Washington, D.C
Gov. Jim Pillen in Washington D.C. to speak on ag security measures
WASHINGTON D.C. (KSNB) – Just under 2% or 795,839 acres of Nebraska’s farmland is owned by foreign entities, according to a report from the University of Nebraska.
That figure was enough to prompt a high-profile meeting this week between Governor Jim Pillen and several members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet to discuss measures aimed at protecting American agriculture from foreign threats.
The conversation comes partially in the wake of a U.S. Department of Agriculture report that cited recent charges from the Department of Justice against foreign nationals, including a member of the Chinese Communist Party, accused of smuggling a noxious fungus into the U.S. Officials say the fungus, used as a potential agroterrorism weapon, has caused billions of dollars in crop losses globally.
Governor Pillen, a longtime advocate for securing family farms, says Nebraska has already taken steps to prevent foreign adversaries from acquiring farmland in the state.
“In my first year in ‘23, we were able to pass legislation that took all Chinese equipment off telecommunications across the state,” Pillen said. “That was the first step. The second step was making sure that no land is purchased by any foreign adversaries in the state of Nebraska.”
Pillen emphasized that safeguarding farmland is about more than just ownership, it’s about national security.
“I believe in family farm security. I believe in food security, and that equates to national security,” he said. “We all in agriculture risk everything we have every single day.”
State and federal officials say more policy steps could follow as lawmakers weigh how best to protect America’s agricultural supply from international threats.
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Washington, D.C
National Guard member who survived D.C. attack ‘slowly healing,’ West Virginia’s governor says
Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, the National Guard member who survived last month’s deadly attack near the White House is “slowly healing,” West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Friday.
His colleague, Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed in the shooting the day before Thanksgiving when a suspect opened fire on a Washington, D.C., street. The guard members had been deployed to the city as part of a Trump administration order to fight crime in the capital.
Morrisey said in an update on Wolfe’s status that his head wound “is slowly healing.” He cited the soldier’s parents for the information.
He said Wolfe, 24, may have two to three more weeks of acute care as he heals and recovers, the governor said, citing the family. He said Wolfe’s family has been “optimistic” about his health.
“He’s beginning to ‘look more like himself,” Morrisey said, quoting Wolfe’s parents.
Wolfe was initially said to be in critical condition, and President Donald Trump said hours after the violence that Wolfe was “in very bad shape.”
The suspect in the attack, Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, made a virtual court appearance Tuesday from a hospital bed.
Lakanwal, who was also shot during the Nov. 26 shooting, was charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
He pleaded not guilty to all counts.
A vigil for Wolfe was expected to take place Friday night at Musselman High School in Inwood, West Virginia, Wolfe’s alma mater, the governor said.
US officials have arrested a man suspected of planting pipe bombs at the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic parties in Washington, DC, the night before the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
Published On 5 Dec 2025
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