Nebraska / Public News Service

According to the Tax Policy Center, for higher-income earners, sales taxes consume a lower share of their income than for other households. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Friday, July 26, 2024

NE ag group leader: Governor's tax plan unfair to lower-wage earners

As Nebraska state lawmakers convene for a special session on property tax reform called by Gov. Jim Pillen, groups are weighing in on the details …

In Vermont, Maine and the District of Columbia, people with felony convictions do not lose their right to vote. (Studio Romantic/Adobe Stock)

NE AG's opinion could set voting rights restoration back decades

About 7,000 Nebraskans with felony convictions who thought they'd be able to register to vote, now face uncertainty. In question is the …

In 2021, more than 40% of the nearly four mil�lion stu�dent par�ents nationwide were attending a community college. (foxyburrow/Adobe Stock)

Community college program helps first-generation students, others

Postsecondary enrollment data for 2023 shows community college enrollment increased nationwide by more than 100,000 students, and a large percentage …

Between 2019 and early 2021, the number of Medicaid telehealth visits increased 15-fold in five states the U.S. General Accounting Office selected and Medicare telehealth visits increased tenfold. (Westock/Adobe Stock)

Report: Keep some COVID-era telehealth 'flexibilities'; research quality, costs

Receiving medical services via telehealth was a requirement for some during the pandemic but has continued to grow in popularity since then. In …

Use of cover crops, such as winter wheat, can help water and nutrients penetrate the soil and smother weeds, leading to better corn crops. (Magnus/Adobe Stock)

NE youth hopeful for regenerative ag, sustainability after D.C. conference

Three members of Nebraska's student-run climate advocacy organization Students for Sustainability were among the youngest participants at the recent C…

In addition to answering nearly 390,000 calls in May, counselors with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline responded to approximately 49,000 chats and 95,000 texts. (artitwpd/Adobe Stock)

Report: NE crisis response system needs bolstering

A new report gives Nebraska a positive review for its operation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline but identifies shortcomings in two crucial area…

The Educare Winnebago Center in Winnebago, Neb., can serve up to 191 children from birth through age 5, and usually has a waiting list of 20 to 30 children. (Educare Winnebago)

NE Winnebago Educare promotes children's well being

Nearly 60% of Nebraska three- and four-year-olds are not enrolled in preschool programs, which are associated with increased success in school and …

In a Human Rights Campaign survey from 2019 of 4,000 LGBTQ+ adults, almost 17% overall, and nearly 32% of transgender respondents, said they opted not to vote out of fear of being harassed while voting. (yavdat/Adobe Stock)

NE LGBTQ+ group focuses on new voter ID law during Pride Month

For some LGBTQ+ voters in Nebraska, the state's new voter ID law brought up issues in the May primary election and could again in November's General …

In 2023, the Farm Service Agency enrolled 2.7 million acres to its Grassland Conservation Reserve Program out of more than 4.6 million acres offered by landowners. (MarekPhotoDesign.com/Adobe Stock)

Friday deadline for 2024 USDA grassland conservation program

Farm producers and landowners have until the end of this week to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency's Grasslands …

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, 22 states have passed laws to protect or expand access to abortion.

NE physician discusses impact of year-old 12-week abortion ban

Nebraska physicians and their patients have been dealing with the state's 12-week abortion ban since it went into effect just over a year ago…

The wells providing water on Santee Tribal lands had manganese levels more than 50 times greater than what is considered safe for adults. Excessively high manganese can cause problems with memory, attention and motor skills. (Adobe Stock)

NE Santee Sioux Tribe hopeful after years of unusable tap water

Members of the Nebraska Santee Sioux Tribe hope a solution to their five-year water ordeal may be on the way. Their tap water has been unusable for …

Between 2019 and 2022, the number of Nebraska children living in poverty increased from 51,000 to 64,000. (WavebreakMediaMicro/AdobeStock)

NE ranks in top 10 for childhood well-being despite rising poverty rates

Nebraska ranked in the top 10 for children's well-being on the 2024 Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book. Josh Shirk, research coordinator …

Report: Nebraska ranks 14th in nation for seniors' well-being

A new report on the status of U.S. seniors ranks Nebraska 14th among the states, moving down one spot from 2023. Nationally, the "America's Health …

On the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's 2022 Rural Poll, nearly 40% of rural Nebraskans reported they had volunteered at least a few times a month over the previous year. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

AARP Nebraska seeks nominees for highest state volunteer award

AARP Nebraska is looking for nominations for the 2024 Andrus Award for Community Service. The award honors an individual or couple over age 50 …

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, U.S. agricultural workers face an average of 21 unsafe working days per summer growing season because of heat. (KUBE/Adobe Stock)

NE farmworkers, others face heightened risks of heat, humidity

Sunday is Global Heat Action Day, to raise awareness about the risks posed by heat and ways to stay safe. In Nebraska and across the Midwest…

In 2023, over 40 million Americans received SNAP benefits each month. According to Feeding America, as many as 21 million more experience food insecurity but may not be eligible for SNAP benefits. (jetcityimage/Adobe Stock)

Despite higher food insecurity, House Farm Bill would cut SNAP benefits

Food insecurity is up in Nebraska and most parts of the country, according to the nonprofit Feeding America but the U.S. House Agriculture …

Young people who experience five or more blistering sunburns increase their risk of developing melanoma by 80%. (javiindy/Adobe Stock)

Skin Cancer Awareness Month: Many in NE at risk for melanoma, other types

As outdoor activities ramp up, May is a good time to think about observing good skin-care practices. More skin cancers are diagnosed than all …

Roughly 900,000 households are expected to benefit from lower-cost, lower greenhouse-gas emitting solar energy once the EPA's Solar for All program has been fully implemented. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

NE Center for Rural Affairs' $62 million EPA grant will expand solar access

By Claire Carlson for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Deborah Van Fleet for Nebraska News Connection reporting for The Daily Yonder-Public News …

Ho-Chunk, Inc., Apprenticeship Program participant Marquez Bass (right) works with Information Technology Technician Blade Smith to run network cable at one of the company's buildings in Winnebago, Nebraska. (Ho-Chunk, Inc.)

NE Winnebago Tribe apprenticeships prepare students, build workforce

Workforce watchers project the country could face critical worker shortages in many of the skilled trades in coming years. The Nebraska Winnebago …

Each week during the school year, more than 8,300 children receive a backpack of meals for the weekend through Food Bank for the Heartland's BackPack Program. (Photo courtesy of Food Bank for the Heartland)

Largest NE food bank challenged by rising food insecurity, costs

A new report shows food insecurity in Nebraska increased in 2022 over the year before. Feeding America's latest "Map the Meal Gap" survey showed the …

Healthcare organizations in Nebraska and elsewhere are struggling to fill nursing positions, which can have significant consequences for patient care. (Adobe Stock)

National Nurses Week: Providers in NE say nurses in short supply

It's National Nurses Week, and educators and healthcare officials say there just aren't enough of them to go around. A combination of retiring baby …

A Washington Post study found the number one issue cited by callers to LGBTQ+ help lines in 2023 was

NE LGBTQ+ community, advocates see wins at state, federal levels

Members of Nebraska's LGBTQ+ community and their supporters saw positive actions at both the state and federal level this month. At the state level…

Jane Kleeb is director and founder of Bold Alliance, an umbrella organization of Bold Nebraska, which was instrumental in stopping the Keystone Pipeline. Kleeb is also one of two 2023 Climate Breakthrough Awardees. (Bold Alliance)

Landmark NE agreement takes proactive approach to CO2 pipeline risks

CO2 pipelines are on the increase in the United States, and like all pipelines, they come with risks. Preparing for those risks is a major focus of …

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

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…

Each year since 2018, there have been more than 1 million online ads for guns which could be sold without a background check. (Adobe Stock)

NE group predicts support for changes to gun dealer rules, background checks

Well over three-fourths of Americans support universal background checks for gun purchases, but federal law allows unlicensed people to sell guns at …

Approximately one child in 36 in the United States has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, with one in six children having at least one developmental or intellectual disorder. (Photographee.eu/Adobe Stock)

NE rolls out new disability support for 850 families

As the country observes Autism Acceptance Month, Nebraska families raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder are among those learning they will …

Family caregivers provide an estimated $600 billion of unpaid care every year. (Mediteraneo/Adobe Stock)

NE family caregivers, advocates hope for passage of Caregiver Tax Credit Act

As Nebraska's 2024 legislative session draws to a close, family caregivers and their supporters are closely watching the progress of Legislative Bill …

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 …

As of 2023, 29 of Nebraska's 93 counties had no behavioral health professionals. (Adobe Stock)

NE behavioral health advocates, consumers question $15 million funding shift

A 2023 study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center concluded the number of Nebraskans with a mental health or substance abuse disorder has pr…

Cover crops and other regenerative practices prevent erosion, improve soil health and can absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere and

Experienced NE farmer talks cattle, cover crops and regenerative agriculture

One of the goals included in Nebraska's Department of Environment and Energy's Priority Climate Action Plan recently submitted to the federal Environm…

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says state programs supporting private schools, such as vouchers and scholarships,

NE lawmakers work to circumvent private-school referendum vote

Nebraskans this November will be able to vote on whether to keep the Opportunity Scholarships Act, which gives a dollar-for-dollar tax credit to …

Renewable energy land-lease payments to Nebraska landowners total nearly $38 million annually, and wind and solar projects bring Nebraska more than $17 million annually in state and local taxes. (Bryan Kelly/Adobe Stock)

Nebraskans for clean energy, rural development say bill would harm both

Roughly 35% of Nebraska's electricity is produced from renewable sources and advocates of clean energy development are concerned about the changes a b…

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…

A 2023 article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science reports that adults in the United States living with at least one child are twice as likely to be evicted as adults without children, and that Black Americans make up more than 51% of those experiencing eviction filings. (Lyndon Stratford/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

NE bill would reduce eviction impact, increase gender, racial equity

Evictions are on the rise in Nebraska and in many places around the country. Nearly 2,500 more eviction proceedings were initiated in Nebraska courts …

According to a report by the American Association for the Advancement of Science,

NE state forester urges fire safety during high-risk conditions

It's early in the season for wildfires in Nebraska, but dozens of firefighters have already been battling a large wildfire near North Platte for …

The Brookings Institution said the blurring of the lines between real and fake content

NE legislature to hear bills regulating artificial intelligence

In the 2023 legislative season, 25 states introduced legislation related to artificial intelligence and more than a dozen states enacted AI …

Southeast Community College Ford ASSET instructor Mark Berggren with students. (Photo courtesy of Southeast Community College)

NE college graduates fully certified Ford auto technicians

A unique collaboration between Ford Motor Co. and 41 community and technical colleges across the country is helping students and the automotive …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one in every 300 newborns screened is eventually diagnosed with one of the conditions covered in newborn screenings. (Tomsickova/Adobe Stock)

Bill in NE would allow parents to 'opt out' of newborn screenings

Every state has been screening newborns for several decades, usually performing a heel-prick blood test, a hearing test and a heart check. Several …

In a 2024 report, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Foundation pointed to the importance of legal immigrants for improving Nebraska's ongoing workforce shortage. (Moab Republic/Adobe Stock)

ACLU: Due process rights violated in Omaha immigration courts

Immigrants whose cases are heard in Omaha's Immigration Court are often denied their due process rights, according to a report from the ACLU of …

The 12 nursing homes that closed in Nebraska in the past three years amount to 556 fewer beds for Nebraskans needing nursing-home level care. (luckybusiness/Adobe Stock)

NE Legislature to hear bills that bolster struggling long-term care industry

Nebraska saw nine long-term care facility closures in 2022, second only to 13 in Texas. In the past three years, Nebraska has lost a combined 29 …

A study of voting in the 2022 midterms conducted by Civic Nebraska found some of the highest voter turnout rates were in counties with all vote-by-mail. (Michael Vi/Adobe Stock)

NE Legislature mulls bill to reduce early-voting days

Nebraska is among at least 14 states that enacted voting restrictions last year, passing a voter ID law. Next week, a legislative committee takes up …

There are about 48 million unpaid family caregivers in the U.S., providing care with a dollar value of nearly $600 billion. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

NE lawmakers consider tax credits for family caregivers

About 180,000 Nebraskans are caregivers for a family member. Nationally, family caregivers spend an average of more than $7000 a year on related …

States can set more restrictive qualifications for child care subsidies than the federal government. In 2019, nearly 89,000 Nebraska children qualified using federal parameters, but fewer than 36,000 qualified using Nebraska's state-defined rules. (Lordn/Adobe Stock)

Kentucky-inspired bill would help NE child care providers, workforce

In the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll 61% agreed there's a shortage of affordable child care in their communities, and more than 75% said their communities …

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 …

In 2024, Nebraska is spending less than 25% of what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers best practices on tobacco control programs, according to an American Lung Association report. (Zhikun Sun/Adobe Stock)

Report: NE receives failing grades for three of five tobacco-control measures

Nebraska needs to do better when it comes to tobacco use prevention and cessation, according to a newly released report. In the American Lung …

People who smoke and are exposed to radon have a 10 times higher risk of developing lung cancer than non-smokers exposed to the same levels of radon. (Francesco Scatena)

Blair, NE housing authority gets HUD grant for radon tests, mitigation

It's Radon Awareness Week and National Radon Action Month. Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas which can build up inside buildings and is …

One goal of President Joe Biden's April 2023

Medicaid waiver programs cover in-home care costs for eligible Nebraskans

Many Nebraskans age 65 and older with health limitations, as well as younger people living with a disability, want to remain in their own homes…

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