BOX BUTTE COUNTY, Neb.&nbsp;– Box Butte County Assessor’s Office is alerting residents and businesses that they should plan ahead when submitting time-sensitive mail following a recent clarification by the United States Postal Service (USPS) regarding postmarking practices.

Under the updated guidance, USPS cannot guarantee that the date it takes possession of a mail piece will be the date reflected in the postmark. Residents are encouraged to take extra precautions when mailing documents that rely on a postmark to meet statutory or regulatory deadlines. This includes: personal property returns, homestead exemption applications, permissive exemption applications, mobile home court reports and valuation protest forms to the County Clerk.

Additionally, recent USPS transportation changes may affect how mail moves from local post offices to processing centers. This could further delay when the mail is postmarked.

To help avoid late filings or delinquent payments, county officials recommend that residents and businesses take the following steps when submitting time-sensitive mail:

-Use electronic or online services whenever available to ensure timely submission.

-Mail items early, allowing additional time ahead of deadlines.

-Request a manual (local) postmark at the post office when mailing time-sensitive documents. This service is free and ensures the postmark reflects the date USPS takes possession of the mail piece.

-Consider optional mailing services such as Certified Mail, Registered Mail, or a Certificate of Mailing for added documentation and assurance.

Residents with questions about filing deadlines or available electronic services are encouraged to contact the office at (308) 762-6100 or stop by 515 Box Butte Ave, Suite 102.

Box Butte County Residents Encouraged to Prepare Following USPS Postmark Clarification

HASTINGS, Neb.&nbsp; — Investigative efforts continue regarding the death investigation into the man who was found deceased in rural Adams County last week.&nbsp;

Tuesday morning, Jan. 27, Jeremy Trausch, 44-years-old, from Roseland, was located deceased in a ditch in rural Adams County, just north of Highway 6, west of Juniata. Trausch’s pickup was nearby.

An autopsy has been performed, with the results of the cause of death pending confirmation from toxicology testing. Trausch had superficial injuries, but there were no signs of significant trauma.&nbsp;

The investigation remains ongoing and there appears to be no apparent public safety threat. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call NSP Troop C investigators at 308-395-3713.

Adams County Death Investigation Continues

LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp;– Today, Governor Jim Pillen appointed Joel Makovicka of Omaha to fill the District 4 vacancy on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Makovicka will serve through Jan. 7, 2027. The seat will be up for election this year.

“I appreciate Joel’s willingness to step into this role, and I have great confidence that he will serve the Board well, and with the best interests of the University in mind,” said Gov. Pillen.

Makovicka received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, during which time he played football for the Huskers and was part of three national championship teams. His professional football career continued with the Arizona Cardinals. Following his retirement from the NFL, Makovicka coached at the University of Virginia.

Makovicka earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Creighton University and continues to serve today as president of his own practice, Makovicka Physical Therapy, which has locations in Omaha, Lincoln and surrounding areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gov. Pillen Appoints Makovicka as District 4 Representative to NU Board of Regents

By&nbsp;Tena L. Cook, Marketing Coordinator

CHADRON, Neb. — A Chadron State College biologist’s work on grasshoppers in both Wisconsin and Nebraska is reshaping what scientists know about insect biodiversity in the Midwest and revealing how much remains undocumented.

Dr. Mathew Brust, a Professor and Department Chair of Biological Sciences at CSC, is the lead or co-author of two papers published last year and this year in the Journal of Orthoptera Research. The paper updating county-level distribution records for Wisconsin short-horned grasshoppers published newly accumulated records since the late Kathy Kirk and Charles Bomar co-authored the 2005 guide. Brust worked with both authors during his undergraduate employment as an assistant field biologist in Wisconsin. Bomar is listed as a co-author for many reasons including his previous work, according to Brust.

The other paper documents the rediscovery of a cold-adapted grasshopper species in Nebraska that had not been recorded in the state for more than a century.

Together, the studies highlight major gaps in insect data, the value of long-term fieldwork and collections and the importance of overlooked habitats such as wetlands and woodlands.

Brust said the Wisconsin project grew out of years of informal fieldwork during summer visits to his home state, combined with advances in community science.

“Although I haven’t lived in Wisconsin for over 20 years, I remain the grasshopper authority for the region,” Brust said. “I photograph and collect grasshoppers when I visit family each summer, and over time we accumulated a significant number of new county records.”

Working with graduate student Alex Harman, Brust compiled those records with observations from online platforms such as BugGuide and iNaturalist. Those sites, he said, have transformed biodiversity research by making thousands of verified insect observations publicly available.

The updated survey revealed dramatic increases in the number of recorded locations for several woodland and wetland grasshopper species.

“Woodlands and wetlands are often largely ignored in insect studies,” Brust said. “In some ways the results were surprising, but in others they weren’t.”

Brust’s long-term work in Nebraska played a key role in interpreting the Wisconsin data. The two states share more than half of their recorded grasshopper species, and Brust has spent two decades identifying specimens for both the CSC collection and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

That experience also fed into his second 2025 paper, which focuses on Melanoplus borealis, a grasshopper last recorded in Nebraska in the late 1800s. Brust and his co-author documented the species in multiple modern locations, confirming it still persists in the state.

Brust said his interest in the species began early in his career, when he was learning about Nebraska’s grasshoppers by collecting across the state.

“I quickly became familiar with most of the common species,” he said. “What interested me were the ones that were poorly known.”

Historical records suggested M. borealis was once widespread, despite few specimens ever being collected. Its disappearance from the scientific record for more than 100 years made the search both challenging and intriguing, Brust said.

The species is considered a glacial relict, meaning it is a remnant of colder climates that existed during the last Ice Age. As glaciers retreated and temperatures warmed, many cold-adapted species disappeared from the Great Plains. Others survived only in small pockets of cool habitat, such as fen wetlands and spring-fed creeks.

“These populations can be incredibly isolated,” Brust said. “Sometimes they occupy less than an acre.”

The rediscovery of M. borealis in multiple Nebraska counties suggests the species may be more widespread than previously thought, though Brust suspects many populations remain undocumented on private land.

He said small, isolated populations face growing risks. Climate change and land-use changes could threaten specialized species that depend on narrow habitat conditions, especially those with limited ability to disperse. Some M. borealis populations may consist of fewer than 50 individuals in a given year, making them vulnerable to local extinction, Brust said.

Despite their obscurity, Brust argues that grasshoppers like M. borealis matter.

“It’s easy to say, ‘It’s just a grasshopper,’ but that shows a lack of appreciation for biodiversity,” he said. “Nebraska alone has more than 100 grasshopper species, and only a small fraction are agricultural pests. These species interact with their environments in complex ways. They can teach us a great deal about the landscapes we live in, both past and present.”

Brust’s Work Contributes to Insect Biodiversity Knowledge Base

LINCOLN, Neb. —&nbsp; The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) Aeronautics Division has published a list of approved drones in compliance with the Secure Drone Purchasing Act (LB660). Under this law, NDOT Aeronautics Division must create and maintain the list in order to meet state and federal cybersecurity standards. The list is published and maintained at&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.b04f70AIkXepI61RSjEid1wcGxursQJ5tSuGL-2FYR1LAD28Qvm4sGspaRokE1vPIHgEH7swKKamk2VHwCyIzTog-3D-3DosXo_tSBk32awJfOKdX0D104nM81D-2BXugulph99B3XnDoLR8mOZuPToN2fEBVwCTZH-2FOyPhG1TMqI6e9S8KGoJbMSS-2FF4lQmv064gRlTzmG6k79oDqeGh-2FVzz4vetxundhxJ4HiaShYE1fqZrRV-2FNKh5gm7PMUhcm6nnfe6Q-2Babf0B8Xvm1Ri5r8RRSPrR-2FuIsuc9DazsZof4TjkaInUI7YnyOUtuNUQxDRuJLHlPYs1ILrz0xbJSjyTqdh-2FeZSTX3pI8-2Bzc7-2BgyYrhnyAA7UJm1zlXfFo79C2RH9oc3pEqIqO2Laik4j78ZhzQa61Kote-2Fof94RXLM4Qt7UAsxiMJ0v4laxL9k1FJSYHr03xZh98sAm3aLBTPyQHczj4y-2BFJUyuFRFoGuCvJrKiuSwy8CaGflQ-3D-3D" target="_blank">dot.nebraska.gov/aeronautics/drones</a>.

Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Nebraska State Agencies are prohibited from purchasing drones that have not been evaluated by the Division and included on the list of approved platforms. Political subdivisions are to comply to the extent practicable. The initial list of approved platforms includes 50 different models from 38 manufacturers. The list will be continuously updated as additional platforms are evaluated at the request of state agencies or political subdivisions.

Drones included on the list must meet strict cybersecurity standards, such as data encryption and network security. The Secure Drone Purchasing Act is part of a broader legislative effort to enhance government procurement processes and ensure the security of the state, its businesses, and its residents.

An unmanned aircraft system (UAS), commonly referred to as a drone, includes the aircraft and all supporting equipment needed for operation. The Nebraska Department of Transportation utilizes drones to improve safety, efficiency and decision-making across the state’s transportation system by enabling safer data collection, reducing traffic disruptions and limiting staff exposure to hazardous conditions.

NDOT Aeronautics Division Strengthens Drone Security Through Approved Drone List

LINCOLN, Neb.&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen thanked Dr. Monica Oldenburg for her work on the Medical Cannabis Commission and announced that he would take applications to fill her vacancy. Oldenburg was appointed to serve on the Commission in May of last year.&nbsp; She submitted her letter of resignation to the Governor Monday evening.

Those interested in serving on the Commission may submit an application through the Governor’s website:&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/boards-commissions-open-positions" target="_blank">https://governor.nebraska.gov/boards-commissions-open-positions</a>. Applications may also be mailed to: Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 94848, Lincoln, NE 68509-4848.

Members of the Medical Cannabis Commission serve six-year terms. The appointment is subject to legislative confirmation.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, March 3 at 5 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pillen Accepts Oldenburg Resignation on Medical Cannabis Commission, Takes Vacancy Applications

By Box Butte County Commissioner's Office

Box Butte County Commissioner Meeting Agenda, Feb. 4, 2026

The Light Goose Conservation Order begins Feb. 10, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

White and blue-phase snow geese and Ross' geese may be taken statewide during the conservation order, but different regulations apply in each zone. Read the 2025-2026 Nebraska Small Game and Waterfowl Guide, which includes regulations for the conservation order and a map of the zones, at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2Fguides-maps%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019c243e01ae-742fd856-6bcd-4ccb-b4a5-ff7daa961d72-000000/eEAW1TV7F4zfhiPIvKDLCkfdl2FEynOutW8TOHVX1rk=443" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides-maps</a>.

There are no bag or possession limits during the conservation order, and hunters may shoot 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Hunters may use unplugged shotguns and electronic calls during the conservation action.

Permits may be purchased at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Foutdoornebraska.gov%2F%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019c243e01ae-742fd856-6bcd-4ccb-b4a5-ff7daa961d72-000000/X7gxllTaJdKRnnqMvHHmYquGP0qFbYCrZX7cnCjxINg=443" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>.

Light Goose Conservation Order Starts Feb. 10

ALLIANCE, Neb. - The Alliance Police Department, in coordination with the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office, responded to a report involving a student possibly in possession of a firearm at Alliance Middle School earlier today.

Upon receiving the report, officers and deputies immediately responded to the school. As a precautionary measure, Alliance Middle School was placed on a brief secure status while law enforcement conducted a thorough search of the building.

At no time during the incident was there an immediate threat to students or staff on school grounds. The secure status was lifted once officers and deputies determined it was safe to do so. No firearm was located, and it was determined to be a false report.

The Alliance Police Department and Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office appreciate the cooperation of school administrator and staff during this response. The safety of students and staff remains the highest priority, and reports of this nature are taken seriously and handled with care and urgency.

Alliance Middle School Placed In Secure Status After Report of Student With Firearm

-Carlos Eddie Charging Elk and Chelsea Arianne Johns

-Brendan Michael Przytulski and Ariale Kayle Hindman

-Devin James Bell and Ashley Nicole Mekolon

-Isaiah Michael Johnson and Trena Isabella Ackerman

Marriages, divorces, January 2026

*All individuals included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. The Panhandle Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. Any person who believes information provided is not accurate may submit a complaint via the “Contact Us” tab on the homepage.

-Derek Reyes, Sexual Assault-1st Degree (Class 2 Felony), Assault by strangulation or suffocation (Class 3A Felony)

-Richard Endicott, Poss cont sub, poss drug para, open container, (F) in poss of deadly weapon

-Jacob Schmidt, Terroristic Threats, Poss drug

-Samuel Rohrer, Poss cont x2, Poss marijuana, Poss firearm while commiting (F), Poss firearm by prohibited person, No drug tax stamp, Poss drug para,&nbsp;Burglary, Poss stolen property, Poss Burglar tools, Poss of cash while in poss of      controlled substance

-Jerris Douville,&nbsp;Poss controlled sub

-Annette Yellow Horse, Terroristic threats (Class 3A Felony)

Panhandle police activity, Jan. 27 - Feb. 2

Details for March Fundraising Event for Pryor Family in Alliance

The first Alliance Arts Council event of 2026 will be a performance by Wendy Bantam from Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday, Jan. 30. Bantam will also be working as an artist in residence at the elementary schools the week of January 26-30.

A Nebraska native, Wendy Jane Bantam brings a pioneering sound to Americana Roots Music. With influences from old time country masters, and today’s Indie/world folk sound, Bantam’s ballads and melodies captivate people of all ages. A prolific songwriter and troubadour, Ms. Bantam spent her early childhood on a farm between Hay Springs and Chadron.

She studied performance at The University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS and received her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. She’s appeared live on England’s BBC Radio and signed on with recording label, Tremulant Records; recently performing her original songs with the Missouri Symphony. Her album, Virga, was recorded with Merle Haggard’s longtime guitarist and Grammy winner, Redd Volkaert. She is currently with recording label state 51 in the United Kingdom.

Bantam will also include the 4th grade residency students as part of her program to allow them to share what they have worked on during the week. Business co-presenters for the school residency and the public performance are FNIC, FNBO, KCOW/Double Q Country Radio, Harris Sales and Western Nebraska Real Estate.

The programs are presented with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.

Tickets for Friday night show are $15 Adult, $10 Senior, $5 Student (preschool admitted free). Tickets are available at Carnegie Arts Center, Chamber of Commerce and at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Alliance Arts Council to Host Artist/Musician Wendy Bantam

Alliance City Council Meeting Agenda, Jan. 20

The Brothers Duo to play in Scottsbluff

Southern Fryed will perform at the Alliance Eagles Club for the annual Barn Dance on Saturday, Jan. 17 starting at 9pm. There is a cover charge to attend.&nbsp;

Southern Fryed to perform in Alliance 

Nebraska Extension Announes Dates for Pesticide License Trainings

The Greendales will perform at Flyover Brewery in Scottsbluff on Saturday, Jan. 8 from 6pm - 9pm.&nbsp;

The Greendales to play in Scottsbluff

Alliance, NE – The City of Alliance Landfill’s loose fill pit and construction/demolition area is pausing operations for January 6th, 2026, and is anticipating to be intermittently closed over the next few days – weeks due to dangerous wind speed. This is for safety measures to ensure no one is injured.

For any questions, please contact the City of Alliance Landfill at (308) 762-2705.

Alliance Landfill Intermittently Pausing Specific Operations Due to Wind 

Box Butte Commissioners Meeting Jan. 7 Agenda

By Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District

The Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (UNWNRD) is seeking a director to fill a vacancy on the board. The position will represent subdistrict 5 which encompasses western Dawes and northern Sioux Counties and was previously held by Al Rasmussen who passed away Dec. 12, 2025. The appointed applicant will serve until January 2027. The position will be up for election in 2026 and again in 2028.

Written letters of interest will serve as the application and must be submitted by January 15, 2026. Applicants must reside in the subdistrict as well as being a registered voter.

The UNWNRD is an eleven-person board serving Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan and the northern 2/3rds of Sioux Counties. The district is made up of five election subdistricts with two representatives and one at-large director. Directors typically serve four-year terms. Board meetings are held in Chadron on the second Thursday of the month. Directors receive $70 per diem and reimbursement of mileage and other expenses while conducting NRD business.

Interested individuals should submit the letter of application to Patrick O’Brien, General Manager, Upper Niobrara White NRD, 430 East 2 nd Street, Chadron, NE 69337. For more information feel free to contact the UNWNRD at 308-432-6190.

Subdistrict 5 Vacancy Announcement

TUCSON, AZ.—The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the community’s help in locating Nancy Guthrie.

If you have any information, including photos or video that may help with this investigation, please submit it through our Tip Line QR code. This allows information to be shared directly &amp; securely with investigators.

Every detail matters. Even small tips could make a difference.

Please share this post to help us reach more people. Thank you for your continued assistance and support.

Reward offered:  “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie's mom still missing

KANSAS CITY—Kansas City, Missouri mayor Quinton Lucas joined CBS Face The Nation on Sunday to discuss critical issues facing American cities. From immigration policy and housing affordability to crime reduction and preparing for the 2026 World Cup.

On the proposed federal detention center for the region, Mayor Lucas said, "Converting a gigantic distribution facility into a warehouse for 10,000 people for which it was never designed is not right, and it is fundamentally something that is inhumane."

ICE was given $45 billion for detention centers in the tax and spending bill that President Trump signed last year.

🎥KCMO Mayor talks proposed federal detention center on Face The Nation

LINCOLN —&nbsp;State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg is making a push to connect Nebraskans with their “lost cash.”

The effort marks National Unclaimed Property Day on Feb. 1, also recognized in Nebraska via a Gov. Jim Pillen proclamation Spellerberg requested.

The proclamation says Nebraska currently holds more than $250 million in unclaimed property that includes uncashed checks, insurance proceeds and other financial assets considered lost or abandoned when an owner can not be found. Spellerberg urged Nebraskans to search&nbsp;<a href="http://nebraskalostcash.gov/" target="_blank">NebraskaLostCash.gov</a>.

“You might just find a surprise waiting for you,” said Meaghan Aguirre, Nebraska’s unclaimed property director. Aguirre was recently elected president of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.

Nebraskans who have lived in multiple states can check the national database,&nbsp;<a href="http://missingmoney.com/" target="_blank">MissingMoney.com</a>. Searches on both sites are free of charge.

Nebraska for more than five decades has received millions of dollars annually turned over by entities that can not find the owners, according to the proclamation. The state has returned more than $300 million to rightful owners since implementation of its Unclaimed Property Program.

In 2025, the state returned nearly $20 million through 19,952 claims.

“Nebraska has streamlined the claims process, because we want these unclaimed dollars back in our local economies,” Spellerberg said.&nbsp;

He said unclaimed property exists in all of the state’s 93 counties, including $96 million in assets in the Omaha metro area, $28.6 million in Lincoln, $7 million in Bellevue, $5.1 million in Grand Island and $3.7 million in Kearney.

Nebraska treasurer wants to find owners of ‘lost cash,’ unclaimed assets

United States Department of Treasury

History will remember President Trump as the leader who brought financial market opportunity to all American families. It will remember him as the President who oversaw the largest merger in history between Main Street and Wall Street. And it will remember him for redefining the social contract through the creation of a shareholder society.&nbsp;

And how did he achieve all this? Through Trump Accounts.&nbsp;

Trump Accounts are among the most significant policy innovations of modern times. They mark a&nbsp;singular moment&nbsp;in economic history by expanding the benefits of private ownership and compound growth to all Americans. Today, I will explain where Trump Accounts came from, how they work, and why they will render socialist notions moot by making every citizen a shareholder. &nbsp;

The idea of opening investment accounts for young Americans first arose in the form of “Baby Bonds” decades ago. But the idea was flawed because the accounts could be invested only in US government bonds.&nbsp;

President Trump recognized the shortcomings of this idea while also grasping its promise. So he set out to perfect it.&nbsp;

Working with some of the most talented businessmen in the country, including Brad Gerstner and Michael Dell, he pioneered Trump Accounts—investment accounts that newborn Americans can receive on Day 1. Trump Accounts allow for private ownership, multiple funding pathways, and direct investment across a broad swath of the American economy. &nbsp;

Where President Trump’s predecessors created debt and dependency, President Trump creates assets and expands ownership. This is a signature characteristic of his presidency.&nbsp;

With Trump Accounts,&nbsp;every&nbsp;American child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, is eligible to receive a $1,000 contribution from the Treasury Department that will be immediately invested in an index fund. To claim this investment, most families need merely check a box on Form 4547, the most aptly named tax document of all time. We are just three days into the 2026 tax filing season—and already, approximately 500,000 Americans have elected to open a Trump Account for their children.&nbsp;

The compound growth from Treasury’s initial seed funding alone stands to make young Americans wealthy. Assuming historical growth rates continue, a single $1,000 deposit into a Trump Account at birth should grow to an&nbsp;estimated&nbsp;amount of at least half a million dollars by the age of retirement.

The $1,000 seed from Treasury is exclusive to newborns. But keep in mind that&nbsp;any&nbsp;American below the age of 18 is also eligible to receive a tax-advantaged Trump Account to begin saving for the future. Philanthropists, family, friends, employers, and states can backfill Trump Accounts for these children to help them build a strong financial foundation before graduating high school. Our objective is to provide every American child with a Trump account. And the men and women in this audience will help make that possible.&nbsp; &nbsp;

In addition to the $1,000 seed from Treasury, there are three other channels for funding Trump Accounts: first, through the donations of parents, friends, and employers; second, through the generous donations of wealthy Americans and philanthropic organizations; and third, through donations from state governments.&nbsp;

Funding through Family, Friends, and Employers

President Trump wanted to make it especially easy for family, friends, and employers to give to Trump Accounts. And he has succeeded in that goal. Donations to a Trump Account will soon be the best gift a child could ever receive.

Starting July 4—our nation’s 250th anniversary—family, friends, and employers will be able to contribute up to $5,000 to each Trump Account each year. By contributing the maximum amount annually, the Council of Economic Advisers estimates that a child’s Trump Account could be worth more than $1 million at age 28 and tens of millions by the age of retirement.&nbsp;

Donations from employers are essential to bringing the President’s vision to life.&nbsp; Already, we have seen a large number of US businesses across a wide range of industries step up to support Trump Accounts.

Companies like Charles Schwab, Uber, Charter Communications, Bank of New York Mellon, State Street, Mastercard, Visa, Block, Robinhood, SoFi, Chime, Russel Investments, and Dell Technologies have all announced that they will match employee contributions to Trump Accounts in a variety of forms that work best for their employees. And today, Steak ‘n Shake, Broadcom, Intel, IBM, JP Morgan, Chipotle, Coinbase, and Comcast all announced that they will offer matching contributions as well. The President foresees a day where matching contributions to Trump Accounts will be as integral to an employee benefits package as a matching 401(k).&nbsp;

Through Trump Accounts, our President is putting the American Dream within reach of every citizen, no matter the circumstances of birth. When young Americans turn 18, they can use their Trump Accounts to keep saving for their retirement. Or they can use them to help purchase a new home or further their education—two hallmarks of the American Dream.

Funding through Philanthropists and Charitable Organizations

The next means of funding is through generous donations from wealthy Americans and charitable organizations. Consider how Trump Accounts are revolutionizing not only investing but philanthropy as well.&nbsp;

The United States is the most generous country in the history of the world. In 2024 alone, our citizens gave over half a trillion dollars to charity. That’s more than the GDP of advanced countries like Singapore, Austria, and the UAE.&nbsp;

Many Americans want to give back to their fellow citizens through charitable donations. But our country has long lacked a platform of private ownership from birth that facilitated philanthropy at-scale direct to American children.

Trump Accounts are the most capital-efficient form of philanthropy ever devised.&nbsp;

Typically, middlemen, overhead costs, and administrative expenses dilute the money Americans donate to charity. But Trump Accounts remove those obstacles entirely to put money directly in the hands of American children.&nbsp;

That’s why America’s savviest capital allocators have devoted enormous sums of wealth to seeding Trump Accounts.&nbsp;

Michael and Susan Dell led the way by pledging to donate $6.25 billion of their own money to help fund Trump Accounts for 25 million children under the age of 10. Ray and Barbara Dalio then followed suit by pledging $75 million to help fund Trump Accounts for more than 300,000 children in Connecticut.&nbsp;

The Dalios were among the first to join “The 50 State Challenge”—a special initiative Treasury has launched to rally the nation’s philanthropists around a common cause. As the President said in his remarks earlier today, the 50 State Challenge is a crucial element of this revolutionary program. Expect to see more philanthropists adopting states in the months to come as the Administration prepares to launch Trump Accounts on the Fourth of July.&nbsp;

The final way of funding Trump Accounts is through state governments.&nbsp;

The administration has been working closely with a number of governors to determine the best way states can work with the federal government to expand access to Trump Accounts to as many children as possible. States are the laboratories of our democracy, and their experiments with Trump Accounts will surface the best methods for funding over time.&nbsp;

Why Trump Accounts Mark A Singular Moment in Economic History

At their core, Trump Accounts represent the triumph of capitalism over socialism.&nbsp;

Socialism left in its wake a trail of economic ruin, all in pursuit of the belief that abolishing private ownership would lead to greater equality and human flourishing. In fact, the opposite was true. &nbsp;

The last century of economic history showed us that the answer was never to abolish private ownership; it was to&nbsp;democratize&nbsp;it. To protect, strengthen, and&nbsp;expand&nbsp;it to as many people as possible so that everyone can benefit from the prosperity only capitalism can provide.

Trump Accounts do exactly that. They collapse the distinction between earners and owners by making everyone an owner—all while keeping ownership private. In the decades-long contest between capitalism and socialism, this is the Trump card.&nbsp;

Through Trump Accounts, our President is creating an ownership economy where all citizens become shareholders in America’s wealth. Today, 38% of American adults do not own stocks. But with Trump accounts, over time, we can get that number down to zero.&nbsp;

I have talked in the past about the importance of promoting Parallel Prosperity—an era of economic expansion where Wall Street and Main Street grow together. But the beauty of Trump Accounts is that prosperity no longer runs parallel; it fuses together. Under Trump Accounts, Wall Street’s success becomes Main Street’s success and vice versa. This is the greatest merger in world history, the merger of Wall Street and Main Street. And it will forever change the relationship Americans have with their own economy.&nbsp;

Trump Accounts represent a fundamental redefinition of the social contract. They offer a radically new platform that returns us to a social contract anchored in individual ownership where everyone starts life on an investing journey.&nbsp;

Creating Laboratories of Financial Literacy

Trump Accounts also create a real-time laboratory of financial literacy for all Americans.&nbsp;

Consider an alarming statistic: Approximately two-thirds of Generation Z Americans fail to answer more than half of the basic financial literacy questions on the Nation’s Personal Finance Index. We need to better educate the generation of Americans being born now. Trump Accounts will give us an opportunity to correct course by instilling financial literacy in America’s youth in a way no book, test, or school curriculum could.&nbsp;

Trump Accounts will achieve this goal by providing students with a hands-on education in the power of compound growth. Students with Trump Accounts will be able to watch their investment accounts compound in real time—from a value of a couple thousand dollars in kindergarten to potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Importantly, students will not be able to access their accounts during this time. Keeping accounts locked until age 18 will require Americans to learn the art of long-term savings and compound growth. States, philanthropists, and charitable organizations can also tie funding of individual Trump Accounts to students passing financial literacy courses. This flexibility creates space for states, philanthropies, and educators to innovate and identify what works best in building financial skills.

Three pillars of America’s social contract are embedded in the Declaration of Independence: “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Few know that Jefferson borrowed this phrase from John Locke, who famously underscored the centrality of “life, liberty, and&nbsp;property.”&nbsp;

Property and the pursuit of happiness, in other words, are deeply intertwined—and for our Founding Fathers, they were one and the same. Property, or put another way,&nbsp;ownership&nbsp;is essential to dignity and human flourishing. This was the ideal our nation was founded on in 1776. And it is the ideal our nation is being re-founded on in 2026.&nbsp;

In that sense, Trump Accounts are&nbsp;the&nbsp;defining policy of America’s 250th&nbsp;anniversary. By expanding equity ownership to all citizens, President Trump is restoring the promise of our Founding, revitalizing the social contract, and helping secure American prosperity for the next 250 years. All families can participate and own part of the American Dream.&nbsp;

Whether you are a philanthropist, a family member, or an employer, all of you here will play a critical role in this effort. So join us in growing economic opportunity, future-proofing capitalism, and carrying the promise of the Founding forward for the next century. Join us by investing in Trump Accounts.&nbsp;

How your baby could qualify for $1,000 with a Trump Account

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a> <a href="https://statesnewsroom.com/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — The federal government began a partial shutdown early Saturday, even though Senate Democrats and President Donald Trump reached a deal that allows lawmakers more time to negotiate new constraints on immigration enforcement.&nbsp;

The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00020.htm" target="_blank">voted 71-29</a>&nbsp;on Friday evening to pass the reworked government funding package before a midnight deadline. But the earliest the House could clear it for Trump’s signature is Monday evening, when members return from a recess.

The scheduling problem guarantees the current spending law, which Congress approved in November at the end of the last shutdown, will expire without a replacement.&nbsp;

However, the effects on the nation are not expected to be as dramatic as those during the historic 43-day shutdown last year. Since Congress has already passed half of the dozen annual appropriations bills, this shutdown will only affect part of the government, and possibly with moderate impacts since it may only last a few days until the House acts.

The unexpected hitch in progress toward passing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7148/text" target="_blank">the $1.2 trillion package</a>&nbsp;came about after immigration agents killed a second person in Minneapolis and Senate Democrats demanded reforms be included in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill. Trump has agreed to two weeks of negotiations on the DHS bill, which includes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and other immigration enforcement agencies.

Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, said the full-year measures are “fiscally responsible bills that reflect months of hard work and deliberation from members from both parties and both sides of the Capitol.”

“The package also continues funding for the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks to allow us additional time to evaluate further changes in ICE procedures beyond those that we have already included in this bill,” she said.&nbsp;

Once the package becomes law, she said, 96% of government will be funded for the fiscal year that began back on Oct. 1.&nbsp;

Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, ranking member on the Appropriations Committee, said approving the five full-year bills and a stopgap for the Homeland Security Department represented “a simple, commonsense path forward.”

“It is good news we have a deal to fund these key programs families count on while work continues on serious DHS accountability over the next two weeks,” Murray said. “It could not be more clear that ICE and CBP are out of control and that we cannot just wait for the same president who caused this mess to address it.”

Senators from North Carolina, South Carolina tangle

South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said in a floor speech several hours before voting began that he would hold up quick consideration of the funding package until leaders agreed to schedule floor votes on two separate proposals.&nbsp;

The first would establish some sort of criminal penalty for local or state officials who do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement agents, often called sanctuary cities. The second would clear the way for conservative organizations to file lawsuits against former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith for his investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.&nbsp;

“What is the right answer when a state or a mayor says, ‘I don’t like this federal law, I’m not going to do it because there’s good politics for me.’ I think you risk going to jail,” Graham said. “We cannot live in a country this way, where you get to pick and choose the laws you don’t like.”

A spokesperson for Graham later confirmed to States Newsroom that the senator didn’t want the votes Friday but “just sometime down the road.” Graham released a statement later in the afternoon that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., had agreed to schedule floor votes “at a time to be determined.”

North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis spoke directly after Graham and rebuked him for delaying the entire funding package.&nbsp;

Tillis called on senators from both political parties to start negotiations about “common sense sorts of ways to lower the temperature” on immigration enforcement.

He said officials should “hold people accountable when they’re harming ICE agents, and hold ICE agents accountable if they reacted in a way that’s not consistent with their law enforcement training.”

Tillis argued that Graham’s approach to pushing for amendment votes that are unlikely to succeed wouldn’t have any tangible, real-world impacts.&nbsp;

“One senator has a lot of power. And if you use it judiciously, you can be productive and make a difference,” Tillis said. “But if you use it in the heat of the moment, you can make a point that not a damn person is going to remember a month later.”

The departments of Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, State, Transportation and Treasury will all experience the funding lapse. The Executive Office of the President, Supreme Court and judicial branch will also be affected.&nbsp;

All other federal programs will continue uninterrupted, since their spending bills have become law, including those at the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Interior, Justice and Veterans Affairs, as well as military construction projects and funding for Congress.&nbsp;

A spokesperson for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts wrote in a statement earlier this week that “operations would continue using court fees and other available balances through Wednesday, February 4.&nbsp;

“The following day, on February 5, the Judiciary would begin operating under the terms of the Anti-Deficiency Act. Federal courts would continue operating, but would be limited to activities needed to support the exercise of the Judiciary’s constitutional functions and to address emergency circumstances.”

House Democrats demand changes in DHS bill

A spokesperson for the White House budget office said the departments and agencies affected by the funding lapse can use their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/how-federal-shutdown-playing-out-across-government" target="_blank">contingency plans from the last shutdown</a>&nbsp;unless they had “big changes.”

Those documents detail how many employees continue working without pay during a shutdown and how many are furloughed.&nbsp;

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats wouldn’t support the spending bill unless major reforms are made in the way immigration officers conduct enforcement.

“We’re going to have to evaluate what the real opportunity is to get dramatic changes at the Department of Homeland Security. It has to be bold,” he said during a morning press conference. “The Senate has to do its thing before we have anything to evaluate.”

Partial federal government shutdown begins, amid hopes it won’t last long

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today published over 3 million additional pages responsive to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law by President Trump on November 19, 2025.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here t</a>o view the latest files

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