Nebraska Update

A Nebraska Air Force employee was arrested Saturday for sharing classified information about the war in Ukraine. David Slater, a 63-year-old employee at the Offutt Air Force Base, faces one count of conspiracy to disclose national defense information and two counts of unauthorized disclosure of national defense information.

Purchasers of land in all or part of eight western Nebraska counties would have to certify they are not affiliated with any foreign adversaries.

As the University of Nebraska continues the search for a new president, interim president Chris Kabourek said he wants to keep the university moving forward. Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal sat down with Kabourek to discuss his goals for the university as challenges like budget cuts continue.

Host Intro: Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has vetoed a bill allowing Nebraska cities to establish needle exchange programs for drug users. Sen. Meghan Hunt, chief sponsor of the legislation, says she’ll try to override the veto.

Nebraska state senators approved two amendments Monday on LB 1087, which would increase Medicaid funding for the state’s hospitals.

School boards could let teachers and other staff carry guns in school, under a proposal advanced by the Legislature’s Education Committee today/Thursday. And senators advanced a proposal aimed at helping native American tribal members experiencing mental health crises.

A seventeen-year-old from Hall County, accused in a massive sextortion case involving multiple victims must face the charges as an adult. The judge in the case called the teenager “an extreme threat to the security of the public.” Cody Holum argued he would benefit from the counseling and rehabilitation services available to a juvenile defendant until he was 19 years old. A Hall County District Judge determined just a year’s worth of services would not provide enough time to deal with the “alarming” behavior he’s shown over several years.

Nebraska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Timothy Tesmer, was scheduled to provide clarification on the state’s gender affirming care regulations for minors at a briefing Thursday afternoon. However, he and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services declined to attend. Last week, the Health and Human Services Committee requested a briefing from Tesmer to clarify the final rules and regulations of LB574, which was passed by the legislature last year.

The U.S. Department of Education aims to send completed 2024-25 Free Applications for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSAs, to colleges in March. The FAFSA typically goes out in October, but for the 2024-25 form, there have been roadblocks due to needed changes from the FAFSA Simplification Act.

The Nebraska legislature heard arguments for and against a bill that would allow a controversial execution method to be used in the state. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports if passed, the state would be the fourth in the U.S. to approve nitrogen gas for executions.