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/…

Downtown Winnebago is in northeast Nebraska's Thurston County. The Ho-Chunk Village housing development can be seen in the background. (Photo courtesy HCCDC)

Winnebago Tribe's development corp earns top rating, $2 million grant

The Nebraska Winnebago Tribe's Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation, or HCCDC, has been awarded $2 million through MacKenzie Scott's Yield …

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10.2 million U.S. households had low food security and 6.8 million had very low food security at some time during 2022. (nicoletaionescu/Adobe Stock)

NE bill would ensure Summer EBT participation; first hearing Thursday

According to a recent USDA study, 12% of Nebraskans experience food insecurity. That's higher than the national average. If legislation that is the …

Of the 12% of Nebraskans reporting food insecurity at some time between 2020 and 2022, almost half of them reported experiencing

NE has until Jan. 1 to opt in to food assistance for 150,000 children

Roughly one in eight Nebraskans who have experienced hunger is a child. The state has a chance to help their families afford groceries, but must 'opt …

With the help of more than 550 partner agencies, including schools, churches, shelters and food pantries, Food Bank for the Heartland distributed more than 22 million meals in its 2023 fiscal year. They expect the number to climb to 26.5 million in FY 2024. (TSViPhoto/Adobe Stock)

Hunger Action Month finds NE food bank in "crisis mode"

It is Hunger Action Month, and a Nebraska organization fighting hunger said action is badly needed, at both the national and state levels. In a June …

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture expected to grant more than $800,000 in USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant dollars in 2023. (trongnguyen/Adobe Stock)

Students at Eight Rural NE Schools To Learn 'Specialty Crop' Production

Students in eight rural Nebraska schools will soon be getting hands-on experience in "specialty crop" production thanks to a two-year U.S. Department …

Dr. Ruth Petersen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, says breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Month: Advocates Say Practice Needs 'Normalizing'

August is National Breastfeeding Month, focused on the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies as well as the restrictions some encounter…

The percentage of Nebraska children living in single-parent households has fluctuated between 28% and 30% since 2011. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

Despite #1 Rank for 'Economic Well-Being,' NE Parents Struggle

Nebraska children rank first in the nation for economic well-being in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2023 Kids Count Data Book, and eighth for …

In September 2022, SNAP benefits helped 156,000 Nebraskans with food security, up 1% from a year prior. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraskans Will Lose SNAP Benefits If Pandemic Eligibility "Sunsets"

Almost one in ten Nebraskans receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps, but that could change …

En septiembre de 2022, los beneficios de SNAP ayudaron a 156 000 habitantes de Nebraska a alcanzar la seguridad alimentaria, un 1 % m�s que el a�o anterior. (Adobe Stock)

Habitantes de NE perderán beneficios de SNAP si "termina"elegibilidad

Casi uno de cada diez habitantes de Nebraska recibe beneficios del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP), anteriormente conocido …

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…

If voters approve Initiative Measure 433, once the wage reaches $15 an hour it will be adjusted every year to account for any increases in the cost of living. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Voters to Decide Wage Floor for Workers

Ballots for the November election are headed to mailboxes across the state, and Nebraska voters will get to decide if the state's minimum wage should …

Si los votantes aprueban la Iniciativa de Ley 433, una vez que el salario alcance los 15 d�lares por hora se ajustar� cada a�o para tener en cuenta cualquier aumento del costo de vida. (Adobe Stock)

Votantes de Nebraska decidirán el sueldo de los trabajadores

Las boletas para las elecciones de noviembre se dirigen a los buzones de todo el estado, y los votantes de Nebraska podrán decidir si el salario …

Planting native flowering plants in your yard instead of grass can help restore critical habitat for struggling pollinator species. (Adobe Stock)

Wanted: Next-Generation Beekeepers for Nebraska Farms

With the age of Nebraska's farmers and beekeepers on the rise, bee enthusiasts are encouraging more young people to check out the Great Plains Master …

Nebraska lawmakers improved conditions for low-income families during the pandemic by expanding eligibility for SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps, and providing support for child care. Both initiatives are set to sunset next year. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Ranks First Nationally in Child Economic Well-Being

Nebraska ranks first in the nation when it comes to promoting children's economic well-being, a significant indicator under the spotlight in the …

Small to mid-sized meat processors must operate as either a USDA-FSIS facility or a federally regulated custom-exempt slaughter and processing facility, while also complying with federal regulations, to qualify for a new grant program. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska’s Smaller Meat Lockers Challenged to Ramp Up Capacity

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for grants through the Independent Processor Assistance Program. Johnathan Hladik…

Students who complete a post-graduate degree or certificate are more likely to earn far more money over their lifetime than students with just a high school diploma. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Struggles to Get Students Back into College

The COVID public health emergency forced many Nebraska students to put their college careers on hold. More than 300,000 Nebraskans have completed …

Omaha Public Schools reported that being able to offer meals to all students at no charge reduced childhood hunger, supported academic achievement, eliminated stigma associated with school meals and improved student behavior. (Adobe Stock)

Time Running Out to Extend School Meal Waivers

School meal waivers that allowed districts to be more flexible getting food to kids during the pandemic are set to expire at the end of June…

Las Escuelas P�blicas de Omaha informaron que poder ofrecer comidas a todos los estudiantes sin cargo redujo el hambre infantil, apoy� el rendimiento acad�mico, elimin� el estigma asociado con las comidas escolares y mejor� el comportamiento de los estudiantes. (Adobe Stock)

Se acaba el tiempo para extender exenciones de comidas escolares

Las exenciones de comidas escolares que permitieron a los distritos ser más flexibles en la entrega de alimentos a los niños durante la pand…

Of 62 large districts surveyed, 98% identified challenges with supply-chain disruptions and labor shortages, and said providing school meals would be even greater if not for USDA child-nutrition waivers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: School Meal Waivers a Game Changer During Pandemic

During the COVID health emergency, Congress removed a lot of red tape in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) school meals programs, and a new …

It's estimated that every dollar spent at farmers markets generates $3 in economic activity, and tends to stay in Nebraska, unlike at grocery chains. (Adobe Stock)

Program Doubles Food Budget for SNAP Participants at Farmers Markets

One sign of springtime in Nebraska is the return of local farmers markets, and families participating in SNAP - the program formerly known as food …

Se estima que cada d�lar gastado en los mercados de agricultores genera $3 en actividad econ�mica y tiende a permanecer en Nebraska, a diferencia de las cadenas de supermercados. (Adobe Stock)

Programa duplica dinero a participantes de SNAP en mercados de agricultores

Una señal de la primavera en Nebraska es el regreso de los mercados de agricultores locales, y las familias que participan en SNAP, el programa …

Just four meat-processing giants control more than 80% of the beef industry and more than 60% of the pork industry. A report says this enables them to dictate prices that both flatten returns for farmers and ranchers and inflate prices for consumers at the meat counter. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Corporate Profiteering Fueling Inflation

A new report confirms what it said CEOs have been telling shareholders for months: Inflation has been very good for business. Lindsay Owens…

Ending Nebraska's lifetime ban on food assistance for people convicted of drug felonies is projected to result in 23 fewer individuals recidivating, saving upwards of $1 million for taxpayers. (Adobe Stock)

Bill to End Lifetime Ban on Food Assistance Before Nebraska Lawmakers

Nebraska lawmakers are considering a bill to end a lifetime ban on federal food assistance for people convicted of federal drug felonies. Proponents …

Se proyecta que poner fin a la prohibici�n permanente en Nebraska de asistencia alimentaria para personas condenadas por delitos relacionados con drogas resultar� en 23 personas menos que reinciden, ahorrando m�s de $ 1 mill�n para los contribuyentes. (Acci�n de Adobe)

Proyecto de ley eliminaría prohibición de asistencia alimentaria en NE

Los legisladores de Nebraska están considerando un proyecto de ley que pondría fin a la prohibición permanente de la asistencia alimen…

Children who have reliable access to housing and nutritious foods are more likely to have better health and financial outcomes. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Denies Emergency Assistance to 90% of Poor Families

Nebraska and other states are hoarding more than $5 billion intended for struggling families, according to new analysis. In 2019, for every 100 …

After COVID shuttered large meat-packing operations, many Nebraskans were able to purchase locally produced meat processed at local lockers. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Make Case for Expanding Main Street Meat Lockers

Advocates for independent rural farmers are urging state lawmakers to beef up mom-and-pop meat processing and storage capacity using American Rescue P…

Between two and four years after aging out of foster care, 46% of young people had not finished high school, 51% were unemployed and 84% became parents. (Adobe Stock)

Resources for Foster Youths During Holidays

OMAHA, Neb. -- Some 24,000 teenagers in foster care across the nation officially become adults each year; in Nebraska it happens on their 19th …

Advocates for extending pandemic-related universal free school meals say the program helps remove the stigma of so-called

Congress Urged to Make Free School Meal Program Permanent

GOTHENBURG, Neb. -- During the COVID health emergency, the federal government made school meals available for free to all students, regardless of …

Raise the Wage Nebraska's goal is to collect 130,000 signatures across communities in Nebraska. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Nebraska Voters Asked to Raise Minimum Wage, Again

LINCOLN, Neb. - A coalition of Nebraska community organizations and supporters are collecting signatures for a ballot initiative that would raise the …

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…

Federal food assistance programs, including SNAP and Nebraska's Farmers Market Nutrition Program for seniors and families with children, ensure that farmers get fair market prices for their goods. (Adobe Stock)

Double Up Food Bucks Program Boosts Farmer’s Markets

LINCOLN, Neb. -- After a new state law expanded eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the program formerly known as …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a 50/50 match on Nebraska dollars invested in outreach to get more eligible families enrolled in SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps. (Adobe Stock)

More Nebraskans Can Access Food Assistance Despite Governor Veto

OMAHA, Neb. - More Nebraskans will be eligible for SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps, beginning July 11. Tiffany Joekel, research and …

Permanently expanding the Child Tax Credit is projected to lift as many as half of the nation's children in low-income families out of poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Nebraska's Families of Color Hit Hardest by Pandemic

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska as a whole is performing well for families with children, ranked seventh in the nation overall, according to the Annie E…

The USDA projects that $1 billion in additional SNAP benefits would lead to an increase of $1.54 billion in the nation's Gross Domestic Product. (Adobe Stock)

Feds Pony Up to Get More SNAP-Eligible Families Enrolled

LINCOLN, Neb. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a 50/50 match on Nebraska dollars invested in outreach to get more eligible families …

Since March 2020, Food Bank for the Heartland has provided more than 35 million meals, an 88% increase over the previous four years' averages. (Roy Buri/Pixabay)

Expanding Access to SNAP Could Help More Nebraskans Weather COVID

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska lawmakers are considering a proposal to expand eligibility limits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)…

Common halictid bee populations have declined by 17% since 1990, while the rarer Melittidae have dropped by 41%. (Bob Peterson/Wikimedia Commons)

Study: Global Bee Populations on Decline

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A new study confirms mounting evidence bee populations are on the decline in Nebraska and across the globe. Researchers scoured an …

Due to COVID-related backlogs at processing plants, Nebraska farmers must make reservations more than one year before animals are born. (Frauke Feind/Pixabay)

Lawmakers Urged to Break Meat Supply-Chain Logjam

OAKLAND, Neb. -- Nebraska lawmakers are considering a bill to provide some relief for meat supply chains by allowing consumers to purchase smaller …

Medicaid has provided health-care coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income Nebraskans, helping children in Nebraska succeed in school. (Pixabay)

Officials Urged: Get More Nebraskans Health Coverage During Pandemic

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Health advocates are working with the new Legislature and state agencies to strengthen and streamline Nebraska's Medicaid program…

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 …

Advocates want lawmakers to prioritize children's physical and mental health by guaranteeing that COVID vaccines will be available without cost. (Pixabay)

Nebraska Children, Families Continue to Struggle with COVID Recovery

OMAHA, Neb. -- Families in Nebraska are struggling to meet their basic needs during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new Annie E. Casey …

Demand for food assistance in Nebraska has spiked during COVID-19, with Omaha's Together drive-through food pantry serving some 250 cars daily. (Wikimedia Commons)

Food Pantries Bracing for Holidays, Colder Weather

OMAHA, Neb. -- The number of Nebraskans not sure where their next meal would come from was on the decline in 2019, but that was before the …

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 …

Nearly 30 million Americans currently are receiving unemployment insurance. The previous high, during the Great Recession, was roughly 12 million. (Needpix)

Economists Urge Extension of Fed Unemployment Boost

LINCOLN, Neb. - If Congress does not extend enhanced unemployment benefits - the $600 per week meant to help Americans who lost jobs due to the novel …

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 …

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NE: Hunger/Food/Nutrition