AGP Executive Report

College Football Hype: EA Sports College Football 27 simulations are already stirring up playoff talk, with Miami, Ohio State, USC and BYU among the most frequent College Football Playoff picks. Nebraska Sports & Camps: The Beef Lab in North Platte hosted a two-sport camp with Nebraska Huskers, while Elkhorn South ran a free combine-style Storm Summer Showcase for 3rd-8th graders. Pro Football News: Former Nebraska tight end Travis Vokolek medically retires from the NFL after a neck injury. Local Safety: AAA rolled out a free e-bike/e-scooter safety guide after a serious Omaha-area scooter crash involving an 11-year-old. Health & Medicine: Nebraska Medicine is enrolling patients in an expanded access program for daraxonrasib, an investigational pancreatic cancer drug tied to improved survival in trials. Arts & Pop Culture: Comic-Con kicks off with Marvel’s return to Hall H, and DC previews HBO’s “Lanterns,” starring Nebraska detectives Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre. Community & Housing: State and city leaders are pushing “Opportunity Zones 2.0” to boost affordable housing, while Omaha’s 2027 budget keeps pothole goals but trims pavement maintenance funding.

Nebraska Arts & Entertainment: Sun Prairie illusion designer Daniel Summers earned a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Magical Arts, celebrating decades of creating brand-new tricks for big names like David Copperfield and Penn & Teller. Comic-Con Buzz: Marvel and DC are set for major 2026 San Diego Comic-Con Hall H reveals, with DC expected to spotlight HBO’s Lanterns and Marvel teasing possible Avengers updates. Local Food Scene: Cheba Hut is opening its first Nebraska location in Lincoln on July 30, with grand-opening giveaways and a prime spot near UNL and the Haymarket. Sports & Community: Husker legend Tom Osborne was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame, while Nebraska wrestling standout Jake Van Dee visited a Corry wrestling camp to inspire local athletes. Health & Safety: AAA launched a free e-bike/e-scooter safety guide in Omaha as usage grows, and Lancaster County trained schools on active shooter response and tactical medical care.

Fun & Travel: United Airlines is adding a one-weekend nonstop from Indianapolis to Lincoln for Indiana vs. Nebraska on Oct. 10, with return flights the next day—just in time for Big Ten football fans. Sports Health: Georgia RB Dante Dowdell is sidelined indefinitely after an ATV accident; Kirby Smart says he’s being treated at Atlanta’s Shepherd Center and recovery timing is unknown. Local Giving: The Nebraska Diaper Bank partnered with Hope Harbor in Grand Island to deliver diapers and expand help for families facing diaper and food insecurity. Arts & Community: “Summer Blues” opens Aug. 7–9 at Arts in the Barn in Cushing, with pastel demos and a weekend-only show. College Football Buzz: Omaha Public Schools outlined a plan to close a $50 million budget gap tied to a state aid miscalculation, using reserves, staffing adjustments, and a property tax levy increase. Music Tour: Trivium announced “The Crown In The Grave” North American tour, with tickets on sale July 24.

Native Arts Spotlight: Cedar Rapids Museum of Art’s free “Artist Bites” in August features Patt Murphy, an Ioway elder and cultural advocate, discussing Ioway history tied to the museum’s portraits of leaders (Aug. 5). County Fair Energy: Lincoln County 4-H Horse Show kicks off the county fair week with reining, barrel racing, trail riding and more, plus creative arts, fashion/clothing construction, music and shooting sports leading into Scotty McCreery’s Friday grandstand performance. Local Arts Weekend: “Summer Blues” lands at Arts in the Barn (Cushing) Aug. 7-9, with an opening celebration July 24 and pastel demos from Ann O’Hara and Mary Beth Morrison. Community Art & Youth Voices: Buffalo County Community Partners hosts a Youth Voices Showcase gallery Aug. 3 at the Merryman Performing Arts Center, with 20 youth artworks on display through Aug. 9. Omaha Civic Watch: Mayor John Ewing signs Omaha’s minimum wage ordinance despite possible legal fights. Sports Note: Georgia RB Dante Dowdell is sidelined indefinitely after an off-campus ATV accident, with treatment at Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

Arts & Culture: Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln just landed a $100,000 Andy Warhol Foundation grant for two free 2027 exhibitions, including “Bad Witches: The Spiritual as Empowerment” and “Pablo Helguera: Socialscapes.” Community Sports: The 2026 Cornhusker State Games wrapped up Sunday with 7,800+ athletes across Nebraska, with hockey and track showing strong growth. Local Arts Spotlight: Scottsbluff’s Riverside Discovery Center unveiled “Amy,” a 12-foot metal giraffe sculpture by Alliance artist Garry Underwood, built with donated materials and community support. Nebraska Athletics on the Move: Lincoln’s Sheldon Museum isn’t the only big stage—Nebraska Kearney athletes head to the USATF Outdoor & Para National Championships in NYC this week. Entertainment for Fans: Paramount announced “The Legend of Korra in Concert,” with the U.S. leg kicking off Jan. 10 in Omaha. Sports Story (Nebraska): Bernard Tomic won his first Challenger title in eight years at the Lincoln Challenger, beating Mark Lajal in a three-set final. Public Safety/Local News: A Lincoln couple found their stolen cat after a teen allegedly took it, and police say it’s back home with minor injuries.

Track & Field: UNK’s Wes Ferguson, Lily Novacek and Nolan Studley will represent the Lopers at the USATF Outdoor & Para National Championships in New York City, with “Loper Day” Friday and events airing on NBC/Peacock/USATF.tv. Arts & Community: Short Grass Arts Council’s 28th Annual Community Art Show is on at the Waterfront Gallery, featuring everything from pastels and watercolors to 3D papercraft nature scenes. Public Health: Douglas County reports a “rapid” Cyclospora surge, with Taco Bell the most common exposure among interviews. Local Culture: A Wilber couple is selling Czech and Slovak heritage finds at P’s Antiques, bringing family history and travel back into the shop. Sports (Tennis): Omaha’s Lincoln Challenger winner Bernard Tomic says the title helped him rethink retirement plans. Safety & Crime: An Omaha man accused of threatening a Nebraska school and Gov. Jim Pillen’s family is held on bond after a standoff and alleged phone/router obstruction. Policy: Gov. Jim Pillen signs an executive order regulating Nebraska data center projects, including limits on tax incentives and new coordination requirements.

College Football Buzz: USA TODAY’s offseason reshuffle puts Ohio State at No. 1 in its top 25 programs list, with Indiana surging after a national title and Nebraska slipping while Wisconsin drops out. Nebraska Arts & Culture: A review of the London-to-Fringe musical “Hole” spotlights its Nebraska-set, butt-plug-fueled apocalypse comedy—wild premise, surprisingly moving performances. Local Entertainment: “Lanterns” gets a firm HBO/HBO Max release date update—Aug. 16—confirming DC Studios’ run of monthly movies and shows, with the series set to involve rural Nebraska. Road & Weather: Nebraska DOT plans overnight I-80 closures Monday night and Tuesday night for sign/board work, while Omaha braces for dangerous heat and possible severe storms. Sports on the Radar: Bernard Tomic wins his first Challenger title in eight years at the Lincoln Challenger. Community Spotlight: UNO’s a cappella group “One Note Stands” holds its first executive retreat to build leadership and a stronger campus culture.

Local Politics: Austin Ahlman, a nonpartisan candidate for Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District, is suspending his campaign after his father’s cancer returned, reshaping the race back to incumbent Rep. Mike Flood versus Democratic nominee Chris Backemeyer. Rodeo & Youth Sports: Firth bareback rider Ryder Wallace is headed to the National High School Finals Rodeo in Lincoln after winning the state title, aiming to build on a 10th-place finish last year. Arts & Entertainment: Omaha audiences can catch “Hole!”—a racy, sci-fi-tinged musical fable from American Sing Song that leans into bold physical comedy and cheeky storytelling. Music Festivals: Inkcarceration in Mansfield is drawing international fans, with visitors from England and Canada pointing to the lineup and community vibe. Weather Watch: Omaha faces dangerous heat Monday with a heat advisory and a chance of severe storms later in the day. Sports Spotlight: Big Ten football media days run July 28–30 in Chicago, with new head coaches and top players set to headline.

Nebraska Arts & Culture: Nebraska’s Cultural Endowment is fighting for its future after federal arts funding threats, with a big assist from Johnny Carson’s original seed donation still powering local programming. High School Rodeo: The National High School Finals Rodeo returns to Lincoln July 19-25, bringing more than 1,700 contestants and Team Nebraska qualifiers to the Sandhills Global Event Center. Music & Festivals: Lovegrass Music Festival heads back to Wilson State Park Aug. 6-8, a bluegrass weekend that grew from a friends-only jam into a western Kansas tradition. Sports (Local Win): Oakland Rockets won the USA Softball of Nebraska Class D state title in Hastings, finishing 5-0 with a 10-0 championship game over BDS. Community & Events: Cass County planners advanced a temporary data center moratorium after residents applauded the move, setting up a final vote by commissioners. Public Safety: Nebraska State Patrol arrested five impaired drivers during Oregon Trail Days enforcement in Scotts Bluff County, along with citations for open alcohol and minors in possession.

Nebraska Arts Funding: A Nebraska Cultural Endowment story spotlights how a Johnny Carson-seeded fund (now $30M) helps keep arts groups afloat, as advocates brace for possible federal cuts to the NEA/NEH. High School Rodeo: The National High School Finals Rodeo returns to Lincoln July 19-25 at the Sandhills Global Event Center, with Team Nebraska competitors set for bareback, bull riding, barrels and more. Sports Spotlight: Wyoming cowboys and cowgirls are headed to NHSFR after strong finishes in the Wyoming High School Rodeo Association, including steer wrestling and trap shooting qualifiers. Local Community Life: Douglas County launched a heat-relief dashboard to help residents find cooling and warming centers during dangerous summer temperatures. Civic Watch: Cass County residents backed a temporary data center moratorium, moving the AI-linked infrastructure debate toward a final county decision. Politics: Nebraska Democratic Senate nominee Cindy Burbank filed to withdraw, potentially clearing the way for an independent matchup with Sen. Pete Ricketts.

Arts Funding & Culture: Nebraska’s Cultural Endowment—seeded by a Johnny Carson check and now generating $1M a year—faces fresh pressure as federal arts and humanities funding is again on the chopping block. Local Governance & Tech: Cass County planners advanced a temporary data center moratorium after residents applauded; the proposal would steer builds to industrial land and push for closed-loop cooling where possible. Summer Heat Help: Douglas County launched an online dashboard to help people find cooling and warming centers, plus heat-illness trend tracking. Arts & Community Events: Grassland Gallery returns as a free film-and-art event rooted in Nebraska’s working landscapes, with a Sept. 26 Sandhills gathering and an Aug. 4 mini event. Sports & Youth: Nebraska’s archery scene gets a boost as a GPS-guided robot helps map tournament ranges for major USA Archery events in Lincoln. Music & Performance: Robert Henri Museum names its August “Sisters” Artist of the Month, with a meet-and-greet reception Aug. 6.

Local Arts Spotlight: The Robert Henri Museum and Art Gallery names Beth Jasnoch and Jero-Jasnoch Schultheiss its August Artist of the Month, with a free meet-and-greet Aug. 6 in Cozad. Community Arts & Service: Omaha-area quilters are making 30 patriotic quilts for Dunham House veterans, displayed at the Wolfe Country Quilt Show July 18 before being delivered for the facility’s September opening. Music & Culture: In western Kansas, the Lovegrass Music Festival returns to Wilson State Park Aug. 6–8 for its ninth year of bluegrass, workshops, and camping. Nebraska Sports: Nebraska volleyball opens its season in Las Vegas at the Players Era Showcase Aug. 29, aiming to build on a veteran core. Youth Rodeo: Sidney’s Myler Maher and Fremont-Mills’ Noah Howe and Nash Moreland head to the National High School Finals Rodeo in Lincoln July 19–25. Business/Workplace: Decker’s Market in Newcastle shifts 49% to an employee stock ownership plan, keeping family control while turning workers into shareholders. Tech/Privacy: A Nebraska-focused kids online safety push faces First Amendment hurdles as courts scrutinize age-verification rules.

Nebraska Arts & Screen: A digitized version of “Reunion ’61-’76,” a documentary about Beatrice High’s Class of 1961, is set to debut July 29 at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center in Lincoln, bringing a long-lost slice of cinema verité back to the big screen. Entertainment Spotlight: HBO’s “Lanterns” is leaning into a grounded mystery—Hal Jordan and John Stewart investigate a murder in rural Nebraska—shaped by Tom King’s unexpected CIA background. Local Sports & Community: Creighton basketball’s new head coach Alan Huss talks culture and continuity as the program transitions into the Huss era. Music & Culture: Unseen Levon Helm footage of “Atlantic City” from an Arkansas hotel performance has surfaced online, giving music fans a fresh, soulful listen. Nebraska Science & Media: A Washington Post journalist visited UNL plastic research labs to see how microplastics and nanoparticles can end up in food and water. Family-Friendly Events: Broadway Academy Camp is underway in central Nebraska, training young performers with pro actors, musicians, and directors. Sports (Nebraska ties): Tyner Horn’s top-100 MLB Draft moment is a dream-come-true story from Omaha.

Local Arts & Community: Access Period hit a major milestone, giving away its 5 millionth period product at On Brand on Creighton’s campus—aimed at cutting period product insecurity across Nebraska. Mental Health & Youth Support: Nebraska marked the 4th anniversary of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, noting 39,000+ contacts in 2025 and emphasizing 24/7, free, confidential help. Big Nebraska Event: The National High School Finals Rodeo returns to Lincoln July 19-25, with 1,800+ contestants and an expected 100,000+ attendees at the Sandhills Global Event Center. Sports Spotlight: Omaha Public Schools is holding public meetings next week on budget cuts tied to a state tax/aid miscalculation, with impacts on teaching and learning. Politics & Ballot News: Nebraska verified Dan Osborn’s signatures, putting him on the November U.S. Senate ballot. Entertainment/TV Buzz: HBO’s “Lanterns” is set to bring a grittier Green Lantern detective vibe to rural Nebraska in a new DC Universe direction.

Nebraska Politics: Former Sen. Lynne Walz is leaning into a Nov. 3 pivot, pitching economic development, affordable housing, healthcare, childcare, and “the will of the people” as she tries to turn momentum after the May primary. College Sports & Policy: The bipartisan Protect College Sports Act cleared the Senate Commerce Committee and is now being revised, with Big 12 coaches backing it while the Big Ten and SEC push back. Husker Football: Nebraska added former Penn State running back Tikey Hayes, giving Matt Rhule another transfer option for the Big Ten. Local Sports & Community: SheSports brought volleyball camps to central Nebraska, pairing young athletes with pro and former Husker players for skills and confidence coaching. Public Health: A new push is making lead screenings easier for families with on-site testing at a Head Start site in Fremont. Outdoor Fun: Paddlers are invited to the Jake Jaunt on the Missouri River in Yankton, a memorial event celebrating river culture. Arts & Culture: Poets on the Plains spotlights a Nebraska creative writing voice, with “On The World” from Brad Aaron Modlin.

Nebraska Politics: Two new parties are trying to get on Nebraska’s November ballot, including the America First Party and the Nebraska Working People Party, with signature verification now underway. Animal Welfare & Courts: Details continue to emerge after nearly 80 animals were seized from an Elkhorn home, with citations filed against Nicholas Sakis and court dates set. Public Safety: A quick explainer breaks down Nebraska’s DUI laws, including first-offense penalties and possible license consequences. State Legal/Business: Nebraska joined a multistate settlement with Glenmark over allegations of generic drug price manipulation, with the state set to receive more than $128,000. Community & Culture: Blue Cat Gallery and Studio in Wayne is hosting a rural-life themed exhibit, inviting artists to interpret the subject in their own ways. Arts & Entertainment: Beck announced his first album in seven years, “Ride Lonesome,” plus a new single. Sports & Youth: The PGSA 09 Stars Green team advanced to knockout rounds at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships after a perfect group stage. Local Events: Kearney’s Cruise Nite is set for July 19, with downtown street and parking closures starting early July 18.