LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Less than two years into the job, Ben Sasse is stepping down as president of the University of Florida.

The former U.S. senator from Nebraska made the announcement Thursday, citing his wife’s epilepsy diagnosis.

“I need to step back for a time and focus more on the needs of my family,” he wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

SEE ALSO: Sen. Pete Ricketts wins Republican nomination in a landslide

Sasse said his wife’s health problems began in 2007, when she suffered an aneurysm and a series of strokes.

She “made an incredible comeback,” he wrote, but was recently diagnosed with epilepsy and is facing memory problems.

“She’s the strongest person I know,” Sasse said. “We’ve battled some nasty seizures the last couple years, but she’s always remained a warrior.”

SEE ALSO: Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse wins final approval for UF presidency

Sasse said he will remain at the university as president emeritus and a professor.

Before he was elected to the Senate, Sasse led Midland University in Fremont.

He resigned from the Senate in January 2023 to take the UF job.

Gov. Jim Pillen then appointed his predecessor, Pete Ricketts, to Sasse’s seat.

SEE ALSO: University of Florida faculty votes ‘no confidence’ in search that led to Sasse

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Nebraska State Patrol arrested two people Thursday after finding numerous guns and controlled substances.

The State Patrol SWAT team and a drug task force executed a search warrant in the morning on Eighth Avenue in Kearney.

During the search, investigators said they found 12 firearms, about 11 pounds of marijuana, 1 gram of cocaine, 4 pounds of THC wax and four dozen mushroom candy bars.

Authorities found the resident of the home, 36-year-old Shane Martin, at his work and arrested him.

Martin was arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute within a school zone and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

He was lodged in the Buffalo County Jail.

Officials said a related search warrant was executed 25 miles south of Kearney in Funk, Nebraska.

Law enforcement said they found an additional five firearms, a small amount of marijuana products and mushrooms.

Dakota Hancock, 29, was arrested on suspicion of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

He was taken to the Phelps County Jail.

CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) – Nebraska officials are investigating a collision between a train and a semi truck which resulted in the death of a Casper resident.

The collision was reported around 2:45 pm on Tuesday, July 16 afternoon on US Highway 34 in Dundy County, located in the Southwest corner of Nebraska, bordering Colorado and Kansas.

The semi was attempting to cross the tracks when it collided with a BNSF locomotive, ejecting the two occupants of the semi. The men were transported to Wray Colorado Hospital for treatment

The passenger, identified as 61-year-old Steven Drinkwalter of Casper, was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The driver,  46-year-old Matthew Drinkwalter of Midwest, Wyoming was flown to another hospital for further care.

There were no injuries or fatalities reported from those on the train.

The Dundy County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the incident.

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