Margery A. Beck, Author at The Rapid City Post

Nebraska prison reopens as federal immigration center, aims for 200 detainees by Thanksgiving

November 6, 2025

A new federal immigration detention center in rural in southwest Nebraska has begun housing immigration detainees. Gov. Jim Pillen announced the development Thursday, saying the former minimum-security state prison in McCook is currently housing between 50 and 60 detainees. Pillen says the facility, which can hold 200 people, is expected to reach capacity by Thanksgiving. Work is set to begin on a second phase to expand capacity to 300. Local officials and residents were surprised by Pillen’s decision in August to turn the prison over for federal immigration use. Some residents have sued, arguing that only the Legislature can control or repurpose state prisons.

FILE - Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, speaks during a news conference at the Department of Agriculture to rollout the USDA'S National Farm Security Action Plan in Washington, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

States are redistricting to help one party but sometimes the move can backfire

October 16, 2025

An unprecedented number of states are considering redrawing their congressional district lines mid-decade. Some warn this could lead to “dummymandering,” where efforts to stretch partisan advantage might backfire. Nebraska is among the states where mid-decade redistricting has been floated. The focus is on the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District, which is considered vulnerable for Republicans. Some Republicans in states considering mid-decade redistricting are hesitant, fearing it could make other districts more susceptible to loss. Concerns about overreaching haven’t stopped the push for redistricting, but Nebraska faces challenges, including a lack of legislative support.

FILE - Terence "Bud" Crawford, left, fights David Avanesyan during a WBO welterweight title boxing bout on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, in Omaha, Neb. AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz, File)

A Black champion boxer was held by police at gunpoint. The police chief says he gets the outrage

October 3, 2025

The police chief of Omaha, Nebraska, acknowledges that Black people are more likely to be pulled over at gunpoint than other racial groups. This comes amid outrage over boxer Terence “Bud” Crawford being stopped by police after a city celebration in his honor. The incident has reignited tensions between Omaha’s Black community and the police. Police Chief Todd Schmaderer says an internal investigation shows officers did not appear to violate policy during the stop. Crawford and others in the car were handcuffed briefly but released after being cleared as legally carrying firearms. The police chief says video footage of the stop won’t be released unless Crawford agrees.

Lia Post, of Springfield, Neb., leaves a meeting of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, where she sobbed and begged its members to honor the will of the voters in approving comprehensive access to medical marijuana, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025 in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Margery Beck)

Nebraska Republicans are targeting voter-approved medical marijuana, following other GOP-led states

October 2, 2025

Nebraska officials have missed a deadline to grant licenses to marijuana growers under a new medical marijuana law approved by voters. This delay highlights ongoing resistance in GOP-led states like Nebraska, where Republican leaders are trying to weaken or overturn the law. On Tuesday, Lia Post, who suffers from chronic pain, expressed frustration at a commission meeting as the deadline loomed. Many states have legalized some form of marijuana use, but some Republican leaders continue to oppose it, citing safety concerns. Critics argue this undermines voter intentions.

Elayna Cunningham, a college student interning at Koahnic Broadcast Corp., records a program on July 10, 2025, at the Anchorage, Alaska, studios of KNBA, the flagship station for National Native News. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Native American radio stations at risk as Congress looks to cut $1B in public broadcasting funding

July 15, 2025

Native American radio stations could face shutdowns if Congress cuts over $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Senate plans to vote this week on proposed funding cuts for 2026 and 2027, already approved by the House. Tribal stations are often the sole source of news, cultural programming and vital weather alerts in Indian Country. Radio industry leaders warn the cuts could leave millions without those essential services. Republicans who support the cuts say it helps address the national debt and that the public media system is politically biased. Critics say it will be locally owned public radio and television stations that will suffer most.

FILE - Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., introduces Dr. Jay Bhattacharya during his confirmation hearing at Capitol Hill in Washington, March 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

Independent Dan Osborn launches new US Senate bid to challenge Nebraska Republican Pete Ricketts

July 8, 2025

Former labor union leader and independent candidate Dan Osborn has announced his bid for a Nebraska U.S. Senate seat, challenging Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts. Osborn accused Ricketts of “buying his Senate seat” in his Tuesday announcement. Ricketts’ campaign responded by labeling Osborn as “bought and paid for” by liberal donors. Osborn gained national attention in his race last year against Nebraska’s other U.S. senator, Republican Deb Fischer, by rejecting both major political parties. He plans to do so again in this election, saying he wants to represent working people. Despite Ricketts’ significant campaign funds, Osborn says he’ll expects to win with a grassroots approach focusing on town halls.

Douglas County Board Chairman Roger Garcia, whose district includes the south Omaha area where federal immigration officials raided a meat packaging plant on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, addresses reporters on Wednesday, June 11, in Omaha, Neb. Garcia says his community, which includes a large immigrant population, is shaken by the raid, and noted that his wife's aunt was among those arrested and taken away from Glenn Valley Foods. (AP Photo/Margery Beck)

An Omaha food plant owner says he followed the rules for hiring immigrants. It was raided anyway.

June 11, 2025

The owner of an Omaha food packaging company says his business has been unfairly hamstrung by Tuesday’s raid carried out by federal immigration officials. More than half Glenn Valley Foods’ workforce was arrested in the raid. That is despite the company following the government’s own system for verifying that workers are in the country legally. Owner Gary Rohwer says the plant is now is operating at about 30% of capacity as it scrambles to hire more workers. Rohwer says he’s “very upset” by the raid, adding that “we did everything we could possibly do” to ensure employees were legally allowed to work.

Nebraska is the latest state to ban transgender students from girls’ sports

June 4, 2025

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has signed into law a measure banning transgender athletes from girls’ sports. Republicans behind the effort say it protects women and their ability to fairly compete in sports. Opponents say with so few transgender students seeking to participate in sports, the measure is a solution in search of a problem. At least 24 other states have adopted similar bans. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order this year intended to dictate which sports competitions transgender athletes can enter and has battled in court with Maine over that state’s allowing transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.

Margery A. Beck.