Monday - May 25, 2026
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Nebraska Newsletter for Friday May 08, 2026 ( 16 items )  

Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Langhofer Testifies Before House Education & Workforce Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development released the following testimony by Tyson Langhofer, senior counsel of the Alliance Defending Freedom, from an April 29, 2026, hearing entitled "Speech or Silence? The Future of the First Amendment in Higher Education": * * * Dear Chairman Owens, Ranking Member Adams, and Members of the Subcommittee: "The college classroom with its surrounding environs is peculiarly the 'marketpla  more

Attorney General Alan Wilson fights to protect parental rights from woke gender ideology
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, May 7 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news: * * * Attorney General Alan Wilson fights to protect parental rights from woke gender ideology * (COLUMBIA, S.C.) - Attorney General Alan Wilson today joined a 20-state and territory letter to the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education in support of parental rights. It has been reported that schools within the Montgomery County Public School District in Maryland push students toward  more

Blackburn, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Speed Up VA Construction Projects
WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * Blackburn, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Speed Up VA Construction Projects * NASHVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced the Faster VA Construction Act to direct the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to adopt commercial building codes and standards where possible, consistent with law: "The VA's   more

Cornell and SUNY students show $400 is enough to change lives
ITHACA, New York, May 7 -- Cornell University posted the following news: * * * Cornell and SUNY students show $400 is enough to change lives Fatima Zeshan '28 saw a need in her community: According to the latest U.S. Census data, 30% of Ithaca residents live below the poverty line, a rate two times higher than the state average.  Zeshan and Calyssa Orellana '27 are co-presidents of the Homelessness Action Project, a student group supporting organizations that assist people experiencing home  more

Defense Primer - LGM-35A Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Topic of White Paper From CRS
WASHINGTON, May 7 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11681) on May 6, 2026, by defense policy analyst Anya L. Fink. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: LGM-35A Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile The LGM-35A Sentinel is envisioned as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system that is expected to replace the Minuteman III (MMIII) ICBM in the U.S. nuclear force structure. MMIII has served as the ground-based le  more

Democracy Forward: Nebraska Organizations Move to Defend Access to Affordable Higher Education
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Democracy Forward, an organization that says it advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education and regulatory engagement, issued the following news release on May 7, 2026: * * * Nebraska Organizations Move to Defend Access to Affordable Higher Education Organizations Seek to Intervene to Oppose Collusive Effort to Eliminate In-State Tuition Eligibility * Omaha, Neb. -- Orel Alliance and the True Potential Scholarship moved to inte  more

First National Bank of Omaha Report Highlights Community Investment and Sustainability Progress
WASHINGTON, May 8 (TNSLrpt) -- One by one: 2025 Impact Report - A report from First National Bank of Omaha, Nebraska - May 2026 (17 pages) * * * The First National Bank of Omaha issued a report outlining its 2025 performance in community investment, environmental sustainability, and social impact initiatives across its multistate banking footprint. The report evaluates progress toward long-term community development and sustainability goals, highlighting lending activity, affordable housing su  more

FNBO Releases 2025 Impact Report
OMAHA, Nebraska, May 7 (TNSrpt) -- First National Bank of Omaha, a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska Inc., issued the following news: * * * FNBO Releases 2025 Impact Report FNBO Delivers Strong Progress Toward Community Impact Goals, Surpassing Key Targets * FNBO has released its 2025 Impact Report, highlighting the bank's deep commitment to community support through philanthropic giving, employee volunteerism and environmental sustainability initiatives. The report details the bank  more

Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity earns inaugural Governors' Cup
LINCOLN, Nebraska, May 7 -- The University of Nebraska posted the following news: * * * Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity earns inaugural Governors' Cup * The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity earned the inaugural Governors' Cup at the KKPsi District Convention. The Governors' Cup is a distinction awarded to the top chapter of the Midwest District that best exemplifies the values of KKPsi and can act as an inspiration to other chapters. "We are honored to name the KKPs  more

Kumar Venkitanarayanan Named Dean of CAHNR
STORRS, Connecticut, May 7 -- The University of Connecticut posted the following news: * * * Kumar Venkitanarayanan Named Dean of CAHNR * Following a national search, Kumar Venkitanarayanan has been appointed dean of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources ( CAHNR ) at the University of Connecticut, as well as director of the Connecticut Cooperative Extension System and the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, effective July 1. Venkitanarayanan, a longtime member of the  more

Neb. Banking & Finance Dept. Submits Public Comment on OCC Stablecoin Rulemaking
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regarding the OCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act. The letter addresses the proposed regulatory framework for payment stablecoin issuers subject to OCC jurisdiction. The Department, which has regulated stablecoin-related activities   more

Nebraska Leads 23-State Coalition Asking Supreme Court to Uphold Mifepristone Stay
LINCOLN, Nebraska, May 7 -- Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers issued the following news release: * * * Nebraska Leads 23-State Coalition Asking Supreme Court to Uphold Mifepristone Stay Today, Nebraska Attorney General Michael Hilgers filed an amicus brief on behalf of 23 states asking the Supreme Court to leave in place a lower court's stay of a federal regulation that removed the longstanding in-person dispensing requirement for the chemical abortion drug mifepristone. The stayed rule,  more

Nebraska U to award record 3,800-plus degrees May 8-9
LINCOLN, Nebraska, May 7 -- The University of Nebraska posted the following news: * * * Nebraska U to award record 3,800-plus degrees May 8-9 * The University of Nebraska-Lincoln expects to confer a record 3,800-plus degrees during commencement exercises May 8-9. Pinnacle Bank Arena, 400 Pinnacle Arena Drive, will host a ceremony for students earning graduate and professional degrees, 3 p.m. May 8, and two ceremonies for those earning bachelor's degrees, 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. May 9. Doors open  more

Nebraska U to host International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare June 1-3
LINCOLN, Nebraska, May 7 -- The University of Nebraska posted the following news: * * * Nebraska U to host International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare June 1-3 * University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty are at the forefront of animal welfare research and will host a June 1-3 international symposium highlighting the latest research and practical applications for beef cattle. "There is a clear and growing need for collaboration across disciplines and sectors, and this symposium aims to addr  more

Vanderbilt University honors Class of 2026 Founder's Medalists
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, May 7 -- Vanderbilt University posted the following news release: * * * Vanderbilt University honors Class of 2026 Founder's Medalists * Vanderbilt University recognized the 2026 Founder's Medalists for their remarkable scholarly dedication and outstanding achievements during the Graduates Day event on May 7 as part of the Commencement celebration. Since 1877, the university has awarded a medal to the student graduating with top honors from each of the university's sc  more

Wayne State College: Service-Learning Wraps Up for 2025-26
WAYNE, Nebraska, May 8 -- Wayne State College issued the following news release: * * * Service-Learning Wraps Up for 2025-26 More than 1,100 students completed service-learning projects for the 2025-26 academic year. * Approximately 1,160 Wayne State College students enrolled in 38 projects and events across numerous disciplines finished their projects in Wayne State's Service-Learning Program for the 2025-26 academic year. This translates to 9,715 hours of service with 50 community partne  more