Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lynne Walz continues to outpace incumbent Republican Gov. Jim Pillen in fundraising in 2026, but Pillen maintains a nearly $9.5 million war chest, recent campaign finance filings show.
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Top Journal Star photos and videos for June 2026
LPD officer recruit Matthew Thomsen (left) shows off a double-jointed salute to LSO deputy recruit Caden Waitley (right) as the recruits stage in a hallway before the Lincoln Police Department graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Southeast Community College in Lincoln. The graduating class for this season consisted of 15 LPD officer recruits receiving badges, two LPD lateral officers being honored and one Lincoln Sheriff’s Office deputy recruit, with a graduation rate of 100% completion from day one of the academy.
Anna Keyzer, left, a fulltime caregiver for her 21-year-old son Simon Keyzer, told Austin Ahlman at his town hall in Lincoln on Wednesday that she is worried about Medicaid cuts. Ahlman is an independent candidate for Nebraska's 1st Congressional District seat.
Retired Lancaster County District Court Judge Jodi Nelson (left) ceremonially swears in her successor, District Court Judge Jennifer Huxoll (right) on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the Lancaster County Courthouse in Lincoln.
Dressed as Mae C. Jemison — the first ABlack woman to travel into space — a young Laiyana Rosas-Vargas holds her helmet as she and other preschoolers dressed as influential Black historical figures during the Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 20, 2026, hosted by the Malone Center.
Nebraska’s Owen Chambliss (33) and Jacory Barney (2) model new uniforms on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Hawks Championship Center in Lincoln.
Kyrus Jensen holds a rainbow parasol as he stands and talks with fellow guests as Star City Pride hosts Pride in the Park on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Woods Park in Lincoln. Free and open to the public, the festival hosted guests from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. for live performances, dozens of booths, various activities and games and food for purchase from a lineup of local food trucks.
Savannah Bananas fan Maggie Sheehy waves her hands in the air as the Savannah Bananas face the Firefighters on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The teams play a fast-paced, fan-focused and entertainment-heavy variety of baseball known as Banana Ball. Firefighters beat Savannah Bananas 3-2.
Savannah Bananas owner and Banana Ball creator Jesse Cole shouts-out the fans at the conclusion of the game as the Savannah Bananas face the Firefighters on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The teams play a fast-paced, fan-focused and entertainment-heavy variety of baseball known as Banana Ball. Firefighters beat Savannah Bananas 3-2.
9-year-old Slate Martin (center) pinches the cheeks of his mother Julie Martin (right) as the Savannah Bananas host the Firefighters on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Haymarket Park in Lincoln. The teams play a fast-paced, fan-focused and entertainment-heavy variety of baseball known as Banana Ball. The pair traveled from Tulsa, Oklahoma, just to watch the team play.
City contractors continue to work on Project O street near the 14th and O street intersection on Monday, June 8, 2026, in Downtown Lincoln. The water main underneath O street downtown is being replaced as contractors continue to work on O street. Some of the pipes are nearly a century old and have been in need of replacement. In the past couple of years, Lincoln has exceeded projections on sales tax, filling up the cities reserves. In turn, it gives the city an opportunity to spend that windfall on several major community investments: the public. Library, Project O street, the Music District, the multimodal transportation center, and replacing some aging infrastructure.
Savannah Bananas' Dakota “Stilts” Albritton (14) hands down a ball to a fan after adding his signature as the Savannah Bananas face the Firefighters on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Haymarket Park in Lincoln. The teams play a fast-paced, fan-focused and entertainment-heavy variety of baseball known as Banana Ball.
Contractors work to seal windows on the 14th floor of the Capitol on Monday. Brett Daugherty, the manager and acting administrator of the Office of the Capitol Commission, said contractors are working on a swing stage to seal the windows on the exterior after removing water-damaged plaster along the tower windows.
Outlaws members Ben Cohoon (left) and Steve Dosskey (right) react after a missed goal against Germany during a watch party for the U.S. Men's National Soccer team (USMNT) match on Saturday at Captain Jack's in downtown Lincoln.
Lincoln Airport customer service representative Valera Otte lays out refreshments during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the inaugural American Airlines flight from Lincoln to Dallas on Thursday at the Lincoln Airport.
82-year-old James “Jim” Palmer, a veteran photojournalist with a career spanning more than four decades, poses for portraits with his Nikon F 35mm camera and a passport full of accordion-page addenda on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at his home in Lincoln. After working a series of blue-collar jobs (including as a soda jerk, shoe salesman and gas-station attendant), Palmer spent a short time in Hope, Idaho where he met retired photographer Charlie Heath, who helped inspire him to launch his own career. Palmer made his debut as a staffer at the Lincoln Journal and the Lincoln Star. After later becoming a staffer for AP, his work took him to major cities across the U.S. and abroad for coverage spanning world-news, sporting events, major demonstrations, unrest and coup attempts and other historical moments. Of his career, he said he felt most gratified for the variety, travel and the people. “Seeing people in various forms of jubilation and tragedy—It’s a wonderful vision of human character,” he said.
Nathan Wenz hangs from a tree as he watches the band during the first night of the annual Jazz in June program on Tuesday at Sheldon Sculpture Garden in Lincoln. “It’s awesome — we’ve been having a great time!” Wenz said of the event.
7-year-old Rhett Hespen, a Wolf Scout with Pack 223 out of Beatrice, climbs an indoor rock wall to retrieve his flag in an attempt to place it at a higher mark during a Scouting America 250 Celebration on Saturday at the Outdoor Education Center.
Nebraska's J'Shawn Unger (37) celebrates with Nebraska fans in the park after striking out the final batter to seal the Huskers' regional win against South Dakota State on Friday at Haymarket Park.
The cast performs during the Boever Backyard Plays' production of "The Lion King" on Wednesday at the Boever residence on Cross Creek Road in Lincoln. A cast of more than 60 homeschooled students and their friends are performing "The Lion King" in a south Lincoln backyard, and the public is invited to attend for free.
Lincoln Standing Bear’s Elsa Moran plays Grand Island Central Catholic’s Emily Ye (not pictured) in the No. 2 singles championship match at the Class B state meet Wednesday at Woods Tennis Center.
Julie Koeneke, left, goes to give a ‘mom hug’ to Angela Gebhardt during the 2026 Star City Pride Parade on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Capitol.
Lexi Hartley performs on stilts as she walks in the 2026 Star City Pride Parade on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Capitol.
Sen. Ted Cruz embraces Sen. Pete Ricketts at a campaign event at the Country Club of Lincoln on Friday.
Phil Yoakum, dressed as President Donald Trump in a Christ-like outfit, protests a campaign event for Sen. Pete Ricketts outside the Country Club of Lincoln on Friday, June 12, 2026.
Chad Vanek waters plants at Campbell's Nurseries 40th Street location. Campbell's is closing the location Sunday. The nursery will still operate out of its location near South 56th Street and Pine Lake Road.
Ginny Landkamer, whose quilt marking the bicentennial took home the best-in-show prize at the Nebraska State Fair in 1976, still keeps the quilt at her home in east Lincoln. "I was totally surprised," Landkamer recalled about winning the prize.
Candace Walahoski, right, points out garden vegetables to Jackson Shea as they explore Ponca Health Services' new community greenhouse on Thursday at Ponca Health Services in Lincoln.
Independent candidate for U.S. Senate Dan Osborn delivers public remarks before submitting the petition signatures required for him to officially qualify for the ballot on Thursday at Cornhusker Office Plaza.
