Nebraska State Patrol cruiser. (Jeff Motz/KFOR News)LINCOLN–(KFOR Sept. 18)–Ground was broken Wednesday morning to expand the Nebraska State Patrol’s Crime Lab at their headquarters near the Lincoln Airport. The cost of the expansion is $26-million and the money was allocated through approval from the Nebraska Legislature in 2023. Since the State Patrol headquarters moved to their current location nearly 10 years ago, Crime Lab director Jason Linder says there’s been a 23% increase in case submissions, which has warranted the expansion. Work should be done by mid to late 2026.