cuts to programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.

Like many other Republican lawmakers holding events with constituents throughout the country, Ernst faced a crowd at the Aplington-Parkersburg High School who were upset with decisions made by President Donald Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress — particularly as they relate to funding for health care and food assistance programs included in the “big, beautiful” budget reconciliation bill that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-push-through-massive-tax-and-spending-bill-slashing-medicaid" target="_blank">narrowly passed the U.S. House</a>&nbsp;earlier in May.

Though Ernst said the Senate would make changes to the measure and advance their own version of the legislation, she defended reductions in spending for Medicaid at the town hall, saying the changes will not impact people in need but will remove from the program “illegals that are receiving Medicaid benefits” and able-bodied adults who are not working.

“People will die,” a woman shouted at the stage as Ernst answered one of several questions about the cuts.

“People are not — well, we all are going to die, so for heaven’s sake,” Ernst said in a response that was met by further shouts and jeering from the crowd.

Ernst said she agrees with most of the provisions on Medicaid included in the House version of the budget reconciliation bill, saying that it was targeted at changes to the public health care program that “made it much easier to get onto Medicaid, but much tougher to take people off of Medicaid.” Ernst said many people on Medicaid currently are working full-time and have access to other benefits.

“What we have to do is make sure that those that are not eligible by the federal standard for Medicaid are not receiving Medicaid,” Ernst said. “What we do need to do is make sure that those that are part of a vulnerable population have access to Medicaid and receive those full benefits. So what we’re trying to do is strengthen Medicaid by directing the dollars to the people that actually meet the requirements of the program.”

In its House form, the bill includes a $625 billion reduction in federal spending for Medicaid over 10 years, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. It also includes 80-hour-per-month work requirements for people between ages 19 and 65 to continue receiving Medicaid health coverage, with several exceptions for people with disabilities and complex medical conditions, pregnant people, tribal community members and parents of dependent children.

Elizabeth Kehret, who works for Lutheran Services in Iowa, said she was troubled by the potential impact of Medicaid cuts for pregnant woman, saying that she was previously enrolled on Medicaid during her four pregnancies before the&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/04/03/postpartum-medicaid-extension-with-cut-in-eligibility-heads-to-governors-desk/">state revised eligibility for postpartum coverage</a>, changing it from families with incomes of 375% of the federal poverty line to those at 215% of the federal poverty line.

Kehret said she was concerned the federal Medicaid spending cuts would cause similar cuts for care in states across the country, meaning pregnant people, who may also have private health coverage, will struggle to pay for the medical care required both before and after their child is born.

“I heard you say earlier about people who work full time but still get Medicaid — yeah,” Kehret said. “I meet with dozens of women who have dual enrollment, where they have private insurance as well as Medicaid, and it helps cover the things that their private insurance doesn’t, or that high deductible. … Medicaid is extremely important to the smallest and most vulnerable population in Iowa.”

Ernst said there were provisions to allow continued Medicaid coverage for pregnant people in the House bill.

“Because you are part of that vulnerable population, we want to make sure that you have access to Medicaid,” Ernst said. “So you will hear examples of those like the able-bodied, 30-year-old man who is taking advantage of the program, not working. What we’re asking is that please engage in work activities, engage in volunteer activities, be enrolled in a training program, and then that makes you Medicaid eligible.”

Similar concerns were brought up about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, that provides food assistance to low-income individuals. Under the House budget plan, some costs of SNAP would be moved to the states, in addition to adding other work requirements. Ernst said the House bill is correcting “overpayments” from states on SNAP, in addition to removing “people that have not been eligible for these programs by law as it is currently written” from public assistance.

Several veterans also spoke at the event, criticizing Republicans and Elon Musk’s DOGE Service for cuts to veterans’ assistance programs and cuts to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In response, Ernst said, “We’re not cutting veterans benefits.”

Several veterans have been outspoken about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/we-call-it-betrayal-veterans-join-dems-dc-protest-trumps-sweeping-va-job-cuts" target="_blank">changes made by DOGE</a>&nbsp;to the VA, including the cut of roughly 2,400 VA jobs in early March.

Ernst has been a major supporter of DOGE and efforts to make government more “efficient,” saying Republicans and Musk are focused on removing areas of unnecessary spending and “streamlining” existing programs and services. Ernst highlighted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an entity that can be made more efficient through DOGE efforts in response to a question on federal support following natural disasters.

“Department of Government Efficiency … the E is not about elimination, it is about efficiency,” Ernst said. “So how can we do better as a federal government to respond to the people on the ground?”

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a> <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>PARKERSBURG — At a sometimes raucous town hall meeting Friday morning, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst faced vocal opposition to her support for spending cuts to programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">During a town hall meeting, when discussing Medicaid benefits, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) responds to someone: &quot;Well, we all are going to die.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/HDj0w27vHJ">pic.twitter.com/HDj0w27vHJ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1928477381359972502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Like many other Republican lawmakers holding events with constituents throughout the country, Ernst faced a crowd at the Aplington-Parkersburg High School who were upset with decisions made by President Donald Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress — particularly as they relate to funding for health care and food assistance programs included in the “big, beautiful” budget reconciliation bill that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-push-through-massive-tax-and-spending-bill-slashing-medicaid" target="_blank">narrowly passed the U.S. House</a>&nbsp;earlier in May.Though Ernst said the Senate would make changes to the measure and advance their own version of the legislation, she defended reductions in spending for Medicaid at the town hall, saying the changes will not impact people in need but will remove from the program “illegals that are receiving Medicaid benefits” and able-bodied adults who are not working.“People will die,” a woman shouted at the stage as Ernst answered one of several questions about the cuts.“People are not — well, we all are going to die, so for heaven’s sake,” Ernst said in a response that was met by further shouts and jeering from the crowd.Ernst said she agrees with most of the provisions on Medicaid included in the House version of the budget reconciliation bill, saying that it was targeted at changes to the public health care program that “made it much easier to get onto Medicaid, but much tougher to take people off of Medicaid.” Ernst said many people on Medicaid currently are working full-time and have access to other benefits.“What we have to do is make sure that those that are not eligible by the federal standard for Medicaid are not receiving Medicaid,” Ernst said. “What we do need to do is make sure that those that are part of a vulnerable population have access to Medicaid and receive those full benefits. So what we’re trying to do is strengthen Medicaid by directing the dollars to the people that actually meet the requirements of the program.”In its House form, the bill includes a $625 billion reduction in federal spending for Medicaid over 10 years, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. It also includes 80-hour-per-month work requirements for people between ages 19 and 65 to continue receiving Medicaid health coverage, with several exceptions for people with disabilities and complex medical conditions, pregnant people, tribal community members and parents of dependent children.Elizabeth Kehret, who works for Lutheran Services in Iowa, said she was troubled by the potential impact of Medicaid cuts for pregnant woman, saying that she was previously enrolled on Medicaid during her four pregnancies before the&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/04/03/postpartum-medicaid-extension-with-cut-in-eligibility-heads-to-governors-desk/">state revised eligibility for postpartum coverage</a>, changing it from families with incomes of 375% of the federal poverty line to those at 215% of the federal poverty line.Kehret said she was concerned the federal Medicaid spending cuts would cause similar cuts for care in states across the country, meaning pregnant people, who may also have private health coverage, will struggle to pay for the medical care required both before and after their child is born.“I heard you say earlier about people who work full time but still get Medicaid — yeah,” Kehret said. “I meet with dozens of women who have dual enrollment, where they have private insurance as well as Medicaid, and it helps cover the things that their private insurance doesn’t, or that high deductible. … Medicaid is extremely important to the smallest and most vulnerable population in Iowa.”Ernst said there were provisions to allow continued Medicaid coverage for pregnant people in the House bill.“Because you are part of that vulnerable population, we want to make sure that you have access to Medicaid,” Ernst said. “So you will hear examples of those like the able-bodied, 30-year-old man who is taking advantage of the program, not working. What we’re asking is that please engage in work activities, engage in volunteer activities, be enrolled in a training program, and then that makes you Medicaid eligible.”Similar concerns were brought up about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, that provides food assistance to low-income individuals. Under the House budget plan, some costs of SNAP would be moved to the states, in addition to adding other work requirements. Ernst said the House bill is correcting “overpayments” from states on SNAP, in addition to removing “people that have not been eligible for these programs by law as it is currently written” from public assistance.Several veterans also spoke at the event, criticizing Republicans and Elon Musk’s DOGE Service for cuts to veterans’ assistance programs and cuts to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In response, Ernst said, “We’re not cutting veterans benefits.”Several veterans have been outspoken about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/we-call-it-betrayal-veterans-join-dems-dc-protest-trumps-sweeping-va-job-cuts" target="_blank">changes made by DOGE</a>&nbsp;to the VA, including the cut of roughly 2,400 VA jobs in early March.Ernst has been a major supporter of DOGE and efforts to make government more “efficient,” saying Republicans and Musk are focused on removing areas of unnecessary spending and “streamlining” existing programs and services. Ernst highlighted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an entity that can be made more efficient through DOGE efforts in response to a question on federal support following natural disasters.“Department of Government Efficiency … the E is not about elimination, it is about efficiency,” Ernst said. “So how can we do better as a federal government to respond to the people on the ground?”

‘Well, we all are going to die’: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst defends Medicaid cuts at heated town hall

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Friday said it will allow the Trump administration to remove deportation protections for more than 500,000 nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela who were given permission to temporarily remain and work in the United States by the Biden administration.

The move by the high court — which permits the deportations while a lawsuit continues to work its way through the courts — came after a district court in Massachusetts in April blocked the Trump administration from ending the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, or CHNV, program for 532,000 people.

It’s the second decision by the Supreme Court this month stripping immigrants of some form of temporary legal protections, affecting more than 800,000 people in the country without permanent legal status who are now subject to swift deportation.

<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-supreme-court-lets-trump-end-protected-status-350000-venezuelan-migrants" target="_blank">On May 19, the Supreme Court allowed</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for 350,000 Venezuelans who were granted the protection from deportation because their home country was deemed too unstable to return to due to the political regime.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin welcomed the ruling.

“Ending the CHNV parole programs, as well as the paroles of those who exploited it, will be a necessary return to common-sense policies, a return to public safety, and a return to America First,” she said in a statement.

Todd Schulte, the president of the immigration advocacy group FWD.us, said in a statement that the high court’s decision “penalizes half a million people for complying with our immigration laws.”

“This decision will have devastating and immediate consequences, and is part of a broader attempt by the executive branch to justify further immigration enforcement crackdowns against families across the country,” Schulte said. “The government failed to show any harm remotely comparable to that which will come from a half million people losing their jobs and becoming subject to deportation.”&nbsp;

Friday’s case is one of several immigration-related emergency requests the Department of Justice has brought to the high court, as the Trump administration aims to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/supreme-court-permits-trump-use-wartime-law-deportations-now-and-limits" target="_blank">carry out mass deportations</a>, wind down temporary legal pathways for immigrants and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-supreme-court-hear-case-trumps-birthright-citizenship-order" target="_blank">redefine the constitutional right of birthright citizenship.</a>

No judicial review for parole, DOJ argues

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A1079/358354/20250508121118618_Kristi_Noem_v_Svitlana_Doe_et_al_%20application_stay.pdf" target="_blank">In the emergency filing</a>&nbsp;to the high court in Friday’s case, Solicitor General D. John Sauer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-asks-us-supreme-court-end-humanitarian-protections-migrants-4-nations" target="_blank">argued&nbsp;</a>that the Immigration Nationality Act bars judicial review of discretionary decisions, such as what is called humanitarian parole, for the CHNV program.

He added that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem terminated the program because it does not align with the interests of the Trump administration.

Liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented.

“The Court has plainly botched this assessment today,” Jackson wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a1079_p86b.pdf" target="_blank">her dissent.</a>&nbsp;“It undervalues the devastating consequences of allowing the Government to precipitously upend the lives and livelihoods of nearly half a million noncitizens while their legal claims are pending.”

She argued that the Trump administration did not prove it would be harmed by the preliminary injunction.&nbsp;An appeals court previously rejected the government’s request to put the lower court’s order on hold.

“While it is apparent that the Government seeks a stay to enable it to inflict maximum predecision damage, court-ordered stays exist to minimize—not maximize—harm to litigating parties,” Jackson wrote.

President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/briefs/biden-administration-to-rapidly-expel-more-migrants-at-the-border-add-legal-pathways/" target="_blank">created the CHNV program in 2023</a>. It temporarily granted work permits and allowed thousands of nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to remain in the country if they were sponsored by someone in the United States and passed a background check.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672235865420.png" alt="Supreme Court Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States" />
 <figcaption>Supreme Court Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Friday said it will allow the Trump administration to remove deportation protections for more than 500,000 nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela who were given permission to temporarily remain and work in the United States by the Biden administration.The move by the high court — which permits the deportations while a lawsuit continues to work its way through the courts — came after a district court in Massachusetts in April blocked the Trump administration from ending the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, or CHNV, program for 532,000 people.It’s the second decision by the Supreme Court this month stripping immigrants of some form of temporary legal protections, affecting more than 800,000 people in the country without permanent legal status who are now subject to swift deportation.<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-supreme-court-lets-trump-end-protected-status-350000-venezuelan-migrants" target="_blank">On May 19, the Supreme Court allowed</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for 350,000 Venezuelans who were granted the protection from deportation because their home country was deemed too unstable to return to due to the political regime.Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin welcomed the ruling.“Ending the CHNV parole programs, as well as the paroles of those who exploited it, will be a necessary return to common-sense policies, a return to public safety, and a return to America First,” she said in a statement.Todd Schulte, the president of the immigration advocacy group FWD.us, said in a statement that the high court’s decision “penalizes half a million people for complying with our immigration laws.”“This decision will have devastating and immediate consequences, and is part of a broader attempt by the executive branch to justify further immigration enforcement crackdowns against families across the country,” Schulte said. “The government failed to show any harm remotely comparable to that which will come from a half million people losing their jobs and becoming subject to deportation.”&nbsp;Friday’s case is one of several immigration-related emergency requests the Department of Justice has brought to the high court, as the Trump administration aims to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/supreme-court-permits-trump-use-wartime-law-deportations-now-and-limits" target="_blank">carry out mass deportations</a>, wind down temporary legal pathways for immigrants and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-supreme-court-hear-case-trumps-birthright-citizenship-order" target="_blank">redefine the constitutional right of birthright citizenship.</a><h2>No judicial review for parole, DOJ argues</h2><a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A1079/358354/20250508121118618_Kristi_Noem_v_Svitlana_Doe_et_al_%20application_stay.pdf" target="_blank">In the emergency filing</a>&nbsp;to the high court in Friday’s case, Solicitor General D. John Sauer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-asks-us-supreme-court-end-humanitarian-protections-migrants-4-nations" target="_blank">argued&nbsp;</a>that the Immigration Nationality Act bars judicial review of discretionary decisions, such as what is called humanitarian parole, for the CHNV program.He added that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem terminated the program because it does not align with the interests of the Trump administration.Liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented.“The Court has plainly botched this assessment today,” Jackson wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a1079_p86b.pdf" target="_blank">her dissent.</a>&nbsp;“It undervalues the devastating consequences of allowing the Government to precipitously upend the lives and livelihoods of nearly half a million noncitizens while their legal claims are pending.”She argued that the Trump administration did not prove it would be harmed by the preliminary injunction.&nbsp;An appeals court previously rejected the government’s request to put the lower court’s order on hold.“While it is apparent that the Government seeks a stay to enable it to inflict maximum predecision damage, court-ordered stays exist to minimize—not maximize—harm to litigating parties,” Jackson wrote.President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/briefs/biden-administration-to-rapidly-expel-more-migrants-at-the-border-add-legal-pathways/" target="_blank">created the CHNV program in 2023</a>. It temporarily granted work permits and allowed thousands of nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to remain in the country if they were sponsored by someone in the United States and passed a background check.

US Supreme Court permits deportation of another half million migrants, for now

LINCOLN, Neb - An omnibus education proposal cleared the first round of debate May 27 after senators amended it to remove several elements of the package. The proposal was further amended on select file May 29 before advancing to final reading.

<a href="http://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/search_by_number.php?DocumentNumber=LB306&amp;Legislature=109th" target="_blank">LB306</a>&nbsp;was introduced by the&nbsp;<a href="http://news.legislature.ne.gov/edu" target="_blank">Education Committee</a>&nbsp;as a cleanup measure that would make several updates to laws related to postsecondary education in Nebraska.

The bill would allow the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges to enter into long-term leases, lease-purchase agreements or financing contracts with a third party to finance or refinance student housing or student activity facilities.

Additionally, LB306 would raise the base amount for capital construction projects to $5 million, which includes new buildings, renovations and acquisitions funded by tax dollars, provided that the minimum capital expenditure is met.

The base amount for capital expenditures related to operations and maintenance would be $200,000 within 10 years after substantial completion or acquisition. No tax funds could be used for increases beyond such amounts for facilities not classified as capital construction projects.

The measure also would grant the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education the authority to act as the primary body responsible for overseeing the transition of data collection, grants, programs and related responsibilities from the U.S. Department of Education to the governing boards and administrators of Nebraska’s postsecondary institutions, or to the commission itself.

Additionally, LB306 would require the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges to accept Classic Learning Test, or CLT, results in determining eligibility for the Nebraska Career Scholarship. This change would provide an alternative to the ACT currently used to determine eligibility.

The measure also would clarify that individuals who have obtained a GED or a high school diploma equivalent are eligible for the Door to College Scholarship, which provides financial assistance for undergraduate students in Nebraska who graduated from a Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center high school or an approved public, private or parochial high school after being discharged.

<a href="http://news.legislature.ne.gov/dist38" target="_blank">Sen. Dave Murman</a>&nbsp;of Glenvil, chairperson of the committee, said the proposed change would enable former YRTC students — who may have been out of school for long periods or attended multiple high schools and consequently earned a GED instead of a diploma — to apply for a scholarship.

“If [students] showed initiative to get their GED, they ought to have the same opportunity for the scholarship,” he said.

An Education Committee amendment was offered during general file debate May 21 to replace the bill and add provisions of several other proposals.

Under the amended provisions of LB378, introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Andersen, both public and private postsecondary institutions would be required to report biannually on any funding received from foreign adversarial entities, including contracts, gifts and grants. Tuition payments for students would be excluded.

Postsecondary institutions also would be required to submit such reports to the Postsecondary Coordinating Commission, which would make the reports publicly available on its website.

Also included are provisions of LB408, introduced by Lincoln Sen. George Dugan. The proposal would establish the Special Education Teacher Forgivable Loan Program Act, which seeks to assist individuals pursuing degrees in special education by offering forgivable loans to those who commit to teaching in Nebraska after obtaining their certification as a teacher with a special education endorsement.

The committee amendment also includes amended provisions of Omaha Sen. Asheli Spivey’s LB440, which would adopt the Education Leave and Support Act and provide teachers facing family or medical challenges with three weeks of paid family and medical leave. Under the measure, a payroll fee of 0.35% would be applied to the taxable wages of certificated teachers in Nebraska beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

School districts would match the contribution before remitting the fee quarterly to the state treasurer, who would direct the funds to a newly created State Education Leave Fund. The new fund would be administered by the state Department of Education and used solely to reimburse school districts for substitute teacher costs for the first six weeks of a covered employee’s family and medical leave.

Spivey said her proposal would allow teachers to take FMLA leave without having to exhaust their sick leave or paid time off and, as a result, could prevent some teachers from having to leave the profession.

“You cannot plan for a significant life event, and this bill will allow for teachers to take care of their health and also be able to maintain employment [so] they don’t have to choose,” she said.

Also included are amended provisions of Central City Sen. Loren Lippincott’s LB550, which would permit school districts to implement a policy allowing students to attend off-site released time religious instruction — or RTRI — for at least one non-core curriculum class period per week.

Under the proposal, parents, guardians or educational decisionmakers must provide written consent for a student to participate in RTRI. All RTRI would be required to occur off school property and school districts could not expend funds toward RTRI, except from minimal administrative costs.

Finally, the amendment includes provisions of LB682, introduced by the Education Committee, which would restrict school superintendents from receiving income from other education-related employment, such as work with education foundations or consulting. The bill also would require superintendents to file an annual financial interest statement with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.

During general file debate May 21, Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt filed an amendment to remove the provisions of LB550 from the committee amendment. RTRI organizations often use incentives like t-shirts and snacks to draw students to the program, she said, which could ostracize students who don’t participate in RTRI.

“Parents can send their kids to whatever religious instruction they want to, but part of a public education in Nebraska does not include 120 minutes for church,” Hunt said. “It includes reading, writing, arithmetic and bringing them up for a successful future.”

Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson supported Hunt’s amendment, saying the measure likely would require teachers to repeat lessons to accommodate students who missed class to attend RTRI.

Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth also supported the amendment. He said allowing kids to leave school for RTRI could “cheapen” the value of the classes they miss to do so.

Senators voted 25-9 to adopt Hunt’s amendment and remove the LB550 provisions from the committee amendment.

Sen. Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse also brought an amendment, adopted 27-5, to remove from the committee amendment provisions that would allow CLT scores to determine scholarship eligibility. He said that unlike the ACT, the CLT is administered online and lacks the same level of security as in-person, proctored exams.

Hastings Sen. Dan Lonowski offered an amendment to remove provisions of Spivey’s LB440 from the committee amendment, saying the measure could result in an unfunded mandate to schools. The Lonowski amendment failed 22-16.

Senators then rejected the committee amendment on a 22-23 vote. Twenty-five votes were needed. A motion offered by Dungan to reconsider that vote also failed 19-2.

Following the failure to adopt the committee amendment, LB306 was passed over on the agenda at Murman’s request.

When general file debate resumed May 27, Hallstrom again filed an amendment to remove the CLT provisions from LB306. Senators rejected the attempt on an 18-12 vote.

Andersen then offered an amendment to attach the provisions of his LB378, which had been included in the committee amendment. He said the provisions would provide increased transparency.

“What [LB378] does is reaffirm our responsibility to taxpayers, students and our state and national interests to ensure foreign adversarial influence is not quietly shaping our academic landscape,” Andersen said.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad opposed Andersen’s amendment, calling the measure “redundant” due to existing federal law that already requires disclosure of foreign funding sources in higher education.

Senators voted 27-4 to adopt Andersen’s amendment before voting 27-0 to adopt an amendment brought by Norfolk Sen. Robert Dover to add provisions of his LB625.

As amended, the measure would require the Department of Administrative Services to create and maintain a public website outlining financial information about Nebraska school districts, including details on revenue sources and expenditures.

Murman then offered a technical amendment to the bill, adopted 25-0, before introducing an amendment containing provisions of his LB497.

Under that measure, students enrolled in a private, denominational, parochial or nonaccredited school could participate in extracurricular activities in the district closest to where the student’s parent resides that offers the activity that the home district does not. The measure also would clarify that a part-time student wishing to participate in extracurricular activities must be enrolled in at least five credit hours but is not limited to five credit hours.

Senators adopted the Murman amendment 26-0. They rejected another Murman amendment on a 12-14 vote that would have added provisions of LB682, introduced by the committee and originally included in the committee amendment.

Senators then voted 28-3 to advance LB306 to select file.

During select file debate May 29, lawmakers discussed two amendments aimed at benefiting teachers and again considered an amendment to eliminate the CLT provisions from LB306.

Spivey offered an amendment to add revised provisions of her LB440 and Lincoln Sen. George Dungan’s LB408, both of which were included in the committee amendment that was rejected during the first round of debate.

Under Spivey’s amendment, school districts would be required to contribute 0.35% of the taxable wages paid to covered employees to the state treasurer quarterly, beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

Spivey said the proposal no longer would require teachers to match the district’s 0.35% contribution and instead would provide only two weeks’ worth of substitute teacher costs, rather than the initially proposed six weeks.

Elmwood Sen. Robert Clements opposed the amendment, saying such matters should be negotiated between schools and teachers, not decided by the Legislature.

Also opposing the amendment was North Platte Sen. Mike Jacobson. He said the proposal would create a new “unfunded mandate” for school districts and, as a result, could raise property taxes.

Conrad supported the amendment, saying it would provide benefits similar to those offered to other public sector workers, such as law enforcement, during a time when the state is facing a teacher shortage.

“This isn’t just some sort of special benefit just for teachers,” Conrad said. “It’s part of modernizing an approach to ensure that we meet employees’ needs amid a crisis … so that they can stay in the workforce.”

Senators voted 17-25 to reject Spivey’s amendment. Dungan then filed an amendment to consider his LB408 separately.

By establishing a forgivable loan program for special education teachers, Dungan said, more individuals might choose to enter the teaching profession and stay in Nebraska.

Murman supported Dungan’s amendment, saying it could encourage those considering pursuing teaching to focus on special education careers and “fill the gap” in that specialization.

Clements opposed the amendment. He said the Education Future Fund — the measure’s proposed funding source — currently does not have the resources to sustain such a program.

Hallstrom then offered another attempt to remove the CLT provisions from LB306. The amendment also would clarify that SAT scores could be used to determine eligibility, along with ACT scores, which Hallstrom said are “better indicators of readiness” for college and more secure than the CLT.

Murman opposed the amendment, saying the CLT is secure and utilizes webcam technology to track students’ surroundings and their movements while taking the exam.

Additionally, he said, numerous colleges and universities have begun accepting CLT scores in addition to ACT and SAT scores, including Baylor, Florida State University and Pepperdine.

“This is a growing trend, and Nebraska can either get on board with that trend by rejecting this amendment, or we can stay in the dust,” Murman said.

Senators adopted Hallstrom’s amendment 25-14 before advancing LB306 to final reading by voice vote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748603513219.jpeg" alt="Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, chairperson of the Education committee" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, chairperson of the Education committee</figcaption>
 </figure>By Unicameral UpdateLINCOLN, Neb - An omnibus education proposal cleared the first round of debate May 27 after senators amended it to remove several elements of the package. The proposal was further amended on select file May 29 before advancing to final reading.<a href="http://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/search_by_number.php?DocumentNumber=LB306&amp;Legislature=109th" target="_blank">LB306</a>&nbsp;was introduced by the&nbsp;<a href="http://news.legislature.ne.gov/edu" target="_blank">Education Committee</a>&nbsp;as a cleanup measure that would make several updates to laws related to postsecondary education in Nebraska.The bill would allow the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges to enter into long-term leases, lease-purchase agreements or financing contracts with a third party to finance or refinance student housing or student activity facilities.Additionally, LB306 would raise the base amount for capital construction projects to $5 million, which includes new buildings, renovations and acquisitions funded by tax dollars, provided that the minimum capital expenditure is met.The base amount for capital expenditures related to operations and maintenance would be $200,000 within 10 years after substantial completion or acquisition. No tax funds could be used for increases beyond such amounts for facilities not classified as capital construction projects.The measure also would grant the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education the authority to act as the primary body responsible for overseeing the transition of data collection, grants, programs and related responsibilities from the U.S. Department of Education to the governing boards and administrators of Nebraska’s postsecondary institutions, or to the commission itself.Additionally, LB306 would require the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges to accept Classic Learning Test, or CLT, results in determining eligibility for the Nebraska Career Scholarship. This change would provide an alternative to the ACT currently used to determine eligibility.The measure also would clarify that individuals who have obtained a GED or a high school diploma equivalent are eligible for the Door to College Scholarship, which provides financial assistance for undergraduate students in Nebraska who graduated from a Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center high school or an approved public, private or parochial high school after being discharged.<a href="http://news.legislature.ne.gov/dist38" target="_blank">Sen. Dave Murman</a>&nbsp;of Glenvil, chairperson of the committee, said the proposed change would enable former YRTC students — who may have been out of school for long periods or attended multiple high schools and consequently earned a GED instead of a diploma — to apply for a scholarship.“If [students] showed initiative to get their GED, they ought to have the same opportunity for the scholarship,” he said.Committee amendmentAn Education Committee amendment was offered during general file debate May 21 to replace the bill and add provisions of several other proposals.Under the amended provisions of LB378, introduced by Omaha Sen. Bob Andersen, both public and private postsecondary institutions would be required to report biannually on any funding received from foreign adversarial entities, including contracts, gifts and grants. Tuition payments for students would be excluded.Postsecondary institutions also would be required to submit such reports to the Postsecondary Coordinating Commission, which would make the reports publicly available on its website.Also included are provisions of LB408, introduced by Lincoln Sen. George Dugan. The proposal would establish the Special Education Teacher Forgivable Loan Program Act, which seeks to assist individuals pursuing degrees in special education by offering forgivable loans to those who commit to teaching in Nebraska after obtaining their certification as a teacher with a special education endorsement.The committee amendment also includes amended provisions of Omaha Sen. Asheli Spivey’s LB440, which would adopt the Education Leave and Support Act and provide teachers facing family or medical challenges with three weeks of paid family and medical leave. Under the measure, a payroll fee of 0.35% would be applied to the taxable wages of certificated teachers in Nebraska beginning Jan. 1, 2026.School districts would match the contribution before remitting the fee quarterly to the state treasurer, who would direct the funds to a newly created State Education Leave Fund. The new fund would be administered by the state Department of Education and used solely to reimburse school districts for substitute teacher costs for the first six weeks of a covered employee’s family and medical leave.Spivey said her proposal would allow teachers to take FMLA leave without having to exhaust their sick leave or paid time off and, as a result, could prevent some teachers from having to leave the profession.“You cannot plan for a significant life event, and this bill will allow for teachers to take care of their health and also be able to maintain employment [so] they don’t have to choose,” she said.Also included are amended provisions of Central City Sen. Loren Lippincott’s LB550, which would permit school districts to implement a policy allowing students to attend off-site released time religious instruction — or RTRI — for at least one non-core curriculum class period per week.Under the proposal, parents, guardians or educational decisionmakers must provide written consent for a student to participate in RTRI. All RTRI would be required to occur off school property and school districts could not expend funds toward RTRI, except from minimal administrative costs.Finally, the amendment includes provisions of LB682, introduced by the Education Committee, which would restrict school superintendents from receiving income from other education-related employment, such as work with education foundations or consulting. The bill also would require superintendents to file an annual financial interest statement with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.During general file debate May 21, Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt filed an amendment to remove the provisions of LB550 from the committee amendment. RTRI organizations often use incentives like t-shirts and snacks to draw students to the program, she said, which could ostracize students who don’t participate in RTRI.“Parents can send their kids to whatever religious instruction they want to, but part of a public education in Nebraska does not include 120 minutes for church,” Hunt said. “It includes reading, writing, arithmetic and bringing them up for a successful future.”Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson supported Hunt’s amendment, saying the measure likely would require teachers to repeat lessons to accommodate students who missed class to attend RTRI.Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth also supported the amendment. He said allowing kids to leave school for RTRI could “cheapen” the value of the classes they miss to do so.Senators voted 25-9 to adopt Hunt’s amendment and remove the LB550 provisions from the committee amendment.Sen. Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse also brought an amendment, adopted 27-5, to remove from the committee amendment provisions that would allow CLT scores to determine scholarship eligibility. He said that unlike the ACT, the CLT is administered online and lacks the same level of security as in-person, proctored exams.Hastings Sen. Dan Lonowski offered an amendment to remove provisions of Spivey’s LB440 from the committee amendment, saying the measure could result in an unfunded mandate to schools. The Lonowski amendment failed 22-16.Senators then rejected the committee amendment on a 22-23 vote. Twenty-five votes were needed. A motion offered by Dungan to reconsider that vote also failed 19-2.Following the failure to adopt the committee amendment, LB306 was passed over on the agenda at Murman’s request.Other amendmentsWhen general file debate resumed May 27, Hallstrom again filed an amendment to remove the CLT provisions from LB306. Senators rejected the attempt on an 18-12 vote.Andersen then offered an amendment to attach the provisions of his LB378, which had been included in the committee amendment. He said the provisions would provide increased transparency.“What [LB378] does is reaffirm our responsibility to taxpayers, students and our state and national interests to ensure foreign adversarial influence is not quietly shaping our academic landscape,” Andersen said.Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad opposed Andersen’s amendment, calling the measure “redundant” due to existing federal law that already requires disclosure of foreign funding sources in higher education.Senators voted 27-4 to adopt Andersen’s amendment before voting 27-0 to adopt an amendment brought by Norfolk Sen. Robert Dover to add provisions of his LB625.As amended, the measure would require the Department of Administrative Services to create and maintain a public website outlining financial information about Nebraska school districts, including details on revenue sources and expenditures.Murman then offered a technical amendment to the bill, adopted 25-0, before introducing an amendment containing provisions of his LB497.Under that measure, students enrolled in a private, denominational, parochial or nonaccredited school could participate in extracurricular activities in the district closest to where the student’s parent resides that offers the activity that the home district does not. The measure also would clarify that a part-time student wishing to participate in extracurricular activities must be enrolled in at least five credit hours but is not limited to five credit hours.Senators adopted the Murman amendment 26-0. They rejected another Murman amendment on a 12-14 vote that would have added provisions of LB682, introduced by the committee and originally included in the committee amendment.Senators then voted 28-3 to advance LB306 to select file.Select fileDuring select file debate May 29, lawmakers discussed two amendments aimed at benefiting teachers and again considered an amendment to eliminate the CLT provisions from LB306.Spivey offered an amendment to add revised provisions of her LB440 and Lincoln Sen. George Dungan’s LB408, both of which were included in the committee amendment that was rejected during the first round of debate.Under Spivey’s amendment, school districts would be required to contribute 0.35% of the taxable wages paid to covered employees to the state treasurer quarterly, beginning Jan. 1, 2026.Spivey said the proposal no longer would require teachers to match the district’s 0.35% contribution and instead would provide only two weeks’ worth of substitute teacher costs, rather than the initially proposed six weeks.Elmwood Sen. Robert Clements opposed the amendment, saying such matters should be negotiated between schools and teachers, not decided by the Legislature.Also opposing the amendment was North Platte Sen. Mike Jacobson. He said the proposal would create a new “unfunded mandate” for school districts and, as a result, could raise property taxes.Conrad supported the amendment, saying it would provide benefits similar to those offered to other public sector workers, such as law enforcement, during a time when the state is facing a teacher shortage.“This isn’t just some sort of special benefit just for teachers,” Conrad said. “It’s part of modernizing an approach to ensure that we meet employees’ needs amid a crisis … so that they can stay in the workforce.”Senators voted 17-25 to reject Spivey’s amendment. Dungan then filed an amendment to consider his LB408 separately.By establishing a forgivable loan program for special education teachers, Dungan said, more individuals might choose to enter the teaching profession and stay in Nebraska.Murman supported Dungan’s amendment, saying it could encourage those considering pursuing teaching to focus on special education careers and “fill the gap” in that specialization.Clements opposed the amendment. He said the Education Future Fund — the measure’s proposed funding source — currently does not have the resources to sustain such a program.The Dungan amendment failed 20-23.Hallstrom then offered another attempt to remove the CLT provisions from LB306. The amendment also would clarify that SAT scores could be used to determine eligibility, along with ACT scores, which Hallstrom said are “better indicators of readiness” for college and more secure than the CLT.Murman opposed the amendment, saying the CLT is secure and utilizes webcam technology to track students’ surroundings and their movements while taking the exam.Additionally, he said, numerous colleges and universities have begun accepting CLT scores in addition to ACT and SAT scores, including Baylor, Florida State University and Pepperdine.“This is a growing trend, and Nebraska can either get on board with that trend by rejecting this amendment, or we can stay in the dust,” Murman said.Senators adopted Hallstrom’s amendment 25-14 before advancing LB306 to final reading by voice vote.

Legislature's Education package narrowed, advanced

WASHINGTON— Hormel Foods Corporation, a Tucker, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 256,185 pounds of canned beef stew product that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced this week, according to a media release.

The canned beef stew item was produced on February 4, 2025. The following product is subject to recall [<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2025-05/recall-018-2025-labels.pdf">view labels</a>]:

The product subject to recall bears establishment number “EST 199G” printed on the can. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered after the establishment notified FSIS that they had received three consumer complaints reporting pieces of wood in the beef stew product.

There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider.&nbsp;&nbsp;

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ pantries. Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it. This product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at&nbsp;www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Hormel Foods Corporation at 800-523-4635 or media@hormel.com.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748601779129.png" alt="USDA courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>USDA courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON— Hormel Foods Corporation, a Tucker, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 256,185 pounds of canned beef stew product that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced this week, according to a media release.The canned beef stew item was produced on February 4, 2025. The following product is subject to recall [<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2025-05/recall-018-2025-labels.pdf">view labels</a>]:<ul>
 <li>20-oz. metal cans containing “Dinty Moore BEEF STEW” with “BEST BY FEB 2028” and lot code “T02045” printed on the can. The lot code may have an additional number at the end.</li>
 </ul>The product subject to recall bears establishment number “EST 199G” printed on the can. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.The problem was discovered after the establishment notified FSIS that they had received three consumer complaints reporting pieces of wood in the beef stew product.There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider.&nbsp;&nbsp;FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ pantries. Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it. This product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at&nbsp;www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Hormel Foods Corporation at 800-523-4635 or media@hormel.com.Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

USDA recalls 256,000 pounds of Dinty Moore beef stew 

COLUMBUS, Neb. — A man was shot and killed Tuesday evening in the parking lot of a Walmart in Columbus, and police say the suspect, who later turned himself in, is the victim’s stepson.

Columbus police responded to the shooting around 6:20 p.m. at the Walmart on East 23rd Street. Officers arrived to find 42-year-old Anhil Mirabal Hernandez with a gunshot wound to the chest. They provided aid until medics from the Columbus Fire Department arrived.

Mirabal Hernandez was transported to Columbus Community Hospital, where he later died from his injuries, police said.

Shortly after the shooting, 26-year-old Manuel Mesa Cabrera turned himself in to police. Authorities confirmed that Cabrera is the victim’s stepson. He was arrested and booked into the Platte County Detention Facility on charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony.

COLUMBUS, Neb. — A man was shot and killed Tuesday evening in the parking lot of a Walmart in Columbus, and police say the suspect, who later turned himself in, is the victim’s stepson.Columbus police responded to the shooting around 6:20 p.m. at the Walmart on East 23rd Street. Officers arrived to find 42-year-old Anhil Mirabal Hernandez with a gunshot wound to the chest. They provided aid until medics from the Columbus Fire Department arrived.Mirabal Hernandez was transported to Columbus Community Hospital, where he later died from his injuries, police said.Shortly after the shooting, 26-year-old Manuel Mesa Cabrera turned himself in to police. Authorities confirmed that Cabrera is the victim’s stepson. He was arrested and booked into the Platte County Detention Facility on charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748545352215.jpeg" alt="Manuel Mesa Cabrera (Platte Valley Detention Facility)" />
 <figcaption>Manuel Mesa Cabrera (Platte Valley Detention Facility)</figcaption>
 </figure>The investigation is ongoing.

Man killed in Columbus Walmart parking lot shooting; suspect in custody

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that imposes new regulations on behavioral health contractors, managed care organizations and Medicaid auditing practices.

Senators voted 48-1 to pass LB380, introduced by Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha. The measure directs the state Department of Health and Human Services to tighten oversight of behavioral health services and enforce stricter rules on contractors working through the state’s managed care organizations.

Under the bill, the DHHS Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care must define what constitutes network adequacy and ensure contractor compliance with federal and state mental health and substance use disorder coverage requirements.

Managed care organizations will face several new restrictions under LB380. They are:

LB380 also incorporates provisions from LB381, another measure by Fredrickson aimed at increasing transparency and oversight of Medicaid audits.

Those provisions require audit contractors to provide clear reasons for initiating an audit and establish an appeals process. Overpayment recoveries cannot begin until appeals are resolved—except in cases involving credible fraud allegations. Claim reviews will be limited to within three years of payment, and document requests must be relevant and proportional to the services under audit.

The bill includes language from LB610, introduced by Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, allowing DHHS to seek federal approval for the Ground Emergency Medical Transport Act. The department would be authorized to distribute supplemental Medicaid reimbursements to providers for ground emergency medical transport services, not exceeding the federal financial participation received from submitted claims.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that imposes new regulations on behavioral health contractors, managed care organizations and Medicaid auditing practices.Senators voted 48-1 to pass LB380, introduced by Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha. The measure directs the state Department of Health and Human Services to tighten oversight of behavioral health services and enforce stricter rules on contractors working through the state’s managed care organizations.Under the bill, the DHHS Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care must define what constitutes network adequacy and ensure contractor compliance with federal and state mental health and substance use disorder coverage requirements.The legislation also mandates:<ul>
 <li>Public access to contractor surveys, financial analyses, audits and parity reports.
</li><li>Regulation of mental health and substance use disorder provider access, including network and rate adequacy.
</li><li>A monthly electronic communication system for Medicaid providers, including notice of any managed care contract changes.
</li><li>Annual publication of the criteria used to assess the adequacy of managed care organization networks.
</li>
 </ul>Managed care organizations will face several new restrictions under LB380. They are:<ul>
 <li>Barred from imposing stricter limits on mental health and substance use disorder services than on other medical conditions.
</li><li>Required to maintain sufficient provider networks for behavioral health services.
</li><li>Required to apply recognized standards of care and publicly disclose utilization review policies.
</li><li>Prohibited from retroactively denying authorization for mental health or substance use disorder services once provided.
</li>
 </ul>LB380 also incorporates provisions from LB381, another measure by Fredrickson aimed at increasing transparency and oversight of Medicaid audits.Those provisions require audit contractors to provide clear reasons for initiating an audit and establish an appeals process. Overpayment recoveries cannot begin until appeals are resolved—except in cases involving credible fraud allegations. Claim reviews will be limited to within three years of payment, and document requests must be relevant and proportional to the services under audit.The bill includes language from LB610, introduced by Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln, allowing DHHS to seek federal approval for the Ground Emergency Medical Transport Act. The department would be authorized to distribute supplemental Medicaid reimbursements to providers for ground emergency medical transport services, not exceeding the federal financial participation received from submitted claims.

Nebraska Legislature Passes Bill Tightening Rules for Behavioral Health Contractors, Medicaid Audits

Bayer is reportedly considering dropping signature product as litigation costs mount and company fails in effort to obtain legal shelter from lawmakers

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

German chemical giant Bayer received no relief from runaway litigation costs associated with Roundup herbicide Tuesday when the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a $611 million judgment that its product causes cancer.

The decision, in a case&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=WD87059&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0001_WAP" target="_blank">involving three plaintiffs</a>&nbsp;who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=22AC-CC00043&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT19#header" target="_blank">sued in Cole County</a>, is one of the reasons the company, which acquired Roundup as a product when it merged with Monsanto, in 2018, is considering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.producer.com/news/bayer-says-it-could-halt-roundup-weedkiller-sales-over-legal-risks/" target="_blank">dropping the product entirely</a>. The company faces 67,000 lawsuits claiming the main ingredient, glyphosate, causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with many of those cases awaiting trial in St. Louis County, where the company has its Bayer Crop Science headquarters.

The company&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/18/missouri-house-debate-shows-gop-split-over-bill-to-protect-pesticide-makers/">failed to win passage</a>&nbsp;of a bill intended to shield it from litigation in Missouri. The bill narrowly passed the House but lobbying missteps, including a campaign targeting some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/political-attacks-stiffen-opposition-to-missouri-bill-to-protect-pesticide-makers/">most conservative members</a>&nbsp;of the state Senate, doomed it. The company did win passage of similar legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/04/14/bill-protecting-pesticide-availability-prevails-in-north-dakota-senate/" target="_blank">in North Dakota</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXrKePs5Wk" target="_blank">in Georgia</a>.

In November 2023, a Cole County jury awarded $1.6 billion to three plaintiffs who claimed their cancer was caused by glyphosate exposure while using Roundup. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green reduced the $500 million punitive damages awarded to each plaintiff, instead reducing each award by varying amounts.

Green did not change the amounts awarded for actual damages, which ranged from $5.6 million to $38 million and totaled $61.1 million.

With post-judgment interest, the total Bayer owes is now in excess of $700 million.

“We’re certainly pleased with the court of appeals decision that vindicates the jury’s verdict and the trial court’s judgment,” said attorney Matthew Clement of Jefferson City, who represented the plaintiffs in the case. “We’re happy that nothing happened in the legislature, this year at least, that will affect future cases and and will continue to litigate our cases like we had been.”

In a statement issued through Bayer spokesman Brian Leake, the company said it would continue to appeal the case.

“We continue to believe that the trial court committed significant errors by allowing inadmissible and prejudicial testimony into the courtroom which poisoned the jury against the company,” the statement read.

Bayer is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take its appeal of a 2024 Missouri case awarding $1.25 million in damages to John Durnell of St. Louis. The Eastern District Court of Appeals upheld that decision in February and on April 1 the Missouri Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal.

The U.S. Supreme Court has given parties until June 9 to file arguments on whether it should accept the case.

“The overwhelming weight of science as well as the assessments of the EPA and leading health regulators and scientists worldwide that support the safety and non-carcinogenicity of Roundup and we will continue to defend our products in court,” the company stated.

Bayer has paid out at least $10 billion for jury awards and settlements and earlier this year said it had an additional $6 billion set aside. That fund will be depleted quickly if decisions like the one upheld Tuesday are allowed to stand and the company suffers more losses like a&nbsp; $2.1 billion judgment handed down in March&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/georgia-jury-orders-monsanto-parent-to-pay-nearly-2-1-billion-in-roundup-weedkiller-lawsuit#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20A,to%20attorneys%20representing%20the%20plaintiff." target="_blank">by a jury in Georgia</a>.&nbsp;

According to a report from Reuters, Roundup produced $2.8 billion in revenue for Bayer in 2024.

The bill protecting glyphosate from litigation passed the Georgia legislature a few weeks after the $2.1 billion award.

Gov. Mike Kehoe, at a news conference after lawmakers adjourned earlier this month, blamed defeat of the Missouri legislation on trial attorneys who have made “tens of millions of dollars” off the lawsuits.

“If, for some reason, that particular product is not produced anymore in the United States, farmers are still going to need that type of product, that type of weed control, and so that, glyphosate I think is what it’s called, will be produced somewhere,” Kehoe said. “And if it is, it won’t be produced in this country, and farmers will not have the same protections and liability recourse back on the companies who make it, if it’s made in China or somewhere overseas.”

Bayer is also being sued by shareholders in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thenewlede.org/2023/05/investors-awarded-class-action-status-in-new-bayer-lawsuit/" target="_blank">class action lawsuit</a>&nbsp;over its decision to spend $68 billion to acquire Monsanto in 2018. The lawsuit alleges Bayer misled investors over the risks of the acquisition and failed to properly perform due diligence before buying Monsanto,

When Bayer acquired Monsanto in June 2018, its stock price was about $30 a share. On Tuesday afternoon, the company’s shares were selling for $7 apiece.

In the appeal of the Cole County decision, Bayer argued that Green made numerous errors in the trial and in rulings on post-trial motions. The company’s lawyers’ main points challenged the admissibility of testimony about a case over EPA evaluations of glyphosate; surprise findings from an expert; the use made of medical billing records; and whether the punitive damages were unconstitutionally duplicative.

At the heart of most glyphosate cases, and the target of legislation, is the label and whether it includes a proper notice that glyphosate may cause cancer.

“The misconduct complained about in the complaints in the three California cases Monsanto relies on, and in (one plaintiff’s) petition, includes allegations that despite scientific evidence that Roundup was carcinogenic, Monsanto continued to sell Roundup, and that Monsanto failed to warn of the dangerous effects of using Roundup,” Judge Cynthia Martin wrote in the Western District opinion delivered Tuesday.

In a discussion of whether the punitive damage award should have been reduced more, Martin wrote that “Monsanto’s degree of reprehensibility was high.”

Martin noted that the evidence shows that while the EPA has registered Roundup “for sale since 1974, Monsanto has been aware since 1985 that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, has the potential to cause cancer.”

Each of the plaintiffs suffered damages because Monsanto sold a product that was “unreasonably dangerous when used as reasonably anticipated” without altering the labeling to provide a warning.

“Monsanto’s awareness,” Martin wrote, “of studies demonstrating the possibility of a causal relationship between glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, and cancer, particularly NHL, and then its decision to double down on its defense of Roundup in lieu of changing the product’s formulation or adding a warning label regarding the risk posed by Roundup demonstrates, at best, Monsanto’s indifference to or reckless disregard of the health of its customers.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593022262288.png" alt="Post File photo" />
 <figcaption>Post File photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Bayer is reportedly considering dropping signature product as litigation costs mount and company fails in effort to obtain legal shelter from lawmakers</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>German chemical giant Bayer received no relief from runaway litigation costs associated with Roundup herbicide Tuesday when the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a $611 million judgment that its product causes cancer.The decision, in a case&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=WD87059&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0001_WAP" target="_blank">involving three plaintiffs</a>&nbsp;who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=22AC-CC00043&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT19#header" target="_blank">sued in Cole County</a>, is one of the reasons the company, which acquired Roundup as a product when it merged with Monsanto, in 2018, is considering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.producer.com/news/bayer-says-it-could-halt-roundup-weedkiller-sales-over-legal-risks/" target="_blank">dropping the product entirely</a>. The company faces 67,000 lawsuits claiming the main ingredient, glyphosate, causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with many of those cases awaiting trial in St. Louis County, where the company has its Bayer Crop Science headquarters.The company&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/18/missouri-house-debate-shows-gop-split-over-bill-to-protect-pesticide-makers/">failed to win passage</a>&nbsp;of a bill intended to shield it from litigation in Missouri. The bill narrowly passed the House but lobbying missteps, including a campaign targeting some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/political-attacks-stiffen-opposition-to-missouri-bill-to-protect-pesticide-makers/">most conservative members</a>&nbsp;of the state Senate, doomed it. The company did win passage of similar legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/04/14/bill-protecting-pesticide-availability-prevails-in-north-dakota-senate/" target="_blank">in North Dakota</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXrKePs5Wk" target="_blank">in Georgia</a>.In November 2023, a Cole County jury awarded $1.6 billion to three plaintiffs who claimed their cancer was caused by glyphosate exposure while using Roundup. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green reduced the $500 million punitive damages awarded to each plaintiff, instead reducing each award by varying amounts.Green did not change the amounts awarded for actual damages, which ranged from $5.6 million to $38 million and totaled $61.1 million.With post-judgment interest, the total Bayer owes is now in excess of $700 million.“We’re certainly pleased with the court of appeals decision that vindicates the jury’s verdict and the trial court’s judgment,” said attorney Matthew Clement of Jefferson City, who represented the plaintiffs in the case. “We’re happy that nothing happened in the legislature, this year at least, that will affect future cases and and will continue to litigate our cases like we had been.”In a statement issued through Bayer spokesman Brian Leake, the company said it would continue to appeal the case.“We continue to believe that the trial court committed significant errors by allowing inadmissible and prejudicial testimony into the courtroom which poisoned the jury against the company,” the statement read.Bayer is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take its appeal of a 2024 Missouri case awarding $1.25 million in damages to John Durnell of St. Louis. The Eastern District Court of Appeals upheld that decision in February and on April 1 the Missouri Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal.The U.S. Supreme Court has given parties until June 9 to file arguments on whether it should accept the case.“The overwhelming weight of science as well as the assessments of the EPA and leading health regulators and scientists worldwide that support the safety and non-carcinogenicity of Roundup and we will continue to defend our products in court,” the company stated.Bayer has paid out at least $10 billion for jury awards and settlements and earlier this year said it had an additional $6 billion set aside. That fund will be depleted quickly if decisions like the one upheld Tuesday are allowed to stand and the company suffers more losses like a&nbsp; $2.1 billion judgment handed down in March&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/georgia-jury-orders-monsanto-parent-to-pay-nearly-2-1-billion-in-roundup-weedkiller-lawsuit#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20A,to%20attorneys%20representing%20the%20plaintiff." target="_blank">by a jury in Georgia</a>.&nbsp;According to a report from Reuters, Roundup produced $2.8 billion in revenue for Bayer in 2024.The bill protecting glyphosate from litigation passed the Georgia legislature a few weeks after the $2.1 billion award.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748460279946.png" alt=" State Sen. Brad Hudson of Cape Fair speaks at a news conference Feb. 25 about flyers sent to his constituents attacking his opposition to a bill limiting lawsuits against Bayer over its herbicide Roundup. Joining Hudson, from left, are Sens. Nick Schroer of Defiance, Ben Brown of Washington, Joe Nicola of Independence, Mike Moon of Ash Grove, Rick Brattin of Harrisonville, Adam Schnelting of St. Charles, Jill Carter of Joplin and David Gregory of Chesterfield (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Brad Hudson of Cape Fair speaks at a news conference Feb. 25 about flyers sent to his constituents attacking his opposition to a bill limiting lawsuits against Bayer over its herbicide Roundup. Joining Hudson, from left, are Sens. Nick Schroer of Defiance, Ben Brown of Washington, Joe Nicola of Independence, Mike Moon of Ash Grove, Rick Brattin of Harrisonville, Adam Schnelting of St. Charles, Jill Carter of Joplin and David Gregory of Chesterfield (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Gov. Mike Kehoe, at a news conference after lawmakers adjourned earlier this month, blamed defeat of the Missouri legislation on trial attorneys who have made “tens of millions of dollars” off the lawsuits.“If, for some reason, that particular product is not produced anymore in the United States, farmers are still going to need that type of product, that type of weed control, and so that, glyphosate I think is what it’s called, will be produced somewhere,” Kehoe said. “And if it is, it won’t be produced in this country, and farmers will not have the same protections and liability recourse back on the companies who make it, if it’s made in China or somewhere overseas.”Bayer is also being sued by shareholders in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thenewlede.org/2023/05/investors-awarded-class-action-status-in-new-bayer-lawsuit/" target="_blank">class action lawsuit</a>&nbsp;over its decision to spend $68 billion to acquire Monsanto in 2018. The lawsuit alleges Bayer misled investors over the risks of the acquisition and failed to properly perform due diligence before buying Monsanto,When Bayer acquired Monsanto in June 2018, its stock price was about $30 a share. On Tuesday afternoon, the company’s shares were selling for $7 apiece.In the appeal of the Cole County decision, Bayer argued that Green made numerous errors in the trial and in rulings on post-trial motions. The company’s lawyers’ main points challenged the admissibility of testimony about a case over EPA evaluations of glyphosate; surprise findings from an expert; the use made of medical billing records; and whether the punitive damages were unconstitutionally duplicative.At the heart of most glyphosate cases, and the target of legislation, is the label and whether it includes a proper notice that glyphosate may cause cancer.“The misconduct complained about in the complaints in the three California cases Monsanto relies on, and in (one plaintiff’s) petition, includes allegations that despite scientific evidence that Roundup was carcinogenic, Monsanto continued to sell Roundup, and that Monsanto failed to warn of the dangerous effects of using Roundup,” Judge Cynthia Martin wrote in the Western District opinion delivered Tuesday.In a discussion of whether the punitive damage award should have been reduced more, Martin wrote that “Monsanto’s degree of reprehensibility was high.”Martin noted that the evidence shows that while the EPA has registered Roundup “for sale since 1974, Monsanto has been aware since 1985 that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, has the potential to cause cancer.”Each of the plaintiffs suffered damages because Monsanto sold a product that was “unreasonably dangerous when used as reasonably anticipated” without altering the labeling to provide a warning.“Monsanto’s awareness,” Martin wrote, “of studies demonstrating the possibility of a causal relationship between glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, and cancer, particularly NHL, and then its decision to double down on its defense of Roundup in lieu of changing the product’s formulation or adding a warning label regarding the risk posed by Roundup demonstrates, at best, Monsanto’s indifference to or reckless disregard of the health of its customers.”

Appeals court upholds $611M judgment in Roundup liability case

&nbsp;Rian Camty, 14, an 8th grade student at Millard North Middle School in Omaha advanced to the Wednesday quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, according to the bee web site. He did not advance to the semi finals.

Sixty spellers were eliminated in preliminary spelling and vocabulary rounds. That left 183 who took the written spelling and vocabulary test. That test eliminated 84 more. The quarterfinals on Wednesday began with 99 spellers and 60 advanced to the semifinals.

<a href="https://spellingbee.com/watch">Click here for details&nbsp;</a>on how to watch the competition

A 14-year-old student from Omaha is competing at this week's Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC. The bee celebrates its&nbsp;100th anniversary this year.

<a href="https://spellingbee.com/watch">Click here for details </a>on how to watch the competition

&nbsp;Rian Camty, 14, an 8th grade student at Millard North Middle School in Omaha advanced to the Wednesday quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, according to the bee web site. He did not advance to the semi finals.Sixty spellers were eliminated in preliminary spelling and vocabulary rounds. That left 183 who took the written spelling and vocabulary test. That test eliminated 84 more. The quarterfinals on Wednesday began with 99 spellers and 60 advanced to the semifinals.<a href="https://spellingbee.com/watch">Click here for details&nbsp;</a>on how to watch the competition------------------A 14-year-old student from Omaha is competing at this week's Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC. The bee celebrates its&nbsp;100th anniversary this year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748380603065.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://spellingbee.com/watch">Click here for details </a>on how to watch the competition

Nebraska teen eliminated at Scripps National Spelling Bee

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man pleaded guilty in federal court for his role in a scheme in which the conspirators stole hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise from beauty and liquor stores across six states, according to the United State's Attorney.

Gary Bailey, 24, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, to one count of conspiring to transport and possess stolen property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.

By pleading guilty, Bailey admitted that between March 2023 and January 2024, he participated in burglarizing at least 23 stores across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Bailey and his co-conspirators brought the stolen product back to Kansas City, before either selling it, giving it away to family or friends, or consuming the product themselves. The loss to these 23 victim businesses exceeded $418,000.

On April 22, 2025, co-conspirator Donald Bennett pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to transport and possess stolen property, one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, and one count of money laundering.

As part of the plea agreement, Bailey must pay restitution to the victim businesses; the exact amount to be determined at his sentencing hearing. Under federal statutes, Bailey is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man pleaded guilty in federal court for his role in a scheme in which the conspirators stole hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise from beauty and liquor stores across six states, according to the United State's Attorney.Gary Bailey, 24, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, to one count of conspiring to transport and possess stolen property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.By pleading guilty, Bailey admitted that between March 2023 and January 2024, he participated in burglarizing at least 23 stores across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Bailey and his co-conspirators brought the stolen product back to Kansas City, before either selling it, giving it away to family or friends, or consuming the product themselves. The loss to these 23 victim businesses exceeded $418,000.On April 22, 2025, co-conspirator Donald Bennett pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to transport and possess stolen property, one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, and one count of money laundering.As part of the plea agreement, Bailey must pay restitution to the victim businesses; the exact amount to be determined at his sentencing hearing. Under federal statutes, Bailey is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Man admits stealing $400K worth of goods in Nebraska, 5 other states

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska lawmakers could get another chance to vote on a bill that would scale back scheduled increases to the state's minimum wage after approving a motion May 22 to reconsider a failed vote from the previous week.

The bill, LB258, introduced by Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln, would replace a voter-approved plan to annually adjust the minimum wage based on the Midwest Consumer Price Index with a fixed annual increase of 1.75%. Voters passed the current law in November 2022, setting the minimum wage to rise incrementally to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2026, with inflation-based adjustments thereafter. The wage is currently $13.50 an hour.

In addition to changing the adjustment formula, LB258 would establish a $13.50-an-hour youth minimum wage for workers ages 14 and 15, and apply the same rate through 2026 to the 90-day training wage for employees under age 20. Both the youth and training wages would increase by 1.5% annually starting in 2027, with youth wages rising every five years beginning in 2030. Emancipated minors would be excluded from the youth wage provision.

The bill fell two votes short of the required 33-vote supermajority for final passage on May 14, failing 31-17. Measures that alter laws enacted by ballot initiative require a two-thirds majority in the Legislature.

Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, who supported the bill but did not vote during the May 14 roll call, filed the motion to reconsider, citing the absence of another supporter at the time. Ballard said while rare, reconsideration is allowed under legislative rules and has precedent, including in 1984.

“I think this is the right motion, it is well in order and it’s the right thing for this Legislature,” Ballard said during debate.

Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha opposed the move, calling it “shameful” and a break from legislative norms.

“Proponents of this measure lost fair and square and now they want a do-over,” Hunt said.

The motion to reconsider passed on a 33-16 vote. No new date has been set for a second vote on final passage of LB258.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska lawmakers could get another chance to vote on a bill that would scale back scheduled increases to the state's minimum wage after approving a motion May 22 to reconsider a failed vote from the previous week.The bill, LB258, introduced by Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln, would replace a voter-approved plan to annually adjust the minimum wage based on the Midwest Consumer Price Index with a fixed annual increase of 1.75%. Voters passed the current law in November 2022, setting the minimum wage to rise incrementally to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2026, with inflation-based adjustments thereafter. The wage is currently $13.50 an hour.In addition to changing the adjustment formula, LB258 would establish a $13.50-an-hour youth minimum wage for workers ages 14 and 15, and apply the same rate through 2026 to the 90-day training wage for employees under age 20. Both the youth and training wages would increase by 1.5% annually starting in 2027, with youth wages rising every five years beginning in 2030. Emancipated minors would be excluded from the youth wage provision.The bill fell two votes short of the required 33-vote supermajority for final passage on May 14, failing 31-17. Measures that alter laws enacted by ballot initiative require a two-thirds majority in the Legislature.Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, who supported the bill but did not vote during the May 14 roll call, filed the motion to reconsider, citing the absence of another supporter at the time. Ballard said while rare, reconsideration is allowed under legislative rules and has precedent, including in 1984.“I think this is the right motion, it is well in order and it’s the right thing for this Legislature,” Ballard said during debate.Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha opposed the move, calling it “shameful” and a break from legislative norms.“Proponents of this measure lost fair and square and now they want a do-over,” Hunt said.The motion to reconsider passed on a 33-16 vote. No new date has been set for a second vote on final passage of LB258.