Nebraska Panhandle News

Senator Pete Ricketts posted a series of tweets on October 6, 2025, addressing recent events involving the Omaha Police Department and expressing concerns about federal policy decisions.

In his first tweet at 14:29 UTC, Ricketts extended support to law enforcement officers in Nebraska, stating, "My prayers are with the injured officer and their family. I wish them a speedy recovery and salute their bravery. @OmahaPolice are the nation’s finest. They put their lives in harm’s way everyday to keep Nebraskans safe."

Later that day at 15:58 UTC, he commented on a shooting incident in Omaha's Old Market area, writing, "Over the weekend, @OmahaPolice responded swiftly to a shooting that took place in the Old Market. The shooter was a violent criminal. In 2018, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. On his last days in office, Joe Biden commuted his sentence.

Joe Biden’s soft-on-crime policies".

At 19:24 UTC on the same day, Ricketts criticized Senate Democrats regarding government funding negotiations: ".@SenateDems are holding the government hostage. Worse: They want to take away $50 billion from rural Nebraska hospitals as a condition to open the government. That will have detrimental impacts on rural Nebraskans."

The reference to President Joe Biden commuting sentences is consistent with previous actions taken by his administration during his presidency; according to official White House records, President Biden has granted clemency to individuals convicted of nonviolent offenses near the end of his term (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/04/24/president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-provide-second-chances-for-americans-returning-from-incarceration-and-strengthen-public-safety/).

Concerns about potential cuts to rural healthcare funding have been raised previously during federal budget negotiations. Rural hospitals often face financial challenges due to lower patient volumes and higher rates of uninsured patients compared to urban facilities (https://www.kff.org/report-section/rural-hospitals-in-the-united-states-issue-brief/).

Senator Pete Ricketts represents Nebraska in the U.S. Senate and frequently addresses public safety and rural health issues through his social media channels.