Nebraska Panhandle News

Senator Pete Ricketts, representing Nebraska in the U.S. Senate, shared several updates on his social media account between September 15 and 16, 2025. His posts highlighted support for domestic biofuels, congratulated a prominent athlete from Nebraska, and addressed human rights issues abroad.

On September 15, Ricketts reflected on his participation at an industry event: "Enjoyed speaking at Growth Energy’s Biofuels Summit last week. Domestic biofuels like ethanol save consumers money, help the environment, and support Nebraska agriculture. I’m proud to support investment in biofuels and the benefits they bring." Growth Energy is a trade association that advocates for expanding the use of biofuels such as ethanol across the United States.

Later that day, Ricketts acknowledged the achievements of Terence Crawford, a professional boxer from Nebraska: "Congratulations to @TerenceCrawford on his victory over Canelo Alvarez this weekend. The undisputed champion in 3 different weight classes! The greatest pound for pound boxer in the sport and one of the greatest of all time. You make Nebraska proud!" Crawford's victory over Canelo Alvarez marks another milestone in his boxing career.

On September 16, Ricketts addressed international human rights concerns: "I spoke with Sebastien Lai. Sebastien is leading the campaign to free his father, Jimmy Lai, from prison at the hands of Dictator Xi Jinping. Jimmy Lai is a champion for human rights and freedoms in Communist China. I’m honored to join his son in calling for his immediate" Jimmy Lai is a well-known Hong Kong pro-democracy activist who has been imprisoned under charges widely criticized by international observers.

Biofuels remain an important sector for Nebraska's agricultural economy; policies supporting ethanol production are often promoted as both economic drivers and environmental measures within the state. Terence Crawford has brought national attention to Nebraska through his athletic achievements in boxing. Meanwhile, advocacy efforts related to Jimmy Lai continue amid ongoing concerns about political repression in Hong Kong.