LINCOLN, NE -- Governor Jim Pillen has joined a slate of Republican governors in criticizing a federal asylum program enacted to assist people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Their letter cites a lack of coordination and information sharing that is not only harming their states but is also serving as a detriment to those who are seeking asylum. They are demanding complete information about the location and status of migrants being directed to their communities.

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen announced the mobilization of the Nebraska Telecommunicator Emergency Response Team (TERT) to assist North Carolina as it continues to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The group deployed on Friday, Oct. 4 to Buncombe County for 14 days. That county is one of the hardest hit locations from the storm.

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen signed a proclamation marking Oct. 7 as a ‘Day of Observance’ in honor of the victims of the terror attack on Israel one year ago.  Issuance of the proclamation coincides with an order to fly all flags at half-staff and tonight’s lighting of the State Capitol in blue.

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced that all U.S. and Nebraska flags are to be flown at half-staff on Monday, October 7 to honor the victims of the terror attack on Israel. Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of the attack which killed 1,200 men, women and children. More than 250 were taken hostage and of those, over 100 are still missing, including four Americans. Flags should be flown from sunrise to sunset.

 LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen has directed the State Capitol be illuminated in blue the evening of Oct. 7, marking the one-year anniversary of the terror attack by Hamas on Israel. The lighting of the building also symbolizes Nebraska’s ongoing support of Israel, which this week was targeted by an Iranian missile strike. Blue is representative of Israel’s flag, which is blue and white.

LINCOLN, NE – Today, the Judicial Nominating Commission for Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court advanced the names of all four applicants to Governor Jim Pillen for his consideration. They are David J. A. Bargen, Adams; PaTricia A. Freeman, Papillion; Jeffrey J. Funke and Ryan S. Post, both of Lincoln.

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen is announcing two cabinet level appointments. The first is the appointment of Lee Will as chief operating officer (COO) and director for the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services (DAS), effective Sept. 28.

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen has joined 25 other Republican governors calling for passage of legislation in the U.S. Senate reinforcing Jewish civil rights. The unified message comes ahead of the Oct. 7 anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israeli and American citizens. The letter draws attention to the recent deaths of hostages and the dozens more still held captive, as well as the rising acts of antisemitism in the United States.

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced the appointment of Kara Valentine as interim director for the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE). She will start Monday, Sept. 30.

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen is announcing the receipt of federal funds to aid in the recovery from storms that impacted multiple Nebraska counties June 20 – July 8. This is the fourth time federal funds have been awarded to the state due to severe weather this year.