Nebraska / Public News Service

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)

Thursday, January 20, 2022

$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 …

As families are warned to stay home to stay healthy, many Nebraskans face homelessness. (Adobe Stock)

Families Face Winter Evictions Across Nebraska

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's eviction moratorium expired in August, eviction court filings in Nebraska are on the rise…

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…

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 …

President Joe Biden has ordered a Federal Trade Commission probe into rising gasoline prices, and released 50 million barrels of oil from the national strategic reserve to help lower costs. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Higher Gas Prices Linked to Soaring Oil Industry Profits

LINCOLN, Neb. -- As Nebraskans continue to endure high gas prices, 24 of the top oil and gas corporations made nearly $174 billion in profits this …

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 …

Of the 142,176 veterans living in Nebraska, only 33% have utilized their earned benefits at VA health care, according to U.S. Census data. (Adobe Stock)

New Online Navigator Aims to Streamline Access to Veteran Health Benefits

LINCOLN, Neb. - November is National Veterans and Military Families Month, and AARP has launched a free, one-stop online resource to help more …

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 "poor kids meals." (Adobe Stock)

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 …

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…

Just four of 19 Nebraska law-enforcement agencies surveyed do not currently employ a multilingual officer. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Law Enforcement Behind on Language Accessibility

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Not one law-enforcement agency in Nebraska is meeting all U.S. Department of Justice guidance and best practices on how to provide …

Only 20% of kids nationwide are physically active for at least 60 minutes a day, according to a new United Health Foundation report. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Women, Children Report More Anxiety, Mental Distress

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Women and young people have been facing increased behavioral-health challenges since before the pandemic, according to a new report …

The U.S. Postal Service is responsible for delivering Social Security and veterans benefit checks, prescription medicines and more to all Americans regardless of where they live. (Adobe Stock)

Postal Service Cost-Cutting Measures Worry Nebraska Business Owners

COLUMBUS, Neb. -- Small-business owners in Nebraska are concerned about losing customers during the upcoming holiday season as the U.S. Postal …

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 …

Starting this year, Medicare coverage plans participating in the program's Senior Savings Model must now offer insulin for no more than $35 per month. (Adobe Stock)

How to Keep Medicare Coverage, Avoid Scammers During Open Enrollment

LINCOLN, Neb. -- With open enrollment for Medicare set to kick off next week, Nebraskans age 65 and older can expect to see a deluge of ads for so-…

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

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…

A new report spotlights the economic impacts of limiting a woman's right to safe and legal abortion. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Restricting Abortion Access Brings Big Financial Trouble

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Limiting women's access to abortion and other reproductive health care can have a devastating impact on state economies. According …

Nine in ten Nebraskans told researchers that voter redistricting should be driven by 2020 census data, not by making deals that benefit a political party. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraskans Can Give Feedback on New Voter District Maps Next Week

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Next week, Nebraska lawmakers will hold three public hearings on how new voter maps should be drawn for the state's 49 districts…

Fifty-eight news segments mentioned Hurricane Ida's rapid intensification, going from a Category 1 to a Category 4 in less than 24 hours, a clear signal of a warming climate, but news outlets failed to report the connection. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Failure to Connect Extreme Weather to Climate “Media Malpractice”

LINCOLN, Neb. - New research suggests the nation's most trusted news sources are dropping the ball when it comes to helping voters in Nebraska and …

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help identify and overcome cognitive distortions and replace them with new, more helpful thoughts. (Adobe Stock)

Tips to Avoid Common “Thinking Traps” While Adjusting to College Life

LINCOLN, Neb. -- As young adults across Nebraska leave home for college, psychologists are offering tips to avoid falling into common "thinking …

This summer's unprecedented heat waves, droughts, fires and severe storms are occurring now, where global temperatures have only risen 1.2 degrees Celsius. Scientists project that average temperatures will rise by 2 degrees Celsius in the next two decades. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Less Than a Decade Remains for Action on Climate Change

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Less than a decade remains to avoid potentially catastrophic impacts of a warming planet, according to the latest report from top …

New census numbers show that 56% of Nebraska's population now resides in just three counties: Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraskans to See Narrow Window for Public Input on New Voting Districts

LINCOLN, Neb. -- As Nebraska lawmakers sort through new 2020 Census numbers to update voting districts, watchdog groups are encouraging all residents …

Microenterprise businesses, with five employees or fewer, make up more than 85% of all businesses in Nebraska. (Adobe Stock)

Time to Get in Line for Small Business Tax Credits

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska businesses with no more than five employees now can apply for up to $20,000 in tax credits. Johnathan Hladik, policy …

More than half of Nebraska's home internet users in non-rural parts of the state have a cable internet connection, compared with just one in 10 rural homes, who rely on DSL, satellite or wireless. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: 79% of Voters Want Lawmakers to Expand High-Speed Internet Access

LINCOLN, Neb. -- More than half of Nebraska voters age 50 and older in rural parts of the state are having a hard time accessing high-speed internet…

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 …

In early July, the Biden administration canceled nearly $56 million in student-loan debt, mostly connected to institutions engaging in misconduct, including promising jobs or falsely claiming credits would transfer to universities.(Adobe Stock)

Scammers Targeting Nebraska Student-Loan Holders

LINCOLN, Neb. - Student-loan forgiveness has become an increasingly popular scam targeting young adults, and as an October deadline looms, consumer …

Lobbying firms have enjoyed few limits after the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision, where the high court confirmed that money was a form of protected speech. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Lobbyist Spending in Nebraska Thrived During Pandemic

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A new Common Cause Nebraska report showed last year, more than $18 million was invested in lobbying efforts in Nebraska. By …

Nebraska lawmakers recently moved to require additional legislation before construction could begin on a new prison. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Nebraska’s Ongoing Prison Staffing Crisis Expands

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A new report from the Office of Inspector General of Corrections is raising concerns about ongoing and expanding staffing …

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…

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

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 …

In Nebraska, the homeownership rate for Latino residents is 42%, compared with 70% for non-Latino white residents. (SOS Wildlife Control)

Home Loan Program Aims to Boost Rural Economies

LYONS, Neb. -- Homeownership remains out of reach for many hard-working Nebraska families because of stagnant wages and lack of access to traditional …

Nebraskans age 50 and older contribute more than $2 billion each year in unpaid family caregiving.<br />(Sabinevanerp/Pixabay) — Nebraskans age 50 and older contribute more than $2 billion each year in unpaid family caregiving.
(Sabinevanerp/Pixabay)

NE Lawmakers Begin Phasing Out State Taxes on Social Security Benefits

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska lawmakers are leaning on older residents to help boost the state's economic recovery. Last week Gov. Pete Ricketts signed …

Roughly 10% of foster youth in the United States are entitled to Social Security benefits, either because their parents have died or because they have a physical or mental disability that would leave them in poverty without financial help. (Nenad Stojkovic/Pixabay https://bit.ly/3gvdEbG)

Nebraska Among States Taking Foster Kids’ Benefits

LINCOLN, Neb. - A new report shows at least 49 states, including Nebraska, are seizing thousands of dollars in Social Security, veterans and other …

None of Coca-Cola's top executives met their bonus targets last year, but all received bonuses, even as the company announced plans to cut some 2,200 jobs. (Pixabay)<br /><br /> — None of Coca-Cola's top executives met their bonus targets last year, but all received bonuses, even as the company announced plans to cut some 2,200 jobs. (Pixabay)

Corporations Expanded CEO-Worker Pay Gap During Pandemic

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Many of the nation's largest low-wage employers, including FedEx, Tyson Foods, Walgreens and other brands familiar to Nebraskans…

Last year, 55 major U.S. corporations paid no federal corporate income taxes on a combined $40 billion in profits. (Anthony Quintano/Flickr)

Biden's Millionaire Tax Hike Would Tap Less than 1% of Nebraskans

DENVER -- President Joe Biden's proposal to eliminate the lower-income tax rate on capital gains and stock dividends for America's millionaires would …

At least 7,382 COVID-19 cases have been traced to meatpacking plants across the state since the start of the COVID public health emergency. (Kansas State Research and Extension/Flickr)

Nebraska Lawmakers to Debate Meatpacking Worker Protections

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska lawmakers are scheduled to debate the Meatpacking Employees COVID-19 Protection Act today. Sen. Tony Vargas, D-Omaha…

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)…

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 …

Workers protest tax fraud in the construction field at a school administration building in Gretna, Neb. (Eric Leanos/NCSRCC)

NE Construction Workers Call for Crackdown on Tax, Wage Fraud

OMAHA, Neb. - Nebraska is losing millions in tax money and many workers are being cheated by unscrupulous companies that pay their workers under the …

Health experts say to avoid hearing loss, wear protective equipment such as earplugs or enclosed headphones that cancel noise whenever exposed to loud sounds. (Eric Driggers/Flickr)

Hearing Checkups Down During COVID

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Medical hearing and inner-ear experts are encouraging Nebraskans to make an appointment if they are having difficulty hearing or are …

Protections from Financial Scams Beefed Up for Older Nebraskans

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A new state law aims to stop scams that target the financial assets of older Nebraskans. Jina Ragland, associate state director of …

Just like Black Americans, Black immigrants are more likely to be arrested, convicted and imprisoned than the immigrant population as a whole. (Pixabay)

Groups Launch Immigrants' Rights Guide for Demonstrations

LINCOLN, Neb. -- As President Joe Biden works to make good on promises to overhaul federal immigration policy, a new guide released this week aims to …

Women in Nebraska typically make $0.80 for every dollar paid to men. Black women in Nebraska typically make $0.61 cents for every dollar paid to Caucasian men. (Piqsels)

Report: Women Paid Less than Men Regardless of Job Choice

LINCOLN, Neb. - Wednesday is national Women's Equal Pay Day, a date symbolizing how far into the new year women must work to earn what men earned in …

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