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Vargas leads Bacon in campaign cash after Q2 in U.S. House race • Nebraska Examiner

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Vargas leads Bacon in campaign cash after Q2 in U.S. House race • Nebraska Examiner


OMAHA — Democratic donors in and beyond Nebraska’s borders are focusing more money and attention this year on the Omaha-area rematch race for the U.S. House.

From April 1 to June 30, Democratic challenger State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha outraised the four-term Republican incumbent, U.S. Rep. Don Bacon of Papillion.

Vargas reported raising $1.36 million in the second quarter, with $2.5 million in cash on hand. That’s more than double his cash on hand at this point in 2022, campaign finance filings show.

Bacon raised $970,000 for his campaign, plus another $80,000 for his Bacon PAC, the filings show. He listed $2.2 million in cash on hand, more than double his campaign’s tally in July 2022.

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Contrast that with the second quarter of 2022, when Bacon raised $409,000 and listed $1.2 million in cash on hand and Vargas raised $550,000 and listed $533,000 in cash on hand.

Vargas outpacing 2022 tallies

Vargas appears to have held onto his local Democratic donors and expanded his reach with national donors, with much of his money coming to his campaign through online donations portal ActBlue.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said recently it would steer donors to spend more money on a smaller number of races this year, including Nebraska’s 2nd District.

The Vargas campaign has said donors also see that Bacon is coming off a primary in which nearly 40% of Republican voters chose another candidate, Dan Frei, who raised and spent very little.

“Nebraskans across all political parties are making it clear they’re fed up with Don Bacon hurting middle class families and siding with his party bosses, just to protect his political career,” Vargas said in a statement. “That’s why my campaign is seeing more grassroots support and momentum than ever before.” 

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Bacon ahead of schedule, too

Bacon, like most long-term incumbents, raised much of his money from groups and people with business before Congress. He also appears to have maintained his support with local GOP donors.

To date, Bacon has raised and spent the most on this election cycle, because he was fending off a primary challenger, which forced him to spend funds earlier on advertising and door-knocking.

In all, Bacon has raised $4.3 million this cycle and spent $2.1 million, according to OpenSecrets.org, which tracks congressional campaign spending. Vargas has raised $3.5 million and spent $1.1 million. Vargas did not face a primary challenger.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has been ramping up its support for Bacon and other targeted GOP incumbents. It has pledged that Bacon will have all the support he needs.

Bacon, in a statement, thanked his supporters for “putting our campaign in its strongest-ever position to win this fall.” He has said his voting record matches the district and its values better than Vargas.

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“We had a competitive primary. Tony Vargas didn’t,” said Matthew Zacher, Bacon’s campaign manager, who pointed out that the district retains a slight GOP lean. “We have been outraised three of four election cycles and won each time.”

Looking ahead to November

Bacon beat Vargas by about 3 percentage points in 2022.

Polling touted by both campaigns has shown the race within the surveys’  margin of error, with each side highlighting a result that shows their candidate leading.

Many political observers expect the race to take on a harder edge than in 2022. That year, more than $18 million was spent on the race, including more than $11 million from outside groups.

Other House races

Nebraska voters in the state’s 1st Congressional District, top row, will see a faceoff between two former colleagues: (top row) Democratic State Sen. Carol Blood and U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb. For Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District, Dan Ebers, a Democrat (lower left), will face U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb. (lower right). (Photos courtesy of the candidates; Capitol photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

In eastern Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., raised $283,000 and listed $501,000 in cash on hand, federal campaign finance records show.

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His Democratic opponent, State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, raised $23,000 and listed $20,000 in cash on hand.

In Nebraska’s PAC-MAN-shaped, largely rural 3rd District, one of the most conservative districts nationally, Republican U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith continues to outraise Democratic opponents.

Smith raised $296,000 and listed $1.1 million in cash on hand at the end of June. His Democratic opponent, Daniel Ebers, had not filed a campaign finance form with the Federal Election Commission. Candidates must file if they raise $5,000 or more.

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Mental health by the numbers in Nebraska

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Mental health by the numbers in Nebraska


OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A deeper look tonight as First Alert 6 continues to dig deeper into the state of mental health care in Nebraska and possible solutions, ever since last week’s two instances involving law enforcement.

A Douglas County sheriff’s deputy was shot responding to a domestic call. Investigators said the suspect, Brian Huggins, had a history of behavioral health issues. Huggins died by suicide.

And then Noemi Guzman, who police say kidnapped a 3-year-old from inside an Omaha Walmart and cut him in the arm and face with a stolen kitchen knife. Omaha police officers shot and killed her before she could strike again.

Guzman had been on a court-ordered mental health treatment plan since last summer for her schizophrenia. According to court records, psychiatrists determined she could live in the community. Remember, this was after she was arrested for setting her father’s house on fire and threatening a priest with a knife.

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Monitoring system

We wanted to know who is part of the system monitoring those who may not be following their mental health treatment plan and are a risk to others or themselves. When that happens, the Board of Mental Health will often notify the local sheriff so a warrant can be issued and deputies can track the individual down.

Here are the numbers since 2023:

In 2023, 842 warrants were issued for those not following their treatment plans according to the Board of Mental Health. In 2024, 756. In 2025, 690. So far in 2026, 190.

But out of these 2,500 warrants, 85% of them didn’t have a second warrant, meaning deputies picked them up, got them back into treatment and the individuals continued to thrive after the one hiccup.

But in 15% of these cases, the individuals messed up again and had another warrant issued by the Board of Mental Health. Twenty-five individuals had five or more issued in Douglas County.

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Sheriff Hanson said there has to be a better way, a more team approach for this.

One model to explore is the way Nebraska’s problem-solving courts work like drug court and veterans’ treatment court where experts from a variety of stakeholders help individuals who are on the fringes to do everything to make them productive citizens.

Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.



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‘Nothing can hold me back’: Nebraska teen scores on first play after open heart surgery

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‘Nothing can hold me back’: Nebraska teen scores on first play after open heart surgery


(InvestigateTV) — Sometimes sports are about more than the final score.

For Jack Burke, a high school football player in Nebraska, a medical diagnosis at birth has never stopped him from competing — and a touchdown catch in his first play back from open heart surgery proved it.

Born with a rare heart defect

Burke was born with Scimitar syndrome, a rare heart defect in which babies are born with an underdeveloped right lung and pulmonary artery. The condition also affects blood flow to the right lung. Treatment often includes surgery, and many adults with the condition go on to live healthy lives.

“As a kid, I never really understood,” Burke said. “It was always natural for me that I had to push myself harder to keep up.”

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His mother, Bridget Burke, says the condition was not initially considered dangerous for sports participation.

“His Scimitar Syndrome never really came into play as being dangerous for him to play sports,” she said.

The decision to operate

That changed in the spring of 2025, when Burke’s family and doctors decided it was time for a surgery that had been anticipated for years.

“I’ve kind of known I’ve had to get surgery my whole life,” Burke said. “Once I knew I could get the surgery sooner, I was all in. I wanted to get it so I could get back to sports.”

His father, Ryan Burke, says the timing was deliberate.

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“This will be done before school gets started, and still have a chance to do almost everything you want to do,” Ryan Burke said.

Jack Burke underwent open-heart surgery, leaving a visible reminder of what he went through.

“There’s a six-inch scar in the middle of his chest that represents a pretty big thing that happened,” Ryan Burke said.

For Bridget Burke, the moment her son was taken to the operating room was difficult.

“When the rubber hits the road and your kid is being wheeled back to the OR, it is scary and emotional,” she said.

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The comeback

Burke eased back into football following his cardiologist’s recommended recovery timeline. His return came in week three of the season.

“Before the Schuyler game I talked to his dad and he’s like, ‘I think we might be ready,’” said coach Jay Landstrom.

Bridget Burke says the family approached the return with caution.

“I mean, I was nervous. We didn’t really know how much he would play. It was going to be some cautious situations,” she said.

Those concerns were set aside — at least for a moment — when Burke caught a touchdown pass on his very first play back.

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“All the parents were high-fiving everybody and they were like, ‘Was that really Jack?’” Bridget Burke said.

Landstrom called it a special moment.

“It was just meant to be and that was really special,” he said.

For Burke, the touchdown meant something beyond the scoreboard.

“I just remember one of my teammates came up to me and said, ‘He’s back. He’s back,’” Burke said. “It kind of shows something that tried to stop me — I hurdled that obstacle.”

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Burke says the surgery has given him a new sense of freedom.

“Now I can do whatever I want. Nothing can hold me back,” he said.

Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



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Nebraska Lottery results: See winning numbers for Pick 3, Pick 5 on April 19, 2026

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The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 19.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing

4-3-3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 19 drawing

14-19-24-30-34

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from April 19 drawing

Red Balls: 01-02, White Balls: 09-26

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning MyDay numbers from April 19 drawing

Month: 08, Day: 16, Year: 61

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Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing

32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Nebraska Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3, 5: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lucky For Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
  • 2 By 2: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
  • MyDaY: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9:15 p.m CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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