Nebraska Public Media | News: Recent Episodes
Nebraska Public Media
Stay up-to-date with daily news and features on a wide variety of topics that affect Lincoln, Omaha, and all of Nebraska.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Aug. 14, include: lawmakers across Midwest have tried and failed to ban toxic weedkiller paraquat that's tied to Parkinson's disease, University of Nebraska is seeking increased state funding after years of budget cuts, officers in at least two Nebraska law enforcement departments have used electric shock gloves for years, Democratic Lancaster County attorney challenger Randall Ritnour called on current attorney to step aside from Lincoln fraudulent petition case, organizers behind ballot initiative requiring Lincoln to staff at least 450 police officers paused their efforts and said initiative will not be on November ballot, education leaders have concerns about teenagers using AI chatbots for emotional support or advice, two Lincoln families are suing state over public school policies they say violate their free speech rights, party-line disagreements have paused progress on five-year Farm Bill.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Aug. 13, include: court hearing about efforts to keep two newly-formed political parties off ballot did not result in decision, independent candidate Mark Cohen has qualified for November ballot in Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District, Nebraska's federal delegation discussed affordability and other issues at Federal Legislative Summit in Ashland, Sen. Pete Ricketts said China is driving negative press about AI and data center development in Nebraska, Ricketts introduced legislation aimed at speeding federal wildfire preparation and response, Nebraska schools are using AI to support teachers and students while education leaders stress it should not replace learning, University of Nebraska Board of Regents will consider several degree cuts Thursday, Omaha's proposed $1.7 billion 2027 budget moved closer to approval.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Aug. 12, include: closure of Tyson Foods plant in Lexington left workers with lots of questions, Omaha school gets approval to open after initial hesitation from Republican members on State Board of Education, Nebraska universities are considering how to implement AI responsibly as national data shows about 90% of college students are using AI in class, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has distributed about $140 million through Rural Health Transformation Program, Omaha will cover cost of demolishing or repairing former Brother's Lounge building, Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird announced $17 million volleyball complex ballot initiative, environmental groups say raising awareness of prairies could help spur conservation efforts.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Aug. 11, include: Nebraska Democratic Party filed lawsuit Monday seeking to keep candidates with newly formed Nebraska Working People Party off November ballot, Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird is set to announce $17 million volleyball complex ballot initiative Tuesday, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services projects include expansion effort at ICE detention center in McCook, Nebraska student hopes his work at national gathering will encourage schools to expand policies against AI cheating, Nebraska volleyball begins season ranked No. 1 and Creighton is No. 13.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Aug. 10, include: two Nebraska cities are reconsidering their use of surveillance cameras after constituents raised strong privacy concerns, Nebraska Working People Party and America First Party have gathered enough signatures to qualify for November elections, five people were arrested on suspicion of fraud connected to three Lincoln charter amendment petitions, judge ruled effort to force Nebraska Democratic Party to field U.S. Senate candidate is unlikely to succeed, artificial intelligence use is growing in classrooms as teachers and students increasingly use technology, State Board of Education delayed approval of proposed Omaha middle school after concerns over language on its website.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Aug. 7, include: Nebraska Department of Education is reviewing open positions and reducing travel after Gov. Jim Pillen called on state agencies to find savings, University of Nebraska leaders propose a 4.25% operating budget increase in each year of next biennium, Nebraska confirms cyclospora and salmonella outbreaks tied to nationwide food recalls, Senate Agriculture Committee fails to advance five-year Farm Bill, new scheduling rules take effect for Class A high school football this fall, Maha Festival returns to Omaha with Nebraska artists taking stage, Curious Omaha looks at hidden stone grotto in South Omaha that has quietly faded from public view after years behind locked doors.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Aug. 6, include: child care costs continue to strain family budgets across Nebraska and Midwest, Nebraska's property tax relief spending has increased dramatically while property tax bills continue to rise, complaint challenges donations supporting Nebraska online sports betting petitions, Omaha officials say owners of damaged Blackstone building must decide whether to repair or demolish it, Lincoln election reform petitions fall short after signature review, Nebraska farmers rank among nation's hardest hit by higher diesel prices this planting season, Senate lawmakers consider reducing conservation funding in Farm Bill, Nebraska gymnast Elias Edwards chases a junior national team berth.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Aug. 5, include: University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty hiring will now require chancellor approval as university responds to Nebraska's statewide hiring freeze and budget reductions, Lincoln joins 42 global cities in developing standards for data center growth, Omaha joins Youth Climate Action Fund offering $50,000 for youth-led climate projects, Labor Day weekend block party aims to support businesses along Omaha's streetcar route, Lincoln orthopedic surgeon agrees to license suspension and fine in settlement with Nebraska Attorney General's Office, Nebraska school districts increasingly seek voter approval for bonds focused on improving school security and campus safety.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Aug. 4, include: two Nebraska rural hospitals have adopted federally supported business model that is helping keep care available for farm families and other rural residents, Democratic Senate primary candidate is asking court to force Nebraska Democratic Party to fill general election ballot vacancy after nominee withdrew, State Sen. Margo Juarez says she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and plans to continue serving during treatment, former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom appears to have submitted enough signatures to qualify for Nebraska's gubernatorial ballot, Lincoln residents urged city leaders to restore funding for Meadowlane Pool during budget hearings, University of Nebraska-Lincoln research team joins federal AI initiative focused on next-generation wireless technology, Nebraska volleyball opened Big Ten Media Day as Huskers prepare for 2026 season.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Aug. 3, include: rising costs are putting added pressure on families as Nebraska students and educators prepare to return to school, Nebraska becomes first state to remove Medicaid recipients under new work requirements as advocates warn thousands could lose coverage, former Nebraska Democratic Party organizer files lawsuit alleging sex discrimination and retaliation, health officials investigate cyclospora outbreak with experts pointing to contaminated irrigation water as likely source, opposition grows over proposed Cherry County livestock facility as dozens of public comments are submitted, UNL researchers receive Wild Kingdom grant to study Southern flying squirrels in Lincoln, cities across the Midwest are enforcing camping bans more aggressively.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 31, include: two Nebraska counties are using gaming and keno revenue to help reduce property tax increases, vacant lot near North Omaha's historic 24th Street corridor will become nonprofit grocery store following community planning meeting, tornadoes continue to strike farther east than traditional Tornado Alley as Midwest experiences another active severe weather season, Western Nebraska Pioneers will fold after this season while Nebraska Outlaws relocate to Colorado, Cake4Kids says rising food insecurity is driving more requests to provide birthday cakes for children in need, Nebraska's higher minimum wage is at center of debate over teen employment.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 30, include: Nebraska 2nd District Congressman Don Bacon met with Nebraska agriculture organizations to discuss trade policy and future of U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Nebraska Democratic Party leaders say they'll fight lawsuit seeking replacement candidate in U.S. Senate race, Rep. Mike Flood faced questions on affordability and war in Iran during town hall at Nebraska Wesleyan University, University of Nebraska at Kearney launches new Loper Flight Academy this fall, Lancaster County plans to power more county operations with solar after approving state's largest solar farm, Nebraska men's basketball unveils tougher nonconference schedule featuring four power conference opponents ahead of Big Ten play, Once Again podcast investigates TV dinners.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 29, include: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lynne Walz has chosen Humboldt farmer and agricultural leader Ben Steffen as her running mate, Gov. Jim Pillen departs for trade mission in Asia weeks after ordering state agencies to reduce spending and limit travel, new Inspector General report says a "highly sexualized culture" became normalized at Kearney Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center amid widespread abuse allegations, one Lincoln County commissioner says his family received threats following contentious vote tied to potential recall election, Nebraska's livestock inspection requirements are creating new challenges for animal shelters relocating pets from Texas as New World Screwworm spreads, Nebraska's demolition derby tradition is facing new financial pressures as price of cars continues to climb.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 28, include: Democratic U.S. Senate primary candidate who lost race has filed lawsuit against Nebraska Democratic Party to replace nominee who dropped out, longtime Nebraska weather forecaster Kent Boughton has died after battling stage 4 cancer, parents raise concerns after electrical and water issues during National High School Finals Rodeo in Lincoln, Nebraska men's basketball schedules exhibition game against Kansas State in Grand Island this October, number of school districts in Nebraska is dwindling and it's pushing some Nebraskans to find new purpose for those shuttered schoolhouses.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 27, include: Gov. Jim Pillen is in Japan and Philippines on trade mission focused on expanding export opportunities for Nebraska agriculture, decade-long study found concerning pesticide levels in rivers across U.S. including Dodge County's Maple Creek, Nebraska's U.S. House delegation is divided over Republican proposal that would grant temporary legal status to undocumented farmworkers, experts say warmer drier conditions and emerging crop diseases could affect this year's Nebraska corn harvest, immigration advocates and business leaders met in York to discuss workforce shortages and immigration reform, Hallam residents raised concerns about proposed partnership involving Monolith and Denver-based AI factory, Nebraska is at forefront of new college athletics business model as schools pursue jersey sponsorships to help fund athlete payments.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 24, include: Federal SNAP eligibility changes tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill have reduced food assistance participation among many immigrants and refugees in Nebraska, contributing to a 15% drop in household enrollment compared with June of last year. Macy Byars reports on how the changes are affecting families and community organizations, Omaha approves a nearly $39 million contract with Herzog Transit Services to test and operate the city's new streetcar system, volunteers continue Nebraska's annual butterfly census to track prairie butterfly populations and ecosystem health, and Lincoln's first cat cafe signs its lease and plans to open in late 2026 with a community-focused mission.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 23, include: Nebraska's budget outlook has shifted from a small surplus to a projected $200 million shortfall. Sen. Robert Clements says the state has enough cash reserves to avoid a special session and believes agency spending cuts could cover the gap, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lynne Walz outlines her plan to address what she calls the state's budget crisis, Tom Osborne becomes the first living inductee into the Nebraska Hall of Fame, Gage County residents continue pressing officials for action on a proposed data center moratorium. Omaha Public Schools plans lower pay increases, a higher tax levy and reserve spending to offset a $50.6 million aid shortfall, and Sen. Pete Ricketts backs legislation to limit birthright citizenship.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 22, include: Omaha Mayor John Ewing signed the city's minimum wage ordinance, setting up an expected legal battle with Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers over whether Omaha can maintain a $15 hourly minimum wage despite conflicting state law, Omaha Mayor John Ewing unveils the proposed 2027 city budget, Gov. Jim Pillen urges the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission to induct former Husker football coach Tom Osborne, Nebraska housing leaders cautiously assess the impact of a new federal housing law, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cindy Burbank asks to be removed from the November ballot, Lincoln-based Hexagon Agility lands a $100 million contract tied to growing data center demand, Advocates continue pushing for stronger support for after-school programs, and a University of Nebraska-led partnership receives a $10 million National Science Foundation grant to expand STEM opportunities statewide.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 21, include: Gov. Jim Pillen signed an executive order preventing data center developers from receiving state tax incentives. The move follows his push earlier this year for additional regulation of large-scale data center development in Nebraska, court documents detail threats made against Gov. Pillen's family, leading to felony charges against an Omaha man, independent congressional candidate Mark Cohen says he has collected enough signatures to qualify for Nebraska's 3rd District ballot, Good Government Lincoln submitted petitions proposing changes to city elections and term limits, Omaha leaders unveiled designs for the city's new public safety headquarters, and the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission approved additional fees and regulatory updates as it continues building the state's medical cannabis program.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 20, include: Gov. Jim Pillen prepares executive order suspending data center tax incentives, Nebraska election officials review Cindy Burbank's request to withdraw from U.S. Senate race, judge issues injunction against Lincoln's minimum wage ordinance, Dawson County receives temporary exemption from new federal Medicaid work requirements, inflation and SNAP benefit reductions continue to strain many Nebraska families, Lincoln Electric System unveils its first zinc battery storage project, Jordan Larson reflects on returning from retirement to play for LOVB Nebraska, Sidney continues rebuilding nearly decade after losing Cabela's headquarters.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 17, include: Nebraska reports 49 cases of cyclosporiasis as health officials continue investigating whether any are connected to nationwide outbreak, University of Nebraska campuses prepare for $29 million in budget reductions following 5% spending cut order, Dan Osborn officially qualifies for Nebraska's U.S. Senate ballot as fundraising attacks continue, Logan County approves data center moratorium while regulations are developed, Hallam planning commissioners hear Monolith's proposal for potential data center, another restaurant closes at Mahoney State Park, National High School Finals Rodeo organizers outline livestock disease precautions, Lincoln's historic Pershing Center mural is fully reconstructed in its new home, third-country deportations is expanding under Trump administration.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 16, include: Nebraska election officials confirmed two groups submitted signatures to form new political parties ahead of November election, Nebraska's June tax receipts fell 7% below forecast, DHHS appointed new interim leader for Nebraska's youth correctional facilities and announced operational reforms, new regional bioeconomy partnership could help bring emerging industries to rural Nebraska, Once Again launches a new season with a look at the Nebraska invention that transformed agriculture.
Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg endorsed CD-2 Democratic nominee Denise Powell during campaign stop at Omaha's Metro Community College, Omaha City Council approved minimum wage ordinance restoring $15 wage for younger workers despite legal concerns and ongoing state challenge to Lincoln's similar ordinance, EPIC Option launched new campaign to qualify its tax overhaul proposal for 2028 ballot using paid petition circulators, Cass County officials considered moratorium on data centers during planning commission meeting in Weeping Water, State Auditor Mike involving three villages, David City and Plains Historical Society, American Red Cross declared nationwide blood emergency as Nebraska officials urged residents to donate, ranchers across western and central Nebraska are rebuilding after historic drought and devastating wildfires.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 14, include: Brett Lindstrom is launching independent campaign for Nebraska governor after falling short in 2022 Republican primary, Nebraska confirms cases of cyclospora while health officials urge residents to properly wash and thoroughly cook food, state senators remain divided over deeper budget cuts following Gov. Jim Pillen's latest directive to cabinet agencies, Lincoln city leaders consider revisions to proposed budget, high insurance costs again halt plans for alcohol sales at University of Nebraska at Kearney football games, documenting disappearing farm silos before they vanish from rural landscape.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 13, include: counties are reviewing annual property valuation protests after debate between Gov. Jim Pillen and county assessors over responsibility for rising property taxes, legislative audit says Nebraska's rural and urban jobs program failed to meet expectations, Lincoln defends its $15 minimum wage for younger workers in court, University of Nebraska faces $36 million budget reduction following Gov. Pillen's spending order, FBI is seeking possible victims connected to alleged abuse at Nebraska school, Nebraska's winter wheat crop is projected to be among worst in state history, Husker volleyball fans react to university's new reseating plan, Jordan Larson announces she's returning from retirement for another League One Volleyball season, endangered Salt Creek tiger beetle continues its fragile existence near Lincoln.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 10, include: independent congressional candidate Austin Ahlman says he has collected enough signatures to qualify for Nebraska's 1st District ballot, Nebraska livestock owners are urged to strengthen biosecurity as county fair season begins amid concerns over cattle diseases, experts say farm equipment prices could still increase despite temporary tariff reductions from Trump administration, federal judge orders restoration of USDA grants supporting many Black, Indigenous and immigrant farmers, Midwest dementia advocates are pressing lawmakers to invest in earlier detection and stronger support for families facing disease.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 9, include: Governor Jim Pillen announced steep funding cuts are coming to state agencies and directed cabinet leaders to consolidate their teams and freeze hiring, Nebraska joins $45 million multistate settlement with Block Inc. and Cash App, western Nebraska theater is raising $45,000 to recover after South Fork Fire, cattle producers face growing concerns over tick-borne disease theileria, officials warn summer heat can increase risk of harmful algal blooms across Nebraska, Nebraska softball coach Rhonda Revelle receives contract extension and pay raise.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 8, include: former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will campaign in Omaha next week for Democratic congressional candidate Denise Powell as she seeks Nebraska's 2nd District seat, North Platte woman launches write-in campaign for Nebraska's 3rd Congressional District, Congressman Mike Flood says he's confident stalled federal housing bill will soon become law, Metropolitan Community College prepares to offer Workforce Pell Grants through four new programs, Omaha Inland Port Authority unveils plans for its new headquarters in north Omaha, Dodge County Sheriff Dustin Weitzel pleads guilty to felony wire fraud tied to union funds.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 7, include: beef producers in western Nebraska are weighing how to rebuild their herds after historic wildfires destroyed forage, County Farm Service Agency staffing has declined across Nebraska, Nebraska communities are developing childcare substitute network to help providers fill staffing gaps, Nebraska Athletics says upcoming season ticket reseating will create opportunities for new fans while supporting changing economics of college sports.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 6, include: records obtained by Nebraska Public Media News show dozens of complaints about petition circulators across Nebraska, beef prices are expected to continue climbing as nation's cattle herd reaches its smallest size in decades, forecasters say recent rainfall could help moderate Nebraska's summer temperatures, China's new LineShine supercomputer could improve weather forecasting while accelerating research into medicine and nuclear fusion, Omaha officials are launching ambitious effort to transform city's parks with millions in private philanthropic support.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 3, include: federal disaster relief funds are headed to Nebraska following Morrill and Cottonwood fires, new data show continued declines in Nebraska manufacturing and food processing jobs, judge delayed ruling on challenge to Lincoln's youth minimum wage ordinance, petition group submitted more than 186,000 signatures for proposed constitutional amendment affecting voter-approved laws, two Bennington middle school students earned national recognition at National History Day, questions continue surrounding federal terrorism case involving former Bellevue food delivery driver, construction continues on University of Nebraska at Omaha's biomechanics research expansion, Lincoln orthopedic surgeon faces disciplinary proceedings over allegations involving his conduct at Bryan Health, reuben sandwich true origin leads to Omaha and historic Blackstone Hotel.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 2, include: Gov. Jim Pillen approved permanent medical cannabis regulations after Attorney General Mike Hilgers determined they meet statutory and constitutional requirements, county officials are pushing back after governor suggested assessors share responsibility for rising property taxes, Lincoln health officials detected Jamestown Canyon virus in mosquitoes while also urging vigilance because of West Nile virus activity, fire officials warn hot windy Fourth of July conditions could increase wildfire risks tied to fireworks, two Nebraska high school marching bands are headed to Washington D.C. to help celebrate America's 250th anniversary, Nebraska Public Media News analyzes county laws recently passed regarding data centers.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, July 1, include: Seward County has approved one-year moratorium on new data center development, organizers submit more than enough signatures to place online sports betting on Nebraska's November ballot, constitutional amendment on transgender participation in girls' school sports is submitted with record number of signatures, Attorney General Mike Hilgers approves Nebraska's medical cannabis regulations while maintaining his opposition to legalization, Hilgers says work on Perkins County Canal should continue as Nebraska's water dispute with Colorado heads toward U.S. Supreme Court, historic South Omaha grain silos are set to become 223 market-rate apartments by 2029.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 30, include: U.S. Supreme Court will consider Nebraska's complaint against Colorado over irrigation water and proposed Perkins County Canal, federal prosecutors detailed Omaha man's alleged plot to attack White House UFC event during detention hearing, judge temporarily blocked state from transferring money from Nebraska Environmental Trust, federal judge halted enforcement of key provisions in Nebraska's social media age verification law, national Working Families Party is considering legal action over proposed Nebraska political party with similar name, University of Nebraska regents approved Nebraska Medicine governance changes involving Omaha Community Foundation, country artist Cole Swindell will perform after Nebraska's Sept. 19 football game at Memorial Stadium, about 250,000 Nebraskans rent rather than own their homes and the cost of renting keeps climbing.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 29, include: University of Nebraska at Omaha leaders are expanding role of artificial intelligence in higher education through new degree program and broader campus initiatives, federal drought relief deadlines are approaching for Nebraska livestock producers, federal prosecutors charged six current and former Nebraskans in sweeping health care fraud investigation, Nebraska Supreme Court issued ruling involving voter data and secretary of state's authority, proposed media acquisition could place all of Lincoln's commercial radio stations under one owner, naturalization ceremony at Sheldon Museum of Art welcomed dozens of new American citizens.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 26, include: data centers may secure future water supplies by purchasing farmers' irrigation rights, federal judge blocked President Trump's executive order directing agencies to create and share citizenship list with state election officials, U.S. Supreme Court overturned jury award in Roundup cancer lawsuit, University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers say they've developed swine flu vaccine designed to avoid worsening illness when virus strains change, Lincoln has purchased nearly 100 acres southwest of Pioneers Park as part of future Prairie Corridor plans, committee organizing two petitions to legalize and regulate online sports betting is on track to turn in enough signatures to make November ballot.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 25, include: Lincoln moves closer to long-term housing goal with new downtown residential project, President Trump declines to sign bipartisan housing bill backed by Nebraska' congressional delegation, USMCA partners prepare for formal negotiations as agriculture groups stress agreement's importance to farmers and livestock producers, wheat farmers across Great Plains face difficult harvest season after drought conditions damaged crops, Lincoln soccer fans prepare for U.S. Men's National Team's final World Cup group-stage match against Turkey, shops are closing and more homes are coming up for rent in Lexington... where just six months ago, largest employer shut down.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jun. 24, include: Republican Gov. Jim Pillen and Democrat Lynne Walz are each claiming edge in campaign fundraising ahead of election, judge says USDA broke law by approving SNAP benefit restrictions like those adopted in Nebraska, Congress took another step toward passing new Farm Bill as Senate advanced its version of legislation, Nebraska wildfires are pushing some beef producers to sell calves earlier than normal, last passengers quarantined after hantavirus cruise ship incident have returned home after 42 days, students competed in Nebraska's inaugural Civics Bee with winner advancing to national competition, Memorial Stadium is hosting golf event aimed at generating revenue for Nebraska Athletics, Raptor Woodland Refuge is sanctuary for unique and eclectic birds.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 23, include: marijuana advocates remain frustrated by lack of progress launching state's voter-approved cannabis program one year after Nebraska Medical Marijuana Commission's first meeting, Nebraska reports its first human case of West Nile virus this season in north-central Nebraska, Omaha officials investigate new sinkhole that opened along future streetcar route in Blackstone District, South Fork Fire near Fort Robinson reaches 90% containment after burning nearly 40,000 acres, Lincoln nonprofit works to reduce waste by helping residents repair items instead of throwing them away, development of large-scale data centers is booming across the Midwest and South.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 22, include: Lincoln and Papillion La Vista school boards are considering policy changes that would allow suspensions for prekindergarten through second-grade students in cases involving violent behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln staff will receive 3% pay raises following approval from Board of Regents, federal lawmakers are considering allowing rotisserie chickens to qualify for food assistance purchases, Douglas County authorities are responding to increased complaints about illegal minibikes on Nebraska roads, Nebraska Humane Society is moving forward with $8 million project aimed at expanding affordable veterinary care in Omaha area, golden Labrador Trio helping comfort young crime victims as they testify in Sarpy County courtrooms, Eastern Cottonwood is Nebraska's state tree and there's something special about one in Wheeler County.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 19, include:University of Nebraska is seeking to add Omaha Community Foundation as equal partner in Nebraska Medicine, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has sued Lincoln over its minimum wage ordinance weeks before it is set to take effect, Nebraska Supreme Court upheld firing of former Lancaster County sheriff's deputy and rejected death row inmate's latest appeal, several western Nebraska communities are banning fireworks because of severe drought and wildfire concerns, independent congressional candidate Austin Ahlman defended his campaign strategy during Lincoln town hall, Lincoln LGBTQ+ bar Das Haus is closing during Pride Month, researchers are developing field sensors that could help farmers monitor nutrient levels remotely and reduce costs.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 18, include: Gage County is latest Nebraska county to adopt temporary moratorium on data center development, Lancaster County approved land transfer with City of Lincoln tied to plans for proposed convention center, weak grain prices are emerging as top financial concern across rural communities and could create new challenges for farmers, Nebraska Forest Service is launching new wildfire prevention crew in Scottsbluff, Nebraska bowler Jillian Martin captured U.S. Women's Open title in dramatic roll-off in Indianapolis, Nebraska offers a unique learning experience for visiting students from Japan.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 17, include: Omaha man is accused of helping plan attack tied to White House UFC event, Omaha City Council heard from public Tuesday on proposed ordinance that would keep minimum wage in city at $15 per hour for all workers, Fort Robinson State Park is gradually reopening after South Fork Fire, horse trainer David Anderson has been suspended for four years, Nebraska permanently expands eligibility for child care subsidies under LB 304, new federal SNAP retailer requirements could create challenges for rural stores, Nebraska has faced significant budget deficits forcing lawmakers to fill $471.5 million gap this year.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 16, include: young musicians took center stage at Omaha's Future of Rock Festival, Brinker Harding filed personal financial disclosures months after required deadlines, Nebraska officials preview state's exhibit for Great American State Fair in Washington, Lincoln City Libraries now offer free access to Nebraska court databases through pilot program, Gov. Jim Pillen discusses wildfire recovery efforts and federal disaster assistance, Senate proposal to allow year-round E15 sales could affect soybean markets.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 15, include: College World Series Jello shot challenge is drawing national attention to downtown Omaha business, Ricketts and Cruz rally Republican voters in Lincoln ahead of general election, efforts to recruit more rural production animal veterinarians continue across Nebraska, International Quilt Museum gives old fabric new life through sustainability efforts, Omaha's Stingray Beach exhibit reopens after year-long renovation, larger school districts prepare for changes under new student suspension law, refugee artists take center stage as Omaha joins international Refugee Week celebrations.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 12, include: Lincoln soccer fan heads to Kansas City as FIFA World Cup draws global attention to Midwest, Lincoln's Zipline Brewing abruptly closed most of its operations Thursday after it was criticized for being scheduled to host Republican event, University of Nebraska proposes tuition increase of more than 4% for next school year, Dan Osborn's Senate campaign submitted nearly 13,000 petition signatures to get on November ballot, ballot initiative seeks to require Lincoln to employ at least 450 police officers, State Auditor Mike Foley says reports of suspected government spending fraud are arriving at unprecedented levels, Gov. Jim Pillen's Marriage and Family Month proclamation draws criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates, South Fork Fire grows beyond 23,000 acres as federal resources join response, USDA announces assistance programs for producers recovering from wildfire and drought.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 11, include: A 9,000-acre wildfire continues to burn near Fort Robinson State Park. Officials began evacuating the state park Wednesday evening; Life has changed for many immigrants and their families in Omaha after they were targeted by one of the largest workplace immigration raids under President Donald Trump’s second term. Impacts of the raid are still being felt; Omaha City Council will hear public comment on a proposal that would restore a $15-an-hour minimum wage for younger workers; Lincoln and Lancaster County’s Railroad Transportation Safety Division board is reducing its levy to zero after building millions in reserve funds; Nebraska Sens. Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer are backing the FENCE Act to help ranchers and farmers recover from wildfire damage.; Nebraska’s Brand Committee appointed an interim executive director following the resignation of its previous leader and approved higher inspection fees; Omaha Public Schools is expanding summer book access programs to help improve student reading levels by 2030.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 10, include: Nebraska faces another day of dangerous heat with heat index values above 107 possible in eastern parts of state, researchers say humid heat days are increasing across Midwest, farmworker advocates warn heat illness can increase health and safety risks, State Auditor Mike Foley raises concerns about eligibility findings in Nebraska's WIC program, Omaha's new streetcar maintenance facility takes shape downtown, more quarantined cruise passengers leave UNMC following hantavirus exposure, Nebraska retailers struggle to keep popular NeeDoh toys in stock, counties see uptick in autopsy costs as they plan next fiscal year.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 9, include: Doane University will eliminate five majors and four minors beginning in 2027 academic year, Secretary of State Bob Evnen reflects on his time in office as his tenure nears its end, Evnen says Nebraska will comply with federal election integrity directives ahead of November, Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird presents her initial budget proposal for next biennial cycle. Omaha Mayor John Ewing admits violating a citizen's First Amendment rights in Facebook comment dispute, huge cattle feedlot in central Nebraska is being rebuilt to turn manure into natural gas.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 8, include: C&L Dairy Sweet has community support after 2019 tornado, Nebraska is among 17 states targeted in national political advertising campaign opposing President Trump's policies, Dawson County residents affected by Tyson plant closure could receive temporary exemption from Medicaid work requirements, Education Commissioner Brian Maher discusses Gov. Jim Pillen's antisemitism executive order and its impact on schools, mental health grants for Nebraska schools win approval after second vote, Nebraska cattle industry leaders say nation's beef supply remains safe despite concerns about New World Screwworm, new crop varieties from UNL researchers could help farmers manage increasingly challenging growing conditions, former Husker softball standout Jordy Frahm joins Nebraska’s coaching staff.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 5, include: state leaders are moving money to fill budget gaps but a lawsuit claims transfers from Nebraska Environmental Trust are unlawful, Douglas County's public defender seeks more funding for expert witnesses used to challenge forensic evidence, Scotts Bluff County officials consider rural fireworks ban as drought conditions raise wildfire concerns, U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed presence of New World Screwworm in south Texas.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 4, include: undocumented students in Nebraska will no longer qualify for in-state tuition rates following a ruling issued Wednesday afternoon, group of 41 University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty members filed grievance over four department eliminations, Google is providing Omaha's Metropolitan Utilities District $3 million grant for leak detection technology aimed at reducing water loss, Omaha's Eppley Airfield renovation is more than halfway complete with expanded terminal space and redesigned passenger experience planned by 2028, Nebraska food pantries are facing increased demand as SNAP participation declines and summer needs grow, Nebraska softball and baseball are reflecting on successful seasons after postseason losses ended spring competition, jockeys and horsebreeders say there are signs of renewed life in horse racing circuit.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 3, include: Nebraska officials say new law will allow additional electrical generating capacity to be developed without placing added burdens on ratepayers, police departments are warning parents that illegally operated minibikes may be impounded and riders cited, ranchers are monitoring spread of flesh-eating screwworm fly near the Texas-Mexico border, some western Nebraska ranchers are criticizing changes to state brand inspection fees, Nebraska Public Service Commission approved disputed 220-mile R Project transmission line through Sandhills, Omaha Children's Museum marks major milestone, some Omaha residents joke about forcefield that protects their city from bad weather.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 2, include: researchers call for review of federal nitrate standards after new findings on drinking water contamination, Western Nebraska sugar beet farmers face severe crop losses as irrigation canals run dry, Lincoln Public Schools Security Director retires after 13 years and reflects on school safety challenges and progress, retired University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen discusses dedication of new rural health care facility bearing his name and examines how colleges are responding to increased political scrutiny, quarantined patients at UNMC may be allowed to finish isolation in their home states.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, June 1, include: Nebraska's restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors remain focus for some lawmakers three years after becoming law, Husker softball and baseball both see standout seasons come to close, Gov. Jim Pillen issues executive order addressing antisemitism concerns, Omaha's Kellogg plant prepares for layoffs ahead of its planned closure, worker-owned homecare cooperative seeks to address assisted living gaps in rural Nebraska, conservation advocates discuss farmland transitions as older farmers retire, Nebraska libraries expand services through community seed libraries.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 29, include: The priority candidate to lead the University of Nebraska Medical Center says he wants to improve patient care and reshape training for future healthcare providers. Dr. Dele Davies toured Nebraska as part of the search process while discussing innovation and statewide collaboration; Gov. Jim Pillen announces his choice to lead the Nebraska Crime Commission; A new poll commissioned by Lynne Walz’s campaign shows her narrowly trailing Pillen in the 2026 governor’s race; Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers joins a lawsuit challenging federal marijuana reclassification efforts; Shadow Lake Towne Center in Papillion is sold to a new owner.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 28, include: The Nebraska Democratic Party is requesting the Department of Justice to investigate a financial disclosure issue with Republican Brinker Harding, who’s running for the 2nd Congressional District; SNAP food assistance participation in Nebraska fell 11% between April 2025 and April 2026 according to state data. Macy Byars reports on how federal legislation helped drive the decline and what it could mean for families relying on assistance; Emergency room visits for tick bites reached their highest April levels in nearly a decade. Jess Savage reports on how to protect yourself from tick-borne illnesses; Work is underway on the Niobrara State Park pond as part of Nebraska Game and Parks’ aquatic habitat plan; Nebraska softball opens Women’s College World Series play Thursday night against Arkansas in Oklahoma City; Some are watching for a “Godzilla El Nino” that could develop this year and bring distinct weather changes to Nebraska.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 27, include: Nebraska education leaders continue statewide push to improve literacy skills, French researcher traveled to Nebraska to share World War II records with family of fallen Nebraska soldier, Lincoln's new minimum wage ordinance became law earlier this month, Nebraska's Pancreatic Cancer Center for Excellence director is suing University of Nebraska Board of Regents over alleged discrimination and retaliation, Union Pacific's Big Boy steam locomotive is making stops across Nebraska this week, retired state trooper is helping former Nebraska troopers stay connected, Cindy Burbank announced her endorsement of independent congressional candidate Austin Ahlman.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 26, include: Nebraska softball is headed to Women's College World Series after dominant showing against Oklahoma State, baseball will also host NCAA regional for first time since 2008, University of Nebraska-Lincoln virology team received $4 million NIH grant to develop vaccine targeting multiple strains of bird flu, Dr. Dele Davies will begin statewide engagement tour as leading candidate to become next chancellor of University of Nebraska Medical Center, experts warn invasive jumping worms are spreading across Nebraska and are damaging gardens and forests, Holdrege-area nonprofit is doubling incentives for child care providers to expand extended-hour care services, how two Nebraska restaurants are helping formerly incarcerated people feel reconnected to their communities.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 23, include: federal lawyer urges U.S. Supreme Court to focus on Nebraska's irrigation water dispute with Colorado instead of Perkins County canal project, weekend rainfall brought some drought relief to parts of Eastern Nebraska, Nebraska National Weather Service offices are rehiring staff ahead of severe weather season, Nebraska's prison oversight office has new Inspector General, Lake Minatare Elementary closes this week ending generations of history for one Western Nebraska family, one Nebraska kindergarten classroom is marking final week of school with alphabet-themed countdown.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 21, include: Nebraska petition groups are working to qualify ballot measures for November, five-year Farm Bill and E15 expansion are both under discussion in Senate as lawmakers explore whether measures could advance together, dean of the University of Nebraska Medical Center's College of Public Health says Ebola outbreak is another reminder that public should prepare for next pandemic, Nebraska softball opens super regional series against Oklahoma State at Bowlin Stadiumm, UNL chancellor Katherine Ankerson talks about stepping into role after Rodney Bennett abruptly resigned earlier this year and what she’s doing to keep university moving forward.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 20, include: decades-long search continues for graves of Native American children buried at former Genoa Indian Industrial School, storm cleanup begins across Southeast Nebraska after multiple tornadoes touched down Monday evening, immigrants detained under new federal policies are challenging their confinement in Midwest courts, Lincoln marks midpoint for musician attempting record-breaking international tour, North Omaha leaders unveil plans for $120 million Malcolm X mixed-use campus, Cameron the Capitol cat officially ends his time at Nebraska state capitol, Nebraska Public Service Commission approves payments to farmers affected by grain company bankruptcy, Omaha Supernovas hire Chris McGown under new two-year contract.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 19, include: Nebraska's new social media age verification law is set to take effect July 1 but not without legal challenge, Union Pacific has filed federal complaint accusing BNSF Railway of sharply increasing train switching rates, Nebraska is launching new effort to improve awareness and response to cases involving missing Black women and children, some communities are trying to tap new sources for water as much of Nebraska grapples with drought.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 18, include: people at Lancaster County jail are waiting for placement at Lincoln Regional Center as concerns grow over psychiatric bed shortages, Nebraska voters are seeing rise in independent candidates running for office, Nebraska ranks last nationally for contested county prosecutor elections according to new University of North Carolina study, foresters are monitoring worsening drought conditions and urging Nebraskans to help protect tree health, U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to move two major seed banks from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 15, include: Lancaster County is asking for triple fuel allocation this fiscal year as rising fuel prices continue to strain county operations, independent candidate has entered Nebraska's 1st Congressional District race, nearly 100 University of Nebraska faculty members are departing through voluntary buyouts, Nebraska schools continue responding to wave of swatting calls statewide, U.S. House approved year-round E15 gasoline sales and sent bill to Senate, Nebraska softball players credit longtime coach Rhonda Revelle and staff for building culture that helped lead Huskers back to regional.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 14, include: Nebraska Republicans and Democrats are regrouping after Tuesday's primary election as voters weighed key issues shaping the state's political direction, Nebraska posted its lowest primary turnout since 2018, Dawson County turnout dropped sharply following Tyson Foods plant closure in Lexington, Secretary of State primary could shape how future Nebraska elections are run, legislative primary results raise questions about Republican supermajority, two Gen Z legislative candidates fell short in their races, voters rejected school bond proposals in four districts, Republican and Democrat advanced in competitive State Board of Education race.
This is a Nebraska Update Special Election Report from the Nebraska Public Media Newsroom for May 13. Incumbent Secretary of State Bob Evnen lost in the biggest upset of Nebraska's primary election night in one of the state's most closely watched statewide contests. Democrat Denise Powell edged ahead of John Cavanaugh in the late hours of the Democratic Second Congressional District primary. Chris Backemyer secured the Democratic nomination in the First Congressional District and will face Mike Flood in November. Republican voters in the Third Congressional District chose their incumbent Adrian Smith once again. Gov. Jim Pillen will face former state Sen. Lynne Walz in the general election. Sen. Pete Ricketts cruised to victory with about 80 percent of the Republican primary vote in the U.S. Senate Republican primary. Six candidates advanced in University of Nebraska Board of Regents races. Two races for the Nebraska Legislature in Omaha delivered surprising results.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 12, include: Nebraskans still have time to cast ballots in state primary election before polls close at 8 p.m. Central Time, cruise ship passenger who tested positive for hantavirus is being monitored and tested at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska's Medical Cannabis Commission approved inspections for licensed medical marijuana cultivators, Lincoln City Council voted to maintain $15 minimum wage standard and allow for future increases, farmers facing difficult economy are weighing how much to invest in this year's crops, Nebraska's longtime Revisor of Statutes Marcia McClurg is retiring after more than 40 years helping draft laws for Legislature.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 11, include: Monday is final day for Nebraskans to cast ballots early in person before Tuesday's primary election, "dark money" pours into Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District race, Nebraska's primary election marks first since 2024 law restored immediate voting rights for people with felony convictions after completing their sentences, Lincoln's proposed minimum wage increase faces legal questions after opinion from Nebraska attorney general, University of Nebraska Medical Center will monitor American passengers from cruise ship linked to hantavirus outbreak, Nebraska education officials approved preschool expansion grants in narrow vote, Gov. Jim Pillen is seeking federal assistance for wildfire recovery in four counties, Husker volleyball announced another stop in national showcase schedule, Nebraska softball will host first NCAA Tournament games since 2013.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 8, include: Nebraska's Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act Board approved two sports facility tax incentive projects in Omaha and Lincoln while rejecting nine others, casinos have set record after record since voters legalized gambling at racetrack casinos in 2020, Nebraska baseball head coach Will Bolt discusses plans for new $5.5 million clubhouse renovation, worldwide Canvas outage tied to reported cybersecurity issue is disrupting finals week across Nebraska campuses, UNL and Southeast Community College are both reporting record graduation numbers this spring, Nebraska ranchers are adjusting operations as exceptional drought conditions expand across state, SNAP retailers will soon face new federal stocking requirements affecting food access, Nebraska homeowners are increasingly turning to native plants as water costs rise.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 7, include: gas prices top $4 statewide which is over a dollar higher than last year, some Nebraskans' anger with Legislature for not following will of voters is playing role in this year's election, Dr. Dele Davies named priority candidate for UNMC chancellor, Omaha company works to close venture capital gap for women, new law delays homeschooling during CPS investigations, horn fly infestations worsen with warmer weather.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 6, include: USDA plans to shift some Washington staff to Clay Center, federal cuts halt projects helping underserved farmers, Nebraska volleyball set for high-stakes exhibition tournament in Texas, Huskers claim top seed entering Big Ten Softball Tournament, downtown Omaha soccer stadium project moves forward.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 5, include: minimum wage policy tied to Lincoln City Council discussions, rising farm costs linked to global shipping disruptions, Nebraska volleyball releases Big Ten schedule, Lincoln Fire and Rescue survey reveals morale concerns, new inspector general named for state corrections system, fireworks industry faces worker shortages ahead of July Fourth, Omaha residents reflect on historic streetcar era.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 4, include: CSA evolving as farmers adjust to consumer demand for convenience and flexibility, Omaha is in running to host 2027 Women's World Volleyball Championships, Nebraska agrees with federal lawsuit over in-state tuition for some noncitizen students, state auditor questions education funding repayment from three districts, Tecumseh plans to fill downtown vaults during two-year construction project, Nebraska farm income projected to reach record highs despite rising costs.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, May 1, include: Nebraska begins Medicaid work requirements for expansion enrollees, Lincoln Fire union issues no-confidence vote in fire chief, Omaha runway event highlights student designers, exceptional drought reaches Nebraska Panhandle, U.S. House passes updated Farm Bill, commission reviews school funding for rural districts, Native American voters raise representation concerns in District 3.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 30, include: consumers are turning to bulk beef purchases from ranchers, records request reveals hiring efforts tied to past relationship involving former NU president Ted Carter, Rural Mainstreet Index data suggests economic strain in farming communities, state foresters weigh long-term changes after more than million acres burned, new developments emerge in federal case involving former Husker assistant coach.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 29, include: civic groups want to make Latino Nebraskans feel empowered to go out and vote, Nebraska business owners are seeking tariff refunds after a U.S. Supreme Court order, University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers report early success testing bird flu vaccine, Nebraska mother's lawsuit over midwife access may spark broader legal challenges, schools partner with banks to teach students saving skills during financial literacy month.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 28, include: county election officials outline how they staff more than 1,000 polling sites while meeting legal requirements, University of Nebraska at Omaha leaders prepare for impacts from projected $632 million state budget shortfall, Nebraska Supreme Court hears arguments in ongoing medical marijuana case, landowners weigh wildfire risks as hot and dry conditions persist across the Great Plains, Central Community College adds women's beach volleyball and flag football programs.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 27, include: several groups are aiming to boost voter turnout and target a key congressional race in Omaha as first of two voter registration deadlines approaches for May primary, four degree programs cut at University of Nebraska at Kearney, questions grow over Memorial Stadium renovation and seating changes, second lawsuit has been filed over Horizon Biofuels plant explosion, study shows bird populations declining faster in agricultural areas.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 24, include: Nebraska could face one of its most severe droughts on record as unusually warm and dry winter months outpace even 2012 conditions, federal reclassification of medical marijuana brings new hope for Nebraska advocates, state plans waiver to block candy purchases under SNAP, appeal has been filed in McCook immigration detention center lawsuit, Lincoln councilmember proposes maintaining $15 minimum wage, Lincoln approves University Place redevelopment plan using TIF.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 23, include: major conservation effort is underway to support the declining greater prairie chicken population, new AI-powered satellite technology helps track Nebraska wildfires in real time, Concordia University debuts faculty and staff author collection during National Library Week, Nebraska softball season nears historic finish, Hastings utility billing error leaves nearly 900 customers undercharged, Lincoln climate report highlights rising risks from extreme weather.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 22, include: Department of Justice has filed civil lawsuit against Nebraska, federal lawsuit challenges DOJ authority to collect voter data, nonprofits distribute voting rights pamphlets to incarcerated Nebraskans ahead of May 12 primary, report links former University of Nebraska President Ted Carter to inappropriate relationship during his tenure at NU, century-old snapping turtle Big Snap Daddy at Schramm Education Center has died, Arthur County ranchers reflect on wildfire trauma and recovery.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 21, include: county election officials urge by-mail voters to return ballots as soon as possible to be counted in May 12 primary election, Gov. Jim Pillen says state will not grow government despite projected $632 million budget deficit for next biennium, corrections director says youth detention center shifts still need to happen due to safety and overcrowding, National Guard activated to prepare for wildfire response amid drought, new wildfire grant supports volunteer firefighting crews, fertilizer and manure tied to rising groundwater pollution.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 20, include: Gov. Jim Pillen will host cabinet roundtable as lawmakers wrap the 2026 session, ranchers and Native American tribe sue over 220-mile wind transmission line, major solar farm project expands in Lancaster County amid local concerns, Nebraska Supreme Court backs ban on remote work for most state employees, University of Nebraska-Lincoln students take part in primal scream before finals.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 17, include: Gov. Jim Pillen vetoes multiple bills as lawmakers weigh possible overrides, Nebraska prison officials reverse policy limiting Native American religious access after federal lawsuit, proposed federal cuts to USDA funding raise concerns among Nebraska agriculture leaders, new research highlights local resistance to large-scale energy projects in Nebraska, Omaha's new Central Library opens this weekend, Big Ten announces its first women's volleyball conference tournament.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 16, include: mail-in voting remains vital in rural Nebraska as county clerks work to counter misinformation and reassure voters about ballot security, former law enforcement leader Tom Casady joins new PAC criticizing federal actions, state auditor warns of steep decline in employee health fund, Capitol security focus grows as threats increase, Gov. Jim Pillen suggests change to filibuster rules, state launches cancer trends dashboard, food prices expected to rise amid global pressures.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 15, include: effort to legalize online sports betting in Nebraska is drawing major funding from online casinos, new poll shows Democratic candidate Lynn Walz trailing Gov. Jim Pillen by five points in governor's race, complaint alleges Senate candidate Dan Osborn improperly used restricted funds for campaign staffing, two Native American inmates are suing Nebraska prison officials over restricted access to religious space, Nebraska Cattlemen raises $1.3 million to support ranchers impacted by March wildfires, Lincoln debuts largest skate park, Lancaster County hosts students for County Government Day to promote civic engagement.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 14, include: Nebraska Legislature this session changed law to allow suspensions of prekindergarten to second graders for violent behavior, Nebraska voters have begun casting ballots early in person at county election offices ahead of May 12 primary, foreign money is now banned from Nebraska ballot initiatives after lawmakers closed contribution loopholes, boxing champion Terence "Bud" Crawford found guilty of careless driving in Douglas County court, health officials recommend extending RSV antibody use through April as cases continue despite decline, fewer newly arrived refugees are participating in Lincoln-Lancaster health programs following federal policy shift, Nebraska men's basketball standout Pryce Sandfort will return for senior season after record-setting year.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 11, include: man convicted of killing four people in Laurel has been sentenced to death, Alliance is struggling to draw people in and keep them there, state officials roll out plan to move and support health care workers in rural areas, lawmakers pass bill on retroactive Medicaid coverage requirements, UNL students compose music to celebrate campus library anniversaries, Nebraska student nearly achieves perfect March Madness bracket.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 10, include: Nebraska community colleges report nearly 5% increase in trade school enrollment, lawmakers debate proposed 2.5% property tax cap, Goodwill to shut down Grand Island behavioral health services, Lincoln downtown central library project clears another design step, Polk County homicide suspect dies following earlier assault and shooting, legislative session leaving behind proposals including measure aimed at helping refugees access benefits.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 9, include: Wesley Absher identified in Polk County murder and assault case, Lincoln police report six fatal drug overdoses in past two weeks despite overall decline, 19-year-old UNL student will be sworn in to lead student government after DUI plea, Lincoln begins outreach on $35 million O Street redevelopment project, Eaton announces new Bellevue facility with 200 jobs planned, man convicted of killing four people in Cedar County awaits decision on whether he will receive death penalty or multiple life sentences.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 8, include: Nebraska's federal delegation largely backs President Trump's pressure on Iran despite concerns about his rhetoric, Gov. Jim Pillen signs budget bills without vetoes, UNL Faculty Senate withdraws no-confidence vote and introduces new resolution, Omaha Supernovas fire head coach Luka Slabe with six games left, Omaha coffee shop is creating opportunity and support for young adults aged out of Nebraska's foster care system.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 7, include: Gen Z candidates are trying to change long hours and low pay for state legislative seats, county election offices are sending early mail-in ballots ahead of Nebraska's primary, UNL basketball coach Fred Hoiberg looks to add talent after award-winning season, efforts expand to restore and protect American prairies.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 6, include: groundwater levels declined across much of Nebraska between spring 2024 and 2025, fire departments continue to withhold burn permits despite lifted statewide ban, Jordan Larson closes historic volleyball career in Omaha, Fred Hoiberg named AP national coach of year, University of Nebraska-Lincoln seeks input on "Our Bold Path Forward," Nebraska teen dies after flu complications.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 3, include: crowded and closely watched 2nd District House race draws national attention, lawmakers advance oversight for emergency no-bid state contracts, federal appeals court ruling makes it harder for Nebraska detainees to challenge detention, proposed Environmental Trust Fund amendment fails to move forward, Gretna students appeal removal of anti-ICE cartoon, drought conditions worsen across Nebraska despite recent rain, woodland mice spread across Plains.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 2, include: lawmakers passed key budget bills, wildfires continue to impact cattle herd expansion, federal SNAP changes affect immigrant access to food aid, Lincoln updates sidewalk cafe rules under Project O Street, DHHS finalizes developmental disabilities program changes, medical cannabis bill advances in Legislature, debate continues over data center regulation and resources, closer look at work behind Nebraska's primary elections.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, April 1, include: investigation into $2.5 million contract awarded by Gov. Jim Pillen's administration could take months according to Lincoln Police, Nebraska Supreme Court hears arguments over release of state's full voter registration file to federal government, Nebraska seeks advisory board members for rural health care funding implementation, new community resource worker launches at Lincoln's downtown library through nonprofit partnership, Lincoln Haymarket businesses report low foot traffic ahead of Nebraska spring football game.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 31, include: Union Pacific plans new locomotive to honor President Trump for America's 250th anniversary, local airports step up support for TSA workers during shutdown, University of Nebraska to lease Sidney Cabela's campus space, Huskers volleyball headed to Wrigley Field, new technology explores cattle stress and behavior.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 30, include: cities across Nebraska joined national No Kings Day protests, court dismisses lawsuit against Governor Jim Pillen's ICE facility in McCook, officials highlight mental health resources as western and central Nebraska fires continue, warm and dry weather extends allergy season with high pollen levels, fertilizer prices rise 30 percent amid tensions in Persian Gulf, Senator Pete Ricketts introduces PLOT Act on foreign land ownership.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 27, include: fast-moving wildfires in western Nebraska have scorched tens of thousands of acres and prompted evacuations, as officials extend a burn ban and expand disaster declarations, more Nebraska cities plan participation in upcoming ‘No Kings’ protests, Lincoln police report declining crime overall but rising violent incidents, student-designed mission patches from Omaha will head to space this summer, inspectors raise concerns over medical parole use in Nebraska prisons, debate continues over holding back third graders with reading deficiencies.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 26, include: Senator John Cavanaugh filed a complaint over proposed hemp and THC regulations, arguing the Nebraska Department of Agriculture lacks authority to ban those products from food, smoke from Kansas Flint Hills burns impacts eastern Nebraska air quality, Omaha City Council advances affordable housing resolution, Nebraska Arts Council awards more than $1 million in creative district grants, the Huskers prepare for Sweet 16 matchup against Iowa.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 25, include: insight into Nebraska's Second District Congressional primary race, wildfires and forage concerns weigh on Nebraska land values, a deportation case could impact Kearney family and community, a new program targets student retention in Nebraska workforce, early spring leafout has been observed across the region, a watchdog group files complaint against Senate candidate Dan Osborn.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 24, include: USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins toured wildfire damage in Nebraska and pledged full federal support for recovery efforts as the state awaits FEMA assistance, fires killed livestock, destroyed homes and left long-term impacts on grazing land, Nebraska immigration attorneys face growing demand amid surge in ICE arrests, Nebraska Supreme Court reinstates Cindy Burbank to primary ballot, U.S. Supreme Court to consider Roundup-related lawsuit, Nebraska faces Iowa in first-ever Sweet 16 matchup, and Creighton coach Greg McDermott retires after 16 seasons.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 23, include: Morrill and Cottonwood fires are nearing full containment, lawmakers eye $5 million from governor's emergency fund amid $471 million deficit, bill protecting doctors who recommend medical cannabis advances in legislature, Omaha's mayor outlines public-private partnership to transform city parks, statewide primary races preview, Nebraska men's basketball advances to Sweet 16 after historic win.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 20, include: the state's two largest wildfires are nearing containment while meteorologists warn little precipitation is expected until early April, Nebraska men's basketball wins its first NCAA tournament game, lawmakers revisit state budget after school funding debate stalls, opposition grows over proposed brand law changes, court keeps Senate candidate off ballot pending appeal, Grant prepares to open new nonprofit nursing home.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Mar. 19, include: wildfires have burned nearly 830,000 acres across Nebraska and firefighters are making progress on containment, Gov. Jim Pillen meets with Brady landowners to urges fire-related cost tracking and management between local and federal crews, court challenge filed after Cindy Burbank removed from ballot and Mark Martinez is placed back on ballot, lawmakers advance bill to tax skill games and eliminate exemptions, Omaha launches parking plan to support downtown businesses amid streetcar construction, new childcare center aims to ease shortages in east Omaha, Nebraska ag land values decline for second straight year, University of Nebraska lands $500M federal research contract, Sandhill crane migration timing shifts with milder winters, Husker men's basketball senior Sam Hoiberg on NCAA tournament.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Mar. 18, include: firefighters report improving conditions as crews battle four major wildfires across central and western Nebraska, Indianola fire chief talks about battling 'exploding' Eastern Red Cedar trees, farmers and ranchers face heavy losses as fires destroy grazing land, livestock and property, Brady Public Schools resumes classes as community supports wildfire recovery, Nebraska Athletics plans to donate spring football game ticket proceeds to wildfire relief, lawmakers debate proposed pay raise for governor and other state officials, senators approve bill granting maternity leave to certain correctional workers and state troopers, Douglas County sheriff candidate appeals removal from ballot to Nebraska Supreme Court.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 17, include: state leaders give major wildfire updates as hundreds of fire departments battle blazes across western Nebraska, agriculture leaders estimate thousands of cattle may be impacted by burned pastureland, Gov. Jim Pillen signs order to speed delivery of ag supplies to affected farms and ranches, meteorologists say colder weather helped slow fires but gusty winds could test containment, Nebraska men's basketball earn No. 4 seed in NCAA tournament and open play Thursday, Husker women also make field and face Richmond in play-in game, O'Neill is Irish capital of Nebraska and is also creating economic development name.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 16, include: Morrill Fire has now burned at least 570,000 acres across four western Nebraska counties and federal incident management team is taking command as state leaders seek FEMA assistance, family and friends remember 86-year-old woman killed in wildfire, fire departments statewide send personnel and equipment west, blizzard conditions cause multi-car crash that shuts down part of Interstate 80, Nebraska property owners caught in crosshairs of Perkins County Canal, Nebraska men and women both earn spots in the NCAA basketball tournament.
This is a Nebraska Update Special Report from the Nebraska Public Media Newsroom for March 14. Emergency crews are continuing to battle four large wildfires in Nebraska: the Morrill Fire in the Panhandle, the Cottonwood Fire in Lincoln and Dawson Counties, the Road 203 Fire near Halsey and the Anderson Bridge Fire west of Valentine. Several Nebraska officials briefed reporters Saturday morning at the Keith County fairgrounds and discussed the growth of the fires and uncertainty surrounding federal assistance.
This is a Nebraska Update Special Report from the Nebraska Public Media Newsroom for March 13. Emergency crews are continuing to battle four large wildfires in Nebraska: the Morrill Fire in the Panhandle, the Cottonwood Fire in Lincoln and Dawson Counties, the Road 203 Fire near Halsey and the Anderson Bridge Fire west of Valentine. One person has been killed since the wildfires broke out Thursday. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has issued a burn ban and a state of emergency for affected counties.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 13, include: Nebraska lawmakers continue closing state's budget gap after months of negotiations, legislative proposal to limit how public power districts spend money fails after debate over operational costs, agricultural leaders say U.S. war with Iran is increasing input costs for farmers, ethanol producers push for year-round E15 sales as gas prices rise, Nebraska joins multi-state investigation tied to alleged Medicaid fraud, Sen. Pete Ricketts calls for improvements at Omaha postal processing center after audit found major issues, University of Nebraska Medical Center joins federal effort to expand nutrition education in medical schools, Nebraska and Creighton basketball updates ahead of March Madness.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 12, include: University of Nebraska College of Law is closing its 28-year-old immigration clinic, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials face questions about Nebraska's Perkins County Canal project during public hearing in Colorado, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services opens applications for nearly $40 million in grants aimed at rural organizations, state senators weigh cuts and priorities as they work through $125 million budget deficit at the Capitol.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 11, include: Lincoln Police Department is now leading investigation into $2.5 million no-bid consulting contract awarded by Nebraska Department of Economic Development after Nebraska State Patrol stepped aside due to potential conflict of interest, lawmakers cut funding from Nebraska's tobacco prevention budget, senators keep $250,000 portion of Secretary of State's budget after debate over voter information shared with Department of Justice, advocates warn plan to quickly relocate Nebraska youth correctional facilities could disrupt education and resources for children in system, Nebraska Medicine begins construction on $99 million Farnam Health Center in Omaha, Sandhill cranes return to Platte River Valley during annual migration bringing boost to local economies, Nebraska-born World War II veteran becomes nation's oldest organ donor at age 100.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 10, include: Fairness for Girls group launched ballot initiative aimed at keeping transgender athletes out of women's public K-12/collegiate sports, EPIC Option petition effort to eliminate certain taxes is pausing again after organizers said they are not on track to gather enough signatures for 2026 ballot, team has begun excavating rare earth minerals at NioCorp's Elk Creek project in southeast Nebraska, Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles unveiled new driver's license design featuring state imagery and upgraded anti-counterfeiting security, Nebraska men's basketball coach Fred Hoiberg rewarded during historic season, former University of Nebraska system president Ted Carter has resigned as president of Ohio State University after disclosing inappropriate relationship.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 9, include: Legislature begins voting this week on appropriations in attempt to balance budget, Nebraska farmers and ranchers are preparing for potentially difficult summer after state recorded its warmest winter since Dust Bowl, Nebraska cattle producers are being warned about possible return of flesh-eating New World Screwworm pest, U.S. House is considering new Farm Bill, State Board of Education rejected two mental health grants aimed at recruiting and retaining school psychologists after 4-4 vote, SBOE also tied on whether to oppose bill that could require holding back third graders who are not proficient in reading.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 6, include: U.S. Drought Monitor says drought conditions worsened for fifth straight week nationwide with much of increase happening in Nebraska, Nebraska lawmakers delay proposal tied to former Husker coach Tom Osborne's Hall of Fame recognition, Scottsbluff couple enters 2026 race to challenge District 48 Sen. Brian Hardin, first class of medical students at UNMC's Kearney campus will begin this fall, several Nebraska girls basketball teams chase first or first-in-years state titles as tournament continues in Lincoln.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 5, include: federal judge grants attorney fees to immigrant who successfully sued government for wrongful detention, Sen. Pete Ricketts backs President Trump's strikes in Iran as Congress considers war powers measures, candidates in 2nd District House race split over U.S. actions in Iran, proposed cigarette tax hike fails to advance in the Legislature, Attorney General Mike Hilgers files lawsuit against Roblox.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 4, include: Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens of Bellevue identified as one of six U.S. service members killed during Operation Epic Fury, gas prices in Nebraska jump sharply following Middle East bombings, lawmakers debate proposed cigarette tax increase, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Faculty Senate to consider no-confidence motion, Regional West in Scottsbluff to be downgraded to Level Three trauma center, drought conditions may limit water use in North Platte River Valley, girls state basketball marks 50 years amid declining participation.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 3, include: Charles Herbster will not seek Republican nomination for governor after finishing second in 2022, Jacy Todd remains in Republican primary despite 24 misdemeanor convictions, homeless service providers including Stephen Center in Omaha report rising demand and facilities at capacity, NioCorp plans to begin work on Elk Creek critical minerals mine in southeast Nebraska by month's end, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is gathering public input on Lower Missouri River flood reduction plan, Omaha World-Herald will shut down press and move printing to Des Moines.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 2, include: Nebraska's elected officials support U.S. military strikes on Iran as tensions escalate and Gov. Jim Pillen calls for prayers for National Guard members, medical marijuana dispensary could soon open on Omaha reservation in northeast Nebraska, lawmakers face a new $175 million revenue shortfall as economic fallout from Lexington Tyson plant closure deepens, University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold joins White House roundtable on college sports reforms, immigration rights groups back bills to limit ICE activity in Nebraska, Boyd County hires new sheriff after sudden resignations leave law enforcement gap, Nebraska men's basketball sets single-season records with win over USC.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 27, include: medical marijuana advocates voiced frustration with commissioners overseeing new regulations, bill before lawmakers would make it felony for officers to sexually assault minors between 16 and 18, mother of one of two girls killed in last year's Fremont plant explosion has filed a negligence lawsuit as federal investigations continue, Omaha-area organizations will receive nearly $3 million in federal grants to support youth homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing, Boyd County supervisors will appoint a new sheriff after sheriff and staff resigned, Liz Sowers has been named first head coach of Nebraska women's flag football ahead of 2028 debut.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 26, include: Jacy Todd was convicted of 23 counts of official misconduct and one count of making a false statement under oath for illegally signing off on medical marijuana petition signatures, lawmakers introduce bill aimed at keeping Union Pacific based in Omaha as it seeks to acquire Norfolk Southern, Sen. Jane Raybould proposes requiring governor's office to negotiate in good faith with Nebraska tribes on tax compacts, bill seeks to change Nebraska Hall of Fame rules to allow consideration of former Husker coach Tom Osborne, Kearney voters will decide whether to create Good Life District to fund business and tourism development.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 25, include: Nebraska lawmakers gave first-round approval to bill restricting most guns at state capitol, legislative committee advanced bill granting doctors immunity for recommending medical marijuana though members doubt it will survive full vote, advocates urged lawmakers to require insurance coverage for eating disorder treatment as insurers warn of higher costs, State Board of Education halted learning community plan for Omaha-area districts, farmers report longer waits for USDA services following staff cuts last year.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 24, include: Nebraska Legislature spent second day debating Capitol security, lawmakers debated increasing workers compensation benefits from about two-thirds to 80% of regular pay, railroad bridge in west Lincoln collapsed after fire, fruit and vegetable growers face at least another month of waiting for $1 billion in USDA assistance, former Omaha Maverick Jake Guentzel helped Team USA defeat Canada 2-1 for Olympic gold.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 23, include: Nebraska's congressional delegation reacted after U.S. Supreme Court struck down many of President Donald Trump's tariffs, State Board of Education will vote on community achievement plan tied to $8.7 million in state aid for Omaha-area districts, Nebraska nonprofit turns to online resale to help fund its services, lawmakers consider bills expanding access to juvenile counsel and limiting shackling of youth in court, debate continues over installing metal detectors and restricting firearms at State Capitol.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 20, include: school districts across the country began replacing snow days with remote learning after COVID, Nebraska football opens spring practices, Omaha Public Schools officials say they can offset $50 million loss in state aid but will rely more heavily on taxpayers, lawmakers debate bill granting doctors immunity when recommending medical marijuana after voters approved it in 2024, proposal would require legislative approval of University of Nebraska's plan to take over Nebraska Medicine, former Nebraska first lady Susanne Shore announces run for University of Nebraska regent in District 4.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 19, include: Legislature continued debate on increasing penalties for trafficking fentanyl, bill would make camping in public a misdemeanor and withhold state funds from subdivisions that fail to enforce, former Sen. Ben Sasse shares update on his battle with pancreatic cancer, judge rules Omaha's rescinded gun ban challenge moot but allows ghost gun and bump stock ordinances to stand, Sheldon Museum of Art marks day of remembrance for children of Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School, much of Nebraska faces dry conditions and possible winter weather impacts, proposal would require faster decisions on sports complex tax incentive applications.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 18, include: new technology is reshaping policing in Omaha as police department expands operations center and high-tech drone program, lawmakers consider LB966 to provide free school meals for reduced-price students, Visit Nebraska awards more than $800,000 in tourism grants, ranchers back higher livestock brand inspection fee caps, education committee hears immigration warrant requirement bill, Nebraska and Creighton players invited to national volleyball training program.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 17, include: National Weather Service issued particularly dangerous situation red flag warning and fire risk for parts of Nebraska, six House Republicans join Democrats in symbolic vote to roll back tariffs on Canada, Loup City teacher and student prepare for Young People's Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Nebraska men's basketball faces Iowa in Iowa City Tuesday night, Omaha's Valentine's Day weekend snow sculpting contest crowns winners despite 60-degree weather.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 16, include: billion-dollar opportunity to invest in rural health, record warmth is deepening drought and shrinking snowpack, online sports wagering petitions have been cleared for circulation, Omaha Police Officers Association warns of staffing shortage, Federal Reserve officials say financial stress is gradually building for Nebraska crop farmers, University of Nebraska-Lincoln marks Charter Day amid campus changes, two North Omaha leaders were honored during Black History Month celebration.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 13, include: Nebraska Legislature's Executive Board formally reprimanded Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh for taking down 250th birthday celebration photos at Capitol, Reading League is launching Nebraska chapter aimed at helping teachers implement evidence-based literacy instruction, University of Nebraska-Lincoln raised $3.6 million during its 24-hour "Glow Big Red" fundraiser.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 12, include: Secretary of State Bob Evnen plans to hand over sensitive voter data to U.S. Department of Justice, Democrat Jocelyn Brasher announces run for attorney general, Lincoln Public Schools faces backlash over LGBTQ student advocacy job posting, Shelby-Rising City Schools closes due to widespread illness, biofuel leaders eye shipping industry as potential growth market, Husker Athletics restores traditional spring football game.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 11, include: Gov. Jim Pillen announces partnership with Turning Point USA to create high school chapters statewide, proposed budget changes could shift youth populations at Nebraska's Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers, lawmakers consider new specialty license plates, Lied Center for Performing Arts begins major renovation and expansion project, OSHA fines Horizon Biofuels nearly $148,000 after deadly explosion in Fremont, Nebraska cattle groups push back on expanded imports of Argentine beef, proposed federal Clean Water Act revision draws mixed reaction from farm and conservation groups.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 10, include: University of Nebraska announces new AI Institute after system task force recommended campus-specific focuses ranging from health care to agriculture and rural enterprise, Gov. Jim Pillen defends $2.5 million no-bid emergency contract amid claims administration obstructed state audit, Common Cause plans to appeal ruling allowing Nebraska voter data to be shared with U.S. Department of Justice, No. 13 Purdue visits No. 7 Nebraska as men's basketball season enters final stretch.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 7, include: bill aimed at combating antisemitism at schools and colleges was pulled after sponsor was accused of making sexually suggestive remark toward another senator, Nebraska casinos continue to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars as gambling addiction concerns grow, State Board of Education again postponed vote on learning plan for 11 Omaha-area school districts, Board of Regents approved Katherine Ankerson as interim chancellor of University of Nebraska-Lincoln, new federal dietary guidelines now endorse whole-fat dairy products, grasshopper species has reappeared in Nebraska after more than 120 years.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 6, include: State Auditor Mike Foley has turned over documents to law enforcement tied to $2.5 million no-bid contract awarded to consultant connected to Gov. Jim Pillen, state senators consider dedicating secure parking spaces near Capitol citing safety concerns, Lincoln proposes zoning changes to allow more accessory dwelling units citywide, flood watch issued for parts of eastern Nebraska due to rapid warming and ice jam risks, residents are encouraged to help track light pollution through Globe At Night project.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 5, include: two online sports gambling petitions remain uncertified after submission as state officials continue reviewing signatures and paperwork, Nebraska reports first pediatric flu death of season as cases rise again statewide, small business owners push back against proposal to expand sales taxes on services, Fremont police issue citations after student was injured during school demonstration, Nebraska Athletics plans to add more than 150 scholarships over next three years, international artists say rising visa costs and fears at U.S. entry points are keeping them out of Midwest.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 4, include: Nebraska manufacturers report higher costs after President Trump's 2025 tariffs took effect, federal and state officials criticize UNL student government proposal calling for divestment from weapons manufacturers tied to Israel, seven candidates enter race for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District as Democrats target potential flip, Gov. Jim Pillen appoints former Husker Joel Makovicka to University of Nebraska Board of Regents, Nebraska Game and Parks tracks spike in suspected avian flu cases among wild birds, U.S. Drought Monitor team adds NASA scientists to author group.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 3, include: lawmakers heard testimony on bill calling for increased security at Nebraska Capitol, some of biggest infrastructure projects tied to Omaha's streetcar will be underway in next several months, chair of Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission resigned Monday, bill to boost school equalization aid and lower property taxes drew both support and concern at legislative hearing, state budget officials pushed back on concerns about projected shortfall during public hearing, federal lawmakers left E-15 language out of recent budget bill, Nebraska Public Media announced plans to acquire an Omaha FM station, Husker men's basketball slipped to No. 9 in the AP Top 25 after two losses.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Feb. 2, include: Tyson beef plant closure in Lexington drove Nebraska unemployment claims to highest level in five years, University of Nebraska at Omaha cut $1.9 million from budget without eliminating academic programs, OSHA cited Fremont wood processor Horizon Biofuels following deadly explosion at plant last summer, bill addressing antisemitism policies in Nebraska schools and universities won unanimous first-round approval, lawmakers debated proposal to raise Nebraska's minimum marriage age to 18, Nebraska men's basketball suffered second loss of season falling at home to Illinois.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 30, include: student-led protest outside Fremont High School ended with hit-and-run as protester struck by car, Lincoln-Lancaster County health officials are notifying public after confirmed measles case led to possible exposure at two Lincoln locations, Nebraska lawmakers heard testimony on bill to restrict puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors, several Nebraska businesses taking part in national general strike on Friday, Omaha rower finishes 3,000-mile Atlantic crossing in World’s Toughest Row.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 29, include: Lincoln woman pushes for stronger oversight of prison health care after her father died from untreated diabetes while incarcerated, bill restricting bathroom access based on sex at birth returns to Legislature but faces skepticism from key state senator, gas station owners push back against proposal to raise taxes on skill games, former Sen. Dan McKeon calls for investigation into no-bid contract tied to Gov. Jim Pillen, Sen. Pete Ricketts responds to federal shooting involving U.S. citizen, farmers could see changes to federal aid calculations under new legislation, Nebraska reports nearly 200 new cases of chronic wasting disease in deer.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 28, include: A former Nebraska broadcaster now living in Minneapolis describes what he is seeing as federal agents intensify their presence and protests continue after a second killing in less than three weeks, state officials drop proposed hour caps in a waiver program for people with developmental disabilities after public outcry, the Alliance Police Department receive new training and deploy a non-lethal response device, Nebraska farmers wait on USDA trade aid as the Rural Response Hotline sees more calls from distressed row crop producers, educators push back on a bill that could require holding back third graders with reading deficiencies, and the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce announces a first-of-its-kind statewide civics bee for middle school students.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 27, include: federal immigration officers arrested four people during court appearances at Douglas County Courthouse in Omaha, ACLU of Nebraska filed fourth lawsuit alleging wrongful immigration detention, judge set trial date for former state Sen. Dan McKeon accused of inappropriately touching legislative staffer, new bill in Congress could make it easier for farmers to qualify for federal loans, five Nebraska businesses will receive manufacturing modernization and workforce development grants, Nebraska men's basketball rose to No. 5 in AP Top 25 ahead of Tuesday night matchup with No. 3 Michigan.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 26, include: hundreds of protesters gathered peacefully in several Nebraska cities after federal agents killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, measles detected in Lincoln wastewater sample, U.S. House appropriations bill leaves out provision expanding E15 ethanol gasoline access, Tyson Foods will keep some employees temporarily as it winds down operations at Lexington plant, Nebraska casino revenue surged sharply from 2024 to 2025, Nebraska men's basketball beat Minnesota for its 20th straight win this season.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 23, include: Nebraska National Guard will deploy about 200 troops to Washington, D.C., Nebraska Supreme Court chief justice outlines challenges and progress facing the judicial branch, University of Nebraska and Clarkson adjust representation on Nebraska Medicine board, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts promotes President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, new Nebraska Rural Poll shows mixed views on online communities, high school baseball coaches gain new mound communication tools.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 22, include: former state senator Lynne Walz announces Democratic candidacy for governor, Gov. Jim Pillen used telephone town hall to criticize opponents and promote recent conservative policy wins, lawmakers consider proposals aimed at strengthening Nebraska's response to domestic violence, Pillen backs legislation to allow Tom Osborne's induction into Nebraska Hall of Fame.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 21, include: Nebraska Department of Labor is helping workers impacted by closure of Tyson Foods plant in Lexington, ADM announces plans to shut down 118-year-old flour milling operation in Lincoln, Western Nebraska faces one of its driest winters on record, marijuana advocate enters race for Nebraska's U.S. Senate seat under the Legal Marijuana NOW Party, Nebraska men's basketball looks to extend its nation-leading 22-game winning streak against Washington.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 20, include: final day of operations has arrived at Tyson Foods' Lexington beef packing plant, public health department battled measles outbreak over Christmas holiday, Omaha native Taryn Smith rows solo across Atlantic, Nebraska men's basketball rises to No. 7 in AP Top 25.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 17, include: Nebraska Medicine's board files lawsuit to block Clarkson Regional Health Services from selling 50% stake in hospital to University of Nebraska, Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner says his office is investigating Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh over removal of Capitol exhibit display, Gov. Jim Pillen's new budget proposal would allow state funds to support private school scholarships, Nebraska's DMV has launched AI-powered virtual assistant aimed at improving online access to services, Holdrege woman prepares for television debut on reality survival show Extracted, women's flag football is set to become newest varsity sport at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 16, include: University of Nebraska Board of Regents votes to make university sole owner of Nebraska Medicine, state auditor questions $2.5 million no-bid contract awarded to bioeconomy consultant with ties to governor, Gov. Jim Pillen urges lawmakers to embrace spending cuts as state faces budget shortfall, University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty voice frustration and distrust following department eliminations, Love Nebraska volleyball adds former Husker and professional athletes to its ownership group.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 15, include: Gov. Jim Pillen says senator's removal of images from PragerU historical display at State Capitol warrants criminal investigation, Pillen appoints familiar face to fill the Legislative District 41 vacancy after Sen. Dan McKeon's resignation, parents and advocates urge DHHS to drop proposed caps on family caregiver pay under Aged and Disabled Waiver, Hastings moves forward with long-planned east entrance project, medical device maker BD announces $110 million expansion in Columbus adding about 120 jobs.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 14, include: State Sen. Dan McKeon resigned just before debate to expell, former Nebraska Medicine leaders raise concerns about proposed university buyout of hospital's private partner, CHI Health hospital in Grand Island closes skilled care facility, new domestic violence shelter opens in Winnebago, Nebraska marks 10 years of Human Trafficking Task Force during Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 13, include: Nebraska Legislature set to debate expelling Sen. Dan McKeon after Executive Board unanimously recommended removal over sexual harassment allegations, Nebraska hospitals brace for another difficult year as Medicaid and state budget cuts threaten health care services, University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor has resigned following felony charge related to drunk driving crash, UNO's Criss Library reopened after bomb threat was determined to be false report, Omaha leaders examine gaps in afterschool programs after new survey highlights unmet needs, Nebraska men's basketball team rises to No. 8 in AP poll, Nebraska football quarterback Dylan Raiola announces transfer to Oregon.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 12, include: Nebraska Legislature prepares to consider action against two state senators when they convene Monday, transgender health care discussion delays State Board of Education vote on learning community plan for Douglas and Sarpy counties, flu cases decline statewide though hospitals continue to see high numbers of respiratory illnesses, Nebraska announces $3 million in new funding for domestic abuse and sexual assault survivors, new federal report shows slight rise in food insecurity as data collection may end, volleyball star Jordan Larson begins her farewell tour ahead of retirement.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 9, include: Regents delay Nebraska Medicine vote, State Board of Education re-elects Elizabeth Tegtmeier as president and Liz Renner as vice president, lawmakers suspend rules to hold public hearing on expelling Sen. Dan McKeon over misconduct allegations, bill introduced to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain state work permits under certain conditions, lawmakers weigh extending child care subsidy expansions, Common Cause Nebraska seeks to block release of sensitive voter data to federal government. Nebraska men's basketball looks to stay unbeaten on the road at Indiana, Mahoney State Park replaces longtime ice rink with synthetic Glice.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 8, include: Education Commissioner Brian Maher says department is making changes after calculation error in 2025 resulted in three school districts receiving overpayments in state aid, Nebraska members of Congress respond to President Trump's comments about expanding U.S. military involvement in Greenland, lawmakers schedule Jan. 12 hearing to consider possible expulsion of Sen. Dan McKeon following workplace misconduct investigation, some PragerU historical displays are temporarily removed from the Capitol after concerns raised by Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, Lincoln pediatrician says vaccines no longer recommended by CDC for children remain safe and available, Nebraska DHHS warns of EBT fraud affecting more than 130 households statewide, Scottsbluff Public Schools votes to close Lake Minatare Elementary due to budget pressures.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 7, include: Nebraska lawmakers open legislative session facing $471 million budget shortfall, police oversight officials revoked badges from 26 Nebraska officers last year, new state report shows Nebraska’s teacher shortage improved, Gov. Jim Pillen invites Nebraskans to take part in planning celebrations for nation's 250th birthday, another case of bird flu was confirmed in commercial poultry flock in Butler County, developer of Omaha's former Civic Auditorium site has sued city over delays.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 6, include: four measles cases are now confirmed in Platte County, Nebraska lawmakers open 2026 legislative session facing tight budget that could limit new policy initiatives across multiple issue areas, Governor Pillen says Nebraska is improving its readiness for economic and security impacts tied to potential conflict in the Pacific, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Rodney Bennett announces he will resign, federal farm aid payments begin rolling out under new USDA program as producers report deep financial losses, Nebraska voter coalition launches constitutional amendment effort aimed at protecting voter-approved laws.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 5, include: candidate filing opens for Nebraska's 2026 midterm elections, University of Nebraska regents plan special meeting to consider deal to take full control of Nebraska Medicine, new University of Nebraska-Lincoln study finds higher ethanol blends caused no engine performance issues in state vehicles, milk consumption rose in 2024, developers propose large aquaponics salmon facility in southeast Nebraska.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Jan. 2, 2026, include: flu and COVID-19 cases are rising quickly across Nebraska, a western Nebraska hospital is transitioning to Rural Emergency Hospital designation to maintain emergency care access, unemployment remains low statewide but layoffs and new jobless claims are increasing, soda and energy drinks are no longer eligible for SNAP purchases in Nebraska, new AI-powered tool is helping teachers work with Mayan-language students, Nebraska football closed its season with a bowl loss to Utah.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 31, include: A child in Platte County has been diagnosed with measles, the second known case in Nebraska this year and the first cases reported in the state in eight years. Health officials say the unvaccinated child may have exposed others at a church and a hospital in Columbus, NU regent plans to resign from the Board of Regents following a crash earlier this year in Omaha, where she was accused of driving drunk, State Sen. Dan McKeon continues to deny allegations of misconduct involving a legislative staffer and suggests Gov. Jim Pillen interfered with a vote to boot him from the Legislature, Gov. Pillen’s administration outlines how it plans to offset decreased tax revenue amid a budget shortfall, Nebraska’s minimum wage rises to $15 an hour on Jan. 1, a new law regulating how online platforms design content for children takes effect, Lee Enterprises announces the sudden retirement of its president and CEO and new $50 million investment into the company, and Gifford Farm in Bellevue expands agricultural education with a $100,000 grant.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 30, include: Nebraska will receive $218 million in federal grant funding to strengthen rural health care access and services, expanded federal funding could intensify workplace immigration raids, worsening farm labor shortages, advocates warn funding for domestic violence victim services is shrinking as number of murder-suicides rise statewide, state health officials report an increase in respiratory illnesses during the holiday season, Nebraska football prepares for the Las Vegas Bowl with changes to the coaching staff.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 29, include: murder-suicides were alarmingly common in Nebraska this year, sports betting at Nebraska racetrack casinos reached record high in November, voters approved majority of school bond measures in 2025, regional trucking waiver expands fuel deliveries during cold weather, trade tensions complicate planning for farmers after strong harvest.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 26, include: NioCorp moves closer to building proposed mine near Elk Creek, rising electricity demand is putting pressure on Nebraska's power grid and energy prices, spread of equine herpes virus across eight states appears to be slowing, Nebraska elevators often include unique feature: inspector's name, longtime Christmas village display in Howells welcoming visitors again after nearly a decade.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 24, include: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Agricultural Profitability study estimates closure of Tyson Foods plant in Lexington will lead to billions of dollars in long-term economic losses statewide, former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse announces stage-four pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Attorney General Mike Hilgers dismisses lawsuit against Omaha Public Power District, debate continues over whether public universities should disclose athlete compensation records, Nebraska churches report growth and expanding congregations in 2025.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 23, include: human remains found in outbuilding on Furnas County farm have been identified, Amtrak trains crossing Nebraska are nearly sold out most nights this holiday season as demand outpaces available rail cars, funding for Nebraska's Business Innovation Act has been reinstated, University of Nebraska at Kearney reduces planned budget cuts after faculty and staff feedback, forecasters say Nebraska could see record warmth heading into Christmas.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 22, include: Nebraska moving ahead with plans to build canal from Colorado, Omaha Public Power District delays decommissioning coal-fired units, Nebraska Supreme Court rejects second appeal from man convicted in long-running Peru State College murder case, Nebraska Athletics sets $10,000 rental fee for weddings at Memorial Stadium, Rebekah Allick signs with professional volleyball team, Nebraska volleyball players earn recognition from coaches association.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 19, include: President Donald Trump signs executive order directing federal government to expedite rescheduling marijuana, Warren Buffett prepares to wrap up final year as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, new audit finds Nebraskans use state's online system for Medicaid and economic assistance while phone applicants often face long wait times, University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty in eliminated programs are given December 2026 deadline to find new roles, Lincoln Airport announces new nonstop flights beginning next summer.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 18, include: Nebraska will become first state to roll out Medicaid work requirements approved in One Big Beautiful Bill, State Sen. Dan McKeon changes plea to not guilty in disturbing the peace case tied to alleged groping incident, Omaha boxer Terence "Bud" Crawford retiring after undefeated career, Nebraska and Creighton athletes earn spots on American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American teams.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 17, include: Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen says ongoing market uncertainty is making it harder for producers to plan and stay afloat, Omaha leaders are calling for statewide support for workers facing layoffs tied to the upcoming closure of the Tyson Foods plant in Lexington, report finds dual credit scholarships for low-income students are boosting college enrollment and completion rates, Lincoln police say residents have lost millions to cryptocurrency scams this year, Husker football offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen addresses reports that quarterback Dylan Raiola plans to enter transfer portal.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 16, 2025, include: Nebraska state senators toured state-run ICE detention facility in McCook on Monday, Attorney General Mike Hilgers announced he is seeking reelection, new gambling winnings program collected more than $500,000 in first three months, Omaha Jewish leaders gathered to address deadly terrorist attack targeting Australia’s Jewish community, search for first full-time jobs emotionally draining for many Midwestern college graduates, Nebraska setter Bergen Reilly was named finalist for national player of the year honors.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 15, include: more than 3000 people will lose their jobs when Tyson Foods beef processing plant in Lexington shutters in January, Nebraska Huskers and Creighton Bluejays both fall in NCAA Elite Eight volleyball matches, Nebraska Legislature's Executive Board recommends expelling Sen. Dan McKeon, Nebraska Supreme Court revives lawsuit over Creighton University's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, state leaders warn rural broadband funds could be left unused.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 12, include: US senators reject two partisan healthcare proposals, state senators to tour McCook's ICE detention center as officials withhold detainee numbers, Nebraska volleyball prepares to host Kansas in Sweet 16, Creighton volleyball returns to Elite Eight to face Kentucky, Bezos-funded grant supports new supportive housing units in Grand Island.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 11, include: emails show DHHS sought additional security measures before federal and state governments paused SNAP payments, Gov. Jim Pillen renews proposal to expand sales taxes to fund schools. Sen. Dan McKeon pleads no contest to disturbing the peace, COVID-19 and other respiratory cases increasing, Santee Sioux Nation hosts land dedication ceremony near South Yankton, Nebraska tribal colleges receive major donation from MacKenzie Scott Foundation.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 10, include: AltEn cleanup update, Nebraska Public Service Commission approves Black Hills Energy rate increase, UNK proposes $4.8 million in cuts, Sen. Daniel McKeon charged with disturbing the peace, staffing shakeups for Nebraska football.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 9, include: rural public transportation demand grows as agencies absorb a 30-percent budget cut, Nebraska farmers weigh federal trade-war payments as crop prices stay low, lawmakers meet privately on groping allegation involving Sen. Dan McKeon, Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh blocked from McCook ICE center during November visits, Grand Island considers selling Camp Augustine for development as state park, Husker basketball programs both land in national rankings.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 8, include: Nebraska Board of Regents eliminates four UNL academic programs, new athletics facility approved for UNO, Playfly Sports commits over $10 million toward UNL NIL deals, State Board of Education member criticizes Omaha Public Schools over funding overpayment, Lexington officials outline challenges as Tyson plant closure approaches, Nebraska unemployment rate holds at 3 percent.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 5, include: Tyson's Lexington plant closure set to shift cattle operations across Nebraska, Nebraskans weigh traditional Medicare against Medicare Advantage, Rep. Don Bacon criticizes recent military actions, professional indoor football returns to Grand Island next year.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 4, include: one Lincoln mother describes how she confronted food insecurity while SNAP assistance was paused, ongoing legal challenge to medical marijuana ballot signatures, Foster Care Review Office report shows more kids aging out of care, NU regents face protests over proposed department cuts, three Omaha officers shot in confrontation.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 3, include: Gov. Pillen's office defends move to make this year's Capitol Christmas a ticketed event, Omaha Mayor Ewing addresses police officer shortage, Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission extends emergency regulations, Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments on in-person work requirements, companies announce plans for biomethane project, Husker fans spend over $4.3 million on alcohol this football season, Nebraska Volleyball earns major Big Ten awards.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 2, include: Nebraska Infectious Disease Society condemned changes made to CDC's "Autism and Vaccines" webpage, state audit reveals financial abuse in Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services program, four utilities plan to study feasibility of new nuclear reactors in Nebraska, statewide teachers union launches initiative to strengthen ties between legislators and public schools, UNL professors begin a "Week of Action" to highlight proposed budget cuts, Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule fires defensive coordinator John Butler.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Dec. 1, include: NCAA volleyball UNL and Creighton tournament schedule, state agencies coordinate support for Tyson workers ahead of plant closure, Midwestern farmers face difficult year producing major crops at loss, Lesser Prairie Chicken protection shifts as states continue conservation, City of Omaha hopes Vision Zero initiative can curb pedestrian deaths.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 28, include: new state education report offers clearer snapshot of current academic performance, forecasts show U.S. holiday sales could surpass $1 trillion for first time, Omaha's Holiday Lights Festival brings back hunger awareness campaign, research highlights how bison help protect prairies from spreading evergreens, UNL alumna Brina Kay earns multiple award nominations for Husker-inspired song, Sean Sherman shares insights from new Indigenous food cookbook.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 26, include: refugee families find themselves ineligible when attempting to renew SNAP benefits, LIHEAP heating and cooling assistance delayed due to federal shutdown, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service placing new regional hub in Lincoln, Union Pacific reaches fourth labor agreement this year as merger proposal moves forward, Grand Island mayor debunks AI deepfake claiming city banned Christmas lights.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 25, include: Lexington community leaders react as Tyson Foods prepares to close meatpacking facility, Creighton students raise funds to cancel $2 million in medical debt, Lynne Walz forms gubernatorial exploratory committee, Fairbury hosts pilot for nitrate removal technology, Nebraska Athletics announces Zach Bryan Memorial Stadium concert, volleyball players selected in Major League Volleyball draft.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 22, include: Tyson Foods announced that it will close beef plant in Lexington, new medical investments are reshaping specialty care in central Nebraska, Board of Regents approved joint accreditation for University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Humanities Nebraska is cutting events and grants after federal funding loss, pertussis case trends vary widely across the state, high school football finals begin in Lincoln.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 21, 2025, include: Nebraska pedestrian deaths have more than doubled, American ag depends on foreign workers, Omaha Police launches 'Drones as First Responders' program, petition seeks to require four-fifths vote for lawmakers to change voter-approved laws.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 20, include: Nebraska’s budget may not be as dire as it appears, Omaha Public Schools received $30.5 million more than it should have, bill from Sen. Deb Fischer would require tribal input in food distribution program, 13 Nebraska men face racketeering charges, UNL leaders decline proposal for new female Husker mascot, more Nebraska students are completing college degrees before finishing high school.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 19, include: UNL faculty senators pass no-confidence motion on chancellor, emails shed light on the Omaha Children’s Museum's decision to pause fundraising for riverfront site, Nebraska faces tough decisions on how it pays for education, 3rd District congressional race adds new candidate, Nebraska researcher works to preserve histories from US Indian Industrial School.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 18, include: More than $310 million in state taxes unpaid for 2025, Omaha/Lincoln casinos set records for gaming tax revenue, Gov. Jim Pillen announces new appointments to Liquor Control and Medical Cannabis Commissions, UNL faculty senate prepares for 'no confidence' vote on chancellor.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 17, include: Nebraska DHHS distributed remaining November SNAP benefits, Farm Bill extension provision imposes strict limits on hemp products, Omaha’s main library is constructed, shareholders advance proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 14, include: Food banks and SNAP recipients are waiting for EBT cards to be refilled, the funding package that ends the government shutdown includes an extension for certain farm bill programs, state senators pledge not to raise taxes as the budget shortfall grows.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 13, include: Lawmakers are considering increased security measures at the State Capitol, Nebraska’s expanded safe haven law saw its second baby surrendered since taking effect in 2024, a Fort Calhoun murder case ends with a life sentence for the Iowa man convicted.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 12, include: Network television is picking up more regular season college volleyball games, Nebraska will be home to the largest bioethanol carbon capture facility in the world, the Nebraska State College System expands its SMART program statewide, and new UNL AI chatbot is a hit with students.
Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, Nov. 11, include: UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett unveils his final budget reduction plan, Governor Jim Pillen appoints Douglas County District Judge Derek Vaughn to the Nebraska Supreme Court, Nebraska’s 402 and 531 area codes could run out of phone numbers by 2038, UNL researchers report an increase in a tick-borne disease among cattle.
Start your day with Nebraska Update – your trusted daily news podcast for statewide headlines and valued perspective – all in just a few minutes. From the Capitol to your community, Nebraska Public Media’s local journalists bring you the state’s top stories every weekday morning. Launching Nov. 11.
Next year will be a time of belt-tightening in the state capitol. That’s the sentiment from fiscal committee leadership ahead of the 60-day session that begins in January. Changes from the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act are estimated to cost the state more than $200 million in revenue over the next two years. That, combined with lower-than-expected state tax revenues over the summer, means the Legislature will likely make additional cuts to the biennial budget it passed in the spring. Revenue Committee Chair Brad von Gillern said some ways of raising revenue, such as reversing income tax cuts or rolling back business tax incentives, should be off the table.
Doane University and Nebraska Methodist College will partner on a new accelerated nursing pathway to help address health care shortages across the state. The official program begins in fall 2026, but leaders said the two institutions already share many students.
Local contractors say they have enough local labor to detassel Nebraska’s seed corn but they’re losing work to migrant workers on H-2A visas. A 2024 Nebraska law attempted to increase transparency in detasseling labor practices.
An American Association of University Professors report showed that the University of Nebraska is in “good financial health” amid ongoing budget cut discussions. The Lincoln campus chancellor will submit recommended cuts to the Board of Regents before its December meeting. The latest proposal included eliminating six programs.
Republicans have tried to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government funded at previous levels through late November, but it’s failed 13 times to receive the 60 votes needed in the Senate to pass. Democrats say they want to negotiate an extension of tax credits for people who receive health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Speaking with the press Wednesday, Ricketts said that won’t happen until after the government is reopened.
41 million Americans are expected to lose their SNAP benefits at the end of the month due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Within Nebraska, SNAP benefits will be paused as of Wednesday, October 29.
Gov. Jim Pillen is in Isreal this week to promote Nebraska trade and U.S. defense technology. The governor attended a swearing in ceremony for new troops in the Israeli army and visited the Nova Festival Memorial, which commemorates the victims of the Oct. 7 attacks. Pillen said he met with people in western Galilee who have endured thousands of warnings to take shelter over the last 18 months, but said the recent ceasefire negotiated by President Donald Trump has made things calm again.
Creighton University launched an online course this month to help educators understand best uses for AI in their classrooms. The $50, self-paced module covers basics of AI, ethics and ways to utilize it for teachers and students.
The first woman appointed to the Nebraska Supreme Court is retiring at the end of the month. Lindsey Miller-Lerman is also the longest-serving member of the Nebraska Supreme Court at 27 years. Justice Miller-Lerman told Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson she always wanted to be a lawyer.
Not as many younger people are joining clubs like Rotary and Sertoma. A group of neighbors in the southeastern Nebraska town of Crete want to change that in their community, by bringing together people — young and old. Former state senator Laura Ebke helped found the group Crete Connect just a few days after the shooting death of political activist Charlie Kirk. Ebke spoke with Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada about the community effort to bring neighbors back together.
Several weeks after Nebraska awarded its first medical cannabis cultivation licenses, the Omaha Tribe Cannabis Commission voted to award the tribe itself with vertical licensure. That allows the tribe to participate in all parts of the cannabis process, including the cultivation, manufacturing and sale of cannabis.
The Nebraska Storytelling Festival held its fourth annual event last Thursday in Lincoln. Ten Nebraskans got up on stage and told a story from their lives; all centered around the theme of “Lost and Found.”
Bats love to munch on insects like stink bugs and moths. Some farmers are now relying on the mammals for pest control – and ditching chemicals.
Supply is expected to pass traditional grain storage capacity in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Some elevators, including historic Ely's in Nebraska, are adding temporary storage.
The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority estimates that around two-thirds of households are unable to afford Nebraska’s median home price, due in part to a shortage of around 120 thousand housing units in the state. For people with disabilities, the number of available units is much smaller. Omaha area resident Kathy Hoell said the availability of safe and accessible housing is "almost nonexistent."
Calvert Elementary third graders successfully campaigned to make the honeybee Nebraska’s state insect, and a bill was signed by the governor in 1975. Auburn Creative District Director Leslie Clark says she invited Willey to continue that theme, inspired by his message of connection to the community.
According to the USDA, The national herd is at a 75-year low, as the country has lost more than 150,000 cattle operations since 2017. At the same time, demand has grown by around 9% in the past decade, leading to record high beef prices. The new plan would streamline grazing permits and begin enforcing compliance of products with a “Made in the USA” label.
Barr Middle School and Walnut Middle School met on the gridiron on Oct. 16, exactly 100 years from the first time the rivals faced off. People from both sides of the matchup reflect on what the game means to the community and how it’s changed through the years.
The state football playoffs kick off this week, starting with eight-man action Thursday. Classes A-C2 have their final regular season this week. With an eventful regular season wrapping up, many people fear what the most recent regular season means for the future of high school sports.
Nebraska Lottery Sales were down by more than 36 million dollars in fiscal year 2025 compared with the previous fiscal year. In 2004, Nebraska voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring that lottery proceeds are distributed among the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, the Nebraska State Fair Board, legislatively directed education programs and the Compulsive Gamblers Assistance Fund.
On Oct. 17th, 2000, Gina Bos was last seen leaving a pub in downtown Lincoln. She has been missing ever since. Her sister, Jannel Rap, advocated for the day to be turned into a state holiday. The Unicameral passed legislation last year to make that happen. Law enforcement officers and family members read off names of missing persons in Nebraska, including some who haven’t been seen since the 1970s.
Students who are chronically absent, which is missing 10% or more of school, see lower test scores and are less likely to attend college, according to new data from the Nebraska Statewide Workforce and Educational Reporting System. State education department officials hope to reduce the chronic absenteeism rate by half in the next five years.
The Rural Mainstreet Index, a metric created by Creighton University professor Ernie Goss, is at its lowest level since May 2020. The index comes from a monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas across a ten-state region. Goss says a combination of tariffs and weak grain prices are hurting economic activity. However, Nebraska’s year-to-date exports on agricultural goods and livestock are up by nearly 50%, despite a sharp decline in trade with China. Goss says the state’s strong livestock industry could be to thank.
The fight over medical cannabis access continued in Nebraska Wednesday, as dozens of advocates spoke out against proposed regulations from the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission. More than 71% of voters in the state supported legalizing the use of up to five ounces of marijuana for medical purposes by qualified patients in the November 2024 election. The proposed regulations provide a pathway for patients to access that in theory, but many at Wednesday’s hearing said the restrictions amount to a de facto rejection of the voters’ intent.
Colorado officials are rejecting Nebraska's complaints involving the South Platte River and the proposed Perkins County Canal.
Both Republicans and Democrats are pointing to each other in the “blame game” for shutting down the federal government. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson caught up with Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, and asked what Democrats must emphasize to get more Americans on their side.
Advocates for All Nebraskans, a nonprofit lead by former Nebraska Republican Party chair Eric Underwood, introduced its fourth and fifth petitions of the 2026 election cycle Tuesday. One of the proposed constitutional amendments would require all elections in the state to be conducted exclusively through paper ballots that are counted by hand. The other would give all five of the Nebraska’s electoral votes to the statewide winner instead of the current congressional district allocations. Lincoln radio host Doug Fitzgerald said the petition drives have national implications that cannot be overstated.
Total alcohol sales in Memorial Stadium topped $2.07 million through the first four Nebraska football home games. That’s according to data sent to Nebraska Public Media News from Husker Athletics.
Omaha's AfroCon was this past Saturday. A convention that focuses on all things nerdy, it also centers creating and maintaining community within North Omaha.
Faculty, staff, students and community members discussed issues with the budget reduction process during hearings at the start of October. The Academic Planning Committee wrapped up hearings on Friday and will pass along their recommendation to the chancellor by Oct. 24.
The Trump administration is promising billions in a bailout for farmers. This harvest season the trade war with China has added to the farm economy’s woes, as producers deal with lower crop prices and high costs.
Nebraska’s capital city may soon have a new requirement for the owners of cryptocurrency ATMs. Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird announced Thursday she will be proposing an ordinance that would require crypto or Bitcoin ATM owners to post a sign warning users of scam risks associated with the machine. According to data from the Lincoln Police Department, the number of local fraud cases involving cryptocurrency has more than doubled since its categorization began in 2021.
AfroCon is back in Omaha for its seventh year in a row this Saturday. Planned and put on by Omaha nonprofit, the House of Afros, Capes and Curls, the goal is to provide a place where people of color are openly welcomed and can feel comfortable to indulge in their ‘nerdy’ interests.
Nebraska’s largest casino operator is expanding its facilities once more, thanks in part to its refinancing of $300 million in startup loans. Since Nebraskans voted to legalize casino gambling at racetracks in 2020, WarHorse Gaming – a wing of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s economic development corporation, Ho Chunk Inc. – has taken full advantage. WarHorse currently operates casinos in Lincoln and Omaha, and a new location is being planned for South Sioux City. CEO Lance Morgan said the ability to refinance startup loans at a lower interest rate shows investor confidence and will help the operation continue to grow.
U.S. Rep. Mike Flood discusses the federal government shutdown, ACA tax credits, agriculture economic assistance and the Farm Bill.
While the process to bring medical marijuana to Nebraska is moving in fits and starts, plans for recreational marijuana are moving quickly. The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, which legalized cannabis for both recreational and medical use in July, has announced plans to open a dispensary early next year.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Glenn Korff School of Music and the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film may have one director for the two schools under the university’s budget cut proposal. The music director spoke with Nebraska Public Media about how this decision could hurt each program.
The first two medical cannabis cultivator license applications have been approved in Nebraska. Nancy Laughlin-Wagner on behalf of Midwest Cultivators Group in Omaha and Patrick Thomas of Raymond will each receive an offer of licensure to grow and cultivate up to 1250 flowering marijuana plants for medical purposes. Their applications were among the four that were randomly selected to be scored by the members of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission’s evaluation team, which includes all three commission members: Chair Monica Oldenburg, Lorelle Mueting and J. Michael Coffey.
If you turn on a faucet on the Santee Sioux reservation, the water that comes out looks normal enough. But there’s a good chance the sink it’s pouring into is discolored or corroded. Drink the water, and you’re putting yourself at risk of negatively impacting your memory, attention, or motor skills, particularly if you’re very young or very old. That’s because the water here has a dangerously high level of manganese, a naturally occurring mineral that can’t be boiled away. The tribe has issued a drinking water advisory to the reservation recommending tap water not be consumed due to manganese detected at more than ten times above the EPA Health Advisory level.
The American Heartland has experienced a boom in wineries over the last three decades. But with U.S. wine sales trending down since 2019, some producers are feeling the effects more than others.
The Omaha Police Department’s internal investigation regarding the traffic stop of boxer Terance “Bud” Crawford is nearing its end, according to police officials. OPD Chief Todd Schmaderer told reporters it was determined the officers involved in the traffic stop acted in accordance with department policy
The Omaha Police Department’s internal investigation regarding the traffic stop of boxer Terance “Bud” Crawford is nearing its end, according to police officials. OPD Chief Todd Schmaderer told reporters it was determined the officers involved in the traffic stop acted in accordance with department policy
Nebraska county officials say things the Legislature requires them to do, but doesn't pay for, put pressure on property taxpayers.
Jane Goodall spent her life studying the behavior of primates – their relationships, their behaviors, their emotions. But they weren’t the only animals she admired. For more than twenty years, the great sandhill crane migration drew the legendary primatologist to the center of Nebraska. Author and photographer Alan Bartels told Nebraska Public Media’s Jackie Ourada about his friendship with Jane Goodall that began after a visit she made here.
Sen. John Cavanaugh said Thursday restrictions on medical cannabis could lead voters to approve recreational marijuana.
Scientists and seed companies are working on shrinking corn. The subtle difference in height has led to some big changes in how shorter corn can be planted and managed in the Corn Belt.
The first two hearings for programs up for elimination at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln began Wednesday. The Academic Planning Committee heard arguments for keeping the community and regional planning program and the landscape architecture program.
As $27.5 million in reductions loom over the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, students in programs proposed for elimination shared their concerns with how the loss of their programs would hurt the state. The potential cuts are in response to the state legislature allocating less funding than the university needed in its budget for the next two years.
The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission will not meet its Oct. 1 deadline to begin granting registrations for marijuana cultivators. During its meeting Tuesday, commission chair Dr. Monica Oldenburg said the commission’s evaluation team was unable to provide recommendations for licensure after two of its members resigned. Earlier this week, Commissioners Bruce Bailey and Kim Lowe resigned from their positions on the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen. That also meant losing their roles on the Medical Cannabis Commission, which includes the Liquor Control Commission members.
One of the familiar NPR hosts you wake up to on “Morning Edition” is A Martinez, who works out of Culver City, California. Martínez came to NPR four years ago from the world of sports talk radio. He told Nebraska Public Media's “Morning Edition” host Dale Johnson that he has come to appreciate the importance of nationwide public media, especially in rural states like Nebraska.
The modified Nebraska Healthy Families and Workplaces Act will go into effect as of Wednesday this week. The law requires businesses with between 11 and 19 employees to provide their employees with at least 40 hours of paid sick leave per year, and those with 20 or more employees will need to provide at least 56 hours of paid sick leave.
Advocates for All Nebraskans, a group that wants to lower property taxes in Nebraska, announced a new petition Monday asking the state to play a bigger role in funding public education. The latest proposed statutory amendment would establish a minimum base salary of $50,000 for all certified public-school teachers and asks the state to fulfill its constitutional obligation to fund K-12 education. Teachers with 12 or more years of experience would receive a minimum salary of $62,000. According to a 2025 report from the National Education Association, Nebraska’s average teacher starting salary is $38,811, which ranks 49th among the 50 states.
Gov. Jim Pillen announced Monday that Nebraska will opt in to a federal tax credit for those donating to scholarship-granting organizations. Those scholarships can go to help students attending private schools or those in public schools needing extra resources like tutoring. The tax credit was passed under the “One Big Beautiful Bill” earlier this year.
The state of Nebraska, the city of Omaha and the community of North Omaha proudly took notice Saturday. People cheered, chanted and held up their cell phones hoping for a decent video of one of the greatest boxers of all time, Terence “Bud” Crawford, as he moved down a parade route in downtown Omaha.
The Cultural Centers of Lincoln Collaborative is one step closer to its new home. The building, located on a site at 21st and Vine streets, will connect four initiatives: the Good Neighbor Community Center, the Asian Community and Cultural Center, El Centro de las Américas and the Malone Center.
The Trump Administration asked states to find the lowest-cost option in the latest program to build broadband infrastructure in rural areas. That opens the door for more types of technology, which some worry could be less reliable in the long-term.
With federal government funding set to expire at the end of the day Tuesday, one Nebraska congressman isn’t holding out hope of avoiding a shutdown. Rep. Mike Flood, a Republican who represents Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District, said Sunday that compromise with the Democrats, at least in the short term, seems unlikely. “Sadly, at this time, I'm not hearing about anything that gives me hope that we're going to be able to get past this, basically because Senator Schumer in the Senate says he's not there, the Democrats don't want to do this,” Flood said.
Plans to convert the McCook Work Ethic Camp into an ICE detention facility are producing mixed reactions in this southwest Nebraska city.
Dozens of Pete Ricketts supporters made for standing room only inside the Mechanical Room, a speakeasy located in the basement of a brewery in downtown Beatrice, Wednesday evening. Nebraska’s junior senator began his campaign speech highlighting his record of reducing taxes and improving public safety during his eight years as the state’s governor. “We were able to cut the state income taxes for Nebraska families,” he said. “We were able to eliminate the state income tax on Social Security and also eliminate the state income tax on military retirement benefits.”
The University of Nebraska at Kearney has dropped the idea of selling alcohol at football games for the 2025 season. Originally, the school planned to sell alcohol at its first home game on Sept. 6, but an insurance issue with its concession vendor, Nightlife Concepts, put a halt on those plans.
It’s been a rough year for Nebraska row crop producers, with low corn prices and China’s refusal to buy soybeans leaving many producers in the red, despite relatively high yields. But speaking in York Wednesday, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs said there are big wins on the horizon for American agriculture. Lindberg attended a roundtable with ag producers on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, ahead of a joint review on the agreement scheduled for next summer. Lindberg says the review process includes three steps – looking to get a better deal, putting buyers and sellers in the same room and ensuring that foreign governments are living up to their commitments.
Omaha-based Union Pacific may soon become the first transcontinental railroad company in the United States, thanks to a proposed merger with Norfolk Southern. But the move has some rail employees worried about worker safety and a lack of government oversight. Nebraska Public Media’s Brian Beach visited Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard in North Platte to learn more.
Nebraska’s newest casino and racetrack is out of the gates and contributing to the state budget.
The state auditor’s office found several issues with ABA providers receiving the most money, including duplicate invoices, lack of documentation and employees not having proper credentials.
The 2026 general election may be more than a year away, but the U.S. Senate race in Nebraska is already heating up. Dan Osborn, the industrial mechanic and independent candidate who made national waves for his closer-than-expected race with Sen. Deb Fischer in 2024, is back on the campaign trail – this time against another Republican incumbent, Sen. Pete Ricketts. Osborn may have lost to Fischer by more than 6 percentage points, but in a state that hasn’t elected a non-Republican to the Senate since 2006, the close margin elevated his profile and motivated supporters heading into the next election cycle. “It just started with an idea, and we turned it into getting 47% of the vote in Nebraska,” he said Monday of his 2024 campaign, interrupted by cheering and applause from the crowd.
The School Financing Review Commission will focus on recommending the right mix of state and local funding.
The Kearney Regional Medical Center – owned by Bryan Health – and Cancer Partners of Nebraska are coming together to open the Kearney Cancer Center, a 25,000-square-foot facility dedicated to cancer treatment. The center includes a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner to detect early signs of cancer, a linear accelerator for delivering radiation to treat tumors, and infusion bays with views of Yanney Park for chemotherapy patients. It will also offer on-site lab and diagnostic imaging, access to national clinical trials and certified mastectomy fitting.
Popcorn festivals and even "popcorn capitals of the world" dot the middle of the country. Yet this ubiquitous snack is grown on fewer than 1,000 farms in the U.S. today.
The Otoe-Missouria tribe called Southeast Nebraska home for over three hundred years but was displaced by the U-S in 1881, and forcibly moved to Red Rock, Oklahoma. Now there are efforts from the tribe to reconnect with their spiritual homeland through art.
On Saturday, the Nebraska football team hopes for its first win against a ranked opponent since 2016. Since then, the Huskers have lost 27 games in a row against competition ranked in the Associated Press’ top 25, at the time of the game.
Supporters of online sports betting will try to put a constitutional amendment to legalize it on next year's Nebraska ballot.
Creighton University announced a $300 million project to upgrade and build athletic and recreation spaces on the eastern part of campus. It includes a student fitness center, sports performance facility and upgrades to current athletic buildings.
Memorial Stadium public address announcer Nate Rohr will be a lot busier this fall. He received a call from a friend with the Kansas City Chiefs, offering him the same role at Arrowhead Stadium. Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson spoke with Rohr about the balancing act of working both pro and college football games this fall.
The field of Democratic candidates in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional district just got bigger. James Leuschen, the former policy director for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, launched his campaign Thursday. “I’m running for Congress because I know firsthand what Nebraska families are up against,” he said. “Donald Trump’s tax and tariff policies are sowing chaos and making life more expensive for families here. As a dad to three kids and son to an aging parent, I see how the cost of groceries, child care, elderly care, and housing continue to go up under Trump’s policies, and relief is nowhere in sight.”
Sen. Pete Ricketts praised customer service improvements and tax cuts on benefits, but declined to endorse ideas being floated to keep the system solvent.
Bryan Health opened a time capsule from 1987 on Tuesday afternoon, showcasing old medical supplies and the health system's history of innovative healthcare.
A report from the auditor’s office says Mayor Paul Murrell used city-owned vehicles for personal use and highlights payments of nearly $50,000 to the mayor’s personal business for work performed at a municipal nursing home. When questioned about the personal vehicle, state auditor Mike Foley says Murrell provided a sales tax form that didn’t match the vehicle used as evidence against him.
Doane University’s dual-enrollment program features five education courses for high schoolers to start working their way toward a teaching degree. Officials hope the program, called the Educator Pipeline Collaborative, will help the teacher pipeline in Nebraska.
September is Nebraska Archaeology Month. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with State Archaeologist Dave Williams to first find out how far back Nebraska's archaeological history goes.
A record crowd is expected at the CHI Health Center Tuesday night, for an in-state volleyball tilt between No. 18 Creighton and No. 1 Nebraska.
A Mullen teacher was surprised with an announcement on Monday that she would be the 2026 Nebraska Teacher of the Year. Sarah Hardin, who teaches high school science classes, will start her tenure in January.
Rep. Mike Flood, who represents the state’s first district, says avoiding a government shutdown is the first priority of Congress as the new fiscal year approaches in October. He says that will require negotiations with Democrats to put a budget together and ensure the government is funded.
Quick-growing blooms of bacteria and algae have long been a hazard in lakes and rivers, because of the toxins they produce. Fueled in part by agricultural runoff, these blooms are also threatening public water systems, making water temporarily unusable, and forcing some cities and towns to take costly preventive measures.
Testifiers at a legislative hearing Friday sharply criticized Gov. Jim Pillen's plans to host an ICE detention center in McCook.
A group of Catholic and Protestant clergy is asking Gov. Jim Pillen to drop plans for an ICE detention center in McCook.
A UNO professor co-authored an exploratory study on labor trafficking within Nebraska. Nebraska Public Media's Arthur Jones sat down with her to discuss what she found.
The Nebraska football team faces off with FCS foe Houston Christian University on Saturday. The Cornhuskers are 2-0 on the year, following wins against Cincinnati and Akron.
Gov. Jim Pillen and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton recapped their recent visit to Japan while speaking at Husker Harvest Days, an ag show just west of Grand Island. The trip came on the heels of a trade deal with Japan signed by President Donald Trump last week. As part of the deal, Japan agreed to invest $550 billion in projects selected by the U.S. government. Pillen said he told Japanese officials he wants at least 10% of that amount to go toward projects in Nebraska. Pillen also praised the Japanese culture he witnessed on his visit to Tokyo.
When the University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved alcohol sales for all sporting events last October, many cited research saying the move would reduce binge drinking on Husker football gamedays. During the first quarter of Saturday’s lopsided win over Akron, multiple fans said beer and hard seltzer service in Memorial Stadium will be positive.
Lincoln Electric System has received $300,000 from Google to help provide energy-efficient improvements for affordable housing. The money will help Lincoln continue the South of Downtown Rental Rehabilitation Program, a 2023 program that in part aims to improve energy efficiency for residents in portions of the city’s Near South and Everett neighborhoods.
Gov. Jim Pillen declined to sign draft regulations for the medical cannabis industry the commission approved last week. In a letter to the commission sent Thursday, Pillen wrote "Leaving the cultivators without a limit would increase likelihood of an overabundance of cannabis product that creates an unregulated, unintended black-market supply.” The commission responded by placing a limit of 1,250 flowering plants for each cultivator.
Beef prices have hit record highs, yet American consumers haven’t stopped buying it. A look at what’s behind the steep price increase and when they might come down.
COVID-19 illness numbers are seeing an uptick. Health professionals say it’s because of the return to fall activities and lower vaccination rates. Most recent data has shown that nearly 16% of COVID-19 tests have come back positive, the highest it has been all year.
The city has earned a national recognition for building an inclusive community. It’s the second city in the state to earn this label.
Sen. Merv Riepe, a Republican in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, said he's not a fan of changing rules mid-game.
Overall University of Nebraska enrollment was similar to last school year, but there were notable decreases with international and graduate students. Increases in first-time freshmen and medical students helped offset those declines.
Nebraska farmers entering harvest season with near record high corn and soybean yields have been met with low prices for their crops. Coupled with higher than usual input prices due to tariffs, many will lose money this year. Smith, who serves as chair of the Congressional Agriculture Trade Caucus, says he is hopeful that President Trump will work to open up new markets for farmers and reach trade deals to bring down tariffs. Brian Kuehl, the co-executive director of Farmers for Free Trade, says time is running out.
On Saturday, when toe meets leather for the first Husker football home game of the season against Akron, it will also be the first time beer meets belly for football fans inside the century-old stadium Memorial Stadium.
None of Nebraska’s U-S House members signed on to the discharge petition that would force a vote on a bill to release all government files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Here’s an insight from 2nd District Representative Don Bacon.
Pillen’s team says the Work Ethic Camp in McCook – which currently provides rehabilitative programming to low-risk offenders – will soon house undocumented immigrants arrested by ICE. The administration clarified it will only house Level 1 detainees, meaning those with minor criminal records and non-violent felonies. After the briefing, Judiciary Committee Vice Chair Wendy DeBoer told reporters she has "grave concerns" about the process from federal agents.
University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold said the university is seeing a decline in international and graduate students in his State of the University address on Thursday. He also addressed how federal cuts to research spending and a lower-than-expected state appropriation have challenged the university.
About a month after lower Medicaid rates for applied behavior analysis therapy went into effect, providers say they are cutting staff and considering closing. The therapy helps children with autism. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services officials say the new rates will make the program sustainable long-term.
Senator Pete Ricketts says federal tax legislation will help the average Nebraska family, despite projections that it will decrease state revenues.
An after-school program in Beatrice welcomed back students this fall for another year. Federal officials froze and then unfroze funds to after-school programs before the school year, but Beatrice officials say they are keeping an eye on future funding.
A national construction association has released data showing a severe workforce shortage in construction. The low numbers are attributed to increased immigration enforcement.
More than a week after Gov. Jim Pillen announced that the McCook Work Ethic Camp would be used as an immigration detention facility, some state lawmakers are still seeking answers on the details. Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Megan Hunt sent a letter to Judiciary Committee chair, Sen. Carolyn Bosn, requesting a legislative hearing to address questions surrounding the project. The letter was signed by 12 other state senators. “We urge you, as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, to conduct an Interim Study Hearing to improve public transparency for all stakeholders and citizens and ensure we are doing our due diligence as State leaders,” it reads.
After 30 years as a paraeducator in Grand Island, Marlo Reyes has become the connecting piece of her school community. She will retire at the end of the year.
A Nebraska service provider for adults with developmental disabilities is suing the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Integrated Life Choices is alleging DHHS violated due process and separation of powers and is seeking injunctive relief in Lancaster County District Court.
The Nebraska State Patrol will have immigration responsibilities when the Work Ethic Camp in McCook becomes an ICE detention facility. Six trained troopers will be assigned to question suspected undocumented individuals about their immigration status and make immigration arrests without a warrant. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with Col. Bryan Waugh to talk about the patrol’s authority under what’s known as a 287(g) partnership with ICE under the Task Force Model.
Uncertainty on whether there will be a Historic Preservation Fund in the 2026 fiscal year, has those in the museum and preservation communities worried. A group of volunteers is working to get a North Omaha building added to the National Register of Historic Places before the end of this congressional fiscal year.
Year three of Matt Rhule leading the Nebraska football program starts Thursday evening. In a neutral site matchup at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, the Huskers open the 2025 season vs. the Cincinnati Bearcats.
The shift to four-day school weeks is increasing in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Administrators argue the shift helps with teacher recruitment and retention. It can also save money, especially with transportation. But what is the long-term effect on student learning?
Honesty Bishop was attacked by her cellmate. Missouri prison officials deemed her sexually active and kept her in isolation for over six years.
Nebraska volleyball fans are chomping at the bit to see their beloved Huskers under new leadership. When the Cornhuskers face off with Pittsburgh at 6 p.m. Central Friday, it will be head coach Dani Busboom Kelly’s first match leading the program.
Several Nebraska schools will test out a menstrual product pilot program this school year. The Education Service Unit Coordinating Council will lead the pilot, helping schools provide access to pads and tampons for students while also collecting data on the program.
The Brian Rosen era will be introduced to Crieghton volleyball fans starting Saturday against defending national champions Penn State. Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson sat down with the new head coach about taking over for the all-time wins leader at Creighton, Kirsten Bernthal Booth.
At least eight different beers and two brands of hard seltzer will be sold at Memorial Stadium starting around 6:30 p.m. Central Time on Sept. 6, for the football home opener against Akron. Hundreds of thousands of tallboys will be brought to the stadium each week.
Nebraska’s federal delegation has been busy throughout the August recess sharing the benefits of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ in their home state. Sen. Pete Ricketts kept the trend going on Wednesday at a roundtable with farmers, ranchers and local officials in Broken Bow. Ricketts said he covered a variety of topics including biofuel expansion, firefighting coordination and mental health needs at the meeting, which was closed to the media. The senator said no one directly mentioned tariffs in the discussion, but he highlighted the Trump administration’s commitment to finding new trading partners, including the United Kingdom and India. He also said he heard from public power officials about the importance of legislation
The University of Nebraska at Omaha and Metropolitan Community College announced a new initiative to make it easier for students to transfer between the two institutions. Those involved will start with looking at areas the two colleges can streamline, like academics and financial aid.
The governor said the facility would house minimal to low-risk detainees for between five and fifty days until they are able to see a judge. In two other immigration-related announcements also made Tuesday, state officials said that approximately 20 Army National Guard soldiers will provide support for Nebraska-based ICE enforcement, and that the State is empowering Nebraska State Patrol troopers to arrest people suspected of immigration violations.
Game one of the Dani Busboom Kelly era is just two days away. The 2025 Cornhusker volleyball team will start the season ranked number-one in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. Ahead of Friday’s season opener, Nebraska Public Media play-by-play voice Larry Punteney spoke with the new head coach about returning to her alma mater with a fearless, player-led mentality.
Bacon says he wants to see a peace deal allow Ukraine to join NATO (NAY-toe) and not place any limit on the size of Ukraine’s military. Bacon has also cosponsored legislation that would impose sanctions on Russia and other countries buying its imports. Republican majority leaders in the House and Senate have said they want to wait for Trump’s approval before moving forward. But Bacon says he would consider using a discharge petition to bring it to the floor for a vote if a peace deal appears unjust.
A state senator is traveling throughout Nebraska to find out what residents think about potentially expanding passenger trains.
Most people think of California for surfing. But surfers can be found from Wisconsin to Texas on lakes, rivers and even man-made water parks.
School officials in various parts of Nebraska say this year seemed easier than previous years to staff. Nebraska Public Media News spoke with several district leaders to hear how staffing levels are headed into the school year.
As Nebraska’s row crop production continues to grow, farmers are looking for new markets for their corn and soybeans. Jet fuel made from biomass could be the answer they are looking for. At Friday’s Sustainable Aviation Fuels Conference in Ashland, political and business leaders alike said the state is well-positioned to become a major player in the burgeoning industry. Jacki Fee, a biofuels specialist with Cargill, explained why.
Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy offers resources to children with autism and to their families. One effort hopes to expand this support during a time of Medicaid cuts and geographic lack of access.
Hundreds of Elkhorn elementary students returned from summer break this week to find their new schools still under construction.
University of Nebraska regents approved NU President Jeffrey Gold’s performance-based merit pay at their meeting Thursday, with two voting no, citing concerns with budget cuts. Gold’s contract outlines that he can receive up to 15% in performance-based merit pay each year if he meets certain metrics. He received almost 98% on his performance review, meaning he should receive the full additional pay.
Several hundred state leaders in agriculture and manufacturing gathered in Kearney today/Thursday to discuss how to develop Nebraska’s economy. Gov. Jim Pillen touted the potential for Nebraska to grow its bioeconomy through investments in ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel and plastic products made from corn. Thursday morning, Husker football head coach Matt Rhule addressed the summit with a message about dreaming big. The governor said he’s dreaming big too.
To address the substantial shortage of mental health providers in Nebraska, a pair of Omaha doctors came up with, what is believed to be, a first-of-its-kind project. Primary care and non-psychiatric specialists are trained to provide early mental health treatment in places where patients and the public already come for care. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson talked with Clarkson Regional Health Services CEO Dr. Bill Lydiatt, a co-founder of the Bridges to Mental Health Workforce Expansion Project, to find out why it’s so groundbreaking.
Americans are losing their starry views to light pollution. But some communities are make lighting decisions to help preserve night skies – while benefiting wildlife and human health.
Omaha’s Metro Transit has premiered a new micro transit program called Metro Flex. The goal of Metro Flex is to fill gaps in-between areas where it is difficult to have regular and fixed public transportation.
With students packing their backpacks and teachers preparing their lessons, many Nebraska schools are preparing for classes to start up this month. Nebraska’s 2025 Teacher of the Year Lindsey Wilson is getting ready to welcome back her students at Bennington Middle School in just a few days.
The School Financing Review Commission set goals and reviewed the history of school funding in Nebraska in its first meeting Tuesday. State legislators created the commission to evaluate the current funding formula and provide recommendations for changes to improve it.
Nebraskans are recovering from a severe thunderstorm that brought hurricane-force winds to south central and eastern Nebraska Saturday morning. Many people still don’t have power Monday and the city of Blair and Lincoln was hit particularly hard. At least 78,000 Nebraskans lost power after heavy rain and 90 mile per hour wind gusts rammed throughout southern and eastern Nebraska Saturday.
Time is one the most valuable things in life. Depending on the time of year, Cook found short breaks from the grueling demands of running a volleyball program. But when he was in the heat of the preseason, regular season, postseason, recruiting battles or volleyball camps, Cook was all-in.
The State Board of Education approved almost $21 million for literacy efforts in schools, educational service units and other organizations. These awards are part of a $55 million federal grant for literacy over a five-year period.
For the first time, Fort Kearny Historical Park and State Recreation Area will open reservations early for visitors to see the spring sandhill crane migration.
Nebraska has given Hausmann Construction a notice to proceed on building a new prison, with "substantial completion" due in August, 2028.
Emma Harner, a musician who grew up in Nebraska, got to play at Chicago’s Lollapalooza last weekend with Boston based band Jesse Detor. She has been playing guitar for only 5 years, yet has managed to already travel abroad because of her music. Nebraska Public Media’s Arthur Jones got to chat with her and hear her story so far.
Members of Nebraska’s federal delegation shared their legislative priorities with the state’s business leaders in Ashland Tuesday. At the annual federal legislative summit hosted by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Sen. Deb Fischer, Sen. Pete Ricketts, and Rep. Mike Flood explained how the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ could help grow Nebraska businesses.
A Nebraska Medicine patient has become the first person in the world to receive a new treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). The potential breakthrough treatment is part of a clinical trial that has, so far, been deemed effective.
Congressman Mike Flood’s third town hall of the year was his biggest, and arguably most contentious one yet. The 850-seat Kimball Recital Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus was filled with a crowd that wasted no time vocalizing their criticisms of the representative. Following an invocation, Pledge of Allegiance and performance of ‘God Bless America,’ Flood began touting the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ that he and 217 of his fellow Republicans voted for last month. “I truly believe that this bill will allow America to experience growth, that it will allow our communities to thrive, that it will spark our economy, that it will help farmers and ranchers, that it will take care of the vulnerable,” he said. “And more than anything, I truly believe this bill protects Medicaid for the future.”
Comic Con Nebraska held its inaugural event at Omaha’s C-H-I Health Center this weekend. The con was host to artists, authors, vendors and even an arcade, but according to those attending the con, it was more than that.
Testifiers at a public hearing objected to regulations prohibiting smoking and flavoring of medical cannabis.
The University of Nebraska was selected to receive a grant to continue its work uncovering and publicizing the journalistic writings of famed poet Walt Whitman. The National Endowment for the Humanities selected the project as one of 97 recipients across the country receiving grants for August 2025. The university will receive $300,000 over the course of three years for its research.
With the passage of the expansive tax-and-spending bill, changes to Medicaid are coming. One of those changes is the addition of an 80-hour-a-month work requirement, something proponents say will help incentivize those on Medicaid to work. Others say it's not that simple, particularly for those who are disabled.
Husker volleyball begins preseason practice Thursday, in the first year of Dani Busboom Kelly leading the program. The Big Red returns much of the talent from the 2024 Final Four team, Director of Operations Lindsay Peterson said.
Benson is hosting its New Americans Arts Festival today, and organizers say it has a new meaning this year.
Comic Con Nebraska is coming to Omaha’s C-H-I Health Center this weekend. The new ‘con’ is the first event being put on by Octopus Events Group, whose members have previously put on comic cons in Portland and Seattle.
Hausmann Construction sues Woodbury County Iowa and its Law Enforcement Center Authority over costly delays in building Sioux City jail.
Students, professors and volunteers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Anthropology program just landed in France to help in a month-long project. The goal is to send home any remains from a WWII plane crash.
The changing of the guard is well underway for the University of Nebraska volleyball. Practice starts Thursday. It will be the first season this century when someone other than John Cook will coach and lead the program. Cook, a four-time national champion coach who retired in January, now spends more time on his acreage in Wyoming.
Last weekend marked the 104th Burwell Rodeo. This year, the Burwell community literally weathered a storm to continue the tradition. It took many volunteers to make it happen.
Data shows a need for more than 12,000 child care spots across Nebraska. Communities across the state have utilized various tools and approaches to address the gap in their area. Child care leaders see engagement from most, if not all, stakeholders in the community as a common denominator of success.
North Platte is struggling with housing issues. Community leaders say the problem has been occurring for decades. With a new surge in economic development and employers moving into the city, the need for housing has been exacerbated.
The interest in local food systems, like farmer’s markets and direct farm-to-consumer sales, is on the rise. But the U.S. is still more reliant on imported foods than ever before.
In a lawsuit pitting former Creighton Prep football player Jack Hasz against the NCAA, the U.S. District Court in Omaha ruled against Hasz’s motion for preliminary injunction. Senior District Judge Joseph Battaillon submitted the ruling Thursday.
Omaha non-profit ‘Playing with Fire’ is putting on their 21st Playing with Fire event this Friday and Saturday. The event, held for the first time inside the Slowdown, will host 6 blues artists, including four from outside the U.S.
Jack Hasz wants one more year. The former Creighton Prep offensive lineman is suing the NCAA, in hopes of playing one more season of college football.
ACLU Nebraska is criticizing the treatment of a man detained in an ICE immigration raid.
Some of Nebraska’s federal delegation are defending their support of what the president calls the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Providers, families and advocates are worried how cuts next month to Medicaid rates for Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, which helps people with autism, will impact the availability of services across the state. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services representatives say the changes put Nebraska in line with what other states pay.
The chair of the Nebraska Commission on African American Affairs said a recent audit is providing the agency an opportunity to improve. Findings showed the agency failed to provide advance notice for all 10 quarterly meetings audited from 2022 to 2024.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is developing a framework for assessing drought in a changing climate. It's a difficult task, as what's considered drought is often situational.
Pillen says the proposed cuts are part of his goal of reducing the size of government and not due to economic indicators. However, June tax revenues fell well short of predictions for the fiscal year and the amount of federal funds for the state next year is uncertain. Justin Hubly, the executive director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, says Pillen’s proposal would likely lead to a workforce reduction.
Fremont now has its first bilingual daycare. The opening fills a large need in the city.
Less than a week after setting a new national record in the road mile for his age group, Lynn Rathjen already has his sights set on the next accomplishment. The 80-year-old retired physical therapist is training to break the age group records in the 800 and 1500 meter races at the national championships in Alabama this weekend.
The Mexican Consulate of Omaha is meeting with elected leaders and residents to ensure Mexican nationals feel safe in the region.
Iowa authorities say the contractor for Nebraska's new prison cost them millions in construction errors and delays on Sioux City jail.
Following over $7 billion worth of federal funds being withheld from schools nationally, the Beatrice Educational Foundation has launched a campaign to keep the community’s after school program running.
As a new Postmaster General with ties to FedEx assumes control of the agency, postal workers and their customers are bracing for either scenario, especially as corporate America weighs in.
Congress approved and passed the budget bill earlier this month that included a $200,000 cap on federal loans medical students, and other professional degree students, can receive. One student collected over 500 signatures urging the Nebraska federal delegation to reconsider, saying this cap doesn't take into account the full deb students incur.
A three-day ice storm in northern Michigan early this spring left 145,000 people without power, some for weeks. Three months later, clean-up efforts are focused on millions of acres of the state's forests, where broken and fallen trees could affect the forest's long-term health.
The stretch of 14th street between O and P streets is now Boehmer Street, after the former owner and talent promoter at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar, Larry Boehmer.
The Nebraska Commission on African American Affairs has fallen short of several transparency and accounting benchmarks, according to new findings by State Auditor Mike Foley.
A Chinese-owned ag products company says it will remain in Nebraska despite Gov. Jim Pillen's suggestion that it leave.
The Texas floods not only impacted thousands of people, but also their pets. Here's what the state’s humane society is doing to support those animals from three states away.
Omaha’s Heartland Pride event begins today. With recent scrutiny of D-E-I programs, as well as companies distancing themselves from Pride Month, Nebraska Public Media’s Arthur Jones spoke to Heartland Pride’s Vice President Samual Parnell about what this year will look like.
Congressman Don Bacon introduced legislation Thursday that would increase criminal penalties for anyone convicted of killing or conspiring to kill public safety officers. The so-called ‘Back the Blue Act’ would also create mandatory minimums for assaulting a federally funded law enforcement officer, which could include a firefighter, chaplain, federal judge or rescue squad member. If a death occurs, there is a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years. Attempting to flee to avoid prosecution carries a minimum of 10 years.
The Nebraska Children's Home Society, in partnership with Scheels, launched its “Lace Up to Learn” campaign Wednesday. The initiative aims to collect shoes for children across the state before the start of the school year.
The last fluent speaker for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska died in 2006. An Oklahoma tribe helped organize the first digital Ponca dictionary, which is also available in physical copies.
Soda and energy drinks would no longer be eligible for purchase through the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program in Nebraska under proposed regulations from the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. At a hearing Tuesday, advocates said the restrictions could hurt grocery stores and stigmatize Nebraskans who use SNAP. “Implementing the SNAP restriction waiver will lead to fewer food retailers accepting SNAP, thereby causing a significant number of Nebraskan families, including those with children, veterans, people with disabilities and the elderly, to face even greater barriers when trying to put food on the table,” said Madison Castor with Nebraska Appleseed.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is suing General Motors over the sale of its customers' data to insurance companies.
Tons of worn out fishing gear makes its way across the Pacific Ocean, and winds up on Hawaii’s beaches. In an effort to both clean up the ocean and find a way to recycle the junk, some of that fishing gear is sent up to Omaha, Nebraska.
The federal government is withholding federal funds to after-school programs across the nation, with about $6.5 million that typically goes to Nebraska. After school and summer program providers say this could lead to programs cutting down on services, serving less students or even closing their doors.
Communities continue to recover from the impacts of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in Omaha earlier this month. Some worry about the longer-term stresses of the impacted children.
Hydropower accounts for nearly 30% of utility-scale renewable energy in the U.S., but federal hurdles may prevent older hydroelectric plants from staying online and new projects from getting off the ground.
Nebraska lawmakers overcame a significant shortfall through the passage of this year’s budget, but more fiscal trouble may be on the horizon. On the final day of this year’s legislative session in June, Speaker John Arch made a prediction on the focus of the legislature’s return in 2026. “I will predict that our biggest challenge next year will be our budget,” he said. “Once again, we sent a balanced budget to the governor, but we always face mid-biennium budget adjustments, and next year will be no different. And in fact, could be more challenging” So how did Nebraska get into this situation in the first place?
The nearly 6,000 mechanical amusement devices in Nebraska are now taxed at five percent of their net operating revenue, thanks to a law passed last April. These devices are found in gas stations, cafes and social halls and are used for contests of skill, unlike keno or bingo. Fraternal organizations are exempt from the tax.
Naloxone, a drug that counteracts the effects of opioid overdose, has become more available within Southeastern Nebraska. Free Naloxone can be found at three vending machines, as well as five grab-and-go sites located around Lincoln. There is also a grab-and-go site now located in Jansen, Southwest of Beatrice, near the Kansas border.
Governor Jim Pillen has signed the commission’s emergency regulations, which prohibit dispensaries from selling whole-plant cannabis and products that are vaped or smoked. The rules also cap the number of dispensaries at one in each of the state’s 12 district court judicial districts. The emergency regulations will be in effect for the next 90 days, after which they can be amended or put into law.
Nebraskans with felony drug convictions almost saw a light at the end of the tunnel when legislators voted to end the lifetime ban on SNAP access. But then, the governor’s veto was not overturned. Those impacted said this decision will ultimately harm the state.
In the month of May alone, the casino contributed more than one million dollars to the state’s Property Tax Credit Cash Fund. Thanks in part to a new expansion in April, WarHorse has already generated more revenue at its south Omaha location in the first five months of 2025 than it did throughout all of last year. Across the state, revenues have grown steadily at other casinos in Lincoln, Grand Island, and Columbus with new locations on the horizon in other cities. Lance Morgan, the CEO of WarHorse Gaming, doesn’t see the growth of the industry slowing down any time soon.
The over 1000 page ‘big beautiful bill’ covers many things, but rural health leaders are most concerned over what proposed Medicaid cuts will do to an already fragile rural health system.
Specialty producers exporting to China have been hit just as hard as soybeans and beef. But they often have fewer alternative markets for their crops, worsening the impact of retaliatory tariffs.
Lancaster County District Court Judge Susan Strong dismissed a lawsuit Thursday alleging that the state’s medical cannabis program violates state and federal law. The case was brought by former State Sen. John Kuehn, who claimed laws allowing any form of marijuana are unconstitutional because the substance remains illegal at the federal level. Kuehn argued his status as a Nebraska taxpayer gives him the right to sue the state over its “illegal expenditure of taxpayer money.” Strong disagreed, saying that “the Court does not believe that the incidental burdens of implementing a law, like employee time and printing costs, is an ‘expenditure of public funds’ sufficient to confer taxpayer standing under Nebraska law.”
The commission voted unanimously to approve emergency regulations on medical cannabis to meet its deadline of July 1st in the initiative approved by voters last November. The regulations allow only one dispensary in each of the state’s 12 district court judicial districts and prohibit raw plant material or any product that is smoked or vaped. The regulations did not include details about who counts as a qualified patient to receive medical cannabis.
Come the end of the month, Nebraska’s Women’s Health Initiative Advisory Council will also come to an end. The council was terminated in the recent legislative session.
The manufacturing and agriculture sectors are struggling to grow, according to two surveys in the Midwest.
State Sen. John Cavanaugh kicked off his bid to become the next congressman for Nebraska’s Second District Tuesday night. In a speech to several hundred supporters gathered at Omaha’s Firefighters Union Hall, Cavanaugh vowed to stand up to President Donald Trump and work to protect Medicaid, social security and public lands.
New data from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services suggest a disconnect between people with developmental disabilities who are offered money by the state and getting them connected to services. More than 3,000 families have been offered state funding, since Governor Jim Pillen launched an initiative last spring to end an eight year waiting list. But data show not many families are using the state funding.
Bur oak trees are some of the most common native Nebraska trees that shade many city parks and congregate in the state’s eastern deciduous forests. They’re hardy trees, known to withstand a range of stresses, including Nebraska’s harshest weather. But they’re dying en masse due to years of devastating drought.
A Lincoln nonprofit collaboration has launched a new website to share immigration information and resources. Its aim is to address misinformation and fear amid heightened attention on immigration enforcement.
Concerned citizens met at Omaha’s Tri-Faith Center to express their concerns about the “big, beautiful bill’s” cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and access to federal loans for medical students.
Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon says he supports President Donald Trump’s attack on Iran and believes the President does not intend to start a long-term war with the country. Monday afternoon, Bacon said people tend to overestimate Iran’s capabilities but underestimate the country’s intentions for the West. He said America’s military is in a strong position to respond to retaliation.
Governor Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced the end of the developmental disabilities waiting list.
Since being identified as its own distinct subspecies, the Salt Creek tiger beetle has been receiving help in its fight for survival. How is the project going after over ten years?
Across much of the Midwest, the atmosphere is becoming warmer and retaining more water, leading to heavier downpours. A two-crop system called relay intercropping could help farmers buffer weather whiplash and boost profits.
Frank Lloyd Wright is the most widely known architect in the world. The only structure he designed in Nebraska is the Sutton “Prairie School” house in McCook, built in 1905. David Wendell, of Holdrege, has a sizable collection of Wright artifacts on display for a “first of its kind” exhibit at Pioneer Village in Minden. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson caught up with Wendell at our studios in Lincoln.
The Great American Comedy Festival, celebrating Johnny Carson's Legacy in Norfolk returned for its 16th year.
The 19th superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol comes to the job with 32 years of law enforcement experience. Colonel Bryan Waugh spent the last six years as Police Chief in Kearney. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson asked Colonel Waugh how it feels going from policing 34,000 people in a community to overseeing a statewide law enforcement agency in charge of protecting 2 million people.
Nebraska food bank representatives said they are concerned how cuts to SNAP, Medicare and Medicaid will impact those who rely on the programs. The House of Representatives has already approved the cuts, and now the Senate will decide on them.
Everyday Nebraskans could be on SportsCenter. ESPN’s flagship show SportsCenter will broadcast a show in Nebraska this summer during the Cornhusker State Games.
Planned Parenthood Advocates’ annual state gathering in Sarpy County was postponed out of an abundance of caution for staff, supporters and community, according to the group’s website. State Sen. Ashlei Spivey, an abortion rights advocate in the Nebraska Legislature, was scheduled to be the event’s keynote speaker. She says the news coming out of Minnesota this week was terrifying.
The School as Hub model connects families with their school community from their child’s birth to starting kindergarten and beyond. School officials and researchers say it helps families feel like they belong in their school, potentially leading to better attendance rates.
A gasoline blend with 15 percent ethanol offers a cheaper option at the pump and a steady market for Nebraska’s corn producers. For some members of Nebraska’s federal delegation, allowing its sale year-round is a legislative priority, while others say ethanol expansion comes with negative environmental and economic impacts.
In the last 75 years, college baseball has been categorized by a rollercoaster of changes, especially in the last 30 years. Regulations on the ball and bats and a new stadium are just a few of the differences in today’s series.
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says it's received bids for building a new prison in Lincoln, but won't say how much they're for.
A Nebraska teacher will be honored at the end of June as the Braille Institue’s “Teacher of the Year.” Audrey Graves has worked with students who are blind or visually impaired for 20 years across Nebraska as well as in some Iowa and Missouri towns.
Douglas County Board President Roger Garcia said his wife's aunt was detained in Tuesday's raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement
In May, the federally funded child care program Head Start was included in President Donald Trump’s draft proposal of cuts he was planning to send to Congress. He backed off of defunding Head Start, but advocates say their work isn’t done.
Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. was officially inaugurated as Omaha’s 52nd mayor in a ceremony held Monday evening.
New World Screwworms used to be a constant concern for ranchers, until they were eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s. Now that they’re on their way back, those who remember dealing with them have warnings about their impact.
Nineteen rural Nebraska hospitals announced Thursday that they are joining together to bolster the services they offer. This network includes hospitals from all across the state.
Nebraska’s Secretary of State Bob Evnen announced today/Friday that he is running for his third term in office. The Republican was first elected in 2018 and oversaw the implementation of the state’s voter ID law. He said that under his leadership, no state has had more secure or accurate elections than Nebraska.
More than half of Nebraska’s counties, most of Kansas and all of Iowa are labeled as radon hot spots. The harmful gas is nearly undetectable and can show up in any building, including homes. Health officials and radon mitigators say it’s easy to test for and fix, but harder to get the word out.
The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce has a new President and CEO. Todd Bingham comes to Lincoln having led the Manufacturers Association in Utah, a state known for high-tech and diverse industries. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with Bingham to find out how his Utah skills will benefit him in Nebraska.
The Omaha Arts Fair is making its debut this weekend. This is following the Omaha Arts Festival stopping after 50 years of operation last year.
The Nebraska Legislature finished its 2025 regular session with widely varying opinions about how well senators handled the state's business.
State Auditor Mike Foley has issued audit letters to eight local government units in the past six weeks highlighting alleged financial malpractice. The offenses include a Nemaha County commissioner using a county gas pump to fill his personal vehicle, a Custer County employee who recorded work hours while at her children’s school events and Pleasanton village employees who used their 11% rebates from village expenses at Menards for personal purchases. Foley says he didn’t remember there being so many cases during his previous term as auditor between 2007 and 2015.
The Nebraska chapter of the nation’s oldest Latino advocacy group is closing its doors for now.
Farmers continued to take on more debt through the first quarter of 2025, prolonging a trend from last year. That’s as farm incomes have shrunk over the last couple of years, and some worry President Trump’s tariffs could make economic conditions tougher.
The Nebraska Legislature wrapped up its 2024 regular session Monday with praise for its work, mixed with caution.
A proposal banning certain forms of hemp and so-called synthetic cannabis was passed over Friday before a vote could be taken. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Kathleen Kauth, made the decision after it appeared there would not be the votes necessary to overcome a filibuster attempt. Progressives filed motions to stop an amendment clarifying that the bill wouldn’t supersede the medical marijuana initiatives Nebraskans passed in November from being added to the bill. Sen. Ben Hansen, who voted for the bill on the first two rounds, said without the amendment, he couldn’t support it moving forward.
Gov. Jim Pillen celebrated new laws he said would protect children online, and lawmakers approved extending tax deductions for private education to pre-college levels.
CHI Good Samaritan hospital in Kearney just upgraded its NICU. Tele-health neonatologists and new equipment can provide more specialized care, lower the number of babies that need to be transferred to Lincoln or Omaha hospitals.
It's reported that a new prison complex north of Lincoln is over budget and behind schedule. Bids on the new prison must be in by the end of the day Tuesday, June 3. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson asked Rob Jeffreys, Director of Nebraska’s Department of Corrections, what happens after all the bids are in.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced a measure dealing with college testing, amid recrimations about another attempt to approve a lower minimum wage for teen workers.
The state auditor’s office found administrators at Isanti Community Schools spent more than $300,000 in questionable purchases, including golf equipment and memberships, gift cards and a senior trip to Florida.
The Nebraska Legislature gave final approval Wednesday to scaling back paid sick leave approved by voters, but didn't take up a proposal for a lower minimum wage for teenage workers.
A Nebraska-based company spent two years figuring out there is a disconnect between what educators are teaching K-8 students in math and what those students are tested on. Now, it aims to solve that disconnect.
A bill restricting some consumable hemp products in Nebraska advanced to the final round of debate in the Legislature Tuesday Afternoon. Under a bill from Sen. Kathleen Kauth, LB316, some consumable hemp products would be reclassified as marijuana, which is currently illegal for recreational use in the state. To remain legal, THC – the chemical responsible for making a user high – must make up less than 0.3% of the processed hemp product’s total weight with a limit of 10 total milligrams of THC per package.
The Nebraska Legislature upheld Gov. Jim Pillen's veto of a bill aimed at cracking down on bedbugs in Omaha Housing Authority buildings.
Nebraska has seen a steady increase in calls to 9-8-8, a number that connects people to counselors that can provide crisis support for mental health concerns, substance abuse disorders, loneliness and more. In fiscal year 2023, there were about 19,000 calls to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline from Nebraskans. In 2024, just over 23,000 Nebraskans called in. There have been around 20,000 calls in the current fiscal year, representing a 14% increase in monthly calls compared to last year.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has a new position focused on connecting justice-involved young people to educational opportunities. It’s meant to be proactive and offer support the whole way through.
The Legislature’s General Affairs Committee heard testimony from Lorelle Mueting and Dr. Monica Oldenburg, who were both selected by the governor from a pool of applicants. Mueting serves as a prevention program director at Heartland Family Service, while Oldenburg is an anesthesiologist who previously practiced in Colorado. Both have a history of opposition to medical marijuana legalization.
Creighton baseball is playing in the Big East Tournament this weekend and that means head baseball coach Ed Servais only has a few games left. Servais is set to retire after leading the program for 22 years.
This Mental Health Awareness month, the Lincoln Police Department is celebrating a successful start to its co-responder program -- a team-up with mental health professionals that could decrease the use of jails and emergency medical services. Lincoln announced plans for the co-responder program in September, with a partnership between LPD and CenterPointe, a mental health and substance abuse care clinic that conducts street outreach and crisis response. It began in early March.
The Nebraska Legislature Thursday revived a proposal for a lower minimum wage for young workers, but final approval may have to wait 'til next year.
State senators considered a package of education bills Wednesday afternoon. By the end of the day’s debate, only the underlying bill, LB306, remained. The legislation initially contained six different bills after an amendment, AM1335, from the Legislature’s Education Committee combined them. The section of the bill from Sen. Loren Lippincott, originally LB550, which would excuse students from public schools to attend religion classes, was among the most controversial. It would require school districts to adopt policies allowing students to miss up to one class period per week for an off-site course in religious instruction.
The U.S. House is putting final touches on its budget reconciliation bill, also known as President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill." It includes sweeping changes to Medicaid funding, energy and tax policies. Nebraska Public Media's Kassidy Arena caught up with District 2 House Representative Don Bacon on the budget bill, which he says he'll support.
Senators gave first-round approval Wednesday to a proposed restructuring of how the Legislature watches over state agencies.
Medical marijuana will not be regulated by the Nebraska Legislature this year after a bill failed to overcome a filibuster Tuesday evening. Nebraska voters overwhelmingly approved two ballot initiatives legalizing and regulating medical marijuana last fall. However, the drug remains inaccessible in the state. The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission is tasked with drafting regulations and the group is unlikely to begin licensing dispensaries until October at the earliest.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln students and visitors will see changes to the dining options at the student union through the next year. Nearly all of the restaurants will be changed, moved or closed. University Communications said in a news release that the changes “will phase out third-party franchises and introduce campus-managed dining concepts designed to enhance food quality, improve service and increase the value of student meal plans.”
Each spring, Midwesterners head to the woods to find morel mushrooms. But some in the region are developing methods to reliably farm the delicacy.
A proposal to raise tobacco taxes, tax pop and energy drinks, and tax 18 services provoked pushback Monday in the Legislature.
Currently, Nebraska law prohibits anyone with three or more drug-related felony charges or any drug distribution charge from accessing federal SNAP benefits. A bill from Sen. Victor Rountree would have removed those restrictions, as long as the beneficiaries had completed their sentences and participated in a substance abuse treatment program. The bill passed last week, but Gov. Jim Pillen vetoed it, leading to a vote to override Monday.
Lincoln is now home to more than 300 thousand people after gaining an estimated 38 hundred new residents between July 1st of 2023 and 2024. Omaha also gained around 2500 residents over that time, reversing several years of flat or negative growth. Among the ten largest cities in the state, none are growing as fast proportionally as Columbus, however. While many smaller cities across the state have struggled to keep up with the demand for housing, Columbus mayor Jim Bulkley says his city is expected to have 600 new housing units completed within the next two years.
Gov. Jim Pillen announced Friday he intends to provide administrative support and resources to the Medical Cannabis Commission. “With support from the Policy Research Office, the Department of Administrative Services, and other agencies, as necessary, the Medical Cannabis Commission is fully enabled to meet and carry out its responsibilities under the Patient Protection Act and the Regulation Act to meet its milestone dates of July 1 and October 1,” a press release from the Governor’s Office said. The commission was created upon the passage of Initiative 438 by Nebraska voters in November 2024.
What started as a county-level program to fill a child care need has expanded to a region–wide effort in central Nebraska. The program connects mentors, called champions, with those wanting to be licensed for guidance through the process.
People without legal status are a key part of the dairy industry's workforce. Some producers hope their economic contribution will protect farms from ICE raids and may open the conversation around policy reform.
The Nebraska Legislature gave final approval Thursday to the state budget for the next two years, despite criticism that it is unsustainable.
Hamilton’s advanced load in arrived at the Orpheum Theater on Sunday, May 4th, while the show did its final performance in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Four days later, the show will begin for Nebraskans in Omaha. How does this happen? How does a crew of 70 move a whole stage production over 12 hours, and have it ready to run again within four days?
A bill from Sen. Victor Rountree would have allowed all individuals convicted of felonies to become eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after completing their sentences. Currently, Nebraska allows those with two or fewer felonies for drug use and possession to receive benefits, but those with drug distribution felonies remain banned. Rountree’s bill would have made around 1,000 new Nebraskans eligible. It passed the final round of debate Wednesday with 32 votes but was vetoed by Pillen soon afterward. Rountree said he wasn’t surprised.
Sen. Kathleen Kauth’s Stand with Women Act, LB89, made it through the second round of debate in the Nebraska Legislature Wednesday evening, but not before an amendment stripped it of a key provision. Sen. Kathleen Kauth’s Stand with Women Act, LB89, made it through the second round of debate in the Nebraska Legislature Wednesday evening, but not before an amendment stripped it of a key provision. Sen. Merv Riepe was one of 33 senators to vote for the bill on the first round of debate, but he said he would only advance it further if changes were made. Those changes included removing a requirement for students at K-12 schools and universities to use bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding to their biological sex.
A bill allowing a lower minimum wage for young workers fell short Wednesday in the Nebraska Legislature, while one trying to regulate foreign agents advanced.
A proposal to reduce inheritance taxes and raise county fees came up two votes short of overcoming a filibuster attempt in the Nebraska Legislature Tuesday evening. Sen. Rob Clements’ priority bill, LB468, as amended on the second round of debate, would have reduced the total amount of inheritance taxes Nebraska counties collect by around 24%, Clements said. Nebraska is one of five states with inheritance taxes and eliminating them altogether has been a longtime goal for Clements.
The Nebraska Legislature gave second-round approval Tuesday to a paid sick leave bill that is more restrictive than one voters approved last year.
As commencement season gets underway, University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold reflects on his first year leading the university system. He discussed federal cuts and priority changes, research and the state budget.
The Dust Bowl led to the creation of what is now called the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Just as it celebrates a major milestone, the agency is dealing with job losses, massive proposed budget cuts and talk of consolidation.
Tuesday is general election day in Omaha, where voters are set to decide who will lead Nebraska’s largest city over the next four years. Nebraska Public Media’s Jackie Ourada spoke with Arthur Jones who’s covering the election.
The Nebraska Legislature restored proposed cuts in funding for courts and domestic violence programs, amid uncertainty about future budget conditions.
American Mariachi sets the stage for the Omaha Community Playhouse’s first play consisting of an entirely Latino cast. The show made both local and national history by being the first rendition at a community playhouse.
A bill aimed at combatting the influence of China and other "adversary nations" is advancing in the Nebraska Legislature.
As the Trump Administration continues to focus on immigration policy, the laws enforcing those policies have been challenged in court, including the U-S Supreme Court. A Nebraska-based immigration lawyer to clears up some of the misunderstandings.
Game and Parks crews stock millions of fish into Nebraska’s lakes every year to keep fish populations high at popular lakes and to replenish lakes where fish either aren’t living quite as long or aren’t reproducing enough. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission explains why certain Nebraska lakes get stocked and with what fish species.
The Nebraska Legislature Thursday advanced pay increase for judges, but put off a proposal to extend workers' compensation coverage for firefighters who contract cancer.
Nebraska’s horsemen are off to the races at Legacy Downs in Lincoln this Friday, the racetrack’s first day of its live meet. They will host around 90 races in the next five weeks, helping keep Nebraskan horse owners, jockeys and caretakers in the state while generating more betting revenue.
Geoscientists gathered at Glacial Till Vineyard and Winery in Palmyra, Thursday to look at two soil core samples collected from deep underground. A soil core sample is essentially a sample of what is beneath someone’s feet, starting at the top layer, and going down deeper and deeper into the Earth. The winery got its name after one of these layers, the glacial till.
Geoscientists gathered at Glacial Till Vineyard and Winery in Palmyra, Thursday to look at two soil core samples collected from deep underground. A soil core sample is essentially a sample of what is beneath someone’s feet, starting at the top layer, and going down deeper and deeper into the Earth. The winery got its name after one of these layers, the glacial till.
The site for one of the most in-demand public golf courses in the country isn’t where you would expect. It’s in Homer, Nebraska, within the hills of the Danish Alps. Landmand Golf Club is one of several new high level courses in the state. Many of the state’s courses remind people of sport’s origins.
This weekend marks the 105th year of the Cinco de Mayo celebration in South Omaha. Its growth for over a century has had both a community and economic impact on the area.
Lawmakers began their second day debating how best to make up for a significant shortfall in the state budget. In recent years, the state has been flush with cash, thanks to post-pandemic revenue growth and an influx of federal dollars, but this year’s budgeting process has looked a little different. Sen. Myron Dorn, a member of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee serving his seventh year in the Unicameral, said most of the body lacks the institutional knowledge and experience that would be valuable.
Omaha’s mayoral race will face Mayor Jean Stothert against Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing Jr. in Tuesday's general election.
Students at Doane University are helping one dog’s life get a little easier. An engineering class of sophomores and juniors spent the semester building and fitting a prosthetic leg for Nugget, a mini-goldendoodle with three legs.
Parents, teachers and advocates gathered to celebrate 60 years of Head Start, a federally-funded child care program for low-income families. The group also celebrated continued funding after President Donald Trump dialed back on a proposal to cut the program.
It’s been a difficult year for the honeybee, and an even harder one for beekeepers. When taking their bees out of winter conditions, beekeepers across the U.S., including in Nebraska, found entire colonies dead. Experts haven’t figured out why.
Community organizations in Lincoln are hosting mental health support groups in both English and Spanish. The sessions are meant to provide a service otherwise inaccessible for some of the state’s populations.
It’s general election day in Lincoln, where voters are deciding on four school board seats, three city council seats and one spot on the Airport Authority. Also on the ballot is a measure that seeks to bar landlords from denying renters based solely on their source of income. Nebraska Public Media’s Jackie Ourada spoke with reporter Brian Beach on the Capital City’s election.
State auditor Mike Foley says Nebraska is spending too much on leasing commercial office space. In a letter he sent to the Legislature’s Performance Audit Committee Monday, Foley highlighted the 37% increase in the amount the state paid for commercially leased space over the last five years. He said the state should consider buying or building new properties to save money long term, since the cost per square foot is significantly cheaper at state-owned buildings.
Law professors at the University of Nebraska sent a letter to Nebraska’s congressional delegation this week, citing concerns over what they say is the Trump administration’s lack of respect for the rule of law. The letter reads in part, “We are concerned that the rule of law is in peril, and we urge you to be vigilant in its defense.” The letter cites the administration’s revocation of student visas, the lack of due process for immigrants prior to deportation and the failure to comply with federal court rulings as evidence of its disregard for judicial authority.
Five of the six candidates for Lincoln City Council are people of color, one is an immigrant, and two identify as LGTBQ. Incumbent Sandra Washington says she can't remember a time the candidate pool was this diverse.
The Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, Col. John Bolduc retires May 4 after leading the patrol for eight years, ending a 38-year career in law enforcement. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson sat down with Bolduc to first find out what led him into law enforcement.
The Nebraska Legislature's Appropriations Committee swept more cash from agencies and approved using more of the state's cash reserve to balance the budget.
In November, Nebraska voters approved initiatives legalizing possession of up to 5 ounces of medical marijuana. Thursday afternoon, a bill to regulate it advanced from the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee.
Kearney Police Chief Bryan Waugh will be the next Nebraska State Patrol superintendent. Current superintendent Colonel John Bolduc retires at the end of this week.
In February, a U.S. Department of Agriculture report projected a $49 billion-dollar agricultural trade deficit for fiscal year 2025. That represents an all-time high. Trump announced a 90-day pause on most tariffs after a market decline in early April, but Chinese imports are subject to a 145% tariff, while other countries still have a 10% tariff. Fischer said she met with the Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, earlier this week and learned that trade negotiations are taking place with a number of countries.
Voters heading to the polls Tuesday in Lincoln will vote on a ballot initiative that affects landlords and tenants alike. The initiative would, if passed, bar landlords from denying tenants based solely on their source of income. These include Section 8 vouchers, disability payments, pension disbursements, annuities, alimony, child support and foster care subsidies.
LB649, known as the Defense Efforts Workforce Act, would offer a 5% wage credit to defense contractors capped at $4 million dollars each year across all employers. To qualify for the credit, companies must have at least 10 full-time employees dedicated to the mission of Offutt Air Force Base. That would include employees working on intercontinental ballistic missile projects in the Nebraska panhandle and other businesses that report to the United States Strategic Command.
The Nebraska Legislature gave second-round approval Wednesday to a measure that would create exceptions to voter-approved minimum wage increases.
Landowners in Colorado are resisting Nebraska's attempts to acquire land to build the Perkins County Canal.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has been a vocal opponent of synthetic marijuana, such as Delta-8, and the medical marijuana ballot measures that were overwhelmingly approved by voters last fall. Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada spoke with AG Hilgers on his strong opposition and what's next for him as his first term winds down.
Nebraska is one of five states that still levy an inheritance tax after Iowa ended its tax earlier this year. Getting rid of the tax has long been a goal for Sen. Rob Clements. His priority bill for this session, which was debated on the floor throughout the morning and afternoon, would reduce the two highest inheritance tax rates to 3%, while increasing the amount exempted for all three classes.
In January, Wheeler Elementary School debuted a special sign outside on its playground and the school’s staff has already seen students benefiting from these signs.
Tara Blunt spent months asking officials at Falls City Public Schools for help as her son dealt with racism and physical abuse at school. Now, she’s sued a gutted U.S. Department of Education for taking too long to investigate.
About a month ago, research funding for post COVID research was cut from federal budgets. But because of patient advocacy, some of those grants have been restored.
How does the arrest of a Nebraskan for teaching German to students in the 1920s set a precedent for the U.S. Supreme Court? Fascinating historical events become relevant in a new podcast on Nebraska Public Media, hosted by Bill Kelly. “Once Again” premiers May 1.
A new economic forecast means senators will likely have to make further budget cuts or increase taxes to balance the budget.
Last month, weather balloon launches at National Weather Service offices near Omaha, North Platte and Rapid City, South Dakota were scaled back or stopped entirely due to low staffing levels. Meteorologists say that without the weather balloons, forecasting becomes less accurate. The Omaha office has been down five of its 13 forecasters for the past three years.
A few years ago, the Otoe-Missouria Tribe was welcomed back to their ancestral lands in Nebraska. A new milestone being unveiled Saturday (4/26) hopes to continue that reconciliation.
Over the last 100 years, the world has lost about 90% of the wild cheetah population, but for about 35 years, the fastest big cat on the planet has been making a comeback, thanks to the Cheetah Conservation Fund started by University of Nebraska Adjunct Professor Laurie Marker. Marker recently visited Lincoln, and Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with her and asked what goes into successfully raising cheetahs.
At least five youth sports facilities are in the beginning phases of construction or opening up across Nebraska, including one in Lincoln holding its grand opening this weekend.
This week marks a year since an EF-4 tornado destroyed homes in Elkhorn, Bennington and Blair. While some families chose to rebuild and stay in their neighborhoods, others moved on.
The High Plains Regional Climate Center is back online after being dark for 36 hours last week due to a funding delay.
Senators gave second round approval Tuesday to banning production and sale of lab-based meat in Nebraska, as well as merging several departments.
WarHorse Casino in Omaha opened its new expansion Tuesday. The new addition adds 400 slot machines, two new dining options and a skywalk that connects the parking structure to the casino. It also has added 130 more jobs to the casino that already employs about 350 people, said Lance Morgan, CEO of Warhorse Gaming Lance.
Nebraska Sens. Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer announced their commitment to extending President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, aiming to help farmers, ranchers and their families keep their taxes low.
Nebraska lawmakers were working on passing a bill that would have allowed work-authorized non-U.S. citizens to receive unemployment benefits. It received bipartisan support until a state senator said federal influence shut it down.
The Committee on Pacific Conflict considers threats to state supply chains, investments, and critical infrastructure.
An old saying says March often “comes in like a lion.” But this March was more like a huffing and puffing wolf, blowing a lot of stuff down. March is known to be windy in Nebraska – typically the second-windiest month on average behind April, according to National Weather Service. In fact, March 2025 set some of the windiest and costliest records in Nebraska history, continuing an escalating trend of expensive and damaging weather in Nebraska.
A new book is out about Elon Musk. “Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk" is a detailed account of Musk's life and career, authored by Washington Post technology journalist, Faiz Siddiqui, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate. Hubris Maximus means excess self-confidence, often leading to failure. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson asked Siddiqui how Musk fits into that definition.
The U.S. trade war with China is coming at a tough time for American farmers, who are already dealing with lower crop prices and higher costs for farm necessities. Tariffs are likely to push crop prices further down, while increasing the costs for fertilizer and farm equipment.
Earth Day is April 22. To mark the 55th observance of Earth Day, famed astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson is speaking at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln to offer a cosmic perspective on sustainability and climate change.
A bill to regulate medical marijuana remained stuck in a legislative committee, while senators advanced teachers' pension changes Thursday.
The effort to regulate medical marijuana in Nebraska faced a setback Thursday afternoon in the Unicameral. The Legislature’s General Affairs Committee voted 5 to 3 against advancing a bill meant to regulate medical cannabis. More than two-thirds of Nebraskans voted in favor of legalizing medical marijuana through an initiative in November’s election.
The High Plains Regional Climate Center’s website went offline Thursday morning after its funding lapsed at midnight
Six years after flooding devastated Nebraska and claimed four lives, communities are still recovering. And as that recovery continues, the federal government’s role is unclear.
Host Intro: People who assault hospital workers or pharmacists would get harsher sentences under a bill advancing in the Legislature. And defense contractors who move to Nebraska would get a break on their income taxes, under another proposal that’s moving ahead. From the Capitol, Fred Knapp of Nebraska Public Media News has this legislative update:
A lifesaving program started in Virginia in 1999 continues to help find lost autistic children in Nebraska. Project LifeSaver is designed to help protect children with a tendency to wander. Lincoln businessman Dan Young and retired Lincoln Police Officer Todd Beam are responsible for spreading the program across Nebraska.
The Nebraska Legislature Tuesday considered enhancing penalties for assaults on hospital workers and pharmacists.
Nebraska track and field athletes had not won an indoor NCAA championship in more than a decade. That was until this year, at the 2025 Championships. Senior Axelina Johansson won the women’s shot put title, the first Husker woman to win an indoor crown in 20 years. Fellow senior Tyus Wilson took home the men’s high jump championship, the first men’s indoor title in 16 years.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Monday to asking voters to legalize mobile online sports betting.
Thousands of schools, farmers and food pantries in the Midwest and Great Plains planned on federal dollars over the next year to support local food purchases. And then the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut the programs.
The Nebraska Department of Education and state K-12 schools have not yet responded to a federal directive to eliminate DEI programs. It’s one of several things that NDE Commissioner Brian Maher said the state department is waiting for clarity on.
The Nebraska Legislature Friday advanced a proposal to scale back tax incentive and credit programs in order to help balance the budget.
More than 500 measles cases and two deaths have been reported in Texas this year, and the outbreak is spreading to other parts of the country. As of Friday, Nebraska does not have any reported cases, but neighboring states Kansas and Colorado do. At a press conference Friday afternoon, Gov. Jim Pillen said the virus’ arrival in Nebraska is not a matter of if, but when.
Many families wanted to receive the “Comprehensive Waiver.” But under the new system, only three percent have been offered it. Instead, most people are offered a family support waiver, and 32% of them have declined.
This Saturday, vinyl fans will be lining up outside their favorite music shop and celebrating Record Store Day- a day when people support their local record store, while also buying limited release records.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced a bill aiming to protect young people online, despite concerns it could violate the First Amendment.
Sen. Pete Ricketts, in a press call Wednesday, said he supports President Donald Trump’s tariff plan, but does not support the bills in the U.S. House and Senate looking to limit the president’s ability to levy those tariffs.
The Nebraska Cornhusker wrestling team has experienced recent success never seen before in Lincoln. Sophomore Antrell Taylor and Senior Ridge Lovett won individual NCAA championships. A Husker wrestler had not won a title since 2011, when Jordan Burroughs earned his second NCAA gold.
Efforts to keep junk foods from being paid for by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, are increasing at the federal and state level. Lawmakers proposing such bills say they want to encourage healthy habits, but some food advocates say the restrictions would have harmful effects.
A proposal to switch Nebraska back to a winner-take-all system for Electoral College voting fell short Tuesday in the Legislature.
April 1975, as the Vietnam War was ending, President Ford authorized Operation Babylift where thousands of Vietnamese children were flown out of the country to be adopted in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Florida. At refueling stops at Hickam Air Force Base near Honolulu Nebraska native Gwen Phalen helped care for infants. She recorded a letter April 8, 1975 to her grandmother in Orleans, Nebraska recounting the experience.
President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to enact a minimum of 10 percent tariffs on all foreign goods. Many countries, including China, India and Japan, will face tariffs more than double that. John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, says the move will make it harder to find new markets for the state’s agricultural goods while hurting existing export markets.
Humanities Nebraska received news late Wednesday night that a little over 40% of their budget is being cut. This cut comes from a total termination of the money coming from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Nebraska Department of Education is losing about $9 million left over from federal COVID-19 relief funds, Commissioner Brian Maher told the State Board of Education at its meeting Friday.
The Nebraska Legislature will vote Tuesday on switching to a winner-take-all Electoral College system; sponsor says he doesn't have the votes.
Lincoln voters will decide Tuesday whether to continue a quarter-cent sales tax to pay for street projects. The tax was originally approved in 2019 by a vote of 50.7% to 49.4% and is scheduled to end on September 30.
Hospitals’ access to a federal drug discount program will be strengthened under a bill passed in the Nebraska Legislature Thursday. The 340B program requires drug companies to provide discounts to certain hospitals in exchange for their participation in Medicare and Medicaid. In recent years, some drug companies have placed data reporting requirements on hospitals and restricted which pharmacies they can use to distribute the discounted drugs. A bill from Sen. Brian Hardin prohibits these restrictions.
The future of brand inspections and funding for the University of Nebraska were among subjects considered by the Nebraska Legislature Wednesday.
A Nebraska official says Colorado landowners seem uninterested in negotiations over land for the proposed Perkins County Canal.
It’s been more than five years since the World Health Organization identified the virus known as COVID-19 as a pandemic. But there are still many unknowns about Post-COVID, or Long COVID. Here's how the longer-lasting illness looks in the state.
The Nebraska Legislature voted first round approval Tuesday to a measure allowing a lower minimum wage for young workers.
The USDA's Rural Development agency has provided billions of dollars each year to small towns, farmers and businesses. Now staffing upheaval and budget cuts brought on by the Trump administration may be eating into the agency’s effectiveness.
Nebraska lawmakers gave first-round approval Monday to a ban on making or selling lab-grown meat in the state.
A continuing resolution Congress passed to keep the government from shutting down also dried up funding for several water projects in Nebraska. That includes more than $8 million for a pipeline connecting the Santee Sioux Reservation in northeast Nebraska with clean drinking water – something the tribe hasn’t had in nearly 6 years. Tribal vice chairman Kameron Runnels says the setback is frustrating, but he has faith that the project will eventually be funded.
An ornithologist spent four decades tracking 40,000 bird deaths at a single building. His records paved the way to better scientific and public understanding.
On Tuesday, voters in Omaha will be deciding which mayoral and city council candidates will advance to the May 13 general election.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced a proposal to exclude certain workers from paid sick leave approved by voters last November.
Brand inspectors have been ensuring the ownership of cattle at ranches and feedlots in the parts of Nebraska for more than 100 years. Now, a bill in the Unicameral seeks to exempt feedlots from paying for this inspection. Nebraska Public Media’s Brian Beach visited southwest Nebraska to learn why ranchers and beef producers are passionate about the legislation.
The Nebraska Legislature continued debating paid sick leave, with a vote likely Friday.
Nebraska Health Districts are assessing how much money they might lose after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services canceled nearly 12 billion dollars' worth of federal grants to state and local health departments this week, citing the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Nebraska Legislature on Wednesday resumed debating proposed exclusions to a voter-approved sick leave requirement.
Nebraska state senators advanced bills designed to pay for expanded health care, despite concerns about possible federal cuts.
The CDC has counted nearly 400 measles cases in the U.S. since January- a 33% increase from last year's total cases. While there are no cases in Nebraska, there are 10 in Kansas, and state experts warn of a potential spread following the spring break travel season.
Certified Naturally Grown offers farmers a cheaper and less time-consuming option to communicate how they produce their food. But terms like “natural” on food labels can be confusing for consumers.
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference has fined Chadron State College for behavior by a student athlete who was attending a softball game against New Mexico Highlands last month.
Several state organizations are keeping an eye on the potential impacts from starting to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to dismantle the federal department last week, although it would take an act of Congress to officially eliminate the department.
A proposal to scale back who would be covered by a paid sick leave requirement approved by voters drew opposition in the Legislature Thursday.
Nebraska’s sandhill crane migration is stronger than ever, despite the worries about bird flu. Hear what the experts are saying about this year's migration and the effects that it has on south central Nebraska.
A legislative proposal to give all Nebraska counties the option to conduct elections entirely by mail was discussed Wednesday/this afternoon. Currently, only counties with populations under 10,000 can apply to the Secretary of State to mail ballots to all registered voters. In the last general election, 11 of the state’s 67 eligible counties did just that. In most counties, voters must request an absentee ballot to vote by mail.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced bills Wednesday taxing alternative nicotine products and offering housing help to survivors of domestic violence.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is ending its Local Food to Schools program. Current funding will continue through December, leaving food producers and schools wondering what will happen to their partnerships when the funding is gone.
Congressman Mike Flood was greeted with a relatively hostile crowd at his town hall in Columbus Tuesday evening. Flood represents Nebraska’s First Congressional District, which includes Columbus, Lincoln and Norfolk. Attendees booed references to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The biggest applause of the night came when Flood expressed his support for funding Ukraine.
Bills moving through the Nebraska Legislature were temporarily sidetracked by objections to the process Tuesday, while the Appropriations Committee heard proposals to divert money from the Perkins County Canal project.
A proposal to reduce the number of reports required on health topics drew opposition in the Nebraska Legislature Monday.
Nebraska universities would be able to pay athletes name, image and likeness compensation directly under a bill heard Monday afternoon in a legislative committee. Last year, former college athletes brought a case against the NCAA claiming that it unfairly restricted them from profiting from NIL. The NCAA agreed to a nearly $3 billion settlement, allowing universities to pay current and former athletes the money they may have missed out on. But current Nebraska law prohibits universities from directly paying NIL compensation to athletes.
For years, it’s been up to teachers to control cell phones in their classrooms. Now, many school districts have started creating a wider policy, and a bill in the state legislature would require all districts to follow suit.
The Legislature’s Revenue Committee considered proposals to end taxes on tips and overtime pay. During a hearing Friday afternoon, Sen. Danielle Conrad said she introduced the bills to show her support for working families. She acknowledged opposition to the policies from both left and right-leaning think tanks, but she said the policies have majority support from both parties according to polling.
Nebraska state senators discussed increasing their pay and taxing certain services Friday.
Under a bill from Sen. Merv Riepe, juveniles could be detained as young as 11 years old and charged as an adult as young as 12. That’s two years younger than current law allows. The bill also expands the list of crimes that make juveniles eligible for detention. Riepe said he introduced the bill to protect youth and promote community safety.
The Nebraska Legislature on Thursday considered proposals dealing with taxes, transgender athletes, and license plates.
A Nebraska legislative committee heard a proposal to repeal the mandate for fluoride in water supplies, and senators advanced a proposal to schedule school bond elections on a more regular schedule.
A constitutional amendment to end inheritance taxes in Nebraska was discussed in the Legislature Wednesday afternoon. Nebraska is one of five states that has inheritance taxes, and the only state where it is collected exclusively at the county level. Sen. Bob Hallstrom, who introduced the amendment, said the change would help the state be more competitive.
The U.S. Department of Education announced mass layoffs on Tuesday, cutting almost half of the department’s employees. Nebraska State Education Association officials even if they aren’t immediate, changes at the federal level can trickle down to the state education system.
The Nebraska Legislature Tuesday advanced bills requiring schools notify parents of the books their children check out. And lawmakers advanced conflicting bills requiring year-round standard or daylight saving time.
A bill that would allocate funding for cybersecurity protections in schools was discussed in The Nebraska Legislature’s Education Committee Tuesday. The bill — known as the HACKER Act — would also create a state cybersecurity team.
For the first time ever, Omaha won the Summit League Conference Tournament, defeating the University of St. Thomas Sunday. That means the Mavericks will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
100,000 acres of land burned by wildfires is typically the marker of a bad fire year in Nebraska. We’re already at 30,000 acres burned this year, and we’re not even through March. After a stretch of warm, windy and even record-breaking weather, Nebraska Public Media’s Jackie Ourada asked State Forester John Erixson about Nebraska’s fire outlook for 2025.
Earlier this month, the lives of thousands of employees for the United States Agency for International Development or USAID were disrupted when the Trump administration announced it was dismantling the foreign aid agency. Nebraska Public Media caught up with a Nebraska woman who is a former long-time USAID employee and whose husband still works for the agency.
Nebraska legislators heard a proposal to legalize online sports betting Monday, and a committee advanced winner-take-all Electoral College voting to the full Legislature for debate.
Nebraska could rejoin the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact under a bill discussed in the Legislature. The compact is made up of appointed government officials from eight member states that advocate for passenger rail projects and funding. Nebraska first joined the group in 2001 but left in 2018 due to concerns with the cost of membership and limited returns.
A group of Elkhorn residents are hoping to start an orchestra program in the local school district. They plan to speak to the Elkhorn Public Schools Board of Education Monday night.
The Nebraska Department of Education provided an update at Friday's State Board of Education meeting that national conversations have not yet impacted the state education department. NDE Commissioner Brian Maher also spoke about the state of mental health training funds that failed to be approved last month.
Some future teachers are left wondering about their fate as education students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The program that would have trained dozens of teachers lost its federal grant due to national spending cuts.
Some future teachers are left wondering about their fate as education students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The program that would have trained dozens of teachers lost its federal grant due to national spending cuts.
The Nebraska Legislature got more bad news about the state budget Thursday, even as they gave final approval to a series of bills.
Two bills introduced in the Nebraska legislature propose changes to the paid sick leave and minimum wage increase ballot initiatives passed by Nebraskans. If passed, these bills would restrict which Nebraskans can take advantage of their benefits.
Where parents can surrender their infants without facing legal consequences would expand under a bill heard at the Nebraska Legislature Thursday. Currently, the Nebraska Safe Haven Law allows parents to drop off infants younger than 90 days old to staff at any hospital, fire station or police station monitored 24 hours a day.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced bills Wednesday dealing with childcare subsidies and protections for rural hospitals and pharmacies.
Housing aid for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking advances; Lincoln East Beltway funding discussed.
Eighteen-year-old Joe Burgess ran for a seat on his county board and won. Burgess represents 3,000 people in District 5 of York County from his dorm room at UNL.
The Nebraska Legislature Monday advanced a proposal requiring schools to adopt policies restricting cell phone use, and a public hearing was held on requiring employers to use the federal E-verify data base to check potential employees' immigration status.
Employees at U.S. Department of Agriculture research facilities across the Midwest have lost their jobs as part of the Trump Administration’s efforts to trim the federal workforce. Former and current employees at one of those labs say the job cuts will impact agricultural research and support for farmers.
Senators considered California-style property tax limits Friday, and received a projection of increased state revenues.
Two recently opened music venues are hoping to change the narrative that Omaha is flyover country for traveling bands. The Astro in La Vista, and the Steelhouse Omaha were created to help fill a void that Omaha had when it came to upper-midsized venues.
Members of the Nebraska Legislature considered proposals Thursday dealing with school superintendents' pay, and their own term limits.
Friends and family gathered inside Ralston Arena to remember the life of fallen State Trooper Kyle McAcy on Thursday. McAcy died while on duty last Monday, Feb. 17. He was struck by a snowplow while helping people involved in a traffic crash on Interstate-80.
Federal efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion, or D-E-I has affected the way schools teach Black History Month. It’s putting additional pressure on educators, who are finding themselves in the middle of the conversation.
The Legislature's Revenue Committee held a public hearing on a proposal to continue an income tax credit for property taxes by one year.
Nebraska lawmakers debated Wednesday over what the attorney general's role should be in writing rules to implement proposed restrictions on tech companies marketing to youth.
A 6000-acre fire in central Nebraska is sparking emergency responses from across the state. Beatrice Rural Fire Department sent two volunteers to grapple with the Lilian and East Table Road Fires northwest of Broken Bow.
The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly voted to approve a Republican-led budget resolution with a goal of large federal spending cuts. One Nebraska representative was on the fence, but ultimately voted along party lines.
All Nebraska public and private school students could have free lunches under a proposal heard Tuesday evening at the state capitol. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh’s Hunger-Free Schools Act would require schools to offer free lunches to students regardless of their federal free or reduced lunch eligibility. The state would reimburse schools to offset the cost of the new requirement.
University of Nebraska officials told the Legislature's Appropriations Committee that proposed budget cuts would hurt their efforts.
University of Nebraska Board of Regents policies outlining diversity initiatives in hiring, admissions and scholarships are on the chopping block. This comes after the U.S. Department of Education required schools to stop diversity policies or risk losing federal funding.
Senators in the Nebraska Legislature debated schools' handling of student data, and heard proposals to increase senators' pay.
Nebraska lawmakers heard a proposal Monday to require the Ten Commandments be displayed in public schools. Sen. Dave Murman’s bill would apply to both public and private schools and mandate the commandments be posted in every elementary school classroom and middle and high school buildings. He said the requirement would educate students on the nation’s foundational values.
UNL researchers surveyed local journalists across the state to see how much local news is being produced statewide.
The Nebraska Legislature on Thursday debated a proposal aimed at setting policies about schools' use of technology to monitor students.
Representative Don Bacon, who represents Nebraska’s second congressional district, spoke with Nebraska Public Media on national cybersecurity, federal spending cuts and foreign relations.
More than 15,000 influenza cases have been reported this flu season, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Nebraska senators advanced a proposal to treat gig employees as independent contractors, and heard a proposal designed to limit Chinese influence.
A proposed state budget from Gov. Jim Pillen includes cuts to several water recreation projects in Nebraska. But a bill from Sen. Barry DeKay would give authority to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to carry out other, cheaper park enhancements. DeKay, who represents a northeast Nebraska district that includes Lewis and Clark Lake and Niobrara State Park, said in a hearing Wednesday his legislation will help get projects across the finish line despite potential budget cuts.
Some of Nebraska’s elected officials are weighing in on negotiations in the war between Russia and Ukraine. They are also addressing President Donald Trump’s comments saying that Ukraine “should have never started it.”
Faith leaders from across the state and across denominations have responded to a recent immigration enforcement policy that would allow arrests in places of worship. Here's how some Nebraska church leaders disagree with the policy and even plan to disregard it.
The national effort to cut federal funding has trickled down to some University of Nebraska-Lincoln programs. The future of one program focused on recruiting and retaining teachers is now up in the air.
Sen. Loren Lippincott's newspaper column criticizing diversity, equity and inclusion programs in aviation sparked heated discussion Tuesday in the Nebraska Legislature.
Sen. Barry DeKay, a rancher from Niobrara, introduced a bill at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen that would ban the manufacturing, sale and distribution of cultured protein products. These products are made by cultivating animal stem cells for several weeks and combining them with other ingredients. They are not yet for sale in Nebraska. DeKay said he wants the product banned until there is more information about its health ramifications.
Nebraska State Trooper, Kyle McAcy , was struck and killed by a snowplow on I-80 Monday morning. He was responding to a crash involving the snowplow and two other vehicles when the plow backed into him.
Girls wrestling is the fastest growing Nebraska high school sport in the last four years, according to the Nebraska School Activities Association. Tuesday’s state tournament is more evidence of that growth. It’s the first time girls have their own championship event, separate from boys wrestling, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha.
Peat bogs sequester a massive amount of the Earth's carbon dioxide. But even as scientists work to better understand bogs' sequestration, the wetlands are under threat.
President Donald Trump has published several executive orders that could directly impact agriculture, Nebraska's top industry. Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada asked U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts about those impacts and what legislation we could see this session from the former governor.
The Nebraska Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee heard proposals Thursday for further restrictions on abortions.
The Nebraska Legislature debated expanding the definition of who would be considered an independent contractor, in contrast to an employee.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center budget would take a major hit if a Trump administration policy to reduce National Institutes of Health grant funding goes into effect. The change would cap UNMC's funding for indirect research costs, which cover things like water and electricity, at 15%, instead of their previously negotiated 53%.
The Nebraska Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee heard a proposal to merge two state agencies Thursday. Sen. Tom Brandt introduced a bill to merge the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environment and Energy. Gov. Jim Pillen testified in favor of the bill, citing it as an important step to protect Nebraska’s water.
Dangerously cold temperatures, high wind gusts and a wintery mix come to south central NE this weekend, causing a potential for icy roads. Subzero temperatures also continue following Tuesday's winter storm.
Nebraska has never had a State Poet like Jewel Rodgers. She is the youngest person to hold the position at 27 and she is the first African American. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson caught up with the Omaha native as she travels the state impressing audiences with her form of spoken word poetry.
The Nebraska Legislature Wednesday considered proposals dealing with cybersecurity breaches and toughening penalties for crimes in areas hit by natural disasters.
The Nebraska Legislature’s Revenue Committee considered a bill Wednesday to tax the cryptocurrency industry. Sen. Mike Jacobson introduced the legislation at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen. The bill would place an excise tax of one cent per kilowatt hour on electricity used for cryptocurrency mining operations .
New data shows the University of Nebraska system had a 6.4 billion dollar impact on the state in 2024, but officials say that impact could change if cuts to federal research funding go through.
Nebraska lawmakers considered proposals Tuesday making it tougher to sue companies for data breaches, and trying to improve Medicaid payments for rural health care.
A Neligh teacher was surprised with the Milken Educator Award on Tuesday. The honor comes with a $25,000 check.
Nebraska's state aid to schools would increase modestly, with perhaps bigger changes later, under a proposal heard by the Education Committee Monday.
Each year, volunteers venture out nationwide on a single night for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual point-in-time count in an effort to tally the country’s homeless population. Rural volunteers say they rely on the count to aid their unhoused populations. Meanwhile, experts say HUD may be undercounting the country’s homeless.
With the Husker baseball season starting back up Friday, announcer Greg Sharpe won’t relay the action on the Huskers Radio Network for the first time since 2008. He’s currently battling stage four pancreatic cancer, which has a five year survival rate of one percent. Sharpe has still found ways to keep his voice booming over the state’s airwaves in the face of unimaginable challenges.
The U.S. could lose up to 15 million acres of forestland to development by 2060. One effort to keep forests intact is to give landowners a financial incentive through the carbon market.
Trade disputes remain center stage as President Donald Trump has imposed increased tariffs on China and plans more for Canada and Mexico. Here's how these international conflicts could find their way to the Midwest.
The Nebraska Legislature's Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee held a public hearing Friday on proposed restrictions on transgender athletes and others.
A grant program for teacher mental health training is at a standstill after falling short at the State Board of Education on Friday.
A proposed bill would require Nebraska companies to disclose when they use artificial intelligence systems to make consequential decisions for consumers. The bill mentions specific areas like housing, employment, government services and healthcare.
Nebraska Congressman Mike Flood told Nebraska Public Media News education is done best at the local level as long as the federal government gives states adequate resources.
Arguments for and against tax credit-funded scholarships for private and religious schools were heard by the Legislature's Revenue Committee Thursday.
Nebraska state senators Wednesday discussed preserving a drug donation program and strengthening approval authority over electrical transmission lines.
Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Brian Maher outlined the state’s plan to improve K-12 literacy in schools. The State Board of Education will vote on the plan at its meeting Friday.
Nebraska lawmakers considered a bill to strengthen a federal drug discount program this afternoon. Sen. Brian Hardin introduced the 340B Contract Pharmacy Protection Act to help rural hospitals. The 340B program allows certain hospitals and pharmacies to purchase drugs from manufacturers at a reduced cost. In recent years, some pharmaceutical companies restricted pharmacies from accessing the discounted drugs. Hardin said his bill would prohibit these companies from interfering with drug delivery.
The Legislature gave first round approval Tuesday to a bill codifying gig workers like Uber drivers as independent contractors, not employees.
The Legislature's Education Committee heard a proposal Tuesday to require schools to restrict cell phone use.
As misinformation about immigration enforcement spreads throughout some communities, some nonprofits across the state are working to ensure people know how to get reliable information and understand their constitutional rights.
Included in a flurry of executive orders issued hours after President Trump took office was a 90-day freeze on foreign aid. That order impacts the United States Agency for International Development, which funds the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska.
A bill to limit the addictive design elements of social media apps was discussed at the Nebraska Legislature Monday afternoon. Sen. Carolyn Bosn introduced the bill at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen. The legislation prevents minors from having their private information shared and requires companies to curb features like infinite scroll and frequent push alerts. Opponents of the bill say it is likely unconstitutional, citing a similar California law that the courts struck down. Bosn said the Nebraska proposal has addressed the legal concerns.
More than 15-thousand signatures were turned in Monday to place a measure on the upcoming Lincoln city election ballot aimed at helping renters. The Lincoln for Fair Housing coalition is leading the push to prohibit landlords from refusing to rent to tenants based on the source of their income. Elizabeth Engman, a community organizer with Nebraska Appleseed, says it would provide more housing options for renters.
A hearing was held on Monday to discuss a bill, introduced by Sen. Paul Strommen, that would make modifications to the mandatory paid sick leave law that 75% of Nebraskans voted into law last November.
Teh Legislature's Education Committee heard a bill aimed at combatting antisemitism Monday.
Gov. Jim Pillen's appointee to head the Department of Administrative Services was challenged, and a proposal to combat antisemitism was aired in the Nebraska Legislature Monday.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues to make arrests as part of President Donald Trump’s administration plans. Meanwhile, misinformation has reached immigrant communities around the state. Here's how some cities have been impacted by the false reports.
Aronia berry, also known as chokeberry, is a native fruit increasingly known for its health benefits, but producers are having trouble finding demand.
Nebraskans would no longer have their utilities, like electricity and natural gas, taxed by the state under a legislative proposal from Sen. Rick Holdcroft. At a hearing Friday afternoon, Holdcroft said heat and electricity are necessities, not luxuries to be taxed.
Whether or not gig workers like Uber drivers should be considered employees, and a proposal to have voters decide the future of the death penalty, were among subjects discussed in the Legislature on Friday.
The next time you order food or drinks at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, it will likely come from a different company. Aramark Sports and Entertainment will serve food, beer and other drinks at Husker football, volleyball and soccer games.
Views for and against returning Nebraska to the winner-take-all system of Electoral College voting were aired at a public hearing Thursday in the Legislature.
Companion, a film written and directed by Omaha native Drew Hancock, hits theaters today. Hancock graduated from Westside Highschool, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue his passion for film. In a conversation with Nebraska Public Media’s Arthur Jones, Hancock discusses how Omaha shaped his first feature length film.
Sen. Deb Fischer spoke with Nebraska Public Media's Brian Beach about her role in Trump inauguration, immigration policy and the Senate's cabinet nomination process.
Colorado's attorney general says legal action is "near certain" if Nebraska tries to condemn land in that state for the Perkins County Canal.
Bison — which most tribes refer to as buffalo — are an essential part of many Plains tribes' cultural and spiritual life. Now more tribes and tribal nations are working to reestablish bison herds on their own land.
Nebraska is offering to buy land in Colorado for the proposed Perkins County Canal. And some senators are renewing a push for scholarships to private and religious schools, an idea rejected by voters in a referendum last year.
The Legislature's Education Committee heard proposals to reimburse teachers for buying school supplies and to require colleges to report foreign funding. And the largest state employees' union has ratified a contract for the next two years.
District 2 U.S. Representative Don Bacon discussed taxes, immigration and other goals for this year.
The Nebraska Legislature finalized its rules and heard proposals to change prison operations Friday.
State lawmakers' votes on bills will be recorded as 'yes' or 'no' on final reading, even if they are present but not voting.
Sen. Merv Riepe recently introduced a bill at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen that would lower the age at which juveniles can be detained and charged as adults in felony cases. Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson said the bill is well timed, as the county has seen a recent increase in the number of juveniles committing repeat felonies. North Omaha Senators Ashlei Spivey and Terrell McKinney are against the bill because they said it would disproportionately impact minority youth.
The State of Nebraska recently published its largest study to date of nitrates in drinking water. Nebraska’s Department of Environment and Energy found that areas along the eastern and central portions of the Elkhorn and Platte River valleys had the highest concentration of nitrates in its water, as well as along the southwestern Kansas-Nebraska border.
A nonprofit devoted to spreading awareness of human trafficking and how it relates to Missing and Murdered Indigenous People is starting its second year with some new goals. Here's why it came to be and what the nonprofit wants to accomplish in 2025.
Members of the Nebraska Legislature debated requiring 'yes' or 'no' votes on final passage of bills Wednesday.
A sensory accessible hair salon in Omaha is following national trends to make services more inclusive for families with sensory needs. Sensory Suite Spot was founded for the reason of creating a place for those with sensory sensitivities to get a good haircut.
Under a 40-year-old law, the U.S. Department of Agriculture can withhold subsidies, like crop insurance and disaster payments, from farmers who clear, drain or convert wetlands. A company that owns farmland in Iowa says it’s unconstitutional.
A volleyball league for those with mobility issues has returned to Omaha. The city had a sitting volleyball recreation league and a competitive team in the 2010s, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic they were canceled. A joint effort from Omaha Parks and Recreation, CHI Health and Nebraska Adaptive Sports has brought back the recreational league.
Medical marijuana, abortion, and rules were among subjects discussed in the Nebraska Legislature Tuesday.
The U.S. Navy is naming a guided missile naval destroyer after the Medal of Honor SEAL team leader.
President Donald Trump was sworn in for a second time today Monday. During his inaugural address, President Trump spoke about the "series of executive orders" he was going to sign on his first day in office. Omaha’s various Republican party groups held an inauguration watch party in Papillion to celebrate his victory.
Bills introduced in the Nebraska Legislature Friday would affect teacher bonuses, onlilne sports betting, Delta 8 sales.
Proposals to abolish the death penalty and change how the Legislature operates are among proposals to be considered.
Nebraska casinos earned a total of $145 million in 2024. The state’s four casinos lost $125 thousand from sports gambling in December, even though it was the second most profitable month of 2024.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen proposed tightening the state's budget in his State of the State speech.
Banning the sale of lab-grown meat and stiffening penalties for criminal activity after a natural disaster were among topics of legislation introduced Tuesday.
Nebraska lawmakers proposed several bills in the unicameral this week focusing on the environment. Sen. Ashlei Spivey introduced legislation that would create an Office of Climate Action for the state. The office would create a state climate action plan, coordinate federal grants and monitor how state legislation passed the prior year impacts the environment.
Bills to expand sales taxes and freeze income tax cuts to reduce property taxes were among measures introduced Monday.
The Nebraska State Education Association, which is the teacher’s union, wants state lawmakers to make “major movements” this legislative session to tackle the teacher shortage.
Sen. Kathleen Kauth introduce a bill Friday to restrict transgender athletes to teams and locker rooms corresponding to their sex at birth.
Sen. Myron Dorn introduced a constitutional amendment in the Unicameral Friday that would raise the salary of state lawmakers to $30,000. He said the current salary of $12,000 is too low to live on without additional financial assistance. Dorn said that keeps some Nebraskans from running for office. In order to take effect, the amendment would need the votes of three-fifths of the Legislature and a majority of Nebraska voters in the next statewide election.
Some theatre teachers are asking the State Board of Education to increase the endorsement level requirement for educators. They spoke at the board's first meeting with four new members on Friday.
The Lincoln Children's Museum has introduced sensory friendly hours. They are doing this by dimming lights, quieting the noisier of exhibits and providing sensory sensitivity kits for visitors to use.
One Omaha, Nebraska couple was staying at a family home near Los Angeles when they evacuated as fires engulfed the canyon nearby.
A new professional volleyball team called Love Omaha will compete in its first match Friday when it visits Houston. It’s a part of a six-team pro league called League One Volleyball, or Love, for short.
A bill to change Nebraska’s electoral vote allocation to winner-take-all was introduced in the state legislature Thursday morning. Sen. Loren Lippincott introduced it on behalf of Gov. Jim Pillen, who listed it as one of his four legislative priorities for 2025. Lippincott said winner-take-all spreads out representation to Americans in all states, not just a select few.
The 109th Nebraska Legislature is officially in session. The Norris Chamber at the state capitol was filled with the families of senators Wednesday morning. The newly appointed Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court Jeffrey Funke swore in the 25 senators elected or reelected in November. After the swearing in ceremony, senators got to work electing the Speaker of the Legislature and 17 committee chairs.
A national construction association has released its annual report with expected challenges and outlooks during Donald Trump’s first year back in office. Here are the details on what construction firms in Nebraska are most concerned about for 2025.
Urban and suburban school districts may have a funding and staffing edge when it comes to implementing laws to support students with unstable housing. But, homeless education liaisons in small rural districts say close-knit communities make for efficient identification and support for students eligible for services.
The current Husker track at Innovation Campus in Lincoln doesn't have seating. Due to that and pandemic cancellations, the track and field program hasn’t hosted an outdoor meet since May 2019.
Governor Jim Pillen named Jewel Rodgers as Nebraska’s next state poet today/Monday during a ceremony at the state capitol. Rodgers will serve a five-year term as an advocate for poetry, literature and literacy on behalf of the state.She says she hopes to use the role to amplify the work of Nebraska writers and inspire others to consume more poetry. Rodgers is the first African American and youngest person to be named Nebraska State Poet.
Lincoln University in Missouri is heading a USDA-funded project researching the commodity, but its prohibition created high hurdles for getting the crop off the ground.
By the end of 2024, Omaha's Douglas County saw a record-breaking amount of whooping cough cases. This comes alongside large numbers of whooping cough cases both statewide and nationally.
On the first day of the 119th Congress, the House of Representatives gathered to elect a speaker. Democrats were united in voting for Hakeem Jeffries of New York, while all but one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, ultimately ended up voting for Mike Johnson of Louisiana. That was enough to give Johnson 218 votes, the exact number needed to be elected speaker.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Behavioral Health works with clinics to offer same day scheduling and walk-in appointments. There are multiple providers available in each of the state’s six behavioral health regions. A list of providers can be found on the DHHS Same Day webpage.
A new law giving people more control over their personal information online took effect in Nebraska Wednesday. The Nebraska Data Privacy Act allows consumers to access, correct or delete the data companies collect about them. It also enables Nebraskans to opt out of their data being sold to other companies or third parties. Consumers can download a universal opt out mechanism on their web browser, which automatically sends a signal to every website that they don’t want their data being sold.
Minden, Nebraska has been known as the Christmas City ever since Santa Claus himself made the declaration in 1923. The Kearney County Courthouse’s bright red and green lights can be seen from miles away and the community’s annual Light of the World Pageant brings visitors from across the region. “People really gasp when they see those lights," said Jack Hultquist, a longtime Minden resident. Now, the community is looking for ways to keep its traditions going for the next 100 years.
Keegan Smutz and his bridge maintenance crew help cut, deliver and decorate the Durham’s annual Christmas tree. Smutz has helped bring Christmas to Omaha for 10 years now.
Ridership on Amtrak in Nebraska has doubled in the past two years. According to data from the passenger rail carrier, ticket sales broke records nationwide in Fiscal Year 2024. The California Zephyr, the cross-country line serving Nebraska, makes makes one eastbound and one westbound stop at five stations. It’s a historic route traveling between Chicago and the San Francisco area. According to Amtrak’s annual report released this month, over 350,000 people used that line. That’s an increase of a 6.9 percent over the previous year.
Governor Jim Pillen announced the winners of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development grants Friday. Each of the grants were worth two hundred thousand dollars. The Southeast Nebraska Development District received funds to inventory the region’s water and wastewater infrastructure. The SPARK Developer Academy in Omaha and Central Nebraska Development District each won grants aimed at solving the affordable housing crisis. The grants are part of the 6 Regions, One Nebraska initiative, which launched earlier this year. The initiative was created to fund economic development projects in each of the state’s six community college districts.
As the 2024 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, Scott Phillips traveled the state and country sharing his experiences as an educator. But those events are winding down as his time in the role comes to a close.
A volunteer snow removal program in Lincoln is heading into its thirteenth winter season. The Snow Angels program connects volunteers with older adults and individuals with disabilities who are unable to clear their own sidewalks and driveways. Lincoln City Ordinance requires people to clear snow and ice from sidewalks by 9 a.m. the day after a snowstorm. Anyone interested in volunteering can sign up on the Lincoln City website.
Howard Hawks was more than a businessman and community leader. One woman shares his personal impact on her life.
One of the first “big picture” challenges facing Nebraska Public Media’s new general manager and CEO is a possibility the Trump administration will defund public media. In a recent conversation with Stacey Decker, Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson asked how seriously corporate executives are taking Trump’s threats.
Through reporting in Iowa, Nebraska and other states, The Midwest Newsroom has found a pattern of rural school districts relying on nonprofit organizations and community members to provide support and services where federal funding fails to meet needs.
Nebraska and Penn State are competing in the NCAA Volleyball Final Four Thursday night. The Huskers are looking to flip the script against the Nittany Lions.
The U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 Wednesday. The bill includes a pay raise for military members and allocates additional funds for projects at Offutt Air Force Base. The legislation also bans using defense funds on gender-affirming care for children of service members. Nebraska Senators Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer voted in favor of the bill, which now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk.
Gov. Jim Pillen discussed his proposal to ban the sale of lab-produced meat in Nebraska grocery stores.
Nebraska’s five electoral votes were officially cast this/Tuesday afternoon at the state capitol. Republican electors cast four votes for President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, while Democrat Peg Lippert, who represented Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, cast her ballot for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Nebraska was one of two states, along with Maine, to split its electoral votes between two candidates in 2024.
The December holidays have wrapped up, which means those Christmas trees have done their jobs. Here’s what one organization is doing to make sure the retired evergreens go to the right place.
Many Midwest states and outdoor organizations are now trying to reach groups that haven’t historically participated in hunting — including women. But while women make up about a third of new hunters, many face barriers to break into and continue with the sport.
Nebraska Department of Education officials encourage school districts to employ what’s called the inclusion method for students with disabilities. In theory, it would address teacher shortages and benefit students in the long run. But this method works only when all the supports are there.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers filed a lawsuit Monday against Change Healthcare due to a data breach in February that impacted more than 500,000 Nebraskans. The state alleges the healthcare company violated Nebraska’s consumer protection and data security laws because of its weak security measures and delay in notifying customers about the breach. Nebraska is the first state to take action against the Tennessee-based company, but Hilgers says he expects other states to follow suit.
Community members in South Omaha planned to meet with police last night, but many weren’t permitted to enter the room.
The largest decarbonized plastics plant in the world is coming to Falls City. Citroniq Chemicals will turn ethanol into a bio-based plastic material used in everything from automotive components to medical products. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with Lucas Froeschl, Executive Director of the Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise, to find out how Falls City landed this project, considered to be “one of the largest investments in Nebraska history."
Judeg Susan Strong denied John Kuehn's motion to prevent Governor Jim Pillen from signing and acknowledging the results of the medical marijuana ballot initiatives. The second lawsuit seeks to void the two medical cannabis initiatives voted into the law by Nebraskans in 2024.
Lincoln Public School board members expect to have an interim superintendent named in January. The board president shared the update at the district’s Board of Education meeting Tuesday night.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen ceremonially signed legislation to aid Nebraska National Guard recruitment efforts Monday. He was joined by state senators Tom Brewer, Rita Sanders and Loren Lippincott. Adjutant general for the Nebraska National Guard, Craig Strong, thanked the legislature and encouraged them to continue to reach out to service members for new legislative ideas.
Former Nebraska regent and Omaha businessman Howard Hawks died at age 89 on Dec. 6. Hawks served 18 years as a board member for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. He also co-founded one of the largest independent energy companies in the country, Tenaska.
Omaha's car-related pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities this year has over doubled according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. The City of Omaha Vision Zero crash dashboard shows there were 6 fatalities reported in 2023, while as of October 2024, 14 fatalities were reported.
Wild rice grows in shallow waterways in the Great Lakes region and parts of Canada. It’s a plant that holds important ecological and cultural significance, but it’s been on the decline since the early 1900s.
A bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at the state capitol building Friday. It was given by the Consulate General of India in Seattle and will be located in Governor Jim Pillen’s hearing room. Pillen also declared December 6 as “A Day of Remembrance for Mahatma Gandhi” throughout the state of Nebraska.
Creighton and Nebraska didn’t lose a set in the first and second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament over the weekend.
The University of Nebraska’s economic impact on the state has grown from $5.8 billion to $6.4 billion in the past three years, Paul Umbach from consulting firm Tripp Umbach said at the Board of Regents meeting Friday.
A Nebraska congressman is sponsoring legislation intended to bolster protocols for the organization responsible for handling cases of abuse in sports.
The 76th annual Nebraska State Christmas tree lighting ceremony is Sunday and will be held at the capitol in Lincoln. The tree was donated by Pat and Terry Hastreiter. The couple said they heard about the search in the newspaper and thought to enter their four spruce trees for consideration.
Charles Hoffman, a spokesperson for the Air Force Global Strike Command, says the wing will allow the Air Force to improve nuclear communications, command and control. The 95th Wing is expected to add around 70 personnel to the base and be fully operational by January.
A wood building material can be used in high-rise structures, giving it the potential to replace materials that are bad for the climate, while also locking carbon into buildings for decades.
Thousands of insect species use vibrations to communicate. Now, in part because of the foundational research of a Midwestern biology professor, more researchers are exploring insect vibrational communication to ward against pests and understand climate change.
BMO employees and United Way of the Midlands volunteers assembled more than 200 homeless outreach kits for Giving Tuesday. New Visions Homeless Services will distribute the kits across the Omaha metro area. United Way of the Midlands spokesperson Carmen Steele says the process was rewarding and she is thankful for the work of the volunteers.
The Nebraska State Board of Canvassers met to certify the results of the 2024 general election Monday afternoon. Deputy Secretary of State for Elections Wayne Bena said nearly 70,000 ballots were hand counted after the election and only 7 had discrepancies between the hand count and machine count. Bena said the implementation of voter ID had a negligible effect on the election and fewer than 350 ballots were rejected due to the new requirement.
It’s been 79 years since the end of World War Two, where an estimated 15 million lives were lost. Some families got to bury their loved ones, but others were left with more questions than answers. A family in Syracuse recently had they're 80-year mystery answered and more.
It’s been 79 years since the end of World War Two, where an estimated 15 million lives were lost. Some families got to bury their loved ones, but others were left with more questions than answers. A family in Syracuse recently had they're 80-year mystery answered and more.
Nebraska students scored better in English Language Arts on the statewide assessment last school year compared to the previous school year. But third grade scores decreased, according to new state data.
The voter-approved ballot initiatives legalizing medical marijuana will stand following a legal challenge alleging they received false signatures. This will have a lasting effect on Nebraskans with criminal convictions, as well as quantity of police interactions according to Nicole D. Porter with The Sentencing Project.
A Doniphan, Nebraska teen with more than 40 charges related to sextortion pled no contest to four counts of 1st degree sexual assault and one count of human trafficking. In Hall County District Court on Tuesday, the prosecutor agreed to the plea deal, meaning multiple victims will avoid testifying in public. Cody Holum, an 18-year-old from Doniphan, faces sentencing at a hearing January. Each individual charge could result in a 50 year prison term.
Lincoln LGBTQ plus lounge DAME is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for those in the community that may not have a supportive family to celebrate with. The celebration is Thanksgiving Day at DAME from 6 to 10pm and is free to attend. Attendees must be 21 or over.
President-elect Donald Trump nominated conservative think tank CEO Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture. Congressman Flood wrote in a statement to Nebraska Public Media that Rollins has broad policy experience, and he is looking forward to working with her. Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen has concerns about the nominee’s lack of agriculture-specific experience but says her close ties with Trump could make her an effective secretary.
President-elect Donald Trump's promise of mass deportations is causing worry and uncertainty.
A rural Nebraska family weaves farming with their cultural identity. Here’s how this work has helped preserve traditional Brazilian food cultivation in an unlikely place.
The Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare published its annual report, painting a picture of challenges and difficulties. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with Inspector General Jennifer Carter to talk about factors contributing to a noticeable increase in reports of deaths and serious injuries in the child welfare system.
It’s been a tradition to eat turkey for Thanksgiving since the 1800s. But one economic report suggests the custom has lost footing in recent years.
Deli meats, carrots and fast food onions are some of the products that were recently recalled across the U.S. Experts say improved detection strategies means regulators are able to catch more health risks.
Several Nebraska universities are exploring the opportunities artificial intelligence offers.
State Senator Mike McDonnell announced his candidacy for Omaha mayor Thursday evening. McDonnell previously served as Omaha’s fire chief and has represented a South Omaha district in the Nebraska legislature for the last 8 years. He will face current Omaha mayor Jean Stothert, Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing and nonprofit executive Jasmine Harris in next spring’s election.
The holiday season is about to commence, but some criminal justice advocates want to share a reminder with those settling in for their celebrations. The press conference addresses jail overcrowding.
Jeffrey J. Funke, 55, is Nebraska’s 32nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, following the retirement of Mike Heavican, who served for 18 years. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with Chief Justice Funke and asked how in today’s politically charged environment, it’s possible to keep politics out of the courtroom.
Major League Baseball All-Star and Omaha native, Alec Bohm, will be inducted into the first-ever Omaha Roncalli Hall of Fame on Friday.
A route for a trail connecting the state’s two largest metro areas was approved Wednesday night. The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District Board of Directors voted 14 to 4 in favor of a 10-mile route in western Cass County. The new trail will connect to existing segments of the MoPac Trail that reach the Omaha and Lincoln metro areas. The estimated cost of the project is more than $15 million dollars.
Senator Pete Ricketts is encouraging the U.S. Senate to confirm President-elect Donald Trump’s national security nominees as quickly as possible. Ricketts is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, which will hold hearings on nominees for ambassadors and other national security officials in the coming months. He says Trump’s pick for Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, will help America stand with its allies and be tough on China.
The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce is adding a new program to empower historically underrepresented entrepreneurs in the state’s capital city.
The annual Christmas tree for the Durham Museum was chopped down and delivered Monday. The tree is currently being decorated with lights and ornaments by members of a bridge maintenance crew provided by Union Pacific. The tree lighting ceremony is on November 29th.
Drought has scorched much of the Midwest and Great Plains for the last four years. It has destroyed crops and sparked wildfires. Wildlife is also reckoning with the dry conditions – which can change animal behavior and even push species out of some regions.
The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resource District Board approved a contract Thursday to remove a sandbar near the Highway 75 bridge over the Platte River south of Omaha. Removal will decrease the flood risk to surrounding areas. The project comes at a cost of around $4 million dollars and is expected to be completed by May 2025.
Nebraska football has lost three straight games this season and changed offensive coordinators this week. The stakes are high for the Huskers’ matchup with USC on Saturday, needing one more win to become bowl eligible.
Gov. Jim Pillen and members of a trade mission to Germany and the Czech Republic gave an update Wednesday. Pillen said the mission promotes Nebraska’s ag products, equipment and technologies. While in Germany, Pillen and those representing the state spoke to German companies that currently have a footprint in Nebraska. The trade mission began in the Czech Republic on November 7th and concludes in Germany on Thursday/today.
The search for the next chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney continues with listening sessions planned for next week.
With most of the state’s votes counted, Nebraska shifted slightly in favor of Republicans at the top of the ticket. But political science professor Kevin Smith says that change was less evident in the results of ballot initiatives. Voters legalized medical marijuana, rejected funding for private school scholarships and mandated paid sick leave last week.
Farmers are increasingly relying on off-farm jobs to supplement their farm income. Today about 84% of farm families rely on another part-time or even full-time job to stay in business.
Health professionals are sharing resources for people coping with the stress election season can bring. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said the 988 suicide prevention hotline can help.
As far back as 2013, the Office of Inspector General of the Nebraska Correctional System has issued an annual report. Specific subjects in each of these reports change year after year, but some correctional concerns never leave the list, including over-crowding and staffing shortages.
If you are 65 or older, now is the time to enroll in Medicare, this country's health insurance program. Enrollment is open until Dec. 7.
Mandatory paid sick leave was passed by a majority of Nebraskans, but there are some who worry it will harm small businesses. Ansley Fellers and members of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association are brainstorming ideas, and the group plans to approach the legislature when session resumes.
The political makeup of the State Board of Education will continue to be an even split of Democrats and Republicans following the election this week. The board is officially non-partisan.
The pumpkin pie Americans enjoy each Thanksgiving often comes from pumpkins grown near Morton, Illinois. The region accounts for more than 95% of canned pumpkin in the U.S.
Republicans are set to retain their supermajority in the Unicameral after flipping two seats previously held by Democrats. The legislature is officially nonpartisan, but the party affiliations of senators have historically had implications on issues like abortion, gender-affirming care and Nebraska’s electoral vote allocation. For example, in May 2023, the Let Them Grow Act and Preborn Child Protection Act, which banned most abortions after 12 weeks and added restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, passed with 33 votes.
The Nebraska Department of Education will expand the state’s teacher apprenticeship program to eight colleges and 19 school districts across the state with help from $6 million in federal funding.
People looking to hit the casino in Lincoln can now play table games for the first time. The facility doubled in size Monday, with nearly 900 different slots, tables and kiosks available now.
The U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Senator Deb Fischer and independent industrial mechanic Dan Osborn has been all over the airwaves in Nebraska. Political attack ads have tried to align Osborn with Democrats, while some of Osborn’s own ads have drawn similarities between him and former president Donald Trump. But Osborn has remained firm in his stance that he would not align himself with either party if elected.
In Nebraska’s First Congressional District, there’s a large fundraising gap between incumbent Republican Mike Flood and Democrat Carol Blood.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are looking to become bowl eligible for the first time in seven seasons on Saturday with a home game against UCLA.
With less than a week before the election, Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson spoke with Nebraska Public Media reporter Brian Beach to learn more about how the results of state legislature races could impact the balance of power in the Unicameral in 2025.
The Midwest Newsroom analyzed the funders behind high-profile proposed ballot measures and the amount they’re spending. Abortion and sports betting campaigns are the leading targets for out-of-state money.
Day two of the trial over medical cannabis initiatives brought two witnesses to the stand. A petition circulator advocating to legalize medical marijuana testified in court that the organizer of the campaign encouraged her to sign off on petitions she had not circulated. The trial in Lancaster County District Court may determine if the medical marijuana initiatives made it to the ballot legally.
Hundreds of Latino high school students attended the Nebraska Latino Youth Summit Thursday. The event serves as a pathway to learn about higher education and future career opportunities.
Nebraskans who have completed felony sentences had their voting rights restored shortly before the voter registration deadline ahead of the November election, but it wasn’t an easy path.
Lincoln Public Schools students participated in a mock election Wednesday to learn about democracy. Students in 4th-12th grades voted using a ballot similar to the ones adults will see next week, including presidential and senate races.
With less than a week before the presidential election, Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson sat down with Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen to talk about the final days of preparations.
Opening statements were heard Tuesday for the medical cannabis ballot initiative trial. It will determine whether the two ballot initiatives are valid.
Pheasant hunting season is underway across the state. In parts of western Nebraska, the birds haven’t recovered from drought conditions in recent years.
Almost 60% of Nebraska voters oppose sending taxpayer dollars to private schools, according to a set of polls from The Midwest Newsroom and Emerson College Polling earlier this month. On Nov. 5, voters will decide if a state-funded scholarship program for private schools continues.
The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is the core of a major flyway for migrating birds and one of the most visited refuges in the U.S. Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts saved it from being drained 100 years ago, but the next century brings new challenges.
The Executive Director of Nebraska's Commission on Indian Affairs is hailing President Joe Biden's apology for the history of boarding schools that attempted to force Native American children to assimilate.
Creighton basketball is hosting an exhibition to benefit people affected by the April tornadoes in the state. Bluejay Athletics spokesperson, Rob Anderson, explains the connection between Purdue and the tornadoes that ripped through eastern Nebraska on April 26th.
Creighton volleyball has reached its highest ranking in school history. Creighton has been ranked sixth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll for several weeks in a row.
In the weeks leading up to Halloween, the UNMC hospital staff create costumes for the patients in the NICU. They always follow a theme and this year it's “Game Night in the NICU.” Some of the costumes featured are Mario and Princess Peach, Mr. Monopoly and even Scrabble. While the costumes and photos are cute, this yearly tradition holds a deeper meaning.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is one of the country’s oldest Latino advocacy groups. For the first time, three national presidents are in Nebraska promoting Latino voters and making an endorsement.
The head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development mission area took his first trip to Nebraska this week as Under Secretary. As part of his trip, Doctor Basil Gooden spoke at the Rural Community Assistance Partnership Conference and visited the Greater Omaha Packing Company. The company received a $20 million Meat and Poultry Procession Expansion Program grant from USDA Rural Development in 2022 in order to strengthen food supply chains.
The city of Fremont will host its first Hispanic Business Banquet to recognize the economic impact of Latino entrepreneurs in the state.
As Halloween draws near, opportunities for free candy are beginning to pop up. Amongst these are sensory friendly trunk or treating events. That’s when those hosting take into account people with different types of disabilities. Sensory friendly events like these are becoming more popular.
Only one Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice has served longer than the current Chief Justice. Mike Heavican retires at the end of October after 18 years on the bench. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with the 77 year old Schuyler native to talk about his life as a lawyer.
With the dust settled from Nebraska’s special legislative session on property taxes, the conversation now switches to how these policies will impact the state. Nebraska Public Media’s Brian Beach reports on what legislators and tax experts hope to see moving forward.
In an important conference matchup, Nebraska football was routed by Indiana Saturday, 56-7. It’s the Huskers’ second biggest loss since joining the Big Ten and the 26th straight loss to ranked opponents.
Cultivated meat – meat grown from animal cells – is touted as a way to meet growing global demand with far fewer climate impacts. Yet two states banned the sale of cultivated meat earlier this year, and there are proposals in several Midwestern states to do the same.
Students, parents and school staff have made about 3,500 reports through the Safe2Help Nebraska app since it rolled out in 2020. The program offers an anonymous way for individuals to report concerning incidents, like bullying and self-harm.
The extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expired in September. Pressure is mounting for Congress to pass new legislation, as tough weather and low crop prices challenge farm budgets.
Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson reached out to Kristen Olson, an expert in survey methodology in UNL’s Bureau of Sociological Research, to talk about changes in the science of polling since 2016.
Farmers harvesting their crops are well aware of dangerous fire conditions. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson recently talked about it with Jenny Rees, Extension Educator for the University.
A festival in the Omaha-metro area highlights Latinas in what some may view as unconventional. The Midwest Chingona Fest empowers women by directly combatting a centuries-old philosophy.
Union Adventist University’s Disaster Response team returned early Monday morning from a week of assisting communities affected by the hurricane in North Carolina. The team helped with tree removal, cleaning up houses and supplying people with food and water.
More than 4,800 students are considered homeless in Nebraska, and school districts can do only so much to help. Many rely on partnerships with local organizations to support student needs outside of school.
Omaha Benson High School has canceled and forfeited the rest of its football games this season. Benson High is 0-7 on the season including three losses by 60 or more points.
Programs that provide drought relief to farmers use the U.S. Drought Monitor to determine eligibility, but some experts say it doesn’t always capture local conditions.
Kernza is a perennial grain that can produce an annual crop, even as it stays in the ground for up to four years. Its deep root system make it a sustainable crop, but the grain doesn't have many markets.
Queer Nite, an organization in Omaha, celebrated an event called "Out in the Park" Sunday afternoon. It celebrated Omaha’s LGBTQ+ history through drag performances as well as promoting the Queer History of Omaha Mapping Project and UNO’s Queer Omaha Archives.
We look behind some of the claims and counterclaims made by Rep. Don Bacon and state Sen. Tony Vargas in their race in Nebraska's Second Congressional District.
For anyone competing in triathlons, it takes tremendous determination and discipline. That's Bellevue resident Andrew Tupper's foundation for his humble journey to the World Triathlon Championships.
Members of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District met with local landowner Bill Oberg and his wife on Thursday near Lincoln’s Nine Mile Prairie. They celebrated the closing of a 75-acre conservation easement of the property. A conservation easement is a way to use other people’s land to solve conservation issues. In case, they placed the 75-acres in the hands of the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District.
A group of 20 states are included in the litigation against CMS, arguing there aren’t enough nurses to meet the new standards. The federal agency hopes to increase staffing requirements to improve care across the country.
A new survey from The Midwest Newsroom and Emerson College Polling Center asked registered voters in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska about measures on Nov. 5 ballots as well as a variety of political, social and economic subjects.
Election officials and security experts from across the country met in Omaha Wednesday to discuss how to mitigate security risks ahead of the general election. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen said each ballot counting machine is tested three times prior to election day and county websites are monitored for cybersecurity threats weekly. He encouraged citizens to volunteer as poll workers and election observers to see the process firsthand.
Lincoln’s South Branch Library unveiled its new mural Wednesday. The library chose Chloe Burgett (BUR-Gitt), a local children’s book artist, to paint the installation. The process began in September with a community event where people from the neighborhood painted the background.
November’s ballot is unique from past elections for a few reasons: two senators are up for election for the first time in decades. There are also several ballot measures. Here’s how that has impacted voting education this year.
Republican Congressman Don Bacon and Democratic State Senator Tony Vargas clashed over issues of abortion, public safety and bipartisanship during their second debate Tuesday evening hosted by Nebraska Public Media. Vargas touted his record of cutting taxes in the Unicameral and criticized Bacon for cosponsoring the Life At Conception Act three times. Bacon spoke about his ability to work across the aisle in Washington, while accusing Vargas of being anti-police.
The Midwest Newsroom and its partners found that homeless students eligible for enrollment, transportation and academic support in most rural school districts are not getting these services because the districts are undercounting students without stable housing and not applying for available funds.
A Monday morning explosion in O’Neill Nebraska destroyed the St. Patrick’s Parish Center and damaged a nearby school and hospital. There are no injuries reported, but patients at Avera (uh-VAIR-uh) Saint Anthony’s Hospital were evacuated to another hospital and classes were canceled at St. Mary’s Grade School and High School. An investigation from the Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s office is ongoing into the cause of the explosion.
A Monday morning explosion in O’Neill Nebraska destroyed the St. Patrick’s Parish Center and damaged a nearby school and hospital. There are no injuries reported, but patients at Avera (uh-VAIR-uh) Saint Anthony’s Hospital were evacuated to another hospital and classes were canceled at St. Mary’s Grade School and High School. An investigation from the Nebraska State Patrol and Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s office is ongoing into the cause of the explosion.
Every month tens of thousands of people go through the process to become U-S citizens—with hundreds choosing to have their naturalization ceremony in Nebraska. Dozens of New Americans in Grand Island became U.S. citizens this year with a main goal in mind: participating in the election.
Five fires broke out in Gage County this past weekend. There were fires near Odell, Holmesville and Pickerell. A combination of dry conditions and high temperatures with strong winds created the perfect formula for wildfires to start and spread. The fires are 100 percent contained.
Crop prices have returned to more normal levels this year — down from record highs. As farmers expect less income this year, that's likely to send ripples through the larger agricultural economy.
Union Adventist University’s Disaster Response Team has been deployed to assist in clean up following the destruction of Hurricane Helene. The team of 35 students and faculty are currently in Newland, North Carolina assisting the small town. They plan to return on Sunday, October 13th.
A new survey from The Midwest Newsroom and Emerson College Polling Center asked registered voters in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska about measures on Nov. 5 ballots as well as a variety of political, social and economic subjects.
The State Board of Education discussed a policy arming authorized school staff in smaller school districts at its meeting Friday.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents will vote on whether to allow alcohol sales at all University athletic events Friday. If approved, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has the goal of offering booze by next fall. Students shared a variety of views on the issue.
Five years after the EPA first issued a no-drink order for the Santee Sioux reservation in northern Nebraska, the tribe has finally been assured they will have the funding to do something about it. But there’s still a long road ahead for the Santee - at minimum three years of planning and construction for a pipeline to bring in water from South Dakota.
Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation – or Nebraska VR – celebrated National Disability Employment Awareness Month by honoring those creating inclusive workspaces.
Tuesday marks the beginning of Nebraska’s Black Maternal Health Month. Advocates are using this time of year to bring awareness to health disparities among Black birthing people. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena was at the launch event.
Nebraska is the only state that uses a draft to find volunteers for election day. For decades, Douglas County is the only one to regularly utilize it. Here's how the jury-duty-like system works ahead of general elections.
Research shows that college students are going hungry at a higher rate than the U.S. population as a whole. Some campuses are taking alternative approaches to tackling student hunger.
Kansas and Missouri agencies have paid thousands of dollars to Street Cop Training. Since The Midwest Newsroom and KCUR began investigating, police departments in both states have stopped using the private company to instruct officers.
The State Auditor criticized one school district’s use of nutrition funds to buy video boards. Chase County Schools in the southwest part of the state used almost $125,000 from the school nutrition fund to help purchase two new video boards in the gym.
A Nebraska man accused of quadruple homicide in Laurel has been found guilty by a Dakota County jury. Thursday morning, the jury convicted Jason Jones with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree arson, and four counts of the use of a firearm to commit a felony. Thursday afternoon, the court held an aggravation hearing to determine whether the nature of Jones’ crimes make him eligible for the death penalty.
Ho Chunk Inc. celebrated its 30th anniversary as the economic development wing of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Wednesday. Small Business Administrator Isabel Guzman, who serves in President Joe Biden’s cabinet, visited Winnebago and said Ho-Chunk Inc. serves as a model for other Native American economic development efforts. Since its founding in 1994, Ho-Chunk Inc. has reinvested $44 million dollars of dividends back into the Winnebago tribe.
Friendships, competition and a second family: that’s what you’ll find at the softball fields in La Vista on Monday and Wednesday nights at the Nebraska Senior Softball League.
Prosecuting attorney Sandra Allen encouraged the jury to charge defendant Jason Jones with first-degree murder and first-degree arson. She cited text messages and weapons purchases from Jones indicating his actions were premeditated. Defense attorney Matthew McDonald argued that Jones’ wife Carrie killed one of the victims and that his poor mental state makes him ineligible to receive first-degree murder charges for the three people he did kill. The jury is deliberating the case, and a decision is expected by the end of the week.
The Bronco fire in Sioux County is the latest of seven state of emergencies in Nebraska this year. It’s National Preparedness Month and state officials strongly encouraged people to pack for bad weather.
The FBI is launching a campaign to educate the public on scams after an increase in reported financial losses from fraud in the first part of the year. FBI Omaha Field Office special agent in charge Gene Kowel says the rise of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies have made it easier for criminals to scam people out of their money. Kowel says people should think before transferring large sums of money, especially through cryptocurrency kiosks, to ensure they are not a victim of fraud.
The U.S. Department of Education announced National Blue Ribbon Schools on Monday, with four from Nebraska making the list. Elkhorn Grandview Middle, Wilma Upchurch Elementary in Millard, West Point Elementary and Southern Valley Elementary received the honor this year for their academic achievements.
More grocery stores are closing, and high transportation costs combined with spotty internet service can prevent rural residents from accessing and using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits.
While corn and soybeans dominate the Midwestern landscape today, some farmers are integrating strips of native prairie back into their fields. This conservation practice has expanded to more than a dozen states.
Republican Congressman Don Bacon visited Ukraine last week and met with the country’s leadership, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He said Ukrainians are asking for additional weapons, for help improving their air defense system and a path to join NATO. Bacon said abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin to take over other former Soviet Republics like Georgia and Moldova, costing the U.S. more money defending NATO countries.
After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in 2021, the governors of Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska answered his call to tackle crime and illegal immigration along the state’s border with Mexico. Their efforts are failing, critics say.
Supporters of Kamala Harris spoke in Omaha Thursday about their fear that former President Donald Trump would repeal the Affordable Care Act if elected. During the September presidential debate, Trump said he was going to replace the the legislation, but didn’t offer specifics about an alternative plan. Nebraska State Sen. Jen Day, a registered Democrat who represents Sarpy County in the Unicameral, said repealing the act would force patients to choose between putting food on the table and getting the care they need.
Bennington middle school teacher will be the 2025 Teacher of the Year. Nebraska Education Commissioner Brian Maher surprised her with the honor on Thursday.
The Nebraska Cornhusker football squad opens Big Ten play against Illinois Friday. This will also be the 400th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium and one of the most important games in recent memory.
Nebraska Senator Pete Ricketts is calling for an investigation into the U.S. Secret Service following the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Ricketts said the public should be confident that all presidential nominees will be protected equally. He also said Democrats need to "stop the violent rhetoric they’ve used against Donald Trump."
Commercial chicken farmers literally bet the farm, spending millions of dollars on land and enormous chicken houses to raise birds they never own — putting their livelihoods in the hands of a single company that is both their supplier and sole buyer. When Tyson closed a processing plant in southeast Missouri, some farmers facing bankruptcy decided to sue.
Nebraska's plans to build a canal to bring water from Colorado come amid that state's own plans for water.
Nebraska is moving ahead on plans for a canal to bring water to the state from Colorado.
Even as the tropical-tasting fruit gains popularity through farmer's markets and festivals, the pawpaw faces big hurdles to reaching a mass market.
University of Nebraska chief financial officer Chris Kabourek is resigning effective at the end of September. Kabourek has worked in the NU system for 27 years. He submitted his resignation in a letter to NU President Jeffrey Gold on Monday.
The organization formerly known as the Immigrant Legal Center plus Refugee Empowerment Center has a new name.
Republican First District Congressman Mike Flood and Democratic challenger Carol Blood met in debate Sunday.
Several community newspapers across Nebraska are the only sources covering local news. Here's how two such owners are keeping news alive in their towns.
The trial for a Nebraska man accused of killing four of his neighbors in the village of Laurel got underway in Dakota County Thursday. Defendant Jason Jones did not appear in court. Prosecuting attorney Corey O’Brien said the state has plans to show the jury more than 1,000 pieces of evidence, including photos, videos and physical objects incriminating Jones. Defense attorney Matthew McDonald said Jones had a mental breakdown the night of the homicides and therefore should not be charged with first-degree, pre-meditated murder. The trial is expected to continue over the next few weeks.
Nebraska Public Media News has learned that the State Ombudsman’s Office is investigating the Nebraska State Historical Society.
Tuesday night is the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in Philadelphia. In Lincoln, Nebraska, there’s a very different kind of red-versus-blue contest happening. It’s on the volleyball court.
When destructive tornadoes hit Lincoln and other cities in eastern Nebraska a few months ago, it changed peoples’ lives. One manufacturing plant was entirely decimated. Here’s what happened to those who lost their jobs.
In August 2022, Jason Jones was arrested in connection with the deaths of four of his neighbors in Laurel, a northeast Nebraska town of 900 people. Jones is facing multiple charges of first-degree murder, first-degree arson, and the use of a firearm to commit a felony. If found guilty, Jones could face the death penalty. The trial is expected to last several weeks.
Gov. Jim Pillen is defending his appointment to the Nebraska Library Commission of a woman who led efforts to remove books from Plattsmouth school libraries.
The Nebraska Department of Education was awarded an almost $55 million grant to be used over the next five years to create a comprehensive literacy program. Nebraska is one of 23 states to receive the grant from the federal government.
Cattle contribute more greenhouse gases than other livestock. The reasons behind that have some ranchers trying to address environmental impacts, while experts say there are also ways for you to curb your plate’s climate footprint.
Heartbreak and triumph, the old and the new. Husker fans and former players say that’s all front of mind as the University of Nebraska and the University of Colorado hit the gridiron Saturday night at 6:30 p.m.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold will be installed as the ninth University of Nebraska president this afternoon. Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal spoke with Dr. Gold ahead of the ceremony about his investiture and the start of the school year.
U.S. Senate candidates Republican Senator Deb Fischer and independent Dan Osborn announced endorsements from labor groups Tuesday. Fischer touted endorsements from 13 labor unions and trade associations, which include the Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska Hospital Association and the State Troopers Association of Nebraska. Meanwhile, Osborn announced support from 23 labor unions, including the Nebraska AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers and Communications Workers of America.
A parenting group for Spanish-speakers will continue its pilot program in Fremont starting today (Tuesday).
For days, Amy Gholson tracked a shipment of baby turkeys she ordered from an Ohio hatchery. She kept tabs online as the birds began the more than 500-mile trip to the Gholson home near St. Charles, Missouri, via the U.S. Postal Service. The ten birds needed to arrive in two days to ensure they’d survive the trip. It was late March and temperatures were still low, making the speed of the delivery more crucial than usual. But the baby turkeys, or poults, hadn’t even left Ohio when progress halted. “I was going to be able to watch these babies digitally, basically, and they went to the Cleveland distribution warehouse and they stayed there and stayed there,” Gholson said. Postal Service delays have become more persistent in the years following the pandemic and a new ten-year plan put in place by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy aimed at ending billions of dollars a year in losses. Slowdowns in delivery are integral to the plan.
North Omaha community leaders say a housing plan from presidential hopeful Kamala Harris would help develop more affordable housing in the neighborhood. State Sen. Terrell McKinney, Omaha developer Don Curry and housing advocate Kimara Snipes endorsed Harris’ plan to build 3 million new homes in the next four years and provide down payment assistance to first time home buyers. The Harris plan would also provide tax incentives to builders constructing starter homes.
Labor Day is an annual celebration observed on the first Monday in September to recognize economic achievements of American workers. Labor has changed a lot in 142 years. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson reached out to University of Nebraska-Lincoln Sociology professor, Dr. Regina Werum to talk about the newest generation of workers.
Nebraska’s U.S. senators and congressmen touched on a variety of problems and prospects Thursday in their annual Chamber of Commerce-sponsored presentation at the SAC museum near Ashland.
The University of Nebraska campuses in Omaha and Lincoln are dissolving offices focused on diversity. Students on both campuses are concerned with the closures.
Families, child care providers and employees may see some relief in their taxes next year. The programs, the Child Care Tax Credit and the School Readiness Tax Credit, aim to lessen the financial burden for families, providers and those helping improve early education across the state.
Husker football opens its second season under head coach Matt Rhule on Saturday against the University of Texas El Paso at home. Tuesday, the athletic department unveiled some changes to the game day experience at Memorial Stadium.
The Madison County History Museum houses oddities of the county’s history from floor to ceiling. And one volunteer is known to be its walking encyclopedia. Stories of the county’s history aren't the only reason people visit.
Name, Image and Likeness, or NIL, activities have increased in women’s college sports over the last year. At the University of Nebraska, that momentum has inspired a new sponsorship.
The longest-run Black rodeo in the nation, the Roy LeBlanc Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo takes place every year in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. This year, hundreds of spectators and competitors from across the country celebrated the rodeo’s 69th anniversary.
Sen. Pete Ricketts hosted a forum at the Nebraska State Fair on Monday. Alongside Congressman Adrian Smith and other state and federal agribusiness leaders, the group focused on agriculture, trade and government regulations. Ricketts said government overregulation from the Biden administration is hurting Nebraska agriculture producers and he encouraged the audience of around 100 people to educate federal bureaucrats about the agriculture industry.
Meteorologists and climatologists often have a tough job explaining climate change to the public. Now, a new person is leading Nebraska’s Climate Office. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with the state’s new climatologist to find out what she hopes to accomplish in her new role.
Minnesota Governor and Democratic Vice-Presidential Nominee Tim Walz spent the first half of his life in Nebraska, where he says he learned the value of hard work. While Walz was in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, Nebraska Public Media’s Brian Beach visited the places Walz once called home.
A couple living in Crete are embarking on a unique journey to visit every community in the state. Nebraska Public Media’s Sarah Lawlor followed them to a town just west of Lincoln.
Fremont High School starts the year with new skills labs to improve future employment opportunities
The Nebraska Legislature finished its special session on property taxes Tuesday, giving final approval to a tax bill that was significantly smaller than what was originally proposed.
Independent Dan Osborn submitted his petition to the Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen’s office aiming to get his name on the ballot for United States Senate. Osborn is running against incumbent Deb Fischer. The union leader and veteran said his campaign sent off about 12,000 unverified signatures to the Secretary of State Bob Evnen. Osborn said that total includes at least 2,000 in each of Nebraska’s congressional districts.
The high schoolers in the construction trades program at Gering Public Schools helped expand the preschool program in the district. The students spent the last year building four new preschool classrooms that will open this fall.
A new internal poll from independent Dan Osborn’s campaign found his race with incumbent Republican Sen. Deb Fischer within the margin of error. The poll, conducted by YouGov between July 31 and August 12, showed Fischer with 43% and Osborn with 41% of 500 registered voters. Most national election forecasters continue to show both Nebraska Senate races as solid Republican.
The horse racetrack at Harrah’s Columbus ran its first slate of races this weekend. About 5,500 people visited the race track over the course of three days in Columbus.
Iowa recently gave the greenlight for what could become the largest carbon capture and sequestration project in the world. But regulatory hurdles, lawsuits and questions remain there and in neighboring states.
Nebraska lawmakers gave second-round approval to expanded property tax credits Friday and gave a preliminary nod to a constitutional amendment to make bigger changes
Heat kills more people every year than any other climate-driven disaster. But experts say hot temperatures are likely causing even more deaths than official numbers show.
Senators in the Nebraska Legislature wrestled with a scaled-down property tax relief proposal today/Thursday, divided between those who said something is better than nothing, and those who want to try and do something more.
A program to make it easier for Nebraska communities to apply for federal transportation grants recently launched. Jodi Gibson with the Nebraska Department of Transportation said the Nebraska Infrastructure Hub was developed to help local and state agencies apply for money from the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act. The Hub includes a grant pairing portal and two full-time staff members to assist communities with grant applications.
Horse racing returns to Columbus this weekend but at a brand new location. The race track at the recently opened Harrah’s Columbus casino will host its first racing days starting Friday.
The Nebraska Legislature moved toward advancing a series of budget cuts today/Wednesday, despite arguments they could hurt services and were not necessary.
Lincoln Public Schools started its second school year with a no-phone policy. The district also expanded it's digital hall pass system. Officials say both are helping improve the classroom environment.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Tuesday to a vastly scaled-back proposal to relieve property taxes.
The Nebraska Association of Public Employees is appealing a labor court decision regarding remote work to the Nebraska Supreme Court. In July, the state labor court ruled that Governor Jim Pillen’s executive order requiring state employees to end most remote work arrangements without union bargaining was fully under his authority. Union executive director Justin Hubly said the appeal is necessary to protect workers rights and receive more clarity for the union’s upcoming labor contract with the state.
The Nebraska Legislature moved Monday toward a potentially crucial vote Tuesday on a plan to reduce property taxes.
Two Catholic 7-12 schools in rural Nebraska consolidated. The Archdiocese of Omaha made the decision due to growing priest and teacher shortages. While some in the community support the merger, others are against, saying they are losing the long tradition of their mascot.
At the FBI’s Agriculture Threats Symposium in Omaha Monday, Special Agent in Charge Gene Kowel outlined major cybersecurity risks. The bureau is worried about potential ransomware attacks from criminal groups and foreign adversaries which could shut down farming operations during harvest or planting seasons. Kowel said the security risk is growing exponentially, and farmers should ensure they have multi-factor authentication for all digital farm operations.
Gering’s Japanese Hall highlights little-known history of Japanese Nebraskans and boosts local tourism
The inaugural Nebraska Summit on Justice and Disparities was held at Creighton University Friday. Prison reform activist and New York City councilman Doctor Yusef Salaam was the keynote speaker. The event focused on Nebraska’s criminal justice system, juvenile detention and equitable law enforcement.
The Nebraska Legislature spent another day thrashing around on taxes, before deciding to wait until next week to try again
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is joining 10 other states in requesting the EPA to require labeling rules for agricultural chemicals to be standardized nationwide. California previously enacted a rule mandating glyphosate, a common herbicide, to be labeled with a warning that the product could cause cancer, which Hilgers said makes the chemical more expensive for Nebraska farmers. If the EPA declines to make new rules, Hilgers said he could take the agency to court.
Nebraska state senators expressed frustration with property tax proposals -- and with each other -- as they continued to slog through their special legislative session Wednesday.
Omaha Public Schools is gearing up for the academic year with new, alternatively-fueled buses.
Raw milk continues to grow in popularity, despite bird flu in dairy cattle bringing increased scrutiny from health experts.
Federal income caps are excluding many agricultural workers from affordable housing, leaving developments with vacant units and workers without homes.
Host Intro: The Legislature’s Appropriations Committee continued wading through Gov. Jim Pillen’s proposed budget cuts today/Tuesday, as the special session on property taxes continues.
Current Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris announced Tuesday that Minnesota Governor and Native Nebraskan Tim Walz will be her running mate in 2024. Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska, and has lived in Valentine, Butte, Chadron and Alliance. Walz taught at Alliance High School and coached their football and basketball teams before moving to Minnesota in 1996.
For the first time ever, Nebraska’s largest city has an operational casino. The Warhorse Omaha Casino held its ribbon cutting Tuesday at Horsemen’s Park in Omaha.
The Revenue Committee is considering a new version of Gov. Jim Pillen's proposal to reduce property taxes.
Nebraska’s Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly led a ten-day trade mission of the state’s business and agriculture leaders to Indonesia in late July. The delegation met with Indonesian chefs, business executives and university researchers to market Nebraska products and build stronger trading ties. Sherry Vinton, the Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, called the trip a "rousing success."
Nebraska legislative committees heard proposals Friday to legalize marijuana and provide state aid to cities to reduce property taxes.
Getting a new farm bill across the finish line in 2024 is likely doomed against a ticking clock, hot-button issues and election year politics.
The Nebraska Legislature's Education Committee discussed the idea, but not the details, of state takeover of school operating costs on Thursday.
Proposals to allow online sports betting from anywhere in Nebraska, and to allow the Legislature to ask voters to legalize it this November, were heard Wednesday in the Legislature’s special session.
The U.S. Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act this week on a bipartisan, 91 to 3 vote. The legislation requires social media platforms to provide minors with options to disable addictive product features, including algorithmic recommendations. Nebraska Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts were both co-sponsors of the bill.
August 3 marks the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide in northern Iraq. A large number of them chose to relocate to Lincoln, Nebraska.
The Legislature's Appropriations and Revenue Committees held public hearings Tuesday on Gov. Jim Pillen's proposals to cut the budget and expand sales taxes to pay for property tax relief.
Legal Marijuana NOW Party candidate Kerry Eddy has ended her campaign for the U.S. Senate. Tuesday morning, Eddy announced she is endorsing independent Dan Osborn, who will face incumbent Republican Senator Deb Fischer in the general election. Eddy said polling indicated she did not have a path to victory, and she supports Osborn’s view on marijuana legalization.
Documentation status, language barriers and lack of information can all create barriers for immigrants to access federal grants. Now a number of organizations are stepping in to provide direct support.
Supporters promoted a less-dramatic reduction in property taxes than Gov. Jim Pillen has proposed at a Revenue Committee hearing Monday.
Over the last two years, several large pork packers have closed plants in California, Minnesota and most recently Iowa. For some pork producers, this means additional miles and more money to deliver hogs on top of tough economic times.
The Nebraska Legislature rejected an attempt Friday to bring its special session on property taxes to a close.
Sen.Jen Day introduced a bill during Friday’s special session that would force the sale of the state plane Gov. Jim Pillen uses to get around the state. According to flight logs, on July 25, the first day of the special session, Pillen took three flights connecting Lincoln, Beatrice and Nebraska City. Day said selling the $3.6 million plane would provide additional money for the state’s general fund. That money, she said, could be put toward property tax relief or other purposes.
Senators began a special session of the Nebraska Legislature devoted to property taxes by introducing a variety of proposals.
A Federal district court in Missouri ordered Thursday that the Biden Administration’s rule protecting transgender youth from discrimination not be enforced. Earlier this spring, Nebraska’s attorney general Mike Hilgers and five other state’s attorneys general filed a lawsuit asking the court to stop a new regulation by the U.S. Department of Education.
Nebraska voters could decide whether to legalize online sports betting in the state this November, thanks to legislation introduced in the special legislative session dedicated to lowering state property taxes. Thursday morning, Sen. Elliot Bostar put forth a bill and constitutional amendment that would put legalization on the November ballot. It will advance if 60% of the legislature is in favor.
Both campaigns in the U.S. Senate race between Deb Fischer and Dan Osborn have very different perspectives on where things stand. An internal poll from the Fischer campaign found the senator has a 26-percentage point lead over Osborn, while a poll from the Osborn campaign showed the candidates tied at 42% each. According to the latest fundraising numbers, the Fischer campaign has more cash on hand, but Osborn raised more than his opponent in the last three months.
The Nebraska Legislature is set to begin a special session on property taxes, amidst uncertainty over the outcome.
Nebraska’s Department of Environment and Energy is receiving $307 million from the EPA. Nebraska Public Media’s Sarah Lawlor reports on the funds.
Soil science is a relatively new field and becoming more critical in the work to keep soil healthy and productive. The discovery of century-old soil samples at a land-grant university could offer big clues into how soil has changed over time.
A dozen state senators from a variety of political perspectives hosted a listening session on property taxes in Lincoln Monday evening. The event comes ahead of a likely special legislative session devoted to reducing property taxes in Nebraska. Gov. Jim Pillen has said he wants to reduce property taxes by at least 40% by having the state pay for K-12 schools and eliminating some sales tax exemptions.
Most people who attended an Omaha townhall about property taxes agreed they're a big problem, but there was little agreement about what should be done.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Thursday touted his idea for lowering property taxes by expanding sales taxes.
A group hoping to repeal Nebraska legislation regarding private school scholarships turned in enough signatures to put the issue on the November ballot. If passed, the referendum would repeal legislation passed in April allocating 10 million dollars to the state treasurer’s office to be used for private and religious school scholarships.
A two-megawatt solar energy facility is coming to Madison, Nebraska thanks to an investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The project was selected to receive a Powering Affordable Clean Energy program award, which pays for 40% of the project. Clare Sierawski with the USDA said the solar facility could spur economic development in Madison and help residents save money.
Nebraska Public Media is searching the country for a new General Manager/CEO. Mark Leonard announced in December he is retiring after more than 10 years here. Nebraska Public Media’s Dale Johnson sat down with Mr. Leonard to talk about his career and the status of public media.
Omaha Performing Arts is receiving an additional 2.5 million dollars in funding from the state for the construction of a new building on its campus. Upon completion, the Tenaska Center for Arts Engagement will include three rehearsal halls, classrooms and practice rooms, enabling the organization to offer new arts programs. The 108-million-dollar building is expected to open in the spring of 2026.
Nebraska researchers are looking into how online content creators are promoting opioid awareness. They plan to use their findings to create a national health communication campaign.
Women’s Fund of Omaha sells emergency contraception and pregnancy tests via vending machine
Children in the foster care system with severe behavioral health issues and trauma are often treated in group homes that specialize in individualized care. In at least two states, there is space at these centers for boys but not for girls.
The peach crop across the U.S. is much better this summer than it was last year when cold temperatures affected crops in Georgia and South Carolina. Yet in southern Illinois, while some orchards are getting a bumper crop, others are having yet another year of low production.
After five years under a no-drink order from the EPA, the Santee Sioux Nation in northern Nebraska is one step closer to getting clean water infrastructure. A bill passed in the Nebraska Legislature this spring prioritizes money in the Water Sustainability Fund to go toward infrastructure projects in areas under a no-drink order.
Sports bettors in Nebraska will be able to wager on the Olympics for the first time since gambling was legalized almost four years ago. Handball, surfing, field hockey and proposition bets like which country will win the most medals are open season for wagering. But one economics professor says some revenues will leave Nebraska during the 2024 Paris Games.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s SUN Bucks doles out $40 per month over the summer for each eligible child. This is the first year for the program, and it's expected to reach about 21 million kids. Yet 13 states, including Oklahoma and Iowa, turned down the funding.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen will no longer be going on a trade mission to Indonesia this month. Instead, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly will lead the 12-day mission, while Pillen prepares for a special session on property taxes. Pillen has yet to release a written tax plan and says there is still work to do to get consensus, though he is optimistic that progress is being made.
Seven people were shot in Crete last week in what is being investigated as a hate crime. The Hispanic family all survived. Now statewide groups are coming together to make sure the incident doesn’t happen again.
Rob Jeffreys discusses the impact a new prison may have on the department, and the current state of corrections.
Nearly two years after Nebraska received more than 30 million dollars in federal grant funding to build electric vehicle charging stations, none of that money has been dispersed. Ryan McKinnon with the electric vehicle advocacy group Charge Ahead Partnership said Nebraska is one of around 15 other states that has not yet opened up the grant application process for businesses to request funds. “Because Nebraska hasn't even put out an application yet, these businesses are not able to access that money in order to build EV charging stations,” he said.
Organizers of the petition drive supporting medical marijuana in Nebraska "feel really good" about the number of signatures they turned over to the Secretary of State. They had collected over 114,000 signatures on each of the two petitions necessary to change state law. The petitions must be verified to ensure that all are from voters registered in Nebraska. Two years ago, the group fell short of that threshold.
Water has begun receding along most of Nebraska’s eastern border, but the flood is peaking in Rulo in the state’s southeast corner. Further north, Nebraska City is past the worst of the flooding. However, Jim Terrell with the Missouri River Basin Forecast Center said the water has risen back into a moderate flood stage after several inches of rainfall in the area Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Randy Olson's farmland was buried beneath several feet of murky water. By Friday afternoon, the water had receded a few feet from its peak, leaving behind a swamp of rotting corn, soybeans and other debris in its wake.
Many small businesses owners are planning on retiring soon, but finding buyers to keep the businesses going can be a challenge, especially in rural areas.
A group campaigning for paid sick leave for Nebraskans announced Thursday it has collected 138,000 signatures through its petition drive, which would be enough to put the issue on the ballot in November. If passed, the initiative would require businesses in Nebraska to offer at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours an employee worked. Jo Giles, a ballot sponsor for Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans, says the accomplishment is the result of years of organizing and strategizing.
The federal government says new safety standards and building materials mean home buyers priced out of site-built houses have viable options. As storms become stronger and more frequent, experts are tempering expectations.
Floodwaters continue to rise in Omaha and Bellevue as the Missouri River crest flows southward this week. The NRD has closed slide gates and culverts that empty into rivers and installed a flood wall barrier along railroad tracks in Bellevue. Winkler says water levels should begin to subside by Sunday.
When Grace Clausen was diagnosed with dyslexia 10 years ago, there weren’t many resources available to her.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen talked about how he would pay for a state takeover of public school funding, and how funds would be distributed, at a meeting in Holdrege Tuesday.
During the Nebraska Broadcaster’s Association Governor’s Monthly Call In Show, Pillen said he would advocate for the state to take over the funding of K through 12 schools in Nebraska. To pay for the plan, Pillen says he wants to broaden the tax base through the elimination of sales tax exemptions.
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill to transfer land along the Missouri River in Iowa back to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. The Winnebago Land Transfer Act returns 16-hundred acres to the tribe after it was seized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1970s for a proposed recreation project. Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer, who introduced the bill, says the Corps was wrong to take the land through eminent domain.
More than 100 business leaders from across southeast Nebraska met at Southeast Community College on Friday to brainstorm ideas for regional economic development projects. The meeting represents the launch of the “6 regions, One Nebraska” initiative in the southeast part of the state. Similar meetings are taking place in the other five community college districts this summer.
This inaugural summit will focus on how employers can create more inclusive workplaces.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the budget for the upcoming year and approved Dr. Jeffrey Gold’s contract for university president on Thursday. The budget includes $11.5 million in spending cuts, a tuition increase at all four campuses and additional investment into the new Presidential Scholars program.
Residents of Douglas and Washington Counties are eligible for business physical disaster loans and home disaster loans to replace damaged property. Nebraskans from Burt, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington Counties qualify for economic injury disaster loans which help small businesses meet financial obligations impacted by the April storms. The deadline for physical damage loan applications is July 15, while the economic injury loan applications are available through February 2025.
June commemorates events in two historically marginalized groups: those in the LGBTQ plus community for pride month as well as Black communities for Juneteenth. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena spoke with someone very involved in both celebrations.
The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025 passed in the U.S. House Friday. Nebraska Representative Don Bacon served as the chairman of the quality-of-life subcommittee and helped draft 21 amendments that were put in the bill. Bacon says the cornerstone of the legislation is a 19% pay raise for junior enlisted troops, which Bacon says is necessary to help recruitment and reduce financial stress for members of the armed services.
The Scarborough’s are one of several Nebraska families concerned about Gov. Jim Pillen’s promise to eliminate an extensive waitlist for intellectual and developmental disability services. Those services include group homes, day programs, respite care, occupational therapy, and more. None are covered by Medicaid.
Biosolids are a cheap, nutrient-rich fertilizer that have been applied on millions of acres of farmland across the country, but toxic “forever chemicals” are creeping their way into the fertilizer. A proposed federal provision aims to better protect farmers from PFAS contamination.
It’s National Pollinator Week, an annual event created to bring attention to the sharp decline in pollinator numbers due to habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. Butterflies often capture people’s attention and help spark interest in pollinator conservation, something butterfly farms are helping promote.
Recently, Fischer introduced the Amtrak Transparency Act, which would expand Amtrak board meetings to include additional stakeholders and require public notices 30 days prior to meetings. The legislation would also require bonuses exceeding $50,000 dollars to Amtrak employees be disclosed to Congress.
What may be the world’s largest collection of clown dolls is in a northeast Nebraska city with a population of just over 1,000 people.
The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska is traveling around the state this summer to hold listening sessions with recipients of a $25.5 million legislative fund.
Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina was buzzing Thursday afternoon on the first day of the annual College World Series Jell-O shot challenge. Fans from across the country can buy five-dollar Jell-O shots in their favorite school’s color and for each shot purchased, one dollar is donated to a food bank in the university’s hometown, while 50 cents goes to an Omaha food bank. Owner Kevin Culjat said the competition began in 2018 and has grown each year since.
Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts are cosponsors of legislation to overturn a U.S. Department of Education rule extending Title Nine protections to include gender identity. The Congressional Review Act allows Congress the ability to overrule federal regulations from government agencies by passing a joint resolution. The resolution can be vetoed by the president and would need a two-thirds majority of the House and Senate to override the veto.
An environmental justice program is hoping to expand into new cities throughout the state.
The Forbes Advisor team analyzed more than 20 metrics from 95 cities across the country, considering affordability, availability, amenities and safety. Kasey Ogle with Nebraska Appleseed, an organization that advocates for affordable housing, says conditions are difficult for renters in Nebraska and she is surprised to see Lincoln at the top of the Forbes ranking.
The five-member board, led by Gov. Jim Pillen, voted unanimously to approve the results. Secretary of State Bob Evnen said the 2024 primary was a historic election for Nebraska, as it was the first to require voter ID.
The prospect of precision agriculture has existed for decades, but many of the technologies and techniques that will enable it have been slow to catch on.
Nonpublic schools now have more flexibility in choosing books through the state’s textbook loan program. That’s a change from when they could only request what the public school in their district asked for.
At a series of town halls across the state, Governor Jim Pillen has said he wants to reduce property taxes in Nebraska by 40% by expanding the sales tax base in a special legislative session this summer. Ernie Goss, an economics professor at Creighton University, said high property taxes hurt economic growth more than high sales taxes.
Kansas City musician Nate Hofer took his pedal steel guitar 30 feet down into an inter-continental ballistic missile silo to record a hopeful reminder that nuclear war is not inevitable.
A survey of manufacturing supply-chain managers in the Midwest found that economic growth slowed in the month of May. Creighton economics professor Ernie Goss, who leads the Mid-America Business Conditions Index, said high inflation and fewer exports are resulting in lower growth in the manufacturing industry.
The human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a sexually transmitted, cancer-causing infection that can be largely prevented by a series of vaccinations in children. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports the state does well in starting that series, but not as well in completing it.
At 82 years old, Rick Hubbard is hitting the highways of America to raise awareness of political dysfunction.
A Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court judge ruled a former Papillion firefighter is entitled to compensation for mental injury. Nebraska Public Media’s Sarah Lawlor has more.
Dead Timber State Recreation Area is set to receive more than a half million dollars for a redevelopment project. The park north of Scribner received a $589,000 grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.
In 2019, major flooding altered the Platte River near its junction with Highway 75, creating a large sandbar and restricting the channel size to a third of what it had been previously. Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District general manager John Winkler says the sandbar makes communities like Louisville and Cedar Creek, which are upstream, more susceptible to additional flooding.
Gov. Jim Pillen said Friday that if legal costs get too high, he would abandon the Perkins County Canal proposal.
Long-term care residents and their families in Red Cloud, Nebraska, breathed a sigh or relief this spring, when the local nursing home was saved from closure. The Heritage of Red Cloud was scheduled to close on April 18. But a local hospital and its foundation decided to acquire the facility thanks to some large community donations.
HOST: Almost a year after the first phase of renovations at the Lincoln Airport were completed, the second phase is wrapping up. Nebraska Public Media’s Sarah Lawlor has more. 053024 THU Airport Renovations WRAP.wav: (39.9 s)Lincoln Airport officials opened the doors to the public on Thursday afternoon so travelers could have a chance to see the new additions. Renovations include two new bag belts and new locations for customer service and rental car desks. Rachel Barth is the director of air service development and strategic marketing. She says the new renovations should make for a more streamlined process for travelers. BARTH:(7 s) I think when people see the project now finished, they’re gonna really think, ‘Wow, this was really well thought out and methodical.’ LAWLOR: Now that the second phase of renovations is finished, Barth says airport officials are shifting their focus to the runway. I’m Sarah Lawlor, Nebraska Public Media news.
The competition includes an obstacle course where snowplow drivers swerve through cones, make sharp turns and back up into tight spaces, all while competing against the clock. Competitors also take a written test and perform snowplow inspections where they must find vehicle defects.
HOST: A severe winter storm in early April left millions of dollars in damage for eight western Nebraska counties. Those counties are now receiving federal assistance for recovery efforts. Nebraska Public Media’s Sarah Lawlor has more. 052924 Disaster declaration voicer.wav: (48 s)President Joe Biden is declaring a major disaster exists in eight Nebraska counties affected by storms in April. The counties include Banner, Cheyenne, Dawes, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff and Sioux. The April storm included thunderstorms, freezing rain, snow and heavy winds. At least $10.5 million in initial damages were reported, according to a press release from Governor Jim Pillen. The costs are mainly for downed power lines and power poles.
More people in Nebraska are waking up hungry, according to a recent report released by “Feeding America”, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization.
Thirteen states across the U.S., including much of the Midwest, introduced bills this year that could give some rights to embryos and fetuses usually associated with people. None passed but people in the fertility world are concerned that lawmakers will try again and what that means for reproductive rights.
According to the Governor’s Policy Research Office, Nebraskans paid 5.3 billion dollars in property taxes in 2023. Pillen wants to cut that amount by 40%, or more than 2 billion dollars. He says he intends to present a plan to cut spending by 500 million dollars through streamlining government operations.
A proposal to divert water from the Platte to the Republican River drew mixed reactions at a public hearing Thursday.
The American Red Cross is regularly busy in the Midwest as a natural-disaster-prone area. But one woman is working doubly hard to ensure one group of people receive the support they need from the organization.
More than 150 people squeezed into the Warner Chamber, just off the Capitol Rotunda to witness Wednesday’s induction ceremony. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the bust of Malcolm X, a Black activist and human rights champion who was born in Omaha.
Gov. Jim Pillen's efforts to drum up support for lowering property taxes by expanding sales taxes met some skepticism Friday in Grand Island.
More than 87 hundred additional ballots from Tuesday’s primary election were counted by the Douglas County Election Commission Friday morning. That number includes early voting ballots that were delivered to the election office on election day. While most races have been called, Friday's count has widened the gap between two candidates vying for second place and a chance to advance to the general election.
The United States Department of Agriculture partnered with the Tri-Faith Center in Omaha to host a summit this week about countering antisemitism, Islamophobia and other biases in rural communities. The Tri-Faith campus has a mosque, synagogue, church and a center connecting them. Samantha Joseph, the director of the USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, said those connections made it the perfect spot to host a summit like this.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers is suing California and the federal government over requirements to replace diesel trucks with electric vehicles.
Planting is well underway across the Midwest, but farmers are still grappling with dry conditions that led to lower than normal corn yields last fall. It’s the third year of a near historic drought for parts of the Corn Belt.
A bill passed in this year’s Nebraska legislative session has the potential to increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations in the state, according to electric vehicle lobbying group Charge Ahead Partnership. A provision from State Sen. Eliot Bostar regulating electric vehicle charging stations was passed unanimously as part of a larger package bill in April.
The Republican candidates for the primary election in Nebraska’s second congressional district say although they’re both in the same party, they couldn’t be more different. This election could redefine the urban Nebraska Republican.
Michael Connely is challenging incumbent Mike Flood for the Congressional District 1 seat in the Republican primary election. Both candidates running without state party endorsement is a reflection of national trends, an expert said.
Nebraska will be electing two U.S. Senators in this election cycle for the first time since 1954. Incumbent Republicans Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts are heavy favorites, but neither have received endorsements from the State Republican Party. Meanwhile, an independent challenger is likely to receive a Democratic Party endorsement in the general election.
The 25,000-square-foot skatepark is set to become the state’s largest upon completion. Skatepark designer Vince Onel said the new skatepark will provide opportunities for all skill levels over a variety of terrains. His initial design includes pump tracks, two bowls, street elements, and several sculptures.
Nebraska now has another commission added to its repertoire of racial and ethnic representation in government.
More than 100 Nebraska community leaders and civil rights advocates met Wednesday at a conference to discuss the state of human rights throughout the region.
Outside the University of Nebraska-Lincoln city union, students and community members are protesting the war and deaths in Gaza. They join several other universities across the country, some of which have been protesting for two weeks.
The trend was already underway when the COVID-19 pandemic pushed rural and small-town nursing homes to close permanently. Yet, some communities are finding ways today to re-envision nursing homes while keeping staff at the forefront.
As work continued to clean up debris from what used to be a giant machine shed, Jackie and Randy Colton described their experience outrunning a tornado.
In the first 100 days of the year, troopers issued more high-speed tickets than any entire year in the past decade.
It’s been a month since six workers died from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. For the state’s immigrant workers and advocates, this serves as a reminder of their high-risk working conditions.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen vetoed a bill Wednesday that would enable victims to sue public entities like school districts if they are found liable in cases of child sexual abuse and assault. Loree Woods says news of the governor’s veto was a gut punch to her family.
Early childhood educators, researchers and policymakers are finding ways to improve the field, starting with connecting with each other. The three groups came together at the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools Early Childhood Research Summit in Lincoln on Tuesday.
The University of Nebraska named Dr. Jeffrey Gold as the priority candidate for the president position. He currently serves as the provost and executive vice president for the university system, and is the University of Nebraska Medical Center chancellor. Gold is undergoing a 30-day vetting process. He spoke with Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal about his vision if hired, getting the university back into the Association of American Universities and more.
The primary election for the state’s second congressional district is about three weeks away with both sides maintaining their confidence.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and basketball coach Amy Williams asked a federal court judge to dismiss a Title IX lawsuit filed by former player Ashley Scoggin. The request came in filings with the court on Friday. Scoggin filed a lawsuit claiming the university acted in violation of federal guidelines when addressing a purported sexual relationship between the player and former assistant coach Chuck Love. UNL maintains the Athletic Department acted in good faith, while providing Scoggin access to information on how to respond to concerns about inappropriate sexual contact.
The Nebraska Legislature finished its 2024 session with some substantive policy changes, but a stalemate on property taxes
Gov. Jim Pillen, along with the state director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, has announced the intention to end the state’s disabilities waiting list. The plan starts by listening to communities’ needs.
Gov. Jim Pillen faulted the Legislature for failing to pass his proposal to cut property taxes and vowed to call them back before January to address the issue.
Many people with developmental disabilities don’t need 24/7 care but momentary support. In Omaha, there’s not enough accommodating housing and infrastructure for people with developmental disabilities to live independently.
In Crete, Nebraska, a local woman is staging a sleepout to raise awareness for Youth Homelessness Matters Day. About 300 students at Crete Public Schools were identified as homeless this academic year.
Newly postpartum moms may be more susceptible to mental health issues stemming from glamorized motherhood content on social media, according to a recent Nebraska study.
The flu has been found in cows for the first time, but most cattle seem to be showing only mild symptoms and recovering from the illness. Officials say the pasteurization process means milk remains safe.
The U.S. has lost more than 2,800 newspapers since 2005, many of them in rural areas. Now some journalists are redoubling their efforts to provide local news and trying new models in a difficult industry.
The Yazidi SarSal is a new year event in the Yazidi culture celebrated in mid-April every year. This event brings the community members together to appreciate their religious beliefs, cultural values and their history.
The priority candidate for president of the University of Nebraska held his first public forum Friday. Dr. Jeffrey Gold answered questions about budget cuts, the university’s relationship with the legislature and getting students from Western Nebraska.
Members of the Nebraska Legislature passed more than 100 bills and paid tribute to departing colleagues on Thursday.
The Nebraska Legislature heard a few new voices in its rotunda thanks to a new youth lobby school. The program focuses on teaching students from diverse backgrounds how to advocate for legislation.
Sen. Lou Ann Linehan’s LB388 would create a digital advertising sales tax and increase taxes on cigarettes, vaping, lottery tickets, cannabis derivatives and games of skill. Sales tax exemptions for candy, soda, storage facilities and veterinary services would also be eliminated. The bill caps the percentage cities and counties can grow their annual budget and reduces school property taxes by 30% directly instead of requiring taxpayers to apply for a 30% tax credit, according to the Governor’s Policy Research Office.
Host Intro: Gov. Jim Pillen said today/Wednesday more needs to be done to lower property taxes. And he said he’ll call a special session to change Nebraska to a winner-take-all electoral college system, if 33 senators say they’ll vote for it.
Thousands of people gathered in southwest Lincoln Wednesday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramandan and fasting in the Muslim faith. Ousmane Youm is a member of the Islamic Foundation of Lincoln community. In addition to fasting and other spiritual disciplines, Ramadan is about giving back.
Nebraska Legislature Speaker John Arch is taking a wait-and-see attitude about a possible special session to change Nebraska's Electoral College voting system.
A Lincoln food pantry has revamped its system that allow people to have a more welcoming experience.
Senator Lou Ann Linehan’s bill would appropriate $10 million dollars to scholarship granting organizations, allowing low-income students to apply for grants that can be used at private schools. Linehan’s bill would also sunset legislation passed last year giving up to $25 million dollars of tax credits for donations to scholarship granting organizations.
Nebraska schools could be sued for up to a million dollars if a staff member sexually assaults a student, under a proposal that advanced Tuesday in the Legislature. And a bill to increase taxes on home sellers, and reduce them on people who inherit property, also moved ahead.
A University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher is the first Husker to join the National Academy of Education, which is an organization focused on education research. Susan Sheridan, the director of the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, has decades of research leading to her invitation to the academy.
A proposal to restrict trans athletes in Nebraska's K-12 schools was blocked by a filibuster in the Legislature Friday.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Education and Human Sciences recognized students in their teaching programs for reaching the halfway point of their degrees. “Nebraska needs teachers. We want teachers. We want to honor teachers," UNL CEHS acting dean Nick Pace said. "We want to honor their work and thank them for having the heart and the hands for this work. It’s never been more important and it’s never probably been more difficult.”
Senator Justin Wayne filed several amendments to his bill regarding punitive damages, including one which would allow an individual to hold political subdivisions or state agencies liable for the sexual assault of a minor by a public employee. The amendment’s language was taken directly from Senator Steve Halloran’s bill, which did not make it out of the Judiciary Committee.
The Nebraska Legislature considered proposals Thursday to improve firefighters' pensions, while a contentious debate on restricting transgender student athletes was set for Friday.
A proposal to change Nebraska’s presidential vote allocation to a winner-take-all system failed in the Nebraska legislature late Wednesday evening. Nebraska is one of two states that awards its electoral votes to Presidential candidates by Congressional District, with the overall state winner receiving an additional two votes. In 2020, President Joe Biden received one electoral vote from Omaha’s 2nd Congressional District, while Donald Trump received the state’s other four votes.
The Legislature’s Executive board condemned Sen. Steve Halloran today/Wednesday for injecting colleagues’ names when he read a rape scene during a debate on obscenity. But some senators said that wasn’t enough.
The amount of students participating in dual enrollment across the state has increased since 2016, according to a new report from the Nebraska Statewide Workforce and Educational Reporting System, or NSWERS. In dual enrollment courses, students can earn college credits while still in high school.
Assisted living facilities in rural Nebraska will see a small bump in funding for serving Medicaid patients. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed appropriations bill 1412 this week. Included in the budget, $1.5 million of American Rescue Plan funds will aid rural assisted living facilities.
A Latino advocacy organization will host a virtual summit on the state of voting. They’ll discuss how the growing Latino population will have a significant impact on this election and those in the future.
The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy made his first-ever visit to Nebraska Tuesday. Murthy visited Lincoln North Star High School and Bryan Medical Center, where he spoke to a crowd of several hundred people about the impact of social media on youth mental health.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval to a bill designed to cut property taxes, but without the replacement revenues originally envisioned.
In a school district that’s population spans 990 square miles, the school is coming together to create a mural representing their community. It's a 4-foot-by-8-foot mural with the word "Tigers," which is the school's mascot, in the middle of the piece.
The city’s latest proposal would grow the South Haymarket Park to more than 8 acres while nixing a previous proposal for a mixed-use development in the area. The expansion also requires the city to purchase two additional properties near 7th and L Streets, adjacent to the planned park location.
Sens. Michaela Cavanaugh and Julie Slama introduced a resolution to censure Halloran after comments during last week’s debate on a bill regarding obscene materials in schools. While quoting testimony which included a passage from a memoir describing the author’s rape, Halloran inserted the name Senator Cavanaugh after a description of a demand for oral sex.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Thursday to tax breaks for a wide range of activities, despite warnings about future budget shortfalls.
Gov. Jim Pillen will sign LB 1087 Friday. The bill will send a big dose of federal Medicaid money to hospitals in Nebraska. In total, the Nebraska Hospitals Association said its members will receive up to $1 dollars every year through the Medicaid program.
The Nebraska Legislature began debate Wednesday on a proposal for significant tax changes, with senators expressing wide ranging opinions.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Dave Murman says his bill would require pornography websites to verify the age of its users to ensure they are 18 or older before showing obscene material. The bill’s critics say that kids can still access pornography by using other encrypted methods like virtual private networks.
The Nebraska Department of Education launched the Teacher Apprenticeship Program to help train teachers with more in-classroom experiences. The state Legislature passed the Teacher Apprenticeship Program last year with $1 million slated for the initiative in the first year. The program is starting with three grow-your-own initiatives that were already in effect.
The Nebraska Legislature approved adjustments to the two-year budget in advance of debating significant tax changes.
New University of Nebraska–Lincoln Director of Athletics, Troy Dannen, said NU is a “gold mine,” during his introductory press conference on Tuesday. The former University of Washington AD spoke in front of hundreds of coaches, athletes and stakeholders inside Memorial Stadium.
One group in Nebraska is starting a new program to bring more diversity to the state’s boards and commissions. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports it will train people from diverse backgrounds in how to become board and commission members.
The Nebraska Legislature confirmed Gov. Jim Pillen’s appointment of Steve Corsi to head the Department of Health and Human Services Monday, despite opposition from senators who objected to his social media posts and job history.
This year’s Migratory Family and Student Conference hosted by the Nebraska Migrant Education Program is expected to be the largest in attendance in its four-year history.
A KCUR and Midwest Newsroom investigation reveals the chain of events that ended in the death of Clesslynn Crawford almost exactly two years ago.
Lincoln ranked number one in the nation for the city with the highest rate of self-response for the mid-way point of the 2020 U.S. Census. The U.S. Census Director met with refugee and immigrant organizations to talk about how they achieved their success.
Host Intro: A proposal to increase sales and cigarette taxes in order to lower property taxes is headed to the Nebraska Legislature for debate.
Host Intro: A proposal to increase sales and cigarette taxes in order to lower property taxes is headed to the Nebraska Legislature for debate.
Just one win would be historic, during the team’s trip to the NCAA Tournament, also known as the “Big Dance.” Nebraska is the only major conference team to have zero NCAA Tournament wins in men’s basketball. They’re 0-7 all-time in the tournament.
Lincoln manufacturing companies and refugee support agencies have found a solution to two problems: a labor shortage and refugees’ need for employment. The new idea has so far worked to solve both cases.
A bill supporters said would combat obscenity in schools and libraries was stopped by a filibuster Wednesday in the Legislature.
A bill that would eliminate a legal defense for teachers and librarians charged with providing obscene material to other people stalled in the Nebraska legislature Wednesday. Senator Joni Albrecht says she introduced LB441 to keep inappropriate books from being provided to kids in public schools and libraries.
Troy Dannen, former athletic director at the University of Washington, will be the next Director of Athletics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Interim university president Chris Kabourek announced it on Wednesday.
In the Nebraska Legislature, Sen. Steve Halloran’s insertion his colleagues’ names into a description of rape produced condemnation and a call to resign.
A proposal to enhance penalties for providing fentanyl to people who are seriously injured or die got stalled Monday in the Legislature.
The Nebraska Legislature argued over civil forfeiture, fentanyl penalties and who can be sued for child sexual abuse.
A ruling by the Nebraska Supreme Court means that the state agency regulating environmental safety can lawfully charge a Nebraska news public tens of thousands of dollars for copies of public documents. The Court ruled that it was up to the Nebraska legislature to determine how much a state agency could charge for reviewing requests for public documents and providing copies.
For-profit companies and private equity firms have purchased more than half of the nonprofit nursing homes that have gone out of business in the last decade.
Jane Kleeb is known as the force behind the effort to stop oil giant, TransCanada from building the Keystone XL oil pipeline through Nebraska. But she's also Jane Kleeb who battled anorexia as a teenager. Kleeb talked with Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson about her experience and the unwavering strength she found in the face of adversity.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval to another state budget bill today, but not before nearly half the senators signaled what some described as unease over the proposal.
Nebraska state senators have mixed thoughts on why Trev Alberts decided to leave as Athletic Director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Brule, Nebraska, a village of 330 residents just west of Ogallala, has seen its fair share of controversy over the last few months, including the resignation of a longtime village employee and efforts to recall two village board members. More than 60 percent of voters cast their ballots against recalling Brian McNeff and Mike Gibson in their respective elections, allowing them to remain on the Brule Village Board.
As part of the proposed budget in the Nebraska Legislature, $25 million that was originally slated for affordable housing would be used for a different kind of housing. Affordable housing is geared toward lower-income buyers. Under the budget proposed by the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, $20 million would be shifted to rural workforce housing, and $5 million would go to middle income housing.
One city in Nebraska has found a way to both welcome newcomers and bolster the area’s economy. A Fremont organization has instituted a new system.
Nebraska senators voted 27-20 in favor of overriding Gov. Jim Pillen's veto of a needle exchange bill, falling three votes short of the number needed to override.
Two Nebraska high school seniors — one in Pender and one in Lincoln — committed to the University of Nebraska under the new Presidential Scholars program. The scholarship gives a full-ride plus a $5,000 stipend for any University of Nebraska school to in-state students who score a 36 on the ACT. The university announced the program last month.
The state’s Commission on Latino -Americans is starting new projects yet facing old challenges this year. This group finds itself in a unique position as it attempts to expand its reach.
The State Board of Education voted against starting the rule change process for board member Kirk Penner’s proposal to prohibit sexually explicit materials in school libraries and remove the requirement to buy a minimum number of new books every year.
A recreation trail connecting Lincoln and Omaha continues to move through the planning process, with the Lower Platte South Natural Resource District seeking input to determine a proposed route. In 2022, the Nebraska Legislature allocated $8.3 million dollars to connect two segments of the MoPac Trail in rural Cass County. Currently, the western portion of the trail ends in the village of Wabash, while the eastern section ends near South Bend, leaving an eight-mile gap.
A filibuster in the Nebraska Legislature has blocked a proposal aimed at giving tenants a “clean slate” if eviction proceedings were started against them, but they were never evicted.
On Sept. 12, 2022, Malcolm X became the first Black man or woman voted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. By May, a bust of Malcolm X will be inside the Nebraska State Capitol, along with 26 other Nebraskans.
Host Intro: A proposal aimed at helping Nebraskans who have faced eviction from their homes was slowed by a filibuster Wednesday in the Legislature.
A campaign to celebrate and make immigrants in the state feel welcome saw so much success last month, it’s making changes to the plan. The statewide effort will expand next year.
Doane University students are performing and producing the play "The Delays" this week. It’s the first production that faculty are only mentoring students.
A Nebraska Air Force employee was arrested Saturday for sharing classified information about the war in Ukraine. David Slater, a 63-year-old employee at the Offutt Air Force Base, faces one count of conspiracy to disclose national defense information and two counts of unauthorized disclosure of national defense information.
Purchasers of land in all or part of eight western Nebraska counties would have to certify they are not affiliated with any foreign adversaries.
As the University of Nebraska continues the search for a new president, interim president Chris Kabourek said he wants to keep the university moving forward. Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal sat down with Kabourek to discuss his goals for the university as challenges like budget cuts continue.
Host Intro: Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has vetoed a bill allowing Nebraska cities to establish needle exchange programs for drug users. Sen. Meghan Hunt, chief sponsor of the legislation, says she’ll try to override the veto.
Nebraska state senators approved two amendments Monday on LB 1087, which would increase Medicaid funding for the state’s hospitals.
School boards could let teachers and other staff carry guns in school, under a proposal advanced by the Legislature’s Education Committee today/Thursday. And senators advanced a proposal aimed at helping native American tribal members experiencing mental health crises.
A seventeen-year-old from Hall County, accused in a massive sextortion case involving multiple victims must face the charges as an adult. The judge in the case called the teenager “an extreme threat to the security of the public.” Cody Holum argued he would benefit from the counseling and rehabilitation services available to a juvenile defendant until he was 19 years old. A Hall County District Judge determined just a year’s worth of services would not provide enough time to deal with the “alarming” behavior he’s shown over several years.
Nebraska’s chief medical officer, Dr. Timothy Tesmer, was scheduled to provide clarification on the state’s gender affirming care regulations for minors at a briefing Thursday afternoon. However, he and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services declined to attend. Last week, the Health and Human Services Committee requested a briefing from Tesmer to clarify the final rules and regulations of LB574, which was passed by the legislature last year.
The U.S. Department of Education aims to send completed 2024-25 Free Applications for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSAs, to colleges in March. The FAFSA typically goes out in October, but for the 2024-25 form, there have been roadblocks due to needed changes from the FAFSA Simplification Act.
The Nebraska legislature heard arguments for and against a bill that would allow a controversial execution method to be used in the state. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports if passed, the state would be the fourth in the U.S. to approve nitrogen gas for executions.
Host Intro: Debate in the Nebraska Legislature over inheritance taxes Wednesday showed a generational divide, and raised questions about whether senators were debating things that are irrelevant to many Nebraskans.
As of January, Nebraskans can start donating to scholarship granting organizations, or SGOs, to fund tuition for students going to private schools. In return, donors receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. There are currently four certified SGOs in the state.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has launched a new program in an effort to attract and retain teachers from diverse backgrounds. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena has the details.
Host Intro: Fines and penalties would increase for distracted driving that resulted in someone dying, under a proposal heard Tuesday by a legislative committee. And lawmakers continued to debate abolishing the state’s inheritance tax. From the Capitol, Fred Knapp of Nebraska Public Media News has this legislative update:
A pregnancy-related death is when a person dies during pregnancy– or within a year after the pregnancy due to complications or pre-existing conditions. In some Midwest states, maternal mortality rates are higher than the national average. As Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena/ KBIA’s Anna Spidel report for the Midwest Newsroom, the data on Hispanic women can be particularly challenging.
Leading up to the death of Kevin Carter at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln, Angelo Bol allegedly threatened his cellmate's life. They remained in the same cell. That’s among the many accusations filed in federal court this month alleging negligence by former and current Nebraska Department of Correctional Services employees. Former director of the NDCS, Scott Frakes, and warden Michele Wilhelm are included in the total of 12 employees listed in the lawsuit.
A group of gun owners and the City of Lincoln will square off in Lancaster County District Court to argue whether there can be limits on carrying guns in parks and government buildings. Similiar restrictions put in place by Omaha's mayor have temporarily been put on hold by another judge.
Experts in media, election security and counterterrorism spoke on ChatGPT, deep fake videos, voice cloning and more at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Saturday for Civic Nebraska’s AI and Democracy Community Summit. The panel included UNL public relations professor Bryan Wang, UNL journalism professor Matt Waite, Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Kruse and UNO counterterrorism center director, Gina Ligon.
The Nebraska Legislature moved Friday toward restoring its oversight authority for state agencies, and lawmakers heard a proposal to help veterans accused of crimes avoid convictions.
Lincoln Public School students at four high schools had the opportunity to learn more about H-B-C-Us this week. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports the informational sessions offered some students a first-time look at some of these schools.
A proposal to allow exceptions to Nebraska’s limits on abortion in cases of fatal fetal anomalies produced strong reactions at a public hearing Thursday. And, senators advanced a bill enhancing penalties for people who supply fentanyl-laced drugs that kill or seriously injure another person.
The hub of Lincoln’s bus system may be getting a new temporary location until the completion of a multi-modal transportation center in 2027. Lincoln Transportation and Utilities shared plans at a public open house Wednesday morning for a new transfer center location at 11th and L Streets, two blocks south of its current location next to the Gold’s Building construction site.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced a bill Wednesday aimed at increasing the availability of childcare, and senators debated increasing penalties for providing drugs that result in serious injury or death.
The initiative, called Nebraska Backs the Blue, aims to recruit officers to Nebraska by highlighting the state’s support for law enforcement, recreational opportunities and free college tuition program for law enforcement officials. “Our message today, while very important in Nebraska, is really a message to the rest of America. Nebraska is the best state in the union to work as a law enforcement official,” Flood said.
A former women’s basketball player at the University of Nebraska has filed a lawsuit claiming the school and the team’s head coach were aware of and mishandled an inappropriate sexual relationship between her and a member of the coaching staff.
A robot developed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is among the first to complete a surgical simulation in space. A research team led by UNL engineering professor Shane Farritor received grant funding from NASA to send the robot to the International Space Station. The 2-pound robot, controlled by surgeons from across the United States, cut ten rubber bands as part of its initial space test.
Raybould’s LB1383 would establish Nebraska Tribal Community Assistance Program. The program would be funded through an initial transfer of $10,000,000 from the Intern Nebraska Cash Fund and provide at least one grant per year — up to $2,000,000 — to tribal water and sewer projects.
Spanish-speaking breast cancer survivors in the state now have a new resource for helping with mental health.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced a bill that aims to help financially struggling hospitals by increasing federal Medicaid reimbursements.
Doulas are trained birthing coaches who help women through pregnancy and childbirth. And if a bill passes through state legislation, this resource could be available to Nebraskans who use Medicaid. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena has the story.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced a bill adding Medicaid services for pregnant women, and senators reached a temporary deal with the Pillen administration restoring some legislative oversight of corrections and child welfare.
Two bills that would impact state colleges had hearings in the Nebraska Legislature’s Education Committee today. One would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and the other would eliminate tenure at state colleges.
. The Nebraska Legislature considered proposals Tuesday aimed at improving railroad safety and expanding broadband coverage.
A bill that would stop schools from punishing or prohibiting employees engaging in religious expression outside of class went in front of the state legislature’s Education Committee on Monday. State Senator Loren Lippincott said he wants to solidify the protections in state law following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that recognized a football coach’s right to pray after a game.
Gov. Jim Pillen said Nebraska will apply for the summer EBT program, and senators are considering money to prepare sites to attract industrial projects.
Despite the law requiring the government to accommodate interpretation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska said that doesn’t always happen in Omaha Immigration Court. A new report by the ACLU said Omaha Immigration Court violates due process in many cases.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved transitioning out the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Theatre program along with two other programs at their meeting Friday.
A District Court Judge in Hall County will decide if a 17-year-old should stand trial as an adult for allegedly extorting sex and explicit photos from other teenagers in central Nebraska. Details of the complex, disturbing case came to light during the Wednesday hearing to consider a motion to transfer the case to juvenile court. Seventeen-year-old Cody Holum of Doniphan faces 13 charges of human trafficking and four charges of 1st degree sexual assault. At an earlier hearing, he pled not guilty to all the accusations.
Each of Nebraska’s three continuum of care regions in Omaha, Lincoln and the rest of the state received more than $5 million in federal funds to assist individuals experiencing homelessness. Nebraska Field Office Director Kitty Amaya says this year’s grants are HUD’s largest annual investment nationally and reflect the need for services in smaller cities.
Grocery store owners and managers in Nebraska are excited about the prospects of a bill proposed in the Nebraska Legislature. LB 1116 would create a grant or loan program for locally run grocery stores. A store in west central Nebraska said they could use this money to try and grow its customer base.
Financial issues are plaguing Nebraskans’ ability to access long-term care. Bills in the Nebraska Legislature would increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for assisted living and nursing homes.
The idea of raising sales taxes in order to lower property taxes got a less-than-rousing reception in a hearing before the Legislature’s Revenue Committee Wednesday.
Counties would have to offer to buy properties for their assessed value, under a proposal heard Wednesday by the Legislature’s Revenue Committee. And senators advanced a bill aimed at making dental services available for more Medicaid recipients.
Ricketts joined 49 other senators in opposition to a border security bill and foreign aid bill that had the support of Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and most Senate Democrats. Ricketts explained his opposition in a press call Wednesday.
Newly-released data from higher education researchers shows Nebraska is behind the national average when it comes to community college students transferring to four-year universities and ultimately earning their bachelor’s degrees. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena has the details.
A proposed constitutional amendment that would change the makeup of the State Board of Education drew opposition Tuesday at the Legislature’s Education Committee hearing.
Host Intro: Nebraska schools would have more options for armed personnel to confront possible shooters under a bill that drew strong support and opposition at a hearing Tuesday.
A man imprisoned for the past year after being convicted of sexual assault in Merrick County will get a new trial. In a very unusual move, Nebraska’s Attorney General filed a memorandum with the Nebraska Court of Appeals stating testimony that helped put 63-year-old Jack Tourtillott of Chapman in jail should not have been heard by the jury. The attorney recommended the jury’s guilty verdict be reversed. The court did so in January.
There are plenty of elections this year including Nebraska primaries, local elections and a vote for U.S. president. This means people like Dwayne Hawkins—the director for Black Votes Matter Get Out the Vote initiative based in Omaha-- is very busy. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena got a coffee with him to talk about what’s on his mind in this new role.
Nebraskans will continue to switch their clocks twice a year, after senators rejected proposals today/Monday to stick with standard time or daylight saving time year-round.
The University of Nebraska announced a new full-ride scholarship starting in the fall for in-state students who receive a perfect score on the ACT. The President’s scholarship will cover all costs to attend the University of Nebraska – including room, board and books — plus a $5,000 stipend.
An effort to require two-person crews on trains crossing Nebraska fell short Friday in the Legislature. And senators heard a proposal to tighten requirements for local governments or businesses that want to condemn land.
State Board of Education members disagreed on a potential rule change that would prohibit sexually explicit content in school libraries at their meeting Friday.
This November, voters will decide the next president. And depending on this outcome, Nebraska refugee resettlement agencies may have to quickly adjust how many new arrivals to prepare for. The refugee outlook for 2024 may be starkly different from 2025.
Aguilar’s Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination Act would prohibit state and local government entities from entering into a contract with a company that has a policy of discriminating against the firearm industry. Steve Hornady, president of Hornady Manufacturing, an ammunition company based in Grand Island, testified at Thursday’s legislative hearing on the bill.
Governor Jim Pillen and the Department of Correctional Services announced Thursday the start of a new strategy to help incarcerated individuals re-enter their community.
Proposals to expand sales taxes to reduce property taxes ran into opposition in a public hearing Thursday. And, opponents of requiring two-people on train crews continued the first legislative filibuster of the year, leading the discussion onto some interesting sidings.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers have released results from an electric vehicle crash test last fall. Cody Stolle, assistant director of UNL’s Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, says the research is important as electric vehicles, which can be much heavier than their gas-powered counterparts, become more common.
Under the current process, voters must sign a notarized affidavit to make that happen. Linehan, who introduced the new legislation, says her bill would only require voters to send a letter to the Secretary of State’s Office to remove their name.
Property tax levies would be automatically reduced if valuations increased, under a proposal heard by the Legislature’s Revenue Committee Wednesday. And senators debated requiring at least two crew members on trains crossing the state.
Douglas County is taking steps to prevent drug overdose related deaths with a new program, The Douglas County Overdose Fatality Review Team(OFR).
The Nebraska Legislature continued debate Tuesday on proposals to have the state observe either yearlong Daylight Saving Time or yearlong Standard Time.
Lincoln has developed a way for the state’s resettled refugees to help fill the workforce. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena shares more about a manufacturing course starting this weekend (Sunday).
Lincoln has developed a way for the state’s resettled refugees to help fill the workforce. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena shares more about a manufacturing course starting this weekend (Sunday).
More than 49 percent of renting households in and around Kearney and Hastings experience cost burden. Housing cost burden is defined as any household spending more than 30 percent of their income toward rent and utilities.
Carol Blood, a Democrat State Senator from Bellevue, launched her campaign for Congress against Mike Flood Saturday afternoon. At a union hall in Lincoln, Blood criticized Flood for his role in an unproductive, hyper-partisan Congress. Blood promised to protect social security and access to abortion.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced bills Friday calling for partisan elections to public power boards, but then advanced a public health measure on a nonpartisan vote.
Nebraskans would stop having to “spring ahead” and “fall back,” under a bill for year-round daylight savings time being debated in the Legislature.
Earlier this week, the Nebraska State Board of Health voted to approve temporary regulations on gender affirming care for minor, bringing them one step closer to becoming permanent. The regulations included no significant changes to the regulations state Chief Medical Officer Doctor Timothy Tesmer (TEZ-muhr) approved in October. But on Wednesday, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says it was notified that some comments submitted at a public hearing were not included in the hearing summary.
Host Intro: A fight over who controls more than $100 million intended to revitalize north Omaha spilled onto the floor of the Legislature Wednesday.
The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education discussed a new contract for teachers that includes changes to professional learning time and an increase in the base annual salary at their meeting on Tuesday.
A law against texting while driving would be bolstered under a proposal heard Tuesday in a legislative committee. And a bill aimed at strengthening protections for freedom of religion is advancing in the Legislature.
Bills for better state contracts and easier occupational licenses are advancing in the Legislature.
In Lincoln and Omaha, hundreds of snowplow drivers have put in long hours over the last two weeks, with each city using a different strategy to keep the streets clear. Clayton Engelman, the transportation maintenance coordinator for the city of Lincoln, says major arterials remain the city’s priority after the snow stops falling. “Once the snow stops, that's usually what we call zero hour,” Engelman said. “And then at that point, we try to get the streets, the main streets, fully cleared before we move on into residentials.”
Host Intro: Governor Jim Pillen wants changes in how Nebraska tries to attract new people and businesses to the state. And the Legislature is moving on to debate bills without making major changes to its rules.
In December, the Nebraska Association of Public Employees was granted a motion of temporary relief, which halted the implementation of Governor Jim Pillen’s executive order requiring workers to return to the office in January. But Justin Hubly, the union’s Executive Director, says he received some complaints from union members that were required to return to in-person work despite the ruling.
Schools across the state are facing challenges with chronic absenteeism in students. One school district is using connections to overcome the issue and get students to school.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen talked about his priorities and drew a mixed reaction, while a bid to change legislative rules and require open elections for committee chairmanships fell short.
Governor Jim Pillen made his State of the State address today (yesterday). But as Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports, his speech was delayed by those concerned about his administration’s decisions.
As NioCorp prepares for its annual shareholders meeting, frustrated investors in Nebraska would like answers following what even the CEO calls a "disappointing" year. The company attracted small investors after it proposed to build a Niobium mine outside of Elk Creek, Nebraska. The project has yet to materialize. The stock languished in 2023 after joining the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. In the past year, the focus of the discussion among NioCorp shareholders shifted from the buzz about the prospects for a mine toward the under-performance of its stock.
The eighty-one year-old community activist and Sunday school teacher compared his campaign for Pete Ricketts’ Senate seat to David going up against Goliath in his opening speech. Love said his priorities as U.S. senator would include stronger gun control, more abortion access, and the creation of a robust farm bill.
.Senators introduced proposals to raise sales tax and eliminate exemptions to lower property taxes, and to tighten restrictions on foreign ownership of ag land.
The Legislature's Urban Affairs Committee advanced a proposal to shift control of north Omaha redevelopment funds, and legislative rules debate continued.
Sunday morning, the temperature in Lincoln fell to -18 degrees, making it the coldest day in the capital city since February 16, 2021. On that day, nearly three years ago, the temperature dipped to 31 below, contributing to rolling blackouts across the region.
Wind chills will dip as low as negative 30 degrees in Lincoln this week. That’s a looming concern for people experiencing homelessness. Nonprofits in Lincoln are encouraging people to seek refuge from the cold. People’s City Mission is opening its doors to everyone this week. Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach is open during the day.
CHI Health Center and Creighton University in Omaha set up a phone line to research long COVID across the state. They are also using the phone line to provide further care to those affected with continued symptoms.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Nebraska Public Media remembers a visit Dr. King made to Lincoln, NE on December 30, 1964. From the stage at Pershing Auditorium, Dr. King spoke at the Methodist Student Movement Conference saying, “I need not pause to say how very delighted and honored I am to be here tonight and to be a part of this very significant conference.” Assigned security for Dr. King was 25 year old Lincoln Police Officer Al Maxey.
Due to the heavy winter storms this past weekend, some community resources have had to shift their plans
It’s been a busy week for Lincoln snowplow driver Brett Bratrsovsky. Lincoln is in its second snow emergency of the week, and Bratrsovsky has already worked multiple 12 hour shifts. He worked 16 hours on Thursday. While the early week storm had warmer temperatures and wetter snow, Friday’s accumulation has been colder and drier, making it easier to plow. But the wind is a problem.
The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Janet Palmtag's defamation suit against the Nebraska Republican Party can go to trial.
The Nebraska Legislature began debating rules changes Thursday that some argued are necessary, and others criticized as an overreaction.
Sen. Merv Riepe proposed eased abortion restrictions in cases of fatal fetal anomaly, and the Rules Committe endorsed open elections for committee chairs.
The Nebraska Supreme Court is weighing who can legally help an expectant mother with the birth of her child in Nebraska. A pair of cases involving an unlicensed lay midwife triggered an appeal to the high court. District Court judges in Douglas and Madison Counties threw out charges against Judy Jones, an unlicensed lay midwife after she assisted in the birth of two babies in a home birth. The justices heard opposing points of view during oral arguments on Wednesday.
More than $120 million of state funds are heading to Omaha for the creation of a business park site and youth sports complex in the northeast part of the city. Governor Jim Pillen and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert joined other civic leaders to make the announcement Wednesday. Nearly $90 million will help pay for land acquisitions and infrastructure development near Eppley Airfield, allowing private businesses to begin construction on the site upon completion.
League Builders Supply, a lumberyard and store in Stratton, Nebraska, is set to shut down in the coming weeks after owner Denis League retires. “I'm not going to say Stratton’s going to shrivel up and die, because I'm not here, but I don't think it's going to help anything,” he said. “And I feel bad about that, but there’s a point where you’ve got to take care of yourself and I think I’m there.”
Bills concerning reparations for slavery and abolition of tenure are among proposals to be considered by the Legislature.
Winter Storm Finn blanketed much of eastern Nebraska with snow over the last two days. Lincoln and Omaha each saw around 5 inches of snow Monday and Tuesday, while other parts of the state saw upwards of one foot. A spot near Daykin, a village in Saline County, had the storm’s highest measured snowfall in the state of 14.5 inches, according to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network.
Gov. Jim Pillen endorsed a 40 percent property tax cut Monday but did not offer a specific plan for how to achieve that.
A new resource for Nebraskans working to become U-S citizens is now available in Crete. Nebraska Public Media’s Kassidy Arena reports it was created due to an increased need in the community.
Senators introduced proposals dealing with the death penalty and degree requirements, while preparing for an upcoming debate on how they conduct business.
Local Native American advocates and a fish farm owner settled a series of court disputes against the city of Lincoln on Thursday. Advocates opposed a housing development the city approved back in spring 2022. The Wilderness Crossing Development is planned to be created next to sacred Native American prayer grounds, called the Niskíthe Prayer Camp.
The Nebraska Legislature began its 2024 session Wednesday with a mixture of hope and apprehension about doing the state's business
The U.S. Department of Education is slowly releasing this year's FAFSA form after a two-month delay due to changes from the FAFSA Simplification Act. One student managed to get in and complete his application among technical difficulties.
On Monday, Nebraska’s minimum wage increased to $12 an hour, making it the 18th highest state minimum wage in the country and one of 25 states increasing its minimum wage this year. In 2022, Nebraska voters passed an initiative raising the minimum wage from $9 an hour up to $15 an hour by 2026, increasing by $1.50 each year. After that, the wage will be adjusted in accordance with cost of living increases.
Santa Claus is about to come to town, but some families in the Lincoln metro area need some extra help. Center for People hosts Toyland, an event for families to fill up their stockings and put presents under the tree free of charge.
At an open house in Ogallala, residents of western Nebraska and Colorado had reactions ranging from enthusiasm to skepticism about plans for the Perkins County Canal.
In 2024, Nebraska state senators will decide what they want to do about fiscal and social issues, but also how they want to govern themselves.
Reporter Jolie Peal talks about first year covering education for Nebraska Public Media.
This holiday season, Nebraska Public Media is reflecting on stories and topics our newsroom has covered over the past year. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson sat down with reporter Elizabeth Rembert to hear about her year covering agriculture and rural communities through our partnership with Harvest Public Media.
This holiday season, Nebraska Public Media is reflecting on stories and topics our newsroom has covered over the past year. Our team is made up of ten reporters, each one with their own beat. A beat is a genre of event-driven journalism where a reporter focuses on a particular issue, sector, organization, or institution over time. For example, typical beats include police, courts, government, business, and schools. Reporter Aaron Bonderson joined Nebraska Public Media in 2021 as an intern and started full-time in 2022. He is a Report for America corps member - the first at Nebraska Public Media. Aaron's job includes giving voice to underserved communities and people around the state. He also has a passion for sports. In 2023, one of the most memorable stories for Bonderson was Volleyball Day in Nebraska. Bonderson sat down with Dale Johnson to reflect.
Seventy-three counties in Nebraska are below the national average ratio of registered nurses to patients. That’s according to a Nebraska Hospital Association report. Nebraska Public Media reports on how the nursing shortage affects seniors in rural parts of the state.
This holiday season, Nebraska Public Media is reflecting on stories and topics our newsroom has covered over the past year. Nebraska Public Media's Dale Johnson sat down with new senior reporter Kassidy Arena to hear about what brought her back to the state and the type of reporting she'd like to focus on.
The Texas Longhorns swept the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the NCAA Volleyball National Championship in Tampa Sunday afternoon. Nebraska and Texas battled back and forth throughout the first set, but the Longhorns eventually pulled away, winning 25-22.
Gov. Jim Pillen's adminstration's consultant is to identify budget savings of 3% this year and 6% next.
Following a dominating victory over Pittsburgh on Thursday, the Nebraska volleyball team has earned a place in the National Championship match. The Huskers will take on Texas on Sunday at 2 p.m. The match will air on ABC. It’s the first college volleyball game broadcast on the network. Nebraska, who is seeking its sixth national title, is the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament after an impressive regular season and postseason run.
A woman in Lincoln is finding ways to grow her business by participating in local classes with ECHO Collective and Doane University.
Communities in western Kansas are trying a new AI tool to help them target economic growth and hopefully fight long-term trends of population loss.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball squad competes in the national semifinals on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Panthers. Two more wins would give the Huskers its sixth national championship. Nebraska Public Media television sports producer Brock Lohr is in Tampa, Florida — the site of the Final Four. Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson spoke with him about the turnout and excitement from the Nebraska faithful.
Generations of Native Americans have experienced historical trauma, due to centuries of mistreatment. One group of intertribal women are taking the steps to heal through a new creative outlet.
Independent candidate for president Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke to a crowd of several hundred people at Lincoln’s Royal Grove Tuesday night. Kennedy spent much of his speech Tuesday talking about how a small number of investment firms, namely BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street, are taking away wealth from the American middle class.
Nearly seven years ago, Michael Galindo died following a mob attack during a riot at the Tecumseh State Prison. On Tuesday, a Saline County jury found fellow inmate Eric Ramos guilty of taking part in the murder. Shortly after the jury returned to the Saline County District Court Tuesday morning to resume discussions they returned a verdict of guilt to murder in the first degree, carrying a life sentence.
After February's freight train derailment and chemical fire in East Palestine, Ohio, Democrats and Republicans — including Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley — joined to push for the Railway Safety Act of 2023. But the legislation is likely dead, says one industry expert who calls it "a political stunt."
After a month-long trial involving hours of surveillance video and surprise testimony from Ramos himself, attorneys made their final arguments Monday morning. Ramos is charged with killing fellow inmate Michael Galindo during a prison riot at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in 2017. Prosecuting attorney Corey O’Brien presented the state’s case and said the video evidence of Galindo’s death was enough to charge Ramos with first-degree murder.
Nebraskans in District Two now have a new group to help people in the state learn about policies that affect their cost of living.
State employee union members filled the capitol rotunda on their lunch break Thursday to express concerns with the governor’s order ending remote work next month. Nebraska Association of Public Employees executive director Justin Hubly said the union renewed its demand to bargain with the Pillen administration and has given them until December 12th to respond.
On a given night in 2007, the state’s homeless population was about 35-hundred people. Last year, that total fell to about 22-hundred. Lee Heflebower is the chair of the Nebraska Commission on Housing and Homelessness. She says a new strategy to rehouse people has streamlined the process in Nebraska.
Next year’s FAFSA is delayed due to changes required by the FAFSA Simplification Act. Typically, the application is available on Oct. 1. This year, the U.S. Department of Education announced the form will come out by Dec. 31. At Lexington High School, faculty are trying to help students prepare for the delayed release.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said the first year's results on his effort to reduce property taxes were not not what he hoped for.
No consensus has been reached on how to honor children’s remains if they are found at the Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School in Central Nebraska. By sifting through old documents in 2021, the Genoa Reconciliation Project estimated that 100 children died at the school. Diseases were the main causes of death. According to Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs executive director, Judi gaiashkibos, the NCIA hosted a call with 40 Native American tribes across the country last Thursday. All of those nations had youth enrolled in the Genoa federal boarding school.
Over 100 billion pounds of food goes to waste every year in America. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm to Food Bank is trying to cut down on that waste by connecting local farmers and food pantries, but its future depends on how much funding is included for the program in the next farm bill.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents heard concerns from the public about proposed budget cuts and approved the NU interim president at their meeting on Friday. With a $58 million budget shortfall looming, the university system has been searching for ways to cut costs. Current NU President Ted Carter said campuses conducted zero-based budget reviews that were due to his office on Dec. 1. These reviews are intended to look at administrative functions, like information technology and facilities.
For three weeks, jurors in a murder trial in Saline County District Court have been witnesses to a prison riot. Surveillance footage captured during the 2017 uprising at the Tecumseh Correctional Facility plays a central role in determining whether inmate Eric Ramos took part in the murder of a fellow prisoner. Bill Kelly with Nebraska Public Media has been in court for much of the trial. A transcript of his conversation with Morning Edition host Dale Johnson follows.
Expecting mothers during 32 to 36 weeks and adults 60-years-old and older should get the RSV vaccine, according to CHI Health doctors. Dr. Michael Schooff, primary care medical director for CHI Health, said RSV can have a severe impact on infants and older adults. “They can get into a bronchiolitis or a pneumonia. Deeper and more severe infections in the lung can lead to difficulty breathing,” Schooff said. “People might need to go to the ER. Sometimes people need to be hospitalized and have help with breathing during these illnesses. And yes, sometimes it is fatal.”
Summary: Indigenous women from throughout Nebraska and parts of Iowa have been sewing and working on traditional garments for six months—all leading up to a first-of-its-kind fashion show.
Climatologists are predicting a warmer and wetter than average winter this year thanks to El Nino, a climate pattern of warm air over the Pacific Ocean. Eric Hunt with the Nebraska State Climate Office said despite warmer temperatures, Lincoln is likely to receive more snowfall than the previous two winters. “I would basically tell anybody Grand Island and east, and particularly South of the Platte, to prepare for more snow than what we've had in the last couple of years,” Hunt said.
Newly released state assessment scores show Nebraska’s schools improved this past school year. Across the state, 58% of students were proficient in English Language Arts, 61% in math and 70% in science. These numbers are higher than before the pandemic. “Hopefully we can build on this momentum and work with our schools to really address issues of high quality materials that we're seeing have an impact in our classrooms, quality instruction, and really continue to help teachers teach because as everybody truly knows, that's where the magic happens in education,” Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Brian Maher said.
Two Nebraska educators received a $25,000 surprise this past week. The teachers caught the attention of a national organization because of their teaching methods and love for the job. “I could think of 15 other people before myself that would receive an award in this school because this place is just filled with the best educators in Nebraska,” Leslie McIntosh, one of the recipients, said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
The tradition of harvesting an evergreen for the official Christmas tree of Omaha is almost one-hundred years old. It’s a trek that used to start across the country, but has transitioned to a more local journey.
Supporters of a plan to replace Nebraska's income and property taxes say they're hiring a petition circulation firm to try and get on next year's ballot.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is looking for a new president to run the NU system. Chairman Tim Clare discusses the search, his recommendation for interim president and more. Clare said the application for the position is open for candidates. “We are now in a position where we're full steam ahead with trying to get candidates in," Clare said.
Northern Nebraska’s Santee Sioux Reservation is still without safe drinking water after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a no-drink order in 2019. But in recent weeks, some progress has been made. The Santee Sioux tribal council voted to pursue funding for a pipeline bringing clean water from South Dakota in September, but several bureaucratic and financial hurdles need to be cleared before safe drinking water becomes a reality in Santee once more.
Hundreds of high school band, orchestra and choir students from across Nebraska came together last week to perform at All-State in Lincoln. This year, almost 750 students made one of the four groups.
Eric Ramos, the man accused of killing a fellow inmate at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in 2017, is back in court after his initial 2018 trial ended in a mistrial. Opening statements for Ramos’ second trial began Wednesday afternoon at the Saline County Courthouse in Wilber, Nebraska. The State of Nebraska charged Eric Ramos with first degree murder, use of a weapon and tampering with evidence in the death of Michael Galindo during a 2017 riot at the state prison in Tecumseh.
Homeschool numbers increased all over the country at the start of the pandemic. Studies show many states have sustained that uptick. But Nebraska has a different story.
U.S. Department of Agriculture officials say a continuing resolution dodged the worst case scenario for food assistance programs if the government shuts down Nov. 17. Still, food advocates warn that Congress needs to act quickly and do more to make sure programs are fully funded.
“We felt as though silence would be better than making an attempt at words that might fall short," Rev. Sarah Rentzel Jones, who works at Countryside Community Church on the Tri-Faith campus, said. A church, synagogue and mosque sit on the Tri-Faith campus. The three communities are trying to support each other through the impact of the Israel-Hamas war.
Sen. Pete Ricketts wants to exempt military retirement from federal income tax, but most veterans would not benefit.
Entomologists say insects are declining at alarming rates — one major study estimates we’re losing 2% in total insect biomassevery year. Now, the National Academy of Sciences is preparing to embark on a study to understand insect trends across North America.
Since the 2018-19 school year, the Hazelwood School District has sharply increased its rate of investigating student residency eightfold, deploying a team of employees who can use intrusive tactics.
Before Abigail, no one had ever competed in wheelchair cross country in the history of the state. At least not according to the Nebraska School Activities Association. But this fall, Abigail competed in four races alongside other junior high runners, each a little more than one mile long. She says her teammates have helped inspire her to not give up when she’s tired.
Election integrity experts, including Nebraska’s Deputy Secretary of State for Elections, Wayne Bena, testified at a U.S. Senate hearing about threats to election administration Wednesday. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Ranking Member Deb Fischer of Nebraska said she hoped to find solutions to problems facing election officials and volunteer poll workers.
The Nebraska Department of Education announced a $2 million commitment to Nebraska Growing Readers, which will distribute books to early childhood centers across the state. Mary Jo Pankoke is the CEO of the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation which is partnering with the state. She said one of the goals of the program is to address book deserts. The book distribution began at Educare Indian Hill in Omaha, and will expand to 18 other sites statewide.
Intended to improve patient care in long-term care facilities, the regulation would require nursing homes to staff a registered nurse for 24 hours a day. Tim Groshans, CEO of the Burwell Community Memorial Health Center, said it would give them less flexibility to accept patients and adjust staffing levels to fit patient needs.
Thousands of competitors come to the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, Missouri, each year to show their best livestock. The competition includes children as young as 7 years old, who take part in a long tradition of raising and showing their animals.
The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board increased its projections for state tax revenue in the upcoming year, but the board is less optimistic about fiscal year 2025. The board now projects Nebraska will collect $6.445 billion dollars in state tax revenue between July 2023 and June 2024. That represents an increase of nearly $8 million dollars from the previous projection set in April 2023.
Former Scottsbluff Police Captain Brian Wasson surrenders his law enforcement certificates over theft and use of drugs.
In Lincoln, the crisis Voices of Hope is having their annual fundraiser this week. Nebraska Public Media’ shares more about the difference the organization is making.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and dozens of others AGs across the country are suing Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook. The lawsuits allege that Meta intentionally designed its social media apps to be addictive to children and teens, taking advantage of psychological vulnerabilities to make a profit.
62 percent of volunteer fire departments surveyed in Nebraska say recruiting is difficult, according to a Nebraska Public Media survey. Some diverse towns in Nebraska may try to recruit more People of Color to fill those gaps. How are those efforts going? And, why is it important for the community be represented in the fire department?
In most rural communities throughout Nebraska, the firefighters and EMTs who respond to emergencies are all volunteers. But according to survey data from Nebraska Public Media News, recruiting and retaining members has become more challenging in recent years. Nebraska Public Media’s Brian Beach reports how generational bonds and creative solutions are keeping volunteer fire departments alive.
About two-thirds of Rural Nebraskans’ think a lack of civil discourse is a somewhat serious (33%) or very serious (32%) problem in America. That’s according to the latest results of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Rural Poll.
A move to give Speaker pro tem Patrick McHenry the full authority of Speaker of the House fell short in a Republican Conference meeting Thursday. Flood began Thursday morning joining Jim Jordan in support of a resolution that would give McHenry the full powers of the Speaker of the House through the end of November.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the 22-member search committee to find the system’s next president on Thursday. The committee scheduled listening sessions on all four NU campuses for next week.
Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon joined 21 other House Republicans Wednesday in not voting for Jim Jordan as Speaker of the House. Instead, Bacon voted for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted by eight Republicans earlier this month. “He was really the best speaker we could have had,” Bacon said of McCarthy. “He had the experience, the staff. He's the reason we're the majority today.”
A board member of a natural resource district based in Norfolk has filed a federal lawsuit against the rest of the elected body claiming they violated her First Amendment rights. Melissa Temple claims the district brought illegal sanctions against her as part of a punishment for criticizing other board members.
Monarch butterflies travel hundreds and even thousands of miles in their migration to Mexico. Volunteer efforts to tag the butterflies have helped scientists learn more about their journey.
In his hometown of Casablanca, Morocco, Mohammed Sbai’s family felt tremors from the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit the country last month. Nebraska Public Media shares an update from one of the worst natural disasters in the last 60 years in Morocco.
Anyone who’s driven into Kansas City from the north has probably seen the swooping white steel fame of the Kansas City Current's new stadium going up. The team's new owners believe it can change women's soccer.
Proposed projects would add more than 3,000 miles of new carbon pipelines through rural parts of the Midwest. Some emergency officials are concerned about safety, especially after a rupture on a similar pipeline three years ago.
The Nebraska Supreme Court says the Department of Natural Resources can decide about a plan to divert water from the Platte to the Republican River.
It can be tough to find street and highway superintendents in many parts of rural Nebraska. Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson reports on the issue of getting superintendents committed to living in remote parts of the state.
Nebraska Public Media and the Midwest Newsroom talked with teenage girl athletes about this moment in time and how they feel girls' sports have changed.
The town of Merriman, Nebraska no longer has its own ambulance service. The Sandhills Ambulance Service could no longer recruit enough qualified volunteers to transport emergency patients to local hospitals. The rescue squad served a 100 square mile area in the far-northwest corner of Cherry County. On Wednesday, the three-member board of Sandhills held a virtual meeting and voted to disband the service after a three-year-long effort to recruit capable Emergency Medical Technicians.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the start of a $450 million construction project that will change Memorial Stadium on Thursday.
Two Native American families have settled a lawsuit against the Cody Kilgore Schools with an agreement the district will no longer cut students' hair without the permission of parents. In 2020 an elementary school secretary cut the hair of the two girls during a check for headlice. The lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union maintained the Lakota Sioux believe long hair is a sacred symbol, only to be cut by select individuals. The school employee’s actions, it was argued, violated the Civil Rights of the students.
Nebraska’s three congressional representatives have voiced disappointment over Tuesday’s ouster of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. All of the House Democrats, along with eight Republicans led by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, voted to remove McCarthy from the role.
Wildfires have become more common in Great Plains states. City outskirts and rural areas where cedars spread aggressively face some of the highest risks.
Nebraska's planning to build the Perkins County Canal at a cost of more than $600 million, but big practical and legal questions remain unanswered.
The FBI Omaha Field Office is working with the Omaha Police Department to find Cindy Valle, who went missing on August 26, 2011. She was 15 years old and five months pregnant at the time.
Farmers say Title One — a farm bill program that sends money when crop prices or harvests get low enough — isn’t working as a buffer against tough years. Yet others argue the nearly 100-year-old safety net is costing billions of dollars with few strings attached.
Nebraska's proposed Perkins County Canal could mean less water for Colorado farmers. But it could be a long time before the effects are clear.
Nebraska says its proposed Perkins County Canal is needed because of development in Colorado. Colorado officials say the canal won't stop development, but could hurt that state's farmers.
After a series of high-profile setbacks, a new mural in Lincoln hopes to provide a sense of hope to Nebraska’s LGBTQ community. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore talked with members of the community about how they see their situation and whether there’s hope for the future
Nebraska has revived plans to build a canal to bring South Platte River water from Colorado. But is the canal necessary, and will it deliver the promised benefits?
School bus drivers are in short supply nationwide, and Nebraska is no exception. Larger districts are still looking for bus drivers to fill positions. Smaller districts are managing to keep a full staff thanks to community members who are willing to step up. Nebraska Public Media's Jolie Peal reports on what could be contributing to the driver shortage in different areas across the state.
Food waste takes up space in landfills and produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Composting that waste can reduce climate impacts and save municipalities money on landfill fees, but concerns about bad smells and pests sometimes get in the way.
Homicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality, and experts say the problem is getting worse.
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services is still having trouble finding enough employees, according to a recent report. Doug Koebernick, the state’s Inspector General of Corrections, says that as of June 2023, NDCS had 377 vacancies out of more than 2500 total positions.
Federally subsidized crop insurance made record-high payouts last year. While climate change is making farming more risky, the federal program often shields producers at taxpayer expense. Some argue it’s time that the fast-growing program encourages farmers to mitigate their risks.
Small rural communities often have to get creative to generate tourism and public interest. One central Nebraska town is hoping to do so by throwing avocados - really, really far
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska are part of an emerging “extreme heat belt” that could deliver more scorching days within 30 years. So far, there’s no unified plan to make our dwellings safe in the dangerously high temperatures to come.
For the past four years, Santee has not had access to safe drinking water. And for four years, the tribe has been unable to afford the necessary infrastructure to fix the problem. “We’re supposed to be the greatest country in the world," Kameron Runnels, Santee Sioux Vice Chairman said. "Yet, we have a community right here in our state that can't even drink its own water.”
The Farm-to-School movement is out to revolutionize the humble school lunch with food grown on local farms. But the path from cropland to cafeteria is full of complicated twists and turns. A new wave of federal funding is trying to smooth the way.
Over 6,000 St. Louis-area child abuse and neglect cases remain open due to staff shortages
The Nebraska Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on a proposal to divert water from the Platte to the Republican River
A fifth of reported heat-related deaths between 2017 and 2022 were agricultural workers, according to OSHA data. Many are calling attention to the under-reported impact of climate change on this group from heatwaves.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln students started classes this week, and Chancellor Rodney Bennett started his first school year leading them. The former president of the University of Southern Mississippi took over the role from Ronnie Green, who retired at the end of June. Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal spoke with the new chancellor starting with the excitement around Volleyball Day.
The group cleaning up the AltEn ethanol plant near Mead has a pilot plan for cleaning up the mountain of pesticide sludge. Nebraska Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert reports they’ll try moving it to a landfill near an Omaha suburb.
Memorial Stadium will be packed at the end of this month, with more than 90-thousand people expected to watch Nebraska’s best volleyball programs in action. Four teams will compete in the first-ever Volleyball Day in Nebraska. Record-breaking ticket sales highlight the significance of volleyball to the Cornhusker state. Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson reports on how the sport got to this point…
Gov. Jim Pillen announced Thursday the state will build a new prison in northeast Lincoln.
A research team from multiple universities is developing technology that can detect salmonella contamination in a matter of minutes.
Journalists at the Marion County Record worked late into the night to publish their first issue since the widely-criticized raid. “SEIZED… but not silenced,” its headline read.
Experts worry hoarding is on the rise in Kansas amid a lack of support for those who struggle with it, straining families and communities.
Gov. Jim Pillen appointed Steve Corsi to head the Department of Social Services; some of Corsi's social media posts spark concerns.
Warm weather in the South and cold weather in the Midwest knocked out a significant number of the nation’s peach crop this year, leaving a shortage across the country.
Thousands packed Omaha’s streets on Saturday to celebrate Crawford after his win over Errol Spence, Jr. The latest triumph made him the first male boxer to hold all four major titles in two different weight classes.
Senior citizens who want to live in the same rural towns where they grew up face a growing problem ... how to get around. Unreliable transportation means many seniors have trouble shopping for groceries, visiting family and getting to medical care. However, there might be one solution.
Legal sports betting in Kansas came with mobile casinos that offer easy access to place wagers online. Experts say that also comes with a higher risk of addiction.
Members of Nebraska's congressional delegation talked about subjects including immigration, trade, ethanol, and partisanship at a meeting Tuesday.
May 5, 2023 is a day many residents of Franklin, Nebraska will never forget. That’s when tennis ball sized hail and heavy winds bombarded the Republican River Valley town of less than 1,000 people. By late July, roofing crews could still be seen throughout the town, working through triple digit temperatures to repair damage sustained several months ago.
A group of Midwestern shrimp farmers are on a mission to provide Americans with better-tasting, sustainable shrimp. The industry struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but farmers remain hopeful that indoor shrimp farming will come back stronger than ever.
Barbers from across Nebraska are sharpening their shears and queuing their clippers in preparation for the Battle of the Barbers event in Omaha. But, the event is shaping up to be much more than a simple contest.
An EF-1 tornado ripped through the town of Sutton Saturday morning. The storm didn’t lead to any injuries, but there was extensive damage to the town 70 miles southwest of Lincoln.
Over 700 teaching positions were vacant or filled with an unqualified individual last year, according to the Nebraska Department of Education. Other issues, like burnout and low teacher pay, are making it hard for teachers to stay in the classroom. An organization called Educators Rising is trying to help fill those positions by encouraging students to overcome these issues and become teachers.
The town of Winslow gained statewide attention for its plan to save the community from future floods by moving its uphill. However, the plan has almost ground to a halt, and while some community members support it, most cannot afford it, while others are actively fighting to keep the town where it is.
Elderberries are native to the Midwest, but the commercial cultivation of the crop is relatively recent, and saw a big increase during the coronavirus pandemic. That has the burgeoning industry wondering if its future is as a small, niche crop or something bigger.
Willa Cather is one of the most celebrated American writers from the Midwest for her depictions of life in the great plains. This week and next, 25 academics from across the country are convening in Nebraska to critique her works and methods.
This year is the 20th anniversary of a Nebraska Army National Guard peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. At the time, a NATO-sponsored mission was rare for the Guard. Nebraska Public Media reports on the lasting impact of the so-called “Taskforce Huskers” mission.
A court hearing Wednesday considered the constitutionality of a law restricting both abortion and health care for transgender youth.
10% of Iowa’s Methodist congregations are leaving the church. The denomination is wrestling over the future of LGBTQ members and whether they can be clergy.
Dryness in the Great Plains began spreading east this year, affecting much of the Midwest and endangering crops, livestock and river transportation. Recent rains have been a god-send, but will it be enough to loosen the years-long drought?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave two companies the green light last month to produce and sell their cultivated chicken meat across the country. But it could still take years before people can buy the new meat at grocery stores.
In an effort to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Biden administration is offering more tax credits for carbon capture sequestration and utilization. The program once expected to cost $3.2 billion now could exceed $100 billion.
Storm chasers of different ages and backgrounds explain why they chase storms, and how social media is transforming the profession
Congress expanded work requirements for food assistance during the debt ceiling negotiations, a move that would normally happen in the Farm Bill. Shortly before that, the state of Kansas made similar changes.
Abortion is still legal in Iowa a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to terminate a pregnancy. But just like this time last year, it’s not clear how long that will last. An Iowa Supreme Court order this month left only one thing certain—Republican lawmakers will try again to restrict abortion.
In 2020, a group of Nebraska ranchers and cattle feeders came up with a plan to establish their own meat plant. It’s a proposal to break away from the four massive companies that control the beef market. Three years later, they're working on construction and housing.
Hospitals across the country have recruited nurses from around the world to make up for U.S. labor shortages. But demand for international workers is delaying visas and slowing the flow of nurses able to come to Kansas.
Nebraska will receive more than $400 million in federal infrastructure funding to improve broadband access in the state.
University of Nebraska President Ted Carter speaks on tuition increases, politics in education and beer at Memorial Stadium.
For two years, federal funds have been available for states to extend postpartum health care from two months to a full year for moms on Medicaid. The policy is popular across the Midwest, with Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska all adopting an extension. Iowa remains hesitant.
The anti-abortion movement is contending with a growing faction that calls for abortion patients to be criminally punished.
Iowa was one of the first states to legalize same-sex marriage, years before it would be allowed across the rest of the country. During that time in between, couples flocked to the state to tie the knot, and in particular, one small town became a popular destination.
There’s a battle going on within the Nebraska Republican Party. In interviews gathered over months, both current and former officials within the NEGOP say incidents in Sarpy, Dixon and York counties are indicative of a statewide battle between longtime “establishment” officials and “far-right” newcomers.
Several groups of women over 50 are now playing competitive basketball. From Kansas to Iowa to Texas and beyond, these women openly admit they are “off their rockers.”
In April, a new lease agreement from the Bureau of Reclamation, who manages the land, requires the owners to remove the trailers from the lakes by Nov. 1, 2024.
The pallid sturgeons outlasted dinosaurs, but human changes to the Missouri River nearly wiped out the prehistoric fish. Some experts think the fish’s struggle could signal larger problems on the Big Muddy, especially as climate change accelerates.
Last fall the Mississippi River fell to low water levels when a flash drought exacerbated a dry spell in the upper part of the river’s basin. Soon it was more expensive for a grain company to send corn from St. Louis to New Orleans than it was to ship to China.
A growing legal movement to grant natural entities like rivers and forests legal rights is gaining traction in the U.S., and environmentalists are now setting their sights on the Mississippi River.
The Nebraska Legislature made big changes to the state's economic and social policies in its just-concluded session.
Between 2010 and 2020, Omaha lost 7,000 affordable dwellings for people making low incomes, according to a City Planning Department report called the Housing Affordability Action Plan (HAAP).
The bill allows prisoners who receive a 20 year sentence to be eligible for parole 2 years before their mandatory discharge date.
The Nebraska Legislature will end its 2023 session Thursday, with several of its major enactments facing legal or political challenges.
FOX’s “Farmer Wants a Wife” recently wrapped up its first season, and it got Harvest Public Media wondering what dating is like for farmers and ranchers. Turns out, dating in a small town isn’t always easy.
Kansas SB 180 will bring a host of changes, including limiting trans residents’ access to bathrooms. Much is still unknown about how it'll be enforced.
The Nebraska Legislature gave final approval Thursday to tax cuts and school aid increases.
The Nebraska Legislature passed tax-credit funded scholarships and advanced criminal justice reforms Wednesday.
Agreement appears near on some aspects of criminal justice reform, as Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh continues to slow down legislation.
The Nebraska Legislature debated photo ID requirements to vote, and Gov. Jim Pillen signed restrictions on abortion and health treatments for transgender youth into law.
The United Nations has declared 2023 the International Year of Millets — a type of small grain mostly grown in parts of Asia and Africa. The highly resilient and cost-friendly grains could make them the next crop for U.S. farmers in the midst of climate change.
The Nebraska Legislature gave final approval Friday to a bill restricting abortion and medical treatments for transgender youth.
This Thursday, Lincoln’s public transportation system will restore offering rides at night. Since last summer, StarTran and Paratransit, its service for people with disabilities, have stopped service at 7 p.m. Nebraska Public Media reports what the full service means to people who use Paratransit.
The Nebraska Legislature approved budget bills and wrangled over voter IDs, abortion and transgender health restrictions Thursday.
Nebraska state senators reflect on cowardice and incitement after their tumultuous debate on abortion and trans health restrictions.
Fifty years ago, the United States, North and South Vietnam, and the Vietcong signed a peace agreement in Paris ending America’s direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.
The Nebraska Legislature on Tuesday added abortion restrictions to a bill restricting health treatments for transgender youth.
Auctions —a marketplace for knick knacks, farm land and everything in between — are often also social gathering events for rural communities. That’s changing as more auctions go online.
The Nebraska Legislature gave second-round approval Thursday to bills designed to reduce income and property taxes, despite criticism that the cuts might not be sustainable.
The Nebraska Legislature debated the use of funds for needy families, and the size of the state's cash reserve Wednesday.
The company’s self-declared strategy is to buy single-family rental properties around the region, including North Omaha and in Council Bluffs. A Midwest Newsroom investigation uncovered neglect, aggressive evictions and rising rents where VineBrook moves in – mostly non-white neighborhoods.
The Nebraska Legislature gave second-round approval Tuesday to far-reaching changes in education funding.
The Hastings Ground Water Contamination site was the first Superfund in Nebraska. After 40 years of working with the EPA, the city has learned a lot.
Abortion will be debated again, and restrictions would be imposed on companies that use certain Chinese telecommunications equipment, under proposals discussed in the Nebraska Legislature.
It's a good amendment. We have to wait and see the actual amendment when it comes from Bill drafters. But if everything follows through with agreement, we should be in a good place.
The Wizard of Oz and Kansas have been inseparable since farm girl Dorothy Gale first skipped down the yellow brick road. But having an enduring image from the Dust Bowl 1930s might also hold Kansas back from what it wants to be today.
The Legislature Thursday rejected attempts to stop or scale back canal and prison projects.
Efforts to try and keep teachers teaching, and to disrupt the so-called 'school-to-prison' pipeline, were debated in the Legislature Tuesday.
A proposal that would have prohibited most abortions after about 6 weeks of pregnancy fell one vote short Thursday in the Nebraska Legislature.
Nebraska’s school funding system has kept politicians, taxpayers and educators arguing for decades. It’s probably kept people confused for just as long. Nebraska Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert decided she was tired of feeling like she was in the dark and asked some experts to explain the system.
The report from the Society of Family Planning also shows abortions via telemedicine have doubled in the U.S. after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Providers say constantly changing state laws leave patients confused about where they can access reproductive care.
In extremely rare cases, bird flu can infect and kill cats and dogs when the pets eat birds with the disease.
Nebraska health care advocates say there aren’t enough home health care professionals in the state. Since the start of the pandemic, it’s estimated that 33 percent more Nebraskans are being referred to health care at home because of the overcrowding at hospitals. That’s according to Janet Seelhoff, Executive Director for the Nebraska Association of Home Healthcare and Hospice.
A complaint that Sen. Megan Hunt failed to disclose a potential conflict of interest sparked emotional debate in the Nebraska Legislature.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Tuesday to a bill requiring gas stations to sell E-15 gasoline, and Gov. Jim Pillen signed into law a bill allowing Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit.
It's harder for Kansans to get liver transplants than it used to be, highlighting inequities in a system that doctors say has always been unfair.
Across the Midwest, some city codes threaten people with fines for having milkweed on their property. But experts say many places have dropped those rules to support monarchs with urban and suburban butterfly gardens.
Self-control, love and forgiveness are just a few of the virtues discussed at Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday. About 2,000 people gathered in the early morning in Southwest Lincoln on Friday.
The Legislature gave final approval today/Wednesday to a bill allowing Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit.
Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh discussed cash for needy families, broccoli, and hostas in the Legislature Monday.
The Biden administration wants the U-S carbon footprint to be at net zero by 2050. As part of that goal, the federal government is offering big incentives to remove carbon dioxide -- including from ethanol plants. There are three major pipeline proposals that would capture CO2 from ethanol plants around the Midwest and store it underground. The ethanol industry is fully on board, but others question the climate benefits.
Proposals to help hospitals and nursing home patients were slowed by a filibuster Friday in the Legislature.
The Nebraska Legislature gave second round approval Thursday to prohibitions on surgery, hormones and puberty blockers for transgender youth, but only after the chief sponsor agreed to negotiate about changes before a final vote.
A new report from the Environmental Working Group found targeting the U.S. Department of Agriculture's conservation funding to the Mississippi River region would have huge benefits to water quality and the climate.
These parts of the country are also where the number of severe events are steadily increasing.
The Nebraska Legislature voted 33-16 Tuesday evening to prohibit most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.
Opposition to a ban on health treatments for transgender youth continued to slow the Nebraska Legislature Tuesday.
Elevated Access recruits hobby pilots to fly abortion patients out of states with bans. They offer a window into the increasingly scrappy tactics of abortion rights groups in a post-Roe America.
The Nebraska Legislature's Appropriations Committee on Thursday endorsed building a new, $350 million prison.
Senators in the Nebraska Legislature are combining bills to get things done in a session that's so far been characterized by filibusters.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Tuesday to a bill making big changes in how the state finances schools.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Monday to a package of property tax changes.
After the end of pandemic-era free meals, schools are reporting rising school meal debt and fewer kids in their free and reduced price programs.
The Nebraska Legislature on Friday began debating a bill designed to lower property taxes and advanced a measure to coordinate broadband expansion.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Thursday to a series of income tax cuts.
Three finalists for Nebraska Commissioner of Education publicly interviewed with the State Board of Education today/Thursday. Either Brian Maher, Summer Stephens, or Melissa Poloncic will be the next Commissioner of Education.
The Education Committee advanced big changes in school funding, and the full Legislature began debarting income tax cuts Wednesday.
Nebraska lawmakers gave second-round approval Tuesday to a bill allowing the carrying of concealed weapons without a permit.
The Nebraska Legislature voted Tuesday to suspend its rules in an attempt to speed up business; senators on the losing side claimed it was an effort to stifle minorities.
The Nebraska Legislature discussed improving mental health services, as fallout from this week's debate on trans health treatments for youth contiinued.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first round approval Thursday to a ban on surgery, hormone treatments and puberty blockers for Nebraskans under age 19.
In parts one and two of our series on esports, we analyzed why colleges in Nebraska are rushing to create teams and what the players get out of the experience. Today we explore what esports opportunities are available for Nebraskans who don’t play on a team.
Personal and policy arguments highlighted the Nebraska Legislature's second day of debate on treatments for transgender youth.
The United States Air Force is on the verge of purchasing hundreds of acres of land in Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado as part of its plan to modernize its land-based nuclear missile force. The project replaces Minuteman III missiles, in service since the early 1970s, with a new class of Sentinel nuclear weapons. Public meetings are being held to share information about the lease and purchase of additional land to accommodate huge new telecommunication towers.
The Nebraska Legislature began debate Tuesday on a proposal to prohibit surgical or medical treatment to help young people with gender transitioning.
In part one of our series on the growth of Esports in Nebraska, we explored why colleges in the state are rushing to create esports teams. Today, we explore the question of what’s in it for the video game players filling teams’ ranks. Spoiler Alert: Money is a big factor, but not the only one.
Gering, Nebraska, will host the first gravel cycling national championships in September. This event through USA Cycling will bring potentially thousands of cyclists to the area for a 131-mile bike race around the area's landmarks.
People who use public transportation in Lincoln aren’t able to get rides after 7 p.m.. The change took effect on Aug. 18, 2022. The lack of evening rides affect all people who use public transit in Nebraska’s capital city. However, that especially interferes with the independence of people with disabilities.
People who use public transportation in Lincoln aren’t able to get rides after 7 p.m.. The change took effect on Aug. 18, 2022. The lack of evening rides affect all people who use public transit in Nebraska’s capital city. However, that especially interferes with the independence of people with disabilities.
Esports, or playing video games competitively, is the newest sensation sweeping the nation and Nebraska is no exception. At both the collegiate and high school levels, it seems Nebraska schools are all in. This is part one of a three-part examination on the growth of esports in the state.
Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh ended her filibuster protesting a ban on medical treatments for transgender youth, while one dealing with transgender athletes will remain in committee.
Speaker John Arch said he won't avoid scheduling bills just because opponents are filibustering to stop them.
Sen. Terrell McKinney accused the Department of Correctional Services of not maintaining the Nebraska State Penitentiary to create pressure for building a new prison, a charge the department denied.
Legislation is being proposed at the federal and state level to restrict foreign ownership of farmland, especially by China. The scrutiny comes after a Midwestern project was scuttled by military concerns and the flight of a Chinese spy balloon across the U.S.
The Nebraska Legislature's Executive Board held a public hearing Thursday on Sen. Steve Erdman's proposal to return to a two-house legislature.
While food prices won’t rise as sharply in 2023, they could still increase about 8% over last year’s rates, according to forecasts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval to a bill authorizing tax-credit-funded scholarships to private and religious schools.
On Feb. 17, 2017, Joe and Sarah Dudley were getting ready for a late Valentine’s Day celebration when Joe started complaining about feeling sick. He had a bad headache. “So I told him to go lay down, and we’d just celebrate another time,” Sarah said. Shortly after, Joe started running a high fever – 103.6 degrees. He could barely walk, so Sarah brought him to an urgent care clinic in Des Moines, Iowa. The physician’s assistant on duty diagnosed Joe with the flu – despite a negative test – and sent him home. He was too weak to walk out of the clinic. “They brought a guy back with a wheelchair, put a gurney bill down and physically put him in the wheelchair – physically sent him home,” Sarah said. Joe got sicker, and two days later, ended up in the emergency room. At the hospital, doctors told Sarah that Joe didn’t have the flu. It was much worse. He had bacterial meningitis, which by then was on track to cause permanent brain damage. Sarah watched it unfold over the next few weeks. Joe had three strokes – two while hospitalized in the intensive care unit. “When he was actually able to come out of it, he had to relearn to walk, relearn to talk. [He had] permanent nerve damage on his right side, lost his hearing,” she said. Sarah said the illness drastically changed Joe. The man she married was calm and avoided conflict. The one who left the hospital became prone to anger and bouts of paranoia. “You never know what mood he's going to be in, or what's going to set him off, and there's no cure for it,” she said. Shortly after, the Dudleys decided to pursue a medical malpractice case against the clinic. The case took up the next six years of the Dudleys’ lives. The case went to trial in late 2022 after the Dudleys could not reach a settlement with the clinic’s insurance company. A jury last November awarded the Dudleys $27 million in non-economic damages for Joe’s initial misdiagnosis and the lifetime of support he will likely need for his brain injury. The clinic has appealed the case, so the Dudleys have yet to receive any money. When – or if – they do, Sarah said much of the award will go toward Joe’s medical care in the future. “With his brain injury, he's going to go downhill pretty quickly – dementia, it's going to come eventually,” she said. If the Dudleys were to pursue their case now, under a new Iowa law, their outcome would look much different. Iowa joined most Midwestern states, including Missouri, Kansas and Wisconsin, when it passed a law in February putting a hard cap on non-economic damages that can be awarded by a jury for medical malpractice. Iowa’s new law caps non-economic damage jury awards at $1 million when an independent clinic is involved, like in Joe Dudley’s case. For hospitals, the limit is $2 million. Starting in 2028, that cap will increase by 2.1% each year. The law also created a task force to make recommendations to reduce medical errors. https://www.iowapublicradio.org/state-government-news/2023-02-16/iowa-governor-signs-cap-on-medical-malpractice-damages-for-pain-and-suffering https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=HF%20161 The health care industry has long pushed for these caps on damages awarded for things that can’t be assigned a monetary value — like pain and suffering. They claim the caps help clinics stay open by avoiding sudden high-dollar financial blows while helping to attract much-needed health care providers. But some question whether these caps help – or hurt – Midwesterners seeking justice for medical errors. ‘It sucks to be sued’ The Dudleys case was one of two high-dollar medical malpractice jury awards that grabbed headlines in Iowa last year. The other was a nearly $98 million award to an eastern Iowa couple whose infant sustained extensive brain damage from a botched delivery. About half that award was non-economic damages. It’s believed to be the highest payout in state history. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2022/03/22/mercy-hospital-iowa-city-medical-malpractice-lawsuit-kromphardt-jill-goodman-97-million-verdict/7129763001/ These cases are one of the reasons the health care industry has sought hard caps on non-economic damages. Andy Conlin, a lobbyist for the Iowa Independent Physician Group, shared his opposition to the bill at a subcommittee hearing on the bill in January. “You never know when you're going to end up…seeing one of these, these judgments come down the pike and really negatively impact your facility, maybe even put your facility out of business,” Conlin said. However, these high-dollar jury awards are exceptionally rare in the U.S. For the past six years, Iowa has averaged 160 medical malpractice case filings a year. They make up a fraction of a percent of the average 666,000 civil cases filed in the state, according to the Iowa Judicial Branch. https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/FN/1368141.pdf The vast majority of medical malpractice cases don’t go to trial because they either get dismissed by a judge or reach a settlement before. From 2018 to 2022, just 48 cases in Iowa ended up before a jury, and of those cases, juries ruled in favor of the plaintiff – people like the Dudleys – seven times. [Source: Iowa Judicial Branch spreadsheet] These big awards aren’t the health care industry’s only concern. They say caps also lower the rate of increasing medical malpractice insurance premiums and help to entice badly-needed doctors to Iowa’s rural areas. Mikayla Brockmeier, a third year medical student at Des Moines University, helped lobby for the caps. Brockmeier said before Iowa passed its law, she and other med students were seriously considering leaving Iowa to practice in neighboring states like South Dakota, which has a non-economic damage cap of $500,000. “If you do not feel like you have the support of the state, then honestly, it makes it really incredibly hard to practice,” she said. But opponents say caps do little, if anything, to help the growing financial and staffing challenges the health care industry is facing. “I think the story here is pretty simple. It sucks to be sued. It's really not fun,” said Charles Silver, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin who has studied the effects of Texas’ non-economic damage cap extensively. https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/charles-m-silver/ Texas passed a constitutional amendment in 2003 that capped non-economic damages at $250,000 for an individual. https://www.texmed.org/TexasMedicineDetail.aspx?id=58464 The Texas Medical Association claims the move has since brought more licensed physicians into its rural areas. https://app.texmed.org/tma.archive.search/5238.html Silver said his research contradicts this claim. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3309785 “If you have a growing population, you need to control for that,” he said. “And when you control for that, in Texas, what you find is that the physician population actually grew slightly more slowly after tort reform than before.” Federal projections of obstetricians and gynecologists, or OB-GYNs, in the Midwest also paint a conflicting picture of this concern. OB-GYNs have one of the highest rates of medical malpractice claims. https://iid.iowa.gov/documents/med-mal-report-2021 According to federal figures, by 2030, Iowa, Kansas and North Dakota — states with non-economic caps — are projected to have the greatest shortage of OB-GYNs in the Midwest, while Illinois, a state with no caps, is among states projected to have more than enough OB-GYNs. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/data-research/projections-supply-demand-2018-2030.pdf It’s also unclear how much influence caps have on premium rates for medical malpractice insurance. According to the Medical Liability Monitor, Iowa had the fifth-lowest average premium rate in the country in 2022. [Source: Spreadsheet from Iowa Justice Association] Minnesota, which has no caps, had the lowest average rate in the country. While Illinois, another with no caps, had the second-highest rate. A 2003 Government Accountability Office report studied the reason for a sharp increase in medical malpractice premiums in the early 2000s, which sparked tort reform policies in places like Texas. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-702/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-702.htm It found several factors played into the increasing premiums, including the fact that insurer losses on malpractice claims had increased overall in the past decade, but other significant factors had nothing to do with the liability system. They included the fact that insurance companies had recently taken a financial hit on their investments and also that the number of companies competing in the medical malpractice marketplace had dropped since the 1990s. There’s no clear consensus from research on how non-economic damage caps affect things like premium rates and physician recruitment, said Robert Leflar, a retired law professor at the University of Arkansas, who’s an expert in tort reform. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012369213604791 But he said there’s one group that clearly benefits from the caps: “the insurance companies who have smaller payouts and who have less risk of huge payouts.” The Iowa Insurance Institute did not respond to requests for an interview. Leflar said it’s also clear who is hurt by caps. “The seriously disabled people,” he said. “The people who suffer through a lifetime of paralysis or pain and the family members of disabled people who have to give up a lot of their lives to take care of them.” Damage caps can make it harder for such people to sue because medical malpractice lawyers will be less likely to take on their pricey cases with less payout, Leflar said. ‘There’s not much left’ Roxanne Conlin, the Dudleys’ attorney, said it’s likely she wouldn’t have been able to take their case now, as the total payout
A debate in the Nebraska Legislature over taxpayer funded scholarships to private and religious schools turned personal Tuesday.
The Nebraska Legislature began debate Monday on a proposal to authorized tax-credit-funded scholarships to private and religious schools.
A Nebraska mosque is trying to help with recovery from two major earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria in February.
A new study shows a threefold increase in Midwest farm acres using the offseason crops to help protect the soil and reduce runoff, but it still makes up less than 8% of all farmland.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced a proposal to let people carry concealed guns without a permit, and senators heard a proposal to let them serve three consecutive terms instead of two.
The Nebraska Legislature continued debating loosening concealed carry laws, while a proposal to let Ukrainian who fled the war drive in Nebraska appears poised to move ahead.
The Nebraska Legislature began debate Wednesday on a bill that would permit Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit.
Amid statewide low participation, even finishing a full season has become a win. With only eight players, the Nebraska City Lady Pioneers are pushing through.
The Transportation and Telecommunications Committee heard proposals to expand highways in eastern Nebraska, while Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh continued to slow things down over her objections to proposed restrictions on abortion and trangender treatements.
Rural America is not known for its public transportation. But as its residents get older faster than their urban counterparts, the need is increasing. Some communities are finding ways to provide rides.
The Legislature's Revenue Committee heard a proposal to give tax credits to organizations that provide help for pregnant women.
Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering is sponsoring a bill for $26 million in state aid for infrastructure costs around Kimball.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen endorsed a bill that would allow the state to borrow up to $450 million to speed up road construction.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen endorsed a bill that would allow the state to borrow up to $450 million to speed up road construction.
As small town populations decline, people in places like western Kansas look for ways to keep their rural farming and ranching lifestyle alive for the next generation. Some families think youth rodeo might be part of the answer.
The Nebraska Legislature considered arguments for and against a new prison and an opening prayer in discussions Tuesday.
Accurate weather information is important for farmers, emergency responders and researchers managing extreme conditions. But many monitoring networks are limited by unstable, patchwork funding.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced bills Thursday on subjects ranging from National Guard tuition and morale to regulation of pet insurance.
Carrie Jones appeared in court Wednesday as a suspect in the Laurel quadruple murder case. Prosecutors accuse her of encouraging her husband to kill a man whom she said was sexually harassing her, setting off three other killings.
The Nebraska Legislature spent Wednesday discussing appointments without reaching debate on substantive bills.
A proposal would deny universal service funds to companies using some Chinese telecommunications equipment.
Some senators resisted the renomination of Jim Macy to head the Department of Environment and Energy over the agency's record on the AltEn ethanol plant.
The child care gap across the country is more than 30%, meaning the need for quality child care far outweighs the supply — and it's worse in rural areas.
The Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee heard a proposal that would bar state and local governments from making contracts with businesses if they support a boycott of Israel.
The Legislature's Judiciary Committee heard proposals Thursday to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, decriminalize it, and legalize its sales and use.
Proposals to ban gender transitioning surgery or medicine for young people, and to prohibit police from deceiving them during questioning, were the subject of public hearings in the Nebraska Legislature Wednesday.
The Legislature's Education Committee heard proposals Tuesday to give schools $1500 per pupil, and to significantly increase special eduation aid.
The operators of a “skill game” casino in North Platte have been accused of failing to pay more than $1.5 Million in taxes over the past three years. Mark and Bridget Haneborg, owners of the River Valley Casino, were charged last week following a year-long investigation by the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Court documents filed by the Nebraska Department of Revenue (NDR) claim their investigators determined the Haneborgs earned income of over a million and a half dollars from 2019-2021. The couple, filing a joint tax return, paid only a fraction of the estimated 170 thousand dollars due in taxes and interest, according to the arrest affidavit.
Genetically modified foods have been on supermarket shelves since the 1990s, but they’ve only required a label for the last year. The USDA says implementation and compliance with the program have been “successful,” while experts suggest consumers aren’t noticing the labels.
A proposal to value agricultural land by its income producing potential rather than market value got a mixed reaction at a public hearing Friday.
The trouble for Rolland Carroll started last fall. That’s when the 61-year-old said his apartment complex in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, informed him that his federal housing aid for his one-bedroom apartment had been reduced months ago. He owed more than $2,000 in back rent. “I was in shock,” Carroll said. “Like, how the heck could I owe this amount of money without you guys saying something months ago?” Carroll doesn’t own a car and works odd jobs through a local temp agency. He struggled to pay the back rent and come up with $339 for his portion of the monthly rent. “November and December – there had been hardly any work at all. So I was in a real bind,” he said. A few days after Christmas, his apartment complex filed to evict him. Carroll said he was worried because local shelters were full and he has many chronic health issues that cost money. “I'm diabetic. I have arthritis. I have asthma. I’m just a total mess,” he said. With the help of nonprofit Iowa Legal Aid, Carroll successfully got the case dismissed at his hearing in mid-January because his apartment failed to give him sufficient notice. Now, he said he’s still struggling to pay rent and his apartment continues to send him notices threatening to file another eviction. It’s taking a toll on his health. “I've been so darn stressed out,” Carroll said. “My mental health is really poor at the moment.” Eviction as a health issue With the end of pandemic-era housing support like eviction moratoriums and federal rental assistance, many Midwesterners face housing insecurity. Eviction filings in Iowa have been increasing for the past decade. After a short dip in 2020 and 2021, they hit a record high of more than 18,000 in 2022, according to Iowa Legal Aid data. The eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended in mid-2021. And Iowa – like most states – ended its federally-funded emergency rent and utility program last year. “Rent makes up a huge portion of the household expenses,” said Nick Graetz, a postdoctoral research associate with Princeton University’s Eviction Lab. “And it’s just been spiking at unprecedented rates during the pandemic. But rents have been outpacing wages for decades.” Since March 2020, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment has increased 13% percent in Iowa, nearly 18% percent in Missouri and more than 26% percent in Indiana, according to the U.S. News and World Report. Eviction filings are trending upward in Indiana and Missouri, too. Facing eviction can take a huge toll on someone’s health, Graetz said. “The result is that people go from paying 60% of their income on rent to 70% of their income on rent, and sort of just have to absorb that cost by forgoing things like preventative health care, facing higher food insecurity, you know, things like that,” he said. According to a literature review published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, studies have tied eviction to depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and child maltreatment. A 2021 study published in the journal Pediatrics found women in Georgia who faced eviction during pregnancies were more likely to have children with lower birth weights. Chronic health issues or a health emergency can also put a renter at higher risk for eviction. “It's hard when you're trying to navigate something like that, “Graetz said. “Maybe [you] fall behind on rent, and then you can quickly get into this space where it becomes really difficult to avoid an eviction filing.” Possible legislative help Federal and state lawmakers have proposed a variety of policy solutions to combat evictions, including new tenant protections and expanding emergency rental assistance programs. Iowa lawmakers have allocated more than $300 million for tax credits to incentivize developers to build affordable housing. Minnesota lawmakers are considering a rent voucher program that could help 220,000 households. However, it’s often unclear which policies are most effective, said Katie Moran-McCabe, the lead law and policy analyst at Temple University’s Center for Public Health Law Research. “We often don't see those laws being evaluated,” she said. “So is the law working? Is it doing what it's intended to do? Are there any unintended consequences?” Nonprofit programs step up One growing solution has been eviction diversion programs, like the eviction diversion help desk program run by Iowa Legal Aid. The nonprofit launched the program in spring 2020, which placed an eviction help desk in the courthouse of Polk County, Iowa’s most populous county. Similar programs exist in Illinois and Missouri. The rapid rise in requests for eviction assistance compelled the Iowa Legal Aid to reshuffle its priorities, executive director Nick Smithberg said. “Basically, it's structurally changed our organization,” he said. “Where historically housing work was about a quarter of our caseload, it's risen to half.” Since 2020, the program expanded to five other county courthouses. Smithberg said he would like to see it in more. “I think that we're going to see a very, very disturbing time in the history of this state,” he said. “It's just an all-time record. I don't think people have seen the effects of something like this for a sustained period of time. And I think that it's going to be very eye-opening for a lot of folks when you start seeing people out on the streets.” Eviction is a civil proceeding, which means defendants are not constitutionally guaranteed the right to an attorney the way they are when facing criminal charges. In the Midwest, only a handful of cities in Ohio, Missouri and Minnesota legally guarantee renters facing eviction a right to an attorney. Most renters fighting evictions – who are disproportionately women, people of color and those with disabilities – rely on programs, like Iowa Legal Aid, if they’re available. Jon Biderman, an attorney with Iowa Legal Aid who helps run the eviction help desk at the Linn County courthouse in eastern Iowa, said his job is often to work out a deal with landlords so renters can have more time to come up with a plan. He wants to help tenants avoid adding an eviction to their record, which can make finding housing much more difficult. “Homelessness – being put out – is such a crisis for a person that if you're able to prevent that, or even buy them a week, that can really make a difference in a person's life,” he said. Other programs like the Health and Human Rights Clinic at Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law have also shifted their priorities away from other health care-related cases, like access to insurance and affordable prescription drugs, to focus more on housing. “Originally we did mostly access-to-health care type work,” said Fran Quigley, a clinical professor at IU, who directs the clinic. “But during the pandemic, the most critical need we saw in our community was responding to housing.” Quigley said it’s going to take much more than eviction diversion programs like his to tackle this growing public health crisis. He said he’d like to see major policy changes, like stronger tenant protection laws and much more funding behind federal housing vouchers, to keep people in their homes. “We, as a nation, make a mistake of treating housing as a commodity and not a right,” he said. This story comes from a collaboration between Side Effects Public Media, based at WFYI, and the Midwest Newsroom — an investigative journalism collaboration including IPR, KCUR 89.3, Nebraska Public Media News, St. Louis Public Radio and NPR.
The publishers of the Flatwater Free Press filed a lawsuit asking the court to require the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) provide internal emails without charging tens of thousands of dollars for staff time to comply with the request.
The Revenue Committee heard proposals to lower personal and corporate income taxes, and switch community colleges away from using property taxes.
The USDA has reinforced oversight on organic certification and enforcement to prevent mislabeled products, in what advocates are calling the biggest update in decades.
Did showing jurors dozens of gruesome photographs during the trial of Bailey Boswell make it impossible for the woman to get a fair trial? Nebraska’s Supreme Court considered the question during oral arguments challenging the life sentence Boswell is currently serving in a state prison. She was found guilty of conspiring with Aubrey Trial to torture and murder Sydney Loofe of Lincoln in 2017.
The Flatwater Free Press, a Nebraska-based non-profit news organization, is suing the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy over a public records request related to nitrates in Nebraska’s waterways.
Supporters promoted proposals to build a convention center in Lincoln and to alllow more types of foods to be sold in farmers markets.
Nebraska legislative committees heard proposals Monday to deal with the teacher shortage.
The Environmental Protection Agency recently released new rules regarding the Waters of the United States that decide which bodies of water fall under federal protection. But a case the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on soon throws those rules into question and could mean less protection for wetlands.
An attempt to change which committee will hear a proposal to restrict abortions falied again in the Legislature Friday.
The Nebraska Pheasant Restoration Act (LB 400), sponsored by Senators Tom Brewer and Steve Erdman, would set aside $500,000 in state funding for a “nest predatory program.” If passed, the bill would allow the state to pay hunters for the carcasses of 50 thousand predators, authorizing payments for ten dollars for every listed predator trapped or killed. Wildlife biologists question the effectiveness of programs linking predator reduction to increasing the number of game birds. They cite research indicating a lack of undisturbed nesting cover limits ring-necked pheasant populations.
Opponents of abortion won a preliminary skirmish in the Legislature Thursday, and the Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on allowing Nebraskans to carry concealed weapons without a permit.
Despite a spike in deaths from COVID-19 and fewer births, recent research suggests rural counties saw population growth during the first year of the pandemic. Remote work opportunities could have contributed to more people moving to scenic rural destinations.
Gov. Jim Pillen's State of the State speech produced mixed reactions among legislators.
If you're driving an electric vehicle west on I-76 from Nebraska to Colorado, the first opportunity to get a charge is in Julesburg, Colorado. That's a 130-mile stretch between Ogallala and Julesburg where there are no public, EV fast-charging stations. As KUNC's Rae Solomon reports, there's an increasing need for rural charging stations as the number of electric vehicles on the road rapidly increases.
Nebraska state senators have been doing a lot of just standing around and talking lately. Speaker John Arch says that's a good thing.
Post-COVID care centers have been popping up across the country as millions of Americans struggle with the aftereffects of the virus. The centers are typically in larger cities and can have months-long wait times.
A proposal to grant temporary teaching licenses to veterans got a mixed reaction in an Education Committee hearing.
Carrie Jones appeared in court ) to face allegations that she was involved in a quadruple murder in Laurel, a northeast Nebraska town of about 1,000. Prosecutors say she acted with her husband to carry out a crime that left four people shot to death in their homes last summer, but she didn't enter a guilty or not guilty plea.
A husband and wife accused of murdering four people in a small Nebraska town are scheduled to appear in court Monday. Nebraska Public Media’s Jackie Ourada spoke with reporter Elizabeth Rembert to catch up on the case before the hearing.
The Nebraska Legislature Thursday defeated a proposed rules change that would have banned guns from the Capitol.
After the deadly bird flu hit egg-producing flocks, the supply of eggs shrank dramatically. That’s led to historically high prices for consumers.
Gov. Jim Pillen unveiled his proposed changes to state aid to schools, while bills were introduced on gender and photo IDs.
After decades of irrigation, the aquifer that makes life possible in dry western Kansas is reaching a critical point. Several counties have already lost more than half of their underground water. But a new plan could save more of what’s left.
Guns would be banned from the Nebraska Capitol and those under 19 would be prohibited from attending drag shows under proposals in the Legislature.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen says he'll appoint former Gov. Pete Ricketts to the U.S. Senatte, and the Legislature's Rules Committee held a public hearing about proposed rules changes.
Opponents of abortion say they'll introduce a proposal to ban the procedure at about 6 weeks gestation.
In many rural towns, local hospitals are community fixtures. When they close, the entire community feels the ripple effects.
Senators hear about the need for a lot more housing, and a bill would allow casinos to be built sooner in western Nebraska.
Last October, wildfire sparked by an ATV consumed roughly a quarter of this living landmark in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills. But in a man-made forest, officials say, there’s no roadmap for recovery
States, local governments and internet providers have until Friday, Jan. 13 to challenge the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map. The map shows where service is and isn’t across the country.
Legislation and programs in states like Missouri and Nebraska are paving the way to welcome large livestock operations by limiting local control over the facilities. Some rural residents worry about the potential pollution and decreased quality of life that will bring.
Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature said they were being denied their desired committee assignments as bill introductions continued.
Doug Peterson talks about scheduling an execution, the future of the death penalty, and his decision to take on the Biden Administration and Big Tech in the federal courts.
Jim Pillen has been sworn in as Nebraska's next governor. The former Board of Regents member and pig farmer said in his speech that he plans to embrace limited government and fiscal conservatism.
Jim Pillen was sworn in as governor, and senators began introducing legislative proposals Thursday.
The Nebraska Legislature began its 2023 session Wednesday, with talk of unity but hints of battles to come.
Commissioner of Education, Matthew Blomstedt stepped down from his role on Tuesday, January 3rd. Nebraska Public Media spoke with him about his experience as commissioner during a particularly chaotic time and what it all means going forward.
The 2023 Nebraska Legislature has big opportunities based on the state's fiscal health, but could also be gridlocked by partisan wrangling.
Nebraska Public Media News reporter Fred Knapp interviews Gov. Pete Ricketts about his time in office and his future.
Beau Ballard, a former aide to Sen. Mike Hilgers, will be appointed to replace Hilgers in the Nebraska Legislature.
Last year, more than 5,000 Native women were reported as missing across the country. Murder is the third leading cause of death for Native women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Lack of rainfall and water restrictions are two early signs of the future that are causing water worries to bubble up in Lincoln. As drought plagues the state, and with climate change promising more of the same, there is a plan to have a second water supply in place by 2048.
Attorneys for Nebraska election officials across the state asked a Lancaster County District Court Judge to throw out a lawsuit claiming secretive billionaires and political elites controlled recent state and federal elections. Rick Hill of Lincoln sued Nebraska's Secretary of State, election commissioners in all 93 counties, and a private company, Election Systems & Software of Omaha, claiming they are part of a global plot.
Federal funding for agriculture research has fallen by a third over the past two decades, sinking to 1970s-era levels. Researchers worry that could hinder the country’s ability to maintain the domestic food supply in the midst of climate change.
For the first time, the state board voted Wednesday to say that Kansas shouldn’t pump the Ogallala aquifer dry to support crop irrigation. The underground water source has seen dramatic declines in recent decades.
There is a nationwide educator shortage and Nebraska is no exception. The Nebraska Department of Education reports last year there were 482 unfilled education positions in the state.
The South Beltway road project linking Nebraska Highway 2 with U.S. 77 and ultimately Interstate 80 by skirting the south edge of Lincoln opened Wednesday.
Black Americana” or “Black Memorabilia” are terms used to describe collectibles, usually from the early 1900s with African American themes. Today, such figures have become rarities and are openly for sale in Nebraska antique shops. Nebraska Public Media News explores the ethical value of selling what many would consider offensive relics of the past.
Russ Barger is demanding state election officials stage a recount by hand.
Attorneys for the State of Nebraska dispute state law requires a hand recount. Hearing the case, Lancaster District Court Judge Kevin McManaman raised questions that reflected his skepticism about the unusual request.
The judge will review the arguments and issue an opinion, but he did not indicate when that would occur.
Russ Barger of Lincoln lost the general election in Legislative District 26 to George Dungan by 224 votes, or a difference of more than 1% of the ballots cast. State law only allows for an automatic recount if the margin falls under the 1% threshold.
Barger's race does not meet that thresholdqualify, but he wants to pay for the recount with his own money.
The Census of Agriculture produces the clearest snapshot of agriculture in the U.S. as it exists. The USDA will begin mailing questionnaires to all known agricultural producers this month.
After many grueling months of the COVID pandemic, Nebraska small businesses came back strong this holiday season. But how have local businesses adapted to the new landscape of local shopping?
TC Energy says it's excavating the section of its Keystone pipeline that broke last week near Washington, Kansas.
A winter storm is expected to hit Nebraska Monday night in what is expected to be a significant weather event, especially for the Northwest panhandle. National Weather Service Meteorologist Michael Charnick talks with Nebraska Public Media News about what to expect and how to prepare.
Midwesterners are becoming more familiar with derechos after two major storms hit the region in as many years. Scientists are grappling with how to define the storms, gather data and predict what the future of derechos will look like.
A couple whose family farm was damaged by an oil spill from the Keystone pipeline react to the situation.
Nebraska Public Media's Fred Knapp reports from the scene of the Keystone Oil pipeline leak near the Nebraska-Kansas border.
The new designation calls for cutting rural hospital services down to an emergency department and outpatient clinic only. In turn, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements would increase.
A top Colorado water official says that state needs more information to see if Nebraska's proposal conforms to an interstate agreement.
Report suggests that litter from chicken farms has upped contamination of water.
Official with processing plant says study admits it can’t accurately measure fluctuations of contaminants.
Bobcat hunting and trapping is commonplace throughout much of the United States, with the exception of a handful of holdout states. Despite the abundance of the wildcat nationwide, some conservationists are pushing back on the open season.
A consultant says a proposed canal from Colorado would be worth the cost, but questions remain.
Every county election official in Nebraska is being sued by one man.
The court filing names county election officials in all 93 counties and asks the judge to require local Sheriffs collect the ballots cast in recent elections and conduct a “forensic audit.” He demands the state legislature require the use of hand-counted paper ballots. Hill also seeks a billion dollars in damages.
In response, the Nebraska Attorney General and the state’s largest counties filed motions asking the lawsuit be dropped.
Think of this year’s drought as a sort of dress rehearsal to consider the drier, hotter future that scientists predict climate change has in store. Long-lasting droughts could alter how we eat, how we breathe and where we get our water from.
From deadly wildfires to choking dust storms to decimated crop harvests, this year’s drought has left its mark across the country. For the hardest hit areas, such as the Great Plains, recovering from the far-reaching impacts of this historically dry year won’t be easy.
From deadly wildfires to choking dust storms to decimated crop harvests, this year’s drought has left its mark across the country. For the hardest hit areas, such as the Great Plains, recovering from the far-reaching impacts of this historically dry year won’t be easy.
To better coordinate an emergency response with local fire departments, the company stages realistic mass casualty scenarios.
Officials say the Omaha school retirement system is improving, while others are being watched.
The Farm Bill, that sets important policy on everything from crop insurance to SNAP benefits, is up for renewal next year. But the results of the midterm elections may not shed much light on how that legislation will end up.
Lawyers for a Lincoln Native American prayer camp and a local landowner are asking the Lancaster District Court to allow them to have a hearing with the City Board of Zoning Appeals.
It looks like there will be 32 Republicans and 17 Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature next year, leaving Republicans one vote short of a "filibuster-proof" majority.
At a series of town hall meetings, executives with Colorado-based NioCorp once again told neighbors around the proposed Niobium mine to be patient because the wait will be worth it.
For almost 20 years, the company has said the development of the billion-dollar mine could advance quickly if only an investor with deep pockets would step forward. CEO Mark Smith says the recent partnership with an investment firm could allow NioCorp to list on the NASDAQ stock exchange and could replace the need for a single large investor.
A company accused of using child labor to clean meatpacking plants is asking for a delay in court proceedings and the names of the children it allegedly employed.
During the holidays, eggs are already a hot commodity for baking and other seasonal meals. However, outbreaks of bird flu across the state has impact the population of laying hens and caused a nearly 25% decrease in egg production.
Housing for 140 inmates could be out of commission for up to two years after a broken pipe flooded medium and maximum security cells at the Nebraska State Penitentiary.
Photos show large hoses draining water out of mud-coated hallways in a section housing medium to maximum-security inmates. Bbased on preliminary estimates, the steps needed to make the building suitable for occupation again could take the entire housing unit offline for the next one to two years.
The U.S. Department of Labor accuses Packers Sanitation Services Inc. of using child labor to clean the JBS Swift meatpacking plant in Grand Island.
Aubrey Trail’s defense attorneys argued the sentence was unconstitutional. The justices disagreed, noting the using a three-judge panel emphasizes the rule of law over the personal opinions of jurors.
The Court also rejected claims the judge should have declared a mistrial.
Third District Representative Adrian Smith is seeking the chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax legisation.
Three of the four winners of yesterday's elections were backed by a conservative PAC. Protect Nebraska Children was the PAC supporting conservatives Kirk Penner, Sherry Jones, and Elizabeth Tegtmeier who all won. The PAC was formed to stop comprehensive sex education proposed by the board last year.
Republican and Democratic officials differ on whether the GOP will have a "filibuster proof" legislative majority next year.
Urban farmers are trying to buy vacant lots for their farms to bring fresh, healthy food and green space to their neighborhoods, but they face challenges in acquiring that land.
The Nebraska Supreme Court must decide if a District Judge in Cherry County made the right call when throwing out a lawsuit filed by opponents of a wind farm.
The 19 wind turbines required a permit from the County commissioners. A citizen’s group, Preserve the Sandhills, went to court to block that vote, claiming two of the three county commissioners and their families could profit from the project.
Nebraska state senator Tom Brewer, on his second trip to Ukraine, is delivering supplies and dodging rockets.
When Nebraska voters go to the polls next week, they will decide if the state’s minimum wage will increase from $9 per hour to $15. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer reports ballot initiative 433 revives a long standing debate.
Pheasant season kicked off in Nebraska last weekend (October 29th). Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson reports extreme drought and wildfires are stunting the upcoming season…
When voters go to the polls on Nov. 8, they'll be asked to decide on a constitutional amendment that, if approved, would change the way they vote for the foreseeable future. You currently don’t need a photo ID to cast a ballot, but the passage of Amendment 432 would change that.
When voters go to the polls on Nov. 8, they'll be asked to decide on a constitutional amendment that, if approved, would change the way they vote for the foreseeable future. You currently don’t need a photo ID to cast a ballot, but the passage of Amendment 432 would change that.
After COVID-19 protocols nearly wiped over the 2020-2021 RVS season, health department are battling back against a second year of unusually early surges.
The national battle against abortion has reached small local governments. Towns in Iowa, Nebraska and Texas have banned abortion within their borders, even if they don’t have a clinic. But in one community, that effort could interrupt abortion access for the entire region.
With newly renovated facilities at the Reller Prairie Field Station, forensic anthropology students will use the location to study the decomposition of human bodies
A new general permit would set requirements for large cattle operations like feedyards for five years, beginning April 1, 2023. But first, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will get input on the proposed draft in a public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 29.
Latino voters are the second largest and fastest-growing demographic in Nebraska. They’ve been a politically powerful group. In 2020, the predominantly Latino South Omaha neighborhood helped win Omaha’s electoral vote for Joe Biden. But that same year, Republicans cut into Democrat’s national lead with Latino voters. Nebraska Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert takes us to South Omaha, to learn how the changing sentiments of Latino voters could impact the election for the second congressional district.
Although the Nebraska Legislature is officially nonpartisan, recent trends suggest party affiliation could play a major role in outcomes next year.
U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska continues to face pushback from students and faculty at the University of Florida after he was selected as the school's lone finalist for its presidency.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress showed a nationwide decline in test scores.
For many people, fall is marked by taking trips to the pumpkin patch, getting lost in a corn maze or catching a hay ride. These seasonal activities are part of agricultural tourism, and it's a booming industry.
With Election Day weeks away the candidates vying for Nebraska’s 1st District Congressional Seat are seeing support from individual donors as they raise and spend vast amounts of money. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore reports what the candidates' fundraising numbers could signal about the financial health of both campaigns in the crucial days before the election.
The inspector general for Nebraska prisons wants a new correctional facility in Lincoln for dangerous inmates to open in a slow, controlled manner. The 29-page report made 10 recommendations for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services – eight of which the department rejected.
Republicans and Democrats running for the Nebraska State Board of Education differ on how to bolster the teacher workforce in Nebraska. The number of unfilled teacher positions in Nebraska went from 232 in 2016 to 482 last year, according to the Nebraska Department of Education.
Patrick O'Donnell, clerk of the Nebraska Legislature since 1978, is stepping down at the end of this year.
The people of Springfield, Missouri that lived near a company that did work for the Navy had no idea that a toxic solvent, disposed of improperly, had made its way into their drinking water – until a public apology from the state.
Some Nebraska state senators want the Legislature to investigate the Department of Education's handling of critical race theory.
Four seats on Nebraska’s State Board of Education are up for grabs in November. For the last year and a half, proposed sex education standards from the officially nonpartisan board have some parents up in arms. Issues, like the teacher shortage persist.
The Heartland Expressway will connect Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Colorado. The cities of Scottsbluff and Alliance will be key points along the new highway.
Hospitals across the U.S. and in Nebraska may be looking at cutting some of their health care operations as federal COVID-19 funding runs out. Hospital systems are still balancing sky-high wages, inflated equipment pricing and increasing pharmacy costs.
In their final debate before Election Day, candidates in Nebraska's Second Congressional District found some common ground while insisting they had voters' best interests at heart.
Incumbent Congressman Don Bacon and his Democratic Party opponent Tony Vargas found much to disagree about when discussing helping the American middle class, the usefulness of federal COVID relief aid, and climate change.
Farm implement manufacturers, including giant John Deere, are well on their way to deploying autonomous tractors. Prototypes are in the field now, and they could be widely available by the end of the decade.
When the COVID-19 pandemic upended life around the world, artists were particularly hard hit. Now, vaccines are widely available and many arts organizations received federal funding to keep them afloat. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore reports on how Nebraska’s arts sector is fairing.
When the COVID-19 pandemic upended life around the world, artists were particularly hard hit. Now, vaccines are widely available and many arts organizations received federal funding to keep them afloat. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore reports on how Nebraska’s arts sector is fairing.
Republican Jim Pillen leads Democrat Carol Blood in funding and polling in the Nebraska governor's race.
Students from Union College helped people in Fort Myers Florida who suffered from the damage of Hurricane Ian. Nebraska Public Media’s Isabella Benson reports on the service crew’s journey last week.
Farmers are dealing with more and heavier rainfall events throughout the Upper Midwest. Some farmers install drainage tiles and trenches to handle the water, but that can lead to soil erosion and flooding downstream.
Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott called upon the governors of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota to prevent Tyson Foods from moving more than 500 jobs out of the tri-state area.
The food company will be closing its corporate offices in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota – which borders Sioux City. The large community employer will be consolidating all three of its corporate offices to its headquarters in northwest Arkansas.
Scott said Tyson's move will have a terrible impact on the area, resulting in the loss of 580 jobs for the area. He asked the tri-state governors – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem – to step in.
“Go see the people at Tyson, write letters, do whatever,” he said at a city council meeting on Monday evening. “But, take the lead on this because they are not going to listen to local communities and it is terribly important that we don’t lose those jobs.”
Employees at the Dakota Dunes office will have to opt to relocate to the corporate headquarters or accept a severance package.
The company's processing plant in Dakota City will not be impacted.
Scott said the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce has been unsuccessful in its attempt to get Tyson to reconsider its decision. In a statement to the Sioux City Journal last week, Chamber president Chris McGowan said the organization would work “tirelessly” to assist the impacted employees find new jobs locally.
U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra, who represents the 4th Congressional District, also issued a statement last week, urging the company to reconsider their decision to move the office.
“This decision is absolutely contrary to the values I share with the Siouxland community, and represents a complete disregard for the employees and families who have been loyal to Tyson for more than two decades,” part of Feenstra’s statement read.
The relocation process will begin in early 2023, according to Tyson Foods announcement.
Redrawn boundaries in Nebraska's Congressional Districts mean thousands of additional voters with ties to Offutt Air Force Base will cast ballots in the 1st District this November.
Residents in central and western Sarpy County will join neighbors in Bellevue in selecting Republican Mike Flood or Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks as their representative in Washington.
For the candidates, it's a large and important constituency interested in the base's impact on jobs and daily lives, defense issues, and veterans' affairs.
Nebraska's first lady appears in video endorsing the Democratic congressional candidate opposing the Republican candidate favored by her husband.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case this month over whether California overreached with an animal welfare law which regulates housing requirements for pigs if the pork will be sold in the state. Two large pork industry groups say that burdens pork producers outside of California.
A Nebraska Democrat hasn’t won a statewide election since 2006. And that’s one of the reasons why Republican Jim Pillen is widely expected to win the governorship when voters go to the polls next month. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer has more on the Columbus-area pig farmer’s vision for the state and what he stands for as a University of Nebraska regent .
If a survivor of childhood sexual abuse tells someone what happened to them, studies suggest most don’t do it until they’re well into adulthood. But many Iowans abused as children run out of time to sue their abusers at age 19. Survivors and some lawmakers are working to get rid of the time limit on civil lawsuits related to child sex abuse with the hope that they can protect kids in Iowa.
A North Platte television news director will clean out her desk Monday night after the station fired her over the weekend for helping collect signatures for a ballot initiative to ban abortions in the neighboring town of Curtis.
The vice president and general manager of KNOP in North Platte confirmed Melanie Standiford was fired on Friday – the same day the Flatwater Free Press quoted Standiford about a petition drive in Curtis.
State Senator Carol Blood promotes strategic planning and practical solutions in her Democratic candidacy for governor of Nebraska.
The Supplemental Nutrition Education Program (SNAP-Ed) is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and helps SNAP recipients learn how to eat healthy food on a budget. Its employees complain of wages so low that they themselves qualify for SNAP.
The Supplemental Nutrition Education Program (SNAP-Ed) is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and helps SNAP recipients learn how to eat healthy food on a budget. Its employees complain of wages so low that they themselves qualify for SNAP.
University of Nebraska regent Jim Pillen will vote in support of two major UNL athletic proposals scheduled for the regents meeting Friday. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer has more on the Republican nominee for governor’s votes on alcohol sales and broadcasting rights.
The outcome of this November's elections to the Nebraska Legislature will determine the prospects of next year's legislation on abortion.
Two thirds of farmers said the pandemic affected their mental health, according to an American Farm Bureau poll. The U-S Department of Agriculture has awarded grants to states across the country to help improve mental health outreach among farmers. As Kendall Crawford reports for Harvest Public Media, some Midwestern states are distributing the resources not only to farmers, but also to the business and community members they interact with daily. And a warning for our listeners, this story mentions suicide.
Historically dry weather across Nebraska is a big factor for farmer this fall as corn and soybean harvest are underway. The state just recorded its driest August in 128-years of record keeping. University of Nebraska-Lincoln broadcasting professor Barney McCoy reports for Nebraska Public Media News.
Nebraska’s Secretary of State’s office announced three public hearings on two ballot initiatives Monday ahead of the November 8th election. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer has more on what the initiatives are and when Nebraskans can learn more about them.
The City of Lincoln filed a lawsuit that aims to keep a housing development moving forward, despite concerns from local Native American groups. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer has more on the growing rift between the city and the Niskíthe prayer camp.
The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission approved the Warhorse Casino in Lincoln, the first in the state's history.
The craft beer industry is driving farmers in the Midwest to grow hops for their local beer makers. But the crop is not easy to grow — it’s labor intensive and expensive.
Federal and state agencies spend millions of dollars every year to keep destructive invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. Meanwhile, at least 25 destructive species — like water fleas and bloody red shrimp — are inching closer to the Mississippi River Basin.
Colorado officials say Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is wrong when he says Colorado is not sending Nebraska enough water.
New York Times Best Selling Author Candice Millard is this year’s Governor’s Lecture in Humanities Series. Throughout her career, Millard has used her skill as a journalist and author to explore, humanize and contextualize people and events in ways that may be surprising to readers. In her latest book, River of the Gods, Millard explores the ill-begotten journey to discover the source of the Nile River in Egypt. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore got the chance to sit with Millard a few days before the lecture and has this preview…
Dunn Ranch Prairie has the first grassbank in the Midwest, a partnership where The Nature Conservancy allows local ranchers to graze their cattle on its grasslands while the ranchers’ pasture is allowed to rest.
Nebraska law allows telehealth services for a host of medical situations – but not for abortion. It’s part of a patchwork of regulations in states around the Midwest that leaves providers and patients to navigate legal gray areas around the region. For the Midwest Newsroom, Farah Yousry reports.
Gov. Pete Ricketts says Colorado is not sending the amount of water it's required to have in the South Platte River at the state line.
Fatima Larios’ family hoped school officials could use her death as a way to help others trapped in abusive relationships seek support. Years later, the family thinks the Nebraska school has quietly tried to distance itself from the tragedy.
The Nebraska Board of Pardons unanimously voted to deny Earnest Jackson’s commutation request for immediate release on Monday.
Jackson’s family, friends, lawyers, volunteer groups – and the victim’s family – all say Jackson did not kill Larry Perry – a crime which Jackson has served 22 years in prison for.
“I'm so hurt that I'm speechless,” said Jackson’s sister, Remee Greer. “I came here optimistic, hoping for the best, praying for the best but understanding how things go.”
Johnson and Douglas counties approved regulations allowing the construction of what would be the largest utility-scale solar farm in Kansas. But while residents say they support green energy, there's a vocal contingent pushing back against building 2,000 acres of panels so close to their communities.
A tentative railway union agreement stopped a worker strike this week, but Nebraska farmers have been dealing with railway issues throughout the year. Nebraska Farm Bureau's president talks about how the railway staffing shortage has impacted farmers.
A new report says Nebraska prisons are less overcrowded and understaffed than a year ago, but still short of medical personnel.
Nebraska Director of Natural Resources says a proposed canal to bring water from Colorado could alleviate future droughts.
Mickey Joseph made his first public comments as the interim head coach of the Nebraska football program Tuesday. They come after former coach Scott Frost was fired over the weekend. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer reports Joseph talked briefly about his goals.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in Nebraska. Addressing this issue – especially in rural parts of the state – can be difficult. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer reports about the challenges to prevent suicide in rural areas and what officials plan to do about it. We should note: Some people may find this four minute story disturbing.
Nebraska’s head football coach is out. On Sunday, University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletic director Trev Alberts fired Scott Frost in his fifth season with the Huskers. Nebraska Public Media reporters Will Bauer and Aaron Bonderson reflect on what led up to Frost’s departure and what’s next for the program.
Veterinarian clinics in rural towns have been dramatically declining in numbers for decades. Rural veterinarians often get paid less than urban practitioners, take on more workload and carry thousands of dollars in debt from medical school.
Gov. Pete Ricketts' toured the route of his proposed canal to bring water from Colorado to Nebraska this week.
Long after church bells have stopped chiming, this small northwest Iowa bar holds a different kind of Sunday communion. Folks from across the state pilgrimage to Pomeroy, a town of just under 500 people. All because of one unassuming bar that’s drawing big acts from all over the country and then letting the bands keep the money.
Abortion restrictions will likely affect Black women the most. Many are concerned about the impact on Black maternal mortality, and the risk of criminalization.
Lincoln’s Sunni Muslim population is growing. With the addition of more Afghan refugees in the past few months, their mosque needs an upgrade. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer reports on the Muslim community’s to plan to finish a long standing project.
There are less COVID-19 patients in hospitals, but staffing remains a challenge. We hear from Bryan Health's chief medical officer on issues sticking around even though COVID-19 surges dwindled months ago.
Scott Frakes is resigning his position as the director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.
Mount Rushmore and the Great Lakes are a couple of the Midwest’s tourism magnets, but some states sometimes have to work against their reputations to attract visitors. They’re getting creative by highlighting amenities that can be a bit off the beaten path.
For a little over a month, groups of blind and visually impaired Nebraskans have been gathering in Omaha for pottery lessons. The goal of the nonprofit putting on the classes? Provide a chance for students to transcend their disabilities through art.
For decades, Midwest teenagers have been hired by seed companies to walk fields of corn and help out with the pollination in a process called detasseling. It’s fondly seen as a local rite of passage. But an investigation by the Midwest Newsroom found seed companies have posted jobs to avoid teenagers and opt for migrant workers instead.
As the CEO, Smith oversaw the merging of the reservation’s hospital and public health department, Nebraska Public Media spoke with Smith about her time as CEO of the health system
The Nebraska Republican Party has endorsed Kathy Wilmot over fellow Republican Matt Williams for University of Nebraska regent.
Pickle Creek runs two miles through Ste. Genevieve County’s sandstone valleys. It carries some of Missouri’s cleanest water, but residents worry that could change if Nexgen Silica gets full approval to mine sandstone on a 249-acre plot of land along nearby Highway 32.
They don’t have to look very far to see the outcome they fear most.
Ste. Genevieve sits near Missouri's Old Lead Belt, where mining lasted from the 1700s to 1972 and spanned nearby Washington, Madison and St. Francois counties.
The industry produced nine million tons of lead and 250 million tons of hazardous mining waste.
Decades later, some residents are still dealing with toxic waste left behind by lead mining.
“There is literally a Superfund site sitting in the middle of town that they capped off, but for decades it was just loose, blowing lead everywhere,” said Samantha Danieley, who grew up in Washington County and now lives in St. Francois County.
The new mine has nothing to do with lead, but residents fear history could repeat itself. Lead mining and silica mining can both produce invisible dust that can harm a person’s health if swallowed or inhaled once it’s in the air.
Brothers Larry and Patrick Kertz are lifelong residents of Ste. Genevieve. They remember riding motorcycles past the hills of mine waste 35 miles from home in the 1970s and 1980s.
After living in the shadow of lead mining, Larry Kertz said he wants a better understanding of what will be left when the silica mine is no longer useful.
“It could be a big ditch with a huge waste pile of silica sand that could blow out into the area,” he said. “They're not really addressing what's going to be done after the mine is over.”
Other residents are worried about how the mine will impact the natural environment.
“We want to raise our kids in this beautiful outdoorsy environment with farm life and all these things,” said Jillian Ditch Anslow, a mom to a 14-month-old daughter who started Operation Sand, an organization to oppose the silica mine earlier this year. “And now we have this potential threat to our children's health and development.”
Lasting legacy
The fight over Nexgen’s silica mine has rekindled a debate that has played out in communities across the country, where the lasting legacy of lead mining means residents regularly risk contact with the neurotoxin in their daily lives.
Lead persists in the environment, including in water and soil where it can pose a threat to the health of people living nearby. After the mining ended in the Old Lead Belt, several large areas of mine waste, called chat dumps, were left behind in the region.
A combination of years of blowing winds, runoff from rain and manual transportation by locals of waste materials have supercharged the toxin’s reach. The Big River, a tributary of the Meramec River, also transported toxic mine waste downstream.
“I remember growing up in Potosi and we would pick pieces of lead up off the ground,” Danieley said.
Some of the piles left behind span upwards of 1,000 acres, said Jason Gunther, a project manager with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who oversees remediation work in Big River Mine Tailings Superfund site, including St. Francois County.
“This material was also set above these towns, some of these piles were 300 feet above the neighboring towns,” Gunther said. “They would blow… Not just gravel-sized materials but also much finer materials.”
He estimates the soil on 5,000 properties in St. Francois County has been contaminated by lead, although soil sampling isn’t complete.
Even if a sample comes back at 800 parts per million – double the concentration considered safe by the EPA for children to play in – it could be years before the soil is remediated because of the high number of properties testing with high concentrations.
“It's not uncommon to see some that are above 2,000 parts per million,” Gunther said.
Natural levels of lead in soil typically range from 50 to 400 parts per million, according to the EPA. Gunther expects soil remediation and pile stabilization work to continue beyond 2030.
Meanwhile, locals have adapted to life under the toxic circumstances. Danieley said when her teenage children were younger, she worried about letting them play outside. Children can become poisoned from playing in contaminated soil when they get lead dust or paint chips or dust on their fingers then put their hands in their mouths.
Danieley also worried about how the contaminated soil could impact local farming.
“If you're out doing yard gardening, and you're digging through all this lead contaminated dust, you're getting that dust on your hands, you're possibly ingesting it,” she said.
Mining isn’t the only way lead can end up in soil, says Jeff Wenzel, bureau chief for the Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Soil along busy roads can also be contaminated from before gasoline was unleaded and paint chips from old houses can taint soil in yards.
But in Missouri in particular, lead mining contributed significantly to contaminated soil in some areas.
“Lead mining has been in Missouri pretty much since since Missouri was a state even before Missouri was a state,” Wenzel said.
Once lead makes it into soil, it can pose a major health hazard for people living nearby. Wenzel says that beyond the hand-to-mouth route, lead particles can also be breathed into the mouth then swallowed.
Crops planted in tainted soil can also pose a threat.
“Your root crops can have dirt or soil left on them, so you want to clean those really well,” Wenzel said. “We see uptake in plants, especially plants like kale. Things like green plants that can live multiple years or come back year after year especially can have a pretty high lead accumulation.”
According to the World Health Organization, there is no safe level of lead, and even low levels of exposure has been shown to cause cognitive impairment in children.
Research dating back decades has shown that children living near mining areas are more likely to have elevated blood lead levels than children who don’t.
Missouri's Old Lead Belt counties aren’t the only former mining regions devastated by the impacts of the industry long after it ended.
Galena, Kansas, is part of the Tri-State Mining District that spanned parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri until the 1970s. The rural town of less than 3,000 people was named after the lead ore known as galena after it was found there in the late 1800s.
In the same county in Treece, Kansas, the Picher Lead Company of Joplin, Missouri, discovered lead and zinc underground in 1914, according to a 2012 article published in The New York Times. By the 1920s, the site was the largest producer of zinc and lead in the country and by 1981 the EPA ranked Treece as the most contaminated area in the country. Today, it’s a ghost town, bought out by the federal agency.
Waste from zinc and lead mining covered 4,000 acres in Cherokee County when the mining ended.
The EPA is still taking remedial action on the site and conducting investigative work on nearby watersheds.
Silica health risks
In Ste. Genevieve, Anslow wants to keep her town from becoming a case study for how silica mining impacts human health.
Silica mining typically relies on open pit or dredging mining methods. The process can generate dust-sized particles invisible to the naked eye that can be inhaled and reach the lungs. Over time, extended exposure is associated with silicosis, lung cancer or chronic bronchitis.
People working directly with silica dust are most at risk for developing medical lung conditions, said Bobby Shah, a pulmonologist with St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield, Missouri.
“We definitely have known for decades that silica itself is harmful to the lungs,” Shah said.
“Patients across that spectrum of acute, chronic or accelerated [silicosis], can develop scarring in their lungs, the term that is commonly used as fibrosis,” Shah said, “and they can quickly and then from there on, develop even more respiratory symptoms.”
Shah said there’s not enough data to know what risk silica particles pose to the general population surrounding a mining site, but people who smoke are more likely to develop medical conditions related to exposure.
“I don't want my daughter to be where it's like, okay, ‘Let's come and sample and let's monitor the children's health in Ste. Genevieve County,’” Anslow said.
Mitigation processes will help limit the mine’s impact on residents’ health, said Clark Bollinger, Nexgen’s general manager.
“Certainly the dust will not be an issue,” he said. “The noise – we've got ideas and things in place to help mitigate some of the noise for the local residents.”
Bollinger said the site contains enough reserves for around 50 years of mining and that there’s a plan in place to restore the area and ensure it’s safe after the mining ends by installing a large lake.
He also said the mine will have minimal or no impact on nearby Hawn State Park or the local watershed and aquifer.
Missouri Parks Association executive director Kendra Varns Wallis said it’s not yet possible to know for sure how the mine could impact local water sources and wildlife and expressed concern about its proximity to Hickory Canyons Natural Area.
“There couldn’t be a worse place to put it, honestly,” Wallis said.
As Ste. Genevieve residents fight against the mine, Nexgen remains far from breaking ground. Some of Anslow’s work with Operation Sand paid off when county commissioners and the county health department passed an ordinance prohibiting new mines from opening within a half-a-mile of schools, towns, churches and public wells.
Nexgen has filed a suit asking a judge to strike down the ordinance. In July, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Land Reclamation Program granted the company one of three permits required to operate the mine. The company m
Blue-green algae appears in lakes all over the Midwest during the summers and can make both people and animals ill. Few states have routine testing programs to check for the toxic algae, but some local and volunteer groups are stepping in to fill that gap.
It’s been 63 days since the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade. In Nebraska, abortion access remains unchanged, as state law bans abortion 20 weeks after fertilization. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer went to Planned Parenthood’s clinic in Lincoln to get a tour and hear what’s changed since June.
Members of Nebraska's congressional delegation say improvement is needed in the nation's legal immigration system.
Much of the Great Plains is way behind on moisture. The drought has drained water levels at many rivers and lakes, uncovering historical relics that are typically submerged.
Secretary of state's office says supporters of legalizing medical marijuana did not turn in enough valid signatures to put the issue on the November ballot.
DHHS set a goal of resolving 90% of the 988 calls by phone. In the first month, the state’s call center at Boys Town received more than 1,538 calls, and 96% of those were resolved by phone.
Across the Midwest, farmland prices have risen sharply from last year, in part because of high commodity prices and a global food shortage. The highly competitive market, which often includes investors, can make it difficult for young farmers to grow their businesses.
The Douglas County Health Department held a press conference on Thursday morning to address the death of a Douglas County child, suspected to be caused by a deadly infection from water-borne amoeba
Recent survey results show commercial honeybees are on track to have another year of colony losses. A decline in these essential pollinators could hinder food production.
Nebraska gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen will not debate before the election, according to his campaign. Pillen’s decision would make him the first governor since at least the 1970s that didn’t debate.
The EPA says emissions from a Columbus factory create risks of cancer; Becton Dickinson says the facility is safe and getting safer.
Ho-Chunk is the first player to build a comprehensive casino off reservation land in Nebraska.
Last year, Ho-Chunk paid about $5 million in reinvestment to the tribe. Of that reinvestment – the tribe budgeted out about $3.7 million for their general fund. That’s used for tribe programs like Ho-Chunk language preservation, the annual homecoming celebration, healthcare and substance abuse services, and more.
Ho-Chunk is the first player to build a comprehensive casino off reservation land in Nebraska.
Last year, Ho-Chunk paid about $5 million in reinvestment to the tribe. Of that reinvestment – the tribe budgeted out about $3.7 million for their general fund. That’s used for tribe programs like Ho-Chunk language preservation, the annual homecoming celebration, healthcare and substance abuse services, and more.
The Inflation Reduction Act repeals and replaces part of the American Rescue Plan Act that earmarked $4 billion in debt relief for farmers of color.
Before farmland covered more than 90 percent of the state, the vast majority of Iowa was prairie. But, the tall green fields dotted with wildflowers that once dominated the state began to vanish as settlers put it under the plow.
Now, only a tiny sliver of Iowa prairie land – less than 0.1 percent – remains untouched by the agriculture and development that surrounds it.
A former township official was among those who voted themselves an extra $1,000 a week for a $600 a year job.
Silvopasture is the practice of grazing livestock in a forested area instead of an open pasture. It’s a very old practice that might see new life.
A Norfolk, Nebraska abortion case highlights law enforcement's access to online messages and suggests future litigation over state regulation of abortion medication.
At the most recent Winnebago Tribal Council meeting, representatives from AT&T's FirstNet service presented to the council about their wireless 5G network for first responders
Freight rail workers are threatening to strike pending ongoing contract negotiations with the carriers they work with. Nebraska Public Media News reports on what’s at stake for the roughly 116,000 workers and for consumers across the country.
Plans to stop burning coal next year at the North Omaha Station, a chief supplier of electricity to the region, likely won’t happen on schedule.
Instead, the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) wants North Omaha Station, one of the country’s top emitters of nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide, to keep operating until 2026.
OPPD said the delayed closure was unavoidable but disappointed those who expected the utility to make good on a pledge to stop burning coal at North Omaha Station by the end of 2023.
A study spearheaded by the University of Nebraska Medical Center is looking at how different areas of Omaha are affected by hot weather.
Climate experts say summer nights have gotten warmer. One study found the average minimum temperature in the United States has gotten warmer by 2.5 degrees over the last 50 years. For farmers, this means crops and livestock could suffer.
In parts of the Midwest where lead mining and smelting lasted for over a century, communities are still dealing with toxic waste left behind by the industry.
Lead, a dangerous neurotoxin, persists in the environment, including in water and soil, where it can pose a threat to the health of people living nearby. The risk is especially acute for children, who can unintentionally ingest lead by putting their hands in their mouths and whose brains and bodies are still developing.
It can be spread to other areas, like yards and schools, by rainfall, and can also taint aquifers or vegetables in gardens, making them harmful to consume.
Now researchers are working to limit the impact of lead in the environment on people, and they believe they’ve found a promising solution: Plant life.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said he would not call a special legislative session on abortion because there is not enough support to overcome a filibuster.
9 forensic scientists from Colombia will receive training at the DPAA office at the Offutt Air Force Base. They hope to bring what they learned back to Colombia to assist in their work of identifying human remains
Nebraska's harsh weather conditions have created a large setback in the state's wheat harvest.
Over 50 high school athletic trainers and emergency personnel attended a heat illness and fall sports safety training session on Friday. The training session went over heat illness procedures and other athletic safety heading into the fall sports season
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln releases their COVID-19 plan for the school semester as Lancaster County's risk dial remains at High.
Farmers can use far less chemical fertilizer — which can be expensive and harmful to the environment — and maintain high crop yields, according to a new study.
Missouri residents may have heard ghoulish tales of “Doc Annie” Smith, a physician who looms large in the state’s mythology for performing illegal abortions in the early 1900s. Today, the truth about her work has largely disappeared.
One opponent of abortion says chances of a special session to restrict the procedure in Nebraska are "remote."
The Omaha FBI field office held a Diversity Agent Recruitment event on Wednesday night, aimed at attracting potential new agents from diverse backgrounds. The event had 40 attendees and was a success, according to the Omaha FBI
Grand Island Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tawana Grover Speaks to Nebraska Public Media about the challenges of the upcoming school year, including: teacher shortages, trans rights and an ongoing pandemic
Firefighters have made great progress in containing the Carter Canyon fire that began from a Saturday evening lightning strike. Public information officer Benjamin Bohall said the effort will soon be turned over to the Gering Fire Department
The legal fight over Nebraska's signature distribution requirement for initiative petitions is continuing.
Nebraska Public Media's Bill Kelly reports from Gering on efforts to contain the wildlfire.
A Lincoln nonprofit kicked off its first ever technology classes on Friday, targeted to help those who are changing careers or who simply need help developing skills to find jobs. Hosted by the Center for People in Need, EduTech is free for its students. It’s funded by the $600,000 share the city of Lincoln received from the American Rescue Plan Act.
The leader of a Nebraska veterans' organization criticized the failure of burn pit legislation in the Senate, but Nebraska's senators expect it will pass.
Conservation has been a popular part of agriculture for decades. But it’s become controversial since the Biden administration announced a national conservation goal. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has spearheaded a movement that likens conservation to government control.
Rising interest rates and a falling GDP have cooled the Nebraska housing market, but it's still healthy, says state Realtors president.
Two teenagers attempted to steal a 2013 Hyundai Tuesday evening while filming themselves for Tik Tok.
Nebraska-based GS Labs failed to deliver COVID-19 tests on time despite advertising a fast and reliable product. According to a Minnesota Public Radio report, the Omaha company is under investigation from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
Ho-Chunk Incorporated officially expanded to Omaha on Wednesday. It broke ground on a similar racetrack - casino or “racino” in Lincoln in early July.
CEO Lance Morgan said that the new casino in Omaha will employ more than 1,000 employees and bring in over $100,000 in revenue in the first year.
BYLINE: Niara Savage and Samantha Horton
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A vintage military-style trunk she bought at an eastern Michigan flea market when she was a teenager became a staple of Jennifer Poupard's life.
Poupard, now 37, originally bought it to store her CDs. Over the years the trunk — styled with leather handles and metal buckles — served as a container for shoes, a coffee table and as a resting place for a record player.
When her child, Wallace, was born in 2013, it was put to a new use.
“[Wallace] would pull the stand at that trunk and turn around and run to me,” Poupard said. “And that is around when I noticed the numbers going up.”
The numbers that went up were Wallace's blood lead levels.
Poupard was participating in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program -in Chicago at that time, which required Wallace to receive regular blood lead tests.
In 2014, Wallace’s 18-month lead check came back as 5.3 micrograms per deciliter. At the time, the Centers for Disease Control’s reference level was 5 micrograms per deciliter. The CDC lowered that threshold to 3.5 in October 2021.
After consulting with other moms in an online Facebook group, Poupard began to believe her beloved heirloom may have been the culprit.
The Missouri Independent and NPR's Midwest Newsroom are collaborating to explore the issue of high levels of lead in children in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
Vintage products purchased at thrift stores or antique shops were often made decades ago – long before current federal regulations on toxic substances went into effect.
Lead paint is regularly found in vintage items more than 40 years old. But the sale of vintage items containing lead paint isn’t regulated, and many buyers aren’t aware of the threat the neurotoxin poses when bringing second-hand finds into their homes.
‘No normal level of lead’
Lead paint and lead pipes are cited as the top risks of lead exposure to children. Poisoning from consumer goods and antiques is rare. Still, state health department websites for Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska warn about the dangers of lead in hand-me-down furniture and old ceramics and antique toys.
[Lead product recalls chart]
Elevated blood lead levels in children are typically discovered through routine screenings, not because the child showed signs of poisoning, said Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson, a family physician who previously practiced in St. Louis for 10 years.
Symptoms of lead poisoning include abdominal pain, constipation, fatigue, and maybe headaches, Hooks-Anderson said. And even if there are no immediate symptoms to warn parents and doctors, the long-term consequences of lead exposure for children can be severe.
“One of the most dangerous misconceptions about lead is that levels have to be really high to cause damage,” Hooks-Anderson said. “There is no normal level of lead. Having any lead in our blood is abnormal.”
In a 2010 study researchers with Oregon State University, the State University of New York and the University of California-Berkeley purchased used items from second-hand and antique stores.
They found that leaded items could be purchased at each of the stores they visited in Virginia, New York and Oregon, and that 19 of the 28 purchased items violated the 1978 federal standard banning the use of residential paint containing greater than 600 parts per million lead.
The most toxic item researchers tested was a salt shaker lid containing 714 times that limit. Researchers agreed, at the time, that it would likely be impossible to regulate the sale of second-hand items at antique stores and flea markets and that children should not be allowed to come into contact with items purchased from an unregulated seller.
Concerned about where the lead was coming from, Poupard sought answers online. That's where she found Tamara Rubin, an activist for consumer goods safety with a large online community.
Rubin founded Lead Safe Mama LLC in 2016 to formally continue the work she’d started in 2008 educating the public about lead hazards after her own children were poisoned. She estimates she interacts with up to 100 people a day, answering questions and providing resources.
About “90% of my readership is moms,” Rubin said, “Moms and grandmas.”
In Rubin’s private Facebook group of more than 18,000 members, parents seek support and advice from one another about experiences involving lead poisoning or childrens’ exposure to leaded items.
Rubin sent Poupard 3M swabs to test items in her home for lead, as she’s done for countless other families.
“And I tested the trunk. And that was positive, like immediately bright red on the swab,” Poupard said.
That’s when she recalled the first summer she had the trunk, when her health had taken a temporary turn for the worse around the same time that she was using a metal scraper and wire brush to strip off the green paint on the trunk.
It's unlikely the trunk was the only thing contributing to Wallace's lead levels in the older apartment. But Poupard immediately covered it with a sheet to limit Wallace's exposure. But given its size, it took years for her to finally get the trunk out of their lives.
And when she was finally able to get rid of it, she wanted to make sure on one else would bring it into their home.
“I wrote with permanent marker all over it like in huge letters lead paint on all the sides and inside,” Poupard said. “And I timed it for when the garbage truck should be coming that day or the next day.
Building materials like doors, window sashes and decorative items from before 1978 are particularly risky, said Dr. Kandace Fisher-McLean, a professor with the University of Missouri Extension and Coordinator for the National Healthy Homes Partnership. Vintage dishware, ceramic items, silverware, jewelry, toys and furniture are also more likely to contain lead.
But there isn’t a reliable way for a person to assess whether an older object is a lead hazard.
“You can certainly use that age marker, as a general sort of rule of thumb,” Fisher-McLean said.
“But with all of the items that are on the market, and all of the ways that and means that people could obtain these items, from antique stores, to flea markets, to thrift stores to garage sales, there was absolutely absolutely no way to regulate all of the things that are already on the market.”
Lead has to get inside the body to be dangerous, and children are most vulnerable, Fisher-McLean said.
“Children are naturally curious, and they put their hands in their mouth. They touch lots of things, then they put their hands in their mouth.”
As a good rule of thumb, “don't purchase vintage toys for your children to play with,” Fisher-McLean cautions.
Vintage dishes can be especially risky as they’re exposed to heat and light over time, leading to the production of lead dust that poses a danger if ingested or inhaled, Fisher-McLean said.
When 15 children and adults tested positive for elevated blood lead levels tied to the use of ceramic ware last year, the New York Health Department issued a warning about purchasing or using traditional ceramic ware from flea markets, street vendors or places where it’s difficult to determine the manufacturer or how the product was made.
At the Chesterfield Antique Mall in St. Louis County, Missouri, a vintage 1940s dish set is on display and for sale.
“A piece like that might be beautiful to hang on your wall or to put in a china cabinet,” Fisher-McLean said. “But certainly, it's not something that you want to be eating off of.”
Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas declined to comment on policies regarding the sale of damaged or vintage dishes and toys.
Discount store items
Even new items can pose threats of lead exposure.
Discount stores including Dollar General, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree offer thousands of products at low prices, from essential items to kids’ toys. With hundreds of discount stores across Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, people can come to rely on these retailers — especially when they might be the only options within a short distance from home.
Campaign for Healthier Solutions, a nonprofit that works to reduce lead and other toxic elements in items purchased at discount stores, has conducted studies over the years on the lead levels in things like tablecloths, jewelry and toys sold at discount stores.
[Bargain stores, poor tracts scatter plot]
Its most recent study found that of 226 items tested, the level with toxic chemicals, including lead, dropped from 81% in 2015 to 53% in 2022. While the lead levels were improved, lead soldering in toys and headphones targeted towards children were found to have high levels of the toxic metal.
The group wants discount stores to demand manufacturers produce products with no lead, said José Bravo, national coordinator for the Campaign for Healthier Solutions.
“Lead is such an easy lift for stores or retailers to go upstream to their suppliers and say, ‘Guess what? No lead is safe lead, right,’” he said.
Bravo said the reduction in the number of items being found with toxins is progressing. Along with the report, one of his organization’s efforts is communicating with each company’s executives to update their policies to expand the restricted substance list. But the lists are only being applied to the store labeled products, meaning more work needs to be done so it applies to everything sold.
Dollar Tree’s corporate spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
The federal Consumer Goods Protection Agency sets standards for tolerable amounts of lead in products. So far this year six products have been recalled for exceeding a lead concentration of 90 parts per million in children's products. Bravo said leaving it up to regulators isn't always enough.
“Most often enough, people would say, ‘Well, yeah, you know, the EPA, or the Food Drug Administration, or somebody is safeguarding our health when it comes to them.’ That's no
Unanimously passed, the $20 million will just provide a chunk of the cost for the new, more centrally located, library at the corner of 72nd and Dodge. The rest of the cash will be covered by a local nonprofit, Heritage Omaha. The new library is scheduled for a 2025 opening.
Nebraska State Senator Tom Brewer says Ukrainians are united against the Russian invasion, but need more help from the United States.
Coy Johnston clocked a cumulative time of 13.79 seconds over his three runs, which was the lowest average time across the 126 contestants. “I felt pretty confident in myself,” he said. “The plan going out there was to win the whole thing."
People who are pregnant in rural areas generally have a harder time reaching a doctor. Dr. Anne Banfield saw this firsthand when she worked as an OB-GYN in rural West Virginia.
“We have a lot of mothers in our country who are suffering, because potentially in many cases, there are breakdowns in the prenatal care system,” Banfield said.
About half of all counties in the U.S. lacked a dedicated OB-GYN in 2019, according to data from the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration analyzed by Louisville Public Media.
Since the Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade in June, states have begun implementing their own laws surrounding abortion and reproducive rights. There’s concern among physicians and public health experts that pending abortion bans in places already lacking maternal health resources could lead to worse outcomes.
Native American tribes and communities are creating formal programs that focus on their traditional foods to not only combat systemic food insecurity, but also connect people to their culture.
Norfolk area real estate president Rob Dover will serve out the remainder of Mike Flood’s term in the Nebraska Legislature’s 19th District, which covers Madison County and southern part of Pierce County. Rep. Mike Flood vacated the 19th District seat after being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives last month. Voters had elected Flood in 2020 to a four-year term, and Dover will serve through January 2025.
The White House is asking Gov. Ricketts to help promote a federal program offering reduced internet costs
A new virtual reality art exhibit at KANEKO in Omaha gives viewers a front-row seat to the immigration crisis at the U-S, Mexico border. KANEKO is one of the few places in the world right now where you can see the exhibit after numerous sold-out international tours. Nebraska Public Media’s Jackie Ourada has more on the Oscar award-winning Carne y Arena exhibit that shows what many people endure as they try to find the “American dream.”
Thirteen years after the federal government last raised the federal minimum wage, a ballot initiative in Nebraska aims to raise Nebraska’s minimum to $15 per hour by 2026. “I think Nebraska's graduated scale is fairly conservative and will be easy to hit,” said Mike Draper, who owns Raygun, a clothing and design store in Omaha.
High input costs have pushed up food prices at grocery stores. But local farmers have been able to keep prices more stable, and that’s attracting new customers.
The Omaha FBI office will be holding a Diversity Agent Recruitment event on August 3 to hire new agents, especially from diverse applicants
Every two years the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission selects a prominent person whose residence in the state contributed to their greatness and place in history. This year nominees, put forward by members of the public, include the controversial civil rights leader Malcolm X, a famed baseball pitcher, a Pulitizer Prize-winning composer, and a pioneer in promoting women’s sports. Public hearings on the candidates begin this evening in Lincoln.
The Nebraska Medical Association is asking its members for their input on abortion restrictions that may be proposed in the Legislature.
Agriculture companies are increasingly paying farmers to capture carbon. But some say the newly budding carbon marketplace isn’t enough to fight climate change.
Can someone’s behavior be an indicator that the person may carry out a mass shooting? That is the focus of a document published by the University of Nebraska’s National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology, and Education Center. In it, they connected federally recognized behaviors indicating someone may be planning violence to the shooter behind the mass killing in Buffalo, New York earlier this year. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore spoke with the author of the document Clara Braun and Center Director Dr. Gina Ligon.
The U.S. Congress passed the “Keep Kids Fed Act,” which returns the school lunch program to an income-based system. The act passed just days before the universal free lunch program was scheduled to end June 30.
VanLear was shocked and panicked to hear the news.
“Crap, I got to reach out [and] figure out the budget,” she said.
Who qualifies?
Penny VanLear works two jobs. One at H&R Block where she’s been for 12 years. The other at the City of Lincoln’s Treasury office.
VanLear said they didn’t have to worry about paying for lunches before the pandemic.
“We were still qualifying for free at that point, with the four kids,” VanLear said.
Adam, 19, has since graduated and goes to Southeast Community College in Lincoln.
Now with three dependents instead of four, VanLear is put into a different income bracket. She fears her three kids won’t qualify for free lunches.
Nebraska State Senator described visiting a town near the front where people have been living in basements for months.
Newly-elected Nebraska Republican Party Chairman Eric Underwood says he wants a more locally-centered, less "top-down" approach.
Nebraska State Senator Patty Pansing Brooks told Vice President Kamala Harris the fight to protect abortion rights in Nebraska will continue.
There aren’t any definite numbers about how many farmers belong to the LGBTQ community in the U.S, but many are making a point to become more visible in their rural communities.
Petition campaigns to put voter ID requirements and a raise in the minimum wage turned in far more signatures than required, while the campaign for medical marijuana was closer to the miniumum number required.
A U.S, Court of Appeals ruling could throw out at least one ballot initiative aimed for the November elections
Reports from campaigns to require voter ID, raise the minium wage, and legalilze medical cannabis detail fundraising and spending.
Following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, 24 senators urged President Biden to ensure American’s right to an abortion, according to a letter sent to the president. One part mentioned “using federal property and resources to increase access to abortion.”
A separate Supreme Court ruling states that non-natives can be prosecuted for violating state law on Native American land, which is federally owned. That and pushback from Native American spokespeople makes it unlikely for an abortion clinic to open on reservation land.
A proposed industrial park with rail access near North Platte brings the promise of change, along with challenges.
Farmers across much of the Corn Belt got a late start planting their corn this year. July could make or break this year’s crop. A poor harvest could fuel inflation and have a ripple effect for consumers.
Former Chadron State college student Caleb Tegtmeier had been on track to represent his school on the state college board. But the governor revoked Tegtmeier's appointment after multiple women accused him of sexual assault in civil court. Last month a judge ruled Tegtmeier must stay away from two of the women making the allegations.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is reacting to Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont's invitation for businesses to relocate after the Supreme Court's abortion ruling.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is in the process of renewing its master general permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations throughout the state. Environmental groups worry the new regulations won’t be stringent enough, pointing to a recent permit change at one facility.
Prairie wildlife needs a patchy landscape, in which different areas bear the marks of varying degrees of grazing. Scientists have a plan to achieve that.
Thousands of people in Nebraska suffer from Long COVID, suffering long-lasting symptoms.
A UNO political science professor expects lots of outside money and ads in November's Flood - Pansing Brooks rematch.
The longtime state senator won the special election Tuesday night to fill the vacant seat of Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District for the U.S. House of Representatives, according to the Associated Press, soundly defeating fellow state senator Patty Pansing Brooks.
A Federal Judge in California sentenced former Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry to two years probation and over 300 hours of community service after being found guilty of three counts of lying to federal investigators. He must also pay a $25,000 fine.
At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Stanley Blumenfeld said, “what is clear is that Mr. Fortenberry turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the information that he was clearly provided by Dr. Ayoub in June of 2016.”
“The evidence clearly supports the finding by the jury that Mr. Fortenberry was not blind and he was not deaf. He saw, he heard, and he certainly knew by the contributions were, at a minimum, conduit contributions.”
In his rookie season, Briscoe became the first black man to start at quarterback professionally. He started five games. He broke the Bronco rookie record with 1,897 yards of total offense and 14 touchdown passes.
A restaurant in Lincoln is, like many businesses, offering financial help to employees who may need to travel to get an abortion.
Nebraska lawmakers split in their reactions to the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, while the prospects of a special legislative session to change Nebraska's abortion laws remained uncertain.
Don Bacon said the court’s decision means a successful day for those fighting for decades to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Bacon said he believes life starts prior to 15 weeks of conception but encourages anti-abortion state senators to work with those they may not agree with.
Tony Vargas is state senator for the 7th District of Nebraska, which is in the Omaha area. The Democrat U.S. congressional candidate for Bacon’s current seat says he stands by women’s reproductive rights.
Vargas says there’s a group of senators that will stand up against abortion bans in the state legislature.
A new report says Nebraska is losing taxpayers to other states due to domestic migration.
The budget, unanimously passed by the regents, will not raise tuition across the system for the second straight year. Thursday’s decision includes operating budgets for all four university campuses.
The lines were long Wednesday morning at Speedy Gas. The Nebraska chapter of Americans for Prosperity covered the Bellevue gas station’s cost, allowing it to drop its prices from $4.65 to $2.38 from 8-10 a.m.
Nebraska state Sen. Tom Brewer is heading to Ukraine to train people there on using a new type of sniper rifle.
The schools can also be referred to as Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI’s) by the federal Department of Education. Once a school’s enrollment reaches 25% Hispanic students of its full-time undergraduates, it can apply to become a HSI.
UNK’s undergraduate census from last fall indicates 13% of its full-time students identifying as Latino or Hispanic. The school enrolls 226 more Hispanic students now than ten years ago.
Kelly Bartling, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment, said the school could get HSI recognition in 20-30 years, with more concerted efforts.
The Republican National Committee opened a community center aimed at attracting Hispanic voters in south Omaha.
A missile silo from the 1960's in York has been converted into an underground home, and it is now on the market for someone looking for a unique place to call home.
Hosted by UNL’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, a few hundred gathered outside the school’s union on Monday afternoon. Juneteenth, the oldest commemoration of slavery’s end, was celebrated with snow cones, music and educational posters.
Unleaded is a joint investigation by The Missouri Independent and the Midwest Newsroom exploring the issue of high levels of lead in children in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
Do you have a question for us or a story to share? Email: shorton@missouriindependent.com, nsavage@missouriindependent.com or jstrong@iowacapitaldispatch.com.
Producers will make more than 15 billion gallons of ethanol from corn, complying with the new renewable fuels mandate from the EPA.
Nearly 5.5 million chickens and turkeys have died or had to be destroyed in Buena Vista County, Iowa, during the latest bird flu outbreak — more than in any other county in the nation. That’s impacted producers, as well as workers and their families.
Campaign finance reports show competition in raising and spending funds in Nebraska's First Congressional District.
Ukrainian War Refugees are coming to Lincoln, but need rental housing. Two families, a total of 23 people, are currently living in on home owned by a local relative of one of those families.
After a District Court judge met privately with battling attorneys to sort out their grievances, the defamation lawsuit filed against State Senator Julie Slama and her countersuit against Charles Herbster moved forward.
Both cases came in response to allegations of sexual assault leveled at Herbster during his unsuccessful campaign for governor.
Lawyers representing the two appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday before District Court Judge Rick Schreiner. The case originated in Johnson County. For the convenience of scheduling the first hearing was heard at the Gage County Courthouse in Beatrice.
Herbster claims Slama damaged his reputation in the closing weeks of his unsuccessful campaign when she and seven other women accused him of groping them at political events. In a counter-suit, Slama accuses Herbster of sexual battery.
Before Judge Schriener were five motions amounting to complaints about how one side or the other responded to the lawsuit.
The Lincoln City Council voted to withdraw a proposed ordinance that would provide protections for people regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. The vote highlighted differing thoughts on if Lincoln voters would ultimately support it. Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada spoke with council member Sandra Washington on the now-rescinded ordinance, as well as Nebraska Family Alliance's Executive Director Karen Bowling.
Jeff Fortenberry would spend six months in prison if federal prosecutors have their say. Fortenberry’s legal team is asking for no jail time and no fine.
A jury convicted Fortenberry of lying to F.B.I. agents investigating illegal campaign donations.
Documents filed in federal court in Central California reveal a pre-sentence report provided to the Judge by federal probation officers recommends no prison time for Jeff Fortenberry. These reports include interviews with the convicted person, information about the offense, and the range of punishment allowed by federal law.
Nebraska Public Media spoke to one farmer whose crops suffered significant damage during Tuesday night's storm. Becky Stahr said the golf-ball sized hail hit Tuesday night on the way home from the movies. "It sounded like someone was taking a baseball bat to a piece of metal. It was just absolutely scary."
A federal judge ruled Monday a petition drive in Nebraska does not need to obtain signatures from 5% of voters in at least 38 counties, dealing a win for the medical marijuana supporters who challenged the state law.
Agriculture companies are looking for people who are interested in science, and hiring managers are increasingly looking for people who don’t have traditional ag backgrounds.
The special election for Nebraska’s 1st District Congressional Seat is June 28th. In an hour-long televised debate, Sunday the Democrat at Republican candidates discussed a variety of issues. Nebraska Public Media News reporter William Padmore monitored the debate
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cut off wheat exports, while drought conditions in the Great Plains will further reduce grain stocks. Reduced supplies could trickle down into higher prices for grocery list staples, such as bread and pasta.
Paul Sanderford will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Friday in Knoxville, Tennessee. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer caught up with the former NU coach at his home in Kentucky to discuss his career and the evolution of women’s college sports.
Nebraska's First (And Only) Astronaut Embarks on A New Mission: Preparing the SAC Aerospace Museum for a New Era
A walk-in freezer about two stories high sits in one corner of a warehouse owned by a food bank called Hawkeye Area Community Action Program Inc.
Chris Ackman, the food bank’s communication manager, points to the shelving racks where any donated venison the organization receives is typically stored.
Known as the Help Us Stop Hunger, or HUSH, program, the venison is donated by hunters from around the state, and Ackman says the two-pound tubes of ground meat go pretty quickly, lasting only a few months.
“It's a pretty critical program, I think, because there are a lot of hunters in Iowa," he said. "And, it's well enjoyed by a lot of families as well."
Similar programs around the country have been applauded as a way for hunters to do something they enjoy while also helping feed those in need. Iowa hunters donate around 3,500 deer a year through the program.
A walk-in freezer about two stories high sits in one corner of a warehouse owned by a food bank called Hawkeye Area Community Action Program Inc.
Chris Ackman, the food bank’s communication manager, points to the shelving racks where any donated venison the organization receives is typically stored.
Known as the Help Us Stop Hunger, or HUSH, program, the venison is donated by hunters from around the state, and Ackman says the two-pound tubes of ground meat go pretty quickly, lasting only a few months.
“It's a pretty critical program, I think, because there are a lot of hunters in Iowa," he said. "And, it's well enjoyed by a lot of families as well."
Similar programs around the country have been applauded as a way for hunters to do something they enjoy while also helping feed those in need. Iowa hunters donate around 3,500 deer a year through the program.
Sioux City refugee organizations have resettled about 50 Afghan refugees into the community since their arrival in August, after their country fell to the Taliban. But, an even larger group of refugees has moved to western Iowa to work for Tyson Fresh Meats at the Dakota City plant just across the border in Nebraska. For many, that means living hours away from their caseworkers and the resources they need to start anew.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has awarded nearly $3 million dollars in grants to plant cover crops in six Midwestern states The funding comes as demand for state and federal incentive programs for cover crops often outpaces available funding.
The crossbreed gained some attention in the 1970s. Supporters today say there is big potential to provide better, healthier meat by combining the best qualities of the two animals, in just the right amount.
If Patty Pansing Brooks wins the first district’s congressional race, Gov. Pete Ricketts would appoint a replacement, and that replacement could be a potential vote for an abortion ban in the Nebraska Legislature.
On the day President Joe Biden said, "too many schools have become killing fields in America" during a nationally-televised address, Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer reaffirmed her stand that guns are not the root cause behind mass shootings in America.
Her comments to Nebraska Public Media came prior to Biden calling for age limits on sales of assault weapons, changes to the system of background checks, incentives for states to pass so-called 'red-flag' laws, and upgrading school safety protocols.
Fischer, in her second term representing Nebraska in the U.S. Senate, said she hopes there can be a responsible debate on the issue and how those conversations influence violence in America.
The Nebraska State Penitentiary will resume normal staffing operations next month after more than two and half years in an emergency state. Nebraska Public Media's Will Bauer spoke Scott Frakes, the director of the Nebraska's Department of Corrections.
According to Triple AAA, 20 people die every year in Nebraska in teen-driver-related crashes. Nearly a third of those deaths occur during the roughly 100-day stretch from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Brian Ortner is the Public Affairs Specialist for triple-A Nebraska. He says with Memorial Day weekend signaling the unofficial start of summer more people will be on the roads. That includes inexperienced, younger driver
Officials unveiled a new design for Nebraska license plates Tuesday based on a mosaic that's embedded in the state Capitol.
The lead industry characterized lead poisoning as a problem of poor people and minorities to protect its sales during the 20th century.
The rising cost of fertilizer, spurred by manufacturing decisions and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is producing uncertainty for farmers and higher costs for consumers.
There will be several more turf sports fields in the Omaha area starting this fall. La Vista officials and project organizers say the multisport complex in the Omaha suburb will not only serve the area’s children but also fuel economic development.
The US Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers are listening to feedback on how they implement clean water rules. But there are differing opinions that may not change much.
Agriculture is a big emitter of greenhouse gasses– which are the biggest driver of climate change. But some farmers are taking on the issue by trying to sink the air’s carbon – in the ground.
Lincoln Public Schools' Superintendent is retiring after more than two decades of service to Nebraska's public schools. Nebraska Public Media News reporter William Padmore spoke with Dr. Steve Joel about school safety, the politicization of the education industry, future of teaching in America.
A Lancaster County District Court sentenced the man who, in 2020, murdered a Lincoln police investigator to a minimum of 70 years in prison, with the potential for a lifetime in prison. In addition to the time for first-degree murder, Felipe Vazquez could remain jailed for a maximum 96 years for six other charges.
Tuesday’s mass shooting at a Texas school prompted the Lincoln Police Department to station more police officers around Lincoln schools Wednesday morning. LPD Chief Teresa Ewins said it was more a move for support rather than safety concerns.
Community members from Arapahoe, a town of 1,200 in southwest Nebraska's Furnas County, announced the creation of the Republican Valley Golden Years Foundation on Monday. The non-profit will work to replace the Good Samaritan Society that served the community for 60 years.
District ranger Julie Bain said the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey is now open to the public in some capacity, but fire crews will continue to put out what’s left of the 201 East Fire, which is 80% contained as of Monday evening.
Six people were shot – and three died – at separate incidents in Lincoln over the weekend. Lincoln’s police chief says the killings are not connected in any way – it's common to see a rise in violence when the weather gets better.
Artist Sarah Harris is painting a mural with scene from the life of famed Ponca Chief Standing Bear in a state building being renamed for him.
The wildfire – dubbed the 201 East Fire – started Tuesday in rural Thomas County. Fire officials in the area said high temperatures, winds and extreme dry conditions fueled the blazes spread to the east and south.
Farmers in the Midwest are gearing up for a fight over whether pipelines can cut through their land. Three companies are proposing piping carbon dioxide emissions from ethanol plants out of state. Many look to the experience other farmers had with the Dakota Access Pipeline a few years ago.
As the war in Ukraine continues, it has created a humanitarian crisis the likes of which haven’t been seen in Europe since WW II. For two weeks Flatwater Free Press reporter Natalia Alamdari lived alongside refugees and volunteers as they lived out of a hotel in Warsaw, - their rooms and food paid for as part of Safe Harbor Ukraine, a Nebraska-based humanitarian effort. Nebraska Public Media News Reporter William Padmore talked with Alamdari about her experience and Safe Harbor Ukraine.
Black farmers in the U.S. lost more than 300 billion dollars worth of land in the 20th century, according to a new study.
Preserving mental health through farming challenges is a real concern; one study shows farmers die by suicide at a higher rate than other professions.
University of Nebraska at Kearney women's head basketball coach Carrie Eighmey is married to her assistant coach Devin Eighmey. The two talk about working together on and off the court, as well as the impact of Title IX legislation on women's athletics.
The Niskíthe Prayer Camp – the group who protested the city’s sale of the area for redevelopment, which sits next to their prayer grounds and sweat lodges – marched from Wilderness Park to Lincoln City Hall on Wednesday.
Issues including abortion, inflation and ballot issues are likely to influence voter turnout and behavior in November, according to Creighton University Political Science Professor Rick Witmer.
A new analysis from the Environmental Working Group finds that taxpayers fronted nearly $40 billion in crop insurance premiums over a 20-year period. The advocacy group expects that number to increase as climate change worsens.
Corn, soy, and wheat make up about 70% of Midwestern farmland. But as the planet heats up, scientists are developing new crops to replace them. Plants that can survive – and thrive – in a changing climate. There's one crop that some scientists and farmers think could be the grain of the future.
A long list of water projects along with limited supplies and labor poses inflationary pressures.
Now that the primary election is in the rear view mirror, we can answer a question that Nebraska Public Media News asked a few weeks ago: How many votes does it take to win the governor’s seat?
Now that the primary election are over and the dust has settled, Nebraska Public Media News speaks with University of Nebraska Political Science Professor John Hobbing about how the gubernatorial contest ended and what it could mean for the future of Nebraska politics.
Primaries for the Nebraska Legislature narrowed the field for the November general election.
National hospital week kicked off on May 8. The celebration aligns with National Nursing week, which started May 6. The theme for this year is “We Are Healthcare.” Nebraska’s hospitals are celebrating with different acts of appreciation for healthcare staff.
Maureen Nickels is the only member of the State Board of Education who's not running again for her seat. She spoke with Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada on how things on the Board have changed and offers advice for her successor.
Much of the Great Plains are in a drought. Wildfires have swept across the grasslands and farmers are worried about how they’ll make it through the growing season.
Even with a few recent downpours, the region needs rain.
There are more than 180,000 small businesses in Nebraska. Courtney and Heath Bristol own and operate one of them - Bulldoggers BBQ in Valentine, Nebraska.
The candidates were asked to answer questions about what they’ve learned on the campaign trail and why they should be the next governor. The field of five was supposed to be six. One of the front runners, Jim Pillen, was scheduled to speak virtually, but, because of technical difficulties, Pillen was unable to address the bankers.
Lincoln’s Mayor announced the City will move ahead with plans to build more than 500 homes across the street from the only two native American sweat lodges in town.
A Lincoln, Nebraska man who gave away his baseball card collection as a youth got it back after nearly five decades. Tom Stephens says he never expected to see it again.
The money came from settlements made by opioid manufacturers and distributors with the federal government.
It will allocate part of the funds to Nebraska counties and cities. A larger portion - almost half of the money - will be sent to the six mental health regions in Nebraska.
Doctors at the University of Nebraska Medical Center say the US could see a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases within the next few months. In a weekly update from UNMC's Dr. James Lawler, the global health researcher said he's monitoring a quick rise in omicron cases in South Africa.
Lincoln City Council approved a housing development for about 500 homes near Wilderness Park in Lincoln, across from the only two Native American sweat lodges within the city. Now, a group of Native American community members set up a prayer camp on the approved land in protest.
Two Illinois farmers set out to improve soil health in the Midwest. The program they founded also has a myriad of climate benefits.
Hundreds of Muslims in Lincoln, including refugees recently arrived from Afghanistan, gathered Monday to celebrate the end of Ramadan, their month-long fast. The celebration is called Eid al-Fitr.
One Husker assistant already sat out for two days of practice this spring. The school’s forced to pay a $10,000 fine to the NCAA, too.
Penalties were handed down due to an off-the-field analyst illegally coaching special teams during practices in 2020.
The University of Nebraska spent the most money of any organization lobbying the state government last year– more than 180-thousand dollars, according to a recent report released by government watchdog group Common Cause Nebraska. Hear more from state senators on their thoughts of the report.
Looking for ways to fund lobbying and legal efforts to preserve their way of business, pork producers are turning down guaranteed money that could go to advertising and marketing.
Former President Donald Trump came to Nebraska to rally support for Charles Herbster in the governor’s race. When talking about Herbster, the former president spent a majority of it pushing back on allegations Herbster groped eight women.
A union representing railroad engineers and trainmen is protesting in advance of Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting Saturday.
Southeast and south-central Nebraska will likely get hit with hail, damaging winds, and 1 inch to 2 inches of rain.
The wildfire in Southwest Nebraska scorched more than 43,000 acres across Furnas and Red Willow counties this past week. It also destroyed at least six homes in the area, countless pieces of farm equipment and so much more. Nebraska Public Media News tells the stories of two families who were in the thick of the blaze.
Gov. Pete Ricketts hailed legislation designed to revitalize impoverished North Omaha at a ceremony Thursday.
Nebraska's nonpartisan elections for Legislature mean the top two candidates in each race advance, regardless of their party affiliation.
The candidates competing in the May primary for the 2nd Congressional District nomination talk about the economy, war, voter rights, and immigration. Republicans: Don Bacon and Steve Kuehl.
Democrats: Tony Vargas and Alisha Shelton
Nebraska’s Department of Environment and Energy plans to renew a permit for AltEn, the troubled ethanol plant in southeast Nebraska, to release cleaned wastewater onto nearby land. The department heard the public's thoughts in a meeting at Mead High School gym.
Elderly populations are more likely to report financial losses from fraud. That’s why Nebraska’s AARP invited the FTC’s Todd Kossow to discuss scam prevention Wednesday on a teleconference for Nebraska seniors.
A new reports says the cost of lobbying Nebraska state officials topped $20 million last year.
Friday, April 29th, marks the 150th Arbor Day. It started in Nebraska City, Nebraska, in 1872.
In 50 years, the Arbor Day Foundation has planted approximately 500 million trees. The Lincoln-based organization said it intends to plant another 500 million trees in the next five years alone, to celebrate 50 years of service.
State Sen. Rich Pahls, who represented his west Omaha district for 10 years in the Legislature, has died.
Despite critical fire weather Tuesday, firefighters continued to make progress on the Road 702 Fire in southwest Nebraska. Nebraska Emergency Management says the fire is now 74% contained.
The city of Lincoln will pay $497,500 to a protester who was injured in the Black Lives Matter protest in May 2020.
Republican gubernatorial hopefuls Brett Lindstrom, Theresa Thibodeau and Charles Herbster debated Monday in Holdrege.
Get to know the Republican candidates ahead of May’s primary: Larry Anderson and Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley for state auditor. Paul Anderson and Incumbent John Murante for state treasurer.
Get to know the Republican candidates ahead of May’s primary: Jennifer Hicks and State Senator Mike Hilgers for Attorney General; Rex Schroder, Robert Borer, and Incumbent Bob Evnen for Secretary of State.
An analysis of gubernatorial primary voter turnout reveals that tight races mean low thresholds for victory.
Republican candidate for governor Charles Herbster filed a lawsuit Friday against State Sen. Julie Slama. This comes a week after the Nebraska Examiner reported accusations that Herbster groped and inappropriately touched Slama and seven other women.
Scattered thunderstorms and possible tornado conditions will pass through west-central Nebraska this evening around 6:00 p.m. CT. The storm will move toward the northeast.
Governor Ricketts rescinded his appointment of a student trustee at Chadron State College after learning the appointee faces protection orders stemming from sexual assault allegations from other female students.
We asked nearly all the candidates about their one issue – something they wanted to get done by the time their four years are up. In this issue of Nebraska Public Media's Campaign Connection 2022 coverage, we introduce you to the Democrats and the Libertarian.
The 2022 Nebraska Legislature cut taxes and invested in water and urban projects, while deadlocking on criminal justice reform, prisons, and other issues.
Fertilizer prices have doubled from a year ago, but farmers still need to get nutrients into the ground. Some are finding relief from costly synthetic fertilizers in manure.
A group of national nonprofits is suing the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to enforce federal air quality laws in national parks and wilderness areas. Nebraska is among dozens of states that have not sent federally mandated plans to the EPA.
The Nebraska Legislature ended its 2022 session Wednesday with a speech by Gov. Pete Ricketts and reminiscences from departing senators.
Charles Herbster said he’s sent Gov. Pete Ricketts, Jim Pillen, Julie Slama and others litigation holds. Basically, Herbster’s legal team has sent notice to those people and others instructing them not to delete any potential evidence.
Since the end of last year, more and more households are relying on food donations in southeast Nebraska, according to the Food Bank of Lincoln. The organization said it's caused by a lack of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps.
Passengers on public transportation won't need to wear a face mask in Nebraska, following a new announcement from the TSA after a ruling that overturned the CDC’s mask mandate extension. Hear from travelers arriving at Lincoln Airport.
Former congressman and state senator Brad Ashford, who died Tuesday, is being remembered for his kindness and political independence.
The city planning commission voted in favor of the new development that would add 575 new houses and 30,000 square-feet for commercial use near the intersection of Highway 77 and West Pioneers Boulevard.
Gov. Pete Ricketts on Monday signed legislation authorizing building a canal from Colorado and a lake between Lincoln and Omaha.
A new anti-racist toolkit from the Farmers Market Coalition is designed to help managers of farmers markets think about messaging, vendor support and product availability.
Every year, hundreds of teens move through Nebraska's four juvenile detention centers. But school doesn't stop for teens awaiting court dates. Against sometimes long odds, teachers in these centers try to keep students learning.
The English Language: most lifelong Americans take it for granted. For Yazidi refugees seeking a new life in middle-America, language hurdles can prevent access to physical and mental healthcare resources, as well as other necessities.
A UNL study finds Yazidi refugees in Nebraska face challenges in accessing healthcare resources. The Yazidi are an ethnic group that have faced persecution in Eastern Asia.
Republicans will have five candidates to choose from this May for the 1st District Congressional primary election. William Padmore of Nebraska Public Media News spoke with three of those candidates as part of our Campaign Connection 2022 election coverage…
A Harvard Law program will join the ACLU of Nebraska in a lawsuit against Cody Kilgore Unified Schools – a suit that stems from cutting Native American children’s hair. The family of the children, members of the Lakota tribe, believe hair is a sacred symbol. A year later, the Nebraska chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit on behalf of the family – alleging first amendment violations.
Former Sen. Mike Groene defends his conduct after a report calls his behavior "boorish, brainless and bizarre" but not illegal.
Ahead of the 2022 primaries, Nebraska's Republican Party gained nearly 2,000 voters within the last month. Nebraska Public Media spoke to one Democrat-turned-Republican who says he made the jump to cast a ballot for Brett Lindstrom.
Gov. Pete Ricketts signed tax cutting bills while the Legislature passed measures on gambling and education and released a report on a workplace harassment complaint against former Sen. Mike Groene.
State officials confirmed a sixth case of bird flu and will kill a massive flock of laying hens to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease. More than 2.5 million Nebraska birds have been killed since the start of the year.
Hundreds packed into Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elwood Wednesday for the funeral of Darren Krull – the fire chief who died while fighting a massive fire in southwest Nebraska last week.
The Nebraska Legislature passed nearly 100 bills Tuesday, on subjects ranging from water projects to urban revitalization and improved contracting procedures, while leaving other subjects hanging.
Short staffing and a lack of funding is plaguing nursing homes across the state. Nebraska Public Media’s Jackie Ourada takes us to southeastern Nebraska to hear the story of the latest nursing facility to shut its doors.
A proposal to allow Nebraskans to carry concealed guns without the currently-required permit was blocked Monday in the Legislature.
Heidi Thomas is pouring thousands of dollars into her narrow-halled home in Arapahoe. The renovations will hopefully make living here easier for her husband, Alan, who was recently kicked out of the only nursing facility in the 1,000-person town.
Researchers say even a small amount of the toxin can harm kids’ development. One 2021 study found Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri had some of the highest rates of elevated blood lead levels in children.
Bird flu is spreading across the country. So far, tens of millions of commercial and backyard birds have died from illness or have been killed to stop the spread. Most of the affected flocks are commercial, but backyard flocks aren’t any less susceptible.
The Nebraska Legislature on Friday advanced measures intended to help people in jails and prisons with health care needs.
The conference will help women connect with volunteers, mental health professionals, or other women veterans for support and guidance. Taylor Ullom is the event organizer and said the “Bombshell Patriots” organization helps female veterans through unique challenges that many face.
A volunteer fire chief died Thursday evening while responding to a fire in southwest Nebraska.
For the past 40 days, Alyona Bychkovska has been sleeping in a Kyiv subway station. On the first day of war, she started writing a war diary and posted her entries online. One of her friends, Viktor Khanzhyn, a Lincoln-based economics professor who grew up in Ukraine, translates it to English.
The Nebraska Legislature gave final approval Thursday to tax cuts, ARPA spending, and veto overrides.
The Drug Enforcement Administration sent a letter earlier this week to law enforcement at all levels, warning them of the rise in fentanyl mass overdoses. One of those overdoses happened in Omaha.
Abortion advocates Thursday celebrated the state legislature’s failure to pass an abortion ban Wednesday night. The bill would have outlawed abortions in Nebraska if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade this summer. The legislature's decision comes as similar bills have been passed into law in other southern and midwestern states.
The Nebraska Legislature debated a ban on abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, and a criminal justice reform proposal was blocked by a filibuster.
Three of the top Republicans running for governor shared the stage again Wednesday at a Omaha Chamber forum. Many of the topics discussed weren’t new: taxes, brain drain, prison overcrowding and immigration. There were, however, a few new ones – like the state’s failed contract with St. Francis Ministries.
Mark Wetzel coaches baseball and softball hitters how to see the ball better, even though he's been blind most of his life. Mark has macular degeneration. It started affecting his eyesight when he was about 11.
In February, the Nebraska Attorney General sued the City of Omaha for enacting a mask mandate. He’s now dropping that suit because of a decision the city council made Tuesday night. The council voted 5-2, adding two layers of approval for the mandates from the Douglas County health director. The ordinance requires the mayor and city council to sign off on decisions – like a mask mandate.
Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada speaks to Lincoln Public Library Director Pat Leach for National Library Week.
A vast amount of soil has eroded from farm fields in the Midwest. A new University of Massachusetts Amherst- led study that found topsoil in the Midwest is eroding on average nearly 2 millimeters per year.
Nebraska legislators advanced a proposal to cut a series of taxes, after rejecting a bid to expand tax breaks for middle-income earners.
The race to replace Jeff Fortenberry in Nebraska’s first congressional district got a little clearer Tuesday. The Democrats picked Patty Pansing Brooks to represent their party for the June special elections. Mike Flood is hoping he’s the GOP pick. The vacancy in the 1st Congressional District follows Jeff Fortenberry’s resignation last month.
Farmers in ten states (including Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota) are now free to use a herbicide that had been restricted in January.
Ford is electrifying its best-selling F-150 pickup. The F-150 Lightning is a pitch to rural drivers that you don’t need to be an early adopter or environmentalist for an electric vehicle to make sense.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced proposals Thursday to revitalize north Omaha and research effects of pollution from the AltEn plant in Mead, while appearing deadlocked over criminal justice reform.
Kellogg's workers in Kansas won a new contract that raises their wages by more than 15 percent over three years and improves benefits. Nebraska Public Media News spoke with Kellogg's workers in Nebraska for their reaction.
Grand Island’s Fonner Park will drop the horse quarantine for its stable area starting Friday.
Two confirmed cases of equine herpes in mid-March led to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture issuing the quarantine. Since then, there have been no reported cases in the stables at the popular central Nebraska racetrack.
The Nebraska Legislature looked to advance a package of income, corporate, Social Security and property tax cuts, linked in a delicate political balancing act with other proposals.
Sprious has 19 employees in Ukraine. They are all men, which means they are required to stay in the country. Some have moved to the west, but at least one person has stayed in Kyiv to fight. Most of the employees’ families have left the country. Stateside, the data collection firm has raised $43,000 for its employees to help pay for food and housing.
The Omaha City Council heard public testimony Tuesday night about an amended proposal to strip the county’s health director of their epidemic authority. This revision doesn’t remove the health director of her complete authority – like the first proposed ordinance did. But it will give veto powers to the mayor and the city council.
In our third part of our healthcare staffing series, we sit down with healthcare leaders on solutions they have to address the system's staffing shortfall — that go deeper than just using cash to put out the fire.
The Nebraska Legislature gave final approval to budget bills Tuesday and advanced proposals for a lake between Lincoln and Omaha, and a canal from Colorado.
Nebraska’s older adults struggle to get the care they need. Nursing homes are closing or turning down patients because they don’t have enough staff. This week, one local nursing home provider is in Washington, DC to advocate for them.
While hospitals hit their capacities during the COVID-19 omicron surge, they had to hold onto patients who couldn't get released to nursing care centers. Those facilities say their slim staffing levels aren't seeing relief and, therefore, couldn't help hospitals juggling longer-term patients. This is the second part of our series on Nebraska's healthcare staffing crisis.
New numbers show staffing shortages were the prominent reason hundreds of patients couldn’t get the care they needed during the COVID-19 omicron surge. In at least one case, a Nebraska hospital says a patient died waiting for a staffed hospital bed. Nebraska Public Media’s Jackie Ourada leads our series that takes a closer look at the crisis.
Proposals to cut taxes, approve budget spending, and reform the criminal justice system remain tangled up in the Nebraska Legislature.
Parole is granted in 62-percent of hearings when five board members are there, compared to just 56-percent of cases when less than the full board votes. Just 37-percent of Nebraska palore hearings had a full board, from May 2018-to-December 2021.
The hemp industry is worth more than $800 million, according to a recent report. The same report showed just 6% of hemp growers are Black. Cannabis has been a hard market for people of color to break into, but some hope hemp could offer a new way in.
The remote village of Lynch, Nebraska up near the South Dakota border lost their only grocery store and became a food desert in spring 2020. The community opened a new cooperative grocery store on March 26.
Proposed cuts to income and property taxes fell short in the Nebraska Legislature Friday, while senators decided to consider an abortion ban later this session.
Brody was diagnosed with a tic disorder in fourth grade. He was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in sixth grade, which is a type of tic disorder. Brody said he sometimes gets short and quick muscle or vocal impulses.
Creighton Head Coach Jim Flanery said Iowa State will be prepared. However, he said his team is familiar with high-pressure situations and can easily adapt.
The Nebraska Legislature moved ahead on the state budget, but only after a long discussion on criminal justice reform.
Agriculture often gets cited as the reason daylight saving time was put in place in the U.S. more than 100 years ago. Yet it turns out the time change has few benefits for farmers.
A York, Nebraska man leaves no doubt about his favorite rock band. Dennis Michalski has been all-in for the hard-driving rock band KISS since he first saw them in concert when he was 12 years old. His KISS memorabilia collection fills the basement of his home, and it's still growing.
At the state capitol, fourteen high school students wore their best dress and spoke to Nebraska state legislators about the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (or STEM) education in Nebraska.
The Nebraska Legislature moved Wednesday toward approving $1 billion in ARPA fund spending.
Eric Jones is the lead investigator in Dillard’s case. He said the patrol will search the area she was last seen.
The Nebraska Legislature on Tuesday advanced a bill aimed at helping poor areas in Omaha despite questions about the cost of it and other proposals.
Bird flu was detected in a flock of more than half a million chickens in Butler County. It’s Nebraska’s first case of the disease in a large commercial chicken flock.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, some Nebraskans with Ukrainian ties have continued to work and live in the state, while worrying about the fate of Ukraine and loved ones who still live there.
AltEn could get a renewed permit to release its treated wastewater onto nearby agricultural lands.
The U.S. central bank decided to raise interest rates for the first time since 2018. The quarter-percent hike could be followed by six additional increases throughout the year. In total, the federal bank eyes a 1.9% interest rate by the end of 2022, with three more increases in 2023.
When most people think of maple syrup production, Vermont comes to mind. In the Midwest, Wisconsin and Michigan are the biggest producers. But there’s a lot of untapped potential for maple syrup in the lower Midwest.
With a few taps on their phone, any high school girl can ask female college athletes advice about sports, mental health, or civic engagement.
Senators variously blamed tough-on-crime measures, legislative inaction, culture, schooling, and poverty for overcrowded prisons in debate Thursday.
Lincoln Resident Matthew Wegener touched down in Budapest, Hungary last week and describes his journey into Easter-Europe as an intense one. Wegener is Europe to escort Oksana Iziumova to a host home in Munich, Germany that agreed to shelter her while the war in Ukraine continues. Oksana is from the west-Ukrainian port city of Odessa.
Everyone wants to clean up AltEn, the ethanol plant in southeast Nebraska that used pesticide-coated seed corn and produced tons of toxic waste. But there are different ideas of how to get there.
Everyone wants to clean up AltEn, the ethanol plant in southeast Nebraska that used pesticide-coated seed corn and produced tons of toxic waste. But there are different ideas of how to get there.
Questions about building a new prison and reforming criminal justice dominated the Nebraska Legislature's budget debate Wednesday.
The Douglas County Board of Health opposed Omaha mayor Jean Stothert and city council member Vinny Palermo's proposal to strip away the county health director’s pandemic authority.
Nebraska is the only state currently selling Kosher beef to Israel. The Jewish state cut off imported American beef back in 2003. Now, Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley said shipping beef to the Middle-Eastern country has slowed again.
Jerry Pawlak has been playing music on the organ at College World Series games in Omaha for a decade. His musical skills are a fan favorite and often brings them to their feet.
Farmers in the Midwest have received billions of dollars in crop insurance payments. Some say that's a problem.
Just as consumers turned to online shopping during the pandemic, many farmers started selling their products online over the past two years.
Jury selections begins this morning in the trial of Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry.
The U.S. attorney in California charged the Republican lawmaker with three counts of lying to federal investigators during a corruption investigation.
The Nebraska Legislature began debate on the state budget Tuesday, while the Judiciary Committee voted not to advance three bills restricting or banning abortion.
UNO’s Gina Ligon says Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership is like no leader that she’s seen to date. Ligon, the director of the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center, made the comments Tuesday morning on NPR’s "On Point."
A Ukrainian man is watching the war in his home country from Lincoln. His wife and parents are hunkered down together as their neighbors take on the fight against Russia. Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada spoke to Yuriy Fomin on what it's like watching the war from half a world away.
The Legislature gave first-round approval to yearlong Daylight Savings Time, and committees advanced proposals on sentencing reform and ARPA spending Monday.
Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry goes on trial this week, accused to lying about accepting illegal campaign donations. After nine terms in Washington he’s fighting for his political life in the middle of a primary election. Before the jury is seated in the federal courtroom in Los Angeles, Bill Kelly with Nebraska Public Media News reviews how the case came to be.
Despite the Republican party’s attempt to keep him off the ballot, the Lincoln state legislator can run for Lancaster County attorney, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled. The state Republican party felt Morfeld, a Democrat, did not qualify as a practicing attorney and had challenged his campaign multiple times.
The economic effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are being felt all over the world, including in Midwestern farm fields. Sanctions against Russia have led to skyrocketing prices for several different kinds of fertilizers critical to growing crops.
The Nebarska Legislature gave first round approval to dropping requirements for a permit to carry concealed guns, and senators prepared to debate budget spending.
As the war rages on in Ukraine, a Nebraskan is traveling to war-stricken Europe to escort a Ukrainian woman to Germany. Nebraska Public Media News reporter William Padmore has more why that Lincoln man is helping in today’s Signature Story.
The Nebraska Legislature Thursday debated allowing people to carry concealed guns without the permit that's currently required.
The owner of several large newspapers in the Midwest on Thursday rebuffed the latest attempt at a takeover by a hedge fund known for gutting the news outlets it buys.
Lee Enterprises shareholders voted to re-elect three board of director nominees at its annual shareholder meeting. That fended off a campaign by Alden Global Capital that aimed to unseat the incumbent directors after a judge denied its request to put forth its own board of director nominees.
In a statement, Lee said shareholders re-elected chairman Mary Junck, chief executive Kevin Mowbray and lead independent director Herbert Moloney with each getting more than 70% votes cast in their favor.
A new study by Kansas State University researchers is looking at ways to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in soil in the hope of finding affordable methods that could be replicated around the country.
Ganga Hettiarachchi, a professor of soil and environmental chemistry, is leading the research with her team through a $700,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Hettiarachchi said conversations with officials from the health department and Brownfields program in Kansas City, Missouri, made her realize the scope of the issue.
“I came to know that the elevated blood lead levels in children in [the] urban core in Kansas City is about nine times higher than the national average," Hettiarachchi said. "And then nearly 50% of the parcels they tested, tested soil lead concentrations greater than 400 parts per million.”
Inflation is up nearly 8% in the Midwest region. Fischer and her colleagues believe more should be done about everyday prices like Gas – which is approaching $4 in Nebraska. A part of the solution to that problem, Fischer says, is weaning America off its reliance on Russian oil.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval to four big water projects, despite some senators' skepticism about a couple of them.
Nebraskans could carry concealed guns without the permit and training that's currently required under a bill to be debated Thursday; another bill says casinos in counties without a current racetrack would have to wait for a market analysis.
After over a week since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, one local Ukrainian biochemist is offering a sort of academic asylum in Lincoln for Ukraine refugees.
Midwestern lakes have become a hotbed of toxic algae blooms, largely caused by agricultural runoff. Without regular testing, visitors to lakes in many states have no idea what they're getting into.
Behind a record-setting performance from guard Jazz Shelley, Nebraska out-shot Illinois Thursday night in Indianapolis, on their way to a 18-point win. Shelley’s nine three-pointers set the Nebraska all-time record for threes in a game.
The blue and yellow glow of Nebraska’s Capitol is designed to show support toward Ukraine’s independence from Russia. Ukraine’s colors will be on display until Sunday, March 13th.
A Junior at Wesleyan University in Lincoln, she’s double majoring in Communications and Integrative Data Science and minoring in German. Under normal circumstances her schedule keeps her busy, but since her home country of Ukraine came under attack by Russian forces, finding the energy to keep up has been difficult
Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and possibly long-term lung issues are some of the effects for people with pre-existing conditions who are outside too long during poor air quality alerts.
The Nebraska Legislature could debate allowing carrying concealed guns without a permit, and a proposal for a $10 million study of pollution effects from the AltEn ethanol plant in Mead got a hearing.
Gov. Pete Ricketts says higher tax projections support his proposals for a new prison, water projects and tax cuts.
Most Americans who want to own a house – and can afford it – follow a fairly straightforward path to their dreams.
They start with a loan from a bank or mortgage company, institutions that are subject to state and federal regulations. When buyers close on the home they want, the agreement is registered with the government, usually at county offices.
Americans who do not qualify for a conventional mortgage but still want a house to call their own sometimes opt for a thinly regulated financial arrangement called a contract for deed. In these deals, the sellers function like lenders. They collect an initial down payment and then monthly payments.
The buyers in contract for deed agreements usually pay for taxes and insurance and they often pick up the tab for improvements and repairs on the property, even before they have title to it.
Often it’s only when the buyer makes the final payment that the title of the property shifts from the seller to the buyer.
Real estate experts, lawyers and consumer watchdog groups say these arrangements – as well as similarly structured rent-to-own contracts – rarely end with the buyer owning the home. What tends to happen instead is the buyer loses out through a process called forfeiture – often for falling behind on payments – while recouping none of the equity they would have built up in a traditional mortgage.
For example, when the Pennsylvania Attorney General sued a company that did hundreds of rent-to-own contracts in that state, it discovered that only 2% of buyers succeeded in obtaining the deed for the property – signifying that they were now homeowners.
“(Contracts) can be drawn up in a way that makes it almost impossible to succeed,” said Alex Kornya, general counsel for Iowa Legal Aid. “You lose every dollar that you’ve put into that house and the contract seller walks away with a total windfall.”
In Iowa, there have been nearly 3,700 contracts for deed recorded at county offices since 2008, according to figures furnished to the Midwest Newsroom by ATTOM, a provider of mortgage data.
The numbers were lower in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, but figures likely underreport how many of the deals happen in those states because they have few to no laws requiring that these deals be registered at county offices.
Lance Lowenstein, an attorney in Kansas City, Missouri, says he sees cases involving these contracts about once a week.
“Contracts for deed are kind of like the ‘buy here, pay here’ car lots of the real estate business,” he said in an interview in his office in northeast Kansas City, home to many immigrants and economically struggling communities.
Contracts for deed – also known as land contracts, installment sales or bond for deed – proliferated nationally and particularly in the Midwest in the wake of the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis. Rent-to-own – sometimes called leases with an option to purchase – have similar characteristics that often shift the advantage of such transactions to sellers.
Investors, ranging from small-time buyers with just a few houses to Wall Street hedge funds, swooped in after the housing crisis and bought properties in bulk out of foreclosure or from government-sponsored mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The houses, often uninhabitable or in poor condition and in low-income communities, are typically marketed at those most at risk for exploitation: Black, Latino or immigrant residents.
And while attorneys general in states in the Northeast and Great Lakes region have gone after large-scale contract for deed or rent-to-own sellers who use deceptive tactics, attorneys general in the Midwest do not often take enforcement action.
Tiffany Martino
All Tiffany Martino wanted was to buy a home.
“Something my grandkids could come in that was always the same house,” she said.
About seven years ago, she moved from Gold Beach, Oregon, where she said housing prices were “outlandish” to North Platte, Nebraska. She spotted a house she could buy for $78,000.
Martino could see the place needed some work.The bathroom needed an overhaul. The floor was mostly missing in one room and had to be replaced. The paint was in bad shape. And she would have to do some landscaping.
But Martino needed a place to live.
“At the time when you’re in need and you don’t got a lot of down payment and somebody is willing to work with you, you’re just like, ‘Yeah, that sounds good, let’s do that,’” she said.
Martino made a $1,400 down payment to the owner. He agreed she would make $500 monthly payments until the house was paid off. She understood that she was renting to own. When repairs came up, she would call the owner.
“He says, ‘You’re buying this place, you’re responsible for any repairs that occur, you’re responsible for any of that,’” Martino said.
Martino said she put some $10,000 into the property, which included removing trees and doing landscape work. And she made about $30,000 in rent payments over those five years.
But she fell behind – she says about $3,000 in arrears – and her landlord took her to court to have Martino evicted.
She eventually got in touch with Jeff Eastman, the managing attorney for Legal Aid of Nebraska, who represented her.
Eastman told Martino that she risked having a judge order her to pay the owner if the case went to trial. So they settled: Martino walked away from the house and the owner did not pursue her back rent.
“When they (buyers) leave, they left their investment in the property and they don’t have anything to show for it,” Eastman said. “Of course, they’re quite angry about it.”
Including Martino, who thought she was building toward home ownership.
“It was actually pretty much a letdown, you know?” Martino said. “It wasn’t a good feeling to know that wasn’t the case and all the money I dumped in there, I don’t get that back. It pretty much devastated me, really.”
‘Equity stripping’
A 2019 study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University outlines an earlier era of contracts for deed in Chicago, where blockbusting and redlining depressed home prices in the 1960s and 1970s. Investors used contract sales to sell properties at inflated prices with high interest rates to people who could not get a conventional mortgage.
“These contracts were designed to fail,” the Harvard study said, “Allowing the seller to reclaim the property, a form of equity stripping.”
Taz George, a senior research analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, said that access to mortgages is an important way for families to build wealth.
George, who co-authored the Harvard study, said lenders rarely underwrite loans in low-income communities where homes are priced at less than $100,000 and often need repairs. So contracts for deed sometimes fill the void.
“Really what we found is that communities that have a high number of land contract sales, have a host of other housing and economic challenges,” George said.
Contracts for deed are marketed as a way for people who can’t get a conventional mortgage to realize the dream of owning a home.To Kornya, the Iowa Legal Aid lawyer, such a pitch echoes that of another enterprise that targets low-income borrowers.
“That’s the exact same argument that payday lenders use.It’s nothing new: ‘We need to exploit low-income people because otherwise their lives would be worse,’” Kornya said.
While never ideal, lawyers and experts say contracts for deed can be one of few options for some real estate transactions. Buyers who lack credit history, have damaged credit or who cannot make a down payment often do not qualify for a loan from banks or mortgage companies.
Echoing the Harvard findings, the Joint Center for Housing Studies says traditional mortgage companies are reluctant to make loans in distressed neighborhoods, leaving seller-financed loans or a contract for deed, the instrument of last resort.
“We find that the ratio of new mortgage originations to households is one of the strongest predictors of contract for deed activity,” the study says.
A lack of financial services in low income communities and – increasingly – in rural communities influences the demand for non-traditional lending agreements.
Michael Duffy, a semi-retired attorney who has handled dozens of cases involving abuses of real estate contracts, said in spite of the risks, contracts for deed can be useful with responsible sellers.
“I don’t think (contracts for deed) should be illegal,” Duffy said. “They just need to be more tightly regulated. It’s kind of a wild west out there.”
Enforcement efforts
Iowa tightened some of its land contract laws after a 2003 scandal involving the Wolford Group, a family enterprise accused by the Iowa Attorney General of committing fraud when it bought and sold homes under risky land contracts.
Iowa sellers cannot enforce a land contract that is not recorded at a county office. And sellers who don’t record land contracts after 90 days are subject to daily fines.
Ashlee Kieler, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Attorney General, said the office still receives complaints about land contracts since the Wolford scandal and the office handles them as they arise.
“We have not had any recent litigation,” Kieler said in an email.
A spokesperson for the Nebraska Attorney General declined to say if the office has brought any enforcement action on contract for deed or rent-to-own sellers.
Asked if the Missouri Attorney General has pursued such sellers, a spokesman pointed to a 2014 case in Jackson County where it sued Tri-State Holdings for a contract for deed scam in Kansas City’s predominantly Black communities.
The Kansas Attorney General did not respond to a request for comment.
Attorneys general in other states have pursued large-scale contract for deed operators that have done business in Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri.
Vision Property Management, a hedge-fund backed enterprise in South Carolina, at one point owned 10,000 properties nationally, including the Midwest, according to a court filing.
In 2019, the
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval to requiring schools to teach about the Holocaust, and senators moved ahead on subjects ranging from the budget to sexual harassment complaints.
A new fairness ordinance in Lincoln will be decided by the city’s voters and not the city council. The conservative lobbying group, Nebraska Family Alliance, announced Tuesday it had gathered more than 18-thousand signatures to rescind a recent decision. The fairness ordinance will now be placed on an upcoming ballot.
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One of the main objections of those opposed to casinos in Nebraska has been the potential increase in the number of people becoming addicted to gambling. In today’s Nebraska Public Media News Signature Story, William Padmore examines the link between casinos and gambling addiction resources in the state
Senators criticized the effect of proposed income tax cuts, and the Natural Resources Committee held a closed meeting about a proposed canal from Colorado.
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It’s a historic week for sports in Nebraska. For sixty-three years, high school boys have competed in the state wrestling championships. For the first time ever, girls will compete in wrestling at the same level. Even advocates of the sport under-estimated the demand. More than 700 young women joined teams all over the state. There is excitement and even emotion among wrestlers and coaches competing to be the first to reach the victor’s podium.
A highly contagious pig disease has been found in the Caribbean. If African Swine Fever spreads to the Midwest it could have a devastating impact on pork producers.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced a bill making it easier to apply for vaccine exemptions, and opened debate on cutting income taxes.
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Meth has affected numerous people in Nebraska, such as law enforcement personnel and those associated with using or selling the drug. On January 26th, in Kearney, Nebraska, a five-agency collaboration was announced to address the methamphetamine problem in Nebraska. Attorney General Doug Peterson called meth Nebraska’s number one drug threat.
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Maria Kendall took a break from her job as a cafe manager in 2020 when she decided to do some house hunting on the real estate website Zillow. She looked for a new home in Marshalltown, a city of about 28,000 in Iowa between Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.
It’s where she lived for more than 20 years and where her own children grew up. Maria was ready for a new house with her boyfriend and the three children with special needs she fosters.
As Maria swiped through real estate, she spotted her mom’s house for sale.
She immediately called her sister Socorro “Coco” Ontiveros in California, who was
with their mom, Natalia Esteban. Maria asked in Spanish when their mom decided to sell the house.
After a pause, Coco answered.
“What are you talking about?” Coco said.
Natalia had not decided to sell the house. Yet, there it was, listed for sale on a real estate website.
“And if she wouldn't have seen it on Zillow, who knows?” says Larry Colton, Maria’s boyfriend.
It turned out someone else took control of Natalia’s house through an unfamiliar property law that’s on the books in Iowa as well as throughout the Midwest.
It’s called a quiet title action. In most instances, it’s used to settle questions over who owns a piece of property.
People may file quiet title actions to resolve boundary disputes or to resolve who owns property after someone dies. But some worry that problems in the law can result in the exploitation of homeowners, particularly in communities like Marshalltown where many residents are immigrants or don’t speak fluent English.
Experts tell the Midwest Newsroom that shortcomings in the way Iowa’s quiet title law is written include vague language that defines how someone can argue that the property belongs to them. Another is the way people are notified – or, as in Natalia’s case, are not notified – that there’s a dispute involving ownership of their property.
“We would never have found out the house was sold,” Maria says, shaking her head. “My mother would have come back to Iowa in the summer and she would have [found] out she doesn't have a house.”
Natalia and her then-husband bought the Marshalltown house in 2001. When the couple divorced, Natalia became the sole owner of the house. In 2018, Natalia moved to California but returned to her home in Marshalltown every summer.
Maria raises her voice in disbelief as she recounts how someone could have tried to sell her mother’s house, which had been filled with memories and family photos from their life in Mexico, without anyone knowing.
“It was very frustrating,” Maria said. “Like Larry said, scary thinking that [my mom] was going to lose the only thing that she has left.”
Maria goes on: “My mother is retired, but because she did not work so long in the United States, her retirement is very small. So losing the only thing that can help her to make [a] better quality of life… It was very devastating for her.”
‘Something nefarious’
When someone goes to court for a quiet title petition, they must prove they have an interest in the property. One problem is, the law doesn’t define exactly what a person’s interest has to look like, and real estate experts are worried the law may be exploited.
“It just seems like there is something nefarious going on,” Drake University law professor Natalie Lynner says about the Marshalltown case.
The quiet title law requires a petitioner – the person arguing they have an interest
in the property in question – to notify the most recent owner of the house of what’s happening.
But if the petitioner says the most recent owner can’t be found, then their next route is publishing a notice of the quiet title in a newspaper of record.
A person named Catherine Gooding petitioned for Natalia Esteban’s house claiming it was abandoned. In the court documents, she said that the house had been abandoned, she had a tax sale certificate and that she had been in ownership of the house since 2018. That was the interest Gooding showed. (The Esteban family disputed each of these assertions, including that Gooding had only applied for a tax sale certificate, not been granted one. The city did not have any abandonment claims documented.)
Gooding told the court she could not find Esteban to notify her of the action.
So, as the law requires, she published her notice on three different dates in the Marshalltown Times-Republican: Oct. 7, 14 and 21, 2020. It’s a skinny article with small print addressing Natalia as “you,” and letting her know she has been named as a defendant in the Iowa District court for Marshall County.
Since Natalia wasn’t in Iowa at the time nor does she speak English, she didn’t know to attend the court hearing. Which meant Gooding won the case by default, and therefore, ownership of the house.
Lynner thinks the quiet title law could be enhanced to put a greater burden on petitioners to notify property owners.
“But we wouldn't just allow quiet title actions to be decided on default without a more robust showing that the parties certainly cannot be found,” Lynner said.
A Midwest Newsroom investigation found that Gooding has acquired more than 40 properties in and around Marshalltown, about a third of them through quiet title petitions. Many of those properties she acquired after a 2018 tornado and the derecho in August 2020.
Phone calls to a listed number for Catherine Gooding went unanswered, although a text message response referred the Midwest Newsroom to Marshalltown City Hall. Gooding’s attorney said neither he nor Gooding wished to comment on this report.
And although Gooding is following the proper legal procedure to file a quiet title petition, city officials are concerned that the diverse population of Marshalltown may be taken advantage of. Residents have a wide range of language skills, education levels and immigration statuses and not all of them read an English-language newspaper, let alone the public notice section.
Michelle Spohnheimer, the director of Marshalltown housing and community development, says she’s worried about the uptick in quiet title petitions, particularly after 2018 tornados and a derecho damaged a stretch of Marshalltown housing.
“When you take kind of all those different aspects together, you've got a lot of population that has that potential to be in a position where, you know, they just don't have what they need as resources behind them to know, ‘Oh, this is something that I can fight or I can challenge? Or how to go about getting somebody to help me in the right way,’” she says.
Spohnheimer says at least three other families have reached out to the city recently with claims similar to the Esteban family’s. In those cases, she recommended hiring private attorneys.
Spohnheimer says she believes what’s happening in Marshalltown could be happening in other areas.
She says she and other officials within the housing department try to make sure the diverse populations settling in Marshalltown are educated about homeownership. On top of making sure homeowners understand their rights, Spohnheimer says she has also consulted with the police department by letting them know some signs of suspicious activities, including if people are trespassing on property that isn’t their own.
The Estebans aren’t alone
It’s challenging for Iowa to keep track of how many times house titles have been changed using the same methods as what happened to Natalia Esteban. According to the Iowa Judicial Branch, there is no code in its system that specifically indicates petitions for quiet title. It can only keep track if the clerk’s docketing comments include “quiet title” or a variation of the procedure’s language. Therefore, it is possible there are more quiet title cases in Marshalltown than what the Midwest Newsroom received in a records request.
From 2018 to mid-2021, the Iowa Judicial Branch noted Marshalltown’s county, Marshall, had about 55 quiet title petitions filed. Muscatine County, which has a similar population size, had 28 in the same time period.
With similar quiet title laws in the books in Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas, homeowners from marginalized communities in the Midwest may be at risk of being targeted,[18] according to Mike White, a real estate attorney based in Kansas City. He says that over the course of 50 years, he has encountered multiple quiet title cases. While not involved in the Esteban case, White does say the process can be confusing.
“I'd say the average person knows absolutely nothing about quieting titles or even what the title is,” he says. ”So yeah, they're at a tremendous disadvantage.”
White adds there’s not much in quiet title laws throughout the Midwest to specifically protect non-English speakers or people who don’t know the system that well.
All states’ quiet title laws have relatively short descriptions.
White recommends all homebuyers receive legal advice to make sure they can avoid situations like the Estebans.
On her own terms
Maria Kendall and Larry Colton ended up going to court for Natalia Esteban and eventually won the title back. They find themselves fortunate to have been able to hire a lawyer and have the time to win the house back in court. After the previous default judgment was set aside, the Estebans’ attorney filed to dismiss the case.
The Estebans and Gooding eventually reached a settlement and the judge dismissed the case with prejudice – meaning Gooding cannot file the same claim again in court.
When Natalia asked about her Marshalltown home, Maria says she was sad her family heirlooms from Mexico were gone. She asked for pictures of her grandchildren she had framed in the house, but Maria reminded her they didn’t have them anymore.
“I think sentimental stuff is worth more than money. So for her, it was like, she was going more through like, ‘What about the picture of this, this and that?’ Well, nothing you can do mom. Be grateful that you got your house back,” Maria says.
It was hard for Natalia to let go of the house, but she eventually decided to sell t
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COVID relief money was supposed to be a lifeline for small towns recovering from the pandemic. Some found it a challenge to accept. Communities in Nebraska collectively turned down more than half a million dollars.
Nebraska legislative committees held hearings Thursday on building a new prison and listing party affiliations of legislative candidates on the ballot.
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A University of Nebraska College of Law program earned the attention of US Attorney General Merrick Garland during a White House sponsored event . UNL’s Tenant Assistance Program (TAP) was one of a number of projects launched by law schools around the country to keep renters from being evicted during the pandemic.
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In Kearney Wednesday, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson’s office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Nebraska, Omaha’s Drug Enforcement Agency, the FBI, and the Nebraska State Patrol announced a partnership focused on fighting meth. Peterson said the coalition was formed to better understand large drug organizations and their distribution channels.
The Judiciary Committee heard proposals for criminal justice reform, and the Legislature advanced a bill to maintain an income tax credit for school property taxes.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced Social Security tax cuts, and discussed changes to school aid and a proposed canal from Colorado.
In 2017, University of Nebraska Lincoln Political Science Professor Kevin Smith co-authored a study that asked a random sample of 800 people whether politics was a significant stressor in their lives. Categories covered physical health, mental health, regretted behavior, and social and lifestyle costs. For about 40% of respondents, the answer was yes. Last year, Smith issued the survey again to a different group of people, two weeks before and two weeks after the 2020 election, to see how things have changed. And he found, for the most part, people are as stressed out as ever about politics. Professor Smith joins me now to talk more about the study.
It’s not quite the emerald ash borer, but a certain sport with a funny name is making itself known in parks…and sports complexes across the state. But is it taking over? Nebraska Public Media News Reporter has more.
It’s not quite the emerald ash borer, but a certain sport with a funny name is making itself known in parks…and sports complexes across the state. But is it taking over? Nebraska Public Media News Reporter has more.
Proposals to change Social Security taxes, restrict or ban abortions, and regulate the number of casinos were discussed in the Capitol Monday.
Anthony Schutz is a professor of law at the University of Nebraska College of Law. He said the Supreme Court case, Sackett vs. the Environmental Protection Agency, will examine The Clean Water Act’s definitions.
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The Nebraska Legislature is on the verge of endorsing a convention of states to propose amendments to U.S. Constitution, and lawmakers heard proposals to limit school property tax increases.
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The troubled AltEn ethanol plant planned to sell contaminated byproduct to a Kansas ranching and farming group. Then state regulators stepped in, and found the Kansas company didn’t have the full picture.
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The new report by state epidemiologist Matt Donahue and his team also concluded that boosted Nebraskans were 46 times less likely to be hospitalized compared to those unvaccinated. Those fully vaccinated – without a booster – were 11 times less likely to find themselves in a packed medical center.
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A bill to require DNA samples from people charged with certain crimes, before they are convicted, ran into opposition Tuesday in the Legislature.
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The state’s dashboard shows that, over the weekend, hospitalizations dropped by 32, to just above 640. And, across the state, hospital capacity remains between 20 and 30% free.
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Millions of American consumers still rely on 3G devices and technology, and its phase-out is underway as 5G services expands across the country.
State Senator Mike Flood is challenging Congressman Jeff Fortenberry in the Republican First Congressional District primary.
Earlier this week the Nebraska State Patrol arrested an assistant warden accused of a sexual relationship with an inmate at the facility she supervised. The Department of Corrections faces a nagging problem with staff providing illegal contraband and having forbidden contact with prisoners. Recently Bill Kelly with Nebraska Public Media spoke with Director of Corrections Scott Frakes about the case and the challenges of preventing such incidents.
One of Nebraska’s largest school districts is cancelling in-person classes for the next three Fridays because of the rise of COVID-19 cases in the community.
Citing a rise in cases and stress on the local healthcare system, Lincoln-Lancaster Co. Health Director Pat Lopez announced the city would reinstate the directed health measure. Mayor Leiron Gaylor Baird says it’s a critical time during the pandemic.
The latest Omicron surge is creating a staff shortage in Nebraska schools. School districts are even desperate to find substitute teachers.
The Bigfoot Crossroads of America Museum and Research Center in Hastings will be featured in the U.S. Library of Congress Archives.
Legislators had mixed reactions to the budget proposals underneath Gov. Pete Ricketts State of the State speech.
Nebraska Medicine patients are going to experience changes during the hospital’s crisis standard of care alert. Harris Frankel is Chief Medical Officer at Nebraska Medicine. He said, among other measures, appointments and surgeries will be delayed.
“You may also see medical students or other learners along with other support staff used as support personnel that might not otherwise commonly be involved in activities of this type,” Frankel said.
On Monday, Governor Pete Ricketts said recent projects proposed in the neighboring state would dramatically cut South Platte River water flow into Nebraska. Attorney General Doug Peterson said that was the ‘first shot’ in a potential legal battle between the states. Nebraska’s response won’t necessarily be a lawsuit – yet, but a revival of a canal that has a checkered past in Nebraska’s history.
Opponents of a bill creating scholarships for children to attend private schools blocked it in the Legislature Wednesday.
The recent surge of COVID-19 cases has caused one Omaha restaurant to make a change. Modern Love restaurant has decided to open its doors, but only fully vaccinated guests can dine in.
In a letter from Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson to Health Director Huse, Peterson wrote the board doesn’t have the authority to enforce a mask mandate in Omaha. He wrote the department doesn’t have the required approval from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Nationwide, COVID-19 disproportionately affected communities of color — in part because the U.S. relies on immigrant workers in food and agriculture.
Some public health experts and advocates in Nebraska are asking state senators to allocate money for more liquor law enforcement.
The Nebraska Legislature advanced inheritance tax cuts and debated private school scholarships.
Richard Charles Carson was 92 years old when he passed away on December 19th in Studio City, California. Carson was born the youngest of three children in Clarinda, Iowa in 1929. Later, his family settled in Norfolk, Nebraska where he graduated high school in 1947.
Drew DeCamp is a registrar at the Elkhorn Valley Museum in Norfolk which features galleries of the Carson family. DeCamp said Dick Carson had a laid back personality, much like his older brother Johnny.
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry’s attempts to create some legal roadblocks in the government’s corruption case against him got a chilly reception from the federal judge hearing the matter. In a California courtroom Tuesday, his attorneys attempted to undermine the charge that Fortenberry lied to FBI agents investigating illegal campaign contributions.
Former Nebraska state senator Kate Bolz started her new position last week as Nebraska’s Director of Rural Development for the United States Department of Agriculture. Bolz was appointed by President Biden to direct Nebraska’s USDA grants and loans.
Kate Bolz said her experiences growing up in rural southeast Nebraska have prepared her for the state director role at the United State Department of Agriculture.
The Midwest is home to power plants that are some of the country’s highest emitters of pollutants.
According to EPA data, four of the top 10 coal-burning power plants with the highest sulfur dioxide emissions in the country are located in the four-state region.
What’s more, the data shows two of the power generators that contribute the largest amount of nitrogen oxide emissions in the country are located in Missouri.
Immigrants make up an estimated 40% of the U.S. meat processing workforce. Last year’s wave of COVID outbreaks at meatpacking plants revealed how protections are lacking for many of these workers.
Methodist Hospital in Omaha reports nearly 180 healthcare workers out sick, which includes more than 50 nurses. Elective surgeries are being postponed or canceled currently at Methodist. Todd Consbruck is the president and CEO at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in the northern Nebraska town of O’Neill. Consbruck says nurses and doctors in O’Neill are growing weary emotionally and physically due to pressure from the omicron variant.
Gov. Pete Ricketts and Speaker Mike Hilgers proposed big water projects, and the Legislature advanced a proposal for a convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
There’s a lot of questions about the latest COVID-19 Omicron variant. University of Nebraska Medical Center infectious disease physician Dr. Mark Rupp has some answers.
The coronavirus has killed hundreds of meat plant workers – and sickened thousands more. Nearly two years into the pandemic, many are still searching for answers – and calling for change.
Gov. Pete Ricketts was asked questions about the coming year and beyond in an interview with Nebraska Public Media News.
According to the updated data from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, there were more than 3700 cases of COVID-19 from Monday’s seven-day rolling average. Michele Bever is the South Heartland Health Director and said the district's seven-day average jumped from 398 cases per 100,000 people last week to nearly 500 this week. Bever said the first omicron variant case was detected in her district on Monday evening.
The Nebraska Legislature is dealing with reports and proposals affecting prisons, teachers, redistricting and school aid.
A Title IX lawsuit against the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is moving forward in federal court. An anonymous woman is suing the school for not protecting her after a professor harassed her. Nebraska Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert has more on the update.
Over one month ago, Lyons, Nebraska had brown tap water with high levels of iron and manganese. In the process of replacing filter beds at its treatment plant, a temporary filter system was put in place. That filter broke down and Lyons was forced to issue a boil water order. Now, Lyons is running water through its new filters at the treatment plant and the water passed a partial test by the state.
Legislation stemming from the controversy over sex education in proposed health standards, and getting the state have a "mega-site" ready for future industrial projects, are among ideas being introduced in the Nebraska Legislature.
Douglas County's first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer started working this week.
Omaha’s January 6th Vigil will be located at the College of Saint Mary’s fieldhouse and online. The event will start with a speech from the college’s president Maryanne Stevens, then a prayer and three songs to be performed by the Omaha Justice Choir. There will be three additional speakers after the music, each from Black Votes Matter, Civic Nebraska, and the Women’s Fund of Omaha.
Last January Republican Josh Hawley had been in the Senate for barely two years. Elected at 39, after serving briefly as Missouri’s Attorney General, he was seen by many in the party as a politician on the rise.
But that seemed to be at risk for Hawley after the January 6 events and his vote against certifying election results.
Some of the biggest companies in Missouri and elsewhere stopped supporting him.
The two largest newspapers in the state openly called on him to resign. His mentor, former Republican Senator John Danforth, repudiated his actions.
But now, a year later, it appears Hawley has paid hardly any political price in a state that’s taken a hard swing to the political right in recent years.
Terry Smith teaches political science at Columbia College in Missouri.
Long description: In the last two weeks, COVID-19 cases are up 26 percent in Nebraska, according to CDC data. The seven-day rolling average indicates nearly 14-hundred cases. For comparison, though, last winter, the seven-day average nearly hit 24-hundred positives.
The COVID-19 Omicron variant has brought a surge of cases throughout the state and some schools are bringing back extra precautions.
The Nebraska Legislature began its 2022 session with proposals on abortion, guns, and other topics.
Bryan Health based in Lincoln will become owners of Kearney Regional Medical Center. According to Bryan Health, Kearney Regional Medical Center was in good financial standing before the partnership but saw this as a growth opportunity.
Supporters of abortion rights say they'll resist any attempts to further restrict the procedure in Nebraska.
Thunder Valley Development Corporation Director Tatewin Means says transitional and supportive housing could serve 800-1,000 people at a time.
A new report produced by the UNO Center for Public Affairs Research looks at challenges facing Nebraska entrepreneurs.
A US Federal District Judge threw out four requests to set aside a grand jury indictment accusing him of lying to the FBI. Also rejected was Congressman Fortenberry's demand that the US Attorney handling the case be barred from proceeding with his involment.
The Nebraska Legislature begins its 2022 session Wednesday facing big issues, and with lots of money.
A recent report shows that despite a 33.5 percent increase in the behavioral health workforce in the last 10 years, Nebraska is still not reaching demand, especially in rural areas.
The Nebraska Public Health Lab reported 77 percent of COVID-19 cases are omicron in the state, according to its sequencing on Monday. They anticipate that number approaches 90 percent in the coming weeks.
“I’m excited to see more trails and more options for people,” Lincoln cyclist Lorenz Taylor said, “especially you know if they can get something on the outskirts of town. I live in west Lincoln so if they can get something out there, I’d be super excited about that even more, instead of having to pack my bike up and go to the center part of town or the south side of town to hit a trail head.”
How Omaha tech start-up Retail Aware helps companies and products learn how shoppers shop. This story is part of Nebraska Public Media's "What If..." series on innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
The Huskers women’s basketball team’s undefeated start includes seven wins against top-100 teams, according to the NCAA rankings. Assistant Head Coach Chuck Love said his team’s attitude has sparked the fast start.
Jalene Carpenter is CEO of the Nebraska Healthcare Association and says closures occurred, in part, due to a lack of funding.
Governor Ricketts reinstated an extra $20 per day payment to assisted living facilities starting early next year.
But it’s too late for Arapahoe's assisted living facility, where Alan Thomas stays. His wife, Heidi is a teacher and works part-time as a registered nurse at Good Samaritan Society in Arapahoe.
The Nebraska State Fair and its stakeholders formed ‘The 1868 Foundation’ to deliver a remodeling proposal. In the plan released Wednesday, the foundation asked for $25 million from the state’s infrastructure fund to revamp its campus at Grand Island’s Fonner Park.
The alarm blared around 11:07 CT Tuesday evening – the same alert many Nebraskans hear for severe weather events or AMBER alerts.
Heading into the holiday week, COVID-19 cases dropped 2% over the last two weeks. Hospitalizations are also down. The Nebraska Public Health Lab Right reports on average that omicron makes up less than 10% of COVID cases. However, the lab notes that could change dramatically in the coming days.
Linccoln-Lancaster County Health Director Pat Lopez says the mask mandate will not be extended.
Nebraska Humane Society rescued about 500 exotic animals found in a Papillion home this week.
That changed, when the National Weather Service confirmed 22 tornadoes touched down in Nebraska from December 15th storms.
The storms were a part of a ‘serial derecho,’ or a large band of hurricane-like thunderstorms. Forecasters say the storm’s destructive path began in central Nebraska, then moved northeast.
Bryan Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Trapp says Lincoln hospital system is operating at capacity while monitoring omicron threat.
Nebraska public schools have seen some class disruptions, acting out, disrespecting teachers and refusals to do the work. But there are some improvements as the school year continues.
State officials say hospitalizations for COVID have declined from last week, but Nebraskans still need to take precautions.
Even as tax dollars increasingly subsidize small meat processors, they struggle to make a profit while bearing the expenses of getting rid of the byproducts.
The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission approves rules for casinos at the state's racetracks.
After an extended period of time with brown water, Lyons repaired its temporary, mobile filter. Terry Uding is the utilities manager for Lyons and said the amount of manganese in the town’s water has improved in the last week after mending its provisional filter.
Meatpacking giant Tyson Foods plans to spend $1.3 billion dollars over the next three years to automate parts of its processing lines. Nebraska Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert reports on agriculture’s approaching robot workforce.
Last year the Department of Corrections sent out a press release announcing the arrest of an employee accused of smuggling drugs and other contraband into the state penitentiary. A few weeks later the charges against her were dropped. Bill Kelly with Nebraska Public Media News explorrf why the case never made it to trial.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services issued the latest COVID-19 hospitalization numbers Thursday. More than 600 hospitalizations and nearly 200 intensive care COVID-19 cases currently exist in the state.
Nebraska Medicine is being forced to reallocate specialized care resources, according to chair of health security Dr. Angela Hewlett.
Federal prosecutors deny Rep. Jeff Fortenberry's defense lawyers' claim that an FBI investigator was biased.
A report by a special legislative committee says the Saint Francis Ministries contract is just the latest in a series of failed procurements.
The State of Nebraska is cancelling its controversial contract with Saint Francis Ministries for child welfare case management services.
Nebraska innovators offer advice and perspective as part of the Nebraska Public Media "What If..." series
It’s a crime to be married to more than one person in Nebraska. It’s called bigamy. Such cases are rare. It’s even more unusual to have one make it all the way to the Nebraska Supreme Court. The case was State V. Johnson.
Charlie R. Johnson had his name on two different marriage licenses naming two different wives. Charlie went all the way to the Supreme Court claiming only one was the real deal.
Nebraska’s Department of Environment and Energy is discovering more information about the damaging effects of high levels of manganese in drinking water and asks municipalities to test for the toxin. Uding said fixing that issue and the like can be problematic.
Nebraska-native track cyclist Ashton Lambie talks about winning a world championship and breaking a world record
While many Nebraska fans obsess over football and volleyball, the lesser-known women’s bowling team has racked up championship after championship. The team just keeps winning, and the bowlers hope more people will start to notice.
In a rare federal court Title IX case, the jury in the Nebraska Federal District Court unanimously found Chadron State College failed in its responsibility to support a student who was raped on its campus in 2016. The court ordered Chadron State to pay $300,000 in damages to the victim.
Morning news host Jackie Ourada spoke with Elizabeth Rembert and Bill Kelly, the Nebraska Public Media reporters who covered the case from the beginning.
The Nebraska State Education Association says school personnel are stressed and leaving because of the strains of coping wth COVID and shortages.
Lee Enterprises, a major media company based in Iowa, rejected an unsolicited buyout offer from Alden Global Capital, a hedge fund known for drastically downsizing the newspapers it owns.
The Nebraska Legislature's Exec Board voted to reinstate a room for nursing mothers, but irestrict it to legislators and their staff.
COVID-19 cases statewide are rising to levels seen just before and after the state’s biggest peak last year. According to CDC data, more than 1,000 Nebraskans test positive each day. The last time Nebraska saw a 7-day average above 1,000: late October 2020 and early January 2021.
Governor Pete Ricketts responded to comments made Sunday in a gubernatorial candidate forum over infrastructure spending and the condition of the state's roads. He says roadways and bridges will be priorities when it comes to dishing out the newly passed infrastructure package passed by Congress in November.
Union workers at cereal maker Kellogg have “overwhelmingly” rejected a tentative deal on a five-year contract. The company says they now have no choice but to hire new workers.
Two Nebraska state senators reflected on the state’s redistricting process on Tuesday at a University of Nebraska-Lincoln webinar, and they say it was the most partisan process they’ve seen in the legislature. As Will Bauer of Nebraska Public Media News reports, Senators Wendy DeBoer and Matt Williams are still happy with how it turned out.
On the 80th anniversary of the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the unidentified remains of 33 U.S. service members are being reinterred in a solemn military ceremony in Honolulu, Hawaii. It signals the wind down for a team of forensic anthropologists at Offutt Air Force Base whose work has helped positively identify more than 90-percent of the previously unknown crew who died on the U.S.S. Oklahoma.
A few hundred people packed into a Kearney conference center on Sunday to listen. What they heard was, for the most part, standard conservative answers on policy issues – ranging from rural broadband to reworking the state’s tax system.
Global Gaming Nebraska is an affiliate of the Chickasaw Nation. They expect decisions on its applications for two casinos to be handed down in approximately six months and could complete construction as soon as late 2023.
Kansas knocked off 14-seeded Creighton on Friday. Nebraska defeated Campbell and Florida State last weekend in Lincoln. Thursday night, the Huskers will face off against the Illinois Fighting Illini, which upset the seven-seed Kentucky to advance.
The University of Nebraska Lincoln's anti-racism plan was praised at a regents meeting but criticized by three regents later.
According to the health department, only one of the six people were vaccinated. The Nebraska Public Health Lab later confirmed the variant. Nebraska’s acting state epidemiologist Matt Donahue said the identification of omicron reinforces the urgency for Nebraskans to get vaccinated.
Jon Doliver is an assistant director responsible for basketball and supervisor of officials at NSAA. Last season officials were sparse, and this past fall and upcoming winter seasons haven’t been any different. Doliver said he’s concerned how schools will plan out officiating.
A fight for control of 77 newspapers, 24 of which are located in the Midwest, continued as a hedge fund known for slashing newspapers hit a speed bump in its plans to acquire Lee Enterprises Inc.
On Friday, Lee rejected a trio of nominees Alden Global Capital nominated to its board of directors, claiming the nominations are invalid due to an error Alden made in the filing process that violated the board’s by-laws.
Lee, which owns the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the Omaha World-Herald and many other daily newspapers throughout the region, is staving off a takeover attempt by Alden Global Capital, a New-York based hedge fund.
NioCorp, the company hoping to dig a Niobium mine in southeast Nebraska held its annual stockholders meeting outside Denver on Thursday, but could reveal nothing about the status of the project.
Management recently invoked a temporary news blackout, leaving investors without the type of status report provided in previous years.
The brief news release on the company’s website only noted the company had re-elected its board of directors.
For over a decade, Colorado-based NioCorp advanced proposals to extract the minerals Niobium, titanium, and scandium found below the farmland near Elk Creek, Nebraska. Manufacturers use the elements to create strong metal alloys.
Attracting billion-dollar investors to bankroll the massive project proved to be a painstaking process.
Now, more than ever, robots are making their way into people’s lives and not just in urban coastal cities like New York and California. Right here in Nebraska, there are robots that can bust tables, check inventory and more. As labor shortages continue and robots become more advanced, are we at the beginning of a robotic revolution? Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore has the story
Striking workers at cereal maker Kellogg's factories in Nebraska and other states have reached a tentative deal with the company.
As of Tuesday, 555 Nebraskans were hospitalized with COVID-19. That’s an increase of 42 from one week ago. These numbers are similar to those seen one year ago – right before the pandemic reached its peak in the state.
The difference between now and then is what else is going on in these hospitals. One year ago, elective surgeries weren’t happening and most were just focused on COVID. But, now, regular activities have resumed, and that’s strained hospitals..
Nebraska's wildfire season was both longer and more intense than usual. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said the season is not over yet.
Consultants will look at possible sites for a new Nebraska prison, while lawmakers decide how to proceed
Terry Uding works in utilities for Lyons, a town of about 800 people roughly 75 miles north of Omaha. Its tap water has recently turned a dark brown color at times. Uding said it's because of an old filtration system that needs replacing. Lyons is experiencing the pitfalls of supply chain delays and is working with a contractor to replace its filtration system.
Christmas season is here and local businesses are gearing up for the season, but supply chain issues may have affected some stores.
Two Nebraska State Senators are calling on the University of Nebraska -Lincoln’s Chancellor to resign. Nebraska Public Media’s
In a letter, the Panhandle’s Steve Erdman and Hasting’s Steve Halloran are calling for UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green’s removal after they claim he misled lawmakers and others in state government multiple times during his tenure. Most recently, they say Green misled Governor Pete Ricketts about his support for the university’s equity and diversity plan.
Omicron, a new COVID-19 variant, has been detected in South Africa and has already reached Canada. While COVID-19 cases in Nebraska are up by 12.5% over the past month, one infectious disease expert said we’ve entered a new and dangerous phase of the pandemic.
Lawyers for Rep. Jeff Fortenberry are seeking information about FBI Agent Todd Carter's alleged bias.
Nebraska offiiclals urge drivers to take it easy and use new tools for safer winter driving.
As announced Sunday evening, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln earned the number-ten overall seed for this year’s tournament.
Creighton University was awarded the number-14 seed. The Bluejays host Ole Miss in the first round and will welcome Oregon and Kansas to Omaha as well.
Headed into Thanksgiving weekend, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the climb in Nebraska. According to the state’s dashboard, COVID hospitalizations reached 513 Tuesday. That’s nearly 12% of the state’s beds. Hospitals, as a whole, remain strained but some pressure has subsided. Around 20% of both regular adult beds and ICUs are available statewide. ICUs had dropped to single digits last week.
The Executive Director of the Nebraska Commission on Latino-Americans will retire on Dec. 31, 2021 after 11 years of service.
After a drawn-out battle in federal court, a church in Walthill, Nebraska, may soon be able to build a church in the village's business district. The Light of the World Church, with the backing of the U.S. government, claimed the village board discriminated against a religious organization when it rejected its request for a change in zoning.
After the death of 16-year-old Omaha native Drake Geiger last summer during football practice, his family is fighting to have the heat-related Nebraska School Activities Association guidelines changed.
A total of 26-hundred acres have burned in Banner and Scotts Bluff counties. Numerous agencies have gathered in the Buffalo Creek Wildlife Management Area. The Banner County Fire Department and Nebraska Game and Parks continue to quench hotspots.
A simple text saying “summit” was sent as the five senators reached the highest peak in Africa. The team returned to the flat ground on Thursday Nebraska time.
Republican Senator Tom Brewer planned the climb before four others asked to tag along. Anna Wishart, Justin Wayne, Dave Murman, and Ben Hansen, two democrats and two republicans, respectively, in the officially nonpartisan legislature. It’s as diverse racially as they are in political philosophy. Brewer is Native American and a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and Senator Wayne is part African American, while the other three are white.
Brewer said the Nebraska group hiked up the mountain alongside a much more limber group of people, compared to themselves.
The House passed the reconciliation bill nearly on party lines – with just one Democrat voting against the bill. Biden’s spending package now heads to the senate.
From Iowa to Oklahoma to Kansas, universities are working more closely with agribusiness in search of ways to pay for projects where tax dollars have become more scarce. Critics worry that agriculture schools might focus more on industry than the public interest.
Last year two Native American girls in Cody, Nebraska had their hair cut at school without their parents’ permission. That action prompted a First Amendment lawsuit in which the girls’ parents said their family’s religious rights were violated.
Last year two Native American girls in Cody, Nebraska had their hair cut at school without their parents’ permission. That action prompted a First Amendment lawsuit in which the girls’ parents said their family’s religious rights were violated.
In 2013, the largest farmland asset manager in the world made a five million dollar gift to the University of Illinois to establish a research center. As part of the Big Ag U series, Harvest Public Media’s Dana Cronin reports on how the center was founded to study the very area of investment where the company has few rivals and has wandered into controversy.
Chadron State College became the first school in Nebraska to sponsor an NCAA sanctioned women's wrestling team. Chadron’s Director of Athletics, Joel Smith, did not believe the lack of competing teams was a reason to turn away this new sport. He saw it as an opportunity. Adding a new sport had the advantage of being a good business decision.
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission approved today what would be the biggest solar energy installation in Nebraska.
CDC stats show that COVID cases are up nearly 20% over the past two weeks in Nebraska. The Cornhusker State is among many northern states seeing increases. Overall, cases are up 18% nationwide
COVID hospitalizations are increasing too. Active hospitalizations increased to 477 statewide on Tuesday, which is nearly 11% of the state's beds. At the same time last week, there were 415.
Chamber of Commerce leaders from the state and nation discussed today (Wednesday) how Nebraska could benefit from the hard infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress. As Will Bauer of Nebraska Public Media News reports, those Chamber leaders believe the state could see projects during the next construction season.
Dr. Florescu said a separate study looked at the same drug and its effectiveness for outpatient care following a confirmed COVID infection. That study has good initial results and the pharmaceutical company MERCK is sending a request to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency approval. Dr. Florescu and UNMC’s study examines the pill’s use for preventative care.
It’s common these days to see big corporate names plastered across university campuses – especially within agriculture departments. Whether it’s a building, an endowed teaching job or a research center, corporations and public universities are increasingly cozy.
Reporting by Harvest Public Media and Investigate Midwest reveals just how much money has gone to Midwestern universities, and how that money can put schools in sticky situations.
Earlier this year, the University of Nebraska-Omaha named its softball complex after Connie Claussen. She remains one of the most influential people in women’s sports in Nebraska. Recently Bill Kelly with Nebraska Public Media News talked with Claussen about her role. It’s part of our special coverage of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX and its importance to athletics and academics.
UNO chancellor Joanne Li and University of Nebraska President Ted Carter made the announcement that Dowell will be the school’s next AD. To do that, he’ll leave a job down the road at Creighton, where he served as the assistant vice president and associate athletic director for the private school.
Dowell says he admires his predecessor Trev Alberts, who made the move south to Lincoln this past July.
Patty Pansing Brooks has been a state senator for the Lincoln area since 2014. She’ll be term-limited out next year and has set her sights on Washington for the First Congressional District of Nebraska where she’ll run as a Democrat. The district encompasses rural eastern Nebraska and cities such as Lincoln, Fremont, Norfolk, and Columbus. Republican Jeff Fortenberry has held the seat since 2004.
Pansing Brooks said healthcare will be an important part of her campaign.
“I want to make sure that we strengthen the Affordable Care Act,” Pansing Brooks said. “Americans shouldn’t have to be uninsured and unable to get the insurance they need...
As more drivers buy electric vehicles across the Midwest, utility companies work to establish a charging network.
President Joe Biden and CMS announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate earlier this month for all healthcare workers. The rule applies to institutions receiving
Medicare or Medicaid funding. Hospitals are expected to comply or federal financial support will be revoked. The mandate affects 17 million workers across the country.
The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission has proposed rules to govern casinos at the state's racetracks.
Despite drawing criticism from Governor Pete Ricketts, receiving hundreds of emails, and hearing public comments for the first time, the Nebraska State Colleges Board passed two policies that protect against gender identity and more, late Thursday.
Justin Nix is a professor of criminology and criminal justice at UNO and said most states analyze officer-involved shootings by only looking at fatal shootings. He explained why that’s problematic.
“You might actually be drawing conclusions based on the differences in the likelihood of mortality, than in differences in police behavior,” Nix said. “So, to get a more accurate understanding of the behavior, police shootings, we need data on all police shootings, because at the end of the day, I would hope we’d all want to minimize police shootings to the extent possible.”
Since the United States pulled military operations out of Afghanistan and the Taliban took control of the country in late August, 290 refugees have begun the process of relocating to Nebraska, and 191 migrants remain at military bases, but are prepared to depart for the Lincoln-Omaha area.
Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson joined his counterpart from Illinois in urging Congress to enact military justice reform
Meaghan Stout was 16 years old when she first learned she was being paid less than a man.
She was the head hostess at Round the Bend Steakhouse, in Ashland, Nebraska, training a younger employee. The two were bantering about some of the more frustrating parts of the job when he mentioned his pay.
"The only reason why I'm still here is because I make $11 an hour." he said, according to Stout,. She said she didn't believe it. "No you don't," she replied. "Yeah, I do," he said.
Armed with that information, Stout asked for a raise and got it.
Speaking to the owner of the restaurant, she found out that the kitchen manager had given raises to the male workers, but not to the women.
Even after getting the raise, Stout said she was mad at the kitchen manager for giving her co-worker that raise so early in his time on the job. The new employee had a fraction of her experience, but was compensated more because he was friends with the kitchen manager.
“It was kind of depressing to only be barely in high school and finding out really quickly that things like that actually happen,” Stout said.
Now 23, Stout has left that job behind, but the experience has made her more willing to ask how much people are compensated for the work that they do.
Stout’s experience is reflected in federal data, academic research and the lives of many Nebraska women. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Nebraska women make about 80 cents for every dollar a man makes.. This pay disparity, known as the wage gap, persists after decades of women fully participating in the labor force – and even 50 years after women were guaranteed equal access to education after the passage of Title IX.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt America’s relationship to work, gender differences in pay stubbornly remain.
On Veteran’s Day, Nebraskans are paying homage to all our veterans, including Mexican-Americans in the Panhandle. Three new monuments with some 600 names engraved in stone will be revealed in Scottsbluff.
A tentative agreement with the union representing Nebraska prison security personnel calls for raising base pay by 40 percent.
According to the CDC, cases are up nearly 40 percent statewide in the past two weeks. The 7-day average stands at more than 800 cases per day. Two weeks ago, about 580 Nebraskans tested positive each day.
More than 10 percent of hospital beds in the state are filled with a COVID patient. At latest check, state data shows 415 beds are occupied. Hospitalizations have hovered at or around that mark since late October.
Supporters say increase would help struggling workers; critics say other changes could help more
Nearly 50 years after Congress passed Title IX to protect students from sexual discrimination, outcries about sexual violence at the University of Nebraska Lincoln are still present. Also looming: Ten women are suing the school as part of two lawsuits. They allege the university’s Title IX office mishandled their reports of sexual misconduct.
A groundbreaking 1995 lawsuit demanding girls softball in Minden set a gender equity precedent nationally. A mother and her daughter sued in federal to include girl's softball and force improvement of facilities and treatment of girl athletes.
Health Director Dr. Linsay Huse told Douglas County Commissioners there has been an increase in new cases and hospitalizations are creeping back up, similar to the ups and downs the state has seen several times during the pandemic. Douglas County’s positivity rate has also jumped about a percentage point since last week, to 9.6%. Dr. Huse said she’s keeping an eye on other parts of the world too.
The state of Nebraska ( along with more than a dozen other states) has joined onto Tennessee lawsuit that questions whether the Biden Administration has the authority to expand Title IX protections to include transgender students and staff. I talk with the daughter of a transgender student, Governor Pete Ricketts and several lawyers to help outline the state's position, it's opposition and what's at stake for transgender students if the lawsuit were to succeed.
The evolution of Nebraska’s Volleyball team may be the most visible effect of Title IX in Nebraska. By providing more funding and access to facilities, the team grew into a national powerhouse. Two of the team’s founders – Nancy Colson and Terry Pettit – discuss what the early days of Title IX was like.
Four decades ago, a town in Kansas and a town in Colorado competed to become home to a giant meatpacking plant that, at the time, was the largest of its kind in the world. Here’s what has happened to them since.
There have been 66 drug-related cases dropped in Lancaster County because more than $1 million worth of drugs were stolen from the state patrol evidence room in Lincoln.
Anna Idigima and her boyfriend George Weaver Jr. allegedly stole and distributed drugs from a Nebraska State Patrol evidence room where Idigima was employed. Some of the drugs reportedly caused the death of nine people. A federal grand jury indicted the pair for selling schedule two controlled substances. They appeared before a federal judge pleading not guilty.
Dr. Eleanor Rogan with the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health leads a group 13 scientists and health officials from UNMC, UNL, Creighton and area health departments. The group has tested water and the air around the AltEn plant, which produced ethanol using pesticide-contaminated seed corn until it closed earlier this year. Several major leaks led to the closure, and a plan put together by seed companies to clean it up was released this week.
The Genoa Indian School in Nebraska closed in the 1930's, but the known death toll of children at the school is still growing. Nebraska Public Media's Jackie Ourada has more on the latest research into one of the country's largest Native American boarding schools and who might be buried there.
Peterson says his office will not criminally pursue any abusers because the statute of limitations has expired. Those are legal frameworks that set when a criminal action must be taken. Still, Peterson has a message to churches. “Don’t ever put the reputation of your association, your church organization, above protecting the children," he said.
Ranchers in Nebraska are rebelling against the “Big Four” meat companies by planning their own beef processing plant. They’re seeking a transformation for themselves, the industry and western Nebraska.
The chair of the Nebraska Legislature's Appropriations Committee says the state faces a choice between throwing money at the state penitentiary to rehabilitate a 150-year old facility or building a new prison somewhere else.
The 111-page remedial action plan was submitted to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy earlier this week by the AltEn Facility Response Group. It’s made up of six different seed companies who used to supply the plant with seed corn used in the ethanol production process. The plan is part of the Nebraska Voluntary Cleanup Program and does not include AltEn, which ceased operations in Mead in February. Former State Senator Al Davis is part of the Perivallon Group, an organization monitoring the clean-up of the former plant.
Hospitalizations are up 6.5% over the past two weeks, according to state data. Currently, 417 beds in Nebraska are occupied. That's just more than 10% of the state’s capacity – which may mean the state could update COVID data daily instead of weekly if hospitalizations stay above the 10% threshold.
There’s a healthcare worker shortage in Nebraska, especially in rural areas. Grand Island Public Schools hopes to solve the shortage by offering high schoolers the chance to study medicine in a hospital.
Nebraska Corrections Director Scott Frakes discussed problems and prospects for Nebraska's prison system in a north Omaha townhall meeting Tuesday.
All six classes will tip off competition at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Championship games on Saturday will be played at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, while some third place games will be hosted by Lincoln Northeast High School.
Supporters of calling a special session of the Nebraska Legislature to prohibit vaccine mandates fell short of the support needed to convene lawmakers.
Because Nebraska is so dependent on agriculture, a sector that relies on exports and imports, Ernie Goss says the supply chain problems could hurt the local economy. In all, though, the ag economy keeps growing, he says.
It’s been a season of close games and heartbreaking losses for the Huskers including games against Oklahoma, Michigan State and Michigan that could have easily been Nebraska wins. Saturday’s loss to Purdue means the Huskers will have to win the last three games of the season against Ohio State, Wisconsin and Iowa to be bowl eligible. Scott Frost says he’s not listening to talk about his future at Nebraska.
Some midwest farmers are getting involved in a research project to help determine exactly how good some practices are for the environment, specifically in reducing the amount of carbon emissions going into the atmosphere. Harvest Public Media’s Jonathan Ahl reports the goal is to have the data necessary to make good decisions, and possibly good money in the coming years.
Students are reluctant to face hearings and complaints require many personnel to handle.
New documents filed in the federal case against Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry will keep certain information restricted under a protective order.
Then, he was able to draw inspiration recently from a book called ‘The Portable Nietzsche,’ to write the song he submitted.
“The song that I submitted ‘Overman’ was one of the first that I wrote, as I read the book from which the song sort of imagery and inspiration is taken,” Siebler said.
It’ll be adding about 23,000 square-feet to its total floor area.
The Museum of Nebraska Art, or MONA for short, will be overhauling its existing space, to supplement the sizable addition.
Nicole Herden is the Executive Director at MONA and said visitors will have more options for enjoying the museum with added gardens and other lounging areas.
The mapping project, called “Place Matters 4.0”, uses health data to produce maps that illustrate how where a person lives can drastically affect their health and financial stability. This is the fourth set of maps the Community Health Endowment of Lincoln has released...the others came in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Lori Seibel is president of the organization and says the biggest takeaway this year is that poverty has a dramatic and direct impact on life expectancy in Lincoln.
Part of a proposed solar electricity generating facility near Lincoln has been approved by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission.
While some parents lost their jobs and couldn’t afford childcare during the pandemic, daycares suffered too. The state Department of Health and Human Services announced this week a $140 million-dollar stabilization grant to help child care providers in Nebraska.
While some parents lost their jobs and couldn’t afford childcare during the pandemic, daycares suffered too. The state Department of Health and Human Services announced this week a $140 million-dollar stabilization grant to help child care providers in Nebraska.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month the California-based John Wayne Cancer Foundation funded a program to increase breast cancer research and awareness in Latina women from the Omaha metro area.
The state’s second-largest public school district says it’s seen a slight uptick in coronavirus-related quarantines and has implemented several programs to help students and teachers get through them.
More than 400 students and 60 staff members at Lincoln Public Schools have been quarantined so far this week according to the district's COVID dashboard. At Tuesday’s board of education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Steve Joel said the challenges related to the pandemic have been better, but aren’t over yet.
A leading economic indicator in Nebraska predicts a nearly one-percent drop in growth over the next six months. Results from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln September survey were released this week.
Coming off a top-10 win at home on Saturday against Purdue, Nebraska volleyball hosts number-three ranked Wisconsin tonight, October 27. The Huskers will get a big test of their undefeated Big Ten record.
Nebraska and Wisconsin are first and second in the Big Ten standings, respectively.
Some parts of Nebraska are already seeing snow, but gas prices are increasing too. The state department of environment and energy says residents should be prepared to pay more for heat this winter.
Felix Ungerman is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Don Bacon and a veteran of the war in Afghanistan himself. He’s spent the past several months doing what he can to help Afghans with ties to Nebraska get out of the crumbling country. He said the biggest challenge has been helping people who don’t have documentation to prove who they are.
Nebraskans who have underlying medical conditions, work in high-risk settings, or are 65 years and older, are now eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot. Plus, children ages 5 to 11 could be eligible for the COVID vaccine by next week. One public health department is preparing to get more shots in people’s arms.
The year-long study used information from several databases that showed there were around 1.3 million cases of non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form of the disease, between 2010 and 2017. The study found while incidents of stage one lung cancer increased slightly, stage 2, 3 and 4 lung cancers were either stable or down. Dr. Apar Ganti was the first author of the study and says the survival rate of stage 4 lung cancer was around 26-percent over that period.
Even in America’s breadbasket, most children know more about TikTok than livestock. But some schools are making farm work into classwork. As Harvest Public Media’s Katie Peikes (PIKE-iss) reports, they’ve built chicken coops and sheep pens near their playgrounds in ways that seem to pay off in the classroom.
The focus groups aim to stimulate conversation about health status and barriers to healthcare for Native Americans, Hispanic people, African Americans, and people 65 and older.
Residents in the small town of Superior, Nebraska are still processing a tragic shooting Thursday afternoon that left three people dead at a grain elevator. The community in Nuckolls County is known as a peaceful, quiet place, and the murders have shocked residents.
The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce President Bryan Slone released a statement in support of businesses choosing how to implement vaccinations in their workplaces. Slone said he's against the federal government mandating vaccinations for federal workers and larger businesses. He's also against states banning mandates altogether -- an idea recently proposed by Governor Pete Ricketts.
Union Pacific, one of Nebraska's largest companies, and several of its worker unions are trading lawsuits centered on President Joe Biden's federal worker and contractor vaccination mandate. In its complaint, the railway company said it's trying to comply with the President's executive order. The union says the company didn't negotiate terms on a vaccination plan, even though there are bargaining outlines in the Railway Labor Act.
Kinkead’s ashes were recently discovered in Seattle through the ‘Missing in America Project’ where he passed away in 1916.
John Surman with the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War said it's special for his organization to be able to return Kinkead’s remains to Plattsmouth.
“I think any Veteran has a right, and I don’t care what war they were in, to have a proper burial,” Surman said. “It’s the very least that we owe them, and we actually owe them a lot more than that.”
Fortenberry has represented Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District since 2005 and has only faced Republican primary challengers twice in that span, in 2010 and 2012. University of Nebraska-Lincoln political science professor John Hibbing said his status as an established Republican in a solidly red state will help, but he likely won’t escape without some damage to his political reputation.
Earlier this week, 26 state senators, including Ben Hansen of Blair, delivered a letter to the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office, asking for a special legislative session to address mandatory vaccine requirements. Although 33 senators would have to agree to a special session, Hansen said there’s hope some could come around in the next ten days.
Tourism isn't one of the biggest money makers for the state of Nebraska, but implementing the newer market of astrotourism could change that. Author and dark sky enthusiast, Marlin, traveled to Nebraska to talk about the opportunity lying under our skies.
First District Congressman Jeff Fortenberry is indicted for allegedly lying to the FBI and trying to cover up illegal campaign contributions.
Dr. Anh Ta is an assistant professor of supply chain management at UNO and said what we’re seeing now is the result of a perfect storm; a pandemic, production shutdowns, an upcoming holiday and fewer truck drivers. We’ve heard the warnings about the availability of toys and other seasonal products, but Ta said this probably won’t last long.
Gov. Pete Ricketts says local law enforcement should handle threats against school board members.
Some of the 480 striking employees at the Omaha Kellogg's factory will return to work Tuesday. The union's president says the workers could have faced consequences for not honoring their contracts with the cereal company.
Over the last two weeks, according to the CDC, cases in Nebraska are down 13 percent. That’s a drop from an average of 650 cases per day to an average of 560 cases. Nebraska’s cases reflect a broader nationwide drop from the Delta variant.
Hospitalizations are also headed down. The Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services tallies 375 hospitalizations as of Sunday. During the peak of Delta, hospitalizations climbed to about 450. The strain on the state’s hospital system also appears to be waning. More than 31 percent of regular adult beds are available in Nebraska hospitals. Just 22 percent had been free at the beginning of the month.
The 7-day average for vaccinations also saw a slight uptick in the past couple days. About 1,800 people receive a dose each day. With booster shots being rolled out, it’s expected the number of doses given may rise just as it did in the spring.
Americans eat more than 7 and a half million pounds of chestnuts every year. Most are imported from Italy, China and Korea, Yet they could easily be grown in the Midwest. Harvest Public Media’s Jonathan Ahl reports chestnuts are a growth industry in the region, and offer an option for small-scale, low-effort and, importantly, profitable way to farm.
The state of Nebraska is offering prison security personnel big raises, with conditions, to address a staffing crisis.
Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnan is opening up about why he’s running for re-election in 2022. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore talked with him….
At the latest check, CDC stats for the state have the 7-day average of cases down 5% from the week before. As of last Friday, that was about 640 cases. Hospitalizations, too, have plateaued. According to the state, 411 Nebraskans are hospitalized with the virus. Hospital capacity statewide remains strained. Between 20-25% of hospital beds remain open because of the pandemic and regular operations. In all, nearly 68% of the population older than 12 has a vaccine. Another 5% is partially protected.
In 2019 there were about 9,500 students homeschooling in Nebraska. Last year, during the pandemic, that number zoomed up to almost 15,000. This year it’s back down to about 10,500 but that’s still the highest total on record except for last year’s.
Legislators investigating a controversial child welfare services contract heard different interpretations of who bore ultimate responsibility.
The study, being led by Pediatrician in Chief Dr. Kari Simonsen of Children’s Omaha, began in the Spring of this year. It will analyze 50 kids from around the region over two years, looking at whether they develop symptoms of an active COVID-19 infection.
Dr. Simonsen says information on effectiveness and side effects on these age groups will be continually sent to Pfizer, and preliminary results look good.
“I think that one of the most important things to remember about vaccines is there one of the safest and most effective public health interventions that we have on this planet,” she said, “maybe second only to clean water, in the number of lives that they have saved, and they work, and that’s the most important thing I think for parents to remember.”
He said UNK’s Health Sciences program is outgrowing its building.
If approved, Kristensen said UNK would offer more health sciences programs accredited by the medical center, but there are details to iron out.
“Obviously, we’re going to need some budgets and things to increase,” he said. “We’re going to need to increase our undergraduate offerings, to get students ready for this.”
Dr. Lydia Kang, an Omaha doctor and author, was co-writing a history of pandemics, “Patient Zero: A Curious History of the World’s Worst Diseases,” when COVID-19 emerged and circled the globe. She gives her first-person account of living through the pandemic.
A diverse group of Nebraska state senators plans to ascend Africa's Mt. Kilimanjaro in November
Governor Pete Ricketts was in South Texas Wednesday, a guest of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. He was part of a tour of border protection operations in an area that has been inundated with undocumented immigrants.
Ricketts was with a number of other Republican Governors, including Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, on the tour of the border area. Wearing blue jeans, boots and a blue shirt, Ricketts was seen talking to Abbott and the other governors in front of a backdrop of military Humvees and other vehicles. The group presented a ten-point proposal to end the immigration crisis, including calling up more National Guard troops to help protect the southern border.
Bill Ogg is the executive director of the state fair, and said some proposed improvements to the fair’s campus at Fonner Park in Grand Island have sorted themselves to the top.
“The improvement of the equine stabling, particularly for Fonner Park Racing,” he said. “The expansion of livestock exhibition facilities...
Testifiers presented a long list of requests to the Appropriations Committee for spending American Rescue Plan Act funds
Western Nebraskans are still struggling from wildfires, but one rancher from Banner County wants to help the community by throwing a rodeo benefit Saturday.
“The goal of the development is to provide housing for retirees and for Lincoln’s international community,” she said, “and other amenities on property that the university owns and has been underutilized for almost two decades.”
The university purchased the lot back in 2003, and has used it for staging construction crews.
Keith Mann with UNL Athletics said this year’s induction highlights tremendous athletes outside of Nebraska’s two banner sports.
“People think, maybe, first of football and volleyball when they think of great athletes at Nebraska, but if you look back in the history of Cornhusker Athletics, it’s spread across a lot of sports,” he said.
Restaurant staff in Nebraska are working more than one job, some owners are doubling as dishwashers, and restaurants are reducing hours.
The Nebraska Legislature voted final approval Thursday for redistricting maps, and Gov. Pete Ricketts signed them into law.
Earlier this week, supporters of property rights in Nebraska celebrated what they called a victory after a major energy company gave up attempts to condemn private property along a proposed pipeline route. But property rights advocates say there are more fights ahead.
When lobbying to legalize hemp in Nebraska farmers promoted it as a source of fiber in everything from rope to paper. The market for those goods hasn’t materialized, but there’s been an explosion of interest in C.B.D. products produced from hemp. It’s a challenge to produce crops with only tiny amounts of THC. Complying with that dictate is a crucial element to consider as producers start to expand the state’s fledgling hemp production business.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, some rural Nebraska communities haven’t stopped nurturing their downtowns to become places they’re proud to call home. Town leaders, business owners, and residents are flipping the script, hoping to attract newcomers and keep their youth, even in tough times.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, some rural Nebraska communities haven’t stopped nurturing their downtowns to become places they’re proud to call home. Town leaders, business owners, and residents are flipping the script, hoping to attract newcomers and keep their youth, even in tough times.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, some rural Nebraska communities haven’t stopped nurturing their downtowns to become places they’re proud to call home. Town leaders, business owners, and residents are flipping the script, hoping to attract newcomers and keep their youth, even in tough times.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, some rural Nebraska communities haven’t stopped nurturing their downtowns to become places they’re proud to call home. Town leaders, business owners, and residents are flipping the script, hoping to attract newcomers and keep their youth, even in tough times.
Congressman Don Bacon said Wednesday he’s never been angrier with a President as an adult as he is with the way the Afghanistan withdrawal was handled by the Biden Administration. The Republican from the Omaha area has been part of several days of hearings reviewing what went wrong.
A farmer in Bayard (BAY-yerd), Nebraska, near Scottsbluff, is doing something unique for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Aaron Bonderson of Nebraska Public Media News has more on a Halloween plant turned pink.
The Nebraska Legislature gave second-round approval Tuesday to redistricting bills, and senators discussed nursing mothers and gender pronouns.
COVID vaccine boosters should be available this week in Nebraska for people 65 years old and older and other higher risk residents. Now there’s some advice on whether you actually need the booster and when everyone else will be able to get them.
Blood-red sunsets in the Midwest are striking but ominous illustrations of new data: Parts of the Midwest are being exposed to more wildfire smoke from the West Coast and Canada compared to more than a decade ago. Experts say the impact of the smoke on health in the region is a concern.
Meteorological patterns — weather, air currents, fronts — sweep wildfire smoke hundreds of miles across the country. Nowhere in the Midwest is this increased exposure to wildfire smoke more pronounced than in western Nebraska.
Take the case of Scottsbluff, a city of about 15,000 in Nebraska’s panhandle. From 2016 to 2020, Scottsbluff experienced a 45% increase in days on which wildfire smoke was in the atmosphere. That’s compared to an earlier period that was analyzed, from 2009 to 2013.
A year ago in Scottsbluff the concentration of particulate matter — tiny pieces of debris suspended in the air — exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards. That was a result of smoke sweeping into western Nebraska from wildfires in Canada.
Western and central Kansas also saw meaningful increases in smoke days, according to a data analysis conducted by NPR California Newsroom and the Stanford University Environmental Change and Human Outcomes Lab.
“Although we see variability from year to year, the trend appears to be increasing impacts of smoke across Kansas over the last several years,” said Matt Lara, a spokesman with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in an email.
Lara said the effect from smoke may be mostly in the upper atmosphere, causing hazy skies and dramatic sunset. He added that sometimes, such as late July and early August this year, federal air standards for daily particulate matter are exceeded.
“Some of these impacts may not be surface based but upper atmosphere and cause hazy skies and dramatic sunsets but others, such as late July and early August this year did cause air monitoring sites to exceed the federal air quality standards for daily particulate matter.”
‘Expect this to get worse’
Health and meteorology experts say the growing presence of wildfire smoke in parts of Kansas and Nebraska could pose health risks to those who breathe it in. That concern is compounded, given the likelihood that vast and intense fires from California and surrounding areas will persist.
“All the science -- and there’s a lot of science on this -- suggests if we don’t change our game on this, people should expect this to get worse,” said Burke, who helped NPR’s California Newsroom assemble its smoke data. “It’s going to be worse in the West, but it’s certainly going to get worse in the Midwest as well as more people are exposed to smoke from fires in the West.”
The analysis relied on satellite images captured every few hours by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that showed plumes of smoke billowing into the atmosphere from western wildfires. Those images were then plotted over nearly every zip code across the continental United States to show the areas where the wildfire smoke reaches.
Smoky skies, clear effects
In California and more broadly along the West Coast, the growing frequency and intensity of wildfire pose clear air quality and health risks.
The NPR California Newsroom analysis examined data from state health facilities and found there were 30,000 more hospitalizations from cardiac and respiratory conditions in 2018, which was a record year for fires at the time.
Shawn Jacobs, the warning coordination meteorologist at the North Platte National Weather Service office, said that the climate in central and western Nebraska may play a role in how smoke is distributed in the region. The state’s climate becomes more aird west of Kearney, Nebraska, and the lack of moisture allows for greater temperature swings. More fluctuation means more movement, preventing the smoke from settling, Jacobs said. These trends are being noticed by western Nebraskans.
“So much so that there are times when people have called us and asked, ‘Is there a fire nearby?’ because we’re seeing this smoke,” Jacobs said.
Colleen Reid, an assistant professor of geography at the University of Colorado who studies the impacts of wildfire smoke, said the health effects are clear when there are high concentrations of smoke in the air.
That risk arises from tiny particles that are so small they can pass into the bloodstream from the lungs when people breathe
.
The particulate matter can lead to asthma, cardiovascular problems and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The health risks are less clear the further the smoke travels.
“In terms of the Midwest where you’re getting the smoke transmitted long distances, there needs to be more research to understand whether the long-range transport changes the way it affects health,” Reid said.
Where skies are clearer
The presence of smoke is relatively muted in areas like eastern Kansas and Nebraska, as well as Iowa and Missouri. Wide swaths of northwest Missouri had modest increases in exposure to smoke, but many areas of the state had decreases in smoke days during the two periods analyzed by the NPR California Newsroom and Stanford.
The presence of wildfire smoke does not often exceed EPA standards for air quality in the Midwest, and it has never been enough to result in a violation of the Clean Air Act. Even so, EPA officials keep an eye on wildfire smoke migrating from the west to the Midwest.
“It is something that is on our radar; it’s a concern,” said Lance Avey, an air and radiation division meteorologist for the EPA’s Region 7, which covers Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri.
Doug Norsby, air quality planner with the Mid-America Regional Council, said that while the occurrence of poor air quality days in the Kansas City region from wildfire smoke are infrequent, the presence of particulate matter from smoke is an issue that has captured the organization’s attention.
“I would say it’s a flashing warning light on our mental dashboard,” said Norsby.
The EPA is currently evaluating particulate matter from wildfire smoke and other sources to determine whether it should change its air quality standards. That review happens every five years.
Why wildfires?
Experts said two main causes have triggered the increase in wildfires along the West Coast, Canada and the Rockies. One is the tendency to extinguish small fires that, if allowed to burn, would clear acres of leaf litter and dead wood. Without those smaller fires, dry leaves and wood ignites and leads to the more intense and out-of-control fires that have plagued California and other western states in recent years.
“The Smokey The Bear campaign has been really successful,” said Marshall Burke, associate professor in Stanford University’s Department of Earth System Science. “What do we do when a fire starts? We put them out.”
Burke said California should carry out prescribed burns — also known as controlled burns — on more than 1 million acres of land in California each year.
“We’re not doing anything close to that,” Burke said.
Reduced rainfall and rising temperatures from climate change also make for stronger wildfires.
Those blood-red sunsets are a telltale sign of smoke in the air.
Eric James, a scientist with NOAA’s global systems laboratory, said large fires that pump smoke into the upper atmosphere enter the jet stream and can travel across the continental United States.
“We see this most years, this long-range transport of smoke,” James said “It has gotten more intense in the last few years from what we’ve seen.”
The Midwest has the occasional wildfire, as well as controlled burns in places like the Flint Hills in Kansas. But James said most of the wildfire smoke in the Midwest is attributed to western blazes.
“I think the majority of the impact is from these large forest fires in the Pacific coastal states, Colorado and the intermountain west,” James said.
As of last Thursday, the 7-day average of cases stood at 670. A week prior, the average was just over 800. The last few weeks, cases in Nebraska have bounced around between the 600s and 800s – and it appears cases have plateaued.
The largest COVID-19 transmission lies in mostly rural counties scattered across the state, according to the state’s dashboard. The statewide case rate stands at 435. Five counties – Box Butte, Frontier, McPherson, Valley and Wheeler – all hold case rates above 1,000.
As for hospitalizations, they saw a favorable dip last week. At the latest check, the Dept. of Health and Human Services tallied 407 occupied beds last Thursday, which is about 10.5% of the state’s capacity. A few days prior, nearly 450 beds were filled.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Friday to a map redrawing the state's congressional districts.
The Nebraska Legislature gave first-round approval Friday to a map redrawing the state's congressional districts.
The Lincoln Police Department said Friday an audit has revealed over a million dollar’s worth of illegal drugs is missing from the Nebraska State Patrol’s evidence room. A State Patrol employee and her boyfriend have been arrested in connection with fentanyl-laced cocaine that's been connected to a number of overdoses and deaths in the Lincoln area. Some of the tainted drugs are believed to be among those stolen from the evidence room.
Farming beans and peas is gaining traction in the Midwest as demand increases for the products and the conservation benefits become more clear.
On Friday, Health Director Michele Bever said in June, there were only eight new cases of COVID 19 in Adams, Clay, Nuckolls and Webster counties. Last week alone, the district saw 231 new cases with another 147 cases so far this week and a positivity rate of almost 20%. Bever said the numbers are clear when it comes to vaccination.
Dozens of workers in Nebraska’s prison system quit their jobs this year, blaming long hours and fear for their safety. Those still on the job recently told state senators the result frustrated employees, inmates ready to take advantage of lax security, and an uneasy feeling there are dangerous days ahead.
The Nebraska Legislature continued its work on redistricting Thursday, and lawmakers prepared to take a closer look at the state's child welfare contract with Saint Francis Ministries.
Class is cancelled Friday for students at Grand Island Public Schools. Dr Tawana Grover, the district’s superintendent, says the schools are facing multiple challenges right now: a shortage of staff, more sick students and teachers, and an overall sense of burnout.
Over the last year and half of the pandemic, a case of the sniffles or a sore throat has turned into full-blown panic for some who weren’t sure if they had COVID or not. Doctors say it’s understandable because things like strep, the flu, colds and allergies often have similar symptoms, so it’s hard to tell, even for them.
Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers said redistricting and next year's primary election could be delayed if senators can't reach agreement by Saturday.
Cases and hospitalizations are rising, while vaccinations have plateaued.
On Nebraska’s new COVID dashboard, the 7-day average of daily cases, as of Monday, stands at 526. That figure will likely grow as the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services counts all the tests over the next week.
There are 448 Nebraskans hospitalized with COVID. That’s more than 11% of the state’s hospital beds, and the main reason Gov. Pete Ricketts brought the dashboard back. He did so via an executive order Monday. The dashboard was absent since late June, when the previous order expired.
State health officials are highlighting Nebraska’s suicide prevention efforts as part of a month-long outreach to raise awareness about resources available.
Governor Pete Ricketts has declared September Suicide Prevention Month in Nebraska. The state has a number of resources for people struggling with suicidal thoughts and their loved ones and friends. Cheri Dawson is the Director of Behavioral Health with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
“The bigger picture [is] looking at whether or not diets changed in the mammals who were around at the time, or whether the type of locomotion they used changed,” Secord said. “In other words, were they living up in the trees? Were they living on the ground?”
The Nebraska Legislature began debate Friday on a proposal for congressional redistricting
Nebraska’s Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley recently returned from an overseas trade mission. He talks about some French companies wanting to open facilities in Nebraska to be closer to the state's corn supply and it's many benefits.
Students at the University of Nebraska College of Law talked about the U.S. Constitution to six middle schools in Lincoln today, September 17, after the annual event was cancelled due to COVID-19 last year.
Friends and family of fallen Omaha-area Marine Corporal Daegan Page paid their final respects Friday in an emotional funeral service near where he grew up. The send-off honored a young man who was killed by a suicide bomb blast in Afghanistan last month.
The Kansas Board of Tax Appeals sided with Nebraska Furniture Mart's protest of its tax bill in Wyandotte County in the latest of so-called "dark store theory" cases.
A public hearing on redistricting proposals showed a deep division over competing proposals to redraw the Second Congressional District
The Biden plan has 775 refugees from Afghanistan resettling in Nebraska, mostly in Lincoln and Omaha but in other parts of the state as well, including Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings and North Platte. Chris Tonniges is the CEO of Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska and said expanding the area where refugees can end up is going to help.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Oklahoma renew their football rivalry this Saturday, marking the 50th anniversary of ‘The Game of the Century,’ in 1971.
Superstar artist Garth Brooks attended Oklahoma State University for Track and Field, throwing javelin for the Cowboys from 1980 to 1984. Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State played each other annually at that time, when all three were in the Big Eight Conference.
Two local frontline healthcare workers share their first hand experiences of battling COVID-19 in hospitals during the pandemic.
Concerns about partisanship and a compressed timetable surfaced at a hearing of the Legislature's Redistricting Committee Wednesday.
Leta Powell Drake, known for her work in Nebraska television, theatre and the arts, passed away Wednesday morning at the age of 83. She was the host of a popular children's program and acted in many local plays. Here son, Aaron Drake, calls her "a daughter of Nebraska."
In a study by Career Cloud, which is a website that helps job seekers, the organization compiled stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and major jobs boards -- like Indeed and ZipRecruiter.
Macy Sarbacker is an editor at Career Cloud.
SARBACKER 1: “We found that, regardless of reasons for the businesses having difficulty filling these open jobs, the truth is that the picture really varies from state to state.” (0:09)
Previously, the directed health measure threshold for some indoor restrictions was 10 percent. Generally, the state has kept between 4,000 and 4,500 beds on hand during the pandemic. The state is at or close to that threshold.
For cases this week, just more than 800 Nebraskans on average test positive for the virus each day. That’s according to DHHS. That’s up a little from last week when the 7-day average was 735. Overall, though, cases are not rising as fast as they had been.
Cather’s sculpture will be on display as part of the National Statuary Hall Collections at the United States Capitol in Washington D-C.
Ashley Olson is with the National Willa Cather Center in Cather’s hometown of Red Cloud, Nebraska. She said along with Chief Standing Bear’s new statue at the Capitol, Cather’s statue is exciting for Nebraskans.
Changes proposed to Nebraska's Second Congressional District by Republicans and Democrats could change future Electoral College votes
The effort to bring Medical Marijuana to Nebraska is entering its 7th year, a fight that has had many twists and turns, but no resolution yet. Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore talked with both supporters and critics about how the process is evolving and where it goes from here
Douglas County’s Health Director reported Tuesday that COVID case numbers are looking better, but warned against thinking the pandemic battle is over just yet.
Health Director Lindsay Huse told Douglas County Commissioners case numbers are slowly dropping in after the recent delta variant surge. She said there are fewer pediatric COVID cases and hospital capacity has stayed fairly stable over the past few weeks. But she said vaccinations have slowed.
The Nebraska Legislature began its special session on redistricting Monday, with one senator introducing a bill designed to preserve rural representation.
A handful of GOP leaders who could seek a presidential run in 2024 join forces at Nebraska governor's steak fry
A Marine from Omaha, who was killed in Afghanistan two weeks ago returned home Friday. Corporal Daegan Page, who grew up in the Millard area, arrived at Eppley Airfield on a military flight and was taken by police escort to a funeral home in Millard.
A Marine from Omaha, who was killed in Afghanistan two weeks ago returned home Friday. Corporal Daegan Page, who grew up in the Millard area, arrived at Eppley Airfield on a military flight and was taken by police escort to a funeral home in Millard.
One of the families receiving a flag will be the family of Jessica Jackson-Barnett, who passed away in 2014 shortly after her time in Afghanistan. Jackson was assigned to disable enemy explosives, and she completed hundreds of missions, disarming thousands of bombs.
The 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks will be a difficult day for many. This month, an exhibit at the Quilt Museum hopes to show how memorializing a loss through art can be cathartic as well as heart-breaking.
In 2015, The Quilt Museum became the home for the United in Memory 9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt. Nine of the quilts will be on display, along with other quilts created as a way to cope with monumental loss.
The exhibit, Trying to Make Sense of It: 9/11, Loss, and Memorial Quilts, remains on display through October 16.
The curator, Jonathan Gregory, explained, "quilts have been used uniquely throughout the generations and right up to today to acknowledge those losses, to try to establish some sort of a memory and to help us make sense of it."
A Staplehurst, Nebraska man is in custody after security software used by East Butler County high school flagged a sexually explicit email sent to one of its students. The message triggered an investigation that led to the arrest of 35-year-old Matthew French. He is accused of soliciting pornographic photos of a teenaged boy.
In Court Thursday morning, the County Attorney brought three felony charges against French, including sex trafficking of a minor, child abuse, and attempted creation of sexually explicit conduct involving children. The County Court Judge set Bail at 500 Thousand Dollars.
According to a statement released by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, in May, the Superintendent of the East Butler Public Schools called “in regards to a sexually explicit email offering money for explicit photos” of a 16-year-old student. Security software used by the school intercepted the email, which included a sexually graphic questionnaire.
Jim Conrad served as the Chief of Intelligence at the National Airborne Operation Center at US Strategic Command on 9/11. He reflects on the lessons learned from 9/11 and how the attacks changed crisis preparations.
The Nebraska Legislature's Redistricting Committee will hold public hearings next week on competing proposals for redrawing congressional and legislative lines.
The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners hopes a 200-dollar bonus will help convince employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. County commissioners voted unanimously earlier this week to approve the vaccine incentive.
The City of Lincoln recently swore in their new police chief. Teresa Ewins (Ter-EE-Sah YOU-ins) joins the Lincoln Police Department after spending 26 years as part of the San Francisco Police Department. Nebraska Public Media News’s William Padmore spoke with Ewins about her policing strategy, the challenges of labels, and more
Dr. Mark Kyriss, US Strategic Command Chief of Defense Policy, reflects on 9/11 and lessons learned from the September attacks
Republican and Democratic members of the Nebraska Legislature's redistricting committees unveiled competing proposals on how to redraw congressional and legislative district boundaries.
With the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks coming up. Nebraska Public Media News reporter William Padmore spoke with members of Nebraska’s Islamic community about what it was like growing up in the “9/11 era” of American history. Norhan Basma is a 22-year-old first-generation American and her father, Hesham is 56 and originally from Cairo, Egypt
The 7-day average for cases dropped from more than 800 cases per day last week to just under 700 cases early this week. This does not mean cases are headed down for good, and they very well could climb again. As of now, however, CDC stats look promising.
Data from the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services shows another 5-thousand cases this past week. That’s a little more than what the CDC has, but roughly shows a similar trend in cases.
As Nebraska and most other states continue to fight off the delta variant of COVID-19, they’re also shifting their attention to a new threat, known as the Mu variant, which hasn’t officially made it to Nebraska yet.
Dr. Mark Rupp is the chief of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Division of Infectious Diseases and says the variant is making inroads.
Immigrants, refugees, and asylees are sometimes thought to be very resilient people. And they are.. they’ve overcome abuse, trauma, and tragedy in their lives, but they still need help processing the trauma. The Center for Legal Immigration Assistance in Lincoln helps immigrants who are victims of crime apply for visas, and heal their mental health wounds.
The Nebraska Legislature's Redistricting Committee began discussing maps Tuesday, without reaching the subject of congressional and legislative districts
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us became more familiar with epidemiology and the researchers who try to track and prevent virus outbreaks. We've heard of uses like contact tracing, but that's more after the fact of spreading the virus. A newer method involves looking underground. When a person is COVID-positive, they can shed the virus through their stool. A new key to tracking and possibly predicting COVID-19 case outbreaks may lie in our sewer systems.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green spoke with the school’s student body government earlier this week, after reported sexual assaults on campus last week.
Patrick Baker is the external vice president for UNL’s student government and said the university is looking into adding two sexual assault victim advocates.
Baker said the university is working on turning the Neihardt Residential Hall into more offices, specifically for the Women's Center and victim advocates.
The Nebraska State Board of Education voted Friday to postpone further development of controversial health education standards.
The team will investigate cases where an officer uses force and ‘serious bodily injury or death’ occurs. Members of the Sarpy County Attorney’s Office, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department, and the Papillion, Bellevue, and La Vista Police Departments make up the unit.
Governor Pete Ricketts said kids are at no more risk from COVID-19 than they are from the flu and shouldn’t be required to mask up for protection in schools. Local children’s doctor says otherwise.
The Legislature's redistricting committee will begin discussing redistricting maps next week, amid questions about whether those discussions should take place in public.
Plans are afoot to capture carbon dioxide from Nebraska ethanol plants and ship it out of state via pipeline for storage
Plans are afoot to capture carbon dioxide from Nebraska ethanol plants and ship it out of state via pipeline for storage
Board members with the Nebraska Department of Education are expected to vote Friday on whether to postpone any decision on proposed health education standards. A “yes” vote could shelve the standards indefinitely.
Nebraska is restarting a hospital transfer center, and Ricketts doubles down against school mask mandates
Scatter Joy Acres is heading to Louisiana this week to help rescue animals from struggling shelters following Hurricane Ida.
More than 5-thousand people tested positive for the virus last week. That means the 7-day average for cases stands at over 700 per day. According to the CDC, cases are up nearly 28 percent from last week.
There were 342 active hospitalizations at the end of August. Depending on how many beds the state has, that could be between eight or nine percent of the hospital beds. If the number were to rise above 10 percent, that may trigger indoor restrictions statewide. At the peak, there were nearly 1-thousand beds occupied last November.
According to the weekly report, another 16 Nebraskans died due to COVID last week.
An organization that helps resettle refugees from other countries says it expects upwards of 100 families to arrive in Nebraska from Afghanistan, some of them as soon as this week.
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska assists refugees with immediate necessities, like food and clothing, but also with more long-term housing and employment needs. President and CEO Chris Tonniges said the arrivals of refugees from Afghanistan could happen fairly quickly.
Nebraska Task Force 1 helped assist in more than 100 rescues Monday after Hurricane Ida scattered hurricane damage across Louisiana.
Prisoners are sometimes thought of as throwaways in society who could re-offend when they’re released. But one program based in Lincoln and Omaha doesn’t believe that. The Community Justice Center recently celebrated 20 years of helping over 11,000 prisoners and probationers in Nebraska work to repair the harm they’ve caused.
The Legislature's redistricting committee discusses the reliabilty of census counts in rural areas.
The deadline for the U.S military’s complete withdrawal from Afghanistan is tomorrow (Tuesday). As the last troops, American citizens, and refugees leave the country, Nebraska Public Media News’s State Senator Tom Brewer about the situation. Brewer spent 36 years in the military, including 6 tours in Afghanistan….
A private university and a community college in Nebraska are partnering to create a new program called ‘Cannabis Studies.’
The new major at Little Priest Tribal College (or LPTC) in Winnebago incorporates classes already taught at Doane University in Crete.
Dr. Lorie Broberg is the director of cannabis studies at the community college and says two classes are offered this semester.
Tuma urges preparation for intensifying natural disasters as climate change increases the frequency and severity of weather incidents. He also reflects on what he's learned in 40 years of law enforcement and emergency management.
Requirements for health care professionals will be waived; restrictions on gatherings could be reimposed if hospitalizations continue to rise
A community blood drive is underway to honor fallen Lincoln Police Officer Mario Herrera in Lincoln. Investigator Herrera was shot one year ago this week and lived until September 7. A year later, Lincoln Police Department and Fire and Rescue are holding a blood drive during the same period, called ‘12 Days of Hope.’
A new, peer-reviewed and vetted study by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center confirms the coronavirus can be spread through tiny airborne particles, not just larger droplets from coughing and sneezing.
The study is published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology and used data from people who had been quarantined aboard a cruise ship last year. Dr. Josh Santarpia is the research director of the University of Nebraska’s National Strategic Research Institute. He said follow-up research helped determine what size of particle could transmit SARS-coV-2 virus.
A suicide bomber reportedly killed civilians and injured U.S servicemen outside the Kabul (Kah-bull)l airport in Afghanistan today (Thursday). As the August 31st. deadline for a withdrawal of US troops approaches, the situation in the country seems to be becoming more desperate every day. I talked to Congressman Don Bacon about the ongoing evacuation, how the effectiveness of nation-building, and whether the US will ever recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
In Arnold, there is only one reliable internet provider – but even then, it’s sometimes not good enough. For Carson, the issue is not just one of comfort but of trying to grow her small town.
CHERYL 3: “Those kinds of jobs that you could get working from home, while the kids are at school, that could be a really important thing for some families to be able to do stuff like just as if you were in a larger community.” (0:10)
NUTGRAF: If you ask, you quickly learn that broadband is not just a nice thing to have but, rather, a necessity in today’s way of life – even in the most remote parts of the state. It’s places and towns like these in rural Nebraska that could stand to gain the most from reliable internet and programs that make that happen.
Expanding high speed internet access in Nebraska is not a new subject.
STUBBENDIECK 4: “Ok, Governor Ricketts, my first question is why is broadband or high speed internet so important to the state of Nebraska in your opinion?” (0:06)
RICKETTS 5: “Well, one of the key things for us with regard to broadband is that it really facilitates many of the things that we take for granted in more of our urban areas.” (0:12)
Earlier this month, AARP Nebraska hosted a tele-town hall with Gov. Ricketts to talk about broadband. AARP polling found that nearly 80 percent of Nebraska voters 50 and older believe elected officials should work to make high speed internet available to the entire state.
Hundreds of people gathered outside a University of Nebraska-Lincoln fraternity on Tuesday night to protest an alleged sexual assault early that morning.
A sexual assault reportedly occurred at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house, also called FIJI, early Tuesday morning.
Driven by the Delta variant, COVID-19 trends are rising at an alarming rate statewide. Will Bauer of Nebraska Public Media News has more on this week’s data update from the Department of Health and Human Services.
On the other hand, the percent of positive tests dropped 1.5 percent this week. About 7 percent of tests taken came back positive this past week.
Hospitalizations increased to 314 beds in Nebraska. That’s just more than 7 percent of the state’s hospital beds. However, hospitals in Lincoln and Omaha have said they are close to capacity because of regular procedures. If the previous DHM was in place, 10% would trigger restrictions. Currently, no DHM is in place.
The 2021 Nebraska State Fair is so close you can almost smell the funnel cakes cooking.
Nebraska Public Media sat down with Fair Executive Director Bill Ogg at his office in Grand Island to talk about expectations for this year’s fair, how the pandemic will affect proceedings, and how the organization is moving forward after the former finance director was accused of stealing around $150,000 in funds.
Nurses at Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln say their mentally and physically exhausted as they treat the newest wave of COVID-19 patients.
Most of the nearly 70 COVID patients at Bryan Medical Center are unvaccinated and nurse Katherine Wolverton said Tuesday it’s difficult to deal with some who still deny they have COVID even while on ventilators. For some, she said, no level of reasoning is effective.
An ongoing staffing shortage at Nebraska state parks is forcing the Game and Parks Commission to close facilities at the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park temporarily.
Late last year Congress passed a second relief bill to help students catch up from pandemic learning losses in schools all across the country. Lincoln Public Schools is deciding what they’ll do with their $63 million dollars in funds for next school year.
Sharon Brodkey, with Lutheran Family Services, talks about preparations underway to welcome and resettle refugees fleeing Afghanistan.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green says there's a low rate of infections as classes set to begin; pandemic has created confusion for many, including athletic departments
Staff members at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Afghanistan Studies are working with the U.S. State Department to facilitate the evacuation of Center employees based in Kabul as the situation there continues to be concerning for citizens with American ties.
This stems back to more than a century ago, when the Nebraska Legislature drafted the Honest Election Law of 1913. In the legislation, the state's governor is allowed to appoint an election commissioner for counties that have populations higher than 100,000. That only includes Lancaster, Douglas and Sarpy counties. All other Nebraska counties vote for their respective election commissioners. Fast forward to today, the Nebraska Supreme Court said that should remain for now.
Repairs will begin soon on the gold-tiled Nebraska Capitol dome and other parts of the iconic building
Repairs will begin soon on the gold-tiled Nebraska Capitol dome and other parts of the iconic building
Last year, drug overdoses in Lincoln increased by more than 70 percent, compared to a five-year average. Already, more people have overdosed this year compared to last.
Pat Lopez is Director of the Lincoln-Lancaster Health Department and says her department is issuing a health alert because of the recent spike in overdoses.
Lucas Peterson lives in Lincoln. He’s a supervisor for the food and beverage department at Pinnacle Bank Arena. It’s a job that puts him in contact with people across the state. Lately, he’s been working concerts there and doing so at a greater risk than most people.
PETERSON 1: “In the beginning of the pandemic, I was calling my doctor pretty much every day at that point.” (0:06)
Peterson did that because he’s immunocompromised with an undetectable HIV status. He checks COVID trends regularly – through the county health department website and what’s in the Lincoln Journal Star.
As the Delta Variant has caused a new spike, he can’t check trends across the state anymore. That’s because the state removed its COVID dashboard at the end of June. In Lancaster county, where Peterson lives, there are local numbers released each week, but they’re an exception.
Other local health departments across Nebraska can only share county data for those with more than 20,000 people. That’s only 17 of the state’s 93 counties. But there’s some questions surrounding the state’s legal justification for withholding that information.
For Peterson, these decisions have consequences working at the Pinnacle Bank Arena. The venue hosts concerts, high school sports and graduations. Peterson says many guests come from across the state to these events. That worries him.
'Absolutely the right call': One UNL professor says he, other staff members feel relief in ability to require masks in classrooms ahead of fall semester
As the situation in Afghanistan continues to unfold, two Gold Star families with Nebraska connections say the exit from the country could have been handled a lot better.
Robert Allgaier’s brother Christopher was killed while piloting an Army helicopter that was shot down by the Taliban in the dangerous Helmand Province in 2007. They both grew-up in Omaha and he said what has unfolded over the past several weeks in Afghanistan is hard to watch.
The total death count in the state now stands at 2,302. It had been a while since Nebraska’s DHHS added more than a few deaths in a week.
The state also released “breakthrough” data for 2021. The results are as expected: Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are far greater among those not fully vaccinated. For example, there have been 17 deaths of fully vaccinated people in Nebraska this year – compared to 729 deaths from those not vaccinated.
Hospitalizations saw a big spike this week. 277 Nebraskans are now in a hospital bed, which is 60 more than last week. This puts the state where it was in early February – before vaccines were widely available
UNL’s new AD said the athletic department learned from the Garth Brooks concert over the weekend, but said it didn’t necessarily have to do with the future sale of alcohol inside Memorial Stadium for Husker game. Alberts said his department is close to selling out football tickets at Memorial Stadium.
The 2020 Presidential Elections may be over, but there’s still concerns about the voting results, like the GOP-led review of the 2020 general election in Arizona’s largest county. Cyber Ninjas, a Florida-based cybersecurity company, is preparing its findings soon. But one of the largest voter technology manufacturers in the country said the elections were the most secure in history -- and they’re a Nebraska based company in Omaha.
The lightning-fast fall of Afghanistan back to Taliban control that culminated with the fall of Kabul (KAH-bull) over the weekend has come as a shock to Nebraskans who have spent time there. As Jack Williams of Nebraska Public Media News reports, the future of the country is murky and there are questions about how the U.S. let it happen.
Clean-up continues after the huge Garth Brooks concert at Memorial Stadium over the weekend. Matt Davidson is an Associate Athletic Director for UNL and former Husker football player. He said there was no major damage to the stadium following the concert but there was more trash to cleanup compared to a typical football Saturday.
Nearly a quarter of Nebraskans are people of color, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census.
In 2010, 82 percent of Nebraskans identified as White, and in 2020 that number drops to 76 percent. Much of the growth comes from the Hispanic population, as well as people who say they belong to more than one racial group.
The changes are due to a number of factors including an aging white population, immigration trends over the past decade as well as cultural changes to how people define their own race.
Kansas and Iowa saw similar trends with growth among the Hispanic and Black categories. On the whole, Nebraska’s racial makeup is fairly similar to Kansas.
Across the Great Plains and the Midwest, people are leaving -- or possibly dying -- in rural areas; as most of the population growth is found in urban centers.
Nebraska now has a new least populous county -- it’s McPherson with just 399 people. In 2010 Arthur County had that distinction with just 434 people. Missouri also had two counties that lost more than 20 percent of their population in this census -- Oregon and Ripley in the Ozarks along the Arkansas border.
The only counties in our region with double-digit growth are urban ones. Dallas County, Iowa -- part of the Des Moines metro area -- grew by more than 50 percent; outclassing Sarpy County’s growth of just 20 percent.
Greg Bay lost his four-year old son, Tyler, to a rare form of brain cancer in 1999. Now, Bay works for Bristol-Myers Squibb, which leads a biking fundraiser called ‘Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer,’ which benefits the ‘V Foundation.’
In late July, Bruce Rasmussen announced he would retire as Creighton University’s Athletic Director after 27 years. He’s worked for the university in various roles prior to his stint as the athletic director and spent 41 total years working for the school. Today is his final day on the job.
Garth talked with the Nebraska media a couple of hours ago about playing in Lincoln, country music fans in this state, and what those fans can expect to see Saturday night.
The United States is becoming a much more diverse nation, as many more Americans are identifying as “some other race” than in years prior.
The 2020 Census used two questions to collect data on race. One for Hispanic or Latino origin, and another for race. The White population remains the largest group in the U.S., but the white alone population has decreased by 8 point 6 percent since 2010. That’s as the Latino population grew by 23 percent
The two-or-more category has changed significantly, growing from 9 million people to 33.8.
This might be because of the way the race question was asked, as well as changing attitudes to how people self-identify.
As a state, Nebraska grew by a little more than 7 percent, with most of that growth in urban counties. Only Nebraka’s three most populous counties saw population growth in the double-digits: Sarpy, Douglas and Lancaster. Only 24 of the state’s 93 counties grew at all, those counties tended to follow Interstate 80 or in Eastern Nebraska.
For the Omaha metro area -- which includes counties in both Nebraska and Iowa -- a milestone may be reached. Here’s David DROOZ-d, research coordinator at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research:
DROZD: “We will be expecting to hit the million mark in 2024. Which is quite a threshold there are a lot of employers who will only look at metros with a million population when theyr’e looking to put an office or a plant in a particular area” (19s)
Urban growth and rural declines were a theme nationwide.
The 2020 Census was plagued by problems caused by both politics and the pandemic. Former President Donald Trump stalled some policy changes that would have improved some racial and ethnic categories, and his attempt to add a citizenship question was feared to have caused a chilling effect among some minorities.
The pandemic delayed the usual doorknocking process of the census, as well as created a series of delays that will complicate state legislatures redistricting plans.
We won’t know exactly how off the counts were until sometime next year, but historically the Census has struggled to count minorities.
Now that the Senate has passed a $1.2 trillion r infrastructure bill, it will soon be up to the House to weigh-in on the measure. Republican Congressman Don Bacon has mixed feelings about the bill, which would help fix hard infrastructure things like roads and bridges and would also improve broadband internet coverage and public transit. Bacon said there’s probably more good than bad in the bill.
The 37th annual Cornhusker State Games have come and gone, but what some may not have noticed little noticed was the inclusion of esports for the first time in the games’ history. William Padmore with Nebraska Public Media News attended the esports event last month and reflects on how the industry is growing in the state..
The 37th annual Cornhusker State Games have come and gone, but what some may not have noticed little noticed was the inclusion of esports for the first time in the games’ history. William Padmore with Nebraska Public Media News attended the esports event last month and reflects on how the industry is growing in the state..
About 350 people tested positive for the virus each day statewide this last week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those case numbers are similar to those seen in mid-to-early February.
In a weekly update, the state said Nebraska added roughly 2,600 cases over the same time period. Delta, for the second week in a row, has been the only variant detected by the state Department of Health and Human Services.
A unique memorial ceremony was held at the Lincoln Police Station Tuesday morning to honor fallen Investigator Mario Herrera who passed away on September 7, 2020.
“End of Watch Ride to Remember” is the name of a motorcycle tour put together by an organization called “Beyond the Call of Duty.” This is the second year of the tour.
Jagrut Shah is the founder of the organization and he says they will visit 194 police departments across the country to honor officers who died in 2020.
With only a few weeks until the United States military’s speedy withdrawal from Afghanistan is complete, Taliban forces continue to steadily reclaim territory across the country. A number of Nebraskans with deep ties to the country are taking those gains personally. There are mixed feelings about just how effective the past two decades have been in Afghanistan and what the future holds for the country.
Just four months after Nebraska lost in the regional final of the NCCA Women’s Volleyball tournament in Omaha, the Huskers are back on the court getting ready for the start of a new season in three weeks.
It’s been a long time since the Huskers played in front of a crowd at the DeVaney Center, but they’ll get that chance August 21st in the Red and White scrimmage. Practice for the new season started this week and coach John Cook said he expects this to be the Big 10’s best season ever.
More Nebraska school districts are considering their mask requirements heading into the upcoming school year, including the largest public school system in the state.
The Nebraska State Patrol has purchased18 high-tech drones to help analyze car crashes faster. The drones are officially ready to help serve the public.
Finding hundreds of unmarked graves at indigenous schools in Canada has sparked an investigation into similar schools in the U.S., including one in Genoa, Nebraska
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) recently hired a Senior Associate Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Lawrence Chatters. Nebraska Public Media News spoke with Dr. Chatters about diversity and its relation to UNL athletics and college athletics as a whole.
The months-long investigation for the radio program includes a comprehensive look at the history of an ethanol plant in Mead, Neb. It begins with a company’s promise for innovation and continues with the story of an environmental disaster that could have long-term implications. The hour-long Nebraska Public Media News documentary also uncovers new information regarding what state officials knew about the process AltEn was using for ethanol production.
A new data dashboard from Facebook reveals the trends of how small businesses posted during the pandemic, a new measure of how they communicated since March 2020.
Douglas County’s new health director says she’s recommending local school districts require masks for the upcoming semester as COVID cases continue to rise in Nebraska.
Lindsay Huse says much like the rest of the country, case rates in Douglas County are going up, now at about 90 new COVID cases a day. She told Douglas County Commissioners this week the most concerning part of the data is a sharp increase in cases in residents 19 years old and younger. Those numbers have tripled over the past few weeks, with the highest concentration in kids between five and nine years old who can’t be vaccinated yet.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID cases in Nebraska are up 35% this week. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says the state added roughly 2,000 cases in that timeframe. The weekly DHHS data update also shows something public health experts have known: the delta variant accounts for the majority of all cases.
Hospitalizations are up this week as well. 158 Nebraskans are hospitalized because of the virus. That’s an increase of more than 30 beds from the previous week.
An investigative radio documentary produced by Nebraska Public Media News reveals how residents of one community are putting up a big fight to save their tiny village from pollution. “The Smell of Money: Mead, Nebraska’s Fight for Its Future” airs on radio at 7 p.m. CT, Wednesday, Aug. 4 and 9 a.m. CT, Friday, Aug. 6.
With the federal pandemic moratorium on evictions expiring at the end of July, a Nebraska nonprofit group warns there will likely be an increase in evictions throughout August.
A historic hospital in Walthill, Nebraska is being restored. The facility was built by a local Northeast Nebraska doctor in 1912.
Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte became the first Native American female physician in the nation in 1889. ‘Dr. Susan,’ as she was affectionately referred to, raised money with help from a local church to build the ‘Picotte Center’ hospital, making it the first built on a reservation without federal funding.
With the rise of the Delta variant, there’s now a renewed focus on tracking county-level transmission. The CDC has four classifications for community transmission – from low, moderate, substantial and high. Those counties with substantial or high should, under new CDC guidelines, wear masks in some indoor places.
A private institution in Nebraska will be requiring students to get vaccinated before the fall semester or soon after. Doane College isn't requiring staff to be vaccinated, stating 82 percent of them already have been vaccinated.
A private institution in Nebraska will be requiring students to get vaccinated before the fall semester or soon after. Doane College isn't requiring staff to be vaccinated, stating 82 percent of them already have been vaccinated.
Yazidi refugees in Nebraska face language barriers, social stigma, and economic hardships, but the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issues. Local groups and researchers are trying to help alleviate the barriers.
Officials at Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln say they’re frustrated by a resurgence of coronavirus in the Lincoln area and have had to re-open their COVID treatment department.
Bryan Medical Center is currently treating 25 COVID-positive patients and an additional seven patients who are in need of critical care but are no longer COVID positive. CEO John Woodrich says things have changed over the past few weeks.
In March of last year, millions of students packed up their bags and returned home from their college towns. Yet, school was expected to continue. Auditorium lectures were replaced with Zoom lectures, and classmates were replaced with family pets and younger siblings. Lauren Dietrich with Nebraska Public Media News reports on the past and future of remote learning at Nebraska colleges with the fall semester less than a month away.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center has a new endowed professor and director for its American Indian Health Department in its College of Public Health. Jackie Ourada, with Nebraska Public Media News, spoke with Dr. Siobhan Wescott, who hopes to address Native American health and healing in her new role.
The heat index is expected to reach more than one-hundred degrees for most of this week in Nebraska. Heat-related illnesses should be a concern, especially for children and seniors.
The Department of Education wants a second draft of the standards, which have generated controversy over their sex education components, to be made public in the first part of August
COVID-19 cases are trending in the wrong direction, and Nebraska infectious disease experts point to the Delta variant as the lead suspect in the state. Will Bauer of Nebraska Public Media News reports.
The pandemic had reached all-time lows just over one month ago. Cases stood in the high 20s, but now the Delta variant has come on strongly in the state. COVID cases are up 42% in the past week. From over one month ago, cases are up 440%. Dr. Angela Hewlett is the Medical Director of the Nebraska Biocontainment
Event organizers at the Lancaster Event Center say this week's National High Schools Finals Rodeo will bring in $16 million dollars of much-needed economic impact. Jackie Ourada, with Nebraska Public Media News, squeezed into some Lincoln's stores that are juggling an influx of rodeo customers.
In late June, Gov. Pete Ricketts announced the deployment of 25 troopers to Del Rio, Texas at the request of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who declared an emergency at the border. Thursday, State Patrol Superintendent John Bolduc said the troopers were returning home. Bolduc said they’d assisted in more than 500 vehicle stops and 25 vehicle inspections that resulted in several arrests for drugs and weapons. They also helped in more than 15 arrests for human smuggling and for sexual offenses against minors, and helped turn over 1,600 migrants to Customs and Border Protection. Capt. Jason Scott, who led the deployment, talked about finding migrants wandering around in the brush country without food or water. Scott said most seemed to feel like they were being rescued.
In the past 20 years, the US tracked a significant jump in tick-borne disease, including Lyme disease, in the Northeast and Midwest. Jackie Ourada, with Nebraska Public Media News, spoke with one University of Nebraska-Lincoln student, who's trying to see that number decrease.
Five rodeo competitors comment on how they believe rodeo is different from other sports. One person says it's because of how friendly everyone is, while others point to taking care of animals as being far different than other sports.
Eight University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletes will represent their respective countries in the Olympic Games in Tokyo beginning Friday.
Advances in computer technology make it easier than ever to redistrict for partisan advantage, but also makes it easier for courts to detect that
Bryan Hospital's Chief Medical Officer says the majority of hospitalized patients are not vaccinated against COVID-19. Dr. John Trapp says the delta variant is the predominant strain making Nebraskans sick. Jackie Ourada, with Nebraska Public Media News, sat down with CMO Dr. John Trapp, who has growing concerns as COVID-19 cases increase.
Athletes from Mexico and Canada traveled to Lincoln over the last couple weeks to compete in the National High School Finals Rodeo. Most of Team Mexico’s competitors drove about 20 hours north. Some of them flew and so did a member of Team Saskatchewan, Canada. It costs a lot of money to bring a horse along international travel.
Navy 1st class sailor Louis Tushla died aboard the U.S.S. Oklahoma during the 1941 Japanese Pearl Harbor attack. Late last week, he returned home to Atkinson with a State Patrol and American legion motorcycle escort from Offutt Air Force Base.
Tushla’s remains were unidentified until last September when scientists at Offutt’s Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency lab helped confirm his identity with DNA testing and forensic anthropological analysis.
The Racing and Gaming Commision heard proposals for new racetracks, which could include casinos, in Bellevue, York, Norfolk, North Platte and Gering
Over 1,600 cowboys and cowgirls from 44 states and provinces, including Canada and Mexico will be a part of the competition. Nebraska Public Media News has a preview of what it takes to hold an event this large.
A couple athletes said they were excited and thankful for the opportunity to meet new people. The High School Finals Rodeo starts on Sunday and ends on July 24. Athletes from 44 states, Mexico and Canada are a part of the events next week.
An online petition created by a Nebraska educator is racking up millions of signatures online. Travis Washington is calling for a 15-year sentencing minimum for law enforcement officers who shoot unarmed civilians.
His idea for the ‘Hands Up Act’ sprouted before 2018, but it was in December of that year when he officially drafted his online proposal through Change.org.
More than 2.7 million people have signed the ‘Hands Up Act’ petition so far, making it one of the most-signed petitions on the online platform.
Thursday we learned more than we had known for the last two weeks because the state Department of Health and Human Services is again releasing Covid data.
In the past 15 days, there have been more than 1,000 new Covid cases, which means about 75 people, on average, tested positive for the virus each day. That’s quite a bit more than late June. At the time, there were around 40 positive tests each day.
He was a very successful Nebraska Linebacker from the early 90s, and – like you said – UNO’s AD for another few days. Among other things, he since played in the NFL for a few years and then began a career in sports broadcasting – and even hosted a few Nebraska football TV documentaries for this network. He became UNO’s AD in 2009. In 2011, he made choices to cut UNO’s football and wrestling programs to make UNO a Division I school in other sports. Many were not happy with those decisions. Now, he’s UNL’s 14th AD, and he’s excited about it – even showing a little emotion earlier Wednesday.
Alberts 1: “I love this place…Sorry about that. I didn’t know that was going to happen. I love the University of Nebraska. And I learned so much as a young man.”
Trev Alberts, a former Husker football player, will be the new athletic director at his former school. He becomes the 14th athletic director at the university. He spoke about being unified as an athletic department and building trust with players and coaches.
Town formerly known for beer sales could see housing for people recovering from alcohol addiction
Officials at Bryan Health in Lincoln say hospitalized cases of COVID-19 have more than doubled since the start of July and they’re concerned about a new spike.
Hospitalized cases of COVID-19 earlier this month were in the higher single digits at Bryan Health. As of Tuesday, there are 20 cases, with four of the patients on ventilators. Although the uptick is nowhere near the numbers even earlier this year, Bryan’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Trapp said it’s something to keep an eye on.
State Departments of Transportation are supposed to produce or update a railroad document every four or five years. It’s called a state rail plan. Nebraska’s plan is the oldest in the country, and rail advocates say that has consequences.
Nebraska’s rail plan was last updated in 2003. New York last updated its rail plan in 2009 and Montana in 2010. All other states have produced a rail plan within the last 10 years. A rail plan is a document that will lay out a state’s vision for rail development and projects, while also summarizing facts and details about railroads in the state.
A new report on how much was spent on lobbying efforts last year at the Nebraska State Capitol shows a reduction because of the pandemic, but higher compensation for some lobbyists.
Omaha and Lincoln received high winds. Other parts of the state had large amounts of rain. Power outages and wind speeds broke records in Omaha. Property damage and road blockages are keeping public workers busy.
Eight days after canceling the state Covid-19 dashboard, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says it hopes to resume publishing some pandemic data next week. Will Bauer of Nebraska Public Media News has more. A DHHS spokesperson says the agency will hopefully publish brief snapshots and trends of Covid data sometime next week. DHHS had been doing so far more extensively on its dashboard since last spring. But that ended last week when Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts also ended the State of Emergency declaration.
The emergency declaration suspended some normal rules during the brunt of the pandemic. Publishing Covid data was one of them. DHHS said last week the data would be available via a public records request. However, all media requests for the data was denied
Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers anticipates special session on redistricting to run from Sept. 13 'til near the end of the month
Despite the AltEn plant shut down earlier this year, Mead residents continue to be impacted by contaminated seed corn used in the ethanol plant, affecting their water supply. Senator Carol Blood and Mead residents spoke-out today about the need for help now.
Despite the AltEn plant shut down earlier this year, Mead residents continue to be impacted by contaminated seed corn used in the ethanol plant, affecting their water supply. Senator Carol Blood and Mead residents spoke-out today about the need for help now.
In the small town of Bee, about 40 minutes outside of Lincoln, Lou & Mary Anne’s Bar is famous for its year long Friday fish fry. The bar is closing after nearly five decades.
In the small town of Bee, about 40 minutes outside of Lincoln, Lou & Mary Anne’s Bar is famous for its year long Friday fish fry. The bar is closing after nearly five decades.
As of July 5th, 67 Nebraskans on average were testing positive for the virus each day. That is up 56 percent from the previous week when just 43 people tested positive for the virus. How much the Delta variant and the resumption of many regular activities – like the College World Series – play into this is unknown. Covid cases reached lows in mid-June when case numbers stood in the high teens, 20s and 30s.
As of July 5th, 67 Nebraskans on average were testing positive for the virus each day. That is up 56 percent from the previous week when just 43 people tested positive for the virus. How much the Delta variant and the resumption of many regular activities – like the College World Series – play into this is unknown. Covid cases reached lows in mid-June when case numbers stood in the high teens, 20s and 30s.
The Financial Innovation Act or LB 649 allows for the trading of cryptocurrency in Nebraska. In late May, Governor Ricketts signed it into law. State banks and new ‘Digital Asset Depositories’ will be able to trade the virtual currency.
A U-S Circuit Court of Appeals ruling has reversed a Trump-era rule that had expanded the use of E-15 fuel blends year-round. The decision is a blow to Nebraska ethanol producers who were already dealing with bad news last month.
In death penalty case the defense attorney, Todd Lancaster, argues the defendant, Bailey Boswell, was not in her right state of mind at the time of the murder of Sydney Loofe. He uses witness testimony to argue against the death penalty.
Firework related-injuries and deaths were up in 2020, according to a yearly report done by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The commission found that at least 18 people died in 2020 from a firework-related injury, up from 12 in 2019. The number of injuries increased as well, with at least 15,600 firework injuries being treated last year. That’s an increase of 56% from 2019. In the past 15 years, about 9 people have died each year from firework-related injuries.
“A review of data from telephone follow-up investigations showed that the typical causes of injuries were due to both the misuse and malfunction of fireworks,” the report says. “At the time of the telephone investigation, which was conducted typically 1 to 2 months after the injury, most victims had recovered from their injuries. One of the 7 respondents interviewed reported that the injury will be long term.”
Of those injured, the majority were men and between the ages of 25 and 44. Young adults between the ages of 20 and 24 were the most likely to be injured.
The most common parts of the body that were injured were the hands and fingers, followed by head, face and ears. Burns were the most common injury.
Due to the nature of gathering information on deaths, it’s possible that some deaths are not yet counted, so the organization considers that the latest statistics should be treated as minimums. Many of the deaths that occured last year were from using commercial grade fireworks. Drugs and alcohol were found in the bodies of several of those killed.
The C.P.S.C. recommends that young children stay away from fireworks, and that water be accessible in case of any mishaps.
In testimony at Boswell’s sentencing hearing the head of the state’s prison system conceded there currently is no plan in place to accommodate a case of this sort.
“If a female were to receive such a sentence, we would ultimately draft policy language specific to whatever those needs were,” said Director of Correctional Services Scott Frakes told judges in Saline County District Court on Thursday morning.
The testimony came during the second phase of a hearing before a three-judge panel convened to determine if Boswell’s crime met the criteria for capital punishment.
Having a small child with a terminal disease is difficult and traumatic for any parent. Two families, one from North Platte and the other from Pittsburgh, are now linked thanks to the organ donation from a dying child. The kids' mothers met for the first time on a Facebook Live event earlier this week, six years after Olivia's death and Lucas’ new life.
The hearing to determine whether twenty-seven-year-old Bailey Boswell will be the first woman to be sentenced to death in Nebraska opened this morning at the Saline County Courthouse. A jury found the woman guilty of assisting Aubrey Trail with killing and dismembering Sydney Loofe in the couple’s apartment in Wilber.
Boswell’s attorney, Todd Lancaster, told the court he intends to raise questions about whether the Nebraska’s prison system has the capability of housing an individual woman in isolation without violating the constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
Today (Thursday) marks a big change in college athletics: It’s the first day student athletes can monetize their name, image or likeness. In today’s Signature Story, Will Bauer of Nebraska Public Media News has more on what it means and what it will look like in the state. The idea wasn’t new in Nebraska, but it’s now possible here and everywhere else. Student athletes, under interim NCAA bylaws, are now able to monetize their name, image and likeness. It’s uncharted waters for everyone involved.
BLAKE LAWRENCE 1: “When name image and likeness legislation changes go into effect, it'll forever change college athletics.”
That’s Blake Lawrence. He’s a former Nebraska football player and now CEO of Opendorse, a Lincoln-based company that works with athletes all over the country with endorsements and social media. He’s been at the heart of name, image and likeness or NIL since he founded his company in 2012. For Lawrence, the obvious impact on the horizon of college athletics? What makes it unique: recruiting.
Young dancers from various Nebraska ballet companies piled into the Lied Center's main stage today (Wednesday), in preparation for a class with a Master of Dance. The session was taught by Carlos Gonzales, a dancer with the prestigious New York-based American Ballet Theatre company, which is in town this week to kick off its ABT Across America Tour
A prison staffing emergency is forcing Nebraska corrections officials to move to 12-hour shifts at two Lincoln-area facilities. The head of prisons in the state says a tight labor market is making it tough for him to hire anyone.
The Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department is investigating the first case in their region of the highly contagious Delta COVID-19 variant. It was first detected in India, which caused a major outbreak in the Asian country and the U.K. Health Director Myra Stoney says the variant came to Nebraska because of travel and urges everyone to get vaccinated.
Investigators in La Vista in the Omaha area say DNA from on an umbrella found near the apartment of a boy missing for more than a month has been identified as his. It's the latest lead in a frustrating case.
A wetland has mysteriously appeared in a national historical park in Beatrice. The tallgrass prairie now has chorus frogs croaking this summer and a thriving ecosystem.
A wetland has mysteriously appeared in a national historical park in Beatrice. The tallgrass prairie now has chorus frogs croaking this summer and a thriving ecosystem.
The biggest threat of damaging wildfires could be shifting to an unusual part of the state this summer dry weather is causing the state’s wildfire experts to focus away from northwest and north central Nebraska.
There are sensors, plates and cameras installed along Interstate-80 between Omaha and Lincoln. The technology helps with safety check functions and Department of Transportation requirement checks. Checking for flat tires and insurance on the move are a couple of the practicalities with the new tech.
Since you've been so much a COVID-19 person these last few years -- or parts of two years, I guess -- I'll ask you a question about that. I said tail end of the pandemic a few moments ago. Is that a good characterization of where we're at with the state of the pandemic in Nebraska?
So we're at a better place now than we have been since this took off. We have declining cases throughout the state. We're down to 20 to 30 new cases per day, and approximately 200 or so new cases per week. Fewer people are being tested, but those who are tested have a lower percent positivity. And we have fewer people being hospitalized. We're down to about 30 to 40 patients in the hospital each day with COVID-19. I'm really encouraged by these numbers, and I attribute this huge change. We're in the best place that we have been because of vaccination. So there's there's still some unknowns. Variants are an unknown. Fall is an unknown. And I think we're going to be in the best place we can possibly be as long as we focus on vaccination. And as long as people keep making the choice that they're doing now in Nebraska to go get a shot.
Ridership on Amtrak trains is starting to bounce back in the state after the pandemic prevented passengers from hopping on trains as frequently. As Washington continues to negotiate infrastructure spending, advocates hope for changes to Nebraska’s only passenger train. Is it worth it for Amtrak to expand its operations in Nebraska? That depends on who you ask. For ProRail Nebraska members the answer is of course yes. But the other side of the argument would question if the demand is great enough to warrant more high-dollar investment by the state and federal government. How those talks shake out is TBD. But big changes to Amtrak in Nebraska won’t happen overnight.
Nebraska State Patrol troopers will head to the U.S.-Mexico border; officials won't say specifically what they'll do there.
As more Nebraskans return to the office over the next few months, health experts remind us we should expect some will be nervous about mixing with others again.
There were rainbows, floats, and music during the Capitol City’s First Annual Pride Parade Saturday
Will Brown was brutally dragged through Omaha’s streets in 1919 and then murdered by a white mob for an alleged rape he didn’t’ commit. On eve of Juneteenth, city, county and civil rights leaders unveiled a historical marker in front of a crowd of around 500 people telling the gruesome story of his death.
A meeting of the Coordinating Council for the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties provided an opportunity for supporters and opponents to discuss critical race theory
Members of Nebraska agencies get in an airplane with knowledge of where possible wildfire could begin. Maps of lightning strikes guide the fire finders. They look for early signs of fire and direct local fire departments to the location of the fire before it gets out of control.
The Nebraska Board of Education released draft accreditation rules in April that could reduce the number of school librarians in the state.
For the first time in more than twenty years the historic Carillon bells of First Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln have fallen silent.
Nebraska Public Media News has more on the bells and the woman who plays them.
Lincoln and Lancaster County will let their last pandemic-related directed health measure expire at midnight on Friday, the latest milestone in a rapid return to normal.
The expiring directed health measure means there will be no conditions related to gatherings, regardless of size or location and no event plans will be required for events with more than 500 people.
Gov. Pete Ricketts has appointed Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission
Norfolk-based draftsman Roger Brummels says the impact of decreasing futures isn’t being felt quite yet. For Brummels, that means better prices will follow in the next 30-60 days.
Brummels 0:14 “It will bring people back…for most contractors.”
Lumber prices had hit all times highs this past spring because of shortages in supply. For some consumers, that meant paying 40-thousand more dollars to build a home. With low interest rates, the high prices didn’t stymie building.
A new report argues the Midwest is much more welcoming to certain types of immigrants than stereotypes -- or political rhetoric -- suggests.
Heartland Forward, an Arkansas-based think tank, says demographic shifts will soon turn the heartland, which the organization defines as the 20 states between the Rockies and the Appalachians, into a truly global place with a mix of cultures.
“Some might refer to it as a flyover country,” Heartland’s CEO Ross DeVol said, “but if it were a separate country it would be the third largest economy in the world.”
The students will meet everyday until Wednesday. They will debate bills that were brought up during the latest legislative session. Committee hearing rooms at the state capitol are the main sites of debate. Many of the students are interested in continue on a path in politics.
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy announced six major seed companies are pledging to address ongoing pesticide contamination by the AltEn ethanol plant in Mead. The AltEn Facility Response Group, including companies like Bayer, Syngenta, and Corteva, applied to the Nebraska Voluntary Cleanup Program. In a statement, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy said the state-run program allows private entities to plan and pay for environmental remediation efforts.
Nebraska has a youth poet laureate from Lincoln East High School. Nebraska Public Media News talks more about the poet’s life and art.
There was a golfing clinic and tournament near Omaha on Thursday morning. Visually impaired and blind people were given the opportunity to learn the game. They practiced putting, chipping, and went to the driving range.
Aubrey Trail is headed for Nebraska’s Death Row. A three-judge panel in Saline County determined Trail should die by Lethal injection. The 54-year-old was convicted of first-degree murder. He and his girlfriend Baily Boswell lured 24-year-old Sydney Loofe to their apartment in Wilber in 2019 where they killed and dismembered the woman. Lauren Dietrich With Nebraska Public Media reports from the Saline County Courhouse.
Three years after Sydney Loofe’s murder, Aubrey Trail said he wanted to tell the truth. Brought to court in a wheelchair, Trail asked Judge Vicky Johnson for an opportunity to speak to the family of the woman he murdered.
He said Loofe had never willingly been involved in any of the sexual escapades Trail claimed to have been involved with during multiple, contradictory confessions. Trail says nearly everything he said in previous cases was a lie.
The Keystone Pipeline is officially no more. T-C Energy, the company that developed the controversial pipeline, announced today (Wednesday) the company terminated the years-long project. The company said in a statement they made the decision after consulting with the Government of Alberta, a partner in the effort.
Young Adult Court in Douglas County is one of six programs in the country that focuses on helping individuals get rid of their non-violent felonies. With a recidivism rate of less than 30%, several past and present participants can attest to the changes they’ve made during their time in the program and even after.
A program that was started in 2004 to help young adults in Douglas County with felony records is now expanding to provide more services and help more individuals get rid of their non-violent felonies. Since it began, this problem-solving court has been unique to Nebraska and remains one of only six in the country.
After missing in action for over 70 years, a soldier killed during World War II will finally rest in his hometown in Giltner, in south central Nebraska.The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency was able to identify the soldier through DNA testing in February.
Custer County Attorney Steven Bowers and a Broken Bow defense lawyer have admitted to a scheme allowing local criminals to avoid prosecution if they agreed to get out of town and not come back.
Both attorneys have been reprimanded by the State Supreme Court in an opinion released on Friday.
According to the Counsel for Discipline of the Nebraska Supreme Court, Bowers admitted to making deals that would get local accused felons out of town and making it easier for them to flee the county. The plans were revealed during an investigation by the Counsel earlier this year.
A new effort by the ACLU of Nebraska will monitor courts across the state to make sure judges are complying with laws that require them to take into account a person’s ability to pay fines or post bail.
A 23-year-old Lincoln woman is still missing after more than two weeks and her family is very worried. The Lincoln Police Department and the woman's family are concerned about her “suspicious” disappearance.
Regulated Bare Knuckle Boxing and Kickboxing matches can now be held in Nebraska alongside mixed Martial Martial Arts and other combat sports. Nebraska Public Media takes a behind the scenes look at the people who led the push to bring the sports to the Cornhusker State
Numbers may vary, but most home builders in Nebraska say the same thing: if you want a home built, it’s going to be much more today than before the pandemic.
“The lumber part of a house has typically gone up about $40,000. That's the increase in the lumber side.” That’s Roger Brummels. He’s a draftsman at the Century Lumber Center in Norfolk. “Then there's other increases in all the other aspects, also electrical, plumbing, heating. Everything's increased on the cost of a home.”
Brummels helps customers brainstorm home ideas and then maps them out in 3D. The end goal for him: finding a price.
Even with these sky high lumber prices, home builders say there’s still a demand for projects. Historically low interest rates and the value of owning a home is worth the large costs up front for many homebuyers. And the problem then lies in finding a contractor – someone to build the home – because the contractor, for the most part, will take the risk of prices moving even higher.
Virtually everyone in Nebraska drives a car to get around, but what about the refugees who didn’t grow up behind the wheel, who now have to learn how to drive, but can’t even speak English? Juniper Refuge, a small non-profit in Lincoln, is teaching women refugees how to drive, but also build lasting friendships.
There are still very few clues in the disappearance of an autistic La Vista boy two weeks ago as investigators continue to look for any new leads in the case. The search for 11-year-old Ryan Larsen has been frustrating for the hundreds of people on the look-out for him.
Shannon Lum is the second female recruiting coordinator in men's college basketball. She grew up in San Francisco and went to college out east. Lum has learned under two Hall of Famers, Chris Mullin at St. John's and Tara Vanderveer at Stanford. The St. John's graduate will recruit the transfer portal and handle advanced scouting for the Huskers.
Costco’s plans for a huge chicken farm north of Lincoln have been scuttled by a Lancaster County District judge. Neighbors to the facility near Raymond successfully sued to block a special use permit needed to begin construction.
The order from Lancaster District Judge Jodi Nelson denied the special zoning permit required to build a commercial feedlot on agricultural land surrounded by fast growing residential sub-divisions. The order stated the poultry barns would “more likely than not have negative effects… on health, safety, and general welfare.”
West Nile season is back in Nebraska – and sooner than usual, as Iowa has already reported one case. Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer has details.
The Douglas County Health Department, in Omaha, had planned to hold off messaging “Usually, we see our first cases in July or August, but we do know that our friends in Iowa already have a case this year. As I may have suggested earlier, we never really know what to expect, but we do know how to address it.”
That’s Douglas County Health Department spokesman Phil Rooney.
According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 people infected with West Nile develops symptoms. About 1 in 150 develops serious – and sometimes fatal – illnesses.
Rooney says to make sure to wear bug spray with DEET, a chemical that repels mosquitoes, think about long sleeves when outdoors near dusk or dawn and report standing water to the health department for treatment.
The disease is sometimes perplexing for public health officials. Three years ago, Nebraska led the nation with 251 human cases. The last two years, however, the state saw significant drops – as has the rest of the country.
Rooney 2: “So, it really is a mystery. It’s maybe where the flocks of birds fly because the birds carry it, the mosquitoes feed off them and the mosquitoes take it from birds to us. So, it really remains a mystery.”
More Nebraskans are getting COVID vaccinations and breaking free after more than a year of masking up and public health lockdowns.
Meanwhile, a Lincoln woman is still doing her part to chronicle the pandemic's ups and downs through music.
U-N-L Broadcast Journalism Professor Barney McCoy reports on Laura Deitchler's crusade to keep the music and its meaning alive for her neighbors during the pandemic.
More Nebraskans are getting COVID vaccinations and breaking free after more than a year of masking up and public health lockdowns.
Meanwhile, a Lincoln woman is still doing her part to chronicle the pandemic's ups and downs through music.
U-N-L Broadcast Journalism Professor Barney McCoy reports on Laura Deitchler's crusade to keep the music and its meaning alive for her neighbors during the pandemic.
If you’re tired of slow broadband internet speeds in some parts of rural Nebraska, help is on the way. Governor Pete Ricketts signed legislation Wednesday that will spend $40 million over two years to help improve rural broadband across the state.
With some companies in Nebraska’s most populous cities moving out of offices during the pandemic, some worry what will happen to the barren buildings now that life is returning to normal. But, as Nebraska Public Media’s Will Bauer reports, the vacant spaces don’t necessarily mean gloom and doom for downtowns in the state’s biggest cities.
Todd Ogden’s standing on the corner of 13th and N streets in Lincoln. There are some empty buildings in capital city’s downtown, with lease signs in windows nearby. It’s changing, he says. But’s it’s not a change that worries the head of Lincoln’s Downton Association because what’s leaving is being replaced – just in a new way.
In a post pandemic world, many businesses are reconsidering their traditional office spaces.
Real estate brokers and experts say this is a pivotal moment for the future of office and work life. A lot of companies are to be determined on the future of their physical space. And that still leaves questions about what impacts that could have on cities – and, particularly, downtown areas. If the trend continues – and many companies decide to ditch an expensive lease – what happens to a bustling downtown over lunch hour?
A state law to make Nebraska more competitive in keeping military veterans in the state has been officially signed. LB 387 is a way to level the playing field when it comes to taxing military benefits.
In front of the steps of the Governor’s Mansion in Lincoln Tuesday, Governor Pete Ricketts made official an effort that has been in the works for five years by signing the legislation approved by Nebraska lawmakers this session.
On May 25th, 2020, black Minneapolis resident George Floyd was murdered after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for over 9 minutes.
The incident has had a titanic impact across the world.
Nebraska Public Media’s William Padmore talked with several Nebraskan’s to gauge how they think the state has changed in the year since.
Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many small towns to cancel large festivals that they depend on for tourism. As some communities are holding these festivals again, Harvest Public Media’s Katie Peikes reports what this means for small towns.
A few times a year, farmers have to do a dangerous task; go inside large grain bins to take care of their harvest. Last year, more than 30 of them were trapped inside silos in the U.S., according to Purdue University. Two recent grads from University of Nebraska at Omaha have invented a grain robot that could help farmers improve their crops and never have to go inside a grain bin again.
A few times a year, farmers have to do a dangerous task; go inside large grain bins to take care of their harvest. Last year, more than 30 of them were trapped inside silos in the U.S., according to Purdue University. Two recent grads from University of Nebraska at Omaha have invented a grain robot that could help farmers improve their crops and never have to go inside a grain bin again.
With the summer travel season almost here and COVID cases down, many Nebraskans are planning trips, in some cases out of the country. Health experts say there are some things you should keep in mind before you travel internationally.
A fire at a large chlorine plant in Louisiana rendered chlorine scare in the wholesale market. Quantity is not meeting demand in retail market, especially with more private pools being installed during the pandemic. Pool suppliers and pool cleaning services talk about how they prepared and adapted.
It’s not unusual to see low unemployment figures in Nebraska. But it is unusual for Nebraska business leaders and economic experts to see 2.9 percent unemployment with as many open jobs as there are right now. As Nebraska Public Media News’ Will Bauer reports, experts say wages may have to increase and extra unemployment benefits may need to end to help fill the state’s empty jobs.
Even with high school and college students wrapping up school for the year – restaurant and economic experts across the state say that may not be enough to solve the workforce shortage that’s deeply affected some of the state’s blue-collar industries.
The Bay Skatepark, a favorite after-school hangout spot for Lincoln kids, will soon be a school for creatives and artists. Bay High is a collaborative focus program between Lincoln Public Schools and non profit Rabble Mill set to open in fall 2022.
After nearly 80 years, the remains of a fallen hero of the Pearl Harbor attack will finally be put to rest in the town of Harvard, near Hastings Saturday, May 15. The USS Oklahoma Project has identified more than 100 of the ship’s casualties since 2017 through DNA testing.
Country music superstar Garth Brooks will perform at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln this August. It’s the first concert in the stadium in 34 years. NET reports on the economic impact to the town.
It’s been almost six decades since a military charter flight carrying 93 highly trained soldiers disappeared over the Pacific Ocean between Guam and the Philippines. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was never found, but the families of those aboard, including one from Nebraska, will get some closure Saturday in the form of a unique memorial in the woods of Maine.
Months after his dad, Investigator Mario Herrera, died in the line of duty, Carlos Herrera will be joining the Lincoln Police Department this June.The announcement came two days before the fallen officer’s birthday and a week before Law Enforcement Memorial Week.
It’s been a year since COVID-19 descended on U.S. meatpacking plants. In that time, nearly 60,000 workers have gotten sick, and more than 300 have died. That’s led to pushes at the state and federal levels to institute stronger protections for workers in U.S. facilities. While advocates are still navigating efforts to protect workers now, some are already thinking about preventing future outbreaks.
After Chief Standing Bear’s landmark civil rights case to recognize American Indians as people, he gifted a ceremonial tomahawk to his attorney more than 140 years ago. Now, the tomahawk is in the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University. Nebraska lawmakers are joining an effort, drafting a resolution, to return the tomahawk to the Ponca Tribe.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is getting ready unveil new software they're using that makes contact tracing automatic.
The amount of water stored under the Great Plains in the Ogallala Aquifer rivals Lake Huron. But it’s drying up. After decades of being tapped to irrigate farmland, almost a third of the water under Kansas has disappeared. A shift in culture may be the state’s best shot at saving the Ogallala.
The Hastings Public School Board will consider loosening the school’s mask mandate after seniors graduate at a meeting Monday night following a recommendation from the school's superintendent.
“Our board is probably a lot like our community: There’s probably a lot of differing opinions," said Jeff Schneider, the superintendent, adding he isn’t sure what’s will happen on Monday night.
Originally, Schneider was going to recommend the school board to change the schools’ mask requirement to a just recommendation on May 24, which is the day after the school year ends for all students, he said. Members of the public had asked he and school board members why Hastings Public Schools still had a mandate, as some other local schools don't, or why the mandate couldn't be relaxed sooner.
The West Central Health District in North Platte is still dealing with COVID vaccination levels behind all the others health districts in the state, and the head of the district said it has the supply but demand is lagging.
Just under 31% of eligible Nebraskans in the six counties in the West Central Health District are fully vaccinated, according to Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services data as of Thursday. The two other surrounding health districts – covering the Panhandle and Southwest Nebraska – are at similar levels in the low 30s. Other districts in the state, however, are at levels near 50%. As a whole, the state's eligible population sits at 46.5%.
A new coalition against federal tax increase proposals argues new tax codes could unfairly target Nebraska farm and ranch families who might be forced to sell part of their land to pay huge tax bills.
Sonny O'Connor started at the University of Nebraska at Kearney 25 years ago, and, on Friday, the 44-year-old and father of four will graduate with bachelor's degree in general studies from UNK. UNK Communications compared O’Connor to the famous movie character Will Hunting from the 1997 Academy Award winning "Good Will Hunting," where Matt Damon stars as the math genius who works as a janitor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. And while O’Connor will say he’s not a genius, he is a fan of all things Boston, MIT's home, and was custodian at UNK.
The U.S. Census Bureau released another set of population estimates this week, providing population data on the county level.
Nebraska’s population growth occurred mostly in the most populous counties – Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy – with those three counties adding nearly 120,000 Nebraskans from 2010 to 2020. Only 19 other counties saw their population estimates grow, with every other county losing dozens, and in some instances thousands, of people.
The pandemic forced health care providers to expand and adapt to technology to deliver medical care at a distance. Known as telemedicine, it allows a physician to provide care to a patient at a distant site through electronic communications.
Survey data collected by the CDC shows that 15% of surveyed healthcare providers had telehealth consultations available before the coronavirus outbreak. By August 2020, the number increased to 40%.
The NET segment will address the rapid expansion of telemedicine, how caregivers have adapted its use under pandemic conditions, the implications for patient care, and how it may accelerate the use of remote technologies for patient care, especially in rural areas.
Nebraska restaurants are not immune to a conundrum facing eateries across the country: a shortage workers.
Even as the state is tied for the nation’s lowest unemployment rate of 2.9%, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor's March 2021 figures, Nebraska restaurants are struggling with their workforce, said Zoe Olson, executive director of the Nebraska Restaurant Association.
The remnants of Spencer Dam have remain scattered in the river after the dam failed and broke apart more than two years ago – as many different locations across cross the state flooded following a massive winter storm. Ice rubble on the Niobrara River broke up the 93-year-old dam, and one man, Kenny Angel, died in the aftermath of the collapse.
The dam’s owner – the Nebraska Public Power District – has now received funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to officially decommission the dam two years later.
“Let’s make it clear: We do not plan to rebuild," said Mark Becker, a NPPD spokesperson.
Earlier this week, President Joe Biden proposed a plan that included the idea of free community college across the country. There are more than 40,000 students enrolled in Nebraska’s eight community college systems and the president of one of them thinks the idea isn’t a big stretch.
Omaha-based Berkshire Hathaway will again hold its annual shareholder meeting virtually this weekend, with Warren Buffett and business partner Charlie Munger answering questions from Los Angeles on Saturday. A longtime observer of Buffett said the company got a big jump on COVID and connecting with investors.
It’s a unique hunt that many Nebraskans look forward to every year, and it doesn’t involve animals. Morel mushrooms are hollow and sponge-like and are also edible and highly coveted. Searching for the elusive mushrooms is like a treasure hunt along river bottoms in eastern Nebraska.
Over the past two weeks, the number of COVID-19 vaccinations in Nebraska has decreased by 38%, from almost 21,000 a day to the current level of just under 13,000 daily shots. The decline is concerning to one disease expert, who thinks a number of factors are leading to the slowdown.
Nebraska’s population grew by 7.4% last decade according to the latest data from the U.S. Census.
A total of 1,961,504 people live in the Cornhusker State, up from 1,826,341 in 2010. Nebraska is now the nation’s 37th largest state, jumping West Virginia in the latest census and adding more than 135,000 people over the last decade.
A 50-state survey among adults under 40 shows 1 in 10 of them don’t remember ever hearing the word “Holocaust,” where 6 millions Jews were killed in World War 2. Among them were Curt and Regina Schönwald whose son and grandsons lived in Lincoln. Lincoln High School is performing a play based on the family’s experience.
The head of the Omaha area-based U.S. Strategic Command is warning lawmakers that the United States is quickly falling behind Russia and China in its nuclear weapons infrastructure and could be at risk if things don’t change.