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According to The Sentencing Project, 4.6 million Americans cannot vote because of a felony conviction. (Anna Kosolapova/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

NE advocates foresee new voting-restoration law helping individuals, state

April is Second Chance Month and many Nebraskans are celebrating passage of a bipartisan voting rights restoration bill and its focus on second chance…

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, elements all youth need, which are

NE advocates for LGBTQ+ rights hopeful after visits with state senators

State legislators across the country continue to introduce anti-LGBTQ bills and there have been a record number of them for four years in a row…

Omaha, Lincoln, Hastings, Alliance and Scottsbluff are among Nebraska cities and towns to celebrate Pride Month in 2023. (Manny DaCunhay/Adobe Stock)

OutNebraska advocates for LGBTQ+ at NE Capitol, statewide

With the start of the Nebraska Unicameral's 2024 session this week, guarding against the divisiveness experienced last session is top of mind for …

Nebraska law defines restrictive housing as

ACLU: NE prison progress on 'restrictive housing' not enough

The latest report on the Nebraska Correctional System shows a decrease in the use of restrictive housing. The Office of Inspector General of …

Homes in the award-winning Ho-Chunk Village on the Winnebago Reservation. (Photo by Jerry L. Mennenga, courtesy of Ho-Chunk, Inc.)

Winnebago Tribe's Ho-Chunk Village Wins Major Award, Serves as Model

Nebraska's Winnebago Tribe is considered a mid-sized tribe, but it's a big award winner. The tribe's Ho-Chunk Village housing development is one of …

According to USDA Economic Research Service, the number of U.S. agricultural workers on H-2A visas rose from under 50,000 in 2005 to more than 250,000 in 2021. Their average wage in 2021 was $13.00 an hour for just over 39 hours per week. (Photo credits: Alex/Adobe Stock)

Agriculture Worker Rights Program: Attorneys for Eligible Ag Workers in NE

With an average hourly wage of under $15 in 2021, many Nebraska agricultural workers would be hard-pressed to afford an attorney if they needed one …

A 2022 abortion bill failed to pass in the Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Bill 933 included criminal penalties for doctors who performed abortions, and the only exception was to save the life of the mother. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Nearly 60% of Nebraskans Oppose Abortion Bill in Legislature

Nebraska would have one of the strictest abortion laws in the country should Legislative Bill 626 become law. It recently passed out of committee…

Brennan Center for Justice, pretrial detainees make up more than 70% of the U.S. jail population - about 536,000 people - and many are there only because they cannot afford bail. (Adobe Stock)">

Report: Nebraska Needs to Rethink Court Fines, Bail System

Some Nebraska judges are failing to follow state laws related to cash bail, court fees and court fines, according to a two-year study in Douglas and …

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 …

Experts advise Nebraskans to review their credit card, banking and other accounts at least once a month. If you notice charges that could be fraudulent, file a dispute before protections expire, generally 60 days after your statement drops. (Adobe Stock)

Tips for Avoiding Holiday Season Scams

Three out of four U.S. consumers have experienced or been targeted by at least one form of fraud that can be tied to the holidays, according to new …

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 …

A poll conducted in March found that 55% of Nebraskans oppose banning abortions, compared with 40% who support a ban. (Adobe Stock)

Five of Six Nebraska Municipalities Vote in Favor of Banning Abortion

Voters in five Nebraska towns approved local ordinances banning abortion care in this week's midterm elections, but reproductive health care …

Business owners who favor raising the minimum wage argue it will pay off in lower employee turnover, lower hiring and training costs, increased productivity, and better customer service. (Adobe Stock)

Small Businesses Back Minimum-Wage Initiative on Ballot

Nearly 300 Nebraska business owners and executives across the state have gone on record in support of ballot Initiative 433, which would gradually …

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 …

Union representatives claim Amazon, as the general contractor and owner of a distribution site under construction, is responsible for all the work on their job site, and paying workers for installing conveyor systems. (Adobe Stock)

Amazon Workers in Nebraska Still Unpaid

Some 140 workers at an Amazon distribution center in Papillion have still not been paid for two weeks of work done in August. Dan Riskowski…

Ninguno de los cinco congresistas de Nebraska han obtenido una puntuaci�n perfecta o casi perfecta en el Democracy Scorecard de este a�o. (Adobe Stock)

Delegación del Congreso de Nebraska obtiene puntuación baja en “Democracy Scorecard”

El tema principal para los votantes de cara a las elecciones de noviembre, incluso por encima del empleo y la economía, es el creciente temor a …

None of Nebraska's five members of Congress earned a perfect or even near-perfect score on this year's Democracy Scorecard. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Congressional Delegation Scores Low on “Democracy Scorecard”

The top issue for voters heading into the November elections, even above jobs and the economy, is a growing fear American democracy is under threat…

The Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Act builds on protections passed by Congress in 1978 by clarifying state policies and procedures regarding implementation of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act. (Adobe Stock)

Brief Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Indian Child Welfare Act

The ACLU of Nebraska has joined a national brief filed in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging a 1978 law passed by Congress aiming to …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Latino leaders and advocates criticized Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts for failing to fund a state count committee, a commonly used tool for reaching historically hard-to-count communities in census surveys. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Outperforms National Census in Tally of Latinos

Nebraska did a better job counting the state's Latino residents in the 2020 Census than new national undercount data suggests. According to analysis …

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 …

So far, a ballot signature campaign led by Christa Eggers to legalize medical cannabis has reached Nebraska's 5%-of-voters threshold in four of the required 38 counties. (Rebecca Gratz)

Ballot Initiative Requirements Challenged as Unconstitutional

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit challenging Nebraska's requirements for voter-led initiatives …

Nebraska is one of just 12 states that taxes Social Security income, but the practice will be phased out by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

State Taxes on Social Security Benefits to Phase Out Faster

Older Nebraskans will be keeping more of their hard-earned Social Security benefits even sooner, after Gov. Pete Ricketts signed Legislative Bill 873 …

People new to Nebraska interested in starting their own business are frequently not familiar with how things such as zoning, employment law, tax codes and accounting practices can impact daily operations. (Adobe Stock)

Latina Women’s Business Conference Coming to South Sioux City

Registration is open for the Empowerment for Latina Women in Business Conference, set for May 3 in South Sioux City. Jessica Campos, director of the …

A recipient of guaranteed income from Springboard to Opportunities' Magnolia Mother's Trust, which gives $1,000 per month for one year to families headed by Black women living in federally subsidized housing. (Instagram/Springboard to Opportunities)

Guaranteed Income Seen as Path Toward Gender, Racial Justice

By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Media. Broadcast version by Emily Scott for Nebraska News Connection, Reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

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…

Children who are incarcerated are less likely to graduate from high school and find employment later in life. (Adobe Stock)

Incarceration Data Shows Juvenile Justice System Off Mission in Nebraska

Nearly a quarter-million children were incarcerated in the U.S. in 2019, about five times more than annual point-in-time counts, according to a new …

LB 933 would make it a felony to provide medicine or procedures that end pregnancies, even in cases of rape and incest. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Lawmakers Advance Abortion Ban Opposed by Majority of Voters

Nebraska is on track to ban all abortions in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its landmark Roe v. Wade decision. On Friday, lawmakers …

More than one-third of women employed full-time report they do not have paid sick leave, and more than 65% do not have paid family leave. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Bridging Gap in Women's Benefits Key to Filling Open Positions

At the start of the pandemic, women in Nebraska and across the U.S. were the first to exit the workforce. A new survey from the Institute for Women's …

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…

Critics of Critical Race Theory have called for lawmakers to allow parents to take their kids, along with tax dollars meant for public schools, into schools that more closely adhere to their political and religious beliefs. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Lawmakers to Debate How Race is Taught in Public Schools

Since January of last year, following national unrest over the police killing of George Floyd, 37 states have introduced measures designed to …

An ACLU of Nebraska investigation found mistakes and confusion over Nebraska's two-year waiting period to restore voting rights for people with felony records had caused election officials to send disqualification notices to Nebraskans who should not have received them. (Adobe Stock)

Lawmakers to Consider Restoring Voter Rights for Former Felons

Lawmakers are considering a bill which would restore Nebraskans' right to vote immediately after they complete their felony sentences, instead of …

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 …

A minimum-wage worker can afford $468 in rent per month, but market-rate one-bedrooms rent for at least $695 a month. (Adobe Stock)

Lawmakers Call for Coordinated Effort to Fix Affordable-Housing Crisis

Nebraska is not immune to decades of disinvestment in affordable housing, and a new measure making its way through the Legislature would create a …

Children who have access to good early childhood education are far less likely to go to prison, while children of those incarcerated are far more likely to end up in the criminal-justice system. (Adobe Stock)

$240 Million Prison Project Draws Criticism

Critics of Gov. Pete Ricketts' call for the Nebraska Legislature to fund a new prison argue the money would be better invested in programs with …

A majority of Nebraskans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to Pew Research. (Adobe Stock)

Anti-Abortion, Pro-Choice Measures at Odds in Nebraska Legislature

As Nebraska's GOP leaders work to further restrict and even ban access to abortion services, Sen. Megan Hunt, D-Omaha, has introduced two bills …

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 …

Hair is a sacred symbol for Lakota tribal members, and should only be cut by a Native American woman or a child's grandfather in ceremony. (Adobe Stock)

Lakota Racial Justice and Religious Freedom Case Headed for Trial

ROSEBUD, Neb. -- A lawsuit accusing a Nebraska school district of violating a Lakota family's First Amendment rights and unlawful racial …

A majority of Republican likely voters support taxing billionaires' stock-market gains, which currently are not taxed until sold. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Democrats, Independents, Republicans Support Taxing Billionaires

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nearly seven in ten Americans say billionaires are not paying their fair share in taxes, according to a new survey. Among likely …

Indigenous early-childhood education programs at tribal colleges and universities aim to improve students' educational attainment by revising school curriculums to be more culturally relevant. (Adobe Stock)

American Indian College Fund to Strengthen Native Teacher Pipeline

OMAHA, Neb. -- Tribal colleges and universities in Nebraska and across the nation are teaching the next generation of pre-K and elementary-school …

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 …

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PNS Daily Newscast - April 23, 2024

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NE: Social Justice