Nebraska Update

The Nebraska football team faces off with FCS foe Houston Christian University on Saturday. The Cornhuskers are 2-0 on the year, following wins against Cincinnati and Akron.

Gov. Jim Pillen and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton recapped their recent visit to Japan while speaking at Husker Harvest Days, an ag show just west of Grand Island. The trip came on the heels of a trade deal with Japan signed by President Donald Trump last week. As part of the deal, Japan agreed to invest $550 billion in projects selected by the U.S. government. Pillen said he told Japanese officials he wants at least 10% of that amount to go toward projects in Nebraska. Pillen also praised the Japanese culture he witnessed on his visit to Tokyo.

When the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved alcohol sales for all sporting events last October, many cited research saying the move would reduce binge drinking on Husker football gamedays. During the first quarter of Saturday’s lopsided win over Akron, multiple fans said beer and hard seltzer service in Memorial Stadium will be positive.

Lincoln Electric System has received $300,000 from Google to help provide energy-efficient improvements for affordable housing. The money will help Lincoln continue the South of Downtown Rental Rehabilitation Program, a 2023 program that in part aims to improve energy efficiency for residents in portions of the city’s Near South and Everett neighborhoods.

Gov. Jim Pillen declined to sign draft regulations for the medical cannabis industry the commission approved last week. In a letter to the commission sent Thursday, Pillen wrote "Leaving the cultivators without a limit would increase likelihood of an overabundance of cannabis product that creates an unregulated, unintended black-market supply.” The commission responded by placing a limit of 1,250 flowering plants for each cultivator.

Beef prices have hit record highs, yet American consumers haven’t stopped buying it. A look at what’s behind the steep price increase and when they might come down.

COVID-19 illness numbers are seeing an uptick. Health professionals say it’s because of the return to fall activities and lower vaccination rates. Most recent data has shown that nearly 16% of COVID-19 tests have come back positive, the highest it has been all year.

The city has earned a national recognition for building an inclusive community. It’s the second city in the state to earn this label.

Sen. Merv Riepe, a Republican in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, said he's not a fan of changing rules mid-game.

Overall University of Nebraska enrollment was similar to last school year, but there were notable decreases with international and graduate students. Increases in first-time freshmen and medical students helped offset those declines.