Nebraska / Public News Service

Nebraska Children's Justice and Legal Advocacy Center, which represents children in low-income families, is a model for other states working to place qualified attorneys in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska program adds juvenile justice attorneys in underserved rural areas

The University of Nebraska is addressing a shortage of lawyers who represent the state's most vulnerable children, especially in rural areas…

Nebraska's food insecurity rate of 12.2% is a percentage point higher than the national average, according to an October 2023 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Social service cuts would hobble Nebraska food banks, families

Pending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit cuts could mean large reductions to services that provide meals to Nebraska's most vulnerabl…

Ho-Chunk, Inc. is a major economic driver in Nebraska, North Dakota and Iowa, generating annual revenue of $417 million, according to its annual report. (Adobe Stock)

Ho-Chunk launches summer internship program, offering path to career success

Ho-Chunk has kicked off its summer internship program in Nebraska after sifting through 600 applicants. It is opening pathways to higher education …

Nebraska is celebrating Pride month with events across the state, including a parade and festival in Grand Island on June 28th. (Adobe Stock)

Out Nebraska rebrands, increases outreach during Pride Month

The nonprofit Out Nebraska is marking Pride month with a series of parades, marches and other events across the state in June. The group is also …

The Social Security Administration has been encouraging more people to use online services to access their benefits, but many rural Nebraskans lack access to high-speed internet or other technology that would allow them to take advantage of that option. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Nebraska marks Social Security's 90th anniversary

At least 10,000 people retire every day in the United States, with nearly half of them relying on Social Security as their sole source of income…

More than 328,700 students are enrolled in 244 K-12 Nebraska school districts, according to Ballotpedia. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Two-thirds of Nebraska 4th graders not reading proficiently

Nearly two-thirds of Nebraska fourth graders are not reading at grade level and math scores are also lagging. The findings come from the 2025 Kids …

The Nebraska Rural Response Council provides mental health services for agriculture producers facing financial and other challenges. (Adobe Stock)

Mental health calls flood farmer crisis hotline

A farm crisis hotline in Nebraska has seen a sharp uptick in mental health-related calls from farmers, worried about losing access to loans and …

Nebraska produces nearly 8.5 million hogs a year, ranking the state the sixth-highest producer in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

International students sue NE firm for being recruited to work in CAFOs

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration At …

In 2022, 14.2 people per 100,000 died by suicide nationally, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. (Adobe Stock)

Suicide second-highest cause of death among Nebraska youth

A recent murder-suicide in Cozad, Nebraska, has prompted mental health professionals in the state to heighten their efforts to address a mental …

Workplace safety for rural Americans is among a host of topics addressed at the Rural Democracy Initiative's 2025 Action Policy Summit in Des Moines, Iowa. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Nebraskans want safer workplaces, higher child care wages

Health care wages, the consolidation of nursing homes, and clean water for Nebraska were among the priorities for attendees of this month's Rural …

A form of dementia, Alzheimer's disease is primarily caused by the build up of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. The proteins bind together and cause

New research shows most Nebraskans want to know their Alzheimer's status

Four of five Americans surveyed want to know if they face a future with Alzheimer's disease before symptoms arise, according to the latest …

Results of a survey by Small Business for America's Future show concern about the direction of the economy, with a majority of the 862 respondents uncertain about navigating current economic conditions. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska small businesses navigate Trump tariff uncertainty

Results of a new survey of nearly 900 small business owners across the country show they are concerned about an uncertain economy, including the …

Nebraska emitted about 81 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2021, 26th highest in the country, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. (Adobe Stock)

New report stresses EVs for Nebraskans' lung health

A new report from the American Lung Association found air pollution continues to be a problem even as Congress stymies efforts to bolster the electric…

The net loss of college educated people through migration from Nebraska to other states has more than quadrupled in the last decade, according to the Aksarben Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Omaha counters NE 'brain drain' with 'brain gain'

A new report shows housing and transportation are key factors that can keep young professionals from leaving Nebraska for opportunities elsewhere…

Nebraska health care providers grapple with binge drinking

Mental health counselors focused on Nebraska's high rate of binge drinking during Alcohol Awareness Month, which just wrapped up. Alcohol abuse is …

The average driver in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District travels 9,300 miles and spends $1,398 on 430 gallons of gasoline annually, according to a report by Coltura. (Adobe Stock)

Congress could roll back Nebraska's choice on emissions standards

Congress could vote today on a measure to eliminate Nebraska's ability to set its own auto emission standards, which are among the most stringent in …

Nebraska lawmakers are considering a bill to raise the minimum hourly wage to $15 by 2026. An amendment to the bill seeks to boost the wage to $29.51 by 2065. (Adobe Stock)

Labor groups reject Nebraska minimum wage compromise

Nebraska lawmakers have reached a compromise on a measure to roll back a minimum wage increase but labor group advocates said the deal goes against th…

Among Nebraska's 93 counties, 88 are designated mental health care provider shortage areas, according to the Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska mental health advocates push back on funding cuts

Nebraska lawmakers are considering a bill to ensure managed health care companies cannot limit the state reimbursement rate for mental health service …

Structures in Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois and Minnesota were battered by devastating straight line winds in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska housing market hobbled by insurance price spikes

Nebraska is among the states with the sharpest increases in housing prices between 2021 and 2024, according to a new report. The hike has been …

More than 40% of the 157,000 Nebraskans who receive SNAP benefits are children, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska social justice group pushes back on SNAP changes

The State of Nebraska is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to change which items people are allowed to purchase using Supplemental Nutrition …

The current minimum hourly wage in Nebraska is $13.50. The Legislature is considering a bill to upend a voter approved measure in 2022 that would raise the wage $1.50 an hour until it reaches $15 in 2026. (Adobe Stock)

Minimum wage repeal advances in Nebraska Legislature

The Nebraska Legislature is considering a bill to roll back a 2022 voter approved initiative that would raise the minimum wage in the state. …

Nebraska harvested 9.5 million acres of corn in 2023, making it the third-largest corn producing state in the country. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska farm leaders call for 'trade de-escalation'

Nebraska farm leaders are asking the Trump administration and the European Union to deescalate a trade war developing over tariffs. The National …

An estimated 67,000 people identify at LGBTQ+ in Nebraska, according to the Williams Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska LGBTQ+ group builds community with 'friend raiser'

The organization OutNebraska is holding an event not only to raise money for LGBTQ+ issues but to help people better understand the issues and their i…

A fear of miss�ing out, and social pres�sure and expectations, are among the most significant drivers among teens 13 to 17 using social media, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska grad students help teens navigate social media

Graduate students at the University of Nebraska are creating lessons plans for middle and high school students to help them navigate the social media …

Agriculture trade groups want to see a rollback of federal environmental regulations on the meatpacking industry, along with fewer worker protections and food safety measures. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska meatpackers call on feds to deregulate industry

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Nebraska News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

The latest data from Open Sky Policy Institute show more than 182,000 Nebraska children are enrolled in Medicaid and other social service safety net programs. (Adobe Stock)

NE mental health providers warn Medicaid cuts would 'reverse progress'

Nebraska mental health professionals worry the Trump administration's proposed $880 billion in Medicaid funding cuts would threaten progress the state…

Cryptocurrency scams are on the rise through the use of electronic kiosks. The Nebraska Legislature just passed a measure to tighten regulations on the machines, which are similar to ATMs. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Nebraska ups focus on crypto currency scams

AARP Nebraska has increased its focus on educating people about cryptocurrency scams. A measure tightening restrictions on crypto kiosks, often used …

The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska, employs about 120 people, many of whom are facing layoffs. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska USDA workers face unprecedented layoffs

Mass layoffs by the Trump administration are cutting into essential services across the federal government. In Nebraska, that includes overseeing …

Clean energy tax incentives have added more than 1,800 jobs to the Nebraska economy, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska clean energy advocates push for saving tax incentives

Lawmakers in Congress are considering repealing financial incentives for clean energy in order to fund other priorities of the Trump administration…

Participants in the Nebraska RAICES teacher training program receive leadership development and mentoring designed to support them in their teaching careers. (Adobe Stock)

Federal cuts jeopardize rural NE teacher training program

The future of a teacher training program in rural Nebraska is in danger since the Trump administration has cut diversity-related grants in its effort …

A recent University of Nebraska poll found 12% of people spend a month or more feeling depressed during the winter months, characterized by long, dark days often accompanied by bitter cold temperatures. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraskans take on wintertime doldrums with mental health professionals

With wintertime cold still gripping much of the nation, health experts are offering ways to overcome seasonal depression, which can accompany bitter …

Nebraska proposal would fund housing for domestic abuse survivors

The Nebraska Legislature is considering a bill that would provide nearly $1 million to help survivors of domestic abuse and sex trafficking pay for em…

There are 278 school districts in Nebraska with a student-to-teacher ratio of just under 14 to 1, according to the National Assessment of Education Progress report card. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska reading and math scores fall, mirror national trend

Despite kids being back in the classroom after the COVID pandemic, the latest numbers from the National Assessment of Education Progress aren't …

Americans lost more than $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, the most recent FBI data available. (Adobe Stock)

NE lawmakers look at tougher regulation of 'crypto kiosks'

Nebraska lawmakers are considering a bill to implement consumer protections and license requirements for the cryptocurrency industry, and they're …

Worldwide economic losses from extreme weather events in 2022 totaled $313 billion, according to the University of Nebraska, where climate researchers work to predict dangerous weather patterns. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska climatologists collaborate for better weather prediction

The University of Nebraska's High Plains Regional Climate Center in Lincoln is working with weather experts in nearby states to collect and use climat…

Nebraska raised about 10.5 million chickens in 2023, a 13% increase from 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Protecting Nebraska workers from avian flu

A bill has been introduced in Lincoln to protect workers in the agriculture sector from dangerous workplace practices and get ahead of a potential avi…

In 2022, 182,000 children were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP in Nebraska, almost 53% of total Medicaid recipients in the state. Last year, Nebraska expanded eligibility for kids with special needs who live with their parents. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Medicaid cuts threaten Nebraska youth

Advocates for young Nebraskans worry proposed federal cuts could affect families who rely on Medicaid for their health care. A new national report …

Nebraska produced more than 7.6 billion pounds of beef in 2023, remaining among the nation's leaders in beef production. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska farmers 'cautiously optimistic' about farm policy

Some farm advocates in rural America, including Nebraska, are calling on the Trump administration to continue investing in small communities…

AARP Nebraska's annual Community Challenge grants have funded projects ranging from community paths to traffic-calming installations. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Nebraska opens applications for Community Challenge grants

Many towns and nonprofit groups probably have ideas about how to improve their communities and now, there is a chance to get funding for projects…

Students at the University of Nebraska are designing and constructing small, single-family homes to be erected on vacant lots in Omaha for seniors. Omaha's zoning laws restrict multifamily housing on 80% of currently vacant lots. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska university students address affordable housing shortage

Some University of Nebraska students are gaining career skills as they work to address the state's affordable housing shortage by making small…

An undercover investigator looking into abuse at animal auctions says mistreatment becomes normalized, as workers are pressured by management to move animals in and out, quickly. (Photo courtesy of Ron Chiang/We Animals)

Livestock undercover: How good people do bad things to animals

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Nebraska News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

EF Go Ahead tours reported a 17% increase in bookings for vacations in Nordic countries and a whopping 60% increase in destinations across Latin America in the past year. (Adobe Stock)

Vacations steeped in cultural learning all the rage

Travel agencies say Americans are still embracing overseas trips, including destinations where the itinerary is loaded with learning opportunities …

As they look for long-term support through the Farm Bill, American farmers said they are facing many evolving obstacles, including climate-change threats and increased global competition for exports. (Adobe Stock)

Farmers no longer feeling Farm Bill anguish, but relief might be fleeting

Farmers in Nebraska and across the nation might not be in panic mode anymore thanks to another extension of the Farm Bill but they still want Congress…

Statehouses in conservative-led states have served as ground zero for policies to enact LGBTQ restrictions. However, political experts note the Trump campaign

NE transgender allies ready to navigate nuanced landscape

The Nebraska Legislature kicks off its new session a few weeks from today and issues related to gender identity are likely to be part of the mix…

According to the Department of Energy, all-electric vehicles are shown to be about 4.4 times more efficient than gas-powered cars. (Adobe Stock)

Consumer experiences with electric vehicles on upswing

A leading consumer publication says electric vehicles are gaining ground on gas-powered cars when it comes to feelings about reliability. However…

A 2022 study of evictions in Lancaster County by the University of Nebraska College of Law found a high level of non-compliance in moving forward with such proceedings when tenants lacked counsel. (Adobe Stock)

NE public housing legal case touches on quality of life for vulnerable renters

The public housing agency serving Nebraska's largest city faces legal action amid claims of poor living conditions for a tenant with disabilities…

Consumer advocates say cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, is less regulated and harder to recover in a scam situation. They say that's why holiday shoppers should steer clear of it if asked to convert their payment to crypto. (Freepik)

Cryptocurrency part of latest scam warnings for Nebraskans

If your holiday shopping list is far from complete, consumer advocates in Nebraska hope you don't ignore warning signs of scams in the rush to buy …

The Annie E. Casey Foundation says in tracking programs that prepare older foster-care kids for adulthood, states inconsistently document participation, which can complicate efforts to ensure they're getting the services they need. (Freepik)

U.S. hits quarter-century mark focusing on kids 'aging out' of foster care

This month marks the 25th anniversary of a federal law designed to give states flexibility in helping older kids transition out of foster care…

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