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Nebraska can provide a roadmap for U.S. energy and tech leadership • Nebraska Examiner

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Nebraska can provide a roadmap for U.S. energy and tech leadership • Nebraska Examiner


When President Trump unveiled his new Domestic Energy Council in November, he noted that, “with U.S. energy dominance, we will drive down Inflation, win the A.I. arms race with China (and others), and expand American diplomatic power.” To get a glimpse of how this would work in practice, look no further than Nebraska.

Few states have successfully achieved the all-of-the-above energy mix that Nebraskans enjoy today. The Cornhusker State’s balanced, diverse energy portfolio and publicly owned power utilities have yielded tremendous results for Nebraska residents, and we consistently rank near the top of all states in grid reliability and lowest-cost electricity rates. Lowering these energy costs has helped combat the inflation that has eroded so many Americans’ standard of living over the past several years.

Smart energy policy is not only a boon for residential consumers but also bolsters our industrial strength. Industrial customers account for most of Nebraska’s energy consumption, so maintaining low energy prices translates into a competitive edge for our state’s farmers and ranchers, meatpackers, truckers and manufacturers. President Trump has made rebuilding American industrial might a centerpiece of his administration, and Nebraska has shown what strategic energy and infrastructure development can do to attract jobs and investment.

The race with China on AI

Wind turbines north of Neligh, Nebraska, loom over a farm field (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

A similar lesson can be applied to the AI race with China that President Trump has made clear he intends to win. Energy dominance and tech leadership have become increasingly intertwined, and it is not a coincidence that Nebraska’s high marks in energy and grid reliability have corresponded with a growth in our state’s tech workforce and data center construction.

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Tech jobs across our state numbered approximately 37,000 in 2022, an eight percent year-over-year increase, according to a study from the University of Nebraska prepared for the Nebraska Tech Collaborative. The same study found that this industry had a $20 billion annual economic footprint in Nebraska.

Data centers are key to this booming innovation economy, and they represent the backbone of the AI and cloud capabilities being harnessed by Nebraska businesses, academic institutions and government agencies. Mom and pop retailers use these tools to punch above their weight in the marketplace, and recently local hospitals have started incorporating AI in their daily operations both to streamline administrative tasks like charting and to improve patient care, as it helps address nursing shortages by re-assessing appropriate staffing ratios. Companies, including Union Pacific, use AI tools to optimize operations and work with customers to help predict shipping patterns and better align service with needs.

Role of higher learning

Local universities are leveraging AI’s growth in Nebraska and offer new courses to ensure that we are attracting and cultivating the skilled workforce we need to sharpen U.S. tech competitiveness and win the AI arms race. In fact, the University of Nebraska at Omaha is leading the charge with the state’s first AI-focused bachelor’s degree.

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., listens to an ag researcher at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln speak about their work on Monday, June 19, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

With a 74 percent surge in demand for AI specialists over the past five years, our academic institutions recognize the need to close the skills gap and cultivate home-grown talent to help drive the innovation economy forward. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said it well during a data center announcement in Lincoln: “The importance of innovation in national security and AI between the public and private sectors cannot be understated, and we’re working on that right here in Nebraska.”

Nebraska’s position as an energy and tech leader can offer the new administration a battle-tested roadmap for how to fuel innovation and attract investment through smart, pragmatic policies. The best thing we can do as a state is keep our foot on the accelerator and continue to lead by example.

Brett Lindstrom is an executive and advisor in financial services and charitable giving and served in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015-2023, including as chair of the Banking, Insurance and Commerce committee. The Republican ran for governor in 2022.

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Nebraska Women’s Basketball Tops Purdue Fort Wayne at Emerald Coast Classic

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Nebraska Women’s Basketball Tops Purdue Fort Wayne at Emerald Coast Classic


Nebraska women’s basketball is still undefeated early in the 2025-26 campaign.

The Huskers topped the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastadons in the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Florida, on Monday, 80-57. NU is now 6-0 while PFW is 3-3.

But the 23-point difference is not an indication of how close this game was for much of the evening.

Nebraska was held scoreless for the final four minutes of the first quarter, as Purdue Fort Wayne closed the game to just two points. The fortunes reversed late in the second quarter, with Nebraska going on an 11-0 run over the final 3:12 to take a 38-26 lead into halftime.

The Mastodons shot 46.2% in the third quarter and forced the Huskers into five turnovers, gaining ground to trail 54-44 after three frames.

That momentum continued into the fourth quarter, with a 5-2 run to cut the deficit to seven points. Then Logan Nissley made her presence known.

In a span of 1:19, Nissley hit a trio of three-pointers. The Husker junior scored all 11 of her points in the fourth quarter, where Nebraska doubled up Purdue Fort Wayne 26-13 to run away with the result.

Nebraska forward Jessica Petrie defends Purdue Fort Wayne forward Hillary Offing in the Emerald Coast Classic.

Nebraska forward Jessica Petrie defends Purdue Fort Wayne forward Hillary Offing in the Emerald Coast Classic. / Nebraska Athletics

Amiah Hargrove joined Nissley in scoring 11 points off the bench, with Eliza Maupin pouring in 13 points as another substitute. Britt Prince scored a game-high 18 points, adding seven assists, three rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot.

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Nebraska shot 56.9% for the game, including 8-of-18 on three-pointers. Purdue Fort Wayne made 38.9% of their shots, going 8-of-27 from downtown.

Both teams had double-digit turnovers, with NU notching 14 to PFW’s 18. Those turned into 26 Husker points and 18 Mastodon points.

Nebraska advances to the championship of the Emerald Coast Classic on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. CST. The Huskers will take on the winner of Northwestern State and Virginia, with the game streaming on FloHoops.

Box score

Have a question or comment for Kaleb? Send an email to kalebhenry.huskermax@gmail.com.

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Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2025-26 Schedule

Home games are bolded. All times central.

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.





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Let’s Have an Honest Conversation About Nebraska Football

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Let’s Have an Honest Conversation About Nebraska Football


Adam Carriker speaks off the cuff/Gut Reaction style about Nebraska, Matt Rhule, Emmett Johnson, TJ Lateef & Husker football in this unique episode of the Carriker Chronicles. Carriker always prepares a lot, but he doesn’t use many notes in this raw and candid show! Nebraska football has to get better and do so very soon.

Big Ten football & college football fans…Let’s talk Huskers & about what’s happened! Adam Carriker does a position by position analysis of what’s taken place so far this year. What does he see between Dylan Raiola and TJ Lateef at quarterback? What does Adam see when it comes to Lateef playing versus Iowa, and what may happen during the off-season, also who may be being overlooked in that quarterback room right now?

When it comes to the running back, Adam points out absolutely amazing stats about Emmett Johnson. One is good and one is also concerning for Nebraska as a team. It also must be addressed at some point who is the true backup as well.

The wide receivers have done something this year that Adam couldn’t be more happy about, but that being said, they also need to improve in a drastic area as well, and Carriker addresses that too. Why does Adam feel the tight ends have been under-utilized when it comes to not only Luke Lindenmeyer, but Henrich Haarberg as well? Tune in to hear Adam‘s thoughts on this specifically!

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Has Nebraska been playing six-on-11 football this year at times when it comes to the offensive line? Maybe that’s a bit unfair, but it is pretty obvious that Dana Holgorsen has completely changed how he calls games due to what he believes the offensive line’s limitations are.

Let’s also chat about the defensive line and why, while nobody knew for sure what was gonna happen up front defensively this year, Adam Carriker mentioned that some of this may have been a little easy to predict — even easier than Husker fans may have liked to admit.

The second level of the defense has had some ups and downs. Let’s chat about that and what the future looks like there as well! The defensive secondary has been elite, or has it? And finally, Adam points out some absolutely amazing statistics about Nebraska special teams. Also, what has been the one thing that’s been a little bit underwhelming to this point?

Adam gives us summation of Matt Rhule’s approach to rebuilding Nebraska football, and he compares it to Curt Cignetti, Deion Sanders and other college coaches as well. Why does Matt Rhule not mind taking a couple of steps backward in order to go forward? And the ultimate question, will Nebraska ultimately take those big steps forward that Matt Rhule is hoping for?! This is a can’t-miss episode of the Carriker Chronicles!

Go Big Red and always remember to Throw The Bones!

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☛ Get more Carriker Chronicles here on Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, at Adam’s website and on YouTube.

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.



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Penn State’s vets shined in the team’s romp vs. Nebraska, and so did these young Lions

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Penn State’s vets shined in the team’s romp vs. Nebraska, and so did these young Lions


Kaytron Allen is now Penn State’s all-time leading rusher after yet another stellar performance on the ground.

Nick Singleton, Allen’s 2022 classmate and good friend, added two more touchdowns to his impressive career total, along with 95 combined rushing-receiving yards.

Singleton has amassed 53 touchdowns for PSU, tying him with Saquon Barkley for the most in program history.

Penn State’s offensive line, led by vets Vega Ioane, Nick Dawkins, Drew Shelton, Anthony Donkoh and Nolan Rucci, paved the way for the Lions’ 231 rushing yards and four rushing scores in PSU’s 37-10 steamrolling of Nebraska on Senior Night in State College.

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Senior defensive linemen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant combined for two sacks and two pass breakups in the contest.

The Penn State veterans came to play as the Lions improved to 5-6 in their final 2025 game at Beaver Stadium.

It was a good night for a few of the program’s gifted young players, too.

Ethan Grunkemeyer. The Lions’ redshirt freshman quarterback, in his fifth career start, completed 11 of 12 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.

Grunkemeyer became the first Penn State quarterback to complete 90 percent of his passes on 10 or more attempts – “Grunk” was at 92 percent – since Todd Blackledge completed 10 of 11 (91 percent) passes at Syracuse in 1981.

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Daryus Dixson. Penn State’s rapidly developing true freshman cornerback was a difference-maker against Nebraska, finishing with a career-high eight tackles, five of them solos.

Yvan Kemajou. The Lions’ true freshman edge rusher collected four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack against the Cornhuskers. The sack was Kemajou’s first.

Kemajou has 4.5 tackles for loss.

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Penn State vs Nebraska, Nov. 22, 2025
Penn State wide receiver Koby Howard runs after the catch during the first quarter on Nov. 22, 2025. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Koby Howard. Penn State’s true freshman wideout delivered another explosive play on the Lions’ first touchdown drive – a 31-yard catch that positioned PSU at its 47. The Lions capped their 98-yard scoring march three plays later.

Howard, who has three explosive plays in 2025, is averaging 19.8 yards on five receptions.

Alex Tatsch. PSU’s true freshman linebacker produced a career-high five tackles, three of them solos.

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