Next year will be a time of belt-tightening in the state capitol. That’s the sentiment from fiscal committee leadership ahead of the 60-day session that begins in January. Changes from the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act are estimated to cost the state more than $200 million in revenue over the next two years. That, combined with lower-than-expected state tax revenues over the summer, means the Legislature will likely make additional cuts to the biennial budget it passed in the spring. Revenue Committee Chair Brad von Gillern said some ways of raising revenue, such as reversing income tax cuts or rolling back business tax incentives, should be off the table.

Doane University and Nebraska Methodist College will partner on a new accelerated nursing pathway to help address health care shortages across the state. The official program begins in fall 2026, but leaders said the two institutions already share many students.

Local contractors say they have enough local labor to detassel Nebraska’s seed corn but they’re losing work to migrant workers on H-2A visas. A 2024 Nebraska law attempted to increase transparency in detasseling labor practices.

An American Association of University Professors report showed that the University of Nebraska is in “good financial health” amid ongoing budget cut discussions. The Lincoln campus chancellor will submit recommended cuts to the Board of Regents before its December meeting. The latest proposal included eliminating six programs.

Republicans have tried to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government funded at previous levels through late November, but it’s failed 13 times to receive the 60 votes needed in the Senate to pass. Democrats say they want to negotiate an extension of tax credits for people who receive health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Speaking with the press Wednesday, Ricketts said that won’t happen until after the government is reopened.

41 million Americans are expected to lose their SNAP benefits at the end of the month due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Within Nebraska, SNAP benefits will be paused as of Wednesday, October 29.

Gov. Jim Pillen is in Isreal this week to promote Nebraska trade and U.S. defense technology. The governor attended a swearing in ceremony for new troops in the Israeli army and visited the Nova Festival Memorial, which commemorates the victims of the Oct. 7 attacks. Pillen said he met with people in western Galilee who have endured thousands of warnings to take shelter over the last 18 months, but said the recent ceasefire negotiated by President Donald Trump has made things calm again.

Creighton University launched an online course this month to help educators understand best uses for AI in their classrooms. The $50, self-paced module covers basics of AI, ethics and ways to utilize it for teachers and students.

The first woman appointed to the Nebraska Supreme Court is retiring at the end of the month. Lindsey Miller-Lerman is also the longest-serving member of the Nebraska Supreme Court at 27 years. Justice Miller-Lerman told Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson she always wanted to be a lawyer.

Not as many younger people are joining clubs like Rotary and Sertoma. A group of neighbors in the southeastern Nebraska town of Crete want to change that in their community, by bringing together people — young and old. Former state senator Laura Ebke helped found the group Crete Connect just a few days after the shooting death of political activist Charlie Kirk. Ebke spoke with Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada about the community effort to bring neighbors back together.