Latest News from the Governor's Office

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Governor Jim Pillen Appointed to the Council of Governors

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen has been appointed by President Donald Trump to serve on the Council of Governors, a bipartisan group of state leaders focused on strengthening state-federal partnerships in national security, disaster response, and military coordination. A meeting of the group was held Thursday in Washington, D.C.

"It’s an honor to serve on the Council of Governors and I am grateful to be appointed by President Trump,” said Gov. Pillen. “Homeland security, disaster response, and supporting our men and women in uniform are our most important duties as leaders, and the Trump Administration has shown unwavering commitment on all these fronts. I am honored to serve in this role.”

The President appoints 10 governors to the Council for two-year terms - five from each political party - with two governors serving as co-chairs. Federal participants on the Council include the secretaries of defense and homeland security, the President’s homeland security and counterterrorism advisor, commander of the U.S. Northern Command and the chief of the National Guard Bureau, among others.

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Delegates Kearney Mayor Authority to Lower Flags in Honor of Mike Yanney

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen is honoring a request from the mayor of Kearney to include city facilities in a flag order honoring Nebraskan Mike Yanney. Under his authority, the Governor has granted Mayor Jonathan Nikkila permission to order flags to half-staff on Saturday, February 21, the day of Yanney’s interment. Yanney was born and raised in Kearney. He died on Feb. 14 at the age of 92.

The submitted request said in part, “Mr. Yanney’s profound, ongoing commitment to the Kearney community will be felt forever by the citizens of Kearney and the thousands of visitors who enjoy Yanney Heritage Park. His extraordinary contribution to Kearney’s quality of life leaves an impact that will be enjoyed for generations to come.”

A separate flag order was issued by the Governor in coordination with Mayor John Ewing of Omaha. It also authorizes the lowering of flags at city facilities to half-staff on Saturday.

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Delegates Omaha Mayor Authority to Lower Flags in Honor of Mike Yanney

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen, in coordination with Mayor John Ewing of Omaha, has delegated the mayor the authority to order all U.S. and state flags at City of Omaha facilities to be flown at half-staff on Saturday to honor Mike Yanney. Yanney, who was born and raised in Kearney, died on February 14. He was 92.

Yanney, founder of Burlington Capital, was a noted business and civic leader in Omaha. He and his wife Gail were generous supporters of programs, projects and community initiatives in Omaha and elsewhere in Nebraska.

The flag order will be effective on Feb. 21, the day of Yanney’s interment.

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen, Senators and Agency Leaders Part of Lexington Leaders Meeting & Big Mac Announcement

(LEXINGTON & OGALLALA, NE) -- Accompanied by state senators Teresa Ibach and Paul Strommen, Governor Jim Pillen made stops in central and western Nebraska on Thursday. The trip was two-fold: a visit to Lexington for an update in the aftermath of the closure of Tyson Foods and to award funding for road surfacing projects that will benefit Lake McConaughy.

The first stop for the group was in Lexington, where they were joined by Department of Labor Commissioner Katie Thurber and representatives from the Lexington School Board, Lexington City Council, Lexington Regional Health Center, Lexington Community Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce. During the meeting, Gov. Pillen told attendees that he continues to have conversations with Tyson leadership concerning the future of the beef processing facility. Community leaders shared information about some of the challenges and needs they have noted since Tyson ceased operations at its plant in January, affecting more than 3,000 workers.  

Gov. Pillen and Commissioner Thurber reiterated state resources that continue to be available to those workers, especially unemployment and Medicaid benefits. The state has a dedicated hotline (308-407-1517) that is available with language support for anyone with questions about unemployment insurance, job placement, job search, training, and connections to services provided through the Department of Health and Human Services.

“This remains a full team effort to assist Lexington during this time,” said Gov. Pillen. “We want to make sure that communication is getting to the right people and that they have the tools they need to support their community. The feedback we receive is invaluable, as it helps us to seek out new avenues of help and potential partnerships or philanthropic sources that could play a role in this recovery.”

Meeting representatives shared their continued optimism about the ability of their community to move forward, despite the impact of the closure. In fact, they say many of the people they have talked to want to remain in Lexington. Representatives from Central Community College shared that they have been engaged in retraining displaced workers and there are plans to initiate additional programs in the future.

Later in the afternoon, Gov. Pillen and the team were joined by Game and Parks Director Tim McCoy at the edge of Lake McConaughy to sign a program statement that promises $16 million in appropriations to the agency for infrastructure development. The funding will permit surfacing projects to get underway on the south side of Lake McConaughy.

Currently, those roads are narrow and difficult to navigate by pickup trucks and vehicles hauling large boats and campers. Over time, traffic has continued to increase, as those roads provide access to an area of the lake where people can offload their boats, even when water levels are low.  The funded upgrades will provide improved and much safer travel and access to boat ramps and campgrounds, including when planned yearlong construction on Kingsly Dam takes place.

“These funds represent an investment in a major tourist destination for our state. Keith County attracts visitors from across the state and beyond. This is an opportunity to spur tourism, economic growth and create convenience for those who enjoy boating, fishing and recreating at Big Mac,” said Gov. Pillen.

It’s expected the 10-mile paving project will be completed in December 2028.

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Hosts Students for TPUSA Club America Partnership Announcement

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Pillen hosted around 60 high school and college students from across Nebraska in announcing a new partnership to bring Turning Point USA Club America chapters to all high schools. The event, hosted at the Governor’s Residence, included Attorney General Mike Hilgers; Nick Cocca, TPUSA Club America Enterprise Director; and Chapter President Emma Smith, of Creighton University.

Prior to the afternoon event, Gov. Pillen spoke with TPUSA CEO Erika Kirk. Kirk has led Turning Point since the assassination of her husband five months ago. During that week, Gov. Pillen spoke at a candlelight vigil for Kirk on the University of Nebraska – Lincoln campus.

“The handful of occasions that I got to spend time with Charlie, I learned he was about faith, family, and bettering our country. Charlie’s ‘why’ was to stand up and speak what he believed,” said Gov. Pillen. “Grassroot politics are at the heart of the American system of government, and I believe the future of our country is stronger when our students know and appreciate American exceptionalism, our constitution and freedom.”

“Charlie deeply loved Club America, and he knew the importance of lifting up our students,” said CEO Kirk. “They’re our future and we’re going to do everything possible to empower and amplify their voices in Nebraska. Through this partnership, we get one step closer to Charlie’s vision of seeing Club America in every high school in the nation.”

Kirk started Turning Point USA in 2012. The nonprofit’s mission is to identify, educate, train and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets and limited government.  The organization helps coordinate the launch of high school chapters through Club America. Currently, Club America boasts more than 3,200 chapters, representing 13 percent of all high schools in America.  There are 22 high school chapters in Nebraska. Representatives attending today’s announcement included those in public, private and homeschools, including students from as far as Ogallala and McCook and as close as Lincoln.

Students representing community colleges and universities in Nebraska also participated in today’s announcement, including Smith, who spearheaded the restart of the chapter at Creighton University. Smith worked for a year to get it going again, and the club was officially recognized last week.

Smith said that Turning Point did not tell her what to think, but it did challenge her to ask questions, think critically, engage in ideas, discover what she believed and to have the confidence to stand behind her beliefs.

“Politics used to be something I avoided entirely, now it’s a part of my everyday life, not because I have to, but because I want to. Because I care deeply about the direction of this country and I believe my generation has a responsibility to protect what is right, rational and worth preserving,” she added.

In addition to Smith who represented participants from Creighton University, students from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Southeast Community College, Metro Community College and Hastings College were also on hand at today’s event. There are currently 17 college-based chapters throughout the state.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who recalled learning about the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, called today’s gathering of student representatives a day to celebrate.  

“This is the antidote to political discord,” said Hilgers. “This is the antidote to poison in our culture. It is young people, people of all ages who are approaching issues – not with violence and not with hate and not with yelling or disruption – they’re approaching it based out of love and joy and courage in talking about the things they believe in, using free speech in this constitutional structure that we’ve been gifted by generations before us.”

TPUSA said it has seen at least a 600% increase in Nebraska-based chapters since September 10, 2025, the day Kirk was assassinated. Cocca has been with TPUSA since 2016 and worked with Kirk to launch Club America. He shared that Kirk was very enthusiastic about the idea of reaching out to teenage students.

“Charlie believed deeply in the future of this country – that it belongs to its youth and it’s our responsibility to ensure they are informed, empowered and prepared to inherit this Republic and carry on freedom for the next generation,” said Cocca.

“I hope that these young people here today inspire all of us to take a step further to stand up and say we can have good debate, we can talk and we can work through it,” added Gov.  Pillen.

Following the announcement, students and their chaperones stayed for a reception at the Governor’s Residence, hosted by Gov. Pillen.