AGP Executive Report

Local Service Spotlight: Bartlett rancher Garrett Dwyer’s path from watching 9/11 as a teen to serving in the Marine Corps and wrestling with the GI Bill transition back to Nebraska is getting attention. Sports & Community Pride: Scottsbluff’s Nate Kelley was named the 2026 Omaha World-Herald Boys Athlete of the Year after a multi-sport run that helped deliver a state basketball title. Music & Faith-Friendly Events: Remedy Drive will play an outdoor concert July 12 at Abundant Life Church in Cameron, with Dust to Clay and a freewill offering. Parks, Play, and Pickleball: Lincoln’s Speedway Circle sports complex is shifting—pickleball stays, but basketball and volleyball youth programs lose access to that building. Culture for America’s 250th: Stuhr Museum’s “United We Celebrate” festival in Grand Island brought performances, hands-on activities, and a community fireworks show despite summer heat. Education & Inclusion: UNL honored students completing the Nebraska Teacher Apprenticeship Program, training special education teachers through on-the-job learning. Nebraska Outdoors & Summer Fun: North Platte is set to host the Sandhills Smoke Show BBQ competition Sept. 25-26.

Independence Day in Nebraska: Stuhr Museum’s “United We Celebrate” festival brought Hall County together with music, living history, and a community fireworks show as America’s 250th birthday kicked off. Community & culture: Eldon and Candy Hubbard were honored as 2026 Half Century president and vice-president, celebrating decades of Nebraska education and Oregon Trail Days memories. Civil rights through education: Grand Island educator Brian Whitecalf received a NEA Human and Civil Rights award for work tackling disparities and empowering students to serve veterans. Sports policy debate: A petition push would lock in rules limiting underage athletes to sports aligned with sex assigned at birth, with supporters arguing safety and opponents warning about bullying and harm to trans youth. Local learning & tech: UNO’s sold-out AI conference returned bigger, with a focus on using tools responsibly rather than replacing human work. Nebraska in the spotlight: A Nebraska man was described as the alleged architect of a plot targeting President Trump, with court details centering on drones, routes, and a “safe zone” church meeting spot.

Civil Rights & Education: The NEA Human and Civil Rights (HCR) Awards spotlighted Nebraska educator Brian Whitecalf, a Grand Island community liaison who helps close disparities by turning student projects into real community impact. Independence Day in Nebraska & Beyond: America’s 250th birthday celebrations faced extreme heat, with some major parades canceled or shortened, while Lincoln’s “Uncle Sam Jam” stayed on with storm monitoring and a 10 p.m. fireworks plan. Nebraska Culture on the Move: I-80 Bicentennial sculptures are nearing their 50-year mark, and a native-plant makeover at Bellevue University shows how campus landscaping can double as hands-on learning. Community Events: North Platte is set to host the inaugural Sandhills Smoke Show BBQ competition in September, bringing KCBS-style competition and live music to the region. Civic Power & Voting: Respect Nebraska Voters says it has gathered 186,000+ signatures for a ballot measure to make it harder for lawmakers to change voter-approved laws. Business Ethics: BBB Midwest Plains named Riekes Equipment a 2026 Torch Award for Ethics recipient.

Arts & Culture: A new column on America at 250 spotlights how photography helped the U.S. “see itself,” from daguerreotypes to iconic documentary work—an Independence Day-ready reminder that images don’t just record history, they shape it. Local Education: UNL honored 22 students who finished the Nebraska Teacher Apprenticeship Program, training special education teachers through a one-year on-the-job pathway. Tech & Work: UNO’s AI conference sold out again, drawing 400 attendees and pushing “AI as a tool, not a replacement” for jobs—plus practical talks from local professionals. Campus Life: A UNO student researcher is studying how dog-raising and training styles may affect long-term stress in dogs, turning animal behavior into real science. Community & Events: Sioux City’s events calendar and multiple July 4 celebrations across the Panhandle set the stage for Independence Day weekend plans. Sports: Washington State football coach Jim Walden, 88, died after leading the Cougars to a landmark Holiday Bowl run in 1981. Civic & Weather: Lincoln’s Uncle Sam Jam is still scheduled, with officials monitoring possible strong-to-severe storms and timing updates for fireworks.

Fourth of July Plans: Lincoln’s Uncle Sam Jam is still on, with city officials monitoring conditions as National Weather Service forecasts call for “pretty strong to severe” storms around 4–5 p.m. and winds up to 70–80 mph; fireworks at Haymarket Park start at 10 p.m., and another update is expected at 4 p.m. Freedom 250 Spotlight: South Dakota hosts Freedom 250’s Mount Rushmore fireworks today, with the park closed to the public July 3 and July 4 programming open to all visitors. Nebraska Pride Rankings: WalletHub’s “Most Patriotic States” report puts Nebraska at No. 17 overall, highlighting a top civics education requirement and a high volunteer rate. Community & Culture: Fremont’s Gallery 92 West opened a Hotel Pathfinder exhibit that includes a remembrance of local historian Cherrie Beam-Callaway, who championed Native history and challenged stereotypes. Local Business Ethics: BBB Midwest Plains named Riekes Equipment a 2026 Torch Award for Ethics winner. Sports & Education: Illinois State hired former Nebraska gymnast Makayla Curtis as an assistant coach, and UNL students earned Peace Corps Prep certificates. Health & Family Support: The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska expanded its Tribal Home Visiting Program into Omaha, offering parenting guidance and Native culture for families from prenatal stages through kindergarten.

Independence Day 250th: A new Omaha-area celebration, “Democracy Ain’t No Picnic,” is calling for civility ahead of July 4’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Local Growth & Jobs: Bellevue’s REACH campus is set to bring an estimated $125 million economic boost and 150 jobs by merging defense, education, and private industry. Native Community Support: The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska expanded its Tribal Home Visiting Program into Omaha, pairing parenting guidance with Native culture for families from prenatal stages through kindergarten. Education Leadership: UNK selected Megan Adkins as dean of Graduate Studies and Academic Innovation, continuing her work on graduate and online expansion. Workforce Help: The Nebraska Department of Labor is hosting a Rapid Response session for laid-off workers (including Tyson employees) with résumé, job search, and benefits guidance. Sports & Community: Walnut Media is reviving the historic WOW radio call letters on 560 AM, aiming to make it a Husker athletics hub. Public Debate: Readers weighed in on the ongoing controversy over trans athletes in prep sports. Higher Ed Honors: Peace Corps Prep certificates went to eight UNL students, adding to Nebraska’s growing pipeline for global service.

Nebraska Voting Rights Fight: Respect Nebraska Voters submitted more than 186,500 signatures to put a constitutional change on the ballot that would make it harder for lawmakers to alter voter-passed laws, raising the threshold from two-thirds to four-fifths. Rural Health & Schools: DHHS opened grant applications under the Rural Health Transformation Program, including school kitchen modernization funding and upgrades for critical access and rural emergency hospitals. Jail Voting Access: A new push argues it’s “much too difficult” for people in jail to vote and calls for jail-based voting programs that add registration, education, and polling options. Healthcare Access at Planned Parenthood: A federal court decision vacated USDA approvals of SNAP pilot projects in Nebraska and other states that restricted certain purchases, while Planned Parenthood faces uncertainty as a Medicaid defunding ban nears its July 4 expiration. Community & Culture: Leadership Nebraska selected Fremont’s Rachel Sissel for Class XVIII; UNK and Doane highlighted spring graduation honors; and Nebraska youth programs—from 4-H photography workshops to agricultural literacy days—kept hands-on learning in the spotlight.

South Omaha Plaza Project: Construction is set to begin this week on “La Plaza de la Raza,” a new South Omaha park and tourism hub backed by a $25M state grant, with an amphitheater, playground, open lawn, and signature art replacing a long-used concrete parking lot. Disability Rights Watch: A DOJ memo is raising alarms about disability segregation after a reinterpretation of the Olmstead decision, with advocates warning it could move policy “backward.” Language Access Milestone: Nebraska courts’ Language Access Program marked a first by certifying a Karen interpreter for provisional status, expanding access to justice for more Nebraskans. Education & Summer Learning: Nebraska educators are sharing practical literacy strategies for families as only 28% of fourth graders are proficient in reading, with multi-sensory approaches and summer support emphasized. Community Pride & Culture: Lincoln’s Star City Pride returns with a parade and 20th annual festival, while South Sioux City’s graduation regalia rules are being challenged by a student seeking to honor her Winnebago heritage. Public Safety: Omaha Crime Stoppers boosted its reward to $35,000 for tips in the fatal shooting of Jamise Thompson, and Lincoln police arrested two women after an alleged laser strike at a State Patrol helicopter. Campus & Sports: UNL awarded a record 3,800-plus degrees to spring grads, and Nebraska baseball coach Will Bolt and staff received contract extensions after a strong NCAA run.

Education & Equity: Schuyler Community Schools is reshaping its annual report and putting extra focus on English learning, citing a 47% English-learner rate versus a 10% state average, with leaders aiming to close assessment gaps. Food Access: Western Community Health Resources is urging families to check WIC eligibility after updated income guidelines expand who can qualify, with clinics in Chadron, Alliance and Gordon. Politics & Voting: Georgia AG Chris Carr is backing Indiana’s voter ID law in a multistate court fight, arguing states should control election rules. Higher Ed Leadership: UNK has named Megan Adkins dean of Graduate Studies and Academic Innovation, while UW-Madison selected Shawn Eichorst as athletic director. Sports (Nebraska): Nebraska extended baseball coach Will Bolt through 2032 and renewed assistant contracts through 2028. Community & Culture: Cheyenne Frontier Days will debut the Morning Star American Indian Village at its 130th run, adding a permanent cultural landmark and new performance layout. Local Civic Life: A new “America First Party” is collecting signatures for Nebraska’s ballot line ahead of November.

America 250 & Public History: A new Mountain City, Tennessee monument will permanently install copies of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights and Civil Rights Amendments—bringing “We the People” to a public park for hands-on learning. Health & Community Support: A Nebraska educator reflects on how cancer care isolation shaped her teaching, turning classroom partnerships with cancer nonprofits into a new kind of support. Education Access: Mid-Plains Community College expands secure campus Wi-Fi statewide and beyond through the ConnectEd Nebraska/eduroam partnership. Arts & Tech Preservation: Edgeworks digitized Nebraska’s I-80 sculpture garden using scans and augmented reality to preserve a lost work and broaden public access. Sports & Eligibility: Nebraska volleyball and Creighton/UNO/NCAA eligibility changes are prompting roster strategy shifts as programs plan for the five-in-five landscape. Local Business & Accountability: The former owner of Lincoln’s closed 9 South CharGrill got five years of probation for not turning over payroll taxes. LGBTQ+ Rights & Voting: Organizers submitted signatures for a Nebraska ballot initiative to restrict sports by sex, with advocates warning it targets trans kids. UNL & Culture: UNL is launching an America 250 series starting with the International Quilt Museum’s “Material Nation” exhibition opening July 2. Kids & Safety: Nebraska Game and Parks will step up impaired boating enforcement July 3–5 for Operation Dry Water.

Local Youth Sports: Three Ashe County teens—Emmaline Farmer (muzzleloader), Alexander Edwards (pistol), and Leah Cox (air pistol)—took their 4-H marksmanship to the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships in Grand Island, competing against 731 shooters from 42 states. LGBTQ+ Rights & Athletics: After the U.S. Supreme Court upheld bans on transgender girls and women in school sports, trans youth athletes vowed to keep playing and keep fighting for access. Community Events: Brownville Concert Series brings SoulRoot Band back for a July 10-12 run of classic hits and harmonies. Accessibility & Learning: Golden author Ann Cunningham won the 2026 Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize for “Flip-pics,” a layered teaching method that helps blind readers understand complex images. Nebraska Policy Watch: A ballot push backed by Fairness for Girls says it gathered 211,000 signatures to limit school sports participation by biological sex. Health & Home Births: Three Nebraska mothers are suing over the state’s ban on nurse midwives assisting in home births. Ag & Education: UNL agriculture and natural resources programs ranked in the top 9% worldwide, with the Tractor Test Laboratory highlighted. Local Economy: Omaha Airport Business Park lands its first major tenant—Pacific Engineering Inc.—aiming for 150 jobs.

Regenerative Ag: Bazile Groundwater Management Area is hosting a Regenerative Ag Field Day July 17 (10 a.m.-noon) near McLean, featuring talks on boosting soil health, cutting inputs, and adding livestock back to the landscape, plus a free lunch at The Breakroom in Randolph; spots are limited and registration closes July 6. Community & Culture: Omaha’s South Omaha plaza project is moving forward with construction starting this week on “La Plaza de la Raza,” a $25M redevelopment meant to bring a new amphitheater, playgrounds, open lawn space, and signature art to the 24th and N corridor. Sports Spotlight: Nebraska softball’s historic run to the Women’s College World Series is being framed around a team culture built on “loving, serving and caring,” with the program posting a 52-8 season and hosting an NCAA Super Regional for the first time since 2013. Local Life & Learning: Mid-Plains Community College is rolling out eduroam access through ConnectEd Nebraska, letting students and staff use existing campus logins for secure Wi-Fi at participating schools. Policy Watch: The DOJ has sued Massachusetts and Rhode Island over in-state tuition and aid for undocumented students, arguing the laws conflict with federal rules.

Rural School Nutrition: Nebraska’s Department of Education is taking grant applications for a $2.2M-plus push to upgrade rural school meals, partnering with DHHS under a federal Rural Health Transformation Program. Community Development: Work has started on a $25M South Omaha plaza redevelopment, Plaza de la Raza, with an amphitheater, play areas, public art, and green space planned to open in fall 2027. Healthcare Access: Creighton University’s dental school in Omaha is set to receive $4.6M over five years to expand oral health access for rural and underserved Nebraskans. Immigration & Tuition: The U.S. DOJ filed lawsuits against Massachusetts and Rhode Island over in-state tuition and aid for undocumented students, arguing states can’t override federal law. Local Safety & Courts: An Omaha man accused in the White House UFC attack plot will stay in custody as his case heads toward trial. Culture & Faith: Ethel Zelenske shared her journey back to Judaism, including her experience with gender rules at a Nebraska synagogue. Civic Participation: New analysis finds multiple states, including Nebraska, have tightened voting rules ahead of midterms.

Immigration & Nebraska Detention: Inside Nebraska’s new ICE detention center, migrants describe weeks of fear and uncertainty, including blocked access to tablets and limited communication. Public Health & Lifestyle: Scientists say fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, and miso may support gut health and metabolism, though researchers stress more study is needed. Agriculture & Environment: West River Dairy’s planned expansion near Morris, Minn. cleared a major hurdle after Minnesota regulators decided an environmental impact study wasn’t required, despite concerns from citizens and the Land Stewardship Project. Crime & Community Safety: Two Venezuelan nationals tied to Tren de Aragua were sentenced to more than six years for an ATM “jackpotting” hacking scheme that stole millions. Faith & Community: Pope Leo XIV will bless and bestow the pallium on 32 new metropolitan archbishops, including four U.S. leaders. Culture & Education: A national debate over America’s university crisis points to falling enrollment, rising debt, and ideological politics reshaping higher education.

Native History & Arts: Crazy Horse Memorial marked the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Greasy Grass (Little Bighorn) by announcing it has received the historic “Custer Survivors” painting collection and rare interview manuscripts tied to David Humphreys Miller’s work with veterans. Catholic Church: Pope Leo XIV will bestow the pallium on 32 new metropolitan archbishops, including four U.S. leaders—Ronald Hicks (New York), James Checchio (New Orleans), James Golka (Denver), and Mark Rivituso (Mobile). Immigration & Community Impact: Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told migrants on temporary protected status to seek permanent residence or leave, as the Supreme Court cleared the way to end TPS for Haitians and Syrians. Elections & Civic Life: Trump’s push to change midterm election rules faces repeated court blocks and backlash, with voting-rights groups warning it could confuse voters and fuel disputes. Nebraska Connections: A new report highlights how federal funding freezes could hit rural libraries, while Nebraska’s Aksarben Foundation opened nominations for the Nebraska Emerging Talent Awards through June 30.

Rural Libraries at Risk: Nebraska communities could see reduced hours and higher fees as federal library funding faces uncertainty after an IMLS freeze, threatening tech access, early literacy, and services for residents with disabilities. Workforce & Youth Development: The Aksarben Foundation is taking nominations for the Nebraska Emerging Talent Awards through June 30, spotlighting interns, apprentices, mentors, and employers building career pathways across the state. Student Spotlight: UNL named more than 6,200 students to the spring dean’s list, including several from Cheyenne, highlighting strong academic momentum. Community & Culture: Humanities Nebraska brings “Weaving a Nation” Chautauqua to Hastings June 26-27, using lesser-known American stories to connect neighbors through civic and creative learning. Faith & Service: Sister J. Anette Dennis’ birthday roundup shares nine quotes from her recent service, reflecting on leadership and community care. Sports & Local Pride: The Nebraska Siege remains undefeated in its Arena League start, with coach Dominic Bramante crediting a culture-first roster-building approach.