AGP Executive Report

Ethics & Business Trust: The International Association of Better Business Bureaus named 2026 International Torch Awards for Ethics winners, including Nebraska-linked Core Bank (100–499 employees) and Hy-Vee (500+), spotlighting leadership culture, customer transparency, and community impact. Legal & Courts: An 8th Circuit digest covers disputes ranging from due-process claims over euthanized injured livestock to contract fights over missing shipping property and subrogation. Food & Retail Trends: Instacart reports “proteinization” and “fiberization” are accelerating, with searches for protein and fiber up sharply and retailers expanding nutrient-focused options. Nebraska Agriculture & Policy: USDA Wildlife Services is asking Panhandle counties to help push Nebraska to fund wildlife damage control for farmers and ranchers. Local Infrastructure: South Sioux City is testing shredded plastic bags in asphalt on Foundry Road—Nebraska’s first project of its kind—turning waste into road material. Education Funding: Norris School District is seeking a 7.2-cent property tax levy increase for 2026–27 after a failed $34.8M bond vote. Workforce & Bioeconomy: A pilot-scale biomanufacturing training push aims to build a skilled workforce for regional bioindustry growth.

Immigration & Public Safety: DHS says ICE lodged a detainer after an illegal-alien suspect, Manjit Singh, was charged in an Ohio semi-truck crash that killed Brenda Watson—highlighting how federal enforcement and state licensing intersect with road risk. Local Development: Grand Island’s City Council approved the Good Life District agreement, moving a major redevelopment/TIF plan forward with a projected $337.6M budget and no property-tax asking increase. Agribusiness Innovation: A Burt County farmer is using weed-cutting robots to cut pesticide use as part of regenerative practices, betting savings will cover a multi-year loan. Nebraska Health Policy: Parents and mental health professionals told a state advisory committee that Nebraska’s interRAI assessment tool may contain calculation errors affecting Medicaid waiver funding and eligibility. State Budgeting: Grand Island also approved its 2027 budget, keeping the mill levy adjusted to hold the property-tax asking flat. Robocall Crackdown: Nebraska’s AG Brenna Bird joined a push for stronger FCC “Know Your Upstream Provider” rules aimed at stopping illegal robocalls. Community & Climate: A North Omaha Maya community is using a $96,440 grant to build a climate resilience plan focused on stormwater, heat, and green space. Agriculture Markets: The Nebraska Wheat Board welcomed its 2026–2027 communications intern, signaling continued investment in industry outreach.

Healthcare & Fraud Prevention: ClaimQI, a Nebraska-based healthcare claims intelligence company, launched its ClaimQI Platform and new Payer Portal at the HPRI Congress in Chicago, aiming to validate Medicare claims using deterministic policy rules (not just anomaly scores) so payers can trace decisions to specific citations. Retail Expansion: SweetNight says its mattresses are now sold at Nebraska Furniture Mart, marking a push beyond e-commerce into major furniture retail. Labor & State Budget Pressure: Nebraska state employees’ union NAPE/AFSCME is entering negotiations for a 2027-2029 contract, prioritizing wage increases that track inflation amid concerns the state budget deficit could squeeze raises. Local Tech & Water Concerns: Kearney City Council approved Project Horizon, a data center redevelopment plan that would scale power and water use sharply, with residents pressing on water availability and protections. Agriculture Markets: Drought is reshaping millet production across Nebraska and nearby states, with proso millet acres down and yield/quality concerns for grain. Aviation Policy: TSA PreCheck is expanding “Gateside” access at 13 airports, letting eligible non-travelers enter gate areas without a ticket during an initial phase. Public Safety/9-11 Anniversary: Nebraska first responders and leaders are marking 25 years since 9/11, including accounts tied to Lincoln Fire and Rescue’s FEMA USAR response.

Local Housing Costs: New rent snapshots show wide variation across Nebraska public housing in 2025, from $328/month in Kearney County to $508/month in Dakota County, with occupancy often near full capacity. Public Safety Spending: Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley flagged Lincoln’s 2024-25 fire overtime, citing $7.2 million in 2025 overtime and warning taxpayers are footing the bill. Criminal Justice Tech: Lancaster County approved Axon AI tools for prosecutors and public defenders to speed searches across videos, reports, and translated materials—without replacing attorney review. Banking Transition: First Citizens Bank faced customer complaints after a BMO-to-First Citizens system transition left some clients unable to access deposits over a holiday weekend. Air Travel Policy: TSA launched “Gateside by TSA Precheck” at 13 airports, letting eligible PreCheck members enter terminals and visit shops/restaurants without a flight ticket. Agriculture & Policy: UW Extension’s John Hewlett helped organize a Federal Reserve agricultural roundtable in Cheyenne for producers to discuss real-world farm and ranch conditions. Economic Development: Iowa announced $39.84 million in workforce housing tax credits for 2,093 homes across 39 counties, a reminder of how housing supply ties directly to labor needs. Health Watch: West Nile virus was detected in Buffalo County mosquito pools, with officials urging residents to protect themselves even as no human cases were reported.

Nebraska Power & Reliability: Dawson Public Power District invited Nebraska Public Power District directors to talk rates, reliability, and long-range power supply planning, with hot, dry weather pushing wholesale power costs to $5.7M and stressing cash reserves. Public Housing Costs: In 2025, Sheridan County public housing averaged $366/month (93% occupied), Morrill County averaged $419 (84% occupied), Jefferson County averaged $420 (93% occupied), Colfax County averaged $408 (73% occupied), and Perkins County averaged $558 (90% occupied). Insurance Data Transparency: A new report says many state insurance commissioners aren’t making homeowners insurance market data public, turning the home insurance crisis into an “information crisis” as premiums rise and coverage shrinks. TSA Access Change: TSA launched “Gateside” for TSA PreCheck members at 13 airports, letting approved travelers pass security without a flight for gate-area meetings and airport shopping/dining. Nebraska Transportation Grants: Nebraska received $5.15M in federal grants to speed transportation projects, including ACCEL-NE, IFAC, and Omaha-Council Bluffs planning support. Data Centers Debate: Kearney adopted a data center zoning ordinance with limits on noise, water, and energy use as other Nebraska counties consider moratoriums. CFP Flag Football: Nebraska flag football will compete in the first-ever CFP Flag Football Showcase in Las Vegas (Jan. 22-24).

Social Media Accountability: Meta agreed to a landmark $17.1B multistate settlement over Instagram and Facebook child-safety practices, with Nebraska set to receive up to $201M and new youth-focused safety requirements. Labor & State Budget Pressure: Nebraska’s largest union is gearing up for contract talks with the state as Gov. Jim Pillen pushes a 5% spending cut, setting up another high-stakes negotiation with about 8,000 state workers. Public Housing Snapshot (Nebraska): New HUD data show wide county-by-county variation in assisted housing finances—Nemaha County averaged $327/month rent on $16,732 income (2025), while Dakota County averaged $508 on $33,659 and Lancaster County averaged $436 on $36,018. Rural Infrastructure: Kenesaw is moving toward a finalized flood control plan, including upgrades to the K-Dam area, levee improvements, and larger culverts to better manage Thirty-Two Mile Creek runoff. Consumer Safety & Fraud: Nebraska cities including Alliance logged scam reports in July 2026, with the BBB citing ongoing fraud losses nationwide. Community & Culture: Fishtrap in North Platte hosts “North Platte Canteen” Sept. 11-13, a WWII volunteer story tied to local rail history.

Nebraska Transportation: Nebraska received $5.15 million in federal grants to speed up major road projects, including $1.15 million for the ACCEL-NE program and funding tied to the Omaha-Council Bluffs planning effort. Banking Deal: BMO has finalized the sale of 138 branches to First-Citizens Bank, transferring about $5.7B in deposits and $1.1B in loans. Immigration & Labor: USCIS says it found H-1B misclassification cases, including in Nebraska where workers labeled as “computer programmers” were doing higher-paid engineering work. Climate Disclosure Fight: Nebraska and other states are challenging Big Four accounting firms over climate reporting support, warning it could create legal exposure. Food Security: A Nebraska food pantry says proposed citizenship requirements for federally provided food could disrupt service for more than half its users. Public Housing Snapshot: New data show Knox County public housing households reported $25,052 income in 2025, with 100% occupancy; other counties ranged from $16,612 in Scotts Bluff to $24,311 in Lincoln County. Local Business & Safety: An Omaha e-bike/e-moto shop owner says demand is rising but urges buyers to understand legal limits and helmet rules.

Nebraska Sports & Business Tourism: Nebraska volleyball is taking over Wrigley Field for the Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge, with the Cornhuskers facing Missouri on Sept. 6 in a neutral-site event that blends major-league branding with college athletics. M&A & Home Health Investing: At the HME Business FUTURE conference, investors and operators discussed what makes home-based healthcare acquisitions attractive—especially service density in target markets and growth plans that go “deep” rather than just adding geography. Banking Deal: Equity Bank announced it will merge with Lincoln Savings Bank in Iowa, a roughly $124 million deal expected to close by year-end and expand Equity’s Iowa footprint. Fraud Watch (BBB): Eustis was among 41 Nebraska cities tied for 14th in July scam reports, with one BBB Scam Tracker report; the FTC says fraud losses topped $12.5 billion in 2024. Housing Snapshot (Nebraska public housing): Morrill County’s public housing occupancy fell to 84% in 2025, while Antelope County held 96% and Greeley County hit 100%—a reminder that local vacancy swings can be small but meaningful. National Safety: An Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway at Miami International Airport, killing at least five and injuring five.

Housing & HUD Watch: Nebraska’s public housing occupancy stayed high but uneven in 2025, with Hamilton County at 89% (up 7 points), Box Butte at 95% (down 1), Harlan at 100%, Butler at 96% (down 2), Webster at 97% (up 2), Fillmore at 94%, Platte at 98% (down 1), and Stanton at 93% (down 7). Local Governance & Privacy: Ord voted to remove Flock cameras inside city limits, while the county still plans to keep cameras outside town—an early Nebraska test of how surveillance rules get negotiated locally. Ag & Food Industry: Tyson’s Madison, Neb., pork plant will end a sanitation contract and cut 91 jobs tied to the change, while broader Tyson restructuring continues to reshape meatpacking work. Tech & Labor: USCIS says some Nebraska H-1B petitions misclassified workers as “computer programmers” even though site visits found higher-paid engineering duties—raising scrutiny for wage and job reporting. Data Centers Debate: A growing populist push against data centers is showing up at the ballot box, with voters citing land and water use concerns. Business & Community: A $2M NSF-backed AI project led with UNL aims to spot environmental threats to food production systems earlier. Sports & Local Interest: An Omaha-area teen chess player earned a national master qualification and now wants a learner’s permit.

H-1B Enforcement in Nebraska: USCIS says it found Nebraska H-1B petitions mislabeling workers as “computer programmers” even though site visits showed they were doing higher-paid engineering work—an issue tied to wage rules and “unfair competition” for U.S. workers. Transportation Funding: Gov. Jim Pillen joined federal and state officials to tout new FHWA/Build America Bureau grants totaling $5.15 million to speed transportation projects across seven Nebraska counties. Legal Services Expansion: Smith Pauley opened its third Nebraska office in Grand Island, led by litigation attorney Tanya Hansen, expanding the firm’s central Nebraska footprint. Data Centers & Community Input: Lynn Walz discussed the need for “guardrails” and expert review as Nebraska communities weigh data center plans, echoing how earlier poultry development concerns were handled. Agriculture & Energy: A Broken Bow project broke ground to turn feedlot manure into renewable natural gas, targeting about 1.2 million MMBtu per year. Local Business & Labor: A Tyson plant closure in Illinois left thousands jobless overnight, underscoring ongoing volatility in meatpacking employment. Public Housing Snapshot: HUD data shows many Nebraska counties holding steady public housing unit counts in 2025, with Buffalo County rising to 250 units.

Housing Watch (HUD-assisted): HUD’s Picture of Subsidized Households shows several Nebraska counties holding steady in 2025 public housing counts, including Hall (431), Dawson (108), Morrill (37), Box Butte (74), Scotts Bluff (162), Clay (65), Lancaster (200), and Chase (20). Gov & Business/Leadership: Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen named Husker men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg as a second keynote for the 2026 Governor’s Summit in Kearney (Sept. 28-29). Infrastructure & Roads: NDOT received federal transportation grants aimed at accelerating eastern Nebraska road projects, including an ACCEL-NE feasibility and capacity effort plus Omaha-area asset scans and “The Stitch” redevelopment analysis. AI Data Centers Backlash: Opposition to new AI data centers is intensifying nationwide, with residents citing power-grid strain and higher electricity costs; the debate is also driving local political fights. Local Economy & Growth: Google confirmed a $1B-plus AI data center plan in Clarksville, Ark., projecting hundreds of construction jobs and about 150 permanent roles. Sports Business: Nebraska volleyball stayed hot with a No. 1 sweep of DePaul, drawing a DePaul attendance record crowd of 8,786.

Local Governance: A Douglas County ballot fight over expanding the commissioner board from 3 to 5 has turned into a dispute over who controls the final ballot language, after commissioners added competing questions late in the process. Elections & Policy: A federal judge blocked key parts of a Trump-backed USPS mail ballot rule for the 2026 midterms, with voting-rights advocates warning the changes could disenfranchise voters. Nebraska Economy & Infrastructure: Nebraska’s NDOT and federal partners unveiled a “Get America Building Again” effort backed by $5.15M in grants, including an Omaha “The Stitch” plan to reclaim nearly 20 acres for potential housing and business development. Agriculture & Food Markets: Trump signed an order allowing small and medium farms to process their own meat, aiming to challenge big processors—while Nebraska and other lawmakers warn it could be undermined by beef import pressure. Business & Finance: BMO completed the sale of 138 U.S. branches to First Citizens, including locations in Nebraska. Education & Workforce: Nebraska Treasurer Joey Spellerberg highlighted College Savings Month, promoting NEST 529 as costs rise.

Housing Data Watch: HUD’s “Picture of Subsidized Households” shows several Nebraska cities holding steady in 2025 public housing counts, including Creighton (33 units, fully occupied), Hooper (25), Blair (100, top-10 statewide), Auburn (49), Genoa (20), Oxford (20), and McCook (30); others shifted slightly like Terrytown (63, down 1) and Schuyler (52, down 1), with rent levels typically running a few hundred dollars and occupancy varying widely. Public Safety & Fraud: The FBI posted details on a Nigerian man wanted in the U.S. over a $6M+ business email compromise and romance fraud scheme, and also released physical descriptions for additional Nigerian suspects tied to the alleged cybercrime operation. State Transportation Funding: Gov. Jim Pillen and Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. will announce an NDOT initiative backed by $5.15M in Federal Highway Administration grants to build a project delivery framework for alternative delivery, innovative financing, and public-private partnerships. Agribusiness Practicalities: As soybean harvest nears, the Soy Checkoff is pushing nematode testing and management guides to help farmers spot soybean cyst nematode and other yield-robbing pests before damage shows up. Corporate Outlook: Tyson Foods again cut its 2026 revenue and profit outlook, citing intensified beef pressures and severe cattle shortages.

Retail & Growth: Chicken Salad Chick is coming to Lincoln, with Scott and Tisha Miller holding rights for seven Nebraska locations; they’re eyeing Omaha first, then Lincoln, with a likely mid-to-late 2027 Lincoln opening. Local Business Expansion: 7 Brew is also headed to Columbus, with a hoped-for end-of-year opening as the franchise group works through site planning. State Tech & Services: Gov. Jim Pillen launched the Nebraska Navigator AI chatbot on Nebraska.gov, expanding from a DMV pilot that cut call volume and boosted after-hours self-service. Education & Workforce: Forty first-year students joined the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Nebraska Business Honors Academy, while Central Community College continues scaling career-focused programs for Nebraska’s workforce. Public Finance & Policy: The University of Nebraska’s president urged more state support during the State of the University address as budget uncertainty and spending cuts loom. Consumer & Fraud: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Gretna logged one scam report in July, tied with many Nebraska cities for the same statewide rank. Big Picture Trade: Ukraine’s sanctions official said a sweeping Russia sanctions bill faces a tighter House calendar as lawmakers head toward the November election.

Opioid Treatment Expansion: BAART Programs says 11 opioid treatment centers across six states are adding office-based opioid treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone alongside existing methadone services, aiming to give patients more medication options. Beef Tariffs Backlash: Nebraska and other beef-state Republicans warn President Trump’s plan to lift tariffs and allow large volumes of imported ground beef could undercut ranchers and farmers even as it’s pitched as a way to lower grocery prices. Farm Income Pressure: The American Farm Bureau Federation projects about $31B in 2026 farm losses, citing higher fuel and fertilizer costs tied to the Iran war, with Nebraska Farmers Union calling it the worst downturn since the 1980s. State Water Infrastructure: Gov. Jim Pillen highlighted Plainview’s drinking-water improvements, including a new wellfield project using Nebraska’s State Revolving Fund after nitrate issues were found in existing wells. Child Care Quality: Brilliant Brains Learning Center in Omaha earned Nebraska’s Step Up to Quality Step 5 rating and national accreditation, marking a major boost for early childhood services. Local Business/Real Estate: ExchangeRight says its Net-Leased Portfolio 74 DST is fully subscribed at $63.34M, including properties leased to major retailers and service companies across multiple states, including Nebraska. Nebraska Sports Economy: Nebraska volleyball drew a record crowd at South Dakota State, with 5,113 fans at First Bank & Trust Arena—another reminder of how big events move local spending.

Banking Deal: Omaha-based FNBO plans to acquire Denver’s InBank in a roughly $200M-plus cash deal, adding nine Colorado Front Range branches and expanding FNBO’s footprint; regulators still need to sign off. Healthcare & Local Economy: Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) is acquiring USave Pharmacy Group, a consolidation move aimed at pooling purchasing power for independent pharmacies. Public Health: Lincoln County mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile virus and Cache Valley virus, a reminder that mosquito season isn’t over even as September arrives. State Business Climate: The Kansas City Fed says worker shortages are the biggest short-term drag on growth across Colorado and nearby states including Nebraska, with rising wages and input costs adding pressure. Consumer Watch: Gas prices remain volatile across Nebraska, with multiple counties reporting single lowest-price stations for regular, midgrade, E85, and diesel. Community & Growth: Omaha’s Blackstone restaurant Fifth House reopened after receiving a Nebraska Enterprise Fund grant tied to streetcar construction impacts. Entrepreneurship: H&R Block opened applications for its Fund Her Future grant, offering four women-owned businesses $45,000 each plus business services.