Pioneer Brief: Lawmakers question DED on North-South grants

Legislative oversight of Omaha's $235 million recovery grants leads today's brief, alongside the Omaha-area races that will decide the Legislature's Republican supermajority and new federal research funding for UNMC.

DED director defends North and South Omaha grant management before lawmakers

Senators raised concerns about communication, staff turnover and a December 2027 deadline

Department of Economic Development Director Maureen Larsen told the Legislature's Economic Recovery Special Committee on Wednesday that her agency is "becoming compliant, hard stop" and working through past auditor findings on the roughly $235 million North and South Omaha Recovery Grant program. Sen. Terrell McKinney relayed grantee complaints about communication and shifting reporting requirements, and Larsen acknowledged high turnover in DED's Omaha office.

Why it matters: About 130 grantees must spend their awards by December 2027, and Larsen said lawmakers would likely decide next steps for projects that are not finished on time.

Read the full story: Nebraska Examiner

Five Omaha-area races could decide the Legislature's Republican supermajority

Republicans hold exactly the 33 seats needed to end a filibuster

Republicans hold 33 of 49 seats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, the number needed to invoke cloture, and 24 seats are on the Nov. 3 ballot. Republican incumbents trailed in the District 4 and 36 primaries, Democrats drew 60% combined in District 12, and Democrats led three-way primaries in Districts 14 and 18.

Why it matters: A net loss of one seat would leave Republicans short of 33 votes on their own, requiring support from other senators to end filibusters on contested bills in 2027.

Read the full story: Nebraska Public Media

UNMC receives about $82.5 million in federal health grants this year

Funding spans 151 awards from NIH, CDC and other HHS agencies

Rep. Don Bacon announced Wednesday that the University of Nebraska Medical Center has received $82,459,790 across 151 grants and other funding actions from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this year. About $23.8 million supports new projects, and about $58.6 million is renewed or supplemental support for research and public health programs.

Why it matters: The total shows how heavily UNMC's research and public health programs draw on federal health agencies, with about 70% of this year's funding coming as renewals or supplements.

Read the full story: WOWT

Around Nebraska

• Former coach Tom Osborne and more than 40 current and former Huskers signed a letter urging voters to reject Initiatives 440 and 441, which would legalize mobile and online sports wagering.
• Data center leaders at the Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference addressed water and energy use as more than a dozen Nebraska counties have adopted moratoriums on new facilities.

Watch Next

• Oct. 22, about noon: Vice President JD Vance speaks at a midterm rally at the D&N Event Center in North Platte.
• Oct. 22: Public hearings on the sports betting initiatives (2–5 p.m.) and Initiative 442 (6–9 p.m.) will be held at the Buffalo County Extension Building in Kearney.
• Oct. 24: Rep. Ro Khanna joins independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn at a Saturday town hall.
• Oct. 24: Omaha's Millard Branch Library hosts public hearings on Initiative 442 (10 a.m.–1 p.m.) and the sports betting initiatives (1:30–4:30 p.m.).
• Oct. 27: The Omaha City Council is scheduled to take a final vote on the Union Omaha stadium redevelopment agreement.
• Oct. 30: The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board meets to set new revenue projections ahead of the next budget.

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