LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen released the following statement signaling the state of Nebraska’s support for Union Pacific’s merger with Norfolk Southern. The statement followed an announcement from Union Pacific that the two companies filed an application with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for approval. According to Union Pacific’s submission to the federal government, it expects over 500 new managerial employees at their Omaha headquarters.

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen is announcing his appointment of Ashley Newmyer as director of the Division of Public Health for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). She has been serving as interim director since May of this year.

Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced further progress in assisting workers impacted by the upcoming Tyson meat processing plant closure in Lexington. Altogether, over 1,600 individuals attended Rapid Response layoff services events and job fairs at the Dawson County Fairgrounds and Lexington Middle School over the last two weeks. These efforts were designed to provide timely information, connect displaced workers with employment opportunities, and ensure access to workforce and supportive services. Nearly 600 individuals have registered in the Department of Labor’s employment website, NEworks.nebraska.gov.

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced appointments made to boards and commissions from July 1, 2025 through November 30, 2025.

Today, Governor Jim Pillen appointed Danielle Jensen of Elkhorn as election commissioner for Douglas County. She will succeed Brian Kruse who resigned the position to take a role in the private sector. Jensen will assume her new duties Jan. 10 and will fill the remainder of Kruse’s appointed term through Dec. 31, 2027.

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen was joined by Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) CEO Steve Corsi in announcing that Nebraska is the first state in the nation to pursue work requirements for Medicaid expansion members. At the news conference today, Gov. Pillen signed a letter to CMS, detailing Nebraska’s intent to implement requirements by May 1, 2026.

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced his appointment of Patrick P. Carney of Norfolk as county court judge in the Seventh Judicial District. That district consists of Antelope, Cuming, Madison, Knox, Madison, Pierce, Stanton, and Wayne counties.

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen released the following statement promoting Opportunity Zones and previewing the process the State of Nebraska will use to determine designations next year. Opportunity Zones are economic development tools established as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump to help promote investment and drive economic growth in low-income and/or economically disadvantaged communities. The initiative was extended and made permanent through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of 2025.

MEAD, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen celebrated the tremendous progress made during his administration to clean up the solid and liquid waste left in the aftermath of the shutdown of the AltEn facility site in Mead. Gov. Pillen was joined by Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) Director Jesse Bradley, Saunders County Board Supervisor Bill Reece and Don Gunster, an environmental contractor for ERM Newfields.

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen, a staunch defender of border security, released the following statement after the Department of Justice announced the arrest of a Gerson Emir Cuadra Soto, a leader of the terroristic MS-13 gang and Honduran assassin, living illegally in Grand Island.