Fred Knapp

2 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says it’s received three bids to build a new prison in Lincoln. But the department won’t say how much they’re for. The deadline for companies to bid on building a new 1,500-bed prison was last week. Nebraska Public Media News filed a request for information about the bids under the state’s public records law. In response, the Department of Correctional Services said it has received three bids.

2 weeks ago | thereader.com | Fred Knapp |Brian Beach |Matt Olberding

Nebraska elected officials weighed in Wednesday on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid Tuesday at an Omaha meatpacking plant. ICE went to Glenn Valley Foods Tuesday morning and detained more than 70 people for suspected immigration violations and using fraudulent documents. Though the raid sparked protests and criticism of the federal government, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts said President Donald Trump was elected to secure the country’s borders and stop the flow of illegal immigration.

2 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

Officials did not say where the detained workers were taken, but a video ICE released to the media appears to show they were at least initially processed at the Homeland Security facility near Eppley Airfield. Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said he was “not at liberty” to say where the detainees have been taken.

2 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

Douglas County Board President Roger Garcia says one of his relatives is among more than 70 people who were detained in an ICE raid in Omaha Tuesday. At a news conference Wednesday, Douglas County Board President Roger Garcia said he supports law enforcement actions against serious criminals. But Garcia said that did not apply to many people detained by an ICE raid directed at people in the country without documentation. “I have a loving wife, who many of you know in this audience," he said.

3 weeks ago | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Fred Knapp

In its 2025 regular session, the Nebraska Legislature dealt with a budget shortfall and a series of economic and social issues. And there’s a wide range of views on how well senators dealt with all that. In a speech as the Legislature was concluding its business this week, Gov. Jim Pillen tried his hand at headline-writing. “To me, the headline for the First Session, 109th Nebraska Legislature, is really simple. It's positive. It's lasting impact serving Nebraskans well,” he said. Sen.