Nebraska / Public News Service

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)

Friday, September 22, 2023

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 …

Approved uses of funds from the $24 billion in Child Care Stabilization Grants for providers included personnel costs, recruitment and retention; mortgage, rent and utilities, and facility upgrades. (Firn/Adobe Stock)

COVID Relief for Providers Ends as NE Childcare Funding Gap Grows

For many in Nebraska's child-care industry, which was struggling even before the pandemic, the "Child Care Stabilization" funds in the American …

Upcoming Youth Climate Summit to Focus on Solutions, Hope

A 2021 survey published in The Lancet showed almost half of U.S. youth ages 16 to 25 feel "heightened worry" about climate change. Sponsors of …

According to the Anti-Defamation League, there were 356 reported anti-LGBTQ hate incidents between June 2022 and April 2023. They

Survey: LGBTQ Youth Affected by Drumbeat of 'Anti-' Policy Coverage

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youths in Nebraska and across the country are exposed to a steady stream of news about anti-LGBTQ …

After the late August heat wave, less than half of Nebraska's topsoil had sufficient moisture, and only slightly more than half of pasture and rangeland was considered in good condition. (Adobe Stock)

Study Hopes to Strengthen Climate Resilience in Nebraska Rural Communities

Although drought conditions in Nebraska have improved since earlier this year, half of the state is still experiencing moderate to extreme drought…

More than 100 U.S. crops depend on pollinators, which provided approximately $18 billion of value in 2020. In Nebraska, fruit orchards and melon crops in particular are dependent upon honeybee pollination. (kosolovsky/Adobe Stock)

Seasoned NE Beekeeper Abuzz Over Bee Lawns, Other Bee-Friendly Practices

Bees and other pollinators are indispensable to a huge number of crops, and in Nebraska as well as across the country their numbers have been …

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 …

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2022, 49% of Nebraska's total in-state electricity generation was from coal, 31% from wind, 14% from nuclear power, 3% from hydropower and 3% from natural gas. (Lise Bennett/Adobe Stock)

NE Electric Utilities Offer Incentives to Conserve Energy, Lower Bills

Nebraskans may not have needed as much air conditioning this summer as have people in the Southwest, but so far 2023 is tied for the most 100-degree …

According to the Department of Labor, 34% of miliary spouses work in professions that require licensure. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

NE, Neighboring States Join First Nationwide Interstate Teaching Compact

For a number of careers requiring professional licensure, especially in the medical field, interstate compacts mean people's licenses are recognized …

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…

According to AARP, Community Challenge Grants can be used

Six NE Communities Receive AARP Grants to Boost 'Livability'

Projects in six Nebraska communities, large and small, are among this year's AARP Community Challenge Grant winners. A total of $3.6 million was …

Nearing 25th Anniversary, Little Priest Tribal College is Growing, Open to All

A community college in Winnebago, Little Priest Tribal College, celebrates its 25th anniversary this September. After more than 20 years of roughly 12…

Three positive trends for seniors nationwide in UnitedHealthcare's 2023 Senior Report were a 6% decrease in the number experiencing food insecurity, a 7% increase in those with access to high-speed internet, and a 16% increase in the number of geriatric providers. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

NE Receives Mixed Reviews on Well Being of State's Seniors

Nebraska received mixed reviews regarding the well-being of the state's seniors in United Healthcare's 2023 Health Rankings Senior Report. The state …

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 77% of workers in private industry received paid sick leave in 2022. However, among the the lowest 10% of earners, only 38% earned paid sick leave compared with 96% of those in the highest 10%. (Valerii Apetroaiei/Adobe Stock)

Lack of Paid Sick Leave Disproportionately Affects NE Women

This year, 14 states and even more cities required employers to provide some form of paid sick leave. Supporters of the Paid Sick Leave for …

In addition to their use in crop spraying, drones can help farmers and researchers assess how their plants, animals and property are being affected by

Community Colleges Help Build NE 'Precision Ag' Workforce

Agriculture plays a huge role in Nebraska's economy, and it is the topic of a bill in Congress getting rare bipartisan support. The Community …

About tax credits for private school scholarship donations, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy maintains,

Charity Disparity: NE Opportunity Scholarships Act Benefits Private Donors

Offering tax credits for scholarships to private schools has been a controversial issue in Nebraska. After tax-credit bills failed to pass in 2020 …

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 …

Nebraska's Dakota County, which had 10,855 registered voters in the 2022 election, had the lowest voter turnout, at 34.04%. Arthur County, with 337 registered voters, had the highest, at 76.26%. (Adobe Stock)

Interactive Tool Offers Detailed Information On 2022 NE Voter Turnout

The statewide turnout of Nebraska registered voters in the 2022 general election was roughly 55%. Now it is possible to see where turnout was nearly 8…

The American Postal Workers Union, National Association of Letter Carriers and National Rural Letter Carriers Association are among the 30 unions in the country that have 100,000 or more members. (Robert Latawiec/Adobe Stock)

On National Postal Worker Day, Workers Face Challenges, Changes

Saturday is National Postal Worker Day, a good time to recognize the tens of thousands of employees of the U.S. Postal Service, many of whom work …

Nebraska's 23 Natural Resources Districts were established in 1972

NE Water District Protects Quantity, Quality for Future Generations

Groundwater decline is a serious problem in parts of the country, but not in the Lower Republican Natural Resources District in south-central …

According to Bloomberg, in the first quarter of 2023, U.S. foreclosure filings jumped 22% compared with the same period in 2022. The number of foreclosures had risen for 23 straight months. (Adobe Stock)

June 30 Deadline for NE Homeowners' COVID-Related Expenses

Many homeowners in Nebraska and across the country have struggled financially since the COVID pandemic. They can still receive financial help from …

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 his 2021 book, 'Who Graduates from College? Who Doesn't,' author Mark Kantrowitz says three-fourths of college dropouts are first-generation college students, and two-thirds are from low-income families. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Northeast Community College Program Succeeds at Community Building

Amid recent reports of high stress and loneliness among college students, a Nebraska community college has a program focused on community building …

Nebraska was one of 10 states to further restrict abortion access in the 2023 legislative session. At least 48 bills were passed involving restrictions for LGBTQ+ individuals. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

Plaintiffs Speak Out in Suit Against Controversial New NE Law

A new Nebraska law is now the subject of a lawsuit filed in the District Court of Lancaster County. In its amended form, Legislative Bill 574 …

An aerial view of Roca, Neb. Some 37% percent of Nebraska's rural hospitals have lost some services, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. (Jacob/Adobe Stock)

Rural Nebraska Faces Outsized Impact of Governor's Budget Vetoes

Rural Nebraska could lose on two fronts if two of Gov. Jim Pillen's budget vetoes are allowed to stand. Pillen struck down a second year of …

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…

Nebraska's extensive wetlands include marshes, lakes, river and stream backwaters, oxbows, wet meadows, fens, forested swamps, and seeps. (Phyre Sky/Adobe Stock)

Celebrate Nebraska Wetlands During American Wetlands Month

May is American Wetlands Month, and Nebraska has bragging rights when it comes to wetlands. None of the surrounding states have comparable amounts of …

Nationwide, 543 anti-trans bills have been introduced since the start of the 2023 legislative session. So far, 70 have passed. (James Reininger/Adobe Stock)

NE Legislature Faces One Bill Restricting Two Personal Health Care Decisions

This week the Nebraska Legislature will consider a bill containing the two most controversial issues of the 2023 session: restrictions on medical trea…

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities said the

Medicaid 'Unwinding' Underway; DHHS Needs Up-to-Date Contact Info

Tens of thousands of Nebraskans receiving Medicaid benefits may lose them over the upcoming year. With the COVID-19 public health emergency ending…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 91,000 police reports of accidents in 2017 involved

Too Little Sleep Contributes to Chronic Health Conditions, Accidents

Feeling drowsy during the day isn't the only problem associated with getting too little sleep, which is the case for nearly one-third of U.S. adults…

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, more than 50 countries have

Faith Leaders On Nebraska's LB 626, Religious Freedom and Maternal Care

Identifying as a person of faith is not synonymous with supporting Legislative Bill 626, the six-week abortion ban bill in the Nebraska legislature…

The Tri-Faith Center, the last building to be completed on the Tri-Faith Commons is shown near 132nd and Pacific Streets in Omaha. More than 6,600 people worshiped at one of its three faith communities in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Tri-Faith Initiative)

From Conversation to a One-of-a-Kind Community in Omaha

Omaha's Tri-Faith Initiative, the only faith community of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, started with a conversation and is now the worship home …

The Whooping Crane -- the tallest bird in North America -- is known to make stopovers on the Platte River in Nebraska. Conservation efforts have increased the Whooping Crane population from a low of about 20 birds in the 1940s to an estimated 600 today. (Adobe Stock)

Recovering America's Wildlife Act Helps Wildlife, Farmers and Ranchers

CORRECTION: The number of species at risk in Nebraska is nearly 800. A previous version of the story listed only those the state currently considers …

The USDA says the goal of the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program is to

CFRA's New Loan Program Helps Small to Medium-Sized Meat Processors

Nebraska's small and medium-sized meat processors may be improving and/or expanding their businesses thanks to a new lower-interest loan program desig…

More than 2,400 buses, 95% of them electric, will go to 402 school districts from this first of five rounds of the EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program. (Robert Peak/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Act-Funded EPA Program Sends Electric Buses to NE Schools

Students in six rural Nebraska school districts will be riding to school in new electric school buses beginning next fall. The districts were …

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 …

The National Alliance for Caregiving forecasts that

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NE Family Caregivers Provide Invaluable Service, Provide Billions in Unpaid Care

Many Nebraskans know how crucial a family caregiver is to one of their family members. Now AARP research has put a dollar value on that unpaid care - …

According to the Guttmacher Institute, medication abortion made up roughly 39% of all abortions in the United States in 2017 and more than 50% by 2020. (Adobe Stock)

NE State Senator Faces Bipartisan Criticism for Abortion Ban Amendment

Abortion restrictions have been a hot topic in the Nebraska Legislature for the second year in a row, and now the issue has heated up even more. Sen…

According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, a couple can request a Spousal Impoverishment

'Spousal Impoverishment' Preserves Assets from Medicaid Recovery

Seventy percent of those who reach age 65 will need long-term care services or expensive in-home nursing care, and 42% of it nationwide is paid for …

According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Nebraska resettled more than three times the number of refugees per capita than the nation did as a whole in 2016. (Adobe Stock)

NE Attorney: Proposed Immigration Changes Violate U.S. Laws, Treaties

Nebraska welcomed more than 10,000 refugees between 2002 and 2016, and some are still hoping to bring family members to the U.S. Under the …

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…

Central Community College students with the school's mascot,

'Master of Puppets?' CCC Grants Scholarships from Metallica

Nebraska's Central Community College is among 32 colleges that have each received $100,000 to award as scholarships - from a most unlikely source…

Drew Gerken is founder of The Furniture Project and an Omaha firefighter. (Photo courtesy of The Furniture Project)

Nonprofit Provides Furniture to Refugees, Others in Need

An Omaha nonprofit fills a unique need for people transitioning from a multitude of difficult situations. The Furniture Project has grown from …

The ACLU is currently tracking 321 anti-LGBTQIA legislative bills across the country. It includes four advancing in the Nebraska Legislature, which the ACLU puts in the categories of free speech and expression, health care, schools and education, and civil rights. (Adobe Stock)

For LGBTQIA Youth, Support Can Be 'Literally Life-Saving'

Teen suicide is the second-leading cause of death in the 15-24 age group in this country, and young people who identify as LGBTQIA are at greater …

One goal of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is to ensure reliable, high-speed internet access for every American. (Debra Millet/Adobe Stock)

REDI Act: Help with Economic Development for NE Small Towns

A bill in the Nebraska Legislature would give small communities some help in applying for and administering federal grant money. Remote working …

According to the Sierra Club of North Carolina, crypto mines generate around 34,000 tons of electronic waste worldwide per year. Much of it, replete with toxic heavy metals, ends up in landfills and is a threat to both water and air. (Adobe Stock)

Small NC Town has Advice for Nebraskans on Crypto Mines

As more Nebraska towns approve permits for "crypto mines," the high-speed computer facilities processing cryptocurrency algorithms, people in the …

One study estimates tens of billions of dollars a year could be saved if 30% to 40% of specialist visits were conducted via telehealth. (Adobe Stock)

Telehealth Serves Rural Nebraskans in Multiple Ways

Telehealth delivery of medical care has grown considerably since the start of the pandemic, and although its use has leveled off, Nebraskans are …

According to the American Council on Aging, the average

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More NE Long-Term Care Facilities Risk Closure Without Funding

Nebraska's long-term care facilities face staffing shortages and other factors that could lead to more closures if state funding isn't increased…

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