<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump shares a message on the assassination of Charlie Kirk.<br><br>“I ask all Americans to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived &amp; died. The values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law &amp; the patriotic devotion &amp; love of God.” <a href="https://t.co/3fBSgs4Zxa">pic.twitter.com/3fBSgs4Zxa</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1965946655188070750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥President Trump's message on the assassination of Charlie Kirk

OREM, Utah — Authorities said Thursday that a person of interest in the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk is now in custody, marking a significant development in the investigation.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced the update on social media, confirming that the individual suspected of killing Kirk—who was shot Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University—is being held by law enforcement. No further details about the person's identity or potential motive were released.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox also confirmed the apprehension of a person of interest in a live press conference.&nbsp;

"Let me make this crystal clear right now. To whoever did this,"&nbsp;Cox said of the active investigation. "We will find you. We will try you. And we will hold you accountable to the furthest account of the law."&nbsp;

On the verge of tears, Gov. Cox said "I don't care what his politics are. I care that he was an American."

Earlier reports had created confusion after UVA officials initially stated a suspect was in custody and later retracted that claim.&nbsp;

Beau Mason&nbsp;Commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety  backed the initial arrest, stating the person taken in custody was not the shooter, but was booked for Obstruction of Justice. 

Now, Patel’s announcement clarifies that someone connected to the shooting is indeed detained.

Kirk, 31, was killed around 12:10 p.m. Wednesday when he was shot in the neck during a Q&amp;A session at his “American Comeback Tour” event on campus. Campus video showed the moment of the shooting amid screams, and authorities believe the shot came from a rooftop approximately 200 yards away.

University officials quickly locked down the campus, canceled classes, and began screening attendees. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies—including the FBI, ATF, UVU Police, Orem Police, and Utah Department of Public Safety—launched the investigation.

Kirk was rushed to a local hospital but died from his injuries later that day. President Donald Trump announced his death on social media, calling him “legendary,” and flags were ordered lowered to half-staff in his honor.

The arrest of a person of interest is expected to bring new clarity to the incident. However, officials have not confirmed whether the individual will face charges. The investigation remains active.

<p>OREM, Utah — Authorities said Thursday that a person of interest in the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk is now in custody, marking a significant development in the investigation.</p><p>FBI Director Kash Patel announced the update on social media, confirming that the individual suspected of killing Kirk—who was shot Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University—is being held by law enforcement. No further details about the person's identity or potential motive were released.</p><p>Utah Governor Spencer Cox also confirmed the apprehension of a person of interest in a live press conference.&nbsp;</p><p>"Let me make this crystal clear right now. To whoever did this,"&nbsp;Cox said of the active investigation. "We will find you. We will try you. And we will hold you accountable to the furthest account of the law."&nbsp;</p><p>On the verge of tears, Gov. Cox said "I don't care what his politics are. I care that he was an American."</p><p>Earlier reports had created confusion after UVA officials initially stated a suspect was in custody and later retracted that claim.&nbsp;</p><p>Beau Mason&nbsp;Commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety  backed the initial arrest, stating the person taken in custody was not the shooter, but was booked for Obstruction of Justice. </p><p>Now, Patel’s announcement clarifies that someone connected to the shooting is indeed detained.</p><p>Kirk, 31, was killed around 12:10 p.m. Wednesday when he was shot in the neck during a Q&amp;A session at his “American Comeback Tour” event on campus. Campus video showed the moment of the shooting amid screams, and authorities believe the shot came from a rooftop approximately 200 yards away.</p><p>University officials quickly locked down the campus, canceled classes, and began screening attendees. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies—including the FBI, ATF, UVU Police, Orem Police, and Utah Department of Public Safety—launched the investigation.</p><p>Kirk was rushed to a local hospital but died from his injuries later that day. President Donald Trump announced his death on social media, calling him “legendary,” and flags were ordered lowered to half-staff in his honor.</p><p>The arrest of a person of interest is expected to bring new clarity to the incident. However, officials have not confirmed whether the individual will face charges. The investigation remains active.</p>

Details Begin to Emerge in Assassination of Turning Point USA Founder

By:<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/author/katie-mckellar/">Katie McKellar</a><br><a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/">Utah News Dispatch</a>

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has died after he was shot at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced.&nbsp;

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115181934991844419" target="_blank">wrote on Truth Social</a>. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”

Videos circulating on social media show students scattering after a popping sound is heard, Kirk appears to be impacted by something, and begins bleeding from his neck. Witnesses say he was answering a question about gang violence and shootings in the moment he was shot.&nbsp;

In a statement, Utah Valley University confirmed Kirk had been shot at about 12:20 p.m. while speaking to the crowd.

Police are investigating and the campus has been closed for the rest of the day.

Adelaide Condie, an 18-year-old Utah Valley University student, was standing on a trash can trying to see Kirk as he answered a question about gun violence when he was hit.

“All of a sudden he got shot … It looked like it was to the chest from where I was, but people are saying it was to the neck … then he went down,” said Condie as she was leaving campus. “Everyone started running, then we all got on lockdown.”&nbsp;

The university initially reported a suspect was in custody, but reports later indicated the individual had been released.

Shooting follows No Kings protest shooting, national political violence

The shooting on the college campus in Orem, about 45 minutes south of Salt Lake City, follows violence this summer in Utah and beyond. In July,&nbsp;<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/06/14/gunshots-break-out-in-slc-utah-during-no-kings-protest-police-urge-protesters-to-disperse/">shots rang out</a>&nbsp;as more than 10,000 people marched in Salt Lake City as part of the “No Kings” protest of the Trump administration and its policies.

A self-designated “volunteer peacekeeper” fired with a handgun after seeing a man with an AR-15-style rifle, winging him in the side and striking a protester walking by in the head.&nbsp;<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/06/17/beloved-utah-fashion-designers-friends-remember-his-life-and-his-last-moments/">Arthur “Afa” Ah Loo</a>, a fashion designer and fixture of the Polynesian community in Utah, died from the wound.

On the same day in Wisconsin, Minnesota House Democratic leader Melissa Hortman was&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/06/14/minnesota-house-democratic-leader-dead-after-politically-motivated-assassination/" target="_blank">assassinated in her home</a>, along with her husband, Mark Hortman. Police say the accused gunman,&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/07/15/federal-grand-jury-indicts-vance-boelter/" target="_blank">Vance Boelter</a>, disguised himself as a police officer. Boelter is also charged with shooting Democratic Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, both of whom survived, in their Champlin home.&nbsp;

Kirk is the founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://tpusa.com/" target="_blank">Turning Point USA</a>, an organization that advocates for conservative politics in educational institutions, and a close ally of the president. He is a widely known internet personality who takes his signature “prove me wrong” debates to college campuses.

His Utah visit wasn’t without controversy. In a&nbsp;<a href="http://change.org/" target="_blank">Change.org petition</a>, students at Utah State University, where Kirk was scheduled to make a second appearance in the state on Sept. 30, said Kirk’s polarizing rhetoric is at odds with the inclusive atmosphere they want to preserve on campus. The petition had more than 6,800 signatures.

FBI Director Kash Patel posted on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1965851035467132940" target="_blank">X</a>&nbsp;that the FBI is “closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.”&nbsp;

“Our thoughts are with Charlie, his loved ones, and everyone affected. Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation,” Patel said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In a statement&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">posted to social media</a>, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he was being briefed by law enforcement “following the violence directed at Charlie Kirk,” and will continue to share updates.&nbsp;

“Those responsible will be held fully accountable. Violence has no place in our public life,” Cox wrote. “Americans of every political persuasion must unite in condemning this act. Our prayers are with Charlie, his family, and all those affected.”&nbsp;

On Capitol Hill, dozens of congressional Republicans offered prayers for Kirk, with whom many GOP members have personal relationships.

U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, paused the panel’s consideration of a bill and held a moment of silence after Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene informed the committee of the shooting.

Vice President JD Vance offered his own statement of support on X.

“Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father,” he wrote.

<i>Utah News Dispatch journalists McKenzie Romero, Kyle Dunphey and Alixel Cabrera, and States Newsroom reporter Jacob Fischler contributed to this story.</i>

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757541376269.png" alt="Charlie Kirk -image courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>Charlie Kirk -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/author/katie-mckellar/">Katie McKellar</a><br><a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/">Utah News Dispatch</a></p><p>Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has died after he was shot at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced.&nbsp;</p><p>“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115181934991844419" target="_blank">wrote on Truth Social</a>. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”</p><p>Videos circulating on social media show students scattering after a popping sound is heard, Kirk appears to be impacted by something, and begins bleeding from his neck. Witnesses say he was answering a question about gang violence and shootings in the moment he was shot.&nbsp;</p><p>In a statement, Utah Valley University confirmed Kirk had been shot at about 12:20 p.m. while speaking to the crowd.</p><p>Police are investigating and the campus has been closed for the rest of the day.</p><p>Adelaide Condie, an 18-year-old Utah Valley University student, was standing on a trash can trying to see Kirk as he answered a question about gun violence when he was hit.</p><p>“All of a sudden he got shot … It looked like it was to the chest from where I was, but people are saying it was to the neck … then he went down,” said Condie as she was leaving campus. “Everyone started running, then we all got on lockdown.”&nbsp;</p><p>The university initially reported a suspect was in custody, but reports later indicated the individual had been released.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757541335583.png" alt="Police respond to the scene of the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, who was speaking during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)" />
                        <figcaption>Police respond to the scene of the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, who was speaking during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)</figcaption>
                    </figure><h2>Shooting follows No Kings protest shooting, national political violence</h2><p>The shooting on the college campus in Orem, about 45 minutes south of Salt Lake City, follows violence this summer in Utah and beyond. In July,&nbsp;<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/06/14/gunshots-break-out-in-slc-utah-during-no-kings-protest-police-urge-protesters-to-disperse/">shots rang out</a>&nbsp;as more than 10,000 people marched in Salt Lake City as part of the “No Kings” protest of the Trump administration and its policies.</p><p>A self-designated “volunteer peacekeeper” fired with a handgun after seeing a man with an AR-15-style rifle, winging him in the side and striking a protester walking by in the head.&nbsp;<a href="https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/06/17/beloved-utah-fashion-designers-friends-remember-his-life-and-his-last-moments/">Arthur “Afa” Ah Loo</a>, a fashion designer and fixture of the Polynesian community in Utah, died from the wound.</p><p>On the same day in Wisconsin, Minnesota House Democratic leader Melissa Hortman was&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/06/14/minnesota-house-democratic-leader-dead-after-politically-motivated-assassination/" target="_blank">assassinated in her home</a>, along with her husband, Mark Hortman. Police say the accused gunman,&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/07/15/federal-grand-jury-indicts-vance-boelter/" target="_blank">Vance Boelter</a>, disguised himself as a police officer. Boelter is also charged with shooting Democratic Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, both of whom survived, in their Champlin home.&nbsp;</p><h2>Kirk’s visit to Utah drew criticism</h2><p>Kirk is the founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://tpusa.com/" target="_blank">Turning Point USA</a>, an organization that advocates for conservative politics in educational institutions, and a close ally of the president. He is a widely known internet personality who takes his signature “prove me wrong” debates to college campuses.</p><p>His Utah visit wasn’t without controversy. In a&nbsp;<a href="http://change.org/" target="_blank">Change.org petition</a>, students at Utah State University, where Kirk was scheduled to make a second appearance in the state on Sept. 30, said Kirk’s polarizing rhetoric is at odds with the inclusive atmosphere they want to preserve on campus. The petition had more than 6,800 signatures.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757541297936.png" alt="The Utah Valley University courtyard where Charlie Kirk was fatally shot is pictured in Orem on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)" />
                        <figcaption>The Utah Valley University courtyard where Charlie Kirk was fatally shot is pictured in Orem on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)</figcaption>
                    </figure><h2>Concern for Kirk flows in</h2><p>FBI Director Kash Patel posted on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1965851035467132940" target="_blank">X</a>&nbsp;that the FBI is “closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.”&nbsp;</p><p>“Our thoughts are with Charlie, his loved ones, and everyone affected. Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation,” Patel said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>In a statement&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">posted to social media</a>, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he was being briefed by law enforcement “following the violence directed at Charlie Kirk,” and will continue to share updates.&nbsp;</p><p>“Those responsible will be held fully accountable. Violence has no place in our public life,” Cox wrote. “Americans of every political persuasion must unite in condemning this act. Our prayers are with Charlie, his family, and all those affected.”&nbsp;</p><p>On Capitol Hill, dozens of congressional Republicans offered prayers for Kirk, with whom many GOP members have personal relationships.</p><p>U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, paused the panel’s consideration of a bill and held a moment of silence after Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene informed the committee of the shooting.</p><p>Vice President JD Vance offered his own statement of support on X.</p><p>“Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father,” he wrote.</p><p><i>Utah News Dispatch journalists McKenzie Romero, Kyle Dunphey and Alixel Cabrera, and States Newsroom reporter Jacob Fischler contributed to this story.</i></p>

Charlie Kirk dies after shooting at Utah Valley University

OREM, Utah&nbsp; —&nbsp;President Donald Trump announced today that conservative activist Charlie Kirk has died after being shot during an event in Utah.

 Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University, sending students scrambling for cover and prompting a massive law enforcement response.

Kirk, 31, was hit in the neck just after noon during a <a href="https://tpusa.com/">Turning Point USA</a> event in the school’s Sorensen Center courtyard. He had been answering a question from a student at a “Prove Me Wrong” debate table when a single shot rang out.

Witnesses said Kirk grabbed his neck and collapsed as blood became visible. “It was one shot, aimed directly at him,” said former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was on campus and saw the shooting unfold.

Video from the event showed students screaming, diving for the ground, and rushing away from the courtyard.&nbsp;

Campus officials initially reported that a suspect had been taken into custody but later walked back that statement. Police said the person detained was not the shooter, who remains at large. Authorities believe the shot came from about 200 yards away, fired from a nearby building.

Kirk was rushed by security to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition and ultimately died.

The university immediately placed the campus on lockdown, canceled classes and events for the rest of the day, and advised students to either shelter in place or evacuate with police guidance.

The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined local officers in the investigation.

National leaders from both parties condemned the violence. Former President Donald Trump called Kirk “a great guy from top to bottom” and urged Americans to pray for him. Vice President J.D. Vance called Kirk “a genuinely good guy and a young father,” while Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries said political violence must not be tolerated.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the shooting “disgusting, vile and reprehensible.”

Kirk, a close Trump ally, co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and is known for hosting provocative debates on college campuses. Wednesday’s event was part of his “American Comeback Tour,” which features his signature “Prove Me Wrong” sessions with students.

Kirk has long been an outspoken supporter of the Second Amendment, often arguing that armed citizens are essential to protecting freedom and deterring government overreach. Through Turning Point USA and his media platforms, he has opposed new gun restrictions and aligned himself with groups that advocate expansive gun rights.

Just before the shot that fatally killed Kirk, he was fielding questions about mass shootings and gun violence.&nbsp;

"Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?" an audience member asked. Kirk responded with a simple, "too many."&nbsp;

The follow up question: "Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?"&nbsp;

"Counting or not counting gang violence?" Kirk asked in clarification.

Kirk was noted as going limp in his chair.&nbsp;

Utah Valley University said counseling resources will be available to students and staff in the coming days.

Close friend of Kirk and political commentator, Brilyn Hollyhand said in an interview with Fox News "I want viewers to remember Charlie as a family man... Who took still took the time to turn his phone off on Sundays. To go to church with his kids. To go to church with his wife. And those are who people are thinking of right now. His amazing wife Erica, his two young children. What do you say to them now? Do you say that dad went to speak at a college campus, a place of free expression and he never came home?"&nbsp;

 Hollyhand drove home that Kirk always opened his talks with "if we disagree please come to the front of the line." He believes this person who disagreed with him could have solved everything just by talking and Kirk would still be here.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757536658284.jpeg" alt="Charlie Kirk 2025" />
                        <figcaption>Charlie Kirk 2025</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>OREM, Utah&nbsp; —&nbsp;President Donald Trump announced today that conservative activist Charlie Kirk has died after being shot during an event in Utah.</p><div><iframe src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115181934991844419/embed" class="truthsocial-embed" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script></div><p> Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University, sending students scrambling for cover and prompting a massive law enforcement response.</p><p>Kirk, 31, was hit in the neck just after noon during a <a href="https://tpusa.com/">Turning Point USA</a> event in the school’s Sorensen Center courtyard. He had been answering a question from a student at a “Prove Me Wrong” debate table when a single shot rang out.</p><p>Witnesses said Kirk grabbed his neck and collapsed as blood became visible. “It was one shot, aimed directly at him,” said former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was on campus and saw the shooting unfold.</p><p>Video from the event showed students screaming, diving for the ground, and rushing away from the courtyard.&nbsp;</p><p>Campus officials initially reported that a suspect had been taken into custody but later walked back that statement. Police said the person detained was not the shooter, who remains at large. Authorities believe the shot came from about 200 yards away, fired from a nearby building.</p><p>Kirk was rushed by security to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition and ultimately died.</p><p>The university immediately placed the campus on lockdown, canceled classes and events for the rest of the day, and advised students to either shelter in place or evacuate with police guidance.</p><p>The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined local officers in the investigation.</p><div><iframe src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115181549363103818/embed" class="truthsocial-embed" style="max-width: 100%; border: 0" width="600" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><script src="https://truthsocial.com/embed.js" async="async"></script></div><p>National leaders from both parties condemned the violence. Former President Donald Trump called Kirk “a great guy from top to bottom” and urged Americans to pray for him. Vice President J.D. Vance called Kirk “a genuinely good guy and a young father,” while Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries said political violence must not be tolerated.</p><p>California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the shooting “disgusting, vile and reprehensible.”</p><p>Kirk, a close Trump ally, co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and is known for hosting provocative debates on college campuses. Wednesday’s event was part of his “American Comeback Tour,” which features his signature “Prove Me Wrong” sessions with students.</p><p>Kirk has long been an outspoken supporter of the Second Amendment, often arguing that armed citizens are essential to protecting freedom and deterring government overreach. Through Turning Point USA and his media platforms, he has opposed new gun restrictions and aligned himself with groups that advocate expansive gun rights.</p><p>Just before the shot that fatally killed Kirk, he was fielding questions about mass shootings and gun violence.&nbsp;</p><p>"Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?" an audience member asked. Kirk responded with a simple, "too many."&nbsp;</p><p>The follow up question: "Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?"&nbsp;</p><p>"Counting or not counting gang violence?" Kirk asked in clarification.</p><p>A single shot then rung out. </p><p>Kirk was noted as going limp in his chair.&nbsp;</p><p>Utah Valley University said counseling resources will be available to students and staff in the coming days.</p><p>Close friend of Kirk and political commentator, Brilyn Hollyhand said in an interview with Fox News "I want viewers to remember Charlie as a family man... Who took still took the time to turn his phone off on Sundays. To go to church with his kids. To go to church with his wife. And those are who people are thinking of right now. His amazing wife Erica, his two young children. What do you say to them now? Do you say that dad went to speak at a college campus, a place of free expression and he never came home?"&nbsp;</p><p> Hollyhand drove home that Kirk always opened his talks with "if we disagree please come to the front of the line." He believes this person who disagreed with him could have solved everything just by talking and Kirk would still be here.&nbsp;</p>

UPDATED: Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk fatally shot during Utah Valley University event; suspect not in custody

<i>Press Release: </i><a href="https://sandhillsenergy.com/blog/bsh-kilgore-files-lawsuit-to-defend-property-rights-in-cherry-county-nebraska/"><i>Sandhills Energy</i></a>

BSH Kilgore announced today it has filed a lawsuit in Cherry County District Court to defend its property rights concerning their Kilgore wind energy project. This action comes after the Cherry County Board of Adjustment voted to uphold the Cherry County Zoning Administrator’s “report” of non-compliance regarding BSH Kilgore’s valid conditional use permit.

“While we would much rather work collaboratively with Cherry County, the Board of Adjustment has, unfortunately, left us with no alternative,” says Michael Knapp, BSH Kilgore’s Senior Vice President of Operations. “Exercise of our conditional use permit is a fundamental property right, and the Board of Adjustment has acted to revoke this right without basis in law. The fact that the council members did not take the time to state reasons for their votes, until after they voted, further underscores the procedural deficiencies.”

BSH Kilgore has consistently maintained its compliance with all permit conditions. In October 2024, BSH Kilgore presented documentation to the Cherry County Board of Commissioners demonstrating its compliance with all 12 conditions of approval, which the County Board did not dispute at the time. Construction of the wind farm has been delayed by ongoing litigation, and the 44 months of prior litigation likewise “equitably tolled” all development deadlines—a fact expressly acknowledged on the record by the County’s own counsel.

“BSH Kilgore has already invested years of development on this project, and we anticipate years yet to complete it, particularly given the prior litigation,” Knapp continued. “We are well within the conditional use permit timeframes and our rights to continue with the project. We reiterate that the claims made in the zoning letter do not reflect the facts or the official permitting record.”

The legal action follows a 3-2 vote by the Board of Adjustment to affirm the Zoning Administrator’s findings. BSH Kilgore previously highlighted that the Zoning Administrator failed to contact them prior to issuing the initial letter, and that the Administrator’s assertions were “factually inaccurate and unsupported by the public record.” BSH Kilgore’s legal counsel had previously requested that the Zoning Administrator provide the sources and reasoning behind her findings, which appeared to misstate and misquote actual permit conditions.

“Property rights still matter in Cherry County, Nebraska, and we will defend those rights as necessary,” concluded Knapp. “By formally filing a lawsuit with the Cherry County District Court, we intend to safeguard our conditional use permit and the property rights it guarantees.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757531382595.jpeg" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p><i>Press Release: </i><a href="https://sandhillsenergy.com/blog/bsh-kilgore-files-lawsuit-to-defend-property-rights-in-cherry-county-nebraska/"><i>Sandhills Energy</i></a></p><p>KILGORE, NEBRASKA – September 10, 2025</p><p>BSH Kilgore announced today it has filed a lawsuit in Cherry County District Court to defend its property rights concerning their Kilgore wind energy project. This action comes after the Cherry County Board of Adjustment voted to uphold the Cherry County Zoning Administrator’s “report” of non-compliance regarding BSH Kilgore’s valid conditional use permit.</p><p>“While we would much rather work collaboratively with Cherry County, the Board of Adjustment has, unfortunately, left us with no alternative,” says Michael Knapp, BSH Kilgore’s Senior Vice President of Operations. “Exercise of our conditional use permit is a fundamental property right, and the Board of Adjustment has acted to revoke this right without basis in law. The fact that the council members did not take the time to state reasons for their votes, until after they voted, further underscores the procedural deficiencies.”</p><p>BSH Kilgore has consistently maintained its compliance with all permit conditions. In October 2024, BSH Kilgore presented documentation to the Cherry County Board of Commissioners demonstrating its compliance with all 12 conditions of approval, which the County Board did not dispute at the time. Construction of the wind farm has been delayed by ongoing litigation, and the 44 months of prior litigation likewise “equitably tolled” all development deadlines—a fact expressly acknowledged on the record by the County’s own counsel.</p><p>“BSH Kilgore has already invested years of development on this project, and we anticipate years yet to complete it, particularly given the prior litigation,” Knapp continued. “We are well within the conditional use permit timeframes and our rights to continue with the project. We reiterate that the claims made in the zoning letter do not reflect the facts or the official permitting record.”</p><p>The legal action follows a 3-2 vote by the Board of Adjustment to affirm the Zoning Administrator’s findings. BSH Kilgore previously highlighted that the Zoning Administrator failed to contact them prior to issuing the initial letter, and that the Administrator’s assertions were “factually inaccurate and unsupported by the public record.” BSH Kilgore’s legal counsel had previously requested that the Zoning Administrator provide the sources and reasoning behind her findings, which appeared to misstate and misquote actual permit conditions.</p><p>“Property rights still matter in Cherry County, Nebraska, and we will defend those rights as necessary,” concluded Knapp. “By formally filing a lawsuit with the Cherry County District Court, we intend to safeguard our conditional use permit and the property rights it guarantees.”</p>

BSH Kilgore Files Lawsuit to Defend Property Rights in Cherry County, Nebraska

WASHINGTON­—Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets Chairwoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) delivered opening remarks at Tuesday’s hearing titled “<a href="https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/restoring-public-trust-through-uap-transparency-and-whistleblower-protection/">Restoring Public Trust Through UFO/UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection</a>.”

In her opening statement, Task Force Chairwoman Luna highlighted the lack of transparency from the federal government and intelligence communities on the research and disclosure of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). Task Force Chairwoman Luna also reiterated the importance of addressing threats to U.S. national security by (UFOs or now known as UAPs and the need for the federal government to acknowledge them.

Read the Congresswoman's full statement below:

Good morning, and welcome to this hearing regarding UAP disclosures.

For too long, the issue of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena – commonly known as UAPs – has been shrouded in secrecy, stigma, and in some cases outright dismissal.&nbsp;

Today, I want to state clearly: this is not science fiction or creating speculation.&nbsp;

This is about national security, government accountability, and the American people’s right to the truth.

I have now spoken to a number of whistleblowers from the military, to include at the infamous Eglin AFB incident that occurred when myself and former Rep Matt Gaetz as well as Rep Burchett followed up on a lead from multiple active-duty air force pilot whistleblowers that alleged that the USAF was covering up UAP activity at Eglin AFB.&nbsp;

We have heard from a number of whistleblowers, specifically military pilots, that the reason for not coming forward publicly is out of fear that speaking out would cost them their flight status, and potentially their careers.&nbsp;

We cannot protect our airspace if our best-trained observers are silenced.&nbsp;

We cannot advance science if we refuse to ask questions.&nbsp;

And we cannot maintain trust in government if we keep the American people in the dark.

Now, Congress has tried to fix this problem.

Congress tried to create formal channels – through the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, also known as AARO and the Intelligence Community Inspector General – for service members and officials to make disclosures.

But the reality: the reports that come in are too often brushed aside, slow-walked, or met with skepticism rather than serious investigation. Recently, the former AARO director known as Sean Kirpatrick attacked our witness and members on this committee. It should be noted that he is a documented liar and brings into question what his purpose at AARO really was if it was not to follow up on investigations and disclose his findings to Members of Congress.&nbsp;

A former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Chris Mellon, described a report published by ARRO that “found no evidence that any USG investigation, academic-sponsored research, or official review panel has confirmed that any sighting of a UAP represented extraterrestrial technology,” as “the most error-ridden and unsatisfactory government report I can recall reading during or after decades of government service.” Mellon further noted that this was the first ARRO report submitted to Congress without the Director of National Intelligence’s sign-off and seemingly excluded input from “any of the scholars or experts who have studied and written extensively on this topic as would normally be the case in another field.” Mellon determined that the report failed to fulfill the congressional mandate under which it was required, omitted entire agencies with “known investigations or activities relating to UAP,” and omitted any discussion of efforts to hide classified or unclassified information about UAP. Such efforts were unaddressed by the report despite the existence of agency records and investigations concerning them, including at US Customs and Border Protection.

If we set up offices and oversight bodies only to let them become graveyards for testimony or worse yet, ruses for pretending to investigate when in actuality, there was no follow up, then we are not doing our jobs.

In recent months, Congress has also been presented with evidence that points to technologies that to our knowledge, are beyond our current capabilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It is our duty as elected representatives to follow the facts, wherever they lead, and to ensure those facts are not buried under classification stamps or bureaucratic excuses.&nbsp;

Let me be clear: whether UAPs represent adversarial technology, natural phenomena, or something beyond current human understanding, Congress has a responsibility to investigate.&nbsp;

If these objects are foreign in origin, they pose a direct threat to our national security.&nbsp;

If they represent something unknown, they demand rigorous scientific inquiry – not ridicule, not secrecy, and not silence.&nbsp;

Adversarial nations are not waiting for us to catch up – they are studying these phenomena aggressively as well and multiple nations have also announced their own parliamentary investigation into this very topic.

If we continue to hide information from ourselves, we risk strategic surprises.&nbsp;

If we continue to ignore our pilots and service members as well as the countless government whistleblowers, we risk losing their trust.&nbsp;

And if we continue to shield the truth from the public, we risk eroding the very foundation of democratic accountability.&nbsp;

This is about demanding basic transparency from the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community and/or military contractors.&nbsp;

It is about asking the questions every American has the right to ask: What do we know? What don’t we know? And why, in a free society are we still being told so little?&nbsp;

A major barrier to the Committee’s inquiry into UAPs has been a lack of cooperation and transparency from the DoD and the Intelligence Community (IC). In preparation for previous UAP hearings, the Committee repeatedly asked DoD to allow Members to view videos and files relating to UAP incidents. Unfortunately, DoD notified Committee staff that due to the Department’s special access program (SAP) rules, only members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee (HAC-D) were allowed to be “read in” on such programs. For a non-committee Member to be allowed to view these documents and videos, individual Members must be approved by the Chairman and Ranking Member of both HASC and HAC-D. Independent SAP oversight has presented a consistent problem for Congress as the program’s budgets are classified. Additionally, oversight reporting to Congress is classified, and is only provided to the authorizing and appropriations committees of jurisdiction.

They do not need to be shielded like children from reality.

What they cannot tolerate – what they will not forgive – is a government that withholds the truth and punishes those who dare to speak out.

Future generations will look back on this moment and ask what we did when presented with the unknown.&nbsp;

Did we look away, embarrassed or afraid? Or did we pursue the truth with courage?&nbsp;

I intend to be on the side of truth, transparency, and accountability, and I hope my colleagues on this Task Force will be as well.&nbsp;

Senator Schumer: “Multiple credible sources” allege a constitutional crisis over UFOs.

Senator Rounds: “They are brilliant individuals.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“They’re not making this stuff up.”

Our current Secretary of State Rubio: “Very high clearances and high positions within our government.”

Senator McConnell: “Sane,” “Credible”

The witnesses today are not alone, far from it. In fact, 34 senior military, government, and intelligence officials have broken their silence. This includes Senator Rubio, Senator Rounds, Senator Gillibrand, General Jim Clapper, the former director of the Government’s UAP task force, the former head of aviation security on the White House national security council, a former secretary of defense, and many more.&nbsp; To quote&nbsp;Senator Rubio in the upcoming documentary Age of Disclosure: “even presidents have been operating on a need-to-know basis but that begins to spin out of control.” And to quote Senator Gillibrand who went public in a upcoming documentary, “it’s not acceptable to have secret parts of government that no one ever sees.” It is time for the fundamental truths around UAP to be revealed to our nation’s leaders and to the public.

&nbsp;It is time for the US government to exercise transparency.

<p>WASHINGTON­—Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets Chairwoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) delivered opening remarks at Tuesday’s hearing titled “<a href="https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/restoring-public-trust-through-uap-transparency-and-whistleblower-protection/">Restoring Public Trust Through UFO/UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection</a>.”</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Below is the video I revealed in our <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPoversight</a> UAP hearing today, made available to the public for the first time.<br><br>October 30th, 2024: MQ-9 Reaper allegedly tracking orb off coast of Yemen. <br><br>Greenlight given to engage, missile appears to be ineffective against the target.… <a href="https://t.co/jxJwl0e00S">pic.twitter.com/jxJwl0e00S</a></p>&mdash; Rep. Eric Burlison (@RepEricBurlison) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepEricBurlison/status/1965438792493355291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🔴 UAP HEARING! Watch as <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLuna?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepLuna</a> and the Task Force for the Declassification of Federal Secrets hold a hearing on restoring public trust through UAP transparency and whistleblower protection. <a href="https://t.co/TOLaBHHj9Q">https://t.co/TOLaBHHj9Q</a></p>&mdash; Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/1965412144264151187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>In her opening statement, Task Force Chairwoman Luna highlighted the lack of transparency from the federal government and intelligence communities on the research and disclosure of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). Task Force Chairwoman Luna also reiterated the importance of addressing threats to U.S. national security by (UFOs or now known as UAPs and the need for the federal government to acknowledge them.</p><p>Read the Congresswoman's full statement below:</p><p>Good morning, and welcome to this hearing regarding UAP disclosures.</p><p>For too long, the issue of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena – commonly known as UAPs – has been shrouded in secrecy, stigma, and in some cases outright dismissal.&nbsp;</p><p>Today, I want to state clearly: this is not science fiction or creating speculation.&nbsp;</p><p>This is about national security, government accountability, and the American people’s right to the truth.</p><p>I have now spoken to a number of whistleblowers from the military, to include at the infamous Eglin AFB incident that occurred when myself and former Rep Matt Gaetz as well as Rep Burchett followed up on a lead from multiple active-duty air force pilot whistleblowers that alleged that the USAF was covering up UAP activity at Eglin AFB.&nbsp;</p><p>We have heard from a number of whistleblowers, specifically military pilots, that the reason for not coming forward publicly is out of fear that speaking out would cost them their flight status, and potentially their careers.&nbsp;</p><p>That is unacceptable.&nbsp;</p><p>We cannot protect our airspace if our best-trained observers are silenced.&nbsp;</p><p>We cannot advance science if we refuse to ask questions.&nbsp;</p><p>And we cannot maintain trust in government if we keep the American people in the dark.</p><p>Now, Congress has tried to fix this problem.</p><p>Congress tried to create formal channels – through the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, also known as AARO and the Intelligence Community Inspector General – for service members and officials to make disclosures.</p><p>But the reality: the reports that come in are too often brushed aside, slow-walked, or met with skepticism rather than serious investigation. Recently, the former AARO director known as Sean Kirpatrick attacked our witness and members on this committee. It should be noted that he is a documented liar and brings into question what his purpose at AARO really was if it was not to follow up on investigations and disclose his findings to Members of Congress.&nbsp;</p><p>A former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Chris Mellon, described a report published by ARRO that “found no evidence that any USG investigation, academic-sponsored research, or official review panel has confirmed that any sighting of a UAP represented extraterrestrial technology,” as “the most error-ridden and unsatisfactory government report I can recall reading during or after decades of government service.” Mellon further noted that this was the first ARRO report submitted to Congress without the Director of National Intelligence’s sign-off and seemingly excluded input from “any of the scholars or experts who have studied and written extensively on this topic as would normally be the case in another field.” Mellon determined that the report failed to fulfill the congressional mandate under which it was required, omitted entire agencies with “known investigations or activities relating to UAP,” and omitted any discussion of efforts to hide classified or unclassified information about UAP. Such efforts were unaddressed by the report despite the existence of agency records and investigations concerning them, including at US Customs and Border Protection.</p><p>If we set up offices and oversight bodies only to let them become graveyards for testimony or worse yet, ruses for pretending to investigate when in actuality, there was no follow up, then we are not doing our jobs.</p><p>In recent months, Congress has also been presented with evidence that points to technologies that to our knowledge, are beyond our current capabilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>It is our duty as elected representatives to follow the facts, wherever they lead, and to ensure those facts are not buried under classification stamps or bureaucratic excuses.&nbsp;</p><p>Let me be clear: whether UAPs represent adversarial technology, natural phenomena, or something beyond current human understanding, Congress has a responsibility to investigate.&nbsp;</p><p>If these objects are foreign in origin, they pose a direct threat to our national security.&nbsp;</p><p>If they represent something unknown, they demand rigorous scientific inquiry – not ridicule, not secrecy, and not silence.&nbsp;</p><p>The stakes are high.&nbsp;</p><p>Adversarial nations are not waiting for us to catch up – they are studying these phenomena aggressively as well and multiple nations have also announced their own parliamentary investigation into this very topic.</p><p>If we continue to hide information from ourselves, we risk strategic surprises.&nbsp;</p><p>If we continue to ignore our pilots and service members as well as the countless government whistleblowers, we risk losing their trust.&nbsp;</p><p>And if we continue to shield the truth from the public, we risk eroding the very foundation of democratic accountability.&nbsp;</p><p>That is why this hearing matters.&nbsp;</p><p>This is not about fueling speculation.</p><p>This is about demanding basic transparency from the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community and/or military contractors.&nbsp;</p><p>It is about asking the questions every American has the right to ask: What do we know? What don’t we know? And why, in a free society are we still being told so little?&nbsp;</p><p>A major barrier to the Committee’s inquiry into UAPs has been a lack of cooperation and transparency from the DoD and the Intelligence Community (IC). In preparation for previous UAP hearings, the Committee repeatedly asked DoD to allow Members to view videos and files relating to UAP incidents. Unfortunately, DoD notified Committee staff that due to the Department’s special access program (SAP) rules, only members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee (HAC-D) were allowed to be “read in” on such programs. For a non-committee Member to be allowed to view these documents and videos, individual Members must be approved by the Chairman and Ranking Member of both HASC and HAC-D. Independent SAP oversight has presented a consistent problem for Congress as the program’s budgets are classified. Additionally, oversight reporting to Congress is classified, and is only provided to the authorizing and appropriations committees of jurisdiction.</p><p>The American people are not fragile.</p><p>They do not need to be shielded like children from reality.</p><p>What they cannot tolerate – what they will not forgive – is a government that withholds the truth and punishes those who dare to speak out.</p><p>I want to close with this:</p><p>Future generations will look back on this moment and ask what we did when presented with the unknown.&nbsp;</p><p>Did we look away, embarrassed or afraid? Or did we pursue the truth with courage?&nbsp;</p><p>I intend to be on the side of truth, transparency, and accountability, and I hope my colleagues on this Task Force will be as well.&nbsp;</p><p>To quote a few elected officials:</p><p>Senator Schumer: “Multiple credible sources” allege a constitutional crisis over UFOs.</p><p>Senator Rounds: “They are brilliant individuals.”&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“They’re not making this stuff up.”</p><p>Our current Secretary of State Rubio: “Very high clearances and high positions within our government.”</p><p>Senator McConnell: “Sane,” “Credible”</p><p>The witnesses today are not alone, far from it. In fact, 34 senior military, government, and intelligence officials have broken their silence. This includes Senator Rubio, Senator Rounds, Senator Gillibrand, General Jim Clapper, the former director of the Government’s UAP task force, the former head of aviation security on the White House national security council, a former secretary of defense, and many more.&nbsp; To quote&nbsp;Senator Rubio in the upcoming documentary Age of Disclosure: “even presidents have been operating on a need-to-know basis but that begins to spin out of control.” And to quote Senator Gillibrand who went public in a upcoming documentary, “it’s not acceptable to have secret parts of government that no one ever sees.” It is time for the fundamental truths around UAP to be revealed to our nation’s leaders and to the public.</p><p>&nbsp;It is time for the US government to exercise transparency.</p>

🎥Scary: Congressman unveils video of missile bouncing off UFO

BOISE, Idaho — Armando Villarreal, an artist from Imperial, Nebraska, is bringing his hometown talent to Boise State football with a hand-painted helmet the team will wear against Appalachian State on Sept. 27. The “Front Porch of Idaho” helmet celebrates Boise’s landmarks and the state’s identity, wrapping a traditional blue helmet in white airbrushed designs accented with the school’s signature orange.

Villarreal, a former U.S. Army Reserve member deployed to Kosovo and Iraq, said his passion for art has been lifelong. 

“I guess I was just born with it,” he said. “Even since the beginning, as far back as I can remember, I wanted to be an artist.” His father, a Dallas Cowboys fan, encouraged Villarreal’s early sketches, and he remembers drawing Cowboys logos and players with crayons as a child.

The helmet design features a galloping Bronco on one side, the Idaho State Capitol framed by Boise’s foothills on the other, and Albertsons Stadium with its famous blue turf on the back. The front bumper displays “208,” representing Idaho’s area code and the Capitol dome’s height. Villarreal said the project felt especially meaningful given his lifelong connection to horses. “My grandpa bought me a horse when I was a kid, and we named it Bronco,” he said. “So to paint a Bronco on this helmet, for a university known for the blue field, it felt like it was meant to be.”

Villarreal’s path to becoming a professional helmet artist was shaped by years of balancing his city job with his passion. “I’ve done hundreds of helmets over the years while working full time, but in 2022 I transitioned to being a full-time artist,” he said. “It’s exciting to have my name associated with a program like Boise State.” Each helmet undergoes a detailed process, including sanding, scuffing, and airbrushing, with each piece requiring a minimum of three hours to complete. Fulfilling a full order takes at least two months.

Villarreal has airbrushed helmets for 12 college programs, including BYU, Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee, UCF, and Utah. For the Boise State project, he said the challenge was combining landmarks into a cohesive design. “We put together a list of recognizable landmarks from Boise and Idaho and tried to make them flow and balance around the helmet,” he said. “The blue is such a pretty blue, and to be able to put my twist on it for such a program is just exciting.”

Boise State football, the only FBS program in the state, has been one of the nation’s most successful programs since 2000, with 262 wins and 27 straight winning seasons, the longest active streak in the country. The helmet design will also appear on t-shirts and be available at The Blue and Orange Store, Scheels, Fred Meyer locations, and online through Fanatics. Limited helmets will be available to Bronco Athletic Association members.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757450027178.jpeg" alt="Photo by: Kenna Harbison" />
                        <figcaption>Photo by: Kenna Harbison</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>BOISE, Idaho — Armando Villarreal, an artist from Imperial, Nebraska, is bringing his hometown talent to Boise State football with a hand-painted helmet the team will wear against Appalachian State on Sept. 27. The “Front Porch of Idaho” helmet celebrates Boise’s landmarks and the state’s identity, wrapping a traditional blue helmet in white airbrushed designs accented with the school’s signature orange.</p><p>Villarreal, a former U.S. Army Reserve member deployed to Kosovo and Iraq, said his passion for art has been lifelong. </p><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gR_tFciW_cM?si=3-yLiswLyqdxPZB-" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><p>“I guess I was just born with it,” he said. “Even since the beginning, as far back as I can remember, I wanted to be an artist.” His father, a Dallas Cowboys fan, encouraged Villarreal’s early sketches, and he remembers drawing Cowboys logos and players with crayons as a child.</p><p>The helmet design features a galloping Bronco on one side, the Idaho State Capitol framed by Boise’s foothills on the other, and Albertsons Stadium with its famous blue turf on the back. The front bumper displays “208,” representing Idaho’s area code and the Capitol dome’s height. Villarreal said the project felt especially meaningful given his lifelong connection to horses. “My grandpa bought me a horse when I was a kid, and we named it Bronco,” he said. “So to paint a Bronco on this helmet, for a university known for the blue field, it felt like it was meant to be.”</p><p>Villarreal’s path to becoming a professional helmet artist was shaped by years of balancing his city job with his passion. “I’ve done hundreds of helmets over the years while working full time, but in 2022 I transitioned to being a full-time artist,” he said. “It’s exciting to have my name associated with a program like Boise State.” Each helmet undergoes a detailed process, including sanding, scuffing, and airbrushing, with each piece requiring a minimum of three hours to complete. Fulfilling a full order takes at least two months.</p><div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOXkEp-Dmvx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOXkEp-Dmvx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOXkEp-Dmvx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by CFB on FOX (@cfbonfox)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>Villarreal has airbrushed helmets for 12 college programs, including BYU, Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee, UCF, and Utah. For the Boise State project, he said the challenge was combining landmarks into a cohesive design. “We put together a list of recognizable landmarks from Boise and Idaho and tried to make them flow and balance around the helmet,” he said. “The blue is such a pretty blue, and to be able to put my twist on it for such a program is just exciting.”</p><p>Boise State football, the only FBS program in the state, has been one of the nation’s most successful programs since 2000, with 262 wins and 27 straight winning seasons, the longest active streak in the country. The helmet design will also appear on t-shirts and be available at The Blue and Orange Store, Scheels, Fred Meyer locations, and online through Fanatics. Limited helmets will be available to Bronco Athletic Association members.</p>

🎥Imperial Native Hand-Paints Boise State’s “Front Porch of Idaho” Helmet

<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26086948-maha-strategy-report/">Click here to read the report</a>

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757445688539.png" alt="Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during the presentation on Tuesday-image from HHS video" />
                        <figcaption>Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during the presentation on Tuesday-image from HHS video</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Happening Now: MAHA Commission: Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy <a href="https://t.co/675oYf38VC">https://t.co/675oYf38VC</a></p>&mdash; HHS.gov (@HHSGov) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSGov/status/1965492269001138374?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p><a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26086948-maha-strategy-report/">Click here to read the report</a></p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757445537005.png" alt="<br>" />
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Read RFK Jr.'s new MAHA report: Targets vaccines and autism

<i>By:<a href="https://www.morningagclips.com/nebraska-corn-safety-first-avoid-the-worst/"> Morning Ag Clips</a></i>

National Farm Safety and Health Week is September 21-27

LINCOLN, Neb. – As harvest season approaches, the&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;Corn Board (NCB) and&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) are reminding farmers, rural communities and motorists to prioritize safety during National Farm Safety and Health Week, September 21-27. This year’s theme,&nbsp;“Safety First, Avoid the Worst,”&nbsp;highlights the importance of taking proactive steps to prevent accidents during one of the busiest and most dangerous times of the year in agriculture.

Agriculture remains the backbone of&nbsp;Nebraska’s economy, with one in four jobs tied to the industry. But farming continues to rank among the most hazardous occupations in the United States. Fatigue, stress, heavy equipment and unpredictable conditions all contribute to the risks faced by farmers and rural residents alike.

“Harvest is a season that brings families together across generations, but it also requires us to be more vigilant than ever,” said Brandon Hunnicutt, chairman of NCB. “Taking a few extra moments for safety, whether in the field, on rural roads or around equipment, can save lives and help us avoid the worst.”

Nebraska&nbsp;Corn encourages both farmers and the public to keep these safety reminders top of mind this fall and beyond:

Nebraska&nbsp;Corn also reminds those traveling through rural areas to be patient during harvest traffic and be aware of&nbsp;Nebraska’s updated move-over law. The updated measure requires drivers to slow down and move over for stopped vehicles and vulnerable road users which now includes agricultural vehicles and equipment. Slowing down and staying alert can prevent accidents and help avoid the worst.

The&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;Corn Board is funded through a producer checkoff investment of a one-cent-per-bushel on all corn marketed in the state and is managed by nine farmer directors. The mission of the&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;Corn Board is to increase the value and sustainability of&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;corn through promotion, market development and research.

The&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) is a grassroots commodity organization that works to advance&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;corn farmers through leadership, policy and education. NeCGA has more than 2,400 dues-paying members in&nbsp;Nebraska. NeCGA is affiliated with the National Corn Growers Association, which has more than 36,000 dues-paying members nationwide.

Nebraska Corn: Safety First, Avoid the Worst

&nbsp;President Trump on Tuesday signed a memorandum directing Secretary Kennedy&nbsp;to ensure transparency and accuracy in direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising and Dr. Makary&nbsp;at the FDA&nbsp;to enforce the prescription drug advertising provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Read the order from the White House below

In 1962, the Congress vested the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the authority to regulate prescription drug advertising.&nbsp; These advertisements can mislead the public about the risks and benefits, encourage medications over lifestyle changes, inappropriately intervene in the physician-patient relationship, and advantage expensive drugs over cheaper generics.

The FDA has historically stipulated that a manufacturer, packer, or distributor must provide the public with materially complete information that fairly balances both the benefits and the risks of the drug.&nbsp; Over time, however, the FDA’s requirements have permitted drug companies to include less information, particularly in broadcast advertising, and drug manufacturer advertising has skyrocketed in recent decades.<a></a>

My Administration will ensure that the current regulatory framework for drug advertising results in fair, balanced, and complete information for American consumers.&nbsp;

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall therefore take appropriate action to ensure transparency and accuracy in direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising, including by increasing the amount of information regarding any risks associated with the use of any such prescription drug required to be provided in prescription drug advertisements, to the extent permitted by applicable law.&nbsp; The Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall take appropriate action to enforce the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act’s prescription drug advertising provisions, and otherwise ensure truthful and non-misleading information in direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertisements. &nbsp;

This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757470910499.png" alt="President Trump signs the most significant action in a generation to rein in misleading pharmaceutical ads-Photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President" />
                        <figcaption>President Trump signs the most significant action in a generation to rein in misleading pharmaceutical ads-Photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>&nbsp;President Trump on Tuesday signed a memorandum directing Secretary Kennedy&nbsp;to ensure transparency and accuracy in direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising and Dr. Makary&nbsp;at the FDA&nbsp;to enforce the prescription drug advertising provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;The President just signed an executive order that&#39;s an historic change in the way that pharmaceutical advertising is done on television,&quot; says <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecKennedy</a>.<br><br>Watch him explain the historic order: <a href="https://t.co/e2VJwUFv3M">pic.twitter.com/e2VJwUFv3M</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1965551393726714155?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Read the order from the White House below</p><p>In 1962, the Congress vested the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the authority to regulate prescription drug advertising.&nbsp; These advertisements can mislead the public about the risks and benefits, encourage medications over lifestyle changes, inappropriately intervene in the physician-patient relationship, and advantage expensive drugs over cheaper generics.</p><p>The FDA has historically stipulated that a manufacturer, packer, or distributor must provide the public with materially complete information that fairly balances both the benefits and the risks of the drug.&nbsp; Over time, however, the FDA’s requirements have permitted drug companies to include less information, particularly in broadcast advertising, and drug manufacturer advertising has skyrocketed in recent decades.<a></a></p><p>My Administration will ensure that the current regulatory framework for drug advertising results in fair, balanced, and complete information for American consumers.&nbsp;</p><p>The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall therefore take appropriate action to ensure transparency and accuracy in direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising, including by increasing the amount of information regarding any risks associated with the use of any such prescription drug required to be provided in prescription drug advertisements, to the extent permitted by applicable law.&nbsp; The Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall take appropriate action to enforce the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act’s prescription drug advertising provisions, and otherwise ensure truthful and non-misleading information in direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertisements. &nbsp;</p><p>This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

🎥Trump signs order to crack down on drug ads on TV, social media

September 9, 2025 (Alliance, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The Nebraska State Patrol is seeking help from the public to locate a missing person in western Nebraska. Ebram Anthony Sifuentes is the subject of a missing person investigation.

Mr. Sifuentes is&nbsp;a&nbsp;32-year-old Hispanic male, 5’11’, 180&nbsp;pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He has&nbsp;a tattoo of a black spider on his right calf. Sifuentes was last seen in Alliance, Nebraska on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at approximately 6:30&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp;He was reportedly&nbsp;wearing a tan shirt, grey pajama pants, and black slip-on shoes.&nbsp;Sifuentes is reported to commonly be wearing one of the two hats in the attached images.

The Nebraska State Patrol is requesting your assistance with any information on the whereabout of&nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;Sifuentes.&nbsp;Anyone with information should&nbsp;contact the Nebraska State Patrol at 308-535-8047.&nbsp;Tips can also be reported anonymously through the Nebraska Fusion Center at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sars.nebraska.gov/">NIAC - Suspicious Activity Reporting Site</a>.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1565129733856.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>September 9, 2025 (Alliance, Neb.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The Nebraska State Patrol is seeking help from the public to locate a missing person in western Nebraska. Ebram Anthony Sifuentes is the subject of a missing person investigation.</p><p>Mr. Sifuentes is&nbsp;a&nbsp;32-year-old Hispanic male, 5’11’, 180&nbsp;pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He has&nbsp;a tattoo of a black spider on his right calf. Sifuentes was last seen in Alliance, Nebraska on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at approximately 6:30&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp;He was reportedly&nbsp;wearing a tan shirt, grey pajama pants, and black slip-on shoes.&nbsp;Sifuentes is reported to commonly be wearing one of the two hats in the attached images.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757449329998.jpeg" alt="courtesy Nebraska State Patrol" />
                        <figcaption>courtesy Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
                    </figure><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757449362821.jpeg" alt="courtesy Nebraska State Patrol" />
                        <figcaption>courtesy Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The Nebraska State Patrol is requesting your assistance with any information on the whereabout of&nbsp;Mr.&nbsp;Sifuentes.&nbsp;Anyone with information should&nbsp;contact the Nebraska State Patrol at 308-535-8047.&nbsp;Tips can also be reported anonymously through the Nebraska Fusion Center at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sars.nebraska.gov/">NIAC - Suspicious Activity Reporting Site</a>.</p>

NSP Seeks Public Help in Missing Person Investigation

&nbsp;U.S. Defense Secretary&nbsp;Pete Hegseth&nbsp;and&nbsp;Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday for an unexpected visit as the U.S. steps up its military operations against drug cartels in the Caribbean.

<p>&nbsp;U.S. Defense Secretary&nbsp;Pete Hegseth&nbsp;and&nbsp;Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday for an unexpected visit as the U.S. steps up its military operations against drug cartels in the Caribbean.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome aboard the USS Iwo Jima <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> <a href="https://t.co/hx42HBSFez">pic.twitter.com/hx42HBSFez</a></p>&mdash; DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DOWResponse/status/1965133239158440203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">. <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SECWAR</a> aboard the USS Iwo Jima, addressing America’s WARRIORS:<br><br>“What you’re doing right now is NOT training.<br><br>This is a REAL-WORLD EXERCISE on behalf of the vital national interests of the United States of America—to end the POISONING of the American people.” <a href="https://t.co/euQHFPsIll">pic.twitter.com/euQHFPsIll</a></p>&mdash; DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DOWResponse/status/1965152057196957935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A message to our warfighters from the Secretary of War. <a href="https://t.co/UVbsvAuNmR">pic.twitter.com/UVbsvAuNmR</a></p>&mdash; Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/1965177415455682691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

 US steps up military operations in the Caribbean

Trump admin is hosting state leadership conference, but political aides are likely to discuss redistricting, too

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/jsalinas/">Juan Salinas II</a><br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN – A handful of Nebraska lawmakers are set to travel to Washington, D.C., this week for a “state leadership conference” at the White House’s invitation.&nbsp;

But, if what happened with delegations from other red states is an indication, another reason for the trip might be for President Donald Trump and his team to lay groundwork for asking another red state to redistrict congressional boundaries to Republican advantage before the 2026 election.&nbsp;

At least four Nebraska lawmakers confirmed with the Examiner that they are headed to Capitol Hill on Tuesday. The official reason is the leadership conference&nbsp;organized by&nbsp;the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Nebraska and Iowa lawmakers are scheduled to “hear firsthand how President Trump is implementing the America First Agenda,” and how to “advance it at the state and local level.”

Late Monday afternoon, Gov. Jim Pillen’s office confirmed that it is aware of the meeting with lawmakers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The four-hour conference could be an&nbsp;opportunity for Trump’s team to discuss possible mid-decade redistricting with Nebraska lawmakers,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-hill-leaders-381d5450-8a48-11f0-a469-2f028f32e283.html?chunk=1&amp;utm_term=emshare#story1" target="_blank">according to Axios</a>&nbsp;and other political news outlets. National politics website Punchbowl News had already reported Nebraska as a possible&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/08/06/nebraska-might-join-national-wildfire-of-mid-decade-redistricting/">target for such a redistricting push</a>. The Axios article mentioned Kansas as well.&nbsp;

The White House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/26/indiana-redistricting-republicans-white-houe-trump-00527817" target="_blank">pressed Indiana lawmakers</a>&nbsp;about redistricting during a visit last month to the nation’s capital. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun is widely expected to call a special session this fall, but he has said he wants to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/08/12/indiana-redistricting-braun-gop-maps-trump-vance" target="_blank">hear first from statehouse leaders</a>&nbsp;whether they want to move forward with redistricting.

Last month, retiring Nebraska GOP U.S. Rep. Don Bacon confirmed to the Examiner that preliminary discussions had begun about the Legislature perhaps redrawing the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District to make it harder for Democrats to win.&nbsp;

While Republicans hold all of Nebraska’s congressional seats, political experts see the now open-seat 2nd District race as a possible pickup for Democrats in 2026.

After the most recent census, when the GOP-led majority in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature redrew the state’s congressional maps, it did so&nbsp;<a href="https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/new-congressional-map-would-give-gop-slight-advantage-in-ne-2" target="_blank">in a way that shored up</a>&nbsp;the 2nd District by swapping some Democratic-leaning residents in suburban Sarpy County with more reliably Republican residents of rural Saunders County. The changes helped maintain the swing district’s slight Republican lean.

The latest White House push in GOP-led states is part of a national redistricting tit for tat Trump helped start when Texas approved a new map designed to give the GOP up to five additional seats in the U.S. House in next year’s midterms.&nbsp;

California&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/california-redistricting-vote/" target="_blank">is trying to combat</a>&nbsp;Texas’s new map with potential changes of its own, as Californians could vote to&nbsp;suspend the state’s current congressional districts, which were drawn by an independent commission, and replace them with a map intended to help Democrats win back the five seats Texas swung the GOP’s way.

The Missouri statehouse also is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2025-09-08/missouri-house-redistricting-initiative-petition-tensions" target="_blank">moving toward a&nbsp;new congressional map</a>&nbsp;that targets its Kansas City-based seat, which could swing it from a heavily Democratic district into a GOP-leaning seat. Ohio is required to redraw its maps this year, which could help the GOP gain two or three seats. Florida recently&nbsp;announced&nbsp;<a href="https://news.wfsu.org/state-news/2025-08-07/florida-house-announces-congressional-redistricting-committee" target="_blank">a congressional redistricting committee</a>.&nbsp;

Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said redrawing districts is “on the table,” and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat leading a Democratic-led state, has said, “we are at war” earlier this year as she explores her own response to Texas.&nbsp;

The Nebraska Constitution requires redistricting legislation to come after each census, but the language doesn’t specify whether lawmakers can revisit the maps before the next census. Some have argued that language in the constitution will allow the Legislature to redistrict at different times. Others&nbsp;have argued any effort to redistrict mid-decade would face legal challenges.&nbsp;

Nebraska lawmakers might lack the numbers needed to make the change. A key indicator: Pillen&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/08/winner-take-all-bill-stalls-in-nebraska-legislature-a-blow-to-governor/">has failed to pressure</a>&nbsp;enough state lawmakers to alter how the state awards Electoral College votes for president, even with help from Trump, earlier this year. This, despite Republicans holding a thin supermajority.

Nebraska 1st District U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, a former speaker of the Legislature, told Axios he thinks Republican lawmakers lack the votes needed to get redistricting past a filibuster because they lacked the votes to pass the shift to winner-take-all from awarding some electoral votes by congressional district.

One Nebraska GOP state lawmaker questioned privately whether a mid-decade redistricting effort would have 25 votes. State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston has said he’s “not a big fan of changing the rules in the middle of the game.”

Examiner Reporter Zach Wendling contributed to this report.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756996833819.png" alt="White House courtesy photo" />
                        <figcaption>White House courtesy photo</figcaption>
                    </figure><h2>Trump admin is hosting state leadership conference, but political aides are likely to discuss redistricting, too</h2><p>By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/jsalinas/">Juan Salinas II</a><br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a></p><p>LINCOLN – A handful of Nebraska lawmakers are set to travel to Washington, D.C., this week for a “state leadership conference” at the White House’s invitation.&nbsp;</p><p>But, if what happened with delegations from other red states is an indication, another reason for the trip might be for President Donald Trump and his team to lay groundwork for asking another red state to redistrict congressional boundaries to Republican advantage before the 2026 election.&nbsp;</p><p>At least four Nebraska lawmakers confirmed with the Examiner that they are headed to Capitol Hill on Tuesday. The official reason is the leadership conference&nbsp;organized by&nbsp;the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.</p><p>Nebraska and Iowa lawmakers are scheduled to “hear firsthand how President Trump is implementing the America First Agenda,” and how to “advance it at the state and local level.”</p><p>Late Monday afternoon, Gov. Jim Pillen’s office confirmed that it is aware of the meeting with lawmakers.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The four-hour conference could be an&nbsp;opportunity for Trump’s team to discuss possible mid-decade redistricting with Nebraska lawmakers,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-hill-leaders-381d5450-8a48-11f0-a469-2f028f32e283.html?chunk=1&amp;utm_term=emshare#story1" target="_blank">according to Axios</a>&nbsp;and other political news outlets. National politics website Punchbowl News had already reported Nebraska as a possible&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/08/06/nebraska-might-join-national-wildfire-of-mid-decade-redistricting/">target for such a redistricting push</a>. The Axios article mentioned Kansas as well.&nbsp;</p><p>The White House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/26/indiana-redistricting-republicans-white-houe-trump-00527817" target="_blank">pressed Indiana lawmakers</a>&nbsp;about redistricting during a visit last month to the nation’s capital. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun is widely expected to call a special session this fall, but he has said he wants to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/08/12/indiana-redistricting-braun-gop-maps-trump-vance" target="_blank">hear first from statehouse leaders</a>&nbsp;whether they want to move forward with redistricting.</p><p>Last month, retiring Nebraska GOP U.S. Rep. Don Bacon confirmed to the Examiner that preliminary discussions had begun about the Legislature perhaps redrawing the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District to make it harder for Democrats to win.&nbsp;</p><p>While Republicans hold all of Nebraska’s congressional seats, political experts see the now open-seat 2nd District race as a possible pickup for Democrats in 2026.</p><p>After the most recent census, when the GOP-led majority in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature redrew the state’s congressional maps, it did so&nbsp;<a href="https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/new-congressional-map-would-give-gop-slight-advantage-in-ne-2" target="_blank">in a way that shored up</a>&nbsp;the 2nd District by swapping some Democratic-leaning residents in suburban Sarpy County with more reliably Republican residents of rural Saunders County. The changes helped maintain the swing district’s slight Republican lean.</p><p>The latest White House push in GOP-led states is part of a national redistricting tit for tat Trump helped start when Texas approved a new map designed to give the GOP up to five additional seats in the U.S. House in next year’s midterms.&nbsp;</p><p>California&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/california-redistricting-vote/" target="_blank">is trying to combat</a>&nbsp;Texas’s new map with potential changes of its own, as Californians could vote to&nbsp;suspend the state’s current congressional districts, which were drawn by an independent commission, and replace them with a map intended to help Democrats win back the five seats Texas swung the GOP’s way.</p><p>The Missouri statehouse also is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2025-09-08/missouri-house-redistricting-initiative-petition-tensions" target="_blank">moving toward a&nbsp;new congressional map</a>&nbsp;that targets its Kansas City-based seat, which could swing it from a heavily Democratic district into a GOP-leaning seat. Ohio is required to redraw its maps this year, which could help the GOP gain two or three seats. Florida recently&nbsp;announced&nbsp;<a href="https://news.wfsu.org/state-news/2025-08-07/florida-house-announces-congressional-redistricting-committee" target="_blank">a congressional redistricting committee</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said redrawing districts is “on the table,” and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat leading a Democratic-led state, has said, “we are at war” earlier this year as she explores her own response to Texas.&nbsp;</p><p>The Nebraska Constitution requires redistricting legislation to come after each census, but the language doesn’t specify whether lawmakers can revisit the maps before the next census. Some have argued that language in the constitution will allow the Legislature to redistrict at different times. Others&nbsp;have argued any effort to redistrict mid-decade would face legal challenges.&nbsp;</p><p>Nebraska lawmakers might lack the numbers needed to make the change. A key indicator: Pillen&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/08/winner-take-all-bill-stalls-in-nebraska-legislature-a-blow-to-governor/">has failed to pressure</a>&nbsp;enough state lawmakers to alter how the state awards Electoral College votes for president, even with help from Trump, earlier this year. This, despite Republicans holding a thin supermajority.</p><p>Nebraska 1st District U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, a former speaker of the Legislature, told Axios he thinks Republican lawmakers lack the votes needed to get redistricting past a filibuster because they lacked the votes to pass the shift to winner-take-all from awarding some electoral votes by congressional district.</p><p>One Nebraska GOP state lawmaker questioned privately whether a mid-decade redistricting effort would have 25 votes. State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston has said he’s “not a big fan of changing the rules in the middle of the game.”</p><p>Examiner Reporter Zach Wendling contributed to this report.</p>

White House may discuss mid-decade redistricting with Nebraska lawmakers

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704330351229.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein- New York Sex offender registry" />
                        <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein- New York Sex offender registry</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨🚨HERE IT IS: We got Trump’s birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein that the President said doesn’t exist.<br><br>Trump talks about a “wonderful secret” the two of them shared. What is he hiding? Release the files! <a href="https://t.co/k2Mq8Hu3LY">pic.twitter.com/k2Mq8Hu3LY</a></p>&mdash; Oversight Dems (@OversightDems) <a href="https://twitter.com/OversightDems/status/1965125560016994708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Time for <a href="https://twitter.com/newscorp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@newscorp</a> to open that checkbook, it’s not his signature. DEFAMATION! <a href="https://t.co/O6iKk4SYF5">https://t.co/O6iKk4SYF5</a> <a href="https://t.co/T0wlp36P9h">pic.twitter.com/T0wlp36P9h</a></p>&mdash; Taylor Budowich (@TayFromCA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TayFromCA/status/1965133529177878754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Donald Trump wrote a personalized note in Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday book. He’s spent all summer lying about its existence.<br><br>We got a copy. Ranking Member <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRobertGarcia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepRobertGarcia</a> explains what we know and how we got here: <a href="https://t.co/PVbHaVWppw">pic.twitter.com/PVbHaVWppw</a></p>&mdash; Oversight Dems (@OversightDems) <a href="https://twitter.com/OversightDems/status/1965133235685298250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Read the suggestive letter to Epstein Dems says was signed by Trump

<i>September 4, 2025&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</i><i><b>Contact:</b>&nbsp;Amy Donato</i>

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Dustin Noble, 46, of North Platte, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 4, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for Conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Noble to 22 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Noble’s release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release. Noble was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $179,680. Pursuant to the terms of a plea agreement, Noble forfeited multiple unlawfully taken wildlife taxidermy mounts, two crossbows, and several firearms. The Court also ordered that Noble shall not hunt, fish, trap, guide, outfit, or otherwise associate or be in the field with anyone engaged in those activities for 25 years, and shall not conduct, assist, or associate with any fish or wildlife taxidermy activities or be present, or assist with taxidermy services for 10 years.

Enacted 125 years ago, the Lacey Act protects the nation’s wildlife resources by prohibiting wildlife violations that cross state or international borders. A joint investigation conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Law Enforcement Division determined that Noble provided illegal hunting and guiding services to paying clients, family, and other associates, many from outside the state of Nebraska, between 2015 and 2021, while operating Noble Outdoors, a big game guiding business in North Platte. Noble also operated a commercial taxidermy business providing services of converting hides, skins, antlers, and other trophy parts of wildlife into taxidermy mounts. Some of Noble’s taxidermy clients included hunters unlawfully guided by Noble.

The investigation determined Noble charged paying clients $1,200 to $4,000 depending upon the target species and conducted the guided hunts in at least Lincoln, Hayes, and Frontier counties in Nebraska. During those hunts Noble’s friends, associates and/or clients agreed with Noble to violate Nebraska hunting laws to take wildlife including mule deer and wild turkeys. Noble employed various tactics and unlawful methods to increase the probability of locating, killing, and acquiring trophy wildlife including using specialized hunting equipment comprised of firearm sound suppressors and thermal optics; taking wildlife from upon or close to the road; taking wildlife during night-time or closed season hours; and hunting upon privately owned properties without the knowledge or permission of the landowner. Under Nebraska state law, hunters are prohibited from possessing firearms or using firearms to hunt deer during the archery season, are prohibited from shooting from or over a roadway, are authorized to hunt only during the legal shooting hours from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, and must have landowner permission to hunt on private property.

The investigation substantiated 114 unlawful hunts conducted by Noble during the course of the conspiracy with the vast majority occurring between 2018 and 2020. Noble’s unlawful activities primarily targeted trophy-sized mule deer, including early season mule deer in velvet antlers. As revealed by extensive evidence obtained during this investigation, Noble’s illegal hunts included the taking of more than 12 species of wildlife, including most notably: 61 mule deer, 33 wild turkeys, 4 pronghorn, 3 white-tailed deer, an American alligator, a timber rattlesnake, and approximately 12 upland game birds, migratory non-game birds, game fish, and furbearing or non-game animals.

Prior to his conduct in this case, Noble was subject to a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission investigation and was charged with 71 counts. He was ultimately convicted on 10 counts in Dawson County Court, Nebraska, in February 2014. As part of his sentencing, he was subject to a 10-year hunting, fishing, and trapping revocation in the State of Nebraska. The current state/federal investigation revealed extensive and ongoing hunting violations committed, aided, and directed by Noble while his hunting privileges were revoked from his prior state conviction.

Today’s sentencing marks the near conclusion of the ongoing prosecution of numerous defendants related to violations committed by Noble Outdoors and its owner, associates, and clients between 2015 and 2021. To date, 19 defendants have been sentenced and ordered to pay a more than $255,000 in fines and restitution for state and federal violations related to the interstate transport of unlawfully taken wildlife. The investigation included the seizure and subsequent forfeiture or abandonment of more than 50 trophy wildlife antlers or taxidermy mounts from 27 Noble Outdoors clients or associates.

United States Attorney Woods said, “This case demonstrates what state and federal law enforcement can accomplish when they join forces and unite in a common pursuit of justice.&nbsp; Wildlife resources should be fairly preserved for the enjoyment of all Nebraskans – both present and future.&nbsp; Noble’s destructive tactics and actions targeted Nebraska’s mule deer populations in a manner that jeopardized the ability of Nebraskans to continue to enjoy a lawful hunting experience in the future.&nbsp; The United States Attorney’s Office is proud to join with our partners at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to ensure that Nebraska’s resources are protected and available to all its citizens equally.”

“This case is a powerful example of the continued collaboration between Nebraska Game and Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect our state’s wildlife resources,” said Colonel Jeff Clauson, Chief of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Law Enforcement Division.&nbsp; “Mr. Noble’s unscrupulous tactics targeting mature mule deer bucks for himself and paying clients or associates jeopardized herd health, strong genetics, breeding success, long-term population growth, and effectively stripped away seasons’ worth of hunting opportunity for the public and law-abiding hunting community.&nbsp;Holding wildlife violators accountable like those involved in this case, who demonstrate blatant disregard for game laws, is vital to conserving our state’s wildlife resources and preserving hunting opportunities Nebraskans&nbsp;cherish.”

“This outcome reflects&nbsp;our strong commitment to working with partner law enforcement and wildlife management agencies to protect our Nation’s vital natural resources,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement.&nbsp; “The defendants demonstrated blatant disregard for the law and caused lasting harm to Nebraska’s mule deer populations.&nbsp; We remain steadfast in pursuing and apprehending those who profit from the illegal exploitation of our natural resources while undermining the legacy of ethical hunting.”&nbsp;

The operation was a joint investigation conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Law Enforcement Division.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573580132637.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p><i>September 4, 2025&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</i><i><b>Contact:</b>&nbsp;Amy Donato</i></p><p>United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Dustin Noble, 46, of North Platte, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 4, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for Conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Noble to 22 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Noble’s release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release. Noble was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $179,680. Pursuant to the terms of a plea agreement, Noble forfeited multiple unlawfully taken wildlife taxidermy mounts, two crossbows, and several firearms. The Court also ordered that Noble shall not hunt, fish, trap, guide, outfit, or otherwise associate or be in the field with anyone engaged in those activities for 25 years, and shall not conduct, assist, or associate with any fish or wildlife taxidermy activities or be present, or assist with taxidermy services for 10 years.</p><p>Enacted 125 years ago, the Lacey Act protects the nation’s wildlife resources by prohibiting wildlife violations that cross state or international borders. A joint investigation conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Law Enforcement Division determined that Noble provided illegal hunting and guiding services to paying clients, family, and other associates, many from outside the state of Nebraska, between 2015 and 2021, while operating Noble Outdoors, a big game guiding business in North Platte. Noble also operated a commercial taxidermy business providing services of converting hides, skins, antlers, and other trophy parts of wildlife into taxidermy mounts. Some of Noble’s taxidermy clients included hunters unlawfully guided by Noble.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697713759134.jpeg" alt="Dustin Noble - Safekeep US Marshall - October 18, 2023" />
                        <figcaption>Dustin Noble - Safekeep US Marshall - October 18, 2023</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The investigation determined Noble charged paying clients $1,200 to $4,000 depending upon the target species and conducted the guided hunts in at least Lincoln, Hayes, and Frontier counties in Nebraska. During those hunts Noble’s friends, associates and/or clients agreed with Noble to violate Nebraska hunting laws to take wildlife including mule deer and wild turkeys. Noble employed various tactics and unlawful methods to increase the probability of locating, killing, and acquiring trophy wildlife including using specialized hunting equipment comprised of firearm sound suppressors and thermal optics; taking wildlife from upon or close to the road; taking wildlife during night-time or closed season hours; and hunting upon privately owned properties without the knowledge or permission of the landowner. Under Nebraska state law, hunters are prohibited from possessing firearms or using firearms to hunt deer during the archery season, are prohibited from shooting from or over a roadway, are authorized to hunt only during the legal shooting hours from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, and must have landowner permission to hunt on private property.</p><p>The investigation substantiated 114 unlawful hunts conducted by Noble during the course of the conspiracy with the vast majority occurring between 2018 and 2020. Noble’s unlawful activities primarily targeted trophy-sized mule deer, including early season mule deer in velvet antlers. As revealed by extensive evidence obtained during this investigation, Noble’s illegal hunts included the taking of more than 12 species of wildlife, including most notably: 61 mule deer, 33 wild turkeys, 4 pronghorn, 3 white-tailed deer, an American alligator, a timber rattlesnake, and approximately 12 upland game birds, migratory non-game birds, game fish, and furbearing or non-game animals.</p><p>Prior to his conduct in this case, Noble was subject to a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission investigation and was charged with 71 counts. He was ultimately convicted on 10 counts in Dawson County Court, Nebraska, in February 2014. As part of his sentencing, he was subject to a 10-year hunting, fishing, and trapping revocation in the State of Nebraska. The current state/federal investigation revealed extensive and ongoing hunting violations committed, aided, and directed by Noble while his hunting privileges were revoked from his prior state conviction.</p><p>Today’s sentencing marks the near conclusion of the ongoing prosecution of numerous defendants related to violations committed by Noble Outdoors and its owner, associates, and clients between 2015 and 2021. To date, 19 defendants have been sentenced and ordered to pay a more than $255,000 in fines and restitution for state and federal violations related to the interstate transport of unlawfully taken wildlife. The investigation included the seizure and subsequent forfeiture or abandonment of more than 50 trophy wildlife antlers or taxidermy mounts from 27 Noble Outdoors clients or associates.</p><p>United States Attorney Woods said, “This case demonstrates what state and federal law enforcement can accomplish when they join forces and unite in a common pursuit of justice.&nbsp; Wildlife resources should be fairly preserved for the enjoyment of all Nebraskans – both present and future.&nbsp; Noble’s destructive tactics and actions targeted Nebraska’s mule deer populations in a manner that jeopardized the ability of Nebraskans to continue to enjoy a lawful hunting experience in the future.&nbsp; The United States Attorney’s Office is proud to join with our partners at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to ensure that Nebraska’s resources are protected and available to all its citizens equally.”</p><p>“This case is a powerful example of the continued collaboration between Nebraska Game and Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect our state’s wildlife resources,” said Colonel Jeff Clauson, Chief of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Law Enforcement Division.&nbsp; “Mr. Noble’s unscrupulous tactics targeting mature mule deer bucks for himself and paying clients or associates jeopardized herd health, strong genetics, breeding success, long-term population growth, and effectively stripped away seasons’ worth of hunting opportunity for the public and law-abiding hunting community.&nbsp;Holding wildlife violators accountable like those involved in this case, who demonstrate blatant disregard for game laws, is vital to conserving our state’s wildlife resources and preserving hunting opportunities Nebraskans&nbsp;cherish.”</p><p>“This outcome reflects&nbsp;our strong commitment to working with partner law enforcement and wildlife management agencies to protect our Nation’s vital natural resources,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement.&nbsp; “The defendants demonstrated blatant disregard for the law and caused lasting harm to Nebraska’s mule deer populations.&nbsp; We remain steadfast in pursuing and apprehending those who profit from the illegal exploitation of our natural resources while undermining the legacy of ethical hunting.”&nbsp;</p><p>The operation was a joint investigation conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Law Enforcement Division.</p>

Noble Outdoors Owner Sentenced for Conspiracy to Violate the Lacey Act Involving 114 Illegal Hunts

MAKING THE MOST OF SUMMER ANNUALS THIS FALL - Ben Beckman

As we move into fall, many producers may be looking at harvesting forage from summer annuals like sorghum-sudan or other large-stemmed crops. While these can provide a valuable feed source, making dry hay this time of year comes with some real challenges.

Cooler days and nights, heavy dew sets, and fewer daylight hours all slow the drying process. Add in thick stems and reduced sunlight intensity, and getting hay down to a safe storage moisture becomes difficult. Pushing hay harvest late into the season without good drying weather can increase the risk of mold, heating, or even spontaneous combustion in the stack.

If dry hay is still the goal, there are a few steps to improve curing. Mechanical conditioning, like crimping stems, can speed drying. Spreading hay into wide windrows helps capture more sunlight and airflow. And leaving a taller stubble gives the windrow space off the soil surface, reducing moisture wicking from the ground and allowing better air movement underneath.

Even with these adjustments, weather windows can still be tight. Alternatives such as silage or baleage may be a better fit when moisture is high and stems are slow to cure. Stockpiling growth for grazing later in the fall is another option that reduces harvest risk and provides valuable feed, though quality may drop as plants mature.

As you plan fall forage harvest, weigh the risks of slow drydown against the flexibility and feed quality benefits of ensiling or wrapping, or even stockpiling. A little planning now can help protect both forage quality and safety.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745851907586.png" alt="Forage Minute - UNL Extension" />
                        <figcaption>Forage Minute - UNL Extension</figcaption>
                    </figure><h2>MAKING THE MOST OF SUMMER ANNUALS THIS FALL - Ben Beckman</h2><p>As we move into fall, many producers may be looking at harvesting forage from summer annuals like sorghum-sudan or other large-stemmed crops. While these can provide a valuable feed source, making dry hay this time of year comes with some real challenges.</p><p>Cooler days and nights, heavy dew sets, and fewer daylight hours all slow the drying process. Add in thick stems and reduced sunlight intensity, and getting hay down to a safe storage moisture becomes difficult. Pushing hay harvest late into the season without good drying weather can increase the risk of mold, heating, or even spontaneous combustion in the stack.</p><p>If dry hay is still the goal, there are a few steps to improve curing. Mechanical conditioning, like crimping stems, can speed drying. Spreading hay into wide windrows helps capture more sunlight and airflow. And leaving a taller stubble gives the windrow space off the soil surface, reducing moisture wicking from the ground and allowing better air movement underneath.</p><p>Even with these adjustments, weather windows can still be tight. Alternatives such as silage or baleage may be a better fit when moisture is high and stems are slow to cure. Stockpiling growth for grazing later in the fall is another option that reduces harvest risk and provides valuable feed, though quality may drop as plants mature.</p><p>As you plan fall forage harvest, weigh the risks of slow drydown against the flexibility and feed quality benefits of ensiling or wrapping, or even stockpiling. A little planning now can help protect both forage quality and safety.</p><h2>FALL ALFALFA IRRIGATION - Todd Whitney</h2><p>Irrigating alfalfa now through November until the soil freezes can protect plants and improve fall yields. However, adjust irrigation rates compared to in-season watering. During the hot growing season, alfalfa water usage may exceed 0.30 inch per day versus fall cooler days water usage dropping to 0.10 inch per day. As a perennial plant, alfalfa growth extends longer into the fall and does not have specific critical growth stages for water stress like most traditional annual crops. So, when moisture stressed, the plant will slow growth; go dormant; and then resume growth once conditions become favorable again. Generally, maximum alfalfa forage growth requires 5 to 6 inches of water per cutting.</p><p>The main advantage of fall irrigation is lower evaporation compared to summer; thus, improving irrigation efficiency. Further, most irrigated alfalfa fields never get much water stored below 4 feet depth although alfalfa plants can grow roots down 8 feet or more. Since roots will not grow through dry soil to reach wet soil, deep soil water storage reserves may be lacking if field soil wetting does not leach below 4 feet.</p><p>To reduce field compaction, pause irrigating 2-3 days before cutting the alfalfa; and irrigate again when alfalfa regrowth begins. Irrigation scheduling efficiency can be improved by using ET (evaporation &amp; transpiration) measurement gages or soil moisture monitoring.</p><p>Review your local NRD irrigation district water usage restrictions; since potential total supplemental water applications per year may have limits, and alfalfa usage could exceed irrigation allocations. Conversely, building deep stored water reserves in the fall can help your alfalfa next summer during rapid growth when it may be difficult to keep up with peak plant water usage demands.</p><p>Finally, some fields have lower water infiltration rates, so irrigating now through November may be the right time for building water reserves. Our UNL NebGuide, G1778, “Irrigation Management and Crop Characteristics of Alfalfa” provides more details at:&nbsp;<a href="https://cropwater.unl.edu/" target="_blank">https://cropwater.unl.edu</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://water.unl.edu/" target="_blank">https://water.unl.edu</a></p><h2>&nbsp;LAST ALFALFA CUTTING - Ben Beckman</h2><p>Timing the last fall alfalfa cutting can be a difficult thing to plan for and varies among growers. &nbsp;A balance between stand health, yield and quality must be maintained.</p><p>For much of the state first week of October is the average first killing frost (28°F) for alfalfa, so targeting Sep. 1 as the last alfalfa cutting would allow plants 6 weeks to store root carbohydrates prior to the killing frost.</p><p>This is important as last cutting timing decisions will potentially impact your crop’s winter survival and vigor next spring. For example, in five-cutting irrigated system, research has shown that the next spring first cutting yield will be lowered by approximately the same amount as the yield from a late-fall last cutting.</p><p>During dry weather, cutting schedules can be pushed back or more forage may be needed. In these cases, what may be the risk if these producers seek yet another cutting during this growing season?</p><p>If the first fall frost occurs earlier than normal, then winter injury is a risk. However, conditions vary from year to year; and plant winterizing generally begins about three weeks before the first frost date with the “ideal” being six weeks of uninterrupted growth in the fall to become well winterized.</p><p>Winter survival of later cuttings will improve with younger stands (except new stands); winterhardy varieties and disease-resistant varieties. For those needing extra cash or forage this fall, the higher dairy quality forage values may off-set the financial risk of needing to re-establish alfalfa stands next year which winterkill.</p><p>For most producers, the best strategy is to avoid harvesting alfalfa (Sep. 1 to Oct. 15) during the critical fall period 6 weeks before the first killing frost. This allows plants to enter winter with higher root carbohydrates.</p>