Jan. 15 — Nebraska Examiner: Auditor flags possible Pillen ‘favoritism’ in $2.5M no-bid bioeconomy contract with lobbyist 

Jan. 29 — Nebraska Examiner: DED, Pillen back in Foley’s crosshairs over justification for emergency no-bid contract

Feb. 5 — Nebraska Examiner: DED, Pillen no-bid contract fight with auditor heads to AG, State Patrol

Mar. 10 — KETV: Lincoln police investigating no-bid contract pushed by Pillen

Mar. 13 — Nebraska Public Media: Pillen political consultant Flanagain quits day after LPD confirms contract probe

Aug. 10 — Nebraska Examiner: Investigation of $2.5M no-bid contract still with Lincoln Police Department

Nebraska State Auditor — January 6, 2026: Auditor Letter Regarding No-Bid Contract to GSD
27-page official Auditor of Public Accounts report examining the $2.5 million no-bid contract awarded to Global Sustainability Developers (GSD), including the contract chronology, procurement process, payments, conflicts, DED explanations, and supporting documentation.
https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2026/SA72-01062026-January_6_2026_Auditor_Letter_Regarding_No_Bid_Contract_to_GSD.pdf

Nebraska State Auditor — January 28, 2026: Department of Economic Development Letter and Supporting Documents
Official follow-up correspondence concerning DED's justification for the emergency no-bid contract, with supporting records and procurement documentation.
https://auditors.nebraska.gov/APA_Reports/2026/SA72-01282026-January_28_2026_Department_of_Economic_Development_Letter.pdf

Nebraska Legislature — Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing Transcript — February 5, 2026
Official legislative hearing transcript containing State Auditor Mike Foley's testimony concerning emergency/no-bid contracting, the DED matter, procurement safeguards and related findings.
https://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Transcripts/Government/2026-02-05.pdf

Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts — DED Audit/Investigation Document Repository
Official state index containing Auditor reports and correspondence involving the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, including the January 6 and January 28 releases.
https://www.nebraska.gov/auditor/FileSearch/entityresults.cgi?id=Economic+Development%2C+Department+of+%28DED%29