Nebraska
Gov. Pillen explains willingness to accept more than Nebraska’s ‘fair share’ in federal funds • Nebraska Examiner
PLATTSMOUTH, Nebraska — Nearly half a year after saying he didn’t “believe in welfare,” Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen says the state will accept as many federal dollars as possible.
Pillen’s latest directive to his cabinet members has been to find federal funds that have “no strings attached” so the Cornhusker State gets “more than our fair share.” Doing so, he has said, could increase investments into state services, promote growth or reduce property taxes.
“Green light, pedal to the metal,” Pillen recalled telling his cabinet.
In December, explaining his then-rejection of federal funding for Summer Electronic Benefits Transfers funds for low-income Nebraska families, Pillen said similar programs already existed, and he criticized a lack of “touch points.”
Months later, the governor, alongside the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education and many Republican state senators, announced they had found a “Nebraska way” and would move forward with the summer food program.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture praised the Nebraska proposal and the addition of “touch points” that Pillen desired be added.
About 175,000 students, or 80,000 households that meet certain criteria, such as free or reduced lunch eligibility, are expected to benefit from a card loaded with $120 in grocery-buying benefits for the summer.
Oklahoma origins to philosophy
Pillen told the Nebraska Examiner his response was “not a shift at all” from his December stance because his initial opposition came over the program’s execution, not its goals. He said “touch points” could increase participation in other programs and better support families.
During various town halls, Pillen has continued to pitch his desire to provide another $1 billion in property tax relief, shaving off a total 40% of the state’s approximately $5.3 billion collected each year by this year’s end.
Pillen said he plans to call a special session this summer and add to the first $1 billion in reduced property taxes through credits on income taxes and community colleges.
Three weeks into becoming governor in January 2023, Pillen said, he talked with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and learned that Stitt had a personal lobbyist in Washington, D.C., who helped the state draw in more federal dollars.
Nebraska, Stitt told the state’s freshman governor, was second to last nationwide in getting its share of federal funds, while Oklahoma was in the top 10.
Pillen recalled finding that fact “appalling” and told attendees at a town hall in Plattsmouth that if Nebraska didn’t accept the funds, they could go to California.
“We’re working incredibly hard to get more than our fair share of federal dollars back home,” Pillen said. “Vastly different than what’s gone on for a lot of years.”
Past governors rejected federal help
Nebraska’s previous governor, now-U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., rejected federal funds for emergency rental aid related to the COVID-19 pandemic. State lawmakers tried to force the state to accept the funds, a move Ricketts vetoed, and the Legislature fell short of a veto override.
The amount of relief started at $120 million for Nebraska, with many of those funds being distributed to other states, before Pillen eventually accepted a remaining $48 million for Nebraska’s 91 smaller counties after he took office, in July 2023.
“That’s $70 million that was left on the table that could have gone to helping people remain housed, and then that money goes into our communities,” State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha said last week.
Ricketts and former Gov. Dave Heineman similarly opposed Medicaid expansion before voters approved the expansion. Both governors argued the change would be too costly.
‘Welcome to the party’
Cavanaugh, who supported Summer EBT and the rental aid, has long been an advocate of drawing down more federal funds and said he was happy with Pillen’s position.
“Welcome to the party,” Cavanaugh said.
In the most recent legislative biennium, lawmakers embraced federal funding for nursing homes, hospitals and Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers, which Pillen celebrated.
State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward joined a letter, led by State Sen. Jen Day, with 14 other senators to ask Nebraska DHHS to reconsider accepting the summer food program last December.
Hughes said urban school districts might be better positioned than more rural districts like hers to have schools open throughout the summer to offer programs or food to families.
“I think as he got more aware of how it really went down, that’s what helped change his tune,” Hughes said of Pillen.
She added that the “Nebraska way” changes were helpful. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also praised the proposal.
‘A very unsteady dock’
State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar said the state must be careful and “look very closely” at any federal dollars on the table.
While the state has a strong congressional delegation, she argued, the Biden administration doesn’t share those same beliefs, so “no strings” might not actually be the case.
“I don’t trust the Biden administration to just be giving away free money, because that’s not free money, that’s taxpayer money,” Slama said.
Slama said leaders must weigh benefits and risks and not get “addicted” to the federal draw. She added that Nebraska has a “very stable economy” partially because it isn’t dependent on the federal government, and state officials find funds for their own programs.
“Instead of attaching our boat to a very unsteady dock, I like the thought of being out on our own as much as we can,” Slama said.
State funds won’t pick up slack
State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, who represents Plattsmouth and chairs the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, said the state already has a policy that if federal funds go down, state funds won’t fill in behind them.
“While it’s available, I think we should go for it,” Clements said.
State Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth echoed his colleagues’ sentiments and said he would be interested in Pillen establishing a satellite office in Washington to help Nebraska get more than its fair share.
“We all pay our federal tax dollars to D.C.,” Brandt said. “We need to get those back for the benefit of the people of the state.”
The UCLA men’s basketball team made Senior Night one to savor Tuesday, dominating No. 9 Nebraska 72-52 at Pauley Pavilion for its 20th victory of the season and third over a top-10 ranked opponent.
The Bruins improved to 20-10 overall and 12-7 in the Big Ten with one regular season game remaining, Saturday at crosstown rival USC.
Trent Perry scored 20 points, Eric Dailey Jr. had 14 and three players — Tyler Bilodeau, Skyy Clark and Xavier Booker — each added eight points.
“Nebraska’s got a great team,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. “This is the best we’ve played all year — they brought out the best in us. We went from our worst defensive effort to our best. They outhustle everyone they play, but not us. Tonight we were great, but I love the way they play. If we had their attitude we’d have their record.”
Eric Freeny had four points, five rebounds and three steals in 18 minutes for UCLA, which got 26 points in the paint and 17 second-chance points.
“Effort is what it takes to win in March,” Freeny said. “It was our last home game. Coach keeps on pushing me to be better everyday.”
Sam Hoiberg had 12 points to lead Nebraska, but Pryce Sandfort, who began the game leading the conference in three-pointers made per game, was held to nine points.
“Sandford has been unbelievable so to hold him to nine points is amazing,” Cronin said. “Brandon Williams was the unsung hero.”
Williams had six points and three rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench.
The Bruins were in control from the opening tip-off and never trailed the Cornhuskers (25-5, 14-5). UCLA improved to 10-3 in all-time against Nebraska and the win greatly strengthened its resume for the NCAA tournament as the Bruins also beat then-No. 4 Purdue 69-67 on Jan. 20 and then-No. 10 Illinois 95-94 in overtime on Feb. 21 on Donovan Dent’s layup with one second left.
“We have to take attitude we came with tonight, bottle it up and take it on the road,” Dailey Jr. said. “We’ve got so much left. The season’s not over… we’re only as good as our last game. It’s all about how you respond. I love the fight that we played with tonight.”
This is the fifth time in Cronin’s seven seasons that the Bruins have won 20 or more games. They are 17-1 at home (their only loss in overtime to Indiana on Jan. 31).
“Since I’ve been here we don’t lose much at home.” Cronin said.
UCLA went ahead by 15 points, 37-22, on Perry’s three-pointer with 2:41 left and led 37-24 at intermission. The Bruins shot 50% from the field in the first half (15 for 30) while Nebraska was only 31% (nine for 29).
The Bruins increased their advantage to 18 points on Dailey’s dunk less than five minutes into the second half and the visitors got no closer than nine the rest of the way.
Prior to pregame introductions the Bruins honored seniors Bilodeau, Dent and Clark; fifth-year player Jamar Brown; redshirt seniors Steven Jamerson II, Jack Seidler and Anthony Peoples Jr; and redshirt junior Evan Manjikian. In a media timeout, midway through the first half, former coach Jim Harrick (who led UCLA to its 11th national championship in 1995) was honored and got a loud ovation.
“I’m happy for our seniors, I didn’t want them to lose their last game at Pauley,” said Perry, who reversed a subpar performance at Minnesota, where he was 0-for-7 from the field with one rebound and one assist in 26 minutes. “I had to come out here tonight and bounce back for my team. I play for something bigger than myself and I’m fortunate to have the type of guys I do around me.”
UCLA guard Skyy Clark looks to pass while under pressure from Nebraska guard Sam Hoiberg and forward Berke Buyuktuncel in the second half.
(William Liang / Associated Press)
Over the last four games, Dent has 46 assists and just two turnovers.
Bilodeau has scored in double figures in 26 of 28 games played, totaling 20 points or more nine times.
Dailey moved to within five points of reaching the 1,000-career point milestone.
UCLA has now made at least one three-pointer in 887 of 888 games dating to February 2000.
“We had one practice this week, that’s it,” Cronin said. “We watched film, had a heart-to-heart talk and a shoot around today but that’s it.”
People across Nebraska and Kansas reported feeling an earthquake Sunday afternoon.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a quake measuring 4.1 on the Richter Scale struck around 1 p.m. about 3 miles east of the Webster County village of Cowles, which is in south-central Nebraska near the Kansas border.
A quake of that magnitude is considered “light” and not likely to cause damage.
But the USGS received dozens of reports from people who said they felt the quake, some as far away as Omaha and Manhattan, Kansas. Numerous people took to social media to report feeling the quake.
Two aftershocks of 2.6 magnitude later occurred near the original quake site, one about 90 minutes after the initial quake and one later Sunday night.
Earthquakes are relatively rare in Nebraska, but the state does usually record one or two minor ones per year. The last time Nebraska recorded a quake of a magnitude 4 or above was in December 2023, also in Webster County.
The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Monday, March 2, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on March 2.
Winning Powerball numbers from March 2 drawing
02-17-18-38-62, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 2 drawing
21-28-58-65-67, Powerball: 25
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 2 drawing
7-5-8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from March 2 drawing
03-08-09-17-25
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from March 2 drawing
Red Balls: 14-26, White Balls: 17-18
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from March 2 drawing
Month: 05, Day: 03, Year: 23
Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 2 drawing
28-41-42-50-55, Bonus: 02
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.
Detroit Pistons’ loss to Cavs shows weaknesses before playoffs
Floats for San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade get finishing touches
Hip-hop hitmaker Cardi B coming to AAC in Dallas
Shooting in northwest Miami-Dade leaves man in critical condition, sheriff’s office says
Charlotte plays Boston on 5-game win streak
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Video: Senators Question Kristi Noem on ICE Immigration Tactics
Combustible Republican Senate primary in Texas heading into overtime
Hungarian veto proves EU needs less unanimity, says new Dutch PM
Pregnant migrant girls are being sent to a Texas shelter flagged as medically risky
Fraud-plagued Minnesota sues Trump admin for withholding $243M in Medicaid payments
-
World6 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts7 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Denver, CO7 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Oregon5 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling
-
Florida3 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Maryland3 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz on Thrilling Books That Became Popular Movies