Public News Service

From September 2020 through 2021, more than 60 million Americans volunteered a total of more than 4 billion hours. (DC Studio/Adobe Stock)

Volunteers an essential part of NE Community Action Partnerships

April is National Volunteer Month, and Nebraskans rank high nationwide for their willingness to volunteer. In the most recent Census Bureau/…

Indigenous woman wearing a traditional dress. (SALMONNEGRO/Adobe Stock)

Omaha Maya organization receives $15,000 grant for regenerative ag practices

An Omaha Maya organization has received one of five $15,000 grants from the nonprofit GreenLatinos. Some 85 organizations applied for the grant …

An aerial view of Lincoln, Neb., which received an Overall Livability Score of 63 on the 2023 AARP Livability Index, compared with the average city score of 48. (Jacob/Adobe Stock)

Lincoln, other NE communities rate high for 'livability'

The city of Lincoln scores high for "livability," both in Nebraska and the nation as a whole. In the new AARP Livability Index, Lincoln ranks number …

In 2021, nearly 61 million Americans volunteered for an organization, reflecting a value of almost $123 billion. (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

AARP of Nebraska Seeks Nominations for Top State-Level Honor

If you know of a Nebraskan age 50 or older who actively supports his or her community through volunteering, you might want to nominate them for the 20…

AARP Nebraska Community Challenge grant winners have used the funding to enhance trails in several communities across the state. (Madeline Cass/AARP Nebraska) <br /><br /> <br /><br />

AARP Community Challenge Grants Return for Seventh Year

Nebraska nonprofits and government entities are encouraged to apply for the 2023 AARP Community Challenge grants. They are part of the …

Western Nebraska is home to food deserts, where there is no easy way to get good, healthy food regularly, which disproportionately impact seniors in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Reimagining Ways to Get Struggling Nebraska Families Back on Track

With a new legislative session on the horizon and new legislators after the November elections, the Coalition for a Strong Nebraska is bringing …

Nebraska is home to many industrial-scale operations, where livestock live in densely populated, confined quarters. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Nebraskans Urge Better State Management of Factory Farm Animal Waste

Clean-water advocates are urging the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy to do more to protect drinking water and soil quality impacted by i…

Nationally, the residential long-term care industry has lost 235,000 workers since the onset of the global pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Nursing Home Staffing Shortage Creating Backlogs for Hospitals

A new Economic Policy Institute report links staffing shortages in residential long-term care facilities in Nebraska and across the nation to low pay …

According to The Corporation for National & Community Service, Nebraska consistently is among the top 10 states in the nation for the highest rate of volunteerism among adults. (Adobe Stock)">

Award Opportunity to Celebrate Community Volunteers

AARP is now accepting nominations for its 2022 Nebraska Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors Nebraskans age 50 and older who are sharing …

Loss of rural populations to urban centers has caused many hospitals in Nebraska to reconfigure their budgets. (Adobe Stock)

Keys to Keeping Nebraska's Rural Hospital Doors Open

Without federal intervention, a new report warns, rural hospitals across the United States, including many in Nebraska, could be forced to reduce …

Eight in 10 Nebraska voters support increasing funding for the respite care program which provides short-term help from a home health aide or adult day-care program so family caregivers can take a break. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Nebraska Lawmakers Urged to Support Family Caregivers

The strain of unpaid family care-giving is pressing down hard on many Nebraska residents, according to new AARP research. Nearly half of people …

Nebraskans age 50 and older account for 56 cents of every dollar in consumer spending in the state, and generate $50 billion in economic activity. (Adobe Stock)

NE Lawmakers Consider Dropping Tax on Social Security Income

A bill designed to eliminate state taxes on Social Security benefits by 2025 is making headway in the Nebraska Legislature. Sen. Brett Lindstrom…

Recent AARP Community Challenge grant projects included improvements to a community garden in Lincoln and walking trails in Hebron. (Adobe Stock)

Age-Friendly Community Grant Applications Now Open

AARP is now accepting applications for its Community Challenge Grant program. This year's focus is to increase investments in projects boosting …

Nine out of ten U.S. consumers say they are more likely to shop at a small business that friends or peers have recommended. (Adobe Stock)

Reasons to Shop Local This Holiday Season

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Locally produced honey, artwork and handmade scarves and sweaters will not be stuck on a container ship this holiday season…

Beginning in 2022, Nebraska's Department of Education will begin offering farm-to-school producer training in various regions of the state. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Farmers Fueling Students with Locally Produced Food

GERING, Neb. -- With school back in session, many Nebraska students will be fueled by fresh beef, fruits and vegetables sourced from local farms…

Volunteers help staff a weekly COVID vaccine clinic in Schuyler, a town of 6,284 residents, where some 36 different languages are spoken. (Pixabay)

Nebraska Communities Band Together to Tackle Vaccine Distribution

SCHUYLER, Neb. -- Communities across Nebraska are banding together in response to the COVID-19 health emergency, and volunteers have become critical …

Omaha police emails reveal a police lieutenant requesting undercover officers participate in a demonstration days after police received city guidance that it was a lawful activity. (Snappy Goat)

Alarm Sounded Over Omaha Police Surveillance of Black Activists, Allies

OMAHA, Neb. -- Omaha Police Department emails obtained through a public records request suggest surveillance activities targeting racial justice …

Nebraskans who lost jobs through no fault of their own because of the coronavirus pandemic are posting their stories at 'essentialnebraska.com.' (Coalition for a Strong Nebraska)

Web Platform Shares Struggling Nebraskans' Stories with Lawmakers

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska's 107th Legislature kicked off yesterday, and a coalition of some 100 nonprofits have launched a new online portal to …

Nursing home deaths comprised 54% of all COVID-19 deaths in Nebraska between October and November, the latest data set analysed by AARP (Thedigitalartist/Pixabay).

Nebraska Nursing-Home COVID-19 Cases, Deaths Rise

LINCOLN, Neb. -- New AARP analysis shows nursing home residents and staff in Nebraska still are at significant risk from the coronavirus. Data from …

Final results for the 2020 presidential election may not be available on Election Night due to increased mail-in ballots cast by Nebraskans who want to vote from home. (Pixabay)

Registration Deadlines, and How to Vote Safely in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Nov. 3 election is just around the corner, and Nebraskans have until Friday, Oct. 16 to register to vote in an election that …

Hispanics represent 11% of Nebraska's population, but account for at least 60% of confirmed COVID-19 cases. (Jordi Play/Wikimedia Commons)

Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month During Pandemic

LINCOLN, Neb. -- On an average year, September kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with festivals full of food and dancing, celebrating the history and …

The U.S. Census Bureau provides translated web pages and guides in 59 non-English languages, including American Sign Language, as well as guides in Braille and large print. (U.S. Census Bureau)

Window Tightens for Getting Accurate Census Count in Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. -- As the Trump administration works to end the U.S. Census Bureau's once-a-decade tally required by the U.S. Constitution one month …

Ten Nebraska schools have been selected by the Center for Rural Affairs for their Greenhouse to Cafeteria program, and will receive direct technical and financial support. (Sipa/Pixabay)

Contest Aims to Get More Local Produce Into School Cafeterias

LYONS, Neb. -- Nebraska will be defending its regional title in this year's Crunch Off competition, where schools across the nation devour locally …

Some 53,000 eligible Nebraska children have not been enrolled in the Pandemic EBT program, which would put up to $281 per child into their parents' wallets to help pay for food. (USDA)

Ensuring Kids Get Meals as They Head Back to School

LINCOLN, Neb. -- U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and children's advocates are calling on U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to extend child …

Many Nebraska businesses, including yoga studios and gyms, have gone virtual during the pandemic with help from the Center for Rural Affairs. (USAF)

Small Businesses Get Help Navigating Pandemic's Challenges

SCHUYLER, Neb. -- Businesses across Nebraska can now get help navigating challenges during the coronavirus pandemic through new online classes …

If Nebraska expands Medicaid now, 94,000 people would gain coverage through October, bringing roughly $245 million in federal funding to the state. (Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels)

Pressure Mounts to Expand Medicaid Coverage During Pandemic

LINCOLN, Neb. -- More than 100,000 Nebraskans have lost their job-related health insurance due to economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic…

Bus Rapid Transit lines have helped transform communities across the globe, boosting local economies. (Adam Coppola Photography/Flickr)

ORBT Could Bring Age-Friendly Housing Options for Omaha Residents

OMAHA, Neb. -- The city of Omaha is expanding its public transit service, and if it adopts a proposed Transit Oriented Development policy, …

A new online anti-racist toolkit includes tips for advocating while practicing safe social distancing, and from the comfort of your couch. (Becker1999/Wikimedia Commons)

Nebraska Black Leaders Launch Anti-Racism Toolkit

LINCOLN, Neb. -- With demonstrations sparked by the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer well into their second week, civic …

Nebraska is one of 13 states with at least 50% of deaths from COVID-19 connected to nursing homes. (U.S. Army Reserves)

Senior Advocates Ask Ricketts to Report Nursing Homes with COVID-19

LINCOLN, Neb. -- AARP Nebraska is urging Gov. Pete Ricketts to release the names of nursing homes and assisted-living communities with confirmed …

President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order to prevent meatpacking plants from closing and keep food supply chains open. (Flickr)

Nebraska's Essential Meatpacking Workers Still at Risk

OMAHA, Neb. -- Many Nebraska meatpacking workers, who stand side by side in cool, virus-preserving conditions, are reporting that the meat they …

The Nebraska Food Council, with support from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Food Policy Council, announced compliance plans with CDC recommendations to make sure Nebraska farmers markets, farm stores and roadside stands remain open during the public health emergency. (Keven S/Pexels)

Farmers Markets Urged to Remain Open During Health Emergency

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Local and state governments across the U.S. are joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's call to categorize farmers …

Nebraskans are encouraged to research groups doing COVID-19 relief work at CharityNavigator.org or Give.org before making donations. (Pxfuel)

Tips for Avoiding Coronavirus Scams

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Medicare officials are warning people that the COVID-19 pandemic has created the perfect petri dish for a wide array of scams…

Installed solar capacity in the United States is projected to more than double in the next five years. (Pixabay)

Growth in Solar Capacity Projected to Fuel Rural Economies

LYONS, Neb. -- The growth of the solar industry has brought a wave of new projects to Nebraska, including a community solar farm in Scottsbluff …

Parents also should include babies in their 2020 census form, even if they're still in the hospital on April 1. (Krzysztof Dzwonek/Pixabay)

Census 2020: Making Nebraska Kids Count

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Advocates for children in Nebraska are working to ensure that all of the children are counted in the upcoming 2020 Census, including …

During 2018's Small Business Saturday, 140 million shoppers spent more than $17 billion at local businesses. (Pixabay)

Small Businesses Rely on Holiday Shopping Dollars

LYONS, Neb. – The holiday season is just around the corner, and small businesses across Nebraska are stocking up and making the case that …

Kids living in high-concentrated areas of poverty frequently do not have access to sidewalks, safe places to play and other opportunities available in wealthier census tracts. (Needpix)

Report: More Neb. Children Living in High-Poverty Neighborhoods

RALSTON, Neb. — Nebraska is one of ten states in the nation that saw an increase in the number of children living in concentrated poverty since …

People with full-time jobs are encouraged to participate in the state's foster care system, where training and ongoing support is available. (USDOD)

National Spotlight on Foster Care Parents' Support for Families

OMAHA, Neb. – May is National Foster Care Month, and the Nebraska Children's Home Society is working to bring more potential families into the …

A new report shows that many Americans who frequently don't know how they'll pay for their next meal earn too much to qualify for federal food assistance. (Pixabay)

Report: Child Hunger Impacts All U.S. Counties

LINCOLN, Neb. – A new Feeding America report shows in every county and Congressional district in the U.S., a subset of the population can't …

Communities that have joined AARP's age-friendly network work to adopt features � including creating safer, walkable streets � to make towns and cities more livable for people of all ages. (Hugo Chisholm/Flickr)

Grand Island First in State to Join AARP's Livability Network

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – Grand Island is the first city in Nebraska to join AARP's Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Tonja Brown …

Some Nebraska families are just a couple of paychecks away from facing challenges associated with homelessness. (Don Hankins/Flickr)

Memorials Set for Homeless Lost in 2018

OMAHA, Neb. — Services are planned this week to honor 87 people, including 11 veterans, who died this year while experiencing homelessness in …

Personal property used in agriculture production valued up to $100,000 may be exempted from Nebraska personal property taxes under the state's Beginning Veteran Farmer Tax Credit program. (Ken Hawkins/Flickr)

Nebraskans Push to Add New Veteran Farmers

LYONS, Neb. — With the 2019 legislative session just around the corner, champions of Nebraska's Beginning Farmer Tax Credit are hoping to …

Immigrants applying for SNAP benefits for their U.S. citizen children do not have to provide agencies with their personal immigration status. (Public Domain Pictures)

"Public Charge" Proposal Already Affecting Nebraska Kids

OMAHA, Neb. – With a Dec. 10 deadline for public comments just around the corner, immigrants' rights groups say they're hoping Nebraskans will …

The holidays can be a stressful time. but centering gratitude in one's life can help people mentally and physically. (Loren Kerns/Flickr)

Gratitude During Stressful Holidays Can Improve Health

LINCOLN, Neb. – What are you grateful for this holiday season? The answer could be good for your health. An array of studies shows …

Many young people living in foster care get bounced from home to home, which disrupts their relationships with family, friends and counselors and can make it harder to graduate from high school. (Pixabay)

Report: Nebraska Struggling to Help Foster Youths Transition to Adulthood

LINCOLN, Neb. – Young adults who experienced foster care in Nebraska are struggling as they transition to adulthood, according to a new report …

After a federal court blocked construction, TransCanada says it's still committed to completing the Keystone XL pipeline. (Maureen/Flickr)

Native, Environmental Groups to Step Up Efforts After Keystone XL Ruling

LINCOLN, Neb. – After a federal district court last week blocked construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, tribal leaders say they will step up …

Voters who registered with The League of Women Voters' Omaha chapter will receive the last of three texts from the group as a reminder to go to the polls today and the location of their polling place. (Galatas)

Nebraskans Make Final Push to Get Voters to Polls

OMAHA, Neb. — On Election Day, voting advocates are making a final push to get registered voters to cast ballots. The League of Women Voters …

Nebraska's nine-to-five workers can cast their ballots for the midterm elections on Saturday. All ballots must be in no later than Tues., Nov. 6 at 8:00 p.m. (Galatas)

Nebraskans Mobilize to Protect Elections

OMAHA, Neb. – As the midterm elections draw near, a group is on the job in Nebraska, making sure that all registered voters will be able to …

Actor Mark Wahlberg and Director Sean Anders on the set of

Nebraska Kicks Off National Adoption Month with 'Instant Family' Movie

OMAHA, Neb. – "Instant Family," a new film starring Mark Wahlberg screening Thursday night in Omaha, helps kick off National Adoption Month by …

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NE: Community Issues and Volunteering