Latest News from the Governor's Office

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Flags to Fly at Half-Staff on May 15 Honoring Omaha Native Robert Keuchel, Killed in WWII

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced that all U.S. and Nebraska flags are to be flown at half-staff on Friday, May 15, to honor WWII airman Robert A. Keuchel. The remains of Staff Sergeant Keuchel were found and ultimately identified last year by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Born in Omaha in 1923, Keuchel was killed on March 22, 1945. He and fellow crewmembers were aboard a B-17G Flying Fortress conducting a bombing run. While flying over Poland, the aircraft was hit and damaged during an enemy attack, and the airmen were forced to bail out. Of 10 crew members, eight were killed due to enemy fire while they were attempting to parachute to the ground. Keuchel was among them.

Attempts to find his remains were unsuccessful until a series of excavations were conducted at the crash site between 2019 and 2024. In July 2025 the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that his remains had been identified.

An interment will take place at Omaha National Cemetery at 10 a.m. on May 15. Flags should be flown until sunset that day.

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Gov. Pillen Describes State Agency Efforts in Dealing with Hantavirus Situation

LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen says his agencies remain in a state of readiness and will assist in any way possible, now that U.S.-based passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship have arrived. Fifteen passengers were transported to the National Quarantine Center (NQC), and one was admitted to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit (NBU) early Monday morning. Both facilities are associated with the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Two other passengers were flown to Georgia for further evaluation and treatment.

“The culmination of receiving patients is the result of multiple conversations and highly involved coordination between our federal, state and local government partners,” said Gov. Pillen. “Since we learned hantavirus was the source, and that those who were exposed would come to Nebraska for monitoring and care, we have been in consultation with our own team of medical experts at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). They, and other agency leaders have been part of regularly scheduled, daily alignment calls, especially in the days leading up to this transfer.”

At Gov. Pillen’s direction, an interagency group was formed consisting of representatives from his office, DHHS, Nebraska State Patrol, and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Those calls have included discussions about security and transportation processes, public communications, coordination with federal agencies as well as information sharing and coordination with representatives from UNMC.

Over the weekend, information was provided to representatives of the state’s federal delegation and yesterday, a briefing call was held with state senators and other local officials, following yesterday morning’s news conference at UNMC.

The DHHS Division of Public Health, led by Director Ashley Newmyer, has played a prominent role in communicating regularly with medical and logistical personnel at UNMC, the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory, as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tim Tesmer and State Epidemiologist Dr. Sydney Stein have also served as liaisons on those calls. As well, the department has posted information on its website to help educate the public about hantavirus: Information on Hantavirus.

“In a situation like this, you need to think of every contingency that could occur. We have worked hand-in-glove with our federal partners – from the White House to HHS Secretary Kennedy’s office to the CDC – and with all their great teams in the management of this situation. Those efforts will continue, as UNMC provides excellent monitoring and care of the passengers, said Gov. Pillen.

Incubation of the virus can be up to 42 days, complicating an exact determination as to when passengers might be able to return home.

“Public safety is the highest calling of government,” stated Gov. Pillen. “No patient posing a medical risk will be permitted to leave UNMC’s facilities in an unsecure manner that would endanger the health of anyone else.”

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Two Nominees Forwarded for District Court Judge in the Third Judicial District

LINCOLN, NE – The Judicial Nominating Commission for the District Court Judge in the Third Judicial District advanced two names for consideration by Governor Jim Pillen: Jennifer A. Huxoll of Palmyra  and Jennifer A. Panko-Rahe of Syracuse.

The Third Judicial District consists of Landcaster County. The vacancy is due to the retirement of Judge Jodi L. Nelson.

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

Katrina Cerveny, NEMA, 402-326-3179

Gov. Pillen Requests Federal Disaster Declaration for Wildfire Damage

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen requested that President Donald Trump issue a major disaster declaration related to severe wildfires that impacted the state from March through April. The funding will assist with covering the cost of damage to public infrastructure that occurred as a result of the Morrill, Cottonwood, Ashby and Minor fires. More than 821,000 acres were burned in those four fires.

The request includes Arthur, Garden, Grant, Lincoln, and Morill counties and would help cover damage to roads, bridges, and power infrastructure. Power infrastructure was the most impacted, with fires burning through transmission corridors and distribution systems.

“As Nebraska faced historic wildfires, the people of our state came together to jumpstart the recovery process,” said Gov. Pillen. “I’m submitting my request for a disaster declaration to the White House and FEMA. We appreciate President Trump’s attention to this matter and his long-standing support of our state when we have requested disaster recovery funding.”

Preliminary damage estimates by FEMA and NEMA have reached nearly $9.7 million, with state officials saying federal assistance is needed to support long-term recovery efforts.

“Since these fires, we’ve been blessed beyond measure to see the outpouring of support – and load after load of hay – cross county and state lines to support ranching families and communities in the Sandhills, added Gov. Pillen. “Nebraskans are tough as nails, and we’ll get through this moment together.”

CONTACT:

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495

USDA Provides Loan Assistance to Counties Due to Drought

LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) will provide much-need loan assistance to farmers who are in counties impacted by drought. 

The disaster declaration applies to three primary counties and 10 contiguous counties, listed below:

Primary: Keya Paha, Logan, Rock

Contiguous: Blaine, Boyd Brown, Cherry, Custer, Holt, Lincoln, Loup McPherson, Thomas

“I appreciate the designation provided through the USDA, as we know that many counties in the central and western part of the state have been under sustained drought conditions,” said Gov. Pillen. “The ability of farmers to access this assistance to help them through this season, will be critical.”

Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply. Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with additional information.